Disclaimer: Ok, It's the same as the past 8 chapters... I think you guys get the idea

Well, here it is! I try not to wait too long before updating so hopefully i'm updating at decent times. As always, thank you for reading and I hope it's too your liking!

Enjoy! ^-^


Unraveling Secrets

"If you only do what you know you can do- you never do very much."

As she stepped inside the Cantina, she found a familiar face seated at a far table, sipping some Tarisian ale. Maybe sip was the wrong word. He was gulping it down like there was no tomorrow. It was a table off to the side and against the wall. He was more relaxed than she would have expected but then again, who would want to mess with a Mandalorian?

Other than her, of course. As Carth liked to remind her, she liked to be a bit brash.

"So here sits the famous Mandalorian, Canderous Ordo. To what do I owe the honor of this meeting?" She asked with a smile, all signs of her earlier tension gone. He turned, guzzling down his glass and filling it again.

"Ah, so you decided to show up. Good choice, kid." He gulped his glass again and repeated his process. Pour. Drink. Pour. "I saw you in that swoop race… impressive. Very impressive in fact. You seem like you know how to get results… the kind of results that I'm after." She pulled up a chair, sensing an interesting conversation ahead of her. Conversing with a Mandalorian was intriguing on its own. What kind of results was he after?

Carth and Bastila stood beside them, leaving the conversation to Samirah. It was her that he had wanted to talk to anyway. Carth didn't like it. He didn't like leaving these kinds of things to her. Things tended to end in dangerous missions by time she was done talking. He was slightly worried and Bastila knew it.

The constant fidgeting gave him away.

"What are you after, Canderous?"He smiled. He leaned forward with his elbows resting on the table. His hand was still wrapped around his glass, but he was focused on Samirah.

"As you probably know, I've been working for Davik Kang and the Exchange. The hours aren't great, but they promised me a fortune to work for them and I have nothing better to do." He shrugged, downing the glass of ale and shaking his head. "Mandalorian Mercs, like me, are in high demand."

"Of course you are. You're people who can get the job done—no matter the means."He smirked at her, pouring himself yet another glass and pouring her one. He pushed the glass towards her and she simply clasped it between her two hands.

It gave her something to fiddle with as they spoke. She swirled the murky, burnt orange liquid around as she gazed at it before looking back at the Mandalorian. A big grin was spread across his face.

"You're smart. That's exactly it except… lately Davik hasn't been paying me what he promised. I don't like getting cheated, so I figure it's time for me to break the Sith quarantine and get off this backwater planet." He said with disdain. He wasn't happy about being cheated.

It wasn't the smartest move to make when dealing with Mandalorians. They had a bad habit of mutilating people when things didn't go the way they wanted. Canderous definitely looked like he would blow some places up if he got cheated. If this was the worst retaliation Davik would receive from it all… he should count his blessings.

"Ok. He's cheating you. You want out. That makes sense and all, but there's only one part I don't get—why tell me? I can't exactly extract the money from him or anything and I don't exactly have a ship to get us out of here." He was still smirking as he nodded, making eye contact with her.

Carth fidgeted, not liking where this was going. How was it she always found trouble wherever she went? She always found trouble. Always. It never failed… it didn't matter who she was talking too, what they were talking about or where they were, she always found someone who sent her off to do dangerous things.

He wondered if she had ever had just a simply friendly chat with someone. No ulterior motives, no hidden agendas, no dangerous missions—just a friendly chat about the weather or the latest news.

Okay, maybe news wasn't the best option with Malak and all- but it was better than discussing how to accomplish the mission they were bound to send her on.

"Well, you see, I've got this plan to escape Taris, but I can't do it alone." Carth knew it.

If a Merc couldn't accomplish this alone, it had to be dangerous. Bastila, on the other hand, was intrigued. Sure, it was risky trusting a Mandalorian but if he could get them off the planet then she was all for it. At this point, any plan was better than their plan—which was still in development.

"I need someone I know can get the job done to help me. That's where you come in."He said with a smile.

"Careful, Samirah. Mercs like this haven't a lick of conscience… they'll betray you in a heartbeat. This could be a trap."Samirah frowned at him. He was being far too judgmental.

Canderous turned, leaning back into his chair with his arm draped over the back rest as he raised an eyebrow at the pilot, a small, unimpressed smile in place. So this was her motley crew? He remembered the pilot from the Undercity but he hardly uttered a word there. The woman beside her was new to him though. He remembered her being a prize for the race so that explained her presence. It didn't explain her formal stance and the superior look she seemed to have. He was hoping they weren't a part of the package deal.

