Another story based on a game. This one's based on Knights of the Old Republic. If you have never played it, it might behoove you to skip to the end. Either way, I hope you enjoy it.
*
Carth's back was to Callista as she approached him. He was pretending to be busy but it was obvious that he was distracted and not fully paying attention to what he was doing. Callista hesitated, then spoke.
"Carth."
He ignored her.
"Carth, can we please talk?"
She saw his shoulders relax, ever so slightly, from the guard he had put up.
"What," he said, in a completely flat tone.
"Please at least look at me. I can't talk to your back."
He sighed, and turned to face her. His expression was impassive, but she had known him for a long time now and been through a lot with him, and she knew he was hurting. His jaw was set in just that way.
Callista sighed, and tried to gather her thoughts in the face of his coolness.
"Carth. Carth, I know you're hurt. Everything you ever feared came true. I am who you were afraid of - a traitor to my own people. I was...Revan. I was the embodiment of so many nightmares, and I did everything they said I did. I was responsible for the deaths of so many people.
"But, Carth, I am not that person anymore. My name is Callista now. I don't even remember that past. I swear to you I didn't even know. You know the Council wiped all of my memories and I started anew."
He spoke up, finally. "But how am I supposed to believe that, Revan?" He said her old name with such venom that she flinched. "All of this time, you've been listening to our plans, practically spying on us. How do I know you won't run back to your old master Malak in a heartbeat?"
"I won't do that. I don't want anything to do with Malak. Haven't I been working with you all this time? Have I shown any inclination to do anything the way Malak likes it? You're being unfair."
"I'm being unfair! You can take your unfair and keep it. You're the one who's practically a sleeper agent! And on that note, tell me, did you sleep with Malak? Is that how he became so powerful in your cabal?"
She reacted as though she had been struck. It certainly felt like it. The question hung in the air for a second, as her jaw dropped, and then she responded, as icily as she could, "That's just like you. A woman in power, and all you can think of is, did she fuck around? Did she fuck her second-in-command? And you know what the fucking sad thing is? I can't even deny it, because I don't remember!"
And with that Callista turned and headed out. She managed to keep her composure until she reached the sleeping quarters in the ship, and shut the door. She sat in her bed, in a rage, and then the tears came, and she couldn't control them. Callista laid her head on her knees and wept bitterly.
Out in the main room, Carth lingered by the viewscreen, idly flipping switches. He felt badly, but he had too much pride to admit it. He didn't really think Callista would betray them, but he had just lashed out in his rage.
He paced up and down once or twice. Finally, sighing, he got up and headed down the hall to the crew quarters. The door was shut, so he stopped to listen. No noise came from inside, so he knocked gently.
"Yes?" came Callista's voice from inside.
"Callista? It's me, Carth."
There was silence for a moment. Then, "Come in."
He opened the door and stepped inside, closing it behind him. The room was quiet. Callista was in her bed, knees tucked up against her, head resting on her knees. Her face was hidden by her hair...come to think of it, Carth realized he had never seen her with her hair down before this point. She always kept it in a neat braid, and it was always knotted back before she even came out of the room she stayed in with Mission and some of the other members of the crew.
It was down now, and it was beautiful. Jet black, it fell in heavy curls across her neck and side, and suddenly, with her hair down, she looked very vulnerable.
"Callista."
"Hmm?" The voice was slightly muffled.
"Can I sit down?"
She shrugged.
He considered, and finally sat on the opposite end of the bed from her.
There was silence for a moment, and finally he reached out and gently rested his hand on her foot. She lifted her head, slowly, and looked at him. It was clear she had wiped her eyes but they were still red and puffy and Carth felt contrite.
"Callista. I'm...well, I'm really sorry. It was a shitty thing of me to say."
She sniffed. "Yes, it was, Carth. But you were right, too."
"Sorry?"
She looked so sad as she said, "I don't know who I am. Maybe I am Revan. Maybe I'm everything you said - a traitor to us all." Callista sat up. "I just can't remember anything. I really wish I could."
His hand tightened around her foot. "I think you're wrong. And I think I'm wrong."
Callista looked up at him. "What makes you think that?"
"I've been wrong before," he laughed, "on occasion. But it's more than that. Callista, I lashed out at you out of fear, you know that, right?"
"At the heart of every word said in anger is a kernel of truth."
"Yes, you're right, there. The truth is I'm afraid of what's going to happen. Of what the future will bring, and yes, of what you will do. But..." and here he looked down at his hands. "I fear because I really care about you, you know? I wasn't able to protect my wife. I couldn't get there in time. I know it's not my fault...but it still eats at me. If I'm to go forward at this point, if I am to find a life beyond my wife at all, it has to be in protecting you. In taking care of you. And I shouldn't drive you away. I am lucky to find a beautiful, smart woman like yourself...even if you are extremely stubborn."
He looked up at Callista, who was watching him, and listening raptly to every word he said.
"So...can you forgive me? I know I come off as kind of an...ogre sometimes. I guess that's a good word. What do you say?"
Her eyes met his. "You think I'm beautiful?"
Carth laughed. "I guess I'll take that as a 'yes'."
She smiled at him, and it lit up her whole face. Moving closer, he reached up and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. She smiled at his touch.
"So...what do we do now?"
He laughed again, and leaned forward, putting his arms across her knees, only inches from her face. "I have no idea. It's been a long time since I've been in this position."