Taxes
By Akane
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"So, you're a Jedi master, Mr... Jinn?" The custom officer eyed the tall Jedi suspiciously.
"Yes, Officer."
"Are you here for business or on holiday?"
"Business, definitely. We've been sent here in order to assist in the ratification of a peace treaty between..."
"That's none of my business" the officer cut him dryly. "And this young man is?"
"Obi-Wan Kenobi is my Padawan. He's my apprentice."
"Did you pay the tax?"
"The tax?" The Jedi felt confused. Maybe he should have read more carefully the informations he had been provided about this planet. But, well, Obi-Wan had been so distracting during the long trip...
"I'm sorry, Officer, but I don't know what you're talking about."
"The tax, for your apprentice. If you own one, you have to pay the tax."
"But he's a man, not an object or an animal. And he's not a slave neither."
"You must pay the tax or we'll take him from you and pound him."
"What?!" the serene appearance of the Jedi Master had suddenly flown back to Coruscant. "Officer, I don't need to pay a tax for my Padawan" (waves hand).
(Waves hand back) "You'll pay the tax for trying to smuggle him and you'll give us the boy, we must bring him down to avoid any eventual epidemic."
(Blinking glazed eyes) "Alright, Officer, I pay and you can have him..."
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Qui-Gon woke up abruptly, tangled in sweaty sheets. His heart was racing. He probed the other side of the bed with a shaky hand and was rewarded by a moan.
"Nightmare, Master?" asked a sleepy Obi-Wan.
"Yes, Padawan. About tomorrow's mission. You know, I have a very bad feeling about this."
"A bad feeling about this nice planet? What's it's name, again?"
"Earth."
"Yeah, Earth... Then ask Master Yoda to find someone else, this time."
"He said we were the only ones available..."
"Trust him, he'll find someone. Good night, Master."
"Good night, Obi-love."
Cuddling up to each other they went back to sleep.
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Later, on a little planet far, far away from Coruscant...
"I can't believe you didn't find someone else to take duty for them, Master Yoda."
"Patience! Ah, our turn, it is."
The custom officer looked at the two Jedi suspiciously.
"So, you're a Jedi Master, Mr... Windu?"
"Yes, Officer."
"Did you pay the tax for your green pet? Is this some protected exotic frog? You can't keep it with you, it's quarantine for it. Where's its tatoo? Do you have its certificate of vaccination? If not I'm afraid we must bring your frog down immediately."
"Nooooooo!"
- end -
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© Isa Akane B. , 2000