Mission's Point of View

Chapter 1: Taris

I don't own Star Wars at all.

I first met Revan in Javyar's Cantina in the Lower City of Taris. Of course, I didn't know he was Revan then, none of us did. I used to wonder what I might've done had I known, but it doesn't matter now.

I had just finished scaring off some drunk Rodian losers (well, technically Zaalbar scared them, but whatever), when I saw two new guys walking towards me. I had never seen them around before, and I knew everyone in the Lower City pretty much, so I knew they had to be off-worlders, caught in the quarantine. One of them had a buzz cut, a scar on his right eye, and a goatee (this one was Revan), and the other had a light mustache and beard and two wispy bangs. They were both armed with blasters (Buzz Cut also had a vibroblade sheathed on his back), but I wasn't afraid. Lots of people came armed in the cantina (maybe not a great idea given how drunk people got, but whatever). Plus, I had Big Z with me, and these guys had a kind of openness to their faces, like they were looking at everything for the first time (which they were, but people in the Lower City knew better than to do that, even if they were somewhere new).

I felt Big Z tense beside me. He didn't trust humans for his own reasons, and he always regarded men suspiciously around me.

"Achuta!" Buzz Cut said in Huttese when he got close enough.

"Hey, there," I said. "What can I do for you?"

Buzz Cut tilted his head in surprise. "You speak Basic?"

"Just cause I'm a Twi'lek doesn't mean I speak Huttese all the time," I teased. "And plus, I prefer Basic."

"You sure are brave, kid," said Mustache. "You got a name?"

"I'm Mission Vao, and this Wookiee is my best friend, Zaalbar." I crossed my arms and stood a little straighter. "And I'm not a kid. Big Z and I are on our own!"

Mustache lowered his eyebrows in concern. "Oh? Are you old enough to be in here?"

I scowled. "I'm old enough to put you in a world of hurt," I said, putting my hand on my vibroblade handle.

I felt Big Z move closer to me.

Buzz Cut stepped in. "I'm Janus Kaan," he said, "and this is my companion, Carth Onasi. I can tell you know your way around here. Could you help us, friend?"

"Pleased to meetcha, Janus," I said, glad that this off-worlder knew to take me seriously. "And if it's information you're needing, you've come to the right Twi'lek. Whatcha need?"

We talked for a little bit. I don't remember what all I said, but it doesn't matter now. I do know that I warned him to watch out for Calo Nord, but they'd already had a few run-ins with him.

Big Z and I left before they did so we could hit up the Hidden Bek base. While we were still walking down the street, I turned to Big Z.

"They seemed nice," I said.

"Hmm-hmm."

"You know you could have talked to them."

"Mission—"

"I don't mind translating for you. It's no big deal."

"Mission, I'm not like you. I don't like to talk to strangers."

A day or so later, I ran into Janus and Carth in the Undercity. I had just lost Big Z to a pack of Gamorrean slavers. Yeah, yeah, you wanna hear about that, I can tell, but I'd rather forget it. Of all the things I do forget, I still remember how alone I felt right then. Just like when my brother left me behind to go fortune-hunting with his cantina-rat girlfriend.

I saw the off-worlders at a distance, talking to Canderous Ordo, Davik's personal Mandalorian (and later, my friend—but we won't get into that now). How they had managed to get past the Undercity guard, I had no idea, but I didn't care. I waited until Ordo was gone before I ran up to them.

"Janus! Carth!" I yelled. I didn't care if I attracted every rakghoul in the Undercity. "You've got to help me, you've got to!"

"Slow down a moment," Janus said, in the warmest voice. I hadn't been sure before that these off-worlders would help me, but the sincerity in his voice encouraged me. I took a deep breath and explained how I had lost Big Z. I had to bite my tongue when I was done to keep from crying. I've always hated crying.

Janus nodded. "Of course we'll help you, Mission, but as it happens, Carth and I have lost someone, too, and they're trapped in the Black Vulkar base. So here's the deal: we'll rescue Zaalbar if you will break us into their base."

"Deal!" I said, already cheering up. "But we've got to find Big Z first. Come on!"

While we sloshed our way through the sewers, I tried talking to Carth to get my mind off Big Z.

"So, Carth, you're a Republic pilot, right?"

"Yeah."

"Where all have you flown to?"

"Oh, all sorts of places. Coruscant, Onderon."

"What are they like? Compared to Taris, I mean."

He hesitated as he side-stepped a human skeleton lying in a puddle. "To be honest with you, Mission, this place is pretty terrible."

"Hmm. Sounds about right."

"It's really no place for a kid to grow up alone. Just where are your parents?"

"None of your business, that's where!" I snapped. "And I'm fourteen standard years old! I'm not a kid!"

