Venus and Cupid
The Three Ages of Woman
The Virgin and Child with St Anne
The Water lily Pond
The rest of the assembled soldiers were dismissed by the officer. On board thefreighter, a last long figure left off examining the space beneath the cockpit consolesand ran to join his comrades. He was anxious to be off this ghost ship and back inthe comfortable surroundings of the barracks. His heavy footsteps echoed throughthe once more empty freighter. Below, the muffled sounds of the officer giving final orders faded, leaving theinterior in complete quiet. The quivering of a portion of the floor was the onlymovement on board. Abruptly the quivering became a sharp, upheaval. Two metal panels poppedupward, followed by a pair of tousled heads. Han Solo and Luke looked aroundquickly, then managed to relax a little when it became clear that the ship was as emptyas it sounded. "Lucky you'd built these compartments," Luke commented. Solo was not as cheerily confident. "Where did you think I kept smuggledgoods—in the main hold? I admit I never expected to smuggle myself in them."He started violently at a sudden sound, but it was only another of the panels shiftingaside. "This is ridiculous. It isn't going to work. Even if I could take off and getpast the closed hatch"—he jabbed a thumb upward—"we'd never get past that tractorbeam." Another panel opened, revealing the face of an elderly imp. "You leave that tome." "I was afraid you'd say something like that," muttered Solo. "You're a damnfool, old man." Kenobi grinned at him. "What does that say of the man who allows himself tobe hired by a fool?"
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Johannes Vermeer Girl with a Pearl Earring Painting
Johannes Vermeer Girl with a Pearl Earring Painting
Vermeer girl with the pearl earring
Inside, two men covered a third as he advanced. Moving in groups of three inthis fashion, they rapidly spread through the ship. Corridors rang hollowly undermetal-shod feet, and doors slid aside willingly as they were activated. "Empty," the Sergeant in charge finally declared in surprise. "Check thecockpit." Several troopers made their way forward and slid the portal aside, only todiscover the pilot's chairs as vacant as the rest of the freighter. The controls weredeactivated and all systems shut down. Only a single light on the console winked onand off fitfully. The sergeant moved forward, recognized the source of the light, andactivated the appropriate controls. A printout appeared on a nearby screen. Hestudied it intently, then turned to convey the information to his superior, who waswaiting by the main hatch. That worthy listened carefully before he turned and called down to theCommander and Vader. "There is no one aboard; the ship is completely deserted,sirs. According to the ship's log, her crew abandoned ship immediately after lift-off,then set her on automatics for Alderaan." "Possibly a decoy," the Commander ventured aloud. "Then they should still beon Tatooine!" "Possibly," Vader admitted reluctantly. "Several of the escape pods have been jettisoned," the officer went on. "Did you find any 'droids on board?" Vader called. "No, sir—nothing. If there were any, they must have abandoned the ship alongwith the organic crew." Vader hesitated before replying. When he did so, uncertainty was evident in hisvoice. "This doesn't feel right. Send a fully equipped scanning team on board. Iwant every centimeter of that ship checked out. See to it as soon as possible."With that, he whirled and stalked from the hangar, pursued by the infuriating feelingthat he was overlooking something of vital importance.
Vermeer girl with the pearl earring
Inside, two men covered a third as he advanced. Moving in groups of three inthis fashion, they rapidly spread through the ship. Corridors rang hollowly undermetal-shod feet, and doors slid aside willingly as they were activated. "Empty," the Sergeant in charge finally declared in surprise. "Check thecockpit." Several troopers made their way forward and slid the portal aside, only todiscover the pilot's chairs as vacant as the rest of the freighter. The controls weredeactivated and all systems shut down. Only a single light on the console winked onand off fitfully. The sergeant moved forward, recognized the source of the light, andactivated the appropriate controls. A printout appeared on a nearby screen. Hestudied it intently, then turned to convey the information to his superior, who waswaiting by the main hatch. That worthy listened carefully before he turned and called down to theCommander and Vader. "There is no one aboard; the ship is completely deserted,sirs. According to the ship's log, her crew abandoned ship immediately after lift-off,then set her on automatics for Alderaan." "Possibly a decoy," the Commander ventured aloud. "Then they should still beon Tatooine!" "Possibly," Vader admitted reluctantly. "Several of the escape pods have been jettisoned," the officer went on. "Did you find any 'droids on board?" Vader called. "No, sir—nothing. If there were any, they must have abandoned the ship alongwith the organic crew." Vader hesitated before replying. When he did so, uncertainty was evident in hisvoice. "This doesn't feel right. Send a fully equipped scanning team on board. Iwant every centimeter of that ship checked out. See to it as soon as possible."With that, he whirled and stalked from the hangar, pursued by the infuriating feelingthat he was overlooking something of vital importance.
