Chapter 6 The Rakghoul Disease
Another day on Taris began as Calak and Carth woke up in their apartment as usual. They donned their armor, though instead of his standard combat suit Calak put on the orange and blue Republic Mod Armor he'd found in the Vulkar Apartments. Carth now had Battle Armor on as well which would offer better protection then his jacket.
The two soldiers headed out to the elevator that would take them to the Lower City again, but as they approached the side of the platform near Sarna's apartments they saw something.
"Help! Stop! Ow!" An alien voice cried out.
Looking off to the side Calak saw a pair of human children chasing an Ithorian, they punched and kicked at him, he appeared to be struggling to walk and Calak saw some bruises on his face. The Ithorian saw Calak and called out.
"Please help! These children keep chasing and kicking me!"
"Get out of here you goggle eyed freak!" one of the children, a boy said.
"Yeah! You're too ugly for the Upper City, go back to where you came from!" the other, a girl said.
Calak glared at them and shouted. "Hey you kids! Leave that Ithorian alone!"
He put himself between them and the hammer-headed alien. The children frowned at him.
"What do you care what happens to some scummy alien?" the girl asked. "He's just a freak!"
"Yeah, he isn't even supposed to be in the Upper City!" the boy agreed.
"Just because he is different doesn't give you the right to attack him!" Calak said sternly. "Now get out of here you little punks or you'll be the ones in pain!"
He didn't reach for his blaster rifle but cracked his knuckles. Beating up children wasn't something Calak would normally approve of but neither was attacking a defenseless sentient just for being different. Fortunately, the kids were intimidated by his larger size and the display as well as his armor.
"Ah! Run for it!" The boy yelled.
They ran off into the apartments nearby. Calak turned to the Ithorian.
"Thank you, human! I was visiting a friend when those two suddenly jumped me! My species are pacifists so we don't believe in fighting," the Ithorian said.
"You look injured," Calak noted as he reached into his belt pocket. "Here, I have a medpack."
"You are too kind human."
Calak injected him with the medical syringe and the healing chemicals kicked in. His injuries would heal soon.
"I should get back to my apartment, my lifemate will be wondering where I am," the Ithorian said as he turned toward into the same apartment complex as the children.
"We better come with you," Carth said. "In case those kids happen to see you again."
"That would be welcome," the Ithorian said.
The soldiers escorted the Ithorian inside. The attacking kids were nowhere to be seen. They'd probably gone to another floor already. They led the Ithorian to a nearby elevator.
"Thank you, I should be fine now," the alien said.
Calak nodded. He and Carth turned and saw a human male who had a scared expression on his face as he saw them. Seeing him, Calak remembered the bounty office and the details he got from Zax. He recognized this man. Largo, someone who owed Davak credits and was now being hunted. Another unjust thing on this world. Selvan and Bendak were different as they were known killers. He wouldn't hunt this man. But maybe he could help him like he had the others.
"Hey!" Calak called.
Largo gasped and ran in the other direction, he was panicked! No doubt having a bounty on one's head was a very stressful thing to go through. Some might handle it better than others. Calak knew he had to help this man if he could. He chased Largo and Carth followed.
Largo went to a nearby apartment on the ground floor not far from Sarna's own apartment. Calak managed to put his hand on the door and prevent it from closing. Cornered, Largo turned to begging, seemingly forgetting the blaster at his hip.
"Please! Don't hurt me! I just need a little more time to get the credits for Davak!"
"Don't worry, Largo!" Calak said. "I'm a friend."
"You mean… you're not here to kill me?" Largo asked in surprise. "But I thought you were one of Davak's bounty hunters! If you're not here to kill me, what do you want?"
"I saw you and recognized you from the pictures in the Bounty Office, but don't worry. I'm not with Davak. I hate him!" Calak said.
"Um… okay," Largo said uncertainly.
"Maybe we can help you," Carth suggested. "We've helped a few people in trouble with Davak already."
