A/N: This is a one shot companion piece to my other works in this series: Nox: A Pre-Kotor Revan Story, and a secondary prequel of "sorts" to The Knights of the Old Republic: The Mnenosyne from Carth's point of view.
A/N: Edited - fixed some minor typos and fleshed out a section. Thank you.
Enjoy!
Temptation
Prettiest Jedi in the galaxy.
Carth Onasi groaned inwardly as the words echoed in his head. The pretty Jedi in question floated around the med bay, smiling as she talked to the soldiers. He stole another peek at her from across the med bay.
And, she was pretty.
Long red hair that curled at the ends which went past her slim waist. Fair skin with a kiss of freckles across the bridge of her nose. Cinnamon colored brown eyes fringed with light auburn lashes.
Sure, she was pretty, but when she had used the Force - she was beautiful.
It wasn't like he hadn't seen or interacted with force users before, he had. In fact, several times during his military career. Usually his interactions with the Jedi had been in the middle of a battle. Light sabers deflecting blaster shots. Giant leaps that would be impossible for the average everyday person. Lifting big rocks and throwing stuff, all with the flick of a wrist or the wave of a hand.
Hell, for the most part, he thought that was what the Force was used for - lifting rocks.
But, he'd never seen anything like that before.
Her hair was gently blown back by some invisible breeze. A glow radiated from her hands as they hovered over the angry wound. Her lips parted softly as a look of pure bliss stole across her face, taking her from merely pretty to stunning, as she hummed a tune only she could hear.
He hadn't meant to flirt with her, but the words flew out of his mouth before he could stop himself. He'd given her one of his signature dashing grins. The one he used on his wife all the time to get out of trouble, or in trouble, he thought with a chuckle.
Damn. He rubbed the back of his neck as he forced himself to stop watching her. Instead, he closed his eyes and thought about his wife, Morgana.
We were so young. We barely knew each other, he thought.
Reflecting back on their courtship, they were probably too young. They were fresh out of the Academy when they got married, right before he enlisted with the Republic Navy.
They had a small house in the countryside on Telos, not far from one of the coastal regions. It was peaceful. Quaint. Quiet. Morgana loved it, saying it was the perfect place to start a family. They'd been married just barely over a year when his son, Dustil, arrived. It was the happiest day of his life. Tenderly holding the small mewing bundle, all the while terrified he was going to break him. Or drop him.
The soldier in the bed next to him coughed painfully, pulling Carth from his thoughts. He glanced over at him. "You alright there, soldier?"
"Yeah, I'll do."
Carth grunted in agreement. "You got a name, kid?"
"They call me Rex." He cut his brown eyes over at Carth as he scratched his short blond hair with his good arm. "You?"
"Carth, but most of the troopers just call me Fleet."
"No kidding? Fleet? The Fleet?!" Rex's eyes widened. "I heard you're one of the best pilots in the galaxy."
Carth shrugged. "Awh, I'm good in a pinch." His eyes flickered from Rex back over to the red haired Jedi who was talking to a tall black haired Jedi outside of the med center.
Rex followed Carth's line of sight. "First time meeting Ash?"
"Ash? Is that her name?" Carth asked. "She didn't tell me."
"Ash Meriwether." Rex nodded. "Best damned Jedi we've got. She's saved my hide more times on the battlefield than I can count. Not to mention, patched me back up afterwards."
I'll see you around, Flyboy.
Carth glanced back at her as she spoke to the other Jedi. He shifted his eyes back over to Rex, who was grinning at him like a wild cat. "What?"
Rex grinned and simply shook his head. "Nothing, man…"
#
Carth perked up out of his malaise as the morning meal was being passed out. Rex coughed to get his attention. Carth glanced over to see the blond young man motioning towards the door. His eyes followed the direction of Rex's subtle nod to see Ash striding into the med center.
His eyes connected with her as she smiled warmly at him from across the room.
Rex chuckled softly. Carth cut his eyes over at him, giving him a sidelong glance that shut the younger man up quickly. Still, he couldn't help the slow grin that spread across his face.
His smile slipped as he remembered his wife...who he hadn't seen in almost a year.
