Swiping to the next page, I reach over for my water, only to find it completely empty, minus the ice that's slowly melting.

"Refill?" I ask Sabine as I move to sit up.

Sabine stops whatever it is she's doing on her canvas to turn to me. "Sure."

"What'd you get?" I ask while grabbing her cup.

"I'm finishing off the last of Jaicey's wine from the other night." She replies evenly.

I silently nod before walking into the kitchen and setting both drink down. "You can have some too if you want."

"No, I'm okay." I answer her, then pull out the boxed wine.

Not too much left. I'll leave the rest to her.

Filling her cup first, I then switch out my melting ice cubes for new then walk back to Sabine.

"What exactly are you doing?" I ask, extending her cup back to her.

Sabine turns, then accepts her drink with a smile. "Well, I just finished my tracing. I'm about to put some graphite down, then I'll start the underpainting."

"Tracing? I didn't know tracing was art."

Sabine makes a face as she is taking a sip, then smirks at me. "It's a technique."

"I tease." I smile back at her.

Sabine returns it before looking back to her canvas, which indeed looks like she's traced the outline of her project onto it faintly.

"What'd you say you'll do after that? Under something?"

"Underpainting." Sabine replies quickly. "It's basically the bottom layer of paint of the canvas. Usually a dark color, but not in this case."

"What, in this case?" I ask the question.

Sabine silently points to the area beside my desk where she's set out some clear sheeting and mixed yellow and brown paints together to get what looks like a weathered tan looking color.

"It's the background for the top thirds of the painting." Sabine explains, then points to the bottom half, which are divided into small rectangles. "The bottom half is a plaza."

"Bricks?"

"Basically." Sabine says, a smile in her voice. "They're paving stones. How'd you know?"

"Lucky guess." I sip my drink. "What are you painting? Is it for a class?"

"Yeah. It's going to end up being for my midterm in Art of Poetry."

"Art of Poetry?" I echo her.

That sounds like it's dull.

Sabine nods. "It's supposed to be the fountain in St. Peter's Square in Rome."

"I can kind of see that."

It sort of looks like a fountain above the bricks. I don't know what those cylindrical things in front are supposed to be though.

"Kind of?" Sabine echoes me.

I shrug and confess. "I can see the fountain, and the bricks—"

"Paving stones." She corrects me.

"Paving stones." I amend, then smile at her. "But I don't really see the rest of it. The subtlety is lost on me."

Sabine shakes her head swiftly. "It's not. I haven't done anything yet."

You've been at it for almost two hours now.

"But you've been busy." I counter.

"Before you can ever put brush to canvas, it takes hours of planning, storyboarding, sketching." Sabine explains. "Research, studying pictures, picking an angle. It's not just spontaneous."

"Huh." Is all I get out.

Interesting.

"I'll let you get back to it. Thanks for explaining some of it."

Sabine stops what she's doing, setting down her charcoal piece of chalk looking thing on her little stand and moves to give me a side hug. "You're welcome."

"I let myself lean into the hug for a moment before telling her "You can turn your music back on. It wasn't bothering me."

Sabine's head pops up to look at me. "Okay. You sure?"

"Yeah. You didn't stop it for me, did you?"

"No." She shakes her head. "I mess up when I listen to music and sketch."

But wouldn't that only get worse if—

Whatever. I bet she has a process.

"You sure you don't mind?" She asks again.

"Course not." I smile. "I'll just be over here reading."

Sabine nods, then turns back to her painting stand and her canvas, leaving me to return to my spot on the couch.

Alright…

I let myself plop down heavily then shift to get comfortable, resting my head on a pillow while tapping in my passcode for my tablet.

Let's really dig into this report.

Swiping thru my open applications, I finally find the secure, encrypted app that holds Dooku's report, then tap on it to open it.

Behind me, to the left I hear Sabine's speaker start back up before a notification pops onto my screen.

Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire – Twos

Focus.

I let out of breath, close my eyes then settle myself in the Force, blocking out the sound of Sabine's music.

"After two and a half weeks of searching thru the dense forests on the eastern side of the island, I finally found the rumor that I had come chasing. The Kaminoan I encountered was out hunting, using modern tools as well as electronic tracking of their prey. Initially hesitant, I informed him of my intentions with the Jedi Order. This turned the tone of our conversation rapidly into a cordial one, earning me an invitation into the hidden Kaminoan city. "

That's right.

He was hunting for a hidden civilization.

"My initial impressions of the Kaminoan people are as follows: slender, towering, pale-skinned humanoids whose oblong heads sat atop elongated neck bones that allowed them limited flexibility. Every Kaminoan that I encountered had the same eyes; almond-shaped black eyes with white pupils."

Wow.

He found a legitimate offshoot of humanity. Stowed away on the island of Madagascar.

