So now the High Council has everyone, rats and Velda included, where they want them. I’m beginning to wonder if there is a Topsider agent provocateur (or sympathizer) amongst them, now showing his true colors.
Someone or something is trying very hard to get that “trial” to prove a point. It cannot only be to punish the ladies or humiliate b>somebody<b, be he worthy of this interest or worthy of being the …… Well, I again think of “send in the clowns”. So far we have only two. Allgood and Jake. and maybe even our favorite duck. ( not the one with the gun)Just like Aaron to give us a REALLY NASTY weekend. Blessed Be
I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m meh about it, but the story is definitely taking a turn against what I wanted to see. I really did was to see the Rats finally bare their teeth and get some revenge.-Buuut we’ll just see where this goes, still has me very interested, just wanted a bigger war I suppose.
I’m wanting to see the rats finally joining the REST of the Endtowner citizens and become more balanced members of society, instead of the somewhat mindless-seeming minions they’ve often acted like…
I’d like to see this shake them up a bit, and have them finally come forward as meaningful individuals who show that they recognize how wrong their sycophancy has been all this time…
Glasses: “But, the mob has all the food production services! And they’re the ones that go out on scavenger trips to bring back ammo for our guns! What are we supposed to do if our ammo and food run out?”HC: “You could go topside and scavenge, yourselves.”Glasses: “But, that’s madness!”HC: “Excuse me, did I say ‘could’? I meant ‘will’.”
It does sound like a rogue ai. " the process must continue" and “a conclusion must be reached” are things that a computer-like intelligence would worry about. Illogical beings can leave things unfinished in the middle. A computer program would go “crazy” if told to stop something in the middle.I suspect though with all the posturing that the HC did with the lieutenant, that if the rats did decide to take it into heir own hands and end the trial and free everyone, the HC really couldn’t stop them. The I intimidation that was used on the lieutenant to try to make him toe the line is interesting to say he least.Another rogue AI: there was no pause when their families were mentioned. The HC are mutants. They would have instinctively paused to consider those they love, no matter how they felt about the trial.
It is MALLARD. I still say the voice of the High Council is like the voice of all the Topsiders’ machines, in a rectangular box with no direction lines going to a loudspeaker or other entity. Maybe Mallard got tired of rats and government, and used the spare brain and topsider tech from studying the brain that became Petey. Or maybe some Topsiders’ took over the High Council and is playing games with them, might even be Linda’s son.I’m out of hospital but strained knee badly, and ankle moderately. I just fell sideways. Confined to bed for two months, except for brief excursions for groceries and pharmacy, and a few DLAs. Thanks for good thoughts. JusSpeculating is JusGrateful.
I think the mechanical-type voice is someone speaking into a voice disguiser. The HC is supposed to be completely anonymous. In such a close community, someone would be bound to recognize a voice at some point. That being said, [i]surfstuff55[/i] mentioned Velda not being in the loop. I have a suspicion she’s closer than we think, and it wouldn’t surprise me if she was the (vocoded) voice of the HC.
I am with Punktiger. It even sounds like her. There is only one other who comes to mind that might talk like that and she is gone..In reality a small town could not keep the high council members secret for three days. Who was away from work or the house and no one knew where they were would be a dead giveaway. Talking animals aren’t real are they. Sorry.
We don"t know Velda isn’t in the loop. The rat doesn"t have to know who the HC talks to…on the phone. Various comments in the strip indicate a plan to violently purge Endtown of “sinners”. The puppetshow trial is supposed to expose some “sinners” to public view. The mob(s) could also be examples of “sinners”. HC at this point show they have no care for steetside population right now. Let the mobs eventually fizzle…they can’t come up.
I’m thinking that Frieda’s (the fox woman) husband is on the HC and calling the shots concerning the matter. I also think, the Security Rats may finally disobey orders, for the Lieutenant Rat may discover common sense and find some means to quell the mob. The HC stepped in it this time.
