'E Capitol Street'
Bypassing the street sign telling me what street on, I continue my walk with my pockets empty, with the exception of my wallet.
Huh. Nobody's really staring at me or looking at me odd or giving me a second glance whatsoever.
DC is weird.
If I did this on campus, or anywhere in LA that I've been so far people would be staring shamelessly. You just don't see somebody in business attire walking down the street.
Senator Amidala and the Council's plan is working perfectly.
I flew in late yesterday on my own. Flew out of Madagascar to Paris on the Council's private jet with Cayle, Dooku, Ahsoka and Master Kenobi. They flew on while I deplaned and slipped into de Gaulle, disguised as myself really.
Jeans and a hoodie from USC. My backpack as my only luggage of any kind.
Grabbed a bite to eat on my layover, then flew from Paris to DC and checked into the Airbnb that was arranged for me.
The suit Master Dooku bought for me was already moved from California to DC, hung up in the closet and waiting for today. All I had to do was what I did.
Drop my backpack down on the floor, double check my alarm was set for 7:00 this morning, plug in my phone charger and fall asleep.
In front of me, a small crowd has gathered on the street corner. What looks like everyday citizens doing whatever it is that they're doing are interspersed with people dressed just like me, looking harried and stressed out.
Might be congressional interns. Might be assistants for some lobbying firm. Could be people on business or working for the federal government.
Makes sense now that people aren't giving me a second look.
I'm completely normal.
…
The signal on the crosswalk switches from the hand to the white walking signal, and the assembled group all around me begins moving forward as one across the street. In my pocket, my folded up pieces of paper shuffle around while my wallet sits reassuringly in my other pocket.
"Photo ID must exactly match information used to schedule the tour. If not, access will be prohibited and you be escorted off the premises."
The Council scheduled all of this, maybe with the help of Senator Amidala's staff. It'll be correct.
Exhaling as I continue to walk, I follow it up with a probe to confirm what I'm seeing.
Behind schedule. Big day today. Running late…
I'm not. My tour slot is scheduled for 11:30 and it's just after 11 right now…
One of the suited aides, a woman in a nice looking red dress with a coffee in one hand stops at the next crosswalk and seamlessly turns her attention to her phone, where the Instagram logo pops up on the screen.
Instagram.
Got to check it a little bit this morning when I woke up as was waiting for the breakfast I ordered, pulling a Sabine.
She's been pretty quiet all week. No story for me to look at when I pulled up the app. Jaicey and Matt seem to be having the time of their lives though.
They were on a boat most of yesterday it looked like. Jaicey and a guy I didn't recognize, Matt with a girl I don't know. Sabine was with a guy it sort of looked like, but they weren't the only ones on the boat.
Judging by the stories, it was an open bar before they transitioned to a pristine beach. Jaicey stuck with the same guy, Matt traded off his girl for another. And Sabine…
I don't know. It's…I don't want to say weird but it's…
I don't know about Sunday thru Tuesday because I was in Kamino. But yesterday, like I said she didn't post anything on her story. All she's posted all week on Instagram was a new picture. But it's not from Cancun.
It's from her birthday when the two of us dressed up, went to Downtown LA and had a fancy dinner. She wore a tight black dress and looked like a fifty out of ten.
I took the picture. She looks great in it, smiling at the camera with the rest of the restaurant in the background. But that was a couple of weeks ago.
I didn't think of anything when she didn't post it. Sabine sometimes likes to take goofy pictures of us and just sits on them.
"Daddy look!" A small boy exclaims, then rushes past everyone. His parents quickly chase after him and once they're past me I peer back to see what he saw.
Ahh. The Washington Monument.
The massive, eminent structure looms several blocks back before I turn back and continue walking.
It is pretty cool to see everything in person that you see on the news and the Sunday shows.
"Valorum doesn't have a damn clue what's actually going on in the real world. That's a media driven narrative." Dad says before turning to me. "That's how the build and justify their agenda. Wars we don't need, tax cuts for people who don't need them. Helping those who offer nothing of value to anything Ezra. Now pass me the eggs…Are you hungry? Shall I make two or three?"
11:15 AM
The line in front of me of people, all dressed lesser than me slides forward, permitting me to step up to the front desk.
"Hi. Ezra Bridger, here for the 11:30 tour?" I give the woman at the desk a warm smile and slide my ID across the desk to her.
"11:30…" She takes the ID and starts tapping rapidly into her computer. "Somebody's early."
"Today's the day not to be late." I joke, then use the hand sanitizer sitting on the desk for people to use.
Mind your manners. Be polite to everyone you meet. Obey every direction asked of you.
"Very true. So I've got here Ezra Bridger, 11:30 set up by Senator Amidala. The Guided Tour of the East Room. Correct?"
"Yes ma'am." I nod.
She hands me my ID back. "Alright. Keep your ID out, they'll ask for it at security over there—" She points behind me, where an ominous metal detector is flanked by two suited men as well as a few other employees. "—enjoy your tour!"
"Thanks, you too." I reply before realizing my mistake.
You idiot…She's not going on the tour!
I twirl my ID in between my fingers as I cross the room and step in line behind a couple. The line moves briskly, with an employee asking everyone to empty their pockets before entering the scanner.
