Savior Self
It came from Dantooine… oooh… so scary.
Dantooine part seven.
Rated PG13
Disclaimer: Um. Uh. Something.
Savior Self
They trudged back to the Enclave in silence. There was nothing that could be said; Bastila firmly refused to pick up the matter again. For reasons Cortessa could not fathom, Carth kept giving her angry glares, and turning his shoulder to her, and huffing loudly to himself. It was as if he was angry with her, but for what she could not be sure. Every time she tried to speak to him, he would ask her what her problem was all too briskly, closing off any conversation she may have wanted to start. But when she turned her back, she realized his eyes were fixed on her neck. He was watching her. But why?
They arrived at the Enclave. Bastila firmly dismissed Carth, who scuttled off to the Ebon Hawk. He was intercepted by Mission and Zaalbar, Cortessa noted absently as she started down the hallway, datapad in hand.
Bastila paused outside the Council's door. She glanced at Cortessa and bit her lip. "Ready?"
"No."
Bastila narrowed her eyes, and determinedly pushed open the door.
------
"Corty!" Mission squealed the moment Cortessa stepped onto the loading ramp. She tore down and tackled her adult friend, burying her little blue face in Cortessa's bust. Cortessa, laughing, threw her arms around Mission and kissed her crown.
"Hey, Little Blue!" she said happily. "What's up?"
Mission was in a much better mood after sobbing hysterically out on the plains. She now grinned up at Cortessa genuinely, and held out a hand. Tightly clenched in her hands was another lightsaber.
"Zaalbar picked this up," she said eagerly. "Off some Mandalorian raiders. We wanted to help Jon, and they just happened to be carrying one."
Cortessa checked the lightsaber. It was in okay shape, and when she turned it on it blazed red. She smiled with satisfaction and twirled it in her hand. "Excellent," she said. Now the weight would be even in her hands, and she would fight twice as well. Mission beamed.
"What do you think?" she asked eagerly.
Cortessa smiled. "You're very bright, Mission. Thank you."
Mission, grinning broadly, bounded off, her feet barely touching the floor.
A thought occurred to Cortessa. "Uh – Wait!"
Mission halted and looked back. "Yes?"
"Did you kill them all?"
Mission thought for a moment and nodded. "Yeah," she said. "This guy said he was their leader. Went down easy. Like a gizka with a helmet."
Cortessa laughed. Canderous appeared at Mission's shoulder. "Your Twi'lek here makes a scrappy fighter," he growled. "Train her some and she'll be a formidable opponent."
Mission's headtails flushed with pleasure.
Cortessa nodded at Canderous. "Did you enjoy yourself?"
"It was like stepping on bugs," Canderous said back gruffly. "They were not Mandalorians any longer – just the opposite. Hiding, bloodthirsty beasts with no remaining sense of honor. I simply put them out of their misery."
Cortessa patted him on the shoulder. He merely shifted away and she continued on to the cockpit, where Carth had settled down. She stood behind him and rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Carth?"
"What?"
"The Council… they gave me a new mission."
"Okay."
He sounded detached. She frowned down at him sadly and pushed his bangs back. He swatted her hand away stubbornly and glowered down at his feet. Her grip tightened on him and, with an alien strength, she grasped the back of his seat and furiously spun him around to face her. He cried out as she pressed her hands to the armrests, glaring into his face.
"Cortessa!" he gasped.
"If you've got something to tell me, Onasi, you'd better gods-damn say it," she snarled.
Carth blanched, but by some miracle he managed to keep his expression unwavering, his gaze never leaving her face. "Maybe another time," he said in a dark, husky voice.
She flinched visibly, her eyes smoldering. "You bastard," she hissed.
He matched her nasty snarl. "Why don't you tell me your new mission?" he snapped.
"As if you trust me enough to listen!" she said shrilly. He started as she shoved him out of his chair, but she didn't continue after him. Once she was certain he was on the floor, she marched out; moments later he heard Mission berating Cortessa with questions.
Breathless, confused, angry, and humiliated, Carth picked himself off of the floor and sat back down in his seat before he swiveled back around and got to work again.
------
Canderous smirked as he watched Cortessa flit around the ship, gathering her things. "Have a nice little lover's spat, Cortessa?" he called after her as she began hurriedly upgrading her lightsabers.
Her motions suddenly halted. He knew he had done something horribly wrong when she, very, very slowly, set her lightsabers back down on the workbench, her shoulders and neck stiffening. She heaved a heavy sigh, and before he could even speak again, she had driven him against the wall, her elbow in his neck, her nose nearly touching his.
"You really need to watch your mouth, Mandalorian," she snarled viciously, her eyes flashing and flickering.
Canderous wheezed softly, unable to breathe with her elbow crushing his windpipe.
She released him and continued with her work. Gasping and sputtering for breath, he stalked out. As he glanced back a final time, he grudgingly rubbed his throat.
------
A few minutes later, Bastila strode into the cockpit and began uploading the map they had found to the navicomputer. Carth swiveled around in his chair and watched her unhappily.
"What are you doing?" he asked sharply.
She glanced at him. "I'm uploading our coordinates to the navicomputer," she replied smoothly, her fingers working tirelessly without her even looking at them.
