Temple Life
Recovery
It was a while before they were all back at the temple at the same time. Most of the time someone was on some assignment somewhere. Anakin kept his promise though during it. Caleb however, spent most of the time in a Bacta Tank after he was injured during the battle of Kardoa. Therefore he was excused from his training until the council cleared him.
Caleb woke up surprised to find not only his master but also Master Mace Windu. He was scared to let them know. However, he should have known Depa already knew.
"He's awake master." Depa said smiling.
"But, should he be removed yet?" Mace asked.
"I recommend one more day at the least. A week at most. If I remove him now he'll need a week to recover anyways." The med droid suggested.
"And what of removal tomorrow?" Mace asked.
"Depends on how much damaged has healed. He could be fine in a few days on his own. I'll know more than." The droid replies.
"Caleb, I know you're awake and can hear me, my young Padawan. We have to leave you in there a little longer. Do you understand?" Depa ask as she approached the tank.
Caleb nodded.
"Good, my master would like to talk to you once you're out. For now just focus on healing." She told him.
'Why?' Depa heard though her bond with the boy. She smiled at hearing it.
"As inquisitive as always even after I almost lost you. What do you mean by why?" Depa asked.
"He can already speak to you? I didn't think you two had been together long enough for that." Mace said.
"Master him speaking to me like he is now is what woke me up after six months. That's part of why I chose him." Depa replied.
'Why does he want to talk to me master?' Depa heard Caleb again.
"I'll let him explain why." She told her Padawan. She knew her old master could be intimidating to most, but he was Caleb's grand master. These type of talks were unavailable. "He wants to know why you want to talk to him."
"Look kid…" Mace started.
"He's asking you to please not call him that. He doesn't like being called Kid." Depa said laughing a little.
"Fine then, look Padawan Dume. Is that better?" Mace asked with an eye roll. He couldn't believe he was being corrected by a fourteen year old Padawan in a bacta tank like this.
"He says much better thank you." Depa translated.
"I just want to talk to you about your recklessness. I'd prefer to talk to you directly though and in person. Although I have to admit I'm impressed that you two can already talk like this. Your master and I couldn't do this until we had been together for a year." Mace explained.
"He says that he'll be waiting. Not with much enthusiasm I might add, but he'll get over it." Depa says.
The two masters come by and check on him each day. Three days later they let him out. Shockingly it was the clone Stance that woke him up this time to be pulled out. He was shocked to learn the clone had stayed with him anytime his master wasn't able to.
Caleb walked back to his masters quarters with the clone.
"Thanks Stance." The young Jedi said.
"Anything for you Padawan. I have to go tell the rest of our battalion your out. They like to stay updated on our littlest members status." Stance says.
"I'd be careful. I still out rank most of you guys." Caleb says. "Although I'm not looking forward to what I have to do before I get the clearance to get back out there with you guys."
"Well I'll see you when you get back then." The clone replies.
Caleb walks into the quarters alone and waits for his master to get back from her meeting.
"Depa? Has your Padawan been released yet?" Mace asked as they left the meeting.
"He was cleared to be removed this morning. I'm sure Stance had him removed while we were gone. I have a message that he's in my quarters waiting on us." She answers.
"Good, I can finally talk to him." Mace said.
Depa smiled the second she saw her padawan. Caleb eyes went wide when he saw Mace Windu walk in behind her.
"I'm glad you're doing better Caleb." Depa remarked.
"I'm glad I'm finally out of that tank master." He replied.
"You maybe out, but you haven't been cleared just yet." Mace said. "There are a few issues we need to address first."
"Is that why you're here Master Windu?" Caleb asked.
"In part. It is the councils job to determine that not mine alone." the grand master said. Then in a softer voice he went on. "For now though there is a little mater of your behavior and the fact that you were hurt because of it ."
Caleb looked up at his grand master. He had never heard him speak like that before. Master Mace Windu had a reputation for being strict and firm, not gentle and understanding. This is why many younglings were so nervous around him. The man was intimidating. This new Mace Windu was still intimidating, but also had a great deal of understanding, worry and caring to it.
"Caleb, can you tell us what all you remember?" Depa asked.
Caleb relayed his account of the battle and his own actions.
"Yes, you did help in that way my padawan, but your recklessness almost cost you your life." Depa explained when he finished.
"I understand that now master, but I thought I was doing fine. At least until I was hit. I had no idea I was going to far out." The boy replied.
"That's why this issue needs to be addressed now. Since this was your first assignment, and you just began your training it will not be held against you." Mace informed him. "However, if it continues to pose a threat to yourself and others, or becomes an issue again that will not be the case. Understand padawan?"
"Yes masters, I understand." Caleb replied.
"Depa, you can go. I would like to continue this conversation your padawan alone for now." Mace said.
"As you wish my old master. I'll just be sparing with Master Kenobi when you're done." Depa stated before she left.
