S/N: The dialog is a variation on what is spoken between characters. I used on my character names for the main character in the story. He is a soldier with a shady past that the Republic Navy is overlooking well of course because times are hard with the war going in Malak's favor for the moment.
Carth makes his way back to the rundown apartments where he hid his companion, a supposedly raw recruit, and the same man fought his way through an entire unit of Sith troopers while side tracking around a handful of Dark Jedi. The man's comrade had not been so lucky, but given the injuries the survivor had he thought the other man must have felt it necessary for one of them to escape. The doors close behind him after he enters the apartment.
Rental fees were practically non-existent, but the landlord found his way of getting the dues to keep the patrols out of his tenements. However Sith security is stepping up with space battle earlier this week. Rumors are rampant on the street and Carth did his best to blend in with the crowds. The stranger finally seems to be coming around so Carth offers up some bottled water to him.
"Thanks for the water… between blasters, blades, and those pale faces with the light sabers, I figured why not sleep it off, but damn they got him, the last time I ever saw anyone cut down in front of me was by a boma on Dxun a few years back…"
"You sure do get around… by the way I am Carth Onasi, military adviser, well former adviser to the Jedi team aboard the recently destroyed Endar Spire."
"I take it from the fact that you probably dragged or carried me from the wrecked escape pod that we have been in hiding here for a few days…"
"Four days and change… other pods have been reported crashing further down in the lower levels of the city… Bastila, hopefully and some of the others made it down safely… as for us, we are on our own and need to find who we can and then get off this planet without running into Sith trouble, if possible…"
"Some plan you got there Carth… however I am guessing we are short in the weapons department aside from what you salvaged from the pod before the search teams go to it…"
"You don't miss much for a guy that was under the gun for four days…"
"I am quick on my 'feet' if you want to think of that way…"
The two ate what little food they had for a meal, which is thankfully filling enough despite being somewhat lacking in taste. Both use the few amenities available that still function. Carth offers a fresh set of clothes considering the tattered state of the stranger's original outfit plus Carth had used some of it for bandages along with whatever he could find for cleaning wounds.
"My name is Borden, plain simple Borden, though people are naturally suspicious given my occupation before this war. I mean working as a soldier has its perks, but they chose to overlook my record and my lack of personal history given the need for recruits."
"Some new twist in things every day… so you ready to check out the surroundings for bearings?"
Carth and Borden in decent disguises exit into the corridor to see the janitor shuffling his supply cart the other way. A pair of Duros are being held up by an unexpected Sith patrol, which means the keep is a non-factor today. The human officer leading the combat droids looks up to see them just beyond the Duros. One droid shoots through one of the Duros at Borden. Borden instinctively folds into a kneeling position as he holsters his blasters and whips out a vibroblade. The droids are unprepared for the quickness of his attacks and what's left of them is in pieces as the human officer aims his blaster at Borden.
The officer is hit before he can squeeze the trigger as Carth uses the man's focus on Borden against him. Borden takes what he can from the man's uniform including his sidearm, which is fortunately a non-military issue blaster so if he uses it, it will not be quickly identified by future attackers. Borden looks to the remaining Duros with a questioning look of concern. Carth advances to Borden's crouched form.
"He says we need not worry about the remains, others will help hide them from potential search parties, but this particular officer is not terribly popular and as you know Sith killings within the ranks is not uncommon…"
"Sounds good to me, ask if there any civilian supply shops in the area…"
"Two, the nearer of the two is Equipment Emporium, and the other is a Medical Clinic run by Zelka Forn, he might know something about Republic survivors…"
The two men head off first to the Emporium to stock-up on more supplies before heading towards the Clinic. The Upper City South Concourse is a hive of activity despite the troopers patrolling the walkways. Transports are visibly landing and departing from the military base's landing pads without being shot down by any warships orbiting the planet. Both realize that auto-targeting protocols assure indiscriminate destruction. However the proper codes would ensure protection against the auto-turrets, but not from ship to ship weapons.
"One problem at a time, we will deal with that when the time comes" whispers Borden.
"You a mind reader too?" chuckles Carth.
"Minds alike here!" laughs Borden.
