Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 15: Tarisian Nightmare

Revan eyed Carth's appearance with barely contained mirth.

"You look like a mutated Sith mixed with an Echani and a Jedi!"

Revan laughed as he eyed the odd combination of armor and robes Carth wore uncomfortably. The Republic soldier glared at his companion.

"If you would have just let me keep my jacket we wouldn't be in this mess would we?"

The former Jedi laughed openly.

"Who is we? I'm just fine in my inconspicuous and plain black robes and cloak!"

Revan laughed as he caught the dark expression Carth sent him.

"I really liked that jacket!"

Carth pouted. Revan coughed suddenly.
"How?"

The Jedi continued to cough in momentary shock before he shook his head.

"Maybe now they'll let us in the Cantina?"

Revan chanced. Carth shrugged as he eyed his mutated Sith uniform.

"Maybe... or they'll report us to the next patrol for being out of uniform..."

Revan snorted and clapped Carth on the shoulder.

"Lets get something to drink and then find a place to rest."

Carth nodded readily, weary from fighting Vulkars and running through the lower city. As Revan and Carth entered the Cantina, they noticed a stocky man glaring at three Vulkars. Revan elbowed Carth and motioned towards the sight, smirking. Carth shrugged, watching as the short bounty hunter obliterated the three challengers. Revan's eyes followed the man as he walked past, connected for a moment. In that moment, Revan paled slightly. He had caught the recognition in the man's features and shuddered.

"Shit."

"Hey leave me alone you chubba face!"

Revan was snapped from his foreboding as he turned to see a Twilek girl screaming at a Rodian Vulkar. Revan and Carth exchanged glances before Carth sighed.

"I suppose you want to ignore this one too?"
Carth asked. Revan scowled.
"I have a soft spot for little girls..."
Revan muttered, preparing to blast the rodian and his companions in their bug faces when the girl suddenly called out loudly.
"Hey Big Z, I got some bugs that need to be stomped on."

Revan turned to a low growl in the corner of the Cantina and was surprised to see a Wookiee slowly rising from his chair and whining about not being able to finish his meal. The Wookiee roared once to the Vulkars before they ran off calling out threats behind them.
"Get outta here bug eyes! You're breath smells like Bantha poodoo anyways!"

Carth snickered for a moment before silencing his outburst while Revan gazed curiously at the towering Wookiee and the small, blue skinned Twilek girl. The girl's head suddenly snapped to him and she eyed him warily before grinning and skipping over to them. Revan furrowed a brow, attempting to assess the girl when Carth spoke.

"That took some guts kid, standing up to those Vulkars..."

The Twilek girl smirked proudly and nodded.

"Hey, you're new around here aren't you? I know just about everyone down here... My name's Mission Vao and this big guy here, he's my best friend, Big Z."

Revan raised an eyebrow at that statement. As Carth and the girl continued to talk about the undercity, Revan turned his attention to the Wookiee, who he noted looked like he was going to starve to death.

"Hungry?"

Revan asked, amused. Zalbaar gave the former Dark Lord a dirty look and groaned, rubbing his stomach.

"Don't worry, I'll watch her for you while you eat."

Revan said quietly. Zalbaar eyed Revan warily for a moment before his stomach won over his concern and he roared his approval of Revan's plan. The former Dark Lord smirked over the Wookiee's antics. The Wookiees were one of the few races he respected as a whole.

"I think I only killed a few dozen of them on Kashyyyk..."

Revan pondered his own memories when someone calling his alias asked loudly.

"So, Tauryn, what are you and Carth doing here?"

Mission asked loudly. Revan glared at her a moment, rubbing his ears and looking around, noting that Carth was sitting in a dark corner, drinking heavily.

"What the hell did I miss?"

"We're..."

Revan eyed Mission warily for a moment before he scanned her aura. She was pure, he noticed and winced slightly when he compared her own innocence to his crimes.

"Wow..."

Revan fell into a violent coughing fit, surprised when the girl slapped him on the back.

"You okay there Tauryn?"
She asked with concern. Revan eyed the girl warily, wondering if she had picked his pocket.

"Fine, thanks Mission."

Mission beamed for a moment before she repeated her previous question.

"Carth and I were looking for a way to get into the Undercity. We're looking for some information on those downed Republic escape pods."

Revan felt for some odd reason that he could trust the girl and followed that instinct.

"Wow... are you looking for that Republic woman too?"

The former Sith Lord stared at Mission, his face a mask of seriousness.
"Yes."

Revan replied simply. Mission nodded.

