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TITANS AND MONSTERS: WINNERS! =============================== Contest Topic Entry List A long and bloody battle was fought and a lone victor has emerged: GSR with his short story: The Days They Were Needed and the Years They Were Not! Congratulations, GSR!! Please PM me with your name and address to claim your Medal of Honor semifinal prize and also your grand prize: a new Star Wars Mandalorian Speeder set! Many brave warriors rose up to defend BZ Koro, and we must honor those who placed in the semifinals, as well. If your name is in bold below, that means I haven't received your mailing address by PM yet. Please send this to me so we can ship you your prize: a randomly-chosen medium sized Hero Factory bag set! ~ Ballom ~ Funcle K. ~ Legolover-361 ~ Sycron ~ Nicolas Cage ~ xccj Of course, the city would be in ruins without the help of our bold contest staff! Please be sure to thank the staff members who made this contest a reality! ~ xccj for fantastic data entry skills ~ Velox for his suggestions and Library support ~ -Windrider- for overseeing Comics, catching details I overlooked, and getting really excited about the theme ~ GSR for overseeing Art and offering great input ~ DeeVee for sharing his fabulous vision of a site-wide creative contest and overseeing BBC ~ Makaru for blessing us with his amazing theme idea, overseeing M&M, and helping me deal ~ Emzee for overseeing FCG and offering valuable ideas ~ Black Six for overseeing prizes and stepping in when things got out of hand ~ Tufi Piyufi for her sage contest advice ~ Nukaya for overseeing SBC and being tons of fun in every way ~ Kakaru for helping out, spreading the word, drawing Angry Micah comics, and getting super excited in general ~ Chocolate Frogs for helping out and offering input ~ InnerRayg for this beautiful contest banner that we kept forgetting to put up because everything got crazy Thank you also to everyone who entered and gave their support! Today, at the edge of our hope, at the end of our time, we chose to believe in each other! Today we faced the monsters that were at our door; today we cancelled the apocalypse! This topic has been reposted due to a recent data loss, for reference purposes. Prizes were shipped.
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TITANS AND MONSTERS! Final Poll Titans and Monsters: Attack on BZ Koro! Contest The winning entries from the semifinals will now compete for the grand prize! If your entry is listed below, please PM me your full name and address to claim your prize from the semifinals! Final Voting begins August 22nd and ends August 23rd at 11:59 pm EDT. Results will be posted on August 25th in a new topic in General Discussion. (most likely in the evening) =============================== 1. Vermillion Tempest 2. The Days They Were Needed and the Years They Were Not 3. Fatal Wound 4. Charge! 5. Mech Vs. Monster 6. Attak on Bionicles 7. Bionicle: Defeat the Titans PLEASE BE WARNED that anyone who attempts to rekindle the argument regarding the comics voting, whether directly or passive-aggressively, will have their proto dropped and posting privileges suspended for a week. Please note that this includes individuals who may feel the need to post their "two cents" on the controversy and how "dumb" they think it is/was. Just don't talk about it. Period; we're done. Thank you.
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Library Semifinal Poll Titans and Monsters: Attack on BZ Koro! Contest The top four entries from Library Prelims were to compete in the Semifinals together. However, since there are 4 entries contending for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place, there are 5 entries to vote on in this poll. Library Semifinal Voting begins August 20th and ends August 21st at 11:59 pm EDT. -> The winning entry from the Library Semifinals will enter the Finals. Final Voting begins August 22nd and ends August 23rd at 11:59 pm EDT. Results will be posted on August 25th in a new topic in General Discussion. =============================== 1. Titans vs. Monsters Entry: A Technic Coliseum Special 2. The Days They Were Needed and the Years They Were Not 3. Perspective 4. Casualty 5. Gaint Frog-Baboon-Wolf Monster That Wants to Eat You
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BBC and SBC Semifinal Poll Titans and Monsters: Attack on BZ Koro! Contest The top four entries from BBC/SBC Prelims have entered the Semifinals together. BBC/SBC Semifinal Voting begins August 20th and ends August 21st at 11:59 pm EDT. -> The winning entry from the BBC/SBC Semifinals will enter the Finals. Final Voting begins August 22nd and ends August 23rd at 11:59 pm EDT. Results will be posted on August 25th in a new topic in General Discussion. =============================== 1. >>> Zardius: Master of Destruction 2. >>> Gorvox 3. >>> Kirzakani 4. >>> Vermillion Tempest
