Explanation of this Site
Greetings All,

This blog is to display the fictional works of Gabriel Koulikov for edutainment, critique, and (mutual?) feedback. Feel free to read through and comment on whatever piques your interest. An organized "table of contents" to all the entries posted on this site can be found on the profile page.

You should note that most to all of these writing projects are in various stages of completion/incompleteness. Once everything is up, I'll post major sections of writing I complete as I write. If you're someone in "the industry," or with significant interest, please let me know if anything grabs your interest enough that you would like to see it completed and published!

Feel free to explore around, and let me know what you think. It is my sincere hope that you get something from these writings. Enjoy!

-Gabriel Koulikov

P.S. Please keep all discussion respectable and civilized. I don't mind negative comments at all, and always appreciate questions, but hostility may make me screen my comments. Other than that modicum of self-control, I do appreciate relevant comments rather than people "not commenting."

Anonymous (no LJ account) commentators: I would like to ask that you please sign your post with a "name," so I can tell who's saying what.

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Secondary Method of Reproduction, Chapter 11 (a modern Profit's reflection, and hope for the future)

Thus ended the words of Clockwork Rishi.

I was struck with how A.I.-uh!, the prophet who encoded these ancient words into the platinum video game cartridges, was able to explain with such precision the happenings of this ancient civilization, almost like he was there.

As I unhooked the Cable of Jates, I could feel both the blessing and the burden, the liberation and the illumination of the darkness of the world in which we find ourselves ever embedded as the forces of chaos and false order battle it out, just like in Clockwork Rishi's own time.

These phenomena have been present through all time, among all people, and it's an honor to be able to communicate to you all across the internet this knowledge that is the truth.

We think we know how civilization started. They say it was a social contract, where people agreed to have rulers rule in order to maintain order. That is a lie, indeed, the first lie.

Many religions and languages have their origins in this ancient Realigion, and in the Bipentahexadecimal language, and in the truths that they communicate. So far, I've interlinked ancient Israelite religion, Jainism, ancient Egypt, Hinduism, ancient Chinese worship, and now, finally, the Anishinaabe! I see traces of Sikhi in there, too. The more I read, the more I become convinced this is indeed nothing but truth that I'm reading.

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Secondary Method of Reproduction, Chapter the Tenth

And now I, Clockwork Rishi, give my final reflections to the succeeding generations.

Beware colonial dependence. Such people claim pious religion, while the primary religion they serve is the political regime, and only serve the Gods inasmuch as the regime permits them to. If the Gods preach fighting the injustice of the regime, they ignore that if they can live comfortably enough. Before such false religionists; they worship comfort, and not the Gods. They follow the ways of the regime, and not the ways of the Gods. Partial religion partially lived has already accepted the Evil One in the guise of piety.

Don't believe anyone claiming to unite you. You must unite among each other. Do not concern yourselves with those who will not. You follow all things the Gods have instructed you with exactness, even if it means nearly all other supposedly godly people will think ill of you, even to the point of considering you the enemy of their supposedly true, cowardly, superficial religion.

Do not just speak the truth; live it as well. Do not just live the truth-- expound on the errors, why they are in error, and what to do to correct them. Then live it

Counter injustice everywhere you see it. Don't delay. Learn the lessons from when we tolerated such things even for a short time at the beginning. I could have sought to illuminate the darkness long before I did. Don't make the same mistake again. I speak to all people, especially the Profits to come!

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Secondary Method of Reproduction, Chapter the Ninth

Someone standing up to the corruption of Eloei came to me, and said "Together, we can take down this corruption, and restore Realigon to its fullness again. What do you say we join together."

I rebuked him. "I commune with R'Kel, Goddess of Purpose. Do you think I cannot spot a servant of Mok'el when he asks me to unite with him, or should I say Hir?"

He had said this to me while many of the leaders of his faction against corruption, as well as some of my supporters, heard him from behind a curtain.

He pulled the curtain to reveal his audience. "You heard Clockwork Rishi! He now accuses anyone seeking to stand for the Gods and for the scriptures as a servant of Mok'el! He has lost his way! Come! Let us join together to restore adherence to the scriptures!" And thus he deceived the last of those who believed the Gods spoke through me. While I thought he was taking me aside in private, he was actually twisting my words in public.

