FYI, this chapter contains spoilers for the Taris portion of the smuggler storyline.

Note: Much of the dialog in this chapter has been reprinted without permission from whoever owns the game, (Disney or Bioware, I think, but I can't keep it straight. :P) As always, I don't own anything recognizable; I'm just borrowing and having fun. :)

Taris IV: Clarity

On the borderline,

Somewhere between the flight for freedom

And feeling like you can't move on.

~ "Borderline," by Alison Krauss and Union Station, from the album, Lonely Runs Both Ways

Olaris Spaceport hangar

Tannith didn't like bullies.

She and Corso had just stepped off of the Lucky Strike's boarding ramp when Agent Soganti, the Republic Customs enforcer on this toxic mudball, approached her ship. Clad in the usual, drab attire of most official-types, the Tarisian officer had a self-important gleam in his eye and a swagger in his step, both of which reminded Tannith of his unofficial mission to catch her hand in the proverbial cookie-jar, and she felt the knot of anger that had recently started forming in her chest began to tighten.

"Remember me, Captain Tainn?" It wasn't really a question. Soganti's voice was civil, but barely, and it was only a moment before Tannith and Corso were subtly but effectively hemmed in by the uniformed men who flanked the officer.

"I have some questions about Beryl Thorne," the dark-skinned agent continued, raising a brow looking for all the galaxy like he was daring Tannith to object.

Even with her blasters slung at her hips, Tannith knew she didn't present a very imposing figure, which was why she reckoned this barve had decided to try and make her life miserable from the moment her boots touched the duracrete hangar.

Bad enough Skavak wasn't even on-planet and they were going to have to settle for blasting a couple of his hired guns; bad enough that she and Corso had been stuck on this karking dirtball for far too long; bad enough her own secret had nearly been outed yesterday by a nosy Republic scientist.

Though after a good night's sleep she was fully recovered from the effects of the rakghoul serum, Tannith still felt uneasy about the whole mess with Doctor Cel, primarily because she'd spent so much energy keeping her secret safe and all of her efforts had almost come to nothing. She'd hidden her past for so long that now it was habitual; she could hardly think of another kind of existence. The idea of telling anyone, anyone, about her former life, even about her mild Force-sensitivity, filled her with anxiety.

Suffice it to say, Tannith was not in the best mood to deal with a bully like Soganti.

But practically speaking, arguing with the customs enforcer now would cause unnecessary delay, and as big of a kick as Tannith thought she'd get out of telling him off, she and Corso were on a time-sensitive job.

So she gave the agent her most polite, neutral smile, the kind that would have fit right in at any Jedi Temple. (She chose not to dwell on the irony of that thought.) "Yes?"

As Soganti approached, Tannith swore his swagger became more evident with each step. "I suspect Thorne is smuggling relics, and I think I know how she's doing it. What I lack is proof."

Out of the corner of her eye, Tannith spotted a tightening of Corso's jaw, the kind she knew meant he was holding back a sharp retort. She knew how he felt, and tried not to roll her eyes at the customs enforcer. Beryl had seemed like a kind, decent person, whose motives were good even if her methods were less-than-forthright. No matter what, she wasn't hurting anyone with her actions, (unlike her former partner and first-mate), for all that the Republic Customs agent didn't seem to care about such a piddling matter as decency.

"I need someone to step forward and testify so I can arrest her." Soganti cocked his head at Tannith, adding a raised brow for good measure right before the even cadence of his voice became laced with warning. "I'm looking for an honest citizen, Captain."

This was too much. A bully was a bully, even – or especially – when he was sneaky about it. Everyone present in the spaceport knew that Soganti could simply haul her and Corso in if they had been caught doing anything wrong; he hadn't done so because they were here on legitimate (ish) business, and she knew that must have infuriated the self-righteous, self-important little man.

With this thought she couldn't help but smirk. "Alright. When I see one, I'll let you know."

