About Me

Few words
Lectures
Friends from FA
FA Fan Fic
Light Jedi "Family tree"

Force Academy Fan Fiction: Untitled, Chapter VI

Chapter VI

The Force Academy's Lounge was also known, formally, as the Common Area on the campus, just off the courtyard. Students, counselors, active knights, masers and the councilors could kick back in the easy atmosphere to tell jokes, eat, hang out and even nap. There were informal aspect-specific couches and recliners where people could sit (or hide beneath) as well as entertainment consoles for games. The Lounge had been known to host theatrical productions and poetry slams. Yet, it's most popular events were the parties. The Lounge was festively decorated. Evidently the Satirical Donkey and Unicorn had gone to considerable effort to adorn the large room with confetti, streamers, posters and games.

Cath peeked her head in, timidly, carrying a bag of crunchy cheese sticks for Jedi Knight Sammy. She'd heard that it was her preferred snack, so Cath decided to bring them as a gift and party snack. She looked around for someone she knew, as she often felt some anxiety at parties.

"Hey Cath. Glad you decided to show up!" Sa said, clapping her on the back.

"Oh hey, Sa." She grinned. "Yeah, I am here. Only took two hours of hard scrubbing to get the crust of the nerf pies out of the pan tonight."

"Bleh! That'll teach you to behave more around here, won't it?"

Cath raised an eyebrow. "From all accounts, it hasn't taught you, has it?"

He bowed from the neck, smiling. "Well, go and mingle and party. Lord Marcar has brought mead of course. It's over at the bar. Adi Klem's bartending tonight, so it should be all good."

She laughed. Adi was a great storyteller, she knew. Somehow, it was difficult to picture him a bartender.

"Oh and I saw your mentor over that way somewhere-" Sa pointed toward the billiard table. "So have fun!"

"Thanks."

Cath wandered deeper into the party. Loud music of all areas of the galaxy played, competing for attention. There were aromas of a thousand different varieties of food wafting through the air, along with strands of silly string, beach balls and more confetti. She found her mentor, Kir-wan, at the billiard table, wearing a golden lampshade on her head.

"Kir? What is up with the lampshade?" she asked.

Kir lifted the lampshade up to peek out at her Padawan. "Oh, hello, Cath! This old thing? Well, it's a tribute to days gone by here as far as Lounge parties are concerned." She sighed wistfully. "Something old Womp Rat Queren used to do with Colin."

"Oh," she said, not completely understanding.

"Whatcha got there?"

Cath held up the bag of cheese crunchies. "Snacks for Sammy. I heard that she likes these."

Master Aaron Seeker peeked his head out from under the pool table. "Hello Kir-wan, Catherine. Yes, Sammy loves those. But please ask her to not bring them into the council chambers when we have a meeting, okay? They crunch really loudly and echo something fierce in that room."

They stared in surprise as he winked and crawled back under the table.

Cath looked to Kir-wan with a question in her eyes. She waved a hand dismissively. "Oh don't mind Aaron. This is just how he parties at these shindigs!"

Feeling a bit overwhelmed again, Cath shouted over the din, "I think I'm going to go have a seat over there and just people watch!"

"You should get yourself a drink, dear. The punch is excellent."

Cath nodded and wandered off. She was only steps from the bar where Adi was smiling at her - complete with his new caramel colored hair - when Sa darted past her, screaming and laughing. She and the others nearby gaped! Did I see what I just thought I saw?

"He's streaking! Oh my eyes!" someone screamed.

Whoa, these parties are something else... better than watching a holo drama!

"Hey Cath. Great party, huh?" Adi joked, seeing her still looking startled after Sa's streaking.

"Uh... yeah. Sure it is."

"What can I get you?"

She shrugged. "Kir says you have good punch?"

He nodded. "That I do." He rummaged below the counter top for a moment, then held out a glass to her that was fizzing but looked like blue milk. Seeing her hesitation, Adi urged, "Try it. It is good."

"Thanks. I think."

She looked toward the end of the bar where Guun Han and Jeff Perosi were standing. They both had mock pouting faces they were sporting, staring at Kma Kharai. "But Kma," she heard them whine in unison, "it's a party! We're supposed to be able to get silly here."

"You're silly enough," she said firmly. "Now off with you! Go and find the other beverage centre!"

They wandered off into the thick of the dancing.