A/N: Fabulous readers, bushels of thanks. For those who left reviews, buckets of gratitude for your kindness and graciousness.

I truly appreciate you all.

Rochelle

Chapter Twenty

Freedom

"It always seems impossible until it's done."

- Nelson Mandela

"Get out of the way Canderous, I can take them," Carth's voice boomed through the built in headset of the tactical gear they were wearing. "I've got a clear shot. That is if you move your metal ass," he snapped.

Canderous dropped to the ground with a metalical thud, his Mandalorian armor so heavy that the room shook upon his landing. He laid on his back, with his weapon ready. The pair had been trying to get a clear line of sight for minutes, but friendly's kept crossing their path.

"Fine Boss, you gonna' use that boomstick or not?" Canderous shot back.

A barrage of blaster bolts flew over top of Canderous finding their intended target. A group of large wookies who were loyal to Chuundar. The insuregents had surrounded Zaalbar, and of course Traviata who had somehow wound up in the middle of them. Where would she be but someplace making it difficult for him to cover her six, when the confrontation turned violent?

There was already an intense battle going on when Carth and Traviata arrived to the upper levels. The Commander was unhappy to find the entire crew of the Hawk was taking part in it too, leaving no one to protect the ship, or a Jedi who could conveniently heal should they need it. Carth had immediately sent Mission and Bastilla back to the ship to guard it. It was ready for takeoff and that made it an extremely desirable comodity for the besieged Czerka personnel.

The rest of the group fought their way to the throne room where Zalbaar and Chuundar were. It had been the only place where the fighting hadn't reached until shortly after they arrived.

"Doesn't matter, ten will rise to take their place," Chuundar boasted, his eyes surveying his fallen soldiers.

"You cannot beat me Zaalbar. No one will support a criminal exile and these outsiders," Chuundar continued.

"But they will support me," Freyyr bellowed bursting in through a hidden side entrance, followed by many wookies himself.

"Not if you're dead," Chuundar roared, before raising his double bladed sword.

Zaalbar blocked the blow with his own blade. "Now you attack our father? Our leader?Your betrayal must be answered for. There is no other way. You must die brother."

The room erupted into a free for all, wookies and Czerka guards poured in from everywhere.

Traviata backed to a far wall, fighting with her lightsaber, letting the Force guide her movements. Jolee and Juhani were on the other side of the room, their light sabers slicing through their opponents.

It was over almost as soon as it started, Chuundar never stood a chance against the firepower packed into the throne room.

Carth's questioning eyes found Traviata on the other side of the room. She seemed to be unharmed with half a dozen dead surrounding her on the wooden floor. You could tell which bodies the Jedi wounded with their sabers, there was no blood pooled around those.

Traviata nodded, a few seconds later she was at Carth's side. "I'm fine. The others are as well."

"Good," he replied. "Zaalbar and Freyyr seem okay, too. We need to go. I already sent Canderous to the Hawk, to have her ready to take off the moment our feet hit the ramp. We've got no time."

"He has a deep affection for them," Traviata commented, her eyes on Jolee speaking to Freyyr and a small group of wookies. "He's going to miss them a great deal. I told him he could come with us, he accepted. Where's Juhani?"

"She said she'd guard the door outside until we were ready to go," he said his eyes darting to the door and back. "Yeah. I heard you talking to Jolee over the headset, " Carth acknowledged quietly, loosening the strap of his helmet before sliding it off.

Traviata took off her helmet, grateful for the cool air. "Listen Carth- I know you're not happy-"

"Just save it for later. I have other things on my mind right now. I need to get us off Kashyyyk and fast. Like I said before, we've got no 's say goodbye to Zaalbar," Carth interrupted, already taking a step in his direction. "Fast though. Got it?"

Traviata hesitated before following him. He was still mad and worried. He was about to get another surprise crew member, hopefully this one would be well received.

"I'm sorry Zaalbar, about your brother I mean," Carth said approaching the wookie, picking his way around the bodies now strewn about the room. Killing your own brother couldn't be easy under any circumstance. "He really didn't give you much of a choice."

Zaalbar nodded as his father and Jolee joined them.

"Well I'm afraid we are going to have to leave now, but hopefully we will meet again one day. A Sith cruiser is in orbit, no doubt looking for us. Sorry to cause you any extra trouble," Carth apologized. "Zaalbar, thanks for all your help. I wish you and your people the best."

Zaalbar roared his response, followed by Freyyr's.

