Epilogue

I melted into the crowds of Corucant, a black civilian robe concealing my face.

I had with me only a powerful blaster gun, a comlink and the clothes I was wearing. I left my lightsaber in my quarters, on my bed, with a fake note written to my Master, confirming my 'betrayal' of the Order.

Everything was set. I was now a criminal. Wasn't this the life I'd always wanted? To be able to wear what I want, do what I want with out any rules holding me back?

I pushed those thoughts out of my mind, returning my focus to the mission ahead of me.As I walked away to the places most susceptible to crime in Corucant, I knew the Jedi Council were waiting for me to met with them. Only few knew that I would not come.

I estimated the time that the security would be hunting the planet to find me. I concluded that it would take at least six hours to alert all security, and then another six to search.

I had twelve hours to flee the planet, and then to somehow search out Krayn and his Pirates. I knew I needed to get familiar with the criminals, and work my reputation up to par, and then maybe find Krayn and join his organization. Once there, I would start all over again, gaining more and more reputation along my way to the top.

I knew I was capable of it, but where to start was the tricky part.

The only thing I could think of was to jump from bar to bar where criminal action was most common, and somehow subtly draw attention to myself. Then I would prompt them into getting me in on some kind of illegal activity. I prayed to the force that most of them were weak-minded.

If that didn't work out as planned, I could always steal a transport, but I would die if I came out of Hyperspace. I wasn't doing that again. No, I knew I would be able to get onto some deal.

I thought again of how much I would have loved this opportunity before, but now…

It seemed darkly funny to me.

This was what I had wanted right? I wanted the life of freedom, a life that only I could control. I wanted to be myself, leaving all restraint behind, loving whoever I wanted to love with no one to tell me otherwise. I had wanted this…right?

I looked over my shoulder and stopped in the middle of the bustling street. The Temple gleamed gold against the sunlight, and I found myself missing its rules and restrictions already. I felt a tugging at my heart, almost as if it were begging me to return.

Freedom did not taste so sweet anymore.

My eyes stayed fixed on the sunset, realizing the person who I once was also was drawing to a close. I found a dark humor in this.

I had always imagined me leaving with Obi-Wan beside me, whispering sweet reassurances in my ear. It was my fantasy that he would be here, giving me courage to walk away from everything we had once known. Together, I knew we could have done it.

And now, I was alone. Leaving everything I had once known with no one to murmur comfort to me. No one to help me soldier on with courage to a new life.

I was alone.

I could place the blame on those who had put me through this, Master Dyas, and the High Council, but really the only person I could find blame for was myself. I was the reason everything happened the way it did, and it was no one's fault but my own.

Abruptly, I felt a strong link through the Force emerge into my senses. The connection was thick with an unbearable emotional pain and suffering. My eyes overflowed with tears that stung my face. The emotion was quickly renewed with thirst for revenge. My palm gripped my illusory lightsaber hilt, letting adrenaline and vengeance pulsate through my veins.

It took me a moment to comprehend that they were not my own. Obi-Wan was in terrible pain, on a planet far away from my comfort. It tore at me to know that I could do nothing to help him, and how I would not be there to comfort him when he returned to the Temple. I knew the trauma he was enduring right now.

The loss of a Master.

Desperate to be numb, I cut off the connection. A single tear leaked from my eye. I could not help my Obi-Wan this time, no matter how much it hurt me to leave him behind. I would not be keeping his promise. I would not be there when he returned from his mission, I wouldn't be there to help him heal from his great loss.

I watched the grand sun gradually descend behind the building that still held my old life. As the last golden-orange ray of light disappeared, I found myself consumed by a new feeling, a new person, and a new life.

I would break my promises to Bant and Obi-Wan.

My name was Zora.