Haven of Souls

Chapter One

2007-02-08T16:29:00.000-05:00

It is done!!! Of course, that is subject to editing, but I think it works. Good introduction to two of the characters: Soul, from the prologue, and Krisor Mantichorus-Jaeger, an accomplice of Soul's for his current job. Now with chapter two I'll be able to reintroduce Werzbowski from the prologue, and I think it's a fun way to do it. Like I said, stay tuned here for more!

Rough Prologue

2007-02-01T10:19:00.000-05:00

So here's a taste!! Keep in mind, this is VERY rough. The first chapter is coming along better, and I will come back to fix this, but here's a little teaser...

********************

Prologue: Earth, December 13, A7

“I’m looking for a man. He may go by the name Werzbowski.”
The woman atop the wall holding the very big gun stared down at the man below, her eyes squinting in the evening sun, and raised an eyebrow at the name.
“How do I know you’re not working for the Raves?”
The man looked up at her without even so much as a flicker of emotion. “You don’t. If he’s in there, tell him that his soul has come a-callin’. If he’s not, I’ll be on my way.”
She stared down at him for a moment longer, and then turned and motioned to another guard nearby. “Wait here, and watch him.” With that, she turned and made her way for the stairs.

The doors yawned open before him, and he made his way towards the thirty-foot-tall walls, brushing road dirt off of his long duster coat as he went. The woman who he had spoken to stepped through the opening, a shotgun cradled in the crook of her right arm, the barrel pointing towards the ground. “You’re lucky, stranger,” she said. “Follow me.”
He walked through the twelve-foot-tall doors and couldn’t help but glance up at the thirty feet of wall towering above him. In the seven years since the Vicorians – Ravagers, they were called here – raided Earth, humans had gotten pretty good at building fortresses that could actually withstand a direct attack from the Raves. He knew that a pair of rails ran around the top of the wall, supporting the 50mm guns that seemed to be the only thing that could even slow down the Raves, short of trying to blow them up. Having leathery skin nearly tough as steel had served the Raves well during their invasion. He lowered his eyes back towards the back of the woman in front of him.
“So what do I call you?”
“Joan of Arc,” she replied sarcastically.
The man cracked a grin at that, despite the annoyance in her tone.
“Do you have a name, stranger?” she asked.
He paused. “Soul. They call me Soul.”
“Yes, they do.”
Soul stopped, and his face went emotionless again. He turned slowly towards the sound of the voice and watched a man step out of the shadows, a scraggly beard and a well-worn baseball cap partially hiding an equally expressionless face. The two men stared each other down.
“Soul.”
“‘Ski.”
“Nice coat.”
“Thanks. Got it at a yard sale. I like the hat.”
“Really? It doesn’t quite fit. I might have to return it.”
“I’m sure if you wait a few decades a store might open back up.”
“That’s what I’m hoping for. I’ve got some underwear that is really starting to chafe.”
“Ah, I’ve been there. Sorry, can’t help you. Got a good tailor in town?"
Through all this, Joan of Arc stood nearby with a confused look on her face as the strange banter passed back and forth between the two men who still showed no emotion whatsoever. Soul watched out of the corner of his eye as she shook her head and walked back towards the main doors. Werzbowski saw the movement as well and turned away, ending the small talk and gesturing for Soul to follow him. Three rings of walls circled the city, and ‘Ski disappeared between two of them. They walked for a distance in shadow before an opening appeared, leading to an open area bordered by a row of dilapidated wooden houses, most in various stages of disrepair. Passing those by, they headed down a lane that was initially bordered by weeds, but as they continued, flowers began to appear, and the houses themselves actually showed signs of upkeep. It was into one of those houses that ‘Ski stepped, prompting Soul to glance around quickly before following him inside.

“So how many are with you?” Werzbowski asked after a while, handing Soul a cup of water.
“Four.”
“What about the others?”
Soul shook his head.
“Damn. To much sacrifice.”
Soul drank the water slowly, speaking between sips. “Did you find him?”
‘Ski nodded. “I found him. He has the mark, too.”
Shoulders visibly relaxing, Soul leaned back in his chair. “We have to leave, and soon.”
“How?”
A smile broke out on Soul’s face. “Let’s just say that Krisor is a genius.”
‘Ski raised an eyebrow as Soul moved in close and lowered his voice.
“Cerlitas.”

So It Begins...

2007-02-01T10:08:00.000-05:00

Final Destiny. That's what I'm calling it. My book. My dream. Been working on various incarnations of it for years, and I think I've finally fleshed it out. It's Sci-Fi, but if that's not your thing, don't tune out just yet. I'm planning something that will hopefully interest those who don't normally pick up a book with the words "wormhole" or " space station" in it. Hopefully!

So pay attention to this site. I'll be posting updates, character profiles, technical questions, and maybe even some sample chapters! Please, let me know what you think!!!!