The Three Ages of Woman
The Three Ages of Woman
The Virgin and Child with St Anne
The Water lily Pond
Venus and Cupid
"Fagh! You just said it yourself, Vader: we'll get nothing more out of her. I'llfind that hidden fortress if I have to destroy every star system in this sector. I'll—" a quiet yet demanding beep interrupted him. "Yes, what is it?" he inquiredirritably. A voice reported over an unseen speaker. "Sirs, we've captured a smallfreighter that was entering the remains of Alderaan. A standard check indicates thatits markings apparently match that of the ship which blasted its way out of thequarantine at Mos Eisley, Tatooine system, and went hyper before the Imperialblockade craft there could close on it." Tarkin looked puzzled. "Mos Eisley? Tatooine? What is this? What's thisall about, Vader?" "It means, Tarkin, that the last of our unresolved difficulties is about to beeliminated. Someone apparently received the missing data tapes, learned whotranscribed them, and was trying to return them to her. We may be able to facilitatetheir meeting with the Senator." Tarkin started to say something, hesitated, then nodded in understanding. "Howconvenient. I leave this matter in your hands, Vader." The Dark Lord bowed slightly, a gesture, which Tarkin acknowledged withperfunctory salute. Then he spun and strode from the room, leaving Motti lookingfrom man to man in confusion. The freighter sat listlessly in the docking hangar of the huge bay. Thirty armedImperial troopers stood before the lowered man ramp leading into the ship. Theysnapped to attention when Vader and a Commander approached. Vader halted at thebase of the ramp, studying the vessel as an officer and several soldiers came forward. "There was no reply to our repeated signals, sir, so we activated the ramp fromoutside. We've made no contact with anyone aboard either by communicator or inperson," the officer reported. "Send your men in," Vader ordered. Turning, the officer relayed to command to a noncom, who barked orders. Anumber of the heavily armored soldiers made their way up the ramp and entered theouter hold. They advanced with appreciable caution.
The Virgin and Child with St Anne
The Water lily Pond
Venus and Cupid
"Fagh! You just said it yourself, Vader: we'll get nothing more out of her. I'llfind that hidden fortress if I have to destroy every star system in this sector. I'll—" a quiet yet demanding beep interrupted him. "Yes, what is it?" he inquiredirritably. A voice reported over an unseen speaker. "Sirs, we've captured a smallfreighter that was entering the remains of Alderaan. A standard check indicates thatits markings apparently match that of the ship which blasted its way out of thequarantine at Mos Eisley, Tatooine system, and went hyper before the Imperialblockade craft there could close on it." Tarkin looked puzzled. "Mos Eisley? Tatooine? What is this? What's thisall about, Vader?" "It means, Tarkin, that the last of our unresolved difficulties is about to beeliminated. Someone apparently received the missing data tapes, learned whotranscribed them, and was trying to return them to her. We may be able to facilitatetheir meeting with the Senator." Tarkin started to say something, hesitated, then nodded in understanding. "Howconvenient. I leave this matter in your hands, Vader." The Dark Lord bowed slightly, a gesture, which Tarkin acknowledged withperfunctory salute. Then he spun and strode from the room, leaving Motti lookingfrom man to man in confusion. The freighter sat listlessly in the docking hangar of the huge bay. Thirty armedImperial troopers stood before the lowered man ramp leading into the ship. Theysnapped to attention when Vader and a Commander approached. Vader halted at thebase of the ramp, studying the vessel as an officer and several soldiers came forward. "There was no reply to our repeated signals, sir, so we activated the ramp fromoutside. We've made no contact with anyone aboard either by communicator or inperson," the officer reported. "Send your men in," Vader ordered. Turning, the officer relayed to command to a noncom, who barked orders. Anumber of the heavily armored soldiers made their way up the ramp and entered theouter hold. They advanced with appreciable caution.
