World Watch OnLine: The UnOfficial Buckaroo Banzai Mailing List
# 148 (3 September 2000)
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Editor: WWatchOne@aol.com
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Contents:
Greetings
Movie avi posted and Soundtrack on Napster?
Re: [World_Watch_OnLine] 147 - 27 August 2000
Dragon Tales
"The Whisper"

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Greetings,

Watching something on the Learning Channel right now.
One of those 'world's most dangerous stunt' type things.
Only of note so far because the location used for
at least a few of them is a dam site familiar looking
to TABB fans.

Also was recently playing with my "Free Enterprise"
DVD (ArcLight sez: check it out!). For those unfamiliar,
it's a comedy about a couple of major s-f fans. They
and their friends constantly pepper their conversations
with dialogue from films and such. Like many of you, probably.
I know I can't be the only one. Anyway, on the DVD, one of the
subtitle options is a 'footnote' mode, explaining the refs.
For the TABB ref (yep, there is one...another reason to check
it out) it mentions "Against the World Crime League" as being
(paraphrasing) "recently re-visited by FOX for an aborted series
attempt." I gotta admit, my hopes were pretty much flagging, but
is this the closest to an official notice of anything we'll get?
(no big...just as long as we get some books/comics out of the
deal somehow)

Later...
ArcLight

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Subj:	 Movie avi posted and Soundtrack on Napster?
Date:	8/27/00 10:55:56 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	scook@nmia.com (Stephen Cook)

Not that I approve of copyright infringement, but I figure most
everybody on this list has a copy already...  The full movie
was recently posted to alt.binaries.movies.  It's in DiVX ;-)
format (see http://www.mydivx.com for more info).  Note:
this isn't the Circuit City divx, it's a type of compression
algorithm called "DiVX ;-)".  The movie is a total of about
400 megs.

Also, has anybody put the soundtrack into mp3 yet?  And
if so, would they make it available on napster?

Thanks,
-fizz

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Subj:	 Re: [World_Watch_OnLine] 147 - 27 August 2000
Date:	9/2/00 8:29:36 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	azset@yahoo.com (Greg Pizzino)

Hey, just thought I'd let y'all know that I got down
to Tulane allright and everything. There's been
reports of less than savory characters painting Banzai
slogans on some campus benches (possible frameup  by
the WCL?).  ANyways, rest assured I haven't forgot
about the story, and it'll have an ending...
eventually.  Well, back to sifting thorugh candidates
for a new strike team.
 
                                Fight The Good Fight,
                                       BBI Infinity

=====
For I have sworn thee fair, and thought thee bright, 
Who art as black as hell, as dark as night.
-Shakespeare, "Sonnet 147"
                                       /)
                                      <OC
                                       \)

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Subj:	 Dragon Tales
Date:	9/3/00 2:47:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	alandsmith@uswest.net (BBI Dragon (Alan Smith))

Well hello!

UPDATE. With a few more hours of work and a little sprinkling of
dragon's wing dust Team-Banzai.net will have a major update sometime
Monday (Labor day).
Here are the teasers:
Several new pieces of fan fic, BBI's, Hanoi Xan, Bunkhouse (with
pictures) and BBcon Round Robin story telling sessions.
Excerpts from: Hanoi Xan's Little Book of Wisdom (thanks to BBI Crazy
Horse for the idea and start)
A new Banzai Button Project with image suggestions and a poll for the
Banzai egroup to vote for their favorite.
Several new essays at the online fanzine Out Of The Blue.
Offerings with downloads of really nice Banzai graphics.
Pictures of Rokit on the Who's Who Wall and in the Rogues Gallery
(complete with a 'criminal profile')
Irregular Science had a possible link to the origin of the Lectroid's
worship of The Flying Fish.
New Recipes from BBI Abacus and one from yours truly.


