Slashdot Mirror
Tux Vs Clippy - New XBox Game
An anonymous reader writes "Just submitted on the XBox developers list, a new Xbox game (iso) is available. 'The battle for world dominance is raging. And now, you can play the game on your xbox(tm). Choose alliance with either Tux or Clippy, and finish the mother of all disputes right here and right now. This game is free (as in beer), and will run on any xbox that has been modified for use with the GNU/Linux operating system. The game runs on top of xbox-linux from Sourceforge's xbox-linux project.' The game features include: Industry heroes like CLIPPY, TUX, BIL, STV, RMS, LNS; Battle cries, each unique to the in-game characters, ranging from "Developers! Developers! Developers!" to "GNU!"; Anti aliased alpha-transparency graphics; Explosions." I have no idea if they're serious, and it doesn't matter.
Or can it? I want this on my desktop.
If tits were wings it'd be flying around.
This is quite possibly the nerdiest thing I have ever heard of. Dorkahedrons unite!
He could whip all their asses... and would do it happily no less!
Have you been stalked by Seth today?
What does one have to do to modify an XBox to run stuff like this?
i didn't shell out $200 for the most powerfull console on the market to install linux and play a crappy game on it!
that the penquin is shooting X-Box logos to destroy Clippy. It should be shooting copies of Outlook around if it wants to cause some damage.
So, anyone got some better links? The one provided is pretty slim on details.
WWJD.... for a Klondike bar?
Here's a link to the ISO. /. away!
Dl'ing at 100 KB/s now- probably not for long.
Have you been stalked by Seth today?
As usual, the best games are only released on a console...
Hate me!
This post is in anticipation of all the Tux Racer flames etc....so for the nay sayers who mock OS games, I invite you to try NetHack.
If you've never played this game before you will notice that the graphics are a bit...dated...but just try it for a few hours. You might very be surprised.
The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky
If you press down-left-down-right and then press X three times rapidly, clippy will grow to ten times his normal size and say:
"IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE WRITING A LETTER!"
Tux will then explode into tiny little fragments.
Am I a hipster-doofus?
The Nintendo GameCube is easily the most powerful gaming console available for homes.
Can I get the Mozilla lizard versus Netscape Lizard versus rotating Earth from I.E. versus AOL spinner in a WWF smack down limited edition?
grep >= ! == $your
Seeing Ballmer's cut and pasted head squawking "Developers! Developers!" LOL!
Is xbox-linux binary compatible with Linux on a standard x86 pc? I guess I'll mount the iso loopback and see, as soon as the damn thing finishes downloading...
Arrraarrrrahhhh!!!!
Developers developers developers developers
sig.
Not only have they created an unauthorized X box game. They've done so using Microsoft's mascot.
I wonder how many minutes until the cease and desist letter.
If you choose to paly as Clippy, does it tell you:
"Are you SURE you want to play as Clippy"?
surely that'll give clippy home ground advantage, and where's clippys motercycle.....? maybe clippy is the sort of thing linux is lacking, an animated tux that will on click do something pointless and unnecessary and waste some nice proc cycles. i miss clippy in open office..... do you think he'd run independantly uisng wine? anyway, tux would kick clippys ass, cos he's got the power of free software
dybia felly dwi a hampster (i think therefore i am a hampster)
How is the hacking on the new xbox going? I wouldnt mind to get on just to put linux on it.
I didn't use the preview button, so get over it!!!!
Mike
ok. no offense to the game writers (it looks like a cool game), but if I so much as glimse a clippy then my blood pressure rises, and I see quite clearly how someone can suddenly turn into a psychopathic killer. Which may help me playing the game of course, but then again, I might finally lose it. :)
Nevrar
Would this game work if you did? Do you need MS dev tools, or what? Slashdot wants to know.
If it's a one-time cost, I bet the funds could be raised to do it. There must be a way to drive a truck through the Xbox business model with this sort of think.
By the way, I think this is very cool, but I don't have or want an Xbox, so I don't care that much.
Would you like some help with that?
http://homepage.powerup.com.au/~mjones/amor/
Does anybody else find it strange that there is so much devopement of GNU/Linux software/mods for the Microsoft X-box?
i don't think installing linux should have any effect on your ability to play a crappy game on the xbox.
Emacs vs. VI... *ducks
Don't give me none of this "nature theme" business.
I tried playing the RMS character, but I couldn't figure out if 'Escape-Ctrl-Shift-S Ctrl-Alt-Escape-T' meant "Shoot Target" or "Highlight Region and Step-on Toe".
"Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
nuff said. And with TV out I might add.
Theo deRaadt? Yay, I know why he isn't in.
He's biking and doing other physical stuff all day
when other people sleep, thus he's fitter than the
rest (RMS stumbling over his beard, or TUX just
fatly waddling around, waiting febblemindedly(sp?)
grinning for the daemon's fork to impale him.
My Karma isn't excellent, damn it! (And
Woohoo, not much longer till Microsoft pulls out of the console industry that they're destroying hand over fist. TechTV interviewed the marketing director the other day, they are losing $150 per XBox sold, AND they need people to buy over *10* XBox games before a single system becomes profitable for MicroSoft. Can you say DOOMED? Haha..
If you value your friends, your free time, or otherwise the bit of real life you have left, do not, I repeat, do not play this game.
I hope this is the easier port. Since it runs in Linux on the Xbox, does that make a native Linux port easier than the Windows port? I don't game much, but I need something after I get bored with xbill.
Actually there is another chip on the market now..it requires no slodiering at all, only patience (you have to arrange some contacts in right order before attaching it...but nothing serious). You can get it for 59$ @ easybuy2000.com... More info here
Live for the present, learn from the past, and dream of the future!
this game is great, because, as darwin knows, the best operating system will eventually triumph.
go get it
Yeah, based on Microsoft's cash position, they can only lose money on the XBox for roughly 1000 more years, before they'll be forced to pull the plug.
Is here: http://mirror.emerus.com/tux_vs_clippy_021006.iso
/me cringes.
Do you even know anything about perl? -- AC Replying to Tom Christiansen post.
"then there will be an unauthorized mirror to get the game ;)
after 'official' site goes down"
That or somone will come out with a P2P client for the X-Box. =]
Here's a mirror.
Do you even know anything about perl? -- AC Replying to Tom Christiansen post.
Finally all the MS haters will have another game to play, I would guess that they were getting pretty tired of xBill.
Degaussing scares the bad magnetism out of the monitor and fills it with good karma.
No, they are both mallardjusted.
I haven't seen the tux vs clippy game, but I fear that this game is all the same. Please stop making games like this. They make me sick.
ed(1) is the standard editor.
This sig no verb.
I think it shows that the community knows how to have fun and laugh at itself. This is a good thing. Coolness is not all about flashy looks and high frame rates. Besides, I'm sure these things can be improved. Is it free source as well as being freely available?
Who mediates your information?
We need the playstation version for us who are so ardent against MS that we won't by an XBox!
-- Many men would appreciate a woman's mind more if they could fondle it
<i>I mean, this game is pretty poor if you need to bring it out on the xbox.</i>
..." I see, the less I want to take the linux "community" seriously. Face it: you're (personally) a fringe element. Nobody's listening to you, and for good reason: you don't matter.
Your idiotic arguments do more to belittle the linux community than silly games ever will. The more of this useless "Nobody will take linux seriously unless
Furthermore, industry <b>does</b> take the linux community seriously. MS has publicly admitted that Linux is it's biggest competitor. Larger and larger installations are going on around the world (just search slashdot).
There's nothing belittling about a silly game. Windows has it's share of silly games. There was a fucking flight simulator in MS Excel, for logic's sake. Is that silly? Does that discredit Microsoft? Hellshit no.
The real linux community, the developers, is not immature. The only immature ones are the "community" that tries to associate itself with linux by spouting the benefits of open-source and free software and unix and whateverthefuck else. These people are just as ignorant and incoherent as the people they claim to be better than.
In conclusion, shut up you dickfaced assgoblin.
These XBox stories just keep coming and coming, but what about the other consoles? Is anything going on with the PS2? Why does the XBox get all the/this attention--isn't it mainly just like a PC inside? What's the point, besides spite for MS and their attempts to lock them out?
http://saveie6.com/
Some of those names are obvious, but who are STV and LNS? (and should BIL have 2 Ls, or is that yet another name I don't know?)
I hope i can put some life into it by posting here
The game!
It looks lame and silly to begin with, and you play a few rounds with a casual "Oh what's the harm" shrug - and before you know it, sunlight makes you blink, your girlfriend has dumped you, you have no friends, no job, no life, and you're gibbering in your sleep about invisible stalkers and the horror of Demogorgon.
When you have dreams in ascii (I speak from experience), with a solitary "@" surrounded by h and & and D and L and you're running low on your ! and / and ?, and you wake up in a cold sweat, you'll realize it's not worth it. If it were simply the best strategy / role playing game there was, that would be one thing, but Nethack is an addiction.
