Knights of the Old Republic

Chapter 7

Taris, Lower Level

Aria Vercet

They had been greeted with the warm welcome of a gang war the second they entered the lower level of Taris. A group of Kadas'sa'Nikto charged a bunch of Rodians yelling their insults.

"Beks are nothing but bantha fodder! The Vulkars are strongest!"

One of the Rodians shouted back as they crossed blades, "We'll teach you who's strongest!" Unfortunately, the Rodians were not the strongest. After the Vulkars claimed victory, it was her and Carth's turn to fight them.
"Sith! Get them!", One of the gang members called out. It felt odd to be called that, but it made sense. Both Republic Soldiers were wearing the disguise she had stolen from the party the off-duty soldiers had thrown. Easy enough to do when all the party goers underestimated how strong Taris wine was. Carth put down the first two without trouble, but the last one activated a shield. Aria broke out her new blaster pistol, a farewell gift from the Dueling Ring, belonging formerly to the man she killed at high noon in once in a lifetime death match. The blaster tore right though the gangster's shield in one shot.
"Friendly neighborhood.", Carth quipped removing his helmet.
"I know it was a lot of work to get these costumes, but we may have to ditch them if this is the kind of attention, we're going to get down here. It's a shame, considering we're the only two on planet who can make these look good.", Aria did like how the black body suit clung to her hips.
"Maybe you do, but I can't wait to burn these.", Carth quipped tossing his helmet.

Watching out for each other they changed back into their normal gear. Stowing the uniforms if they needed them for later. The open street war didn't slow down till they made it to a bar called Javyar's Cantina. A Sith trooper stood outside arguing with the bouncer.
"Come on just let me in. I'm not on duty."

The Rodian didn't bulge, "No, then why are you in uniform? Sorry, but you aren't the first trooper to try and sneak in for a quick drink while out on patrol. The Sith commanders have said I can't let any of you troopers into the cantina while you're on duty." He shooed the Trooper off turning his attention to them.
"Don't cause any trouble in Javyar's cantina. You leave your problems and your attitude at the door.", He waved them on in keeping an eye on the Sith he just pissed off.

"Is this the one that has the bounty office?", Aria asked.

"Zax is the first room to the left."

Javyar's was a refreshing opposite to the upper-level cantina. No nobles looking to outdo each other. Dingy smoke seeped throughout the place. Spilled drinks, and blood covered the floor. Pazaak players betting what little they had left scrambled for winning hands. Dancers clung to their best bet to get out of the rat hole.
"I've missed these places. They always got the best drinks."
"…I'll take your word.", Carth kept his eyes on their surrounding company. Aria spotted the gang members, Black Vulkars, approaching. Ignoring the two newcomers they were heading straight to one of the shorter patrons in a big blue coat.

Is he wearing a winter hat and goggles? What a fucking loser., Aria could feel a show was about to begin. The coat man didn't let them start the conversation, "Go away."

"Hey, you no talk like that. We just want say hi to big, bad bounty hunter Calo Nord."

"Nah, this can't be Calo Nord. He's supposed to be tough. This guy's nothing but a runt!"

Calo only responded with, "One."

"One? What that mean? You be funny, tough guy?"

"You know who we are, Calo? We're members of the Black Vulkar gang! You don't want to be getting funny with us, tough guy."

Again only one word, "Two."

"Me no understand. One? Two? Why he count? He trying to count how many of us is against him?"

"It's three against one, Cal. What do you think about those odds? Well? You have something more to say?"

"Three.", Aria was able to cover both her and Carth's eyes before the flashbang went off. The ringing in their ears covered the sounds of three well placed shots, and the resulting death cries of the gang members. When she uncovered her eyes the one they called Calo Nord was gone. No one in the bar even reacted as they just stepped over the fresh corpses.
"I thought they said to leave our problems at the door?", Carth scoffed.
"They didn't say anything about problems finding us inside." Aria stepped over the dead looking around, "Come on I can smell the hutt over in that direction."
Zax was as ugly as every other hutt, gorging himself on a constant supply of drinks being fetched for him. Uncaring animal eyes with too much intelligence behind them. She hated dealing with them, every encounter had a high chance of going south. If it could result in a profit, they wouldn't wait to take it. Zax gave a creepy wide smile laughing when he saw them come near.
"Mysterious Stranger!"

"Oh good you got fans even down here.", Carth whispered holding back in a laugh.
"You know why I'm here."
The Slug laughed again. Tossing a living creature Zax called a snack into his mouth. Devouring it alive as it screamed a painful death. Carth couldn't hide his disgust, but Aria didn't let any emotion cross her face.
"So, you killed Bendak in a death-match duel. Ironic, isn't it? Bendak has a bounty on him for killing people in duel, and you collect it by killing him in a death-match."
"It's how he wanted to go.", Aria explained, "You should have seen him wasting away in his little corner. Someone should have put him down ages ago."
"Many tried hah hah! He was one of the two government contracts on Taris. Now there's only one, but here." He waved over to a droid carrying her credits. Suppressing a smug smile at how large Carth's eyes grew. They wouldn't have to worry about money for a long time with this.
"Will you be going after the other one?", The Hutt didn't stop his creepy smile.
"No, this should cover all my future expenses."
"A shame, I believe you might be the only one who can bring in the Assassin."

