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And we're back in the past and can check the eyrie archive
once again.
Here's where you can find this and more Aeneas Boddy
Action!:
https://archives.eyrie.org/racc/lnh/Series/Aeneas/
And here's Aeneas & Ferris #6 by K. M. Wilcox!
How calmly can Aeneas state, 'That has no top'?!
Is it time to sever some cow necks?! And what
was Achilles doing at Colleen's all night?!!!
Find out in...
_
| | Classic
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| | ____ ____ _ ____ ___
| |__ | [] | | [] | | | | [] | | _ \
|____| \__] \__ | |_| \__/ |_|\_\
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|_| OF NET.HEROES
ADVENTURES #397
=====================
Aeneas & Ferris #6
=====================
/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\
/ /\ |~~~ \
| / \ () | |
| /~~~~\ ENEAS (X |~~ ERRIS |
\ / \ | /
\ /
~~~~~~~~~N~U~M~B~E~R~~~~~~~~~
X*S __ __
I I \ / \ / \ /
S X / \__/ \__/ \
S * _______||___ ____||_______
S X*S ----- --\ \-- -----
SI I * | | | | | |
S X _| |_ _| |_ _| |_
S X | | | | | |
I I |_____| |___ __| |_____|
X*S ------------/ /------------
B O D D Y D O U B L E D
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[Page One: Seen from behind, an very muscular but somewhat pale man wearing
modest black trunks and a very wet gray fedora climbs out of a swimming
pool. Floating in the pool behind him is a life preserver with the words
"I'm Beside Myself With Glee" written on it.]
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Aeneas picks up his black robe from the deck and wears it. He turns to
walk
down the stairs to the roller derby track when he notices the redhead in the light blue sundress climbing up toward him.
"Colleen!" he says, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"I thought I might do some swimming," she giggles, holding up her suit.
Aeneas blushes. "That has no top," he states as calmly as he can, which isn't very.
"Neither did yours," she offers.
"That barely has a bottom," he chuckles. "Swim all you want. I have
business back in the house." Colleen frowns.
"Aren't you staying?"
"Why would you want to get mixed up with me?" Aeneas asks.
"You intrigue me," Colleen admits. "There's an air of mystery about you.
It
turns me on." She moves closer and runs a finger up his exposed cleavage. Aeneas blushes more and steps back.
"It's too dangerous. More than you could know," Aeneas warns. "You'd only get hurt."
"Ahh," she coos.
"Believe me. Nobody deserves the kind of torment it would bring. Least of all you." Aeneas walks down the stairs and out into the courtyard.
Colleen runs after him. "Aeneas! Can I at least see you without your
hat?"
Aeneas pauses for a minute, then obliges. Putting the hat back on, he walks into the house as Colleen stands and watches.
Ferris steps out of the hedge maze and notices the visitor. "Miss Karrde, are you here to see Aeneas?" he asks.
"I was," she replies. "Most of the time I have to fight men off with a knobby stick, but he acts so shy and distant around me. Why?"
"You couldn't begin to know," Ferris answers. "Besides, I don't recall
that
I ever flirted with you."
"Yeah, but you're English."
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Boddy raises the sword above his head and brings it down swiftly,
severing
the cow's neck. Putting the sword behind his back, he lifts the carcass and carries it toward the house on his shoulder. Pausing for a minute, he drops
it
in the courtyard and returns to the pen.
"I wonder." He sets the head on the ground and slices it neatly in half
with the sword. After several minutes, each slice begins to grow into a separate cow. "Fascinating."
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"What does this mean?" Ferris asks.
"It means that if I could slice the cow's head in half and get two, I
might
be able to do it to myself," Aeneas explains.
Ferris frowns. "You're going to pursue this, aren't you?"
"Maybe. There's no guarantee it'd even work. The properties behind the animals' immortality are a lot simpler than those behind mine. For it to
work
at all, I'd have to split myself exactly in half down the center, or at
least
down to the neck. I know that taking a chunk out of my head is not enough.
It's tough to explain."
"If it does, then what? Will you know how to recombine, or will there forever be two of you? Do you really want to spend time with another you?" Ferris poses.
Aeneas tilts his head curiously. "What's that supposed to mean?"
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Aeneas looks up at the guillotine blade hovering over him. Trying to
remain
almost completely still, he pulls the rope holding it. Ferris carefully
pulls
the two halves to opposite sides of the room and watches them anxiously. The left side starts reforming after fifty seconds, and Ferris watches as the
head
fills out first.
"It's working. Look," Aeneas Left says. Ferris turns around and sees that the other half is also regenerating, though much more slowly. Aeneas Left is standing and brushing himself off when Aeneas Right tries to speak.
"What happened?" he moans.
