Title: Republic Day Jedi Annual Picnic And Open Temple Tour

Author: pronker

Era: 21 BBY

Summary: Another Jedi tradition story.

Characters: Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padmé Amidala, Quinlan Vos, Shylar, Aayla Secura, Tru Veld, Ferus Olin, my OCs Dimmie and Beebar, who are young adults just starting their careers as waitperson and chauffeur respectively.

A/N Written for a challenge on theforceDAHTNET; this is a 'reverse narrative' story.

IOIOIOIOIO

Fifth Hour Coruscant Standard Time

Thank you all for coming, and have a Force-aware day.

IOIOIOIOIO

Fourth Hour Coruscant Standard Time

Last stop is the souvenir shop. Choose a keepsake that fulfills your need to commemorate the final Jedi Annual Picnic and Open Temple Tour in these uncertain times. The Council voted to suspend the event because of the war's depredations on our numbers; to them, the frivolity appears unseemly. This hiatus continues to the foreseeable future. Yes, I'm disappointed, too.

I myself expect to be Knighted quite soon. What? Do I feel ready? Do I feel cheated of a lengthy Padawanship like my Master had? He attained Knighthood at age twenty-five due to circumstances too tragic for me to relate at this time, since younglings are present. Simply say that I do not wish to suffer his fate. Yes, I say suffer because he still has nightm- let us continue. Shop as much as you please from glow-in-the-dark holoposters, whistles, and meditation figures. No, we discourage action figures because the Code promotes peaceful negotiations, a talent that my Master demonstrates on mission after mission. Even in wartime, he amazes me and I've known him since I was nine Standard. Do you have a question, you in the back? That's right, there is no charge. Take all you want, and enjoy all you take.

IOIOIOIOIO

Third Hour Coruscant Standard Time

Everyone, watch your step exiting the turbolift. Don't worry about the lack of railing because our Temple spire is named the Tranquility Spire for a reason. The reason is that repulsor beams protect guests and Jedi alike from falling. Watch this pebble. spurkle sparkfzzzt See how it bounced back? Feel better now? The pebbles underfoot prove that our spire is a nexus of the Force. No matter how much we sweep up here, a few pebbles remain. I know. I've tried to vacuum the area myself because I want to protect guests like you from tripping hazards. It's my job to protect everyone. For what it's worth, I think the pebbles roll themselves into the corners to hide and then come out when we leave, but you didn't hear it from me. We let them alone now because the Force nexus underneath this spire is the mountain where ancient Coruscanti worshipped. I guess the pebbles are parts of the mountain and the Force wants them here to remind us Jedi who is boss.

The Force is difficult to interpret sometimes.

IOIOIOIOIO

Second Hour Coruscant Standard Time

This is the crèche, which is in two parts. Babes in the farthest room with its walls and doors set to full opacity sleep since it is naptime, and we do not wish to awaken any, do we? Babes this age respond to stimulus unpredictably. Why, once a four month-old Kiffar nearly pulled out my braid! The Temple cannot be responsible for these little tykes imbued with Force powers harming any commoners, I mean non-Jedi. We carers on rotation duty rely on soothing music, massage, and for extreme measures, swaddling to calm the littles. No, I never resided in the crèche. I was a special case. Hardy-har-har, special head case? I'll remember your face when we get outside again. I'm kidding. Maybe.

Oh, look at the younglings running to greet us! This is Sors, a big grown up boy of two and-a-half Standard, aren't you, pateesa? You're sooooo heavy I can barely hold you, whoops I almost dropped you! And there I go again! And again! All right, enough playing. Let go of my braid, Sors. Thanks.

I was nine years old when I came to live at Temple, Dimmie. It's a long story you've likely read in the gossip columns. Don't believe all you read about me being The Hero With No Fear, Beebar. Can you imagine any title more difficult to live up to? Isn't the war enough to make anyone fear? When I train my first apprentice, and they are saying that new Knights need to step up immediately to choose a Padawan-Learner, I'll do my utmost to train him, her or it in calm assertiveness. That's my promise to you citizens of the Republic. I shall do my best.

IOIOIOIOIO

First Hour Coruscant Standard Time

Goodbye, Padmé. I understand that you do not want to take the Tour to see where your - friend - lives. Service to the Republic on a weekend comes first before friendship. Greetings to Senator Organa from us.

