About the Inbetween Series:
I have some ideas for stories that I don’t usually write because my four main series take up so much time (that and other blog work). So I decided that between writing sections of my main series, to write short little fanfics.
These fanfics will be HIGHLY self-indulgent. Because I work so hard on my other series that I deserve a little break.
Sometimes some of these “Inbetween Fics” might be samples of later works (that might turn out to be either a fanfic series OR original series).
About "Death of Five":
An idea has been going through my head for awhile about a character that I'm calling Rinn (at least for the moment). I have partially (not fully, since that'd mean I'd have outlined the series already) thought up the story I'd tell about her. From her beginnings all the way to where she's basically all alone in the universe. If I ever do get to writing Rinn's entire story (which might not be for a number of years) "Death of the Five" will probably take place near the end of it. I decided this part would be the best to tell for Inbetween since it'd be the easiest to shorten and has a clear cut beginning and end to it.
Where It Takes Place in the Star Wars Timeline:
While this is an AU fic, I have decided on a rough outline where this could take place. It'd be before Episode I and before Qui-Gon Jinn took Obi-Wan Kenobi as his apprentice.
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Spending any amount of time on a space station made you lose sense of reality. Reality, of course, being the sense of the wind on your face. Even if that wind would kill you if you took the air in with your lungs. But living on a space station also allowed me to be a drifter. Because, really, who would look at a simple human pilot? Especially if the pilot could take care of her own ship.
No doubt people would ask questions behind my back, but it would never get to the point where I'd be under any form of investigation.
But any opinions that were thrown about the young, at least that's how my body appeared, drifter Rinn wasn't any concern of mine now. This was due to me being part of a two person team that would search for something ancient. Something so ancient that many didn't believe it really existed. And even those that believed it existed didn't want to find it due to its supposed ties to the Sith Order.
At least one was willing to find out if it really existed and then go to it. I finished making myself presentable for the Jedi Master and then went over to my computer. I did a brief overview of the top stories on the holonet, but nothing seemed interesting to me. Of course, once someone lived as long as I did, not much could stimulate my interest.
There were only so many times I could hear about a civil war, famine, or the like before I became disinterested. This isn't to say they weren't important, but I saw a bigger picture. A never ending portrait of pain. So worrying about one problem, no matter how important, was useless since it would always be eclipsed by a future one.
So checking the holonet didn't take long and I went to check on something vastly more important. Something that was one problem that I actually gave a damn about. Mainly because if the Five were found out they could be awakened and then all hell would be let lose.
I started to make sure the Five's location was still safe and secret. My memories of them started to flood my mind. They crashed over me. While things could go wrong if they were discovered, I hadn't been able to kill them. I had decided shortly after the Sith became a children's bedtime story, to cryogenically freeze them instead of ending their lives.
While they had been a plague onto anything good, and strong in what this galaxy's inhabitants called the Dark Side of the Force, they had still been my comrades a long time ago in another galaxy. When the Massacre had happened we had been all that was left of the Navigators.
It had been...I shook my head and shut down my computer as soon as I was assured that the Five's location was still secret. That's all that mattered. I left my cabin and walked to where I was supposed to meet this Jedi Master.
I waited by the door until it opened and he walked through it. He was a tall human male. He seemed to be in his late 50's or early 60's. His hair was long and he had a small little beard. All in all, a very impressive build. His physique radiated power, though I sensed calmness in him that would temper any rage. At least rage that would lead to the Dark Side.
"Welcome, Master Qui-Gon Jinn." I said and felt something that I hadn't felt in some time. Being a Navigator, even though I had used The Cure, meant certain emotions had become foreign to me. Or at least I only felt them on rare occasions. "I am here to help you on your mission. Whatever that might be."
I tried to keep silent that I knew his mission. Because I wasn't ranked high enough, at least not now at this point in time, to have the information.
"You are Rinn?" He asked and I nodded. "I am continuing my mission to find the Heart of the Darkness."
"You mean the ship that holds something that even the Sith were afraid of?" I asked. Pretending to only know the common myth that was told about it. Pretending not to know what the ship really held.
Qui-Gon gave a subtle smile to reassure me as he mistook any sign of nervousness as a fear of him. I thought I was hiding my secrets from him and so it couldn't be that. But maybe he was sensing my confusion about what I was feeling.
And with Qui-Gon's reassuring smile it hit me. I was feeling what a normal human would describe as being attracted to him.
**********************************
For many years I had been living alone. And why would I want to be with anyone? Anyone I would travel with, or form any kind of attachment to, I would have to keep in the dark. I couldn't tell anyone the true version of events. If I did, then there would be a chance my secrets could be found out.
While this went through my mind I looked over at the Jedi Master. Helped with the Force, he was able to use his powers in minor ways to speed the process along. If I had wanted to I could've told Qui-Gon where the Heart of the Darkness was located. But then I'd be giving up the lives of my friends. Not good friends, but friends nonetheless.
"You having better luck than me, Master Jedi?" I asked after feeling the silence getting to me. Silence when there was no one around was one thing. But when a person was a few feet away from you and there was no conversation, that was different.
"I think we're doing the same amount of work." He replied, sighed, and then turned to look at me. "Such an ancient ship, full of dark side energy, is impossible to find. I don't know why I continue to seek it. Even when the Council gave me the mission, they knew there was a possibility I wouldn't be able to find it. They gave me a way out if I wanted."
I sensed something and pretended not to notice. Instead I started looking through a new batch of files. "Maybe you have something to prove?" I said casually.
"I'm a Jedi, we don't let our personal lives affect us on missions."
"You're also a living and feeling being." I said as I turned to him. "I think even Jedi are affected by emotions like the rest of us."
Qui-Gon was quiet and slight signs showed his composure starting to falter. After a few seconds he gained full control of himself and replied, "You are right. I failed to train my former Padawan Xanatos."
"Did he die?" I asked.
"No, he turned to the dark side and left the Jedi Order."
"So you trying to find the Heart of the Darkness is you trying to redeem yourself?"
Qui-Gon turned back to looking through the files and didn't answer my question. Many more minutes of silence filled the time we both spent looking through even more files. Even though my attention was focused on the task at hand, I found myself glancing at the Jedi Master from time to time.
I had felt a small amount of attraction towards him when we first met, but I didn't feel anything strong. I couldn't feel emotions like a normal human anymore, so I didn't know for certain that attraction is what I was feeling or how it would affect me.
"Do you know anymore about the Heart of the Darkness other than the Sith are afraid what it contains?" Qui-Gon finally asked.
In my early days I wouldn't know how to answer him without giving away the truth. But I was much older now.
I replied, "Yes, I do. The Sith built a ship to contain the Dark Side. Well, at least a high density of the Dark Side. This feat was done better than expected. Five of the Sith were chosen to fly the Heart of the Darkness, but they never arrived at their destination. Some say those Sith repented and destroyed the ship. Yet others say that the dark side overtook them and decided to take the ship into hiding until a later point in time."
"At which point the Dark Side will attempt to take over the Republic." Qui-Gon finished. "You know your history."
"I know legends." I said and realized I had fooled a Jedi Master. It wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last, but something felt different this time. Something felt wrong about fooling such a strong and wise being. He should've been just another human Jedi, but he wasn't. Not to me.
I realized the feeling of attraction and noticed that they were stronger than they had been in a long time. I also realized that I didn't know how to resist them. Most likely because I didn't want to. I wanted to feel a real emotion again.
"But that history is a lie." I finally said. "I planted it and let it flourish."
Qui-Gon Jinn was silent for awhile. He didn't react. I knew that it was his way of coping, I had seen him doing the same thing earlier. Knowing his silence would end soon, I was wondering how to react. Should I tell him the truth? Some part of me thought he had the right to know, while the rational part of my mind was telling me I had made a mistake. The rational part of my mind was pointing out that I had made a mistake that could've just jeopardized myself and those I wished to protect.
"The history of the Heart of the Darkness is well known by the Jedi Order," Qui-Gon replied. "And even if what you say is true, you weren't alive back when the Heart of Darkness was lost."
I paused and tried to calm myself before continuing. I wanted to tell this man my story. But, at the same time, it might not be the best thing. I could say it was a joke and let it blow over. But I couldn't do that to Qui-Gon. Not to him.
"I was born a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away. The time was one where space travel was a new thing. We didn't know who our neighbors in space were and yet we wanted to conquer it all. It had been a week since my soon to be husband died and I was lost." I said. "I didn't know what to do since each morning I was reminded of him. No matter where I went on my home world, I was reminded of him. It was then that I decided to join the Navigators."
I looked to see how the Jedi Master was reacting. He hardly moved, intent on hearing me out. Never mind that he would think I was insane until I could prove it to him.
"Navigators are genetically altered humans used to pilot large ships. Usually containing colonists that were put in stasis. Since space travel was new, voyages could last longer than intended due to unforeseen consequences." I paused remembering the early days of my existence. "Many of these consequences you don't think about anymore because your galaxy has been mapped out and dangers to us then are inconveniences to you now."
"What are the abilities of these Navigators?" Qui-Gon asked. I took note that he didn't refer to me as one. Showing he didn't yet believe my story.
"We have unlimited life spans, powers that can be compared to your Jedi abilities, and the ability to teleport ourselves and things around us." I said. "It is our long life spans and the ability to teleport that made us so useful. The Jedi-like powers were merely to give us means to protect ourselves, ship, and cargo from a very dangerous and unknowable galaxy."
Qui-Gon merely nodded, which I took to mean to continue my story. "However, becoming a Navigator came with two great costs. The first was an ever increasing inability to feel like a human. The other was an extreme rage that could overtake us at any moment. For the majority of the time Navigators were many, this rage never accounted to much. Until the Massacre which only left six Navigators still alive." I paused as memories of that day overtook me. The bloodshed, everything. I was finally able to calm myself down after a few minutes. "I left the other five to search for a cure. Since I left them I became The Rogue and they The Five. I managed to find a cure that defeated the rage but I still can't feel like I did before I became a Navigator."
"So the Five are the Sith of the legend?" Qui-Gon asked. "And you created the legend with five Sith Lords in case the Heart of the Darkness was ever found?"
I nodded. "Yes, so in case the ship was ever found, the legend would not be questioned." There was a moment of silence and then Qui-Gon signaled for me to continue. "After I became the Rogue and found the Cure, the Five's hate against me had increased like never before. I ended up running to this galaxy and found a home on the planet Atlan. I first arrived on it before the dominant lifeforms had completely matured. As such I was a kind of god in their eyes and helped them build their civilization. Once space travel was starting to become normal in this galaxy, the Five had managed to track me down."
I took a moment to figure out how to explain this next part to him. "The Five came to great power around the Sith War and so I was finally forced to act. Previously I had managed to hide while they didn't cause any great act of chaos. But I had to act. While we didn't have any friendship by the end, they were still the only things reminiscent of the time of my youth. Back when I was naive. So I put them into cyrogenic sleep and hid the Heart of the Darkness, moving it when people got too close to it."
Qui-Gon leaned back and crossed his arms. I could see the thoughts of whether or not to believe me going through his head. And, really, what proof did I have to give him? The word of a human female he had just met? I decided to help him out.
I teleported around the room long enough for him to know, through his Force Senses, that I was really teleporting. That my teleporting was not just a cheap trick.
"Can you actually teleport another person?" He finally asked.
I nodded. "But the feeling of cold most experience sometimes leads to a coma or even death. Though in most cases it just leaves you knocked out and when you come to you have a migraine."
Qui-Gon's arms were uncrossed and he looked lost. What I told him was a lot to take in. But he believed it. A simple use of my abilities and he knew what I had said was true. When he looked into my eyes I saw awe and longing. I had expected the awe part, not because I thought I was important, but because my story changed what people thought. Especially my ability to destroy a long held belief as something I had made up to cover my own tracks.
The longing I hadn't expected. Not from a Jedi Master, even though I knew they had faults just like everyone else. There had been signs he had interest in me. The main one being the subtle one of him telling me something he didn't seem apt to share with others. But I didn't expect anything like infatuation to come from it.
The look of longing in his eyes quickly went away, as he realized what he had felt and shared, and he said, "I believe you, Rinn."
**************************
It had been a few hours since I had come clean to Qui-Gon. For the first time in a long time, I felt nervous. For many years I had merely been hiding beneath a mask so I could be who I wanted. I could have any past I chose. Well, as long as my fake identifications were good enough. And they had worked for the most part.
We had both moved to the Jedi Master's cabin. I had an odd suspicion that he was trying to make me comfortable. Making it so that I would give the location of the Heart of the Darkness to him and reveal more about myself. Sadly, it was having the intended effect on me.
Qui-Gon sat on his bed while I sat on a chair. We didn't sit side by side. We were comrades at the moment and our positions reminded us of that fact.
"So you're a-" He started.
"Less evolved human than you are. Yes." I said. "It doesn't insult me. It happens to be true."
"But you are from a different galaxy." He looked over my body thoroughly. I didn't get the sense there was anything sexual in his glance, more so the look someone gives a new discovery.
"It's an odd coincidence." I replied, some part of me enjoying his gaze on me. Even if it wasn't an invitation. "Sometimes creatures evolve similarly to others. Though I might not be a stage of your evolution. I prefer to keep things simple and call myself something less evolved."
"Though your abilities would suggest otherwise."
I shook my head. "My abilities were given to me by science. As I was before, I would be more similar to another human in this galaxy."
"I doubt that." There was a slight pause. "You are from a different galaxy. I doubt you'd be too similar."
If I hadn't been a Navigator a small smile might've formed on my face. As it was I looked into his eyes and shook my head.
"Me being a Navigator is what makes me different from others. Not because of my powers, but in terms of my long life span." I replied. "There is no one I knew from before that I can talk to. While others can understand and connect with me, they can't ever fully understand me."
Qui-Gon looked down as if in contemplation. It looked as though he wanted to argue that he was different. That I viewed him differently. I wanted to assume that would be because he needed to complete his mission.
"How do you relate to people now?" He finally asked. "You are right that you've lived longer than any human should have to live."
"You mean like how I relate to you?" I thought about this for a good minute. I didn't know how to accurately explain how I didn't. Or at least I liked to think I didn't and our interactions were purely for his mission. "I know you are a living, thinking being. That you have hopes and dreams. That, being a Jedi, you have encountered loses. That's really the way I relate to you."
But that wasn't really accurate. If that was the only way I related to him, I wouldn't have told him about Navigators. Wouldn't have admitted that I knew where the ship he was searching for was located.
"That's a bleak way to view the universe." Qui-Gon replied.
It was as though he knew I was lying. But if I was lying, so was he.
"And how do you relate to me?" I asked and there was a pause. Being the Jedi Master he was, he allowed no look of shock or confusion to stay on his face very long. But I could sense it. I could sense it like someone could smell a strong perfume.
"I'm a Jedi. My connection to the Force is all I need." He replied and I knew arguing would get me nowhere. He hadn't replied to the question I asked, but he had replied to the question I meant.
"The way I view the universe is also because of what I am." I said. "What I was made to be. Even after using the Cure, somethings about me being a Navigator has not changed."
"I'm sure you will be able to feel like you did before." His annoyance at my question seemed to be forgotten. And if not forgotten, at least he felt sympathy more than anger. Probably his Jedi training helped him in that respect.
"I won't be holding my breath for it. It's been too long to expect something like that to change."
Qui-Gon nodded. "But you can still lead me to the Heart of the Darkness. I know you want to help me. I doubt revealing your past is something you'd do if you didn't intend to help me."
I looked at him and then looked away.
The silence began to unnerve me more than the Massacre ever did. Senseless violence and losing myself in hate was much preferable to this silence between myself and the Jedi Master. At least in the Massacre there was some clear goal. It wasn't a good or noble goal, but it was a goal nonetheless.
"I'm not holding back because I want to stop you from completing your mission." I said and leaned back in my chair. It wasn't my chair but sitting on it gave me some form of ownership, if only in my mind. "It's just that I don't betray friends. I have a sense of loyalty that not many have. Not just in the present, but also in the past. Hell, my own friends didn't have the same loyalty as I do."
"But then are they really friends if they don't respect you?" Qui-Gon asked.
"When you have friends sometimes you and them don't see eye to eye. Doesn't mean you and them aren't friends."
"Rinn, friends don't always see eye to eye. But they don't try and kill each other." Qui-Gon said and looked at me. It seemed as though he looked into me and was pushing me to also look into myself. But I didn't want to. I didn't have to.
"Sometimes there are misunderstandings." I replied. "Qui-Gon, they weren't in control of themselves. They didn't know what they were doing."
"Are you talking about friends or abusers?"
Finally my feelings for the Jedi Master made me tell him. I could've found someone else to tell within a week or year, but I had to tell Qui-Gon. Some strange, forgotten urge was making me tell him the truth.
"You know how I told you that I have few real human emotions left?" I asked and Qui-Gon nodded. "What I feel towards the Five is one of the few human emotions I still have. The feeling of loyalty I have towards them is one of the few things I have left to cling onto. If I lose the Five what do I have left? If I kill them, will I become less than I already am?"
Qui-Gon touched my arm and gave me the same type of look he had given me before. But instead of a penetrating gaze, it was a look of comfort. It said that even if I had no one else, I had him. That what I was starting to feel now for the Jedi Master would be reciprocated by him. That I had nothing to worry about.
"I need to hear you say it." I finally said and touched his hand that was on me.
"You still have m-you still have Atlan." Qui-Gon said. I don't know what had made him make the slip. It might've been my touch or it might've been too hard for him not to say it at one point. I wasn't a fellow Jedi and he had no certainty of seeing me when he woke up in the morning. "Whatever you lose when killing the Five, you still have Atlan to hold onto."
I thought for a moment before speaking. "You are right, Master Jinn, I do have Atlan to hold onto." I replied. "I will show you where the Heart of the Darkness is so you can get back to more important matters."
But it wasn't because of Atlan that I had agree to show Qui-Gon where the Heart of the Darkness was located. It was because of Qui-Gon himself.
**************************
Today was the day. Or night. Depending on where you were at the moment. Me I was on a cliff on Atlan during the daytime. The stormy sea below me raged its never ending war on the cliff face. I should've been on the space station, but I needed to mediate alone. Alone with no chance of anyone interrupting me.
This place on Atlan was one not many came to. And, when those beings did come to this area, they never talked to strangers. All anyone did was mediate. Yes, there were a few Younglings that came here to party, but they wouldn't talk to me. They'd either party or have sex. Very rarely did they try to communicate with strangers.
Where I was standing now was where I had originally landed when the planet was still very young. I hadn't interfered with how the planet grew, but I was still glad of how it had turned out.
The Five would die soon. The Five, the only remaining survivors of my people, would die soon. The salty sea air and crashing waves could only calm me so much. I could stay here or go somewhere else and leave the Jedi Master right where he had started. He'd know who and what I was, but he would find that it wouldn't be worth trying to track me down.
Qui-Gon Jinn had admitted his feelings for me and I had the same feelings for him. If the Five had been better friends I wouldn't give them up for a man I had just met. However, their continued existence could spell doom for this galaxy. It would be wiser to finally kill them than let them live.
I stretched out my mind to my cabin on the space station and teleported back to there. The cool rush of teleportation filled my every piece of being and then went away when I arrived. I heard a gentle knocking and turned my attention to the door.
I opened the door and the Jedi Master was there.
"I tried contacting you, Rinn," He said. "I couldn't find you anywhere."
"Come in." I said and he came in. I shut the door behind him. "I had to go somewhere to meditate. I didn't want to be disturbed."
"Are you thinking about going back on your word?"
"If I was I wouldn't be here and we wouldn't be having this conversation. Besides, I was meditating to make my resolve of showing you the Heart of the Darkness stronger."
Qui-Gon paused a moment. "Did you go to the ship?"
I shook my head. "No, I went somewhere that reminded me of who I was and that the Five are dangerous."
"Atlan."
I nodded. "Atlan." There were a precious few moments of silence before I next spoke. "I assume you have been making preparations of your own."
A smirk came onto Qui-Gon's face. He had decided on doing that instead of questioning me about how I had convinced myself. After a few seconds his face returned to its serious look. "You can just give me the co-ordinates. You don't need to come with me." He said. "Whatever happens on the Heart of Darkness doesn't need to concern you."
