Somewhere in the undergrowth, something stirred.

Something BIG.

Attracted by the noise, the screaming and chattering and whimpering of young and old voices alike and the scent of living bodies, human or otherwise, it could sense the vibrations of their speech in the air. The feeling of movement carried along the ground up to its feet. Hooded eyes watched as shapes danced in ghostlike fashion amidst the dark.

Still it waited.

*******

�Master?� Obi-Wan grimaced. �Please tell me there�s nothing else going to go wrong. Please!�

�I wish I could, Padawan. It�s just that with your track record, I can�t bring myself to say the words in case I should jinx you further.�

�I really needed to hear that, Master.� Kenobi whined.

Qui-Gon fixed his stare on An-Paj. �What�s your view of the damage?� He hesitated, not really wanting to hear the answer.

�For your apprentice? Fracture of the collarbone. Hairline fracture of the right ankle. Dislocated right knee. Fracture to lower left leg. Severe bruising to lower back. Probable Giromalthic infection and alcoholic poisoning. Oh, and he has a broken nail on the third finger of his left hand. Apart from that, I�m almost tempted to say that I�ve never seen him healthier.�

Qui-Gon closed his eyes. �What about the others?� He enquired warily.

�Five initiates drugged to the eyeballs with Sith knows what. How you�re going to explain that to the cr�che masters I really don�t know.� He mused. �Simeon Cates has severe Sandolomide poisoning caused through a combination of greed, stupidity and incompetence. Not all of it his fault.� He glanced over at Yoda.

�Padawan Kylenn has a slight concussion. Nothing to worry about, really, but I�ll have to keep her in for observation. Rules, you know.� He tutted.

�Apart from being a nervous wreck, Bai looks fine. Jay Abran has a medium sized piece of wood sticking through his hand, which is going to have to come out. I wouldn�t want him catching Corellian Elm disease or something nasty.� He grinned.

�We have a further eight or nine initiates who have overindulged on the candyfloss��

�I KNEW it.� Qui-Gon hissed. �I told Mace not to give them all that stuff, but would he listen?�

��And are pretty sick as a result.� An-Paj continued.

�Your former ward,� the healer indicated Jemmiah with a nod of the head, �Has five cracked ribs, and extreme bruising to the torso. She also seems to be having some sort of reaction to the alcohol she drunk. Under the circumstances,� An-Paj smiled at Qui-Gon, �She�ll get seen to pretty quickly when we get back to the temple. You�ll have to contact her guardian and let her know what�s going on. I would say that there�s absolutely no way she�s going to be fit to travel anywhere for a little while, so she can cancel her trip to Corellia for starters.�

�Hmm.� Qui-Gon was wondering what in the name of Coruscant he was going to tell Evla.

�You know Evla�s not been well.� An-Paj said, breaking into his thoughts.

�Yes.� Jinn nodded. �It�s serious, isn�t it?�

�Could be.� Was all the answer the Jedi got in reply.

�Master Yoda�s having a bad skin day. I am tempted to say that it�s no more than he deserves, but that would be very un-temple like in philosophy.�

�Phew.� Qui-Gon breathed. �Is that everyone?�

�Not quite.� An-Paj couldn�t help but grin. �We�ve forgotten Master Windu.�

�Mace?� Jinn frowned. �What�s up with him?�

�Well,� An-Paj�s� face almost glowed, �It seems that fate has taken a bit of a dislike to a certain part of Master Windu�s anatomy.� He indicated the somewhat spaced out zookeeper, sitting on a log, cradling his faithful old projectile rifle. �Your fellow Jedi has received a kiss on the backside by a tranquilizer gun, and once more it will be my dubious honor to remove said device from aforementioned rear.�

�Permission to laugh.� Qui-Gon said.

�Denied. That�s my job. At least, after the emergency is over.� An-Paj remarked. �I�ve sent for reinforcements from the temple. They should be on their way with another transport.�

�Good,� muttered Qui-Gon, �the sooner we�re out of here the better.�

An-Paj agreed.

