Disclaimer: No, I still don't own the rights to any of this... damn... I tried though, I really did...

Ok, now granted, I was going to be late in posting. I still lose the $10. But then, Fanfiction went and decided that it didn't want to let me long in and therefore thwarted my attempts to appease my readers with a new chapter! Now thats just playing dirty! So after countless hours of clicking 'Sign In' merely because I was aggravated and sad that I couldn't update... it allowed me withing the gates of this glorious place... So, here is the chapter along with my sincerest apologies.

Really, its only partly my fault... I am sorry, faithful readers... I bow my head in shame...


Where I Belong

"You rose into my life like a promised sunrise, brightening my days with the light in your eyes. I've never been so strong. Now I'm where I belong."

"Beep boop beep beep."

The familiar cooing of the small droid beside Bastila had her groaning yet again. If this small droid persisted with his affection, she would turn it into scrap metal.

She tried to ignore him as she paced outside of the enclave where farmers and civilians mingled amongst the others. Some of them were waiting for the attention of the council, others looking for someone to fix their troubles and to help them get back on their feet. Occasionally you would find some who simply wanted to talk about anything and everything. Bastila didn't have the time for these people. She ignored the people who called at to her, asking if the Council could see them or any other trivial matters. She didn't have the patience for them. Her mind could hardly keep focused on the constant chatter that filled the air as it is. Her mind was full of the words the council had left her, full of concerns of the coming future and even more concerned with the fact that Samirah had gone missing.

She had never returned the night before.

She tried to tap into their bond but it was still a new thing to her. Something she didn't know about. And all she got was this quiet hum in the back of her mind… almost like an aching feeling but it was so miniscule that it was hard to touch. Why couldn't she reach it? Why couldn't she stretch her arm out and grasp it?

What was worse was that Mission had informed her that Carth seemingly disappeared not long after they returned without Samirah in tow. No doubt he had put it upon himself to locate and bring her back safely. What bothered Bastila was that they still had yet to return. She paced back and forth where the concrete of the Enclave met with the evergreen grass of Dantooine. The only remnants of the storm were the small twigs broken off from trees and strewn across the grass and whatever dew was left on the grass itself. It was still early in the morning and the lingering moisture in the air kept the planet humid for the moment. As usual, it would get hotter and the air would become dryer leaving no evidence that a storm was even there. Even the small bits of debris would find a home elsewhere.

T3-M3 cooed at her again, making her sigh in frustration. This was the other nuisance that had presented itself in her life. This droid had this weird… fascination with her. It wouldn't leave her alone. Amidst her pacing, she spun around on her heel and narrowed her eyes darkly at the small droid, her body tensing from aggravation.

"Listen here you hunk of metal! Just because you were purchased by me on Taris does not mean that you can follow me everywhere! Go fix, a-a-ship or something. Isn't that what you do?" She dumbly offered but the droid simply made audible sounds that would have possible been the equivalent to confusion. She rubbed the temples of her head, clearly not wanting to put up with this.

"Force, give me strength…"She muttered as T3 tilted his head to the side. She couldn't take out her frustration on this droid. He didn't deserve it even though he did constantly pester her with his constant chiming, beeping and affection for her.

As if on cue, the droid rolled up next to her and bumped into her leg as she let out another exasperated sigh. She stroked his head with the back of her hand, a firm frown setting into her features. Perhaps he was just as worried as she was. Samirah had that effect on people. She was fearless, strong and relentless but she was prone to making people worry. A lot. T3 cooed at the unexpected affection he was receiving and a faint smile appeared on her lips. Yes, she shouldn't take her anger out on this droid.

There is no emotion, there is peace.

The words of the Jedi Code that she must live by. That she must always remember lest she fall prey to the seduction of a Force darker than anything one could dream of.

An hour ticked by and then another.

She had resumed her pacing, T3 still following her every movements and making audible sounds as if it was trying to communicate to her. Tell her that everything was going to be alright. Maybe it was just trying to calm her down but the only thing that would do that was the sight of Samirah and Carth, safe. She knew she should have gone with them. She knew it! Maybe the assignment was too much for her. Maybe she wasn't ready to come into contact with the dark side—no matter how minuscule it was. It was too soon. She wasn't prepared.