"I will take the Ring," he said, "though I do not know the way."
I can't wait till the fallout from this game shows up on userfriendly.org.
That's the sad thing, they just recorded a bloody profit again. I suppose that's the advantage of using multiple industries to float your company. Oh and the $40 Billion wouldn't be too bad either ;)
I honestly don't think that they're losing yet, I mean they just bought Rare, plus the exclusive deals with PC game makers (e.g. Epic), their XBOX live service - let's face it they're spending $2 Billion on it. They're almost paying you to take them, and that's all they care about. They just want an installed user base which they can use.
Immature effort, shows how pathetic Linux game programmers actually are.
I'd like to see some real OpenGL...and then again...there is no reason the Linux community should get involved w/ XBox hardware. It makes them look immature and "video game" oriented. Instead, concentrate on games on the PC (which helps SELL linux), and do something decent that someone would actually want to play.
Pick up an OpenGL book. Learn the math. And then make some game that someone other than nerds would want to play.
Let's see how much crap we can pile on top of the Xbox to do more useless crap. Instead of hacking existing hardware, how about developing a linux game box of your own?
Its more of the point then anything else. I have enough PCs.
I didn't use the preview button, so get over it!!!!
Mike
This game is free (as in beer), and will run on any xbox that has been modified for use with the GNU/Linux operating system.
Note to the people who think this is plain microsoft bashing: it is not. This game is totally symmetrical, there is no advantage of playing tux over playing clippy, and it pokes fun at both sides
Isn't the fact that you have to run linux on the Xbox somewhat of a bash? Or is it equivilent because you are using MS hardware and Linux O/S?
The programmers *must* have put some anti-MS easter eggs in there though, how could they resist?
Does clippy have the patented MS "Blue Screen of Death" attack? - phorm
if you go here: http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870, 2882328,00.html
you'll see that microsoft has already been hard at work to kill any chance of homebrew games for their system.. heh, okay okay, just mod-chips
How the hell did it get modded up?
The name is "Clippit", the paper clip that comes around and bothers you. At least according to the Office XP (2002) setup program, it's named Clippit. Clippy does sound better, but Clippit is the updated name, time to use it.
Where's my +5:Informative or +5:Interesting?
I doubt Ballmer is the type of guy to blow money on the XBox and not make any back. ...though it might be just me.
~Dalcius
Rome wasn't burnt in a day.
I know MS is losing money on the X-Box, but then again, their $40 billion rainy day fund (which is 10 times that of many US states' rainy day funds), is very useful to write off any losses. But then again, maybe the X-box is just MS's beta period for their next big project - complete total control of your living room. Maybe.
Isn't it kind of ironic that the same company we all love to hate is benefitting from increased sales of customers wanting to run Linux on the Xbox.
So someone can now kill clippy by paying Microsoft for their hardware to run the game.
All that aside, game sounds cool. Rock on.
I'll be willing to bet Microsoft doesn't give a FUCK about this.
... these apps will never mature. linux on the xbox will never turn into anything and the 'community' will continue to fail at innovation...
This sprite based side scroller is just another classic example of how the linux community is always behind the power curve. Sure you can reverse engineer it and a handful of people will get all excited.. "we got tux on the xbox!" woopdeefuckingdo... what a contribution to the world...
the truth is
This is October... You were supposed to post that on April 1st :)
Is that....Ballmer's head? Well, that explains where all of his quotes came from...
Upgrade your grey matter, cause one day it may matter
Yeah, but SEGA was in a lot worse financial shape than Microsoft has been since, oh, say 1982.
Endless arguments over trivial contradictions in books written by ignorant savages to explain thunder in the dark.
Here's a simular game my friend and I made sometime ago for X11 :)
http://xtux.sourceforge.net/
It has network code (should probably only be used for LAN), and a large selection of characters.
The cruel thing is we made the game to get on slashdot more than anything else (the game even includes a slashdot level) and now this comes along. My friend is going to be pissed
It's turtles all the way down.
vi is the standard editor!
I stand on the balcony looking out at the city before me. It is dark the middle of the night on what would have been an autumn evening on any other planet. But this is Coruscant so the only way you know the season is changing is the drop in the temperature. And oh yeah the calendar. I sigh and take a gulp out of the hot cocoa in my hands which now has grown cold the autumn air leaching away it's heat.
'Can't sleep? Hmm?
questions a soft tenor voice from behind me. I jump Tevis I think with a sigh I didn't feel his presence more proof on how preoccupied I've become.
'Yeah I guess I'm not sleepy.
I hear myself say as I continue to gaze out at the city. I hear a few soft muffled step as Tevis joins me at the wall.
'Chilly?
he asks.
'Yeah I guess
and wordlessly he reaches out to wrap me up in his cloak arms wrapped around my waist.
'Better?
he murmurs in my ear. I simply nod not trusting my voice. I give another sigh anybody looking at us would assume we were lovers. But we are not! Yeah not yet . it is only a matter of time the voice inside my head taunts me You don't seem to be able to deny him anything. That is the truth and I know it. It has been this way since 6 months ago when he returned from Naboo a new Jedi Knight with an apprentice in tow. Tevis was permanently assigned to the capital until Anakin reached 16 when he could take his eager young Padwan out to the universe. I was also assigned to help raise Anakin to maturity. The belief was that since he missed his mother so he needed a surrogate mother to promote emotional balance. After all during his last visit before Qui Gon's death he bonded with me quite well. And this time upon arrival he threw his arms around my waist and held tight.
'So much for the Hero of Naboo
I thought
'He's just a scared 10 year old boy who wants his mother.
I feel Tevis 's breath against my ear.
'Had the nightmare again?
Again I nod.
'Did you wake anybody this time?
I shake my head
'No I knew it was a dream and I was able to wake myself out of it.
'The same dream?
I nod. He sighs
'Well as long as no damage was done.
No damage? I turn and try to push myself out of his arms unsuccessfully.
'No damage!
I mutter as I look up at his half hooded face.
'In the beginning I had them only once a week now they're coming every night. Sometimes even twice if I fall asleep. And they are so much more vivid those . those things I can see their faces feel their breaths feel the dampness of the cave wall against my back. And tonight I know something I didn't know before I know that those things don't want to just devour me they want my soul they are attracted by my ability to use the force.
my voice trails off. Tevis's eyes narrow
'How do you know this?
I look down away at his chest.
'I don't know how I know. I just know! As I know that I'm standing in that cave alone with only my lightsaber. By myself and those things are patient they can wait until I get tired. And then they'll hurt me hurt me bad. And I'll die alone all alone!!!
I realize that my voice has become screechy You're hysterical a detached part of my brain comments. Tevis presses my cheek to his shoulder
'You're not alone you're never alone! Besides not everyone on the council thinks these dreams are a premonition. A few think you're picking up a stray dream of someone in the city and internalizing it. After all you're a gifted healer your empathic ability is amazing it is what makes you so talented. But you have to be able to separate your emotions and thoughts from those outside you. And you need to work on shielding more often.
I sigh this is already an old argument. How can I heal with a layer between me and my patient? He continues
'You must not give in to fear it leads to the dark side of the force. You are never alone there are thousands of brethren they will not abandon you in a time of need.
'Promise me?
I push away and look up at his face.
'Promise me
I ask again. He looks confused.
'Promise me that I won't be alone that I won't have to face those things by myself !!!
I feel that panic creep back into my voice. He nods and looking carefully in to my eyes he says
'I promise I will never abandon you. You will not have to fight those creatures alone. I promise.
He leans forward and brushes his lips on my forehead. I close my eyes How foolish my asking for this promise and him for giving it to me. He knows as well as I do it was worthless. The future is always changing always shifting it is never a certainty. It is like trying to walk in a fog bank you can't see your hand never mind the next few feet. You don't know what the future will bring you can't predict your own actions. Foolish yet I needed to hear it from him. I needed to believe it. I needed to believe in the warmth and safety of his arms. Fool the voice inside my head exclaimed Only the dead are safe. Qui Gon is safe now. Safe asleep in the force. As I muffle back a yawn I hear the smile in his voice
'So finally you're sleepy? Hmm?
I nod giving in to the yawn.
'Be a good boy and help me find my bed?
I ask innocently.
'Help you find your bed is that an invitation for me to join you in it?
My eyes snap open but I can only see mischief in his eyes. No not yet he has not yet demanded demanded his rights. But he will the voice in my head chuckles and when he does you'll welcome him with open arms and legs !!! Oh yes may the force forgive me but yes I will. Yes.!!! Part 2Standing under the hot spray of the shower I let go a bone weary sigh. Gods I didn't know my shoulders and back could hurt so much! I reach over to adjust the temperature and the strength of the water.
'Ahhh that is sooo much better.