"I'm not certain," Aeneas Left answers. "For some reason you're not regenerating nearly as quickly as I did. For that matter, I was slower than
in
the past." He lifts the guillotine blade and drops it on his arm, which
grows
back quickly. "Maybe it's an effect of the split."
Aeneas Right ponders this for a bit. "Something just occurred to me. What
is our name?" Ferris finds this funny and drops to the ground laughing.
Aeneas Left looks at him for a bit. "Your name's Achilles." The other considers this.
"I like it. I'm Achilles what?"
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Ferris looks up from his A. J. Boyle mystery when he hears someone coming
up his spiral staircase. "Hello, Aeneas," he calls.
"Uh, it's Achilles," the other corrects.
Ferris shakes his head. "Nice try. You came up those stairs with the confidence of someone who knew what he was doing. Last I saw, that was not Achilles. Speaking of which, how is the experiment coming?"
"I seem to be almost identical to my old self. My sense of humor is
narrower than before, and every regeneration is causing me to lose weight,
but
I think I can fix it," Aeneas explains.
"What about Achilles?"
"In the split, he suffered 72% memory loss, and..." Aeneas frowns and mumbles something.
"What is it?"
"He doesn't like the hat, and he wears his top few buttons unbuttoned," Aeneas admits. "He seems much more laidback, almost Bohemian."
"How about regenerations?"
"They're still slow, but getting quicker. He hasn't lost any memory since the first time, though. The behavior is worsening, however. I may have to
take
care of it soon." The doorbell rings.
"I'll get it!" someone outside the room yells.
Aeneas rushes down the staircase. "Achilles! Don't answer the door!" he orders.
Colleen waits on the front step, checking her make-up and brushing off
her
white tennis dress. She puts her mirror away just as the large wooden door creaks away from her. Achilles steps out from behind it. "Aeneas?" she asks. "Is that you?"
Aeneas runs across the main hall and almost knocks Achilles into the
door.
"I'm sorry. This is my twin brother Achilles. Achilles, this is our
neighbor,
Colleen."
"Hi!" Colleen giggles. "I just came to see if you wanted to play tennis, Aeneas."
"Well, I don't really know how..." Aeneas stammers.
"I'll play!" Achilles interrupts. Aeneas glares at him.
Colleen smiles. "Great! My house is that one over there." She points out across and down the street. "And that suit is getting baggy, Aeneas. Are you
on a diet?" She waves and skips off the front step and down the drive as
Aeneas closes the door behind her.
"You can't go. Not yet," he tells Achilles.
"Why not? She invited me. It's not like I might degenerate into a beige goo," Achilles protests.
"Oh, really? What if you get hurt? Or let something slip? Or worse?"
Aeneas
insists. "That's why I have to keep her away."
"That, and you're a virgin," Achilles adds.
"You would remember that," Aeneas sighs. "Just be extremely careful!"
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"Still up?" Ferris asks.
"I don't think Achilles is coming home tonight," Aeneas sighs, hovering
in
the open front door. "I just hope he's not doing anything stupid."
"Worrying here is not going to help," Ferris offers.
"Right. I'm going over to Emerald Springs Hall to get him." Aeneas starts down the drive. Ferris runs out to stop him.
"No, don't go over there. Just go inside and go to bed. There's nothing
you
can do for now."
"I'm going to kill him!" Aeneas screams.
"Again?" Ferris chuckles.
"And again and again until he becomes such a hippie, he runs off to a commune!"
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A dark shape floats across the main hall up the stairs, and down the corridor to the right. The dark shape floats back up the corridor and down
the
stairs, just ahead of another.
"Where have you been?" Aeneas yells.
"Colleen's?" Achilles offers.
"What were you doing at Colleen's all night? Did you..."
"Did we what?" Achilles wonders.
"You know! Did you... umm..."
"Yes?"
"Did you... play chess?" Aeneas stammers.
"I don't remember," Achilles admits. "Being cloned from a teetotaler, I passed out after the first drink."
Aeneas lets out a long sigh. A reluctant grin appears. "What drink?"
"She likes vodka martinis, so I tried one."
"Vodka?"
"It's about the sickest tasting stuff ever consumed by man," Achilles explains.
"Well, we still have some tests to run."
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Several lines of text appear on the screen. Aeneas reads the text and
makes
notes in a binder.
Status Report: Achilles Aeneas Pre-Split
Day: 5 5 -
Regenerations: 42 3 -
Weight (lbs) 255 205 255
Measured Intelligence Quotient: 148 256 256
Political Leaning (0 Left - Right 100): 45 95 94
Personality Quotient: 186 54 60
Morality Quotient: 42 90 84
Aeneas sighs. "Okay, Ferris. His I.Q. has almost doubled since the split, and is getting closer to normal every day. Meanwhile, his P.Q. is growing
and
M.Q. dropping with every regeneration, and he's regenerating over eight
times
a day. Worse yet, he's now leaning liberal."
