Endtown by Aaron Neathery for February 21, 2014

The moment when you realize you’re just as slow to learn something so simple, as anthros not knowing about their sped up healing.

Unconscious, asleep, the distinction’s not clearBut Cooper shows “this is your anthro on drugs”I wonder: With Oscar, (crustaceans and bugs)Are they “cute”? Or were they from drug-induced fear?=|====/ Level HeadVote for Endtown 2.0And for Doc Rat, tooThe Endtown ForumThe Endtown AuctionThe Endtown Books

The half-moon is a good parallel for what Jim and Sarah are facing.

42.

Am I the only one who’s still paranoid about the “friendly” topsiders? Why do they want to know? Why is the healing capabilities such an important factor? Who needs it? Sigh… have to wait until Monday.

That moment when you realise your goal, which seemed so insurmountable in the past, was right at your fingertips the entire time.

Go to sleep and dream of bunnies.

He’s got something up his sleeve! Linda was conscious when she mutated.

Nope, Linda got stunned at the last second. But the TSers either are having their own “D’oh!” moment, or…That is an answer they’ve gotten before and the elaborate ruse now seems like a monumental waste of resource.

Can´t see the forest for the trees.

The Dittoes are able to hide them visually, their suilt and transport telemetry signals are another matter. Did these topsiders somehow disable these signals or spoof them?Any loss of their signal would have surely brought down more of those drones to the party.Something is not right, Wally should still be wary of these topsiders. It has dawned on me this is an elaborate ruse by the topsiders to infiltrate the places like Endtown that they have been unable to find.I looked into Patreon and it’s nice to see something like crowd sourced patronage of the arts instead of relying on the good graces and generosity of someone like the Doge of Venice, I mean how many heroic portraits in oil does one man need?I wish I had the money fully support AN’s works, it would make me happy to let him “Holly Wally doodle all day!”

Oh my, is it because it’s so simple or something more sinister

WHAT A TWIST!Also, when you fight the aliens, they’re hurt by water, and able to be hurt with baseball bats!

They look like they don’t believe him.

Unconscious, and not under the influence of recreational drugs like booze or whatever. If under the influence, then no monster…but not necessarily “cute”, either.

I’m definitely looking forward to Monday’s strip. My original thought was that Sarah saw something in the distance, but then Clive might have said something. I’m guessing that they’ve heard this before. In yesterday’s strip, Sarah noted that they had yet to meet an anthro that was already aware of their accelerated healing abilities. That suggests that our delightful duo aren’t the first anthros they have met and I would almost bet Darwin’s pink slip that they would have asked this question to other anthros they’ve met. Maybe this is why Jim and Sarah were certain that the mutants were keeping this a secret. They’ve heard the truth before but it is so unbelievably simple they can’t believe it.http://www.gocomics.com/endtown/2014/01/22#.UwdYTvldU_YI have a funny feeling that Wally may be bringing up Linda’s name pretty soon. I wonder if either Jim or Sarah knew her.

Don’t think they’re buying that.

Of course, they also don’t seem to believe that he genuinely may not know.

You can only test that theory once.

Several things can be going on.One. Sarah is thinking it cant be that simple….Jim is having a Homer moment…D’oh.Two. Holly is trying to open the trunk of Clive for a quick brain bleaching.Three. Something wicked this way comes…….Four. Holly’s got a gun Holly’s got a gun Her whole days been undone Everyone just better run. What ever did Clive do? To make our Holly madder too. She’s gonna take them quickly And leave them all there to rot. Now that Holly’s got her gun She is gonna have some fun Now they will wish they tied her up, up, up. Holly’s got her gun Holly’s got her gun Now its time for her having fun. Fun now she has found her gun. She is fed up with the shrinking And wishes she could wash her brain. She’s figured out how to focus Now its time for hocus pocus. So they better all run quickly Or soon they will be all dead, dead, dead. Holly’s got her gun Holly’s got her gun Now its time for her having fun Holly has found her gun,,,,,,,,Holly’s got a gun……..(With apologies to Aerosmith, and Level. I try but lack your true gift. This is but a small offering)

Now that they know that… WHAT DO THEY DO NOW?!