"An Assassin? Maybe we should see about this.", Carth didn't surprise her with his need to be a hero. Rolling her eyes Aria relented, "Tell me about this Assassin."

"She's a very dangerous woman. When she started she was just another killer working for Davik. Then she began freelancing to the highest bidder. One day she killed six citizens in the street… and their bodyguards, too. They were all Ulgos, a powerful merchant family with many enemies. Selven was hired to kill off the whole family. She was very good at her job. Each day, more Ulgos died. Poisoned at home, shot down in the street; guards and droids couldn't protect them. After a month there were no Ulgos left on Taris. Not one."

Ulgo…. She remembered how Trask told her about his family. The news rocked her harder than she thought it would, but maintained her mask.
"Did they ever find out who hired Selven to kill them all?", She asked.

"It was never proven. But after the Ulgos were all dead, the Organa family demanded-", Aria tuned out the slug not really listening. All she could think about was the awful comfort that Trask hadn't survived to learn the sad news. They let the slug finish before leaving with the credits. Suddenly feeling distant from the physical place she was in. Needing a drink she took a spot at the bar.
Carth gave her a concerned look, "You okay?"

"I am…just need a stiff drink.", She ordered trying to find something in the cantina to distract her.
"We had an Ulgo on the Endar Spire.", Carth placed his own order.

"He's the reason I survived… There was a Sith onboard, he didn't even hesitate. Charged in and held him off so I could get to you.", She paid for their drinks and regrated ordering it. The drinks here were to no surprise worse. Her current companion didn't say anything. Only making a sour face after he took a swig. She was thankful he didn't try to keep a conversation going. It was a stupid thing to cry about a man she only knew for a couple of days. Hopefully she'd forget about him after they left this planet. Until then she'd make do with a drink, focusing on the task at hand, finding their missing Jedi.
"Let's ask around about the escape pods down here."

Carth merely nodded his head, "I'll start with the bartender here. If one of us finds out anything interesting, we'll met back here if we don't see each other." Aria finished her drink giving him a quick thumbs up as she left him there.

Taris, Javyar's Cantina

Mission Vao

The Twi'lek wasn't having a good day. The leader of the Hidden Beks, Gidon, had shot down her suggestion so fast it pissed her off. They could just forfeit the race if they were going to do nothing!

Zaalbar wasn't any help as well. He was just complaining she had kept him from eating anything. Then there had been those Rodians that tried to hit on her. She almost reached for her vibroblade before they backed off. No one took her seriously, just like Griff when she was younger, but she wasn't even apart of the gang so why would they listen to her. They always told her she was to young, but she was already into her twenties! They just see me as the same kid I was when they first met me. Mission tried not to look at her reflection that drove it in why everyone thought it. She was still smaller than most her age, probably from the lack of good food around. Still her face was more mature than when it had been when she was a teenager. Groaning, she could see in the reflection the Rodians were coming back. She leaned back against the bar table, "I told you to leave me alone. So give me some space, Bug-eye! Your breath smells like bantha shit!"

The alien didn't take no for an answer, "Little girl should not be in bar. This no place for little girl. If little girl smart, she run away home now."
"Who you calling a little girl, Chuba-face?", She flipped them off. The second Rodian squared back his shoulders stepping in too close, "Little girl needs lesson in manners!"
He shot a hand out to grab her wrist. Mission slipped out a knife keeping him from taking another step, "Try to teach me mine, and I'll teach you yours." She bought herself a second, but they wouldn't pause for long. Mission shot a glance over to where Zaalbar had been a minute ago.

Crap, I could really use you here right now Big Z!, Mission couldn't risk cutting them here. Calo Nord could throw a flashbang, but unless you were working for Davik Kang like him you were out of luck.
"I'm pretty sure she made it clear she's not going anywhere.", A woman wearing Echani gear stepped in between them. Knocking the Rodian that tried to grab her away into his friend. The wicked looking blaster in her thigh holster looking recently fired and itching to go off again. The big eyes of the alien somehow became bigger. He almost pushed down the friend who caught him trying to get away. Mission didn't understand till she got a better look at the beautiful woman who came to her rescue. Holy shit that's the Mysterious Stranger! The Mysterious Stranger just saved me!

