Master

Year: 19 BBY

Location: Jedi Temple Infirmary, Coruscant

A few months have passed since the bombing of the Jedi Temple hangar by Barriss Offee. The war has been ongoing, and the public is growing increasingly restless. But right now, that is not on Caleb's mind. He stands in the training room, facing three Jedi Initiates, with Master Yoda standing to the side. 

"Caleb Dume. Maintain concentration, you must," Yoda says, seeing Caleb drift off. 

"I will."

Caleb doesn't need to concentrate for this. He was told to face the three Initiates on his own and teach them the value of teamwork. It is supposed to teach him humility, despite Caleb not being arrogant. 

"YAAAHH!" 

Tai Uzuma, a fellow initiate, attacks Caleb, jumping in the air and swinging her lightsaber in a vertical line. Caleb blocks the attack easily and pushes her off, preparing for the attack of the male Twi'lek Sammo Quid. With minimal movement, he blocks the attack from the initiate and uses the Force to make him trip. The Initiate falls to the ground. Tai uses this chance to attack again, using all of her strength. 

On the other side, another Initiate appears. A Wookie by the name of Gungi swings his green lightsaber through the air. Caleb blocks the strike, using the Force to push the young Wookie back. Despite his young age, he is already relatively strong, impressively so. Yoda observes the three initiates with their green lightsabers, trying to press their advantage in numbers against Caleb's blue one. 

However, nothing is working. 

With quick slashes and no longer stalling, Caleb causes Tai to trip and fall to the ground. She falls right in front of Sammo Quid, who trips and falls as well, leaving only Gungi. The young Wookie tries his best, but despite his strength, Caleb is able to dish out in equal measure and even more so. He is a bundle of power. 

"Come on, Gungi. You're doing well. Show me what we trained," Caleb encourages him. 

He has come to like the young Wookie, and they have spent a lot of time together. Caleb enjoyed the Wookie's presence and good heart. He was almost incapable of being angry at anyone. Caleb took it upon himself to train him when he had the time. 

"That's enough," Yoda says and stops their duel. 

"Strong you are, in the Force and with the lightsaber, Caleb Dume. Proven yourself, you have. Time to let the other initiates rest, it is."

"I understand. If you would excuse me. I have something to do," Caleb says and walks out of the training area. 

He walks through the halls until he reaches the infirmary. He enters the room, where Jedi Master Depa Billaba is staying inside the bacta tank. He has been coming here quite a lot in the past months, but for a few days, he has felt a shatterpoint connected to her. It seems she is about to wake up. 

{Yes, what is it?} the 2-1B surgical droid asks. 

"Hi 2-1B, how are you today?" Caleb asks. 

{Oh, it's you. Please don't disturb me, and come back when you have actual injuries.}

"I'm not here for you, 2-1B."

Caleb moves to the bacta tank and looks at Master Billaba. He feels a shatterpoint connected to her. Over the 6 months of her being injured, Caleb has trained Force Healing a lot, and his mastery over shatterpoints has increased a lot. He continued to study under Master Baas, learning more about the galaxy and the Republic, as well as various planets and Force abilities, and waited for Master Billaba to wake up finally. And now, he senses, the time has come.

*knock knock knock*

Indeed, she has finally opened her eyes and knocked at the glass of the bacta tank. 

.

"A full recovery?" Mace Windu asks the 2-1B surgical droid. 

{Physically, yes. I cannot speak for her mental state--}

"Then why not go to the source?" Depa Billaba says, who walks forward in her robe. "My mental state is fine. Nothing like spending six months in a coma to give one time to relax."

"You are being glib," Windu remarks. 

"Perhaps not the most attractive quality in a Jedi Master," Yoda says in thought. 

"Perhaps not, Masters. Apologies," Billaba says. 

"I'm just happy you're awake and alive," Obi-Wan says.

"Thank you, Master Kenobi. Say, have you seen Caleb Dume? He was here when I woke up, but he left shortly after. Did you scare him off, Master?"

"Initiate Dume has training to do. Meditation, as he should. You shouldn't concern yourself with him," Windu says. 

"Perhaps tested you should be," Yoda suggests.

"I agree. A full fitness assessment. Physical, mental, emotional," Windu says. 

"Very well, if you believe I should do that, then let us commence," Billaba agrees. 

