I'm back from the Fellowship Festival! Oh boy… was that fun… I got to meet Richard Taylor, who is MY HERO, and also discussed Haldir's emotional problems with Craig Parker. My Biology Field Course was, um, interesting – who could have guessed there was so much to learn about limpets and seaweed? – but I'm back at school nowl. Cue Imperial March here.
Chapter 6
On Coruscant, in the Prequel Trilogy Sector, the Jedi Council was just getting underway.
"First item of business," announced Mace Windu, reading the list, "is preparations for the Master-Padawan Camping Trip on Endor. Plo Koon has kindly offered us some tents, and Luminara Unduli is getting treasure trails from the archives… On Saturday morning, all Master-Padawan teams meet in the main hall with their backpacks. All Jedi without Padawans already must take one of the younger Padawans-"
Several of the Jedi groaned. "Complain, do not," scolded Yoda, "You, that annoying once were as well."
"I had to look after one of them on the Kamino boat trip!" moaned Ki-Adi-Mundi, "They kept being sick over the side!"
Obi-Wan was suddenly extremely glad that he'd taken on Anakin as his Padawan as soon as he stopped being one himself.
"Second item of business," went on Mace Windu, "Yoda has worked more on his Yoda Pop recipe, and would like one of the Masters to try it-"
The Jedi Masters were spared from having to come up with some excuse or, if need be, flee the Council chamber, by Anakin running in.
"Sorry to disturb you, Masters-"
"Oh, that's no problem at all," said Obi-Wan hurriedly in relief, "What's the problem?"
"We've just received a message. Code NERD."
"Patch it through," ordered Mace Windu immediately. Anakin ran out the door again. A few moments later, the image of the Emperor flickered into view on the HoloPhone in the centre of the ring of chairs.
"Greetings, esteemed Jedi Council," he said, "May your robes always be scratchy and irritating, no matter what washing powder you use."
"And may your forehead become so wrinkly it droops over your eyes," replied Mace Windu, rolling his eyes, "What do you want?"
"I want you to send some people to the Watching Dimensions to tell them of the wonders of Star Wars."
Silence rippled loudly around the Council Chamber.
"Huh?" inquired Obi-Wan.
One explanation of the state of affairs from the Emperor later, Obi-Wan hurried out of the Council Chamber to find Anakin. He didn't have to go far – Anakin was sitting outside the door, trying not to look like he'd been listening.
"I wasn't listening," he said hurriedly, "But I already called Padme. She's bringing the cruiser to take us to the Watching Dimensions. And she's picking up Drive-Thru on the way."
Obi-Wan smiled and rested a hand on Anakin's shoulder. "At least you eavesdrop efficiently, Anakin."
"I learnt from the best, Master."
-
Even after several hours, Frodo still wasn't entirely sure what had happened. Someone had knocked on the door… he had opened it… and then he had been seized by some mechanical monstrosity who called itself 'Darth Vader'.
That he could remember. No, what his mind was trying to grasp was how he had got from there into a sack on board a shuttle about to depart for the Death Star.
He hadn't meddled in the affairs of wizards recently, had he?
He heard Darth Vader talking to someone, and listened intently.
"We have captured the protagonist, my master. He will be with you shortly. And I have received word from my son that the ranger has been dealt with accordingly, and we have forces on their way to intercept the elf."
"You have done well, Lord Vader," he heard the person reply, "You, however, must remain in Middle-earth. Try to make contact with their local Evil Overlord – Sauron, I think his name is. See if you can make a deal with him."
"And the Watching Dimensions?"
"I am confident the Prequel Trilogy characters can handle that. Meanwhile, I am sending forces to the Harry Potter universe."
"Very good, my Lord." The conversation ended. Frodo lay still, waiting for something to happen.
He heard Vader's footsteps approaching his sack. "Deliver this straight to the Death Star. But on the way, I need you to drop me off somewhere called 'Mordor'… look for a big volcano, apparently they're quite rare here."
Frodo suddenly could imagine what a single mushroom left on a plate in the middle of a group of hungry little hobbits felt like.
-
SlashyKitty - claps You got it. I went for JK classic anagrams. She seems to like those.
Pointy Ears are my thing – Yes, nagging does actually help. It makes me feel appreciated. So do compliments – thank you very much!
Hot Pink Lemonade – Erm, it might be… innocent look what a strange coincidence… Argh, not a long stick! flees
xPussyWillowKittenx – I can see both sides taking control of Frodo in turn. A Dr Jekyll/ Mr Hyde kind of thing – or Gollum/ Smeagol, of course. And I think a lot of things would be better than being stabbed with a lightsaber. Like embroidery. Or cucumber sandwiches. Maybe even simultaneous equations. Not cricket, though. Cricket is terrible. DAMN BRITISH SPORT! … sorry, I haven't ranted in a while.
Vampirehelsing – Yay, thank you!
writeR – Eeeep, all the hassling… um, yes, I have a habit for leaving people on cliffhangers. Sorry about that. I do like suspense… I also enjoy torturing my readers… You may wish to purchase a trampoline, that's what quite a few of my readers did in another story when I kept leaving them on cliffies.
Satanira – Hmm. I don't particularly care about my wardrobe. I have two pairs of jeans in total, and one's for special occasions. I'm a 'huh, which top is least wrinkly?' type of person… but good try.
Ebon Oleander Wenham – I DID have fun! As you probably know… squeerichardtaylorandcraigparkersquee
Kamineko – Oooh, I don't know. Shall we wait and see? sits and watches computer screen expectantly …. I have a feeling that there's something I ought to be doing… Thanks very much, by the way! warm fuzzy feeling inside
Bulma Greenleaf – Your absence was noted. But you are forgiven, as you bring virtual rice. I'm this much closer to a virtual stir-fry!
Tsuki Yume/ Bluedove – Poor little big everyone. Except the Emperor. He seems to be doing OK.
Freakanature – I'm not sure… Han Solo has the whole 'charming rebel rogue' thing working for him… but then Aragorn has the 'exiled rightful King' thing… I think we could get quite a debate going here…
Thomasio - is nagged All right, all right. And those virtual brownies taste great with virtual melted chocolate. Mmmm… and virtual marshmallows… goes in hunt of dinner