Strange looks from the locals is enough to almost unnerve them, but Borden diverts his attention from the Tarisians to Forn's assistant who is behind the desk near the Clinic's entrance. They politely nod as the younger man eyes an opportunity in them. Carth engages Zelka in conversation as Borden takes notice of the sealed double doors beyond the standard bio-beds. He fiddles with the locking mechanism and doors eventually slide apart revealing occupied Kolto tanks in the next room. Zelka runs towards and activates the door manual release to reseal the doors.
"What do you think you are doing? Those men are not to be disturbed, and I cannot risk any further Sith investigations into my offices…" whispers Zelka.
"Those are Republic soldiers" murmurs Carth.
"You couldn't know that unless you two are…"
"You did the right thing…" remarks Borden.
"I am glad some of the men ended up in the right hands…" continues Carth.
Zelka heaves a sigh of relief and sits down in a nearby chair as the three continue to talk with the office door locked to keep any wandering eyes or curious minds away.
"What is this disease you speak of that's afflicting the lower levels?"
"Rakghouls…when they attack their victims, the victims become new carriers, and then they attack more, essentially it's an epidemic for the Undercity Outcast population…"
"Are there any known treatments or a cure for this?"
"Medical section of the local military base was working on something before the Sith stepped up their occupation, so any Sith soldiers sent to the lower levels will likely be carrying some sort of protection against the disease… possibly the cure…"
"We could try getting it for you…"
"No, no, please…"
"Well I think we should get going, things to do, people to see…"
Borden and Carth make their way towards the street as the assistant grips Borden's forearm. Borden tugs it away from the man who has that greed proposition look on his face. Carth keeps watch on the passing soldiers while Borden listens to the man's proposal before dismissing it out of hand while the man berates him for dismissing a profitable opportunity. Borden turns back toward the man with an agitated look on his face.
"My decisions are mine, what I do with it, if I find it, is my call and you should learn to mind your own business, I have had enough with the likes of you thinking you know best for others, it may profit you whomever can afford it, but who are you to decide who lives or dies?"
Carth widens his stare at Borden as he paces away from the disturbed assistant. A recon of the elevator to the Lower City reveals a Sith guard watching the lift, which eliminates overcoming given the Sith numbers on the street. The newly minted Sith base is further down the concourse leading out of the area near the elevator to the Lower City. The two men head towards the Upper City Cantina after overhearing that Sith officers and troopers are regulars there during their off-hours.
The music is loud enough for a cantina and the customers are mostly humans while the Cantina's staff consists of Bith musicians and Twi'lek dancers. Carth orders two Correlian ales while Borden keeps an eye out for any potential plain clothes Siths. Borden catches the attention of a woman calling herself Sarna, a Tarisian native serving in the Sith detachment. She expresses a certain kind of loneliness unfulfilled by the tense males she has been serving with lately. An invitation to an evening party at Sarna's apartment in Upper City North Apartments is a surprise to Carth, but almost chuckles discovering that his part smuggler, part soldier friend is a persuasive sort.
Sarna looks back at the men as she exits with the other Siths, and winks at Borden, he nearly grins unknowingly. She smiles as the double doors behind her at the Cantina's exit. Borden then notices a gathering talking about the Dueling Arena run by the Cantina. He heads over offering to sign up for the duels, which for a moment alarms Carth. The Hutt, Ajuur, if Carth follows Borden's Huttese translation correctly, and learns he is using the Stranger as a fighter alias, so side money without possible recognition by any Siths in the crowd or watching from the fighters' lounge.
Carth watches from the monitors along with the crowd that could not get seats inside the arena. The guy that went down easy in a previous match emerges from the doorway beneath the left side of the arena. The commentator announces his arrival though most already sense the outcome, but the match is a necessary for Borden to move up the ranks to earn more credits. Carth shakes his head almost knowing the entire outcome, not just for this round, but the probability that Borden is going to wipe the floor in a non-lethal capacity.
"In this corner, I give you Dead-Eye Duncan… and in the far corner, the Mysterious Stranger, a shadowy figure, with no history, no past, and no name… opportunities abound here today folks…. And the fight is on!"
Dead-Eye is down before Borden even breaks a sweat, but the crowd loves a taste of things to come with any new fighters. The follow-up match Gerlon Two-Fingers does little to convince the commentator about the 'Stranger', but the duels with Ice and Marl swing the odds in favor of the 'Stranger.' The reigning champion, a Rodian called Twitch is the only one left, and is eager for a fight if Carth understood Borden's previous opponents' betting comments.
