The Games We Play

Where is that Padawan of mine? Master Joran Dooku stood outside his Padawan's room, wondering what was going on in there. He knew Qui-Gon had been doing his homework, but surely he must be done by now. Dooku wanted to talk to him so he palmed open the door and entered his Padawan's room.

Hearing his Master enter, Qui-Gon looked up. "Hello, Master," he said as he furtively closed his laptop.

Dooku looked around the room. His Padawan sat at the desk, apparently engrossed in his work. "Are you still busy with your homework, Qui-Gon? I was under the impression that you would be done by now."

"Oh, almost, Master, uh, I was just having some trouble with some of it."

Dooku approached his desk. "Do you need some help, Padawan?"

"Uh, no!" Qui-Gon seemed slightly uneasy at his Master's proximity. "Thank you, Master," he quickly added, "but I figured it out now."

"I see." Dooku nodded but continued to look at Qui-Gon, who shifted nervously under his gaze. "Is there something you aren't telling me, my apprentice?"

Padawan Jinn shook his head.

The Master Jedi nodded again. "Yes, well, let me see what you've been working on." Before Qui-Gon could stop him, Joran had flipped open the computer on the desk.

"Master, no!" Qui-Gon protested, but it was too late. Master Dooku had already seen how he had spent the last hour: not doing his homework but rather playing Tetris.

"Qui-Gon, I thought I told you no more of this game. It is a poor use of your time."

"I know, Master, but it's fun! Ah! Master, you're distracting me!" Qui-Gon quickly returned to playing it since the game was still going. "And-and it's an aid to my learning," he added distractedly.

Dooku raised an elegant eyebrow. "How so?"

"It helps me learn strategy. Besides, I already did my other work... most of it... some of it..." Qui-Gon coughed into his hand. As he played, he went into intense concentration mode; his tongue stuck out the side of his mouth as he put all his attention on the screen before him. "Left, left, turn, down..."

"I see. Nevertheless it is a distraction and I have told you time and again I don't want you playing it, now if I catch you again I'll take away your laptop." Dooku struck a key and exited the game.

"Noooooooo!!" Qui-Gon yelled when his game disappeared, then he sighed dramatically. "Stars and quasars, Master, it's just a game! Fine, I don't have a problem writing out my essays, but you'll have to explain it to my teachers when they can't read my horrible handwriting."

"Ah, I see, of course there's also the astrophysics equations you'll have to work out by hand."

"Eep! All right! I promise I won't play Tetris any more, Master, just don't take away my laptop! I'll be good!"

"All right, Qui-Gon, I trust you. Now, get back to your other work."

"Yes, Master." Qui-Gon sighed as he did as he was told. As his Master stepped from the room, Qui-Gon mumbled, "Just because he has issues with Master Yoda doesn't mean he has to take them out on me."

"I heard that, Qui-Gon!"

"Sorry, Master!" This time he waited until the door slid closed to mumble, "Why did I have to get the Sith for a Master?"