Alda couldn't help but look over at Synyc at least a million times throughout the night. She so badly wanted him to wake up so she could tell him everyone was okay. They did have him to thank after all.

Everything was so confusing.

Why was Dooku there?
Why didn't Jolie see him as an enemy?
Had anyone seen her since?

More and more questions formed in her bustling head through the night. She'd gotten a solid amount of sleep, but the thinking never stopped.

The sunrise distracted her long enough to be pulled away from the whole ordeal. She suddenly heard rustling in he bed on the other side of the room. Synyc.

He groaned and opened his eyes fully. His presence in the Force was truly there this time. It wasn't a faint whisper or a murmur, but it was loud and vivid. "Where am I?"

Alda sat up and excitedly looked over, a relieved smile spread across her face. "You're awake!" She exclaimed as she jogged over next to him. He was now sitting up.

"But what happened? And where am I?"

She then told him everything that she saw and what Flint had told her. Unfortunately, she got her ass kicked first and was out for the end of the duel but she did see the place on fire, Jolie for a split second, and Evander telling them to leave without him.

"Is Evander okay?" He looked alarmed and worried, fear and anticipation suddenly radiating from him.

"Yeah, just sore and has a minor concussion. You do realize you saved him, right?"

He just smiled to himself. "Can I go see him?"

She smiled. "As long as you feel okay."

He jumped out of the hospital bed and jogged out of the room and down the hall like a kid on Christmas morning. Alda smiled.
Everyone's okay.

Synyc was jogging down the hall. It was four a.m. so luckily nobody was out yet, besides him of course.

He wouldn't believe Evander was okay until he saw it with his own eyes. He knew he was in for a lecture on what he did wrong, what he should have done instead, and why he needed to listen to Evander more. That's what always happened... although there's always a first time  for everything.

"Evander?" He asked as he slowed down to walk into his room. It was for a single patient, unlike he and Alda's room.

The sheet rustled and his eyes blinked open. He had a dome levitating over his head for concussion treatment. Synyc was glad such a rural place had that kind of technology.

Evander groaned a bit and sat up, but then realized who it was. His eyes opened wide and a smile emerged. Synyc rarely saw him smile, let alone like this. He radiated pure joy.

"You're okay!" He moved off the bed quickly and shoved the dome aside. He and Synyc moved towards one another and Evander put his hands on Synyc's shoulders. "I really thought we lost you! Don't ever do that again."

Synyc smiled and laughed. "I was worried we lost you too, so let's call it even."

Evander smiled, his eyes red and his vision going blurry from thankful, relieved tears. "Listen, there's a lot I need to say. A lot that I should've said a long, long time ago."

        Jolie had wandered outside in the night where Reinha was waiting to her. She had made herself at home by squishing down a nearby bush, much to the villager's frustration.

She laughed when she saw the sight. "Hey girl," she patted her dirty, fuzzy shoulder and sat down on the ground next to her. "I've been thinking, and I think everything is about to change for me- but your life is here," she looked into her deep, brown eyes and smiled sadly,"You belong with your family. You've been a great friend to me, the best one I could ask for, but they need you. Go be with them."

Reinha snorted softly and closed her eyes as she pressed her nose into Jolie's chest. She smiled and planted a kiss on her forehead. Then Reinha stood and looked at her as if to ask if she was sure. Jolie nodded and smiled. "Thank you."

The young Merchip whinnied and swished her tail as she galloped off through the village and back to her herd. They welcomed her as she approached, then disappeared into the vast landscape of Zhar.

She'd been a friend for Jolie while she was Zhar. Her first and only friend after leaving the Order, but it was like a pitstop for her. She needed someone to help her out until she got on her own two feet. Nature wasn't hers to tame or harness. That would be selfish. Reinha deserved to be with her family for good and find her own destiny; just as Jolie did.

        Evander told Synyc the same thing he told Jolie that past night- how his Master had been killed protecting him, how his own mental health had declined because of it, and how he ended up working in Explore Corps. Most importantly- how he projected his negativity to everyone around him.

"Have you been resenting everyone? Or just me?" Synyc asked with sad eyes.

Evander hung his head a bit, avoiding his Padawan's gaze. "Generally," he took a deep breathe and shook his head,"But mostly you and Jolie. Even though she was with us years ago."

"Why?"

He took a deep breathe and collected his thoughts. "I think somewhere in my head I regretted ever taking you in as a student. 'Cause I had to face my demons and get over what happened to my own Master." There was a moment of tense silence before he spoke again. "But don't think for a second that I don't want you by my side."

"It's okay. I understand," Synyc said softly with a wary smile.

