| ***** "I think we'd better be goin', Master Jinn." Simeon Cates stood up and then promptly fell back down again. "Yes." Kylenn nodded hurriedly. She pushed Sybelle and Letina past him as quickly as she could, hoping to avoid the stern gaze he was subjecting all the padawans to. "The Angel Flight." Grinned Jay Abran. "That should prove very interesting." Qui-Gon watched as one by one they filed out, with the exception of Tanni Welasa and Jodi Mullicar, who had agreed to watch over Dimallie until Leona got back. Abran, however, halted. Clearly he did not want anyone to overhear his conversation. "You might want to give this to Obi-Wan." Jay smiled mischievously, fishing into his pocket and taking out a scrumpled piece of silk. He placed the fabric into Qui-Gon's hands with a conspiratorial wink. "What's this?" Qui-Gon frowned, unraveling the silk, until they fell back into the shape of two scrunched black stockings with fish scale patterns on them. "They're his. Or rather, I think they're Jemmiah's." Abran smirked. "They're burning a hole in my pocket. I think, as you're his master, YOU should keep hold of them. After all, it doesn't seem that Jemmiah's able to do that. Not when your padawan's around." He frowned. "Of course, they might be his. What he cares to get up to in his own spare time is none of my business..." So saying, Jay Abran waved lazily and sauntered after his fellows, leaving a bewildered Qui-Gon Jinn to wonder if he was going to have to murder his hormonally charged apprentice, or a transvestite padawan... "And I thought I'd seen it all with Xanatos!" Jinn gulped. The urge to find Obi-Wan was no longer as pressing as before! ***** Noticing the beginning departure of the many Jedi in the cantina Leona hastened to make herself scarce. She would have to wait until most of the cantina-crawl participants had left for the next scheduled stop before collecting Obi-Wan and Jemmiah. At the very least until Qui-Gon and An-Paj had left, though she certainly hoped the Master Healer would return to the temple, thereby eliminating half her problems. Watching as the last of the stragglers left, some already not under their own influence she searched out Fizz, er, whats-his-name. "Ya decide to stick round awhile an haf a bit o fun on yer own?" the man slurred drunkenly, staggering to her side. Putting his arm around her, Leona was assaulted by his very pungent odor, not all of it alcohol. Wrinkling her nose in disgust, she squirmed out of his grasp. "No Mr. Mollop, I only need to retrieve the young people from the cellar and then we can be on our way." "Sure you don wanna stay. I kin show you a real good time." he smiled, showing off his golden grin. "Possibly some other time." she said politely, forcing a smile. Over my dead body, she thought to herself. "Well, if yer sure?" he said disappointed, "they's down there." he pointed to the hatchway in the back then shambled back to the bar. Opening the door Leona peered into the darkness beyond. "Obi-Wan, Jemmiah, it's safe to come up." she called softly, as if afraid to be overheard. After waiting a moment without response she took a hesitant step down. Listening carefully she thought she could hear the murmur of voices. "Jemmiah. Obi-Wan." she called again. Still no answer. Holding on to the banister, Leona cautiously descended another couple of steps, the darkness quickly swallowing her. There has to be a light switch here somewhere, she thought. Holding her hand out, she felt along the wall as she traversed the staircase. Finally her hand contacted something that could only be a switchplate. Sighing in relief she flipped the switch. "Maybe we can just stay here." Obi-Wan said as he nuzzled Jemmiah's neck in the dark while his hands roamed freely. "What, and miss all the fun." Jemmiah answered with feigned disappointment. "We could make our own fun." he pressed himself close to her. "And what do we do after those ten minutes?" she teased mockingly. "Ten minutes, huh? Well I'll show you." Obi-Wan pushed her onto the table, falling on top of her. Squealing with delight, Jemmiah half-heartedly began to wrestle him. Suddenly the room exploded with blinding light as the lamp directly above them turned on. "Hey!" Jemmiah screamed in shock. Attempting to jump up from her reclined position, Jemmiah pushed Obi-Wan off of her. Knocking him off balance he rolled to the end of the table. Grabbing on to her to prevent falling off, he only succeeded in pulling her with him as he rolled off the table, landing on the floor