"Even if I took you up on your offer I would still be responsible for what happens." I replied. "If the Five die then I killed them. Not with my hands, but with yours. If you die then I will have lead you to your death. I don't know which one would be worse."
"But you wouldn't need to see them in their last few moments of life." The Jedi Master said. "You don't need to encounter the pain yourself."
"Qui-Gon, I am not a coward." I replied. "I have faced darkness and I am not afraid to do so again. And with something so important it would not be fit for me to be in the background. I need to be part of this. Whether it fills me with joy or sorrow."
Qui-Gon nodded his understanding and we walked to the small ship we would use to take us to the Heart of the Darkness. While walking I felt Master Jinn's pity for me. He knew what I was risking and yet wasn't afraid of the fact that I could go back on my promise.
***************************
It had been awhile since I had done something important with someone else. I didn't turn to Qui-Gon but felt his mind and tried to ease the tension there. I who had been to the Heart of the Darkness many times had become used to the Dark Side energy there. This Jedi Master had never been there before and his anticipation might kill him.
He gave a gentle push back with his own mind and I went back to only myself plus my surroundings.
"You need to focus on what you'll have to do." He said kindly.
"And you need to be relaxed." I replied and didn't dwell on the fact that I hadn't told him everything.
Qui-Gon took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I felt his mind relax but not by much.
"I guess that will have to do." I said with what could barely be called sarcasm.
As we exited hyperspace a cold feeling ran through my veins and I could see the Jedi Master shiver, though he had it mostly under control. I was used to this cold that had nothing to do with temperature and my body made no sign that I was affected.
Upon exiting hyperspace the Heart of the Darkness came into view. It seemed to be a little smaller than the average moon. It had five points jutting out of it and a sphere for the center. The five points jutting out of it were five Navigator ships. They had originally been ships that Navigators, like myself, had both piloted and taken care of.
I didn't immediately fly towards the Heart of the Darkness but instead took note of Qui-Gon. I held his left hand in my right hand. He looked into my eyes and I could feel the terror in them. The Massacre had left me with such a fear, especially when it was over and I had realized what I had done. What I had been capable of.
Qui-Gon nodded and I touched his mind with my own. Where I felt horror I left calmness. I didn't fully calm him as he wouldn't have been able to do what he'd need to when he entered. After a few minutes I felt that he was calm enough and left his mind.
"Thank you." He said.
"You're welcome." I replied and flew towards one of the entrances of the Heart of the Darkness. I went towards one of the five points and was afraid that I'd need to calm Qui-Gon again. Luckily that wasn't the case.
Landing the small craft in one of the cargo bays wasn't hard to do. But I didn't take that as a sign that this mission would be easy.
I got up and walked to the door that would allow me to set foot onto the Heart of the Darkness.
Turning around I said, "Ready when you are."
Qui-Gon paused a moment before he followed me out of our small ship and into a much larger one. I stretched out with my mind and other senses to look at the cargo bay. So much had happened here and soon there would be no need of it anymore. Except for nostalgia.
"It used to be much nicer." I told the Jedi Master. "What it it has become is not what it began as. It began as a way to explore the universe not a way to help end it."
He was about to reply when a loud alarm went off. We both took off running with me in the lead. I took out a small blaster and he took out his lightsaber. The plan was for this to go as quickly as possible. Showing him around could wait for later.
As we exited the cargo bay and into one of the main hallways lasers started firing at us. I dodged them while Qui-Gon used his weapon to have the blasts hit the lasers that fired them. The alarm system had turned on because Qui-Gon was an alien that had not been entered into the system. The Five had entered Navigators to be the only things allowed in. Which was why I had never had a problem with the ship.
I fired my blaster at a droid that had appeared in the hallway. It dodged it and when I fired my next shot it became paralyzed. A third shot finally brought it down. The spider-like droid was down and yet another of the model appeared behind it.
Qui-Gon was able to spare a moment to redirect a laser blast to distract it and I put it down.
More spider-like droids came after us and the laser firing system continued to function. This went on until we reached a door that would allow us into the sphere of the Heart of the Darkness. That would allow us to enter the control center of the whole ship. Well, space station really.
I teleported behind the door and updated the system to allow Qui-Gon in. After a few seconds the security system deactivated. I opened the door and was given a view of Qui-Gon deactivating his lightsaber and putting it back on his belt.
"Couldn't you have just teleported there in the first place?" The Jedi Master asked as he walked into the sphere.
"I had to make sure you survived." I replied.
He just looked at me and I turned away.
"Besides, a lot of things about this are illogical." Were the only words that came out to counteract Qui-Gon's look.
He nodded. "That they are. You can still go back."
"No," I said. "I wouldn't have come this far if I didn't plan to end this."
With this new man by my side I walked to the center of the ship. Upon arrival I walked into the center of the room and allowed Qui-Gon to take in the sight. All five were in cryogenic chambers around the room. I had made sure to keep track of how each one was doing. If each one was dying or surviving.
"We'll have to unplug them." I told him. "Basically just make the cryogenic chambers kill each of them. I made it as a safe guard if anyone tried to unfreeze them. The normal way to do so kills them, it takes prior knowledge to remove them safely."
I saw the emotions overtake his face. He finally realized that killing the Five wasn't about fighting an enemy, but killing that enemy in their sleep. Killing the enemy when they couldn't fight back. An dishonorable way to kill, especially for a Jedi.
"There has to be another way." He managed to say but I shook my head.
"Unless you want to unfreeze them and fight them. Even if partially woken up they will fight as strong as Master Yoda. You won't be able to fight them easily, even with me by your side." I paused. "You probably won't survive and I don't know if I can kill them in a fair fight. And if they are released they will tear this galaxy apart."
Qui-Gon walked slowly over to a cryogenic chamber and did the actions to unfreeze one of the Five, which did the opposite. I felt him go through many emotions as he did the actions. He was feeling if he was betraying his order and yet doing good for that same order.
"I couldn't kill them when I had the chance." I told him as I killed another of the five. "If I had I wouldn't have put you into this situation."
"It's hurting you more, isn't it?" He asked as he went onto the next one. "I shouldn't have put you in this situation."
"If I hadn't become a Navigator I wouldn't be in any of these scenarios."
"I'm glad you did decide to become one." He said with a little too much affection.
Finally I came to the final member of the Five. I knew his name without looking at the tag on his cryogenic chamber. His name was Carver and I smiled at the good times. But when the bad memories came to me I felt no regret as I killed him.
Qui-Gon put his hand on my shoulder and I leaned into him. They were gone now. I was now the only Navigator left. I had no comfort to find except the man beside me. And one day he'd be gone or dead.
***********************************
It had been a good three standard days since my last connections to my origins had been destroyed. I had expected to be crying and starting to feel the anger that I thought was in the past. But none of that happened. I was in the shower for the fifth time that day. I felt dirty and yet no amount of water would wash me clean.
I had not only killed friends but had done so while they were asleep. My crimes included dragging a Jedi Master to help me. An image of Qui-Gon came into my mind and I imagined him waiting outside the shower. I didn't just see an image but remembered his mind. Focusing on the mirage of Qui-Gon I felt its nonexistence and finished washing myself.
I got out and began to dry myself. I thought I should check on Qui-Gon one last time. As this galaxy was big and he was a Jedi, I figured this would be my last chance. I didn't dress fancy but put on my normal outfit. After making sure that my cabin would be safe I walked over to his door. I could've teleported but wanted to be polite. Wanted to comfort him and not scare him away.
While I had lost my friends, he had killed enemies that were in no position to fight back. I believed we were equal in the pain we felt about the events aboard the Heart of the Darkness.
I knocked on Qui-Gon's door and he opened.
"I just wanted to check on you." I said. "Before we said our good-byes."
I sensed something strange and the Jedi Master appeared nervous but he let me in anyways.
"You had me kill people that were defenseless." He reprimanded and then sighed. "But I see why you had me help you. It was hard enough for you to kill your fellow Navigators. You couldn't do it on your own."
"You don't think you could kill a fellow Jedi." I said and put an arm around his shoulder. "Not even one that betrayed you personally."
Qui-Gon winced but nodded. He had told me all about Xanatos the previous day and I had listened. He had told me plainly that he wouldn't know what would happen if he had to kill his former Padawan.
"And I thank you for helping to keep my secret about a fragment of my past." I said and saw him smile back. For a brief moment he seemed to forget about the pains encountered on the Heart of the Darkness. I was a little proud that I could provide him even a brief glimpse at happiness.
"The true danger is no longer a threat." Qui-Gon said and he touched my hand that was on his on his arm. "I will say I battled the Sith in there and that once I left the ship it was no longer in the same location."
"And what will you say about me?"
"That you helped me track it down."
I then asked the question that was on my mind but that I was afraid to get out of my mouth. "When will you be leaving?"
Qui-Gon appeared nervous again and replied, "In around five hours."
"Then you'll be gone."
"I will answer any call you send me." He said. "You more than deserve that."
"I put you through more pain than being killed by a black hole, you shouldn't feel that you owe me anything."
"But I do." He said and I shook his hand.
As I let go of his hand and went to the door something happened. Something that had been waiting to happen since I had first laid eyes on him. An emotion he had an easier time feeling than me.
Qui-Gon grabbed my face in his hands and kissed me. Deeply and with passion. However, it was also laced with shame for betraying his Order. For a brief second I saw an image of a human woman in his mind that was quickly replaced by my own as I returned his kiss.
The kissing became more heated and both of our hands wandered. Before things could continue to the finish we both yearned for, we stopped.
"I'll remember your offer." I told the Jedi Master and the first real smile in awhile formed on my face. No more shame was on his face as he smiled back. The smile and these feelings gave me hope that one day I could feel like I had before.
I then exited his cabin.
-THE END-
-----------------------------------------
Inbetween tumblr
Friday, April 19, 2013
Inbetween: Death of the Five
Inbetween: Death of the Five 8
It had been a good three standard days since my last connections to my origins had been destroyed. I had expected to be crying and starting to feel the anger that I thought was in the past. But none of that happened. I was in the shower for the fifth time that day. I felt dirty and yet no amount of water would wash me clean.
I had not only killed friends but had done so while they were asleep. My crimes included dragging a Jedi Master to help me. An image of Qui-Gon came into my mind and I imagined him waiting outside the shower. I didn't just see an image but remembered his mind. Focusing on the mirage of Qui-Gon I felt its nonexistence and finished washing myself.
I got out and began to dry myself. I thought I should check on Qui-Gon one last time. As this galaxy was big and he was a Jedi, I figured this would be my last chance. I didn't dress fancy but put on my normal outfit. After making sure that my cabin would be safe I walked over to his door. I could've teleported but wanted to be polite. Wanted to comfort him and not scare him away.
While I had lost my friends, he had killed enemies that were in no position to fight back. I believed we were equal in the pain we felt about the events aboard the Heart of the Darkness.
I knocked on Qui-Gon's door and he opened.
"I just wanted to check on you." I said. "Before we said our good-byes."
I sensed something strange and the Jedi Master appeared nervous but he let me in anyways.
"You had me kill people that were defenseless." He reprimanded and then sighed. "But I see why you had me help you. It was hard enough for you to kill your fellow Navigators. You couldn't do it on your own."
"You don't think you could kill a fellow Jedi." I said and put an arm around his shoulder. "Not even one that betrayed you personally."
Qui-Gon winced but nodded. He had told me all about Xanatos the previous day and I had listened. He had told me plainly that he wouldn't know what would happen if he had to kill his former Padawan.
"And I thank you for helping to keep my secret about a fragment of my past." I said and saw him smile back. For a brief moment he seemed to forget about the pains encountered on the Heart of the Darkness. I was a little proud that I could provide him even a brief glimpse at happiness.
"The true danger is no longer a threat." Qui-Gon said and he touched my hand that was on his on his arm. "I will say I battled the Sith in there and that once I left the ship it was no longer in the same location."
"And what will you say about me?"
"That you helped me track it down."
I then asked the question that was on my mind but that I was afraid to get out of my mouth. "When will you be leaving?"
Qui-Gon appeared nervous again and replied, "In around five hours."
"Then you'll be gone."
"I will answer any call you send me." He said. "You more than deserve that."
"I put you through more pain than being killed by a black hole, you shouldn't feel that you owe me anything."
"But I do." He said and I shook his hand.
As I let go of his hand and went to the door something happened. Something that had been waiting to happen since I had first laid eyes on him. An emotion he had an easier time feeling than me.
Qui-Gon grabbed my face in his hands and kissed me. Deeply and with passion. However, it was also laced with shame for betraying his Order. For a brief second I saw an image of a human woman in his mind that was quickly replaced by my own as I returned his kiss.
The kissing became more heated and both of our hands wandered. Before things could continue to the finish we both yearned for, we stopped.
"I'll remember your offer." I told the Jedi Master and the first real smile in awhile formed on my face. No more shame was on his face as he smiled back. The smile and these feelings gave me hope that one day I could feel like I had before.
I then exited his cabin.
-THE END-
-------------------------------------
Inbetween tumblr
I had not only killed friends but had done so while they were asleep. My crimes included dragging a Jedi Master to help me. An image of Qui-Gon came into my mind and I imagined him waiting outside the shower. I didn't just see an image but remembered his mind. Focusing on the mirage of Qui-Gon I felt its nonexistence and finished washing myself.
I got out and began to dry myself. I thought I should check on Qui-Gon one last time. As this galaxy was big and he was a Jedi, I figured this would be my last chance. I didn't dress fancy but put on my normal outfit. After making sure that my cabin would be safe I walked over to his door. I could've teleported but wanted to be polite. Wanted to comfort him and not scare him away.
While I had lost my friends, he had killed enemies that were in no position to fight back. I believed we were equal in the pain we felt about the events aboard the Heart of the Darkness.
I knocked on Qui-Gon's door and he opened.
"I just wanted to check on you." I said. "Before we said our good-byes."
I sensed something strange and the Jedi Master appeared nervous but he let me in anyways.
"You had me kill people that were defenseless." He reprimanded and then sighed. "But I see why you had me help you. It was hard enough for you to kill your fellow Navigators. You couldn't do it on your own."
"You don't think you could kill a fellow Jedi." I said and put an arm around his shoulder. "Not even one that betrayed you personally."
Qui-Gon winced but nodded. He had told me all about Xanatos the previous day and I had listened. He had told me plainly that he wouldn't know what would happen if he had to kill his former Padawan.
"And I thank you for helping to keep my secret about a fragment of my past." I said and saw him smile back. For a brief moment he seemed to forget about the pains encountered on the Heart of the Darkness. I was a little proud that I could provide him even a brief glimpse at happiness.
"The true danger is no longer a threat." Qui-Gon said and he touched my hand that was on his on his arm. "I will say I battled the Sith in there and that once I left the ship it was no longer in the same location."
"And what will you say about me?"
"That you helped me track it down."
I then asked the question that was on my mind but that I was afraid to get out of my mouth. "When will you be leaving?"
Qui-Gon appeared nervous again and replied, "In around five hours."
"Then you'll be gone."
"I will answer any call you send me." He said. "You more than deserve that."
"I put you through more pain than being killed by a black hole, you shouldn't feel that you owe me anything."
"But I do." He said and I shook his hand.
As I let go of his hand and went to the door something happened. Something that had been waiting to happen since I had first laid eyes on him. An emotion he had an easier time feeling than me.
Qui-Gon grabbed my face in his hands and kissed me. Deeply and with passion. However, it was also laced with shame for betraying his Order. For a brief second I saw an image of a human woman in his mind that was quickly replaced by my own as I returned his kiss.
The kissing became more heated and both of our hands wandered. Before things could continue to the finish we both yearned for, we stopped.
"I'll remember your offer." I told the Jedi Master and the first real smile in awhile formed on my face. No more shame was on his face as he smiled back. The smile and these feelings gave me hope that one day I could feel like I had before.
I then exited his cabin.
-THE END-
-------------------------------------
Inbetween tumblr
Allegiant (Final Divergent Trilogy Book Named)
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) Mini-Review
I give a brief review of the film.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Taken Review (Part 4)
I finally rate this movie!
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
So You Want to Be a Wizard (Diane Duane)
Title: So You Want to Be a Wizard
Series: Young Wizards
Author: Diane Duane
Released: 1983
Rating: 5/5
Basic Plot: Nita Callahan is a thirteen-year-old girl who discovers a book titled So You Want to Be a Wizard while hiding from bullies in a library. She brings the book home with her and discovers that it is about the art of wizardry.
---------------------------------------------------
The Importance of Words
As a writer I believe that how you say something is just as important as what you say. Word something the wrong way and you'll offend people you didn't mean to. Word it another way and what you really meant will be known to people. It doesn't matter how "sophisticated" your words are, it just matters that people understand them. In this book it's shown that language and belief is what hold the multi-verse together. I really like this aspect of the book. Spells in it are speaking to the Universe to tell it what you want and not just a formula.
Treatment of a Teen Audience
I originally read some of the Young Wizards series while a teenager myself. As a teen I was always happy when I found an author who didn't treat me as a child. Who didn't think of me as dumb. This book treats its audience with respect. The main characters (Nita and Kit) are teenagers but are still able to figure things out. They don't make stupid mistakes and deal with very real problems. I'm not talking about magic or jumping into another universe. I'm talking about deciding who to help and should you give a very evil person a chance at redemption.
Character Growth/Strength
A good story has the characters change from how they were in the beginning to how they are at the end. Nita and Kit are both afraid of the torment from bullies. The combined spell that they perform near the beginning of the book is to make people stay away from Kit and for Nita to find an item that was stolen from her by Joanne (the girl that bullies Nita). By the end of the book, after going through a Hell universe and fighting off the creator of death itself, both have changed. Kit has a presence that makes him appear very strong and Nita gets her pen back. Besides that, Nita faces her fear of Joanne and gives the bully a chance at being her friend. I'd say that is some good character growth there.
Final Thoughts
I found this lovely book at a Goodwill. Once I saw this some of my childhood came back to me. While I had never read this book in the series (even though it's the first one), it still connected me to other books in the series that I had read while younger. I am glad that I still enjoy Duane's writing even though I'm not a teenager anymore (reading Piers Anthony was a disappointment on the other hand). Even though this book was published in 1983 I think children will get something out of it today. Bullying, good and evil, and forgiveness are all topics covered in this book. Just be aware that it is a dark book.
Series: Young Wizards
Author: Diane Duane
Released: 1983
Rating: 5/5
Basic Plot: Nita Callahan is a thirteen-year-old girl who discovers a book titled So You Want to Be a Wizard while hiding from bullies in a library. She brings the book home with her and discovers that it is about the art of wizardry.
---------------------------------------------------
The Importance of Words
As a writer I believe that how you say something is just as important as what you say. Word something the wrong way and you'll offend people you didn't mean to. Word it another way and what you really meant will be known to people. It doesn't matter how "sophisticated" your words are, it just matters that people understand them. In this book it's shown that language and belief is what hold the multi-verse together. I really like this aspect of the book. Spells in it are speaking to the Universe to tell it what you want and not just a formula.
Treatment of a Teen Audience
I originally read some of the Young Wizards series while a teenager myself. As a teen I was always happy when I found an author who didn't treat me as a child. Who didn't think of me as dumb. This book treats its audience with respect. The main characters (Nita and Kit) are teenagers but are still able to figure things out. They don't make stupid mistakes and deal with very real problems. I'm not talking about magic or jumping into another universe. I'm talking about deciding who to help and should you give a very evil person a chance at redemption.
Character Growth/Strength
A good story has the characters change from how they were in the beginning to how they are at the end. Nita and Kit are both afraid of the torment from bullies. The combined spell that they perform near the beginning of the book is to make people stay away from Kit and for Nita to find an item that was stolen from her by Joanne (the girl that bullies Nita). By the end of the book, after going through a Hell universe and fighting off the creator of death itself, both have changed. Kit has a presence that makes him appear very strong and Nita gets her pen back. Besides that, Nita faces her fear of Joanne and gives the bully a chance at being her friend. I'd say that is some good character growth there.
