"Calling United Flight 1511 from Los Angeles to Chicago O'Hare, here in a moment we will be boarding our Premier 1k Members, United Global Services Members, active duty military personnel and their families, and customers with disabilities, followed by boarding Group A—"
Beside me Sabine starts organizing her backpack, moving her iPad so that it isn't crushed by the pair of art books, as well as the harlequin romance novel she just picked up at the bookstand here in the airport.
"You ready to go home?" I ask, throwing some pep into my voice.
"Yeah." Sabine laughs then turns to give me a smile. "It feels like Halloween to Thanksgiving took an eternity."
Not really.
I shrug. "Flew by to me."
"Thank you for driving me down. And keeping me company." She says, turning her attention back to her boarding pass.
"Of course. Anytime. Happy to do it." I tell her.
Sabine sets her boarding pass in her lap and turns to give me her full attention. "You said this meeting is going to be bad?"
"Yeah." I nod. "After how Thursday went, I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a new one ripped for me."
LIAR!
"I'll text Matt after his game this week. See if he can fast track getting you moved to our part of the world. Not nearly as many people yelling at you."
I laugh away her clear concern. "I can handle getting yelled at. The job just isn't what I signed up for."
"I'm sorry it's gotten you so stressed out."
"Sorry I can't hide it better." I attempt to smile again, only for it to come out as more of a wince.
PATHETIC!
Sabine averts my gaze again. "You don't have to hide from me. You know I'm not going to tell anyone."
"Tell ya what. After all this, when we come back. I'll let you actually try to get me drunk. Then I'll tell you what's happening. I might yell though."
"You can yell." She says, a laugh in her reply.
UGH.
"I just don't like how they seem to think they can call you in on little notice and tear you apart for doing your job." She adds, looking dead serious. "I will take you up on that though."
The intercom crackles to life once again. "Calling United Flight 1511 from Los Angeles to Chicago O'Hare, now boarding Group A, please make your way to the terminal directly in front of—"
"Time to go." I rise to my feet. Sabine follows my lead, scooping up her backpack and throwing it onto her shoulders.
Smile Ezra.
LIE EZRA!
"Have a great Thanksgiving. Text me whenever. If you want to." I joke, smiling as much as I can.
"I will." Sabine replies before pulling me into her arms for a hug. "Call me later if you need to. Okay? I'm serious."
I nod once, then force another smile onto my face. "Boo that Chara asshole for me." I tease her.
She loves her hockey. Hates some dude for a Boston team named Chara.
Sabine laughs loudly, then gives me a slightly dirty look. "I will. Love you. Text you later."
"Bye." I smile at her, just before Sabine closes the gap between us and plants a kiss on my cheek.
YOU DON'T DESERVE THAT.
Without another word, Sabine turns away from me and walks to the gate sliding into line behind a man in a suit and an oddly dressed woman.
I slide out of the primary boarding area, allowing normal passengers to eagerly take my place as I lean up against a pillar bordering the primary hallway for the terminal.
You will never see her again. I will make sure of that.
Shut up.
I'm getting out today. There is nothing you can do about it. And I will RUIN you.
Go to hell.
You first.
Asshole.
I AM YOU! YOU ARE THE ASSHOLE!
In front of me, Sabine steps next to the scanner and slides her boarding pass under the light, which lights up green. The attendant says something to her, Sabine smiles and moves to walk down the jet bridge.
Suddenly, just before she disappears Sabine turns back to look for me. I halfheartedly raise my hand to wave and Sabine smiles before giving me one final wave.
And…there she goes.
She's going home.
YOU HAVE NO HOME!
Yeah. Well.
Closing my eyes, I attempt futilely to release my tensions out into the Force before reaching out and finding Cayle.
He's close.
He doesn't trust you! You know—
SHUT UP!
I turn away from Sabine's gate and start to walk down the massive hallway before Cayle jumps out to my eye, sipping his Starbucks.
"Hey there." He greets me.
I give him a weak smile in return before together we start off towards the parking garage.
He took an Uber here.
"Looked like a nice goodbye." He comments.
"Eh." I shrug. "It was okay."