But how did they have such advanced technology?

A new notification pops onto my screen.

Bruce Springsteen – Shackled and Drawn – Twos

"My new friend guided me to a large lake, one that is completely obscured from above by tree cover yet is clear and full of diverse life. The fellow handed me a small, compact breathing apparatus and gestured for me to follow, which I did. What awaited me astounds me."

"About fifty feet down, these is a platform, clearly built by man but originated on an ancient lake bed. There I was led to a tunnel, which took both of us even further down. Initially, I was hesitant to follow, believing that I would find only rock and the crushing depths.

Instead, I discovered a completely domed city, hidden beneath the lake which the locals called Tipoca City."

Okay. Now I get why he didn't tell anybody where he was going, and why the Council kept me in the dark.

I would have thought he was crazy.

I mean, there are legitimate tribes of people that are hidden from the world, deep in the Amazon, India or other remote places.

But this is different.

"Once I emerged from the tunnel, we were greeted by armed guards who were quite upset at my unannounced arrival. My friend informed them of my affiliation with the Order, and I was quickly shepherded deeper into the city to meet a woman who was called "Su".

They know of the Jedi.

But as far as I'm aware, we didn't know about them.

How's that possible?

Putting my questions aside, I glance back to see Sabine clearing bobbing along to her music before I swipe to the next page.

"After about ten minutes of walking in which I mostly observed the physical features of the locals, we arrived at a large, governmental appearing building which we entered.

There, we were greeted by armed security who insisted that my friend be left at the door. Passing along my contact information to him, I followed the guards inside. Once inside, I was pressed on my identity, affiliation, and purpose for my visit."

"I informed them that I was there on behalf of the Jedi Council, and intended no harm upon them. I had been searching for their people and simply wished to make contact. Those answers initially seemed to confuse them, for reasons that would become clear later. In the moment, my answers got me in the door and into a meeting with the Kaminoan Prime Minister Lama Su."

Thy must have been isolated for a very long time if they've legitimately managed to evolve in a manner that is completely separate than any other species of human on Earth.

But they have a Prime Minister, and a governmental structure that's neo-modern.

Aerosmith – Dream On - Twos

I swipe away the notification, before another one pops up. This time inside the app itself.

Master Adi Gallia is Online.

Must be morning in Hong Kong.

"Prime Minister Lama Su awaited me in a small, unimpressive antechamber. Upon meeting him, refreshments and boarding were offered, both of which I accepted. My acceptance seemed to seal their trust in me, and quickly questions began to fly."

"The initial question was if the specimen they had helped create 18 years ago was performing up to the Jedi Order's expectations."

Specimen? Create?!

"I confessed to them my confusion. Upon hearing this, they informed me that beginning thirty years ago, the Kaminoan government was approached by Jedi Master Motangue for a highly specialized project: The creation of a unique individual, with suitable genetic enhancement for the Jedi Order. The specific were not chosen at that time, but at the initial meeting it was asked if it could be done."

"These Kaminoans, upon my investigation, are the most accomplished group of scientists and genetic manipulation and engineering on the planet. The request was beyond anything they had done prior, due to their isolated nature and remote location. But they agreed to begin work with Master Motangue."

A notification pops up, and I swipe it aside without truly looking at it.

Is Cayle online?

I tap the banner on the left side, which displays all the active users accessing the Temple's database or archives at the current moment.

What the hell is going on.

I scan up and down for Cayle's name, only for it to not appear.

Dammit!

I set the table down on my chest, then grab my water and sip it.

My hands are shaking.

Focus. Ezra.

Putting my glass back onto the coaster, I lay back down on the couch and close my eyes as Sabine's music keeps playing.

I think…I know why Master Dooku went looking for them.

But my father couldn't have had help. That's impossible. He always said it the exact same way.

"I created you."

Created. Out of whole cloth, never mentioning anyone else.

Because he wouldn't have needed anybody else. He knows seemingly everything. His plans have plans.

Focus.

Breathe. Use the Force.

Think.

I let out a breath thru my nose, then release my tensions out into the Force, only for Sabine's exuberant Force Signature to almost leap out at me.

Relax.

I think Sabine really enjoys this song. Or maybe the painting. I just know that her Force signature finally has a defined form and feel.

Pink and purple, with never ending warmth attached.

Focus.

I bring my tablet back up, then snap my eyes open and force myself to continue to read.

It's not necessarily as bad as—

I swipe away the new song notification in irritation, which causes the whole page to reload.

"Master Motangue I knew, died in the Vietnam War at the hand of the Sith Empire and the Viet Cong. However, knowing this I played along and continued to ask questions."

"It took two and a half weeks to get a picture of this man, which I have attached deeper in this report. I suspected—"

"Twos, bring up that picture. Now." I type as fast as I can

Viet Cong. There's no—

Twos brings up the picture of a young, tan, scruffily bearded man.

