Chapter 2 – Taris day 1

Carth was brutally awaken and thrown from his chair when the escape pod crash down onto the planets surface. He could hardly see a thing as smoke and debris filled the inside of the pod. Every muscle ached as he struggled to his feet, its been a long time since I have had to crash land I forgot how painful it can be he thought. The sudden reality of where he was hit him. He ran to the pod door and looked out the window, he was relieved that they had landed at night and no one was investigating the large bang that they surly made. Carth pulled the release hatch and the door went flying out on to the street. He was grateful to be able to breathe some fresh air. Just then, he heard a groan, he spun around to see the woman's body buried under some of the rubble. He grabbed her and dragged her out of the pod. Her breathing was slow and shallow and her hair was stained in blood.

"Shit! Something must have hit her head I think there's…" Carth froze at the sound of people, "Shit! The damn residents have woken up"

Carth scanned the area the closest place to them was an apartment building. Carth rushed back inside the pod. He grabbed their weapons and the small medpac. He placed them on the woman's belly, lifted her up, and began to run towards the apartment building. I have to hurry and find somewhere safe now before the Sith come looking for us. Carth looked down at the woman in his arms she looked so peaceful but the never-ending flow of blood worried him I have to save her I can't handle…the upcoming thought made his heart sink and memories slowly seeped into his mind. He shook his head no! I am going to save her.

As Carth entered the building, he turned on his stealth field generator and slowly made his way through the hallway looking for something, anything that they could hide in. They were in luck for Carth found an abandon apartment. The lock was simple enough to break and he was soon in. The apartment was quite big and it was furnished. Two beds sat at the opposite end of the room, a workbench and a few chairs separated them. Carth quickly laid the woman on one of the beds. He threw the weapons aside and ripped open the medpac, he grabbed the vile full of kolto and poured it on her head wound. The wound began to knit itself together. He sighed in relief as the bleeding slowly stopped.

Carth leaned away from the woman, looked up at the ceiling, and sighed, "Well at least she's not going to bleed to death now". He looked back down at her, a small smile touched his lips as he took in every detail of her peaceful features. He wondered why he had not notice her on the ship before or why he had not read her data file I will probably remember her when she wakes up and tells me her name. Carth stood up, placed the blanket over her, and walk toward the door making sure it was locked. Once he was certain that they wouldn't be killed in their sleep, he made his way to the other bed. As he sat down on it, he noticed the woman move onto her side and let out a quiet groan. Carth took off his shoes, laid down on the bed, and slowly went to sleep.

-()-()-

For the next few days Carth was the only one awake, the woman was still slipping in and out of conscious and to top that off she was now thrashing around in her sleep. When Carth first saw this he was alarmed, he rushed over to her and tried to wake her up but to no avail. He checked her temperature, she was fine, he then checked her wound, but it was fully healed. Carth didn't know what to do, all he felt he could do was wait for her to wake up but how long would that take he wondered. He sat by her bed for a few hours each day, the events that happened on the Endar Spire running through his mind like a never-ending cycle. Carth stomach began to growl he tried to ignore it but it had been a while since he last ate. He had been trying to keep his visits to the city to a minimum. Carth reluctantly stood up and grabbed his blaster, "I might as well go get some supplies and scout out the area it doesn't look like she will be waking up anytime soon". He looked down at the woman he did not want to leave her side. He did not want to leave her unprotected, and he felt drawn to her for a reason he couldnt explain. Carth pulled himself away and walked to the door. He slowly poked his head out and checked for any people, the hallway was clear. He left the apartment, gazing at the woman as he slowly shut the door. Once Carth made sure the door was securely locked, he left to scout the area.

-()-()-

Carth returned a few hours later to find that she was still asleep and thrashing about, he rushed to her side but just when he got to the end of her bed, he noticed her eyes flutter open. He watched her slowly get up. Relief washed over him.

"good to see you up instead of thrashing about in your sleep, you must have been having one hell of a nightmare I was wondering if you were ever going to wake up". She stared at him confused he felt that he should explain, "I'm Carth one of the republic soldiers from the Endar Spire I was with you in the escape pod do you remember?" Carth held his breath hoping that the bump to her head didn't give her memory loss.

"Carth, the one on the communicator, I remember" she said in a soft voice.

Carth let out his breath relieved then he began to explain the events that had happen and where they were. The whole time he kept his gaze on her deep dark brown eyes. This was the first time he truly notices them and he found them beautiful just like the rest of her.

The room went quiet for a while as the woman scanned the area. Carth was knocked out of his somewhat trance when she said, "I guess I owe you my life, thanks".

Carth shook his head, "you don't have to thank me I've never abandoned anyone on a mission and I'm not about to start now. Besides I'm going to need your help Taris is under Sith control their fleet is orbiting the planet they've declare marshal law and they have exposed a planet wide quarantine but I've been in worse spots".

