Ray's room

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From here...

The door opens to a room decorated in blue and brown and the occasional bit of silver. The carpet is dark blue, the bedspread a lighter one (it's a bed for two people, clearly); the desk is wooden and brown and stacked with papers. And there are the bookshelves- wire things, silver wire, stacked with reference volumes and the occasional novel and quite a few slim, very neat cases-

"DVDs," Ray says, nodding that way. "Digital video discs. We store our films on those for private playback. I've got a player around here somewhere..."

Comments

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If Ray were drinking soda right now, it would come out his nose. As it stands, he just makes an embarrassing, wet-sounding snort.

"Yes. Exactly. Mm, tasty babies. Here-"

He tosses A New Hope in Mary's direction. It wasn't much of a reach.

"That's the first one filmed. There's a different one that was first chronologically, in the context of the story, but I think the movies work best if they're watched in something close to the order they were filmed. The whole thing is two hours long, but you should at least get an idea from the first twenty minutes or so."

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She catches it, and contemplates the case.

"Nice cover. How does this playback function? No doubt a lot different than our archival system."

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"Lasers read ones and zeroes encoded in microscopic pits on the bottom surface of the disk, and the player translates that into image and sound on a screen. We used to use magnetic tape, but that was an analog system. These are a lot clearer and more precise, plus you can fit way more information onto any of these disks."

Ray comes up with the player from somewhere near the desk, having casually shoved Equilibrium into his first available pants pocket with a button-flap. "Here we go. Sorry the screen's a little small. There's a bigger one downstairs but I don't want to disturb people."

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"Ours are smaller," Mary points out, thoughtfully. "The discs, that is, not the screens -- it's fine, my eyes are all right. Haven't worn them away from reading just yet," she adds, opening the case and twirling the DVD around her finger.

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"The old videotapes were big and clunky," Ray says, indicating the approximate dimensions of a VHS tape. "We've got miniature audio discs and computer discs, but right now this is it for video playback. Here..."

He indicates the slot in the front of the player for the DVD, having flipped the machine on.

"This movie was released in 1977. This was part of my childhood." And he guides the DVD in, presses PLAY, and sits back.

Episode IV
A New Hope

It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire...

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The scrolling text makes Mary's eyes swim a little, but she quickly squints and adjusts, leaning just slightly closer.

"It's very interesting," she says. When the 'droids show up, though, she is silent, just watching.

Oooh, space wars.

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Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope...

"A lot of the story is very similar to an older film called The Hidden Fortress. I may have to show you that someday."

It's said that outside Libria lie vast barren deserts. Tattooine's gonna be interesting when the droids get there. On the other hand, well... Vader.

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"I'd like to make structural comparison, yes."

Yeah, Vader's helmet is the first thing that makes her jump.

"The evil empire is run by sweepers. Not surprised."

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"He's the emperor's right hand man- second most dangerous man in the Empire, really," Ray says. "And check out his flankers. They call those Storm Troopers."

The Imperial Senate will not sit still for this. When they hear you've attacked a diplomatic...
Don't act so surprised, your highness. You weren't on any mercy mission this time. Several transmissions were beamed to this ship by rebel spies. I want to know what happened to the plans they sent you.
I don't know what you're talking about. I am a member of the Imperial Senate on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan...
You are a part of the Rebel Alliance and a traitor! Take her away!

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Wince.

Followed by another wince.

"... Poor woman."

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"Yeah," Ray says. "It gets worse."

The scene cuts to Tattooine, to the droids staggering across the surface and calling each other names- well, one doing the name calling, the other one just whistles. There's a transport, and there are Jawas, and- ah, yes, here comes the scene with Owen buying the droids and Artoo making a fuss. And Luke doing the droid maintenance...

You got a lot of carbon scoring here. It looks like you boys have seen a lot of action.
With all we've been through, sometimes I'm amazed we're in as good condition as we are, what with the Rebellion and all.
You know of the Rebellion against the Empire?
That's how we came to be in your service, if you take my meaning, sir.
Have you been in many battles?
Several, I think. Actually, there's not much to tell. I'm not much more than an interpreter, and not very good at telling stories. Well, not at making them interesting, anyways.
Well, my little friend, you've got something jammed in here real good. Were you on a cruiser or...

On screen, something breaks loose with a snap, sending Luke tumbling head over heels. He sits up and sees a twelve-inch three-dimensional hologram of Leia Organa, the Rebel senator, being projected from the face of little Artoo. The image is a rainbow of colors as it flickers and jiggles in the dimly lit garage. Luke's mouth hangs open in awe.

Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope...

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"The lonely seabird waits," Mary murmurs, watching, eyes still wide.

"This is an amazing work."

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"Seabird?" Ray echoes curiously. On the screen Leia repeats her single line over and over as Luke questions the droids.

Obi-Wan Kenobi? I wonder if he means old Ben Kenobi?
I beg your pardon, sir, but do you know what he's talking about?
Well, I don't know anyone named Obi-Wan, but old Ben lives out beyond the Dune Sea. He's kind of a strange old hermit... I wonder who she is. It sounds like she's in trouble. I'd better play back the whole thing.

