Knights of the Old Republic

Chapter 4

Sith Flagship, Outer Rim (One Year Ago)

Revan

The Jedi defended herself against the attacks of her Acolyte. Of the assassins sent to destroy her, she was the only one that interested her. She could sense something that made her special. There was a pride that radiated strongly. It surprised the Dark Lord the Jedi had turned so much of a blind eye that they would send such hubris directly to her. They had made another mistake; Only gifting her a fine new student to take. As the Jedi cut down the unworthy Acolyte Revan smiled.

Yes, she would take the Jedi. Break that pride and have her submit. To the Darkside; To Her.

Taris, Abandoned Apartment

Aria Vercet

Tossing and turning the Smuggler struggled out of the odd dream she had. Losing it as she awoke. Happy to be alive but throbbing with aches that made her just rather be dead. Arai rose taking note of where she found herself. Carth was busy at a workbench inside the apartment they were in. Bare any evidence that anyone was living here beside its current occupants. He heard her step up, and the Pilot set aside the blaster he had been working on.

"Good to see you up, instead of thrashing around in your sleep. You must have been having one hell of a nightmare. I was wondering if you were ever going to wake up.", He dug into a footlocker, and handed her a small cold drink along with a ration bar. Aria devoured the food silencing the hunger pains she woke up with. Carth had a small hint of a smile watching her eat, "I'm Carth, one of the republic soldiers from the Endar Spire. I was with you on the escape pod, do you remember?"
Clearing her throat so she could speak Aria nodded, "Carth, the one on the communicator. I remember. Thank you for the food."

"Well, you've been slipping in and out of consciousness for a couple of days now, so I imagine you're pretty confused about things. Try not to worry. We're safe… at least for the moment.", He walked her over to the window. Outside the planet wide city bustled below them. Aria noticed the Sith patrolling the streets. Grabbing ahold of anyone walking by to interrogate.

"We're in an abandoned apartment on the planet of Taris. You were banged up pretty bad when our escape pod crashed, but luckily, I wasn't seriously hurt. I was able to drag you away from our crash site in all the confusion, and I stumbled onto this abandoned apartment. By the time the Sith arrived on the scene we were long gone.", Carth pointed to where the pod still smoked on the walkway. Only a few paces away from the edge, If the Pod had veered just a few degrees right they would have crashed down another mile down easy.

Aria hung her head thanking the stars they survived, "I guess I owe you my life Thanks."

"You don't have to thank me. I've never abandoned anyone on a mission, and I'm not about to start now. Besides, I'm going to need your help. Trais is under Sith control. Their fleet is orbiting the planet, they've declared martial law, and they've imposed a planet-wide quarantine. But I've been in worse spots."

"That's quite a life if this doesn't top that list, but I'm glad to have you with me if that's the case."

He didn't crack a smile, "I saw on your service records that you understand a remarkable number of alien languages. That's pretty rare in a raw recruit, but it should come in handy while we're stranded on a foreign world. There's no way the Republic will be able to get anyone through the Sith blockade to help us. If we're going to find Bastila and get off this planet, we can't rely on anybody but ourselves."

The name stirred something in her, "Bastila…"

She could hear how confused she sounded understanding why Carth began to explain. "That smack to your head did more damage than I thought. Bastila's a Jedi. She was with the strike team that killed Darth Revan, Malak's Sith Master. Bastila is the key to the whole Republic war effort. The Sith must have found out she was on the Endar spire and set an ambush for us in this system. I believe Bastila was on one of the escape pods that crashed down here on Taris. For the sake of the Republic war effort, we have to try and find her."

Aria took a seat already feeling exhausted. She didn't feel up to tackling any task other than recovering from the crash landing. "How can one person, even a Jedi, be so important?

Carth nodded his head understanding how much of a stretch it was to put so much faith into one person. "Bastila is no ordinary Jedi. She has a rare gift the Jedi call Battle Meditation. Bastila's power can influence entire armies. Through the Force Bastila can inspire her allies with confidence and make her enemies lose their will to fight. Often, that's all it takes to tip the balance in a battle. Of course, there are limits to what she can do. But from what I understand of her ability, it requires great concentration and focus to maintain her Battle Meditation. The attack on the Endar Spire happened so fast she never had a chance to use it. Like us, she barely got out alive."

"She's a jedi, she can probably look after herself."

"Bastila's going to need our help. Many of Darth Malak's followers can use the dark side of the force, and the Sith have already killed more than their share of Jedi in this war. Nobody will be looking for a couple of common soldiers like us. And if we're careful we can move about the planet without attracting notice; a luxury Bastila won't have. She's going to have half the Sith fleet looking for her. They know how important she is to the war effort. The whole planet is under quarantine. No ships can land or take-off. So, if Bastila's going to escape Taris, she's going to need our help. And we'll probably need hers."

Relenting Aria remembered Trask. His dedication to the Oath they had sworn, "Any idea where we should start looking?"

"While you were out, I did some scouting around. There are reports of a couple escape pods crashing down into the Undercity. That's probably a good place to start. We can use this abandoned apartment as a base, and we can probably get some equipment and supplies here in the Upper City. Just remember to keep a low profile." Carth went back to the work bench giving the blaster one last look over. He adjusted the power adjustment and set it aside.

