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The steps of Trinità dei Monti and the "Barcaccia" in Piazza di Spagna which I shot on an early July morning several years ago with only one human presence who unconsciously posed for me! You rarely see it so deserted...
#YBS24Urban
Martin the Warrior, from Redwall, by Brian Jacques.
I made this Moc as a going-away-present to my little brother, who will be going away to college soon. He always liked Redwall (and so did I a long time ago) so I made him the main character of the series, Martin. Best of luck to you, little guy! And you too, brother!
My good “flickrite” friend Darrell Robinson (sierrasylvan). I consider Darrell to be a very good technical shooter. His post processing style is 1st rate. Photo was taken in June 2012 in Nevada City during the Nevada City Soapbox Derby.
I did this photo once before, but I was never happy on how it turned out before.
************
Sadly he pass away in 2024
I love this boy
we took him to the vet today and if you dont know Niko has really soft stool and horrible gas and he has been pooping in the house lately so now they took some tests to see what it could be. Hopefully nothing major but we will find out tomorrow and he is eating a bland diet and he has medicine for his digestive track.
Other than that aint he cute :D
Nanday Parakeet
Not a great shot due to the angle and branches but I liked that it showed him eating the sycamore tree seeds.
My pretty boy ♥
07.06.2011 : Tròn 1 tháng em được nghe giọng hát của anh ♥
Nhớ mãi ngày hôm ấy~~~~
Nhanh chóng quay lại Việt Nam anh nhé :) Em đợi !
In a village Kreung.
Ratanakiri province, Cambodia
At first sight this picture wasn't easy to take since I had heard that people in Cambodia, as a lot of other ethnies, are scared of the camera thinking that taking a picture could steal your soul.
When I arrived in this village this woman smiled to me, I came to her, smiling back, and I finally pointed at my camera to "ask" if I could take a picture. She smiled again and nodded. She smiled at her baby too and carried him kindly so I could see them better.
I thanked her with my eyes, the more I could, and showed her the pictures I took. She was very sweet and so beautiful, her son too. It was an amazing so simple moment.
(Press L for View on black)
Explored - February 24th, 2011 - #198
==ISA Headquarters==
The Misfits were crating up their weapons and gadgets, preparing to move out; Gar had made some calls, with Needham, Jenna and Gaige agreeing to rendezvous at Butchinsky's. Unfazed by Zoom's attack, Ito presented Sharpe with a long parcel, offering him a pleasant "Merry Christmas, Montgomery." Unwrapping it, Sharpe was delighted to find a golden sceptre, its' tip finished with a golden dragon's head. "Expecto Patronum!" he chortled excitedly, waving it above his head, only for a cloud of fire to burst forth from the dragon's metal jaws.
"Perhaps you should hone your skills, first," Ito spoke politely, if not a little disappointedly.
Preparing to transfer his files, Kuttler's monitor whirred into life, as an encrypted file filled the screen, emblazoned with a large bat-logo.
"What on Earth?" he pondered aloud, as he began the long encryption process. Whether Kuttler had realised it or not, though unconscious and incapacitated, The Batman had just given the Misfits a fighting chance.
==Arkham Asylum==
Hour One
Drury was lying face up on a grotty, bloodstained mattress, watching the large ceiling fan above him churn slowly. He was in his old cell; Billings' book was placed by the pillow, its' cover obscured by a thin layer of dust; one of Hopper's empty beer bottles was rolling around on the ground and the air was warm and stale as though he'd never left its' confining concrete walls. For a brief moment, he felt like he hadn't, that he'd been thrown back in time; that Miranda was still alive, waiting for him to come home and that all he had to do, was run. An impossibility of course, and soon his jumbled thoughts and hopeless aspirations were shattered by the high pitched tones of the Pointer Sisters' 'I'm So Excited' blasting in his ears, dragging him back to reality: Joker was standing against the bars, lip syncing, as he held a boom box over his head in a perverse homage to 'Say Anything.'
"Good mourning, buttercup," he cooed with a sickeningly sweet smile, blowing Drury a kiss through the metal bars.
Drury turned over. If this was to be his life now, then he'd rather drift off into the lands of wandering consciousness and bittersweet fantasies. But part of him knew it wouldn't be that easy: The edges of Joker's red lips turned downwards in glum disapproval, as he lowered the boom box, then kicked it as though blaming it for his own shortcomings. He stuck an pair of un-gloved fingers in his mouth, and whistled. On command, and coming seemingly out of nowhere, Zoom blew an air horn into Drury's ear.
Startled, Drury fell off the bed, taking the bedsheet with him; emerging from the white mass of blanket and pillow, he grabbed the closest object he could find, missing the more tactically sound glass bottle, and instead pointing Billings' book at Zoom like a particularly egotistical weapon.
