(A/N: I've followed thru on creating a Discord server for the readers of this story. It's not designed just to be about Star Wars, all types of discussions are welcomed and encouraged. FFN doesn't like links of any sort, or emails for that matter. So feel free to PM me for a link (I can only send it thru email, or you can go to my AO3 page (TreonGuy1705 on AO3) and the link can be found there. But there's a decent number of trial users right now (shout out to you guys) and I feel like I can safely speak for everybody that we'd love to have you come by and say hi! Hope to see you there!

Oh! And by the way. Stop what you're doing. Go grab a drink or a snack. Use the bathroom. Get comfy in your chair and—(Puts gas pedal down to the floor)

The line in front of the coffee stand inches forward as beside me, Matt scrolls thru his phone. "Sorry you can't come with us man."

"Me too." I play along and return the smile. "It's only a week."

Saturday to Saturday.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see his timeline refresh before Matt replies. "You should still be able to get a little break. You're not going to be busy this whole week are you?"

I need to be. If not, I'll make myself busy.

I need to maintain my discipline.

"I don't know yet. The first part of the week is all booked up. I'm hoping the back half I can maybe go to the beach and relax. Read a book or something."

Don't deserve that. I need to get in the weight room.

"You like to read?" Matt glances at me, surprise on his face.

The line inches up again before I answer. "Yeah, I like it. I just haven't had much time for leisure reading."

Change the subject.

"Who is JJ playing again in the Tournament?"

"We'll find out tomorrow." He tells me what I already know. "They're probably in, but they play in the conference championship tonight. If they win they're in for sure."

"Is it just me or am I rooting for him to win just for him to have a distraction from Jaicey?"

Matt's face splits into a smile. "Yeah, he does."

I was packing for my trip this week and he shot me a Call of Duty Invite at 9:30 last night after yesterday's game.

Didn't play long, and he didn't talk much.

I think he just wanted to talk to somebody familiar.

The line moves forward and the barista asks Matt and I for our drinks. I place my order of a normal Frappuccino thing, plus a coffee and on a whim, a cinnamon bagel.

"Go ahead." I then hand over my credit card and turn to Matt. "I got you."

Matt visibly hesitates, before the barista makes an "Aww, how nice!" comment.

Thanks lady.

Blocking out the rest of Matt and the barista's conversation, I peer around.

Matt has TSA Pre-Check just like me. Jaicey, Sabine and the others are stuck in this massive security line. At…

6:18 in the morning.

I'm just shocked that it's this busy here this early in the morning.

The Council opted to disguise my departure by scheduling the flight to Madagascar around the same time as Sabine and the others' departure.

It doesn't really matter since we're using one of the Order's private jets but we're losing essentially an entire day.

Twenty two hour flight, plus the hours long trek Dooku alluded to in his initial report on Kamino…

Which I really do need to read again…

My feet blindly follow Matt as we step aside, our order having been placed before I hear. "Thanks man, I really do appreciate it."

"Don't mention it." I look up, then take my card back.

"I, uhm, I'll try to keep my eye on Sabine for ya by the way. I know you guys are—"

"Matt." I cut him off.

"No." He cuts me off right back. "I…" He makes a frustrated motion with his hands. "You guys are weird, but that's your business. But she's still yanked you around."

"She's an adult, she can make her own decisions." I counter. "Plus, it's Spring Break, she can have fun."

I hate that I keep finding myself being in the position of having to be the Fun Police.

Nobody likes the Fun Police.

"That's not fair to you though." Matt counters, then pointedly crosses his arms at me.

"Fair's not real life though." I point out.

I don't deserve fair anyway.

"If she meets a cool guy, great. You guys are on Spring Break. What's that saying about Vegas?"

"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. So you just want what happens in Mexico…" Matt catches my drift.

"To stay in Mexico." I nod. "Don't worry about Sabine. She's not your responsibility, she's supposedly an adult."

Matt snorts out a laugh. "Supposedly."

She doesn't act like it most times.

"Just have fun. Have a drink or two for me. Chase after that hot girl, all that. Maybe even play the 'I'm a star quarterback' card for once. See where that gets you."

