Mother Nyx
Mother of Elpis
- Location
- The Kei Klub
- Pronouns
- She/Her
This is a very interesting question and I too would like to know what she thinks about this.
May The Invisible Hand Be With You - (Star Wars CK2-Style Quest)
- Thread starter Dr. Snark
- Start date
- Sci-Fi
-
- Tags
- star wars canon what canon tsundere dice ck2 quest actions have consequences all the credits all work and no play makes ciaran a dull girl best sister capitalism ho! despairing qm teetotaller society member gotta catch 'em all insanity looting off the rails sage dice approaching spicy sheev tsundere asajj
Dr. Snark
Exactly As Planned...Probably
- Location
- Right where I want to be
- Pronouns
- He/His/Him
Apologies to those whose questions I missed, and I will get to the rest soon. Ish.
1. It depends on the virus; slower-acting ones are completely nullified, whereas with faster-acting ones they give the poor bastard a chance at surviving if they can reach a doctor of some kind.
2. They last until activated, and once they do they are excreted from the body so that new ones can be injected.
1. Zheen: It could happen on a planetary scale if there was a swarm specifically designed for that purpose, but aside from that no one would be stupid enough to try and build a grey goo swarm...except for the Separatists.
2. Cheriss: I'd say pretty far ahead! At least in droid terms. The redesigns I did were specifically tailored to compensate for the weaknesses in their respective models, so in a quantifiable sense I'd say we're a generation or two ahead of the Separatists.
3. Cheriss: It depends. Most of the work on the B2s and CB-3s were on their internal systems so you wouldn't see much difference, but then you have my new droideka designs on the other extreme. The B1s and OOM droids are probably in the middle, they do have a much sleeker look to them but still have the same basic look.
4. Cheriss: I've looked at it a couple of times, and I think there's something different about it but it's hard to tell - whatever it is must be pretty subtle. It might have something to do with it being so old and important and stuff.
5. Cheriss: That thing is weiiiirrrrrrdddd. I tried turning it on once and I swear some of my frame's systems started to go haywire - that or I just couldn't communicate with it like normal. I dunno. I don't think the forcesaber itself should be reverse-engineered since...well, we've got lightsabers. But I do think there's stuff to be learned from it, though it's going to take a lot of time and effort to figure out what.
6. Zheen: Not particularly.
Cheriss: You mean like the things Ciaran talks about building at times? I don't really think that kind of thing is for me...I'm an engineer, not an architect.
1. Ciaran: Doubt it. Given that sentient beings in the past thought it would be a Good Idea to settle on planets like Mustafar as an example and the prevalence of already habitable planets in the galaxy there's really no demand for it.
2. Vectivus: Like many things in this galaxy I am of the mind that it loops back to the eternal Jedi-Sith conflict and the wars spawned by it. People say that war is good for progress and they're partly right, but during wartime production and research facilities become viable targets by the enemy. Then there are things that are "forbidden" because one instance of the technology in question failed catastrophically or things like that.
Ciaran: I'd also say that there's not really much of a need for technology to get better, which in and of itself causes stagnation. We can cross the galaxy in a matter of days, build ships that can destroy worlds, and so on and so forth. There's honestly not many more places for conventional technology to go, and that means that any work done is going to be in more esoteric fields that have relatively niche applications.
3. Ciaran: Right now any plans for immortality are more or less on the backburner given that I'm more concerned with more immediate problems. That being said, if I'm going to become immortal it's going to be on my terms. I'm not going to take the offer of some god if it means there's a price I'll inevitably have to pay later.
4. Ciaran: Maaaaaayyyyyybe~
Diplo/Intrigue for the first and Martial for the latter two.
Ciaran: See, you'd think it be Grievous or the Silencer or one of the Walkers, but would you believe it's actually Galvin? He's got a bad habit of getting himself into trouble for incredibly stupid reasons. Coincidentally one thing on the list is "I am not allowed to 'extract' an HVT without the consent of Ciaran or another member of the High Council."
Silas: A gentleman never kisses and tells.
Galvin: I hate you.
Obi-Wan: ...You've been talking to Ciaran, I take it.
HK-47: Statement: I will not degrade myself to such a degree over a singular and inane loss. I have much better ways of exacting revenge that are considerably more satisfying.
Statement: I do approve of excessive cruelty towards meatbags.