"That's it, Drury! Throw the book at him!" Joker called through the bars.
But before Drury could do anything, book related or otherwise, Zoom had tugged on the bedsheet he was standing on, and Drury toppled back, slamming his back against the bars of his cell.
"Why me?" Drury wheezed breathlessly, as he found himself asking that same question for the second time in as many days.
"Why not?" Joker repeated, gleefully evasive.
"No, this time I want an answer: I'm serious," Drury swore, standing up to face Joker. Unfazed, Joker stuck his hand through the bars and booped him on the nose.
"Ahh! And that's your first mistake!" he teased. "Stone-faced intimidation really isn't in your wheelhouse. You lack the jawline to carry it off!"
Taken aback, Drury felt his jaw, surprisingly hurt by the clown's comment, but pressed on. "You want a Batman rebound? We're a dime a dozen. Get Prometheus, get March, get that owl guy from that phony Justice League. Or Wrath, why not use Wrath?"
Caldwell, of course, was dead. Crushed by a whale carcass if Gaige's confession held any truth (it probably didn't). But his predecessor had resurfaced during the Society's first assault on Gotham and was surprisingly virile. For a man who was also presumed dead.
"Oh, he's lovely," Joker's eyes twinkled. "Pointy-headed, gravelly-voiced, actually pretty liberal... But here's the thing. He might shoot me. Actually shoot me! Click. Boom. Roll credits. And I can't die to Wrath!" he giggled, amused by his hypothetical death at the hands of the pioneer behind the 'Wratharang.'
"I might kill you," Drury interrupted.
Joker paused for a moment; his eyes locked on Drury as though there was something about him he couldn't quite figure out. "Well... You haven't yet," he refuted. "But the day's just getting started... plenty of time."
'Annoyingly cryptic. Figures,' Drury thought to himself. "And you? What are you meant to get out of this?" he interrogated Zoom.
Zoom, folded his arms and cocked his head to one side. "Thejokeeeeeer is notorious. Infaaaaaaaaamous. Hemakesbatman better. Bykilling. Bycrippling. By laaaaaaaaauuuuuuuughing. He willmake youbettertoo," he stated with his usual, muddled enunciation. "Youhadaspirations once. To beeeeeeee the Batmaaaaaaan's opposite nuuuuuuumber. Hisrival. Hisreverse. You haaaaaaave that chance now. Andwewillbe yooouuuuur teachers.
You haaaaaaaave twochoices now. Two paaaaaaaaaaths. You caneitherbehis equaaaaaal. Oryoucan supplaaaaaaaaant him."
"And remember, it all starts with a smile!" Joker lips parted, as he continued his serenade, this time without the aid of a boombox. "We shouldn't even think about tomorrow. Sweet memories will last a long, long time. We'll have a good time, baby, don't you worry. And if we're still playin' around, boy, that's just fine."
Drury stared back at him blankly. Joker, rested his hands on his hips in mock resignation: "So I'm no Sinatra. But someone threw the Music Meister off a balcony, so whose fault is that? For future reference, when someone says "Kill the music," they don't mean feed the conductor to a crocodile!"
Drury didn't respond.
"Hmph. Get some sleep while ya can, Pumpkin, you've got a looooong day ahead!"
Hour Three
Drury's quiet solitude was interrupted by a faint blue glow and a robotic clicking from outside; he rubbed his tired eyes and looked up; The metal door had receded into the wall, the action accompanied by a mechanic whirring. It was a trap, of course. Another game.
But if he didn't play along, what then? Would Zoom come for his family? For The Misfits? Could he take that chance?
The answer, of course, was no. Drury rose from the mattress, and stuck his head around the corner. On first glance, the coast was clear; but with a speedster on patrol, that could change in an instant.
Drury walked down the hallway, following a path laid out for him made up of gingerbread crumbs. 'Breadcrumbs, cute...' he rolled his eyes; among other things, he was particularly irritated that the soles of his orange crocs were now marred by crushed bits of biscuit. The trail, led him into the Recreation Centre; a room built for the more docile inmates; filled with toys, books and a film projector and decorated with a large rainbow painted across the pastel blue walls. At the end of the room, Joker was perched on a red space hopper, flanked by Zolomon on his left and to his right, a man in a black tuxedo and a flowing red cape, a large camera mounted on his head. Two more silhouettes were just barely visible behind the thick layers of glass behind them, but Drury still recognised Crane's tall witch's hat, and Billings' inebriated swaying. The door slammed shut behind him, with The King of Cats and Hayden taking their places on either side of the entrance. If Krill was there, they'd have a full house.
'Where was Krill?' Drury pondered for a brief moment before returning to the matter at hand.
The tuxedoed man, was the first to greet their guest of honour. "Hello, Drury. You might not remember me. My name is Harry. But you can call me Mr Camera," he reintroduced himself, offering him his hand.