"Do you have a better plan, Carth? I don't exactly see another way off this planet because I don't have a ship, you don't have a ship—none of us have a ship here to get us out of here. So, with that in mind, I figure we're plum out of luck. This is our only option." Carth grimaced. She was right.

"As much as I hate it, Carth, she's right. I don't see any other—"Bastila started but Canderous shot them a look with his eyebrows raised.

"I ain't talking to you two, am I? I'm talking to your friend here, right?" Before either one of them could talk, he turned to look at Samirah again, ignoring them. Bastila wasn't happy with the idea of being interrupted though. She glared at him but kept her mouth shut. "I saw you win that swoop race, and I started thinking. Anyone crazy enough to race like that is probably crazy enough to break into the Sith military base."

"What!" Carth shouted, unable to stop himself while Samirah started laughing, ignoring Carth.

"Crazy. You don't know the half of it. Break into a Sith military base, huh?" She leaned forward, intertwining her fingers and resting her chin on them. "Ok, I'm intrigued. You have my undivided attention. What's your plan?"

"Samirah, you can't be serious! Are you insane?" She flinched when he said insane and didn't like his tone. "Breaking into a Sith base? That's practically suicide!" She looked at him, tired of his attitude. Nothing was good enough for him. He wanted a way out. She got one. Why was he complaining about her methods now?

"Then don't come." She said it coolly before looking back to Canderous, ignoring Carth's shocked look.

Don't come? Don't come! What did she mean by that? Was she serious? She couldn't be—she had to be joking. Unfortunately, from her attitude towards him and the fact that she was ignoring him now… he must have crossed the line, but what was it? What had he done now?

Damn it, he hated how frustrating she was. He didn't know what to think anymore and it was driving him crazy.

Canderous was smiling at her, approving of her attitude towards the soldier boy. He didn't need him screwing up the plans anyway.

"You were saying?" Samirah prompted and he was more than happy to continue.

"I need someone to steal the Sith launch codes from the base. Without those codes, any ship leaving the atmosphere will be disintegrated by the Sith fleet's automated defense guns."She nodded.

"Ok, so why should I help you? I'd really hate to assist you and get cheated myself." She asked coyly. She wasn't about to do all of this and not get any help off this planet. Canderous smiled, knowing this was going to be brought up. Of course she wanted some insurance.

"Here's the deal: you bring me those launch codes and I can provide the vehicle to get off the planet—Davik's flagship, the Ebon Hawk." She raised an eyebrow in question. That was quite the promise.

"How are you going to manage that? That can't exactly be as easy as it sounds." He shook his head and clicked his tongue.

"Uh-uh. Not quite yet, kid. First, you bring me the launch codes and then I'll fill you in on the rest of the plan. Codes first." He stated with a smile.

She stared at him for a few moments longer before conceding with a slight sigh and a smile. She wasn't going to know that much until she brought him the codes. A smart Mandalorian. Interesting.

"Ok, fair enough. How do I get inside?" She countered. She was going to get whatever information she could. He leaned forward, pouring himself a glass of ale and downing the contents. He set the glass down and began to fill it to the brim again.

"There's a droid shop that Davik was having a droid custom built. The owner's name in Janice Nall and she should have it done right about now. Pick it up. It'll get you inside and you'll be able to gain access to the Sith base and the Codes we need. Without that little droid, you have no chance of getting inside." He leaned back in his chair, his glass of ale still in his hand. Samirah nodded thoughtfully as she processed the new information.

Apparently he underestimated her computer skills, but nonetheless, she would acquire the droid if only to humor the Mandalorian. Then again, free droid did sound nice. He was bound to come in handy if they were able to keep him and she was pretty sure handing the droid back over to Davik would be low on their priority list.

"Normally, I would do all of this myself, but everyone knows who I work for—helps with business, you know. If I broke into the Sith base, they'd send an army down on Davik's estate to get those codes back. That's why I need you." He downed his tenth glass and started to pour another but thought twice about it. He frowned as he set the bottle back down and settled with watching Samirah as she contemplated.

She noticed how his eyes drifted back to the glass a few times.

"I don't sense any deception from him, which is surprising. This may be exactly what we need." Bastila voiced. She had been surprisingly quiet which Samirah was thankful for. She figured Bastila would have been first to voice her disapproval of the deal Canderous was offering. Guess Carth beat her to the punch.

Canderous shot her a slightly annoyed look. He didn't like the interruptions Samirah's companions seemed to bring. If they tagged along, he hoped they could keep the mouths on mute—would make the job that much easier to bear.

"…Glad to have your approval…" He said in a scornful tone, earning another glare from Bastila.

"It's a deal." She stated with a smile.

If he wasn't afraid to back talk Bastila, then Samirah was certain that he and she would get along just fine. Canderous smiled at her acceptance as he leaned forward, cracking his knuckles. Everything looked like they would go by smoothly and that was just the way he liked things to happen.

