FAQing Hostile Subcultural Mutant Otaku Versus the Mundanes Spawned by Twoflower Chapter Ten By: Isawa Noshinto, Phoenix Clan Novelist <><><><><><><> PREVIOUSLY: Vixen leaned against the metal doorframe. "We're stopping off at the RPGers base to try and get some more supplies." Vixen found herself looking at the floor. "You'll be staying with them." "What! Why?" "We, we're heading to Seattle. It's a long trip and none of us know what's out there." She paused for a moment. "I, we don't need a newbie like you getting in the way." <><><><><><><> Dave was shocked speechless. After all they'd been through together, Vixen still regarded him as a nuisance. Nothing more than a useless newbie. His very spirit was crushed under the weight of his ruined dreams. He wasn't an Otaku. And now he never would be. Looking up at her, he croaked the only word he could manage. "Why?" 'Because I don't want to see you get killed.' The words leapt into her head before she even knew what she was thinking, and she wondered if her decision had been for his benefit or her own. 'Because I couldn't bear to watch you die.' "It's a dangerous place out there, Dave." Vixen turned and walked away, unable to meet his eyes. "You never know when someone might decide to blow your head off." <><><><><><><> As fate would have it, a young man with just such an intention was making his way across the wastes of northern Florida. Evan drove like a man possessed, pushing his newfound land rover to the limit. He'd been lucky to find the vehicle abandoned in the middle of a parking lot. It was woefully low on fuel and had three flat tires, but he'd managed to get it running. As he labored away at jerry-rigging the land rover back into working order his mind recalled happy days spent in similar work alongside his brother on the cars at the Tomorrowland Speedway. Even the most difficult of jobs seemed like light work when they tackled it together, talking and laughing with each other. Evan gripped the steering wheel more tightly, digging his fingernails into the leather until they bled. 'Damn you, Dave!' His luck had continued when he came across a small group of travelers from the Triple-A tribe. While Ears didn't normally associate with such vagabonds, he recognized the opportunity when he saw it. In the end it cost him a week's ration of candy bars and half his ammo to repair the vehicle's many defects and stock up on gasoline. But now that he had a reliable means of travel he could pursue his tormentor that much further. 'No matter how long it takes...' <><><><><><><> Sherman pressed onward across the desert, bringing his passengers ever closer to the village of the Role Players. Vixen entered the main cabin, only to be met by inquiring stares. She ignored the assembled others, staring intently at the sensor readings. With Sherman monitoring all nearby activity there was no need for her to do so. It simply gave her an excuse to avoid talking about her discussion with Dave. "Rachael?" Vixen continued to look away from the others as she spoke. "Didn't you say something once about having an uncle or something who joined the Role Players?" "Yes. He wasn't satisfied with the normal Goth lifestyle, so he went to a LARP Haven far to the south where everyone hides from the sun and people bite each other on the neck." "Good." The word sounded hollow as she said it. "Then you'll be okay if we drop you off here with Dave." The barest hint of a frown crossed the young GothÕs face. "... whatever." "I thought the Role Players mainly kept to themselves," remarked hiro. "The sect near OtakuLand West refuses to have anything to do with us or any other outsiders." B1FF looked up from the computer game he was playing. "1t w4s th3 s4m3 her3, but th3y st4rt3d tr4d1ng w1th us 4ft3r th3y d1sc0v3r3d s0m3th1ng c4ll3d 'B-E-S-M.' 4nd 1 m3t 0n3 0f th3m 0nc3 wh0 w4s t0t4lly nuts 0v3r 'R3c0rd of L0d0ss W4r.'" The jinruigakusha tapped his fingers against the hilt of his katana as he considered this new information. "Very interesting..." "Quiet," chided Vixen. "We're almost in radio range." Fiddling with the radio controls she attempted to contact the Role Players' Haven. Her efforts were rewarded as a heavily accented voice came over the speaker. "Hark! Identifieth thouselves! Be ye friendeth or foeth?" "We be friendeth ..." Vixen struggled to make sense of the Role Player's strange dialect. "Ah ... haveth you anyone whoeth speaketh normaleth ... eth?" "Pleaseth waiteth one momenteth." There was a pause as another person took over the radio. "We are still awaiting your identification." "We are an OtakuLand vessel, and we come in peace. We require some assistance and would like to use your facilities." There was a longer pause, presumably as he discussed the situation with the tribe's leaders. Finally, a reply came back. "Very well, OtakuLand vessel. Proceed to armory two. Welcome to Waterdeep, the Role Players' Haven." <><><><><><><> Elsewhere, deep within a chamber that was once secret but has since become very familiar to our readers, yet another meeting was being held. Even though little had changed since the last meeting, the Master insisted on holding regular conferences to discuss the project's status. Indeed, development reports and updates took up about half of the time required for the plan's implementation. The minions did not complain, however, for He was the Master and His will was not to be questioned. Plus, they rather liked the free donuts. The highest ranking of the assembled minions stood to give his report. "Our virus within the Ears reports that his efforts to subvert their high command have borne fruit. They are now under our control." "EXCELLENT," came the digital voice of the Master. "WITH THE LAST REMNANTS OF THE OTAKU ON THE RUN AND THE EARS UNDER OUR CONTROL THERE IS NO OTHER TRIBE IN THE REGION WHICH CAN THREATEN OUR POWER BASE. WHAT OF OUR VIRUS IN STARFLEET?" "Other than the arrival and subsequent departure of the aforementioned band of Otaku, he has nothing to report," another minion informed him. "All is normal and there are no remaining obstacles to Phase One." "FINALLY, WE CAN STRIKE AT OUR HATED ENEMIES, NEOK1BO AND AOL. ONCE THEY HAVE FALLEN THIS ENTIRE CONTINENT WILL BE OURS. AND THEN THE WORLD WILL KNOW THE TERROR THAT IS ... [Error: This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.]" The leader of the minions sighed. "It seems this meeting is adjourned until a programmer arrives. The Master has crashed. Again." <><><><><><><> "So," mused hiro, "this is Waterdeep." All around them, people walked about in outlandish costumes. Rangers and barbarians strutted around in whatever furs they could scrounge up while wizards puttered around in bathrobes and fake beards. Armored warriors bore entire cutlery sets strapped to their arms. Wandering minstrels performed on harmonicas and kazoos and thieves backstabbed each other with rubber daggers. A few bore the telltale signs that their high "attribute scores" were due in no small part to genetic manipulation, but there were also some who looked as if they could barely stand under the weight of their metal armor. B1FF's attention was drawn to a passing woman. Tall, blond and athletic, she was clad in no more than a pair of boots and a chain mail bikini. The armor did little to protect, and did even less to conceal. "W0ah, m4n! S1s, 1 th1nk 1'm 1n l0v3!" "You say that every time you see a pretty girl," muttered Vixen. "Like the ditzy girl who used to work at the Nekohanten, or that green-skinned tramp back at StarFleet Command." "Th1s i5 d1ff3r3nt! Th4t b4b3 i5 s0000 k4wa11! 1'v3 g0tt4 m33t h3r!" "Fine. Just don't get into any trouble." Vixen stood by the tank, awaiting the village representative. "You gonna run off too?" "No," replied hiro. "I will remain here and assist you." "Fine." She stuck her head back inside the hatchway, calling to Dave and Rachael. "You two get your things together and shove off. Don't forget anything, because we're not coming back for a long time." Ignoring the pleading regrets in the back of her head, she refused to say goodbye. 'Besides,' she told herself, 'it'll be easier on them this way.' It wasn't long before Vixen and hiro were approached by a short old man in red robes. He held an elegantly carved wooden staff in one hand, and numerous small pouches hung from his belt. "Welcome, travelers. I am Elminster, archmage of Xagyg, master of the dungeon and chancellor of Waterdeep." "Thank you, oh noble host," greeted hiro, stepping nimbly in front of Vixen. "We require some supplies, fuel for our tan . . ah . . carriage, and whatever provisions you can spare." "We do have a small amount of food and supplies to spare, but I am afraid that we do not have sufficient stores to meet your needs." Elminster