- Soul

I'm a Peacemaker. Cool. I can go with that.

2006-02-22T14:08:00.000-05:00

the Peacemaker
Test finished!

you chose BX - your Enneagram type is NINE.

"I am at peace"

Peacemakers are receptive, good-natured, and supportive. They seek union with others and the world around them.

How to Get Along with Me

If you want me to do something, how you ask is important. I especially don't like expectations or pressure.
I like to listen and to be of service, but don't take advatage of this.
Listen until I finish speaking, even though I meander a bit.
Give me time to finish things and make decisions. It's OK to nudge me gently and nonjudgmentally.
Ask me questions to help me get clear.
Tell me when you like how I look. I'm not averse to flattery.
Hug me, show physical affection. It opens me up to my feelings.
I like a good discussion but not a confrontation.
Let me know you like what I've done or said.
Laugh with me and share in my enjoyment of life.

What I Like About Being a Nine

being nonjudgmental and accepting
caring for and being concerned about others
being able to relax and have a good time
knowing that most people enjoy my company; I'm easy to be around
my ability to see many different sides of an issue and to be a good mediator and facilitator
my heightened awareness of sensations, aesthetics, and the here and now
being able to go with the flow and feel one with the universe

What's Hard About Being a Nine

being judged and misunderstood for being placid and/or indecisive
being critical of myself for lacking initiative and discipline
being too sensitive to criticism; taking every raised eyebrow and twitch of the mouth personally
being confused about what I really want
caring too much about what others will think of me
not being listened to or taken seriously

Nines as Children Often

feel ignored and that their wants, opinions, and feelings are unimportant
tune out a lot, especially when others argue
are "good" children: deny anger or keep it to themselves

Nines as Parents

are supportive, kind, and warm
are sometimes overly permissive or nondirective

Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele

The Enneagram Made Easy
Discover the 9 Types of People
HarperSanFrancisco, 1994, 161 pages

You are not completely happy with the result?!
You chose BX

Would you rather have chosen:

AX (SEVEN)

CX (TWO)

BY (FOUR)

BZ (FIVE)

My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 24% on ABC

You scored higher than 31% on XYZ

Link: The Quick and Painless ENNEAGRAM Test written by felk on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

I'm a What?

2006-02-09T11:44:00.000-05:00

Well, this is interesting. I saw this on Serenity's blog, so I thought I'd check it out. Apparently, this is what my name will look like in the dictionary.

Aaron --

[adjective]:

Like in nature to a train-riding hobo

'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

I don't know whether to be offended or rather concerned about my future...

I Live!!!!

2006-01-12T11:36:00.000-05:00

But keep it a secret!!

Shh!!

I'm Tired

2005-08-25T14:33:00.000-04:00

I don't know why, but for the past week I've been completely exhausted every waking moment. Maybe I need to take some vitamins, maybe I need to go to bed earlier, maybe I need to eat healthier, I have no clue. I’m really too lazy to change my routines, but I’m beginning to think that I may need to get off of my lethargic derriere and change certain things about my life. I don’t view myself as unhealthy, but I guess that’s just me being oblivious and ignorant. I have a membership to the gym that I’m paying for but I haven’t used in 6 months, and I really should be exercising to get my body back into shape. I got comfortable with Kole with the knowledge that we were together and the thought that I no longer had to worry about impressing anyone. Now I’m not fat by any means, but I could stand to lose a few pounds. Anyone who’s seen a picture of me just might agree with that.

Well, maybe today I’ll change things. Or maybe tomorrow. Hmm…next week looks good…

Did I mention that I’m lazy?

I'm a Captain, I've Got a Ship, Now I need a Crew!

2005-07-28T16:32:00.000-04:00

As everyone knows, I am Browncoat to the core. Well, on the official Serenity movie site, they have opened up an option for all those with 4000 credits or more can become a Captain and hire a crew of up to 30 members for future challenges. Everyone else can join a crew. Well, I became a Captain, and I've started gathering a pretty shiny crew!! Come on and join the crew of the Firefly-class vessel Destiny. The crew is called "Destiny Flying"!

This is the link to our Crew Page.

This is the link to the main crew page where you can actually Join My Crew.

We'd love to have you!!!

Being a Big Damn Hero...

2005-06-13T13:34:00.000-04:00

That's what I've been told. That my wife and I are being Big Damn Heroes. Well, here's the story behind that:

I've been married for a bit less than a year. My wife and I have been renting an apartment with the hopes of buying a home when our lease expires in Sepember. Well, that was our plan.

A month or two ago, my Father-in-law was diagnosed with a brain disease. It's degenerative, and it's affecting the mitochondria in his brain (Parasite Eve, anyone?). He's normal for the most part, but he gets worn out very easily, he can't make decisions, and he forgets things within a few minutes of them happening. Needless to say, he can't work with his condition, so he sits at home all day, and he can't really do anything.