with her on top of him. "Sith!" Jemmiah swore angrily as her head collided with Obi-Wan's. "You're going to give me a concussion." "You've already got a concussion." a voice reminded from across the room. "Healer Leona." Obi-Wan whispered with alarm. "Then I'll have a second." Jemmiah said testily, pulling herself off the floor, straightening her dress down with aggravated gestures. "Just what do you think the two of you were doing?" Leona asked harshly, standing stiffly, arms crossed over her chest. "Just a little game of blind billiards before we were so rudely interrupted." Jemmiah answered cheekily. Obi-Wan rose from behind the table, his face flamed. "It's time to go." the healer announced as the girl strode proudly past her. Obi-Wan followed, somewhat more demurely. "You might want to adjust your trousers Kenobi" Leona suggested, "the wind's up and I'd hate to see you in the infirmary for catching your death of cold." ***** "We can’t start without Jemmy and Obi!" Jay Abran stated hotly. "Besides, I want to see if I can cheat and rig the game so I get to see Jemmiah in her new underwear!" "You are a disgrace." Kylenn frowned. "And you have no sense of fun." Abran replied. "Are you sitting in on this one?" Kylenn didn’t particularly want to play at strip spin-the-bottle. It was initially going to be strip Sabacc, but ever since they had arrived at the Angel Flight there had been unseemly allegations of skullduggery and fixing regarding the Corellian deathmatch. Grudgingly, Abran had agreed not to use cards but to use instead a large green drinking receptacle that had until five minutes earlier been host to a particularly strong and potent brand of Fliggean Ale. She dithered briefly before reluctantly consenting. Despite his threats, there was no way Abran could rig this thing without everyone knowing about it. If anyone so much as used the force to spin the bottle or alter its final position, every force sensitive person in the vicinity would know about it. There was no way they could cheat. Was there? "Good." Abran’s eyes gleamed. "Everyone’s playing this one. Even Mr. Interesting," he pointed at Hmiol. "Great." Kylenn said dryly. "I woke up this morning and said to myself ‘I really must see what Hmiol looks like in the buff’. And now my dream has come true." "Look, nobody’s making you do this." Abran reminded her. She couldn’t refuse. Abran would never speak to her again. And that was the last thing she needed. "Ok, ok." She grumbled. "I said I was in." Abran smiled, and caught sight of Qui-Gon at the other end of the bar. He hoped that he wasn’t waiting to see if his padawan turned up and joined in the fun. That would REALLY put a spanner in the works. It was with some relief that he saw Mace Windu appear beside Master Jinn and pull him away. Thank the Sith, thought Abran. Now if only Jemmiah, Kenobi and Healer Leona would appear. "An-Paj told me you went off the deep end at Leona." Windu stared pensively at his friend. Qui-Gon said nothing. "Was there a reason?" Mace asked breezily. "She’s been aiding and abetting my Padawan’s dalliance with Jemmiah. I have every reason to believe that she probably helped her escape from the infirmary in the first place." "Now hang on, Qui. That’s a serious allegation." Windu snapped. "If she hasn’t had anything to do with this and you go around accusing her it could severely jeopardize her place with the Healers. Is that what you want?" "If it’s true." Qui-Gon was unrepentant. "All I’m saying is hang back until you know the truth." Mace looked him in the eye. "Isn’t that fair?" Jinn sighed. "Alright. I’ll wait. I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt." He raised his glass to his lips. "But if I find out…" "Just try and enjoy yourself for a few moments." Mace pleaded. "Jemmiah and Obi-Wan will turn up. Why are you so jumpy?" Jinn played with his glass. "Leona can’t be all that bad." Windu tried to snap Qui-Gon out of his inscrutably dark mood. "You see Sal-Fina over there?" Qui-Gon snorted. The last thing he really wanted to do was look at… "Sith on a stick!" Jinn stared, open-mouthed, as he took in the sight of an extremely damp and disarrayed Sal-Fina. "What happened?" "Apparently, your ex was being rather critical of you and your padawan, and Leona took it upon herself to stick up for you. She emptied a full bucket of ice over her head. Must’ve spent to much time hanging round Jemmiah!" Qui-Gon blinked. Why would she go to the trouble of defending him when he’d made it perfectly clear that he had