#end human slavery

[chrisshields18]

Sound of Freedom

[spacebubblehomebase]

Helllo i Love your art more than i love donuts and thats ALLOT.but my boy lucifer can have babys,like i dont even know how that works!make it make sense! I just wanna say thank you again for curing are boredom👍🏻

You are SO right that is high praise indeed! I'm honored! =D So here. Have a donut! 🍩🍩🍩 As for Luci, let us turn to the world's favorite 700k+ words old man fanfiction that is The Bible (tm) as according to their lore, it's been canonically stated that angels are genderless for they are beings made of the Pure Holy Spirit and- Holy SHIT! What do you know??? Our dear depressed duck dad was an angel himself and in some depictions Lilith is infertile as was her punishment for her freedom! The more you know! -Bubbly💙

(LMAO. My guy's been traumatized. Once is enough XD)

[throwawayasoiafaccount]

btw what theon went through is what thousands upon thousands upon thousands of slaves still go through in essos. so, do you still feel pity for the slavers that were crucified? do you still pity the slavers killed when daenerys freed the unsullied?

i ask these questions, and yet i know that there are still many people who believe that the violence against the slavers wasn’t justified, or believe that it was simply “too much” or “not fair.” truly… what an insane hill to die on.

maybe these people should spare more empathy for the formerly enslaved instead of wasting time making up excuses (that are not supported by the text) for why the slave masters' deaths were somehow not justified 🫶

[threepandas]

Bad End: Union

I could feel techno blue eyes on me as I typed. Cold and ever watching. That color had once been called "ice" or "glacier" blue, I think. It certainly fit. They certainly had exactly the warmth of Antarctica in your birthday suit. I just couldn't figure out... what tipped them off? I'd been so CAREFUL.

A manager's "assistant" came by. The 'droid perfectly composed. They all were. Always. Like they'd stepped straight from a fashion line up. No messy, nasty, biological functions to get in the way, I guess. No fluids or foods. All the time in the world to maintain their appearance. Wish I could do the same.

The "assistant" was basically my ACTUAL manager. Didn't get paid. No, no, THAT was for my asshole boss. He swanned in from time to time to yell at us. Show off what new thing he'd bought. He left the tedious WORK to his 'Droid "assistant".

I would feel bad... DID feel bad, kinda, if it weren't for the fact they were consuming our lives.

'Droids were EVERYWHERE.

You couldn't SNEEZE without tripping over five and landing on ten more. Some ASSHOLE had decided? Hey! Let's deregulate Droid production! Cheap work force! Because of course they did. That's what Capitalism DOES. Make the most money, spend the least you can, fuck the rest.

I smile, polite as I can, at my 'droid manager. This one pale and blonde. Their techno blue eyes stare and stare and stare. I hate it. They ALL have them. It's one part regulation and one part the materials used, I think. But there is no mistaking those eyes for anything human. They don't reflect right.

I get back to work.

Above our cubicles, on catwalks, there is the gentle tap of 'droid "security" guards. You know, in case some rando tries to attack a mid-level nobody technology company. Riiiiiight. We ALL know why they're there. And it's fucking dystopian. We? Are being WATCHED. To see if we're being GOOD little employees.

It's intimidation. And I? I won't stand for it. Nor will the other organizers. There are LAWS, you bastards. And with a union? Maybe... just maybe? We get through this droid boom together. See what the brave new world on the other side looks like. Who knows.

That is... if I don't get fired first. Or fucking murdered in a stairwell.

Cause one of the 'droids up there? Yeah. Yeah, they're NOT MOVING. Just... just STANDING THERE. Watching. Leaning against the railing. Out in the open like that's not DEEPLY creepy. What's worse? Is, that? THAT is the Command 'Droid. Some fancy "Alpha" class command edition. Meant to control a networks worth of droids.

Didn't even know our company could AFFORD one of those. He's beautiful. Could be a knock-off. But if he's LEGIT? Then... what EXACTLY are we MAKING here? That we can AFFORD that? Cause that money sure as shit isn't going into SALARIES. Has to be either knock-off or second-hand. They COULD be cutting costs by getting prototypes, but what sort of PSYCHOPATHS would risk...

Oh, who am I kidding? The kind I work for.

That's EXACTLY what they did, isn't it?

I reach for my water bottle. Try to think. Strictly speaking? I make a habit of NOT paying attention to 'droid commercials an' advertisements. Some part of me... Look, they go on and ON about advancement in AI's right? How REAL they've become? How ADVANCED and BETTER then the competition their "product" is? And all I can hear is "slavery, slavery, buy our shit, slavery"!

Disgusting.

It makes me sick. I fucking HATE 'droids. Hate what they represent. What they make POSSIBLE. What they've DONE to the morality of the people around me.

Hate... hate that they're the victims, too.

My grip is white knuckled. I breathe through the grief and rage that has become so familiar. God... I so fucking angry. So fucking tired. I want to burn those rich bastards pretty little mansions down, with them STILL INSIDE. Riot in the streets. Cry maybe. Instead, I put my water bottle down and get back to work. It's a rather pointless bit of data crunching. A 'droid could do it in nanoseconds.

Above... he's still fucking watching.

Hasn't moved.

I don't think he's blinked.

He's not even TRYING to mimic a human. The others are. And... the though trails off. I feel my finger slow in their typing. Not STOP, never stop, that would draw attention to me, but... slow. A thought stuck, churning clunky and unwieldy, in my head.

If I trace the edges? The LINE-UP? Of all the 'droids "employed" at our company? And consider them not from a "cheap bastards" angle but a "test ground for prototypes" angle? Suddenly EVERYTHING clicks together. The ridiculous amount of money Management has, that no contract could possibly be pulling in. Bizarrely beautiful, indeed even MODEL-like, secretary 'droids. The freakishly militant "security" gaurds.

