The hours after the jump were cold and long. Once in hyperspace their bodies were relatively safe, now that they were heading on a safe route to Coruscant. However, their spirits were broken.

Not only had they failed in their mission, but they had also lost too many good comrades. The Separatists were sure to use this to their advantage, blaming the Jedi for the chaos on the streets of Lorrd, and ultimately giving the final push for the planet to finally switch sides. Rune Haako knew very well how to manipulate the minds of the greedy, and this would be no exception.

On the one hand, Masters Eakar and Huulik remained silent in their ship, leaving the astromech droid to do the piloting, although the hyperspace route should be safe to their destination. However, their minds were in constant chaos.

Master Huulik was trying to meditate. Finding some peace after such chaotic moments, but his memories constantly betrayed him. Seeing your loved ones die in front of your eyes, hunted like rats in the darkest of caves. Without being able to do anything to avoid it, without being able to control the helplessness of not being able to do it. It tormented him. The dark side tempted him, but he resisted. An internal struggle as strong as the one he had in Lorrd.

The emotions tempted him. The anger, the frustration, the pain. They tempted the master to seek justice, but he knew very well that this was not the path of the Jedi. And despite waking up frightened by the images of his fallen comrades, he continued trying to find that peace and serenity that the path of the Jedi demanded so much.

However, in another quiet part of the same ship, Master Eekar was having a much more complex internal debate. He was not looking for peace like his companion, but for an answer. How did this mission become such a disaster? Why would someone like General Grievous be present for a supposed diplomatic meeting? Why was he present on his personal ship, the Invisible Hand? Why did they know exactly where to ambush them to thwart their plans?

Nothing made sense to him, but there was something circling in his mind like a thorn of blood stuck in the skin. Padawan Roy's accusations, when he commented that someone had ratted them out. Impossible. This mission was only known to those involved, the council and high command of the Republic. There was no way anyone could have leaked the information. Surely the Padawan launched his accusation in the heat of the moment but, the more he thought about it, the more chilling the veracity of such a possible accusation became.

The only thing he could do was pray to the Force that the Padawan was wrong with his statements.

Meanwhile, inside the other freighter that was able to escape, Padawan Roy remained at the controls since they left. He didn't need to do it, but it was just an excuse he gave himself to think things over. Unlike Master Eekar, young Roy was as sure of his words as he was of the pain the loss caused. He was convinced that someone had betrayed them. But who?

Anyone from the council? Any Jedi who had contact with the information? The padawan did not have the conscience to accuse anyone. The thought even crossed his mind that it had been Master Yoda himself, but he immediately dismissed it. But his doubts remained even about the other members of the council.

What if it was someone from the chancellery? Someone close to the senator, and who had the ability to access classified information of this nature? Someone who was within Senator Palpatine's inner circle. But who? There were so many possibilities, and they all seemed as crazy as they were dangerous.

However, his mental accusations should wait for the moment, as there was something else troubling the young man. Since they made the jump, their master retreated to the back of the ship, and had not reappeared in the time that the trip had lasted up to that point. Roy was worried about him, but he also knew he needed some time alone. But too much had already happened.

Roy: - Let me know if something happens. -

Unable to leave someone he cared about suffering alone, Roy gave command to the astromech droids on board, and checked the last details of the trip before standing up to head to the back of the ship. The interior of it was silent, even somewhat cold due to its poor condition. The ship that Master Wamba used to reach Lorrd.

The Padawan slowly entered the interior of the ship, still having doubts about whether he should continue forward or turn around, but without stopping his pace even for a moment. By the time he came to, it was too late, as he had run into his teacher, who was sitting on one of the boxes in the warehouse, staring at a strange object that he was carrying in his right hand. As if it were the most beautiful thing in the world. 

Roy: - ¿Maestro? -

The Oongree's surprise was immediate, as he did not expect his Padawan to appear out of nowhere and take him off guard. Firstly, because Roy does not have that connection with the force that would reveal his presence. And secondly, because the teacher was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't even notice until he was practically next to him.

By reflex, Pablo closed his hand, trying to hide the small fragment of stone that looked like an earring, although it was too late for that. In the end, the Oongree only let out a heavy sigh, while acquiring a less hunched posture to try to show himself as the Jedi master he should be. Although those red and swollen eyes spoke for themselves about what had happened almost all this time.

The Padawan was tempted to ask the obvious. But his teacher's emotional state was more than obvious. At first, he just sat next to her, accompanying the silence as a simple show of support. However, his own curiosity gave him an idea to try to help him.