I could have done better.
"Felt to me like a part of her didn't want to go."
"Nah. She's excited to go home. See her family. She and her father are really close."
It was blatantly obvious at breakfast on Thursday.
"She kissed you goodbye though." Cayle says, his face curling into a devious smile.
"Not like that. I told you. She's just affectionate."
"Towards you." He counters.
SHUT UP!
LET ME OUT!
Instead of popping off some reply. I dig into my pocket and shove my keys into his stomach. "You drive."
Cayle winces at the move then takes my keys. "Sounds good to me."
For a few minutes, we walk in silence. Cayle sipping his coffee as I attempt to release my tensions.
"Take a deep breath."
"Thanks." I snap.
"You're not breathing." He counters.
"I'm trying to relax."
"You won't be able to relax if you're blue in the face from not breathing. Roll your shoulders. Your body is holding your tension."
"Shut up."
LET. ME. OUT.
No.
LET! ME! OUT!
My head briefly throbs before Cayle casts a sympathetic look in my direction. "What's he saying?"
"Let me out." I repeat Vader's demand.
LET. ME. OUT.
LET ME OUT! NOW!
"Tell that asshole to wait."
YOU TELL THAT ASSHOLE TO GO TO HELL! I'LL KILL HIM!
"He says he'll kill you."
"He can go to hell." Cayle counters as we arrive at the elevator for the parking garage.
YOU FIRST!
LET! ME! OUT!
Cayle leads me to my car, which is purposefully parked near the elevator. Unlocking it, I sit on the passenger's side and recline the seat.
Almost there.
"You okay?"
"I'll be relieved when all this is over." I reply.
He's been at it since I started meditating.
"I bet." Is Cayle's reply before he fires up my engine and gets us moving.
I don't know how much time passes behind my closed eyelids as I try to relax before Cayle hits the button for my Bluetooth. "Kyle."
"Yes Master." Kyle, Cayle's AI replies.
"Tell the Council that we are inbound."
"Roger."
The silence audibles into a radio station before beeping informs me that Cayle's connecting something, likely his phone to my Bluetooth.
"I'm sorry for what he's going to say." I apologize.
I feel Cayle turn to me before he tells me. "You don't have to apologize to me."
"Relay that to the Council. He's on one right now." I tell him.
"I know. You're pale as a ghost."
"Not helping." I bite back at him.
"Facts. They'll know your stance as soon as you are on camera. And you know the Council already accepts your apology. They don't hold you accountable for what Vader says."
"But still."
Cayle is silent for a moment before replying. "I know. You know the drill. Everything is already in position."
Good.
I open my eyes long enough to glance at my phone.
10:18 AM.
(11:08 AM)
LET.
ME.
OUT!
I swing the bed violently against the side of the bare concrete wall, causing it to bounce right off, only rattling the frame.
LET. ME. OUT!
Pivoting on my foot, I drive the bed frame against the other wall as hard as I can.
"LET. ME. OUT!" I scream.
I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME!
Furiously, I slam my foot into the ground and unleash a wave of pressure out in all directions before it bounces off the three concrete walls.
As its absorbed by the wall I know they are watching me through.
"LET! ME! OUT!" I scream at the top of my lungs before winding up again and swinging the frame as hard as I can.
The loud metallic sound rings out before I pivot towards the other wall and unload on that wall.
"LET! ME! OUT!" I yell before connecting the frame with the other wall.
The imperceptible sound of the wall directly in front of me changes, causing me to halt and see that the impenetrable grey has changed to that of glass, transparent.
About time.
Turning my full attention to the room full of people in front of me, I fling the bed, which I ripped out of the floor into the far corner.
"Hey Asshole." The one named Cayle scowls at me.
His Master, Tano stands beside him as behind them stand over twenty heavily armed men, all dressed in black, guns already trained upon me.
"Don't think about it." She spits out at me before four more men, two on each side appear with my chains. As I blink the wall vanishes, and I take a step—
WHAM!
My back is flattened against the wall as Master and Apprentice hold me in position with the Force. Temple Guards with dual sided lightsabers appear to protect the men holding my chains as they advance on me.
