Chapter 10: Don't let the Sun Go Down on Me

Don't let the sun go down on me

Because it's cold and in the dark I can't see.

I'm growing tired and time hangs heavy for me

'Cause losing my Jaden is like the sun going down on me.

Carth watched the moons rise over the dunes, turning them into black sugar that glittered in the bands of light that chased over the sand. Clouds glowered down at him, lit from behind by another moon he could not see.

The wind had been hot all day. The skin on his shoulders and chest was painfully red from the suns and the stinging sand. Now, the soldier was finding out just how cold the desert planet could get after the suns went down. He glanced over at Canderous whose light eyes caught a shaft of moonlight and turned into starbursts. Larry hung beside him, his body shaking from the cold.

The only thing Carth could concentrate on was Jaden. Why hadn't she shown up? Had Calo Nord grabbed her and staked her out somewhere, too? Was she lying hurt somewhere, the victim of an ambush? Was she…dead?

He groaned. His wrists ached and the muscles in his arms jerked as they went into spasms, but the physical pain was nothing to the mental anguish he suffered. Guilt was always in the back of his mind. It had been four years since his wife died and he had never thought he would be able to trust enough to love again, but with Jaden he hadn't been given a choice. She hadn't given him a choice!

Canderous suffered in silence, but as the cold wind swept over his body, Carth heard him mutter something in Mandalorian. Carth's body quivered as the heated temperature of his sunburn was doused with what felt like ice.

"Did you hear something?" Larry raised his head. Twi'leks had better than humanoid hearing. "A- a roaring noise."

Carth was not feeling all that upbeat, but as a little time passed, his head came up and cocked. "I do hear something." A huge cloud of blowing sand struck just then. "Blast it!"

* * *

The sandstorm just added insult to injury, obscuring everything. The sound came from every direction. Jaq steered the skiff in the chaotic atmosphere.

"Can you see anything?" Jaden shouted at the top of her lungs to be heard over the shrieking gale.

Jaq took a swig from his flask. "Sand." He narrowed his eyes and pointed up. "Darkness."

Bastila clung to Cal's arm for support. Jaq flew the skiff like it was a starfighter and had almost flung her over the side a couple of times. Lena held onto one of Jaq's arms and Juhani clung to the other; his smirk could not be seen in the darkness. Jaden clung to the railing, searching the blowing sand for any sign of Carth and the others.

Jaq took another swig of juma juice. "I think I see something." His words were slurred, but the way he wove the skiff over the dunes, seemingly able to 'see' any obstacles, even through the storm, made Jaden keep quiet about how much he was drinking.

Lena was crying into Jaq's shoulder and he reached around awkwardly to pat her on the cheek. "Don't you worry, love, ole Jaq and Cal will rescue your mates." He scratched behind Juhani's ear and she purred.

Because of the noise the storm made, they all kept their thoughts to themselves. Bastila was remembering her first kiss. Cal gently wrapped a piece of cloth about her face, leaving only her eyes free. He did the same for the others, leaving himself for last. He's so thoughtful.

The skiff suddenly skewed sideways and Bastila was thrown over the side and lost from view in the brown maelstrom. Cal shouted her name and was about to leap after her, but Jaden and Jaq restrained him. Juhani's night vision could not penetrate the blowing sand.

"Cal, I know how you feel about her, but she's a Jedi. She's strong and she can take care of herself." Jaden told him.

"I have to find her," he said and hopped over the side.

"What an idiot!" she blurted out and then was sorry. How could she place Carth's life over someone else's, even if that someone else was Slutty Girl?

::Don't call me Slutty Girl!::

The bond! Jaden had forgotten about it. "Jaq, turn the skiff around. We don't leave anybody behind."

"Pirate's code?" He stopped the skiff and pulled out an ancient datapad. He ran a finger down some screens, scanning them for the rule. "No, not here. Not surprising, really, since pirates don't usually stick around if their mates get in trouble."