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Comics Semifinal PollTitans and Monsters: Attack on BZ Koro! ContestComics Semifinals Voting begins August 16th and ends August 19th at 11:59 pm EDT.-> The winning entry from the Comics Semifinals will enter the Finals.Final Voting begins August 22nd and ends August 23rd at 11:59 pm EDT.Results will be posted on August 25th in a new topic in General Discussion.===============================1. >>> Attak on BioniclesEntry 1 has been disqualified. The BZPower Rules state, "Respect your fellow members." The use of Greg Farshtey's likeness and quotes is in poor taste and disrespectful. I know if someone had used my face, or made me a character in their comic without asking my permission first, I'd be upset and want it removed. Greg is a person, and even if you don't like what he did with the story or don't like his writing style that doesn't mean he should be villainized.2. >>> The Phantom Terror and His League of Dimwits!3. >>> Opolis Invaded4. >>> Mech Vs. Monster5. >>> Mighty Morphin' Entry 5 has been disqualified. The BZPower Rules state, "BZPower does not condone discrimination or intolerance." This comic contained a racist joke that is not appropriate for BZP.Please recall - the purpose of being able to post in a poll is to discuss who you voted for and why. It is not a place to talk about disqualified entries. It is not a place to argue or tell someone they are wrong for voting in a particular manner. It is not a place to discuss the content of the entries and whether or not the style or anything along those lines is legitimate. It is certainly not a place to use slurs and other inappropriate language. If anyone is found violating the above, they will lose Proto and have their posting privileges suspended.
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BBC and SBC Preliminary Poll Beta Titans and Monsters: Attack on BZ Koro! Contest BBC/SBC Preliminary Voting begins August 14th and ends August 17th at 11:59 pm EDT. -> The top four entries from BBC/SBC Prelims will enter the Semifinals together. BBC/SBC Semifinal Voting begins August 20th and ends August 21st at 11:59 pm EDT. -> The winning entry from the BBC/SBC Semifinals will enter the Finals. Final Voting begins August 22nd and ends August 23rd at 11:59 pm EDT. Results will be posted on August 25th in a new topic in General Discussion. ===============================1. >>> Fusion Mach 5 2. >>> V12 Foot-soldier Mech 3. >>> Graydahk -Titan AND Monster 4. >>> Kirzakani 5. >>> Vermillion Tempest 6. >>> Frog-Baboon-Wolf Monster That Wants to Eat You 7. >>> White Fury 8. >>> Titan Project WeaponsMaster: Arsenal Primal 9. >>> Nutrakh
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BBC and SBC Preliminary Poll Alpha Titans and Monsters: Attack on BZ Koro! Contest BBC/SBC Preliminary Voting begins August 14th and ends August 17th at 11:59 pm EDT. -> The top four entries from BBC/SBC Prelims will enter the Semifinals together. BBC/SBC Semifinal Voting begins August 20th and ends August 21st at 11:59 pm EDT. -> The winning entry from the BBC/SBC Semifinals will enter the Finals. Final Voting begins August 22nd and ends August 23rd at 11:59 pm EDT. Results will be posted on August 25th in a new topic in General Discussion. =============================== 1. >>> Zardius: Master of Destruction 2. >>> Mutagen Toa Kayn 3. >>> The Mecha-Toa 4. >>> Undersea Cowboy 5. >>> White Defender 6. >>> The Shadowed One 7. >>> The Obsidian Flame 8. >>> Gorvox 9. >>> Massive
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Library Preliminary Poll Beta Titans and Monsters: Attack on BZ Koro! Contest Library Preliminary Voting begins August 14th and ends August 17th at 11:59 pm EDT. -> The top four entries from Library Prelims will enter the Semifinals together. Library Semifinal Voting begins August 20th and ends August 21st at 11:59 pm EDT. -> The winning entry from the Library Semifinals will enter the Finals. Final Voting begins August 22nd and ends August 23rd at 11:59 pm EDT. Results will be posted on August 25th in a new topic in General Discussion. =============================== 1. AQUA MAGNA ATTACK ON MARENDAR 10.1010 THIS IS (NOT) COPYRIGHT INFRINGE 2. Titans V. Monsters SS Entry 3. The Machine 4. Perspective 5. Casualty 6. Gaint Frog-Baboon-Wolf Monster That Wants to Eat You 7. ITT: Hoodie Saves BZKoro Entry disqualified, as the creator is now suspended.
