How many more times must I say it? I don't own Starcraft.
Mmmmmmm.....coffee.
--------
I am so embarrased. When they took off the blindfold, I found out that the guy I've been calling the demented gingerbread man is Aldaris. I'm surprised he hasn't strangled me or something because of it. Why didn't I recognize his voice?
It turns out that Aldaris really doesn't hate humans at all. He just thinks of us as inferior beings. I don't mind that so much, but what does bother me is how he every so often gives me a look like I'm insane. He's stopped talking to me so much. I don't think he likes speaking to humans.
I'm missing something; I just know it. Why do these Protoss put up with me, and why are they talking as if I've been to Aiur before? A Ferinax even approached me, asking if I had come to check on Tassadar. What is it about Tassadar that's so important? I mean, besides the fact he sacrifices himself.
Anyway, after I went to the bathroom (Protoss have the coolest bathrooms, they're big and always smell nice), I met Zearenal. He and two silent bodyguards (for the lack of a better word) were assigned to watch me and make sure I didn't escape. Lovely. But Zearenal was nice, and I didn't mind him so much.
I was supposed to be brought before some representatives of the Conclave for intense questioning, but then a female Protoss, Vanril, protested. She said it was cruel to keep an injured child from rest, and that I should get some food, not to mention a shower. I wondered why they let her argue so with authorities, but they relented and let me wait until the next day for questioning.
During all the arguing, Vanril kept calling me stuff like "little creature", "poor thing", and my personal favorite, "sweet little human girl". It was annoying, but I don't think she thought I understood her.
Vanril then showed me where the Protoss equivalent of the showers were, got me a little room, and put out some clean clothes. I think she liked doing that stuff for me, as if I were some lost little dog she found on the street. Specifically, a rat terrier. It's sort of an ugly dog, similar to the chiquaqua (how do you spell it?).
The shower was nice. Afterwards, I put on the robe left for me. It was meant for a very young Protoss, and white with blue markings. I wonder what the markings meant. Then I was given some water and a dish of something like rice, only a bit green looking. It was mostly bland, but I was really hungry at that point.
Then I was sent to the room for rest. It was tiny, with only a bed (huge, for a bed) and a desk and chair set. I was totally bored. Apparently my books were found at one point or another, and all of them were gathered in a little stack on the desk. I decided it was as good a time as any to do my homework, even though I might not even be able to go home again.
But it didn't take me so long as I thought it would to get that done. I stared out the window, thinking I should ask if I could see the city. There is so much about Protoss culture I wanted to learn. However, the door to the room was locked.
I opened the window, as soon as I figured out how to do it. There was a ledge just outside the window, too small for Toss but just perfect for me to sit on. The roof rounded off at the top, creating a curved wall next to the window. I crawled out onto the ledge, and leaned against the curved part. I looked out over the city, observing how lovely it was, also noticing that I was in a room several floors up from the ground. I then shut my eyes, deeply inhaling the fresh air.
The door opened in the room. "Child, where are you?"
I looked to see who it was. Aldaris.
"Get inside."
I crawled back in, observing that Aldaris had found the amulet. He looked at me annoyed, as if waiting for an explination.
Shrugging, I said, "It was too tight."
He put it on my wrist again, this time making it a bit more loose. "Do not let me find that you are without it again."
"Yes sir."
The Judicator locked the window, gave me a very strange look, and left with one last comment. "You shall find that is will be worth your time to rest before you are questioned."
"Um, yes sir." I always get the urge to say 'yes sir' in front of him.
The door shut behind Aldaris, and its lock clicked. I lay on the bed, staring at the white ceiling. I couldn't sleep, and I didn't want to think about what could happen to me next, so I began to read Return of the King, going to where I left off.
"Alas! For she was pitted against a foe beyond the strength of her mind and body. And those who will take a weapon to such an enemy must be sterner than steel, if the very shock shall not destroy them. It was an evil doom that set her in his path. For she is a fair maiden, fairest lady of a house of queens.
