Sorry for the wait! Trying to post weekly, but, ya know! Again, this is a fan fic based on characters owned entirely by someone else who got really rich from them. I just got inspired... Please review and let me know what ya think!
"Hey T3," Carth greeted as he sidestepped the droid. "What's up?" T3 was rushing past with a small repair kit dangling from his service arm. A series of agitated beeps trailed as the droid wheeled into the work area. Moments later he was sailing past again. "Okay, I'll just stay out of the way!" Carth said as he continued deeper into the ship.
Canderous eyed Carth suspiciously as he wandered into the work area of the Ebon Hawk.
"What do you want?" he growled as Carth moved closer.
"None of your business Ordo," he snapped in response.
"Keep it that way," Canderous snarled back. Carth snuck a glance at the droid as he walked by. Canderous had laid out some parts, and arranged the droid's loose pieces in roughly the correct order. Service packs, repair kits and tools littered the workbench floor area. HK was nowhere near complete or even remotely close to operational. T3 appeared again, dropping another replacement part onto the growing pile. Carth continued back into the bunk quarters, kicking a repair kit on the way. "Hey, watch it," Canderous cautioned over his shoulder.
"Sorry, here ya go." Carth picked up the parts and handed them over. Canderous hesitated a moment, then took the kit and placed it on the table near the droid. "You're welcome," Carth sniped as he vanished down the corridor. His brisk steps became distant, then stopped, replaced by a slight click and a protesting squeak. Canderous recognized the sound instantly: it woke him up enough times. He chuckled as he realized he never got used to it. So, what could Carth possibly need from his locker? Something he happened to need right now? He must be up to something, Canderous decided. Brilliant tactician my ass, he grinned at the thought of Carth trying to put one over on him. Ha, that'll be a warm day on Hoth, Canderous smirked. A contest of wits then, Onasi? I'm game; let's see what ya got.
Canderous returned to his work, swearing every so often. He concentrated on the wiring in HK's access panel, while listening for Carth's movements—he seemed to be rummaging for too long in his locker. He thought he heard the clink of glass…odd, Canderous wondered, stopping his work for a moment. Sparking circuits resulted in the droid jerking, then falling still again, returning Canderous's attention to the task at hand. "Damn pile of junk," he mumbled. "Come on, come on," he said to himself, forgetting to listen behind him.
"If he is beyond repair, well, good," Carth said as he emerged from the bunk area and casually crossed his legs as he leaned against the bulkhead. Carth had never hung around like this before, and his attempt to look indifferent and carefree was laughable to Canderous, especially since Carth was still in that stiff dress uniform. Trying too hard there, Onasi, Canderous chuckled to himself, then slammed the panel closed and finished soldering a joint in the left arm.
"Find what you're looking for?" Canderous said without turning.
"Yup, got it right here," he answered. The Mandalorian didn't take the bait—he continued to focus on his repair work. "Tarisian ale, knew I had some. And I need it tonight." Now THAT got his attention. Canderous stopped and turned to face Carth: sure enough, he held a small brown bottle loosely in his hand. He studied Carth's expression…either the soldier had nothing to hide, or that was the best damn Pazaak face he'd ever seen. "I'm told this is the good stuff," Carth continued lightly.
"Ha; there is no good Tarisian ale!" Canderous tried to sound disinterested. "Haven't seen that in months," he said at last. "Good thing you didn't tell me you were holding out on us."
"Wanna join me then?" Carth said producing a second bottle from behind him. Canderous raised an eyebrow at the offer: it was damn tempting. He looked at the droid, then at Carth, then back to the droid. Well, if he wanted to figure out what Onasi was up to, he had to play along, he decided…getting a free Tarisian ale on top of it wasn't too bad either. He shrugged and tossed his tools down carefully on the workbench. HK's eyes flickered briefly as the droid twitched and buzzed, a random spark spitting forth from frayed wires.
