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 City of Outcasts

The elevator came to a jarring stop when it reached the bottom. The doors slowly slid open, revealing a small fort-like settlement within a dreary and cavernous world. No sooner had Rhyska and Carth stepped out of the elevator to assess their surroundings were they accosted by two wild eyed beggars. The taller of the two men pointed a bony finger at them and hollered, "This is our elevator!"

Automatically, Carth drew his blasters and Rhyska unhooked her vibroblade, forcing the beggars back far enough for them to clear the elevator doors.

"Is that right?" Rhyska drawled as they stepped forward. "Well, no worries, my stinky friends. We were just borrowing it. If you don't mind, we'll be on our way."

The taller of the two beggars rushed up to the tip of her blade and hissed in desperation, "You won't be going anywhere, up-worlder! Not until you pay the toll."

Rhyska arched a brow at the two beggars and pulled her blade back, resting it on her shoulder as she considered the desperate men in front of her.

Beside her, Carth stared down the barrels of his blasters at the two of them and cursed, "You've got to be kidding me! Please tell me these idiots aren't really trying to shake us down."

Extending a grubby hand, the short beggar demanded, "Five credits for the use of our elevator!"

"That would seem to be the case," Rhyska answered Carth irritably. Hooking her vibroblade back into her belt, she fished out a five-credit chip and warned the beggars, "All right, here's the pay for your toll, but I'm warning you now—do not mess with us."

Their eyes followed the movement of her hand as she waved the shiny credit about. They nodded eagerly at her warning, but Rhyska doubted they heard her. She tossed the credit into the air towards them.

The beggars scrambled to catch it, shoving at each other. In their frenzy, the credit slipped by them and fell to the ground. Rhyska glanced at Carth who shook his head and holstered his blasters. They were about to step away from the two men when the shorter man stood, clutching the credit to him. His friend looked a little disgruntled at losing the credit, but was a little less hostile when short beggar chortled, "Credits, my brother! Now we can eat!"

"Hush, fool! Not so loud. You don't want anyone stealing our credits, do you? We must hide it."

The shorter beggar was nodding emphatically when the voice of a young girl cried out angrily, "Not again! How can you two shame us so? Get out of here!"

The beggars cagily eyed the girl running towards them and scurried off before she could reach them. Rhyska and Carth watched the whole thing, bemused. The girl was young, still in her teens. Her dark hair was twisted into dreadlocks that fell to the middle of her back. She was pale and gaunt. Her dark, round eyes were the most overwhelming feature in her heart-shaped face. Her threadbare and patched-up, greenish tunic hung off her small frame in such a way that Rhyska was tempted to give the girl a good feeding. Yet, despite living in what looked to be a less than pleasant environment, the girl's eyes sparkled with curiosity and excitement. When she reached them, she smiled sheepishly. "I'm awful sorry about that. I should have kept a better watch on the elevator. Most of the outcasts down here are good people, but those two are newly cast down and don't know better yet."

Carth gave her a small smile and said, "I've no doubt that there's a lot of really good people down here, miss. It's just too bad that particular welcoming committee is the first to greet your visitors. Sort of leaves a bad first impression."

Rhyska watched as the girl's face fell. Shaking her head, she smacked Carth in the shoulder. "Public relations really isn't your strong suit, is it? Are you trying to make her cry?"

"I didn't mean it like that," Carth insisted. "I was just saying…"

Rhyska rolled her eyes at him and turned back to the girl. "Please excuse us. We're not from around here. The one with his foot in his mouth is Carth and I'm Rhyska. And you are…"

"My name is Shaleena," the girl said hesitantly. "He's right though. If I'd kept a closer eye on the elevator they wouldn't have bothered you. Visitors from the Upper City are rare, but more visitors have passed through our village in the last few days than the whole of this past year."

"That many, huh?" Carth flashed Rhyska a worried look.

"You're from above, aren't you? I bet compared to this place, it's beautiful." Rhyska couldn't help but notice that Shaleena looked a bit starry-eyed when she murmured that last part.

"Looks are deceiving," Rhyska muttered.

"What?" Shaleena blinked in confusion.

"Yes, the Upper City is quite nice. The people, not so much," Carth clarified.

"Oh…" Shaleena still seemed a little confused by their answers, but smiled brightly non-the-less. "I was born down here so I've never seen the sun, the sky, or the stars, but I'm sure they are wonderful."