"I remember," Drury spat back. "You carved up Ten like a fucking animal! Left him to bleed out in the middle of a goddamn riot!" He was on edge now, surrounded by psychopaths; some with grudges, some with agendas; half, he was certain, would kill him just for fun.
"Well, we are animals, Drury," Sims countered. "All of us. That's why they cage us... Sedate us. Hunt us. But their mistake has always been to treat us like prey."
As he spoke, the walls started to change; distort; revealing the room's true condition; Drury stepped back, eyes widening, as the painted walls became cracked and chipped, as the tiled floors gave way to unveil pools of dried blood. As rows of Polaroids blotted out the now-faded rainbow mural.
He looked at Sims, then at Joker, his face gaunt.
"Like what I've done with the place?" Joker teased.
Drury cautiously stepped towards the photos along the wall, and his mouth went dry. Some, he recognised; wedding photos, birthday parties... picnics in Robinson Parks... And then some, he didn't; those were newer; close up, personal pictures in dust filled rooms... But they all led him to one, horrifying conclusion:
"YOU LET THIS BASTARD INTO MY HOME? MY CHILDREN'S HOME?" he stormed forward, with a rage unfamiliar to Joker, but one he was enjoying immensely.
"Now, Drury. I could have sent Karlie," he teased, wagging a finger in Drury's face. "Talk about a White Christmas!"
"Actually, let's strike that one from the record, shall we? Not my finest jape."
Behind him, Sims sniffled awkwardly, reaching into his black dinner jacket. "Oh, silly me," he feigned forgetfullness. "I forgot one."
He inhaled, and removed a battered, bloodied photograph out of his breast pocket. He threw it in the air, and Drury caught in with his dirt-encrusted fingers. His eyes widened. It was the photo. The photo he'd brought with him to Blackgate, the photo he had when he had nothing else, the photo he entrusted to Ten.
The photo that cost him his hands.
"That's better," Sims chuckled knowingly, with a casualness that made Drury's blood boil.
That was it.
The Outcasts could tear him apart and he wouldn't have cared. In that moment, Drury could only see red: His first punch knocked Sims to the ground, then he kept going; Sims fruitlessly tried fighting back; his camera flash activated in a vain attempt to distract Walker, but he fought through the pain and continued his onslaught.
On the sidelines, Zoom, made a disagreeable hissing noise; The King licked his lips, and Joker laughed. "Drury! It's impolite to hold grudges!" he chortled. "Ten can't! Well, he can't really hold anything, can he?"
The camera's lens fractured under Drury's rage filled fists; his hand went through the glass; the shards ripped his fist open, but he still persisted. Blood dripped down onto Sim’s pale face; his glass-like eyes widened in petrified fear. But before he could do anything worse, a yellow arm grabbed Drury's. At first, he thought it was Zoom's; the red lightning bolt pattern around his wrist matched, and no other living assailant could have grabbed him that fast.
'Living.'
Drury looked back, and for the first time in a while he was overcome by pure, overwhelming fear.
Billings dropped his hip flask. A single whisper of "impossible" escaped Crane's lips. Hayden, waved. And for a second, the Joker's smile faltered.
"You-? You can't be- You're-"
"Oh, but I can be," Eobard Thawne smiled, his eyes glowing a blood red. "Pay attention now, Drury. Class is in session."
"Ahem."
Thawne exhaled and turned his head slowly and purposefully: Joker had risen from the Space Hopper and was clearing his throat loudly and intrusively. "Right! Good work everyone! We've covered a lot of ground today! Physical Exercise, psychological torment, a touch of necromancy... Read chapter seven, strangle a couple of cats and we shall resume after lunch!"
He clapped his hands, and the next thing Drury knew, he was back in his cell, leaving the Outcasts alone with The Professor to decide their next course of action.
==Jeremiah Arkham's Office==
The room was organised like a Parent-Teacher conference; Joker, was sat in Arkham's chair, playing with the silver Newton's Cradle on the desk; Zoom, was sat across from him, with an expression that was uncharacteristically sheepish; his back slouched and his hands placed in his lap. Billings stood at the side beside Crane, shaking between sips from his flask. At last, Thawne entered, bringing with him a trail of red lightning.
"Professor Thawne," Crane drawled, moving in to intercept him.
"Doctor Crane," Thawne smiled condescendingly, looking down at the once-proud Scarecrow. "I recall you were taller, once."
"I don't understand.... Where... Where's Krill?" Billings stammered, scratching his dandruff-ridden scalp. Then he looked down, his eyes drawn to a familiar red belt wrapped around Thawne's waist like a trophy. Thawne didn't have to say a thing: the implication was clear.
"R-right..." Billings paused, choosing his next words with caution. "Good call. The right call. Good riddance to bad rubbish and all that, eh? Man was entirely unprofessional!" he added, a tad unconvincingly.
