Master
Apprentice  Archive
Breathe
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"Breathe, Padawan," Qui-Gon said, standing behind Obi-Wan's desk chair and massaging his shoulders. "It can't be as bad as it seems."
Gray-green eyes swiveled around to peg blue ones. "Are you kidding, Master? It's every bit as bad as it seems! Look!" He waved one hand at the computer screen. "I didn't want the 'new improved' version of Galaxy Courier anyway, and now I appear to be stuck halfway between the old version and the new one!"
Ever the voice of poise and reason, Qui-Gon asked, "If you didn't want the new version, why did you attempt to install it?"
"Because of the Sithdamned pop-up screen that kept flashing on every ten seconds asking me if I was sure I didn't want to install it!"
Qui-Gon squeezed the shoulders under his hands. "Calm down, Obi-Wan, I'm sure the problem can be fixed."
"Fixed?" the younger man shrieked. "Fixed, Master? I don't think so! It's hopeless!" He shoved away from the desk and leaped to his feet, pacing across the room in agitation.
Qui-Gon slipped quietly into the chair and touched a few keys. "Hmmm," he said after a few minutes.
Obi-Wan snapped around to glare at him in alarm. "What? What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything, Padawan," the Master soothed. "I was just looking at the new message screen that just popped up. 'Do you want to install Compufix?' it says."
"No!" Obi-Wan shrieked in horrified despair. He rushed forward to lean over his Master's shoulder. "Tell it no, Master!"
Qui-Gon clicked the appropriate button and the large, flashing blue screen vanished, only to be replaced by a smaller flashing one. Both men leaned in closer. "Is that Tritonese?"
Obi-Wan groaned. "I think so."
"Can you read it?"
Obi-Wan had closed his eyes in defeat. "I believe, Master, that it's asking if we're sure we don't want to install Compufix."
"Well," Qui-Gon said, "I'll tell it yes, we're sure." He clicked the button. The small flashing screen disappeared and the larger flashing one returned. 'Do you want to install Compufix?' it said. He clicked no. The smaller screen flashed back on, in Tritonese. Qui-Gon slammed his fist down dangerously close to the delicate keyboard. "Why is it doing that?" he roared.
Obi-Wan had, by now, buried his face in his hands, unable to bear watching. "Why are you asking me?" he said miserably. "I couldn't even get the new version of Galaxy Courier to uninstall!"
"Well, someone must know," Qui-Gon said, once again in control of his emotions. "I'll post our problem to the Temple mailing list. Someone must be on line now that can assist us." He typed in his message and posted it, then he and his Padawan waited anxiously for a response. Both brightened as the incoming message light blinked.
"Oh, good," Qui-Gon said with a sigh of relief. "It's from Mace. He'll know how to fix the problem." They both leaned in closer to read the brief letter. It said 'Absolutely do not, under any circumstances, install the new version of Galaxy Courier. If you do, you'll be sorry.'
"We're already sorry!" Obi-Wan screamed, spinning away from the desk. "What we need to know is what to do!"
"Wait, Padawan," Qui-Gon called after him. "There's another message. It's from your friend Bant."
Obi-Wan returned, looking hopeful. "Bant, really? What does she say?"
"She says not to touch another thing before we screw it up completely," Qui-Gon read. He stopped to pinch the bridge of his nose. "She is on her way up to fix the problem."
"Thank the Force," Obi-Wan breathed. And, on the computer screen, a large flashing blue message window popped up. 'Do you want to install Compufix?'
The End