Cheriss: Okay you could do that but then you'd have a gun that might just explode if it's fired too much and why would you even bother with such an idiotic design when there are much better blasters (remainder of rant excised)
Obi-Wan: At first she was a socialite friend of Padme's that I honestly didn't care about that much, and now she's one of the most prominent and influential figures of this war...and who has become even more of an enigma as time has passed. I suppose what's changed is that I've seen more sides to her, though when it comes to Lady Ciaran learning more about her does not necessarily mean you get closer to understanding her.
Dooku: ...I was a fool to cast away such a skilled and loyal apprentice. It is as simple as that.
Priam: I never considered that actually, though that might be a thing already in my systems. I...honestly don't know. Miss Sair didn't get around to explaining some of her more...unusual upgrades.
Asajj: My "hobbies" tend to involve training and regular exercises - despite what Ciaran says I find that going through some basic motions is not only good for the body but calming for the mind. Ciaran has been trying to drag me into more "fun" things but so far she's been wasting my time more than anything else.
Ahoska: A few, though none that had that big an impact on the war. And I like to think that Thrawn's lessons have helped me act as a decent leader in Anakin's stead while he's...wherever he is right now.
Tyro: I'm not sure "enjoy" is the right word, but I gotta admit it's heartening to see my bastardized Force training program actually work. As for the five "graduates:"
Kygeetu: I don't care what the rumors say, I did not use pictures of the Boss to motivate her. She may have done it herself though...
DanI: Girl never did completely get over her issues with the Dark Side, but she's smart enough to know that and make sure it doesn't get out of hand. Aside from that...I really don't get her love of performances, but maybe that's because I'm out of touch. I dunno.
Riphath: I worry about him. Not because of him going crazy or anything, but I'm not really sure he's cut out for our line of work. I don't think he really understands how cruel the galaxy can be yet.
Koliya: That man was a model student, and honestly I wish more of the trainees would follow his lead instead of nearly killing themselves with a scythe or trying to replicate one of Piebald's exploding...things.
Piebald: I'll be honest, I rushed him through the program because I was worried he would destroy the Home in the time it takes for a normal student to "graduate." He should be fine. Probably.
Ciaran: I'm not arrogant enough to think that I can kill the Sith forever. The Jedi have been trying to do that for millennia and it still hasn't stuck. As for reforming the idea of them...that's something I'll worry about when Palpatine's dead. I've given it some thought but the day when that actually happens still seems like it's a long ways away.
Yoda: ...? *tilts head in slight confusion*
Ciaran: I'll figure it out. Probably exploiting a Force ability of some kind honestly.
Padme: *blushing and incoherent stuttering*
Ciaran: Dunno. Not for the usual reasons because I'm no stranger to time paradoxes at this point, but I feel like telling past me too much would make that alternate self a lesser person than I've become. I suppose that one thing I'd say for sure is "I know that those history and Force lessons back on Alpheridies your parents forced you to take were literally the worst thing ever, but you should try studying those on your own time instead. You might actually like learning about it when you're not having things shoved down your throat." Oh, and also plotting with Past Me to find a way to better profit off of the collapse of Damask Holdings. Hego does have it coming to him after all~
1. It depends on the virus; slower-acting ones are completely nullified, whereas with faster-acting ones they give the poor bastard a chance at surviving if they can reach a doctor of some kind.
2. They last until activated, and once they do they are excreted from the body so that new ones can be injected.
1. Zheen: It could happen on a planetary scale if there was a swarm specifically designed for that purpose, but aside from that no one would be stupid enough to try and build a grey goo swarm...except for the Separatists.
2. Cheriss: I'd say pretty far ahead! At least in droid terms. The redesigns I did were specifically tailored to compensate for the weaknesses in their respective models, so in a quantifiable sense I'd say we're a generation or two ahead of the Separatists.
3. Cheriss: It depends. Most of the work on the B2s and CB-3s were on their internal systems so you wouldn't see much difference, but then you have my new droideka designs on the other extreme. The B1s and OOM droids are probably in the middle, they do have a much sleeker look to them but still have the same basic look.
4. Cheriss: I've looked at it a couple of times, and I think there's something different about it but it's hard to tell - whatever it is must be pretty subtle. It might have something to do with it being so old and important and stuff.
5. Cheriss: That thing is weiiiirrrrrrdddd. I tried turning it on once and I swear some of my frame's systems started to go haywire - that or I just couldn't communicate with it like normal. I dunno. I don't think the forcesaber itself should be reverse-engineered since...well, we've got lightsabers. But I do think there's stuff to be learned from it, though it's going to take a lot of time and effort to figure out what.
