Disclaimer: I do not own KOTOR. That pleasure belongs to George Lucas, Lucas Arts, and BioWare Corp. Everything belongs to them, except for the silly little things that popped out of my head for fun.
The Morning After
Sensitive to light and sound in a way he had never experienced before, Carth rolled off the bed and fell on to the floor face first with a painful thud. Curling up on his side he watched the room around him spin crazily. He lay there for what felt like an eternity as his stomach began to churn and wrench even as the room slowed down to a manageable speed. He was not a lightweight drinker. As a matter of fact, being a career star pilot and soldier, he and his fellow crewmates could put a serious dent in a bar when they put their credits and minds to it. Yet here he was, curled up into a fetal position, deciding whether or not he was going to spew what little contents remained in his stomach.
He couldn't help but notice that he was wearing just his jumper. From his position on the floor he couldn't see his shirt, pants, boots, or even his distinctive orange jacket lying around. Vaguely, he wondered where his blaster was. He spotted it still in his holster which was currently hanging off of a nearby chair. The only thing besides his clothes that was missing was a certain woman. However, he was strangely happy she wasn't there. "If she were here," he reasoned to himself. "There would be talking and talking would hurt my head more than it hurt already." Still he wondered where she was, and then he wondered what exactly was in Tarisian Ale.
Carth was certain that there was more to it than met the eye. He wasn't sure what it was, but Tarisian Ale didn't just knock you on your ass. It beat you where you lay, leaving your head a scrambled, throbbing mess all the while craving just one more drop. His throat was parched and for some inexplicable reason, even though he knew he was going to have to crawl into the refresher because of that swill, he wanted just one more sip. When the room had finally decided to stop moving and the lights overhead became bearable, Carth managed to pull himself upright and stumble the few feet into it took to get to the refresher.
He didn't know how long he spent in there, but he was still standing beneath a cascade of hot water that was fast growing cold when he heard noises out in the main room.
Despite his throbbing head, his still impaired vision, and his lack of clothing, Carth was determined to take the intruder by surprise. Leaving the shower on, he stood just next to the entryway when the refresher door slid open and a hand with a fluffy white towel reached in. "Just take the towel!" Rhyska said impatiently. As if realizing that Carth was still looking at the towel suspiciously she informed him, "It's me, you nit! If you try to do anything stupid, I will hurt you!"
Carth grinned. "Yeah, that sounded just like her." Taking the towel from her outstretched hand he said, "Thanks."
Before the door closed, her other hand held stretched out with a cleaner version of his shirt and pants. "Wow! I don't recall remembering laundress being on your list of credentials."
Just before the refresher door slid shut, Carth heard her flat reply, "It's not."
"Hmm…She sounds kind of mad." He wondered if something happened last night that he couldn't recall.
---------------
Rhyska rolled her eyes while she waited for Carth to take the towel and his clothes.
Blast, but she was too tired. She felt like curling up in the chair and going to sleep, but there were things that needed doing. So she dumped all her bags on the large table in the back of the room and started sorting through some of her purchases. All the equipment and supplies she had purchased from Kebla she stashed in the footlocker. Her additional purchases she separated.
Earlier, she sought out Larrim the Twi'lek vendor in the apartment complex. He directed her to a small store on the promenade that specialized in quality used goods at discount prices, the fancy term for used cheap crap. She could have kissed him when she entered the store, except he was all the way back at the complex and she wasn't in a kissing mood after lugging all that crap she back to the apartment, but the irritation had been worth it. She picked up a few things that made life just a tad bit more livable and after she was through with the droids, life would improve immensely.
Carth was still in the refresher when the cleaning droids finally arrived. Handing the bag of garbage to one she pulled the other into the room and began reprogramming him. Splicing into the little guys' subroutines, she added one for pressure washing the walls, sanitizing the surfaces, and cleaning the carpet and floors of the apartment.
After this morning's incident, Rhyska simply couldn't take living like this anymore. She might have been unconscious for the first three days, but this place was too gross to be believed. Especially, after Carth had hurled on himself, on her, on his bed, and on the floor. She honestly couldn't remember the last time she'd seen anybody vomit that much. Not to mention she didn't recall seeing him eat anything. Hell, she hadn't eaten anything yesterday! So she still couldn't figure out what the hell he had been spewing. It had pissed her off to no end. She stripped off his clothes and moved him to the vomit-free bed. Then she had gazed at the discolored linens briefly before muttering darkly and walked to the other end of the room.