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Library Preliminary Poll Alpha Titans and Monsters: Attack on BZ Koro! Contest Library Preliminary Voting begins August 14th and ends August 17th at 11:59 pm EDT. -> The top four entries from Library Prelims will enter the Semifinals together. Library Semifinal Voting begins August 20th and ends August 21st at 11:59 pm EDT. -> The winning entry from the Library Semifinals will enter the Finals. Final Voting begins August 22nd and ends August 23rd at 11:59 pm EDT. Results will be posted on August 25th in a new topic in General Discussion. =============================== 1. Titans vs. Monsters Entry: A Technic Coliseum Special 2. We Never Wanted 3. The C-Squad 4. Machronicle 5. The Days They Were Needed and the Years They Were Not 6. Hold the Line 7. Hero
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Art Semifinal Poll Titans and Monsters: Attack on BZ Koro! Contest Art Semifinals Voting begins August 14th and ends August 17th at 11:59 pm EDT. -> The winning entry from the Art Semifinals will enter the Finals. Final Voting begins August 22nd and ends August 23rd at 11:59 pm EDT. Results will be posted on August 25th in a new topic in General Discussion. =============================== 1. >>> BZ Koro Titan vs Monster Art entry 2. >>> The Kaita Program 3. >>> A Monster on Titan 4. >>> Face Off 5. >>> Titan vs. Monster entry 6. >>> The Order's Call 7. >>> Fire and Ice 8. >>> Ending Days 9. >>> Fatal Wound 10. >>> Great Spirit
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Music and Movies Semifinal Poll Titans and Monsters: Attack on BZ Koro! Contest M&M Semifinals Voting begins August 14th and ends August 17th at 11:59 pm EDT. -> The winning entry from the M&M Semifinals will enter the Finals. Final Voting begins August 22nd and ends August 23rd at 11:59 pm EDT. Results will be posted on August 25th in a new topic in General Discussion. =============================== 1. Out of the Darkness (The Toa of Light)2. Takanuva vs Makuta3. BZ Koro: The Movie4. Desperate Situation! A Light in the Darkness!5. The Manas and the Kaita6. Charge!7. Attack on the Rim of BZ Koro
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Comics Semifinal Poll Titans and Monsters: Attack on BZ Koro! Contest Comics Semifinals Voting begins August 14th and ends August 17th at 11:59 pm EDT. -> The winning entry from the Comics Semifinals will enter the Finals. Final Voting begins August 22nd and ends August 23rd at 11:59 pm EDT. Results will be posted on August 25th in a new topic in General Discussion. =============================== 1. >>> Attak on Bionicles 2. >>> The Phantom Terror and His League of Dimwits! 3. >>> Opolis Invaded 4. >>> Mech Vs. Monster 5. >>> Part 1 Part 2 >>> Mighty Morphin'
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Fan Created Games Semifinal Poll Titans and Monsters: Attack on BZ Koro! Contest FCG Semifinals Voting begins August 14th and ends August 17th at 11:59 pm EDT. -> The winning entry from the FCG Semifinals will enter the Finals. Final Voting begins August 22nd and ends August 23rd at 11:59 pm EDT. Results will be posted on August 25th in a new topic in General Discussion. =============================== 1. Path of the Mortals 2. The Final Battle for BZ-Koro 3. Seige Of Ga-Koro Minecraft Modification 4. Bionicle: Defeat the Titans 5. Bionicle: Call of Destiny 2D
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>Be on the bad side of BZ-Koro >Innocent bystander in a bar >Wall breaks >It's a giant Silver plated ape looking monster >Everyone screams as monster glares at us with it's red eyes >"Oh no! Where is our protector?" >Silently pray for Hoodie to come >He appears >Ohyesohyes >Admire his all black armor and signature hoodie covering his Kanohi >"Are you ready to throw down, son?" >I know I'm ready >Watch as they start to fist fight >Silver plated ape is on top of Hoodie as they roll across the bar counter >Other bystanders say he'll lose >Tell them to watch the Hoodie win >Both fighters fall behind the counter >Ohnoohno >Hear Hoodie moan in pain >I don't feel the fear clench at my heart because I have faith >Suddenly Hoodie stands up from behind the counter >"See, I told you guys!" >Hoodie sits on counter >Lays down and smokes a cigarette >Feelsgoodman.jpg >Hear him silently say "Hoodie is always on top"
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My days of heroism are long over. It has been centuries since I took up a blade in defense of my people, centuries since I led my friends to victory over any foe that dared challenge us. Centuries since my body rippled with muscles, centuries since elemental energy coursed through my veins, ready to burst forth with unstoppable power. The years since then have been pleasant ones. I lead my people still, though not in battle – my power is found now in wisdom rather than in physical strength. I am an elder now, and, at risk of seeming conceited, a highly revered one. But I am no longer a hero; that role has passed on to another. And I am content with the positions Destiny has placed us in. Well, usually I am. The door to my hut creaks open, revealing a Le-Matoran clad in silver armor – this is the captain of our meager guard force. “Turaga?” “Yes?” “Do you… Um, do you know why those… things are… you know…” I sigh. “No.” He doesn’t respond. Surprised, maybe that there’s something I don’t know. But Rahi the size of buildings aren’t really my specialty. “Do you have anything to report?” I ask, almost fearing the answer. “Well…” He swallows. “The