The New Romford Free Press

Category: Local

  • Scientists Still Stuck in Adhesive

    Scientists Still Stuck in Adhesive

    ATOMLabs

    By Muffy Borgeron

    The team of ATOM Labs scientists who were encased in a vat of super-strong adhesive a few days ago are still stuck.  They’ve been unable to move ever since.

    “That stuff is stronger than anyone thought,” said project supervisor, Daryl Freeman.  “Stronger than anything we’ve got to cut, crush, dissolve, or disintegrate it.  I’d say we had a winner on our hands, but we may have too much of a winner if you get my meaning.”

    Carl Michaelson, Denise Detroit, and Margo Doll have been stuck in a vat of their own adhesive, known as KR-1078, for several days.  Michaelson and Doll were pinned with their backs against the control panel in Testing Room 21, which proved fortunate for them.  They’ve been able to eat and drink without complications.  Detroit, on the other hand, was caught bending over with her head facing the ground.  She’s had to eat everything with a straw or have food spoon-fed to her.  But eating hasn’t been the hardest part of the ordeal.

    “They have to go to the bathroom at some point,” said Freeman.  “That has been interesting to say the least.  Luckily, we have plenty of things to root out the smells.”

    Apart from basic bodily functions, the three scientists have been in good spirits.  Their families stop by everyday to visit and usually sleep on beds Freeman had rolled in from other rooms.  They’ve been watching movies, either on a TV or on a tablet (for Detroit), reading books, and working on projects through speech-to-robot technology.

    Freeing them from KR-1078 has become ATOM Labs’ top priority.  Freeman has called in Dr. Amazing for a consult, but he won’t return from an off-planet mission for another couple days.  Adonis has stopped by to try using his powers in any way possible to no avail.  “If superheroes can’t break it, we may have something on our hands here,” said Freeman.  “Maybe not for buildings and roads and such, but maybe space ships and deep-sea vessels.  Something that really needs protection.”

    “Needless to say, we’re keeping a close eye on it, so it doesn’t fall in the wrong hands.  And if it does, maybe we can glue those hands together and see how far they get.”

  • Tanya Morales Refuses Cybernetics to Become Advocate for Disabled

    Tanya Morales Refuses Cybernetics to Become Advocate for Disabled

    tanyaweb

    By Julia Crumpleman

    Wealthy socialite, Tanya Morales, daughter of famous actor Antonio Morales, is known more for late-night exploits than her social awareness.  But the Dino-Day Disaster changed all that as she explained to Oprah Winfrey for a special on OWN.

    “I was turned into a stegosaurus,” Morales said, “and I was stuck in my apartment on the 56th floor of the Walton Tower.  I was so big that I couldn’t go down the stairs or the elevator, so I was stuck.”  Along with hundreds of other people inside Walton Tower, Morales had to remain in her apartment until she was changed back into a human.  Unfortunately, all the extra weight from her and the other people had destabilized the beams below her, and the floor collapsed.

    “I fell down about 10-15 stories,” she said, “but it felt like 100 stories.  I landed on a pile of people (still dinosaurs), and then we were really stuck.  Every time one of us tried to move, we could hear something creek, like another beam was about to give way.”  A few of the smaller people were able to squeeze out, she said, and thankfully, they landed on the 40th floor.  Every 20th story in the Walton Tower, and in most skyscrapers in New Romford, is reinforced with titanium, by law, to prevent further collapsing for cases such as this.  “Still, we didn’t really know that,” she said.  “We were all so scared to move because we didn’t know what was going to happen.”

    The collapse happened late in the night of the DDD, and by morning, they had turned back to human.  But unbeknownst to them, they were supporting several beams with their added weight and mass, and when they lost that, the beams came falling down on them.  Luckily, no one died in the Walton Tower, but everyone was critically injured.  Morales’s legs were pinned down under a beam.  Rescue robots were able to get her and everyone else to safety, but when she arrived at the hospital, Morales’s legs were horribly infected.  They had to be amputated to save her life.

    “I just cried and cried,” she said with tears flowing from her eyes.  “I just never thought something like this could happen to me.”  Amputation turned out to be a common procedure in the wake of the DDD.  239 people had to have at least one limb amputated.  At New Romford General Hospital, where most of the amputations took place, including her own, Morales saw the toll it took on families less privileged than her own.

    “I am blessed,” she said.  “My family is wealthy, and we can afford to buy cybernetics to replace my legs.  I could very easily get the latest model and walk and run and be stronger than I ever was.  But I just couldn’t do it.  Cybernetic limbs are incredibly expensive.  They cost at least half a million dollars for one limb, and then there’s the lifetime maintenance and repair costs that push it up into the millions.  I was in the hospital for a week, and I got to know my fellow amputees, and I just couldn’t get cybernetics and walk out of there.  I just couldn’t do it.”

