The trio left the apartment nearly an hour later. It had taken far longer to leave than expected, mainly due to Carth's continued protests of having to be the one with a blaster pointed at his head.

"We have been over this fly-boy. Neither myself nor our fearless leader here can play the part, we will be immediately recognized in the Upper City. Besides, with your whiny and quite frankly, somewhat irritating personality you are ideal for the part. Most will think we arrested you just to be rid of your constant complaining."

When they finally managed to leave their hideout, the sun was just beginning to set on the city. Long shadows cast by the massive buildings lined the streets, warning the citizens that night was fast approaching. The streets were far less crowded than they had been earlier, as the citizens had no desire to be out in the streets after dark. Tensions on the planet were high due the Sith quarantine, and the people were very distrustful of those who had taken over their plant by force.

Talan and Ice, dressed in the uniforms they had swiped earlier, walked on either side of their prisoner Carth. Carth kept shooting nervous glances at the blaster that Ice had pointed directly at him. Even though the girl had held to her word thus far, he seemed no closer to trusting her then joining the Sith.

Talan had to admit that he was curious about her. She had not given them her real name or any indication of who she was really was, apart from the fact that she was Bastila's sister, and that appeared to be a very sore subject. He couldn't help but wonder what had driven the two to hate each other so much, clearly it was something that was enough to warrant a life-long feud between them. He decided it was better to drop the subject, he was sure he would find out more when they found Bastila. If they ever found her. He silently prayed that Ice's plan would work.

Nobody bothered them on the way to the elevator. The citizens just assumed that Carth was another thug who had found himself on the wrong side of the two guards escorting him, and nobody dared to interfere with Sith business.

"State your business." The guard said lazily when they finally reached the elevator.

"Caught this one trying to start up a rebellion in the Cantina." Talan said nudging Carth in the side with his blaster. "We're dumping him off on the Undercity and leaving him to the Rakghouls."

"Why not just take him to the holding cells?" The guard asked suspiciously.

Talan shrugged. "Captain's orders. Says the cells are all full up with prisoners from the space battle the other day."

"I don't remember hearing about any prisoners." The guard replied slowly.

"That is hardly our concern is it?" Ice snapped. "Perhaps you would prefer to call the captain on the com-link and ask him these incessant questions?"

"Why you..." the guard began, but seemed to think better if it. "Fine, fine. Just be on your way."

"Good boy." Ice said stepping into the turbo lift.

Talan heard the guard mutter something under his breath about females and banthas before the door closed with a soft hiss.

"I can't believe that worked."Carth said grinning slightly.

"Neither can I." Ice admitted. "Your acting is horrid."

"What? I didn't say a word!"

"Exactly! You looked far too relaxed. Most people do not stand about looking bored while being escorted by two Sith officers. The one time it might actually be prudent for you to protest is the one time you actually bite your tongue."

"At least I didn't decide to play 'Who's the dominant Kath hound.' " Carth protested.

"You haven't dealt with many Sith have you fly-boy? It's survival of the fittest within their world. If you back down from a confrontation of any sort then you won't last eleven seconds. Better to play the dominant Kath hound, than to be eaten by him."

Talan ignored them. Their constant bickering was driving him to madness, and he thought it best to tune them out and try to plan out their next move.

The easy part was over. But now they were leaving the safety of the Upper City and going to the gang ridden Lower City. He had confidence that the three of them could handle a few thugs, that didn't worry him. His main concern was how they were going to find Bastila. He doubted any of the gang members would be willing to talk, and he was against using torture to get information. He tried to push those thoughts from his mind, he would cross that bridge when he got to it.

The elevator slowed and eventually came to a stop with a slight jerk. Talan could sense the change even before the doors opened. The air was thick with the smell of garbage and hard living. He could practically feel the desperation of the people that lived in the streets.

The doors opened and the party stepped into the streets. It was far worse than Talan could have imagined. The few lights that lined the streets were dimly lit, flickering on and off in a rather ominous fashion. Trash lined the streets, while both humans and aliens alike could be seen rummaging though the dumpsters hoping to find something edible.