The woman walked to the window and stared outside she glanced back at him and smiled cheekily, "I don't believe I have had a chance to introduce myself. I am Shira Dalis a newly republic scout".

The name hovered in his mind searching for where he had heard it before. His brain suddenly clicked, he remembered reading her data pad only moments before the mission began. She had been a late comer to the crew, requested by the Jedi council to have her join. A shiver ran up his spine as he thought how strange it was that she was one of the last survivors. I don't trust her, there's something about her I just can't grasp, I better keep my eye on he. Shira cocked her had and looked at him strangely, and then he realized that the silence had gone on far too long.

He cleared his throat, "well yes umm, I saw on your service records that you understand a remarkable number of alien languages. That pretty rare in a raw recruit it should come in handy while we're stranded on a foreign world".

Shira smiled "well I have been around aliens for a long time. Work with them, work for them it's all the same really when it came to smuggling spice".

Carth frowned, even more reason not to trust her, she is a criminal.

Shira laughed, "why do you think the republic wanted me, I know how to get in and out of places without being caught".

"So you're a mercenary?"

"I wish" she exclaimed with a laugh, "No I thought it would be better to join the army then to rot in jail".

"Oh so you were caught, meaning your credibility of never getting caught goes down the drain".

She crossed her arms and sighed, "No I was backstabbed by a Hutt but in the end I got him back".

"How so?"

"Oh well I made a deal with the republic they keep my criminal record off all data files and I will tell them everything they need to know about the Nar Shaddaa spice ring".

"You made a deal with the republic and they accepted it?" Carth said bewildered.

"Obviously…" she paused "ah sir don't we have a Jedi to be looking for, I remember you saying that she escaped the Endar Spire".

Carth couldn't believe it he had nearly forgotten all about Bastila, "ah right yes" Carth tried to think "Bastila is going to need our help many of Darth Malak's followers can use the dark side of the force and the Sith have already killed more then their share of Jedi in this war. No body will be looking for common soldiers like us and if we're carful we can move around the planet with out attracting notice. Unfortunately that's a luxury Bastila won't have…"

"get to the point… please".

"The point is the Sith will be looking for her and the planet is under quarantine no ships can come in or out of here, so if she's going to escape she's going to need our help".

"ok then lets go no point flapping our lips here".

Carth was surprise at how ready Shira was. However, he was glad, the sooner they find Bastila the sooner they could leave. Shira grabbed her vibroblade, sheathed it, and placed it on her belt. She walked towards the door and left Carth instinctively followed.

The two of them walked through the uppercity of Taris. Carth always keeping an eye on Shira. Watching and waiting for any sign that she might turn him over to the Sith. I am being paranoid, why would she turn me over to the Sith? She is a republic solider. Even if she had a criminal past. As he watched her, he had to admit for a criminal she was stunning, she had a slim well built body, lightly tanned skin, her hair shinned bright and the view from behind was quiet spectacular her hips moved with a very pleasant swing. His imagination began to turn on him; he began to imagine her slowly stripping off her clothes… Stop it! She is a criminal I don't know her and I don't know if she can even be trusted. I don't care how long it has been since I was with a woman I can not and will not think like that. Carth snapped back to the real world to find that they were suddenly standing outside the local Cantina, "what are we doing here?"

Shira turned to Carth with a smile, "well the way I see it is all of our stuff got blown up along with our ship, so we have little to no credit",

"What are we going to do? Play pazaak to earn money?"

"Exactly! Plus I've been to Taris before I know they have a dueling ring with a lot of credits up as prize money".

Carth flew his arms in the air, "are you kidding me we are trying to keep a low profile and last I heard fighting in the duelist ring gets a lot of attention".

Shira rolled her eyes, "calm down you old stick in the mud learn to have some fun. I am not stupid I will go under an alias".

Carth was about to speak when she turned her back on him and walk inside. The nerve of her my god it is infuriating. Carth was tempted not to follow but that feeling of being drawn to her took over and he ran in after.

Carth had watched as Shira won a deck of cards from an old retired pazaak player Garouk and was now onto Niklos. The game was close Shira had betted a large amount of credits that they did not have, Carth was hoping that her bluff would work. Niklos stayed on nineteen while Shira only need a plus two card to win. Carth turned away knowing that they were going to be in debt very soon.

"Ha twenty I win" cried Shira in glee.

Carth turned "what!"

Niklos glared at them and then handed over all his credits, "beginners luck," he said in a strange accent before he left.

Shira stood up grinning and handed the credits to Carth, "there you go Carth not enough to buy you a new blaster but I will soon change that".

Carth looked astonished, "how did you managed to win, I was sure you were going to lose".