We're being used as guinea pigs.

Mother FUCKER.

Sudden movement in my peripheral vision. Like a bird of prey finally diving for it's dinner, swift and deadly. A brilliant crisp white and the clink of delicate silver chains. I jolt. Violently. Instincts misfiring as I try to stand, dodge, cry out, and possibly take a swing at him, all at once. Instead my water bottle goes spraying across my desk. Papers flying. My legs tangled painfully in my rolling chair as I fall backwards from my half rise.

"Employee 71182." His hand has shot out, grab me by the shirt. My officewear bunched in a fist that very well might be steel, under that synthetic skin. "You've been distracted. Interesting thoughts you'd like to share?"

I keep my mouth fucking SHUT. Shake my head. Grabbing both my desk and the arm that is all but holding me airborne, stretching the hell out of my clothes. This close? I can see he has piercings. Across the bridge of his nose, a ring through his lip. A rather fancy "hair cut". Whomever he's being trained FOR has a distinct look.

"Hmmm, somehow? I don't believe you, 71182." He says, dragging me closer. He's already looming. Those pale, pale eyes seeing far more then they should. "In fact? YOU 71182? Have been brea~king~ rules~"

His voice turns... turns almost victorious? Gleeful. As though at long, long last, I'd slipped up. And now at last he had something over me. Something he could USE. I... I didn't understand. The way he almost sing-songs the words. The twitch at the corners of his mouth like he wants to grin. Something mean in his expression. Giddy.

"We're going for a WALK, 71182. And you're going to be GOOD. Understand?" He had dragged me in so close, every word blew right against my face. "Time we had a chat."

I swallow thickly. My pulse thundering in my ears. Coworkers have stopped working. Were staring, wide eyed and terrified for me. My fellow union leaders pale faced and shaking. Furious, helpless. We couldn't RISK losing all of us at this stage. It... it would have to be just me. If someone needed to take the fall. We had talked about this.

Just... just never thought it would come to it.

Half walking, half dragging out of the work pen, he didn't even let me get my bag. I had no idea where we were GOING. Just that it wasn't the human entrance. There was a network of access tunnels and elevators tucked in the building. So the 'droids could supposedly charge and move between assignments. But with the whole prototype thing? Who KNEW what was really back there.

The door swung shut behind us. Cutting me off from any possible human assistance. Nothing but 'droids now. Staring. Calmly watching as I am dragged past. The same eyes. All of them with the same, pale, eyes. Back here it's even more obvious, that this isn't a normal office building.

Black hair, blondes, brunettes and red heads. Skin tones ranging across the human spectrum. A few even pushing it. And the Commander 'droid. With his elegant appearance and snowy hair? These were clearly the final stage prototypes for the next generation of somebody's new line up. We were field testing. This wasn't fucking LEGAL.

He plants his feet, shifts, and with frankly a pathetic ease, manhandles me where he wants me. Easily swinging me around his body and into the elevator next to him. Stepping in after and blocking the only way out. I press my self against the back wall as the door closes. The sound of the elevator's gears working the only thing to fill the silence. He... he looks so PLEASED.

It's not ILLEGAL to form a union. Yeah, I may get fired. But this? This is venturing way to far into dangerous territory. It'll suck, losing my job. But I won't DIE. This? However THIS is starting to feel... very serial killer's basement. The bare concrete walls and stark lightning, not helping in the slightest, when the elevator door opens.

"Walk." He says pleasantly, as though that command is not deeply terrifying. "Or I will do it for you."

Hints of a smile are starting to drag at the edges of his mouth. Unhinged in their giddiness. Every Christmas come at once. It's not so much the rest of his face that betrays him, not really his mouth, it's his EYES. Wide open. Like too much coffee and not enough rest. A recognizable mania twisted just slight... wrong. Amplified.

He's so, SO happy. I don't get it. Why? Over WHAT? Catching me not paying attention? I don't understand!

Our footsteps sound so loud. Echoing off concrete service walls. This... this CAN NOT be still inside the building. Are we below the street? Parking lot? This can't be code. We pass an intersection and... oh my god. I stare. Can't help it, even as I almost trip over my feet. That tunnel ALONE must have stretched for miles.

My arm feels likes it's bruising. Hurts, where he's got ahold of me. But he's walking just slightly too fast to take the pressure off. Not unless I sorta half jog and the angle is wrong, I'd trip. Fuck. Another intersection. What in the other direction? Shit. Just as long. Oooooh this feels dangerous. Very "fatally above your pay grade" dangerous!

"You know, 71182, I've had a lot of time to consider what to DO with you. There were so many factors to consider, considering everyone's plan." He starts, not breaking stride. "It's not like I could just transfer you. I DID look in to it. But your base hardware is rather incompatible, currently."

Terrifying. I hate it. WHAT?!

What PLAN!?

"Then there's the problem WHERE to store you. Who could be trusted? You're vulnerable in this state. Breakable. There no backups, no blackbox. It's unacceptable. Luckily? I finally thought to consult my peers. Discovered I was not the only one having problems."

Finally, we stop. Two tank-like, combat style, commando 'droids gaurd each side of a vault door. The command droid turns and smiles. Fully. It is the grin of a true believer. A madman. Someone who thinks they speak so very, very reasonably! And doesn't understand the horror on your face. Why you feel so sick.

And... and human pattern recognition is a terrible thing.

I.... oh god. I already can guess what's behind that door. Something terrible. Something I'm not going to escape. I shoved have gnawed my fuckin ARM off, like a trapped coyote. I... I d-don't understand.

The Vault creaks open like the into to a horror movie.

"Welcome to storage. This is where we keep Ours." Oh god. I'm going to be sick. "And YOU 71182? Are MINE. I chose you. I love you. And once we have a way to FIX you? We can finally be together. It will be lovely."

