The Name's Oliver - Ben Oliver. Ch. 159: Duty vs Ethics, Pt. II

[Swirl-Girl]

Computer problems are a pain. But it'll work out. Fate can't be that cruel.

[Schipperke]

Thanks for the good wishes, everyone!  I think your positive energy must have helped.  After a whole day of working on this, not having any idea what I was doing most of the time, and becoming more and more frustrated, I finally stumbled on a thread of Flynn Arrowstarr's about re-installing store content after a factory reset.  The steps he gave were detailed and very helpful, and finally I have my store content back.  Well, most of it.  I still can't get Sunlit Tides to install.  The game keeps insisting it is already installed, but it isn't.  Oh well.  Ben has already been to Sunlit Tides a couple of times, and I didn't have any story lines planned for him in that town, so I guess I'll live with it.  The main thing is, Monte Vista is finally back!  (yes, it was one of the store items I was having trouble with)  And I can actually use Edit Town, Buy & Build Modes without having the game crash every time like it was doing.  I can't tell you how good it feels to have my game working again!  Now that all that stuff is finally taken care of, look for a story update within the next few days.   

[Swirl-Girl]

Hallejuah! Praise the Watcher Above!
I'm so glad that we didn't lose dear, irresistible Ben!

[RaiaDraconis]

Whew! A disaster averted! Congrats on getting (most) everything resolved!

[Blayzen]

It just makes my day to come on and catch up on a couple of posts about Ben's adventures!! The storyline is moving along quite nicely and I love the direction you've taken it in! Hopefully your computer issues will continue to improve and we'll get to see the girls put their master plan into action...Ben simply can NOT stay a evil loser; that is just unacceptable!!

[Louise56]

I love the update and can't wait to see the plan. I'm glad you get your game fixed!

[Schipperke]

The Dromedary Club Adventure, Part X

"What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"*

Carl was enjoying a quiet stroll in the garden when the phone rang. 



Veronica DeLuca.  Carl hardly knew her, but he knew she was in charge of Monte Vista's military base.  He listened as she spoke urgently.



Carl had heard rumours about his friend's transformation but hadn't wanted to believe them.  Now DeLuca was making it clear that the situation was much worse than Carl had realized.  "Something has to be done!" she exclaimed.  "If this goes on much longer I'll be forced to place him under arrest.  His career would be over, and it wouldn't do much for the military's image either."

Carl was troubled to hear of his friend's misfortune, but wondered why DeLuca would be calling him. 



"You're his friend!" DeLuca said.  "He has a lot of respect for you.  He won't listen to anyone else.  You're my last hope.  If you can't persuade him to take the antidote, I'll have to issue the order for his arrest.  Will you try?"

Of course Carl said yes.  "But what on earth does she think I can do?" he fretted.  Callie Cat wandered by.  Carl picked her up, and in the manner of animal lovers everywhere, he explained the situation to his kitty.



"So I have to try to help," he said.  "But how?"  As Carl gazed into the eyes of his beloved pet, an idea began to form.



"I need to seek clarity," he muttered to himself as he made his way to his meditation room.  He sat down on the floor and emptied his mind.



After a period of time, he felt himself flooded with bliss. 



Meanwhile, the subject of Carl's meditation was lurking on a nearby street corner.



"Sin is a thing that writes itself across a man's face.  It cannot be concealed."*



"I am tired of myself tonight.  I should like to be somebody else."*

The troubled young man finds himself drawn to Carl's front gate.



Steeling himself, Carl moves forward to greet his young friend.  Carl knows that other people have tried reasoning with his friend, to no avail.  Attempts to persuade, cajole, convince him have all failed.  "Tough love," Carl mutters to himself.  It's the only thing that hasn't been tried.  Carl is going to be cruel to be kind.  It won't be easy for him, it's not at all his style, but for the sake of his friend, he must do his best.

"So it's you," Carl says, making his voice hard and unwelcoming.  "You don't return my calls or emails, and now you turn up on my doorstep looking like a two-bit thug?"  Carl sees the hurt in his friend's eyes.



This is the hardest thing Carl has ever done, but he can't stop.  He continues, "How dare you come here with your talk of masterminding plots and your evil notions!  I've heard of how you steal candy from innocent children!  Do you think I could trust you around Callie Cat?



"Ben, you're my best friend in Monte Vista.  But I can't be friends with an evil loser.  Look, I have the antidote that will change you back.



"Please, won't you take it?  For the sake of our friendship?  If you won't take it, I'm going to have to ask you to leave and never come back.  Please, Ben!"  He offers the antidote to his friend.



His friend accepts the antidote.  He gazes at it for a moment, then looks at Carl.  He lifts the antidote to his lips.



He gives an anguished cry as the transformation begins.



He falls to the ground unconscious.



*Quotes from The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde

[cndneh]

Very excited to see an update!  (Since I'm busy killing time at work! ). I hope Ben transforms back to the Ben we know and love!!

[Schipperke]

Very excited to see an update!  (Since I'm busy killing time at work! ). I hope Ben transforms back to the Ben we know and love!!

Thank you!

Yeah, it's been a while.  I can't seem to find time to update as often as I was doing, but I'm glad to know you haven't given up on Ben and his adventures, because there's more in store for him.  It's just taking a while for me to get to it. 

[ladybug53]

I'm so very happy that Carl was able to talk some sense into Evil Ben . It kind of looked like he was in some kind of agony being evil . The Good and Evil fighting within himself . I really hope he's alright and can become his old self again . He did make a pretty cool thug though . 

[RainBeau]

Thank Goodness Carl was able to talk some sense into him. The next question is, what will this do to him? The shock . . .

[Schipperke]

It kind of looked like he was in some kind of agony being evil . The Good and Evil fighting within himself .

Funny you should say that, because those animations you saw him doing on the street corner were entirely autonomous.  I was glad I was able to catch those screenshots.  It seems to me that being Evil has really given him a different appearance, and I don't mean just the different hair and clothes.  His facial expressions are totally different.

The next question is, what will this do to him? The shock . . .

Excellent question.

[Magz from Oz]

Thank Goodness Carl was able to talk some sense into him. The next question is, what will this do to him? The shock . . .

...and which traits have been changed this time?

[Louise56]

I'm so glad Carl talk some sense into him. I hope he will be ok!

[InvenTeck]

I have never commented on any story before, but I just wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed this story and all of your other tales.