Endtown by Aaron Neathery for October 02, 2012

Ohh so maybe her zero gun wasn’t necessarily hers, but one Mallard might have had that he augmented before she came to Endtown?It seems like that job position went to her head, just a little bit.

We know that she promptly “knocks off” any irritation. Aside from looks,,,, what did they do? Or doesn’t she need reasons. Has her id become idioticly warped beyond reason? It seems to be “marching” that way. Blessed Be

(with apologies to Carly Simon)I may never know about my long lost loveBut I think about him every dayAnd I wonder if he’s still alive right nowOr some Topsider has just blown him awayVenting frustrationVenting frustrationIs making me hateIs keeping me ha-tingI don’t tell themHow easy is it to be the bossAnd how rightThe rats seem around meBut II researched that site just late last nightWhen that missile was just the right excuse for meVenting frustrationVenting frustrationIs making me hateIs keeping me ha-tingAnd tomorrowWe might just be togetherI must find him!But I don’t know the waySo I’ll try To use my job as Endtown’s bossAnd stay right here, ‘Till these fools get in my way’Till they get in my way’Till they get in my wayI’ll stay right hereUntil they get in my wayUntil they… get in my way=|====/ Level HeadVote for Endtown 2.0And for Doc Rat, tooThe Endtown ForumThe Endtown AuctionThe Endtown Books

For those of you that want the highlights of Mike Mole’s activities:

2010/09/082010/09/102010/09/132010/09/142010/09/152010/09/212010/09/292010/09/302010/10/012010/10/052010/10/082010/10/142010/10/152010/10/18

(For those of you wondering, Bill Crawford, the horse, had leaked the information about Al and Gustine to Mallard.)

They’re not saluting. They’re trying to get a better view.

I still don’t think we know yet where Flask got her current zero gun. She had her own when she mutated into a cat and then was captured. It didn’t work for her, in her mutant form. When she escaped from the lab, after a spree with a scalpel, I don’t recall her having a gun with her. Therefore, she must have picked it up from the hostage or from inside the PT (which does not yet explain how she got it to work). Or Endtown had one of its own, which Mallard had made useable by anyone, or was able to make useable by her. The guns have brains. They refuse to be operated by a mutant because they choose not to (taking into account their conditioning that makes them incapable of coming to any other decision). It looks like this is the end of the explanations, but somehow I think there are a few little crumbs left. Mallard did not make a mistake in putting Flask in charge, because as he insists: “I never make a mistake.” And perhaps I agree with him. Flask was probably the best of a bad lot of choices. It was a risk, but things could have gone just as badly wrong if he had put Mayor Walter in charge, for example. With the rocket mission that ended in disaster, the problem was that both Flask and the Topsiders were more devious than most people expected.Or was it that the writer himself is more devious than all of us?

Hey, this seems vaguely familiar… Flask is kicking some “mole” a$$!

Work conditions in the apocalypse are crummy if that’s what’s considered “venting frustration”. I’d call OSCA but they don’t exist, and I doubt they have rules on evaporated coworkers.

Well, there was no direct evidence that Mike Mole or Bill Crawford leaked anything to anybody—-it’s just the supposition, from their attitudes.

By my count, Flask has killed four directly—-Mike, Bill, that child creature encountered after leaving Endtown, and Linda’s seventeen-year-old partner Doug. (Maybe I missed some along the way.) Indirectly, she’s responsible for any deaths among the topsiders who mutated—-and, of course, she was trying to kill many more.

By the way…in Monday’s strip and today’s…doesn’t Flask wear really low heels? She must be pretty tall…

This does make her end clearer. Her only motivation after escaping was to find “him”. Once she achieved that goal…what then? When she found “him”, especially in his reduced state (and with no memory of Flask); she ceased having a reason to live. And…she had an even greater hate for those that stole her only happiness. Flask could have made other choices. She didn’t. Whatever humanity she’d discovered by falling in love with “him” (after all Flask was a Topsider with all that includes) was quickly burned out of her.

“Whatever humanity she’d discovered by falling in love with “him” (after all Flask was a Topsider with all that includes) was quickly burned out of her.”Yeah, being locked in a pit and tortured at random for an unknown period of time can do that. Other known side effects include blurriness of vision, shortness of breath and high cholesterol.

Make that six people Flask has killed…there were those two topsiders in that shootout in Sector One…which, when you kill someone trying to kill you and yours, is just a little different than, say, blowing up eight thousand for revenge…or killing the mutts that were trying to kill you, too…

After all she has been through, who wouldn’t lose it a little. And the fact that she found love…at the worst and best time, then lose him, the only happiness she had in an insane and dying world of mutants… and humans who lost their humanity and turned to death, torture and mutilation…..I’d say I would be real loopy too!