She casted her gaze out into the plains just as two figures rounded a corner. To be more accurate, three but one person was holding another. Against the glare of the sun, Bastila couldn't make out who was who. She took tentative steps, her hand lifted above her brow to shield her eyes as she squinted to see who was approaching her. A cloud briefly rolled over the sun, giving Bastila the moment to see clearly and she suddenly feared the worst.

Carth was approaching with the Cathar walking beside him, clearly doing so of her own free will. Samirah, however, was cradled in Carth's arms and his jacket was pulled snuggly around her. Her head was pressed against his chest and her hands were nestled across her chest like a child. Her hair had fallen free from her usual ponytail, cascading over her shoulders in natural waves and curls. Without another moment to spare, Bastila sprinted out to them as T3 tried his best to keep up. She barely gave Carth a chance to stop moving before her hands were cupping Samirah's cheeks, moving her hair from her face and checking for injuries. How badly was she hurt? Was it serious? Was there any internal bleeding? Were her ribs broken? Bruised? A coma? What was wrong with her? Her blood went cold at the final idea that snaked around in her head.

Did she fall prey to…

She could hardly choke out a question to Carth, cursing herself for not feeling anything through the bond. Wouldn't she have felt it? Wouldn't she have known?

"Bastila, relax," Carth reassured her. "She's just tired and worn out. I promise."

"Are you sure? What about this wound on her cheek?" She inquired, turning Samirah's head to get a better look at the wound.

It looked as if someone had yanked a sharp object across her cheek in a rough, jagged motion making it look very painful and far from clean cut. It bled slightly from where the scab had started to form but was breaking away. From the looks of it, she had only wiped at the blood a few times but didn't really care, leaving the blood smeared slightly on her cheek.

"She, uh, well…" Carth started, not sure how to explain it. Bastila's calculating eyes shot up to him before drifting over to Juhani. The expression on her face conveyed what no one was saying.

"So you are responsible for this." It was less of a question and more of a statement.

The Cathar nodded her head slowly, the guilt evident on her face. She had put that Jedi through hell and in return, she kept finding a reason not to kill her. It was more than she was sure she deserved. Bastila's eyes didn't move from her face, her eyes locked on to the Cathar's features, measuring her up. Carth on the other hand, felt a little out of place as the air suddenly got thick around him. Juhani looked uncomfortable and Bastila was a mixture of annoyance and detest for the seemingly redeemed Jedi before her. Bastila wasn't happy, not the least bit. This Cathar was more trouble than she was worth, to her.

How dare she. How dare she. To show her face after having put Samirah through whatever hell she had undergone. How dare she even think that she—

There is no… emotion… there is… only peace…

The voice echoed in her mind and it took her moment to realize that the quiet voice was not her own. She slowly turned her head until her curious gaze met the tired eyes of the small woman in Carth's arms. She smiled faintly at Bastila as Carth and Juhani took notice of her. Bastila wasn't sure how to respond and only found herself staring at Samirah with a dumbfounded look. Her eyes half open but obviously aware of the situation unfolding around her. Her head bobbed and she struggled to keep her eyes open.

Calm yourself… she is not to blame, Bastila… I'm just… tired… can I sleep… now?

Bastila found herself smiling like one would at a small child asking a simple question as if it was the hardest thing in the world to ask. She nodded her head slowly as Sami's head fell back against Carth's chest making him stiffen for a moment. That small motion always startled him because she would snuggle against him like a child seeking warmth. He found this contentment settle in deep within him each time she did that. He couldn't stop the soft smile that overcame him as her eyes fell again as she drifted away. How quickly she fell back asleep…

He didn't know what had just transpired between the two Jedi but he did know what was going to happen to the one in his arms. She was going to go to bed. In a real bed. Not some cold, stone floor within the confines of a drafty cave. She needed a good night's rest… or day seeing as how the night was over with.

"I'm going to take her to her room. She has one in the enclave, right?" Carth prompted, pulling Bastila's thoughts away from Samirah and making her look at him.

"Of course, though, she rarely uses it. I can't seem to figure out why, either. There's nothing wrong with the room but she prefers to sleep in the confines of the Ebon Hawk." She furrowed her brow as she remembered all the nights that she returned back to the ship instead of to her designated room in the enclave. She didn't get it.

