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  1. In Memory of LAJ_FETT: Please share your remembrances and condolences HERE

You Can Run But You Can't Hide (A Barin Truthfinder and Thom Capella story)

Discussion in 'Fan Fiction Stories--Classic JC Board (Reply-Only)' started by HaiGan, Feb 28, 2001.

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  1. HaiGan

    HaiGan Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Nov 7, 2000
    Thank you for your comments, everybody, they are always appreciated. :)

    Thom and co. are all eleven in most of this, Kylenn- not that they always act their age. ;)

    ******

    "Stupid." *splosh* "Not fair." *splat* "Why?" *squeak* "Not today!" *splosh* "Just stupid." *splat*

    Thom was in a bad mood. It didn't often happen, and he didn't know how to handle it. He felt like throwing the mop at something, then following it with the bucket. He scrubbed at the hallway floor in short, angry bursts of energy, not caring if he splashed when he dunked the mop head back into the bucket. The one time, the one time it actually mattered if he was at a demonstration, and Master Fel had kept him away. It wasn't fair.

    A small group of Masters and padawans tracked across the floor. Thom moodily trailed the mop along after them, smearing their footsteps into damp smears. At least they hadn't deliberately made a mess. Thom was half expecting Bruck to show up and make trouble. It would be just like him to walk mud all over the hall. Well, right now Thom was of a mind to tip the bucket of water over him if he tried something like that.

    The initiate slammed the mop back into the bucket, aware that this was un-Jedi-like behaviour but not caring. It really, really wasn't fair. His knight would be watching, and he wasn't there. Swallowing against the lump that found its way into his throat, Thom slapped the wet mop back onto the floor and started scrubbing again. No wonder Brick called him floormop. It was all he ever did.

    The door opened. More boots tracked across the floor. Head down, Thom dragged the mop in that direction.

    The boots stopped and Thom sighed. Menial tasks were typical punishments, and some Jedi seemed to think it their duty to get a report on what the punishment was for. Thom mentally rehearsed his next crime. He'd already admitted to stealing Master Yoda's collection of porn magazines, filling the Temple swimming-pool with carnivorous fish and replacing Master Windu's bottle of hair restorer with flower-scented floor polish. None of it was true, of course, but it was more interesting than just saying that he'd been out of bounds.

    Thom looked up at the owner of the boots.

    "What are /you/ doing here?"

    They spoke simultaneously. Thom was startled that- yet again- accident had caused him to meet his knight, delighted that it had, and then disappointed that Barin hadn't even gone to the demonstration. Barin switched off his surprise and irritation, covering them with cold detachment, and waited to get the first answer.

    "I'm mopping floors." Thom pushed half-heartedly at his mop.

    "That much is obvious," Barin said, crisply. "That it is some form of punishment seems a reasonable deduction. I would hope it is not the result of the incident with Padawan Chun?"

    Thom hitched a shoulder in a one-sided shrug. "Only kind of."

    "Explain."

    Thom looked up hopefully at this apparent sign of interest, but the shutters were down on the knight's face and the clear blue eyes were utterly unreadable. "I shouldn't have been in that bit of the temple."

    "Ah. Your protest to Master Fel that it was a sleeping area."

    "You remembered that? Like, without having to even think about it?" Thom was surprised again, and secretly pleased that his knight remembered things about him.

    Barin himself appeared unimpressed. "So you were, in fact, out of bounds."

    Thom sighed. "I guess. Master Fel said I'd disobeyed the spirit of the order, and I couldn't go to the demonstration." He looked up again. "The one today," he added, slightly accusing. He really had expected Barin to be there.

    There wasn't the slightest flicker of a response. Barin just kept looking at him. "This is, then, connected to some earlier misdemeanour, not to your run-in with Bruck?"

    Thom ran briefly through his inventory of creative crimes, real and potential, then simply shrugged. It wasn't worth making anything up. He'd only get The Eyebrow. "Yeah," he admitted, pushing his mop about again. He stopped as he heard Barin's footsteps walking aw
     
  2. Lilith Demodae

    Lilith Demodae Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Oct 1, 1999
    Once again, so close, yet so far! Barin really needs to get over his inferiority complex, or whatever it is that is keeping him so tightly closed up!
     
  3. Healer_Leona

    Healer_Leona Squirrel Wrangler of Fun & Games star 9 Staff Member Manager

    Registered:
    Jul 7, 2000
    Outstanding HaiGan.

    I was so rooting for Thom to get Barin crack a smile. I hope at the end that's exactly the reason Barin iced over, cause it almost worked!

    Come on Barin, you know you're drawn to the boy!
     
  4. PadawanElf

    PadawanElf Jedi Youngling star 1

    Registered:
    Oct 18, 2000
    *sniff* Poor Thom. Nothing ever seems to go right.

