Alexis watched Carth dress for work from beneath hooded eyelids. He knew she was awake, he'd seen her looking at him when he first got up, and yet he hadn't left the room. He was paying her no attention now as he fastened his pants. She'd seen nothing terribly indecent, as he was wearing shorts before, but it was still an odd experience. She felt a bit guilty, as if she were some sort of pervert, but she was certain that he knew that she was awake.
As Carth tugged on his t-shirt, Alexis watched the play of the muscles across his back. Her mouth was dry. Something was going to have to give soon or she was going to go mad. Alexis shut her eyes and took a deep, calming breath as quietly as she could. Her eyes popped back open of their own accord.
Why did the man have to look so damnably good in black? It was as if he'd gone out of his way to strain her self-control to its absolute limits. He was fastening his boots now. They were black, too. Everything he was wearing was sinfully tight and black. Alexis almost burst into hysterical giggles. Who knew anything so dark could be so tempting? Well, at least he was fully clothed now.
Alexis sensed Carth starting to turn around and shut her eyes tightly. The low, quiet chuckle she heard from across the room did nothing to calm her down. He thought it was funny, did he? Well, she certainly didn't. It wasn't funny at all. She could barely contain herself, and he was laughing at her.
Carth's hand lightly brushed her forehead and Alexis's eyes opened once again. "Good morning," he said in a friendly tone, as if he hadn't just changed clothes right in front of her. Why had it been so fascinating, anyway? She'd seen him in nothing but his pants before. Were shorts somehow different? Or was it the fact that she'd watched him performing the intimate act of changing clothing that had her in knots?
"Hello," she replied, sounding strained even to her own ears. If he didn't move soon, she was going to lunge off of this bed and tackle him, Jedi Code be damned. That thought brought her back to her senses.
There is no emotion, there is peace.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity. She almost started laughing. Oh yes there was. She tried again.
There is no chaos, there is harmony.
There is no death, there is the Force.
"Is everything okay?" Carth asked her.
Alexis took another deep breath and swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. "Planning on doing any smuggling today?" she asked, motioning towards his outfit.
Carth looked down at his attire. "Actually, not having any droids does have its drawbacks. I haven't done laundry in a while," Carth replied.
"I'll do it," Alexis volunteered a bit too quickly. She'd do laundry for three straight weeks to keep him from putting that back on. Wait a minute… he was leaving the apartment that way? Where other people could see him? Alexis eyed his outfit speculatively. That would not do.
"I couldn't ask you to do my laundry. I'll take to the cleaners tonight," Carth said, shaking his head.
"You know, I haven't seen your orange jacket in a while…" Alexis said hopefully: anything to cover up the muscles that were still clearly visible beneath the shirt. Please, find it for my sanity, she willed him. She couldn't decide if he knew what effect he was having on her. She'd thought that he did, right at first, but now she wasn't so sure.
"It's somewhere with the rest of my dirty clothes," he said, strapping on a blaster holster. Where was he going, anyway?
"You still haven't told me what you're going to do today," Alexis said finally.
"I'm going to inspect a ship and do a bit of repair work. I thought I'd even stop by and see if Atton wanted to give me a hand. It's a Republic transporter," Carth replied.
"There isn't anyone else on planet with the qualifications?" Alexis asked suspiciously. Admirals didn't do mechanical work on ships, did they?
"Well, Atton. And Bao-Dur, from what I've heard," Carth said easily, fitting his blasters into the holsters.
"And the blasters…"
"I always wear them. They're just normally under my jacket," Carth said reasonably.
Alexis sighed. Whew. When had she become so nosy? "Well, you kids have fun, then."
Carth gave her a half-smile and started to leave them room. Alexis wished she'd turned away. The things that those pants did for that man's butt…
Two hours later, Alexis made her way onto the Ebon Hawk with Dustil Onasi in tow. He made his way to Mira's side almost instantly. Alexis had to hide her smile. It certainly hadn't taken them long. Canderous arrived beside her just as Dustil was leaving.
