Friday, November 7, 2003

   Cream Filling & Nougat: World's Finest (Chapter XIV)
Cream and Nougat continued crawling through the vent, crawling as quickly as they could on their elbows and knees. Cream looked over his shoulder to Nougat again.
"Hey," he said, "I can hear something."
"We're in an air duct, dude," Nougat said back, "you can hear everything."
"No, I mean voices . . . . . they're female!" The two of them crawled quietly, blocking out the echoing gunshots bouncing through the vent.
"Karmel, what the hell is wrong with you?!" 'Mel's voice rang out clear to Cream's surprise.
"It's 'Mel!" he said excitedly.

Cream saw a grating up ahead and made his way to it. Behind him, Nougat followed as best he could.
"Oh crap," Cream said gravely, "'Mel's sister's armed . . ."

"Don't you get it, Cara' . . ."

"We gotta get out of here!" Cream said, crawling with renewed vigour past the grate, towards the farther end of the vent. He could only pray that a safe exit would show itself. "Noug', hurry up!" Cream couldn't hear Nougat following him, so he turned around again; Nougat was still at the grating, having ceased his crawl. "Yo! Noug'! Come on!"

" . . . . . goodbye, Caramel . . ."

Nougat uttered a low, guttural cry that escalated into one of fury as he kicked both feet at the bottom of the grate. He continued to kick hard, shouting with each thrust, praying that the grating would give in - the kicks had a slightly different effect.

The bands holding the vent to the ceiling began to creak and groan, rivets popping out and metal bending. Shortly thereafter, the section of vent gave way completely, and crashed to the floor - Nougat fell limply in tandem. 'Mel and Kar' both dove jumped away from the cloud of dust and sheet metal; Nougat composed himself as best he could and stood up, fighting back the urge to wince and clutch his side.
"Evenin', ladies," he said between heavy breaths, "don't mind me, I'm just passing through, dropping by, ya know." Kar' raised her pistol at Nougat. "Or you could do that . . ." Despite all the fighting already occuring throughout the building, 'Mel was still shocked at the turn of events.
"Nougat!" she cried.
"Well," Kar' said seriously, "I've already gotten this far . . . what's another person gonna be to me?" She pulled the hammer back.

"Alright, babe," Nougat said, putting his hands on his hips, "you've got two options. Either you blow away your sister and I and then get arrested or shot by the guys outside." Nougat was still bleeding from his cranium, and the blood was all collecting along the side of his eyes as he stood. "Or, you could drop the gun, come with me, and be out of jail in no time. I'm serious, the time just flies by, I'm told . . ."
"Kar', put down the gun, please!" 'Mel said - Kar' was quick to point the gun back at her elder sibling.
"Drop the gun, damnit!" Nougat shouted, getting the pistol trained back upon his body. Karmel remained grim in her resolve. Nougat looked around the office quickly; he looked at Kar', at 'Mel, and then to the door . . .

"Alright," he said, dropping his hands to his sides, "I'll give you a third option . . . . . Whip', if you will?" Instantly, Cream grabbed Kar's gun arm and locked it behind her back, disarming her swiftly in the process. "Found your exit, I presume?"
"Something like that, yeah," Cream said as he tossed the gun to the other man. "You wouldn't believe what's out there! I swear, the entire city's worth of guys is here and they've just cleaned house . . . I could've skipped here, if I wanted to." 'Mel was still frozen in disbelief. "Oh, hey 'Mel, ya miss us?"

'Mel smiled widely to follow suit with Cream. Nougat dropped the magazine out of the gun, unchambered the remaining round, and tossed it to the ground.
"I guess we win, huh?"
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Wednesday, November 5, 2003

   Cream Filling & Nougat: World's Finest (Chapter XIII)
The shouting and the gunfire echoed heavily through the narrow air vent. Cream felt certain that he could hear everything happening in the entire refinery - it was the one truly certain thought in his head.

