Skye wasn't acting as oddly around me anymore, which I was grateful for. We'd both decided not to talk about the previous night, and to get onto the task of getting into the Lower City. Carth had gone out to gather provisions, and Skye had decided to take me out to the Cantina.

Thankfully, when we arrived Yun was nowhere to be seen, and Skye and I had no trouble.

"So, what's the big rush to get into the Lower City?" I asked casually, as Skye and I watched some people playing Paazak. Skye drew her eyes away from the table before smiling at me mischievously.

"I'm afraid Carth would kill me if I told you that" she said before turning back to the table. She seemed even more entranced by the game than I was, and her eyes were quickly calculating.

Once the game was over, we scouted the Cantina together. I noticed neither she nor I bothered to get a drink, and I almost walked into Skye when she abruptly stopped.

"Shall I give it a go?" Skye said, that mischievous air about her voice once more. I craned my neck to see what she was talking about.

The Dueling Ring. Of course! That had been on of my favourite parts about the game, and, it was an easy way to earn a little extra money. A grin made its way across my face and I nodded enthusiastically. Skye chuckled a little before approaching the Hutt sitting on his pedestal.

He began to speak in Huttese, and I gasped. He was definitely speaking in a different language, but... I could understand it. My brain did a backflip. What on Earth was going on? This scenario was getting weirder and weirder. Maybe it's some freaky hallucination?

I physically shook my head. No, this was real. Sort of. After my initial shock, I began to easily listen in to the conversation. And when he asked what name, I was ready. I leant forward, towards Skye.

"What about the Mysterious Stranger?" I said, hopefully, I'd always loved that alias, and I wasn't taking the chance that the Hutt might suggest another one. The Hutt nodded and Skye smiled.

"Mysterious Stranger it is, thanks kid"

I inwardly recoiled at the use of the term kid, but shrugged it off, I was so looking forward to her beating Dead Eye Duncan. I was watching as Skye clipped her vibroblade to her utility belt, and then, made her way to the arena. I was granted a seat because I was her plus one, and I eagerly waited for the match to begin.

My eagerness shrivelled up when the match began. It was brutal. Skye absolutely annihilated the poor guy, and, I was seriously worried about whether the old man had survived or not.

Still, I ran to congratulate Skye, she'd done a good job, even though she had had a worthless opponent. She didn't look fazed at all when she emerged, and we briskly made our way back into the room with the Hutt. He was pleased with her performance and was practically begging her to do another match, but as Skye made very audible, we had to get back, Carth was probably wondering where we were, and I didn't really want him to have an aneurysm from having a panic attack.

I was right, Carth was already back, and he'd been worrying, just like I thought he would have been. He kept going on about how he thought we'd been taken, and when it slipped out what we had actually been doing, he almost blew.

He was actually really concerned, and I smiled at the thought of him and Skye, whom were currently bickering. I cleared my throat, just to make sire they hadn't completely forgotten I was still here.

Both of them turned to look at me and I raised my eyebrow.

"Don't we have somewhere to be, like the Lower City?" My face broke into a smile as I said these words. Carth nodded and briskly walked the length of the room to retrieve the bad full of Sith Uniforms, he handed one to Skye, and another to me.

I felt my heart sink as I looked down at the white armour in my arms. It looked horribly uncomfortable, and a few sizes too large, I mean, I'm quite tall for my age, but... I guess things could be worse.

I carried the armour into the next room to get changed, and as I was taking off my civilian clothing, I realised how long it had been since I washed. Like 3 days. I guess it wasn't that bad, I'd been camping before, and not washed for around two weeks. I shrugged the armour on, and it slided around on my body. I would just have to make do with what I had.

I entered the main room again and was greeted by Skye and Carth, both dressed in the Sith Uniform. The helmets were unbearably uncomfortable, and changed the way my voice sounded.

"We ready?" I said, barely recognising my voice, as it came out sounding lower and muffled.

Carth said something that I couldn't make out, but I took it as a yes as they were both heading out the door, and I jogged to catch up to them. The walk through the city was a lonesome one. People either completely avoided us or gave us dirty looks. No one spoke to us as we made our way to the elevator, and the Sith guard promptly allowed us entrance, wishing luck in our descent.

