Sugar Kitty: Fish Tales
Author : Aya
Disclaimers: The boys and Adi belong to George, Sugar belongs to Judy
(thanks for letting me borrow her) and Shara, Rees and Vlad as well as the
story are mine.
Rating: G-ish, maybe borderline PG
Summary: More pathetic lifeforms invade the universe.
Archive: sure
~~~~~~~

"So they're sending us to the Kessel system to negotiate a tribal feud."
Master Rees Toth explained, his voice not hiding his disgust. "I just want
to return to Trieste."

"Master, you always want to return to Trieste," his apprentice, Shara Kender
teased. "There's nothing to do there but waddle around in those ugly green
robes, carrying that 3-meter staff and telling party number one to leave
party number two alone, she doesn't like you." She paused to wink at their
dinner companions. "I'd rather be here in the thick of things."

"Well you'll be in the thick of things with this mission," Mace Windu
remarked. "The clans have been threatening war over water rights."

"Which brings me to my next request." Rees turned to Master Qui-Gon Jinn,
his lifelong friend. "Qui-Gon, I need a favor." Rees said, grinning
slightly.

"Oh no," Obi-Wan Kenobi groaned.

Shara reached over and touched his hand. "Actually Ben, we need a favor."

Mace chuckled as Obi-Wan's face colored slightly.

Shara stroked Ben's fingers lightly. "We can't take Vlad with us."

"Vlad?"

"Her fish," Rees explained to Qui-Gon. "Normally he stays on Crimson when we
aren't on Trieste, but this time because of the dispute, we can't take him
with us. It would be bad form for the negotiators to use such a precious
commodity and waste it on an animal."

Shara turned to Qui-Gon quickly. "It would only be for a week, ten days at
the most. I can get him set up and settled in no time."

Qui-Gon turned to his apprentice. "Well Obi-Wan? What do you think?"

Obi-Wan looked at Qui-Gon. He then looked at Shara who was smiling
hopefully. Damn. Both he and Qui-Gon hated fish. Actually they didn't hate
fish. They loved fish in a nice lemon sauce with fresh vegetables. But
aside from dinner, they had no real use for fish. Plus after the last fiasco
with the damn dog he didn't want to chance angering Sugar again. He turned
back to Shara to say no.

"Please," she asked again, and then she did it. She caught her bottom lip
between her teeth with her eyes wide, hazarding a small smile...

And he would have tap-danced naked for the yedi-hahnk council.

"Sure, no problem."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They set the 30-gallon tank in the corner out of the way. Shara filled the
tank three-quarters of the way up, smiling as she chattered instructions to
Ben.

"He likes to meditate in the morning. Try not to feed him too much, he tends
to overeat then he's a slug the rest of the day." She started adding
chemicals to the tank, testing the oxygen and chlorine levels. "He really
enjoys music too, any kind. Just like me." She brushed a kiss across
Obi-Wan's lips as she went back to the kitchen area.

Ben watched her, bewildered at the amount of effort she put into the thing.
It was just a fish. High maintenance furniture at best. He glanced at
Qui-Gon, who did his best stoic-Jedi-Master impression. Master Rees sat
quietly on one of the chairs, meditating or sleeping; Obi-Wan couldn't tell.
Shara came out of the kitchen, carrying a small bucket. Obi-Wan went to help
her, taking the bucket from her and carrying it to the tank. Very carefully,
he poured the contents into the tank. A dull brown fish, about 15
centimeters long, settled into the tank, slowly getting its bearings. Shara
immediately flopped onto the floor into a meditation posture, and placed her
fingers on the glass of the tank. Slowly the fish took his position opposite
her fingers, slowly inching up the glass. It then swam to the middle of the
tank, and with a flourish, swam into the back corner and slid under a rock.

Shara giggled then stood and turned to Obi-Wan. "Thank you Ben. I promise
he won't be any trouble." She noticed his raised eyebrow and asked, "Ben,
are you sure you don't mind?"

He stared at her a moment, then answered, "No, not at all." He grinned
sheepishly. "I mean, what could happen in a week?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~`

They went to the hanger and said their goodbyes. Shara pulled Ben onboard to
"recheck the nav systems." Ben stumbled off a few moments later, breathless,
robes slightly rumpled with his hair out of his normally neat tail. Shara on
the other hand followed him down the ramp, the picture of poise. She bowed
politely to Qui-Gon, gave Obi-Wan another promising look, then boarded the
ship and fired up the engines. Rees glanced at Qui-Gon's disheveled padawan,
raised an eyebrow and extended his hand to Qui-Gon. "I'll bring back a
bottle of Eliuid brandy. We'll see how fast we can get Mace smashed."

Qui-Gon laughed, taking Rees' hand. "It won't take that long. He's more fun
drunk anyway."

Rees' lip curled slightly into his version of a smile. Chuckling quietly, he
boarded the ship. Crimson took off, streaking through the Courscant skies in
the early morning light. Watching the ship disappear into the distance, they
two men turned and returned to their quarters.

In the lifts, Qui-Gon began to chuckle. Obi-Wan eyed him curiously

"Master? What's so funny?"

"You always accuse me of bringing home pathetic lifeforms, and now you have
us babysitting a fish." Qui-Gon laughed softly.

Obi-Wan looked at him sheepishly. "What was I supposed to say?"

Qui-Gon smiled. "What ever you wanted to. I just find it amusing that I
bring home a creature to keep you company and you act like I've brought home
the Sith incarnate. And now you bring home a fish and we can't even eat it."

Obi-Wan chuckled then as they stepped off the lift and headed back to their
rooms. "I don't understand it myself. I'm actually surprised Master Rees
allows her to keep it. It's pretty useless."

Palming the lock, they entered the rooms. Vlad, the fish swam to the front
of the tank with a flourish and hovered, watching the Jedi, fins up, eyes