6. Zheen: Not particularly.
Cheriss: You mean like the things Ciaran talks about building at times? I don't really think that kind of thing is for me...I'm an engineer, not an architect.
1. Ciaran: Doubt it. Given that sentient beings in the past thought it would be a Good Idea to settle on planets like Mustafar as an example and the prevalence of already habitable planets in the galaxy there's really no demand for it.
2. Vectivus: Like many things in this galaxy I am of the mind that it loops back to the eternal Jedi-Sith conflict and the wars spawned by it. People say that war is good for progress and they're partly right, but during wartime production and research facilities become viable targets by the enemy. Then there are things that are "forbidden" because one instance of the technology in question failed catastrophically or things like that.
Ciaran: I'd also say that there's not really much of a need for technology to get better, which in and of itself causes stagnation. We can cross the galaxy in a matter of days, build ships that can destroy worlds, and so on and so forth. There's honestly not many more places for conventional technology to go, and that means that any work done is going to be in more esoteric fields that have relatively niche applications.
3. Ciaran: Right now any plans for immortality are more or less on the backburner given that I'm more concerned with more immediate problems. That being said, if I'm going to become immortal it's going to be on my terms. I'm not going to take the offer of some god if it means there's a price I'll inevitably have to pay later.
4. Ciaran: Maaaaaayyyyyybe~
Diplo/Intrigue for the first and Martial for the latter two.
Ciaran: See, you'd think it be Grievous or the Silencer or one of the Walkers, but would you believe it's actually Galvin? He's got a bad habit of getting himself into trouble for incredibly stupid reasons. Coincidentally one thing on the list is "I am not allowed to 'extract' an HVT without the consent of Ciaran or another member of the High Council."
Silas: A gentleman never kisses and tells.
Galvin: I hate you.
Obi-Wan: ...You've been talking to Ciaran, I take it.
HK-47: Statement: I will not degrade myself to such a degree over a singular and inane loss. I have much better ways of exacting revenge that are considerably more satisfying.
Statement: I do approve of excessive cruelty towards meatbags.
Cheriss: Okay you could do that but then you'd have a gun that might just explode if it's fired too much and why would you even bother with such an idiotic design when there are much better blasters (remainder of rant excised)
Obi-Wan: At first she was a socialite friend of Padme's that I honestly didn't care about that much, and now she's one of the most prominent and influential figures of this war...and who has become even more of an enigma as time has passed. I suppose what's changed is that I've seen more sides to her, though when it comes to Lady Ciaran learning more about her does not necessarily mean you get closer to understanding her.
Dooku: ...I was a fool to cast away such a skilled and loyal apprentice. It is as simple as that.
Priam: I never considered that actually, though that might be a thing already in my systems. I...honestly don't know. Miss Sair didn't get around to explaining some of her more...unusual upgrades.
Asajj: My "hobbies" tend to involve training and regular exercises - despite what Ciaran says I find that going through some basic motions is not only good for the body but calming for the mind. Ciaran has been trying to drag me into more "fun" things but so far she's been wasting my time more than anything else.
Ahoska: A few, though none that had that big an impact on the war. And I like to think that Thrawn's lessons have helped me act as a decent leader in Anakin's stead while he's...wherever he is right now.
Tyro: I'm not sure "enjoy" is the right word, but I gotta admit it's heartening to see my bastardized Force training program actually work. As for the five "graduates:"
Kygeetu: I don't care what the rumors say, I did not use pictures of the Boss to motivate her. She may have done it herself though...
DanI: Girl never did completely get over her issues with the Dark Side, but she's smart enough to know that and make sure it doesn't get out of hand. Aside from that...I really don't get her love of performances, but maybe that's because I'm out of touch. I dunno.
Riphath: I worry about him. Not because of him going crazy or anything, but I'm not really sure he's cut out for our line of work. I don't think he really understands how cruel the galaxy can be yet.
Koliya: That man was a model student, and honestly I wish more of the trainees would follow his lead instead of nearly killing themselves with a scythe or trying to replicate one of Piebald's exploding...things.
Piebald: I'll be honest, I rushed him through the program because I was worried he would destroy the Home in the time it takes for a normal student to "graduate." He should be fine. Probably.
