Carth really really wanted to shoot at his one-day companion if it was possible.
"When we find Bastila, we will break up and I'll never have to see you again! Forever! " He punched the table, lying around it were Sith uniforms.
Five minutes ago Carth heard some noise. He got on his alert immediately, turned around and found his door open. A Sith stood there, raising a bottle of wine.
"Hey Carth, it's a pity you didn't attend the party. Their special wine is quite tasty but don't' worry I've brought you one." He said while dodging the blaster fire. "Hey it's me, Enosh! Don't waste the energy fire, we can't afford it."
Carth held on, stopped shooting but still grabbed the blaster tightly. He watched the Sith taking off his helmet and revealing the brown hair, trembling, full of anger. Finally he threw his blaster at Enosh. His companion caught it with no effort and put the wine down on the floor. "I just knew you would act like that." He shrugged casually, laid another uniform on the table and started to release himself from the silver armor.
Carth slammed the clothes away fiercely. They fell on to the floor. "What do you want to do!"
Enosh stopped. He turned to Carth, the teasing flash in his eyes died down and instead calmness appeared. "Look for Bastila."
"By feigning to be a Sith? Playing Pazaak? Or drinking?"
"Listen, Carth. We've searched the Upper City thoroughly. Now we should move on and pry in the Lower City."
Carth fell silent. Even in absolute anger, his soldier's instinct told him Enosh was right. This was the best plan but he could not just put down the absurd "joke" and pretend nothing had happened.
Enosh continued. "There is only one entrance to the Lower City, with Sith guards on sentry day and night. We don't possess the pass files so the only way to get in is dressing up as a Sith. No matter how you hate them ,we have to do this. "
"Then why did you come back in the uniform?"
"I thought you understood the meaning of curfew."
"I was asking, why, did you come back, in the, SITH UNIFORM? "
"Because I was wondering how you would react when you saw me in it."
The table shook again because of the punch. After shouting out "When we find Bastila, we will break up and I'll never see you again! Forever! " Carth panted, glaring at the man in front of him
Enosh had finished undressing. He sat on a chair and proceeded to open the wine. "Want a drink?"
Carth fell back to his chair, feeling so helpless.
"We are not in a war. Okay, we can call it one, but we are not fighting on the battlefield." Enosh said slowly, staring at the poor helmet on the floor. Then he turned his gaze to Carth.
"So you can keep provoking me because it's fun to watch me jumping up like… like a shaak?"
"So you must restrain yourself. Whatever reason you have for your hatred it can't hinder our quest. "
Carth leaned against the back of the chair, sneering. "Thank you for your kindness but I always behave myself."
"Let me ask you a question. What if I were in fact a Sith soldier and I just performed my duty of inspection and I didn't find out that you were a Republic refugee. But you attacked me automatically- "
"I appreciate your reminder but you have to know during your one-week's coma it was ME who took care of you and solved all accidents! And also I think you know that when faced up with the Sith in the street NEVER have I just pulled out my blaster and opened fire immediately!"
Enosh said nothing. He stood up, found two glasses , filled them with the wine, and put one before Carth. The latter stared at the scarlet fluid dumbly, grabbed the glass, drunk it up, and tossed it towards the wall. Pieces scattered everywhere.
"You are right! You are right…" He buried his head into his arms. "I want to kill them. I want to kill them all. How could they, such ruthless, inhumane creatures, exist in the galaxy? They took everything I treasured from me, my wife, my son, my mentor-" He suddenly stopped, gazing at Enosh. "I know you must find I'm silly so please forget it. I'll put on the uniform and will not shoot at them the moment I see them. You can rely on me, I promise. "
However, Enosh didn't wear a sardonic face as Carth had thought. He just filled his own glass again and moved it towards Carth. "If you want to pour out, I'm at your service. " He clapped on Carth's shoulder, rose, picked the uniform up and put it on the table. Then he began to clean the floor.
Carth held the glass of wine silently. After what seemed to be a life time, he sipped at it slowly and murmured,"Not so bad, the Sith wine."
After leaving the Sith stronghold Anakin didn't take off the uniform at once. He remembered the bare-headed's words that it was under Sith occupation here. Before he found himself something to wear he had to hide in these clothes, which could cover him from head to toe.
He focused to call on Obi-wan, but got no response as if their Force bond had been muted. He had no choice but to investigate the surroundings on his own. Although the Sith uniform could conceal his Jedi robe, the local residents kept a cautious distance from him. He wasn't able to do any inquiry. Besides he had to avoid the Sith patrol in case they asked something he couldn't answer.
Thanked the Force, after aimlessly wandering for some time, he came up with a merchant somewhere in the city, who bought and sold Sith Uniform. When Anakin passed by, the Aqualish merchant was being interrogated by two Sith soldiers.
"Where was the uniform? Whom you sold it to?"
That's it, Anakin thought. He looked around ,found no one else was there, and beat the soldiers up easily. As a reward he got some ordinary clothes from the merchant. Then Anakin looked into the Aqualish's eyes, waved his hand in front of him and asked the same question again, "Who are your customers?"
