Knights of the Old Republic
Chapter 8
Taris, Under-City
Zaalbar
His little blue friend had rushed him from finishing his second course. After the woman that had been talking with Mission left, she had run over to him and pulled him away by his arm. Talking quickly that they needed to go explore the bleak underworld of the planet. Where nothing but the banished and plagued called home where sunlight was only a myth. Despite the dangers that hid around every corner here the two had their fun. Mission couldn't sit around for too long without needing to find excitement. Even with the Rakgouls they didn't have too much trouble. Zaalbar could crush them with his bare hands or pick them off before they got close with his bowcaster. He owed the girl back when she found him. Protecting him from bullies that wasted no time pouncing on the fresh immigrant. Sometimes she tried to give him a bath, but he still loved her. It had been a while since he had seen Mission so excited over someone. She told him they needed to find the republic escape pods that had crashed into the city a few days back. That her new friend was despite to locate them. Zaalbar had his suspicions, but his companion just called him crazy.
"Come on Big Z! I'm sure there's one over this way.", Mission charged ahead after a quick look around. Her blasters up high ready to fire. Zaalbar growled out for her to slow down as he avoided stepping on anything that could give him an infection. The ground was littered with trash, broken sharp metal from buildings, speeders, and old ship parts. Near one of the sewer entrances there, like a silent monument to the collective crushed hopes of those who lived here was one of the pods. Mission was already checking around it.
"Wait a minute, there's a few mines here.", She warned setting to work disarming them. Zaalbar growled out his discomfort that something wasn't right. Mission just ignored him as she quickly picked up two mines. Zaalbar scanned around with his bowcaster. It was dark and shapes easily blended into a nest of shadows. One of the more rounded ones moved, maybe a trash unit falling down, but he kept his weapon trained on it.
There was a pig-like snort, then a horrible war cry squeal to his side! Zaalbar twisted around as quick as he could aiming at the big green pig monster swinging a war axe, but he was suddenly hit from the back by another Gamorrean. His hands went numb from a fast-acting nerve agent spreading through his system dropping his bowcaster. All he could do was cry out a warning for Mission.
"Zaalbar!", She cried back spinning around finding themselves surrounded by a whole hunting troop of the green slavers. She shot rapidly gunning down the one who hit him, but there were too many to fight. Zaalbar grabbed one by the throat lifting him off the ground with all his remaining strength. Throwing the pig into two others. Zaalbar roared at his little blue friend to run!
Mission tried to argue, but he roared over her! His friend conceded running the way they had come. Popping a few stray shots at the Gamorreans.
"Come on Z!", She urged him on. Zaalbar already couldn't feel his arms and his long, tall legs were getting lethargic. He said he'd be right behind her. Swinging out with his arm knocking down one more pig. Mission ran and he hoped she wouldn't turn back. Maybe now she would stop seeking out such dangerous fun and stay out of the lower ruins. They outnumbered him. The smarter ones used their stun blasters to slowly paralyze him. The last thing Zaalbar could recall was how the giant support structures that held up the higher levels reminded him of the trees of his home world.
Taris, Under-city
Aria Vercet
No one had undersold her how bleak this part of Taris was. Not even the slums of the lower city up above them had been this bad. Passing through the little outcast village they witnessed one villager almost meet his fate. Chased by one of the dreaded Rakghouls she had heard about. A horrible, mutated feral creature slick with a diseased sweat that had two slits for eyes and a mouth full of fangs. It didn't surprise Aria the gateman would have left him to die. If not for Carth, and her there would be another outcaste dead today. Exploring they would only find more of the horrible creatures, and she grew worried about the Twi'lek they were looking for. If she had foreseen how the meeting with Gadon, leader of the Hidden Beks had gone, She wouldn't have left Mission at the bar. The gang leader had been more helpful than she would have suspected. They had learned that Bastila had been captured by the Black Vulkars and was made a prize in the upcoming swoop race between the gangs.
'What kind of stupid Jedi gets caught by simple gang members', She thought. Unfortunately, that didn't just mean they could storm the Vulkars headquarters. Bastila was more than likely being held somewhere else until the race. The only way to secure her freedom was for the Vulkars to lose the race, but that was highly unlikely due to the experimental swoop engine they had stolen from the Beks. Now here they were in the Under-city looking for Mission. The only one they could count on according to Gadon. The young girl was the key to breaking into the Vulkar's base, getting back the engine, and securing Bastila her freedom.
"Carth.", Aria said after another scrap with the horrible creatures.
"Yeah?", He was checking his blasters, making sure they weren't overheating, "What is it?"
"If I'm ever talking to a cute Twi'lek at the bar, and my stupid ass leaves them there. Do me a favor and kick my ass."
He cracked a smile, "Heh, still beating yourself up over that. There was no way you could know."
"Would save us plenty of time exploring all of this paradise.", Aria kicked a can off into the darkness. The can bounced off something metallic and after that there came a noise of something running their way. The two snapped back into their fighting stances ready for another horde of freaks to deal with, but to their surprise it was Mission running right at them. Aria dropped her smile when she saw the panic on the young girl's face.