"Hey Noug'," he said to the man crawling behind him, "how do you figure the boys in blue knew to come here?" Nougat continued dragging himself through the vent with effort.
"I don't know, Whip'. Maybe someone heard the gunfire earlier and called it in or something, but I really don't know . . ." He winced again. "To be fair, though, I still can't really think all that straight." Cream smirked.
"Well, at least now you have an excuse, huh?" Nougat stifled a small chuckle.
"Come on, man, I'm within an inch of my life here! Mercy!" Cream took a turn and chuckled.
"Alright, old man . . ."

"You sure you're okay?" Cream asked again as he heard Nougat audibly make efforts to crawl around a corner in the vents.
"Well, I guess I do have a bit of a headache, but I'll live," he said back.

Cream looked over his shoulder as best he could and saw Nougat in his current condition; he had a small stream of blood trickling down from the top of his head.
"Noug', you're bleeding!" he said.
"Whip', I ain't got time to bleed," Nougat responded, "we still gotta find 'Mel, remember?" Cream sighed, concerned.
"Just . . . be careful, alright?"
"Mmm hmm."

As they continued crawling unbeknownst to the current battle everywhere else, Cream had a thought.
"Hey, Noug'?" he said.
"Mmm hmm?" Nougat responded.
"You know, for the past fifteen minutes or so, you've been calling me Whip'."
"Mmm hmm."
"Just thought about it, 'sall."
"Mmm . . . . ."


* * * * *

Kar' ran back into the office where her sister was sitting, the legal papers rended and strewn all about. The gunfire was getting closer to them.
"Guess we're done here, then?" 'Mel said cooly, standing tall to her younger sister.
"For me, mostly." Kar' responded. "For you, definitely." 'Mel looked slightly puzzled. Her confusion melted away as Kar' reached behind herself and withdrew a small pistol.

"Obviously you're not going to give me the company," she continued, "and if I'm going to jail anyway . . ." 'Mel continued to stand tall, though tears were beginning to form under her hurt eyes.
"Karmel, what the hell is wrong with you?!" she shouted. "I don't care how bad things are between us, this is ridiculous!" Kar's hand trembled slightly.
"Don't you get it, Cara'? After this night, I'm going to have nothing! Nothing!" She put a second hand on the wavering pistol. "This has to be done . . . . ."

'Mel stared back, crying freely on top of her stern face.
"Kar' . . . don't do this . . . . ." Kar' sniffed back her own forming tear.
" . . . . . goodbye, Caramel . . ."

The silence was quickly shattered by a loud noise, followed by a falling body . . . . .
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Tuesday, November 4, 2003

   Cream Filling & Nougat: World's Finest (Chapter XII)
Back to the story . . . . . and with a vengeance!


Cream and Nougat looked around. Directly in front of them was the scarred man; everywhere else was filled by the horde of gunmen. Cream helped Nougat up and together they stood tall before the gang. Of course, the scarred man was still taller. He motioned with his hand, and every Pi raised a weapon in response.
"Whoa whoa whoa!" Cream shouted, "let's not be hasty here!" No response . . . he looked to Nougat. "You got any better ideas?" Nougat blurted as quickly as he could,
"Alright, now obviously we all hate each other, but I'm tellin' ya, this ain't the way . . ." Still no response. " . . . . . alright, fine! Shoot us . . ." As a few bolts were locked in the crowd, Nougat looked to Cream. "Just like that, I guess . . . bada bing, bada . . . . ."

Nougat was cut off viciously by multiple explosions. The door leading to the roof was blown completely in, as was every entrance on the ground floor. A thunder of gunfire bolted through the refinery in the form of disciplined, heavily armed teams. The confusion swept through the entire building as the Pi's froze - it was the opportunity Cream and Nougat were praying for.

Within the first quake of demolition charges, the two of them rushed the scarred man, knocking him back into the room from where he came. As Nougat continued to shoulder the man into the far wall of the locker room of sorts, Cream tore a submachine gun from a nearby Pi, sprayed the crowd in a wide arc, and closed the door behind him; he was barely able to barricade the door with a fallen locker before the rest could make it to him.

Relieved, Cream turned to the current fistfight between Nougat and the scarred man. His attention turned back to the mob outside when a burst of fire ripped its way through the metal door. Cream was quick to dive out of the way and spray the remainder of his ammunition into the door and adjacent walls. It was then when he saw Nougat pinned against the wall by a forearm to the neck, the muzzle of the scarred man's pistol pressed into his side.

