h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm starting this thread becasue to often an idea strikes us about what might happen several leaps ahead of where the story currently rests.

Some are really good ideas and warrent further debate amongst the contributors but this necessarily distracts us from the story in hand.

In particular exactly how we are going to bring ST3 to a close and start St4.

This is basically for brainstorming ideas, which may get tweaked along the way or embellished nothign here is hard and fast so the name of the game is to bring up any ideas you have and see where they take us creatively.

Clive.

Here are some of the relevant posts from the backlog to get us started with:

#289

HPB came up with a crackign idea I thought you'd all ant to here 'cos it will set your creative juices flowing:

We've mentioned in the past a finale for this story, at the point when we chronogically bring together both ST 2 and ST3 by having Arthur and X call the Agency and repeating the dialogue from before - we can enter into a much larger frame of reference. The plan was to at this point really break the Cult wide open - with it's newly (bear in mind she only just got back) appointed leader Anabell.

Concurrently Leicester isn't sitting still, he's contracting an elite group of wacked out mercenaries - The Bizmark Fetishists - to overthrow the Agency. (Picture the image of blimps over London! )
Guy and Leicester face off, Guy looses. The end of ST3 once Arhtur and X finish whatever they are doing will be Leicester sitting in control of The Agnecy HQ.

So onto HPB's idea:

"A good old fashioned mission impossiple style attempts to get into where Leicester is. Since you haven't delved into the outlay of the Agency building why not a whole story crafted to get through the complex get past the securitysystems etc. that were supposed to stop Leicestercat from having gotten in!"

Now if the idea of ancient booby traps in pyramids get's me thinking, the very notion of high end technology that is designed to prtect the agency being turned against the Agents by their nemesis has me salivating!

The Agents are on the run (Think 007 Licence to Kill) cast out from their HQ, betrayed at the heart of their organistation. They team up with Bob, Jill Heddingly et al. to rescue Guy and Finihs of leicester ohnce and for all.

Picture, having the group turn up at the Agnecy and being unable to tet in. the doors are all sealed, Mmustafa koffi's franchised egyptian bistro is deserted etc.
Having them break into the agency could be a major set-piece of writing and I needn't point out the number opportunites that gives us to play with eleborate security systems. (maybe even a central A.I computer???) I think it would make for a very interesting and pivotal plot device

The idea of The Agnets being cast out and having to fend for themselves as renegades I think frames the next story really well.


------------------------


#307
HPB aka Flash III says:
Can we not just get Daltmoorby to Egypt by saying that his archeologist son of approximate same age is there?

Clive the flying ostrich says:
huh?

Clive the flying ostrich says:
I think Daltmooreby should have a diplomatic contact in Cairo. I think that appeals to his establishment credentials and makes sense since he is an ex-agent. he'd have spies working under him. Our-man-in the Embassy. etc.

HPB aka Flash III says:
A sly dig at Sean Connery and Harrison Ford....

Clive the flying ostrich says:
Oh I get it.

Clive the flying ostrich says:
could we perhaps combine the two? Dalotmoorebys contact leads him to his son...

Clive the flying ostrich says:
"Ohio"

HPB aka Flash III says:
??

HPB aka Flash III says:
OHHHH - I get it

Clive the flying ostrich says:
Indianna. It's another Americna State

HPB aka Flash III says:
Yes I got it

Clive the flying ostrich says:
que: why did you call him Ohio?

It was his mother's idea...

HPB aka Flash III says:
It wasthe name of the cow...


Clive the flying ostrich says:
Genius !!!


----------------

#315

HPB:

Idea: What if the Cult want to melt Antarcica so that they can make the world more claustraphobic? The flood of course ringing people in.

The Moon is the diamond, and laser - the Dying Pilchard - 'bleeds' a bright red beam??



Clive:hmmmmm. That's not a bad idea!

It has merit especially as it gives us a reason to go into space (I think, personally, the diamond should be a diamond - used for refracting and focussing the space laser.)

