Never Be A Weapon 2016-05-27

[FreeFlier]

I think the operative phrase in the dialog is "OTHER survivor", meaning Leucoisa probably survived so that we still have the happy 8YO Atsali in the pinups.

I'm reading his comment as meaning "the blackthorn" survived in its 'nursery' and 'Sali is the other survivor.

While it would be nice, I read that as two survivors: the blackthorn (presumably Castela) being one and Walter & Leucoisa's little girl (Atsali) being the other.

What no one's commented on yet, is that the Incubus was named Walter. Walter? Oy.

Could be a nom-de-guerre.

And yep, I theorized earlier that this could involve Castella, even with the age difference, if she was in 'seed' form. And the para cops just said the Blackthorn was in her nursery!

. . . Castella apparently spends a long while developing, as seed or infant or both. Fast forward a few years, and Castella is at the orphanage. . . .

I wonder if Castela is a slip from the original blackthorn, or if she has a significantly different growth cycle . . . maybe they count her life as starting from the time she grew enough to become sentient or mobile.

Wow, both the littles were in safe rooms...

That's the purpose of the saferoom: keep the littles and other vulnerables safe while the tigers hunt . . .

. . . I wonder how much Atsali knows about how and why her parents died.
I can see not telling much to ToddlerSiren, but now that she's older, either she asks questions, or someone decides it's time she knows. . . .

Yes. And I seem to remember that there have been hints that she knows at least something.

. . . I really hope one of these days Paul will draw a family portrait of little Atsali and both her parents.

Yes! This, please!

--FreeFlier

[oldmanmickey]

Not seeing any problems at all with a kill them all and let the Lord sort them out mentality here. In fact if you dropped the shadow part of the statement it could be a valid solution to most of the problems in Washington DC today.

[FreeFlier]

Not seeing any problems at all with a kill them all and let the Lord sort them out mentality here. In fact if you dropped the shadow part of the statement it could be a valid solution to most of the problems in Washington DC today.

Need to be sure you got all the effective ones, though.

--FreeFlier

[Dave]

Not seeing any problems at all with a kill them all and let the Lord sort them out mentality here. In fact if you dropped the shadow part of the statement it could be a valid solution to most of the problems in Washington DC today.

As long as you don't mind the other problems that would likely ensue as the result of the decapitation of the Federal government. Martial law, civil war, economic disruption which I suspect would make the Great Depression and Dust Bowl years seem attractive (the dollar might go unstable, hyperinflate, and cease to be a usable currency), possible invasions, wars triggered elsewhere when unfriendlies decide to take advantage of a power vacuum, disruption of most international trade involving the US, etc.

We would be in for interesting times. Might regain our previous level of civic and economic stability within 20 years, or 50 years. Might not. I suspect we might end up a bit like Great Britain after two world wars... still a nation, but no longer the world leader and empire that it once was. There might not be a United States per se in the end... just several smaller confederations of states.

Always be careful what you ask for. You might get it.

Read Pat Frank's novel "Alas, Babylon" for an idea. Written over 50 years ago, a lot of what Frank portrays is still quite relevant.

[AmriloJim]

Earlier, someone said the squad alpha resembled Coach Adler...

adler.jpg (44.58 KiB) Viewed 10544 times

The resemblance is there, complete with evidence of middle-age-spread.

I don't recall a positive ID on Adler's feral form, but she stated in Do A Lap, "This isn't just swimming, this class is about us looking human when we're in the water." The us implies she may also be a water elemental.

"Leave their heads on the floor of the Senate." A win-at-all-costs tactic, as was placing 'Sali on the field hockey team. This could also explain the motivation behind Adler's recruitment ploy... she recognized 'Sali as "Leucoisa and Walter's daughter" despite the adoptive surname, and figured Mom's tenacity may be genetic.

[Gyrrakavian]

What no one's commented on yet, is that the Incubus was named Walter. Walter? Oy.
And yep, I theorized earlier that this could involve Castella, even with the age difference, if she was in 'seed' form. And the para cops just said the Blackthorn was in her nursery! Wow, both the littles were in safe rooms...
Hmm. So, Atsali to orphanage. I'd say lab is still running, with or without shadow government. Castella apparently spends a long while developing, as seed or infant or both. Fast forward a few years, and Castella is at the orphanage.
I remember Castella thinking Fae had killed her 'parents' (scientists?) , and Cricket explaining that the fae were looking out for her (while getting Godzilla stomped by Castella in the lunch room).
I wonder how much Atsali knows about how and why her parents died.
I can see not telling much to ToddlerSiren, but now that she's older, either she asks questions, or someone decides it's time she knows.
Damn, those two girls were fated to be sisters.
I really hope one of these days Paul will draw a family portrait of little Atsali and both her parents.