"I'm sorry, but I was only able to find this one blaster. That and these blades here. It's all we got."
"I'm sure we'll pick up some more weapons later, but I can make do with those swords just fine. I've always preferred Melee over range combat."

He stayed there with the weight on his shoulders weighing him down visible to Arai. After surviving a surprise attack, escaping with their lives, but already planning to head right back into the fight, Aria could sense the fear that built in him.

"Carth…I know the odds are against us, but we can do this."

He gave a tired solum look like he had heard it a million times even though he appreciated the encouragement.

"We should be able to handle ourselves against any of the regular troops with luck. It's the ones that can use the force that frightened me."

Aria clenched her hand into a fist remembering the Dark Jedi that fought Trask. Carth continued, I've heard some grim stories about the Dark Jedi interrogation techniques. They say the Force can do terrible things to a mind. It can wipe away your memories and destroy your very identity! But I figure if we don't do anything stupid, we should be okay. I mean, after all, they're…they're looking for Bastila, not a couple of grunts like us. When you're ready we'll get started."
"Alright, just give me a few to make sure I can move right if we need to fight."
"We shouldn't be getting into any fights that soon."

Life proved Carth wrong as the sound of some commotion started just outside their apartment. They shared a look hurrying to the wall. From the sound of alarmed alien languages and harsh commands it sounded like a shake down.
"We should let it pass.", Carth whispered low, but he looked conflicted about weather to take his own advice. Someone could be heard falling down with a pained cry, and their choice was made. They came out finding themselves right behind a Sith party. A Soldier flanked by two battle droids waved his hand at two Duros in front of him.

"Alright you alien scum. Get up against the wall this is a raid!"

One of the Duros gripped a smart alack comment, his was rewarded with being gunned down without pause.

"That's how we Sith deal with smart-mouth aliens! Now the rest of you get up against the wall before I lose my temper again!", The Sith waved his blaster still smoking out of its barrel for all to see. In his show he saw both Aria and her companion.

"Hey, what's this? Humans hiding out with aliens?", Confusion turned into quick realization, "They're Republic fugitives! Attac-" He never got to finish the command. Aria's quick cut to his throat robbed him forever of his life. The battle droids whirled spinning to react, but with a precision that stunned Carth Aria slammed both of her blades into the small cracks of their chest compartments short circuiting them in one move. The droids rattled powering down as they fell over.

The surviving Duros cradled his friend, "Poor Ixgil. He should never have talked back to that Sith. Thankfully you were here to step in and help us human."

"I'm sorry about your friend, but we need to move this bodies and fast."

The duros shook his head laying his friend down, "Don't worry about the bodies. I will move them, so it looks like they were killed elsewhere. That should throw the Sith off the track. With any luck, they won't be bothering us again for a while."

"Do they come by often?", Carth asked.

"Only when they're looking for an excuse to make trouble. Go now. I'll take care of this."

Aria plucked a blaster from the dead Sith's holster as well as her knives. The two hurried on leaving the scene as fast as possible. Carth pulled Aria aside once they had gotten far enough away, "I'm starting to understand your report wasn't exaggerated. How did you take down those droids in one move?"
"I had a job once where I moved a few. Got the opportunity to really look them over. Found all the structurally weak points if a day like this ever happened."
"Still, you moved faster then anyone I've ever seen. You recovered pretty fast is all I'm saying."
"I moved fast, but my muscles are screaming at me right now." Aria stretched pressing in on her lower back popping a loud crack Carth could hear.
"Well, it's nice to know who I'm depending on can fight."
"Still haven't seen you fight yet. Should I be worried that I'm going to be the one carrying us?", Aria raised a brow sizing him up.
"Oh, I can fight. I've been fighting since the Mandalorian wars. From space, to sky, to the muddy battlefields that everyone dies in."
"Just saying you were pretty slow back there. Maybe you're more banged up then you think."
"I'm fine.", Carth clipped, "I'm not slow, you were just freakishly fast."

"I'm teasing you Carth. I know you're good from the way you survived the attack on the ship. You had a whole group of Sith thinking there was a battalion in the escape pod room. If we gotta fight again I'll slow down, and let you show off next."

It looked like it took effort for him to relax, "I-I'm sorry…I'm not used to joking around with anyone. I've …been fighting too long…"
"Like you said. You're wound up tight.", Aria put aside the idea to flirt with him. She wasn't in the mood, and he looked the type that it would touch a raw nerve. "Shit I should have checked that guy for credits. How much do we got?"
"Not too much.", Carth counted out the pitiful amount they owned. She wished that she had thought to grab her accumulated wealth back on the Endar Spire. They would be struggling for a while. She and Carth started to explore the city. Finding their way through the few stores, a cantina that showed some promise to Arai, and the local medical center where they used their up almost all their money to get one med-pac. By the end of the day they had snuck around several patrols, apparently Aria had already killed the one Sith officer competent enough to spot the enemy, locating the prime Sith military base, and an elevator to the lower city guarded by a lone Trooper.

