***
CHAPTER TEN: The Merge (By golly, gee whiz! How unique! And special! Jeez. You'd think I'd have more imagination that that.)
***
Author's Note: This chapter was late because I am legally grounded for a month, but my use of the computer is a temporary waiver for now. Add to that the fact that I do not feel very happy that the Rams lost the Superbowl. Please bear with me. No, there aren't Yogi bears here. Read on!
***
CUE SURVIVOR MUSIC
"Hey! Jeft Proast might put up with that music, but I don't! Shut it off!" The author (me) said loudly.
END SURVIVOR MUSIC
"Don't you guys every learn? Gee, I guess you don't, come to think of it. Now, Jeft is still sick, so I'm the master of ceremonies for now. So, anyway, Boba Fett go voted off on the last episode and now they're gonna be one team. There. Now go on."
***
"I think we should take a left here," Luke announced, somewhat hesitantly. "Then go straight for twelve meters."
"I think we're lost," Jacen said.
"No, we're not," Luke replied, sparing a glance at his nephew. "We'll be there in no time."
"Look, honey, I think you should give ME the map," Mara tried.
"No! I'll do it."
Vader was losing his patience. "Son, give me the map!"
"I asked first!" Mara objected.
"Well, I'm his father!"
"And I'm his WIFE!"
"Let me see!" Anakin yelled.
"I want to see it, too!" Jacen pleaded.
Luke was not amused. "We'll never get there, if we fight! Jedi must band together..."
"Oh, shut up with that Jedi things, okay?" Vader interrupted. "Let me see the map!"
All of a sudden they started speaking at the same time and you couldn't (at least I couldn't) sometimes distinguish who spoke what.
"I said it first!"
"But I want to see it!"
"You're no good at reading maps!"
"And who said you were?"
"Uh..."
"GIVE IT TO ME!"
"I WANT IT!"
"I'm good at reading maps! Give it to ME!"
"Over my dead body!"
"HEY! GET OFF ME!"
"GET YOUR BUTT OFF MY FACE!"
They were all on top of poor Luke, who was clutching the map like there was no tomorrow, and pretty soon there was a huge dust ball like the stuff you see in cartoons when there's a big brawl.
"LET ME SEE! LET ME SEE!'
"Not in your life!"
"GET OFF ME, JACEN!"
"EEW! YOUR ARMPITS STINK!"
"WELL, GOOD FOR YOU!"
"AAAAAAHHHH!" Came the blood-churning scream. "STINKBUG!"
"IT'S ON MY FACE!" Anakin squealed in agony. "SOMEONE GET IT OFF!"
"I've fallen and I can't get up," Vader said quietly.
"Where's the map?" Luke wondered aloud.
"There it is!" Came Mara.
"Someone get this bug off my face! It's on my nose!"
"Who cares?" Jacen asked, unconcerned. "Get the map!"
"I've got it!" Mara yelled. Luke was scratching his head, trying to make sense of what was happening here.
"Hello?" Vader pleaded. "I can't get up!"
"That's because you've got such a heavy butt!" The cameraman replied.
"Shut up! You're not in this chapter!" Mara yelled, the map cradled in her hands.
"Oh, sorry."
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Anakin screamed again. "IT'S ON MY EYE! SOMEONE! HELP!"
"Why should I care?" Jacen shrugged.
"Get it off! Get it off!"
"Stay still, will you?" Mara ordered, the map tucked away in a hidden pocket. "It's on your mouth! Don't open your mouth!"
"MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMPPPPPPPPHHHHHHH!" Anakin moaned loudly.
"Where in the worlds is the map?" Vader asked, finally on his feet.
"I don't have it!" Luke stated seriously.
Jacen was nowhere to be found.
"I said, don't move, Anakin!"
Anakin stayed still, much to his better judgement.
"My armpits are sweaty," Luke stated.
"Why should WE care? Someone get me a fly swatter!"
Anakin's eyes widened in horror as he attempted to shake his head.
"I said, someone get me a fly swatter! This kid's dying here!" Mara ordered harshly.
"He's not dying!" Vader corrected, the ancient fly swatter in hand.
"Yes he is! Now get away! This thing could explode anytime!"
Mara carefully tried to lift the bug away from her horrified nephew's mouth, but to no avail.
