(A/N: Apologies for the delay in updates. I initially took a week to (finally) see family since all this started. And then I didn't like how my Monday draft turned out because, well, this is a important chapter. In order to build a beautiful house, you need a strong foundation...and a B plot. Don't underestimate Palpatine like the Council did in the movies. He's tricky. Enjoy the update.)

Leading with my right foot, I start back towards the stairs and the Temple at large while the PA announcer continues narrating my latest victory.

Managed to win again. I'm one duel away from the final 100 competitors and the knockout rounds. Exactly where I should be.

Most of the Masters that are participating aren't placed into the bracket until that point, with the main example being Master Dooku.

But since the Council loves me so much, they gave him to me as a gift to knock me down a peg.

One win away from proving that to be a foolish decision.

I smile to myself, then sidle over the wall separating the stands from the arena floor, and being walking up said stairs before my eyes fall on Master Dooku, who seems to be waiting for me.

"Master." I bow my head.

Master Dooku smiles and returns the gesture. "Come. The Council wishes to speak with you. We have a couple of matters to clear up."

Clear up?

Dooku's expressions morphs into a smirk. "You're not in any form of trouble. But the matters at hand are of a…confidential nature."

Maybe a mission.

"Of course. After you." I nod in understanding.

Master Dooku takes point and guides me up the stairs, thru the corridor and to the primary elevator up to the Council's chambers.

I thought it was weird that most of them weren't there for my matches.

They seem to enjoy watching me fight. I know it's because I wasn't trained by them initially. The Battlemasters always comment on some minute thing I do that isn't taught by the Order until much older.

They always compliment my 'feel'.

The doors swish shut, enveloping Master Dooku and I in comfortable silence before he turns to me and extends something. "Young Cayle had to monitor another elimination match."

My phone.

"Thank you."

"You fought quite well just now." He adds, turning away from me before I detect a bit of pride on his face. "Congratulations."

"Thank you Master."

Dooku's eyes flash for an instant before he motions for me to drop the formality. "Seriously. You are dragging your leg around and you adapted to it by knowing your opponent and utilizing your height, leverage, physical strength and martial knowledge to keep him at arm's length the entirety of the fight."

Yeah, he was never truly a threat. I did have to think thru it though.

"I relied on my training."

"You thought circles around him." Dooku corrects me. "Masters Guevara and Chon were quite impressed. As well are most of the Masters who have come to visit."

"I wasn't expecting many of them to come in with an open mind."

"Some did, others didn't. But you've forced them all to acknowledge your prodigious skill and talent." Dooku tells me.

I nod gratefully. "Thank you."

The lift shudders to a halt before Dooku counters. "It's not something to thank. You've done it on your own and deserve the credit. Regardless of where you finish."

"I want to win." I point out.

Otherwise, why compete in the first place?

"You have the right attitude." Dooku waves the doors open. "If only more of our fellows had your desire for competition and success."

Our.

"Many seem to view it as a weakness rather than as a strength." I reply.

They view us as peacekeepers, diplomats instead of advancing the Jedi Arts.

I don't understand their desire to stagnate.

"That is a topic for another day." He responds before opening the doors to the Council's chambers, where—

Hey…

"I'm positive she's missed you in the days since you returned home." Dooku tells me as Mira is sitting in what used to be Master Billaba's chair.

I smile and nod before veering off in her direction as Mira continues her gnawing on the teething bracelet that is firmly in her grasp.

Mira…

"Hey." I say, crouching down and poke her gently in the leg to get her attention. Mira's attention indeed gets pulled away from her teething to the poke, then to me before she squeals excitedly and reaches out for me. "Hi!"

Feeling Master Kenobi and Master Unduli's eyes on me, I scoop Mira up and smile at her before she buries herself in my shoulder and babbles happily. "Yeah. It's good to see you too."

"Told you." Dooku comments before I see Master Mundi break into a smile.

That's something I do have to give the Council credit on. They can be cold and unrelenting with a majority of the Order. But with any younglings or young children they speak with, they're very kind and gentle. Deliberately.

And it doesn't hurt being the daughter of a member of the Council.

"She did miss you." I hear Kanan say before I turn to the left and see him beside Master Tano. "There's been a few times she's gone looking for you."

Aww.

"Sorry." I glance down at Mira, who has moved to balling up my vest in her fists and is leaning to bite it. "Are we having a good day?"

