"—I swear to God if I have to run another damn whip route I'm going to strangle Offman." Trey grumbles, holding a drink and collapsing beside me. "What up Ezra."

"I'm good, thanks." I smile as Sabine waves to Trey on his other side.

"It's because you make barbecue chicken with your slants. You fake that, the whole tree opens up for you." Matt smiles while nearly dying on screen. "If we hit that twice, I will hurry up 'Z Slant' and get you thirty yards of green grass to eat up."

Trey closes his eyes. "Don't say that if you don't mean it."

"You'll get there." Jaicey smiles reassuringly.

Sabine explains "He's had a bad start to his season."

"Unlike you." I reaffirm to Sabine, who blanches and sticks her tongue out.

"I just can't breathe bro. I get that DB's are faster now, but they're living up in my pads. I can't make a guy miss if they're already home when I catch the ball!"

JJ gets killed before Matt frowns. "That third quarter ball is on me. You'd feel a lot better if I'd put that where it was supposed to go."

"It bounced off his shoulder pad!" JJ responds.

Matt slaps his controller down. "Because it was supposed to be a front shoulder ball JJ! Trey wasn't expecting to have to bend himself in half to go get the ball, I damn near got him killed, it bounced up and they ended up with it."

"Bad balls happen. I've caught balls at my damn ankles before. That ain't the problem."

I think I need to add football to my 'sports I need to learn' list.

My phone buzzes as the conversation continues.

Cayle – New iMessage

"You really should play. I think I found their feed. The Council may or may not have started NSA after you to find out where your pin led."

Oh for the love of god.

"CAYLE." I text back, then flip my phone over to hide the screen.

"Enough work talk. Is he getting any better? Or are you still trash?" Trey asks JJ.

JJ smirks. "He's still trash."

Immediately, Trey loudly laughs. "Finally, something he sucks at. Call of Duty."

My phone vibrates, and I flip it back over.

"They're sussing out your story with the girl. Tac Team Daisy is in there right now, and it doesn't sound friendly. You sure you're good?"

"YES." I reply. "And tell the Council to stop stalking me!"

A new message from Cayle quickly replies.

"Are you coming tomorrow or Friday for Training? If you want to come up both days I can get you a new toy."

New toy?

"I need a toy?" I ask Cayle, then turn to Jaicey.

"—Oregon went alright. Got the split we wanted, but backwards. Beat the Beavs, lost to UO." She says, looking slightly annoyed.

"Splits in Oregon are tough." JJ smiles.

Jaicey looks to my left, then smiles. "Told you she's still pissed."

"Don't." Sabine tells her.

I smile, then sit up on the couch, causing Sabine's eyes to move to me. "This is about why she didn't score on all those shots."

Sabine lets out an angry growl and storms out, muttering something about a drink before Jaicey smiles at me. "Nobody stopped a shot of hers all weekend. She was hitting everything flush. Tons of movement. Found nothing but woodwork."

"Ouch, Postmates." Matt smiles in sympathy.

"It was sort of impressive." Jaicey confesses before we hear Sabine let out an irritated scream.

"It was not impressive, it's maddening!"

"She hit it hard, boink." Jaicey mimes a ball hitting the post. "Curler, bonk. Knuckleball?"

"I was so pissed that I almost whiffed on it." Sabine heavily sits beside me again. "I got lucky hitting the net, let alone inside post."

Cayle – New iMessage

"Yes, you deserve a new toy. I love mine. Makes everything so much easier. Let's train Friday then."

"You all pay Thursday right? So it won't conflict with us right?" Trey asks Jaicey.

Why's he asking Jaicey? She doesn—OH.

"Yeah, thanks for that. I'll be lucky if my legs solidify out of Jell-O like they are now." Jaicey says, both legs battered and bruised.

"You're that Jaicey." I tell her, then look to Sabine.

"You just now put that together?" Sabine's eyebrows knit together.

"Yeah, I'm dumb." I confess.

"No you're not. What'd you hear?" Jaicey asks me, causing me to turn and smile.

"Oh, she stopped by my place and mentioned that you were the best player on her team. I didn't put two and two together."

"You didn't have to say that you idiot! Jeez…" Sabine shoves my head, then gets back up.

Jaicey's smile slowly grows as she watches Sabine go, then looks back to me. "She really said that?"

"Yeah."

