Author's note: I wish to thank everyone who has read my story and especially to those who have reviewed it.

Rachil Farychild: Carth is one of my favorites but I don't know if I'm considered a Carthaholic (I really don't know the true definition of such a lable). Don't worry, though, Carth will not be left out.

Kuramas Girl Angel: I hope you will enjoy this next chapter.

Padme Evenstar: Indeed, there are many predictions to make. If Ayla does go to the dance with Carth, what about the others? And, as you suggested, I made this chapter longer. Lastly, you should stronglyconsider writing KOTOR fanfic. I've had a fun time writing KOTOR fanfic in particular.

Thanks again, and here's the next chapter:

Chapter 3

But Who to Go With?

Shortly after dinner, everyone wandered around the city, pondering whether or not to attend, what to wear, and who to go with. The atmosphere was intensified since the Selkath were also quite excited and the subject of Shlekfest was on everyone's mind.

Ayla soon encountered Bastila sitting upon a bench, staring at one of Manaan's elaborate fountains. Ayla approached her. "Hey, Bastila, how are you?"

"Just trying to free my mind of all the problems and complications," she sighed, "but it is quite difficult. I've been focusing on so many problems lately that I cannot seem to get away from them."

"Well, here's something that might help—there's going to be a dance around here, and a large one, too. It's supposed to be very nice."

"Where did you hear this from?"

"Mission first, but I've noticed that the Selkath are talking about it as well."

"It must be in relation to one of their holidays. Sounds interesting."

"Thinking about attending?"

"I don't believe so. I do not see a point to attending."

"It will be distracting."

"What kind of dance is this exactly?"

"Um . . . a fun one?"

"No. I should not attend. And come to think of it, you should not either."

"Why not?"

"Because, it is part of your training. It is part of learning mental and physical discipline. Jedi do not attend dances. Do you understand?"

"Yes, but—"

"All right then, it is settled."

Ayla wanted to say more, but Bastila returned to her meditating posture, ending the conversation. Ayla sighed to herself, feeling disappointed, and left.

Meanwhile, HK-47 was standing by one of fountains, staring at a group of Selkath. He knew that he could not shoot them, despite the fact that he really wanted to, and so, he tried to visualize it. He imagined that one of Selkaths in the group suddenly got struck at the side of the head with a red phaser beam. The head would jerk violently away from the blast as green blood splattered all over his neighbor.

However, the HK soon became bored with this fantasy and was considering returning back to the Ebon Hawk and shutting himself down when the T3-M4 rolled up to him.

"Query: What do you want?" the assassin droid asked, agitated by the utility droid's presence.

The T3 beeped in response.

"Query: Why would I care about some dance?"

The T3 gave a long series of beeps.

"Query: Is that what that meatbag, third-rate pilot said?"

The T3 beeped in agreement.

"Observation: This is indeed interesting. I could care less about a dance but just the assumption that we would not care annoys me. Perhaps I should teach that meatbag a lesson."

The T3 beeped excitedly.

"Statement: I'm certain that a simple assault rifle will bring about desired results quite satisfactorily."

The utility droid cried out.

"Statement: If this more about your 'droid morals', I could care less about that, too."

T3-M4 beeped a long explanation.

"Hmm. I do enjoy shooting but what you're proposing amuses me. Let me consider this for a moment . . . Yes, I do believe that your idea will work quite nicely in this case. All I need now is a partner . . . "

"So, you thinking about going to the dance?"

"Well, I'm considering . . ."

"What's bothering you?"

"You see, I—"

"Why don't you sit down and tell old Jolee all about it?"

Seeing that he had not much else to do, Carth seated himself next to Jolee on the bench. He had never spoken much to Jolee directly unless it was requesting for him to make more medkits. Then again, Carth knew he rarely spoke to anyone except Bastila because she was his flying partner, and Ayla because she was one of the few people he trusted over everyone else.

"So, what's your problem?" Jolee asked.