"Not really. Her teething is really bothering her today." Her Dad informs me as indeed Mira chomps down on my vest.

Trying to help the discomfort somehow.

"That's no fun." I frown and rub her back. Mira however, doesn't seem to notice.

"Perfectly normal however." Master Shaak Ti responds in her normal, even tone. "It's a sign her development is going as the Force intends."

I smile and nod as Mira adjusts herself slightly but keeps her focus on my vest. "Are we…waiting on somebody?"

Why is most of the Council standing? I've seen them stand, but never when they are supposed to be in session. And nobody is missing.

"We're waiting on Senator Amidala." Master Kenobi responds.

"She's here?" I blurt out.

Why?

"Yes." Master Skywalker says from his seated position. "She had to take a phone call just before Master Dooku went to retrieve you."

I nod in understanding before Master Jinn adds. "Her primary reason for being here isn't you, young Bridger, she's helping Senator Organa announce his bid for Presidency tomorrow in Alderaan."

"President?" I ask. "He's running?"

I was under the impression that he and Leia were going to be working closely in the Senate this year. Leia needs to learn the ropes from somebody.

And Senators Amidala and Organa have worked together for nearly a decade now, partnering on many bills, compromises and other vital operations in governing.

Dull, but necessary work.

"He is." Master Windu confirms.

Master Mundi adds. "His odds aren't great, just thirteen percent."

Sounds decent to me.

"Sate Prestage is leading at forty two percent." Master Tano reveals.

"Oh."

Yeah that's not great.

"But…he's got a base in California, a state that votes for a candidate like him. It's a start." Master Kenobi states.

Seems a little late to be entering the race. Palpatine's confirmation hearings are in the next few days, and after that his side will be locked up.

I don't know much about the opposition. I've kept myself out of political theater.

Most of it seems like a necessary waste of time which results in corruption.

Turning back to Mira, she remains curled up and gnawing on my vest before I pull her bracelet to me and ask "Hey. Want this?" Mira perks up at the sound of my voice, then snatches up the teething bracelet and coos her thanks.

I step off to the side of the Council's chamber and most of the Council has fallen back into their conversation they were in before and rub Mira's back as she gnaws on her toy persistently.

You'll get to feeling better. I promise.

You don't know it but teeth are cool. They'll help you eat real food, the food you really want. And Mommy won't be giving you so many bottles.

Which will be nice for her since you're eating so much right now.

The doors leading out into the hallway opens spontaneously, revealing Senator Padmé Amidala. "Masters, I'm so sorry I'm late. I had to take that phone call."

"We understand, your position sometimes can do that to you." Master Windu replies gracefully as…

She doesn't look right.

"Padmé?" Master Skywalker turns to fully face her. "What's wrong?"

"I, uhm, I have some news coming out of DC."

"News?" Master Kenobi repeats her words.

"What is it?" Windu adds.

Senator Amidala swallows, then straightens up. "It's not reported to the press…"She pauses again to take a steadying breath. "But it appears like Justice Vizier fell at his home today and has passed away."

Passed away?

A hushed gasp flies thru the room, and I glance to Master Plo Koon, who looks shaken, to Master Luminara, whose eyes have widened, to Master—

Yoda.

"Supreme Court Justice, Vizier, passed?" Yoda says quietly.

"Fell?" Master Windu asks Senator Amidala.

"Yes." She nods to Master Windu. "Initial examinations suggest that he had a stroke on his way down, causing him to fall and hit his head. They've found…"

Whoa.

Padmé stops to compose herself and sniffles before Master Skywalker rushes to her side and puts his arm around her. "I'm sorry, uhm, they've found bleeding on the brain. It seems like this happened around midday, Eastern Time. Nobody was home with him at the time."

"So when they found him, he was already…" Master Skywalker trails off.

"Yes."

The Chamber is a tomb as Senator Amidala leans into Master Skywalker's arms for support. "Horrible. How horrible." Master Yoda speaks, after moments of silence.

"To go like that…and nobody know for hours." Master Yaddle muses.

Master Dooku speaks up. "Our condolences Senator. I know you and Justice Vizier were close. It was he who helped you learn the Court, correct?"

"Yes." Padmé nods. "Yes he did, when I was a Junior Senator."

That's why she's so upset.

"Not to sound callous, but the repercussion for this are immense." Master Mundi diverts the conversation.

"Indeed." Master Jinn nods in assent.

