What happens if the Jedi Council just can't settle a debate in their usual dignified way? On this important and slightly delicate issue words can't resolve it...

'Right Jedi, so no using the Force, no verbal distractions, no physical distractions, no involving other non-council members and absolutely,' Mace Windu gazed sternly around the room, 'no blackmail.'

Yoda sighed.

'Gone my plan is then.'

'Bribery?' Someone offered hopefully.

'No!' Qui-Gon strode into the centre of the ring, 'We are Jedi, we are honourable and above such ways, we'll settle this in a dignified manner!'

5 min later

'Pushing my arm into the ground you are, Master Windu.'

Yoda and Mace lay head to head on the council room floor, teeth gritted in concentration and arms locked together. Yoda's thin green arm was wobbling against the push of a much larger one.

'We're going to have to face facts here,' Mace grunted, 'my arms,' he strained, 'are bigger.'

Yoda bared his teeth in a rather creepy grin.

'Matter size does not!'

Mace raised his eyebrows above bulging eyes, his jaw clenched tightly. Still grinning and with little apparent effort, Yoda flexed his muscles and drove Mace's arm to the ground with a loud smack. With a satisfied with noise he flipped up off his stomach and trotted back to his seat. Perched on the edge of it he dusted off his robe before surveying the group.

'Victorious I have been in my defeat of Master Windu, eliminated from this I am.' There were several sighs and a few badly hidden grins as credits surreptitiously changed hands. 'Our last contestants, Master's Windu and Jinn, must amongst themselves decide who is this job to do.'

Qui-Gon sighed and glanced at Mace's face.

'I don't suppose you're going to simply agree to be noble and self sacrificing?' Qui-Gon sounded hopeful. The answering snort said it all. He squared his shoulders and faced the council.

'We draw straws in a peaceful manner?'

The other Jedi just stared witheringly at him.

'A matter to be settled that lightly this is not. Leave it to chance we shall not,' Yoda firmly decided with a smack of his hand against the arm rest. 'Since unable to make a decision you are, decide we shall.'

The Council gathered together with serious expressions and muttered amongst themselves. After several minutes discussion Yoda bashed his gimmer stick on the floor for attention. Mace and Qui-Gon stood alert at the side, the long haired Jedi looking calm and collected, Mace looking rather on edge.

'Decided the Council have, we will use the most sacred of Jedi traditions to decide this matter, leave this room this knowledge must not,' Yoda leant forward and grinned evilly, 'the Toga Run.'

Qui-Gon's eyes widened.

5 minutes later

Mace fidgeted uncomfortably in his sheet. Both Jedi had bed sheets stolen from the nearest apartments wrapped around them. They were wrapped towel like around their hips, stopping at the knees with a length of sheet thrown over the right shoulder. Qui-Gon stood tall and carried himself with dignity, Mace tried to tug the sheet more across his chest. No other clothes were allowed, at all.

'So,' a Council member stood seriously in front of them, 'you must run to the lowest levels of the Temple in the quickest way possible. No elevators are allowed, only running. You do have a choice, you may stop running at any time, but if you stop running or even slow down you forfeit the race.'

'So if slip your toga does,' with a glint in his eye Yoda appeared alongside, 'continue you can, or stop but lose. Chose to run slower and more careful you can also, but win the race you may not.'

Both Jedi's eyes were starting to bulge a little.

'On you marks, get set, go!'

Qui-Gon leapt into action and sprinted along the corridor, Mace was pounding alongside him. Neither seemed to be opting for the slow and graceful run. Bare feet skidded as they slid around the corner and continued through the apartment rows. Mace briefly swivelled his head towards Qui-Gon before taking a different turn down towards the training rooms. Qui-Gon ran steadily on, his breathing even.

Mace pumped his arms and put on an extra burst of speed, he was halfway down the Temple, his toga still firmly in place. He gave a tight half smile as he ran, this seemed easy.

Qui-Gon could feel the length of sheet across his shoulder starting to slip backwards, if that slid off everything would unravel rather fast. He closed his eyes and tried to run more smoothly.

There was a number of shocked gasps and ill concealed grins as the senior Jedi sprinted through the middle of the training hall. Mace started to feel nervous, the toga was loosening around his hips. He desperately sped up, he could feel it starting to slip down.

Qui-Gon powered around the corner, nodding politely at the youngling class as he went by. The tail end of his toga had almost completely fallen off. He continued to run calmly.

Mace clenched his teeth determinedly, he was going to win this race. There was nothing in this temple that could stop him running. He was Jedi master, even if he had to run naked, people would respect him for the honourable cause that he was running for. He pounded heavily past the group of teachers, he was reaching the lower levels.

The tail had now fallen off, Qui-Gon's toga was on a definite angle and he was trailing a flapping sheet in his wake. Nothing altered in the rhythm of his running.

Above the sound of Mace's bare feet slapping on the tiling was the sound of young voices. He almost skidded to a halt, the female sauna and baths were on this side of the Temple. He suddenly recalled Qui-Gon's amused nod as he disappeared down this path, he'd known where it would lead. He gulped, Jedi were not afraid, they were just wary. He still continued to run, only trying to make his footsteps lighter. Bouncing more as he ran, his toga gave a final shake and loosened. He barrelled around the corner into a group of female Jedi with his toga on its last lease of life. They stopped in amazement, amazement that soon turned to appreciative eye-brow arching. Mace made a split second decision, he dropped to the floor and clutched at his falling sheet.

Qui-Gon had nearly reached the level, and his toga had nearly reached the floor. He carried himself with honour.

'Master?' Down the far end of the corridor a ginger head drew back from a group of padawans. Qui-Gon felt a brief stab of panic.

'Master!' Obi-Wan's blue eyes goggled and his expression was fixed in complete shock. His friends all turned to gawp.

Qui-Gon gave a courteous nod and continued on his way. Obi-Wan in horror at his retreating back, then shifted his gaze to the white bundle that lay a few metres in front of him.

After reaching the lowest floor, Qui-Gon collected his previous clothes from the judging Council member. A few minutes later Mace walked in, hands held up in defeat.

'Alright, so I give the younglings their annual sex ed talk.'