wrinkled his eyebrows together. "We are a poor village and we live by simple means." Vixen struggled not to scowl. Normally her first instinct would be to blow the wretched settlement to smithereens and take whatever she wanted from the wreckage that was left. With their supplies as low as they were, and no place left to take refuge, however, a much different approach was dictated. "Would you be interested in an entertainment device, capable of replaying a variety of performances?" The old man's eyes lit up. "You have such an artifact?! We have been without one since the Battle of Mordor last winter!" "I do. And I might consider trading it," she leaned in close, looking the old man straight in the eyes, "if I get everything I want." "I will see to it at once!" he cried. "Repairs, rest, food! Anything you need with be provided for you!" "Great." Remembering something else, Vixen made another request. "Would it be possible to use your radio? Ours isn't powerful enough to cover the distance needed." Elminster looked momentarily confused. "Our what? Oh! You must mean our telecommunication artifact. But of course! Anything for you, my honored guests!" He led the two Otaku to a large building. Upon entering, Vixen was astounded to see that it was a library, filled with actual books. "We have managed to salvage many of the old accessories and supplements," explained Elminster. "The rules still contain great gaps, but we hope someday to recover them all." Weaving a path among the stacks and shelves he brought them to a small room. Inside, another robed figure stood next to a large mass of circuits and wires. "Roland here will aid you with the proper communication spells. Please, do not hesitate to ask for anything you need." Bowing low, he turned and rushed off, presumably to make good on his grandiose promises. "Can you open up radio, er, magical communications with the Rurouni?" asked Vixen, handing the keeper of the radio a data sheet. "I want to tell them about some of the discoveries we've made." The young wizard studied the frequency before nodding. "I'll begin the ritual immediately." Turning to a set of radio controls, he began twisting knobs and chanting gibberish. "The Rurouni?!" hiro's face was a mask of disbelief. "Do you mean Kenishi and Arashi survived as well?" "Yeah," Vixen explained. "They were lucky enough to be away when OtakuLand went up in smoke. They've been searching for other survivors." "Hello?" Arashi's voice came over the speaker, loud and clear. "Who is this? How did you get this number?" "Arashi? It's me, Vixen. I'm calling from a Role Player village." "Ara! Vixen!" The smile on her face showed in her voice. "Kenishi dear! It's the Hiroshimas!" Vixen and hiro could hear Kenishi call out in the background. "Really? Great!" There was a clatter as he dropped whatever he was doing and rushed over to the Rurouni's radio set. "How's the kid doing?" "He's fine." Vixen forced her voice to remain neutral. "We're all fine." "That's good. Hey! We found a small group who'd taken refuge with the Geriatric Retirement Enclave," revealed Kenishi. "There are three more at SeaWorld. And there's word of a girl in a sailor fuku whose been seen wandering around near Fort Lott-ErDale. It looks like more than a few managed to luck out and survive the disaster." "We've picked up a castaway of our own," replied Vixen. "Another shady character from your checkered past." hiro stepped up to the microphone. "Konnichi wa, Kenishi-san, Arashi-san. It's good to hear your voices once again." "hiro! You old rascal! It's been ages! How are you?" "The same as always." Kenishi's voice grew suddenly serious. "Did - did you tell them?" "About OtakuLand West? Yes, I did. They plan to travel there." Vixen's jaw dropped open. "You knew?! You knew and you didn't tell us?!" "Please don't be mad," Arashi begged. "We wanted to tell you, but we weren't sure that you were ready for another shock so soon." "She's right," put in Kenishi. "We thought it would be better not to get your hopes up until we knew if we could actually make it there. But now that you know, there's no harm done, right?" Vixen chewed her lower lip. "Riiight." "Kenishi-san, if you can wait once you get to Lott- ErDale I will rendezvous with you," stated hiro, changing the subject. "I believe you will benefit from my aid." Kenishi chuckled. "Sure thing. Just like old times, neh?" "Indeed." Immersed in their shared recollections, the two men began to converse about the glories of their past. Momentarily forgotten, Vixen stood aside and scowled. 