Cream screamed hoarsely, gaining the scarred man's attention for a split-second before he grabbed the man's wrist and twisted as sharply as he could. The gun fired off to the side, narrowly missing Nougat's hip. The scarred man proceeded to backhand Cream, knocking him to the ground almost effortlessly - nevertheless, the pistol flew out of the scarred man's hand in the process. The man's attention diverted again, Nougat uppercutted the man in the ribs viciously, easing the pressure off his throat. Once the scarred man's forearm was finally removed, Nougat thrust his forehead forward, smashing the large Pi in the nose. Finally free from the wall, Nougat followed up with a full-bodied uppercut to the larger man's chin.

Nougat dashed forward as the scarred man staggered; he ducked down for another uppercut. Unfortunately for him, the scarred man had adapted to his form and swung his own fist down fiercely, thus combining the strength of his own arm with Nougat's momentum. The sickening thud of the scarred man's fist upon the top of Nougat's head reverberated through the small room. Nougat dropped like a sack.

The scarred man went for his dropped gun, but Cream was quick to intercept him. Cream leapt forward and landed a devastating dropkick to the scarred man's solarplexus, bringing him down to one knee. Getting up quickly, Cream charged the kneeling man and crashed his own knee against the Pi's head. Cream used the chance to make for the gun, only to have his feet swept out from under him - the scarred man pounced on him.

While the back of Cream's head was being pummeled in by the Pi, Nougat - finally having risen from his previous assault - dove on the man as well. The fight degenerated into a writhing mass of blood, limbs, and garbled voices as all three men fought for the gun and against each other. All the while, gunfire continued to rock the refinery as the Pi's struggled against the barricaded door and the counter-terrorists. There was a muffled rumble; the gun had gone off under all the bodies.

Cream clawed his way away from the mass, racing his hands over his torso for fear of his life. He was fine. He looked at the remaining two men. The scarred man was quick to crawl away as well - Nougat remained still.

"Noug'!" Cream screamed. He looked back at the panting Pi . . . and felt nothing but pure, unrefined hatred;he pounced on the scarred man's chest. The fists flew, and the man's head snapped from side to side loosely - the man did nothing to protect himself.

"Hey Whip'," Cream heard as he was tapped on the side of his head, "I think you can stop now." Cream turned around and saw Nougat standing, smoking gun in his hand. He looked back down at the bloodied Pi and finally understood. The majority of the blood that had been pouring out of the scarred man was not of his doing; there was a bullet wound in the man's chest. Cream got off the Pi, still breathing hard from emotion - he shook again as Nougat shot the Pi a second time, in the head. "Just to make sure this time," he said. Cream just nodded.


With the brief lull in action, the two of them remembered the firefight outside the room - likewise, they remembered people were still trying to get into the room.
"Alright, Whip'," Nougat said, "I'm half-dead and don't really feel like thinkin'. Tell me something good." Cream quickly looked around the small, windowless room to no avail. He finally looked up, paused, and grinned again.
"Noug', boost me up."
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   I've Missed EVERYTHING!
Alright, game on!

The big mess of schoolwork's done, I'm not insanely tired anymore, and the internet loves me again. Once I get back from class today, I'm comin' straight online, writing the next damn chapter of that thing, and surfing around everyone's sites for about 3 or 4 hours straight to get caught up. Frankly, I am SO out of the loop now!

So yes, I am back, and won't be goin' anywhere for a long, long, time . . . . . long time, of course, meaning next midterms . . . or finals . . . . . or . . . ah! I'll be here, damnit!
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Saturday, November 1, 2003

   The Gameplan:
Alright, so I have a research paper for History class due on Monday. It is to be about "the history of the idea of the Middle Ages as a distinct period." Yeah, I didn't get it either . . . so, I talked with the guy today (well, it's yesterday now, but ya know) and he cleared it up. The idea is that you are to describe what sort of picture people from certain time periods have of the MA and why they thought that way.