"Smuggler's code." She spit in her hand and he spit in his and they shook. Lena did, too and they all looked around for something to wipe the combined spit off their hands.

Jaden called out, using the Force. SG? (No answer.) Bustila? (No answer.) Revan's bitch? (No answer, although that one made the Force vibrate.) Jaden sighed. OK, Bastila?

:: I'm here with Cal. Listen to my voice in your head. You are close to us::

Jaq moved the skiff, following a large dune and hovered as Jaden sought Bastila again. Two figures appeared like sand ghosts and he helped Lena and Jaden get the two lost ones back into the skiff.

"Do me a favor," Jaq said, pointing to straps and seats. "Sit down and fasten your seatbelts because this is gonna be a bumpy ride."

* * *

Carth never thought he would be grateful for a sandstorm, but when the velocity of the wind increased and met such resistance as three unfortunates tied to poles in the shifting sand, it pushed hard and when it could not topple the poles, it did the next best thing—it piled the sand higher and higher until it reached Carth's toes.

Carth had been working to free his feet all day and the sand's grit was like a razor slicing at the already frayed rope. After struggling hard, Carth was able to jerk his feet loose. Now came the hard part, he thought. The intrepid soldier lifted his feet and did a makeshift pull-up and the wind shoved more sand into the gap where his feet had been. The poles sank deeper and the sand got higher as he did his pull-ups. It strained his wrists to the breaking point, but it worked. Finally, the sand as he lowered his legs and put his feet on top of the large dune, was high enough for him to stand and be able to slide the ropes binding his wrists off the end of the poles. He fell to the ground and untied his wrists, flexing them to get his fingers to work, before untying the others. Canderous was aloof, but nodded his thanks. Larry had suffered the most. They were still in deep trouble, since they had no water, no weapons, and no clothes.

"I've been in worse situations," Carth said gloomily, although when he searched his memory, he could not come up with one. "We'll get out of this."

"Just what I needed to make me feel better, a Republic pep-talk." Canderous stretched his cramped arms above his head, and then rested his hands on the back of his neck as he walked. The man had no modesty!

Carth was fed up. "Well, what would you like to hear? You want me to run around with my hands in the air screaming, 'Oh, Gods, we're all gonna die!'?"

Larry's teeth were chattering. "C-could you two please stop it! I…don't feel…so…good."

Consternation flashed across Carth and Canderous's faces when the Twi'lek dropped bonelessly into the sand. Carth knelt and felt for Larry's pulse. "He needs water."

Canderous snorted. "I only got one source of water and I don't think he'd want to drink it."

Carth made a face. "Too bad Tatooine doesn't have cacti—certain types store water."

"They teach you that at the Academy?" Canderous seemed spoiling for a fight and Carth was too tired to give him one.

"Since I freed us, you can carry him." Carth stood with his arms crossed, letting the Mandalorian know there would be no negotiating.

Canderous grabbed the Twi'lek by the lekku and swung him up over his massive sun-burned shoulder. "You have any idea which direction we should take?"

Carth was back to worrying about Jaden and didn't pay attention. Canderous emitted a shrill whistle and Carth scowled. "What?" He'd half-heard what the big man had said. "Oh, no, I don't. But I do know we need to keep moving. The sand will bury us if we stay in one spot."

"Storm seems to be backing off," Canderous pointed to the sky, where the brown clouds were parting and stars twinkled and half a moon shone.

"Okay, I say we huddle together for warmth the rest of the night and then we reconnoiter at dawn." Carth did not look anymore thrilled at the prospect of cuddling with a naked Mandalorian and unconscious, naked Twi'lek than Canderous, but both men recognized the necessity.

Canderous sighed heavily and dumped Larry on the sand. "He stays between us." His teeth were barred as he sank into the sand beside the comatose Twi'lek. Carth took his place on the other side.

