"Sorry about the last minute call," Alda said with a bashful smile. "Where's Jolie?"

All eyes turned to Evander and he shrugged. "Not sure."

Alda groaned and Flint just shook his head, chuckling a bit. "We need her to come with us, obviously. She knows Zhar better than anyone."

"It's our job to go early and alert the local village of the evacuation. The Republic is sending a fleet of ships to bring them somewhere safe," Flint explained.

"Sounds like a smart plan," Synyc commented.

Evander nodded in agreement, then dropped his bag down. "I'll go find Jolie while you guys get settled."

Synyc grabbed Evander's bag and was met with a subtle smile from him. Alda suddenly took a step forward, blurting out,"Actually, can I help?"

"Oh, uh- sure," Evander said with a confused expression and furrowed brow.

Alda smiled awkwardly and caught up to him, then they disappeared into the Temple halls to track her down. Flint and Synyc smiled at the pair before going to pack the ship.

        Jolie was walking aimlessly around, eating a muffin and listening to music on some ear buds she snatched from Evander's room. He has some good tunes on there, she thought to herself as she bobbed her head to the electronic beat.

She heard a muffled voice behind her and couldn't help but sense Evander's presence. She turned to find him with a gleeful smile, taking the ear buds out as she did so, but that smile quickly turned into a neutral, defensive expression as she saw Evander and Alda running over.

"Quick, we gotta go," Evander said with urgency, grabbing her arm and dragging her behind him as he turned on a heel and began running back.

"Where?!"

"Zhar. We have work to go," Alda replied. "And obviously we need your help."

"What kind of work?" She asked as she shoved the remains of her muffin into her pocket, earning an amused smile from Evander.

"We need to alert the locals of the evacuation plan the Republic set up," Evander said.

"If we can get in the Holo-net we shouldn't have a problem," Alda said.

"Yeah, I can make that happen," Jolie said definitively. "They're terrified of me," she said with a chuckle.

"I honestly don't know if you're joking," Evander said with a great deck of dryness in his voice.

Jolie just shrugged and laughed, making Evander laugh as well.

Alda found herself smiling, being a little relieved at Jolie's overall reaction. Maybe she really was wrong about her.

"I need to grab some stuff first," Jolie said quickly before running off for a back stairway without another word.

"Do we just wait for her?" Alda asked, looking to Evander.

"I guess," he replied as he kept a soft gaze on the staircase.

Alda observed his face and tapped into the Force in order to try and grasp what he was feeling. She knew he'd never fully tell her.

All she sensed from him was worry and... love. For Jolie, probably. But definitely for Synyc.

"Do you love her?"

Evander blushed and finally looked over at his friend. She looked into his eyes with a blank expression. He knew he that she was one of the few people he couldn't lie to.

His gaze dropped to the ground and shifted uneasily. Then he closed his eyes and took a deep breathe. Opening his eyes, he looked into Alda's expectant eyes. "Yeah. I love her."

Alda smiled and patted his shoulder. "Good. You guys need each other."

"You're not angry?" He asked, clearly surprised.

"How could I be mad?" She replied. "My best friend in the entire Galaxy finally found someone he loves."

"What do mean finally? I love you, always have. You're my family. I love Synyc, again, he's family."

"You and Jolie can help one another," her proud smile faded into a worried frown and she looked in front of her. "I just wish I hadn't been such an ass to you guys."

"She'll forgive you," Evander said plainly.

"Will you?"

Evander smiled. "Well duh. You're basically my sister. And siblings fight, but they get over it."

Alda smirked. "And then they hug it out?"

Evander rolled his eyes, despite he smile on his face. The two laughed and met in a hug, the negativity and apprehensions of the recent events fading away into thin air. All seemed to be back to normal. It's a shame things never stay that way for long.

Jolie wandered to Dan Rursi's classroom, where she'd been staying for the last few nights, to collect her things. There was one thing in particular she couldn't let anyone else find, so it would have to stay with her.
The Sith Holocron.

Dan was there, cleaning some stuff and caring for the abundant plants scattered around the glowing, golden room.

"Hey kiddo," he said cheerily, then looked up to see her panicked face. "What happened?"

She let out a breathe and laughed nervously,"Turns out we leave early for Zhar. They're interfering Separatist ships so we need to go now."

He frowned and then smiled at her. "You're doing a great thing. They need you."

She smiled back. He had the same proud look from the day she set foot on Evander's ship as the new Pathfinder. That's where it all started.

Jolie quickly met back up with Evander and Alda, a bag slung sloppily over her shoulder as she ran over. Then they all rushed back to the ship.

Flint and Synyc has finished prepping it in record time when they finally made it over.

"Times wasting, come on!" Flint egged them on.

Synyc had a troubled frown, his brows twisted into an almost pained expression. He looked exhausted.

Alda, Flint, and Jolie must've seen this because they quietly left him alone with Evander.

"What's up?" Evander asked him with a concerned tone.

Synyc didn't meet his eyes. "It's my Zeltron sense. Something's up and I don't know what, but I think it's gonna hit you too."

Evander couldn't deny that Synyc's senses had always been right about everything so far, but there's always a time for firsts. "I'm sure everything will be fine. We've got s steady plan and the resources to back it."

"No," Synyc repeated, more desperate this time. "It's bad and I don't know exactly what, but it's coming from nearby."

"Synyc, don't worry it'll-"

Synyc just jumped forward and hugged his mentor, clinging to him as if he'd never see him again. "Please listen to me," he repeated into his shoulder.

Evander stroked the boy's hair, a wave of shock going through him as he understood how serious and terrified his apprentice was.
"Hey hey hey," he softly cooed. "It'll be okay."

Synyc sniffled and then the two pulled back.

