Master Apprentice
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Star Wars: Attack of the Bugs
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Qui-Gon Jinn stopped and let his gaze sweep over the two hundred or so beings, large and small, young and old, humanoid and non-, who were scattered across the shimmering white sand of the small cove. "Did we have to come to this?" he groaned.
Beside him, his Padawan looked up at him in amazement. "Of course, Master! It's the biggest event of the year! Jedi from all over the galaxy are here, renewing acquaintances and socializing . . ."
"Beloved," Qui-Gon interrupted. "Look around. Tell me what you see."
Obi-Wan turned his gray-green gaze on the festivities. He saw dozens of initiates and creche children of many different races, all playing and cavorting. Nearby, throngs of Knights, Masters, Padawans, and Healers gathered around the buffet tables, chatting and stuffing food into their mouths. Other beings were free-climbing the sheer cliffs that surrounded the cove on two sides, some were swimming in the calm, turquoise blue lake, while still others were gathered into groups talking and laughing and arguing. He grinned. "Lots of people having fun?" he ventured.
"Lots of female people having fun," Qui-Gon pointed out.
"That's not entirely true," Obi-Wan objected, narrowing his search. "Look, there's Mace Windu and ---"
"Yes, Padawan. But most of the ones here are female." He shook his head. "They're man hunting, Obi-Wan."
"Oh, they are not!" Obi-Wan objected. He glanced around again, noting how some of the women seemed to be flirting amongst themselves. "In fact, they seem to be more interested in each other than in us." He looked even closer. "The Initiates, however, are definitely Master hunting."
Qui-Gon sighed. "That, I'm afraid, has become the primary function of these get-togethers," he said. "Initiates seeking Masters, females seeking males - or other females." He shot his Padawan a stern glance. "Watch yourself."
Obi-Wan grinned again. "Don't worry about me, Master. I'm sure you're more likely to be their quarry than I am. Besides," he said, sweeping an arm at the colorful scene in front of them, "look! Everybody's having a wonderful time! If you mingle, you will, too. But, we're very late."
That said, Obi-Wan caught his Master by the elbow and dragged him toward the festivities. "Come on, Master. At least you can pretend to have a good time," he said as they approached the buffet tables. "All of our friends are here!"
"Late you are, Padawan," Master Yoda said, his words strangely slurred by the mouthful of curried fowl he was currently chewing.
Qui-Gon offered him a slight bow. "Yes, my Master. My apologies."
Yoda whacked him across the knee with his gimer stick. "Know that look, I do! Have fun you will! Order it, I do!"
Cringing, Qui-Gon sighed. "I shall certainly try, Master." Then, realizing what he had said, he stepped nimbly out of the way of the stick as it swung towards him again. "Let's eat, Obi-Wan," he suggested, making good his escape.
"Ooohh, look, Master," Obi-Wan said, hurrying ahead of him.
"Leave it to you to find the dessert table first, Padawan," Qui-Gon said, watching as Obi-Wan shouldered his way up to the table, which was piled high with confections from all over the known universe. To their right, Master Healers Ferfer and Rebecca Amythyst and Jedi Master Jenn Kenobi (a distant cousin of Obi-Wan's) were arguing over who was going to get the last piece of a particularly gooey chocolate cake.
"You've already had two pieces, Ferfer!" Rebecca shouted, waving her four blue arms madly in the air.
"Yes," Ferfer agreed, her shoulder length hair blowing gently about her face. "And so have you!"
"Maybe we could split it three ways," Jenn suggested, pushing her curly brown locks out of her face. She reached down for another fingertip full of frosting. "Hey!" she yelped, finding only crumbs left. She glared up at Master Ruth, who had slipped in without anyone noticing and was wiping the last traces of chocolate off her mouth.
"What?" Ruth asked innocently, unsure what all the fuss was about. Initiate Scrump, a black-furred felinoid that was following Ruth around, looked up at Obi-Wan and grinned. "You girls didn't need that last piece," Ruth said. "Besides, there's plenty of others." She waved a hand at the other hundred or so chocolate desserts then reached for one herself. Finding Obi-Wan's hand in the way, she caught his wrist, holding it tightly between thumb and middle finger.
"Um, sorry?" the Padawan volunteered.
Ruth leaned in close. "I could hurt you, you know," she whispered near his ear, her voice as thick as honey as she tightened her grip, pressing her nails deeply between the bones of his wrist. "I could hurt you and make you love it."
Gulping, Obi-Wan pulled free and ducked quickly behind his Master, pushing the older man forward to deal with the intimidating females. "I'll just be over here," he said, sidling toward the next table. He bumped into someone and turned to see a slender female with aqua-blue, faceted gemstones set into each ear. "Pardon me, Knight Mo'nalee," he said.
"Wistuu inne farein," she replied with a smile, wiping a trickle of caramel juice off her chin. Then, she threw a companionable arm around her Padawan, a Huskian by the name of Sahni, and pointed the other toward something at the end of the table.
"Um, yes, of course," Obi-Wan stammered, wondering which of her over 200 languages the Knight was speaking.
Mo'nalee threw a glance at him over her shoulder as she moved away. "Later, Obi-Wan," she promised with a wink. "Oh, and in case you're wondering, it was Metitorian. You really should brush up on your Outer Rim dialects. You never know when you'll need them."
