Prequel to Lions, Tigers, and Padawans, Oh My!. A fundraising bar crawl? Only Jemmiah could arrange something like that.

Note: This is a group fic written mostly by Jemmiah, with a little help from (in order of posting): Sybelle, Jedi Kylenn, HealerLeona, Wampasmak, Lilith Demodae, LadyJedith, Krelo Rei'ch, Jedi_Daphne, and mouse2. The original thread can be found at theforce.net.

Disclaimer: Qui-gon Jinn, Obi-wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, Yoda, Depa Bilaba and the universe they live in belong to George Lucas. They are respectfully borrowed with no intent to profit thereby.


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�We don�t have much time.� Obi-Wan looked about him anxiously. �An-Paj is probably telling my master as we speak that he thinks we are on the premises.�

�What are you going to do?� Kylenn asked. �Short of turning yourself invisible or camping under the table for the rest of the evening��

Leona extended an arm and helped Jemmiah crawl out from the table. �Are you OK?� Kenobi asked Jemmy anxiously. �That was a bit scary for a while.�

�I�m fine.� Jemmiah smiled briefly. She glanced up at Leona from under thick, dark lashes. �Thanks.� She added.

Leona nodded, delighted with their truce. �He�s going to come over pretty soon, I should think.� The healer replied, searching for a swift solution. �If he doesn�t see you here he might get the impression that An-Paj made a mistake.�

�An-Paj isn�t in the habit of making mistakes.� Simeon chirped up. �He leaves that to us lesser mortals.�

�True.� Sighed Leona. �How about�is there anywhere else you could hide until the heat�s off?�

�There�s an old cellar through the back,� Jemmy pointed down to a hatchway. �Fizz Mollop�s turned it into a gaming room. Not many people know of it, so if you could keep that piece of information to yourself I think he�d be grateful.�

Leona stood wondering how come Jemmiah had been privy to this information to start with�Gaming, indeed! �Would this�er� Fizz Whatshisname��

�Mollop.�

�Right, would he let you stay there for the time being? We could let you know when it was safe for you to come out of hiding.�

�Fizz�ll be fine about it.� Kenobi agreed. �We�ve been down before. Although not as runaways.� He grinned ruefully.

�Yes, well. Don�t make a habit of it.� Leona admonished.

�Anyone would think we�d eloped, or something.� Jemmiah complained. �Hey, there�s an idea! We could run off together and��

��Watch as my master hacked me to death with a rusty chainsaw.� Obi-Wan mumbled. �I�ll pass on that.� He winked at her. �For the time being, anyway.�

Leona grew slightly alarmed at that last statement, but decided to hold her tongue.

�I�ll go see Fizz about hiding us. Sybelle? You want to come too?�

�You MUST be joking.� Sybelle snorted. �I�m not going to hide away like some naughty schoolkid. If my master doesn�t like what she sees then that�s her problem. Besides,� she added with a leer, �Two�s company and all that sort of thing.�

Leona waited until Obi-Wan returned with Fizz Mollop; a middle-aged humanoid with a wide grin, all set off with a row of gold teeth. His Sandy hair seemed to stick out in all directions, giving him the appearance of having just dragged himself out of bed.

�Kenobi here�s just explained your problem.� He leaned forwards confidentially, �I understand. I had to hide my girlfriends away from my father, too. Usually because they were wanted by the law.� He winked.

�What for?� Leona swallowed in consternation. How had Jemmiah got herself mixed up with somebody like this? On second thoughts, she didn�t want to know.

�Curb crawling, mainly.� He eyed Leona and pointed to her dress. �That�s my idea of a Jedi uniform. I�m all for that!� His breath was distinctly alcoholic.

�I�m sure Master Yoda will be pleased to hear you say that.� She glanced at Obi-Wan as he took hold of Jemmiah�s hand and led her through the secret hatchway.

She was not happy about this, not one little bit.

*******

�Where are the others?� Qui-Gon straightened up sharply.

�Hiding down the back playing some Corellian ritualistic drinking game. I rather think Leona�s padawan has come off a little the worse for wear, despite the fact Leona�s with them.�

�Dimallie�s master is here?� Jinn frowned. �Didn�t she say if Jemmiah and Obi-Wan were here?�

�Oh, she did.� An-Paj replied, �although not directly. She�d look pretty bad infront of the others if she handed them over into our custody.� The healer flexed his hands.

