Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling or George Lucas.

Enter Luke, Han, and Leia, among other Jedi, Caridans, and Dark Jedi in the Great Hall.

Many stand to look at Luke.

Enter Mon Mothma, who turns to whisper urgently to Yoda.

Luke. [to Han and Leia] I didn't put my name in. You know I didn't.

Yoda. Luke Skywalker. Luke. Up here, if you please.

Leia. Go on.

Luke rises, approaching the staff table.

First Student. He's a cheat.

Second Student. He's not even seventeen yet.

Luke approaches Yoda.

Yoda. Well, through the front door, Luke.

Enter Joruus C'Baoth, disguised as Garm Bel Iblis.

Bel Iblis. [aside] It is done, my Master. Luke Skywalker will be in your hands.

Exit all but Luke.

Enter Isolder, Alema, and Biggs.

Alema. What is it? Do they want us back in the Hall?

Enter Bog Divinian.

Divinian. Extraordinary! Absolutely extraordinary! Gentlebeings, lady. May I introduce, incredible though it may seem, the fourth Galactic champion.

Isolder straightens, observing Luke.

Biggs looks from Luke to Divinian, looking bewildered.

Alema. [smiles] Oh, very funny joke, Senator Divinian.

Divinian. Joke? No, no, not at all. Luke's name just came out of the Goblet of Fire.

Isolder's eyebrows constrict slightly.

Biggs looks bewildered.

Alema. [frowns] There must be some mistake. He cannot compete. He is too young.

Divinian. Well, it is amazing. But as you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an extra safety measure. And as his name has come out of the Goblet . . . I mean, I don't think there can be any ducking out at this stage. It's down in the rules. You're obliged. Luke will just have to do the best he . . .

Enter Yoda, Mallatobuck, Brakiss, Jorus C'Baoth, Darth Vader, and Mon Mothma.

Mallatobuck. It's wrong I tell you.

Brakiss. You Caridan tart.

Mallatobuck. Everything is a conspiracy theory to you.

Yoda. Quiet. I can't think.

Mallatobuck. I protest. I protest.

Alema approaches Mallatobuck.

Alema. Master Mallatobuck. They are saying that this little boy is to compete, also.

Mallatobuck. [to Yoda] What is the meaning of this, Yoda?

Brakiss. I'd rather like to know myself, Yoda. Two Jedi champions? I don't remember anyone's telling me the host school is allowed two champions, or have I not read the rules carefully enough?

Mallatobuck. [in Shyriwook] It is impossible. [in Basic] The Jedi cannot have two champions. It is most injust.

Brakiss. We were under the impression that your protection bubble would keep out younger contestants, Yoda. Otherwise, we would, of course, have brought along a wider selection of candidates from our own schools.

Vader. It's no one's fault but Skywalker's, Brakiss. Don't go blaming Yoda for Skywalker's determination to break rules. He has been crossing lines ever since he arrived here . . .

Yoda. Thank you, Darth. [to Luke] Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire, Luke?

Luke. No.

Yoda. Did you ask an older student to do it for you?

Luke. No.

Mallatobuck. Ah, but of course he is lying.

Mothma. The hell he is. He could not have crossed the protection bubble. I think we are all agreed on that . . .

Mallatobuck. Yoda must have made a mistake with the bubble.

Yoda. It is possible, of course.

Mothma. Yoda. You know perfectly well you did not make a mistake. Really, what nonsense! Luke could not have crossed the line himself, and as Master Yoda believes he did not persuade an older student to do it for him, I'm sure that should be good enough for everybody else.

Mothma glares at Vader.

Brakiss. Master C'Baoth, Senator Divinian. You are our . . . er . . . objective judges. Surely you will agree that this is most irregular?

C'Baoth. The rules are absolute. The Goblet of Fire constitutes a binding, Forceful contract. Master Skywalker has no choice. He is, as of tonight, a Galactic champion.

Divinian. Well, Jorus knows the rule book back to front.

Brakiss. [cold] I insist upon resubmitting the names of the rest of my champions. You will set up the Goblet of Fire once more, and we will continue adding names until each school has two champions. It is only fair, Yoda.

Divinian. But Brakiss, it doesn't work like that. The Goblet of Fire has just gone out. It won't reignite until the start of the next Games . . .