Final Thoughts
I found this lovely book at a Goodwill. Once I saw this some of my childhood came back to me. While I had never read this book in the series (even though it's the first one), it still connected me to other books in the series that I had read while younger. I am glad that I still enjoy Duane's writing even though I'm not a teenager anymore (reading Piers Anthony was a disappointment on the other hand). Even though this book was published in 1983 I think children will get something out of it today. Bullying, good and evil, and forgiveness are all topics covered in this book. Just be aware that it is a dark book.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Let's Play Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (Parts 70 and 71)
I meet up with Dahlia.
Let's Play Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (Parts 67-69)
I continue the search for my daughter and run into a newly single woman who gives me directions.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Inbetween: Death of the Five 7
It had been awhile since I had done something important with someone else. I didn't turn to Qui-Gon but felt his mind and tried to ease the tension there. I who had been to the Heart of the Darkness many times had become used to the Dark Side energy there. This Jedi Master had never been there before and his anticipation might kill him.
He gave a gentle push back with his own mind and I went back to only myself plus my surroundings.
"You need to focus on what you'll have to do." He said kindly.
"And you need to be relaxed." I replied and didn't dwell on the fact that I hadn't told him everything.
Qui-Gon took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I felt his mind relax but not by much.
"I guess that will have to do." I said with what could barely be called sarcasm.
As we exited hyperspace a cold feeling ran through my veins and I could see the Jedi Master shiver, though he had it mostly under control. I was used to this cold that had nothing to do with temperature and my body made no sign that I was affected.
Upon exiting hyperspace the Heart of the Darkness came into view. It seemed to be a little smaller than the average moon. It had five points jutting out of it and a sphere for the center. The five points jutting out of it were five Navigator ships. They had originally been ships that Navigators, like myself, had both piloted and taken care of.
I didn't immediately fly towards the Heart of the Darkness but instead took note of Qui-Gon. I held his left hand in my right hand. He looked into my eyes and I could feel the terror in them. The Massacre had left me with such a fear, especially when it was over and I had realized what I had done. What I had been capable of.
Qui-Gon nodded and I touched his mind with my own. Where I felt horror I left calmness. I didn't fully calm him as he wouldn't have been able to do what he'd need to when he entered. After a few minutes I felt that he was calm enough and left his mind.
"Thank you." He said.
"You're welcome." I replied and flew towards one of the entrances of the Heart of the Darkness. I went towards one of the five points and was afraid that I'd need to calm Qui-Gon again. Luckily that wasn't the case.
Landing the small craft in one of the cargo bays wasn't hard to do. But I didn't take that as a sign that this mission would be easy.
I got up and walked to the door that would allow me to set foot onto the Heart of the Darkness.
Turning around I said, "Ready when you are."
Qui-Gon paused a moment before he followed me out of our small ship and into a much larger one. I stretched out with my mind and other senses to look at the cargo bay. So much had happened here and soon there would be no need of it anymore. Except for nostalgia.
"It used to be much nicer." I told the Jedi Master. "What it it has become is not what it began as. It began as a way to explore the universe not a way to help end it."
He was about to reply when a loud alarm went off. We both took off running with me in the lead. I took out a small blaster and he took out his lightsaber. The plan was for this to go as quickly as possible. Showing him around could wait for later.
As we exited the cargo bay and into one of the main hallways lasers started firing at us. I dodged them while Qui-Gon used his weapon to have the blasts hit the lasers that fired them. The alarm system had turned on because Qui-Gon was an alien that had not been entered into the system. The Five had entered Navigators to be the only things allowed in. Which was why I had never had a problem with the ship.
I fired my blaster at a droid that had appeared in the hallway. It dodged it and when I fired my next shot it became paralyzed. A third shot finally brought it down. The spider-like droid was down and yet another of the model appeared behind it.
Qui-Gon was able to spare a moment to redirect a laser blast to distract it and I put it down.
More spider-like droids came after us and the laser firing system continued to function. This went on until we reached a door that would allow us into the sphere of the Heart of the Darkness. That would allow us to enter the control center of the whole ship. Well, space station really.
I teleported behind the door and updated the system to allow Qui-Gon in. After a few seconds the security system deactivated. I opened the door and was given a view of Qui-Gon deactivating his lightsaber and putting it back on his belt.
"Couldn't you have just teleported there in the first place?" The Jedi Master asked as he walked into the sphere.
"I had to make sure you survived." I replied.
He just looked at me and I turned away.
"Besides, a lot of things about this are illogical." Were the only words that came out to counteract Qui-Gon's look.
He nodded. "That they are. You can still go back."
"No," I said. "I wouldn't have come this far if I didn't plan to end this."
With this new man by my side I walked to the center of the ship. Upon arrival I walked into the center of the room and allowed Qui-Gon to take in the sight. All five were in cryogenic chambers around the room. I had made sure to keep track of how each one was doing. If each one was dying or surviving.
"We'll have to unplug them." I told him. "Basically just make the cryogenic chambers kill each of them. I made it as a safe guard if anyone tried to unfreeze them. The normal way to do so kills them, it takes prior knowledge to remove them safely."
I saw the emotions overtake his face. He finally realized that killing the Five wasn't about fighting an enemy, but killing that enemy in their sleep. Killing the enemy when they couldn't fight back. An dishonorable way to kill, especially for a Jedi.
"There has to be another way." He managed to say but I shook my head.
"Unless you want to unfreeze them and fight them. Even if partially woken up they will fight as strong as Master Yoda. You won't be able to fight them easily, even with me by your side." I paused. "You probably won't survive and I don't know if I can kill them in a fair fight. And if they are released they will tear this galaxy apart."
Qui-Gon walked slowly over to a cryogenic chamber and did the actions to unfreeze one of the Five, which did the opposite. I felt him go through many emotions as he did the actions. He was feeling if he was betraying his order and yet doing good for that same order.
"I couldn't kill them when I had the chance." I told him as I killed another of the five. "If I had I wouldn't have put you into this situation."
"It's hurting you more, isn't it?" He asked as he went onto the next one. "I shouldn't have put you in this situation."
"If I hadn't become a Navigator I wouldn't be in any of these scenarios."
"I'm glad you did decide to become one." He said with a little too much affection.
Finally I came to the final member of the Five. I knew his name without looking at the tag on his cryogenic chamber. His name was Carver and I smiled at the good times. But when the bad memories came to me I felt no regret as I killed him.
Qui-Gon put his hand on my shoulder and I leaned into him. They were gone now. I was now the only Navigator left. I had no comfort to find except the man beside me. And one day he'd be gone or dead.
------------------------------
Inbetween tumblr
He gave a gentle push back with his own mind and I went back to only myself plus my surroundings.
"You need to focus on what you'll have to do." He said kindly.
"And you need to be relaxed." I replied and didn't dwell on the fact that I hadn't told him everything.
Qui-Gon took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I felt his mind relax but not by much.
"I guess that will have to do." I said with what could barely be called sarcasm.
As we exited hyperspace a cold feeling ran through my veins and I could see the Jedi Master shiver, though he had it mostly under control. I was used to this cold that had nothing to do with temperature and my body made no sign that I was affected.
Upon exiting hyperspace the Heart of the Darkness came into view. It seemed to be a little smaller than the average moon. It had five points jutting out of it and a sphere for the center. The five points jutting out of it were five Navigator ships. They had originally been ships that Navigators, like myself, had both piloted and taken care of.
I didn't immediately fly towards the Heart of the Darkness but instead took note of Qui-Gon. I held his left hand in my right hand. He looked into my eyes and I could feel the terror in them. The Massacre had left me with such a fear, especially when it was over and I had realized what I had done. What I had been capable of.
Qui-Gon nodded and I touched his mind with my own. Where I felt horror I left calmness. I didn't fully calm him as he wouldn't have been able to do what he'd need to when he entered. After a few minutes I felt that he was calm enough and left his mind.
"Thank you." He said.
"You're welcome." I replied and flew towards one of the entrances of the Heart of the Darkness. I went towards one of the five points and was afraid that I'd need to calm Qui-Gon again. Luckily that wasn't the case.
Landing the small craft in one of the cargo bays wasn't hard to do. But I didn't take that as a sign that this mission would be easy.
I got up and walked to the door that would allow me to set foot onto the Heart of the Darkness.
Turning around I said, "Ready when you are."
Qui-Gon paused a moment before he followed me out of our small ship and into a much larger one. I stretched out with my mind and other senses to look at the cargo bay. So much had happened here and soon there would be no need of it anymore. Except for nostalgia.
"It used to be much nicer." I told the Jedi Master. "What it it has become is not what it began as. It began as a way to explore the universe not a way to help end it."
He was about to reply when a loud alarm went off. We both took off running with me in the lead. I took out a small blaster and he took out his lightsaber. The plan was for this to go as quickly as possible. Showing him around could wait for later.
As we exited the cargo bay and into one of the main hallways lasers started firing at us. I dodged them while Qui-Gon used his weapon to have the blasts hit the lasers that fired them. The alarm system had turned on because Qui-Gon was an alien that had not been entered into the system. The Five had entered Navigators to be the only things allowed in. Which was why I had never had a problem with the ship.
I fired my blaster at a droid that had appeared in the hallway. It dodged it and when I fired my next shot it became paralyzed. A third shot finally brought it down. The spider-like droid was down and yet another of the model appeared behind it.
Qui-Gon was able to spare a moment to redirect a laser blast to distract it and I put it down.
More spider-like droids came after us and the laser firing system continued to function. This went on until we reached a door that would allow us into the sphere of the Heart of the Darkness. That would allow us to enter the control center of the whole ship. Well, space station really.
I teleported behind the door and updated the system to allow Qui-Gon in. After a few seconds the security system deactivated. I opened the door and was given a view of Qui-Gon deactivating his lightsaber and putting it back on his belt.
"Couldn't you have just teleported there in the first place?" The Jedi Master asked as he walked into the sphere.
"I had to make sure you survived." I replied.
He just looked at me and I turned away.
"Besides, a lot of things about this are illogical." Were the only words that came out to counteract Qui-Gon's look.
He nodded. "That they are. You can still go back."
"No," I said. "I wouldn't have come this far if I didn't plan to end this."
With this new man by my side I walked to the center of the ship. Upon arrival I walked into the center of the room and allowed Qui-Gon to take in the sight. All five were in cryogenic chambers around the room. I had made sure to keep track of how each one was doing. If each one was dying or surviving.
"We'll have to unplug them." I told him. "Basically just make the cryogenic chambers kill each of them. I made it as a safe guard if anyone tried to unfreeze them. The normal way to do so kills them, it takes prior knowledge to remove them safely."
I saw the emotions overtake his face. He finally realized that killing the Five wasn't about fighting an enemy, but killing that enemy in their sleep. Killing the enemy when they couldn't fight back. An dishonorable way to kill, especially for a Jedi.
"There has to be another way." He managed to say but I shook my head.
"Unless you want to unfreeze them and fight them. Even if partially woken up they will fight as strong as Master Yoda. You won't be able to fight them easily, even with me by your side." I paused. "You probably won't survive and I don't know if I can kill them in a fair fight. And if they are released they will tear this galaxy apart."
Qui-Gon walked slowly over to a cryogenic chamber and did the actions to unfreeze one of the Five, which did the opposite. I felt him go through many emotions as he did the actions. He was feeling if he was betraying his order and yet doing good for that same order.
"I couldn't kill them when I had the chance." I told him as I killed another of the five. "If I had I wouldn't have put you into this situation."
"It's hurting you more, isn't it?" He asked as he went onto the next one. "I shouldn't have put you in this situation."
"If I hadn't become a Navigator I wouldn't be in any of these scenarios."
"I'm glad you did decide to become one." He said with a little too much affection.
Finally I came to the final member of the Five. I knew his name without looking at the tag on his cryogenic chamber. His name was Carver and I smiled at the good times. But when the bad memories came to me I felt no regret as I killed him.
Qui-Gon put his hand on my shoulder and I leaned into him. They were gone now. I was now the only Navigator left. I had no comfort to find except the man beside me. And one day he'd be gone or dead.
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Doctor Who "The Rings of Akhaten" Review
A leaf saves the day!
Sunday, April 7, 2013
The Walking Dead (Season 3)
Show: The Walking Dead
Season:3
Episodes:16
Created By: Frank Darabont
Released: 2012-2013
Rating: 4/5
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Andrea's Character Arch
Throughout The Walking Dead I have liked Andrea. Is she perfect? No. But I don't think the character deserved so much hate. However, this started to change this season. I can understand why Andrea overlooked the darker side of Woodbury at first. Hell, I would've in her situation. She had the choice between more doom and gloom OR a hot guy and a little bit of paradise. That being said: I think her relationship with The Governor went on too long and made her act dumber than she actually is. I don't like the relationship with the two for the same reason I don't like the one Derek Reese and Jesse Flores had in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Those two relationships work only because one of the characters in the relationship act dumber than they really are. But, by the end of this Season, the Andrea I knew and loved came back.
Let Down of an Ending
I'll try to keep this spoiler free as possible, but as I'm talking about the ending spoilers are probably going to happen. Anyways: this Season's big thing was supposed to be a big show down between The Governor and Rick Grimes. In other words a showdown between Woodbury and Team Prison. At the mid-season finale there seemed to be a little hint of what the Season Finale would be like. But by the end of this Season Finale there had not been a big showdown between the two. Yes, there was a little battle between them but nothing that looked like what us fans were looking for. Was the Finale bad as a whole? There were some VERY good moments but the fact that there was no big showdown was a huge let down.
Merle
I know many people adore Daryl and consider him the highlight of the series. I, on the other hand, prefer Merle over Daryl. Heck, I prefer Merle over any other character on this show. Yes, Daryl is the more moral character but Merle is just so fun to see on screen. There's something about this racist asshole that is nice to see. Maybe it's his dedication to his brother that makes the character redeemable even before the last few episodes of this season aired. I waited three season for Merle to finally appear again and his reappearance was glorious. I liked the exploring of his character for more than part of an episode. You got to see a more complicated character than the one shown in the second episode of Season 1. Scott M. Gimple, leave my beloved characters alone! Bad, Gimple! Bad!
Final Thoughts
While this Season did have some down points, overall it was well put together. The highlight episode being "Clear". Which, besides seeing the return of Morgan, had some excellent character development of Michonne (who previously in the Season was more of a figure than an actual character). Again, I loved seeing the return of Merle but would've so loved to have had the showdown that I was promised. However, we did get to see the total breakdown of The Governor as well as Milton proving himself to be a badass.
Season:3
Episodes:16
Created By: Frank Darabont
Released: 2012-2013
Rating: 4/5
-------------------------------------------------------
Andrea's Character Arch
Throughout The Walking Dead I have liked Andrea. Is she perfect? No. But I don't think the character deserved so much hate. However, this started to change this season. I can understand why Andrea overlooked the darker side of Woodbury at first. Hell, I would've in her situation. She had the choice between more doom and gloom OR a hot guy and a little bit of paradise. That being said: I think her relationship with The Governor went on too long and made her act dumber than she actually is. I don't like the relationship with the two for the same reason I don't like the one Derek Reese and Jesse Flores had in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Those two relationships work only because one of the characters in the relationship act dumber than they really are. But, by the end of this Season, the Andrea I knew and loved came back.
Let Down of an Ending
I'll try to keep this spoiler free as possible, but as I'm talking about the ending spoilers are probably going to happen. Anyways: this Season's big thing was supposed to be a big show down between The Governor and Rick Grimes. In other words a showdown between Woodbury and Team Prison. At the mid-season finale there seemed to be a little hint of what the Season Finale would be like. But by the end of this Season Finale there had not been a big showdown between the two. Yes, there was a little battle between them but nothing that looked like what us fans were looking for. Was the Finale bad as a whole? There were some VERY good moments but the fact that there was no big showdown was a huge let down.
Merle
I know many people adore Daryl and consider him the highlight of the series. I, on the other hand, prefer Merle over Daryl. Heck, I prefer Merle over any other character on this show. Yes, Daryl is the more moral character but Merle is just so fun to see on screen. There's something about this racist asshole that is nice to see. Maybe it's his dedication to his brother that makes the character redeemable even before the last few episodes of this season aired. I waited three season for Merle to finally appear again and his reappearance was glorious. I liked the exploring of his character for more than part of an episode. You got to see a more complicated character than the one shown in the second episode of Season 1. Scott M. Gimple, leave my beloved characters alone! Bad, Gimple! Bad!
Final Thoughts
While this Season did have some down points, overall it was well put together. The highlight episode being "Clear". Which, besides seeing the return of Morgan, had some excellent character development of Michonne (who previously in the Season was more of a figure than an actual character). Again, I loved seeing the return of Merle but would've so loved to have had the showdown that I was promised. However, we did get to see the total breakdown of The Governor as well as Milton proving himself to be a badass.
Let's Play Mario Kart Wii: Getting Gold (Parts 17-19)
I continue on with Mario Kart racing!
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
The Walking Dead "Welcome to the Tombs" Review
Season 3 ends with many bangs!
Labels:
Finale,
Season 3,
The Walking Dead,
Welcome to the Tombs
Monday, April 1, 2013
Inbetween: Death of the Five 6
Today was the day. Or night. Depending on where you were at the moment. Me I was on a cliff on Atlan during the daytime. The stormy sea below me raged its never ending war on the cliff face. I should've been on the space station, but I needed to mediate alone. Alone with no chance of anyone interrupting me.
This place on Atlan was one not many came to. And, when those beings did come to this area, they never talked to strangers. All anyone did was mediate. Yes, there were a few Younglings that came here to party, but they wouldn't talk to me. They'd either party or have sex. Very rarely did they try to communicate with strangers.
Where I was standing now was where I had originally landed when the planet was still very young. I hadn't interfered with how the planet grew, but I was still glad of how it had turned out.
The Five would die soon. The Five, the only remaining survivors of my people, would die soon. The salty sea air and crashing waves could only calm me so much. I could stay here or go somewhere else and leave the Jedi Master right where he had started. He'd know who and what I was, but he would find that it wouldn't be worth trying to track me down.
Qui-Gon Jinn had admitted his feelings for me and I had the same feelings for him. If the Five had been better friends I wouldn't give them up for a man I had just met. However, their continued existence could spell doom for this galaxy. It would be wiser to finally kill them than let them live.
I stretched out my mind to my cabin on the space station and teleported back to there. The cool rush of teleportation filled my every piece of being and then went away when I arrived. I heard a gentle knocking and turned my attention to the door.
I opened the door and the Jedi Master was there.
"I tried contacting you, Rinn," He said. "I couldn't find you anywhere."
"Come in." I said and he came in. I shut the door behind him. "I had to go somewhere to meditate. I didn't want to be disturbed."
"Are you thinking about going back on your word?"
"If I was I wouldn't be here and we wouldn't be having this conversation. Besides, I was meditating to make my resolve of showing you the Heart of the Darkness stronger."
Qui-Gon paused a moment. "Did you go to the ship?"
I shook my head. "No, I went somewhere that reminded me of who I was and that the Five are dangerous."
"Atlan."
I nodded. "Atlan." There were a precious few moments of silence before I next spoke. "I assume you have been making preparations of your own."
A smirk came onto Qui-Gon's face. He had decided on doing that instead of questioning me about how I had convinced myself. After a few seconds his face returned to its serious look. "You can just give me the co-ordinates. You don't need to come with me." He said. "Whatever happens on the Heart of Darkness doesn't need to concern you."
"Even if I took you up on your offer I would still be responsible for what happens." I replied. "If the Five die then I killed them. Not with my hands, but with yours. If you die then I will have lead you to your death. I don't know which one would be worse."
"But you wouldn't need to see them in their last few moments of life." The Jedi Master said. "You don't need to encounter the pain yourself."
"Qui-Gon, I am not a coward." I replied. "I have faced darkness and I am not afraid to do so again. And with something so important it would not be fit for me to be in the background. I need to be part of this. Whether it fills me with joy or sorrow."
Qui-Gon nodded his understanding and we walked to the small ship we would use to take us to the Heart of the Darkness. While walking I felt Master Jinn's pity for me. He knew what I was risking and yet wasn't afraid of the fact that I could go back on my promise.
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This place on Atlan was one not many came to. And, when those beings did come to this area, they never talked to strangers. All anyone did was mediate. Yes, there were a few Younglings that came here to party, but they wouldn't talk to me. They'd either party or have sex. Very rarely did they try to communicate with strangers.
