Title: Questions
Fandom: Star Wars
Pairing/Characters: Caleb Dume, Ezra Bridger, Depa Billaba
Challenge: Wrong Number
Rating: PG-13
Length: 512
Summary: Caleb meets his future padawan before his first mission.


Caleb is getting up out of his new bed, in his new quarters that he now shares with Master Billaba. before he’s even fully awake. He’s not sure why he needs to get to a specific landing pad right at this moment, but he lets his feet lead him there, only pausing to grab his warmer outer robes before stepping out into the hallway. He scrubs the sleep out of his eyes as he walks. His sandals make a soft steady beat against the floor.

He only pauses when he feels Master Billaba, who is also only partly awake, push the question of what he’s doing at him. He’s not a telepath. He can’t tell her exactly what he’s thinking, but he does manage to send the equivalent of a mental shrug at her.

She’s on her way too. That’s good. At least he thinks it’s good.

Caleb yawns as he makes his way out onto the open platform. He stares. There’s an animal floating in the sky. It’s…that’s a purrgil. What is a purrgil doing on Coruscant and why is it at the Jedi temple? A tendril reaches out and sets a young man on the platform in front of him. Then the purrgil is gone in a brilliant flash of light.

The man groans and rolls over onto his back. “What?”

“Careful,” Caleb urges as he rushes forward to help. He lets the man lean against him. “I didn’t know purrgil could do that.”

“I’m not sure how I’m alive right now,” the man admits. Then he tilts his head. Their eyes meet and Caleb isn’t sure what to do with the certainty that runs through him because this young man, who is older than him, is his padawan. He’s barely a padawan himself. He hasn’t even gone on his first mission with Master Billaba and he’s looking at his padawan.

“I’m Caleb Dume,” he manages.

“Ezra Bridger. This isn’t Lothal. You’re not…” Ezra pauses to scrub at his face and look around. His eyes go wide. He wets his lips. “I asked to be given back to my adoptive mother. I’m not sure I should’ve given you my real name.”

“Is that something you do?” Caleb asks, then elaborates. “Use aliases?”

Ezra laughs. It’s mirthless and worried. “Did Thrawn come through with me? Did they…no, I don’t feel him. Was it just me?”

“Just you,” Caleb confirms. “I have a lot of questions.”

“You always have questions, but then don’t question what the Force is trying to tell you,” Master Billaba comments warmly as she joins them.

Caleb smiles at her. She smiles back. They both turn their attention to Ezra.

Ezra looks at both of them, then tries to stand. Caleb helps him get to his feet. Ezra thanks him, then turns to look at both of them. “Has Umbara happened yet? Has Ringo Vinda happened? Or Gregor, have you been to Abafar yet?”

“I can see why he’s your padawan,” Master Billaba comments.

Caleb leans against her. Ezra’s questions will make sense in time. They’ll find answers.