Ciaran: I'm not arrogant enough to think that I can kill the Sith forever. The Jedi have been trying to do that for millennia and it still hasn't stuck. As for reforming the idea of them...that's something I'll worry about when Palpatine's dead. I've given it some thought but the day when that actually happens still seems like it's a long ways away.
Yoda: ...? *tilts head in slight confusion*
Ciaran: I'll figure it out. Probably exploiting a Force ability of some kind honestly.
Padme: *blushing and incoherent stuttering*
Ciaran: Dunno. Not for the usual reasons because I'm no stranger to time paradoxes at this point, but I feel like telling past me too much would make that alternate self a lesser person than I've become. I suppose that one thing I'd say for sure is "I know that those history and Force lessons back on Alpheridies your parents forced you to take were literally the worst thing ever, but you should try studying those on your own time instead. You might actually like learning about it when you're not having things shoved down your throat." Oh, and also plotting with Past Me to find a way to better profit off of the collapse of Damask Holdings. Hego does have it coming to him after all~
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Mother Nyx
Mother of Elpis
- Location
- The Kei Klub
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Not a question, @Dr. Snark, just want to express that I honestly love all the answers.
lancelot
Completely worth it
- Location
- Australia
Just found this and I found it funny.
Mother Nyx
Mother of Elpis
- Location
- The Kei Klub
- Pronouns
- She/Her
No no, @lancelot, this is how you do it.
Dear Anakin, I hope this message gets to you even though you are the Force knows where doing the Force knows what, making all your friends miss you.
This is totally not an attempt to emotionally guilt you into returning posthaste, since the question I am going to ask has absolutely nothing to do with me asking you to do so.
When did you realize Padme was the most beautiful woman in all the worlds?
(Please do not ask him this, he might kill us all.)
Dear Anakin, I hope this message gets to you even though you are the Force knows where doing the Force knows what, making all your friends miss you.
This is totally not an attempt to emotionally guilt you into returning posthaste, since the question I am going to ask has absolutely nothing to do with me asking you to do so.
When did you realize Padme was the most beautiful woman in all the worlds?
(Please do not ask him this, he might kill us all.)
- Location
- In a tower. In the plane of Chaos.
@Dr. Snark
Dear Padme, Have you talked to Anakin's mom about the Skywalker skill in hide and seek?
Dear Silencer, if you had to wear a hat (for who knows why) what kind would it be?
Dear Padme, Have you talked to Anakin's mom about the Skywalker skill in hide and seek?
Dear Silencer, if you had to wear a hat (for who knows why) what kind would it be?
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Habstab
HabStab
- Location
- Richmond, MO
@Dr. Snark
Dear Palpatine,
Do you have... UNLIMITED POWER!!!!
Sign, Hab of the Stab
Dear Obi Wan,
What is your opinion the current status of the war.
Dear Mace Windu,
Who do you like the least in the order at the moment?
Dear Yoda,
Is there really no such thing as trying?
Dear Count Doku,
After Cirian helps you take care of your current problems, do you think you'll try to make peace with the Jedi?
Dear Cheriss,
What is your opinion on power armor?
Dear Palpatine,
Do you have... UNLIMITED POWER!!!!
Sign, Hab of the Stab
Dear Obi Wan,
What is your opinion the current status of the war.
Dear Mace Windu,
Who do you like the least in the order at the moment?
Dear Yoda,
Is there really no such thing as trying?
Dear Count Doku,
After Cirian helps you take care of your current problems, do you think you'll try to make peace with the Jedi?
Dear Cheriss,
What is your opinion on power armor?
- Location
- Leeds
@Dr. Snark
Dear Sidious
If you knew that Ciarans rise to power was funded by Plageious, how paranoid would you be?
Dear Sidious
If you knew that Ciarans rise to power was funded by Plageious, how paranoid would you be?
- Location
- Latvia, Riga
If you mean bulky ones like Fallout I'd say bad tastehabstab said:
If you mean with integrated shield generators I'd prefer they be functional and look something like this:
all encompassing, non-restrictive, relatively easy to fix, easy to done and take off, helps with mobility and strength (and endurance).... what not to like?
Theaxofwar
Definitely not a Bunny Cat in disguise.
- Location
- Standing right behind you
@Dr. Snark
Padme/Anakin, what are your feelings about Ciaran?
No idea if this has been asked already, but...
Padme/Anakin, what are your feelings about Ciaran?
No idea if this has been asked already, but...
