Chapter 3: Council Meeting
Caleb was waiting outside the Council chambers to make his formal request. Despite knowing he wasn't supposed to, he couldn't help eavesdropping on the conversation inside the room.
"Master Billaba, you added this next meeting to the schedule. Is there anything we should know first?" Master Windu asked.
"Nothing much to it really, Master Windu. My former padawan—Caleb Dume—feels he is ready to take an apprentice. I have spoken with him and I agree," Billaba replied.
"Already? He's young, not that I can say anything about that," Master Kenobi said.
"You took me on the day after being knighted," Master Skywalker laughed. A few of the less strict members laughed as well.
"As I said: I'm not in a place to judge on that basis. Send him in let's get this started," Kenobi replied.
"Very well," Windu said. Caleb was motioned to and he walked to the middle of the chamber, facing Masters Yoda and Windu out of respect to their seniority.
"So take an apprentice you wish to do?" Yoda asked Caleb.
"Yes, Master," Caleb replied.
"Someone in mind have you?" Yoda asked as though he already knew the answer.
"Yes. Ezra Bridger," Caleb said nervously.
"Bridger. If memory serves he just turned eleven. That's a bit young, though not totally unprecedented—especially during the war," Master Plo Koon commented.
"Yes. Young that is. But age not all that matters is. Prepared are you young Knight?" Master Yoda asked the man.
"I am, Master," Caleb said with a confidence that surprised him more than anyone else.
"Your former master agrees with you. That is comforting at least. How, though, do you propose to transition to boy so suddenly to padawan training?" Windu inquired.
"I know I'll need to start at a bit of a lower level than normal, but that shouldn't be a problem. He's a quick learner," Caleb assured.
"Odd. Most of his instructors report the opposite. A few have even questioned whether Ezra Bridger should move along the Jedi path or be released," Master Fisto interjected. Caleb swallowed his annoyance. Ezra's fears had not been fully unfounded it seems. He wasn't going to allow it though. Caleb was filled with a fatherly protective instinct.
"I have spoken with him many times and helped him with some of his lessons. The Initiate instructors are very good at what they do, but Ezra needs a bit of a different approach. I think we would match well and he would succeed," Caleb explained.
"That very well may be but is now really the right time? We have a mission prepared for you soon Caleb. Do you feel ready to train a young padawan while out in the field?" Windu asked.
"Yes, Master. I don't believe it will be a problem," Caleb replied calmly.
"Do you have confidence Ezra will feel ready to take on this new challenge?" Master Skywalker asked.
"Yes, Master. Like I said, we have spoken and I've helped him with his studies now and then. It will be a good fit," Caleb answered.
"Well then. I see no issue," Skywalker concluded. Caleb was unsurprised that Anakin Skywalker was the first to express agreement. The young Master was brought into the Order in odd circumstances, so he had little patience for traditions without purpose. His own apprentice—Knight Ahsoka Tano—had been assigned to him at a young age as well.
"I concur," Master Kenobi said. Skywalker and Kenobi almost always came down on the same side of the issues the Council dealt with. Seeing one agree with the other was no more surprising than dawn at the end of the night.
"As do I," Master Billaba added. That was truly not a surprise.
"And I," Master Plo Koon agreed. The others nodded in agreement.
"In agreement we seem so be," Yoda concluded.
"We will watch your progress with interest," Windu said.
"Thank you Masters," Caleb said with a bow.
"The boy is yours as soon as you inform him," Billaba said with a smile. Caleb shared a private look with his mentor before withdrawing from the Council.