Here is July's installment of The Adjusters, “Aware”, wherein we get a glimpse of Jenn's side of the story.
As usual, comments welcome.
I'll also remind you that we have a Speculation Thread available for general discussion. (A thread which I read but do not comment on.)
The Adjusters #42 - Aware
Bliss. I think that nails it. Bliss. If there was a thesaurus handy, and I had the ability to actually use it, perhaps I might be able to find another word that better fit what I’m feeling—but since there isn’t and I don’t, I’ll make do with that one. Bliss.
My name is Jennifer Hansen, and right now, all I’m feeling is bliss. I’m swimming in bliss, floating in what David Lynch would probably call that vast ocean of consciousness that my friend from film school back in college who was simply crazy about the guy kept going on and on about. I’m submerged in bliss, always two seconds away from drowning in the stuff.
I’m not complaining, mind you. I’m not complaining at all. The fact is, it’s probably the only thing that’s keeping me sane right now.
I’ve been here for a while now. I’m not sure exactly where here is. I’m not sure exactly how long I’ve been here either, because I’m drugged up much of the time. I’m as high as a kite that’s been blown skyward by gale-storm winds. I’m not even hyperbolical about it. I’m fucking floating in the air. As well as swimming in bliss. I’m so happy I don’t care about mixing my metaphors.
Continue reading...
Next month: “Sanderson's Initiation”.
Man, this one was a tough one to write.
ReplyDeleteI've also revised it without triple checking like I sometimes do, meaning that there may be typos and nongrammatical sentences left over.
If you spot anything weird, feel free to let me know in the comments, and I'll correct and update in the coming days. Right now, I'm off to nap.
A very enjoyable chapter as it fills in the blanks of what happened to Jennifer after the fiasco in the fraternity house. It is good to see that Jennifer is not totally gone and still has memories and emotions of what she experienced under Biff's control thinking or remembering as Jennifer and not just Jennie.
ReplyDeleteAlso though it may have been difficult to write I did not pick up on any of that in reading the chapter. You are weaving a very enjoyable tale and I am a huge fan of the story and think of it often. LOL I do not know if that is a good thing or a bad thing and posted a lengthy speculation thread on when my mind was "wandering" with the story. I also set up a blog on tumblr http://www.tumblr.com/blog/theadjustersbook with photos I imagine as scenes from the story.
ReplyDeleteReal gem this chapter, it answers lot of accumulated questions, has lovely structure and keeps things going. Thanks, you are a great writer, and getting even better with each passing month.
ReplyDeleteIt was nice to see what Jenn is up to. Seems like that doctor is involved in the parties too as the drugs are being adjusted and Jenn knows what is going to happen. Also wonder what will happen when Daniel finally finds Jenn- seems like she will need some adjusting from the company. One more point: how did Sam not pick up that she was arrested?
ReplyDeleteSo we finally get Biff's final instructions to Jenn and boy are they . . . This leads to an intresting delima even if Daniel finds Jenn Biff's instructions will keep her away from him. The other intresting part is the fact that only Biff Fucking Jenn will end the overpowering Lust that she feels and as we all know he's dead.(poor Jenn) Lets see where the stroy takes us next. Great Job BT3
ReplyDeleteActually, we don't know he is dead for sure. So he may pop up later in the story with some plausible excuse, preferably strapped to the wheelchair =)
DeleteIf Biff somehow survived and pops up later in the story i would really be upset with BT3. For the humilation that Jenn is suffering and Daniel is enduring and then have Biff pop up later and be like ha ha. No i hope he's dead and BT3 has a new twist headed our way
DeleteThanks for the feedback, folks. Glad it seems to have been well received. Given the amount of expectation that the return of Jenn was generating, I worried that there was no way that the actual installment could live up to it.
ReplyDeleteResponding to a few of the comments that I can respond to without spoiling:
No, indeed, Jenn is not gone. She's still in there.
Last time we saw Sam (which is a few months in the future, in #38), he'd followed Jenn's trail to Buffalo, but lost her there. When the cops raided the motel, she had no ID, and was in no mental state to tell anyone anything. So she's a Jane Doe in the raid records. I suspect Sam will pick up the trail again, though...
About the "hard to write" bit, for those that are curious:
ReplyDeleteThe version I posted is about 9800 words. When I started revising the installment, it was about 7000 words. It was okay, but not great, structure-wise. Something was missing. That's when I decided to throw in the flashbacks, which worked even better than expected.