first two haven’t done much in the past two hours, but Spirit knows when they’ll decide some more of us need to crushed into Kanoka.” “The first two?” “There’s… there’s another, sir. A big bear sort of thing, but it’s gotta be triple the size of any bear I’ve ever seen. It… it destroyed Derrus’s house, grabbed him, and–” He closed his eyes and gave a quick shake of his head before regaining his composure. “It’s just sitting there now, sir.” “And how are our forces addressing the threat?” He gave a short, humorless chuckle. “Sir, our ‘force’ is fifteen men strong, as you well know. It was never designed to handle anything stronger than a stray thief or two. Karz, even if we did have the numbers, we haven’t got the training. None of them have ever had any real experience, you know, against real enemies that really want to kill you. Me and Talara are the only ones who’d even have an idea of what to do against one of those things, and I’m not sure if even she could put a dent in any of them. They’re just two #### big.” He pauses, catching his breath, and his expression changes suddenly as though the weight of what he’s saying has only just struck him. “When is she supposed to be back?” he asks quietly. I shake my head. “Whenever she feels–” A deafening roar cuts me off, and the Matoran offers only a brief salute before scurrying out the door. I stare after him, thinking. Because, see, he’s wrong. There’s someone else around who’s been in battle. I step out onto the street and close my eyes, reaching out for power that hasn’t seen use in centuries. When I open them again, my hut is two stories beneath me. I smile faintly. I’d almost forgotten how much fun the Mask of Growth could be. I guess it’s time to be a hero again. Or die. Yeah, probably that. But I like the first one better. We’ll go with that.
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Fatal Wound Titans and Monsters Entry Behold: Tahu stands back as the colossus stumbled towards him, stomach bubbling with a green liquid that spills out in boiling chunks. He wonders if there are more of these creatures, nightmarish titans erupting from the earth itself... He had lured it far from the city, but in doing so abandoned his guard. He hopes the other Toa are at least having an uneventful evening. Ugh I should not have waited until tonight to start.
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Created by Miserix during his time in the Brotherhood, Kirzikani are a fierce breed of draconic Rahi. PIC Head With Jaws Open With Kongu (I sorta procrastinated on this, leading to the choppy look of the legs and the lack of back claws. I'll probably work on those when I have the time.)
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Well. Haven't been here in awhile. Anyway, I heard about this contest way too late and built it as fast as I could in a day and a half. Pretty proud with what I got. White Fury ~U_K~
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Akamai and Wairuha stood stoic in the coast of Metru Nui. It had been half a century since the Toa, the Turaga, and the Matoran returned to their former city of Metru Nui. They thought the Makuta to be dead, but they were wrong. The Makuta could never die, he was alive, hiding, biding until he could have his vengeance. After 29 years of peace, Emergence Day happened. One by one, colossal Rahi-like creatures that could easily tower over the tallest Knowledge Tower emerged from the sea and attacked the islands of Metru Nui, Xia, and Odina respectively. It took seven days to defeat the one at Metru Nui, decimating the entire Vahki force and reserves of energized protodermis to do so. Half of Onu-Metru and the archives were completely destroyed. They needed a new weapon, one that could match the force of these monsters. The Kaita program was initiated. Proposed by the great inventor Nuparu and inspired by the Toa Kaita, the Kaita program was to create giant Exo-Toa, those that could match the size and force of the monsters. The Kaitas, as they were called, however, required multiple pilots to lessen the mental load in controlling the robots, something the Toa Mata has had numerous experiences with. The Kaita program proved successful in defending Ta-metru in the second invasion of Metru Nui and after, all the islands have their own Kaita. Akamai and Wairuha were unique in their design, as being the only Kaitas being piloted by three Toa each, they both had a three-armed design, one main arm on one side and two on the other, and possessed several abilities to overcome their lack of elemental power. Recently, the Turaga discovered how the Makuta was able to create the monsters. In fact, the monsters were not created by the Makuta. It was an artifact buried deep beneath the sea, a Kanohi known as the Kanohi Ignika, the Legendary Mask of Life. It was also rumored to be able to revive the Great Spirit Mata Nui. Only a Destined could use it safely, so the Makuta took the monsters, guardians created by the mask, and infected them to use as his soldiers. If they could use the mask to revive Mata Nui, the Great Spirit should be able to put an end to the Makuta. The Toa Mata could not go in case another attack occurs on Metru Nui so the Turaga sent a team of Matoran comprised of Jaller, Hahli, Matoro, Hewkii, Nuparu, Kongu in a prototype Nui to retrieve the mask. All Akamai and Wairuha could do was wait. They must hold the line at the coast and prevent the monsters from attacking the city and hopefully hold them back long enough for the Matoran to complete their mission.