Canderous muttered something and Carth asked him to repeat it. "Clean the sand outta your ears, Republic! I said Calo Nord is going to pay for every indignity I've suffered."

Exhausted, the two men were asleep almost as soon as their heads hit the sand.

* * *

The first pink rays of the two suns glinted over the horizon. The storm had gotten so bad, Jaden had ordered Jaq to stop and they had spent the night bailing sand out of the skiff. She had not been able to sleep. Sand was encrusted on her skin and in her hair. She blinked and rubbed some of it from her eyelashes. She glanced down. Bastila was asleep, cradled in Cal's arms. She smirked. They made a nice couple, although when Revan found out he'd take Cal's head with his lightsaber and stick it on a pike. Lena was asleep, using Jaq's chest for a 's head was on his lap. Jaden had been the only one to stay awake the entire night and she found she was more than a little irritated.

"Jaq, where the hell are we?" She raised her voice so it would wake up him and the others.

Jaq sat up, looking about him owlishly then clutched his head. "Sober!"

Cal fished in his rucksack and tossed Jaq a flask and the pirate took a deep swig. "Breakfast of assassins! Uh, I mean, pirates." He stood up, the juma already working its magic so that his stance was back to the unsteady gait that seemed to suit him so well.

"Give me some of that," Jaden took the flask and bolted down some juma, shuddering at the taste. "Eck! Corellian ale or Ruussan Rum is way better than this swill." She folded her arms. "Let's get going!"

Jaq looked insulted as he started the skiff's engine. "This 'swill' as you put it has saved my life more times than I can remember."

Jaden shook a finger at Cal. "And you shouldn't encourage him to get drunk all the time."

"I'll have you know, love, I'm a member of JJA." Jaq pointed the skiff east and guided it over the sand with amazing expertise. He was teaching Juhani how to pilot and she was loving it.

Jaden quirked an eyebrow. "JJA?"

Cal smiled. "Juma Junkies Anonymous. That's how we met. He'd just come from a meeting and headed straight into the cantina."

Jaden smirked. "Lemme guess: he got snockered and gambled all his credits away?"

Jaq nodded, his good-nature restored. "I asked Cal to be my sponsor, but so far he won't."

"Because I know you won't stop drinking!" Cal shook his head and his sand-colored hair blew across his face.

"I would loooouuuve to be yourrrrr sponsorrrrr, Jaq." Juhani smiled, baring her fangs.

"Yeah? Maybe you could help me the next time I go to one of the meetings with the sharing part."

"What did you say during the last one?" Cal asked.

Jaq rolled his eyes. "That I'm a drunk and a pervert."

Cal bit his lip. "Works for me."

Bastila had his leather jacket on to cover her undies—it barely covered her butt. She looked totally miserable. Lena's eyes were red from crying, and she was the one to spot the three bodies lying in the sand.

Jaden was out of the skiff before Jaq could put it into hover mode. She stopped, unable to continue. Bastila, fearing the worst, came up beside her and saw her shoulders were shaking and the Jedi put a consoling arm about Jaden, able to forget about their differences, knowing how she would feel if it was Cal who was lying---Oh, Force!

Am I seeing what I think I'm seeing? Carth and Canderous cuddling with Larry?? Naked!!!

Jaden turned out not to be crying, but laughing so hard at the sight of the macho men caught in such a scandalous manner, that tears rolled down her cheeks.

Cal frowned. "Don't say anything. This will embarrass them terribly. Let Jaq and me handle it. You ladies back off."

Jaden sighed, but let Bastila lead her off and Lena followed slowly. They climbed back into the skiff and turned their backs to the tableau. Juhani, after a moment of taking in their naked state, joined the rest of the girls.

The three sleeping beauties woke up startled, disentangling limbs and lekku, flushed, embarrassed beyond words and found out they were not alone.