Ferris glances at the numbers. "What's with your drop in P.Q.?"
"That's the lost sense of humor."
"Incidentally, where's the little immoral beast now?" Ferris asks.
"He said he wanted to do some painting."
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The armored car races along the gravel road. Mel looks at the clock on
the
dashboard and moans. "I tell ya, Mac, we're gonna get canned if we show up
at
the jewelry store late again."
"Don't worry. We're an hour ahead of schedule," Mac comforts. Just then,
the car rolls over a bump, and both men smack into the ceiling. "Stop. I
think
we hit something."
The vehicle stops, and Mel goes around behind it to look. On the road is
a
body in black shorts and a black tank top, tire tracks visible across its
back. Mel pokes at it with his shotgun. "Mac! It's a guy. I think he's
dead!"
he yells.
The body grabs the gun and rams it into Mel's chin. Mac looks out the window, but all he sees is Mel's body lying in the road. A blunt object
catches him in the back of the head and he slumps over. A hand lifts the
keys
from his belt and opens the back of the truck.
"Come to Papa," Achilles chuckles, grabbing random pieces of jewelry.
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"No one was injured; however, losses were estimated at $500,000," the announcer drones. Aeneas mutes the television, and leans back in the
recliner.
He turns to Ferris, who is standing by him.
"Three guesses, Deductive Logic Man," he challenges.
"You wondered what could go wrong with your experiment. Here it is. I
have
no idea how we are going to take care of him," Ferris admonishes.
"I do," Aeneas says. "We have to recombine."
"Do you know how?" Ferris asks.
"It worked with the cows, but there's no guarantee."
The front door flies open. "Lucy! I'm home!" Achilles yells. He bursts in
on Aeneas and Ferris in the entertainment room. "Look what I got!" He holds
up
a bunch of jewels.
"Nice," Aeneas coos. "Let's take them up to our room."
Achilles puts the jewels in his pocket. "No. These are for Colleen."
Ferris moves up behind Achilles and tries to knock him unconscious.
Achilles spins around and knocks him over the recliner. Aeneas jumps on Achilles, and the pair whirls around into the television screen and begins
to
quiver. Ferris stands up and pulls Aeneas out of it.
"You all right?" he asks.
"Get out of here," Aeneas warns. As Ferris leaves the room, Achilles
pulls
himself free and throws the monitor at Aeneas. Aeneas grabs the recliner,
but
is unable to lift it over his head, and it falls on him. Achilles rushes out the door, knocking it into Ferris, who slumps to the floor. Achilles runs
out the front door and is out of sight when the others reach it.
"We'd better warn Colleen," Ferris says.
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"Where is she?" Achilles screams into the phone, throwing a sofa through
the bay window of Emerald Springs Hall.
"She's with Aeneas," Ferris answers. "Somewhere you won't find them."
"Right. The last thing Virgin Boy wants is for me to roam free," Achilles counters.
"Point," Ferris admits. "I'll tell you where they are. They're on the way
to the Danetech smelting plant west of Net.ropolis."
"You better not be lying," Achilles warns. "If so, I will survive to hunt you down." He hangs up the phone and jumps out the window.
Ferris sets down the phone and looks behind him. "Everything will be
fine,
Miss Karrde."
"I hope so," she responds.
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"Come on out, Brother!" Achilles yells, striding across the gravel floor
of
the plant. There is a clang above him, and he starts up a ladder. "You can't hide from me!" He dashes along a catwalk to a staircase and runs up to
another
catwalk. "Where are you?" The clang repeats still higher above him, and he climbs more.
After four or five more levels, he reaches the top, where Aeneas is
waiting. Before Achilles pulls himself all the way up, he takes a foot in
the
face and almost falls back. Grabbing the foot, he throws Aeneas to the metal floor and leaps on top of him. Aeneas kicks him off, they each roll to crouching positions.
"You'll never stop me!" Achilles hisses. "Colleen will love me!"
"You're deluded," Aeneas counters, vaulting over Achilles and running
down
the catwalk. Achilles flips backward and brings Aeneas down by the ankles. Aeneas squirms forward, but Achilles stands up and drops himself on his opponent. The catwalk supports creak from the strain.
"Face it! You are weak compared to me!" Achilles taunts. "You cannot possibly defeat me!"
Aeneas looks down. The catwalk is stretched out over a pool of molten
iron.
Staggering to his feet, Aeneas draws his sword. "Don't be certain." He
slices
through the walkway, and a large section dips, sending Achilles and Aeneas tumbling toward the pit. Achilles grabs onto the jagged edge of the catwalk, and Aeneas holds onto his legs. As Achilles tries to kick him off, Aeneas climbs onto his back.
