(Matt Saracen POV)
Releasing a heavy breath, Ezra finally moves to get out of the awkward meditative pose he was in, hands on his knees, knees to the floor. "That looked uncomfortable."
Ezra laughs on the other side of an invisible fence the Jedi in front of this…
Cell.
What a day.
At least I get to skip cardio on behalf of being 'sick'.
I wonder if they always put him—
"Yes. They do." Ezra says on the other side, still standing, albeit a little stilted.
That's disconcerting.
"I think I said this before, but thanks for not doing…that, all the time." I tell him.
Taking my thoughts out of my head and answering them for me.
"Welcome."
I only see Ezra walking across the polished concrete before he bounces on his toes a couple of times. "When are you going to tell me about Danielle by the way?"
Danielle, well—
WAIT—
"Danielle?" I repeat after Ezra.
—
I've never told Ezra about Danielle.
Danielle's…
"A really cool girl, or so you think." Ezra pipes up before he starts smiling widely. "She's in your Lit II class…you guys go get coffee every Monday after class."
You're not Ezra.
His breathing—
Ezra wouldn't—
"I wouldn't what…" The person that's caged inside of that invisible box scowls at me.
"You're not him."
I thought he got up weird.
"You don't know what you signed up for…Pretty Boy." The scowl on Ezra's face deepens.
You're not Ezra.
And you cannot control me.
Defiantly, I uncross my legs and stride right over to the invisible, humming laser barrier and match his eye contact. "He's winning."
Cayle was nice enough to explain the basics of the Jedi's general plan with Ezra.
He used to not be able to hold this monster back for a full night's sleep. Ezra used to be terrified of him.
The devil that's caged breathes heavily again before I smile at him. "And now look at him."
He's kicking your ass, has a damn near perfect GPA, is training to be a Jedi—
An inhuman roar sounds out before Ezra—
WHAT THE HELL—
The bed that Ezra's supposed to be lying on, the one that was bolted to the floor, gets SLAMMED against the near wall as hard as he can before the momentum carries him the other way.
Oh is he—yeah he's gonna—
I cover up my ears in time to muffle the metal colliding with the wall. "LET ME OUT OF HERE PRETTY BOY! I'LL DO THIS ALL DAY!"
(Ten Minutes Later)
The light beneath the crack of the door goes dark, just before the door itself opens and I leap to my feet. "Thank you."
Thank God.
Cayle kindly takes the first step down and passes me a water bottle. "Horrible isn't it."
He's so angry.
"He's completely unhing—" I say just before another piercing collision cuts me off.
Cayle keeps it moving down the stairs, leading me and whoever is behind me. "PRETTY BOYYYYY!"
"Oh good, he has a nickname for you already." Cayle smiles at the foot of the stairs.
"Asshole!" Ezra's voice echoes up.
Cayle turns to…him and smiles. "You didn't waste any time today."
"You should NEVER have allowed his friend—"
"Shut." Cayle proclaims just before hitting a button and—
Guards rush forward, I get shunted backward and a shout comes from the cage before I see…him pinned against the wall, being detained.
"It's okay, this is standard procedure. He'll be fine." I hear a gentle voice says before I turn towards it and—
WHOA WHOA WHOA.
Rapidly, I take a couple of steps back then blink a couple of times to clear my vision only to— "Sorry, excuse me." I apologize, ducking to stick to the wall.
Cayle's Master only smiles at me, before nodding to Senator Padmé Amidala who then looks back to me. "There's never any room, don't worry about it. It's great to finally meet you, by the way, I'm Padmé."
I know who you are.
"I—you know know him?" I weakly motion left.
Ezra's arm is currently being shackled to one of the many blank-faced, masked Guards before I hear "Yes, I do. For a very long time. I try to be as involved as I can be."
"That's why you defended him to the press."
The Senator shakes her head before she glances in the direction of the cell. "It's about to get crowded over here. Could you escort me to the Council meeting?"
I—Uhh—
"Yeah." I blurt out, then smile. "I don't, uhm, know where—"
"I do." Is the Senator's reply before she waves for me to follow. "You'll want to pull your hood up though."
Right.
Doing just that, I follow her up the stairs and then—
Where'd all these…
Faces aged teenaged, maybe older, many younger turn and stare at me before I get my arm yanked and turn to the right. "Don't…they're not friends."
"They're not?"
Naboo's Senator shakes her head in disagreement. "Not all of the Jedi supported Ezra being harbored safely, even now. Many of those down there—" I peer back at the growing throng. "—are those Masters' students, who have passed down their beliefs."