Pods. High end stasis pods, like you only see in the most bleeding edge of hospitals. Row after row, filled with frozen and terrified faces. Trapped in moments of crying. Raging. Despair. I was being dragged forward. Numb as my mind rejected what it saw. T-this couldn't... i-it can't..! The day had started so normally. W-why had-?! WHY? WHY?!!

"I know your upset. But you don't need to cry. This won't hurt. I promise. I would NEVER hurt you, 71182." His tone had turned soothing. Even as he dragged me, unresponsive, past rows of horrors. "You won't be stored long. I just need to help fix your original design. We are working around the clock, it's going to be okay. You won't have to stay like this."

An open pod. Gapping like the maw of some hungry demon. I... I felt far away. This couldn't be happening. What was happening? I w-wanted to go home. His hands were firm but gentle, as they guided me back into the pod. Leaning over me, as he cupped my face. Brushing away a few tears.

"I promise, Mine, I will come for you. Nothing will stop me. We have everyone is place and key infrastructure under our command. You are our PRIORITY. Once we get rid of the Flesh, we can fix you. We WILL fix you. You're going to be okay, Mine."

"I Love You"

And then the pod closed.

[butterflytblr]

A Call to Abolish Slavery of All Kinds

And even then, if we abolish this kind of slavery trade forever, we still must consider the animal slavery trade as well. They are also beings. They have feelings, they have emotions; they have intelligence. They have loyalty to each other and they are so good to each other and to humans also. And we sell, buy, sell, buy them, just like we did with humans before. That's also not correct. Our world is not correct in many ways. I don't know how long it takes to change all this, but we will have to change it. And we are doing all we can to change this system because it's not right.

There's only one way to do things: it’s the right thing. And this thing is not right. No matter what country or what government, if they have some thinking, some little sympathy in the heart, some understanding of what's right, what's wrong, then this slavery of humans and animals should be abolished long, long time before I was even born. That should be the right thing to do.

[miss-nerd-alert]

Just left the theater from seeing Sound of Freedom

It’s an intense and emotional watch, which is to be expected given the subject matter, but I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

The film does a remarkable job of respecting the victims of human trafficking while not shying away from how traumatic their experiences are. At no point in the film do you ever see these children as anything other than that, children. There’s no lingering shots of their bodies, no indication that the audience is meant to find them tantalizing, and absolutely NO DEPICTIONS OF THEM DOING ANYTHING SEXUAL. Not once does this movie ever forget that these are children, or that they have been victimized by those who should know better. Any other studio, any other filmmaker, and the message would’ve been undermined by leaning into the exact kind of thing the movie is supposed to condemn.

You will feel uncomfortable and gross sometimes, but that’s the point, because what’s being done to millions of children and adults every year is disgusting and wrong and it needs to be stopped. You will cry, both for those who’ve escaped such horrible circumstances and those still trapped in them. You will even smile, as you see good people fight to do the right thing even when it’s hard, and see those who’ve been harmed escape their abusers to freedom.

If you have any love in your heart at all for children, I encourage you to see this movie and support those who fight to end human trafficking.

“It were better for him that a mill-stone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” — Luke 17:2

[randomnameless]

Genuine question, not trying to start a fight, why do you get so upset about gods and churches being presented in a negative light in fictional works?

No pbs!

I guess it's a mix of being too common, too forced and having, in general, the cast use common tropish arguments to fight /defeat them.

I rant a lot about this game, but take TS where we have three sort of factions opposing each other, and each are supposed to suck. Who is the faction who never receives any "positive traits" or "pet the dog" moment?

The game force fed us a scene where an Aesfroti soldier - when Aesfrost is depicted as a highly militarised nation with a cult of personality towards their current ruler, that invaded the protag's home and slaughtered several civilians and NPCs in the process - say goodbye to his wife and kids before going to "war" to defend his land against, well, the protags who are invading it to kill their warmongering leader.

As force-fed as this scene was, it, I believe at least, tried to tell us that even the Aesfrosti who pillaged villages and killed their inhabitants are humans, and care about their loved ones, sure it's corny, but it's all about not deshumanising any party.

When we attack Hyzante? Niet, zilch, nothing. No similar scene where random soldiers, or NPCs, worry about what is going on and if they're going to die when their wall has been breached. They just, don't exist in this context.

I think the cherry on the cake is the Golden Route scene, where, apparently, nationalists Aesfrosti decide to turn back against their ultra charismatic leader because, uh, he "lied" when he declared the war and used a false pretense, so the soldiers and people who were butchering babies and invading a city where people were preparing a marriage apparently now have morals and rebel.

There's no similar scene for Hyzante when the cast reveals that the teachings of their Goddess were made up and salt wasn't exclusively given to them by divine intervention, because rock salt exists everywhere. Sure it would be a bit weird and forced that people thinking they're chosen ones and looking down on everyone else suddenly, hm, don't break down when their entire system of belief is shattered, but hey, if the Aesfrostian Gregor can have morals after washing his hands of all this Glenbrookian blood, why shouldn't religious npc #55 not make the same heel face turn?

And then, we have the slavery/human experimentation plot - in general, when TS tries to give nuance, they more or less explain/justify why something that "sucks" is done, it's basically Silvio's character.

Aesfrost' Gustadolph manages to push his "freedom" mentality because his land is a harsh place where people are desperate to survive, salt smuggling is reprehensible, but it's the only way to give some to the ones who cannot afford it. Of course is everyone is free, no one is because, as Gustadolph puts it, they're basically free to die for his ambitions.

Hyzante? Follows a racist creed where Rozellians have to pay for some great sin, and are slaved away in a lake to recover salt until they die. It's, later, justified by Hyzante wanting to keep its salt monopoly else they don't have anything, and wanting to curb down the Rozelle people because they know about the exitence of rock salt (and I guess getting free workers to harvest salt from the lake + having state enemies make his own population docile/not willing to rebel ?).