"Well, now I'd have to agree with you there. The stars are pretty," Rhyska began. "You mentioned that quite a few people have come through here."

Shaleena nodded. "Men in bronzed armor were the first to come down the elevator. They didn't say so, but it seemed like they were searching for something. They spoke with our leader and then they went into the Under City. Groups of them have been coming in and out for days now. A group of mercenaries came down an hour or so before you did. They didn't ask Gendar any questions. They just headed straight for the Under City."

Rhyska smiled—Shaleena was being very helpful. If the upper city crowd had been half as helpful, they'd have found Baz by now. "Would your leader know anything about escape pods crashing into the Under City?"

"Gendar would know more about them. He knows everything that goes on in our village. Even if the mercenaries didn't speak to him, I'm sure he knows who they are."

"Fantastic," Carth said, turning on the charm. "If it's not too much trouble, could you take us to Gendar? We're a little pressed for time and you've been such a great guide."

Shaleena blushed at Carth's compliment and stuttered, "Of course. Just follow me."

As they followed Shaleena, Rhyska began asking questions about the life in the Under City. "What can you tell us about your village?"

"Well, I was born here. My parents were banished to the Under City many years ago. Like most of the ones banished here, they don't like to talk about why. Life is rough down here, but we survive."

"So basically everyone here is an outcast or a descendant of one," Carth said softly. "That's harsh."

Shaleena smiled sadly. "It's easier for me and the ones born down here, since we've never known anything different. Some, like the two you met at the elevator, have become bitter, but most of us are good people despite what our ancestors may have done."

"You are awesome," Rhyska stated with an encouraging smile.

With a grin, Shaleena began pointing out different places in the small camp. At the edge of the camp, was a gated wall that separated the village from the Under City. Between the elevator and the fence colored tents gathered together in little groups around the city. Off the path from the elevator was a healer's station and what looked to be a holding pen. At the center of the camp, Shaleena pointed out a smarmy-looking character. "That's Igear, he's our trader. If you trade with him, you must watch him. He's not always honest."

Rhyska tilted her head to the side and murmured, "It couldn't hurt to see what he's got." Not waiting for an answer from either Carth or Shaleena, she walked over to the beady-eyed little trader. His little encampment was cluttered with salvage of all kinds, boxes stacked haphazardly all over.

Like most of the outcasts wandering about, Igear had noticed her long before she had noticed him. He pointed to her and said, "You're from Upper Taris, ain't ya?" With a greedy smile, he deduced, "Loaded with credits I bet."

Shaleena came to stand beside Rhyska and warned him, "Igear, you better trade fairly with them or Gendar will know about it."

"Oh, yes," Igear sneered. "Run and tell Gendar! You always do!"

Shaleena's bright and sunny personality faded and was replaced by a look of intense dislike. "Good thing she's not armed," Rhyska thought to herself.

"You sure you wanna deal with this guy? He looks as slippery as a slug," Carth warned her. "I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him."

Looking at Carth, she replied sarcastically, "You think?"

"This is my salvage shop," Igear said in an oily voice. "Unless you feel like taking the elevator back up, you'll be doin' business with me."

Rhyska eyed him narrowly. "Well, seeing as we've got a schedule to keep, I suppose I will be doing business with you. Got any antidotes or medpacks?"

Igear rubbed his hands and pretended to think about his answer. "Let me see if I have any in stock."

While he searched his boxes for antidotes and medpacks, Rhyska tried fishing for some information. "Out of curiosity, how are you able to run a store down here in the Under City?"

Igear looked up abruptly, but quickly turned his face back to the task at hand as he answered her question. "The other villagers bring me their useful salvage and sometimes I trade with the members of the lower city gangs."

"Gangs, huh?" Rhyska picked up a broken component from a nearby box and fiddled with it. Igear hurriedly brought her his small supply of medpacks and antidotes.

"Break it and you buy it," he hissed.

Rhyska quirked a brow at him and tossed the component back to him. "So when you say you trade with the gangs—are you really saying that you trade with the Vulkars?"

Igear watched her with wary black eyes. He flicked his gaze between her and Shaleena, who had crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot impatiently. Rhyska could tell he was mentally weighing the consequences of his answer. With one last look at Shaleena he admitted, "We can't afford to be picky. Besides, they always check to see if I've got what they need before heading to the surface. I usually trade for medpacks, food, but occasionally when I get in the really good salvage, the gangs will pay me with credits."

