Rush had barely finished packing when the door to his APX hut exploded inward — not from violence, but from Bob forgetting how hinges work. "RUSH!" Bob shouted, skidding across the floor like a gremlin on freshly waxed marble. "I HEARD YOU'RE LEAVING AND I'M HERE TO STOP YOU OR HELP YOU OR POSSIBLY BOTH!"
Kara stepped in behind him, calm as a sunrise, brushing splinters off her armor. "Bob, we talked about entrances." "Yes," Bob said proudly. "And I entered." Rush sighed, but he couldn't help smiling. "I figured you two would show up."
Kara approached first. She didn't lecture, didn't guilt, didn't try to talk him out of anything. She simply rested a hand on his shoulder. "Rush," she said, voice steady, "if this move makes you happy, then you go. APX isn't a cage. It's a home you can always return to." Rush nodded, grateful. "I just… need a change of pace. New kingdom, new challenges."
Bob immediately gasped like someone had stabbed him with a spoon. "A NEW KINGDOM? WITHOUT ME? WHO WILL TRIP OVER YOUR SIEGE RAMS? WHO WILL ACCIDENTALLY SET YOUR BUFFS ON FIRE? WHO WILL—" Kara snapped her fingers. Bob froze mid-meltdown like a paused animation. "Bob," she said, "supportive mode." Bob blinked twice, rebooting. "Right. Supportive. Yes. I can do that."
He marched up to Rush, saluted, and then immediately knocked over Rush's packed supplies with his elbow. "Rush," he declared, standing in the wreckage, "I support your decision to abandon us — uh, I mean, to pursue your destiny." Kara pinched the bridge of her nose. "Bob…" "What? I'm being supportive!" Rush laughed. "It's okay. I know what he means."
Bob puffed up proudly. "I ALSO MADE YOU A GOING-AWAY GIFT." He handed Rush a scroll tied with a crooked ribbon. Rush opened it. It was… an extremely chaotic hand-drawn map of the kingdoms, with APX circled, the new kingdom circled, and a dotted line between them labeled: "RUSH'S HERO JOURNEY (NO GETTING LOST ALLOWED)." Kara leaned in. "Bob… this is actually kind of sweet." Bob beamed. "I used crayons."
Rush rolled the map carefully and tucked it into his pack. "Thank you. Both of you." Kara stepped back, giving him space. "Just promise you'll visit. And if you ever need backup—" Bob jumped in. "WE WILL ARRIVE DRAMATICALLY AND POSSIBLY ILLEGALLY." Rush laughed again. "I'd expect nothing less."
Kara gave him one last nod — the kind that said you're family, no matter where you go. Bob gave him a hug so intense it nearly cracked ribs. And when Rush finally walked out of APX territory, he heard Bob yelling after him: "FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS! BUT ALSO DON'T DIE! BUT MOSTLY FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS!" Kara just shook her head, smiling. "Good luck, Rush."