"Well I heard from the Beks that the Vulkars have her..."
Revan raised an eyebrow, making a personal note to kill every single Vulkar he saw in the near future.

"Is there a way into their base?"

Mission nodded, but frowned.

"Yes... but I think that they move her around to keep her hidden."

Revan nodded, knowing he could not get a good lock on Bastila's location.

"But hey, I tell yea what..."

Mission began. The former Jedi turned his attention to Carth, seeing his companion was slightly intoxicated.

"The Vulkars are offering her up as the Swoop Championships grand prize... Maybe you could race for the Beks?"

"Or maybe I could storm the Vulkar base and kill every last one of them."

Revan's mind snarled. The former Dark Lord struggled to keep the words in his mouth as he mulled over the girl's plan. It was sound and did not put Bastila in too much danger.

"Do you think they'll... harm her before the race?"

Revan asked. Mission shook her head.

"Nope, there's a bunch of rules that the prizes can't be tainted or broken... I'm sure your friend is fine."

Revan nodded.

"So where are these Hidden Beks?"

Revan asked. Mission explained where the Beks were located and Revan snorted.

"Across from the Cantina? By that snippy woman standing in the corridor?"

Revan chuckled.

"Not very hidden don't you think?"
Mission giggled for a moment before shaking her head.

"I don't know... Just tell the guard that you're willing to help them and they'll let you speak to Gadon."

Revan thanked Mission and stalked over to Carth.

"Looks like we've got ourselves a lead..."
Revan muttered to his companion. Carth nodded silently and poured Revan a glass of Tarisian ale.

"Lucky us eh?"

The Republic officer said dejectedly. Revan noticed the depression in the man's demeanor but said nothing, drinking chastely as the Republic officer drowned himself in the potent alcohol. As the two continued to drink, Revan and Carth began exchanging stories of their battles. Revan normally being vague though Carth didn't notice. Carth was soon slipping in an out of consciousness and Revan decided to drop the man off in an apartment they had commandeered in the lower city. The former Sith Lord stalked from the apartment, searching for something to occupy his time. He had heard that the upper levels were hosting a dueling championship though he did not want to draw attention to himself. If Malak were to see a holo of him, Revan knew the entire planet would burn for it. Bounty hunting was also out of the question, Revan knew that it also attracted too much attention and was in his opinion a waste of time. Stalking to the Bek base, Revan exchanged insults with the rude guard before entering and speaking with the Bek leader, Gadon Thek.

Carth awoke to find himself in a bed in their lower city hideout.

"Uhg..."
The soldier groaned as he grabbed the sides of his head in a futile effort to numb the pain.

"Drink this."
Revan handed Carth a glass of water which the soldier readily drank and a pill to help with his hangover. After several minutes of groaning, Carth stood and stalked to the refresher. Revan intently eyed the documents he had received from Gadon to get past the Undercity guards. The outfit along with the papers should allow he and Carth to pass unencumbered. The former Dark Lord of the Sith smirked slightly as he recalled all the Sith patrols he had ambushed the night before to get armor for Gadon.

"So what's the plan?"

Carth asked.

"Get your lovely red armor on, we're going to poke around the sewers for the little blue girl."

Carth frowned, wondering how much he had missed in the ten hours he had been drinking and unconscious.

"Bastila is being offered up as the Swoop bike finals grand prize. Since only Swoop gang members can enter the tournament its either the lesser of two evils or a rampage."

Carth's frown deepened.

"What does this have to do with the girl?"

Carth asked. Revan sighed, not liking the idea of the young Twilek girl running around on her own in the Tarisian Undercity.

"The Beks will only help us if we recover a swoop accelerator and we can only do that by sneaking into the Vulkar base. The Vulkars are moving Bastila around and we'll never find her otherwise. Mission can get us past a forcefield down there..."

Carth grunted as he pulled the scarlet Sith armor on.
"Wonderful."

As Revan and Carth slowly made their way through the lower city, Revan noticed two Black Vulkars arguing with a man about some random debt. Ignoring them, Revan looked past them to a Mandalorian that stood in the shadows nearby. Revan smirked as the Vulkars cowered from the Mandalorian, his Mandalorian blood burning with pride. The Mandalorian caught the smirk and cast one right back, causing Carth to blanch.

"I thought... no hoped they were all wiped out by now..."

Carth muttered bitterly. Revan turned and glared at his masked companion.

"Save your prejudices for someone who cares."

Carth sputtered for a moment then fell silent. The slight to his own people still fresh in his mind, Revan turned from his companion and stalked to the lift guard. After showing the documents, Revan and Carth quickly found themselves in the Tarisian Undercity, all arguments forgotten as two poorly dressed thugs assailed them with threats.

