Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.
"Hey, kids! You wanna hear a scary story?"
Poe Dameron smiled around at the youthful faces gazing at him. He was surrounded by several children who were sat with him around a campfire in the middle of the woods. The General was giving these young pilots-in-training a break from the lessons he was giving them - and with Halloween on the way, he felt what he had proposed was the best way to keep them entertained. BB-8 was by his master's side, his round body orange body painted like a pumpkin for the spooky season that was upon them.
All of the children answered at once. "Yes please, sir!"
"A really scary story?" Poe asked.
"Yes!" said a little boy enthusiastically.
"A really, really scary story?" Poe queried.
"Yes!" said a little girl excitedly.
"A really, really, really, really, really scary story?!"
"YES, SIR!"
Poe chuckled. The chorus which had blared at him from the children told him that they wanted what he was offering to them. He just hoped none of them would regret agreeing to hear this story he had to tell them. He was certain this was to be the most terrifying tale any of them were to hear in their young lives.
"Alright, kids! Make yourselves comfortable - and get ready to have your socks scared off!"
The children shuffled, getting themselves nicely seated around the crackling fire for this story they were to hear around it.
Next to Poe, BB-8 bleeped nervously. He was a little nervous about this story his master was about to tell. Being a skittish little droid who was easily scared, he hoped it wouldn't be too frightening.
"Are you ready, kids?"
Seeing the children were all looking at him in anticipation, Poe edged himself close to the fire. The glow illuminated his face as his lips curled up into an ominous smile. He took a deep breath, then proceeded to tell the Halloween story he had which was guaranteed to terrify these youngsters.
"Somehow, Palpatine returned."
There was complete silence.
The children stared wordlessly at their mentor.
Poe's smile vanished. He was bemused that not one of the children was reacting with intense terror to the Halloween story he'd told them. He'd been expecting them all to be screaming their heads off - yet not one of them made so much as a squeak in response to the tale he'd told.
BB-8 turned his dome towards Poe, breaking the silence by bleeping in confusion over what kind of story he'd just told to spook these children.
"Ya call that a scary story, sir?" A little boy sneered. "That's more like a sucky story!"
All of the children burst into laughter. They filled the forest with chuckles and giggles - instead of shrieks and squeaks which Poe had tried to bring out of them.
Poe made a face. He was not pleased in the slightest that these children didn't appreciate his Halloween story and were even daring to laugh about it. How could he be expected to train these upcoming pilots if they didn't value his efforts to entertain them? The youth of today didn't know a good scary fable, which was what he was certain he had.
"My story isn't sucky…" Poe muttered grudgingly as he turned towards his droid. "Is it, BB-8?"
Seeing that his master was seeking support from him, BB-8 stuck out his lighter and ignited it - before turning it upside down to give Poe a thumbs-down, confirming that his so-called scary tale was indeed a terrible excuse for a story.
THE END