"So, how often do they come down the elevator?" Carth asked.

Shaleena frowned pensively. "I've never seen any of the Vulkars use the elevator. When I see them, they come from the village gate, from somewhere in Under City."

"Bah! I'm not interested in how they get here, I only care about the goods they want to trade," Igear replied flatly.

"Well, we've got some other questions." Carth stared hard at the shifty little man.

Shaking his head emphatically, Igear insisted, "Take your questions to Gendar. I trade for goods. That is all I do."

"Oh? Sounds like you and Gendar don't get along very well," Rhyska pressed.

"Gendar thinks that I should share my profits with the rest of the village, but I don't. I'm the one who runs the store. I'm the one who makes the deals. The others just bring me salvage to trade with the up-worlders," Igear ranted selfishly. "Why should they get anything?"

"Here's a thought," Rhyska began, "if they don't provide you with salvage, you won't be trading anything. You might be selfish and petty, but there has to be more to it than that."

"There is," Shaleena whispered darkly.

"Oh, all right!" Igear hissed. "Gendar caught me hoarding food packs awhile back. I thought that I could barter food for favors. With enough favors, I might have gotten people to follow me instead of him."

"We lost two people to hunger," Shaleena accused.

"They were old and near death. Who's to say that they wouldn't have passed on even with the food?"

"We'll never know," Shaleena harshly.

Avoiding Shaleena's glare, Igear finished his story. "Gendar found my hoard and made me share it. He hasn't trusted me since. He only keeps me around because of my store. Without it this village wouldn't last and he knows it."

Rhyska flashed Igear a disgusted look as she tossed him a couple of credits for the antidote packs.

"Maybe it's best you stick with minding the store," Carth suggested sarcastically. "Less complicated…"

Igear ignored their remarks and looks of revulsion. Instead, he greedily pocketed his credits, not in the least bit remorseful.

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

As they walked around, Rhyska studied the camp and the people around them. The outcasts huddled together by campfires for extra warmth, eating and talking. The few children she saw ran and played, not in the least bit hampered by their dour surroundings. The adults that walked by gazed at them warily. It was difficult to miss the hard lines in their faces. Few good things happened in the Under City, that much was obvious.

Carth nudged her, bringing her attention back to Shaleena who was directing them towards the only colorful tent in the entire encampment. "Easy way to track down who's in charge," Rhyska thought to herself. Beneath the tent, several outcasts stood by a dark-skinned man with a goatee. Like the others, he wore a rough tunic and pants. The difference between him and his people was that his gaze wasn't wary, it was piercing. Right now, those piercing eyes were set on her and Carth.

"Looks like we're the talk of the town, Carth." She nodded towards the group.

"At least they aren't armed and running us down," Carth pointed out. "I had my fill of that from the gangs in the Lower City."

Tugging on Carth's jacket sleeve, Shaleena pointed out the leader of the Outcasts. "That's Gendar right there. He'll be able to help you."

Carth smiled at her. "Well, thanks for showing us around."

"If you wander through our village later, come back and see me, okay!" Shaleena said as she walked back to the elevators.

"Count on it!" Rhyska promised with a wave.

Carth sighed impatiently. "I've got two words for you. Corellian whiskey."

"Yeah?" Rhyska said sweetly. "What. Ever. There's two words. Come on. Let's talk to the head man."

They were making their way to Gendar's tent when an elderly gentleman accosted Rhyska.

"You are from the world above! Is this the time of destiny then? Is this a portent of the salvation of my people or merely another false sign to mislead us from the path?" Rhyska went still as the old man continued to rant waving his walking stick about. "Are you the herald of prophecy, the beacon to guide us through the darkness? Or are you merely another harbinger of shattered dreams and unfulfilled promises?"

The gibbering old man was bent over with age and covered in wrinkles. Wisps of white hair barely covered his balding head and robes of dirty cream and rust hung from his bony frame. At the end of his rather colorful speech he leaned heavily on a walking stick and looked ready to keel over. Rhyska recalled Shaleena mentioning an eccentric old man named Rukil, though crazy seemed a more apt description. Despite having promised that she'd be patient if she ran into him, she couldn't stop herself from being amused by the weird old coot.

