Date: July 11 2014 2:39 AM Title: Arell's Remorse
... Please continue this. It's way too good to just leave hanging. You need to finish it! Aside from Kevin's comments (no offense, but so far in all three segments of this story, I have never liked Kevin. He's exceedingly annoying in my mind. I respect that he's trying to connect with Arell here, but he still doesn't seem mature enough to grasp the seriousness of the situation for the most part, to the point where he doesn't seem to realize that his life is in very legitimate danger at some points in the story), this story has been nothing short of absolutely gripping for me. The raw tension, the plot, the characters, and their relationships are all fleshed out, and you've left me curious as to how exactly Avakonian human society works, as well as their relationship with other species. You can't, and I mean CAN'T, just leave this story to sit here collecting dust. Regardless... I'll be waiting for your next update. Good luck to ya!
Jarl of the North
P.S. - As much as I can see his point, Stark is not going to help issues with the Avakonian humans with his current hostile attitude. They'll likely ignore his points and take him as proof that Earth humans are hostile - threats to each other and everything around them. I guess the others could try dubbing him over with voice clips of Red vs. Blue's Sarge, but as funny as that would be, I doubt that would actually help...
[Report This]Date: May 26 2014 7:07 AM Title: Arell's Remorse
Is this story going to be updated any time soon? I really want to see where this story goes?
[Report This]Date: February 21 2014 8:44 AM Title: Arell's Remorse
That was nice at the end there. That's the sort of break through this story needed.
[Report This]Date: February 21 2014 5:19 AM Title: Out in the Stary Sky
Wow, Arell seems so tortured, she really needed that moment with Bradley. I have to agree, she is so real at this point in the story, so broken and vulnerable, let me hug her nose bridge too!
I think she and the protaganist in my story have similar problems. However Jessica from Aftermath was more accidental while Arell's were deliberate and calculated and Arell caused far more damage than Jessica although both are trying to redeem themselves.
I like where you're going with this and I hope you don't end it too abruptly, let the story or as a popular song lyric goes: "Let it go! Let it go!"
[Report This]Date: February 21 2014 1:18 AM Title: Arell's Remorse
I LOVE IT! I don't know what it is about this whole situation, but I gotta say this: Arell feel like one of the most genuine characters I've read about on this site! Maybe, its that at one point she really WAS the villan. Maybe its that we, as readers, got to experience how brutal and cruel she was first hand, instead of getting a mere flashback like in most stories. Whatever it is, it worked, it makes her character feel so real and 3-dimensional.
Like Stark says, it's still up in the air whether her change is true or not, but from what she's said and the things that have happened before, I can say that (even if she were lying) I feel more symphathy for Arell than any other character I've read about on this site...Truly, Arell makes this series! Props to you, sir/ma'am, I love this series and I wish there were more people reading, your stories deserve more recognition!
Date: February 17 2014 6:22 PM Title: Out in the Stary Sky
Well, I finally found this story again to leave a review. I have nothing to add about Col. Stark that hasn't already been said, he's a jerk, but raises good points and the aliens should leave us alone.
However, what I'm most interested in this story is the so called GeekZilla. Dr. Monica has lost everything, she has to reconcile with killing thousands if not millions of people, shes hated and feared by her own people and is now stuck as a giant. I want to hear more about her story.
How will she deal with this? Who will she interact with her now tiny countrymen? With the Arkavians? Could she be a boon to the mission since shes kind of stuck between both worlds?
Frankly her situation is far more interesting than that of the other characters. Its a shame she seems to be relegated to a side character.
P.S Everyone did forgive Arell way to fast. Starks outburst was actually more understandable than the rest of the conversation.
Author's Response:
I wouldn't say they've necessarily forgiven her. Todd was basically worrying about it, and the others are quick to hide behind Bradley when Arell gets annoyed. Kevin has forgiven her, only because he thinks she's attractive, and the others are mostly neutrally cautious towards her. But when you're riding along with someone much larger with you, you'll go along with any casual conversation, if it helps loosen the tension, ya know?
See my response to the preceding review for my own thoughts on Colonel Stark's points.
Date: February 14 2014 2:41 PM Title: Out in the Stary Sky
Dude seriously why every time that I read this story I get a misanthropic feeling
I do not understand how Avakonians get to judge humanity just because they are similar to them makes no sense both grew up on different planets and with different social norms if they are as understanding and peaceful as you depict in this story there shouldn't be any conflict which makes them hypocrites because humanity can have the potential to good or bad which doesn't give them the right to downplay how we evolved and also I think the Avakonians are just controlling because any species that doesn't act or behave the way they want then they will get rid of them which them no different than the daleks from doctor who except with robots and your main character is bland and character most the story it's seems like he is just there not really interacting with the story same with the supporting characters expect stark
Author's Response:
Hehe, you're sounding like Colonel Stark.
