Chapter 4: Bounties in the Lower City
Okay, so last time I know I didn't do the quest involving Largo. But I have an idea of how they meet Largo a little later that involves an Ithorian they'll come across. We already have Calak helping out Dia and he's done the same for the bullied merchant so we know he's mostly light but can provoked to anger as shown with Gorton Colu last chapter. Maybe he can also have a little shade of greed as well if I decide to go through with Bendak Starkiller's match. Maybe he's willing to make an exception if it's a known murderer? He could feel remorse from it though, we'll see. Please give your suggestions in a review.
The next chapter will be out in two weeks' time if I can manage to get my writing time consistent. Now that I'm done with the other story I was focusing on I will be able to focus on these other four. Check out my others if you want and enjoy.
I will be editing earlier chapters as I can. If you guys spot that needs fixing anything let me know. I might have repeated one section of the conversation with Gorton Colu last time. Next chapter should come out on the 15th or 16th of this month.
Calak and Carth both waited in the elevator as it took them down to the Lower City. Soon it stopped and the doors opened. The two Republic Soldiers disguised as Sith Troopers stepped out. This section of the Lower City looked more like a man-made tunnel than a city. Ahead of them was a door with a sign reading Lower Apartments next to it. There was a path leading to either side of the elevator exit, making it a four-way path. Three aliens suddenly ran past, all of were Nikto. They walked like men but had scales covering their faces. They met a group of other sentients, one human, a Rodian, and an Aqualish. All of them had melee weapons out and looked like they were about to fight.
"Beks are nothing but Bantha Fodder! We Vulkars are the strongest!" The middle Nikto facing the Rodian said.
So, these must have been the two gangs Calak and Carth had heard about at the cantina. The Vulkars and the Hidden Beks. From what Calak remembered, the Beks weren't too bad but the Vulkars nowadays shot anything that wasn't one of their own.
He just finished his thoughts when the two gangs went at each other. The middle Nikto, apparently the leader of the trio, struck first with some small weapon that Calak caught a glimpse of. It looked like a stun baton. It hit the Rodian who screamed and fell. The Nikto then aided one of his fellow gang members who was locked in a sword fight with the Aqualish Bek. The Nikto with the stun baton hit the Aqualish who fell, allowing the Vulkar with the vibroblade shortsword to finish him off. They then moved onto the stunned Rodian as the last Vulkar with a large double bladed vibroblade jumped up and delivered a powerful strike to the last Bek. Calak grit his teeth under the Sith mask as he saw the merciless slaughter. The entire fight lasted only a few seconds and Calak had just drawn his rifle. If only he'd been quicker, he might have been able to save the Beks.
The Vulkars turned this way and saw the two Republic soldiers disguised as Sith.
"Sith aren't welcome here!" the leader with the stun baton said.
They charged at the two men. Calak fired his blaster rifle and caught the leader in the chest. Carth shot his pistols as well and downed the Vulkar with the single bladed sword. But the last Vulkar with the double blade got in range as they finished firing. He slashed at Carth who not having a large weapon out to block the blow was likely to be bisected as the Sith Armor wasn't the best in terms of defense. But Calak leapt in and raised his blaster rifle, not to attack, but to block. The thick metal of the rifle withstood the forceful and vibrating blow of the weapon. That gave Carth the chance to quickly drop his blasters and draw his two vibroblades for a close combat fight. He made his way around then struck with both the blades. The Vulkar managed to block one but missed the other and got cut in the shoulder. Calak stepped back out of range and fired. The blast brought the last of the Vulkar down.
"Phew, that was a close one. Thanks, Calak, that's two I owe you!" Carth said sheathing his vibroblades.
"Who's counting?" Calak asked.
Carth picked up his blaster pistols and holstered them then looked down at his armor.
"You really want to go around looking like Sith? It probably won't make a difference with those Vulkars if they attack anything that moves but other people might not help us if they think we're Sith."
Calak looked around. Ahead of them was a long tunnel like path way, the apartments and elevator on the sides, and behind, a short distance away was a large building with a big door. There were also two figures in that direction, coming this way with blasters out!
"You'll pay for that Sith Scum!" one of them said.