And yet I know not how I should speak of her. When I first looked on her and perceived her unhappiness, it seemed to me that I saw a white flower standing straight and proud, shapely as a lily, and yet knew that it was hard, as if wrought by elf-wrights out of steel. Or was it, maybe, a frost that had turned its sap to ice, and so it stood, bitter-sweet, still fair to see, but stricken, soon to fail and die? Her malady begins far back before this day, does it not, Eomer?"
I finished the book, but I was still bored. By this time, the sun was beginning to set on my second day here. The sight from the window was beautiful, a sparkling city preparing for the night. If only I was let out to see it, the zerg had never come to destroy it, and I knew I had some way to get home, then I would be able to observe the city as it should be seen. Happy.
If only it would last.
Eventually I slept.
------
The morning came. I awoke in time to see the last bit of darkness go. I didn't know what to do. Trying the door, I found it was still locked. Not that I was expecting otherwise, I just hoped.
My brush was in my backpack, so I tried to get my hair looking a bit less messy. It was tolerable when I finished, the best I could do without gel. Opening one of the drawers of the desk, I found a few more of the Protoss gowns. I found a yellow one that looked interesting, so I put it on. There were no shoes (as if the Protoss would have any), but since Protoss walked barefoot, I figured there wasn't anything particularly sharp on the floor.
Well, I was as ready as I could be for the questioning. What would they ask me? But more importantly, what would I tell them? I couldn't mention Starcraft, so I tried to push back my memories of playing the game.
"It doesn't exist." I thought.
I read The Hobbit until I heard the sound of someone unlocking the door. The book went down, and I patiently waited. In came Zearenal and the bodyguards.
"Good morning." I chirped. "What's the plan for today?"
This sort of startled Zearenal; I have no idea why. Maybe he was expecting me to be asleep or something.
"I am instructed to take you to members of the Conclave for questioning." he said. "your future will be decided there."
"Alright then, let's go." It was strange how cheerful I was without coffee.
We went off. Zearenal led the way, and the bodyguards stayed a few feet behind me. It was them I never understood; why was I so important that I had to have two large Sargas around to prevent my escape? But I let it go.
Zearenal opened the door to a moderately sized room. A ring of tables lined the room, with a lone one in the center; my table. So I sat. One the tables around were Judicatora of the Conclave. I wasn't nervous, for some reason. All I had to do was tell the truth.
They asked me how I got there, and I told them my story. I don't think any of them believed me, especially when I mentioned that I was from Bill, Wyoming. It seems to sound like I just came up with the name on a whim, or that it was the name of some guy I knew. Bill is sort of a pathetic name for a town.
Then they started to ask the hard questions.
One Protoss, who beared a strangely similar appearance to Hugo Weaving, asked, "What do you know of the rebellion of the former executor Tassadar?"
Tassadar had to come into this somewhere. "Um, nothing..." I answered.
"You know who he is?"
"Um, not really."
He gave me a funny look. "Are you certain that you were not involved with his abandonment of direct orders?"
"Of course not. I don't even know what you're talking about. Besides, Tassadar is mature enough to make his own decisions, I guess."
Another guy spoke. "How did you arrive here the first time?"
"Um.....I don't know..."
"It is true," said a rather frightening looking Toss in a corner. "that you have a particular fondness for children?"
What kind of question was that? "Well, yeah, I like kids."
"Even Protoss children?"
"Um, why is this relevant?"
"You will answer the question."
"Okay, I think Protoss children are cute too." I suddenly felt very unintelligent.
The weird questions continued. I answered as best I could, not even thinking about Starcraft in any way. If they found out about that, well, things would not go so good for me. But finally it ended with one last question.
"Do you understand what is written on this paper?"
I observed the writing. It was regular letters, but in a different pattern. "Well," I replied. "it's German. I know the general grammatical pattern and I have a dictionary, so give me a bit and I should be able to translate it."
Thus I was sent back to the room to work on it. I laid out my dictionary and a clean piece of paper, then set to work.