This is where my Kole (my wife Nicole) and I come in. We gave our apartment complex our two month notice, and we've moved in with my In-Laws. We put most of our things into storage, and we won't be buying a house in September. We're going to be living with Kole's parents for as long as they need our help.

It's all about family, right? The co-habitation might be weird for a while, but my Father-in-law really appreciates us being there. BDH's, right.

We'll Miss You, Lopez

2005-05-23T10:13:00.000-04:00

Robert Edward Lopez, long time (28 years!) newsman for 98Rock in Baltimore died yesterday from a yearlong battle with lung cancer. He was the driving force behind every morning show (14 of them) since he began with 98Rock only 1 year into the station's existence. Most recently, he was one third of the morning show Kirk, Mark, and Lopez.

I admired him. He was a stout liberal who never strayed from his beliefs. I am a republican, but I had the biggest respect for him. I would make sure to have my radio on 97.9 FM every morning at the top of every hour from 5:30-10 just to hear Lopez do the news, and then at 9:30 to hear his entertainment report. It was the highlight of my day.

He left behind his wife Jean "Trixie" Lopez, his daughter Leandra, and an entire city of friends and fans. He will be sorely missed, and impossible to replace. I know I'll miss hearing him every morning. So I'll just sign off here with the sign off that I always loved to hear:

"From the battlements of the Hearst Broadcast Castle, I'm Lopez, on 98 Rock."

We'll miss you, Lopez.

Jessica Simpson Is Driving Me Crazy!

2005-04-19T11:28:00.001-04:00

I hold Jessica Simpson personally responsible for everything that is wrong with the world.

Okay, not really, but that woman is going to be the end of me. So let's start with this: my wife Nicole loves Jessica Simpson. She watched the show "Newlyweds", she has her CD's, and she reads everything she can find about her. Now there's nothing really wrong with that. This is where I start to lose it.

Jessica Simpson bought a Louis Vuitonne purse/carry bag for $1500 to carry around her little dog in. A purse that costs more than my rent! Now Nicole wants a little dog of her own. Not just to have a dog, but so she can buy a purse like Jessica Simpson's and carry around the dog in it. It's insanity, I tell you!

Everything that Jessica Simpson does, Nicole wants to do. Everything that she buys or designs, Nicole wants. It's driving me crazy. I'm really thinking about winning the lottery just so Nicole can buy all of these things and I don't have to hear about the brand of hair spray that Jessica uses.

But what can I say. I love Nicole, so I'll just suck it up and deal with it. Hey, she's got to listen to me ramble on about Firefly, so I guess we're even.

For Werzbowski

2005-04-15T15:51:00.000-04:00

My friend Dave lost his dad earlier this week to cancer. I sat down and wrote out a little tribute for him and his dad. Dave goes by the pseudonym Wersbowski.

Go here to read the tribute, and pray for him and his family if you will.

Sin City

2005-04-15T12:27:00.000-04:00

My friend Corban and I saw Sin City last weekend.

Great movie! A bit gory in some parts, but I can easily overlook that for the movie that was wrapped around that. It was basically a trio of stories, all tied together in one way or another. Mickey Rourke was perfect in his role. "That's a nice coat. It would be a shame to get any blood on it. Why don't I hold it for you." Clive Owen surprised me in his role, different for him. Very well played on his part as the tough guy determined to defend his girlfriend's honor. Bruce Willis played the typical Bruce Willis role, but as always, he did it well.

So many stars, so many sexy women, so many bullet-ridden bodies.

Oh, and my favorite scene: "Would you look at that! It's right through me!"

Go see it, you won't be disappointed. You can check out the official site
here.

I've never read Frank Miller's graphic novels that the movie is based off of, but I think I'm gonna have to pick them up now!

Testing the Waters...

2005-04-15T10:45:00.000-04:00

Yeah, I know everybody else says that (see title) when they post for the first time, but it's true. I am here testing the waters. I've been hanging out at FireflyFans.net for over a year now, and I keep seeing everyone with a blog, so I figured, what the heck. I've got thoughts-a-plenty, why not post them for the whole world to see.

First, a little tip of my hat and a moment of silence for my friend Werzbowski, who just lost his father to cancer. You've always got a friend here.

On to other things, I've been writing fanfic for only about a year, but I've already got an ongoing story up at FireflyFans.net. It's a Firefly fic, of course, but I've got my own characters introduced. It's dramatic and all cliffhangery. Check it out, you'll be glad you did! Start with Destiny and go from there!

As far as everything else goes, right now I'm going crazy at work. There's 3 of us here, but there's work for 6 or more. We're goin' nuts!!!!

Oh well, I'll live.

Until next time!!

Keep flyin'!