Carth smiled knowingly as he adjusted his hold on her. She didn't seem bothered at his movements; she just simply adjusted and snuggled into his chest again until she was comfortable. Each movement brought a smile to his face and this… warmth. He was just at peace, having her at his side.

"Well, she doesn't have a choice this time. I'll take her there…" His tone of voice caught Bastila's attention but she didn't give it much more though. She was focused on something else as Carth started to walk away.

Bastila felt like this small little flame in her mind had dimmed slightly, becoming a small hue in the far corners of her mind. It flickered and flared but remained lit and just a barely noticeable flame. Was that what Samirah was? A flame? Was that what she was through the bond? This would be something she would have to ask the council. Maybe they could shed more light on what this bond truly entailed. If she was too keep a close eye on Samirah, she would need to know what to do. She would need to know what to look for and thus, the guidance of the council would be the place to go.

The sound of someone clearing their throat brought Bastila's gaze back to Juhani. She fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable around Bastila. She knew very well that she was held in high regards by Bastila but that didn't mean she had to forgo all pleasantries.

"Excuse me… Padawan Bastila… I must meet with the council. I am sure they have much to say to me. Fare thee well." She quickly made her exit, avoiding any contact with Bastila for fear of angering her more.

Bastila's eyes followed the Cathar until she could no longer see even her shadow. Apparently her meeting with the council would have to wait until they had finished with Juhani. It was definitely unexpected to find her returning so she was sure the meeting would possibly be a while. Should she check on Samirah? No, Carth had her. He would take care of her… she hoped. If not, she and Carth would have a few words. So, what should she do now to pass the time?

"Beep, boooooop." She glanced down at the little droid who had yet to move but remained by her side. She sighed heavily. Of course he would have stayed. He had nowhere else to go, did he?

"Do you really have to be so close?" She said with an exasperated look. The droid tilted his head and just looked at her with what could only be described as a curious look. She slowly shook her head, giving up. "Fine. You may stay, but I must warn you that I shall be meditating."

If droids could smile, she was fairly certain this one would have. She fought the smile that tried to form as she walked away, T3 following closely behind. She didn't have to worry about Samirah for now… she was home. Bastila would meditate for now and hope that the Force gave her the answers she was looking for. That it would give her the guidance that she was fairly sure she would need in the coming days. Something told her it was vital. Maybe it was a feeling. Maybe it was the Force.

Maybe it was Samirah.


A passing Jedi had pity on Carth and was kind enough to open Samirah's room for him. He had seen the Republic pilot trying to keep his hold on Samirah while trying to open the door at the same time. Carth quietly thanked the Jedi as he went about his business, leaving Carth to his own. He walked inside to find her room rather plain. There was a bed and a small table beside it with a lit lamp. A desk was against the opposite wall with a chair pushed in and cluttered with datapads and old books. It had only two drawers running down the side and a small mirror hanging on the wall. The last piece of furniture was a very, very small dresser which probably served to hold her spare robes. Other than that, it was really absent of any color or furnishings what so ever. The walls were painted a crème-like brown and the floor was an even darker, chocolate brown. Her bed was a light contrast with its crème and beige sheets and bedspread.

He gently laid her down on the bed, her head moving from his chest and falling back against the pillow. He thought about removing his jacket but couldn't bring himself to do it when he saw one of her hands clutching the fabric. He just smiled gently as he pulled the blankets up to her chin and tucked her in. She was everything that a child was. He was happy to see that… for once, she seemed at peace. Her face was calm and serene instead of pained or sad as it usually was.

He pushed his hands into his pockets and turned to leave. He had reached the door when he heard her murmur something in her sleep. He turned his head to see her squeezing his jacket in her hands, murmuring incoherently. He slowly returned back to the bedside and knelt down, straining his ear to hear her. Her head was facing the wall so he tried to get closer to hear what she was saying but her voice was so faint that he was unsure. Was she dreaming? Was it a nightmare? What did she see?