Where I was standing now was where I had originally landed when the planet was still very young. I hadn't interfered with how the planet grew, but I was still glad of how it had turned out.
The Five would die soon. The Five, the only remaining survivors of my people, would die soon. The salty sea air and crashing waves could only calm me so much. I could stay here or go somewhere else and leave the Jedi Master right where he had started. He'd know who and what I was, but he would find that it wouldn't be worth trying to track me down.
Qui-Gon Jinn had admitted his feelings for me and I had the same feelings for him. If the Five had been better friends I wouldn't give them up for a man I had just met. However, their continued existence could spell doom for this galaxy. It would be wiser to finally kill them than let them live.
I stretched out my mind to my cabin on the space station and teleported back to there. The cool rush of teleportation filled my every piece of being and then went away when I arrived. I heard a gentle knocking and turned my attention to the door.
I opened the door and the Jedi Master was there.
"I tried contacting you, Rinn," He said. "I couldn't find you anywhere."
"Come in." I said and he came in. I shut the door behind him. "I had to go somewhere to meditate. I didn't want to be disturbed."
"Are you thinking about going back on your word?"
"If I was I wouldn't be here and we wouldn't be having this conversation. Besides, I was meditating to make my resolve of showing you the Heart of the Darkness stronger."
Qui-Gon paused a moment. "Did you go to the ship?"
I shook my head. "No, I went somewhere that reminded me of who I was and that the Five are dangerous."
"Atlan."
I nodded. "Atlan." There were a precious few moments of silence before I next spoke. "I assume you have been making preparations of your own."
A smirk came onto Qui-Gon's face. He had decided on doing that instead of questioning me about how I had convinced myself. After a few seconds his face returned to its serious look. "You can just give me the co-ordinates. You don't need to come with me." He said. "Whatever happens on the Heart of Darkness doesn't need to concern you."
"Even if I took you up on your offer I would still be responsible for what happens." I replied. "If the Five die then I killed them. Not with my hands, but with yours. If you die then I will have lead you to your death. I don't know which one would be worse."
"But you wouldn't need to see them in their last few moments of life." The Jedi Master said. "You don't need to encounter the pain yourself."
"Qui-Gon, I am not a coward." I replied. "I have faced darkness and I am not afraid to do so again. And with something so important it would not be fit for me to be in the background. I need to be part of this. Whether it fills me with joy or sorrow."
Qui-Gon nodded his understanding and we walked to the small ship we would use to take us to the Heart of the Darkness. While walking I felt Master Jinn's pity for me. He knew what I was risking and yet wasn't afraid of the fact that I could go back on my promise.
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Friday, March 22, 2013
Inbetween: Death of the Five 5
The silence began to unnerve me more than the Massacre ever did. Senseless violence and losing myself in hate was much preferable to this silence between myself and the Jedi Master. At least in the Massacre there was some clear goal. It wasn't a good or noble goal, but it was a goal nonetheless.
"I'm not holding back because I want to stop you from completing your mission." I said and leaned back in my chair. It wasn't my chair but sitting on it gave me some form of ownership, if only in my mind. "It's just that I don't betray friends. I have a sense of loyalty that not many have. Not just in the present, but also in the past. Hell, my own friends didn't have the same loyalty as I do."
"But then are they really friends if they don't respect you?" Qui-Gon asked.
"When you have friends sometimes you and them don't see eye to eye. Doesn't mean you and them aren't friends."
"Rinn, friends don't always see eye to eye. But they don't try and kill each other." Qui-Gon said and looked at me. It seemed as though he looked into me and was pushing me to also look into myself. But I didn't want to. I didn't have to.
"Sometimes there are misunderstandings." I replied. "Qui-Gon, they weren't in control of themselves. They didn't know what they were doing."
"Are you talking about friends or abusers?"
Finally my feelings for the Jedi Master made me tell him. I could've found someone else to tell within a week or year, but I had to tell Qui-Gon. Some strange, forgotten urge was making me tell him the truth.
"You know how I told you that I have few real human emotions left?" I asked and Qui-Gon nodded. "What I feel towards the Five is one of the few human emotions I still have. The feeling of loyalty I have towards them is one of the few things I have left to cling onto. If I lose the Five what do I have left? If I kill them, will I become less than I already am?"
Qui-Gon touched my arm and gave me the same type of look he had given me before. But instead of a penetrating gaze, it was a look of comfort. It said that even if I had no one else, I had him. That what I was starting to feel now for the Jedi Master would be reciprocated by him. That I had nothing to worry about.
"I need to hear you say it." I finally said and touched his hand that was on me.
"You still have m-you still have Atlan." Qui-Gon said. I don't know what had made him make the slip. It might've been my touch or it might've been too hard for him not to say it at one point. I wasn't a fellow Jedi and he had no certainty of seeing me when he woke up in the morning. "Whatever you lose when killing the Five, you still have Atlan to hold onto."
I thought for a moment before speaking. "You are right, Master Jinn, I do have Atlan to hold onto." I replied. "I will show you where the Heart of the Darkness is so you can get back to more important matters."
But it wasn't because of Atlan that I had agree to show Qui-Gon where the Heart of the Darkness was located. It was because of Qui-Gon himself.
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"I'm not holding back because I want to stop you from completing your mission." I said and leaned back in my chair. It wasn't my chair but sitting on it gave me some form of ownership, if only in my mind. "It's just that I don't betray friends. I have a sense of loyalty that not many have. Not just in the present, but also in the past. Hell, my own friends didn't have the same loyalty as I do."
"But then are they really friends if they don't respect you?" Qui-Gon asked.
"When you have friends sometimes you and them don't see eye to eye. Doesn't mean you and them aren't friends."
"Rinn, friends don't always see eye to eye. But they don't try and kill each other." Qui-Gon said and looked at me. It seemed as though he looked into me and was pushing me to also look into myself. But I didn't want to. I didn't have to.
"Sometimes there are misunderstandings." I replied. "Qui-Gon, they weren't in control of themselves. They didn't know what they were doing."
"Are you talking about friends or abusers?"
Finally my feelings for the Jedi Master made me tell him. I could've found someone else to tell within a week or year, but I had to tell Qui-Gon. Some strange, forgotten urge was making me tell him the truth.
"You know how I told you that I have few real human emotions left?" I asked and Qui-Gon nodded. "What I feel towards the Five is one of the few human emotions I still have. The feeling of loyalty I have towards them is one of the few things I have left to cling onto. If I lose the Five what do I have left? If I kill them, will I become less than I already am?"
Qui-Gon touched my arm and gave me the same type of look he had given me before. But instead of a penetrating gaze, it was a look of comfort. It said that even if I had no one else, I had him. That what I was starting to feel now for the Jedi Master would be reciprocated by him. That I had nothing to worry about.
"I need to hear you say it." I finally said and touched his hand that was on me.
"You still have m-you still have Atlan." Qui-Gon said. I don't know what had made him make the slip. It might've been my touch or it might've been too hard for him not to say it at one point. I wasn't a fellow Jedi and he had no certainty of seeing me when he woke up in the morning. "Whatever you lose when killing the Five, you still have Atlan to hold onto."
I thought for a moment before speaking. "You are right, Master Jinn, I do have Atlan to hold onto." I replied. "I will show you where the Heart of the Darkness is so you can get back to more important matters."
But it wasn't because of Atlan that I had agree to show Qui-Gon where the Heart of the Darkness was located. It was because of Qui-Gon himself.
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Thursday, March 21, 2013
Pretty Little Liars (Season 3)
Show: Pretty Little Liars
Season: 3
Episodes: 24
Developed By: I. Marlene King
Released: 2012-2013
Rating: 3/5
Plot: Four friends band together against an anonymous foe who threatens to reveal their darkest secrets, whilst unraveling the mystery of the murder of their best friend.
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Spody and Ezria
Now I was a big Ezria fan once the show started. It was a nice, cheesy student-teacher relationship. In real life this would be different but Ezria (Ezra and Aria) brought me back to the days of high school where I crushed on some of my teachers. However, by Season 3 this relationship has grown very stale. The only interesting thing is finding out Ezra had a kid by a former girlfriend. By the end of the Season it seems like Ezria is finally over, which makes me sad and happy at the same time. Spody (Spencer and Toby) went through some interesting events this Season. It was revealed that Toby is on the A team and you never really trust him after that. Now I know that Toby was revealed to be a good guy in the finale but I don't trust him. He played Spencer for awhile and he might just be doing the same thing again. I love me some Spody, but I can't trust Toby again. Unless he proves himself to be good next Season.
Everyone is A
This Season really brought the paranoia up a couple of notches. This is surprising considering that all this series is about is paranoia. Anyone could be out to get you. You find out that Mona is not the only A and that there is an a team. This leaves you guessing who is working for A and who isn't. You think that Mona is near the top of the food chain but she isn't (neither she nor Toby know who Red Coat is). For the majority of the Season you think that Mona is running a large group but it seems to just be her and Toby. Maybe next Season it'll be revealed that Red Coat (she is revealed to be Allison but then later it's pointed out that Red Coat was probably just wearing a mask...King, that's not how you do a reveal. That's really half-assing it) is actually in charge of a huge group of people. I mean, two people couldn't be causing as much chaos to the Liars as has happened over the course of this series.
Getting Peaceful About Paily
Now I love me some Emaya (Emily and Maya) but Maya is dead and Emily had to move on. My dislike of Paily wasn't because I was mad that Emily was no longer with Maya (her being with a dead girl is just downright creepy). It was because I didn't trust Paige or how her relationship with Emily started. Before Paige came out as a lesbian, she nearly drowned Emily and was just a general ass to her. So when she's suddenly revealed as both a lesbian and admirer of Emily, it just came off as strange. However, this Season has cemented the fact that Paige truly cares for Emily. That Paige only has her lover's best interests at heart. However, I'd love to see Paige as a villain. Not because I want to tear Paily apart, but because Paige has made slight evil gestures (like when Jenna came to talk to Emily one night) that make me want her to go evil to see more of them.
Final Thoughts
There were some things in this season I loved: Spencer going crazy, the intense amount of paranoia, really crazy scenarios (Meredith going nuts and drugging Aria among them), and Ezria dealing with some struggles that seem to have really torn them apart. Throughout this Season it did seem odd that Mona's A team was really her and Toby who were being lead by Red Coat. The fact that Red Coat wasn't fully revealed and it felt like I was supposed to be happy that I got anything. However, I like tuning in each week to see what happens. I hope next season to find out who Red Coat really is, if this is really the end of Ezria, see Paige go evil, and to see if Toby is really a good guy. Of course there are many other things I want to know (and see), but those are some of the main ones.
Season: 3
Episodes: 24
Developed By: I. Marlene King
Released: 2012-2013
Rating: 3/5
Plot: Four friends band together against an anonymous foe who threatens to reveal their darkest secrets, whilst unraveling the mystery of the murder of their best friend.
------------------------------------------------------
Spody and Ezria
Now I was a big Ezria fan once the show started. It was a nice, cheesy student-teacher relationship. In real life this would be different but Ezria (Ezra and Aria) brought me back to the days of high school where I crushed on some of my teachers. However, by Season 3 this relationship has grown very stale. The only interesting thing is finding out Ezra had a kid by a former girlfriend. By the end of the Season it seems like Ezria is finally over, which makes me sad and happy at the same time. Spody (Spencer and Toby) went through some interesting events this Season. It was revealed that Toby is on the A team and you never really trust him after that. Now I know that Toby was revealed to be a good guy in the finale but I don't trust him. He played Spencer for awhile and he might just be doing the same thing again. I love me some Spody, but I can't trust Toby again. Unless he proves himself to be good next Season.
Everyone is A
This Season really brought the paranoia up a couple of notches. This is surprising considering that all this series is about is paranoia. Anyone could be out to get you. You find out that Mona is not the only A and that there is an a team. This leaves you guessing who is working for A and who isn't. You think that Mona is near the top of the food chain but she isn't (neither she nor Toby know who Red Coat is). For the majority of the Season you think that Mona is running a large group but it seems to just be her and Toby. Maybe next Season it'll be revealed that Red Coat (she is revealed to be Allison but then later it's pointed out that Red Coat was probably just wearing a mask...King, that's not how you do a reveal. That's really half-assing it) is actually in charge of a huge group of people. I mean, two people couldn't be causing as much chaos to the Liars as has happened over the course of this series.
Getting Peaceful About Paily
Now I love me some Emaya (Emily and Maya) but Maya is dead and Emily had to move on. My dislike of Paily wasn't because I was mad that Emily was no longer with Maya (her being with a dead girl is just downright creepy). It was because I didn't trust Paige or how her relationship with Emily started. Before Paige came out as a lesbian, she nearly drowned Emily and was just a general ass to her. So when she's suddenly revealed as both a lesbian and admirer of Emily, it just came off as strange. However, this Season has cemented the fact that Paige truly cares for Emily. That Paige only has her lover's best interests at heart. However, I'd love to see Paige as a villain. Not because I want to tear Paily apart, but because Paige has made slight evil gestures (like when Jenna came to talk to Emily one night) that make me want her to go evil to see more of them.
Final Thoughts
There were some things in this season I loved: Spencer going crazy, the intense amount of paranoia, really crazy scenarios (Meredith going nuts and drugging Aria among them), and Ezria dealing with some struggles that seem to have really torn them apart. Throughout this Season it did seem odd that Mona's A team was really her and Toby who were being lead by Red Coat. The fact that Red Coat wasn't fully revealed and it felt like I was supposed to be happy that I got anything. However, I like tuning in each week to see what happens. I hope next season to find out who Red Coat really is, if this is really the end of Ezria, see Paige go evil, and to see if Toby is really a good guy. Of course there are many other things I want to know (and see), but those are some of the main ones.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Continuum (Season 1)
Dates mentioned here are for the airing of the show in the US. Though SyFy says this is an original series, it was originally aired in Canada. For giving us this show: We thank you, Canada!
Show: Continuum
Season: 1
Episodes: 10
Developed By: Simon Barry
Released: 2013
Rating: 5/5
Plot: A detective from the year 2077 finds herself trapped in present day Vancouver and searching for ruthless criminals from the future.
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Time Travel
As you can tell, this show is a time travel one. And you know what that means! The people from the future acting incredibly stupid with all the technology here in the present! Oh, wait, sorry. This show actually does the confusion people in the future would face when going back in time good. Don't get me wrong, Kiera Cameron doesn't know how to work a car or about blue tooths (teeth?). However, every instance of confusion she has is dealt with realistically and is not done over the top. You don't know how great that is to see in a work of fiction.
Relationships (Non-Romantic)
When Kiera goes back in time she quickly gets into communications with Alec Sadler, a teenager. Alec, from Kiera's 2077, is the owner of a very large corporation. But, for now, he's a teenager with an amazing grasp on technology. Throughout the Season (not counting the Season Finale) you think that Kiera being sent back in time was an accident. But Future Alec seems to have had a part in it (the Season ends with Alec about to tell Kiera but then it goes to credits, cliffhangers can be a bitch). The one person from Liber8 (a terrorist group from the future) that Kiera seems to spend any time with is Matthew Kellog. Their relationship is interesting as it's one full of love-hate. One where Kiera is never sure if she can trust him.
Kiera's Trust Issues
Kiera is a good character and a joy to follow through her many adventures. But she doesn't do a good job at trusting people. She doesn't even seem to fully trust Alec who is the only ally she has that really knows her. You could say Kellog is an ally, but he is seen both hurting and helping Kiera during different points in the Season. Finally, Carlos Fonnegra is her police partner who she seems to like. It never gets to an actual relationship but it is heavily hinted that she wants it to happen. However, with one of Kiera's comments to Kellog, it might be because she still considers herself married (even if her husband is in a future she'll never get back to). Those are her trust issues with other people, but she also seems to rely heavily on her technology. For a little period of time she has to deal with working without her suit (it was damaged in a fight) and has her putting faith more in herself than her technology. An interesting if short lived story arch.
Final Thoughts
If there is one thing I'd thank Canada for, it's this show. I was recommended this because I'm a Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and this is a time traveling show. The main villains of this series (Liber8) aren't pure evil. They have a good goal and so you start to sympathize with them. And at the end of this season you realize Liber8's true purpose might be something much bigger than you first thought. Also, Kagame looks eerily similar to an English Professor I had back in college. Hi, Wilt! I cannot wait until Season 2 comes to the US and I can feed this addiction. If you want a really well done Sci-Fi series, check this one out. You owe it to yourself.
Show: Continuum
Season: 1
Episodes: 10
Developed By: Simon Barry
Released: 2013
Rating: 5/5
Plot: A detective from the year 2077 finds herself trapped in present day Vancouver and searching for ruthless criminals from the future.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Time Travel
As you can tell, this show is a time travel one. And you know what that means! The people from the future acting incredibly stupid with all the technology here in the present! Oh, wait, sorry. This show actually does the confusion people in the future would face when going back in time good. Don't get me wrong, Kiera Cameron doesn't know how to work a car or about blue tooths (teeth?). However, every instance of confusion she has is dealt with realistically and is not done over the top. You don't know how great that is to see in a work of fiction.
Relationships (Non-Romantic)
When Kiera goes back in time she quickly gets into communications with Alec Sadler, a teenager. Alec, from Kiera's 2077, is the owner of a very large corporation. But, for now, he's a teenager with an amazing grasp on technology. Throughout the Season (not counting the Season Finale) you think that Kiera being sent back in time was an accident. But Future Alec seems to have had a part in it (the Season ends with Alec about to tell Kiera but then it goes to credits, cliffhangers can be a bitch). The one person from Liber8 (a terrorist group from the future) that Kiera seems to spend any time with is Matthew Kellog. Their relationship is interesting as it's one full of love-hate. One where Kiera is never sure if she can trust him.
Kiera's Trust Issues
Kiera is a good character and a joy to follow through her many adventures. But she doesn't do a good job at trusting people. She doesn't even seem to fully trust Alec who is the only ally she has that really knows her. You could say Kellog is an ally, but he is seen both hurting and helping Kiera during different points in the Season. Finally, Carlos Fonnegra is her police partner who she seems to like. It never gets to an actual relationship but it is heavily hinted that she wants it to happen. However, with one of Kiera's comments to Kellog, it might be because she still considers herself married (even if her husband is in a future she'll never get back to). Those are her trust issues with other people, but she also seems to rely heavily on her technology. For a little period of time she has to deal with working without her suit (it was damaged in a fight) and has her putting faith more in herself than her technology. An interesting if short lived story arch.
Final Thoughts
If there is one thing I'd thank Canada for, it's this show. I was recommended this because I'm a Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and this is a time traveling show. The main villains of this series (Liber8) aren't pure evil. They have a good goal and so you start to sympathize with them. And at the end of this season you realize Liber8's true purpose might be something much bigger than you first thought. Also, Kagame looks eerily similar to an English Professor I had back in college. Hi, Wilt! I cannot wait until Season 2 comes to the US and I can feed this addiction. If you want a really well done Sci-Fi series, check this one out. You owe it to yourself.
The Following "Love Hurts" Review
Jacob and Paul for life!
Monday, March 18, 2013
The Walking Dead "Prey" Review
Andrea vs. The Governor!
GetGlue Stickers (March 17, 2013)
I talk about the new stickers I got as well as rant about the new GetGlue site.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Shipping Confessions: Jameron (TSCC)
I know at the beginning of this series I said I would only do non-canon pairings. However, the fact of the matter is I left myself open to talk about canon pairings that I think people don't think I really ship. Or if I keep some canon ships in the background. I left that loophole so I could talk about Jameron.
What is Jameron? Make sure you're not by a Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles fan. Because while some Jameron fans will tell you kindly, there are real fanatics out there that might hit you.
Jameron is really the big ship of TSCC (aka Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) like Destiel (Castiel and Dean Winchester) is in Supernatural. It seems like you can't talk to anyone who doesn't even slightly ship the pair.
The ship is John Connor and Cameron. While they never get together in the show, which would probably have changed by Season 3 or else a riot would break out, various comments by both cast and crew show that it was canon. Through Season 1 and 2, John and Cameron's relationship was evolving. And by the end of Season 2, John decides to go forward in time just so he can rescue Cameron.