"What are you doing?" Achilles cries.
"This!" Aeneas yells and pulls the other's hands from the walkway. With Aeneas clinging to him, Achilles plummets into the molten iron.
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"I can't stand this wait," Colleen moans. "What can be happening?"
"I'm sure it'll all be okay," Ferris comforts.
A car stops outside, and Colleen runs to the front door. "Aeneas?" she
asks
as a gray fedora appears from the other side of the auto.
Aeneas stands up and turns around to face her, a single tear in his eye. "It's all over. He's gone, Colleen." She hugs him, sobbing.
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"So?" Ferris asks.
"Colleen's home. I think she'll be fine, but she's really fallen for me now."
"That's not what I mean. What happened at the plant?"
"It worked. I regained both my bulk and my humor, plus I got his
memories,
which should be very helpful," Aeneas explains.
"What about Achilles himself?" Ferris inquires.
"I checked thoroughly. Achilles Boddy is dead."
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Lin Yi Tang walks into his hut and gives some water to the stranger, who
is
lying on the only bed, a blanket covering all but his head and one bare leg, visible up to the knee. ~How are your injuries healing?~ Lin asks.
~They are healing fine. Where is this?~ the visitor moans.
~You are in Tibet. This village has no name. I am Lin Yi Tang. What is
your
name?~
~Boddy, Achilles Boddy.~
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Stay Subscribed for
Aeneas and Ferris
#7!!!
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==========
Next Week: Something something LNH!!!!
==========
Arthur "Same Classic Channel. But Same Time? Probably not." Spitzer
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<div dir=3D"ltr"><br>And we're back in the past and can check the eyrie=
archive <br>once again.<br><br><br>Here's where you can find this and = more Aeneas Boddy<br>Action!:<br><br><a href=3D"
https://archives.eyrie.org/= racc/lnh/Series/Aeneas/">
https://archives.eyrie.org/racc/lnh/Series/Aeneas/= </a><br><br><br>And here's Aeneas & Ferris #6 by K. M. Wilcox!<br><= br>How calmly can Aeneas state, 'That has no top'?!<br>Is it time t=
o sever some cow necks?!=C2=A0 And what<br>was Achilles doing at Colleen= 9;s all night?!!!<br><br>Find out in...<br><br><br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0=
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=A0 =C2=A0 |_| =C2=A0OF NET.HEROES<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=
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=A0 =C2=A0Aeneas & Ferris #6<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<br><br><br><br><br><br>=C2=A0 /~= ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\<br>=C2=A0/ =C2=A0 =C2=A0 /\ =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2= =A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 |~~~ =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 \<br>| =C2=A0 =C2=A0 / = =C2=A0\ =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0() =C2=A0| =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 |<br>| =C2=A0 =C2=A0/~~~~\ ENEAS (X =C2=A0|~~ ERRIS =C2=A0 |<br>=C2= =A0\ =C2=A0/ =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0\ =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0| =C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0/<br>=C2=A0 \ =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 /<br>= =C2=A0 =C2=A0~~~~~~~~~N~U~M~B~E~R~~~~~~~~~<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 X*S =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0__ =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0__<br>= =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0I =C2=A0 I =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0\ =C2=A0 =C2=A0 / =C2=A0\ =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0/ =C2=A0\ =C2=A0 =C2=A0 /<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 S =C2=A0 =C2=A0 X =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 / = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 \__/ =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0\__/ =C2=A0 =C2=A0 \<br>=C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 S =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0=
=C2=A0* =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0_______||___ =C2=A0 ____||_______<br>=C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 S X*S =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0=
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0----- =C2=A0 =C2=A0--\ =C2=A0\-- =C2=A0 =C2=A0-----<br= >=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 SI =C2=A0 I =C2=A0 =C2=A0=
* =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 | =C2=A0 | =C2=A0 =C2=A0| =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0| =C2= =A0 =C2=A0| =C2=A0 |<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 S = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 X =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 _| =C2=A0 |_ =C2=A0_| = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0|_ =C2=A0_| =C2=A0 |_<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 S =C2=A0 =C2=A0 X =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 |=
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 | =C2=A0| =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0| =C2=A0| =C2=A0 =C2=A0=
|<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0I =C2=A0 I =C2= =A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0|_____| =C2=A0|___ =C2=A0 __| =C2=A0|= _____|<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 X*S =C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 ------------/ =C2=A0/------------<br= >=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 B O D D Y =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0D O U =
B L E D<br><br><br>-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*= -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-<br>*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-= *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*<br><br>[Page One: Seen from behind, an very=
muscular but somewhat pale man wearing<br>=C2=A0 modest black trunks and a=
very wet gray fedora climbs out of a swimming<br>=C2=A0 pool. Floating in = the pool behind him is a life preserver with the words<br>=C2=A0 "I= 9;m Beside Myself With Glee" written on it.]<br><br>-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*= -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-<br>*-*-*-*-*-= *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*<br><b= r>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Aeneas picks up his black robe from the deck and wears it. H=