The woman in front of me steps into the scanner, and the employee asks me to empty my pockets, which I comply and set my wallet and folded pieces of paper into the plastic, circular dish before— "Thanks."
With a smile, the dish is ushered into a x-ray scanner before I'm asked "Your name and ID sir?"
"Ezra Bridger." I inform the man. Instantly, the nearest suited man's eyes snap to me.
They're waiting for me. Breathe…
"Thank you Mr. Bridger…" The employee gives me a congenial nod before the man in front of me steps into the metal detector.
I'm next.
Reaching out with the Force, my suspicions are confirmed simply by the tension emanating from both of the suited men.
Great…I've raised the ire of the Secret Service and I haven't even stepped inside yet!
The man in front of me passes the inspection and steps out of the metal detector before I'm waved forward. "ID." The man on the left orders me brusquely.
There's two more of them just past the metal detector. Waiting.
For me.
I pass over my ID with a smile, then am waved into the metal detector, which whirls around me before I hear a soft chime.
"You're clear." Another agent states. "Please step outside the metal detector sir."
Complying with the command, I barely take two steps before "Sir, if you'll step over here please."
I'm getting the extra search.
Once more, I obey the request and find my hands up on the wall as an agent starts patting me down to search for weapons. The Force barely ripples with others' curiosity as I get intrusively searched and examined.
They definitely know who I am.
The agent who is looking on gets passed my personal belongings, and he rifles through them quickly before the search ends. "He's clear sir."
Deliberately I put a smile on my face and turn to the other agent, who looks mildly irritated before extending the circular tray with my wallet and papers inside, ID on top. "Thank you."
"If you'll step aside, the tour should be beginning shortly."
Yes sir.
11:39 AM
"The East Wing of the White House is a two-story structure that serves as office space for the First Lady and her staff, including the White House social secretary, White House Graphics and Calligraphy Office and correspondence staff." The tour guide monologues to the group as we slowly make our way through the lobby of the East Wing.
I'm here.
"President Thomas Jefferson added colonnaded terraces to the east and west sides of the White House, but no actual wings. Construction of the actual wing of the building began in Theodore Roosevelt's administration…"
The wing of the building as it was designed today was built to cover up the construction of the Presidential Emergency Bunker in 1942.
"Now if you'll follow me we'll walk here along the East Colonnade. And up on our left is the famous Jackie Kennedy's Garden. Named after President Kennedy's dear wife in 1965 by Kennedy's successor, Lady Bird Johnson…"
Bringing up the rear of the tour group, we continue moving, albeit slowly thru the colonnade, giving up ample time to look out at the immaculate garden, fully in bloom with seemingly every sort of flower.
It is quite pretty.
The guide eyes me as I'm the last the file into the next room before she launches into her next prepared remarks. "This is the East Garden Room…"
Looks more like a study.
Our tour group pays mild attention to the guide, with some opting to soak in the visual all around them. Opting to do a bit of both, I peer around before the Force gives me another twitch of notice.
Behind me.
I peer back in time to see a Secret Service agent in the process of stowing away a walkie talkie discreetly.
Reporting where exactly I am in the building.
I smile at the man before our group begins moving again, deeper into the building.
Move Bridger. You awkward…
…
Not my fault though. I haven't gotten to dig into what exactly autism really means and how it affects me.
It's not my fault though. I've always been like this. Perfectly capable socially, but a little stiff except around a select group of people.
Used to just be Aubrey, now it's JJ, Jaicey, Matt, Trey and Sabine.
I did a decent amount of thinking about it on the plane from Paris. I'm still trying to come to grips with the idea that it's not a bad thing.
Just because Dad yelled at Mom about it (I think), doesn't mean it's a bad thing.
I'm in college for Force's sake. Yeah I have my routines and quirks and tendencies, but so does everybody!
Sabine hates wearing socks around the house. As soon as she's home for the day, off come the shoes and socks.
Granted, that might be because of her practicing soccer, but still…
We all have habits.
The guide's voice requests that we move forward once again before our collection submits to the request and—
Once more, the Force rattles again as I protect our back end while keeping the momentum going forward—
Oh. That's one of the guys that followed me at USC. The very first one.
The man, dressed in a suit for work is in casual conversation with a Secret Service agent as our guide is now talking about "—the China room, also known as the Presidential Collection Room was designed in by Woodrow Wilson's wife, Edith in 1917. You can step inside and…"
"Sir." I hear quietly behind me, prompting me to turn.
When I am fully turned around, I'm met by an approaching Secret Service Agent, extending a lanyard to me. "If you'll follow him."
"Yes sir." I nod to confirm my understanding, then smile and move towards the other man as my tour group files into the China room.
The man gives me a polite smile before another Secret Service agent opens the door outside and I'm led outside without a word.
Just smile and play along. If the Secret Service is on edge, then everyone is.
I slip the lanyard over my neck and allow it to rest in front of my tie before finally Palpatine's underling finally makes a move to speak. "Thanks for coming."
"No, thank you. I'm honored to be here." I reply, only for the man to look surprised.
Why? How many people get a free tour of the White House, invited guest or not? Probably not many.