"I'm shocked by your current behavior Padawan Dume. You're not being yourself right now. Am I that intimidating to you?" Mace said now that they were the only two in the room.
"Well sir, you are known for being the strictest of all the masters." The younger of the two said.
"Awh, my reputation proceeds me, as does yours. Indeed I am strict. With myself as well as others. Just as you are known for questioning everything. As your master says rightfully so. Though I might disagree with my former padawan there she might be right."
"What do you mean master?"
"Finally, one of your famous questions. You once told Madame Jocasta Nu that you don't question a method but the reasoning behind it. Is that correct Padawan Dume?"
"For the most part. I want to know the process behind a decision and what other options there are. I never mean to question the decision it's self."
"Which explains Master Kenobi's story about you and the emergency beacon. I don't think anyone has ever thought about the possibility of evacuating the temple before."
"I wonder why not. I mean we have escape routes and the temple has been attacked before. At least twice just during this war." Caleb wondered on in bewilderment.
"Three times actually, and there could be more times to come before this war is over." Mace corrected him. He smiled at the Padawan's shocked expression. "I wonder though, do you ever do this with your own decisions?"
The question caught Caleb off guard.
"What would be the point Master?" He asked. "I know my own reasoning for my decisions."
"Do you? Then what was your train of thought when you got too far in front of your troops? Isn't that how you were injured in the first place?" Master Windu questioned him in the same way Caleb usually did.
The Padawan thought about this for a moment.
"I don't remember. I guess I just acted in the moment. The attack was sudden." He finally replied.
"That happens sometimes. Decisions have to be made quickly, and there isn't the time to fully think them out. You should always think them through though." Mace explained.
"Even if we don't have the time? What do you do then?" Caleb asked.
"Well young Padawan in every good plan there's room for sudden change in it."
"In case the plan doesn't work. Basically you want me to question my own decisions as I go and see if they are still the most effective option."
"Indeed, you have to question yourself as well as others. Just as I have to hold myself to the same standards as I hold others too. If I don't I can be just as wreak-less as you were in the field. It has gotten me into trouble before."
"So that's why you are always so strict. Did yours cause someone to get hurt too?"
"It has, several times in fact. It has even cost some lives. There are things I regret because of it."
"Do all Jedi have this problem?"
"At some point, yes. Some like master Skywalker and I it is a constant struggle. We both struggle to stay in the light because of it. I don't want to see someone else go though the same struggles. Especially someone like you who thinks to question the reasoning behind things," Mace explained.
"I think I understand master." Caleb replied.
"So, you don't have any questions?" The Jedi master asked with a suspension.
"I always have questions. Some are better left unspoken though Master Windu. I don't want to intrude on your privacy sir." The Padawan said in a matter of fact tone. "But since we're already talking like this I do have a few questions I'd like to ask you."
"I thought you would. Maybe some other time. For now we should probably focus on getting you back out with your new friends." Master Windu smiled.
"I was just going to ask what Master Billaba was like as a Padawan. You were her master after all." Caleb says slightly disappointed.
"Next time. I have a lot of stories there. Meanwhile I suggest you get some rest. Masters Yoda and Kenobi will join me tomorrow to watch your progress to decide when you're cleared for missions again." The Jedi master replied with a smile. He understood now what his former student saw in this kid. He had a way of bringing out the best in people. Truth be told he was fond of her because she was the same way.
Caleb was asleep in his cabin when Depa returned. She didn't really blame him. He was still recovering after all, and a conversation with her old master was a not something younglings normally looked forward to. Sure her Padawan was healed on the outside, but he was still healing. She knew from experience you don't get over nearly dying that fast. After all she had only been in a bacta tank for six months just a few months ago.
Caleb rolled over in his bed knocking his blanket off him as she watched him sleep. He shivered a little bit. She pulled the blanket back over him.
"Oh Caleb, at least your injuries and regrets aren't as bad as mine were. I wouldn't have woke up if it wasn't for you." She sighed. "Sleep well my young Padawan. I have so much to teach you and so little time together to do so."
Depa headed to her cabin. Her mind full of thoughts and worries. She had almost lost him already. On their first assignment together at that. It was too close of a call for her comfort, especially this early on. This war was taking to much of a toll everyone. Right now she was more worried about the toll it would take on her Padawan. She knew that someday he would know and understand her worry himself. Perhaps he would have similar worries about his Padawan.
"Let's just hope this war doesn't cut that time shorter than it already is." She says just before heading in.
•Please don't kill me for ending this character like this. Depa has a lot of regret, worries, and doubts about the clone wars. Caleb was actually her hope for a future after the war. She was honest with him and her men, but hid her fear from him. Kanan understands this now because he has the same fear concerning Ezra. That is just how I've come to understand her character.
•May the force be with you always
•Cass