You know what this powder-keg needed? Someone to toss napalm all over the place to make sure that when it explodes, stuff ends up on fire as well..Till then, we have one weekend to make sure the smell of napalm in the morning is good and strong.
Surfstuff55,I’ve got a crazy idea, what if the Topsiders (or a rogue Topsider) has managed to hack into the Endtown computers and managed to control the security council network. He/she/they aren’t able do manipulate anything to give the location of Endtown away, so they use their newfound control to plunge Endtown into chaos and get the mutants to destroy each other. That would mean that all of the beings in the other HC cells are just as helpless/innocent as Al.
This shows how little anyone knows there about what really is going on. Some posters have said Velda is not in the loop. She is in the loop a lot more than even the Rats know. They are pawns in the game too. Velda may even be the voice behind the machine. Remember how she talked down to Allgood. Every time that Council voice speaks it is always a put down or insult. Velda spoke to Allgood using that same tone when he faltered about the way the three were seized. The one behind the voice on the council seem way too intelligent to be just locals like Al. Their manner and speech patterns dictate ones of immense power or once having a lot of power. Not in strength but in influence, political clout, CEO type stuff. They are use to getting THEIR way and no one is going to dissuade them.Aaron Marx was known to speak like that. He had an air of superiority. He does like the drama but I don’t think he is involved. He prevented deaths when he could have let them go on. He deflected a missile straight to him to save thousands. Even one death is too much for him. This case deaths have occurred. Marx would not stand for that. He has lost enough as it is. He prefers anyway to watch to see what happens. As he said Endtown is favorite story.
Think about it folks.Have you ever seen the Council and Velda together at the same time????She appears then goes. Where does she go? Where does she live?The Rat explained without intervention the safety of YOUR friends and family are in danger with mob rule.The answer was to go on with out holding back. This says (to me) the voice has nothing there in Endtown to loose.Does Velda have a family? Remains to be seen.
ONE more point.Why is she not there with Allgood in the trial?Why does the Rat say how to explain our inaction to Jackrabbit, Allgood and Van der Veezel. Only to met with the trial will go on. This says she was not in the control room with the riots broke out so LT does not know if she knows about it. Jackrabbit and Allgood don’t know.So where is she up there in that level?She should be right there with Allgood to keep him from faltering. Or in central control keeping eyes on the riots.Where is SHE?
It could be Velda running this. She does have an angle and I don’t think she’s in it for Allgood and his “human values” (not that I haven’t been wrong before). It should be noted that the voice of the high council did not mention Velda by name, the rat did. If this is her, I wonder what her angle is.
Thanks on that surfstuff55. I was wondering why there was not a current strip. The international date line. I had forgot about it. I am still figuring it out but will get there. It is on my favorites bar right next to Endtown. Friday strip still makes me laugh. “So soft you can tie it in a knot with your tongue” That just kills me.I saw from yesterday our author is going to do autographed copies? I was wondering how to obtain such a noted piece of art when available? Having missed the first release and all.Patiently waiting.(yea right)
When vols. 1&2 became available for pre-order all you had to do was email Aaron N your order number and he mailed back the autographed bookplates. Had them before I had the actual books. Aaron is great about things like this, he as a great heart.
Now we just need to wait for pre-order info from Jarlidium Press or Amazon. By the way, as of yesterday, Amazon only had 2 each available of vols 1&2.
Well this is a certainly telling comic nonetheless. It proves that the council (whoever or whatever that is) did not plan for the uprising in Endtown, and that the plan, for reasons still unclear, hinges on this staged trial.
Thanks JanBic,I was wondering how it was done.So we just wait for pre-order.Will that be posted here or else where like Jarlidium Press or Amazon? I’ve got links to the other two.
Come on, GoComics. I really need that refresh button back at the bottom of the comments. And on IOS (iPad) all of the buttons are appearing/disappearing at random times.
Sorry for the triple post earlier, all. I posted once and it showed up three times and there was no delete button on the iPad. I had to log in on my PC to delete the extras.