    That was great, HaiGan!
     
  5. Jedi Kylenn

    Jedi Kylenn Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 2, 1999
    Thom - put it together! Someone like Barin wouldn't have paid any attention to you if he wasn't drawn in already! Loved how he allowed the kid to show off for him and offer a critique in return. Very unique style of bonding.

    "The Eyebrow"

    LOL!
     
  6. mouse2

    mouse2 Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Oct 29, 1999
    Chin up Thom! I think he left because he was about to lose it. If you listen hard you just may hear him laughing! ;)

    I loved The Eyebrow too! I can just picture it!
     
  7. Jemmiah

    Jemmiah Jedi Master star 5

    Registered:
    Mar 5, 2000
    I just loved the idea of switching Mace's hair restorer with the floor polish! Whoa, it seemed as if Barin was close to cracking there! And I loved the advice he gave when Thom was pretending to be Qui-Gon! No doubt Barin enjoyed that one :)
     
  8. Jane Jinn

    Jane Jinn Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Jan 12, 2000
    I loved the way Thom watched Barin make himself comfortable for the performance and thought that Barin was a poser and that he was going to have to do something about that. That really underscored the idea of Barin being "his" knight. I loved the way that Barin corrected him on the impressions, but I really felt bad for Thom when Barin turned all icy and walked away at the end. That cry of "what did I do wrong?" was just heartbreaking!
     
  9. imzadi

    imzadi Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Sep 19, 2000
    Another great post, Hai Gan! Thom reaction when Barin left was just heartbreaking. And the description of how Barin closed up was great! I liked "The Eyebrow" too! And the closing paragraph was so sad. :(

     
  10. Lilith Demodae

    Lilith Demodae Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Oct 1, 1999
  11. Mistress_Renata

    Mistress_Renata Manager Emeritus star 5 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Sep 9, 2000
    Barin, just give up now. Believe me. You'll be happier.

    Poor Thom!
     
  12. HaiGan

    HaiGan Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Nov 7, 2000
    Give in now? But where's the story in that? ;)

    Here's an extra long post, to make up for the wait. :)

    ******

    "Thom, what is it with you lately?" complained Chersh, waving his feet in the air as he lay stomach-down on his bed. "You're weird."

    Thom shrugged, and carried on picking the stuffing out of the pillow.

    "You look more miserable than Suffie did," said Dan-Lo. "What's up?"

    Thom shrugged again.

    "You can't stay like that forever. You're the one that cheers /us/ up," said Chersh.

    Thom sighed. "I guess."

    "C'mon, Thom. If you tell us, maybe we can help," suggested Dan-Lo.

    Thom shook his head. "It's something I did, I think. I dunno what, though."

    "You what?" Chersh drew a circle at his temple with his finger. "Screwy. Get yourself together, Thom. We still got a Brick to squish, remember?"

    "Yeah. I guess." Thom picked up the little pile of pillow stuffing in the palm of his hand, and blew it over Chersh.

    Chersh sneezed and giggled. "Hey, no fair. That was /my/ pillow."

    "Okay." Thom tucked his feet up so he was sitting cross-legged on the bed. "We got swimming today, right?"

    "Right," his two friends chorused.

    "We can't do anything 'til after that, but because we've got swimming, we've got somewhere to hide the lightsaber while we're carrying it around. We sneak over to Brick's rooms afterwards."

    "Right!"

    "Once we know Brick and his Master are out, you two keep watch and I'll sneak in."

    "Right."

    "I'll hide the lightsaber, then we go find Amoeba or Latrine and talk as if we didn't know they could hear us."

    "Right."

    "Then we sneak over and watch what happens."

    "Right!"

    Thom sagged. Taking Bruck down a peg or two somehow didn't have quite the appeal it used to have. "C'mon. We'd better get ready."

    Thom carefully rolled Ambianca's lightsaber up in his towel and rejoined the others, ready to go. Chersh and Dan-Lo were swapping jokes, but Thom wasn't in the mood. He waited quietly in line until he became aware of Master Fel standing beside him. He looked up at the Master, wondering what he'd managed to do now.

    "You've been quiet lately," the Master said.

    Thom shrugged.

    "Are you feeling okay?"

    "I guess."

    Master Fel put a hand to Thom's forehead. "Hmm. No temperature." He frowned at the bruising on Thom's neck. "You've managed to lose that bacta patch. Bruck hasn't been picking on you again, has he?"

    Thom tried to keep the flash of guilt from showing. "Bruck? No. I haven't even seen him."

    "You've been suspiciously well behaved lately, young Capella."

    Thom automatically began to form a protest, then stopped. "It's just not as much fun any more," he admitted.