Matt groans loudly and raises his head to peer up at the ceiling before I hear "Ezra!"

That must be my order…

Abandoning the conversation, I return to the kiosk and pick up our order, conveniently packaged in a carrier before walking back.

She's out of security.

"You got coffee…" Sabine's face lights up in a smile before she just takes her coffee right out of the little 4 cup carrier.

Yeah, sure. You do that.

I disguise my irritation by glancing out past Matt towards one of the gates as Matt says something to Sabine. Sabine responds before I vaguely hear "—can I steal him for two seconds?"

"Yeah, totally." Matt answers Sabine, then turns to me. "I know you said you'll have to go soon. So if I don't see you, have fun dude."

"You too man. Have fun, take care. See you Sunday?" I ask.

JJ wants the three of us over at his place on Sunday for a barbecue.

"See you Sunday." Matt smiles at me before giving me a raised arm fist bump thing.

Turning to Sabine, I say "Lead the way."

Dammit…

Sabine's smile remains on her face as she tenderly guides me away from the kiosk and down one of the spacious, marble looking corridors.

She knows I'm not totally happy right now.

I know how this is going to go.

How many times am I going to play this game with her? Ezra, never forget how big of an idiot you are.

You damned fool.

Sabine and I maintain a tense silence as she continues leading me…somewhere before finally turning into a terminal with a…

I don't know what a JetBlue VIP lounge is but…

"Sabine?"

Sabine punches in a code then flashes some sort of badge before explaining "Daddy gets free VIP treatment because he flies so much."

"And you have his code?"

Why would he do that?

Sabine pushes open the door to the empty, enclosed area that's complete with smoked out glass so that people on the outside can't see in. "Just in case I need some space to myself while I'm traveling or something."

"Oh."

That makes sense.

An attractive girl like her can't just step to the side of a terminal and dig thru her backpack or something. Some fool will come up to her.

"Are you feeling any better? You still look pale." Sabine sets her drink and backpack down before turning to get a good look at me.

I shrug dismissively. "I'm fine. This is for you by the way."

Sabine barely looks at the bagel I bought for her before taking it and closing the gap between us. "No…you look pale. I thought Cayle just said you couldn't keep anything down."

"Yeah. We think it was a 24 hour flu thing. I'm okay. Might want to keep your distance though."

Everybody might want to.

Sabine shakes her head before eying my arm. "They…gave you an IV?"

"Yeah…" I move to conceal the bandage near my elbow where they stuck the needle in. "I don't like needles. That kind of was worse than the flu."

I still don't feel right.

"You don't feel back to normal? I get what you mean…" Sabine's expression falls. "Are you sure you're okay? I'm not sure it's a great idea to hop on a plane if you feel lousy. Can't it maybe wait a day?"

No.

"No, I'm fine Sabine. Really." I attempt to reassure her. "Sorry I was laid up right before we have to leave."

I know she was disappointed, not being able to see me Thursday night after…

Vader got out.

I unilaterally decided and the Council seemed to agree, that I should stay in the holding cell in the basement of the Temple for the night. Cayle, Kanan and a few others brought me some stuff to make it more homey and comfortable for me. Private bathroom too…

Cayle stayed down there too, the whole night after he got out of the infirmary.

After I put him there.

"Not your fault you got sick…you push yourself too hard. You know that? Your immune system can't keep up if you don't take care of yourself." Sabine tells me, tone unbearably soft while stroking my forearm.

I shrug, then sip my drink. "I'm just busy is all. And it's just a little flu, no big thing. Some extra Vitamin C, water, some sleep and I'll be fine."

Can't sleep, I have to read that report.

Sabine gives me a wary look before pulling me into a hug. "Sabine—"

I'm supposed to be sick! Keep your distance!

"I don't care!" She snaps at me. "Shut up!"

"I don't want you to catch this thing and spend part of your break sick!"

Sabine's face flashes anger before I feel it ripple thru the Force. "I'll hug you if I want to hug you, and I don't give a damn about some dumb flu. I'll kill it with alcohol."

Laugh.