"Are we planning to get out of here any time soon? All of this sitting around is starting to grate on my nerves," Canderous growled in her ear.
"Actually, we're leaving in a few days. I've got to talk to Senator Seraph again tomorrow, and then the day after, we'll pick up my Jedi robes and leave for Coruscant."
"Because Coruscant will be so much more interesting than here," Canderous said darkly.
"Oh Canderous, you can use your rifle again soon. I have a feeling that things will become a lot more exciting once I've revealed myself," Alexis said in a comforting tone.
"A few thugs are no challenge for a Mandalorian," Canderous replied in a manner that seemed suspiciously haughty…
"Aw, come on Canderous. You can be my personal bodyguard," Alexis replied with a grin.
"I don't think there will be any room for me with that Republic soldier and his toy blasters flanking you like a shadow," Canderous snarled half-heartedly.
Alexis gave him a friendly pat on the arm. "I know your gun's bigger than his, Canderous." She gave him a wicked smile.
"And yet you still picked Republic boy. I'll never understand women," Canderous replied, motioning at her with his blaster rifle.
"Nor should you. Where is Kalen?" Alexis asked, glancing around the hold to see if anyone else was present.
"How should I know?"
"I think we need to get you something to shoot very soon. You're awfully grouchy."
"Mandalorians are never grouchy," Canderous said with a snort.
"So, the way you're acting now, that's just…"
"Boredom."
"I see. Well, I'm going to go and find Kalen. You just stay here and be bored in peace," Alexis fled before Canderous could reply.
As Alexis made her way back towards the girls' dormitory, she heard muffled voices coming from the main hold. She tiptoed towards it, not really certain why she should be interested, but curious nonetheless.
"Are you scared?" Alexis heard Mira whisper. Alexis peered around the corner. Mira had Dustil pressed to the wall. She had one hand against his chest and the other gripped his belt. Both of them were breathing harshly.
"Do I look scared?" Dustil said in return, grinning down at her.
"Not nearly scared enough," Mira said in reply, slamming him back against the wall again with the heel of her hand. Dustil didn't struggle or fight back, he just waited, smiling.
Mira snarled in frustration and turned away, preparing to leave. Dustil caught her by the arm and spun her back against his chest. He crushed her to him and swooped down, planting his mouth firmly on hers. Mira struggled weakly for a few seconds before melting against him. Her hands went to his hair and his curled around her back and neck.
Alexis walked away, sensing that that moment was too private for her to be privy to. She was unable to contain her smile, however, and when she finally encountered Kalen, she was still laughing softly to herself.
"What's funny?" Kalen asked, standing as Alexis entered the dormitory.
"Dustil and Mira," Alexis said, motioning back towards the hold.
Kalen laughed as well. "They're both very emotional, aren't they?"
"You could call it that."
"I hear that Dustil has agreed to becoming a Jedi," Kalen said conversationally.
"Well, it's clear that he'll be as much a Jedi as we are, but that was to be expected. The first true Jedi to return to the galaxy will probably have to be children that we train from their youth," Alexis replied. "He's already a bit too corrupt."
"Mira saw to that."
"I think that she had help. What do you day we head back over to Carth's apartment? We can escape the lovebirds there."
"Sounds good to me."
Alexis and Kalen arrived at the exit after taking the long way around. Mical was already standing next to the ramp. "Going somewhere, Mical?" Alexis asked.
Mical grimaced. "I'm attempting to escape the rendezvous that seems to be occurring in the main hold."
Kalen held out her arm. "Join us, then? We're heading over to Carth's apartment for the same reason."
Mical took her proffered arm gingerly. He offered his other arm to Alexis, who took it after flipping up her hood. "Off we go," Alexis said, tugging them off of the ship.
Things were never awkward between Mical and Kalen because she didn't know that there was a reason that they should be. Alexis thought that this was probably a blessing. "You don't think Visas or Canderous…" Alexis said as they were walking away.