Banzai egroup.
We've taken note of a disturbing change in our posts to the egroup last
week. The annoying ads that have been at the bottom of all posts/digests
are now at the top!?! So, you have to scroll down a bit to read the
posts now. I've made a polite complaint to the egroup web site and got
this generic non-personal reply for my trouble:
..."Although we are currently unable to provide a personal response, we
will be working on getting the transition complete and our services up
and running in the next few days..."
That's the new owners for you, yahoo.

**** Who've also taken over Webring. I'll be forwarding the message
about this to webmasters when I send this. The ads are annoying, I'll
agree...but would you rather pay for the List?? - ArcLight ****

The Banzai egroup had a good round of discussion and opinions this last
week on the topic of fanfic and Banzai slash. For those who are
unfamiliar with this form of fanfic, it's basically gay and lesbian in
nature. The general consensus was that although we can understand where
some of these ideas 'might' come from, i.e.. all those guys hanging
around together, no strong female characters in the film other than
Penny, Perfect Tommy being so perfect... for the most part the group
doesn't appreciate Banzai slash fanfic.

Banzai Auctions.
I can't believe the bidder who is willing to pay over $30 including
shipping for one of those Jet Car Illusion toys! But it's true. There is
another one or two 'extended versions' of the video up for auction but
I'm not knocking my head against any more walls bitching to ebay about
this clear cut bootlegging. They just turn the other way stating that
they need to hear from the copyright holder. Like THAT'S going to any
time sune, not!
The four bidders that spent $10 for the photocopies of the Great Novel
it's self have not received their purchases yet. I contacted them last
week and asked for an opinion on the (questionable) item. I'll let you
know what they say.


Rokit Files.
We've been doing so-so in the second round of basic obedience class. We
stayed after last week to talk to our trainer about some problems we've
been having with Rokit. It turns out that despite our many attempts at
squashing his tendency to be dominating, he's been very cleaver and
found new subtle ways of thinking that he's higher in the pack then he
should be. We really have to be on our toes with this little 20 pounds
of demonistic terrier, believe it!

Well that's it for another week.

Always True Blue,
BBI Dragon

Random Novel quote:
"Its is in the nature of the mentally ill to wage acts of war upon
themselves, and, as I have said, the gods had not been kind to Dr.
Emilio Lizardo. His strength undermined, he passed the years in tedious
watching and waiting, living in constant terror of himself, some dread
act he might commit."

Team Banzai.net is at: http://www.team-banzai.net/
BBcon archives: http://www.team-banzai.net/bbcon/
Chat: http://www.team-banzai.net/Chat/chat.shtml
Gabbs are scheduled twice weekly
Weds. & Suns. 6 PM PDT/9 PM EDT.
B. Banzai e-mail list:
http://www.egroups.com/group/BuckarooBanzai

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Subj:	Finally, almost the end of The Whisper!
Date:	8/30/00 3:42:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From:	VonZipperMouse


"Buckaroo Banzai" and related characters and concepts are copyright SOMEbody (or at least, that's what we think ).  The story, on the other hand, is copyright 1997-98 and possibly into the next millennium by me, that is BBI Red Di ("Chicago Red's second cousin") (VonZipperMouse@aol.com), and cannot be re-distributed or archived anywhere without askin' me nice first (except, of course, in World Watch One archives, which doesn't have to ask).  This story may contain language and action which some may find PG-13; I'll try to keep it at that level.  Not being entirely familiar with the complete BB Institute background, Red Di welcomes any helpful comments about what happened when and where.  

This story is set after the return of Penny/Peggy as documented in Ernest Cline's screenplay for "Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League", in which Penny is revealed to be Peggy (sorry, hope that didn't spoil it for everyone).
 