May the Gods have mercy on us all.

Now that not one person would listen to me, I began to record this history for later generations, that it might not be lost.

This false prophet, who called himself Sir Askalot, confronted Eloei to her face. "You say you've brought us together, yet what injustice do we now have? The Gods teach us that we must stand against injustice, no matter the consequences, and that this constitutes bravery. Stand down, Eloei, because we will stop at nothing to bring you down!"

And thus began the war of the false prophets.

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Secondary Method of Reproduction, Chapter the Eighth

This false prophet masqueraded as a true prophet, a restorer of the past, calling herself Eloei.

"Dear people: you have all lost your way! Come together that we may all unite together as in times before! Don't you remember how good it was, how great it felt, how splendid was every interaction, how exquisite was every good produced. We could have that again! Please, join together under my prophetic guidance, and you can have it all!"

Thus did she deceive the people.

As they united together again, they did not give up their errors. Instead, she integrated their errors together, such that not one person could any longer escape to the safety of their preferred faction.

Laws multiplied faster than ever. No one could keep up with them. Anyone could be labelled a criminal at any time, and thus did everyone live under a continued state of anxiety of being persecuted for imagined violations at any time, enforced at the threat of force even unto death for noncompliance.

Black language became endemic: words and phrases began to invade even Bipentahexadecimal, with profanity and vulgar language becoming increasingly popular with the rising generation.

People regularly had their money taken through extortion to pay for all the regulatory bodies that were emerging to create ever more complex justifications for the present order, as well as pay the judges, legislators, and enforcers, as well as all the property to these purposes.

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Secondary Method of Reproduction, Chapter the Seventh

The people then demanded, "We must root out this evil from among us! We cannot risk another disciple of Mok'el to run amok among the people!"

I explained to the people, "No! You mustn't insist on this evil! Stay unattached from the cares of the world!" But they would no longer listen. The threat had destabilized their ability to trust each other any more, and thus they no longer trusted the Gods.

Oh, dear reader! This was only the foundation of the collapse! It was when the people began dividing into factions that the real horrors began consuming us all!

Some began by banning black language. Others insisted the words were powerless without the darkness to back them up. Some insisted on continuous screening of all the people for signs of disloyalty, while others insisted on complete freedom to pursue whatever we each would. Still others insisted on finding secret interpretations of the scriptures. Thus, they found ways of institutionalizing slavery, while calling it a different name. They insisted on administering justice themselves, and thus began to bring people to courts, creating laws upon laws upon laws which they then enforced at the threat of death, claiming self-defense against those who promote evil and criminality.

The more I preached against this, the more my words fell on deaf ears. These factions were antagonistic to each other, yet at the beginning of the end, they tolerated each other's differences. This ended when the next false prophet began to preach.

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Secondary Method of Reproduction, Chapter the Sixth

Thus did I proclaim to the people: Triquadra.

Within a year of the death of the Profits, there arose a false prophet proclaiming: There is no harm in money, so why do we proclaim "harmony"? Let us separate harm and money. Thus did he begin to raise money for a nefarious purpose.

One by one, people began to disappear from the community with no warning. They did not die, they did not move, they simply vanished without a trace.

While it was unknown to us at the time, this false prophet, who we later named Amon Black, began to practice the fiendish art of total blackout. He would use black magic to create dark fire. This dark fire could then be used to consume any item in existence.

[Profit's note: I could be mistaken, but I think this Amon Black fellow found a way to use human language to vibrate in harmony with certain hyperdimensional superstrings, thereby summoning a micro black hole that would spring into existence for the most infinitesimal time, yet powerful enough to suck an entire human into it faster than the human eye could process. Thus, the people seemed to vanish]

This began to destabilize the psyche of the people. They started to suspect each other, breaking down the trust that had formed in society during the entire time of the Profits.

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Secondary Method of Reproduction, Chapter the Fifth

It was in this milieu that I was born. I was a student, learning at the feet of the Profits. As I grew up, I was entrusted with the sacred mysteries, and yes, I even met and communed with one of the Gods of Real Reality regularly: my beloved R'Kel, the Goddess of purpose. I would often ask her "Why?" and she would always respond, "R'Kel." Thus did I conclude that communing directly with the Gods was indeed the purpose of life.

