A scout around
- Mission Vao -
It was boring being trapped in the 'Hawk. We'd just spent weeks all cooped up together in hyperspace, and now that we'd actually landed I was eager to have a scout around.
But Big Z was following me like a bristling overgrown guard. I mean, sheesh, I'd promised to stay behind and not to go to the Academy of Evil, but surely a look around Dreshdae wouldn't be that dangerous. I'd even take Zaalbar along, if he wasn't such a noticeable, hairy pain in the behind.
"(Mission, you can help me with this,)" Zaalbar suggested from his customary place by the repair bay. He was holding a handful of dissembled armour plates in a furry paw. I wrinkled my nose at him.
"No way. I mean, no offense Big Z, but I'd rather go talk to Bastila." My eyes caught on the blue and white exoskeleton I'd purchased from Canderous; Zaalbar had laid it in his completed pile. I jumped off the bench I'd been lounging on and moved to pick it up.
"(You should be nicer to her, Mission, she's been through a lot lately,)" Zaalbar reproved.
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered absently, picking it up. Sturdy, and lighter now that Zaalbar had removed some of the panelling to resize it, it might just end up being perfect. I struggled to fit it on, and Zaalbar walked over to help.
"(The fit might be loose,)" Zaalbar worried, and he connected the automatic clasps at the side. I felt the armour shrink to fit around my waist. "(It is made for a human male after all, but I think it will do.)"
I brightened, taking a few exploratory steps. "I'm not used to the weight, but I'll give it a go. Thanks, Big Z!"
I headed towards the central common room, trialling the armour and eager for some company. Carth was there, sipping a cup of caffa and appearing highly amused as Bastila paced in circles, muttering under her breath. He quirked an eyebrow as I entered.
"Nice get-up, Mission," he said drily. A frown crossed his face. "Hey, isn't that Calo Nord's old armour?"
"Yeah, Big Z fixed it up for me." I spun around, flexing my shoulders. "Not sure about it yet, though. What's up with her?" I jerked a thumb in Bastila's direction; she had slumped against the durasteel wall. Shadows smudged bruises under her eyes, which drifted closed.
"Something about Canderous, Jen, and a duel," Carth commented, placing his cup down on the chrome bench. A flash of irritation crossed his face.
"Huh. Nothing out of the ordinary then," I said, expecting a knowing grin from him but he just looked further annoyed. I glanced over to the Jedi again, who was still leaning against the wall. There were hollows in her cheeks, and she looked like she'd lived through a famine. I wasn't sure who appeared worse these days, her or Jen, whose patchwork of facial bruising might finally get a chance to heal if she'd stop challenging that old Mandalorian geezer.
"Bastila," Carth called, "You look like you're going to fall asleep there. Maybe you should think about retiring?"
She opened tired eyes, and seemed to notice me for the first time. "Hello Mission," she said in greeting, with a forced smile. Maybe I'm too hard on her. "Perhaps you are right, Carth. I think I shall lie down for a moment, at least until the others return."
"And I'm gonna go for a walk," I said breezily as Bastila slowly left the room. I pulled at the side of the armour. It wasn't totally comfortable, but the thought of being Force-resistant was super-awesome. Especially on Korriban. That'd make it safe enough to have a scout around, right?
"A walk? A walk where?"
"Sheesh," I snapped, turning around to glare at him. "Why is everyone on my tail all of a sudden?"
Carth raised his hands in surrender. "Sorry, Mission, but I don't fancy having Zaalbar breathe down my neck when he notices you missing."
I folded my arms, wrinkling my nose in irritation even while I conceded his point. No one liked having to deal with a grumpy seven foot Wookiee, although I was sure he wouldn't hurt Carth too bad.
I brightened as a thought occurred to me. "Maybe you could wear a visor and a hat, or something, and come out too? Big Z won't mind if someone else is with me, y'know." Carth wasn't all that bad. And humans all looked the same, surely no one would recognize him with a little bit of effort on our part.
Carth grinned wryly. "You can probably convince me, Mission. If Zaalbar's alright with it-"
"He's my friend, not my mother!- "
"-and when Canderous is back." Carth spoke over me. "I don't like leaving the Ebon Hawk empty. I don't trust those shifty Czerka dock workers, and Bastila's too well known, and too hurt." The familiar look of mistrust creased his brow.
I rolled my eyes. "Fine, I'll just go look around the docking bay then."
"Okay… I'll just wait by the loading ramp then." He was back to sounding amused.