Shira laughed, "Please Carth I made a good living conning people out of money. Pazaak is just one big con all you need is the right tools". Shira slipped out a few cards from under her sleeve and winked, "you need to have more faith in me Carth".

Carth pocketed the credits, "look I know you're having fun and all but we need to find Bastila"

Shira stopped dead in her tracks. She turned snatched Carth by the arm and dragged him to an isolated spot in the cantina, "look Carth I know you have been a solider longer then me but you should know that you just don't go saying Bastila name in a place like this. If you hadn't notice we are surrounded by strange people some of them may be Sith. Plus I am not just having fun I am earning credits so we can at least have proper weapons and amour because I doubt we are getting off this planet with out a fight".

Carth heart stopped how could I have been so careless he thought. "I'm sorry you're right I just want to find and save Bastila soon as possible I just don't like being stuck here and so close to the Sith".

Shira sighed "look Carth I don't like his place either but I am sure that Jedi girl can look after herself with her superior power and what not".

"You don't like Jedi's?"

"No, I don't trust Jedi's, they have too much power".

Carth was somewhat glad that she felt that way because he felt the same. He agreed that they had far too much power to be trusted with just look and Revan and Malak. He relayed his agreement to her and she replied, "So true Revan had too much power and so did Malak and both couldn't be trusted Malak attacked Reven while Revan was fighting Bastila. That's why I preferred the simpler life of a spice trader…" she paused "look lets get back to earning credits and finding Bastila we have wasted enough time talking.

-()-()-

Carth watched as Shira fought in the duels under the name the Mysterious Stranger. He noticed how she fought with deadly precision as well as a bloodthirsty attitude. She seemed to enjoy the power of striking her enemy down way to much. Soon she was out of opponents. She had defeated all the other duelists and they dared not verse her again. Shira wanted another fight then just as Carth tried to calm her down a Mandalorian named Bendak Starkiller challenged her to a death match. Carth couldn't stop her she said yes before he even had the chance. The Hutt in charge of the duels organized the match but said that it will start tomorrow. Carth was relieved this meant they had time to look for more clue on where Bastila might be. While Shira argued with the Hutt, Carth overheard one of the duelist talking about republic escape pods landing in the lowercity. Carth grabbed Shira and pulled her away. He told her what he heard

Releasing her frustrated breath she said, "well the Sith aren't going to let anyone down there which means we need to find one to let us through or…" she smiled wickedly "we steal their uniforms".

"How are we going to do that? We don't know any Sith and I doubt they will just give us some uniforms".

Shira sighed, "I am a con artist I will con some out of them".

"But…"

"You stay here I will work the room see if I can get any of them to like me".

"Wait..." before he could finish she was gone damn it he thought as he watched her walk away.

A few minuets later Shira returned with a huge grin on her face, "I met a guy called Yun Genda who just invited me to a party".

"Oh a party by all means lets go to a party" Carth said sarcastically, "we are not on bloody holiday!" Carth cried out.

"Let me finish" she growled, "He's a Sith solider most of their uniforms will be there because they will be going to it straight after their shift. So all we have to do is steal them".

Carth was surprised but wary, "and what are we suppose to do? Walk in there and take them".

"No we wait until they are all passed out on the floor then take them".

Carth sighed it wasn't the best plan but it was a plan so he just nodded his head as she showed him where it was on their map.

-()-()-

The party was pumping, the music was loud, and the guests were drunk. Yun Genda greeted them and started chatting up Shira. Carth couldn't help but glare at him, Shira noticed this and pulled him aside "hey Carth this is a party. It's going to take a while for these people to party out so come on have some fun there isn't much else we can do today anyway".

Carth sighed, "fine but don't get us in trouble".

She beamed at him, "trust me Carth you'll have some fun, I will go get us some drinks".

Carth watch her run off then he looked around the room, the fact that all these people were Sith made his skin crawl. Still it had been awhile since he had been to a party. He didn't make friends not after Revan and Malak betrayal turning many good republic soldiers into mindless Sith.

Shira suddenly thruster a glass in his hand, "go on have a drink" she said cheerily. Carth glanced down at the drink then back up at Shira he was hesitant. Shira's smile disappeared, "come on Carth have fun pretend you're not on duty" with that she sculled down her drink. Shira slightly stumbled backwards, "wow I forgot how strong that stuff is". Carth laughed at her and she just glared at him, "come on flyboy have a drink". Carth rolled his eyes and then gulped down the drink, Shira watched him with glee.

Carth gasped the drink was so strong and it tasted rotten, "what the hell is that?"

"tarisian ale I'll go get some more".

"No wait I'm…" she was gone again at this rate she will be as drunk as the rest of them. Carth walked over to a seat and waited for Shira to find him. Carth watched the people dance and talk he had no desire to join them. Twenty minutes past before Shira found him again. She stumbled towards him her cheeks were a rosy red and there was a huge grin on her face. Shira slumped down next to Carth she began to giggle. Carth started at her "what?" he asked.