Aaron! There’s a company (PAiA) that makes DIY analog synth kits. Thought you’d be interested in listening to one of their sample songs made using the FatMan kit – Mallard.

I am back.To Coyoty.That was good. Yes, a short skirt business attire would not be in her best interest. It is like at a concert in the front row and the lead female singer is wearing a short skirt. As said in Full Metal Jacket “Fur and early morning dew”On a different note.In reference to Flask being blasted out of the air ship when her weapon blew up. Remember the belt feeding that thing. Looked like a 40mm chain to the M19 Grenade Launcher. Of course they must have reduced size to make it more portable. If that when off in the chamber the bolt and receiver would have blown back with extreme force. But I offer a different view.08-22-12 Panels. Marx tells her if he had not INTERVENED how many would you have killed. Remember the blast pattern in the captains room afterwards with Wally on the floor. Holes all around him. Wally was in a protected area. Who blocked the blast? Marx was letting them work it out. I think when he saw what was going to happen. He moved in. If I know him he would have stuck his finger in the barrel causing the blow back. Enough force would have blown her back out the window falling to the place she is now. Newtons Laws. If the blast cannot go forward it has to go somewhere. After all he took on a Topsider missile. Linda was protected in the area behind him.

just for once I would like to see Flask smile…….

To Three Steps Over Japan.High cholesterol. That was good.Cougar needs some help from “Mommy’s Little Helper”She even insulted poor Crawford. He was not that little.And the rats are just happy to be there.

It has been the course of human history that many times the most dangerous thing to human survival is the government that controls them.Everything starts out all ohhhs and ahhhs. Then comes the rules, regulations, loss of freedoms. Control is initiated and enforced. Hitler, Lenin, all began with a great ideal then showed their true colors once in power. A saying goes “Absolute power corrupts absolutely” Some of the worse cases of genocide were conducted by the ruling power in control. Africa, Bosnia many others.Once those persons were in power they began to VENT their frustrations.Endtown has a central committee to oversee some operations but I suspect they are probably under a form of Martial Law seeing as they are in a wartime standing. Head of Security with all that power? She could do what she wanted. Control the committee with the fear they have of her. Prof Mallard presented the only real threat to her but saw her as a necessary evil for now. Mr. Jackrabbit is trying to trigger a mutant uprising to go after Topsiders. That would interfer with Flask searching and somewhat weaken her authority.Flask puts up with Jackrabbit as his carrying on keeps Endtown distracted. Justifies her “Security actions” Remember when Wally first appeared. Topsiders chant Mutant. Mutant. Now go to Jackrabbit at the rally. Chanting Mutant. Mutant. ScaryEndtown is on the edge of a chasm. Without Flask how long do you think the rationals of Endtown can hold out against the irrational ones.Her fate will determine the fate of Endtown I fear.

To Nebu…..Excellent post. You nailed it. When pushed to the limits of survival,civilization goes right out the door. It all becomes personal.

To TSOJ from yesterday.Wally would not have to carry it far. The 50cal has a 3000 yard range. Basically if you can see it, adjust for it you can hit it. I would not expect Holly to carry one. C’mon she can barely hold that sword up. I would just keep her safe in the backpack.But your point is well made. Except for metal fatigue. That ain’t gonna happen. Not with todays metals. I have a 70 year old Moisen Nagant. Circa 1942. Good Russian gun. Shoots like brand new. 7.62 by 54R. As far as food carrying?Some carry weapons.Some carry food. It is just that ray guns are cooler.But Al did complain on the time needed to wind one up. Then nearly got one that suddenly explode without warning so he hesitantly took the one he was offered. And you think the 50 has bad recoil.“Do not hold the trigger for longer than 8 seconds.”Recoil jerked Gustine back into the tunnel. Killing him in the impact but saving her.

Oh, to Mr. Neathery on the Blind DateProf Mallard looks so much like Groucho Marx.I can here him saying “Where’s the bar?”And she has that great look the lady who worked with the Marx Brothers in all those movies use to have.(Forgot her name but wonderful person)

…well flask didnt know who told rabbit and its true leaking to rabbit endangered the lives of all humans inmune to the virus living on endtown

so at least the mole deserved a punishment

I wonder what that diploma in Panel 1 says…?

To RickDYou are right. I forgot that. That is what started the fight between Wally and security guard (Texas Longhorn, C’mon man)

The diploma on the wall.Graduate School of Rent a Cops.She is also authorized to install security equipment, gates, and cameras, and carry a side arm but only in uniform while working security.(Sorry if you read this and are a security person. Just jabbing. Much respect.) (To a degree)

Like I said before and will say again.SHE CROSSED THAT MORALITY LINE.Her mind is so blurred and she has no guidance. Dangerous situation to all. Prof Mallard can see it and probably has seen it before in others recently mutated but lets her become head of security. I don’t mean this ugly but the best liers I have known have been female. I think it is a survivial skill to withstand being around us males. Male “How was it for you?” Female “Moved the earth” Female’s real thought “Dude, c’mon man. What was that?” Prof Mallard had too much on his plate so figured Flask would do okay but he does appear suspicious.

