Meranda knew it was probably not healthy, but she loved combat. With every swoop-gang member she cut down, she felt something growing inside, like a fire that burned inside of her, filling every inch of her with exhilaration. Finding a security droid, she was able to repair it, adding another metallic soldier to her ranks. This one was not humanoid, a head and neck, at the bottom of which there were two mounted blasters. When the dust finally settled, she noticed that Carth seemed troubled with something. She knew she should probably just leave it alone, but she did tell him that she would be there for him.

"Hey, Carth, you seem a little off. Does it have anything to do with what we were discussing last night?"

Carth slumped and let out a sigh. "I knew you wouldn't understand where I was coming from. Let me try to explain. You're probably one of the most skilled women I've ever met. And I'm lucky you're here to help me, no question. But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop watching you or being weary. I'm just not built that way. Period."

"Carth, you literally nursed me back to health for two days after we crashed in this urban hellscape. The last thing I would ever do is harm you intentionally."

"Look, like I said, it's not you, it's just... I've been betrayed before, and I... Well, it won't happen again."

"Of course, it won't happen if you never trust anyone!" Meranda was getting very annoyed at her traveling companion, giving him the stink eye as he held his hands up defensively.

"Look... I'm not trying to insult you. This is just the way I am, no need to take it personally."

"Don't tell me not to take it personally, you hairless Wookie!" She yelled as her hands moved to her hips, and a scowl grew on her face as he just started laughing at her.

"Hairless Wookie? Alright, sister, just... Just... Just calm down before your head explodes." Oh, he was going to get it now! Meranda thought to herself as she readied another scathing insult.

"We'll just see who's head explodes, you ungrateful monkey-lizard!"

"Is that your idea of an insult? Come on, sister, hit me with your best shot!"

"GAMORRIAN PIG-MAN!"

"Oh ouch, I think you hurt my man-feelings with that one. Feel any better?"

"Little bit."

"Ok good, then we can talk reasonably about this. All I've been trying to say is that this isn't personal. If you were smart, you wouldn't trust anyone either... Not me, not Bastila, and especially yourself."

"You don't even trust yourself? You need to see someone Carth, professionally."

"I don't need to be analyzed, thanks. Let's just get back to what we were doing." Without saying a word, they made went on their way.

...

Meranda was not in a good mood. Even with the Sith uniforms, they still couldn't get to the Undercity. She decided that since prowling the Upper city cantina worked to get them this far, it only stood to reason that she would find where to go in another one. But it was proving a pointless venture. Aside from not messing with Callo Nord, she didn't learn anything even remotely useful. That is until some Rodians started picking on a Twi'Lak girl.

"I told you to leave me alone - So give me some space bug-eye! Your breath smells like Bantha poodoo!" The young blue girl said to the gruff-looking thugs.

"Little girl should not be in bar. This no place for little girl. If little girl smart, she run away home now."

"Who you calling a little girl, chuba face?"

"Little girl needs lesson in manners!"

"Just a sec, boys. Zaalbar... A little help? I need you to rip the legs off some insects." A Wookie, massive compared to his young companion, looked over in a grumpy expression.

"Mission - I'm busy. They just brought my food!" The massive hairy humanoid growled to the Twi'Lak in his language.

"Quit complaining... You can finish eating later. Besides, you need the exercise, so get over here." Zaalbar then begrudgingly walked over, making the Rodians cower in fear.

"We want no trouble with Wookie. Our problem with you, little girl!"

"You got a problem with me, then you have a problem with Big-Z. So unless you want to talk to my furry friend, I suggest you greenies hop on out of here!" Meranda was a little impressed by how the girl handled herself and the friends she kept. However, when she walked over to talk to them, the Wookie growled a less than friendly greeting.

"Why are you bothering us?"

"Hey, relax, Big-Z. No need to be rude. Sorry about that, but Wookies aren't much for conversation, you know? Say, I don't recognize you, and I pretty much know everyone in the Lower City. I guess that makes Big-Z and me your official welcoming committee!"