And then, without warning, she turned her head making her face mere centimeters away from his face. Her breath came out in steady and shallow intervals against his face. For a moment, he couldn't move. He was frozen in place by the sudden change and shock it brought with it. He could see every curve of her face, the fullness of her lips and how each strand of hair would frame her face. He could see the long eyelashes that adorned her eyes and feel the warmth of her breath on his skin. His hand slowly reached out, wanting to touch her cheek but stopped when she spoke.

"…no…" It was barely a whisper but Carth could hear her. It was impossible not to, having her face so close to his own. The rest was incoherent and he had no hope of trying to decipher what each sound meant.

He pulled his hand away, content with just watching her as she slept. She was… beautiful. He had never allowed himself to think such a thought, but how can you deny what is truth? She was sweet girl and by just being in her presence, felt renewed. He didn't know what to make of that though.

He slowly pulled his face away, feeling it grow a bit warm as he fell back against the floor. Her sudden movement had surprised him. It was something he wasn't prepared for. He felt his cheeks flush a bit but refused to believe that he was… blushing. Even thinking the word made him frown… he was just surprised, that was it. All of that was just out of shock. He pushed himself up from the floor, straightening his shirt when he was standing again. He started for the door again, shooting her a final glance with a smile when she murmured again in her sleep.

He would let her rest. He would be able to rest easy knowing she was safe and sound again. Though, he wished he knew what she was thinking… what she was dreaming about. He opened the door and stepped out, letting it shut quietly behind him before he made his way slowly through the enclave and back the Ebon Hawk. He could really do with a shower while he waited for her to wake up again. Maybe even a nap of his own. He had spent most of the night half asleep and half alert in the event they were attacked by the Cathar. One could never be too safe.

Leaving the enclave, he couldn't help the small, content smile he had on his face. It would take a lot to make it go away.


Samirah rolled around a few times in bed until her eyes started to flutter open. That musky scent filled her senses, bringing a smile to her face as she snuggled into her pillow, squeezing it close to her face. She stopped as she realized that it wasn't her pillow that had the soothing scent but the jacket wrapped around her. She pulled it around her shoulders and pulled her knees up to her chest as she smiled under the sheets of her bed, inhaling deeply the aroma that made her smile.

She paused. Pillow? Sheets? Bed?

She immediately sat upright, startled at the new realization. She was in her room at the enclave. When did she get here? How long had she been asleep? Her body ached as she moved and she knew very well why but there was nothing that she could really do about it at the moment. She just needed to get moving. At the moment though, there was one thing she could do something about. She climbed out of bed, reluctantly relieving herself of Carth's jacket and laying it neatly on her bed. The room felt a bit nippy to her as she tiptoed over to the refresher so that she could shower.

She could really use a shower.

The hot water soothed her aches and she had half a mind to stay in the shower for a few hours more… but the prunes forming on her hands told her it was time to be done. She quickly washed her hair and her body to remove all the grime and dirt that she could feel in every pore of her skin. When she was satisfied, she stepped out and quickly dried before finding a fresh set of robes too wear. She noticed that the robe she had lent to Juhani was still missing but she didn't really mind all that much. It was ripped and there was only so much you could do to repair it.

She caught a glance of herself in the mirror and frowned at the cut on her cheek. It looked worse then what it was but it still needed to be treated. She opted for cleaning it and placing a bandage on it for now until she could find a better course of action.

When she was dressed, dry and bandaged up, she started to brush her hair as a knock came at the door. That was all she got before the door opened and someone walked in to see Samirah brushing the knots and tangles from her damp hair. She casted a glance at her guest to find it was Bastila and couldn't stop the small smile she had.

"Bastila, what brings you here?" The Jedi frowned as she sat on Samirah's bed, neatly avoiding Carth's jacket and resting her chin in the palm of her hand. For some reason, the sight of his jacket made her want to frown but that was a thought for another time. She didn't come to discuss Carth.

"Well that is quiet the question to ask. You do realize that I've been worried sick about you, correct?" Samirah placed the brush delicately on the table, turning in the chair so that she was facing Bastila.

"You know that wasn't on purpose." Bastila shook her head.

