Chapter 11: Arguments and Amendments

After relaxing on his cot, Carth felt his headache had nearly disappeared. He slowly sat up, feeling lightheaded, but better than before.

The door opened and Canderous entered. His headache returned.

"What are you doing here?" Canderous demanded; he was holding a long object, but at the sight of Carth he immediately put it behind his back. All Carth could tell was that it was a dark, oblong box of some sorts but had not been able to focus on it.

"I do sleep here," Carth replied.

"I'll go somewhere else, then."

As Canderous started to walk off, Carth realized he had the perfect opportunity to talk to him. "Canderous."

"What?"

"I…I wanted to…er…"

"Is this about Ayla?" He smirked. "Still jealous?"

Carth hesitated. Getting Canderous to express his feelings would be difficult under any circumstances, and Carth had no idea what to say. It was tempting to simply tell Bastila that Canderous was a jerk and be done with it, but the more he thought it over, the more he figured that perhaps it would be better for Ayla to be with Canderous, and realize for herself what kind of character Canderous was. And yet, this would only make matters worse if a latent suspicion was true: Maybe Ayla actually likes him.

"No," Carth said slowly, rubbing the back of his neck, "it's not about Ayla…what are you holding behind your back?"

"None of your business, Republic," Canderous said, still smirking. "Bet you want to know, don't you?"

"Not really…now, this is…going to be hard, but…we can't just…" Canderous raised his eyebrows. Carth sighed. "We need to talk."

"Sure, we can talk, and I know just the place…"

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Jolee was lying on his back, utilizing all the focus he could muster to meditate on his wound. Although the kolto was already beginning to heal the wound, he tried his hardest to use his own healing powers, but this was difficult because of other drugs which were making him drowsy.

He heard the sound of footsteps approach the threshold into the medbay, but stop right before stepping inside. Whoever it was stood there for a moment, then started to walk off.

"It's alright," Jolee called out, although he did not lift his head or open his eyes. "The old man's awake and would love to talk to someone."

The footsteps moved inside the medbay. Jolee opened his eyes to find the footsteps had been Mission's.

"I knew it was a young person," Jolee said, forcing a smile. Only a few minutes of meditating had drained him and his whole body was trying to slip into sleep. "Older people don't walk quite as freely."

Mission gave a weak smile back. "How are you feeling?"

Jolee wished he knew exactly what to say. At the moment, his head was feeling too unfocused to be able to think about anything. "Doing better than earlier. What time is it anyway?"

Mission shrugged her shoulders. "Oh, I don't know. I still feel used to the Tarisian time but, you know, no one else but the Tarisians use it…used it…" Her mind drifted to Taris, but only for a moment. "And all the planets have their own thing, and then there's Standard Time but it doesn't really help much. Standard time can say 10 am but it's more like 10 pm on the planet you're on…I think it's 7:30." She added, as if she had not said anything previously.

"Standard Time?" Jolee asked.

"No, Manaan time…I think."

"Oh, it doesn't matter much, as long as you don't miss the dance."

"Yeah…I just came to see how you were."

"Is there something you want to tell me but are afraid to do it?"

"Why did you want to go to the dance with me?" Mission asked bluntly.

"Who else can I go with?"

Mission suddenly appeared disgusted. "Jolee, you're older than Carth! And Carth's old enough to be my father! You're-you're like my grandfather! That's just wrong…and it's weird…and I think I should've never said that and I should just leave."

"No, don't leave."

Mission folded her arms. "I think you're sick…really sick and—"

"It's not like that."

"Th—"

"You're a sweet girl. Kind of like, if I wanted to have a granddaughter, I would want her to be like you."

Mission blinked. "I…I didn't think you…felt that way. Gosh, I feel so stupid! And…I only agreed to go with a droid just so I could avoid you…"

"You don't have to go with the evil droid."

Jolee looked on so hopefully, it made Mission feel guilty.

"I'm sorry," she said, "but I already told him I would, and you know how it is to break a promise. No one trusts you afterwards."

