C James

What? I'd never tease you, now would I?

I was thinking that... Especially in regards to Chapter 13! BTW, Colin, thanks for the explanation of the Cal Sate vs. University of California. I had no idea there were so many universities there. My whole state has three. (well, two and a half; the University of Northern Arizona lacks several things, such as a law school, medical school, etc.) And this is one heck of a great story! So, anyone have any predictions for the next chapter? a LOT happened in this one, much of it exceedingly ominous. I'm really wondering about that phone call at the end (Eeeevil cliffie BTW!) and then about what Jacob will do with Matt and Val off to college. Where exactly is Oak Lawn supposed to be located? Inland Empire? If so, USC isn't far, *IF* Matt goes there.

Hey now! No extraterrestrials in my story! That's your bailiwick!

Nope... Leviticus said that slaves merely needed to be FROM neighboring countries, not caputred there. So, I think you residence in Canada qualifies you, even if you are in PA. Humph... you are being so difficult about this. Ouch!!! 17 HOURS in an airport? UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry to hear that Emoe!!! It's fundamentally ridiculous when you have to spend more time in the airport than actually flying! ACK! Talons... Not good! I'm feeling so threatened around here lately. Other than you, I didn't think we had any of those around here? Yes, but I'll probably have to give that "best antagonist" award back, due to Eric being one of the good guys. BTW, I can't recall if I've mentioned it or not, but he next chapter is entitled "Visitations". and will be posted on Tuesday, Arizona time.

Graeme, I just saw this, and loved it! I must admit, I was wondering what on earth was up with that title! That was brilliant! I loved Trevor's cough, too. The surprise twist at the end was both funny and heartwarming. Excellent character development! Great graphic, too. Thanks!!!

Kevin, this wouldn't have happened had you not gone shopping. This therefor proves my contention that shopping is hazerdous to health and sanity, and should be avoided at all costs.

Of course I lurk! That's what lurkers do! :-) Hmmm, so you WANTED post 666, did you? Now why might that be? The only thing that I can think of is that it is YOU in league with the Devil!! And "Spawn of Beelzebub"? Hmmm.. But, Beelzebub is the cat! Are you saying that Eric is the sun of the cat? Hmmmm, interesting theory. There are, however, some people here who might say that this would be more likely if Beelzebub was a female dog. Roasting Goat?!?!?!? Why do I feel so endangered around here??? And Eric, becoming Vulture Bait! Poor Eric! He's so maligned, it just isn't fair... Okay, I think we have procrastinated long enough... Time to get Frosty sold, as Leviticus allows.

Oh no you don't... I said *A* motorcycle would be mentioned, and everything you mentioned qualifies as a motorcycle. So I don't think you are fully appreciating the concept of a broken-down Volvo. Think of the possibilities. Cars have back seats, which can be put to use. (well, OK, it will be in Jacob's driveway, but in the dark, they could sneak out and use it). And you could devote several chapters to detailed descriptions of engine-rebuilding. Think of the fun you could have doing the research! I could go on and on and on.. What the heck, I think I will! The 1972 Volvo would be quite a conversation starter! (even if the car itself won't start). Jacob could hang a pair of fuzzy dice from the rearview mirror (can't do that with a motorcycle!) And, um, the possibilities are endless!

How about this for option 6: He turns out to be, contrary to some expressed expectations, to be just a common gay story fixture; The amiable, precocious, lovable but occasionally slightly bothersome kid brother? I'll give a little clue; there is something illegal going on somewhere, at some point in the story. BTW, I note that this post is going to be number 666 in the thread! And the thread number is 6666, so I hope no one is superstitious.

Let's have the FULL story here... After mentioning the universities in a PM, shdowgod was assured, by a certain sunglasses-wearing-goat (who prefers, in this case, to remain anonymous), that Berkly had been looked into to confirm the presence of a law school. Said goat, during said google, did not notice that Berkley was listed as University of California Berkley, rather than Cal State Berkly, and blithely assured our author that the schools had been checked into. Said Goat, now aware that California, for undecipherable reasons, has TWO university systems, is now convinced that everyhing and everyone in California is :wacko: I think I can stop you using a motorcycle... I hereby predict that a motorcycle will be mentioned in future chapters!!!!!! Now, you seem to be overlooking the virtues of the 1972 Volvo that I suggested; One of those virtues it that it would use FAR less gas: if you recall, I suggested that it should have a blown engine. Therefor, it would not run, and thus would not use gas. I would also be a very safe car, due to the dual virtues of its construction and inability to move. Now, you need a way to get Jacob to and from Northern California, right? Why not just have Matt pick him up and drop him off? Matt's vehicle would be near-instantaneous over such short distances (what's a few hundred miles to a ship with interstellar capability?)

Chapter 6 is up! Spoilers below!

Awww, poor Eric, all alone in the night... Earth Puppies? That's a new one to me. Cool, I like it!!! We get loads of Coyotes around here, plus Javalina (Wild Boar) Mountain Lion and Black Bear. During droughts the mountain lions and bear often invade the towns and smaller cities (snacking on pets and on rare occasion, Children). Interesting predictions!! Very well thought out, too. , and out of fear of your spines I'll refrain from posting my own speculations. Thanks Bob! I love this thread; its become a big motivation for me to keep a posting schedule and make sure I have chapters written on time. Thanks everyone!!! This is my first posted serial story, and also the first one I began. I wrote parts of the first five chapters a few years ago, but they were written in present tense, not past tense, so I re-wrote them (and missed a few lines, hence a couple of bungled tenses early on) and added to them considerably. I basically stopped writing when Ed Wooten, my editor at the time, passed away. I began writing again last year (thanks in large part to encouragement from Emoe) and posted my first online story, "No Shirt, No Problem!" in the GA summer anthology. I then dusted off FTL (which had no name at that point) and began working on it. I think (not sure) that my fall anthology entry "The Muse" was posted before the first chapter of FTL, so FTL was my first fiction writing project, but not my first posted story. Hrmmmm, I note that we will soon be coming up on post 666. Awww, Poor Eric, so maligned, so misunderstood. Those can indeed be painful. I've been stung a couple of times, once when I was miles into the backcountry on a hike. They usually aren't life-threatening (the smaller ones, a separate species, are the most dangerous) but it's no fun. I've been bitten by a rattler, which is worse. I do not recommend either experience.