"The rising star, the Mysterious Stranger, faces the best this arena has to offer from Twitch, so tonight only one of these two fighters will carry the title, will Twitch remain king or will this stranger take the throne from him? Wait and see…"
Borden true to form studies Twitch's body language in an effort to find a rhythm to his opponent's movements. The Rodian tosses non-lethal grenades, which Borden dodges and lands directly in front of Twitch with vibroblades drawn in full view. Twitch brings his own melee weapon to bear in response. The crowd's shouting becomes increasingly louder yet Borden leads the dance of blades as if not hearing them at all. Carth's eyes show signs of increased amazement at this man's not-so hidden talents especially in combat though his suspicions about Borden have not been entirely taken down either.
Twitch falls face flat, Borden pulls back after catching the look of the crowd after nearly beating the Rodian senseless despite the non-lethal purpose of the duels. The commentator announces the 'Stranger' as the new dueling champion. Borden returns the vibroblades to the upside down sheaths on his back. He makes a humbled victory stance before exiting the arena to pick up the winnings from Ajuur. The fighters express mixed reactions to his triumph against Twitch, but Twitch expresses some measure of admiration by saying struggle defines life.
Carth adds the winnings to their credit stash and as they near the exit Carth nearly flinches seeing a man in a Neo-Crusader uniform. Borden notices the golden armor uniform worn by the man Carth is looking at they near the exit/entry to the Cantina. Borden catches the man looking directly at him so he returns the stare before the man can unnerve him any further.
"I saw you in the ring 'Stranger', very impressive between Marl and Twitch, especially that Twitch, the Rodian has kept everyone in their place, but I miss the real matches from the old days, I bet Ajuur probably mentioned me after you beat Twitch…"
"He did mention the name Bendak Starkiller, I am betting that's you and you want to fight me?"
"You are quick with the blade and the tongue; you do have the look of warrior about you despite the looks these cushy civilians give you when you are not looking in their general direction…"
"It would be interesting to match myself against you though that kind of fighting, the so-called lethal was banned for the death rates over time… I would talk to Ajuur about it, getting a death match would probably cost him so that the government does not come and shut this place down…"
"Right, perhaps we should see him together if you really want to do this…"
Carth shakes his head at what the two of them are proposing to do together, which leave one of them dead and other somewhat richer for the duel. Borden and Bendak head back towards Ajuur's office near the fighters' lounge. The Hutt laughs and agrees to their offer though it will take time to handle the details to get this fight setup without outside interference. Borden tells Carth the news, but the fight will take time to arrange given the legalities surrounding banned death matches.
"I really thought a handful of touch duels would be enough for you, how am I suppose to get Bastila and get off this planet if you are dead!"
"Carth, I am not going to let Bendak kill me, I intend to survive this, I know any circumstances, especially this, would definitely make such an action seem suicidal… but I am worn out for the time being though there is that party Sarna invited me too that's tonight, so you coming or there is something else you want to take on while I am out?"
"I might as well tag along keep one of us sober enough to walk home from whatever happens there tonight…"
Bastila resumes meditating once the guards have left the room after Brejik made another visit to her. Her strength is returning more so, but escape at this juncture depends upon someone surviving the Spire's destruction in order to come after her. She overhears Brejik in a meeting with other gang leaders as he is attempting to curry favor for an eventual move against another gang, one refer to as the Beks by one of her guards. If any Sith still continue the search for her then these gangs were liable to be casualties in the search, making all the more important to get away from here as soon as possible.
"Force, I need someone to help me" she whispers as she wipes away her tears.
Memories flood her thoughts as she tries to concentrate on meditation. Her thoughts fill with flashes of her early years on Talravin, being brought to the Jedi, training alongside other Jedi including Revan, and other events from the recent past. She breaks down between memories, and struggles to muffle her crying. One of the guard watchers comes in to check on her, and she looks up at him with tears streaming down her face. He sits down the bed with her and offers her a fresh towel to cry on, which she accepts with an almost smile.
"Thank you…" she manages to say at last.