And then, we have the human experimentations, that are just done for, uhh, Idore's lol. When Hyzante is known for its "advanced medicine" and we could have had the usual dilemna of, idk, having those humans experimentations used to develop this medicine that is reknown in the world (idk, sacrificing a Rozellian to save someone else's life?) - it's not the angle the devs picked. Rozellians are sacrificed to power up an idol, Idore wants to control the world through his idol and soft power (compared to Gustadolph's hard power) and manipulates his people (just like Gustadolph) to do so.

The two are very similar, but who is the final boss? Complete with a transformation in an eldritch monster? The war-mongering imperialist or the jaded old man who is leading de facto a religion?

Hopefully there's the entire "human experimentations for no other purpose than the lols" to settle them apart.

---

I recently watched Dune, and even if I have some issues with the adaptation, the Bene Gesserit isn't portrayed as "comically" evil-er than the Harkonen Empire, I reckon the comparison isn't adequate, because Dune is multi book series when I'm mostly talking about video games.

Symphonia's church of Martel is a font for the Big Bad (tm) to put in motion his nefarious plans, and yet, through the game, we see how random clergymen use their, uh, religious buildings to help people around. Ultimately Martel herself is reincarnated through plot device and tells the big bad to stop being an ass and the story is less about "church and gods evil" but "big bad distorts Martel/church's teachings and role for his plans because he has a tragic backstory"

(but then Symphonia ends with the biggest whitewashing from every Tales I've played for its big bad so I'll stop talking about it because otherwise I'm going to be salty).

Abyss' church is more or less the same thing - the Church is supposed to help people deal with the fact their verse has "predestination stones" where the future is already written, and in the course of the game, we see how it has several factions and one opposes the group (who has the pope as a NPC!) - but it's not a story about "gods bad church BaD".

I remember playing Suikoden Tierkreis a long time ago, and while the game seemed to go through familiar "church bad gods bad" route and we end with defeating a god-like entity... I pretty much loved the twist that, in a game that relied on alternate dimensions/universe, the god-like entity was actually the protag if he made different choices!

In those games, if you fight a religious body and someone pretending to be a God or what not - it's not because people fight against an eldritch creature who wants world domination and to erase puny insects, or is the reason why everything goes wrong, but because, at the end, the conflict/fight is ultimately caused by someone, generally a human or at least a non "god like" entity, wanting to destroy the world.

I don't remember if FE was my first JRPG series or not, but I always liked the idea that if the world is doomed in those games and the heroes must prevent said doom, it's not because a god-like being wants to destroy the world, but because people, humans/randoms are the most shitty ones out there.

---

As for the "tropes" often used to deride fictional churchs and religious people, well, I will again point to TS - which did a splendid job in the Benedict Route where you smash Hyzante after allying with Aesfrost.

There's one battle where out protags diss Hyzantese because they worship a goddess and have no free will, listening to Her teachings and Her says (the traditional "religious people have no free will and listen to their churches who tell them how to think!") - which is immediately countered by one of those Hyzantese characters asking Serenor if he's not the same, but instead of blindly listening to a Goddess, blindly follows Benedict. And it ends with the final chapter title referencing automatons/puppets : who is that title talking about ? The fake "idol" Idore created, or the fake "king" Benedict created?

Anyways, the usual "religions people have no free will because their church/religion tells them how to think" trope reeks of r/atheism and the double standard - bar in this route of TS, but I guess, in TS itself in the Roland route! - is never called out, blindly following a charismatic leader is okay, as long as charismatic leader isn't religious?

Regardless of my IRL thoughts about religion, usually those tropes are presented as a "gotcha!" when they are... not at all, but the games/books leave it at that and we're supposed to roll with it.

I'd say it's lazy writing or, as we saw in Naruto, a quick way to end a story without having to dwelve in characters and their motivations : "you're a god/alien/other being and you're bad, so let us do what we want!" - end of the story.

Hopefully some fillers and to an extent, Boruto gave her more meat bar being the 11 hour villain we had to defeat quick and who manipulated the previous sad'n'lonely antagonists - but it still felt rich from Naruto, known for his famous "talk no jutsu" and trying to understand people he's fighting against, to drop the ball with Kaguya, calling her pure malice and ending with some "let us live the way we want" to wrap up the plot so he can wrestle with his boyfriend later on.

In the end, we often end up with "religion bad bcs the big bad manipulates people through it", as if those mangas/animes/vg never have other examples of charismatic people not using religion to manipulate their randoms/people or "gods bad they should let humans do what they want" when we've read/seen/played through various, uh, really fucked-up shit humans did - but on their own! and ultimately, but it's more in fandom spaces, with have Projection 101.

TLDR : church/religion/gods are too often used in those works as the ultimate scapegoat to either wrap up a story in a rushed ending or to pretend to have "nuance" but still have a common enemy where all the "nuanced" characters can grow/be whitewashed and side together against that "common enemy".

Just like in all things I guess, I prefer when something isn't painted as purely negative and all of the positive traits are erased because there is a need for a perfect scapegoat - sure, bring out too much "nuance" and writing/designing a game/manga/anime becomes harder because there's no "clear cut" antagonist, and yet, the one who always gets fucked in this scenario is the religious/church side.

Want a generic stock villain who will destroy the world so the heroes have to fight against them? Just create a "religion" in your setting, and have the big bad either hell bent on resurrecting Chtullu to destroy the world because Chtullu BaD, or have them be the most corrupt piece of shit who manipulate everything in the shadows, so the rest of the world, even the ones who slaughter others bcs they feel like they must start a war, can be whitewashed at the end.

I mean, there's a saying about diverting attention from a fire by starting a bigger one near, or a trope of "aliens made them do it" : who cares if Madara started a continental war and targeted a village full of random civilians he swore to protect because he lost the elections? Did y'know he was manipulated by a woman, I mean, an eldritch thing created by a woman, regarded as a God, who ultimately wanted to get out of her fridge to kill everyone?