    Master Fel cleared his throat in surprise. "Yes, well. Keep it up and you may even manage an acceptable standard of behaviour." He patted Thom on the shoulder, and carried on up the line. Thom waited until the Master's back was turned, then stuck his tongue out. 'Acceptable behaviour'? Some sympathy that was.

    The line of initiates trouped along the corridors towards the pool. They had to pass the pool to reach the changing-rooms, avoiding the splashes from a group of padawans who were in the water. The chattering and shouts from the padawans sounded hollow, echoing in the cleanly tiled rooms. One voice in particular attracted Thom's attention.

    "Hey, Oafy-Wan! Call that a dive?"

    Thom finally found a smile, although it was more in the nature of an evil grin. "Hey, Chersh, Dan- see if you can find Brick's things!"

    The three split up on a rapid search of the changing-rooms. Thom dodged out of Master Fel's sight, peeked around one of the rows of lockers, and found himself face to face with Sal-Fina. She looked down her nose at him.

    His mind working in hyperdrive, Thom quickly stepped back to a polite distance. "Hello Master Falmar."

    Sal-Fina looked as if she would ignore him and push past.

    "I heard Ambianca had to miss the demonstration too," he said, with his best wide-eyed-and-sorrowful look. Sal-Fina stiffened, and Thom hurried on. "/I/ think she'd've been bet
     
  13. Healer_Leona

    Healer_Leona Squirrel Wrangler of Fun & Games star 9 Staff Member Manager

    Registered:
    Jul 7, 2000
    I can barely contain my outrage at what Bruck has done! :mad:

    Please let Dan-Lo be alright and that Brick gets what he really deserves!

    Stunning post HaiGan.
     
  14. Mistress_Renata

    Mistress_Renata Manager Emeritus star 5 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Sep 9, 2000
    OOOO! Even in an alternate universe, you KNOW Bruck will never make Knight! Dan? Can you hear me? Hang in there!
     
  15. Jedi Kylenn

    Jedi Kylenn Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 2, 1999
    HaiGan - that post was HUGE! I feel so pampered.

    :)

    I'm with Leona on this one I hope Brick gets well and truly ~squished~ and that Dan turns out to be alright.
     
  16. Jane Jinn

    Jane Jinn Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Jan 12, 2000
    Wow, what a treat! I loved the way that Bruck's light saber sputtered out just as he was going for the kill point. And the way that Thom contrived to get the light saber back to Ambianca and implicate Bruck and manipulate Bruck's master into setting up the duel was so wonderfully clever. Excellent writing, excellent plotting from beginning to end. I hope Dan-Lo is going to be all right! I wonder how long it's going to take for somebody to find him. And I hope that Bruck gets into a LOT of trouble for that!
     
  17. Lilith Demodae

    Lilith Demodae Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Oct 1, 1999
    Oh no! I hope Dan-lo's okay. I just know that 'Brick's gonna get it big when someone finds out he hurt an innocent rescue party!
     
  18. Jemmiah

    Jemmiah Jedi Master star 5

    Registered:
    Mar 5, 2000
    Urgh, I hate Brick more with each post...so glad Ambianca was seen to thrash him at the sabre match. I just love Thoms sneakiness in setting that up, and the references to 'Oafy-Wan'. A wonderfully entertaining and long post, HaiGan! :)
     
  19. imzadi

    imzadi Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Sep 19, 2000
    Great posts, Hai Gan! Thom's mood at the start was so sad, at least he's starting to act more like his usual self.

    I hope Dan-Lo will be okay. But what's going to happen next? Is Bruck going to go after Thom, just leaving Dan-Lo there? I wouldn't put it past him.

    Please post more as soon as you can!
     
  20. PadawanElf

    PadawanElf Jedi Youngling star 1

    Registered:
    Oct 18, 2000
    Aaaah! Dan-lo! Are you okay???
     
  21. HaiGan

    HaiGan Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Nov 7, 2000
    More? You want /more/? Well... okay. Since you asked so nicely. Well actually, it was because I had most of it finished before I even started the last post, but anyway.

    Oh, and when you get to it, all punchlines gratefully accepted. Best one gets a prize. WHAT prize I don't know... maybe you can have your idea written into the story or something. :)

    ******

    "Dan-Lo! Dan! C'mon, buddy, talk to me? Dan?"

    The voice swam in and out of hearing. Dan-Lo gratefully labelled it as 'friend'. Dancing lights were swimming behind his eyelids, making him feel seasick. Somebody was hitting him on the head with a Wookie. His arm was an inferno. "Hurts," he moaned.

    "Dan!" The voice sounded immensely relieved. "I know it hurts, Dan. It looks pretty messy, too. Can you sit up? We gotta get you to the Healers."

    "Wanna go back t'sleep," Dan-Lo mumbled. Back into the blackness, where it didn't hurt.

    "C'mon, Dan, I can't leave you here and I can't find anybody. You gotta get up."