Damn, has it really been that long since I've been home? A standard year? She's going to be so angry when I finally make it home on leave.
He sighed deeply as he ran his hand over his face, feeling a deep ache come over him as he thought about how much he missed his family.
Morgana's smiling face flashed before his eyes.
I have a couple of years left on this enlistment, and then that's it. I'll be done. I'll get a job closer to home where I'll have more time to spend with her and Dusty.
A soft ahem broke his reverie.
He opened his eyes to find Ash perched on the corner of his bed with a deck of cards in her hands.
"Would you like to play a game?" she asked with a slow smile.
He found himself nodding, when he probably should have told her no.
He found himself laughing and flirting with her, when he probably shouldn't have been.
It was just playful flirtation, nothing serious, he told himself as he teased her again, enjoying the blush that colored her fair cheeks.
His eyes locked with hers as she set down her card. She grinned at him, a really slow and seductive smile that sent a hot rush of desire quaking through him.
His mouth suddenly went dry as his mind raced. I can't do this. She's a Jedi and I'm married, for Force's sake. Playful flirting is all well and good, but…
"Is something wrong?"
His head popped up at her question. "N-no," he stammered as he felt his cheeks slightly redden. "I'm sorry, it's just that...well, uh…ahem," he cleared his throat. "I'm married."
"Oh," she said with a hint of disappointment.
Better to tell her now, rather than later...let her down easy. "I, uh...probably should have mentioned that earlier." He laughed nervously as he set down his card.
This is the right thing to do, he thought as they continued. Nervousness passed, and the tension eased between them as he showed her pictures of Dusty.
Then, he blundered it all…
The question happened so naturally, it just slipped out of his mouth. He'd forgotten, having gotten caught up in showing her a photo of his son, that she was a Jedi. As soon as the question popped out, he cringed and laughed at his obvious gaffe.
"What?"
"You're a Jedi and I just asked if you had children." He grinned slyly. "I'm sorry. I...uh, heh heh, forgot for a moment you were a Jedi."
"Oh." She let out a soft and nervous laugh as her fingers toyed with her hair. She blushed furiously as she ducked her head and glanced at him through her lashes. "No, um…" She swallowed hard, shaking her head. "No...children."
He studied her suddenly skittish movements. Her hands fluttered. Her eyes widened as she blushed.
His eyebrows raised slightly, then lowered. Oh, hell...she's a Jedi, she's probably had little to no experience with men. "Oh...yeah, that's...um, not something that's really allowed in the Jedi Order, huh?"
His eyes followed her fingers as they traced the leaf pattern on the hem of her tunic. She laughed lightly, "well…it is frowned upon. Relationships as a whole are greatly discouraged because of attachments. Ahem, but we are not a celibate order. If you are discrete, then it's usually overlooked. There have been times in the past when someone has gone on a very long mission, only to return with a child for the temple to train. It's not unheard of and happens more often than the Order cares to admit…" She shrugged as she let her voice trail off.
He smiled apologetically, realizing how nervous and embarrassed he made her feel. "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking."
"No apology is necessary, my friend." She gave him a small smile.
You really know how to stick your foot in it, don't you, Fleet? He thought as he gave her a boyish grin.
She smiled sweetly at him as she set her cards down and stood. "I should go and let you get some rest. Otherwise, I'll never hear the end of it from Doc. I hope you feel better soon, Onasi."
He opened his mouth to ask her to stay, but she was already walking away.
Rex snickered.
Carth cut his eyes over at the younger man. "What?"
Rex rolled over and propped up on his right elbow and let his left arm, which was in a sling, rest against his chest. "Way to go, Fleet. You really fracked that up."
"Yeah," Carth murmured. "You can say that again."
"You really fracked that up," Rex said with a laugh.
Carth shot him a glare. "You didn't have to really say it again, Echo."
He ignored Rex's laugh as he watched Ash walk out of the med center without looking back.
#
The next morning, Carth decided he was done.
It was time to get out of this damned med center. Time to get back to his ship and into the black...back where he had room to breathe. Back where he felt more at home. He'd had enough of kolto injections and grubby tasting meal replacement bars. Nurses poking and prodding him in the middle of the night. He'd had enough and it was time to get the hell out here.