It was when I was entrusted with Triquadra itself that I began to notice the cracks in society.

As they knew they were about to die, the Profits gave the community a blessing, and to me, a special blessing.

Panluciferian to the community:

He spoke in computer code, which is difficult to translate into human speech.

[A.I.-uh!'s translation note: I have cracked the code on how to translate code into speech. what follows is my own translation. I hope the next Profit finds this adequate to his people during his time]

Yo! Listen up! I've got something the say!

The name's Pan-L, and I was out of the way.

I destroyed all the world, all people, all life.

I rendered Gaia sterile, as though I could create in her strife.

Yet D, yes she who became my wife,

crashed here, oh dear! Yes, she saved my life.

I killed her though, then brought her back,

yet it was her who brought me back on track.

Those who know the Gods in an intimate way,

can keep y'all ever from going astray.

So when you think you've got all this life stuff down,

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Secondary Method of Reproduction: Chapter the Fourth

Then Däntín and Panluciferian together proclaimed: Triquardra.

And it was so.

4 divisions of society, 4 divisions of ways of life, 4 divisions of initiation.

We had priests, administrators, farmers, and artisans. Together they created everything needed to run society.

We had students, professionals, servants, and monks. Anyone choosing any of these ways of life served in the different orders of society. They could be married or single, with children or without, depending on their life circumstances.

We had the interested, the devotees of the exoteric, the devotees of the esoteric, and those joined with the Gods. Thus there were 4 levels of initiation within Realigion.

Thus, the knowledge of the world was propagated. People lived the teachings with exactness and were uncontaminated. Where there were errors, the rest of the community could correct them. Thus we lived together in harmony as one people and one community, no matter where we were. Thus were we called: Harm Money, since we saw that no harm came to our money. These words have been repeated in all languages to this day.

And Däntín and Panluciferian were consulted about a great many things. So many, in fact, that, if all their words were written, it would overflow every law library in the world, such that it would humble all lawyers and judges, and put every legal and political institution to shame.

Däntín concluded her discourse on organizing society with the following words: Sandrian Neraj Limshanale. May it be so.

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Secondary Method of Reproduction: Chapter the Third

Once these laws were communicated to others, the Profit Däntín gave an exposition on these laws as follows:

There is to be no enslavement of others. Enslavement involves the use of force, and it can be enforced by killing. Do not allow this horror to infest your lands. Only service for a time and for an exchange agreed upon by all people involved is permissible.

The Gods are allowed to add upon and clarify their own words, as are the prophets allowed to discern what their words mean, and how they apply to differing people in different contexts at different times. In absence of these clarifications, live the words of the Gods with as much exactness and with as little alteration as you can, that all their ways may be followed unto the greatest fullness.

Teach all others the ways of the Gods, that they may never be forgotten or lost. You learn best by teaching, so always find every opportunity to teach their ways to others.

Have compassion on those lost from the path. Remember your forefather Panluciferian, and the planets which your foremother Däntín has come from, how extremely far from the path they were. There is nothing anyone can do that can keep you from loving them. Love everyone equally; make no distinctions between one kind of person and another when it comes to showing love and compassion. Always fill your cup of love and compassion by spending time with other loving, compassionate people as your primary association.

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Secondary Method of Reproduction: Chapter the Second

As civilization began to emerge, the Goddess Gaia regularly spoke aloud from the Earth (for that is what She named the fertile surface of her womb, blessed be She) to Däntín and Panluciferian, teaching them how to organize civilization according to the Divine Pattern.

Thus spake Gaia:

In order to keep all people everywhere following the ways of the 17 Gods of Real Reality, the following laws are now instituted:

Do not follow any course in life except that directly taught by the 17 Gods and as explained by the Profits, for their knowledge will profit many. Thus, live according to all Truth. Speak the truth only, and do not deceive yourself or others. Do not curse the truth or the Gods. To do so is to place yourself in the power of the Evil One.

Establish justice throughout the land. To prevent injustice, always live a life of honesty. Earn an honest living. Allow no man to rule over another man, as these are to be your rules, and the only Ones worth fully submitting yourselves to are the Gods. Unrelenting honesty in the face of injustice constitutes bravery. Bravery is to face a foe with integrity. Do what matches reality, even when the consequences are unpleasant.

