Changing Lanes, Chapter 48

[MikeL]

Cliff James has released Desperate Measures, chapter 48 of Changing Lanes.

[MikeL]

Now, this is my kind of cliffhanger...one with a resolution in sight.

 

My favorite line in this chapter:

Giving a one-armed shrug, The Scar gestured towards the two nuclear weapons...

He'll be shrugging again in chapter 49.

[Drewbie]

Really good chapter I hope Felicia won't die though. I'd say let Brandon and Felicia kick the scars a**.

Edited August 4, 2009 by Drewbie

[jkeeling]

I want eric to pummel the scar in to pudding.

 

Really really good chapter.

 

[TalonRider]

[Pai-kun]

Loved the chapter as usual! And I did a lot of nail biting while reading this. My poor heart!

 

The Scar is becoming my favorite character in Changing Lanes. I didn't expect him to even consider bargaining for Yuri's life though. Was there a little something-something going on between the two of them? Or did he just really like and respect him(even though he chose money over him)? Unless I'm forgetting something, I can't recall him doing anything humane like that before. I'm probably just reading too much into it.

 

Let's hope Felicia does some ass kicking in the next chapter!

[hh5]

Supposedly its 9 against 3 but now its 8 against 4.

 

We still don't know how many good guys are really on the plane.

 

Now for strategy we need eric, brandon, and helen to sit on the one arm bandit.

Well actually brandon probably could do serious damage to the one arm bandit.

Fel to kick Slov ass but maybe needs brandon help.

 

But you have to hope that some other good guys are on the plane to hold off four or five guys.

Any chances that the general or brian got on-board?

 

In the long run ... its probably best that the bombs are dropped into the sea.

The good guys parachute down from the plane

 

Leaving the bad guys to try to keep the plane from crashing

 

Oh and then the u.s.a. navy just so happens to be in the area

to recover the bombs and everyone else.

 

= o r =

 

if the general and fel are on board and the good guys are fortunate to throw the bad guys off the plane

except for Scar

 

then land the plane back on the island ...

 

get every body on two planes ...

 

head for another safe area ... make a trade with Graeme plus 30 mil

since the volcano is still active

 

The end with Helen and Jane beating up Graeme

 

 

Hey an idea for book 3

 

Instinct finally finishes the album, get another year of you save the world,

Jon decides to retire and look for his mate ... the rest of that band - reinvents into a gay band

 

eric and the strippers makes good business

 

Jane has it out with her husband!!

Lawyers and court and where she gonna live.

 

eric and jans get married

with brian and keith!!!!

with general and fel

 

this time Jon and Brandon and Chase plans this one

 

California has the major earth quake

 

Eric says "Helen don't blame me on this one - I didn't plan this wedding!!"

"but at least you can thank me for having a lear jet on standby!!!"

[Conner]

So, if Felicia is there, then the other 4 must also be "her" men. I'm hoping the General is one of those 4. He can fly the plane if it comes to that.

 

The ruse used to get them on the Scar's plane was absolute genious.

 

Seeing that the only events I have predicted so far involve pool parties, I'm going to go all out here and predict that the good guys will beat the bad guys! Not bad, eh?

 

I'm also going to predict that there will be a happy ending! Not only that, but the ending will involve certain characters performing erotic dancing in a brand new dance club. I'm hoping the dancers will be wet, one way or another.

[hh5]

So CJ - are ya making an author income via google adsense?

or are you suggesting we all get ATP training for the C-130 simulator? with two nukes :nuke:

[hh5]

So, if Felicia is there, then the other 4 must also be "her" men. I'm hoping the General is one of those 4. He can fly the plane if it comes to that.

 

The ruse used to get them on the Scar's plane was absolute genious.

 

Seeing that the only events I have predicted so far involve pool parties, I'm going to go all out here and predict that the good guys will beat the bad guys! Not bad, eh?

 

Yaa - I miss that - so it could be that the other four could be the general, brian, and two of fels men ...

and Solv not so bright to order the five to stay outside

 

so there's only one guy to overcome.

 

sure there's a pool party - the atlantic for the slov and the pilot and the one man

[C James]

Loved the chapter as usual! And I did a lot of nail biting while reading this. My poor heart!

 

The Scar is becoming my favorite character in Changing Lanes. I didn't expect him to even consider bargaining for Yuri's life though. Was there a little something-something going on between the two of them? Or did he just really like and respect him(even though he chose money over him)? Unless I'm forgetting something, I can't recall him doing anything humane like that before. I'm probably just reading too much into it.

 

Let's hope Felicia does some ass kicking in the next chapter!

 

The Scar, though it was only mentioned in passing in LTMP, is straight. What he isn't is homophobic. He had no qualms at all about kissing Dimitri in public in Rome (in the middle of the Piazza Navona) as part of their cover. He was also quite comfortable in his persona as a gay flamer-shipping magnate, when he needed Instinct's shipping to smuggle the bombs.

Jerry isn't the nicest of people, but he's not anti-gay.

 

As for Yuri; The Scar wanted him back because he felt he needs him; Yuri was very useful. As a subtext, he wanted Yuri back so Felecia (whom Jerry hates) couldn't have any form of a "victory".

 

So CJ - are ya making an author income via google adsense?

or are you suggesting we all get ATP training for the C-130 simulator? with two nukes :nuke:

 

Lol... the adsense revenue goes to GA to help defray the bandwidth costs of hosting my site. I have no control (nor does GA) over what they display, and some of the adds have made me chuckle.

 

 

****************

 

Okay, now, about the chapter ending... Notice that, if the final paragraph wasn't there, it would be a cliffhanger. HOWEVER, I added the final paragraph to make it a sort of anti-cliffhanger. (Note to The Frog: See? no cliffhangers!)

