Here's my rather short answer to the "Why is it blue?"
challenge. Hope you enjoy.
Sequel: Virgins
Archive: Yes to M-A
Category: Humor
Rating: G or PG
Feedback: Please!!
Summary: The universe's most naive 13 year old asks his master
"Why is it blue?".
"But, Master, why is it blue?" Mace Windu stopped in his tracks
as he heard Obi-Wan Kenobi's voice drift out from the locker
room.
"It always turns that color when it gets hard, Padawan," he
heard Qui-Gon's voice reply.
"Hard, Master?" came young Obi-Wan's reply.
"Yes, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon assured. "You may touch it if you like.
It won't bite you."
"Oh, it is hard, Master," Obi-Wan replied enthusiastically.
"But soft too. Almost silky."
"Yes, Padawan. But you must be careful," Qui-Gon advised. "They
are more easily damaged than one would think."
"Yes, Master," the padawan replied dutifully. "What is that
stuff coming out of the end of it?"
Mace shook his head and started to back out of the entryway.
There was no way they were talking about what it sounded like
they were talking about. Uh, uh. No way. Qui-Gon Jinn was not
telling his 13 year old padawan to touch his... And besides
that, why in all the hells would it be blue?
Later that evening a very apprehensive Mace Windu stood outside
the door to the quarters Qui-Gon Jinn shared with his padawan.
He knew he should never have told Master Yoda. Qui-Gon had been
his friend for years. He would never betray one of his
padawans. But Mace owed it to the boy to make certain. And
Master Yoda had insisted that HE do it personally. Sometimes he
thought Master Yoda really did not like him very much.
Knowing he had little choice, Mace knocked lightly on the door.
He was not surprised when Padawan Kenobi greeted him. He was,
however, a bit surprised at the boy's clothing. Or lack,
thereof. The young man was wearing nothing more than a pair of
thin sleep pants.
"Oh, Master Windu," Obi-Wan greeted cheerfully. "Come in, sir."
"Hello, Padawan," Mace said. "Is your master available?"
"Mace," Qui-Gon called out from the common room. "What brings
you here?"
"I need to speak with you, Qui-Gon," he said as he followed
Obi-Wan into the quarters. "Padawan Kenobi, would you excuse
us, please?"
Obi-Wan looked to his master and Qui-Gon nodded. With a bow,
the young man retired to his room, closing the door behind him.
Trying not to worry, he sat down and began to go over his
lessons for tomorrow. His mind did not seem to want to
cooperate with him, though. He could not stop thinking about
how uncertain Master Windu had seemed.
"What is it, Mace?" Qui-Gon asked once Obi-Wan was gone. He
knew his friend well and could tell that something was
bothering him greatly.
"I need to ask you something," he began, not sure now that he
was here just what he was going to say.
"So ask it," Qui-Gon said mildly. "We're friends, Mace. There's
nothing you should fear coming to me with."
"It's about what went on in the locker room today," Mace
continued.
"What happened?" Qui-Gon asked, not understanding what his
friend was referring to.
"That's what I'm asking you," Mace replied.
"You've lost me, Mace," the Jedi master said, shaking his head
in confusion.
"Earlier today, you were in the locker room with Obi-Wan," Mace
prompted. "What exactly went on?"
Qui-Gon played the events in the locker room back through his
head. He and Obi-Wan had found a small Danubian snail in the
corner of the room. His apprentice had never seen one before
and Qui-Gon had explained about the small creature. As he ran
through their conversation his eyes grew dark and stormy.
"Just what in the hell are you accusing me of, Windu?" Qui-Gon
demanded as he rose to his feet to stand over the other master.
"I'm not accusing you of anything, my friend," Mace said
quietly. "I've known you almost all my life, Qui. I know you
would never betray one of your padawans. Especially not like
that."
"Then what's this all about?" Qui-Gon demanded, his eyes still
threatening great physical harm.
"I owed it to the boy to make sure, didn't I?" Windu came back.
"Would you rather I let our friendship blind me to the very
possibility?"
"No," Qui-Gon said succinctly. He would rather be standing in
his common room defending his honor than have his friend turn a
blind eye to possible abuse solely for friendship's sake.
"What were you two talking about?" Mace prompted when Qui-Gon
fell silent.
"Danubian snails," Qui-Gon answered. "There was one in the
locker room. I was telling Obi-Wan about it. How they change
color when their shell gets hard."
"Thank you, my friend," Mace replied. "That's all I needed to
know." As he made his way to the door, Qui-Gon's voice stopped
him.
"And Mace, the only time it's ever turned blue was that time we
had to jump into that ice lake together to escape the King's
guard on Rebus 7," Qui-Gon called after him.
Without a word, Mace escaped into the hall leaving a laughing
Jedi master in his wake. When he got his hands on Yoda...
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