Stark is basically arguing in favor of moral relativism, according to which the Avakonians are wrong in judging the "Earthies" and they ought to just deal with the way they live even if they strongly disagree with it. But the Avakonians feel they must do something because they feel a kinship to the Earthies, because they are human as well. I don't know anything about you, but for the sake of discussion, I'm going to assume you're an American. Here, we have our own culture and norms. People in North Korea grew up on a completely different country with different social norms and cultural practices. And, there is strong evidence that the people living there are subjected to torture and otherwise treated poorly by their own Government and its supporters. Yet, I assume you accept those people are also human, even though they're from a different country with different social norms, right? If you do, then the question becomes this: Do you do nothing and just say "Well, I guess it's their own country, and their business, so we'll just leave them alone and tolerate it" or would you say "That's not right, what they're doing is wrong, and something must be done". That's what the Avakonians are doing. The constant human violence on Earth is not something the Avakonians will tolerate, and so they are trying to do something. The irony is that, in the famous words of Nietzsche, in attempting to fight monsters, they are in grave danger of becoming monsters themselves. It supposed to show that even a highly civillized society like Avakon still holds deeply rooted flaws that occasionally threaten to be dragged out into the light of day. You MUST (I cannot stress this enough) remember that the Avakonians are not perfect. They are people, and, just like us "Earthies", their emotions get the better of them.
Naturally, I disagree with Bradley being bland (except maybe in the case of The New Frontier, since he was more of a secondary character there). He, Arell, and Colonel Stark are the three main characters right now, with the rest of them, indeed, being more support. Right now, there is a grave tension between Arell and Stark and a sort of awkward reunion between her and Bradley, whom she imprisoned in the first story. If Bradley was bland, I expect there wouldn't be reviewers wondering what path his relationship with Arell is going to take. But, to each his own, I suppose.
[Report This]Date: February 11 2014 9:54 AM Title: Friendly Communication
I will say this: as much as I hate Stark for ruining the mood, he makes a lot of good points...Arell, while she seems like a somewhat changed woman HAS killed a lotta people, and some just because she felt like it--on a whim. And I still don't really understand the logic behind the Avakonians in regard to earth...Either they like Earth humans or they wipe em of the face of the universe? I get the whole, we are humans too thing, but to me it seems more of a pride thing than anything else...they want no bad humans to embarasss them. Because honestly, how much of a threat can a race of micro people with stone age technology have against Avakon? Stark is right, they could just leave us alone and everything would be peachy...
Which brings me to my final defense towards earth humans: the longevity of life...How can they expect earth humans to talk everything over instead of fighting when humans live a tiny bit of what they live? A discussion that an Avakonian comittee may have can be longer than several generations of earth human time..Earth humans dont have that luxury: if they cant agree within a reasonable amount of time then they have to fight over it.
Great story, I really love this universe you've created, I think this story has the potential to tie things up nicely.
Author's Response:
It's a bit more complicated than that. Not all of the Avakonians want to destroy Earth, though some certainly do. Some of them want to imprison the Earthies, some want to try and teach them how to live together, and some argue against all of the previous positions. There's a big controversy because none of them really know what to do, though they all want to do something. That's pretty much why they've agreed to have Arell bring Bradley and Co. up to Avakon: because they want to hear their input on the situation.
I don't really see how longevity of life is a defense for the Earthies, since all of us can clearly see (and many witness accounts have spoken about) the horrors of war and we're all taught about them in history class. We may not live as long as the Avakonians, but generations speak through their history, and it's not really that hard to hear them.
Thanks for reading and for your thoughts! :)
[Report This]Date: February 11 2014 8:46 AM Title: Friendly Communication
I have to say, I'm glad to see this story expanded. (Admittedly I only skimmed the last installment until we got to Arell's return.)
I think the Colonel represents the unflinching view that Arell is a monster, while Bradley represents redemption and the chance for reconciliation. And then there's Kevin... I will say this, the man knows what he likes.
Date: February 11 2014 8:10 AM Title: Friendly Communication
Damn Col. Stark, you can really spoil the mood! Kevin was just having a pleasent conversation with the hot space girl and then you come along and piss all over it. Bradley should go over and comfort her, I think Arell needs someone by her side.
[Report This]Date: February 07 2014 5:23 PM Title: Out in the Stary Sky
Really happy to see an update to this series so quickly. I'm hoping to see more interaction between Bradley and Arell, I get the feeling they could be good friends now that Arell isn't all "world domination".
[Report This]Date: February 07 2014 4:46 PM Title: Out in the Stary Sky
Not to cheer on someone's misfortune, but I'm happy that the news she was on earth devestated Geekzilla. If she had been able to get over not only the deaths of thousanda, but likely all her friends and colleagues she would have been a rather hollow character.
Date: February 07 2014 6:16 AM Title: Out in the Stary Sky
I wonder if there will be romance between Arell and Bradley? This third entry in your series is interesting and I hope it is as engaging as some of the best work on this site.