Thawne smiled back, but there was no warmth behind his crimson gaze: "Perhaps. But at least he knew when to hold his tongue. I hear you're something of a celebrity these days, Mr Billings."
Billings gulped. His book 'Heroes or Villains' contained a less than flattering portrayal of his former allies in the Society, Thawne included, and although he had assumed his illusion tech made him indispensable, he had thought the same thing about Krill's portals.
The exchange no longer holding his interest, Thawne shot off again; in an instant, he was sat beside his protégé and sipping coffee from Joker's mug. "Shall we begin?" he asked presumptuously.
Joker grinned back, but there was an intensity behind his eyes. Above all else, he despised being upstaged. "I admit, Bardy, I'm a little disappointed in you! We had such grand designs for Abner and for you to unceremoniously krill him without consulting me- Well, it wounds me! Considering all our history-!"
Thawne raised his index finger. "We don't have history, clown. You, Crane and the screensaver formerly known as Signalman voted to annihilate my future. Yes, Cobb, I did see you bouncing around Joker's monitor. I'm not impressed, DeVoe mastered that little trick decades ago."
Phillip Cobb materialised as a rather disgruntled red and yellow hologram, waiting in deference to Joker.
"Well, it was everyone's future," Joker's nose wrinkled. "No need to make it personal."
Hour Five
The cell door opened a final time. Drury looked up; Joker was in the doorway, holding a large, wrapped parcel in his arms; he placed it on the floor and slid it across the ground over to him.
"Put it on."
Hesitantly, Drury opened it: It was his Moth costume, well, one of them; it was a stripped-down approximation of the one Twag stole from his Cave. Within the box was a neatly-folded assortment of clothing consisting of a deep purple bodysuit, a pair of striped purple and lavender tights, boots, gloves, a black belt and a metallic, bug-like helmet with glass lenses.
"I won't peek!" Joker swore, putting his hand over his eyes.
Drury was lost in thought for a moment, simply staring into the eyes of his bluish grey helmet, reflecting on the pain Killer Moth had inflicted on himself and others. And when it came time to suit up once more, he refused.
It didn't matter.
What little control he thought he had was ripped away from him faster than he could blink. In a flash, he was back in the familiar purple bodysuit and striped tights; his orange jumpsuit lay at Zoom's feet. And he suspected the night's humiliations, its' violations, were just beginning. 'The utility belt was empty, of course they'd have checked...' he sighed, checking his pouches for anything he might be able to use.
He stepped forward, squirming as Joker planted a kiss on his cheek "For luck," and shuddering as he clapped his bony hand against his buttocks to further 'motivate' him.
As Drury walked down the hallway, his stomach lurched; Billings, The King of Cats, Hayden and Sims were all stationed along the hall, positioned like a perverse wedding procession. As he passed them, they took turns tossing clumps of confetti at his head. He kept his head down, avoiding eye contact, until he at last reached his destination, a dingy cell in the low security wing of the penitentiary. He paused as he noticed a rusted plaque above the doorway:
"126959
TED CARSON,
ALIAS FIREFLY II"
He took a deep breath, and entered the room, the door locking behind him.
"Hello, Drury," a voice called out from behind him.
Thawne's.
Drury's mind started to race; just like that the 'wedding' procession was recontextualized: It was a funeral. His funeral. And just like everything else in this damn Asylum, it had been backwards and twisted. 'This was it,' he was certain. His death. He breathed in, and at last turned around, his eyes drawn to Thawne's belt. Krill's belt.
Thawne's eyes crinkled slightly, a thin smile across his face. "You want to escape? Take the belt," he spoke with a concerning casualness.
Drury said nothing.
"You can go anywhere. Be free."
No, it couldn't be that easy. Could it?
"You'd find me," Drury shook his head.
"True," Thawne admitted. "But a little time is better than no time, isn't it?"
"Take the belt."
"Take the belt and it all ends."
Channelling all his rage and desperation, Drury swiped at Thawne; the Professor evaded, of course. And before Drury could muster a defence, Thawne was on him, slapping him across the face. Drury stumbled back, his lip split.
"Take the belt," Thawne repeated.
Drury tried again. And again, only ever managing to injure himself. And with every failed attempt, Thawne hit back.
"Take the belt," Thawne demanded once more.
Drury lunged; Thawne caught his fist, effortlessly, and hurled him over his shoulder.
"Take the belt."
Drury charged forth; Thawne stuck his arm in his path, clotheslining him.
Drury fell to his knees, his blood coating the slabs below. "I'm going to kill you," he wheezed.
"You'll have to catch me first. Take the belt."
Another blind lunge. Another miss.
"Tsk tsk. Still too slow. Maybe if you were faster, your wife would still be alive..."