�One thing,� Qui-Gon asked curiously, �is it true that the healers keep holos of all the interesting cases that come through their doors?�

�Oh, yes. Not surprisingly, your padawan tends to feature quite heavily.� The healer smiled. �Why?�

�No reason.� Jinn looked An-Paj shrewdly in the eye. �It�s a useful piece of information to know. You never can tell when I might need a favor from a certain colleague of mine on the Council��

�That�s unethical.� An-Paj warned. He rubbed his hands together. �I love it!�

�Now all we have to do is take a holo of Mace�where is he?� They looked about them. Master Windu was nowhere in sight.

�Has anyone seen Master Windu?� Qui-Gon kept has voice controlled and steady. �Did anyone see where he went?�

His question was met with a host of blank stares.

�Fantastic.� Muttered the tall Jedi. �Just what we need.�

An-Paj scanned the surrounding area. �He�s not very far away, I don�t think. At least, that�s what it feels like to me.�

�I agree.� Jinn nodded. He looked over to his padawan. �How is he doing?�

�Collectively or as individual pieces?� The healer asked. �I should think he�ll almost be pleased to be back on the ward after today�s little adventure.�

�Stupid, stupid Mace!� Qui-Gon hissed. �Letting a child drive an overcrowded speeder. If there are any medical bills you can send them to him!�

�Easy, my friend.� An-Paj replied softly. �This won�t help your apprentice.� His eyes lit up. �A Bacta tank is what WILL help your apprentice, and a nice long stay with the healers.� He said it loudly enough for his voice to carry to Obi-Wan. �They�ve really missed you, my lad.�

�I haven�t missed them.� Kenobi moaned.

�Now, now.� An-Paj walked over to him, Qui-Gon at his side. �I hope you�re going to be a little better behaved than you were after you recovered from that incident with the fountain.�

�What was this?� Qui-Gon frowned.

�Nothing, Master.� Obi-Wan hurried to reassure him. �Really nothing.� He persisted, seeing Qui-Gon�s skeptical look.

�Now, don�t be modest. As I recall,� An-Paj turned to Jinn with a smirk growing on his face, �he asked Jemmiah to fetch him a bed pan. Didn�t he?� He asked the Corellian girl.

�Yeah.� She confirmed, nodding in an exaggerated fashion.

�So? What was wrong with that?� Qui-Gon wondered.

�After a few moments, he threw it at Healer Leona. It hit her on the head�

�Padawan!� Jinn scolded.

�It gets worse.� An-Paj chortled.

�What?�

�It was full.� Said Jemmiah.

Qui-Gon glared at Obi-Wan.

�She was trying to get a blood sample.� Kenobi whined. �She was being very persistent.�

�The boy was somewhat overwrought. After all, it�s not everyday you get revived by someone wearing only skimpy, see-through underwear. Eh, Jemmiah?�

�Excuse me?� Jinn folded his arms.

�I took my clothes off to keep him warm. It�s not like I thought to myself: I really must see what he looks like in my dress and jacket. I�m not a complete pervert, you know.�

�Not a complete one, no.� Muttered Simeon in the background.

�It gave the healers something to talk about, I can tell you.� An-Paj smiled sweetly.

�I�m not surprised.� Qui-Gon gave her a hard look.

�And you know what our conclusion was?�

�What?� Frowned Jemmiah.

�You�d have suited something a little lower cut. In red.�

She grinned.

�They were a present from Ben�� She half giggled and looked up at Qui-Gon. �Ooops.�

Jinn transferred his menacing stare to his padawan.

�Does that mean the sympathy�s worn off, Master?� He guessed.

�What do you think� BEN?� His eyes gleamed dangerously.

Kenobi gulped.

�I think my leg hurts.�

�Well,� An-Paj said cheerfully, �the sympathy might have worn off, but if the painkiller does the same, we�ve got plenty more where that came from.� He pretended to look in his bag for another hypodermic. �Need some more, Kenobi?�

�It�s not that bad.� Obi-Wan backtracked.

Qui-Gon couldn�t believe his padawan�s bad behavior.

�See where your oh, so generous presents have got the two of you now? Don�t think for a moment that you have heard the last of this topic. Either of you. We shall be discussing the whole sorry affair after you�ve had medical attention. I�m really disappointed in you both.� He stalked off with his words of shame and retribution hanging on the air.

�Sith, it was only underwear.� Jemmiah complained, �Doesn�t he wear any?�

�Not of the see-through variety, no.� Obi-Wan mumbled.

�Now there�s a thought.� Grinned Jemmy.

