---Time for another fast forward, don't you think?---
I sighed as I walked in the Undercity of Taris, feeling horrible for the terrible lifestyle these people must have. I wish there was some way I could help, but not enough credits in the world could make these people happy, but I had to find Mission Vao. She alone was the only person who could get Carth and I into the Black Vulkar base for the prototype swoop accelerator engine. I approached a man and a woman by what I assumed to be the gates.
"Please, you have to open it!" The woman implored.
"I..I can't, the rhakouls are too close! He won't make it." This man wanted to open the gates, but he needed to think of the villagers.
"He will make it! Run Hendar run!" The woman threw herself against the gates, screaming for her lover to run.
"Open the gates." I drawled, flexing my arms.
"I'll open them but you have to be quick." The man said.
I nodded and Carth readied his blasters and by the time the man opened the gates, the rhakouls were close and ready to pounce on Hendar. Carth and I dived through the small opening the gatekeeper had made for us, and I instantly drove my vibroblade into one of the disgusting creature's head. He howled and hissed and fell over dead. Carth shoved Hendar through the gates as I finished off the last of the rhakouls.
"You're brave upworlder, braver than I." He chuckled as we watched the young couple happily skip off together, holding hands.
"I'm just glad I could help." I replied with a smile and walked back outside.
"Service with a smile." Carth remarked when the gatekeeper was out of earshot.
"Oh shut up you--"
"You have to help me!" A voice cried from behind me. "No one else will help me, not even the Beks! Please!" Mission grabbed my arm roughly and shook me.
"Whoa, Mission slow down." I yelled over her panic screaming. "Tell me what happened."
"They..they got Zaalbar! We were in the sewers, and they came out of no where!"
"Who did Mission? You have to slow down!" Carth yelled, shaking her shoulders roughly.
"Shaking isn't going to do her any good, Carth!" I scolded and took Mission's face into my hands. "Mission, slow down and tell me what happened."
Mission tried to slow her breathing and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Zaalbar and I were exploring in the sewers like we usually do, but this time Gamorrean slave traders were waiting for us. Zaalbar roared for me to run, and I thought he was behind me, but he wasn't! They're going to sell him off, I know it!" She calmly explained, losing her cool at the end.
I remembered Mission's wookiee friend, 'Big Z' as she called him, and it was odd that he would get captured by Gamorreans.
"If I help you find Big Z, will you help us get into the Black Vulkar base?"
"It's a deal." She breathed and dried the remnants of her tears.
"Keep it down over here or you're going to attract--"
I spun around and my mouth opened as I saw the very same Mandalorian from the Lower City.
"Well hello there." I greeted politely.
He smirked at me. "What are you doing down here?" He asked.
"I was just about to ask the same about you." I replied.
"You first."
"I need to get into the Black Vulkar base. Now it's your turn."
"I was hired to clean out this rhakoul-infested hellhole. I don't need to lose any more men, so I'm going topside. See you around." He said brusquely and walked away.
"Catch you on the flipside." I drawled and walked towards the sewer, holding the hatch open for Mission and Carth as I finally hopped in.
"How many more times are we going to run into that guy?" Carth asked as we opened a sewer door.
"As many times as we need to." I retorted as we came face to face with some Rhakouls.
"Oh well." Carth sighed as we took them out.
"Do you remember which way Zaalbar is?" I asked Mission as we headed down a sewer line.
"Yeah, right this way. Just follow me and we'll be there in no time."