Melting the antarctic is a novel idea - as is the desire to wipe out the 'above-ground'.


assume we are going with the Antartica [see below] as the base of The Cult - *THAT'S* when we put in the call to Guy at the Agency HQ - and mesh the two stories together.

After that point we can start introducing Leicester's move against the agency.

The Agency staff and Guy are all to focussed on Arthur and X relaying details of the space mission they have uncovered and believe they are taking the diamond *up* using some specially trained monks who have had their heads covered from birth (and so have no idea they are underground and therefore dont find disorientation troubling.)

The Cult's first Cosmonaughts!!

Arthur and X here something about "the moon project" (whatever) Guy and the agency staff swing round The Hubble Space Teescope to get a look and finally spot the Cult's Space Laser and while they are busy calculating the trajectory of the laser - Leciester attacks the Agency.

Guy is cut off during some vital trans ission to Arhtur "laser is aimed at ..."

"where?"


....

So Arthur and X are on their own (we can dispatch Sfret (remember him?)) to rescue Anna who has been delivered to The Cult by Mary along with The Diamond.
Annabell (remember her?) is furious that Mary had done such a thing without her permission. (setting up their brawl later.)

So Arthur has to smugglge himself on board the rocket - and ends up fighting Daltmooreby by the escape pod once arthur has unhinged the diamond from it's lock to prevent the laser being fired. (maybe it can get dropped and skitter off into space - An impossibly small but brilliant new Moon for The Earth..)

Meanwhile Leicester succeeds is taking down Guy and so unbeknownst to The Agents their central HQ is now in the hands of their most deadly and treacherous enemy!


*P.S - Antartica. I can't remember how this came up now but it seemed like a good place to set The Cult's base: it is lonely and isolated. No reason to go top-side since they are all claustrophobic plus the treacherous conditions can account for the "wind" howling in the bakground at the end of ST2.

--------------


#317


Clive the flying ostrich says
I think it makes sense to have the cult in antartica after all. it'd be agreat set up for the space rocket.

How about the laser is supposed to seal the caverns that horde the cult shut? to completely close the off from the outside world but as a consequence it'll melt all the icecaps. oh well.


HPB aka Flash III says:
That'll work! Mole people!

Clive the flying ostrich says:
and....Arthur and X get wind of this "we have to get out of here before that happens or we'll be trapped down here for good." There only option is - the rocket...

HPB aka Flash III says:
Actually awhile ago I had the idea of the countdown beingin roman numerals so if the laser was stoppeditwouldfinish with ten seconds to spare: 'X'

Clive the flying ostrich says:
why roman numerals??

HPB aka Flash III says:
Does it need a reason?

Clive the flying ostrich says:
seems a triffle unecessary, is all - unless you can think of a gag for it?

Arthur what does XCVI mean.

*between of laser duels with Dalmtmooreby*

"ermmm...96"

"what about XCIV?"

"94" WHY?

"oh 'cos this thingy here just started to count down..."

"what??"

"your too late Arthur" mocks Daltmooreby...

HPB aka Flash III says:
Yes that works! And it's annoiying enough to play of on the Agents' best characteristics...

HPB aka Flash III says:
"XX, XIX, XVIII... bl**dy hell"

Clive the flying ostrich says:
I say Arhtur gets the diamond but Daltmooreby snatches it from him. but Arthur regretfulyl shoots him. Daltmooreby and the diamond sail off into orbit..

HPB aka Flash III says:
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Clive the flying ostrich says:
For England Arthur?

No. For me.

Blam.

Clive the flying ostrich says:
no?

HPB aka Flash III says:
Does that mean Sleppcan do aJaws sincehe's freelance?
Clive the flying ostrich says:
I fully imagine him biting through a cable car wire.

Sreka meanwhile.... we need somethign for sreka.

Clive the flying ostrich says:
maybe Sreka can be Jaws thinking about it. he's a big burly guy. maybe Slepp being the "courier Assasin" can play another role...?

