Chapter 39-1: Chemical Reactions

[7oddisdead]

Not from me it isn't

*sigh*

LOST did everything right, until the last season...

[Wicked Sid]

The only thing that brings me back to the "its a small world" thing is, up to this point....it has been. Think of all the connections between people that already exist and its hard to rule out one more.

This is actually a really good point. Gives me more to think about.

[Red Shirt]

I don't know what that means but it's one of Redshirts favorite words. REDSHIRT!!! WHERE ARE YOU?

Here I am! Let's see if I can still rock this like a hurricane. Confessions below, I'm just going to jump into the meat and 'taters:

So let me just start out by saying that I think my neighbors think I'm crazy. I was out in the front yard Monday afternoon, cutting the grass and listening to WA. When Michael dropped the Raydon Labs bomb at the end... I exclaimed SONOFABITCH! rather loudly aaannnd heads turned across the street.

Did he - as some of us theorize - act based on his own agenda?

It would seem that there very well could be an unusual parallel between the humans and zombies... early on, we witness Randy acting on his own with his own zombie posse during the kidnap of Tanya. Later he is seen dutifully standing at TOWTM's right hand as his lieutenant during the Colony siege. More recently, we see Randy once again seemingly operating outside of TOWTM's guidance, this time solo. We've discussed the nature and possibility of zombie factions with the (failing) puppet master theme of the Season 4 artwork... With the theories here that not only is Randy is a Smart One, he may also have his own agenda, it struck me today that Randy is playing Scratch to TOWTM's Durai.

I'm very curious to know what the numbers represent that Tanya was counting off... what the unit of measure is. Counts of parts per(x), total, of what? Antibodies? Saturation levels? What did she learn during the four month jump cut... I recall that during her "stay" at Irwin she was not able to discern a difference between human and zombie blood. I found this reference chart of what is/can be tested for in blood work. It seems like there may be some promising leads buried in there.

I'd also like to echo the sentiments that she certainly seems to have gone a bit mad scientist on us. Harkening back to Grognaurd's theory that the zombies aren't learning to speak, we are learning to understand them, obliquely suggesting that we are already infected... I'd like to go ahead and throw on the good ol' foil hat and suggest that Tanya is starting to succumb to the zombie infection... only she's a smart one and it is expressing as the excitement for the macabre and the drive for the experimentation to figure out the zombie infection.

Jeez people, this has probably got to be the heaviest chapter thread since I joined the forums, Wow. Sooo many links to follow and read up on.
Not quite sure where I fall on Formic Acid and the formaldehyde yet... so much to digest there.

Then I thought about this....

You see, everywhere in the country, when you loose your khakis, you have no pants on. But in Boston when you lose your khakis, you need to call a taxi to get home.

<confession>
I feel badly that I haven't gotten back in here sooner. I have to admit that I can be a bit flaky and easily distracted sometimes... lately it's been kinda "a thing." Being utterly stumped and stymied by TOWTM et al. ain't helping either... (Nor is internet stuff. "Imma get on WA after work and post some stuff and... *thump* nope, internet.)
I have at least now joined the 21st century and gotten a brand spanking new smartphone, having upgraded from a Motorola Razr. Not kidding about that. With it, I have been mostly following this thread, though I am hesitant to post with it, given the usual structure of my posts.
</confession>

[7oddisdead]

Here I am! Let's see if I can still rock this like a hurricane. Confessions below, I'm just going to jump into the meat and 'taters:

So let me just start out by saying that I think my neighbors think I'm crazy. I was out in the front yard Monday afternoon, cutting the grass and listening to WA. When Michael dropped the Raydon Labs bomb at the end... I exclaimed SONOFABITCH! rather loudly aaannnd heads turned across the street.



It would seem that there very well could be an unusual parallel between the humans and zombies... early on, we witness Randy acting on his own with his own zombie posse during the kidnap of Tanya. Later he is seen dutifully standing at TOWTM's right hand as his lieutenant during the Colony siege. More recently, we see Randy once again seemingly operating outside of TOWTM's guidance, this time solo. We've discussed the nature and possibility of zombie factions with the (failing) puppet master theme of the Season 4 artwork... With the theories here that not only is Randy is a Smart One, he may also have his own agenda, it struck me today that Randy is playing Scratch to TOWTM's Durai.

I'm very curious to know what the numbers represent that Tanya was counting off... what the unit of measure is. Counts of parts per(x), total, of what? Antibodies? Saturation levels? What did she learn during the four month jump cut... I recall that during her "stay" at Irwin she was not able to discern a difference between human and zombie blood. I found this reference chart of what is/can be tested for in blood work. It seems like there may be some promising leads buried in there.

I'd also like to echo the sentiments that she certainly seems to have gone a bit mad scientist on us. Harkening back to Grognaurd's theory that the zombies aren't learning to speak, we are learning to understand them, obliquely suggesting that we are already infected... I'd like to go ahead and throw on the good ol' foil hat and suggest that Tanya is starting to succumb to the zombie infection... only she's a smart one and it is expressing as the excitement for the macabre and the drive for the experimentation to figure out the zombie infection.