"I don't think anyone can help me," Largo said sadly. "I owe Davak two hundred credits. I do have some, but not enough to give to him without eventually going hungry."
Calak scoffed. "Two hundred credits? That's pocket change for me!"
He handed Largo two hundred credit chips. Hardly a dent in the money he'd made.
"You'd give two hundred credits to a stranger just to help them out?" Largo exclaimed. "Thank you! I better go and give this to Davak right away!"
He ran off to do so.
"Wow that sure was generous of you," Carth said. "I just hope we don't end up needing those credits."
"We got plenty," Calak reminded him. "Besides, what are we fighting for here?"
"The Republic and the good of the galaxy," Carth said.
"The good of the galaxy, huh? Well, we need to make it a better place if we can," Calak said. "It's our duty to protect people from injustice like the Sith and Davak."
"You're right," Carth said. "You're a good man Calak."
He frowned though as if saying that could change at any time though. Calak just hoped it didn't.
They made their way back to the Lower City through the elevator, followed the path past the cantina, Bek Base, and apartments where they had killed Selvan yesterday. Ahead was the elevator to the Under City, guarded by a Sith Trooper and several auto turrets. Attacking this guard by themselves would be suicidal, the turrets would pierce their energy shields quickly and it would be over.
"This elevator is off-limits unless you have special papers," the Trooper said.
"Right here," Calak said handing them over.
"Let me see," the Trooper looked through them. "These are in order. Very well, head down there but be on your guard. Lots of things down there in the Undercity like those Rakghouls. Our patrols are ambushed frequently."
The elevator opened and the two Republic Soldiers stepped inside. Calak pressed the button reading Under City and down they went.
…
The elevator doors opened and Calak and Carth entered the Undercity. Around them was a small village with people in ragged clothing. Junk littered the area here and there and grass grew from the ground. They were on the actual surface of Taris now, but it was dark, no sunlight reached down here as the walls from above prevented such things. Gloomy.
As they continued forward, two of the villagers, Outcasts descended from criminasl or so Calak recalled were the only people that lived down here, approached.
"You there! Upworlder! You got to pay to use our elevator!" one of them yelled.
"Yeah, this is our elevator so we get the toll!" the other outcast said.
"I don't believe this planet even the beggars want to shake us down!" Carth said.
"Five credits! That's what it costs to use our elevator!"
"This is a public elevator! I'm not paying any toll!" Calak snapped reaching down to his blaster pistol in case of an attack.
The Outcasts suddenly switched tactics, turning to begging. "Please have pity on us! We have nothing down here! We were cast down for our ancestor's crimes! We suffer here! Please!"
Calak felt a surge of pity for them alright but it didn't completely negate the anger he felt at the earlier threatening manner. Still, it was clear that this place was not an ideal home to live in and suffering was common.
"You poor wretches," he said in a voice that matched his mixed feelings as he reached into his pocket for a credit chip. "Here take this and go!"
He threw the chip at them. If they'd been nicer about it, he might have given them more. Ah well.
"Ah credits my brother!" one of the outcasts said greedily as he looked at the chip. "Now we can buy food and medicine!"
"Hush or the others will hear you! They'll want them!" the other said.
Suddenly a young woman barely older than a girl came running up, the two outcasts saw her and she glared at them.
"Go on you two get out of here!" she shouted.
They did without another word. The woman turned to Calak and Carth.
"I'm sorry about that," she said apologetically. "Those two beggars give everyone in the village a bad name. Most of us are good people."
"I'm sure you are miss," Carth said forgivingly. "Its just too bad your little welcoming committee is here to give people a bad first impression."
"Well, no problem we're alright," Calak said putting on a friendly smile. "I'm Calak Star. Who are you?"
"My name is Shaleena," the woman said. "I live here in the village. You are from the surface, right? Please… could you tell me about it! Is it nice up there?"
"It is a… beautiful place," Calak said.