Obi-Wan turned, running head on into Knight Nimori, dumping the plateful of chocolate-covered strawberries she carried all over the front of her tunics.
"Forgive me," he said, feeling himself blush in embarrassment. "I didn't see you there."
Nimori giggled. "Oh, it's perfectly all right," she said, using the Force to grab the last strawberry before it could hit the ground. "It was probably my fault, anyway. I didn't see you there. Besides, it gave me a chance to work on my reflexes!" She giggled again.
Obi-Wan nodded, puzzled by her cheerfulness, considering that she now had chocolate and strawberry juice dribbling down her front. "Yes, and I should work on watching where I am going."
"It's okay, really," Nimori continued, grinning widely. "It happens a lot."
"Yes," Master Siang said from beside her. She was a human woman with long, light turquoise hair. "You'll have to forgive Nimori. She's a bit accident prone."
"You can say that again!" Padawan Sheyen growled, checking her own clothes for chocolate stains.
"Ignore Padawan Sheyen," Siang said. "She's just short-tempered."
"I am not!" Sheyen objected. She drew herself up to her full, if unimpressive, height. "I just don't want to have chocolate all over me! That doesn't make me short-tempered!"
Wanting desperately to change the subject, Obi-Wan glanced at the girl standing beside Siang. "Hello, Padawan Delwyn."
"Hello, sir," Delwyn said shyly.
"It was nice bumping into you, Obi-Wan," Nimori said as she went back to get more strawberries.
He excused himself and turned away, squeezing between a ferocious looking felinoid and a tough looking Butchendyker, who had mottled blue skin and long white hair. They were involved in a serious - and rather loud - discussion.
"No, no, no!" Knight Sithdragn was saying, shaking one blue finger at the other's face. "I am certain that this is a form of lactuca sativa."
"It most certainly is not!" Master Leonus Flammus replied, her wide eyes nearly as yellow as her coat. "Botany is my secondary field of study, in case you'd forgotten. And this is a cabbage. I'm quite certain I know a cabbage from a lettuce!"
"Well, be that as it may, this is lettuce!" Sithdragn declared. She grabbed Obi-Wan by the arm as he tried to slip past. "What do you think this is, Padawan Kenobi?" she asked, holding up a rather wilted looking green leaf dripping with some sort of oily dressing.
"Um, salad?" he suggested meekly. Both Knight Sithdragn and Master Flammus glared at him.
"Well, that was helpful," Leonus pointed out. "Did your Master teach you that?"
Pretending to be in a hurry, Obi-Wan slipped out of the Butchendyker's grip and moved on to the next table. Here, he saw Knight Rennie Revere. She was taller than himself, but not quite tall enough to be called willowy, with red hair and gold eyes. She was currently filling up her plate.
"You want some of this fruit salad, Lokemele?" she asked her companion, a middle-aged, medium-sized human female. "Or would you rather have the lentils? They look delicious. How about some of the blue grapes? Or perhaps some of these green cronnans?"
"Yes," Master Healer Lokemele replied decisively, holding out her own, nearly full plate. "Hello, Padawan Kenobi," she said, winking at him as the new foods were piled on top of the others. "It's a wonderful party, isn't it?" She glanced around. "Is your gorgeous Master with you?"
"Yes, it is," Obi-Wan replied with a grin. "And, yes, Qui-Gon's mingling."
"Hello, Obi-Wan," Knight Rennie said, reaching out to pinch him lightly on the bottom. "You're looking delicious, too."
Obi-Wan squirmed out of her reach, then turned at a deep, masculine voice from behind him.
"Hello, Obi-Wan."
He blinked in surprise at Knight Oooraanggggicooonn. "Hello, Orange," he said, using the shortened form of her name since he really couldn't pronounce the other. She was a human female with bright red hair and a turned up nose. Known as something of a well-intentioned flake, she pushed the two Initiates who clung to her forward for him to meet. "This is Elmer Smudge," she said, introducing the older of the two. "And this is Veronica. Say hello to Knight Kenobi, children."
"Hello, Knight Kenobi," two small voices intoned obediently.
"Hello, Elmer, Veronica," he said with a smile.
"Having fun, are you?" Orange asked.
"Actually, my Master and I just arrived," Obi-Wan explained.
"Ah, then, you haven't eaten." She handed him an empty plate. "Dig in," she advised before turning her attention back to the Initiates.
Obi-Wan carried his plate to the entree table and began to fill it.
"Hi, Obi-Wan!" another voice said. Turning, Obi-Wan saw Master Trudentia West approaching. She was the Master Librarian for Mission Briefings, a small, compact, dark-skinned woman with dark hair. With her was her bondmate Master Michel Kayson, Master in Charge of the Coruscant Temple's computer system. "How are you today? I'll bet you're enjoying the party! I know we are. There's so many interesting people and so much wonderful food. Don't you agree?" she asked, talking so fast that she managed to cram all five sentences into the space where most people would have said one.
"Yes, I do," he replied. He glanced around her. "Where is your former Padawan?" he asked.
"Knight Jo Lowe is on Metiacartia running refugee camps," she said. She reached past him. "Ooohh," she said, holding up one of the serving utensils. "What a unique spoon! I wonder if anyone would mind if I kept it?"
"Probably not," Obi-Wan answered hesitantly. He glanced at the dripping piece of what looked like barbecued groink she held and moistened his lips hungrily. "Where did you find that?" he asked.
