crechetales



	BOOM... Thud... Assorted giggles... He looked up from his data-pad, one eyebrow raised. "Little ones, lights out. It's time for sleep." The solemn young voices chimed softly, "Yes Master Qui-Gon," followed by the rustle of sheets and the poof of small hands pummeling flat lumpy pillows. He was relieved the dim lighting in the dormitory-style rooms hid his smile. He remembered the nights he, Rees, and Mace were here, giggling in the dark over one joke or the other. Gods was it that long ago? Whenever he could, he volunteered for these times, just to reconnect with the force in its untainted form, the young learners of the temple. Lately he'd found himself here again after another misunderstanding with his apprentice. Xanatos was headstrong, stubborn, overconfident often to the point of recklessness. Qui-Gon never questioned why the force brought them together. His apprentice had his redeeming qualities, and was quite gifted in the force. But lately... He shook his head again, clearing the uncertainties. Glancing over the top of his data pad, he surveyed the children, settling in for the night. There was a bit of whispering in the air... BOOM... Thud... More giggling... He grinned a little more and turned his attention back to his datapad ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AAAIIIIEEEE! Qui-Gon woke with a start as a high pitched scream pierced the air. Soon more screaming followed, all female voices, all terrified. He switching the lights back on, he saw two young girls both about 6 years old, huddled together screaming, tears running down their small faces. He went to them and knelt down, brushing away the tears with a gentle hand. "What's the matter?" The smaller of the two, a young girl named Bant spoke quietly. "Bruck said he's-he's-he's gonna call a draigon to come eat us if we fall asleep." The other girl, a humanoid named Tal-Ishara nodded. "Bruck says it only eats girls." Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow, then gave them a reassuring grin. "There is no such creature. I've personally seen draigons and they don't eat sleeping girls. At least not here." The two girls stared at him wide-eyed. "But Bruck said..." they chorused. "Bruck is playing a trick on you." He turned to the boys and gave Bruck his 'mean master' look. "He's just trying to frighten you." The girls shuddered and nodded, but made no move to return to their cots. Qui-Gon sighed and pulled the two of them into his arms, cradling their small frames against his large one. He went to one of the empty cots and sat down, still holding the frightened girls. "Would you like it if I sat down here with you two so no draigons come?" They nodded emphatically, clutching his robe tightly. Qui-Gon realized they weren't going to let go and (after disentangling his arm) called his chair and datapad to him. Then after setting the chair between the two cots, he gently tucked each girl in, smoothing their sleep tousled hair then settled down and switched off the lights. He tried to lean back but found his robe still caught in the grasp of a small hand. He glanced at Tal-Ishara, who gave him an imploring look. He nodded, moved her hand to a lower spot of his robe and gave her hand a reassuring pat. Leaning back, he picked up the datapad and resumed his reading. ~~~~~~~~~~~~` "Master Qui-Gon!" Another small hand was shaking him awake. It took a moment to recognize the boy. "Yes Tristan, what is it?" The boy pointed to the other end of the room. "It's Obi-Wan! He caught a draigon!" The girls began to scream. Qui-Gon stood, patted the girls and walked over to the boy who, at the moment was scrambling under his cot. Kneeling next to the cot, he said, "Obi-Wan, come out here." The scrambling stopped for a moment, then shifted into reverse and the boy crawled out. Soon blue-green eyes faced azure blue. "Yes sir." Qui-Gon studied the boy a moment. "What are you doing under there?" The boy bit his lip as if to center his thoughts, then said, "Well sir, BruckkeptsayingthatthedraigonswerecomingandthenIheardascritchingfromunderthebed andIdidn'twantadraigontoeatmyfriendsandIknewthatyouwerebusyprotectingthemincaseanymoredraigonscame soIthoughtIwouldhelpandgetthedraigonunderthebed." The girls latched onto his robe again, eyes wide. Qui-Gon nodded to Obi-Wan. "So there's something under the bed." The boy nodded. From the back of the room, a voice stammered, "It's a draigon!" The creche erupted in screams. Qui-Gon shook his head, drew his saber, and ignited it, effectively dousing all screaming. He said in his most knightly voice, "If there's a draigon under there, then there's only one thing to do." He knelt in front of the cot, then peered underneath. "COME OUT YOU DRAIGON!" he bellowed. Silence. He looked back at the children, who were now all crowded around him, watching intently. He bellowed again. "COME OUT OR I'LL COME AFTER YOU." A young voice called out, "AND HE'S A REAL JEDI." Obi-Wan added, "AND HE HAS A REAL LIGHTSABER!" Qui-Gon stifled a chuckle, then waved the blade around for good effect. He looked to Obi-Wan and said in a loud whisper, "The humming has been known to scare off draigons." Obi-Wan nodded solemnly as if being bestowed with some great insight. Qui-Gon then lowered himself into a prone position and slowly crawled under the cot. The children huddled together as the Jedi Master moved, lightsaber lighting the dim space under the cot. Suddenly he stopped, then crawled back out. "You were right Obi-Wan," he called out, "there was something under the bed..." Qui-Gon cupped a small ball of fur with feet in his large hands. "It's not a draigon." The children moved forward en masse, oohing and ahhing over the small lago, a long eared rodent native to Coruscant. There was a small family of them living in the temple gardens. Qui-Gon handed the creature to Tristan. "He must have gotten lost and came in here by mistake." Tristan cuddled the animal in his arms, beaming at his new charge. The children followed him, petting the creature, cooing and cuddling it when they could. A small basket was found and lined with cloth, then the lago (who was promptly named Draigon) was settled for the night. It stared at its audience, yawned widely, then promptly fell asleep. Qui-Gon then ushered the children back to their beds and palmed the lights off. The sounds of rustling bedding, pummeled pillows and sleepy sighs floated through the rooms. Qui-Gon settled again into his chair and began to go over his datapad again. BOOM... Thud... Assorted giggles... Qui-Gon chuckled, then turned his attention back to his notes.


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