HPB aka Flash III says:

Doesn'thave to be his teeth...
HPB aka Flash III says:
He could be later used by Leicester butidoubt it

Clive the flying ostrich says:
If I'm honest I think Slepp is a bit one dimensional - I mean really? where do we go to develop him?

Clive the flying ostrich says:
Daltmooreby has a much more interestign character arc - the ex agent turned traitor. I'm loathe to kill him but at the same time a laser gun battle in space suits aboard the sapce laser for The Turqoise Moon between Arthur and Dalmotmooreby" he can't really survive - can he?


Clive the flying ostrich says:
but maybe I'm wrong.

Clive the flying ostrich says:
but see I figure them fighting not only over the diamond - but getting the last escape pod back to earth.

HPB aka Flash III says:
If there's and X Vs Slepp fight:

X moved into his fighting stance. Quick as a flash Slepp shootsforward with a small piece of card at X's hand. X yelps in pain as his finger creates thed istinct crimson pour of a paper cut wound...


Clive the flying ostrich says:
how can we have X reading the roman numeral read out and fighting Slepp at the same time? Unless X fought SLeep earlier?


HPB aka Flash III says:
Knocked out?

Clive the flying ostrich says:
I think the strongest characters we have are , Daltmooreby, Sreka.

If I had to choose to keep some and ditch the rest it would be those two. I'm not saying that's where I'd want to end up. but if we are going to thin the flock a little by the end, one way or another I'd like to see those two still standing at the end.

HPB aka Flash III says:
I can't remember enough about Sreka to be honest

Clive the flying ostrich says:
Big surly gangster...there's all that exposition about him at the start of the forum. he's been sort of reelgated to the big dumb heavy figure at the moment - but if we are really going to play on this james bond riff. I think he'd make an excellent counterfiet "Jaws" and therein we can build him up a little better.

HPB aka Flash III says:
And an X vs Slepp battle can occur at the sametime as thecountdown!!

HPB aka Flash III says:
"Gerroff!" X shoved Slepp away from his neckand rushed overto the counter. " Arthur - L seconds!!!"

Clive the flying ostrich says:
mmm more complicated.

Clive the flying ostrich says:
perhaps....soon after entering the temple - the agents and Sfret are discovered by Slepp who was on perimiter duty. Arthur is knocked out ..Sleep is going for Sfret - when X says "hang about Buddy you almost forgot me. " I know Arhtur looks like the tough one but I know a move or two. " Bring it on."


Clive the flying ostrich says:
We can make X a hero figure at last! get the sleep fight out of the way earlier and still keep all of the complex stuff on the rocket till the finalé!!! tada!

HPB aka Flash III says:



Clive the flying ostrich says:
(after all X passed out in the hospital - he can redeem himself here. )

HPB aka Flash III says:
As longas Slepp gets the stupidest moves of all time! Slepp whipped styrophome bits into X'seyes 'Argh!'

Clive the flying ostrich says:
lol...yes okay

HPB aka Flash III says:
Bubblewrap! pop pop pop

HPB aka Flash III says:
That's how he guards the perimeter!!

Clive the flying ostrich says:
oh yes - that's brilliant!

HPB aka Flash III says:
Staple gun etc. Stationary master!

Clive the flying ostrich says:
pop pop pop>

hold it. there's bubble wrap on the floor.

what? yeah someone must have lain it down like a trap.

do you think they heard us?

suddenly a paper areoplane comes whistleing out of the darkness and embeds itself in the rock above Arthurs head.

"I'd say that was a safe bet."

------------------------------------------



RIGHT that's everything from the backlog. Next is the latest conversation between Myself and HPB. After that everyone join in - I want to hear you ideas!


Clive.

The New Conversation:


HPB - says:
I've been thinking it might be better not to end ST3 on a cliffhanger as such. Have Arthur leave the Agency to be with Anna but tie up all the lose ends to start fresh with ST4 being the 'last ride' for Arthur who's been living happily for say 3 months while X has been getting bored without his usual partner kinda like Men In Black 2 but good

HPB - says:
And the Boutros memorial could still happen since they'd need time to get everyone together from duty.

