"Don't let the motion control you, allow the motion to focus you, root you in the moment. Dooku instructs me as I continue running my way thru this velocity.

With a flick of the wrist, I disarm the Padawan in front of me, causing his training saber to short circuit and shut off.

Back.

"Allow it to help you think." Dooku appends his earlier statement as I turn fluently to the next Padawan that is lined up.

NO. Way too low.

With a swift chop, I knock the Padawan's blade down, causing the tip of his blade to become parallel with his waist. He cannot get back up to mine in time and I 'defeat' him easily with a basic horizontal swipe.

"Fidean, a moment." Dooku steps in between us bodily before I deactivate my lightsaber and scan the edge of the sparring arena for my water bottle.

Finding it, I pull it on a line to me and catch it before popping open the lid and taking a quick swig.

That wasn't exactly what Dooku wanted me to do, but the opportunity presented itself.

I'm practicing one of the core moves of Makashi, the Sun Djem. It's intended to disarm or destroy the opponent's weapon.

In that last case, the Padawan was…I don't want to say that he was afraid of me, but he wasn't prepared.

His lightsaber blade wasn't high enough to stop my attack. All I had to do was that chop and he was all but defeated.

Turning my attention back towards the sparring arena, Dooku is explaining just that to Fidean, while another Padawan is being talked to by her Master. The final Padawan I just faced is realigning his lightsaber after I short-circuited it.

"—shouldn't have that much power behind it."

"Young Bridger is an excellent stand-in for a hostile enemy combatant. He defies many rules of Form II while adhering to the basic principles."

"How am I supposed to be able to defend against that level of power Master Talprie?"

Master Felisha Talprie.

Probing out for a moment, I detect everyone's level of frustration or dissatisfaction before finding a beacon of curiosity and wander off to my right.

They're here early.

Turning in that direction, I spot Master Trebor talking to my collection of Padawans about something as many of them are peering over the railing down at me.

Focus on her guys…not me.

Subtly, I point for them to turn and pay attention to what she's saying. Without delay, all but one or two do just that.

I'm surprised that Master Trebor brought them down so soon. He usually takes advantage of every moment and doesn't like losing them or their attention early.

Today's the day though.

Today's the day I bring them into the real world of lightsaber combat and begin teaching them Form I.

Shii-Cho.

I think I'm ready today. I definitely wasn't last week after Master Dooku sprung the idea on me when I got to the Temple.

I needed to gather all the readings that I could and sift thru them. Think back to what Dad taught me when he was teaching me the basics of the form and what I can apply.

I have to be very, very, VERY careful drawing from his teachings, especially about lightsaber combat.

I cannot put any of those younglings on any form of a path to the dark side.

Dad utilized my desire to succeed and win. The level of competitiveness I've always had, that I was born with to start molding me into his weapon.

"Serenity, Young Bridger." Master Dooku advises me before I turn back to face him. The three Padawans I was sparring with are all re-entering the sparring circle as Dooku motions for us to walk. I nod and fall into step behind him as he leads us up the stairs and into the corridor heading the opposite way from Master Tiplar and the Padawans.

"Your anxieties, while founded in the truth and the past should be let go of, young one." Dooku begins. "You have more than made an effort to combat them. There is such a thing as overpreparing."

"Yes, Master." I nod in understanding before Dooku motions for me to cut the formality.

"Well done capitalizing on Fidean's apprehension. Dispatching him quickly was a valuable teaching moment. Walk me through what you saw."

It was more a flash, a snap of a moment.

"I picked up how low he was carrying his blade. Knowing I am stronger, I capitalized on the opportunity and knocked his blade aside. From there, it was his reflexes and twitch versus mine."

And I nearly always win those.

Nearly.

Dooku nods once before making an assenting noise. "Not only are you stronger, but you are also taller and carry more weight. Those three factors gave you the leverage you needed for victory."

Yes.