"You still had me worried, on purpose or not. Do you know how long I waited outside the enclave for you and Carth to return? I was stuck with T3 for hours! I finally was able to rid myself of him by pawning him off to Mission…" Samirah frowned, not liking that she had worried her this much. She didn't even know it was possible to worry this woman. She just seemed so… worry free. Add to that the fact that she put up with T3 for so long and it boggled the mind.

"I suppose an apology just won't do?" Samirah asked innocently. Bastila just smiled softly, not able to resist. Damn her child like self.

"Just this once—next time though, you won't be able to get off so easily." She stated as Samirah bounced out of her chair and threw her arms around Bastila, surprising her with a big hug. Bastila froze, unsure about what to do. She slowly patted Samirah on the back until she let go with a smile.

Bastila hadn't expected that show of affection. She wasn't used to any kind of… hug or friendship such as that. The idea of it brought a small, content smile to her face. A friend. The idea seemed intriguing but she wasn't sure if Samirah considered her as such.

"Thanks, Bastila. I really am sorry." Bastila just waved off the apology as she stood, smoothing out her robes. Samirah quickly pulled her hair back up into a ponytail, the usual strands of hair falling in her eyes.

"Apology accepted. It is good to see you… home again." Samirah paused at the word home.

She had never used that word. Was this home for Samirah? All this time spent here and she never dared to think—to even dream that this would become her home. It had been so long since she had a place that she could call home. It been so long since she had people who were like… family to her. All her time as a scout, she never settled on any particular planet. There was no point. She would never stay there, would never be able to truly call it home. The Silver Meridian was more of a home than any planet could have ever been. But now… she had a real home, didn't she? The idea brought a small smile to her face, a sort of sad smile that didn't escape Bastila's notice.

"What, what's wrong? What did I say?" She questioned in alarm as Samirah shook her head.

"No, nothing. You just welcomed me home." She turned to smile at her, giving Bastila the biggest grin she could. "Thank you."

Bastila didn't have any words to give her. She was at a loss to say the least. She never thought much of it… Dantooine had always been her home. It was all that she had ever really known save for the few, small memories she had of her time before the Jedi came for her. Samirah… well Samirah was Samirah. She simply… didn't know.

"Come. The council is waiting for us." She said with a small smile of her own as Samirah nodded.

"Right. I'm guessing they've already spoken to Juhani about… well about recent events so I guess it's my turn. Lovely." She smiled but it wasn't an eager smile which only amused Bastila that much more. Samirah casted a quick look at her bed, debating whether or not she should bring Carth's jacket.

She better leave it. It probably wouldn't go over too well with the Council if she was holding Carth's jacket. They'd probably get the wrong idea. Though, she couldn't stop smiling at the kind gesture it displayed. That was his favorite jacket and he left it in her care…

They exited the room and slowly made their way to the Council Chambers. Bastila had never seen a Jedi like Samirah. She didn't know if her attitude would help… or bring more trouble. She told the council what she felt and wasn't afraid to walk out on them if she thought the need to do so was there. It bewildered Bastila. It was like the moment she thought she could predict Samirah, she would do something that would make you rethink who she was. She glanced at Samirah from the corner of her eye to see that small smile still in place. What was she thinking about now? Could she tap into Samirah's thoughts with the bond?

No. She didn't want to intrude nor did she want Samirah to do the same.

Let's meet with the Council and be done with this, she thought.


Canderous was annoyed.

Severely annoyed.

He figured that fighting off these Mandalorians would have proved at least slightly challenging but they couldn't hold they ground, much less a blaster. It was really pathetic. It shamed him that this was what his people were perceived to be. Yes, everyone thought they were bloodthirsty animals but usually with good reason. Usually it was their talent at wielding a blaster or at being resilient—here, they were nothing. He didn't kill the Mandalorians for the sake of the settlers—then again, maybe he did. Maybe he didn't like what they were being pushed into, that they were being plagued by people who dared to call themselves Mandalorians.

He was seated on a bench in the courtyard of the enclave, watching as the Jedi passed by. He didn't exactly have a fondness for Jedi but he didn't exactly hate them either. Their way of life was drastically different then his own. They tried to balance the universe using peace and remaining neutral whenever possible. He couldn't understand that. Sometimes, war was unavoidable and yet they tried to avoid it whenever possible. He liked to remind himself about the Mandalorian War. He would have won that war had the Jedi not interfered but he held no grudge against them either. He actually revered Revan and Malak for taking the initiative to save the Republic.