Carth scoffed. "Oh, that's right. You're not a kid, you can take care of yourself, and just how is that working out for you right now?"

I whirled around. "WHAT did you just say to me, you cross-eyed nerfherder?" I did not need to be reminded that I should have stayed behind to fight the slavers, that when Big Z needed me most, I ran.

Janus rammed his elbow into Carth's gut. Under his breath, he hissed, "Do you want to find Bastila or not?"

Carth sighed. "No, I-I'm sorry, Mission. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that."

"You're darn right!" I said.

"Come on," said Janus, a smile playing on his lips. "Let's get back to the mission, Mission."

I smirked at him. "Like I've never heard that one before."

The bodies of Gamorrean slavers lay in a bloody mess at our feet (Janus and I had used our vibroblades—Carth preferred to hang back with his blasters). I picked the lock to the last door in that part of the sewers, and when the door swept open, there was Big Z, awkwardly standing in the middle of the room with a dead Gamorrean at his feet as well, though this body was clearly missing an arm.

"Big Z!" I shouted as I ran to hug him. His fur smelled terrible as usual, but I didn't care as I buried my face in his stomach fur. He hugged me very gently. Ever since he nearly suffocated me that one time, he always took extra care when holding me.

"Remember these guys?" I said as we pulled away from each other. "From the cantina?"

He looked at them for a moment, and then he simply said, "Tell them I thank them for saving me and for helping you."

But before I could even open my mouth, Janus stepped forward and spoke right back in Shyriiwook. "We were glad to help you and Mission."

Me and Zaalbar, we just stood there in shock. And then he said, "It is rare to hear one of your kind speak my language."

Janus just shrugged. "It's hard to find a teacher."

"You have saved me from a terrible fate, and there is only one way I can thank you for that. I will swear a life debt to you."

I started in surprise. And then I looked up at Big Z's eyes. "Are you sure about this?"

I could tell by the way he was pulling at the hem of his red vest that he was nervous.

"Yes, I'm sure," he said.

"I am honored," Janus said in Shyriiwook.

Not wanting to be left out, I said, "Well, if Big Z is going with you, then I'm coming, too!"

Janus put his arm around my shoulders. "Of course, you're coming, Mission! We'd never leave you behind."

"Well, well, well," said Kandon Ark, the green Twi'lek in the Black Vulkar swoop garage. He was speaking Huttese. "If it isn't the Hidden Beks, come to steal our engine the day before the race. Cutting it awful close, aren't we?"

"Your engine?" Carth said. "We all know that you stole that from the Hidden Beks!"

Kandon scoffed. "Oh, even better. Mercenaries stealing for the Beks. How much is Gadon paying you?"

Carth was about to yell something smart (well, probably not smart, knowing him) when Janus shoved him back and stepped forward himself. "Membership, of course. And the chance to ride in the race tomorrow."

Kandon cocked his head at Janus. "Typical. Gadon never knew how to pay a merc. What would you say to 1,000 credits? We go our separate ways. No one else has to die. You just leave the engine here, where it belongs."

Janus smiled knowingly. "An interesting offer, of course, but I'm afraid I can't take the swoop race off the table."

"Oh?"

"Oh, come on. I've seen the holos of that woman they're offering up as the prize."

Kandon laughed. "You get lonely there, human?"

Janus shrugged, letting a smirk grow on his lips. "Bored, more like."

I moved closer to Big Z, but my movement only attracted Kandon's attention. He sneered. "I know you. You're Mission. The Hidden Beks' little mascot."

I stepped out from behind Zaalbar. "Huh, you just now noticed I'm here? You must be blinder than Gadon, and he always knows it's me when I walk in the base. I coulda stolen that engine from under your nose while you were blabbing like a Sullustan!"

Kandon shrugged. "But you didn't, sweetheart." He immediately turned back to Janus. "As it so happens, Brejik has a certain interest in not letting a Hidden Bek win the swoop race tomorrow. So, what if we let you ride as a Black Vulkar tomorrow? We can stop all this… unpleasantness right now."

"I'm listening," Janus said.

"Janus!" I yelled. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "You can't betray the Beks like that! Gadon trusts you! We trust you!"

Kandon shook his head. "Sweetie, your loyalty is admirable, but do you honestly think that Gadon thinks the same of you?"

"Well, duh! Zaalbar and I are his friends!"

"Even though he teases you? And laughs at you?"

I rolled my eyes. "Like that's a real problem."

"You've been with him for two years, yet I see you don't wear the Hidden Bek colors. Has he even offered to make you a full member?"

"Yes!" I said, my cheeks flushing. "Once I'm old enough."

"And when is that? If you'd been loyal to the Vulkars, we would have let you in already, especially considering your computer skills. Face it, Mission, the Beks see you as a child, amusing, sure, but not important enough to take in."