"I've never been to the surface," Shaleena said. "Though I've occasionally spoken to people that came down. We've seen a lot of them lately. Many have white armor on and aren't very friendly."
Those would be the Sith. Not surprising. Calak had a feeling he might run into some sooner or later down here. He just hoped they didn't have to fight.
"Well, I'm sorry you have to live with that," Calak said sincerely. "I wish I could help but I don't think I can take you up with me."
"No," Shaleena sadly responded. "But there is a legend that we Outcasts pursue. Or at least Rukil does."
"Who's Rukil?" Calak asked.
"Another man in the village. One of the oldest in fact. He tells us stories of the Promised Land, a place that we've been looking for for a long time. A paradise where life can be easier for us. I used to listen to his stories all the time when I was a child but I doubt they're true. Still, they give us hope."
Calak wasn't sure about stories like that.
"Sounds like a myth to me," Carth agreed with Calak unknowingly.
"Still, there has to be a way to make life easier for you," Calak said before drawing another credit chip. "Here."
"Oh, thank you but I don't really need it I've managed to grow a little bit of my own food," Shaleena said.
"I insist," Calak said. "You need these few credits more than I do."
She took it gratefully. "Thank you."
"I better go," he said.
"Of course, goodbye," she said.
Well, she was nice. Much more so then their first interactions with the locals down here. They looked around the village. The structures were crude, but Calak noticed a barred door and walked over to take a look with Carth.
"Wait Upworlder!" a voice said "You can't go in there!"
A woman was looking at them, fear in her eyes.
"Who are you?" Calak asked.
"Eskolla. Healer of the Village. That door leads to the pen where we keep people infected with the Rakghoul Disease! They could turn into those monsters any moment! Please stay out, nothing to see in there."
Calak's eyebrows furrowed. "You just leave them locked up in there!? You don't even try to help them?!"
"There is no cure for them! I've trained in medical practices and haven't been able to find a cure, nor has any other healer, even in the Upper City."
"Maybe she's right," Carth said. "We've already taken quite a few risks. It might be better to leave this one be."
Calak frowned and shook his head. "No, I will not turn away from people who can still be saved."
"I won't stop you," Eskolla said. "But your efforts to help those people will be in vain even if they don't kill you."
Calak opened the door and saw three people looking desperate and ill. They looked up at him.
"Hello, I'm here to help!" Calak stated.
"Help us?" one asked. "Can you?"
"Of course, I will if I can!" Calak said.
"Please, help us! We could turn at any moment!" another said before gagging. "Uh!"
All of them suddenly clutched their heads in pain and screamed.
"No! This cannot be- Noooo!"
They suddenly transformed, their clothes tearing, their hands and feet turning into animal like. Their skin turned deathly white. Calak drew his blaster rifle. There was no choice now. The Rakghouls let out fierce roars and he shot ending one of their lives before they could attack. Remorse filled him as the former human was hit. Carth likewise shot a blast from each of his pistols, hitting the other two Rakghouls as well. The soldiers sighed in regret. But looking around they saw two more people, a man and woman who were still human. Calak and Carth approached, keeping their weapons out in case those two transformed as well.
"No need to fear us Upworlder!" one of the afflicted said putting their hands up. "We still have maybe an hour left before we transform. But I suppose we should be grateful we aren't going to be eaten by those Rakghouls."
Calak sighed. "I came in here hoping to be able to help. I don't know if I can though."
He thought for a moment, then remembered something Zelka Forn had told him. That the Sith might have the Rakghoul Serum the scientists at the military base had developed. Finding a Sith might be the best chance to get a cure.
"I have an idea!" Calak said. "We might be able to find a cure!"
"Really?" the man asked.
Calak nodded.
"Please hurry then!" the woman said.
Calak and Carth headed out. Asking the healer for directions to where the Sith patrols went and they headed that direction. Soon they came to another gate with a guard in front and a woman looking through the gate. Roars sounded from beyond on the gate that matched the one from the Rakghouls in the pens.
