"They're sleeping so peacefully it's almost a shame to wake them." Juhani said. Saleairy would've snapped awake if she was aboard the Hawk or anywhere else. She couldn't open her eyes yet.
"She'll want to know. It's her droid." Saleairy opened her eyes.
"What did HK do?"
"They're holding T3 at the local authorities. We should go collect him before he's reduced to scrap." Canderous said. She peered around and saw Mission hovering in the doorway as well.
"We would've gone for him but they will only release him to you, since he has told them you are his only owner." Juhani said. Bastila came in and hurried Saleairy.
"Come now, come. You need to get your droid. I don't want to have to fix all the strange things he does on our ship." She pulled Saleairy and Carth's head fell from her shoulder, waking him.
"What's going on?" He looked dazed and almost hung over.
"Get dressed and come with me to keep T3 from being reduced to scrap." Saleairy said as she was pushed into the bathroom with a set of clean clothes. Bastila shut the door but Saleairy opened it, complaining that she wouldn't be caught dead in Carth's pants. Mission stifled a giggle at Bastila's glare as she retrieved more clothes for Saleairy and Canderous raised his eyebrows.
"Did you hear that Carth? Looks like you have some issues."
"Ha ha. It's funny to hear you criticizing my romance skills when you're currently without a significant other." Mission giggled and Bastila blinked.
"What is so funny?" Bastila asked.
"Whatever you think you know, I would advise keeping it to yourself." Canderous said to Mission as she retreated from the room. Canderous left after her and Carth got dressed. He was startled by HK appearing and showed it.
"Inferior greeting: Where is my Master, organic meatbag?"
"Saleairy is getting dressed to go claim your buddy T3."
"Statement: I will be accompanying her."
"Good, you can join us." Carth said with an unusual air of possessiveness. Saleairy's laughter gave her away.
"You two can't remain so uncivil with each other. And no war games or friendly fire either."
"Acquiesce: Very well Master. I'm sure a Republic solder wouldn't conceive of scraping me while your back was turned."
"Why scrap when you can sell the entire unit?" Carth said.
"Don't make me separate you." Saleairy warned.
"Statement: That would be a good idea Master." Saleairy rolled her eyes as she put her shoes on.
"Carth, are you ready to go?"
"Yes."
"Just checking. Should we stop for lunch now or after we get back?" Saleairy asked.
"When we get back." Carth said. "We can eat here."
"Good idea. HK, are you ready?"
"Statement: I'm always ready Master." Saleairy smiled at the bloody lusty tone. She remembered when she first bought HK that tone could scare her from a sound sleep. Traveling across the Tatooine deserts with an assassin droid wasn't as safe as it sounded. She was even more startled when they returned to the vendor that sold them HK. HK was hostile and the vendor was an inch from cowering in the corner of his shop. She could see why HK said they would get along well since she was well armed since she needed to be well armed to keep people from wanting to tear the droid apart (once he was shut down, that is).
Saleairy walked a little ahead of Carth and HK was scouting the route. Carth caught up and was tempted to wrap his arm around her waist but her lightsabers hung where his arm should be. He always wondered why she was allowed to have two lightsabers. He heard from Jolee, Juhani and Bastila that dueling with two separate blades was a step from having a separated limb. He called her a neophyte padawan once and she didn't argue. Whether she showed it or not, stinging remarks from Council members reached her. Carth realized that it made her modest but also insecure in some situations. He never called her a neophyte padawan again but the hurt from his reference was palpable. She didn't know why the Council was sending her to get the Star Maps and when she asked for more she was scolded for not trusting the Council. Carth always regretted that comment. She proved him wrong so many times but she never questioned his doubts. She was more skilled with her lightsaber and adding one only improved her method, since precision and balance meant the world to her style. Saleairy noticed Carth's stare.
"Is something wrong Carth?" She asked. She was calm and she seemed to be observing the beauty around her without being too withdrawn or distracted; she was always balanced.
"No."
"Are you sure?" Saleairy asked.
"Yeah." She looked at him and blinked.
"Carth-"
"Observation: It seems that we've found the ambiguous 'local authorities' Master."
Saleairy opened the door into darkness and blinked. She walked down and Carth followed her as close as he could. He didn't want to lose track of her. He was used to following her in dark places and even if this dark place wasn't dangerous, he didn't want to lose her. He trusted her force powers to held guide her. He wondered if this no lighting scheme was an attempt at intimidation or a cry of low budget.