    Instead, much to the chagrin of her parents, Morales decided to not only refuse cybernetics, but to refuse prosthetics of any kind.  “Normal prosthetics are useful, but they don’t allow the user to have the sensation to touch or feel temperature,” she said.  “And that’s important for people, important for them to feel whole again, or at least as whole as they can.  We’re in such a technologically advanced society that we should be working to make cybernetics more accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy and superheroes.”

    Because of that, Morales is starting a new foundation, The Cybernetics Project, with the sole intent of pushing for cheaper cybernetics by developing new technologies and reducing supply costs.  The Cybernetics Project already has the backing of New Romford University, ATOM Labs, Dr. Amazing, and Thomas McDowell, who will be the primary benefactor.  “I’m humbled to have so much support for my foundation,” said Morales.  “This project is now my life’s goal, and I will work hard every day to make cybernetics cheaper for everyone.”

    As for her legs, Morales sees them as a symbol.  “Being confined to a wheelchair has been incredibly difficult for me,” she said, “and I’ve only been in one for a few weeks, but it’s given me perspective.  This world, and in particular this city, was built for able-bodied people.  But I still plan on living my life.  Wherever I go, I’ll always be advocating for the disabled, and my legs will be a remainder to everyone of that.  And until my foundation reaches its goal, I will remain in my wheelchair.”

  • Lightning Bug Argues Self-Defense

    Lightning Bug Argues Self-Defense

    lbmugshotwebBy Chase Chapley

    Confounding many legal experts, the Lightning Bug, a.k.a. Horace Wagner, and his attorney argued in court today that his actions at the Verzatt Estates were in self-defense.  The prosecution had presented evidence that Wagner had been setting himself up as a hired gun in the New Romford underworld, and in testing out his new equipment, he accidentally caused the explosion.  Wagner and his attorney argued that he had to wear the armor to defend himself from Speedster, who they say has been tracking him for several weeks, and that he was in New Romford to find help for his mutated bugs, which he claims were mistreated by an associate of his.

    It’s an unusual defense made by a known supervillain.  Peace Force-sanctioned superheroes have the authority to pursue known criminals if they have probable cause the criminal committed a crime or if they have escaped prison.  Wagner has been wanted by the FBI for several months prior to his arrest on suspicion of robbery charges in New York and Philadelphia.

    “It seems like they’re grasping at straws,” said legal expert, Burt Montana.  “Speedster was nowhere near the Verzatt Estates at the time of the explosion, and they didn’t establish any other threat besides her.  If another supervillain were threatening him in that apartment, then he has a compelling case, but he hasn’t put forth any evidence for that.”

    The prosecution didn’t seem fazed by the argument, pointing out many of the same flaws that Montana did.  The defense argued that since Speedster is so fast that it would be likely that she could enter the apartment mostly undetected.  They also asked for Speedster to be testify in court, but as she was in India fighting a giant elephant monster with a pair of Indian superheroes, she wasn’t available.

  • Residents Repay Businesses After Dino-Day Disaster

    Residents Repay Businesses After Dino-Day Disaster

    By Muffy Borgeron

    Businesses were hit hard during the Dino-Day Disaster, especially the ones that sold food.  Many were looted by hungry people, whose increased sizes required more calories to burn.  Today, thousands of residents flooded these businesses to pay for what they ate.

    “I was not expecting this,” said Sal Montoya, owner of Sal’s Deli in LoDo.  “My deli was empty after that day, and my insurance could only pay so much.  I don’t blame anyone for taking what they needed because it was a rough time, you know, so this really is something special.”

    Allie deFranco, a Parkhill resident, started a Facebook campaign to repay the businesses that unwittingly helped so many people.  “When I was an Allosaurus that day,” she said, “I was just so hungry, and I didn’t really care where I got my food.  Perhaps it was the animal in me, but the human in me felt guilty that I was raiding Sal’s Deli.  Then I started talking to some of my friends, who had similar experiences, and we decided to just start a campaign to take one day out of the week to repay these places the best we can, with money.”

    DeFranco thought she’d get at most 100 people interested in her campaign, but as word spread online, that number quickly shot up to over 20,000 people.  Everyone was encouraged to repay what they thought they took, but if they couldn’t afford that, they asked to donate at least $5 to that business.

    Markets, delis, restaurants, and bodegas all over Downtown, Bexton, and Dukes were flooded with patrons, and most people gave back more than what they took.  “This one lady was just too kind,” said Maria Gonzalez of Chica’s Bodega in Dominicana.  “She told me how she was this big armored dinosaur, I don’t remember what she said she was, but she was just so hungry that she ate 20 heads of cabbage and a whole basket of tomatoes.  If that’s true, it’d cost at least $100, but she gave me triple that.  I just hugged her like she was my own daughter.”

    DeFranco hopes that the money can be used to help get these businesses back on their feet, even if that’s going to be a long road.  “My home only got a few scrapes from that day,” she said.  “My office was closed that day and didn’t get damaged, so I’m one of the lucky ones.  These people’s whole livelihoods have been dismantled.  It’s the least we can do.”

