A.N:Hello my fellow readers, I'm not emotionally ready for The Rise of Skywalker. AAAAAAAAHHHHH! Also, we're over 450 reviews holy sHI- Thank you all for staying for the nearing end of this journey. You guys are the BEST!

AUfan62: got two chappies left. Gonna make them good

Lynnie51: You'll see...

Mogor: No more running away this time. I overplayed that card. Her emotions may lead down another path

Melissa: Hera probably would have if the situation wasn't so dire and the timing was better

Alejandra: yes, Nitza without freedom isnt Nitza at all, which leads to the ultimate decision

I don't own Star Wars, just Nitza.

Hard Decisions

Part 2

It felt like the hallway from the cargo bay entrance to the kitchen. But even though the Ghost was big, it would take only a few steps. It's just Nitza felt like stalling. She worried about what the crew had to say to her. Did they speak to Mon Mothma already? Nitza picked up the pace. Best to get it over with and find out. Then she could finally talk to them, right? Finally, get the answers she deserved. Whatever this feeling she needed to be filled. When Nitza walked in, she froze on the spot.

No one had been talking. Each of the crew had been waiting quietly for her as they faced the door. Zeb, Sabine, and Ezra were sitting on the chairs by the table next to the right wall. Kanan and Hera were standing by the counter on the left. Chopper was right by the door. What they had to say seemed pretty serious now. Did Mon Mothma tell them it was a horrible accident? Nitza tried to explain, "I didn't mean to make people fall. I'm sorry—"

"No, Nitza, no. Don't apologize for any of that. It was never your fault," Hera said as she came down to kneel in front of the girl. "You're young and this place is so big and new to you. You shouldn't be forced to get things right the first time. In fact… you shouldn't be forced to stay where you don't want to be."

Now Nitza was more confused than ever. Were they going to talk about the accident, or not? Then Ezra cut in by leaning over in his chair and saying, "Hey Nitza? Do you remember how I said I wasn't happy that we couldn't go to Lothal?"

Nitza nodded and added, "You want to help your people."

"I do… and we will," Ezra said, sounding hopeful.

Nitza smiled. Is this what they meant by not forcing anyone to stay? Did they also talk to Mon Mothma about Lothal and finally convinced her to let them go? She knew how much Lothal meant to Ezra. She was happy for him. "You get to help them! You have to go." This surprised the crew. She was excited about something… around them. Was her behavior improving?

Nitza continued. "You have to help them—" But then it dawned on her as soon as Ezra started to look guilty. Nitza frowned and looked at Hera with a glum look. "Another mission?" She was happy for Ezra but these missions were starting to become too frequent. Nitza really needed to talk with them. When was she ever going to get the chance?

"Yes," Hera said, "And because of the situation on Lothal we're going to be gone for a long time. And we can't leave you here with anyone because it's all hands on deck now with the Empire becoming more ruthless." Nitza understood that. Rex could barely keep an eye on her as he trained recruits. She didn't want to get in his way, or anyone's way for that matter.

Hera continued. "And knowing that you feel… indifferent… about the Rebellion, we don't want you here longer then you don't want to be."

Nitza looked away as a whole range of emotions washed over her. Yes, she was still angry at the crew and the Rebellion's presence on Atollon causing so much destruction and her separation. But now there was more. Then she felt guilty because she didn't want people like Rex worried about her safety as they were busy doing more important jobs. Lastly, Nitza dreaded the thought of being under watch every hour of the day so that couldn't explore and would feel trapped. So what did that leave her with then? "What's going to happen to me?" She asked scared.

Hera could only reach out and put her hands on the girl's arms to comfort her. But she couldn't bring herself to say anything. Sabine was the one to say something. "There have been a few instances when the Rebellion has come across children who are orphaned as of casualty of a battle against the Empire." Nitza's eyes went wide. It came to her as a surprise at first but then remembering her situation it suddenly made sense. Then Sabine said, "Those who want to help the Rebellion are allowed to stay and help in the best way they can on base before they are old enough to fight. Those who don't are sent to Felucia."

Nitza cocked her head to the side, repeating the word. "Felucia? It's a… jungle planet, right?" Sabine nodded. The little girl remembered her studies.

Zeb said. "A Rebel cell established an orphanage there before moving on to Lucazec. Felucia is under Imperial Jurisdiction but there's no heavy armed presence there. So the Orphanage has no alliance which makes it a safe place."

The planet did seem safe enough, but an Orphanage didn't. Ezra told her about them, saying he stayed on the streets because the one on Lothal wasn't good. So Nitza looked at him wide-eyed. He saiEzra waved his hands up in front of her. He knew what she was thinking. "I-I-I know what I said," He stammered. "But the one on Felucia is nicer."