Another pair of Nikto dressed the same as the Vulkars from earlier, more gang members! How many of them were down here? The two new Vulkars aimed their blasters at them. Calak and Carth took cover behind the wall of the pathway leading back to the elevator. Blaster fire hit the wall. Calak looked at Carth.
"I'll draw their fire you stay here and shoot!"
Carth nodded. He didn't have an energy shield like Calak so he was more vulnerable.
Calak activated his energy shield and stepped outside. The Vulkars shot at him, but the shield protected him as he fired at one, barely missing. Calak took cover behind the wall on the other side and shot from there, protected by both wall and energy shield now. From the other side Carth threw a grenade out, it blew up and both Vulkars were killed from the blast.
"Whew, its dangerous down here alright," Carth said before looking ahead. "What is that building?"
They walked ahead and saw words on the doors. Vulkar Base.
"Guess we want to avoid this place," Calak said.
They ran in the other direction in case any Vulkars decided to pop out. Needing a place to hide they quickly headed into the apartments nearby.
"Hello?" Calak asked aloud.
The apartment complex looked the same as the others they had been through. A circular pathway with many doors around. But while their apartment has a small kiosk and people there, this one looked abandoned and beat up, as if it had been ransacked.
"Anyone here?" Carth asked as well.
Again, no answer.
"Guess the people here left," Carth said. "I bet it was because of those Vulkars!"
Calak nodded, agreeing. They took the opportunity to strip themselves of the Sith disguises. Soon they were back in their own attire.
"I need to get myself an energy shield and armor somewhere," Carth said.
"Well why don't we take a look around and see what we can find in here?" Calak asked.
Carth nodded. "I don't like to steal but this place is abandoned so I guess there's nothing really wrong with that. Besides we have a mission."
They walked through the doors, Carth picked the locks. They were just low level security so it wasn't any trouble for even a novice slicer. There were a few credits lying around on furniture here and there but not that much. Then they came across something that looked disturbing, a body in one of the rooms. But next to it was a box that lay undisturbed. Apparently the Vulkars had attacked here and tried to rob this man, but hadn't been able to get into the box which was a secured.
It took effort. The box was equipped with an explosive defense that could blew up. It had five holographic locks that need to be opened in the correct order. Reading the message on the box, Calak found the holograms displayed images of members of a band known the Twisted Rancor Trio. It said he had to activate the locks based on the order in which the members joined. They tried activating a random lock first and got a warning that the crate would explode if they activated the wrong lock again. The Vulkars must have decided whatever was in the box wasn't worth the risk. But they hadn't bothered to look at other things in the apartment. Finding a datapad nearby, Calak looked through it and found entries on the Twisted Rancor Trio. There was a history of the band and the order in which they joined! Calak grinned in triumph, he activated the holographic generators which had the names of the beings they displayed. Elinda, Ujja, Uji, Fodo, Loopa, and Ashana.
The locker opened and revealed a combat suit inside. It was an Echani Fiber Suit, which was better than Calak's current one.
"Well looks like you're in luck Carth," Calak said.
Carth chuckled. "Guess so. Though I don't think that's my style there. I'll wait and see if we can find some other armor."
"Suit yourself," Calak said. "Hey is this a good time to ask you some more questions?"
"I guess I did say you can ask me more questions. Go ahead, interrogate me," Carth said.
Calak chuckled and put on a false evil grin. "Excellent now all your secrets are mine!"
He smirked. "We'll see about that Sith Scum! But there is something I'd like to know as well. Some things just don't add up to me. What happened from your perspective during the attack on the Endar Spire?"
"I was asleep at first, the alarms woke me and me and another soldier, Trask came in and we fought our way out."
"Oh, what happened with Trask?" Carth asked.
"He held off a Dark Jedi that we met," Calak said sadly.
"Oh, he's probably dead then," Carth said. "Very few soldiers can stand up against Dark Jedi. You'd have to be the best of the best to have a fighting chance. Still I find it strange, you were a last minute addition to the crew, and somehow you survived the crash."
Calak recalled several days ago when he'd suddenly received orders for a transfer to another section of the military. He'd be going on board the Endar Spire under the command of Bastila Shan. The ship was already behind schedule and even waited for him. Which was unusual he felt.
"I don't know the whole story of that," Calak told him honestly. "I just got transferred and went where I was told."
"I heard Bastila herself requested you," Carth said.
