If I Were The Sidekick...
Addendum #3
- If the hero tells me to stay put while he infiltrates
the enemy base/camp/office building, I will do so instead of sneaking in
and getting captured.
- When selecting a love interest, I will keep an eye out
for the spunky, moderately attractive tomboy type who is about my height.
The stunningly beautiful ones are probably spies from the Evil Overlord,
and are only trying to sweet-talk valuable information out of me or tempt
me over to the other side.
- I will maintain a healthy degree of cynicism about people
and life in general. If I find that I cannot resist smiling a lot and having
a basically optimistic view about human nature, I will update my will.
- I will realize that the Hero values his dog more than
me.
- If I am the most inventive technological person ever
born, I will take some business classes and go into business for myself
instead of blindly following around some Hero. If he needs my help, I can
help a lot more if I am wealthier than Bill Gates.
- I will not assume that I know what's going on.
- If I go anywhere for rest and relaxation, I will not
take the hero along with me.
- I will tell the hero that he can go into town for the
information, while I watch the camp.
- I will remember that I do have a life of my own.
- I will exercise caution when participating in the Hero's
plans. Neither the depth of the Hero's anguish over my death nor the heat
of his fury to avenge me makes any difference. I'll still be dead.
- I will be very quiet, and try to stay sober most of
the time. If I get drunk and sing bawdy songs at the top of my lungs, I
will attract prostitutes who are really working for the Evil Overlord.
- If I am tasked to carry a very important message, I
will make copies and use FedEx to get them to their destination.
- I will keep in mind that the sexual advances made towards
me by the beautiful captured spy are only a lure to kill me and escape.
- If I am a noted warrior, I am still allowed to wear
clothing with sleeves. My shirt is allowed to be buttoned.
- If my partner is named Dirty Harry, I should realize
that there is a reason for that and ask for a transfer.
- I will learn to recognize a trend. If the last four
sidekicks have died gruesomely, so will I.
- If the Hero sends me out on some errand, I will go,
perform the task, and return. I will not drop by the tavern for a tankard
of ale.
- If the Hero does something that hurts my feelings,
I shall presume that it was an honest mistake. I will not go wandering
off by myself in a fit of self-pity, only to be captured by the Evil Overlord.
- I will inform the Hero and his associates of any embarrassing
secrets of mine or my family's, so that the Evil Overlord cannot use it
to blackmail me.
- If I am flying a one-man craft which is critically
damaged, I will eject instead of belting out a long, despairing, agonized
scream as I fly the craft into an enemy structure.
- I will make sure that I have one unique skill or characteristic
that the hero does not posses, so that the screenwriters will be less likely
to kill me off.
- If the Hero has any extra-nifty weapons or armor, I
will try to obtain like items for myself.
- I will not wear a red shirt when beaming down to a
planet.
- I will not tell the Hero any of my plans regarding
settling down after the Evil Overlord is overthrown.
- I will never open a package addressed to the Hero,
or pick up his laundry, or perform other personal tasks on his behalf.
- When the Hero tosses me his car keys, I will toss them
back, and take the bus. Let the car bomb blow him up for a change.