Chapter 2 Preview

It won't be too much longer on the next Shinobi Odyssey update. Here's a little preview of Chapter 2 to tide you over in the meantime:

Inside the room a man with a tattoo on his forehead quivered in terror as a massive thirty-foot long python squeezed him in its coils while staring directly into his eyes. Overseeing the scene was Anko, who wore an amused look on her face while she twirled a kunai by the ring on its handle around her finger.

“Ophidiophobia?” Inoichi asked.

“Oh, yeah…big time,” Anko laughed before walking up to the snake and scratching it affectionately under the chin. “The bad man doesn’t appreciate you like I do. Does he, precious?”

“No, Mistresssssss,” the snake summon hissed while slightly tightening its coils. “Maybe I ssshould jussst eat him?” The reptile positioned its head above the Jaffa and unhinged its jaw as if it was planning to swallow him whole.

The Jaffa warrior stared up into the gaping mouth of the massive serpent in horror before losing control of his bladder.

Ino scrunched up her face in disgust. “Eww.”

Anko merely glanced down at the newly formed puddle on the concrete floor with a satisfied smile before turning back to the three new arrivals. “Well, I think my work here is done. The prisoner is all yours.” She patted the snake on the side of its body. “You’re free to go after Inoichi-kun is finished, Ochi-chan."

The purple-haired special jonin turned to leave after the snake summon nodded its head slightly in understanding. As she passed Ino on her way out, Anko leaned in and said in a conspiratorial tone loud enough for the others to hear, “I warmed him up for your first time, Blondie. Have fun popping your cherry.”

Ino’s jaw dropped in an amazing imitation of Ochi-chan in response to the older kunoichi’s gall.

Anko smirked at the teen before continuing on her way. Once she got to the doorway, she paused, rubbed her hands together in anticipation, and then shouted down the hallway, “OKAY BOYS! WHO’S NEXT?”

A number of groans and what could only have been curses rang out from various cells in response to the sound of their tormentor’s voice.

“WHAT’S THAT NUMBER 8? YOU SAY YOU WANT TO GO FIRST?”

Shinobi Odyssey Progress Report

I currently have a little over 5800 words written for Chapter 2 of Shinobi Odyssey. I have a couple of new ideas that I'm incorporating into the story, so I'm reworking a couple of scenes in Chapter 2 to reflect the changes. The chapter should be in the neighborhood of 6500 words when completed.

Missing Person Alert

Hi, everyone. I have some more serious news I need to bring to your attention. Ben Stanford, a senior at my old high school, disappeared this past Monday and has been declared missing. Here is a recent picture of him and the information the alumni association of my high school sent out:

"Ben Stanford, a senior at The Donoho School, has been reported missing.
Ben is the son of Bill and Lynne Stanford and the grandson of state Sen.
Jim Preuitt, D-Talladega. Ben is also the brother of Will Stanford, '06.

The faculty, staff and students of Donoho ask you for your prayers for Ben
and his family. Please share this information with any members of the
Donoho family who know the Stanford family. Following is information that
appeared in the Anniston Star and the Talladega Daily Home:

Law enforcement in Alabama and Georgia are searching for Ben ,17, who was
last seen Monday morning near I-20 in Lincoln.

According to family members, Stanford weighs 140 pounds and has brown hair
and green eyes, and was last seen about 7:30 a.m., Monday. He was driving
a silver 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee at the time, and the family says they
know he bought gas before getting on the interstate Monday.

The vehicle may have been seen in Villa Rica, GA."

If you've seen Ben or have any information on his whereabouts, please contact the Talladega, Alabama police department at 256-299-0011 (Tip Line). You can also contact the Anniston, Alabama police department at 256-240-4000 (Investigative Department), 256-238-1800 (emergency number), or apd@ci.anniston.al.us.

Update 9/17/2007: Unfortunately, Ben's body was found a couple of days after I made this post. I'm not going to go into the details out of respect for Ben's family and because the investigation is ongoing.

Early Monday Afternoon Progress Report

I'm moving right along with Chapter 2 of Shinobi Odyssey and should have it posted by tomorrow night, if not sooner. I think I've got the one major issue I had with the chapter worked out, so there shouldn't be any major hold ups.

Chapter 9 of Faith of the Heart is also progressing nicely, although there is one scene that I'm not quiet happy with yet.

Update: Sorry guys, you'd better make that Wednesday afternoon or evening. I had to help out a friend with a project Tuesday and didn't get in until late.

Progress Report and Things that Suck

I've got about 3200 words written for Chapter 2 of Shinobi Odyssey and 2500 for Chapter 9 of Faith of the Heart.

On the things that suck side, there's no new manga chapter or anime episode of Naruto this week. Seems Masashi Kishimoto is on vacation and a baseball game ran over into the anime's time slot on Japanese TV.