Mike Cooper's page

Yes, thank you Meows. As always entertaining. Looking forward to next one.

Good game everyone. I will be hanging around watching and cheering for team mob!!

Mike looks between Jeremy and Harold thoughtfully for several moments before speaking. "Jeremy is there something you know," he pauses as he looks around apparently searching for something, "Or are you just beating on a bongo?"

A big dorky grin spreads across Mike's face as he nudges Harold with his elbow chuckling, "Ha! I am a poet and didn't even know it!"

Mike chuckles to himself over his perceived quick wit for several moments. "Oh, that's rich. OK, sorry, bad time to giggle like a wee school girl, pulling it together. How are you guys not laughing at that?? Anyway, Jeremy, you think you picked up on something about Harold?"

At Kitty's words Mike cusses vehemently under his breath before replying, "See, nothing but rocks up here," Mike says while rapping the side of his head with his knuckles. "I surely don't know Kitty, we will have to try and figure it out. Well crap!! I don't know, maybe it would be best to just start drawing straws.

"I know Geoffrey, I don't like it none either. I try to figure it out, but I got nothin but a big rock in my head, can't figure it out at all. I have to trust The Boss got some smart people here to figure it out."

He thinks some more as he eats another piece of pizza before continuing, "I agree we have to take them down, but right now we loose a member when they attack. If we choose wrong, we loose two each time, not just one. I know I aint the sharpest knife, but that don't make sense to me. Our boys will figure it out, and once they do then we can take 'em out."

Mike sighs heavily and shakes his head in sorrow. "I was hoping to avoid drawing names out of a hat, but looks like it has come to that. Is there any chance I can convince you to withdraw your vote Geoffrey? Give our guys a chance to figure out who the rats are, Tony told us to figure this out, well lets figure it out before we just start gutting fellas."

Taking a couple pieces of pizza Mike sits and continues as he eats. "If those of us with brains enough to figure this out have a clue, please let me know."

Mike holds his vote for now

Mike nods at Jimmy, "Good idea, how about some old table clothes to cover them?" he asks as he moves toward the two to clean them up and move them.

Mike swears with a passion, "Those dirty rat bastards, what did Willard ever do to any of you?? The most violent thing he ever done was catch a butterfly in a net, and I bet he felt guilty for doing that!! Targeting the weak, no better than a bully in Gym class!" Mike paces back and forth, clenching his fists in anger as he rages.

"Deviled eggs, I may just to have one or two of those myself." Mike says as he grabs the plate.

"So, are we all in agreement that we will wait and see what investigations turn up?"

Mike nods at Marlene, "I have to agree that we should take some time and let those with abilities try and figure out who are the dirty rats. Although, I am not sure The Boss will allow us the time to follow that plan."

"Third eye?? Cockatrice??" Mike asks is utter confusion, "you just break out of the nut-house? I must be in a dream, no a nightmare."

Mike thoughtfully scratches as he ponders Jimmy's question. "The Tiger has made it clear, we figure out who's the coppers and we whack them, hopefully before those sneaky bastards take us out. The Dirty Sleuth and the Silencer, even I have heard of those two cold blooded bastards. Damn, I would almost rather have Ness and his boys after us."

Mike starts to slowly pace, stopping at the bar and downing his shot before continuing, "The problem is, Dominic was da fuzz. If they had someone in that deep, it could be any of you," Mike pauses and raises his hands before continuing, "ok, it could be any of us. I have sat hours flappin my gums with Dominic, talking about baseball and college football. The bastard owes me a bottle of good booze for the Boston Braves failing to make the playoffs. What I am saying is Dominic was tight, and he was the law, I mean really tight!"

Mike stops, looks over at the corpse, makes the sign of the peace and mumbles, "Why did you do it you stupid bastard?"

Mike then turns to the group, takes a deep sigh, and continues."Jimmy, Kitty and Marlene, I see you three everyday at work. I know about your families. Jimmy we sit and complain about our lousy neighbors wrecking our neighborhoods. Kitty, as you struggled with the death of your faithful pet and companion, how many hours did we sit here as you cried into a cup of coffee? Marlene, you are like a sister to me, we have helped each other out countless times. You all three helped me when my mother got sick and slowly passed away. I can not believe any of you are the law. But who better to get the dirt around here than one of us low-level, often overlooked bar staff. Mike shrugs toward the three, looks them in the eye and offers a silent apology.