…

…

He lied.

OUR FATHER WOULD NEVER LIE!

Vader.

Not now.

Now is not relevant. We were told the same—

Shut up.

I blink and force myself to block Vader out.

Dad and his master, whose name I know as Darth Plagueis. They helped orchestrate Order 66 in Vietnam.

Dad, when he wanted to prove his point about his Master, always called him Darth Plagueis the Wise.

As a taunt. Invoking his memory only to insult him.

Lord Plagueis was far more accomplished in the ways of the Sith Arts than you, YOU—

He was not as strong in the Dark Side as I was.

AM. You ARE—

I SAID SHUT UP VADER!

I force myself to my feet and refill my glass.

The timeline for all this is completely off. I was born over thirty years after the Vietnam War concluded.

Grabbing my water pitcher, I force my hand to be still as I—

Bold of the Jedi to leave you alone.

Details.

The details always matter. Context matters. It creates the complete picture.

We were created to do singular things! To follow orders, as we are told! It is humanity's—

I swat the level to turn the sink on and refill the water filter, then set it aside so that gravity and the filter itself can remove the water's impurities.

Focus on the facts Ezra.

I turn and walk back to the couch, only allowing myself to give Sabine a quick glance as she's clearly concentrating on her painting, brush in her hand as she is deliberately—

Quite the pretty girl.

I plop down onto my couch again and grab my tablet. "Keep her out of your mouth Vader." I whisper to myself.

Sabine's sacred, out of—

The girl is far from out of bounds. I already know her. As well as you do you know.

I know.

Our father—

My father.

If…if he contacted these Kaminoans thirty years ago, then this goes much deeper than anybody would have ever thought.

I told the Council what I believed to be the truth.

And instead I rephrased another lie to us that I then unwittingly spun to the Council.

He would only lie in an effort to protect and—

He lied all the time to us.

And he didn't care about protecting me. At least not towards the end.

I suddenly go still as a realization hits me.

If this whole plan has been going on for decades on end, then he's been planning this out or far longer.

And if he's been doing that maybe—

Our father certainly could have foreseen your pathetic betrayal.

Shut up!

"Hey Ezra?" Sabine's voice calls to me out of nowhere, causing me to jump out of my skin. "Oh, I'm sorry…"

I sit up off the couch and turn to her. "It's okay. What's up?"

"I, uhm, have a question. Something I heard about the Jedi."

"I don't know if I can help you. I don't know all that much." I joke, adding a laugh at the end.

That sounded nervous.

Why are you nervous? She's just a little girl.

Sabine sets her paintbrush down and finally turns to me. "I know, but you know more than me. I mean, you're not a Jedi. Are you?"

"No." this time I let out a legitimate laugh. "I'm not a Jedi."

They refuse to give you such an unworthy title.

SHUT. UP!

I shake my head to try and eject Vader from my mind before Sabine continues. "Okay, good. Well, uhm…I heard something. A long time ago."

"Okay." I encourage for her to continue, then sip my water.

Focus.

"I heard the Jedi aren't allowed to have real attachments."

"Attachments?" I parrot her. "What do you mean?"

"Like getting married. Having a family. Getting too attached to people." She explains. "From what I learned about the Jedi as a kid, they're pretty strict and inflexible."

They still are.

"I don't think that's how it is anymore.: I counter Sabine. I know that the Jedi used to forbid marriage and attachment, because it might cloud their judgement and prevent them from doing their job. But I think that's been discarded over the years."

"You think so?"

"Yeah." I nod. "I only know that now the Jedi's main responsibility is to uphold peace and protect people across the planet. They're encouraged to show compassion when they're sent to many of the dangerous areas on the planet."

Sabine smirks at me. "The only Jedi I've met seems kind of rigid and inflexible."

"He can seem like that."

"He wasn't with you. He seemed to really like you."

Because he does.

I shrug, then sip my water again. "He's been hard on me sometimes. But getting back to your question, I don't think so."

"What about love?"

Love?

"What about it?" I repeat after Sabine.

"Do you know if they can fall in love? Have a family? Love the people, their friends and those around them?"

"I don't know." I shake my head. "I know they're encouraged to love those around them. So I guess so, in a way."

Sabine opens her mouth to reply, but gets cut off by a sudden knock on my door.

I'm not expecting guests.

"Oh. My bad. I think that's Jaicey." Sabine quickly says, while looking embarrassed.

"Okay." I say as I get up, then smile at her as I make my way to the door.

Probing out as I reach the door, I unlock the deadbolt and pull it open.

Two people.

"Hey Ezra! Can we come in?" Jaicey smiles at me, with JJ right behind her.

"Sure." I step aside. "Come on in."

