THE BALLAD OF TOBIE AND ISHA (as written by Isha)
Check it out here! So mushy!
Me shy!!!!

SIREN gets Hollywood notice!
Spidey director and The Grudge production house grab rights to make movie based on Sony's survival-horror game.

The line separating the movie and game industries, previously dubbed "blurred," is now a full-on smudge. With Silent Hill ready for release this April, hot on the heels of January's BloodRayne, film adaptations of games are becoming commonplace, particularly in the action-horror genre.

The latest interactive spookfest on course to make a splash on the big screen is Sony's Siren. Ghost House Pictures, led by director Sam Raimi (both Spider-Man films, the Evil Dead franchise) and producer Robert Tapert (The Grudge, Xena: Warrior Princess), has purchased the game-to-movie rights from Sony, according to movie trade Variety (subscription required).

No director or cast has been attached to the movie yet. Penning the screenplay will be Michael Gordon, author of Warner Bros.' upcoming 300, based on the Frank Miller graphic novel. Joining Raimi and Tapert on production duties will be Roy Lee and Doug Davison of Vertigo Entertainment (The Grudge, The Ring 2), and Ted Adams and Rick Privman will executive-produce.

In the movie, an American medical student will search for her missing sister in Japan. Her investigations lead her to the village of Hanuda, where evil has taken hold of its citizens. Shooting is expected to begin this year.

Siren was originally released in Japan in late 2003 on the PlayStation 2, with the North American version hitting stores in April 2004. A sequel, Siren 2, is scheduled for release later this year. For more information on Siren read GameSpot's review.

FINALLY! I HAVE DSL!
(only when my family doesn't use it, of course)

But yeah, am back online! Just in time to try and finish my Gaiman entry too. Thanks to my Panda Bear Isha, Jac and Jonas, Elaine and Seth and Ner for the constant support for me to finish my entries.

REVISED VENUE ON OPEN MEET


See you there, I hope!

OPEN MEET!

See you there!

Nikki Alfar
Tobie Abad
Gabby Lee
Andre Mischa Cleofe
Cathy delos Santos

ME AND MY PANDA BEAR

Some pictures of me and my Panda Bear. UP FAIR was a blast! I was having so much fun I totally forgot to take more pictures. Isha and I were roaming around so much, we practically checked EVERY stall that was in the fair for anything interesting. We got the gang some really funny pins for the tropa and sweetie got herself a nice Panda Henna tattoo! Got to meet up with sina Majo (yes, I know you really missed them Isha.) and Hamz and sung with the bands as they played songs at just the right moment.

Watched a chorale at UA & P with Seth and Elaine. Again too much fun to recall I had a camera. The chorale performance was a tad lackluster (parang they were having more fun than were singing professionally) and the choice of songs were... strange. Headed to Marina for dinner and found ourselves shocked with the fat that graced the Lapaz Batchoy and the Liempo.

We also checked out the FA exhibit and bands, hung around Fine Arts, amusedly watch a GMA van drive up (best bit: the talents going wild over how dirty the restrooms were. I think one even nearly ended up crying!) and try to mingle with the crowd. Walked around U.P. Campus in the moonlight and enjoyed waaaaay too much.

The other day, Panda Bear and I grabbed some food at Snackaroo. Deliciously sinful steak (Only P120 and its enough for two people!) with just as delicious Maiz con Hielo for dessert. Attended Seth and Elaine's housewarming party eating Seth's cooking, KFC and Cake2Go cookies while watching Zoolander. Had a long anticipated Giovanni Chronicles session (damn that was fun!) and took a journey back to Paranaque around 5:00a.m. Sunday morning.

Yesterday, Panda Bear and I headed to SM for some lunch at Sbarro. Got ourselves two slices of white cheese (with extra cheese too!) and walked around to help digest the food. Visited murderous doggies (actually cute but smelly ones. :-P ) and checked out the prices for Network cables (egad P25 per meter! And I needed 48 meters!) in hopes of actually being back online during the evenings. Eman offered some good advice on the internet plans (have to meet up with him to borrow the Wireless stuff.)

All in all, a very hectic yet happy set of days.
Talk about busy!

CONGRATULATIONS TO CARLO VERGARA!
Sold out na po ang tickets to the ZsaZsa Zaturnnah musical!
Congratulations to Carl and everyone else behind the production! May it be moved to bigger venues with even bigger audiences to entertain and educate! Heheheh

FEBRUARY 15, 2006



A few seconds past the stroke of midnight of February 14.
U.P. Diliman Fair. In front of the Ferris Wheel.

It's official.





I love you, my Panda Bear Isha!

