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2025-12-10
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Pathetic Life Forms

Summary:

Jedi Knight Peter Benton is called back to Coruscant from the frontlines of the Clone Wars to take on a new padawan, whose partnership with his previous master has ended under mysterious circumstances.

Notes:

This is pretty different from what I usually write, but I hope people give it a try!

PSA for star wars people, I'm playing fast and loose with canon.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

The halls of the Jedi Temple are quiet, the atmosphere subdued. Not empty, of course. Peter passes by a gaggle of younglings, a pair of padawans. One or two vaguely familiar knights. But it is nothing like the Jedi Temple where he grew up, where he graduated from youngling to padawan to Jedi Knight. No more bustle, no more laughter.

Not since the Clone Wars began, when the Confederacy of Independent Systems seceded from the Republic. Since the Jedi, the long-established peacekeepers of the galaxy, were forced to become soldiers, the generals of clone battalions fighting to keep the Separatist forces at bay.

Peter walks these halls and tries to remember the last time he was here. The last few months have been a blur of blaster bolts and artillery fire and bloodshed. Coruscant used to be his home. Now, home was a Star Destroyer, the vessel of the 312nd Clone Battalion, of which Peter was the general. General Peter Benton. It had been a year since the Clone Wars began, and the title still feels strange. It is sometimes unsettling, hearing the word general roll so easily off the tongue of his second-in-command, Clone Trooper 773. Also known as Carpet.

But now he’s back. Summoned, with urgency, by the Jedi Council. Peter feels a twinge of nervousness. It must be important, whatever the Council needs from him, to call him away from the battlefront. Peter scowls as he approaches the Council chambers, releasing his fear into the Force. He summons feelings of calm and steeliness as he pushes through the chamber doors.

“Master Jedi,” Peter greets, bowing to the Jedi Masters seated in a semi-circle against the dramatic backdrop of the Coruscant cityscape.

Only about half the chairs are occupied. The rest of the Council must be out on the frontlines, scattered throughout the galaxy.

“General Benton, grateful we are to you, for coming so quickly,” Yoda says to him.

“Of course, Master,” Peter says stiffly.

“Wondering, you are, why we have summoned you?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Peter,” Mace Windu cuts in. “We have a… situation. With one of the Jedi Knights and his padawan. It is… unfortunate. And very sensitive. Certain events have taken place, and the Council has been forced to step in and dissolve the partnership.”

Peter blinks several times as he processes the information, saying nothing, trying not to let his face betray the confusion he feels.

It is nearly unheard of, to separate a padawan from their master.

More importantly… what does any of this have to do with Peter?

“The padawan is in need of a new master, Peter. Someone who is understanding. Someone who can be patient.”

Peter blinks again. Surely… surely they cannot be talking about him?

Peter Benton is known among the Jedi for being many things. Patient is not one of them.

“Peter, we would like you to take on this padawan.”

Well then.

A sinking feeling rises in Peter’s gut. No. No way. “Masters,” he says slowly, “while I am honored by this… offer… I simply cannot accept. I have told the Council before. I have no desire to take on a padawan. I work best alone. I do not have the… the temperament to take on a student. You must know this.”

It takes everything he has to keep the desperation and incredulity out of his voice. The last thing Peter needs on his kriffing ship is a padawan. Least of all a padawan that was apparently unwanted by his own master.

The idea of it is nearly unthinkable. To separate a padawan and their master is so rare, so uncommon. There are only a couple times Peter can think of, in all his knowledge of the Jedi Order, when this has happened. Both times involved problematic, unruly, reckless, and disobedient padawans.

No. No way. Peter would not take on such a padawan. He didn’t want a padawan period. But certainly not a padawan like this. Not in wartime. They would be a danger to his ship, to his men. No. Peter could not accept this.

“An offer, this is not,” Yoda responds simply. “An order, it is.”

“An order,” Peter repeats, feeling slightly nauseous. Dazed. He swallows. This… this cannot be happening. He doesn’t want a kriffing padawan!

“We are at war, Peter,” Master Plo Koon says. Peter tries to make eye contact with the old Kel Dor master, who, of everyone on the Council, Peter has always felt the most affection towards, ever since he was a youngling. Master Plo just looks at him sternly as he continues. “Choice is a luxury we do not have. This padawan needs a master. We have meditated on it. The Force tells us this master must be you.”