"Keep it, you need it more than me, but they will be back and it would be best if I am not seen, I work for the Beks, more specifically Gadon's head of security, if any of your friends have a chance of getting you back its Gadon and the Beks…"
As if a blur, the man disappears after activating a concealed stealth belt around his waist. Bastila's tears have become more of hope and less of sadness for the moment. She drifts off to sleep again with the conviction that she will be found and then they slip out past the Sith blockade somehow. Brejik's meeting with the other gang leaders ends early in the evening. The guards rotate for the late watch, and Bastila turns over as the dreams are again blurring through time.
A trio of Vulkars arrives with a case for Brejik, and Brejik knowingly smiles that his plan is coming together. However it takes very little to make any plan fall apart, but it would seem for the moment that Brejik has forgotten or chosen to ignore much of what Gadon had taught him during their time together. Brejik was never one for being a student or a lieutenant forever and the Vulkars was his solution to becoming the teacher and the boss in the same blow.
Borden and Carth emerge from the elevator into the sleeker corridors of the Upper City North Apartments. The off-duty Sith troopers were already at or arriving at Sarna's apartment. Carth warns him about drinking too much or the wrong thing because it would make getting out difficult if they were caught swiping the uniforms. Borden tries to reassure him as they come towards the open doorway to Sarna's place. She spots Borden and drags him while giggling from a slight intoxication.
Carth nervously smiles while mentally checking that both of them are still carrying enough firepower to get out of here if the Sith decide to pull anything. Although he begins to notice most of them are unarmed and getting drunk quickly. Some are already passing out from the drinks, specifically Tarisian ale, which someone at the Cantina had advised against when Carth had been ordering their drinks earlier today.
A few hours and a few drinks later nearly everyone is either out cold or some left in tow of some less intoxicated party goers. Carth pulls out the shoulder bag he taken from the apartment next door to theirs back in the Upper City South. He slips a pair of trooper uniforms into it as he notices Sarna rolling the other way on the floor, but Borden assures him with a glance that she is still in a hangover snooze. They quietly sneak out and head back towards the elevator slowly as Borden is a little out of it. A man can be overheard fretting over some sort of financial problem in the apartment next to the elevator.
"I suppose you are going to want to check that out?" whispers Carth.
"Might as well since we are still up here for the moment, you got the credits with you?"
"I got some of it; I left the rest back at the apartment locked inside the workbench…"
"I would have kept it on us, not that I don't trust the tenements there, but people can be greedy if they know someone's packing…" remarks Borden.
Borden enters the worry man's apartment and he stumbles backwards reaching for a rolled up stack of papers as if thinking to use them as a weapon. Borden characteristically raises his hands trying to show he means no harm. The two talk for a bit before Borden lends the man the necessary credits to get this so-called Exchange boss off his back. On the ride down, Carth starts voicing more concerns especially since this is the third, maybe fourth time that the Exchange has been mentioned in passing.
"This Davik Kang is obviously well connected if he can scare merchants, recruit mercenaries, embezzle Hutts, and employ bounty hunters…" says Carth.
"Kang is the local boss, this Exchange is bigger than him, but yes he has a grip on things here, we need to head back, get some rest before we head down to the Lower City to found out more about Bastila…" continues Borden.
"Don't forget that death match of yours with Starkiller…" chuckles Carth.
"I haven't, and you laughing at that? Yesterday you were ready slam me for being a fool to agreed or be a part of that scheme…" replies Borden.
"After a day or so with you, I can expect we are going to be up to our necks in things like that from now…" responds Carth.
Later that morning the crowds flow into the circular arena's seating areas and more numbers crowd the monitors in the pazaak den, the fighters' lounge, and any other monitor rooms in the Upper City Cantina. Bendak is already waiting in the lounge for them as they arrive and Ajuur wants a pre-fight chat with his prize fighters. The two share a sentimental moment before heading to their respective entry points to the arena. Carth gains special seating as a friend of the 'Stranger' who is going to fight the real dueling champion of Taris.
"In this arena, for one match only, there are two fighters fighting to the death, the kind of brawl that has banned from here for practically a decade, the recent victor known as the Stranger and a past shadow returning, Bendak Starkiller… and the fight begins…"
Bendak lobs multiple grenades at Borden who rapidly dodges each in quick succession before brandishing his blades, which follows with Bendak pulling out blades as well. The blades clash sparking against each other and neither seems to be giving any ground though they remain intent on taking the other out. Borden finds his opening and knocks one blade from Bendak's grip. Bendak compensates by knocking not one, by both of Borden's blades away.