They're waiting for him.
They're turning him transfiguring into Vader as…
Theater.
That wasn't theater.
"I thought Jedi were above things like that."
When the news and people talk about the Jedi and are being positive, they always come off as these virtuous, brave fighters.
Not a house divided.
Senator Amidala sighs heavily before pressing a button on a panel. "They're supposed to be. But practice and the ideal don't always match up with reality…" She waves for me to enter the elevator when it opens.
Filing in behind me, the Senator hits a specific button, which lights up in a way I don't think I've seen before.
I don't recognize that. I think it's a different language.
But they all speak English? Why would they—
"To answer your question from before, with a little more privacy?" Amidala turns to me as the elevator begins rising. "I defended Ezra because he didn't do anything that day first off. But it's the right thing to do. As much as anyone, he deserves the chance at least."
"He's a good person."
He really is.
I've watched him as much as I could, without being weird about it, and…
I think Ezra's loosening up a bit. He didn't have to be prodded much to open up about the fight with Sabine that I already knew about because Sabine had frantically texted me.
I hate being their go-between.
"I'm thankful to hear you say that. You know, you're the only person outside of the Temple that knows who he actually is. And from everything I've read and heard, he does seem to like you and values your opinion."
Yeah.
Ezra's my guy.
"I'm sure you've heard this before, but is your name really Matt Saracen?"
"Yeah." I reflexively smile and laugh.
I get this a lot.
The Senator smiles. "You were born before Friday Night Lights came out, right?"
"Yes ma'am." I nod once.
Immediately she waves at me. "Don't call me ma'am. Or Senator. I'm…just me right now."
The elevator chimes softly, and the doors open only for the Senator to lead the way out into an ornate chamber with statues, paintings on the walls, and pristine carpet before a large wooden door loudly begins to creak open.
"Now follow me, keep quiet…and hope and pray that Vader behaves himself." The Senator hisses near my ears before leading me into a circular room with a number of large chairs.
Twelve of them.
What does she mean that she hopes Vader behaves—
"Senator." A voice says coolly. Looking, I—
That dude looks JUST like Nick Fury. Except he's unscarred and both eyes.
"—thank you, Master Windu." The Senator replies. "I believe he's already on his way."
"Let us only hope that he is civil." Dooku says simply.
CIVIL?!
Ezra said he was going to meditate on something and whatever it was that's how Vader gets out.
And after that, he was more feral than civil.
The sound of the door opening gets me to turn before I hear the clinking of chains, followed by the Guards and Ezra, who—
They've got all four of his limbs—
Ezra turns right to me, muzzle slapped over his mouth, and makes some sort of noise before—
"Hold." The man that spoke earlier calls out as Ezra moves to take a step, only for the entire group of guards to plant and—
Ezra makes a simple move with his hips, then explodes and pulls all six guards off their feet and—
WHOA!
I scramble to get away from him only for him to end up right up in my face, glaring down at me.
Eyes.
His eyes are the same putrid, revolting shade of yellowish-red as he growls like a dog.
He's an animal.
Together, the Guards grunt as one and pull him away from me, just as one or two of the seated men move to separate us.
"What that is…" Dooku says without looking back. "Is what happens when a son is only a tool to his father.
That's not Ezra.
His brother can't possibly be like that…
On Saturday Ezra sounded like he was going to be doing something about his brother.
Apparently his name is Elias. Even Sith Lord parents use alliteration to name their children.
"Young Bridger." Nick Fury silences all activity in the room except for Vader, who aggressively thrashes in his chains before they're made to be taut and he's held into position in the center of the room. "The more you resist, the longer this will take."
Vader responds by roaring through his muzzle at Windu, but don't catch it.
"My my. We are agitated." A bearded man with graying hair that's sitting beside another guy.
He looks like he was in a Taken knockoff.
"We should have done this when it happened and not waited." A stern female voice says, and I turn in time to see another woman who looks like Cayle's Master, with long head tails.
"Need more time with this Council, young Bridger…does not."
Who ARE YOU?!
The tiny, green elf-looking guy with grey hair sprouting out of his head turns to Nick Fury before Fury says "The heat of the moment was too strong. Time and thought are what he needed before coming before us."
This time Vader responds civilly, and Fury motions for the guards to take off his muzzle.
…
"He always makes this like pulling teeth." Amidala whispers into my ear just before he speaks.
"Are you group of crackpot old asses going to do anything about that documentary? Or will you allow two idiots with a camera to push you around?"
Whoa—
The entire Jedi Council reacts to the language. "You will watch your language in this chamber, young one." —
Skywalker.