"Um—"

"Don't 'um' me, boy! Spit it out!"

Maybe this was a bad idea. . . Carth considered.

"Well?" Jolee continued, nagging him.

Carth released an irritated sigh. "It's just that I'm interested in going to the dance but I . . ." Carth hesitated as he looked over into Jolee's prying eyes.

"Sometimes," Jolee said in a softer voice, "the best thing to do is just to say what you're thinking. Be straight forward."

"Well, then," Carth began, "I want to go to the dance but . . . it's just I want to go with a particular person but I don't know how to approach her or even if I should at all."

Jolee chuckled. "You sound just like some teenage boy going on his first date."

"Well, it technically is. I mean, my first date in a long time."

"So, you afraid that she'll say 'no'?"

"Yeah. I'm also nervous if it will change her opinion of me. I don't want her to think that I'm . . . I just don't want her opinion to be less of me because I make a stupid mistake."

"Asking a girl to a dance isn't a stupid mistake. Here, let me tell you a story. . ."

Uh-oh, Carth though, Ayla warned me about Jolee's stories. He quickly thought about making up some excuse on why he suddenly had to leave but then, considering that Jolee was trying to help, decided to hear him out.

"Back when the forests of Kashyyyk were just saplings," Jolee began, his mind reminiscing, "I was a young man with a full head of hair. I was also the best dancer that this galaxy has ever seen."

"You mean you actually used to dance?"

"Sure! Just because I'm old and frail now doesn't mean that I was always that way. Anyway, I'd travel to distant planets and wherever there was a dance, I was up for it. Really, the music and the type of dance didn't matter—it could've been the Ithorian mating dance but I didn't care, as long as I moved my body. Often times, there were dance-offs, and whenever that happened, I didn't hesitate. People would step into the circle, acting all arrogant, but I just did what I felt like and I would win. Pretty soon, I found myself good enough for actual dancing competitions."

"Wait . . . you did all of this in your youth? What about your Jedi training?"

"Heh. Heh. When you're far away from the Jedi Council on some sort of long mission, you have the time and it isn't like they are ever going to find out. Anyway, whenever I danced, I always brought a partner. Even if I was planning on dancing solo, it's no fun to go alone. Finding partners, though, was always so difficult. I was a handsome young man, so all the women would swoon over me. Mobs of them would line up, all wanting—"

Carth tried to suppress a laugh but Jolee noticed. "And what is so funny?"

"Really, 'mobs' of women were all desperate to go to the dance with you?"

"What? Not only was I popular and the best dancer, I was quite handsome and attractive in those days."

"Sure."

"Anyway, as I was saying . . . what was I saying? . . . anyway, all these women always wanted to go with me, you get the picture. However, no matter what, I would always pick someone who was a friend of mine. Some of the girls didn't like that because my choices of girlfriends were not always the popular ones, but I didn't care. I just wanted to have fun.

"Now listen up, this is where it gets important. I got so good, that I was allowed to enlist in this ultimate dancing competition that was taking place on Couruscant at the time. Great dancers from all over the galaxy were going to attend. Once again, I had to choose a partner. In truth, dancing with a partner was only one category compared to everything else but I was nervous. Instead of thinking who I might have fun with, I was considering bringing someone who was a good dancer. And so, I ended in picking not one of my friends but a woman named Klair Hinns. She really was an attractive young lass and a damn good dancer but I didn't know her all too well. At the time, however, I didn't care and so, I brought Klair to the dancing competition.

"I was doing so well for the first few categories of the dancing competition but when it came time for partners, I became so nervous. At first, everything was going just fine when suddenly, Klair tripped. She fell over, spraining her ankle and breaking her nose."

"Ouch."

"Yeah, that was a big ouch. And it became worse. Klair blamed everything on me, saying that I tripped her on purpose, and demanded credits from me to pay for the damages. I denied her accusations, refusing to pay at first until I realized that if the Jedi Council heard about this, that I would be in deep trouble."