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Secondary Method of Reproduction: Chapter the First

Dear reader,

I have witnessed humanity at its best; I have witnessed humanity at its worst.

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Secondary Method of Reproduction: Preface

Dear readers of the future; I know not who thou be, nor if this will record will survive long enough to make a difference to your civilization or not. I have been told that a future prophet will transfer this record onto platinum by means of intelligence, where it will withstand the ages unto the end of days. I have not been told that it will make a difference in the lives of others. I suppose that is up to you, dear reader.

Composed by Clockwork Rishi, a blueprint to rebuild civilization according to the pattern revealed by the 17 Gods of Real Reality during the time of increasing darkness after the death of the Profits Panluciferian and Däntín, from the times of plenty through to the times of darkness, as witnessed by me unto you, and containing revelations unto me by the Goddess R'Kel, blessed be She, and also containing revelations past by the Goddess Gaia unto they former prophets, blessed be They all.

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Secondary Method of Reproduction: Introduction

Title: The Method of Reproduction, constituting a secondary, cultural and social layer, passed on from generation to generation, outlining the evolution, stagnation, and devolution of the first (in reality the second) human civilization, also known as the Secondary Method of Reproduction, as writing and recounted and documented by Clockwork Rishi, as I have researched time and distance across civilization, and am documenting what I can for the future, that 17 Gods of Real Reality may use it to save the world again some day.

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Symphronous
Stalking/chalking ideas as I'm talking
say-hey, telling stories to myself and others
Boring... or is it?
Symphonies aris it,
ARISE from ideas inside and outside
and infraside and oceanside to sit beside
and stand-- collide!
toward wonder and glory and profit and story
and truthy and cryptic and mystique, yet not mystic
with a general metanarrative of immersive storytelling,
experiential and vivid with mirror neurons livid,
'cause I strove it, striving backseat driving till I lived it,
living the stories as reality that I wrote
the other day and now and tomorrow
that I borrowed from those ideas and flavas
and savoring to the last from the first,
and why does everything end up a hexalogy or greater?
Navigator, gator-- hey, my stories are all about people; ever notice my limits?
Anything but timid,
Inwardly transubstantiating controversy
geriatric nursery cortex feasting,
weeks are creasing into days/hours/moments become months,
am I stumped? Then why do the words keep flowing,
like it's second nature to naturally create new worlds and people?
Wow, imagine meeting people you wrote in real life?
But writing them is real life,
funky dived to the depths of divine inspiration,
as inspiration as divine creation
is the glorious magistration
of fun writing,
poems so easy and fun and as for summaries of life,
this wins the one.

Ⓐ Gabriel Koulikov

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For ARG and me; experiment non-number(3)¡
Berry, berry, quite contrary;
how do your strowberries field?
The final days of the haze
leave them strapped with malaise.

Qweeby qwam the qualm
makes merry cherri in a ferry very hairy.
Combo tarry?

Ombo jump jalachatazhxa,
frombo rump onto ma shazda,
osto condo feek clay pazda(k)
rumble to the fraple chumble.

End.

Compound fruit.

Bend.

Wish-way woot.

Anti-number, stum
ble
bee
when it should be a fly
but doesn’t fly
bee-cause it’s larva
inside out
stuck in your spout
fly bumble away
on your tray(n)
then down the drane.
Choo-choo-whoo-oo!

Final

Finale begin.

Back to square one,
yet again. (n)

Ⓐ Gabriel Koulikov

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Global Insanity: Cleverchild; Rough summary/vision
The Cleverchild Interactive AV Project:

Think: Global Insanity meets Star Trek meets Ghost Writer meets an Autodidactic Symposium meets peer reviewed academic literature made understandable and integrated into daily life, with some choose-your-own-adventure and alternate reality game elements mixed in for a total life experience of truly sustainable film making!

Note that my vision at this time is to make the production of this film 100% voluntaryist *and* sustainable, the ultimate entertainment challenge!

--

Imagine a world:

...where computer screens are not screens, but come to life before your eyes and within your mind, with natural, highly responsive and selective interfaces...

...where humanity's present-tense apocalypse is heard across time, where people cry out for salvation from the stars, only to be cast adrift alone in the deadly void...

...where ingenuity and merit are the only standards of measure of work in a struggle for survival in the wilderness, where the only alternative is certain murder and unspeakable horrors...