"This place makes Nar Shadaa look like a paradise." Carth said shaking his head.

"These are the lucky ones." Ice said, her voice unusually soft. "The ones sent off to the Undercity are the ones who don't usually live past the week. The ones that do, wish that they hadn't."

A small group of people had gathered off to their left, and by the looks of it, it was not a friendly get-together.

"The Beks are old news, the Vulkars are in control of these streets."

"Vulkars are murderers and scum bags. We'll show you who is strongest."

The group drew their weapons and blaster fire echoed through the streets, causing the nearby scavengers to run in fear. Within seconds, three of the gang members called the Beks were dead and the survivors were ransacking their corpses.

"The hospitality on this planet never ceases to amaze me." Carth said quietly.

One of the surviving thugs overheard him and looked up from the body he had been looting. "Sith are not welcome here!"

"Damn." Ice said drawing her blasters.

The street thugs were easily taken out by the trio, but the fight was nevertheless unsettling. They had barely set foot in the Lower City and they had already been attacked and gotten on the wrong side of the street gang.

"That can't be a good sign." Talan said swiping his blade clean.

"What now?" Carth asked.

"Well, we seemed to have lucked out in the cantina last time. Seems as good a place as any."

"If I might offer a warning." Ice interrupted. "The locals here are far less sociable then those on the upper levels, and even less tolerant of the Sith. I suggest we change out of these atrocious uniforms and keep a low profile."

Talan nodded. "Good idea. Two Sith entering the cantina might draw unwanted attention. We should keep our ears open and see if we can find anything out."

Hopefully things went as easily as they said. So far however, things had proven to be far more difficult and they could hardly afford to have anymore encounters like this.

The stench of the Lower City streets was incomparable to the overwhelming smell of the lower cantina. Talan was nearly knocked back as an invisible cloud carrying the smell of alcohol and stale vomit swept over him. Humans and aliens from every race occupied every space of the cantina that seemed to be held together by nothing more than the peeling paint on the walls.

"I've seen Sith holding cells more pleasant than this place." Carth said, looking a noticeable shade of green.

"Welcome to the Lower City's idea of entertainment," Ice said casually. "The thugs and slime balls come here when they tire of harassing street urchins and cripples."

Glass could be heard breaking from somewhere in the depths of the cantina followed by angry shouts in Rodese. Talan couldn't catch all of what was said, but he was sure that there was a rather vulgar reference that was made in regards to the offender's mother.

"Seems like a friendly lot." Talan said with ill disguised sarcasm.

"Consider yourself lucky, Stranger. Most days you cannot get past the doors without a blaster being clumsily pointed at your head. This is considered to be a lull."

Somehow that thought did nothing to ease Talan's growing sense of concern.

"Well, what's the plan?" Carth asked without taking his eyes off the crowd. For once Talan could understand his sense of distrust, but he thought better of telling him this.

"You two are going to wait here." Ice said matter-of-factly.

"While you do what? Carth asked with what could be interpreted as curiosity or suspicion.

"You didn't think I would blindly stroll into a place such as this without the slightest idea of what I was doing did you?"

"I just thought we were making things up as we went." Talan said with a smirk.

Talan and Carth headed for the bar, taking what appeared to be the only available seats in the entire place while Ice disappeared into the crowd. Nobody paid the two men any attention as they sat which was the only comforting thing to happen to them thus far.

They did their best to blend in and act natural as they surveyed the various patrons, looking for anyone or anything that could possibly help them.

"What does she hope to find here?" Carth said.

"Maybe she has a date." Talan said without looking at him.

"Do you take anything seriously?"

"Try not to. Do you take everything seriously?"

"Try to."

Talan clenched his jaw to keep from commenting. He respected Carth, he had seen more battle than Talan would in his entire life, and clearly his instincts had kept him alive so far. But the constant suspicion was beginning to wear on Talan.