"Zaalbar says he's coming with you. It's all arranged. His father will be Chieftain once again. Freyyr is in agreement," Traviata explained. "He wants to stay with you and help you Carth. He won't take no for an answer either."

"Never turn away the help of a wookie, Sonny. Especially one as loyal and fierce as Zaalbar," Jolee put in.

Carth's eyes held Zaalbar's for a moment before turning to Traviata. "Okay then. If he's sure. Good luck to you Freyyr, it looks like you have things well in hand," he paused, turning to Jolee. "You can call me Carth, Onasi, Commander, Captain or any combination of those; pick one or all. But stop calling me Sonny."

"Bah, okay Sonny. I'll meet you two at the ship. Hope it has soft beds, I've really missed soft beds," Jolee mumbled to them before using the Force to speed off.

Carth shot Traviata a sideways look before heading to the door, he opened it to find Juhani there, he shot her another look. Great now there were three of them on board with her. Three Jedi with questionable motives as far as he was concerned.

He replaced his helmet, hearing fighting nearby, the wookie's battle for freedom still going on. Wookie Freedom Fighters; he liked the sound of that. One good thing had come from this mission so far at least, and he played a small part in it; the idea brought a sense of satisfaction and pride. He watched the wookies fighting Czerka slavers nearby, the wookies decimated them quickly. Their victorious roars echoing throughout the area.

"This is what the Jedi help do, the real Jedi. They help free the oppressed. That is what they did for me, and why I always wanted to be a Jedi," Juhani said reverently, her yellow eyes scanning the area. "You know, you have more in common with authentic Jedi than you realize. No matter what else may come our way, we can always remember this. This was a good day, Commander," Juhani added.

The near proximity of the exploding Sith fighter caused Traviata to close her eyes at the bright burst, the Hawk shook slightly.

"Great shot, Vee," Canderous boomed in over the headset.

"Thanks," Traviata said quietly powering down the weapon. It was the last one, she knew Carth would have them in hyperspace immediately.

"We're clear. I'm engaging the hyper-drive," Carth informed the crew over the speakers throughout the ship.

"Are you secure?" Carth's voice asked softly in Traviata's ear, switching to a private com setting.

"I'm good, still in the gun turret," Traviata replied.

"You did a fantastic job. You're really much better since Taris," Carth commented.

"Thanks, using the Force helps," she replied, noticing the stars begin to blur. This was her favorite part of hyperspace travel, she thought, as the stars turned into lines before fading into large streaks of white light.

"Beautiful," she whispered out loud. "It really is amazing."

"Yes it is. I've gone into hyperspace hundreds of times and it still affects me," Carth replied, his eyes now staring out the viewport.

"I don't find that hard to believe at all you know," Traviata responded.

"You're like the starlines to me. No matter how many times I see you walk into a room, you still leave me breathless every time; you always will," Carth said huskily.

"I'm taking the first shift on the bridge," he continued. "Why don't you come down here Beautiful, take my breath away and we can watch the stars blur past us together?"

"Why Commander, are you flirting with me?" Traviata gently teased, unbuckling the restraining harness that held her in while spinning around in the turret.

"Well yes, but clearly I'm not doing it right or you wouldn't have to ask," he said with his husky laugh."I'm a little out of practice I suppose."

"You do it perfectly, trust me. I'm on my way down," Traviata replied before yanking off her headset. Well if he was still mad about their earlier quarrel, he seemed to be able to put it aside for now.

"So Tatooine is next. Have you ever been to Tatooine, Commander?" Bastilla asked entering the bridge.

Carth turned expectantly, hoping it was Traviata, even though it would have been impossible. Even a Jedi couldn't move that fast. His face fell at the sight of Bastilla.

"Yeah, sure. It's been a while though. Not much there, we stopped once for supplies when I was just out of basic," Carth acknowledged, his attention back on the controls. He punched at the screens, checking the system's monitors to make sure everything was funtioning properly.

"Desert climate and mostly moisture farmers as I recall. It will be a welcome change after spending days trapped in a steam sauna with mammoth creatures that want to kill you," Carth replied. "There can't be but so many places the star map could be on Tatooine. Probably in one of the caves there."

"Yes, I suppose you're right about that. Hopefully we'll have another vision that will guide us to it's location," Bastilla responded, lingering at the entry by the nav computer.

"I'd just as soon Traviata not have to go through that any more," Carth answered honestly, still keying at the screens. It seemed to take a greater toll on her, Carth had noticed, and then there were the nightmares. He wasn't certain why Traviata had those, he was working on a couple of theories though. It frustrated him, he just couldn't get all the pieces to fit together where they made sense.