It had been a long day and proved to be an even longer night. She couldn't sleep after that, the bed linens still smelled like vomit and so did the floor. So instead of making herself completely miserable by pretending to sleep in a less than comfortable chair, she took stock of what they had, which wasn't a lot. They needed new linens, and all the towels were soiled and dirty. The dishes and flatware needed to go. So, as with the refresher, she started cleaning the sink, counters, and the cabinets of the kitchenette. She wiped down both the main table and the small side table in the room and worked her way to the fridge. She had assumed that would have been the most unpleasant. Ironically, it was clean. The only problem she could see was that it was empty. Again, she wondered what in space Carth had puked up.
The little droid in front of her had let out a series of boops and beeps that jarred her from her reverie. The little guy was somewhat resistant to having its wires crossed, but stopped complaining when Rhyska upgraded some of its components and added a few new parts. She was in the middle of oiling some gears when Carth emerged from the refresher.
He looked a lot better than he had this morning, which wasn't saying a lot. He still looked like he was spit up by a bantha, but she bought something for that as well.
Wearing his very recently laundered clothes he asked, "Have you seen my jacket and boots?" Rhyska pointed to his bed, but his attention was focused on the pile of items on the table. "What the hell is all of this?"
"What does it look like?" Rhyska asked snappishly.
"Where did you get the credits for all of this?" Carth looked at the goods on the table warily.
Rhyska looked at her purchases and repeated, "Where did I get the credits?" While Carth waited expectantly for an answer, Rhyska thought back to this morning when she couldn't sleep. She had wanted to shower, but there were no clean towels. Her stomach was grumbling, but there was nothing to eat. She supposed that with the way things had gone she should have been glad that he'd missed her bodysuit when he had gotten sick earlier, but he did manage to nail her vest and boot. The vest she removed and the boot she washed off. Eventually, her mounting irritation with her surroundings and the lingering smell of bile drove her to desperate measures.
Before morning roused the nearby tenants, she had spliced into several apartments above and below her level. Creeping in and out soundlessly, Rhyska burgled her way through nearly all of the apartments. Nicking mostly credits from each apartment and the odd medpack, she couldn't help but think of Carth the whole time. Knowing that as an upstanding citizen, he would never approve of thieving. Of course, what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. And so the "Free Bastila" fund was born and whether they were aware or not, people had donated. As Rhyska recalled the early morning activities that had led to the number of goods sitting on the table she smiled dreamily and answered, "Pazaak."
Carth looked at her suspiciously and pointed to the pile. "You won all this at pazaak?"
Rhyska laughed at him. Turning her attention to the little cleaning droid, she closed the compartment in his little metallic body and set him to work. "All done. Can you start with the carpet?" The droid tooted off happily to the corner of the room prepping itself for deep cleaning, pleased with all its new upgrades.
She stood up and walked over to the table and began sifting through the purchases on the table in search of something. "I won credits at pazaak. I spent the credits on this stuff."
Picking up a caffa pot and an eating utensil from the table, he shook his head incredulously. "What the hell for?"
"Peace of mind," Rhyska muttered more to herself than for him as she found the bag she was looking for.
"We could have spent that money on better things," Carth exclaimed.
Rhyska froze and looked at him like he was crazy. "We? What's with this we crap? I bet my money at pazaak. I won. Therefore, I get to spend it anyway I like."
Carth looked like he wanted to strangle her. "I don't feel like you're taking this mission seriously at all! We are in this together! If we're are going to get off this planet we have to work together, which means you can't go off spending like you've got credits to burn!"
Before he could continue his tirade, Rhyska exclaimed, "You puked on me!"
Her exclamation made him wince and stopped him mid thought. "What?" Bemused, Carth replied, "I did not!"
"You did," Rhyska insisted. "Why do you think I had your clothes cleaned? You puked all over yourself, got it on the bed, and on me."
Carth's face fell as he looked past her and noted the clean sheets on both beds. Looking back at her he asked her quietly, "I puked on you?"
Rhyska nodded. "Yup, you did."
"Wow," Carth breathed.
"Not really the wording I would use." Rhyska checked the contents of the bag and fumed.
"I'm sorry."
Rhyska looked up at him. If she were a better person she might have let it go. Instead, she smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "Its okay. I plan on returning the favor sometime in the near future."