"You didn't promise anything! Besides…it's just a droid. Do you really want to go to a dance with a droid?"

Mission folded her arms and quickly became angry. "He's not like my date! I'm just…you know…going with him."

Jolee sighed. "I'm sorry I made you angry, but can't you just give me a chance?"

Mission's features softened. "I might if you weren't so sick. You can't dance like that."

Jolee folded his arms in a defiant manner. "I will be at that dance."

"I know how you must feel, but I don't want you to get worse. You're going to have to promise me you won't go unless you really are better."

"Don't worry, I will be better." Jolee smiled.

"But still…it doesn't change anything. I'm still going with the droid."

Jolee would have said something back, but the drowsiness was wearing him thin. When Mission did not say anything more, his mind delved deeper into itself, away from reality. He cursed the additional medicine for making him so sleepy, and yet, he did not try to resist. He allowed his mind to conjure up whatever it wanted, and saw images of people dancing. They were all wearing formal attire, the men smartly dressed in suits and the women in long, flowing gowns.

One way or another, I will be there at that dance.

------------

"You do drink, don't you?"

"On occasion." Carth looked around. The cantina was very different from anything he had been to before. The walls displayed pictures of popular tourist sites on Manaan and the place was, on the whole, very clean. "I didn't think this was your kind of place."

"It really isn't. There's a better one near the docks but there's a lot of Selkath strippers…I don't think you'd like it. So what's the problem?"

"Huh?" Carth asked, still thinking about Selkath strippers.

"You wanted to speak to me about something. I assume it's about some sort of problem you have with me."

"Actually, I was just sort of hoping we could have a decent conversation."

Canderous cocked his head to one side suspiciously. "That's quite a change from all our other conversations. In fact, I thought you hated me so much, you couldn't stand being in the same room as me. Now, we're both sitting at the same table. What's this all about?"

Although it was probably futile, Carth wanted to delay telling Canderous the actual reason for speaking to him for as long as possible. "You were willing to speak to me."

"My problem with you isn't the same as yours with me. Same roots, but I never had much of a problem talking to you."

"Talk? I'd hardly consider insulting me every time I attempt to have a decent conversation talking."

A waitress stepped up to their table, holding a datapad at hand.

"Ready to order?" she asked, glancing at the two men.

"I think so," Carth replied uncertainly, looking over at Canderous.

Canderous knew exactly what he wanted. "A tall glass of warm kalendil,"

The waitress frowned. "I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with that. What is it?"

"An Outer Rim drink but…it doesn't matter. I guess I'll just have…a glass of juma juice."

"Juma juice, alright." She looked over at Carth. "And you?"

Carth had not really thought about what to drink and said the first thing he thought of. "Bith beer."

"Bith beer," she repeated. "Very good. I'll bring over your drinks shortly."

As the waitress walked away, Canderous turned in his seat, following her with his eyes. He scanned her body in a desiring way. Carth felt embarrassed sitting next to him while he was doing that and cleared his throat, but Canderous didn't seem to notice. However, he did eventually turn back around. "What do you miss most?"

"What do you mean?"

"From your life before this whole mission. Is there anything you really wish you could do right now?"

The question surprised Carth. His mind always drifted back to Telos and the life he had made there. There wasn't a day that passed where something reminded him of his home or family. At night, he would sometimes dream of being back at home, where everything was as it should be and the reality he was living now was some sort of nightmare. If anything, the so-called life he was living after his home's destruction really was nothing more than getting through each day at a time, the only hope being that he would one day kill the traitorous Admiral Karath.

"I don't know," Carth replied. Interestingly, the current mission made him feel more alive than he had felt in four years. However, there was no chance he would tell such thoughts to Canderous.

"You can't think of anything?"

"There's not much to miss…if I wasn't here, I would be doing all my duties as a soldier."

"No life outside being a soldier? No family?"

Carth frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I thought the question was pretty clear…do you have any relatives? Wife? Kids?"