For example, in the Rennaisance(sp?) they all looked at the Middle Ages as a barbaric, ignorant "dark age" that shunned classical learning. In the Victorian era or around there, the Middle Ages became a romantic period of chivalry, bravery, and Ivanhoe. In Nazi Germany, the Middle Ages were used as a great ideal of the brave man fighting for the fatherland (gotta love propaganda).

And then, I got the understanding that we can use movies as insight to time periods . . . aha! HERE we go!

So, I already own "Braveheart" and "A Knight's Tale". Just now, I rented "The Messenger: The Joan of Arc Story", "The 13th Warrior", and "Attila". My examination will be on the 1990's and onwards and its view of the Middle Ages through film . . . and why . . .

Ya know, I bet that "Attila" movie's gonna suck . . . . . damn . . . . . well, I've got work to do, so dajia zaijian!
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Friday, October 31, 2003

   Cream Filling & Nougat: World's Finest (Chapter XI)
I should TOTALLY be working on my paper right now . . . . . . .


Cream and Nougat uttered simultaneous screams as they dropped through the broken skylight. They fell for about twenty feet before nearing the top of some large machinery. Cream managed to land directly on top of it; Nougat clipped the edge. Continuing his descent, he made a desparate grab for Cream and ended up catching him in the ankle - Cream began to slide over the side . . .

"You bastard!" Cream yelled down, hanging by the tips of his fingers.
"Yes, I'm a bastard!" Nougat shouted back up, "don't let go!"
"No kidding! I let go, I die!"
"Who cares about that!" Nougat got a grasp on Cream's other leg. "You let go, I die!" The two of them groaned as they continued to dangle precariously over the side of a long drop to the main industrial floor. Cream fought to regain his delicate hold on the large machine.
"Just . . . climb up me, okay?" Nougat didn't respond, but Cream could feel the hands making their way up his legs. Cream was relieved as Nougat was making quick progress - his anxiety returned when Nougat slowed his climb at the higher man's rear. Cream sighed angrily. "I don't care! Grab it if you have to!" he shouted.
"I don't want to grab it!" Nougat protested.
"Then don't grab it! Just climb, damnit!" Cream grunted a touch more as Nougat pushed off his shoulders and got an arm on the top of the machine.

Gunfire began sparking the machine as Nougat swung himself over the top. Cream swore long and hard as he writhed in time with the pounding of the bullets. Nougat, finally with a steady footing, yanked Cream up and over effortlessly.
"Alright, we're not dead," Nougat said as they crouched themselves under the line of sight of the men below them, "how do we stay that way?" Cream looked around the machine.
"There's gotta be a ladder or something . . ." Sure enough, leading down to a catwalk was the desired utility path.
"I swear to God," Nougat said, "if I never see another ladder again for the rest of my life . . ."

The two of them, still under extreme fire, slid down the rails of the ladder and made haste across the open catwalk. Nougat sprayed the last of his final clip at the Pi's in front of them as they ran towards the T-junction ahead - one man slowly started getting back up. Nougat threw the submachinegun at the wounded Pi to little effect - it bounced and fell to the ground level. Before the man could raise his gun, both Nougat and Cream shoulderblocked the man into and over the opposite rail, sending him flailing to the first level.
"You know," Cream said between breaths as they ran, "I had extra clips . . ."
"Don't tell me these things now!" Nougat retorted just before ducking another whizzing sound.

Miraculously, the two made it relatively unscathed to the wall along the third floor - Cream pressing fire from his still-intact machinegun, Nougat blazing with a pistol in each hand.
"This is possibly the worst plan we've had all night!" Cream shouted as they passed door after door, running in no particular direction.
"Yeah, where the hell is 'Mel gonna be?!" Nougat wondered out loud.
"Better yet," Cream added, "what are we gonna do once we do find 'Mel? We can't exactly walk out the door now, can we?!"
"Oh man," Nougat digressed as he shot down another Pi, "we are so screwed!" Cream took down two more before having to reload.
"Yeah, I know huh?! Stickiest place I've ever found myself in!"
"Ah, this ain't so sticky!" Nougat commented.
"Really?!"
"Hell no! This is complete bulls-"

Nougat was cut short as a side door swung out from the wall and met his nose on unfriendly terms. From the other side of the door stepped a large man with a long scar along the side of his head. Behind him stepped two more Pi's with machineguns. Cream knelt down to check on Nougat who was ever-so-slightly dazed. Half a second later five guns were trained on them - the rest of the facility had caught up. Cream put down his gun and raised his hands . . . Nougat did likewise . . .