Mike Mole was the leak to Jackrabbit. After all he was part of Jackrabbits movement. Jackrabbit wanted everyone a pure mutant to accept the change and change their names to match who they were. (Later led to the fight when Cooper asked about his form). The other assistant Bill Crawford. Why not Bill Jackass. Either Crawford was being a “Mole” for Jackrabbit or truly innocent of the accusation BUT a witness to Mike Mole’s murder (Flask is now Judge Dredd. Judge Jury Executioner)

And to add to earlier post. Crawford had to be keeping Prof Mallard informed. Flask was being watched by both factions fighting for control of Endtown.

AND knowing these twisted characters Mike Mole may have been working for Mallard and Crawford working for Jackrabbit. It is never really clear but Flask suspected treachery and took them both out. Flask response to everything. When in doubt wipe them all out. Then it is only my side of the story.

Moot point now for who ratted who.

Only a small journey.Many miles to go.Soon.Soon now.We will all know.

To NabuI read your post again.You caught the essence of the whole story. Not one time in Nam did I ever think of the killing as personal although it was up front and brutal.It was the job, the duty, the mission. Nothing personal as that made it wrong. I never shot an enemy in the back when he was running from the battle area in my first firefights. I knew they may come back but I personally (in the beginning) felt it was wrong. I was chewed out for it finally having to give in and do it. I knew it was not right but did make sense after some talking. They were coming back. Missed me now but maybe get me later. But never did I make it personal. The worst dilemna we had was after a brief firefight and we found ourselves with two prisoners. Both wounded but alive and mobile. Our mission was to get 25 kilometers behind enemy lines and set up an observation site to check movement on the Ho Chi Minh trail. We were 20 kilometers in. The issue was what to do with the prisoners? Let them go? Then they run to their buddies and tell them all about us. Location and everything. Take them in. How? Abandon the mission for two prisoners?The decision was based in war, combat, mission parameters but did not make it any easier. Two simutaneous shots from behind. Neither one (I hope and pray) never knew what hit them. I was one of the shooters. Knew where to put the shot. Make it quick.Terrible. Yes. Horrible. Yes. But that was it. It was not personal like Flask. That is what makes her so wrong. We had others to talk to. Get the decisions down. Flask has no one to tell her to stop. Down hill running and gaining speed.

Actually, one thing I’d like to mention regarding Mole and Crawford – Endtown can’t really afford to maintain a criminal class. With a population of 7,000, and a heavy reliance on imported food, the insistence on having a socialist structure really does mean that everyone has to help contribute to the upkeep and welfare of the community as a whole. Incarcerating prisoners puts a drag on a highly limited collection of resources. We don’t know yet what happened to the two cats that robbed Wally in the hotel, or the Lynx that assaulted Holly and Wally in the cafeteria. Imprisonment could be seen by extremists like Jackrabbit as a free meal ticket. Further, while we have heard that there is a High Council in Endtown, which Flask threatened to bring Mallard in front of, we’ve also been told that Mallard “IS Endtown” and therefore might have the final say on whether certain undesirables get exiled instead of just jailed. There may also be some crimes so heinous as to warrant the death penalty rather than risking the criminal getting caught Topside and bringing the TSers to Endtown in revenge.Which brings me back to Mike Mole and Bill Crawford. Mole put the safety of Endtown at risk, and he took actions that could have killed Gustine. The question is, what should Flask have done short of invoking martial law? She could have reported Mole to whatever police system Endtown has, placed him on paid leave and let whatever legal system exists take over. (The result of course is that Jackrabbit publishes his article on “traitors in our midst”, Al and Gustine get lynched on the street, and Jackrabbit overthrows Mallard as leader of Endtown). If the High Council makes the legal decision one way or the other, Mole becomes a rallying point, with Jackrabbit’s followers declaring him a martyr to the anti-Topsider cause on one side, and Mallard’s followers declaring him a dangerous element threatening the peace and stability of the colony on the other.Crawford, meanwhile, needs to go into a witness protection program to save him from the anti-humanists that now view him as an enemy. Given Endtown’s small size, Jackrabbit’s having “friends” in security, and Crawford’s distinctive features, he’d have to be escorted to another colony. Otherwise, even if Flask didn’t kill him, someone else in Endtown would eventually. Crawford’s days were numbered, regardless.