Chapter 11 – Trip to Korriban

As the ship jolted into space Carth could feel his heart ache. The thought of Dustil made him anxious he needed to confront him about being a Sith. He didn't know what hurt more the fact that Dustil was a Sith or that the fact he didn't try to contact him after all these years. Carth paced around the ship trying to clear his head. As he passed the cargo hold he caught a glimpse of Shira meditating with Juhani and Bastila. He stopped and gazed at Shira she looked so peaceful, how does she do it? He thought how is she able to push everything away and just sit there in complete peace.

"I wasn't aware that Jedi's meditating was so interesting" said a deep voice behind him.

Carth jumped and turned to see the newest member of their crew Jolee Bindo who was giving him an odd look.

"well boy?" Jolee asked, "what is in there that interest you so?"

"nothing"

"I may be old but I am not stupid!"

Carth said nothing as he glanced back at Shira

"if you keep gazing at her like that your eyes will fall out"

Carth rolled his eyes and turned back to Jolee, "is there something you want?"

"no not at all I was just about to teach these young Jedi's a trick or two when I caught you spying on them"

"I am not spying on them"

"well not on all of them your not" Jolee laughed

"you don't know anything"

"I have lived long enough to know what it means when a man gazes at a woman as you are to Shira"

"I was not…"

"It is not hard to read your thoughts either boy"

"You may be a Jedi but you stay out of my head" he snapped

Jolee chuckled, "fair enough boy but just some advice from this old coot. When it comes to her be careful. She is a Jedi she has the code to follow if she chooses to follow it"

"what do you mean if she chooses to follow it?"

"well she is still human"

Carth smiled at last a Jedi that wasn't like Bastila

Jolee walked into the cargo hold, "and another piece of advice people make choices without knowing all the facts, that can apply to you or your son"

Carth's eyes widened, "my son?"

Jolee smiled, "remember it's not hard to read your thoughts. Something you might want to work on before we get to Korriban"

Carth raised his brow as he watched Jolee disappear into the cargo hold, he read my thoughts? Damn it! I forgot Jedi's can do that Carth's eyes widened and he glanced back at Shira can she read my mind? Shit what if she can? Carth then heard Jolee chuckle from the cargo hold, shit! He thought as he rushed away. He was suddenly stopped in his tracks as he rammed into the steel body of HK-47

"irritated statement: watch where you are walking meatbag"

Carth rubbed his head and looked up at HK, "sorry HK I wasn't looking"

"Irritated statement: isn't that why you have eyes meatbag"

Carth pushed past HK and continued into the garage where he immediately wished he didn't.

"well well look what the Republican dog dragged in" scoffed Canderous as he cleaned his gun. "So I hear we are heading to a Sith planet… good I was looking forwarded to cracking some Sith skulls"

"statement: cracking any type of meatbag skull will be enjoyable"

Canderous laughed, "I love this droid. To bad you're not more like him Carth"

"I don't feel the need to kill every living thing in sight" commented Carth crossing his arms.

Canderous was silent as he aimed his gun at a passing gizka waiting for the perfect shot and then within seconds he fired hitting it clean in the head. Canderous looked up from his gun to Carth with a smile, "so tell me how does it feel to have your own flesh and blood betray you and join the Sith"

"what!" snarled Carth

Canderous laughed, "a Republican dog with a Sith pup. I mean your both mangy mutts that should be put down"

Carth glared at Canderous, "watch your tongue that is my son you are talking about!"

"oh yes your weak, pitiful, pathetic son just like you "

"shut your fucking mouth you bastard!" shouted Carth as his anger reached boiling point

Canderous smiled and stood up, "tell me Carth do you think this news about your son will hinder your chances with Shira"

How dare you bring her into this you have no idea what I feel for her "don't you bring her into this"

Canderous moved closer to Carth still mocking him, "why not Carth? Are you afraid that now she knows how weak you are, that you can't even stop your own son from becoming a Sith that she will go after a real warrior like me"

Dustil becoming a Sith isn't my fault "Shut up! I didn't know he was a Sith until now"

"what kind a man can't protect his son from that? What kind a man doesn't know when his son wants to become a Sith? A pathetic one. Which is exactly what you are"

"Shut your fucking mouth before I shut it for you"

Canderous laughed, "Bring it on Republic dog because once I beat your ass Shira will see what a weak and pathetic man you are and will want to…" he chuckled "have a hot and steamy night…"

Before Canderous could finish Carth struck him in the jaw. Canderous stagger backwards and smiled, "good hit but this is what a punch is really like". Canderous then swung and punched Carth in the gut throwing him backwards against the wall. Carth laid on the ground winded and gasping for air "you insult me, my son and again treat Shira as a toy and play thing for you I will see you burn for that you Mandalorian bastard".

