This is the last chapter in this story arch ya'll! I'm planning on this story being done by chapter 50 (which will include an epilogue) so we only have 14 chapters left! I can't believe A: how long it's taken me to finish this story. And B: how fast it seemed to fly by.

Anyway... enjoy!

**Rosalie Storm's POV**

Korkie was still picking off the stragglers from his hiding spot as Zeke and I freed the prisoners.

"Run!" I shouted. "Get out of here!"

They didn't need any second encouragements.

When I caught up to the Purge they were breathing hard and covered in sweat and grime. "We need to get to Spider!" I gasped, my head throbbing despite Hayden's ministrations earlier.

Zeke grabbed me by my arms and shook me. "What's going on? Where did Spider go?"

"There is a bomb!" Everything ached so bad… and we might not get out of this alive. "A failsafe in the factory. Spider went to disarm it to save all the workers!"

"Kriff," Zeke swore. "Purge, to me! We need to evacuate that factory!"

And then we were running. Out the prison holding. Into the factory beside it. Down a flight of stairs. I stopped.

Machinery, filthy kids, no guards, empty faces.

"Get out of here! THE PLACE IS ABOUT TO BLOW!"

There were blank faces, empty eyes, confusion. Then Jumper leapt among them below and began rattling off in as many languages as she knew: "Free! Run!"

Kids started moving and the more Jumper shouted the faster they ran, something beginning to fill those empty eyes as they did. Hulk was soon down there with her and Zeke turned to me. "Let's find Spider."

I nodded and we started running again.

It didn't take long to find her, she was near the back of the factory, backed up against a pile of broken machinery. She knelt in front of a huge contraption, which housed a blinking light.

"Spider!" Zeke called but she didn't move. She seemed to be concentrating, deciding between two fates. When she heard Zeke's voice she seemed to make her decision in a split second and brought something colorful to her mouth. She jerked, and then I saw the two pieces of wire in her hand.

She stood as we approached, looking at us both but then focusing on Zeke. She smiled at him—the first smile I had ever seen her give—and held the cut wire in hands triumphantly.

"We're safe," she said.

We never saw it. Never saw the two remaining guards behind her until it was too late.

A blast went off, Spider jerked unnaturally, and then she crumbled to the ground…

"NOOO!"

**Spider's POV**

I'd ignored what was right and wrong for so long growing up. I don't know if I just actually didn't know the difference, or if I pushed the knowledge aside to avoid the guilt that came with doing what I did… But I did it to survive.

I didn't know who my parents were. All I knew was that they left me in a trash bin for an old alien named Dexter to find me. He owned a diner and he wasn't bad, but he knew things that had all sorts of people coming around, from Jedi to criminal lords. It wasn't a bad life, sure I had to work 24/7, had to beat costumers off me the day I turned five, and learned even younger than that that the world was cruel and that I couldn't trust anyone. But I had a place to sleep, food to eat, and a job.

It was there that the bounty hunter found me—Aurra Sing.

I don't know what she saw in me, but I guess she liked my fire and lured me away with sweet words like teaching me how to defend myself, fame, fortune. I should have known I would be better off staying with Dexter, but I was only nine.

That realization hit me full in the face after only three days. By the fifth day I'd run away from her. I kept running. Bruised and bleeding, I finally lost her in the lower levels, crawling through cracks and hiding in corners that my small body could fit into but hers couldn't. I thought I was safe, but she was good at her job and found me after only a few hours, blasting her way through the concrete with her witch's laughter.

Two years passed, during which time I trained, she took jobs, we completed them, she double-crossed me, I bled, she found me again… and we'd start the cycle all over again.

Then we returned to Coruscant. I knew Coruscant, so I started running again. She didn't find me this time. I was trained now, good at fighting, good at stealing, good at hiding. I secured a job at age twelve with a group of thieves. It was a gang really, headed by a cruel man who ran his business by having his kids steal and bring him the plunder, the better the loot, the more in favor you were with the boss and the more likely you'd be given an extra morsel or an extra blanket that night. But the favoritism switched fast and many kids soon turned to savagery with each other in order to get those extra necessities. I was a thief, I knew how to fight, I did better than the other kids but that also meant I was constantly fighting…

Fighting, always fighting… surviving…for another two whole years.