thought her irresponsible and a bad example to the padawans? He felt completely bemused by the whole thing. "I can’t say I’m completely disgusted." Qui-Gon smirked just a touch at the sight of the obviously indignant Sal-Fina. "Infact if I’m honest, It’s put the woman higher in my estimation. There’s not many who would take on Sal-Fina." Mace nodded in agreement. "Have another drink." He replied, again wondering at the strength of the measures he had been served. Who was complaining? "Same again, then." Qui-Gon stared at Sal-Fina, this time with a definite smile on his lips. Perhaps this Leona wasn’t as bad as he had thought. "Is it safe?" Leona looked left and right as they came through the exit at the back, half carrying, half pushing a semi aware Dimallie. The young Togorian, Tanni Welasa had an arm over one of the apprentice’s shoulders. Jodi, Obi-Wan and Jemmiah brought up the rear. "I can’t see him." Kenobi breathed out in relief. "Where are the others?" "Over in the bar." Welasa purred. "I shall fetch them over. It’s safer through here in the conservatory area." "Safer for whom?" Jemmy muttered. "Ben, we can’t play strip Sabacc here! It’s all glass! People will be arriving from miles away to see the great Jedi strip show!" "What else do you suggest?" Kenobi shrugged. "Go through and ask Master An-Paj if he minds if we all join him?" "Point." Jemmy looked at the floor. "I said we should have stayed in Fizz’s cellar." His eyes gleamed. "And I still haven’t forgiven you for that 10 minute jibe. I’m going to make you suffer for that." "Promises, promises." She fluttered her eyelashes at him. "But I’m afraid our relationship is doomed to be unfulfilled. Fate keeps conspiring against us." "I’ll think of something." He winked before kissing her. "Will you two stop that for just one moment?" Leona stared indignantly. "Do you have to eat her every time my back is turned?" "No." Obi-Wan considered. "I can do it when you’re looking, if you wish." "I’ve seen enough tonsillectomies in my time, thank you." Leona shot back. "I’m going to have a drink. What are you two having?" "Silver Cutlass Ale, thanks." Obi-Wan replied. "Bottle of Fire Scorch." Jemmiah smiled. Leona raised a querying eyebrow. Jemmiah swallowed. "Ginger and Lime cordial." She said disgustedly. "That’s more like it." Leona grinned. Jemmiah looked at Dimallie, lying in a state of semi consciousness. "At least somebody’s had a good time." Jemmiah commented acerbically. "The night’s still young…" Obi-Wan reminded her. "And you’re so beautiful." Jemmiah finished off. "Thanks. I wasn’t going to be the first to say it, but now you’ve brought it up…" "Arrogant Sith!" Jemmiah batted him. "Sit on my lap." "What?" She laughed. "I said sit on my lap." "No!" "Why not?" "Because you’ve got wandering hands syndrome." She stuck her tongue out at him. "I’ll keep them where you can see them." He promised. "I don’t trust you." "Oh, go on." He pleaded with his blue eyes. She sighed. "You have some strange fetishes, Ben Kenobi." She stood up and walked over to him, placing her hands on his shoulders and sitting across his lap. "No, not like that." His eyes gleamed. "I meant astride." "YOU’RE DISGUSTING!" She screamed with amusement, and yanked on his braid. "I will NOT!" "You’re loss." He snickered. "I don’t s’pose you’ve kept that school uniform you used to have…" Jemmiah picked out an ice cube from the remains of somebody’s drink and dropped it on the front of his trousers. "You minx!" He grabbed her. "Let me go." She squealed, "the others are coming over." He watched as the others began to file over gradually, some like Jay Abran and Simeon Cates looking more than a little happy, whilst others like Letina and Kylenn had the harassed look of prisoners making their own scaffold. "I win." Jemmy said. "Only the battle." Obi-Wan smiled. "The war has yet to be fought" "I see you two made it out alive." Simeon smiled. "Although Jemmiah looks like she’s been pawed about by a giant Farfalak." He winked knowingly. "Must’ve been very boring down that cellar." "I’m a natural games player." Obi-Wan said smugly. "Well, let’s see how we all fare with this one." Jay Abran produced the special green bottle. "I think it’s only fair to warn everyone that this is getting holo filmed." "WHAT!" Letina shrieked. "You heard me." Jay said placidly. "Can’t back out now, guys. Swear on the sacred bottle." There were some discontented grumbles, mostly female, but everyone did as instructed. Kylenn stared at the green bottle as if it were a new form