Car Wars

Finished reading: AD12

Ah yes. Didn't write anything yesterday because I didn't have much time. Most of the time was spent cleaning the house in preparation for a three-hour RPG (role playing game) session. Having the session at my house provides some brief socialization and keeps me from being a complete hermit.

One of the other RPGers wrote me by e-mail and asked if I'd care to do extra RPGing. Once every two weeks is enough for me, but at least I'm interested. As it turns out, he runs a game over Internet phone. Something not quite like skype, but close to it, one of those phone systems that World of Warcraft players use. He also sent me a long .pdf file detailing his campaign universe. It's actually pretty well done. I'm not committing to anything, but he shouldn't be surprised if I appropriate his ideas, and shamelessly.

(* * *)

Now: On to "Apocalyptic Daria 12". I don't know if I'll be reviewing all forty-some segments of Apocalyptic Daria. What I like about Apocalyptic Daria is that the stories provide ample platforms for discussion. However, after reading AD15 I plan on reviewing a four-or-five part work in progress now at the PPMB.

Daria and Jane have left Linda Griffin and the shelter behind to set out to find some trace of their families. As they depart, they discover that Linda has added a gift beyond the supply of ready-to-eat surplus civil defense meals -- a geiger counter.

As they leave Frostburg, the two get instructions from one of the soldiers to go through Cumberland and avoid certain roads along the way. They reach cumberland, but find that not only is traffic at a near-standstill, but that the roads are flooded with refugees. Some of the refugees look at the girls and the SUV with unpleasant interest, but Jane has her gun for show and the refugees keep on moving when they see it.

The trip has further unpleasant incidents. One exit is blocked with a sign claiming that "GOD WILL PROVIDE FOR US". The two are forced to head back into West Virginia, but find the interstate blocked by a collision. As a result, the two are forced to take a county road.

Houses begin to disappear and the forest becomes more all-encompassing. What few houses they see don't look friendly. Daria is forced to drive slowly, but comes to the remnants of a bridge. They can not drive further.

Just as the two conclude that the bridge was destroyed (and wasn't destroyed by flash flooding), several armed men and women leave their hiding places in the forest and approach the SUV.

Daria is forced to peel out in reverse. Jane notes that one woman in the group points her assault rifle at the SUV, and Jane is forced to shoot her in the chest. Daria and Jane are headed back to the road, towards an uncertain destination.

(* * *)

There are two matters I'll touch upon, and get back to work.

The first is the "Linda Griffin" option, and Daria and Jane are tempted by it. Think about it. Even though Lawndale hasn't been hit, the prospects that Lawndale's citizens weren't adversely affected are slim. There's also a better-than-even chance that Daria's sister Quinn didn't survive The Uh-Oh.

They've fended off both a rape attempt and a home invasion. They've had to drive and drive and drive with not a friendly face in sight. And frankly, I think anyone in Daria and Jane's situation -- myself included -- would be tempted to give up and put down roots elsewhere. Because what would your loved ones think of you from beyond the grave if you got yourself killed trying to find them?

However, Jane has never been one to accept limits on her freedom. Even though she could settle in Frostburg with Linda Griffin, she knows that sooner or later, they'd clash. And Lanes don't believe in sticking out crappy situations. They just move on, and Jane is going to move on no matter what the consequences until she finds peace.

The second matter is "the car as mobile fort". I have no idea as to how much protection a car can provide against bullets -- but I don't think it can be much. A good, high-caliber round should be able to pierce a car door.

Furthermore, the tires of a car are particularly vulnerable. My only conclusion is that Daria's and Jane's assailants at the bridge hoped that Daria and Jane would recognize that they were outgunned, and would abandon the SUV. That's a pretty crappy plan when it comes to two girls who want to find their families more than anything else and I'm surprised these hillbillies didn't have a plan "B".

If Daria and Jane were to lose their tires, they wouldn't get far. I doubt there are tire repair shops. A spare tire is probably worth thousands of dollars right now. I'm not dumping on Doggieboy's story; I'm just thankful he didn't resort to the trope where the back window gets shot out but the rest of the vehicle remains suspicously pristine.