Oh my god, he is here.
Skywalker, who is seated next to the bearded guy next to knockoff Taken guy doesn't break eye contact with him.
"You're not my Master."
"I am." Kanan calls out. "Watch your language."
"You're worried about my language, when the entire damn world is about to burn down?! Do any of you not see what's about to happen?"
"Please." Taken guy says placidly. "Enlighten us."
"This whole big Liuzhou operation—"
Wait what—
Do they know where his brother is?!
"—at the same time! It drops today, just in time for everybody to stream and binge it over the weekend, which, you don't know what that means. Everyone's going to watch that crap of a movie, then my brother will emerge victorious and you will have dug him his own grave."
NO.
Wait, but Ezra's not going to lose to Elias.
"That's not going to happen." One of the many Jedi retorts.
Another adds. "This Council, nor this Order does not control the press. Their affairs are their own."
"They're gonna wreck your affairs. You FOOLS!" Vader explodes. "DON'T YOU REALIZE WHAT HE'S ALREADY PLANNING IN HIS HEAD?!" Before anyone can cut him off, Vader just keeps going. "He doesn't WANT to capture Elias. He doesn't think he has to! You made him too soft!"
"What do you mean he doesn't want to capture Elias?" Fury leans forward in his seat.
"He thinks he can do it another way! That using military force to capture him isn't going to work, or get the outcome you want!" Vader continues.
"Outcome?"
"My brother! In your chains, just like me!" He visibly gets worked up before the Guards pull on him again.
All that gym time is so backfiring right now.
Cayle said he can't use the Force in here, so that's…
Jesus Ezra.
"And he doesn't believe that it will work?"
"No." Vader shakes his head.
"I have the fullest of confidence that the plan being crafted by Secretary Kallus, Thrawn, and our Chinese counterparts—" Skywalker states before Vader cuts him off.
"NOT THAT! NONE OF YOU LISTEN!"
Fury waves his hand again and Ezra's muzzle is slapped back on him. "If you will not maintain a civil tone, we will escort you back to your room."
Vader's response is a sentence, but muzzled before Fury waves it away again. "It's not the military plan. It's about him!"
"The plan won't work with Elias." His master deduces.
Beside me, Senator Amidala's hand instantly shoots into the air. "Yes, Senator?" Fury calls upon her.
"Off the record…what is the plan with Elias?"
"The plan with Lord Tyranus is to hold him here temporarily before transferring him to the Irminger Sea."
Vader buts right in. "Exactly! That isn't going to work!"
"If everyone doesn't their job." Master Tano emphasizes.
"NOT…THATTTTT!" Vader yells so loudly it sounds like his throat might split open. "He knows that if you do that, then all chance at rehabilitating Elias is gone, forever."
"Rehabilitating Lord Tyranus?" Somebody cuts in.
"We are not rehabilitating Lord Tyranus." Fury states sharply.
"Then what?" Vader spits back at him. "He's locked away, key thrown away as a Sith Lord like my Father?!"
My father—
"Yes." A Jedi counters simply. "That's exactly what we are going to do."
"Instead, what have us do with him?" The green guy—
An odd-looking smile appears on Ezra's face. "He thinks he can talk him down. Explain everything that happened with Mom and—"
"No." Kanan cuts Vader off. "We are not moving to rehabilitate Elias. That's not what this is about. It's about removing his brother as a threat, and he knows that."
"It doesn't work like that!" Vader pops back. "You and you—" he motions towards the entire Council, chains clinking. "—you've changed how he thinks! You've ingrained an infinite amount of weakness into him. He doesn't agree, and you won't be able to change his mind."
"If comply with orders, young Bridger does not…consequences, there will be."
"We must inform Washington and Beijing of this. If young Bridger intends to sabotage us, we need to push the operation back." A man with a large, long head proclaims.
"He's not sabotaging." I blurt out.
It's just another way to skin a cat.
"THEY DIDN'T ASK YOU!" Vader erupts at me before attempting to move and—The muzzle comes flying and hits him so hard it snaps his neck back.
"…You are correct Mister Saracen. It's not sabotage. It's another solution to the problem." Master Tano looks at me.
All of them are.
Their gaze feels like a magnifying glass on me and I break eye contact with the group as a whole before another Jedi speaks. "I don't understand. Why…what would make him think that such a thing could even be possible with Lord Tyranus?"
Vader can't reply and mockingly motions towards his mouth before the muzzle departs again. "The children."
Jacen and Mira.