It relieved Carth that no one had yet told Canderous about his loss and decided to keep it that way. "No, no family."

"Huh. Thought you were the family kind. But really, there's nothing you miss?"

"I guess there really isn't." Carth hesitated. It seemed like Canderous was expecting a specific answer but Carth was uncertain what it could be. Instead, he decided to switch the conversation back to him. "What about you?"

"Well, there're a lot of things, but currently…" Canderous looked back at one of the waitresses by a nearby table, "sex."

"How surprising," Carth mumbled.

"I'm serious. There's never any time. Our first stop was Jedi-infested Dantooine, no chance there, and after that was Kashyyyk and the only things there are trees, tachs, Wookiees…and Czerka. Then, it's off to Tatooine where the weather's so hot that you really don't feel much like doing any physical exertions—"

"I get the point," Carth interrupted. Perhaps he would not have to lie to Bastila if he told her Canderous was an irritating person without any prospect for change.

"You do understand what I'm saying, right?" Canderous continued. "I mean…have you had any?"

"Why do you care what I've been doing?" Carth snapped. "It's personal and has nothing to do with you."

"You don't have to get so huffy about it. I'm just making certain."

Carth raised his eyebrows. "Making certain of what, exactly?"

"That we're both…in the same position…" Canderous hesitated. "What I've actually been meaning to say is that you aren't particularly close to anyone on the ship, are you?"

Carth sighed. "I'm going to be very blunt with you because I don't think there's any other way I can say this…truthfully, the only reason I'm talking to you is as a favor for Bastila."

Canderous raised his eyebrows. Carth was about to continue but a man approached their table, followed by the waitress behind him. Carth noted the man wore a nametag, labeling him as "manager."

"Sorry to intrude," he said to Carth, "but your acquaintance must leave."

"If this has something to do with disruptive behavior," Carth began, giving Canderous a side glance, but the manager shook his head.

"I won't allow a Mandalorian in this establishment."

"You guys, too," Canderous said bitterly. "We didn't even attack Manaan! What do you care about us?"

"As a matter of fact, I'm not a native here." The manager's voice took on a darker tone. "I was a Serrocon until your people trampled all over our planet."

Canderous pressed his lips together, giving the manager a challenging stare, planning on further insults.

"We're just here for a drink," Carth said slowly, looking back and forth between the two. "Just one, then we're gone."

"I won't tolerate such a subhuman creature in my establishment!"

"'Subhuman creature?'" Canderous asked, smirking slightly. "Isn't that sort of redundant?"

"No, it isn't, you barbarian," the manager said slowly, his face beginning to flush. "Creature implies something animalistic while subhuman means something low and distasteful."

"We're leaving," Carth said quickly, standing up. He looked over at Canderous. "Let's get out of here. There're other places we can go here."

Canderous stood up, but still glared at the waiter. "Didn't really feel much like dining out at a place that's run by a Serrocon." He seemed like he was not going to say anything else but then added, "Your people put up a pathetic resistance."

"Come on, let's go," Carth insisted. "We don't want any trouble."

Carth began to walk towards the door, followed by Canderous.

"It was the drink, wasn't it?" Canderous whispered to him.

"What?"

"I tried to order a Mandalorian drink but the waitress said they didn't have any! She probably told him!"

Carth quickened his pace. "I don't want to stick around these bigoted people."

They exited the cantina. Canderous was still looking behind him, but then faced forward. His face was stoic as anger rose in him. Meanwhile, Carth was glancing about, uncertain exactly where to go next when Canderous stopped and turned back to face the cantina.

"Son of a bitch!" Canderous shouted.

"Can you calm down?" Carth said, annoyed. "We can get arrested for the way you're acting!"

Canderous folded his arms. "Have you ever been denied services for being Republic?"

"That's not the issue; it's how you deal with it."

"So…I'm just supposed to stand for that?"

