[center][img]http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo63/NMShape/coollogo_com-8436315_zpsd02f9fa5.png[/img][/center] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/DqjRXKJ.png[/img][/center] [hr] [h1]Previously…[/h1] https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4089371 Isaac Fontaine, the black clad street vigilante called… ...well… the Vigilante… ahem... ...is currently in Philadelphia, as player-coach in a major collegiate rugby Sevens tournament for Lost Haven University (which the school sees as a bargain-basement alternative to a football program to raise the profile of the school, particularly with international students, after the massacre caused by the monstrous Nightmare). That night, after the day’s games he looked to investigate a series of reported violent crimes and accounts of trespass. Whilst thwarting a break and enter theft on the waterfront, Isaac took down 4 out of 5 perpetrators before the fifth was dispatched by a jovial man who could apparently form multiple duplicates of himself. ...before the man attacked the Vigilante with unwinnable numbers of duplicates. The last thing Isaac saw before getting knocked out, was the name of a ship in the warehouse. The “U.S.S. ELDRIDGE”... [hr] That prickly feeling. That bristling sensation of when you wake up in your mask and your face has settled for so long that your facial hairs are getting snagged and caught on the material inside. And in that instant, Isaac knew the mask hadn’t been removed. If he weren’t worried it would give away the fact that he’d come to he’d breathe a sigh of relief. Isaac’s mind started to race as he tried to piece together all he knew. U.S.S. Eldridge, a factory on the QT which had been the long sought after target for break-in, protected by someone… a metahuman? Not like any he knew. Maybe something else? 5 perpetrators of the Break and enter… all 5 incapacitated at the time Isaac was knocked out. He got knocked out. That’d never happened before. He’d been stabbed, shot, run over with cars, “died” numerous times from an all-powerful entity who was up past her bedtime, punched and kicked by people far stronger than the guy/s who did it too. He’d drifted into unconsciousness from blood loss or shock from exposure to high levels of toxicity, never just cold knocked out though. It was unsettling, and easy to understand why it distracted him so much. He’d been throwing himself into fights since he was a teenager. Fighting the crazier aspects and elements of the universe for a few years, but that had still never happened. [color=1a7b30][b]“He’s come to!”[/b][/color] Shit. Apparently Isaac had been stirring too much. His cover blown he opened his eyes and saw the 5th man from before; one of the 5 looking to rob this place, trussed up like a turkey opposite him. [color=1a7b30][b]“Wakey, wakey, Hero. How’s it feel knowing we all got a good look at who you really are?”[/b][/color] But that prickly feeling told him otherwise. [b]“Nice try.”[/b] came Isaac’s retort through the voice modulator. The man shrugged his shoulders. [color=1a7b30][b]“It was worth a shot.”[/b][/color] He couldn’t shrug much else. Not the way he was tied up. But that did pose some interesting questions, where were the other 4? Where was the overly jovial man from last night? How long had he been out cold? And what were they looking to steal? It was still dark. So… unless he’d been beaten so badly he went into a coma he’d only been out a few hours. Isaac didn’t feel like he’d been beaten too bad… but then Isaac didn’t feel like anyone had been beating him at all. He never really did. So that wasn’t much help. [b]“Well… I don’t think I’m going to learn much from you at this point.”[/b] Isaac said to the crook opposite. He moved as wrists as far towards his right pocket where the omni-tool would be, and falling just short he popped his right shoulder out of its socket for a little extra reach. The crook winced. [color=1a7b30][b]“Oh God! Are you kidding me?”[/b][/color] Isaac stared directly at the disgusted criminal and leered, making him even more uncomfortable, as he grabbed the omni-tool out of his pocket and popped his shoulder back in, setting to work on the ropes. He hadn’t been frisked, and both men had been tied up in a really inefficient fashion. Whoever the jovial man was, he was an amateur. [color=aba000]“Good morning!”[/color] the jovial man’s voice boomed, full of energy. Isaac quickly palmed the omni-tool inside one of his gloves. [color=aba000]“You know, that really isn’t necessary. The ropes were only there in case you went a little wacky after you wakey-wakey’d.”[/color] Isaac scowled with a glare that could give off its own kind of heat. [b]“And why did you knock me out?”[/b] [color=aba000]“Because you’re a strange man in a mask at a highly classified facility. I had to buy some time until I could figure out who you were.”