"Get away from me you filthy beggars!"

Revan snarled. Carth stared at the beggars with open pity, preparing to hand over a few spare credits when he found hid hand caught in the vice grip of Revan's.

"Don't give them something they haven't earned..."

Revan hissed. Carth stared at Revan warily for a moment before a young woman's voice cut through the air.

"Go on you two, get out of here!"

The young woman screeched. Revan winced at the shrill voice and turned to the newcomer.

"Sorry about those two, they give the rest of us bad names around here. My name's Shalena..."

Revan completely ignored the girl, instead choosing to silently scan the village while Carth spoke with her.

"Hey Tauryn I think we should speak to Gendar..."

Revan made a dismissive gesture to Carth. At the Republic soldier's glare, Revan leaned closer to Carth and spoke in a low tone only the two of them could hear.

"We don't have time for this, Carth. In the time it takes to help these people, Bastila could be killed."

Carth could not deny the logic, but he felt a deep urge to help the people of the Outcast village.

"How can we just stand by and let this continue..?"

Carth asked quietly. Revan sighed, knowing his newly revived conscience wanted to agree with Carth.

"Can you see the bitterness and despair here Carth? We need to find Mission... but..."

Growling, Revan shook his head.

"Speak to Gendar and this Rukil character, see if you can find any information. If we can help on the way, we will."

Carth seemed satisfied, relieved to see that his seemingly cold-hearted companion had a heart after all.

"I cannot stress this to you enough though, Carth. We can't help every damned refugee and battered orphan we come across. There are bigger things at stake."

Revan shuddered at his own words. That train of thought was what had led him to claiming dominance over the Sith and declaring war on the ailing Republic.

"What could be more important than giving hope to someone who has none?"

Carth questioned, his eyes sweeping over the villagers. He somehow felt a connection to these people and their grief. It seemed to reflect the pain he held deep within himself. Revan seemed to sense this and sighed.

"Go speak with the villagers... let them know we aren't Sith... I'm going to scout the area outside the village and see if I can find Mission. She's supposed to live somewhere down here..."

Carth nodded and quickly followed Shalena to the village leader while Revan made his way to the gate. There a woman was pleading with the guard to unlock the gate for her husband, who was in Revan's opinion foolish enough to see if he could scavenge something from a downed escape pod.

"Open the gate, there isn't much time!"

The man shouted, panting heavily from his mad dash to the village. Revan stared at the man for a moment and shrugged.

"Its on my way, I guess I can help... this time."

Revan smirked as the gate opened and rushed out. A creature like none he had ever seen before roared and charged from a nearby debris field. Revan paled as he scanned the odd creature with the Force, sensing no aura.

"How did one of the Vong's creatures get here..?"

Wasting no time, Revan drew his holdout blaster and fired into the creature's skull, killing it instantly. Ignoring the man's thanks, Revan continued into the dimly lit Undercity. Several minutes of walking found Revan near an encampment of Sith troopers. The former Dark Lord watched them and listened patiently as they spoke of a patrol that had been wiped out to the west and of the Rakgouls, the creature he had encountered. Revan shuddered at the thought of the abomination and scanned his surroundings warily, not wanting to fall prey to the menace. A scream was heard and Revan turned to see a swarm of Rakgouls attack the Sith patrol. The former Dark Lord watched as the troopers were torn to shreds and devoured by the mutants.

"Disgusting..."

The former Dark Lord watched as an injured trooper tried desperately to inject something into his arm but the struggle was short lived as a Rakgoul leapt on the man and devoured his head, helmet and all. Turning his attention to the distant lights of the village, Revan sighed.

"This is going to be a long night..."

Revan waited for nearly an hour before making his way to the trooper's remains. After a short search, Revan discovered the vial the trooper was attempting to inject himself with.

"Rakgoul serum..."

The former Sith silently stalked back to the village where he found Carth arguing with a healer.

"Carth, what's going on?"

Revan asked as he walked over to his companion. Carth muttered something under his breath angrily and explained to Revan how the villagers sealed away the members of their village that were infected with the Rakgoul disease and locked them away.

"How many are in there?"

Carth sighed and looked to the healer.

"There were five... but now there are only two..."

Revan handed Carth the vial and explained its purpose. Carth quickly made his way into the caged area and gave the survivors the serum. Revan ignored the thanks and praises, it was all really a waste of time in his mind, and pulled Carth to the side.

"I want you to go back up to the surface, see if you can gather our things from our apartment up there and then come back here."