"The Hidden Beks in the Lower City. It's the only way you can get there if you have no pass files."
"Do you know how to leave Taris?"
"Taris is under curfew. Bobody can get in or out without the Sith's launch code."
Anakin frowned.
"Oh but there has been an exception. Recently a Republic escape pod landed in Taris. But the guy or guys in it disappeared before the Sith arrived."
It seems I'm lucky. Anakin thought, then he remembered how Obi-Wan kept telling him "There is no luck. There is only Force". He sighed and shook his head. The Republic Escape Pod. That explained how he and Obi-Wan got here. Obi-Wan dragged the unconscious him into it and escaped from Geonosis, but unfortunately it landed in Taris, a Sith-occupied planet. A reasonable answer.
Anakin decided to find more about the escape pod. After locating the local cantina he left the merchant and made his way quickly. He stopped in front of the cantina's door as many people were crowding there , many of whom were women. By his height Anakin saw the hot spot clearly: a Wanted poster with his photo and the words "Male escapee. Vicious and ruthless. Killed many Sith Soldiers. Please contact the Sith Base if you come across him. "on it.
Anakin lowered his head at once. Fortunately the clothes the merchant gave him had a hood and he had pulled it up habitually. After making sure no one noticed him he approached the door carefully, paying attention to what they were talking about. "He looks so young. ""What a handsome boy.""It'a pity that he is murderer…"
Anakin sighed again, opened the front door. In his mind he whined, "In the name of Force, why would something unexpected always happen during my missions? "
Okay, if Obi-Wan is here, his master must say "It's new experience to be on a Wanted poster, isn't it, Anakin?". And his green eyes would be filled with smile and encourage.
Anakin felt a little relieved.
Come on, Anakin, though you just finished your first assignment not so long ago, you can only depend on yourself now.
The nineteen-year-old padawan emboldened himself and went to the nearest waiter.
Carth and Enosh were making their final preparation for the Lower City. The conflict last night didn't leave any cracks, at least not on the surface. After finishing tidying Enosh went out again. He wanted to make full use of the night and earn some extra money in the cantina. Carth was a little guilty as the mess was caused by him.
Enosh returned in the morning, laid a stack of credit chips on the table with a triumphant smile and lipstick marks on his face and neck. Carth rolled his eyes, watching his companion ran into the bathroom, which, to their surprise, still functioned. When he finished bath Carth asked.
"Don't you get some sleep?"
"No, we must exploit the daytime. Did you learn something new last night?"
"I went to the clinic for some medpecs. The doctor, Zelka Forn, is helping the Republic soldiers. He is a good man indeed and wishes to cure the Rakghoul disease, but the only serum is in Sith's charge and they keep an eye on it constantly. I want to help him if possible. But his assistant, Gurney, wants to turn the serum in to Davik Kang. "
"Davik Kang. This name is kind of familiar. The criminal lord of Taris and a high-ranking member of the Exchange, right?"
"Correct. Besides, another escape pod has landed in the Lower City."
Enosh's eyes flashed. "It seems our original plan needs no update. We have to go to the Lower City."
Carth was embarrassed as he thought of his temporary out-of-control. But Enosh paid no attention to his expression and proceeded.
"I've heard something interesting too. The Jedi has escaped from the Sith Base."
"Then he is quite good. He escaped all by himself."Carth remarked. "And I think we need to find need a good fighter. And he may know something about the Sith."
"Do you know him?"
"No. When back on Endar Spike I was only in good terms with Bastila. You know, they are more of less…"
"Lofty, aren't they?" Enosh spoke as he checked the medpecs and ammunition. Twelve of each kind. He put six medpecs into his pack and gave Carth the rest. After packing up his supplies Carth weighed his backpack. "How about me using vibroblade too?"
"You range, I melee, can't be more reasonable. " Enosh grabbed his datapad and referred to their to-do list. "Looking for Bastila. Finding Rakghoul serum. Dropping our neighbor Dia's bounty… another busy day."
"Range means taking more supplies." Carth shrugged "You can add another one: looking for the Jedi."
"In fact, I've tore down the poster." Carth was kind of stunned by his companion's daredevil and took the poster. "He is young. "He trailed off.
"And of the my son's age" were his unspoken words.
Enosh glanced at him. "Yes, he is about twenty and of the Jedi rank padawan. "
"You are familiar with the Jedi things?"
"No. Bastila is a padawan too and they were similar in age."
"Indeed." Carth handed the poster back to Enosh and made a final check of their goods and materials. "How much money do we have now?"
"4316 credits. Enough for a droid."
"What?!"
"The T3-M4 in Janice's droid shop. Quite cute."
"Droid? Cute? Man I thought your data said you were 37 years old-"
"Yeah, cute, and it is the latest utility droid. It may be of great use, like hacking the Sith Base or something. How good is your computer skill?"
"…"
On their way to the Lower City, they stopped at the droid shop, but unluckily that T3 had been subscribed. Enosh, in his disappointment, bought another droid and it exploded the moment they stepped out of the shop door.
So finally only the two of them headed to the Lower City.