I think it’s possibly the Topsider commander who ran the rocket decoy mission, belittled Linda after her change, and appeared in her dream, or a proxy. If he’s an immune like Al, he can pretend to be an Endtowner, and still return to the domes when he wants, in suit. Since the suits are always on, his would keep the mutagen from affecting the other Topsiders. The real rocket was successfully deployed, so it could have located Endtown, and the commander or proxy infiltrated Endtown as a new refugee. Linda and the brain may not have been the only new people to enter Endtown in that time.Or it may be Mr. Hopper, whose body we never saw. Once he found a Trudy to hang a trial on, he could then fake his death and implement his evil plot to take over Endtown.
Coyoty post does make sense.I mentioned before the speech is similar to how Topsiders have spoken to Endtowners.That would make a very interesting twist.Would also explain why the Council does not care what the Mob does.But someone would have had to let them in. No one goes up or comes back without going thru the Dustcrawlers and Rat Security. Given Linda was held in sequester for several months would mean the same for an infiltrator(s). Then they have to be part of the group to be chosen for Council unless they had more Endtown conspirators working with them. But remember the Topsiders creed is Death to All Mutants as only THEY the GENETICALLY PURE Ones can reoccupy the planet. Nothing done in the Topsider habitats goes unnoticed. Flask found that out with her lover. They knew. They knew all the time. Flask had begun to believe maybe Topsiders were wrong and that is not tolerated. So they let her get rid of herself without doing it themselves. I believe they would have no qualms to kill another Topsider in the service to Topsiders over all goals. They left Linda out to dry for sure. Doug too. Hung out for bait.Good idea though. Very good.
1 more comment. Good to remember Mr. Hopper. And that he could have been anyone. He sorta appeared cold. He was only here about a week.Do other underground towns ever visit each other?
WabbitBoth views and questions good ones. It is all in the authors mind. Never covered unless needed too. For along time no one knew if Topsiders had children. We did find that out. A very strong scene where a Topsider mother is attempting to shield her child from a Zero scalpel wielding Flask. I felt that drawing being a ex-soldier during Nam. I saw mothers do that when we walked up. The mother screaming and the child crying. Not a sound I want to repeat. You could tell in that scene it did not go well. Flask ended up with a lot of baggage when she began to settle down. Ones have said she was just angry. I say she crossed the line. Pushed to the edge and over she went. That is a very hard point to come back from.However, we have seen some children of Endtown. When Linda is wandering she comes across a toy store. How the children are made is not covered but you can feel a family sense in the town. It is just not put out by the author unless it is to make a point or part of the story.
The rats evolving? It could be true. I was surprised to see the LT use the word “daren’t” (dare not). It’s not a word commonly used, suggesting the rat is truly educated. Lately there was several observations if the rats were originally just rats created to be soldiers. A few months ago I suggested the reason may have been because of the guards protecting the labs that had rats that were being experimented on, then the mutagen ( used the term virus) infected the soldiers with the rat DNA, causing them to change to rats. The presence of the officer would support my theory.Of course I do remember some jokes about LT’s when I was in the service. [;-)]
Whoever or whatever is now running the ‘show’ is proving to be a deeper pool than I had at first imagined. The trial IS too important to stop; the outcome will decide the moral and ethical disposition of Endtown into the foreseeable future.New laws and directions will have to be forged from the outcome of whichever way the trial ends…
Some final thoughts.I can’t shake the feeling that the one behind the voice of the Council is Velda. I keep going back to her bark back at Allgood when he expressed reservations about the three.She strikes me as the kind of person who looks down on those she sees as underlings. Less important to her. Not being in her league.The language used on those before the Council shows a lack of respect. A disdain for them if anything. Here is a LT in the Rat Security and he is refered to as an “insect”. No respect at all. I can’t recall if there were more than one voice when the Mayor appeared. I will probably go back over that this weekend. But even the Mayor was disrespected when it was unnecessary. (I will revisit between bouts of COD BlackOps Double Points Weekend. Woohooo)I reference back to the twenties, thirties our Universe. Rockefellers, Hearst, Roosevelt, the super rich dandies of the times like the characters in "The Great Gatstby. Those individuals looked upon the common worker and folks as less important than them. Sure there were some great humanitarians in there but most looked upon everyone else as inferior deserving no respect. Velda appears as part of that group if one exists in Endtown like that. These folks would have lost EVERYTHING in the war and virus. From high and mighty to just like everyone else. Mr. Hopper may have been one of those “important” types but he showed a very refined manner and politeness that too represented folks of the rich. He had an air of sophistication and refinement. Look and compare at the late Spike. Spike was more of the common type.Now by some means Velda and any like her have now got an opportunity at regaining that “STATUS” of being on top and respected and feared. Once one has tasted great power it is as strong as a drug. They will seek it out at all costs to regain power. It may not be as Top CEO of a company before the War but now as members of a Council that controls the destiny of Endtown.
