Think Tank VIII
Hey, everyone! I hope you all are doing well, and I hope, particularly, that none of you are fighting off a parasite that turns you into a zombie.
Some interesting news, our story now has three antagonists! That's insane! Well, Charon may not be an antagonist, but we'll find that out soon enough, shall we not?
Some sad news that may not be sad at all, we only have five chapters left. Now, why, you may ask, could this potentially not be sad news? Well, the story just keeps getting crazier and crazier… I don't want to rush a finish! I think that we may have to write five more chapters at least.
We just finished the third act. Now we approach the climax! Then we must tie up the loose ends and slap a bow on this baby. Y'know. Just like a traditional five act play.
Dance sent me the word count last week. Those numbers are no longer accurate, so I will let him leave that down below.
I can't wait for the next twist! Will we find a cure? Will one of the zombies complete their personal, possibly malicious agenda? WE SHALL SOON FIND OUT!
03/23: Chapter 16 – CalebPinnow
03/30: Chapter 17 – Roses311Sublime
04/06: Chapter 18 – EstherFlowers1
04/13: Chapter 19 – Chacko_Stephen
04/20: Chapter 20 – CalebPinnow
If you are not able to continue with the project, or you need to be moved around in the schedule, just say something, and it's done!
Listen, man. We are fifteen chapters in. You should be well acquainted with the characters by now. Whatever, man, here's the character list.
"Dale Caruthers is the onboard mechanic and all around Mr. Fix-it, inside or outside the ship. Strapping man, nearing forty, played college football at Ohio State as a tackle and still in good enough shape that he could knock you down in a heartbeat and never break a sweat."
"Jules Verone, a mild person with a penchant for archeology. Short, a bit on the heavy side, but rarely speaks unless spoken to, or has an interesting find."
"Brad Marconi, navigator and this is his eighth trip into space but the first, like Clint and the others, to have gone as far as they have. As Brad put it, “Virgin territory.” This is also Brad’s last sojourn as he plans to retire from NASA when he returns home. That is, if there still is a NASA."
"Margo Jessup. — Teacher, archeologist, recorder. Divorced, late thirties, and at one time for a few years a professional wrestler if you can believe that one since she’s barely 5’4” and a hundred twenty on a rainy day. Jet black hair and deep set eyes though give her the appearance she could put you down easy enough—man or woman."
Captain Clint Raymond — Captain of the Star Ride, widower who lost a daughter he never met.
Andre — The French President's assistant, he "detest[s] himself for being so under a person's thumb."
Dr. Elizabeth "Lizzie" Harlem — A virologist and old lover of Dale Caruthers. She is searching for the "cure to the incurable virus."
Elana Mycrovitch — A scientist on the ISS who helped murder Clint's wife and daughter, now a conscious zombie with the ability to command the zombies to do her bidding.
Charles Goodwell "Charon" — Used to be a successful businessman, but after an accident, he became a sentient zombie, but the zombies seem to control him... His power over them is unlike that of Elana and Margo's: his power is democratic. He wishes to be the bridge between the living and the undead. A ferryman. Charon.
Cory Heights — Scientist and conspiracy theorist who helped push the virus–which he discovered was a parasite–long in its mutation. He injected himself with what he believed was the Omega variant of the parasite, and is now one of the–if not the–most powerful sentient undead. He wishes to infect the remainder of society and create a utopia. Though whether or not he means a utopia for everyone or just for himself is not known… He was also named when Caleb Pinnow looked at his copy of Wuthering Heights and decided that "Heights" would be a cool last name.
Brun — A bloodthirsty sentient undead looking for war. Death. Want peace? Death, he believes, is the only answer.
If I am missing anyone, or you have a better (or, if you prefer it, an updated) description, please let me know and I will update it.
Please send to me via direct message your chapter upon posting. Tagging is still hit-or-miss, so I have started (as you have probably noticed) sending the chapters to everyone. You do not have to worry about that part; that's on me.
Here is the tag list:
@WhiteWolfe32 @EstherFlowers1 @Roses311Sublime @CalebPinnow @Chacko_Stephen @nightscribbler @Finder @Sanjana_S @Danceinsilence @GLD
As I explained in the last Think Tank, Dance and Goldie are still on the tag list because both want to keep up with the story.
Prologue, by Danceinsilence: https://theprose.com/post/448127/the-premiere-earthbound-2222-ad
Chapter 1, by WhiteWolfe32, While They Were Gone: https://theprose.com/post/449088#comment750232
Chapter 2, by EstherFlowers1, Seeing is Believing: https://theprose.com/post/449846#comment750826
Chapter 3, by Danceinsilence, Secrets Laid Wide Open: https://theprose.com/post/450772/chapter-three-secrets-laid-wide-open
Chapter 4, by GLD, Purpose: https://theprose.com/post/451818
Chapter 5, by Roses311Sublime, Plans: https://theprose.com/post/452673#comment753278
Chapter 6, by Sanjana_S, Survival: https://theprose.com/post/455599/chapter-6-survival
Chapter 7, by EstherFlowers1, Dismembered Hopes: https://theprose.com/post/456996/chapter-7-dismembered-hopes
Chapter 8, by Chacko_Stephen, Within Walls: https://theprose.com/post/458016/chapter-8-within-walls
Chapter 9, by Roses311Sublime, Zombie Queen Showdown: Margo Jessup vs. Elana Mycrovitch: https://theprose.com/post/460202/chapter-9-zombie-queen-showdown-margo-jessup-vs-elana-mycrovitch
Chapter 10, by EstherFlowers1, A matter of life or death.: https://theprose.com/post/460642
Chapter 11, by WhiteWolfe32, Severed Ties: https://theprose.com/post/461983#comment758390
Chapter 12, by CalebPinnow, Symbiosis: https://theprose.com/post/463028/earthbound-chapter-12-symbiosis
Chapter 13, by Chacko_Stephen, Love & Hatred: https://theprose.com/post/464128
Chapter 14, by Danceinsilence, The Others: https://theprose.com/post/464933/chapter-14-the-others
Chapter 15, by WhiteWolfe32, The Coming War: https://theprose.com/post/466369/2222-chapter-fifteen-the-coming-war