Jolie's face turned even redder than it already was from all the sparring. She held her breathe and just stared at Evander.

Evander's outstretched hand grew shakier by the second until finally he dropped it in dismay. "It's okay, Synyc's probably just messing with us..."

Jolie thought for another tense moment in silence before breaking it. "Just don't hold my hand in the Temple," she said with an adorable smirk. She chuckled,"Not that smartest idea."

Evander laughed and scratched his head nervously. "Yeah, you're probably right about that. Where do you wanna go?"

"How about the gardens?"

The Gardens were an incredible place at the center of the city. It was as if they stepped into a tropical planet from the outer rim- untouched by people.

They walked there. It wasn't far.

"Won't it be closed?" Evander asked once they began to near it.

"You're gonna let that stop us?" Jolie replied rhetorically.

Evander just laughed. "I never pegged you for a criminal, yah know."

Jolie smiled and looked up at him suddenly, her voice growing in joking intensity. "Hey! I am not-"

"It's alright," Evander replied softly as he smiled at her. "It's cute."

Jolie just smiled and looked down at the ground, a massive blush covering her cheeks.

The pair were able to easily go through a trap door in the roof that had conveniently gotten left open. They dropped down, using the Force to break their fall from the treetops, onto the mossy ground.

They both stood in awe at the wide array of flowers that made up the oasis like forest. It looked as if the city didn't exist, when in reality it laid just in the other side of the walls.

The trees were tall and wide, with vines draped across all he branches. There was some stone and gravel making up the path to try and light a way.

To make the mood even more romantic and mysterious, there were teeny little lights on the ground, like lightning bugs were taking a rest.

"Wow..." Jolie breathed.

Evander nodded. "Ditto..."

They soon felt their feet moving forward in unison down the path, following the glittering lights and flowers.

"Thank you," Jolie said softly out of the blue.

"For what?"

"For trusting me. And helping me. And not caring that I tried to kill you all a few times..." Jolie said with a slight laugh at the end. Evander chuckled at that.

"It's no trouble. I've been there. I needed someone to help me. For me that was Alda." He smiled.

Jolie sighed. "I wish she didn't distrust me so much."

"She's only trying to protect everyone else. It was her job with Explore Corps after all," Evander pointed out gently.

"You do know I'm not ever going to hurt you all, right?" She said as she stopped.

"Of course I do."

"Does Alda know that?" she asked worriedly.

Evander sighed quietly. "Deep down, yes. She just gets very protective, that's all."

She hung her head a bit and started walking again. "I can see why. I'm a hazard to have around. I don't know why you seem to want me around so much."

Evander jogged forward and stopped in front of her, forcing her to stop walking away. He watched her expression melt into dismay and grabbedyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy guy onto her forearms.

She stopped and looked down and to the side, avoiding his gaze.

"Jolie..."

She closed her eyes and sighed. Before she could open then again Evander slid his grip down and held her hands in each of his own.

"You have no idea how incredible you are," he said softly, but with passion in his voice. She finally looked into his eyes as he stared deeply into hers. The dim lights on the path made them twinkle like little stars on a sunset. "How strong and kind and brave and- and just-"

Before he knew what had happened, she held the sides of his face and pulled it towards hers. She placed a brief kiss on his lips, much to his surprise. When she pulled away she just sensed shock and sadness. It was a type of longing.

"Jedi can't do this stuff..," he said with grief. He'd clearly thought about this before.

Jolie looked into his eyes with certainty for the first time. "I'm... not a Jedi."

His expression completely changed from despair and desperate longing to a determined smile and a definitive gaze.

They each took a step towards one another and collided. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. Simultaneously, Jolie wrapped her arms around his neck, making sure she was close enough.

They shared a long, deep kiss.

After a few passionate and all too brief moments they pulled away, huge smiles on their red, blushing faces.

Evander loosely continued to keep his arms wrapped around her waist as Jolie slid her arms down so she rested her hands on his shoulders so she could look up at him.

They locked eyes and giggled like school kids.

"Yoda would hate us," Jolie said giddily.

Evander laughed,"Yoda already does hate us. Do you realize how many strings I had to pull in order to get a Padawan?"

They instinctively began to wander down the path once again, hand in hand.

"How did you pull that off?" Jolie asked.
"You didn't even pass your trials."

"It took a lot of convincing and sting pulling and time. Truthfully, it was difficult enough that anyone would've quit pretty quickly."

"Why didn't you?"

He thought for a moment. "I wanted to be a great Master for someone, 'cause I had a great one until a group of pirates took her from me. It really messed me up. Like my entire world was just killed right before me," he frowned and his voice dropped even lower. "And when I realized how hard it is for myself and just how much rides on your shoulders, I shut the poor kid out."

Jolie squeezed his hand a little, causing him to look down at her. She smiled reassuringly and he cracked a smile right back.

"He almost didn't make it from our brush with Dooku. That made me realize I needed to stop being a scared, asshole and step up. Be more honest with him." At the mention of Dooku, Jolie shivered and Evander sensed guilt. He made a mental note.