�Not very professional.� Qui-Gon said acidly.

�She�s a good healer, and an extremely nice person. The fact she�s never had to treat you before should make her kind of special in your eyes.� An-Paj said as if he were hinting at something.

Qui-Gon shook his head. He would never understand healers until the day he died.

Perhaps that was the wrong phrase to use.

�Drink up.� An-Paj encouraged his comrade. �Let�s go hunting.�

*******

Obi-Wan and Jemmiah stood and watched as the door was shut behind them with a sharp clang. Jemmiah swallowed.

She knew she had suggested it, but if she was honest she wasn�t that good with being locked in enclosed spaces either. Especially where there was very little light. Mollop had insisted that the lights should be left off, or as dark as possible at any rate, in case the padawan�s enraged master should somehow pick up on the fact there was someone down there that shouldn�t be.

It was creepy in the extreme. She stared up to where she knew the doorway to be, and suddenly felt a hand descend on her shoulder.

�Easy!� Kenobi urged, �It�s me! Don�t panic!�

Jemmiah sagged. �Oh, you really scared me that time, Ben.�

�You�re a real nervous wreck.� Kenobi stood behind her, trying to relax the knots in her shoulders.�

�Do you blame me? After what An-Paj said.� She almost started shaking again.

�He won�t go anywhere near you with restraints. I won�t let him.� Obi-Wan said determinedly, rubbing her neck gently.

�I�ll hold you to that.� She smiled.

�We could be hear a while.� He remarked after a brief amount of time elapsed.

�That sounds like a leading question, Ben.�

�We have to do something to relieve the boredom.� He smirked, wrapping his arms round her waist.

�Is that right?�

�And it would be a tragedy to waste this precious moment that we�ve been given alone together.�

�Stop drooling!� She laughed, trying to pull out of his grasp.

�I don�t want to.� He made a grab for her.

�Ben!� She warned.

�What? We could call this round two in our revenge against the healers.� He tilted her chin in his hand. �And I�ve noticed that there�s a perfectly good gaming table all conveniently laid out for us.�

�Stop that!� She giggled.

�Who�s going to know?� He hugged her.

�On top of the table?� She tried to picture it and started to laugh once more. �That�s wicked! Imagine even suggesting it! I bet it collapses!�

�I�m game if you are.� He flashed her his most cheeky grin, and even though it was dark she thought she could see his dimples as he smiled.

�Leona will die of embarrassment.� She kissed the tip of his nose.

�Leona isn�t going to know. Is she?� Was all Obi-Wan replied predatorily. His face lit up.

Alone at last!

*******

Leona gawked almost dream like as she saw the tall figure of An-Paj accompanied by the even taller figure of Qui-Gon Jinn strolling towards them. Sybelle seemed to get very on edge suddenly, despite all her bravado. The others all tried to resume as nonchalant a pose as they could muster, making the effort to act as normally as they could under the circumstances.

Oh, force, thought Leona. I have to lie to the one person in the galaxy that I want to impress the most. But she knew she couldn�t readily betray Obi-Wan and Jemmiah. She�d promised, after all. She wet her dry lips, pulled at her dress and smiled sweetly with a confidence she didn�t really feel.

Oh, Sith! Here goes nothing�

*******

Krelo stood and stretched her shoulders. She shook out her butt length mane of dark red hair and turned to her friend. "Lil, I'm going to show those puppies over there just what Corellian deathmatch is all about." A wicked glint played in her leaf-green eyes. "Wanna join me?"

"What's Corellian deathmatch without a genuine Corellian?" she asked casually and stood, towering over even Krelo's 5'10". The two amazons made a stunning looking pair in their fitted pants, loose shirts and vests. Krelo kept her sabre hilt hidden in a pocket sewn into the back of her vest where she could quickly lay a hand on it in an emergency. Lilith didn't bother with stealth and a large blaster hung boldly from her belt.

Together the two women made their way over to the padawan's table and glanced around.

"Deathmatch?" Lilith asked with a raised eyebrow. "Mind if we join you?"

*******

Qui-Gon squared his shoulders as he walked to the far corner where the padawans were. Adopting a forbidding posture he decided to use his intimidating image to his advantage. If it took scare tactics to get to the truth then, so be it, he thought.

