Author's Note: I just really love having a major stay-cooped-up-in-your-house-for-2-days storm warning EVERY week this year so farš I've been lucky in keeping power so far, but this one is suppose to be the worst yet, so JUST IN CASE y'all get this early! Friggin' Canada. Anyway! We finally begin setting aside the words and start seeing some action here! Things definitely start to heat up in this chapter! And *finally* one of my character tags comes into play here!
The day after all Caleb's carefully built boundaries with Maul were torn apart, he lay awake in his cell, unsuccessfully trying to sleep. He couldn't stop turning his and Maul's conversation around in his head and how, when he was with Maul, it had seemed like the absolute truth. He felt in his heart that his words were right. But now, after a day of living with his new convictions, he wondered if he hadn't been too hasty.
He sighed, turning over on his side. Everything seemed different when Maul was around.
All these thoughts swirled around in his head, making sleep just a waking dream. That, and the strong feeling from the Force that something was about to happen. Something was coming. But he'd turned his back on the Jedi. Could he even still take guidance from the Force?
Flipping over onto his back, he let a frustrated growl leave his throat. At this rate, you won't fall asleep till tomorrow night. Remember your training. Deep, even breath in. Deep, even breath out.
Closing his eyes, cuddling into his pile of blankets, he pretended to clear his mind for meditation. He didn't even notice when the blackness of night in space gave way to the blackness of sleep.
Caleb.
Who was that?
Caleb.
Who was calling for him?
Padawan!
Caleb's eyes snapped open. But not in real life. Nooo, he could feel now that this was a dream, the way you could just tell that sort of thing. Also, the fact that his consciousness was floating in space. Kind of a giveaway.
His eyes opened to behold thousands upon thousands of starsā¦ and the massive window of the bridge of a Republic battle cruiser. Another dead giveaway.
And people said he needed to learn to take a hint!
His consciousness drifted closer to the bridge as the voice came again, this time merely a whisper. Calebā¦
When he finally reached his destination - outside the window looking in - it was somehow no surprise to him to be looking upon the form of his - former? - Master, Depa Billaba. She was standing just on the other side of the glass. If it hadn't been there, he could have put a hand on her shoulder. As it was, he only felt a mild curiosity - the way you often do in dreams - at her casually straight-backed stance, hands clasped loosely behind her. Caleb would've thought that she was admiring the view. Her tightly furrowed brow and firmly shut eyes were the only things to suggest otherwise.
He watched as a shiver ran through her body. Padawan?
The voice was clearer this time, sharper. Curiosity gripped him and he - metaphorically - opened his mouth. Hello?
Caleb? Is that you?
He paused for a moment, wanting to give the question some serious thought. I guess so.
Oh, Padawan! I'm so glad I reached you! I've been trying for longer than I- but that's not important. We have little time.
He watched his Master's face closely throughout the whole exchange. To outside eyes, her face would appear to remain still, serene, calm. The perfect Jedi. But Caleb could see beneath that, could see the micro-expressions that appeared in her features. Fear, frustration, joy, hopeā¦ then, a sense of urgency. Her body stiffened, her hands fidgeted behind her back.
Yet her eyes remained closed the whole time. Fascinating.
Caleb.
The voice snapped him out of his examination. Yes?
I will be unable to maintain this connection for long. You must tell me quickly, Padawan. Where are you?
Iā¦ Somehow, he hadn't been expecting that. A single thought managed to make a crack in his dream-like impassivity. She's looking for me? A thread of a feeling he'd almost forgotten - hope? - slipped through. Before it was yanked back inside, quickly replaced by a far more familiar one: confusion. She's looking for me. Butā¦ she can't find me. Why would she not be able to find me?
Caleb! You must tell me where you are!
He barely heard her, still lost in his own thoughts. Heā¦ he told me we never left the pod. But then why can't she find me?
Who told you, Caleb? Who are you talking about? Are you with someone?
The Oridol Cluster. I saw it just yesterday. It was very pretty. I think that's where I am. He'll know for sure though.
He sensed Billaba open her mouth to ask him another question, but before she got the chance, a different figure stepped up to the glass, stance identical to his Master's.
Who, Padawan Dume? Who is with you?