I nod again while silently waiting for Dooku to continue. "Have you taken the time to read all of the reports on your duel with Maul?"

"All the ones that have been released, yes."

Dooku's neutral expression turns into a thin smile. "All of them in their entirety or just the sections in which they revealed and explained the mistakes you made?"

There's no point in reading what essentially is my own press clippings.

Before I can give him an answer, Dooku's expression has dropped again. "Compliments and criticisms should be doled out in equal measure."

"Right now I need to focus on my own improvements though." I counter. "Master."

"You were defeated by Maul fighting with one blade deliberately hidden the entire time. He deliberately put himself in losing situations, giving up ground so as to lull you into a false sense of accomplishment." He tells me, voice picking up more fire as he goes on. "The entire fight was a ruse."

I know. He waited until I thought I had him, cut my ankle with the blade he hid the entire time. Then stabbed me with my dagger.

"I thought it was a fight well fought myself." Dooku resumes giving me his thoughts. "Did you notice that I refrained from adding any notes of my own?"

"I did." I confirm for him.

He knows that's what I looked for first, after Kanan and before Master Skywalker.

"If you're so inclined, I'll give them to you now." He turns, almost asking for permission as we turn the wrong way down this corridor towards a staircase.

"My only major critique can be accounted for in the situation. You pushed the enemy back too quickly. You were so efficient and capable that you defeated Maul's men as they appeared. Whether using the Force to push them into walls, knocking them unconscious or with tables, chairs, or whatever was at hand for you, almost all of the men barely could make an effort to thwart you before you summarily dispatched them."

Only a couple of them put a hand on me, and I made them regret that.

"Are all of them now conscious over in the infirmary?"

Dooku nods. "Which reminds me, the memory of Vader's reign of terror still grips them. The Order has been able to leverage the threat of your presence to get them talking."

"Great." I monotone out before I can stop myself.

Dooku does not react before he elaborates. "It appears that the infiltrators were selected out of a handful of organizations. Mainly enforcers or skilled thieves from the Hutt Cartels, although some appear to be freelance in order to maximize personal profit."

I would imagine they can't be tracked to the Cartels directly though.

"Employed by subsidiaries I assume?"

Dooku nods. "Haugg Nerf Industries, New Horizons Development Corporation, et cetera. There is, however one noted exception. Not to the eyes of the Council, but to me."

"What is it, Master?" I ask before I feel Dooku's mental shields…

Wordlessly I turn to him and see, for the first time the face of an old man instead of a Jedi Master. "I am not perfect, young one. Far from it. I have failed many times, in more ways than you can imagine. And this is one of these cases."

Regret seems to linger on his face for a moment as we continue to walk. "Qui-Gon was not the only apprentice I took in my time as a practicing Jedi Master. He is my success story. I only ask that you try not to judge me too harshly when I tell you the story of my failure."

"The causes of failed apprentices aren't solely their Masters' fault." I parrot words I heard in a lecture from Yoda long ago. "Can be traced back yes, but it's not—"

"When in the stacks of books and texts in the Jedi Archives, you have seen and know of the Lost Twenty, yes?" Dooku shuts me up.

I nod once. "Yes."

"Komari Vosa is not one of those because she did not achieve the rank of Jedi Master. She was quite skilled in the Force, but her aggressive demeanor was a flashing light of warning, one the Council did not miss. Master Yaddle, in particular, but the Council as a whole watched her as she advanced and continued her flirtation and fascination with the dark side of the Force. In addition to that…I was too soft with her."

"Too soft?"

Dooku's tone shifts to a slightly softer one. "You're aware that I've done my best to give you a sense of financial and material comfort. Because I believe, deep in my heart that comfort in the moment allows you to focus on the things that truly matter."

"Yes Master." I nod.

Dooku again waves away my term of respect.