Mmmmmmm.....coffee.
--------
I am so embarrased. When they took off the blindfold, I found out that the guy I've been calling the demented gingerbread man is Aldaris. I'm surprised he hasn't strangled me or something because of it. Why didn't I recognize his voice?
It turns out that Aldaris really doesn't hate humans at all. He just thinks of us as inferior beings. I don't mind that so much, but what does bother me is how he every so often gives me a look like I'm insane. He's stopped talking to me so much. I don't think he likes speaking to humans.
I'm missing something; I just know it. Why do these Protoss put up with me, and why are they talking as if I've been to Aiur before? A Ferinax even approached me, asking if I had come to check on Tassadar. What is it about Tassadar that's so important? I mean, besides the fact he sacrifices himself.
Anyway, after I went to the bathroom (Protoss have the coolest bathrooms, they're big and always smell nice), I met Zearenal. He and two silent bodyguards (for the lack of a better word) were assigned to watch me and make sure I didn't escape. Lovely. But Zearenal was nice, and I didn't mind him so much.
I was supposed to be brought before some representatives of the Conclave for intense questioning, but then a female Protoss, Vanril, protested. She said it was cruel to keep an injured child from rest, and that I should get some food, not to mention a shower. I wondered why they let her argue so with authorities, but they relented and let me wait until the next day for questioning.
During all the arguing, Vanril kept calling me stuff like "little creature", "poor thing", and my personal favorite, "sweet little human girl". It was annoying, but I don't think she thought I understood her.
Vanril then showed me where the Protoss equivalent of the showers were, got me a little room, and put out some clean clothes. I think she liked doing that stuff for me, as if I were some lost little dog she found on the street. Specifically, a rat terrier. It's sort of an ugly dog, similar to the chiquaqua (how do you spell it?).
The shower was nice. Afterwards, I put on the robe left for me. It was meant for a very young Protoss, and white with blue markings. I wonder what the markings meant. Then I was given some water and a dish of something like rice, only a bit green looking. It was mostly bland, but I was really hungry at that point.
Then I was sent to the room for rest. It was tiny, with only a bed (huge, for a bed) and a desk and chair set. I was totally bored. Apparently my books were found at one point or another, and all of them were gathered in a little stack on the desk. I decided it was as good a time as any to do my homework, even though I might not even be able to go home again.
But it didn't take me so long as I thought it would to get that done. I stared out the window, thinking I should ask if I could see the city. There is so much about Protoss culture I wanted to learn. However, the door to the room was locked.
I opened the window, as soon as I figured out how to do it. There was a ledge just outside the window, too small for Toss but just perfect for me to sit on. The roof rounded off at the top, creating a curved wall next to the window. I crawled out onto the ledge, and leaned against the curved part. I looked out over the city, observing how lovely it was, also noticing that I was in a room several floors up from the ground. I then shut my eyes, deeply inhaling the fresh air.
The door opened in the room. "Child, where are you?"
I looked to see who it was. Aldaris.
"Get inside."
I crawled back in, observing that Aldaris had found the amulet. He looked at me annoyed, as if waiting for an explination.
Shrugging, I said, "It was too tight."
He put it on my wrist again, this time making it a bit more loose. "Do not let me find that you are without it again."
"Yes sir."
The Judicator locked the window, gave me a very strange look, and left with one last comment. "You shall find that is will be worth your time to rest before you are questioned."
"Um, yes sir." I always get the urge to say 'yes sir' in front of him.
The door shut behind Aldaris, and its lock clicked. I lay on the bed, staring at the white ceiling. I couldn't sleep, and I didn't want to think about what could happen to me next, so I began to read Return of the King, going to where I left off.
"Alas! For she was pitted against a foe beyond the strength of her mind and body. And those who will take a weapon to such an enemy must be sterner than steel, if the very shock shall not destroy them. It was an evil doom that set her in his path. For she is a fair maiden, fairest lady of a house of queens.