"Stairs." She said. Carth reached for her hand and their fingers entwined. His grip was tighter and she sensed his apprehension. They'd been in too many dark caves and caverns for him to not have a stigma about them.
"Why the hell would they do something like this?"
"Door." Carth bounced off it. "Sorry."
"Look for a knob." Carth said. Neither of them moved.
"HK, do you have a light or something?" Saleairy asked.
"Statement: Indeed Master."
"Why didn't you get it out sooner?" Carth snapped.
"Inferior statement: No one asked me, meatbag. Master is competent in darkness and I assumed she could hold your hand through all this." Carth heard Saleairy chuckling. HK flashed a light at where they stood and they realized they were standing very close to each other and the door. Saleairy dropped Carth's hand and opened the door. The blinding light made Carth recoil and HK complained. Saleairy was adjusted to it the instant it hit her pupils. Carth guessed it was some force technique.
Saleairy wanted to kick herself for her instincts. She wanted to cling closer to Carth when the light hit. That wasn't a Jedi or Saleairy. That was insecurity. Insecurity wasn't Jedi or Saleairy. She reconsidered and admitted that Saleairy the Jedi was insecure but not so much that she needed Commander Onasi to protect her from the "local authorities".
"Hello. Can we help you?" A Rodian walked up to Saleairy and waited.
"I have a droid I want to collect."
"Ah, the T3 unit?"
"Yes. Did he cause you any problems?"
"Three force fields mysteriously malfunctioned."
"Oh dear. I can fix them. It isn't the first time he's tried this. I'm terribly sorry." The Rodian led them to T3 and T3 beeped in an apologetic manner. "How much is the impound fee?"
"We only accept donations." The Rodian said. Saleairy handed him a hefty donation and fixed the force fields. Carth liked watching her fix things with her thin fingers and deft gestures. He smiled as she got up from where she knelt, brushing off her pants.
"That should do it. I'm sorry for any other troubles."
"Why do you have such a strange lighting scheme?" Carth asked. He wasn't testy; he was angry. He didn't like ominous surprises when there wasn't any real danger present.
"It's a low budget method of checking any people for spice use. Sudden light like that will make the pupils widen and if spice is present, the pupils stay wide and have unusual specks."
"I've never heard of that." Carth said.
"It's more specifically for the kind of spice that is grown locally. We don't have much trouble here, but we want to avoid it if we can. Oh, and ma'am, our technician suggested a memory wipe if you have any further problems." Saleairy laughed as they stumbled up the black stairway.
"Statement: I would've thought their technician would've performed the procedure himself, since the unit appears to have caused so much trouble."
"The technician probably got a nasty surprise when he tried." T3 was waiting outside and they took a detour on the way back; Saleairy was enjoying the planet's aesthetic beauty. The buildings accented the natural scenery and no land speeders hovering around, humming and making those strange noises they made when left idling too long.
"So HK, I'm curious about something." Saleairy asked. Her coy tone hid unexpected questions and only Carth could sense it.
"Statement: Perhaps I could alleviate some of your curiosity Master."
"I think you could. Why were you looking for T3 earlier?"
"Evasion: Oh, no reason Master."
"HK-"
"Irritated statement: Oh very well, I found a vendor who was very interested in this particular unit." T3 beeped with a new tone of anger Saleairy hadn't heard.
"HK-"
"Statement: If I was outdated by superior technology as your unit has been, I would gladly be sold to ensure my Master's advantage."
"That's because you're too valuable to ever be out dated, isn't it?" Carth said.
"Smug statement: Indeed. Honestly Master, even the inferior meatbag understands, I would hope you would as well."
"T3 is also too valuable to be replaced." Saleairy said.
"Condescending statement: Oh Master, I do hate it when you attach a sentimental value to such lowly, basic beings. And this unit is one of the more tasteful selections of the objects you claim hold you affections."
"I assume I'm high on that list of affections." Carth said. Saleairy raised her eyebrow at the smug tone he used.
"Annoyed statement: And honestly Master, Commander Onasi? I would have trouble finding one of those pig men who would be dumb enough to attach a sentimental or emotional value to this one."
"I am right here." Carth said.
"Inferior statement: I am well aware, meatbag."
"Why are you so hostile all the sudden?" Carth asked.
"He's always been hostile." Saleairy shrugged her shoulders. "You just tend to ignore it."