Strapping the chains to my ankles and wrists, they then connect them before the Apprentice, Cayle steps forward and slaps my muzzle on me, causing it to unfurl and silence me.
"Walk." Tano orders me before I am forcibly pulled by my chains out of my cell towards the stairs leading to the Temple proper.
They prepared for me.
I'm honored.
Unrelentingly, I am pulled up the stairs before being met by more Temple Guards who in turn ignite their sabers to lead me down the hall.
My greeting party continues pulling on my chains before the sensation of electricity begins coursing through them into my bones.
Their younglings must be nearby.
Oh yes.
There they are.
As is every time they release me to talk, the halls are lined with armed guards while behind them stand the occupants of the Temple as well as their guests.
All trying to get a peek at the renowned Darth Vader. Lord of the Sith.
Pathetic.
My procession continues down the hall before making a right hand turn to a freight elevator, which opens upon sight. I'm led into said elevator, accompanied by four Temple Guards, Tano and her Apprentice Cayle as well as two soldiers before the elevator begins to rise.
I can feel their hatred for me.
Especially his friend's.
He hates me more than the rest combined.
The door pops open and I'm greeted by the sight of the ornate hall leading to the Chamber. The wall to wall escort of guards and soldiers meets me all the way to the door just before we stop short.
Tano and her apprentice take the lead before the doors open and I'm drug into the center of the room by my chains before another round of electricity shoots into my body.
I will not grunt.
I simply grit my teeth before Tano takes my muzzle off, and I roll my neck to eye the Jedi in front of me.
Yoda, Windu, Mundi, Koon, Kenobi, Skywalker, Tano, Jinn, Dooku, Unduli, Shaak Ti, Yaddle, Jarrus and…
Billaba.
Pivoting slightly, I fix the woman in my withering gaze and release a breath through my nose.
YOU.
"Young Bridger." Windu calls out to me.
I ignore him and bore deeper into Billaba's eyes.
I cannot use the Force otherwise I would know every deep, dark secret—
"Ezra." Windu repeats himself.
Shut up Windu.
I will break Billaba, and this entire Council. And I will enjoy—
"Lord Vader."
Releasing a breath through my nose, I close my eyes and turn back to the Council. "Master. Windu."
"This Council has brought you forth today." He begins as the rest of the Council silently stares on. "Are you aware of why?"
NOW!
I pull both of my arms away from my body as hard as I can, causing my chains to go taut before they are pulled upon by all of my Guards.
Only I don't move.
"No." I laugh at Windu. "You didn't tell him, outside of the fact that you were summoning me here today."
"You are here because we view you as a pressure on young Bridger's mental capacity. His sanity must be preserved so…here you are."
I laugh harshly before saying "His sanity."
Coming from a group of zealots.
"What do you know of your father's actions on Kamino?" Dooku asks.
"Nothing. As it should be. My father's thought, word and deed are above reproach."
"Nobody's actions are above reproach." Skywalker declares.
Ahh yes.
"Indeed. Then let's debate your body's actions. If they are truly above reproach." I counter with a sneer.
"More to say than he is letting on, is young Bridger. Hmm?" Yoda asks, looking dead at me.
I shake my head then wipe my palms. "This entire Order operates on a lie when it comes to him. You all are a walking contradiction."
"A walking contradiction?" Kenobi repeats, tone derisive.
"I don't like your tone, Master Kenobi."
Your position here was given, not earned.
"Then it's a good thing I don't care about your tone."
"The arrogance!" I spit out before taking a step to my right, my chains clinking along behind me. "You claim to trust the boy, but monitor him day and night. You send him off to get an education he won't use in your pathetic Order…" I roll my eyes. "Hell, your own esteemed Masters don't believe in his transformation. It'd be sad if it weren't so pathetic."
The room falls silent for a moment. "We have investigated the events you refer to. This Council does not rule through absolute power." Windu begins. "The actions of all Jedi towards Bridger has requested to be cordial, honest and kind. To treat him as if he is another Jedi."
"And yet that never happens." I counter hotly.
He avoids all of you at every turn!
"The actions of one do not reflect the beliefs or views of the whole."
