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Day 8 (continued)

On our way out of the Lower City cantina, a conflict between a Twi'lek girl and two Rodians caught our attentions. She seemed a bit young to be hanging around a cantina alone and I grew concerned for her. The Rodians were becoming threatening and I was going to interfere, but then I noticed that I didn't have to. The Twi'lek girl called a large Wookie to her side and the Rodians backed off quickly.

Carth thought it was quite entertaining.

We walked up to her and Carth said, "You showed a lot of guts dealing with those Vulkars, kid. You got a name?"

"My name's Mission Vao and the big Wookie is my best friend, Zaalbar," she said. She looked us over. "You must be new down here; I don't recognize you and I know practically everyone here. I guess that makes me and Big Z your official welcoming committee."

"Thanks, Mission," Carth replied. "I'm Carth and this is Skye. You're right, we are new down here."

"I'd offer to give you a tour, but the streets down here aren't safe. But if there's anything else you need, I may be able to help. I'm the one to talk to about anything: Davik, the Lower City gangs… I've even got the scoop on that bounty hunter, Calo Nord."

"What about Calo Nord?" I asked. If he was working for Davik, it might be good to know him better.

Mission chatted happily away. "Calo Nord's one of the most famous bounty hunters in the galaxy. He's killed more people than the Iridian Plague! I've seen him kill people just for trying to talk to him. He hangs around Zak's bounty office, but I don't think he's looking for work there. All the postings there are small time – way beneath a bounty hunter of his caliber. I figure Calo's been hired by Davik to do a special job for the Exchange. I'd wager 100 credits that as soon as the quarantine ends, he'll be getting off this rock."

I looked at Carth and knew he was thinking the same thing as I. If Calo Nord was so skilled, perhaps it wasn't Davik he was really working for. Perhaps he was looking for Bastila too and Davik was just his excuse to learn all he could from the locals. This didn't bode well for Bastila. We had to find her first!

"What do you know about Davik?" Carth asked her.

"Davik's part of the intergalactic crime syndicate," she answered, "but I guess everyone knows that. I hear he's got a new ship for his smuggling operations – the Ebon Hawk. I don't know much about space travel, but I hear that ship's fast enough to break the Sith blockade. Of course, this is all just second hand rumor."

Oh, but what a good rumor it was to our ears. Carth was thinking the same thing when he asked, "Where would he keep it? Do you know?"

"If Davik does have a ship, he's got it locked up tight in his estate. Nobody gets in there, except the people working for Davik and the Exchange," Mission replied.

"Thanks for the information," I said. "By the way, how did a Wookie and a Twi'lek girl end up best friends?" It was quite a curious combination.

"We just kind of fell in together," she replied. "It isn't easy on your own here in the Lower City – everyone's always looking to push you around. When I met up with Zaalbar, it seemed like a good match. I knew we could look out for each other with my street smarts and his muscle. We make a great team."

"So we noticed," Carth said, kindly. "Do you know where we can find the Hidden Bek base?"

"I was just about to go there myself," Mission said. "I can show you. Come on, Zaalbar."

The Wookie answered her in his language, a language I was happy to say that I understood. He apparently didn't want to leave without eating his meal.

"Can't you think of something besides your stomach for five minutes?" Mission scolded. "Come on; let's show our friends to the Bek Base."

The Wookie reluctantly followed behind us as Mission led us out of the cantina and towards the base. On the way, she filled us in about Gadon Thek, the leader of the Hidden Beks.

When we reached the door of the base, a woman guard allowed Mission and Zaalbar through but stopped Carth and I. We managed to convince her that we wanted to help the Hidden Beks and she let us through – with a warning of course.

As Carth and I proceeded cautiously in, we no longer could see our guides Mission and Zaalbar. We assumed that they left us to our own devices. Gang members were strolling around, none of them paying any particular attention to us beyond a few glances. We noticed an imposing looking man sitting at a large desk towards the back and assumed that it may be Gadon.

