Morning's Dawning
The day began at the Temple of the Eagle as it usually did. The Jedi masters gathered together to hear the news of the Council from the Jedi Director of the Temple and plan the day for the Padiwans and Fledgings before any of the youngsters could cause their plans to be discarded.
Jedi Director Fury walked into the meeting room and surveyed his fellow Jedi teachers. There were Jedis Coulson and Hand, going over the historical period of the Shield that they were to cover today. Jedi May sat apart, examining the schematics of the new blasters to be issued to the clone troopers on the planet. Jedis Gonzales and Garrett were discussing the defensive drills on which they would be instructing the Padiwans, while one of the the newest Jedi, Jedi Mack, earned a scowl from May as he tried to look at her tablet. As for the very newest Jedi...
Fury turned as Jedi Ward slipped into the room, and took the last remaining seat. Garrett raised an eyebrow.
"Cutting that rather fine, wouldn't you say, Ward?"
Ward flushed. "With respect, Jedi Garrett, Jedi Fury had not yet begun the meeting, and so therefore, I am not yet late." An amused chuckle rippled through the room, missing May, still reviewing the diagrams.
"On that note, let us get this meeting underway, before our latest crop of Fledgings decide they have the day off and head into town." All eyes turned to Fury as he took a seat and activated the tablet in the middle of the table.
"With the safe return of Chancellor Palpatine, General Skywalker has informed us that our clone troopers will be planetside late afternoon. I see no reason why we cannot turn the bulk of the patrols back to them."
Coulson leaned forward.
"While it is true this has been eating into valuable study and mediation time, it has been good for the younger ones to see what the world they will be serving in is like." He glanced sideways at Hand. "I believe it might do some of us older ones good as well."
Hand snorted. Before the argument could begin, May said, "In theory, I am in agreement with Coulson. Practically, most of the current Padiwans could do with more drilling than patrolling. Padiwan Skye's focus of the Force is still tenuous at best, Padiwan Fitz would rather take his lightsabre apart than fight with it, and Padiwan Simmons nearly took off Padiwan Trip's arm with hers. Turning it on, that is..."
Fury grimaced. "Agreed. Starting today, the troopers will be taking patrols, and the Padiwans will return to their drills with their mentors. Once they have more of the basics down, we can look back into joining the Patrols. Coulson's not wrong, it does both us and the people good to see us down from the Shield. It reminds them that we're here, at least."
"Jedi Windu has let us know that the Council would like a representative to the next meeting to discuss the Eagle. Apparently the symbol has been seen on other planets."
Gonzales looked up. "Just the Eagle?"
"No, the encircled tentacled beast has been seen too. Perhaps this will give us more insight as to what this means for us."
"I suggest we send Jedi Hand."
As Coulson was about to protest, Gonzales lifted his hand. "I know, Coulson, you're a walking encyclopedia of the Eagle. However, you have Padiwans that need your supervision, and neither Skye nor Simmons are ready to go off world. Hand knows enough, and you're only a tablet away." Coulson inclined his head and sat back.
Ward raised his hand. "If I may, Jedi Fury? I feel that, now that I am no longer a Padiwan, I can take some of the burden from Jedi Coulson. Perhaps I can impart some of my experience to, say, Padiwan Skye?"
Coulson laughed. "3 Padiwans are hardly a burden, since two of them share a Force bond that almost makes them one. And given that you were raised less than six months ago, I doubt you have any knowledge that I cannot impart to Padiwan Skye."
Fury chuckled. "Patience, young Jedi. Perhaps you can mentor one of the Fledgings next year when they attain Padiwan status."
Mack interjected, "We could send Fury, but then we may not be certain whether he'd trade places with Jedi Windu on the Council." Groans erupted around the table.
May asked, "How many times have you heard that, Fury?"
Fury calculated, "Eh, about twice a day, three times during the Council sessions, for about the last thirty years...."
The meeting concluded with minor changes to the Fledgings training sessions, and arrangements for Jedi Hand to leave the following morning.
As the Jedi left the room to begin their trainees' day, Garrett and Ward were left behind. Garrett took Ward by the shoulder and leaned in.
"Fury is right, Ward. You lack patience."
He stilled Ward with a look.
"You will have what you desire, and whom you desire, and soon. But," Garrett's grip tightened painfully on Ward's shoulder "You must have patience and focus...."
"My young apprentice..."