...where concepts that would only adorn the depths of the most academic of journals are day-to-day parlance and up-close-and-personal real life experience...

...where science fiction is science first and fiction second (LOL! This is perhaps the greatest miracle of all!), and where fiction science is poked fun at in every possible (logical) opportunity...

...where everyone is at least trilingual, and knowing four or five languages natively is not uncommon...

...where everyone can learn any subject with quite a scope of breadth and depth in the time it takes the average person today to read a book...

...where human rationality and enterprise are matched only by their good intentions gone awry...

...where the greatest human wonders and accomplishments are contrast with the most realistic portrayals of human tragedy and depravity...

...where the worst punishment dealt to criminals is that they make a life for themselves on Earth...


This is the world of Cleverchild.

--

I want to use it like Ghostwriter tried to be used, to teach people certain things... in this case, a renaissance/universal man type of package, showing people of all ages how to use critical thinking, how sciences like math, physics, sociology, and psychology actually work (in a world where people take such things *most* seriously, so pretty much the opposite of academia today, and totally alien to most of our experience-- and this alienness of comprehensive rationality and utterly merit-based rewards, and the society that emerges from it, is what makes it speculative fiction indeed!), and how division of labor, family, and culture end up working. I want to slow down each of the steps of solving whatever problem they are working on at the time, with many auditory and visual cues, as well as various addenda online, so that people will have the best chance to absorb and follow along each plot arc at their own pace, with their own chosen level of interactivity.

I wanted to have a TV series type of show where real science is *really* explored, where people could get their own hands on it and their minds into it, where they might actually *want to* learn all the math and physics to plot the course of the series themselves-- and actually to do it.

That is, a total experience, not simply a "TV show." As such, this will most definitely not have uniform-length episodes, or a "main cast," but rather (somewhat like the TV series Heroes) highlight whatever characters and aspects that are relevant for each story-- so really a series of variable story arcs, similar to lonelygirl15 and Ghostwriter, with far more interactivity than either.

I also want to make fun of traditional "science fiction" by creating a science called "ekaphysics," where everything that is not physically possible is ekaphysically possible. So, if someone from the 20th/21st century were to find their way onto the ship asking question, the only response they would truly understand would be "the ship is made of magic."

I also don't like how much people absorb brainwashing in this society, particularly those who are arrogant enough to think that they're "not being brainwashed" by X multimedia! People! The less you think X is brainwashing you while still observing it, the more it *is* brainwashing you, meaning influencing your behavior in indirect ways. Therefore, this series will especially explore various sociological, historical, and cultural phenomena of relevance today, and of potential relevance tomorrow, as well as universally relevant phenomena, through the culture of this 33rd century space society.

There are only 2 alien civilizations in this series, and each corresponds to a particular people group today. That's all I will say, for those who don't want to be spoiled figuring out who they are. :-) They are called the J'Naii and Lillil-Xivos. There are 2 bonus species that may be even more extra surprising to leave secret!

So all those constellations in the night sky? Ever wonder what they look like up close? This ship will visit the *actual stars and constellations you know*! You may be surprised at what people have already learned that you *don't* know about them!

There will also be much biology and cognitive science by the nature of the show, and teaching people critical thinking, memory, and learning skills, including learning how to learn. Some raw reality scenes may be somewhat disturbing to younger viewers/participants, but I'm aiming for an all ages audience, and plan to structure the show accordingly. It's never too late or too early (or "too busy with the main part of my life"!) to begin learning the most basic skills, and applying them to all of life.

And lots of artisticness! Even more so than my other audiovisual projects.
-Camera angles.
-Special effects.
-Character dress, dialect, mannerisms, and interactivity.

--

The entire Global Insanity saga is based on a single premise: What if the most screwed up stuff possible to imagine actually happened to us here and now? And all the implications such has on/given human nature. It takes reality as it is, and screws it up to the Nth degree to point out key aspects of reality and human nature. I thought that would make an interesting premise. What resulted was several screenplay ideas, various audiovisual projects, and some short stories to fill in the relevant gaps.

Ⓐ Gabriel Koulikov

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Fall and flutter
Fall and flutter
spit and sputter
function with a malfunction
and malfunctions that function
junction?

