Mission:

            My feet pounded along the concrete sewer way.  Past the graffiti wall, to the left of the broken ladder, jumped over the Rakghoul remains, leapt down the crumbling stairway and stopped at the cranny just big enough to fit one fourteen year old Twi'lek.

            I shimmied into the cubby hole, careful not to graze the grimy walls with my body.  I tucked my knees underneath my chin and thumbed my stealth generator on.  Same old drill.  Now, all I had to do was wait.

            Zaalbar sure was taking his time.  I crawled from my hiding space to stretch.  Big Z wouldn't be happy if he knew, but I had my stealth generator on, there was no way anything would find me.

            Minutes passed and then I got a little worried.  Sure, the only thing that Zaalbar could do fast was devour a meal, but come on.  This was taking way too long, even for him.

            "Hey, Big Z!" I hollered.  "Zaalbar!  You walking hairball!  Where are you?"

            No answer.

            I backtracked, heading towards the stairway.  No sign of anything.  I climbed up the stairs and tiptoed forward until I caught the lovely aroma of rotting Rakghoul.  Still no Wookiee.

            "Zaalbar?"

            I heard a squeal in the distance.  My lunch sloshed around uncomfortably in my stomach.  That wasn't the sound of a Wookiee. 

            Big Z was supposed to be right behind me!  How could they have caught him?  It was impossible, wasn't it?

            I spun around and bounded back down the stairs.  I wasn't scared, but if there were enough Gamorreans to overpower Big Z, a fight wouldn't exactly be in my favor.  And if I let them catch me, who would rescue Zaalbar?

            How was I going to rescue Zaalbar?  I ran through a doorway and punched the code panel to shut the door on any possible incoming slavers.  I'd go to the Bek base, Gadon would help me for sure.

            No.  Gadon always griped about me exploring the Undercity.  Too dangerous a risk, he'd tell me.  But that was Big Z!  I couldn't just leave him!

            My lungs were burning and my limbs were beginning to ache.  I kept running.  There was no way I was going to take a breather in "Rakghoul country" even if my friend didn't need help.

            There was an opening from the sewer and I sprinted to it.  I saw a couple of stray Rakghouls, but didn't think much on them.  My stealth generator was on, so unless they tracked me down by following the sound of my panting, I'd be fine.  The gates to the Outcast village were all that I had on my mind.

            I sucked air into my lungs and rushed towards the gates.  I'd get there and… then what?  Make a plan?  Gadon wouldn't help me and I couldn't do this by myself.

            Two figures came into view by the gates and I instinctively tensed.  Not many people in their right mind would willingly come into the Undercity.  There were some Sith patrols looking for those escape pods, but they didn't look like Sith.  They didn't look like Outcasts either.  An old guy with big boots and a tiny lady with a flashy orange jacket.

            I knew them!  The woman had asked me for information back at Javyar's cantina.  Paid me good, too.  If they were crazy enough to come into the Undercity maybe they'd help me.  I was desperate and it was worth a shot.  I flicked off my stealth generator and ran over to them.

            "Please!" I cried out.  "You have to help me!  Nobody else is going to help me.  Even the Beks won't help me."

            The man's jaw dropped as he stared at me.  The woman's head jerked up and her eyes locked on to mine.  Good.  I had their attention. 

            "But I can't just leave him there—he's my friend!" I continued.  "You'll help me, won't you?"

            "Whoa, slow down, Mission."  The woman put her hand on my shoulder as I stopped abruptly in front of her.  "What's wrong?"

            "It's Zaalbar."  The run was catching up to me.  A drop of sweat slid down my lekku.  "He's in trouble—big trouble!  We have to help him.  If we don't they'll sell him into slavery!"

            "Calm down, Mission."  The woman spoke slowly, her eyes intent on mine.  Deep purple, I didn't know that human eyes came in that color.  "Take a deep breath and tell me what happened."

            I felt dizzy, but I pushed myself.  "Me… me and Zaalbar were just wandering around here in the Undercity.  You know, looking for stuff, just kind of exploring.  We do it all the time."

            "I guess with a Wookiee at your side, you've got to figure you can handle the odd Rakghoul attacks." the man said.  He started digging through his sack.  He pulled out a canteen and handed it to me.

            I took a swig of the canteen, and brushed any excess drops of water away with the back of my hand.  "Only this time they were waiting for us." I explained.  "Gamorrean slave hunters.  We didn't even have a chance to run.  Big Z threw himself at them and he roared for me to run!  I… I took off; I figured Zaalbar would be right behind me.  But there were too many of them—he couldn't get away.  They're going to sell him into slavery—I just know it!"

            The woman gave me a sly smile.  Somehow I knew she was the leader of those two.  Her name was Rhea?  Maybe Reva?  Something with an "R," definitely.  Zaalbar always remembered these small details for me.

            "If I help you get Zaalbar back," she said calmly.  "you have to get me inside the Vulkar base."

            Who were these two?  "It's a deal—as soon as we get Big Z back, I'll show you a way into the Vulkar base!  Now come on—we have to find Zaalbar before they sell him into slavery or worse!"

            I motioned with a hand for them to follow and ran towards the sewers.