The elevator was stingy and made a concerning rattling noise that was not helping to calm my nerves at all. I knew what would happen as soon as those doors opened. The elevator faltered to a stop, and Carth and Skye were about to hop out before I pulled them back.

"It's not safe down here, you better be ready for anything coming our way" I said half heartedly, realising my attempt was lame. Skye smiled at me and parts me on the shoulder.

"Nothing I can't handle kid" she said as she pushed the open button on the elevator, revealing three Black Vulkars, and the Beks. I gulped down the fear that was threatening to emerge. I didn't exactly understand why I was so worried, this place was dangerous enough by itself, but we'd never really come across anything that was trying to kill us.

Carth and Skye were quiet during the exchange, and finally, when the Vulkars shot the Beks dead, were they brought into the conversation. The Vulkars pulled their blasters out so fast, I thought we were goners, but Skye and Carth were quicker. There was a spray of blasts and I shielded my face. Carth told me to pull out my blaster. And I did, I wrenched it off my hip, and aimed it at the last Vulkar standing, pulled the trigger, and shot him squarely through the head.

The silence that took place afterwards was broken by the clattering of my blaster on the ground. What had I done?

A buzzing sounded through my ears, and my stomach jolted. I saw the corpse in front of me and shut my eyes. A firm hand gripped my shoulder, and I flung my body around at the touch. It was Carth. And he was looking at me like I was insane.

"Astra, are you alright?" His voice was laced with concern, and I found it difficult to find my voice.

"I've never killed someone before" I croaked, and understanding dawned in his eyes. I knew it wasn't murder, but still an abundance of guilt had suddenly thrown itself on me, and I was too shocked to move.

Carth exchanged a glance with a worried Skye before placing his hands on both my shoulders. He looked uncomfortable, but gave a soft smile.

"Look, kid, it'll be fine, but we should keep going. Let us know if you're not okay" he said weakly, the look in his eyes showing even he thought his statement was lousy. I nodded and bent down to pick up the gun, it was still sizzling when I placed it into my holster.

As I walked passed the body, I smelt what could only be singed flesh, and I suddenly had the urge to vomit. Swallowing the stinging bile down I continued to walk after Carth and Revan. I noticed they were speaking in hushed tones, I just hoped it wasn't about me.

I didn't bother interrupting them until I saw the entrance to the Cantina. I recognised the alien standing out front.

"That's the place were we'll get the most information, it'll be our best bet" I said quietly. The more I thought about the killing, the less guilty I felt, and I think that was what was pulling at my conscience.

I pushed the thought aside and followed Carth and Revan to the entrance of the Cantina. There was a Rodian standing at the front, the security man, I remembered.

Him and Skye conversed, and I picked up brief parts of their conversation. Him warning her about the Hutt, her telling him she'd take care, blah blah blah. Before long we were inside the Cantina... and there stood our next obstacle.

Calo Nord. He was being a total douche right now, he looked like he was disturbing the patrons and staff of the Cantina with his stupid little gimmick. But I saw his hand twitch towards his belt, and I knew what was going to happen next (that's becoming a reoccurring burden these days).

I stopped walking as he said the number 'three'.

The blasts echoed around the Cantina, and the odour of smoke, and singed flesh filled my nostrils. I gagged as the familiar smell of smoked skin hit me, and I briefly closed my eyes. When I opened them again, Calo had disappeared.

Grabbing Carth and Skye by the biceps I tugged them further into the Cantina.

"They should be around here somewhere" I said, craning my neck in search of two companions. In light previous events, I'd forgotten about the reason why we had come down here in the first place, but the sight of two blue lekkus brought excitement rushing into my body. There was also a sense of calm that came through my body. Knowing that the story was going to plan was a reassuring thought.

Taking a deep breath, I nodded towards the blue figure.

"That's our intel"

AN: Thanks for reading, please leave a review! :) I would be so grateful.

Also, thank you to those who did leave reviews, I've tried to make the story better with your advice and encouragement.