"That's nice of her. I don't know about that though. She does some stuff that I've never seen. She's so damn creative sometimes it makes my brain hurt."

"Sabine came over huh?" Matt asks me, getting my attention. "Very nice…"

"Well done sir." Trey fake applauds me.

Jaicey rolls her eyes. "You two are disgusting."

"Babe, she is attractive." JJ turns to her.

"Yeah, but they don't have to be all up in Ezra's business about it. She can to go Ezra's if she wants. Not our fucking business."

No.

Trey makes an approving noise, getting JJ to break and Jaicey to slap his leg. "Children!"

"Good pull though Ezra. Sabine's awesome. And I thought there was something more to yall's story."

"No." I cut everyone off, getting them to turn to me. "You're wrong."

"You're not sleeping together?" Trey's eyes bulge, then he falls back into the couch. "Bro…"

"Hop on that ship before it sails away with another guy Ezra…" JJ advises me.

I roll my eyes. "I don't want a girlfriend. And Sabine and I are friends. Okay?"

"Okay but—" Matt starts, then his face contorts oddly as Sabine's footsteps float to everyone in the room. "—that gets the defensive back's weight shifted toward the middle of the field, which means when he cuts out, his defender is left with little tweedy birds floating around his head."

"Okay." I Play along. "I need to look up football more. Like I said, not my thing."

"I'll send you some videos. They'll get you up to speed in no time." Matt smiles at me.

"Now." JJ takes Matt's controller and tosses it at me. "You're up."

Dammit.

"Okay. But I've only played for like five minutes on Xbox. This might be a train wreck." I confess, taking the white PlayStation controller and sliding off the couch and onto the ottoman.

Okay. Weapons choice would depend on the map and type of enemies I would be facing. But I'm going in blind, which means I'm essentially blindfolded.

JJ loads up the main screen and sets into a lobby for a match while I peruse the preset weapons classes.

Ooh, a Beretta and a Glock. That's at least a start.

"Good choice. Beretta will ease you into things. It can spray and pray with the best of 'em."

Who in the hell wants to spray and pray?!

"Okay." I nod, attempting to disguise my disgust.

When it comes to war, fighting and guns, it looks like people my age have almost literally no idea.

A countdown timer starts ticking down to a map called "Scrapyard" reads out.

Probably a decent amount of cover given the name. Don't want to peek out of corners, just turn and go most likely.

The screen violently goes black for a split second, then the basics of the map load while my choices of weapons classes appear. Choosing the Beretta and Glock class before I glance at the map, an idea pops into my head.

If I can do this right, I'll be a buzzsaw. The entire map feeds into itself, like a snake eating its tail.

Cayle – New iMessage

"You up?"

"Yup."

The grey dots appear immediately, followed by:

"I'll know which one you are by how you move. Show them what real power is."

I smirk, then click off my phone as a countdown clock starts from 5.

"Real power is something only a select few have. The rest are destined to watch, to cower and to obey."

I don't cower. And I obey only if I want to. That's why I left.

"Nothing is that important!"

"—said that something weird went on at a work meeting. I think he's fine." Sabine says quietly behind me, causing me to glance back at her.

"Huh?" I ask.

Matt smiles. "You just seem tense."

I laugh, then duck my head as my controller vibrates. "It's hard to live up to expectations sometimes."

Go time.

I turn back to the screen, recognize that I'm on the lower screen and get going, starting off at a run to my left while getting used to the look of the gun in front of me as I run down a corridor. Bringing up the scope, a guy brazenly runs right into the middle of the scope then drops from my reflexive shot.

"Good shot…" I hear Matt behind me.

There should be someone else nearby.

I swoop around the corner, spot the next guy and take him out with two quick shots before finding a fork in the hall.

Eh, let's go left. Right feeds back into everything.

As soon as I turn, two more guys rise up to meet me then fall before something bounces in.

"He's HOT!"

They didn't say anything about—

A fireball goes off, quickly followed by my avatar falling from the shrapnel before my screen blinks and waits to reset,

I guess I died.

"Grenades huh?" I ask while processing as I load back into the game.

"Yeah, they can be really hit or miss." JJ comments, not looking away from his half of the screen.

"Hit or miss…" I roll my eyes. "Gimme a break."