"Jacen was playing Rocket League with some of his little buddies and watching Mira—" Vader begins before he is cut off by his Master.
"This Council knows this. Saturday. It was nice to get lunch with my wife." Kanan looks to the group at large.
Vader counters "Your absence is when he first had the thought What if Elias knew the truth about our mother? That's what changed everything for him."
"One and the same, you were I thought." Tiny Green Dude says backward.
He's done that every time he's spoken.
A light chuckle goes through the room as—
Oh, HE'S MAD NOW.
"Ezra came around to the belief that Elias…is capable of being turned." Tano begins laying everything out. "Based off…video games with his Master's kids?"
"It's been in his head for months now. He's seen brothers and sisters fight out in public. He's seen…those two—"
"Those two have more sway over him than you." Dooku declares.
Vader strains the chains again before his rant continues. "Then it should make sense! Because he loves him!"
Ezra loves…
Elias!?
"He has not spoken as if he loves him." Taken man says, after a period of silence.
Vader makes a face at the Master. "Yes, because he speaks of everything."
That's not true at all.
…
The room falls silent for an uncomfortable amount of time before I look closer at the Jedi. As one, they seem focused on something to do with Ezra—
—
One of them breaks, looking shaken at something.
Wonder what—
Another Jedi does the same before Vader twists in his chains. "…STOP!"
What—
The remainder of the Jedi seem to stop whatever their doing before Tano speaks up. "He…Ezra protected him. Elias broke the rules of the mission, and Ezra covered for him because he loved him."
"And got beaten for the trouble." A Jedi I don't know says somberly.
That's horrible!
Not surprising, but…
"And he was only ten at the time. Over a year until his mother was diagnosed." Fury seems to have a read on the situation.
"Fascinating that Young Bridger was protective of his younger sibling, even then."
Kanan says strongly. "Because he knew it was wrong."
I can see EB doing that though.
"—well documented that Sidious preferred Tyranus over Vader. As well as the events in Mustafar were initiated by Tyranus, not Young Bridger—"
"THAT WASN'T HIM! THAT WAS ME!" Vader claims proudly.
"I, along with this entire Council have watched that duel of the fates many a time. A fully trained Master knows when one side is fighting to kill, and the other is not." Dooku pontificates.
There's no way Ezra was trying to kill him.
"You weren't there. You don't know. He started it—"
Vader's interjection is silenced by the muzzle. "We did not ask for a childish explanation rooted in grievance." The long-headed guy coolly says.
The Jedi Council is an extremely diverse group.
Fury gives the Guards a nod, and as one they pull on Vader's chains. Vader of course immediately begins fighting against this—"Mister Saracen."
I whip back around as fast as I can to see Nick Fury staring at me before gesturing with an open hand to where Vader had just been standing.
It's my turn. Okay—
The Guards continue pulling on Vader as I step up to answer the Jedi's—
"Okay! We get it, you growl. Woof woof." I can't hold back my irritation at Vader.
Feral animal.
The most dangerous thing in the world would be a Vader under control.
Not this…frothing at the mouth beast.
Vader just continues glaring at me with horrid yellow-tinged eyes while maintaining the steady growl before I turn back towards Fury and the rest of the Jedi Council.
Why are a couple of them smiling?
Dooku's vanishes just before the others do. "First off, young one. Welcome to the Los Angeles Jedi Temple."
"Thank you, Master Jedi." I reply, then bow my head.
"On behalf of the Order, and the Council, we would like to thank you for keeping young Bridger's secret safe." One of them tells me.
"He has come farther in a year than anyone thought to be possible." Another says.
"Why?" I blurt out, without meaning to.
MATT!
"Because prior to this he had very little experience in social situations. He attended elementary and middle school and knew how to behave in a class. But socially we expected him to struggle."
Not really. Everybody knows Ezra. Everybody loves Ezra.
Nobody works harder than him. Even when he goofs at practice, it's from a good place. And he rarely does it.
Vader makes a comment behind me, and I turn—"His words hold no meaning." Dooku begins behind me. I turn back in time for him to continue. "He's never been to USC, walked a day in your friend's shoes. Young Bridger has worked to discipline himself and his worst impulses. Driving what you see before you—"
Madness.
"—down deep where he can marshal it. And one day…he will conquer Vader and be free of mind and body."
"Is that really possible?" I ask.
"It is the ideal we strive for at all times." A man in a fancy respirator informs me.
Fury shifts in his seat directly in front of me before re-establishing eye contact. "Now Mister Saracen…do you know why you've been brought before this Council?"
Cayle said to see…this.
"No sir."