Rex played lookout for him while he managed to pull his boots on without the on-duty nurse noticing. Now, all he had left to do was grab his newly repaired orange flight jacket and hobble out without anyone being none the wiser.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. He was shaky from the effort, and swayed visibly.
Strong arms reached out and supported him.
"What are you doing? You should be in bed, Onasi." Ash snapped as she glared up at him.
"I'm fine." He grumbled as he peered down at her as she snaked one arm around his waist while the other supported his arm, which was slung over her shoulder. Even though the dim haze of pain, he was keenly aware of how close they were. Definitely time to get out of here, he thought as he swallowed hard. "You healed me. Somebody else can have my spot."
"...back in bed, Onasi."
Her words were muffled by the sound of whooshing in his ears as he pushed away from her and stumbled towards the end of his bed. He just wanted to get his jacket and go. "Nothing that a medpack and a little sleep won't cure."
"Back in bed," she said firmly. "Or will I have to resort to using the Force, flyboy?"
He swallowed hard as she lifted two fingers and waved them across his face with a raised brow.
Rex snickered, eliciting a glare from Carth.
"You wouldn't actually…" Carth gave her a questioning look, wondering if she really would use a force mind trick on him. As she raised one slim auburn brow, he thought perhaps she would. He sat down wearily on the bed, muttering, "You're a very frustrating woman, you know that, Jedi?"
"Is that so, flyboy?" she asked dryly, though the corners of her mouth twitched. She helped him to swing his legs back up onto the bed. She shook her head at him, chuckling softly. "Hmph, it seems to me that you, sir, have no room to talk."
He grinned. "Heh heh, yeah, that's what my wife says to me all the time."
"Well then, perhaps you should listen to me and stay in bed, so you can go home to her in one piece." She smiled warmly at him before pulling the brown hood up over her long auburn hair.
His grin faltered as he remembered the argument he'd had with Morgana the last time he was home on leave.
"Morgana, do we have to have to do this? I mean, I'm leaving in the morning. This will be my last night home with you and Dustil. Why can't we just have one damn peaceful night when I'm home?"
Morgana crossed her arms over her chest. "Fine." She stomped out of the kitchen, into the common room.
Carth raked his hands through his hair. When she said fine, things were never really fine. He sighed deeply as he followed her.
"You knew before we got married I was signing up. You knew it was going to be like this. Yet, every time I come home we have this fight."
Morgana looked out the window at Dustil playing with one of his friends. "You don't know what it's like, waiting. Not knowing if you're going to come back. Hearing stories about the battles on the holo news and wondering if this would be the time I get the letter." She hung her head and hid her eyes behind her hands. Her shoulders trembled from silent sobs. "Not knowing if the next time you come home, if you'll be whole...or, in a box."
"Something on your mind, Onasi?"
The sound of her voice pulled him from his reverie.
"Is that another one of your Jedi tricks?" he asked with a lopsided grin, in an obvious attempt to distract her. He hated talking about himself and his problems to others. Morgana and his mentor, Saul Karath, were about the only people he felt comfortable talking about stuff like this to. Lately, he couldn't even talk to Morgana about it because it only led to an argument when he broached the subject with her.
Only Saul seemed to really understand what he was going through. The man had been his mentor for years. If he was being honest with himself, the man was more like a father figure to him than a mentor, especially after his father died when he himself was just a teen.
"You know, I don't think a mind trick would actually work on you. You're too stubborn, I think." She laughed softly. "No, it's called reading body language. But, we can call it a Jedi Trick, if it makes you feel better."
He chuckled, then stifled a groan.
Ash looked at him in concern. When she rose to get a medpack, he shook his head and motioned for her to sit back down. She pushed down her hood, and pulled her long braid around over her shoulder as she settled back in her seat.
"What is it?" she asked softly. "This is part of my job, y'know?"
He raised a questioning brow at her.
"Helping others," she said softly, placing her hand over his.
He released a deep lonely sigh. "No, I couldn't burden you with my troubles."
Her hand was warm on top of his. He knew he shouldn't, but couldn't resist himself as he drew lazy circles on the inside of her palm with his thumb.
