h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*Starts tidying up, so that Jo'tra has somewhere to build his Flight-sim.*

*Ancha throws all the junk to the front of the building. The droid stacks it up neatly, out of the way.*

*nods*

*walks to Annat's cot/crib/whatever *

So, this is baby Annat? *smiles* He's cute.

*Comes back in from outbuilding.*

Yep. It's amazing that he's so good, when you think who his daddy is.

*laughs* Yeah. He's so ... small ... and innocent. *smiles again*

*Annat jnr wakes up. He reaches a hand out towards Chnei.*

*smiles* He's awake.

*reaches out her finger to annat*

*Annat takes hold of Chnei's finger.*

Annat: Gurgle, gurgle, coooo.

*Ancha smiles.* I think you've just made another friend, Chnei.

*lets her finger be held*

*smiles* He's so gorgeous.

*looks back at Ancha while keeping her finger with Annat* Why is Ma'rol making a war against us when his son could get hurt?

Ma'rol is a strange one. Undoubtedly he is driven by a need for power.

When he was with the Jedi, he was strong in the use of the Force. But something flipped inside him and he now uses his powers for his own ends.

He appears to be relentless in his pursuit of power, but I do not think he is actually as totally evil as he seems.

He has great, powerful clone armies, yet he seems to prefer to gain his objectives by show of force rather than use of force. Do you see the difference?

As for the risk to young Annat, here. I think that if it came to it, Ma'rol would sacrifice him. He was driven to become a father and so Annat jnr was born. But now he has the cloned version of the boy and that suffices. He wanted a son - he has one with him now and others become irrelevant to him.

He has a cloned version of Annat? *looks at Annat* That's just sick and wrong.

So, Ma'rol pretty much walks around with lots of people so no one will oppose him so he doesn't have to use them?

He seems to think that clones are the answer to all his problems.

So we have a potentially dangerous responsibility here. The life of Annat jnr may eventually hold the key to Ma'rol's undoing.

I am only just beginning to see the importance of the task I have undertaken.

*Feels the weight of the galaxy come down on his shoulders.*

*looks back at Ancha* What's wrong Master? Why would Ma'rol deliberately go after Annat if he has an entire war to deal with? And if he isn't going to go after Annat, we have nothing to worry about except making sure Annat can grow up safe.

Annat: gargle, gargle

*picks up Annat*

Shhhh, shhhh...

*Feels a ripple of goodwill through the Force. It is unfocused but it has a definite feelgood factor to it.*

*Looks at Chnei and then Annat jnr.*

*looks around unnerved*

Huh?

That wasn't you then?

Uh, no... Well, not that I know of... *looks around freaked out* *looks at Annat*

*mutters* Well, I guess he *does* have two force user parents...

*to Ancha* Master, do you think Annat can use the force?

It may be that he is very sensitive to the Force. He is born of two very powerful Force users.

I don't think he could be conciously using the Force at this age but he may be instinctively trying to create an aura which he is comfortable in.

< I've got to go now - backshift beckons. Back on in about 10 hours.>