e turns to walk<br>down the stairs to the roller derby track when he notice=
s the redhead in the<br>light blue sundress climbing up toward him.<br>=C2=
=A0 =C2=A0"Colleen!" he says, surprised. "What are you doing=
here?"<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"I thought I might do some swimming,"=
; she giggles, holding up her suit.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Aeneas blushes. "T= hat has no top," he states as calmly as he can, which<br>isn't ver= y.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Neither did yours," she offers.<br>=C2=A0 =C2= =A0"That barely has a bottom," he chuckles. "Swim all you wa= nt. I have<br>business back in the house." Colleen frowns.<br>=C2=A0 = =C2=A0"Aren't you staying?"<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Why would y=
ou want to get mixed up with me?" Aeneas asks.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Y=
ou intrigue me," Colleen admits. "There's an air of mystery a= bout you. It<br>turns me on." She moves closer and runs a finger up hi=
s exposed cleavage.<br>Aeneas blushes more and steps back.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0= "It's too dangerous. More than you could know," Aeneas warns.=
"You'd only<br>get hurt."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Ahh," s=
he coos.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Believe me. Nobody deserves the kind of torm= ent it would bring. Least of<br>all you." Aeneas walks down the stairs=
and out into the courtyard.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Colleen runs after him. "= Aeneas! Can I at least see you without your hat?"<br>Aeneas pauses for=
a minute, then obliges. Putting the hat back on, he walks<br>into the hous=
e as Colleen stands and watches.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Ferris steps out of the he= dge maze and notices the visitor. "Miss Karrde,<br>are you here to see=
Aeneas?" he asks.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"I was," she replies. &qu= ot;Most of the time I have to fight men off with a<br>knobby stick, but he = acts so shy and distant around me. Why?"<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"You cou= ldn't begin to know," Ferris answers. "Besides, I don't r= ecall that<br>I ever flirted with you."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Yeah, bu=
t you're English."<br><br>-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*= -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-<br>*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-= *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Boddy r= aises the sword above his head and brings it down swiftly, severing<br>the = cow's neck. Putting the sword behind his back, he lifts the carcass and= <br>carries it toward the house on his shoulder. Pausing for a minute, he d= rops it<br>in the courtyard and returns to the pen.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"I=
wonder." He sets the head on the ground and slices it neatly in half<= br>with the sword. After several minutes, each slice begins to grow into a<= br>separate cow. "Fascinating."<br><br>-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*= -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-<br>*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-= *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*<br><br>=C2=A0=
=C2=A0"What does this mean?" Ferris asks.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"=
It means that if I could slice the cow's head in half and get two, I mi= ght<br>be able to do it to myself," Aeneas explains.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0F= erris frowns. "You're going to pursue this, aren't you?"<= br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Maybe. There's no guarantee it'd even work. T=
he properties behind the<br>animals' immortality are a lot simpler than=
those behind mine. For it to work<br>at all, I'd have to split myself = exactly in half down the center, or at least<br>down to the neck. I know th=
at taking a chunk out of my head is not enough.<br>It's tough to explai= n."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"If it does, then what? Will you know how to = recombine, or will there<br>forever be two of you? Do you really want to sp= end time with another you?"<br>Ferris poses.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Aeneas ti= lts his head curiously. "What's that supposed to mean?"<br><b= r>-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-= *-*-*-<br>*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*= -*-*-*-*-*-*-*<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Aeneas looks up at the guillotine blade = hovering over him. Trying to remain<br>almost completely still, he pulls th=
e rope holding it. Ferris carefully pulls<br>the two halves to opposite sid=
es of the room and watches them anxiously. The<br>left side starts reformin=
g after fifty seconds, and Ferris watches as the head<br>fills out first.<b= r>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"It's working. Look," Aeneas Left says. Ferris=
turns around and sees that<br>the other half is also regenerating, though = much more slowly. Aeneas Left is<br>standing and brushing himself off when = Aeneas Right tries to speak.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"What happened?" he = moans.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"I'm not certain," Aeneas Left answers=
. "For some reason you're not<br>regenerating nearly as quickly as=
I did. For that matter, I was slower than in<br>the past." He lifts t=
he guillotine blade and drops it on his arm, which grows<br>back quickly. &= quot;Maybe it's an effect of the split."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Aeneas Ri= ght ponders this for a bit. "Something just occurred to me. What<br>is=
our name?" Ferris finds this funny and drops to the ground laughing.<= br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Aeneas Left looks at him for a bit. "Your name's A= chilles." The other<br>considers this.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"I like it=
. I'm Achilles what?"<br><br>-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-= *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-<br>*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*= -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Ferr=
is looks up from his A. J. Boyle mystery when he hears someone coming<br>up=