I force out a laugh, only for Sabine to give me a crooked grin. "I'm joking really…but seriously. I will."

"Good. I want you to have fun."

Her expression flips again on a dime before she looks up at me. "I won't have too much fun though."

Oh here we go—

"I know you don't want to talk about it because you'll think you're the fun police or something—"

"Sabine—"

She cuts me off by saying. "Sorry, but shut up! I'm the smart one here so I'm talking…goober."

I'm not a goober.

"I'm gonna go have fun and party and stuff. There's a bunch of awesome concerts and parties on the beach and I'm sure there'll be more that I don't know about. But I'm not gonna—"

"If you meet somebody cool there, great!" I stop Sabine before she digs herself a hole. "Don't…change your behavior or life because of me."

I'm not there.

I couldn't be if I wanted to because of who I am.

And I'll always be paying the price for it.

…

I'm always going to have to fall on the sword.

"But you…you changed my life Ezra. You sound like you don't know that and—" Sabine suddenly looks and sounds choked up. "—you're…really important to me."

Instinctively I close the gap between us and hold her, only for Sabine to cave and curl up into my chest.

Now she needs that hug.

Using the Force, I also give her a little more confidence before I hear the door behind us open—

GO AWAY.

—

The door hastily shuts before Sabine mumbles "Good…go away."

I laugh involuntarily before Sabine giggles and smiles up at me.

It worked.

"This trip's going to be great. You'd better have a hell of a time. Take lots of pictures, eat lots of food, and have fun. Don't think so much." I tell her gently, only for Sabine's Force Signature to—

No No No…

Infusing her with more positive energy, Sabine hesitates before replying. "I might. I don't know. I feel like I'm going to be babysitting Jaicey a lot. You heard her."

She's 'letting go of the rope'.

"That'd be rather inconsiderate of her if you ask me." I confess.

Sabine shrugs but admits "She's done a lot for me…stuck up for me, helped me get back into a decent spot on the team—"

"How's that going by the way?" I ask.

I haven't asked in like a month. She comes back home covered in grass stains and beaten up a bunch after practice. So I think it's going okay.

I'm pretty sure she believes this is her last chance here.

"Really good…last scrimmage on Thursday I finally got to be a starter and played the whole time. Didn't do much, Alena tried playing hero ball. I mostly spaced and kept the ball moving."

"Because she didn't?" I deduce.

Sabine nods. "Weber told me I did a good job keeping it moving, which you know what he really meant there."

He says things to one player to send a message to another.

Sounds like Alena needs to pass the fucking ball.

"Team game."

Sabine confirms my thought with a nod. "Team game…anyway, when do you have to go?"

…

"Kind of as soon as I get out of here." I confess.

Dooku told me gently, that I could talk to her for a moment, but not to linger too much.

We are on the clock.

Sabine's spirit falls before she sets her head on my chest. "I'm…really gonna miss you."

"I'm going to miss you too." I tell her softly, then peck her hair.

"Thanks for the coffee and bagel. Jaicey said that last year it was hard getting anything to eat on night one, so…thank you."

"I thought they went to Florida last year." I feign absentmindedness.

Sabine nods. "They did, but it wouldn't shock me if it's the same in Mexico…"

…

"I—" I start before Sabine closes the gap between us and plants a kiss on me.

Oh.

—

—

—

"I love you." She whispers as soon as our lips separate. "Does your phone have to be off all week?"

"Not all week, just the first part. I think I'll be in the US for the last part. They haven't told me much about that yet."

"Can you text…if you can? I don't want you to get into trouble." She asks, then quickly amends herself.

My stomach does a little flip before I smile a little at her. "Yeah…I'll try."

I can't…I really want to—

"Be safe. And try to have a—"

Screw it.

"—little fun to—"

Silencing Sabine with a kiss of my own, I let myself grab her waist and hold her for just an instant before feeling Sabine loop her hands around my neck and slide her tongue into—

—

—

—

—

—

Air. Need air.

Breaking off the kiss, I gasp as quietly as I can only for Sabine to do the same and lay her head down onto my collarbone.

…

…

I don't want to go.