'Otaku elite, my ass. If he thinks he can get away with this shit, he can get bent.' <><><><><><><> After a lengthy chase, B1FF finally managed to locate the object of his affections in a small tavern. She stood at the bar, beckoning him to explore her deepest recesses. Making his way toward her, he envisioned the forbidden pleasures they would share. "H3y, b4b3! W4nn4 g0 f1nd s0m3 4ct10n?" She eyed him coldly. "I don't think so." "4w, c'm0n. Y0u 3v3r h34r 0f 'Dr4g0n Kn1ght?' W3 c0uld g0 t0 my pl4c3 4nd 1'll t3ll y0u 4ll 4b0ut 1t ..." "Is there a problem here?" B1FF looked up to see a huge, man-shaped wall of muscle and flesh towering over him. A titanic blade was slung across the giant's back, and his face looked as if someone had smashed it with an anvil. "N0p3. N0 pr0bl3m. 1 w4s ju5t l3av1ng ..." Backing away slowly, B1FF made his way toward the exit. Dedication to hentai studies or no, even he knew when to cut his losses. Upon reaching the doorway, he turned to take a final peek at his vision of loveliness. As he watched, she removed her metal bra. While this would normally have provided B1FF with a small thrill, the fact that she removed her breasts along with it ruined any hopes of titillation. Unable to look away, he watched as she removed the latex mask that was her face and hair to reveal a gnarled, unmistakably masculine visage. "Quite a costume, Graak," laughed the giant warrior. "Even that outsider was fooled." "You think so?" Taking off her (his!) boots, the costumed Role Player scratched at a pair of itching, hairy calves. "Maybe I should have taken him up on his offer." B1FF ran off to be sick. <><><><><><><> Vixen waited until everyone had said their good-byes and the radio connection was terminated before wheeling on hiro. "What do you mean you're going to the Rurouni?!" she shouted. "You can't do that! We need you to guide us!" "After the devastation of the war there were but a few people remaining who even knew the way to America's western coast," replied hiro. "Yet we Jinruigakusha braved the unknown wilds and returned with that knowledge. We crossed the wide ocean, discovered the location of Japan, delved deep beneath the waves and uncovered the ruins of ancient Tokyo. We risked our very lives for those hard-won secrets. Who are you to make demands of us?" "Don't give me that self-righteous shit, you son of a bitch!" Vixen spat back. "Your secrets don't make you better than anyone else! You can't just cut us off on a whim!" "My plans have changed. I no longer find it necessary to return to OtakuLand West. It is more important that I meet with Kenishi and Arashi." "Plans? Plans?! What kind of Otaku are you, that you'll choose your plans over helping us to avenge our friends and families?!" "I'm not saying that I won't help you," stated hiro flatly. "I'm just saying that you'll need to make the journey on your own." He held up his hand to stave off Vixen's protests. "Once we have gathered all the resources and survivors we can locate, I will let Kenishi decide on a course of action. It's quite possible that we may also travel westward, following behind you." Vixen gritted her teeth in frustration, doubting whether or not this was an argument she wanted to win. Weighing the benefit of his knowledge against the torment of his arrogance, she made a decision. "Just because I'm sick of your attitude doesn't mean I agree with your phocking plan." hiro shrugged. "I can live with it. After all, no one ever said happiness came easy." <><><><><><><> Dave sat in a quiet corner of Waterdeep's armory and equipment bay, hugging his knees to his chest. He'd vacated Sherman when a crew of serfs entered to make repairs and load supplies. Wandering off, he'd located a suitably dark and lonely place to think. No one bothered to pay him any attention, much less disturb his brooding. 'Why can't I find anywhere to fit in? I can't stay here with the Role Players, and I don't want to go back home.' A lump formed in his throat. 'Maybe I don't fit in anywhere. Maybe I'm all alone in the world.' 'All I've ever dreamed of is worshipping anime, being with other Otaku. And I was so close! But Vixen won't accept me.' 