his spiral staircase. "Hello, Aeneas," he calls.<br>=C2=A0 =C2= =A0"Uh, it's Achilles," the other corrects.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0F= erris shakes his head. "Nice try. You came up those stairs with the<br= >confidence of someone who knew what he was doing. Last I saw, that was not= <br>Achilles. Speaking of which, how is the experiment coming?"<br>=C2= =A0 =C2=A0"I seem to be almost identical to my old self. My sense of h= umor is<br>narrower than before, and every regeneration is causing me to lo=
se weight, but<br>I think I can fix it," Aeneas explains.<br>=C2=A0 = =C2=A0"What about Achilles?"<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"In the split, =
he suffered 72% memory loss, and..." Aeneas frowns and<br>mumbles some= thing.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"What is it?"<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"He doe= sn't like the hat, and he wears his top few buttons unbuttoned,"<b= r>Aeneas admits. "He seems much more laidback, almost Bohemian."<= br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"How about regenerations?"<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"= They're still slow, but getting quicker. He hasn't lost any memory = since<br>the first time, though. The behavior is worsening, however. I may = have to take<br>care of it soon." The doorbell rings.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0= "I'll get it!" someone outside the room yells.<br>=C2=A0 =C2= =A0Aeneas rushes down the staircase. "Achilles! Don't answer the d= oor!" he<br>orders.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Colleen waits on the front step, c= hecking her make-up and brushing off her<br>white tennis dress. She puts he=
r mirror away just as the large wooden door<br>creaks away from her. Achill=
es steps out from behind it. "Aeneas?" she asks.<br>"Is that=
you?"<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Aeneas runs across the main hall and almost kno= cks Achilles into the door.<br>"I'm sorry. This is my twin brother=
Achilles. Achilles, this is our neighbor,<br>Colleen."<br>=C2=A0 =C2= =A0"Hi!" Colleen giggles. "I just came to see if you wanted =
to play tennis,<br>Aeneas."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Well, I don't re= ally know how..." Aeneas stammers.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"I'll play= !" Achilles interrupts. Aeneas glares at him.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Colleen = smiles. "Great! My house is that one over there." She points out<= br>across and down the street. "And that suit is getting baggy, Aeneas=
. Are you<br>on a diet?" She waves and skips off the front step and do=
wn the drive as<br>Aeneas closes the door behind her.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"= ;You can't go. Not yet," he tells Achilles.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"= Why not? She invited me. It's not like I might degenerate into a beige<= br>goo," Achilles protests.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Oh, really? What if = you get hurt? Or let something slip? Or worse?" Aeneas<br>insists. &qu= ot;That's why I have to keep her away."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"That=
, and you're a virgin," Achilles adds.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"You w= ould remember that," Aeneas sighs. "Just be extremely careful!&qu= ot;<br><br>-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*= -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-<br>*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-= *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Still up?" Ferris as= ks.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"I don't think Achilles is coming home tonight= ," Aeneas sighs, hovering in<br>the open front door. "I just hope=
he's not doing anything stupid."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Worrying h= ere is not going to help," Ferris offers.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Right.=
I'm going over to Emerald Springs Hall to get him." Aeneas starts= <br>down the drive. Ferris runs out to stop him.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"No, = don't go over there. Just go inside and go to bed. There's nothing = you<br>can do for now."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"I'm going to kill hi= m!" Aeneas screams.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Again?" Ferris chuckles= .<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"And again and again until he becomes such a hippie,=
he runs off to a<br>commune!"<br><br>-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*= -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-<br>*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-= *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=
=A0A dark shape floats across the main hall up the stairs, and down the<br>= corridor to the right. The dark shape floats back up the corridor and down = the<br>stairs, just ahead of another.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Where have you = been?" Aeneas yells.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Colleen's?" Achill=
es offers.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"What were you doing at Colleen's all n= ight? Did you..."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Did we what?" Achilles wo= nders.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"You know! Did you... umm..."<br>=C2=A0 = =C2=A0"Yes?"<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Did you... play chess?" A= eneas stammers.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"I don't remember," Achilles = admits. "Being cloned from a teetotaler, I<br>passed out after the fir=
st drink."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Aeneas lets out a long sigh. A reluctant gr=
in appears. "What drink?"<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"She likes vodka m= artinis, so I tried one."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Vodka?"<br>=C2=A0=
=C2=A0"It's about the sickest tasting stuff ever consumed by man,= " Achilles<br>explains.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Well, we still have some=
tests to run."<br><br>-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-= *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-<br>*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*= -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Several lines =
of text appear on the screen. Aeneas reads the text and makes<br>notes in a=