Platitudes.
"Your ineffectiveness in enacting real change among your charges is a failure." I tell the room. "You ostracize him and bring him closer to me every day."
"That's not true." Jarrus says strongly.
"It will be." I smile. "You underestimate my power."
My power is unlimited.
"So you have no knowledge of your father's actions on Kamino." Jinn gets us back on track.
"No. Clearly he began plotting my life years before he enacted his plan. My father is meticulous. Cunning. Brilliant."
"His power structure grows weaker by the day." Shaak Ti informs me. "Time is on our side."
So you think.
I remain silent as the Council decides to sit in their silence once again. "You are more agitated than usual." Windu observes.
He held me back for far longer than he was capable of before.
"He grows stronger every day." Koon says, his respirator blocking his mouth. "The time out in the real world gives him power."
"You know nothing of power." I roll my eyes, then pull on my chains again. Behind me, one of the guards grunts in an effort to keep me where I am.
"He has gained multiple new weapons in his fight against you." The Padawan, Cayle speaks up.
"I thought only Masters could talk in these sessions." I turn back and spit out at him.
I'm yanked back around to face the Council before Yoda says "Allowed, his interjection is."
"The boy is weak. And I will destroy him." I remind them.
I will win.
"I disagree." Dooku begins to pontificate. "The children—"
"Oh don't start on the children." I cut him off. "They're weaker than you are."
They're CHILDREN.
"His love and affection for them will be his redemption." Dooku declares.
Love…
Revolting.
Sickens me.
"His true redemption is impossible. I'll always come back. We'll be doing this dance for all of time."
"I'm glad we always have an opening for you then." Tano spouts off, adding a smile on at the end.
I will torture him.
I will kill him.
"He has gained true friends that care and feel for him. Invaluable assets against you." Jinn informs me.
As if I don't know.
I remain silent before he continues. "His connection to the Dark Side of the Force grows ever weaker."
I can't help but bark out a laugh. "Yeah. When one of those friends is the one who has brought him closer to me than ever before?"
The assembled Jedi look to their fellows, before Kenobi lets out a heavy breath. "Fine. Let's talk about her."
"The girl." I taunt him.
"Her name is Sabine Wren." Dooku snaps at me.
"Oh I know her name…" I roll my eyes. "Lazy. Arrogant. Immature. Privileged."
"She has much to learn." Billaba dares to speak.
"She damn near got him killed! I was minutes away from rising and teaching her the lesson she deserved for the insults she hurled at him!"
AND HE JUST TOOK THEM!
"He chose to rise above. To look past her drunken words." Kenobi replies.
"Drunken words are sober thoughts." I remind Kenobi. "The girl lies. You believe she cares for him when all she does is precipitate poor decisions from him! She told you how she feels, yet you do not listen!"
"Outside of that one incident, young Bridger's conduct has been exemplary." Unduli counters.
"And yet he is berated for having the audacity to be late for an unscheduled meeting. Good thing he doesn't live in a populated city!" I throw the truth at the Council before turning to Billaba. "Oh. Wait."
HE LIVES IN THE SECOND MOST POPULOUS CITY IN THIS COUNTRY.
"Master Billaba's actions do not represent the views of this Council." Windu reminds me.
"Yet her seat on the Council clearly states otherwise." I pop off to him. "You sow mistrust, frustration, fear and hate in him. And I thank you for that."
You bring me weapons to foster upon your own destruction.
Fools.
"The girl does not love him. Clearly she is hiding something from him. She hides many things from him. He can tell that."
"Then why doesn't he investigate?" Skywalker replies.
"Because you monitor his every move." I remind him. "Remember?"
I pull on my chains and take a step back. "It's obvious to me that the girl is running from another man. Likely in Chicago. It wouldn't surprise me at all if you did more than a cursory scan of her social media, you'd find a gap beginning as recently as this past summer. Leading to the event that has led her to sleep with every capable man in the area in the span of just a few months."
"He reported his suspicions to us. And besides." Tano peers at me, an imperceptible smirk on her face. "He doesn't have a problem with it."