"Over there," she said, pointing. "Better hurry. It's going fast."
Obi-Wan excused himself and hurried away. He found the groink right where she had said. There were only two pieces left. Not wanting to miss out, he stepped past the three women in his way. One was Master Healer Nansi. Her pale silver skin shimmered in the sunlight, and she blinked at him with wide green eyes, brushing a strand of lavender hair off her face.
"Hello, Padawan Kenobi," she said, offering him a friendly smile. "It's a wonderful party, isn't it? And a beautiful day."
"Hello, Nansi," he said, grabbing the groink before anyone else could. "And, yes, to both questions."
"Have you met my bondmate Annie?" Nansi asked, indicating the young woman to her right. "And, this is Padawan Iam Lukes," she said, gesturing to the pretty, blue-eyed blonde on her other side. "You probably don't know her, since she's from the temple on Yavin 4."
"Hello," Obi-Wan said politely. "May I call you Annie and Iam?"
Annie nodded and Iam smiled. "Of course you may," the latter said. "If I may call you Obi-Wan." She eyed his plate. "What do you have there?"
"It's barbecued groink. Um, I'm sorry, though, this is the last of it."
"Oh, that's all right." She dumped a spoonful of a creamy pasta mixture onto her plate, then ladled similar sized portions onto every plate within reach. "Try this," she said. "It's delicious."
"Well, you'll have to try this, then," Nansi said, placing a steamed crustacean on Iam's plate. "It's imported from Lobsteria, and it's absolutely sinful . . ."
Back by the dessert table, Jenn, Ferfer, Ruth and Rebecca had finally turned their attention to the other desserts, so Qui-Gon decided to take his Padawan's advice and mingle. The first group he approached was involved in a very animated conversation about a book he remembered reading some years ago.
"No, no," Master Linda was saying. She was a human woman with long, dark brown hair. Beside her was her Padawan, Tem-ve. "You've got it all wrong! That's not what the author meant at all! You have to read between the lines, look for subtext." She elbowed Tem-ve. "Isn't that right, Padawan?"
Tem-ve shrugged, more interested in her plateful of food than the discussion. "If you say so, Master."
Knight Sable Wilde rocked up onto her tiptoes to make eye contact with Linda. "No, you've got it wrong," she said with an easy grin. "It's a parody! A satire of the war of good against evil." She saw Qui-Gon out of the corner of her eye and reached out to snag his arm, dragging him into the conversation. "Tell her, Qui-Gon! You've read Innasella's book _Harloc's Revenge_, haven't you?"
Qui-Gon cleared his throat. "Yes, but . . . "
"I thought so," Sable continued. "So, would you please tell Master Linda here . . ."
"And why," Linda interrupted, "should his opinion matter? He's a diplomat and a warrior, not a scholar!"
Easing himself out of the young Knight's grip with a vague murmur of apology, Qui-Gon moved on. The next group definitely looked less serious. Knight Oncidium, a petite, red-headed woman who barely came up to Qui-Gon's mid chest was chatting with Padawan Li' Ann and a young Initiate with short dark hair and dark brown eyes who he didn't recognize.
Li' Ann was holding an old-fashioned bow and arrow and was showing the others how to use it.
"Qui-Gon!" Oncidium said as he approached. "Welcome to the party! I didn't think Obi-Wan would be able to drag you here!"
"Well," he said, smiling at them, "if it isn't the Laser Quest champion of the temple and my favorite archer!" He looked at the Initiate, trying to remember where he'd seen her before. "And you would be?" he asked.
"Chan, sir," she said, her brown eyes sparkling. Her nose and tongue were pierced, Qui-Gon noticed, and now that he was close enough he could see that she had a large spider-web design tattooed on her right shoulder. He raised an eyebrow at it. "I'm so pleased to meet you! I've heard all about you and that luscious Padawan of yours." She glanced past him. "He did come, didn't he?"
"Yes, Obi-Wan's here." He looked closer at her tattoo. "I didn't realize they were letting Initiates get tattoos now," he commented.
Li' Ann grinned. "Chan's a special case," she explained. "They're clan symbols, very important on her home world."
"Have you ever shot a bow and arrow, Qui-Gon?" Oncidium asked.
"Can't say that I have."
"Well, if you did," Li' Ann said, her voice taking on a scholarly tone, "you'd need a much stronger bow than this. At least a sixty weight, unless I miss my bet. Now this one," she held up the slender weapon in her hand, "is only a thirty two, designed for someone more your size, Oncidium. Or even for you, Chan."
"Really?" Chan asked. "So, when can I shoot it? I promise I won't hit anyone."
Excusing himself again, Qui-Gon moved on. The next thing that caught his eye was some sort of skit. He stopped to watch, recognizing some of the participants. There was Master Repanis Lyrristat, tall and blue skinned with eyes that were a uniform light blue, with no whites showing. Beside her was her bond-mate Drewis Lyrianest, a female of the same species. The only way to tell them apart was by the odd- looking yellow and orange hat Repanis wore over her white hair and the lightsaber she carried.
Also in the skit was her Apprentice Sigga Repanistat, a young Disparian who looked somewhat like a large blue chicken, and Master Yogie Windu, a slender woman with cocoa colored skin and pale blonde hair, who was said to be a distant relative of Mace Windu. Her two padawans stood by watching. Well, only Padawan Rain stood by watching -- Padawan FalconKenobi sort of "hovered" as she watched, her rapid wing beats keeping her airborne.