"Statement: Once again, Master is very correct. The Republic meatbag is quite unobservant. I've noted similarities to a Gizka. I learned more about the creatures after you asked me about the ones aboard the Ebon Hawk Master." Saleairy laughed.
"I've noticed the similarities too. I bet if I scratched behind his ear, he'd squeak too."
"Extrapolation: And if I accidentally fired my blaster at him, do you think he would react the same as the Gizka Master?"
"I think he might tend towards violence. No stray blaster shots either."
"Statement: Very well Master."
"Don't sound so disappointed." Carth said. He pretended to be sulky and it hid his smile as he wondered if she would test the Gizka theory. Saleairy looked at Carth and seemed surprised. She smiled and shook her head.
"Maybe." Carth was sure he hadn't said anything. His face might have given him away.
"Saleairy, did those Jedi even teach you to read minds?" Carth asked.
"Maybe."
"Can you read mine?" Carth asked.
"I can guess." Saleairy said.
"How often are your guesses right?"
"How often do you think?" Saleairy said. She would play with him a bit.
"I dunno. Either you're good at guessing or you're lucky." He wrapped his arm around her waist, above her lightsabers. His fingers tickled her.
"Statement: I've also noted vast similarities between Commander Onasi and what you referred to as 'cantina rats' Master." Saleairy laughed so hard Carth felt it. Carth's grip tightened and pulled them closer.
"Are you laughing because that's absurd or are you picturing me in one of those Twi'lek dancing outfits?" Her increased laughter and rolling tears told him she wasn't thinking about the outfit until he mentioned it.
"Observation: Commander Onasi doesn't have the legs to sport such an ensemble well." T3 hummed and Saleairy laughed.
"Apparently I'm the only one with a sentimental attachment to you." Saleairy said.
"I don't mind that." Carth said.
"Inferior jab: Who is being sentimental now, Commander Onasi?"
"If Saleairy didn't have a sentimental attachment to you, you'd be in some trouble right now." Carth said.
"Statement: Of Master's current company, her sentimental attachment to me is backed by the most worth since I am worth a dozen Republic solders-"
"Let's not go down this alley of conversation." Saleairy said. T3 beeped and she laughed. "I have more than sentimental attachments to you all and whether or not you deserve it is beside the point." Carth was tempted to kiss her but he refrained. She was going to be slow as far as kissing went and not for lack of trying. She was just careful and even her caution couldn't stave off interruptions. He almost wished he'd done as he first envisioned and stopped her in the pitch stairway, kissing her and leading her down to collect their droid. Then he delivered a mental kick to his man hood for her since she was as independent as she was beautiful. She smiled at him.
"What?"
"Even your thoughts involving me are corny." Carth blinked and took a moment to consider what could've just happened.
"I thought you said 'maybe'?" Carth asked. She inclined his face to hers with her delicate fingers and looked into his eyes.
"What do you think maybe means?" She hand rested behind his ear, her fingertips brushing his earlobe.
"Objection: If you are going to experiment with Commander Onasi's reactions and Gizka likeness, could we start with something more riveting, perhaps shock treatments?"
"No." They both said with a short fuse. Shock treatments made them both think about being captured and facing Saul. Watching Carth suffer was the worst pain Saleairy knew. She realized how much she loved him when his face contorted in agony and she couldn't do a damn thing about it. All the Jedi training in the world couldn't stop the anger. That pain in Carth made it difficult for her to tell Carth not to murder Saul when she didn't trust her voice, emotions or her hands as they held her lightsabers. Her pain became a steady ache when Carth confirmed how much pain he'd suffered, how he wished almost for a split second she caved, just to stop the pain. She swallowed to keep her tears down and Carth didn't need Jedi powers to read her mind.
"HK, did I ever thank you for busting us out on the Leviathan?" Carth asked.
"Recollection: No, you were rather short tempered at that point."
"Well I should've. Thank you." Carth said.
"Startled acknowledgement: I know I deserve thanks and be assured just because you don't praise me often doesn't mean the value of such praise is higher than Masters."
"I thanked you then but I don't think you know how much it was worth. Thank you for being loyal to us HK." HK proved the point about Carth's praise being lower in value to Saleairy's by assuming a new tone similar to a tear choked strain.
"Statement: I am ever so glad that your sentimental attachment to me hasn't clouded your appreciation of my combat skills Master."