Rescues and Bad First Impressions
Mission led them west, stopping behind a massive support beam and gesturing for them to hide with her. The three remained still as a small Sith patrol passed them by.
“An escape pod crashed up ahead.” Mission explained softly. “Don’t know why they’re checking it again; the thing landed days ago.” When they moved on, Steven saw the pod. It was still smoldering slightly. He hoped whoever had been in it was killed on impact, didn’t die slowly inside. The door was still sealed, so he knew no one had made it out.
The sound of voices up ahead stopped them in their tracks for a second time.
“It isn’t worth it and you idiots aren’t cut out for this. We’re going. Now.” A gruff male voice commanded.
Four men emerged from the other side of the crashed pod, armed and wary. They weren’t solders or gang members. Some other form of scavenger, Steven assumed. The first one to catch sight of them yelped and pointed his blaster rifle in their general direction.
“Don’t move! I-I’m not afraid to use this if I have to!”
Layla got ready for a fight, but the owner of that gruff voice, a man older than the rest, spoke up again. “Settle down, kid. We’ve already lost enough men to the damn rakghouls without you getting us into a needless firefight.” He cast an appraising glance at Layla and her companions. “If you’re salvagers, take my advice and give up now. There's nothing of value left down here. Do yourselves a favor and just head back the way you came.”
“Who are you?” Steven asked, glad this man was being so reasonable.
Mission yanked him down a few inches to her level to whisper in his ear. “That’s Canderous Ordo! He’s the most famous Mandalorian mercenary in this sector!” Her tone made it clear that she’d expected even Steven to know that much.
“Thanks for your concern, but we’re not salvagers so we’ll just be on our-” Layla started, wanting to get back on task, when one of the other men interrupted, eyes bulging in fear.
“Canderous! I heard something- over there! It’s a rakghoul!”
“More than one.” Muttered Steven. Instinctively, he put himself between Mission and the threat, ignoring her indignation. “Shoot under my arm if it’s so important to you.” He told her shortly. He aimed his blaster, trying to recapture the feeling of stillness from before. He was still scared, his active imagination supplying him with images of being torn to pieces by the disgusting things, of being infected by one, but it didn’t keep him from focusing. Shooting these was certainly better than trying to make himself shoot people. This could be considered a mercy.
Layla was breathtaking, in a brutal way. When a rakghoul got past the panicking salvagers, letting out a wet, gurgling snarl as it tried to sink it’s fangs into Candarous’ side, she drew both her vibro daggers and sank them into both sides of its head from behind. She jerked back, using her knee as leverage to make sure its corpse didn’t crash into the man. She freed both blades, sheeting one so she could use her blaster again. The other blade she kept out, just in case something else got too close for comfort.
Once all five creatures were dead, Steven let himself shudder with disgust and fear. Mission didn’t seem too shaken by the whole thing.
“They’re not smart.” She told him loftily. “They go down easy.”
Steven privately thought most of her opinion came from having a Wookie to back her up when she was down here without a big group. Instead of saying so, he just smiled shakily. “They give me the creeps, whatever you say.”
Canderous turned his cold gray eyes on Layla, who was prodding the rakghoul she’d killed with one toe, making tripply sure it was dead. “That was impressive.” He didn’t thank her, just turning away. She heard him mutter to himself: “I told Davik this salvage mission was a bad idea! His men are useless and I can’t babysit them all.” He raised his voice to get the mens’ attention. “Okay boys, grab your shit. I won’t be carrying this salvage all by myself.”
He stalked off, the men following him with their ungainly packs of whatever low quality scrap they’d managed to find.
“Did you notice he wasn’t carrying any?” Steven asked softly. “So he won’t be carrying any of it by himself.”
Mission snickered. “We’re almost to the sewer entrance. Hope you got somethin’ to put over your mouth and nose. It ain’t pleasant down there.”
***
The stench of the Taris sewers made all their eyes water. Covering their faces didn’t help much. Mission led the way with her usual confidence, seeming to have each tunnel and door memorized. How many times had she been down here? Steven couldn’t imagine coming here more than once.