I suppose somebody’s mentioned it in these comments above…but both the imperious attitude and the lack of concern for any family in Endtown suggests the High Council has no direct connection to the people of Endtown. What are they?
Surfstuff55,Two reasons. First, when we did see Al in his High Council cell, he was arguing against the council’s course of action.Second, it would be hard to imagine him supporting the TS after the things he saw during Gustine’s quest.
Sorry if I’ve been quiet for the past week. I’ve been spending time with my mother, who was visiting from Western Australia.I did not expect this day’s latest turn. When I thought all the elements were falling into a predictable conclusion, with one small, brightly-lit scene followed by one small, dark scene he turned up the pressure to an excruciating degree. I simply cannot guess the next direction, and I would almost kill to find out. It confirms in my mind that Mr Neathery is a genius among storytellers.
I think the second one supports my guess about the council being disbanded. There were multiple voices on the Council but now there seems to be only one.
Jerry Beck Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Wonder who’s controlling the strings on the puppet High Council. Someone is clearly in charge. Doesn’t sound like an average citizen participant.
RockHouse almost 11 years ago
So now the High Council has everyone, rats and Velda included, where they want them. I’m beginning to wonder if there is a Topsider agent provocateur (or sympathizer) amongst them, now showing his true colors.
Maybe an evil version of Aaron Marx?
RockHouse almost 11 years ago
Maybe Sparkplug is the power behind the High Council.
Did he really die, or just go completely to his madness place?http://www.gocomics.com/endtown/2010/04/14
dirtyoldlady1 almost 11 years ago
Someone or something is trying very hard to get that “trial” to prove a point. It cannot only be to punish the ladies or humiliate b>somebody<b, be he worthy of this interest or worthy of being the …… Well, I again think of “send in the clowns”. So far we have only two. Allgood and Jake. and maybe even our favorite duck. ( not the one with the gun)Just like Aaron to give us a REALLY NASTY weekend. Blessed Be
MacEwanMouse almost 11 years ago
I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m meh about it, but the story is definitely taking a turn against what I wanted to see. I really did was to see the Rats finally bare their teeth and get some revenge.-Buuut we’ll just see where this goes, still has me very interested, just wanted a bigger war I suppose.
Jadugara almost 11 years ago
I’m wanting to see the rats finally joining the REST of the Endtowner citizens and become more balanced members of society, instead of the somewhat mindless-seeming minions they’ve often acted like…
I’d like to see this shake them up a bit, and have them finally come forward as meaningful individuals who show that they recognize how wrong their sycophancy has been all this time…
Ida No almost 11 years ago
Glasses: “But, the mob has all the food production services! And they’re the ones that go out on scavenger trips to bring back ammo for our guns! What are we supposed to do if our ammo and food run out?”HC: “You could go topside and scavenge, yourselves.”Glasses: “But, that’s madness!”HC: “Excuse me, did I say ‘could’? I meant ‘will’.”