Nitza nodded, somewhat feeling better. But now there was the thought of being taken somewhere else again.

Maybe Felucia was not a place she wouldn't want to be, especially since she didn't really want to be on the Yavin. But there was only one place she would rather be overall. Atollon. And she couldn't go back. And since no one could help her here. "Ok…"

)))))))))))))))))) Rebellion (((((((((((((((

Sabine and Zeb watched from afar as Nitza hugged Housen around the waist. They kept a good distance away to give her space. They wanted her to have a proper farewell with the few friends she made in the Rebellion. She had already said goodbye to Jonner, Gooti, and Mart. Even some of the ex-leaders of phoenix squadron got to say their goodbyes to her. Now she was with Housen by the woman's station, hugging it out. As they let go, Housen said, "Now don't go jumping into crazy river rapids, you hear me?"

Sabine and Zeb heard this and laughed a little. They remembered how Housen and Nitza met. In fact, it was when the Rebellion first helped Nitza. She saved her from drowning and took her in. She still made friends, no matter how bad it got after. Sabin and Zeb could see she was sad to say goodbye to some. They heard Nitza say to Housen, "I'll be careful." Then the girl waved goodbye and went to Sabine and Zeb waiting by. With a curt nod, Nitza signaled she was ready to go.

When they got back to the Ghost outside, Nitza didn't follow the two all the way in. Sabine and Zeb stopped to see she was at the base of the ramp, looking to the skyline. She seemed to smile at the sight of the trees at the edge of the landing area. She saw some animals fly out and heard others call in the distance.

"When was the last time I saw that look?" Zeb asked.

Sabine answered, even though it was rhetorical, "She was teaching is the names of animals of Atollon."

"Felucia is going to be perfect for her," Zeb finished.

As he walked in the ship, Sabine looked back at Nitza. Now she had a deep frown. She was looking at all the people going about their workday. Sabine could only guess though, but it the little girl was probably seeing chaos. Sabine didn't want that to manifest. "Come on, Nitza, let's go."

The Ghost was flying out of Yavin 4's atmosphere moments later. Up top, in the cockpit, Hera looked ahead as the Ghost jumped into hyperspace. Normally she'd be enjoying a ride on the Ghost, but where they were going and the reason for it was what kept her from any fun. As Kanan came to sit next to her on the passenger seat, he said, "Hera, she's going to be fine. If she could survive in the wilds for six years as a child alone then she could survive with kids around her age."

"She wasn't alone, remember," Hera said as she crossed arms and gave Kanan a glum look.

Kanan gave a sheepish smile as he leaned back again the armrest of the seat and put a hand upon the headrest. "Well, I wouldn't say Bendu was parent material. He may have taught her somethings but by the sound of his 'in the middle stance' he could have easily let her run loose on Atollon without a care in the galaxy."

"She doesn't make it seem that way. I gave her that Bendu doll for a reason. For her to remember the one she cares about the most. We keep making her feel she's being torn farther away from her home more and more every day. We're trying to gain her trust not break it." Then finally Hera caught her breath, leaning back on backrest of the pilot seat as she rubbed a hand up and down her arm. "Are we doing the right thing?"

"It's the only thing we can do if we are to get her to trust us again. We give her some space from this war that tore her from Atollon. That way, when Atollon is freed from Imperial occupation, she'll trust us to take her home."

"But how long will that take. What if by the time Atollon is freed… it'll be too late? What if she doesn't want anything to do with us then? She'll think we've given up on her… just like I feel we've had."

"We're doing this for her," Kana said, reaching out and putting a hand on Hera's shoulder. "She knows that at least. And as long as she knows that as well as knows we will come back for her, then she will never give up on us completely."

From the other side of the door to the cockpit, Zeb, Ezra, and Sabine waited for the right time to walk in. They didn't want to ruin the moment, as much as they wanted to say something. Sabine said to the boys, "I know Kanan's right but… but I just don't want her to go."

"Same here but…" Zeb began.

Ezra finished with his arms crossed over his chest, "But what choice do we have?"

A.N: You guys all probably hate me right now… but trust me… There's a reason it's NOT OVER with this chapter. TWO MORE and we're almost done. Two more chapters and you'll definitely want to stick around for them. Also, the Felucia Orphanage is totally made up but I had nowhere else to put her at the moment. And there is a slight nod to any Tarkin readers out there. Ok, so see you next week! I'm KikaKatTIOI, peace out!