[HARD CONTACT] Chapter 6: Insects and mortality

|| Republic Commando: Hard Contact || 2004 || Book series || Military, Sci-Fi || 18+ for violence and harrowing themes ||

He cradled his rifle in his arms, leaned back on his pack, and watched the insects dancing on the sunlit water.
They were hypnotically beautiful. Their wings were electric blues and bright vermilion and they wove a figure-eight. Then, one by one, they dropped down and floated on the surface, drifting with the current, still wonderfully vivid, but now apparently dead. Darman reacted. Airborne toxin. He shut his eyes tight, puffed out the air in his lungs, and snapped his helmet back into place, drawing breath again only when the seal was secure and his filtration mask could take over. But there was no data on his visor to indicate a contaminant. The air was still clean.

Reading this scene for the first time was heartbreaking to begin with, and arriving to the second time, it’s still the same gut-wrenching feeling. Darman has this child-like wonder toward nature and its inhabitants when he is not under pressure, not under attack. I could just imagine before my eyes, that he watches these little glowing insects with stars in his eyes and then… they just die. Just like that.
 

And THEN Darman’s first thought that this area is under attack. He can’t catch a break, he can’t stop. He is always a soldier, always looking for threat. While what is really happening is that Darman has no idea about the concept that creatures can just simply grow old and die. In Darman’s world, people either survive or get killed. Bugs have really short lifespan and Darman just witnessed death that was arrived in the natural way.
 

 

I really liked how the bug’s sudden death bothered Darman enough that he even storaged the bug for later examination:

 

He leaned out and scooped up a couple of the insects caught in an eddy. One kicked a leg a few times and then was still. When he looked up, there were none left flying. It seemed sad. What bothered him more was that it seemed inexplicable.

Curious, he fumbled for an empty ration cube container and dropped the insects into it to consider them later.

(what do you think about this quote format? Is it easier to read the post?)

[HARD CONTACT] Chapter 6: Jinart's soothing touch

|| Republic Commando: Hard Contact || 2004 || Book series || Military, Sci-Fi || 18+ for violence and harrowing themes ||

The system picked up something larger once, but it wasn’t as large as any humanoid in his database, and kept its distance before disappearing.

Get some sleep. You’re going to need it, son.

Darman wasn’t sure if it was his own voice or that of his imaginary commander. Either way, it was an order he was only too willing to obey.

I admit, sometimes I overthink some scenes, because I have the entire book in my head so much I forgot to pay attention to the immediate environment. Etain also gets these “inner-suggestions”, so is Darman. Jinart is inside Darman’s head to help Darman.

But also it really makes Jinart and the entire species of the Gurlanins so incredible and horrifying. They just KNOW their “preys” inside-out and how to connect with them. Jinart motivating Darman in a way that it feels so natural for Darman. Like it is so completely normal for Darman that there is a commander above him yelling orders. WHILE IT IS NATURAL FOR HIM.

Let's go back to Etain for a bit. Jinart soothed Etain's mind but also the narrative pointed out that Etain never a had something that is similiar to a family most people have: parents + children (or given we are writing 2004, and we are still talking about Star Wars: Father + Mother + Children). But maybe this is the first clue that maybe Etain yearns for something that couldn't be her life and Jinart used this as a comforting touch in her mind.

“You should be less suspicious,” Jinart said slowly, “and you should look at what you think you see much more carefully.”

Etain opened the barn door and the scent of straw and barq tumbled out, almost solid. She felt suddenly calmer, and even hopeful. She had no idea why. Perhaps Jinart was naturally reassuring, as comforting as a grandmother, despite all her odd talk.

Etain couldn’t actually remember a grandmother, or any of her biological family, of course. Family wasn’t familiar or soothing because she had grown up in a commune of Jedi novices, educated and raised and cared for by her own kind, and by that she never meant human.

[HARD CONTACT] Chapter 6: Ovolot Qail Uthan

|| Republic Commando: Hard Contact || 2004 || Book series || Military, Sci-Fi || 18+ for violence and harrowing themes ||

Uthan was not particularly pretty but she did have the knack of dressing well—in plain dark robes—and carrying herself like an empress. That balanced the scales. What Hokan liked most about her was that while she seemed to know that feminine charm wouldn’t override his common sense, she never dropped her seductively reasonable facade. She was a professional, and mutual respect went a long way with him. The fact that she was a scientist with subtle political skills impressed him further still. He could almost forgive the unnatural act of fighting without real weapons.

 

Hokan. Hokan. Hokan. Vod. VOOOODDDDDDDD.

 

Listen to me. Listen to me, bro. Why do you need to rationalize that you have competence kink and you want this woman to step on your cock, but at least use you as her personal legrest. You literally call her EMPRESS.
 

Also probably this is the first time Hokan is meeting with an aruetii woman who doesn’t dress to impress/seduce men, but simply for her own pleasure, and this is what radiates from Uthan. And you know what? I’m fucking vibing with this.

 

The author’s tendency to call her woman charactes “not particularly pretty”, like Etain and now Uthan, I think it’s a way to tell that they don’t fit into the socially accepted beauty standards people are judging women according to.

 

Etain being skinny, and then the farmer telling her she is too ugly to be raped. (I’m still not over this. I love this scene especially it makes you aware that there are assholes out there who think, rape only happens with pretty people.)

But then here is Uthan in contrast who just radiates confidence and self-love. Okay, she is the scientist who currently develops the GENOCIDE COMMITER SERUM 2000, but hey, I support women’s rights and lefts too.

[HARD CONTACT] Chapter 6: sexy villains. sexy villains everywhere.

|| Republic Commando: Hard Contact || 2004 || Book series || Military, Sci-Fi || 18+ for violence and harrowing themes ||

 

Uthan laughed a low, tinkling laugh that he knew could just as easily switch to a commanding voice and freeze a parade ground of troops.

You know what?

I also want Empress Uthan to step on me.

 

[HARD CONTACT] Chapter 6: Mistress Uthan

|| Republic Commando: Hard Contact || 2004 || Book series || Military, Sci-Fi || 18+ for violence and harrowing themes ||

“Under normal circumstances, I would never bypass someone with whom I had a contract and speak directly to his … subcontractor. It’s very rude, don’t you think? But I’m a little concerned.”

Ah, Ankkit wasn’t part of this conversation. Hokan began to understand. And she was laying on the flattery with a trowel. “I’m merely Hokan, a citizen. Let me address your concerns … madam?” He felt suddenly foolish. He had no idea what to call her. “Mistress Uthan?”

“Doctor will be fine, thank you.”

Oh boy, I love scheming.
First of all, Uthan is a sneaky bastard. Second, Hokan is also a sneaky bastard but also so awkward and self-conscious right now. :D Third: MISTRESS UTHAN.