When we got closer, however, a woman snapped us to stay back.

"We want to speak with Gadon Thek," I said.

"A lot of people want to speak with Gadon," she replied, harshly. "How do we know you're not spies?"

Before I could speak, the man at the desk said, "Calm down, Zaedra, let them speak."

"Very well, but I'm watching you," Zaedra warned.

We stepped closer to Gadon and introduced ourselves, telling him that we were seeking information on the crashed escaped pods.

"Escape pods? The Black Vulkars have already stripped those clean. Whatever was in them is probably in their base," he answered. "I even heard they found a Republic Soldier still alive on one. They took her as a prisoner."

"Her?" I asked. I looked at Carth. "Bastila?" If it was Bastila, at least they didn't know she was a Jedi.

Carth shrugged, "Could be. Do you know how we could get into the Black Vulkar base?"

"I might know a way," Gadon said, carefully. It was apparent that he didn't completely trust our motives. "Are you after salvage or the soldier?"

"Maybe both," I answered, looking into his strange eyes. I wasn't sure if he was completely blind or not.

"Answer the question," Zaedra snapped.

"The soldier, all right?" Carth replied. "She may be a friend of ours."

I gave Carth a sharp look. Now they would suspect we were soldiers as well. I hoped that the Hidden Beks could be trusted. I definitely didn't trust the Black Vulkars from what I had seen so far.

I looked at Gadon. "How much do you want for the information?" I asked.

"Now hold on," Gadon replied. "I'm not trying to shake you down. I just want to know who I'm dealing with. You're strangers after all. You could be Sith for all I know. But somehow I suspect that it's not the case."

"We are not Sith, nor Vulkars, nor working for Davik," I replied.

Gadon nodded. "Come back tomorrow. If everything checks out, I'll tell you how to get into the Vulkar base."

"Fair enough," Carth replied. We turned to leave.

"Remember, the Hidden Beks are watching you," Zaedra called out.

I rolled my eyes and mumbled, "I'm not happy about this. We practically told them that we're Republic Soldiers. What if they report us?"

"We need their help," Carth mumbled back. "I have a feeling that Bastila's in that Vulkar base. Gadon seems like someone who appreciates honesty."

"As we all do," I replied while we stepped back out into the Lower City corridor. "Speaking of which, I think this may be a good time to discuss a few things."

Carth looked at me. "Yeah, I definitely have some questions. But let's get back to our apartment first. I have a feeling the Beks are trailing us, trying to find out more."

I nodded "All right."

We found an alcove and slipped our Sith uniforms back on, making our way back to the Upper City before removing them again. We went back to the apartment, purchasing some food along the way. We really didn't have a lot of credits left, so our meal was a bit meager.

Carth took the opportunity to discuss my 'generosity' problem, as he called it. "We really could use those duel ring winnings for ourselves."

"Carth, it's Dia's life on the line!" I replied.

He held up his hands, "I know, I know. I wish I could have solved this another way, perhaps with my blaster at Holden's head."

"Getting the exchange mad at us wouldn't benefit us at this time," I replied, "especially if Davik has a blockade running ship."

"You thinking of taking it?" he asked.

"Aren't you?" I replied.

"The thought did cross my mind. But we need to get Bastila first," Carth reminded.

"Let's hope that prisoner is her," I said.

Carth nodded, finishing his meal and pushing back on his chair. "So," he said, "about our discussion earlier…"

I sighed and rubbed my hand over my eyes. "Yeah, about that," I replied. "This is a bit difficult for me to talk about. I don't go around giving this information to everyone, hardly anyone as a matter of fact."

Carth sat up and propped his elbows on the table, listening with interest. "I'm not trying to pry, you know," he said. "But like you said, we should know some things about each other if we are going to be working so closely."