An-Paj watched the two of them speaking together in hushed tones, and found himself becoming increasingly confused. Occasionally, Kenobi would scrunch his face up with pain, and Jemmiah would quietly reach for his hand and squeeze it gently. It seemed to the healer that the two of them were still very much a couple, so what on Coruscant had Simeon meant regarding Qui-Gon? Once again, An-Paj began to have doubts.

�I hope you two are feeling comfortable.� He remarked curiously.

�Comfortable is an unusual word to use under the circumstances.� Obi-Wan sniffed.

�You�d be a lot less comfortable if I let your master know how I found the two of you in the same hospital bed the day after that Cantina-crawl.� He raised his eyebrows.

�It was perfectly innocent.� Jemmiah protested. �I was keeping him warm.�

�That�s what we have blankets for.� An-Paj remarked dryly. �Although I dare say your method of heating patients would probably prove very successful if we were to offer it in everyday use.�

�You could call it alternative treatment.� Kenobi smiled weakly.

�Or shock therapy.� Jemmiah chuckled. �Sorry, An-Paj. You can�t pass me around to just any old patients. I�m a one-Jedi woman.�

An-Paj smiled. So much for Simeon Cates.

�I never doubted it.� He nodded, before moving away to give them some privacy.

�What are you going to do about Corellia?� Kenobi asked her.

�Looks like that decision�s been made for me, albeit temporarily.� She replied somberly. �You told Qui-Gon.� She accused, suddenly remembering. Anger spasmed across her face. �You swore to me that you wouldn�t.�

�I said nothing.� Promised Kenobi. �I was tempted, yes, but I repeated not one word of our conversation. Sith, I even suffered a lacerated head, if you recall.� He smiled faintly. �On pain of torture, I kept silent.�

�Then how�� She let her words fade. �I don�t suppose it matters. Qui-Gon said he�d help.� �I told you he would.� Obi-Wan felt vindicated.

�OK, so I was wrong. I can admit it. It doesn�t usually happen��

�Conceited little vrelt.� Kenobi smiled.

�I�m still worried, though. What if Qui-Gon can�t help? What if I have to marry this idiot?�

�That won�t happen.� Obi-Wan shook his head. �Master Yoda wouldn�t stand for it, anyway. You�ll be quite safe from this relative of yours. He can�t get to you on Coruscant, any more than Rufus Merdan can.�

He heard the sharp intake of breath and studied her face in detail. �Do you think I don�t know about all your personal demons? You should talk about them, you know. They won�t go away unless you do.�

�You�d make a good head doctor.� Jemmiah looked at the ground. �And I have talked to someone about it.�

�Who?� Obi-Wan asked.

�Qui-Gon.�

�And how do you feel?�

�Stupid.� She replied, with a foolish expression on her face. �I can�t really remember what I said, to be honest. I told him how scared I was about Merdan finding me, and then I ended up telling him about my party last year. You know, the one with the carpet and the meringues and the feather boas��

Obi-Wan�s eyes could not have opened any wider.

�You didn�t mention the oven glove?!�

�Er, actually, I think I did.� She shrugged.

�You realize Master Windu will murder us.� Kenobi winced.

�Your master seems to have a previous claim on us.� She sighed. �Where did Mace get to, anyway?�

�Last time I saw him, he was with that Alderaani kid. The one who run me over.� Obi-Wan said icily.

�I can see the kid.� Jemmiah stared off into the bushes.

�Where?� Kenobi stretched out with the force, but could feel only the pain in his legs.

�He�s feeding the birds. Right beside the sign that says PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE BIRDS.�

�Great.�

Jemmiah gingerly pushed herself up. �I�ll see what he�s up to, before Qui-Gon has him dipped in flour and deep fried.�

As she walked over to the boy, she felt Qui-Gon�s stare fall upon her. For Sith�s sake, what was wrong with the man? About to murder her one minute and the next so overprotective that she was afraid to so much as sneeze incase he diagnosed her as having some horrible disease.

�Hey, have you seen Master Windu?� Jemmiah asked neutrally.

The boy nodded. �Master Windy�s looking for some more flowers to see if Depa Billaba loves him or not.�

She blinked. It was a bit difficult to know what to make of that statement.