:wacko: Would someone please explain to me the attraction of watching this? I'd think it would be as interesting as watching paint dry most of the time. I wouldn't have the patience let alone the interest. (But I've always despised "reality" TV, and come to think of it, most TV and movies, period.)

Is the White Party at least gay friendly? I looked at the website but didn't see anything there about that. But, it sure sounds like something gay guys would like, for the eye candy if nothing else.

If this happens again, let me know and I'll be my usual helpful self, and send you my muse. I've written about my muse, and he's not the type to flee. It's an excellent chapter. The drama of the college issues was superb, and the machinations of Richard's henchmen (henchpersons) was just diabolical! And that cliffhanger! Now that was just evil! Definitely a lot of suspense. And I share your concerns about the motorcycle. I predict that Viola will come to her senses and get Jacob a 1972 Volvo sedan, with a blown engine. That way Jacob can spend the summer rebuilding the engine. I'm going to have to re-read the chapter and return with more comments. Great chapter!

Sorry, but I don't have access to things like that... I do however remember reading the chapter after it was posted, and oddly enough, I don't recall that line either. The Frosty one is sneaky... However, my vote is that both choices #1 and #2 apply.

So Todd and Davey didn't... Great misdirection there! I'm wondering what is going on with Sean, and when will Brian need to start meddling in macroscale events? Thanks for the double chapters!

But I am a lurker!!! Incidentally, or not so incidentally, the next chapter of FTL is entitled "Visitations". And I'm shocked, shocked I say, that there has been no outpouring of sympathy for poor Eric, who is now on the run, all alone in the night, with his innovative business venture in ruins...

I suppose I really shouldn't mention that our French Friend's comment was originally posted with corrupted HTML, and he had to fix it?

Sharon, he did indeed say that you are a "Goddess of editing". Hmmm, I think you are on to something with your "demonic theory". The age-shifting is veeery suspicious, and teleporting is a little suspicious too. Hmmmm, though, the Vampire theory has further supporting evidence; didn't we decide that Jack Frost was a vampire himself? Hmmmmmm....

I'm DELIGHTED to see that you will cover the HIV issue; A pet peeve of mine is stories wherein the protagonists get tested within hours of risky behavior (willing or unwilling) and then are portrayed as being guaranteed HiV free. Hmmmm, I can see where both Aaron and Brian already have risk factors for HiV given that they were in an accident and received medical treatment, Brian certainly, and there are likely other factors that I'm missing.

Thanks! I do occasionally take advice and suggestions (and I always welcome them!) I admit that I do so rarely, but two ideas that I'd like to give credit for that were used in the story came from shdowgod, my anonymous Beta Reader; He suggested both Eric's ruse about claiming to be gay to try and sway Chris and Steve, and also the booby-trapped data stick (I'd originally intended to get to where that leads another way, but I liked his way better). In another example, someone (I can't recall whom) asked in the thread, way back around Ch 6, about Steve's background, and that lead indirectly to me writing the "Don't **** it up this time, blondie" line at the pool party, and that casued the whole "race with the Devil" Jeep-chase scenario. I guess the mind works in mysterious ways, and my mind is stranger than most. I didn't mean for the ending of this chapter to be much of a cliffhanger; just sort of an open question (He's holding the guns safely, but for reasons unknown). This is a VERY good point, and all I can say is that Graeme is right; it is incongruous behavior. I was hoping someone would spot that. Good one, Graeme!

The only ref to Matt's age that I'm aware of is from his brother Ben in Ch 8 But, Ben's claim about Montreal doesn't really matter anyway, as the gift wasn't porn; he was just making that up. Hmmm, Montreal sounds like quite a den of evil goings-on... And Ben and Steph are heading there.

I really enjoyed Ch 17, and the obstacles faced by someone in a wheelchair were spot-on in my opinion. I was in a wheelchair for a few weeks as a teenager, and I knew it was temporary so it wasn't the same thing, but the difficulties are all too real. There is something I'd like to add here; All too often, I've seen people in wheelchairs be avoided in public; people won't make eye contact. Making eye contact and smiling can mean a lot to a person, especially a person oft deprived of it, so I always make a point of doing so and suggest that others think on this issue too. I was amazed that a 15 y/o would quote the ADA as Aaron did, but I can see why he's been reading (as mentioned in the text). The one thing that blew my mind was Brian discussing Sex with his parents present! BTW, one question regarding the exchange on HIV; isn't there a delay of up to a few months month between initial infection and the ability of a test to detect the infection? Great chapter!

Great chapter I really liked the scene with Aiden, Matt, and the open door! Ben and Steph sure have a knack for getting discovered and almost discovered! And that line "Boy screwdriver" is hilarious! Would a 12-year-old like Matt really be able to buy Porn in Montreal? I know he really didn't and it was just Ben's excuse, but is Montreal really like that?