"No President has ever appointed three justices to the Court while in office." Master Koon states. "It's unprecedented."

Master Kenobi adds. "And with how deadlocked the Senate is during an election year, the fight for a new justice will not be an easy one."

"It could determine the election." Master Windu agrees.

"It could?" I ask, then wince.

EZRA!

I shouldn't have said anything.

The entire Council turns to me, as well as Senator Amidala.

I should have kept my mouth shut!

"Yeah Ezra." Senator Amidala replies. "Haven't you read up on the Berman Theory?"

The what Theory?

I shake my head. "No, outside of the governmental basics I've kept my focus elsewhere."

"For good reason." Master Windu chirps from his seat.

I know how fickle and tenuous perception could be. If I began studying the ins and outs of the US government, the Council and the Order as a whole could view that as a threat and nip it in the bud by tossing me into prison.

Nobody would go to bat for me because, well, I'm…me.

I'm Vader.

"Master Windu." Padmé levels out her voice. "If you truly do intend to fully induct Ezra into the Jedi Order, he needs to know the role you play and how the government truly works!"

Windu immediately counters "Young Bridger is only a Padawan Learner at this time. To be seen…not heard."

Ouch.

"If there comes a time in which he advances far enough to be inducted into the Order, we will educate him."

"Master, you're doing him an enormous disservice. He's a citizen of this country and an extremely intelligent person—"

"Who has admitted to committing mass murder." Windu cuts her off. "Both here in this country and globally. To an extent we are offering him asylum in the Order, not that he is a citizen of the United States. He's surrendered some of his rights when he agreed to surrender to us—"

"That's not legal! He was a minor!" Padmé fires back.

"Padmé." Master Skywalker says gently.

"He had no legal representation, no guardian, nothing! You just let him sit in your custody for two weeks before reporting it!" Padmé goes on unabated by her husband's call for calm.

"We did as much as we could with the options we had in hand." Windu begins his rebuttal. "In addition to the murder…he's also committed petty theft, kidnapping, manslaughter, destruction of both private and federal property, trespassing, shoplifting, larceny, money laundering in his name and cyber-crimes. And I'm sure I forgot a few. We were nice to him."

They…they were. They kept me out of prison and out of years of misery.

Yeah my time with the Order hasn't all been fun, but it's better than jail.

"You've seen the statistics and so have I. Ezra's saved more lives than he's taken and has done everything in his power to atone for his crimes. He should have his rights back."

"You believe that he should be able to vote." Master Kenobi infers.

"Yes!" Padmé agrees. "He was born here, he's a citizen! He's smart!"

Master Mundi speaks up. "He's committed murder."

"The Order is being hypocritical. It's textbook cognitive dissidence, except on a larger level, which is impressive!" Padmé exclaims. "He's normal, he's accepted, he's any other Jedi. Up until the point that he can wield any sort of knowledge or power. Then nope! Taken away!"

"Ezra's capitulation to us isn't up for debate right now. Padmé." Master Skywalker says, this time more insistently.

Padmé's faces flushes before she yanks her arm out of his grasp. "Whatever. What were we talking about—oh! Berman Theory."

"Yes." Master Dooku smiles.

Trying to get us back on track.

"The Berman Theory." Master Jinn begins. "In the event of a hotly contested election in which the ballots are contested or voter fraud is confirmed or Electoral College delegates vote against their states, a candidate, or both could sue and the case would go to the Supreme Court."

"The most obvious candidate for this would be Florida because of how their delegates are partitioned." Padmé informs me. "It's…a mess."

"As things stand right now." Master Dooku picks up for Master Jinn. "It could very well deadlock at 4-4. The Constitution states that there must be a designated winner of the election by January 20th, or the standing Speaker of the House would assume the role of President."

"Even as it stands right now, the Court has a lean towards Palpatine's positions. Giving him one more Supreme Court justice would severely tilt the scales of power in the Judiciary." Windu goes on.

Master Jinn counters. "He could select a moderate to the Court." Immediately the room chuckles.

That's…not good.

"He'll never do that Master Jinn, with all due respect." Senator Amidala informs him.

"Your political idealism is admirable though." Dooku smirks.

"In a matter such as this, it should not be political. The factor most important is that of the people." Master Jinn articulates.

"What are you proposing?" Master Unduli asks.