"Look, is it really all that unbelievable? Think about it—your people invaded our space and brutally attacked planets inhabited by millions, billions of people. Not all them were soldiers, most of which didn't want to fight or die, and a great majority on those planets were civilians with homes and families, only wanting to live out a normal—"

"You too," Canderous mumbled.

"What? "

"Now you're being the prejudiced bastard," Canderous said curtly.

"Me? You're not exactly an innocent victim! You were a part of that force that invaded us! You…" Carth hesitated. So many thoughts were racing back and forth that it was difficult to formulate them into words. "You not only participated, you still consider yourself a warrior and take pride in what you did. You're proud of what you did!"

Canderous shifted himself so his shoulders faced squarely with Carth's and gave him a hard stare. "You think you're so good, so self-righteous, but you aren't. It's the same problem I have with Bastila. You both think you're so much better than anyone else, that you're so moral and always know what's right for everyone."

"You're wrong," Carth said, seriously, "I don't think I'm better than everyone else…I just happen to know that I'm better than you."

Canderous clenched his fists. "You're always going to be the perfect soldier. Always doing the right thing because that's what Republic propaganda tells you, but don't think for a second that you know anything about me!"

There was a momentary pause between them, enough for time for another voice to speak. "Will you two stop it?!"

Carth and Canderous turned to Ayla, her arms folded across her chest in an evident irritated manner.

"I can't believe the way you two go at it!" she said, looking from one to the other. "I know why you don't get along, and I don't expect you two to end up being best friends after all this is over, but you could at least have some decency and not fight like this, especially not in public!"

Carth glanced about him, realizing he had caught the attention of quite a few pedestrians. However, what embarrassed him even more was that Ayla was the one who had caught him arguing. He was about to apologize but Canderous spoke.

"I know," he said, his voice taking on a softer tone. "Bickering is immature and…I'm the one to blame."

Carth was dumbfounded. Seeing Canderous in such a placated state, not attempting to retort at Ayla—even admitting he was at fault—shocked Carth. Canderous was no longer taking on the role as the proud Mandalorian warrior, but rather, he was accepting Ayla's words and humbled by them. Carth realized then that the possibility of a different, more cooperative and nicer Canderous was not some distant wish.

--------------------------

Bastila turned her head from the command console the instant she heard footsteps. She was pleased, but also nervous to see Carth entering the cockpit.

"Carth," she said as she set down a datapad, "I have been meaning to talk to you."

"So have I," Carth said. He seated himself in his pilot's chair. "I've spoken to Canderous and…he still treated me like his enemy during the entire course of our conversation. No matter what I did, he just couldn't see past it. I was going to report that to you and suggest against him going to the dance, but then Ayla came and she…she was able to talk to him, make him calm down and admit that he was wrong to treat me like he did."

Bastila seemed pleased with the news and even flashed a small smile. "Then we should allow Ayla to go to the dance with him. She may leave an impression on him and perhaps he can do more chores on the ship if she were the one to ask it of him."

Bastila was silent, her mind racing. Should I…or shouldn't I?

"I suppose it's a good thing," Carth said, although it sounded forced. "I'm not fond of Canderous, but it's like you said. It could help with the way he conducts himself toward us."

Carth stood up from the pilot's chair and began to walk away. Bastila watched after him, feeling the nervousness reach a breaking point. It's now or never…

"Carth."

Carth turned around, his attention back on the Jedi. Bastila took a deep breath before speaking any further.

"Are you going to the dance?"

Carth blinked, surprised to hear such a question coming from Bastila.

"No, no I'm not."

"Oh…well…do you not like dances or…is there some other reason?"

"I…It's not that I don't like dances, it's just that I wouldn't like going alone."

Bastila cleared her throat. "First, I must apologize for my rude behavior towards you throughout the course of the mission. It was completely unfounded. I must also say that I truly appreciate that you spoke to Canderous, although you do not like him, and were willing to set aside your feelings and agree to his attending the dance with Ayla. So, about the dance itself, I believe you should attend the dance and…a certain someone would greatly appreciate it if you went with her…"