of torture. Abran stared at Kylenn, enjoying making her sweat. Jemmiah stared at Abran, wondering how he had the nerve to do this sort of thing so often. Harkley stared at Jemmiah, as he had been for the majority of the evening. Obi-Wan stared at Harkley, barely keeping his temper in check. This might prove a night to remember. For all the wrong reasons. "Y’know, Qui, I really think we needed this." Mace Windu hiccuped as he started on his sixth glass of Coruscant Hooch. "Sith, this stuff’s strong." "Hmm." Agreed Jinn, whose mind was wandering far away from the stilted conversation with his friend. He had to admit that Alderaani Rum was doing wonders for him. He couldn’t remember how many he’d had specifically, but it was enough to leave him feeling pleasantly drowsy without being anywhere near drunk and out of control. He wondered where Jemmiah was. Then he wondered where his padawan was. He hoped he was taking care of her. Although not in the way that Jay Abran had suggested. His face clouded over just a touch. When he gave instructions it was for a good reason, not because it made him powerful or simply because he WAS a Jedi master. To see his edicts flaunted and disobeyed displeased him immensely, but disappointed him even more. When he told Jemmiah to stay in bed it was for the sake of her own health. To find out that she’d run off at the first opportunity and absconded with his apprentice did not make him feel any more inclined to go leniently on either of them when he caught up with the pair. Jemmiah was young, headstrong, impulsive…and typically Corellian. The idea of her wandering about and indulging in alcoholic binges with a concussion was not the sort of thing Qui-Gon wanted to think about. He knew that Obi-Wan would look after her to the best of his abilities but would SHE let HIM? Somehow, Qui-Gon didn’t think so. Then there was Leona. He knew he’d acted badly there. He’d been rude and accusative, throwing all his worries and insecurities back at her when she had been trying to help. She looked a quiet sort of person, but had been more than willing to defend herself when he’d weighed in with his criticism. Had she really told him that he was the one at fault for his Padawan’s dishonest behavior? She had, hadn’t she! Not many people would dare do that! He was seen by many as a cold, frightening and humorless individual who treated his padawan as a lackey, rather than the son he had come to truly regard Obi-Wan as. His treatment of Jemmiah in the last few weeks had been equally harsh, although he felt it had been merited, which probably hadn’t encouraged anyone to take a different opinion of him. In hindsight, it was almost amusing the way she had stood up to him. And then to tip a bucket of ice over Sal-Fina’s head! He smiled into his glass of rum. Perhaps he would seek her out at some point to apologize. And ask her why she hadn’t doused Ambianca at the same time… Kylenn sat miserably as she watched the spectacle unfold. Jemmiah’s left and right boots, her jacket, both earrings and the neck tie that had covered her ‘trophy’ as she had called it, were lying beside her. Jay Abran was looking flushed but happy. He was missing his brown cloak, his lightsabre, his left boot and sock. He had the look of a man who couldn’t care less.Meri was also missing her cloak, but fate had been kind to her thus far. Simeon sat shivering in only his boots and tunic trousers. The top had come off long ago, much to everyone’s amusement. "I didn’t realize how well developed you were, Cates." Sybelle had purred, only to get a playful nip from her boyfriend. "Pity Dimallie’s not awake enough to see what she’s missing!" Jemmiah grinned vampishly. "Thanks, guys." Simeon had blushed, waving away the whistles. The bottle spun round and round, hypnotizing in its graceful dance, eventually stopping at Obi-Wan. "Get ‘em off, pigtails!" Meri crowed with delight. "I thought that was Jemmiah’s line!" Abran chortled. Kenobi rolled his eyes, and like Simeon before him, reached for his tunic top. "Off! Off! Off! Off! Off! Off!" came the frenzied cry, accompanied by loud clapping. "Ok, Ok!" Kenobi laughed. He pulled the tunic off over his head amidst jeers and screams of delight. "Whooooooooooo!" Meri rubbed her hands together. "Love the scratch marks, Obi!" "When did you get them?" Jemmiah frowned, leaning closer to get a better look. "I’d hoped you’d remember." Obi-Wan blushed slightly. "Oh. Was that just now in the cellar?" Jemmy asked before realizing exactly what she’d said. There