Chapter Ten -- "Look here, Flyboy..."

Carth and Nace sat together on a bench, deciding to enjoy the warmth of Taris' sun. Though some other Tarisians were enjoying the weather as well, not many sat in the designated rest stop; most were bustling about the streets, busy with their own affairs. The two Republic soldiers, however, wanted to give themselves a short break before resuming their search for the Jedi Knight, Bastila.

While the two were enjoying a companionable silence, Nace's thoughts fell on the conversation that she and Carth had had in the cantina, and how brusquely Carth had blown off her questions. Curious about his past, and feeling slightly challenged, Nace decided to ask some more questions.

"Hey, Carth?"

Carth turned to face Nace, looking accommodating. "Yes? What's on your mind?"

"Is this a good time to ask you some more questions?" Nace asked, biting her lip slightly. She didn't want Carth to react badly again.

Carth, who was in a particularly good mood, replied, "I'm all ears, Beautiful."

Nace's eyebrows rose a little, surprised at this new development, but not disappointed. "I like the sound of that."

"Which? The fact that I'm all ears or the 'Beautiful' part?"

"The 'Beautiful' part. Keep calling me that," Nace responded, all smiles.

Carth chuckled. "I might consider it. What are you going to call me, in exchange?"

"How about 'handsome thug'?"

Carth's grin widened. "I like the first part of that. I'm a bit more partial to 'the most handsome pilot in the galaxy'. What do you think?"

"I'll think about it."

"Well, then, I guess 'gorgeous' will have to do until then, won't it?" Carth teased, laughing. "Kidding aside, I bet you're not about to give up on those questions of yours. Are they really necessary?"

Nace stopped herself from wincing; she knew that an assault was about to come from the high-tempered soldier. "I just would like to know you better."

"Oh, well, if it's an interrogation you wanted, why didn't you say so?" Carth asked moodily. He was obviously unsatisfied with her answer.

Nace's eyes narrowed. "Are you getting testy again?"

"I don't get testy. I get angry. And if I was angry, you wouldn't have to ask me if I was, let me assure you." Carth told Nace angrily.

Nace's mouth opened, a retort lying on the tip of her tongue that was of an equal taste. She did not appreciate his anger or his shortness towards her, considering the fact that she had been very tactful about the issue. Carth, who evidently saw these facts plain on her face, spoke quickly.

"Let me ask you something first, though. I've been going through the battle aboard the Endar Spire over and over in my head since we crashed." Carth, too, had been thinking during their silent enjoyment of Taris, and none of it was positive. "Some things just don't add up for me. Maybe you could tell me what happened, from your perspective."

Nace, unsure of where Carth was going with this, responded slowly with, "I wasn't in a position to know what was going on, really."

"Neither was I, to tell the truth. I was onboard as an advisor for the most part. The battle began so fast, it's anyone's guess as to what actually happened." Carth's voice grew louder and angrier as he progressed. It was obviously a sore subject with him. "We lost the ship and a lot of good people... And for what? On the hope that Jedi powers would save us, somehow. Not that Bastila had much of an opportunity to act. We didn't choose that battle anyway. It got forced on us. Hell, I'm just as surprised that any of us are alive to talk about it." Carth, who hadn't been facing Nace's direction, suddenly swung his head towards her confrontationally. "Come to think of it, it's more than a little surprising that you happen to be here, isn't it? Just what is your position with the Republic fleet, anyway?"

"Why? Are you accusing me of something?" Nace asked after crossing her arms, not liking where their conversation was going, or the look that the soldier was giving her.

One of Carth's eyebrows rose slightly. "Not at all. I just think it's a bit odd that someone who got added to the crew roster at the last minute just happens to be one of the survivors."

Offended, Nace asked him, "You'd rather I wasn't?"

"Don't be ridiculous. You've more than proved yourself since the crash... We wouldn't have made it this far without you. But still..."

Nace, pointed towards her chest indignantly. "Are you implying that I had something to do with the crash?" She was astonished and greatly offended that his mind would even stray to the subject.

"No. Well... Maybe. Don't get me wrong, it just seems off that someone Bastila's party specifically transferred aboard just happened to survive."

Nace found herself surprised at the fact that a Jedi, of all people, had specifically requested her, with good reason of course. It wasn't as if she had any outstanding or rare skills, other than her fluency in alien languages. Forgetting her anger for a moment, she asked, "Why would Bastila request my transfer?"