Robert Nowall Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Makes me think that since Linda has yet to testify, this whole thing revolves around having her testify…
gamiath almost 11 years ago
It does sound like a rogue ai. " the process must continue" and “a conclusion must be reached” are things that a computer-like intelligence would worry about. Illogical beings can leave things unfinished in the middle. A computer program would go “crazy” if told to stop something in the middle.I suspect though with all the posturing that the HC did with the lieutenant, that if the rats did decide to take it into heir own hands and end the trial and free everyone, the HC really couldn’t stop them. The I intimidation that was used on the lieutenant to try to make him toe the line is interesting to say he least.Another rogue AI: there was no pause when their families were mentioned. The HC are mutants. They would have instinctively paused to consider those they love, no matter how they felt about the trial.
JusSayin almost 11 years ago
It is MALLARD. I still say the voice of the High Council is like the voice of all the Topsiders’ machines, in a rectangular box with no direction lines going to a loudspeaker or other entity. Maybe Mallard got tired of rats and government, and used the spare brain and topsider tech from studying the brain that became Petey. Or maybe some Topsiders’ took over the High Council and is playing games with them, might even be Linda’s son.I’m out of hospital but strained knee badly, and ankle moderately. I just fell sideways. Confined to bed for two months, except for brief excursions for groceries and pharmacy, and a few DLAs. Thanks for good thoughts. JusSpeculating is JusGrateful.
PunkTiger almost 11 years ago
I think the mechanical-type voice is someone speaking into a voice disguiser. The HC is supposed to be completely anonymous. In such a close community, someone would be bound to recognize a voice at some point. That being said, [i]surfstuff55[/i] mentioned Velda not being in the loop. I have a suspicion she’s closer than we think, and it wouldn’t surprise me if she was the (vocoded) voice of the HC.
Lyons Group, Inc. almost 11 years ago
-
Could be all three: Mallard, Marx, and perhaps even Flask! Sooner or later, some rat is going to pull back the curtain….
Aconite almost 11 years ago
Now we see how brainwashed the rats have become to following orders, or do they have some “humanity” within them.
The Life I Draw Upon almost 11 years ago
I am with Punktiger. It even sounds like her. There is only one other who comes to mind that might talk like that and she is gone..In reality a small town could not keep the high council members secret for three days. Who was away from work or the house and no one knew where they were would be a dead giveaway. Talking animals aren’t real are they. Sorry.
crookedwolf Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Poor rat, demoted from “Lieutenant” to “insect” in two panels..
The Life I Draw Upon almost 11 years ago
Is the mono lens on the rat significant?
Robert Nowall Premium Member almost 11 years ago
I do hope the Voice of the High Council is just calling the Lieutenant an “insect,” and he’s not named “Lieutenant Insect”…
RickD Premium Member almost 11 years ago
We don"t know Velda isn’t in the loop. The rat doesn"t have to know who the HC talks to…on the phone. Various comments in the strip indicate a plan to violently purge Endtown of “sinners”. The puppetshow trial is supposed to expose some “sinners” to public view. The mob(s) could also be examples of “sinners”. HC at this point show they have no care for steetside population right now. Let the mobs eventually fizzle…they can’t come up.
Strider Keninginne Premium Member almost 11 years ago
I’m thinking that Frieda’s (the fox woman) husband is on the HC and calling the shots concerning the matter. I also think, the Security Rats may finally disobey orders, for the Lieutenant Rat may discover common sense and find some means to quell the mob. The HC stepped in it this time.
Lyons Group, Inc. almost 11 years ago
I said it and I quote it Monday:
Goes back to the famous Nuremberg Trials in which one of the Nazi soldiers said: " I was only following orders!"
But in this stance, the orders are to “Stand Down”.
salenstormwing almost 11 years ago
You know what this powder-keg needed? Someone to toss napalm all over the place to make sure that when it explodes, stuff ends up on fire as well..Till then, we have one weekend to make sure the smell of napalm in the morning is good and strong.
lordrunningclam almost 11 years ago
The Council is treating the Lieutenant like vermin. Oh, wait…-Are we heading for a “this is not what I signed up for” moment?
