Before - Legends Rika and Rascal, spring bingo

Rika and Rascal
Author: Earlybird-obi-wan
Timeframe: 26BBY
Characters: OC's Jika Bale, Ekiway. Serinka and more
Genre: spring bingo challenge
Disclaimer: Star Wars belongs to Lucasfilm and Lucasfilm belongs to Disney.

Used are two series
stream, forest, journey, fish, fruit
sunshine, stars, wind, offering, chant



Rika and Rascal

Jika Bale was tired. Absently he was walking with a tray filled with caf, fruit salad and a fried fish on a bun to a table.

“Jika you are tired but did you know that the fish was caught in a stream on Salendoni?”

Jika walked back to the cook. “Salendoni? That's where Nil and Ken were sent by me to investigate a dispute between two parties. They have solved it and returned and I still have to read their report. Tell me Serinka, did they go fishing?”

“Yes, after seeing teacher Kiriani juggling with a talking fish here in the restaurant, they got your call. I asked them to bring fish.”

“And you should take a rest master Bale.”

Jika turned to see master Ekiway coming to the counter. He was one of the gardeners of the Jedi-temple and the care-taker of the children's farm in the basement. “A rest?”

“By taking one of the freighters to the agristation on Alderaan.” Ekiway said. “The station has always animals to be transported to the children's farm and I cannot go on that journey because the crèchemasters have planned their visits to the farm.”

Jika remembered those visits from long ago when he was an initiate and he got a smile on his face. In a few days he would be celebrating his 62th birthday. “I will go and I will return with some animals. He walked to a table and sat down to enjoy his dinner.

- - -

The next day.

Jika Bale had gone after his breakfast to the hangar without going to his office or informing his group of Intel workers. He would take that rest by going to the Aldera Jedi agristation on Alderaan. And passing the Stellar Envoy he began to smile when he heard Jedi-engineer O-Lenge inside the transport muttering. “Fish, there were fish inside and now we have to clean it Tomy.”

“Always those spooks. Oh hey master Bale.” Tomy Itsi was at the ramp busy with a bucket and rags.

“I will take the Stellar Express. No worry. I am not on a fishing trip but going to the Aldera agristation.”

“To get animals?”

“To take a rest as ordered by master Ekiway and yes bring animals and they will be in a cage.” Jika headed to the open ramp of the Stellar Express and boarded it. He walked to the cockpit and sat down. “Normal mission Jes-sevenhundred. Use the Jedi-temple transponder code.” He saw the viewscreen activating with the figure of Jeki Eki and saw the words on the screen accompanied by the voice of HK47.

“Welcome meatbag Jika Bale and what is your destination?”

“Alderaan and more precisely the Jedi agristation in Alladea where I have to collect some animals for the children's farm here. The coordinates should be in your memory banks.”

“You can fly me.”

“Alright. But getting home will be your task. I have to care for the animals.”

“You can ask for a protocol droid to accompany you. Technician Caidin has built one and that droid is useful.”

“No, this is just a friendly mission for me alone. Rick has Es-five helping him with the maintenance of the freighter Millennium Falcon. He is busy. I will start.”

“Be careful meatbag.”

“Always and your voice Navex is unnerving me. Get Jes-sevenhundred on the screen. And both of you SILENCE. And continue this log when I am coming back with the animals.” Jika guided the Stellar Express out of the hangar, out of Coruscant space and engaged the hyperdrive. The stars became streaks of light. He enjoyed the silence and even took a nap before his senses allerted him that he was coming out of hyperspace near Alderaan. Gliding through the atmosphere, seeing the capital Aldera, the Royal palace in the mountain overlooking a great lake, following a lush countryside until he saw the forest at the base of the Alladea mountain range where his destiny – the Jedi agristation – was. He landed the Stellar Express on the meadow before the stable, the usual place for freighters to touch down. He wasn't surprised when he saw the stable door opening and one of the men coming to the freighter. He walked to the opening ramp and saw Cas Hegrin a man he recognised from long ago. He had seen him as a youngling in the Eopie clan during the tournament where masters selected a padawan. He had been there as a 17 year old padawan with his master Zomorian competing against other padawans and masters. He had seen Cas in the hangar boarding the transport to Alderaan the day after he turned 13. The third time he had seen Cas was when he was visiting the agristation for some rest and a nice mountaineering exercise with his padawan Ken Zamay.

“What brings you here Jika?” Cas Hegrin asked.

“Serinka and master Ekiway. Both saw that I was tired and had me going here to enjoy a few days at the agristation. I have to bring back some animals for the children's farm.” He saw that the stable was almost empty and heard and saw no activity in the main building or the shed. “But where are the others?”

