Authors note-
Being a fanfiction there are a few details I would like to edit for the sake of the story, I still claim no ownership of the characters or anything of StarWars. One of the few things I'll be changing is Carth's age, it's one thing I can never calculate well on the wookiepedia so I always assume his age to be about 34 if he had dustil at 18. And by the way that brat acts I would assume he is still a teenager when he is found. Depending how my inspiration sparks I may tweek a few things later. But for now I hope you all enjoy! :)
After a brief scuffle in the hall outside their newly claimed base, Carth and Mira wandered out into the main street, headed for the cantina Carth had mentioned earlier. Mira's caught sight of the crash pod though, causing her to stop dead in her tracks. Carth stopped too, thinking she would probably want to see it eventually. He didn't like standing there in the open with her staring slack jawed at the pod, but there wasn't much else he would do.
The thing was still smoking! Mira's brows furrowed as she looked over the pod from a distance, trying to evaluate the damage that had been done to it. The hull was badly damaged, the entrance panel to it hanging off by one bolt. Either Carth had smashed their way out or they had nearly been propelled out by the air pressure. The thought of being thrown from the escape pod to burn in a free fall to Taris' surface made her shudder. It also brought back a flash of memory.
Loud beeping, a roaring rumble surrounding her, making her feet shake on the metal grate that acted as a floor. A glance out the view port gave way only to flame. Her heart lurched up in her throat in fear, wondering if this would be her last moments. A grunt from in front of her made her look at the man that had accompanied her, his dark eyes focused on the clasp that held her straps in place. It jiggled a bit more while the pod shook, and came apart with a barely audiable click. "Hey-!" The man gasped, leaning forward as if his arms could stretch across the pod to grab her, or her harness straps. Her hands were already locked on the two clips, struggling to get them at the right angle to snap them back into place. Before she could though, the pod jerked, launching her straight up from her seat, her head slamming into the metal above her. "Mira!" Before she could respond, her sight faded and everything went silent.
"Mira?" Carth gently put a hand on her shoulder, pulling her back into reality. Her mouth snapped shut and she looked at him, easily depicting what she had just remembered to him through just her shocked irisis. Carth swallowed and nodded, lowering his voice for only her ears. "I'm just glad you're so small, I may not have been able to grab you and drag you out. Though I'd much rather be a sith's target dummy than leave anyone behind." He moved his hand to her back, just to push her forward to get her moving once more. She lowered her eyes to the ground and mumbled a 'thank you'.
"You're welcome. I've never left a fellow soldier behind and I don't intend to start."
This made Mira smile a bit. From what she could tell, Carth Onasi was a very noble man. In his own way. He seemed very loyal and determined, not to mention honest. She remembered Trask mentioning how great of a man he was, babbling on about the great Onasi while she fought to unlock doors and grab med packs. But standing next to him, knowing she owed him her life, knowing that he truly seemed like a man with heart of gold, she couldn't blame Trask.
"Say Carth…" Mira said quietly as they entered the Cantina. "Yes? What's on your mind" He mumbled, looking around the Cantina curiously, seeing no reason immediately to run out. It actually seemed like an okay place… for now.
Mira also looked around, entwining her fingers in front of her in a more ladylike way, her scout uniform not being much for wear. She had to make a mental note of getting more clothes at that shop they passed by. Carth Immediatly started scouting out for food, Mira following close behind. "I'd like to know more about you, Carth." She said politely, smiling at him when he peered at her over his shoulder. One of the rooms to the side of the main hub of the cantina was obviously a small resturaunt and bar, a table in the back corner free for their taking. He waited only until they sat down before finally responding.
"Well… I've been a star pilot wiht the republic fleet for years… I was even in the mandalorian wars before all this sith mess started. I gotta say, at least the mandalorians weren't as senseless and blood thirsty as these sith." Carth kept his head low, his voice quiet despite the noise of the cantina. Mira listened carefully, only stopping him for a moment when their waiter came, offering them the list of drinks and taking their orders before rushing off once more. She nodded for him to continue, showing as much interest as a child during story time.
"My homeworld… it was one of the first planets to fall to Malak's fleet. The sith bombed it into submission.. and there wasn't a Damn thing our republic forces could do to stop them!" Carths fist banged on the table, not much for attention. From a bystander's view, he only looked like a man who had a bad day. Not an unusal sight on Taris apparently with the blockade. Mira leaned back a bit and dug her nails into her palms, wishing the conversation had not turned this way.
"I'm sorry Carth… this must be very painful for you-"
"I'm just a soldier; I go where the fleet admirals tell me to. I follow my orders and I do my Duty. It just…." Carth's jaw twitched, almost in anger. His eyes fixed on a point on the far end of the table and he sighed. "Doesn't seem right that doing that means I failed them! I didn't!"
Mira stretched her hands across the table, not touching him but hopefully blocking his fix point on the table, hoping to regain his attention on her. "I'm sorry Carth…. I didn't mean to upset you!" she said, worry leaking into her blue eyes.
Carth paused, his breath stopping for a second as he looked at her once more. "I… I know… It's just…. I must not be making much sense. Sorry. I know you mean well with your questions but I'm not used to answering." He rubbed the back of his neck, looking down again. "I'm used to taking action so… can we just eat our food and move on? If you must, ask your questions later." He said, finishing in a rush as the waiter returned with their food. Mira nodded quickly, and attended to her growling stomach.
After they had eaten, Mira suggested they spread out across the cantina and see what they could hear for themselves, then meet back in the restaurant to go over what they got. The scout noticed a few things, a con artist in the music lounge. A young sith woman by the door, looking incredibly bored and out on her luck. Another young sith man named Yun, who apparently had trouble keeping his eyes in their sockets. And finally the dueling arena, which Mira stopped for a moment to watch a pitiful match.
Ever more curious, Mira wandered over to the Hutt in the far side of the duelist's corner, folding her arms behind her back as she walked up to him.
"Betting is over little girl, leave me be to count my winnings." The Hutt grumbled, looking her over with a glance and ignoring her right after. Her eyes narrowed in irritation. So far hunting for information had been a dud, so hunting for credits would have to be her next move.
"I'm not here for betting, I am here to register for a duel." she said, earning a chuckle from the Hutt. "And who are you to go into the ring? A pipsqueak like yourself." The Hutt chortled, seeming even more amused by her serious expression. This time he looked her over more carefully, debating her height and build. "Perhaps you might prove to be an opponent in the ring… what would we call you? Prey perhaps?" He chortled, earning a scowl from Mira.
"I have 100 credits for registry, call me what you want but get me into the ring. I expect to see some earnings for fresh blood. Wouldn't you agree? People might start flocking with a new duelist, with this quarantine blocking much of anyone else coming in." Mira arched an eyebrow, finally getting the Hutt to stop jiggling with laughter long enough to hear her out. He pondered this for a moment, licking his slimey lips in thought.
"Very well…. you will be called, Mysterious stranger. For you are a mysterious young lass, and a stranger to Taris at that. It may perk some interest of the viewers." The hutt finally agreed, seeming unsure of his choice. "Your match will begin in twenty minutes. Be in the ring by then or you will not duel here again."
Mira smiled, giving the Hutt and elegant bow before trotting off to the corner of the room, avoiding the other duelists while she calmed herself for a match. Hopefully Carth would still be looking for something before she finished….