�Flowers?�

�Uh-huh.�

OK. He�s flipped. Always happens with these serious types eventually, she thought. Mace has cracked up. A couple of hours looking up a Murrit�s bottom have sent him over the edge. And Qui-Gon�s not much better. He�s still staring at me.

She winced slightly, feeling her waist with her hand. Gods, she�d be bruised something terrible. That snake-thing had certainly put the squeeze on her�

The next thing she knew, Qui-Gon was beside her.

�Why don�t you sit down?� He asked anxiously.

�I�m just a little sore.� She said, confused. There he was again, fussing over her. What was wrong with the man?

�You can�t be too careful. Just take it easy. The transport should be here soon to take us back to the Temple.�

�You�re going to catch pneumonia if you don�t change out of those wet clothes.� she remarked. �I�d offer you my top and shawl, except I wouldn�t want to be seen in my underwear. Not twice in a lifetime.�

�Point taken.� Jinn said apologetically.

�If your looking for Master Windu, the little Alderaani squidling said that he went off to pick flowers somewhere over there.� She pointed to Qui-Gon�s right, into the darkness and beyond.

Right on cue, there came from the bushes a terrified scream.

Followed by a terrible roar.

And then nothing.

�This is getting like a third rate holo-thriller!� Jemmiah squealed, placing herself between Master Jinn and the direction of the terrible roar. The move surprised Qui-Gon.

�Get back to the others!� He began to gently push her away.

�D�you think it�s that snake thing again?� Jemmiah asked. �I could do without a reintroduction. The last meeting left quite an impression.�

He shook his head.

�No, it�s something different.� Qui-Gon was alert and ready, senses straining to the limit.

�What about Master Windu?� Jemmiah�s eyes darted anxiously to into the dark.

�Never mind about Master Windu, get back to the others!� Jinn snapped.

�Fine. Go ahead and get eaten. I save your life: you throw it away. Seems reasonable.� She moved backwards, still looking over her shoulder. �I don�t think you should tackle this alone, Master Jinn. I�ve got��

�If you�ve got a bad feeling about this, I REALLY don�t want to hear it!� Qui-Gon raised an arm in warning. �Now for the last time move!�

*******

�I think that was the sound of something very big� Simeon gulped.

�And very hungry.� Kenobi groaned.

�There speaks the voice of experience.� An-Paj muttered. �I don�t know what that thing was, but I sure wouldn�t want to meet it on a dark night.�

A dozen eyes fixed themselves upon the healer.

�Sorry.� He apologized. �I forgot where I was.�

�The keeper seems to have passed out.� Jay Abran noticed. �If we could get his gun away from him, perhaps we could use it to tranquilize that�that thing.�

�I saw what it did to Master Windu,� Bai rubbed his hands nervously, �I�d sooner take my chances with it as it is.�

�I don�t know.� Kenobi joked weakly, �I don�t think I�d be scared of a twenty-foot, flower wearing monster that thought it was a duck.�

�Healer An-Paj, sir. We have to get the kids away.� Kylenn�s earlier fears came back. �Start by evacuating everyone we can��

�What about me?� Kenobi demanded, biting down the waves of pain.

�Sorry, Obi. You�ll just slow us down.� Abran replied.

�And whilst it�s munching on you, we can leggit out of here. So you see, your sacrifice won�t have been in vain.� Simeon pointed out in a reasonable tone.

�It�s at times like these you find out who your friends are.� Kenobi grimaced.

�Survival of the fittest.� Abran shrugged. � I�m no creature�s dental floss!�

*******

Mace lay on the ground, looking up.

The Krayt dragon, towering high above, returned his stare.

This is NOT good, thought Windu. Not good at all. The last thing he remembered, he was bending over to pick some flowers. He couldn�t even remember why now, except that Depa Billaba�s future happiness depended on it. And then he�d heard this roar�

For some strange reason, Mace felt that it wasn�t actually him the dragon was after. It regarded him with a condescending curiosity, but Windu was in no mood to test his theory up close. In the back of his head, he heard Qui-Gon.

[ Mace, are you OK? ]

[Aaaggggh�] was all that Windu�s mind could come out with.

[Mace? ]

[Aaaggh] He gurgled. This thing was BIG!

[Are you hurt? ]

[Aaaarrrghhh! ]

[Hold on! ]