45 replies to this topic

[Snufkin]

I can neither confirm or deny that this week's comic is up.
Move along.

[Trip]

What is it with people putting up signs for stuff they want to be kept secret.

[MrsFrith]

Completely irrelevant question -- were Sue and Suzi conjoined? Makes sense. The nanites would separate them, and with the right connections their deaths could be faked as a result of a "separation operation". They might even have been told the score beforehand. I'm thinking of a sad true story about adult conjoined twins, I think in Iran, who said they'd rather be dead than continue as they were. They had the operation & both died.

[Snufkin]

Trip - the Air Force base was never secret, as the proud sign shows. But suddenly, the government is in a panic and is trying to classify and hide everything, even if the idea is absurd, as in this case. Think of some of the over-the-top things that have happened in both our countries during the last decade and imagine it as being several times that bad. The authorities feel they have to do SOMETHING, despite there being no visible foe. So they do lots of pointless things, hoping that one of them may help. Or at least convince the populace that things are under control.

MrsFrith - you are correct (I'm not sure if I mentioned it to Frith once.) For the backstory, I imagine them to have been inoperable conjoined twins, who only had one functioning heart between them. They would have had to have been old enough to show usable talent. The Angels have only a few chances to pick people, so they can be very choosy about their recruits. Someone freed from a crippling or terminal medical condition (Therese and Willa both come to mind) would have much reason to be thankful and loyal - and faking their "death" would be easier. But there are no shortage of young people with fatal conditions. The ever-pragmatic Angels would consider a life saved to be a positive in their choice, but it would not outweigh the requirements that they be intelligent, accomplished and mentally flexible. No doubt it saddens them every time they reflect upon the fact that for every person they end up saving from an early death, millions die because they do not have full knowledge of and control over the nanite technology.

[MrsFrith]

MrsFrith - you are correct (I'm not sure if I mentioned it to Frith once.)

I don't think Frith ever mentioned it. I was just running through recent strips to get a more continuous feel for what was going on, and reflected on how unlikely totally identical Angels would be unless they started out as identical twins. But if they were twins, it would be rather unlikely that both were fully qualified to be Angels (either by the talents or the ease of removing them from their old life).

Their metamorphosis would be interesting to see, though. Would the nanites separate them, or just develop them to the point where they could be separated by a really good sword? Would they first be a functional conjoined Angel? (How conjoined were they?) Or would the nanites get them apart before they knew what was going to happen? (That could be rather frightening).

[Frith Ra]

Sue & Suzi was part of the mass of stuff Snuffy & I discussed during his last visit here. They must have slipped into the cracks of my conversations with my loving wife.

I'm wondering how the government is going to "neither confirm nor deny" military bases in highly populated areas.

I'm also wondering what other governments are doing due to this apparent mutual threat. That, however, is beyond the range of THIS story. But it is fun showing how Joe Citizen gets to deal with the effects of the Angel's existence - & Doug the Trucker is eminently suitable for being Joe Citizen in this story. (& yes, he is based on a real person)

I suspect that we'll be seeing him again sometime.