"Good to hear. I'm going to wait in Javyar's cantina. You come find me when you've got those launch codes and I'll make sure we both get off this rock." He didn't wait for much more of a response before he scooted out of his chair. He took one long look at the glass he had poured before ge picked it up and downed it. When he set it down, his eyes drifted over to the bottle. There was a fair amount left in it... he debated whether or not he wanted to finish it or not.

A moment later his hand swiped the bottle up and he finished it off before setting it back down on the table with a sigh of contentment.

Samirah couldn't believe that he had finished that entire bottle of Tarisian Ale and yet, not a single sign of intoxication. He must be able to hold his liquor extremely well. He shot her a final smirk before walking out of the cantina.

Samirah stayed seated, rolling the new information around in her head. She needed to pick up the droid, fight Bendak, infiltrate the Sith base and find Canderous to get out of there. Why was it that it sounded so much more complicated when you phrased it like that?

Carth watched as she thought about everything, trying to figure out her next step. He hesitantly sat across from her and Bastila frowned. She felt just a little left out. Carth was a little protective of this girl and he had no reason to be. He worried too much. She was reckless and careless. Bastila didn't think she cared what kind of danger she brought them into, but at this point, Bastila was simply along for the ride.

A role she didn't like to possess.

"Samirah, what are you planning? Because frankly,—"Carth had started but was cut off by a sharp look from Samirah.

"No, Carth. I'm not doing this right now. I'm not fighting with you, I'm not arguing with you and I'm sure as hell not going to put up with you and you're constant disapproval of my actions. I'm getting us off Taris. You want to help? Go get the droid." She actually didn't want him here for the fight. She didn't want either one of them here. They weren't likely to approve of it so it would be better if they were off getting the droid of something like that. She wanted to do this on her own.

Just like she used to.

Carth stared at her, unsure how to respond. Was she trying to get rid of him? Well, he wasn't that easy to get rid of, that was for sure. Bastila stayed quiet, sensing the inevitable argument. Samirah wasn't kidding when she said that they argued quiet a lot.

"Now, you hold on just one second! I was simply trying to get a sense of what you were thinking! You don't have to go and bite my head off, what's your problem?" When Samirah laughed, it wasn't filled with humor, it was empty.

"My problem? What's my problem? You! You are my problem Carth! You don't trust a damn soul and think everyone is out to turn on you, well no. No. I'm not doing this. Even though I'm pretty sure you owe me an explanation, I'm sure I'm not about to get one. So why don't we just end it there?" Bastila hesitantly laid a hand on Samirah in an attempt to calm her down but she just shook it off.

For a fraction of a second she was shocked by the motion. Samirah didn't even spare Bastila a look. It was like she had forgotten who was standing beside her. Bastila finally decided that they weren't going to be normal unless they ripped each others throats out so she opted to be productive.

"Fine. I suppose I'll go retrieve the droid, then."

When she didn't receive a response she walked away, annoyed. They would probably end up killing each other but she wasn't going to let that stop their progress. Those two were just a bad combination. She was going to let them battle it out and hopefully, when she returned, they would be all smiles and ready to accomplish their goal of departing from this dreadful planet.

She hoped.

"An explanation? What kind of explanation?" He wondered. What was she talking about? She rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated laugh. It was getting tiresome trying to explain everything to him.

"The only explanation I've been after. Your distrust of every living thing out there. That's the only damn thing we talk about!" She stated angrily. He was as dense as a stone!

"I told you that I didn't want to talk about any of it! Why can't you just let it be?" She was still trying to figure him out? Why? Why couldn't she just let it go? He still didn't get why it was so important to her. Most people would have dropped it by now… but not her.

Of all the women in the galaxy…

"We are forced against our will by some awful force that, for whatever reason, thinks we are a good team or did so just for kicks. Team? No, I wouldn't use that word. No word, describes this. I can't ask you a simple question without you going on the defensive of how I might use it against you. You would think that since we're working together, you would be able to talk to me and trust me a centimeter more than what you do now. I guess I was wrong." She said in a cool voice.

She was never this outspoken, this sarcastic, or this cruel. She actual felt bad the more she voiced what she felt, but she couldn't hold it back. For whatever reason, he was able to make her so angry by the things he would say. Why couldn't he be supportive? She was just overwhelmed by everything and the one person who should be there to help her… was adding fuel to the fire.

He, on the other hand, thought that she was just being a pain. Didn't she respect boundaries? Didn't she know that not everyone was open about their past? Why was she so persistent? Damn.

