4674 replies to this topic

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

Awesome, Mara!

[Mara=^.^=]

Well, the rest of "Live Through" is almost done. Can't say the same for the chapter after that

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

Don't worry, Mara. You'll get it done in good time. I have faith in ya!

[Mara=^.^=]

My goal is to have the next section ready for you guys by Sunday night. We'll see...

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

All you can do is to do your best, and that's all we expect of you, Mara. *huggles*

[Mara=^.^=]

LOL, you're being too nice! You gotta yell at me a little! Be all like, "get your butt in gear, Mara! Jeez!"

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

I was being myself, Mara. lol If you don't want me to be myself, then fine.

MARA, GET YOUR BUTT IN GEAR!!!

That better??? lolz

[Mara=^.^=]

yay! Very persuasive!

A couple paragraphs left, sigh...

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Lizz]

Hurry up, Mara! I wanna know what happens next! Keep writing, Mara! I wanna see the rest of the story! COME ON, MARA!!!

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....How's that?

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

C'mon, Mara! Getcha head in the game!!! (lol This is fun!)

[Mara=^.^=]

I respond well to thinly veiled threats!

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

lol I had a feeling you would! XD

[okmeamithinknow]

Hurry up Mara. If that's not posted by the end of this weekend, I will take away all of your cookies and eat them as you look on....

~Crys~

[Mara=^.^=]

If that's not posted by the end of this weekend, I will take away all of your cookies and eat them as you look on....

Ye Gods, what a cruel fate!

I solemnly swear I will have the next section ready for you guys by tomorrow night!

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Mara=^.^=]

Well, it looks like the mainsite is being a tremendous butthead, so I'll have to post the next installment here.

LOL, Aurora is such a bitch in this chapter. I had more fun writing for her here than I've had in quite a long while Anyway, I hope you enjoy these measly 6 pages. I wish I had more for you guys

Here we go! (I included a few paragraphs of previously posted material, just to help you guys get your bearings).