Nougat looked up at the scarred man and cracked a grin as the blood from his nose outlined his teeth.
"Hey Cream," he said, "guess I didn't kill that guy on the dock that night after all . . ." Cream looked around at the mass of gang members surrounding them.
"Noug', that may or may not be the thing to worry about right now . . . . ."
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   Ano . . . . . . . . .
So, I'm human after all . . . go fig, huh?


Yeah, I've got no Chapter XI just yet . . . turns out, school actually is important. So yeah, as I said earlier regarding my busy bits, my procrastination has finally bit me in the ass (as it always should [woot!]).

I'll try to write up the parts during the day if I can't during the night like I usually do. So yeah, minna-san, sumimasen!


Hokay, CompSci outta the way! Time for research paper!
(No books yet!)
Crap!!!

Yeah, this weekend's gonna suck testes . . .
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Thursday, October 30, 2003

   Cream Filling & Nougat: World's Finest (Chapter X)
"So, that walkie-talkie's gettin' pretty chatty," Cream said, motioning to the device that was unceremoniously lying on the ground.
"So it is," Nougat commented, searching the dead sentry's belt for extra submachinegun magazines. "Guess we have to hurry, then?"
"Guess so." Cream hastily shoved an extra pistol into his belt. "I still can't believe we took these guys out so quickly . . ." Nougat chuckled.
"I know, we totally Metal Gear'ed 'em . . . they never had a chance!" Cream returned the chuckle.
"It is a shame that that trucker didn't want to stick around after giving us a lift here . . . could've been a useful getaway driver . . ." Cream helped himself to more submachinegun magazines.
"Hey," Nougat added, locking his new weapon's bolt into place, "if you were some random trucker who managed to pick up two bloodied guys carrying guns, would you stick around?" Cream grinned.
"He knew we were the good guys . . ."
"I'm sure . . ."
"Let's go already, man . . ."

Making their way to the main building of the refinery, they saw two more guards walking along its side; they were back-to-back and highly alert. The two made their way around a low wall and peeked over. Nougat called the shots.
"Band of Brothers, part five," he said.
"I got right," Cream stated quietly.
"On three . . ." Nougat and Cream steadied their shoulders and took aim . . . "one . . . two . . . . ."
"THREE!" Cream cried as he saw the guards look their way and raise their weapons. A quick flash of gunfire instantly lit up the area. A second later, all was silent - both men had taken down their targets with near-pinpoint accuracy.

Shouts were being made from all around the area and were getting closer.
"Noug'," Cream said as they ran towards the building, "front doors are gonna be covered like ants at a picnic!" Nougat nodded.
"Roof?" Cream nodded.
"Roof."

The shouts transformed into concussions of ignited gunpowder as the entire refinery came upon the two rogues, who were responding in a like manner as they dashed their way up and along the metal walkways that hugged the refinery. Bullets riccoched all around them: off the stucco walls next to them, off the guard rails alongside them, and off the steel platforms under them. The flight finally reached its apogee: ten feet away from them, completely in the open, was the ladder leading to the roof. Cream called the shot.
"Saving Private Ryan, 'sniper on the beach'."
"Just give me a rosary," Nougat said, somewhat shakily. Cream reloaded his gun and shouted,
"Go!"

Nougat charged full-tilt for the ladder as Cream sprayed fire at every mass of Pi members as he could see. The total effect was to be desired, as there were simply too many men for Cream to cover at once. Nevertheless, Nougat was able to swing himself over the top of the ladder and shouldered his own machinegun.
"Go!" he shouted before spraying the same groups Cream had just been covering. Cream followed suit, sprinting to the ladder and flying up the steel rungs as gunshots plowed into the walls all around him. "What is it with all these damn ladders tonight?!" Nougat shouted as he slammed another magazine into his weapon. Cream finally popped his head over the top of the ladder and laughed for the sheer ridiculousness of the entire night . . . . . though he quickly changed his expression abruptly, his torso slumping over the top of the ladder and leaving him unmoving half hanging over the side of the building.