Roy: - It's very nice. - He commented, looking at what clearly looked like a necklace hanging from the Oongree's hand.

Pablo: - Yes... It is. -

Roy: - What material is that? It looks quite strange. - The teacher laughed a little.

Pablo: - And it is. The quartzite. A rather strange mineral in this galaxy. From the mines of Dorin. -

Dorin. The home planet of the Kel Dor, and therefore, possibly the world where Master Nunes was born. It didn't take a genius to connect the dots. A jewelry item with such a rare material from its home planet. There were obviously more feelings in that piece of rock than anyone would be able to imagine.

Seconds passed as the Padawan drew some conclusions. Second of silence in which Oongree only limited himself to looking at the jewel and remembering its meaning more than the value of the piece itself. Memories of a distant past, of two young Padawans running through the halls of the temple in a brighter era. An era where promises had a more powerful meaning than the certainty of death in this current burning galaxy. However, no one in this world could have prepared the teacher for the talk he should have.

Roy: - Master... Why doesn't the Jedi Code allow love? -

The question was so direct that Pablo jumped when he heard it, opening his eyes wide as he tried to process it. His mind wandered for a moment, shifting his gaze between his Padawan's determined face and the jewel in his hand. And after accepting that Roy realized the obvious, he only let out a sigh before responding with the monotone voice of a professor droid.

Pablo: - Love develops affection. Affection transforms into attachment. And attachment often leads to temptations. The dark side always tempts us to follow its path. That is why it is so easy to fall to the dark side, and so difficult to return from it. Temptations and attachments cloud our judgment, leading us to make incorrect decisions. -

The teacher paused for a moment. His words were a mantra that he had to follow, and as he said it, he felt like a hypocrite for it. After all, he himself wanted to go back for teacher Nunes, and if he had control of the situation he surely would have done so.

Pablo remained looking at the jewel, sometimes even running his thumb over its porous surface as an involuntary act. Without being able to realize the discrepancy caused within the mind of the young padawan, who tried to make logical sense of everything. However, there was something that didn't quite add up for him.

Roy: - I don't understand. You are the most righteous Jedi I know, and I can't even imagine you doubting your ideals, despite... -

The Padawan stopped immediately, realizing what he had almost said. Something that in their eyes was obvious and nothing harmful, but that in the eyes of the Order was taboo. Also, how painful it could have been for his teacher to have let such obvious things slip.

Roy just lowered his head, gritting his teeth at his own helplessness. Angry at himself for such an act of inconsideration on his part. It was obvious that his teacher felt something more than mere friendship for teacher Nunes. And it seemed to be reciprocal. That way they both laughed at adverse situations. His stay at the hideout before everything started to go from bad to worse. The looks. Even how during the crisis they seemed to have a constant mutual understanding. The heartbreaking way he screamed her name before seeing her for the last time.

However, surprise assaulted the Padawan when he felt a heavy hand fall on his hair, and with the gentleness of a fyrnock, remove his hair until it was left in a rather crazy state. Roy looked at his master, but rather than anger, he only found a melancholic laugh on his face. The pain was present, but the satisfaction that both had managed to escape alive was something Pablo silently thanked the Force for.

Roy just stayed silent, not knowing what exactly to say or do. He just let his master take as much time as he needed to weigh the loss. After all, giving such a fateful report would not be an easy task once they arrived on Coruscant. However, what Roy didn't know was that his master, trying to regain some spirit, had a somewhat complicated prank for his Padawan.

Pablo: - And why is there so much interest in the subject, young Padawan? -

Roy: - Master? - He asked bewildered, seeing a certain mischief in the Oongree's laughter.

Pablo: - Are you perhaps in love, young man? -

Roy raised his eyebrow, doubtful of the question, staring at his teacher without understanding the reason for his statement.

Roy: - Master, I have no idea what you mean by that. -

Pablo: - Mmm... Could it be that young Togruta? What was his name? Ashoka? She was Skywalker's padawan if my mind serves me correctly... -

Roy's eyes widened at this, and his brain began to spin wildly in his thoughts. He may not have had a natural heart, but the bionic organ he had reacted in the same way to the stimuli from his brain, sending a large amount of blood to the capillaries in his face and turning his cheeks red. Roy didn't have to say a word to confirm it, because his face spoke for itself. And the Oongree's melancholic laugh was the only thing that now appeased the natural silence of the space.

It was going to be quite a long journey for the young man, receiving lectures about not having attachments that his teacher was obliged to give him.