19 Comments
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Mark Dolan's avatar

Just a lurker. What an impressive story. You have a great talent.

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Thank you mark for reading and liking. I'll take all the support I can get 😁

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Mark Dolan's avatar

I bookmarked your Newsletter and will try to make time to read some of your archive. This one was creative and thoughtful.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

The brothers forgot the first rule of human nature. Always expect the unexpected. Well done.

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Thanks, Mark! That's a great rule for anyone to remember 😀

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Claire Walster's avatar

What a great read! I especially loved the names you picked for the fighters, literally brain vs brawn. And, as usual, the twist at the end was wonderful. Not what I was expecting at all, but a fitting ending, I think.

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Thank you, Claire! I'm glad you enjoyed the story. This one went through quite a few edits before landing in its current state, but it was a fun one to write!

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Robert Maynord's avatar

I love the logical progression of the story! You have created an ethical challenge with a response based on (alternate) morality. It is outside of the predictable realm of expected outcomes. That keeps the story fresh and interesting. We need much more of this insight in these times where polarity is mandatory. Great reading!

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Thanks for reading Robert, and for your feedback! You've recognized my intent with the final version of this, which is why I called it The Scientific Method. The story actually follows that system, but absent any moral constraints. The quote from Jeff Goldblum in the movie Jurassic Park sums it up: "Yeah, yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should."

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Justin Deming's avatar

What an excellent story, Brian. I loved the twist at the end - very fitting! I had a feeling the brothers’ decisions and actions would come back to haunt them in some way.

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Thanks Justin! Consequences were definitely a must, although I didn't know what exactly until I was halfway into the story, which is unusual, but I think they got their just desserts.

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Meg Oolders's avatar

This was intense! And I don't know if this was intentional, but the absolute lack of women in this story was telling in itself. I'd love to read the correspondence between the two contenders, if you ever mess with that kind of "bonus material" when you build your stories. 🔥

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Thank you, Meg! Originally, I planned that a woman be one of the fighters, but ultimately it didn't make a lot of sense. There needed to be an overabundance of testosterone and a lack of moral fiber in favor of advancement, and any spark of femininity would have taken away from that. Not that femininity is bad, but that it just didn't fit. So, yes, it was very intentional 😁

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njakins@me.com's avatar

This story reminds me of what's happening in the world right now. Everyone fighting for power regardless of the consequences. Good read brian

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Yes, I totally agree. A lot of people at the bottom get stepped on and over, but it only takes a few who are willing to speak for what's right to change the status quo! Thanks for reading, and I hope you had a great new year!

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Tom Pendergast's avatar

Ah yes, I enjoyed it all over again. Is it going in the collection?

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Thanks, Tom! It is not. Not that it couldn't, but I've decided to cap my stories to all be from 2022, or else I'll never release 😁

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Mark M.'s avatar

Great story and I thought the ending was fitting, if unexpected! Well done!

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Thanks for reading, Mark! I knew from the start some consequences were in order 😁

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