wide (well as wide as fish eyes could get).

Obi-Wan continued, oblivious to his audience. "I mean it's a fish. Great
for dinner, but what else can they do?"

In the tank, Vlad swam from side to side.

Qui-Gon chided his padawan. "Now Obi-Wan, every creature has its place in
the force. Fish are noble creatures." Then casting a glance at the tank, he
added, "Ugly, but noble."

Vlad stopped swimming, fins lowering, now sinking slowly in the tank.

"Ugly is right." Obi-Wan went to the counter and grabbed the fish food. "I
mean, she's an artist, you think she'd have gotten something pretty.
Alderaan has lovely air-fish with long willowy tails." He walked over to the
tank and threw in a handful of food. "This thing looks like a rock. An ugly
rock."

Vlad sank to the bottom of the tank and began blending with the gravel, no
longer flapping his fins. He slowly crawled back to the shelter of the big
corner rock.

Qui-Gon began to laugh softly. "Padawan, you're being cruel." Qui-Gon went
to the tank and kneeled, looking at the pitiful little creature.

"Master," Obi-Wan laughed, "Come on." He pointed at Vlad. "It's a long
slimy rock that you have to feed twice a day. I mean, at least the damned
dog did tricks." Obi-Wan pinned the fish with a look. "What can you do with
a fish? 'Roll over?'"

And Vlad did, tumbling over the rocks in one smooth motion.

"Uh, padawan..."

"I saw it." Obi-Wan knelt next to his master. "Roll over?"

The fish rolled over, his fins up and shimmering.

Qui-Gon stared in amazement. "Sit up." The fish hovered in the middle of
the tank, fins up, eyes wide again.

"Play dead." The fish stiffened, rolled belly side up and floated to the top
of the tank. After a few moments it rolled back over and waited. Qui-Gon
hesitantly touched the glass. And smiled in shock.

"What is it Master?"

"It's force sensitive. And it's... giggling."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"An Yarefian plecostomus. Very rare, very intelligent. One of the few know
force-sensitive animals." Mace knelt in front of the tank watching the fish
cut smoothly through the water. "They got is as a gift from one of the royal
houses." Mace touched the tank, waiting for the fish to come over. "I love
this little guy. He's very smart."

"How do you know so much about the fish?" Qui-Gon asked, watching the tank.

"Well before you gave me that damned Sith cat, I used to watch him from time
to time. Ishara didn't want to upset your cat." Mace rolled his sleeve and
lowered his hand into the water. The fish swam to his fingers and let Mace
rub its belly. "Speaking of which, where is the monster?"

"Adi's. With all the water sloshing around here, she ran off. She'll be
back." No sooner had he said that than Obi-Wan entered the room, Sugar at
his heels. She went over to Mace and began rubbing against his leg.

Mace smiled and scratched the cat with is free hand. "Remember to keep the
cover closed," he said, shaking the water from his hand before securing the
top. At the flick of water, Sugar backed off quickly, twining around
Qui-Gon's feet.

Qui-Gon picked her up and took her to the front of the tank. "Sugar, we have
a visitor. This is Vlad." Then placing his hand on the tank, "Vlad this is
Sugar." Obi-Wan rolled his eyes while Mace coughed suspiciously.

Sugar put both paws on the glass and sniffed curiously. Vlad swam over and
settled on the glass opposite her. Qui-Gon smiled. "See Mace no problem."

Mace studied Qui-Gon and shook his head. "Just make sure you fasten the
latch too."

"You worry too much." He watched Sugar settle on the table next to the tank,
curling up for her afternoon nap. Vlad settled onto the gravel opposite her.

Mace watched the animals. "I have a bad feeling about this."

Fish Tales (2/2)
disclaimers in part 1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The week started uneventfully. The first morning, Obi-Wan found his master
seated in front of the tank with Sugar curled in his lap. He had one hand
lightly touching the tank. The fish sucked on the glass opposite Qui-Gon's
fingers, flapping its fins gently. Qui-Gon was smiling strangely.

"Master?"

"Yes padawan," he answered, eyes still closed.

"What are you doing?" Obi-Wan asked, preparing their morning tea.

"I was meditating," Qui-Gon answered. "Ishara said he liked to meditate in
the morning."

"Yes, but it's a fish."

"It's a force sensitive fish, like your rock. It seems to enjoy the
meditations." Qui-Gon opened his eyes then and rolled his shoulders.
"Rather unique experience, padawan. You should try it."

"No, master," Obi-Wan answered, shaking his head. "You've made me do
numerous things, don't make me meditate with a fish."

Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow. "Obi-Wan..."

"Please master, no."

Qui-Gon set Sugar on the floor and stood slowly. "In order to be fully in
touch with the living force, you should embrace experiences like these."
Stepping aside, he gestured to the floor. "Padawan..."

Obi-Wan found himself seated in front of the tank, Sugar batting his braid as
he reluctantly raised his hand to the tank. He glanced once at Qui-Gon then
touched the cool glass with a sigh...

There was no word to describe it. There was a definite hum, a pulse coming
from the creature across from him. He relaxed further, letting the force
envelop him. Vlad seemed to radiate the same calm, amplifying Obi-Wan's
energy to the point of awareness beyond--

"OW! SUGAR THAT'S MY HEAD!" He swatted at the cat who used the opportunity
to perch on his shoulder and yank on his braid. Obi-Wan turned to his master
and noticed Qui-Gon's shoulders faintly shaking with silent laughter.
Qui-Gon wisely busied himself preparing their morning meal.

Sugar strutted away from Obi-Wan, tail high.
~~~~~~~~~~~`
Obi-Wan stumbled back into their quarters after a long day of boring classes
in Advanced Diplomacy, Intergalactic Etiquette and Introduction to Botany.
Dropping his datapads to the floor he collapsed in a heap across from the
tank. The fish sucked onto the glass across from him. Obi-Wan eyed it
warily.