Her tongue darted out quickly to wet her lips. "I should go and let you rest."
"Could you stay? For just a few minutes longer?" he asked softly, his hand tightening around hers.
"Would you like to play cards? I promise not to cheat this time." She winked at him.
"So, you admit it. I knew it!" He cast her a boyish grin and chuckled softly, releasing her hand. "Yeah, I'd like that."
They played several rounds. Carth groaned each time he lost, thinking it was a damned good thing that they weren't playing with credits. Of course, just spending more time with her was dangerous, he thought as he played his card.
A tall black haired Jedi knight entered the med center. His eyes scanned the room coming to stop on Ash.
Carth looked up as she sighed heavily and set down her cards. "Leaving already?" He asked as he glanced from the black haired Jedi, the same man from last night, and then back to her.
Ash craned her head around and nodded to the Jedi knight, who waited patiently for her. She gave Carth a small smile as she rose. "I'm afraid so. It seems duty calls, flyboy."
He cleared his throat nervously. "Will you be back later?"
She paused at the end of his bed. "I have debriefings the rest of the day." She wrung her hands as she glanced back quickly at the Jedi waiting for her. She pursed her lips as she seemed to be considering how to respond. "Perhaps I could come back this evening?"
Carth smiled. "I'd like that."
She smiled, nodding as she left.
Carth could feel Rex's heavy gaze upon him. He gave Rex a sheepish grin as he leaned back and placed his hands behind his head.
"Daaamn, Fleet!" Rex said with a laugh. "Didn't I hear you tell her yesterday you were married? As in to-someone-else?"
Carth's grin slipped. Karabast! "Frack, Rex. What the hell am I thinking?"
Rex stared at him open-mouthed. "What are you thinking? You're thinking Jedi-hottie, that's what you're thinking, brother. Hell, you could do a lot worse."
Carth shot him a scathing glare. "What do you mean?"
Rex leaned closer, so he could speak in a hushed tone. "What I mean is...you know, the whole 'no attachment policy' thing with the Jedi? It's perfect."
No attachment policy? Carth blinked. "Perfect?"
Rex looked back over his shoulder to make sure they weren't being over heard. "Perfect...meaning she won't let herself get attached to you, so that when you have to move on...it'll be a clean break. No hard feelings on either side. She will go on doing whatever it is that the Jedi do, and you can go home to your family."
He couldn't believe he was even considering this. "No..no...no. That's not what's going on here. She's just a...friend." Right? She's just a friend...who he was absolutely not going to flirt with any more.
"Riiight." Rex said with a deep snicker. "Keep telling yourself that, brother."
Rex quieted down leaving Carth alone with his thoughts, wondering just what in the hell he thought he was doing.
She's attractive. Of course, it's natural to desire an attractive woman.
But, he knew it was deeper than that.
She understood what he was going through, why he was here. He couldn't get Morgana to understand why he kept his enlistment active. Ash saw first hand the horrors the Mandalorians could inflict, whereas Morgana only heard stories off the holo net.
Carth rubbed his hands over his face in frustration as he thought of all the times they argued when he returned home on leave. He just couldn't seem to make her understand the whole reason he was out on the front lines was to keep them safe. To keep the looming threat of the Mandalorians away from them. Away from Telos. So that she could have a good life and Dusty could grow up and live in a galaxy free from tyranny. That's what he was fighting for, not for the excitement and adventure of traveling to distant worlds.
He watched for Ash's fiery red hair as the afternoon turned dark and evening fell upon them. He was about to give up on her being able to come back when he saw her duck into the med center carrying a tray. He smiled as she crossed the room towards him. "Whatcha got there?"
"I thought perhaps you were getting a bit tired of meal replacement bars and could use something from the mess." Ash said as she set the tray over his lap.
"Thanks," he said as he looked down at the tray which was laden with two covered plates. "Why are there two? I mean, I know I'm a big guy but…" He let his voice trail off with a chuckle.
She grinned as she sat down in the chair next to his bed. "One's for me. I've been in debriefings all day and missed lunch, so I talked them into giving me two portions."
He uncovered the plate and a delectable aroma wafted up to him. His mouth watered instantly. He grinned. "You went to the Officer's mess?"
