Savior Self
Another Carth/Revan row… oh no! Oh, and other stuff.
Taris part TEN, or sommat.
Rated PG13
Disclaimer: It's a system: I do not own. I do not earn. You do not sue. Get it?
Savior Self
The descent to the garage was silent. Carth and Cortessa had been forced into the middle together by Mission and Zaalbar, who insisted taking the corners. The kept their eyes fixed on the door, rather than endure each other's attention.
The door opened. Cortessa stepped through and silently slew all the Vulkars that rose to stop them. She wiped the blade on her pants solemnly and stared at Carth for a while.
"What?" he finally said desperately, unable to take her silence any longer. "What did I do?"
"We didn't really finish our conversation last time," she told him.
Carth frowned. Why wouldn't the woman give him any air? "I thought I said I don't want to talk about it anymore!" he said defensively.
Cortessa smiled charmingly. "Wouldn't you feel better if you discussed it?"
Carth lost his temper for a moment. "Listen, sister – just because we're working together does not mean you get to badger me with constant questions!" he barked.
Zaalbar growled softly, reminding Carth of his place.
Cortessa raised an eyebrow and laughed. "You're damn right it does."
Carth fumed. "Blast it, if you aren't the most frustrating woman to talk to! Isn't there someone else you can harass for a little while?"
She played with her hair absently. "What exactly is it about me that frustrates you?" she asked craftily.
He laughed. He knew that trick. He knew it all too well. "Oh, no, I'm not falling for that one," he said. "I wasn't born yesterday, you know."
She grinned saucily. "Oh, really? It's hard to tell."
Mission giggled hysterically and Zaalbar pressed a hand to her shoulder to shut her up.
Carth sputtered. "I… you… I…" He struggled for a moment, and finally gave up with a sigh. "Okay. I give up. You win." He shook his head. "Look, I suppose I… could use someone to talk to. I'm just not used to it. And I don't know why you're so interested." He thought he might know – he hoped he was right – but he knew that expressing that would be inappropriate for the moment. "I'll try. Here goes. When I think of all the men who have betrayed us, the one that stands out above them all is the one I respected the most: Saul."
Something flickered behind Cortessa's eyes. "That name sounds familiar," she said.
Carth was angry. Familiar? That was it? "With good reason!" he barked. "Saul Karath is the commander of the entire Sith fleet! He's half the reason Malak has done so well in the war!" The other half was well-known. Revan. Revan had been Malak's genius. He had picked up some things from her, apparently, before she had died. "Saul was my commanding officer back when the Mandalorian Wars first began. He taught me everything about being a soldier… and I looked up to him." He sighed sadly and started when he felt her warm hand against his chest. He fixed his eyes on hers and continued. "Saul approached me before he left. He talked to me about how the Republic was on the losing side… and how I should start thinking of my survival." Cortessa gasped. Now it was painfully clear what Saul had meant. He realized that he sounded clueless, and made up for it. "I know now that he was trying to recruit me into the Sith, but I couldn't have conceived of it back then. I argued with him and he got angry and he left. I never saw him again."
Cortessa frowned. "You didn't think he would betray the Republic?"
Carth shook his head sadly. "Saul was my mentor… he led us to so many victories against the Mandalorians… even when things looked to be at their worst… I just… I couldn't conceive of it. He… he couldn't be serious! I was wrong, of course… h-he not only left us for the Sith he… he gave them the codes to bypass our scanners!" He bit back bile as horrible, raw memories flooded back. He closed his eyes, trying to fight back nausea. "I remember waking up as the first of the Sith bombers snuck past our defenses and began destroying half of our docked ships. I knew right then what had happened." He shook his head, feeling ill. "I could have stopped him… I could have stopped it all…"
Cortessa touched his cheek, forcing him to look at her, and he recoiled.
"You blame yourself for trusting a friend?" she asked him softly.
He looked away, unable to bear the look in her eyes. "I blame Saul, not myself," he muttered. "I was… I was stupid and ignored the danger. He nearly destroyed us all." He stood there, weak and defenseless, and he realized this with a start. He sealed himself up, and from the look on her face she could tell he looked glassy and empty again. Good. He let his anger flow through as always. "I've fought Saul for years now, and if I ever catch up to him, he will regret for what he's done. He will regret it."
Cortessa had clearly given up trying to reason with him now that he had sealed up. She said emotionlessly, "I would have done the same thing in your shoes."
Carth was stunned. She had purposefully made an unimportant, empty comment, leaving him hanging. To keep her from becoming totally indifferent he blurted, "Well there's more the story, I guess. But I don't want to talk about it now, let's go."
Mission eyed him unhappily and Zaalbar was sobered. Carth felt guilty for upsetting them so, but Cortessa acted as if nothing had happened. She wound around the Vulkar base and came to a final room, where two Twi'leks stood, their arms entangled as they discussed plans softly.