Leona watched with mixed emotions as Qui-Gon and An-Paj approached the table. Her heart skipped a beat when the Jedi Master's gaze fell on her, giving only the briefest of glances before turning it on the padawans who tried hard not to be noticed.

Qui-Gon paused at the table, taking delight in the way none around it would meet his eyes.

"Simeon." he finally stated, noting the way tension bled out of everyone but the boy whose name he called.

"Why, hello Master Jinn." Simeon said quickly, trying not to sound as drunk as he already felt. "Are you enjoying yourself?" he asked with too quick a smile.

"Have you seen Jemmiah?" Qui-Gon ignored the question.

"Well, ah, Master Jinn, not recently." Simeon answered, avoiding a straight lie.

An-Paj stepped forward, a frown on his face. "Padawan Cates, I believe what Qui-Gon wants to know is if Jemmiah's here."

"Master An-Paj" Leona spoke up timidly, "I'm sure wherever the girl might be she's in good hands. Obi-Wan would be sure to see that no harm comes to her."

Qui-Gon glared at the woman standing behind an obviously over intoxicated padawan passed out on the table.

"And who might you be?" he asked gruffly.

"Qui-Gon you remember Healer Leona P'lila." An-Paj broke in, seeing Qui-Gon's anger escalate at Leona's innocent comment.

"You're Leona?" Qui-Gon couldn't refrain from casting a perusing glance over the woman.

"Then this is your apprentice?" he pointed to the unconscious figure draped over the table.

Taking a protective step forward, Leona placed a hand on the back of the chair.

"I'm afraid Dimallie's had the unfortunate luck to being the loser of a rather potent drinking game." Leona answered calmly, offering a shy smile.

"And you allowed this?" Qui-Gon blurted accusingly, the control of his temper dampened by the effects of the alcohol he had consumed.

Disturbed by the tense exchange, An-Paj placed a restraining hand on Qui-Gon. "I don't think that this is the place..." the Master Healer glanced at the padawans around them.

"It's a master's responsibility to instruct and care for their young charges." Qui-Gon shook off the healer's grasp. "Not dress up like that and play drinking games with them."

"What's wrong with the way I'm dressed?" Leona stammered, her voice filled with hurt.

"That's hardly befitting a Jedi Knight." he answered caustically.

"No, but it is befitting a woman" she rounded on him, her eyes shining with moisture. Taking four steps closer to him so as not to have to raise her voice, she looked up at him glowering. "I suppose it would be more appropriate to wear my Jedi robes when cantina-hopping for all of Coruscant to take notice." she said indignantly.

Hurt and shocked by his extreme attitude she surprised herself by continuing her quiet tirade. "And as to my padawan, I was not in attendance during the game. In case you haven't noticed they're not cr�che babies anymore, they have ideas of their own and maybe if you stopped treating your own apprentice as one he wouldn't find it necessary to be sneaking around behind your back."

Blinking back tears Leona turned to the table, "Simeon, please watch over Dimallie while I get a cup of caff for her."

Leaving an embarrassed An-Paj and speechless Qui-Gon behind, Leona walked quickly away passing two tall women heading in the direction she had just come.

*******

"Lilith!" Griff spat, turning round to the tall woman standing behind him. "What the Sith are you doing here?" Lilith smiled dangerously.

"Exactly what you're doing, Rendar. Laying in wait to take advantage of drunken padawans." Krelo glanced at her friend and tried unsuccessfully to suppress her laughter. Griff's face was a picture. Sybelle turned round and glared at Krelo.

"Why are you here, anyway? You're not exactly Miss Popular."

"Just thought you young ones could do with a little babysitting." Krelo smiled sweetly.

"Babysitting!" Sybelle spat.

"Did you come here looking for trouble?" Griff asked icily.

"You'll be the one in trouble if your precious Jedi Masters find you associating with the likes of Griff Rendar." Lilith laughed.

Sybelle glanced at Qui Gon, who was looking suspiciously in their direction. She stood up. "We're going." She announced. "I have better things to do than stick around here to be insulted by you." She marched off, followed by Griff.

"See you later, Rendar!" Lilith called.

She knew they would.