...

…

"I gotta go."

Sabine lets out a little whine. "I know…"

"Text me when you get there. And send lets of pictures."

Her expression brightens before she nods. "I will."

How'd my backpack end up on the ground…?

Picking it up and tossing it over one shoulder, I reluctantly walk to the door before peering back at Sabine, who is watching me leave.

This…this sucks.

"Love you." I blurt out, then nervously peer back up at her.

Sabine's dimples appear as she smiles before she replies. "Love you too…get out of here, you've got a plane to catch."

She's right.

"Bye." I say, then turn to the door.

"Bye."

"Kaminoans generally display few signs of outward exuberance or personality. They considered their scientific advances to be their finest achievement."

The gentle, rhythmic footsteps of the cattle, apparently named zebu continue taking us down this long, winding, bumpy dirt road.

Around me, Master Dooku sits placidly while reading a physical book, Ahsoka is looking out at the forest, which towers all around us. Cayle lounges beside me, eyes closed and enjoying a nap while Master Kenobi sits beside our driver, who is holding the reins to the cattle.

We landed in Antananarivo yesterday morning after stopping in Paris on the way to eat and refuel. And after landing thanks to Master Dooku's contacts, set off immediately via car about fifty miles, most of which on unpaved roads to a tiny town with an impossibly long name. From there we have gone from cattle drawn wagon to cattle drawn wagon, going deeper and deeper into the forests.

It's starting to make sense that these Kaminoans have remained hidden for so long.

And yet I still have service on my phone.

Swiping down the document, I continue reading.

"Kaminoans are also isolationists, only concerning themselves with outsiders if it is profitable. However, Kaminoans do not necessarily think they were superior to other peoples, simply seeing other—"

A loud, pointed cry shatters the tranquility of the early evening light, causing Cayle to jackknife up and look around before the noise ends just as abruptly as it came.

"What…the hell." Cayle gasps in shock, chest heaving.

It's all good.

I reach over and rub his shoulder reassuringly as Ahsoka gives him a small smile. "We're okay."

"What do you think that was?" Master Kenobi asks our driver.

"Probably a lemur. Protecting its territory from another lemur most likely."

Huh. Lemurs.

"I wouldn't worry about them if I were you, friend." The driver looks back to Cayle, who still looks unsettled. "I'd be more concerned about the things you can't see."

The—

"The things we cannot see?" Master Kenobi repeats the man's words.

Our driver seem alarmingly upbeat as we continue down this bumpy road. "Oh yes. You should be much more worried about the scorpions, snakes and crocodiles."

"Croco—" Cayle turns to Master Dooku.

Master Dooku isn't concerned enough to look up from his book. "Be calm, young one. Your anxiety will only make us a target here."

But the way we meet these Kaminoans is by diving into a massive lake…

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE ARE CROCODILES?!

"Breathe…" Ahsoka advises her apprentice. Cayle complies, then returns to his spot and closes his eyes.

"You'd better protect me. I didn't come all the way across the world just to get chomped on by a killer croc." Cayle quips before opening an eye to look at me.

Didn't you find this out last time…?

Whatever.

…

The wagon continues bouncing along the dirt road steadily before I reach out and probe the jungle all around us.

There's life absolutely everywhere here. It's almost suffocating.

There's a constant buzz of bugs and insects, plus the lemurs our friend told us about.

And yet the threats are silent. Taught to be that way by evolution.

…

Suddenly the cart comes to a halt. "This is as far as I can take you."

"This will do spectacularly. Thank you my friend. Please take this, as a token of all of our gratitude." Dooku nimbly hops out of the wagon and extends something to the driver.

The driver immediately seems taken aback. "I—I can't take this. I—"

"You have brought us farther into the jungle than any that has taken me before. And I greatly appreciate you risking yourself for the wear and tear on our bodies. Please consider it as just that, as well as an advance for our return trip. Could you be back in two days' time?"

The driver's eyes bulge before nodding raptly. "Yes, yes of course."

"Very well then." Dooku smiles before making a motion with his hand.

He just mind tricked him.

