“Typical.” A lone figure thundered through the jungle muttering to himself and shaking his head in indignation. “Of all the missions I could be sent on.” The branches overhead rustled and he tilted his head back, casting a wary eye up into the canopy before continuing on determinedly, but not without a considerable measure of worry. “Probably did it on purpose, it would be just like him too.” Though it was night, he was resolved not to spend another night on this Force-forsaken planet. He’d been sent to accomplish a mission, but then when he had arrived, it had already been completed and his had been a pointless journey. But not only that, he had been worried, though it would probably take a swarm of fork-tailed stingers for him to admit that. Well okay, maybe one of the buzzing sith spawn. Thankfully this place had nothing like that. He looked around him just to make sure. Come to think of it, it was probably a nice enough planet, though unnecessarily hot. He pulled at his Jedi tunics. “I’m hardly fit to meet with the Council looking like this!” He trudged on, gruffly pushing the foliage out of his way. “Typical!” The wise words of Yoda, the wizened, ancient Master played in his mind, “Revenge a Jedi does not seek.” He made a sceptical noise. “I’m sure this is a justified exception.” He began to plot his revenge, but no great ideas came to mind, they were usually the speciality of his target-to-be. But not to worry, one day soon he would be a member of the Council and he could return the favour. He snorted in satisfaction. Yes, Dex Berlingside would regret the day he crossed him! Though, with more thought, he realised Dex never really regretted anything, and besides, he wouldn't be able to do anything really awful in case Dex decided to retaliate. A few well-placed orders, however, would certainly do the trick. He continued on. The ship was not far away and in hindsight he realised it probably hadn’t been necessary to land so far out, but it was better to be safe than sorry. He was also thankful for the private transport, having to wait in a terminal for who knew how long was not very appealing. This way he could return to the Temple within four days and if he didn’t encounter any navigational problems it would almost be like a holiday. Perhaps he could catch up on some reports? A loud roar reached his very core and brought him to a stop. He rested a hand on the lightsaber clipped to his belt and then turned around a full three hundred and sixty degrees to search for the threat. With the Force he sensed nothing dangerous. His forehead crinkled slightly as his senses brushed past something that shone unusually brightly for something in the jungle. He wasn’t sure what it was at first, but then a second sound bombarded his ears and his senses. “WAAAAHHHHH!” It was the ear-splitting scream of an infant, most likely a human. He took a moment to contort his face in annoyance, it definitely felt like something or someone was conspiring against him. But he couldn’t leave a baby out in the wilderness. In seconds he was running through the jungle with Force-enhanced speed, jumping over logs, and leaping over roots (or tripping, but why quibble?). As he got closer and closer to the tiny life he also realised he was getting closer to the owner of the first roar, only now there seemed to be many more. A sense of imminent danger was now pervading all of his senses, which could lead him to only one conclusion. The baby was crying because of the creatures. He gulped as he ran, banishing thoughts of what could happen. Within moments he found them. Huge grey and black cannoids were snapping their mighty jaws at each other, alternately growling and roaring. For an instant his heart sank unbearably with the thought he had been too late, but then he spotted a purple clad baby near the middle of the fray. Its wails had subsided to whimpers and sniffles and in that instant he realised the baby was Force-sensitive and also female. The salivating and obviously hungry cannoids were paying little attention to the baby, but if he were to run in and grab her or start pulling her away with the Force, they would undoubtedly notice. A frontal attack was simply not an option, there was too great a risk they could stamp on her, crushing her with their giant clawed paws. That left only one plan. His brown eyes darted across the pack and then into the jungle, time was of the essence. Gathering the Force around him with ease, the Jedi took a deep breath and reached out to the primitive and instinctual minds of the cannoids, simultaneously popping in the suggestion of a wounded animal off in the distance and removing the knowledge of the baby from their collective minds. Their fighting abruptly ceased and they leapt into the forest, leaving the small purple bundle behind, squirming on the moist ground. Without delay he left his cover and raced out to the baby, but slowed in his final steps towards her as he crouched down. “Hello there,” he said, chastising himself for such a lame remark. Two little blue eyes framed by dark lashes looked up at him as he came into focus. He searched the immediate area with his eyes and the greater region with his senses for any indication of how she came to be in the jungle, but there was nothing that immediately drew his attention. Awkwardly he picked her up and cradled her in his large arms, remembering to support her head, as was constantly being mentioned in the holos. “Well, uh, looks like you’re with me for the moment.” She didn’t make any response, but just continued to squirm and make whimpering gurgling sounds. “Okay, so where’s the ship?” he thought aloud, looking back the way he came and then in the opposite direction, trying to reach into his tunic for the map. “Shh, keep still, I have to concentrate.” After a few more moments of calculations, he figured the ship was about ten standard minutes away if he walked north and set out that way with the bundle in his arms. Nearly an hour later he reached the ship, muttering to himself about faulty maps, quietly so as not to wake the baby sleeping in his arms. Her fidgeting had only gotten worse as time went on, almost as if she were growing bored. In the end he had used the Force to get her to sleep, and had been rather pleased with