Jeez people, this has probably got to be the heaviest chapter thread since I joined the forums, Wow. Sooo many links to follow and read up on.
Not quite sure where I fall on Formic Acid and the formaldehyde yet... so much to digest there.



You see, everywhere in the country, when you loose your khakis, you have no pants on. But in Boston when you lose your khakis, you need to call a taxi to get home.

<confession>
I feel badly that I haven't gotten back in here sooner. I have to admit that I can be a bit flaky and easily distracted sometimes... lately it's been kinda "a thing." Being utterly stumped and stymied by TOWTM et al. ain't helping either... (Nor is internet stuff. "Imma get on WA after work and post some stuff and... *thump* nope, internet.)
I have at least now joined the 21st century and gotten a brand spanking new smartphone, having upgraded from a Motorola Razr. Not kidding about that. With it, I have been mostly following this thread, though I am hesitant to post with it, given the usual structure of my posts.
</confession>

wow, guys look who made it! (yells at all the yellow, theory guys) glad to have you on board!

so a lot to get through, eh? well lets break it down like this..

Randy as a zombie

I like the idea of randy having his own agenda, by doing so you create yet another “anti-hero� within the story. Randy playing the subordinate with a desire for the endgame to happen sooner –v- later seems to fit the bill nicely. Not so much that he is turning on his fellow biters, or looking for a cure himself…more like. “you fuckers are having a hard time figuring this stuff out…heres a hint�

Randy as a human

The last two pages of posts have been mostly about michaels relationship with randy. While I agree that the notion of Michael knowing randy from before is a bit of a stretch…its really not that far out of left field when you consider JUST HOW DAMN INTERLOCKING THE MAJORITY OF THE CHARACTERS BACKSTORIES ARE. (im okay, really). I put forth earlier tonight the idea of randy somehow being involved in mikes parents car crash (drunk driver,perhaps?) and while I like that idea, logistically it may or may not work(I forget where he said his parents lived). But, it’s the sort of connection that both fits within the story well and explains the added animosity Michael has for randy.

Randy as a zombie II

Another road we could travel is randy leaving Michael behind at the waterworks much the same way TOWTM did CJ at the other tower. The only zom that we are aware of in that scene was the behemoth and the one they shot. I doubt the one regular left standing would have been there had randy been human still. Call me crazy but I feel like if the behemoth would've got ahold of randy, or Michael for that matter…there wouldn’t be much left to turn. I personally feel confident that randy was turned pre-encounter at waterworks.

Tanyas numbers

Im still puzzling over these as well. Thus far ive turned over nothing, but one thing that does strike me as odd is why would she want to open her up right at the moment of turning? Perhaps to witness physical changes to some internal organ? That could perhaps point us in the right direction. Ive found some random stuff on the kidneys that sounds interesting..but nothing good enough to report. Im thinking the numbers could be ppm or ppb. Considering they don’t add up on any other level.

Tanyas turning

Im sorry, but I just don’t see what the fuss is about. I mean hats off to Shirley for playing the role of an obsessive literally, perfectly…but to that’s all this is. Imagine if you gave someone who was obsessed with scrapbooking access to every moment in their life as a photo, or every movie stub they ever bought? Sure, to us her behavior may seem a bit crazed…but, to each his/her own.

Formic acid

My ant obsession when it comes to this story is pretty obvious. But I see it simply as a plot device. The idea of randy carrying around a couple jars of formic acid could be as simple as this; A: he could be using the stuff for basically “curing� his meat. Or B: it could be laying a clue as said above for our “good guys� to find. The idea of the undead bodies(zombies) somehow precessing, or being altered by formic acid is waaaaayyyyy out in left field…that’s why I like it. But im realistic enough to recognize that its simply a way of explaining something we cant grasp yet. If your trying to explain something to someone and they have no clue what the hell your talking about most of us use other, simplier examples that they DO understand…then we bite them on the neck. � riiight?

Tying it all together

Basically, if I was writing this story(and THANK HEAVENS IM NOT) I would…
Have my good guys looking for clues and finding nothing.
Have a character on the enemy side who’s loyalties are somewhat questionable in the right place at the right time.
Have that guy/gal be someone from one of the good guys past so it’s a recognizable face
Have “bad guy with an agenda� there because he wants all this to end…either way.
Have “BGWA� drop a clue for the good guys to find…while also reminding them that they’re getting sloppy.
Boom…things actually happen.

Whew, yea…massive posts this episode is right…I think we all have just been waiting for this shit to happen though…and welcome to the real world of mobile posting redshirt…reminds you that computers…they aint SO bad after all.

