Chapter Text
Stealing a Moment
Prologue: Part 1
Being back at the Temple no longer felt like home for Caleb. The Venerator was the only constant these days. It had been unending battles since he had become a Padawan. Fighting against the Droid Army made constant movement feel normal. He wandered the halls a bit lost, as if the very halls he had grown up in were a half remembered dream.
No matter how exciting the traveling and combat was the chance to return was a joy. Simply being in the Temple was a much needed calming breath. The corridors were pristine. The dark marble and intricate detailed patterns seemed to flow forever into the repeating columns. Caleb remembered his days as a Youngling when these hallways were full of Jedi, masters and students. Since the Wars began, these returns always made the Temple feel empty. Just like Caleb and Master Billaba, the Jedi were thrown to the far ends of the Galaxy to lead their own Battalion of Clone Troopers.
Caleb turned a corner and realized he had never seen these blue shades of natural stone. They were not polished to a shine like those in once busy corridors. They were functional, much like the paving stones outside the Temple. Caleb realized he had stumbled onto an area he had never been before. Without any indication as to what he had found, Caleb continued down the hall, curious to see where it would take him.
The strange thing was not finding a single door. Caleb even checked several places along the dark stone walls in between the golden sconces. Nothing. The stones were seamless.
He turned the corner, his hand trailing along the stone. There had to be a purpose for these hallways. One he would not likely solve without asking someone. He still had the research task Master Billaba had asked of him. Reluctantly he turned around and started the trek back. With the identical walls, each turn increasingly felt like a wrong turn. Caleb wasn’t certain he was going in the right direction anymore. Making the whole thing worse was the sense that someone was following him. He did not want to be caught in an off limits area and have to explain that he got lost on the way to the Archive. Which was stupid. The Archive was one of the easiest places in the Temple to find.
He knew he could find the way out. He increased his speed, trying to get away from the presence that stubbornly remained in his Force sense.
Caleb took a breath to center himself. This was no worse than a battlefield. He could admit failure and call his Master. But it was just a few hallways, he wasn’t going to be defeated by identical blue stone corridors. Caleb backed up and a heavy cylinder pressed into his back.
Spinning quickly, Caleb had his lightsaber drawn in fighting stance before he even recognized the Temple Guard looking down at him through the faceless mask. The gold ornamentation gleamed in the dim light. The deactivated hilt of the lightsaber pike remained where it had pressed against Caleb’s shoulders. “You are a long way from the main Temple thoroughfares.”
Caleb swallowed uncomfortably, putting his lightsaber away. “Sorry. I got turned around. It’s like a maze in here. How do you remember the way with everything looking the same?” It was only a small motion, but Caleb swore he saw the helmet tilt.
The lightsaber pike hilt did lower. Slightly. “Perhaps you rely too much on your eyes.”
Caleb groaned at the metaphysical lesson. “How should I be looking?” He snapped. The faceless white and gold mask simply stared at him. Caleb sighed and bowed his head. “My apologies, Master Guard. I’ve not been in the Temple in a long time. I took a turn into an area I didn’t recognize and got lost, and thought someone was following me. Which was probably you…”
“I see… You were one of the Padawans raised because of the War.” The Guard rested the pike hilt on their shoulder with the lower portion comfortably in their hand. “Do not discount your instincts. They are a valuable tool. Come with me.” Now nervous, Caleb followed the Guard. The halls continued to look the same. The Guard did not once look back at Caleb. Though when Caleb got distracted studying the walls, the Guard did stop to allow Caleb to catch up. At one intersection, looking exactly the same as all the others, Caleb stopped and studied the diverting hall. This time the Guard half turned when they stopped. “Is there something you wish to see?”
Caleb was surprised at the question. “I… well, I… Why is this area so empty?”
“These hallways function as passages between meditation and training rooms. Many Jedi choose isolation for certain aspects of studies. We monitor these Halls to be of assistance to those within these chambers. Or for those who stray into these private areas.”
“Oh.” Caleb had never thought of the other paths a Jedi could take. He had been thrust into a War in progress without the chance to explore. “Is it something you enjoy?”
The Guard turned completely to look at Caleb. “We preform these duties in rotation as part of our Service to the Temple.”
“Okay, but why did you become a Temple Guard? You’re a Jedi Knight. Shouldn’t you be commanding a Clone Battalion and fighting the Droid Army?”
“My path was chosen before the War began. My place is here. Who would watch over the inhabitants who are not suitable for leading armies? Or the Archives and artifacts stored within? Daily life must still continue.”
Caleb’s mind quieted as the Guard presented a different view. “I wasn’t thinking of that. I only know fighting droids.”