MINSAN LANG NAMAN...






Nikki Alfar
Tobie Abad
Gabby Lee
Andre Mischa Cleofe
Cathy delos Santos

RECHARGED

Many many thanks to Eman, Apple and Mio for a wonderful weekend. Thank you so much for the refreshing change of scene, the wonderfully delicious food, the body building swimming, the lazying microwave sun bathing, the very fulfilling Moo Moo session (Yeah! We finished it with just two players Eman!) and the memorable videoke sessions (Bohemian Rhapsody! Only You! Kung Ako Na Lang Sana! Kailangan Kita!) while sipping champagne!

Sadly, totally forgot to take pictures! But damn, the weekend really recharged me after all those sick days last week. Helped put some things into perspective too. And ultimately, reminded me why deep down I envy married couples.

Life goes on.
But this time, I'm smiling better now.

"If you can't change it, you just gotta stand it."
- Ennis del Mar, Brokeback Mountain

SNARFED

Am just turning schitzophrenic lately. Very happy, very down, horribly sad, annoyingly frustrated. I feel like I'm stuck in some whirlpool of events and blind to the things I really should see. Money ain't good. Space is okay, but still kind of cramped and unfamiliar.

Damn movies been making me more depressed than usual too. Keep seeing shit I wish I was part of. Or shit I knew I could do if given the chance.

I want to leave. I want to take a stab at my dreams. I want to face the world and show it that I've been roaring to do this all this time! But at the same time, I don't want to leave. I feel comfortable. I feel statisfied. I feel like I've found a niche to call my own already.

When does dreaming for better things become something negative?
Or is it simply me not having the courage to embrace it?

I am happy yet I am not. I seem to exist in the middle of anything in life. Of everything in life. Its so frustrating. Maybe I need a time out from life. Maybe I just want to be an artist for a while again.

I act. I work. I create. I draw. I make stories. I share them. But somehow, I still feel like I'm not doing what I should. Or getting what I deserve. Or be treated as I should be.

In all, I'm fucking feeling snarfed right now.
Fucking snarfed.

DSL still ain't running

Damn. And here I thought I'd be back on the saddle.
Thanks though to Eman for the suggestions.

BACK IN TOUCH WITH MORE FRIENDS

Recovering friendship seems to be the name of the game this year.
Back in touch with a host of old friends. Time does heal all wounds, well at least the ones given the chance to heal.

ONLINE COMICS ON DELAY

Major delays on my babies. Should have Diliman (last two issues... or last three ba) out this year. Should have Bangungot wrap up. And should show teasers of upcoming new online comic soon. Doesn't matter if there are no readers out there except for the loyal few who really take time to read and comment on my work. What matters is I get my stories out.

OVERALL, I FEEL LIKE SHIT

But don't worry.
Shit is actually just really high potential manure.

Things grow well on that, right?

RPG ARTICLE: Exploring Exalted

Game: Exalted

by Tobie Abad

Everyone has a way of approaching Exalted with the gaming style they prefer. Here are some suggestions or paradigm shifts to try to give the game a fresh or new spin on things. (Exalted Contest Entry)

Special Notes: This article assumes the reader is familiar with the Exalted game line and has attempted to play it at least once.

Everyone who has played Exalted has approached the game with his or her own desired gaming style. My group, for example, prefers to ignore the existence of the God-Blooded, the Thaumaturges, and the system’s willingness to introduce home-made charms and artifacts as well as the big-eyed small-mouth anime conventions that the game supports in some areas. Instead we approach it more with inspirations drawn from movies like Hero, Rashomon, Gladiator and videogames like God of War. We aren’t that excited about doing stuff that mimic scenes from Samurai X or Hellsing, but love the fact we can do stuff like those from anime like Ninja Scroll. Another group I know of ignores the drama of being a man hunted by the world that has been brainwashed to believe you are some form of demon-thing, and gives the game instead the action-packed adventure feel with inspirations drawn from Ragnarok Online and other movies. One group I know of simply uses the game to explore the many levels of dramatic gore they can accomplish with the best character builds.

Everyone simply has their own preference on how to use the Exalted game system and setting. And frankly, if you’re having fun, then no one has the right to say you’re doing it wrong.

This article is written with that in mind. Rather than try to say how a game should be run, or offer suggestions on what to do to make a game more fun, this article instead offers various ideas and seeds which you may or may not like to try incorporating into your games. There are no hard rules as to whether or not you must use one or all of the suggestions here because there are no such rules. But do read on and see if there are things here you’d love to try using for your next Exalted game session. After all, these, in one game or another, did work for me.