If you throw them in high traffic areas, you always get bodies in return, The map feeds into the middle. So if I say, take out the pin and hold it…

I tilt up a little higher and let the grenade fly, bouncing off the metal catwalk before disappearing where gunshots are echoing everywhere.

"Kill +30"

"Kill +30"

"Kill +30"

"Kill +30"

Don't know how to use your grenades. They aren't rocks. You need a purpose to throw them,

Switching to my pistol, I duck around some boxes that have been knocked over, spot two more enemies then pop both.

Out of the corner of my eye I see JJ turn to me, look for a moment as I keep plowing through enemies.

Too easy,

"—Five! Damn boy!" Trey yells before I catch a guy in the neck with a pistol shot and three more appear and fire wildly.

Can't use the pistol anymore. I wonder if…

R1 was grenade. What about L1?

Impulsively, I hold the button and a flash bang pops up.

Perfect. Enjoy this.

I throw it, then away from the throw. My foes stay where they are until I hear the dull thud of the grenade going off, then watch them walk right into my bullets, unable to see me flanking from the back.

Maneuverability wins most battles. It almost never comes down to skill.

Easy.

(The Following Day)

I take my phone, wallet and car keys back from the security guards then glance to my left and see Cayle swiping on a tablet while holding a cup of coffee and leaning on a pillar.

"Morning." I greet him, causing him to glance up.

"Morning. Coffee? Just made some new."

I shrug. "Nah, I grabbed a juice before I came."

"You're like a hybrid car. Everyone else needs caffeine, you don't. You need different fuel."

"Thanks?" I laugh as we start further into the temple.

"So how'd yesterday go after you left that house?" He changes subjects silkily.

I glance over at him. "I know you know."

Cayle's eyes move over his cup. "So? I can't ask?"

"Bridger!" I hear Kenobi's voice call out for me to stop. Obediently, I do just that then turn and put a smile on for him.

"Master Kenobi, good morning."

"Morning young one. Where's the girl?"

I smile at him. "I don't know. If I had to guess? Probably still asleep at my apartment."

"Still?"

"I didn't wake her up before I came." I nod. "It's early and she plays today."

Cayle shifts to stand beside me while Master Kenobi crosses his arms. "Why didn't she leave last night?"

"Because she fell asleep and I let her get her rest."

"So she's welcome to stay in your eyes."

I nod. "I don't see why she wouldn't be?"

"Hmm." Kenobi muses. "Our investigation falls in line with your statement, but we should be able to speak to her today."

How? At her game? There's not much time today unless they go to my apartment and accost her.

"Nothing?" Kenobi looks at me funny. "Cayle?"

"She's sleeping. I see no harm in letting her sleep, especially if she plays today." Cayle answers neutrally.

Kenobi seems to mull this over then nods. "Very well then. May the Force be with you both."

"And with you, Master Kenobi." Cayle nods as I nod respectfully. Kenobi takes in his due respect, then starts to walk away. Cayle and I watch him go for a moment, then he turns to me, then motions for us to continue.

"How is she by the way?"

"Touchy-Feely. I couldn't really hide my mood. Blamed it on a work meeting." I confess. "Your help was no help at all by the way."

"Hey, I just tried putting you in a good position. She was handsy?" His eyebrows raise.

I shake my head and fight the impulse to shove him again. "Two hugs, squeezed my knee and elbow gently."

"Showing her support." He smirks.

"Don't smirk."

"I'm not!" he replies hastily.

"You're making it weird."

"No I'm not!" He counters.

I nod. "Yes, you are. Where are we going?"

"New R&D head…you need to meet him!" Cayle lightens. "Don't you think Sabine's getting away from this conversation."

"What's his name?" I ignore him.

"Alexandre, but everyone has been calling him 'A'."

"Mysterious."

Cayle smiles. "Nah, it's just a nickname. But it's stuck. Here." Cayle stops me, then flashes his badge.

"Padawan Cayle, accepted." The automated voice reads out as a somber picture of Cayle pops up on the display before the doors retract, revealing the LA Temple's lab facilities. Immediately, a few technicians spot us and start to the back of the lab.

That's either great, or terrible.

"Why do I need to meet this guy?" I ask Cayle.

"Because he makes all the cool toys. Besides the lightsabers of course." Cayle smiles. "He tripled the stopping power of the Kevlar armor rumor has it."

I nod. "Tripled?"

