Chap. 8 Rian:

            The clink of silverware was the only sound between us.  Carth had taken to scowling over a mug of Tarisian ale, but he always had at least one eye on me.  What did he expect me to do?  Morph into a Twi'lek and dance?  If he wanted to act like a weirdo, then that was his decision.

            I occupied myself with gorging my empty stomach to its full capacity.  I wasn't exactly certain just what it was that I ordered but it was pink, salty and edible.

            "Hey," I said between a gulp of water.  "Smile.  It is allowed, you know."

            "Hmmm?"  He shook his head.  "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."

            "So I noticed.  Where were you just then?"

            "That food's not going to run away." he pointed at my plate.  "You can take your time."  I dropped my fork.  Damn him, I was blushing!  I guess I must have looked like a rabid Gamorrean.  I couldn't let him get away with that.

            "I just can't remember the last time I ate.  Did you even bother to feed me while I was out cold?" I retorted.

            "Yes!"  He sounded offended.  "I fed you every day.  I just didn't realize you had the appetite of a Wookiee."

            "You don't have to watch me eat if it grosses you out so much." I snorted, making a painful display of stuffing another forkful into my mouth.

            "What should I do then?"  He raised an eyebrow. 

            Now, conning a person is something of an art form.  I'd like to think of myself as fairly good, if not the best.  It's not simple thievery, a toddler toting a blaster carbine could rob somebody blind.  No, scamming someone takes skill, charisma.  It's all in the seduction.

            Once I had figured out that Carth was telling the truth about our situation, the gears had begun to crank in my skull.  Maybe he and his Republic needed this dame Bastila, but not me.  All I needed was a place to set up base and start smuggling again.  Taris, being an insignificant pit of a place on the outer rim was fairly ideal.  I'd help Carth with his little quest long enough to relieve him of any spare credits he might have.

            I set my fork down slowly.  "I'd like to know more about you, Carth."

            "Me?"  He looked like he was going to choke on his ale.  Carth glanced around stunned, obviously trying to gather his thoughts.  When he looked back and noticed that my eyes had never left him, he sighed.  "Well, I've been a star pilot for the Republic for years.  I've seen more than my share of wars… I fought in the Mandalorian Wars before all this started.  But with all that I've never experienced anything like the slaughter these Sith animals can unleash.  Not even the Mandalorians were that senseless."

            Carth turned back to his ale.  He was evading my question and that burned me.  Trite facts about a person's life speak nothing of who they are.  He didn't trust me.  It was as if he was expecting me to swindle him, which I found utterly infuriating.  I didn't think that I was that easy to see through.

            I continued to eye him intently.  Carth was out of his mind if he thought I was going to let him off the hook that easily.  By the way his brown eyes were darting around, I could tell that I was making him nervous.  He'd have to talk soon, or run off screaming like a little girl.

            He laughed softly.  A clear sign of discomfort.

            "So," I broke the silence.  "what planet are you from?"

            Carth's eyes immediately traveled back to his mug.

            "My home world was one of the first planets to fall to Malak's fleet." he murmured.  As he continued his voice rose and I could feel electric anger rolling off of him in waves.  "The Sith bombed it into submission and there wasn't a damn thing our Republic forces could do to stop them."

            The cantina food must have been having an adverse reaction on my insides.  My throat felt tight and my voice was strained as I spoke.

            "I'm sorry, Carth.."

            "What do you need to be sorry for?" he snapped.

            "You're talking like it's your fault.  Like you failed somehow."

            "It shouldn't be my fault."  Carth emptied the mug down his gullet.  "I did everything I could… I followed my orders and did my duty.  That shouldn't mean I failed them.  I didn't!"

            I went far deeper than I intended.  Carth looked lost, and the expression on his face made me wary.  But there was a voice in the back of my head that compelled me to press just a little further.

            "Them?"  My voice was little more than a hoarse squeak.  "Do you mean the people of your home world?"

            "Yes.  No…"  He sighed.  "no, that's not what I mean.  I mean… I'm sorry.  I'm not making much sense, am I?"

            I tried to give an encouraging smile, but couldn't look at his face.  I had pushed him too far.

            "You probably mean well with your questions, I'm just not accustomed to talking about my past very much.  At all, actually."  Carth pushed his empty mug aside.  "I'm more used to taking action… keeping my mind focused on the business at hand.  So let's just do that.  If you have more questions, ask them later."

            Carth stood up and tossed some credits on the table.  He aimed a toothy grin in my direction.

            "That's the last time I pay for your meal, you bottomless pit."

            I shrugged sheepishly.  All I could think of was a well-known smugglers saying: It didn't matter how many gizka you decided you would take, only how many you were going to end up with.