The next morning, Benzi's eyes cracked open, the overcast sky barely lighting his room. He had finally gotten to sleep in for once, two hours later than usual. He jabbed a button on his clock, and a holographic image of Master Esoor popped up. He was concentrating on his controls, and before Benzi spoke, he decided to shut it off. He wouldn't want to disturb his Master on his mission.

Deciding to go check with the younglings, Benzi took a quick shower, and dressed in a lightweight attire so he could be more agile when working with the initiates. On the way to their room, he bumped into Haveera again. She gave him a quick bow then said awkwardly, "How are you fairing without Master Esoor?"

"You know, I'm not like a lost puppy without my Master, I'm quite capable of being without him for the time being." I said irritably.

"How long are you to stay on Coruscant?"

"For as long as I am needed, I suppose."

"I leave for Felucia in two days."

"Ah, with Master Fisto?"

"Actually, I'm being sent with another Padawan. It's an experimental trial to see how we would do on our own. No real threats, it's all staged. But it is for Master Fisto and Master Koon's viewing."

Benzi raised an eyebrow. He had never done something like that. Maybe that was a newly installed standard for Padawans. "Are you available right now? Or are you off to go do something?" Benzi suggested, hoping she was free so he wouldn't be handling the younglings by himself. Haveera shook her head, slightly smirking. For a Haban, she was awfully serious.

"I do believe I have some time before Master Fisto requires my presence."

"Would it be possible for you to help me out with the initiates?"

"I guess I could for a little bit." She finally answered, crossing her arms. Benzi smiled, and they both raced off to go meet with the younglings.

"Selis sure is a rowdy child!" Benzi exclaimed as the two headed back to his room. Haveera rubbed her face, let out a deep sigh.

"The Masters sure are in for a treat once they pass their trials."

"If they pass their trials. At this rate, none of them will."

"Were we like that?" Haveera asked, looking curiously at Benzi. Benzi's eyebrows furrowed as he tried to recall his time as a youngling.

"I don't remember being so easily excitable, that's for certain." Benzi responded, then paused at his door. He turned back to Haveera, whose gaze drifted to the floor.

"So, I should probably go now."

"Um, yeah. Good luck with your mission. May the Force be with you."

Haveera looked shyly up at him, and managed to slightly smile. "And with you, Padawan Dalian." With that, Haveera headed down the hallway to see Kit Fisto.

A week past, and Benzi grew lonelier as the days past. He had heard no word of his Master, or of Haveera. Benzi had recently begun to talk to a few of the Senators such as Mon Mothma and Bail Organa. They were much older than him though, so he wasn't very familiar with some of their points of conversation, but he was grateful that they were kind enough to attempt to include him.

Sometimes, at night, Benzi would attempt to pull up the hologram of his Master, but the image would never show. "Must be faulty or something." Benzi grumbled as he repeatedly hit his clock. On the eighth night of Benzi being left on Coruscant, he received an emergency briefing from the Jedi Council. He hit the button on his clock, and Master Yoda appeared.

"To the Jedi Council, you must come, Padawan Dalian." Master Yoda seemed especially serious, which was very odd. Benzi pulled himself out of bed and wrapped himself in one of his Padawan robes. Deciding the condition of his hair wasn't a top priority, Benzi hurried out of his room and towards the Jedi Temple. On the way there, he saw him. Anakin Skywalker, casually heading to his apartment complex. Benzi stopped short, bowing to Anakin awkwardly.

"Good evening." He uttered, hoping he wouldn't scare the Jedi off. Anakin smiled and bowed back to the boy.

"Good evening to you also, Padawan." With that, Anakin headed down the hallway, then boarded the elevator. Benzi let out all his breath, in complete shock that the Jedi had actually spoken to him. He scolded himself for being so queer, but continued his trek to the Jedi Temple.

He burst through the door, looking rather frantic. Giving a quick bow, Benzi stated, "You called for me, Master Yoda." Yoda nodded, and looked rather sadly at his fellow Council members. "Is something wrong?" Benzi pushed further, an eyebrow raising slightly.