The bug exploded, releasing a smell so strong I could almost smell it. Heh, poor cameraguy. Lucky he was tougher than Joe was. Or whatever the other cameraperson's name was.
On instinct, Anakin screamed, and the bug, still spraying its toxic, dropped straight down into you know where.
I think you could guess what happened next.
Mara screamed in terror. "ANAKIN!"
Jacen arrived, unable to suppress the laughter that had built up inside him ever since this stinkbug caper had started.
Anakin bolted upright, coughing the poor, confused bug (like I care) who was, by now, dead. He (Anakin, not the bug) spit everywhere, his face pale and blue, he teeth marked with the orange color where the bug had "accidentally" been bitten.
Gross. Even I am disgusted.
"Water!" Mara screamed, the only one obviously concerned about her, uh, patient. Luke was studying his armpits, about a hundred yards away, apparently missing everything, and Jacen was laughing hysterically.
Vader was wheezing as he ran to the waterhole as fast as his feet could take him. Soon he brought with him a jar of fresh water, which Mara offered to Anakin.
Anakin coughed the water out, convinced it was not safe, given the fact that the bug's orange spray was still on his teeth. He took his sleeve and scrubbed it off. He didn't dare feel with his tongue if it was gone.
Vader watched this escapade with amusement.
Luke came back. "Is everyone all right?"
They all looked at him as if he were the dumbest person in the entire world.
"What?"
No one answered him. Anakin resigned and dropped to his back, panting heavily. Jacen could not suppress a grin. Vader thought these people were all wackos.
***
The former Norub camp was not without disunity, either. The previous night, Han was furious at Chewbacca for his confession that he did break the alliance with Boba Fett and voted against the disposed-of bounty hunter. That night Han had decided to kick Chewie off the next Tribal Council.
"I don't care if you didn't like him, Chewbacca!" Han had said. "You broke a legal and respectful promise!"
(It's not my fault! He...)
"Yes it IS your fault! Now WE are in the minority! You see what your attitudes have brought us now?"
(Don't parent me, Solo! Just because I owe you...)
"A life debt?" Han had interrupted again. "Ah, thank you for reminding me, Chewbacca. You have no right to tell me anything of your babbles. I'm not parenting you! I'm telling you, clear and straight, that you DON'T belong here. You don't DESERVE to even be in this game!
(Okay, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to...)
"Just shut your big Wookiee mouth, would you? Just leave me alone!"
Now, the following morning, as Leia led the team towards their new camp, Han had given his best (or should I say ex-best) friend the cold shoulder, although the Wookiee was apologetic, and had pleaded for their forgiveness.
Jaina didn't care, nor did Leia, that Boba Fett had been voted out. No one really like him anyway. Apparently Han was not in the same frame of mind.
The journey was long, particularly when you have pounds of supplies on your back, and the sun is sweating you up. They took a break every fifteen minutes or so.
No one realized that the so-called island was this big. Trekking through the damp sand under a sweltering sun made the trip even more difficult. After two hours, Jaina finally spotted a green flag.
"There it is! There it is!" Jaina yelled in victory.
There was no name painted on the flag, further assuring the former Norub tribe mates that they had not made a wrong turn.
There was a note in a brown thing tied to a tree, and Leia read it out loud.
"Welcome, Survivors, to your new home for the rest of this game. You will find seven tents pitched for you. The two couples will stay in the double tents, the rest, find your own. There is a full sack of rice nearby. The waterhole is not far way.
"However, this part of the island is not completely paradise. This is the area in which many snakes and wild animals have been heard to roam. If you are the first group to arrive, start finding wood to encircle your camp to protect it from large animals and start setting up your fence.
"If you are the second, do the same thing. Assign someone to set up a campfire. Keep it burning at all hours. If it burns out, with the exception of rain, then your tribe will be assessed a penalty. The punishment? We're not telling you.
"Rest assured, however, of nothing."
Leia scratched her head. "Odd," she concluded.
They all started doing as they were told.
What else could they do? Nothing really. Funny. Not.
***
"WHERE IN THE WORLDS ARE WE, LUKE?!" Vader said, exasperated.
"I know, I know... hold on a second..."
"Give me the map, Luke," Mara said again.
"Fine," Luke said, giving up. "May the Force be with you on this one, Mara."
"Hmm," Mara thought out loud, taking the map.
They all stood silent as Mara peered at the drawing. She snapped her fingers. "Aha!"