(Copies of earlier chapters may possibly be found in the Archives, definitely by writing VonZipperMouse@aol.com)

Here's a reminder excerpt from the last installment, it's been so long:

	Buckaroo continued with an outline of the plan, turning the map over to reveal a floor plan of the hotel.  The plan was to remain much as it was before, with only a few minor changes.  Big Norse would be acting as hotel concierge, to give her a good view of what was happening centrally. The World Crime League's meeting was scheduled during the day, with entertainment scheduled for the evening.  Chicago Red, Big Norse and New Jersey would monitor the recording while Buckaroo stood ready in their headquarters upstairs to direct mobilization, if necessary.  
Assuming nothing would happen during the meeting to necessitate this, they would determine how to proceed after the meeting and before the evening's show.  So far, the plan was that Team Sobriquet would act as cocktail waitresses while Zuzu's Petals, Chicago Red's band, played.  Pecos would make sure the lights stayed low enough onstage so that Chicago Red could still see what was going on out on the floor.  New Jersey and Sihing Will would be under the stage monitoring messages from Chicago Red, who would be wearing an earphone and a mic.  The stage, as it turned out, was high enough off the ground to permit some walking, albeit crouched.  Perfect Tommy and Reno would be backstage with Rawhide.  Peggy and Buckaroo would be monitoring it all from just outside the room, probably in the lobby with Big Norse, in the office behind the desk.


And now, drum roll please, the exciting almost-conclusion of "The Whisper":


	It was the day of the meeting, and the air was thick with tension on both sides.  Buckaroo's band of cavaliers stayed well-hidden, except for Big Norse, who was acting as concierge for the day, and Team Sobriquet, who were in the lounge area getting ready for their "shift" as cocktail waitresses.  The meeting had not yet begun, and Buckaroo was restless in the upstairs hotel suite with Rawhide and Peggy.  Buckaroo had asked for everyone to check in every half-hour, and update status.  He got a call from Reno, who was staying backstage and out of sight.  If he were spotted by the Whisper now, it would be all over.  He, the man responsible for the Whisper's scarred larynx, was the one to keep safe in these tense hours before the storm broke.  And it was brewing; everyone could tell.

Reno's voice sounded tense over the go-phone.  "Buckaroo, everything okay in there?"

"Yeah.  What's going on back there?  Is Chicago Red setting things up over there with you?"

"She finished with the wiring last night.  She's got a major case of the fidgets - she went to the lounge with the rest of her band."

"Well, I guess they've seen her already.  But the Whisper . . . we don't know about him.  Make sure she knows she should keep her head down, if you know what I mean."

"Sure, I'll beep her.  That's the signal that we need her."

"Look, we're only ten minutes to the meeting; we should have everyone in position now anyway.  I'd like Chicago Red and Big Norse to get down on the headphones with New Jersey.  Is he under the stage yet?"

"Yeah, right on time.  Hey, no need to call Red.  Here she comes with Big Norse.  Listen, I'm gonna watch backstage and give them a heads-up if necessary," Reno advised.

"Good call," agreed Buckaroo.  "Big Norse taking notes?"

"Yep.  She's gonna pass anything super urgent on to me to call you about.  Red's going to monitor the connections and New Jersey's supposed to help with any back-up we need."

"Right on.  Let's get rolling."  Buckaroo discontinued and put out a universal message to all on his team that they should now be in position.  "Ladies and gentlemen, we are almost at witching hour.  Into positions, be prepared for mobilization at any time.  Perfect Tommy, you get word out to the strike teams, remote and on-site."

"Will do, Buckaroo," came Perfect Tommy's voice.  "I'll be up there as soon as I can right after."

In the conference room, the heads of the World Crime League anxiously awaited the Whisper's entrance.  Hanoi Xan would not be present for this meeting, because as he said, "I don't go to meetings.  They come to me."  Indeed, no one questioned his absence; it was expected.  The Whisper would be in charge on this day.

The Whisper entered the room, and suddenly the background noise stopped.  New Jersey could hear the sound of  footsteps over the headphones, and of chairs scraping as the other World Crime League members stood quickly in the Whisper's presence.  He raised his eyebrows.  "I didn't realize what a big deal this guy was."

Big Norse shrugged.  "Apparently."