Darwinskeeper almost 11 years ago
Surfstuff55,I’ve got a crazy idea, what if the Topsiders (or a rogue Topsider) has managed to hack into the Endtown computers and managed to control the security council network. He/she/they aren’t able do manipulate anything to give the location of Endtown away, so they use their newfound control to plunge Endtown into chaos and get the mutants to destroy each other. That would mean that all of the beings in the other HC cells are just as helpless/innocent as Al.
Vet Premium Member almost 11 years ago
This shows how little anyone knows there about what really is going on. Some posters have said Velda is not in the loop. She is in the loop a lot more than even the Rats know. They are pawns in the game too. Velda may even be the voice behind the machine. Remember how she talked down to Allgood. Every time that Council voice speaks it is always a put down or insult. Velda spoke to Allgood using that same tone when he faltered about the way the three were seized. The one behind the voice on the council seem way too intelligent to be just locals like Al. Their manner and speech patterns dictate ones of immense power or once having a lot of power. Not in strength but in influence, political clout, CEO type stuff. They are use to getting THEIR way and no one is going to dissuade them.Aaron Marx was known to speak like that. He had an air of superiority. He does like the drama but I don’t think he is involved. He prevented deaths when he could have let them go on. He deflected a missile straight to him to save thousands. Even one death is too much for him. This case deaths have occurred. Marx would not stand for that. He has lost enough as it is. He prefers anyway to watch to see what happens. As he said Endtown is favorite story.
Vet Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Think about it folks.Have you ever seen the Council and Velda together at the same time????She appears then goes. Where does she go? Where does she live?The Rat explained without intervention the safety of YOUR friends and family are in danger with mob rule.The answer was to go on with out holding back. This says (to me) the voice has nothing there in Endtown to loose.Does Velda have a family? Remains to be seen.
Vet Premium Member almost 11 years ago
ONE more point.Why is she not there with Allgood in the trial?Why does the Rat say how to explain our inaction to Jackrabbit, Allgood and Van der Veezel. Only to met with the trial will go on. This says she was not in the control room with the riots broke out so LT does not know if she knows about it. Jackrabbit and Allgood don’t know.So where is she up there in that level?She should be right there with Allgood to keep him from faltering. Or in central control keeping eyes on the riots.Where is SHE?
Darwinskeeper almost 11 years ago
It could be Velda running this. She does have an angle and I don’t think she’s in it for Allgood and his “human values” (not that I haven’t been wrong before). It should be noted that the voice of the high council did not mention Velda by name, the rat did. If this is her, I wonder what her angle is.
Herb Thiel Premium Member almost 11 years ago
I agree. Doc Rat is a great strip (I went back and read from number 1) and the folks at Cross Time Cafe are friendly and pleasant. And funny.
Vet Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Thanks on that surfstuff55. I was wondering why there was not a current strip. The international date line. I had forgot about it. I am still figuring it out but will get there. It is on my favorites bar right next to Endtown. Friday strip still makes me laugh. “So soft you can tie it in a knot with your tongue” That just kills me.I saw from yesterday our author is going to do autographed copies? I was wondering how to obtain such a noted piece of art when available? Having missed the first release and all.Patiently waiting.(yea right)
BeniHanna6 Premium Member almost 11 years ago
This sounds more like a machine than a human council. Makes you wonder what’s behind it all.
JanBic Premium Member almost 11 years ago
@Veteran
When vols. 1&2 became available for pre-order all you had to do was email Aaron N your order number and he mailed back the autographed bookplates. Had them before I had the actual books. Aaron is great about things like this, he as a great heart.
Now we just need to wait for pre-order info from Jarlidium Press or Amazon. By the way, as of yesterday, Amazon only had 2 each available of vols 1&2.
scyphi26 almost 11 years ago
Well this is a certainly telling comic nonetheless. It proves that the council (whoever or whatever that is) did not plan for the uprising in Endtown, and that the plan, for reasons still unclear, hinges on this staged trial.
Vet Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Thanks JanBic,I was wondering how it was done.So we just wait for pre-order.Will that be posted here or else where like Jarlidium Press or Amazon? I’ve got links to the other two.