Satisfied with how much they explored, the two started back to their small apartment.
"We need a way to get past that guard.", Carth stated the obvious.
"He's too close to that base. That rules out any of the easier ways to solve the problem.", Aria racked her brain. Neither were able to come up with a solution yet, so they put it aside for now. "One problem at a time, for now we need some credits if we want to last out here. What about that dueling arena back in the cantina?"

"Vibroblades and blasters, but no one ever dies? Sounds like there should be more accidents.", Carth ran his hands through his black hair, "We could use those credits from these duels, but using your real name is too risky. The Sith might have come across a crew manifest back on the Endar Spire."
"I just hope they don't give me a stupid nickname…I hate it when people force those on others."
Carth laughed, "Oh, it's going to be bad. What were the duelist called? Gerlong Two-Fingers, and Deadeye Duncan!"
Aria groaned, "With my luck they'll call me something stupid like Mysterious Stranger."
"It's stupid, but it does have a ring to it."
"Nice to know I already got a fan."
"Sign my blaster?"

Their jokes ended as they came across a scene of two bounty hunters ganging up on an old man.
"Davik says you missed your last payment.", The human picked his fingernails with a knife.

"Davik doesn't like you missing payments!", His alien partner elaborated. The old man held up his hands whimpering, "Here, I've got fifty credits! A down payment. That should buy me some time, right?"

The human blew on his hand shaking his head sadly, "Sorry, you're out of time. Now it's all or nothing. Davik can't have people not paying his debts!" He stuck out his knife threatening to use it.

"But I don't have that much! How can I give you credits I don't have?"

The Alien laughed. Enjoying they were going to get to have some real fun, "That's too bad. Davik's going to want to make an example of you! You're coming with us."

"No, HELP! Somebody help! They're going to kill me!", The old man searched around for anyone, but the crowds were too far, and not even a patrolling unit of Sith were around.

Carth whispered, "I know we have to be careful about drawing attention to ourselves, but are we just going to let them drag this guy off?" She found it cute how he couldn't help himself. What was it with her and noble man lately?

"Hold on a second. Looks like we got ourselves a witness here!", the bounty hunters had finally noticed them.

"Davik doesn't like witnesses.", The Alien was already drawing out a wicked looking blade. Too bad he never got the chance to use it. Aria was in front of him in a blink, taking a hold of his wrist and pulling it into his partner's stomach. The bounty hunter had a second to yell before Carth slammed his fist into his face. The Alien let go of his weapon trying to shake Aira off, but she just tripped him over the nearby railing. Sending him off into the lower undercity in a killer fall.
"You're…going…to fucking pa-", The human stammered out in a dying gasp. Carth finished him with a kick to the knife stuck in him, driving it in further. The man slumped over dead.

The old man trembled almost falling to his knees. Unsure if that had really just happened. When he did, he cried, "Thank you, I owe you my life! Those bounty hunters were going to take me away and kill me! My wife warned me not to take a loan from Davik." His tears of joy switched to heartache in an instant, "But I still can't pay him back. It's not good to owe a crime lord money. He'll just keep sending more bounty hunters after me until I'm dead!"
What a poor wife to have such a pathetic husband, she thought. Aria looked around and saw there still wasn't any attention their way yet.

"Maybe I can help you.", She offered feeling a little pity for him, but he waved her off.

"You already helped me by saving me from those bounty hunters. So, unless you have a spare hundred credits to give me so I can payoff Davik, there's nothing else you can do." Carth grimaced feeling pained that they had already spent it earlier for the meager supplies they got.
"Hold on a second old timer.", Aria took hold of the dead bounty hunter, and searched his pockets. "These guys always have a little extra on them." Sure enough, she found what the man needed. Putting the money in the old man's hand he nearly began crying again.
"No more tears. Just get this money to that crime boss and settle your debts. If you're smart, you'll throw in that extra fifty you have just to sweeten the deal with the man."

"I will! Oh thank you! I swear I'll listen to my wife more too!", He didn't wait around. Running faster than she thought he could manage.

As long as he doesn't break a hip, she smirked. Then picking up the corpse at their feet wasted no time herself throwing him off the edge to join his friend.

"That was really generous of you.", Carth sounded surprised.
"You think I was going to send him off with his fate postponed?"
"You just fight so viciously… For a second…No it's stupid, never mind.", he had a look in his eyes that told Aria the man had a habit of keeping things buried.

"What?"
"Forget it, Let's just get back to base.", He was starting to get frustrated, but held it back. So Aria let it go for now. Understanding that Carth was going to be a long endeavor if she wanted him to open up to her. They needed to trust each other if they wanted to survive Taris. So far it seemed like they could work together, but if days turned into weeks, One problem at a time. The surface had already shown her just insufferable the people were. Random assholes she could deal with, either by charm or force, but she wasn't going to deal with them as companions. Not without teaching them who was in charge. She was going to get off this fucking planet. Aria glanced up to the small speck in the sky knowing it was the Sith flagship that had trapped them here. It filled her with a type of rage that went beyond what she thought was normal.

I'm going to see that ship destroyed.

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