Shaking my head little did I expect the day to turn out this way. I had the day off from the Healer's Clinic so I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to spend quality time with Anakin and Tevis. Yes well guess again. Now that Anakin has reached 14 his physical training has become more rigorous. After lunch I went to join them in the gym. Well after watching 2 hours of training I have come to admit that Tevis is damn good with a lightsaber and thank the force that he is a Jedi or we would all be in trouble. Anakin was getting tired so I thought we might go for a walk in the gardens. But instead Tevis turned to me with a strange glint in his eyes. He started asking me if my lightsaber was ornamental or did it actually function? And when was the last time I used it to defend myself? And how about letting him chase me around the gym for an hour or so? I heard him drop the gauntlet down before me and I found myself picking it up. I said OK fine let's do it. Of course what I didn't know then was that he meant it quite literally he planned to chase me around the gym like a madman for an hour. Of course it is your own fault the voice inside my head proclaimed no one told you to get lax and lazy in the physical arts. Tevis had every right to chide you for not being more diligent in your physical training. The pain in my left arm is getting worse so I reach over and increase the heat of the water. Chided me all right he was out right belligerent. I don't think I have ever seen such anger in his eyes. Of course he only got that angry because after an hour it ended with you on the floor out of breath. And his lightsaber pressed up against your neck the voice commented. Well yes that was true. Worse yet after the anger left he calmly told me that I was no longer to neglect my physical training. That as my partner he was going to take it upon himself to keep me in top physical shape. Ugh I wonder what that means? A voice echoes in the bathroom
'I see what the problem is. You're not a Jedi but rather a hot house flower. If you don't get the right amount of steam and moisture you wilt away and die!
Hmm what ? ! ! ! With one arm pressed up against the wall I look over my shoulder and watch as Tevis steps into the shower. Steps into the shower naked. Oh Gods completely naked! He's completely naked!! My eyes travel down the length of his body. And he's absolutely beautiful! Muscles ripple down his stomach rock hard pecs gluts and thighs. And his manhood well it was obviously built for pleasure! Wow! I look back up to look into his eyes which now sparkle with amusement and something else. I manage to stammer out
'What . are you doing here?
He chuckles
'Weren't you paying attention? I said I plan to keep you in top physical shape!
'Yeah?
I answered dumb founded.
'Well sex is part of being in top physical shape.
He reaches out to touch my shoulder the one now in pain and I grimace.
'Damn.you have spent too much time in your mind you have ignored your body. Too much time healing others you have forgotten what it feels like to be touched. Yes we are luminous beings but we also inhabit bodies. It is time you remember what it means to be fully alive!
And without a sound he slips between me and the shower head. Placing both hands carefully on my shoulders he turns me around so my back faces him. And the torture begins as he begins to knead my muscles pressing pulling and stretching them. I find myself helplessly howling the pain horrific. Slowly he works his way down my back the pain now subsiding my muscles relaxing. Hmmm it is starting to feel good. I gasp with the feeling of little butterfly kisses trailing up my spine. He places his hand on my waist and turns me around facing him. I feel his soft voice inside my head Surrender as he pulls me into a kiss. The kiss begins slowly sweetly intoxicatingly gradually deepening. I can feel the moan coming from the back of my throat. His voice inside me echoing out Surrender . He begins to work his way down my body stopping at my neck to nibble blow and suck on my ear. Surrender Working his way down to my breast giving one at a time attention he licks my nipples taking them in his mouth sucking. His mouth opens wider to take more of me inside. Surrender Taking my tits between his teeth he sucks hard and bites down. I let out a loud moan. Reaching over he gives attention to my other breast. And through it all I moan unable to stop. Surrender He trails kisses down my tummy while I flinch at his touch. My body has never felt better but my nerves are on end. He reaches my cunt I can feel his warm breath on me. He nudges my legs apart with his shoulder while pressing his tongue against me. Oh Gods his soft and insisting tongue demanding that I give in. Tevis is rewarded with a gush of fluids as I tremble and my knees give out. He jumps to his feet and scoops me up in his arms pinning me against the shower wall. He reaches down and slips 2 fingers inside me. In out and deeper his fingers plunge. With a slow steady beat his tongue explores my mouth while his voice becomes a mantra inside my head Surrender. I feel myself being pushed to the edge but I don't want to go. I feel overwhelmed. I want him to stop but he won't. Surrender now! His voice a growl I snap I fall into the abyss. I feel myself quake and shouting his name. Over and over I give in and slowly it ends. I feel him deeply sigh. He puts me down only long enough to rinse us off. Then back into his arms I go as he carries me to my bedroom. We both say nothing. I couldn't make a sentence to save my life. I look up at him there is an unmistakable glow and strange intensity in his eyes . Part ThreeWe reach my room and he puts me down and pulls me into another kiss. I can feel his hardness against my thigh. The kiss deepens but now it is frantic and demanding instead of slow and sweet. SURRENDER NOW his voice dangerously growls. I gasp Yes I answer back and Tevis is transformed. He pushes me back upon the bed and he is all over me. He is all tongue hands and teeth . nipping biting sucking blowing licking stroking. I find myself crying out
'Please oh please please.
With that he slips inside me and my hips start to rock.
'No
he demands
'don't move.
'But?
'NO you will not move!
His eyes locking me in place the confusion inside me building up to a painful intensity. Slowly he starts to rock too slowly for me I feel my nails sink into his back I've drawn blood. I need to rock to move but he won't let me. I am under his total control. I feel myself screaming but I can't stop. Finally he gives into me he takes me thrusting hard taking me and shoving me over the cliff. I feel myself falling as he explodes inside me his voice an unearthly moan. We cling to each other as we hit the ground. Lying in his arms after the storm I look up to his face. I have never seen such joy. He reaches out to touch my cheek his hand comes away wet? I must have been crying I guess. Looking back into his eyes I see something shining there but what is it? I don't know but I am tired. I am exhausted so instead I fall asleep deep in the arms of my Master. The same night an hour or so later. Lying in my bed I feel something shudder and moan next to me. My eyes fly open memories of a few hours earlier flooding my brain. I turn to find Tevis shaking and moaning in the grips of a nightmare. I reach over physically and mentally to wake him. His eyes open slightly unfocused that strange glint still evident. It takes a moment for him to see me and with a gasp he grabs and holds me in a vice like grip. Tevis I say directly mind to mind Please let go you're hurting me. He sucks his breath in and loosen his grip. We lay like this for a while me pressed up against his chest listening to his heart. Finally when he has calmed down I ask mind to mind Tell me about the nightmare? But he is silent he won't talk. OK I can be as relentless as him! Tell me! After a 1/2 hour of this he gives in.
'You me and Anakin were exploring a cave I'm not sure why? Anyway you got separated from us and all of a sudden I felt panic coming from you. We retraced our steps and followed the trail you took. The longer we took the more frantic your thoughts became the more fearful. And finally we were there. The chamber was large and you were at the other end pressed up against the wall fighting for your life. Between us were those . those things they were hungry. We tried to attract a few of those things away but not many followed. We tried to fight our way over to you but they were skilled at dodging our lightsabers. Then I felt it I heard you give a cry as you went down. The pain your pain our pain was overwhelming I couldn't breathe. But Anakin lost it he went berserk. He became a killing machine. The floor was littered with their corpses. I don't think one of them survived. I reached you but it was too late you were already gone. All I could do was sweep you up into my arms and cry. It was Qui Gon's death all over again I felt so helpless.
He sighs deeply his body has relaxed on the telling of the dream. I on the other hand felt myself grow numb. The more he spoke the more numb I became. When he finished I could barely feel my body. I needed to get out of there. But I had to ask
'How long have you had this dream?
'Hmm every night for about a month.
It all stared to make sense. That little stunt in the gym that was his attempt to see how battle ready I was. He went after me with no mercy because those things would show no mercy. And when I failed he promised to whip me into shape. Yes this all made sense. But I needed him to explain his actions of the past few hours. I looked up at his face
'Why did you decide to make love to me tonight?
An evil grin spread over his face
'If you have to ask I didn't do it right.
But I stop him
'Tell me why after four years you choose tonight to get intimate?
'Well I started thinking about Qui Gon and how no one knows how much time they have. In the end I could only watch as he died in my arms. And now I regret that I never told him how important he was that he was more of a father than a master. Well I wasn't going to let that.
I can't hear him any more my ears don't work. My mind panics he had the dream oh Gods he had the dream!!! I pull myself violently out of his arms and fling myself out of the bed. I can only stare at him. My body is shaking and panting. He's treating me as if I have a death mark over my head love her now because once she's dead you'll regret it !!! I stare at him he looks pale he's talking but I can't hear him. Then it hits me he knows I'm going to die in that cave. And that glint in his eyes it wasn't lust or love it was . fear. Fear for me! He knows that no matter how well he trains me I'm going to meet my destiny in that cave!! Tevis climbs out of the bed but I grab my robe and spin on my heel. I run out the door down the hall. Where am I going I don't know I just need to run I have to get away. I need to hide where no one can find me. It all becomes a blur. I find myself in a corner of a dark room curled up into a ball crying. Oh Gods help me make the pain go away!!!! Part Four
'Love
a gravelly voice broke through my pain filled haze.