Carth let out a long sigh and ran his hand through his hair. "Look, I know I must seem paranoid and I suppose that's a fair statement. But I want you to know it has nothing to do with you, I just don't trust people. Period."

Talan wasn't sure how to respond so he settled for a stiff nod. Carth opened his mouth to continue but an ear splitting roar shook the walls cutting off any further comment. The entire cantina became instantly silent and the patrons seemed to collectively hold their breath. The course of the commotion was spotted immediately, a Wookiee in the far corner of the cantina was instantly noticeable, towering several feet above even the tallest human.

"What do you think that's about?" Carth asked.

Talan shrugged. "Maybe they got his order wrong."

Chatter gradually began to pick up again and soon the cantina was back to the roar of voices and music. Talan was beginning to get bored and restless and thought that he might get up and wander through the crowd, if nothing else at least he would be moving. He hated sitting still. He had no sooner finished this thought when he felt as if someone was approaching them. He glanced over his shoulder and sure enough three Rodians were headed in their direction. He inched his hand toward his blaster as they approached and debated on how to tell Carth without alerting the Rodians.

"Calo Nord." One of them said as they stepped up behind them

Talan was confused and thought that they had him mistaken for someone else. According to most aliens, all humans looked the same. But a response to his left settled his confusion.

"Go away."

"Is that anyway to treat visitors?" Another of the trio responded. "We need to teach you some manners."

"One." The man named Calo answered.

"One?" Rodian number three asked confused. "What one? What game is this?"

"Two." Calo said cooly.

"I think he's counting how many of us there are against him. Three against one Calo, you're outnumbered and outgunned."

Calo finished off his drink before responding. "Three."

He moved so fast that Talan barely saw what happened. In an instant Calo was on his feet with a blaster in each hand and the three Rodians were lying in a heap on the floor. Talan tried not to stare but he found it impossible. It wasn't the man's skill with a blaster that stunned him, but rather the man's size. He was no bigger than a teenage child and barely reached Talan's chest. Calo either didn't notice or didn't care that every head in the place was turned to him, he simply put his blasters away and casually walked out of the cantina as if nothing had occurred.

"Don't suppose he would give us directions." Carth said as he watched the man walk away.

"Who was that?" Talan asked.

"Calo Nord," Ice answered appearing from nowhere. "The most deadly bounty hunter on this planet and I sincerely hope you did nothing to anger that man. I would rather face a dozen Sith soldiers then spend one minute alone with him."

"Well?" Carth interrupted. "Did you find anything?"

Ice pulled a bundle of papers out of her belt and threw them on the counter in front of the two men. "What are these?" Talan asked as he picked them up.

"Your ticket to the Undercity. Papers used by the Sith when they go between the Lower and Upper City, just show these to the guard and we are in."

"How did you get these?" Talan asked grinning. He was beginning to like this girl more and more.

"Mission."

"Accomplished?" Asked Carth.

"Vao. She and her Wookiee friend you heard earlier are the best scoundrels in area, she swiped these off a Sith officer who had a little too much to drink. Once I told her of the situation she gladly handed these over."

"Excellent." Said Talan.

"For a price." Ice continued.

"Of course."

"What's the catch?" Asked Carth.

"There's a big swoop race coming up, one of the less deadly ways that the gangs settle their rivalries. One of the gangs, the Beks, had a rather expensive and original prototype stolen from them and Mission has been working on getting it back. She found a secret entrance into the base of the ones who took it, the Vulkars. She needed the help, we needed the papers. So I offered our services."

"You want us to help a street gang of all things?" Carth asked exasperated.

"A street gang that helps those that help them. I know Gadon, if we bring him his precious prototype he will give us any reward we want. Unfortunately in this case that "reward" is my sister. I'd rather have the Rakghoul disease but I suppose it's a good thing the decision is not up to me."

"A trustworthy street gang." Carth muttered. "Now I've heard everything."