She turned the map upside down. Or right side up. "You were reading it the wrong way."
Luke shrugged. "Oh. Even Jedi make mistakes."
"Come on," she finally said, leading the way.
Pretty soon, they were peeking at the Norub members putting the finishing touches on their new camp.
"Oh, brother," Vader said, "here comes the competition.
Eyeing Jaina, Jacen corrected, "More like, `oh sister.'" He slapped his forehead. "What have we done."
"What do you mean?" Luke asked, perplexed. Anakin was too busy checking and rechecking his teeth.
"We shouldn't have voted off Boba Fett," Jacen said in a low tone so only he and Luke could hear. "Chewie's gonna win everything."
"Not necessarily," Mara said, apparently overhearing Jacen. "I hear Han doesn't like him much."
Jacen whistled. "That's my dad. Always changing his mind."
As they approached the camp, Chewbacca growled a welcome and waved. They all waved back.
The other ex-Norub members turned and all smiled, then walked out to greet them.
"What took you, brother?" Jaina asked, punching her twin in the shoulder.
Jacen shrugged. "What's new? Everything takes me."
After small talk and pleasantries, which Leia specialized in, the former Sandburrow members settled in and started helping their new teammates. It was almost dark when they finished the fence, which, after several hours' work under the sun, gave them all a new sense of accomplishment.
Right...
So... the remaining nine Survivors gathered around the campfire to have there usual meal, rice with rice with rice. The women, with the exception of Jaina, who did not find cooking enjoyable, and Darth Vader cooked the meal.
They started conversing, and that's the problem with nine people, as you know from previous chapters. With my superior author powers I once again manipulate the fic. Cool, huh?
Han: What have you guys been doing lately?
Anakin: Nothing much.
Vader: Yep. Boring.
Jacen: Well, Anakin chewed on a stinkbug by accident this morning.
Jaina and Han nearly choked on their food. Han was sympathetic to the poor kid; Jaina, the ever-knowing sibling, could not suppress a grin.
Han: You alright, kid?
Anakin: Yes, I am dad. *Rolls eyes* There you go again with the `kid' stuff. I'm not a kid anymore.
Han: That's what they all say.
Luke: Me included.
Han: Hey, you'll always be a kid to me.
Luke: I know. Ever wonder why you married a kid?
Han: What?
Luke: Leia.
Han: Oh, she's a lot more mature than you are, kid.
Luke: Well, I'm a Jedi. That counts.
Han: Who said it did?
Mara: You sound exactly like Anakin and Jacen.
Anakin: Who said we were in this?
Mara: Forget it.
For a few moments silence followed. I said `few', folks. That's not a lot.
Leia: SO what's going to be our name?
Mara: Why don't we name ourselves `Maniacmotchi?'
Vader: Sounds okay to me.
Han: Fine. We're the Maniacmotchis then.
The younger people snickered.
Jacen: So...what's been happening on your side of the island?
Leia: The flood almost wiped out our supplies.
Anakin: I can sympathize with you.
Jaina, suddenly interested: What happened?
Anakin shrugged.
Jacen: He lost his knapsack.
Leia: What was in it?
Han: Yeah?
Jacen: He'd kill me if I told.
Vader: You already told me.
Jacen: Good point.
Luke: I want to know what happened as well.
Anakin: Thank goodness you were dozing when Jacen spilled.
Luke: I never `doze'! I meditate!
Anakin: Whatever.
Jacen: It's late. I'm sleepy. I'll tell you in the morning.
After several pleas, which were all futile, they hesitantly traveled to their tents and enjoyed a good rest.
***
"So? What happened?" Jaina said, alone at the campfire. "Come one, Jace. Tell."
"I didn't know you were up so early." Jacen yawned, the breeze spilling into his lungs.
"Well, I guess I am."
Taking a spot near his sister, he explained all that had gone before.
Jaina whistled softly. "Pretty interesting." She reported the Chewbacca stink issue and Boba Fett's alliance.
"Poor Chewie. Must feel really bad," Jacen said softly.
***
The next few days went on without incident. They all eventually learned of what happened at the other's camp, and they all had their fair share of embarrassments. The immunity challenge crept near.
***
"Welcome to the immunity challenge, survivors," I started (from now on I will refer to myself as `the author') I was once again in my fic. (Okay, so from NOW on I will call myself the author.)
