The next morning, the Jedi set off again. Their mounts had been fed and they were now loaded with provisions enough to see them to the city.
"We thank you for your hospitality," said Phaelon, bowing to the Council elders who had come to see them off. "We only wish we had something to give you in return."
The elder of the Council took her hand. "You have brought us peace and prosperity. That is more than enough."
Bowing once again, the Jedi mounted their sadains and headed along the directions given to them by the nomads.
When the camp had been reduced to a mere speck in the Force, Phaelon sighed. "If that Hutt finds out they helped us - "
"I'd be more worried about the Vong," replied Kyp. "They'll wipe out the whole planet for harboring us."
Phaelon nodded.
Though they rode in silence for most of the morning, Phaelon could feel Kyp debating something with himself.
OO
They stopped to rest in the middle of the afternoon, letting the sadains rest and graze. Finally, Phaelon couldn't restrain herself any longer and she asked a question that had bothered her since the beginning of the war: "How is it that, despite trying to atone for your past, you are so willing to take such an aggressive, offensive stance with the Vong?"
Kyp stared at her for a moment, but didn't seem irritated by her question. "Why do you ask so many questions?" he countered.
"I want to understand," she replied with a disarming smile. "I've tried to stay to the middle in regards to my stance on the war, but the longer it continues, the more likely I'm going to be faced with making a choice. And anyway, Master Skywalker's plan doesn't seem to be that effective. It was only Anakin's mission that really activated the Jedi in this fight."
The Jedi Master considered her then turned his attention inwards. "As I see it, the Vong are the aggressors. Not only do they engineer their voxyn to hunt Force-users and enslave entire races, they annihilate worlds for no other reason other than they can. We're fighting not only for our own survival, but for the survival of our galaxy. Maybe there would be another way if the Vong were willing to negotiate, but, as evidenced at Ithor, we can't believe anything they say."
Phaelon was slightly taken aback, not only by his answer – which actually made sense – but that she found herself agreeing with the rogue Jedi for the second time in almost as many days.