acts_of_gord | (no subject)

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alyx vance

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One thing for sure about the Bar: wherever it's teleporting things in from, the warehouse is top-notch. When Gordon went up to inquire about a movie, it produced not only a DVD of Star Wars, but an appropriate player and television to go with it. Rentals, of course, clearly marked as such, but still.

"I probably should've asked for some popcorn too," Gordon notes as he gets the last few cables plugged in. "Then again, I think we're both full at the moment. Are you ready?"

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The storm troopers do very little to prove their intelligence any further. Which is just as well for our heroes, really. Especially Kenobi, who seems quite happy to be surrounded by idiots as he gets to work.

On the other hand, Han charging the stormtroopers and everybody getting separated so deep in enemy territory it makes Nova Prospekt look like the time-out corner at Montessori School? That doesn't really speak too well for the heroes, either. In their defense, they are performing awfully well as far as evasion goes for horribly unprepared people.

...at least, until Luke and Leia find themselves teetering on the edge of a chasm in the middle of the base and the retractable bridge doesn't seem to be working.

"Why is that even there??"

"The Empire's got a thing for gigantic chasms in their architecture for no good reason. At least the Combine did something with theirs."

Explaining the throne room in Return of the Jedi's going to be fun.

"But why make the bridge retract at all? Just closing the door would make an effective barrier..."

As the movie has just demonstrated when a set of blast doors closes between Han and his pursuers.

Edited 2008-10-07 03:58 (UTC)

"It's more visually dramatic this way? I don't know," Gordon says. "That and maybe they wanted the troopers to be able to do what Luke just pulled, there."

Man, he could've used a grappling cable like that in more than a few places.

"Kinda hokey, isn't it?"

Meanwhile, the movie has shifted scenes; instead of hallways full of Stormtroopers, there are two robed figures approaching one another warily, each wielding a lightsaber.

"I've been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again at last. The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner; now I am the master."

"You should see what the movie studio did with a guy with a whip."

"Only a master of evil, Darth."

And the duel commences. Gordon leans forward to watch; the saber fighting was the only worthwhile part of the horrible, horrible mess that was the prequel. This is decades older than that combat, but it's still worth the price of admission.

"Your powers are weak, old man."

"You can't win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine."

Alyx is watching with equal fascination; she's never seen lightsaber-on-lightsaber action before.

But intercut with that are the rebels and droids sneaking back onto the ship, and when Kenobi spots Luke and abruptly stops fighting...

"NOOOOO!"

Alyx jumps in surpise. "The hell was that about?!"

"The Vortigaunts aren't the only ones who don't fear the interval of darkness," Gordon murmurs. "Kenobi's got the Force up his sleeve."

Run, Luke, run!

"I can't believe he's gone."

"There wasn't anything you could have done."

"C'mon, buddy, we're not out of this yet..."

"...now those are some cool guns."

"I never was much good with mounted guns," Gordon confesses. "They kept getting away from me at Black Mesa."

"Gotta say, though, I like the TIE pilots' moves. Those men know how to fly."

"I wonder how they maneuver. I mean, they're in space, the wings don't actually do anything..."

"Some kind of particle stream propulsion, I think. TIE's supposed to stand for 'Twin Ion Engine', from what I remember. The wings are more in the way of protection for the main body of the fighter than actual maneuvering."

"So they'd vary the power on one or the other to turn." Alyx nods. "Makes sense."

The gunfight is over and the Princess has just stormed out of the cockpit. Luke turns to Han. "So... what d'you think of her?"

"I'm tryin' not to, kid."

"Good."

"Still... she's got a lot of spirit. I dunno, whaddaya think? You think a princess and a guy like me--"

"No."

Alyx lets out a snort of laughter.

"He's decisive, I'll give him that," Gordon murmurs. Hey, for a movie like this he's got a pretty strict no spoilers policy.

When the first projection of the Death Star schematics comes up Gordon notes, "This was an editing mistake on the director's part. The main gun isn't located anywhere near the Death Star's equator, but they didn't have the budget to fix the computer graphics before patching it into the movie. I don't even remember how they tried to justify the discrepancy."

"...The approach will not be easy. You're required to maneuver straight down this trench and skim the surface to this point. The target area is only two meters wide. It's a small thermal exhaust port right below the main port. The shaft leads directly to the reactor system. A precise hit will start a chain reaction which should destroy the station."

Alyx rolls her eyes. "It's always the ventilation system, isn't it? You'd think somebody would figure out how to secure the vents by now."

"In their defense, the station is covered in guns," Gordon points out. "And there's the fighter fleet. But yes, they could've done better." A moment's thought and he adds, "Black Mesa did a better job of securing access to their reactor system. I still want to find whoever designed it and make him run his own gauntlet."

"So...you got your reward and you're just leaving, then?"

"That's right, yeah! I got some old debts I've got to pay off with this stuff. Even if I didn't, you don't think I'd be fool enough to stick around here, do you? Why don't you come with us? You're pretty good in a fight. I could use you."

"Come on! Why don't you take a look around? You know what's about to happen, what they're up against. They could use a good pilot like you. You're turning your back on them."

"What good's a reward if you ain't around to use it? Besides, attacking that battle station ain't my idea of courage. It's more like suicide."

"Same old song and dance," mutters Alyx darkly.

"All wings, report in."
"Red 10, standing by."
"Red 7, standing by."
"Red 3, standing by."
"Red 6, standing by."
"Red 9, standing by."
"Red 2, standing by."
"Red 11, standing by."
"Red 5, standing by."
"Lock S-foils in attack position..."

Gordon doesn't smile. No spoilers, after all.

The squadrons draw closer to the vast fortress; the pilots exclaim in surprise, and then the defenses kick in. Lasers everywhere, and explosions on both sides-

"This is Red Five; I'm going in!"

Alyx leans toward the screen, watching the unfolding battle with rapt fascination. The rebel pilots are dodging lasers, firing lasers of their own, and then the TIE fighters begin their pursuit.

"I'm hit, but not bad. R2, see what you can do with it. Hang on back there..."

"That is one brave little robot."

"No kidding," Gordon agrees. He always did like R2.

Gold Leader and his Y-wings move in for their run amongst the chaos of battle. Too bad they've attracted Vader's attention.

"I'll take them myself! Cover me!"

"A little cocky, are we?" murmurs Alyx.

For good reason, apparently. Vader is gunning down the rebels one by one. Only one of the first wave of X-Wing pilots survives long enough to fire on the weak point.

"It's a hit!"

"Negative... negative. It didn't go in. Just impacted on the surface."

Vader's scything through the rebel fighters, one after another after another. Wedge gets off light, scrambling free barely in time; Biggs, not so much. And Artoo is scrambling with everything the little droid has in him to keep Luke's fighter operational. With Vader's fingers tightening on the fighter's controls, Luke goes for his trench run and switches on the targeting system-

Use the Force, Luke!

"Luke, you switched off your targeting computer. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm all right."

He might be, but R2D2 isn't. Alyx gasps sharply as Vader scores a direct hit on the droid.

Gordon squeezes Alyx's hand reassuringly.

"Rebel base, in range."

"You may fire when ready."

"Commence primary ignition."

The TIE fighters are closing in on Luke's fighter; closer, closer...

"I have you now!" says Vader, making ready to fire.