All Charms are Martial Arts Techniques
First, do NOT mistake this to mean all charms are Martial arts charms. What I mean is to display the use of any charm in the books as martial arts techniques the character knows. Examples of this approach include Naruto where special maneuvers and techniques, be it the ability to create multiple images of yourself, or the ability to see through another’s eyes to copy the answers of another person during a test are all various ninjutsu techniques they have learned. Make any uses of charms have a feel of a martial arts technique by adding some meditative or hand motion descriptors to your stunts. If you think about it, the names of the charms already suggest they are martial arts techniques.

The Solars Are Not Necessarily Right

Since Exalted was written predominantly with the Solar Exalted as the heroes of the game line, the rest of the game was written with that more or less as the accepted fact. But try having the Unconquered Sun being a tyrant who did get what was coming for him when he lost control of his Exalted when the Games of Divinity took over and see what direction it can take your game. Maybe the Maidens AND the Dragons don’t really want the Solar Exalted to return, but eventually realize they need them to eventually train one to kill the Unconquered Sun himself! Or maybe, the best to rule Creation would be those without the Malfean curse at all… .the Alchemicals. Try doing this EVEN if your game is predominantly Solar and see what new avenues to the plot it can take you.

Stunts Can Replace Non-Dice Pool Affecting Charms

Read that again. Yes, consider stunts to have the power to replace charms. Before you go “But I already allow that” consider if you’d let a stunt duplicate Cascade of Cutting Terror or Solar Blazing Bolt. Consider if you’d ever allow a stunt to duplicate Heavenly Guardian Defense. I suggest, yes let a stunt have the power to do that. After all, in some ways, a Storyteller does tend to shift the game environment around to help a player out at times when the character is having it bad. So why not let the player have some control over how much help you’re letting him have. Though possibly ripe for abuse, the best control factors you have for this include: Requiring successes more than 5+ for the charm. I’d even recommend one success for every tier the charm is upon, in addition to any actual successes needed for the charm. So to stunt running across treetops would require only 1 success (duplicating Graceful Crane, which allows the same thing without need for rolls) while duplicating something, while duplicating Heavenly Guardian’s Defense means scoring 4 successes (four tiers) over the needed successes to parry something normally impossible to parry. Another control factor is to limit this with charms you believe the character is “inclined to develop/remember later on”. With Solars begin characters attempting to relearn things their past lives know, stunts can represent the “instinctive” tapping into such charms while they have not been purchased.

Remove All Artifact Bonuses Except Those That Do Not Affect the Weapon's Basic Stats

For games which do not really go for the “giant weapon” feel Exalted espouses with their artifacts, one direction to try is to limit artifacts to objects that have other special powers besides their being weapons. This allows for normal swords that have special powers which can still be broken to disarm the user. Or gigantic deadlier weapons which do not necessarily allow a person to move faster or never be destroyed by magic-less yet inventive defenders. One big thing most overlook is the fact that Artifacts, at their most basic, are already more effective weapons (given the bonuses the material grants) which are also effectively impossible to break by normal means. Those two factors, already by themselves, are enough to represent a magical weapon. So try separating those which those kinds of enhancements to those that can allow flight, or change shape and so on and so forth. Bring into the game the need to make a choice between a normal sword that can detect the presence of ghosts or an unbreakable sword that can kill faster.

Call Essence Chi

Somehow, something this simple can greatly give the game an Eastern feel which some groups might crave.

Allow Totemic/Iconic Images to Change

Have any 16+ motes of Essence be displayed in appropriate imagery based on a) What charm was used, b) the Nature and character of the user and c) the situation that is happening. For example, if a Jester Zenith had to use Heavenly Guardian’s Defense, and by doing so hit the 16+ mote mark while tracking his anima flare, and the usage was that of five towering Hyenas bowing their heads to parry the blow... and in a later scene, used enough motes again for an iconic flare while making fun off the Mask of Winters, have the second flare match the scene: perhaps the five Hyenas leaping around the Deathlord as they laugh their mad cries. Keep the iconic imagery interesting enough and you might even have players who’ll TRY to intentionally spend enough essence just to watch how you’d display the next iconic anima flare.

Make Artifacts Rare

In Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, how many artifacts existed in the movie? One. The Green Destiny. All other weapons, no matter how super-sized they were simply normal ones. In Hero, there weren’t even any special weapons. Though the use of signature weapons was enough to identify who used them. Consider keeping the presence of artifacts special and rare in the game to give a more realistic feel to it.

