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Quinlan Vos ran into the Council Chambers with an enormous bowl of popcorn steadily floating behind him.
“What’d I miss?” He asked, out of breath, settling down in front of Kit’s chair, the Nautolan maneuvering to give the Kiffar more room.
“8.4 million credits, up to we are.”
General Grievous had called the Jedi after kidnapping Chancellor Palpatine. The Chancellor was immediately brought to an auction where the Jedi were expected to buy him back, whether they wanted to or not. It didn’t help that Count Dooku was simultaneously raising the price of the Official more and more.
All of the Councilors, who had been stuck in this miserable back and forth, were all somewhat draped in their chairs in various positions.
Kit had slid off his chair to join Vos in his annihilation of the popcorn bowl.
Depa and Plo were curled up asleep, having just come from a relief mission on Ryloth.
Mace, Yoda, Obi-Wan, Adi and Shaak were most involved in the auction. Adi’s role was just to slap Obi-Wan’s hand away from the end call button that would automatically forfeit their place in the auction and hand Palpatine over to Dooku and any other unsavory being that wanted him.
Quinlan let out a sharp bark of laughter. “Do we even have 8.4 million credits?”
“Of course not, we’re broke poor.” Eeth said.
“You don’t have to say both, they mean the same thing.” Agen sighed.
Slap.
“8.9 million credits!” Dooku called out.
They all groaned in anger. Shaak wondered how long until the auctioneers realized that the Order had literally no money at all.
Slap.
“9.0 million credits.” Mace said, his face the same level of impassiveness as it had been at the start of the betting. The only difference was the throbbing vein at his right eye. He muted them and let out a small breath of annoyance that was somehow enough to wake Depa up.
“Are we still going?” She asked, tired eyes looking around the room.
“At 9 million, we are.”
“It’s still not too late to—”
“For the last time, we are not going to raise money by selling our bodies on the underbelly of Coruscant. We are not going to become workers of the night.” Mace responded with his eyes closed in resignation.
“Well not with that attitude. And I’d be an amazing prostitute, thank you very much.” She said, rolling back to sleep.
Slap.
“9.5 million!”
“9.55 million.”
“9.6 million!”
“9.65 million.”
“9.7 million!”
“9.75 million.”
“9.8 million!”
“9.85 million.”
It went on like that for hours upon hours until the only ones awake were Mace, Adi and Obi-Wan. Master Allie ran into the room, surprising those who were aware of her presence.
“Adi! The ice cream shop is open! And everything. Is. Free!” Adi didn’t waste any time as she hopped up and ran out without a second glance, so she didn't notice the wicked grin that followed her departure.
It wasn’t until she was halfway through her treat, blue chocolate, her favorite, that she felt as though there was something she was supposed to be doing…