Richard says:
Where does that put the idea that Leicester is able to take over the Agency because all of the Agents of significance are out on active duty - covering Rasputin, or fighting with the Cult. What I mean is, Guy at the end of ST2 is alone perfect for Leicester to re-emerge only to be bested by Tim.

I'm not against tweaking the ending but if we do as you suggest and Have Arthur returning ...
Richard says:
after a break, it'd mean X would be in the Agency too when Leicester takes it over - OR no wait, I get it.

X is out on assignment with his new partner - when he discovers Leicester is back - he coems to alert Arthur. We get to introduce a new Agent to there partnership - one Arthru isn;t terribly happy with (for oen thing they can;t joke about Stockholm 97 anymore.)
Richard says:
hmmmm yes, that could work ...
HPB - says:
Besides Tim would presumably still have the old Agency codes.
Richard says:

Richard says:
sooooo.
Richard says:
ST4 starts liek this:
Richard says:
Tim gets back in unnoticed.

X is given a new partner, a rookie.

Guy is weary after the memorial for Boutros he now really is in charge. plus altough he's recovered from Leicter's assault he didn;t have the divine halign Bob enjoyed so walks with a linp etc.
Richard says:
Arthur is living with Anna and they are very happy.

Richard says:
Leicester arrives and with the help of the Bizmark Fetishists and their blimps lays waste to the agency and London.

HPB - says: And kill Agent XXXX


Richard says:
X is alerted to the destruction. Leicster broadcasts a pirate signal of Agnecy codes. Tim sat in a swivel chair stroking a cat - but the cat does the talking. The Agency is now under his control - All Agents will be killed and Guy gets to watch. Arthur has his device switched off - so doesn;t know. X races to find his old partner with new one in tow.
Richard says:
Arthur comes out of retirement to do the one-last-job and kill leicester once and for all.
Richard says:
and yes XXXX should get a glorious death scene.
Richard says:
Mustapha Kofi? what becomes of him?
HPB - says:
ALL... that's pushing it a bit isn't it?
Richard says:
all agenst IN the Agency

HPB - says:
Who's that?

HPB - says:
Ah...

Richard says:
he's the owner of the franchised egyptian family bistro across the river from MI6 which masks the secret entrance to the Agency underground.


HPB - says:
I keep seeing Leicestercat like Stewie from FamilyGuy actually.

HPB - says:
"Damn you vile woman!"

Richard says:
nah...I see him more like the caterpiller from Danger Mouse. white and fluffy and strokable.

but the mind of an evil twisted former demonic soul from a mass-murdering butcher. trapedinside the body of a persian.
Richard says:
which pisses him off even more.

Richard says:
because not only is he cute, and attracts cutsie talk he can;t *do* much damage so relies on tim to do most of the dirty work.

Richard says:
but I supose in that sense he could be liek the kid from family guy. "and now you willall DIE! mwu hah haha ! Tim pull that lever for me would you.?"

HPB - says:
*scuttles over from litter tray* What's happening? Tim? *tries to
jump up on table* Damn it! TIM!

Richard says:
"pick me up would you?"

*scratches scratchign post and jumps for the little dangly ball*

now then..*jumps* Guy. you will tell me *jumps* the codes for the Agency Database.... *flicks tail*

---------------

Richard says:
I often wonder if discussing things the way we do hurts the premise - but I've reached the conclusion that it doesn't becuase if we each wrote in a vacuum it'd end up being totally nonsensical (the simulpost bubble from ST1 attests to this) so long as the authors use each others posts as the jumping off point for their own and so on it grows exponentially.

I love how the Agency consisting of just boutros and Guy originally grew to include Arthur and X from there Jill, Heddingly to THE AGENCY. And now we're starting to subvert that with new agents, ex agents, and ST4 will be the biggest reversal of all - the dispossesed Agents.