Silence lingers for a moment before the neatly trimmed Master beside Skywalker speaks. "This Council has grown very concerned about the relationship between Young Bridger and Sabine Wren."
Oh no.
"Were you aware that they fought last week?"
"Yes sir. Ezra told me." I report.
Another Jedi asks "When?"
"He was helping me warm up Saturday morning before we played Utah. Sabine had pestered me at her game on Friday about why he wasn't there so I knew something was wrong."
"What did he tell you?" Fury prompts me.
"That they had a fight. She broke a sensor on his door and it has to be fixed so his car was busted all weekend. That's why he wasn't in class the rest of the week—"
Well, THAT'S not it.
"Told you of his mistake, did he?" The little green guy beside Fury speaks.
I nod silently while trying to figure out how to explain it. "He…the way he said it, it was more like a confession. He knew he shouldn't have done it. But he did anyway."
And he wasn't exactly unhappy that Maul talked.
…
"You should be honored." One of the female Jedi says. "He trusts very few people. The number can fit in one hand."
I hear sarcasm. I know all the Jedi aren't totally on board with him being here.
"What are your thoughts on Miss Wren?" Fury asks me.
MINE?
"Uhh—Sabine's cool. She's a good person all in all. She and Ezra just…"
Can't get on the same page.
"Seen many of their disagreements, have you?" Green guy asks.
"No, but I hear about them from either him or Jaicey and JJ."
I assume you all know who they are.
"We are indeed familiar with your friend with Cyberpunk-aspirations." Taken Master says coolly.
"What do you think is the problem?" Master Tano asks me.
Sabine.
"Sabine's not…I don't think she accepts what he does here. I don't know why, maybe it's her culture. But I think it's always bugged her."
"Go on." I'm prompted.
Okay.
"Christmas, when they had a fight. Ezra told me in August that there was a mission too with that. Spring Break, when Sabine wanted Ezra to join us in Cancun. Then this summer. I know she hates how he cannot go and do normal things."
…
…
…
"Unfortunately, both for Miss Wren and Young Bridger…those are the terms of the agreement. And those terms are not changing." Fury says, a definite cold note in his voice. "Young Bridger is personally responsible for over six hundred deaths at his own hands…not to mention countless crimes that would end up with enough for a life sentence."
Oh.
"Those are simply the facts and cannot be argued around. We are being, if anything, extremely generous and kind to Young Bridger."
Ezra's always told me that USC is way better than prison. Even though he's getting paranoid that the Jedi are going to send him back.
"Does he now?" One of the Jedi asks.
Dammit.
I nod once, and the entire collection seems to revel in this. "Young Bridger's anxieties about departing the University of Southern California are completely valid and justified. As uncomfortable as the reality is to accept, the situation has become far more volatile."
They're going to just let that keep eating away at him then?
"Young one, look at the information you already know. His defeat this summer cannot be taken lightly. It may be his undoing."
"He can't lose?!" I ask the room. "Once?!"
He told me that that was the first time he'd even been beaten like that.
That's okay. Sometimes you lose. Whatever happens next is what's more important.
"No." Fury coldly answers.
"If he is unable to help us stop the coming Sith threat, then he is of no use to us."
NO USE TO—
"That's what this is about?" I follow up. "It's about—"
"The only thing that matters to this Council, is stopping the Sith." Fury tells me.
"It is the literal reason the body exists." The long head guy reveals.
If they—
"It is Young Bridger's job…to compartmentalize all of this and find a way to be successful. Talent and skill are not his problems."
They make it sound like he's a mental case—which, yeah, he is but…
"If Young Bridger is unable to survive the crucible of this trial, then he does not deserve the freedoms he currently enjoys."
THAT'S—
"I thought the Jedi actually cared about Ezra?" I turn back to Senator Amidala.
Amidala, who looks troubled, crosses her arms before replying. "They do, but they are right. Everything is contingent on Ezra winning and helping the Jedi defeat the Sith. If he doesn't do that, then we can't justify not locking him up."
So the freedom that Ezra's told me he loves is a lie.
"That pressure is NOT helping him." I point out.
NO WONDER he's so pissy all the time!
The news is right.
The Jedi are cold. Distant and indifferent.
The body before me absolutely picks this up before I hear Vader laughing behind me. "Oh shut up, your bark is worse than your bite." I pop off at him.
Go growl at a bird outside of the window or something. Woof woof.
—
He stopped laughing.
"You don't fear him as much as you did." Tano states.
"No." I nod before taking a step forward, unafraid of Vader's eye contact. "Because my guy is gonna win."
He's already winning.