“Did you see just how many Gamorrean there were?” He asked Mission. Enough enemies to subdue a fully grown Wookie was not an encouraging thought. Layla was more than competent, but…
“Six took him, but I know their group is bigger than that.” Mission paused, looking a little worried. “They won’t all be guarding him, probably, so you don’t-”
“No, I didn’t mean I wanted to give up. I just wanted to plan.” Steven was quick to say.
“I’ve got a couple frag grenades.” Layla said from where she was bringing up the rear, on the lookout for trouble. “I didn’t use them all on… on the ship.” Gaddon had guessed who they were, but they hadn’t meant to tell Mission. Then again, it probably would have come out when they asked for her help getting into the Vulkar base. There was no use pretending that Layla at least wasn’t more heavily armed than the average spacer.
“Those will help.” Steven smiled behind his shirt, which was pulled up over the lower half of his face. “So long as the fumes in this place aren’t too flammable.” Layla groaned at his joke and Mission ignored him. She was eager to find and rescue her friend.
The Gamorreans had taken over a number of unused maintenance rooms, turning them into both storage and living space. The group could hear their grunting chatter from a distance and concealed themselves around a corner. Layla raised her eyebrows at Steven, silently asking if he understood. He did, but it wasn’t anything useful.
“They’re just talking about what to have for dinner.” He whispered. “Oh, and a rakghoul got past one of their sentries last night. They’re not sure how.”
“Maybe through that.” Mission pointed up at a vent, its case missing and torn wires hanging out. “If that goes past their guard…”
“We won’t fit through that. Or at least, Steven won’t and I don’t want to try.” Came Layla’s answer.
“Wait, maybe she can just make sure Zaalbar isn’t wherever that group is and then you can toss a grenade in.” Suggested Steven.
“... You come right back once you know or if it looks like you’re gonna get shocked.” Layla ordered. “Give her a boost, I’ll keep a lookout.”
Mission and Steven regarded each other a bit dubiously for a moment before he knelt, cupping his hands for her to step into. “I’m stronger than I look.” Steven dropped even light things if they were an awkward shape. A person was an awkward shape and, to make it worse, moved. Just lift with your legs not your back. It took two tries before he was steady enough to give her a quick boost. She hauled herself into the narrow space and was gone.
They waited in silence, Layla peering around the corner now and then, Steven keeping his eyes on the vent. The minutes stretched out and he listened to the Gamorreans’ chatter, just in case they spotted Mission and said something.
“[Took a chunk out of Huruk’s arm when he got too close. Glad to hand it off soon.]” One said. Another responded with a sympathetic squeal. Steven allowed himself a thin smile, guessing they were talking about Zaalbar.
There was a scuffling and Mission’s feet appeared at the mouth of the vent. There must have not been space to turn around inside. She inched her way out until she hung by both hands, then dropped lightly to the floor. All three of them waited with baited breath to see if anyone farther away had heard that soft thud. There was no pause in the sound from the Gamorreans.
“He’s not in there with them, but there’s a locked door on the other side of the room.” She informed them, hopeful eyes on Layla. “You can just toss a grenade, right?”
Steven opened his mouth, wanting to say they should maybe try negotiating. Gamorreans were sentient, afterall. It wouldn’t be right to just kill them without trying… They’re slavers. Have it coming, if you ask me. It was that part of himself that always had something negative or sarcastic to say. Steven sometimes thought it sounded like another person all together, as if someone could just put words into his brain. He knew it was his own inner voice, though, since it responded to thoughts he never said out loud. For all he knew, everyone’s thoughts worked like this, it just felt so… detached to him sometimes.
While he’d been musing on his own thought processes, Layla had agreed with Mission. “Cover your ears, both of you, and hope like hell this doesn’t just collapse the tunnel.” Steven was quick to obey, closing his eyes and bracing his back against the wall for good measure.
