The Littlest Jedi: What's in a name?

[Jax Ivanrue Tondry]

Jax wasn't in trouble. He wasn't even disobeying any rules. No one had ever told him it was bad to run through the halls of Avalon. Just because no one else was running didn't mean it was bad, did it?

The three year old ran headlong through the legs and tentacles and pseudopods of various beings. He was traveling as fast as he could, and didn't run into anybody. He always seemed to know when someone was going to move into his way, and so darted around them almost before they'd moved. It was fun.

Behind him scampered a coal black whisperkit, something like a cross between a fox, a dog, and a cat. The little creature wasn't full grown yet, just about a foot long and nine inches in height if you measured to it's shoulder. A long tail whipped along behind it, whispy black fur covering every inch of it's body as it ran easily behind it's master. It also didn't run into anything, darting between the legs of beings that got in it's way.

Then disaster struck in the form of someone wearing long robes, and the 'kit yelped as it struggled free of the long folds of clothing. The Jedi it had run into stumbled but didn't fall. By the time the man got his balance, the 'kit and the boy were around a corner and picking up speed.

The 'kit didn't have a name. James had said that Jax should name it, but... but name it what? Dad told him stories about great Jedi, like Obi Wan and Qui Gon, and Anakin. But the 'kit didn't look like a great warrior. It looked like a scruffy dog.

Ah ha! The passage! Jax found himself in a transparisteel tunnel from one section of the Temple to another, and pressed his nose against the 'steel, gazing out at the endless supply of traffic. It never ceased to catch his attention. He could watch garbage scows at work for hours, if anyone would let him.

Beside him the 'kit flopped to the ground, panting from it's exercise.

[Hayes Muirso]

If the whisperkit had any fear in its body for larger animals, it was about to become apparent. Big chunky paws were thumping along the hall, echoing out for corridors ahead as something bounded towards where Jax was. There was a screetch, like someone skidding to a halt, then a huge dog turned the corner into the hallway. It was at last one and a half metres tall and looked like it had pieces of metal tacked onto its body in various places. It – George as it liked to be called – was a Nek, a Cyborrean battle dog, who wasn’t so fond of battle and much preferred a nice game of Frisbee.

George did, however, like to play with other animals. It was just rather unfortunate that he was normally about ten times their size and could freeze them, and often their owners, on the spot. Of course on spotting the whisperkit he had slipped with complete ease out of his Masters hold and gone padding curiously up to where it lay, sniffing, tongue lolling out. Hayes, red in the face from running, followed, trying to catch his breath.

[Jax Ivanrue Tondry]

Jax turned his head towards the opposite end of the passageway a second before the 'kit leapt to its feet and the enormous beast came galloping towards the miniature pair. The dog appeared to be covered with bits of metal, and it was almost taller than Jax was.

The 'kit ducked hurriedly behind the boy's legs and Jax found himself being confronted with a huge, dribbling maw of teeth and a sniffy nose. The three year old stood still, wide-eyed, as the Nek licked his face, and then giggled, raising little hands to wipe off the drool deposits.

At the sound of his giggle, the 'kit peeked out from behind him, decided the Nek mustn't be all that bad, and scampered underneath and between the huge dog's legs. A red-faced ad-dolt came dashing around the corner, finding his Nek completely non-plussed by the little creatures that were scratching behind its ears and trying to jump up and catch it's tail in their teeth.

[Hayes Muirso]

Hayes would have collapsed, if it hadn’t taken so much effort. Walking George was like no other experience in the world and he was thankful that it only needed to be done a couple of times a week.

“Hi there,” he breathed, on seeing a little boy and his something flitting about around the battle dog. The Padawan slouched down onto the ground, sliding against the wall with his legs sprawled out across the corridor. Just a few minutes to recover, he thought.

“I see you’ve met George.”

[Jax Ivanrue Tondry]

Jax looked around at the tired man, and his hands stopped worrying behind the big dog's ears. George nudged the little boy until he started again. "George? He's big!" Jax peered over the top of him at the other padawan, and grinned, his dark hair sticking up from an enthusiastic lick.

"I'm Jax. What's your name?" The 'kit wandered around to the front of George and sat down on its haunches for a good scratch as if to say "I've explored you and you're not frightening after all."

[Hayes Muirso]

“I’m Hayes, good to meet you, Jax,”

Hayes gave the friendly little critter a mush on the head. George was enjoying the new source of affection and kept trying to push his head into the boys hands, diverting his attention away from Hayes.

“And who is this little fellah?”

[Jax Ivanrue Tondry]

" 's my whisperkit!" Jax didn't feel safe sitting down with the huge Nek around, so he stayed where he was, back to the 'steel and the traffic scene he enjoyed so much. "He don't have a name yet."

The 'kit got back to his feet and started sniffing around Hayes pockets, having already gotten it into his head that bigger people tended to carry treats.

