Rian:
"So, do all Deralians have uncontrollable tempers?" With those dark circles underneath his eyes, Carth fit in perfectly with the rest of the Lower City.
"I don't know. Are all star pilots as nerve-wracking and aggravating as you are?" I retorted. I don't know what Carth's problem was. I had let him into our apartment. Eventually. I had gotten sick of listening to him bang on the door.
"It's a talent that only a few of us master." he said, wryly. "But seriously, first you threaten Gadon Thek's bodyguard—"
"She had it coming." I interrupted.
"And how's that?" Carth demanded. "The woman didn't say two words to you."
"No, she said four."
"Real cute," he snorted. "I must be deaf now."
"Not deaf. Maybe blind." I said. "Twi'leks don't always speak with their mouths."
"But you do." he retorted. "What did you say to Zaerdra anyway? I'm not fluent in Twi'leki."
"Can we drop it?"
"No, I'm curious. What did you say to her, Rian?"
"I told her if she ever disrespected me like that again I'd strangle her with her own lekku." I grumbled. "Okay?"
Carth laughed. He really was in need of a good razor. "That's just great. Gadon Thek is the one man on this god-forsaken planet that's willing to help us and you're going to strangle his bodyguard. I won't even mention your badgering a Mandalorian of all people for questions."
"Are you looking for another apology, Carth?" I wondered how angry Carth would become if he discovered how amusing I thought he was when agitated.
"I don't need an apology." A loose lock of hair fell over his forehead. Carth brushed it aside with an exasperated sigh. "I need you to start using some common sense."
I groaned. I concentrated on walking towards the elevator. Those authorization papers the Hidden Beks gave us better work, otherwise I'd slaughter the entire Bek base starting with Zaerdra and ending with Gadon.
"Well, I'm going to say 'sorry' one more time." I said, eyeing the Sith patrol guarding the Undercity elevator. "But this 'sorry' is going to be exponentially infinite, okay? So when I next do something that you find unacceptable, just remember I've already said 'sorry' for it in advance."
Carth laughed, mirthless. "If only everything in life was that easy, sister."
I presented the guard with the papers. "Besides, what's your problem with Mandalorians?" I asked. "So there was a war? They lost."
"Mandalorians destroyed a few planets on account of their insatiable bloodlust and I lost good friends because of it."
"I guess that's a good reason to hold a grudge." I said.
"No smart-mouthed reply?" Carth sounded incredulous.
"Not this time." I said. "I like to keep you on your toes. It's better when you're not suspecting it."
The Sith guard glanced over the paperwork. I held my breath. He finally gave a curt nod and punched in the codes for the elevator. I waited until Carth and I were safely in the elevator before releasing a sigh of relief.
"How long do you think it's going to take to find Mission Vao?" Carth asked.
I shrugged. "She's probably the only blue Twi'lek on Taris." I said. "Even on Ryloth they're not very common."
"What do you know about Ryloth?" Carth was busy inspecting his blasters.
I smirked. "Ryloth is one of the most profitable stops on the Corellian Run. I love that place."
Carth's head jerked upright. His nostrils twitched as he bared his teeth. "You were involved with the slave trade?"
My jaw dropped. I could feel the heat surge to my face as I slammed my fist into the side of the elevator shaft. "You're pretty hasty to jump to disgusting conclusions, pal." I hoarsely whispered.
My low menacing voice had a peculiar effect on Carth. His pallor grayed and he appeared horrifically apologetic.
"I… I'm sorry." he stammered. "I didn't know Ryloth was involved in anything else. What did you smuggle?"
"Spices and blasters." I said tersely.
"I would have assumed that liquor was your trade of expertise." Carth grinned hesitantly.
I groaned. "I thought you were smarter than that, Onasi. If I was consuming all the product, there'd be no profit. Where's your business sense?" A smile flickered across my lips, but vanished quickly. Damn it, I was supposed to be angry.
"Point taken."
I could feel a bruise forming on my hand where I had punched the elevator. I ignored it. There was no way that I'd willingly let my guard down for Carth.
We sunk into an awkward silence. I began to whistle as the elevator door slid open.
As soon as I had stepped into the Undercity, two filthy men sprang up. Beggars. I tossed them a five credit mark to avoid touching them as well as to get them to leave.
"Credits, my brother!" One screamed, ecstatic.
I shared a look with Carth. I'm sure my eyes were just as wide and dumbfounded as his.
"Go on you two! Get out of here!" A woman came charging towards us, waving a fist. The beggars clutched their new credits and scurried off.
The woman stopped short a couple feet before us and lowered her head as if ashamed. She wore soiled garments and her mousy brown hair hid her lovely dark eyes. A gem hidden deep in the earth. Freshly bathed I was no comparison to that dust bunny. I clenched my jaw, but forced a smile.
"I'm sorry about that…" she said softly. "those two beggars give everyone in the village a bad name! We aren't all like that, you know. Most of us are good people."
"I'm sure you are, miss." Carth said. How come he was kind to her but would rather trust a Hutt with his life than me? "It's just too bad your little welcoming committee is there to give people a bad first impression."
"My name's Rian Vega." I cut in. "Who are you?"
