Chapter 9: Taris: Duels

~Phoenix~

"I am not going into the duel ring, Carth."

Carth's eyes furrowed and he then spoke, "Damn it, Phoenix why not?"

I folded up my arms, "We need to get some things settled between us and we need to get them settled now. You didn't fully answer my questions and I can't work with you until we get all these things settled."

Carth grumbled a bit, "Oh. Well, if it's an interrogation you wanted, why didn't you say so? "

"I never said that…."

"No, I was just joking, though you do seem to be full of questions."

I grinned, Excellent. Soon all your secrets will be mine! "

Carth shook his head, "All my secrets are purely of the mundane variety, unfortunately. Nothing worth extracting, though you're welcome to try."

I shook my head, "Just answer my damn questions, already"

"Pretty snappy with those orders….very well." He saluted me as if I was an admiral with the Republic fleet. "Go ahead….fire away, ma'm."

I was about to say something but then he interjected, "But since we are laying all our cards out on the table now. I've got some questions as well."

I folded up my arms, "Now hold on, Republic….I believe I asked fir…."

He held up his hand, "I've been going through the battle aboard the Endar Spire over and over in my head since we crashed. Some things just don't add up for me. Maybe you could tell me what happened… from your perspective. "

I frowned, what exactly was he getting at, "Like you told me. Bastila ended up not able to use her Battle meditation."

"True. Bastila is as powerful as they say… she's the one who defeated Darth Revan, after all. Hmm. I guess that no Jedi ability, no matter how powerful, makes up for being completely surprised and outmatched. We didn't choose that battle, anyway. It got forced on us. Hell, I'm just surprised that any of us are alive to talk about it. 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?"

I rolled my eyes, "Are you accusing me of something? I told you before I was a smuggler. I was recruited because of my background and my knowledge."

Carth furrowed his eyes and glared at me. I would have probably laughed, Yet I could tell he was dead serious.

"Isn't it odd, however, that a smuggler who was added to the crew at the last minute just happens to be alive? "

"What! Would you prefer I wasn't here at all."

"No. 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…

"Well, there were others that were added too..."

"Yes...but they didn't have the skills or the background you have, and it's odd that you were added to Bastila's party."

"What are you trying to say….are you hinting that I am some sort of spy or mole for the Sith and have something to do with the Endar Spire getting destroyed. Trust me, Carth. There are about a million other places in the galaxy I would prefer to be than here."

"I am just saying….it's odd that a person of your skills and background, just happened to be part of Bastila's party….AND happened to survive."

"Look Carth, you said it yourself. The Sith want Bastila. I am not a spy, I am not a mole….and I have nothing to do with what happened to the Endar Spire. I am just a Smuggler, a gun runner, and I wish I had never signed up with the Republic fleet if I knew the ship was going to blow up and I'd get stuck with such a paranoid guy like you, Republic. If you want to think that I am something more than I am….fine…..stay paranoid for all I care."

"I'm not trying to be paranoid. It's just that I learned a long time ago that something which looks like a coincidence probably isn't. Especially when the Jedi are involved. "

"And what do the Jedi have to do with this?"

The Jedi requested numerous things when they came aboard… hell, they practically took over the ship, as far as I could tell. Considering your connection to Bastila, and the Jedi… whether you know it or not… your presence here seems a little convenient. 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.

"Surprises?"

"I mean I have to expect the unexpected. Just to be safe. "

I stared straight at his face, I felt like leaving him right then and there, but then where would I go? The Sith? Yea, right. I had killed one of their men the other day, so nope I was stuck with the paranoid Republic.

"I don't believe this. I am the one who was supposed to be asking the questions and….it turns out I am the one getting interrogated. Look Republic, I had nothing to do with the destruction of the ship. I signed on with the Jedi because I needed a job."

"I expect you're right. I've got no real reason to suspect you of anything. Still… it's better to be safe than sorry, right? "

"Coruscant to Carth….come in Carth…..are you there? We are on the same side, We're supposed to be looking for Bastila. If you want to grill Bastila about this when we find her, feel free because I am getting really sick of this. Oh, wait….." I paused, "How could I be so dumb! You can't, can you? Bastila's our commanding officer, you question her, you could get court marshaled or demoted in rank. So it's pick on me because I was hired on and have no rank. It's all beginning to make sense now."