"Why?"
Bastila shrugged, realizing that he sounded wary and confused. So Cortessa hadn't told him. She shook her head and sighed. "The Council gave us a mission, Carth," she murmured. She glanced up at him. "Surely you were told."
"No, I wasn't," Carth said, folding his arms. He distinctly left off the part about Cortessa pushing him out of his chair.
She nodded. "You do not have to remain, however, Carth," she said. "If you wish to leave…"
"No," he said suddenly, firmly; his voice had become slightly husky. "I… got my orders in from the Admiral today."
She didn't say anything, just gazed at him thoughtfully.
He cleared his throat and continued. "She said I need to stick around and help you with whatever crazy mission the Council sends you on. I… I guess I might be of some help."
"That's very considerate, Carth," she said kindly. "You assistance will do us well."
"Don't mention it," he grumbled. He sighed. "So what's this mission, anyway?"
She shook her head. "You will have to ask someone else," she said. "I will say nothing more. It is the Council's wish."
"Come on, Bastila. If I'm going to be helping you, I need to know what we're doing and why. Cortessa –"
Bastila's voice was crisp. "Is none of your business."
"If you won't tell me, I'll go to the Council myself!" he warned.
She turned her back to him and resumed working.
Swearing violently, he got to his feet and marched out of the Ebon Hawk, nearly knocking over Canderous, who, oddly enough, seemed to be clutching his throat. Carth ignored the Mandalorian, striding swiftly out the loading ramp and into the Enclave. He kept his pace brisk, discouraging anyone to try and stop him, and he dodged people who got in his way. On, on, on he went, his unusual fury driving him.
He reached the Council chambers. He slammed an open palm on the wood slat door, and it slid open. The Council simultaneously turned their eyes to him blankly, and while three offered him warm smiles, the fourth snarled meanly. Carth determinedly ignored the old man and, barely allowing his soldier's training to force him to salute and bow, he asked determinedly, "What's this mission you're sending us on?"
"Peace, child," chastised Master Dorak coolly.
Carth flushed angrily. "You have to tell me. You have to tell me what this has to do with Cortessa. If not… at least tell me why I'm leaving –"
"We understand that you are bound to Padawan Blatt," said Master Zhar gently, trying to soothe Carth's frustration. "But she will tell you in due time. You must not worry and trust in the Force."
Carth snarled. "Look, I respect what you Jedi do, but if I'm going to be carting her around for gods know how long, I need to know why!"
They were silent.
He resisted the urge to stamp his food like a child. He trembled for a moment and took a deep breath. "Why won't you tell me?" he pleaded.
Master Vrook spoke up then, keeping his expression unwavering. "We understand that your relationship with our Padawan is a shaky one, wrought with fervor and passion. Do not act on your emotions. Allow her to lead you."
Carth's mouth twitched into a snarl. "Fine," he hissed, and marched out. The door slammed shut behind him, but not before he heard Master Zhar say softly, "There's trouble in that one."
He leaned against the wall and lost his face in shaking hands before he drew a slow, shaking breath, and made his way back to the Ebon Hawk.
------
Author's Notes: Everyone's on their wit's end and they're going to explode at the slightest thing because they're so stressed. You know what that means. NOT YET, DEARS, BUT SOON. I'm sorry I've been gone so long – I went on a trip and besides that I've been really busy at school with academic competitions, spelling bees, plays, visiting authors, and field trips. Fun, fun, fun.
DarthNexus9000 – I won't reveal my plans, but my plot considering what planets come when is already quite solid. Thank you very much, though, for the consideration. I always look forward to suggestions.
godessofwisdom – We're all looking forward to the Carth-bashing. XD Cortessa's joke-making is meant to be fun, mostly for me so that I can shut off my brain for a second while writing.
Amme Moto – You've got about one more chapter to wait. But you'll get your wish.
Child-of-the-Dawn – I thought so. Thanks for letting me know – I was a little scared for a second.
Ilea Dreike – Yeah. I love making fun of Carth. He's going to get into all sorts of trouble, poor guy.
Dante-Raven – I'm flying by my pants. I don't know what I'm doing. XD That's the fun of it. I make it up as it comes. If I had it all pre-planned it just wouldn't be so fun. Canderous is fun to animate; he doesn't get enough attention. None of them do – only Carth and Atton and Bastila, for obvious reasons.
FaintlyAlarming – YAY FOR THINGS THAT END IN –AY!
Rattler3 – Cortessa is a pwner.
SilverSentinal21 – Can't reveal what the dream was about. I know it's normal for guys to think of sex, and Carth does like a normal guy will do, but he's never thought of that so clearly about someone so close to him in a while so he's kind of like, 'holy crap what was that?' you know?
JadeFalcon3 – Sho you righ'.
Queenofinsanity – I don't have problems with it in stories, I don't know why… I think it's because I get to use more cruel irony and various other things in writing other than just being mean.
Lunatic Pandora1 – Nope, she doesn't. She has that Mandalorian's lightsaber. Ain't she spiffy?
Dark Lord Daishi – Perhaps it's foreshadowing. Maybe it's not. We'll have to seeeeeeee. ;D