Canderous turned away from Carth with a grunt. Carth glared at him as he slowly stood up. Then Canderous heard running feet. He turned. Carth ran into him, throwing him against the wall with a thundering crash. Fragments of metal stabbed into Canderous's bare arms. Canderous threw Carth off him. He swung a roundhouse punch. Carth bent backward and felt Canderous's knuckles swish past his nose. With his right hand Carth threw a punch at Canderous who caught it in his hand. Carth then tried to throw a punch with his left hand but Canderous caught that to, "is that it?" he laughed as he kneed Carth in the groin.

Carth staggered backwards trying to block out the pain. He glared up at Canderous. As the pain quickly numbed away Carth surprised Canderous with an uppercut to the jaw. The two men continued fighting. They kicked, punched, block, dodge and tackled neither of them willing to give up. They continued beating each other until an unseen forced tore them apart throwing them across the room.

"what the hell is going on in here!" cried Shira

As Carth and Canderous stood up Shira raised her hands in their directions freezing them in their place. "Neither of you will be released until you tell me what the hell is going on" she demanded

"this Republican dog is a…" Canderous's shouted

Carth's shouts then drowned out Canderous's, "this Mandalorian bastard insulted my son and my family and…"

"shut up" she shouted

Both of them stopped talking on her command but not willingly. Carth tired to speak but his words disappeared as he felt an invisible grip on his throat beginning to choke him. He stared at Shira her out stretched hands were slowly becoming fists. What is she doing? Is she trying to kill us? No she wouldn't she must not know she doing it His eyes darted to Bastila then Jolee. The two of them caught the panic in his eyes and told Shira to release them she did so with no argument. His head became light as air filled his lungs. He looked towards Shira who was now talking to Jolee. Carth couldn't hear what they were saying as a high pitch ringing in his ear drowned out everything. Before Carth realized it Shira was standing next to him holding him up and taking him towards the medical bay.

As he limped beside her he gazed at her she seem quite calm did she realize she was choking me? He thought if she did she did then she wouldn't be this calm about it would she? No she wouldn't have she still must be getting used to her Force power. She mustn't have realized how strong she is. She wouldn't have tried to choke me… right?

As Carth sat down on the medical bay bed the ringing in his ears had stopped just in time to hear her yell at him

"what the hell were you thinking fighting Canderous" she yelled

"I am a grown man I …"

"well you you're not acting like one"

"what are you my mother?"

"no… but I don't want to see you get hurt"

You would understand why I fought him if you heard what he said to me "look I can fight my own battles"

Shira laughed, "Well of course you can fight your own battles but I didn't think you were stupid enough to take on a Mandalorian in a fist fight you are half his size"

Carth pouted but remained silent she right but I couldn't let what he said slide I just couldn't

Shira sighed and collected the medipac, "well you were lucky he didn't do more damage to you. But why were you two fighting?"

Carth remained silent

"you know what Carth never mind forget I asked. Now if you don't mind could you lie down so I can check if he broke any bones"

Carth did what she instructed with a smile, "well this is new you patching me up for a change"

Shira laughed, "could you take off your shirt?"

Carth stared at her with a raise eye brow

She just rolled her eyes and said, "So I can check to see if your ribs are broken"

After Carth removed his jacket and shirt Shira check for broken ribs. Her fingers gently ran down his bare chest tracing each rib that she past. Her skin was as soft and light as a feather Carth could feel his body beginning to tremble in desire. He fought to control the one part of his body that could reveal his desire, his lust for her. He gazed up at her calm face god she's beautiful he thought you should kiss her while your both alone he remained still kiss her you fool. Her eyes slowly met his and she smiled. At that one smile his heart began to race and everything around him seem to melt away as he gazed into her eyes.

"you will be glad to hear that you have no broken ribs" she said softly

Carth released his held breath, "so am I okay?"

"well there is some swelling"

Carth hastily glanced towards his groin and then back at her.

Shira seem to notice his hasty glance as she giggled, "no the swelling is in your face where Canderous left you some cuts and bruises"

Carth sighed with relief, "so how long do you think it will take to heal?"

"it depends if I give you kolto the cuts and bruises should heal quickly but the swelling might not go down for a day or two but…" she rubbed her hands nervously

"but?" he said encouraging her to continue

"but… if I use The Force healing technique it should all be healed immediately… hopefully"

"hopefully?"