"Help! Please, you have to help me! Nobody else is going to help me. Even the Beks won't help me. But I can't just leave him there, he's my friend! You'll help me, won't you?", Mission was talking fast in a panic. Collapsing into Arai crying.
"Whoa, slow down, Mission. What's wrong?", Arai hugged her.
"It's Zaalbar. He's in trouble, BIG trouble! We have to help him. If we don't, they'll sell him into slavery!", She looked up with tears building up in her eyes.
"Zaalbar? You mean your Wookiee friend? What happened? Who's going to sell him into slavery?"
The Girl tried to calm down enough to explain, but hic upped on her words, "Me, Me and Zaalbar were just wandering around here in the Undercity. You know, looking for stuff we could find, just kind of exploring. We do it all the time. I was looking for those escape pods you mentioned." Arai instantly felt a knot of guilt in her stomach.
Carth sighed, "I guess with a Wookiee at your side you've got to figure you can handle the odd rakghoul attack."
Mission nodded her head, "Only this time they were waiting for us. Gamorrean slave hunters. We didn't even have a chance to run. Big Z threw himself at them, and he roared for me to run! I….I took off; I figured Zaalbar would be right behind me. But there were too many of them- he couldn't get away. They're going to sell him to a slaver, I just know it!", She looked ashamed of herself, and Aria felt a level of pity she hadn't had in years. Hugging her tight she rubbed her back trying to sooth her down, "Do you know where they took him?"
"I don't know for sure, but those Gamorreans like to hang out in the sewers. The Stink reminds them of home, I guess. That's probably where they took Big Z. I can lead you through them."
Aria nodded her head, "Don't worry Mission. We'll help your friend, and if they've hurt him, we'll kill every last one of those pigs." The Twi'lek thanked her as she tried to wipe her tears away. Carth gave her look that said they could ask her for help after saving her friend, and Aria agreed. It would make her feel scummy as if that was the price for their help.
"Come on, lets go help your friend. I bet he's already missing you."
Taris, Lower Sewers
Zaalbar
The Gamorreans had left him alone in his makeshift cell after he ripped off one's arm. He was still hungry and even the disgusting fatty meat had been too gross for him to scoff down. Now he was all along missing his friend. He would miss the freedom the two had given each other. It wasn't a surprise that enslavement could be his fate. After the betrayal of his brother nothing could surprise him. He had already been exiled from his home, not much worse could be done to him. Still, he ached that it was so. Now his life was up to an exchange of credits to decide if he would be made a gladiator, or a skinned carpet on some collector's floor. The Gamorreans would come for him later, knock him unconscious again to move him, and that would be it. Zaalbar grew angry, and then sad again. If only he had been paying more attention, he could have saved them both, but how could he have smelt the pigs when the nearby sewer masked them all. They had been quiet for a while now. He hadn't heard their oinks for close to an hour after he ripped the arm off one to eat; a disgusting meal he regretted.
Then came the sound of battle echoing off in the tunnels. Blaster fire meeting the clashing of heavy metal weapons. Probably a different band of Slavers hoping to take the Gamorreans prize. He readied himself as the sounds neared. Set to either win or die before living as a slave. The heavy sewer doors pulled themselves open, but it was only his little blue friend that leapt at him! Mission threw her arms around him and did her best to squeeze the giant. She was a sight for sore eyes, and he told her that.
"I'm glad to see you too, Big Z! You didn't think I'd forget about you, Mission and Zaalbar, together forever!", She smiled up at him trying not to ruin the reunion by wincing at the smells around them. She was accompanied by two humans, the one he recognized from the bar was covered in pig blood. The woman gave a little wave. Not giving away any kind of discomfort at her current state but she did radiate a dangerous nature that explained it.
"These are my new friends, Big Z. Without them I never could have got you out.", Mission introduced them. The one called Aria smiled after he roared his greeting and thanks, "Don't mention it. I was happy to help." Zaalbar was stunned. A future life of fear that wouldn't have been his own was suddenly gifted back to him. Given to him by a stranger who had no need to put her own life in danger to save his. It was apparent she had protected his little friend the entire time while doing it. There was not a scratch on Mission while the expensive gear the woman wore was torn and tattered; it was without question what he had to do.
He roared out, You know the language of my people? That is are among your species; I am impressed. You have saved me from a life of servitude and slavery. There is only one way I can ever repay such an act: I will swear a lifedebt to you.
Mission's eyes grew wide looking at him in shock. A look that said she thought she misunderstood him but knew she hadn't.
"A Life debt? Are you sure about that, Big Z? Think about it carefully. You better be sure about this."