Carth eyed him warily, as though he were a bomb waiting to be set off. "How about we just pass this geezer on by."

Rhyska was just about to side step Rukil when he grabbed on to her arm and beseeched her, "Tell me what fate you will unleash upon us! Salvation or damnation?"

Rhyska tried to gently free herself from his grasp, but he clung to her arm tenaciously. Not wanting to cause a scene, Rhyska cleared her throat as the old man waited expectantly for an answer. "Pops, I don't plan on unleashing anything. I think you have me confused with someone else."

"Confused, bewildered, perplexed... Understandable, I suppose. I have lived a hundred years, but every now and then even I become confused. Perhaps I can make things more clear for you," he replied somewhat lucidly. "I am Rukil, the oldest here in the village."

"That's nice of you to offer." Patting him on the shoulder, she tried once more to slip away. "We're actually hoping to speak to Gendar. I'm sure he's around here somewhere. Sorry we bothered you."

"Wait, up-worlder!" Rukil cried grabbing a hold of Rhyska's arm once more. "I've a favor to ask of you."

Rolling her eyes, Rhyska looked at him suspiciously. "A favor? What kind of favor?"

Rukil looked at her with wide, sad eyes and spoke in a storyteller's voice, "There was a time I was honored for my wisdom, but now I am regarded as a fool. Once, we all followed the true path to the Promised Land, but my people's belief dwindled until only my apprentice believed. Now, she too is gone."

Rhyska arched a brow at Carth, her eyes pleading for a little help. Carth grinned at her and shook his head. The bantha-turd was going to let her suffer. She really didn't want to get the old guy worked up, but she wanted him off her arm more. "What true path? Is there a road in the Under City?"

Shaking his head violently, Rukil exclaimed, "No, I cannot speak of it, yet. I must be wary, careful. You might be a false savior!" Releasing her arm, he looked away from her and began muttering aloud to himself, "Dare I share my secrets with her? I think, no. Not until she has proven herself."

Taking that as her cue, she tried to make a quiet getaway. "Look at the time, I've got to go. Good luck with that thing, Pops."

She was almost out of hearing when he exclaimed abruptly, "I sent her into the Under City."

Rhyska turned back to him, frowning in confusion. "Who?"

"My apprentice, Malya. I sent her in search of—a piece of Tarisan myth. Please, up-worlder, will you help an old man? Will you seek out my apprentice the Under City? Whatever her fate, I must know what befell her."

Rhyska looked at uncertainly at Carth, who mouthed to her, Corellian whiskey, and gestured slinging back a drink. He looked thoroughly amused. Rhyska narrowed her eyes at him. The man was no help at all. Eyeing Rukil shrewdly, she asked, "What will I get for helping you?"

Rukil's eyes flickered with hope as he eagerly promised, "I will reveal all my secret knowledge to you!"

"Oh," Rhyska said weakly. "Well, that's grand." Rhyska didn't need to look at Carth to know that he was laughing at her, but at least he wasn't laughing out loud. The old geezer was crazy, but relatively harmless. She supposed if she happened to run across his apprentice then it really wouldn't be out of her way. Rhyska sighed heavily. "Tell you what, just this once, if I find anything at all of your Malta…"

"Malya," Rukil corrected.

"Whatever!" Rhyska muttered snappishly. "If I find anything of your apprentice, I'll let you know."

Rukil flashed her a partially toothless smile and cried happily, "Thank you, up-worlder!"

"Sure, pops. Now if you'll excuse us, we really need a word with your leader." With a nod, she quickly backed away from him and waved goodbye. Rukil waved vigorously back at her and then proceeded to accost yet another passerby.

Carth grinned evilly at her. "Are you sure you didn't want to spend a little more time with the old geezer? He seemed taken with you."

"Actually, he said you were more his type. Apparently he's turned on by your scruffy charm," Rhyska replied mockingly. "What is it with you and old guys, Carth?"

"You're just pissed 'cause you're losing our bet," Carth shot back. "And I until I met you, old guys had zero interest in me. So I blame you!"

"Whatever! Anyway, all he wants is for us to keep an eye out for a lost girl. If we run across her while we're out there it won't be a big thing."

"You know, I'm beginning to think you're an in-the-closet do-gooder," Carth teased.