[/color] The smile dropped. [color=aba000]“So… sorry about that.”[/color] He presented a box-cutter knife and cut through the ropes that bound him. [color=aba000]“But you sound like you’re going to be reasonable and just talk now, yes?”[/color] The cut ropes fell around Isaac and he stood up, his limbs were asleep from the awkward way he’d been sitting. [color=aba000]“This way!”[/color] The man said with a smile. [color=aba000]“You look like someone who has an appreciation for privacy and these are delicate matters, yes?”[/color] [b]“What about him?”[/b] Isaac pointed to the other man. [color=aba000]“Don’t worry. I have a few eyes I’ll be keeping on him.”[/color] He flashed a knowing grin. Isaac remembered the replicates of the man from earlier and nodded in acknowledgment. The pair recessed to a small office in the factory that was sparsely decorated. A table, some chairs, filing cabinets book shelves and a moderately sized safe in the corner. Isaac assumed whatever the five were looking to steal was kept within that safe. [color=aba000]“First, I believe introductions are in order… I am [b]Richard Feynman[/b]. Theoretical Physicist for the Manhattan Projects, part of the investigative team that looked into the problems NASA had with the Challenger mission, general smarty-pants and as you have just witnessed, the self-proclaimed world’s first ‘Quantum Man’, and you…”[/color] Isaac rocked forward in anticipation. [color=aba000]“...you are the Turn-Down-For-What Man from the recent D-Day events. Get around punching general nogoodniks in the face whilst dressed in black and calling yourself Vigilante. Have I got this right so far?”[/color] [b]“Pretty much.”[/b] Isaac covered his disdain for the Turn Down For What reference as best he could, seething quietly but mostly ignoring the comment. [color=aba000]“So, what were you doing here?”[/color] [b]“I tailed 5 people who broke into this building, who looked like they were up to no good.”[/b] [color=aba000]“And what no-good were they doing?”[/color] [b]“Well, from what they were saying, it sounds very much to me like they were going to rob the contents of that safe you’ve got there. Or maybe just take the whole safe and break into it or blow the locks from elsewhere.”[/b] [color=aba000]“And what do you suppose is in the safe?”[/color] [b]“I’ve no idea. But I’d presume something they’re not supposed to have. Otherwise you wouldn’t put it in a safe.”[/b] [color=aba000]“Aha!”[/color] Exclaimed Feynman, with the joy of someone who loved to teach having found some information he could now impart; a new lesson to spread. [color=aba000]“Tell me, what do you know about the Manhattan Projects?”[/color] [b]“That was the World War II plan that gave the world the-- They were stealing plans for building a nuclear bomb??”[/b] [color=aba000]“No, no, no… you’re getting ahead of yourself. Back to what you first started to say.”[/color] [b]“Well, the Manhattan Project was the World War II plan for winning the war, they were building a nuclear bomb out at Los Alamos, New Mexico and using the best scientists the Allies could assemble...”[/b] [color=aba000]“Ah! Very good but I did not say ‘Project’, I said ‘Projects’! The Projects were more blanket… all-encompassing… for any plans they could create that would turn the tide and win the war. The bombs. What the Manhattan Project came to be known as… that was only one part. The part that the Government chose to use. The safest means to assure success.”[/b] Isaac began to consider the horrors that must have been turned down for the government to decide that it was preferable to drop nuclear weapons on people. [color=aba000]“Now there were metahumans around back then… but we are talking about government. Throwing individuals with power, who may have their own thoughts, opinions, uncontrollable views on things like philosophy, morality and political leanings. At a time of growing political uncertainty, as fear of red communism was growing - even WITHIN the war against nazis - it was not someting that the government was willing to risk. So Projects regarding widespread biochemical/genetic manipulation to create more metahumans were squashed. Likewise was another plan; the one we’re talking about here.”[/color] Isaac looked across at the safe, wondering what it could possibly hold that men thought was too terrifying for this world. [color=aba000]“This other plan got much further. Even to the test phase, before the men right at the tippy-top decided to go another way. Have you ever heard of the Philadelphia Experiment?”[/color] Isaac thought for a few seconds. [b]“No. I-- don’t think I have.”[/b] [color=aba000]“OK. Well… The Philadelphia Experiment is something almost of legend now. This ship, the U.S.S. Eldridge supposedly disappeared from the harbour. Many different ideas, some people thought time-travel, others thought aliens were somehow involved...”