Wayne Gray

Yeah. It's a "mistake" because they didn't anticipate the backlash. They can't even stand on their own decisions and choices. Gutless. Spineless. Heartless. Thank you for the comment and for reading. I'm glad you're here.

I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and could feel what I tried to convey. I am proud of the scene with the guitar. Music is so evocative, and trying to imagine what it would feel like to someone creating it as the listeners appreciated and fed into it broke my brain a bit. If you have time and patience, check out this video. Warning, it is 12 minutes. But I feel it's worth the watch/listen. It's a savant-level performance on an 11-string guitar. It's the closest thing I could find that MIGHT approach the emotional impact of what John did, thanks to that reinforcement. If you really can't sit through the whole thing, watch from about minute 10 on. The crescendo is chillbump-inducing. Thank you for reading and commenting. I appreciate it.

I'm sorry, but yes. The Epilogue comes on Sunday. But ... I think it wraps things up in a good way. Tell me if you agree on Sunday. Thanks for reading and commenting. I appreciate it.

Wow. tim ... I've said this many times over the years we've known one another. you ... are brilliant. Words formed around a feeling, a thought, around emotion. Where the reader understands the message even when the mechanics of language fail. When you read something, and it evokes that feeling in spite of the limitations of words on a screen. you inspire me. you have a gift, friend. And I'm glad I've gotten to experience that through poetry I'll never be able to write. Some things can't be taught or learned. And even if it's hard right now, the spark is still there. The potential. Thank you for reading and sharing this. I appreciate you.

Thank you for reading and your great comment, Chris. The men of Cairn Seventy-One set out to change the EDF and then the world. They've succeeded with the EDF. The epilogue will reveal the extent of the changes. How much they affect those who chose the worm. I'm glad you liked this chapter, Chris. Thanks again.

It is true that empathy is contagious. It really is. When it is the standard, anyone not displaying it is anomalous. They become the outliers, and their behavior undesired. The more that there is, the more that springs from it. It builds on itself and it spreads. So it can happen without the intervention of a weird, parasitic worm. I gave the worm tremendous gifts. The single trade for health, a youthful body, a high sex drive, and even slightly exaggerated sex organs was empathy. It would make people feel stuff. Each other. And that was too high of a price for a society built on rapaciousness. I wanted to show how much that mindset rots the people with it. They have to be made to see. Unfortunately, it won't be something they can be infected with. It'll have to be something they're shown. Over and over and over. Until they get it. Or until they're excluded by those around them for refusing to learn. Thanks for the comment and for reading. See you on Sunday.

Did I tell you why I started this? I mean, I was inspired by Plague Inc, the game I'd mentioned earlier by the makers of Pandemic. But the real motivation was hearing a right-wing politician say with utter seriousness: "The problems in this country are because of empathy. There's too much of it. People need to toughen up." And I sort of cocked my head and squinted at the screen. So here we are. Writing and reading a story where those in power have to be infected to feel empathy. Where they fight it. Where they jail and try to kill it. But like so many regimes built on control and fear, things aren't working out for them. Keep the faith, Dave. The wheel will roll back around. Thanks for reading and commenting. I hope to see you Sunday.

Thank you! I spent a lot of time editing and refining this one. Pass after pass after pass. I've probably read through this chapter more than any other in this story. I think it was worth the work, though. It feels good to me. The epilogue will drop on Sunday, and we'll wrap this one up. I've liked this story a lot. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Thank you, kbois. It's a hard thing to do, at least for me. To wrap words around a feeling that's almost beyond imagining. And my imagination probably doesn't do it justice. This kind of connection to others would feel so deep and profound, I don't know if there's a way to actually describe it. But this is as close as I can get. I'm glad you felt what I was trying to do. Yes. The epilogue. That one will wait until Sunday. I've got a bit more work to do on it, too. It's close, but I don't want to rush it. But that'll be here before we know it.

The Bond They had left the officer's lounge and now waited in their room. The guest wing was quiet. The lights were dimmed to half-strength, a concession to off-duty hours. A few doors down, muffled conversation and the buzz of a movie played behind someone’s wall. But in Atticus and John’s quarters, silence reigned. The room was sharp and spare. Military elegance. A couch. A small table. Two chairs. The bed was made with crisp corners—untouched. The lights were low, casting shad

That gif is hilarious! Lol I’m glad you liked it!