"Could you see a situation in which Miss Wren and her current boyfriend break up?"
"Yes." I turn back around. "They're…eh right now."
I know Sabine left their party earlier on Saturday to come out to the beach and see Ezra. So that says it all.
I don't see what she seems in him outside of the bedroom component. Ezra understands her way more than he does.
I think I've seen Frat Ryan enough to say that he doesn't care to and never will.
Vader makes some sort of comment before the muzzle is removed and Vader responds by instantly advancing on me.
I'm not moving.
All Vader does is grit his teeth before marshaling his strength and essentially dragging all six guards with him before he's nearly nose to nose with me.
"Is that why you wear the mask?" I blurt out a question as it pops into my head. "The Dark Side triggers some breathing condition and—" Vader's control fails and he makes another attempt to seize me, only to be thwarted by the Guards.
"A few final questions about Ms. Wren. And then we'll allow you to enjoy the rest of your day." I hear behind me, prompting me to turn.
Next question.
"Do you think she has an immaturity problem?"
I…Ehhh…
"I guess. But they kind of both do. Neither of them communicates to each other like adults." I answer the Jedi's questions.
"You should know, that a portion of those problems has come from here. Ms. Wren has behaved in such a manner that has necessitated some space from Young Bridger."
"YEAH SO HE DOESN'T RIP HER HEAD OFF!"
Vader.
"I know." I turn and frown at him. "I bet they—" I motion in front of me. "Do too. All they've done all semester, basically since the summer is fight."
"She's on two long road trips, she has no way to fix things, she's not here. And now she's panicking!" Vader declares, before apparently seeing something on the Jedi's faces. "What? Are you really gonna tell me that nobody here knows how she baked all those cookies for him at his apartment last Sunday, only for him to completely stand her up!"
Ezra…
"For the record, the Council was…aware of this." I turn back and see Master Skywalker say.
"All she does is piss him off! Her attempts at mending things glance away. Her clumsy attempts at asking about his life?" Vader makes a dismissive move.
Like brushing away a gnat.
"That's not true." I counter Vader. "Last week, before that Bio test? They got along all day. For what felt like the first time all semester."
It was nice…for a night.
Then EB goes quiet on text Thursday, skips Bio Lab, is AWOL Friday at soccer then Saturday…
Vader's expression is a sick smile, growing all the time. "It's alwayssss something with her."
"The argument seemed to have been triggered by the documentary." A female Jedi pontificates, and I glance back in time to see another speak up.
"Miss Wren harbors great dislike for you, Vader."
Vader snaps back. "Feeling's mutual. Except it's worse. Because he can NEVER tell her the truth!"
Never?
"Why not?" I ask.
Vader responds by…
"—HAHAHAHHA!" Vader doubles over, holding his chest. "Why can't he tell her…"
"Because it would be revealed how much he has lied to her." Fury says behind me.
"For her own protection. And out of necessity." The Jedi by Skywalker coolly adds.
"BECAUSE HE STILL LOVES HER!" Vader silences the room by raising his voice. "And his life, and his decisions, have put him into a situation that he cannot STOP lying to her!"
Women hate it when you lie. Everybody hates it when you lie to them.
"THEY'RE NOT FRIENDS! They barely know each other this semester! He avoids her like the plague and she chose to have a boyfriend and not help with their classwork!"
"They are friends." Kanan disagrees with Vader.
"She knows him better than anyone else at that school…sorry, Pretty Boy." Vader consoles me.
Oh shut up.
"—and all she knows are lies. You tell me how they're friends." Vader spits at the Council.
"He granted her access back into his apartment for her Art." One of the Jedi replies.
Vader just cackles in return. "Let's see how long that lasts. A week, maybe two after Liuzhou? If he's not pulled out of school by then?"
"The decision whether or not to allow Young Bridger to continue his education comes after every semester, not before." Fury steadily counters. "And that decision will be based on his actions…not outside forces."
"That won't work when everything goes to hell!" Vader warns Fury.
Turning back, I finally see looks of exhaustion come from the Jedi before Fury makes a motion. "Take Vader downstairs to his cell, if there are no more objections…?"
…
…
None of the Jedi speak up, and I hear Vader begin thrashing around again before his muzzle gets slapped back on him and he begins being drug away.
That…
Ezra's a lot madder at Sabine than I even thought.
He's still ducking her.
And he still cares about her.
Too much.
"Is there anything you would like to add, Mister Saracen? You have observed those two for far longer than any of us."
Yeah, but—
"I'm not sure how relevant it is." I admit and duck my head.