Borden instinctively dives backwards retrieving one of the blades though appearing not to so when Bendak moves in for the killing stroke, Borden hits the man's lower leg causing him to stumble. Borden gets back to his feet in the process of recovering his other blade. The blade fighting resumes as the crowd cheering becomes deafening though Borden like yesterday tunes them out as if intently focusing on only Bendak.
In a blur of swipes, Bendak swerves sideways then straight down with a cut across his chest and some cuts across the rest of his body. Borden knows that the man prefers a quick death so he commits without entirely knowing it, the Mandalorian death ritual for the wounded or dying warrior. He leans down to Bendak to hear his last words. Bendak whispers for him to come closer and reassuring he will not harm the victor of the match.
"It was a good fight, you fought well, and never a more worthy opponent then you, you have many battles ahead of you strange warrior, now go, the journey starts here with my death… honor this well…" whispers Bendak.
"I shall, you too have fought well, lived well, and met the last struggle with honor"
Bendak sharply exhales as Borden returns to his feet caked in blood and cuts from the blade clash. The crowds in the arena seats and the viewing rooms in the Cantina fill the air. Borden exits carrying what is permitted to the victor of the death match. Ajuur also pays him his share of the winnings. Borden and Carth return again to the apartment to clean up. As they head out again from the apartment, Borden spots a woman running into the apartment next to theirs with a troubled look on her face.
"Not again…" mutters Carth.
"Bastila can wait a little longer; this woman may need our help too…"
Borden finds this woman like the merchant has had a bounty put on her too except by one of Davik's goons whom she fought off for attempting to force her to go somewhere alone with him. Afterwards their disguises convince the Sith guards at the elevator to allow them access to the lift. The descent takes several minutes so while heading down they switch back to their regular armored mercenary look. The doors open and they step keeping a close watch for any spotting their arrival.
As they near the intersection ahead six guys are brawling towards the left. The three that were probably caught in an ambush are cut down with relative ease and their attackers turn their attention to them. Borden whips out his blades while Carth covers him with blaster fire. The trio is cut down and they move after examining the two sides' uniforms. Another Cantina is further down the curving corridor and along the opposite side stands a woman wearing a jumpsuit similar to the ones worn by the guys killed by their recent attackers.
They turn towards the Cantina, Rodian bouncer gestures them entrance, an already obvious difference from the Upper City where the bouncer had been replaced by a pair of Sith troopers. The layout is nearly identical its Upper City counterpart aside from the scoring, the flickering lights, and the more diverse crowd species wise though naturally nobody from the upper levels would be found here. A trio of Vulkars is pestering a man of short stature who has just thrown a primed thermal detonator. The man fires two single shots from his blasters.
The Vulkars fly backwards to the floor while the detonator leaves new blast marks. Carth side steps one way and Borden steps the other allowing the guy to pass them by without a sound. The crowd looks at the dead Vulkars, then at them, and somebody mutters something about the guy that left, Calo Nord's specialty groans the bartender. More Vulkars on the other side of the Cantina are bothering a female Twi'lek who is trying to give an order to one of the waiters working behind the bar.
"This isn't a place fot little girls unless they want up on that stage dancing for us…"
"Mind your own business bantha poodoo..."
"Watch your tongue unless you want to lose it!"
"Big Z… could use some help here…"
"Our business is with you, not the Wookiee!"
The Wookie, Big Z, lumbers over making all sorts of sounds. Borden raises his arm in front of Carth for a moment before they continue forward to just beyond the Vulkars turning to face Big Z. Then their leader turns back towards the girl. She holds her space.
"My trouble is with you not him…"
"You got a problem with me; you got a problem with Big Z…"
Two of the Vulkars fall back while the third curses at her, but she does not respond in kind or force aside from glaring at him. Borden and Carth slowly approach them and Big Z steps aside when his food arrives at the table nearby. The girl turns to greet them. She is remarkably capable with languages like Borden, which surprises both men, Carth more so than Borden.
"Welcome to the Lower City, My name is Mission Vao, and he is my friend Zaalbar, or as I call him Big Z, what can I do for you?" says the girl.