Over the headphones, the Whisper's voice came through loud and clear; he was wearing an amplification device so his voice could be heard by all, in spite of his throaty whisper.  "Gentlemen.  Thanks for coming today.  I know many of you have come a long way, and I also know that Shorty Burke and Mr. Lucky have done a lot of work arranging accommodations and entertainment, so I won't draw this out any longer than I need to.  I want to leave plenty of time for questions.  What I do want to say is, our time is nearly at hand.

"I also want to say that in all likelihood, Banzai and his little band of merry men - and women - know about it." 

A general murmur broke out then, to which Chicago Red rolled her eyes and muttered, "Rhubarb, rhubarb," the universal joke-mumble.  

"That's okay," replied the Whisper.  "That's okay.  Because frankly, we'd be stupid if we thought they didn't know at least some of what was going on.  As a matter of fact, they may even be in this very hotel, listening in on this very meeting."  Again, noises of consternation broke out in the conference room, although it was well-controlled in the presence of the Whisper.  "Hey, I said it's okay.  Because they don't know everything, and if they think I'm going spill anything huge here today, they're not as bright as everyone seems to give them credit for."

Chicago Red made another face, and Big Norse laughed.  "He thinks a lot of himself, I take it," Big Norse said. 

"Well, he is nuts," Chicago Red added.  "Okay, so no global mobilization is going on right now, correct?"

"Maybe," New Jersey sighed, "but don't trust a master criminal.  Especially a crazy one."

"So, Whisper," called out a voice in the room.  "What is the big plan?  I mean, what can you tell us?"

Chicago Red looked suddenly different.  "I know that voice."

"Who?" asked Big Norse.

"I don't know, it's just familiar."

"Shhh, Whisper's talking again," New Jersey interrupted, shushing them.

"A good question from one of my oldest and best operatives.  Anyway, here's the deal.  I know I can stand here and talk about big plans till I'm blue in the face, but until I start talking specifics, it's just talk.  So here goes: throughout the United States, there will be a series of massive explosions, all timed to take place within two days of each other.  By that, I don't mean one happens one day and two days later, there's another.  I'm saying that half will go one day and the other two days later, just when people think it's safe to come out of their houses again. The government will be thrown into mass confusion, the armed forces will be useless, and that is where you fine fellows come in.  

"When the fateful day arrives - and it will, very soon - we will want each of you to mobilize your forces to take over -"

Suddenly, the line went dead.  "Crickey!" whispered Red fiercely.  "It's the damn wire.  I need to fix it."  She started packing a few small tools in a make-up bag - her version of camouflage.

"Hey, wait a second!" New Jersey whispered as loudly as he could and still call it a whisper.  "What, are you going to just go in with a janitor broom and a fake mustache or some damn thing?"

"Duh!  No," she replied, rolling her eyes again.  "Don't worry, I wasn't planning on going in the room.  It's probably the extension set up in the hall near the door.  It should be a breeze, and an important little breeze at that.  New Jersey, cover me, make sure they don't grab me or anything."  

"Right.  Get going, you guys," nodded Big Norse.  "I'll let Buckaroo know what's up."

Chicago Red and New Jersey moved quietly through the darkened ballroom and cut through the lounge to the hallway.  The conference room was at the end of the hall, the entrance guarded by two big men in suits.  They ducked back into the lounge and she turned to New Jersey.  "Stay in the lounge behind the bar.  I'll hit the go-phone if I need you - here, I'll set it for your number."

New Jersey hesitated.  "What kind of back-up is that, hiding behind a bar in the next room?"  

"Smart back-up," she replied.  "They know who you are, and you won't do anyone any good if you're dead.  Besides, I'd never get to see that weird cowboy outfit again."

"You make a good argument.  Okay, I'll be here.  Grab me when you're done."