I stuck my tongue out at him and stalked out of the ship, muttering under my breath. Why does no one trust me these days? I know I snuck out on Tatooine after promising Bastila I wouldn't, but that was only 'cause she was being such a bossy snot. I unlocked the main hatch and jumped off the ramp to the grilled floor below. Landing on the balls of my feet, I absorbed the impact with minimal sound. I used to make a game of it, back on Taris, jumping from duct to platform as silently as possibly.
I surprised a Trandoshan dressed in a white Czerka shirt, who stumbled back from the 'Hawk with his hands outstretched. It looked like he'd been inspecting the line number embossed on the side of the hull. Not that it was ship specific, and I was sure Carth had checked any registration numbers had already been scored off long ago, but still. Sneaky little gorg.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded. "I'm pretty sure we dealt with all the paperwork when we landed."
"(Just a customary check of docked ships!)" he pleaded unconvincingly, turning around to make a hasty retreat. His steps were fast, and direct to the exit hatch.
"Stay away from our ship, ronto-breath!" I hollered after him as Carth's footsteps clattered down the loading ramp.
"Czerka Corporation," Carth muttered from behind me. "About as corrupt as the Exchange, but at least with the Exchange you know where you stand."
"What d'ya think he wanted?" I asked, frowning. The door to the colony swished closed behind the shady dockworker.
"Who knows?" Carth sighed. "We've paid upfront to dock our ship for ten days in an individual landing bay. Maybe that's enough to warrant curiosity. Maybe the signature Teethree programmed doesn't quite match up. Stang, maybe he was just looking to see if the Ebon Hawk was empty and he could pinch something."
Well, I couldn't judge that too harshly, I thought, my fingers twitching. I took a few more steps, well aware that Carth wasn't leaving his watchful position from the ship. I scowled, and had a long look around the bay. Tomorrow, I'll sneak out.
The dock was pretty standard really, an open air walled-in area with a refuelling gig on the side that was currently empty. But it wasn't that long ago when I'd never been off-planet. I'd never even been in a docking bay before. It was amazing how, after a few planets, the awe wore off.
The bay itself was large, suited for vessels even bigger than the Ebon Hawk, and we'd paid for privacy. Our ship's computer had been loaded with an account full of credits from the Republic when we left Manaan – which was good, really, 'cause other than me and my swoop winnings, everyone else had been flat broke.
The air had a funny taste to it and I wrinkled my nose, glancing over to the dock door that would grant entrance into the fully enclosed colony. A terminal by the exit caught my eye and I scampered over, noting that the armour didn't slow me down. I tapped a few keys to access the public HoloNet, disabling audio output and making a face at the mandatory Czerka adverts taking up half the screen.
I could get Teethree out here, to hack into the system and see what he can do. My slicing skills didn't usually let me down, but they were nothing on a droid as spec'd as Teethree. Maybe, just maybe, he might be able to find something about these mystical Star Maps.
xXx
"Mission," Jen said in greeting, as her and Juhani entered the docking bay some time later. "What are you and Teethree doing?"
I grimaced. My neck ached from bending over the console, and my throat was sore. I blamed it on the weird smell – it wasn't as bad as parts of the Lower City had been, but the stench of refuse and unwashed sentient didn't grate against your throat the way Korriban's air did. "Information gathering. Not doing very well though. How'd you guys go?"
"Let's go inside to talk," she replied, tilting her heard towards the ship. Juhani nodded in greeting to me, but said nothing. I rolled my shoulders, which had tensed up a bit, unaccustomed to the weight of the exoskeleton, and spotted Carth still lounging by the entrance ramp. Yikes, he's got some serious staying power. We've been here for ages! Or maybe he really is scared of Zaalbar. I stuck my tongue out at him as we passed, and he shot me a very dry look.
"Is Bastila asleep?" Jen queried once we were inside, and the hatch was firmly closed and locked behind us. She sounded like she already knew the answer.
"Yep," I answered, skipping ahead of her deeper into the ship.
"Hey," she called out behind me. "Isn't that Calo Nord's exoskeleton?"
"Far out," I said in frustration, "Canderous loots it and no one cares. Now it's like the hottest topic of conversation." Next I fully expected Teethree to grill me on it, if Bastila didn't beat him to it.
"No, it's just that – doesn't it have some sort of neural Force resistance?
I stopped, frowning, and turned to face her in the 'Hawk's main corridor. It was an ugly ship really, dull durasteel plating running through the entirety of the vessel without any form of decoration to break up the industrial look. That surprised me - it used to be that creep Davik's ship, and I remembered the flamboyant clothes he always wore. I wondered idly if I should do something to spruce the place up a bit.
