The Empire was the galactic unified government. It came into power around when I was born. There were parades and speeches and the whole place crawling with soldiers
Oh, I know. Few people are singularly good or evil, though I wonder how much our Instructors would care about the difference. They need to get their job done.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
I can sympathise.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Rebellion costs more than you'd be willing to pay here. You must know that.
[Luke, for once, manages to stop himself before he says something regrettable. Something about the difference between punishment and torture. How would he know? He didn't undergo it.]
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
If you say so.
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
It seemed harsher than it needed to be. The Empire was good at that too
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Suffice it to say, if the Instructors wanted us dead, we would be. It's all right, Luke. There are worse things than what happened today.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Clowns, for example. Those, I can't abide. Have you ever seen one? Terrible things.
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You don't have to reassure me. I'm glad you're alright.
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
And I've never seen a clown. Lucky me I guess?
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Incredibly so. What do they use to frighten small children on their birthdays where you are from, then?
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Fine we don't have to talk about it
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
No one scared kids on their birthdays. Except mine I guess but only because it was right around Empire Day.
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There is little to talk about. It didn’t last for long.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Empire Day?
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You know best.
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
The Empire was the galactic unified government. It came into power around when I was born. There were parades and speeches and the whole place crawling with soldiers
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It's always nice to be greeted by a guard of honour. It was kind of them to celebrate the day.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
I take it you weren't touched by their patriotism.
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When I was little I'd hear stories about The Empire forcefully conscripting soldiers. They tortured people and exploded planets
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
Empire Day was very bitter for a lot of people
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I see.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
So you feel right at home, then.
[ Saints, Luke. Please don't do anything stupid. ]
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No. I grew up on a desert planet
[HA JOKE IT'S A JOKE it's a terrible joke]
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to go on a tirade. It's just something I've been thinking about lately
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
I'm glad you're feeling better. That is what I really wanted to say
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FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
That would involve too much sand for my liking. That explains why you can’t swim, then? It’s a shame, there’s nothing better than the water.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
I don’t blame you for being angry. You didn’t know what you’d signed up for here, did you?
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That's what my uncle used to say. He was a moisture farmer.
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
I'm not angry. I'm disappointed to see there are people like this all over
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
Yes I was tricked into being here. Were you?
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No. But I should have been.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
You're a better man than I am, Luke. Do yourself a favour, and never let them see it.
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I think it's too late for that. And even if it wasn't they must know I fought for the rebellion before I came here. They're not stupid
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
I don't know about better. It doesn't matter how much good someone has in them just that they have any. You do Sturmhond. We all do
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
Even our instructors
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Oh, I know. Few people are singularly good or evil, though I wonder how much our Instructors would care about the difference. They need to get their job done.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
I can sympathise.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Rebellion costs more than you'd be willing to pay here. You must know that.
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I'm not sure I like that metaphor. If I can't afford peace what am I buying instead?
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
How much does that cost over the years living in danger and fear? Not to mention the people I care about stuck there with me
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
I think it looks like a better deal than it is
[And after that little speech on the banality of evil, have some whining:]
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
But before you ask I'm not going to run off and do something dangerous. Everyone keeps thinking I'm about to do something stupid or I already have
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Well. So long as we're clear on that point.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
What about the people back home? Aren't they benefiting from the deal? You're buying more than the status quo.
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These people tricked me and many others into being here
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
I don't know why everyone thinks I should trust them not to go back on their word when it suits them
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It just doesn't matter all that much, in the end. ]
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
What choice do you have, Luke?
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Exactly and they know that we don't have any other options so they don't try to gain our loyalty or trust
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There have always been punishments where performance was not what they required. They are consistent, you can trust in that.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
No one enjoys being on the wrong end of a punishment. That doesn’t mean that it was not deserved.
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FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
If you say so.
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
It seemed harsher than it needed to be. The Empire was good at that too
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But he knows better than to say so, especially over the Network. And especially today.
Instead: ]
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
I'm sure the Empire were. I'm sure that you, and your people, were on the end of that pain, as well.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
When you were, Luke. Did you ask for them to stop?
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Yes
[Er.]
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
Sort of. Sometimes I begged. Other times I demanded
FROM: skywalker.luke@cdc.org
The war was a very odd time for me I don't think I had the average person's experience
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Well, what's average, really? I don't think you're much older than I am, by the look of you.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Did they do it? When you asked.
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