And so she is tested. After she changes into Jedi robes, she starts to showcase her skills. She utilises the Force, demonstrating her mastery of telekinesis and other abilities. Afterwards, she spars against Obi-Wan Kenobi and her former Master, Mace Windu, in a lightsaber duel, while blindfolded. This should test her battle senses and make sure she is ready for combat again. And finally, she has to meditate on the Jedi Code. 

"Emotion, yet peace. 

Ignorance, yet knowledge. 

Passion, yet serenity.

Chaos, yet harmony.

Death, yet the Force."

After she has completed the tests, the Jedi Council meets to discuss her results. Billaba stands before the Masters with her head lowered. 

"You did well, Depa," Mace Windu tells his former Padawan. 

"Fit, you are. Yet from your fear, you hide," Yoda notices. 

"We cannot deny, Masters, that I failed you. Failed you on a massive scale," Billaba says. 

"A lack of failure has never been a prerequisite to service... else none of us would be here," Obi-Wan says and offers Billaba her former Council seat. "Welcome back to the council, Master Billaba."

"What is the next order of business? The Younglings?" Ki-Adi-Mundi asks. 

"Yes. Two have passed their initiation trials and another one has long done so, but is still waiting for a Master to pick him. I think it may be time for Caleb Dume to be picked as a Padawan."

"We should all observe them closely."

.

Caleb walks through the Jedi Temple with Gungi after another one of their sparring sessions. 

"You are getting better, my friend. I'm sure in a few years, you'll overpower most others in the Order. With your natural strength and attitude, you'll grow to become a powerful Jedi," Caleb says. 

Gungi answers him in Shyriiwook, a language which Kanan has mastered a while ago. 

"Don't sell yourself short, Gungi. You will beat me in time."

"Hey, Caleb, Gungi. Wait up!"

Tai Uzuma and Sammo Quid approach them, and they walk together. 

"How are you guys? Did you train?"

"Nah, we were enjoying ourselves. Now that the initial trials are over, we can breathe again," Tai says. 

"How is Master Billaba, Caleb? I heard she woke up finally," Sammo says. 

"She did. I'm glad," Caleb says. 

"Do you think she will choose you as a Padawan? You?" Tai asks with a smile. 

"Why not? I'm more than qualified to be a Padawan," Caleb says. 

Gungi agrees with him in Shyriiwook. 

"Thanks, Gungi."

"You're a kid, Caleb. No matter how good you think you are, you're still a kid."

"I might be considered young for a Padawan in normal times. But these are war times. I passed my initiation trials long ago and am more than ready for it."

"Careful what you wish for, Caleb," Sammo says. 

"Why?"

"Listen. I have been talking to the clones. Scuttlebutt is that General Billaba is damaged goods," Sammo whispers. 

"What are you talking about?" Caleb asks, annoyed. 

"Shhh! It's not that she was injured. Or not only that, anyway. Her last mission? Her battalion suffered ninety per cent casualties. Ninety!" Sammo says. 

"Who was she up against?" Tai asks. 

"The way I heard it, General Grievous."

"Whoa..."

"Hurr. Gghh haaa"

"I don't know. But in the best case, he was the better strategist. Worst case, she's bad luck. Cursed."

"You two are pathetic. To think that you would believe this simply because you heard something. If you think that way, why not ask her personally, instead of whispering such things?" Caleb asks and walks away. 

"Come on, Gungi. Let's go."

"Hrrraa"

.

"I figured I should just ask you," Caleb says to Master Billaba after he has told her what he heard. 

"Not a political choice... but perhaps a wise one."

*Sigh*

"'Damaged goods'... am I? I imagine the answer to that is yes. What happened on Harrun Kal was my failure."

"Losing to General Grievous does not make you damaged goods, Master. You recovered fully, no?"

"From physical injury, yes. Nevertheless, the inescapable truth is that many good men died under my command. Those deaths are my responsibility. And I fear causing more... which makes my usefulness as a commander in the field... suspect."

"Master, I-"

Caleb suddenly stops talking. He feels something happen and stands up. 

*KA---BOOOOOOOOMMMM*

A loud explosion is heard, just in front of the room. Caleb and Billaba look at the fire, which whooshes through the halls. A wave of fire approaches them, and both jump out of the way.

"It seems the Temple is under attack! What is it with the Jedi Temple and bombings?" Caleb asks. 

"This isn't the first time?" Billaba asks. 

"No. A few months ago... I'll tell you all about it later, Master. Let us get to it."