The man opts to return to his silence as we continue to walk the open grounds, deliberately stepping behind every piece of cover in the garden before—
—
It's the South Portico. Maybe the most famous forward face of the building.
My guide seamlessly directs me underneath the porcelain appearing portico as I glance out towards the lawn and spot the general traffic and tourists out on the street, way, way out beyond a fountain.
This place is enormous. I think they land the President's helicopter somewhere out here too. They probably have enough room, and I know they don't have a helipad.
Taking a few more steps, the red brick path we've been on is tastefully lined with small trees to obscure the view as well as another Secret Service agent guarding another door.
They can't just be taking me right to—
The agent opens the door right up, and my friend says something to him before I nod. "Thank you."
Nothing. Cool, I—
The Force lurches anxiously, and I turn my attention to the door behind me to ensure it closes behind me before turning back and—
Oh god everybody's staring at me.
"Follow me please." My friend asks politely, as whether they mean to or not, every single person in the room, who is dressed like me has stopped what they're doing to look at me.
Smile.
Giving the room a smile and awkward wave, I move to follow as requested before my movement seems to break everybody out of their trance, prompting the room to move around feverishly.
Without a purpose. Just to move. They're afraid of me. Just like everyone else.
I'm…
Sighing to myself, I then smile again as I'm led to a small 5x5 cubicle area—
Wait. It's…all of them. Everybody who was following me.
"Hi." The words tumble out of my mouth as I spot the mousey, meek looking Palpatine subordinate.
Probably one of the speechwriters.
"I'm Ezra. We haven't formally met or anything. But, uhm…I want to apologize for last week. I'm sorry you had to see that." I walk over and extend my hand to the man.
Show respect. Vader wanted him dead, just casually.
My mousey man locks up, clearly caught off guard by my approach before he chokes out. "Yeah, uhm…it's okay. It just came out of nowhere more than anything."
He's lying, he was scared shitless.
"Yeah." A new, more forceful voice says, prompting me to turn and see a man with light hair and a irritated expression on his face. "Can you tell us what happened with that? You've been great, incredible all semester and then…"
The man mimes breaking somebody's neck before "Tommy!" The woman snaps at him.
Palpatine's fixer.
"I had a bad day in class. But it's no excuse, and I don't want it to sound like I'm making one. He got out and I didn't intend him to. And you got caught in the middle. So I apologize." I say to the group.
"Bad day in class?" A man in a mustache asks before the woman motions for me to sit.
"Sit. Drink? Water?"
"Sure." I smile before moving to do as I've been asked. "You don't have to get me anything though."
"My treat." She waves away my comment. "What was his schedule that day? Thursday?"
Not to me.
"I wanna say…Sociology? Right?" The man who led me here turns to me.
I nod before the woman in a dark dress blurts out. "Oh! We haven't introduced ourselves yet. You have no idea who we are."
Yeah. I just know you've tailed me all semester long.
The woman begins to go down the line, starting with the man I met first. "That's Jon, Dan, Tommy, Johnny and I'm Alyssa." She smiles, then turns back to somebody who looks about my age. "Where's that water?"
"It's on its way."
"No rush…" I pipe up to over for the poor aide Alyssa just snapped at, who gives me a quick glance before trotting away.
Still terrified.
"Sorry about them. They…" Alyssa trails off, suddenly looking unsure of her words.
"It's fine." I give them all another smile. "I know my reputation. Just tell everybody they can breathe though."
To my surprise, everybody breaks out into laughter, with one of them keeling over to his knees.
It's…not a joke? This whole room is wound as tight as piano wire.
They're not breathing.
"I'll pass that along." The one named Dan smiles at me.
Alyssa picks up where he leaves off. "They don't know you like we do. You're…pretty normal. As normal as you can be."
"Trying." I shrug as my water appears, toted by a new aide. "Thank you."
I barely hear "You're welcome." before this new aide leaves hastily.
"No, you are." The one named Jon contradicts me. "You wake up, go to class, go to work, go eat lunch, go to the library, go work, see friends…you're normal."
An unspoken 'and that's weird' lingers for just a moment before I smile at all of them and fiddle with the cap to my water. "I'm just grateful for the opportunity to be going to school and learning."
That's true.
"You seem to be enjoying it." Mustache Dan comments.
I nod then sip the water. "Love it. It's great."
Best decision I've ever made. It's led me to meeting Sabine.
And everybody else.
"By the way—" I jump in, cutting off the conversation. "You're the fixer—" I look to the woman, Alyssa. "And you're the foreign policy expert." I turn to the light haired man, Tommy.
The other three are the speechwriters.
Tommy lets out a low whistle. "Nice read man."
"I'm not a fixer though. What's that even supposed to mean?" Alyssa scrunches her face.
"You dispose of all the bodies we pile up so nobody can ask any questions." The mousey man, Johnny quips.
I chuckle and add "That's why you've followed me."
My intended joke hits the mark, sending everybody into more laughter.
Perfect.
"No. no…" Alyssa shakes her head. "I'm just good at taking care of the discreet parts of the job around here. And on the campaign…all of that."
So I've heard.