- Location
- america
ill have you know that fallout power armor is very stylish and good at letting you lift massive amounts of weight, such as a fuck you warhammer.
- Location
- Latvia, Riga
Hey, they ARE stylish, and functional, just bulky, and it just doesn't "fit" Star Wars aesthetics, sad as it may be
. Then again neither does my choice or this
or does it?
Barondoctor
The things I chase come to me.
- Location
- The other side of the mirror
- Pronouns
- He/His/Him
All this talk of power armor makes me think of one of the few good things about the worst Metroid game ever.
Galactic Federation Marines! (Metroid). Fairly uniform but actually practical-looking.
Galactic Federation Marines! (Metroid). Fairly uniform but actually practical-looking.
The design is from Metroid Prime 2 actually.
Barondoctor
The things I chase come to me.
- Location
- The other side of the mirror
- Pronouns
- He/His/Him
GF Troopers were in MP2 and they had a more "droid-like" design.
Additionally you had demolitions troopers in MP3 that probably could fit in as ersatz Mandalorians:
The reason I'm going for the round-helmet blue design is that it's a look:
Preserve faces (the good guys get faces. the bad guys and the hapless mooks don't.)
"Round is shaped like friend" borders on memetic.
Lightweight and flexible with the ability to put on more plates and go heavier (or integrate a heavy duty power generator to power a shield and a big gun).
EDIT: With all this talk of power armor, I stumbled across a neat video which might be interesting and useful for all our blaster-wielding units.
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Dr. Snark
Exactly As Planned...Probably
- Location
- Right where I want to be
- Pronouns
- He/His/Him
He does, but the joke was too good not to make.
Silas: Ah, I figure she'll end up with someone eventually since she's my granddaughter and all. She's mentioned that she's got her reasons for not getting together with anyone yet, and most of them happen to involve the Supreme Chancellor.
Ciaran: *coy giggle* Oh come on, of course I think he's good-looking! But the poor, poor man is "suffering" enough without me getting involved in that way.
Padme: *sigh* The godmother of any kids I have is going to be Ciaran' whether I like it or not, I'm sure... Don't know about godfather though. Maybe Obi-Wan? Would that be weird?
Anakin: It might be, but I think he'd understand and appreciate the sentiment anyway.
Padme: You know that friend who is almost guaranteed to get you into trouble and laugh it off afterwards? That's her. She is a good friend, but I know better.
Obi-Wan: On the one hand the sheer amount of influence she has in Council space, let alone the rest of the galaxy is quite frankly alarming, especially after she managed to reach Mortis with Anakin, Ahsoka and I. I don't think she's an inevitable danger because if she was she wouldn't have bothered to warn me about what could have happened to Anakin on Mortis but I do still worry. As for Darra's report I do believe it's accurate in part - she simply does have too many ties to the Hutts and suspiciously large information networks to ignore - but that doesn't explain why Taris is now a major home for refugees from across the galaxy.
I'd rather not say how I'd respond if the worst happened, because I'm assuming she might be listening.
Dooku: In my mind they are one and the same. To understand the opportunities that power can grant you, you must first understand both the extent and the limits of the power that you wield so that you may judge those opportunities wisely.
Ciaran: Now that's the kind of surprise I wouldn't dare spoil.
Priam: Confusion mostly. Many have to have reaffirmations that I am in fact PR-1, then the questions tend to drift towards Chief Engineer Sair's aesthetic choices.
Ciaran: Fact of the matter is that I have bigger fish to fry. I don't think slavery as an institution should be encouraged for various reasons but I'm not dumb enough to try and tell the Hutts not to do something that has sustained their economy for millennia given my ties with them. Trying to get them to not have slaves would be like trying a Jedi and Sith to get along. Yes I am aware of the potential contradictions in that last part shut up.
You know what I meant. Don't get smart with me
Thrawn: I could provide a list of threats in the Unknown Regions that could potentially threaten the galaxy as a whole. On an organizational level it would be an exposure of the illegal side of its operations by a particularly determined investigation, and on a personal level I would presume that a Force-trained assassin in general would be the greatest threat to me. Fortunately the ysalamiri deal with that threat quite handily.
Ciaran: I'm almost positive there's some Sith doomsday weapon still lying around that could be enough of a threat if some lunatic got their hands on them. The biggest threat to the Watchers themselves aside from Palpatine is...well I've eliminated most of them at this point, so the only potential threat really left barring Palpatine is admittedly the Jedi Order, but uh...I think they've got bigger problems what with the whole schism thing. As for a personal threat I'd like to see someone try to kill me at this point - they'd need starship-grade weapons to kill me now.