"Aaaaaaaaarrrrrr-"
All Thawne had to do was step aside, let Drury hit the wall. He struck the brick and it felt like his head had split open; Drury landed on the floor, his eyes drooped shut, and as he drifted into unconsciousness, he hoped that everything he knew would be different when he awoke.
Craig, 42, was with Deshawn when I met him. When asked if he wanted to tell his story he said, "you going to be here a long time. I got a way with words." From Harlem, Craig says he was "born with a silver spoon. I grew up in a strong family. My parents both worked good jobs." He didn't use crack until he was 35. "I had all these issues piling on me. The weight just got to be too much, and one last thing fell on me, small like a feather, but it was just enough to break me." He eventually lost his job and family, unable to quit the drugs. "Thing about crack is you always trying to find an elusive high, you chasing that first time, like a dog going in circles after its tail." Now he stays mostly in Hunts Point, doing whatever he can. "Hunts Point will twist you up like a pretzel. If you can survive this place, you can survive anything, cause it don't get any realer than this."
When I asked him how he wanted to be described, he gave a big smile and said, "smartest dummy you will ever meet."
I post people's stories as they tell them to me. I am not a journalist. I don't try to verify, just listen.
More on Addiction: Faces of Addiction
But it isn’t over.
My armour damaged, my nose bleeds....yet I still stand firmly. Friends around me may have fallen, but I feel the electricity surging through my veins.
Then Igarashi stands up as well, his face heavily scarred. He tries to use his “powers” on me, but he fails to do so when I’ve finally got a hold—as I shock him right on the spot. It's over for him. Connor, covered in dust and grime, rises but behind him, knocking Igarashi on his feet.
Now the student looms over his defeated sensei, huh, well played. I couldn’t be more glad to see him alive, my older brother. He was holding a staff, despite the rough, scarred edges, in his left hand, and the katana on his right. Even if I can't see through his mask, I could picture how his eyes would look like, being ready to execute him right away.
Connor: “This is over, Igarashi. You’ve used up your powers, and it’s out of your reach for the katana to be understood. This is a relic to be respected. Worse yet, you lied to us far too long. You have committed so much heinous crimes for too long. Ambition for power and all that... ”
Igarashi: “Yes—-young one.....yes! I conspired against you....because possessing the sword meant I would ascend to the highest rank of the crime families! I wanted more power....the ability of a superhuman.....but you had to stop me! You have given yourself to the cause of your family and friends more than us!”
Connor: “Unfortunately you misused it, and that’s not how it works. Abusing the greatest thing the guild ever stood for: honour. I’m sorry, but you’re going to—“
Igarashi: “Die?! Fine, go ahead and kill me! Do not forget who trained you? Who raised you to become the man today?!”
Oddcrow: “Wait! Cease your fighting at one! Dusksmoke, you’re not going to kill your sensei! I only did my part to protect you....I thought sacrifice was a way out.”
Connor: “Yes. But I’m holding back. People like him don’t deserve death like this, despite the actions he’s done. But he did have a hand in raising me. I guess I’m going to call it fair. In fact, you’re the one to make a choice. Because you’re going to be the next leader. You were my sensei after all. This isn’t a matter of his nationality or race, but I believe you have potential and true leadership. My fellow guild, would you agree?”
Assassins: “Yes. We vote in favour. He....is our new leader.”
Oddcrow: “Alright. He’ll be exiled. To an island where he will be spending the rest of his life. Take him away.”
Igarashi: "Wait--no, you can't do this! You will regret this! I will come back! I will have more power, and I will wield the katana however I see fit! Dusksmoke, you will pay!"
Connor: "No, you won't. I'll make you won't see the light of day if you try to ever make a return. Your last days and fate will be a collective judgement. Send him off, please."
***
Oddcrow: “Well, I guess this isn’t too bad after all, from a schoolteacher to a guild master....”
Dustsmmoke: “Nah, it’s good. You ever seen a cybernetic warrior going around doing stuff? That’s what I did....I saved children. From the Spectres.”
Oddcrow: “All these years, we were mistaken on the wars from the outsiders. However with Connor’s faith, he managed to bring us together. To shape a better guild. Because we’re not killers, exactly.”
Ty: “That’s honourable.”
Erin: “Yes. And will his old classmates and best friends, I can't wait for our big reunion”
Ty: “Glad to know you’ve got my back, like Avalon does.”
Sam: “This is where we’re leaving off, are we? To save the day again!”
Edens: "Well, I can't exactly leave you hanging at the end of every mission like that, fill the paperworks and---
Riley/Jesse: “C’mon Doc, at least give us the holiday back!”
Edens: “Right, right....vacation continues. No disruptions. Only if it's emergency. Two weeks, sound good?”