Walter was a pretty common name for the first half of the 20th century. Things change. For instance, Woodrow Wilson was considered quite handsome in his day.

Not seeing any problems at all with a kill them all and let the Lord sort them out mentality here. In fact if you dropped the shadow part of the statement it could be a valid solution to most of the problems in Washington DC today.

There'd still be the matter of the 1%ers and their non-politician cronies.

As long as you don't mind the other problems that would likely ensue as the result of the decapitation of the Federal government. Martial law, civil war, economic disruption which I suspect would make the Great Depression and Dust Bowl years seem attractive (the dollar might go unstable, hyperinflate, and cease to be a usable currency), possible invasions, wars triggered elsewhere when unfriendlies decide to take advantage of a power vacuum, disruption of most international trade involving the US, etc

So, basically what our government does after a decade or so with every "dictator" they've helped placed in power in the Middle East.

[chicgeek]

Oh, there's not a thing wrong with the name Walter! Apologies to any Walters in the crowd, it's a nice name indeed.
What raised my eyebrows is that so far most of the paras have had more classical, or at least unusual names. And I have to admit, it amused me-an incubus named Walter. Oh, I know incubi and succubi are paras in Wapsiverse, and demons are something quite different than the non-Wapsi definition. Still. And yes, it could be a nom de guerre for him, especially working with humans. Or heck, his parents just liked the name.

*Sets out pie in apology to any Walters*

[DilyV]

Anyone else seeing a very dark story arc coming for Sali and Pickle? Not to mention Kath. I think you may be right about the swim coach... Certainly they would have guardians in place to watch over them.

[Sgt. Howard]

Not seeing any problems at all with a kill them all and let the Lord sort them out mentality here. In fact if you dropped the shadow part of the statement it could be a valid solution to most of the problems in Washington DC today.

... tempting...

[jwhouk]

Not seeing any problems at all with a kill them all and let the Lord sort them out mentality here. In fact if you dropped the shadow part of the statement it could be a valid solution to most of the problems in Washington DC today.

... tempting...

Down, boy.

[Sgt. Howard]

Not seeing any problems at all with a kill them all and let the Lord sort them out mentality here. In fact if you dropped the shadow part of the statement it could be a valid solution to most of the problems in Washington DC today.

As long as you don't mind the other problems that would likely ensue as the result of the decapitation of the Federal government. Martial law, civil war, economic disruption which I suspect would make the Great Depression and Dust Bowl years seem attractive (the dollar might go unstable, hyperinflate, and cease to be a usable currency), possible invasions, wars triggered elsewhere when unfriendlies decide to take advantage of a power vacuum, disruption of most international trade involving the US, etc.

We would be in for interesting times. Might regain our previous level of civic and economic stability within 20 years, or 50 years. Might not. I suspect we might end up a bit like Great Britain after two world wars... still a nation, but no longer the world leader and empire that it once was. There might not be a United States per se in the end... just several smaller confederations of states.

Always be careful what you ask for. You might get it.

Read Pat Frank's novel "Alas, Babylon" for an idea. Written over 50 years ago, a lot of what Frank portrays is still quite relevant.

Current situation involves a rollercoaster ride one way or another- unavoidable. From what I see, there IS a 'shadow government' involving both parties- billions and billions spent for a job that pays $400,000 a year? You owe more than you make with donations like that... and that debt will be your leash when you are elected. Some will argue that Trump is not 'bought and paid for', but I'm not 100% convinced on that. I'll vote for him just to avoid Hillary or Bernie, but I am watchful.

Just food for thought-

[Sgt. Howard]

Not seeing any problems at all with a kill them all and let the Lord sort them out mentality here. In fact if you dropped the shadow part of the statement it could be a valid solution to most of the problems in Washington DC today.

... tempting...

Down, boy.

Were I to actually do something, I would not post about it here... or anywhere, for that matter.