Or Make Them Very Common

Maybe everyone in the Realm has at least one. There can be very many First Age artifacts that have possibly been found, reverse-engineered or duplicated. Perhaps some as simple as a many-bladed knife (Swiss knives) or portable light sources (flash lights) and clunky but common heaters. After all, if they weren’t that common, then merely bringing a few artifacts should stand out terribly obvious in the realm.

Make the World Round

Seriously, the Exalted world is canonically Flat with the four Elemental poles at the ends. Try breaking that mindset away and making the world round with the Elemental poles instead being poles that eventually warp to the opposite pole. So the Elemental Pole of Wood eventually becomes an underwater forest submerged by the Endless Sea. The Endless Sea remains Endless for it continues to flow through the many roots and channels now shared by the woods. While the Elemental Pole of Fire dissolves everything until it becomes the bottomless winds of the Elemental Pole of Air. Make it around world and give the concept of crossing through one pole to reach the next to the players as something to try.

Make All Abilities Catch-All

Strange as it is, the game system treats Melee to apply to ANY weapon used as well as Athletics to any form of athletic action and yet forces gamers to restrict Linguistics, Crafts and Performance to apply to certain areas of the skill only. Do away with such unnecessary complications in Solar Games and simply have the ability apply to all areas of the said ability. After all, Solars are meant to be universally versatile enough to be masters of all fields in time.

Make the Most of Past Lives

Have the character’s lives intertwine with NPC lives with the complexities of Television Soap dramas. Have one character have a former life as the wife of another character who cheated on him and hid an affair with an NPC who is now the current character’s enemy. You get the idea. For more fun, reveal such ties and truth slowly, gradually uncovering layers by layers to maximize the shock value. Even better, have all the past life relationships end horribly with lots of deceit, poisons and the like. Consider deceiving flashbacks too with sorcerous mind-wipes, masterful disguises and possibly even Lunar-assisted gender changes to keep them guessing!

They Need Not Be the First Reincarnations

Like the idea above, consider toying with the fact the players may be controlling characters on their seventh or more reincarnation. Have them recall a great honorable past life, only to learn that was but the most recent past life. Then have them uncover deeper memories of a tyrant. And deeper still, a penitent saint. Consider running game sessions with them portraying a past life, or even a later past life going through the last few days before death. Maybe you can even use this technique to explain new purchases for Artifacts, Manses and the like without resorting to actually building the said things.

The Realm is Right

Consider the final twist for any group long used to playing Exalted. Have the Immaculate Order’s preaching be true. The Solar Exalted are demonic servants and blasphemous beings that seek to overthrow the Elemental Dragons. The Unconquered Sun is a demon now locked in a prison that crosses the sky. The Dragon-blooded are true heroes who have faced against legions of things far stronger and better than they can ever hope to be. And have won.

Give your games a new twist. Try approaching the game with a different direction and see how far you can take it. Role-playing games have always offered a world to explore. Why not try exploring a familiar world even further by twisting a thing or two around.


Nikki Alfar
Tobie Abad
Gabby Lee
Andre Mischa Cleofe
Cathy delos Santos

ELAINE AND SETH TIE THE KNOT

One of my closest friends and the woman who has made him a better man finally tied the knot last weekend. After months together, the two finally found themselves ready to face the world united in love. Frankly, it still brings tears to my eyes.

Yep, I cried. I have to admit it. I was very moved and touched by the event. I guess its because deep down, I do wonder if I too will ever find myself at such a point in time, finally with someone who does trust me enough to live the rest of their life with me.

I thought I found it a few times before. Evidently I was wrong.

Elaine's friends, whose names I failed to note, sang beautiful songs to enrich the wedding and reception with so much passion and emotion. I regret not having enough time to get to know them. I doubt I'd ever dare invite them to videoke with me (more so because I'd probably be too ashamed to even sing in their presence!) but I do hope they someday can count as more friends for me to meet.

DCU: Truth, Justice and the Way #03

The Invisible Labyrinth, part 3

The red and blue lights were still flashing when Timothy Hunter reached his home. The events that transpired in the supermarket were still greatly in his mind, so much that young little Tim failed to notice the numerous police cars that were parked in a perimeter around the apartment he and his father lived in. The groceries he had brought home with him fell in a cascade of clattering cans and plastic-wrapped parcels as he shifted his focus instead on the scene before him.

"Daaaad!" Timothy screamed and ran towards the police perimeter. Policemen at the area spun to see the young boy reach the cars and struggle to find a way past them. One policeman leaped onto the hood of the car and clamped down both of his hands on the agitated boy’s shoudlers. Hindered, Timothy struggled uselessly against the older man’s strength. He continued screaming for his father, hoping he would hear him. "Dad!"