"Always relevant, outside opinions are. Hmm…"
Green guy.
"I've seen some people that kinda act like Sabine before." I start. "Usually football, some other sports. But that's not the point. My point, is that I don't think Sabine's ever struggled this much to get what she wants before in her whole life."
"Miss Wren's struggles, in many ways are self-inflicted." One of the Jedi speaks up.
"Her suspension last year…if she simply behaves as a friend to him, then perhaps that conflict could have been avoided." Another says.
"And it's snowballed." Kanan comes over the top. "Your friend, JJ, has essentially deduced that Ezra was there in Sacramento that day. And Ezra's confirmed to us that Sabine knew."
All this did seems to start back then. I don't actually remember the fight or what happened.
I was drunk too. I'm not blameless.
Maybe I could have stopped her.
"So you believe that Miss Wren does indeed care about Ezra because you've seen people that act like her towards people like him."
"Yeah." I confirm with a nod.
"To that point, it would appear that she has very rarely, if ever been told no in her life." Long-headed Jedi pontificates. "Everything she has done, she has succeeded."
"Her arrogance is undeniable."
"As is her immaturity."
…
They don't like her either.
"It's not whether or not his Council likes somebody personally." Tano looks at me. "It's about whether we can allow the situation to develop organically or need to extract Ezra from the situation for his protection."
…
…
"You have our thoughts and support in the coming days. May the Force be with you, young one. If you notice something suspicious with Young Bridger…have him contact us."
Okay.
I nod, then turn and see two more Guards moving to accompany me out of the Chamber.
(Ezra Bridger POV) – 10:45 PM
The fan built into the ceiling of the bathroom keeps going as I put the lid back onto my shaving cream.
(Flashback)
"BECAUSE HE STILL LOVES HER!"
(End Flashback)
I can't still love her.
She doesn't love me. She found somebody else to love her.
She literally had to go out and find him. She went and did it. Moving on without you. I can't keep doing this.
—
The sound of the door to my room sounds like it opens, causing me to hesitate for a moment and peer through the crack in my door.
It's nothing. Probably a sound the fan made—
"Baa—bwahhh…"
"You should not be awake!" I declare then move to grab the door, only for Mira to already be pushing it open.
Mira eyes the door moving, finds my feet then my head then excitedly tap dances while motioning for me to pick her up. "You are way too awake sister." I scoop her up, much to Mira's delight. "Don't get too happy now…I'm taking you right back to bed. It's way past your bedtime."
It's past your brother's too.
Mira doesn't make the connection, instead rattling through my name before going to her Mom's then to her Dad's and waving her arms at the rest of the house. "Yeah…I know everybody's here. But it's super late and you should be going to—" I start as I move to grab a shirt.
Mira cuts me off with a wail before making the same noises again.
Me, Mama, Dada. I know who they are.
My door squeaks again, causing me to turn again—
"Mamamamamaaa!"
"Hey baby. Ezra, dear. Mira and I were about to have some dessert when Master Yoda showed up. I think he wants to see you."
Yoda's here?
"Daa!" Mira turns and repeats herself to me.
Hera chuckles as I peer down at Mira and make a silly face for a split second. "This late?!"
"Apparently." Hera concedes before I catch a bowl of ice cream and berries in Hera's hand. "I've already made one for you if you want—NO—" Mom deters Mira's straying hand. "—it's on the ledge dear."
"Right behind you." I smile at Hera, only to get the gesture returned to me.
"Good…you need a pick-me-up today."
Vader was…a debacle today.
Mira turns as Mom moves to lead me out of the room, past the treat that I scoop up that Hera thoughtfully prepared for me—"Mira…"
Kicking open the door as Mira makes a whiny noise, Mom turns back "We don't whine."
"I'll let you have a bite, don't worry." I smile, then sit down and set her beside me.
Mira—
Mira instantly crawls right away from me, right to where Master Yoda is seated, and plops down. "Daaaaa!"
Yoda's face fills with a smile before he laughs. "Ahhh…good to see you too, little one."
"Good to see you as well, Young Bridger." Yoda adds, after I take a bite of my ice cream.
Dang it.
Yoda seems to understand that I'm caught with my mouth full, only opting to smile and laugh after Mira laughs at me. "Two on one…that's not very fair." I poke at Mira's pajama-clad leg.
"Or twelve to one, nor is." Yoda counters.
"I apologize for Vader's outbursts today, Master."
I know none of the Council is very pleased with me.
Kanan opted to drive my car back home for me, leaving me to sit in the passenger's seat and get lectured the entire time about why my plan's insane.