"What?" Calak was surprised. "Why?"
"I was hoping you would know. Well, this seems strange indeed. Bastila wouldn't request you unless there was a reason. I think there's something more then either you or I know."
Calak frowned. "Are you always this suspicious?"
"Look it has nothing to do with you personally. I just don't trust easily. I have my reasons… and no, I'm not gonna discuss them. So, can we just keep moving?"
"Fine, but we'll talk more about this later," Calak said.
"Fine. Fine."
They continued through the apartments until they found one that was NOT vacant. Inside was a Twi'lek in armor with a blaster out.
"Hey what are you doing here?" the Twi'lek asked defensively. "Don't move!"
"I'm just looking around!" Calak said putting his hands up. "This facility looks abandoned! What are you doing here?"
"None of your business!" the Twi'lek snapped.
"Are you hiding from someone?" Calak asked.
"That's… none of your business!" There was the slightest hesitation which told Calak his suspicions were right.
"Easy, maybe I can help you," Calak said.
The Twilek's eyes softened somewhat and he lowered his blaster.
"Help me? Why?"
"Cause it's the right thing to do," Calak said. "If you're really in need of some help."
"I am," the Twi'lek said. "My name is Matrik, I used to work for the Davak in the Exchange. I've killed a lot of people but finally I realized what I was doing was wrong, so I abandoned the work. Unfortunately, Davak's put a bounty on my head. Now I can't go out on the streets. I've decided to make my final stand here."
Just like Dia. Calak thought. That damn Davak, he's making the lives of everyone I meet miserable!
"I'll help you," Calak said. Even if he was a killer, if he's telling the truth, he's seen the light. I should give him a chance.
"Maybe you can turn the tables?" He asked. "You know, have Davak eliminated?"
"Davak is too well protected," Matrik shook his head. "He has an estate full of guards. That option is out."
Calak sighed.
"Maybe you can fake your own death?" Carth suggested.
"I have thought of that," Matrik admitted. "I came up with a plan a while ago but haven't had the chance to enact it. You two could be that chance. I would need a permacrete detonator. But they don't sell those here in the Lower City. Upper probably has one."
Calak's eyes widened. "I actually have one!"
He dug into his pack, pulling out the Sith disguise (causing Matrik's eyes to widen), his food and the detonator.
"Here," Calak said handing him the explosive.
Matrik smiled in relief as he inspected it. "This will do nicely."
He assembled the parts of the detonator around the room and set the timer.
"Let's get out of here before it blows!"
They ran outside. Moments after they got out of Matrik's hiding place the three parts of the bomb blew off one after the other. The entire ceiling collapsed and there was nothing left.
"Well, that was quite the blast!" Matrik said. "Thanks a lot for your help!'
"No problem," Calak said. "You gonna be alright?"
"Now that I'm 'dead' I should be fine," Matrik said. "But to sell the act you might as well go collect the bounty from Zax and say you killed me. That should keep Davak off my trail. I'll be able to start a new life after that. Thank you! Thank you!"
"No problem," Calak said. "Hey do you think you can lead us there?"
"Sure, it's not far from here," Matrik said. "I'll be heading that way anyway. I think the Hidden Beks would probably take me in for a while."
He led them outside and to the right. Following the path leading away from the Vulkar Base they soon saw a set of doors along the tunnel like hallway section of the Lower City. The first door was located on the left with a Rodian guard out front. There was another ahead on the right.
"That's Javyars Cantina there," Matrik said. "You should be able to collect Matrik's bounty there! Alright I'm off to the Beks over there! See you soon friend!"
He shouted the last bit so that the Rodian would hear then walked off toward the next door where a human woman kept watch.
Calak and Carth meanwhile headed into the cantina. Asking where they could find Zax they found him in one of the rooms. He was a Hutt like Ajurr, and head of the Bounty Office. As Calak collected the reward of 3000 credits for Matrik's 'death' he looked at Carth.
"This could be what we need to get you a suit of armor Carth," he said.
"Well since you didn't do all the work this time, I guess it's okay," Carth said. "If you're sure."
"Its fine with me. You need armor and an energy shield if we're going to the Undercity."
"If you need credits there are several more bounties to be collected," Zax said. "We have a couple contracts for Davak. You already took care of Matrik so you might be looking for Largo who owes him credits as well as a woman named Dia who assaulted one of his men."
