The Chipmunk Tour Saga Closing Ceremony Special
Chapter 10:
"Uncertainty"
In the Ponyo's medbay, Wiliam and Anakin silently watched as Simon and Louis examined Ahsoka. Simon turned to face William and Anakin as Louis continued to work. "Is she all right?" Anakin asked.
"I'm…I'm not sure," Simon said. "I've never seen anything like this before," Louis added. "Simon, could it be…could it be the knek'tarr?" Anakin said.
"I think so," Simon said. "What is the knek'tarr?" Louis said. "The knek'tarr is the Togrutan mating urge," Anakin said. "Starting at the sixteenth year of a Togrutan's life and occurring every six years thereafter, hormones build up to the point that a subject must mate or die of an overload of those hormones."
"Oh, sort of like the pon farr on Star Trek," William said. "In a way, you are right. For some reason, however, she has not had her first cycle until now—her eighteenth year," Anakin said. "Master?" a weakened voice called out.
Anakin turned and moved over to sit at Ahsoka's bedside. "Am I gonna be all right?" Ahsoka said. "I do not know," Anakin said. "We believe you are experiencing the knek'tarr."
"Oh, no," Ahsoka said. "Do not worry, Snips," Anakin said. "Since you are being forced to mate because of the knek'tarr, the Jedi Council will overlook what is required of you."
"That's not what I am worried about," Ahsoka said. "I am limited in my choice of mate. After all, most of the people on this ship are married, betrothed or just beginning exclusive romantic relationships."
"There is one on this ship who may fit our needs," Anakin said. He turned to William. "Me?" William said.
"I have observed you since you came aboard," Anakin said. Ahsoka sat up in the biobed. "Master, William, you may remain. Everyone else, please excuse us," she said.
Simon, Louis and the medical staff exited the private observation room. As soon as everyone except William and Anakin had departed, Ahsoka looked at William. "I too have observed you," she said. "Your feelings towards me are quite clear."
"But, Ahsoka, to me, you are a fictional character," William said. "During my time at that residential treatment facility I was telling you about, I made the mistake of saying that I had a crush on Roxanne Goof. For weeks afterward, everyone teased me about this by singing the chorus of the Police song 'Roxanne.'"
"From that point on, I have limited my crushes to real people," William continued. "Your feelings betray you," Ahsoka said. "When I am around you, I sense feelings of arousal."
"But, to have sex with a fictional character…" William started to say. "Then do not think of me as a fictional character," Ahsoka interrupted. "Think of me as a living, breathing, real woman with feelings and emotions that need to be addressed."
"Then, it seems that I need to learn any rituals that this knek'tarr may require," William said. "But, there is one problem. What if Ahsoka and I conceive a child?"
"We'll cross that holo-bridge when we come to it," Ahsoka said. "The knek'tarr requires the presence of an elder Togrutan to oversee the purification of the two to be mated."
Anakin nodded gravely. "Max, this is Anakin. Open a channel to the 'Old Folks Home,' top priority. I'll take any response that comes in my guest quarters," he said. "Compliance," Max said. Anakin left the medbay at a deliberate pace.
A few hours later, William stood on the Ponyo's hangar deck, having just sent Lizzie and Gordo off on their honeymoon with a promise to contact them with any news on Ahsoka's condition. Suddenly, Max's voice came on the comm. "William, please report to Anakin's guest quarters. He wishes to speak to you on, in his words, a 'most delicate matter,'" he said.
"On my way, Max," William said. Taking a deep breath, William turned on his heel and left the hangar deck.
William stood silently at the door into Anakin and Ahsoka's room for a few moments before he rang the door chime. "Who is it?" Anakin asked. "It's William," William said. "Max said you wanted to see me." "Come in, William," Anakin said.
The door slid open, revealing Anakin. "I just got a response from the Jedi Temple on Coruscant," he said as William walked in. "They are sending Master Shaak Ti here to oversee the knek'tarr rituals."
"What did they say about Ahsoka asking me to be the one that she wants to fulfill the knek'tarr with?" William said. "Master Yoda sent me a HoloNet message intended for you," Anakin said.
Anakin tapped a control on the desk he sat at. A holographic projection formed on the desk. It was of a familiar, wizened green alien. "For William Raymer, this message is intended," Yoda began. "Concerned we are about Ahsoka choosing you for the knek'tarr. Between Togrutans, the rituals are intended to be."
"Furthermore, if you and Ahsoka conceive a child, impossible to know if it will come to term, as no known human-Togrutan hybrids exist," he continued. "However, Ahsoka's health and life, top priority it must be. Do what must be done. May the Force be with you."
The projection shut off. William turned back to face Anakin. "When will this Shaak Ti arrive?" William asked. "She is expected to rendezvous with us in two hours," Anakin said.
William looked out at the night sky visible in the viewport. "Anakin, while I am handling this, there is one last interview I need you to conduct for me," William said. "Then, when I come out of the knek'tarr, we shall have the final ceremony."
"Who is the interview subject?" Anakin asked. "Max will have all the particulars," William said. "Just let the other characters know what has happened."
"I will," Anakin said. "William?" William turned in the open doorway. "Yeah, Skyguy?" William said. "Thank you for helping Ahsoka," Anakin said. "Hey, you said it yourself," William said. "It takes a while to break in a new Padawan."
The doors slid closed behind William.
Back on the Simudeck, which had been transformed back into the holographic Kitchen Stadium, Alvin stood at the lectern as Anakin walked in. "Anakin, is Ahsoka all right?" he asked.
"She is, Alvin," Anakin said. "William will see to that."
::TBC::