'Love . away the pain it may take.
I open my eyes to find master Yoda standing in front of me concern filling his huge blue eyes. Shaking his head he sits down next to me.
'Alone are Jedi not meant to be yet always alone in your greatest pain you seek to be?
I shake my head thinking Yoda? I have really done it this time they have sent him after me! I sigh Yoda dealing with him is like. Well he always manages to cut deeply to the core of any problem. Cut deeply leaving raw nerves behind. Oh yes he is always able to find the flaw behind anybody's facade. It is what makes him a powerful Jedi.
'So returned the dream has after all this time?
I nod.
'And thought you because it had gone away that nothing had you to learn from it? Ignore it now could you?
I feel utter confusion.
'Yes serve a purpose our fears there to teach us about ourselves they are.
'But I though that we were not to embrace our fears that that leads to the dark side?
'Yes leads to the dark side but learn from them you can for powerful teachers they are. About your inner places the dark places inside they can tell you of. Places rather you not see. Act upon them not influenced by them not but if acknowledge them you do not control you they will unseen. Much like a puppet master pulling the strings. Once your fears accepted away you take their power the string you snip. You fear abandonment yes but you fear love yes closeness intimacy even more. Inside believe you are not worthy.
'But as a healer I love and care for my patients and students every day!
'Yes love and care by for you but love unreturned. Your patients and students while admire you love you not unequal they are to you. Control have you set you the condition in which love takes place. Tevis different is he strong and healthy need not healer. Control his love you cannot your equal he is. Either accept his love you can or cannot but love you he will no matter!
I quietly nod my mind reeling from what Yoda has said. I can feel the truth in it.
'Surprised I am not this happened. Battle of wills took it for you to allow Tevis to make love to you.
He chuckles
'Feared for his life at one part did I !!
I blush did everyone know about our earlier 'activities'? I don't want to know.
'After such intimacies you shared wonder you that the dream returned to you again?
'But master I didn't have the dream Tevis did.
Yoda's eyes widen slightly he looks up at me he looks through me at the imperceptible. He sighs slowly closing his eyes saddened.
'Yes it may be indeed the future that it shows.
The future I breathe in sharply my future my destiny. But before I can retreat into my pain filled haze I hear Yoda's voice.
'Chosen young had you to walk the path of light. Yet within the light there are many paths. Yes many divergent paths. Suppose I told you by accepting to help raise Anakin Skywalker chose you the path that leads to the cave?
'But how can that be when the future is always shifting nothing is predestined how could accepting to raise Anakin lead me to the cave?
He sighs
'Often you have heard me say walk down the path to the dark side forever will it dominate you. Well true of the light side it is too. Choose you a path and walk down it. The longer you stay on the path dominate you it will. Opportunities you are given yet stay you on same path making the same choices. It is the making of these choices that keep you to this path. The force may be showing you if you stay upon this path your destiny you will meet in the cave. So ask you again wish you to step off this path that you are on? Wish you to be relieved of raising Anakin? Position can I find for you on Alderaan as Chief Healer? No certainty that change the path this will it is but a start.
My mind is frantic Yes I will do that go to Alderaan work as Chief Healer but . abandon Anakin? I can't! I have come to love the child he was and find pride in the young man he is becoming. How could I leave him? There is so much I have yet to tell him now that he is older. How can I leave my son? No I never gave birth to him yet I know his heart and mind I know he is mine and I am his. I love him his quick mind his stubbornness when he believes he is right his incredible gentleness with the younger children and his intolerance of bullies. You can't leave Tevis either the voice inside my head states you love him. Admit it whether tonight happened or not you love him you can't leave him. Even if it means saving your self. I sigh as I climb out of the corner to stand. I look down at Yoda
No that won't be necessary.
He nods and reaches out to pinch my leg
Long enough took you to come to this decision. Thought I that you would run to Alderaan instead of accepting your destiny.
I give a laugh. I had forgotten that Master Yoda has a wicked sense of humor. We walk out of the room together. I realize we are in the Healers Clinic leave it to me to hide in the most obvious place. I find Tevis outside the door waiting looking at me uncertainly. Yoda simply nods and mutters goodnight leaving us alone. The silence is deafening he doesn't know what to say I can't look at his face. I feel him brush my mind ???? I answer back mind to mind Ben I use Anakinsnickname for him Ben I love you. That is all he needs to hear he reaches out to hold me in his arms. I look up into his eyes and see the fear there but (gasp) I also see something there I hadn't seen before. I see his love. He only fears for me because he loves me! He loves me! He smiles down
'Let's get back to bed we have a few hours of night left.
He guides me down the hall and strangely enough even though I know what this path will bring I'm not afraid anymore. I feel safe safe in his love. Part FiveStanding next to Anakin I watch as he blows out the sixteen candles on his birthday cake. I can't believe six years have come and gone. The young graceful man I see before me does not resemble the awkward boy of a few years earlier. Six years! So much has happened in that time. Especially in the past two years Ben interrupts my thoughts. I turn to look at him as he slips an arm around my shoulders. I sigh he is looking every inch the proud father. This birthday party was his idea he only intended to invite close friends to share in Anakin's rite of passage. So where did all these people come from? I shake my head. Today Anakin is sixteen years old and tomorrow the two of them embark on their first diplomatic mission. Prior to this Anakin was only a student with many masters today he formally became Tevis's Padawan. And tomorrow he would begin the real Jedi knight training. He would learn the fine art of being a peace maker. Up until now he had learned how to defend himself and others. But those techniques were in reality for the worst case scenario. Pulling a lightsaber was the last thing a Jedi did when all efforts at negotiation failed. When the antagonists were determined to have their satisfaction by taking a pound of flesh the Jedi protected the weak. Unfortunately Anakin bristled at this. He was like most young men he wanted to fight he wanted excitement. He wanted the easy answer to every problem. This was Tevis's challenge to reign in his young Padawan. To convince Anakin of the need for patience not to jump to any conclusions. I sigh I don't envy Ben the job. Anakin has a stubborn streak in him one I tried to temper with love and patience. And although it is not so pronounced as it used to be I knew it was still there. Good luck my love. Tevis reaches out to tug at my Padawan braid
'So when are you clipping this?
A slow smile spreads across my face
'Never.
I am proud of my Padawan braid. It began as a joke two years ago when I first started formal retraining with him and the lightsaber. Or as he liked to call it Lightsaber 101 Ambush and Attack. He had asked me to wear a Padawan braid as a way of instilling in me the seriousness of our undertaking. Nonplused I pulled down a few strands of hair and wove a Padawan braid over my ear. However I had managed to graduate from his classes three months ago so he saw no reason for me to keep the braid. I did however so I reached into his mind and flashed him a picture of myself naked kneeling on all fours trembling.
'But I have so much more to learn to from you master!
I whispered. His eyes widened as he shook his head and he gave my braid another tug. Later much later he said mind to mind. I simply smiled. For now we had a sixteen year old's birthday party to chaperone. *** Lying in bed naked in our room I stifled a giggle. Ben had just finished giving me a tongue bath every inch of me was licked every inch of me felt raw but it was a sensation I had grown to love. Flipping me on my tummy he was all business while I waited in eager anticipation. Butterfly kisses sprinkled down my spine as I flinched. Naturally he says nothing which was the usual way. When we begin we have no need for words we know each other intimately. I gasp as I feel the cool smooth bacta gel being applied to my anus. I take a deep breath to relax myself to just let it happen to let him take me. He slips a finger into my anus. I take another breath and relax the muscles as he pushes up to the first joint on his finger. He holds it for a moment then pushes further. I take a deep slow breath and relax my anus muscle further. I am too busy concentrating on relaxing my muscles to enjoy the feeling of fullness but as I have learned from him have patience and pleasure will come soon. This continues until his entire finger is inside me. And slowly ever so slowly he pulls out. Ben then proceeds to repeat the whole thing all over again. Oh Gods yes and I suffer in pleasure until four of his fingers are buried deep inside me. Finally he pulls out this is what I have been waiting for. With my anus totally relaxed I am ready for him. I feel the coolness of more bacta gel and he places his now engorged penis tip at my anus. And slowly he presses forward. OH GODS YESSS!!! My hands grasp into the blanket beneath me my finger nails digging into the heavy cloth. Ben chuckles
'Patience my Padawan.
With that he stops while I regain my composure. I unclench my hands discipline is everything or so I have learned form him. When I am calm he continues pushing himself further and further. All the while I concentrate on relaxing my muscles to make the way easier. He slides himself up to the hilt my bowels are full of him and I sigh. I wait for him to start thrusting his hips. And I wait the waiting painful yet pleasurable. So we lie there him on top of me nibbling on the back of my neck while I try to relax and not rock my hips. It is a game we play seeing how long I can wait on the edge of passion. Ben nuzzles my ear
'You're learning my Padawan!