That reminded Calak of something else that had slipped his mind for a moment because of the business with Matrik.
"Uh, I'd actually like to talk about having Dia's bounty removed," Calak said. "It's an obstruction of justice that he put a bounty on her just for defending herself against a drunk!"
"That's something you'll have to take up with the one who posted the bounty. Holdan," Zax said. "He was here a while ago though, might still be around. He likes to stay here for a couple hours and watch dancers. But if you are a more moral person I have other bounties out there. Two killers have some good bounties on their heads. Selven, an assassin for hire, and Bendak Starkiller, a former bounty hunter that's killed lots of people. Unfortunately, he killed a nobleman's daughter while on a job and now has a bounty for his head."
"I can't see anything wrong with getting rid of people like that," Carth said. "As long as we don't end up on the list of their victims."
They asked for details about the killers. Selven was believed to be hiding somewhere in the Lower City, maybe even close by. All the bounty hunters that went after her died though so it would be risky. Bendak Starkiller always stuck to the Cantina in the Upper City, the same one that Calak had been dueling in!
After getting the details they walked around the cantina looking for Holdan. As they did so they saw a small man getting up from a table. He was very… shady. His eyes were covered with a pair of goggles and he wore a turban like hat to cover his head and a blue and orange coat that mostly hid a suit of heavy looking armor underneath. Somehow Calak got a bad feeling about this guy as soon as he saw him.
Three aliens suddenly blocked the way of the little man, looking directly at him.
"Go away," the little man said in a cold menacing voice.
"Hey, you no talk like that!" one alien said. "We just want to say hello to big bad bounty hunter Calo Nord!"
"Nah, that can't be Calo Nord!" the second alien said. "He's too small. Calo Nord is supposed to be tough!"
"No that's him alright, it matches the picture I have," the third said. "But I bet we could take him. We Vulkars control this section of the city!"
Ah great more Vulkars, Calak thought.
"One," Calo said.
"One? What that mean?" the first alien said.
"Two," Calo continued.
"Two? Why he count? Is he trying to figure out how many of us there are?" the first Vulcar said.
"There's three of us Calo! Three against one!" the second said.
"Three," Calo said as he threw a grenade.
The grenade landed on the ground. Calak only had a split second to see its black shell case identifying it as a stun grenade before it exploded. Calo Nord drew his blaster and shot three accurate and deadly blasts. Each one hit its target. The three Vulkars couldn't even move as they were each shot between the eyes.
Calo Nord walked off. Calak looked at him in shock. He'd heard of that man once or twice. A bloodthirsty bounty hunter who would kill people just for trying to talk to him. He and Carth better watch their step around him. They made no move to approach and watched as the Bounty Hunter walked out with calm purposeful steps. They didn't need anymore trouble.
Looking into the nearby room, Calak called out, "Hello Holdan? I'm looking for Holdan!"
"Holdan? That's me!" a human male with dark hair and grey eyes said.
Calak walked up to him, putting on as big a smile as he could muster in the face of a drunkard and a sore loser.
"What can I do for you?" Holdan asked. "Make it quick cause I like to watch the Twi'leks dance."
"You're the guy who put the bounty on Dia's head right?" Calak asked.
"Yeah, wench cut me with a knife," Holdan said. "I admit I was drunk when I was dancing with her and maybe touching her in places I shouldn't have! But she didn't have to cut me with a knife! I can't let her get away with that!"
"Yeah right! Sounds to me like she was just defending herself!" Carth shouted outraged.
"Look is there any way you'd be willing to have the bounty on Dia nullified?" Calak asked. "She doesn't deserve this!"
Holdan hesitated. "Well, I do feel a little guilty about all this. I'll tell you what. You give me Two-Thousand Credits and I'll drop the bounty! That's most of what I paid for it."
Calak frowned and slapped Holdan. "What kind of man who you be if you had a woman killed just for defending herself when she was being touched inappropriately?"
Holdan's eyes widened as he rubbed his face. "You're right! I can't do that! My reputation would be ruined in that case! I'll have the bounty removed and apologize to Dia! Thanks for helping me see the light."
He got up and walked over to Zax. Calak breathed in relief. That had been settled without bloodshed.