Carth's face fell and he swallowed hard. "Why?" he asked himself as he watched her disappear into the refresher with a bag. "Why did I survive the Endar Spire only to be stuck with her? Why couldn't I have been stuck with a real soldier? Soldiers didn't do this to each other. They focused on the mission and got things done." Carth didn't even know what this was. He only knew he was miserable. His head was still pounding and they were no closer to finding Bastila. Last night's trip was a complete waste of time. With a sigh, he located his boots and strapped on his holster. He was zipping up his orange jacket and still lamenting his misfortune when Rhyska emerged from the refresher.
If the stunned look on Carth's face was any indication, Rhyska knew Yun would be more than satisfied when he saw her later on tonight.
Her hair was smoothly styled. Separated into three sections, they were twisted close to the scalp and pinned up into a combined ponytail. The result was a fall of glossy black hair with a random locks twisted into spirals. Her bangs were smoothed down and tendrils of hair framed her face. She was still wearing her black body armor, but on top of that she wore a sheer violet, blue, and green printed halter dress. It fastened around her neck and hugged her figure down to her hips. From there it fell just past her knees in the front and past her calves in the back. A black utility belt and holster hung low on her hips. The dress was split from hem to thigh on both sides which allowed easy access to the blaster she had strapped to her leg. A dark violet, fitted leather swoop jacket encased her upper torso. Partially zipped up, it served the purpose of a bodice. Holding everything in and breaking up the lines of her body, making her look taller than she actually was.
Rhyska thought she looked pretty good. However, Carth seemed to think differently. "What the hell is that?"
"Thanks, Carth! You're a real ladies man," Rhyska replied archly. She passed him by and sat on her bed. Despite the angry looks he was giving her, she ignored him and jammed her feet into her boots.
Carth stood in the middle of the room with arms crossed over his chest putting up quite an imperious pose, as he huffed, "I'm serious."
"So was I when I said I planned to throw up on you," Rhyska hissed. The little vial she had purchased for hangovers lay underneath the pile of packages on the table and Rhyska found that she really didn't care how bad his head hurt. If he was going to be a jerk, then he'd suffer for it until she was able to return the favor and hurl on him. "Are you ready or what? We need to leave."
"What do you mean? Do you plan on going out somewhere?" He pointed at her dubiously. "Dressed like that?"
"If I could manage it, I'd throw up on you right now," Rhyska informed him. "As it is, I'm starving and we have some more ground to cover before the party."
Carth looked positively lost. "What party?"
"Blast it, Carth!" Rhyska hollered, causing him to wince in pain. "Just make for the door already!"
Without so much as another word, she turned on her heel and walked out of the apartment. She was followed by the cleaning droid who booped and beeped at Carth in a disapproving manner as it made its way out of the apartment and to the waste management room to dump its contents.
"Even the droids are against me," Carth thought as he rubbed his temples. Walking slowly out of the room he prayed fervently that things picked up and quick. Rhyska seemed like the kind of girl who could keep her cool no matter what the situation. Find an answer or solution or create one if she needed to. Her resourcefulness was not an issue. Her lack of comprehension about their situation was what frightened Carth. If they didn't get off this planet soon, he had a feeling Malak would have no qualms about bombing Taris they way he did Telos. If that was Taris' fate, then he didn't want to be here when it happened.
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Carth stole glances at Rhyska as they walked in search of a place to eat. She still looked pissed, but she wasn't quite angry enough to starve him. They grabbed a quick bite to eat in a small restaurant and ate in silence the whole time. Carth had tried periodically to start up a conversation, but had been rebuffed with a piercing gaze and the curt phrase, "Not talking. Eating." He'd given up when she ordered a second helping and promptly ignored him.
So he waited until they were back and walking on the street again before making another attempt at small talk. "So, are we wandering around aimlessly or what?"
She glanced at him coolly as they walked. "We are scouting the area and looking for more information."
"Right," Carth said, sarcasm dripping from his tone. "Like the cantina."
Rhyska gave him a sidelong glance and snickered, "I got something very promising from the cantina. Sorry if all you got was a hangover."
Carth noted that she didn't sound at all apologetic. "What exactly did you get?"
"Corroborating information," Rhyska informed him as she pulled her data pad out and pulled up the city map. "And an invitation."
"An invitation?" Carth tried to recall the events of the night before. An image of a pasty faced man with dark hair looming over Rhyska popped into his mind. "From that creep from before?"
"Creep?" Rhyska looked up from her data pad for a moment and then added, "I was thinking more desperate loser. Desperate, lonely loser. He specifically used the word lonely."
"Explain to me why you are going to this party again?"
With a sigh, she put away her data pad and gave him her full attention. "We are going to this party because he is a junior Sith Officer. In fact, I expect that most everyone there will be a Sith in some capacity."