"Cream!" Nougat cried as he sprayed more random fire downwards with one hand and dragged his shot comrade off the ladder. He searched his back and quickly found the smoking hole in Cream's jacket. He put pressure on the point with both hands, cursing heavily all the while - a brief second later, he pulled his hands away and looked at the mild, spherical burn mark on his palm. Checking back, he found the small, flattened bullet sitting neatly between Cream's shoulder blades.
"Hey," Cream said somewhat meekly as he sat himself up, "when you write that 'thank you' letter to Mrs. Kwolek, you be sure to put my name on it too, okay?" Nougat just laughed in surprise at both of their dumb luck as he helped Cream up.

They ran towards the roof entrance to the refinery with full haste. Getting within two meters of the door, it suddenly burst open, having been kicked by a Pi backed by three of his team. Cream and Nougat both swore out loud as they emptied their guns into the doorway. The four dropped into messy piles, dead, but more could be heard coming up the stairs. Cream and Nougat ran behind a large airduct and took cover as they awaited the flood of hostile gang members to wash over them.

Within seconds an especially violent shootout commenced, with Pi's pouring onto the roof from the doorway, and the many ladders around them. Cream was swearing nonstop, and Nougat was already on his last magazine. Fearing the futility of their stand, Nougat looked around as Cream continued to drop the attacking men with great fortitude - he soon found his answer.

Nougat fired a quick burst of fire at the prism-shaped skylight nearby. Cream noticed.
"Oh geez!" he exclaimed, "Now I know you're nuts!"
"What?!" Nougat shouted as he resumed his duty of covering the areas Cream couldn't.
"We jump down there, there's no telling how far we fall! That could be above the ground floor for all we know!"
"Hey, would you rather risk the splat or accept the certainty of bullets?!" Cream swallowed hard, understanding the situation.
"Go!" he shouted. They both rushed the makeshift point of ingress and jumped down as gunfire shattered what was left of the skylight . . . . .
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Wednesday, October 29, 2003

   Cream Filling & Nougat: World's Finest (Chapter IX)
Alright, so check this out: I've got this assignment due by Friday, and I REALLY need to work on it. So if I'm not around too much, that's why - sorry. I'll still keep this thing going every day though, because some people just won't be able to wait me out (your trip's gonna rock, Moll'!). So yes, let's get on with it . . .


The black van shone in the beams of moonlight that found its way through the clouds. A low hum permeated the area from a combination of moving water, sea birds and industrial machinery. The van came around the side of the oil refinery and backed into a loading dock. There, the coated men got out - a woman, angry but obedient, got out with them.

'Mel was taken to a small office room in the upper levels of the refinery. The room was relatively clean, all things considering, implying that one way or another the building was still very much in use. She turned to face her captors.
"So what happens to me now?" she asked them.
"Not our call," answered one. "We're just doin' our part of the work."
"You know," she said, cocking her head slightly, "there are other types of work out there . . . less dangerous work . . . less illegal . . ." The two men smiled.
"Nice try lady, we'll give you that," the second Pi said. 'Mel huffed.
"Would it be too much to ask for a quick bathroom break, then?"

After being taken to an empty room down the hall intended for matters not including the one at hand, 'Mel searched around vainly for any points of escape. All she could see was dirty, faded walls; all she could hear was the wind and the shuffling feet of the man outside the door. Dejected, all she could do was look around the room for any sort of concave object to keep at least some form of civility to her current barbarism.

"You people are sick, you know," 'Mel told the Pi as he escorted her back to the office.
"No, we're not sick," he said back to her, "we're just professional. This ain't a movie, missy. We don't have any sort of grand scheme or any European leadership to look to. We just want to get paid and be on with our lives."
"Yeah, but . . ."
"And if you don't mind, I'm not really the talkative type . . . and really, neither should you." 'Mel sighed again, wondering what could possibly happen next.

It was another hour before she heard footsteps followed by a female voice outside the door - it was a voice she knew all too well . . .