Shira waved her hand dismissively, "no, no it nothing".

"You know you're drunk".

"You know your not so bad looking" she chuckled.

Carth laughed at the complement, "yep your drunk…" he paused and smiled even now she still possessed that same beautiful calm peaceful look, the rosy cheeks only highlighting her face. "Have you found anything out?"

"Nope, but some of those Sith guys want to screw me and a lot of the girls are checking you out".

Carth felt his skin crawled uncomfortably again. He then noticed that Shira was looking longing at the people dancing. Carth sighed I know I shouldn't ask this but… he turned to her "would you like to dance?"

"Oh my god really umm…" she grabbed Carths arm, "okay lets dance".

Carth was thrown onto the dance floor, he didn't know how to dance to these fast beat songs, but he assured himself everyone was to drunk to notice. Suddenly the music became slow, shit! Carth thought then he looked down at Shira smiling at him. Carth took her hand in his, placed his other hand on her hip, and then led the way into a slow dance. Carth didn't know what to do or what to say. Then Shira leaned into him placing her head on his chest. Carth blushed and gazed down at her I know I shouldn't be enjoying this but…his thoughts faded away as he could only concentrate on the feel of her body against his. His hand slid to the small of her back. Her body seem to fit against his so perfectly. It took most of his control to stop his mind from wondering.

-()-()-

Two hours later Carth was the only man standing all other partygoers had passed out including Shira. Carth walked over to two of the Sith equipment bags, he looked inside they both had Sith uniforms in them. Carth took the bags and flung them over his shoulder. He walked over to Shira, picked her up, and carried her back to their apartment. As Carth walked his eyes wondered down at her, she was so light and carrying her in his arms felt natural. He had forgotten what it was like to have someone in his arms. Carth's mind wondered back to the slow dance, he enjoyed it far too much then he thought he would have. Dancing with her made him feel calm and peaceful but then he was reminded of his wife. Guilt flooded through him about enjoying the dance with Shira. Once Carth made it back to the apartment he felt Shira stir in his arms, "is the party over?" she asked.

"Yes and we're home now".

Shira looked at the door and motioned Carth to put her down. As they walked in Shira looked up at him, "Carth?"

"Yes what on your mind?

"I like to know more about you, Carth".

"Me?" He was surprised but he didn't see the harm in telling her. "well I've been a star-pilot for the Republic for years. I've seen more than my share of wars… I fought in the Mandalorian Wars before all this started" He paused as anger filled him, "but with all that. I've never experience anything like the slaughter these Sith animals can unleash. Not even the Mandalorians were that senseless. My home world was one of the first planets to fall to Malak's fleet. The Sith bombed it into submission, and there wasn't a damn thing our Republic forces could do to stop them!" Guilt filled every pore of his body he now regretted talking.

"you're talking like it's your fault. Like you failed somehow"

Carth bowed his head it is my fault said a whisper in his mind. He shook his head as his raged flared up, "it shouldn't be my fault. I did everything I could… I followed my orders and did my duty. That shouldn't mean I failed them! I didn't"

Shira looked confused "Them? Do you mean the people of your home world?"

Carth tried to think of something else to say, he didn't want to tell her he didn't want to remember "ye… no I … it's not what I mean I'm sorry I'm not making much sense am I?" Carth tried to change the subject, "you probably mean well with your questions I'm just not accustomed to talking about my past very much… at all actually". The solider in him perked up, "I'm more used to taking action, keeping my mind focus on the business at hand…" which has been hard ever since I met you. "…ah if you have more questions ask me another time right now you're drunk and have a fight to win tomorrow".

Shira swayed little she fell onto Carth chest, she looked up and him and giggled, "you're right I am drunk I should probably go to bed before I do something stupid" she leaned closer to him, he could feel her breath on his lips his body tingled and he froze. Shira smiled and gazed at his lips, "why don't we bunk together tonight" her eyes shifted to his "and have some after party fun".

Carth leaned away from her I am not going to take advantage of a drunk woman one voice said to him. Oh, come on she won't remember plus it has been so long said another voice. "no…" he was surprised he spoke, "you should really go to bed now you don't want to get killed by Bendak Starkiller all because you did …." He searched for the right word "exercise instead of resting". Exercise come on that was the wrong word to use.

Shira giggle "true I guess you right but…" she leaned in and whispered in his ear, "it's a shame though I would have rocked your world". She giggled again and went to bed. Carth gulped stop thinking about it stop picturing her like that, she's not thinking straight she's drunk he kept repeating to himself. He waited for Shira to fall asleep until he did a final check of the door lock and then headed to bed himself.