*******

�Intolerable, insufferable, wretched�MAN!� Leona cursed under her breath. �After all I�ve done!�

It occurred to her as she strode away to find her padawan the black caff she so desperately seemed to need, that Qui-Gon had not asked for any special attentions or advances. And yet the fact that she had gone to so much trouble just to have it thrown in her face�

Unusually for her, she felt her blood boiling.

Perhaps Jemmiah was correct, she thought miserably. Maybe Qui-Gon really is tyrannical in the way he controls his padawan. Disappointed as she felt, Leona came to a startling resolve, one that she would never have thought herself making at any cost prior to her little spat with Master Jinn.

She would help the hapless couple to have a little fun. Serve Qui-Gon right!

*******

Sal-Fina watched as the petite healer strode past her. The chance to make some kind of remark was just too good to pass up. She waited until Leona had gone a few strides past but still easily in earshot, and said: �What DOES she think she looks like?�

The sound of a giggling padawan followed the statement.

Leona stopped in her tracks.

Is she really talking about me? she wondered. Slowly, Leona turned round to face her opponent. She was quite frightened by the powerful, dark emotions that this person awakened in her. The temptation to give in and poor that big bucket of ice over her head was almost overwhelming.

But she couldn�t.

�Sweetheart, don�t you think that dress is just a little too much?� Sal-Fina replied in her clipped, overly polite voice.

Could she?

�For a few measly drinks in a cantina or two? And those shoulder pads went out of fashion decades ago.�

It really was tempting.

�And as for the hair, well, far be it for me to insult a fellow Jedi but honey, that look went out when Master Yoda was in his crib!�

I�m going to do it, thought Leona.

�I�m just telling you for your own good, sweetie.� Sal-Fina looked down her long, thin nose and studied her as if she were an insect in the bath.

I will, you know.

�It�s not as if there�s anyone worth impressing round here.� Sal-Fina followed Leona�s anguished gaze until it rested upon Master Jinn�s tall frame, as he stood speaking to An-Paj.

�You don�t�you don�t mean to say it�s QUI-GON! Please tell me you are joking!� Sal-Fina�s face registered both amusement and annoyance at once. Was she jealous, wondered the distracted Leona? Did she care?

Yes, she did.

�Oh, you poor child! Give up on that fantasy right now! Qui-Gon�s the most selfish individual it has ever been my dubious privilege to come across. He cares about nobody except himself.�

�That�s not true.� Leona piped up. �What about his padawan?�

Sal-Fina looked surprised that she�d been answered.

�What, the Kenobi boy? Don�t you remember how Jinn treated him when they first became master and padawan? He had such a chip on his shoulder about Xanatos that he nearly pushed the kid away.�

�Xanatos?� Leona said doubtfully.

�There�s a lot you don�t know about Qui-Gon. He only brought that Corellian urchin back to flatter his own ego. Don�t think he gives an Ankula�s backside about her. She�s a nuisance to him. Especially since she hooked up with that boy of his.�

Leona didn�t want to hear any of this, in case it had the mark of truth to it.

�As far as I can see, the boy�s not very promising as Knight material. If he chooses to hang around with a worthless tramp like that, good luck to him. They�re probably meant for each other.�

�Kenobi is a very bright young man.� Leona bristled. �And Qui-Gon DOES care what happens to Jemmiah. She�s had a bad start in life and Qui-Gon�s helped turn things around for her��

�You go ahead and think that, if it makes you feel happy.� Sal-Fina waved her hand dismissively. �Garbage attracts garbage, if you see what I mean.� She looked up and down at Leona.

Leona thought she was referring to Jemmiah and Obi-Wan at first, but then she caught that imperious look and realized her double meaning.

�No hard feelings, sweetheart.� Sal-Fina turned her back. �Let me get you a drink to prove it.�

�No.� Leona smiled sweetly. �Let me get you something. What will it be?�

Again, Sal-Fina was surprised. �Purple twilight for me.�

Leona nodded. �You�ll be needing some ice to go with that.� She remarked as she lifted up the bucket and emptied it over Sal-Fina�s head. �Although I think there�s enough rocks rolling about inside as it is.� She glared at the dripping wet Sal-Fina.

�Please, DO enjoy your drink.�

*******

"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.

�Sith!� 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 this was 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 bar�s on...

"Fire!" the bartender yelled.