NOTICE! I do not own anything in this fanfiction, save for two characters.

Man... This story's almost done! Let's see... I'd like to thank anyone who has supported this story just by reading it, and I give more thanks to those that review. Thank you all. Now, without further ado, the chapter.

Jumba was kneeling over a stanchion and trying to untie the rope that was wrapped around it. The rope was anchoring a Jetboat, and the alien doctor was planning on escaping with GIR. He didn't want to confront a judge or jury, and GIR would be miserable behind bars.

"GIR, we have to get going," Jumba reminded his robotic friend.

"I know," GIR said.

"You never quit, do you?"

Jumba started when he heard Hogarth's voice. Feeling uneasy, he turned around with a false smile. "Ah, Hogarth!" he exclaimed, "Heh heh... I was just merely checking to make sure our last Jetboat was safe and...secure." As he was saying this, he tied the rope back onto the stanchion, though not very well.

Hogarth looked at Jumba's handiwork with a studying look. "Well..." he muttered, then kneeled down and corrected the mistakes. "That should hold it," the boy said.

The alien chuckled. "I taught you too well."

Hogarth gave his friend a knowing face.

"Now, if you don't mind," Jumba muttered so no one else could hear, "we'd just as soon avoid prison." He patted GIR's head. "Little GIR here, he-- He's a free spirit. ...Being in a cage would break his heart."

At this, GIR gave Hogarth his best "puppy eyes".

Not that he needed to.

Hogarth grinned, and pulled a lever. This opened the hangar's door, revealing the sea outside (and the ship was now hovering a little above the ocean), and untied the ship's rope.

A huge smile showed up on Jumba's face. "What say you come with us?" he decided to ask, "You and me, Hughes and Jookiba, full of ourselves and no ties to anyone!"

As Jumba was saying this, GIR took a tri-peak hat out of his head and placed it on Hogarth's head.

The boy thought this over, then took the hat off and placed it on GIR's head. "You know," Hogarth said, "when I got on this boat, I would've taken you up on that offer in a second...but, uh...I met this old alien, and he taught me that I could chart my own course."

Jumba's smile, which had disappeared a few seconds earlier, started to reappear.

"That's what I'm gonna do," the boy finished, looking out at the ocean.

"...And what do you think would happen to that...pal of yours?"

"...A future."

The alien chuckled. "Why, look at you, glowing like the sun itself, and then some." Here, his four eyes started to well up. "You're something special, Hogarth. You'll amaze every world out there. I know it."

Hogarth then hugged his friend, Jumba, who acted like a father to him, and the alien didn't hesitate this time to return the embrace. It was clear that the two would miss each other.

"Ahem, uh, I think something flew into my eye," Jumba said as they came apart, and turned around and sniffled.

Hogarth couldn't blame him for crying, 'cause so was he.

GIR looked at his human friend sadly, then started bawling himself.

"Oh, hey, GIR," Hogarth said, kneeling down to the little robot's level, "I'll see you around, OK?"

GIR sniffled. "OK," he said before giving Hogarth a final hug. He then walked over to Jumba, who was watching this a bit sadly.

The alien then had a thought. He kneeled down to GIR level and said seriously, "GIR, I have a job for you. I need you to keep an eye...on Hogarth." Here, Jumba smiled as he glanced at Hogarth.

The boy seemed a bit surprised. Was this for real?

Jumba then looked at GIR pleadingly. "Would you...do me that favor?"

A great big smile broke out on GIR's face, and he saluted his former master. "Aye aye, captain!" He hugged Jumba one last time before running over to Hogarth, who, needless to say, was taken quite by surprise. Of course, he was also delighted.

As Jumba jumped into the Jetboat and got ready to leave, he suddenly said, "Oh! And one more thing! Heh heh... This is for your dear family to rebuild that inn of theirs!" He tossed Hogarth something surprising: gold coins, jewelry, and other valuable trinkets. The little treasure that Jumba managed to get off of Treasure Island!

Hogarth looked down at Jumba, who winked. The boy smiled. "Stay outta trouble...you old scalawag."

"Why, Hogarth!" the alien chuckled, "When have I ever done otherwise?" He then finally sped away in the Jetboat, laughing the whole way, until he could no longer be seen or heard.

Hogarth smiled at GIR, patting the little robot's head.

Thankfully, Midna and Chopper didn't find out that Jumba escaped until it was too late to pursue him.

But in the meantime, Hogarth thought one thing as Jumba left: Good luck, Jumba...wherever you go.

Well, now, that was pretty nice, now wasn't it? (smiles) We're almost done, anyway, so next chapter is the Epilogue. In fact, I may get to work on that right away! See you then, folks!