Also in the skit was Tarn, Master Yogie's bondmate and a Republic Fleet Pilot, who Qui-Gon knew to be a cocky smart-ass, and three other actors who were obviously from the distant Temple of Ni, if their odd clothing was any indicator.
Master Repanis was marching across their roped-off stage. "We are the Jedi Knights who say We Have A Bad Feeling About This!" she proclaimed loudly to their small audience.
"You WHAT?" Master Yogie asked.
"May The Force Be With You?" Repanis replied.
"We Got A Bad Feeling About This!" Tarn replied in a voice that dared anyone to defy her.
"A Feeling That Is BAD?" one of the Knights from Ni asked.
"We Have A Very Bad Feeling About This!" Yogie said.
"Therefore ... we are no longer contractually bound by any agreements previously entered into by the Jedi Knights who said May The Force be With You!" Repanis declared.
Deciding that coming in on the middle of this skit was definitely not a good idea, Qui-Gon moved on. Two individuals immediately caught his attention. One was Knight Celticfire, a tall felinoid with a golden pelt and a flaming red mane. Normally gruff and hot-tempered, the warrior was currently squatting, deeply in conversation with Master Clewara Hedwi, a diminutive Arkolian. About the height of Master Yoda, Clewara was brown, black and cinnamon red with patches of cream. Her long, prehensile tail was curled around Celticfire's ankle, and her upraised arms revealed the flaps of skin that enabled her to glide.
"So," Clewara was saying, "after he told me I looked too much like a stuffed toy to be a threat, I flew down, grabbed his waist with my hind feet, his arms with my front feet, and threw him to the ground!"
"Well, he deserved it," Celticfire said, squinting her yellow eyes. Her impressive arm muscles rippled as she patted Clewara on the head. "I hope you relocated his spinal column for him."
"I did indeed," Clewara said. She smiled up at Qui-Gon. "Hello, Master Qui-Gon."
"Hello Clewara, hello Celticfire."
The yellow eyes narrowed. "Hmmm, you just cost me fifty credits, Qui- Gon," Celticfire pointed out. "I had a bet with Mace that you wouldn't show up."
Qui-Gon smiled. "Blame it on my Padawan," he said mildly.
Clewara 's eyes lit up as she looked around. "Oh? Obi-Wan's here, too?"
Qui-Gon chuckled. "Yes. Somewhere." He saw Mace nearby. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I was told I had to mingle." He left the two to their discussion, but before he could reach Mace, he ran across another small group.
"Good afternoon, ladies," he said, offering them a half bow.
"Hello, Qui-Gon," Knight Rose said. She was tall and heavy set, her short dark hair sprinkled with premature gray. To her left was Knight Maji, a short, squat red-head who usually looked a little worn around the edges and Master Healer Alianne, a short humanoid woman who Qui- Gon thought seemed a little shy.
"Hello, Qui-Gon," Alianne said softly, blushing just a little.
"It's good to see you again, Qui-Gon," Maji said. She glanced down at the calico colored Initiate who was hovering around her. "Have you met Emily?"
"I'm pleased to meet you, Emily," the Master said politely, smiling down at the small girl. "And, who would you be?" he asked the black coated felinoid who was standing beside Alianne.
"I'm Morgan, Master, sir," the girl said with a grin.
"Nice to meet you, Morgan," Qui-Gon said.
"Look what Master Rene has!" Emily said, pointing.
He turned his attention to the last member of the group, the tall, thin and lovely Master Rene. Draped across her shoulder was a purring, reddish blonde feline, almost the same color as Rene's hair. It blinked at him and yawned widely.
"Don't be rude, Kitten," Rene chided. "Go and give Qui-Gon a hello kiss." Almost at once, the feline launched itself onto Qui-Gon's shoulder and rubbed its little head against his bearded chin.
"What a sweet little thing," Qui-Gon said dryly, peeling the animal off and handing it back to Rene. He looked up at the three women. "So, are you ladies having a good time?"
"Absolutely," Rose said. "But, Master Yoda didn't order enough Bantha and veggie pizzas. We just finished the last one."
Alianne nodded her agreement. "And, there weren't any with anchovies."
"And only one with sintian mushrooms," Rene said.
"But, they had one with pickles on it," Maji said with a disgusted shudder.
"Well," Qui-Gon said, seeing Mace motioning for him. "I shall have to speak to him about that." With another bow, he excused himself.
"Qui-Gon!" Mace said, clapping him soundly on the shoulder. "You made it!"
"Some time ago, actually. Obi-Wan informed me that I needed to mingle."
"Good idea," the Council Member agreed. He swung a companionable arm around Qui-Gon's shoulders and steered him toward the nearest buffet table. "I take it that means that you haven't eaten yet."
The rest of the afternoon was spent sampling the seemingly endless array of foods from all over the galaxy. Obi-Wan returned, with a slightly harried look and a spot of lip rouge on his cheek where someone had kissed him.
"Enjoying yourself, beloved?" Qui-Gon asked him softly as the younger man edged up beside him and slid an arm around his waist.
"Actually," the Padawan said, "it's been a little intense."
Qui-Gon chuckled, reaching up to wipe away the lip rouge. "So I can see." He glanced at the plate Obi-Wan carried. "What do you have there?"