Evander smiled. "I knew you would."

The young boy smiled in full, a shared feeling of relief and closeness finally spreading between Master and Padawan.

        Evander had to stay for another week to finish his recovery being bed ridden with a dome over his head. The day he was able to get it off and walk free, the crew went to find Jolie. They all knew nothing would be the same.

"Where would she be?" Flint asked as they walked down a dirt path through the rural, peaceful town.

Evander shrugged with his hands in his pocket. "Not sure. She disappeared a couple nights ago."

"How long ago is a couple?" Alda asked worriedly.

Evander scratched the back of his head nervously,"Uhh, about five?"

"And you didn't tell anyone?!"

"I didn't realize we were trying to stalk her, okay? We should just ask around," Evander replied. "Let's start at that Ship Dealer."

They walked into the small Ship Yard full of smaller, used, cargo ships for sale.

A tall, overly happy looking woman walked over with s smile. "Hi there and welcome to Bernardi Ship Yard! How can we help-"

"Yeah we're looking for someone. Super long, blonde hair- shaved on the sides- in a plain black dress?" Evander asked dryly with his arms crossed.

The woman seemed taken aback, but then her eyes lit up as if a light bulb went off above her head. "Ah, yes! I remember her. She actually purchased a ship earlier."

"Where did she go after that?" Alda asked hastily with concern.

"Erm- I believe she went West."

"Kriff, okay we need to go," Flint said with urgency,"That's the main takeoff point for all outgoing Hyperspace travel." Everyone chorused in with agreement and they took off towards their ship.

Evander jumped into the pilot's chair and abruptly took off, skillfully riding above the trees and speeding off into the blue, afternoon sky.

"Flint, I need a coordinate," he commanded back to Flint who had jumped on his planetary scanning computer.

"I just punched it in," he said with certainty.

"Do you think she's trying to leave the planet?" Synyc asked from his chair.

"I know she's leaving," Evander replied with bitterness in his voice. "But we are not letting that happen."

Jolie flew as fast as her unskilled hands could command the ship to go. She hadn't flown much to begin with, let alone any time recently. She only knew the basics- but as long as Evander wasn't chasing after her she'd be okay. He was easily the best pilot she had ever encountered.

She focused on the horizon and flew far above the trees, slowly being able to see the ripples of the Hyperspace takeoff in the sky. That was her ticket out of this whole deal.

Before it was too late, she thought about what she was doing one final time. Running. She wouldn't have to explain her conversation with Dooku, reveal her Sith Holocron, or need to even think about the Jedi Order again- or about Dan Rursi.

She did feel guilty for leaving them behind- but her fear greatly outweighed her guilt.

Just as she started up the Nava-Computer, a ship came out of the forest below her and was right on her tail.

It'll take a miracle to leave, now.

"Flint, you take over. I'm doing something insane," Evander said nonchalantly as he got out of his seat and jogged back to the ramp.

"Wait- what?!" Alda and Synyc jogged after him.

"You're gonna get yourself killed, aren't you?" Synyc asked sarcastically as he reached out to grab his arm.

Evander shook it away and stopped as he opened the ramp. "We all know we can't convince her to stop. We all know we need to find out what Dooku's deal was. If one of us is with her, then she can't really get away."

"So you're just gonna jump down onto her ship?" Alda asked.

He nodded,"Yup."

"She isn't gonna just drop the ramp for you," Alda added with a pessimistic tone.

He shrugged,"I know the in's and out's of a ship like that. It's a piece of cheap, low security garbage. Trust me, I'll make it work."

"Are you sure about this?" Synyc asked with concern.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I swear," he dug into his pocket and handed Synyc a tracking beacon. "We have comlinks and and you can track me. What could go wrong?"

Alda chuckled quietly,"A lot."

Evander walked to the bottom of the ramp, his clothing and hair whipping through the wind. He held onto one of the supports to he didn't fall. "Talk to you soon."

Jolie heard a thud hit the top of her ship. She then heard the sound travel down to the back of the ship to where the ramp was.

She could also sense Evander.

She didn't feel good enough in her piloting abilities to leave the cockpit and go fend him off, so she just yelled back,"Whatever you're doing, stop it!"

She heard some clicking and the controls buzzed about, lights rapidly blinking. Suddenly the ramp dropped and an incredibly disheveled Evander casually closed it and walked inside, holding a set of tools in his hands as he chuckled. "Never test a pilot." There was a charismatic smirk plastered to his face.

He lingered outside the cockpit, supposedly waiting for Jolie to come over, but she had no intention of leaving. She knew he'd try and draw her out so he could take over and keep her from leaving.