Cal motioned to Jaq who nodded; the pirate cleared his throat noisily. "Uh, you guys seem to need some help. Got jumped by scavengers by the looks of you. They like to take everything. Lucky they left you alive. Name's Jaq Rand, and, pardon me if I don't shake hands."

Cal raised a hand in greeting and kept his eyes entirely on Carth's face. "Hi, remember me? I met Jaden at the Faire..Just call me Cal. Jaden hired my pal Jaq here to find you when you turned up missing."

Carth was trying not to think about the fact he was naked. At the mention of Jaden, his face lit up. "Jaden? Is she safe?"

Cal cleared his throat delicately. "She's right over there in the skiff."

"Do you have water? We…really need some, especially Larry—he's dehydrated."

Cal nodded and Jaq gestured for them to follow. Cal decided to hang back and bit his lip to keep from chuckling when he saw the strange white places on their bodies. What peculiar looking sunburns!

Carth climbed into the skiff and drank thirstily when Jaq handed him a canteen. Lena tended to Larry who was half delirious. Bastila waved her hand and healed their burns and took away the terrible soreness in their muscles. She and Juhani kept their backs to them. Jaden whirled around and hugged Carth, kissing him, running her fingers through his hair, cradling his face, laughing and crying at the same time.

"What am I, chopped gizka?" Canderous muttered.

"Carth I've seen naked—you, on the other hand, I haven't." Jaden did not take her eyes off Carth. It was like she hadn't seen him in days rather than hours.

Cal offered his hand and the gruff Mandalorian, after a short pause, shook it. "Guess me in the buff doesn't bother you."

Cal shrugged. "Care to tell us what happened? We know Calo Nord had you, but you managed to get away?"
Carth explained. At the moment he did not need clothes because Jaden still clung to him like a leech.

Bastila still would not turn around. "So, he's still here?"

"Sandstorm probably made him and his henchmen dig in somewhere." Jaq started the engine. 'I think I know a place they could take shelter." He pointed to three identical cone-shaped hills that hovered in the distance. "That leads to the Sand People's enclave. There's an entrance to the Eastern Dune Sea near the gate. We just need to disguise ourselves as Sand People and we should be able to slip past them."

"Well, that's handy," Jaden quipped. "That's where the Star Map is."

Bastila craned her head around and carefully looked only at Jaden. "How do you know that?"

"I talked to some Jawa named Iziz before we left Anchorhead. He told me the Sand People took some of his people for slaves. Since we're headed there anyway, maybe we can use the disguises to get in and get Mission, her brother and Big Z and the Jawas out."

"What dissssguisses do you speak of, Padawan?" Juhani shook her whole body and a cloud of fur and dust floated in the air then wafted away on the slipstream as the skiff moved over the sand.

"Oh, those." Jaden leapt out of the skiff and produced Force lightning that took out the group of Tusken Raiders in one storm.

Carth was horrified. "Where did she learn to do that?"

Cal whispered in Bastila's ear. "Are you sure Revan didn't have a sister?"

Jaden gestured for them to alight from the skiff. "Take their clothes, starting with you three."

There were male and female corpses, so the party donned the Sand People clothing. Bastila looked at Cal who looked like some Arabian sheik and her heart beat faster. He felt her gaze and smiled that gentle smile, but his eyes seemed sad.

"Do you really think this will work?" The tipsy Sand Person who was flying the skiff asked as they neared the enclave. "Because I have a bad feeling about this."

Cal groaned. "Better get ready to save your game, Jaden."

She frowned at him, not understanding the reference. "Why do you say that?'

"Jaq, when it comes to self-preservation, has an uncanny sense when it comes to traveling the highway to the danger zone. We must be cautious."

Jaden exchanged a look with Carth that said, do you believe this guy?

They hopped off the skiff, made it past the turrets sitting outside the main entrance and past the gate and then their luck ran out.

A Tusken Raider challenged them in his guttural tongue. Six humans, a Cathar and two Twi'leks, all scratched their heads at the same time.