"Oh, Master, you simply must try this," Obi-Wan said, raising the plate to eye level. It was piled high with some sort of baked confection, full of nuts and sprinkled with tinted sugar.
"Mmmm," Qui-Gon murmured in appreciation as his first bite melted on his tongue. "I believe I'll have another," he said, reaching for more. Some time later, when everyone had eaten themselves into oblivion and the first bands of scarlet and gold were appearing in the sky, Yoda hobbled up onto the small central podium as he did every year, accompanied by Mace Windu. The small green Master banged his stick for attention.
"Gather now you all will," he announced, his Force-enhanced voice carrying easily to everyone in the crowd. He gestured to the Creche Master and her assistants. "Take the young ones, you will," he said. "Speak to the others, I would."
As the children were herded away, Mace took a step forward. "We've all had a good time today, I'm sure, but now it's time to pay the piper, as it were." Then, he yelped as Yoda's gimer stick impacted solidly against the back of his calf.
"Topic this year is fear," Yoda said, ignoring the glare Mace shot him. "Know you all that fear leads to anger, anger to hate, and hate to suffering. But still have fears, each of you do. Certain of this I am." He banged his stick again in emphasis. "Admit those fears now, you must."
"I've been told that one of the most common phobia is serpents," Mace said. "Let's see a show of hands of everyone who is afraid of snakes."
Dozen of hands or other appendages went up.
"Good. Now, who among you is afraid of insects?"
More hands, including Master Yogie, Master Flammus, Healer Ferfer, Master Jenn, Initiate Chan, Master Ruth, Knight Nimori, Healer Nansi, and Master Linda. Obi-Wan glanced at Qui-Gon and nudged him with an elbow. "Go on, Master. Raise your hand."
"I am not afraid of insects, Padawan," Qui-Gon whispered harshly. "I merely dislike them. Intensely."
"Master!" Obi-Wan began, but he was cut off by Master Yoda.
"Raise your hand, too, you will, Qui-Gon!" he ordered, loudly enough for the entire gathering to hear. "Know of your fear of bugs I do!"
His face coloring slightly, Qui-Gon raised his hand, refusing to look at the smirks on the faces nearest him.
"Good," Mace said. "Now, fear of heights?"
More hands went up, including Knight Oncidium, Padawan Li' Ann, Masters Revere and Rene, and Healers Alianne and Lokemele. Knight Sithdragn raised her hand as well, though it was somewhat tentative. Knight Orange started to raise her hand, then lowered it again, frowning.
"Yes, Knight Orange?" Mace said, having noticed the gesture. "Are you also afraid of heights?"
"Not so much heights, Master Windu, as the thought of falling from them," Orange's deep voice replied a moment later.
Mace nodded. "Who here is afraid of water?"
There were fewer hands this time, but enough. Master Repanis and Knight Mo'nalee, standing beside Obi-Wan, admitted to this phobia along with several others.
"It's not water I'm afraid of, exactly," Repanis said softly to Mo'nalee. "It's drowning in it that scares me."
"Of the dark?" came the next question.
A smattering of hands were raised.
"Good thing it was that we sent the youngsters away," Yoda noted, "or many more of these we would have."
"Who among you is claustrophobic?" Mace asked.
There were more hands this time, among them Healer Rebecca's, Padawan Sheyen's, and Master Clewara's.
"Let's see," Mace said, glancing down at his notes. "Ah, yes. Fear of being chased?"
There were only a few this time, including Knight Sable Wilde.
He nodded and glanced at Yoda. "I think that covers the most common ones," he said.
Yoda's ear tips were drawn back. "Others there are who did not raise their hands." He pounded his gimer stick on the wooden floor. "Tell us now your fears you will!"
Everyone shifted restlessly, glancing at their neighbors, but no one said a word.
"You, Padawan Kenobi!" Yoda said, pointing his stick at Obi- Wan. "What fear you?"
"I have only one fear, Master Yoda," Obi-Wan said, "and that is of disappointing my Master." He glanced up into the blue eyes nearest him and snuggled closer against Qui-Gon's side.
"Hmmmph," Yoda said. He surveyed the crowd, then pointed at Knight Maji. "You," he said. "What fear you?"
Maji cleared her throat. "Well, I handle a lot of animals in my work. I suppose I'm afraid of being seriously bitten."
Yoda nodded, then listened as Mace leaned down and whispered something in his ear. When he straightened, he aimed his stick at Padawan Lukes. "You! Tell us your fear you will."
"Hospitals, Master Yoda," Iam answered.
Mace looked around again. "And, you, Master Trudentia. What is your fear?"
"I fear swamps, Master Windu," she said, speaking very quickly. "You know, always damp, lots of insects, itchy rashes, never feeling clean . . ."
Seeing the way Yoda was glaring at her, Mace quickly called on someone else. "You, Knight Celticfire," he said. "Tell us your phobia."
Celticfire's golden coat rippled as she straightened to her full height, looking anxiously at all the people around her. "Speaking before a large crowd, Master Windu," she admitted. "I don't - I can't - " She took a deep breath. "I don't do it well."
Yoda aimed his stick at Rose. "And you, Knight Rose. What fear you?"
Rose glanced at Healers Ferfer and Alianne, who were standing close beside her. "Um, Healers, Master Yoda," she said as she edged nervously away.