Clearly not amused, Soganti frowned. "That's funny. Really." A beat passed as he eyed Tannith again, then he began pacing before her and Corso, his words taking on an increasingly lofty tone with each step. "I'm authorized to pay a generous sum for any lead resulting in an arrest. We can help each other out, Captain. You should think about what's best for you."

This last part was said as Soganti came to a stop before Tannith, crossing his arms before his chest as he gave her what she imagined was his most intimidating stare. It made her want to punch him in the nose. Hard. "Are you absolutely sure you don't know anything about Beryl Thorne's activities, Captain Tainn?"

Resist the urge to pummel him, she thought, working to maintain her semblance of indifference. Going to jail would only draw out their stay on this mudball. Beside her, Corso shifted in place, and she wondered idly if he was fighting the same urges. Probably.

It was becoming clearer with each moment that Soganti would never let well-enough alone; he was a man on a mission, and he would probably not rest until he had someone in custody. Well, then. Tannith had a name she could offer; Beryl's first mate and partner had proven himself to be pretty scummy, after all.

Maybe doing so would keep the customs agent busy until she and Corso were light-years away. She gave her most contrite look and tried to sound like she didn't want to hit anyone. "I can tell you that Tyrodall is the real smuggler, Agent Soganti."

"Thorne's partner?" Soganti's brow lifted. "Is that so?"

The skeptical expression that crawled across the customs agent's face made her realize that her hopes of directing his attention away from Beryl were most likely in vain. Soganti had made it pretty clear what he thought about folks like her: that anyone not in a uniform, was a bottom-feeding, lying space-head.

In spite of her efforts to remain calm, the anger that swelled within her was strong enough to make her chest twinge and her jaw prickle, like she'd tasted something sour. Suddenly, the urge to punch Soganti's face shifted to an urge to cause injury to another, more southern region on the guy.

As she took another deep breath to collect herself, Tannith acknowledged that this was why she'd make a terrible Jedi. A Jedi does not hold onto anger or bitterness, she thought wryly, recalling the lessons that had been drilled into her since she was a youngling. A Jedi experiences emotions, but does not let them control her actions or her words.

"What do you have to back up that accusation?" Soganti's brow lifted and his voice dripped with patronizing disbelief.

A good Jedi would have recognized that the customs enforcer was only doing his job and found a way to work with the man, no matter how insufferable he was. In her head, Tannith was rolling her eyes something fierce. Bet he'd believe me if I was a Jedi.

She'd walked away from that life and never looked back, and never once regretted the choice. However, lately it seemed like her past had a way of resurfacing, so when a particularly irreverent idea entered her mind she found the temptation too strong to resist.

Besides, no one could beat a Corellian when it came to the art of bluffing.

Tannith met Soganti's lifted brow with one of her own. "Just my Jedi powers, Agent."

Silence dropped into the hangar with the force of a thermal detonator, and it took every ounce of self-control she possessed not to openly laugh at the expression of shock that crossed Soganti's face. As she smirked at the customs agent, she caught Corso's furrowed brow and the accompanying tilt of his head, both of which indicated his curiosity, but he seemed content to keep quiet and let her do the talking.

She shouldn't have said anything else, because it really was no joking matter, but Soganti was just so damn self-righteous...he would have exasperated even the most staid Jedi and Tannith couldn't stop herself from adding: "The Force told me Tyrodall is evil. Seriously – he's a real gundark's you-know-what."

Beside her, Corso snorted with laughter, though the sound quickly merged into a cough when Soganti shot a glare his way. If looks could kill, Tannith reckoned she and Corso would be maimed pretty bad – at least.

"Laugh it up, all the way to a prison cell," Soganti growled. "Because that's where you're headed."

Oooh...big talk. Saying nothing, she only crossed her arms and gave him a blank look, until the agent gestured to his men and the group of them turned and began to walk away.

She'd hoped they would just leave, but Soganti took a moment to pause and cast a parting comment over his shoulder. "Nobody escapes justice forever, Captain. Nobody."