"Canderous'd said it'd protect from the Force using cortosis, whatever that is."
She tilted her head, a frown creasing her face as she stared at me intently. "Cortosis only stops 'sabers, that's why some vibroblades can block them," she murmured absently. "There's something about it… Mission, can I try something?"
"Sure," I said brightly. "I trust you."
Jen froze at that, before a dull red colour rose in her cheeks. I realized what I'd said, then, and that it was true – even after what had happened in Manaan. I smiled at her. "The past is in the past, right?" I said softly. "You're back with us and I just know you won't do something like that again."
Her eyes widened, and a wondering look crossed her face. "Thank you, Mission," she said very softly. "I'll endeavour to be worthy of that." Concentration chased away the emotion, and she raised her hand, palm out. I felt a vague pressure around my middle, pressing inwards, before it dissipated.
"Interesting," she murmured. "I wonder what it is. It offers some defense. I wouldn't trust it as invulnerability against Dark Jedi though, it has its limits, and only protects against direct attacks at your torso."
Juhani had poked her head into the corridor, shooting Jen an inquiring look. Jen grinned, dropped her hand, and motioned me onwards.
Carth and Zaalbar were waiting for us in the centre of the ship, and as I moved to sit next to my furry friend, I heard an ominous rumble from his stomach. Hungry again. We'd better get him something before he gets grouchy. I know what he's like when he doesn't get his ten square meals a day. And none of us were fans of that regurgitated gloop from the 'Hawk's kitchenette, not even Zaalbar, who'd been known to eat refried bantha kidneys.
"So, what's this I hear about a fight?" Carth asked Jen as she found a seat. The common room was pretty crowded with us all in there, and we didn't even have Bastila or Canderous in attendance.
She grimaced. "Canderous had a bit of history come up. We'll sort it."
"You don't think we need to stay focussed on our mission?" his voice was pretty mild, neutral even, but I could see a flare of irritation in Jen's bright eyes.
"Not you, too," she muttered. "Look, Canderous is one of our crew. If I can help him-"
"He's a merc, Jen. You've heard him, he only cares about payment-"
"Yet he's been there for both Star Maps," she countered, voice low and serious. "And found us a way off Taris. He's been a pretty large part of things, whether he claims it's just a job or not."
I saw Carth pause at that, considering her words. I mean, I wasn't that sure about Canderous either, but the gruff Mandalorian didn't seem all that bad. Even if he did get pissy when I called him an old geezer. "I reckon Jen's got a point, Carth. I mean, we're all part of the same team, y'know. We should look out for one another."
I spotted Juhani looking at me with a weird expression on her face. I'd never really spoken much to her; she'd kept herself apart and seemed disinterested in anyone who wasn't a Force user. She was so quietly intense, and my first meeting with her hadn't exactly laid the foundations for a good relationship between us.
Juhani was smiling at my words, a small but hopeful smile, and I wondered whether I'd had her pegged wrong from the start. Maybe she's just shy. Shy, and scared. With the Dark Side experiences her and Jen'd had, I could understand that. I beamed exuberantly at her, and she blinked in surprise.
Carth sighed, nodding at me before glancing back over to Jen. "You're right, both of you. We are a team – not the ones the Jedi Council would've picked, but we're doing better than the Endar Spire ever did. I might just have to overcome my disillusionment of Mandalorians."
Jen snickered at that, but Juhani was nodding solemnly. "I, too, have reason to dislike Mandalorians, but Canderous has proven himself to be a worthy warrior. All of us… all of us, together, have come so far already."
Carth coughed. "Yes, well, speaking of that – what did you find out so far?"
Jen grimaced, lifting dusty boots to rest atop the table. Carth gave her feet a pointed look and she rolled her eyes. "You do know this isn't your ship, right flyboy?"
"I'm the pilot," he countered drily. "I figure that gives me some leverage to lay down ground rules. No feet on tables."
She looked decidedly unimpressed, but swung her feet down regardless. "Okay, so there's a Dark Jedi master in the cantina – she's a sort of recruiter. We have to accomplish set tasks to prove ourselves "worthy" enough to enter the Academy. Or, if we open the door we're automatically admitted."
"Open the door?" I cut in. "How hard can that be?"
"Brute strength ain't gonna do it," Jen said wryly. "I tried. I'm picking that some dark use of the Force will open them, but I really don't want to go down that path. Not… not anymore."
"We are strong enough to find another way," Juhani said softly. "The path we follow… it is the right one, and we will hold true to it."
"Yes," Jen echoed. "We will. I will, this time."