The messed up part is a buddy of mine dropped off a "fun" brownie a few minutes ago. And I have tomorrow off. 😐

Okay. That one genuinely made me laugh. LOL

You know what? If I WAS going to post tomorrow, now I WOULDN'T, out of SPITE! LOL

They're definitely making the rounds, aren't they? And the watercooler talk is flying about the loose ways of the Cairn Seventy-One commanders. Since the general knows just about everything that happens at Central, you'd better believe he has heard it. So far, things are going their way. But they're making a very ballsy play with the general. It could end up going sideways on them if they're not careful. I suppose we'll see how it goes. And I'm looking forward to that! Thanks for reading and commenting, Chris. And I'm glad you survived a mob of hungry children.

LOL. Nice visual. Thank you for that. Remember, he didn't drink at the bar. Did he have some water before? Maybe. But maybe Atticus and John are wily enough not to need it. Two handsome, confident, young professionals? That'd be hard to resist for a man who hasn't been touched in literally years. But he's also extremely disciplined. So we'll just have to see. And that's part of the fun, isn't it? Thanks for the comment and for reading. More coming soon!

Hahaha. I suppose they have. They're fucking something up by fucking things. 😛 I'm so eager to show off the next chapter. I'm trying to be disciplined about it and wait until it's very polished. I keep making passes through it, and it does get better every time, so by Friday, I think it'll be good to go. Also ... I couldn't stop at five chapters. I wrote an epilogue for it that ended up being just as long as a chapter. So there will actually be six parts to this. The epilogue may have ended up being my favorite. But you'll have to wait a bit to see that one. Thanks for writing and reading. More to come!

Thank you, tim! Personally, I read it and think "okay. I don't know what got into me, but it can stay." LOL I've got three other stories in process; I just need to pick them back up. And after this, I plan to focus on Engineer Benson and finish that one off. Send our zombie survivors off in style. Then see which one speaks to me. It does feel good to be writing again.

Damn those children! *shakes fist* Soon, Chris. Soon. :)

In all of that, there's not one mention of a "worm." I have to say, I'm a bit disappointed! LOL But you're right - the General is the big fish. They are working the guy too. They know he hasn't been touched by anyone in years, and they do exude confidence, poise, and pheromones, too. So he is drawn to them. He may not fully understand why, but he is. Let's see if that'll be enough. Thanks for commenting and reading. More is coming.

LOL. Nice job. molly would be proud of you. There's more coming. When? Who knows, but it'll be somewhat soon. I'm shooting for Friday, but we'll see. Thanks for commenting and reading!

Yes, they've set their sights VERY high, haven't they? But the general has seemed to take an interest in them without them doing anything but following their plan. They are doing things right. Their cairn is one of the most stable in the EDF, and that's due to their leadership, not the worm. So he's right to wonder what it is that they're doing. Simply - they're listening to their men when they hurt, and they try to lessen the load. Oh. And their doctor regularly gives handjobs to soldiers, but that's probably not a datapoint on their presentation. LOL Thanks for reading and commenting. There's more to come. Stick with me and we'll see what happens with the general next chapter!

LOL. You're a bad pup. Aren't you? Thanks for the comment and for reading too. Let's see how things develop with the general next chapter.

A man like Taggart has had to be restrained, composed, and in utter command of himself for a decade. A man who rarely drinks. Who obeyed Order 412 to the letter (he's the example), and much more. So he has been denied a lot for a long time. And our duo seemed to zero on this. We'll have to see if they leverage his chaste existence as a weapon or if they overstep their bounds. Either is possible at this point. Ah, I'm glad you like this one, Tony. It does feel good to me. Alive. I can imagine the world they're in and see the scenes in my mind. Kind of a wild one for me, but I'm enjoying the hell out of it. See you next chapter.

A lot can go right when you have time to plan. And John, in particular, has had that. Plus, they're intimately familiar with the EDF. Take their knowledge, motivation, planning, and natural intelligence into account, and ... well, they'd be hard to stop. And you're very sure that they'll crack Taggart. Let's find out if you're right. Thanks for the comment and for reading!