“And when you no longer need to fight droids, what will you do? Jedi do not have a history of leading armies. ”
“Well…. I’ll figure that out when the time comes.” Caleb answered resolutely. One problem at a time and the Droids were a big problem.
“I’m sure you will.” The Guard nodded politely. “Now, is there something you wished to see, or would you like to continue to the main thoroughfare.”
Caleb perked up. “Wait… you’ll show me this place?”
“If you wish. You came down these halls with curiosity. I have my rounds to continue. These areas are merely isolated for the encouragement of silence. It is not unheard of for Padawans to make use of this space to practice focus in their learning.” The Guard motioned to the hallway branching off from the one where they stood. “There will be no issue in you joining me. Provided your Master approves?”
Caleb wilted a bit. “I’m supposed to be heading to the Archive to research something, but it’s not like it’s critical to do right now. Just today. So what do the training rooms look like? Are there a lot of Jedi here?”
“Then I will escort you to the Archive. After a tour.” The Guard started walking down the new hallway. Melancholy overcame their next words. “No, there are not as many Jedi training and meditating here as there was before the War.” A moment of silence followed. Caleb understood. He was one of those Jedi who should be cloistered within these rooms, preparing for the Trials. Then the fog of emotion lifted as though it had never existed. “The training rooms are deeper within the Halls. These are the meditation cells.” The Guard stood before a blank stone wall and raised his left hand. The wall shifted and opened to reveal a comfortable meditation cushion within a tidy room. Perfect for one Jedi. “There are larger rooms for a Jedi Master and their Padawan. I imagine your Master takes you away from the Battalion when they wish to train you in certain aspects of the Force.”
“She does. Says the Clones can be distracting. They’re a good group, but they can be loud. Shovel is especially animated when telling stories.”
The Guard looked down at Caleb, the odd tilt to his head. “There is a Clone Trooper with the name Shovel?”
“Yeah. The Clones all have designation numbers from birth, but once they leave Kamino, they try to find individual expressions. Through haircuts and tattoos. And their armor. Some choose names, most earn names. Shovel, for example, got his when he answered someone’s request for a shovel as if it were roll-call. He did have a shovel in hand.” Caleb couldn’t help but smile at that story. It was one of his favorites.
“Unusual. And these types of names are common?”
Caleb shrugged. “As far as I can tell. It is a lot easier to call someone by name than a number.”
“That it is.” The Guard nodded and lowered his left hand, letting the meditation room close. They continued walking. “If I may ask, what are the battles like?” The slight hesitation from the otherwise precise Temple Guard caught Caleb’s attention. Curiosity was something he understood.
“Chaotic. Loud. Always full of movement.” Caleb stepped into a basic fighting stance, mimicking the way he deflected many blaster bolts back into the droids. “We always seem to be outnumbered. It’s a good thing the droids are not very smart. It’s always exciting. There’s not a lot of time to think or plan once the battle starts. It’s all about reacting. The Clones keep a level head through it all. I spend most of the time protecting them so they can get clear shots on the Droids. When I can, I’ll slice through those clankers to get better positioning.”
“Clankers?”
“Battle Droids. Have you heard them? Every motion is nothing but clanking. They’re not exactly built for stealth.”
“I have not heard them.”
“Oh, right. Have you ever left the Temple?” Caleb slowed to study the Guard, suddenly understanding these odd questions to Caleb’s daily life.
“Not since I accepted the offer to join the Guards.” The gilded mask hid all facial expression, but Caleb thought he heard a bit of longing in the Guard’s voice.
Caleb frowned. “So you don’t choose to be a Guard?”
“The Temple Guards choose their candidates and the chosen have a choice.”
“But what if I want to be a Guard?”
“You would not enjoy being a Guard.”
“Why not?”
“You are too emotional and excitable.” The Guard sounded absolute in his statements. “The path of a Temple Guard is to submit to the Will of the Force, reject all attachments and emotions, and provide security for the Temple and its inhabitants. Should you wish to become a Temple Guard, you have a long path ahead of you. You are still a young Padawan and so my assessment of you may change once you become a Jedi Knight.” The Guard made another turn in this labyrinth of dark blue stone. “A moment, please.” The Guard raised his hand to stop Caleb from asking more questions. He then walked several paces to a space in the hallway and raised his left hand. Only this time nothing moved, but Caleb sensed a shift in the Force. He couldn’t explain exactly what he felt before it was gone and the Guard returned. Preempting his questions, the Guard said, “A Master requested an alert at this time to aid in breaking a deep meditation.”