  • ‘Normal Man’ Passes Away

    ‘Normal Man’ Passes Away

    gilBy Muffy Borgeron

    Gil Heredia, the ATOM Labs maintenance worker who fell into a vat of chemicals a month ago, has passed away at the age of 54 due to complications from his injuries.

    ATOM Lab scientists are still trying to comprehend what has happened to one of their own.  “This is just so tragic,” said Heredia’s manager, Lauren Paladio.  “Gil was a good man, and I grieve for his family who will have to forge on without him.”  Paladio said that he also had a good life insurance policy as does everyone at ATOM Labs, so they will at least be financially taken care of, and they are also planning a memorial service in the courtyard.

    The Heredia family could not be reached for comment and have asked for privacy.

    Carlos Montero, the scientist assigned to monitor Heredia’s condition, is confused by what has happened.  “I know the human body better than anyone,” he said, “and I’ve seen dozens of people fall into vats of chemicals and survive.  This, tragically, is the first instance where one didn’t come back.  None of the chemicals attached to his DNA and gave him powers, not even a horn or single levitation.  His organs, they just gave out.”

    ATOM Labs has pledged to discover what exactly happened with Heredia, but any decision on an autopsy will have to be made by the family.

  • New Romford Up to 60% Capacity

    New Romford Up to 60% Capacity

    By Buffy Bolivar

    City officials have released figures estimating that New Romford is now running up to 60% capacity following the Dino-Day Disaster several weeks ago.

    All sewer lines have been repaired, and water and power have been returned to nearly the entire city.  Some of the older parts of Downtown, Bexton, and Dukes are still without full services.  Water and power are expected to be returned to everyone by the end of the week.

    The majority of main roads have been repaired for traffic, but most side streets are still unusable.  City officials estimate it could take the next several months to a year to repave the streets.  Dr. Amazing and ATOM Labs are building machines to help repair the streets in less time.  “Nothing too fancy,” Dr. Amazing said.  “Just some drones to strip the streets and to pour cement in one fell swoop.  No AI (artificial intelligence) in them, so they won’t turn evil.”

    The bridges on the other hand will take several years to repair, especially the 4th Ave Bridge and the Judith Bridge.  They both collapsed during the disaster, and given their historic nature, there are likely to be legal battles.  “Already there’s talk about how to improve them,” said one unnamed city official.  “They need better structural support, but we got to do it in a way that preserves their history.  That’s going to be a challenge.”

    Most businesses have reopened to some degree, but many may not even reopen.  The 300 block of 24th Ave was hit especially hard, and the costs to rebuild everything, in some cases the entire building, may be too much for business owners.  Keiko MacNamara of Keiko’s Treats lost everything.  “I lived above my bakery and came down to work everyday,” she said.  “Now the whole building is just gone.  I just don’t know what I’m going to do.”  Right now, MacNamara is staying with relatives in Norwoods.  She’s hoping her insurance will help pay for a new bakery in another building, but that could take months.

  • ATOM Labs Scientists Get Stuck in New Adhesive

    ATOM Labs Scientists Get Stuck in New Adhesive

    By Muffy Borgeron

    It was the stickiest of sticky situations at ATOM Labs last night, and that can be scientifically proven, too.

    A team of three scientists, Carl Michaelson, Denise Detroit, and Margo Doll, have been developing a new adhesive for the past five years using recently discovered compounds from outer space.  Yesterday, they tested a new batch of their adhesive with the hope of using it in building materials to prevent damage from storms and supervillains.  After a few successful small scale tests, they tried a large scale test of pasting two steel girders together.

    “And it worked,” said project supervisor, Daryl Freeman.  “Those girders held together all right.  They were just glued together.  No bolts or anything.  Unfortunately, the adhesive worked too well.”

    The mechanical arms used during the stress test broke, swinging the steel girders over the heads of the three scientists.  The girder broke open the remaining vat of adhesive, spraying it all over the room.  Michaelson, Detroit, and Doll were caught in the spray, and they were glued to the control panel.  The adhesive hardened within seconds.

    “Thankfully, they were all safe,” said Freeman.  “Dr. Detroit is in an awkward position, but Drs. Michaelson and Doll are up against their backs.  Got to be thankful for small miracles, I suppose.  The glue could’ve gotten over their faces.”

    ATOM Labs crew members tried their best to crack apart the harden glue, but nothing worked.  Then, they brought in lasers, atom smashers, and even acid to try and break through, but again, nothing worked.  After six hours of attempts, Freeman called it a night and ordered food for the scientists.  Their families were allowed to spend the night in the lab.

    “All in all, they’re in good spirits,” said Freemen, who declined media requests to interview the scientists.  “Could be worse.  But maybe we can get Dr. Amazing or Adonis in here to see what they can do.”