"Sorry we haven't introduced ourselves to you earlier by the way." Jon apologizes. "We know you've known about us, since like day one—"
"Minute one." Tommy fires back.
Making sure to smile, I respond. "I…I was trained to know when I'm being watched or followed. Nobody else noticed. You were just doing your job."
I wish somebody would have told me you were coming, but…nothing we can do about that now.
All five of them visibly relax, and I smile again before sipping my water. "Well that's good to know." Dan comments. "Now, weeks later."
"I imagine you were told not to directly contact me. And the times I have seen you—" I gesture to Johnny. "I haven't really wanted to talk."
I bullied him when I had my knee examined, then he saw Vader in the flesh.
"How's that knee by the way?" Jon asks.
I shake my head in an effort to dismiss the question. "Fine, back to normal."
"That guy really took a cheap shot at you?" Dan asks.
I nod and smile. "A couple. He paid for it."
"I would sure hope so." Alyssa rolls her eyes. "Nobody likes a cheater."
"It's not so much cheating as trying to win the wrong way. Not the Jedi Way."
"Still though, who likes a jackass who tears your ACL on purpose in a fight." Jon reasons. "No, screw that guy."
"Didn't he get sent home?" Tommy asks the room.
I nod to confirm. "He did."
From the little I've read, he got put on guard duty for the London Temple for the last month, graveyard shift and everything.
"How's your girlfriend?"
Alyssa…
"She's not my girlfriend." I turn and smile, keeping my one deliberately positive.
Immediately she pops off the desk she's leaning on and marches away. "Oh come on…"
"Yeah, she's not his girlfriend. She's just followed him around everywhere, talks to him more than everybody else, hangs out at the same places…totally friend stuff!" Johnny jokes, getting laughs out of his speechwriter buddies.
Alyssa finishes her exasperated pacing. "You're…you. You're telling me that she's not your girlfriend?!"
"She's not."
"I saw you kiss her."
Thanks Tommy.
"She's just affectionate is all." I tell the five of them. "I'm sure you know her bio, she's…different. We're just friends."
"Totally!" Johnny smiles a little too widely.
"Where is she now? Mexico?" Alyssa turns to Tommy.
Tommy nods. "Cancun. Have you talked to her Ez—man?"
"You can call me Ezra." I smile at all of them. "And no, I've been too busy all week to keep up with her."
All four of the guys give each other looks before Mustache Dan speaks up. "Well that sounds like a relaxing Spring Break."
"Traveling, now stuck here with us? Totally beats Cancun." Jon quips, getting everybody, including me to laugh.
"It hasn't been too bad." I wave away the joke.
It really hasn't been.
"So what should I be expecting?" I switch up subjects on them.
I would imagine that Palpatine's in a meeting right now. And they're stalling.
"Well—" Tommy begins before somebody approaches our group.
Padmé.
"Senator." Alyssa greets her as Padmé walks up, barely giving me a glance.
It's okay, she's Senator Amidala right now.
"Hi, they're ready for him." She says cordially, before finally looking at me.
Probing with the Force as I stand up, I'm reassured by her cooling presence as Padmé says something I don't catch to the others.
Be polite. They weren't awful.
"It was nice to finally meet all of you." I turn to Jon and extend my hand.
They were nice.
"Nice meeting you as well Ezra." Jon replies before I go around the circle, shaking all of their hands. Once I'm done, I turn to Padmé, who starts off down the nearest hallway.
Okay…
Breathe. Relax. You're going to be fine.
Suited men are drifting around the hallway as we walk past the White House press room, casual chatter filling the air.
"You're going to do great Ezra. Palpatine isn't a bad man. He mentored me when I considered running for Senate and has always kept channels open for me if I need him. I know it's intimidating, but—"
I don't get intimidated.
"—well, Anakin just said to keep breathing and relax. You'll be fine." She concludes, then turns and smiles at me. "You look great."
Reflexively I laugh. "Thanks."
The hallway bends naturally to the left before I spot an open door with a man in a red tie guarding it talking to Master Skywalker.
That's it.
"There you are." He lights up, then steps forward to greet us. "Any trouble?"
"No." Padmé reports with a shake of her head. "He met the people tailing him. Palpatine I think had one of them grab him out of that tour."
The Force twitches for a millisecond before Master Skywalker counters. "And that went unnoticed?"
"Yeah." I nod to him. "They timed it well."
"Excellent." Master Skywalker places his hand on my shoulder before steering me towards a room. "I—"
"I've got that Loyalist Committee meeting in a half hour." Senator Amidala saves her husband. "We can talk later."
"Sounds like a plan." Master Skywalker gives her a sideways grin, which she returns before she grasps my hand for an instant, gives me a smile before turning and walking the other direction.
Okay—
"Alright Ezra…" Master Skywalker spins me towards the office. "We got this."
"We got—?" I start before I see who is in the office and freeze up.
It's Palpatine.
This must be the Oval Office.
"Ahh." Palpatine turns and spots Master Skywalker and I. "There they are, right on time." He approaches with a kindly smile. "Master Skywalker."
"Your Excellency." Master Skywalker bows his head. "A pleasure as always to see you."
"Indeed, it is always a pleasure…" He shakes Skywalker's hand before turning to me.