Carth was gazing at Jen with something like respect on his face.
"Well, I did a bit of digging with Teethree's help," I beamed at the little fella, and he beeped a jaunty tone at me. "Couldn't find anything on the Star Maps, but d'ya know the Academy hasn't been here long? Like, only a handful of years."
"Really?" Jen questioned. "Are you sure, Mission? I thought Korriban's Sith history trailed back centuries-"
"Oh yeah, it's always been a favourite spot of creepy Sith Lords." I wrinkled my nose in distaste. "It's like their burial ground or something. There's about a dozen tombs at least on this dead rock."
"The Force feels darker here," Juhani murmured, with a faraway look in her eyes. She shivered. "There is something twisted about its feel. I do not like it."
"But there've been other Academies before this one. Like, there was one built deep into the shyrack caves, that's abandoned now because of these poisonous rancors called taretaks- no, teranteks- um,- "
"Terentateks," Jen whispered. Her face had turned a hideous grey colour. Juhani breathed in audibly and stepped to her side. The feeds I'd skimmed through about them sounded horrid; like, honestly, the most warped, dangerous type of monster in the galaxy. But it wasn't as if there was one right here in the ship with us, so there was no need for that ugly drawn look on Jen's face.
"Force warped rancors," Juhani said softly. "They are drawn to Force sensitives."
"And they feed off them," Jen shuddered, closing her eyes. Slowly, the colour returned to her face. She's seen one before. She must have, I thought in a horrified sort of awe. The rancor in the Undercity had been the scariest thing I'd ever seen, and Taris was filled with all sorts of scum. But terentateks were worse, by all accounts.
"Do you- have you seen one before, Jen?" Carth asked, frowning. Not so long ago, he'd refused to believe she'd done anything in her life other than read books.
"I don't know," Jen muttered, shaking her head with her eyes squeezed shut. "Doesn't seem possible, does it. That rancor down in the sewers was bad enough."
"(These caves do not sound like a place to visit,)" Zaalbar howled. I could hear the despair in his voice. I knew, even if I'd never admit it, that I sometimes took slightly more risks than maybe was necessary, but we'd never been so close to death as in the sewers. That had been the turning point, then. Jen, throwing herself in danger to save our lives. Big Z, swearing his weird Wookiee life debt.
I blinked suddenly, feeling my eyes turn a little moist. Jen was back, and she was with us, no matter what happened on Manaan. Right. Time to get back on track.
"Traders go through the caves all the time," I said, forcing my voice to be light and cheery. "It's a common route to a small mining camp on the other side of the mountains. As long as they stick to the southern tunnels, away from the ruins, then they're usually okay. Unless a Force user enters, or even someone with a little sensitivity – then those monsters come out and eat everything." I glanced over to Jen, giving her my best I'm serious look. "Don't go there, Jen."
"Wasn't planning to," Jen replied, grimacing. "Yuthura suggested we track down a group of runaways who'd headed that direction. We'll give that a miss. Although, Mission, you mentioned ruins?" She frowned at me, and I nodded in response.
"Yeah, there's some tombs and ruins of a really old school deeper in the caves. Well past the trade route. Seems like this creepy planet is the resting place for every dead Sith guy."
Jen looked over at Juhani, a considering look crossing her face. Carth watched the unspoken communication between the two, frowning. "You're thinking the Star Map might be there," he said slowly.
I could feel myself getting worried. Sometimes, I could still see the rancor if I closed my eyes, saliva dripping from it's sharp, rotting teeth. Its breath was ten times worse than a hungry Wookiee's. So much for not going there. But what if the Star Map really was in the shyrack caves? Maybe… maybe then it'd be better if the non-Force users went there. Now there was a thought.
"I don't know what's more likely," Jen admitted. "The tombs on the other side of the Academy, or the tombs in the shyrack caves. We just don't know enough about the area yet."
"I believe our best chance is still to enter the Academy," Juhani said softly. "We may find more information there. I do not believe we should face terentateks unless we have a compelling reason to."
Jen was silent for a minute, before sighing and nodding firmly. "Right. So back to either locating Yuthura's mysterious guest, or finding a way past Mekel."
"Mekel?" Carth queried.
"A Sithling guarding the Academy. He's got a couple of hopefuls standing to attention until they drop of exhaustion."
"Nice, what a sweet guy," Carth replied sarcastically. "He should get the Sith congeniality medal."
"Yeah," Jen sighed. "Welcome to Korriban."
xXx
The following day Jen had stuck around for as long as her patience would allow, before conceding that Bastila wasn't waking any time soon. We could all see how desperate Jen was to speak to the Jedi, which I didn't really understand. Don't they chat all the time in each others' minds?