"Well now what?" Calak asked Carth as they walked toward the exit.
"We still need to get into the Under City if we really want to find Bastila. But we don't even know if she's still down there or been captured by the Sith," Carth said.
As they made their way to the exit another scene took place. Two Rodians approached a young blue Twilek that with a black head piece. She was a young teenager and dressed in street clothes of a brown vest over a black sleeveless shirt, gray pants, and knee-high black boots. Next to her was a Wookie who was busy eating.
"I told you to leave me alone! So, give me some space Bug-Eye!" the Twilek said.
"You don't belong here little girl! This is the Vulcar's cantina and you aren't welcome here!"
"Who are you calling a little girl chubba face?" the Twilek asked witfully. "I can take you."
"It two against one little girl and both us bigger than you!" the second Rodian said.
"Just a sec, boys. Zaalbar? A little help here? I need you to rip the wings off some insects."
The Wookie swallowed his food and spoke in his native language of growls and grunts. "Mission they just brought my food let me finish!"
"Quit complaining and get over here!" the Twilek, Mission apparently, said.
The Wookie got up and stood higher than the Rodians who shook at the sight.
"We want no trouble with Wookie! Our problem is with you little girl!" the first Rodian said.
"You got a problem with me, then you got a problem with Big-Z too!" Mission stated.
They backed off, muttering, "Little girl lucky she has big friend."
Calak and Carth waited for the two Vulkars to move away before approaching the pair who would hopefully be friendly.
"Hi there," Calak said. "Nice job handling that."
"Thanks," Mission said. "Say, I don't recognize you and I know pretty much everyone down here in the Lower City. Where you from?"
"Far away," Calak said.
"Offworlder huh? Well, if you need information, I'm your girl!" Mission said.
"Thanks. You showed a lot of guts dealing with those Vulkars kid. You got a name?" Carth asked.
"Mission Vao," Mission said before gesturing to the Wookie. "And this here is my best buddy Zaalbar or Big Z. So, what brought you guys here to Taris?"
"Uh- sightseeing," Calak said the first thing that came to mind as a cover. They couldn't just trust everyone they met with the information that they were Republic Soldiers.
"You kinda look a bit too well armed for sightseers," Mission said looking at them. "You mercenaries or something?"
"Something," Carth admitted. "Do you know how to get into the Undercity from here?"
"Yeah, I do. There's an elevator that connects to the Undercity nearby. But you can't get in there since a Sith Guard is there."
"We got down here though," Calak said.
"Well unless you got the security papers it's a no go. Do you?"
They shook their heads.
"But if you got past the Upper City section without them you'd have to have security papers," Mission said. "Or Sith Uniforms."
Uh oh. She was a sharp one.
"So how did you get down here?"
"Uh, we stole some Sith uniforms," Calak was forced to answer.
She smiled. "Good. I'm no friend of the Sith. If you need help, I'd recommend talking to Gadon Thek. You can find him in the Bek Base nearby. The Vulkars are bad news especially these days but the Beks are no problem. Their leader Gadon is always willing to help out strangers."
"What's the story behind the Vulkars and Beks anyway?" Calak asked.
"Oh, the Vulkar leader Brejiik used to be a Bek. He was Gadon's second in command. Then Gadon got into a swoop accident that left him blind. Everyone thought Gadon would let Brejiik take over but Gadon felt Brejiik wasn't ready and could wait a few years. But Brejiik wouldn't have it and joined the Vulkars then took over by killing their leader. Since then the Vulkars have been at war with the Beks and attacking anything else that moves."
"Wow that's low," Calak said. "Thanks for the information."
"No problem, whatever you are you ain't no friend of the Sith. And nobody that's an offworlder is probably the Vulkars friend."
"We'd better be on our way to see Gadon then," Calak said.
"You going? Alright I think we ought to be too," Mission said. "Come on Big Z!"
"Mission I'm not done!" Zaalbar groaned as he looked at his unfinished plate.
"Can't you think about something other then your stomach for five minutes? We have a place to be!"
The Wookie snarled softly and shook his head before getting up, taking what was on his plate that he could carry. They, Calak and Carth all made their way out of the cantina.
Now it was onto the Hidden Beks. They'd hopefully be able to help the soldiers out.