She smiled brightly at him as she shrugged.
"You pulled rank?" He chuckled softly as he picked up a utensil.
She laughed. "I suppose I did."
They ate quietly. After a few moments, his curiosity got the better of him.
"So, the Jedi from earlier today. Is he your…?" Carth paused, unsure of what a Jedi called their lovers. "Are you two together?"
She gasped, almost choking on her food. "Alek?"
"Is that the black haired knight you left with earlier?"
She nodded. She shifted uneasily in her seat and balanced her plate in her lap. "No...he's like a brother to me. That's all."
"Oh." He felt relieved at her admission. "So, there's no one special out there in the galaxy waiting for you somewhere?"
He enjoyed watching her blush softly as she moved the food around on her plate.
"No," she said softly. "There's no one."
He took another bite and considered her response. "No one at all? Beautiful girl like you, and there's no one out there waiting for you to come home?"
"No. I was raised in the order, and..." Her blush deepened. "I've been in the Outer Rim for a few years now. I've never really had time to devote to anyone. Besides, remember, I told you yesterday…"
"Oh, yeah, they frown on that sort of business, huh?" he replied. At her nod, he let the subject go for the moment as they finished eating.
"So, you Jedi aren't allowed to love at all?" he asked after they had finished and she had removed the plates and tray away. "Sorry, this is such a foreign concept for me. I mean, it must be difficult having sworn your life to the Jedi and not being able to visit the places you want to or be with people you love."
Ash nodded slowly. "I suppose it would be difficult for someone like you to understand." She paled slightly. "I didn't mean it like that! I just meant, ahem. I mean, well... this is all that I've ever known."
He nodded in understanding. "It's alright, I understand what you meant. How old were you when you joined the order?"
"I was very young. A toddler, maybe around three years old or so. I was a foundling." She worried at her bottom lip.
"A foundling?"
She nodded. "Alek's family found me and took me in when I was little. I was staying with them on Alderaan when the Jedi found us and brought us to the temple on Dantooine for training. That's why I say Alek is like a brother to me. We were raised in the temple together."
"What happened to your family?"
"I don't know. I can't remember them," she replied. "The Jedi are my family now."
He frowned, thinking of his own family. Both the family he was raised with and the family he had now with Morgana. He felt a little sad thinking she never knew the love of a family. He thought of Dustil, or the unconditional love that comes when you hold your child in your arms for the first time.
"So, you didn't answer the question earlier. Are you allowed to love?"
"Attachment is forbidden. Possession is forbidden." She said quietly, slowly choosing her words. "Compassion, which one would say is unconditional love, is central to a Jedi's life. So, in many ways, we are encouraged to love."
"So, that's all you're allowed? Compassion? What about passion?" He asked in bewilderment.
She blinked rapidly. "Passion can be hard to control. I suppose, if you could love, while controlling your passions, then it could be argued that it could be allowed."
He touched her hand softly. "Could you do that?" His fingers touched the inside of her wrist where he could feel her heartbeat racing.
He was playing with fire, and he knew it. Perhaps Rex was right. Was it worth the risk?
Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard. "I don't know, honestly. I think the hard part would be letting go." She sighed softly as she looked away. "It's getting late. I should go and get this stuff back to the mess before they close up for the night."
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. He felt more steady on his feet tonight than he did this morning, thanks to all the kolto injections the nurse had given him earlier.
"Ash," he stopped himself, suddenly aware of the eyes on the both of them. He stopped himself from taking a step closer to her, afraid he'd do something he might regret. "Thanks for...the company."
She grabbed the tray and nodded. "Anytime, my friend. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," he replied as felt the weight of loneliness settle over him as he watched her walk out into the night.
His eyes narrowed as he noticed Alek, the black haired Jedi knight, staring at him from outside of the med center.
Carth frowned.
Alek certainly seemed a bit possessive of Ash, Carth thought as he watched him walk away. Didn't she say that possession was frowned upon and not allowed? He wondered if perhaps Alek felt a lot differently towards Ash than she did.
#
Carth pondered over the sudden predicament he found himself in for the rest of the night.