"In this challenge, you see a cloning machine. Mace, please step forward."
Mace Windu, all nine of him, came from behind me.
"Let's see you can put Mace's," the author snickered.
"What?" came a question. (Duh, I mean, it couldn't be a regular sentence since it had a question mark.)
"It sounds like `Macy's'." No response. "The department store?" No response. "Forget it. Anyway, shine his head as best you can for ten seconds. Shiniest head wins."
"On your mark, get set, go."
The survivors rubbed furiously, except Luke, who was pretending he was shining some porcelain thing. Weird.
THIRTY SECONDS LATER
"Okay, okay, stop! Let's see..." The author stepped around, inspecting the heads. "Well, well, well, looks like Anakin's Windu's head is shiniest. He wins immunity!"
"YES!"
"Okay, Windu, I mean, Windus, please step back inside the decloning machine."
The technician had a look of horror about him. "It's malfunctioning!"
"What?!"
"It doesn't work!"
"Oh, great. Must I take care of ALL the work?" With my superior author powers, I decloned Mace and sent him back to his own time realm. "Now that that's taken cared of, see you tonight at Tribal Council."
***
"Welcome to Tribal Council," the author remarked dryly. "Chewbacca, you go first."
Nine members later, the author came back with the vote basket in her hands.
"Okay. Chewbacca, Chewie, Chewbacca, Vader, Chewbacca, Chewbacca, Chewbacca, Chewbacca, Chewie. Guess that takes care of it. Off you go, hairball. I mean, Chewbacca."
The Wookiee unhappily took his torch and strode to the author. "Sorry, Chewie."
Eight Survivors left. Who will win this game?
***
Well, that was interesting! Chapter Eleven might come a little later than we would all like it, but as I said earlier I am legally grounded and this is a temporary waiver. I also have tons of homework too. I'll do my best. To Melima8788 and Grand Admiral Jello, thanks for your suggestions. I plan to use them both in the upcoming chapters, if not in the next. Anyway I appreciate your reviews, so all of you keep suggesting some challenges for me, and tell me who you would want to win! KEEP READING!
***
Chapter finished 2/ 4/ 02 (Feb. 4, 2002)
CHAPTER TEN: The Merge (By golly, gee whiz! How unique! And special! Jeez. You'd think I'd have more imagination that that.)
***
Author's Note: This chapter was late because I am legally grounded for a month, but my use of the computer is a temporary waiver for now. Add to that the fact that I do not feel very happy that the Rams lost the Superbowl. Please bear with me. No, there aren't Yogi bears here. Read on!
***
CUE SURVIVOR MUSIC
"Hey! Jeft Proast might put up with that music, but I don't! Shut it off!" The author (me) said loudly.
END SURVIVOR MUSIC
"Don't you guys every learn? Gee, I guess you don't, come to think of it. Now, Jeft is still sick, so I'm the master of ceremonies for now. So, anyway, Boba Fett go voted off on the last episode and now they're gonna be one team. There. Now go on."
***
"I think we should take a left here," Luke announced, somewhat hesitantly. "Then go straight for twelve meters."
"I think we're lost," Jacen said.
"No, we're not," Luke replied, sparing a glance at his nephew. "We'll be there in no time."
"Look, honey, I think you should give ME the map," Mara tried.
"No! I'll do it."
Vader was losing his patience. "Son, give me the map!"
"I asked first!" Mara objected.
"Well, I'm his father!"
"And I'm his WIFE!"
"Let me see!" Anakin yelled.
"I want to see it, too!" Jacen pleaded.
Luke was not amused. "We'll never get there, if we fight! Jedi must band together..."
"Oh, shut up with that Jedi things, okay?" Vader interrupted. "Let me see the map!"
All of a sudden they started speaking at the same time and you couldn't (at least I couldn't) sometimes distinguish who spoke what.
"I said it first!"
"But I want to see it!"
"You're no good at reading maps!"
"And who said you were?"
"Uh..."
"GIVE IT TO ME!"
"I WANT IT!"
"I'm good at reading maps! Give it to ME!"
"Over my dead body!"
"HEY! GET OFF ME!"
"GET YOUR BUTT OFF MY FACE!"
They were all on top of poor Luke, who was clutching the map like there was no tomorrow, and pretty soon there was a huge dust ball like the stuff you see in cartoons when there's a big brawl.