"The Black Vulkers already beat you to it, but it's nice to meet a friendly local for a change." Meranda said as she shook the girl's hand. Carth then chose that time to become a part of the conversation.

"You showed a lot of guts dealing with those Vulkers, kid. You got a name?"

"My name is Mission Vao, and this is my best friend, Zaalbar. I'd offer to give you a tour, but the streets down here aren't very safe. But if there's anything else you need..."

"We need to get past the Sith guards posted at the elevator to the Undercity. Any hidden passages or anything?" Mission took a moment to respond, a moment longer than Meranda liked.

"How did you get past the guards at the Upper city elevator?"

"Stolen Sith uniforms, good condition, but we need papers for that shutta guarding the one we need past."

"Well... You should head to the Hidden Beks base, they're good people, and they can get you those papers."

"Will do. If this is a trap, you know I'm going to kill you, right?"

"With arms like those, I believe you. Damn your buff! You and Z should totally arm-wrestle!" Meranda just rolled her eyes. It was impossible to be mad at the girl.

...

Meranda was furious at that girl! Sure she had a way into the Undercity, and she knew how to find Bastila, but now she was drafted into winning a street race for the nicest of the two gangs in the region. And as it turned out, the brat had her own way of getting into the Undercity the whole time! She just manipulated her into helping criminals, sure they were better than the Vulkers, but rabid womp-rats were better than Vulkers! Meranda was just finishing up getting their wounded comrade to a sympathetic doctor when she got back to base, it had been a long day, and she needed rest. But not before she made things good between her and Carth.

"Hey?"

"Ya, what's on your mind?"

"I just want to talk to you."

"Oh? You want to argue with me some more, is that it?"

"No, Carth, I don't want to argue with you. We left things off on a bad note before, and I want to nip that in the bud."

"I don't want to argue with you either. You seem... Sincere enough. I just don't trust anyone, and good reasons... which are my own."

"I understand, Carth, it's just... Hard. How am I supposed to trust you to watch my back when I know that you don't trust me to watch yours?"

"Ahhhh, damn it. I suppose I won't get any rest until I talk, will I? You want to know why I don't trust anyone? Fine, here goes. Five years ago, the Jedi finished the war with the Mandalorians. Revan and Malak were hero's, and I was damned proud to have served in their fleet. It was completely unexpected when they turned on us, invading the Republic while we were still weak. Nobody knew what to think, least of all me. Our heroes became brutal conquering Sith... And we were helpless against them. Think about it... If you can't trust the best of the Jedi, then who can you trust?"

"From what I understand of it, the Force comes with a catch. You either serve others or yourself. Full-blown saint, or total fascist genocide happy scumbag. There is no middle ground, and honestly, I can't imagine a worse hell than being forced to either be the galaxies slave or a child-eating abomination."

"Wow... When you say it like that, it kind of makes Force users seem... Pitiful? But there were others, who weren't Jedi, good men... Trusted me who joined them. Malak, Revan, and the Sith deserve to die for what they did... But the ones who fled the Republic to join them are even worse. The Dark Side has nothing to do with why they joined the Sith. They deserve no mercy!"

"Trust me, Carth, I feel the same way. The rage I feel just thinking about Sith makes my fists shake. But we need to be able to trust each other. I need to know that when you're covering my charge, you're not just as ready to shoot me in the back as you are the enemy."

"I know, I... I should apologize to you. I've so accustomed to expecting the worst from others, and you haven't done anything to deserve that. It's just... Never mind, let's just get some sleep. I'd rather not talk about it."

"That's more than fine. I just didn't want us to sleep on a bad note, plus now I'm a little bit more sure that you won't shoot me in my sleep because you think I will try it on you!" Meranda smerked, succeeding in lightening the mood a little if Carth's huff of half laughter was any indication.

"Only a little bit? Well, I suppose I can't blame you. Goodnight, gorgeous."