Rhyska looked at him as though he were a few cards short of a full deck. "What?! Is this depressing environment causing you to hallucinate weird scenarios in which I am some happy-go-lucky savior? Saviors go out of their way to do—whatever it is that they do. I thought you knew me well enough to know that I do not go out of my way for anything or anybody. I'm just not that ambitious."

"I don't know. You seem pretty focused on getting off of Taris."

"You aren't?"

"It's all I think about."

Rhyska chuckled. "No, really? I won't bother thanking you for the not-so-subtle reminder. How about we talk to the head guy, all ready?"

"Lead on."

As they approached Gendar's tent the group of outcasts dispersed leaving them alone with their leader. "Greetings. I am Gendar, the leader of this village. It's rare for us to receive so many visitors in such a short span. May I ask what brings you to the Under City?"

"I'm Carth Onasi and this is Rhyska Nevar. We're looking for a friend."

"You've a friend? Roaming around in the Under City?" Gendar looked at the two of them dubiously.

"A young Twi'lek girl and a big Wookiee. Gadon Thek told us they like to run around down here. Her name is Mission and the Wookiee goes by the name of Zaalbar."

"Oh, yes," Gendar confessed. "I do not know them personally, but she and her Wookiee companion often pass through our village on their way to explore the sewers."

"The sewers, huh?" Rhyska muttered distastefully. "How do we get there?"

"There are two entrances," Gendar began, "one is in the northeast, the other to the southeast. I advise you to go heavily armed or not at all. Rakghouls are not the only creatures that dwell in the sewer. A number of foul things make their homes there."

"Of course they do," Rhyska grumbled as she double-checked the number of grenades in her pouch.

Carth held out his hand and Gendar clasped it. "Thanks for the heads-up."

Gendar smiled grimly. "Good luck to you. Where you're headed, you'll need it."

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

They walked to the end of the village where high walls came together at the entrance to the Under City. Carth's brow furrowed and his hands came to rest on his blasters as he caught sight of something that put him on guard. "Something's going down at the gate."

The source of the caterwauling was a woman who was attempting to single-handedly knock the doors of the gate down. She banged her fists against the gate and seemed to be shouting derogatory remarks at a nearby guard.

"I'm sorry, Hester. I can't do that. I told that fool husband of yours not to leave the village, but he went anyway," the guard cursed as he yanked her away from the gate.

The woman jerked away from the guard and slapped him in the face, crying defiantly, "He'll make it! If you just open the gates he'll make it!" Rushing back to the gate, she searched through the slats of the fence until she spied the figure of a man who was quickly making his way back to the village. "See! There he is! Run, Hendar! Run!"

A bearded, dark haired man staggered up to the gates and pleaded between labored breaths, "Open the gate! Quickly, there isn't much time!"

"You've led a beast back to village, Hendar. I cannot risk opening the gate now."

"Open the gate!" Hester demanded.

The guard's only reply to the woman was a stony glare.

Hester cried angrily, "If you don't open the gate, the Rakghouls will kill him!"

The guard pointed to the gate and hissed, "If I open the gate they will kill us all! Better that they take only one."

Hester's eyes welled up with tears of frustration. "You can't do this! He's right there!"

A small crowd that gathered to see what the ruckus was all about made themselves scarce at the mention of a Rakghoul coming so close to the village. Only Carth and Rhyska remained silent as they watched the woman beg the guard to open the gate.

The man called Hendar was on the other side trying to claw his way in. He was crying, though it looked like he didn't know it. Above the sounds of arguing, a feral cry rang out in the distance, startling everyone into silence. He whipped his head in the direction of the sound and brandished his staff.

Hester went pale, her eyes wide and terrified. "Rakghoul!" She spun about and settled her sights on the two of them and implored, "Up-worlders, please. Don't let him die out there like that."

Rhyska took in the brown curly hair in disarray and the messy green colored tunic she wore. No armor and no weapons save what they constructed from the rubble of the Under City. These people just weren't equipped to deal with Rakghouls or anything else for that matter. Rhyska glanced at Carth who remained silent but for the look on his face which translated into "Your call." She flashed him an irritated look. "How come it's always my decision?"

The guard looked from Hester to Rhyska and Carth and spat incredulously, "You really think those up-worlders are going to help you, Hester? No one in this village is stupid enough to go up against a Rakghoul and no one from the surface is going to care if another one of us drops dead!"