"Listen, sister… just because we're working together doesn't mean you get to badger me with constant questions!" He slammed his fist on the table but the action hardly fazed her. She knew he wasn't about to get violent. She would have him on the floor in a heartbeat if he did.

"I'm not your sister and you're damn right it does! You do the exact same thing to me, you ungrateful worm… if there weren't witnesses…" She muttered that last part to herself. She was just about ready to fling him across the room. She was almost positive that she could take this pilot out in a matter of seconds. All he needed to do was make the first move…

"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?" He shouted. He ran his fingers through his hair, leaning back in the chair.

She laughed again, frustrated.

"I'm frustrating? Are you serious? Look who's talking, flyboy! I don't believe this!" She shouted, rubbing her head and trying to calm herself down.

"What? Me? What did I do?" He asked in a completely oblivious and innocent voice. He was joking, surely he was joking. She stared at him waiting for any indication that he was joking. When it was apparent that he was dead serious, her anger spiked. He thought he was an innocent bystander through all of this?

"Are you kidding? Oh, that is so rich, Carth Onasi. You don't know how frustrating you've been? I have half a mind to sock you one in the face, right now! You're lucky that I don't!" She shouted before taking a calming breath. She looked at him and after contemplating for a few moments more… she put her hands up in defeat.

She gave up.

She wasn't doing this.

It wasn't worth it.

"You know what? Fine. Have it your way. I would hate to harass you anymore so I'll make this easy. I'll leave you alone. Do what you want. I'm done." She pushed herself away from the table and turned to walk away.

He got up that instant and quickly grabbed her wrist to prevent her from leaving. Where did she think she was going?

"Hey! Where do you—"She shot him a sharp, yet hurt look over her shoulder before turning fully around to glare at him.

"I'm done! Didn't you hear me! I'm done! I'm not doing this anymore! I helped you get Bastila, I helped you get this far. You're a rep—"She started to say republic pilot but realized that wasn't the best thing to shout in a Cantina that probably had more than its fair share of Sith. "You're a pilot. Bastila is an important person that you need to get out of here. You don't need me anymore. I helped you accomplish what you wanted so I guess that means i'm done here."

His grip around her wrist loosened as what she said hit him. It hit him hard. What was she trying to say? That he simply used her to accomplish whatever goals he had? That wasn't it at all. That was far from it. He needed her help, yes, but he would never have used her like that.

"What?" He said confused and bewildered. "What do you mean by that?"

She sighed. Did he really not understand? She roughly pulled her wrist free and looked at him, trying to hide the fact that it hurt more to say it out loud but it was her only option now. Apparently he didn't really get it.

"I'm going. I'm done. I'm finished. How many different ways do I have to say it! You don't need me! What good is a person you can't trust! Huh?" She shouted and earned a couple of uneasy glances. She didn't really care who witnessed their little banter, she just wanted him to understand that she was out of there. She was gone.

Lucky for them, the onlookers just assumed it was a couple fighting which happened quite often on Taris. Especially during the quarantine. The pressure got to a lot of people.

"You can't just go!" She turned to walk away again but he wasn't about to have it.

He grabbed her wrist again and pulled her back so that she was looking at him. When she tried to pull her hand away, Carth held on to her firmly. She averted her eyes trying not to make eye contact. Why couldn't he just let her go? Was it really that hard for him to comprehend?

"Afraid I'll tell people your secrets? About Bastila? Here." With her free hand she reached for her blaster pistol and pulled it out. She handed it to him with the handle in his direction. At first he just stared at it. She held it there until he slowly grabbed it with his own free hand—afraid to release her wrist—more confused than before.

When it was finally in his hands, she looked at him, more resolute than he had ever seen. What was the significance of this? What was the purpose? His eyes drifted back down to the blaster in his hands. Why hand him the blaster?

"If you really don't trust me that much, if you don't trust me to keep your secrets and identities safe... then shoot me. Right now. Save yourself the trouble and rid yourself of the loose ends."

When she said that, his eyes shot up to look at her and he was frozen. She wanted him to kill her? What the hell was she thinking! That wasn't what he wanted at all! No, nothing like that! He dropped the blaster like it had burned his hand.

"No! That's not what I want at all! I… I do trust you, it's just… hard. I don't trust anyone and… look, its hard ok? I'm trying but it's a slow process…" She looked away, wishing that he had just shot her and ended it there. Of course that was the easy way out… she never got the easy way out.

Damn you, universe.

"Then what do you want… I just don't understand what you want me to do anymore…" When she tugged at her hand again, his grip tightened. He wasn't letting her go anywhere.

"Well, for one thing I don't want you to go anywhere! What I said—I didn't mean it that way. So don't go." When she tugged again, he kept his firm grip on her and a determined look in his eyes. He really wanted her to stop tugging. "I said don't go damn it!" He shouted again and she flinched.