Caleb's impassivity slipped, surprised at the contrast between his Master's light, feminine tone and this deep, accented one. His eyes flashed to the auburn hair and pale robes of a man he hadn't seen since he was a youngling.
Master Kenobi?
If Caleb had had any breath in this form it would've left him.
He felt a gentle prodding at his mind, Master Kenobi's request clearly telegraphed without a word being spoken. Unbidden, the red-and-black visage of hisā¦ captor? Companion? Loomed up in his thoughts, filling his mind's eye.
He felt Master Billaba's stance slacken, her gasp breaking through the image in Caleb's mind. He saw Master Kenobi's eyes open, and though he'd been sure he couldn't be seen, the Jedi Master's eyes seemed to look directly into his. Three words rang clear in his head like the echo inside a jar.
Don't trust Maul.
His eyes flew open, the words of warning still ringing in his ears.
Don't trust Maul.
In his feverish haste to get out of bed, he became tangled in the blankets, and one too-far swing of his legs had him tumbling to the floor.
He groaned as his yet-unhealed wounds protested the rough treatment. Sitting up, gingerly, he gently touched his forehead where he'd felt the sharp corner of the bed clip him on the way down. He wasn't surprised when his fingers came away sticky with blood.
His head flew up as the door whooshed open, and Maul came rushing in.
"Padawan!" He called upon seeing Caleb on the floor. "Are you alright?"
Caleb shook his head, trying to clear it of sleep, but Maul took it as a response and moved closer. It probably didn't help that the cut at his hairline was bleeding quite profusely.
The words of his limited medical training floated back to him as he pressed the edge of his brown robe - which Maul had given back once it was dry - to the wound. Don't be alarmed if you bump your head. Head wounds always bleed more than you think they should. Lingering grogginess made him trip over his words in his haste to reassure Maul and get him away. He didn't know how to feel about Maul right now. "I'm- I'm fine- totally fine, I just - just hadā¦" He trailed off, belatedly realizing it was probably a bad idea to reveal his vision.
But understanding dawned on the Dathomirian's face anyway. "Oh, you had another nightmare." Maul put a hand on his shoulder, to be comforting Caleb supposed, but he couldn't help a reflexive twitch.
Maul frowned at the movement.
Inwardly, he winced. Ugh, I've just made things even more confusing. He was sure Maul was thinking of the "breakthrough" they'd had in their relationship yesterday, and comparing it to his current cold reception. The Master's had always said he needed to work on his subtlety.
Today though, the Force was on his side.
Just as Caleb felt the Force begin to gather darkly around Maul, telegraphing his frustration, just as he opened his mouth to no doubt ask Caleb what had changedā¦
The sound of laser-fire sounded outside the window and the ship rocked so Maul had to clamp the floor with his feet. He let out a growl as he quickly clanked back to the door.
Caleb felt a sudden surge of fear. What if it was the bounty hunters? "W-wait for me!" He called out, struggling to get to his feet.
"No."
He froze his tracks. "What?"
"No," Maul repeated. "No, you will stay here, until I have discovered the nature of the situation. I know that yesterday you gave me your trust, and I do not take that lightly. But my trust in you has yet to be restored from the last time we were fired upon."
The ship rocked again beneath their feet as they stared into each other's eyes, each evaluating. Calculating.
Caleb broke the silence first. "But what if it's more bounty hunters?"
"Then you have absolutely nothing to fear. You will be safe in this cell, and I will take care of anyone that would bring you to harm."
Observing the tight set of Maul's shoulders, the fierce look in his eyes, Caleb believed him implicitly. Maul's apparent protectiveness only added to his confusion though.
Don't trust Maul.
He bit his lip. "And what ifā¦ what if it'sā¦ it'sā¦"
Maul met his gaze steadily. "What if it's your former Master?"
Caleb could only nod.
"Then I will take care of her the same way I would anyone else. I told you, Padawan. I won't let anyone harm you again."
The door was already closing behind him when Maul's words finally sunk in. Take care of? Surely he doesn't meanā¦
Too late, he ran to stop him. "Wait! Maul, no! You can't- !"
Slam.
The noise of the cell door had never sounded so final.