Before I continue I want to tell Jameron shippers this is my personal take on the ship. If you have any disagreements, or think I got something wrong, tell me politely. Now that hopefully the pitchforks are put away, we can actually continue.
I have talked about Cameron when I talked about Camerah (the ship of Cameron and Sarah Connor), so I'll keep my little bio of her brief.
Cameron is a killer robot sent back in time to protect Sarah and John Connor. What is most notable about her is that she shows more emotions than most Terminators. She seems to have the greatest ability to learn and feel human. Also, the role of Cameron was made to fit Summer Glau and it does that wonderfully.
John Connor, as all the Terminator fandom knows, is the future leader of mankind. He will lead humanity to victory and defeat Skynet. However, in TSCC he is a teenager and is still growing into the leader he will long be remembered for. He first meets Cameron when she's pretending to be a normal human girl called Cameron Phillips (this has made the majority of the TSCC fanbase have her last name be Phillips, never mind she only uses a last name for aliases). He quickly finds out that Cameron is more than human when she saves him from being killed by the Terminator Cromartie.
Besides his relationship with Cameron, John is forced to grow up quickly as this is a Terminator tv show and there's not really a whole lot of calm moments to spare. I think the moment that causes him to grow up a little is when he is partly to blame for Riley Dawson's death. Not that he really loved her, but he failed to save a human life.
Now since you know the basics of Cameron and John Connor let's look into their relationship.
I'm going to start with an interesting theory that is neither confirmed nor denied in canon of TSCC's two seasons. I am warning you it will probably make a good majority of you Jameron shippers freak out a little so feel free to skip this next little part. This is an interesting point to consider and I did promise back when I talked about Camerah to go a little more in depth.
The basic theory is that the Future John Connor, the one that sent Cameron back in time, had programmed Cameron to love him. Why do I even bring it up when it darkens John Connor's character and destroys the Jameron ship? Because it gives a logical reason why Future John sent Cameron back in time and why she is so obsessed with him.
If you buy into this theory: John re-programmed Cameron after she had tried to impersonate Allison Young (I sort of ship Future John and Allison, however there's not really enough material to do a Shipping Confessions on the pair), realized that re-programming Cameron to love him was insulting both the late Allison and himself, and sent Cameron back in time because he knew she'd protect his past self as well as getting away from him (aka Future John).
So do I buy into this theory? No. It's just an interesting thing to think about. I'd buy into it if I didn't see Cameron's love for John as anything other than sincere.
Since we got the bad news out of the way, let's look at the good news and how I actually view the pair.
I love this ship and consider it to be one of the more unique ships out there. Not because it's a human and a robot being in love, but because there is a clear relationship shown without the usual kissing or holding of hands. Yes, there was many a time in TSCC where we were begging John and Cameron to do it already. Near the end of the series there was a moment that was a sex scene between John and Cameron without it really being a sex scene (you'll have to see it for yourself to really get what I mean).
When John first sees Cameron you know that he wants to be with her. Even when he finds out and feels a little betrayed, he doesn't push her away. Throughout Season 1 he is developing deeper feelings for her and starts to actually love her.
The thing that tears John and Cameron apart for a little while (making John fallback on Riley Dawson to pretend he's over Cameron) is Cameron trying to kill him and his mother. So for much of Season 2 he's dealing with the betrayal of someone he loved and cared for. By the end of Season 2, as I've stated previously, they did make amends and are "back together" again.
We can't end this part without talking about Cameron. Yes, I have talked about her here but more from John's perspective and not her own. Throughout TSCC Cameron is trying to become human and, at the same time, still act like a Terminator. While she has always loved John, Future and Present, if she knows that she's feeling love is really up to debate.
Myself, I think she always had the feeling but hasn't always known what it is. Cameron was originally programmed by Skynet and it wouldn't need its infiltrators to know what the emotion felt like. It would only need infiltrators to imitate the emotion. As Catherine Weaver (a T-1001 that appears like a villain throughout the majority of Season 2) shows, once a Terminator can think for itself there is the possibility of rebellion. So Terminators are able to feel but they won't be ready to identify the emotion.
Throughout the two seasons of TSCC, Cameron is able to identify the feeling of love she has for John. I say identify because her actions always show she places John before herself even when the mission doesn't call for it ("Mr. Ferguson is Ill Today" for example).
I so wish that we got another season of TSCC so we'd get questions answered plus John and Cameron officially becoming boyfriend and girlfriend. Well, once he got her chip and was able to put it in another TOK with Allison's skin/hair/ect.
Listen, if you don't ship Jameron I don't hate you. In fact, I'm scared by the majority of Jameron shippers because they're very fanatical about their devotion to this ship. However, I can't say I don't agree with Jameron as I sure as hell do.
So what's up next time Shipping Confessions returns? We're going to go into a series where one universe you can get rich by selling coffee and the other universe has a scientist who really likes his drugs. The pairing? One where one person says the other's name wrong on purpose.
What is Jameron? Make sure you're not by a Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles fan. Because while some Jameron fans will tell you kindly, there are real fanatics out there that might hit you.
Jameron is really the big ship of TSCC (aka Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) like Destiel (Castiel and Dean Winchester) is in Supernatural. It seems like you can't talk to anyone who doesn't even slightly ship the pair.
The ship is John Connor and Cameron. While they never get together in the show, which would probably have changed by Season 3 or else a riot would break out, various comments by both cast and crew show that it was canon. Through Season 1 and 2, John and Cameron's relationship was evolving. And by the end of Season 2, John decides to go forward in time just so he can rescue Cameron.
Before I continue I want to tell Jameron shippers this is my personal take on the ship. If you have any disagreements, or think I got something wrong, tell me politely. Now that hopefully the pitchforks are put away, we can actually continue.
I have talked about Cameron when I talked about Camerah (the ship of Cameron and Sarah Connor), so I'll keep my little bio of her brief.
Cameron is a killer robot sent back in time to protect Sarah and John Connor. What is most notable about her is that she shows more emotions than most Terminators. She seems to have the greatest ability to learn and feel human. Also, the role of Cameron was made to fit Summer Glau and it does that wonderfully.
John Connor, as all the Terminator fandom knows, is the future leader of mankind. He will lead humanity to victory and defeat Skynet. However, in TSCC he is a teenager and is still growing into the leader he will long be remembered for. He first meets Cameron when she's pretending to be a normal human girl called Cameron Phillips (this has made the majority of the TSCC fanbase have her last name be Phillips, never mind she only uses a last name for aliases). He quickly finds out that Cameron is more than human when she saves him from being killed by the Terminator Cromartie.
Besides his relationship with Cameron, John is forced to grow up quickly as this is a Terminator tv show and there's not really a whole lot of calm moments to spare. I think the moment that causes him to grow up a little is when he is partly to blame for Riley Dawson's death. Not that he really loved her, but he failed to save a human life.
Now since you know the basics of Cameron and John Connor let's look into their relationship.
I'm going to start with an interesting theory that is neither confirmed nor denied in canon of TSCC's two seasons. I am warning you it will probably make a good majority of you Jameron shippers freak out a little so feel free to skip this next little part. This is an interesting point to consider and I did promise back when I talked about Camerah to go a little more in depth.
The basic theory is that the Future John Connor, the one that sent Cameron back in time, had programmed Cameron to love him. Why do I even bring it up when it darkens John Connor's character and destroys the Jameron ship? Because it gives a logical reason why Future John sent Cameron back in time and why she is so obsessed with him.
If you buy into this theory: John re-programmed Cameron after she had tried to impersonate Allison Young (I sort of ship Future John and Allison, however there's not really enough material to do a Shipping Confessions on the pair), realized that re-programming Cameron to love him was insulting both the late Allison and himself, and sent Cameron back in time because he knew she'd protect his past self as well as getting away from him (aka Future John).
So do I buy into this theory? No. It's just an interesting thing to think about. I'd buy into it if I didn't see Cameron's love for John as anything other than sincere.
Since we got the bad news out of the way, let's look at the good news and how I actually view the pair.
I love this ship and consider it to be one of the more unique ships out there. Not because it's a human and a robot being in love, but because there is a clear relationship shown without the usual kissing or holding of hands. Yes, there was many a time in TSCC where we were begging John and Cameron to do it already. Near the end of the series there was a moment that was a sex scene between John and Cameron without it really being a sex scene (you'll have to see it for yourself to really get what I mean).
When John first sees Cameron you know that he wants to be with her. Even when he finds out and feels a little betrayed, he doesn't push her away. Throughout Season 1 he is developing deeper feelings for her and starts to actually love her.
The thing that tears John and Cameron apart for a little while (making John fallback on Riley Dawson to pretend he's over Cameron) is Cameron trying to kill him and his mother. So for much of Season 2 he's dealing with the betrayal of someone he loved and cared for. By the end of Season 2, as I've stated previously, they did make amends and are "back together" again.
We can't end this part without talking about Cameron. Yes, I have talked about her here but more from John's perspective and not her own. Throughout TSCC Cameron is trying to become human and, at the same time, still act like a Terminator. While she has always loved John, Future and Present, if she knows that she's feeling love is really up to debate.
Myself, I think she always had the feeling but hasn't always known what it is. Cameron was originally programmed by Skynet and it wouldn't need its infiltrators to know what the emotion felt like. It would only need infiltrators to imitate the emotion. As Catherine Weaver (a T-1001 that appears like a villain throughout the majority of Season 2) shows, once a Terminator can think for itself there is the possibility of rebellion. So Terminators are able to feel but they won't be ready to identify the emotion.
Throughout the two seasons of TSCC, Cameron is able to identify the feeling of love she has for John. I say identify because her actions always show she places John before herself even when the mission doesn't call for it ("Mr. Ferguson is Ill Today" for example).
I so wish that we got another season of TSCC so we'd get questions answered plus John and Cameron officially becoming boyfriend and girlfriend. Well, once he got her chip and was able to put it in another TOK with Allison's skin/hair/ect.
Listen, if you don't ship Jameron I don't hate you. In fact, I'm scared by the majority of Jameron shippers because they're very fanatical about their devotion to this ship. However, I can't say I don't agree with Jameron as I sure as hell do.
So what's up next time Shipping Confessions returns? We're going to go into a series where one universe you can get rich by selling coffee and the other universe has a scientist who really likes his drugs. The pairing? One where one person says the other's name wrong on purpose.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Oscars 2013 (Parts 1-3)
I go over the actual ceremony and announce the winners.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Inbetween: Death of the Five 4
It had been a few hours since I had come clean to Qui-Gon. For the first time in a long time, I felt nervous. For many years I had merely been hiding beneath a mask so I could be who I wanted. I could have any past I chose. Well, as long as my fake identifications were good enough. And they had worked for the most part.
We had both moved to the Jedi Master's cabin. I had an odd suspicion that he was trying to make me comfortable. Making it so that I would give the location of the Heart of the Darkness to him and reveal more about myself. Sadly, it was having the intended effect on me.
Qui-Gon sat on his bed while I sat on a chair. We didn't sit side by side. We were comrades at the moment and our positions reminded us of that fact.
"So you're a-" He started.
"Less evolved human than you are. Yes." I said. "It doesn't insult me. It happens to be true."
"But you are from a different galaxy." He looked over my body thoroughly. I didn't get the sense there was anything sexual in his glance, more so the look someone gives a new discovery.
"It's an odd coincidence." I replied, some part of me enjoying his gaze on me. Even if it wasn't an invitation. "Sometimes creatures evolve similarly to others. Though I might not be a stage of your evolution. I prefer to keep things simple and call myself something less evolved."
"Though your abilities would suggest otherwise."
I shook my head. "My abilities were given to me by science. As I was before, I would be more similar to another human in this galaxy."
"I doubt that." There was a slight pause. "You are from a different galaxy. I doubt you'd be too similar."
If I hadn't been a Navigator a small smile might've formed on my face. As it was I looked into his eyes and shook my head.
"Me being a Navigator is what makes me different from others. Not because of my powers, but in terms of my long life span." I replied. "There is no one I knew from before that I can talk to. While others can understand and connect with me, they can't ever fully understand me."
Qui-Gon looked down as if in contemplation. It looked as though he wanted to argue that he was different. That I viewed him differently. I wanted to assume that would be because he needed to complete his mission.
"How do you relate to people now?" He finally asked. "You are right that you've lived longer than any human should have to live."
"You mean like how I relate to you?" I thought about this for a good minute. I didn't know how to accurately explain how I didn't. Or at least I liked to think I didn't and our interactions were purely for his mission. "I know you are a living, thinking being. That you have hopes and dreams. That, being a Jedi, you have encountered loses. That's really the way I relate to you."
But that wasn't really accurate. If that was the only way I related to him, I wouldn't have told him about Navigators. Wouldn't have admitted that I knew where the ship he was searching for was located.
"That's a bleak way to view the universe." Qui-Gon replied.
It was as though he knew I was lying. But if I was lying, so was he.
"And how do you relate to me?" I asked and there was a pause. Being the Jedi Master he was, he allowed no look of shock or confusion to stay on his face very long. But I could sense it. I could sense it like someone could smell a strong perfume.
"I'm a Jedi. My connection to the Force is all I need." He replied and I knew arguing would get me nowhere. He hadn't replied to the question I asked, but he had replied to the question I meant.
"The way I view the universe is also because of what I am." I said. "What I was made to be. Even after using the Cure, somethings about me being a Navigator has not changed."
"I'm sure you will be able to feel like you did before." His annoyance at my question seemed to be forgotten. And if not forgotten, at least he felt sympathy more than anger. Probably his Jedi training helped him in that respect.
"I won't be holding my breath for it. It's been too long to expect something like that to change."
Qui-Gon nodded. "But you can still lead me to the Heart of the Darkness. I know you want to help me. I doubt revealing your past is something you'd do if you didn't intend to help me."
I looked at him and then looked away.
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Inbetween tumblr
We had both moved to the Jedi Master's cabin. I had an odd suspicion that he was trying to make me comfortable. Making it so that I would give the location of the Heart of the Darkness to him and reveal more about myself. Sadly, it was having the intended effect on me.
Qui-Gon sat on his bed while I sat on a chair. We didn't sit side by side. We were comrades at the moment and our positions reminded us of that fact.
"So you're a-" He started.
"Less evolved human than you are. Yes." I said. "It doesn't insult me. It happens to be true."
"But you are from a different galaxy." He looked over my body thoroughly. I didn't get the sense there was anything sexual in his glance, more so the look someone gives a new discovery.
"It's an odd coincidence." I replied, some part of me enjoying his gaze on me. Even if it wasn't an invitation. "Sometimes creatures evolve similarly to others. Though I might not be a stage of your evolution. I prefer to keep things simple and call myself something less evolved."
"Though your abilities would suggest otherwise."
I shook my head. "My abilities were given to me by science. As I was before, I would be more similar to another human in this galaxy."
"I doubt that." There was a slight pause. "You are from a different galaxy. I doubt you'd be too similar."
If I hadn't been a Navigator a small smile might've formed on my face. As it was I looked into his eyes and shook my head.
"Me being a Navigator is what makes me different from others. Not because of my powers, but in terms of my long life span." I replied. "There is no one I knew from before that I can talk to. While others can understand and connect with me, they can't ever fully understand me."
Qui-Gon looked down as if in contemplation. It looked as though he wanted to argue that he was different. That I viewed him differently. I wanted to assume that would be because he needed to complete his mission.
"How do you relate to people now?" He finally asked. "You are right that you've lived longer than any human should have to live."
"You mean like how I relate to you?" I thought about this for a good minute. I didn't know how to accurately explain how I didn't. Or at least I liked to think I didn't and our interactions were purely for his mission. "I know you are a living, thinking being. That you have hopes and dreams. That, being a Jedi, you have encountered loses. That's really the way I relate to you."
But that wasn't really accurate. If that was the only way I related to him, I wouldn't have told him about Navigators. Wouldn't have admitted that I knew where the ship he was searching for was located.
"That's a bleak way to view the universe." Qui-Gon replied.
It was as though he knew I was lying. But if I was lying, so was he.
"And how do you relate to me?" I asked and there was a pause. Being the Jedi Master he was, he allowed no look of shock or confusion to stay on his face very long. But I could sense it. I could sense it like someone could smell a strong perfume.
"I'm a Jedi. My connection to the Force is all I need." He replied and I knew arguing would get me nowhere. He hadn't replied to the question I asked, but he had replied to the question I meant.
"The way I view the universe is also because of what I am." I said. "What I was made to be. Even after using the Cure, somethings about me being a Navigator has not changed."
"I'm sure you will be able to feel like you did before." His annoyance at my question seemed to be forgotten. And if not forgotten, at least he felt sympathy more than anger. Probably his Jedi training helped him in that respect.
"I won't be holding my breath for it. It's been too long to expect something like that to change."
Qui-Gon nodded. "But you can still lead me to the Heart of the Darkness. I know you want to help me. I doubt revealing your past is something you'd do if you didn't intend to help me."
I looked at him and then looked away.
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Inbetween tumblr
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Warm Bodies Co-Review (Parts 1 & 2)
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
Title: Wreck-It Ralph
Director: Rich Moore
Starring: John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, and Jane Lynch
Rated: PG
Released: 2012
Personal Rating: 4.5/5
Oscars: Nominated for 1
Plot: A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.
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King Candy/Turbo
Without the knowledge that King Candy is a tribute to Ed Wynn, I thought the character was a standard gay stereotype. It's nice that the makers of the film did this, however it didn't come across as such to people that didn't know. Such as me. Going past that aspect (as I already made a post on tumblr about it and later had to defend myself for my opinions stated on it): King Candy is a good villain. I liked that his original ego (Turbo) had been mentioned throughout the film, so when King Candy's true identity is revealed it's shocking but you don't question it.
A Good Message
This movie had a very good message and I'm not really sure how to accurately describe it. The hero of the movie (Ralph) learns to accept what life has given to him. Vanellope accepts her glitch even when she could've had it fixed. However, the Ralph part is sort of...odd? The reason he goes on his journey is to be accepted by the other people he lives with. And they're really mean people, as they look at Ralph as a villain and don't realize he's different when the arcade closes. So at the end of the movie Ralph accepts his role as the villain of the game but how the other people in the game react to him is different (at least when the arcade is closed).
Gaming References
I admit I saw this movie mainly for the references and to see if I could catch them all. While the ones I did catch delighted me, I had to stop myself from leaping out of my seat in joy when the Konami Code was shown. I don't know why it made me so happy (as I haven't played Contra or other games with that code in them), but it did. There are many other references in the game. I would also suggest watching the credits as the references (and blatant showing of video game characters) doesn't stop with the movie. I wasn't able to see all of the credits as my Dad was basically yelling at me to leave the theater with him.
Final Thoughts
This movie was highly enjoyable. Like Brave, you knew how it was going to end (good guys win and hero learns a valuable lesson). Unlike Brave, however, Wreck-It Ralph pulls at your heart strings more and makes you doubt the outcome. There was at least one scene where I had to hold back some major tears (I don't like to cry in public or in front of people). If you're a gamer of any age you should see this movie.
Director: Rich Moore
Starring: John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, and Jane Lynch
Rated: PG
Released: 2012
Personal Rating: 4.5/5
Oscars: Nominated for 1
Plot: A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.
---------------------------------------------------------------
King Candy/Turbo
Without the knowledge that King Candy is a tribute to Ed Wynn, I thought the character was a standard gay stereotype. It's nice that the makers of the film did this, however it didn't come across as such to people that didn't know. Such as me. Going past that aspect (as I already made a post on tumblr about it and later had to defend myself for my opinions stated on it): King Candy is a good villain. I liked that his original ego (Turbo) had been mentioned throughout the film, so when King Candy's true identity is revealed it's shocking but you don't question it.
A Good Message
This movie had a very good message and I'm not really sure how to accurately describe it. The hero of the movie (Ralph) learns to accept what life has given to him. Vanellope accepts her glitch even when she could've had it fixed. However, the Ralph part is sort of...odd? The reason he goes on his journey is to be accepted by the other people he lives with. And they're really mean people, as they look at Ralph as a villain and don't realize he's different when the arcade closes. So at the end of the movie Ralph accepts his role as the villain of the game but how the other people in the game react to him is different (at least when the arcade is closed).