"Yes, I feel the same actually Commander," she let go a breath. "Does Traviata seem herself? Coping okay with all this? I haven't been able to speak with her since our vision on Kashyyyk."

"Herself? That's an odd question," Carth's guard went up immediately, not that he'd let it down to begin with. "What are you getting at?" he asked while punching at the controls, closing the monitors as he was finally satisfied with the ship's performance.

The ship would pilot itself from here to Tatooine, providing there were no problems in the hyperspace route. Which could happen, but still it was basically just babysitting the bridge at this point.

"I just mean with all that's going on, people handle stress in different ways sometimes. Just checking to make sure you think she's okay," Bastilla said as Carth found his feet.

"It's putting her through hell, but she's strong and she's doing great considering," Carth defended coming to stand in front of her, crossing his arms. Didn't matter how worried he was about Traviata, he wasn't sharing that with Bastilla.

"Yes, well there's much more to come, isn't there? Let me know if there's any change. I only want to help her Commander," Bastilla explained.

Carth considered her words. He remembered at one time he'd thought Bastilla might be able to help Traviata, but now he didn't want Bastilla to come anywhere near her. He'd come to distrust and despise the prissy manipulative Jedi intensely. Last thing Traviata needed was Bastilla poking around in her head. He in fact suspected that she'd already done too much of that, causing this supposed bond between them, maybe even the nightmares.

"Yeah, I'll be sure to let you know," Carth replied. When Hoth melts, he said silently.

"Commander," Bastilla said politely before gliding noiselessly down the companionway.

Carth turned his attention to the myriad of controls that banked the room, all glowing, flashing, and beeping periodically. He walked, pausing at different monitors, sometimes keying at the screen as he checked the status of the different systems. Mission's upgrades to the Hawk were impressive. Especially the new security upgrades, he thought, as he let go a low appreciative whistle, swiping his finger across the screen where he stood.

Some of the modifications he'd only read about, never actually seen before.

His head jerked toward the sound of approaching footsteps, his heart skipped a beat as Traviata entered the room. She paused, her eyes meeting his before hurrying over and engulfing him in a hug.

Carth responded, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "You okay?" he asked, his chin resting on the top of her head.

"Yes, I just missed you. Seemed like forever since I felt your arms around me, it's the only place I feel safe," Traviata explained, her head lying on his chest, taking comfort in the strong rhythmic beating of his heart. "I just want to have a little time with you where we don't have to think of anything but each other."

He kissed the top of her head. "I know what you mean, I feel the same way."

"Come over here with me," Carth said, taking her by the hand. "I believe I promised star gazing," he explained, sitting down in the pilots chair, he tugged her with him.

Traviata sat comfortably across his lap, leaning back onto his shoulder she gazed at the stars rushing by, her hand still in his. They laid like that for a long time, neither of them speaking.

"This is perfect," Traviata spoke in a hushed tone.

"Well, not perfect. But it will have to do for now. When this is all over, I'll take you out in a little luxury yacht where you can lie in bed and watch the stars fly by," Carth corrected, using the controls to recline the seat back more. They were now almost prone, laying there watching the white blur of hyperspace.

"Sounds amazing, but I don't need that you know. All I need is you," Traviata explained.

"I want to take you on a trip all the same. Show you some of my favorite places. What are yours? It just occurred to me that I don't know that," he commented.

"I don't have any I suppose," she shrugged. "Never traveled for pleasure, and the missions I did go on when I was in black ops are a blur really."

"Hmm, that makes sense I guess," Carth said thoughtfully. "But nothing?"

"The Khoonda Plains on Dantooine," she blurted out, pleased she'd figured out a place. "That's my favorite place."

"Why there?" Carth asked, trying to hide his surprise.

"It's serenity. I love the way the warm gentle wind sweeps across the plains, causing the grasses to dance, the sweet clean scent permeates the air as it washes across you. It's mesmerizing to experience it. It's the perfect harmony of all the senses," Traviata finished, a wistful tone and look on her face.

Traviata had never once suggested taking him there, he'd followed her a couple of times when it had been late at night, worried for her safety. The kinrath hounds could be viscious and even though the planet was largely peaceful, there had been raiders spotted during their time there. He'd stay far enough back so that she wouldn't see him. Hell, not that she'd have noticed, he thought. She would sit there for hours like she was in a daze, meditating he'd presumed.

"Okay, that's on our list of places to go together when this mission is over," Carth promised. "We'll sit on the hillside overlooking the plains for hours, maybe we can even camp out there."