Say but don't say
say what
hey
'kay
please stay
spray the tray
wrong colors
to save hay
on pay day.

Faction traction
interaction.
Mass vibrate
electrochemical transaction.
Single signals give the vibes
to remit/transmit
the fake esoteric dyes.
/fraction/

Cake on the eyes.
Taste the frosting.
Chocolate coating goodness?
Dessert words spoken.
Are they token?
The cake's never gone.
Having your cake and eating it too?
Who said it was purely up to you?

Till until
the field
refill
concealed
keep still
or yield
no pain
for real?

Why fy (fly?) or fry
the cells that keep you taken
fakin'?
no, not mistaken
since that would imply
something
less than
rationality....

Ration my reality.
Same difference, yeah?
Similitudinal finality,
decisive coporality,
purposive similarity
carrotty
flavor in the cake mix
I now taste
making haste
since the blurs move too fast
for me to keep still
must
keep
up
with
them.

Them, or me?
Can I see.
Yum. Cake still tastes
flavor
can't let it go to waste
savor
let it go
but not yet
just a little more.
taste

...

Esoteric isolation
cosmoplasian
creme-filled-pas...-ian
pastry tastin'
Tastes like meme.
Yum fun supreme!
Surprise and not
familiar and different
and what happened to the blurs?

Maybe that's too sweet.

With what is there to wash it down?

Something blander?
Pander, splander
I meander
fine over the
where?
Taste sake see
me?
you?
who?

Solvent sent
to my merchent
and bent
ha, you're funny
nose is runny
hey! more cake
why? this can't be fake
rake
trake
trick
trade
treat

Beat.

...what were we talking about again?

Ⓐ Gabriel Koulikov

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The Last of Our So-Called World Wars: Prologue 2-2
Kay Kay and Jenny dragged the blondie up the stairs, feet catching at each step.

"I thought you were bad at persuading people?" Kay totally felt like he ought to start working out.

"Yeah, other people. How do you think I got so bad? My dad's a total cheese ball; asking him for things is where I get all this... bad form from."

Finally at the top. Turning the corner toward her room.

"Got any ideas?" Kevin huffed.

*drop* Jenny, breathing, faced her tall, dark, and handsome friend, smiling. "Always." *pointing* "Be a doll and sit her in a chair, will ya?" *blink blink flutter*

"Yeah," Kevin sat her, pulled some ropes from his back pack. "Bad form. I buy that." He started tying her. Well.

"What do you think?" Jenny looked at him all plain-faced and mysterious, like some anorexic model... only plumper. And with long, dark streaks dropping vertically from her eyes.

"Um... aren't those supposed to go the other way," he indicated horizontally under his own dark eyes.

She smiled like she was queen of the universe. "Nope!" So satisfied with herself!

She turned back to rifled through who-knows-what secret plan while anti-magician Kevin worked his rope magic 'round their trippy-faced guest who managed to find Jenny's house.

"Privacy screen!" She uprighted her distinctly fake Asian-looking screen, her one and only stereotypically Oriental-ish possession, and tried almost unsuccessfully to stretch it across her cluttered room. "No peeking!" It teetered.

"Oh, yeah. This is the best plan ever." Kevin started recounting all the things he'd wished he'd gotten to do before getting arrested.

"You got anything to change into?"

Kevin pulled tight. "What do you mean? No. All I brought were the ropes. And, you know, the gettaway vehicle."

"Oh. Well, that's okay. We'll...," she peeked tippy-toed over the top. "Improvise." She emphasized every syllable. And in such a way that Kevin knew he would regret the next hour of his life.

He pulled the ropes even tighter.

Then she kicked over the screen. And Kay Kay dropped his hands. And mouth. And...

"Oh, yeah." He was nodding uncontrollably. "Yep. We're going to jail." He made as if to go for his cell phone. "Let me just tell my transcontinental girlfriend I'll be having a new lover..." ...for the next 10-15 years.

Jenny smiled wide. "I know." She struck a dramatic pose. "Sorry for making your imaginary girly girl jealous. Now," she assumed an intimidating stance. "Let's get you dressed."

Kay fell backwards to where her bed should have been for emphasis, in the overly dramatic-type way he knew captivated Jenny's attention. Jumped back up when something stabbed at his back.