Headcount for the Tour is thirty-two sign ups, Master. I can handle thirty-two alone. You rest at Master Siri's place because you're not fully recovered from your wound. I just know Master Siri wants to play with you. I'm not suggesting anything except a rousing game of sabacc in her quarters, unless you two retire to the eighty-sixth floor's game room for some Bounce. Since the war, blasters usage in Bounce doesn't seem so unusual, does it? I'm thinking out loud. Maybe Auto-Pool suits the mood better for you two, but what do I know? If you're feeling brave, why not play Question the Quarren with Master Windu? No, I wouldn't dare do that, either. See you later in our quarters. Remember to take your medicine before any heavy exercise. I won't be there to carry you to the Halls of Healing like last time.

IOIOIOIOIO

Mid-Hour Coruscant Standard Time

The bubblezap went up your nose, here's a napkin. Be more careful next time. Padmé, I'm not wearing my ring because I can't. You knew we would be living a lie - don't look like that. Here, try some protato salad that Master and I made for the picnic. It's tasty, isn't it? That's pure Chandrilan schmurtz in the dressing. Master adores it because it is so healthy, but I like it anyway. Are you sorry you came? I'm not. Any hour with you is precious beyond words. Oh hello, Master, care to join us on our blanket? Yes, I thought you would - all right, you may sit between us. It's not like we have anything to hide, is it, Padmé? Master, your color is improved since your operation, don't you think so, Padmé? Doesn't he have good color? Eat, Master, eat. Rebuild your strength. What are you laughing at, Padmé?

IOIOIOIOIO

Eleventh Hour Coruscant Standard Time

Thanks, Master, for bringing my spare shorts. You didn't need to hustle because now you're out of breath. Take it easy at the buffet table while I do my duty. tap tap skazzle Is this thing on? Good morning, my name is Senior Padawan Anakin Skywalker. I'll be conducting the Open Temple Tour, so gather around if you're interested. Please sign up with Master Windu at the purple kiosk and I shall meet you at the Eastern Entrance at Second Hour. Dress warmly and prepare for a great deal of walking - yes, I'm only a Padawan - if you wish a Master to conduct a tour, I'm afraid all Masters are either fighting the Separatists, in hospital treated for wounds or - my qualifications? I'm no expert on Temple history such as Count Dooku who led tours for some years, but he is busy leading the Separatists now. You'll have to be satisfied with me. I've studied Debate - hello, Dimmie and Beebar! You've brought your holocamera, which reminds me to encourage holos of all kinds during the tour. Master Yoda's policy evolved this year to stress opening the Temple to citizens who may misunderstand what we do all day. You'll learn we do not chant, meditate or spar all the time. We do not all wear robes, either, because Master Siri Tachi, one of the most experienced of us in undercover missions, wears a unisuit. It's most becoming, and my Master approves of its slim functionality, although he remains comfortable in his robes.

IOIOIOIOIO

Tenth Hour Coruscant Standard Time

"Gooooal!"

"Another scramball score for the opposition Bodacious Bogwings, three minutes into the demo match. Vos is the one to look out for."

"He's tough, but we Astounding Accipipteros can take them, right, team?"

"Ferus, you can take your optimism and shove - "

"Watch what you say, Skywalker. We three want to impress the public with Jedi unity, do we not?"

"You two shut up or I'll quit the team right now. I've had it with you both."

"Tru! No, don't!"

"Veld, I apologize to you and to Skywalker. Fair enough?"

"Team Captain Olin, you make me pu- all right, apology accepted. Never let it be said that a Skywalker can't be gracious."

"Good. Onward. This might only be a short demonstration match, but we can deal with curtailed rules and Quartermaster K'aki's holiday uniforms that she sewed in haste. Mine fits reasonably well, how about yours?"

"Tru, yours looks fine because you can double-joint your way into anything, but my shorts are too tight."

"Anakin."

"What, friend Truest of the true?"

"Ferus has a plan. Let's listen."

"Fine. Spill it, Olin."

"Veld, you and Skywalker double-team Shylar. I'll handle Vos and Secura. I know their moves. They always circle the goal. It's predictable, really."

"So you're not accepting input to your plan, Olin?"

"Anakin, it's good enough for a demonstration game. Let it ride."

"Thank you for the support, V- Tru. Let's get together on this, team. I won't head out from our huddle before we stand in agreement. Fist bump me and ... ow! What was that for?"

"Fanny slaps are tradition, Exalted Captain Olin, sir."