[/color] Feynman waited for Isaac’s excitement and anticipation to rise, but it never came. The Vigilante remained stoic. Feynman looked disappointed, but continued nonetheless. [color=aba000]“But what it ACTUALLY was, was the first example of Quantum Macroteleportation. During the concept and developmentation phase, the Government would pull the Great Niels Bohr and myself out of Los Alomos to a seperate facility, myself under the guise of visiting my sick wife… which I also did. ‘Car troubles’ and a myriad of other excuses helped to make up the extra ‘lost hours’ we covered for as well.”[/color] Isaac threw Feynman an expression of curiosity. [b]“Quantum tele--”[/b] [color=aba000]“Quantum MACROteleportation. Basically, we came up with a device which could break down an object into a single particle, include the information for how to reconstruct the object in its entirety ON that particle, and fire that particle to a second location where a receiving pad would collect that particle and reconstruct the object as it originally was.”[/color] This did nothing to change Isaac’s expression. [b]“That’s not what’s bothering me… I happen to know, first hand, that what you’re telling me is possible. I guess my sticking point is that you’re telling me that the government had a choice between giving the world nuclear weapons and teleportation - the ultimate choice in ‘destroy or create/innovate’ - and they chose to go with the option to lay waste to hundreds of thousands of people and scar the earth itself for years to come.”[/b] It was now Feynman’s time to look at the Vigilante with curiosity, before breaking into laughter. [color=aba000]“Ah HA HA HA! You really don’t see why they’d do it? Governments and men in shiny hats, suits and boots have been choosing to make bigger and bigger bombs to blow people to bits since ALWAYS! It’s not about the people. It’s about CONTROL. Bombs are simple. You make more, you keep them, you wait and drop them when needed… but teleportation. That’s a new IDEA. That changes the table. And in a way they can’t control once it’s out there. They let the new idea out, suppose in 5 years someone isn’t happy with these men? They decide to teleport a home made bomb into the White House… or Congress? You have to remember, this was a time where the greatest fears of these men was communist revolution! Even over the war! Teleportation is not just another bomb, despite the good that could be done with it. It’s like… what is the term? Genie! You have to get him back into the lantern. Bombs? Not so hard.”[/color] Isaac considered what he was saying, turning it all over in his head. [b]“Too hard to get the genie back in the lamp.”[/b] He muttered to himself. Could what he was saying be right..? Abso-bloody-lutely, Isaac thought. After all, Isaac’s own dealings with government figures both at home and abroad had never been entirely positive. [color=aba000]“Yes! Lamp! Not lantern! Thank you! That would have driven me crazy. I’m not as fancy smarty-pants with my english as with my physics and maths.”[/color] Feynman beamed. [b]“So they were… planning to steal plans for this teleportation machine to sell to, what, terrorists? Foreign nationalists?”[/b] [color=aba000]“Well… probably. But they would have got a whole lot more than just plans.”[/color] Feynman pulled Isaac closer aside and whispered, likely just for effect. [color=aba000]“See, I made another smaller machine.”[/color] Isaac pulled back. [b]“Why?”[/b] [color=aba000]“I get bored. I wanted to see if I could make it smaller, more efficient. Science isn’t static, my friend.”[/color] [b]“But-- nobody was going to ever see or use it. You’re here by yourself.”[/b] [color=aba000]“True, I’m here by myself, but I had to believe I wasn’t going to be the only one who would ever use it. I mean SOME DAY humanity has to be ready for it. I already knew we could teleport an entire ship to one of a few possible destinations.”[/color] [b]“A few?”[/b] [color=aba000]“Yes. Quantum is precise, but somewhat unpredictable. It’s how the machine works. You place teleportation mats down, and the particle gets beamed to one of three different mats. If you try to force cohesion to a single location, the results are…”[/color] Feynman split into a few more replicates, and held his ands out in demonstration. [color=aba000]“...unpleasant.”[/color] [b][i]“This could be part of why the Government didn’t want to go with teleportation in the first place.” [/b][/i] Isaac thought to himself, but kept quiet. [b][i]“One in three locations.”[/b][/i] [color=aba000]“What’s even more unpleasant is what happened to the whale.”[/color] [b]“Whale?”