Jaden sighed. "Can't anything ever be easy?"

Carth chuckled. He only had a gaffi stick so this should be an interesting fight. "Nothing with you ever is, sweetheart."

She smirked, then called for a huddle. "Okay, SG, you go to the right. Use your stasis. Juhani, you cut them down while they're frozen. She sent a single bolt of lightning into the guard that had challenged them. "I'll handle the ones to the left. Keep an eye out for Mission and Big Z and anybody else who needs to be rescued."

She glanced down and annoyance flitted over her face. "Okay, can anybody explain to me where our disguises went?" She was now clad only in her underwear. Carth, Canderous and Larry, since they had none, were totally nude again. Bastila shook her head in denial when she saw she was so scantily clad but she could not resist peeping at Cal.

Oh, my—such nice definition on his arms and chest and abs. That must be what a six-pack looks like. And---nice lean, muscular legs, and, Force! What am I doing? I'm staring at his…!

Jaq looked down at what he was wearing and smirked.

Cal banged his hand against his forehead. "Is that a speedo?"

Jaq shrugged. "What can I say—I like to stay at the YPSA and they have a pool."

"YPSA?" Juhani queried. She looked quite taken with Jaq.

"Young Pirate /Smuggler Association. I'm good with a blaster." He looked puzzled. "Funny, how our clothes disappeared, but not our weapons; anyway, I'll go with ya, Ju-baby."

She smiled. Bastila huffed and led the way.

Carth seized Jaden's hand. "You're not going anywhere without me." His face was set in stone.

Jaden gazed down pointedly. "I don't want you losing anything important, so you stay here."

"Dammit, woman!"

"Don't get excited there, Republic!" Canderous sneered.

Carth knew what he meant and he wanted to gouge out the Mandalorian's eyes. "I can still fight—with or without clothes."

Jaden sighed and made a tiny gesture with her hand, putting the three nudes into stasis. She glanced at Cal who was about to chide her for doing it, but at her expression, he changed his mind.

"I still have that extra lightsaber," she told him, and she was indeed clutching it in her other hand.

He accepted it and switched it on. The battle plan was simple and fool proof: Jaden would stun or fry the Tuskens—if she stunned, she and Cal took them out with the ligthsabers—if she fried them, they died. Simple. Shortly, they met Bastila and her party in front of a gate that rolled up. Jaden told the Jawas that their leader Iziz had sent her and they were free to leave.

On the other side was another gate and when it rolled up it revealed two blue Twi'leks and a pissed off Wookiee.

Mission stared at them. "Why are all of you almost naked?" And then she threw her arms about Jaden's neck. "I was so scared. The only reason they kept us alive is because they were gonna use us for slave labor."

Jaden patted her. "Sorry, no tissues. They disappeared along with my clothes." She gazed at the Twi'lek she knew had to be Mission's brother Griff. She'd been a scam-artist and grifter before becoming a smuggler, so she recognized his type. "You better head back to Anchorhead." When he hit her up for credits, she glared at him. "Even being a Twi'lek won't save your sorry ass from me, so you have to ask yourself one question, punk: do you feel lucky?"

Griff tore out of the enclave without another word. Mission sniffed. "Thanks, Jaden. I think I know now what a loser he is. 'She made an L with her fingers on her forehead.

Big Z hugged Jaden and she was pretty sure he cracked two of her ribs. About that time, Carth and the other two nudes came jogging up and Zaalbar put his paws over Mission's eyes to keep her from getting an advanced education on the male anatomy at the tender age of fourteen.

"Cut it out," she groused. "Like I'm gonna look at their hoo-hahs." She stepped away from the Wookiee. "There's gotta be some clothes. The Sand People rob people all the time."