"Hurry Hendar! Hurry! I can hear it coming!" the woman screamed.
Looking through the gaps in the bars of the gate, Calak saw a man with a wooden staff running as fast as he could. Another howl sounded, closer than the last.
"He'll never make it! He's doomed!" the guard said.
"He WILL make it!" the woman, obviously the wife of the man outside, insisted. "Run Hendar run!"
Hendar made it to the gate but Calak could see a Rakghoul now, sniffing the ground, seeming to have lost track of its quarry for the moment.
"Open the gate! Quickly there isn't much time!" Hendar shouted.
"I-I can't! The Rakghouls are to close!" the guard said.
The Rakghoul Calak saw spotted Hendar and ran toward him. The man defended himself with his staff, poking out one of the eyes in the middle of the creature's head. It howled in agony and Hendar bashed it again, breaking its leg before kicking it back where it struggled feebly. But another Rakghoul soon appeared… and another. Hendar might be capable but a simple wooden staff didn't have much killing potential as it couldn't cut.
"The mutants will kill him if you don't open the gate!" Hendar's wife cried.
"And if I open the gate, they'll kill us all!" the guard objected.
"No, you can't do this! It isn't fair!" Hendar's wife said before looking around for help, spotting Calak and Carth. "Please make him open the gate! Hendar will die if he doesn't!"
Hendar swung his staff by its far end to keep the Rakghouls back as he didn't want them to get close and infect him with their disease. Another three appeared. If someone didn't do something fast it was sure to be the end of that man!
Calak nodded and drew his vibroblade. "Open the gate, I'll kill the Rakghouls!"
"You'd risk your life for a stranger? You're braver than I Upworlder!" the guard said before pressing a button.
The gate opened and Calak and Carth ran out. Carth drew his twin vibroblades as well. They couldn't shoot without the risk of hitting Hendar so it would have to be close combat. With the two Rakghouls focused on Hendar it gave Calak and Carth the chance to stab the creatures through the backs of their mutated hearts. Then the next three came at them and they backed up, waging a fighting retreat. One bit or scratch could infect them with the disease. Their armor may or may not be enough to protect them. Better to avoid getting hit if they could help it.
Calak lunged after avoiding the Rakghouls claws, bisecting it from shoulder to hip. It growled and let out a final breath. Carth was knocked off his feet and had to block the teeth on his armored wrist. He grunted in exertion but used his other hand to thrust his blade into the Rakghoul's brain. He got up and both soldiers went to help Hendar who managed to hold his own against his Rakghoul even though he couldn't kill it easily. Blades cut through the last beast and they were left panting for a moment before retreating to the safety of the village behind the gate.
"You okay Carth?" Calak asked his comrade in concern as they walked.
"Yeah," Carth examined his armored wrist where the Rakghoul had tried to bite him. "The teeth didn't get into my bloodstream. I think I'm okay. Good thing you brought me this armor."
"I can't thank you enough for saving me upworlders!" Hendar said as they got back behind the gate. "If I had anything but these rags on my back it would be yours. But we have nothing."
"That's okay," Calak said. "Saving people is its own reward."
Though a few credits never hurt sometimes. Now wouldn't be a time for that but maybe next time.
"I still have you Hendar," his wife said. "That's enough for me."
"Let's go Hester," Hendar said before turning back to Calak and Carth. "Thank you again."
They walked off to their home in the village. Calak and Carth meanwhile, had a mission, and they needed to go back out into the area beyond the protection of the gate. They didn't get far when they heard a desperate shout.
"Hey!"
It was Mission Vao. She ran toward them with heavy pants before coming to a stop.
"It's you! From the Cantina! Please you have to help me! No one else is gonna help me even the Beks won't help me! But I can't just leave him there! He's my friend! They took him! They're gonna sell him to a slaver I just know it!" she screamed in a panicked voice.