"She grew comfortable, too comfortable with my wealth. One particular trip to Ibiza where she racked up a 400,000 euro tab comes to mind. Enjoying the finer things in life. In the end, not a matter I cannot recover from but I saw what the Council saw. She had grown too attached to her life as my apprentice, and when she declared herself, boldly, to be ready for the Trials the Council denied her. I too denied her."

Uh oh.

Dejection falls onto Dooku's face as his pace slows as we reach the top of the stairs and begin following the natural path of the Temple's second floor. "She reacted poorly to this, as you might imagine. Calling the body a 'group of old fools' if I recall correctly—"

There's no way you forget something like that.

"She was accosted by the Temple Guards in London and escorted out of the High Council's chambers. The Council passed on custody of her to the Council of Reassignment, who assigned her to the Exploration Corps. She barely lasted a week before vanishing."

…

…

The everyday sounds of the Temple continue below as we walk in silence for an extended period of time as Dooku seems to allow himself to recall and reflect on what he's telling me.

"Using my various outside contacts and friends in the criminal underworld, I've done my best to keep track of her. Last I know of her, she was leading a cult of Force-worshippers named the Bando Gora."

"Not to divert you Master, but a Force-worshipping…cult?"

I didn't know there was such a thing.

"You look at the Force as if it has always been there for you. Because it has been for as long as you can remember. But remove yourself and your biased point of view and look at the larger world. Over seven billion people are living on this planet but only roughly 25,000 members of the Jedi Order. Many out there believe the Jedi to be a myth, or simply does not exist. Others doubt the existence of the Force."

"One of my friends at school, his girlfriend looked at things similarly." I nod.

I can see how they can think that. It's asinine, but I can see their point of view.

"For those that do believe, it is almost as if the Force is like the three main religions of the world, young Bridger. The Force can be repurposed and worshipped as a benevolent force, perhaps a God. There are many organizations that the Jedi Order either works with or monitors, or protects that worship and believe in the existence of the Force."

"I didn't know that," I say breathlessly. "Dad always critiqued the 'narrow, dogmatic' view of the Jedi. But maybe it was he who was narrow and dogmatic."

"Perhaps." Dooku makes a face. "I doubt it, however, due to his usage of the Omena-Da in the Vietnam War."

Of course. Another tool for him.

"I bring all this up for a multitude of reasons, young one." Dooku puts us back on track. "For one, to remind you that I am fallible. I am not perfect, and I want this story to be a source, a lesson for you. Secondly, to inform you that the world outside of North America and most of continental Europe is perhaps as turbulent and unstable as it has ever been."

"The conflicts involving the Trade Federation in Southeast Asia. They are not the only forces in the world that seek to disrupt the current order, the balance we appear to have achieved. That is where our Order comes in, to assist the United States government, the United Nations, and allied nations of the world to protect and help the people of the world in the best ways we can. It is how we can have Temples on every continent of the world and a footprint in nearly every corner of the globe without global war breaking out."

Alright. Makes sense.

"The Order is only a fraction, a portion of the global ecosystem. It is important to remember that and not become arrogant and blind to the world around us." Dooku falls silent as we have walked the length of this corridor as below us, the sparring and training has now resumed.

"Returning to you, young one, I urge you to slow down. Thinking is always something your father criticized you for, yet it is what makes you unique. You see things higher tier Padawans such as your friend Cayle do not see."

"In a battle?" I presume.

Dooku nods. "You advanced too quickly. You were consumed, rightly with pushing Maul and his forces back, out of the Temple, out of harm's way for others. I commend you for that, but in the process, you lost track of your place in the Temple."

"I knew right where I was." I counter. "I pushed him down to the maintenance—"

"You think too literally, young Bridger." Dooku raises his hand to silence me. "Downshift, don't be afraid to take the next step in third or fourth gear instead of being in fifth gear all of the time. Master Windu bestowed upon you a great trust in the moment. I'm sure you read his actions."

He thought I could take Maul's forces, the unknown number they were in the moment, and allowed him to focus on locking down the Temple.