"The Jedi requested numerous things when they came on board... Hell, they practically took over the ship, as far as I could tell," Carth answered amicably, at least compared to his previous accusatory tones. Realizing that he was being derailed, Carth continued on his previous train of thought. "Considering your connection to Bastila and the Jedi... Whether you know it or not... Your presence here seems a little convenient," the man said. He stopped thoughtfully for a few moments, then said, "I'm probably wrong and this is probably nothing, I know. I learned a long time ago not to take things at face value, however. And I hate surprises."

By now, Nace's anger was boiling over. I can't believe that this... this sexless marsh toad is accusing me of treason!, the petite woman thought angrily. "Shouldn't we be trying to work together?" she cut in, thoroughly pissed off.

"I am working with you. I'd be a fool not to. I'd also be a fool not to expect the unexpected." Carth answered matter-of-factly.

Nace got up from the bench, so angry that she could hit the man. "Are you always this suspicious?" she asked Carth.

Carth, seeing her anger, backed down a little. "Look... It has nothing to do with you, personally. I don't trust anyone, and I have my reasons." Seeing Nace's open mouth and anticipating what was going to come out of it, Carth continued. "And no, I'm not going to discuss them. So can we just keep our mind on more important things?"

"I consider this important," Nace yelled, emphasizing her point by pointing towards the ground forcefully.

Carth raised his hands above his head in surrender. "Alright, alright. You must be the most damned persistent woman I've ever met! We'll talk about it..." Carth started, and, seeing that Nace was about to interject, continued quickly, "But later. Right now I just want to get going."

And with that last statement, Carth got up before Nace could continue the argument. He began to walk quickly in the direction of their apartment building, intend on avoiding the situation. Nace, however, had different plans; noticing where the soldier was headed, asked forcefully, "Where are you going?" She wasn't done with him yet.

"Back to the apartments. You're in-"

"No," Nace answered forcefully and concisely, crossing her arms.

Surprised at such rage the small woman could put in such a small statement, Carth turned back to face Nace, and saw one of the angriest looking women he had ever seen. Nace stood with her arms crossed, looking very adamant and very dangerous, and her rock-hard stare was pointing directly at Carth. Afraid of what she might do to him, Carth tried to reason with the angry recruit.

"Nace, with your leg-"

"We're not going to find that Force damned super Jedi without actually looking for her, now are we?" Carth opened his mouth, but Nace didn't let the man speak. "No, we're not! Now, look: I'm going down to the Lower City whether you like it or not, and I'm going now."

And, with that, Nace walked away from the man quickly, emphasizing her steps with forceful stomps. Before long, however, her angry pace began to hurt her leg, but she ignored it and just kept on walking; because of this, she quickly developed a limp.

Carth, not wanting her to slip away, and despite her anger at him, followed Nace. "Nace, wait!"

Nace stopped and turned around sharply, her hands on her hips. "What?"

Instinctively, Carth raised his hands in defense. "Look, Beautiful --" he began, trying to douse her anger.

"Beautiful? Beautiful? Look here, Flyboy, I'm not --"

"What is thish planet coming to, huh? Shlummies just walkin' around the Upper City!" Looking to the cause of their interruption, Carth and Nace found four drunks, stumbling their way around the Tarisian rest area. The first drunk, who the two assumed was the one who spoke, asked, "Shouldn't you go back to the Lower Cities where you belong shlummies?"

Nace rolled her eyes. "Well, this is rich."

The second drunk decided to interject his opinion. "Yeah, like he said, these shtreets are for the Upper City citizens! You better get out of the way if you know what's good for you!"

"Hey guys," Carth told them, before they started anything. He didn't want to cause a scene. "We can all be friends here. Let me buy you a drink," he assured them, taking a gamble and assuming that they were too drunk to realize that they weren't in a bar.

The first drunk blinked stupidly for a few moments, then exclaimed excitedly, "A drink? Hey -- for a shlummie you ain't so bad! Come on boys -- this shlummie's buying the next round!"

"No way!" the second drunk said, pushing the first to make his point. "Forget it! No more drinksh! We're late enough as it is."

The first drunk blinked again, then said, "Uh yeah. I guess you're right," then the drunk pushed Carth friendly-like, and said, "Maybe next time shlummie. Come on fellas, let's go," the drunk finished, looking to his friends. The other three drunk Tarisians nodded, and left the rest area, stumbling the entire way.

Disclaimer:

If you don't know by now, you're not very observant. I only own Nace.

Note:

Oh, bad move, Carth-man. :P