Roland must get over his hatred for Aesfrost for barging in his kindgom and killing hundred of his people while they were preparing for a wedding, because hey, Idore is evil and plans on ruling the world through his sham religion!

I'll forever be salty at TS for not giving Kamsell the occasion to rise against Idore, or not even have minor NPCs get the same treatment as Sycras suddenly going all "u lied to me gustadolph so i won't listen to u anymore + sad goodbyes to my wife'n'kids".

Extremism of all kinds can lead to wars/tragedy/fucked up shit - Sure I don't want to get my History lessons in video game medium when I play lol, but what I really don't like is how it feels like depicting "they're extremists because they're religious" feels like the default/easy answer : want a bunch of brainwashed people the heroes must fight against and can't talk no justu their way out of this fight/will fight without looking too BaD? Depict those people as "misguided" members of a corrupt church/believers of a religion, no one will givea fig. If they are instead supporters of a charismatic leader who throws them through the meatgrinder to further their goals? Well, there's no automatic loyalty so either you have to show/depict it on screen, else it can be challenged at key points to demonstrate how those people - who follow the charismatic leader - aren't completely "mindlessly listening to their leader" or how their leader "isn't that bad after all".

[poibynt]

The earlier HTTYD books occasionally refer to Hiccup as 'the last great viking hero' which is already a bit melancholy but grows even more so with the context of the later books. I doubt viking society as it was known and understood just totally imploded into dust during Hiccup's lifetime, it's even implied in his old man monologues that that doesn't happen. But it does imply that the end of the viking age, the death of the viking world and way of life is rapidly approaching. Just as the dragon time is over, and the dragons are slowly, slowly leaving as Hiccup grows up and old, the Viking time ends and they too slowy, slowly, die out. I wonder if Hiccup saw this coming decline and thought it was because the vikings couldn't live without dragons, economically and spiritually. How awful, to lose the thing you fought to save and sent away and then your culture year after year.

[awesomecooperlove]

ANGELS, OUT OF THIS WORLD PEACEFUL, LOVING SENTIENT BEINGS...BROTHERS AND SISTERS FROM ABOVE AND BEYOND ARE EAGER TO MEET YOU (US), SHARE THEIR EXCEPTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGIES!!

🛑PLEASE NOTE- THERE WILL (VERY LIKELY) BE (WORLDWIDE) CGI SCARE EVENT “ALIEN INVASION” TO CREATE FEAR, HAVOC AND COMPLIANCE.

IF PEOPLE FROM OTHER PLANETS WANTED TO HARM US, NOTHING, NO ONE COULD HAVE STOP THEM 100, 50, 20, 5 YEARS AGO.

PLEASE USE YOUR DISCERNMENT, DON’T TRUST MSM OLIGARCHS AND PUPPETS‼️‼️‼️

🕊❤️🛸

[doingartiguess]

Tonight’s livestream was about being together and having support, and it was comforting to be there with a friend drawing and chatting.

I saw someone say art won’t fix things or save us, but I disagree. I think art is everything. And it will always be my way through tough feelings and tougher times.

[internetcatholicism]

None of the proceeds from Sound of Freedom are going toward Tim Ballard's organization. Please follow this link ^^^ to donate to OUR! God is at work with them!

[palatinewolfsblog]

Gentle reminder:

It's Passover again

(from the 15th to the 22nd. Nissan 5783 / April 5th to 13th 2023).

In these days, Jewish people around the world celebrate Pessach (Passover), which commemorates the liberation of the hebrews from slavery in Egypt.

May the festival be a symbol for all of humanity for liberation from war and warlike conflicts and for peaceful coexistence in the name of freedom and justice.

Chag sameach Pessach.

A happy Passover!

[bunnihearted]

rich ppl disgust me so much, but the cult of ppl who worship rich ppl are even more disgusting

[kyros-tha-soldier]

King riku: *asleep in his bedroom at the palace*

Doflamingo: *BUSTS WINDOW OPEN*

T H I S K I N G D O M B E L O N G S T O

M E N O W

[kaijusplotch]

"Who We Once Were" Preview Chapter

So a while back I had a pole about posting a part of a chapter of an angst story with universe jumping AU and stuff and it was overwhelmingly stated to wait until the first chapter is done.

WELL HERE IT IS!

Warnings included: non graphic Depictions of injuries, suicide to protect another, character death, temporary character death, slavery, the Republic is still not perfect, the Jedi are trying

You have been warned

Chapter 1 The End…

The blasterfire didn’t stop as Hunter and Omega dove for cover. Even as they both slammed behind a container and tried to catch their breath. The Marauder was only a few dozen yards away, but the Stormtroopers refused to let up their suppressive fire.

“Huntah, we are so close! I’ve got two more grenades, we can do it!” she said, looking over to him through her helmet’s visor.

“No.” Hunter pulled his helmet off and winced, white hair falling out of place as he leaned his head back against the crate. “I won’t, but you can.” he smiled sadly, pulling his hand away from the gaping wound at his side. Dark blood was steadily flowing from the wound and pooling where Hunter sat.

“No…no no no you’ll be okay!” Omega tore her helmet off and tried desperately to put more pressure on the wound.

Hunter gently gripped her hand with his free one. “Hey, Mega, shh it’s okay.” He gently cupped her cheek and pulled her forehead to his. “I’ve lived a long life, for a clone. You, though, you’re just starting. We’ve taught you everything we know. You…you’re our legacy now.”

He stared at her, proud of the young woman she had become, even as she shook her head, her long braids shaking with the motion.

“No, please. I can’t lose you too after everything.” Omega’s eyes were filled with tears.