The Nut Gatherers
The Nut Gatherers
The Painter's Honeymoon
the polish rider
The Sacrifice of Abraham painting
Nonetheless, he turned to them and insinuated himself into their conversation."The defense systems on Alderaan, despite the Senator's protestations to the contrary,were as strong as any in the Empire. I should conclude that our demonstration wasas impressive as it was thorough." Tarkin turned to him, nodding. "The Senate is being informed of our action atthis very moment. Soon we will be able to announce the extermination of theAlliance itself, as soon as we have dealt with their main military base. Now thattheir main source of munitions, Alderaan, has been eliminated, the rest of thosesystems with secessionist inclinations will fall in line quickly enough, you'll see." Tarkin turned as an Imperial officer entered the chamber. "Yes, what is it,Cass?" The unlucky officer wore the expression of the mouse chosen to bell the cat."Governor, the advance scouts have reached and circumnavigated Dantooine. Theyhave found the remains of a rebel base…, which they estimate has been deserted forsome time. Years, possibly. They are proceeding with an extensive survey of theremainder of the system." Tarkin turned apoplectic, his face darkening to a fine pomegranate fury. "Shelied! She lied to us!" No one could see, but it seemed that Vader must have smiled behind his mask."Then we are even in the first exchange of 'truths.' I told you she would neverbetray the rebellion—unless she thought her confession could somehow destroy us inthe process." "Terminate her immediately!" The Governor was barely able to form words. "Calm yourself, Tarkin," Vader advised him. "You would throw away our onlylink to the real rebel base so casually? She can still be of value to us."
The Painter's Honeymoon
the polish rider
The Sacrifice of Abraham painting
Nonetheless, he turned to them and insinuated himself into their conversation."The defense systems on Alderaan, despite the Senator's protestations to the contrary,were as strong as any in the Empire. I should conclude that our demonstration wasas impressive as it was thorough." Tarkin turned to him, nodding. "The Senate is being informed of our action atthis very moment. Soon we will be able to announce the extermination of theAlliance itself, as soon as we have dealt with their main military base. Now thattheir main source of munitions, Alderaan, has been eliminated, the rest of thosesystems with secessionist inclinations will fall in line quickly enough, you'll see." Tarkin turned as an Imperial officer entered the chamber. "Yes, what is it,Cass?" The unlucky officer wore the expression of the mouse chosen to bell the cat."Governor, the advance scouts have reached and circumnavigated Dantooine. Theyhave found the remains of a rebel base…, which they estimate has been deserted forsome time. Years, possibly. They are proceeding with an extensive survey of theremainder of the system." Tarkin turned apoplectic, his face darkening to a fine pomegranate fury. "Shelied! She lied to us!" No one could see, but it seemed that Vader must have smiled behind his mask."Then we are even in the first exchange of 'truths.' I told you she would neverbetray the rebellion—unless she thought her confession could somehow destroy us inthe process." "Terminate her immediately!" The Governor was barely able to form words. "Calm yourself, Tarkin," Vader advised him. "You would throw away our onlylink to the real rebel base so casually? She can still be of value to us."
The Kitchen Maid
The Kitchen Maid
The Lady of Shalott
the night watch by rembrandt
the Night Watch
"If it's a fight you cannot win—well, my boy, there are always alternatives tofighting…" The true size of the battle station became apparent as the freighter was pulledcloser and closer. Running around the station's equator was an artificial cluster ofmetal mountains, docking ports stretching beckoning fingers nearly two kilometersabove the surface. Now only a miniscule speck against the gray bulk of the station, the MillenniumFalcon was sucked toward one of those steel pseudopods and finally swallowed by it.A lake of metal closed off the entryway, and the freighter vanished as if it had neverexisted. Vader stared at the motley array of stars displayed on the conference-room mapwhile Tarkin and Admiral Motti conferred nearby. Interestingly, the first use of themost powerful destructive machine ever constructed had seemingly had no influenceat all on that map, which in itself represented only a tiny fraction of this section of onemodest-sized galaxy. It would take a microbreakdown of a portion of this map to reveal a slightreduction in spatial mass, caused by the disappearance of Alderaan. Alderaan, withits many cities, farms, factories, and towns—and traitors, Vader reminded himself. Despite his advances and intricate technological methods of annihilation, theactions of mankind remained unnoticeable to an uncaring, unimaginably vast universe.If Vader's grandest plans ever came to pass, all that would change. He was well aware that despite all their intelligence and drive, the vastness andwonder were lost on the two men who continued to chatter monkeylike behind him.Tarkin and Motti were talented and ambitious, but they saw things only on the scale ofhuman pettiness. It was a pity, Vader thought, that they did not possess the scope tomatch their abilities. Still, neither man was a Dark Lord. As such, little more could be expected ofthem. These two were useful now, and dangerous, but someday they, like Alderaan,would have to be swept aside. For now he could not afford to ignore them. Andwhile he would have preferred the company of equals, he had to admit reluctantly thatat this point, he had no equals.