Obi-Wan cleared his throat and explained, "Benzi, it's nothing something so easy to just come out and say, and it pains us to have to break the news to you but-"

"But what?"

"Master Esoor is dead." Obi-Wan murmured, looking down at his feet in despair.

"D-d-dead? But, that's not possible. Master Esoor was the wisest Jedi I had ever met, he knew what he was doing!"

"Sometimes the most experienced are the most unlucky." Obi-Wan noted, reminiscing in the memories of his old Master, Qui-Gon. Benzi clenched his fist, his face turning red.

"No, I refuse to believe such lies!" Benzi shouted, a panel from the wall flying across the room. Mace Windu went to stand up and apprehend the child before he really started to get destructive, but Yoda raised his hand and shook his head.

"Be calm, you must. Mourn Tayno, we will."

Angry tears squeezed out of Benzi's eyes, another panel ripped off the wall and thrown at the feet out the Council. "Did he know?" He growled bitterly, flicking his finger at the panel and causing it to smash against the wall.

"If you mean of the dangers, Master Esoor was fully aware of what could happen, Benzi." Obi-Wan reassured. Benzi sucked in a deep breath, and tiles on the floor began to rise, about fifteen of them all suspended in the air. "You need to calm down. I know this is very hard for you, and I have been in your same exact position. Anger will only make it worse, believe me." Obi-Wan explained, hoping to reel the boy back into control. The Padawan gave the Council a deathly glare, as if to blame them for Tayno's death, then collapsed to his knees, the tiles shattering as they all fell with him.

"Padawan Dalian, it is best if you go back to your room. We will inform you of when the funeral for Master Esoor shall be." Mace Windu suggested, trying to sound kind to the mourning boy. Benzi let out a soft sniffle, then nodded and stood. He gave a weak attempt of a bow, and exited to Council Room.

The Council looked at one another, and Ki-Adi Mundi shook his head very fervently. "The boy cannot be trusted, you saw what he is capable of." Mundi garbled, looking at his old Master, Yoda for support.

"Strong, he is. Quick to action. Apprentice like him, Obi-Wan had." Yoda commented, the Council all staring at Kenobi.

He blinked a few times, then exclaimed, "But Master Yoda, you cannot seriously be suggesting-"

"Skywalker as a Master? Do you want them both to end up killed?" Shaak Ti shouted.

"She has a point. Anakin is also very unpredictable. Putting them together would be madness." Obi-Wan agreed.

Agen Kolar cleared his throat and noted, "Perhaps Yoda has good reasoning. We have never doubted him before."

Yoda gave him a respectful nod, and continued his idea, "Unpredictable, they are. Learn from each other, they will. Learn, they need. Be role model, Anakin shall. Change ways, he must."

"But, Master Yoda, Anakin isn't ready for an apprentice! He just recently became a Knight, he hasn't achieved the Master rank quite yet! The boy is far from ready!" Obi-Wan argued, hoping he would listen. He knew how angry Anakin could get; he couldn't handle a boy that reflected his own personality. It was suicide.

The holograms of Plo Koon and Kit Fisto looked quizzically at each other, and Obi-Wan raised his voice even more, "Anakin is as much of a boy as Benzi, it is insane to even-" Stass Allie silenced Obi-Wan then stood up from her seat.

"Well, we shall put this to a vote, then. All in favor of Benzi Dalian becoming Anakin Skywalker's apprentice, stand." She remained standing and was joined by Yoda, the holograms of Plo Koon and Kit Fisto, Agen Kolar, and Coleman Kjar. Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Shaak Ti, and Ki-Adi Mundi all gazed up at them in frustration. "Then it is decided. Obi-Wan, call your former apprentice to inform him of the news." Allie ordered.

Hope you all enjoyed! Don't forget to review, inbox me, follow, favorite, whatever you feel like! Thanks! Stay awesome, Gotham.

-April