were howls of approval from all around. Except from Kryztan. "Yes." Obi-Wan muttered. "Maybe I should cut my nails." Jemmiah smiled, embarrassed. "Spin that bottle!" Sybelle grinned. Abran reached over and spun it again. Dimallie. "Are you sure you’re allowed to remove the clothes from someone’s person when they’re too drunk to consent?" Jemmiah frowned. "It sounds a tiny bit like molestation to me." "There speaks the voice of experience." Simeon winked. Meri sighed and removed the tunic from Dimallie. She was now sitting wearing her slip and her boots. But she didn’t complain once. Just sat there with a fixed grin, as if rigor mortis had set in during one of Simeon’s jokes. Abran spun again. It landed at Kryztan Harkley. Anything Kenobi can do, I can do better, he thought before removing his top. Not that he needed to, of course. He still had his boots and belt and all. Whilst he pulled his shirt off, he gave Jemmiah a quick glance, which Obi-Wan was quick to spot. Meri felt him call on the force to calm him. It worked, but she could see his annoyance written on his face. His blue eyes had narrowed venomously. Sith, he is jealous, she thought! The bottle was given another twist, and either by dint of the force, or some trick of Jay Abran’s, landed pointing at Jemmiah. Again. "Shoozer!" She cursed. "That’s not fair!" "How do you think we feel?" Kylenn asked, pointing at Dimallie, herself and Hmiol. Kylenn was sitting wearing her cream slip, and like Dimallie, not much else. Hmiol was down to his tunic trousers. And one boot. Jemmy hissed in irritation and reached for one of her silk stockings, feeling the stare of every hot-blooded male padawan on her. In particular, Obi-Wan and Kryztan Harkley. She pulled the garment off the bottom of her foot before rolling it up into a little ball and placing it amongst the rest of her discarded clothing. "That’s not fair!" Kylenn muttered. "You’ve got more clothes than us!" "If you had seen what I’m wearing underneath, you wouldn’t be saying that." She replied tartly. "Let’s hope we get the chance." Abran grinned. Obi-Wan didn’t like the way things were going: for that matter, neither did Jemmy. She felt what she could only assume was somebody’s leg brushing up and down her own underneath the table and she froze. She knew it wasn’t Ben. And unless they were both contortionists, it couldn’t be Simeon or Jay either. Swallowing, she knew exactly who it was. She also knew exactly what Ben would do if he found out. "I need a drink." She stood up quickly, forgetting her lack of clothing, before everything blurred in her head and forced her to sit back down again. "Are you OK?" Kenobi tried to reach over to help her. "Yeah, yeah. I’ll be fine in a bit." She muttered. "See if you can’t find Healer Leona," he asked Simeon, who was nearest the bar. "What, like this?" Simeon incredulously pointed to his bare torso. "Just do it." Kenobi snapped. He watched Simeon reluctantly drape his cloak back on him and make his way over to the bar. "Don’t fetch Leona, Ben." Jemmy pleaded. "She’ll see that I’m carted off to the infirmary." "Maybe it’s for the best." "I’ll be fine in a moment." She repeated. "I stood up too quickly." She glared across at Kryztan, whose face remained impassive. Oh, hells teeth! Behind them, the thing she’d warned Ben all about was beginning to happen. People were beginning to congregate outside the windows, and were standing with their noses pressed against the glass. Maybe returning back to the temple wasn’t such a bad idea after all… ***** "A drink!!" cried Hmiol, still quite trashed, although his speaking ability had returned. "That's a great idea!" Kenobi turned. "Garos, you've had enough." "I'm fine!" he yelled as he stumbled toward the bar. He was about to order a Riptide, but then he stopped himself. The man in front of him stepped away from the bar, holding a flaming drink. His eyes going wide, he turned to the bartender. "I'll have one of those..." he said. The bartender gave him a strange look, but filled the order. Hmiol turned too quickly, making the bar turn sideways. His drink spilled all over an old woman behind him, setting her aflame. She cried out, then fell upon the rack of liquor, still screaming. BOOM! The explosion ripped through the bar, shattering the glass walls. Finally, Garos' drunken mind clicked. Oh, the bars on... "Fire!" the bartender yelled. |
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| A Night to (almost) Remember |
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