That's one of the highest priorities in the event of a break-in: Protect the younglings, evacuate the area in question, and lock down the Temple from the outside world.

Keep the problems in our Temple confined to our Temple. We cannot allow the citizens of the world to pay for the Jedi's mistakes.

"I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean by gears, Master." I confess.

Dooku's eyes close for an instant. "You…have never driven a car with a manual transmission, have you?"

"Huh?"

"Your car." Dooku frowns. "As you turn onto the highway from your apartment. You accelerate from twenty-five miles per hour or whatever the limit of speed is to over seventy miles per hour. You've seen the dial next to your speedometer?"

I nod. "Yeah, the one with numbers rising sequentially."

I haven't paid much mind to it. Enough is going on around me as I drive to keep myself occupied. Really I've only noticed in the last few months.

Before I was too worried about accidents, my cruise control, and where the cars around me were. Now I see it at least.

"Those indicate gears, my very young Apprentice. In the past, you used to have to manually shift in between gears as you accelerated. First to second to third and so on." Dooku motions for the sequence to continue. "To use those terms, you live your life as a duelist in fifth or sixth gear. As fast as you can, blow after blow after blow. Highway speed."

Oh.

"You need to learn, and to become comfortable with slowing down. Using your mind and your knowledge as a tool while also combatting your foes. If you had done so, you might have seen Maul's strategy, his unused blade, and changed tact."

I motion my understanding to Dooku before he continues on. "This critique is nearly exclusive to you. Many Padawans are the exact opposite, we have to tell them to speed up, go faster and be more aggressive. You have an advanced feel for combat that you have passed on, in some ways to your friend Cayle."

"I have?"

"His Master has given him this same critique, albeit in much less high stakes situations. Because he can hold his own with you in spots, he believes he can defeat anyone not named you." Dooku enlightens me. "This is not a criticism of you, it has allowed him to accelerate his path to the Trials."

If you say so.

"Speaking of the Trials…I'm sure you are aware that he will be departing to take those on soon enough."

"Yes." I nod.

I know that I cannot go with him, and I can't know when he departs until he comes to say goodbye.

"I don't ask this because I view you as weak. But will you be alright with him undergoing the trials at this time? An honest answer will not hurt you, Ezra."

"I'll be fine." I turn and answer. "Between my friends from USC, Hera, Kanan, the kids, my training, and searching for Elias, I've got more than enough to occupy me until he returns."

Victorious. Cayle will complete his trials.

"Burying yourself in the work ahead of you would be an effective strategy in pass the time. Another question if you'll indulge me."

"It's not indulging if I welcome it, Master."

Dooku laughs at my statement before speaking again. "You mention your friends…I saw that you missed Miss Wren's calls over the last week. And haven't responded to her texts."

There's no point.

"The Council asked me to take a step back with her. I'm trying to do that."

Dooku counterargues. "You can do that while communicating with her."

"There's nothing to say right now. She's going to demand an update on the beskar, one I don't have. And then she'll fall back into her loop of fury. In my opinion Master, it's best for me to just keep quiet and out of her line of fire right now."

"And when we do get an update on the Mandalorian Iron?" Dooku queries.

"Then I'll go thru the proper channels to inform Sabine and her family and the Mandalorians of what we've discovered."

This isn't about me anymore. It's political, I have to follow procedures. After all the conflicts Mandalorians and Jedi have had over the centuries, I need to color within the lines on this one.

"I believe the Council would agree with you on that count, young one."

"Thank you, Master. May I ask you a question?" I ask before we round the corner—

There's Master Tiplar and the younglings.

We've completed a full lap of the Temple.

"Under almost every circumstance I would say yes. But I believe that we are unfortunately out of time." Dooku replies to me before Master Trebor turns his focus towards Master Dooku and I.

"Hello Master Dooku! Hello Master Bridger!" My younglings greet us warmly, followed by a deluge of smiles towards me.