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~For ages the two have struggled- those who fight and those who are fought. The hero and the beast, the spectre and the dream, the monster, the titan. And as untold ages pass, the cycle repeats, creating new fighters in the battle of ages.Sometimes these fighters are heroes But most of them are mad... Sometimes a madman is stuck into situations beyond the control of their shattered mind, beyond anything they could ever dream of. Sometimes a madman must become a hero...Sometimes a hero must become a casualty.Sometimes dreams are the end of lives Thumbnail (.JPG) .PNG Version This was an attempt to portray the meeting of Annona and Telluris, specifically the end of the latter's life. C&C greatly appreciated.
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Presenting the Nutrakh Brickshelf folder The Nutrakh drive the toa into the gates of BZ-Koro. The toa barricade themselves in with the matoran, but they know it won't hold them forever. There must be Hundreds of Nutrakh at the gates. What will happen? Will the toa survive? Cue the dramatic music...
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Talk about last minute, ey? Good evening to you, awesome BZPers!! I've been away for quite some time due to being busy with....let's just face it. I got bored. Don't judge me!!! Here's my entry to the Monsters and Titans contest. Or Titans and Monsters contest. Meet Zardius!!! He's a mighty being that rose from the Archives to destroy the invading monsters. His Hammer, Sunder, is a mighty weapon, capable of carving craters into the ground. Its shock waves can shake mountains. Figuratively. Almost. I dunno, guys. Last minute entries SUCK! And the photoset. Hope you like it!! Best of luck to all
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SoundCloud linkThis is my entry for the music category of BZPower's Titans and Monsters contest. It's a little rushed (I only began composing it a day or two ago), but overall, I like it. The composition is meant to portray the onset of a battle between the contest's titular factions. I took care to stay away from obviously electronic instruments.This piece was composed in Linux MultiMedia Studio. Some audio work was done in Audacity.Feedback would be appreciated.
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Casualtyby Legolover-361 * * * “And now we join our field reporter, Susan McConnell, right on the scene. Susan?” “Yes, thank you, Isaac... No riots yet in New York City, but terror is in the hearts and minds of many New Yorkers this morning. The mysterious figure standing on the horizon is unlike anything we’ve seen before. It looks vaguely humanoid from a distance with two arms and legs — you can see it there, in the ocean —and it hasn’t seemed to move at all since, um, this morning. We don’t know yet — authorities don’t know what it’s doing, what it is, but we’re told that they’re looking into it. “It’s emitting very powerful radio waves on a wide array of frequencies; authorities haven’t yet, um, interpreted what message, if any, they contain, but we’re assured that the waves carry definite signs of intelligence. It’s possible the figure we see on the horizon is automated, but until we can get a better scan of it, we don’t — won’t know if it contains any life.” “So — Susan — it hasn’t made any movements?” “No, Isaac, and that’s the odd thing. Authorities are — they’re saying that they are, uh, looking into it, looking into finding, um, more in depth methods of scanning the thing; there’s a lot of radio interference that’s fouling the readings, or so I’m told.” “Are there — are there any theories — I mean, about what that thing is or could be?” “Believe me, there are plenty — uh, I’ve heard plenty of them, from... concerned citizens, from authorities, from everyone. There are a lot of rumors going around, you know; some people say this is an alien, uh, construct, and the authorities are saying that this, uh, figure is very unlikely to have originated from Earth.” “Any indications of what it’s made of?” “No. As I said, the radio interference is — is, uh, fouling up our instruments. Authorities are baffled. What? — excuse me—” “Susan, what is it? — who are you talking to?” “...I’ve just received word that the strength of the radio interference is increasing.” “Increasing?” “Yes, it’s increasing at a — well, what may be a slow exponential rate but an exponential rate nonetheless. Authorities advise NYC’s citizens to remain on alert, to stay inside their homes, and to—” “Um, Susan, your — your audio is, uh, breaking up—” “It must be the interference — disrupting radio waves — oh my God, what is it do—?” “...Susan? Susan? Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve lost contact with Susan. We’ll report on further updates as soon — regain contact — producer’s telling me we’re breaking—” * * * From a distance and through thick cement walls, the sounds of battle — of gunfire and shouts and explosions — were reduced to a hum. In the dark, it seemed especially eerie. Antoinette Bickering stared at the ceiling, a blanket pulled around her body, and wondered how loud the cacophony was outside. War’s deafening volume ought to be obvious, but she had never truly considered it until it came just outside her door. Time passes oddly in the dark: She couldn’t recall how long ago she had run into the cellar upon the wailing of sirens and the shouts of emergency personnel to secure your things and yourselves, there wasn’t much time. The urge to peek outside was great, but Antoinette had long ago accepted that she was, at heart, a coward; she would probably faint if she saw what was outside, and she might bump her head as she fell, and then she’d be unconscious in her cellar with the door open, her head bleeding, and her heart threatening to give up on her. Better to stay put. Apart from a couple books, a flashlight, her blanket, some canned food, and a handheld radio that could at the moment only play static, her cellar contained a few stacks of cardboard boxes that she had never bothered to unpack after she moved to her current home; an electrical outlet; two long, wooden shelves on opposite sides of the cellar; and a single light bulb dangling from the ceiling. The light bulb had flickered annoyingly when Antoinette had tried to turn it on, so she left it off. Reading was impossible in the dim light, but her nerves were probably too frazzled to permit reading even under satisfactory illumination. A dull boom shook the cellar. Antoinette’s next inhale drew dust into her lungs. She coughed and, with an effort, doused her urge to light a cigarette. Outside the door, someone screamed. Machine guns roared in response. The cellar rumbled as if an oil tanker of monstrous proportions was driving by. There was another scream — the cellar was rattled again — someone was pounding on the door, crying, “LET ME IN! PLEASE, LET ME IN!” Antoinette froze, her mind vacillating between “fight” and “flight”. She could just curl up under her blanket, said the voice inside her head. She didn’t need to open the door; it and her cellar walls were the only defenses she had against whatever dangers lay outside. The poor soul out there should have found shelter... Now the voice was distinctly sobbing. “Please,” it wailed. The pounding grew arrhythmic, interrupted sporadically by the doorknob rattling. “Please...!” The blanket fell to the floor as Antoinette stood up. She opened the door quickly, catching only a glimpse of a gaunt figure before pulling him — or her? — inside and shutting the door. Her fingers were damp when she drew them away. She fumbled for the light chain and yanked on it; the light was uncertain but enough to illuminate the red stains on Antoinette’s fingers. She swallowed her trepidation and instinctively looked around for a sink. Her cellar had none. The figure had curled into a fetal position on the floor, mumbling “oh God” at odd intervals in a voice deep enough to be male. He raised his head and, for the first time, looked Antoinette in the eyes. His face was thin, pale, and dotted with stubble. A roman nose cast a shadow over his right eye. Blood covered his forehead and cheek, gleaming in the sort of morbid fashion Antoinette had only ever seen in the old horror films she had watched. “You saved me?” he whispered before a coughing fit racked his figure. There was blood on his shoulder, too. And on his chest. And his knee. Antoinette pursed her lips, looking from him to the only blanket she had thought to bring down. “I don’t know,” she said. * * * The first aid kit Antionette found in one of the cardboard boxes was a godsend. She only regretted finding it after using her only blanket to tie up one of the man’s wounds. He was disoriented: uncertain diction, slurred tone, muddled sense of time, and spotty memory. His actions were drunken but somehow scarier than that — maybe because Antoinette could tell they weren’t from alcohol consumption but from blood loss. He called Antoinette “Mom” twice (it didn’t help that she was old enough to be his mother), said something vague about an explosion, and once seemed to entirely forget where he was. Taking off his shirt to better treat his wounds revealed burns along his right side. In a couple places, the top layers of skin had burnt away. Not knowing what else to do, Antoinette covered his arm and torso with burn ointment and left it uncovered. His right eye’s pupil was milky; Antoinette gathered from snippets of their conversation — or what could be deemed analogous to conversation — the explosion that wounded him had also blinded him. Or maybe he tripped and blinded himself by falling on a rock. He was unclear on the subject, and Antoinette was afraid to ask too much of him. What else she did gather was thus: His name was Grant. His last name he mumbled indistinctly. It could’ve been “Johnson”, “Joseph”, maybe something odd like “Joma”, or a few other names besides; Antoinette couldn’t get him to repeat it. He was twenty-something; his birthday was in October, or maybe