"What did you do?"

"The only think I could do, I gave in. I gave her the money she requested and separated myself from her as best as I could. Never seen her since. Well, that's my story!"

"And how does this exactly relate to my problem?"

"Relate to your problem? I just wanted to tell you a story! Can't an old man tell you his stories, dammit! Just kidding. It does relate to your problem. I was just trying to say that you shouldn't worry. Go to the dance to have fun. And whoever it is that you want to bring, is she your friend?"

"I . . . think she is."

"What do you mean by 'think'?"

"Well, I do talk to her but I don't know what her feelings are towards me."

"Dammit, just tell me who she is and I'll tell you if she likes you."

"How would you know?"

"Trust me, I've had experience. Now, who is it?"

"It's . . ." Carth lowered his voice, "It's Ayla."

"Ayla!"

Carth cringed at Jolee's outburst. "Can you keep your voice down?"

"You really must be thick. Of course Ayla is your friend! She's the nicest person here and wouldn't hesitate to go to the dance with you."

Carth thought for a moment. "I'll take some things under consideration, but by tomorrow, I'll definitely have made a decision. Thanks."

"Hey, I love helping young people!"

"Just one last question: was that story really true?"

"I don't know. Just happens to be something I remember. Maybe my memories are faulty. Or maybe I made it up on the spot."

"In any case, real or false, I'm glad I talked to you."

Carth stood up and was about to walk back to the Ebon Hawk, when he realized that Jolee was still sitting on the bench. "Don't you want to head back to the Ebon Hawk? By our standard time, it's getting late."

"Oh, I'll be along shortly, just thinking some things out."

"Alright, I'll see you later then."

"And Carth, take advantage of these opportunities while you're young and handsome."

Carth acknowledged Jolee's request with a nod and began to head back.

"That is," Jolee grumbled, "before you get too old and no one wants you anymore."

Jolee sighed, once again sitting alone and brooding about the fact that none of the women would want to go with an old man to a dance. Just then, he heard a familiar, mechanical voice from behind. "Rhetorical Question: What is wrong with the female gender!"

Jolee looked over the backing of the bench and, just as he thought, saw HK-47 accompanied by T3-M4.

The T3 beeped for a few moments.

"Statement: That was a rhetorical question. Your thoughts on the subject are of no concern to me."

The utility droid beeped again.

"But threats are the best means of achieving one's way. What would you propose?"

The droid gave a few single beeps.

"Nice! Statement: Just asking females if they would want to attend the dance with me resulted in giggles, laughs, and comments of how cute I was."

Jolee strained his ears. I've got to hear this!

T3 continued to beep.

"Statement: But if I act nice, the gesture would seem more false. With a threat, it proves I am serious."

T3-M4 beeped for a while.

"Reply: I do not think that will work. Often times, when I am not referred to as an 'it' am called a 'he.' Therefore, if meatbags think of me as being a 'male droid,' asking some of the male gender would only insult their manhood."

T3 gave a few soft beeps.

"Query: You do not understand what that means? Perhaps I will later explain it as best as I can to your limited intelligence, but for now, who am I going with to the dance?"

The utility droid gave a few exciting beeps.

"Hmm. Someone on board the Ebon Hawk? I cannot threaten them as I would some inhabitant. Master would definitely hear about it and would not like it."

The T3 shyly beeped.

"Yes. Yes! She would be perfect!"

Who? Jolee thought. Who's perfect?

"Statement: Let us wait for tomorrow morning to ask her. Tonight, help me rehearse what I am going to say."

T3-M4 beeped excitedly, rolling in circles around the HK.

But who is it! Jolee thought angrily. Dammit! Why didn't I ever learn to understand utility droid?

HK-47 started to head off away from Jolee, cursing at T3-M4 for continuing to roll in circles. Jolee considered following them, hoping the HK would mention this woman's name but then thought better. It was late and he was getting tired. But it better watch out! Tomorrow, Jolee will be on its trail!