Gaming References
I admit I saw this movie mainly for the references and to see if I could catch them all. While the ones I did catch delighted me, I had to stop myself from leaping out of my seat in joy when the Konami Code was shown. I don't know why it made me so happy (as I haven't played Contra or other games with that code in them), but it did. There are many other references in the game. I would also suggest watching the credits as the references (and blatant showing of video game characters) doesn't stop with the movie. I wasn't able to see all of the credits as my Dad was basically yelling at me to leave the theater with him.
Final Thoughts
This movie was highly enjoyable. Like Brave, you knew how it was going to end (good guys win and hero learns a valuable lesson). Unlike Brave, however, Wreck-It Ralph pulls at your heart strings more and makes you doubt the outcome. There was at least one scene where I had to hold back some major tears (I don't like to cry in public or in front of people). If you're a gamer of any age you should see this movie.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Cult "Being Billy" Review
I discuss the move to Friday night and talk about the show.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Pretty Little Liars "Will The Circle Be Unbroken?" Review
Spencer is awesome!
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The Walking Dead "Clear" Review
Morgan has gone crazy!
Monday, March 4, 2013
Inbetween: Death of the Five 3
Qui-Gon Jinn was silent for awhile. He didn't react. I knew that it was his way of coping, I had seen him doing the same thing earlier. Knowing his silence would end soon, I was wondering how to react. Should I tell him the truth? Some part of me thought he had the right to know, while the rational part of my mind was telling me I had made a mistake. The rational part of my mind was pointing out that I had made a mistake that could've just jeopardized myself and those I wished to protect.
"The history of the Heart of the Darkness is well known by the Jedi Order," Qui-Gon replied. "And even if what you say is true, you weren't alive back when the Heart of Darkness was lost."
I paused and tried to calm myself before continuing. I wanted to tell this man my story. But, at the same time, it might not be the best thing. I could say it was a joke and let it blow over. But I couldn't do that to Qui-Gon. Not to him.
"I was born a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away. The time was one where space travel was a new thing. We didn't know who our neighbors in space were and yet we wanted to conquer it all. It had been a week since my soon to be husband died and I was lost." I said. "I didn't know what to do since each morning I was reminded of him. No matter where I went on my home world, I was reminded of him. It was then that I decided to join the Navigators."
I looked to see how the Jedi Master was reacting. He hardly moved, intent on hearing me out. Never mind that he would think I was insane until I could prove it to him.
"Navigators are genetically altered humans used to pilot large ships. Usually containing colonists that were put in stasis. Since space travel was new, voyages could last longer than intended due to unforeseen consequences." I paused remembering the early days of my existence. "Many of these consequences you don't think about anymore because your galaxy has been mapped out and dangers to us then are inconveniences to you now."
"What are the abilities of these Navigators?" Qui-Gon asked. I took note that he didn't refer to me as one. Showing he didn't yet believe my story.
"We have unlimited life spans, powers that can be compared to your Jedi abilities, and the ability to teleport ourselves and things around us." I said. "It is our long life spans and the ability to teleport that made us so useful. The Jedi-like powers were merely to give us means to protect ourselves, ship, and cargo from a very dangerous and unknowable galaxy."
Qui-Gon merely nodded, which I took to mean to continue my story. "However, becoming a Navigator came with two great costs. The first was an ever increasing inability to feel like a human. The other was an extreme rage that could overtake us at any moment. For the majority of the time Navigators were many, this rage never accounted to much. Until the Massacre which only left six Navigators still alive." I paused as memories of that day overtook me. The bloodshed, everything. I was finally able to calm myself down after a few minutes. "I left the other five to search for a cure. Since I left them I became The Rogue and they The Five. I managed to find a cure that defeated the rage but I still can't feel like I did before I became a Navigator."
"So the Five are the Sith of the legend?" Qui-Gon asked. "And you created the legend with five Sith Lords in case the Heart of the Darkness was ever found?"
I nodded. "Yes, so in case the ship was ever found, the legend would not be questioned." There was a moment of silence and then Qui-Gon signaled for me to continue. "After I became the Rogue and found the Cure, the Five's hate against me had increased like never before. I ended up running to this galaxy and found a home on the planet Atlan. I first arrived on it before the dominant lifeforms had completely matured. As such I was a kind of god in their eyes and helped them build their civilization. Once space travel was starting to become normal in this galaxy, the Five had managed to track me down."
I took a moment to figure out how to explain this next part to him. "The Five came to great power around the Sith War and so I was finally forced to act. Previously I had managed to hide while they didn't cause any great act of chaos. But I had to act. While we didn't have any friendship by the end, they were still the only things reminiscent of the time of my youth. Back when I was naive. So I put them into cyrogenic sleep and hid the Heart of the Darkness, moving it when people got too close to it."
Qui-Gon leaned back and crossed his arms. I could see the thoughts of whether or not to believe me going through his head. And, really, what proof did I have to give him? The word of a human female he had just met? I decided to help him out.
I teleported around the room long enough for him to know, through his Force Senses, that I was really teleporting. That my teleporting was not just a cheap trick.
"Can you actually teleport another person?" He finally asked.
I nodded. "But the feeling of cold most experience sometimes leads to a coma or even death. Though in most cases it just leaves you knocked out and when you come to you have a migraine."
Qui-Gon's arms were uncrossed and he looked lost. What I told him was a lot to take in. But he believed it. A simple use of my abilities and he knew what I had said was true. When he looked into my eyes I saw awe and longing. I had expected the awe part, not because I thought I was important, but because my story changed what people thought. Especially my ability to destroy a long held belief as something I had made up to cover my own tracks.
The longing I hadn't expected. Not from a Jedi Master, even though I knew they had faults just like everyone else. There had been signs he had interest in me. The main one being the sublte one of him telling me something he didn't seem apt to share with others. But I didn't expect anything like infatuation to come from it.
The look of longing in his eyes quickly went away, as he realized what he had felt and shared, and he said, "I believe you, Rinn."
-----------------------
Inbetween tumblr
"The history of the Heart of the Darkness is well known by the Jedi Order," Qui-Gon replied. "And even if what you say is true, you weren't alive back when the Heart of Darkness was lost."
I paused and tried to calm myself before continuing. I wanted to tell this man my story. But, at the same time, it might not be the best thing. I could say it was a joke and let it blow over. But I couldn't do that to Qui-Gon. Not to him.
"I was born a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away. The time was one where space travel was a new thing. We didn't know who our neighbors in space were and yet we wanted to conquer it all. It had been a week since my soon to be husband died and I was lost." I said. "I didn't know what to do since each morning I was reminded of him. No matter where I went on my home world, I was reminded of him. It was then that I decided to join the Navigators."
I looked to see how the Jedi Master was reacting. He hardly moved, intent on hearing me out. Never mind that he would think I was insane until I could prove it to him.
"Navigators are genetically altered humans used to pilot large ships. Usually containing colonists that were put in stasis. Since space travel was new, voyages could last longer than intended due to unforeseen consequences." I paused remembering the early days of my existence. "Many of these consequences you don't think about anymore because your galaxy has been mapped out and dangers to us then are inconveniences to you now."
"What are the abilities of these Navigators?" Qui-Gon asked. I took note that he didn't refer to me as one. Showing he didn't yet believe my story.
"We have unlimited life spans, powers that can be compared to your Jedi abilities, and the ability to teleport ourselves and things around us." I said. "It is our long life spans and the ability to teleport that made us so useful. The Jedi-like powers were merely to give us means to protect ourselves, ship, and cargo from a very dangerous and unknowable galaxy."
Qui-Gon merely nodded, which I took to mean to continue my story. "However, becoming a Navigator came with two great costs. The first was an ever increasing inability to feel like a human. The other was an extreme rage that could overtake us at any moment. For the majority of the time Navigators were many, this rage never accounted to much. Until the Massacre which only left six Navigators still alive." I paused as memories of that day overtook me. The bloodshed, everything. I was finally able to calm myself down after a few minutes. "I left the other five to search for a cure. Since I left them I became The Rogue and they The Five. I managed to find a cure that defeated the rage but I still can't feel like I did before I became a Navigator."
"So the Five are the Sith of the legend?" Qui-Gon asked. "And you created the legend with five Sith Lords in case the Heart of the Darkness was ever found?"
I nodded. "Yes, so in case the ship was ever found, the legend would not be questioned." There was a moment of silence and then Qui-Gon signaled for me to continue. "After I became the Rogue and found the Cure, the Five's hate against me had increased like never before. I ended up running to this galaxy and found a home on the planet Atlan. I first arrived on it before the dominant lifeforms had completely matured. As such I was a kind of god in their eyes and helped them build their civilization. Once space travel was starting to become normal in this galaxy, the Five had managed to track me down."
I took a moment to figure out how to explain this next part to him. "The Five came to great power around the Sith War and so I was finally forced to act. Previously I had managed to hide while they didn't cause any great act of chaos. But I had to act. While we didn't have any friendship by the end, they were still the only things reminiscent of the time of my youth. Back when I was naive. So I put them into cyrogenic sleep and hid the Heart of the Darkness, moving it when people got too close to it."
Qui-Gon leaned back and crossed his arms. I could see the thoughts of whether or not to believe me going through his head. And, really, what proof did I have to give him? The word of a human female he had just met? I decided to help him out.
I teleported around the room long enough for him to know, through his Force Senses, that I was really teleporting. That my teleporting was not just a cheap trick.
"Can you actually teleport another person?" He finally asked.
I nodded. "But the feeling of cold most experience sometimes leads to a coma or even death. Though in most cases it just leaves you knocked out and when you come to you have a migraine."
Qui-Gon's arms were uncrossed and he looked lost. What I told him was a lot to take in. But he believed it. A simple use of my abilities and he knew what I had said was true. When he looked into my eyes I saw awe and longing. I had expected the awe part, not because I thought I was important, but because my story changed what people thought. Especially my ability to destroy a long held belief as something I had made up to cover my own tracks.
The longing I hadn't expected. Not from a Jedi Master, even though I knew they had faults just like everyone else. There had been signs he had interest in me. The main one being the sublte one of him telling me something he didn't seem apt to share with others. But I didn't expect anything like infatuation to come from it.
The look of longing in his eyes quickly went away, as he realized what he had felt and shared, and he said, "I believe you, Rinn."
-----------------------
Inbetween tumblr
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Supernatural "Remember the Titans" Review
Who is that mysterious man that dies and comes back to life? Prometheus of course!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
The Following "The Fall" Review
Joey is...not too bright.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Continuum "The Politics of Time" Review
Where is Liber8?
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Taken Review (Part 3)
I talk about some minor discussion questions this movie brings up.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Inbetween: Death of the Five 2
For many years I had been living alone. And why would I want to be with anyone? Anyone I would travel with, or form any kind of attachment to, I would have to keep in the dark. I couldn't tell anyone the true version of events. If I did, then there would be a chance my secrets could be found out.
While this went through my mind I looked over at the Jedi Master. Helped with the Force, he was able to use his powers in minor ways to speed the process along. If I had wanted to I could've told Qui-Gon where the Heart of the Darkness was located. But then I'd be giving up the lives of my friends. Not good friends, but friends nonetheless.
"You having better luck than me, Master Jedi?" I asked after feeling the silence getting to me. Silence when there was no one around was one thing. But when a person was a few feet away from you and there was no conversation, that was different.
"I think we're doing the same amount of work." He replied, sighed, and then turned to look at me. "Such an ancient ship, full of dark side energy, is impossible to find. I don't know why I continue to seek it. Even when the Council gave me the mission, they knew there was a possibility I wouldn't be able to find it. They gave me a way out if I wanted."
I sensed something and pretended not to notice. Instead I started looking through a new batch of files. "Maybe you have something to prove?" I said casually.
"I'm a Jedi, we don't let our personal lives affect us on missions."
"You're also a living and feeling being." I said as I turned to him. "I think even Jedi are affected by emotions like the rest of us."
Qui-Gon was quiet and slight signs showed his composure starting to falter. After a few seconds he gained full control of himself and replied, "You are right. I failed to train my former Padawan Xanatos."
"Did he die?" I asked.
"No, he turned to the dark side and left the Jedi Order."
"So you trying to find the Heart of the Darkness is you trying to redeem yourself?"
Qui-Gon turned back to looking through the files and didn't answer my question. Many more minutes of silence filled the time we both spent looking through even more files. Even though my attention was focused on the task at hand, I found myself glancing at the Jedi Master from time to time.
I had felt a small amount of attraction towards him when we first met, but I didn't feel anything strong. I couldn't feel emotions like a normal human anymore, so I didn't know for certain that attraction is what I was feeling or how it would affect me.
"Do you know anymore about the Heart of the Darkness other than the Sith are afraid what it contains?" Qui-Gon finally asked.
In my early days I wouldn't know how to answer him without giving away the truth. But I was much older now.
I replied, "Yes, I do. The Sith built a ship to contain the Dark Side. Well, at least a high density of the Dark Side. This feat was done better than expected. Five of the Sith were chosen to fly the Heart of the Darkness, but they never arrived at their destination. Some say those Sith repented and destroyed the ship. Yet others say that the dark side overtook them and decided to take the ship into hiding until a later point in time."
"At which point the Dark Side will attempt to take over the Republic." Qui-Gon finished. "You know your history."
"I know legends." I said and realized I had fooled a Jedi Master. It wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last, but something felt different this time. Something felt wrong about fooling such a strong and wise being. He should've been just another human Jedi, but he wasn't. Not to me.
I realized the feeling of attraction and noticed that they were stronger than they had been in a long time. I also realized that I didn't know how to resist them. Most likely because I didn't want to. I wanted to feel a real emotion again.
"But that history is a lie." I finally said. "I planted it and let it flourish."
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Inbetween tumblr
While this went through my mind I looked over at the Jedi Master. Helped with the Force, he was able to use his powers in minor ways to speed the process along. If I had wanted to I could've told Qui-Gon where the Heart of the Darkness was located. But then I'd be giving up the lives of my friends. Not good friends, but friends nonetheless.
"You having better luck than me, Master Jedi?" I asked after feeling the silence getting to me. Silence when there was no one around was one thing. But when a person was a few feet away from you and there was no conversation, that was different.
"I think we're doing the same amount of work." He replied, sighed, and then turned to look at me. "Such an ancient ship, full of dark side energy, is impossible to find. I don't know why I continue to seek it. Even when the Council gave me the mission, they knew there was a possibility I wouldn't be able to find it. They gave me a way out if I wanted."
I sensed something and pretended not to notice. Instead I started looking through a new batch of files. "Maybe you have something to prove?" I said casually.
"I'm a Jedi, we don't let our personal lives affect us on missions."
"You're also a living and feeling being." I said as I turned to him. "I think even Jedi are affected by emotions like the rest of us."
Qui-Gon was quiet and slight signs showed his composure starting to falter. After a few seconds he gained full control of himself and replied, "You are right. I failed to train my former Padawan Xanatos."
"Did he die?" I asked.
"No, he turned to the dark side and left the Jedi Order."
"So you trying to find the Heart of the Darkness is you trying to redeem yourself?"
Qui-Gon turned back to looking through the files and didn't answer my question. Many more minutes of silence filled the time we both spent looking through even more files. Even though my attention was focused on the task at hand, I found myself glancing at the Jedi Master from time to time.
I had felt a small amount of attraction towards him when we first met, but I didn't feel anything strong. I couldn't feel emotions like a normal human anymore, so I didn't know for certain that attraction is what I was feeling or how it would affect me.
"Do you know anymore about the Heart of the Darkness other than the Sith are afraid what it contains?" Qui-Gon finally asked.
In my early days I wouldn't know how to answer him without giving away the truth. But I was much older now.
I replied, "Yes, I do. The Sith built a ship to contain the Dark Side. Well, at least a high density of the Dark Side. This feat was done better than expected. Five of the Sith were chosen to fly the Heart of the Darkness, but they never arrived at their destination. Some say those Sith repented and destroyed the ship. Yet others say that the dark side overtook them and decided to take the ship into hiding until a later point in time."
"At which point the Dark Side will attempt to take over the Republic." Qui-Gon finished. "You know your history."
"I know legends." I said and realized I had fooled a Jedi Master. It wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last, but something felt different this time. Something felt wrong about fooling such a strong and wise being. He should've been just another human Jedi, but he wasn't. Not to me.
I realized the feeling of attraction and noticed that they were stronger than they had been in a long time. I also realized that I didn't know how to resist them. Most likely because I didn't want to. I wanted to feel a real emotion again.
"But that history is a lie." I finally said. "I planted it and let it flourish."
-----------------------------------------------------
Inbetween tumblr
Friday, February 22, 2013
Elementary "Possibility Two" Review
Sherlock takes Watson on as his apprentice.
Supernatural "Man's Best Friend with Benefits" Review
Witch Cop kills people in his sleep. dun dun DUN!
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Cult "You're Next" Review
I talk about the Pilot of the show Cult.
Inbetween: Death of the Five 1
About the Inbetween Series:
I have some ideas for stories that I don’t usually write because my four main series take up so much time (that and other blog work). So I decided that between writing sections of my main series, to write short little fanfics.
These fanfics will be HIGHLY self-indulgent. Because I work so hard on my other series that I deserve a little break.
Sometimes some of these “Inbetween Fics” might be samples of later works (that might turn out to be either a fanfic series OR original series).
About "Death of Five":
An idea has been going through my head for awhile about a character that I'm calling Rinn (at least for the moment). I have partially (not fully, since that'd mean I'd have outlined the series already) thought up the story I'd tell about her. From her beginnings all the way to where she's basically all alone in the universe. If I ever do get to writing Rinn's entire story (which might not be for a number of years) "Death of the Five" will probably take place near the end of it. I decided this part would be the best to tell for Inbetween since it'd be the easiest to shorten and has a clear cut beginning and end to it.
Where It Takes Place in the Star Wars Timeline:
While this is an AU fic, I have decided on a rough outline where this could take place. It'd be before Episode I and before Qui-Gon Jinn took Obi-Wan Kenobi as his apprentice.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Spending any amount of time on a space station made you lose sense of reality. Reality, of course, being the sense of the wind on your face. Even if that wind would kill you if you took the air in with your lungs. But living on a space station also allowed me to be a drifter. Because, really, who would look at a simple human pilot? Especially if the pilot could take care of her own ship.
No doubt people would ask questions behind my back, but it would never get to the point where I'd be under any form of investigation.
But any opinions that were thrown about the young, at least that's how my body appeared, drifter Rinn wasn't any concern of mine now. This was due to me being part of a two person team that would search for something ancient. Something so ancient that many didn't believe it really existed. And even those that believed it existed didn't want to find it due to its supposed ties to the Sith Order.
At least one was willing to find out if it really existed and then go to it. I finished making myself presentable for the Jedi Master and then went over to my computer. I did a brief overview of the top stories on the holonet, but nothing seemed interesting to me. Of course, once someone lived as long as I did, not much could stimulate my interest.
There were only so many times I could hear about a civil war, famine, or the like before I became disinterested. This isn't to say they weren't important, but I saw a bigger picture. A never ending portrait of pain. So worrying about one problem, no matter how important, was useless since it would always be eclipsed by a future one.
So checking the holonet didn't take long and I went to check on something vastly more important. Something that was one problem that I actually gave a damn about. Mainly because if the Five were found out they could be awakened and then all hell would be let lose.
I started to make sure the Five's location was still safe and secret. My memories of them started to flood my mind. They crashed over me. While things could go wrong if they were discovered, I hadn't been able to kill them. I had decided shortly after the Sith became a children's bedtime story, to cryogenically freeze them instead of ending their lives.
While they had been a plague onto anything good, and strong in what this galaxy's inhabitants called the Dark Side of the Force, they had still been my comrades a long time ago in another galaxy. When the Massacre had happened we had been all that was left of the Navigators.
It had been...I shook my head and shut down my computer as soon as I was assured that the Five's location was still secret. That's all that mattered. I left my cabin and walked to where I was supposed to meet this Jedi Master.
I waited by the door until it opened and he walked through it. He was a tall human male. He seemed to be in his late 50's or early 60's. His hair was long and he had a small little beard. All in all, a very impressive build. His physique radiated power, though I sensed calmness in him that would temper any rage. At least rage that would lead to the Dark Side.