September. He had been at a friend’s store when the warnings came and hid out there, but it had no cellar; the aggressors blasted out the front glass windows as they passed and shot his friend through the head. Grant waited until they were gone before running outside. That was where his clear memory ended: ergo, when the explosion must have occurred. As she applied antibiotics from a little tube using an ear cleaner, Antoinette asked what the attackers looked like. Grant’s eyes defocused. “Like — I dunno, they were kinda big, and God...” He was shivering now. “I nearly died — what the blazes is... I mean, this is just... like...” His loss of coherent speech corresponded with the amount of moisture in his eyes. Antoinette dropped the subject and wrapped a gauze strip around Grant’s right bicep. It was dyed red almost instantly by the blood, but at least the bleeding seemed to subside. Well, she had to tell him sometime... “I don’t think I can help you more. You need professional medical help.” “It’s just a cut, Mom—” “I’m not your mom,” said Antoinette, and she belatedly realized how forceful her reply had been. Sighing, she continued: “The thing is, I don’t know how to get you to medical assistance. You can’t move. I can’t leave you alone. Everyone was explicitly told to stay underground or under whatever cover they could find.” He blinked. “So what’m I supposed to... I mean, what do I do — have to do — no, what does it have to do with me?” “You’ve, um, lost a lot of blood.” An understatement: at least, a statement too vague to describe the bloody mess that Grant was. “If I can’t get you to professional doctors, I’m afraid you could... well, die.” Silence, save for the occasional explosion or gunfire in the distance. “It’s like the stories.” “What?” “Two people alone against all odds... like, dunno, maybe a film? — oh, what’s its name...” He wasn’t himself anymore. Antoinette ended the conversation there; she set him in a position at least halfway comfortable, told him to get some shut-eye, turned off the cellar light, and then settled down in her own corner of the cellar to wait for... Wait for what? Sleep? Help? Anything would do. * * * Antoinette didn’t realize she had fallen asleep till crying awakened her. She sat up; pain flared between her neck and right shoulder, and she acutely missed her bed. Another cry, like a dog wailing, raised the hairs on Antoinette’s back. Blinking, doing her best to ignore the aches of the rest of her body and failing, she stood up. Grant was curled into a ball on his side, shaking with ragged breaths. One of his bandages had ripped, and blood oozed through the tear. He convulsed, making a sound halfway between choking and sobbing, and wheezed. Red dots sprinkled onto the floor. Antoinette grabbed the first aid kit, turned on the light, and knelt by Grant’s side. He didn’t notice her approach. His body shook, and he coughed again, this time expelling more blood. Was it in his lungs? “Grant?” He didn’t respond, only continued his murmuring. Antoinette now realized he was cursing. “Grant,” she said again, touching him on the shoulder. He twitched and moved his face a little. His skin was clammy. “God, I want it to end,” he whispered, and he curled up even tighter. This time, he coughed the blood onto his arms. There was more of it than before; even his lips were tinged with deep crimson. Antoinette looked toward the cellar door. The sounds of gunfire were quieter now. No more explosions or rumbling. She strained but couldn’t tell for sure if she could hear sirens. Was it safe to go out? Grant cried out an anathema and shuddered, his body growing stiff and his words quieting until all Antoinette could hear coming from his moving lips was air. Helpless, she could only give him space. Maybe she should’ve continued with medical school when she was twenty-something — at least she would have better known what was ailing Grant. Maybe she could have known how long he had left, or if he could be saved at all. Any degree of certainty had to be better than standing between Grant and the cellar door, debating between risking her own life or remaining to watch another’s wane. Maybe there were soldiers out there. Or maybe the attackers were the only ones who would see her. She ran through the possibilities. If she remained, Grant would die. If she left, she might die, and if she did, Grant would die too. If she called for help, soldiers could rush in and help, the attackers could break in and kill or imprison her and Grant, or — and this was perhaps the bleakest possibility of all — no one would hear them. Grant coughed up blood and shouted another obscenity. Antoinette closed her eyes and placed her head in her hands. “I’m sorry,” she said to Grant. Then she sat on the ground beside the cellar door, turned away from Grant, and covered her ears. She didn’t hear Grant’s retching. She didn’t hear his final curse. She didn’t watch him expire. But she did hear footsteps. Nausea was her first reaction. She sucked in a breath and held it, ignoring her