Wally missed an opportunity to have them go through some silly ritual with sleeping at the end. “Professor, why are there a bunch of Topsiders out there doing the Cheesesteak Shuffle?” “I don’t know, but I bet that darn cat has something to do with it.”I wonder if there’s anyone on the moon, or stranded on a space station. They might be able to get back to Earth, but don’t because of they don’t want to be mutants or Topsiders.

Maybe Wally should’a found out why they want to know before sharing the Big Secret…

I was putting forward a theory: is the mutation random? Or can you will your anthro self. My theory was that you turned into whatever animal was in your mind at your last conscious before you went under. This was the basis of my own story arc

You turn into whatever Aaron wants you to be.

Oh freddled Gruntbuggly, Thy micturations are to me,As plurdled gabbleblottchitts on a lurgid bee.

Groop, I implore thee, my froonting turlingdromes, And hooptiously drangle me with crinkly bindlewurdles. Or I will rend thee in the gobberworts with my Blurglecruncheon.

See if I don’t.

Mutant Moon Risingby Jenner. Based on Bad Moon Rising, by Creedence Clearwater Revival – credited to John FogertyI see a white moon in the heavenI see a bright and perfect starI see your clean, untainted bodyPartner, two mutants and a carGo to sleep tonightThen open up your eyesSee the mutant moon ariseI hear your words of desperationI know your twisted, perfect mindYou’re in a no-win situationLeavin’ your sterile world behindGo to sleep tonightThen open up your eyesSee the mutant moon ariseHope you’re prepared for transformationHope you’re prepared to enter hellDon’t get to choose your decorationAntlers or feathers or a shellGo to sleep tonightThen open up your eyesSee the mutant moon ariseGo to sleep tonightThen open up your eyesSee the mutant moon arise

“I’ve been wondering too if some can control the metamorphosis. But how?”Most mutants transformed unknowingly. So far, the only one to do so more or less willingly that we know of is Flask, but she wasn’t trying to control the process, so it was still random. If these two try to dream of specific creatures before they drop off, who knows what will happen?

wasn’t Wally,it was Flask, and it cost her pleny in tears to do it!

I am not ready to give up on sunlight playing a critical role in accelerated healing. Undergrounders would still heal kind of normally, TopSiders are never exposed to the sun because they live in giant trash bags. Mission runners would be the only ones to heal quickly, but they are kind of pre-occcupied with continuing to avoid injury, capture and death to notice they have healed. It is the weekend, remember to vote and Send Aaron Money! whether as a DONATION, Purchasing Print(s), or ordering books 3 & 4 directly from Aaron. aaronneathery@gmail.com Is the easiest way to contact Aaron for books or prints, or if you just need a P.O. BOX address to send Aaron a money order. Aaron doesn’t really want anyone to hurt themselves too badly to send him money, but remember, this is less than a week and a half of sinning left before Lent, for those who will be saving money cutting back on sinning for six weeks.VOTE! .

Vote ENDTOWN .

Vote Doc Rat

. Vote Hubris . Vote Kevin and Kell . Sincerely, . JusSayinPS: SurfStuff55 and Darwinskeeper could both benefit greatly from hearing some great news on the employment front now. They would both appreciate your positive thoughts and well wishes for them to get settled in a great job. Surf has been wanting to move someplace warm as long as I can remember, and given the weather up there now, it would be a great time to move. Darwinskeeper doesn’t want to move with an older dog, but I hope his desires are met soon. I dunno, Huntsville doesn’t have as many tornadoes as Wichita, and his dog might get tired of getting blown away to Oz. Not Jenner’s Oz, or Sharon’s Oz, but the Wizard’s Oz. Namaste

i dont get it

how did Flask knew about it ?

My thought on this is that the nature of one’s transformation depends on one’s state of mind during mutation. Consider Flask and Linda. Philomena had chosen to mutate and had fallen asleep in the arms of a lover who promised to love her no matter what she became. She awoke as an anthro feline who had all of her vavoom intact.Linda S. Kowolski had her suit breached while she was still conscious and screamed that she could feel herself mutate when Wally stunned her. She changed from a vavoomy Topsider to a small chubby Koala with a big black nose.Thus, if I were to instruct Jim and Sarah, I would suggest that they get comfortable, wait for them to fall asleep and then puncture the suit. If they are a couple, I might even suggest snuggling and falling asleep together. Aaron hasn’t divulged much about the nature of mutation, but falling into a deep, happy sleep seems to give the best chance for a good mutation.