I say nothing as he starts to slide out then in again. The momentum builds I dig my hand into the blanket a scream is building up. And I let it go I can't help it. Ben says nothing but begins to thrust harder into me harder and faster. I continue to scream and I feel it he comes he explodes inside me. My bowels fill with his ejaculate seeping and leaking out my anus. Now I can finally give in my body snaps like a rubber band I quiver. My cunt is burning and throbbing hard. He reaches around and rubs my cunt and I ejaculate into his hand. I am covered in fluid fluid out my vagina fluid out my anus and I am in heaven. He pulls out of me and pulls me into his arms as I continue to shake. Brushing his lips against my ear he says
'I think my Padawan we may have given the entire council a nightmare.
I reply my voice heavy with emotion
'Good. Let them suffer.
I close my eyes and let sleep take me. Part SixI awake with a smile on my lips. I can hear Ben and Anakin in the living room talking. Probably packing for their mission I think as I swing my legs out of bed. I am sore but no worse for wear as I make my way to the bathroom. I feel like a soak in the bath tub. I glance in the mirror and stop to look at myself. I stand there naked and press my hand against a flat belly. Three months I muse in another two I would have started to show. Would have if you hadn't lost the baby last week the voice inside my head corrects. A deep feeling of sadness overtakes me. We hadn't planned on that child it was a surprise. After the first time we always used the suppressor. But then one night we got careless and I was pregnant. Ben was proud happy even light hearted those few precious months. I however was sick with nausea every morning. Then the bad news the blood test showed I was a high risk for pre eclampsia I would have to be watched carefully. Perhaps even placed on bed rest for the last few weeks before the birth. Then it happened. In the middle of planning Anakin's birthday party I woke up with a pain tearing my abdomen. I screamed and woke Ben up blood running down my legs. He scooped me up and ran me to the Healers Clinic but it was too late to save the baby. And they almost lost me the bleeding was that heavy. Mihail the healer on call took Ben aside and told him
It might be better if she never gets pregnant again if you cherish her.
It had hit Ben hard and until last night he hadn't wanted to touch me afraid that I might break. It seems that it is my job to convince him that I'm not fragile that if we use the suppressor I'll be OK. I look up at my face and realize my Padwan braid is gone! I don't believe it he must have cut it off while I slept. I grab my robe slip it on and step into the living room. I can see the two of them have taken Anakin's luggage apart discussing what to take and what to leave behind. I use the word discuss lightly more like argue.
'Anakin we need to travel lightly so please put back the holonovels and take a few more pairs of underwear.
He tells the retreating figure. He turns to look at me and brushes his lips on my brow Good Morning! I ask him
'OK where is my Padawan braid?
He looks amused
'I cut it. Really I did you a favor how would it look in five daystime when you attend the medical conference on Alderaan. Hmmm? A master healer with a Padawan braid? I don't think so!
I sigh
'Fine!
I reach up and pull a few strands loose and reweave a Padawan braid.
'I don't care what others think I am your Padawan and you are the master of my body and soul!
He shakes his head and picks up my wrist and turns it over to place a kiss on the sensitive inner side. I sigh.
'Oh come on you two are you ever gonna stop? You two are so yucky!
Anakin exclaims as he re enters the room.
'Do you know what he did with your Padawan braid? He has it in the pocket of his tunic next to his heart! Yuck that's sick!
his voice cracking. I smile and kiss Anakin on the nose
'No that's love Anakin that's love.
I turn around and walk back to my waiting tub. There would be plenty of time for goodbyes later. Part SevenStanding in the meeting room I look out the windows at the rolling hills of Alderaan. It has been a long boring day I sigh. And this conference is only just beginning! I thought that the last speaker would never end droning on and on about modern methods in contagion isolation. Truth of the matter is I hate conferences! I really do it always seems that the presentations are neither informative nor interesting. Most of the topics discussed I could have read about in MedaCopia Today at my leisure at home. I don't know who organizes these things nothing really gets done. If anything these conferences are opportunities for researchers to preen and faun in front of a captive audience. A voice brushes my mind Well you could have pulled your lightsaber and threatened him with it. I am sure it would have cut his speech down by 10 to 15 minutes. I turn and smile Walker Bo'th chief healer on Alderaan comes over to join me at the window. I reply
'I don't think it occurred to me however there is always tomorrow!
Walker chuckles
'You're right of course nothing gets done and nothing is shared that won't be in the next issue of MedaCopia.
I shake my head
'Reading my thoughts master healer you play fast and furious with the force. Beware the Dark side!
'The dark side at my age girl ha I eat the dark side for breakfast!
I simply smile. Walker's love of life and his enthusiasm were contagious. Although he is right about his age. Walker was no longer a young man. About two years ago he had formally announced to the council that he wanted to retire and teach. Yoda had been serious when he had offered me his position I later discovered. Now two years later and he was still plugging away waiting for a replacement. The problem was that among the Jedi healers were rare. Oh sure most Jedi have some healing ability and almost all were able to initiate a healing trance. But to be able to work with the force at the cellular level well that was something special. When it comes to using the force if Jedi knights could be likened to Vibro axes then healers could be compared to micro fusion cutters. The work we did was that precise. I sigh and look at Walker's gray head. Healing ages a man. When I get back I'm going to suggest to Yoda that perhaps Mihail should be offered the position of chief healer on Alderaan. I know that he is chomping at the bit tired of working under me. He is more than ready to take over his own clinic it will be a good move for him. Yes I will do that. Walker turns to me to say
'Anyway good night it has been a long day and you look tired. Why don't you make an early night of it? The others won't mind I'll make your apologies.
So Walker has heard of my miscarriage?
'Of course I have! Nothing travels faster than gossip and they're worried about you they just wanted me to keep an eye on you.
I nod I am tired I think I will take his advice. I yawn
'Good night.
Walker reaches out to tug on my Padawan braid
'And give my love to Tevis when you speak to him tonight!
I smile as he propels me toward the doors and toward my waiting bedroom. I wake up the next morning feeling all stiff and sore. The truth is I just don't sleep well without Ben next to me in the bed I sigh I miss him! Well speaking to him last night felt good didn't it? the voice inside my head chided. Yes it did and it seemed that the negotiations were going well despite Anakin's youthful impatience. Ben told me
'If all things go well we may be able to wrap things up in a few days. I'll see if we can join you on Alderaan before the conference ends.
I hope so my love Alderaan is a beautiful planet we could use the opportunity for a vacation. And exposing Anakin to the gentle ways of these people couldn't hurt. In my haste to get ready for the morning speaker I miss the call signal on the comm unit. On my way out the door I see it's blinking light. I go over to discover it is a message from Walker dated last night an hour after I went to bed. Something about a medical emergency on the Southern Continent that he was going to investigate but that he planned to be back tomorrow night and to save him a seat at dinner. Back tonight only gone a day? That doesn't sound too serious. Yet something I couldn't put my finger on bothered me. Well there was nothing to do but go to the meeting order breakfast and listen to another boring lecture. And that is just what I did sit and listen to speaker after speaker drone on as the day wore on. I at times was barely aware of the subject material. Instead I was distracted by a buzzing inside my head I like to call it my early warning system. Every Jedi has one a kind of sixth sense to warn against disaster. Yet sitting in the meeting room I could see no immediate danger it must be coming from the Southern Continent from the Farmers Co op. It must be worse than Walker expected it to be. Well I'll ask him about it tonight at dinner. Hours later dinner comes and no Walker. The situation must be worse I'll give him a call after dinner I think when a pain rips through me. I scream hundreds of tiny teeth sink into my flesh. I collapse only to wake up in the Healer's Clinic it seems I scared everyone at dinner. Naturally they thought it was connected to the miscarriage but now I seem fine and my tests have come back normal. I shake my head and shudder
'I was not the one in danger it was Walker something has attacked and killed him. Master Walker Bo'th is dead!
Part EightStanding in front of the Holonet unit a hooded figure looms over me. It is Master Windu
'So you believe that Master Healer Bo'th was attacked?
I shake my head
'Master I don't know what to believe! I wasn't there to know what happened. They haven't found Master Bo'th's body. But I know what I felt. I felt an attack an ambush of hundreds of tiny teeth or blades sinking into flesh. And I felt the life energy being drained away. I felt death.
The tall figure nods.
'What are your plans Master Healer?
'Well I plan to pack my bags and take the first shuttle to the Southern Continent . And to get to the bottom of this myself!
Master Windu turns as if someone is speaking to him and he steps out of the holofield to be replaced by Master Yoda.
'Travel to the Southern Continent you will not! Wait you will for Jedi Knights that I will send you. Arrive by tomorrow they will. Then you will go!
