Issue 19, Page 4
Transcript
1: Several computer monitors show security footage of Melissa talking to Julia. One shows Melissa’s room, shot from the ceiling. Another shows Julia’s room, also shot from an upper corner. A third screen has a close-up of Julia from the side.
2: Sedjet is taking notes on a tablet as he watches. Vidali Dara stands with a doubtful expression.
Vidali: I’m still not sure this is totally safe.
Sedjet: We did the tests… She’s not harmful, not through visual contact, anyways. All the test subjects showed zero signs of infection.
3: They both sit, looking at the monitors in a dark security room.
Vidali: No reaction yet?
Sedjet: She’s not speaking, at least.
Vidali: I really don’t like this, Sedj…
Sedjet: I don’t either, but she won’t talk to us. She won’t open up. We need her to.
4: The camera showing a close-up of Julia, shows her covering her muzzle, dripping with tears.
Vidali (off-panel): It’s torture… for both of them.
Sedjet (off-panel): She’s moving. She’s listening.
She needed this.
… Okay, now I’m curious. It’s not just Julia, after all. The Idol’s infected her, yes… but my question is…
… is it actually *malicious*, or does whatever the Idol IS know what it’s doing? it truly might not have any idea, even the concept might be, for lack of a better term, alien. This might be helpful for all sides. The researchers, Mel, Julia… and the Idol itself.
Rebecca? masterfully done. I am absolutely captivated by this. Other arcs grabbed my attention, or got me curious. This one has me on the edge of my seat.
Well, if you go back to the original Lovecraft that this was inspired by, the Old Ones didn’t know or care about their effects on us. Any more than we are conscious or caring about stepping on an ant.
But yes, this arc is wonderfully done and heart wrenching. Well done indeed!
I think at least one of the reasons why the Black Idol is affecting Julia differently is that she was infected by a small amount of its (equivalent to) cells, instead of being devoured by an already organized mass of those cellls. I’m guessing (this instance of) the Black Idol is having to organize itself both mentally and physically, and at the same time attempt to assimilate Julia both mentally and physically; perhaps it is not easy for it to do both, for it to keep Julia separate from itself while it is attempting both tasks.
(Continuing previous train of thought.) In which case, they (Melissa, Ahmes, and the others) definitely need to interact with Julia, to help her to either win the mental struggle, or at least come to a (mental equivalent of) a ceasefire with the Black Idol.
I have some thoughts too. We know, that The One Who Crawls is a lifeform, and The Silver Star too. TOWC is a god, and TSS is surely not, but still much stronger in material universe on both physical and psy levels, but can’t grow or move that fast, if it can move at all. And they indeed are the opposing forces. As far as we know Julia and Dominic are the only ones who touched the silver shard barehanded. They may be affected by some of it’s power, and it’s helping them resist TOWC. Julia can maintain control over her thoughts and actions, even after infestation. Dominic wasn’t mentally affected by the thing during the first outbreak. I’m not pretending that it’s for sure, but it still could be the deal or, at least, a part of it.
The strongest instinct of a living being is survival. It might find more benefits to maintain its host alive where it can spread its “love” to a larger number of lifeforms.
It’s a god, it have no survival instinct, it’s immortal. Zeus’ head was cracked in half – he gave no shit, it even stoped hurting after that.
In my opinion-
I’m not sure if Rebecca’s monsters, like TOWC, are immortal.
If she’s following Lovecraft’s Cthulhu stories, + the monsters of these stories,…[as far as I know],
Lovecraft’s monsters were not immortal.
Lovecraft’s monsters were outer-space animals, who had huge physical powers, and
huge magical powers. Also-some of the monsters were about 40 ft. tall / Godzilla-type tall.
You bet- in L’s stories, because these monsters were big, + had magic powers to control some humans,
some humans worshiped L’s monsters, and mistakenly thought the monsters were
immortal gods.
But- as far as I know- none of L’s monsters, sometimes called gods, were immortal. So [survival] might
be a concern for Rebecca’s monsters.
Save this point for future. We, for now, can’t know if TOWC can be killed in immaterium, until it’s proved right – it’s wrong. This rule works for everything dangerous, you know, for accident prevention 😉
Heh, heh, heh.
That’s a good idea.
I’l have to rememsjahjhjjdh.
Sorry…I’ve got a many eyed, evil being, stuck in my head. It’s effecting the way I TY TY TY type. 😀
Hmm, I had an interesting thought. I wonder what Rhoda’s reaction would be, if she were to be brought in on this and met with infected-Julia? What would she see the others wouldnt? Could she maybe communicate with Julia? Call the black dog and/or its master, perhaps, or otherwise get the infection extracted (highly unlikely, but out of everyone we know, she has the most supernatural clout)?