---------

HPB - says:
What IS happening wih Annabel by the way?
Richard says:
Well she is technically still with Rasputin as we speak, organising the end of things underneath stone henge,
Richard says:
she's not yet betrayed him nor has she teleported back to the Cult temple, underground.
Richard says:
However, she will do and shortly therafter we need to have the radio broadcast to Guy. Afterthat we learn more about to whom Annabel was reporting. and we have the whole cat fight between her and Mary, The roman numerals on the rocket etc.
Richard says:
basically she is in charge of the cult by the time Arthur and X turn up - bearing in mind she just left Bob underneath stone henge to a firey death a few hours / days before, she can;t be best pleased when the Agents appear to track her down so swiftly.

You might not quite believe it but all of the abve can be fitted into a neat conspiracy involving the Templar Knights.

Amazing what a night spent trawling the internet can reveal.

More on that tomorrow.

Yeah, you could have told the others this was here, Clive.

I figured they'd spot when next the visited - since when have there been TWO forums here?

Sherlocks Holmes and The Origins of The Cult:

Richard says:
Now...I don't think we ever decided how the Agency was created. maybe with the 'death' of the agency in 4 Arthur retires etc. 5 could be the prequel the story of Guy and Boutros, Stockholm, the peanut butter and the fight to the death above leamington Spa....

HPB - says:
Although what was the Sherlock Holmes stuff?

Richard says:
Well Sherlock was on the gramaphone in the bank vault in switzerland apparently with a secret recording intended for the good guys - the implication beign that he was an agent too. I remember we also muted other hitorical figures like Lord Lucan would appear but we never pursued it.

I resurrected that slightly by implicating lord Carnarvan in with the Pilchard cult in my first post inside the museum.

HPB - says:
Would sound right Sherlock being an agent...

HPB - says:
1800s would be 'secret society' types...

Richard says:
Except he's fictional so either we just run with that or its Conan Doyle acting under a pseudonym.

Richard says:
Gentleman's clubs, Protecting the Realm.. etc

HPB - says:
Why not both?

Richard says:
M'kay....

HPB - says:
Doyle was just writing the unbelivable stuff...

Richard says:
hahaha so there *really* was a Sherlock Hoomes and Watson. Doyle was both the real person and their Ghost Writer!

HPB - says:
Not sure Holmes could be if he knows abou the Cult... unless the Agency doesn't have an archive.

Richard says:
not sure holmes could be what?

Richard says:
real?

HPB - says:
An Agent.. otherwise the Agency would know about the Cult.

Richard says:
Point.

Richard says:
Alright then. There was no Agency - no unified body - but Holmes/Doyle working with the goveerment pursued shaowdy types. inc Moriarty.



Richard says:
There's a literary resource we haven't plundered yet!

HPB - says:
?

Richard says:
Morarty as founder of The Cult.

HPB - says:
Hm...

Richard says:
well maybe not the founder then. Maybe he was just a apart of it...someone that Doyle named Moriarty for his fiction.

HPB - says:
But the Cultis at least 500 years old with Da Vinci's 'code'...

And Now The Knights Templar:

HPB - says:
And the knights Templar would make the Cult...

Richard says:
AH! yes - so *that;s* where they went!!!! *with* all their gold - whch is how they are able to finace thigns like rockets, bank raids etc!

HPB - says:
So what did the Templar do then? Sell the Holy Grail at a blood bank?

Richard says:
Dunno. Ask Legion - he's *bound* to know!

HPB - says:
http://www.templarhistory.com/history.html

Richard says:
or use the internet - that'll work also.

HPB - says:
On October 13th, 1307, King Philip had all the Templars arrested on the grounds of heresy, since this was the only charge that would allow the seizing of their money and assets. The Templars were tortured and as a result, ridiculous confessions were given. These confessions included:

* Trampling and spitting on the cross
* Homosexuality and Sodomy
* Worshipping of the Baphomet

Richard says:
There's a thread on h2g2 about this - HOW did Phillip arrest *ALL* the templars? Maybe those that escaped the cull are the cult?