Live Through, Part II

**Someone knocks on the door, filling the stillness with a soft rat-a-tat-tat. April throws off the covers, wipes her eyes swiftly, and strengthens her posture before responding**
APRIL: Come in…
**The door creaks open half an inch, and Future Carl peeks inside hesitantly**
FUTURE CARL: Um…sorry to bother you but…um…we’re having a sort of meeting in the cockpit.
**April favors him with a steely glare, and he lowers his eyes**
FUTURE CARL: I’m sorry about what happened. I hope you can forgive me for the part I played in it.
**He shuts the door swiftly, and April turns back to the computer screen**
LEE: What is happening?
APRIL: I am not sure. But it seems Aurora is gathering everyone together. Perhaps the Dictator has woken up.
**Lee’s eyes flash a little, and April glances nervously over her shoulder**
APRIL: Lee, would you…would it be all right if I brought you with me? It may mean that I am weak, but I cannot abide the thought of going through this alone.
LEE: By all means! Take the computer with you. If anyone so much as threatens one hair on your head, I will hunt them down, rip them limb from limb, and feed their carcass to Tolly.
**April smiles a little in spite of her sadness**
APRIL: You would not last two minutes in a fight against any of them, and you know it. You are an appalling warrior.
**He laughs**
LEE: Fair enough. But the sentiment behind it is true nonetheless.
**She smiles down at him gratefully**
APRIL: I know, and I appreciate it, Lee. Thank you.
**He rubs the back of his neck as she scoops up the computer and carries it with her out of the room. She exits the Shahada and makes her way out of the the cargo bay. April traverses the long passageway to the cockpit of the Half Life with as much dignity as she can, holding her head high, dried blood still caked around the gash on her forehead. As she approaches the sliding doors that lead into the bridge, she gradually slows to a halt. She hesitates outside the entrance, fidgeting nervously**
LEE: Go inside. I will be right there with you the whole time.
**Taking a deep breath, April steps in front of the door, and it glides open. She steps boldly into the room and is immediately greeted by Cindy, Libby, Sheen, and Carl. Breathing a sigh of relief, she walks into the center of the cockpit. Future Libby, garbed in a new red chrysanthemum dress, smiles warmly at April from her seat against the far wall. Future Sheen’s head rests on her lap, his sleeping breaths rising and falling peacefully. Future Carl sits by himself in the pilot’s chair, looking down at his feet. April glances around, frowning a little in confusion before setting her laptop down on the control panel**
APRIL: So…what is the purpose of this meeting? Is the Dictator not awake after all?
LIBBY: (yawning) I dunno. Jimmy called this meetin’. He went to go get Aurora a minute ago. Cin, Sheen, Carl, an’ I just woke up, so we have no idea what’s goin’ on.
**The distant patter of footsteps echoes from out in the corridor, and April stiffens. Turning around, she faces the door, which slides open a moment later to reveal three harrowing figures. Jimmy strides in first, face tight and determined, with Goddard at his heels. Aurora and Future Jimmy follow behind him. Future Jimmy shuffles forward listlessly, one arm slung around Aurora for support, barely able to carry his own weight. His expression is feeble and drawn, with dark circles under both of his downcast eyes. The occupants gape at him, gripped by a mixture of fear, pity, and fascination. Aurora helps him out into their midst, and they all draw back as if a plague has entered the room. Ignoring their stares, Aurora leads Future Jimmy toward the pilot’s chair. Future Carl immediately hops up, clearing the way for the man who had up until twelve hours ago been his sole commander. She eases the former Dictator into the chair, where he slumps into sullen silence**
CINDY: (whispering to Jimmy) I can't believe that's you. He doesn't look anything like you. He's almost... I don't know, pretty. In a creepy, sleep-deprived, sociopathic genius kind of way.
JIMMY: Well, 10 years of being evil can do that to a – hey, wait a minute. Do I detect an insult in there?
CINDY: (crossing her arms) I'm sorry, Jimmy, did I offend you? Do you want me to tell you that you're pretty too?
JIMMY: Err, no, that's not the adjective I would use, but...
**Sheen rests his elbow on Jimmy's shoulder, picking at a piece of food stuck in between his two front teeth**
SHEEN: Don't worry about her, Jimmy. Carl and I think you're pretty – don't we, Carl?
CARL: H...hwhat –?
**Jimmy smacks his forehead, and Cindy sniggers**
CINDY: That's right, Neutron, we're all here for you. Just say the word, and we'll praise you for being the dainty princess that you are.
SHEEN: Well, all of us except Libby. She's only allowed to think I'm pretty. Right Libs?
LIBBY: (rolling her eyes) Whatever you say, Sheen.
CINDY: Oh, the inhumanity! How will Miss Jimmy ever be able to bear the loss of one person’s glowing adoration?
**She curtsies to the boy genius**
CINDY: Do you need a handkerchief to blot your tears, fair maiden?
**He jabs his index finger in her face**
JIMMY: Hey! You're the one who used such an absurd term to describe the Dictator in the first place! That would be like if I turned to you and said “wow, isn't Aurora handsome? She looks nothing like you!” Stop using your idiotic word choice to make fun of me!
LIBBY: Haha, he's got you there, Cin.
**Cindy's cheeks redden, and Jimmy looks off into space**
JIMMY: Anyway, I don't know about you guys, but I've had it with this madness. I want to go back home, where things make sense. Back to where Cindy doesn't shoot flames, Sheen doesn't have tats, Libby wears pants, and Carl is fat.
CARL: Hey!
JIMMY: Sorry.
CINDY: Actually, that summation was surprisingly accurate.
**Aurora's voice rings out, loud and authoritative, and the kids look over in her direction**
AURORA: Circle up, people! We have some important items of business to attend to!
CINDY: (winking) Her majesty doth summon. Come on, you guys. We can argue about stupid stuff later.