"Right."  She walked back out into the hallway until she got close to where the split in the extension was; she recalled running out of line and fusing two ends of wire together; unfortunately, the one wire served both mics in the conference room.  The two ends had not been properly spliced together, and she now had to splice them again.  It was a simple job, not requiring tools.  She was relieved at this, as any long pause would certainly raise the suspicion of even the dullest security guard.  She pretended to spill some make-up on the floor next to the failed splice, even making an annoyed noise for the benefit of the guards, who watched her curiously.  She blocked her hands with her body as she quickly twisted the wires back together and shoved them back along the side of the floor, near the phone line which camouflaged it.  As she picked up her lipstick, she heard the conference room door open and close behind her.  She heard a voice - the same voice that sounded familiar before - tell the guards, "I'll be right back.  I forgot an important file that the Whisper needs."  He walked down the hall, pausing by Chicago Red.  "Need a hand with that?"

"Uh, no.  Thanks, I got it," she replied, disguising her voice for a reason that even she couldn't identify.  No, that was untrue; it was instinct.  It was taking over right now and telling her not to look this man in the face or else it would be over.  He walked on, and then she did look up.  "Oh my God," she whispered to herself.  It couldn't be.  She followed the man, trying desperately to get a glance at his face from a distance, where he could not get a good look at her.  She finally did, as he was heading up the stairs; she saw his profile, and then she knew.  She knew it was true.

Suddenly, everything started to fall into place.  The inside person on the CIA, everything.  She all but ran back to the lounge and grabbed New Jersey from behind the bar.  "New Jersey!"

"What?  What's wrong?  Did they spot you?"  He stood up suddenly, fumbling for his gun.

"No, but I sure spotted them," she said, out of breath.

"What do you mean?"  He looked at her shaking hands as she pushed her bobbed hair away from her face.

"While I was fixing the wire, the guy - you know, the one who I said sounded familiar? - he came out of the room.  No, I don't think he knew what I was doing, but -- New Jersey, he's behind it!  I mean it, this is big!  We need to get to Buckaroo fast!"

"Hold on, hold on," he said, holding onto her arm to keep her from running up the stairs.  "You can't just go running up there, and I certainly can't.  They'll spot us.  We'll use the go-phone.  Now, what's going on?"

"The man, he's Norman Brass with the CIA."

"Tell me you're making that name up."

"New Jersey, don't joke.  It's serious.  I need Sihing Will - he'll know what it means."  She seemed almost on the verge of tears now, something he hadn't expected.

"Hey, Red, slow down.  This guy, you knew him from the FBI?"

"Knew him!  Does the term 'arch-nemesis' mean anything to you?  He's the reason why I was forced out of the FBI, and Sihing Will quit.  And now it's all coming together here, now.  I know what he was up to, the sneaky bastard.  The whole time, he was using his position to cover up his work for the Crime League.  Who knows what he's helped them get away with over the years?"  She shook her head.  "Let's get back under the stage - we can't risk getting caught now.  This is way too important."

They rushed back under the stage, where Big Norse and Reno had been joined by Pecos.  Chicago Red told them of the situation, and Big Norse got on her cellphone to the front desk to look up Norman Brass' room number while Reno called Buckaroo.  Big Norse, looking up from her cellphone, shook her head.  "No dice.  No Norman Brass listed."

"Figures," sighed Pecos.  "Why can't someone use an actual name for once in this business?"

Chicago Red snapped her fingers.  "Try the name Hoover."

"Hoover?" repeated Big Norse, both to Chicago Red and into the cellphone.

"Yeah.  He loved Hoover, ya know, the FBI head honcho for so long?  Hoover was a major weirdo, but Brass loved the guy.  If he gets e-mail, that's probably his password."

Big Norse nodded.  "Room 310.  Norman H. Hoover."

"Bingo!" grinned Pecos.  

Reno, on the go-phone with Buckaroo, passed on the information.  