I nodded. "All right, here it is. I was told that a Republic ship found me adrift in my smuggling vessel. My ship had been attacked and I was injured. I was told this, Carth, because I have no memory of it." I looked at him to see his reaction. I could only see curiosity in his face. "In fact," I continued, "I have no memories of anything before that incident."

Carth looked down at his hands. "I'm sorry, Skye. I can't imagine how terrible that must be. You remember nothing of your past?"

I shook my head. "Nothing. Though many of my innate and learned skills have stuck with me, I have no idea when, how and where I learned them. So when I tell you I don't remember how I learned to use a vibroblade, I really mean it."

"I see," he said. "Well, that explains a lot. But it also raises more questions, questions that you can't answer, I suppose. If you're telling me the truth, that is."

I stood up quickly. "Why can't you just trust me for once? What have I done to cause all this suspicion? What is your problem with me?"

"Look, I'm sorry, all right. I already told you that I don't believe in blind trust. It's nothing personal," he replied, sitting back in his chair again. "In fact, personally, I think you're brilliant and you've proven yourself capable many times over."

"Brilliant?" I smiled.

"Don't let it get to your head," he replied. "Did I mention overconfident as well?"

I lifted my eyebrows teasingly. "Oh really? Overconfident? I don't see that as a fault."

"Well it could be if you find yourself in way over your head," he replied. "This duel ring business for example…"

"Oh, no you don't!" I stated. "Don't you dare tell me it's too dangerous. You know that the weapons are set to stun and not kill. Besides you just told me that I'm a very capable person. Or is it the fact that I'm a woman bothering you? Have I unmanned you somehow?"

Carth laughed, "No, Skye, you could never unman me. I know you're skilled with the blade and it has nothing to do with you being a woman."

I turned my back and walked to the trunk next to my bed. "Good, because this woman is about to fight a duel with Gerlon Two-Fingers," I stated. I began undressing to change into my combat suit.

"What… what are you doing?" Carth said, nervously.

I didn't usually change in front of him, but I was feeling bold at the moment. Besides, his discomfort made me smile.

"I'm changing of course," I replied.

He cleared his throat and I heard him stand to walk away. I glanced over my shoulder and noticed him staring at the opposite wall with his back to me. I wanted to laugh, but I held myself back. He was so darn cute, such a gentleman. I suppose it was a bit cruel of me to play with him in this way, but it was too fun to resist.

"Are you decent?" he asked.

I stepped up behind him and said, "Are you saying I don't look decent without my clothes on?"

He spun around, glancing down to make sure I had clothes on – which I did.

"Um… no, I didn't mean that," he answered, flustered. "You… you're a beautiful woman… you know that."

I lifted my hand and caressed his cheek, smiling. "And you're not so bad yourself," I flirted. Carth looked stunned as I bent forward and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"I'm off to free Dia!" I exclaimed, turning towards the exit.

Carth grabbed his jacket off the chair. "Wait, I'm coming with you."

That was two hours ago. I'm now sitting on my bed, writing in this journal while Carth cleans his blaster. It's been quite a day. Gerlon ended up being a bit more of a challenge than Duncan Dead-Eye, but not for long. He managed to hit me a few times with his blaster and Carth insisted on a trip to Zelka, the healer, afterwards.

We now had the 200 credits to free Dia. I was tempted to go next door and tell her, but I decided that its best not to say anything until the deed is done. I didn't completely trust Holden to keep his word.

I also noticed a very large, armored man in the cantina tonight. He was also present at the duel. When I asked someone about him, they said it was Bendak Starkiller. Hmmm… Bendak Starkiller, the government bounty. I wonder how much I'd get for him. I was also told he comes in often to watch the duels. That gives me an idea.

OOOOOOOO

You can see that I've change a bit of the Gadon Thek meeting. I did this to help the plot a bit. Also, there will be more flirting between Skye and Carth as I don't plan to have them wait until the end of the story to get together.

Hope you enjoyed this. Please leave me a review and I'll get more out to you.