"Welcome, Master Qui-Gon Jinn." I said and felt something that I hadn't felt in some time. Being a Navigator, even though I had used The Cure, meant certain emotions had become foreign to me. Or at least I only felt them on rare occasions. "I am here to help you on your mission. Whatever that might be."
I tried to keep silent that I knew his mission. Because I wasn't ranked high enough, at least not now at this point in time, to have the information.
"You are Rinn?" He asked and I nodded. "I am continuing my mission to find the Heart of the Darkness."
"You mean the ship that holds something that even the Sith were afraid of?" I asked. Pretending to only know the common myth that was told about it. Pretending not to know what the ship really held.
Qui-Gon gave a subtle smile to reassure me as he mistook any sign of nervousness as a fear of him. I thought I was hiding my secrets from him and so it couldn't be that. But maybe he was sensing my confusion about what I was feeling.
And with Qui-Gon's reassuring smile it hit me. I was feeling what a normal human would describe as being attracted to him.
---------------------------------------
Inbetween tumblr
I have some ideas for stories that I don’t usually write because my four main series take up so much time (that and other blog work). So I decided that between writing sections of my main series, to write short little fanfics.
These fanfics will be HIGHLY self-indulgent. Because I work so hard on my other series that I deserve a little break.
Sometimes some of these “Inbetween Fics” might be samples of later works (that might turn out to be either a fanfic series OR original series).
About "Death of Five":
An idea has been going through my head for awhile about a character that I'm calling Rinn (at least for the moment). I have partially (not fully, since that'd mean I'd have outlined the series already) thought up the story I'd tell about her. From her beginnings all the way to where she's basically all alone in the universe. If I ever do get to writing Rinn's entire story (which might not be for a number of years) "Death of the Five" will probably take place near the end of it. I decided this part would be the best to tell for Inbetween since it'd be the easiest to shorten and has a clear cut beginning and end to it.
Where It Takes Place in the Star Wars Timeline:
While this is an AU fic, I have decided on a rough outline where this could take place. It'd be before Episode I and before Qui-Gon Jinn took Obi-Wan Kenobi as his apprentice.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Spending any amount of time on a space station made you lose sense of reality. Reality, of course, being the sense of the wind on your face. Even if that wind would kill you if you took the air in with your lungs. But living on a space station also allowed me to be a drifter. Because, really, who would look at a simple human pilot? Especially if the pilot could take care of her own ship.
No doubt people would ask questions behind my back, but it would never get to the point where I'd be under any form of investigation.
But any opinions that were thrown about the young, at least that's how my body appeared, drifter Rinn wasn't any concern of mine now. This was due to me being part of a two person team that would search for something ancient. Something so ancient that many didn't believe it really existed. And even those that believed it existed didn't want to find it due to its supposed ties to the Sith Order.
At least one was willing to find out if it really existed and then go to it. I finished making myself presentable for the Jedi Master and then went over to my computer. I did a brief overview of the top stories on the holonet, but nothing seemed interesting to me. Of course, once someone lived as long as I did, not much could stimulate my interest.
There were only so many times I could hear about a civil war, famine, or the like before I became disinterested. This isn't to say they weren't important, but I saw a bigger picture. A never ending portrait of pain. So worrying about one problem, no matter how important, was useless since it would always be eclipsed by a future one.
So checking the holonet didn't take long and I went to check on something vastly more important. Something that was one problem that I actually gave a damn about. Mainly because if the Five were found out they could be awakened and then all hell would be let lose.
I started to make sure the Five's location was still safe and secret. My memories of them started to flood my mind. They crashed over me. While things could go wrong if they were discovered, I hadn't been able to kill them. I had decided shortly after the Sith became a children's bedtime story, to cryogenically freeze them instead of ending their lives.
While they had been a plague onto anything good, and strong in what this galaxy's inhabitants called the Dark Side of the Force, they had still been my comrades a long time ago in another galaxy. When the Massacre had happened we had been all that was left of the Navigators.
It had been...I shook my head and shut down my computer as soon as I was assured that the Five's location was still secret. That's all that mattered. I left my cabin and walked to where I was supposed to meet this Jedi Master.
I waited by the door until it opened and he walked through it. He was a tall human male. He seemed to be in his late 50's or early 60's. His hair was long and he had a small little beard. All in all, a very impressive build. His physique radiated power, though I sensed calmness in him that would temper any rage. At least rage that would lead to the Dark Side.
"Welcome, Master Qui-Gon Jinn." I said and felt something that I hadn't felt in some time. Being a Navigator, even though I had used The Cure, meant certain emotions had become foreign to me. Or at least I only felt them on rare occasions. "I am here to help you on your mission. Whatever that might be."
I tried to keep silent that I knew his mission. Because I wasn't ranked high enough, at least not now at this point in time, to have the information.
"You are Rinn?" He asked and I nodded. "I am continuing my mission to find the Heart of the Darkness."
"You mean the ship that holds something that even the Sith were afraid of?" I asked. Pretending to only know the common myth that was told about it. Pretending not to know what the ship really held.
Qui-Gon gave a subtle smile to reassure me as he mistook any sign of nervousness as a fear of him. I thought I was hiding my secrets from him and so it couldn't be that. But maybe he was sensing my confusion about what I was feeling.
And with Qui-Gon's reassuring smile it hit me. I was feeling what a normal human would describe as being attracted to him.
---------------------------------------
Inbetween tumblr
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Shipping Confessions: Destiel (SPN)
Yes, I am a fan of Supernatural. Though I didn't start watching the series until around its seventh season. Why that long? Well, I didn't watch TV around the time it premiered. Anyways, since I waited so long I had heard about the ship of Destiel (Dean Winchester and Castiel). So I guess you could say I was biased in favor of this ship?
Not really. I'm not a big slash fan (aka two men being in a romantic relationship), so I don't think I was that biased in that way. However, I quickly became a Destiel shipper after viewing episodes where Dean and Castiel appeared.
Unlike my love of the Camerah ship, being a Destiel shipper is very much the norm. In fact, there seems to be so much support in favor of this ship that it might just as well be canon. Not because everyone agrees with it, but because there are so many people pushing for this ship.
Misha Collins (the actor who plays Castiel) has pronounced Destiel canon. Well, he says that he plays Castiel like his character has romantic feelings for Dean. To us Destiel shippers that makes it canon, but it is not yet official.
One may point out that Dean Winchester is clearly heterosexual (due to how many women he hits on and sleeps with) and so can't be gay. So, therefore, being in a sexual relationship with Castiel (a MALE) is impossible.
I don't think Dean is gay. He does sleep with a lot of women and even had a long term relationship with Lisa Braeden. So, of course, he isn't gay. However, I believe him to be bisexual with a strong preference towards women. This would explain why we haven't seen Dean in a sexual relationship with a man (though there could be those that aren't shown).
Dean has shown slight signs that he's attracted to men (take the Season 8 Episode "Everybody Hates Hitler"). So a relationship between him and Castiel would work. If only looking at Dean's sexuality.
But what about Castiel?
As I said previously: Misha Collins, the actor who plays Castiel, says he plays the character as if he was sexually attracted to Dean. And an actor's views on the character he/she plays is very important.
If you want to disregard Collins' opinion, though, there are many instances throughout the series that show that Castiel loves Dean. If we want to look at a big one, Castiel risks everything for Dean. Castiel leaves his fellow angels to help Dean and Sam to stop the end of the world. After that Castiel even damns himself in the mistaken belief that he's helping Dean.
Castiel hasn't shown a clear sexuality in the series. It's more like he's a child and is slowly learning about how to be human. But it can be safely assumed that he's at least bisexual since he loves Dean.
While I am a big Destiel shipper, there's something that confuses the hell out of me. It seems like a good majority of Destiel shippers (not including me) hate the character of Sam Winchester (Dean's younger brother). I was not aware of this when I became a Destiel shipper, but I have since become familiar about this fact.
I think the reason a lot of Destiel shippers don't like Sam is because he keeps the lovers apart. Which I think is really stupid. The main theme of the show is family (which is why I have a little hate for a good majority of Season 8, the current season upon writing this) and so Sam has to be there. If not, there wouldn't be a show.
Having a brother does not keep one from having a lover. I am engaged and it doesn't affect my relationship with my family. My fiance doesn't keep me away from my family and so Sam doesn't drive Destiel from happening.
Myself, I like Sam. He's really the 'good' one (ironic, then, that he was Lucifer's vessel) and keeps Dean in check. The only time I didn't like Sam was in a good majority of Season 8 (but that was due to him being written out of character), though I hated not liking him because he's a great character.
Anyways, if you are a Destiel shipper don't hate on all those who aren't keen on seeing Dean and Castiel together. They aren't attacking you and you should respect their opinions. Hell, I'm a friend with someone who isn't a Destiel shipper and finds Castiel to have too much screen time. And, guess what, we don't attack each other for having our own opinions.
So what's up for the next Shipping Confessions? Well, we're going back to Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles to look at my OTP (One True Pairing) of the series.
Not really. I'm not a big slash fan (aka two men being in a romantic relationship), so I don't think I was that biased in that way. However, I quickly became a Destiel shipper after viewing episodes where Dean and Castiel appeared.
Unlike my love of the Camerah ship, being a Destiel shipper is very much the norm. In fact, there seems to be so much support in favor of this ship that it might just as well be canon. Not because everyone agrees with it, but because there are so many people pushing for this ship.
Misha Collins (the actor who plays Castiel) has pronounced Destiel canon. Well, he says that he plays Castiel like his character has romantic feelings for Dean. To us Destiel shippers that makes it canon, but it is not yet official.
One may point out that Dean Winchester is clearly heterosexual (due to how many women he hits on and sleeps with) and so can't be gay. So, therefore, being in a sexual relationship with Castiel (a MALE) is impossible.
I don't think Dean is gay. He does sleep with a lot of women and even had a long term relationship with Lisa Braeden. So, of course, he isn't gay. However, I believe him to be bisexual with a strong preference towards women. This would explain why we haven't seen Dean in a sexual relationship with a man (though there could be those that aren't shown).
Dean has shown slight signs that he's attracted to men (take the Season 8 Episode "Everybody Hates Hitler"). So a relationship between him and Castiel would work. If only looking at Dean's sexuality.
But what about Castiel?
As I said previously: Misha Collins, the actor who plays Castiel, says he plays the character as if he was sexually attracted to Dean. And an actor's views on the character he/she plays is very important.
If you want to disregard Collins' opinion, though, there are many instances throughout the series that show that Castiel loves Dean. If we want to look at a big one, Castiel risks everything for Dean. Castiel leaves his fellow angels to help Dean and Sam to stop the end of the world. After that Castiel even damns himself in the mistaken belief that he's helping Dean.
Castiel hasn't shown a clear sexuality in the series. It's more like he's a child and is slowly learning about how to be human. But it can be safely assumed that he's at least bisexual since he loves Dean.
While I am a big Destiel shipper, there's something that confuses the hell out of me. It seems like a good majority of Destiel shippers (not including me) hate the character of Sam Winchester (Dean's younger brother). I was not aware of this when I became a Destiel shipper, but I have since become familiar about this fact.
I think the reason a lot of Destiel shippers don't like Sam is because he keeps the lovers apart. Which I think is really stupid. The main theme of the show is family (which is why I have a little hate for a good majority of Season 8, the current season upon writing this) and so Sam has to be there. If not, there wouldn't be a show.
Having a brother does not keep one from having a lover. I am engaged and it doesn't affect my relationship with my family. My fiance doesn't keep me away from my family and so Sam doesn't drive Destiel from happening.
Myself, I like Sam. He's really the 'good' one (ironic, then, that he was Lucifer's vessel) and keeps Dean in check. The only time I didn't like Sam was in a good majority of Season 8 (but that was due to him being written out of character), though I hated not liking him because he's a great character.
Anyways, if you are a Destiel shipper don't hate on all those who aren't keen on seeing Dean and Castiel together. They aren't attacking you and you should respect their opinions. Hell, I'm a friend with someone who isn't a Destiel shipper and finds Castiel to have too much screen time. And, guess what, we don't attack each other for having our own opinions.
So what's up for the next Shipping Confessions? Well, we're going back to Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles to look at my OTP (One True Pairing) of the series.
jtrc: Elementary (Part 2)
I finish this two parter by talking about Elementary fans.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Skyfall (2012)
Title: Skyfall
Series: James Bond
Based On the Books by: Ian Fleming
Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, and Naomie Harris
Rated: PG-13
Released: 2012
Personal Rating: 4/5
Oscars: Nominated for 5
Plot: Bond's loyalty to M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. Whilst MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
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Feelings for M
She does what she has to. I'm not a fan of hers and I don't hate her. M's relationship with James Bond/007 isn't smooth sailing. That being said, he is by her side when she's in danger. And I like that. It shows that both have been through a lot together and they have each other's backs (even when M orders that shot that hits Bond in the beginning). I think this movie, above all else, is about Bond's relationship with M. Showing how far he will go to protect her even when they're not on the friendliest of terms.
Gay Subtext
Yes, Silva and Bond do share some gay moments. I'm not dissing gays here, I'm just stating a fact. Javier Bardem (Silva) and Daniel Craig (Bond) have both admitted to playing up the gay moments. It got so bad that half-way through filming they were told to tone it down. So be prepared for the first time Silva and Bond meets (which is the first scene of the duo that was filmed) to be very gay toned. revrezner said he was prepared to be watching a gay porno when he saw that scene. What's great about this is you can see Craig being on the verge of nearly breaking down laughing.
No One Wins
By the end of the movie there doesn't appear to be a winner. I won't say what happens but everyone's plans work out in some way and yet fail at the same time. This left me in a little bit of confusion as I think Bond movies should have a clear cut winner and loser (I say this without being a die hard Bond fan).
Final Thoughts
I am not a big Bond fan but am familiar enough with the series. That being said, I love Daniel Craig and like seeing him as Bond (though he seems to want to leave the role ASAP). Casino Royale and this movie are the two Bond movies with Craig that I think are good. Adele's theme song for this movie is nominated for an Oscar and the opening title sequence is just amazing. Other people have pointed out that it's similar in tone to The Dark Knight Rises and I have to agree with that. I wish I could have seen this in theaters but I couldn't get there in time. This movie seems like it would've been breathtaking in the theater. I believe Craig is signed up for two more Bond movies and then we'll probably have to let this star go from the role.
Series: James Bond
Based On the Books by: Ian Fleming
Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, and Naomie Harris
Rated: PG-13
Released: 2012
Personal Rating: 4/5
Oscars: Nominated for 5
Plot: Bond's loyalty to M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. Whilst MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feelings for M
She does what she has to. I'm not a fan of hers and I don't hate her. M's relationship with James Bond/007 isn't smooth sailing. That being said, he is by her side when she's in danger. And I like that. It shows that both have been through a lot together and they have each other's backs (even when M orders that shot that hits Bond in the beginning). I think this movie, above all else, is about Bond's relationship with M. Showing how far he will go to protect her even when they're not on the friendliest of terms.
Gay Subtext
Yes, Silva and Bond do share some gay moments. I'm not dissing gays here, I'm just stating a fact. Javier Bardem (Silva) and Daniel Craig (Bond) have both admitted to playing up the gay moments. It got so bad that half-way through filming they were told to tone it down. So be prepared for the first time Silva and Bond meets (which is the first scene of the duo that was filmed) to be very gay toned. revrezner said he was prepared to be watching a gay porno when he saw that scene. What's great about this is you can see Craig being on the verge of nearly breaking down laughing.
No One Wins
By the end of the movie there doesn't appear to be a winner. I won't say what happens but everyone's plans work out in some way and yet fail at the same time. This left me in a little bit of confusion as I think Bond movies should have a clear cut winner and loser (I say this without being a die hard Bond fan).
Final Thoughts
I am not a big Bond fan but am familiar enough with the series. That being said, I love Daniel Craig and like seeing him as Bond (though he seems to want to leave the role ASAP). Casino Royale and this movie are the two Bond movies with Craig that I think are good. Adele's theme song for this movie is nominated for an Oscar and the opening title sequence is just amazing. Other people have pointed out that it's similar in tone to The Dark Knight Rises and I have to agree with that. I wish I could have seen this in theaters but I couldn't get there in time. This movie seems like it would've been breathtaking in the theater. I believe Craig is signed up for two more Bond movies and then we'll probably have to let this star go from the role.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Eternal Heart: New Recruit and Angelic Savior
I give a brief look at The Eternal Heart: New Recruit and a sneak peek of The Eternal Heart: Angelic Savior.
The Eternal Trilogy Facebook
The Eternal Trilogy Facebook
Saturday, February 16, 2013
The Eternal Heart: New Recruit
"Skynet did manage to put some intelligence into their foot soldiers." My Resistance trainer for the day said. Unlike Barnes, he was white. But, like Barnes, he had the same loathing for me.
"Terminators would be useless if they couldn't think," I replied while trying to not think of myself as one of them. "If they couldn't think then they couldn't fight."
My trainer's face assumed a blank expression to not give me the pleasure of seeing him angry. It didn't matter to me what his expression was because I knew what he was feeling. Or at least I had a very good guess of what his emotions were at the moment.
"That will be all for today, Jash." He said. The only motion he made for me to go away was to turn his face from mine.
"I'll see you tomorrow then." I said as I walked away. I wasn't expecting a reply and was rewarded with silence.
My footsteps brought me closer to my new destination. Faster than a human's would. No, I was doing what was called speed walking. I just had an easier time at it than a pure human would. That way of realization wouldn't lead me anywhere useful and might cause problems in the future.
But I didn't care at the moment.
I opened a door into a very small room. Like the rest of the base, it seemed to be about to collapse at any given moment. However, there wasn't a high likelihood that it would. The base reflected the very human spirit of those living here. A spirit that I didn't really have. But that I wished I did.
The only furniture in the room was a chair. Its front faced the door and I went over to it. As I went to sit down a woman entered the room. Once I was comfortable, she had shut the door. The look on her face showed that she had been in a few battles, but nothing that had torn her apart yet.
The Resistance woman stood in front of me and remained quiet for a few minutes. I didn't know whether she was nervous or if she was holding back her anger. Finally she spoke, "Jash, why did you join the Resistance?"
"Because Skynet needs to die." I replied.
"But you are a Terminator."
"I am only a Terminator because Skynet desecrated my body. I was probably just a normal human girl before. Hanging out with friends and trying to hide my feelings for my newest crush. I don't know what I would've done. I just know that it would've been normal."
"So you want revenge?"
"I want the ability to be human again. Without having to worry about Skynet trying to stop me."
"And will you be willing to follow our leader John Connor?"
"I've been asked that more times than I can count. And, being a hybrid, you better believe I can count pretty damn high." I paused only to have her look confused with how to react to my words. "And my answer is still the same. The answer is still yes."
She then asked her final question, "Is there any reason you are willing to?"
I thought about my answer. The truth was that I loved John and would follow him to the end of the world. Well, beyond the end of the world. But I couldn't tell this woman that. If she told John, things could get awkward. And I didn't know how I could get my feelings across to him. Leaving that duty to someone I didn't know wouldn't be a smart thing to do.
When I formulated a good sounding answer I spoke, "I trust John Connor. I trust that he is the best way to defeating Skynet."
The woman nodded. "Our session is over for now."
With that she walked out. I waited a few minutes and then headed towards my room. My room wasn't the same as my holding cell, but only slightly better. I wasn't considered a part of the Resistance by most members, so I was lucky just to have a room.
Resistance fighters passed me as I headed to my room. To me they weren't important and only one caught my eye and turned his face from mine. I swore John Connor had been looking at me, but he had quickly turned his gaze to another soldier. After that there was a conversation between the two.
I continued to move towards my room, but the thought that John had been sneaking a look at me continued to grow. The only bright light in this war.
*************************************************
While lying in my bed I thought about John. The perfect John Connor. At least that's how he appeared to me. If it weren't for him I would be dead. The only upside to being dead is that I would never know what I really was. Finding out that I was a hybrid had been bad enough, but finding out that I had been working for Skynet had been worse. And could John ever love a machine? Even if he wasn't already married?