They spent time going through every container and basket in the compound, finally coming up with something to cover them. They made a motley crew. Jaq wore black pants with the Synyster blood stripe on the sides (similar to the Corellian blood stripe but more of a blood lite) and a white shirt and short black vest and high gloss black boots. There was also a fancy blaster rig with the blaster still in the holster.

Cal wore moisture farmer leggings tucked into tan boots and an off-white tunic. He found a utility belt he hung the lightsaber on and he kept his double-bladed sword in the scabbard on his back.

Carth wore brown pants and hiking boots and a black T-shirt and a flak jacket over it. He put two blaster rigs on, crossing them at his waist, filling the empty holsters with the heavy blasters he discovered.

Larry found a pair of loose pants that he kept up by attaching suspenders. He tugged on a long-sleeved jacket and his weapon of choice was a vibroblade. He found some short boots that were not a perfect fit, but they would do. He rifled through another duffel bag he found and held up a holovid. "Look, Jaden, a single by Alpha Cuu, top shredder of the Synsyter Sith band!" At her smile, he tucked it into a pocket.

Canderous found some beat-up armor and the black stretchy suit that was worn underneath and a pair of size 13 boots. He had bandoliers crossing his chest and dual blaster rigs. He found an enormous blaster rifle and stocked up on power packs.

The females did not fare so well. After scouring the stupid place for their original clothes, Jaden took what she could find. The Tuskens had not attacked any females evidently, so she settled for a black bodysuit and a flexible armorweave jerkin, serviceable shin-guard black boots and a black, blast energy sink skirt. A black utility belt held her lightsaber and she attached a holster, shoving a hold-out blaster she found inside and snapping it down. She found a double scabbard she could attach to the belt that criss-crossed over her back. She put a vibroblade in each scabbard.

"Who are you supposed to be? The Tomb Raider?" Bastila asked snidely.

Bastila was feeling very cross again. It might have something to do with Cal being dressed again, but she would never admit it. She watched as Juhani found her outfit—a Republic uniform basically and Lena, hers and then the supply of clothing ran out. Nothing else could be located other than…wait for it!

"A—a d-dancer's outfit?!' Bastila could not believe it when Jaden held up the tiny scraps. "You honestly don't expect me to wear that—thing, do you?" Bastila gestured to her underwear that was torn and ragged from her adventures with the sarlacc. "Although…"

Jaden could not conceal her glee. "At least it doesn't have all the see-through holes."

"Fine!" Bastila stomped away and returned a moment later.

Cal's mouth dropped open and Jaq leaned over to clip him under the chin with the flat of his hand so he could shut it before it became too painfully obvious the Exile was ogling her, although the pirate could not blame the poor man. Any man worth his salt would eyeball the wench. The skimpy dancer's outfit was clearly a man's creation: the part that made up the top was formed from some golden metal that pushed and separated and showed every charm. The bottom didn't cover much more than Jaq's speedo. She found some short Jerba leather boots, put them on and then stood with her arms crossed over her breasts.

Cal quickly removed his tunic and drew it over her bare shoulders. She was immediately happier because this left him bare to the waist and covered her up, saving her from the ogling stares of the others. Cal buckled a utility belt around her waist and there was a hook on it she put her lightsaber on.

Once everyone was dressed, Jaden showed the map of the Eastern Dune Sea she'd taken from the chieftan's dead hand. She pointed to a blinking arrow with the words in Basic You are hereand then to a glowing dotted line that ended in another flashing arrow. Star Map is here. Beware of the krayt dragon!

Carth had been looking over her shoulder. "Handy."

"Let's head out, peeps and Twis and, last but not least, Wook and Catwoman..oh, and, you Slave Girl." She snickered when Bastila's face went crimson.

"Wonder what a krayt dragon is," Larry voice his concerns as they made their way through the entrance to the Eastern Dune Sea. 'I don't see a Western Dune Sea or South or North Dune Sea."

Jaden giggled. Not at what he said, but because she was seeing another Twi'lek on the horizon, a short distance from a gigantic cave. She hurried up to him and struck up a conversation.