"Shara said you only get to eat in the morning. I'm not getting up."

The fish flapped its fins hopefully.

"No. She said she didn't want a fat fish. I'm not feeding you."

The fish let go of the glass and swayed from side to side.

Obi-Wan stared at it. "What do you want?"

The fish swam in a loop. Twice. It then went to the center of the tank and
rolled on its back, flapping it fins, then dove to the bottom of the tank and
shot up, out of the water, flipping in midair before diving back in.

The damn thing was trying to entertain him. He leaned forward, watching a
bit more attentively. The fish swam in a complicated pattern, flipping one
way then the other, jumping from time to time, turning with flourishes.

"Maybe you aren't all that ugly," Obi-Wan said grudgingly, settling into a
meditation posture in front of the tank. The fish quickly moved opposite to
him. He raised his hands to the glass.

It was giggling again. Contagiously. Obi-Wan found himself chuckling with
the fish.

And from the corner, Sugar watched. And waited.
~~~~~~~~~~~`

Obi Wan entered the common room early the next morning. "Morning fish," he
called, setting the water to heat for his and Qui-Gon's morning meal. He
picked up the food canister and went to the tank. "Shara contacted us last
night, she'll be back to-AHHHHHH!!!"

Qui-Gon stumbled out of his chambers, half-dressed, clutching his activated
lightsaber. "Obi-Wan!" Powering down his saber, he quickly went to his
apprentice's side. Staring at his padawan, he slowly followed his stunned
gaze.

The tank lid was up. Sugar was gone. And so was the fish.

~~~~~~~~~~`

"You did what?" Mace asked increduously, not bothering to hide his laughter.
Adi Gallia was a bit more controlled, smiling widely.

"This is not funny Mace," she scolded, her giggle lessening the severity of
her rebuke.

"Fine," Qui-Gon grumped. "Rees is going to string me up by my... toes and
you laugh."

"Qui-Gon," Mace said, wiping the tears from his eyes, "if it was me, you'd be
on the floor gasping for air."

"I would not," Qui-Gon protested. Adi giggled again. Qui-Gon attempted a
quelling look. "I would be doing everything I could to keep a certain Jedi
from killing you." Mace fell off his chair, the carpet muffling his
laughter. "I'm glad you're amused," Qui-Gon added quietly.

"I'm sorry," Mace said, struggling into a seated position. "It's just...
this always happens to Rees and it's always your fault."

"It's not my fault. Obi-Wan..."

Adi's eyes went wide. "Oh force. That was Shara's fish."