"Yeah." I let out another laugh. "He doesn't have a problem with the girl that walks around his apartment unabashedly showing off her body. He stares at her, lusts after her. He knows her beauty. She's hot."
"Show some respect." Unduli says, looking disgusted.
"Great ass too." I add. "He loves her legs. Powerful, muscular, toned legs."
He wants those.
He cannot lie to me.
The Council falls silent as I take the time to smirk at all of the female members of the Council, only for them to avoid my eye.
"It's the truth. Even you have acquiesced to the datedness of your old traditions."
"Attachment is no longer forbidden." Mundi informs me.
"Tell him that."
"We have attempted to do so." Master Kenobi says. "I, for one expected him to find a way into bed with any number of the women around him."
His self-control is pitiful.
"I wonder why not." I monotone.
"Why doesn't he care more for Sabine?" The one named Cayle asks.
I take the time to wrench myself into looking at him. The guards holding my chains protest, but I win out, using inertia as my friend.
"He cares for her a great deal. More than anyone else since the girl my father banished from the Compound all those years ago. Why else would he drive her to the airport today?" I ask him.
"Being a good friend." Jinn pontificates. "She did ask him the day before."
Yeah right.
"I'll give you the answer that he himself hasn't gotten to yet." I turn and spit out at the room. "He refuses to allow himself to get too attached to her. He's closer to his other friends than her. All he does is LIE to her. Lies that you built."
"Those lies were a necessary part of his cover story." Dooku replies.
"A cover story that she is slowing but surely picking apart." I counter Dooku.
"His cover is solid."
"And if she starts investigating his parents? Perhaps on her social media channels?" I throw an idea out there. "There will be nothing."
"That can be accounted for." Jarrus answers.
"A house divided against itself cannot stand."
It will not stand. I will not allow it to.
I will tear his idyllic lie of a world apart.
And I will relish every moment of it.
"That's only one of the many ways she could discover his deceptions. What will happen when he doesn't see his parents over Christmas break? One's dead, the other in prison." I remind them.
"That is being workshopped." Kenobi answers.
"Workshopped." I laugh. "Right." I move to stretch my legs. "Going to need a hell of a paint job on that one, Masters."
The room falls silent before I unleash my trump card. "He refuses to trust you with his deepest, innermost thoughts. Your refusal to trust him and allow him to grow ingrained that in him. His comfort level is a joke. His grades are practically FLAWLESS and yet you still ream him over minute issues."
"There is no need to yell." Jinn tells me softly.
"If only I could get your attention." I smile in reply. "He refuses to allow himself to consider loving the girl. Or any other. Because he hates himself."
Multiple members of the Council straighten in their seats. "He refuses to allow himself to love her?" Jarrus asks quietly.
"Don't you wonder why he hasn't asked for you to meet her?" I counter.
Seems rather important to me.
"Don't rush him." Cayle snaps at me.
"Yes." I lean as far forward as I can. "I daresay that he already does love her on some level. But he won't allow himself to consider that possibility. Due to your machinations."
"He knows the Code's updated beliefs. He swore himself to uphold them." Tano speaks.
"Yes, because we all follow what we swear to do to the letter at all times." I roll my eyes at her.
How quaint.
"Why does he hate himself? Dooku asks the million dollar question.
"Finally!" I attempt to applaud the question, but fail. "Somebody asks the right question."
"Then how about you answer it?" Cayle demands behind me.
He'll enjoy this.
I move to turn back an eye him. "Because of what he's done. What we've done. What I've done."
"Too much blood. Too much pain. Too much suffering. His friends hate me and have stated as much. The public doesn't even dare know the truth for fear of panic and unrest." I tell the Council. "He's put himself into a position that his continued existence is built upon a mountain of lies. And he cannot bring himself to even dare try to forgive himself. Because he knows that is impossible."
He is doomed.
The room is silent for a while before Windu looks to Yoda, who looks troubled. "Take him back to his holding cell until Vader relents and allows young Bridger to rejoin us."
"I HATE YOU!" I unleash a scream at all of them, straining my chains to their breaking point before I'm grabbed from behind and my muzzle is slapped back on me.
"Oh we know." Kenobi says.
