"Please let me explain, kiddo."

Jolie stood, cradling the pot in her arms. The tree still glowed in it's primitive, dark brown container, casting a faint blue light around the room. She turned towards him. "Please. Do that." Her voice was neutral, which made Dan even more uneasy. He had no idea what she was really feeling.

He took a step forward, frowning, regret spread across his face. "It all started when you were found as a child. A normal amount of Force sensitivity, like all other younglings. However, the Council at the time wanted to conduct an experiment on the effect that Force trees have on people," he grimaced,"Your parents... they offered you up for this...opportunity," he spat the word out as if it were bitter,"So that Tree has been under your bed since you were brought here, with Healers tending to it from below."

All that Jolie could sense was regret and pain from him. Just as she'd expected.

"Why all the isolation then?" She asked,"When I was a youngling. I was never allowed to train with the others." The innocence in her eyes stared like daggers right into Dan's own regretful eyes,"I couldn't stay with the others in my group. I couldn't battle them for practice. Why?"

He sighed,"The Council didn't want any outside influences on the results."

Jolie's anger grew. Her eyes filling with fire. "And you were just okay with this?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he just looked at the ground. Tears formed in his eyes.

"All these years I've felt so alone," droplets lined her eyes,"except for you."

"I'm-"

She kept walking forward, her anger grew with each step. "All these years you've watched me deal with the painful side effects that went along with this sick experiment, yet you did nothing." Her brows furrowed into a pained, vengeful expression.

"The only excuse I have is The Council. They wouldn't allow me to do anything that would interrupt the progression. I wish I had defied them... I really do." His voice pleaded for understanding.

Jolie ignored his pleas, only listening to the built up rage inside of her. "You know, I thought of you as a father. My father. The only person I truly had in my life," she looked deep into his eyes, making him feel the pain she'd felt at that moment,"The only one I could trust."

Dan stood still, his head hanging. Tears fell into his bushy, grey beard. "I'm... I'm so sorry, Jolie."

"I need to go." She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand and looked past him. Remaining as much composure as she could, Jolie left the place she'd been in her whole life, in hopes of finding a better one.

Clouds fell over the city skies of Corascaunt and rain began to fall. All the pedestrians were retreating to their lavish homes.

"Crummy weather," Evander observed.

"Yeah, no kidding," Alda replied dryly with a chuckle. He elbowed her playfully and kept staring outside.

"I'm not sure how much longer we can stall them waiting for her," Flint said.

The trio were all waiting outside the High Council's Chambers to give the official report.

"Would Jolie mind if we just went in and started?" Evander asked.

"She seemed adamant about talking to them," Flint replied.

"Plus the entire mission depended on her. Some spooky stuff happened and it had everything to do with Jolie," Alda pointed out,"They need to hear her."

Suddenly, their wrist comms all began blinking.

"Someone just got on the ship?"Alda said with confusion, staring at the blinking security light.

Flint stood up,"I'll check it out. Stay here in case they need to, uh, talk to you two."

Evander looked confused but was in no mood to get up,"Alright. Just keep us posted, I guess. And if anyone is stealing my stuff or messing with my ship, you have permission to teach them a lesson." He smirked and sarcastically punched his open palm.

Flint chuckled,"Yeah, I have the strength of a twig. But sure, I'll do that."

Jolie kept on walking with her tree out into the rain until she reached the ship, walking onto the ramp. The glow cast beautiful patterns through the drops of rain water on it's branches.

She never stopped. Never looked back. Never second guessed it. It'll be okay, she kept reminding herself.

My own parents. Biological and otherwise. They all lied to me my whole life. I've been a part of some grand experiment and I didn't even know. Dan sat idly by and saw me struggling, but never did anything real to help me.

I've been beside Dan since I was 3 years old. And it was all for nothing?

She so badly wanted to forgive him then. So badly wanted someone in her life to fall on.

"Jolie?"

It was the small, worried voice of Flint.

Jolie took a deep breath, setting the tree down, and turned around.