Mace slumped over again, laughing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Well?" Obi-Wan asked hopefully.

"Well," Qui-Gon said, flopping onto his chair, " we can purchase another
fish."

"Thank the force..."

"If we wish to bankrupt the temple."

Obi-Wan flopped onto the chair next to him. "We're dead aren't we?"

Qui-Gon knew better than to answer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

T-minus 10 minutes. Adi said she would meet Rees and Shara at the hangar,
gauging their moods and warning Qui-Gon accordingly. Obi-Wan paced back an
forth, rehearsing his apology...

"...I mean it was just a fish. I'll even take you to pick out a new fish, a
prettier one, that does tricks and everything...."

Qui-Gon sat in meditation...

**After all Rees, the force is a mysterious thing, and works in mysterious
ways. And it was just a fish. A noble fish, but a fish nonetheless...**

The door chime halted Obi-Wan in his tracks. Qui-Gon stared at the door,
unmoving.

"Qui-Gon it's me. Open the damned door!"

They looked at each other. "Mace?" Obi-Wan hurried over and palmed the door
lock. Mace stood there, carrying a bright blue lizard about 2-meters long.
"Here," he said, handing the creature to Obi-Wan, who promptly set it on the
floor. The thing flicked its tongue at Obi-Wan's boots and began to plod
around the room. Obi-Wan backed away slowly, crawling on top of the table.

""What the Sith...?" Qui-Gon asked.

"You said help you. It's a Dharan echolizard. Slightly force sensitive,
likes water." Mace brushed his hands over his robes.

"Mace, it was a fish, not a damned lizard!" Qui-Gon yelled.

"Fish, lizard, you said help. I helped."

"And you don't think they'll notice the difference between that..." Qui-Gon
demanded, pointing at the lizard, "and that damned fish?"

Obi-Wan watched warily as the creature plodded slowly to the table and began
to climb the wood. "Master..."

Mace snorted and picked the lizard up. "Oh for force sake, Obi-Wan. It's
harmless." Obi-Wan cringed slightly. Mace turned and handed it to Qui-Gon.

"I don't want it Mace. Take it back!"

"Do you know how much trouble I went through..."

"Uh hello?"

Adi stared at the three men, one crouching on the low table, the other two
apparently playing tug of war with a large reptile. Behind her stood Rees
and Shara, barely controlling their disbelief.

"Are we interrupting anything?" Shara asked.

"No!" Obi-Wan shouted, jumping down from his perch. He went to Shara and
throwing an arm around her shoulder, started to lead her from the room. "It
was just um... I mean uh... I missed you."

She smiled at him, brushing a kiss across his nose. "I missed you too." She
turned back and started to walk to the fish tank. "I just want to tell Vlad
I'm back."

"I'm sure he knows..." Obi-Wan said desperately, watching her kneel in front
of the stand. He watched her stare into the tank, hand on the glass.

In the mean time, Rees handed a dark bottle of brandy to Qui-Gon. "As
promised. And thanks for looking after the fish." Rees went and stood
behind Shara, peering into the tank.

Shara turned to Obi-Wan and asked softly, "Where's Vlad?"

Obi-Wan's eyes went wide. "Uh... he's not in there?" He stared at Qui-Gon.

"Are you sure?" Qui-Gon stammered.

Rees straightened. "What the sith is going on?"

Just then Sugar trotted in, rubbing against Adi's leg affectionately.
Spotting Shara kneeling, Sugar brushed against Qui-Gon briefly then went to
her and dropped a gift at Shara's knees.

A brown fish tail.

Shara carefully picked up the tail, eyes wide in disbelief. Cupping it in
her hand, she looked at Obi-Wan. "Ben?"

Obi-Wan wanted the ground to open and swallow him whole. "I can explain..."

She stood slowly, eyes filling with tears. She sniffled again, staring at
the tail cupped in her hands and ran from the room. Obi-Wan ran after her
yelling, "Wait..."

Rees turned to Qui-Gon, his eyes like stone. Qui-Gon hazarded a smile, which
quickly faded under his friend's withering stare. "Um..."

Rees then turned to Mace, who was still wrestling the lizard. Mace smiled
warily, and held the lizard out to him. "It uh... likes fish."

Rees shook his head and stomped out of the room. He returned a few moments
later, grabbed the brandy bottle back from Qui-Gon and left quietly.

After a few moments, Qui-Gon looked at Mace. "Well I think that went well."

Mace (who'd given up and set the lizard back down) looked at his friend
incredulously. "Are you nuts?"

"Well, we're both still breathing."

"For now."

"What do you mean," Qui-Gon asked.

"Rees is teaching a weapons class tomorrow to the learners. We're supposed
to help him remember?"

Qui-Gon sank onto the chair. "I have a bad feeling about this."
~~fin~~~~