"You took entirely too much pleasure in that slap, Skywalker."

"There's the whistle, you two. We've got seventeen minutes. Let's go astound 'em."

"I'll take this up with you later, Skywalker."

"Bet on it, Olin."

I must save my breath for the game, no more talking and hey, I did it, I scored! And another while they weren't prepared! The score is two all, and - uh oh. Here comes Vos. Sidestep him, Anakin, so you can score a third - poodoo. Not quick enough and now he's after me. Broken field run, Padawan!

Aaaaand here comes Olin. What is he doing? Tru comes up on Vos' behind and he and Olin - they've tagged Vos out. Well. That was unexpected. Where are Aayla and Shylar - Vos sacrificed his chance at goal. Huh. There he goes to the outbox, strutting like he did well. Did their team have a plan, too? He'll be back in the game in two minutes.

Nobody can beat me at long distance running, but Aayla comes close. As for endurance, Shylar owns it. Hmm. This may not be the astounding runaway victory we Accipipteros expect. Oh, there's Master in the stands sitting next to Luminara and Plo - drat! Shylar slapped the ball from me while I was people watching, gah she's good. I'd tackle her if the rules allowed. I must follow rules if I want to be Knighted. I wonder when that will be? Look at Shylar's pinney come half undone, she'll lose it if we - and now Vos reenters. Oh, joy.

Head back in the game, Skywalker.

Vos, Shylar and Aayla form a wedge, typical of Masters and their former Padawans and their, well, whatever Shylar is to him. I refuse to speculate because Galaxapolitan holomag guesses enough Jedi attachments, thank you very much. It's a good thing Padmé and I avoid rumors.

I hope.

Vos' braids sway like Jawa robes as he darts in and out of their wedge. Demo matches can end in a tie, unlike regular scramball matches. Uh oh, we're coming up on the Astounding goal, there are Olin and Tru defending, Tru the goalie since he's amazing at twisting and bending to deflect. Pbbblblbl, look at Olin, standing like an I don't know what. The thirty-centimeter diameter ball will shoot right through his five-hole into the net if he's not careful.

We're so close to whistle time I can taste it. I want to win. I'm sick of the war, plus Master is in the crowd watching me. This win must happen.

Vos defends his offensive teammate Shylar on one side, Aayla defends the other with her lekku bouncing.

How did I get so fast to Olin's side to defend our goal? I didn't mean to use the Force, honest! I hope nobody noticed. Better dig in my cleats because Olin is doing the same and I Sense that Tru is jittery behind us. Oh well, I used the Force once today when I wasn't supposed to, so I may as well use it passively to Sense emotions. Master will forgive me, if he notices. Master always forgives me.

Here they come.

Vos charges me and I can't believe it, he sticks out his left arm for a straightarming that skirts the rules, while his right arm signals, and I can't believe this either, a come-on gesture for the other Bogwings? I plant my feet more widely and duck the arm as I grab Vos' waist because if he can duck the rules regarding tackles, so can I. Oh ho, he looks shocked and clamps his right arm on my left shoulder and then I bend backwards away from the attack but into the direction of motion. I hoist his eighty-one kilos over my head and sure enough, his Jedi reflexes turn the toss into a walkover of not only me, but the goal. I feel his head roll skull-to-skull with mine up and over and down. This will work better if I grab his great left hoof to boost him further. It's over before I can think as I hear the crowd roar. He's probably bowing just to be obnoxious but no time for that because okay, Olin, I stand with you to defend our goal. We hunker down as if joined at the hip, dig in our cleats even more and then Aayla swarms all over Ferus, I mean Olin. Her lesser mass means all he need do is withstand the onslaught so he won't need to toss her like I did Vos, well he probably couldn't finesse it like I did. So there.

Shylar homes in on the goal. I reach for her, she twists away and cocks her arm. It's all up to Tru. He locks the joints in his arms for a handstand. Curse the demo rule that says a goalie can use only his lower limbs when in the crease! He windmills his legs, Shylar makes the cast, and the ball hits his rippling right knee.

The shot is blocked.

The whistle blows.

Shylar sticks out her tongue at Tru and they both laugh. Vos scrambles around the goal, assesses the tie situation and slaps my rump.

That is when I discover that my skin-tight shorts failed my athleticism and split at the back seam.

IOIOIOIOIO

The End.

IOIOIOIOIO