"A special election, perhaps in the middle of the year. To select the newest Supreme Court justice without bias towards the powers in office currently." Master Jinn suggests.

"That's never happened." Master Kenobi tells him. "The logistics would be a nightmare."

"Senator Amidala, is such a thing even possible?" Master Windu turns to her.

Senator Amidala shrugs in response. "I…believe so, but at that point we'd be in uncharted waters. We'd be in the deep end. I'd have to consult some of my books and make a few call to the constitutional scholars that I know to get you a real answer on that. Or am I allowed to take that out of this room?"

Oh yeah.

The Jedi's role in all this.

They're not Legislative, Judicial, or Executive branch. They're all their own, the branch sort of left alone.

It's the Jedi Order's job to ensure a peaceful transition of power and ensure the validity of elections. Among a myriad of other duties.

It hasn't come up since like the 1800's.

Nervously, I raise my hand before half the Council turns to focus on me. "Go." Windu says.

"This theory. I quickly begin. "It's that the election would go to the Supreme Court?"

"Yes. And that's never, ever happened." Padmé confirms. "It could be in play like never before this November."

"How so?" Master Tano asks.

In response, Senator Amidala hesitates. "I…am not sure what I can say."

"Why not?" Master Kenobi asks.

"Well." Padmé straightens a bit. "Am I talking to the Jedi Council on or off the record about this, and are you fulfilling your duties as election monitors right now? Because if you are, I can't say anything. On both fronts."

Whoa.

The majority of the Council turns to Master Yoda and Master Windu. Windu in turn, looks to Yoda. "What say you Master Yoda?"

"Off the record, we are. As to if we are monitoring the election right now, we are not. Speak freely."

Padmé quickly smiles and bows her head. "Thank you Master Yoda. I, uhm, well as most of you, if not all of you know, I've been advising Senator Organa on his exploratory committee for President."

"Yes." Master Jinn nods in the affirmative.

"Well, one of his main strategies is to expand the electorate to many voters that the system has been drawn in such a way as to exclude them for the process."

That's wrong.

"And how does he plan on doing that?" Master Dooku questions.

"Vote by Mail." Padmé supplies easily. "Research has shown over and over again that it is safe, secure and reliable as well as raises voter turnout by at least 25%. If not more."

Master Yaddle comments "That's quite a goal."

"Respectfully Master, Senator Organa's campaign is looking to raise it by over 30%."

"If the electorate is expanded by thirty percent or more, that would dramatically alter the results of many races." Master Kenobi positions himself in her seat, leaning forward.

"Yes it would." Padmé confirms with a nod. "And it factors into the Berman theory. Because research over the last two general elections by President Palpatine has shown that many of his voters come from rural, non-urban areas of the country where they vote in person. Whereas his opponents' support comes from more urban areas, armed forces, ex-pats and the like that do vote in person but could really be helped by voting via the mail."

Padmé takes a breath, then continues. "Let me posit a scenario that I can't get out of my head for you Masters: Election Day, all the standard excitement and anticipation that comes on that day. The election comes down to the President and Senator Organa, who has been successful in his efforts to expand vote by mail. Initial reports on election night come in and Palpatine has won another term, it looks like, in a tight race. But a majority of votes that were likely to swing for Palpatine were counted early because the in-person votes are always counted first."

The Force suddenly tugs at me, and seemingly the Council's attention is narrowed even further.

Oh boy. This sounds like this could actually happen. It makes a lot of sense.

"The votes keep getting counted, getting counted, getting counted. But Palpatine has already declared victory for a new term, an unprecedented third term I might add. The final totals flip a few key states, such as Florida, sending the entire process into madness. Major news outlets have already called it for Palpatine! But because those states flipped, Senator Organa has actually secured the 270 necessary to win the election."

—

"Chaos erupts everywhere. Protests by people who think the system is rigged, Senator Organa sues to have the results verified by the courts, the Jedi Order has to get involved—"

Oh jeez.

"—And the Berman Theory is fully thrown into effect. Turning what just happened today with Justice Vizier into not only a tragic event, but a pivot point for an entire election and the course of this nation." Padmé concludes.

The room is stunned silent for a moment before Windu is the first to regain his sense of vocabulary. "You seem like you've certainly thought this thru."

"It's an idea that has been discussed vaguely for a few years now. The Court is skewing older and older, and these last few elections have dramatically changed the makeup of the Court." Padmé replies. "Only now we're closer to a reality that looks like that than ever before."