'Vixen...' He stopped as an image of Vixen formed in his mind, glaring at him with her fiery eyes. So sharp and angry, yet vivid and attractive at the same time. Even though he'd never seen her smile, there was something about her eyes that told him she'd look cute if she ever did. 'But she hates me,' he told himself. 'She's been trying to get rid of me since the day we met. No one wants me around or even cares about me. I might as well forget my dream and give up.' Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approaching from behind him cut through his self-pity. "Go away," he muttered, not even bothering to look up. "I want to be alone." "Dave, I..." Rachael. A dozen conflicting emotions swam in his head. Ever since their "close encounter" at StarFleet Command she'd kept her distance from him. But she was the only person left in his world who had shown any sort of affection for him. Tormented and confused, Dave merely sat and listened half-heartedly, too drained even to speak. "It's not that I care, or anything ... but I think you should know that, whatever you decide to do, I ... I'm going with B1FF and Vixen." Rachael didn't know why she felt compelled to explain things to him. 'It's not like I genuinely care about him, or need his approval for my decision,' she told herself. 'I'm just telling him my plans.' Still... there was something about the way he sat there. Something that called out to the hidden emotions deep within her soul. And no matter how hard she tried to deny their existence, the feeling persisted. "I don't have anything left for me here, and there's no way I can take vengeance on the Ears by myself. Besides, my grandfather used to tell me legends about huge Goth settlements in the west. Maybe I can find someplace where I belong. You understand ... don't you?" "It's just that ... I think you care about anime too much to be content with anything else," she continued, sitting down beside him. "I think you need to go with Vixen and B1FF even more than I do, and it's eating you up inside because you can't." She paused for a moment, just looking at his sorrowed face. "If I cared about such things, I think I'd fight for them." Then, seized by a sudden impulse, she leaned forward and kissed him. The reality of her actions didn't hit her until a moment later. 'What am I doing?' As she broke off the kiss, embarrassment threatened to consume her. 'I can't believe I did that. Why?' As her Goth training faltered the only thing she could do was stand up and run away. 'Now what am I going to do?' It took almost a full minute for Dave's emotionally overwhelmed mind to kick back into gear. 'Rachael believes in me. She thinks my dream is worth fighting for.' Slowly, a small spark of confidence started to glow though the darkness of his despair. 'Shouldn't I have the same faith in my love of anime?!' 'It's time to make a stand,' he told himself, gathering determination. 'It's time to show them just how much of an Otaku I am! Because, win or lose, I'll never stop fighting!' Rising to his feet, he strode out of the room, ready to fight for his dream. 'Tenchi wouldn't give up without a fight! Ranma Saotome wouldn't give up without a fight! Son Goku wouldn't give up without a fight! And neither will I!' <><><><><><><> Another young man, filled with similar righteous fury, strode purposefully into the 'Pig and Dragon' tavern. The entire village was abuzz with news of the mighty Otaku warrior who was drinking there, and Hasslehoff Furrfoot intended to test his mettle in a contest of might and skill. Spotting the figure in question, Hasslehoff drew his longsword, adopted a ready stance and prepared to do battle. Clearing his throat, he recited the speech he had composed especially for the occasion in a loud and firm voice. "Otaku! I challenge you to face me in single combat! I am Hasslehoff Furrfoot, slayer of wolves, alligators and rabid weasels! Let us do battle, and see who is the stronger among us! What HO!" Rushing forward, he swung his weapon in a vicious arc, ready to inflict grievous bodily injury on anyone who stood in his way. "Chuu?" Phreakachu looked up disinterestedly from his flagon of beer. "Pika pi." Without even bothering to rise from his seat at the bar he lashed out with a violent thundershock, frying the overzealous adventurer to a smoldering crisp. Satisfied that there would be no further interruptions, the pokemon went back