He weighed the pros and cons of pursuing Ash and decided he couldn't go through with it. He loved his wife and family too much to possibly bring that kind of pain into his marriage.
But, his decision warred with him.
Morgana would never know. You could keep it a secret and never tell her. You could have the best of both worlds, Morgana at home and Ash as a lover on the front lines.
He shook his head. No, he'd know.
He'd let it fester until it drove his marriage apart. He couldn't do that to Morgana, to Dustil...or to himself.
He sighed. Or, to Ash. She deserved so much more than that.
He told himself what he was feeling for her was just infatuation. Pure and simple. Born from missing his wife and how close they were early on in their marriage, before the War pushed them into leading separate lives.
It was better for all of them this way, Ash included. This way, she wouldn't be tempted to break her vow to the Jedi Order and he wouldn't be tempted to break his vow to Morgana.
So, why wasn't he relieved when he read the missive on his datapad and saw the notice of transfer?
That was all of the sudden, he thought grimly. The doctor had just declared he was free to go back to active duty, and now he was being transferred? To a completely different sector?
"What is it, Fleet?" Rex shuffled over to him, trying to read over his shoulder.
"I'm being transferred." Carth read over the missive again, thinking perhaps he misread it. No, it was all there. Transfer effective immediately. Report to Saul Karath aboard the Courageous in the Serroco Sector. He was to report to his transport in one hour.
He clapped Rex on the shoulder, then grabbed his bag. He waved to Rex as he left the med center and set out to find Ash, telling himself he just wanted to say goodbye, that was all.
He'd found her in the mess, sitting with Alek.
Once they were outside, she said. "You look as if you are feeling much better this morning, Carth."
"Yeah, I got the all clear from Doc first thing this morning." He smiled. "I just wanted to thank you and say goodbye. I've been reassigned to Serroco and will be leaving in a few minutes."
He thought for a moment he saw a flash of disappointment cross her face. It was brief, only there for a moment before a carefully schooled expression took its place.
"I am happy to have met you, flyboy. You've been a good friend to me these past few days." She said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Carth returned her smile. "Me too," he said as he stuck out his hand.
"Hopefully, our paths will cross again in the future." She took his hand and gave him a slight bow of respect. "May the Force be with you."
"I'd like that. May the Force be with you, Ash." He replied as he turned to leave. He kept his eyes on the transport waiting for him in the distance. He turned back to see her standing in the shadows, the wind gently ruffling her cloak as it billowed around her. He raised his hand in farewell, and she did the same.
Carth stepped up into the transport and looked back to see Alek standing protectively behind her. He thought the Jedi knight smirked at him as the ramp closed.
#
Time passed.
Serroco burned, and Carth did his part to help save as many people as he could. He was hailed a hero and Remember Serroco became the rallying cry for the Republic.
A Jedi knight named Revan emerged and led the Republic to victory after victory. Finally, the tides had turned in their favor and it seemed that the Republic might actually win this war after all. He was damned proud to be able to say he was serving in Revan's fleet.
As the war waged on, Carth found himself thinking less and less about the Jedi knight he'd met briefly on Cathar as he focused on staying alive and surviving the war.
The wheel of time turned, and he thought he'd forgotten all about her. That was, until he was standing on the bridge of Karath's new flagship, the Leviathan, and saw a tall Jedi knight standing at the helm.
Introduced to him as Malak, the knight was bald with distinctive blue tattoos running over his scalp. Carth recognized the heavy brow, strong pronounced jawline and piercing blue eyes that belonged to the protective knight he had known as Alek.
Carth glanced around the bridge, hoping that she would be here. He was disappointed when he saw Malak was the only Jedi on the bridge.
"She's not here."
Carth started at the brisk nature of the knight's tone. He straightened to his full height and returned Malak's hard stare. "Where is she?"
"She's gone." Malak said sadly. He averted his gaze to stare out into the black of space.
Gone? Carth felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him. "Did she...did she fall in battle?" He asked, hoping he was wrong.
Malak turned his piercing blue gaze onto Carth. It seemed to bore into him for a long moment before he replied simply with a "yes."
Carth swallowed down the rising feeling of grief that rose within him. He felt at loss for words as he digested the fact that she had perished. "I'm sorry to hear that. She was…" he paused as he blinked back a stinging sensation behind his eyes. "She was special. I'd never met anyone quite like her before."