Buckaroo instructed, "This man is the key to disarming the triggers at all those sites.  Okay, the Whisper is the red herring.  What we really want, is whatever's in Brass' room.  He must have those papers in the meeting with him now.  Who knows, maybe that's what he went to retrieve.  It's pointless to do anything now, the information we need is in that conference room.  No, we'll have to move tonight, during the entertainment."

"But Buckaroo, how do we manage that?" Reno queried.  "His room's got to be watched.  It's be almost impossible to get in there."

"Not if you're me.  And Perfect."

Perfect Tommy, in the suite with Buckaroo, Rawhide and Peggy, looked up from the window.  "You call me?"

"Later," Buckaroo said, dismissing Perfect Tommy.  He returned to the go-phone.  "Okay, Reno.  Hold tight.  Keep an eye on things down there, and have Big Norse keep us posted.  If we can get the goods on these guys on paper, we can bring them down tonight for conspiracy, to say the least."

They signed off for the moment, and the group under the stage was excited at the prospect ahead.  Big Norse returned to her headphones, monitoring the meeting.  Reno shook his head.  "I just hope I can get the Whisper, once and for all."

"Not as much as I hope I can take down Brass," added Chicago Red, shaking her head.

"So what's the way-back story on him, anyway?" inquired New Jersey.  "A person has to do quite a bit to become an arch-nemesis, I'd say."

"Well, you're right.  This guy had it in for me from Day One, and now I think I understand why.  I was teamed with Will when I was in the FBI; you know that much.  I was in forensics, specifically in medical science, dealing with post-mortem wounds.  I know, I know, sounds exciting.  Will and I only teamed up when we had to go out into the field and investigate crimes.  You know, I'd check out the body at the scene, and tell the guys what to take samples of there at the scene, and Will would do a lot of the actual footwork and then oversee running down the information on VICAP and utilize every computer resource he could to help in the investigation.  

"Now, this one case - my last case - Brass was called in on.  I'd already fallen into his bad graces and I into his because I gave testimony at a trial that brought down one of his buddies in a drug-running case.  Lucky for him, he managed to distance himself in time to appear totally innocent and unaware of his agency friend's doings."

"I thought that CIA stayed out of criminal investigations," Pecos ssaid.

"Normally, yes.  You might see a Justice Department fella sniffing around, but normally that's about it.  It's hard enough for Feebs working with the local badges without dragging any more government agencies into it," nodded Chicago Red.  "The case was the kidnapping and murder of the wife of a senator.  You may be familiar with the case.  Got a lot of press 'way back when."

"Oh, hey, was that in the South somewhere?" asked New Jersey.

"Yeah, you got it.  Well, the honorable Mrs. Whittaker was found in a swamp - and in no great condition, let me tell you - after she'd been missing for about a week.  Ransom negotiations had gone awry because the FBI - well, Will Chang - was getting too close.  He still thinks it was a Crime League thing.  That crime scene was a mess, but I tackled it more carefully than I'd ever done.  We got bullet shells, footprint moulages, photos from every angle, samples from under her nails, all over her.  All this stuff could help tell us where she was kept, and who kept her.  And I did all of this, with my team, with Mr. What's-His-Pickle standing there breathing over my shoulder.  And guess what happens to the evidence?"

"Mysteriously disappeared?" Pecos prompted.

"How'd ya guess?  Yeah, the physical evidence and the shells vanished.  All we had left was the moulage and the photographs.  Big whoop.  The body was cleaned up by the time we figured out the physical evidence was gone.  And guess who took the heat?"

"You."  New Jersey said quietly.

"With Sihing Will a close second.  The Senator was screaming for blood, we were facing a serious investigation, and I'd had it.  I quit, and Sihing Will followed right after.  And that, folks, is the sad true story of my speedy exit from the FBI."

"So this guy was covering up for the World Crime League, who was hoping to get a hefty ransom but then panicked and killed Mrs. Whittaker?" Reno reiterated.

"Yeah."  She shrugged.  "Well, I've got his number now."

- To be continued... - 

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