"Goodbye, and thank you again my friend." Master Kenobi waves as Master Tano, Cayle and I all pile out and I tug on the straps of my backpack.

The driver returns the gesture before slowly spinning his wagon around to start back the way we just came.

At least we get to travel light. Cloaks and robes. The backpacks are mostly for supplies and a spare change of clothes. I can carry my dagger and lightsaber on my person without it seeming weird…

Silently, Master Dooku steps off the beaten path of the road and begins trekking into the forest.

Well…here we go.

"And you two did this before?" I ask Cayle as we follow Dooku and Master Kenobi while Ahsoka protects the rear.

Cayle nods. "yeah. We had to walk along a river for what felt like forever. He's right…this is much better."

"We are fortunate to get such a quality driver. The Force is with us." Dooku declares casually.

"Now watch your step. Maintain your focus." Kenobi instructs all of us before we continue into the jungle.

The foliage all around us quickly becomes wild and untamed, with Master Dooku navigating it with his customary grace, using the Force rather than his hands.

"Can you put this in my backpack in that waterproof bag?" I turn and ask Cayle, extending my phone to him.

It won't do anything for me now. We're fully in nature now. More in common with the great explorers of the 16th century than life in the 21st right now…

Bet Sabine wouldn't believe this if she saw it.

Cayle complies, unzipping one of the larger compartments of my backpack, finding the bag and setting it inside before closing it back up and patting it to tell me that it's closed.

"Thanks."

…

…

Probing out, I feel once more the sheer mass of life all around us as we amble around a fallen tree on either—

Cayle impulsively leaps up onto the tree and begins walking down it. "Cayle!" Ahsoka snaps.

"What, it's sturdy and—whoa!" he yelps as the tree moves.

The tree suddenly splits in two, sending Cayle leaping behind me and landing heavily, causing me to step forward and protect him in case a animal senses an opening.

Nope. No food here.

"Stay in formation." Ahsoka orders her apprentice, and Cayle looks slightly mollified before obeying the command as the two of us rejoin with the others.

We all continue walking for a moment before—"OW!"

I can't help but laugh and Ahsoka motions for me to turn around.

Ahsoka flicked him in the ear. But now it's done.

...

…

"Master." Master Kenobi states, not as a question but a statement as Dooku has stopped and is looking to our right.

Dooku doesn't answer right away. "I believe we have found what we are looking for."

I…don't see anyth—

Oh, it's an albino animal of some kind—

WHOA!

I feel my jaw drop as before my eyes, the animal rises to an unseemly height. Completely white, with an extremely long neck, long arms and long legs tucked away beneath a flowing sort of pants.

…

Whoa.

"That's them." Cayle tells me quietly as Master Dooku makes for the animal, who turns at the sound of our approach.

These guys are…

Dooku wasn't lying. Not that I thought he was but when he said these guys are an offshoot of anything man has seen before…

I've never, ever seen anything like this. I've seen Yoda, see Master Plo, seen Ahsoka and they're odd looking to most people.

But this is another level.

"Tarr." Master Dooku speaks to the…being before bowing respectfully. The creature returns the bow before Ahsoka, Master Kenobi and—

Bow Ezra!

I mimic the gesture of respect before I hear the creature say "Master Dooku. We hope your trip was comfortable."

"We found quite a good guide this time. We've only been walking for a few minutes."

"Excellent. We have been anxiously awaiting your arrival. Did you bring the boy?"

Boy?

"Ezra." Dooku calls for me, before Ahsoka pushes me forward and Master Kenobi steps aside.

…

This guy is huge…

Eight feet tall at least. But rail thin, probably like Dooku said due to their prolonged isolation—

"Ezra, this is Tarr. He is tasked with the sacred duty of protecting the Kaminoan homeland for his people." Dooku introduces me before I bow respectfully to…Tarr.

Tarr bows in return, but instead turns to Dooku. "He looks very much like his father."

Anger spikes inside me before Dooku replies. "We're aware of that. I'm curious if that was an intent of his father's."

"I am unaware one way or another." Tarr confesses. "But let us not waste more time. Night is falling, and we are preparing a ceremonial meal for all of you."