"Boy, she rea-al-ly likes Twi'leks, doesn't she?" Cal remarked to Carth whose ears turned red.

Jaden came over with her new friend. "This is Komad, one of the best hunters on the planet, and what we need is in that cave, but the dragon, from what he tells me, a big sucker, is living there, so I agreed to help him take out the dragon so we can go in the cave. He has it all set up, mines placed, but we need to lure some Bantha over as bait."

Carth and everybody did a 360. "Ah, hon, I don't see any Banthas." He waved at the Dewbacks they had passed a moment ago. "Will they do?"

Jaden spoke in rapid Twi'lek and listened as Komad answered. "Nope. He says only one other thing would lure the dragon from its cave and that would be a virgin."

Bastila blushed at the word. Nobody looked her direction. They were looking at Lena and then Mission." Komad shook his head and talked more to Jaden.

"Nope, has to be a human female virgin." She sighed. "Guess that leaves us out—unless, anybody here gotta virgin detector on them?"

Jaq raised his hand. "That would be me." He sniffed each female and then pointed at Bastila. "100% untouched, pure- as- the -driven snow virgin." He bowed. "Nah, don't thank me. I can spot a virgin a mile away."

"Revan's girlfriend??!!" Jaden was the first one to turn shock into words. Nobody was paying attention to Jaq's quips anymore. All eyes were riveted on Bastila.

"Are you telling me you and Revan never…? But when I said he shagged you…?" Jaden continued.

Bastila caught the ire in Jaden's eyes, but it was a pair of wide golden-browns that had her full interest. "Cal, I…"

To her surprise and everyone else's, he laughed. "Makes sense actually."

"Well, it doesn't to me," Carth admitted.

Cal looked discomfited and a flush came up his exposed neck to his cheeks. "He used to hit on me—during the Mandalorian Wars. He used to invite me to his quarters and…"

Canderous guffawed loudly. "Just because he didn't give it to the Jedi Princess doesn't mean he had the hots for a guy! He probably wanted to discuss battle plans with you—you being his general and all."

Cal looked troubled. "Perhaps, but he sure acted pissed when I didn't show up and…" He grimaced. "All those surprise inspections and the lightning when he wasn't happy."

Canderous scowled. "Mandalore used to call all his officers into his quarters before a key battle. I'm sure that's what Revan wanted to do and as your superior, of course he would've taken it out of your hide—insubordination ring any bells?"

"Bastila, did you or did you not sleep with Revan?" Jaden was up in her face and she was not going to be denied.

I am going to all seven hells. All these lies, when all I want to tell Cal is the truth. There's never been anyone before him.

Jaden snapped her fingers in Bastila's face. "Answer me, dammit!"

"All right," Bastila said softly. "He wanted to, but I wanted to hold out for o---our wedding night." I can feel the flames of hell rising about me!

"Then you can serve as the bait to draw out the dragon."

"What difference does it make to a stupid dragon if I'm a virgin or not?" Bastila pushed Jaden out of her path.

Jaden rolled her eyes. Carth gaped when he saw her run up to the entrance of the cave, waving her arms and shouting, " Yoo-hoo! Mr. Dragon, here's a non-virgin for ya. Come and get me!" There was one loud whuff from the krayt dragon, but it did not budge.She raced back to the stunned soldier and grinned cheekily. "Now, it's your turn,SG."

Bastila stamped over to the cave. "Hello? V-virgin here. Do you want to…?"

As Bastila went streaking past them, screaming at the top of her lungs, with a roaring train of a dragon pursuing, Jaden smirked. "Guess it does make a difference. Hey, Beastila---lead it back to the left of the entrance. Your right!" She collapsed on the sand in a fit of giggles.

The mines did their work, taking down the huge beast. Since Bastila's feet did not even touch the ground, she was safe from them. She slewed to a stop and marched toward Jaden with murder in her eyes. Cal intercepted her and distracted her by kissing her and telling her how brave she'd been.