Turning to Willard, Geoffrey and Rick, Mike continues, "I would have to eat my shoe if one of you were turned. Willard, is there a single penny that moves through The Tigers fingers that you do not count, catalog and put in its proper place? Christ, if you were the law we all would have been in the slammer a long time ago, you know all the dirt. Geoffrey, you may be the fry cook, but come-on man, we both know about those special jobs he keeps you around for. No, aint no way you are the law. Rick, I should suspect you, after all, how far of a stretch is it from private dick to detective? I just don't see it though, the two of us have been pals as far back as I can remember?" Mike looks at Rick in the eyes for a long minute before speaking in a quiet hard voice, "Don't be you, we come from the same streets, it can't be you."

Mike then turns quickly to the three remaining patrons at the bar, "That leaves you three. Harold, if you are the law you need to tell the city to start paying it's undercover dicks better. You have been coming in here for several weeks squeaking out a drink or two. Corbyn, you aint quite right in the head. Even you have to admit you were at MacGuffin's and it got raided, now you are here and it was going to get raided. Suspicious, very suspicious. Plus the whole butterfly thing?? Jeremy, I don't know you kid. Maybe you work for The Boss on special jobs, that is what I thought when you first came in bleeding all over. Willard, do you know this guy? If The Tiger has hired him for anything and he got paid, you would have known about it."

After all that Mike sits down heavily and drains his mug of suds. Wiping his sleeve across his mouth he looks at Jimmy and says, "Well, probably more than you were looking for, but there is my thoughts. We need to pick one of us and cut him open to see if there is a badge inside. We keep doing that till we find two badges." Mike appears to be finished when he realizes what he just said and continues, "Damn, it could be cutting a her open instead of a him." All color drains from Mike's face and he begins to shake as he whispers in a barely audible voice, "I can't do that, I can not gut either of those two beautiful creatures."

Mike reaches over the bar and grabs the small first aid kit and throws it to Rick. "Yeah, I can take all that and keep it safe," Mike says as he starts collecting the various weapons.

As he stows the various weapons in a large storage chest off to the side of the bar, Mike can be heard mumbling under is breath, "Damn you Dominick, I should have known you were a snitch, anyone who cheers for the Boston Braves don't know how to pick the right team." After everything is stowed away he closes and locks the trunk before putting the key in his vest pocket.

Mike stands up as the stranger enters the door, softly cursing under his breath before calling, "Lets call play practice for the night guys. Kitty, would you mind collecting all the props and putting them away?"

Moving toward the door he pauses briefly as he passes Rick and says in a good natured joking manner, "You are used to cleaning yourself up after a good beating, can you look that young man over and make sure he is ok?"

Continuing toward the door he gives Geoffrey and Jimmy a quizzical look, "The Boss locked the door, right? I should have checked the door myself. Stupid, stupid, stupid!!! Mike opens the door, looks around quickly for others before closing and locking the door.

Turning around he looks over the intruder to see if he recognizes him, "You look like you have had a tough night fella. Who suggested you visit our stage?" After a short pause he continues, "Do we know you?"

With the door locked Mike shrugs and joins the gathering crowd at the bar. "I guess there is no need for a doorman with the door locked and no one else allowed in," the large man says with a shrug as he claims a stool.

"Jimmy, the Boss said he wants me here but not on the door tonight, guess that means I can enjoy the bar. A shot and a mug please my good man. Geoffrey, what you cooks have simmering and smelling good on the stove tonight?"

As he waits for his drinks Mike looks about the room, frowning at the small crowd. Not to question the Boss, but why lock the doors tonight, especially if the rumor is true and MaGuffin's was indeed raided, this is the logical spot for that crowd to go. As Mike's mind touches on the thought of the raid his eyes narrow suspiciously as they land on the overly boisterous Corbyn.

I shall claim the position of doorman.

Though a little slow I am usually able to work through most problems if given time to mull them over. As the primary doorman I know all of the regulars and most of the semi-regulars quite well. It is important to me to be able to greet people by name and inquire about that which is important to them. I want all customers to know they are appreciated.

I do not want to appear to question "The Tiger" but knowing the people in this room I believe there was a mistake, or he was fed misinformation. I am quite certain at the end of this we shall be proven loyal.
After all, this gin-joint and all the regulars are the bee's knees.

Looking forward to it!!

Just checking in to see if there is any word on when/if a new game will start. This was a lot of fun, really hoping to see another.

I always worried I was posting to much.