The explosion rocked the walls around them and the smell of burning reached their noses, as well as some agonized groaning. This time, Layla led the way, Mission just behind her and Steven bringing up the rear, wishing more than anything not to see the result of the small explosion. And then he didn’t. His mind went blank for a moment and the next thing he knew, they were past the carnage and Mission was hacking the door lock. There were no more sounds of pain, whoever had been making them had died or simply fallen silent. Don’t look back. Don’t have to tell me twice. He shuddered.
The door hissed and slid open with a loud ‘clunk,’ revealing Zaalbar, standing unharmed in the middle of the room. He must have been waiting for one of his captors to be foolish enough to come in after whatever had caused the explosion. Mission flung herself at him, hugging his middle tightly.
“[You’re a sight for sore eyes, Mission.]” The Wookie said, giving her a careful pat. “[Who- the ones from the cantina?]”
“These are my new friends! I couldn’t have gotten to you without them.”
“[Layla helped the most.]” Steven said, pointing at her. The Wookie speech felt awkward and hurt his throat, but what was the point of having learned it if he didn’t use it?
Zaalbar gave Layla an appraising look, head tilting to one side. “[You have saved me from a lifetime of slavery. There is only one way I can repay such an act: I swear a life debt to you.]” Both Steven and Mission started at that. Layla looked a little confused.
“You sure about that, Big Z?”
The Wookie responded with a long series of growels, describing the condition of his homeworld and what he had been saved from.
“Are you getting all this?” Steven asked Layla, not so loud as to drown out Zaalbar’s explanation.
“Not all of it. I understand he’s grateful, but-”
“He’s going to swear a life debt to you. It’s a kind of loyalty vow.”
“It’s the most solemn vow a Wookie can make.” Mission explained, eyes wide. “It means he’ll stay by your side for the rest of your life. Wherever you go, Zaalbar will always be there.”
Layla looked seriously uncomfortable. “That’s really not necessary.”
“It is to him.” Said Mission and Steven together.
“But I- we’re going to leave the planet soon and he doesn’t really know anything about me!” There was a touch of desperation in her voice.
“[In the presence of all of you, I swear my life debt. Forever after I will be by your side, Layla. May my vow be as strong as the roots of the great Wroshyr trees of Kashyyyk.]”
“He said it. No going back now.” Steven said, a little apologetically.
“Guess that means you’re stuck with me too!” Mission chirped. “Wherever he goes, so do I! Almost lost him once. I won’t again.”
Layla resisted the urge to bang her head on the wall. It wasn’t that she disliked the pair, but it was a lot to handle. She now had two more people to worry about and she still hadn’t found the Jedi Konshu or found a way off this rotten, harsh planet. Also, for life? Both of them? She was a Republic soldier! She couldn’t just bring people along because they wouldn't leave. A warm hand rested on her arm and she looked up to see Steven’s reassuring smile.
“We need all the help we can get.” He told her. “And we had a favor to ask Mission anyway. The rest can be sorted out later.” Steven found it easier to try and soothe other people’s anxiety than get control of his own.
“A favor I can do?” Mission was excited to prove to them she could pull her weight so they wouldn’t try to get rid of her.
“Gaddon told us you might know a back way into the Vulkar hideout.” Layla still seemed a bit overwhelmed, so Steven did the talking, his eyes skittering between Zaalbar’s feet and Mission’s. Eye contact was tricky, especially when he was asking for something. “Our…” Friend? Commander?Tach on our back. “Commander got captured by them and we’re hoping he’ll be there.”
“So *that’s* why you were interested in the escape pods!” She grinned.
“Yup.”
“I… did not clock you as a soldier.”
“I’m not one. Layla, though-”
“Obviously.” She grinned up at him. “You’re fine as you are, though. Fortunately, the back entrance is pretty near here! Let’s go.”
“[She has a lot of energy.]” He muttered to Zaalbar as Mission grabbed Layla by the arm and started leading her to their next goal.
“[I hadn’t noticed.]” Tone was hard to pick up in Wookie speech, when it wasn’t anger at least, but Steven was pretty sure that was sarcasm.