I nod and sigh Master Yoda was in his no nonsense mode Do as I say or else! Well I would obey but while waiting in Alderra I would find out about this medical emergency! Next morning I find myself waiting for the knights Master Yoda promised me at the Shuttle Landing Pad. I feel as if I could jump out of my skin waiting for the shuttle to land is making me nuts! Patience patience the voice inside my head admonishes you're as impatient as Anakin. Has Tevis taught you nothing? I sigh and let go of tension I didn't know I had. I had spoken to the medic who worked at the local Healers Clinic at the Farmers Co op. First thing he told me was that they had found the body of Master Bo'th in the hills surrounding the Co op. He was covered in purplish bruises and the cause of death was being listed as dehydration. All the blood had been drained out of his body. He was now being listed as the first casualty of this medical emergency. And finally I learned about the original emergency that had brought him down there. It seemed for about a week or so the farmers at the Co op had wakened feeling sick and tired with purplish bruises on there ankles and inner arms. When they went to the Healers Clinic it was discovered that they were missing a pint of blood. Bleeding anemia etc. all of these causes were ruled out. It was becoming a mystery? Yet every day more farmers and their families were showing up with bruises and missing a pint of blood. Then Master Bo'th shows up covered head to toe in these bruises and completely drained of blood! What is the connection? And how is he different from the farmers? But in my heart I know the answer to that question he is Jedi his death has something to do with being Jedi! Finally the shuttle lands and two brown robes descend the landing ramp. I am shocked Master Yoda has sent me my mate and my son to help? Why? They were busy finishing up negotiations half way across the rim. Surely some other Master and his Padawan were closer to Alderaan. One look at them confirms it they are tired. Anakin is subdued but Ben is.is well professional. He breaks his stride to stand before me at full height shoulders back.
'Master Healer I understand that you require our assistance on a medical matter?
I don't believe it he is using formal language with me?? I try to brush his mind with a question but I can't get in his shields are firmly locked in place. I reply
'Yes Master Kenobi I do require your assistance on a perplexing matter. If you will be so kind as to accompany me to the Southern Continent I believe that we will be able to put this matter to rest.
He nods I go on .it's a marmet. I look around to realize that they are all marmets. Hundreds thousands of feral marmets being bred here? Who? Why? I need to know! I look down the rows to see the center control computer. I find myself running to it. The computer controls the invitro environment of the marmets. It controls nutrition waste management temperature hydration light and noise. In short it is the controlling mechanism for these artificial wombs. Hopefully it will tell me something about the marmets their environment maybe even their creator. But most of all I hope it tells me how to kill them. I find myself poring over information about the chemistry physics and biology surrounding these marmets. Wait a second now this is interesting. I am looking at the DNA structure of these feral marmets. I check the coding and sequencing of the base pairs. There is something very wrong here. I check it again to be sure. Yes there is no doubt about it. These marmets are a sick mutation. Because of their DNA sequences they cannot make certain proteins necessary for life. They have all been bred to die. I shake my head this makes no sense. Who would take the time to breed marmets that would die within hours of birth? Part TwelveI look at the DNA structure again trying to remember which base pair sequencing equals which amino acid. It all seems terribly familiar. I take a deep breath and reach out to the force to steady myself. Then it hits me! Of course oh gods oh sweet Naomi Sunrider.midi chlorians they need midi chlorians to live! Midi chlorians are microscopic life forms that live within our body cells like some bacteria. And like some bacteria are beneficial to the host body. Much like trees that produce O2 (oxygen) and live off the CO2 (carbon dioxide) produced by aerobic life forms. So too the midi chlorians offer benefits to their host. In addition to creating a link to the force they produce amino acids needed for life as a waste produce their cellular respiration. Most organisms were able to create these proteins without the midi chlorian's help. They just eliminated these midi chlorian made proteins through their urine. Naturally if the organism was under stress having access to the proteins could be very beneficial often cutting down the times it takes to heal and repair. It has been speculated by researchers that this was the true reason for the Jedi's remarkable recuperative powers. Therefore it makes sense that these sick creatures couldn't make their own proteins so they had to hunt for it. By attacking the farmers and their families they would have obtained some of the needed proteins. But by attacking Master Bo'th they would have gained the powerhouses that create the proteins they so desperately needed. I nodded now I understand these monsters were by their very nature created to be Jedi Killing Machines! What other group of people has a higher count of midi chlorians? Oh sure it has been rumored that the Caamasi have small amounts in their blood but not to the extent the Jedi have. Someone was breeding Jedi Killing Machines! Well this Jedi is going to kill them first instead! I turn to look at the incubators. I sigh. It would take too long to destroy every one with a lightsaber. Hmm there must be a better way? I look back at the computer and finger tap my way through various protocols. Wait there . the protocol controlling the pH of the fluid in the incubators. That's it! If the pH goes up and gets too acidic more alkaline is added to bring the pH down and vice versa. This is a positive feedback loop to maintain homeostasis. But what if I changed the program and introduced a negative feedback loop? If the pH goes up the computer would add alkaline but it wouldn't stop. It would keep adding it until it killed the marmets. I laugh as I work on the program and try to get the computer to accept it as protocol. A voice brushes my mind Where are you !? ! I'm okay but busy! I answer back distractedly. Minutes pass.Yes! it is working! I turn around to look at the incubators I can feel the death in this room. The mind brushes again Come back now! I sigh Yes! My work here is done! I walk out of the chamber down the trail to join Tevis and Anakin. Damn I think as I find myself wandering around in the caves I'm lost? The voice inside my head echos How can you be lost? You're a Jedi! Reach out for Tevis's mind and follow it back! I snap that is what I have been trying to do for the past half hour in case you didn't notice. But it is not working! The nausea and vertigo have returned with a vengeance I feel so sick all I want to do is curl up and vomit. The voice inside my head replies It is the blood loss that damn little monster took more than a pint. Why don't you call out to Tevis to come get you? I agree I don't have much choice. I stop to lean against the cave wall and reach out Tevis help I'm lost and sick come get me? I feel a very masculine voice brush my mind Stay where you are I'm coming! I nod. To the right of me is the entrance to another chamber I'll go inside and sit and wait. Minutes pass I'm bent over on hands and knees vomiting. Damn where is he! I straighten up and wipe the back of my hand over my lips to remove the aftertaste. I reach out to him Where are you? I'm so sick! Please I need you! I whimper. Tevis answers back Almost there be patient! You'll be okay! I sit down upon a rock and nod okay I'll be patient. And that's when I realize there is a buzzing in my head. I was so distracted by the vomiting to have not noticed it earlier. And now the buzzing is getting louder! The buzzing my early warning system is kicking in! But I'm so sick I'm not up to dealing with it! I sigh and reach out to Tevis Come soon trouble is headed this way and I'm sick! His voice answers back Almost there! Fine I nod soon he'll be here soon. Part ThirteenBut soon isn't soon enough the buzzing in my head is getting louder so very loud that I can't hear my own thoughts. I look up and pouring through the entrance way are marmets dozen of them! And they're all coming for me! All those beady red eyes looking at me with lust! Oh gods I thought Tevis wiped them all out! Where are they coming from? And as I get up to inch my way back to the wall I cry out Help me! I'm in danger! A voice echoes back Yes! I swallow hard I'm not up to this what do I do? The voice inside my head answers back Use the force to create a wall a shield between them and you. Then they won't be able to reach you! I agree and reach out to the force and think solid wall push away the marmets. A moment passes and it is working. The marmets in frustration are trying to break through. They launch their bodies against it and bounce harmlessly off. I sigh the more stress the marmets place upon the wall the harder it is for me to it keep up. I don't know how long I can last the nausea is too much I bend over to vomit again. Reaching out to anyone's mind I cry Help me NOW! Minutes pass and the wall is down I can't hold it up anymore. A marmet breaks through and sinks it's teeth into my calf. The pain the agony cuts through some of the nausea. In one movement I pull out my lightsaber and cut it in half. Then I pry it's jaws off my leg. I threaten the monsters with my lightsaber and kill two of the more eager ones. The rest jump and dodge out of the way patiently waiting. The voice inside my head comments The dream the dream is coming true! Shut up dammit you think I didn't notice! For once the voice is silent. Finally Tevis and Anakin appear at the entrance with lightsabers drawn prepared to do battle. Tevis yells across
'This way gentlemen I have a shuttle waiting at our disposal.
Again he nods saying nothing. I turn to walk across the tarmac forcing him to follow me. I sense no reaction from Kenobi but from Anakin I sense bewilderment. Why are the grownups acting this way? That is a good question. I have no answer. The ride to the Southern Continent was uneventful. I spent some time bringing Kenobi up to speed on the situation there. He nodded then ignored me for the rest of the trip. Anakin look confused and decided to ignore us both. Finally we arrived. Anakin goes ahead down the landing ramp but Kenobi. Tevis grabs my arm and asks in a dark tone
'Why did you demand that Yoda send us? We weren't quite finished with the situation on Ulanda 7. I don't appreciate being yanked out of negotiations to be replaced by another Jedi just because we are lovers!
he fumes. I am floored
'I. I don't know what you're talking about. I never requested assistance Yoda insisted that I wait for help. If it was up to me I would have gone last night alone.