"Listen," Evander said, placing his hands on Synyc's shoulders. "Do you trust me?"

Synyc nodded shakily.

"It will be alight. I promise you."

        The four flew to Zhar where they spent the next 12 hours furiously running about, knocking on doors and using Republic channels to sound the alarm of the incoming attack. Soon the Republic cruisers came and everyone evacuated, taking their few belongings and families. Jolie made sure to take a trip into the forest and herd the Merchips away; a skill she's mastered in her years in Zhar.

Evander called Synyc every few hours to tell him he was okay. He'd become so distraught after seeing his apprentice's eyes before they left. All he saw was pain, love, and worry. It broke Evander's heart to see his kid like that.

Alda and Flint were all business; setting up perimeters and trackers and traps around the area of the impending battle, waiting for the Separatists.

        Later in the night, after the work was done, Jolie and Evander wandered off into a forest Jolie knew all too well. She'd spent many lonely nights here.

"I never thought I'd be sharing this place with you of all people," she said with a smile.

Evander's hands were in his pockets as he walked beside her. "Why? I'm a peach!" He smiled a goofy smile and she laughed.

"Because we despised each other," she replied frankly with some sarcasm.

He chuckled. "Good thing that didn't last too long."

She smiled and hooked her arm around his and leaned her head against his arm while they slowly walked through the tranquil forest, occasionally stepping over a stream. "Do you think they know about us? Alda and Flint?"

He shrugged carefully, not wanting to nudge her away. "I think they know to a degree. They know I definitely care about you, considering I've viciously defended you a lot. But they don't necessarily know the romantic part."

She nodded. "Synyc knows, right?"

He laughed. "Just wait until you hear this." He went on to tell the story of how he set the two of them up, perfectly setting up the perfect night.

"You're worried about him," she said after the laughing wore off.

He looked down at her seriously. "What makes you say that?"

"First off, my Force sense is obviously overloaded so little slips by me. But I don't need that to be able to tell," she replied softly. "You're worried he's right."

He sighed. She had caught him. "Yeah. I guess. He's always been right with his Zeltron sense thing. I don't want him to be, though."

"It may not seem like it'll be okay, but trust me. Things are never as they seen," she stopped to face him and traced his cheek with her hand. "It'll be okay."

He smiled. "When you put it like that I actually believe you."

She smirked. "Of course you do." Then she pulled him closer by the collar of his shirt and the two kissed. All of their worries seemed to disappear for those moments when they were together. They'd need to cherish it.

        Meanwhile back on Corascaunt...

Synyc tried to sleep that night but quickly discovered he couldn't. All he could focus on was the feeling he had. He could sense urgency and hatred nearby, but he wasn't sure exactly where.

It can't be a Jedi, he thought to himself as he wracked his brain for answers. There must be heist somewhere in the city, he concluded. The following morning he borrowed some of Evander's old Exploration clothes to not look like a Jedi. They hung over his slender body like curtains, but it would have to do. After tucking his saber into the inside pocket of the sturdy jacket, along with snacks, of course, he laced up his master's old, green boots and snuck off.

He wandered the streets for several hours, aimlessly wandering around. Carefully he peeked around each corner for danger or people who needed help. He was so confident he'd be able to help. Little did he know, he was the one in danger.

        It was dark on Corascaunt. Synyc had spoken with Evander just about every hour, just to make sure he was alright. Yet still, he couldn't shake the feeling that danger was lurking around the next corner- ready to strike.

He sat on a bench, hunched over, eating a ration bar. He gagged at the plain, grainy taste but still managed to get it down since it was the last thing in his list of things to worry about. At the top was Evander, Jolie, Alda, and Flint. He just tried to take deep breathes and remind himself of what Evander told him.

"It will be alight. I promise you."

A small smile crept onto his face as he remembered his words. He trusted him whole-heartedly. He truly believed it.

But then he heard gunshots off in the distance.

Screams.

Blood churning screams.

Deathlike feelings.

He sensed hundreds of people being slain, terrified, and betrayed.

He could sense the devastation.

It was coming from the Jedi Temple.

He sunk to his knees, holding his head as his knees collided with the concrete sidewalk. The ringing in his ears wouldn't stop and his undeveloped Zeltron sense was deafening.

Yet still, the boy weakly stood and pushed on, sprinting towards the danger to try and save whoever he could.

As he ran he received a call marked urgent from Evander.

Moments ago on Zhar...

Jolie and Evander walked the outskirts of the main village, keeping their eyes peeled for Droids or Separatist Officers about to attack. Luckily the Republic was here- and they were ready.

"Do you think Zhar will be in good hands?" Jolie asked him.

He thought for a moment before nodding. "Things move slow in the Senate, but it'll be much better than any Separatist. I'm pretty convinced they don't even have souls." He chuckled.

Jolie smiled and intertwined her fingers with Evander's. His hands were all sweaty. He must be nervous, she thought to herself with a silent laugh.

"Maybe I'll come back," she said softly. "You know, to keep an eye on Zhar in case anything happens."

Evander smiled,"That would make me immensely happy."

Just as leaned into one another for a small kiss they heard gunshots in the distance.

"They're here!" Jolie exclaimed as she rushed to get her comm link up. She called Flint, who was their main contact.

"You need to get out of here!" He yelled into the comm. He appeared to be running.

"Guys!" Alda yelled as she appeared on the hologram dragging Flint and blocking Blaster Fire. "Leave the planet!"

"What's going on?!" Evander asked.

"I don't know! The Clones are attacking us, go! Run!" Alda replied.

"Not without you!" Evander replied as he and Jolie began to run back to the fleet- straight into direct fire.

They were horrified to find it really was the Clone Troopers slaughtering them all.