"There's no way we're going to infiltrate a Sith party," Carth shook his head in disbelief as they continued walking.
"No, we aren't going to infiltrate or crash the party," Rhyska agreed. "We are going to walk through the front door and then mingle. Maybe even drink. Although in your case, I'd avoid the Tarisian Ale." She turned to Carth as they came up to a medical facility, a flicker of mischief in her eyes. "Does the fleet never let you people out and party or what?"
"I get out, sister," Carth huffed. "I get out plenty! I just don't socialize with Sith." As an after thought he added, "And I can hold my drink!"
"You threw up on me!" Rhyska reminded him with a poke to the chest. "And yes, for one night, you will be socializing with the Sith. Now come on. I want to buy some medpacks."
Carth followed her into the medical facility glaring daggers at her. Never in his life had he met anyone so infuriating! And blast it if he wasn't going to be apologizing for that one thing for the duration of this mission. And Carth had a gut feeling that this was going to be a very long mission.
Inside the medical facility, Rhyska was surprised to find it spacious and empty. A tanned young man in medical tech robes stood near the front of the room. He seemed to be occupied with the console he was working on. He paid them no mind. So she walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. "Excuse me, can I ask you a question or two?"
The young man shot her an irritated look and said in a grating voice, "Can't you see I'm busy? Talk to Zelka if you need anything." He gestured to an older man to the back of the room.
"Right." She walked towards the doctor, hoping that he would be a little more receptive to her questions. Besides, it didn't seem to have any patients to take care of.
The old man noticed her right away. His dark eyes were bright with intelligence and his demeanor warm. Though the younger man could have been related to him, they seemed to have vastly different personalities. He smiled as she approached him. "Good afternoon and welcome to my medical facility. I am Zelka Forn and I gather you are visiting our fine planet for a spell. Have you come in search of some medical supplies or do you need healing? I can treat most any ailment or injury right here." Belatedly, he added, "Well, everything except for the Rakghoul disease, of course."
Intrigued, Rhyska asked, "Rakghoul disease? What's that?"
"A terrible affliction that has plagued Taris for many generations," he informed them quite seriously. "We call them Rakghouls. They are the monsters that live and feed in the Under City, the true surface of our world."
"Monsters?" Rhyska face fell at the news. "Diseased monsters?"
Carth blanched. "And they live in the Under City?"
Zelka nodded gravely, "Live and breed in the Under City. Some think prolonged exposure to the Under City causes the disease, but if I understand it correctly, the disease is passed from person to person through direct contact. By that I mean, biting and scratching. Those that are infected eventually mutate into mindless flesh-eating beasts. It is quite gruesome."
Rhyska looked accusingly at Carth. "Mutant monsters, eh? So, I suppose it's safe to say that these creatures attack pretty much anything that moves."
"You've got that right," Zelka confirmed. "No one goes down to the Under City unless they absolutely have to and even then, they don't go alone or unprepared. Sometimes even that isn't enough. Once infected there's little anyone can do about it."
"So there isn't a cure," Rhyska said crestfallen. The idea of running around the Under City with a bunch of monsters was a thrill she just didn't need.
"There is no antidote for the disease, but Republic scientists at the military base were perfecting a serum to prevent further infection. Unfortunately, the Sith arrived," Zelka replied sadly. "They overran the military base and refused the Tarisian medical community access to any of the research labs. No one has gone near the base since the Sith arrived, its crawling with guards."
Carth looked at Rhyska upon hearing about the heavily guarded military base. Rhyska shrugged and continued listening to Zelka. "I've heard that the patrols sent into the Under City are using samples of the Rakghoul serum. It's a shame that the people who really need it will have to suffer. If only I could get a sample, then finally we'd be able to eradicate the Rakghoul disease forever. It really is too bad."
"Well, we might be able to find you a sample of that serum," Rhyska stated.
Zelka looked at her like she had lost her mind. "There's no way that anyone could lay hands on that serum. Whatever serum they have left is locked safely away in the military base. Although I suppose the Sith patrols in the Under City might have a sample on them." Shaking his head he added cynically, "That's if they haven't already used it because of the Rakghoul infection and I doubt very much that a patrol would just hand it over."
"Don't worry Zelka," Rhyska said with an encouraging smile. "Carth and I are making our way down to the Under City. We're bound to run into a Sith patrol. I'm certain we'll be able to get you a sample, whether they feel like donating or not."