She glanced up at the Nava-computer and smirked. She then saw his eyes drawn to the same thing just before he launched forward towards the controls.

Jolie kept a hand on the yoke and harnessed the Force in the other to send him flying into a giant metal grate on the side wall. It rattled and made a loud clanging sound, but Evander didn't make a peep.

She turned around, worried for a moment about injuring him, but saw he was breathing. He was only knocked out.

She slid the main Hyperspace yoke forward and she ship catapulted somewhere into Hyperspace.

"Never test me."

        "Master? Hello? What happened?!"

Jolie heard the cracklings voice of his apprentice come through his wrist-com. Double checking that everything was normal and the Hyperspace lanes were running smoothly, she got up and walked over.

She crouched next to him and carefully took his comlink off. "He's fine. Just sorta knocked out..," she said sheepishly as she wandered back to the cockpit.

"He's what!"

"Uh, yeah. He's fine though."

She heard another voice take over. It was Alda. "Jolie, please just come back. We all know you will eventually so just spare everyone some time. You're not just gonna get away with kidnapping our friend!"

Jolie scoffed and rolled her eyes,"Now I'm even less likely to come back. Why should I?"

"You have valuable information that could be worth something to the Republic and we need all the help we can get. Plus you're gonna need to give Evander back to us at some point," Alda said with her usual calm and collected manner.

Jolie shrugged to herself,"Thats true. Guess I'll think about it." With that, she shut the comlink off and stared into Hyperspace- she missed this feeling of freedom. Peace.

        "Aaaand she disconnected his com. Great." Alda said frustratedly as she dropped her wrist down onto her lap. The three of them were all sitting in the cockpit trying to decide the best way to go from here.

"Do we follow them?" Flint asked.

"I don't think that's the right move. She can just keep running. We need to wait until Evander stops her," Synyc said.

"He's right. So I guess we just wait."

        Evander slowly opened his eyes and then jolted up suddenly. He was on the ground after being thrown into the metal ventilation grate along the side of the living area in the cargo ship Jolie had taken. Eventually he remembered that it was her who pushed- no, more like threw- him into the grate and knocked him out.

"Are you insane?" He asked as he stood and dusted himself off, getting his bearings and striding into the cockpit.

She turned herself in the pilot's chair to face him. "Says the one who jumped from their own ship onto mine and somehow hacked his way on board." She clearly had mastered a poker face by now.

He crossed his arms and looked her dead in the eye. "Do you realize how much the Republic might need you right now?"

She shrugged,"Nope. And I don't care to."

He sighed frustratedly and walked into the cockpit, taking a seat next to her in the co-pilot's chair; an uncommon place for him.

"Can you just tell me what happened?"

"Why should I? You're the one chasing me down." She didn't look up from the dashboard.

He sighed,"I'm not even asking you to come back with us. Yes, it would be awesome if you did because we could really use the help of someone like you, but that's not important right now. Do you know who Dooku really is?"

She scratched the back of her head in slight embarrassment,"Not really."

"He's the leader of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, aka the Separatists. They broke off from the Republic and are essentially a dictatorship run by Dooku. They prey on innocent people and resource enriched planets like Zhar for cheap labor and supplies. Their entire army is made up of droids so it's no wonder," he chuckled quietly at the silly robots they manufacture,"But they are deadly. Killing a lot of good soldiers. Even a little nugget of information on Dooku could help lead the Republic to victory. Please. You don't even have to talk to the Council- just talk to me."

She seemed to think about this for a moment, but avoided answering. "Do you think they'd try and take over Zhar?"

"He's probably preparing his troops to invade as we speak."

Even Evander could sense her dismay and new clarity on the situation. She really hadn't heard his story until now. "How can I stop him? From harming Zhar?"

He frowned, unsure of what to say. "You can't by yourself. But the Republic side by side with the Jedi can stop this entire war."

"Well I'm not a Jedi, so I'm no help here." She rolled her eyes a bit and got up from her chair, heading for the small quarters on the ship.

Evander took a glance at the controls and saw the ship was in autopilot so he followed her, reaching out for her arm.

"Thank about what you're doing. Think about all the people suffering and the end you can bring to it! Just please come back with us. The Galaxy needs you."

She shook her arm free of his grasp and kept walking, but spoke over her shoulder. "If I go back with you, I am not going back to being a Jedi."

"I figured as much."

"Oh, and I'm not sure where we're gonna land but we need fuel," she turned her head for a moment and smirked,"You're the pilot so I'll let you take over."

He just laughed and shook his head as she walked off into some living quarters. He returned to the cockpit; a place he hadn't been nearly enough over the past few years. "Let's see where we're flying."