Zaalbar nodded, I am sure, Mission. This is an issue of great importance to me. Because of our great physical strength, Wookiees are being used as slave labor on our own homeworld. They see us as brutes and animals to be exploited. Over the years slavers have taken many of my people; we must always be on guard against raids against our villages. When the Gamorreans captured me, I thought I was doomed to a life of servitude. I have been saved from such a fate, and the only way I can repay that is through a lifedebt.
The two humans shared a look of confusion which Mission noticed, "Big Z is swearing a Wookiee life debt to you. Wow – this is major. Do you realize what this means?"
Aria Vercet
'Let me guess- it means I got a walking carpet following me for the rest of my days.'
Instead of saying that she went with, "It's some kind of loyalty vow, isn't it?"
Mission tone was serious, "A life debt is the most solemn vow a Wookie can make. It means he'll stay by your side for the rest of your life – wherever you go, whatever you do, Zaalbar will be with you."
Aria's new large harry friend stepped forward towering over the smuggler. A powerful tower of muscle in desperate need of bath, but she resisted the urge to gag. Not wanting to insult her new slave as he made his declaration of servitude. Loudly proclaiming that he would be at her side forever ect ect something something Wroshyr trees… 'A Wookie slave isn't the worst thing to have…' Using her best Pazaak face to keep from wrenching at the nasty ass breath in her face she put on a smile that could put a career politician to shame.
"I'm honored to accept your vow." Aria took ahold of the massive hand that swallowed her own.
Survived an exploding ship, became the dueling champ, and now I'm shaking hands with a Wookie in the sewers. Life is full of its ups and downs in the oddest combinations…
The young Twi'lek girl coughed into her hand before moseying over to join them, "I guess this means you're stuck with me too. Wherever Big Z goes, I'm going. I almost lost him once – It's not going to happen again."
'She's too cute. If I wasn't in a sewer covered pig guts.', Aria resigned herself saving it for later. Instead deciding to tease the girl, "Great, a Wookiee and a snot-nosed punk to babysit."
The dark blue blush quickly spread over her face, "Hey! Don't underestimate me! I may be young, but I-"
"Mission I'm only teasing. I've seen how handy you are with that blaster, and I haven't met anyone with your skill in detecting and disarming mines! I couldn't do better than having you watch my back.", She winked at the girl making the darkening azure blush intensify. Her new friend suddenly found the disgusting floor interesting mumbling, "Well, I just wish I knew what I could do to repay you."
"Actually…", Aria explained what had brought them down to the undercity to begin with. How they had been looking for her in the first place. Mission quickly lost her interest in the floor, beaming with the brightest smile the sewers had ever played host to. "Gadon didn't lie! I'm the only one who can make that happen, and it's not even a question after all you've done for us."
"That's why I'm glad to have you, Mission. Lead on." She slapped the back of her best friend, "Come on Z you know the way!", bounded out into the connecting tunnel she practically skipped. Zaalbar followed after her not intent on letting her out of his sight again.
"Huh, never worked with a Wookie before… Wish I could say the same about someone that young…" Carth rubbed a knot out of his neck. Aria heard the concern in his tone. Her companion was already feeling the stress of responsibility for their new friend's wellbeing. She thought it was cute but wasn't going to start that conversation now.
"Well get used to it. You're going to be sharing your bed with Big Z back at our base for the near future."
Carth laughed dryly, "Hey, I'm not the one with the life debt!"
"Says the man who's only ate dressed head to toe in the gear I paid for."
"Ah..Bantha fodder."
Mission
They didn't run into anymore trouble on the way to their next would-be obstacle. A force field that crackled with a low electric hum. For an ancient security system, it had stomped Mission for weeks when she discovered it the first time. Not a single security spike of her creation, which could slice through the most up to date systems elsewhere, could tamper with it. She told her new friends that as she made a show of cracking her fingers like it was going to be a difficult job.
Earning a grumble from the guy who gave off an old war vet vibe, "Gotta love old tech. Sometimes it's so archaic the latest and greatest tools aren't even compatible."
She rolled her eyes at him but couldn't deny the pressure she felt hoping that she wasn't going to make a fool of herself.
Aria sighed putting on an encouraging smile, "I trust you got something in your bag of tricks Mission."
"You know I do. You won't be able to get that computer to lower the energy shield unless you know the proper codes. Lucky for you, I've got them. I picked them off the pocket of a Black Vulkar who had a little too much to drink in the cantina one night. Here, let me get that energy shield down for you."
'Here's to hoping they don't change the code on a regular rotation.' Punching the code in the Twi'lek was rewarded with a sudden termination of power. Bringing the force field down opening up their path.
"Told ya she could do it Carth.", Aria said to her weary companion. Mission downplayed the urge to bounce up and down at having shown off how cool she was. The guy gave her an apologetic shrug, "Sorry for the doubt kid."
'Kid', struck a nerve that dulled her victory, and she couldn't keep it out of her tone. "Don't worry about it Grandpa. You're better worrying about the Rancor we gotta get pass."
Carth laughed, "Sure. I'm sure there's also a Sarlacc down here too." A few minutes later he didn't find so much humor in it.