[/b] The hits kept on coming. [color=aba000]“Yes. Conservation of energy. Nothing comes from nothing. And a ship is a very big thing. So when they positioned the Eldridge, they also herded a number of whales. One swam over the “fuel” mat to power the machine and... Pfft!”[/color] [b]“You’re killing whales?”[/b] [color=aba000]“What? No. That was just for the demonstration for government heads, unless they see something on a big scale like a ship they struggle to see the practical applications, even if it would be more practical for direct bomb delivery. But yes… for ship we had to use a whale. Like I said. Unpleasant. Regular people it’s easier to power by other organic material though. Particularly sugar. It makes the mathematics simpler.”[/color] [b]“Sugar?”[/b] Now Isaac was even more confused. [color=aba000]“Yes, sugar would make for relatively simple mathematics. The number of kilojoules or calories necessary to generate macroteleportation of a certain organic mass on the teleportation mat. You calculate the energy required to re-construct said mass and balance it by providing the equivalent energy level in sugar bags on the fuel mat. Now obviously you overestimate a little, because it’s better than the alternative… although I guess that would be one quick and easy way to assure weightloss.”[/color] Isaac stared blankly. [color=aba000]“I jest, of course,”[/color] said Feynman [color=aba000]“I mean… you’d be losing weight everywhere, including vital organs. It would be very unpleasant.”[/color] A thought crossed the Vigilante’s mind. [b]“Why are you telling me this?”[/b] He said. The older man went on. [color=aba000]“I mean, take you for example. You would weigh approximately 165lbs. Let’s throw your clothes and equipment in… round it up… 180lbs. Now assuming you don’t have any alcohol in your system… or any excess fat beyond the average, which certainly doesn’t seem to be the case – kudos for that, by the way – you probably have around 12% lipid, 20% protein and 0.4% other organic compounds. You know… whatever sugars are in your blood presently.”[/color] [b]“Why are you telling me this, Feynman?”[/b] Isaac repeated, firmer now. [color=aba000]“So if we take the lipid portion… 12% of that overestimated 180 is around 21.6 pounds of fat. Convert to kilograms to make the mathematics easier, 9.8kg. Which should work out to about 88,200 calories in the fat stores… if we’re calculating high. The protein? 20% of 180 works out to 36 pounds of protein. Convert to kilos, 16.3kg roundabouts. Protein is 4 calories per gram, so we’re looking at about 65,200 calories in protein. Your organics? Probably around 2,400 calories in glycogen stores and your blood sugars… bump it up to 2,500 to play it safe though.”[/color] [b]“Feynman!”[/b] [color=aba000]“So basic arithmetic tells us 88,200 plus 65,200 plus 2,500 equal 155,900 calories… but again we’ll round up to 156,000 to play things safe. Given there’s an even 4,000 calories in a kilogram of sugar… Basically two 20kg bags of sugar should do the trick. See? Makes the math much easier!”[/color] [b]“FEYNMAN!”[/b] The wide grin left the professor’s face. [color=aba000]“Given that I have had to notify my superiors of the break in, there will be a routine sweep of the premises. They’ll find the second smaller device and I would be asked many difficult questions about it if it is found. Which it surely would be.”[/color] [b]“So you get rid of it. Destroy it.”[/b] All presence of joy left the older man’s face. [color=aba000]“No. We do not enter this field of endeavour to destroy our greatest creations. Honestly, some part of me is glad that this has happened. Already, I have had to spend too long allowing other men to stifle one of science’s greatest boons and allowing no good to come from its use... Just to let it sit in storage and never see the light of day. This is what has become of Richard Feynman! I will not allow this to be the fate of quantum macroteleportation! Not for one more day!”[/color] [b]“Alright, alright… calm down. You’ll blow a gasket.”[/b] Isaac urged, as the scientist had been yelling. [b]“But why me?”[/b] [color=aba000]“Something tells me you could find use for it. You walk with the angels, but do not fly.”[/color] Then Feynman got to the crux of the matter. [color=aba000]“Given my own experience I’ve learned something about people and my trust. I’ve learned I can trust a single person trying to do good a lot more than a group, even if their intentions are for the best. People are loud, obstinate, reckless, and often careless… A person though. A person is more likely to feel full responsibility for his decisions and actions. A person might not always do the right thing… do the smart thing. But generally, if they err, they feel responsible enough to need to fix their own problems. A committee will rationalise as part of the whole... justify their own input down and escape responsibility.”