Jaicey slides inside, backpack on before JJ makes a motion to slap my hand.

"How's it going?" He asks causally as he also step inside, and I close the door.

"Not much. Homework."

"Jaicey said Sabine's over here?" He asks before turning and spotting Jaicey and Sabine, already in the middle of conversation.

"—moving everything over. So you're all set."

Sabine smiles at Jaicey. "Great. Thank you."

"And…" Jaicey drops her backpack down onto my recliner. "I got the wine you asked for."

More wine?!

"You asked for more?" I ask as Jaicey unzips her backpack and pulls out another box of wine, followed by two bottles.

"She didn't say anything?" JJ follows up.

Sabine quickly looks even more embarrassed before explaining "No, he's been reading. Didn't want to bother him."

"You wouldn't have bothered me." I reply.

She never bothers me.

"Want this in the fridge?" Jaicey asks Sabine and I.

I shrug, and Sabine nods, then Jaicey vanishes, leaving JJ to drift towards the entertainment center.

"I didn't know you had a PS4 Ezra." JJ says after a moment.

"Yeah." I laugh. "Haven't played it too much. Too busy."

"You'll find time to relax." He says dismissively before he starts to dig around for something. "Fall semester of Freshman year is always a blur. In the Spring you'll be able to start relaxing and having more fun."

"He will. You won't." Jaicey comments, causing me to turn and see that she's handing a new glass to Sabine before extending one to me.

"What do you mean?" I ask, taking the glass.

"His season's coming up in a few weeks. We're gonna lose him—what are you doing?" Jaicey snaps at JJ.

I turn back to see that my TV's on, along with my PlayStation, and that JJ is typing something.

"Ezra'll have to join in on our COD games. New season coming up babe."

"He doesn't have to. He just said he's busy. Plus midterms and finals are coming up." Jaicey counters.

I turn to Sabine for help, only for her to shrug in my direction as JJ continues to tap away on my controller.

"He'll find time." JJ says dismissively.

Jaicey lets out an annoyed noise before saying "Wow, that looks awesome."

"Not yet. It sucks. I'm not even close to being done." Sabine says, turning back to her canvas.

"How'd you get an easel up here?"

"Ordered it to my dorm, threw it into my car. My old one broke." Sabine explains.

"Broke?" I ask, looking away from my TV as JJ is texting somebody.

"Yeah, it was old and my parents stuffed it in the back on the drive down here." Sabine shrugs. "Dad bought me the new one."

"Speaking of broken, did you hear if you'll be able to move at semester?" Jaicey asks.

"No, not yet."

I didn't know she wanted to move.

Makes sense though.

"Let us know if you can. We'll help you move out. And JJ's got space for you to store your stuff over the holidays." Jaicey volunteers.

"Yeah, don't worry about it." JJ says, still distracted by my PS4.

In the blink of an eye, Jaicey begins to pull JJ away. "C'mon. Let's let them be. They're busy. And I've got that stupid psych quiz."

"I told you, it'll be easy."

"It's due at midnight!"

"We've got time!" JJ retorts.

Jaicey fluffs up in frustration before cutting herself off. "We're out of here. Good to see you Ezra!"

I smile at the two of them as JJ keeps getting pushed towards the door. "Nice seeing you guys."

"Yeah, nice place man!" JJ adds helplessly as he keep getting pushed.

"Bye!"

"Bye!" Sabine calls after them before the door opens, then shuts.

A moment passes before I turn to Sabine. "Well that was entertaining."

"Yeah." She laughs, then sips her wine and sets it aside.

"More wine huh." I tease her before looking down to my own glass.

I did not mean to be drinking tonight.

"Sorry. But I'm…I don't know. The art comes easier to me with wine. It's not as frustrating." Sabine explains.

"Then by all means." I smile, then glance at her canvas.

Looks like she's getting there slowly. Using a pretty small brush by the looks of it.

"Is it okay if I…stay here tonight? I really want to make some progress on this before I go to bed tonight." Sabine asks, her anxiousness reaching me thru the Force.

She really wants to stay.

"Sure, of course." I smile.

"I'll sleep on the couch. You have your bed."

This again.

"Sabine, I don't mind." I counter.

"I don't know when I'll be going to sleep." She counters my counter. "I don't want to keep you up."

"You won't. I can fall asleep anywhere, anytime."

Sabine lets out a laugh, then fully turns her back on me to concentrate on her painting.

"You need anything?" I ask.

"Maybe food."

I'm hungry too. And it'll distract me.

"Me too. Let's order." I smile. "What do you want?"

"Ezra!" Sabine call after me before I tart down the hall to my bedroom.

"What? It's fine!"

It'll be a good distraction. I'll text Cayle and Kanan later. Maybe even email the Council.

I don't think I want to read anymore tonight.