I own nothing except a few characters and the plot.
TROOPS: NEW YORK
A Spectre Returns
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Tevin had worked out the arrangements for Ezra and Chopper to stay with the McKnights until other arrangements could be found. Gary McKnight had said that Ezra could stay as long as he needed and there was no hurry. Landon had also given some of his clothes to Ezra so he didn't look out of place on the streets. The first place Tevin had thought of for Ezra to live was the townhouse Max lived in with two other bachelor officers which Joseph Rodgers had nicknamed The Swamp after its TV counterpart. He rejected that idea because Max was still sore over Ezra insulting his intelligence by claming to be Jabba the Hutt. Josh and Landon had dragged Ezra and Chopper off to the shoe store. After a few minutes a large woman walked into the store.
"I want my money back. These shoes split at the sides after one day." She said giving the shoes to Landon. Chopper looked at the shoes and at the woman's feet in disbelief before saying something to the group.
"Chopper wants to know how you got those shoes on your feet to begin with since he thinks the shoes are smaller then your feet?" Ezra asked the woman.
"No refunds when you exceed the two-ton weight limit on the shoes." Josh chimed in.
"Or damage them in a way that's well beyond ordinary wear and tear. Besides that no receipt, no refund." Landon added. The woman huffed and puffed.
"This will be the last time I shop here." She said.
"Weight Watchers is across the street. The only people on this block who will miss you work at the all-you-can-eat buffet. Then again, they'll actually have food for other people now." Josh said as Chopper laughed. The woman stormed out.
"You want your shoes?" Ezra called after her. Landon gave the shoes to Chopper who ran after her. A woman's screan was soon heard followed by Chopper returning to the store without the shoes.
"What did you just do to her?" Ezra asked. Chopper responded with what everyone made out as laughter.
"Somebody's moving a large mirror into a building down the block and she saw her reflection in it." He translated causing Landon and Josh to burst out laughing.
"How often does that happen?" Ezra asked.
"Many times a day. The scam is they try to return Chinatown knock-offs here for a refund that's more then they paid for the shoes. That lled to the no receipt, no refund policy. This store's lifeline is the buffet on the corner. That goes, this place probably has three months to live." Landon replied
"He just wishes that they came here before they visit the buffet. Maybe then they could fit their size 100 foot into a size 6 shoe." Josh added.
Obi-Wan had called Josh and told him to bring Ezra and Chopper back to the office for what was simply referred to as Jedi business.
"He must have found out about you shoving Titus halfway across a room." Josh said.
"That was self-defense." Ezra said.
"I'm sure Tevin told him that. Not to mention how badly Piett demoted him on the spot for that. He had it coming. Last week, he made Klinger cry." They entered the main room to the area that had been set aside for the Jedi Order ro conduct business. They were greeted by Obi-Wan and another Jedi.
"Masters." Josh said. Ezra looked at the other Jedi Master.
"Have we met before?" He asked.
"In my other form during a past life we did. Anakin Skywalker. Obi-Wan told me the rest of your story."
"Ahsoka told me." Ezra said.
"The exploits of The Spectres are known throughout the galaxy. I was telling Obi-Wan about how you made fools out of some of the best minds the Empire had to offer then. Tarkin, me, Thrawn, and even The Emperor himself. Which is why you ended up here." Anakin said.
"His grandson joined a terrorist group that wants to restore the Old Empire. It's believed that The Emperor is leading them from behind the scenes." Josh explained.
"We are trying to make a new Jedi Code that removes many of the problems the old one had except Anakin keeps putting our rough drafts through a paper shredder." Obi-Wan said.
"Luke didn't make a new one for his Order. I'm honestly not even sure he has one."
"The teachings of both new orders are really varied." A brown-haired girl said as she joined them.
"Ezra Bridger meet Jania Solo. My granddaughter. There's another very long story to go with that." Anakin said.
"So this knock some sense into my brother operation we're planning is four Jedi or five Jedi?" She asked.
"Five and an astromech. You, me, Michael, Ezra, Chopper, and Obi-Wan. We're going to give Darth Sidious another little surprise." Anakin said.
"Speaking of surprises. We have one for you Ezra." Obi-Wan said and pulled a leather case out of his pocket. Inside was a silver badge.
"Mine's bronze. Dad has a gold one." Josh said.
"You passed the same test I failed. Obi-Wan and I felt you earned this. Ezra Bridger, Jedi Knight. As soon as we take your picture, Radar will make up your keycard and ID." Anakin said and gave Ezra the case.
"Slipping Radar a $50 will expedite the process." Josh said causing Ezra and Jania to raise an eyebrow while Obi-Wan shook his head and Anakin just smiled.
A few days later Tevin had personally handled the paperwork for Ezra's ID and access cards for the building and other facilities to go with his Jedi Badge. Tevin also pulled some money out of his Petty Cash fund so Ezra could buy some clothes and shoes.
"Nobody will question this will they?" Ezra aasked Tevin.
"We've had a surplus in our operating fund for quite some time now. The previous jail administration cut anything they coud out of the budget including properly feeding the prisoners. Last year, I replaced them all with new people because I found out the inmates were being allowed to basically run the place and tried to turn it into a luxury resort." Tevin explained. A knock on Tevin's open door caught their attention.
"You must be Ezra. Michael Myers, Josh's dad." Michael said and shook Ezra's hand.
"Yes I am. Josh has been an interesting host for the past few days."
"The First Order business has had me in meeting after meeting. What has he told you that he wasn't or isn't supposed to know about?"
"There's a daily trash burning here because some wacko likes to hide in it. A weekly card game between high level officials. There's a thick file of family emergency excuses from that guy in the dress. You can get anything from that guy Radar for $50. There's supposedly a combat zone in a place called Russia, and the guy I introduced myself to as Jabba the Hutt has had it coming for years."
"Speaking of which, he showed up the day they brought Ezra in. I had two Death Troopers throw him out of the building and leave orders that he is not allowed back in." Tevin said.
"Why is the CIA interested in Ezra?" Michael asked as he closed the door.
"Does that guy need a reason to go through our garbage and basically break in here? Why do you think Joe made an order that the trash and anything highly classified be incinerated at the end of the day? Joe was hoping Colonel Cuckoo would get caught in one of the fires." Tevin said.
"Colonel Cuckoo?" Ezra asked.
"His real name as far as I know is Thompson. Last time he was here, he jumped out a window without a parachute because he claimed he was The Wind. Another time, he shot a guy for no reason. Then brought the guy here for medical treatment so he could take the guy out to Jersey and perform a summary execution. He dropped the door to the freight elevator on his arm once. We have a file on his antics here." Tevin replied.
"That's just for starters. Haddonfield has more on him. I made a copy of the file I put together on him there, but I'm sure they have more now." Michael added.
"This guy sounds crazier then Chopper." Ezra said.
"I have to go write some insulting and threatening emails to people who we suspect of lying about missing money or their role in a murder." Michael said and gave Ezra a head-slap before leaving.
"Welcome to the team. Anybody who mentions that guy or is acting like their shoe size instead of their age around me gets one." He added from the doorway.
"He gets Max with one of those just about everyday. Now you know why Josh said Max had being given a smart-ass answer to a question coming and where Josh gets his thing for verbal abuse from." Tevin said. Ezra just grinned.