Then I made the mistake of trying to steal from the leader of a rival gang member. He dealt in black market weapons with his small, rag-tag crew, and I wanted a gun. My mistake was putting too much faith in my own abilities because it caused me to become sloppy. I should have checked to make sure he was really asleep… But I'm glad I didn't.

After he stopped me from stealing and then a moment later from killing him, I looked into his eyes and… was lost. And then he smiled at me.

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

It wasn't easy getting away from the other gang after that, but I did, and I joined the Purge. But I didn't trust… anyone. I told the leader, Zeke, so. But he just laughed and gave me more food.

I didn't understand that laugh, but a month later, I did. We were on a mission, and at one point Zeke saved my life without any thought for himself, without any reason for gain, he just saved me to save me. "We're a family," he said. "No one gets left behind."

He'd had my undying loyalty ever since.

It wasn't until the other human girl—Shooter—turned up that I realized I wanted something more from Zeke. I tried to show it, tried to tell him… but I didn't know how and, although I trusted him… that feeling was something that scared me even more than the moment I realized I had a family with the Purge.

That's why I ran when Shooter rescued me. I had to defuse that bomb—to save my family… to save Zeke, to prove to him that I was worthy.

When I found it and got to work, I thanked Aurra Sing for the first time in my life for teaching me the ins-and-outs of bomb making, handling, and dismantling. Sweat ran down my back in rivers, shouting, screaming, and the sound of running feet echoed all around me. I heard Jumper's voice screaming "run!" in as many languages as she knew. I riffled through the wires, letting them lead me to their destination, letting them show me the path that would lead to the death of the bomb.

I found it, heard Zeke and Shooter's voices call to me… then I ripped the wire with my teeth. The blinking red light faded. I stood up. "We're safe," I said and looked at Zeke. I saved you.

Then I smiled, the muscles pulling my cracked lips in a way that was strange but not uncomfortable. And Zeke smiled at me too and I forgot about how bad my body hurt, of how jealous I was of Shooter, of how tired I was.

Then his face transformed into a look that chilled me to my bones, and suddenly something hit me in the back—twice. It was shocking at first, and then the pain registered and I couldn't keep myself from falling.

"NOOO!"

I heard two more blaster shots as Shooter ran by me, but Zeke didn't. He knelt beside me and in the space of two second I was in his arms—a place I'd wanted to be in much longer than I cared to admit.

"Spider..." He was crying.

God, I hurt so bad. My body was on fire, I could feel the warm stickiness of my blood covering my dirty skin. I was suddenly disgusted of how I must look, but Zeke's tears were falling my cheeks and he began to rock me.

That rocking was soothing, it was an action I'd wanted every day when I was young… to have someone I cared for hold me, protect me, rock away my fears. And I was getting that now—with Zeke, the only one I ever truly trusted… and loved.

The pain started to numb after that and, suddenly, I saw a bright light start to open behind Zeke's dark head.

"You'll be all right, Spider," he was saving. "You're safe now… you're going to make it… don't leave me."

I'd lived in the darkness for so long I thought the light would hurt my eyes—but it didn't. In fact, it was warm and inviting and suddenly the only thing I wanted in the whole galaxy was to be wrapped in that light.

"Spider, just hang on."

Zeke's voice was keeping me from the light. I wanted Zeke, but I wanted the light even more right now… which was weird since a moment ago all I had wanted was Zeke.

I forced my lips into the weird motion of a smile again and I lifted my hand to touch his cheek. "I love you," I whispered. "Thank you for everything… for giving me a family."

Then I dropped my hand from his cheek and used it to reach toward the light…

**Hayden Cade Wolfsbane POV**

The guards were dead; it was just Zoltar and I. Our weapons were gone, knocked from the other's hand long ago. It was just fist against fist now, wit against wit, skill against skill. I had the Force, which helped to amplify my strength and speed, but Zoltar was a massive alien raised to be a fighter—he was no easy opponent.

Punch, duck, feign, jump. The basic moves over and over again but with a speed and ferocity that would take the breath away from any lesser being. There was no talking, no banter, just grim flesh against flesh in a fight for survival and justice.

I knew I was going to win against the crime lord, it was just a matter of time and of how… did I take him in and let him be judged fairly for his crimes? Or did I kill him now and save the galaxy from the chance of his escaping prison or even continuing his operation from inside of it?

I back flipped over the crime lord, intending to grab onto his head as I did and pull him with me. But that's when I felt it: a bitter grief and rage from the Earthling. It tore through me like I was the one feeling it, making me falter in my jump.