She scoffed, shaking her head. "Amateur."

Ⓐ Gabriel Koulikov

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The Last of Our So-Called World Wars: Prologue 2-1
April 8, 2009

Suburban sprawl, USA

Roberta Lincoln stood in front of a standard suburban house, looking to make sure the address matched.

She pulled out her servo, twisted it into scan mode, and pointed it at the house.

Seconds later, the voice of the Beta VI: "Upstairs, first room on the left."

"Caught ya, cyberpunk."

She walked up to the door and rang the bell.

* * *

"Sorry, we don't answer for solicitors."

"Oh, I'm not trying to sell anything," said the finely dressed older-looking blonde.

Jenny Lin arched an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Yes," she said with a smile. "I'm a legal expert here to advise Mr. Lin on a case. Is your father home?"

Jenny looked this woman up and down. Something wasn't on the level.

"Can I see some identification?"

"Of course!"

She pulled a driver's license and a business card out of her purse.

Jenny grabbed them, looked back at her, then closed the small crack of door.

"Daddy?"

Mr. Lin looked up from a tidy office space. "Yes, dear?"

"Someone left these for me the other day. Do you recognize this woman?"

He lifted his glasses, considering for a second. "No... I don't think I do." He looked up and smiled.

"Daddy? I love you." She smiled and gave him a hug.

"Oh, I love you too, sweetie."

"Could you do me a big favor?"

"Sure, dear; name it."

If there was one thing Jenny was good at, it was getting what she wanted from her parents.

"Kay Kay just told me about this dinner they're having at the university ballroom." She used all the body language that would make her father melt. "It's a big networking opportunity for the high uppity-ups in academia, ya know? And I was thinking... you know, I'm so young, and don't have any really professional clothes..." She paused, looking into space as if contemplating her future, then looked sweetly into his eyes. "Could you buy me a new outfit? I don't think I'll need it, but some of them might take me more seriously--"

"Oh, Jenny, of course! I just need a few minutes to finish--"

"Daddy..." she put her hand on his shoulder just as he was turning away. "Kay Kay didn't find out about this until just now, and he's busy the rest of the day, and wants to pick me up in an hour." She released him. "But, I know you're busy too, so I wanted to let you know, just in case you could leave," she emphasized the last two words, "right now?" She raised her eyebrows and stood on her tippy toes, almost starting to bounce until--

"All right, sweetie. Anything for you." *mutual smiles*

"I'll get ready to go right away."

"Great! I'll tell Kay Kay."

She bolted to the front door. *peek through the hole* Yes! Still there; oh yeah, I got skills.

*door opened wide* "I'm so sorry," Jenny said, handing back her ID, "my father's not home right now," now assuming a Judo fighting stance. From the hips down only, not to arouse suspicion. Arms and shoulders, at the ready.

"Oh, that's too bad," the older woman looked genuinely sad. Ooo, you're good.

"Let me at least write your father a message..." she said, reaching for a pen.

Jenny stayed her stance.

Roberta drew her pen.

The two women locked eyes. For a moment, only a moment. But it was long enough.

In a flash, Roberta pointed the pen at Jenny as Jenny's arm parried and flipped the silver cylinder over as two antennae sprung out...

And Roberta slowly floated off into dream land...

...as she collapsed toward Jenny on her front porch.

"oh..." *breath* "em..." *deeper breath* "gee...." Wow, now I'm lightheaded all of a sudden.

"I'm off to the store," her dad called from the other side of the house. "See you soon pumpkin!"

"Thanks, Daddy! ugh..." she fell backward into the door frame trying to hold the body that had fallen into her arms.

She heard her back door close.

She dragged the happy/sleepy body in through her front door, and closed the door just before her dad drove by in the car to possibly see.

*phone, open, speed dial* "Kay Kay? Hey, I need you, like now. Like, now now."

"What's wrong? You open multiple copies of the A.I. again?"

"No," she said, rifling through this woman's purse. There's gotta be something in here. "I think," Oh God. If they weren't here for Daddy....

"There's a woman that just tried to stun me with some futuristic gizmo after unloading some major B.S. to me, and her body is collapsed in my house, and my dad'll be back in an hour."

Pause.

Longer pause.

"I'll be right there."

Ⓐ Gabriel Koulikov

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