Endtown by Aaron Neathery for September 11, 2013

I am just quivering with excitement. The fun is beginning. Go for it Wally and Holly. Still battelling arthritis. Ouch. Hurts to even pull up my pants.Shoulders and neck they say. I say(*%((^&. I don’t have time for this.Sigh.Blessed Bel

It’s apparent the dittos have the power to “link up” and communicate directly with one another (perhaps electrically, based on their physical connection), and create a network of information that allows them to conspire together to create a large singular display…. Perhaps, in the case of the “invisibility”, it’s merely the dittos on one side of whatever they’re placed on instantly communicating what they’re seeing to those dittos on the opposite side, who then display that data, while simultaneously communicating what they’re seeing back… Thus, whoever looks at dittos on one side, sees the pixel-display of the real-time data being recorded on the exact opposite side, and vice-versa… Merely a more advanced version of the simplistic “hole in the chest” trick done with an I-pad strapped to a person’s stomach (under a shirt with a big hole in it) displaying an image of what the camera strapped to that same person’s back is seeing on the other side. It makes it look, to the people in the front, like they’re lookinh through a “hole” at the scenery behind the person… I think there are You-tube videos depicting it… Quite cool! I also recall there are researchers, even now, attempting to develop some sort of “invisibility cloak” based on that technology, which might end up being used to cloak soldiers in the field…

Mallard: "And by “you”, I mean “me”. And by “lucky”, I mean “ka-ching”. And by “day”, I mean “please-sign-this-waiver-that-absolves-me-of-all-responsibility-if-you-or-anyone-you-know-gets-caught-maimed-or-killed-on-the-mission-and-guaranteeing-that-anything-you-find-that-I-like-is-mine”."

seeing wally in panels 1 and 2, i’m reminded of the beatles’ song, “i’m looing through you” (rubber soul, 1965)

interestingly, on that same album is a song called, “you won’t see me”

We’ve seen in Al and Gustine’s encounter with the dittos and under Mallard’s microscope that the dittos link up into a monoditto-thin film. I think they probably coat the surfaces of objects and redirect photons hitting one side to the dittos on the other side and project them at the original trajectory. They have also been shown to generate images of nonexistent scenes based on the viewer’s thoughts. They’re like little mirrors that reflect light that never actually hit them.

Mallard’s spending some time trying to come up with an explanation for an observed phenomenon…but, from a practical viewpoint, all that an “operator” of the dittoes needs to know is “if you do this, they’ll do that.” Explanations can be worked out later.

“Push the button, Frank.” Now if only we had a volunteer to launch into space and had some robots to send along with him. Hmm…

I can hear Mallard’s voice sounding like Professor Farnsworth’s, in “Futurama.”

Interesting theories on ditto operation. But, how to account for multiple subjects from multiple perspectives and distances? There could be a psychic/emotional component (Sparkplug and Wally both relived traumatic experiences via ditto-vision.) which would allow for direct intervention of how the brain sees optical data. Remember, Topsiders already see everything via video feed in their suits. Not so easy to fool equipment, but it wouldn’t matter if dittos are putting illusions directly into their heads.

I can hear the mission now.Do this small thing, really insignificant in nature, little if no danger, perfectly safe, no problem for a top guy like yourself………….. destroy the satellite command center. DO THAT simple insignificant thing and I WILL get you into any settlement you want. All the supplies you need and full escort for all who go.It was Wally’s idea to begin with to use the dittos to camo scavengers!!! Beware sometimes what you suggest you can end up being the volunteer.

A statement like that would have me sweating bullets..\\//_

Wally is a civil engineer, he works on buildings. I’m a barbarian engineer, I work on airplanes.

If Wally goes out with Holly (and perhaps others), I hope the dittoes will allow the group to see each other while keeping them camouflaged from outsiders. It would be bad if group members couldn’t keep track of each other.

If it weren’t for Wally’s bad luck, he would have no luck at all.

Mallard has cute tail-feathers! is Frank the food tester who asked for more creasote patty- flops? Forgot the exact terms.

At least we now know what has been keeping Mallard oblivious to the outside world for so long. Nothing like a scientific puzzle to occupy the mind.

Oh, and as to Mallard’s “grin”. duck teeth aren’t as scarce as hen’s teeth…

And not as popular as DUCK SOUPSo eh, what’s up, Duck.Ima gonna live. So Vote Already

Vote ENDTOWN Vote Doc Rat Vote for Kevin and Kell Vote for Hubris JusSayin

Ditto Duck!

Lucky Day?Good luck, or bad luck?