That was all the hesitation Zoltar needed. He grabbed onto my foot and jerked me back, causing me to slam into the ground on the opposite side I'd intended full force. I bit back a groan and flipped over in time to face Zoltar's fist as it came crashing down on my face once, twice, thrice. My head whipped back and forth from the blows as he pinned my lower body down.

No, no, no, no, NO! SPIDER!

Rosalie!

Something broke from Zoltar's punches and blood splattered from my face, coating his own and making me choke.

I had to get to her. What if she was hurt, dying?

"Die, Jedi!" Zoltar hissed and brought his fist back again.

But instead of meeting with my face, he met with the blade of my lightsaber, which I had called back to me. I threw him off me and leapt to my feet as he turned to face me. "No more games scum," I said. "Now you die!" Then I fought with everything, because I had to get to Rose.

So when I saw my opportunity… I took it.

I rid the galaxy of the scum who sold lives, killed lives, destroyed lives. His huge body smoked from the laser, his sinister face twisted into a grimace of hate and pain.

I looked at his corpse for one second, and then hurried to find the Earthling.

**Zeke's POV**

Spider was dead… she died to save us all.

My chest echoed hollowly as the commotion of the aftermath reigned around my remaining family and me. Medical, law enforcement, Jedi, politicians, reporters. We had taken out one of the crime lords of the galaxies most wanted list, apparently it wasn't something that could be looked over.

Guards circled us to keep the reporters away as the medical checked us over, Spider lay covered on a table not far away… I couldn't keep my eyes off her.

Shooter—or, Rosalie—was talking to a tall Jedi with long brown hair and gentle eyes. He nodded every now and then as she talked and discreetly steered her away from the reporters, but they still managed to butt in and ask a few questions. Wolfsbane was talking to a tiny green alien and a dark-skinned man, his whole face bloodied and bruised and a bandage on his nose. The body of Zoltar lay not far from them, also covered with a white blanket.

It angered me that both Spider and Zoltar were covered the same way, Spider deserved to be revered for what she did, Zoltar deserved to die again.

The day dragged on. Reporters asked question, Jedi asked questions, politicians asked questions. Jumped cried, Hulk didn't say a word, Korkie held tight onto my hand, and Tiny hid somewhere (the only smart one out of us). Shooter and Wolsbane talked, I listened to the conversations around me, learning. And then Shooter came to us.

She was caked in blood and grime, her eyes were red and her hair as bad as Spider's was… used to be.

She smiled when she approached, but it didn't reach her eyes. "You guys helped take out Zoltar," she said with a hoarse voice. "You're heroes now."

"What's going to happen to us?" Jumper asked softly.

Shooter turned and looked at the green alien and another tall, commanding-looking man. Then she turned back to us. "You're being given the opportunity to join Coruscant's Star Fleet as cadets. It's a position many dream of acquiring with the chance to go to school, live comfortably, and train to help keep peace in this galaxy… much like the Jedi."

I looked at the tall man next to the green alien I had guessed to be Grand Jedi Master Yoda. Then I turned back to her, feeling empty and accepting of my fate—nothing could be worse then what we just had to go through.

"What about you?" I asked. "I heard from the whispers that you're… not from around here… is it true?"

She grimaced. "Yes, it is. We'd tried to keep it secret but with a victory such as this it became near impossible to… the reporters somehow got that bit of information just a few hours ago. I don't know what's going to happen now."

I jerked my head up. "Come with us," I whispered, stepping closer to her. Come with me, I wanted to say. Please… "We just lost Spider" …we can't lose you too.

"Spider was very brave," she said, her brown eyes wet and her bottom lip trembling. Then she looked back at Yoda, he nodded at her with stern but compassionate eyes. She straightened and forced her lips into a straight line. "But I can't. I was sent on this mission by the Jedi and now that… I have become public," she grimaced again at that notion. "The galaxy will perceive me as one of them. I can't leave them and join the academy with you I… I have to help obtain the Jedi image. It's how I'm going to help continue to bring peace to this galaxy."

"Shooter," it was Korkie that spoke this time, his voice wet with tears. "Please?"

She looked down on him, trying not to cry herself. "I can't, Korkie." Then she looked back again, not toward Yoda this time, but toward Master Wolfsbane. I felt my chest constrict. "I can't."