"Don't see why not," he said reaching for the offered bottle. He popped the cap as they sat down across from one another at the common area table. "I remember thinking this stuff was pure swill back on Taris," he said looking at the wisp of ferment coiling from the neck of the bottle. "Now I think I miss it."
"Cheers," Carth said holding up his bottle, then taking a hard swig. Canderous did likewise. The ale burned and left a bitter aftertaste. "Damn!" Carth spat as he swore he saw stars exploding behind his eyes. His face involuntarily winced.
"Yeah, pure swill," Canderous nodded, then took another swallow. The taste brought back memories: not all bad, but most were. Canderous of Clan Ordo, once a fearsome warrior and battle commander, reduced to a two-bit thug's hit man on a planet he wished he had burned to glass. If he knew back then what Taris was like, he would have made it his first stop during the war. He considered what Malak did to be a gift to the Republic, erasing the stench of that hellhole and all its useless petty populous. The place was full of dishonorable thieves…and the worst one employed him. It was degrading and humiliating to work for Davik; taking orders from that self-important dishonest bastard, only to be cheated out of his pay. Canderous allowed a smile to spread on his lips as he recalled Davik's painful death in the hangar. A small victory, but so deeply satisfying. Stealing the Hawk from him was a bonus insult to the injury. He almost wished Davik had survived so he would have to live with the humiliation of being duped. Canderous's smirk broadened with the thought.
"How can anyone ever get used to this?" Carth blurted, misinterpreting Canderous's pleased grin. "I am surprised it isn't eating through the bottle. This stuff can make you go blind, or worse!" Carth choked as he forced another hit of the ale. Even knowing what was coming, he wasn't prepared. He shuddered as it went down. "This is good?"
"Good for forgetting," Canderous said with no emotion. "And yeah, good for killing yourself. Plenty of people went that way in the Lower City," he said with an unconcerned shrug. "Course, there are better ways to go," he said finishing the last swallow.
"No kidding—a blaster to the face is better. All I can say is, had Saul tortured us with this bilge, damn, none of us would have held up." Carth slammed the half-empty bottle on the table. "How could Griff screw this up? Anything he made from that tach gland HAD to be better."
"Rakghoul sweat is better!" Canderous laughed. Carth joined him, then they both fell silent. "Hey, Carth, listen," Canderous began slowly, breaking the awkward silence. "Sorry."
"For what? I think we know where we stand," Carth answered.
"For Revan," Canderous said flatly.
"Oh, yeah, well, something isn't right about this; we will fix it…that's what we do best, right? Fixing up the Galaxy when all hell breaks loose. And then we will get a parade and dinner," Carth snorted. "We owe it to her. We'll get her back. I will get her back," he said softly, looking around the room everywhere, except at Canderous.
"Right," he answered as he toyed with his empty bottle. The uncomfortable silence stretched between them. Suddenly, Carth's personal comm activated, causing both men to jump. Canderous watched as Carth almost seemed to snap to attention in his seat as he addressed the caller.
"Onasi here, Admiral. What may I do for you, sir?"
"Captain," Forn Dodonna's voice cut through the room. "My office, 0-800."
"Yes…" Carth began crisply. "…Ma'am," he finished dejectedly to the silent comm. He let out a deep sigh as he rubbed his hand across his face. "Great," he mumbled between his fingers.
Canderous looked back at HK, then turned around again to study Carth. Was he here for something, or just to drown his sorrows? Good game, Onasi, Canderous silently congratulated his opponent. Let's take it up a notch. "Know what, this didn't quite do it," Canderous said suddenly. "I was thinking about hitting the cantina at the hotel. They got the real good stuff there. Wanna come?" Canderous asked.
"Sure; I need something to get this taste out of my mouth," Carth said as nonchalantly as possible. He could not believe his luck: he had played the cards perfectly. Keeping Ordo away from the droid was going to be easier than he planned.
Gotcha he grinned as he followed Canderous out of the hold.