"LET ME SEE! LET ME SEE!'
"Not in your life!"
"GET OFF ME, JACEN!"
"EEW! YOUR ARMPITS STINK!"
"WELL, GOOD FOR YOU!"
"AAAAAAHHHH!" Came the blood-churning scream. "STINKBUG!"
"IT'S ON MY FACE!" Anakin squealed in agony. "SOMEONE GET IT OFF!"
"I've fallen and I can't get up," Vader said quietly.
"Where's the map?" Luke wondered aloud.
"There it is!" Came Mara.
"Someone get this bug off my face! It's on my nose!"
"Who cares?" Jacen asked, unconcerned. "Get the map!"
"I've got it!" Mara yelled. Luke was scratching his head, trying to make sense of what was happening here.
"Hello?" Vader pleaded. "I can't get up!"
"That's because you've got such a heavy butt!" The cameraman replied.
"Shut up! You're not in this chapter!" Mara yelled, the map cradled in her hands.
"Oh, sorry."
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Anakin screamed again. "IT'S ON MY EYE! SOMEONE! HELP!"
"Why should I care?" Jacen shrugged.
"Get it off! Get it off!"
"Stay still, will you?" Mara ordered, the map tucked away in a hidden pocket. "It's on your mouth! Don't open your mouth!"
"MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMPPPPPPPPHHHHHHH!" Anakin moaned loudly.
"Where in the worlds is the map?" Vader asked, finally on his feet.
"I don't have it!" Luke stated seriously.
Jacen was nowhere to be found.
"I said, don't move, Anakin!"
Anakin stayed still, much to his better judgement.
"My armpits are sweaty," Luke stated.
"Why should WE care? Someone get me a fly swatter!"
Anakin's eyes widened in horror as he attempted to shake his head.
"I said, someone get me a fly swatter! This kid's dying here!" Mara ordered harshly.
"He's not dying!" Vader corrected, the ancient fly swatter in hand.
"Yes he is! Now get away! This thing could explode anytime!"
Mara carefully tried to lift the bug away from her horrified nephew's mouth, but to no avail.
The bug exploded, releasing a smell so strong I could almost smell it. Heh, poor cameraguy. Lucky he was tougher than Joe was. Or whatever the other cameraperson's name was.
On instinct, Anakin screamed, and the bug, still spraying its toxic, dropped straight down into you know where.
I think you could guess what happened next.
Mara screamed in terror. "ANAKIN!"
Jacen arrived, unable to suppress the laughter that had built up inside him ever since this stinkbug caper had started.
Anakin bolted upright, coughing the poor, confused bug (like I care) who was, by now, dead. He (Anakin, not the bug) spit everywhere, his face pale and blue, he teeth marked with the orange color where the bug had "accidentally" been bitten.
Gross. Even I am disgusted.
"Water!" Mara screamed, the only one obviously concerned about her, uh, patient. Luke was studying his armpits, about a hundred yards away, apparently missing everything, and Jacen was laughing hysterically.
Vader was wheezing as he ran to the waterhole as fast as his feet could take him. Soon he brought with him a jar of fresh water, which Mara offered to Anakin.
Anakin coughed the water out, convinced it was not safe, given the fact that the bug's orange spray was still on his teeth. He took his sleeve and scrubbed it off. He didn't dare feel with his tongue if it was gone.
Vader watched this escapade with amusement.
Luke came back. "Is everyone all right?"
They all looked at him as if he were the dumbest person in the entire world.
"What?"
No one answered him. Anakin resigned and dropped to his back, panting heavily. Jacen could not suppress a grin. Vader thought these people were all wackos.
***
The former Norub camp was not without disunity, either. The previous night, Han was furious at Chewbacca for his confession that he did break the alliance with Boba Fett and voted against the disposed-of bounty hunter. That night Han had decided to kick Chewie off the next Tribal Council.
"I don't care if you didn't like him, Chewbacca!" Han had said. "You broke a legal and respectful promise!"
(It's not my fault! He...)
"Yes it IS your fault! Now WE are in the minority! You see what your attitudes have brought us now?"
(Don't parent me, Solo! Just because I owe you...)
"A life debt?" Han had interrupted again. "Ah, thank you for reminding me, Chewbacca. You have no right to tell me anything of your babbles. I'm not parenting you! I'm telling you, clear and straight, that you DON'T belong here. You don't DESERVE to even be in this game!