"Hello Cara'," the tall, professional looking woman said as she opened the door, "and how is my dear sister doing?"
"A hell of a lot better than how you'll be doing soon enough, Kar'," 'Mel returned, smiling acidly; Kar' returned the smile.
"Spirited as always, I guess," Kar' said as she walked towards her elder sister.
"Bitching like usual, I observe," 'Mel shot back - Kar's smile melted away. "I don't even get it . . . why are you so upset about this whole thing? Last time I checked, it was pretty normal for oldest kids to inherit things."
"Oh yeah, because we were such a normal family, right?"
"And what are you complaining about? You own the old estate!"
"Because you didn't want it!"
"Because I wasn't able to support it!"
"So therefore you just passed it off to me, huh?"
"Hello? You got the entire estate?"
"I never asked for your pity!"
"Maybe if you weren't so pitiful . . ." The reverberation of sound riccocheted around the small room as Kar' steadied her trembling hand and 'Mel took her fingers away from her cheek.

"Better?" Kar' asked with nothing but spite in her eyes - 'Mel mirrored the sentiment. "Good. Now Cara', I'm sure you already met the scarred guy, so I don't think I need to explain to you what could happen if you were to not agree to my terms . . ." 'Mel looked through the window in the door and saw the afore-mentioned Pi's back, seeming larger than ever before.
"Kar', clearly you're doing well enough for yourself," Mel said, "I mean, these guys don't exactly seem like the thriftiest bunch you could have found." Kar' turned and started walking towards the desk in the room.
"Oh, I didn't pay them,"
" . . . what?"
"No, you see," Kar' said as she opened a drawer, "this is a deal. They help me get my company, and I become a front for their activities. It's win-win." 'Mel 'pshhed' her.
"And this is why mom and dad gave the company to me . . ." Kar' ignored the remark and handed 'Mel a pen and a folder of papers.
"I suggest you start filling those out before he has to start persuading you to . . ."

Kar' left the room and closed the door. 'Mel looked through the window in the door again and saw her sister giving directions to the man - they were almost word-for-word for what she herself was told. She was about to toss the papers on the ground when she heard a clamour from the lower level.
"Karmel!" a Pi shouted up.
"What is it?" Karmel asked.
"A couple of the positions never checked in!"
"What?!"
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Tuesday, October 28, 2003

   Cream Filling and Nougat: World's Finest (Chapter VIII)
I thought I'd kick off this chapter with a peer into my own head. I'd like to explain the use of the title "World's Finest." It works in two ways: one, that was the title of a comic and cartoon collaboration of Superman and Batman; two, "World's Finest" just totally sounds like something on the top of a box of chocolate, doesn't it? Anyway . . . . .


As befit a long-closed place of business, The Decimal Place was dirty, messy, and utterly dilapitated. Dust and animal droppings littered the floor while tied-together furniture under sheets cluttered the space above. Motioning with his head, Cream directed the three of them to a chair adjacent to the bar - the Pi thug was sat and neatly tied down.

"So," said Nougat, "where do you figure we'll be going to next?" Cream looked back to him.
"I'm gonna say warehouse. You?"
"You can never go wrong with factory." Smiling wryly at their complete lack of gravity, they turned back to the still-unconscious man in the chair.
"Alright Noug'," Cream said, "what has your experience taught us that will wake this bastard up?" Nougat thought for a moment. After a while he reached to the back of his belt and produced a small can of mace, which he proceeded to spray into his palm. "No way this is gonna work, man . . ." Cream stated. Nougat remained single-minded, though, and brought his palm up to the Pi's nose. Sure enough, after a few seconds had passed, the man coughed, sneezed, and stirred.
"That's two for me," Nougat said, grinning. "Game on . . ."