I did really try to never associate the creatures with "bad guys" or monsters. I am sure I slipped up here and there, but I tried to make it anytime I said monsters or bad guys I could have been talking about the humans instead of the creatures. I went in with the premise that the humans broke into our sleeping chambers and abducted us. We wake up and this cat attacks, we had to defend ourselves. That lead to another attack and us having to use our ability to blend in. Next thing we know we are trapped in this station with a bunch of evil humans trying to kill us off. It was a very terrifying ordeal!

I had a great time, and am very much looking forward to playing again.

The vote that Duke Leto was voted to be lynched. The round before I had scanned Sven and learned he was the other creature. I decided I did not believe that to be the case as every scan previous had proven to be false, so I thought I might as well assume this one was false as well. As the time ran down I realized that if Sven was the creature we could win by eliminating Duke Leto and Alexander, that would leave the roommates and the two creatures, so I withdrew my vote. Of course the scan was indeed wrong, I swore when Leto was revealed to be the other creature. At that point I was sure the humans would carry the day. Sven was just so damn convincing. I am quite certain if he would not have had to miss time during the week he would have convinced Dash and Robert to vote for me.

Again, I really enjoyed the game. Please let me know when the next one is set up.

I also want to thank Meows, it was a great game. I look forward to the next one.

I am getting drug out to dinner tonight, so will have to wait to post until I get back, but I told wife she is going to have to put up with me checking my phone to see if there is a change of votes in the final minutes.

Mike groans, "Oh you are so noble."

Mike takes a step towards Sven, his voice hardening and growing quiet, "You, it is you who led an infiltration into a scientific outpost quietly collecting data. It is you who have murdered and caused the deaths of some of the best minds on this planet. It is you who will next be strapped into that damn machine and pay for it!""

After a moment to collect himself Mike turns to Dash and Robert, "I will not make any more speeches, Robert knows who the monster in this room is. Vote and send this creature to his well deserved death."

Mike rolls his eyes at Sven, "Leave the man alone you monster. You say all these things you would not have done if you were not human, I can say the same. The previous vote was tied, it would have remained so if I had not changed my vote at the last minute. I knew then you where a monster, and it will take another vote, but you will get your due now."

"Red Robert and Dash, you do need to speak up. Speak and inform this monster that his time spent terrorizing the innocent has come to an end."

Mike wakes with a start, looking around with panic in his eyes. "Damn, it is not a dream!"

Standing up he backs away, getting as far as possible from Sven. "You did not let him do anything to me as I slept, did you?" Mike asks Red Robert and Dash as he glares at Sven with distrust.

"Sven, you have connived and swindled since the beginning. You have run out of victims, we know you are the geneticist. Robert and Dash, please do not let him use his unnatural abilities of persuasion to affect your decision."

Changed my vote right as I was leaving work, had to make the drive home wondering if I had chosen correctly. Of course had to hit every red light on the way home!

Mike stares in horror at the bodies before bowing his head. "A hero till the end Alexander."

"Sven you have played the game well, but now we know for sure. You sir are the nunliff geneticist. It was hard to withdraw my vote as I was certain, but now there can be no doubt."

Mike votes for Sven

"aarrrrggghhhh!!!! Good lord, someone make a decision, otherwise one of us will die and we will be no closer to figuring this out. Damn-it, I am so wishy-washy.

Mike withdraws his vote for Sven

"I know by retracting my vote for Sven I am voting for you Duke, I am just trying to ease my conscience by not saying I vote for Duke. I am hopeful someone else changes their vote before the deadline."

Mike pales under the direct gaze of Duke Leto.

"Well crap, I put myself in a no win situation. If you are voted and turn out to be human, which I suspect, then I was the one who made it possible, pointing the finger directly at me. If I reinstate my vote and it stays tied, than the blame gets directed at me."

"If the blame is to be pointed in my direction, I would prefer it to be for saving the life of a human."

Mike votes for Sven.

"Well this is a heck of a mess. I am quite sure on my gut feeling towards Sven, I have no idea on Duke. I do not wish to change my vote. I do not want to be the one who decides. Duke, I am sorry, but we need to vote for someone. Not that it matters, but after Avistan I will not be talked into voting with the mob. While I fear I decide your fate Duke, I will not vote for you."

Mike withdraws his vote for Sven

"I am ready to vote for Sven between now and the deadline if anything changes."

Mike gives Sven a hard look for several long moments. "Damn-it Sven, why you are so damn difficult to figure out. One minute I am sure you are human, swayed by your passionate delivery and constant loud arguments. The next I am certain you are a nunnlif, you put just a little to much effort into convincing yourself and the rest of us you are human."