binder.<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 Status Report: =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 Achilles =C2=A0 Aen= eas =C2=A0 Pre-Split<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 Day: =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A05 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A05 =C2= =A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 -<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 Regenerati= ons: =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 42 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A03 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 -<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 Weight (lbs) =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=
=A0 =C2=A0255 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0205 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 255<br>= =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 Measured Intelligence Quotient: =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 148 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0256 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 256<b= r>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 Political Leaning (0 Left - Right 100): =C2= =A045 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 95 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A094<br>=C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 Personality Quotient: =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 186 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 54 =C2=A0 =C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A060<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 Morality Quotient=
: =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2= =A0 42 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 90 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A084<br><br>= =C2=A0 =C2=A0Aeneas sighs. "Okay, Ferris. His I.Q. has almost doubled = since the split,<br>and is getting closer to normal every day. Meanwhile, h=
is P.Q. is growing and<br>M.Q. dropping with every regeneration, and he'=
;s regenerating over eight times<br>a day. Worse yet, he's now leaning = liberal."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Ferris glances at the numbers. "What= 9;s with your drop in P.Q.?"<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"That's the lost=
sense of humor."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Incidentally, where's the = little immoral beast now?" Ferris asks.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"He said =
he wanted to do some painting."<br><br>-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-= *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-<br>*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*= -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2= =A0The armored car races along the gravel road. Mel looks at the clock on t= he<br>dashboard and moans. "I tell ya, Mac, we're gonna get canned=
if we show up at<br>the jewelry store late again."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0&q= uot;Don't worry. We're an hour ahead of schedule," Mac comfort=
s. Just then,<br>the car rolls over a bump, and both men smack into the cei= ling. "Stop. I think<br>we hit something."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0The ve= hicle stops, and Mel goes around behind it to look. On the road is a<br>bod=
y in black shorts and a black tank top, tire tracks visible across its<br>b= ack. Mel pokes at it with his shotgun. "Mac! It's a guy. I think h= e's dead!"<br>he yells.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0The body grabs the gun and=
rams it into Mel's chin. Mac looks out the<br>window, but all he sees =
is Mel's body lying in the road. A blunt object<br>catches him in the b= ack of the head and he slumps over. A hand lifts the keys<br>from his belt = and opens the back of the truck.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Come to Papa," = Achilles chuckles, grabbing random pieces of jewelry.<br><br>-*-*-*-*-*-*-*= -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-<br>*-*-*-= *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*<b= r><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"No one was injured; however, losses were estimated=
at $500,000," the<br>announcer drones. Aeneas mutes the television, a=
nd leans back in the recliner.<br>He turns to Ferris, who is standing by hi= m.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Three guesses, Deductive Logic Man," he chall= enges.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"You wondered what could go wrong with your exp= eriment. Here it is. I have<br>no idea how we are going to take care of him= ," Ferris admonishes.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"I do," Aeneas says. &= quot;We have to recombine."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Do you know how?&quo=
t; Ferris asks.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"It worked with the cows, but there= 9;s no guarantee."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0The front door flies open. "Lu= cy! I'm home!" Achilles yells. He bursts in<br>on Aeneas and Ferri=
s in the entertainment room. "Look what I got!" He holds up<br>a = bunch of jewels.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Nice," Aeneas coos. "Let&#= 39;s take them up to our room."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Achilles puts the jewe=
ls in his pocket. "No. These are for Colleen."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Fe= rris moves up behind Achilles and tries to knock him unconscious.<br>Achill=
es spins around and knocks him over the recliner. Aeneas jumps on<br>Achill= es, and the pair whirls around into the television screen and begins to<br>= quiver. Ferris stands up and pulls Aeneas out of it. <br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"= ;You all right?" he asks.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Get out of here,"=
Aeneas warns. As Ferris leaves the room, Achilles pulls<br>himself free an=
d throws the monitor at Aeneas. Aeneas grabs the recliner, but<br>is unable=
to lift it over his head, and it falls on him. Achilles rushes out<br>the = door, knocking it into Ferris, who slumps to the floor. Achilles runs<br>ou=
t the front door and is out of sight when the others reach it.<br>=C2=A0 = =C2=A0"We'd better warn Colleen," Ferris says.<br><br>-*-*-*-= *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-<br= >*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-= *-*-*<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Where is she?" Achilles screams into t=