"My name is Shaleena… you're from the Up-world, aren't you? I've… I've never seen it. I was born here in the Undercity. Is it as nice as they say up there?" The way Shaleena's eyes glittered with anticipation as she looked at me, made me stumble back a few steps. She was filled with such admiration, such eager expectation.
I glanced to Carth for help. He nodded and offered a smile. I sighed.
"It's… nothing special." I mumbled.
Shaleena's face fell, disappointed. I shrugged helplessly.
"Not to you, I suppose." she replied. I felt uncomfortable at the sadness laced in her young voice. "But you're probably used to its beauty by now. I've never been to the surface, but sometimes I think I can see it in my dreams."
A melancholy smile crossed Shaleena's lips. "The sun, the sky, the stars… it all sounds so… so wonderful. Gendar, the leader of our village, tells me I should spend more time trying to improve things down here and less time dreaming about something I can never have.
"Maybe he's right. You probably think I'm a fool, having dreams of a place I've never even seen. But when I was little, Rukil used to tell me stories of what it was like up there."
"Rukil? Who's that?" I asked.
Shaleena's eyes lit up again. "Rukil's the oldest man in the village. The kids call him Rukil wrinkle-skin, but he's a kind old man." she explained. "He used to tell me the greatest stories when I was a little girl. I still like to listen to his tales about the Promised Land, even though I know they're just legends. But it helps to make the Undercity seem less… less dark, somehow."
"The Promised Land? What's that?" I said.
Shaleena brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and straightened her posture. "It's… it's just a story to make little children smile." she whispered. That wistful smile again. "Rukil believes in it, though. Sometimes I can almost believe it myself, but then I look around and I see the ugly truth."
Shaleena sighed. "I guess we have to make the best of what we have, though. If you really want to know more about the Promised Land you should speak to Rukil."
I nodded. "I'll be going now."
"Oh… okay." Shaleena perked up. "Well, if you ever need anything or if you just feel like talking, come back and see me. I hardly ever get the chance to speak to someone from the Up-world."
Carth and I crept carefully through this shanty-town. Make-shift huts were pieced together with salvaged swoop bike parts, bits of old escape pods and anything else the Outcasts could find. Fires blazed to keep the villagers warm, but whatever trash they were burning smelled noxious.
Carved into the side of a rock wall was a cage guarded by the village healer. Beyond the gates were unfortunate villagers who were stricken with the Rakghoul disease. In order to save the other Outcasts, these villagers were locked up until they transformed and killed each other.
The moans of the sick through the gate made me shudder. I tuned them out and kept walking.
There was a lone elderly man who sat humming beneath one of the shelters. I couldn't help but stare at him as he rocked back and forth to his melody. It was a mistake. As soon as I started to pass him, his eyes shot up and locked with mine.
"You—you come from the world above!" The old man jabbed a bony finger in my direction.
I waved sheepishly. Hopefully I didn't appear as horrified and uncomfortable as I felt. The old man painstakingly hoisted himself to his feet, his leathery face glued to mine.
"Is this the time of destiny, then? Is this a portent of the salvation of my people?" The man was raving! "Or merely another false sign to mislead us from the path? Are you the herald of prophesy?"
I took a few steps away from the man as he staggered closer.
"The beacon to guide us through the darkness? Or are you merely another harbinger of shattered dreams and unfulfilled promises?"
I felt Carth's hand on my shoulder. "Be careful… this one might be crazy enough to be dangerous." he muttered as he placed himself between the Outcast and myself.
"Speak to me Up-worlder!" the man demanded. His watery eyes seemed to stare through Carth. "Tell me what fate you unleash upon us—salvation or damnation! Speak Up-worlder, I beg you!"
"What are you talking about, old man?" My voice remained calm, although my face said differently.
"A question." The Outcast halted his forward charge. "You are uncertain. Bewildered. Perplexed. Understandable, I suppose. Even after one-hundred years of life, I myself still become confused at times. Perhaps I can make things more clear. Some things, at least. My name is Rukil, the oldest Outcast here in the village."
"Rian Vega." I crossed my arms. "What do you want from me, Rukil?"
"Once I was honored for my wisdom, but over time the villagers fell away from the true path." Rukil sighed. "Eventually there was only a single apprentice who followed me—and now she's gone too."
"The true path? What does that mean?" The man was completely incoherent!
"No, no, no." Rukil giggled quietly. "Not yet. I must be wary. Careful. You may be a false savior. Dare I share my secrets with you? No… not until you prove yourself."
"Prove myself? How can I do that?" Maybe if Carth and I stepped away from this madman slowly, no one would get hurt.
"My apprentice is… lost. I sent her out into the Undercity to find… well, I cannot tell you." Rukil said. He began to wring his hands together anxiously. "Sadly my apprentice has not returned. Please, Up-worlder, will you help an old man? Will you seek out my apprentice in the Undercity? Her name is Malya. I must know her fate, whatever it may be. I must know what she… found."
"I'll see what I can do." I started to back away from Rukil and his hut.
"Finding her may be difficult; Malya could be anywhere in the Undercity…" Rukil droned. "But if you find her I will know you to be our true savior! Only then can I reveal my secret knowledge to you."
I nodded, regaining control over my cynical visage. "I'll be back if I find anything out." I promised through my teeth.
"I wish you luck, Up-worlder!" Rukil called out. I kept walking and didn't look back.
