Jason enjoyed taking money from these college jocks. They always looked down on the smaller guys like him until they found out he was an Enhanced. After that, they would suck up to him as a phony friend or avoid him completely. It never occurred to the morons, as a Mentalist, he knew exactly what they thought of him. One guy in the group, Todd, particularly irked Jason. This asshole repeatedly thought about last weekend when he raped a freshmen after spiking her drink. He had done it multiple times at the University and never got caught. Jason was going to make sure he went home with no money...

I hate to admit that writing for the blog, when I don't have anything technical to write about, is a lot harder than writing the story. When I take the Myers-Briggs test, I score right in the middle of Introvert and Extrovert. I don't enjoy being alone but I don't enjoy being around people either. I'm just weird like that.So why do people write? For me, it allows me to channel creative energy out of my brain and to my fingers. I love building things. I'm not always good at it but I enjoy finishing a project and knowing I made it. I made the bookcase in my office, the computer desk (which didn't...

Apocalypse - Media-coined term for the destruction of the city of Los Angeles, California in 1998 when Atomic Power explodedBuilding Interior Training simulator (BIT) - Training area inside the Hinkle Close-Quarter and Urban Combat Facility used for indoor combat and rescue scenariosEComm - Enhanced Communication device created by Harris Industries. The device allows Enhanced and mundane JTF agents to remain in contact via satellite, mobile, and wireless networks. The device has a 3d holographic and 2d touch interface.Elementalist - A type of Enhanced that has powers based...

Michael rolled his eyes in disbelief. He walked right into it. “Oh, shit. I’m so sorry,” he started apologetically.  “I shouldn’t have said that…” Michael continued dancing but anticipating her leaving him there at any moment. “It’s okay,” Alaina said quickly. “He’s been called a lot worse...” Alaina paused, unsure what to say next. “Category 4 Fire Elementalist, right?” Michael asked, breaking the silence. Alaina nodded. Orbital Strike, Valkyrie, Freedom Fighter, Maze, Judge, and Terminal Velocity made up the most powerful team in the United States. Judge left...

I'm testing a new feature that I think some of you will enjoy. You can now register and login to ThePenintheStone.com. This will make commenting easier since you no longer have to type a username and email address in the comments field. This should also make it easier to find comment replies from the admin toolbar. Let me know if it doesn't work for you.You don't need to be a subscriber to comment. I want to keep that option open to everyone.The login link is found on the right lower panel of the home page or the Subscriber link in the Main Menu (for mobile users).There is no cost to be a subscriber.

I'm suspending Captcha for now. I'm not a big fan of the plugin since it makes commenting an extra hassle. I've activated Akismet so we'll see how that goes. If you have something to say, good or bad (at least constructive), please do. I love the feedback.I've also added a new background slider to the homepage. You will now see the JTF Drone (firing a Hellfire) and Los Angeles - Post Apocalypse. As I make more event images from Portal, I'll add them. My next goals are to finish the recruit class comic book covers and release the wiki.Thanks again to everyone who visits ThePenintheStone.com

With a top speed that can match any mid-level Flyer or Speedster and enough firepower to kill all but the toughest Tanks, the JTF Drone is a silent but effective weapon against the Enhanced. With a 24-hour loitering capability, the JTF Drone provides around the clock safety and security for mundanes against the criminals that would threaten our Nation.

Alaina was furious. Scott bitched all day about going to the NCAA museum and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, declaring loudly ‘who cared about a bunch of mundane records that any decent Enhanced could beat’. College and professional sports did not allow Enhanced to participate for obvious reasons but he embarrassed the entire group, especially her. They all just ignored it as Justice being Justice, but now at the club, he was letting his fame go to his head and it was taking time away from her. The girls in the club asked for autographs, some in very inappropriate places, and Scott lavished...

Okay, now the site should be up and running with content added. Visitor are flocking to the site and all is well in the universie.And then you get a theme update, a plugin update, or even better, a WordPress update. What do you do?If you are like most people, you just click on it and let it update. Yay, all done! Oh wait, now I have stuff missing and the website is not behaiving correctly. Now my category list is showing the wrong thing, the navigation buttons are reversed. What happened?There are three main types of updates:WordPress Theme PluginThere are other types of updates like...

The club was already packed with people when Michael arrived. Although it was still evening, the nightlife started early due to the gangs and violence on the streets at night. Most people were home and locked away behind steel security doors by midnight - after that, you rolled the dice. Michael had no trouble finding the group. Several mundane women were standing around the table talking to Justice, Alaina and Mariposa chatting to the side . Out on the dance floor, Net was flirting with a pretty dark-haired girl in a short blue dress. In heels, she was taller than Net by a couple of inches. He had tapped...