Mace chuckled. "Anyone else?" he asked.
Master Siang slowly raised her hand.
"Yes?" Yoda said. "Tell us your fear, you will."
"Thunderstorms, Master Yoda," she admitted.
Master Yogie elbowed her bondmate. "Go ahead, Tarn. Tell Master Yoda your worst fear."
"But, I'm not a Jedi!" the Pilot argued. Then, seeing that everyone was staring at her, she cleared her throat. "I suppose my worst fear is of failure," she admitted. Than done, she leaned sideways and whispered in Yogie's ear. "You just wait until we get home," she said with a dangerous grin. "I'll give you something to be afraid of."
Yoda and Mace surveyed the crowd. "Is that everyone?" Mace asked.
There was a general rumble of acknowledgement, and Yoda banged his stick three times against the floor. "Overcome our fears, a Jedi should. Meditate on them we must. Afterwards, stay and help with clean up, everyone will." He glanced at the crowd as they slowly began to disperse, then hobbled off the stage.
"Afraid of disappointing your Master," Qui-Gon scoffed, pitching his voice low so that no one but Obi-Wan could hear it.
"Well, it's true, Master."
"You old suck-up. Besides, I always thought you were afraid of ---" He was cut off in mid sentence as a shock wave of Force disturbance swept over the group. Everyone stopped breathing for a second, trying to locate the source. Then, a scream from the Creche Master answered the question.
"Help!" she called as the children around her began to shriek in alarm. "We need help over here!"
A creeping, writhing mass of something was swarming toward the children. Suddenly, everyone was running -- the children away from the approaching threat, and the adults toward the children. Whatever it was, it was coming fast.
"Insects!" the Creche Master shouted, already swatting away handfuls of bugs that were crawling up her legs and flying up to circle around her head.
She and her assistants were trying to keep the children together, but little groups had already veered off. At least two dozen of the little ones headed for the lake, plunging out into the cold water to escape the advancing horde. A smaller group of children began scaling the cliff, moving with dangerous speed over the slippery rock face. Several others ducked into the small, dark opening of a cave, while the largest groups remained together and headed straight for the protection of the adults.
"They're biting!" one of the children screamed, slapping madly at arms and legs as she ran up to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. "Get them off! They're biting!"
There were millions of insects, Qui-Gon realized, his skin crawling even though not a one of them had touched him, yet. As he swiped them off the child, he recognized stinging flies and fat mosquitoes and - he shivered - huge cockroaches. And there were spiders, at least three or four different species, from thumbnail sized black ones to large, hairy red ones that would have covered the palm of his hand.
The adults were surrounded by terrified children now, and by the army of bugs. Sith, Obi-Wan thought, they were everywhere! Calling up the Force to sweep the creatures off the children nearest him, he remembered the adults who had, only moments ago, it seemed, admitted to being afraid of insects. Wondering how they were faring, he spared a moment to glance around.
Master Jenn Kenobi and Initiate Chan were the closest to him. They were both grim-faced and pale, swatting at the bugs as best they could, considering that each of them was holding two of the youngest children in their arms. Master Leonus Flammus was also nearby, her flaming yellow lightsaber slashing around her feet, turning a surge of cockroaches into sizzling bits of ash. Beyond them, Knight Sable Wilde was running after a pair of frightened young boys, a swarm of insects in hot pursuit.
Master Healer Ferfer was the next one to catch his eye, even as Obi- Wan battled with the stinging insects that had worked their way up inside his pants legs. Her shoulder length brown hair swirled around her as she spun, stomping her feet frantically, her eyes as wide a saucers. A young boy clung to her back, his arms wrapped tightly around her neck.
Hearing a familiar snap-sizzle, Obi-Wan turned to Qui-Gon, who had ignited his own green blade and was attempting to hold back a horde of roaches and spiders that had apparently chosen him as dinner. All around the cove, the Force sparked and eddied, wielded as it was by every Jedi old enough to control it.
Master Yogie Windu was visible just beyond Qui-Gon, fighting side by side with Tarn and Mace, though Yogie's skin tone had paled to nearly cream with horror as the insects continued to come, great, rolling masses of them. Just beyond them was Master Trudentia West. Obi-Wan saw a shudder ripple through her small frame as she swept handfuls of insects off the nearest of the children, ignoring the ones that were swarming up her legs.
He could see, further away, Master Ruth, who was frantically scraping away bugs from herself and the children around her. Close by, Knight Nimori, Healer Nansi, and Master Linda had been cornered by a large group of spiders. Nansi was holding two small boys and shaking spiders off their clothes, while the other two swiped at the arachnids with their 'sabers, desperate to protect the children huddled behind them.
Though thousands of insects were dying, thousands more were still arriving. There was a seemingly endless wave of them, undulating over the sand, cutting off the narrow stretch of beach that was the only path out of the cove.
"Lift the children we must!" Master Yoda shouted, his voice barely carrying over the cacophony of noise. "Lift them, then we shall sweep the insects into the water!"
But, Master Repanis called out a warning.
"There are children in the water!" she shouted, as the Jedi around her reached out with the Force and levitated the nearby young ones into the air. "Give us time to get them out first!" Setting aside her fear of drowning, she raced toward the lake. Knight Mo'nalee, who had been fighting beside her, went along, despite the fact that she couldn't swim a stroke, her Padawan trailing her.