Then she bent and was hugging him, whispering to him. Then she moved onto Jumper, who nearly tackled her with a hug. Even Hulk bent to hug her, speaking to her for maybe the first time. "We'll miss you, Shooter."

She nodded, and then she was standing by Spider, her hand on her covered body. Then she was in front of me again. "Bye, Zeke," she said. "Don't worry, I'll see you all again—I promise." Then she was on her toes and kissing my cheek, so fast I wondered if even the reporters had captured it. As she pulled away, I wondered what it would feel like to have those lips on mine once again—just one last time.

I nodded. "Bye, Shooter. Good luck."

Then I turned on my heel and began to follow the tall human man that had been beside Master Yoda.

"Welcome to the Republic's Star Fleet, kids," he said.

We began to board a ship behind him, then Shooter's voice called me back:

"Zeke! May the Force be with you…"

I nodded. "And with you too."

**Third Person**

Two figures sat together high in the Jedi Council Room. Their voices were low, contemplating, their bodies shifted toward the other in order to make known that the conversation was private if anyone else were to enter the room.

"Our Earthling has become somewhat of a problem," Master Mace Windu said.

"A puzzle, yes," Yoda replied. "A problem, no."

Mace sighed. "I do not understand you're fascination with her, Master, she is dangerous. Both to the integrity of this order and herself. Our agreement with her was to house and train her until she was ready to live out in the galaxy and defend herself. Now that the media has gotten ahold of her with this unfortunate Zoltar incident, the galaxy now thinks she's a Jedi! We cannot just ask her to leave now."

"Many ways to solve a puzzle, there is, Master Windu," Yoda said. "To be trained as a Jedi, she cannot. But continue to live here, she can, to withhold the image of the Jedi."

"She can't live here for free, Master Yoda. And she can't continue to help with missions like a Padawan."

"Trained as a healer, she should," Yoda said, pointing one claw at Windu. "Earn her keep that way, she will, and help on missions as a healer, she can."

Windu sighed again, dropping his head in his hands and rubbing his aching temples. "All right Master, we will try it your way. I don't know if it will work, and we need to keep her away from the media. But, for now… the Earthling Rosalie Storm will train to be a healer. For now… she will remain at the Jedi Temple."

**Rosalie Storm's POV**

I was going to stay at the Jedi Temple.

I tried not to get it to me too much when they told me, but the relief that came crashing through me at that declaration was overwhelming and I almost started crying... Which would have been embarrassing since I don't cry and the last time I did was when I watched the old Red Dawn with Michael (which I think he totally did on purpose so that I would cry on his shoulder).

I wasn't going to have to try and survive in the big bad galaxy by myself. I was going to stay in the only home I'd known in this world-the Jedi Temple, with the friends that I had made over the last year and a half... And the nemeses too.

But I wasn't going to be trained as a Jedi.

It was disappointed to say the least, but I also understood. I was so old-almost twenty. And that was the age that most Padawans were made Jedi Knights after a lifetime of training. Instead, I was going to be trained as a healer so that I could remain in the Temple without causing a scandal of the the Jedi handing out scraps to nonworking-not-Jedi's.

I'd never considered myself as a doctor, I'd turned every shade but the right one when Ben nearly cut his toe off while riding his bike barefoot. But I'd work through it. I was strong and I'd made it this far in a Galaxy where it was basically fight to survive. But this was my home now.

I was going to stay here in this galaxy, in the Jedi Temple... That was okay with me.

Please don't kill me...

Ik, ik, ik... Some people will hate me for killing Spider, others will love it. But, ultimately, I felt like it was necessary for this story. We needed to know that the galaxy Rose has been dropped into isn't necessarily nice, and not all of its inhabitants are black and white. There's a lot of gray and I hope Spider helped convey that.

The next chapter is a bit of a filler chapter to lead into the next story arch... which is the last one before the end! Oh boy...

Quick announcement before you all begin to hang onto the edge of your seats for the next chapter... I'm jumping on a plane to take me on a trip out of the Country (USA) for the first time in my life on Tuesday! YAY! I'm so excited for my trip to Europe - BUT, I will be gone for 6 weeks and have no intention of writing while I'm overseas because I will be WAY too busy (although I am bringing a notebook to scribble scenes during my free time like on planes and trains - that rhymed! haha).

I would love to hear your thoughts on this story so far :-) They make me happy.

Special shout out to Tibricel Tibby for leaving 3 reviews in a row!