“What did you do?”
“I reached out with the Force and touched his presence to signal the time requested.”
“And that doesn’t disturb them?”
“Diligent meditation allows for the filtering of distractions. Some meditate so deep that a simple chime is not enough to bring them back.”
“What if someone gets forgotten back here?”
The Guard gave the impression of reassurance despite being completely still. “While on duty within these corridors, we are aware of every Jedi present. If there is trouble, we will sense it through the Force. It is how I knew you were lost and beginning to panic.”
Caleb flushed embarrassed. “Oh.”
“There are certain physical responses that cannot be quelled completely. How you react to those responses is how much control you have over your emotions.”
“So even you have these moments of uncontrolled emotions?”
The Guard turned away and began walking in a different direction. “The Force is nothing if not life long learning.”
“What else do you do, besides stand around and walk through the corridors?”
“Let us hope you only see us standing or walking around the Temple. Physical threats such as the Battle Droids and now the unusual presence of a Sith adept are only a few of the threats we must be mindful of.”
“Other threats? Like what?”
“Learn from Jedi Master Depa Billaba first. Become a Jedi Knight. When you are ready for new learning, it will appear.” The Guard stopped before another plain blue stone wall, same as every wall in these corridors. Caleb still didn’t know how to differentiate these areas. This time the wall shifted to reveal a vast training chamber.
Caleb took a few steps in, marveling at the various forms of lightsaber hilts along the far wall. There were simple staffs and fighting sticks as well. “And I can train here? When I’m at the Temple?”
“Perhaps not this room specifically, but we will find one available for you. Though most Padawans prefer to train on the open grounds.”
“There aren’t a lot of Padawans to train with.” Caleb realized how his years as a Padawan must be very different than the Guard’s. “Like me, they’re often off world.”
“Ah. The normal order has changed drastically with the War. Is it that you wish you to train alone, or try different weapons, or against different partners?”
“Yes? It’s just everyone is so busy and everything is so focused on the War that I know I’m good at fighting Battle Droids, but what about other weapons? Blasters are easy. Tanks can be hard unless you can get behind them. And Master Skywalker’s lessons are helpful in fighting Droids. But it’s not the same as trying to spar with someone else who is better than you. Don’t get me wrong, Master Billaba still beats me, but how can I learn new things if she’s my only sparring partner. How will I know if one lightsaber is right for me if I do not try with two. Or a lightsaber pike?”
The Guard radiated amusement. “These are common questions for new Padawans. You are not alone, only the strangeness of the current events are preventing you from sharing your concerns with others in the similar situations. You are correct in that Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker is talented in lightsaber forms. It is possible he could be an excellent Battlemaster.”
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be that good.”
“That is up to you. I’m sure you are more capable than you realize.”
“Where do you train?”
“With other Temple Guards, usually within one of these training rooms. Occasionally with other Masters at their request. Frequent lessons with Jedi Master Cin Drallig when he is not busy with other security matters. Captain Kolloma Ree is often busy instructing the newly recruited Guards, but spars with us when they wish.”
“But not Master Skywalker?”
“Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker has not requested to spar with us. We would be available to him as we are to any who wish to practice.”
“Would you practice with me?” Caleb asked carefully, studying the folded hilt of a double bladed lightsaber. Even with the mask hiding their face, Caleb worried about the Guard’s reaction.
“I am not an instructor. I will be a sparring partner if you wish, but I will have to ask Master Drallig for permission to teach. That is for Jedi Masters and Jedi Knights assigned Padawans.”
“You’ve never had a Padawan?”
“No. Nor will I. Becoming a Jedi Master is the goal of many. The path I chose is strict adherence to the Jedi Code.”
“And that’s why you never leave the Temple?” Caleb put the folded double hilt back. “You’re right, I probably wouldn’t make a good Temple Guard. There are worlds out there that need our help. I couldn’t stay here, doing nothing, knowing that.”
“That is why there are different paths for Jedi. Different specialities for each of us to choose where to put our skills. You have experienced War in a way the previous generation of Jedi never has. The lightsaber forms were designed to protect. They are now being altered into more aggressive variations, which some argue is a form of protection by removing the enemy. Is this still showing compassion?” Within the Guard, Caleb sensed rising frustration, concern, and doubt. It was strange to find that bubble of emotion within this anonymous masked being.
“They are just droids.” Caleb dismissed easily.
“Does that discount the tenant of compassion? Jedi are peacekeepers and negotiators. Not generals and warriors. Why is the Jedi Order fighting? Why are the Jedi needed to direct soldiers? I do not see how this path follows the Code.” The Guard’s entire body paused with a deep steadying breath. That knot of emotion seemed to be pressed deeper under the surface of calm. “Forgive me. It is not my place to question the Jedi Council. Nor to burden you.”