to his drink. "Perhaps I should go back to hunting rabbits..." muttered Hasslehoff, collapsing into blissful unconsciousness. <><><><><><><> The night found hiro and the two Hiroshima siblings examining a large map in the library. A relic from before the war, the map showed America's numerous physical features, such as mountains, rivers, and the mysterious island called 'Alaska' to the south of California. While the Role Players would not allow them to write on the map, hiro had placed dice in various locations to show important areas. "Many tribes such as the Role Players and the Trekkies have numerous sects scattered across the countryside," lectured hiro. "However these sects often have their own leaders, each with their own goals and interpretations of the tribe's philosophy." "What do you mean 'sects'?" asked Vixen. hiro's briefing had stretched on for some time, but she still felt as if he was revealing only the barest hints of information. "Unlike OtakuLand, many tribes were not able to consolidate their power base in a single area. Thus, many philosophies have small groups of followers scattered across the country. For example, one Trekkie sect follows Klingon values even though they uphold the basic Trekkie ideals." "Why d0n't th3y g4th3r t0g3ther 4nd un1fy?" "Most tribes still rely on AOL for their internet service," hiro explained. "However, AOL's technical support and connection speed are nothing compared to what NeoK1bo offers. As such, communication between different sects is slow and unreliable at best." "Much of the northern midwest area is controlled by either the Vikings or the Cheeseheads," continued hiro, gesturing at the map. "The two tribes fight continuously for dominance. Toward the south, many tribes live a nomadic lifestyle, wandering across the plains." "Vixen." A voice called out from the doorway, interrupting the briefing. "I need to talk to you." She turned around, eyes hard. "What is it newbie? We're busy here." Dave stood firm, jaw set in determination. "I'm coming with you." Vixen pressed her hand to her head, wishing she could leave the pressures of command to someone else and take a rest from such concerns. "We've already discussed this. It's too dangerous for a newbie like you." "You're just saying that because you don't like me!" "N-nani?!" Vixen looked as if she'd just been slapped. "What did you say?!" "You've been treating me like I was scum since I joined you. Or worthless. Or some kind of scummy worthless thing. Just because I wasn't born an Otaku like you!" Dave took a step forward with every accusation, until he was all but directly in Vixen's face. "Well I'm tired of being left out! I'm going with you, and nothing you can say will change my mind!" "D00d! H3's g0t th3 0t4ku 5p1r1t," defended B1FF. "H3 f0ught w1th u5, 4nd h3 5tud1e5 th3 F4Q. D0e5n't h3 de5erv3 a ch4nc3 t0 d3fend th3 0t4ku w4y 0f l1fe?" Vixen glared at Dave, struggling to resist the urge to break his nose. He didn't back down. Suddenly, her attention was drawn to a flutter of black cloth in the doorway behind him. As she glanced past Dave's shoulder, her gaze fell on Rachael. "And I suppose you want to come along too?" Rachael nodded. "Yes." Exhausted by the day's many battles, Vixen threw her hands up in the air. "Fine! I don't care anymore! Do whatever the hell you want!" Shoving her way past the two stubborn newbies, she left the library and headed for her bedroom. Everything was just too much for her to handle, and her body screamed at her for rest. If they wanted to throw their lives away, that was their decision. As she walked down the hallway, however, she couldn't help but smile at Dave's bravery. 'Maybe he's not such a pathetic wimp after all.' <><><><><><><> As morning dawned over Waterdeep, seven travelers (including one sentient tank and one bio-engineered pokemon) prepared to go their separate ways. "You have a long journey through dangerous territory ahead of you," said hiro. "You will have to pass through several violent tribes along the way, and even some that are morally opposed to anime." Somehow he'd managed to scrounge up a motorcycle (which was an impressive feat in the middle of a village filled with medieval warriors), and he prepared it for his exodus as he said his farewells. "I wish you the best of luck." "The same to you." While there was no trace of hostility in Vixen's words, the