Jolie, on the other hand, immediately thought back to the Sith Holocron she had hid. It was a gift from Dooku. A gift she was supposed to repay by joining the Sith. Somehow she'd almost forgotten about it.

Evander continued. "So in a way, I have you to thank."

"He's a great kid," she added with a smile.

Evander smiled proudly. "Yeah. Foolishly brave, goofy, smart, wise, and don't forget about his Zeltron emotion-sensing Powers. Those are pretty neat."

Hearing him say that made Jolie smile.
"Anyone would be lucky to learn from you. Trust me."

"I hope so."

        The following morning, everyone got up early to meet the Military Officers responsible for taking Zhar.

The plan was to intercept the Separatists using information found by General Cira Lorus's Stealth Squadron.

Evander, Flint, Alda, and Jolie would go early to make sure the locals were aware of everything.

Flint helped the Officers devise a plan using his strategic mind. It was like a steel trap for any and all information that passed him by.

Jolie spoke with them as well, telling them about the layout and secret nooks and crannies of the planet. She spilled every secret she had.

After a detailed, precise plan was finally made, everyone was free to go to work in preparation. They were down to 2 days before liftoff.

Alda went to go begin packing and stocking her Survival gear, Flint went to go record the finalized plan, and Jolie was summoned to the Jedi High Council now that her prescience was known.

Evander and Synyc left, casually discussing the battle to come.

"It sound so cool! But also really dangerous," Synyc said with a concerned tone.

"Yeah, it is," Evander paused in his step and turned to Synyc. "That's why I can't let you come along for this one."

"What? Come on, I can help!"

"I don't doubt that for a second but you also have some severe anxiety from everything lately and I can't let anything happen to you. Got it?"

He sighed. "Yeah. I got it."

Evander smiled and patted his shoulder as they began to walk again, nearing their room. "You're a great kid. The Galaxy needs more of you."

Synyc smiled, then deviously smirked once they were in their quarters with the door closed. "Did you and your special friend have fun at the gardens?"

"How did you-? Wait, did you follow us?" He asked skeptically.

"Just for the walk over!" He assured him. "Who do you think opened that roof window and turned the mood lights on?"

"Wow," Evander said with an amused tone. "My own padawan set me up and planned a date for me."

"Are you mad?" He asked with a worried tone and expression.

Evander looked over, surprised by the question. "Heck no! You got me a night with the woman I love." He immediately heard what he said and locked eyes with Synyc. His cheeks turned a bright red and his eyes widened.

Synyc gaped, his mouth hanging open and a smile forming across his face. He pointed excitedly to his master and took a few hyper steps around the room. "You do have a heart! Did I call it, or did I call it?"

Evander walked over, trying to hold back laughter. "Do not tell anyone this. Not even Alda or Flint, okay?"

"You love her!" He repeated with a humorous, mocking tone and a huge smile.

"Okay?" He asked again.

"Okaaay," Synyc finally said.

"Maybe if this goes well, assuming the Council inevitably finds out, things will change. Then you can find yourself a gal," he said with a sarcastic smirk.

"I was thinking more of a guy, but I get what you mean," he replied casually. "And whoever said only you can have a secret relationship?"

He laughed. "They already hate me and know I'm a screw up, so why would they waste their time punishing me? Plus I'm not supposed to be a bad influence."

"Fair point," he replied with a shrug.

Suddenly, a transmission coded as urgent tang through the hologram on their table. It was Flint and Alda.

"What's going on?" Evander asked. Synyc joined his side, worriedly watching the two on the other end.

"We don't know why but the Team leading the mission on Zhar is requesting all of our attention immediately in the Hangar," Flint said. It looked as though he and Alda were walking somewhere.

"They said for you, Evander, and Jolie to bring packed bags," Alda added. "Flint and I are already packed."

"Already?" Synyc asked, a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Apparently so," Alda replied somberly. "See you soon," then she hung up.

Synyc wasn't sure what to say, so he stood there awkwardly, hoping Evander would address the elephant in the room.

"It'll only be a few days tops, alright?" Evander reassured him.

"You've never fought before," Synyc said with a worried look on his face. "What if something happens? I mean, trust me, I've seen it and it is brutal out there. You could-" His breathing quickened and eyes darted around the room. Evander could recognize his anxiety coming from a mile away by now, so he cut him off.

"Woah woah, easy," Evander said with a small smile as he gripped the boy's arms, bringing him out of his trance. "Everything will work out fine. I promise."

"Do you have to go? I mean, they could add an extra Clone instead right?"

Evander chuckled, knowing he wasn't serious. "Look, I'm gonna be perfectly fine, I swear," the uneasiness didn't dissolve in his apprentice's face. "And so will you."

Synyc finally let a breathe out and cracked a small smile.
"Right. We'll be fine."

But deep down, Synyc couldn't shake the feeling that something catastrophic was about to happen.