That doesn't alter the fact that it is still tempting...

[Sgt. Howard]

Joe... the fellow in the second panel... is that Billens?

[EasyAI]

Hi, first time posting but I have been a lurker for a while. I find the existence of a shadow government or possibly shadow governments (heck the MIB might be considered a shadow government on its own) interesting but not all together surprising. After all consider how much powerful paras are than human beings and that they live in the human world but are policed by a organization controlled by Paras in the form of the MIB, it is not all that uprising that secretive groups would arise to as they would say, "Combat the menace and protect humanity." That they would try and go after the fae specifically is not altogether unsurprising if your average fae is even half as manipulative, chaotic and malicious as they are in mythology, it would make sense for the shadow government to try and make a weapon to "protect themselves from them", most likely in the tried human method of due unto others before they have a chance to due unto you. However I have to wonder why this shadow government went after Astali's mother Leucoisa specifically, and the fact that she seemed to work for these people at some point.

Another interesting point is how one the investigator(whom I am convinced is coach Adler when she was younger) there says that they don't need the treaty, Phix gave me the impression that while some paras don't need protection such as heavy hitters like Monica and Shelly most are not so powerful. This is further reinforced by the fact that what appears to be a relatively small number of humans soldiers equipped with depleted uranium slugs are able kill a fully grown siren one has to wonder the damage larger and better equipped human military could to the less powerful paras, paras would win in the end due to having the likes of titans and sub titans but humans could do a lot of damage, especially if they decided to start cooking off nukes or if paras responded with extreme overkill such as chimera levels of firepower and vitrifying entire continents though that would also kill lots of paras. Just a bit of food for thought.

Also I wonder if this particular cabal of a shadow government or a successor group is still around and what that means for Astali, Especially if this group insists on "Being Thorough."

[FreeFlier]

If memory serves, after the parkour episode, Phix flatly stated that most paranormals are not anywhere near as powerful as Shelly & Monica.


As far as the shadow government goes, I suspect multiple groups playing their own games . . . allies of the moment, enemies/opponents in past & future.

Basically medieval games taken a little more underground.

--FreeFlier

[Armorlord]

In a running theme of their new Gilchrist family being tied more deeply than they realized, I would like to note that Katherine had a bad past experience with shadowy black helicopters and being the (apparent) sole survivor of an archeological dig or research team of some sort. Resulting in her interest in military survival guides.

It also occurs to me that The Library helped to bring her and Atsali together.

[AnotherFairportfan]

Oh, there's not a thing wrong with the name Walter! Apologies to any Walters in the crowd, it's a nice name indeed.

Do you remember Walter?

[eee]

I'm having a little trouble with these latest revelations. It's one thing for a couple of orphan paranormals, one of them a Whatsit, to be in an orphanage, apparently cast away and ignored by the rest of the community, until they are adopted by what seemed to be a normal human who turned out to be a unique paranormal, herself.

It's another thing for a living super-weapon created by Mad Science(!), and the daughter of a heroine AND a natural hybrid who may have tremendous power of her own, to be warehoused apparently where anyone could get to them. Where's the defenses, the scientists seeking to learn their abilities, the loving, supportive home life that would teach the girls that with great power comes great responsibility, and that they shouldn't kill huge numbers of people and paras for fun? Instead they're relegated to the same kind of upbringing that made Tom Riddle what he turned out to be? And then given to the first person who asks for them, even if Katherine had the full backing of the MiB? Either the orphanage wasn't an orphanage and there's more going on than meets the eye, or somebody REALLY screwed up, or the Chessmaster manipulated this whole scenario. Which would be pretty confusing, given the Nu Gui wanted Kath dead.

I'll wait and see.

[jwhouk]

Joe... the fellow in the second panel... is that Billens?

Dunno, never seen him without his shades on.

EDIT: Could be, but "Latte Popsicle Guy" doesn't quite look the same as CSI Agent guy.

[jwhouk]

In a running theme of their new Gilchrist family being tied more deeply than they realized, I would like to note that Katherine had a bad past experience with shadowy black helicopters and being the (apparent) sole survivor of an archeological dig or research team of some sort. Resulting in her interest in military survival guides.

It also occurs to me that The Library helped to bring her and Atsali together.

Pay no attention to that Chekov's Gun hanging out of that A10...