His grip around her wrists was firm. He wasn't letting go.

"Ok, ok, I heard you the first time!" She shouted back before looking away meekly, her cheeks turning red. The kind of red that made you want to just smile in response. When she spoke again, she spoke quietly, her voice so small. "But you're cutting off the circulation in my hands…"

He waited a second before hesitantly dropping her hands, ready to grab her again if she tried to make a run for it. When she didn't move, he began ushering her back to the table. They sat down awkwardly and they were quiet for several moments. Samirah was rubbing her hands, her cheeks blushing immensely. To her… It had looked like he was holding her hand and that made her feel embarrassed.

He looked at her before taking a deep breath. The only way out of this pinch… was to tell her something. Something that gave her a better look inside. If this helped her understand him better, than he would suck it up and just tell her.

"When I think of all the men…" He began, catching Samirah's ear and attention. "…who have betrayed me—us, the Republic—the one that stands out above them all is the one I respected the most. Saul."

He was sharing with her. He was opening up a little bit. Even if it was just a little bit, he was still opening up. He was telling her more about himself. She went back through her head, trying to remember who that person was. She couldn't put a face with the name but it did ring some bells.

"That name… sounds oddly familiar. I should know that name…" She finally said catching that shocked look Carth gave her. Did she really not know?

"With good reason! Admiral Saul Karath is the commander of the entire Sith fleet. He's half the reason Malak has done so well in the war. How do you not know him?" She shrugged, swirling around the glass of Tarisian ale Canderous had poured her earlier. She really didn't want any alcohol but it gave her something to focus on.

"Keep in mind, Carth, I've always been on the outskirts of the galaxy. The rims of it. I've never been in real contact with the events that have occurred. I only knew what they told me—The war with Malak was raging, he was powerful and we were so close to being powerless to stop him. I hardly knew much more than that… and my mission."

Carth hadn't thought of that. He kept forgetting that she was so disconnected from the world that she didn't know most things, events or even people. She was more out of the loop than she thought.

"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. I admired everything about him. His tactics, his attitude, his seemingly infinite faith in the Republic…"Carth smiled to himself, but it was a sad smile.

"He approached me before he left. He talked to me about how the Republic was on the losing side… and about how I should start thinking of my survival." Carth remembered the conversation vividly in his mind. The last conversation he and his mentor had ever had.

"Carth, you must understand. The Republic is on the losing side of this war." His hands were clasped behind his back as he approached the window, peering out into the empty space.

Carth was seated on his cot, trying to grasp the words that Saul was saying. They had been talking for several moments now and it just seemed pointless. Saul had caught him before he was going to bed and began talking strangely. Carth had never experienced Saul like this. He was passionate about his views but it was like… he had changed.

"We can win this war, Saul. I know we can, you just have to keep faith." He said.

Saul shook his head, turning back to look at Carth. The young man he had taught so much and brought under his wing. Why couldn't he see through it all? The Republic wasn't going to win. There was no one strong enough to tip the Balance. No one to pull the Republic out, victorious.

"Carth, faith alone cannot win this war. If you stay with the Republic… well, I can tell you the result will be grim. It's best if you start thinking about your survival. Your life in the Republic will become short and I don't want that for you." He said, still pacing the room. Carth wasn't following.

"What am I supposed to do? The Republic is my life. I'm a pilot and that's what I'll always be. What will I do if I don't have the Republic? There is nothing for me but the military. No, I won't just give up, Saul. I can't." Saul shook his head.

"No Carth, I don't expect you to leave the military exactly. I expect you to choose a side." Carth shook his head, running his fingers through his hair. What did he mean by that? There was nothing to choose.

"Choose a side? I have Saul, I'm not giving up on the Republic. I won't! We can pull through this, I know we can!"

"Carth, the Republic is dying! No one will live through this. There will be nothing left but dying hopes and dreams! Dirt under the feet of Sith as they trample over us! There will be nothing left! Even you have to see this! Don't you understand, you fool!" Carth jumped up and shook his head repeatedly. What was Saul trying to say? He wasn't following at all. None of this made sense.

"No, Saul. The Republic isn't dying, it won't die! I won't allow that! If you want to save yourself then go. It's a choice you'll have to make and live with. I won't abandon the Republic. I can't. I refuse to give up now! Not when they need me the most! Not when we're so close!" Saul gripped his shoulders, trying to make him understand but he wasn't seeing what Saul wanted him to see.

Both soldiers were stubborn.

"Carth! There isn't anything left! You willful man! Why can't you see that? Why can't you see the inevitable! The Republic will be dead soon, I can feel it! Save yourself and maybe—"

"How can I save myself? My duty is to protect people and their lives, so what does it mean if I'm only looking out for my skin? If I run before I can save anyone? That is not why I joined! I will defend the Republic with my last breath! I'll find a way!"