I’d think, to be sure they’re unconscious, Wally should stun them with his raygun (I forget what they called the gun—-again). That is, if they want to mutate—-it’s far from certain. #There seems to be a slight connection between Mutated Form and Name of Person—-Linda’s last name “Kowalkski” resembles “koala,” Maude’s last name “Hefner” suggests “Heifer.” And of course Professor Mallard.

To Veteran : I appreciate your point and it holds water. As I said, it was a theory which I use for my personal story arc. But you have to admit. Its worth fought since you commented on it. I welcome your insights.btw, welcome back Level head! I hope I speak for all, you have been missed! As much as DOL!

Maybe they weren’t really asleep when they tried before. Either the leftover radiation wasn’t enough to mutate them, or they are Typhoid Marys. “Mom, Sarah is not really asleep, she is faking it!” “Jim, Sarah, go to sleep now, or I’ll turn you both into dung beetles.” “Mom?” “Mom?” “*Mom*!?!” “What is it Jim, before you get us all turned in monsters?” “We haven’t seen any dung anywhere, just miles of dust. How bad is it to be an unemployed dung beetle?” “Jim! Sarah! Go to sleep right now, or I promise you you’ll have nothing but dung to eat for the next few years!” Sorry, it just seems Sarah is a bit younger than previous TopSider females. Now you know why I appreciate anyone who can tell a story well. You wanna hear a math joke written in sorta Greek? Now go DONATE and VOTE before some Muse strikes me foolish again. The links have been posted by Level_Head, and much later by me. They are easy to find. Expositorily,JusSayin

Thanks to Level_Head, Jenner and Veteran and all the commenters for providing background, ambient and mood lighting for Aaron’s story so often.Sincerely and Respectfully Grateful,JusSayin

Good points made on the Anthro process.

What happens if a Topsider is immune?

Do the topsiders test to see if any of them have the immunity?

Based on their science and testing, I’d expect them to be seeking and implementing the immunity. Especially if they wipe out all of the mutants, the virus still exists. Hence the need for a cure.

Is it possible the “immunity” is still part of the mutation?

The mutation covers the entire scope of nature, possibly even water where the Oracle is concerned, why not people shaped anthros with the ability to heal quickly?

Of course Sparky stated that his immunity still made him an outcast, except he had mutated. And let’s be honest, his own brand of crazy and inability to be vaporized probably helped.

One more random set of thought. Where are the makers of the ship? Who are they? Are they aliens? Dimensional beings? Mutants? How do they fit in?

Darwinskeeper- I’d WAG that, since APEX has both highly advanced medtech as well as nanites, that the suits don’t come off, and serve as an envelope for maintainence nanites to tend to all regular needs. And to C.Brown – My WAG as to why APEX isn’t apperently working on a cure is that they created it to start with, and made a mistake that they can’t (or possibly don’t want to) fix. Killing all mutant isn’t going to end the virus, but it will get rid of the only survivors not under their control.

When you are unconscious your brain is more active (I read somewhere around 50%) It is able to process the genetic transformation and re-organise the DNA into something more suitable.

What if I don’t want to be cute?

mr sherman- with nanites, they could constantly be grooming the body, so would not need (nor want, with risk of contamination) for wash and dry cycles. Diet is a complete unknown, so who can say about that? Bronylnk- while it seems that the virus has a “brain probe” aspect, it seems more likely that the morphing is influenced by different parts of the brain/areas of brain activity, perhaps finding some image use as a template. But the brain actually processing genetic data for desired results seems rather far-fetched.

But wait,…one of the topsiders who changed in the original arc (when his suit got ripped) didn’t become a mindless monster mutant when he changed while awake… He became something small inside his suit,..but he was clearly saying “Kill me, Kill me” up until the moment his friend stepped on him…