"No. They like being alone too much for that," Kalen replied with a shrug. They arrived at Carth's apartment shortly thereafter. After a cursory check to be certain they didn't have any unwanted company, the trio all took seats on the couch.
"So, now that we're here, what are we going to do?" Kalen asked, leaning back and slinging her arms behind her head.
"What were you going to do before you were interrupted?" Alexis asked.
Kalen sighed. "Do you mean before or after Carth took Atton away? Which reminds me… What was Carth wearing? He looked excellent this morning."
Alexis turned and glared at her. If Kalen had noticed, so had every other female on the Citadel. Oh well. At least he probably wouldn't act on the extra attention. "He says that all of his clothes are dirty. He told me he'd have to have his things taken to the cleaners tonight."
"Maybe you should hide the rest of his clothes. Or buy him more like those," Kalen said thoughtfully.
"I'm not entirely comfortable with this line of conversation," Mical inserted in a strangled manner.
Both Kalen and Alexis turned to glare at Mical and he flushed and went quiet at once. "It won't hurt you to listen for a few more minutes. We won't talk about this for long," Kalen said.
"Anyway, if he keeps dressing like that, I'm not sure I'll be able to function normally," Alexis said.
"I might not either."
"Watch it."
"So what were he and Atton and Bao-Dur up to this morning?"
"Carth said something about working on a Republic transporter."
"The transport that is supposed to take us to Coruscant is here," Mical interrupted.
"We're taking a transport? I thought we'd all be on the Hawk," Kalen said, frowning.
"Well, actually, the Ebon Hawk is going to hitch a ride on the transport ship with us," Mical replied. "They didn't tell you?"
"No," Alexis replied slowly. "When did they tell you?"
"This morning. Didn't you ask?" Mical said earnestly.
Alexis sighed. "No. That never even occurred to me."
"So much for the acclaimed Jedi perceptions," Kalen said.
"Well, what are we going to do for the rest of today? Everyone else is otherwise occupied," Alexis asked, shifting slightly so that she could rest her head in the seat beside her.
"We could go and watch Carth work," Kalen said hopefully.
Alexis glanced at Mical out of the corner of her eye. He looked a little pained, but otherwise all right for the moment. "You are absolutely insufferable."
"If I might make a suggestion," Mical said quietly, "I think that we might enjoy hitting the swoop track here."
"I love swoop racing!" Alexis said enthusiastically.
"When did you learn how to swoop race?" Kalen asked skeptically.
"When Carth and I were trying to get Bastila off of Taris. I won her when I raced for one of the Lower City gangs," Alexis said.
"You were a swoop racer for a gang on Taris?" Mical said incredulously.
Alexis grinned. "I was the best swoop racer on Taris. I did have a few things going for me, though. The Hidden Beks put me on a bike with a prototype accelerator that was absolutely amazing, and I did have Jedi reflexes to fall back on, even if I didn't know it at the time."
"I am quite the swoop racer myself," Mical said in a less than humble tone.
"Is that a challenge?" Alexis asked.
"Simply a statement," Mical replied with a smile.
"I see. I think that we'll have to put that statement to the test. To the swoop track, my friends?" Alexis asked.
Kalen was smiling from ear to ear. "I don't race myself, but this looks like it could be entertaining."
"Of that I have no doubt," Mical replied.
Mical proved to be quite the swoop racer. He wiped the floor with all of the regular riders and even a few who had come from off-planet. The only person he couldn't beat was Alexis. Where he was practical and in control, she was psychotic, bouncing and weaving across the track for all she was worth. He simply couldn't match her wanton disregard for her own safety.
Alexis, dressed in her usual bounty hunter garb, made her way back over to Mical, a brilliant smile on her face. He was shaking his head. "That was the most terrifying spectacle I have seen yet," Mical said, clasping her hand.
Kalen was laughing. "I almost want to learn how to do that, just so I can make the people on the sidelines shriek with fright like you do."