As I ran through those thoughts in my head, I faintly heard knocking on my door. Coming back to the present I got off my bed and opened the door. A disinterested human face greeted me in my doorway.
"What is it?" I asked the woman.
"Katherine Connor orders you to come to Sickbay." She replied. Her voice somehow conveying both hatred and boredom at once.
"Are you going to walk me there?" I asked. For some reason I liked the way she looked and wanted to ask her to stay in my room for a little bit. But I couldn't because I had to show John that I was faithful. He had seemed to look past me being a hybrid and that I had been a pawn of Skynet. Not being faithful would be asking too much of him.
"No, I think you can find your own way." With that the woman walked away and I was left to walk to Sickbay myself.
I left only when I had gotten myself properly dressed. While walking to Sickbay I thought about why John would've married Katherine. While she was loyal, dedicated, and intelligent I couldn't see anything special about her. And when someone decided to marry, shouldn't the object of their affections be special?
Katherine was tending to a wounded soldier. I had to stand in the doorway for a few minutes before she even acknowledged me. It wasn't until after she had finished with the soldier that she said, "Jash, do you have any medical experience?"
The soldier got up, thanked Katherine, and then walked out of Sickbay.
"No," I replied as soon as the soldier had left. "I don't think Skynet had any need of me fixing any humans up. I mean, they never planned on a party for the Resistance. Not really that close."
"It probably wanted you to be a good killer, which means you had to know anatomy." Katherine said and walked to a table, ignoring my sarcastic answer. Things had been set up to look like a makeshift classroom.
Those were the last words that were spoken before I was getting tested on my medical skills. The testing went on for hours and it seemed like Katherine was being too hard on me. Of course it could just be that I was worn out from the distrust the Resistance had shown me so far. Or Katherine was being hard on me because she wanted to make sure of what I knew.
After the testing she gave me very basic medical training for the next two hours. When all of that was finished I leaned against the wall. While nothing physically draining had happened, the fact that I had been making sure not to say the wrong thing had worn me down.
"You did a better job than I expected." Katherine finally said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Connor." I said to show my gratitude and that I knew that John was her's. At least for the time being.
"One more thing before I let you go, though." She said and I could see that she was trying to control her hatred.
"What is it?" I asked.
"John Connor, my husband, is a very loyal man." Katherine said. "He won't let temptations get the better of him. No matter how much he wants them to. Do you understand me?"
"Yes." I reply and Katherine signaled me to leave. I did so with a happy thought in my head. The thought that Katherine felt threatened by me.
*****************************************
I tried to control my breathing. I thought that being a hybrid would mean I wouldn't get so nervous. Or maybe my nervousness was because my chip had been removed, so I didn't have as much control as I should have.
After I got my uniform on, I looked at myself in a dirty mirror. Wiping the mirror off a little I could see myself just a little better. I know why I was attracted to John Connor, but would my looks and abilities be enough for me to win him over?
But there were other things to attend to now. Such as the upcoming battle. I walked out of my room and went to join the other soldiers. My comrades. There was some pre-battle talk among them but I didn't join in. Partially because I was nervous and partially because I knew the soldiers didn't want to talk to me. I was a hybrid and therefore a creation of Skynet. And there was nothing worse than something of the enemy being on your side.
But all those thoughts were pushed aside when I saw John Connor come to join the troops. For some reason he was keeping Katherine at the base. All the better for me to bond more with John. We hadn't talked much due to Katherine's efforts to keep me away from him and how busy he was in his duties as leader of the Resistance.
John Connor stood in front of me and my comrades while he gave a speech. I didn't hear what he said, I was just looking at the way he said it. It didn't matter I wasn't listening to his words as I had made sure to be clear about the battle beforehand. So I looked at his facial expressions, the sound of his voice, and how the Resistance soldiers responded to him. It was no wonder that I was falling for him. In a different way, the Resistance had fallen in love with him.
After he was done giving his speech, we went into different helicopters. I went into the one I had been assigned to and saw myself next to John Connor. I was going into battle with him right beside me. Not just as my leader, but as someone beside me.
As the landscape passed below us, I tried to calm myself down again. I knew once I was in battle I would be able to distract myself, but not now.
"First time?" John jokingly asked me.
"For the right side and not under mind control, yes." I replied with a smile.
"I'm sure you'll do fine. You were made to fight."
"And what were you made for?"
John paused a moment. His mind seemed to turn in on itself. Finally he replied, "I was made to lead."
"Skynet didn't mess with you. You are human and I don't think you were made for a purpose. You are free to make your own decisions. Your own destiny." I said.
He gave me a weak smile.
"You just do what you were made for, Jash." John said and that was the last thing he said to me before the battle began.
We arrived at the battlefield and there was chaos. Of course it was controlled chaos but it was hard to concentrate. However, I was quickly able to realize what I was supposed to do. This wasn't my first battle, but this was the first time I was fully aware of it. This time I knew who I was fighting for and who I was fighting against.
Minutes turned into hours and hours turned into years. Orders were yelled at me and I obeyed. It was odd killing Terminators and knowing that they were metal. I had to hold back bile as I remembered I used to be brainwashed to not know I was killing humans.
Once the deepest levels of hell became just the entrance, I felt relieved. Even though all of us wanted to shout out in joy for the fact that we were alive and had won today, we knew that we couldn't rest until we were back at base. The only safety we were guaranteed.
After a few minutes I remembered John. What if he had died?
"John!" I yelled while running around looking for him. Suddenly I heard a shot and then felt it pass me by just inches.
As I turned my gun around to try and find the attacker, another shot was fired and I heard a Terminator fall down. When I found my savior with my eyes I had to remind myself I still was not safe. I would have to leave dreaming about John Connor for another time. When I wasn't being shot at by surviving metal.
Another shot grazed my body and I turned to look for the new Terminator. This time John shot at it but I didn't hear it fall down. That task was mine as I turned to look for it as more Terminators fired at me. My savior's duty was now protecting me as I fired back at the remaining Terminators.
As shots were exchanged I felt alive. As Judgment Day had already happened, this felt like the only real kind of bonding that could exist. Never mind that my memories before Judgment Day hadn't come back to me yet. The point was that I thought that John and I were growing closer together than ever before.
While I focused on the Terminators that were shooting at me, I also made sure John wasn't in danger of dying. I knew that focusing on myself was selfish, but if I didn't I couldn't protect him. My current selfishness would be better during this fight.
Finally I shot down the last Terminator and turned to John and said, "Good shot, John."
"Couldn't have done it without you, Jash." He said and smiled at me. We both ignored the fact that I had given him credit for my shooting abilities.
I don't know if I'd ever encounter something so beautiful as his smile again. And now, while we weren't in immediate danger, I could focus on him.
"If you weren't there I'd be dead." I said and walked over to him.
Once I got close to him, he grasped my arm. "I could say the same thing about you."
For a few moments we just looked into each other's eyes. I was silent because I didn't want to say the wrong thing. While battle did unite people, I didn't know if it had united us enough for him to leave Katherine.
Why he remained silent I couldn't tell. I didn't want to guess in case the answer wasn't one I was looking for.
When the moment had passed he let go of me and we walked to a helicopter. I went in and John stood outside of it and talked to a few Resistance Fighters. Before the battle my comrades hadn't talked to me, but now they were congratulating me. Not for me getting a small bit of John's affection, but for me surviving my first battle. Well, first battle with the Resistance. My first battle for the right side.
John finally joined me and the congratulations stopped as my comrades were scared of saying some of the more vulgar comments in front of their leader. Once the helicopter I was in landed at base I got out after John.
Him being the leader of the Resistance meant he took the brunt of the reactions. After not seeing Barnes for so long, I had trouble remaining calm as he went up to John. While Barnes had kind words for John, he ignored me.
Katherine came running into John's arm. He hugged her tightly. But I could tell she wasn't pleased with how tight he was hugging her.
"Promise me you'll let me go next time." Katherine whispered into John's ear. Only the combination that I was standing close to John and was a hybrid meant I heard it. And by hearing it I felt jealous.
I felt jealous because Katherine was trying to come between John and my's budding relationship. Yes, she was his wife but I saw that as a temporary position for her.
"I promise I will one day." John replied to her and I suddenly felt guilty. Katherine, whatever her faults were, made John happy. I wanted to make John happy like she did, but what if any of my tinkering made him not feel joy ever again?
Katherine and John let go of each other and she turned to me. And with the cold look she gave me I felt a little better about wanting to come between them.
"Jash, I think this makes you a real member of the Resistance now." Katherine said. I felt guilty again, but not enough to turn me from planning to take John away from her.
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The Eternal Heart Blog aka The Wars Against Skynet
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"Terminators would be useless if they couldn't think," I replied while trying to not think of myself as one of them. "If they couldn't think then they couldn't fight."
My trainer's face assumed a blank expression to not give me the pleasure of seeing him angry. It didn't matter to me what his expression was because I knew what he was feeling. Or at least I had a very good guess of what his emotions were at the moment.
"That will be all for today, Jash." He said. The only motion he made for me to go away was to turn his face from mine.
"I'll see you tomorrow then." I said as I walked away. I wasn't expecting a reply and was rewarded with silence.
My footsteps brought me closer to my new destination. Faster than a human's would. No, I was doing what was called speed walking. I just had an easier time at it than a pure human would. That way of realization wouldn't lead me anywhere useful and might cause problems in the future.
But I didn't care at the moment.
I opened a door into a very small room. Like the rest of the base, it seemed to be about to collapse at any given moment. However, there wasn't a high likelihood that it would. The base reflected the very human spirit of those living here. A spirit that I didn't really have. But that I wished I did.
The only furniture in the room was a chair. Its front faced the door and I went over to it. As I went to sit down a woman entered the room. Once I was comfortable, she had shut the door. The look on her face showed that she had been in a few battles, but nothing that had torn her apart yet.
The Resistance woman stood in front of me and remained quiet for a few minutes. I didn't know whether she was nervous or if she was holding back her anger. Finally she spoke, "Jash, why did you join the Resistance?"
"Because Skynet needs to die." I replied.
"But you are a Terminator."
"I am only a Terminator because Skynet desecrated my body. I was probably just a normal human girl before. Hanging out with friends and trying to hide my feelings for my newest crush. I don't know what I would've done. I just know that it would've been normal."
"So you want revenge?"
"I want the ability to be human again. Without having to worry about Skynet trying to stop me."
"And will you be willing to follow our leader John Connor?"
"I've been asked that more times than I can count. And, being a hybrid, you better believe I can count pretty damn high." I paused only to have her look confused with how to react to my words. "And my answer is still the same. The answer is still yes."
She then asked her final question, "Is there any reason you are willing to?"
I thought about my answer. The truth was that I loved John and would follow him to the end of the world. Well, beyond the end of the world. But I couldn't tell this woman that. If she told John, things could get awkward. And I didn't know how I could get my feelings across to him. Leaving that duty to someone I didn't know wouldn't be a smart thing to do.
When I formulated a good sounding answer I spoke, "I trust John Connor. I trust that he is the best way to defeating Skynet."
The woman nodded. "Our session is over for now."
With that she walked out. I waited a few minutes and then headed towards my room. My room wasn't the same as my holding cell, but only slightly better. I wasn't considered a part of the Resistance by most members, so I was lucky just to have a room.
Resistance fighters passed me as I headed to my room. To me they weren't important and only one caught my eye and turned his face from mine. I swore John Connor had been looking at me, but he had quickly turned his gaze to another soldier. After that there was a conversation between the two.
I continued to move towards my room, but the thought that John had been sneaking a look at me continued to grow. The only bright light in this war.
*************************************************
While lying in my bed I thought about John. The perfect John Connor. At least that's how he appeared to me. If it weren't for him I would be dead. The only upside to being dead is that I would never know what I really was. Finding out that I was a hybrid had been bad enough, but finding out that I had been working for Skynet had been worse. And could John ever love a machine? Even if he wasn't already married?
As I ran through those thoughts in my head, I faintly heard knocking on my door. Coming back to the present I got off my bed and opened the door. A disinterested human face greeted me in my doorway.
"What is it?" I asked the woman.
"Katherine Connor orders you to come to Sickbay." She replied. Her voice somehow conveying both hatred and boredom at once.
"Are you going to walk me there?" I asked. For some reason I liked the way she looked and wanted to ask her to stay in my room for a little bit. But I couldn't because I had to show John that I was faithful. He had seemed to look past me being a hybrid and that I had been a pawn of Skynet. Not being faithful would be asking too much of him.
"No, I think you can find your own way." With that the woman walked away and I was left to walk to Sickbay myself.
I left only when I had gotten myself properly dressed. While walking to Sickbay I thought about why John would've married Katherine. While she was loyal, dedicated, and intelligent I couldn't see anything special about her. And when someone decided to marry, shouldn't the object of their affections be special?
Katherine was tending to a wounded soldier. I had to stand in the doorway for a few minutes before she even acknowledged me. It wasn't until after she had finished with the soldier that she said, "Jash, do you have any medical experience?"
The soldier got up, thanked Katherine, and then walked out of Sickbay.
"No," I replied as soon as the soldier had left. "I don't think Skynet had any need of me fixing any humans up. I mean, they never planned on a party for the Resistance. Not really that close."
"It probably wanted you to be a good killer, which means you had to know anatomy." Katherine said and walked to a table, ignoring my sarcastic answer. Things had been set up to look like a makeshift classroom.
Those were the last words that were spoken before I was getting tested on my medical skills. The testing went on for hours and it seemed like Katherine was being too hard on me. Of course it could just be that I was worn out from the distrust the Resistance had shown me so far. Or Katherine was being hard on me because she wanted to make sure of what I knew.
After the testing she gave me very basic medical training for the next two hours. When all of that was finished I leaned against the wall. While nothing physically draining had happened, the fact that I had been making sure not to say the wrong thing had worn me down.
"You did a better job than I expected." Katherine finally said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Connor." I said to show my gratitude and that I knew that John was her's. At least for the time being.
"One more thing before I let you go, though." She said and I could see that she was trying to control her hatred.
"What is it?" I asked.
"John Connor, my husband, is a very loyal man." Katherine said. "He won't let temptations get the better of him. No matter how much he wants them to. Do you understand me?"
"Yes." I reply and Katherine signaled me to leave. I did so with a happy thought in my head. The thought that Katherine felt threatened by me.
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I tried to control my breathing. I thought that being a hybrid would mean I wouldn't get so nervous. Or maybe my nervousness was because my chip had been removed, so I didn't have as much control as I should have.
After I got my uniform on, I looked at myself in a dirty mirror. Wiping the mirror off a little I could see myself just a little better. I know why I was attracted to John Connor, but would my looks and abilities be enough for me to win him over?
But there were other things to attend to now. Such as the upcoming battle. I walked out of my room and went to join the other soldiers. My comrades. There was some pre-battle talk among them but I didn't join in. Partially because I was nervous and partially because I knew the soldiers didn't want to talk to me. I was a hybrid and therefore a creation of Skynet. And there was nothing worse than something of the enemy being on your side.
But all those thoughts were pushed aside when I saw John Connor come to join the troops. For some reason he was keeping Katherine at the base. All the better for me to bond more with John. We hadn't talked much due to Katherine's efforts to keep me away from him and how busy he was in his duties as leader of the Resistance.
John Connor stood in front of me and my comrades while he gave a speech. I didn't hear what he said, I was just looking at the way he said it. It didn't matter I wasn't listening to his words as I had made sure to be clear about the battle beforehand. So I looked at his facial expressions, the sound of his voice, and how the Resistance soldiers responded to him. It was no wonder that I was falling for him. In a different way, the Resistance had fallen in love with him.
After he was done giving his speech, we went into different helicopters. I went into the one I had been assigned to and saw myself next to John Connor. I was going into battle with him right beside me. Not just as my leader, but as someone beside me.
As the landscape passed below us, I tried to calm myself down again. I knew once I was in battle I would be able to distract myself, but not now.
"First time?" John jokingly asked me.
"For the right side and not under mind control, yes." I replied with a smile.
"I'm sure you'll do fine. You were made to fight."
"And what were you made for?"
John paused a moment. His mind seemed to turn in on itself. Finally he replied, "I was made to lead."
"Skynet didn't mess with you. You are human and I don't think you were made for a purpose. You are free to make your own decisions. Your own destiny." I said.
He gave me a weak smile.
"You just do what you were made for, Jash." John said and that was the last thing he said to me before the battle began.
We arrived at the battlefield and there was chaos. Of course it was controlled chaos but it was hard to concentrate. However, I was quickly able to realize what I was supposed to do. This wasn't my first battle, but this was the first time I was fully aware of it. This time I knew who I was fighting for and who I was fighting against.
Minutes turned into hours and hours turned into years. Orders were yelled at me and I obeyed. It was odd killing Terminators and knowing that they were metal. I had to hold back bile as I remembered I used to be brainwashed to not know I was killing humans.
Once the deepest levels of hell became just the entrance, I felt relieved. Even though all of us wanted to shout out in joy for the fact that we were alive and had won today, we knew that we couldn't rest until we were back at base. The only safety we were guaranteed.
After a few minutes I remembered John. What if he had died?
"John!" I yelled while running around looking for him. Suddenly I heard a shot and then felt it pass me by just inches.
As I turned my gun around to try and find the attacker, another shot was fired and I heard a Terminator fall down. When I found my savior with my eyes I had to remind myself I still was not safe. I would have to leave dreaming about John Connor for another time. When I wasn't being shot at by surviving metal.
Another shot grazed my body and I turned to look for the new Terminator. This time John shot at it but I didn't hear it fall down. That task was mine as I turned to look for it as more Terminators fired at me. My savior's duty was now protecting me as I fired back at the remaining Terminators.
As shots were exchanged I felt alive. As Judgment Day had already happened, this felt like the only real kind of bonding that could exist. Never mind that my memories before Judgment Day hadn't come back to me yet. The point was that I thought that John and I were growing closer together than ever before.
While I focused on the Terminators that were shooting at me, I also made sure John wasn't in danger of dying. I knew that focusing on myself was selfish, but if I didn't I couldn't protect him. My current selfishness would be better during this fight.
Finally I shot down the last Terminator and turned to John and said, "Good shot, John."
"Couldn't have done it without you, Jash." He said and smiled at me. We both ignored the fact that I had given him credit for my shooting abilities.
I don't know if I'd ever encounter something so beautiful as his smile again. And now, while we weren't in immediate danger, I could focus on him.
"If you weren't there I'd be dead." I said and walked over to him.
Once I got close to him, he grasped my arm. "I could say the same thing about you."
For a few moments we just looked into each other's eyes. I was silent because I didn't want to say the wrong thing. While battle did unite people, I didn't know if it had united us enough for him to leave Katherine.
Why he remained silent I couldn't tell. I didn't want to guess in case the answer wasn't one I was looking for.
When the moment had passed he let go of me and we walked to a helicopter. I went in and John stood outside of it and talked to a few Resistance Fighters. Before the battle my comrades hadn't talked to me, but now they were congratulating me. Not for me getting a small bit of John's affection, but for me surviving my first battle. Well, first battle with the Resistance. My first battle for the right side.
John finally joined me and the congratulations stopped as my comrades were scared of saying some of the more vulgar comments in front of their leader. Once the helicopter I was in landed at base I got out after John.
Him being the leader of the Resistance meant he took the brunt of the reactions. After not seeing Barnes for so long, I had trouble remaining calm as he went up to John. While Barnes had kind words for John, he ignored me.
Katherine came running into John's arm. He hugged her tightly. But I could tell she wasn't pleased with how tight he was hugging her.
"Promise me you'll let me go next time." Katherine whispered into John's ear. Only the combination that I was standing close to John and was a hybrid meant I heard it. And by hearing it I felt jealous.
I felt jealous because Katherine was trying to come between John and my's budding relationship. Yes, she was his wife but I saw that as a temporary position for her.
"I promise I will one day." John replied to her and I suddenly felt guilty. Katherine, whatever her faults were, made John happy. I wanted to make John happy like she did, but what if any of my tinkering made him not feel joy ever again?
Katherine and John let go of each other and she turned to me. And with the cold look she gave me I felt a little better about wanting to come between them.
"Jash, I think this makes you a real member of the Resistance now." Katherine said. I felt guilty again, but not enough to turn me from planning to take John away from her.
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