"Look… I am working with you, I'd be a fool not to. But it has nothing to do with you, personally. I don't trust anyone, and I have my reasons. And, no, I'm not going to discuss them. So can we just keep our mind on more important things?"

I shook my head, "Geesh, Republic do you know what you sound like? You'll work with me but you don't trust me. I've never been so insulted in my entire life. I am going….do you hear me! I am going, because I feel like I want to pound someone into the ground. Since it can't be you, I'll go take it out on Deadeye Duncan instead."

Carth winced as I stormed out of the apartment.

I felt like I wanted to drown myself in tons of Tarisian ale and at the moment I crossed into the cantina. I headed up to the bar and then turned away disgusted. No, I had to keep my head and my wits about me. All I needed to do was get roaring drunk, get picked up by the Sith for drunk and disorderly conduct and Bastila could kiss her chances for rescue goodbye. I disgustedly walked away and bumped into a girl who barked at me. "Where did you get those clothes – a trash compactor in the Lower City? And where are those drinks we ordered?"

I wasn't in the mood for this and I said angrily, "Go space yourself….."

"How dare you speak to me like that! Daddy's going to hear about this!"

"Yea, whatever….."

The girl stormed away about as angrily as I felt. I found the dueling office and groaned as in the middle of the room was a Hutt. Wonderful, I thought. It's bad enough the Hutts took away my ship, I've got to grovel in front of them to set up a damn fight.

I went up to the Hutt, "Hey….I am here to set up a fight. My….." I paused, "My agent spoke to you earlier. I am the Mysterious Stranger."

The Hutt laughed and said in Huttesse, "Wonderful, you duel and make me rich. You get 10% of the purse for winning."

I glared, "I want more than just 10%"

The Hutt could see I was angry, "Save your anger for the arena, Stranger. I pay you more, then everyone wants more. No, you get the same as all the others – ten percent. That's my final offer."

I sighed, "Fine….set me up."

~Carth~

I felt like a two cred chip piece. Yet, I was so certain that there was something off about Phoenix. I couldn't explain it. My instincts were never wrong, if only I had listened to them when Saul Karath betrayed the Republic to the Sith. Everything about Phoenix screamed at me that there was something about her that was wrong. She feels wrong, and she acts wrong. What is it about her that makes me not want to trust her? Maybe that was paranoia kicking in but I trusted my instincts even over people. My instincts had always served me well in the Republic Fleet going up after Sith fighters and Sith squadrons. Perhaps this is why Admiral Dondonna had me attached to the Endar Spire, my instincts, as the Admiral could count on me to smell trouble a mile away. However, it seemed to me that these instincts weren't without a cost.

Phoenix yelled at me, "I am going….do you hear me! I am going, because I feel like I want to pound someone into the ground. Since it can't be you, I'll go take it out on Deadeye Duncan instead."

I sighed, I probably deserved that and I winced as Phoenix stormed out of the room. I cursed my instincts. Those instincts I had that so long ago the Jedi had told me as a young child was the Force. Yet, that was the only glimmer of the Force that I had, at least that's what the Jedi had said so many years ago when I grew up on Telos. I think it disappointed my parents. They wanted another Onasi Jedi in the family. There hadn't been one for at least fifty years. So all my family got with me was a Republic Fleet Pilot in the Republic Military Corps. I sighed as I slowly got up. I better make sure Phoenix didn't get into trouble. She had a habit of liking alcoholic spirits, that's all I needed on my hands was a drunk mercenary. So I quietly followed after her from the apartment. She went straight into the Cantina and sure enough, she walked up to the bar. I groaned this was all my fault, I had driven Phoenix to a drinking binge. However, I was pleasantly surprised when she moved away from the bar. However, her anger ticked off some Tarisian adolescent and I cringed, that could be trouble later on. I kept out of Phoenix's way as she went to the dueling office and set up a fight. She'd only yell at me and I really didn't feel like another round of Phoenix's wrath. The fight set, I took my datapad and held it up so Phoenix didn't see my face as she stormed out of the dueling office. I quietly pretended to read the Tarisian Times, a periodical which seemed more like Sith Propaganda than any real news of any importance. I snorted as I caught an article about how Lord Malak was going to reform the educational system on Taris. Oh please, that's all the galaxy needed was a bunch of angry Tarisian Sith kids.