**They travel as a group to the center of the room, where Aurora waits, tapping her foot impatiently. Future Libby eases Future Sheen's head off her lap and leaves him to slumber against the wall, then makes her way over to her friend. Future Carl slinks toward the assembly, and when no one objects to his presence, takes a seat next to Future Libby. After a moment, he realizes that no one else is sitting, and he awkwardly gets to his feet again. April joins last of all. She chooses a spot next to Future Carl, maintaining a two person buffer between herself and Aurora. Only Future Jimmy remains where he is, doggedly keeping his gaze off the blonde. She ignores his absence and regards her audience with an expression of wry amusement**
AURORA: (clearing her throat) So, fun news everybody: tons of people are trying to kill us.
CINDY: Err...yay?
AURORA: The threat isn't imminent, but it does put us in a bit of a quandary. The way I see it –
SHEEN: (interrupting) Come on, chica! You can’t tell me you’re afraid of people trying to kill us when we’re on board this mother. Have you seen this ship? It’s the Half Life for crying out loud! It’s like…BWAHH!
AURORA: “Bwah?”
SHEEN: Ya, you know! Super huge and powerful! If a bad guy shows up, we can be all like ‘Bang zap kapow! ’ and poof! No more bad guy.
**He shifts his glance from side to side, then cups a hand to his mouth to whisper**
SHEEN: Actually, while we’re on the subject, I’ve been meaning to ask – you think I could get my hands on a couple of those guns? You know, just test ’em out on an asteroid or a small moon or something…
AURORA: Out of the question. And as far as fighting is concerned, it’s not really an option. There are bound to be civilians among our hunters, and since the whole point of stopping the Dictator was to prevent more civvies from being slaughtered, we can't go around blasting our attackers out of the sky.
CINDY: This ship has a hyperdrive, doesn’t it? Why don’t we just jump to safety whenever a threat approaches?
AURORA: That’s what we're currently doing, Cindy.
CINDY: Then what’s the problem?
AURORA: We can't all stay cooped up on the Half Life forever. We have lives to get back to. And the sooner we get all of you back to your lives and away from this ship, the better.
**Their attention heightened, she continues**
AURORA: Think of what I'm about to tell you as...tying up loose ends. We have quite a few things left to resolve, and not a lot of time left to do it in. So let's cut to the chase, people. First thing's first: we're taking Sheen and Libby back to Shangri-Llama.
FUTURE LIBBY: But Aurora, I –
**Future Libby breaks off, lowering the finger she had raised in protest. She looks over at Future Sheen where he dozes by the wall, then back at Aurora, and her expression falls. She clasps her hands together and gazes down at the floor**
AURORA: As soon as that's taken care of, we can turn to item number two – April.
**When the green-skinned woman looks her way, Aurora turns her face to the side and speaks with cold bluntness**
AURORA: You should probably figure out where you want to go, and what you're going to do with Nav's stuff.
**April widens her stance and clenches her fists, and the savagery of her countenance matches Aurora’s coldness**
APRIL: That is fine with me. I have a course of action worked out already. You need not concern yourself with my well-being.
**Aurora’s reply is icy**
AURORA: Don’t worry, April. I know you can take care of yourself.
**Future Libby tugs on Aurora's arm**
FUTURE LIBBY: (whispering) Aurora, try to show a little more tact! Why are you being so blasé about this? She just lost her fiancee...there's no need to be cruel.
**Aurora disregards her friend's intervention**
AURORA: Lastly, and most obviously, we need to figure out how the heck to get you kids back where you came from. Fortunately, we have not one, but two geniuses at our disposal to work out a solution. Here's what I'm thinking...
**As this whole discussion is going on, Future Jimmy remains off to one side, absorbed in his own thoughts. After a time, he notices the laptop next to him on the control panel. It takes a moment for him to realize that the Gorlock face staring back at him from the monitor is actually watching him. Lee and Future Jimmy make eye contact, and the strangeness of the whole situation compels them both to say something**
FUTURE JIMMY: So…
LEE: So…uh…hi there.
FUTURE JIMMY: Ya. Hi.
**There is a moment of awkward silence. Future Jimmy stares down at his hands, and Lee looks off-screen, fidgeting uncomfortably. Future Jimmy seizes onto the first conversation starter that pops into his head**
FUTURE JIMMY: So uh…how was your day?
LEE: Oh, you know. My true love just called me up crying because you killed her true love two months before the wedding. Now I am trying to figure out what to do.
FUTURE JIMMY: Oh. I see.
LEE: I feel so selfish for being in love with her…for wishing her to feel the same way that I do. The last thing I want to do is express romantic intentions at a time like this. I need to be there for her, but I cannot change my feelings, even if Nav is dead. I do not know how to act.
FUTURE JIMMY: Sorry. I wish I could help.
**More silence**
LEE: So, uh…how about you?
FUTURE JIMMY: Today I woke up to discover that I’m an evil despot and mass murderer responsible for the death of billions, including my own family. Shortly after receiving the news, the woman who has been trying to kill me for the past ten years stopped me from committing suicide and then threw herself on top of me in bed.
LEE: Oh. Okay…
FUTURE JIMMY: Ya.
LEE: You must be a bit confused.
FUTURE JIMMY: You think?
**A shadow falls over Future Jimmy's legs, and he looks up, startled to find Aurora standing immediately in front of him**
AURORA: – hear that?
FUTURE JIMMY: Huh? What?
AURORA: I said, did you hear that? Have you even been listening?
**He lowers his eyes, and Aurora surprises him by leaning forward and placing both her hands on his knees. He looks up sharply. She shifts her weight into her arms, and messy hair slides over her shoulders as she bends closer. With some difficulty he suppresses his historical inclination, which is to retaliate, incapacitate her, and then gloat**
AURORA: Hey jackass, let me fill you in on a little secret: I seriously dislike repeating myself. Now do I have your attention, or don't I?
FUTURE JIMMY: Err – I imagine it would be impossible for you to not have it, seeing as you are taking up my entire field of vision.
**Only Future Carl is taken aback by this new development. The rest, who by this point are used to Aurora's unusual outbursts, merely wait for the episode to pass**
AURORA: Good. Now repeat after me: “I will work with Jimmy and Cindy to come up with a way to get the kids back home. I will not rest until I put that gigantic evil brain of mine to good use.”