[Hayes Muirso]

The kit was right! Hayes did have treats, but he wasn’t quite sure the little animal would like them. He rummaged about until he found something in a shiny wrapper, with a big smiling face on it. George’s attention honed in on it immediately. The Padawan broke the bar in two and tossed one piece across the floor, where the Nek darted and hastily began eating. The other piece he held out towards the wee beast in front of him.

“No name? You’ve got to give him one, otherwise how will he know when you’re talking to him!”

[Jax Ivanrue Tondry]

The little boy frowned at that one. Why wouldn't the 'kit know when it was being talked to? As George removed his hulk from Jax's little hands, the boy crouched down next to the 'kit, who was sniffing the treat in Hayes' hand.

"What's zat?" Jax reached for it. Maybe it was good for little boys too...maybe? The question of what to name the 'kit would have to wait until his attention was diverted once more.

[Hayes Muirso]

“Aaah-”

Hayes pulled the thing away and shook his head.

“No, you wouldn’t like that,” he made an awkward face.

“Sorry, I don’t have anything for us bipeds. Only snacks for beasts.”

The kit was extra pleased at this and snatched up the half of the biscuit for it, getting it just in time – George had finished his piece and was looking up expectantly for more.

[Jax Ivanrue Tondry]

Jax thought about that, decided it made sense, and sat on the ground next to his new friend. The 'kit gobbled up its treat, and got it's face licked by the Nek as George tried to get the leftovers. The little animal flopped down next to Jax, content to get in a little nap if it could.

Jax patted its head, and grinned. "I call him...TR-9700." He was only three, but he knew what his favorite type of speeder was already. TR-9700 looked up at him, unimpressed by the moniker, and laid it's head on his little leg.

[Hayes Muirso]

“TR-9000?”

Spot, Rover, Laddie, but not TR-9000.

“At least it’s unique.”

Hayes smiled. George wasn’t the type of name you gave to slobbering monstrosities, really. He should have been called King, Rex or Gnasher – something big and scary sounding.

“Where’s your mom and dad, Jax?”

[Jax Ivanrue Tondry]

"Nine-seven-thousands." Jax looked at the bigger person reproachfully. "An' Dad is..." He looked confused for a moment, and then waved his hand in the general direction of the training rooms several floors down.

[Hayes Muirso]

“Ah. Dad’s a Jedi!”

Hayes nodded, pretending that he hadn’t mispronounced the kits new name.

“Mom too?”

[Jax Ivanrue Tondry]

Jax folded his arms around his little legs, and rested his chin on his knees. TR-9700 licked at his hands, and tried to climb up on him. He looked at Hayes, and for a moment his eyes seemed...old, and then he just looked young and a little sad. "Momma is on vacation." It almost sounded like a question.

[Hayes Muirso]

“Oh.”

That could have meant plenty of things, but most of them were bad. Hayes nodded.

“Were you and TR exploring? I’m sure George would like to have a look around too, if you want to give us a tour.”

[Jax Ivanrue Tondry]

"I was wunning. I wun fast!" Jax jumped to his feet and did a few test runs across the hallway and back again. TR-9700 yipped excitedly, following the boy the few feet to the other transparisteel wall and back.

"Let's wun!" Jax pulled at Hayes' hand, trying to drag him to his feet as George got into the spirit of things, bounding after the little 'kit.

[Hayes Muirso]

Running – oi! Hayes couldn’t run to save his life. Well… he probably could, but unless there was a psychopath being hind or a George and a leash in front of him-

ARF! George and the others were already pushing off ahead, with George clamouring for the little Padawan and his pet to run fast. No matter how quickly you went, the Nek would always go faster.

“Wooaaakay.”

Hayes started after them and got a short way down the hall when a pillar seemingly appeared from no where. He swerved, sneakers squeaking against the ground, as he tried not to barrel headfirst into it. This really wasn’t helped by George weaving beneath his legs, and ended up in the Padawan mounted precariously atop his pet – on the metal plating which quite conveniently acted as saddle.

“…!”

[Jax Ivanrue Tondry]

Jax shrieked with laughter as George and Hayes over took him, bouncing along the corridor. He re-doubled his efforts, trying to catch up as the 'kit bounded along at his heels.

"Wait! Wait!" He called after the larger pair as George turned a corner and disappeared from view. There was a crash...and then...nothing. Jax's legs pumped harder as he ran to see what had happened.

[Hayes Muirso]

The corner lead into a small alcove meant to allow techies access to certain control panels, mainframes and whatnot. George had managed to drive his paws against the ground and slow to a halt, but Hayes paid the price. He had gone head first into the wall and was now laying slumped against it, watching the stars drift around his head. The big Nek didn’t seem at all worried, and give his master a sloppy lick before trotting away to play with the ‘kit again.