~Oo0~

A few hours later….

I went and claimed my place as a promoter and Agent to the Mysterious Stranger. However, many of the other duelists' agents snickered at me. The agent for Deadeye Duncan, a short overweight man, named Loran laughed, "So you're the agent for the Mysterious Stranger. Take my word for it son; Deadeye will wipe the floor with her." I raised my eye at that, "And how many fights has Deadeye lost?"

"Fifty-four…but I remember when he was a top fighter in these matches."

I shook my head, "He should retire. You do realize he's the laughing stock of Taris or does Ajuur pay you to keep him in the ring?"

Loran glared at me, "Duncan still packs in crowds. I get my cut; this is a business after all."

I shook my head, "And I bet you tell Duncan that one of these days he'll win."

"Hey, it could happen."

"And Hutts will grow wings and fly."

Loran glared at me but was quiet when the announcer announced the match. I watched as Phoenix happened to glance at me briefly and then icily turned away.

Loran laughed, "It's too bad the name Ice is taken. Your Mysterious Stranger seems a bit cold tonight. I am sure you could probably heat her up later on this evening."

I glared at him, "Don't you dare talk about my fighter like that and if you do so again, you'll be minus a few teeth."

Loran laughed, "Oh I touched a nerve. Maybe we should be in the ring instead of our fighters."

I pulled out my blaster but kept it downward in a non-threatening manner as I could, "I could take you down if I wanted to, but I won't. You're just as broken down as Duncan. It wouldn't be worth the effort. Take your damn cut from the Hutt and leave me and the Stranger alone."

Loran nodded and was quiet. The fight commenced and I watched as Phoenix charged madly after Duncan….

~Phoenix~

I was in the duel ring, I was angry and I probably acted rashly in the fact that I spent most of our savings on a really expensive piece of Echani armor and a fancy double bladed Echani ritual blade. I was sick of having to pick up the slack for Carth. I was the one making all the credits here and if he didn't appreciate me, he could space himself.

I looked around the spectator's circle from the duel ring taking in all the spectators, My eyes suddenly went to Carth. He was siting in a specialized seating area for promoters and agents. He looked at me and looked like he wanted to say something to me but I turned away and gave him the cold shoulder.

The announcer suddenly announced…..

You've seen him lose night after night after night. But this time, he's after fresh meat. In this corner, I give you Deadeye Duncan!

And in the other corner, a relative newcomer to the Taris dueling scene. Emerging from the shadows with no history, no past and no name... the Mysterious Stranger!

Wonderful I thought, talk about hyperbole.

The fight began and I went running with really no purpose or direction. Duncan fired his blaster at me and I ignored the pain that jolted through me. It felt like being stung by a swarm of fire gnats and I glared at Duncan imagining it was Carth and I swung at Duncan with my duel blade with a fury. I looked at Carth for a moment and he winced as I pummeled Duncan with blow after blow. That's right, Republic, I wish Duncan was you. Finally, Duncan groaned and collapsed in a heap.

I snorted and moved my sweaty hair out of my eyes as the announcer announced,

"It's over folks…..Deadeye is down. The Mysterious Stranger has won. But really, are any of us surprised? Deadeye losing isn't news. You have to do better than that to impress us, Stranger!"

I collected my measly winnings from the Hutt and proceeded to walk back to the apartment, maybe just maybe Carth would be ready to talk with me seeing how peeved off I was.

~Carth~

Boy, I sure was glad that I wasn't Deadeye Duncan. I watched as Phoenix gave impassioned swing after impassioned swing at the fighter. She acted like she was on stims. Maybe she was, although I doubted it. She was heated and energized because of our fight. I winced, although the fight was non-lethal, I could have sworn I saw blood dripping from Duncan's nose. The man dropped to the ground, clearly dazed and unquestionably punch drunk.