Try as they might to stay neutral, the Jedi would always be considered allies of the Republic.

What irked him though was not that they didn't join earlier but that the council didn't like the idea of joining at all. Had Revan and Malak not joined in, the Republic would be under Mandalorian control. The Council liked to justify their hesitation as merely waiting for the opportune moment. Canderous knew better. There was no opportune moment. There was no perfect moment to save the Republic. Had they waited any longer then the Republic surely would have fallen to the Mandalorian.

That was what bothered Canderous about Jedi.

He wouldn't ever understand their methods nor their means. It really was a travesty in his book.

Canderous wasn't sure how long he sat in that courtyard, lost in thought about events not in his control but however long it was… it was worth it. Out of the corner of his eye he saw too familiar faces emerge from one of the hallways. He smirked to himself as they started to walk right by him until the kid caught sight of him and a grin of her own stretched across her face.

"Canderous! What are you doing here?" Samirah said with enthusiasm as she deviated away from the walkway and towards him. Bastila seemed a bit irritated but followed her to his bench.

"Well if it isn't the kid. It's kind of hard to leave a planet when the ship's captain isn't exactly on board—well, without stealing it. But I'm sure I wouldn't hear the end of it once you found out." He grinned as she laughed.

"Canderous, you wouldn't be able to leave me behind. The guilt would overwhelm you." She joked and only earned a grunt from him. Then a thought crossed her mind, a fact that was evident to Canderous as her eyes narrowed at him. Now what did he do?

"You haven't ripped my swoop bike apart have you? That would not have been a good move on your part." She said in a low voice, making him snort in response.

He knew who the tattletale was.

"Now what has soldier boy gone and said about me behind me now?" He mused. "Nothing was ripped away that couldn't be replaced. A few wires… maybe a dent or two." The way he spoke about it made it that much more horrifying for her.

"You didn't." He just smiled at that look of horror.

"Relax kid, I didn't touch the bike. Hell, I modified the damn thing. It runs better than it did before with the parts I was able to find while marooned on this peace-loving planet. Why would I want to destroy that piece of art?" He questioned with a grin. "My blood is practically running through all that wiring."

Samirah rolled her eyes as she relaxed, happy that he loved the bike a little too much to destroy it. She wasn't sure what she would have done had he brought it upon himself to destroy the beautiful bike, but she would have to think of something awful… like hang out with Carth. They seemed to get along real well… ish. Her smile just grew bigger at the thought, making Canderous curious.

"So where might you and the Princess be heading?" He inquired, shooting Bastila a toothy grin. She had remained silent but not without that sneer on her face. He got the distinct impression that she wasn't all that fond of him.

"To the council chambers to meet with the council, yet again." Samirah replied, ignoring the glares Bastila was shooting them both. "I'm not sure what they want this time but I'm sure it'll have something to do with—" Bastila jabbed her in the ribs making Samirah let out a small grunt.

"It was a pleasure, Canderous but we must get going. We are expected." She said with finality before grabbing Samirah's forearms and yanking her away. Canderous watched with a grin as Samirah shot him an apologetic smile. She really didn't have a choice in the matter.

When they disappeared behind the walls of the enclave, Canderous found that he was now somehow satisfied. He pushed himself off of the bench and slowly began to return back to the Ebon Hawk. These meetings with the council tended to take a while. He wasn't like Carth, he didn't hang around outside the door until they came out. He didn't need to do that to figure out that they would take their sweet time inside. The Jedi weren't people of action, they were people of words. They were more likely to talk you into your grave then to beat you into it.

As he left the enclave and boarded the Ebon Hawk, he glanced at the swoop bike that was missing a few wires. Wires that had been angrily ripped out…

He smirked to himself as he opened up a drawer by the workbench and dug around until he found some tools and a few extra wires. He wasn't going to tell her that it was too late to stop him from causing damage. He had ripped those wires out before soldier boy had informed him of the Mandalorian problem and how the kid could use his help. It was a good thing that they had a repair shop here that sold the components he would need for now. He had nothing else to do for a while so he would start repairing this bike once more until the kid was done with answering the calls of the council.