Zelka looked horrified. "Don't even joke about that!" He looked around the room as though to confirm that they were alone. In a hushed voice Zelka explained, "I don't want the Sith to think I've been suggesting that people start attacking their patrols! Not only would they blast me, they could shut down the medical facility!"
Welcoming demeanor replaced by business like stiffness, Zelka asked, "Now is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Well," Rhyska began hesitantly, "Do you know anything about the Republic escape pods that have crashed in the Under City?"
"Republic escape pods?" Zelka smoothed his doctor's uniform and looked away. "Uh, no. What makes you think I know anything about that? I didn't know those pods crashed in the Under City. I don't know anything at all."
Rhyska looked at him knowingly. "Well, you seem awfully defensive about this."
"I'm not defensive," Zelka insisted. "I just don't know what you're talking about." Looking quite perturbed he exclaimed, "This just as bad as when the Sith came by the first time to harass me."
Rhyska gave him her best "trust me" face and assured him, "Relax, Zelka, we're not with the Sith. It'll be just between the three of us."
"Well," Zelka began reluctantly. "You don't look like you're with the Sith. I…I suppose I could tell you or rather, you can follow me and I can show you."
"Show us what?" Carth asked suspiciously. Zelka didn't answer. Instead he walked through a set of side doors into another room. Following him, Rhyska and Carth found themselves glued to the floor as a false wall slid back to reveal rows of kolto tanks with Republic soldiers floating within.
"Stars above," Rhyska whispered.
Carth looked at them astounded. "So many. How did they get here?"
Understanding dawned on Zelka. "You're Republic soldiers. I'm amazed anyone survived the crash, let alone walked away from it!"
Looking back at the kolto tanks Zelka continued, "People have been bringing me crash victims they've found in the Upper City. What was I going to do? I had to treat them. So far we've been lucky, the Sith haven't suspected a thing."
Catching the look of distress on Carth's face as he gazed from tank to tank he explained gently, "The injuries they sustained from the crash were extensive. Most won't survive and others---making their last days comfortable ones, was the least I could do. I wish I could have done more, but medically speaking, there was nothing left I could do. I am sorry."
Carth smiled gratefully at Zelka, "For what it's worth, you have my thanks. It's good to know that at least some of these men ended up in compassionate hands."
"When the Sith came by the first time around asking questions, I worried that they had discovered what I was doing, but they haven't returned since. It could be they will never know about your fellow soldiers and I would take it as a personal favor if they never did," Zelka looked at the two of them anxiously.
"Don't worry," Rhyska promised. "Your secret is safe with us."
"Thank you," Zelka said with a relieved sigh. "Now if you'll excuse me I need to return to the front in case anyone comes in needing medical attention."
Zelka walked out of the room quietly, leaving Rhyska to watch a very somber Carth.
"Anyone you recognize?"
"No one I knew personally if that's what you meant."
Rhyska frowned at his comment. Walking over to him, she watched the people floating in the tanks. "I didn't mean it quite the way you think I meant it. I was a specialty recruit. My skills made me-- flexible I guess is the term they would have used. I was a Jack of all Trades, so among the crew, I wasn't very well liked."
"Really, that is so shocking because we get along so well," Carth said sarcastically.
Rhyska was just stunned at how much that comment hurt. Trying to keep that from showing she continued, "I was only close to the people I shipped out with. Looking at the people here, I wonder how they fared. Although I would have to guess that the hired mercs, Kelvin, Gadaar, and Merel probably bit it. It's sort of a hazard of their line of work. I kind of thought maybe Beltren or Xirel might have made it. Beltren was always really resourceful, and Xirel is just crooked enough to hide in the shadow of a screw. He was kind of a parasite, but he was also a lot of fun. I'd hate to think they didn't make it."
Looking at the rows of men floating in the tanks, Rhyska said softly, "We made it thanks to you. So I have to believe that there's always the chance that others made it too."
Carth looked at her guiltily. "I'm sorry for snapping at you."
"I forgive you."
Carth's lips quirked into a smile. "But not for puking on you?"
"I can't forgive you for that," Rhyska said in mock seriousness. "I have to return the favor so we can call it even."
Carth draped an arm around her shoulder and led her back into the main room. "Let's get out of here."
"Sure," Rhyska nodded absently as they walked towards Zelka. "Hey, Carth?"
"Hmm?"
"Thanks for not crashing the pod."
With a last glance back towards the room, he smiled sadly. "You're welcome."
Author Note: Feel free to flame or praise, as the mood suits you. Constructive, of course. Let me know how I'm doing.