Ciaran: I've idly thought about it a couple of times. That being said I may be old-fashioned about this but I don't think having a kid while there's a psychopath like Palpatine who is fully willing to kill you and everyone you ever cared about active in the galaxy is a good idea. If I did though, my main concern with cloning would be clone madness, though if I could figure out how the Kaminoans got X1 and X2 working without those issues I'd be less worried about the idea. Jango and Boba have proven that there's really no issue with just having a cloned kid - they're still not going to be a carbon copy of you in personality.
Palpatine: Quite a positive one. The Republic has been pushing back the Separatist rebellion more and more and I am eager to see this war come to an end.
Sidious: Whoever dares to stand against you and is most detrimental to your plans.
Yeah, kinda was. More importantly it's something I can't really have fun with.
*NO RESPONSE*
Anakin: For a while now. I'll get back to her soon, but there are things I need to do.
Padme: *chuckles* No, I don't really visit Tatooine, and Anakin doesn't like to go back there that often if he can help it.
Silencer: ...No.
Gunray: I believe I speak for the entirety of the Council when I say that the Republic is arrogant to believe that they have us on the back foot. Even now our factories are creating droids by the thousands - we can continue this war for another decade if need be.
Palpatine: Why of course not, such a thing would go against the democratic ideals of the the Republic! My power is naturally limited as to ensure the continuation of that democracy.
Obi-Wan: While I'm pleased to see progress on the military side of things, I'm concerned as to what's going to happen to the Order after it ends. As terrible as the war is, it's also the only thing keeping more open conflict between Tython and Courscant from happening.
Mace: Skywalker's increased rebelliousness has been worrying, especially in light of the aftermath of Bulq's betrayal. Of course him going missing is also equally problematic...
Yoda: Hmhmhm! No such thing there is. "Try" you do when you may fail, you think.
Dooku: I do not know. There is still much I must contemplate in the coming days.
Cheriss: There's definitely plenty of things that could be done there and I wouldn't mind working on them if I had to, buuut I prefer working with my frames more.
Ahsoka: Often enough that it's getting kind of annoying.
Padme has already been covered.
Anakin: I honestly don't know if I can put that into words at this point. Even without getting into the "unofficially being mentored by a self-proclaimed heretic Sith Lord" thing, I just...don't know. Sorry if that sounds like I'm dodging the question.
(Omake) Something Old (Canon)
Barondoctor
The things I chase come to me.
- Location
- The other side of the mirror
- Pronouns
- He/His/Him
Something Old
We left behind Fort McSith--at least, that's what I called it in my head--with a sense of lightness, both in step and attitude.
I kept comparing this walk to my last long walk in relative isolation. I'd volunteered for this one for starters, instead of being pushed into it. I had the company of a cute Jedi, which made it less dangerous and more enjoyable. There were no ysalamiri or vornskrs, which made it more pleasant on the supernatural side of the street. It wasn't a walk in the park by any stretch of the imagination, but it was pleasant.
"You worked as a doctor before you studied the Force at all. I'm sure you've got some great stories, and it's not like this walk is short. Would you mind sharing a few?" Darra asked.
I smiled as we walked. "Well, these two stories start during clinical rotations when I was a student. I'd figured out I wanted to do trauma surgery. Trauma generally works pretty closely with emergency medicine, so I was on a rotation in emergency medicine. Figure out how people get to you and what the priorities are of the people who handle your cases before you do and you can do your job better."
The wind kicked up a bit, sending a swish through the grass. "Someone came in and they were bleeding a little from their head, but they were coherent and conscious. I asked how they got that way, and they said they were trying to take a shortcut when hiking, climbed over a fence, and fell into a pile of sticks, cutting their head open. So, checked and made sure there wasn't any bigger problem--no concussion, no brain bleed, nothing like that. Then, as I was putting the skin on their head back together, I told them my two rules of hopping fences. I was still a student and the flimsiplast discharge instructions I gave were being reviewed by my instructor, so I couldn't leave any sarcastic comments."
Darra raised an eyebrow. "What were those two rules?" she asked, looking at a set of rocks we were going to need to pass to get into a ravine we were traveling through.