"Carth, see reason…" Saul said sternly, shaking his head. He wanted Carth to realize this, desperately. There was no hope. Hope was a fleeting thing for them. It wasn't going to last. It hadn't lasted.

"I do, Saul. I want to be with the Republic. I want to help make the Republic something worth fighting for. I don't understand what's wrong with you!" He shouted at his mentor, his commanding officer, and his friend. Saul shook his head backing away towards the door.

He was beginning to see that it was useless. Carth was too stubborn. Too attached to the very thing that was doomed to fail. He was doomed to fail. He tried to save the boy but apparently it was futile to try. A lost cause. Just as lost as the Republic now was. There was no surviving any of it. Not with everything that was about to follow.

"No Carth. The only thing worth fighting for is yourself. Save yourself while you still can, Carth. The Republic is ending. Don't let it become your end as well." He said with finality before turning to face the door and leaving.

As the door clicked, Carth sat back down against the cot, trying to piece together what Saul was saying but none of it made sense. Choose a side? He had chosen the Republic. What other choice was there? What was Saul going to do now?

"Carth?" Carth looked up at Samirah, her concerned brown eyes watching him as he remembered it. Every word said, every emotion displayed and the hidden meaning that he hadn't realized back then.

"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." He said in a low voice.

"Carth… so he betrayed the Republic? That's… that's…" She couldn't find the right word. Impossible? Unthinkable? Terrible? She could only assume that Carth was taking it harder than she could imagine. Wouldn't she? The very idea of it was heart wrenching, to say the least.

"You didn't see it coming… The shock of it all…" She finally said. She knew people where turning their backs on the Republic but it was easier to imagine when they were people you didn't know. To know someone—a friend even; a superior officer—would be so much harder to take.

"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… he not only left us for the Sith, he… gave them the codes to bypass our scanners."

Samirah eyes widened as she stared at him in horror.

"He did what!"

Why would he do that? Did he really not care about the Republic anymore? Was it that simple to just change sides? To switch your allegiance so quickly and not have a shred of emotion left for them. Was that all it was, a flip of the switch? It was unthinkable and it was horrendous to try and comprehend such a thing. It shouldn't be that easy. You had to care somehow, didn't you? It shouldn't be that easy to turn on people you hopefully cared about.

Carth smiled sadly as he continued.

"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 away what had happened… I knew right away… that Saul had… betrayed us…" Saying it out loud never got easier. It was still something his mind had trouble processing.

"Carth… I'm so sorry…. I—"

"I… I could have stopped him." He interrupted, still stuck in his memories. Waking up to Sith fire and running around trying to save everyone and avoiding eruptions from every side. Trying to survive. It was ironic even. Saul had told him to think about his survival and moments later, he was fighting for it. "I could have stopped it all."

His hand was shaking on the table and she gingerly placed her hand on top of his, trying to show him that she was there to support him. He didn't look at her, but he smiled, appreciating the small sign of comfort.

"You shouldn't blame yourself for trusting your friend. You didn't know. You couldn't have." She said eagerly but to no avail. His head snapped up and he seemed so angry so suddenly that she was startled.

"I blame Saul, not myself! I was… I was stupid and I ignored the danger. He nearly destroyed us all. I've fought Saul for years, now, and if I ever catch up to him… he will regret what he's done. He will regret it." He said intently. That anger of his fixated and focused on finding Saul. On finding him and doing what he should have years ago.

"Carth… I'm so sorry… that's terrible. I don't know what I would have done…" Carth laughed but this time, it was his turn to lose all humor in it.

"Well… there's more to the story, I guess." He looked up at her, pulling himself from the memories and smiling at her. "But I'd rather not talk about it right now. At least… not yet…" She nodded. She had to give him credit—at least he didn't snap at her all together for it.

She would let it go. For now. But not all together. She was this close to understanding Carth that she wasn't going to let it go, but it seemed painful for him to remember and she didn't want him to look so broken.

"I understand." She smiled and he was grateful. She wasn't going to fight him for more information so he took that as a good sign. Maybe they would be able to cooperate after all.

After several moments of content silence, she remembered that she still had her hand placed above his. He didn't seem to notice, still lost in his own thoughts, but when she realized it she blushed immensely. Was she supposed to yank it away? Stay still? Why had she put her hand there to begin with?

She didn't want to draw his attention to it but at the same time…

"Excuse me?" She jumped at the sudden new voice and in the process, yanked her hand away instinctively. Carth was startled out of his memories, not realizing her hand was on his until it was gone. She looked up to see a man standing beside her, holding her blaster in his hand.