"Tell me your favorite place," Traviata asked.

Carth's brow furrowed. "Well that's easy, and hard at the same time. It's my home world, Telos IV, before it was bombed into oblivion. You ever go there?"

She shook her head. "I wish you could have seen it, such an amazing planet," Carth's eyes glassed over. "There were huge cities; enough to have culture, opportunity and growth, but not so many as to destroy the beauty of the planet. Tall mountains reaching for the sky, plains, you'd love the plains there," he said excitedly. "Or well you would have. Telos had it all, beaches, an arctic area, hills; such a beautiful planet. Never seen anything like it."

"I'd like to still see it," Traviata asserted. "It's not completely quarantined is it?"

"No, not completely. I know there are substantial efforts going on to rebuild it, it's just with this conflict going on- well there are only so many resources to go around," he trailed off.

"When this is over we'll go. Maybe we can get involved with the restoration in some way, I mean if you'd like. I've read somewhere that they are making tremendous strides in terra forming," Traviata offered.

"Well, yes I'd like that. I'd like that a lot," Carth responded. "How did I get so lucky to land a woman like you? You're really something," he added, pulling her over onto her stomach in such a way that she was laying across the top of him. He used his hands to hold her hair back so that he could see her face more clearly.

"Yeah, you're lucky to have me, don't forget it," she said with a straight face before breaking out into a huge grin. "I-"

She forgot what she was getting ready to say as Carth pulled her head closer to his mouth crushing hers in a kiss filled with passion, his tongue hungrily searching her mouth.

Traviata returned the kiss her blood catching on fire, she rose up to her knees, now straddling him. Her mouth broke the kiss, her lips trailing his jawline, lingering at his moaned and in an instant rolled over on top of her, shifting them so that they were lying across the length of the chair.

Carth ran his hands roughly down her body, causing her shirt to burst open, his hands coming to a stop at her hips which he pulled tightly to him. Traviata moaned this time, instinctively wrapping her legs around his waist, wanting to feel him closer.

In an instant Carth was on his feet, his breath ragged, his eyes on fire with passion. "Sorry – I – give me a minute," he gasped walking to the other side of the room.

Traviata sat up, her own breath coming fast. "I, what's wrong?"

"It's my fault. I have my limits..." he paused, walking a bit closer to Traviata.

"Limits? Fault? I don't understand, Carth," Traviata said, trying to fasten her shirt she realized was wide open. It was hopeless, she opted to wrap the shirt closed, hugging it to her form. "You're not making any sense."

"I want the first time we're together to be special, like what we have. I want it to be a memory we both can cherish for the rest of our lives-" Carth started, grabbing his flight jacket from the nearby chair.

"Well me too, but I still don't understand. Why did you stop?" Traviata asked coming to her feet. "We're adults who love each other. Neither one of us are kids, it's not the first time for either of us…"

"You may not understand this, but I was raised in a religious family. While I haven't followed all the tenets all the time – well, this is something I want to adhere to. I want to wait for us to have sex until we're married, at least by a minister. The legal documents with the Republic aren't the most important part to me," Carth explained.

"You're serious?" Traviata asked.

"Absolutely," Carth answered, closing the distance between them. "I love you Traviata, this is about more than sex to me. I want to do this right with you, to be with you for the rest of my life," he added taking her hand into his. "I don't want to mess it up."

"I love you too Carth," she assured him, letting go a breath. "It's just a surprise; we've never talked about it before."

"I get it, I mean, it's difficult but- okay. It's more than sex to me too. If it's important to you, we'll wait however long it takes. That's fine, it's sweet actually and-"

Traviata paused at the loud thud of approaching footsteps, finding Carth's jacket shoved into her hand.

"You might want to, uh, put this on. Sorry again," Carth apologized, standing in front of Traviata.

"Your turn for some rack time Fleet," Canderous bellowed, as he entered the cockpit.

"Whoa – hello there Traviata," he added his eyes slowly taking in her appearance. Her hair was a mess, her lips swollen from their kissing and she was engulfed in Carth's coat, there was no question about what they had been doing.

"Hi Canderous," Traviata mumbled, wrapping her arms more tightly around her waist, as she brushed past him.

"I'll see you later then," Canderous said after Traviata's quickly retreating form.

"Don't start, I'm warning you once, that's all you get," Carth told him, his face tightening.

"I'm just here to relieve you. Don't get your panties in a twist," Canderous said flopping down into the pilot's seat. "I didn't say a word."