Brakiss. . . . in which the Shadow Academy will most certainly not be competing. After all our meetings and negotiations and compromises, I little expected something of this nature to occur. I have half a mind to leave now.

Enter Joruus C'Baoth, disguised as Garm Bel Iblis.

Bel Iblis. Empty threat, Brakiss. You can't leave your champion now. He's got to compete. They have all got to compete. Binding lawful contract, like Yoda said. Convenient, eh?

Brakiss. Convenient? I'm afraid I don't understand you, Bel Iblis.

Bel Iblis. Don't you? It's very simple, Brakiss. Someone put Skywalker's name in that goblet, knowing he would have to compete if it came out.

Mallatobuck. Evidently, someone who wanted to give the Jedi two bites of the shuura.

Brakiss. I quite agree, Mallatobuck. I shall be lodging complaints with the Galactic Republic and the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances.

Bel Iblis. If anyone has got reason to complain, it's Skywalker. But funny thing . . . I don't hear his uttering a word.

Alema. Why should he complain? He has the chance to compete, hasn't he? We have all been hoping to be chosen for weeks and weeks, the honor of our schools. A thousand dataries in prize credits . . . this a chance many would die for.

Bel Iblis. Maybe someone is hoping Skywalker is going to die for it.

Divinian. Bel Iblis, old man. What a thing to say!

Brakiss. We all know General Bel Iblis considers the morning wasted if he hasn't discovered six plots of murder before lunchtime. Apparently, he is now teaching his students to fear assassination, too. An odd quality in a Defense Against the Dark Side instructor, Yoda, but no doubt you had your reasons.

Bel Iblis. Imagining things, am I? Seeing things, eh? It was a skilled Force user who put that boy's name in the Goblet.

Mallatobuck. What evidence is there of that?

Bel Iblis. The Goblet of Fire is an exceptionally powerful Force-sensitive artifact. Only exceptionally powerful Force Confusion could have hoodwinked it, a Force power way beyond the talents of a fourth year.

Brakiss. You seem to have given this a fair bit of thought, Bel Iblis.

Bel Iblis. There are those who will turn innocent occasions to their advantage. It was once my job to think like dark-siders do, Brakiss. Perhaps you remember. . . .

Yoda. That doesn't help, Garm. How this situation arose we do not know. It seems to me, however, that we have no choice but to accept it. Both Biggs and Luke have been chosen to compete in the Games. This, therefore, they will do.

Mallatobuck. But Yoda . . .

Yoda. My dear Mallatobuck. If you have an alternative, I will be delighted to hear it.

Divinian. Well, shall we crack on, then? Got to give our champions their instructions, haven't we? Jorus, I'll leave this to you.

C'Baoth. Yes. Instructions. Yes . . . the first task . . . The first task is designed to test your daring, so we are not going to be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a Force user. Very important. The first task will take place on the twenty-fourth of November, in front of the other students and the panel of judges. The judges are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their Masters to complete the tasks of the Games. The champions will face the first task armed only with their lightsabers. They will receive information about the second task, when the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the Games, the champions are exempted from end-of-year tests. [to Yoda] I think that's all, is it, Yoda?

Yoda. I think so. Are you sure you don't want to stay on Tython, Jorus?

C'Baoth. No, Yoda. I must get back to the Republic. It is a very busy, very difficult time at the moment. I've left young Najack in charge. Very enthusiastic . . . a little overenthusiastic, if truth be told . . .

Yoda. You'll come and have a drink before you go, at least?

Divinian. Come on, Jorus. I'm staying. It's all happening on Tython now, you know, much more exciting here than on Coruscant.

C'Baoth. I think not, Bog.

Exit Mallatobuck and Jan, speaking animatedly in Shyriwook.

Exit Brakiss and Isolder, in silence.

Yoda. Luke, Biggs. I suggest you go up to bed. I am sure Revan and Surik are waiting to celebrate with you, and it would be a shame to deprive them of this excellent excuse to make a great deal of mess and noise.

Exit all but Luke and Biggs.

Biggs. So. We're playing against each other again.

Luke. I suppose.

Biggs. So, tell me . . . How did you get your name in?

Luke. I didn't. I didn't put it in. I was telling the truth.

Biggs. Ah, okay. Well, see you, then.

Exit all.