A ceremonial meal?!

Numbly I turn back to Cayle, only for him to smirk and motion for me to turn back around before I hear the rustle of underbrush as Tarr and Master Dooku begin walking once again.

(The Following Morning)

Relax…Take a deep breath.

Doing just that, hearing Master Dooku's silent monologue in my head, I attempt to release my tensions out into the Force.

I feel like this whole place is…I don't know. On top of me.

It's exactly as Dooku described. A completely submerged city, hidden in a lake that is tucked away from sight by towering trees.

Allowing it to blend into the forest writ large.

In some ways, it's completely modern. There appears to be electricity and modern, if not advanced technology. But it's missing modern amenities like Wi-Fi or cell phone service.

Isolating me from the modern world.

It really wouldn't be so bad if all the Kaminoans we encounter didn't stare intently at me.

I met the Prime Minister of Kamino, Lama Su last night and she stated that my father was the first to discover Kamino all on his own in over a century.

They chose their isolation, valuing their scientific profess and fearing what the larger world would do to them in order to control their creations.

That appears to be what they value most, outside of their secrecy and survival. Scientific exploration, advancement and a desire to control what they create.

And I'm a walking specimen outside of their…pods.

All their architecture is neo-modern. Lots of glass and the building all seem to stand on their own, with small tubes interconnecting them.

A door swishes open, gathering both my attention along with Master Kenobi, Dooku and Tano's as well as Cayle's.

It's the Prime Minister again.

"Good morning Masters Jedi. And the precocious Mr. Bridger." Su compliments me, looking…

Pleased? I think?

"I brought our lead scientist, Ko Sai to help assist with any and all questions you may have in our meeting today."

"Thank you." Master Dooku indicates his appreciation. "I'd like to speak to the scientist who was in charge of creating young mister Bridger here as well.

The Force immediately quakes with both Kaminoans discomfort before the Prime Minister replies. "I…regret to inform you that the scientist in question died. By suicide, most shamefully."

"Shamefully?" Ahsoka asks fearlessly.

"Our society prizes life, Kaminoan life above all else. We hid to survive, and to destroy oneself in such a manner flies in the face of all we teach…it is a black mark upon our people and a great shame." Minister Su answers, expression barely, if any different than before.

They're not a very expressive people.

The scientist, Sai turns to me. "I'm sure you have many questions."

"I do." I confirm, then turn to Master Dooku and Kenobi.

Dooku gestures that the floor is mine. "We brought you here young one." Kenobi adds.

Guess it's my turn to step into Dad's shoes.

Again.

"Okay…before I begin, I want your word that you answer all of my questions completely, to the best of your ability." I begin, then turn to look at the two Kaminoans.

"Yes." The scientist nods.

The PM adds "Of course."

"Wonderful…that's great. I've heard that you have my complete genetic signature on file."

"We do." The scientist confirms. "Would you like to see it?"

"Yes I would." I smile pleasantly.

The scientist steps forward and begin typing into a keyboard, extending outward from a projector table before—

That's it.

A holographic display appears before my eyes of a transparent body, followed with a continuous strand of DNA. "This is you. Where would you like for me to begin?"

"How did you modify me? What did my father ask you to do?" I ask, not taking my eyes off the display.

He failed.

He encrypted his computer to hell and back, so well that we still can't get into it.

And I still got here.

"We modified everything about you, young one. Starting from the top, your bones were imbued with metallic alloys for strength. Primarily steel, but others such as tungsten and chromium—"

The primary ingredients needed to create stainless steel.

"Your skin has elements taken from the pangolin family of animals, intended to give your skin added levels of keratin with osteodermia properties. Your muscles have an added element of elasticity, extracted from octopuses as well as the reduced ability for lactic acid build which I assume you know what that is—"

"To prevent cramping." I confirm.

Never have cramped in my life. Granted, I hydrate well, but…

Didn't know that.

"Your pain receptors were modified both to increase the amount of pain you can endure, as well as be more sensitive to pain. You are more resistant than any other human to poisons, toxins and radiation. A majority of that research came from studying the destroyed reactor in Ukraine—"

Chernobyl.