Carth was seeing them off the 'Hawk while I trailed behind. I couldn't spot the Cathar, but the other two had halted on the loading ramp.
"I'm glad you came back," Carth was saying, standing close to Jen at the 'Hawk's exit. His voice sounded a bit forced.
"Yeah. So am I," she replied neutrally.
"Doesn't mean I've forgiven you for what you've done," he muttered, and while his words were accusing his expression was certainly not.
"I'll work on that," she replied, a wry look on her face. "I can't take it back, Carth, but I'm doing my damnedest to do what's right, now."
"I can see that," he agreed, his eyes intent upon her. "I don't like being here, on Korriban, with you two going out by yourselves… but you've proven you can take care of yourself. Just… just stay true to the mission, okay? Don't do anything you don't have to."
She glanced back at him, this time a small smile playing along her lips. "I hear you, flyboy. I'll be good."
Somehow, the conversation sounded weirdly private despite being out in the open docking bay, so I stayed some steps behind, uncertain whether to wish Jen farewell or silently retreat.
"Don't you think you should take a communicator?" Carth asked, gesturing to his wrist. "Doesn't it make sense to stay in touch? If things go belly up we may have to make a quick getaway."
Jen seemed to think that over, before shaking her head. "I'm not sure that's a good idea. If we're playing at being prospective students, then we don't want to show any outward ties to others. A communication link to our crew is a little suspicious. And remember, I can talk to Bastila. When she wakes, that is." She frowned. "If Canderous returns, tell him we're planning to be back tonight."
An irritated look crossed Carth's face. "What's between you and Canderous?" His words were abrupt, annoyed. I felt my eyebrows rise in disbelief. Whoa, Jen and Canderous? That'd just be kinda strange, and a bit gross. That'd explain all the fighting, though. Humans were weird.
"What do you mean?" she asked, throwing him a puzzled frown.
He was shifting uncomfortably. "Look, Canderous seems to hold everyone in the same regard – a sort of callous disrespect. Apart from you."
"He's a Mandalorian," came the dry reply. Jen was quirking an eyebrow, and looked highly amused. "They like anyone who can give them a fight."
Carth scowled. "And you've offered yourself up in this sort of duel-"
"I know," she sighed. "It seemed like the right thing to do at the time, and I wouldn't take it back even if I could. But there's nothing up with us, whatever you are trying to imply." I dunno, kinda sounds like denial to me.
Carth blinked; she'd surprised him somehow, and he'd started backpedalling. "I wasn't implying-"
Jen shot him a quelling look and cut in, crossing her arms. "Mandalorians aren't really my type."
"Oh?" His voice was loaded, somehow, and I was starting to feel uncomfortable, listening in. I was pretty sure they'd forgotten I was there. "I'm not sure I want to know what is."
"Well, not Republic flyboys with an awful taste in clothing." She shot a half-amused, half-derogatory glance at his jacket. She was right, though, it was pretty ugly. I almost felt bad for trashing the orange one back on Manaan.
"Hey!" Carth looked affronted. "What's wrong with my jacket?"
Jen laughed, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Carth, it's puke green. Honestly. Couldn't you find anything better in Davik's cast-offs?" Her grin was impish, even under his mock glare. "It's not really your colour, you know." She paused, and appeared to be holding in more laughter. "I don't think it's anyone's colour."
"I didn't realize Jedi were such critics of fashion," Carth replied drily, loosing a chuckle himself.
That comment earned him a frown. "I can't call myself that. But- but I certainly won't name myself a Sith, I can promise you that."
"Good," he said softly, his eyes intent on her. "After Tatooine and Manaan… well. Good."
Jen's eyes landed on me then, further back in the shadows, and she took a step backwards, an inscrutable look fixed on her face. "See you later, Carth, Mission." She turned and exited.
Carth turned to spot me in the hallway, and stepped back inside, before locking the 'Hawk's exit hatch behind him.
I folded my arms and stared at him. "You haven't forgiven her, huh?" He'd said that, but the conversation certainly hadn't sounded like it.
"Have you?" he returned, frowning at me. "Betrayal… I've had a life time of it. I don't trust easily, and when it's broken…"
"I have, yeah," I said. "'Cause I don't think she really betrayed us, Carth. I don't think she was thinking straight at the time. She just wanted to run from Bastila – but she's back, now, owning up to it. I reckon we all have to give her a chance."
"I want to," he sighed. "Maybe you're right. And maybe I never really trusted her before."