Mike votes for Sven Iscidae

This vote scares me more than the previous votes, so few of us left, so close to swinging clearly to the other side. That being said, a decision must be made. I pray I have not chosen poorly."

Mike barks a laugh at Sven. "I have done just as much as anyone else here. You worked out the clue on Clive, I worked out the clue we decided to ignore on Avistan. You say Russ mentioned he thought about voting for Alexander but gained info to change his mind. Thinking back to his statement, it could be said he was informing us that Alexander should be voted for, but he did not as that vote would have done nothing but make Alexander aware Russ was on to him. With that in mind it very well may be the case that you and Alexander are indeed the bad guys, twisting the words of Russ to protect each other!"

Mike nods at The Red Robert, "Yeah, I know you and Dash are the roommates, but wanted to leave the possibility that through some crazy Jedi mind trick you were able to pull off somehow claiming to be roommates and the actual roommates not speaking up. I should have said 99.9999%.

Mike rolls his eyes at Sven, "Six of us are left. I can say with 100% certainty that I am not a monster, and with 99% certainty that Robert and Dash are roommates. Sorry guys, but I guess somehow there could be a string of circumstances that the actual roommates have stayed silent allowing the two of you to not face the vote, although I admit that is highly unlikely. I say with 75% certainty that Alexander is human, the test done by Russ could be wrong. That leaves Sven and Duke Leto at high probability."

With a sigh of relief Mike nods at Sven, "I will change my vote as well."

Mike votes for Avistan Tharp

"Sven, I am guilty of exactly two things. 1 - Kraft hired me to hack into Clive's personal files and get all his chees secrets. 2 - Cruella De Vil hired me to gather all of Sven's data on penguins and their habitat. Something about the feasibility of a sustainable penguin population for penguin-skin purses and boots. That is it, I am NOT A MONSTER!!" After his outburst Mike shrugs, "I am not sure what I can do to prove my word"

Mike votes for Sven in a retaliatory move

Mike throws his hands in the air, "What???"

Jimmy posted at same time, so had to edit

"You are correct Sven, I was thinking Alexander had already received a vote. I agree, with the little amount of evidence we have, and the fact that his cryptic clue was correct about Clive, any hint from Russ should be taken as fact."

Mike sits down, thinking deeply, "He did say he almost voted for Alexander, although I got the impression he was expressing regret. If he had voted for Alexander then the vote would have been tied and we would not have strapped Doctor Wilkens to the device. It is something though. Along those same lines, Russ gave Avistan a super secret fist bump, very thin but it is something."

Mick scratches his head in confusion, "How do we know it is not Alexander?" After a moment he continues with a look of suspicion, "Or did the two of you discover something about each other as we were strapping Clive into the chair? No one was killed by the nunnlifs, and now you are protecting someone on no evidence. Is it the two of you?? ARE YOU TWO THE REMAINING NUNNLIFS?" Mike shouts as he points at the Alexander and Sven, backing away quickly.

Mike rescinds his vote for Jimmy. Mike is holding his vote as he watches Sven and Alexander.

Shakes fist at Dash & Red Robert

I really thought I was starting to figure it out, but Red Robert & Duke Leto are supposed to be the roommates!!! Now I am completely lost and do not have any idea who is who.

Walks away grumbling to himself

Mike quickly steps back away the two, looking around for the strike he is certain is aimed at the two who just revealed massive targets upon their bodies. As he backs away he stutters "Of course, it could be the two of you are the nunnlifs, how are we to know for sure? Does anyone else want to put a target on their chest by claiming to be roommates thus disproving their claim?"

As no one speaks, and the retributive strike does not come, Mike eases closer to Dash or Robert relieved to know for certain someone who's identity he can trust.

"Well crap Jimmy, that was the primary piece of evidence I was using to justify my vote." Mike sits down and sighs heavily. "I knew your secret, I had seen it in the files, I never gave it much thought though. What you say makes sense. That being said, you have been different Jimmy. You are always cranky and crabby, but get past that and you are a good guy. Since this all started though I just get a different vibe from you."

After speaking his piece Mike sits quietly for awhile before continuing, "Should I vote for Red Robert?? I do not know him at all, so that would be the easy way out. He has acted exactly the same before and after, I know you basically have as well Jimmy, but like I said, that gut feeling. Vote for Dash? I spent much time tormenting him trying to hide my smoking and him acting all Buford T. Justice about it, is that worth voting for him? The others? How the hell AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW???" Mike finishes in a yell before looking around and repeating in a small soft voice, "damn it, how the hell am I supposed to know????"