"My name is Borden, and this is Carth, we are looking for someone, she is probably down here or somewhere in lower depths of the city, we suspect that someone may have found her before we could…"
"You need to speak to Gadon about this; I have heard rumors about people crashing down here in the past couple of days…"
"So how did you two fall in together?" asks Borden.
"I came here years ago with my brother, and Z, well he does not like talk about it much, though you can probably tell why some of the time from the look in his eyes when someone makes off hand comments about him… the only place he seems to feel more homey at is with the Beks, Gadon's people…"
"It is good to see people still finding a way to be there for each other especially in these times…"
"We do our best, well we best get going, time for some adventure eh Z?"
Mission and Zaalbar head for the pazaak den before leaving the Cantina. Borden heads towards the pleasure lounge in search of Dia's bounty source. Carth keeps an eye out from the entrance to the lounge. The man strikes Carth as a coward and decides to put his word on the table too. He grabs the fellow by his shirt and glares at him before saying something he had not said to anyone in a long time.
"What kind of person do you think you are? That you can put a bounty on someone just because they are tired of you treating them like dirt, that they should happen to 'embarrass' you in front of your 'friends'? Huh? Answer me dammit!"
"Pal, get this nut off me…"
"One, I am not your pal, two, you are a lowlife, and three, you are going to take that bounty off Dia because otherwise when your friends hear about what may happen to her then they will hear from us that you hired a bounty hunter to kill her for you…"
"Well when you put it that way, I sound like a wimp, but she still is an insult to me…"
"Get this through your thick skull, the bounty is gone, you are gone, and she is left alone!"
The spooked stooge runs off to cancel the bounty while Carth recomposes himself. Whatever Carth is not saying to Borden is gradually becoming obvious to him that something in the recent past is at the heart of his friend's troublesome mind. Three bounties gone and two remain according to Zax, the Hutt running the bounty office in the Cantina. The two that are left are for Selven, a bounty hunter that is making trouble for the Lower City's non-gang population among other things, and the other is one of Kang's missing lieutenants, a Twi'lek named Matrik.
Selven proves to be a temporary brawl as she first tries to dissuade them by fear, but tips the other way when hearing why they were looking for her. They eventually find Matrik alive and well though in hiding. However Carth stays behind with Matrik while Borden buys a permacrete detonator pack. He returns after cautiously sneaking the pack back down the lift after bypassing the guards by lying about why is he packing explosives. Matrik and Carth sigh in relief as he lumbers in slightly exhausted from the weight of the explosives.
The detonators are set and the trio retreats to the corridor as the ceiling caves in from the explosion. The Twi'lek bows in thanks and they make a slight return gesture. Borden and Matrik lock arms together to conduct a forearm shake before he leaves to find a way off-world aboard a transport bound for Manaan, a neutral world that has a Republic Embassy. He is a character witness for the Republic's attempt to cripple the Exchange's operations in the Outer Rim. Afterwards, the men return to Zax to collect the remaining bounties, but the explosion was enough to convince Zax of Matrik's 'demise.'
"On the one hand, you were willing to kill a bounty hunter yet you made a point of helping a witness against Kang and aid an escape from death by organization hit?"
"Bounty hunters have their uses, but not when they disrupt the lives of everyone for the sake of money whereas people who risk their lives to bring justice need all the help they can get even if means faking their death to do so…"
"Cannot say I disagree with that kind of morality, I just find myself almost beyond surprising until you do stuff like this…"
"I think its time to see Gadon about Bastila…"
The door lady allows them pass after Borden offers his help against the Vulkars. An older female Twi'lek flanks Gadon on the far side of the main room of the Hidden Beks base. Borden approaches with Carth flanking him to right and slightly back a few steps. The female Twi'lek steps out in front of Gadon's desk.
"If you are after Gadon, you will have to go through me off-worlder!"
"Calm down Zaerdra!" commands Gadon.
"We mean no harm, and we do not work for the Sith…" replies Carth.
"They could be spies, Sith or Vulkar!" retorts Zaerdra.
"They are not, if the Sith were after me or us, a whole battalion would be breaking down our doors, as for Vulkars, not even Brejik would be that stupid…"
"The accelerator was stolen, remember!"