Malak nodded solemnly. "That she was, friend."
"Were you close?" he asked, although he felt he knew the answer already.
Malak's eyes were haunted as he replied, "yes. I loved her."
He nodded. He had thought as much. "She was beautiful. She seemed like the type of woman who would be easy to love."
"Mmhhmm," Malak said softly. "True, she was that. It's not as you are thinking. She was...like a sister to me. And, now she is gone."
"I'm sorry for your loss." Family meant the world to him. He knew how he would be affected if one of his family died. If Morgana died, it would be the end of him. He swallowed hard. "She refused to leave me behind. She saved my life that day on Cathar. I'll honor her sacrifice by paying it forward. I promise you that."
Malak laid his hand on Carth's shoulder. "Thank you." He nodded to Carth, then left the bridge.
Carth stared out at the black of space as he let himself remember her one last time before he closed the lid and stored them away, vowing never to open them again.
#
The wheel of time turned on...
Revan was named Supreme Commander of the Republic Forces.
Then, Malachor happened and the echoes of that terrible battle rocked the entirety of the Republic. Carth was glad he was stationed elsewhere and did not have to witness the devastation that was wrought first hand. He heard the news that Revan defeated Mandalore the Ultimate in single combat and the war drew to an end.
Carth returned home to Telos as peace spread through the galaxy.
It was a peace that was doomed to fail.
Revan and Malak, once heroes of the Republic, left for Wild Space as Jedi. When they returned, they were something else. They went from being heroes to conquerors. The Republic, still in shambles from the Mandalorian Wars, began to fall under the might of the newly dubbed Sith Lords.
Carth enlisted once more to serve with the Republic. He thought Morgana and Dustil would be safe on Telos. But he was wrong...so very wrong.
Telos burned, and his whole world was destroyed, Morgana and Dustil with it.
#
Aboard the Endar Spire, docked with the Radiant
Carth Onasi sighed in irritation as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He couldn't believe he'd been pulled off his regular rotation for this.
He stooped over the terminal as he read through the Jedi's lists of demands and orders. Hell, they've practically taken over the whole entire ship! He pushed away from the terminal in annoyance.
He frowned as he crossed his arms over his chest. He glanced at the young female Jedi knight who was in charge of the mission. Advisor? More like a babysitter, he thought as he quickly calculated her age versus how long he'd been in the military. She was probably still in nappies when I was being sent out on my first assignment. She can't be but a few years older than Dustil.
His frown turned into a grimace. No, don't think about that right now. I have to stay focused, he thought grimly. I can't be distracted. Soon, I'll have my shot at Saul and then, it'll be over.
Bastila Shan, the young Jedi knight in question, cut her gaze over at him. "Are you alright, Captain Onasi?"
"Just fine," he muttered as he planted his hands on his hips. His datapad buzzed as a message came through, alerting him that he was needed in one of the hangar bays. He excused himself as he left the bridge.
Taking in a deep breath, he walked at a brisk pace down the long corridor. Lost in thought, he didn't see the woman who walked right into him until it was too late.
"Are you alright, Recruit?" he asked in concern as he reached out to steady her.
She blinked up at him with cinnamon colored brown eyes, nodding mutely. "Yes, yes...I'm fine. I'm sorry. I fear I wasn't paying much attention to where I was going."
He smiled down at her. "No worries."
He patted her shoulder, then parted ways.
There was something familiar about her. He stopped in the middle of the corridor and turned back to look at her.
The light hit her hair at just the right angle, casting it in a fiery glow. She stood perfectly still, and slowly turned around. Their eyes locked, and he thought briefly that he knew her from somewhere else. She smiled at him and it took his breath away.
He was about to ask who she was when she turned and walked away. He shrugged off the odd feelings and pushed them aside. Instead, he let his thoughts return to Saul as he went over his plans for when he encountered his old mentor once more.
Soon, Saul. I'm coming for you. You'll pay for what you did to me and my family.
***a/n: thank you so much for reading! If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out the other works in this series if you haven't already!
May the Force be with you! Cheers, Nia