"Your eyesight was modeled after the greatest eyesight ever observed in human history, 20/5 vision from an Aborigine man in—"

"I'm noticing a theme." I cut the scientist off.

"Ezra's father looked to the rest of the planet to find the greatest examples of each organ, muscular system, et cetera then had you implement them into his body." Dooku piggybacks off my point.

Yeah.

It sounds like he was trying to build—

"Your father, Mr. Bridger aspired to have his children be the finest physical specimens in the entire world. You are correct in your assessment Master Dooku."

"The perfect man." Kenobi muses quietly.

I'm far from it.

"That was the goal we aspired to, yes." The scientist confirms with a nod. "Shall we continue?"

"Please." Dooku motions for him to continue as I continue watching my own DNA spin around and around.

"I created you."

Liar.

These damn Kaminoans did.

You probably just scoured the Earth looking for the finest examples of everything you needed for me.

For the finest tool in your toolbox…

"We made minor modifications to your brain, which took a majority of the project—"

Here we go.

"—including eidetic memory, rapid calculation and spacial skills. However, unlike your brother, no inherent personality changes were made."

"Hang on." Ahsoka jumps in. "You mentioned his mental changes, including memory and spacial skills…is Ezra autistic?"

WHAT?!

I'm not—

"He is on the far edge of the high functioning end of the spectrum, yes." Sai tells Ahsoka.

I'm…I'm autistic?

I…

I've always thought of it as a bad thing. I've seen horribly…disfigured autistic people, both children and adults.

They're not disfigured. They're perfectly fine. They didn't choose to be that way.

Neither did I…

…

I barely, vaguely remember when I was really little…maybe six or seven. Mom taking me to some special doctor in the city, which I guess is Dallas. And he had me take a whole bunch of tests.

Whatever the results of the test were, Mom talked to Dad about them. And he yelled at her something horrible. I don't remember much else.

It explains some things though. Like how Sabine always refers to me as a robot, or how I can be a little more awkward socially than other people…

I don't know that much about autism. I'll have to deep dive on it.

"—both arms and legs are in the top 1% for his designated height, which is meant to be 6'3 to 6'4—"

I was 6'2 at the start of the semester. You mean to tell me I'm not done growing either?

"—wingspan of a 7'3 individual. His hand size is also exceptional, with each digit being enhanced for maximum dexterity as well as size to prevent clumsiness."

"And you know what they say about hand size—." Cayle quips before—"Uhh!"

Sending Cayle flying across the room with a Force Push, I turn back to the Kaminoan scientist. "Please continue."

"I'm afraid I don't know what they say about hand size." Sai deadpans, completely earnestly.

"Ignore my immature Apprentice…" Ahsoka says, annoyance in her voice before I glance back and see Cayle pick himself up and wither under Ahsoka's gaze.

"Every chemical reaction is quickened inside of his body. His metabolism was optimized to help his cells grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their own unique environments."

"But none of this was Master Motangue's primary concern. His primary concern was the complete, unassailable assurance of Force sensitivity. And that was something we could not guarantee…until he revealed it to us."

"He did?" Master Kenobi asks.

He sounds incredulous.

"Yes." Sai, the scientist nods in assent. "Are any of you aware of the sentient life form found inside of all living creatures known as midichlorians?"

Without intending to, I gasp before feeling Masters Dooku, Windu and Tano as well as Cayle's surprise.

…

…

I can't believe it.

"Yes." Kenobi nods.

"As far as I was aware, the Jedi Order are the only ones with this knowledge. You know of midichlorians as well?" Dooku questions the scientist.

"Before meeting with Master Motangue, no. We were not. However, it would appear that midichlorians are found in all living beings. What their exact purpose is, is unknown. But we have crafted a hypothesis based on Master Motangue's specifications when having us…optimize Ezra here."

"Which is?" Dooku leads the scientist.

"We believe that these midichlorians allow for a connection with the pervasive energy field known as the Force. In sufficient numbers, midichlorians could allow one to detect the Force, and this connection could be strengthened by quieting one's mind and allowing the midichlorians to "speak" for want of a better word to their symbiont and communicate the will of the Force."

