Dream Plane: That makes so much more sense! I was beginning to think you guys were the same person because of how closely your reviews appeared sometimes. All it wants is your email. Nothing else. Super easy! Well, you have to give yourself a pen name and make a password, but that's it! Please make an account! That'd be so cool! You can upload files from something like Google Docs and I think Word, though I've never uploaded files before, and you can also copy and paste. What I do is pick the copy and paste option and just type my chapters directly on the site. It's insurance for me, I guess XD, so I won't lose them if my laptop would like crash or something. Hope this helps! Heehee, R4 is adorable. Actually, El Droide is the correct way, because "droide" is a masculine word in Spanish. I'm learning it right now, so I know that useless shred of information. And there I go, spouting off useless knowledge at you. Sorry, XD. Hope you enjoy this chapter! Whew, that was a heck of a reply!

El Droide: She is so cute, I know!

Rilme Caatl: Here ya go!

Pathetic Life-Form

"Master, what is all this talk about a missing child?" 22-year-old Obi asked as he trotted to keep up with his Master's long strides.

"A child was reported missing a few days ago. A Chadra-Fan, from the looks of it." Qui took notice of his apprentice's scuttling and slowed down.

"And are we going to look for it?" Obi asked sarcastically.

"That is not our primary assignment, but keep an eye out," Qui-Gon replied, reaching out an arm and pushing Obi-Wan in front of him. "And walk faster, for stars' sake!"

"I can't, Master! I'm not the giant of a man you are!"

Qui-Gon laughed and ruffled Obi's hair. Obi ducked away and turned his head. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement, as if something were following them. It was small and brown, and had big ears and eyes.

"Master?" Obi-Wan whispered. "I, um, think I found the child." Qui-Gon whirled around to see the tiny bat-like creature duck behind a bush.

"Yes," he surmised, stroking his beard, "yes, I think you did."

"Come on, little one, we won't hurt you." Obi bent down and held out a hand invitingly. The baby Chadra-Fan poked his head out, his nose twitching. He quietly creeped out and stared at Obi, his small fist clutching a branch. He was small and brown, no older than three, Obi guessed. He had huge ears and big black eyes, and a major overbite that caused his two front teeth to stick out. He's almost cute, Obi thought to himself, stepping closer to the child. Obi-Wan! It's a pathetic-life form, not some little kid that needs help! Well, technically it is a child that needs help, but it's not cute and- ah! nevermind! Let me just rescue the thing and we can move on.

Behind him, Qui-Gon chuckled. "You may want to work on your shielding, my very young apprentice." Obi-Wan blushed hard and threw up shields, then reached out and scooped the child up. He squeaked in surprise, then settled into Obi's hold.

"Here," Obi-Wan said, holding the toddler out to Qui-Gon. "I don't want to hold him."

Qui took him and carried him on his back for a ways.

"So what do we do with this pathetic life-form who seems to say nothing?" Obi asked after several minutes of quiet. The Chadra-Fan stuck his tongue out at Obi-Wan, which the 22-year-old returned.

"Give him back to his clan," Qui-Gon replied as they entered a small Chadra-Fan town. They found the nearest "police" station and said they had found the missing child and would like to return him personally.

"You're in luck," the officer replied in a high-pitched voice. "You happen to be in the child's hometown. Let me contact the parents."

About ten minutes later, a short Chadra-Fan couple rushed in, hopeful looks in their small faces.

"Medi!" the mother shouted, holding her arms out to the child sitting on the desk. He leapt off and ran into his mother's arms.

"Mama!" he shouted. "

"So the pathetic life-form does talk," Obi-Wan muttered, ignoring the remonstrative smack his Master discreetly delivered to his shoulder. The father picked up Medi and ruffled his fur.

"What do you say to your rescuers?" he asked the child.

"Thank you!" the child said, sticking his tongue out and Obi-Wan again. Obi bit back the urge to copy him.

"We cannot thank you enough," Medi's mother said, reaching over to squeeze Medi's arm.

"It was no trouble," Qui-Gon replied. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we need to be going." The Jedi walked out and resumed walking down the path.

"That wasn't so bad, now was it, Padawan?"

"No, I guess not, but Master?"

"Yes?"

"Please, no more pathetic life-forms."

...

Next chapter: Bruises