Caleb studied the Guard a bit longer than perhaps was acceptable, but the Guard made no motion to dissuade the Padawan. Perhaps because the Guard was accustomed to blending in with the architecture. “Isn’t that how we learn? To question what we don’t understand? Can’t you ask Master Drallig? Or Captain Ree?”
“They have instructed me to focus on the security of the Temple and my commitment to the Order. We are chosen to follow the Will of the Force, not to question the Masters.” A tang of bitterness rose within the Guard, but faded quickly.
“Well… I might still be a Padawan, but I question my Master all the time. I think you should. Not even the Masters know everything. You should at least talk about it with someone. Do the other Temple Guards not share your concerns?”
“They are content in serving the Temple. As I should be.”
“But you’re not…. At least not right now. How about when we train, you can ask me all the questions you want about the War and I’ll tell you everything I know about why I’m out there protecting the planets from the Droid Army.”
The silence between them sat stunned. “If that is how you wish to use your time. Then you may find me when you are in the Temple and have time to train. I will gain permission from Master Drallig to instruct you in the Forms and other weaponry. You will need to gain permission from Master Billaba to learn independent of her.”
“Yeah, I can do that…. Though how will I contact you? I know you forego a name, but do you have a designation I can ask for?”
“Names and designations are useful in identifying others, but there are other ways to identify individuals when you have no such title.”
Caleb groaned. “Another lesson? Why do simple requests turn into riddles.”
“If answers were simply handed to you, then you would have no opportunities to practice what you know.”
“I’m not very good at this….” Caleb sighed, raising his right hand and closing his eyes.
“Take the time you require.” The Guard was patient. Perhaps more than even Master Billaba. Definitely more than any Clone.
Caleb sunk deeper into the Force. He reached out to identify the signature all lifeforms had, seeking the unique mix of the individual’s Living Force. Isolating this Guard from the hundreds of lifeforms within the Temple was challenging. Nor was it a task Jedi usually needed to practice. Identifying sentience was enough. Identifying specific individuals usually came with years of constant interactions.
Wading through the busy thoughts and distracting flickers within the Force, Caleb settled on a background hum that was closer than all the rest. The mellow and deep resonance blended with what Caleb had identified from an early age with the Force. But this hum hid a twist, almost wiry and abrasive quality, like a coiled spring. Caleb opened his eyes and met the eyes of the gilded mask, immediately certain this feeling in the Force was the individual standing before him. The Guard nodded when it became apparent Caleb recognized them.
The sense faded as Caleb became aware of the rest of the world.
“What if you’re somewhere I can’t go?”
“Ask another Temple Guard. They will contact me. If I am on duty elsewhere in the Temple, arrangements will be made to allow me to join you.”
“Why would you do that for me? I’m just a Padawan.”
“Padawans are the future of the Order. It is a sworn duty of the Temple Guards to ensure the continuation of the Order.”
“So that’s why there are so many Guards where the Younglings and Initiates are.”
“Correct. Now I believe you stated you were required to complete research in the Archive.” The Guard returned to the hallways, motioning with his hand for the stone wall to shift back into place, hiding the training room. Caleb followed close behind. More questions continued to bubble into his mind, but he sensed a distinct closing off to the Guard’s easy reception of such questions. He couldn’t help but wonder why and if it had been something Caleb had said. He tried to reassure himself it was related to the Guard’s obligations while on duty. They had after all given Caleb a great deal of consideration.
The Guard escorted Caleb all the way to the entrance of the Archive without another word. The grand vaulted ceilings terminating in a vast skylight never ceased to amaze Caleb. He always stared at the thousands of data tablets filled with information and wondered if anyone could read it all in one lifetime. It was impossible, but that never stopped him. One day he would like to just spend a day in here and read whatever his hand fell on. However today he was supposed to find out everything he could on the Meldyr system.
He turned to thank the Guard, who stood in silent watch at the entrance. After spending the long moments of learning the Guard’s Force signature, Caleb quickly picked up a sense of longing. Perhaps the Guard wanted the same thing Caleb did, to have endless time to read. “Thank you, Master Guard. I’ll try not to get lost next time.” The Guard’s gilded mask tilted down to acknowledge Caleb, then the Guard silently turned around and walked away. Caleb tried not to feel disappointed. It was just how the faceless Guards were. Silent sentinels, ever watchful, never engaging in mundane daily life. The last and best defense for the Temple and those within.