"Settle down boy… you live there?" the policeman asked. Timothy swatted his hands against the policeman but failed to make him let go. He considered throwing a kick on the guy’s groin, but he shook him so hard he could only stare back at the cop and nod a yes. "How many of you live in there?"

"W-What is happening…"

"How many of you live in there?" the cop repeated, ignoring Tim’s query.

"Just.. just me and my dad.. my dad… is my dad okay?"

The police man pinned Tim against the car hood and called out to another policeman, "Tell the captain just one. The boy’s father."

"What is happening!??!?!" Timothy screamed again. Tim remembered the events in the supermarket. He remembered the bald man named Lex Luthor standing before the Truth and telling her he would be her downfall. He remembered the Truth staring back at him coldly, then suddenly tugging on the lasso so quickly that he barely got to scream before the golden threads sliced into the rebel’s skin.

And he remembered Lex Luthor, just before blacking out from the intense shock and pain onto his system, turned his head to look straight at him. And smile.

---
Truth, Justice and the Way
An Elseworld Event
Written by Tobie Abad
---

Minutes ago.

Mister E, the King of Dreams and the Spirit of Vengeance were all standing inside the living room of Timothy and his father’s house. His father was still deep in his slumber as the three powerful entities continued their impromptu meeting.

"The three of us are gathered here for the same person," Mister E announced, certain of his pronouncements, "But the three of us are not necessarily standing in the same opinion in the matter of things."

"Vengeance and whimsical visions rarely meet eye to eye," the Spectre plainly replied and motioned to Mister E, "You, however, I suspect have reasons that directly conflict with ours. You have been the forefront magician among mankind for many generations of man. I sense you see Timothy Hunter’s coming as something… you despise."

The King of Dreams turned to face Mister E as he countered the accusations the Spirit of Vengeance made. He watched as Mister E raised his gloved hands to show they were empty. A show he was unarmed.

"I will not deny that I despise the young tadpole for being Destined to overshoot even my accomplishments. But I do despise that you see me so shallowly, great Spectre. I have come, unlike the Dream King, unarmed and without ready Enchantments for conflict. I have come merely to talk with him."

The Dream King ignored the attempt to redirect accusation towards him.

"And yet," the Dream King added, "We have all arrived to find that he is not here."

"That," Mister E confessed, "Would be my doing. I am afraid I had glimpsed into the future and seen the time you both sought to visit him. And with the simplest of misdirections, I have made Mister Hunter send his son out to use the groceries today."

"Why have you done so?" Spectre hissed, evidently unhappy with having been manipulated.

"Because," Mister E calmly replied, "We have to make a choice."

"A choice?" the Dream King called Morpheus asked aloud, "What manner of choice requries such entities to gather?"

"One that may determine whether or not we too shall stand against Truth, Justice and the Way."

* * *

Timothy Hunter had just returned from the marketplace to find the police surrounding his home. And none of them seemed willing to explain what was going on. Frustration grew as the Captain, a kind yet determined man named Joseph Kerr, told him to wait and focused instead on other things.

Sitting on the curb, young Tim grabbed a few rocks and began throwing them at the wheel of the police car just beside him. He was worried for his father but he did agree that the Police Captain was right; his father was an adult and most likely was in need of less help than Tim himself. The Captain had given him a deck of playing cards to keep him occupied while they continued doing… whatever they were doing.

"Joker," Tim muttered as he drew a card from the deck and turned it over to see it was the Joker card. He grinned and raised it to his face, noticing how the artwork resembled Joseph Kerr’s profile.

"Any confirmations?" Captain Kerr asked aloud and motioned to one of the cops to glance behind him. The cop saw Tim drawing a few more cards from the deck. "His father among those who were permitted to leave the building?"

"No sir," a young police officer with the name Drake on the name tag replied, "Only Mister Hunter is being held hostage in there. Everyone else was permitted to leave. Kinda strange considering-"

"-The Hunters barely have enough to pay rent each month," the Captain continued for Drake. He scratched his prominent chin and adjusted his hat. Drake nearly gave a guffaw. "What? Oh… the hair," Captain Kerr snickered, "…wife’s fault. She wanted to save some bucks by dying it for me. Didn’t look at the packet that carefully. Now my hair’s dyed a dark shade of green. At least I didn’t bleach first or that would look grass green right now!"

The two shared a laugh but kept it low. The last thing they wanted was someone thinking they were slacking no their job.

"Do we have an I.D. on the guy whose holding Mister Hunter hostage?"

Drake pulled out his palm pilot and clicked on the e-mail function. He dug up the mail recently sent to him by the department and showed it to the Captain. "Kind of hard to believe but its this magician from television. Mister E, they call him."