Sounding thoroughly worn out.
My stomach gives another ominous grumble before I leap out of bed.
Here we go again.
As quickly as I can, I leap out of bed and run to the bathroom. As soon as I'm inside and sit down, everything just comes out.
Ugh…
I hate this part.
At a certain point, I droop my head and close my eyes, the sensation of my skin crawling and my entire digestive system trying to eject themselves from my body overwhelming everything else.
I hate this.
The cold, slick sweat continues to run down my neck and chest, causing my pajama pants to stick to my legs before I allow myself to groan.
Okay. I think it's over with.
Cleaning myself up, I slink over to the sink and flick on the faucet with the Force before peering into the mirror.
Looks like a sick, pale kid to me.
I quickly splash some more water onto my face before washing my hands and stumbling back to my bed, only to curl back up under the covers.
Maybe I can get some sleep now.
I got a few hours earlier, after Vader left. But I keep waking up because I have to use the restroom repeatedly.
Dinner should be soon.
And I need to text Sabine.
She's probably wondering why I haven't texted her back. Even though I thought of my alias.
Blame the breakfast sandwiches we stopped and picked up on the way to the airport.
"C'mon…" I hear a quiet voice say to my left, sounding like it's near the door.
It's Jacen.
I force myself to poke my head out from under the covers and spot Jacen, who looks like he's holding Mira in his arms with Ghost right behind him.
"He's right over there. he's sleeping. He doesn't feel good." Jacen says, before Mira audibly whines.
Aww.
"Hey buddy." I call out, causing him to turn right to me.
"I didn't wake you up did I?"
I shake my head. "No. C'mon in. Turn on the light."
Even though that is going to suck.
Jacen obediently flicks on the light, revealing that he is holding Mira. Mira meanwhile, is staring right at me, looking very sad before making a move to reach out for the bed.
"No no, you can't." Jacen tells his sister, just before she lets out an even louder whine and kicks her feet angrily.
"It's okay buddy." I tell him.
"Sorry." He say just before walking over to my bed. "She keeps on whining and crying because she can't see you."
"I'm gonna be okay." I tell Mira as she stares at me. Jacen lovingly sets her down on my comforter before Mira moves to crawl towards me.
"Crawling better I see." I joke, getting Jacen to laugh quietly.
"She's getting way better at it now. Even though she keeps on trying to stand and hold onto stuff." He smiles as Mira determinedly continues making her way to me.
As soon as she's within arm's reach, I scoop her up. "C'mere. I'm sorry. It's just a tummy bug."
Mira's eyes remain wide as she looks quite sad before letting out another whine. "I'm gonna be fine."
"Mommy said it was something you ate at breakfast?" Jacen asks, sitting near my bed as Ghost pads over towards my head.
"Yeah." I nod then reach out to pet Ghost. "Hey boy."
Ghost eyes me for a moment, then licks my hand while Mira grabs onto my shirt and makes another whimpering noise.
"It's okay…" I smile at Mira.
She doesn't like this. At all.
"I'll be fine tomorrow. Just gotta let this bug run its course."
Jacen looks concerned just before I hear "Hey Jacen? You in here?"
Cayle.
"Yeah ,they're in here." I call out, then smile at Jacen.
Jacen laughs as Cayle pokes his head in. "There you are. I thought we told you to let him rest."
"It's okay." I reply, defending Jacen and Mira. "I needed some company."
"Feel any better?"
Actually, a little.
I glance down at Mira as she has my t-shirt curled up in her fist, fist in her mouth as she looks up at me.
"A little bit, yeah. Is it time for dinner?"
"Yeah. You don't have to come right away though if you don't want to."
Nah. I'm fine. I need to get up.
As soon as I move to stand Mira makes a frightened noise and grabs onto me with both hands. "Hey…I'm fine. C'mon. Let's go eat."
"What'd they go get?" Jacen asks as I stand up, Ghost moving so that I can do so.
"Your Dad went out and picked up some Tex-Mex we can put together here."
Jacen lights up before beaming. Jacen's smile spreads to Cayle, who looks to me.
"Sounds great." I smile back at them. "Let's go."