[ They should stop to mourn the ones they have lost, but Bastila is not foolish enough to suggest such a thing at the present time; from what she has gathered from listening to Paul, as well as from listening to what he has left unsaid, time is of the essence and actions need to be taken rather quickly. It is unfortunate and regrettable, and part of her rebels against the idea, but the dead would understand. At least, that is what she tells herself.

The path ahead of them is already stretching out in front of them and Paul has no choice but to walk along it, as far as Bastila can determine. If that is the case, then she will follow with him, because where else would she go?

She would be lying if she did not wish that they could simply slip off into the desert and vanish, however. Little does she know that her thoughts are unknowingly echoing Paul's. ]

If only. Our own adventure turned out to be quite different. [ Of course, no one can predict the turns their lives might take, but Bastila is sure that this is not the path Paul anticipated. ]

Then let's find a place where we can speak plainly. [ She squares her shoulders and tilts her head up with a resolve that she does not quite feel, but she makes the gesture regardless. ] I want to know everything that's happened, whether good or bad. [ And things seem to be tipped in the direction of bad. ]

He did. I wish that I could thank him. [ She fixes her gaze on Paul's, as it has been for the majority of the time since they began this conversation, but at his sigh, her attention fixes on him and does not shift to either side. ] All of this aside, you are all right, aren't you? [ Physically speaking, anyway. Emotionally? Mentally? She imagines not, at least not entirely. ]