JanBic Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Come on, GoComics. I really need that refresh button back at the bottom of the comments. And on IOS (iPad) all of the buttons are appearing/disappearing at random times.
JanBic Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Sorry for the triple post earlier, all. I posted once and it showed up three times and there was no delete button on the iPad. I had to log in on my PC to delete the extras.
Vet Premium Member almost 11 years ago
That was funny JanBic.I wondered what happened.
Coyoty Premium Member almost 11 years ago
I think it’s possibly the Topsider commander who ran the rocket decoy mission, belittled Linda after her change, and appeared in her dream, or a proxy. If he’s an immune like Al, he can pretend to be an Endtowner, and still return to the domes when he wants, in suit. Since the suits are always on, his would keep the mutagen from affecting the other Topsiders. The real rocket was successfully deployed, so it could have located Endtown, and the commander or proxy infiltrated Endtown as a new refugee. Linda and the brain may not have been the only new people to enter Endtown in that time.Or it may be Mr. Hopper, whose body we never saw. Once he found a Trudy to hang a trial on, he could then fake his death and implement his evil plot to take over Endtown.
fuzzyimages almost 11 years ago
Seems t me the high concil has forgotten that the rats have the GUNS…and the numbers on their side. I’d be careful who I called an insect.
Vet Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Coyoty post does make sense.I mentioned before the speech is similar to how Topsiders have spoken to Endtowners.That would make a very interesting twist.Would also explain why the Council does not care what the Mob does.But someone would have had to let them in. No one goes up or comes back without going thru the Dustcrawlers and Rat Security. Given Linda was held in sequester for several months would mean the same for an infiltrator(s). Then they have to be part of the group to be chosen for Council unless they had more Endtown conspirators working with them. But remember the Topsiders creed is Death to All Mutants as only THEY the GENETICALLY PURE Ones can reoccupy the planet. Nothing done in the Topsider habitats goes unnoticed. Flask found that out with her lover. They knew. They knew all the time. Flask had begun to believe maybe Topsiders were wrong and that is not tolerated. So they let her get rid of herself without doing it themselves. I believe they would have no qualms to kill another Topsider in the service to Topsiders over all goals. They left Linda out to dry for sure. Doug too. Hung out for bait.Good idea though. Very good.
Vet Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Hey Refresh is back.
Vet Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Opps.
Vet Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Does it twice for some raison!
Vet Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Oh my bad it does not. Just looks that way till it catches up.
Happy, happy, happy!!! almost 11 years ago
Right now, if I was a rat, mutiny would be crossing my mind.Seems like a shake up is in order…
pam Miner almost 11 years ago
1 more comment. Good to remember Mr. Hopper. And that he could have been anyone. He sorta appeared cold. He was only here about a week.Do other underground towns ever visit each other?
Vet Premium Member almost 11 years ago
WabbitBoth views and questions good ones. It is all in the authors mind. Never covered unless needed too. For along time no one knew if Topsiders had children. We did find that out. A very strong scene where a Topsider mother is attempting to shield her child from a Zero scalpel wielding Flask. I felt that drawing being a ex-soldier during Nam. I saw mothers do that when we walked up. The mother screaming and the child crying. Not a sound I want to repeat. You could tell in that scene it did not go well. Flask ended up with a lot of baggage when she began to settle down. Ones have said she was just angry. I say she crossed the line. Pushed to the edge and over she went. That is a very hard point to come back from.However, we have seen some children of Endtown. When Linda is wandering she comes across a toy store. How the children are made is not covered but you can feel a family sense in the town. It is just not put out by the author unless it is to make a point or part of the story.