"The real one?" Captain Kerr inquired.

"Yep," Drake replied, "What, you a fan?"

"Do I look like I’m into dressing up like some clown and making magic tricks?" Joseph Kerr hissed and motioned to Drake to head towards the other cops, "Tell them to get ready. We’ve wasted enough time as it is. I don’t even see why we have to wait for-"

"That would have been against procedure, Captain," a heavy and thick voice announced his presence. Suddenly, everyone was looking at the tall and imposing figure in the shadows whose cowl allowed him to blend in with the darkness itself, "Going against procedure is risking acting against justice."

"I did not mean to suggest that," Captain Kerr admitted, "I just thought an ordinary hostage situation would not require the attention of the Big three."

The Dark Knight stared at Joseph Kerr, blue eyes tearing deep into Joseph Kerr’s green ones. He stepped back into the shadows and vanished.

"Never fails to scare me," Drake admitted.

"At least you’re not expected to be his partner or nothing, boy. Wonder about that for a moment." Jospeh Kerr snarled, "I have to. Being the Captain."

* * *

Before the police arrived.

Mister Hunter awoke to a strange buzzing in his head. A heavy haze seemed to dance over his eyes, making it difficult to see things properly. He felt like he wasn’t who he was and wondered if he was sleep walking.

"…contact the Mother and hear her side to all this…"

"…aware of his true lineage…"

"…unaccounted for… there are still the Elementals… and then there is the underground movement…"

Each leg was a heavy iron pillar to lift, drop, then drag with each step. Still, even in his sleepy state, he made no sound as he walked. Closer and closer, he progressed towards the three, eavesdropping on them, and searching for their faces.

"…can train him in the moments he is resting…"

"…teach him to defeat the very three that stand against him…"

"Stop!" the Dream King called out, "I see a dream that hears our own voices!"

The three turned to see Mister Hunter standing at the hallway and at the act of turning to face them. Mister E acted quickly, grabbing the nearest chair and throwing it to land in front of the old man. The Spectre and The Dreak King both began to fade, quickly leaving the mortal plane. Just as Mister Hunter turned to face where the meeting was transpiring, Mister E landed on the hair and wrapped his hands around Mister Hunter’s head, effectively blocking Hunter’s eyes with his stomach.

"Damn you," Mister E quickly glanced back to realize the two others had chosen to flee rather than help. It became clear to him that the two had even chosen to avoid using their magicks, to leave no tell-tale signs of having been here.

"Whooooo…" Mister Hunter mumbled in his sleepwalk, unaware that his body, senses and words were not his own that moment.

"The time to act is forced upon me," Mister E shared the realization aloud, "There would be no hiding from Justice. Very well. Let us be done with it then. This building is under influence to hold hostage. Have the young Timothy Hunter brought up here or his father dies."

* * *

Somewhere, a green skinned man in a sensory-deprivation tank activated a few post-hypnotically trained commands and send a written report to Justice that a crime was being committed in a city under the Truth’s jurisdiction. Still, the criminal had invoked his title and for that, the Dark Knight knew he could not ignore its call.

He rose, not bothering to thank the green-skinned telepathic martian he had retrieved from a crash site in Area 51, and made his way for the teleporter. Through the martian, the Dark Knight had access to practically any mind that was currently half-asleep if not sleeping outright. The telepathic prowess of the martian was great, but covering the world was far more important than a more focused application of telepathy in a small area of effect.

Still, the Dark Knight despised the alien. Hated how it could so easily pretend to be human. Though the Dark Knight was allied with two others whom could be viewed as alien as well, the martian was worse in the sense that it could pose as him if he wasn’t stopped.

"Wonder Woman," he mumbled to the communicators that allowed the three to keep in touch "I am on my way to your lands. I do hope I am welcome there. It has been a long time, Diana."

* * *

Tim Hunter looked up to see the shadow that moved in the darkness. He peered at the figure and watched as the Dark Knight emerged from the shadows and approached the building with a grappling hook in his hands. Throwing the hook to the ceiling, he began climbing the wall without any assistance from anyone.

He was tall, though not as tall as Truth. His body was heavy set and compact with muscle and padded armor. Dark gray, black and blue made his costume match the dark shadows of the street and alleyways. His eyes, Tim failed to see, but he imagined them to be focused and sharp. Like those of an assassin. Or perhaps something worse.

He wore a mask, a cowl that covered his face and head with a dark pair of horns that reminded Timothy of a goat or a bat. He had a large cape that seemed sharped edged, and a pair of boots who seemed built for massive impact and trauma ( on whose who got it used on them.) And lastly, there were the bats. Like familiars. Like carrion feeders who knew that the feast was soon to come.