She looked away from him, "I just learned it and I haven't tested it yet"

Hmm lets see have a swollen face for a few days or be a test subject to Shira new technique… hard choice…well its only healing what harm could it really do? … Carth laughed nervously, "well I have just been in a fight with a Canderous and he didn't kill me so what's the worse thing this Force healing can do"

Shira warmly smiled at him, "okay then let's give it a shot..." she then placed her hands over Carth's face "now just hold still"

Shira gently cupped Carth's cheek with one hand and hovered her other over his eyes. She deeply inhaled as she closed her eyes. Immediately Carth could feel a warm sensation fill him as if warm water slowly flowed across his face healing every thing it touched. He closed his eyes the sensation was extraordinary and he wanted to savor it. Within seconds the warm flow retreated back into Shira's hands and he opened his eyes to see her grinning at him

"It worked my first healing was a success"

Carth smiled softly but notice her hand still cupped his cheek this is your chance kiss her. He covered her hand with his own keeping it on his cheek as he sat up. "thank you" he said as he slid her hand to his lips and kissed her palm tenderly.

Shira blushed, "you don't know if it worked if I'm lying to you to make you feel better"

Carth released her hand and then cupped her cheek, "I know" he leaned in close to her so their lips were almost touching, "but I don't care" he whispered as he yanked her to him and covered her mouth with his in a hungry kiss. She responded immediately, which surprised him but only made him want her more. Her mouth was so warm, the caress of her lips softer than he remembered. He tasted tentatively with his tongue, and Shira opened her mouth with a low moan. Carth pulled her onto his lap as his tongue went deeper into her mouth. She moaned and slowly began to grind against his groin. Shira broke the kiss as she pulled off her robe and pushed him down onto the bed. Carth gazed up at her, lust and affection in his eyes. She was still fully clothed minus the robe and all he could think was damn it why do Jedi's have to wear so many layers of clothes…but still she is so beautiful. Shira began to tenderly kiss him down the neck making her way down his chest. Each kiss sent a jolt of pleasure through his body making his groin become harder. Shira made her way to the top of his pants she looked up at him and smiled as her hands began to undo his belt.

Suddenly the two of them froze as someone banged on the door.

"Padawan do you need help with healing Carth? You two have been in there for a while and I sense something is wrong"

"shit its Juhani!" whispered Shira as she snatched her robe and put it back on

"did you lock the door?" he asked hastily

"yes now put your shirt on and keep your back facing the door you don't want her seeing…" she glanced down at his groin "your rather obvious erection"

"shit" he hissed as he threw on his shirt and jacket turning away from the door as she opened it

Juhani stared at them strangely, "is everything alright Padawan?"

"of course it is Juhani I just healed Carth face" replied Shira

"with The Force?"

"yep"

"marvelous Bastila will be pleased with your progress…now Carth could you turn around so I can how well she did"

Carth took a deep breath and tried to relax himself as he turned his upper body slightly so Juhani could see his face

Juhani smiled, "well done Shira all the cuts, bruises and swelling are gone"

Shira returned the smile, "thank you Juhani I just hope I can heal more difficult wounds in the future"

"you will in time but enough of talking Bastila and Jolee would like you to return to the cargo hold for some more training now"

Shira sighed "tell them I will be right there"

Juhani nodded and left.

Carth let out a huge breath, "that was a close one huh" he said turning fully towards Shira

She chuckled, "I thought we were real trouble there"

Carth couldn't help but laugh, "with Malak and all the Sith in the galaxy chasing as and we are acting like teenagers scared of being caught by the others as if they were our parents"

Shira giggled at the thought, "well I guess it's kind of nice I never got to experience that rush of being caught with a guy by my parents before… well I never had parents or a guy to have that experience"

"Really you must have been with guys before"

Shira smiled, "yeah of course I have been with more then a dozen but all of them were a causal thing"

"Wait… what… how many?" said Carth feeling shocked and slightly intimidated by the number of men

Shira just smiled and kiss him a on the cheek, "well I better go see Bastila before she sends out a search party"

Carth watched her disappear down the hallway leaving him still shocked at the statement she made. Did she say more then a dozen? How many more? She has been with more then a dozen men and I have only been with my wife. Wait she said they were all a causal thing does this mean she has serious feeling for me like I do for her. The thoughts swam through his mind but soon faded away and were replaced by the lingering feeling of Shira lips.

Carth looked out into the hallway, he didn't want to leave the medical bay, he didn't want all his worries and pain about his son and life to return. For that moment that he and Shira were alone and together nothing else mattered, all his worries, pain disappeared. You can't just stay in here forever he thought. Carth sighed "I know" he sniffed the air the sweet smell of Shira hair still filled it "I'm just going to stay a few more seconds". As the smell vanished Carth took a deep breath he had no more excuses to stay so he returned to the cockpit.

A/N: my first attempt at a fist fight hope it is good I just felt that Canderous had finally pushed the wrong button with Carth and Carth felt like punching him for it lol.

And things got a little steamy with Carth and Shira my first real attempt at a moment like that so I hope you like it

Thanks to all those reading and reviewing I always get the inspiration to write more when I see reviews and more people adding this story to their list of favorite so thank you all