HPB - says:
Well (I think) according to Tony Robinson some legged it with the cash.

Richard says:
They'll be our boys

Richard says:
http://www.templarhistory.com/cross.html - could the Turqoise Moon be one of the priceless gems 'liberated' from the true cross of the Knights Templar?

HPB - says:
Possiblé

Richard says:
The last remnant of the True Cross to be used to obliterate the above world to secure the return of the Templar order?

HPB - says:
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Richard Says:

What is it?

HPB - says:
http://www.templarhistory.com/switzerland.html

HPB - says:
"Did the Templars found Switzerland?"

Richard says:
LOL - Oh thats good. Oh yes.

HPB - says:
And where was our key?

Richard says:
in the bank vault of the Phfenigstohler bank

HPB - says:
"The Templars were big in banking"

Richard says:
Well, Good Grief.
Richard says:

HPB - says:
The unwritten 'Sherlock Holmes and Bankers of Templar'

Richard says:
Well I'd say this about sews it up wouldn't you?

HPB - says:
And surely Ohio knows a bit about this kind of thing.

Richard says:
Well no....he's on the trail of the diamond itself and has located the lost city of Ozymandias. (is he in league with his father or a neutral goodguy that Daltmoreby exploits?)

Richard says:
and wouldn't Mary already know? Being a cult nun and all. Or is this Annabel territory?

HPB - says:
I presume Ohio is a good guy but wants to please his father...

Richard says:
Hmmm... that'd work like Lost Crusade except Sean really is a bad guy,

HPB - says:
Last Crusade having a Templar an' all.

Richard says:
Ineed.

Richard says:
This stuff practically writes itself!

HPB - says:
http://www.templarhistory.com/enigma.html

HPB - says:
Weird

Richard says:
check out no.5. The brothers worship a cat.

Richard says:
bloody hell.

HPB - says:
Rip off!

HPB - says:
http://www.templarhistory.com/solved.html Sounds like Baphomet is our founder...

Richard says:
alistair crowly is mentioned in that article.

Richard says:
he built the leaundry wringer of doom

HPB - says:
Ah...

"there's actually a special way the KGB would hang people up to interrogate them. The thing is, if you hang someone the KGB way, their shoulders would get dislocated after only a few minutes."

Could turn out useful.

HPB Says::." says:
Basically in MGS3 'The Boss', Snake's mentor betrays the US...
Richard says:
uhuh
HPB Says::." says:
But the big plot twist is that she is infact the ultimate patriot. Going down in history as the worst traitor possible in order to do her job.
Richard says:
interesting.
Richard says:
so where do you see this fitting into ST4? Does X betray Arthur?
Richard says:

HPB Says::." says:
No, no, just talking about Daltmooreby's betrayal, Giving you some idea of what's already out there in the realm of possibilty.
HPB Says::." says:
(Though I had ideas that ST5, yes ST5 would be X going I alone ala Metal Gear )
Richard says:
ooooooooooooooh
Richard says:
and Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Richard says:
Daltmooreby the ultimate patriot? that'd be kinda cool. especially if (he a) survived the pace battle at the end of 3 and Arthur is then guilt ridden at having "killed" him.
HPB Says::." says:
Killing the legendary Agent. Especially when Ohio is such a howwibly howwibly nice bloke
HPB Says::." says:
"For England, Arthur?"
HPB Says::." says:
Although it would be better to make it look like Daltmooreby kills himself but Arthur takes the blame.
Richard says:
"I was fightign for England, Arthur. Who were you fighting for?"