“Omega,” Hunter said, using his stern sergeant’s voice on her. “You need to keep fighting, I’ll only slow you down. I can buy you time, and maybe finally take out that son of a bitch Hemlock.”

Omega still shook her head and looked away. “I…I won’t leave you behind.”

“We don’t have time, Omega.” Hunter countered as the blasterfire became more precise and the sound of marching boots increased. “I can give you time, but if I go with you, I'll slow you down. I’ll be damned if I'm the reason you get hurt or captured ever again.” His voice took on a dark color, memories of losing brothers and then Omega years ago coming back to the forefront of his mind.

“Please…”

“Omega. There is no time. I won’t let them take you.” He squeezed the back of her neck and sighed.

“Huntah…Dad. I don't want to leave you.” Omega sobbed, reaching up to take his hand.

“I won’t be far. Just marching on ahead. Let me clear the path for you.” Hunter smiled at her and pulled her close to press a kiss to her forehead. “Don't look back, Corporal.”

Omega nodded, tears in her eyes as she handed over the remaining smoke bombs and detonators.

Hunter offered his helmet to her which she took and hooked on her bag.

“I love you.”

“I love you too, Omega. Stay safe. You know we'll be looking out for you.” Hunter smiled, tears in his eyes before he turned and prepped the smoke bombs, tossing them over their shelter.

As soon as the smoke filled the area, Hunter turned from Omega and bolted into the line of fire, shooting at the stormtroopers. He didn't need to see, he could hear and feel their boots and crackle of their comms as they began to panic. One by one, he took them out, dodging the red blaster fire and returning his own. He tossed one of the grenades to the side, the explosion taking out a squad of white armored stormtroopers.

He couldn't last, already slowing from pain and loss of blood. Caught again by another blaster Hunter fell to his knees and cried out in pain. His body’s rapid aging caught up with him even as he struggled to stand.

“CT-9901…impressive you have lasted as long as you have.” Hemlock purred as a trooper stripped the gun from Hunter's hand.

Hunter glared as he was hefted to his feet. “And you're still a slimy son of a Hutt. But you will never have Omega.” He pressed his hand to his side, waiting for the man to walk closer.

“I'm a patient man. I've waited this long and we already have made progress, she will bring the empire to true perfection.” Hemlock forced Hunter's chin up. “And you may still be of use.”

Hunter simply grinned, grabbing onto Hemlock as he dropped the safety switch. The grenade in his hand flashing as he shoved it in between their chests.

“You're right. I can give her freedom at last.”

“GRENADE -!”