"I know… now I would like talk these gentlemen in private, I am sure they mean no harm, I may have lost my sight, but I am not blind…"
Carth stands shoulder to shoulder with Zaerdra awaiting the return of Borden and Gadon from Gadon's secured penthouse beneath the base. Carth had been sent back up after the two had told him to let them discuss their arrangement alone. Carth understood Borden's tendencies to allow him a free run of the deals so long as Borden kept him in the loop. The private lift doors open as Borden exits ahead of Gadon with his hands out in the open to the watching eyes of a team of Bek soldiers backing Zaerdra after learning that their leader had taken an off-worlder below alone.
"The off-worlders will help us recover the accelerator in exchange for us helping them in the recovery of their comrade Bastila, now my infiltrator in the Vulkars has told me that she has been moved several times since our first sighting of her a few days ago…"
"I take it she will probably be kept somewhere manageable by them until the race, so we get your accelerator back and we get her back…"
"Almost, you Borden will have to pilot the swoop bike for us, the accelerator given its prototype state has overload potential, so you will have to ride the swoop, if you crash or something else, then one of my riders will finish the run, and your friend here will have your comrade back…"
"You cover all your bases…"
"I have not led the Beks all this time without being aware of the risks, but I have a feeling you will do fine, you have the look of a rider about you off-worlder… to get into the base through the backdoor you will need Mission's expertise…"
"You are going to send Mission on this fool's errand with them; she is just a girl…"
"She's fourteen now Zaerdra, I know you have your reasons for objecting, but I believe she is ready, and besides she wants, deserves to be treated like a capable sort by now…"
"We saw her earlier in Jayvar's Cantina, but we would not know where to look for her now…"
"They go trawling about in the Under City from time to time; I would check there, if not there, I would suggest the Sewers run underneath there… I would be more careful than usual since the Sith, the Outcasts, and the Rakghouls are down there too…"
"After all we have been through in the last few days; I cannot say I would feel surprise by things that are going to happen beyond this moment," remarks Borden.
The two men set off after exchanging the trooper uniforms for swapped security papers to allow them pass the checkpoint to the Under City. The lift doors close behind them. The guard shakes his head thinking idiots keep going down to die for nothing. Carth checks his firearms while Borden sharpens his blades since the descent will take and Carth emerge from the lift with their weapons hidden from view again. Two males in tattered clothes claim themselves as toll keepers, asking for credits, which Borden gives them, far more then their asking amount. A woman approaches after shooing their welcoming committee away.
"Forgive the appearance in which we greet you."
"Need not worry; I am searching for a Twi'lek and her Wookiee companion."
"They were here recently, but you best speak to Gendar or Rukil for more information."
"Who are they?"
"Gendar is the village leader while Rukil is the village elder or storyteller."
"Thank you for the information."
"Is it a beautiful place above us upworlder?"
"It can be as long as you see beyond what you are seeing."
"It must be wonderful to see it through your eyes."
"Best to see it through your own if you are ever up there."
"I doubt that, but we as a people have learned the hard way what our place is."
"It need not always be so."
The Outcast population has long since held to the opinion that their fate is to be stuck here, but as the woman tells them there have always been stories of a Promised Land. However only Rukil, the village elder maintains this belief in particular as he descends from the family that perpetuates a need to believe in something more than a dark place made from a certainty of the misery and suffering.
A/N 1: My player character or MC is an enigmatic soldier named Borden who Captain Onasi finds capable though naturally Carth will not easily be won over to the idea that Borden is more than just a soldier who just happens to be a survivor of the his previous command's destruction.
A/N 2: I condensed a lot of sidequests into shorter spans of time given that Borden is well a very talented soldier more than he suspects or anyone else for that matter. Including the Upper Cantina duels and the Lower Cantina bounties, of course Borden is somewhat light sided oriented without really trying, generally I found it too against my own judgment to be a bad guy though of course making the apparent right or light sided decisions were never always a walk in the park either.
A/N 3: Borden unknowingly clears off half of the bounties before learning about the rest of them and even then he does what he feels is right. His behavior continues to puzzle Carth of course, but Carth has generally come to suspect the worst in others for whatever reasons that are later revealed.
A/N 4: Bastila while no damsel in distress per se, she is still not quite as able to effect her own escape however I did want to portray how she might be in captivity without making her look completely helpless. As for Mission, she is tough yet capable self with backup in the form of strong yet silent Zaalbar. Both major swoop gangs appear as well as the mention of the plague and entering the Undercity at the end of this segment.