"She's good at heart," I said earnestly. "Whatever happened to her in the past, whatever is between her and Bastila, I just know that Jen's one of the good guys. Her and Juhani, they struggle with the Force an' all, but they'll come through for us. Just you see."
He looked at me searchingly, his eyes soft. "You have a big heart, Mission," he said, smiling at me. "And… I'm giving her a chance. I promise."
I beamed at him. "Great. I'm gonna go help Big Z for a bit."
Carth smiled again, before turning and heading towards the cockpit. I waited silently for some time until I was certain no one would hear the exit hatch open. Now's my chance! I'd only said I'd stay behind, after all – I never said I'd stay put on the 'Hawk. Surely a little scout around couldn't be that dangerous. I'll only be gone an hour, max. They won't even notice I'm missing!
We hadn't seen Canderous back yet, and I wondered what that duel thing was all about. It kinda sounds like they're gonna kill each other. I grimaced as I slipped through the exit hatch and closed it behind me. Mandalorians are crazy.
The air was warmer and cleaner when I entered the colony, nodding amicably at the docking staff who barely noticed me waltz through. Even with browsing the HoloNet, I didn't really get whether Dreshdae was controlled by the Sith soldiers who lurked near the commercial sector, or the Czerka conglomerates who ran the docking bay and the habitation quarters. However, I was smart enough to skirt the retail plaza – Czerka, I could handle. I wasn't too keen on getting noticed by the Sith.
But I was bored, and all I really wanted to do was have a look around.
Dreshdae itself was mostly made up of living quarters – dormitories, units and suites. The dormitories were easily accessible; long rectangular rooms overrun by mercs and traders looking for a place to crash. The hallway outside reeked of bad hygiene and musty, unwashed clothes, so I strode past it silently, avoiding eye contact with any of the traders walking past. It's funny how people would leave me alone if I just looked confident and busy enough.
The map of Dreshdae had shown the more pricey suites to be located behind the apartments and Czerka reception chambers, and presumably that meant higher security. However, there were a couple hidden behind the dorms, tucked away down a long dead-end tunnel, and that engaged my curiosity. I wasn't planning on breaking in anywhere despite the tech spikes filling up my utility belt – see, I had plenty of credits, and didn't go around acquiring other people's stuff unless I needed it – but the layout of Dreshdae intrigued me, and it couldn't hurt to have a little walk around. It's not like I'd encounter any Dark Jedi there, they'd all be staying at the Academy.
I reached the corridor behind the lower-end living quarters, and there was absolutely no one around. I saw two closed durasteel doors with auto-print mechanisms – the suites, then, coded to whatever anatomy suited the species of the renter. The tunnel itself ended in a large grill that must lead to part of the colony's ducting system. I eyed it over curiously, before a chill of premonition danced a sudden tickle down my spine.
I should get outta here. It isn't safe. It was an irrational thought out of nowhere, but I was used to trusting my instincts. I spun around abruptly, noticed the corridor was still eerily empty, and took a hurried step before tripping over something that wasn't there.
I fell to the ground, gasping before scrabbling to my feet, my eyes catching that of a human boy who was leaning tensely against the cracked plasteel wall of the colony.
His dark eyes were wide, and I could tell he was just as startled as me. Where did he come from? He hadn't expected to be noticed, judging by the way he was pressed against the wall, hands flat on either side. He looked to be about my age, although I never found it that easy to tell with humans. Dressed plainly and wearing a concealing dark coat, I wondered what he was doing this side of Dreshdae.
I have him a tentative smile. "I guess you're just looking around like me, huh?"
He blinked, and I thought I'd surprised him further. I grinned and kept talking, uneasy but not wanting to either intimidate or antagonize the stranger. "I was getting bored and thought I'd take a walk around Dreshdae. Not that there's much to do around here though." I wrinkled my nose. "Honestly, this place is a bit of a dive."
He opened his mouth to say something, presumably thought better of it and shut it again. I quirked an eyebrow at him. "Are you staying in one of the suites?"
"I, uh- no, not exactly," he stammered, his eyes flicking over to one of the locked doors and a dull red blossoming on his cheeks. Ah ha, he is nosing around, just like me.
I grinned again, this time genuinely. "Me neither. I wanted to have a look around the cantina, but all those Sith soldiers kinda put me off."
His gaze flicked back to me, and now an intense look deepened the brown of them. "That's a good idea. Avoiding the plaza, I mean. Sometimes some of the students visit there, and it wouldn't be safe for a girl out by herself-"
"Hey, I can take care of myself!" I protested hotly. I could feel my lekku twitching instinctively. When would people ever take me seriously?