"I want us to stay here, Caleb. At least until we have more information," Billaba says. 

"But-"

"I am not yet fully healed, Caleb Dume. Or rather, I am healed, but not whole. I could easily become a liability out there," Billaba says and walks away. 

Caleb feels that the situation is a shatterpoint. He looks back and thinks about the best situation. He has noticed Master Billaba's weakness and knows what it will take to remove it. 

"As for information... the attacker is nearby on the upper floor. That's where the explosives came from, and it's also where my senses told me the attacks were coming from. From what I sense, there are explosions occurring on the lower floors, but the Jedi Knights and Masters will take care of those. Going from that, and the sound of the explosives, which are balls, the attacker is using the air ducts. The next move, therefore, is obvious," Caleb deduces and runs forward. 

"Caleb!" Billaba shouts. 

But he doesn't listen and makes his way up to the roof of the temple. He climbs through the air duct and sees the masked attacker a short distance in front of him. 

"Would you mind telling me why you are bombing the tower?" Caleb asks. 

Caleb observes the male attacker in front of him and already gets strengths, weaknesses and ways to go about this. 

"Look, kid, you're too young and probably too indoctrinated to understand... but you're on the wrong side here. The Jedi are the bad guys, fighting against freedom and self-determination. Now, I came here prepared to battle Knights. One initiate will not slow me down. So for both our sakes... run," the man says. 

Caleb doesn't listen and charges forward. The attacker throws several explosives at Caleb. But he uses the Force to swipe them away from him and to the side. They go off right next to him and fall to the ground. He does this intentionally, as he knows this to be the best way to solve two problems at once. 

"I tried to warn you. You wouldn't listen. And all you accomplished was delay of but a few seconds," the attacker says. 

"Which apparently was enough," the voice of Master Billaba is heard as she walks through the smoke. "Back away from the boy."

"Perhaps I had better not. My proximity prevents further attack," the man says. 

"It does not. Trust me," she says. 

"Trust a Jedi? No. I think I'll deal with the small one first," he says and drops an explosive on Caleb. 

"No... You will not harm the boy," Billaba says. 

She grabs the small explosive ball with the Force. 

"Inside that device, two chambers... and inside each chamber, a liquid- harmless on its own... until the liquids interact, causing an explosive chemical reaction... but if they never interact..."

Master Billaba prevents the small explosive from going off. 

"That's not... possible..." the attacker says and runs off. 

He tries to reach the bomb, which he has already placed on the tower and wants to activate it. Caleb, however, uses the Force to pull the bomb away, preventing him from doing so. Master Billaba pushes the small ball into the air, allowing it to explode harmlessly. She opens her eyes and looks at the warrior. 

"I offer you mercy, Kage warrior," she says, pointing her lightsaber at the man. 

"My name, for the record, is Rackham Sear of Quarzite. I am a Captain of the Confederacy of Independent Systems... and I do not seek the mercy of tyrants," he says and takes out two blades.

He hurls them at Master Billaba and Caleb. Billaba cuts through the first sword, and Caleb pushes the second one away from him, using the Force. They see the Kage warrior run and then jump off the roof, wanting to kill himself. 

"No! Caleb, help me!" Billaba says. 

Both of them use the Force to grab the man, stopping him momentarily from dying. But he only smiles. 

"Impressive. But I have to wonder... just how many things can a Jedi do at once?" he asks. 

The warrior takes out dozens of explosives and activates them, killing himself in he process. 

"RUN!"

*BOOOOOOM*

...

"It seems I am in desperate need of a Padawan in order to continue my journey," Billaba says as she and Caleb lie next to one another. 

"..."

"Not going to say anything?" she asks. 

"No. I am not going to try to influence you. But I would be more than honoured if you would choose me," Caleb says. 

"Not influence me, huh? Do you think I'm blind, Caleb Dume?" Billaba asks. 

"No?"

"Do you think I am not aware of what you did here? How you wanted me to come after you and 'save' you?" 

"I don't know what you are talking about, Master."

"You wanted to remove the fear I had by having me 'save' you and proving to me that I am not damaged at all. You are far too clever and skilled for your own good. I understand why Master Windu prevented you from progressing. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were manipulating me."

"I thought it was best to show you that you were not damaged. And the best way to do that was to get you to concern yourself with others instead of yourself," Caleb explains. 

"Quite harsh, but you are right... Padawan."

_____________________________

I appreciate some feedback