And yet I know not how I should speak of her. When I first looked on her and perceived her unhappiness, it seemed to me that I saw a white flower standing straight and proud, shapely as a lily, and yet knew that it was hard, as if wrought by elf-wrights out of steel. Or was it, maybe, a frost that had turned its sap to ice, and so it stood, bitter-sweet, still fair to see, but stricken, soon to fail and die? Her malady begins far back before this day, does it not, Eomer?"
I finished the book, but I was still bored. By this time, the sun was beginning to set on my second day here. The sight from the window was beautiful, a sparkling city preparing for the night. If only I was let out to see it, the zerg had never come to destroy it, and I knew I had some way to get home, then I would be able to observe the city as it should be seen. Happy.
If only it would last.
Eventually I slept.
------
The morning came. I awoke in time to see the last bit of darkness go. I didn't know what to do. Trying the door, I found it was still locked. Not that I was expecting otherwise, I just hoped.
My brush was in my backpack, so I tried to get my hair looking a bit less messy. It was tolerable when I finished, the best I could do without gel. Opening one of the drawers of the desk, I found a few more of the Protoss gowns. I found a yellow one that looked interesting, so I put it on. There were no shoes (as if the Protoss would have any), but since Protoss walked barefoot, I figured there wasn't anything particularly sharp on the floor.
Well, I was as ready as I could be for the questioning. What would they ask me? But more importantly, what would I tell them? I couldn't mention Starcraft, so I tried to push back my memories of playing the game.
"It doesn't exist." I thought.
I read The Hobbit until I heard the sound of someone unlocking the door. The book went down, and I patiently waited. In came Zearenal and the bodyguards.
"Good morning." I chirped. "What's the plan for today?"
This sort of startled Zearenal; I have no idea why. Maybe he was expecting me to be asleep or something.
"I am instructed to take you to members of the Conclave for questioning." he said. "your future will be decided there."
"Alright then, let's go." It was strange how cheerful I was without coffee.
We went off. Zearenal led the way, and the bodyguards stayed a few feet behind me. It was them I never understood; why was I so important that I had to have two large Sargas around to prevent my escape? But I let it go.
Zearenal opened the door to a moderately sized room. A ring of tables lined the room, with a lone one in the center; my table. So I sat. One the tables around were Judicatora of the Conclave. I wasn't nervous, for some reason. All I had to do was tell the truth.
They asked me how I got there, and I told them my story. I don't think any of them believed me, especially when I mentioned that I was from Bill, Wyoming. It seems to sound like I just came up with the name on a whim, or that it was the name of some guy I knew. Bill is sort of a pathetic name for a town.
Then they started to ask the hard questions.
One Protoss, who beared a strangely similar appearance to Hugo Weaving, asked, "What do you know of the rebellion of the former executor Tassadar?"
Tassadar had to come into this somewhere. "Um, nothing..." I answered.
"You know who he is?"
"Um, not really."
He gave me a funny look. "Are you certain that you were not involved with his abandonment of direct orders?"
"Of course not. I don't even know what you're talking about. Besides, Tassadar is mature enough to make his own decisions, I guess."
Another guy spoke. "How did you arrive here the first time?"
"Um.....I don't know..."
"It is true," said a rather frightening looking Toss in a corner. "that you have a particular fondness for children?"
What kind of question was that? "Well, yeah, I like kids."
"Even Protoss children?"
"Um, why is this relevant?"
"You will answer the question."
"Okay, I think Protoss children are cute too." I suddenly felt very unintelligent.
The weird questions continued. I answered as best I could, not even thinking about Starcraft in any way. If they found out about that, well, things would not go so good for me. But finally it ended with one last question.
"Do you understand what is written on this paper?"
I observed the writing. It was regular letters, but in a different pattern. "Well," I replied. "it's German. I know the general grammatical pattern and I have a dictionary, so give me a bit and I should be able to translate it."
Thus I was sent back to the room to work on it. I laid out my dictionary and a clean piece of paper, then set to work.