"Hold on Mission," Calak said. "Slow down and tell me what happened? Someone's going to sell Zalbaar into slavery?"
"Yes! Me… me and Zalbaar… we were exploring in the sewers!" she said franctically. "We always go down there just exploring you know?"
"I guess with a Wookie on your side you gotta figure you can handle the odd Rakghoul attack," Carth said.
"But this time they were waiting for us!" Mission said. "Gamorrean slave hunters! Zalbaar yelled for me to run and charged at them! They wanted to sell me as a dancer or worse and him as a heavy labor lifter like they do with all Wookies! I ran and thought he'd be right behind me but when I looked he was gone!"
"I'll help you," Calak promised. "But in return I'd like a favor. You help me get into the Vulkar Base. I'm doing a mission for Gadon, have to get his prototype accelerator back for the race."
"It's a deal. You help me save Zalbaar I'll help you get into the Vulkar base," Mission said.
"Do you know where he's being kept?" Carth asked.
"The Gamorreans make their home in the Sewers. The stink reminds them of home I guess," Mission said.
"Let's go then," Calak said. "How much time do we have?"
"The Gamorreans are probably going stay in their base for a few days at least," Mission said.
"Good, cause we have to find some Rakghoul Serum too, and the people that need it have less than an hour remaining."
They walked around the wreckage and Calak suddenly saw something ahead.
"An Escape Pod!" he exclaimed before running over.
It was unlikely there were any survivors but it would be imprudent not to check. As he neared it though he stopped as he spotted something on the ground. Mines. Traps that would explode if someone stepped on them. Calak slowly approached, the Deralian army gave training in arming and disarming explosives like this and he'd managed to learn a few things. Working carefully, he managed to disable the mine.
"There's more of them!" Mission said.
They carefully cleared a path to the escape pod through the mines. When they got there, they spotted someone still alive. A soldier in a combat suit like Calak used to wear until recently.
"H-help!" the soldier said. "Something inside me! Something growing! Monsters… they attacked us! My partner, he got bitten and then turned into one and bit me before I gunned him down! I felt sick afterwards!"
This man had been infected with the Rakghoul disease too!
"Hang on we'll try to help you!" Calak said.
But it was already too late.
"No! No! I can feel… ugh!"
And he turned into a Rakghoul as well! He roared and charged at Calak, trying to bite him. Calak shoved his rifle into the beast's mouth and shot. The mutant fell. Calak sighed, horrified at the thought that these creatures could turn their victims into one of their own. That was another person he'd failed to save today.
They continued through the Undercity heading east. But soon they found a more or less unwelcome sight as a trio of Sith Troopers appeared.
"You there! Civlian!" the leader of the group, a red armored Trooper demanded. "This is a restricted area what are you doing down here?"
Calak narrowed his eyes and pointed his weapon. "I'm here to kill you!" he shouted.
"Look out it's an ambush!" the leader warned his fellows.
Calak shot at him. The lead trooper grunted in pain, but his improved armor protected him from the blast enough to avoid dying then and there. He and his fellows took the chance to activate their energy shields which unlike the ones Calak and Carth had glowed green rather than blue. Those were more advanced than the standard shields and had been made by the Sith themselves. Calak grunted in frustration before activating his own shield. Carth did the same, and Mission did as well, where did she get her own shield? The two squads of shielded fighters shot at each other but Calak knew the odds were against them. The Sith Energy shields would absorb more.
Dropping his rifle, Calak drew his vibroblade and charged the leader. Seeing him do this, Mission and Carth followed suit. They drew their melee weapons and charged in. The lead trooper responded in kind knowing his energy shield would not defend him against melee attacks. He and Calak engaged in a vibroblade fight. Calak blocked his opponents attack and feinted to try and fool him, but the lead trooper was incredibly focused and didn't fall for it. He blocked Calak's strike and then landed a blow. Calak's armor absorbed the worst of the impact but he still felt the wound and blood loss. Fortunately, Mission was there to save him. She stabbed the leader in the back and he went down. Carth had engaged one of the other troops with his dual vibroblades while the last still shot, his blast deflecting off Calak's shield. Mission went to help Carth while Calak took the last one. With a few well-timed slashes they emerged victorious.