[/color] Isaac started considering how he could put the device to use. [b]“Alright, where is—“[/b] [color=aba000]“I already took the liberty of putting it in your pack.”[/color] [b]“You—?“[/b] [color=aba000]“Yes. See, I knew time would be of the essence, because I called my superiors the second I saw that you had come to. They have a remarkably quick response time so you should probably leave now. You see, they have other means for doing much the same thing…”[/color] Just then Isaac heard a tearing sound, and swirling lights from the office cast dancing shadows across all the factory’s walls. Isaac had enough experience with portals to recognize it immediately. He drew his grapple gun and ran for the exit. The old man hadn’t left time for an argument. Feynman clearly had no interest in taking ‘no’ for an answer. Meanwhile in the office, another Richard Feynman was waiting to greet his superiors. Franklin Delano Roosevelt rolled through the portal joined by the dark visage of a cloaked Richard Nixon. [color=aba000]“Mr Roosevelt… Mr Nixon.”[/color] [color=00aeef][b]“It would seem that once again you have been of great service to our Nation, Dr Feynman.”[/b][/color] [color=9e0b0f][b]“How many of them were there?”[/b][/color] [color=aba000]“Five. My duplicates will lead the way.”[/color] [color=9e0b0f][b]“Only five? Against your good self? ‘Surely you must be joking, Mr Feynman!’”[/b][/color] Richard Nixon exclaimed as he walked away, before erupting with deep-jowled laughter at his own joke. [color=aba000]“What—What’s he going to do to them?”[/color] Feynman asked FDR, as his omnipresent smile gave way to a pensive expression. Nixon's presence tended to have that effect on people. [color=00aeef][b]“Men are not prisoners of fate, Mr Feynman, but only prisoners of their own minds...”[/b][/color] Roosevelt told the physicist in an enigmatic deadpan, that did nothing to put Richard Feynman at ease. The 4 other trussed up captives levitated and followed Nixon to the office where the fifth was. [color=1a7b30][b]"You'll get nothing out of us! We'll give you nothing!"[/b][/color] [color=9e0b0f][b]"Arooooo! I'm not interested in anything you can give me..."[/b][/color] Nixon's voice matching the darkness within his eyes. [color=9e0b0f][b]"What comes next will only be my taking, taking of something you will never get back."[/b][/color] [color=aba000]"Nixon! What are you doing in there!?"[/color] called Feynman from outside. [color=9e0b0f][b]"You're so damned concerned about the civilians, Henry, and I don't give a damn!"[/b][/color] [color=aba000]"Richard."[/color] corrected Feynman. [color=9e0b0f][b]"Whatever be damned!"[/b][/color] barked Nixon. [color=9e0b0f][b]"I believe in the battle... whether it's the battle of the campaign or the battle of this office, which is a contuing battle!"[/b][/color] With a flourish of his hand, the office door slammed shut. [color=9e0b0f][b]"Now you crooks listen here..."[/b][/color] a dark maelstrom swirled behind Nixon as his cloak billowed in winds there could have been no natural for. [color=9e0b0f][b]"Your minds were gone the second you stepped in here..."[/b][/color] [color=1a7b30][b]"Whoa! Wait!"[/b][/color] One of the five called out, cracking under the terrifying pressure of a Nixon starting to wind up his darkest magic. [color=1a7b30][b]"I've changed my mind! We'll go with the other guy! To prison! We'll tell them everything!"[/b][/color] [color=9e0b0f][i]"Other guy..."[/i][/color] Nixon thought to himself. [color=9e0b0f][i]"Feynman never mentioned another guy... What are you up to, you bongo-playing hippy?"[/i][/color] Nevertheless Nixon continued unperturbed. [color=9e0b0f][b]"Your minds must always have gone. Even while shaking hands when coming up with this plan and going through all the manouevres. I developed the ability long ago to do one thing while thinking about another. You, on the other hand, will now struggle with knowing how to swallow whilst eating..."[/b][/color] From outside the sealed office door, Richard Feynman could see the darkest black and brightest lights flickering from within the room in the crack under the door as Nixon did his terrible deed. Minutes later the door swund open and Nixon strode out followed by 5 levitating felons, all drooling. [color=9e0b0f][b]"It's clean."[/b][/color] said Nixon. [color=9e0b0f][b]"The plans were still safely locked away in the safe. I did a magic sweep of the lock. No key has been used since our last visit."[/b][/color] [color=00aeef][b]"Excellent."[/b][/color] Replied FDR. [color=00aeef][b]"It would seem that once again we have nothing to fear but fear itself."[/b][/color] Another portal tore open and Nixon strode through the vortex, dribbling criminals in tow. FDR rolled towards the gateway, but stopped and wheeled around to address Feynman. [color=00aeef][b]"I know that you will struggle with what happened here today, Richard. We often have tough decisions in this world today. I only ask that you judge us by the enemies we have made."