Arthur gawps . his stuffing has just been knocked out. he just stares
Richard says:
Arthur was fighting to save the girl
HPB Says::." says:
I got that
HPB Says::." says:
Hm that mightwork...
HPB Says::." says:
Daltmooreby betrays the Agency to point out its weakness...cut ST4
HPB Says::." says:
*cue
Richard says:
itd be a cool reversal to play in 4. Especially if Daltmooreby turns up all broken and bedraggle (with an eye patch!!)
HPB Says::." says:



HPB Says::." says:
Except not name him...
HPB Says::." says:
Give him a false name that only Arthur knows
Richard says:
?
HPB Says::." says:
Is it? Is it not?
Richard says:
Well i figure you play it straight...and now back from the dead it's Sean Daltmooreby!
Richard says:
cue explaintory survival story - and thats how I made my way back to earth.
Richard says:
you cost me my sight. gestures with the hand holding the smoking cigar to his eye patch. I might never get over that, but worse you took from me my work. you cost me my mission.

your mission - what mission?

etc.
Richard says:
I think I'm ging to enjoy underminging all the certainties Arthur operates by
Richard says:
!!!
Richard says:
He was investigatign a mole.
Richard says:
Boutros Boutros Ghali.

HPB Says::." says:
Boutros is the mole?
HPB Says::." says:
Might work. Daltmooreby being considered the best,and treated as the best needs to point out where that weakness lies.
Richard says:
I eman we've always deified Boutros, if we really want to mind-**** poor old Arthur we demonise his greatest friend.
Richard says:
just an idea.
Richard says:
or make it X
Richard says:
or even Jill (that german accent! )
HPB Says::." says:
Could just be said by Daltmooreby to mess with Arthur **rather than being true.** Pointing out Arthur'sweakness
Richard says:
well thats the other, other thing. How good is Daltmooreby really? Is this him actually being supremly bad?
HBPys:." says:
Daltmooreby says that.. who does Arthur believe? The man he'salways trusted or this man who is the 'best' in every Agents' opinion?

Richard says:
the man who "died" at Arthur's hands, rather than reveal his true mission.
Richard says:
ooooh tricky...
HPB Says::." says:
Always have Daltmooreby say his 'surprise' as a question rather than a statement.
Richard says:
okay, interested piqued - cna you give me an example?
HPB Says::." says:
"What would you say if I told you Boutros was a traitor?"
Richard says:
aaaaaaaaah.
HPB Says::." says:
I mean if Daltmooreby's betrayal isn't ACTUALLY a betrayal but a lesson for the Agency to learn to better itself.
Richard says:
"I don't believe it."

"and why not?" haven;t you always truly suspected?"
Richard says:
hmmmmmm.
Richard says:
okay I'm buying this.
HPB Says::." says:
The Agency doesn't listen to Sean because he was on the other 'side'
HPB Says::." says:
I mean look at Tim
HPB Says::." says:
double Agent
HPB Says::." says:
He got in...
Richard says:
Ha Ha!
Richard says:
oooh idea
HPB Says::." says:
Don't say Boutros letting in Tim
Richard says:
Tim and Daltmooreby spar off together - Tim tries to convince the agents that Daltmooreby must be telling the truth because it suits him as a double agent to weaken them - but Daltmooreby is testing their credulity in order to improve them! abit like the lying door knockers in the labyrinth. "I only speak the truth" and I only lie" So who's tellign the truth? (together) He is."
Richard says:
so they appear to be working toether but you trust tim at your peril.
Richard says:
maybe Jill brings them back to their senses - she despises Tim.
HPB Says::." says:
I could see Daltmooreby as a pseudo-philosopher on about how sides don't change how 'good' he was at his job. If the Agency don't allow families and yet Dalmooreby has one...
HPB Says::." says:
OR
HPB Says::." says:
if Daltmooreby is WHY the Agency frowns upon families
Richard says:
well Arthur and X speak of him in hushed tones: how he "went of the rails"
Richard says:
oooooooooh.
HPB Says::." says:
You've got Daltmooreby on about how the beliving the legend rather than the man etc. etc. etc.
Richard says:
"Myths, half-truths and lies!" he spits.
Richard says:
"ask yourself Arthur -who do you really trust?"
HPB Says::." says:
And it let's Arthur think about his place in the Agency, how Anna nearly died... cue Arthur realising he doesn't have a place thus retires with Anna.
HPB Says::." says:
Whereas X remains the spritely bachelor run by his loins and wit. Daltmooreby is the fusion of X and Arthur
Richard says:
which brings us back to the "I WAS fighting for England Arthur, who are you fighting for now?"
HPB Says::." says:
indeed
Richard says:
ah yes. Daltmooreby as the infusion of X and Arthur. Wonderful.
HPB Says::." says:
"It's not what you are (Agent) it's who you are"
Richard says:
hmm this does make some narrative sense an I like the psychologiy aspect of it too.
Richard says:
Arthur and X have to brake through the physica barriers of the locked-down agency to arrive fianlly at the truth, their truths. its a bit like a meataphor for regression and torment. and psychoanalysis.
Richard says:
oh yes. thats good.
Richard says:
"Who ARE you Arthur?"
HPB Says::." says:
Technically making Daltmooreby the best there was because he knows how to tap into himself.
Richard says:
Does this mean Dalotmooreby kills Leicester? and then gives his lecture to Arthur and X and everyone else who *couldn't quite make it in time*
HPB Says::." says:
He's with Mary and co. because he's finishing a mission began centuries ago by others. He's the best the Agency has but is reflective of his own 'greatness'.
HPB Says::." says:
Gives Guy a chance to reform the Agency aswell.
Richard says:
I liked it better when its revealed that daltmooreby was good all along only good on his own terms and issues the direct challenge to Arthur to work out what he really stands for.
HPB Says::." says:
Possibly.
Richard says:
"Arthur, dumfounded, "Guy...did you know about this?"