"Others, help them you must!" came Yoda's next order, but several Jedi were already running toward the water. The small green Jedi looked around, noting for the first time the children that were clinging to the cliff walls. Insects were beginning to surge up after them, as well as into the small cave where a few of the others had vanished. "Some of you, see to those!" he urged, pointing.
It was a struggle, even for a number of Jedi joining forces, to hold so many squirming, hysterical children aloft, especially while trying to slap away the insects that were currently surging up their own legs and biting any exposed flesh. Obi-Wan watched, his skin burning from dozens of bites, as ten or twelve Jedi raced toward the cliff. He noted with pride that Knight Oncidium, Padawan Li' Ann, Healer Alianne, Knight Rennie Revere, Healer Lokemele and Master Rene were among them, despite their professed fear of heights. Knight Rose hurried after them.
Meanwhile, Knight Maji, Padawan Iam, and claustrophobic Healer Rebecca and Padawan Sheyen, along with a couple of others, were surging into the cave.
"We've got them!" Knight Mo'nalee shouted a moment later as she and the others carried armloads of children safely out of the lake. "All the children are out of the water!"
"Create a Force wind, we must," Yoda ordered, stabbing his gimer stick into the hundreds of insects swarming around his feet. "Sweep them into the water!
Tearing part of their attention away from the levitated children, all the available Jedi joined forces and sent out a huge wave of Force. Obi-Wan watched in fascination as the seemingly endless sea of bugs was sucked away as if by a giant magnet. A moment later, the levitated children were lowered gently to the ground, the few insects still clinging to them knocked away and killed. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, having finally rid themselves and their neighbors of bugs, turned their attention to the other rescue parties.
Maji, Iam, Rebecca, Sheyen and the others were emerging from the cave, each bearing an armload of children. Rebecca and Sheyen were noticeably pale, shaken from their ordeal in the small, dark cavern, Iam was sporting a nasty bump on her forehead, and Maji was clutching one hand and grimacing in pain, her breath coming in short, tense gasps.
"What happened?" Obi-Wan asked as he and Qui-Gon rushed to assist them.
"The little sh--- um, I mean, the little dear bit me!" Maji exclaimed, looking at the small boy Obi-Wan had taken from her arms and holding up her bleeding finger as proof.
"I sowwy, Knight Maji," the little boy said, his eyes tearing up. "I tawt you were a bug!"
Maji ruffled the child's hair, quieting her breathing by force of will. "It's all right, dear one," she told him.
"Yes," Rebecca said, pulling the Knight's injured hand over for a closer look. "It's not bad. I'm sure you didn't mean to hurt her." She glanced at Iam. "And you, my dear, need to go sit down. You whacked yourself pretty good."
Iam nodded, then winced. "Whacked," she repeated. "Is that a medical term?"
Rebecca grinned. "Yep. And so is 'hospital,' which is where you're going to spend the night so I can keep an eye on you." She swung an arm around Iam's shoulder, then glanced at Padawan Sheyen. "Are you okay, dear?"
Sheyen nodded shakily. Putting her other arm around the Padawan, Rebecca led them both away.
Qui-Gon choked back a chuckle as he set the child he had picked up on the ground. He glanced upwards. The Jedi who had scaled the cliff were returning with their charges, most of them nearly to the ground by now, though some were clearly shaken by the ordeal. Knight Sithdragn, Master Clewara, and Knight Orange, he noticed for the first time, had also climbed the cliff face. But instead of climbing back down with children in their arms, they were investigating a small, dark cleft.
"Do you need help?" Qui-Gon shouted up at them as he stepped up beside Obi-Wan, circling his lover with one arm.
"There are children in here!" Sithdragn called back.
"But, it's okay," Clewara added, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm small enough to fit through the opening. I'll bring him out."
They watched from the ground as the small Jedi slipped easily into the tight space. The other climbers, having finished their ascension, turned the children they had rescued over to the Creche Master then gathered around to watch.
"Clewara 's afraid of the dark," Healer Lokemele reminded them.
"Yes," Master Rene said. "But, other than Yoda, she's the only one small enough to squeeze in there."
"Hey, guys?" Knight Rose said. "Look." She pointed to the west, noticeably favoring one arm. Dark clouds were rolling in very swiftly, and distant thunder sounded.
Healer Siang shuddered. "Wonderful," she muttered. "Just what we need."
"Oh, yeah," Knight Rennie said as the first drops of rain began to fall. "This is just great!"
"They'll never make it down that cliff once the rocks get wet," Knight Oncidium said. "They were slippery enough dry!"
"Maybe we should go up after them," Padawan Li' Ann suggested, though the idea clearly frightened her.
Qui-Gon shook his head. "No, it's too dangerous. If we have to, we can levitate them down."
"Look," Obi-Wan said. "She's coming out."
They all watched as Clewara emerged from the split in the rock with a small girl clutched in her arms and an even smaller boy pushed ahead of her. Orange immediately scooped up the boy. Even from this distance, they could hear her curse as the rain started in earnest.
"Stay put!" Qui-Gon said as she, Sithdragn, and Orange began to look for a way down. "We can levitate you down."
Sithdragn started to speak, but Clewara stopped him with a touch. "No need," the small Arkolian said. "I'll fly us down."
"I'll help!" a small voice said, and a moment later, Master Yogie's Padawan, FalconKenobi, zoomed upwards on her gossamer wings and scooped the child out of Clewara's arms, bringing her safely to the ground and handing her over to Healer Lokemele.