“They are away to the alpine meadows with the Nerfs, husans and mearis. A young Nerf named Rika is under my care because she was sick when the herd of Nerfs was driven to the meadows and that there is Rascal the red rooster.” Cas indicated a rooster in a cage. “He is sweet but the other chickens and roosters don't tolerate him. You can take him back with you and Rika too. But you want to stay here and for that” he paused. “Vince is making fruit pies for us and Ret will be back soon with groceries from Alladea.”

“Can I take Rika and Rascal back with me for the children's farm?” Jika liked the offering from Cas.

“Sure, the children will love them. But first some rest master Bale. Farmers orders.”

- - -

Jika was rested. He had enjoyed during the four days that he had been on the farm the sunshine when resting in one of the meadows with the gentle wind brushing against his face and the chant of the birds flying to and from the stables to build their nests. He had taken a hiking trip with Vince and Cas and he was now walking with Cas to the Stellar Express where Vince Carnil and Ret Ghan had loaded the two cages.

“The cage from Rascal is open.” Cas said. “The rooster likes company and you have told me that Jessy seven something will fly the freighter back.”

“Jes-sevenhundred will do that and I can take care of Rika and Rascal.” Jika saw Vince and Ret at the ramp. “Thank you all for this nice stay at the farm.”

“Have a nice birthday at the children's farm.” Vince and Ret came down the ramp.

“I will.” Jika boarded the freighter and walked to the cockpit and sat down. “Get me home Jes-sevenhundred.”

“Continuing log 30.” The image of Jeki Eki accompanied by the words spoken by L'Lacielo Sageon came on the viewscreen.

“Nice Jes-sevenhundred.” Jika saw the atmosphere making place for the blackness of space and the streaking stars of hyperspace when the freighter jumped. He stood up because he had a job to do. Caring for the two animals.

meuh meuh mpf

tok tok uhuhuuuh uhuuuuuuh

Jika smiled. The chant of the two mixed surprisingly good. He took a bag with hay. Rika was almost done with her grains.

Pfrrt meuh meuh prrrrt.

A tail lifting had him jumping back before he could put the bag with hay in the cage. He missed the poodoo but saw it landing on the deck.

“Yes Rika, almost there and you are going to your new home and will meet a lot of children. Here some more hay.” And he felt someone landing on his head.

meuh meuh.

Uhuuuh uhhuuuhuu

“And you I am not a tree young rooster. Get down from my head or I will put you in your cage.”

The rooster jumped down.

Jika returned to the cockpit and sat down when he heard the voice of L'Lacielo Sageon.

JES700 initiating landing.

Jika stood up after the freighter settled down in the hangar and guided the two cages on their hoverpads down the ramp. He was glad that Rascal had gone back inside his cage.

“Nice to see you back Jika. They are for the children's farm?”

“Yes Rick and I will celebrate my 62th birthday there and giving this rooster and nerf as my present for all the children visiting that farm.”

“Es-five has been of great help for me. He detected a faulty circuit in the Millennium Falcon and now we are up to go to that troublesome freighter the Stellar Envoy. That one will have the same defect.”

“You will come to the children's farm?”

“Sure.”

Jika guided the cages to the elevator and directed it to go to the basement.

Arriving there he went to the children's farm where master Ekiway was at entrance expecting him.

“You have taken your rest master Bale. And now your birthdayparty?”

“Uh yes.”

“Come in master Bale.”

Jika did and saw initiates, crèchemasters, his friends from the Intel department all gathered in the meadow behind a large table.

“Happy 62th birthday.” Serinka said. “No fish I see but those two?”

“Rika and.” Jika halted when the rooster exited his cage and jumped on his head. “Not again Rascal, you have a new home here.”

The rooster jumped down and settled down before a young girl who began to stroke his feathers. “Uhuuuh uhhuuuhuu.”

“And now the cake.” Serinka had ignited a large and two small candles.

Jika blew out the candles.

“Happy birthday” all chorused.

- - -

Jika was rested and satisfied when he returned to his apartment. Tomorrow he had that report to read about Salendoni and the fish.

 

Awww, Jedi on spring break? That was pretty much the essence of this story and it was lovely. Meanwhile, the Stellar Express's two computer brains continue their shenanigans, and with a nerf and a rooster pooping in the cargo bay, it's safe to say that the ship has now seen it all...

 

Nice rest for Jika but that rooster is a literal mess!

 

Animals will be animals. But everyone needs a break now and then.
The birthday party at the end was very sweet.