look on her face spoke volumes. "L4t3r, d00d." "Until we meet again." So saying, hiro kicked the bike into gear, leaving in a cloud of dust. "Miss Hiroshima, all systems are operating at maximum capacity," announced Sherman. "We are fully loaded and prepared to depart at any time." "Okay. Let's go." True to his word, Elminster had spared nothing in his attempt to win the LD player away from Vixen. Every onboard storage compartment was packed full with rations, medical equipment, camping gear and fuel cells. Except for one small corner, the rear storage bay was filled to capacity with even more supplies. (Dave had agreed to let Rachael move into his room, clearing out a corner of the storage bay for himself. It was a crude arrangement, but after re- hanging his poster and screening the area from view with a curtain it seemed more like home than anywhere else he'd ever been.) There were even several packages strapped to the outer hull. Sherman pulled away from the village, engines rumbling. Behind them, a teary-eyed Elminster clutched the LD player to his chest and waved goodbye. Slowly, the tank faded away into the distance. Inside, Vixen checked the instruments, making sure everything was properly adjusted. "Sherman, do you know where we're going?" "Yes, Miss Hiroshima. hiro-san has provided me with a map and rudimentary data concerning our anticipated travels." He displayed a map of the eastern seaboard on one of the monitors. A red line traced its way north toward a large black dot. "New York?" Dave looked at the computer screen in bewilderment. "I thought we were going to Seattle." "The route provided by hiro-san's records does ultimately lead to Seattle, but he has indicated that it is vital we move northward to New York before heading west." A suspicious look crossed Vixen's face. "Why?" "When I made such an inquiry, hiro replied 'sore wa himitsu desu.'" Vixen's only response was to bang her head against the terminal. <><><><><><><> Evan watched through his binoculars as hiro pulled away from the Role Player village on his motorbike. He paid the figure only a passing glance, paying attention long enough to determine that it was not Dave trying to escape his fate by running away. Waiting a few minutes more, he saw the tank move out in the opposite direction, heading north. Although he could not see his hated rival, Evan knew that Dave was on board. "I'll get you, Dave," he muttered to himself. "No matter how long it takes, no matter how far you run, I WILL have my vengeance ..." With a squeal of tires, Evan kicked the land rover into high gear, chasing after the tank with the speed of the wind itself. Or at least he would have, had he been able to start the engine. "... just as soon as I find my keys." <><><><><><><> Authors Notes: Sorry. That was terrible. This chapter sucked. Actually, I'm just joking. I'm rather pleased with the way this chapter turned out. It just seems like tradition to start the author's notes by saying that. I am sorry if this chapter seemed lacking in action and heavy in exposition. With the events that our heroes have found themselves swept up in lately it seemed like some soul-searching and contemplation was in order. If anyone really feels cheated because there was too little violence, just pretend that every time you read a line by hiro he's decapitating someone with a katana while he says it. A note concerning Evan: He's actually my brain-child, although Mike Thrall/Assassin was nice enough to help set him up as a recurring character. I see him as somewhat of a foil for Dave, hell-bent on pursuing our heroes across the wastes of America simply for the purpose of revenge, popping up every so often and making a nuisance of himself before getting driven off again. Even though he's not an okatu, there's no reason he can't be an anime-style villain. And while I know I can't make any demands, I would like to urge other authors not to kill him. There's a lot of potential for character development between him and Dave (who needs all the character development he can get, frankly). Besides, what's an anime-style hero without romantic conflict and a sworn enemy? Finally, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Youko "Julia" Takemoto, even though she will probably never read it. Kimi wa totemo taisetsu desu. We now return you to your previously scheduled romp of senseless violence.