Carth raised an eyebrow at his restraint. "Listen, don't get the wrong idea. What you think happened, didn't. I know how gossip can be, especially on a small ship."

"Hey, my lips are sealed. None of my business. Anyway, everyone knows you two have been sharing quarters for months, people just assume..." Canderous explained.

"Well don't. It's not like that," Carth shot back.

"So you two aren't that serious, just sort of a platonic thing. Like brother and sister, just with more fighting and kissing-" Canderous elaborated.

"What? Gross. No... believe me it's serious, I'm going to marry her, and as soon as possible," Carth defended.

"Out here? Sure you are. Why bother? Wouldn't be legal in your precious Republic's eyes. I know a thing or two about your laws Fleet," Canderous supplied.

"You wouldn't understand. The bridge is yours," Carth informed him as he stormed off.

Carth stopped at the closed door to their quarters, he tried the call button and when Traviata didn't respond he decided he'd go to the com room and catch up on what he'd missed while on Kashyyyk. He also needed to debrief Paul on all that had transpired. He'd only been able to communicate with him briefly right after he'd discovered Mission on Kashyyyk. The Admiral would now expect a detailed mission report, as soon as Carth was able.

Carth treaded quietly down the corridors leading to the main hold. The lights were dim, on the nightime setting. The only sound was the random beeping of the machinery that lined the walls and the soft whirring of the ship's hyperdrive. The seasoned soldier glanced down at his chrono, he didn't even know how long it had been since he'd had any real sleep. Hours? No. Days. He yawned widely and walked over to the stim caf carafe, hoping it wasn't empty. He was in luck, he looked around, found a semi-clean cup, grabbed the carafe and headed for com room.

"What can you tell me about the Sith?" Traviata asked Jolee.

"Hmmph. Bad men. Bad women too," Jolee informed her.

Traviata arched an eyebrow at his response.

"They make a very fine sandwich also," he said with a chuckle.

Traviata smiled at the older man. After she'd left Carth, she'd showered, changed and decided to walk the ship. Before long she found herself in the cargo bay where she ran into Jolee who was there meditating. They'd been chatting ever since.

"I'm trying to prepare to go up against Malak and you've got jokes. Nice," Traviata quipped. "I'm doubtful he'll offer me a sandwich. He hasn't in my dreams so far."

"Hmmm, what do you see in your dreams I wonder?" he asked.

"They're really nightmares. I see pretty much what you'd imagine a nightmare about a Sith Lord would be," she said heavily. "I have a question for you. I've felt like Malak has been in my head a couple of times. Is that possible? I mean, I know he's powerful. But at that distance-"

"Hmmph, you think distance, time, mass matters to the Force? What are they teaching at the Academy these days? You call yourself a Jedi?" he groused.

"No I don't actually. I'm a Republic soldier, who can use the Force," she shot back.

"Well use your head then too," Jolee advised.

"So I didn't imagine it," she paused, lost in thought, her gaze drifting off into the distance.

"There is no end to what you can do through the Force. The stronger the emotion or connection, the easier it is to read them. Somone who has had years of training in the ways of the Force, like Malak, especially considering this situation, with so much at stake - of course it's possible," he supplied, closing his eyes.

"Then I could do the same – reach out and get a sense of what's in his head. Maybe even what and where the Star Forge is," Traviata confirmed to herself out loud. "That could help end this war. Keep everyone-"

"Safe. You care deeply about everyone on board, including this old codger. You think often of your friend – Trask - though you don't speak of him because of the pain. Your feelings are especially intense for the Commander – ahh, deep love – it's been a long time since..." Jolee trailed off, opening his eyes.

"Yes, with practice you can. Just like me. However, evil clouds itself in the cloak of darkness, it will be much more difficult for you to get a read on Malak," Jolee explained. "Plus your skills are still so raw. You're just beginning to understand your capabilities."

"Will you help me Jolee?" Traviata asked.

A cloud of concern crossed Jolee's face before it cleared as he considered her request. "Yes, I foresaw this when we first met. I will help you child. We'll let the historians sort out whether that's a mistake or not. Feels right to me," Jolee agreed soberly.

"Good, thank you," she paused checking her buzzing comlink. It was Carth, she glanced at her chrono, it had been several hours since they'd parted.

"One thing though, I need you to keep this quiet and not mention this to anyone. Especially Carth, he wouldn't approve-" Traviata said seriously, her eyes holding Jolee's.

Jolee seemed to consider it for a moment and nodded his agreement. "Not my concern, that's between you and him. But better to be honest my dear. Now I'm going to sleep in a soft bed; it's been so long."