I got up from my seat after the fight and went to find Phoenix, I needed to head her off before she did anything crazier, maybe like pull the wings off of a few insects, because she stormed out of the ring apparently still mad at me. It was a good thing too because as she exited the cantina and I followed after her, there were apparently hired thugs waiting for her on the way back to the apartment.

~Phoenix~

I found my path blocked by two rodians and that annoying girl who demanded I get her drinks. Oh….yea she did say something about her father hearing about me treating her rudely.

I still wasn't in the mood for this and I proceeded to swing my duel blade at them and I heard my name being called.

"Phoenix….."

I looked briefly behind me as I saw Carth come upon the scene, "So now you come, Republic."

He took out his blasters and fired upon the Rodian thugs. They collapsed in heap and the woman went off crying, "Daddy…..."

I folded up my arms and he said calmly, "Phoenix, I am sorry. I am sorry about what I said. And…." He paused, "Remind me not to get on your bad side."

I glared at him, "I am still mad at you, Republic."

He sighed,"I knew you wouldn't understand where I was coming from. Let me try to explain. You've got the skills of an elite commando, and you've saved my butt more than once. Between that and your facility with languages, I'm lucky you're here. But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop watching you or being wary. I'm just not built that way. Period."

"Not built that way? That sounds like an excuse."

"Maybe so. But I've been betrayed before by people I… well, it won't happen again, that's all."

"What did I do to deserve to be treated like this?"

"You, uh… haven't done anything *yet*. But there's no guarantee that you won't do anything in the future. I've been betrayed before by people and I… well, it won't happen again."

I rolled my eyes, "But I have given you no sign that I am going to betray you!"

"I don't know that you'll betray me. But there are no guarantees… not for you, not for me. You don't have to take it personally."

"Really Republic, don't take it personally! How do you expect me to take it!"

I began to walk away yet again, I looked over the dead Rodian thugs and checked them over to see if there was anything I could use from them. I found some credits and some stims. Figures that hired thugs would have stims on them.

Carth followed behind me, really, was he like my kath hound or something. Geeze, couldn't he tell I was still upset?

"Stop following me, Republic!"

He paused and looked hurt, his eyes looked pained. Something bad must have really happened in his life that he felt like this about everything.

"I am not going to change, Phoenix."

"Yea….I can tell, and I am sick of your attitude."

"Yeah, well, you wouldn't be the first. Look… I don't expect you to be my friend. This is just the way I am, no need to take it personally. "

"Really, Republic, I am beginning to wonder if you're even capable of trusting anyone."

"Well, you can stop wondering. I'm not."

I walked back to the apartment and despite my telling Carth not to follow me. He did, well what did I expect, we both really didn't have any other place to go.

I began to look for the gear, When I found the bag, I opened it up and began separating my stuff from Carth's. I finally decided I could always live at the Cantina. I had done it in the past, I could do it again.

"Phoenix….. don't go."

I shook my head, "Has it ever occurred to you, that you could betray me!"

"Me?"

"Yes, you! Why should I trust you, after all? "

"You shouldn't. If you're smart, you won't trust anyone… not me, not Bastila, and especially not yourself. "

"Why not you? Accusing other people is a good cover for a traitor."

"I don't remember ever saying anything about "traitor". All I mean is that if you're smart, you won't trust anyone… not me, not Bastila and especially not yourself."

"That's heartless, Republic and pretty damn pithy."

"I don't need to be analyzed, thanks. Can we just get back to business? "

I looked up at him and shook my head negatively, "I wouldn't want to live like that. "

"Not all of us have the luxury of choice. I'm conditioned this way, sorry."

I packed up what little I had and proceeded to head for the exit," I don't need someone around who doesn't trust me."

"And I don't need all these questions. What I do need is to try and save the galaxy, if that's even possible."

"Well apparently saving the galaxy doesn't include me."

"Why is whether or not I trust you or anyone so damned important to you? Why… why do you even care? We don't have time for this, so can we please just… drop it. For now?"

"Goodbye Carth Onasi. If you ever decide to trust me or explain why you feel this way, I'll be at the cantina."