Dread settles over Peter, now. And acceptance. Bitter acceptance. Peter closes his eyes and reaches out to the Force. He feels it where he always feels it first – pulsating in his fingertips. Peter dives into the glow, letting it wash over him. He tries to release his anger, his frustration, his uncertainty. All feelings that are unbecoming of a Jedi Knight.

He opens his eyes. “May I ask, Masters, why this padawan has been separated from his master?”

There is an extended pause. Peter watches with narrowed eyes as the members of the Council shift in their seats and exchange glances.

“A sensitive matter, it is,” Yoda says finally.

Peter just stands there. The air is thick with discomfort. No one else speaks.

Peter can’t believe it. “You’re not going to tell me,” he says blankly, staring at them all in turn. Several of the Jedi Masters won’t even meet his eyes.

“Peter,” Plo Koon says. “You must understand that the circumstances involving the dissolution of the partnership of Master Vox and Padawan Carter are… deeply unfortunate. It is not the place of the Council to share these circumstances with you.”

They’re not going to tell him. It’s unbelievable. Peter stamps down his anger.

“Is there anything you can tell me about my new padawan?” Peter asks, his tone steely.

“He is a 19 year old human,” Shaak Ti says, speaking for the first time. “His name is John Carter. He has been the padawan of Roland Vox for five years, serving with the 708th Battalion since the beginning of the war.”

“And what of Vox?” Peter asks. “Where is he in all of this? I should like to speak with him.”

Another silence.

“That… will not be possible,” Windu says.

Peter feels frustration threatening to boil over. He desperately tries to will it away, but it sticks to him like bacta fluid.

“Why is that?” Peter asks tightly.

More silence.

“Roland Vox is off-world.” Windu says simply, with a tone of finality.

It’s clear that Peter is not going to get any additional details. He tries not to give in to panic. What kind of mess is he getting involved with, here? What could this padawan possibly have done to warrant such secrecy, such… protection?

“Accept John Carter as your padawan, will you?” Yoda asks.

As if I have a choice, Peter thinks bitterly.

“I accept.”

“Excellent,” Shaak Ti says. “Guards, bring him in.”

Peter whips around as the massive doors to the Council chambers split open.

In walks his new padawan.

Pink cheeks, big brown eyes, a mess of floppy brown hair and a padawan braid.

He stumbles over his own feet as he approaches the Council.

“Masters,” the young man says, nervousness clear in his voice.

“Padawan Carter,” Mace says. “Meet your new Master, General Peter Benton.”

Carter turns to Peter now. Their eyes meet for the first time. Something jolts in the Force, something electrifying. It moves around him, powerful and charged and urgent. It wraps around them both.

Peter startles, just for a moment.

“Master,” Carter says softly, bowing his head.

“Carter.” Peter says slowly, testing the feel of the name on his tongue for the very first time.

John Carter looks up, eyes filled with uncertainty. Posture stiff and impeccable. “Th-thank you. For accepting me as your Padawan.” His voice is soft and formal and respectful.

Peter sighs, considering him. The kid doesn’t seem unstable, or unruly, or any of the things Peter expected. He seems… timid.

Not the best quality to have for someone who is about to become a commander in a Clone Battalion.

In that moment, Peter decides. What will be, will be. What has happened, happened. It’s none of Peter’s business. He will train John Carter as his padawan with no consideration for what happened before. The Jedi Council did not see fit to tell him why Carter has been separated from his previous master. So Peter will not ask. It is what it is. He is a Knight. Carter is a Padawan. He will train the young man. He is already nineteen years of age. He will likely only be Peter’s padawan for three or four years, at most. The situation is not so bad. The commitment is not so large.

“Alright, Carter,” Peter says finally. “Let’s go.”

With that, Peter nods at the Council and whips around, stalking from the Chamber. It is up to Carter to follow.

Notes:

I wrote this a couple weeks ago and have since pretty much abandoned the project. It was going to be for the "domestic abuse" space on my BTHB card and be a whole multi-chapter thing. Essentially, Benton was going to piece together over time that Carter had been severely abused by his previous master, and the Council found out, and that's why they were separated.

This is marked as complete for now, but it's possible i might return to this and try to finish it. I'm curious what people think and if they're interested in this at all!