The Lady of Shalott
the night watch by rembrandt
the Night Watch
"If it's a fight you cannot win—well, my boy, there are always alternatives tofighting…" The true size of the battle station became apparent as the freighter was pulledcloser and closer. Running around the station's equator was an artificial cluster ofmetal mountains, docking ports stretching beckoning fingers nearly two kilometersabove the surface. Now only a miniscule speck against the gray bulk of the station, the MillenniumFalcon was sucked toward one of those steel pseudopods and finally swallowed by it.A lake of metal closed off the entryway, and the freighter vanished as if it had neverexisted. Vader stared at the motley array of stars displayed on the conference-room mapwhile Tarkin and Admiral Motti conferred nearby. Interestingly, the first use of themost powerful destructive machine ever constructed had seemingly had no influenceat all on that map, which in itself represented only a tiny fraction of this section of onemodest-sized galaxy. It would take a microbreakdown of a portion of this map to reveal a slightreduction in spatial mass, caused by the disappearance of Alderaan. Alderaan, withits many cities, farms, factories, and towns—and traitors, Vader reminded himself. Despite his advances and intricate technological methods of annihilation, theactions of mankind remained unnoticeable to an uncaring, unimaginably vast universe.If Vader's grandest plans ever came to pass, all that would change. He was well aware that despite all their intelligence and drive, the vastness andwonder were lost on the two men who continued to chatter monkeylike behind him.Tarkin and Motti were talented and ambitious, but they saw things only on the scale ofhuman pettiness. It was a pity, Vader thought, that they did not possess the scope tomatch their abilities. Still, neither man was a Dark Lord. As such, little more could be expected ofthem. These two were useful now, and dangerous, but someday they, like Alderaan,would have to be swept aside. For now he could not afford to ignore them. Andwhile he would have preferred the company of equals, he had to admit reluctantly thatat this point, he had no equals.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Return of the Prodigal Son
Rembrandt The Return of the Prodigal Son Painting
Return of the Prodigal Son
Samson And Delilah
seated nude
Spring Breeze
Weakly he found himself stumbling clear, his eyes watering not entirely from thesmoke. Half blinded, he staggered over to the exterior entrance to the garage. Ittoo was burning. But perhaps they managed to escape in the other landspeeder. "Aunt Beru…Uncle Owen!" It was difficult to make out much of anythingthrough the eye-stinging haze. Two smoking shapes showed down the tunnel, barelyvisible through tears and haze. They almost looked like— He squinted harder,wiping angrily at his uncooperative eyes. No. Then he was spinning away, falling to his stomach and burying his face in thesand so he wouldn't have to look anymore. The tridimensional solid screen filled one wall of the vast chamber from floor toceiling. It showed a million star systems. A tiny portion of the galaxy, but animpressive display nonetheless when exhibited in such a fashion. Below, far below, the huge shape of Darth Vader stood flanked on one side byGovernor Tarkin and on the other by Admiral Motti and General Tagge, their privateantagonisms forgotten in the awesomeness of this moment. "The final checkout is complete." Motti informed them. "All systems areoperational." He turned to the others. "What shall be the first course we set?" Vader appeared not to have heard as he mumbled softly, half to himself, "She hasa surprising amount of control. Her resistance to the interrogator is considerable."He glanced down at Tarkin. "It will be some time before we can extract any usefulinformation from her."
Return of the Prodigal Son
Samson And Delilah
seated nude
Spring Breeze
Weakly he found himself stumbling clear, his eyes watering not entirely from thesmoke. Half blinded, he staggered over to the exterior entrance to the garage. Ittoo was burning. But perhaps they managed to escape in the other landspeeder. "Aunt Beru…Uncle Owen!" It was difficult to make out much of anythingthrough the eye-stinging haze. Two smoking shapes showed down the tunnel, barelyvisible through tears and haze. They almost looked like— He squinted harder,wiping angrily at his uncooperative eyes. No. Then he was spinning away, falling to his stomach and burying his face in thesand so he wouldn't have to look anymore. The tridimensional solid screen filled one wall of the vast chamber from floor toceiling. It showed a million star systems. A tiny portion of the galaxy, but animpressive display nonetheless when exhibited in such a fashion. Below, far below, the huge shape of Darth Vader stood flanked on one side byGovernor Tarkin and on the other by Admiral Motti and General Tagge, their privateantagonisms forgotten in the awesomeness of this moment. "The final checkout is complete." Motti informed them. "All systems areoperational." He turned to the others. "What shall be the first course we set?" Vader appeared not to have heard as he mumbled softly, half to himself, "She hasa surprising amount of control. Her resistance to the interrogator is considerable."He glanced down at Tarkin. "It will be some time before we can extract any usefulinformation from her."
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