"What are you doing?" The fear in his eyes was evident to even a non-Force sensitive.

"I'm leaving. I can't trust anyone here anymore."

He took a wary step towards her, standing at the bottom of the ramp looking up at her with deep concern. "What happened?"

She closed her eyes to collect her thoughts, then opened them. She took a deep breathe. "That Force Tree has been underneath my bed my entire life," she pointed to it on the ground beside her,"The Jedi have been studying what it does to the subject; me. That's why I'm so powerful," she winced slightly, reliving her conversation with Dan,"And why I get those pains whenever I do something huge," tears began to form in her eyes again as she lost what little control she had left,"I've just been some experiment my whole life. Nobody even told me! Nobody helped me!" She turned and walked to her room so she could get her bag, and get far away.

Flint followed behind her. "Jolie..." He didn't know what to say.

Holding her packed bag, she turned to Flint. "My Master was the only one I've even been close to. Now I have nobody." A few tears were about to fall.

Flint rushed forward in a moment of instinct, wrapping her in bear-hug. "You're not alone. You have us."

Jolie froze for a moment, but then dropped her bag and returned the hug, grateful for his compassion.

"So what are you going to do?" Flint asked her.

"Honestly, I'm not sure. Probably just hop on a shuttle to a quiet planet until I figure things out."

Flint looked into her eyes, making a mental picture of the beautiful green hues. Summoning all the courage he could, he reached his hands out and held her free hand. "Can we at least fly you there?"

"I should just go. I've got to get used to the real world if I'm gonna make something of my life."

He frowned,"You're really not coming back?"

"I don't know," she replied thoughtfully,"It doesn't seem probable. I mean, would you?"

He shook his head,"I suppose not. Will you come visit at some point?"

She smiled and chuckled a little,"Of course." Her expression morphed into a sad smile,"Can you just tell the others I say thank you?"

He smiled sadly in return,"Of course. Good luck, Jolie."

        "She just disappeared as mysteriously as she arrived," Alda remarked, a touch of sadness in her voice, as the three sat in the living area of their ship. The meeting never happened due to the Council in some sort of frenzy that afternoon.

They all had dinner in front of them. Evander was chowing down per usual, Alda was picking, and Flint was just moving pieces of food around with his fork.

"Are you gonna be alright?" Evander asked Flint, looking over with concern and puzzlement.

Flint looked up suddenly,"Yeah, I'm good."

Alda cocked an eyebrow,"We're not that gullible,"she looked at Flint understandably,"We'll all miss her, but you two seemed to have this sort of connection. I know this must be hard. It hurts to lose someone."

Evander stopped eating when Alda finished. Then he looked at Flint, genuine concern and understanding written on his face,"I know how it feels, and then some. It'll be hard, but you're a trooper."

Flint smiled,"It's strange to hear stuff like that from you."

Evander smiled a little,"Don't get used to it."

In lighter spirits, the three finished eating and then turned in for the night, but they remained on the ship, not in their quarters within the Temple.

The next morning, they all got messages from the Council to meet in one of the larger classrooms. It could seat up to 100 people.

"Why do they want us there?" Alda asked in puzzlement as they were getting ready.

Evander shrugged,"They're the Council and they're weird. That's all I know."

Alda laughed,"Well, you've got that right."

They all wore their usual, worn out explorer attire and went on their way.

Upon their arrival, they saw at least another 80 Jedi there too. Some were here by Hologram. Most were standing, talking in small groups.

"Looks like there's other Explorers here," Alda pointed out as she looked at a few familiar groups wearing more rugged clothing. Jackets, durable boots, loose fitting pants with pockets.

"And people from Medic Corps," Evander added, pointing out the Jedi in monotone clothing and Medical Corps logos,"And the Teaching Corps..."

"And Agriculture," Flint finished.

They all exchanged the same worried look of confusion just as Master Yoda arrived at the front of the spacious room, standing on a slightly raised stage alongside Master Windu.

"Welcome, Members of Service Corps," Yoda began with a smile,"Good it is to see you all."

