Dark Forces 2: Jedi Knight – Waiting in the tower

There’s nervous energy coursing through me. My first true test is in the elevator on his way to the top of this tower. He, like me, is looking for a true test.
A son, here to avenge his father’s murder. A necessary casualty? Do I have to kill him?
Stop. It’s time for me to prove myself...to use my training. The darkness is my ally, through it I will destroy the light.
But maybe I can use his lust for revenge, and turn his light into dark. To create an ally to my master’s cause? My standing will improve, my master will see my true value, leave me alone, let me go...
Stop, focus. Revel in the darkness. Let it flow through you. Feed on the hate of yourself, of her, of the master. Feed on the anger and disgust at what they’ve turned you into.
You’re a murderer. A monster.
No, I'm a scared boy twisted by evil people.
No, use it, don’t dwell on what you once had and took away from yourself. Bask in the power you have now! Take the life of he who stands before you in the doorway. What’s one more corpse? What’s one more drop of blood on your hands? Is it not a small price for all this power?
No. It’s more pain. Loneliness. Anger at what they’ve made me do. Sadness at what they took from me. Fear! Doubts! Terror! Just a boy! I was just a boy when she made me take all those lives.
Shut up, boy! Use it! Kill him! Use it now!

Mass Effect 2 – Assessing the damage

It wasn’t easy to find what was left of him, let alone trying to work out what could be done with it.

Honestly, Illusive Man expects far too much from the medical staff here if they expect us to resurrect this bag of meat...it's disgusting.

Hard re-entry with a busted suit has resulted in near liquefaction of major organs combined with heat trauma over 98% of what’s left. Bone structure is relatively intact…to a point. We’re going to have to work on reknitting 83% of them back together. What we’ve found is little more than a shell…but the brain is untouched. The only saving grace in this whole situation.

The Lazarus Project is robust in terms of planning, funding and the skills of its members…the only thing we can’t control is luck. Who the hell can tell if it’s even going to work on a man this ruined. It’s worked on mice, recently-dead men, other species of humanoids…but who knows in this case? Fingers crossed, I guess.

Come on, Miranda. Believe in the impossible. Look at you…you’re the result of genetic tampering beyond the realms of sane morality…and resurrecting a man from the dead is about as immoral as you can get.

All the time, sacrifice and money better be worth it. All the effort and searching for this charred corpse had better not have been wasted.

Shepard had better be worth it.

Pokemon GO – Oh, to be a Pidgey

I’ve been sat out here for ages…waiting for a trainer to walk past close enough to pick me up on their phone and try to catch me.

And when they do…oh, my word, they are in for a shock. I’m not the strongest Pokemon, sure. 32cp isn’t all that, or so I’m told. I’m not the fastest either…I’m actually more of an irritation than a threat. I’m seen as fodder for level-climbers to catch and evolve…but not this time.

Here we go…here they come…two people with their phones out. Ta-da! I’m here! I’ve definitely popped up on their screens now. Is one of them going to take the bait?

Yes! Haha, yes! He’s fallen for it. Flick…the first ball flies miles over my head and off into the distance. Second one hits me just as my attack animation begins. Whoops. Next.

Ball three hits me square in the head…zoooooop…into the ball for a minute…and out I pop.

Another flick, attack animation again. Bat the next one away. This is so easy.

Ow! That one hit me right in the sweet spot…zoooooop…back into the ball again…wiggle wiggle, wiggle, pause…pop! Out I leap once more.

The guy hurls his phone across the car park, and I’m left in limbo forever trapped in the gap between the world and his screen.

Guess that serves me right really.

(Note from the author: I'm hooked, I'm addicted. This game is so simple, and so nuanced in its ability to keep you playing...and visiting stop after stop. By it, play it, love it. Well done, Niantech...but could you sort out the bug that makes super-low-cp Pokemon from leaping out of high-level trainers' balls?)

INSIDE – Torchlight and dart guns

Lungs on fire, legs pumping. They’re on your heels. Run, run, run.

The men in the masks are here with torches and dart guns. They want to take you back to the grey buildings. Keep running, just keep running and don’t you stop. Don’t look back, don’t make a sound, just run.

Lights! A van! Take shelter when you can, behind one of the pods with the portholes. Hold your breath...they’re close...so close...their breathing...is all you can hear so, don’t...move...a...muscle...

They’re passing, you have to move. Now! Go! Feet pound on soil...sounds of chains being slipped behind you...DOGS! Run, move, sprint, to the water. Maybe you’ll find respite there. .

Cold fear, heightened by cold water rising, lights burn into the murky depths around you.

They know you’re there...but they can’t see you. All you need to do is wait.

Soon, you’ll be here, soon. We will escape together. All you need to do is keep moving. Every step you take brings you closer to me, where I am.

Inside this prison. Inside this tomb. Inside these minds.

ALIEN: ISOLATION: Patient presenting normally

 

[Sevastopol Station Medical Log – Dr Lindgard - November 14, 2137 – Dictation mode]

Patient name is Catherine Foster, currently recovering from being attacked by a parasitic organism of some sort. I’ve not been allowed to see it again - not that I want to, horrible thing - so I’ve no idea what I’m dealing with.

Anyway, the patient seems stable, sleeping normally. I’m noticing odd muscle movement around her eyes, like painful dreams, but nothing remarkable.

However, our CT scanners are showing a large stain over her chest. We’re not sure what it is, and we’re ruling out surgical investigation. Could be cancer, could be something the parasite secreted, could just be some internal trauma or a calibration issue. Either way, without more knowledge of the creature I’m hesitant to operate while the patient is functioning perfectly well. Why upset the balance?

I don’t know what...the patient it gritting her teeth so tightly I can hear her grinding them together...Catherine, are you...patient is awake...

Shit...crash cart, crash cart!!!

Convulsions!!

Get the fucking crash cart in here now! NOW!!!

Hold her down...hold her!!!