He blushed again, but a small smile also graced his face. "I'm sure you can. But this is Korriban." At least he didn't sound patronizing. "Where are you from?"
I looked away, feeling my eyes sting a little despite myself. My homeworld had been on my mind a lot lately. "Taris," I said, my voice barely a whisper.
"Oh!" His exclamation caused me to glance back at him. He sounded genuinely upset, and sympathy softened his further words. "I'm sorry. About- about Taris, I mean, I heard about the bombardment. My- my homeworld was bombed four years ago, so, I guess, I know how you feel."
"Thanks," I said quietly. "I was lucky, I just happened to be leaving at the time, but all the people I grew up with… I still don't know what happened to them. I have to hope they made it through, and maybe one day I'll see them again." Although I wasn't really sure I wanted to go back to Taris. I did want to see Lina again, and Gadon, and heck even Zaerdra, but going back to Taris seemed a bit like stepping back in life. I've seen and done so much since then. I feel like I've left that life behind. I wondered idly if my irresponsible brother would ever head back there or if he was still on Tatooine, searching for his next big break. I'd always love Griff, but I actually hoped I'd never see him again.
"There's nothing left for me back home," the boy said softly, but he sounded resentful rather than grieved. He was clenching his jaw.
"I wish this stupid war would just stop," I burst out. "All this murder and fighting, and its all the innocent people who get caught in the crossfire." My headtails curled around my neck and I crossed my arms defensively. "I'm sorry. I just hate all this, y'know? I wish everyone could just get along."
He had a sad smile on his face as he looked at me. "That's a fairy tale. People will never just get along. Most are inherently selfish, and will grasp for power at the expense of others. It's the only way to keep yourself safe – be stronger than the rest."
I blinked, surprised at the bitterness his words conveyed. "That's a bit jaded, don't ya think? I reckon most people are good at heart if you give them a chance."
He snorted in disbelief. "You really are naïve, aren't you? Most people would hit you up for credits – or worse – if they came across you alone in a deserted corridor."
I scowled, and let my arms drop to my hips. Wow. What a depressing outlook. "You need to get better friends if that's your view of the world." A stony look settled over his face, and I regretted that our conversation had turned sour. It was nice, actually, to talk to someone my own age, even if he was bitter. Suppose that's probably natural if you live on Korriban. "Look, I don't want to fight. Let's talk about something else, huh?"
His expression was shuttered now, but he seemed to consider my words, pushing off from the wall and shoving his hands into deep pockets. "Okay, then. Are you staying in a room somewhere?"
We were avoiding introductions, I realized. It felt wrong to give a fake name, but equally, giving out my real name was overly reckless. Jen said there would be reports of our crew. I wondered why he was avoiding it.
I shook my head in response to his question, my lekku uncurling again. "Nah, we won't be here long, and our ship's big enough. Doesn't make any sense to sleep away from it." I grimaced. "It's boring though, staying on the ship. No one will play pazaak with me anymore."
He was looking at me with an inscrutable expression, and I wondered what he did for fun. A thought hit me, and I brightened. "Hey, you don't play, do you? I'd be keen to play someone new."
"That's a gambling game with cards, right?" he queried, shifting uncomfortably. "Sorry, not really my thing." His eyes slid away from me to the ground.
I sighed. "That's a shame. What is your thing, then? What do you do for fun?"
The boy blinked, and then flushed. I wondered why in the Outer Rim he appeared so uncomfortable with everything I said. Social skills weren't high on the priority list of Dreshdae inhabitants, obviously. "I, uh, not much, really," he finally stammered.
"Not much?" Sheesh, he doesn't give anything away about himself, does he? His clothes and bearing were nondescript, like he wanted to fade into the crowd. And he'd been completely unnoticeable before, unless I missed the tell-tale sign of a stealth field generator. But they were easy to spot, and I could swear there had been nothing in the corridor. Ten credits he's been snooping in some of those suites. I could feel my curiosity, which had waned, spark once more back to life.
"Well, back home sometimes I used to sneak out to the swoop track," he muttered, looking away as his cheeks flushed. He sounded embarrassed. "I guess that's not something a girl like you would be intere-"
"No way!" I cut in loudly, rising up on my toes in excitement. "I've just been racing the track on Manaan! The track's out on the water, and it's fantastic! I won my first three heats, you should have seen it!"
He was looking at me again, and this time a true grin lightened his face. "Manaan, huh? They're part of the championship circuit. I hear the water tracks are hugely popular. Wow."