I put my hands on my hips. "That's not true!" I insisted. I remember wishing Janus would step in, take the focus away from me.

"Even when your brother abandoned you, they wouldn't let you stay in their barracks, would they?"

I was silent for a moment. I realized that my hand was gripping my vibroblade handle so hard that my knuckles were turning white. "Shut up!" I said.

Carth spoke up. "You gonna let this keep on, Jan?"

Janus waved a hand dismissively. "First off, never call me 'Jan' again. Second, I know there's a price for racing in your gang, and you have yet to tell me."

Kandon finally turned his gaze away from me. "Well, there is the small fact that you and your companions have just slaughtered dozens of our members, so we would require a proof of your loyalty that's just as significant." He thought for a moment, and then he said, "We'll let you ride in the swoop race tomorrow, and give you two thousand credits, if you kill Gadon Thek."

My gaze was fixed on Janus's calm face as he considered Kandon's offer. Why did he even have to think about it? Then he sighed and said, "Interesting proposal, but it'd be far less work to kill you now and take the engine ourselves."

He drew his blasters, and the fight was on.

"Great, another interrogation," Carth spat.

"What is your problem?"

"My problem?"

I leaned against the wall outside the dormitory, just out of sight, listening to Janus and Carth go at it in barely contained whispers. Seems like they were always fighting about something. We had just returned the prototype engine to the Hidden Beks and learned that Janus would have to stay the night at the Bek base while the rest of us stayed in the Upper City apartment.

"Yes!" Janus whispered. "I don't get it, man. You carry me, unconscious, from a wreck—"

"You know w—"

"No, shut up! You carry me unconscious from the escape pod, you nurse me back to health over the course of three freaking days, and then, then, you look me right in my face and say, 'I don't trust you, and you shouldn't trust me.' So tell me why I shouldn't just knock you out and leave you in a dumpster somewhere?"

"I don't want to talk about it!"

I heard Carth storm towards the door, but his footsteps stopped as soon they started.

"This isn't over," Janus hissed.

"Get your hands off me!"

Carth stalked out, his face red. He didn't notice me. I waited a minute before going in. Janus sat on his bunk bed, taking off his shoes. His scowl disappeared when he looked up and saw me.

"Hey, Mission," he said.

"Hey."

"Is something wrong?" Janus asked.

"You're sure it's safe for Big Z? Why can't we just stay here?" I asked.

"Well, the Upper City apartment is mine and Carth's safe zone on Taris. Besides, with those Sith authorization papers, you won't have any problems getting there and back. The Sith really couldn't care less about aliens in the Upper City."

"Okay," I said uncertainly. "Well, we're waiting until nightfall, so hopefully there'll be less people around to bother Big Z."

Janus laughed. "Trust me, Mission, even racist idiots think twice before messing with a Wookiee." He began unstrapping his armor. "But that's not everything on your mind, is it?"

"How could you betray the Beks like that?" I burst out. "How could you betray me? And Zaalbar?"

"But I didn't betray anybody."

"You were going to! You thought about it."

He took a deep, steadying breath. "Mission, my goal isn't to help the Beks or to ride in the swoop race. I'm trying to rescue Bastila, and if the Black Vulkars had offered me an easier or better way to save her, then I would have taken it."

I was silent. In the heat of the moment, I had actually forgotten about Bastila.

Janus continued. "And think about it, Mission. We're not staying on Taris. The moment we get the general, we're gonna be looking for a way off-world. We might never come back."

The reality of it hadn't hit me until that moment. All I knew was Taris. The Beks, the Vulkars, soon none of it would matter any more. Janus and Carth were soldiers, and while the Republic fleet might allow Zaalbar to stay with Janus as a soldier, where would I go? Maybe they would take me on as a slicer, and I could swipe information from the Sith databases.

"I'm sorry I hurt you," Janus continued. "You may have forgotten Bastila, but I forgot how important this world is to you."

He stood up and put his hand on my shoulder. "But you don't ever have to worry again, okay? I'll look out for you, promise. When we rejoin the Republic fleet, I'll make sure they don't send you away."

He smiled at me. I felt my face get hot, something between a blush and trying to hold back tears. It had been so long since I felt completely safe with someone. Don't get me wrong, Zaalbar was my best friend, but really, I took care of him as much as he did with me. It had been years since I had someone I could rely on like this. Though I remember thinking it was kinda freaky how he always seemed to know just what I was thinking.

I was just about to say something (I don't remember what—it doesn't matter anymore) when Janus looked up and frowned. "It looks like Carth is ready to get out of here."

I turned around and saw Carth glaring straight at Janus. The man was as subtle as a drunk ronto. But he was bold, I'll give him that.

Janus patted my shoulder. "We probably won't come back to the Lower City after the race, so if there's anything you need to do, you should do it now."