Though wavering, Mike keeps his vote for Jimmy.

As Jimmy speaks to him Mike tries to make himself smaller as his face falls even further and turns a pale shade of green. "I am sorry Jimmy. I don't know, but we have to vote for someone." He pauses for a second before continuing in a rush as he looks at Jimmy with a pleading look, "and Jimmy you were taking pictures of the dead why would you take pictures of the dead??"

"It was difficult to vote for Clive, even with the thread of evidence against him. Voting for anyone at this point, on a guess knowing full well I may be sending one of my friends to their death in my ignorance, it makes me ill. I am sorry Jimmy." Mike says, his head hung low, refusing to look at anyone as he makes his vote.

Mike votes for Jimmy

Mike watches in horror as the creature is revealed and fights against the machine delivering it's death. He moves forward uncertainly, thinking the creature will escape, then backs away quickly with a look of "and what exactly am I going to do against that?" look on his face.

"Oh my god," Mike stammers, "That was the most horrible thing I have ever seen!

With a deep breath Mike collects himself, looks around the room at the remaining members of the expedition and launches into a verbal barrage. "8 of us left, 5 humans and 2 nunliff, with no clue who is who. Well, no clue I am aware of at least. Since there was no nunliff attack this time around we have to assume the nunliffs instead spent the time finding each other. This creates a real challenge as they will be able to coordinate their actions. If that is the case then I fear we are even more screwed than Avistan previously mentioned. Of course, Sven may be correct and someone blocked an attack, but I think it would be foolish to proceed not thinking the worst."

Finished, Mike leans against the wall, lights a cigarette and thinks for a moment. "Has anyone noticed anything, or heard some slip of the tongue, that may point towards who should rightfully get hooked up to that monstrous machine next?" Mike asks. As he is speaking he moves to the dry erase board and creates 8 columns, a name of one of the survivors on top of each. Looking at the names he is lost in thought trying to remember any clue.

Sorry have not been active this week, dealing with Dr. Appointments. Plus leaving for MN tomorrow morning to attend step-daughters wedding so not sure will be active over the weekend.

Scratching his head Mike asks in some confusion, "So we know Clive is bad because Russ said Elora's notes said something about cheese being bad?" Mike pauses for a few seconds as he works out the logic in his head before continuing, "I guess that makes sense to me.?.?"

Mike turns toward Clive and stares intensely for several minutes, "I see nothing that would indicate such a thing, no tentacles no nothing. I am truly sorry Clive." Turning away Mike suddenly stops, appears to make a decision and continues, "If we are wrong, I promise I will not sell all your cheese formulas I was able to get from your private files to Kraft like I was planning."

Mike votes for Clive

"I am lost, I felt certain if we delayed it would give the geneticists time to do their work. How is it possible they were both targeted right at the start??? I was positive that was the correct strategy." With a downcast look Mike grabs a drink and lights a cigarette with shaking hands.

"Hey Mike, why is there a photograph of you in here with little hearts colored all over it? Were you and Elora an item?!"

"Oh Elora, you should have let me know for I was drawn to you as well." Mike says quietly before replying to Aistan, "No sir, we where not an "item". She was a woman of even more talents than we knew, and I wish I could have known here better, but we were never more than friends."

Mike grabs a bottle and finds a quiet corner to lose himself in thought.

Mike whispers to Dash while softly patting him on the shoulder.

Good lord, all my post seam to be half hour long speeches. If I keep this up I am going to vote for me just to shut me up!!!

Mike stares at Clive in open wonder, confusion plain on his face.

"Yes, there are two geneticists left, a human and a creature. If we unknowingly vote for the last remaining human geneticist, I dare say the creatures are well on their way to victory. Now, in that scenario, I assume the geneticist would produce evidence and proclaim their position, sparing them from us. That will lead to the nunnlifs targeting the geneticist. I know there is someone among us who could offer protection, but for how long, eventually a misstep would happen and the nunnlifs would attack. Or, by sparing the geneticists from the happy little mob we are becoming, we very well may instead descend upon the very person I am talking about and accidentally kill the only person who could protect the geneticist, which would basically bring an end to this crazy ride!" Mike gasps for air after his long winded rant, draws a deep breath and begins again, "Or I could just be a wimp who does not have the stones to do what needs to be done and am grasping at logical straws in a desperate attempt to keep from justifying a vote. We may get lucky instead of unlucky, so I guess the question we have to ask ourselves is the classic Do you feel lucky, punk?"