Rolling her eyes, Rhyska hollered, "For crying out loud! Open the blasted gates! If you weren't so busy being irritating you could have let the idiot in all ready and re-secured the gate."

Carth slung his blasters out of his holsters and whisper with a sly grin, "Well, well. Look's like someone's a soft touch!"

"Oh, stow it! It's not like we weren't on our way out anyhow," Rhyska shot back irritably. As she drew her vibroblade, she bellowed once more, "Hey! I said open up!"

The guard looked as if he'd swallowed a bug. "You'd risk your lives for an outcast?!"

"Yeah, so open the gate before the guy gets eaten already."

The guard stared dumbfounded at the two of them for a moment before signaling the other gate guards. "We're locking the gates right behind you. I meant what I said. I cannot let a Rakghoul pass through these gates."

"Sure, buddy," Carth replied archly. "That part we got just fine."

"Just open the gates!" Rhyska gave the gate a swift kick to make her point.

On the other side of the gate, Hendar started screaming, signaling his impending doom as a silvery beast bounded over to him, swinging its talons. Hendar tried to beat it back with his staff, but was knocked on to the ground. The Rakghoul pinned him and sank his claws into Hendar's shoulders. Hendar screamed in pain and fear, "Get it off me! Get it off!"

The gate swung open and Hester screamed for Hendar. Rhyska and Carth raced out of the village towards the Rakghoul. Carth opened fire on the beast and Rhyska came up along side it and slashed at its flank. The Rakghoul roared. Black scorch marks trailed up and down its torso as Carth continued to blast it, a purple liquid oozing out of the wound Rhyska had created.

Rhyska heard the gate swing closed as the guard locked the outcast village down. Behind her Carth shouted, "Get him clear!"

The Rakghoul ignored the two of them and continued to snap at Hendar who had shoved his staff into the Rakghoul's mouth to keep the beast from biting him. Rhyska cut into the Rakghoul's leg, aiming for the flesh behind what used to be its knees and hit a nerve. The Rakghoul howled in pain as Rhyska severed muscle and tendons.

Forgetting Hendar, the beast lunged at her. Rhyska backed away. The Rakghoul slashed at her arm, forcing her to drop her vibroblade.

Crying out in pain, she backpedaled further away ducking from the Rakghoul's blows.

The gash she had dealt the Rakghoul had crippled its leg, slowing it down; giving Hendar a chance to scramble for the gate while Carth continued to blast away. Rhyska grimaced as its claws grazed her shoulder, forcing her to jump back.

The Rakghoul moved towards her, attempting to pounce. Rhyska grabbed a hold of both of its arms and fell backwards, taking the Rakghoul with her.

In the few seconds it took for her back to touch the ground, she used the beast's forward momentum to plant her feet firmly on its belly and rocked it's lower body upwards. She propelled the Rakghoul up and over, flinging it away from her. Not bothering to get up, Rhyska grabbed her blaster and twisted into a kneeling position, blasting the dazed monster.

Dashing up to where she knelt on the ground, Carth fired a pulse shot directly at the Rakghoul's head. With a final keening moan the beast shuddered and fell over dead.

Rhyska breathed heavily as she stared at the mutant corpse. Carth walked slowly over to it and kicked it with his foot.

"Is it dead?" Rhyska panted.

"I don't know." Carth poked and prodded at it. "It's not breathing—I think."

Getting up Rhyska picked up her vibroblade and walked over to where he stood. She studied the hulking pearlescent beast whose skin was riddled with cauterized char marks from blaster fire. She ran a finger over the pearlescent skin and found it to be slimy and moist. It smelled rank, causing Rhyska to wonder if this particular Rakghoul had just come from the sewers. Her eyes traveled to it's three pronged claws and feet, the strange hunch on it's back, and it's odd collection of wiry black spikes of hair that seemed out of place amidst the pearly bald skin of it's head.

"How's your arm? You sure you want to be touching that thing?" Carth kept his blasters trained on the brute as he watched her crouch over it.

"The arm's fine. Nothing a little trip to the healers and a medpack won't fix and no I don't want to touch it, but I need to know more about this thing." Rhyska slid her hand to its incisor filled maw and stared at the unblinking pair of black eyes and the third wide, milky eye in the center of it's forehead. As she turned its head to the side to inspect the damage that Carth's pulse blast did to the Rakghoul, it's jaw loosened and Rhyska could see tell tale sacks on the roof of the creature's mouth. "Venom sacs."

