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"Have you seen this text?"
"Context?"
"37 years ago, Mon Cala, Lord Sh-"
"Disapproved and contradicted by Senate jurisprudence three years later," Master Ti immediately cut him off with a shake of her head, unknowingly drawing his attention to the elegant swaying of her Leks. "It would be useless for anything other than proving that efforts were being made in our direction from a local perspective."
Mace felt a little useless for once, he was no novice in legal issues but he was far from having the knowledge necessary to navigate Kaminoan law which was as valuable in this matter as Republic law as the planet was not part of it. He had been working with her for almost three months at this point and it was not difficult to remember that there was actually brain tissue in her Leks as her memory was wildly superior to his own.
Right behind her, Mace followed three young clones with his eyes, closely trailed by a dozen others with looks of wonder on their faces as they walked through the Archives under the watchful eye of an adult who was bringing up the rear.
"It's General Ti!"
"General Ti!"
"It's Master Ti now, " the guardian told them "Lower your voice and leave her alone."
Master Ti nevertheless turned to greet them silently and smile gently at the children, who were positively radiant in the Force. When she turned back to her reading, the smile remained and Mace tried not to look too much.
She really did have a cute side to herself.
Less than ten minutes later, another group passed, this time a troop of forty little clones following Master Nu like ducklings behind their mother and it was clear that she had already captivated them because they were hanging on her every word and discreetly fighting for the places closest to her.
Like normal children, and that was something that really warmed the heart. Several hundred thousand children under the age of ten had been brought in since the first time he had approached her. She did not sleep much more but at least she shared – a little – her research and let herself be distracted for meals or breaks, by him or by the clones that Mace had enlisted in his personal mission to help her preserve her health. And he had plenty of clone allies for this task, more than he could count. The Jedi Temple had never been so crowded, it was not an exaggeration to say that it was overcrowded in fact, especially since they had called on all the adult clones who would volunteer to take care of the children, and they had to be housed as well. The Refugee Relief Movement led by the Aldeeran Senator's sister, Celly Organa, had been immensely helpful in ensuring they did not have a disastrous food shortage and they were actually doing pretty well for themselves otherwise.
Mace absently opened a text, trying to think of something new. If they had not thought of it already it would be an unorthodox solution but being a War General had not been part of his life plans, it was just an unorthodox solution to an unexpected problem. What kind of answer would solve the impasse they were currently facing?
About an hour later and after watching one Padawan blackmail another after trying to negotiate to borrow the book he desperately wanted, Mace had an idea.
Unorthodox did not even begin to describe it but... it was worth discussing.
"Maybe we're looking at this the wrong way."
"What do you mean?"
"We assume that we must prove that the clones are sentient, yet our opponents refute the evidence to waste our time and continue to use them to work for them while we speak."
"How do you suggest we tackle the situation then? What angle do you think we've overlooked?"
"The uprising. Let me explain," he added hastily as he saw literally three different breaking points materialize on the Togruta as she clutched her datapad in both hands as if to prevent herself from reacting physically. "Our efforts, while well-intentioned and certain to succeed in the long run... well, take time, we have already established that."
"Keep going," she said in a tone as tense as her shoulders, watching him like a hawk.
If Mace was a lesser man – and especially if he had not truly thought before speaking – he knew he would wither under that look.
Had he ever mentioned that he loved strong women?
"I simply suggest that we play the survival of the fittest, when a group of people explains to you very calmly that they are sensitive, have rights and duties and demand reparation for having done nothing but fulfil their duty without seeing the colour of their sacrifices... well, if they are nearly a million over-armed and over-trained men commanding the most imposing war fleet that the Republic has known in recent centuries, I think that even the most recalcitrant should admit that they prefer to pay war reparations for life to said group rather than having them going to help themselves to the riches of their planets by brute force.
"It's a risky bet, we risk permanently alienating them from the population."
"Like any bet, and obviously I have no desire to decide this just in one discussion, I am only highlighting that it is an eventuality that could achieve a certain success and would speed things up. All the texts they should admit as valid but they quibble over, if they accept them and declare the clones sentient under the pressure, no matter their reasons, that would allow us to move on other aspects of their circumstances."
"Let's assume we try this... option. There is a major problem with this scenario that you seem not to have sufficiently considered."
"Which one?"
"The clones are loyal to the Republic, as a veteran who trains younger clones regularly says: they will be loyal or they will not be. They would not turn against the Republic, not even for themselves."
"I hope their loyalty is not so fragile," Mace scoffed. "No, I have no desire for them to actually do it."
"You mean... lie to the Senate?"
"Considering that this cursed building seems to be the Temple of all kinds of shenanigans and that a Sith Lord seemed very comfortable there, some more... unusual tactics less in tune with our values might have a better chance of success, that's all I'm saying."
"In Nal Hutta, do as the Hutts do," Master Ti murmured thoughtfully. "Hmm... it's an incredibly hare-brained idea, but not one devoid of logic."
It was an approval like any other from the Jedi stingy with compliments for anyone who was neither a youngling nor a Padawan.
"Thank you."
"You are definitely full of surprises, Master Windu."
Mace smiled slightly, appreciating that even if she was more open with her facial expressions in his presence she seemed to go well with his own lack of exuberance. He was far from being the most physically expressive man, according to Depa his eyes were probably the only truly expressive part of his face. The Togruta did not seem bothered by that.
"Are you doing anything tonight?"
"I don't have any plans right now so I guess I'll eat with Maris."
"Maybe we could eat out."
"Another restaurant full of important and useful people to accidentally bump into in a casual and relaxed setting?"
The excuse - which was not entirely one - that he had used to ask her to eat out together several times before.
"Of course, since I'm inviting, I'm paying."
"Under these circumstances," I accept, she chuckled behind her hand.
She laughed several more times in the restaurant and then in the bar where they ended the night over drinks, talking about everything and nothing, losing track of time.
When he escorted her to her door and they parted with a friendly nod and a knowing and happy smile, Mace had all the answers and information he could possibly need. He really liked her, both professionally and personally, which was actually rare enough to be noted.
He would ask her soon what she thought of a courtship. It was always important to take your time but he did not like to waste time either. If they both wanted it, there was no point in making them wait, and if she did not feel the same way, at least he would know.
Of course, he was not very anxious about it because he was pretty sure she was interested, otherwise it would be stressful but in this configuration? The worst that could happen would be that she suggested a slower evolution of the boundaries of their relationship.
Nothing to worry about then.
They just suited each other well.