FUTURE JIMMY: Jimmy and Cindy? Why both? All I need are a few pieces of basic information from the younger me, and I can get to work making a –
AURORA: As I recall, the two of them are responsible for dragging everyone to this universe in the first place, so they'll both have to figure out how to get back home again.
FUTURE JIMMY: But I am confident I can do it on my own if I –
**She tightens her grip on his knees**
AURORA: Enough with the grandstanding, Neutron! Did it ever occur to you that other people might actually know more than you? I know it's a revolutionary concept, but try to let it sink in.
**She pushes off his legs and straightens, then turns heel and heads back over to the rest of the group. Lee raises an eyebrow at him, and Future Jimmy motions toward Aurora**
FUTURE JIMMY: (whispering) See what I mean?
LEE: Oh yes, I see it.
**As Aurora rejoins the others, Future Carl raises a timid hand**
FUTURE CARL: Um...what about me? You didn't mention me at all in your instructions. What should I do?
AURORA: (nastily) Gee, I don't know...why don't you try asking Neutron? You seem to be very good at that. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to tell you what to do with the rest of your life.
FUTURE CARL: That's not true! I mean I... well, I just...I've never really thought about it before. What do you think I should do?
AURORA: What do I look like, a bloody career counselor? I don't care what happens to you, Carl. It's not my job to dig you out of your ditch. Figure it out yourself.
FUTURE LIBBY: Aurora!
AURORA: If he's got something to say to me, let him say it! If Carl doesn't like the way I address him, he can very well stand up for himself. Care to give it a go, Carl?
**The redhead doesn't respond, and Aurora shrugs to Future Libby**
AURORA: See? What's the use of being nice to someone who doesn't have a shred of self-respect? It's a waste of energy.
**The young Carl squirms uncomfortably, and Jimmy reassures him with a couple pats to the back**
FUTURE CARL: (softly) I’m still a person.
AURORA: Waaah, waaah, cry me a river, Carl. Why don’t you try not being a whiner and actually take matters into your own hands for a change? Jeez.
JIMMY: Aurora, it wouldn’t hurt to show a little sensitivity –
AURORA: Did I ask you?
**Future Jimmy gets up from his chair, and the kids automatically take a few steps away. He approaches the control console, and Lee looks on with interest as he inputs some information and tweaks a setting or two. He turns to look back at the others, who are eyeing him quizzically**
FUTURE JIMMY: At this distance, it will take several hours to get back to earth. I adjusted our course so that we waste as little time as possible.
AURORA: Good thinking. I’m glad someone’s being proactive around here. Well, there’s no use standing around talking further. Dismissed!
**April wastes no time in clearing out. With military briskness, she strides past the former Dictator and snatches her laptop off the control panel, giving him to a dirty look as she does. She heads for the exit, cradling the computer in her arms**
APRIL: He did not say anything to upset you, did he, Lee?
LEE: Err, no…
APRIL: Good. I would not abide it if he did.
LEE: Thanks?
**She casts a parting glance at Aurora, only to discover that the blonde has turned to Future Libby and is engaged in a quiet conversation with her. Glaring, April stalks through the automatic doors, which shut behind her with an air of finality. Cindy watches her leave, feeling a twinge of sympathy, but unable to offer any words of commiseration**
AURORA: Are your hands fixed up, Libs?
**Aurora inspects Future Libby’s palms, which, except for several faded scars, are fully healed**
FUTURE LIBBY: (smiling) As good as new, thanks to that speed-healing gizmo in the sick bay. I tell ya – of all the junk Jimmy has invented over the years, that quick fix has gotta be the most useful.
AURORA: No kidding. I probably wouldn’t even be able to walk right now if it weren’t for that thing.
FUTURE LIBBY: Are you sure you're OK now? I mean, you really pushed yourself to the limit back on the planet, and I –
AURORA: (interrupting) I’m fine. Although…do you think we could go somewhere and talk? It’ll be a couple hours before we get back to Shangri Llama anyway, and I have a small request to make in the meantime…
FUTURE LIBBY: Of course.
**Breathing a sigh of relief, Aurora swivels round to see the others blinking at her like a herd of dimwitted pack animals**
AURORA: What is everyone standing around for? Cindy, Jimmy and…well, Jimmy, head for the lab and get to work! Miraculous solutions to impossible scientific conundrums don’t happen on their own, you know.
**Cindy and Jimmy exchange glances. They hang back, then at last beckon to Aurora covertly**
JIMMY: Aurora, are you sure going with him is, well, safe? Less than twenty four hours ago he was murdering people!
AURORA: Oh, for the love of – Neutron! You’re not going to go all Son of Sam on them, right?
**Future Jimmy stands stiff as a pole, reddening**
AURORA: (gesturing at him) See that? Does that look like a child-killer to you? The only person you should be afraid of here is me. Now get out of here before I lose what’s left of my patience!
**Cindy, Jimmy, and Goddard scramble for the exit, and Future Jimmy follows in their wake, turning a small circle around himself to study Aurora one last time. Once they’ve gone, she exhales in exasperation and rubs her forehead**
AURORA: Oy, I tell ya…
LIBBY: Um…Aurora? What ‘bout us? What’re Sheen, Carl and I supposed to do?
AURORA: Is it really that hard to bug off until you're needed? Entertain yourselves! Jeez!
**She grabs Future Libby by the arm**
AURORA: Come on, Libs, we’re outta here.
**Future Libby shrugs at them apologetically before following her friend out of the cockpit. The doors swish closed behind them, and the remaining kids appraise one another**
LIBBY: So…what do you want to do?
SHEEN: I dunno, what do you want to do?
CARL: Um…older me? Do you want to hang out?
**Future Carl, who is still standing in the corner, rubs the back of his neck with a half smile**
FUTURE CARL: Heh, thanks, but I think I’m going to go for a little walk…
**He backs toward the exit, grinning ruefully**
FUTURE CARL: But thanks for asking…
**He too disappears into the hallway outside, and the kids are left alone. After a moment of silence, Sheen places a conspiratorial arm around Libby and Carl**
SHEEN: So…future me is still asleep in the corner. You wanna go draw weird stuff on his face?
**There is a long pause, then Libby shrugs**
LIBBY: Ya OK.

