It was shocking, and the First Order being the very real threat, which it was, hit home. The First Order was pursuing the Colossus relentlessly. How long those aboard the station could last was anybody's guess. Was it time to find a planet similar to Aeos, or go deep into the Outer Rim, and hope the First Order would lose interest in them, and give up? These thoughts plague Kaz, who was mulling these conjectures over in his quarters. Despite his wanting to join up with the Resistance to be a pilot, he knew following through on that was on hold. Future arrangements with Norath for a rendezvous near Baatu were off until such a time when they could be on again. Kaz reviewed how upset Torra, Neeku and…Synara.

Kaz hadn't seen her since the day she'd shown up moments before he had been about to leave. The look on her face had been something he would never forget. She had looked as though he'd just gotten through stabbing her in the back. Go figure. Kaz sucked his teeth as he rolled onto his right side. She didn't look as though she still didn't want to be my friend anymore. Then why hasn't she made an effort to talk with me? She's stayed away. Hasn't shown up at Aunt Z's, or the common dining room when it's been time to eat. Hasn't made any effort to approach me. Is that showing that she cares? Don't think so…

His thoughts shifted to his scary encounter with an orbital probe droid while he'd piloted Yeager's beloved ship, the Fireball. Thinking along those lines made him shudder upon his semi-rigid bunk. That droid had nearly destroyed the ship as he'd left Aeos Prime. With a lot of help from CB-23, they'd successfully managed to blow that droid out of the sky, but the Fireball had sustained extensive damage. Again, thanks to CB, who had executed expert repairs, fully living up to its BB-series astromech droid designation, they safely returned to Aeos to warn the Colossus and their Aeosian allies that the First Order was on the way.

"I've never seen so many TIE fighters and bombers in one place all at once," Kaz muttered to his empty quarters. The sound of his voice echoed in his ears, lulling him. He yawned, feeling drowsy. "Tam is really one of them. I saw her…in her ugly TIE fighter, and she stopped me from taking out that Star Destroyer's bridge. Guess I have to accept the fact she hates us. Wants us broken, utterly defeated. She's a First Order lacky and that's that." About to roll over on his stomach, when Kaz heard his quarters' door chime, he cracked open an eye and dreamily called out, "Whoever you are—come in."

"Are you sure I'm welcome?" her voice sounded, preceding her entrance.

Kaz bolted from his bunk, getting to the door like light speed. The door opened; Synara stood before him, and he shouted his impassioned greeting. "Hey, Syn—you're always welcome! I'm so glad you're here! It's great seeing you! How've you been? Come in—come in! Uh, unless you just came by to say, 'hi' and didn't intend to hang out with—"

"Kaz."

"Uh, yeah, Syn?"

"Can you step aside, allowing me to come in? That is, if you think I should." She was atypically hesitant, waiting on him for her next move.

"Sorry—sorry—sorry," Kaz effused, quickly making way so she could get by. "Are you thirsty? I have containers of zippy-pop in my mini fridge."

"Do you have water?" Synara asked, making herself comfortable on his narrow bunk.

Nodding like his head might shake loose and fall off, he scurried to the little refrigeration unit and extracted her request. "Hope it's cold enough." Taking it from him, Synara nodded, but he felt compelled to ask her again. "Is it really cold enough?"

"Yes, Kaz," she replied, popping open the slim container, and taking a sip. "It's excellent."

"Good." He got some zippy-pop for himself, and sat across from Synara on squat suma-stool furniture, that conformed to one's tush with each sitting. He took a long swig of zippy, fixed his eyes on her and broached, "I'm sorry I never said anything about my going away. I didn't know how to tell you. I figured, since you didn't want anything to do with me, I wouldn't push it."

Synara set her non-carbonated beverage aside on the nearby console. She reached with both hands, taking Kaz's right hand to cradle it in hers. "Saying that we aren't friends anymore is my fault."

"I shouldn't have made that stupid joke about someone being a Warbird always being a Kragan Gorr drone. I never meant you, Syn. Never, never, nev—"

"I was upset about many things when you…" She shook her head, her mind clouding. What he'd actually said, she'd truly forgotten. "Kaz, if you decide that leaving to join the Resistance is what you must do. Would you do me this very important favor?" She was pouring every ounce of sincerity and honesty into her plea.

"I've said it before—I'll say it again—here, and now. I'll do whatever you ask, Syn. If you tell me to go to Hoth, hunt the biggest, most fearsome Wampa, and bring it back alive, I'm so there to do your bidding." His heart lurched in his chest, seeing her eyes fill with tears. "What do you want me to do?"

"Say I can go with you. I'll go with you," Synara vowed. "I'll go anywhere with you, Kaz. Just don't leave me behind. Where you go, I go too. Please."

Overcome by edgy, riotous emotions, he hopped off the flexibly-indented stool and sat beside her on the bunk with his arms around Synara. Into her ear, he funneled, "Wherever you want to go with me, Syn, we're there." Laughing, he buried his face in the crook of her neck, hearing her sigh in contentment.