Author's Note: Eeeeeeee, here we go! The beginning of the end!
Caleb stood on his tiptoes on top of his bed, desperate for a glimpse of the battle outside his window. It had to be his Master, right? No battle with bounty hunters could have possibly lasted this long.
But he was an inch too short, and strain as he might, he couldn't see a thing. He hammered a fist against the wall in frustration.
Somebody chose that exact moment to empty their turbolasers, and the ship bucked. Caleb's feet flew out from under him, and he heard the sound of the cell door open just as he crashed to the floor.
"Again, apprentice? You are quite clumsy today. Perhaps I should encase you in carbonite to spare your body more pain."
Caleb was not in the mood for banter. He stood up, quick as he could, and flew to Maul's side, favouring his left leg. "Who is it? What's happening?"
Maul gazed at him for a moment, as if trying to decide how much to reveal.
Caleb put on his best "innocent" eyes. He hoped the swath of dried blood now covering a quarter of his face didn't ruin the look too much.
Maul seemed to make up his mind. "A Republic starcruiser has taken up residence nearby. Their forces are mere moments away from boarding."
His heart skipped a beat. "W-what are we going to do?"
Maul raised an eyebrow, as several loud thumps sounded throughout the ship. The Republic had boarded. "Is there a we, Padawan?"
The image of his Master's face flashed before his eyes, quickly replaced by the image of the debris hurtling toward his pod, Caleb throwing up his hands instinctively. For all the good it did. But that was the last thing he remembered before his current life with Maul. When he'd been dying in that pod, who had saved him? When he'd been almost sold into slavery, and couldn't do a thing to help his drugged body, who had been there? And… when he finally realized Master Billaba wasn't coming… when the crushing weight of betrayal and loneliness had taken hold of him… who was there?
Not his Master.
Caleb raised his head, looking Maul directly in the eye. "Yes… Master."
Maul's sharp-toothed grin could have lit up a planet. "I am so glad to hear you say that." He reached a hand to his belt, unclipping something that he held out to Caleb. "Then you'll be needing this."
His eyes went wide as he processed the object before him.
It was his lightsaber.
The sound of booted feet and men's voices shouting could be heard growing ever closer as his hands grasped the smooth hilt. His palm immediately slid into the grooves that had already begun forming a few years ago from continued use. He squeezed it tight, like you would an old friend not seen for years.
He looked back up at Maul. "Thank you."
The horned man inclined his head, before gesturing to the door. "Let us find our destiny together."
Caleb nodded, falling into step behind his once-captor, swirling thoughts finally solidified.
His choice was made.
His brown robe flapped around his ankles as he skidded to a stop behind Maul, Savage almost running into him from behind. All three stayed still as Jedi Temple statues as a group of clones thundered past, unaware of their hiding spot only a few feet away.
His breath froze in his chest as he thought he spotted familiar markings. Was that Soot and Big-Mouth? I wonder- no, Caleb. It doesn't matter. You're with Maul now.
A fact he was quickly reminded of as he felt a nudge from behind, prodding him forward; Maul had already rounded the corner.
It would've been tricky work for non-Force users, sneaking by clones of countless numbers, remaining unseen as they made their way to the escape pods. But for three Force-sensitives, who were able to sense every living being on the ship, it was almost too easy.
As Caleb limped along - his ankle really, very sore now - sandwiched between the two men, he wondered when exactly their luck would run out.
Turns out it was moments away.
Just as they rounded the corner on the last big intersection before the pods, he felt a shift in the Force. Curious, he reached out to connect with it, identify it… and stopped himself just short of running headlong into Maul. He'd come to a dead-stop inside the intersection. Caleb peered out from behind him, trying to find the source of their halted progress.
The reason became quite clear as two familiar figures dashed out of the corridor in front of them.
"Master," he whispered to himself, heart suddenly pounding.
Maul glanced back at him before turning his attention to the two Jedi. "Kenobi! Such a joy to see you again." He sneered. "I should've felt your presence in the Force. What have you done, to cloak yourselves so well?"
"I wish I could say the same," Master Kenobi called back, settling into a guarded crouch, lightsaber held loosely in his hand. "As for the cloaking, I'm sure you've already deduced my answer." He gave a cocky smile. "A Jedi never reveals his secrets."
Maul grinned back, momentary frustration gone. "Quite so."
The Jedi at Master Kenobi's side only had eyes for Caleb, though.
"Padawan!" Depa Billaba called, and Caleb had the urge to duck back behind Maul. "Are you alright?"
"The Padawan is perfectly fine. No need for such worry, Masters. I never touched the boy."
Except that one time, Caleb thought, ruefully remembering his futile attempt at attacking the brothers his first day onboard. And the wall he'd been knocked into for his trouble.
Billaba frowned, gesturing at his appearance. "Why do I not believe you?"
Maul glanced at his apprentice, and Caleb agreed he must look a sight. Blood all over his face from hitting his head, Zabrak scratches, a crooked nose, favouring one leg. Not to mention his torn, dirty robe and civilian clothes. The hunter's prison hadn't exactly been clean. "Oh, that?" Maul finally answered. "That was entirely his own doing." Maul stepped aside, finally revealing the young Jedi to the light. "Ask him yourself!"
He gulped.
The two Jedi stared at him, their gazes intense. "Caleb?" His former Master called. "Has Maul harmed you?"
He swung his face to Maul's, silently seeking permission to speak. The man nodded his head ever so slightly.
"N-no, Master," finally spilled from his lips. He couldn't have said which of them he was addressing.
Kenobi seemed less than satisfied. "Yes, well, while it may not have been physical, there is certainly more than one way to inflict pain. And you know them all."
Maul suddenly clutched his chest as if in pain, startling Billaba into her own fighting stance. "Master Kenobi, you wound me! Why would I do anything to harm this boy? When he's suffered more than enough at your hands already?"
Author's Notes: Just thought I'd mention that Soot and Big-Mouth are actually canon clones from Depa Billaba (and Caleb's) second battalion! You can read about them in the Kanan comics.