"Venom?" Carth leaned in for a closer look and wrinkled his nose at the smell.

"They said a bite from this thing mutates people, right?" Gingerly, she shifted the Rakghoul's head for a better view into its mouth.

"According to the doc," Carth added, looking a little green. "That is completely disgusting!"

She ignored his last comment and pointed to the sacs. "Well, that's probably the juice that does it." Closing its mouth, she studied its face and wondered aloud, "It's got three eyes, but I don't know what the third's for. Maybe heat-seeking?"

"How do you figure that?"

"You see any lights anywhere besides the village? Plus, it's freezing down here. There's no light, no warmth. Things that hunt in the night either can see in the dark or read heat signatures. Both are a problem for us. I don't know about you, but I can't see in the dark. These mutants are fast and strong. Not very smart, but they don't have to be if there's enough of them."

"What are you saying?"

Looking at Carth, she stood and wiped her slimy hands on the legs of her body suit with a grimace. "I'm saying that this is not going to be a walk in the park. We need to take them out before they reach us."

Carth grinned. "Blasters it is."

"Blasters and grenades," Rhyska corrected him happily.

"You'd add grenades to everything if you could," Carth muttered as he began inspecting the wounds on her arm. "Come on. Let's get back into the village. We need to get you patched up. I can't believe you tussled with that thing."

"Not like I had much choice!"

They turned to find the village gates open and Hendar leaning on Hester for support.

Though he was pale underneath his olive complexion, Hendar looked relieved to be alive. "You saved my life. Thank you."

Hester pulled him closer to her. "Come on, you big lug. Let's go home."

Before turning to leave, Hester smiled at Rhyska and Carth. "Thank you."

"Sure thing." Carth nodded to the couple. Turning to Rhyska, he said, "Let's head for the healer's station. You need to get those cuts looked at."

Rhyska was about to follow Carth when she heard movement. Carth went still beside her, hearing the noise as well.

"You hear that?" Carth asked, slinging his blasters out once more. He scanned the desolate expanse of the Under City for movement, but saw nothing.

Rhyska pulled out her own blaster and closed her eyes, listening for the noise she heard earlier.

"Must be our imaginations working overtime." Carth lowered his blasters.

Rhyska's brow furrowed as something rustled just ahead to the left of them.

Carth raised his blasters and hissed, "Wishful thinking on my part. Something's out there, Nevar!"

"Hush," Rhyska whispered as she opened her eyes. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness beyond the area the outcast village lit up and still she saw nothing. Another sound reached her ears. Frowning, she asked, "Do you hear crying?"

Carth shook his head. "I heard movement."

Rhyska couldn't see anything moving in the dark and suddenly an idea hit her. She looked at the ground for any signs of disturbance. She moved forward slowly as she scanned the barren earth of the Under City.

"Are you crazy?!" Carth hissed as he inched behind her, blasters at the ready. "Where the hell are you going?"

Rhyska didn't bother to answer as the sound and the crying became more obvious. The sounds of a feet making contact with the ground filled her head. Pointing her blaster upwards and away from the sound, she found what she was looking for. An invisible presence stepped forward and left an imprint of small feet in the loose soil. Behind the imprint was a trail of foot prints running from something, or maybe towards her. Rhyska was unsure until she heard a sharp intake of breath and a sob as the invisible presence lunged forward.

"Look out!" Carth cried as he trained his blasters on the sound rushing towards them.

Running forward in the path of Carth's blasters, Rhyska opened up her arms as a person shimmered into view, the concealing stealth field deactivating. A familiar blue Twi'lek ran into Rhyska's open arms. "Don't blast me!"

"Mission?" Carth exclaimed in disbelief as he trained his blasters skyward. Mission clung to Rhyska who wrapped her arms around the sobbing teen and murmured softly to her, "It's okay, Mission. Everything's gonna be okay."

Looking at a very surprised Carth, Rhyska shrugged. "Well, at least she saved us the trouble of looking for her."

Author Note: As always, many thanks to BrynNevan and Lady Vaguely. To all the lovely people that enjoy the story so far, feel free to flame or praise, as the mood suits you. Constructive, of course. Let me know how I'm doing.