Kieran: “Let’s call for a celebration. Let's cheer ”
Oddcrow: “You are granted an extended stay in Japan. Go anywhere you want, how about that too? For Avalon, you are deemed worthy and you can come whenever you please. You have gained our trust. We are in your debt and would be gladly to call you allies.”
Edens: "For sure, we have your word. Now we gotta...clean up a bit before alerting the agency."
Harry: "Well, least to say I'm done killin' anyone for the night."
***2 days later, at Edens' Japanese penthouse:***
Ty: “Maybe I could take a look at the ancestry books, considering I’ve got my heritage here.”
Erin: “I’m sure you’ll love finding them here, Shiro.”
Ty: “Since when did you start calling me that again? Oh, and yeah, maybe I could bring gran and mom here one day...maybe even my sister.”
Erin: “Sure, family’s fun. I don’t know. Maybe since the first day? I had a big crush on you when we got to elementary. I think's it's cute.”
Ty: “That’s....makes sense. I knew I laid eyes on you since we met. I love you, Erinbug.”
Erin: “I love you, too, Ty.”
Connor: “Ahem, good chemistry, you two. I knew that’s why I aced every test in science class. Sensed it in the air around me. Couldn’t hold back before you wanna kiss, cuz I had to bring the gang back together like a glue.”
Erin: "I remember how you liked me for a while before it ended up a wingman for him."
Connor: "I was very helpful wasn't I? Crush turned into one of the best friendship. I helped you get notes for him. You know, just anything to impress. Ty, I helped both of you. Give me some credit."
Ty: “Very funny. You sound just like your brother.”
Jesse: “Well, Arden genes, hermano! Except for the fact when the other team’s gone around town. Gary and the ladies are going crazy at shopping, man.”
Edens: “Well, it seems like this is definitely elementary reunion after all. I got a question stuck in my head since then....have you actually considered it yet, Dusksmoke? On our offer?”
Connor: “Oh, on that? l’ve thought it through. Oddcrow’s a better leader than I am. Though for me, I could work solo even if there’s nowhere to go....and my friend’s still in hospital.”
Jesse: “We’ve got a spot up for you if you need it.”
Sam: “Could always lend a hand in Japanese weapon mastery and those herbs of yours, so I can work on medical stuff with Kurt and co.”
Connor: “Hmm, that’d be interesting.”
Ty: “You’ve proven yourself too, earned a worthy spot. Avalon deserves a sixth member just like Gamma....turns out it might be you now, Connor. Which makes you 11, sort of.”
Connor: “I’m game. This is might fight now, since guild stuff is gonna have to reform and change in time. Guess I do have a lot to catch up in what you guys do, eh? Wait, is that Agent Khattar?”
Khattar: “In the flesh, agents. I’m sorry if I’m interrupting a nice reunion, but I’m here to announce I’m officially in on the Paladin stuff.”
Edens: “Just before you all get surprised, Navin’s now a partner with Paladin. He might belong to Interpol, but we secretly had an agreement to benefit conditions on our terms. Again, I'm sh*t at keeping it secret.”
Harry: “Though the boards would never agree...I’ll still play it through. Cheers.”
Khattar: “Cheers to you too. I’m sure it is going to be fine, a promise is a promise—-it’ll be confidential. I trust all of you given your defense in Tokyo and the countries you hopped on fighting. But as I suspected, that there are bigger hands behind what we’re looking at. They might be planning something....and your business friend is in danger.”
Edens: “Mason? He’s doing fine....but he’s been strange as always.”
Khattar: “Then you’ll have to keep an eye on him. For now, I will leave you guys be. Have fun! And also, Dusksmoke, your friend is doing alive and well. Go check up on her when you have the time.”
***
Board member: “And he’s officiated? Wonderful. For this event, I will not hold regard or remorse, but you should have let us know, Remus."
Edens: “Yes. Dusksmoke was always one of ours. He’s been playing the mole this whole time.
Raze: “Pfft, fine. You have it off easy this time since it's the Paladin council deciding together. But I will not tolerate your secrets being kept from us, privately and personally as a high ranking official. There will be no next times. You know what the
consequences, don’t you Avalon?”
Ty: “Of course. I’m proud to lead this team, ma'am.”
Raze: “And the Interpol agent....he’s an ally too?”
Erin: “Precisely.”
Raze: “What about the sword?”
Harry: “In the care of the guild. We know who the White Ninja is....will send in the details later.”
Sam: “But yes, allow us to have this holiday first....the job can come in for a bit.”
Raze: “Approved. You are now dismissed. Raze and council out.”
Once we disconnected with the leaders, we were left to our own. What a relief. There’s so much questions to ask. So much answers to be sought—-which means there are deep mysteries yet are unsolved.
I know it isn’t over yet, but I’m glad that I’ve found my brother, who I deeply miss, a boyfriend who I truly love, and my friends getting together, at full circle. The experiences of saving lives have never been better.