Todd out

[Grognaurd]

Formic Acid

The stuff stinks. I think it was Randy's version of the sweat bottles. We hear "Acid" and we think super nasty face melting stuff. Vinegar is an acid, but I do not think he is using ad as food flavor. We hear the bottles bounce around the alley like they get kicked or knocked over. Definetly not a smash. Maybe a tripwire? /Shrug. Then a bunch of biters 1.0 show up. This is interesting, it is the first time in a long while they have been encountered as a pack of wufs.


Up until now we hear the ominous moan/roar that calls them. This is different.

I also found it interesting that we hear a murder of crows sound off and a bunch of biters show up.

[scbubba]

Hey Red Shirt! Good to see you in here and Welcome to the future with the new phone...

With the theories here that not only is Randy is a Smart One, he may also have his own agenda, it struck me today that Randy is playing Scratch to TOWTM's Durai.

That's a great thought about how Randy and TOWTM might be interacting. I keep going back and forth on whether Randy is on Team Ink or Team Randy. Or Both? Either way, I think Randy has an agenda but I'm not sure if it is pro-human or anti-Ink.

I'm very curious to know what the numbers represent that Tanya was counting off... what the unit of measure is. Counts of parts per(x), total, of what? Antibodies? Saturation levels? What did she learn during the four month jump cut... I recall that during her "stay" at Irwin she was not able to discern a difference between human and zombie blood. I found this reference chart of what is/can be tested for in blood work. It seems like there may be some promising leads buried in there.

I'd also like to echo the sentiments that she certainly seems to have gone a bit mad scientist on us. Harkening back to Grognaurd's theory that the zombies aren't learning to speak, we are learning to understand them, obliquely suggesting that we are already infected... I'd like to go ahead and throw on the good ol' foil hat and suggest that Tanya is starting to succumb to the zombie infection... only she's a smart one and it is expressing as the excitement for the macabre and the drive for the experimentation to figure out the zombie infection.

This episode has got me questioning so many things about who knows what and who has an agenda. We've known that Michael is very secretive about some things and Randy's appearance is bringing that to the fore. Tanya's exuberance at someone else's death could be, as, 7odd pointed out, an obsessive personality being acted perfectly. It could also indicate that Tanya has her own agenda and a store of info that she's keeping to herself. I pointed out before how I don't think we have any evidence that Tanya has a journal or that her journal entries are included with all the rest. As obsessed as she is with documenting her work with the video cam (autopsy on #2 + the work on red shirt girl in 39-1) and her push to get all the info recorded from all the other journals, it seems odd that we would not have anything on her journaling.

You know she's recording information.... but what and where and why not share it? As others brought up earlier in this discussion, she moved out of LA for "a great opportunity" (claimed to be an ER vet clinic) but she didn't go so far as to not be able to get LA easy enough. Could she have been working with someone/company involved with the start of the Z?

Her training and work as a vet gives her enough medical background to do some kind of work with testing subjects/drugs/chemicals/etc on living organisms, maybe even humans. Maybe as a vet she is also a hard core animal rights/PETA type who thinks that since people test stuff on animals it's ok to turn the tables and do some tests on people (ok, maybe just bad people like prisoners or something). If this is the case, she may have some background in what happens when people are exposed to whatever this is. LO #2 may have surprised her because it was something that she didn't expect to see because of someone else meddling with the "normal" turning thus her surprise at what it looked like outside and inside.

tl;dr

I'm thinking Tanya's backstory is missing some really big sections, she is withholding a ton of information, and she may be involved with the origins of the outbreak.

[Witch_Doctor]

His parents are dead, and he wasn't adopted. He just didn't want to get all warm and fuzzy with everyone early on. It wasn't their business.
Not to discourage discussion, but just wanted to let you know.

I must say that I'm relieved. It would have been intriguing but too soap opera-y.

[Arch_Will]

Obviously Michael's omniscient. Duh.

cant be if he couldn't read Pegs :P

[Guts Malone]

The red shirt always dies... give it time

[Elisa]

I really doubt that it's going to be a whole "It's small world" situation. Michael could just be vindictive, as Randy could've been an asshole in the depot.

Picture this:

"After I saw the behemoth, I knew it was over. My only hope... was Randy. Him, in a room on the other side of the hall. We watched each other intently as the steps became louder, each stomp followed by heavy breathing. Only one of us was going to get out alive, at least I thought that's what would happen anyway. I had to use him as a distraction. I know it seems horrible but it was the only way."

"I break eye contact, looking for a way out. Randy bolts, his boots hitting the grating, drawing the big one's attention. I followed in suit, seeing a doorway near to where I last heard Randy's steps. I made it through the door as he grabs my arm, I pull and pull but he wouldn't let go. The behemoth found us and swung, smashing Randy against the door and breaking my arm. I made my way out and decided to forget that there was anyone else in the depot."

"Well, until he came back at least."

This is awesome. Maybe Michael met up with Randy when he tried to run away from the Behemoth once shit hit the fan in the waterworks and he go separated from Datu, Riley and Angel.

Question is Randy the ex SWAT guy from CJ's tower?