stomach’s protests, and listened closer. Maybe she was just hearing things. The attackers weren’t hunting people down... were they? As if to respond, the sound of wood and plaster crunched underfoot came from outside. Antoinette uncovered her eyes and looked around. Grant lay unmoving against one wall. She had looked through the cardboard boxes before and found nothing of use as a weapon. Maybe fighting back wasn’t the best idea, anyway. Antoinette was no soldier, just a civilian. If the attackers burst in, she would surrender then and there and pray more fervently than she ever had before — pray that they were taking prisoners. The door was battered from outside. Antoinette recoiled, shoulders tensed, and tried to devise a plan. She could conceal herself by the doorframe and then strike the intruder on the head — if he was wearing a helmet or had a gun, that would be trickier — but what if he decided to shoot first and look later? Again the door was struck, and again, but no plan came to Antoinette. She was still at a loss when the door was burst in and a seven-foot figure covered in armor filled the doorway, moving its gun from Grant to Antoinette and then to the cardboard boxes. It remained there for several seconds as if daring either person to move. Then, unexpectedly, it spoke with a voice that sounded like it was coming from a speaker. “Names?” Heart pounding fiercely, Antoinette indicated herself. “Antoinette Louise Bickering.” She gestured to the body on the floor and struggled with a fresh bout of nausea. “Grant — I don’t know his last name — he’s dead, he was injured by an explosion, I think—” “T14 requesting a medic,” the figure interrupted. It nodded a couple times, then gave coordinates and the street name and returned its focus to Antoinette. “Ma’am, you’re going to have to come with me.” “Who are you?” “A soldier, ma’am.” “I mean — I haven’t seen soldiers like you except in movies.” “We’re part of the TITAN program, ma’am — trained for combat in exoskeleton suits.” “Does ‘TITAN’ stand for something?” “Maybe. I’ve heard rumors. Anyway, you need to exfil, pronto — my pals’ll pick up Grant — come on!” Antoinette hesitated. “Are the attackers aliens? I mean, like, Independence Day style?” “I can neither confirm nor deny that.” The figure gestured animatedly. “Now, ma’am!” She hesitated only a second more and followed. In her head, she said a prayer of thanks for not having retched yet. * * * “...This message will repeat... “This is an emergency broadcast to all citizens of New York City and anyone within a three hundred mile radius. The U.S. military orders all civilians to evacuate to the west. We’ve dispatched soldiers to deal with the threat. Don’t panic — we need this evacuation to be orderly. It’s recommended you take the following steps to ensure the most effective evacuation possible. If you live in Jersey City, it’s recommended you bypass the New Jersey Turnpike...”
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So, here's my entry for TITANS AND MONSTERS. Basically, it's a musical interpretation of the clash between the Manas (the monsters) and the Toa Kaita (the titans) in the darkness of the Makuta's lair. Click below to enjoy. Click me! Now, here are all the details. I'm sure some of you out there know me for my writing, and are surprised to see me entering this contest with a piece of music. Surprise, surprise, I also dabble in musical composition! The idea for a piece inspired by the Manas/Kaita battle came to me almost immediately after seeing the contest. It's a classic battle between titans and monsters, where the heroes unite (like, literally unite) to combat evil foes. It's also a battle where brain triumphs over brawn, no matter whether you read the books or watch the online movies. In short, it's a ton of fun. I started composing this piece with the goal of combining organic and mechanical sounds, because that's always been the spirit of BIONICLE to me. The mystery of 2001, to me, was largely composed of, “Why are these robots on a primitive island?” The combination of organic and mechanical is a big part of why I liked BIONICLE, so I tried to incorporate those themes here. Wooden drums and flutes contrast with synthesizers and the sounds of machinery, invoking a feeling of combat. The rapid escalation in the drums also promotes a feeling of back-and-forth action, followed by a drop of sorts that, to me, brings to mind the moment when the Toa realized the key to beating their opponents wasn't strength, but smarts. Unfortunately, this summer has been very busy for me, so I wasn't able to finish this piece until the last minute, and even then wasn't able to make it as long as I wanted. I wish I could have had a dozen hours to spend on it, but I simply didn't have the time and energy I would have liked to spend on this project. It's far from my best work, but there are things here that I really like (and others I don't ), and overall I think I did a good job. Please let me know what you think! I welcome all comments and criticism.