"I know, right!" I beamed. "I lost my fourth race by less than a second. I reckon I could've challenged Flying Starscream again and won, but – well, we left Manaan." I wasn't sad about that, I wasn't, but swooping had been so much fun.
He still had a genuine smile on his face, his eyes never leaving mine. "I never raced professionally, just practice runs on an illegal track when I could sneak out. Although – you said you were from Taris? Their local season was widely followed before the bombing, even if they had been dropped from the intergalactic tournaments. I wouldn't be surprised if Taris opens again soon. Did you race there?"
I shook my head, my thoughts tracing back to the underground track in the Lower City. "I always wanted too, and I followed the races closely. The Beks – a swoop gang I grew up with – always did well. I used to imagine I'd grow to be a famous swooper and win them the title."
We shared a smile, reminiscent of childhood dreams, and I wondered if he'd had the same fantasies. But his look slowly faded to be replaced with one of curiosity. "What are you doing on Dreshdae?" he asked finally. "Are you with traders or mercs?"
I tilted my head to the side. "Merc, I guess." It was a better fit than trader at any rate. And Canderous, at least, was an actual mercenary.
He frowned at me, a sort of disillusioned look creasing his face. "How come you have such a rosy view of everything if your people are looking for paid work that generally involves fighting? Fighting for money?" he said in disbelief. "I mean, it's not exactly an ethical career choice, is it?"
"I- well, no, but I mean, I'm not a mercenary. And most of my group aren't either." Ethical choice, hah! That's a load of bantha poodoo coming from someone I'm pretty sure was just breaking into an apartment. I tossed my head. "And anyway, here on Korriban it's normal, right? Like, compared to all those Dark Jedi scum, mercs are basically the good guys."
I'd said something wrong, for his face tightened and his eyes pinched in anger. "Dark Jedi scum," he echoed softly, almost hissing. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to say something like that here? You foolish, foolish girl."
Fear swept through me suddenly, and I took a step away from him in astonished fright. "No," I muttered. He'd been so nice, a little bitter maybe, but there was no way someone like him could be one of those core slime evil creeps. "You can't be one of them-"
"Run back to your ship, little girl," he sneered, and the face I'd considered open and honest took an ugly turn. "If you stick around the tunnels of Dreshdae, sooner or later you're going to get yourself killed." He took a menacing step towards me, and I scrambled back further.
"Why?" I burst out. "Why would you want to- to-"
"To have power enough to stop any atrocity happening to me ever again?" he cut in, eyes flashing. "You have no idea. The potential is limitless… and I will not be a victim ever again!" He ended on a shout, and I glanced around quickly; we were still alone, but the one thing I didn't want was to be part of a scene.
I breathed in deep, torn between running and telling him what a brainless Gamorrean he was being. "But… the Dark Side… it makes you kill and destroy everything you love! Look – some of the people I'm with- they, they can help you. Come with me. You don't have to stay here on this rotten planet."
He looked at me like I was stark raving mad, and then a blinding flash of fury contorted his face further. "Go away!" he screamed viciously. "Go back to the safety of your ship before I do something you'll regret, and stay there!"
I took another step back, but determination swelled within me as well. I didn't believe this boy would actually hurt me and, whatever demons he was fighting, well surely- surely- Jen or Bastila or Juhani would be able to help him. If he stayed here, on Korriban, he'd end up as just another one of those twisted Dark Jedi.
"No," I said softly, staring at him. "I'm serious y'know. My friends – they're good people. They know all about this sort of stuff. You don't have to stay here on this rotten planet. There's a better way! A happier way!"
The incredulity on his face grew, if anything, and then he gestured in the air with his hands. I gasped; the boy had completely disappeared from right in front of me. There was no technology that could do that. I looked around wildly, but the corridor was empty.
The sharp press of cold metal against my neck iced my spine, and I froze in shock.
"Do you see how easy it would be to dispose of you?" his disembodied voice whispered from behind me. "A flick of my wrist, and you'd be a puddle of bloody flesh on the ground. How dare you preach of a better way to me, you stupid little girl."
My breath caught in my throat as I felt the knife trail down my neck. Between my headtails, the most sensitive part of my body. It was as light as a caress, scratching a menacing pattern from side to side. Big Z, Jen, I'm in such kath dung now! My insides froze. The fear was nauseating, and I didn't know if I should scream for help or just bolt and hope for the best.
The knife pressed in hard, right at the base of my skull, and a desperate whimper escaped my lips.
"Go," he spat, and I felt it on the back of my neck. "And if I catch you again, I'll slice your pretty little headtails off."
And with that, I ran.
xXx