Carth nodded, wanting to drop the Rakgoul serum off at a healer he had spoken to when he was scouting the planet.

"You're not actually going to sleep down here?"
Carth asked incredulously. Revan shuddered.
"I still have to find Mission. Keep in contact on the communicators... but make sure the connection is secure."

Carth nodded and made his way to the Tarisian upper city while Revan sighed and made his way back into the decaying ruins of the undercity. Revan walked for what seemed like hours until he came across a group of Gammorheans with a Wookiee in chains. Revan watched in amusement as the Wookiee broke free of his chains and bit a chunk from one of the Gammorhean's arms. The Gammorheans quickly stunned the Wookiee and began taking him away, until Revan decided to intervene. Activating his azure saber, Revan leapt into the air and landed near the surprised pig-like aliens. The Gammorheans squealed in panic as Revan cut them down effortlessly. The Wookiee had since broken free of his restraints and was also attacking the Gammorhans and within moments they were all one with the Force, as Revan liked to put it.

The Wookiee roared and threw his arms up in the air, obviously enjoying the change in his situation.

"Are you Zalbaar?"

Revan asked, knowing there were only a few Wookiees on Taris and that there was only one that would be in the undercity. The Wookiee roared his acknowledgment and Revan nodded.

"I'm looking for Mission Vao, do you know where she is?"

Zalbaar stared at Revan oddly and nodded, uncertain if his savior knew how to speak his language.

"I can speak five forms of Shyriiwook. Don't worry."

Revan muttered Zalbaar roared happily and motioned for Revan to follow him. Revan followed the Wookiee a short distance to a small and well hidden hovel. At first glance, he noticed that it looked easily defendable. Upon further inspection, Revan found that there were several booby-traps and the dwelling was more elaborate than he had previously thought. Zalbaar motioned for Revan to stay put and checked the dwelling, returning several minutes later with a bowcaster and a worried expression.

"She's not here. I told her when I was captured to run... There is no telling where she could be..."

The Wookiee did not add that he was terrified for the girl. Revan nodded, taking in the situation.

"If she is alright, do you think she would go back to the Bek base?"

Zalbaar nodded his head, eyeing Revan for a moment.
"Are you a Jedi?"

Revan shook his head.

"I was once... but it was long ago... I need you to promise me that you will not speak of by abilities."

Zalbaar eyed Revan for a moment.

"You saved me from a life of servitude. I can only think of one way to repay that debt..."

Revan frowned.
"You should know who you swear your debt to before you do..."

Revan began. Zalbaar waited for a moment, staring into Revan's dark eyes.

"I was born a Mandalorian... Taken from them when my parents were killed by a Jedi and trained in the Order. The Mandalorians invaded the Republic after I ascended to a Jedi Knight and I soon found myself fighting my own people..."

Zalbaar gave a mournful roar, apparently he too knew what it was like to be forced to fight his own kind. Revan was silent a moment before continuing.

"I fought the Mandalorians and am in a way responsible for where they are today... I went beyond the Outer Rim after that to see firsthand the suffering the Republic and the Jedi ignored... A suffering that the Mandalorians held at bay from their own worlds. There I severed my ties to the Jedi and the Republic and followed the ways of the Sith, returning with Malak and the Sith fleet I made my war on the Republic..."

Zalbaar stared at Revan strangely for a moment before Revan spoke again.

"My name is Revan Bloodraven... I was known as the Dark Lord Darth Revan for four years of my life and then I was imprisoned within my own mind for two years, forced to be the Jedi's servant. I was freed after those two years to find the galaxy a changed place..."

Zalbaar was motionless as Revan finished his speech.

"There are only two things that drive me now. To keep what I saw beyond the Outer Rim at bay and to find a friend of mine... To keep her safe..."

Zalbaar nodded his head.

"Then I swear my lifedebt to you, Revan Bloodraven. And I will follow you till I have repaid it with my own life."

Revan was silent as he gazed at the Wookiee. The seriousness in his expression was what had convinced Zalbaar of Revan's honesty and after hearing this, Zalbaar was all the more anxious to swear his debt.

"I am humbled and honored to accept this debt and I ask you only one favor."

Zalbaar waited for Revan to continue.

"I ask that you keep what I have told you a secret and that you refer to me as Tauryn Katarn. Others are not as understanding as you."

Zalbaar nodded his head. Revan's honesty had given him even more respect for his savior and he was not about to destroy the last shred of honor he could hold onto, his lifedebt.

"We'd better find your little blue friend..."