Hell, he would wait until Carth passed by. It was always a good day when he could irritate that man. It didn't take much—he was always teetering on the edge of anger and skepticism so it only took a snide remark to bring out his irritation. He was sure that once Carth found out that Samirah was back at the council, preparing for whatever else they required of her he would march back to the enclave and sit outside the chamber doors until they returned.

That boy was just too wound up. It made him an easy target for Canderous's amusement. That wasn't always a good thing for the person on the receiving end but at least Canderous didn't have a dull moment.

He started working on the bike, tweaking and repairing the loose wires and replacing the ones that had no hope of recovery. He wasn't in a hurry so he treated each repair like it was a delicate process. His mind was only partly focused on the work in front of him while the other half mildly wondered on a question that he had been debating on for quite some time.

What happens from here on out?

Was he going to stick around or carry on with his usual agenda of being a gun for hire? He couldn't sit around on some peace-loving settlement like this filled with Jedi. That just wasn't his style. He would go mad from sitting around. Then again, the kid may not be staying here much longer. He could hear all the Jedi talking about her remarkable progress, her quick understanding of the principles and the rapid manifestation of her abilities in the Force. Some muttered about her idealism and how that would be what stopped her from progressing further down the ranks of Jedi.

He thought that they were just too damn afraid of her potential. There was nothing wrong with her ideals. She knew what the universe needed. She was what the universe needed. They just couldn't see it. Half of him wanted to hang around just to see how far she could go. How she would prove them wrong. He would never understand the Jedi. It was probably better if he never did. It wasn't worth it to try and decipher each hidden meaning. If it's blue, then just say that it's damn blue! Don't skirt around the answer, just tell it. To hell with the riddles….

He shook his head as he rewired the bike, closing the panel. He was about to start working on tweaking it a bit more when he heard the familiar steps of a certain pilot. Canderous let the slow grin creep across his face as he wiped a smudge off of the bike.

When Carth rounded the corner, Canderous could tell that he had just woken up from a nap and had taken yet another shower. His hair was still wet and he seemed half awake with a cup of hot coffee in his hands. When Carth realized that Canderous was back, his face fell a bit. He didn't have the patience for this Mandalorian.

"Canderous." Carth said by way of greeting.

"Soldier boy."

Carth ignored the nickname and was headed for the hatch of the ship when Canderous spoke up again, unable to resist the urge for a bit of teasing.

"Hey, Onasi. You're not off to see our favorite little Jedi, are you?" Carth paused at the mention of his last name.

As far as he knew, that was the first time Canderous had ever used his name, whether it was his first or last. Then the rest of what he said fell into place. He turned to shoot Canderous a puzzled expression as the Mandalorian glanced at him from the corner of his eye.

"As a matter of fact I am. I wanted to make sure she was doing ok… why?" He hated it when Canderous knew something that he didn't. He hated it when anyone knew something that he didn't. It was like everyone was sharing a secret and he was the one person they deliberately didn't want to tell.

Canderous grinned knowing all too well that he had caught Carth. Curiosity was a strong thing. No matter what you may say or do, you will always want to know and it's that wanting that makes you cave in. It's like a child wanting to breathe—you can't stop it, it just has to be. Canderous put down his tools to look at Carth, that big grin still in place.

"I saw the princess and the kid heading to the council chambers not too long ago. Said it was important and then they were off. Kid seemed to be doing ok, back to her old self for the most part." He commented on the side, thinking back to that bubbly disposition she had. Except of course when she mentioned the bike… which brought up another point.

"You're trying to get me in trouble, soldier boy." Canderous said, his grin shifting into a smirk. He wasn't angry, but he had underestimated Carth. He didn't think the man would go as far as to tell on him. That was just playing dirty.

Carth's face remained neutral and innocent as he shrugged.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Canderous grunted, not believing a lick of it. "Now what's this about them going to the council? Are you sure that's where they were going?" Carth questioned to avoid the accusations and already appearing slightly agitated that he had missed out on something. He hated being left out! He could not emphasize that enough. Canderous just shrugged indifferently.

"I don't know, that's just what the kid said. That was… an hour ago?" He guessed, not really worried about keeping track of time.