"No." says Guy standing up from his crouch. Daltmooreby offers him and hand to get to his feet.

"Then it is a chance to start anew, Our foes have all been bested. We have fought well and we have outlasted them all." All except one. And she claims us all in the end. Best to make use of what little time remains us then."says Daltmooreby
HPB Says::." says:
it seems the biggest weakness of the Agency is that it relies upon the 'name' the Agents create forthemselves rather than the skills they got by getting there.
Richard says:
Agent XXXX?
Richard says:

HPB Says::." says:
Exactly
HPB Says::." says:
Just like Jill's on the job more than doing the job.
Richard says:
hahaha. and they recruited Bob on the fly more or less.
HPB Says::." says:
And how Tim joined... Bleh
HPB Says::." says:
The straight, the comic relief, the coward, the siren, the Aussie and the traitor.
Richard says:
Daltmooreby: "Boutros didn't have a good head on his shoulders.

Guy: "Well technically he didn't have an shoulders."

Your missing my point. - he tried to engotiate with Leicetser, he allowed yada yada yada, Guy this is your chance to build this agency from the ground up to let ..us retire with dignity and... mostly intact, We've paid or dues many times over, have we not?"

HPB Says::." says:
It seems up Art, X, Bob, Jill, Bruce and Tim quite well Ithink

Richard says:

Tim - Loyal to a fault - that fault being he's a two-timing sneaky bastard who'll double-cross you the first chance he gets.

Regarding my latest post in the ST3 thread (554) I've started to try and lead us down the road of making Daltmoreby both more psychologically complex a "villain" than he has hithertoo appeared and suggest obliquely the alternative agenda he is running vis a vis, a 'good agent' but beholden to no-one but himself and a legacy of mistakes that continue to haunt him and define him.

Which contrasts nicely with my last line about Ohio.

Oh and I purposely made Jamila from the Big Book of Normal Sounding Egyptian Names Ohio's equal instead of love interest because thinking of all ST's female characters it was lacking one that Germaine Greer could like.

Ah Good Call. We need some strong female leeds who aren't either sexual harpies (Jill) or Evil-Schemers (Annabell)

Or Evil but nice but it - Mary

Besides, we can churn out a spin-off.

Jamilla and Ohio, repecatble Archeologists in Cario University by day....

Respectable Archeologists in the Sahara by night....

No fun.

Get Ohio when he's with his twins: Brendan and Fraser