…

"You know of the Force?" Ahsoka asks.

"Oh yes." The Prime Minster nods. "The Force is the great unifying feature that connects every living thing on the planet and in the universe. We believe life is not possible without it."

I've never really thought about it that way.

Huh.

"A question, if you'll indulge me. Have you found that all individuals that qualify to be Jedi have to pass a threshold of midichlorians in order to be granted membership into your Order?" Sai asks Dooku.

"Yes, there is a bar you must clear."

Cayle scraped his way over it. I don't know the number, but I know he barely passed it.

And it shows.

And it sounds like I was…designed to blow past that.

"What's the highest midichlorian count you have detected?"

Dooku turns to both Kenobi and Tano. However, it is Kenobi who responds. "Over 20,000 by a Jedi Master named Anakin Skywalker."

Sai's eyes seem to narrow. "Hmm. The highest we have ever observed was near 15,000. This being the case…we assisted in giving Ezra here over 17,000 midichlorians per cell."

"Was that number specified by his father?" Dooku asks.

"Yes."

He has more then.

He always wanted to remain on top.

That is the way of the Sith.

"And I am rather glad to see that it worked." Sai gestures to Cayle, who still looks slightly disheveled. "Would you describe the sensation for me?"

To me.

"It's… inherent, natural to me."

"Beyond ease?" He presses me.

"It's second nature. I can suppress it, work around it. But I have always felt it. Using the Force is easy for me." I tell him.

Intrinsic.

Sai turns away from me for a moment, returning to the holographic display before making a noise. "Quite interesting."

"What's interesting?" Cayle asks him.

"It just interests me is all. I am not blessed with such abilities. To meet one who does so unapologetically, almost proudly…I confess that I am jealous."

"It can be a curse as well." I darkly inform him.

It was last week.

"I'm sure it can be. To be so plugged into the universe and feel it's every movement must be…distracting."

And intoxicating.

Sai blinks before asking. "If you permit me to do so, I'd like to take a blood sample for analysis and study."

"For what purpose?" Dooku instantly fires off.

"Scientific inquiry of course." Sai says, sounding defensive.

Prime Minister Su seems to take issue with Dooku's veracity and steps forward. "Master Jedi, we have no ill intent outside of scientific inquiry and exploration. We have stated this many times. Is there an issue?"

"Yes." I blurt out before anyone can respond, then feel the Force ring from Master Tano, Kenobi and Dooku.

Uh oh. I am going off book here.

"What is the issue then?" Su and Sai both turn to peer directly at me.

In turn, I look to my Masters, who look hesitant before nodding to me.

It is my truth to tell them.

"I'm…afraid that they haven't been entirely truthful with you. And that you have been lied to."

"Lied to? By whom?" Su asks.

Okay…

I exhale heavily, then steel myself. "You weren't approached by Jedi Master Motangue all those years ago. My creation was not authorized or sanctioned by the Jedi Council."

"Master Motangue died in the Vietnam War, many years ago." Dooku backs me up.

Both Kaminoans turn to each other, then back to me. "I was under the impression that we had done everything perfectly legally." Su states.

"But Motangue is your father." Sai counters. "Every meeting was here, in person. No external communications was one of his explicit conditions for the project…"

Sai begins flying thru files before Prime Minister Su turns to Dooku. "We were unaware of this."

"We know." Dooku nods curtly.

"This isn't your fault. You only did your job." Kenobi reassures the Kaminoans.

Su however turns back to me. "Then if Motangue isn't your father…who did we work with and meet all of those times? And how did this individual fabricate so much information on a Jedi?"

"Because…" I start, then stop as my heart is pounding.

Oh here we go…

"Because my father is the infamous Sith Lord, Darth Sidious. Lying, deception, those are his hallmarks. You are far from the first to have the wool pulled over your eyes by him. I don't hold that against you."

Su gasps before I conclude my point.

"My name is Ezra Bridger. But not to my father. To my father…"

…

…

"I am Darth Vader."