They're excited.

Dooku bows his head to the younglings and Master Trebor. "Sounds to me like we're ready to start our training. To take a step into a new world."

"They've waited for a week, Master Dooku." Master Trebor says, tone…

Not exactly sounding pleased.

But that's also just Master Trebor. He's stoic, and I don't mean that as an insult or criticism.

"Well then let's not keep them waiting. Master Trebor." Dooku motions for them to walk.

The two Jedi Masters stroll of together, striking up a casual conversation that I watch for a moment before I blink and my younglings have boldly, enthusiastically circled up around me.

Large eyes peer up at me matched by smiles before I speak up. "Hey guys."

"Hello Master Bridger!"

"Usually I like my lessons to have the element of surprise, but it sounds like you know what's coming. What did Master Trebor say?"

Multiple hands pop up before I say, "Yes Dipitka?"

"He talked to us about what we should think about for a lightsaber. How it's fun and cool to use but also can hurt and injure people. That we should respect it like we do him or you or Master Yoda."

Good lesson.

"I completely agree. I was going to touch on that before we begin today, but if Master Trebor has already talked about it, then I won't."

It's unnecessary.

"Now, you guys know how last week I told you how it's important to take care of yourself before you use a lightsaber. Get plenty of sleep, drink plenty of water and get a snack before practicing with one, right?"

All twenty-four heads nod at me before Jacen's hand raises behind me. "Yes Jacen?"

"Is that why Master Cayle's coming towards us? Is he getting us a snack?"

I can't help but laugh and turn to where indeed Cayle is approaching us. "Hi." He begins modestly.

"Hello Master Cayle!" The younglings all chant before one asks "Are you getting us a snack?"

Oh no.

"No." He chuckles. "I was coming to observe Master Bridger as he starts teaching you guys all Form I. Why, did he say I was?"

"No, but I was about to make a diversion towards the kitchens for a snack." I confess.

It's so simple but they focus so much more after a snack like an apple or banana paired with a juice box. Makes sense though. They're kids and they've been active all day. They're hungry.

Cayle's impetuous grin spreads onto his face. "I like the way you think. I'll run down there, you thinking fruit and juice boxes?"

All the younglings subconsciously pump joy into the Force before I smirk and nod as Cayle grins as well. "Something like that."

"I'll take care of the snacks and meet you there. Same room as always right?" Cayle calls back to me while he starts towards the stairs and the kitchens.

"Yup! Thank you!" I call after him.

"Thank you Master Cayle!"

Cayle stops, turns, and gives us all a two-fingered salute before disappearing down the stairs.

Alright. That was simple.

When I pivot back to the younglings, they're already voraciously awaiting my next command. "Okay guys…lead the way." I wave them forward before they all move as one towards our training room.

(Eight Hours Later)

Turning the knobs of the shower, hot and cold water both begin dispensing before I pull up on the lever and the shower activates.

Alright.

Long day. But a good day.

The trick will be not to fall asleep before Cayle and Aubrey's call tonight.

I flash my hand thru the stream of water, only for it to be scalding hot before I tweak the knobs and wait.

Aubrey reached out, saying there were some developments that were worth talking about in Liuzhou.

Hopefully, that'll get the ball rolling on Elias or Maul or…something.

Project Insight just completed its full scan of North America, just in time for Palpatine to push the Council about coming to Napa next week.

How that's next week I don't understand.

This summer is moving at lightspeed. Between that and Lollapalooza starting tomorrow—

Well, today Eastern and Central time. It's now Friday in Chicago.

…

Flashing my hand under the water again, the temperature is much more hospitable to me before I strip down and hop under the water.

Ahh…much better.

I've wanted to take a shower ever since I felt how grimy and gross I was driving home from the Temple, Mira and Jacen in tow.

I think I was so nervous that in addition to running around, helping all of the younglings I worked myself into a sweat.

And when we got home we immediately started running around the backyard with Ghost.

