"Now, who can tell me about the Ruusan Reformation and its effects on the Order?" asked Master Vak Thai. Currently, he was teaching a class of eight-to-ten year olds in the long and treasured history of the Jedi Order while sitting in a relatively small and cozy classroom, not out of place in a regular primary school. The entire class, some thirty Initiates or so, colloquially known as Younglings, constituted just one of eighty classes in the age group, and a third of the total Initiate count.

A hand shot up, belonging to a human boy with pale skin and straight, shoulder-length brown hair.

"Yes, Michael?" The boy in question stood up, unconsciously flattened out his beige tunic, and quietly cleared his throat once before giving his prepared answer.

"The Ruusan Reformation was a Republic-wide reformation movement that embraced pacifism against the militarism that had plagued the period before. The Republic disbanded its standing military during this time period. The Jedi Order also embraced this pacifism, and under Grand Master Fae Coven, was moving to tighten many regulations of the Order to prevent the fall of many Jedi. This movement in the Order, however, ended when Grand Master Coven died in a hyperspace accident above Coruscant, which also saw many of the Jedi High Council at the time perish in the accident. Under the leadership of Grand Master Jae Cor, the Order continued the pacifism movement of the time, but embraced aspects of the Order some considered to be rogue. For one, he believed that marriage was not something that would stop a Jedi from doing their duty, so he kept that in the Order. On other subjects, like adult trainees, he banned them because they were considered too loose. Overall, the Ruusan Reformation affected the Jedi Order by creating the peacekeeping role it holds today." Michael finished, exhausted from the eloquent and long answer.

"My word, excellent!" cried Master Vak Thai. Vak Thai, impressed, applauded the boy's outstanding answer and bade him to take his seat once more to rest.

"Now, Michael covered an important topic, or rather, person: Grand Master Jae Cor. He believed in the power of family and the benefits it could bring to both the Order and many individual Jedi, which is why," Vak Thai eyed the class, "you all can see your parents, even if they aren't Jedi. Master Cor felt that separating a child from their parents permanently was nothing short of cruel and unnecessary." Vak Thai looked up, this time to eye the holo-chronometer.

"And now it is time for saber practice." A cheer erupted from the class at the mention of what was likely the most popular activity of Initiates since the foundation of the Jedi Order. Vak Thai's cries of, "now, now, don't push," were nearly lost to the sudden movement of thirty children from the small classroom to the training room.

The Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic sat at his desk, a large, grey desk that curved to allow many people to sit in front of the chancellor while all feeling welcomed at the desk. The desk was a symbol of his power. One Chancellor for many people, all equally heard. The current Supreme Chancellor, one Sheev Palpatine of Naboo, sat at the desk, robed in luxurious and voluminous clothes from the finest fashion designers in the galaxy. He was the perfect picture of what the leader of the free galaxy should be – dignified, approachable, amicable, grandfatherly, and, perhaps most importantly, patient. His tranquil expression, coupled with a slight, inviting smile betrayed nothing.

Palpatine was furious.

He was, of course, always angry to some extent – he was, after all, a Sith Lord, and master of the Dark Side of the Force. Today, however, seemed built to challenge his patience. First, the Financial Appropriations Committee had the gall to investigate the mysterious disappearance of fifty million credits from various charities, all sponsored to some extent by the Office of the Supreme Chancellor. Palpatine had to tell them off by chalking it up to a simple accounting error, which was believed. If they had dug any deeper, they might've discovered that from all Republic expenses, nearly eighty billion credits were missing. Roughly half of that went to the cloners on Kamino, who were searching for a proper genetic template, while the other half went to Rothana Heavy Engineering, to facilitate the design of a new warship that could serve as the mainstay of a Republic Navy.

In addition to the missing credit concerns, Senate Committee on Refugees, in a delegation led by Bail Organa and Mon Mothma, two new and upcoming senators, insisted on the Chancellor's opinion on the refugee crisis from Randon Civil War. Frankly, Palpatine couldn't care less about the mundane affairs of Randonians, but as Supreme Chancellor, Palpatine smiled and suggested ideas for easing the flow of refugees from the crisis to nearby planets. The discussion sucked up nearly two hours of his precious time, and he could not be happier when the pair of senators announced that they had to return for the afternoon session of the Senate.

Finally, his pet project was showing nothing. This was an issue. Secret searches had been conducted for a suitable Force-sensitive individual of the right age. With the loss of Darth Maul, Palpatine was forced to find a new apprentice. There were options on the horizon. Dooku was not far from cracking, his arrogance breaking through his practiced Jedi demeanor honed over eighty years of training. But he was not yet ready, and in any case, Dooku was too old to be a long-term apprentice. In the distant horizon was the glorious ray of Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One himself, but for now, it remained as it was called – distant. Skywalker useless for now, as promising and vital he would be in the future, with his current allegiance pledged wholly to the Jedi Order and his master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. No, what he needed was an apprentice he could begin training now, and become a useful asset within half a decade.

His thoughts were shaken by the opening of the Chancellor's Suite doors. In walked his Vice Chair, Mas Amedda, an ambitious Chagrian who believed he could manipulate poor, little old Palpatine into doing what he wanted.

"Chancellor, the Jedi delegation is here for your two o'clock meeting," boomed Amedda, who was known to have a loud and powerful voice that could command the Senate hall.

"Send them in," Palpatine replied, rubbing his eyes in boredom and tiredness. Suddenly, a light blinked on his holo-console. A special indicator light that served only one purpose.

"Hold on," Palpatine quickly blurted, and Amedda stopped, looking at the Chancellor expectantly. "Bring them up in five minutes." Amedda nodded, and continued out of the office.

Polarizing the large window behind the Chancellor's desk, Palpatine secured the connection with the correct encryption key and scanned the room for electronic bugs, of which he found none. Satisfied that he had taken all necessary security procedures, Palpatine opened the message with rapt anticipation.

Project V – Candidate Found

Palpatine's smile was now genuine, though it was frightening in ways a smile should not be. His day had officially gotten much better.