I walked up to the rocks. "Rule number one: look before you leap," I said, looking at the ground below.
Darra followed. "The second?"
I smirked, dropping off the rocks to the ravine below. "Stick the landing," I said, landing softly on the balls of my feet and letting my knees bend.
Darra similarly landed gracefully. Of course. Was there anything she didn't do gracefully? "He'd missed both of them, then."
I laughed. "Exactly. A good look and you can afford a bad landing. A good landing and you can afford not looking. Miss both, and you're in trouble."
We continued. "You feel that?" she asked. "Something irritating. Like a feedback loop through a comm system or something."
I shrugged. "I don't. I'll follow your lead," I said. "Second story is about a comical coincidence. My roommate was in the culinary program at Byblos and would occasionally bring back stuff he'd made. Pastries, fruit dishes, all kinds of stuff. Amazing. Great to come back to, tell stories, and unwind a bit. Good guy. Wonder where he ended up. Anyway, that day...the ambulance speeder brings in someone off the street who was looked dazed and was vomiting. I ask what was going on and they tell me they'd gone to the garbage compactor behind a cafe and got some sweetberries and chocolate that were sitting there. Food poisoning, always fun, especially when you're already in poor health to begin with. So, after a lot of work bringing him back to something resembling healthy, I clock out for the day and come back to my apartment."
Darra looked at me in disbelief. "No. You gotta be kidding me," she said, barely keeping a straight face.
I nodded. "On the kitchen table was a bowl full of sweetberries glazed in chocolate."
Darra's laughter was the most beautiful sound I heard that day.
"Yeah, that's about how I reacted. My roommate was half-concerned that I'd lost my mind, so I had to explain. Then he started laughing," I said. "I can still remember how they tasted. Amazing."
At the edge of the horizon was a structure that seemed like an metallic spider stretched across a canyon. "That must be the place."
We set up the tent, like we'd done for the last few weeks. One thing kept sticking in my mind, though. I genuinely care about someone who is married to their job. A true calling, a noble calling. Someone I respect and admire, and their devotion to this calling is part of what I admire about them. I keep deluding myself that something might be possible between us, something more.
We reached the temple around noon the next day, and it was more impressive up close. Three "legs" stood astride the canyon, with three "arms" helping balance the structure. The arms met in a central structure, with a central pod suspended between each of them which was still blasting some kind of energy down into the canyon. Hovering in a close orbit was an octahedral structure with an odd symbol on it.
"I feel it. That grating sound. It's...stronger here. You'll have to take the lead on this one. I'm...I feel like a Bith too close to the speakers at a scrak concert," Darra said, grimacing. "I'll make it, but I have to just about shut down my Force senses to function."
As we walked closer to the leg nearest us, we saw it had a large door on it without any visible handle. I stretched out with my senses and felt a recessed area above the door. "Lift it up and set it back down. A maintenance-free Jedi door, made pretty much from plain metal. Clever." The door lifted easily to my telekinetic touch.
We walked through the structure. Each leg had residences, long-since abandoned. I suddenly wished I'd taken an archaeology elective so I could understand these parts more. There's an archaeology Watcher team that we could try to sneak over here, but as it is I'm just going to take lots of images with my holorecorder and hope they can piece stuff together.
The central structure was where the really interesting stuff was.
A host of labs, libraries, and study rooms filled the central structure. "Right. I'm going to collect this data so we can look at it later," I said, telekinetically hitting the key that would wirelessly transfer data to the memory card I carried. Wait. I've seen this language. Back when I went hover-skiing on Ando Prime, near Bendu Village. I don't know at all what it means, though...but I bet the Watchers could probably figure it out. Just need to get the data back to them.
I saw something sculpted into one of the walls, mercifully in Basic rather than Bendu. "Emotion, yet peace. Ignorance, yet knowledge. Passion, yet serenity. Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the Force," I read.
Darra stood there, looking at the old Code as though seeing a ghost. "I...have a lot to think about. I think the whole Order does."
A/N: Both of Riphath's stories are things I have witnessed firsthand working in an emergency room.
Theaxofwar
Definitely not a Bunny Cat in disguise.
- Location
- Standing right behind you
Ciaran
Who would you say is the most skilled one on one combatant in the Abyss Watchers? Who's the most skilled tactician (that isn't Thrawn)?
Who would you say is the most skilled one on one combatant in the Abyss Watchers? Who's the most skilled tactician (that isn't Thrawn)?