You had just arrived on Concordia two days later. After trying and failing to get some help, you realized you were all on your own. Rex had answered the call, only to explain to you that the information was gone, but that he would be there to help you with a load of spice that might satisfy the pikes, although you doubted it.

"Do you really think the pikes will accept the spice in place of the information?" Tech asked as he directed the ship to touch down in a small clearing on the moon.

"Not really," you responded. You anxiously twiddled with the fabric of your cloak.

"Then what's the plan?" Wrecker asked.

"I don't have one," you admitted.

Hunter could sense that you were nervous and he placed a hand on your shoulder, pulling you closer to him, "we will figure it all out," he said aloud, but you were sure it was only meant to reassure you.

"Well that is a lousy plan," a voice came. You turned and saw Cid waddle into the cockpit, "you go into with that kind of attitude we are all going to die."

Omega, who had been hiding underneath the control panel let out a squeak, then nervously crawled out from her hiding place. "We are all going to die?" she said scared.

You gave her a stern look, "I thought I told you to stay in the cargo bay to work on your droids?"

She shuffled her feet, "but I wanted to help."

You sighed and knelt down next to her, "we are going to be fine little one, and there is a role for you to play," you assured her, "but for now, please go back to the cargo bay."

She nodded and ran off. You stood up and turned to the others, "I am going to go meditate before the pikes arrive, keep the scanners running and alert me if anything shows up."

Without waiting for an answer you walked into your room and sat on the floor, closing your eyes and reaching out into the world around you.

After several minutes, the sound of footsteps pulled you back to reality. You opened one and saw that Hunter was standing in the corner of the room. You sighed and slumped your shoulders motioning for him to sit opposite you.

He crouched down and crossed his legs, "you want to tell me what is really bothering you?"

A small smile appeared on your face, "how could you tell?"

He reached into your lap and pulled out your hand, letting it rest in his, "I know you too well."

You tightened your grip on his hands, "I was thinking about what Shand and Bane said on Corelia, about Omega."

Hunter's smile faded, "what about it?"

"They are right," you said, "the people after her...the people after me, they will not stop until they have what they want." You took a deep breath, "if they are hunting me, I endanger her and we cannot protect her from everyone." You paused, choking on the words that you had not even spoken yet, "and I endanger you, and you can't protect me."

Hunter reached over and gripped either side of your face, bringing it closer to his, "stop, please, you cannot go off on your own," he said seriously but with love, "I can't do this without you."

You refused to look him in the eye, "Hunter, I don't want to walk away from you, but Omega is safer without me, and so are you."

He rested his forehead on yours, "please, don't do this...I need you."

You finally looked in his eyes, you leaned closer to him for a moment, lips inches apart...then suddenly there was a loud shout from the common area that scared you both.

"Ship showed up on the scanner, I think it's Rex," Tech's voice came from behind the door.

Hunter sighed and you rested both of your hands over his, still on your face, "let's just get through this," you whispered.

He leaned closer to you, but you were already standing up. He sighed again and got up, following you into the cockpit.

You could see the ship slowly descending from above. "Have you made contact?" you asked Tech.

"I was waiting for you, general," he responded.

You smiled at him and looked at the scanner. The code signature of the shuttle read 7537. You flicked on the communication channel, "shuttle 7567, this is marauder, please identify."

There was only static in response, "Rex is that you?"

There was a break in the static and Rex's voice finally came through, "sorry, general, having some issues with the communications array," he responded, "were coming in behind the marauder, we'll board as soon as we land."

"Acknowledged," you said, "see you soon Rex."

A few minutes later, Rex, Rafa and Trace were aboard your ship and sitting in the common area. "Spice is on our ship, we can move it wherever you need it," Rex explained.

"I estimate about half an hour before the pikes arrive to collect the data," Tech said.

"And you can expect an army to be with them," Cid added.

"And they are not going to be happy that we don't have the droid," Echo continued.

"When they get here, can I blow stuff up?" Wrecker asked, cracking his knuckles.

"Enough!" You yelled out above the commotion, "this isn't helping."

Everyone looked at you in silence. You sighed, "the truth is there is not a good plan, this is one of those things we are going to have to adapt to on the fly."

Cid crossed her arms, "that is a really good way for us all to be killed."

"No one is dying today," you responded. You ran your hand through your hair, "Rex, take Wrecker and move the spice in front of the ship, but use it as a fall back position for us. Tech, you and Echo keep tracking, I want to know the second the pikes enter the atmosphere. Rafa, Trace, please watch over Omega, I am leaving her in your charge. Cid, supervise, it is the only thing you like to do anyway."

Everyone nodded and got to work, but you walked back to your room. You looked in the mirror and sighed, you had let your cleancut jedi appearance go, your hair fell in curls loosely at your shoulders, your face covered in dirt and scratches. You splashed some water on your face and tried to scrub off all of the dirt, then braided your hair out of your face.

You had abandoned your jedi tunic long ago, but now you kelt on the floor, pulling out a box that you stashed under your bed and pulled out your dark tunic. You pulled it on and secured your lightsaber on your belt confidently. There was something about the refreshed look that gave you poise and confidence that you did not know you had lost.

You pulled on your cloak over the tunic and opened your door, but as it slid open there was a figure waiting for you. Hunter's face came into view as he looked you over. You pulled your cloak back just enough to see your lightsaber and tunic.

You expected him to be upset, but he only locked eyes with you and smiled. "I imagined you would embrace this part of yourself again," he mused.

"I needed a change," you responded.

"No, you have changed," Hunter said, "what you needed was an excuse to be yourself again."

He played with your braid and twirled the hair in his fingers, "you have let your past define who you are. You are a jedi and always will be, with or without the order. Hiding it may be a good way to stay alive, stay hidden, but it is not who you are," he explained, "you are caring, protective and stronger than anyone else I have met, and you got most of that from being a jedi."

He had trailed off, but it was just what you needed to hear. You closed the distance and wrapped your arms around him, pulling him into a tight comforting hug. He returned the hug and rested his hand on the back of your head.

You pulled away for a second, losing yourself in his deep blue eyes. "Hunter, I-"

"General!" Echo shouted from the cockpit.

You sighed at being interrupted again and smiled at Hunter before leaving the room and walking into the cockpit, "what it is?"

"A new ship has just dropped out of hyperspace," Tech responded, "signature matches the craft that was at Cid's parlor."

Your heart stopped beating for a moment, the time you were hoping would not come has arrived. You could not shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen. But the others had not noticed your slight hesitation, so you pushed it out and continued on.

"Spread the word to the others," you said to Echo, "they are here."