His hair was a sandy color and from what he was wearing, he must have been about middle class here on Taris. Her looked to be about her age, maybe older.

"My blaster? How did you—"Then she remembered. She had given it to Carth… so that he could end his worries and trust issues. She blushed a bit more, a little embarrassed, hoping the man hadn't witnessed that. "Thank you, I appreciate it. I had forgotten all about it."

She gingerly took it from him and tucked it away. When she looked back at him, he remained by her side, fidgeting. He seemed to be struggling for words.

"Yes?" She prompted, smiling at his discomfort. Maybe if she seemed friendlier than she had to Carth, it would make it easier for him to talk. It wasn't hard to be friendlier to other people. She was just quick to anger around Carth…

How interesting.

"Forgive me for troubling you… but… aren't you the Mysterious Stranger?" She suddenly wished he was having trouble speaking. Her smile vanished and her mouth fell open. She had almost forgotten about that.

"Y-Yes, I am…" Carth looked over at her, raising his eyebrow. So what those people said back when she was racing were telling the truth. But who was this character she had created? The man smiled excitedly before pushing a datapad at her eagerly.

"Would you care to give me a holoprint? I'm a big fan!" She smiled, laughing softly as she proceeded to leave her mark. "Especially after this match with Bendak! I can't believe you're actually going to go through with it! And, in the event you die, this holoprint will be worth a lot. The same for if you win!"

She faltered when he mentioned the possibility of her losing. So, no one knew what to expect. Win or lose, they were happy they got to see Starkiller in action. Carth watched as she handed the datapad back before he spoke up.

"Bendak?" Samirah shot him a startled look. She wasn't ready for him to find out. She still wanted him to miss the match. Damn it, where did Bastila go? She was just here moments ago. Before she could stop him, the man turned to Carth, excitedly.

"Oh yes, it's the most talked about match of all time! This little lady here is going to go in a death match with Bendak Starkiller. He's infamous for never losing a battle. He went into retirement when death matches were outlawed and made illegal. But this girl, she was talented enough to get his attention and pull him from retirement." He smiled excitedly.

He grabbed her hand and shook it, holding a few seconds longer than Carth would have liked.

"It was an honor to meet you ma'am. I'll be there to see the fight… it should be starting soon… right?" He asked, unsure. She nodded, tugging at her hand gently and only after a few seconds more did he let her go. "Good. I wish you luck!" He turned, content, as he headed towards the dueling ring.

She watched him leave as dread filled her. He ruined her plan to get Carth out of the Cantina before the match.

She dropped her head into her hands, rubbing her face. Carth looked at her, not really wanting to know what connection she had to all of this but knowing he needed to. He watched as she stared at her still full glass of ale as her mind drifted elsewhere.

He was really hoping that man was wrong.

"Samirah, I know I'm going to regret asking… but what did he mean by Death Match?" He was hoping the phrase wasn't self explanatory.

She looked up at him slowly, knowing that it was too late to try and hide it from him now. What would he say? What would he do? She knew he wasn't about to approve of it but what choice did she have? Bendak saw her in the ring and said that he would come out of retirement to fight her. Before she could argue the point, he was off to set up the match.

Apparently he assumed that no one would decline or that he wouldn't give them the option.

"Well… it's exactly that. A match… to the death." When she didn't say anything more, Carth shook his head.

"No. No. No! You can't just go off and duel to the death, Samirah. No, I can't let you do that." This was just needless danger and a risk they didn't need to take. What was she thinking?

She was thinking that he had lost his mind if he thought he could tell her what to do.

"Carth, I'm old enough to take care of myself, thank you. I can't just ignore the duel. Besides, it's more credits that I'm sure we—you'll need." She corrected herself. She had started to include herself but remembered that after this… she was out of there. Once they were off Taris, she was transferring out and letting Bastila take care of Carth and saving the galaxy from impending doom.

That type of thing.

"Come on, I'm on a time constraint." She spoke quickly, hoping that Carth didn't think too much into that last part.

Before Carth could ask what she meant, she was already up and heading towards the dueling arena. He cursed himself as he jumped out of the seat and chased after her. He wanted to ask about the match, change her mind and hopefully keep her alive a little longer. He also wasn't sure what she meant when she said credits you'll need. He was hoping that he was wrong in his assumptions.

The assumption that she wasn't sticking around.

She was moving so quickly that he wasn't able to get a word in before she was standing before the Hutt. He grimaced as they conversed and he looked away. He needed more details from her but she was being adamant about keeping him out of the loop. That was something he was never too happy about.

He hated loops and their very existence. They usually occurred with him on the outside, trying to find a way in.