But I can always assure to the world, that Paladin is needed, no matter what cost or conflict there is....
We’ll be there.
Photo taken by Manfred Kaffine kindly provided by him for inclusion on this page.
München-Riem
May 1976
B-2410 (1)
Boeing 707-3J6C
20718 / 872
Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC)
Note: B-2410 (2) is Airbus A320-214 c/n 2437 flying for China Eastern Airlines since April 2005.
The first CAAC aircraft to visit Riem caused quite a sensation among Munich spotters when it landed at the airport on 14 May 1976. However, from that day on B-2410 would return many times throughout the remaining 1970s and early 1980s.
The aircraft transported live stock (cattle) from Bavaria to China - this must have been part of a large-scale, long-term deal, but I couldn’t find any information about it on the net. The Chinese always sent the same aircraft, and on many of the visits, it was parked on the same stand. Ironically, the cattle transporter would become the last 707 to operate passenger flights in China (source: Daryl Chapman on flickr).
First flight on 5 October 1973 and delivered to CAAC as 2410 on 12 November 1973 (later re-registered as B-2410). To China Southwest Airlines in November 1983. To Flying Dolphin Airlines as B-513L in March 1998, later re-registered A6-ZYD. Seen with Air Gulf Falcon in January 2001 and reported with Dolphin Air in August 2005. Ended up stored at Tripoli-Mitiga (MJI) (Source: planelogger.com).
Registration details for this airframe:
www.planelogger.com/Aircraft/Registration/B-2410/493334
This airframe as 2410 with CAAC at RNT in September 1973 pre-first flight:
www.flickr.com/photos/aero_icarus/13905159907
B-2410 with China Southwest at Guangzhou (CAN/ZGGG) in April 1996:
www.flickr.com/photos/darylchapman/9388013567
This airframe as B-513L with Flying Dolphin at SHJ in March 1998:
cdn.plnspttrs.net/04332/b-513l-untitled-boeing-707-3j6c_P...
This airframe as A6-ZYD at SHJ in October 1999:
www.flickr.com/photos/128485084@N08/47392326201
Scan from Kodak medium format (6 x 6 cm) slide, cropped to 3:2 aspect ratio.
Didn't want to run up on him/her...this was the best I could get. I gotta get back for a longer stint at Potter Park!
Manchester Cathedral in background of new Mahatma Gandhi bronze statue
A 9 ft tall bronze statue designed by the Indian artist Ram Vanji Sutar ( born 19.2.1925 )was unveiled by distinguished political and religious leaders, and members of the Indian Government.
Weighing some 800 kegs the statue marks the 150th anniversary of Gandhi’s birth.
NOTE THE ZENITH SILVER POCKET WATCH !!!!! AT 2.50PM. 😀🐝😀🐝😀🐝😀🐝😀🐝 given time him by Indira Nehru
(The final instalment of the arc)
Bruce follows the trail to an eerie plot of land cursed by the stench of death. A shipping yard. The same shipping yard that got shut down a year back when the gcpd busted a human trafficking case. He walked with caution to the centre of the yard. He can already sense blackfire wanted him to pick up the trail. Which means one simple thing for Bruce. He has taken the bait. And at that crucial moment the shipping yard is surrounded by flames more than 10 metres high. One of the shipping crates begins to emit a deafening scraping sound. Naturally Bruce walks towards the sound. It doesn’t last long and instead Bruce’s minds is corrupted by the daunting voice of BLACKFIRE!
Blackfire: well if it isn’t the devil himself. Come to seek forgiveness no doubt. If you are wondering where I am hiding. Do not even attempt To find me. You never will. oh no no no...for you see you cannot find what is not there!
His words echo through the yard as it is engulfed by a surge of white light. A distorted reality is instantly bought upon Bruce. The containers are gone and with no sign of mans industrial plague,he finds himself lying face down on the grassy hills which once stretched across Gotham. He gets too his feet and is soon shaken, struggling to keep steady, when a stone idol erupts from the very earth beneath him towering above the now dying grass. He instantly recognises the totem as the one which had haunted him on the grounds of Gotham cathedral when he was first faced with the evil that is Blackfire.
Blackfire: Familiar Bruce? You have to admire the sheer detail of it. The sinners. The justice. Just like the Old Testament. A personal favourite of mine.
Batman: You’re only mad with power Joseph. Where are you. End this now
Blackfire: Do not speak that ancient name!! You know who I am. What I am! But you do not know where I am...or when I am even... I would tell you but I loose track myself. You only need to know that I am century’s older than a mortal like yourself will ever be.
The white light surrounding Bruce intensifies, questioning his sanity and false assumptions of the world about him
Batman: What is this?! What’ve you done to me. A hallucinogenic?!