Revan sighed. Zalbaar agreed readily and the two made their way quickly through the Undercity. As the two approached the Outcast village, Revan tensed. A deep growl in Zalbaar's throat told Revan that the Wookiee had felt it to and the two quickly stood back to back with their blaster and bowcaster ready.

"Hey, you! D-don't make any sudden moves. I- I'm not afraid to use this blaster."

Revan glared at the man, leveling his holdout blaster to the man's head.

"Calm down kid, we've already lost enough men to those damn Rakgouls and I'm not about to lose anymore in a needless firefight. I can't carry all this salvage back on my own."

Revan smirked as he holstered his blaster and eyed the burly man that had spoke.

"You're an Ordo aren't you?"

The former Jedi asked, eyeing the man's serpent tattoo. The Mandalorian seemed surprised for a moment before he grinned wolfishly, flashing his teeth.
"You carry yourself well, warrior. And you keep good company. The name's Canderous Ordo."

Revan nodded to the man, smirking. For some reason he always felt a bit of camaraderie around other Mandalorians.

"I must be getting too old."

"So what brings a Mandalorian to this lovely neighborhood?"

Revan asked as he eyed the Mandalorian's companions, none of whom looked like they could stand up in a good fight. Canderous laughed and Revan wondered if the man could tell he was a Mandalorian as well. Absently, Revan ran his hand across his bicep, feeling the toughened skin of where his own tattoo was cut away and burned off under his tunic.

"I work for Davik, he has us out here searching for anything of value from those Republic pods... but it looks like those damn Vulkars already got to them."

Revan's expression darkened.

"Too bad they didn't stick around, I could use a little target practice."
Revan muttered. Canderous nodded his approval and suddenly tensed, snapping his head to a distant noise.
"Shit, get those blasters ready boys. It looks like we've got company!"

Canderous raised his heavy repeating blaster and fired a volley into the distance. With his Force-enhanced vision, Revan could see the silhouettes of at least a dozen Rakgouls charging them. Looking around quickly, Revan spotted a debris pile and shouted to Zalbaar and the others.

"Get to higher ground!"

Canderous was the first to act and moved quickly up the pile of debris. From the top, Revan saw a small orb fly into the charging Rakgouls. A blinding flash of light followed as Canderous laughed manically and fired into the stunned Rakgouls. Revan smirked as he and Zalbaar climbed the debris, covering Canderous' companions as they scrambled their way after them. Two fell victims to the Rakgouls and another had been bitten by the time they had all made it.

Grabbing the infected man, Canderous threw him screaming into the eight Rakgouls that remained. Revan watched as the Mandalorian drew a thermal detonator and tossed it into the center. A massive explosion drowned out the infected man's screams as it killed him and his assailants. Within an instant, Canderous leapt down from the debris and pulled a vibroblade, driving it into the heads of two wounded Rakgouls.

"Not bad..."
Revan voiced as he leapt from the safety and height advantage of the debris. A quick scan through the Force told Revan that more Rakgouls were on their war. He was unable to sense them, but they seemed to be a hole in the Force. Revan could easily sense the disturbance around the creatures.

"I think we should get moving. That little firefight is probably going to bring a larger number of those beasts down upon us."

Canderous nodded his agreement and turned back to his men.

"Alright lets move out, I can't carry all this salvage back on my own."

The men readily voiced their agreement and quickly took off in the direction of the Outcast village.

"Zalbaar, I'm going to head back to the village and see if I can get a hold of my companion. You should scout this area and see if you can find any sign of Mission. I'm also going to have Carth check with the Beks on his way back down."

Zalbaar roared his approval before taking off into the darkness of the undercity. As Revan approached the Outcast village he saw a small blue figure running to him and sighed.

"Please! You have to help me. Nobody else will help me, even the Beks won't! But I can't just leave him there he's my friend!"

Revan scanned his surroundings for a moment, satisfied that they were safe.

"Mission, calm down. Do you mean Zalbaar?"

Mission nodded quickly.

"Don't worry Mission, I already found him. Got every last one of the piggies too."

Mission wore a shocked expression for a moment before relief flooded her face.

"You're not lying to me are you?"

Revan shook his head.

"He seemed more concerned for your safety... He's out searching for you now. I was just on my way to the village to see if you were at the Bek's base."

Mission scowled for a moment.

"Yes, they wouldn't do anything about it!"

She replied angrily. Revan raised a hand in a placating gesture.

"Don't worry, Zalbaar is fine."

Mission sighed and slumped slightly, panting from her earlier panic and running from the Outcast village.

"Now then Mission. You can call me Tauryn Katarn and I could use your help..."

Mission stared at Revan silently for a moment before she smiled and nodded readily, eager to offer any help she could.