She talked quickly with the Hutt and he smiled happily as he informed her that the duel was set up and ready when she was. She took a calming breath before nodding and getting the details of the match from him.

Carth didn't like any of it. He had half a mind to drag her out of the Cantina but knew he wouldn't get very far before she knocked his lights out. She wasn't one to go away quietly so she would fight him the whole way out. He wondered mildly how far he could get though… could he knock her out? Would he be willing to deal with the consequences when she woke up?

He decided… it probably wasn't worth it.

Samirah listened patiently to the Hutt as he spoke animatedly about the death match and voiced his approval of it all. He seemed more excited about the income the match was bringing in than anything else. He rubbed his greedy hands together as his lips pulled into a sadistic smile.

She hated dealing with Hutts.

"Alright, you ready to step into the ring?" She nodded and the Hutt grinned. "Good. Excellent. High wagering means lots of credits for the winner on this match. Come see me after the fight to collect your credits—if you're still alive." He started to laugh and she ignored his greedy manner. When she turned around, she was met with Carth's disapproving look and she sighed.

"I know, I know." He shook his head.

"No, you don't know. That's the problem. This is dangerous." She smirked. No, she did know.

"About as dangerous as anything else we've done or are about to do." She said cryptically. She knew the risks. They were the same as finding Bastila, as stealing back the accelerator and as risky as it was to enter the Sith base and steal the launch codes.

"It's not the same, Samirah! This is a needless risk, there's no point to it!" He shouted a little louder than he would have liked but he couldn't help it. She was being careless! So, yeah, of course he was going to shout a little bit. He was starting to seriously think about dragging her out of there. The door wasn't that far…

How much did she weigh? If he played it right, they might think she was just so drunk that she passed out. There was an empty bottle of Tarisian ale back at the table…

"Carth, l know what I'm doing. I can't help any of it, ok? I know you say I should just turn away now and let whatever happens happen, but that's not exactly how I work." She said flatly. "I'm supposed to duel this guy… and that's what I'm going to do. You can't talk me out of this."

He opened his mouth and closed it, not sure what to say in response. She finally sighed not wanting to drag this conversation out any longer. She had to get inside the ring and she needed to do it fairly quickly. She didn't want to argue with Carth until she forfeited…

And she really hoped that wasn't what he was trying to do. That would be a stupid move on his part.

"You know, things would be much easier if you could be a normal person and say Good luck and don't die." She said in a voice, mocking his and making him grimace. "Any words of encouragement would do." She shook her head as she walked past him towards the corridor leading towards the ring. She wasn't waiting any longer.

She was willing to bet that Bendak was already inside the ring, probably relishing at the idea of having another victim. She wasn't about to be a victim, though. As she moved past the onlookers and headed down the hallway only duelist were allowed in, Carth's voice stopped her momentarily.

"Samirah…" She glanced back to see him standing in the doorway, at the farthest point he was allowed to go. "Good luck… and don't die." He smirked, but it was an uneasy smirk. She couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her lips as she nodded.

"Thanks flyboy, I'll be safe. Scout's honor." She said with a bemused smile before she turned away and pushed open the door leading to the ring.

The ring was this cylinder room with rows of people, anxiously awaiting the illegal battle. Their faces were all peering into the ring. People were murmuring and some shouted out, trying to relieve their pent up excitement. Some watched her as she entered, yelling and shouting how she would die horribly by Bendak's hand.

So, their credits were on Bendak.

Bendak was standing on the far end of the arena, twirling his blasters between his fingers and even with the helmet on… she knew he was wearing a smug expression. The crowd exploded into applause, not really caring who lived or died… as long as they got a good match out of it all.

They were only there for the thrill of it all and the credits.

She and Bendak simply stared at one another as time ticked by as they waited for the match to officially start. She took a calming breath, having faith that she would make it through this quickly. Carth was right to some degree… it was dangerous, but it was something she could handle. If she avoided dangerous things she would never have gotten as far as she had. She wouldn't have been here, she wouldn't have done so well as a scout and many people would be in danger themselves.

The speaker turned on as the charismatic announcer spoke to entice the crowd to the event they had all come to watch. It was the best thing they had going for them since the Sith quarantined the planet. This was their outlet. Their entertainment. Their distraction.

"Ladies and gentlemen, come with me now on a journey to the savage days of years gone by… to a time when two combatants entered the arena… and only one came out alive…"

The match was finally starting.


Just a small cliff hanger, right?

Hopefully this was a good chapter and something that you enjoyed. I'm always open to reviews, criticism, or simple hello's. Let me know what you guys think and i'll be sure to update as soon as possible. Thanks for sticking with me and reading. I appreciate all of your support on this story.

May the force be with you all.

-SilverShards-