The two questioned the man heavily, with Cream doing most of the aggressive work to Nougat's slight surprise.
"Now," Cream said coldly to the man, "I've already beat your head in once for trying to kill me. What do you think I'll do to you if you don't speak up?"
"I'm dead either way," the Pi spat out calmly, still coming to from the rough awakening. Nougat interjected,
"Look man, you know for a fact that you can cut yourself a bit of a deal for givin' us some info. It's win-win, believe me." He turned to Cream and saw him mouth the word "liar" to him - he forced himself to keep his face straight. The Pi spoke again,
"It's not gonna happen, boys . . ." Realising the truth of his words, Cream and Nougat looked to each other again.
"He gonna crack at 'Phase 2' or 'Phase 3' persuasion?" Nougat asked. Cream grinned mischievously.
"Oh, 'Phase 3' no question. This guy's gonna take effort."
"Yeah right, you just wanna hurt this guy . . ."
"You point?" Nougat shook his head in continued disbelief.

Cream bent down and walked around the Pi until he was directly behind him.
"Okay, 'Phase 2' it is," he said into the thug's ear just before pressing pressing his thumb into the back of the man's head. The man's screams echoed around the empty clubroom; Nougat even covered his ears slightly.
"Dude," Nougat said to him, "do us all a favour and just spill it!" In between shouts of pain the Pi was able to get a few words out.
"You guys are some sick sons of . . ."
"Hey now," Nougat said, breaking off the man who had clenched his entire face tight, "in terms of solid content he may have lots to be desired, but I wouldn't exactly say he's sick . . ."

A few minutes had passed, and by then all three men in the room were shouting with vigour. Nevertheless, the Pi remained close-lipped about any hideouts.
"Yo whelp, he's gonna pass out again," Nougat said as he wiped his hand on his pants for the sixth time.
"Damnit . . ." Cream muttered as he released the pressure from the man's bandaged head, " . . . guess it's 'Phase 3' time, isn't it?"
"Guess so . . ."

Cream came back around the chair and smiled when he saw raw, burning hatred in the eyes of the man before him.
"You liked that, huh?" he said - the man just glared as he breathed heavily. "Well, you're gonna love this one even more . . ." With that, Cream crouched down, drew his pistol, and proceeded to point it directly at the bound man's groin - the thug continued to glare, but silenced his breathing. "Now you tell us what we want to know or pretty soon my friend over there won't be the only one with crushed nu-"
"Hey! Easy!" Nougat exclaimed strategically, "don't be draggin' me into this, man!" Cream looked up and around to Nougat . . . and just shrugged.
"Anyway," he said, looking back to the quiet Pi, "you've got 'til the count of five before I send Willy's buddy into the next world . . . one . . ." The Pi closed his eyes and shook his head - he couldn't believe the position he was in . . . "Two . . . . ." . . no change . . . "Three . . . . ."
"Ah hell, this is gonn' be loud . . ." Nougat muttered as he walked away from the spectacle in the empty club, still covering his ears . . . .
"Four . . . . . . . ." the hammer of the pistol started pulling back as the trigger was slowly squeezed . . .


"Alright!" the Pi shouted, cold sweat mixing with the blood along the back of his neck, "put the damn gun away, I'll talk." Cream smiled, holstered his weapon, and looked to Nougat; Nougat released a heavy breath of relief.
"And?"
"They're all meeting at the oil refinery at the docks . . ." Cream and Nougat looked at each other with inappropriately frivolous expressions - they had both guessed wrong. Nougat was first to speak.
"Well sir, thank you for your fine help!" Cream went on,
"Yes, and a cab will be coming by quickly to take you to the hotel. Do have a pleasant stay now!"

Upon exiting the building, the two of them immediately engaged in male congradulatory actions, shouting and punching into the air.
"Man!" Cream said triumphantly, "are we good or what?" Nougat replied,
"If we were any better we'd be homemade, baby!" The two of them slapped hands together and were almost on the verge of a hard embrace before thinking better of the idea. "So hey, get the guy a ride already, he deserves it." Cream's eyes glinted as he walked to a nearby payphone and dialed 911.

"Hello? 911?" he said, slightly frantic, "I need help at the old Decimal Place club! My gay lover tied me to a chair and stole my wallet after I tried to kill him for having an affair with a local bartender! Please hurry!" He immediately hung up before being promted for any more questions. Nougat, shocked, looked at Cream and his impish visage.
"So, um . . . that was entirely pointless, right?"
"Incredibly pointless, yes," Cream responded.
"Good, good . . . wanna go save 'Mel now?"
"Yeah, let's do that."
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