(Okay, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to...)
"Just shut your big Wookiee mouth, would you? Just leave me alone!"
Now, the following morning, as Leia led the team towards their new camp, Han had given his best (or should I say ex-best) friend the cold shoulder, although the Wookiee was apologetic, and had pleaded for their forgiveness.
Jaina didn't care, nor did Leia, that Boba Fett had been voted out. No one really like him anyway. Apparently Han was not in the same frame of mind.
The journey was long, particularly when you have pounds of supplies on your back, and the sun is sweating you up. They took a break every fifteen minutes or so.
No one realized that the so-called island was this big. Trekking through the damp sand under a sweltering sun made the trip even more difficult. After two hours, Jaina finally spotted a green flag.
"There it is! There it is!" Jaina yelled in victory.
There was no name painted on the flag, further assuring the former Norub tribe mates that they had not made a wrong turn.
There was a note in a brown thing tied to a tree, and Leia read it out loud.
"Welcome, Survivors, to your new home for the rest of this game. You will find seven tents pitched for you. The two couples will stay in the double tents, the rest, find your own. There is a full sack of rice nearby. The waterhole is not far way.
"However, this part of the island is not completely paradise. This is the area in which many snakes and wild animals have been heard to roam. If you are the first group to arrive, start finding wood to encircle your camp to protect it from large animals and start setting up your fence.
"If you are the second, do the same thing. Assign someone to set up a campfire. Keep it burning at all hours. If it burns out, with the exception of rain, then your tribe will be assessed a penalty. The punishment? We're not telling you.
"Rest assured, however, of nothing."
Leia scratched her head. "Odd," she concluded.
They all started doing as they were told.
What else could they do? Nothing really. Funny. Not.
***
"WHERE IN THE WORLDS ARE WE, LUKE?!" Vader said, exasperated.
"I know, I know... hold on a second..."
"Give me the map, Luke," Mara said again.
"Fine," Luke said, giving up. "May the Force be with you on this one, Mara."
"Hmm," Mara thought out loud, taking the map.
They all stood silent as Mara peered at the drawing. She snapped her fingers. "Aha!"
She turned the map upside down. Or right side up. "You were reading it the wrong way."
Luke shrugged. "Oh. Even Jedi make mistakes."
"Come on," she finally said, leading the way.
Pretty soon, they were peeking at the Norub members putting the finishing touches on their new camp.
"Oh, brother," Vader said, "here comes the competition.
Eyeing Jaina, Jacen corrected, "More like, `oh sister.'" He slapped his forehead. "What have we done."
"What do you mean?" Luke asked, perplexed. Anakin was too busy checking and rechecking his teeth.
"We shouldn't have voted off Boba Fett," Jacen said in a low tone so only he and Luke could hear. "Chewie's gonna win everything."
"Not necessarily," Mara said, apparently overhearing Jacen. "I hear Han doesn't like him much."
Jacen whistled. "That's my dad. Always changing his mind."
As they approached the camp, Chewbacca growled a welcome and waved. They all waved back.
The other ex-Norub members turned and all smiled, then walked out to greet them.
"What took you, brother?" Jaina asked, punching her twin in the shoulder.
Jacen shrugged. "What's new? Everything takes me."
After small talk and pleasantries, which Leia specialized in, the former Sandburrow members settled in and started helping their new teammates. It was almost dark when they finished the fence, which, after several hours' work under the sun, gave them all a new sense of accomplishment.
Right...
So... the remaining nine Survivors gathered around the campfire to have there usual meal, rice with rice with rice. The women, with the exception of Jaina, who did not find cooking enjoyable, and Darth Vader cooked the meal.
They started conversing, and that's the problem with nine people, as you know from previous chapters. With my superior author powers I once again manipulate the fic. Cool, huh?
Han: What have you guys been doing lately?
Anakin: Nothing much.
Vader: Yep. Boring.
Jacen: Well, Anakin chewed on a stinkbug by accident this morning.
Jaina and Han nearly choked on their food. Han was sympathetic to the poor kid; Jaina, the ever-knowing sibling, could not suppress a grin.
Han: You alright, kid?
Anakin: Yes, I am dad. *Rolls eyes* There you go again with the `kid' stuff. I'm not a kid anymore.
Han: That's what they all say.