The Dark Knight reached the roof top and vanished from view. Timothy Hunter just knew that somewhere inside, his father was still there.

* * *

"Please… please don’t kill me," Mister Hunter pleaded to Mister E, his cheeks stained with tears as he felt his mind was finally released by the martian telepath. Mister E had cast a small suggestion upon the man to make him feel helpless and weak; such a suggestion would have failed against a stronger will.

"Explain yourself," the Dark Knight that called itself Justice spoke from the shadows. Though Mister E relied on other senses to overcome his evident blindness, the Dark Knight was skilled enough to remain concealed from view. "You are an entertainer. A stage magician who is called Mister E. An interesting play on the word, Mystery."

"I am someone who has the ability to see what needs to be seen. And I am amused to ponder on the fact you do not fall under that definition this very moment, Dark Knight. I can, however see the good and evil in the souls of others. Perhaps I cannot see you for you do not have one?"

"Your were called Eric in the orphanage were you were taken care of after losing your parents. Your father mutilated you as a child. Reports say he was suffering from a serve form of psychosis. And that your mother was a heavy substance abuser."

Mister E seemed to falter in his focus. He felt his lower lip quiver in uncertainty. The Justice had somehow found information on him.

"Your blindness wasn’t hereditary. Nor was it induced by your mother’s dependence on artificial sources of happiness. It was inflicted upon you by your father," the Dark Knight continued speaking in a calm and focused tone. Mister E failed to realize the Dark Knight had positioned himself to his rear. Mister Hunter felt his heart beating so fast, he was afraid it would burst.

"You… you are saying all this to upset me. To keep me.. distracted…"

"He believed he was saving you from being tempted by evil. By sin. Your mother was a woman of low moral character. Your father believed by blinding you he was saving you from the sin women offered. He scooped it out and embraced you, telling you that all healing begins with pain."

"STOP IT!" Mister E screamed, unsettled at the amount of information the Dark Knight had uncovered about him. "You… you don’t know what it was like… how it felt…"

"You know how this will end," the Dark Knight reminded Mister E and slammed a harsh kick into the blind man’s back. The vicious boot collided with the base of Mister E’s spine. Bone shattered in the instant and the man fell on his back, screaming obscenities as he felt the pain shoot all over him in white heat. Not wanting to give the opponent any opportunity to recover, the Dark Knight stomped his foot onto Mister E’s face. The shades the magician wore to cover his blindness snapped into pieces. Glass was ground into his already blind eyes. "You see into the future… You know you’ll be beaten today!"

Mister E wanted to crumple into a ball. He wanted to crouch into fetal position like a child and hide from the bat-man that was causing even more pain. He felt like a child, maltreated and abused once more. The Dark Knight did not cease stomping on his face until Mister E was in far too much pain and shock to actually react to further injuries. It was only when Mister E’s breathing was the only sign left that he was alive did the Batman actually stop his assault and walk up to Mister Hunter.

"I… I wanted… I don’t know… who…" Mister Hunter mumbled in utter terror, fearing his savior more than his assailant. The Batman’s view on Justice was dark and unpredictable. At times it reminded him of Lextalionis, the old Biblical system of giving an eye for an eye that was lost. A form of balance in punishment. On other times, it was more harsh and cruel, amputating limbs for shop lifting. Or slicing way tongues for cursing a public authority figure. And in some occasions, it was utterly abused. A suspected rapist named Jason Todd was allowed to go home unmolested. On another occasion, a prostitute named Helena Wayne was permitted to leave without having to pay any fines after being caught.

"I am not speaking with you," the Justice looked around and tried to see what was awry. What stood out. He embraced the role of the Justice because among the three it was he know knew best the ways of crime and investigation. It was he who could piece together things neither Truth nor superhuman senses could find. "Shut this house down," he told the security who were waiting by the door, "I do not want anyone else to enter or leave this house after Mister Hunter here leaves. And charge him two months wages. He has been drinking more than he should. I noticed the bottles in the trash. There were four bottles more than the permitted three per week."

Mister Hunter hung his face low. He muttered something barely audible enough. The security were about to escort him out when the Dark Knight turned to face them and motioned them to stop.

"Dad!" Timothy Hunter called out from the street, seeing his father emerge from the door. He wanted to run towards him but Captain Joseph Kerr stopped him. The Captain had sensed something bad was about to happen. He tried to force Timothy to look away but the kid would not let the Captain hold him down. "Dad! Are you alright?"