Lyons Group, Inc. almost 11 years ago
Okay, we’re getting more speculations about the High Council, the puppet masters of Endtown
mr_sherman Premium Member almost 11 years ago
The rats evolving? It could be true. I was surprised to see the LT use the word “daren’t” (dare not). It’s not a word commonly used, suggesting the rat is truly educated. Lately there was several observations if the rats were originally just rats created to be soldiers. A few months ago I suggested the reason may have been because of the guards protecting the labs that had rats that were being experimented on, then the mutagen ( used the term virus) infected the soldiers with the rat DNA, causing them to change to rats. The presence of the officer would support my theory.Of course I do remember some jokes about LT’s when I was in the service. [;-)]
Vet Premium Member almost 11 years ago
I see a criminal element behind all this. A seedy mafia like outfit trying to gain control over something.
Lyons Group, Inc. almost 11 years ago
Okay, more speculations.This is going to a great weekend shaping up on these postings.
craigwestlake almost 11 years ago
Whoever or whatever is now running the ‘show’ is proving to be a deeper pool than I had at first imagined. The trial IS too important to stop; the outcome will decide the moral and ethical disposition of Endtown into the foreseeable future.New laws and directions will have to be forged from the outcome of whichever way the trial ends…
Vet Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Some final thoughts.I can’t shake the feeling that the one behind the voice of the Council is Velda. I keep going back to her bark back at Allgood when he expressed reservations about the three.She strikes me as the kind of person who looks down on those she sees as underlings. Less important to her. Not being in her league.The language used on those before the Council shows a lack of respect. A disdain for them if anything. Here is a LT in the Rat Security and he is refered to as an “insect”. No respect at all. I can’t recall if there were more than one voice when the Mayor appeared. I will probably go back over that this weekend. But even the Mayor was disrespected when it was unnecessary. (I will revisit between bouts of COD BlackOps Double Points Weekend. Woohooo)I reference back to the twenties, thirties our Universe. Rockefellers, Hearst, Roosevelt, the super rich dandies of the times like the characters in "The Great Gatstby. Those individuals looked upon the common worker and folks as less important than them. Sure there were some great humanitarians in there but most looked upon everyone else as inferior deserving no respect. Velda appears as part of that group if one exists in Endtown like that. These folks would have lost EVERYTHING in the war and virus. From high and mighty to just like everyone else. Mr. Hopper may have been one of those “important” types but he showed a very refined manner and politeness that too represented folks of the rich. He had an air of sophistication and refinement. Look and compare at the late Spike. Spike was more of the common type.Now by some means Velda and any like her have now got an opportunity at regaining that “STATUS” of being on top and respected and feared. Once one has tasted great power it is as strong as a drug. They will seek it out at all costs to regain power. It may not be as Top CEO of a company before the War but now as members of a Council that controls the destiny of Endtown.
Vet Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Have a good weekend everyone.Be Safe.
Robert Nowall Premium Member almost 11 years ago
I suppose somebody’s mentioned it in these comments above…but both the imperious attitude and the lack of concern for any family in Endtown suggests the High Council has no direct connection to the people of Endtown. What are they?
Robert Nowall Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Lieutenant Insect should demand the High Council be polled—-like they did for Mayor Walter.
Darwinskeeper almost 11 years ago
Surfstuff55,Two reasons. First, when we did see Al in his High Council cell, he was arguing against the council’s course of action.Second, it would be hard to imagine him supporting the TS after the things he saw during Gustine’s quest.
Jenner Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Sorry if I’ve been quiet for the past week. I’ve been spending time with my mother, who was visiting from Western Australia.I did not expect this day’s latest turn. When I thought all the elements were falling into a predictable conclusion, with one small, brightly-lit scene followed by one small, dark scene he turned up the pressure to an excruciating degree. I simply cannot guess the next direction, and I would almost kill to find out. It confirms in my mind that Mr Neathery is a genius among storytellers.
JanBic Premium Member almost 11 years ago
@Jenner
Hope you and your Mom had a great Mother’s Day visit.
Robert Nowall Premium Member almost 11 years ago
There was one sitting at Maude’s table playing cards when Maude tried to introduce Linda.
lordrunningclam almost 11 years ago
I think the second one supports my guess about the council being disbanded. There were multiple voices on the Council but now there seems to be only one.
Robert Nowall Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Looking forward to seeing this move forward on Monday. Really looking forward…