himself. After the ramp had lowered with a hydraulic hiss, he strode into the ship, awkwardly pressing the button to close the ramp on his way in, while trying to hold the sleeping baby in his arms. It was only a small vessel, best described as a shuttle, with only two bunks, a bathroom, a small storage and engineering area, and the cockpit. The cooking amenities consisted of a kettle, miniature refrigeration unit, sink, and a small cupboard of foodstuffs tucked into the sleeping area. Thankfully there would be something he could feed her, if only the emergency formula in the med-kit. Walking between the bunks, he looked down at the baby in his arms and debated what to do with her while he took off and plotted the course. He had decided earlier that he would take her back to the Temple to be trained; it was obvious she had been abandoned. The Force had confirmed this course of action, but that didn’t help his present dilemma. He eventually put the baby down on one of the bunks, realising how dirty her jumpsuit was and also that now in the clean air of the ship, how pungent an odour was emanating from her. “Ew!” he couldn’t help but exclaim, waving a hand in front of him to hopefully dispel the aroma. “Guess I’ll have to take care of that as well!” He was about to enter the cockpit when he felt a whisper through the Force and turned back. The baby was precariously close to the edge! He raced back and held her in place while he searched for another option. The floor! Cradling her once again, he grabbed his earlier discarded robe from his bunk and arranged it in a quasi-nest on the floor. Gently supporting her bottom and head, he placed her on the bed he had created. As he stood up again he smiled smugly. “Take that, Qui!” His friend wasn’t the only one that could deal with babies. Not only was she still sleeping, he had averted disaster. It certainly wasn’t as hard as it looked! Four days later, Healer An-Paj stood waiting on the landing platform, waiting for the shuttle to land. Several others had shown up as well. Qui-Gon Jinn stood with his recently-released-from-the-infirmary friend, Dex Berlingside, both minus their apprentices, no doubt by design. The blue-skinned healer’s lips curled into a smile. The several rather frantic calls from their friend certainly had been interesting viewing. About half an hour behind schedule the shuttle set down and after a few minutes the access ramp lowered. And after a few more moments of waiting, the three men could see a tired looking man walk down the ramp with a beige coloured form in his arms. “Why Knight Windu, we were not sure you and your little friend would make it back in one piece!” An-Paj called out. Mace’s expression was tight when he approached them and they each tried exceedingly hard not to laugh, but the smiles on their faces were incriminating enough. “That’s the last time I go off to rescue you!” He looked pointedly at Dex. “And just where were you anyway while I was slogging my way through the jungle to look for you?” “I appreciate the sentiment, I really do, but it’s hardly my fault I didn’t need the help,” the Correllian knight replied jovially. “And who have we here?” Qui-Gon smiled as he looked down at the baby in Mace’s arms. “Take her!” Mace deftly conveyed her to his surprised friend’s arms. The other two men gathered around and cooed and clucked at her, offering their fingers as playthings. “Well, I should be filing my report for the Council,” Mace announced, straightening his rumpled and baby vomit stained tunic. “Of course, but there are some things that need to be done first. This little one has to go down to the infirmary and there are a few forms to fill out.” Mace looked set to protest but the look on An-Paj’s face silenced him. “Very well,” he sighed. “Here.” He held out his arms to Qui-Gon who stared at his friend with wide, shocked eyes before handing the baby back to him. She gave a small squeal and wiggled slightly in delight and all three men looked at the knight in surprise. "Mace! She likes you!" Qui-Gon exclaimed with an incredulous laugh. Dex also appeared astonished. "Yeah, imagine that. A female that actually likes Mace." Mace just sniffed and led the way off the platform to the nearest lift. After a short wait, and a few shared amused looks, they boarded the lift and began their descent. “Yes, it’s all right,” Mace soothed, absently rocking the baby in his arms. This time Dex and Qui-Gon had to cover their mouths to keep from laughing. An-Paj looked on in utter amazement, but kept his professional expression. They arrived in the infirmary and Qui-Gon and Dex stood around while An-Paj was examining her. Removing the tunic that served as a blanket, An-Paj’s antennae twitched at the make-shift nappy made out of what appeared to part of a pant leg. Her little body was clean but there were remnants of bruising and cuts she had sustained prior to coming into Mace’s care. It wasn’t the best of starts in life but despite Knight Windu’s lack of caring abilities, she could have done much worse with a would-be rescuer. “So, have you decided on a name?” Qui-Gon asked Mace. “What?” Mace looked up from the infant lying in an examination cot. “A name,” Dex joined in, “If you haven’t thought of anything I’m sure the crèche Masters will be able to come up with something.” Mace waved his hand to silence them. “There’s no need. I’ve decided to name her Elnya Malini.” He noticed his friends’ shocked expressions and began to feel defensive. “What? I think it’s a lovely name. Very distinguished.” “Distinguished? She looks less than five months old!” Dex retorted with a laugh. “I think it’s a perfect name,” Qui-Gon added, looking at Dex. The blonde haired man held up his hands, palms outwards in a placating gesture. “What? I don’t disagree. It’s a pretty name, but not quite distinguished,” Dex said, before adding, “It’s better than Macina,” under his breath. “Anyway,” Mace sniffed, returning his attention to the baby, “That’s what I’ve chosen.” “Well, little Elnya Malini,” An-Paj said, from where he was bent over her, struggling to keep his antennae out of reach, “welcome to your new home.” |
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| It's A Girl! By Imzadi |
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