No rest for the weary.

…

…

I allow myself to drop my head fully under the water's spray and try to relax.

Aubrey's at least a constant source of information, along with her legitimate concern for me.

I still cannot believe she came to see me on Mom's anniversary.

I never thought she'd care about it that much. And she texted me on my birthday.

Granted I was in the bacta after Maul stabbed me, but…

Sabine didn't do that.

Without thought, I raise my left arm and glance down at the spot where Maul stabbed me.

You can clearly see where the dagger went in, as well as the spiderweb of trauma that followed as I simply tried breathing.

At least it's not as visible as my back. I have to take my shirt off and raise my arm for you to really see it since it's almost directly under my armpit.

(Flashback)

"You mention your friends…I saw that you missed Miss Wren's calls over the last week. And haven't responded to her texts."

There's no point.

"The Council asked me to take a step back with her. I'm trying to do that."

Dooku counterargues. "You can do that while communicating with her."

(End Flashback)

There really is no point. She's got her weekend of concerts keeping her happy. I expect she's got a full three-day pass and everything.

It was supposed to be me. And now she's got this date.

Doesn't really matter anyway. Even if she hadn't given me an earful, I'm still grounded by the Council. I can't go anywhere without violating my agreement.

They said it's for my safety, but I don't see how that can be the case.

Sabine probably doesn't even miss me one bit. She's too busy having fun, singing, and dancing, and having a hell of a time. If it's anything like what I've read about Woodstock and large music festivals, there's tons of free alcohol and weed isn't hard to find either.

I wouldn't have fit in at all. I didn't handle the after spring game media scrum or the banquet that well either.

For somebody who has managed to blend in socially, I'm a mess in a crowd.

Her date probably is a social whiz, especially if he pulled her.

I haven't researched it at all, but I wouldn't be shocked at all if it's Ryan from Christmas and Spring Break.

You shouldn't care Ezra. You're not dating, you never were.

I mean, things did cool off after Spring Break. Not that I was in it for the sex but it wasn't nearly as frequent after she went to Cancun than it was before.

OH!

Straightening up, the stream of water moves from my head to my chest as my mind begins racing.

That'd make sense…

No, but that'd be too dark, even for her.

People do all sorts of irrational and irresponsible things in the heat of the moment. And me assassinating that poor kid at UCLA sent a shock thru everyone.

That was what started this chapter of things with Sabine.

She came to Hera and Kanan's the next night. That put her on the path to become a staple of my life.

It makes sense that things dialed back after time passed.

She got some space from me and probably realized that, I don't know, maybe I'm better as a friend anyway.

I'm lousy at that too. She doesn't know what to believe when something comes out of my mouth.

The story that was so carefully crafted has become a tangled ball of string.

It's my fault too. I went with it, opened up more and more of my life to Sabine because I really do care a lot about her and…

Now I'm a dishonorable, lying traitor or something to her. Probably.

I really shouldn't bother her, this weekend especially.

I want to. I do.

I don't think it's a bad thing that I do miss her. Cayle and Hera would probably say that's a great thing.

We just settled into this natural rhythm after Spring Break. Class, practices, homework, dinner, my work, her art.

It became routine that she was always around, so much so that I didn't appreciate it.

…

Whoever her date is, I hope he's at least a decent guy. She liked that Ryan dude.

Cayle snuck a surveillance picture of the two of them at Chichén Itzá as they walked the grounds. They looked fine enough, although it was just a still photo.

The Jedi guard at the monument made a note for me, that I never glanced at. No point. She came back to me and all was well. Nothing happened.

I really shouldn't think of her as mine anyway, we were—

…

…

She didn't lie to me.

I probed her. Before I, well…probed her the other way.

She told me the truth.

Unless she's figured out how to lie to me. And it's not like I wasn't distracted at that moment in time.

Stop Ezra.

…

You're just going to wind yourself up. No use in doing that.