"We have gathered you all here today in order to announce some changes in respect to all of your rankings," Windu continued, firm and professional as always.

Confused murmurs circulated around the room. They all feared the same thing; the failures are all finally getting thrown out.

"A bad thing, this is not. Great work you all do. However, ending the Jedi Service Corps, we are."

"They're joking, right?" Evander angrily whispered to Flint and Alda.

The three all looked at each other in pure confusion and genuine worry accented with a touch of anger.

"Worrying won't be necessary. You'll be dissolved into the ranking of Jedi Knight. We truly believe that your various talents and experiences will provide us with a more diverse group of Knights," Windu explained. "The Order as a whole simply can not maintain the Service Corps any longer."

The murmurs slowed but the confusion didn't.

"Given various Knight tasks tailored to your unique abilities, you all will be," Yoda continued. He smiled pridefully and then gestured to the crowd happily with his short cane,"Welcome, Jedi Knights."

The walk back was lively as each one of the trio tried to decipher what was going to happen.

"So are we just Knights now?" Flint asked.

Evander shrugged,"I guess. I still can't wrap my head around it, though."

"We failed our trials fair and square. We aren't real Knights!" Alda exclaimed.

"Well would you rather they just kick about a hundred of us out into the street with no real life skills?" Evander refuted.

"No, but it just seems wrong. Doesn't it?"

They reached their ship after the long, confusing walk back. They were met with a message from the High Council.

"Last time we read a message from the Council we ended up with a wizard girl on the crew," Evander said dryly as they huddled around the holo-table, not bothering to sit down.

"It's probably just a follow up," Alda said, ignoring Evander's snarky comment. She logged on and then opened the message.

To Explore Corps. Crew 7:

The three of you will be reassigned as Jedi Knights. Your tasks will vary and you will each be individually contacted about them shortly. In the mean time, this vessel will be in possession of The Republic and you will each receive permanent quarters.

Alda Pax: Room 324, East Wing.
Evander Aine: Room 122, Western Wing,
Flint Ugo: Room 112, Northern Wing.

They all stared blankly at the screen.

Finally, Evander broke the silence,"Well this sucks."

"No kidding," Alda replied.

"This is all happening so fast," Flint said sadly,"The end of an era."

"It's not like we won't see each other anymore," Alda said with a reassuring smile,"We do have Comm-links after all."

"And if Yoda's being legit, we'll be doing tasks related to Exploring. So there's a chance we'll team up soon," Evander added.

Flint sighed,"I hope so."

Alda was standing between them and nudged the two with her elbows,"I know so."

The time had come to pack their things. Evander made sure he got all his trinkets from the cockpit, as well as his various snack stashes.

Alda packed her things from her room, keeping the survival equipment with her. Never know when you'll need it.

Flint grabbed his Holocron and his data pad with years worth of hard work on it. He kept his room very neat so it didn't take long to pack his things.

The three shut down the ship, taking out their key-card to give to a Republic Officer.

As they were walking together down the ramp, about to start their lives as Jedi Knights; Evander sensed something. He rarely did.

"I'll be right back," he said hesitantly as he walked back to the hallway, still carrying his bulging backpack.

The Force rarely spoke to him at all, let alone as clearly as it was now. He had to take a moment to remember his training and how to actually listen to it. Suddenly it became as clear as his kyber-crystal. He was being drawn to Jolie's old room.

When he walked in it was stripped clean, like she'd never been here in the first place. Except for one thing. A Holocron.

She had a Holocron? Evander asked himself with wonderment. He had no idea how she got it. He couldn't imagine her doing anything remotely wrong, especially stealing.

He looked around and didn't see anyone, so he quickly opened his backpack and took a few shirts out. He was very careful and wrapped the shirts around the Holocron, then cautiously fit it back into his backpack. Maybe he'd use it one day.

With that, he quickly walked out of her room and back into the hall, but he paused before taking a right turn towards the cockpit.

        Evander sat in the pilot's seat, his seat, again and somberly patted the control panel, with hopeful certainty in his voice.

"We'll fly again soon."