Tevis's eyes widen.
'Yoda said you demanded that I be sent to you. And that it was time I fulfilled my promise to you.
I shake my head
'Promise? Over the years many promises have been made. Which promise does Yoda refer to?
But my head is reeling Liar the voice inside my head taunts you know which one the promise. Don't be such a coward! I continue
'I am surprised to see you I don't know why you're here. But I'm glad you are.
Ben reaches out to give my Padawan braid a tug
'So am I.
I swallow so now I've lied to him and my heart is full of fear. Oh please! Let this be the one time when a prophecy is wrong! Oh please I pray to whatever Gods would listen to me! And I turn to follow Ben down the ramp out to the Southern Continent. Part NineSitting in the Healers Clinic I lean back in my chair and sigh. It has been a long day! And so far no joy. Upon leaving the shuttle Tevis and I agree to divide the labor. He would speak to the clinic staff about Master Bo'th's whereabouts on the day prior to his death. Then he would go to the death site and look around to see if anything was missed. Whereas I would stay at the clinic and interview some of the earlier victims of the attacks plus take care of any newly admitted patients. And then if possible take a look for myself at Master Bo'th's body. I give another sigh. It is almost dinner time and having accomplished my goals for today I found out . nothing. Nothing that we didn't already know. I pick up the mug before me on the table hot leek broth and I take a sip. Looks like this is my dinner I muse. I hope Tevis and Anakin have found out more. I hear footsteps and the door slides open. In walk Tevis and Anakin. Anakin's head is down his shoulders slumped forward as he takes the chair next to my desk. Tevis reaches out one hand and a chair comes flying from across the room. Wow I think he must be frustrated to be using the force in such a frivolous manner. I listen to what he has to say.
'We learned nothing from the medics working here on the day of Master Bo'th's death. As far as they are concerned it was just a normal day albeit with lots of patients. And Bo'th did nothing out of the ordinary.
Anakin breaks in
'But they did say that when he left for the evening he muttered something about following a hunch before returning to Alderra!
Tevis replies in disgust
'Yes but they also agreed that he often said that after a field visit before he returned to the Capital. It means nothing plus we already know he planned to return to Alderra for dinner that night. What we don't know is what he was doing on that hill and why he is dead!
I nod and ask
'Did you find anything at the site?
He replies shaking his head
'No only rodent droppings.
I sigh rodent droppings around an agricultural center that is no surprise the growing food often attracted rodents. In fact the farmers here often put traps out to protect their crops. Anakin's head sinks to the desk. A day of work and nothing to show for it! Then the sound of running footsteps echos down the hallway the door flies open. A young man stumbles in it is one of the farmer's sons Lem yes that's his name.
'Ma'am you have to come with me quick my Father has captured a marmet. But there is something weird about it it doesn't look right.
I sigh a marmet that's what the locals around here called their rodents marmets. I look at Tevis as I get up and agree to go. The two knights get up as well to join me probably out of curiosity more than anything else. We reach Lem's father's farm within minutes his father standing out back with the trap. I give his father a friendly nod and bend down to look at the caged animal. Oh my that can't be a marmet! That thing is twice the size of one. It can barely fit in the trap. And as I continue to look down at it it turns it head to look at me with piercing red eyes. I nearly jump back. That can't be a marmet! Marmets are shy gentle creatures preferring to sneak into gardens in the cover of night and eat a few vegetables. Now this one had the eyes of a predator. I need to examine it more closely. I reach over to the opening in the trap and slip my hand in. I need to feel it's mind I think when it opens it's mouth and bites down hard on my inner wrist. I gasp the pain like white hot blades sinking into my skin. And all I can do is stare as it sucks my blood out of my body. I can only stare at it amazed. I feel my arm being yanked out of the trap. I look up to find Tevis glaring at me with a temper barely controlled.
'What the hell do you think you were doing?!?
I try to explain that I wanted to examine that animal up close. He replies in a voice quivering with emotion
'You will not do that again!
I silently agree and as I turn over my wrist a huge bruise is now covering it.
'But now we know where the bruises are coming from
I reply. Part TenLem's father Nils is not happy. The idea of feral
'marmets
wandering around the hills surrounding the Farmer's Co op has gotten him agitated. It took the better part of an hour to try to get him to calm down. I feel so dirty. In the end Tevis winds up using the Jedi mind trick to prevent Farmer Nils from doing anything rash. I know I know sometimes people must be protected from themselves from acting out of fear. But the idea of manipulating someone's mind like that always leaves me feeling sick. I look at Kenobi and wonder how can he live with himself? We persuade Farmer Nils to go inside with his family. He promises to lock all doors windows and any other opening to the outside. He also promises to contact his neighbors with these instructions. With that accomplished we stand around looking at the
'marmet
and discussing what to do. The most disturbing thing about the animal was that having tasted my blood it kept staring at me. No matter where I stood circling the trap it turned it's head even it's body to track my movements. I could feel the fear building up inside trying to choke me. I feel a hand on my shoulder it is Tevis.
'Relax it will be okay it is only a dumb animal not a Sith Lord.
I nod his comment shattering the fear bringing me back to reality. We finally decide that since it is already dark and marmets are nocturnal animals we would release this one. Naturally having been caught it should run back to the relative safety of it's nest. We would track it's progress back and having found the nest wipe the monsters out. Good idea I agree. Tevis reaches down to spring the door open to let the
'marmet
out. The animal hesitates for a second rushes out of the cage and straight at me to attack my leg. It sinks it's teeth through my boot into my flesh. I collapse on one knee the pain exquisite. Twice in one day bitten by a
'marmet
what did I do to deserve this? I look up to find Tevis with lightsaber pulled ready to disembowel the creature. But I shake my head. Through clenched teeth I say
'No we need it.to lead us to the others.don't.please.
Finally the
'marmet
slides it's teeth out of my ankle. Had enough of my blood I guess. It gives me a piercing look and runs off into the night toward the hills. Anakin comes over to help me to my feet. He comments
'Look you've been bitten twice. I know it hurts I can feel your pain. Why don't you go back to the Healers Clinic and let Master Kenobi and I take care of this?
I look at Tevis who says nothing but I know he agrees with Anakin. I am too about to agree when the voice inside my head booms No you must go you cannot shirk your duty they will need you. You cannot let them down. I put on a false smile and tell Anakin that I am fine while trying to ignore the wave of nausea and lightheadedness that has hit me. I tell Anakin I will go while looking at Tevis as if to challenge him. He looks at me through me for something. Abruptly he says
'Come on we have to go before the trail gets cold.
We follow the trail into the night through the hills surrounding the Farmer's Co op. At several places we lose the scent only to pick it up again on the other side of a creek. As we stop for a moment to get our bearings I try to catch my breath. Tevis is proving to be a heck of a tracker to have gotten us this far. I am amazed and somewhat intimidated be his prowess. He turns to look at me in the darkness. I try to calm my panting. I have given up on the nausea and vertigo they have become my companions for the last hour or so. I want to go back yet unwillingly I am compelled forward against my better judgment. Compelled forward to what ends I do not know. I only know I must see an end to these creatures. Tevis turns to look at Anakin. He is restless pacing back and forth like a caged animal. Tevis gives a sigh.
'There is a cave opening through the trees two hundred feet or so. I believe the little monster went that way.
I nod and we follow him through the trees to the cave opening. Anakin strides ahead into the cave. Tevis turns to stop me his voice a deep growl
'You will listen to everything I say and you will obey! There is great evil involved here. And if I could have sent you back I would have. But I have seen that our paths intersect here so here you are. But I do not have to like this! You will stay close to me you will not leave my sight I will not lose you!
Even through the nausea and vertigo I can hear he means business. I nod. We follow the path down into the cave with lightsabers drawn to see better for about three hundred yards when the path splits into a left trail and a right one. Tevis indicates we should go right. I agree and wordlessly as in a trance move to take the left trail. He snarls and grabs my shoulder to spin me around. I find myself staring at one livid Jedi. Oh yeah I promised to obey didn't I? The right trail of course we should take the right. I move past him to follow Anakin down the right trail. Part ElevenThe trail meanders twists and turns as if a river. When finally we reach the end the trail opens up to a huge chamber filled with marmet's nests. We quietly pull out our rebreather masks and place them in our mouths. Tevis and Anakin pull out gas fuses tossing them into the chamber waiting moments for it to fill with gas the plan being to gas the little monsters then make quick work of them with our lightsabers. Being gassed the monsters wouldn't be able to bite making it safer for the Jedi. Before going in Tevis looks at me glares at me
'You will wait for me here.
