Oh… dear. Perhaps this could have been avoided had the team checked on the Little House more than once every few years… but the notice of demolition was probably stuck in the basement lavatory (with a flight of missing stairs and no lights) in a cabinet with a poster labeled ‘Beware of the Leopard’.
I can think of two reasons off the top of my head:
1) they’re worried about bugs hidden in him by Anasigma, remember?
2) they can’t use the official Skin Horse transport while on vacation (or at least without filling out several mountains worth of forms).
I seriously doubt number 2. Nick’s been cleared for vacation time, surely he’d be allowed to take his actual body along. He would, however, likely have to pay for the fuel himself rather than expensing it; I’m not sure exactly how much that would cost, but it’s probably too much for a helicopter on a government pay-cheque.
Perhaps Nick’s helicopter self is following at a distance? (Come to think of it, whatever communication link the robot body has must have one hell of a range, given that it was riding all over creation on a usually underground or underwater high-speed train. Perhaps it’s tachyons or something).
It’s WiFi. Violet checked St Charlie had it before she boarded. And, come to think of it, maybe what interrupted her date with Dr Lee was a loss of signal…
They let Unity drive? I know Sweetheart’s feet are the wrong shape for the pedals and she might not be able to see out, but I’d have thought she’d still be a better choice….
Sweetheart trusts Unity’s driving more than you’d expect. We’ve seen her letting Unity drive a few times already, including in the “Cowardly Lion” and “Wild Things” storylines early in the strip’s run. In this strip, Sweetheart even seems willing to fall asleep while Unity’s behind the wheel. And if that ain’t trust, I don’t know what is.
Well, now we know why The Little House is in danger – and presumably the sapient anamatronic robots inside. So Sweetheart patrols the outside looking for a chink in the fence, then Unity rips it open so the team can enter?
Aside: SH may not trust Nick to control both his ‘real’ body and his drone body simultaneously, but I wouldn’t be in the least bit surprised if in future (possibly not this arc) he finds an excuse to do so. Perhaps have some software installed that would temporarily drop the link to the drone if the Osprey was in danger of crashing (as unlike regular helicopters, the blades can’t autorotate).
They are not built like a regular helicopter. They can technically autorotate, but because of the craft’s design, they would drop like a stone. You would have a better chance of survival if you rotated the wings into airplane mode and attempted to glide.
I thought Tip was going for a “Midwestern frumpy” kind of look to match the Little House and its surroundings. Not that this was a good idea. We have clear evidence from this week’s strips that Tip is off his game, in terms of judgment. I wonder if it’s because this is one of those rare situations where there are absolutely no likely conquests involved?
And after a little whimper…rampage!
Oh… dear. Perhaps this could have been avoided had the team checked on the Little House more than once every few years… but the notice of demolition was probably stuck in the basement lavatory (with a flight of missing stairs and no lights) in a cabinet with a poster labeled ‘Beware of the Leopard’.
It was just another of those minor details that Gavotte made transparent to the rest of the staff….
It saddens me that too many people out there in the world would not recognize that reference.
There’s so much good stuff in there that this old fart’s brain can’t retain it all. I need to read that whole collection again.
In my world, you either get that reference or I shove a book in your face.
“Don’t come back until you’ve read it!”
“It’s Terry Pratchett, right?”
What kind of place would have a sign on the bathroom door saying ‘beware of the leopard,’ anyway? I always wondered about that.
Maybe it’s a Mongol thing . . .
YAY! a Douglas Adams reference, … don’t worry about it, the Vogons will be destroying the planet anyway.
Shade of Vacation with Chevy Chase…
well, if Chevy was dressed in drag that is..
Oh, come on! someone had to say this !!
♪ Holiday Roooooooooooooooooooooad.
Holiday Roooooooooooooooooooooad. ♪
It’s cool that Nick takes a turn at the wheel, but why doesn’t he just carry them? And the expressions in panel 1 & 2…
I can think of two reasons off the top of my head:
1) they’re worried about bugs hidden in him by Anasigma, remember?
2) they can’t use the official Skin Horse transport while on vacation (or at least without filling out several mountains worth of forms).
I seriously doubt number 2. Nick’s been cleared for vacation time, surely he’d be allowed to take his actual body along. He would, however, likely have to pay for the fuel himself rather than expensing it; I’m not sure exactly how much that would cost, but it’s probably too much for a helicopter on a government pay-cheque.
The team doesn’t trust him to control both units at the same time.
http://nickzerhakker.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/11/comment-page-1/#comment-7
Perhaps Nick’s helicopter self is following at a distance? (Come to think of it, whatever communication link the robot body has must have one hell of a range, given that it was riding all over creation on a usually underground or underwater high-speed train. Perhaps it’s tachyons or something).
It’s WiFi. Violet checked St Charlie had it before she boarded. And, come to think of it, maybe what interrupted her date with Dr Lee was a loss of signal…
Looks like the Conspiracy ™ is one step ahead of them…
They let Unity drive? I know Sweetheart’s feet are the wrong shape for the pedals and she might not be able to see out, but I’d have thought she’d still be a better choice….
Sweetheart trusts Unity’s driving more than you’d expect. We’ve seen her letting Unity drive a few times already, including in the “Cowardly Lion” and “Wild Things” storylines early in the strip’s run. In this strip, Sweetheart even seems willing to fall asleep while Unity’s behind the wheel. And if that ain’t trust, I don’t know what is.
Well, now we know why The Little House is in danger – and presumably the sapient anamatronic robots inside. So Sweetheart patrols the outside looking for a chink in the fence, then Unity rips it open so the team can enter?
Aside: SH may not trust Nick to control both his ‘real’ body and his drone body simultaneously, but I wouldn’t be in the least bit surprised if in future (possibly not this arc) he finds an excuse to do so. Perhaps have some software installed that would temporarily drop the link to the drone if the Osprey was in danger of crashing (as unlike regular helicopters, the blades can’t autorotate).
Ospreys can’t autorotate? Why not?
They are not built like a regular helicopter. They can technically autorotate, but because of the craft’s design, they would drop like a stone. You would have a better chance of survival if you rotated the wings into airplane mode and attempted to glide.
(TUNE: “House Of The Rising Sun”, The Animals)
There is a park in Illinois
They call “The Little House”,
Where the joy, my friends, it never ends!
(But my friends just sit and grouse.)
The puppets there are sentient!
They speak, and think, and feel!
So to this park, our team’s been sent
To find out what’s the deal?
Through storm and hail and sleet and rain,
We drive for hours, so long!
But nothing else can beat the pain
Of happy zombie song!
But now we see the gates are barred!
This park they will destroy!
Poor Unity, she took it hard,
Out there, in Illinois …
So, people, you might visit there
If you should get the chance!
But if you wonder, “Is it there?”
You’d best phone in advance!
Oh, bravo.
Another gem from the master!
Ed, Has anyone ever exposed you to Steam Powered Giraffe?
I just want to say that a fit & flare dress was a really bad idea on Tip’s part. Not a good look for him at all.
I thought Tip was going for a “Midwestern frumpy” kind of look to match the Little House and its surroundings. Not that this was a good idea. We have clear evidence from this week’s strips that Tip is off his game, in terms of judgment. I wonder if it’s because this is one of those rare situations where there are absolutely no likely conquests involved?
I think it’s cute. Kitschy, but cute.
It still scares me that Unity can drive.
I still love Unity’s ears; they suit her so well!
My dad is Unity here, and I’m Nick/Tip when he’s singing.