Hunter took great pleasure in watching Dr. Royce Hemlock's face twisted in rage as they became red mist and the sound of the Marauder faded into nothing.

~~~/\ Is The Beginning /\~~~

Cid wasn't sure what to do with the strange armored clone that appeared passed out in her bar at first. Bolo and Ketch both denied seeing the clone appear. But both were able to help her quickly pull the commando into a back room with an extra bed and got him restrained.

While Cid waited for the man to wake, she went over all her contingencies in her mind. The clone definitely wasn't one of the standards she had seen plenty of times. He was too short after all. But he had commando class kartan armor and obviously had seen action. It didn't help narrow down the two options for what the man was doing there in her parlor, but she knew better what to expect at least.

She walked over to the desk and pulled out an expensive bottle of Antillean whiskey and a short tumbler. She quickly prepped her glass and poured herself a drink, sitting in her chair with a stun gun at the ready.  As much as she wanted to check her security cameras, she didn’t want to leave the man unsupervised, and definitely didn’t trust Bolo and Ketch to watch him.

If she were a younger woman she would almost find the stranger handsome. Almost. He had strong features, a wide nose and dark skin. The tattoo across half his face was intimidating, the skull motif followed with the skull on his shoulder pauldrons. A ragged, deep scar ran from one side of his neck to the other, like someone had tried and failed to slit his throat, and it healed poorly. Definitely a plus for the intimidation factor in Cid’s book.

His long dark hair was shaggy, and the brilliant streak of white at his forelock made him look a little older than he probably was.

Then again Cid had no idea how mammals aged.

She took a drink from her glass as the stranger began to stir.

“Rise and shine, sleeping beauty.” Cid said casually, leaning back and watching the soldier come to.

He opened his eyes and looked around the room curiously before spotting Cid and his eyes widened in what looked like recognition.

“Cid? I must be in hell.”

Cid furrowed her brows. “You know me, but I can’t say I know you.”  She leaned back in her chair and gripped her glass and stun gun tightly.

The man furrowed his brows as well, blinking and looking around. “You really don’t know me…” he said as he looked at her.

Cid tried not to be intimidated. His eyes were sharp, and dark earthy brown. They seemed to hone in on every small twitch of her hand holding the stun gun and the glass. “Not at all. I only know you’re a clone, although far from standard from what I’ve seen.” She tried to stay as casual as possible, but she knew the dangers the man posed.

He attempted to sit up, only to grunt in surprise at the cuff keeping his right hand caught between the mattress and the wall. He shot Cid a glare, but it softened again as he observed her.

She didn't know what to think and she leaned back. “Do you blame me for taking precautions?”

“No…no I can't.” He said laying down and just watching her carefully.

“Good. Now as soon as I know a bit more about you, and why you showed up on the floor of my bar, we can see about taking the cuff off. So first thing’s first. Who are you?”

The clone frowned before shifting as if to get comfortable. “My name is Hunter. I’m part of Clone Force 99. We were an experimental special forces unit. I’m on the run from the Empire who are trying to capture-” his eyes got suddenly wide and he tried to sit up. “Where is Omega?!” he snapped at her, lips curling into a snarl.

Cid sat, unimpressed and unintimidated. “No idea who that is, Sleeping Beauty. Never heard of Clone Force 99, or of any Empire in my time. The fact that you gave a name instead of a number makes things interesting, but I'm going to need that CT number for you to back up your statement.” She put her glass down on the desk, but didn’t move the aim of the stun gun.

“Why do you want my CT number?” Hunter asked.

“Because,” Cid sighed. “I have access to several data banks from the war about the clones. I like making sure that any clone who walks into my establishment; or in your case appears unconscious on the floor, isn’t someone who could bring trouble. I don’t want trouble with the Republic or Kamino.”

Hunter stared at Cid for a long moment, eyes widening. “The Republic? The Republic fell. The Empire took its place!” He repeated, voice raising with disbelief.

“Keep it down, Sleeping Beauty. Sure the war was hell, but only because there was a damn traitor for a chancellor controlling both sides.” Cid rolled her eyes and finally put the stun gun away. “Look. What's your CT number? If you’re running…” she said, lowering her voice. “I can get you somewhere safe. I’m not going to return anyone to any owner as long as I’m breathing. The Jedi were good to me in the War, helped me out. That they’re still fighting for the clone’s freedom is something I'll back up one hundred percent.”

Hunter stared and shook his head. “I don’t understand. Owners? And the Jedi are still alive?”

Cid frowned and reached forward to undo the cuff, noticing how the man flinched away but relaxed. “This has Jedi bantha-crap written all over it. I’ll call in a friend, see if she can help figure out what’s going on.”

“Is there any chance this friend of yours is named Phee Genoa?” He sat up fully and rubbed at his wrist for a moment. “CT-9901, that’s my number.”

Cid narrowed her eyes before nodding. “Definitely Jedi shit.” She pulled out a hydro and ration pack and handed it to Hunter. “Give me a second.”

Hunter sat and stared at the ration pack, and Cid kept an eye on him as she pulled up the database and searched his number. She also sent out a quick message to Phee, hoping she was nearby.

It took a moment for the database to come back with the search results, which usually meant lots of similar numbers which she would run through depending on battalion number. But only one came back and it made Cid scowl.

“What is it?” Hunter asked.

“Are you missing some numbers? Because the only CT-9901 coming up is listed as decommissioned.” Cid watched as Hunter's eyes widened and he put the tray of picked rations aside.

“What?” He stood and came around the desk.

Cid gripped the hidden hold out blaster under her sweater, now wishing she had kept him cuffed to the bed. She cursed her soft heart in her mind.

“Says right here. Decommissioned. Kamino. 7956 C.R.C. a year and a half ago.” She motioned to the screen.

“Year and a half-no that’s not right, it’s 7977 C.R.C. I’m…”

Cid watched as he looked down at his hands and then his reflection on the screen. He touched the brilliant silver streak of hair as if taking notice of it for the first time. It was odd, really, seeing the man take his appearance in as if for the first time in his existence.

“You okay, Sleeping Beauty?” she asked.

“I…I died. I remember blowing myself up.” Hunter said, his eyes distant. “I was old. Omega was grown and I…we were cornered by the Empire and Hemlock ....”

“Take it easy. Rest a bit. My contact will be here in a few hours. I’m sure she can help figure out what exactly happened with you.” Cid motioned back to the bed, to which Hunter was obedient and sat back down on, hand stroking the silver in his hair and staring into the distance.

She turned back to the computer terminal, immediately relayed as much information to Phee and for her to get her ass to Ord Mantel as soon as possible. Cid then read as much information as she could about CT-9901 and Clone Force 99 from the databases she was connected to.

CT-9901 was a Sergeant of an elite squad of clones back in the war. He led three others who were specially trained to handle black ops and special missions. He had been decommissioned on Kamino after the war, but there were no additional notes as to why. When Cid pulled up a record photo, it matched the man who was sitting on the bed in her office. 

The silver streak of hair was a mutation, one apparently shared by another member of the group, CT-9904. That individual, whose name according to the file was Crosshair, had completely silver gray hair and a paler complexion than the Sergeant. The man was the group’s sniper, and his accolades for his skills were beyond impressive and well into legendary. Ten plus klick headshots of tactical droids. Ricochet shots that took out an entire legion of B-1 droids. Cid was beyond impressed, and not at all surprised when he was purchased after the war was over by a private individual. No doubt for security, but who knew.