It's not even a plan. It's just a thought.
I…
I thought about it, and Elias was under the exact same controlling circumstances I was as a kid. All we knew was what Dad wanted us to know.
It's like a trance, a trap.
If I can get through that…break it…I think I can bring him in without having to fight him.
I know that Elias has done worse things than me, has shown no remorse—
"What can we do for you Master? Other than ply you with sweets." Hera smirks as Yoda plucks a raspberry out of his ice cream and gives it to Mira who instantly inhales it.
Yoda smiles at Mira, then looks at me. "Come, I have to enjoy your company. And ease Young Bridger's troubled mind, perhaps as well."
Hera's face freezes for a moment before she looks to me.
I know she heard too.
"Already thinking of it too, he is…how a Jedi chooses to win, the question is."
"Master." I clear my throat. "I'm not saying he shouldn't be imprisoned. But this isn't how you captured me."
"Because you kind of captured yourself." Hera jokes, which gets, me, Mira, and eventually Yoda to laugh.
The dumb Miami cops wouldn't believe me. I told them that I was a Sith, that I was Darth Vader, and that I wanted to surrender to the Jedi.
And those idiots kicked me out twice before I PROVED who I was and made them lock me up.
Then they contacted the Jedi and got Ahsoka and Master Skywalker down there.
"See your point, the Council does. Comes from a good place, it does."
I don't know about that.
Vader couldn't get past the weakness of it all.
"Attachment…struggle with it, we all do. Not a sign of a Jedi's weakness, but a show of heart." Yoda pontificates as Mira makes her way over to me and gives me a goofy smile.
You want some of my treat now huh…
I scoop out a blueberry and give it to Mira with Yoda and Hera looking on. "To show others compassion is important. But even more important to your enemies."
Which technically he is.
"If I may, Master?" Hera looks to Yoda.
"Please speak. Your house, this is."
Hera goes red, looking a bit embarrassed before she smiles at me. "The kids remind you of you and Elias a little…don't they?"
They always run together. Mira after Jacen. Elias after me.
Mom always said that Elias was my mirror. Everything I did he wanted to do.
It's how Dad got him so strong so fast.
Starting out, Elias just wanted to be like me.
"All Elias has ever known is a world filled with lies. I couldn't—" I start, then get choked up.
I couldn't tell him about my Miami plans. I was terrified enough as it was that dad was going to find out.
Looking back, my plan was so clumsy and could have failed a billion different ways.
But it didn't because the Force was with me.
"I know he has to be furious with me. Just like all the other Sith associates."
I don't give a damn about those guys. They made their choices to sign up and believe.
I didn't. Elias didn't.
"He doesn't know about your mother…does he?" Hera asks gently.
"No." I confirm.
I couldn't tell him.
He would have gone right to Dad.
And Dad would have probably killed me right then and there.
"I'm going to follow orders and do everything I can to get him back here in our custody." I turn to Master Yoda. "But if I get a chance…I've got to at least try, right?"
"BAAAA!" Mira declares before clapping my knee and smiling up at me.
Mira, baby. No.
Don't—
"Showing compassion, you are."
Compassion. Being able to feel and empathize with others suffering, pain or misfortune.
This is not the time to be displaying it though.
"One way of looking at compassion is unconditional love. Looking out for someone, even if they don't deserve it." Hera says as Mira continues crawling over me before plopping into my lap.
"Okay, okay I'll give you more…"
"Found her mark, she has." Yoda smiles.
All three of us laugh before I scoop some ice cream onto the spoon and let Mira feed herself.
"This is Mira and I's favorite dessert. It's nothing complicated. Just some ice cream…" Hera says as Mira sets the spoon back in the bowl. "And some fruit."
"You know me, I'm not a big dessert guy." I look to Master Yoda.
"I know but it's good for the soul. And if anybody's soul needs some healing, it's yours." Hera says cheerfully. "Plus the fruit balances out the ice cream, so it's healthy."
I can't hold back a laugh at the absurdity of Hera's claim before Hera smiles at me. "Don't you laugh at me, that's a scientific fact."
"How's it a scientific fact?" I sarcastically ask while trying not to smile as big as I am.
Yoda finds the humor in it and laughs before Hera responds. "Simple: Two scoops of ice cream. Three blueberries, three raspberries. Six berries outweigh the two scoops of ice cream. It's math."
Oh come on—
"I thought we were talking about science." I struggle to say, trying not to laugh.
"We are." Hera deadpans. "That's how foolproof my dessert ideas are. Science and math. My desserts? They're diets."