And once again, we’re reminded as to _why_ mad scientists have yet to take over the world. Although I remain convinced that the Mads on St. Charlie are flaky even by mad science standards (Helen Narbon and Mom, along with Madblood, always struck me as as more _effectual_ than the St. Charlie gang. Sure, they didn’t take over the world either, but at least they were unlikely to be overcome by the first wide-awake cub scout they ran into, or at least they kept around minions that would figure they should shoot the cub scout)
I think the St. Charlie denizens can only function the way that they do BECAUSE they are… naive? Trusting? Ineffective?
The point being the parts of their mindset that lets them cooperate on a wider scale like this are the same parts that leave them vulnerable to so many things. The Narbons, Madblood, et cetera, are all too… ruthless? Proud? They don’t play nice with other Mad Geniuses for the most part.
Obviously, they *can* co-exist and even form proper relationships, but they wouldn’t be able to form a community the way St Charlie did because someone would eventually destabilize someone else’s molecules.
Preoccupied is a great way to put it, actually – and what makes other Mads more dangerous and less vulnerable is that they’re *competitive*.
The Mads of St Charlie are doing their own thing, having fun, enjoying yogurt but Mads like Helen and Tigerlily are ambitious and seek world domination.
The former can form a community because if all you want to do is violate the laws of God, Physics and/or Nature then why not do it with friends? The latter is more likely to see anyone trying to approach them as a threat to be inseminated with gerbils.
It might not be her fault. In any universe ruled by the Law Of Funny, it is actually physically impossible for anyone to say something like this unless the “it can’t be that bad” situation has already been set up… at which point, the Law compels somebody say to it (“the irony of the universe tends towards a maximum”).
So, she may not have had a choice in what she said here.
Oh my. Does Mr. Green intend to subvert St. Charlie to his cause? Or does he see them as a problem to be eliminated? Which is worse? In any event, I hope he regrets delegating the Kansas operation to subordinates.
I really like Towering Barbarian’s suggestion that Tip impersonate James. After all, James could march into Dr. Englebright’s office with an org chart proving she deserves Emerald-level clearance! Perhaps adding the suit to convince HR to go along?
I must also mention how nice Nera looks. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Tip gave her a makeover!
Mr. Green isn’t opposed to mad science; he’s opposed to non-human sapients. Although there’s a lot of NHS’s on St. Charlie, his goal is more likely to leverage the naïve destructiveness of the humans onboard than to destroy it.
With all due respect, I would like to point out that posting a link to a TvTropes page, without a conspicuous warning, may be a violation of 16 CFR § 1500.121 and could subject the poster to extreme approbation.
Now, now, this might not be as bad as it seems. One of the mads in St. Charlie might accidentally disintegrate the lot of them while showing off his device for enlarging closet space or some such. Murphy’s law swings both ways after all.
Mr. Green doesn’t work at the building. So Tip won’t run into his skill thing. He’s not there right hardly, but he’s out at St. Charlie, so all systems are go if they’re willing.
“Common sense would be cheating.”
And once again, we’re reminded as to _why_ mad scientists have yet to take over the world. Although I remain convinced that the Mads on St. Charlie are flaky even by mad science standards (Helen Narbon and Mom, along with Madblood, always struck me as as more _effectual_ than the St. Charlie gang. Sure, they didn’t take over the world either, but at least they were unlikely to be overcome by the first wide-awake cub scout they ran into, or at least they kept around minions that would figure they should shoot the cub scout)
True enough. I think even Imogene Frog would probably have better security measures than the St. Charlie crew. 🙂
I think the St. Charlie denizens can only function the way that they do BECAUSE they are… naive? Trusting? Ineffective?
The point being the parts of their mindset that lets them cooperate on a wider scale like this are the same parts that leave them vulnerable to so many things. The Narbons, Madblood, et cetera, are all too… ruthless? Proud? They don’t play nice with other Mad Geniuses for the most part.
Obviously, they *can* co-exist and even form proper relationships, but they wouldn’t be able to form a community the way St Charlie did because someone would eventually destabilize someone else’s molecules.
“..naive? Trusting? Ineffective?” Nah.
Preoccupied. 😉
Preoccupied is a great way to put it, actually – and what makes other Mads more dangerous and less vulnerable is that they’re *competitive*.
The Mads of St Charlie are doing their own thing, having fun, enjoying yogurt but Mads like Helen and Tigerlily are ambitious and seek world domination.
The former can form a community because if all you want to do is violate the laws of God, Physics and/or Nature then why not do it with friends? The latter is more likely to see anyone trying to approach them as a threat to be inseminated with gerbils.
…or to be devoured by gerbils, as the case may be.
Absolutely. Good cake recipies are hard to come by.
Is that a bat? Angel? Dragon??
That’s Ruby, who originally showed up in Narbonic. She’s a cybernetic battle android physicist with lots of accessories.
Ruby, who took her love to town. St. Charlie, as it happened.
she had to say it, didn’t she?
It might not be her fault. In any universe ruled by the Law Of Funny, it is actually physically impossible for anyone to say something like this unless the “it can’t be that bad” situation has already been set up… at which point, the Law compels somebody say to it (“the irony of the universe tends towards a maximum”).
So, she may not have had a choice in what she said here.
Oooooooshiiiiiiiit……
Damn it Nera, This is why you don’t Taunt Murphy!
You don’t need to taunt Murphy for things to go wrong.
All the same, it’s still wise not to.
Oh my. Does Mr. Green intend to subvert St. Charlie to his cause? Or does he see them as a problem to be eliminated? Which is worse? In any event, I hope he regrets delegating the Kansas operation to subordinates.
I really like Towering Barbarian’s suggestion that Tip impersonate James. After all, James could march into Dr. Englebright’s office with an org chart proving she deserves Emerald-level clearance! Perhaps adding the suit to convince HR to go along?
I must also mention how nice Nera looks. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Tip gave her a makeover!
Mr. Green isn’t opposed to mad science; he’s opposed to non-human sapients. Although there’s a lot of NHS’s on St. Charlie, his goal is more likely to leverage the naïve destructiveness of the humans onboard than to destroy it.
His M.O. seems to have been using NHS’s as long as they benefit his purpose, and then disposing of them as soon as possible thereafter.
Show them the bicycles.
Invisible bicycles!
With flame throwers!
Beware the Gilligan Cut, specifically Murphy’s Cut.
With all due respect, I would like to point out that posting a link to a TvTropes page, without a conspicuous warning, may be a violation of 16 CFR § 1500.121 and could subject the poster to extreme approbation.
As long as it doesn’t result in extirpation, no one’s too worried about the consequences.
Finally visiting St. Charlie in the flesh.
That’s right! He did lead a team before in the Violet Bee drone, didn’t he?
Oh dear.
It’s quite fortunate that St. Charlie no longer has any raisin pie for Mr. Green to eat.
There is such a thing as not being paranoid enough.
Space-Bat-Angel-Dragon… is St Charlie’s going to be repurposed to be a giant mecha to face off against Annex One?
Now, now, this might not be as bad as it seems. One of the mads in St. Charlie might accidentally disintegrate the lot of them while showing off his device for enlarging closet space or some such. Murphy’s law swings both ways after all.
Mr. Green doesn’t work at the building. So Tip won’t run into his skill thing. He’s not there right hardly, but he’s out at St. Charlie, so all systems are go if they’re willing.