The male looked up, eyes flashing. "Ah," he said. "It looks like we have visitors – lackeys conned by Gadon Thek into trying to steal Brejik's swoop engine accelerator, I bet!"
Mission was growling quietly in the back of her throat. Carth blurted out, "You're talking like Brejik didn't steal that engine himself to begin with!"
The Twi'lek laughed. "Well, I didn't go through all the trouble of acquiring this prototype just so you could steal it back for that old fool!"
The female Twi'lek on his arm stroked one headtail absently, eying Carth with interest. Her voice was low and seductive. "Would you like me to dispose of these Bek spies, Kandon?" she cooed.
The male Twi'lek – Kandon – rolled his shoulders. "No – hold on a second." He looked Cortessa over carefully. "I see you aren't wearing the Hidden Bek colors, so I'm guessing you aren't part of that feeble old man's gang. You must be a freelance mercenary."
Cortessa's temper was at its end. "Shut up and hand over that accelerator, you infertile gizka!"
Carth rolled his eyes and shook his head, but he rested a hand on his blaster patiently.
Kandon grinned a wolfish grin. "Instead of stealing the prototype for the Beks, why don't' you come work for us? The Black Vulkars could use someone like you."
Cortessa drew her vibroblades and rubbed them together. This stimulated the Twi'lek bodyguard and her eyes began to flash. "Forget it," Cortessa barked. "I'm no fool. Hand over the accelerator. I'm warning you."
"You'd better listen to her," Mission said, eyes wide. "You haven't seen her fight!"
Carth was amused by Mission's backup. He grinned at her.
Kandon didn't take the hint. "Be smart!" he said. "Gadon Thek is old news! He's a blind fool in more ways than one! Brejik is a visionary – soon he'll control the entire Lower City! Don't shackle yourself to a losing team!"
A horrible smile had spread over Cortessa's face. Carth felt sick. It was time. "You're right," she said, licking her finger and pulling it over the flat of her vibroblade. "How about I kill you instead?"
Kandon noticeably twitched with irritation. Blood had flowed to his headtails, turning them dark green. He sighed. "I can see there's not much chance of convincing you to work for us after all. Most unfortunate."
His bodyguard was shifting anxiously. Her voice was high-pitched with her eagerness. "Now can I kill them, Kandon?"
Kandon released her arm. "Yes, darling," he said. "Kill them. Kill them all."
Screaming, Cortessa and the bodyguard threw themselves at each other. Carth fumbled with his blaster, stunned by the sheer feral rage that flowed between the women. Cortessa grabbed her headtail and slammed the Twi'lek against the wall before she drove a firm kick into the small of her back. The Twi'lek screamed, batting her fists against the wall before she turned around and dug her claws into Cortessa's face.
The two, shrieking and screaming, slammed each other face-first into the table several times before Cortessa's strength won out and she kneed the girl in the stomach. The Twi'lek doubled over, baring her neck, and Cortessa drew her vibroblades to do what she had to do.
Kandon was left shaking and pale, eyes wide. He was speaking, but his voice was hushed and coming out so quickly Carth could only catch his garbled swear words and pleads for his life.
Cortessa drove the hilt of her vibroblades into his head, and he slumped, unconscious, on the floor. She kicked him ruthlessly aside and grabbed the accelerator off of the shelf.
Mission looked ill. Zaalbar pressed his paws to his mouth, mumbling to himself.
Cortessa was a beaming, bloody mess. She grinned brightly at them. "Let's get this up to Gadon and save Bastila, okay?" she said.
Mission sprinted out the door and could be heard retching moments later.
Cortessa bit her lip and looked at Carth for guidance. He could think of nothing to say.
------
When they emerged, it was clear that night had come, for the sun had sunk deep beneath the horizon. Cortessa checked the time. It was two in the morning. Suddenly her exhilaration sputtered out, and she felt exhausted. Zaalbar carried Mission, who was now asleep, her face buried in the Wookiee's fur.
As they headed back the Bek base to deliver the accelerator before going to bed, Cortessa stumbled woozily. She was so tired… it was almost unbearable. Carth, too, seemed to be dragging, but that was normal – he carried so much guilt all of the time. Cortessa wanted to help him, but he wouldn't let her. It was as if he was afraid that if he told the story, it would happen all over again.
The Bek base was closed. The guard remained, staring at them in a vulture-like way as they entered. Inside, no one was moving. Everyone lay asleep or had gone home. Zaerdra stood at Gadon's desk, sucking on her finger, humming to herself.
"Could you wake Gadon for us?" Cortessa asked. "We have his accelerator."
Zaerdra studied her. "If I'm your whore you gotta pay me," she said simply.
Growling at the sheer ludicrousness of it, Cortessa slammed a credit on the desk. "Now fetch him," she hissed.