Artoo beeps something to Threepio.

He says the restraining bolt has short circuited his
recording system. He suggests that if you remove the bolt, he might be
able to play back the entire recording.

Luke pops off the bolt, and gets called to dinner. Ray leans forward a little, watching.

Owen, he can't stay here forever. Most of his friends have gone. It means so much to him.
I'll make it up to him next year. I promise.
Luke's just not a farmer, Owen. He has too much of his father in him.
That's what I'm afraid of.

The giant twin suns of Tatooine slowly disappear behind a distant dune range. Luke stands watching them for a few moments, then reluctantly enters the entrance to the homestead.

And the droids are gone.

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"... now, okay, did I miss the introduction of his father?" Mary asks, utterly oblivious.

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Ray shakes his head. "Nah, they're foreshadowing. You find out more about his father as the movie goes on."

It's a legitimate question, after all.

Meanwhile, Threepio reveals that Artoo ran off. Luke scrambles off to look for him, but gets called back before he can manage it. Come the morning Luke heads off in his speeder, Threepio beside him, to look for R2. From high on a rock mesa, the tiny Landspeeder can be seen gliding across the desert floor. Suddenly in the foreground two weather-beaten Sandpeople shrouded in their grimy desert cloaks peer over the edge of the rock mesa. One of the marginally human creatures raises a long ominous laser rifle and points it at the speeder but the second creature grabs the gun before it can be fired. There is an argument; they head for their huge furry Banthas-

"Those are puppets," Ray murmurs. "Big ol' animated puppets. You gotta admire the visual effects."

There are two Banthas down there but I don't see any...wait a second, they're Sandpeople all right. I can see one of them now.

And even as he's saying that something crosses his view, and the Sandpeople attack.

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Mary winces yet again.

"The artwork is ideal, yes -- you can probably tell this is the first time I've seen a film that emulates how the various katas might work -- but -- well."

She's in just a little bit too much awe.

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"This? This is nothing, kata-wise. Wait until you see the sword fighting later-"

A great howling moan is heard echoing throughout the canyon which sends the Sandpeople fleeing in terror. Artoo moves even tighter into the shadows as the slight swishing sound that frightened off the Sandpeople grows even closer, until a shabby old desert-rat-of-a-man appears and leans over Luke.

Hello there! Come here my little friend. Don't be afraid.

He puts his hand on Luke's head gently.

Don't worry, he'll be all right. And Luke wakes.

What happened?
Rest easy, son, you've had a busy day. You're fortunate you're still in one piece.
Ben? Ben Kenobi! Boy, am I glad to see you!
The Jundland wastes are not to be traveled lightly. Tell me young Luke, what brings you out this far?
Oh, this little droid! I think he's searching for his former master...I've never seen such devotion in a droid before...there seems to be no stopping him. He claims to be the property of an Obi-Wan Kenobi. Is he a relative of yours? Do you know who he's talking about?

Ben ponders this for a moment, scratching his scruffy beard.

Obi-Wan Kenobi...Obi-Wan? Now thats a name I haven't heard in a long time...a long time.

They head for Ben's hut with the droids, since the Sandpeople are only going to get more numerous.

No, my father didn't fight in the wars. He was a navigator on a
spice freighter.
That's what your uncle told you. He didn't hold with your father's ideals. Thought he should have stayed here and not gotten involved.
You fought in the Clone Wars?
Yes, I was once a Jedi Knight the same as your father.

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"So that's what a Jedi is," Mary murmurs, head tilted almost all the way over.

"Clones? That's ... new."

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Ray nods. "Yeah, there's a whole movie later in the series just about the clones-"

I wish I'd known him.
He was the best star-pilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior. I understand you've become quite a good pilot yourself. And he was a good friend. Which reminds me...

And now Ray's grinning, a bug damn fool smile as Ben digs out a short handle- silvery- with a number of gadgets and sections attached to it.

I have something here for you. Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn't allow it. He feared you might follow old Obi-Wan on some damned-fool idealistic crusade like your father did.
What is it?
Your father's lightsaber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not
as clumsy or as random as a blaster.

Luke pushes a button on the handle. A long beam of blue-white light shoots out about four feet and flickers there. The light plays across the ceiling.

An elegant weapon for a more civilized time. For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire...

Ray detaches a similar device from his belt and holds it up for Mary to see. It's not turned on at the moment.

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Blink.

Yeah. Blink again.

Headtilt.

"Does yours -- does it do that?"

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For answer- since the movie's still paused- Ray gets up and backs away a few steps, then flicks the switch on. Same noise, same flickering blade of light, but this one's cast with green where Luke's is blue.

"I made this one. Had to figure out how to work the power cells- that's almost impossible by standard Terran chemistry rules, but I got the hang of it- focus the light down, collimate all the lesser crystalline units, persuade the thing to terminate itself instead of assuming laser length, grow the main focusing crystal in solution... but yeah."

He's smiling like a small child with a big toy.

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As is she, looking absolutely delighted, rather like a librarian whose stories have just come to life before her very eyes.

Picture the Pagemaster, with double the excitement.

"That's amazing."