"Are you all right, dear?" Lokemele asked the trembling child, placing her hand on the girl's forehead and checking for injuries. "Are you injured?"
"No, ma'am."
Looking back at the cliff, Qui-Gon thought he saw Sithdragn bite her lip, but the Knight didn't argue as Clewara advised her to bend down and wrap her arms around the small furred waist. Without a moment's hesitation, Clewara launched them off the cliff, spreading her arms and legs wide and letting the flaps of skin that connected them glide them to the ground. It was a rapid descent, but a safe one. That left only Knight Orange on the cliff.
"Jump, Orange," Qui-Gon ordered. "I'll help you levitate down."
He saw her face go pale as she leaned out to look over the edge as the ground so far below. "I don't think I can," she said.
"Of course you can," Qui-Gon said. "Now, jump!"
Without another word, the Knight jumped. She fell fast for the first few meters, then slowed as the Force was brought to bear. She landed lightly beside them a moment later.
"Well done," Qui-Gon told her. Then, he turned to grin down at the small Arkolian. "I wasn't sure you could carry Sithdragn, Clewara."
"Neither was I," a still shaken Sithdragn admitted.
Clewara waved their concern off. Then, her eyes widened as she looked at Sithdragn. "Hey, you're afraid of heights, aren't you?" she asked.
Sithdragn blushed. "Actually," she said, "I'm afraid of flying!"
Master Yoda's voice interrupted them. "Healers, see to the injured you should! Seriously bitten, many are! Others injuries I sense, as well."
"We should all get inside," Mace suggested as the rain began to fall harder. They hurried out of the cove and down the beach to the large pavilion. It had begun to rain in earnest now, the thunder so loud that it made the ground tremble and the lightening slashing across the sky. Even though she was white with fear, Master Siang was comforting a few of the young ones.
"It's all right, angels," she said, wrapping two of the smallest children in her arms. "I don't like it, either, but it's only noise and rain."
Once under the protection of the roof, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan took it upon themselves to check on everyone else.
"Master Yogie? Master Ruth? Pilot Tarn?" Qui-Gon said, finding them inspecting the stings on their already-swelling ankles. "Are you three all right?"
"I'm fine," Tarn said. "It takes more than a few insects to get me down."
"That was more than 'a few insects'," Yogie reminded her. "That was a swarm."
"Yes," Ruth said, "And I don't ever want to see that many bugs in one place again!"
"I second that!" Yogie said emphatically. She glanced at her bondmate, noting how puffy one of the pilot's hands was. She took it between her own and sent healing rays of Force into it. "Where the Sith did those things come from?"
Qui-Gon shook his head. "I have no idea. I've never seen anything like that before."
"And, let's hope we never do again," Sithdragn said.
Nearby, Obi-Wan stopped near Master Leonus, Master Trudentia, Padawan Chan, and Master Jenn Kenobi. "How is everyone?" he asked Healer Alianne and Healer Ferfer, who was carefully inspecting each one.
"Nothing too serious," Alianne said.
"Leonus has a lot of bites," Jenn said, looking at the other Master's swollen leg. "Some of them look pretty bad." She sniffed, then made a face. "And what is that stench? You smell like you've been smoking Bantha poodoo."
Leonus grimaced. "That, dear, is the aroma of roasted cockroach."
Jenn bit her lip to suppress her gag reflex. "I'm sorry I asked," she said softly.
"If I never see another bug, it will be too soon!" Trudentia swore.
"I can still feel them crawling on me," Jenn said with a shudder.
"Well, everyone was lucky," Ferfer said. "No one seems to be having an allergic reaction." She glanced at Rose, who was holding her right arm above the elbow. "Are you all right?" she asked, moving to the Knight's side.
"I'm fine," Rose said, her eyes flicking nervously to Ferfer.
"Let me see your arm," the Healer ordered.
"It's nothing, really ---" Rose broke off with a yelp as Alianne stepped up on her other side and gently lifted her arm.
"Nothing, hmm?" Alianne asked, gently inspecting a cut on her forearm. "Nothing a little bacta won't fix." Knowing Rose's fear of Healers, she glanced over at Ferfer. "Want to give me a hand here?"
"Sure," Ferfer said, grinning at Rose as the two led her away for treatment. "Come along, Rose. This won't hurt a bit."
"And it will give you a chance to face your phobia like the rest of us have had to do today," Alianne said with a grin.
Rose groaned theatrically. "Lucky me."
Obi-Wan slipped quietly up beside his Master and slid a hand around him. Glancing around to make certain no one was listening, he said, "What was it you called me earlier, my love? A suck up?"
Qui-Gon gazed down at him, his blue eyes sparkling. "Yes, I believe I did."
Obi-Wan grinned. "Wait till we get home. I'll show you suck---" He broke off as Yoda's gimer stick banged on the wooden top of a nearby table.
"Tested today, we have been," the small green Master said from his perch when he had everyone's attention. "Proud of all of you, I am. Overcame your fears, push past them you did." His ear tips twitched. "Next year, hold our gathering on a planet with fewer bugs, we will."
A round of relieved applause rose up at this announcement, and gradually everyone began to make their way back to their transports, weary but wiser from their ordeal.
And there were many other annual Jedi outings . . . but that's another story.
The End