Tannith chuckled. "Keep practicing that line, Agent. Someday, it might scare someone."

Soganti continued walking, but the set of his shoulders indicated he, too, was ready for this interaction to be over. "Let's go, men."

The second the officers were out of earshot, Corso and Tannith exchanged glances and promptly dissolved into a fit of laughter. The frustration that had been tightening in her chest seemed to bubble up and out, and she felt a huge wave of relief even though their job wasn't over yet.

Tannith laughed until her side ached, hard enough so that her eyes teared up and she had to put a hand on Corso's armored shoulder to steady herself. Like her, he was nearly bent over with mirth, but the instant her hand touched him his laughter quieted.

Alarmed at the sudden change in his mannerism, she straightened and met his eyes. "Corso? Is everything okay?"

As she spoke, she made to lift her palm from his shoulder, but he stilled her by resting his own gloved hand on hers and giving her a soft smile that she thought was meant to reassure. He squeezed once, gently, then indicated the hangar's exit, where Soganti and his lackeys had disappeared. "That agent won't give up. Beryl needs to clear out of here."

Back to business, of course. They had a lot to discuss – she was still unclear on what had happened during her feverish night – but his words reminded her that there were other things more pressing than their personal lives. Hopefully there would be time for all of that later.

But she could still feel his grip around her, even after he released her hand. She sighed and nodded. "Agreed. I don't want her getting caught."

"Me neither," Corso said, and they began to hurry towards the exit. "She's one of the good guys. We should drop by her place before we catch up with Skavak's thugs; it's the least we can do."

Corso's boots echoed in the cavernous room while her own were silent. Neither one of them spoke until they reached the doorway that would lead them into the spaceport proper, then Corso paused and glanced her way. "For what it's worth, Captain, you're doin' the right thing here."

Tannith shrugged. "We both know Beryl hasn't done anything really wrong."

"Yeah, but that's not just what I mean." He took a deep breath and held her eyes with his. "I mean on this whole planet...everything you've done on Taris; I think you've made the right choices, even when they cost you a lot. You care about what happens to these people and that's..."

He trailed off and she watched, amused and captivated, as a flush crept across his face. "Corso?"

"That's...well, I think that's real good of you," he finished at last, rubbing at the back of his neck. "Honestly, I'm not sure I know anyone else who'd go through what you did with the rakghoul serum, just to help out these folks."

For a moment Tannith was stunned into silence. Absently, her hand lifted to smooth away her bangs, and her fingertips brushed against the scar on her cheek. No matter what Corso (or anyone else) thought, she knew it was all a bluff. He was right; not many others in their line of work would have wasted their time with helping the Tarisians.

She wasn't strong enough to be a Jedi and she wasn't savvy enough to smuggle for a living. Do I really belong anywhere?

But those feelings of doubt were fleeting, and she was able to shake them away after a moment. She'd made her choices and she would face them, head-on, though the thought occurred to her that it was a little easier to do so with Corso's steadfast presence at her side. The way he was looking at her, like she was something special, made her want to be better. It made her want to be someone worthy of a look like that.

So she offered him a smile, reached for his hand and squeezed it once in an echo of his earlier gesture to her; doing so pushed away the last of her agitation from the thoughts of her own past, the encounter with Soganti and everything else that had occurred on this world, and left her feeling ready to face what was to come.

"Thanks, Corso. But you know, you're right here with me."

His head dipped once in a nod; his reply was low and quiet, but it filled her with strength. "We're in this together, Tan."

Even when she released his hand he smiled back, and they slipped out of the hangar, side-by-side.

Soganti was too entertaining to not mess with in this fic. :P For those of you not familiar with the game, most of his and Tan's convo is verbatim, as is a little bit that she and Corso shared. The "fluffy" stuff towards the end is all mine. ;)

Thank you for reading!

Next time: a chat with Risha.