Carth thought about spanking the naughty smuggler, but thought he'd save it until a more private moment, like the second he got her alone on the Hawk. She was still laughing as she laid flat in the sand.

Komad approached and Jaden got to her feet. They had a short conversation and the Twi'lek handed her something and departed. Carth came over and looked at the large pearl in her hand.

"Do I need to get you a ring?" he asked nervously.

This discombobulated the smuggler and she blushed. "It was our cut. We can sell it or he told me it works great in a lightsaber."

"Would you accept a ring if I gave one to you?" Carth was pursuing something he knew neither one of them was ready to discuss.

"Just because Komad gave me a pearl as big as my fist, does not mean we have to get engaged. I like us involved, you know, like we are."

"I guess that answers my question." He looked hurt.

Jaden touched his cheek. "The timing's all wrong, flyboy. We've got these star maps to find and we need to locate Revan. We may not make it through this. Seems like something is working against us, like Malak." She kissed him. "You know I love you, and I've never said that to anyone."

He kissed her back. "Okay, I'll let you off the hook for now. Let's go collect the star map and get out of here. Dibs on the shower when we get back!"

Suddenly, they were blocked by speeder bikes that seemed to come out of nowhere and Jaden recognized the leader.

So did Canderous. "Well, well, well, looky here. We got us the Short, the My Bads and the Ugly." He chuckled, but there was no humor in his voice. "I want Calo alive, Jaden."

Carth shook his head. "Nothing worse than a pissed off Mandalorian who was stripped naked and left to die. Come to think of it, the worm left me and Larry to die, too!" He charged off to engage, yelling, "For the Republic!"

"How many?" Jaden asked Cal since she could see he was counting.

"Five."

"And we have…?"

"Eleven."

Jaden grinned and pulled her lightsaber, activating it. "They're toast!"

All eleven rushed over the sand. The five soon dwindled to one. Calo Nord was hurt, but Jaden had kept her promise. To give him credit, the bounty hunter did not grovel at her feet nor beg for mercy.

"What shall we do with him?" Juhani asked.

Some of the looks Calo received did not bode well. Jaden left it up to the three he had strung up naked in the desert to decide his fate. Carth would not hear of doing the same thing to the bounty hunter—it went against his code of ethics. Canderous wanted to gut the man. Larry just wanted to shoot him. Carth was eliminated from the vote and Canderous and Larry came to a unanimous decision: Canderous took Larry's blaster and shot Calo in the gut.

Bastila was horrified. "We cannot let anyone suffer like that, no matter what his crime!" She put her face into Cal's bare shoulder. It was warm and tanned.

Jaden nodded. "I agree." She walked over to the quivering mass of pain and shot him between the eyes. "Much better. Come on, guys. Let's get back to the skiff."

Cal blinked several times as if he'd seen a ghost. "Are you sure Jaden isn't related to Revan?"

Bastila started to tell him the truth, but the heat and the stress got to her and she fainted. Cal picked her up and trudged through the sand all the way back to the Sand People's enclave. He handed her up to Carth and jumped in the skiff.

Jaden stood in the bow, arms crossed over her chest and Cal shuddered. As if she knew what he was thinking, she turned and glared at him. "What?"

He shook his head. "N-nothing." I hope it's nothing.

Jaq revved the engine and they took off, skirting past Bantha like the skiff was a barrel-racer and the Bantha were the barrels. Suddenly, dust flew up and Jaq executed a sharp turn. "What d'ya mean ya forgot the star map?"

A/N I know—long chapter and I do try to keep them at around 7 to 8 pgs, I really do, but there was a lot to do and say and make fun of and spoof. Thanks to all my readers, you know who you are—and I don't own SW and sorry Elton John for screwing up your lyrics. Enjoy, peeps and MTFBWY always!

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