Zaerdra got to her feet and left, returning later with a sleepy, pajama-clad Gadon Thek. He rubbed his eyes and listened as his bodyguard whispered in his ear. He looked around before faced Cortessa.
"You've returned!" he said. "Do you have the prototype swoop engine accelerator with you?"
Cortessa rolled her eyes and Zaalbar handed her the accelerator. She weighed it in her hand, realizing that it was quite heavy. "I have the accelerator right here," she said.
Gadon was delighted. "I was beginning to wonder if you would make it!" he said. "The race is tomorrow, and my mechanics need time to install the prototype into the swoop engine of our bike."
Cortessa leaned forward, pressing her palms on his desk. "Okay, I lived up to my end of the deal. You better come through."
Gadon laughed. "Don't worry, I'm a man of my word," he said. "I promised you could ride in the swoop race under the Hidden Bek banner, and I'm still going to let you do that. And I'm even going to go one better – I'm going to let you ride the swoop bike with the prototype accelerator installed on it. Without it, you won't stand a chance."
Cortessa ground her teeth.
Zaerdra cried out in horror. "Gadon! You can't be serious! We need one of our best riders on that bike! We can't let some rookie take the prototype engine into the race!"
Cortessa nodded. "Why are you doing this, Gadon?" she asked.
Gadon grinned. "I have to be honest with you – there's a reason I'm letting you take the prototype engine. The accelerator isn't stable; there's a good chance it could explode during the race." Carth blanched beside her. "I can't ask one of my own riders to take the risk – they'll be running unmodified swoops in the race. You'll be the only one using the prototype. If you can complete the track before the accelerator overheats then you'll win for the Beks. If you die, then one of my other riders could still come through for me."
Cortessa ground her teeth again and horrible sarcasm slipped through her teeth. Her voice was tight and strained with her nausea. "Sounds like you've got all your bases covered."
Mission was bawling. Zaalbar was struggling to remain silent.
Gadon didn't really seem to catch her scathing disgust. "You don't get to be leader of a swoop gang if you don't know how to work all the angles."
Cortessa took a deep breath. "Okay," she said. "I'm ready."
"No!" Carth cried. She felt a firm hand on her shoulder, squeezing hard.
"What the hell, Onasi?" she barked, swatting his hand away.
"I can't send you to die out there!" he said desperately. "I should go – I'm the pilot, remember? I can handle the bike better and it won't be so bad if I –"
"Shut up and stand by the Wookiee," she said sharply, indifferently, though inside she was deeply touched by his offer. Dejectedly, Carth did as he was told. She watched him for a moment, struggling with herself. Finally she regained control and looked back to the Bek leader.
Gadon was smiling when he began speaking. "You can stay here for the rest of the night," he said. He paused and chuckled. "Or at least… the rest of the morning. The mechanics need the time to install the accelerator on the engine, so you won't be able to practice your riding."
Cortessa swore loudly, slamming her fist on the table. "What, are you trying to kill me, you Bantha?"
Gadon ignored her and Zaerdra's headtails flushed a beastly black-blue. "I've got good instincts," Gadon drawled. "You have the look of a racer about you. Just try to relax and in the morning we'll take you down to the swoop track."
He ushered them off to the guest quarters, which happened to be a single room in the middle of the base, with walls lined with bunks and footlockers. Cortessa, Carth, Zaalbar, and Mission picked a corner and settled there with their few belongings. Cortessa knew she needed the most sleep so she went to bed immediately. Mission hugged her tightly.
"I hope you make it okay," she said. "I like you, and I don't like people often."
Moved, Cortessa hugged back silently, her eyes fixed on Zaalbar and Carth, who huddled awkwardly to the side.
"I'll try my best, Mission," Cortessa murmured, and the Twi'lek threw herself into bed and buried her face in her pillow.
Zaalbar bowed to her. "I only hope that you may die with honor, Cortessa Blatt," he told her graciously. "It is unfortunate that our lifedebt seems to come to a close so soon. May Bacca be with you." Cortessa hugged him, too, for good measure, and his nose flushed with flustered embarrassment. He stroked her hair with his large, furry paw, before he curled up near Mission.
Cortessa could think of nothing to say to Carth. With a dismissive shrug, she curled up in her bed, leaving him to stand there alone.
"Good luck," he said at last.
She rolled over and pulled her blanket over her head.
------
Mission and Carth were up first, nudging Cortessa awake.
"Come on!" Mission hissed. "You have to eat something quick – the race is in an hour!"
Cortessa moaned. "Leave me here to die," she grumbled.
Carth lifted her bodily from the bed and hauled her down the cafeteria. Everyone stared but he ignored them as he set her down on a bench and shoved a bowl of sludge into her hands.
"Eat it," he said.