The Dark Knight emerged from the door way and leapt towards Tim’s father. An audible crack snapped into the air and preempeted the utter scream of pain that Tim’s father released. He fell into the ground practically at the same time the Dark Knight landed on the ground.

"Quiet!" Joseph Kerr muffled Timothy’s scream by cupping his hand over the boy’s mouth. Though the boy was going wild, the Captain’s more trained and built body permitted him to overpower the child. Worry about him getting hurt while I restrain him, Joseph Kerr convinced himself, Better a sore face than a dead one.

The Dark Knight stared at the whimpering Mister Hunter on the ground. "That was for insulting a superior authority. Lock him up," he told the security who quietly obeyed without question. Joseph Kerr dragged Timothy to his car and pinned the child down against the side of the vehicle, "If you do not shut up this moment, your father may very well pay for your noise with his life. Now behave!"

Timothy stopped struggling. Though his nostrils flared with each intake of breath, he remained quiet and fought the tears that wanted to fall.

"Will there be anything else, Justice?" Captain Joseph Kerr approached the Dark Knight and offered a rictus grin of a smile. He hated having to face amusement and interest in the Dark Knight’s cruelties, but it provided him with a chance to keep his job.

"Yes. I will investigate this house further personally. After which, you are to burn it down."

"I shall confer with the Truth, as procedure dictates?" the Captain boldly questioned the Batman. Everyone found themselves holding their breath, surprised that the Captain would dare question the command of one of the Three. But Joseph Kerr knew he had the Three’s own edicts to his advantage. "Yes. Of course," the Batman replied, sensing the Captain was very skillfully deflecting punishment by invoking the Truth’s territorial laws.

"It shall be done," he concurred, "And the child?"

The Batman stared at the Captain’s car and realized the boy was gone. He was not concerned however, believing he could easy track a boy down when he needed to.
"What child?" he told the Captain and began to walk away from the house. Joseph Kerr turned back to see the empty spot beside his car where he had left the boy. He shook his head and hoped the boy would avoid getting into more trouble.
At least for tonight.

---

End of Issue #03
"The Invisible Labyrinth, part 3"
written by Tobie Abad


Nikki Alfar
Tobie Abad
Gabby Lee
Andre Mischa Cleofe
Cathy delos Santos

SOME UPDATES

With the move back to my parent's place, I have lots my access to the internet. For now, I am forced to update my blog while at work. Thankfully, I don't have that much too juggle today (with one project moved to tomorrow) giving me just enough time to do this post.

FINALLY SAW BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

And to be very brief, I still carry with me the impact of the movie. I can easily imagine many people thinking the movie is too long or lacks in actual events, but the depth of the movie is deceptively there. Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger are amazing in the film, carrying their characters with surprisingly convincing portrayals. Even their inhibitions on kissing evidently work to represent their own character's uncertainity in their actions. Michelle Williams is amazing in her portrayal of a martyric partner who is willing to embrace self-denial to give love a chance. Ultimately, the movie is a beautiful one which resonates with me in many levels. I only pray that when it gets shown locally in the theaters, the censors restrain themselves and realise how beautifully made the whole movie is as it stands and leave it untouched.

The Maker Makes by Rufus Wainwright

From the album "Brokeneck Mountain Soundtrack"

One more chain I break, to get me closer to you
One more chain does the maker make, to keep me from bustin' through

One more notch I scratch, to keep me thinkin' of you
One more notch does the maker make, upon my face so blue

Get along little doggies, get along little doggies

One more smile I fake, 'n try my best to be glad
One more smile does the maker make, because he knows I'm sad

Oh Lord, how I know,
Oh Lord, how I see, that only can the maker make a happy man of me

Get along little doggies, get along little doggies, get along

SOME PICTURE UPDATES

Pretty delayed in picture updates. Had some interesting events happen over the last few weeks. A really good friend of mine, Tom, is finally back in communication with me. After nearly five years of no contact, its nice to see time does heal all wounds. Tom, Awie and I went out to IO for some singing some weeks back.

Then, there was part two of Seth's stag party with Chris, Seth and I heading to Eman's place for some Moo Moo gaming! After three attempts, we finally beat the game (at Novice! level!). Whew... I wonder if we'd survive the next level of trouble?

Then, my officemates and Panda Bear Isha and I went to Dads for some feasting! Having won some cash from last year's Pinoy Big Brother Christmas party, we decided to use it splurging on food! Egad... I ate so much I think I fell asleep waaaay to early!

Just last weekend, the AEGIS open meet was held in Teacher's Village. Another successsful event, considering the number of attendees as well as the introduction of a few new faces to the group. Congratulation to Vic for the success of the event, as well as other things.

Lastly, got a haircut.
See the pic below.