The other thing was that there was another section, between the first (when Jenn talks about the state of bliss she's in) and the one with Doctor Agnieska, a section where she talked about being in the hospital. That didn't flow so well, and it was eventually rewritten into the Doctor Agnieska section.
think the flashbacks were great as they allowed us to catch what she's been up to
ReplyDeleteFrom danny123
ReplyDeleteA very good read and the chapter flowed very nicely. I can totally understand Jenn’s desire to be in a blissful state. It must be driving her nuts to not be able to control her own body and fight the urges. The one thing that may be helping her to hold it together is the knowledge that this was done to her and she knows by whom. The downside is there is nothing she can do about it and I am sure she has doubts that anyone is looking for her. She is clinging to the believe that Daniel is looking for her.
I totally agree with BT3 that the police would not know who Jenn is. She is not missing; everyone believes she is dead, except a few souls. Unless she had ever been arrested or applied for certain jobs, or try to purchase a gun, she would not be in any data system a law enforcement agency would access. She may now be in the system, given her arrest, but under the name Jane Doe. Unless Sam is continually searching fingerprints, he would not know anything about the arrest. Also vice cases are not a top priority for law enforcement.
Now, I suspect that once Jenn escapes from the institute, she will head to Cleveland, per her last instructions by Biff. Once there, she may calm down because her new master is there and Biff did say that she is to obey him as she obeyed Biff. This could be an “escape” clause. We will have to see.
I am trying to figure out what the event will be that will give Daniel and Sam the clue as to where she is. So as is now very common, I eagerly await the next chapter.
"Now, I suspect that once Jenn escapes from the institute, she will head to Cleveland, per her last instructions by Biff. Once there, she may calm down because her new master is there and Biff did say that she is to obey him as she obeyed Biff. This could be an “escape” clause. We will have to see."
DeleteThat would be weak plot wise, Bt3 has much wilder imagination I believe)
I believe I still have a few twists left in my bag of tricks...
DeleteFrom danny123 -
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Just wanted to point out where the instructions to Jenn could lead. It is up to the writer to determine the route he wants to take and the twist and turns to get there. What I like is that this story is not too much fantasy and more "believable", if one can say that about stories of this type. Given the above and the character development, has made this story one of my favorites of all time.
I want to believe that this story is going to end up with a heroic feminist flourish, in which Jen recovers her sense of self, liberates the other women in the ward from their psychological bondage, and leads a crusade against Biff, Gutierrez and the Special. That's what I have in mind. But there are probably more subtle ways to go about righting the scales. Whatever happens, this intelligent woman has to get her mind and her body back.
ReplyDelete“Heroic feminist flourish” — I like it, a lot! May I use it, somewhere, at some point?
DeleteI suspect you're going to like how Book IV ends. I also suspect you're going to dislike how Book IV ends.
But then, you're probably expecting that already...
After reading this chapter several times I have found that it is great. It starts to show where Jenns head is as she fights for her identity. What has been done to her she still fights and since she is sedated, her brain is working to fix whats happened. I am still in awe of this story and its writer. This thing could go anywhere. I think all of us would like to see Jenn and Daniel back together but even that has potential to go several routes. I am so looking forward to seeing what happens next that I want BT3 to write faster and faster so we can see where it goes, however, I will be patient as I know the creative process takes time and again I am in awe of this whole thing. Fight On.
ReplyDelete“After reading this chapter several times...” — that can't be healthy :)
DeleteThanks, and I hope I can deliver.
You've become and addition and after so many years of speed reading it takes me several readings to get everything. as for healthy, haven't been for years, LMAO.
ReplyDeleteI second Judds sentiments The Adjusters have become my addiction as well. I sometimes tend to over analyze each chapter but i just love this story
DeleteThanks folks. I appreciate the support.
DeleteAnd no pressure whatsoever, right? *grin*
No, no pressure except need input soonest. If you need a proof reader, I am available.
ReplyDeleteHad a thought today about Jenns fight against whats been done to her. She fought and won when she resisted Biffs order to cut off Daniels dick. Is this coming back in the next chapters? I know you won't answer that. Also what about making it so Jenn has to be refocused on Daniel in order to free her. just a thought... Like I said above the speed reading think makes small details hard to pick up so it takes me awhile to get everything and its becoming and addiction.
ReplyDeleteNo worries—plus keeps me on my toes.
DeleteJenn's resistance is an interesting question. That was certainly a highly emotionally charged moment. We'll see what we can do with that...