(Another Author note: I'm going to be fast forwarding through the Taris scene too, considering it's boring as hell and would take too damn long to cover.)

After a heated argument with Carth, I slipped on a Sith uniform, half to piss him off, and other half to slip into the Lower City.

"That won't work." He said brusquely as I approached the guard by the elevator.

"We'll see." I snapped as the guard saluted me.

"Another patrol headed into the Lower City, eh? Be careful down there, the gangs will shoot at anything that moves. Can you believe that?"

I nodded and walked into the elevator with Carth behind me and I punched the button to descend. I groaned loudly and took off the helmet, shaking my raven black hair free. Carth rolled his eyes and sighed as I turned to him, half of my soft curls falling into my eye.

"And what's your problem now?" I asked.

"Oh nothing." He replied, waving his hand.

I hated it when people do that. I rescued the rest of my hair from the armor constricting it, causing it to cascade down my shoulders. I sighed softly as the elevator hissed to a stop.

"Looks like we're here." Carth yawned and played with his holsters.

"Yes we are." I drawled, readying my vibrosword as we approached a turn.

Carth and I watched carefully as three Hidden Beks and three Black Vulkars went toe-to-toe. As I expected, the Black Vulkars easily dominated and killed the Beks.

"Intruders!" One of them called his own tongue.

Carth and I leapt from out quasi-hiding place and he opened fire while I narrowly dodged the shots, cutting down two of the Vulkars. I spun around and realized I was face-to-face with one of the ugly bastards. Before I could scream and duck, he slumped into my arms, dead. I looked up as Carth held two smoking blaster pistols. I pushed the dead corpse away from me and whispered thanks while blushing.

"Aw, not only can she apologize, she can blush while doing it!" Carth teased, placing his blasters back into their holsters.

"Ach, get over yourself nerf-herder. You're not even that attractive." I laughed.

Carth clutched his chest with one hand raised a dramatic hand to his forehead.

"Oh, my feelings!" He cried.

I started to laugh, then stopped when I realized he was trying to get me back on his good side. Carth sighed in frustration and approached me.

"Oh come on, can't you just let it go?"

"I would let it go if you just TRUSTED ME." I replied, raising my voice a little.

"Zerstoren, it has nothing to do with you, okay? I don't trust easily, and for reasons that are my own."

"Ch, save it." I replied and began to walk away.

Carth grabbed my hand and spun me around, to my surprise.

"If you aren't the most frustrating woman I've ever met.."

"Yeah yeah, keep saying that and maybe you'll lose a finger." I joked, twisting out his arms.

I listened to him nag for about four seconds before shutting him out by humming Coin Operated Boy, a song that was commonly found on my music player.

(Quick AN: Don't even THINK about telling me that MP3/music players did not exist because if floating cars and lightsaber existed, then so did they, dammit!)

"Coin operated boy

sitting on the shelf, he just a toy

but I turn him on, and he comes to life

Automatic joy

That is why I want a coin operated boy."

"I CAN HEAR YOU!" Carth called out over my quiet singing.

"Good." I replied with a smile as we approached two Black Vulkars and what appeared to two men from The Exchange.

"Too bad." One with silver hair quipped. "I was looking forward to cracking some skulls."

He smirked when he saw Carth and I and waved the man next to him away. I approached him with unmatched serenity.

"Hello there." I chimed.

He merely nodded in my direction, but I refused to give up.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I'm one of the Mandalorian mercs that Davik hired, and someone you don't want to get on the bad side of. Now I'm not one for small talk, so maybe I'll see you around." He brusquely replied and walked away.

"Coy little bastard." I whispered as I watched him walk flawlessly away.