"How long have you been racing?" Mical asked her.
"The only other time I've ever raced was those two runs back on Taris."
"You're serious? I've been doing this all of my life and I can't handle a bike the way you do," Mical replied.
Alexis grinned. "We'd better head back to the apartment before someone else challenges me. I've found that the planet's swoop champion will get a lot of acclaim."
They raced back to Carth's apartment, laughing the whole way. When they arrived, Atton and Bao-Dur were standing in the living room, munching on sandwiches.
"Hello…" Kalen said upon entering. Alexis ran into her back and Mical plowed into them both, knocking both Kalen and Alexis to the floor. Mical stumbled inside and the door shut behind them. Mical looked around the room, blushing profusely.
Alexis chose not to get up. Kalen rose half-heartedly, pushing herself into a seated position and propping her back up against the wall. Alexis stared at the men in the living room from her position on the floor. "How's it going?" Mical made his way across the living room and sat down in one of the chairs, muttering apologies and trying to remain inconspicuous.
"Where have you all been?" Atton asked, lounging casually against the wall.
"Swoop track," Alexis responded when Kalen would not.
Bao-Dur was watching Kalen with interested eyes. "Do you race, General?"
Kalen laughed. "No. I'm not that crazy. Alexis is, though. She beat Mical by at least two seconds."
"Surprise, surprise," Atton said with a laugh.
Mical cast a hurt look at Atton, who grinned back at him. Alexis glared at him. "Leave him alone, Atton."
"I was only pointing out the fact that you are an amazing woman, Alexis," he said in return.
"I'm sure that's all," Alexis replied with a laugh. "So, why are you all here?"
"You're surprised to see our smiling faces?" Atton asked, feigning offense.
Kalen shrugged. "Not really. We just wanted to know why you weren't still working on that ship with Carth."
"Carth got called away for a meeting. We're going to meet him again in an hour or so," Bao-Dur replied for Atton.
"That's too bad. That was an excellent outfit he was wearing," Kalen replied.
"Hey!" Atton said sharply.
"What?" Kalen asked innocently, batting her eyes at him. Alexis stole a glance at Mical. He was staring out the window.
Atton looked as if he wished he hadn't said anything. "Nothing. I was just looking out for Lexi's interests."
"Is that all?" Alexis asked.
Atton nodded. "Yeah. That's all."
Kalen sighed. "Lexi can look out for herself," she said, "but can Carth? I can't believe you all left him alone in those pants."
"What's so great about his pants?" Atton asked harshly, glaring at her.
"He wasn't alone. Seré was with him," Bao-Dur said.
"Those pants are the Force's gift to womankind," Kalen said with a grin.
Atton gave her a sullen look and tossed away his sandwich. "Suddenly I've lost my appetite."
"You said Seré's with him?" Mical asked, speaking up for the first time since they'd arrived.
"Yeah. Jealous 'cause she won't even take a look at you?" Atton responded.
Mical looked down. Alexis hated the way he gave in so easily when Atton pressured him. If Mical would only learn to defend himself, he would be a much stronger man. Alexis didn't mind that Carth was with Seré. She knew that was why Mical had asked.
"Oh Atton," Kalen said, shaking her head.
"Listen," Alexis said, changing the subject abruptly, "why don't you guys try to convince Carth that we all need to head down to the restoration zones for the evening? I have a feeling that we won't see Telos for a very long time after we leave."
Kalen glanced over at her. "That's a good idea. I haven't seen a tree in a few months."
"I'll miss Telos, once we are gone," Bao-Dur said.
"I'm game," Atton said with a shrug. "You can only get drunk and play pazaak so many nights in a row."
"Mical?" Alexis asked when the Disciple did not respond immediately.
"I'll go," he answered quietly.
Alexis smiled at him "Great. Maybe we can dry Atton out for the evening. I think that his liver will thank us one day." Mical's returning smile was weak at best.
