It was bound to happen sooner or later. Kaz would've preferred later rather than sooner. His clumsiness was a curse. Tools should never be left just lying around. That hydrospanner, not an average-sized one, oh, no, had been his undoing. The deluxe model had been carelessly left lying around, and somehow, Kaz had tripped right over it. He had stumbled, and had landed hard on his right arm. The bad fall had resulted in his breaking his wrist. Since he was right-handed, he was pretty much out of commission for a while. The plaster cast would stay on for up to 6 weeks. After it was removed, it would take another 6 weeks for the wrist to become fully strong. Kaz was on a special diet, taking the proper dosages of vitamins and minerals, and keeping himself from stressing out, which was never easy for him. The timing couldn't have been worse for his being laid up. Going to join the Resistance was on hold; at least for Kaz it was. He was in a sour mood even though Synara was staying behind with him.

Tam and Torra were about to take off to rendezvous with Poe Dameron at the latest Resistance base. Maybe this one would remain intact for a while. Venisa and Imanuel had mixed feelings about their aggressive daughter flying off to fight. They preferred her holding off until Kaz recovered. Tam sided with the Dozas, more or less, but since she had things to prove to her friends, she was vocal, along with Torra. I'm as ready as she is, were Tam's sentiments.

Synara, Kaz, glaring at his cast, Tam and Torra, with Jarek Yeager, were airing their differences, just outside his repair shop. They'd been speaking freely, making clear what needed to be said. Maybe some rethinking was in order. Maybe it wasn't. Venisa and Captain Doza had already said their goodbyes to their only child. She knew how much they loved her. And, Torra's parents knew that she had to travel her own path.

"C'mon, guys," spoke up Torra, feeling she was the center of attention all of a sudden. "We're just going back and forth, bringing up things that won't happen. We'll be fine on our own. We aren't kids anymore. My mother and father have given their okay. So what's the problem? Tam and I are just wasting time here."

Meekly, Tam added, "We know both of you will join us as soon as Kaz is well. Then, we'll reunite, and bring the First Order to its knees! In the meantime, Torra and I will go ahead. Acclimate ourselves to our roles as pilots."

Kaz griped under his breath. He forget the prohibition about not moving his damaged arm unnecessarily and thoughtlessly waved it around like it was a bat. "I'm not upset with you and Torra. Really, I'm not. I'm just annoyed with myself, as usual. Me and my big feet fouling myself up. Altering our plans. I should've been more careful and hadn't raced across the deck like CB hitting an oil slick, and not looking where I was going."

"Listen, Kaz, and listen good," Yeager put in, "accidents happen to anyone. Nobody chooses when having one is a good time. You follow the med droid's orders. Mend. Keep positive. You'll be as good as new before you know it. In the meantime: Don't bring yourself down. You're better than that!"

Synara nodded along with Yeager, Torra and Tam. Sounding as sage as ever, she remarked, "We could run through flight attack formations, offensive and evasive drills. I'm far from knowing all I should know from what we've gone over so far by heart."

That perked Kaz up a little. "Yeah, sure. We could do that." But, he looked at Tam and Torra at length. "If you two are really going to leave, what are you waiting for? You just standing there gawking at me doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye."

"Goodbye for now," Torra said. She and Tam walked up to him, and carefully twined their arms around him. They squeezed him just enough; his wrist was protected by the cast, but his upper arm had been badly bruised.

"Take care of yourself, Kaz," Torra wished, angling herself away from him.

Tam, hugging him a bit longer, conveyed, "You'll be flying with us before you know it."

"I'd better be."

"Ladies, have each other's backs," Yeager coached, coming up to them, with Synara on his heels.

"We will!" Tam promised.

"We'll fly in the same squadron—that's guaranteed." Torra linked arms with Tam, jiggling their limbs.

Their gear was already stowed aboard their flyers. Yeager, Synara and Kaz watched these brave volunteers climb aboard their spacecrafts, and stood back when Tam and Torra fired them up. They waved to the friends they were leaving behind, and flew their flyers out of the Colossus' wide hangar.

"I can't wait to join them," Kaz said in a loud voice, looking bemused. Force, be with them… He felt bad that he hadn't said those words to Tam and Torra. He hoped they knew that is what he wished for them. Keep them safe.

Synara trained her eyes on the flyers until they jumped out of sight. "They'll be fine. They're fierce, fearless, and—"

"They're Team Fireball-and-Team Colossus," Yeager cut in, settling his hand firmly on Kaz's left shoulder. "And I love them like they were my own daughters."

"We're family," Synara voiced, her voice somewhat wobbly.

"Yeah," Kaz chimed in, slipping his good arm around her waist, and spilling into her ear, "before we go to join them, we're making that official."

Arching an eyebrow at him, she demanded, "What do you mean by that?"

Yeager thought up an excuse to go off, leaving them alone. She's the right one to look after him. I've often thought.

"Marry me?" Kaz dragged out, going to one knee as he saw Yeager glance around with a knowing look on his mature face.

Synara gasped. In a spry move, she went to her knee, and she hissed, "What?"

"I'm serious."

"You don't look like you're kidding," Synara said, noting the tremor in his body.

"I've never been more serious."

"Would it be wrong if I need some time to think your proposal over?"

Far from feeling disappointed, Kaz told her, "Take all the time you need. I'm a patient man."

"Well, you are learning to be…"

Kaz leaned in and kissed her smooth, warm cheek. "That's because you give me lots of encouragement."

"I have lots to give." Synara laughed, prodding Kaz to stand tall with her. "And don't forget incentive."

Kaz nodded energetically. "Oh, yeah. You've got lots of that too." He laced the fingers of his good hand with her right hand and squeezed.