The sprawling luminescent city scape stretched on as far as any of its occupants could see. The sunlight glared off the shining tops of every tower on Taris as it began to set.

With all the bustling activity on the surface below, in the grand scheme of things it would have been easy not to spot the two Republic soldiers walking toward the apartments they were looking for.

Nic pulled his brown leather vest over his chest and brushed off whatever dust from the crash that still remained. He ran his hands up to his short brown hair that fell over his forehead. Satisfied, he turned over to his companion.

Carth hadn't spoken a word since they left the cantina. His eyes remained fixed and unwavering in front of them as they walked. The two strands of his hair over his forehead bounced slightly with each step. He seemed to be walking in a robot-like trance.

Nic decided to shake him from it.

"You know, you could at least TRY to relax. We're going to a party after all."

Carth shook his head for a moment and then cast a dubious look over at Nic.

"A party full of drunken, trigger-happy Sith who would love nothing more than to turn in a couple Republic soldiers and get promoted off this rock. But you're right. I don't know what I was thinking, being so uptight."

There wasn't even an attempt on Carth's part to hide the sarcasm in his voice, which was probably what ticked Nic off in that moment.

"You wanna reach into your magical bag of better plans and enlighten me, Carth?"

Carth blew out a sigh and hung his head again. There he was going off on his companion when he had no right to, again. He silently wondered if this was how it was going to be with Nic the entire way off Taris. He certainly hoped it wouldn't be.

But then again, he knew that if he wanted things to improve, the first step started with his attitude.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be edgy."

Carth turned toward Nic.

"I've actually got a lot to thank you for, getting us this lead. I still don't know how you did it, but somehow you managed to be in just the right place at just the right time."

"You're telling me."

Nic pondered for a moment as they walked. His thoughts never strayed for too long on that feeling he got back in the cantina, the same feeling he'd had on the 'Spire. It was like this guiding instinct in the back of his head that was there to help him. It felt faint at times and then stronger in other times. It always seemed to be there when he needed it. It was so puzzling.

But, either way, it was done and they still had a job to do, which prompted Nic to turn to Carth as they walked together across a shining metal bridge stretching over an infinite chasm leading down to the bottom of whatever surface this planet had.

"Why are you so uptight all the time, Carth?"

That got Carth's attention.

"Wh…what?"

"I was just thinking, since I know we're gonna be working together until we find Bastila and get her off this world, that I really don't know that much about you, Carth."

Nic shrugged as they walked on.

"I'd like to know more about you."

Carth almost stopped in his tracks. The request took him off-guard. He was so used to plodding along in this mission that he never realized that he and Nic hadn't exchanged many words on each other since they crashed. The mission was always at the forefront of his mind, but in this moment there was a lull, and Carth wasn't used to that.

"Me? 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."

Carth paused to shake his head before continuing.

"But with all that, I've never experienced anything like the slaughter these Sith animals can unleash. Not even the Mandalorians were that senseless."

Carth bit his tongue and looked up to the sky for a moment. This whole talking about himself thing was making him feel insanely uncomfortable, but then again he felt he owed it to Nic to keep going. After everything they've been through together, the least he could do is go on more.

"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…"

Carth fell silent, and Nic felt instantly guilty for making his comrade recall a painful memory.

"I'm sorry, Carth. This must be very painful for you."

Carth brushed the comment off, speaking hurriedly.

"I'm just a soldier. I go where the fleet Admirals tell me to. I follow my orders and I do my duty. It just…"

Carth sighed and threw up his hands as they finished crossing the bridge.

"It doesn't seem right that doing that means I failed them. I didn't!"

That outburst out of Carth drew a few eyes over to the two of them. Nic looked around apprehensively before lowering his voice.

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

"Yes. No….no, that's not what I mean. I mean…."

Carth finally shook his head again and gave up. Nic arched an eyebrow, his mind trying to wrap around what Carth was trying to say.

"I'm sorry. I'm not making much sense, am I?"

Carth gestured toward him.

"You probably mean well with your questions . I'm just not accustomed to talking about my past very much. At all, actually."

And with that, Carth turned facing forward ahead of them once again.

"I'm more used to taking action, keeping my mind focused on the business at hand. So let's just do that."

Nic looked for a few moments at Carth's face, screwed in concentration on the path ahead of them, never turning. There was something he wasn't telling him, of that Nic was sure. But he was also sure that now probably wasn't the best time to pry about it.

Still, he knew he wouldn't be able to keep his curiosity in check forever. He would end up asking more questions later, hopefully discovering more about the man he was traveling with.

"Alright."

The two of them continued on in silence the rest of the way to the apartments.

"You're honestly worrying that much? If they're drunk, we can handle them."

"That I'm not so sure about."

Nic and Carth had finally begun talking again as they walked through the halls to the room Sarna had pointed out on Nic's map. The hallway wound around in a circle. The sun was just about down, painting the Tarisian sky a brilliant mix of orange, red, and pink through the large windows to their left. Soon they would be operating under the cover of night, which is exactly what the two of them were hoping for.

"I'm just saying we need to be on our guard at all times," Carth told his comrade. "The last thing we want is to draw a firefight and get killed, or worse, captured and interrogated by Malak."

Carth's next words grew so soft they were barely audible.

"With my luck, we'll be brought straight to the Sith Master if we're captured."

"And why is that?"

Carth realized he hinted at too much. His history with one of the Sith fleet's most high Admirals didn't need to be brought up right now. Not here, not now, and definitely not with Nic.

"Nothing. I just don't want a chance to have to deal with whatever torture those Sith animals would use. I've heard some grim stories about the Dark Jedi interrogation techniques."

Carth faced back forward, almost speaking aloud to himself.

"They say the Force can do terrible things to a mind. It can wipe away your memories and destroy your very identity."

Nic turned toward him, almost not believing what he was hearing.

"Come off it, Carth. You mean to tell me that this power Jedi and Sith have can actually…re-program a person? Make them completely different?"

Carth nodded grimly as they continued.

"If Bastila can influence the minds of entire armies, I wouldn't put anything past the Force."

Nic shook his head as they passed a cleaning droid emitting mechanical whirrs as it vacuumed the hall. He wasn't even sure what this Force was, but he knew it didn't sound like something any human being should be wielding if it was that dangerous.

"No one man should have that kind of power, Carth. It would corrupt him in no time at all. No wonder Malak's so twisted."

Carth chuckled sardonically before turning back to Nic.

"You think he's bad? Every Sith has his master, and Malak's was as evil as they come."

Nic nodded slowly, remembering.

"Yeah…that guy you were talking about…what was his name….Rivert?"

"Revan," Carth corrected. "But he's already been taken out of the picture by Bastila and her strike team, so I guess Malak's taken the reigns of the Sith armies."
The two of them stopped in front of the door of the party. Loud muffled music could be heard booming on the other side. Nic turned to Carth.

"So, find Malak, kill Malak, end the Sith. Piece of cake."

Carth couldn't help but chuckle but shook his head all the same.

"If only it were that easy."

Carth cast a foreboding look at the door.

"We shouldn't be here. The Sith will capture us for sure."

Nic blew out an exasperated breath and laid his forehead in his hand, kneading his brows together.

"OK, Carth, if you reject any more of my plans, I'm gonna sell you for credits. Don't think I haven't thought about it."

He reached out and gave Carth a brisk pat on the back.

"Don't worry, let's just get these uniforms and be one step closer to Bastila. Now come on, let's crash this party."