He's not as old as I thought he was. A little smaller, but he's not small.
"And you must be Ezra. I am so glad to finally be able to meet you." He extends his hand to me.
Don't dead fish the handshake.
"Nice to meet you as well Mr. President." I shake his head and bow my head respectfully, copying Master Skywalker. "Thank you for having me."
"It's an honor and a treat dear boy." Palpatine turns and leads me into the famous office. "Come now, sit. Just a couple of introductions then we can get down to business…"
Business.
I think I should have prepared more for this.
"First." Palpatine stops as multiple suited individuals turn their attention to me. "May I introduce first, my vice president, Mas Amedda—"
Seen you on TV.
Shaking Amedda's hand, Palpatine continues "—my Secretary of Homeland Security, Wilhuff Tarkin—"
You're…you look like a professor.
"—Secretary of Defense, retired Grand Admiral Thrawn—"
Thrawn speaks up, cutting Palpatine off slightly. "The retirement is merely a formality I assure you. A true pleasure to meet you."
I give the man a smile while shaking his hand before Palpatine picks up where he left off. "My CIA Director, Alexsandr Kallus—"
Somebody who looks worthy of his station…
Kallus' handshake is firm as Palpatine keeps it moving "FBI Director Ortua Blank—"
Huh?
The Force gathers my attention as I turn to the final person in the room.
Governor Green.
What are you doing here?
"—and I believe you've had the pleasure to meet Governor Green of California…" Palpatine introduces us cordially.
I shake the man's hand then stride back to Master Skywalker's side as we all navigate our way to the two couches in the room, at the head a plushy chair clearly intended for Palpatine to sit in.
"Now." Palpatine says once he's seated in his chair. "I said it, but I'll say it again. I'm so pleased to finally meet you. My persistent efforts have paid off."
That's a shot.
"In the Jedi's defense Mister President, I don't exactly like to talk." I defend the Order.
Master Skywalker helpfully backs me up. "It's true. He's much more willing to go down and do dishes or perform housekeeping duties in the Temple than sit down and talk."
"Do you contract him out?" Kallus jokes, and I play along with the joke and laugh along with everyone else.
"Maybe." Skywalker shrugs amicably.
"Your reluctance to talk isn't a negative. You've experienced many difficult things in your life, young man. Completely understandable in my eyes." Tarkin comments.
I move to talk only for my throat to by completely dry, leaving my only option to sip on my water.
"How is your school going? From what I've heard you're doing quite well in college." Palpatine tees me up.
I nod once more. "Yes sir, very well. Four A's and a B. I'm learning quite a lot."
"Full class load." Blank comments.
"The entire time." Skywalker smirks, sounding…
Proud of me?
"Not to mention homework, as well as a job within the university. In addition to a full social life and domestic responsibilities. To say nothing of your obligations as a Jedi. It's a wonder you can do it all." Palpatine tells me.
"I do my best sir." I give him a smile. "I am busy."
Thrawn seems to understand. "Undoubtedly."
"I take it he is being modest, Master Skywalker." Palpatine asks him.
Anakin smiles at the group before answering. "Yes. He has his flaws like skimming emails, but all things considered the Council has few complaints with how he's handled the transition into being a full time student."
"And last semester you passed with flying colors." Palpatine looks to me to confirm.
"Yes sir."
"Excellent…quite excellent." Palpatine smiles.
I need to thank him for his role.
"I would like to thank you sir." I begin, drawing everyone's eyes and attention. "Without your permission, none of this would have been possible for me. I greatly appreciate your discretion throughout this whole process, as well as for the past six years. So thank you."
That should work as sort of a blanket statement.
I know that most of the people here in DC who know what's actually going on are here in this room. There are some exceptions, like Senator Amidala and the heads of a few committees.
But the list of people is very small. And it's stayed quiet, due in no small part to his say so. At any point of the last six years Palpatine could have changed his mind, denied me safe haven and ruined everything for me.
I would have had to be taken abroad, probably to a much smaller country where the government would say yes to harboring me.
"That means a lot Ezra. I'm very impressed that you're aware enough of the…tenuousness of the situation to acknowledge that. It hasn't been perfect, but we've made it work. And if the Jedi believe in you, then so do I." Palpatine answers, then smiles at me.
Again, I move to speak, only for my mouth and throat to be bone dry, leaving my only option to nod helplessly before drinking more of my water. In response, the Force pulses with all of the officials' recognition at my nerves.
It's okay to be nervous.
"Not to throw cold water on the situation sir." Green coolly interjects. "But what about the events of a week ago?"
"The Jedi stated quite plainly that the situation was an anomaly." The man named Kallus counters Governor Green. "In addition to the fact that the situation was mitigated for the most part by measures Lord Vader himself put in."
"Ezra." I correct him.
Master Jinn has a fondness for saying that work put in now, will pay dividends later.
I spent a lot of time, especially right after I turned making those safeguards to prevent him getting out once the council settled on their strategy of timed releases of Vader.
And it paid off in spades last week.
"From the reports we've been provided, the situation was indeed irregular. Can you tell us what happened Ezra?" Palpatine asks me.