 

Of course... I'm prone to doing the unexpected.... so I'll mention in thing; why is Felecia grinning?

 

Oh, BTW, the next chapter is entitled "Falling".

 

Also, I should mention that Changing Lanes has 51 chapters and an epilogue. I know that I've been vague about the total number of chapters, but that's because I wasn't sure until it was all done.

 

Now.. as a question... remember Jerry's intention to release Eric unharmed (? He might very well decide to loop back over the airport, nuke it, and then, keeping his word, release Eric unharmed at ten thousand feet, sans parachute...That would make a fitting end for the story in some ways (Remember my certainty that there would be no sequels?) Wouldn';t that make everyone happy as an ending? Eric would be unharmed at the story's end (with just a slight gravitational issue to deal with)

Jerry would get his bomb, and all the loose ends would be neatly wrapped up. So, my question is, would this make our resident amphibian happy? It does seem to fulfill all his requirements.

[TalonRider]

Lol... the adsense revenue goes to GA to help defray the bandwidth costs of hosting my site. I have no control (nor does GA) over what they display, and some of the adds have made me chuckle.

 

This is something that I've noticed a long time ago. They seem to pick something out of the story. If you've ever looked at the banner on Dom's site? Most of the time it's for bankruptcy. Usually Chapter 7 and Chapter 11.

[MikeL]

Okay, now, about the chapter ending... Notice that, if the final paragraph wasn't there, it would be a cliffhanger. HOWEVER, I added the final paragraph to make it a sort of anti-cliffhanger. (Note to The Frog: See? no cliffhangers!)

No cliffhangers? No cliffhangers?! That last paragraph merely serves to suggest that there may be an acceptable resolution to the precarious situation Eric and Brandon are in. Nothing has been resolved at this point. Survov might slit Felicia's throat. Scar might blow Eric's head off. It's not what has happened but what hasn't happened that makes this chapter a cliffhanger.

 

Now.. as a question... remember Jerry's intention to release Eric unharmed (? He might very well decide to loop back over the airport, nuke it, and then, keeping his word, release Eric unharmed at ten thousand feet, sans parachute...That would make a fitting end for the story in some ways (Remember my certainty that there would be no sequels?) Wouldn';t that make everyone happy as an ending? Eric would be unharmed at the story's end (with just a slight gravitational issue to deal with)

Jerry would get his bomb, and all the loose ends would be neatly wrapped up. So, my question is, would this make our resident amphibian happy? It does seem to fulfill all his requirements.

You've just described the biggest cliffhanger of all. If the story ends with everything literally up in the air...

 

Let me put it this way. If, and only if, the story (including the epilogue) ends with no cliffhanger - with no unresolved catastrophe or cataclysm remaining - I will gladly issue the appropriate certification to that effect. One provision: If Brian and Keith do not "find" each other, there will be a codicil to the certificate.

 

Goats should not disappoint.

Edited August 6, 2009 by MikeL

[Drewbie]

Great so Felecia is back on the scar's side? damn the goat now im questioning things

 

Hate to see felecia goes back to the scars side.

 

Fires up the fire pit

Edited August 6, 2009 by Drewbie

[Phantom]

I think the goat spoiled the ending for us

[TalonRider]

There are a lot of unanswered questions that still need to be answered. They might even make for an interesting poll.

[Benji]

............Wow, great chapter!! Nice surprise ending, but I wonder about Helen, she looks like she is about to tackle Jerry at any moment.

[MikeL]

There are a lot of unanswered questions that still need to be answered. They might even make for an interesting poll.

I see you started a poll. It's good to be able to state our preferences. I wonder if it will have any influence on the goat.

[rknapp]

See, what I'm wondering is who the other four commandos were. The five that were outside had to have noticed that Helen was not alone. I would venture a guess that Scar and Survov are the only "baddies" left on that plane. Hell, it might even be up to Brandon to land that plane. Doubt it though... since we know Felecia is aboard, and possibly Walter as well. As for the title... I'd say some combination of the following will be taking flying lessons: Scar, Eric, the bombs. That, or Scar holes himself up in the cockpit and nosedives. He's not above suicide to avoid capture, or avoid being killed by "the traitorous bitch" and her lackeys.

[Benji]

See, what I'm wondering is who the other four commandos were. The five that were outside had to have noticed that Helen was not alone. I would venture a guess that Scar and Survov are the only "baddies" left on that plane. Hell, it might even be up to Brandon to land that plane. Doubt it though... since we know Felecia is aboard, and possibly Walter as well. As for the title... I'd say some combination of the following will be taking flying lessons: Scar, Eric, the bombs. That, or Scar holes himself up in the cockpit and nosedives. He's not above suicide to avoid capture, or avoid being killed by "the traitorous bitch" and her lackeys.

 

....................I'm going to take a guess that all five people that escorted Helen unto the plane are Felicia's men, that leaves Survov, Scar and the pilot. We have 5 armed against 3 possible, if the pilot is also armed. The Scar has a weapon, but I'm betting he is in someones target sights right now. Survov is so surprised he won't be much of a threat that leaves the 'bomb' as real threat, yet Scar couldn't get it 'remoted' as he wished and I doubt he can bluff himself out of this. They are airborne if the pilot refuses to cooperate then the General would have to be with them to land the plane, there are no more pilots. So that leaves the 'Mexican standoff' finished, plus Brandon and Eric and a very still angry Helen on board. Me thinks Scar is going to nose dive into the volcano with Survov either cooperating or shot.

[jfalkon]

Great chapter goat!

So you are leaving us with a "gravitational lissue" instead of the usual cliffhanger? How exactly is that a better ending to a story?

[Linxe Termoil]

sigh. Mid air fight coming, some butt kicking, and I'm thinking a plane crash.

 

 

Oye.