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I'm working on the next chapter too, but you all know how long these things take
~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =
P.S. Apologies for typos...I didn't have a beta reader.

[Pigquet3]

Aurora is such a bitch in this chapter.

And, I loved every minute of it! Seriously, I love Aurora's extremely honesty, bluntness, and no-nonsense attitude. Keep it comin'!






Pigquet

[Lizz]

As always, the chapter was great. It was kinda nice seeing Aurora being her old bitchy grumpy self. I especially love the interaction between Future Jimmy and Lee.
LEE: How was your day?
FUTURE JIMMY: Well, I killed your friend's fiance, woke up from being a mass-murdering sicopath, tried to commit suicide, and Aurora jumped on me.
I know it went something like that, but it was funny none the less. I also loved Future Jimmy's wise-ass comment to Aurora. I was like "Oh yeah, still got it".
I still can't stop wondering what'll happen to Aurora and Future Jimmy afterwards. Everyone else seems to have a plan (save for Future Carl), but with them being wanted criminals, nowhere seems safe.
Can't wait to see the rest of it. I also wonder what Future Sheen will think after Carl, Sheen, and Libby pull that gag on him.

Also, I noticed this mistake you kept making and I thought I'd point it out to you. A "fiancée" is a woman engaged to be married to a man. And a "fiancé" is a man engaged to be married to a woman. So it's like...
April is Nav's fiancée
Nav is April's fiancé
I noticed you kept getting the two mixed up, so I thought I'd mention it.

[Mara=^.^=]

It was kinda nice seeing Aurora being her old bitchy grumpy self.

I especially love the interaction between Future Jimmy and Lee.

I wrote that scene soooo long ago...I'm glad I found a way to keep it in

Also, I noticed this mistake you kept making and I thought I'd point it out to you. A "fiancée" is a woman engaged to be married to a man. And a "fiancé" is a man engaged to be married to a woman. So it's like...
April is Nav's fiancée
Nav is April's fiancé
I noticed you kept getting the two mixed up, so I thought I'd mention it.

Wow, you'd think that after 5 years of French I would've known that! Thanks for pointing it out, and for all the comments actually

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Mara=^.^=]

And, I loved every minute of it! Seriously, I love Aurora's extremely honesty, bluntness, and no-nonsense attitude. Keep it comin'!

LOL, her tactlessness is practically legendary Although she could've been a bit nicer to April in this chapter...


~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[SweeneyxxTodd]

I loved it! My favorite part was when Lee and FJ were talking. It was so wonderfully awkward. I was roflmaoing during that entire exchange.