"Actually, it's quadrupled." A English sounding voice sounds out. "But the field ready model has been tripled, as Cayle tells you. I'm Alex, but everyone calls me 'A' Master Bridger."

Uhh…

"It's just Ezra." I sputter out nervously. "But thanks."

Nobody's every called me Master Bridger.

"I looked into your file. Are you really attending University?"

Cayle smirks, causing me to smile. "Yeah."

"Must be quite a juxtaposition between the two worlds."

"Right now it's very clear. There's not much overlap, which means I can kind of turn it on and off."

"A binary outlook."

Cayle adds "And it's not like you're going to start whipping stuff around using the Force. People don't even know what it is, it'd be too much for them to handle."

I'd probably be arrested for being a witch.

"They'll have to start adjusting, at the rate people are accessing the Force nowadays. The wars of today will be antiquated before long. Which is why I made…this." Alex stops and gestures to a blank white holotable.

"Okay?" I ask, confused.

There's nothing here.

"It's not physical." Cayle smiles.

"He's right." Alex backs him up. "It is a natural-language user interface computer system. Synced with your DNA, it is your personal backup, always looking to help."

"I don't mean to be rude, but what does it…do?" I ask.

"Everything." Cayle answers.

Alex waves his hands down flatly. "Send text messages, emails, monitor suspicious channels, call for backup, feed you intel on a new target, call out old ones, simultaneous translation of foreign languages…for a start." He lets out a heavy breath.

"Okay. Sounds great. Is there a tutorial, or is it better to use it hands on?" I ask.

"Hands on is best. Place your hand on the table and say 'Activate'." Alex informs me.

Seeing a spot for me to place my palm face down, I do just that. "Activate."

Nothing.

I give it a few seconds. "Activate."

Okay.

"Activate." I repeat myself. "Program, activate."

Cayle looks to me as Alex bites his lip. "Activate."

"Activate." I repeat myself, then look to Alex and Cayle. "Thoughts?"

"Try raising your voice." Cayle suggests.

Alex only says "It should be working."

"Activate." I raise my voice a bit. "Activate."

Nope.

"Program, activate. Program, activate."

I know nothing about language based programs. If it was hardline based I could probably suss out the problem in seconds.

"Activate."

Cayle chips in, strongly saying "Activate." Before Alex snaps at him.

"You'll mess up the synchronization to his voice. Stop."

"Activate."

Cayle replies to Alex. "Well it's not working."

"I can bloody well tell that!"

"Then fix it."

I ignore the two of them. "Program, please activate."

I feel ridiculous.

"Not please!" Alex adds, ducking down to glance at the bones of the table.

"Activate." I change my tune.

Cayle looks to me. "I had no issues at all. Works great, makes studying briefs a breeze."

"Activate.: I repeat again then frown. "Lucky you."

"So sorry Ezra." A apologizes.

I smile. "No problem. Unforeseen snag. Activate." I keep at it."

"Oh for the love of the Queen…not today. It's the fearsome D—" Alex mutters.

Cayle cuts him off. "One more word and you'll really learn what fearsome is."

"Bully me all you want!" Alex chimes in. "Won't fix it any faster!"

"Activate."

"Ezra's taking a programming course. I bet he can take a look." Cayle looks to me.

"Not on this level." I shake my head. "Activate." Frowning I turn to Cayle. "This is way beyond my skills right now. "Ac-ti-vate."

"You always say that, then make it look easy." Cayle shakes his head.

"Activate." I say as Alex continues fiddling with the table. "Activate."

Suddenly, the table's display seems to blink and something kicks on. "Activated. User: Bridger, Ezra. Is that correct?" A female voice asks.

"Yes." I say as Alex pops up beaming. "One dumb loose connection. Apologies."

"As well as mine." The voice adds. "I was trying to break through my programming to interact with you until Dr. Alexandre fixed the programming."

Break…through?

"We need to be very careful with this tech." I tell Alex firmly.

"Already safeguarded against that."

"Anyway, Ezra Bridger, can I call you Ezra?" The voice…asks me.

I stop, hesitate then shrug to Cayle. "Sure."

"Great Ezra." The voice seems to lighten, as if she was smiling.

"How many times did it take for Ezra to activate you?" Alex asks.

"Twenty two times."

Alex winces like he just took a major blow. "Christ. My apologies."

"You're fine." I dismiss his concerns. "What do I need to know first?"