I nod, then swallow a lump that's appeared in my throat. "I, uhm, I was fine until I went to my last Sociology class before the break. The, uhm, the lecture topic was uncomfortable to me. So I went to the Temple right away to try and clear my mind, notifying Master Skywalker and a few others on the way." I explain. "From there…there's no excuse. Vader beat me and got out. I'm just thankful there wasn't permanent damage."
We got so close. So, so, so close.
Cayle clutched up, as Matt would say it, and did multiple things to keep him down.
He paid for it, but he's always said he'll do it a hundred times out of a hundred.
"What was the lecture topic?" FBI Director Blank asks.
"The effects of manipulative parents on their children." I tell them, before the Force heaves in discomfort and everyone minus Master Skywalker makes a face.
"That's a horrible topic. Especially for you." Palpatine states plainly.
I shake my head in disagreement. "The idea behind me going to college was to push me intellectually as well as allow me a chance to be more normal. And my Sociology class has indeed pushed me the whole time. I can't let one lecture get under my skin like that."
"What do you mean by, pushed you?" Thrawn queries.
"My father and his actions have been front of mind most of the time in that class. It's from an old, immature grievance I'm trying to let go while also understanding it. I'm working to be better."
"Not to contradict you—" Master Skywalker indeed contradicts me. "But Ezra's always, rightfully held the belief that his father favored his brother, Elias over himself. Which from every indication we have found was indeed the case."
Still is immature. Happened years ago.
"From the information provided, that certainly appears to be the case." Palpatine confirms with a nod. "And if the course is testing that, then you can hardly be blamed for having a difficult time. Anyone would."
I'm not anyone.
"Indeed. Well stated." Tarkin nods solemnly.
"Would I be correct in my understanding that you're trying to understand why he did what he did to you?" Palpatine asks.
Whoa.
Not knowing what else to do, I nod then unscrew my water bottle and move to sip it. "He's said as much to the Council, your Excellency. We're giving him time and space to work out the problem on his own." Master Skywalker fills for me.
"From every indication, no child deserves to be treated how he treated you." Kallus turns to eye me. "The scars from the whippings alone…"
"Abhorrent." Tarkin says, disgust clear in his voice.
"You were forced to do things because he was your father. Yours just happened to be maybe the greatest enemy to peace and freedom in human history." Palpatine monologues. "You were just a child, you shouldn't blame yourself."
I did them though. I was responsible for all the pain, and chaos, and death.
I am responsible.
"It gives me a little comfort that he'll spend the rest of his days in prison. His current diagnosis is unfortunate, but he—" Palpatine says before I cut him off.
"What diagnosis?"
…
…
"What diagnosis?" I repeat myself as everyone in the room has fallen silent and looked to Master Skywalker.
Green.
Turning to him, I probe and—
Stage—NO!
NO NO NO!
"You haven't told him? Palpatine turns to Master Skywalker, suddenly looking displeased.
He can't have—he deserves it.
He gave it to Mom. Of course he has it too now.
Polonium-210 does that.
I come back to my sense as I hear Master Skywalker explaining himself "—great reluctance to hear anything about his father. We initially wanted him fully kept in the loop, but he willfully did not read the briefings we prepared for him. So his Master, Master Jarrus came up with the solution of leaving the matter be. He's in prison for many lifetimes, if Ezra doesn't want to talk to anyone about it, then we won't force it down his throat. I'd go as far as to say that the tactic has worked spectacularly, given the situation we are now in."
"He deserves to know if his father is deathly ill." Director Blank counters Skywalker's assertions.
"Personally, I agree." Anakin concedes the point, hand raised to illustrate the point. "But he's done so well, beyond any of our wildest expectations, that the Council has allowed the issue to rest."
"When were you going to tell him? When the situation continues to deteriorate? He's got—"Palpatine asks before I speak up.
"What does he have?" I ask the room before adding "Sorry for cutting you off."
"No no—" Palpatine dismisses my apology. "You have a right to be upset." He says as off to my left Thrawn has procured a tablet before extending it to me. I take it with a nod of thanks before peering down at it.
Oh he looks like hell…
A picture, dated from the middle of last month, shines out at me.
The youthful appearance that belied his true nature, completely eroded away. His hair's almost all gone, the same dark blue and black mixture I have. Replaced by patchy, thin gray hair.
His face is lined like that of an old man, with the expression of a misery all over his face. Just the picture shows a stark amount of weight loss.
You gave Mom leukemia. What have you got…
My eyes scan the file, a prepared report updating everyone on his latest health status.
They're treating him for this too…can't they just—
No. No Ezra. Everyone deserves a chance against something as insidious and destructive as cancer.
It took Mom from a superhero to a coffin in less than two months after I found her at home.
—
—
My ears don't catch the conversation around me as my eyes stick on the word I was looking for.
Stage Four Anaplastic Carcinoma.
…
…
I'll research that later.
"—boy is quite different than the last time I met him."
Master Skywalker counters "You didn't really meet him last time Governor. You sicked your goons on him, tied him up and inhibited him then shocked him."
"That was not in the agreement we came to." Palpatine reminds Governor Green.
"My men acted out in an abundance of caution."