[/b][/color] With that he chomped down on his cigarette holder and wheeled his way through the portal. [hr] [h3]A Week Later[/h3] Isaac sat in full recline, in the living room of his Little Ulster house. Lit only by the television's glow as he watched the nightly news throw everything he'd neglected to deal with in his face as he "wasted" his time setting himself up. To the right of his Lay-Z-Boy rested two bottles; the remains of the two six packs of Carters Sparkling Ale he'd been pumping. The nightly ritual of draining beers until his body would numb enough to allow him to sleep. Whilst he never felt the pain he accrued from his alter-ego's activities it nonetheless kept him awake at nights, staring at the ceiling unable to sleep unless he medicated himself. Beer, he found, worked as well as anything, he liked the taste and it was easy to get ahold of. Even if Carters didn't export to the US, it wasn't a problem for Isaac anymore. An archer is critically wounding criminals across Lost Haven... Giant frigging craters which had War-Pulse's brand of reckless endangerment written all over them... Icon had sorted out Hybrid... New York seemed to be investing in whatever crazy pills Lost Haven had been downing in steady supply as there had been strange sitings and goings on across the city - even the Museum of Natural History. If Isaac didn't have his own experiences of how crazy this world could be he'd doubt it himself... Out West Pacific Point seemed to be having its own craziness as well. In fact he'd almost interfered when he heard the name Blue Blur come to the surface, but the situation resolved itself before it came to that. Still, it was a curious and noteworthy point of mention, Isaac once considered seeking out Blur amongst others when he found himself on this world but then he decided against it... The screen crackled with static, before the silhouette of a mysterious figure came into view. “People of America, we find ourselves at the precipice. For far too long, our elected leaders and those who have been put into place to protect us from the threats that we face have failed to act. Instead, they have sat idly by and watched as freaks in capes, mages and monsters have taken the security of this world into their own hands. For the most part, the people have accepted the rule of gods amongst us, at the detriment of humankind.” The man in shadows spoke through a voice modulator, pausing to allow his words to find their mark with dramatic effect. “But let me ask you, how long? How long before these so call saviors decide that playing hero is not enough? How long before they turn their powers against us?” The man asked, again pausing for effect. Isaac sat in silence and absorbed every word, another swig of beer his only distraction. “We cannot sit by and wait for these beings to decide that it is time that rushing to our aid and solving our problems is no longer prudent. We cannot wait for them to decide that it is us, the human race, that is the problem. And we can no longer wait for institutions that have been put into place to protect us from such a cataclysm to follow their charter and do what must be done. So we have taken it upon ourselves to take the necessary steps to protect all of humanity from the threat of the meta humans and all of their ilk. Tonight, we have completed multiple, simultaneous operations against known threats. We have also eliminated the organization known as STRIKE, for their failure to act against hostile forces. We will no longer tolerate the meta human threat to our world, nor those who support them. We will continue to act, until all meta humans, as well as those who provide material aid or support for their kind, are wiped from the face of the Earth.” The man paused as he leaned toward the camera, however, even as he moved closer to the camera, his face remained obscured in shadow. “Inaction is no longer acceptable. We are the last line of defense against these monsters, and we will not rest until every last one of them is eradicated. We are here, we are everywhere. We are the… HOUNDS OF HUMANITY.” Static, and then returned to regular programming. Where the news anchor who was previously providing news coverage sat in stunned silence for a few seconds before gathering herself. She continued the original story for a few seconds, presumably stalling whilst the network came up with a graphic for the most recent event. Then at that story's conclusion they immediately went to what was now the current biggest story. The only thing that would be on the 24 hour news cycle for the coming days... The Hounds of Humanity. Isaac flicked the tv off and sat in darkness. [b]"I bet I'll get dragged into this..."[/b]