I'll say so.

Wow.

The Council is silent for a few more moments before Master Yoda speaks up again. "Discuss these new possibilities, we will at a later time. Senator, thank you."

"Of course Master Yoda." Padmé smiles. "I just feel that you should be well informed in the eventuality of these events occurring."

Master Skywalker seizes upon the opportunity to change subjects. "Shall we move on to the matter at hand?" He asks while simultaneously moving towards his seat.

"Yeah. We—" Senator Amidala turns to me and starts beaming. "—We fell asleep."

Yeah.

I smile in her direction before glancing down and adjusting my grip on Mira, who is slumped on my shoulder and has fallen asleep.

"Nap time was shortened today." Kanan reveals as Master Skywalker sits.

"Go ahead, Senator." Master Windu requests.

Padmé nods in his direction, then turns to me. "Okay, uhm, well Ezra. Obviously all that isn't why I'm here today—"

Yeah.

"—I'm actually here on behalf of the President."

Wait what.

"How?" I quickly fire back. "Why?!"

What did I do wrong?

"Well, as I understand it, your meeting with the Duchess Satine of Mandalore went quite well. And he believes the time has come to meet you." She explains.

"I guess so. I, but, I don't understand." I fumble over my words as I probe out into the Force.

The Council doesn't like this.

"The President has been wanting to meet with you for a couple of years now." Master Skywalker reveals.

Master Windu cuts in. "Made efforts and inroads toward that end as well. Efforts that we have blocked."

Keep any emotion out of your voice. Calm, cool, even tone.

"Why?" I ask.

"Because the temptation of power is dangerous." Master Shaak Ti. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely."

"The President doesn't have absolute power. He's kept the three branches of government separate, just as he promised. He's just removed levers of corruption and allowed the system to work more smoothly." Master Skywalker counters.

As I look on, I see Yoda, Kenobi, Jinn and Windu all exchange looks of displeasure while the Force remains tense but unchanged.

I know Master Skywalker has met with Palpatine on multiple occasions, advising him on a few matters after he was the one to bring my father down.

The Jedi had some…prophecy about 'The Chosen One' bringing balance.

The current times feel anything but balanced to me.

Across from me, Senator Amidala shifts anxiously. "The President thought that the Council might be more amenable to the Council allowing you to meet with him after you successfully completed a semester of college."

Doesn't feel more amenable.

"Do we know when he wants to meet with me?" I ask her.

"Soon, I've heard discussions of this coming week. But with…current events unfolding, I believe there will have to be a funeral and a fair amount of mourning. It will likely be pushed back."

The Force gently pulls me attention back towards the Council before Master Windu's tone softens. "Senator Amidala…as always it is a pleasure to see you and having you. Please let us know if this Council can do anything for you."

"Thank you Master Windu." Padmé bows her head towards the Council before turning me to and squeezing my arm just above the elbow before she retreats from the room.

"You have questions." Master Jinn states as if it's fact.

I nod meekly and glance down at the floor. "Just one for now."

"Go." Windu says forcefully.

"What changed? Why allow him to try and meet with me now?" I ask the Council.

"The events leading up to the discovery of Kamino as well as our investigation has garnered some attention in the White House." Master Kenobi informs me. "The situation has morphed from a domestic one, and old news to an international affair and very much today's news."

"And he threatened to slip in a poison pill in one of the Appropriations Bills that funds our entire operation." Master Tano says with a fair amount of snark added on at the end.

"So he gave you little choice."

"He did." Master Yoda confirms.

"For now, we'll push back a potential meeting with him. Justice Vizier deserves time, reflection and the honor he's earned over years of public service. Adding you to those affairs would be ill fitting." Master Windu declares.

Ouch.

I nod in understanding before the room goes silent for a moment. "In the coming days I shall return to Kamino and attempt to uncover more information that we may be able to use in our investigation." Master Dooku volunteers to the Council.

Master Jinn turns to Windu and Yoda. "I wish to accompany him Masters. Perhaps I can succeed where young Cayle failed."

"Half the success you had was because of the relationship he has with young Bridger." Ahsoka protests slightly.

Master Jinn nods. "That is true. But the talents of two accomplished and respected diplomats could succeed where one failed. Diplomacy must be the first tool we pull out of the toolbox. And besides…we don't want to bring young Bridger into their clutches unless we absolutely have to."