"An abundance that clearly is unnecessary given his track record in the past eight months." Tarkin coolly turns to Green.
"He shattered a man's jaw, caused over twenty arrests, the suspension of many of his so-called 'friends' and knocked himself out in order to prevent the situation from escalating!" Green raises his voice. "I stand by our use of caution! This is not the same young man I met then!"
"Which he had the foresight to do." Kallus scowls at Green.
"You didn't meet me."
The whole room, Green includes turns to me.
"You never met me, Governor." I repeat myself. "You saw an opportunity and seized it. I can acknowledge that and understand why you did what you did."
"I—" He sputters out before I cut him off.
"I'm not concerned with that anymore though. I do have a point I'd like to bring up with you, if I'm allowed to do that." I turn to Master Skywalker.
Before he can reply though, Palpatine interjects. "Of course you are allowed to do that. What is it?"
"UCLA." I state plainly, before Green slowly starts to go pale.
Yeah.
"No disciplinary action has been taken in the aftermath of that nightmare. That HRT team never should have been halfway across the state in Eureka on some retreat when statistically, that week is the most likely to have an event like what happened. I was placed in a spot that had no good options, and was forced to make the best of it. And I did—."
Green speaks up before I cut him off. "All due respect sir, I should have heard from you. I heard from him—" I motion to President Palpatine. "—but not you. I bailed you out. Saving thirty lives and who knows how much trauma in the process. Not that it matters, I was going to lunch. With my friends maintaining my cover. Which basically got blown. They haven't said it, but they've kind of figured out that I was the one who pulled the trigger that day."
"Really?" Thrawn says, almost in awe.
I nod once. "One of my friends is a bit of a conspiracy nut. Likes searching for answers. He found out about the HRT team across the state, read up on a sniper like that. Simple question, what if it gets out that I was the one who pulled the trigger? Not me, Ezra. Vader."
"That won't happen." Master Skywalker states firmly.
"No it won't." Palpatine reiterates the point.
"Again all due respect sir—" I look to Palpatine. "You cannot guarantee that."
"The victims never saw you." Master Skywalker begins laying out the argument that was given to me in the holding cell after the shooting. "The FBI, US Marshals, police officers and state officials were all given the strictest non-disclosure agreements that we have. All footage from the event was wiped."
Like it never even happened.
The fascinating thing was how everybody on that roof seemed to, oddly enough, gain respect for me immediately afterward. I ended up shaking everybody's hand as they thanked me for what I did once I was cleared to go.
"We think." I reiterate my point. "What if one of those officers goes rogue and we don't discover it in time? All this will have been for nothing."
Nothing!
"It wouldn't have all been for nothing." Palpatine disagrees calmly. "It would appear that you've learned a great deal in the months you've attended USC. The growth you've had is very commendable and something you should be very proud of."
Oh.
"Thank you sir." I say meekly.
I…
I shouldn't have gotten so mad there.
I should have remembered my place.
"Now I know that we are running short on time." Palpatine turns to Master Skywalker. "But I'd like to go on a walk with him, if you can agree to that."
A—
"Yeah, sure." Master Skywalker turns to me.
Okay.
Palpatine smoothly stands and motions for us to step outside. I follow as he holds the door for me, leading us out into another garden.
"Is this the Rose Garden?" I ask as he shuts the door behind us.
Palpatine turns back to me, looking rather pleased. "Why yes it is. I'm surprised you knew that, the vast majority of those who I bring out here just think of it as another garden."
Not me. I've always known a lot about the White House, Congress, historical buildings and the like.
I just kind of like it.
"Uhm, sorry I got so worked up in there." I apologize to him while absently fiddling with the cap of my water.
The pleased look stays on Palpatine's face. "You didn't get worked up. You made points that I myself have made to him over the phone. His answers were similarly unsatisfactory, so I invited him here to our little meeting."
I didn't let him really get in a word.
"When we go back inside, I'll make a point of mentioning to him the importance of acting on the events at UCLA. You pulled the fat out of the fire, to turn a phrase, and he's completely taken advantage of that."
"Thank you sir." I nod politely.
Palpatine lets out a small chuckle while dipping his head. "Oh no, if anything I should be thanking you. Not just for UCLA, or that house party where you saved lives even before you got into that fight. But for your dedication to your turn, as the Jedi have so eloquently phrased it."
"Your commitment and unwavering stance on the issue has allowed everything to unfold as it has. If you'd say, acted out or attempted to escape having changed your mind, all parties involved would have had to concede defeat and lock you up. Notifying the requisite parties would have caused the cover we tucked you under to fail. And then nobody is happy."
Yeah, he comes under fire because he's known about everything from the start I would imagine, plus everyone else who knew. The Jedi's credibility comes into question, and on and on…
"It's not my place or my right, but I'm very proud of you Ezra. Master Yoda himself told me, maybe a few days into your initial imprisonment that what you wanted to do was viewed as impossible. And you've done just that, the impossible." Palpatine smiles at me in a kindly, older mentor way.
I think he really likes me.
"That means a lot sir, thank you."
Palpatine claps me on the shoulder as we continue to slowly walk around the garden. "There is one other matter I want to discuss with you, that we must be discreet and surreptitious about Ezra."