The Stranger chuckled watching the Rodians run off.
"You good friend? I saw you had it covered, but I just couldn't do nothing. An old friend of mine would kick my ass if I didn't help someone in trouble.", The was a hint of something sad in her lovely voice. Mission suddenly star struck blushed hard, trying to hide her face behind her lekku she cleared her throat, "I am! I don't mind the help!"
"Good to hear.", She winked at her. Making the fan feel weak in the knees. There was a roar heard over the bar as Zaalbar came up. Warning the woman off, "Hey! Relax Big Z. No need to be rude. She just helped me!" Mission waved her hands trying to calm her friend down. The Stranger laughed, "No worries big guy. I'm keeping my hands to myself."
"Wow you don't met too many who can understand Wookie." Her hairy friend made a small growl asking if she was sure. Mission gave him a clear sign to give them space, and he backed off. Heading to his table with all his food.
"He seems like a good friend.", The Stranger gave Z an approving nod.

"I could have used him a minute ago. My best friend picked a good time to go back for seconds."

"How'd the two of you end up as best friends?"
"We just kind of fell in together. It ain't easy on your own here in the Lower City. Everyone's always looking to push you around. When I met up with Zaalbar it seemed like a good match. I knew we could look out for each other. With my street smarts and his muscle, we make a great team.", She hoped she wasn't talking too much, but the Champion Duelist had an easy resting smile that put her at ease.

"You know everything about this level?"

Mission spoke a little fast, "Well you came to the right person! The name is Mission, Mission Vao. If you want info on Lower Taris I'm the one to talk to! Davik, the Lower City gangs…I've even got the scoop on that bounty hunter Calo Nord!"

The Stranger nodded snatching a drink from behind the bar, taking a swig before asking. "Nord…He's the one that left some fresh corpses in here just a minute ago, right?"
"That's the guy. One of the most famous bounty hunters in the galaxy. Killed more than the Iridian Plauge! I figure Calo's been hired by Davik to do a special job for the Exchange. I'd wager a thousand credits that as soon as the quarantine ends, he'll be getting off this rock."
"I've heard the name Davik a couple of times. I'm guessing he's a big player around here."
"He's part of the intergalactic crime syndicate, but I'd guess everyone knows that. You're pretty new to Taris aren't you?"
"Not even a full week.", Mission couldn't believe what she just heard.
"No way! You took over the Ring after showing up that soon!", The blue girl squeaked realizing she gave it away.
"You watched some of my fights?", She was amused.
"…I wouldn't say some. I'd more say," Mission was talking with her hands, "All of them…I got a holo of all the ones I missed."

"Want me to sign them for you?", She mimicked writing out her name in the air. Mission blushed giddy at the offer, "I'd let you autograph my lekkus!" The amused look the Stranger gave made her feel silly all of sudden.
"Just give me a pen.", She winked at her.

The Stranger asked a few more questions. About the on-going street war between the Hidden Beks and the Black Vulkars. The Undercity with its diseased Rakghouls.
"You want to know about any republic escape pods down here?", Mission was surprised by that question. The Stranger nodded drinking her ale, "I can't get too into it, but it's important to me I find out what happened to them."
"Are you working for the Sith?"

"Fuck the Sith.", The Stranger grinned. Mission looked at the woman finding it hard to believe she would work with them. "I don't know too much about the escape pods, but I can find out for you!" The Stranger put a hand on her shoulder with a smile that could lead her away anywhere, "Thanks Mission. You're one of the first people on this planet who's been such a big help."

Mission blushed hoping she wasn't being too apparent about it. "No problem! At least you want me to help you unlike the Beks.", Mission scoffed looking into her drink before putting it aside.
"They don't want your help?", She asked.

"It's…They're the closest thing to family I have besides Big Z, but they've never let us officially join. Gadon, the leader, still treats me like I'm a child. I mean, He's a good man, and he can probably help you find your escape pods."

"A good man is running a gang?", the Stranger didn't mean to sound sarcastic, but it still came out that way.
"Hey, if he wasn't it would just be gangs like the Vulkars controlling everything down here!", Mission was quick to defend. The Stranger held up her hands, "Sorry, Just new down here. Though It hasn't taken much time for the Vulkars to show how much they love starting all the fights. They're pretty scummy."
"You don't even know. They've even added Selven to their ranks!"
"The Assassin?", Mission didn't miss the sharpness of the question, or the way the woman's eyes narrowed like she was about to draw out her blaster.
"Ye-Yeah, The way I heard it she was holding out in some apartments, but too many people were coming after her. So she shacked up with them to have some extra protection." The Stranger didn't say anything for a good pause. Picking up her glass, emptying it, and picking up another form behind the bar. Tossing down a few credits the Stranger gave her a half smile and a nod, "Thanks Mission. You've helped me more than you know. I'll check in with the Hidden Beks and get pointed in the right direction."

"No problem.", Mission bit her lip realizing she was quickly losing her time to ask, "But uh can you please tell me your name?"

The Stranger looked at her as if she realized that she hadn't told her before, but then smiled at her like a friend, "It's Aria. Aria Vercet."