College Life: Part 10: The truth in deed

by Greenbeans

(Review after)

Last updated on the 13th of December, 1998.

     I realize that I said quite a bit already in my counterpart review. I know I should mention Setsuna in the cast list but I wanted to spoil the fanfic as little as possible for those who have not read.

     Basically, I like fanfics that can keep up a suspense and I really think this held it and kept it. Also, things that show computer geeks at some higher level work always perk me up a bit. Maybe because I confessedly don't know as much computers, so things like hacks and the like keep me in awe and have me thinking that the sheer idea is rather cool - as long as I'm not involved. Yes, at this stage, I'd rather just appreciate the idea of it and not the practice.

     The thing is that because this story is situated at a school full of computer people ("nerds" and "geeks" are not quite the words to use anymore, if I didn't know that it was a little extreme to do so, I'd even dare say "masters"), the idea of hackers is more plausible, the threat more real. The ultimate idea of "you don't know who it is" is very nice, and in a way, a little scary - I loved the way I was kept in the dark and guessing. That little scene with James and Haruka had me thinking, "Is it him? Is it him?" The fact that we still don't know who the "other" is at the end still keeps me on edge. While I was reading the other later Parts of "College Life" I was waiting to be told, to find out who the mysterious person is. I do not know if Greenbeans ever intends to tell us, or if she really knows herself, that this might be some forever-to-be-nameless person, but I would think it a killer (in a good sense!) if this story came back somehow in later parts. That this just isn't a one-time event. Of course, realistically I suppose that I can only hope and not expect, because Greenbeans is busy with other projects, I believe, and the way she fixed "Part 10: The truth in deed" allows her to leave the story right there - though, that in itself is rather appreciable. She's not bound to continue it, but she can if she wants to. Rather nifty, in my opinion.

     Beans' role in the story is excellent, both when named and unnamed. This was the really fine part of the story. I suppose that there are some highly intelligent people out there who might have been able to guess who the "operator" was, but I found it a good surprise. This is what really had me re-reading the fanfic. Like I said, in my counterpart review, I think Greenbeans carried out the plot. A definite twist that I could appreciate. Made a lot of sense, once you knew what was going on. I only wonder whether the "other" was really a male, or whether Greenbeans was making use of the generic "he"/"him"/"his", etc.

     This is, by my take, the most serious of Part of "College Life." The idea of threats is rather scary. The idea of how helpless Haruka and Michiru were with regards to their computer records, the namelessness of enemies, and that, to an extent, this really was a matter of life and death - if the "other's" identity was known to Haruka, Michiru or Setsuna, i.e. the threat of death they would have posed to him.

     "If you had succeeded, you would have been killed. I didn't want to see you dead."
     "You're bull shitting me."
     "Am I?"

* * * * *

     Beans levered herself off of the wall. "I'm not blind, Setsuna. I know that bad things would happen to whomever I named. Only a fool wouldn't be able to see that underneath the exterior Haruka is capable of nasty things if she felt justified in them. I don't doubt that Michiru is the same way. "

Favorite quotes/scenes:

1.     All those scenes with the unnamed "operator." Definitely the tingly parts of the fanfic for me. And it made a wickedly clever sense upon re-reading. I am not going to go through every one of them, but I'll just say that I found them all excellent.

2. The scene with James. Definitely kept me on the alert there. A nice moment of guessing.

3.      "Where are you from?"      "No where in particular. Japan if you need to have me affiliated with a country," she [Setsuna] smiled slightly."

4.     The conversation between Beans and Haruka when they take Setsuna shopping. They had some interesting things to say and I found the image of Haruka gradually backing Beans up against a wall amusing.

5.     The climax scene near the end, for various reasons:

a.     The good old action that one doesn't usually get in "College Life." The appearance of the Senshi gives a good perk to the scene and adds some real spice.

b.     "She [Haruka] dropped the traitor down as she folded over from the punch. "You bitch," she groaned in pain. "You were on our side."

     I just thought that one got a nice sense of betrayal from Haruka.

c.     Suddenly we see what's been going on the whole time.

d.     The chanting of Beans adds a realism to the scene. (Haven't you ever chanted before?) Both senses of tension and triumph are achieved through it.

e.     "How did you know that I am Setsuna?"
    Beans laughed at her. "You all really need to get some better costumes!"

It was good to get a laugh after all that.

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