he phone, throwing a sofa through<br>the bay window of Emerald Springs Hall= .<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"She's with Aeneas," Ferris answers. "= Somewhere you won't find them."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Right. The l= ast thing Virgin Boy wants is for me to roam free," Achilles<br>counte= rs.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Point," Ferris admits. "I'll tell y=
ou where they are. They're on the way<br>to the Danetech smelting plant=
west of Net.ropolis."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"You better not be lying,&= quot; Achilles warns. "If so, I will survive to hunt<br>you down."=
; He hangs up the phone and jumps out the window.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Ferris se=
ts down the phone and looks behind him. "Everything will be fine,<br>M= iss Karrde."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"I hope so," she responds.<br><= br>-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*= -*-*-*-<br>*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-= *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Come on out, Brother!" Achil= les yells, striding across the gravel floor of<br>the plant. There is a cla=
ng above him, and he starts up a ladder. "You can't<br>hide from m= e!" He dashes along a catwalk to a staircase and runs up to another<br= >catwalk. "Where are you?" The clang repeats still higher above h= im, and he<br>climbs more.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0After four or five more levels, =
he reaches the top, where Aeneas is<br>waiting. Before Achilles pulls himse=
lf all the way up, he takes a foot in the<br>face and almost falls back. Gr= abbing the foot, he throws Aeneas to the metal<br>floor and leaps on top of=
him. Aeneas kicks him off, they each roll to<br>crouching positions.<br>= =C2=A0 =C2=A0"You'll never stop me!" Achilles hisses. "C= olleen will love me!"<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"You're deluded," = Aeneas counters, vaulting over Achilles and running down<br>the catwalk. Ac= hilles flips backward and brings Aeneas down by the ankles.<br>Aeneas squir=
ms forward, but Achilles stands up and drops himself on his<br>opponent. Th=
e catwalk supports creak from the strain.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Face it! Yo=
u are weak compared to me!" Achilles taunts. "You cannot<br>possi= bly defeat me!"<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Aeneas looks down. The catwalk is stre= tched out over a pool of molten iron.<br>Staggering to his feet, Aeneas dra=
ws his sword. "Don't be certain." He slices<br>through the wa= lkway, and a large section dips, sending Achilles and Aeneas<br>tumbling to= ward the pit. Achilles grabs onto the jagged edge of the catwalk,<br>and Ae= neas holds onto his legs. As Achilles tries to kick him off, Aeneas<br>clim=
bs onto his back.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"What are you doing?" Achilles = cries.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"This!" Aeneas yells and pulls the other&#= 39;s hands from the walkway. With<br>Aeneas clinging to him, Achilles plumm= ets into the molten iron.<br><br>-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*= -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-<br>*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-= *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"I c= an't stand this wait," Colleen moans. "What can be happening?= "<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"I'm sure it'll all be okay," Ferr=
is comforts.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0A car stops outside, and Colleen runs to the f= ront door. "Aeneas?" she asks<br>as a gray fedora appears from th=
e other side of the auto.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Aeneas stands up and turns around=
to face her, a single tear in his eye.<br>"It's all over. He'=
s gone, Colleen." She hugs him, sobbing.<br><br>-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*= -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-<br>*-*-*-*-*-*-*-= *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*<br><br>= =C2=A0 =C2=A0"So?" Ferris asks.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Colleen'=
;s home. I think she'll be fine, but she's really fallen for me<br>= now."<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"That's not what I mean. What happened =
at the plant?"<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"It worked. I regained both my bul=
k and my humor, plus I got his memories,<br>which should be very helpful,&q= uot; Aeneas explains.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"What about Achilles himself?&qu= ot; Ferris inquires.<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0"I checked thoroughly. Achilles B= oddy is dead."<br><br>-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*= -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-<br>*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-= *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*<br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0Lin Yi Tang wal=
ks into his hut and gives some water to the stranger, who is<br>lying on th=
e only bed, a blanket covering all but his head and one bare leg,<br>visibl=
e up to the knee. ~How are your injuries healing?~ Lin asks.<br>=C2=A0 =C2= =A0~They are healing fine. Where is this?~ the visitor moans.<br>=C2=A0 =C2= =A0~You are in Tibet. This village has no name. I am Lin Yi Tang. What is y= our<br>name?~<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0~Boddy, Achilles Boddy.~<br><br>-*-*-*-*-*-*-= *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-<br>*-*-*= -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*<= br><br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 Stay Subscribed for<br>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0=
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0Aeneas and Ferris<br>=C2=A0 =C2=
=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0#7!!!<br><br><br><br>**********************************= *********************************************<br>**************************= *****************************************************<br><br><br>=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<br><br>Next Week: =C2=A0Something something LNH!!!!<b= r><br>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D<br><br>Arthur "Same Classic Chann= el.=C2=A0 But Same Time?=C2=A0 Probably not." Spitzer <br><br><br></di=
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