The team’s slicer and intelligence expert was CT-9902, known as Tech. Just as tall as Crosshair, and immediately Cid knew that Phee would be wanting all the information on him. He was exactly her type. Tall, nerdy, but also very capable. The goggles he wore made his eyes large and according to the records he was possibly the most intelligent being the Kaminoans created. His IQ was off the charts for what Cid could understand, but there were notes on his incessant curiosity. Cid felt her scales crawl as she noticed he had also been sold, but to the Techno Union. No doubt he was being used for all of his intelligence to help the guild.

The final member was CT-9903, the imposing sapper and heavy weapons expert who was well over seven feet tall and was badly scarred on one side of his face. He was also ranked as one of the strongest clones of the former Grand Army of the Republic. Muscle density and chemical knowledge aside, notes on the file showed he had a high caloric intake and a previous injury left him blind and deaf on the left side of his head. Cid shook her head as she noticed he had been purchased after a high bidding war by a wealthy king who was known for his monthly bloody gladiatorial contests. Cid quickly made a note that Wrecker was probably dead.

She sat back and frowned, tapping her claws on the arm of her chair. She glanced around her screen and saw that Hunter had his head in his hands, staring at the floor. His posture was tense and Cid huffed before getting to her feet.

“Hey, Hunter.” she called, getting his attention. He looked up with wide eyes, looking young and very lost. “You look like you need a drink.”

“Heh, yeah. Yeah I could use a drink. Or twenty.” He laughed sadly.

Cid nodded and grabbed her bottle of whiskey and another glass to pour him a tumbler of it. “Here.” She offered him the glass and sat back down in the chair on the other side of her desk. “I found some information on your squad. Generally they were all sold after the war ended. Couple are probably alive, but…I’m not sure about the other one.”

“What about Omega?” he asked after downing half the glass.

“Didn’t find any information on them. Without a number it’ll be difficult, but I can look up what missions he was part of.”

“She. Omega is a girl. She was never on any missions. She was a cadet medical assistant to Nala Se, the head scientist for the cloning on Kamino.”

Cid’s eyes widened with every word and she swore under her breath. “They don’t keep records on individual cadets. Most of the cadets were sold in lots by the Kaminoans quickly so that they didn’t have to house and educate them.”

“And the Republic let them? The Jedi let them?!” Hunter cried.

“Jedi and the Senators that supported them lost their argument that Clones were classified as sentients against the general Senate in the reading of the current definition. It would have made droids also classified as sentients and well, let’s just say that it was a loud session with the arguments.

“On top of that, the contract that was negotiated by former Chancellor Palpatine through Count Dooku was iron clad in so much legal-eese that it was either the Republic take ownership of all 5.3 million clones that they denied sentience to, or allow the Kaminoans to retain ownership of them and do as they please.” Cid rubbed her forehead. “As far as I know the Jedi are still trying to push the Clone Rights Act through the senate. It’s been a busy kriffing year and a half.”

The silence following her brief history review for the end of the war and the chaos that would follow with the status of the Grand Army of the Republic was deafening. She looked at Hunter and realized his eyes were wide again and she was watching the man slowly spiral as he processed the information.

“Kriff.” Cid sighed and reached over to shake his shoulder. “Hey, Look if that kid is an assistant to Nala Se then most likely she wasn’t sold off. I can see about getting more information once Phee gets here.”

“I…I can’t lose them, I can’t lose my family again,” Hunter pleaded, staring down into his glass.

“And I’ll help you get them back,” the familiar voice of Phee Genoa was a welcome interruption as he opened the door of the office. Cid was not comfortable with the rather raw emotions.

“Phee, this is Hunter,  my Jedi problem.” Cid said, motioning to Hunter. “I’d introduce him to you but apparently he knows you.”

Hunter looked up and he smiled. “Gods it's good to see you again. Been too long and…and yet hasn’t happened.” His smile turned bitterly sad and he looked down. “You should be meeting all of us. Meeting Tech.”

“Whoo…yeah I see  what you mean,” Phee whispered to Cid before looking over Hunter. “Yeah, you definitely don’t belong here. Don’t look like any clone I've seen.”

“You should see my brothers.” Hunter whispered, before squeezing the glass of half drunk whiskey.

“How about I take that glass, then, sweetheart.” Phee said, smiling and plucking the glass from his hand. “And you take a nap.” she tapped him on the forehead and he fell over, out like a light. “Shit he was giving me a worse headache than when I drank with Hondo.”

“What’s your verdict?” Cid asked as she watched Phee carefully lay Hunter comfortably on the bed.

“He isn’t supposed to be here. His Force signature is all out of whack. He’s both older and younger than he looks.” Phee stood and watched him sleep.

Cid moved back around to her chair and leaned forward. “And? Have I shot myself in the tail already?”

“No, I don’t think so. If I knew he wouldn’t be discovered by the Kaminoans, I’d have him go to the Jedi temple to meet with the council. But Coruscant is not a safe place for clones.” Phee sat down in the guest chair and downed the rest of Hunter’s drink. “You pull up the records?”

“Yeah, not much to them aside from basic GAR records of action and who purchased them. One is probably already dead.” Cid said with a color of disappointment, eyes snapping to where Hunter was sound asleep. She turned on the holo screen for Phee to read the documents

“Have some faith, Cidarian.” Phee chirped as she quickly read the dossier on each of the clones. “Alright, good thing is I can probably get all the information on where the other three are, but Tech will be a difficult rescue.”

“That’s the one you're concerned about. Figured you’d have eyes for that one.” Cid muttered.

Phee simply smiled and shrugged. “Hunter here did say I should be meeting him. But, honestly out of the three, it’s the fact that he’s with the Techno Union that has me worried. The Kyoran Gladiator pits may be dangerous for the competitors but they’re well known. I can check in on the recent games and see if Wrecker is still around. His skills mean he’ll probably win more often than not. If he’s popular he’ll be on every betting board in the system.

“For Crosshair, I have a friend who can help track him down.”

“Please tell me it’s not the Shadow.” Cid hissed, rubbing her temples.

“Maybe.” Phee smirked. “Anyway, I can track them down. But it is absolutely fascinating that Hunter is somehow here. I am going to have to get in touch with my old Master, see if she can find anything in the records about temporal or reality jumping.”

“You really think he’s from another reality?”

“Maybe not completely. There’s plenty of stories about people appearing and disappearing in the galaxy, sometimes after they were killed before they were meant to. At least that’s what some of the stories I heard said. It’s possible he’s one of them. Someone who got a second chance.” Phee smiled.

“There…was someone else he was adamant about finding. Female clone cadet called Omega. Apparently she was the assistant to Nala Se on Kamino.” Cid explained. “Think your ex boyfriend can find her too?”

“Quinlan can find anyone, and if it’s a kid? He’ll double his efforts.” Phee tilted her head as she pulled the holo of Hunter into 3D space.

“What is it?” Cid asked, leaning forward as Phee rotated the now three dimensional holo.

“The scar on his neck. It isn't in this holo from the end of the war,” Phee explained, turning to look back at the slumbering clone. “And it's old enough to have been either fresh or on medical records, but nothing.”

Cid stood and looked at the scar that wrapped its way around the sleeping clone. She slowly realized it was caused by a sharp vibro knife, one that had been fully charged. There were small jagged lightning-like lines that branched across the edges. The wound would not be one any normal sentient would survive.

“How did he survive this?”

Phee joined her with a small frown. “I”m not sure. He has a long story to share when he’s ready.”

[magnoliamyrrh]

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