But looking at the bodies of the Sith for any Rakghoul serum they found none.
"Damn! I thought we'd find some of that serum to cure the disease with!" Calak said.
"Never thought I'd regret killing a Sith," Carth said. "Ah well better bad people then someone innocent. At least they won't be hurting anyone now."
They continued forward and soon spotted a pack of Rakghouls in the distance. Calak, Carth, and Mission hid.
"Too many of them," Calak said. "Any ideas?"
"I have a stealth field generator," Mission said tapping the belt she wore. "I could sneak up and set some mines then have them chase me! If only we had mines."
"I got some here," Calak said pulling them out of his pack.
"That might work," Carth agreed.
Mission continued forward on her own, her stealth generator making her camouflage with her surroundings as the soldiers waited. She set the mines then reappeared. The Rakghouls gave chase as soon as they saw her, but fell right into her trap! Small explosions sounded as they stepped over the mines she'd laid. A few survived and continued after Mission but Calak and Carth shot once they saw approached. Spotting the two men, the remaining Rakghouls redirected their aggression towards them. Mission turned as well and pointed her blaster. Unfortunately, it was too late as a Rakghoul bit into Calak's leg. He felt the contamination light up in his bloodstream and screamed before shooting.
"Calak, you okay?" Carth asked.
"Yeah, Carth," Calak said through the pain. "I will be as long as we get that serum."
They went back to where the Rackghoul pack had been before. Finding the body of a Sith Trooper there, he must have been part of the group they'd encountered a moment ago.
"Oh, please have some serum!" Calak said as he desperately looted the corpse.
Searching the pocket's he found a few syringes that contained a bubbling blue liquid with a label that read Rakghoul Serum.
"Yes!" Calak shouted in relief.
He injected one of the syringes into his arm. Within moments he felt the burning sensation fading as the disease was cured.
"We better get that back to those people quick!" Carth said.
They dashed back the way they came and headed to the pen where the infected ones were still kept.
"You're back!" the woman said. "Do you have a cure?"
"Yes! Here!" Calak said as he gave each of them a dose from what was left in the first syringe.
The outcasts let out breathes of relief and soon felt better.
"Thank you Upworlder, we would have suffered a fate worse than death if not for you," the man said. "Now we can return to our old lives."
They exited the pen as people once again. The healer watched in amazement as she saw them.
"You amaze me, I always thought the surface dwellers cared nothing for us. But it seems I was wrong. That was a very brave thing you did. Perhaps we outcasts have lived too long in selfish fear. That cure could come in handy to everyone."
Calak nodded then looked at the last bottle containing the Rakghoul serum. His mind went back to Zelka Forn who had said he wished to have the cure to make samples for everyone. Calak, Carth and Mission would need more of this serum if they were gonna go back out there.
"I think we should head back up to the Upper City," Calak said. "Give this to that Doctor."
"What about Zalbaar? You aren't gonna leave him?" Mission asked.
"Of course not but like you said it will take a long time before the Gamorreans leave as they stay in there for a few days. We still have time. It won't do him any good if we get infected and can't cure ourselves," Calak said.
Mission reluctantly nodded. They headed back to the elevator to go back up.
Looking at Largo's page on Wookiepedia it says he lied to Revan saying he didn't have the credits but had things he could possibly sell like the energy projector part and some other stuff. But they seem to have forgotten that Largo needs to eat as well, and he might feel he needs his blaster and that part. Also he does need to eat as well, I know they never do that in a video game (at least not this one) but realistically food is pretty important to survival. So he'll need to at least keep some credits on the side for that.
I added more Rakghouls in the Hendar scene as the gate guard said there were Rakghoul(s) not a single Rakghoul like in the game.