She stared at it for a moment, trying to calm her heaving stomach. "Sick," she squeaked.
"Just eat it, please," Mission said desperately. "You need something or you'll pass out on the track! Come on!"
Cortessa reluctantly slipped a spoonful into her mouth. It didn't taste as bad as it looked. She managed to finish it off before Carth stuffed her in a 'fresher and locked her inside.
"Hey!" she cried, beating on the door. "Let me out, you ungrateful little –" (and here she went off on an angry tirade, thinking up as many insults as possible).
Mission giggled and teased Carth about it for the rest of the day.
Once Cortessa was dressed and ready, Carth shoved her bodily down the hall into the arms of a waiting Rodian.
"Whoa!" said the Rodian, stunned, flushing. "I understand that you are eager to race but do calm down!" He gently detached her, looking rather embarrassed.
"We'll be watching you in the cafeteria on the vidscreen!" Mission called. "Good luck!"
Carth waved and they vanished from her sight.
"Come, we must move," said the Rodian, and pushed Cortessa ahead, into the blinding sunlight, where she was greeted with cheers from the various residents in the apartment complexes on either side. She stared at the track and gulped loudly.
This was not going to be fun.
I'm sorry, Carth, for being a total witch to you. I only hope you don't kick my tombstone.
------
Carth and Mission stood with their bodies pressed against the counter, staring at the screen with wide eyes. They were bustled about by Bek members, but for the most part they were allowed to keep their spots to see their friend. Carth could see faintly in the background a woman in a cage, bound with chains and collars, her head lolling about while she slept. Her hair fell in her eyes, masking her face, so that one's focus was brought immediately to her generous chest, but Carth knew who it was.
Bastila.
Cortessa stumbled onto the screen, being led by a Rodian man, who more or less looked eager to get this over with. Cortessa was pale and shaking, barely at her wits end. Carth couldn't blame her – the chances that she would die were high.
It would be a shame. He had almost begun to trust her, and she was a pretty face.
The Duros race announcer spoke with her, and with each word he said her knees seemed to give way a little. Mission was muttering under her breath.
"Come on, Corty. Do this for us."
He felt uncomfortable hearing the nickname. He hadn't given her one yet, even when she called him 'doll' or 'flyboy.' Perhaps, if she made it out alive, he would think of one. 'Beautiful' hardly sufficed, because she almost beat him every time he said it.
He watched as her Ithorian mechanic dragged her bike to the starting line. She staggered and tripped, landing not-so-smoothly on the ground. The Vulkars laughed. The Beks cried out in shame.
Zaalbar roared loudly with worry, and a few people stepped away from him.
She mounted her bike awkwardly and sat there like a statue. The cam zoomed in on her face, which was pale and gaunt with her lack of sleep and panic. Her eyes were wide and glassy and her lips were pulled into a tight line. She looked ready to hurl.
The clock went off and she slammed the accelerator, going off with a bang. Her mechanic backed away, wheezing and coughing as exhaust engulfed him.
The cam trained after her as her time rose up on the screen. There was no noise beyond the loud, mechanical buzz of her bike, but the expression her face clearly confirmed that she was screaming. Her hair whipped madly behind her and she nearly crashed thrice, and just as she reached the finish line she hit some debris and spun out of control.
Mission, Carth, and Zaalbar screamed, throwing themselves at the screen as if they could save her, but the counter held them back.
Then, suddenly, some eerie control came over Cortessa's face. She jerked on the controls and flipped the bike, bowing her head as it rolled sideways through the air, turning upside-down for a moment to land with a loud crunch.
Cortessa slumped over the controls, her face twisted with her shock and fright.
The Beks cheered loudly, punching the air and whooping. The time at the top read: 00:27:08
Cortessa looked like she was about to faint. Her mechanic hauled her out of her bike and handed her off to another Bek, who checked her for injuries.
Carth found himself laughing with delight. Someone thumped him on the back, and he was immediately sobered when they said, "Your girlfriend sure packs a punch."
Beside him, Mission smashed an ale bottle to the cheers of the surrounding Beks.
------
Author's Notes: I'm amazed at how much I managed to squeeze into this chapter. I almost lost heart in it… someone told me my writing was juvenile… I know I shouldn't let it get to me, because you've all been so supportive and wonderful, but it really hurt, and now I just don't know anymore, especially since I keep finding more and more errors in my writing.
SilverSentinal21 - Been playing like nuts. Now I'm on Nar Shaddaa. The. Locals. Are. Crap. I hate it. Aaaagh. The only reason I'm staying is because I want Mira.
FaintlyAlarming - -takes your picture-
Amme Moto - Found him guilty accidentally, found him guilty on purpose, found him innocent. All on different games. Sunry sucks.
Dante-Revan - Your support means a lot. I'm glad you like my character developement.