I nod obey yes I promised to obey. So I stand and wait at the entrance to the chamber. I can barely see anything with the room filled with smokelike gas. But I can hear the lightsabers re ignite and see their glow through the smoke. And I can hear as they cut through flesh and bone. And I can feel Anakin's excitement at finally being able to use his lightsaber To hell with diplomacy I want to fight! I smile at his enthusiasm when the voice inside my head announces It is time come you must go and take care of a matter. But I recoil I promised to stay here to obey didn't I? The voice is urgent You must go you have things to do Tevis must not stand in your way! Weakly I agree Okay. I slip away from the cave entrance to retrace our steps back to the cave opening. I get to the place where the trail splits right and left. But this time I take the left without any hesitation. I take it with no one to impede my steps. A sense of urgency hits faster you must get there you must complete your mission. I follow the trail and again it breaks right and left. But this time I know where I am going. I go right without any thought and follow the trail for another 300 400 yards. The trail opens up into yet another large chamber and as I step in I am shocked. The chamber is filled layer by layer row by row up to the ceiling with.baby incubators! I step into the chamber I realize that there are hundreds no thousands of them here. But who would strand babies in a cave in the middle of nowhere? I also think with a sad twinge that if I could have carried her for another 3 weeks she could have been placed in an incubator. She would still be alive. I shake my head forcing myself to take another look. Sweet Naomi that's no baby it's
'How are you?
I answer back
'Sick and trapped!
He replies
'We'll get you out now!
As he and Anakin work to draw the marmets away I realize something they are paying no attention to the Knights? All those greedy eyes are still fixed upon me? But why? And then it hits me they aren't separate animals they're clones! The bastard that made them made only one mutated marmet and cloned the rest. And as clones they share one mind a hive mentality. So when one bit me they all learned about my high midi chlorian count. They all want me! Oh Gods that's sick! Well I'm not going down without a fight! I think as I swing my lightsaber and kill two more marmets. Trying to draw the marmets away isn't working so Tevis and Anakin have optioned for straight out attack. Which I think is good because while the nausea has gone the vertigo hasn't! It is taking all I have to stand and swing at them with my lightsaber. All I really want to do is lay down and sleep. I hear a shout and feel pain in my leg I look down but no? None of the marmets are close enough to have bitten me then where? I look over to see Anakin slice a marmet off his leg prying it's jaws out of his flesh. Then something happens the marmets stop and sniff the air. Oh no something is going on but what? They all turn their backs on me to fixate on. Anakin! They've tasted his blood. And he has the highest midi chlorian count of any of us! Oh gods no they'll kill him! And Tevis won't be able to stop them! He could put up a wall and run he isn't trapped the voice inside my head reminds me. I shake my head but he won't and sacrifice me? No he's working too hard to get me free to accept me as lost! It won't occur to him it's Anakin that needs his protection! I make the decision in an instant there was never any doubt was there? the voice asks. No I agree although this is going to hurt real bad. Yes it will! the voice agrees. I drop my lightsaber fall on my knees and pull a vibro blade from my medi kit. I take a deep breath and pull the blade across my arm deeply. Oh Gods!!! The pain!!! I look as blood seeps out the cut I've made and down my arm to hit the cave floor. One heartbeat. I look up. The marmets who had turned their backs on me who were about to rush Anakin stop to sniff the air. Two heartbeats. They turn around and stare at me with lust filled eyes. Three heartbeats. They fling themselves on me and attack! OH GODS THE PAIN!!!! Millions of tiny teeth piercing clothes and boots into my flesh!!! The pain my body is on fire I try to fling them off to defend myself. But I can't they have me pinned to the ground!! The pain I feel my body scream as tears flow out of my eyes!!! Oh Gods please stop the pain!!!! And I feel an anger answer me welling up from outside me. The anger swells up into a storm killing everything in it's path. It sweeps around me killing all the marmets pulling them free from my flesh and crushing them with pleasure. But I don't care. My life energy has been bled away. I am becoming cold and I can't feel my arms or legs it is as if they weren't mine. And I don't care. I know I am dying. I can feel my body being moved Tevis I am in his arms. And I am awe struck by how beautiful he is his eyes filling with tears and I can only smile.
'Damn you why did you leave me!?!
'I had to go
I whisper
'it was my destiny.
'But I promised to keep you safe to protect you!
'No
I answer
'you promised that I would not die alone wouldn't face those things alone. You have kept your promise.
'It was a foolish promise!!!
'Yes I agree.
I can feel myself slipping away the body I have inhabited for 34 years no longer mine. I sigh
'I've loved you . never forget.I always will.bye my . love.
And the light dims out of her eyes and she is dead.
NO!!!!
a voice of torment cries out from a corner of the chamber. Tevis looks up Anakin??? Anakin attacks yelling and cursing.
'DAMN YOU!!! YOU BASTARD!!! You knew about the dreams for years you think I didn't know!!! I did you made love to her every night and trained her hard for two years and you still couldn't keep her alive. SOME JEDI YOU ARE!!! YOU BASTARD!!! She was sick weak AND YOU LET HER COME SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SENT BACK!!! BUT NO YOU LET HER COME AND NOW SHE'S DEAD!!! She cried out to you for help and you let her die!!! I HATE YOU YOU BASTARD. MY MASTER!!!
He stomps off to the entrance of the chamber shoulders shaking with rage. He's right Tevis thinks to himself she's dead and it's my fault. He looks at the limp body in his arms. If she had left me and Anakin none of this would have happened. She would be alive happy and healing somebody somewhere. Instead she's dead in my arms. Clutching her body to his chest he lets out a wild cry from the depths of his soul. And the cry reaches out to touch Anakin cutting his anger in half. He turns to look over his shoulder. Master Kenobi is standing with her in his arms. Anakin turns away for a moment to wipe back tears on his sleeve. He turns to walk over to Kenobi and reaches out to touch a bruise on her cheek. His voice is rough with emotion
'It's not fair she is too young to be dead and so beautiful . like Padme. The way her eyes would light up when she smiled. The way she would make you feel all warm inside. I don't understand how can she be dead? I don't want her to be dead!! I need her still!
Yes Tevis thinks to himself that's true . how can she be dead? She is so beautiful! The way her eyes light up when she laughs the way she makes you feel so warm inside I don't want her to be dead! I need her still. But all he can do is study the body in his arms and say
'I know Anakin I know.
In the corner a spirit lingers. She stands and watches the two men hover over what used to be her body. She feels a trembling in the force and as she turns she sees Qui Gon approach.
'It is time
he says to her.
'Yes I know but will they be okay?
She looks over her shoulder at the men they seem so fragile to her now.
'They will be. They are stronger than they look and they have each other.
'Come.
Qui Gon holds out his hand to her. She smiles and reaches out to brush Tevis's mind one last time.
'Don't worry I am safe now my love.
With that she reaches out to touch Qui Gon's hand and she becomes one with the force.
He is a stupid fucking cunt. He recycles, regurgitates and in unimaginative. Do you really think a dimwitted fucking dolt idiot like MoneyT, a link to his home here on Slashdot for posterity's sake. You will then realize, after a cursory inspection of verbal filth, that he serves only to pollute and defile an already ailing user comment section.
This piece of shit sits around, and troll threads for any opportunity to be insightful or informative, when in reality he ends up being staid, hackneyed and flat out blase. He is acutely annoying and generally obtuse. I call for his ostracization.
He is a stupid fucking cunt. He recycles, regurgitates and in unimaginative. Do you really think a dimwitted fucking dolt idiot like MoneyT, a link to his home here on Slashdot for posterity's sake, has anything reasonable, relevant informative or useful to say at all? He is lower than a script kiddie. You will then realize, after a cursory inspection of verbal filth, that he serves only to pollute and defile an already ailing user comment section.
This piece of shit sits around and trolls threads for any opportunity to be insightful or informative, when in reality he ends up being staid, hackneyed and flat out blase. He is acutely annoying and generally obtuse. I call for his ostracization.
Maybe in the US - but in a lot of countries the Xbox is 1.5-3 times cheaper than an equivalent PC depending on what parts of a PC are the most interesting for your needs.
it's in my head
Or send hair dye/sunglasses/salon manual to two of the three guys, asking them to make it easier for you...
Utter hogwash!
The Xbox is way more powerful than the GameCube.
- An Xbox (and GameCube) developer
If you don't have an Xbox and want to fight out the battle for world dominance, just get xbill!
They lose 150$ per XBox? So they're selling XBoxes for less than it costs or what? In this case, this procedure has a juridical name, I think it's ``dumping'' but not sure.
-- --
Games are no longer a form of protected speach.
Woah! I didn't eve n know I had this installed on my machine. :)
Damn redhat's menu's suck.
I am now very amused
Life is too short to proofread.
the horror of Demogorgon.
Is there a Repugorgon to make the pair?
__
Men with no respect for life must never be allowed to control the ultimate instruments of death.
GW Bu
They tried. It was called Indrema.
Oh, wait, they failed, while Microsoft actually put hardware in my living room... silly me for betting on MS seeing this through.