Blackfire: Hahaha. And yet he still relies on sense. Reality is bought to him with the snap of a finger and yet he cannot seem to make sense of it. I am very much honestly underwhelmed
...anyway I suspect you seek dear James Gordon.
Batman: Where the hell is he!?
Blackfire: Right before your eyes Bruce....or ears
Blackfires voice comes to an end and instead the screams of Jim Gordon can be heard at the top of the shadowing obelisk. A great stone door at the bottom is lifted with an abrupt rumbling sound and a steep winding staircase is revealed. Knowing he shouldn’t Bruce is compelled to climb the swirling stairs reaching to the heavens. A swarm of vicious winged devils fill the small space fighting for his body and soul,
screeching with the deathly sound of bloodthirsty madness . He throws his arms out desperately to fight them of to no prevail but when the sound of Gordon’s painful wail makes a gap in the crowd, he is reminded of what must be done and he abandons the stairs, pulling himself up the crumbling walls
He climbs up the walls, finding himself atop a stone slab surrounded by an endless sea of black. In the distance of the abyss, is a clear crucifix of solid red colour.
Blackfire: REPENT!!!
A second surge of white light engulfs the darkness and Bruce feels a strange clash of newfound emotions and conflicting morals flowing through his body and mind at the same time.
Batman/Bruce: what are you doing to me?! I don’t understand this...this urge.
Blackfire: yes? To see the light? No no no. Such mercy is beyond your reach. You are the devil’s child. And I am your executioner. Gods reward to me will be one of great thanks!!
He reveals himself towering above the bat,displaying a sense of confidence and illusion of ease at this simple task
Bruce will not make the mistake he made when first battling the man. He does not throw a punch or hurl himself towards the great beast. Instead,he disappears into the shadows and to Blackfires surprise, leaps onto the sturdy back of the shaman destabilising him as he stomps about. He clamps his arms around the mans neck choking him momentarily. The two fight and struggle for some time Causing the shaman to eventually drop to the floor.
Batman: Where is Gordon!!?
Within this crucial moment of realisation, Bruce comes to realise that he is back in the very same sewers he first fought Blackfire in. He takes control of his own mind and lifts the man, twice his size, by the neck,dropping him to the ground and hearing his plead
Blackfire: No..no no no...this is wrong...you are supposed to die...I must be your executioner. I must save Gotham
Batman: Save? You have Gothamites murdered night after night. Day after day. Yet you persist you are a saviour. I thought you at first, a mere cult leader. Somebody to brainwash the vulnerable in their time of need. But now I see. It is not only them who have fallen for these tricks. You yourself are a victim. Here to help you
The man Shrieks in retaliation
Blackfire: NOOOOOO!!!!!! Never!!!!!!!!!
Batman: Realise this now Or let delusion consume you
Blackfire: No...no...no....YOU ARE A LIAR!!! Do not deceive me Satan!!!! Face your punishment!!!
He stabs Bruce in the side of his stomach letting him drop to the stone cold floor
Blackfire: It has been done....the devil is no more!!!
And just at the point of doomsday, Gordon fires several rounds into the chest of the great shaman. He resists at first,refusing to die but is soon put down by the worn down detective
His eyes, now lifeless stare into Bruce’s soul resting guilt upon his burdened shoulders as he drops to the ground making his mark in the pool of blood and deathly waste which surrounds him.
Batman: No. He..he deserved real justice. You’re a man of law Jim. Yet.. you kill him like that? He didn’t need to die. No one does...As evil as they are
Jim Gordon: Come on now. you need to just Relax. It’s over now and we need to get you to a doctor. It’s bad. The cut. I’ll stop the bleeding but you need real surgery. Real attention.
Batman: no one can kno...know. Who I am. Don’t remo.. l
Jim pauses for a moment struggling to Supress his curiosity and urge to pursue truth
Jim Gordon: I won’t. You are fine. I won’t. And your armour seemed to help you quite a bit. Just please let me get you to a hospital goddamnit.
Batman: Thank you...but you killed him
Jim Gordon: that man has killed over a hundred Gothamites in the past month. Criminals or not, they were less guilty than him. Had to be done.....Now I really need to get you some help...
Batman: No... bye Jim
With that he makes his silent leave as Jim falls to his knees, pushing the dead shaman into the drift of the sewers green rivers. He kneels for a moment, letting his thoughts battle within his conflicted mind. After this he retrieves his radio as he climbs up one of the sewers ladders back up to the cold,empty shipping yard.
He talks under his breath
Jim Gordon: I don’t even know anymore...
Perhaps I made him a little more sunburned than in reality! Procreate on iPad. Here is the link to the discussion www.flickr.com/groups/portraitparty/discuss/7215767128369... Pierre is an artist and here is the link to his Photostream www.flickr.com/photos/29823258@N02/