Just keep your head down until you get a lead on the beskar and Maul. She won't want to hear from you until that's happened anyway.

She's busy, busier than most people are anyway.

Caught that up close and personal. She gets texts all day, from tons of people. She's popular, she gets pulled in a lot of different directions.

I can't be paranoid about that. She can talk to whoever, it's not my business.

I have no right to anyway.

I'm Vader.

And I lost her beskar.

Thoughtlessly, I slam down the lever on the shower, killing the flow of water coming from the showerhead, and pull my towel over the shower rod to me and begin drying off.

Distract yourself, Bridger. You're going to be talking to Aubrey and Cayle about something very important and pertinent.

Focus.

(Flashback)

"FOCUS!" Dad yells down at me, training blade in my hand. "Remove all distractions, focus on what's in FRONT OF YOU!"

He claps his hands directly in front of my face, forcing me to blink. "You hear me?"

"Yes." I reply.

"Then FOCUS!"

(End Flashback)

If I'm lucky she's found some sort of tangential connection between Maul's operation and Liuzhou.

Since it's looking more and more like I'm going to this thing for Palpatine, I might as well have a bargaining chip.

I'll come if you promise to help me get more intel.

We both win.

I understand the Chinese's reticence to just hand over so much proprietary information about their country. Especially to me.

I'm me.

…

…

How in the hell did I ever get into the position that I ever thought I had a chance with Sabine anyway?

It's not like she showed a ton of interest. And any interest was quickly neutralized every time she left for a break.

Either I stepped in it or she screwed something up or we had a fight or…

Whatever.

Stupid girl.

She can go off and have fun and a hell of a time at her concerts. I'll find her stupid beskar and restore her family's honor and…I don't know.

Whatever.

If she only really cares when I'm directly beside her, I don't think she cares all that much.

I could slowly disappear into the background of her life for all I know.

I have higher priorities anyway.

I have to find Elias. I have to find Maul.

And if the election doesn't go how I need it to go, I'll be thrown into prison and all of this will be a moot point.

I'd deserve it too.

574.

…

I give myself and my visage a glance in the mirror.

My hair looks decent grown out a bit. And I'm being lazy not shaving. But it's summer.

I can relax in that one area.

Nobody's said anything. In fact, everyone seems to like it.

Mira keeps giggling and putting her hands on my face because it feels funny to her.

…

574.

…

Get going. Focus.

Wasting no more time, I toss some shorts and a plain black t-shirt on before busting out of my bathroom and scooping up my shoes.

I'll put them on before going down the stairs.

Hopefully, Aubrey and Cayle don't do their normal flirting routine. I don't know if I can take that tonight.

I—

Disgust and revulsion bubble up from my stomach before I'm overwhelmed by it.

You know what? Cayle's suave ass can handle Aubrey. Those two can handle whatever Aubrey has to say.

Impulsively, I slip into my shoes and pull my car keys and wallet off my nightstand and into my hand.

I need to go to the Temple. I didn't work out today.

Before I can stop myself, I'm through my bedroom door, out the garage and closing in on my car before Maul's voice floats to me.

"Your inability to accept the past. Yet another weakness your father foretold for you. True strength lies not in the muscles—or the mind, but the will. And yet you opt for vanity and your muscles and your mind…when the answer has been in front of you all along."

(Flashback)

"FOCUS!" Dad yells at me. "Remove all distractions, focus on what's in FRONT OF YOU!"

(End Flashback)

My car engine hums to life as the lights pop against the pitch black of the almost midnight light before I begin pulling out of Hera and Kanan's driveway.

The answer has been in front of me all along.

The music I was playing for Jacen and Mira on the drive home pops onto my speakers before I quickly turn it down.

A new episode of that podcast Cayle told me about came out. I don't know what happened today on the campaign trail.

If I'm going to see the man here in the coming days, I have to be prepared.

I have to be ready for it.

Focus Ezra.

Focus.