Luke: Me included.
Han: Hey, you'll always be a kid to me.
Luke: I know. Ever wonder why you married a kid?
Han: What?
Luke: Leia.
Han: Oh, she's a lot more mature than you are, kid.
Luke: Well, I'm a Jedi. That counts.
Han: Who said it did?
Mara: You sound exactly like Anakin and Jacen.
Anakin: Who said we were in this?
Mara: Forget it.
For a few moments silence followed. I said `few', folks. That's not a lot.
Leia: SO what's going to be our name?
Mara: Why don't we name ourselves `Maniacmotchi?'
Vader: Sounds okay to me.
Han: Fine. We're the Maniacmotchis then.
The younger people snickered.
Jacen: So...what's been happening on your side of the island?
Leia: The flood almost wiped out our supplies.
Anakin: I can sympathize with you.
Jaina, suddenly interested: What happened?
Anakin shrugged.
Jacen: He lost his knapsack.
Leia: What was in it?
Han: Yeah?
Jacen: He'd kill me if I told.
Vader: You already told me.
Jacen: Good point.
Luke: I want to know what happened as well.
Anakin: Thank goodness you were dozing when Jacen spilled.
Luke: I never `doze'! I meditate!
Anakin: Whatever.
Jacen: It's late. I'm sleepy. I'll tell you in the morning.
After several pleas, which were all futile, they hesitantly traveled to their tents and enjoyed a good rest.
***
"So? What happened?" Jaina said, alone at the campfire. "Come one, Jace. Tell."
"I didn't know you were up so early." Jacen yawned, the breeze spilling into his lungs.
"Well, I guess I am."
Taking a spot near his sister, he explained all that had gone before.
Jaina whistled softly. "Pretty interesting." She reported the Chewbacca stink issue and Boba Fett's alliance.
"Poor Chewie. Must feel really bad," Jacen said softly.
***
The next few days went on without incident. They all eventually learned of what happened at the other's camp, and they all had their fair share of embarrassments. The immunity challenge crept near.
***
"Welcome to the immunity challenge, survivors," I started (from now on I will refer to myself as `the author') I was once again in my fic. (Okay, so from NOW on I will call myself the author.)
"In this challenge, you see a cloning machine. Mace, please step forward."
Mace Windu, all nine of him, came from behind me.
"Let's see you can put Mace's," the author snickered.
"What?" came a question. (Duh, I mean, it couldn't be a regular sentence since it had a question mark.)
"It sounds like `Macy's'." No response. "The department store?" No response. "Forget it. Anyway, shine his head as best you can for ten seconds. Shiniest head wins."
"On your mark, get set, go."
The survivors rubbed furiously, except Luke, who was pretending he was shining some porcelain thing. Weird.
THIRTY SECONDS LATER
"Okay, okay, stop! Let's see..." The author stepped around, inspecting the heads. "Well, well, well, looks like Anakin's Windu's head is shiniest. He wins immunity!"
"YES!"
"Okay, Windu, I mean, Windus, please step back inside the decloning machine."
The technician had a look of horror about him. "It's malfunctioning!"
"What?!"
"It doesn't work!"
"Oh, great. Must I take care of ALL the work?" With my superior author powers, I decloned Mace and sent him back to his own time realm. "Now that that's taken cared of, see you tonight at Tribal Council."
***
"Welcome to Tribal Council," the author remarked dryly. "Chewbacca, you go first."
Nine members later, the author came back with the vote basket in her hands.
"Okay. Chewbacca, Chewie, Chewbacca, Vader, Chewbacca, Chewbacca, Chewbacca, Chewbacca, Chewie. Guess that takes care of it. Off you go, hairball. I mean, Chewbacca."
The Wookiee unhappily took his torch and strode to the author. "Sorry, Chewie."
Eight Survivors left. Who will win this game?
***
Well, that was interesting! Chapter Eleven might come a little later than we would all like it, but as I said earlier I am legally grounded and this is a temporary waiver. I also have tons of homework too. I'll do my best. To Melima8788 and Grand Admiral Jello, thanks for your suggestions. I plan to use them both in the upcoming chapters, if not in the next. Anyway I appreciate your reviews, so all of you keep suggesting some challenges for me, and tell me who you would want to win! KEEP READING!
***
Chapter finished 2/ 4/ 02 (Feb. 4, 2002)