    Dan-Lo felt fingers on his forehead, triggering a starburst of agonising light. Then the pain eased a little, receding to a dull throbbing in his skull and an impression that someone was trying to take his arm off with a cutting torch. Of course, now the pain wasn't taking his mind off things so much he was able to notice just how nauseous he felt.

    "Any better?"

    Dan-Lo tagged the name 'Thom' to the voice now. "Hurts less. Feel sick."

    "Sounds pretty bad. You probably shouldn't move, but I can't just leave you. C'mon."

    Dan-Lo felt the world heaving and lurching around him. A searing blast of agony tore through his arm. He was pretty sure he screamed. When the world settled, he could feel something cool pressing against his forehead. His stomach was jumping up and down, and his legs were wobbling underneath him. The voice was talking to him. Thom's voice.

    "C'mon, Dan, it'll hurt more if you fall over. You're kinda heavy. Feeling any better now?"

    Dan-Lo identified the coolness against his forehead as 'wall'. He was standing with his head pressed against a wall. It hurt. He opened his eyes to try and work out why he was in such a strange position, but the mess he saw on the floor at his feet set his stomach heaving all over again.

    "Dan. Please, Dan. C'mon. We gotta get you to the Healers, they'll know what to do. Just lean on me. C'mon. This way."

    "Lemme go. Lie down." Dan-Lo wanted nothing more than to curl up and sleep away the pain.

    "You can't, Dan. This way. Walk. Right foot, left foot."

    "Cold."

    "It'll be warm at the Healers. C'mon. Walk."

    "Hurts."

    "Right foot, Dan. If you try the left one again you'll do the splits."

    Three steps later Dan-Lo giggled as the meaning of the words finally filtered through his fogged brain.

    "That's it. We'll getcha there. Did you hear about the man who ordered a pair of swimming trunks from a catalogue, then had to make his swimming-pool larger 'cos he got sent two flipperphants?"

    Dan-Lo thought about it, then shook his head. His mind wasn't working properly. It was working even less well after shaking his head. He could still feel his brain sloshing about.

    "Guess not," said Thom. "Hey, how can you tell when there's a gundark hiding in Master Yoda's gruel?"

    "Dunno," Dan-Lo mumbled after a pause.

    "When it's /really/ lumpy. Left foot, right foot. Corner. C'mon, you're doing great. What d'you get if you cross Master Yoda with a Hutt?"

    "Ug!"

    "Yeah, right. I dunno what you'd call it, but I bet it'd never get a date. C'mon, keep walking. What time is it if there's a Wookie asleep in your bed?"

    Dan-Lo moved his head restlessly against Thom's shoulder. "Time t'sleep summare else. Sleep."

    "Please, Dan, you can't stop here! Right foot, left foot, that's it. What time is it when if there's a Hutt asleep in your bed?"

    "Time t'get'n new bed."

    "S'right! How can you tell there's a dewback hiding under your bed?"

    Dan-Lo made a vague noise in the back of his throat.

    "'Cos when you wake up, your nose's pressed against the ceiling. Why's it expensive to be
     
  22. Jane Jinn

    Jane Jinn Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Jan 12, 2000
    Force help the galaxy! I love the way An-Paj is doing his part to help Thom achieve his goal of becoming Barin's Padawan after recognising that Barin has met his match in this scruffy, cheeky eleven-year-old. I liked the way that Thom has insight into Barin, too, recognising that the Knight doesn't want to like him.

    I hope Dan-Lo wakes up and yells,"Bruck tried to kill me!" so that Bruck can get what he deserves.

    Loved the joke about the jedi and the glowpanel, especially where it takes one Jedi to mediate between the socket and the glowpanel.
     
  23. mouse2

    mouse2 Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Oct 29, 1999
    Hey that's not fair! i wanted to hear how that joke ended too! ;)

    Thank the Force that Thom found Dan and got him to the healers! Then again Thom turned the visit to his advantage. I loved the fact that An-Paj was helping Thom along and listened to his tale, but of course not forgetting the punishment! That poor boy is always in trouble.

    Now for Bruck... I hope the punishment somehow fits the crime! [face_devil]
     
  24. Lilith Demodae

    Lilith Demodae Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Oct 1, 1999
    HaiGan, I loved the way you portray these boys. They're so real. The disorientation Dan-lo suffered was very nicely done, and I love it that Thom has found an ally in An-Paj. :) Hurry and write more soon.
     
  25. Jemmiah

    Jemmiah Jedi Master star 5

    Registered:
    Mar 5, 2000
    Oh, how bad do I want to see Bruck get his! Grrrrrrrr, I hope he ends up as a pin cushion in the infirmary! I also love the way that An-Paj approves of Thom and his ambition of becomming Barin's padawan. Listen to An-Paj, Thom!
     
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