"What is it sir?"
"I'd like to offer you the full array and arsenal of the US surveillance apparatus to aid you in your efforts in finding Elias."
Wha—
Whoa.
"You weren't expecting this." Palpatine states plainly.
"No." I shake my head in response. "I, that's a lot—"
"Even more than you realize. The number of satellites we have orbiting our planet right now alone is something we do not disclose. And surely you're not naïve enough to think they're all looking up into space."
Some of them are looking down.
"Those resources, in addition to Homeland Security, FBI, CIA and the whole intelligence community, all at your disposal. Because if there's anything I've learned from all of this, it's that definitive action on matters like this is best. Yourself and the Jedi have looked for him for six years. I believe the time has come to stop working as two, and begin working as one for a greater purpose such as this."
"This makes a lot of sense." I state the obvious.
"I try to do things that make sense." Palpatine jokes, before I can't help but laugh, causing Palpatine himself to smile. "The outside media isn't exactly helpful in that message getting out."
"I would imagine."
"I've read Senator Keith's remarks and veiled shots towards you, as well as a majority of the coverage on you. It's vastly unfair era, and I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry that they cannot learn the truth."
I shrug, not knowing what else to do. "It's part of it. Nothing I can do."
"One day, hopefully, maybe not even in my administration the truth can come to light a little bit. So that the American people as well as the world can see what I see, a calm, well-adjusted young man who actually is quite thoughtful and soft spoken a majority of the time. Which is something you cannot say about many eighteen year old freshmen in college."
Again, I laugh and Palpatine laughs along with me this time. "Thank you sir."
"Is there anything at all that you'd like to ask me Ezra?" Palpatine asks, coming to a stop near an immaculately pruned hedge.
Yeah, actually.
"Yeah, I do sir. If you don't mind."
Palpatine smiles at me in response. "Of course I don't. What's on your mind?"
"Why are you running for office again? You're defying nearly a century of established constitutional precedent as well as an example going back as far as Washington himself sir."
Palpatine blinks for an instant. "Quite a thoughtful question. I thought you'd ask about your father."
"I can read about him later. He…he's not important right now." I shake my head.
He is, and always has b—
Palpatine placing his hand on my arm gently brings me out of my thoughts. "I'm sorry they didn't tell you he was dying. I only mentioned it because I thought you knew."
"Master Skywalker was right. I don't seek out new information on him. I've got enough going on."
"What do you think of him though?" Palpatine queries.
"Everyone underestimates him. Senators here, people out there—" I motion to the outside world beyond the garden and the gates. "Sometimes I wonder if the Jedi themselves do. You know as do I his surrender. He didn't fight."
Master Skywalker busted right into his private study and arrested him. He didn't put up a fight. He just…went.
Palpatine nods to me. "I have thought that was strange, given his history. I was hoping that we'd caught him off guard. But your brother's sudden disappearance suggests otherwise."
Like this is a part of his plan.
"Exactly." I say emphatically. "I know he's not done, he's not finished. I know he's working on some sort of a plan or something to reverse the tide of this fight he's been fighting his whole life."
"I believe you're right Ezra. The evidence supporting you is overwhelming. And I think that people are choosing to believe the easy option, that he's been locked up and we threw away the key. Which we've attempted to do, to the best of our ability."
He is in a prison in the middle of the freezing Irminger Sea with the only island reasonably close being Jan Mayern. And as far as I know, the scientists have his picture permanently posted, on the lookout for a man like him.
Which suddenly…might not matter.
If you dropped him into the ocean right now he'd…
—
"But back to your question Ezra." Palpatine again brings me out of my thoughts. "I'm running again because I believe it's the right thing to do for this country and the world. I'm sure you saw the extensive debate in Congress about the legality of me running for a third term. And I know Senator Amidala thinks quite highly of you as well, so I understand if you're personally wary."
"My personal opinion on the matter isn't really important. I'm just curious, and you asked." I deflect.
"I disagree." Palpatine shakes his head. "But I love democracy. I love this Republic. And if I'm elected to a third term, which is not a certainty I might add, I will likely step aside once these crisis, both internal and external, have abated."
That's…
"Having spoken to Senator Amidala, she said that you…ceded some of your constitutional rights when you surrendered?"
"Yes sir." I nod. "It's part of the agreement."
"Why?" He asks.
"They didn't make it sound like I had a choice in the matter. It was a part of the deal if I didn't want to go to jail."
For the first time, displeasure appears on Palpatine's face. "They had no right to do that Ezra. You were but a child, you didn't know what you were doing."
I knew very much what I was doing. I—
"I'll speak with the Jedi about this. I cannot make any promises, but I'd like for all this to be resolved by this fall so that you can vote in this election. Not that you have to vote for me, but you've earned the right to keep the rights given to you as a citizen of this country."
I really don't want to vote.
What if it comes down to my vote? I shouldn't have final say in anything…
"Now come, I'm sure the others are curious as to what we've discussed. Your friend is playing in the NCAA tournament later today isn't he?"
"Yeah, how'd you know that?" I ask as he starts directing me back to the Oval Office.
Palpatine laughs, then smiles at me. "It's my job to know things Ezra…"