There was no point on this planet. Not unless you knew the Kath hound's sleeping schedule… and then that's where he would draw the line. He wasn't that desperate for amusement. That was getting pathetic. There was no sport in it. Then again, everyone here was practically a peace loving bunch and it was getting on his last damn nerves. He was usually a man of action, not of sitting idly by while someone else takes on the dangerous jobs. Or whatever jobs Samirah was given.

Carth nodded his head slowly, obviously not pleased that he was left out again by the will of the council. He was beginning to think that the council didn't let anyone inside other than Jedi. He was also pretty sure that it wouldn't go over very well if he marched inside… but he didn't want to just wait outside the chamber doors and he didn't want to wait at the Ebon Hawk either. He frowned realizing that he didn't have a whole lot of choices. Rather he did, but he didn't like any of them.

"What are you going to do, soldier boy?" Canderous prompted, curious about his new course of action. Carth took his sweet time answering and Canderous wondered if he was even listening. It would have been a new development in their bantering, but not one that he couldn't work with.

"I'm going to wait for them to get out. Damn, why didn't they tell me…?" He muttered as Canderous shrugged indifferently.

"Maybe because you worry too much." It was a plain answer but it was filled with the truth. Canderous wasn't really teasing this time, but simply telling Carth what he thought.

"Worry too much?" Carth said in shock. "I don't worry too much, she's just needlessly reckless! I swear, she dives into danger head first without any protection and if someone doesn't watch out for her, she's going to end up in more danger than she can handle!" He nearly shouted, earning the full attention of the Mandalorian.

"I may not have spent nearly as much time as you have around the kid, but take my word on it—she can handle herself. She's a strong kid and if she does get into danger, it'll only make her stronger. It'll do her some good." Carth rolled his eyes. Now he was getting advice from Canderous.

That's obviously what he's always wanted.

"Right… and the next thing we know she ends up dead…"

"Just think about it…" Canderous said, ignoring the last remark as he started to work on the bike again. He was done teasing the pilot for today. He was wound up tighter then these bolts on the bike. Not to say it wasn't fun to tease him but he was sure soldier boy would tell a certain Jedi and he didn't feel like getting on her bad side today.

Not yet, anyway.

Canderous heard Carth's footsteps leave the cargo bay and out into the enclave, no doubt to wait until their Jedi friends were done. Canderous started to wipe down the bike, not seeing any more need to tweak and fix it. He had done enough and he didn't feel like ripping anything out. Not when it was nearly perfect. A few more components would be nice but they were hard to find at a settlement like this. Maybe if they left Dantooine, he would be able to find a new place to shop for hardware.

He smiled at the idea. He had subconsciously started to consider this ship home. The crew didn't bother him as much; they kept away for the most part. Samirah was the only one who ever ventured out to talk to him which was… quite the surprise. Most people feared Mandalorians—that's what made his job as a Merc so easy. Now, he didn't know. Was he losing his touch? Or was it simply that Samirah did have this tendency to hang around danger? Carth did say she found danger where ever it lurked. She was odd alright, but she was also oddly entertaining.

He didn't have the entire answer to his question but he did have a partial one. He had nowhere to be. He could hang around for a while. See where they headed and he could always leave if he felt it necessary. He grinned to himself. A Mandalorian finding himself with this unlikely crew and calling it home. What were the odds?

But this was where he was. This was what his home was going to be now. How funny the word felt to him. How foreign it now seemed to him…


IMPORTANT: If you haven't voted please do! You still have time to vote which planet you would like to visit after Dantooine and if no decision can be made... I may have to flip a coin haha so if you haven't already, I encourage you to take the time to pick a place ^-^ Most people so far want HK and Jolee in the story so if you agree, pick on of those two places! ^-^ Thanks

Ok, so to briefly explain this chapter- after I wrote it, I realized that I had sort of incorporated the idea of everyone kind of finding a home here. The only people not in the chapter are Mission and Zaalbar, but that'll be explained ;) I can't spoil it for you guys just yet.

Thank you guys so much for reading and this will be the end of my little rant! Until next time (If I don't post by Friday, you can hunt me down. I would understand). ^-^

Much lover and adoration,

~~SilverShards~~