***
On the walk to the Vulkar base, which Mission said was protected on this side by a forcefield that she’d stolen the codes to unlock, Layla and Steven filled their new companions in on the events of the last few days. Mission was enthusiastic at the prospect of leaving Taris, seeing somewhere else.
“I was born somewhere else, but I’ve lived on Taris since I was 5.” She told Steven. “As a tech for the Republic, I bet you’ve been to all sorts of places. How does Taris measure up?”
“I haven’t traveled as much as others, but I’ve read a lot about different planets.” He was pretty sure one of the reasons he joined the Republic’s war effort, even as a tech, was to see more places. He couldn’t really think of any other reason to have joined up. “To be honest though, Taris is… not great. No.” He said a little apologetically. “It’s especially not a place for a kid to-”
“Hey!” She yelped, indignant. “I ain’t no kid. I do just fine here!” She saw Steven glancing at Zaalbar and read his mind. “He is *not* my babysitter! He’s my friend and we look after each other.”
“Mission, calm down. I just meant that…” He faltered. “Well, you’re not that old comparatively speaking and you *did* ask for my opinion.”
“I ask a simple question and you start looking down on me.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re not my father, Steven, though you’re sure old enough to be. Keep any future opinions to yourself!”
Her comment, and outrage, had Layla laughing softly and Zaalbar letting out an amused huff. Steven thought his own brain might be laughing at him. I can feel the look on our face! Fantastic.
They reached the forcefield after a few more minutes of walking. Mission stepped up to the computer terminal and punched in her stolen codes. A moment later, the shield flickered and deactivated. Weapons at the ready, their little group ventured into the Vulkar base.
The place was eerily silent at first, but there was nothing clearly amiss until they found the first corpse. It was laying in front of an open storage locker and the neck had been snapped.
“He’s a Vulkar.” Mission whispered. “I’ve seen him around.”
“So we’re not the first outsiders to break in today.” Layla frowned.
“Hope it’s a ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ sort of situation.” Steven said nervously.
Screams and blaster fire echoed through the halls. The four of them cautiously moved towards the sound. There were more bodies and wrecked droids scattered around the building. The first living person they saw was a woman, sprinting away from the sounds. Her face was pale with fright. When she saw them, she whimpered.
“I-I’m just a waitress! I don’t even like working here! He- he said I could go!” She babbled, hands stretched out placatingly.
“Then keep going.” Layla ordered, her focus on the hall behind the woman as half a sentry droid went flying into their field of view. The place where it had been cut- because there was no other explanation for such a clean break- was glowing red hot.
Lightsaber. Even as Steven thought it, there was the tell-tale hum and the sound of a ricocheting blaster shot. “Maybe the Sith found out he’s here?” He suggested, hesitantly.
“But there’s no soldiers running around. Which means it’s probably Konshu.” Layla sounded relieved, but she didn’t lower her weapon.
They moved forward and rounded the corner just in time to see the last living Vulker turn to run from the irate Konshu. He didn’t get more than a few steps before a brilliant white blade sprouted through his chest.
“That’s Brejik…” Mission’s voice was very small. “Was, I guess.”
Konshu’s head turned towards them and Steven couldn’t help but gasp. He’d seen many species, in person on core worlds and in holo images. He didn’t think he’d seen anyone who looked like this. Konshu was tall, taller than Zaalbar, but more slender. He moved a bit like a spider, coordinating his long limbs with grace as he stepped away from his victim and walked towards them. Any skin that would’ve shown from under his robes had been covered with off-white wrapings, right to his finger tips. His face was left bare, pale and bird-like and the skin was so tight it looked almost like a bare, oversized skull. His eyes were huge and completely black, clearly focused on them.
“I had wondered when you would show up.” All of them heard and understood his voice, but it wasn’t coming from his mouth. His mouth wasn’t even moving. “I thought I would have to go looking.” The lightsaber deactivated and he stowed it somewhere on his person.
Unsettled as he still was, Steven was glad Konshu recognized them as Republic soldiers. The tall Jedi swept past Layla without a glance, towering over Steven and tilting his head forward so he could look at the human with both eyes.
“It is well that you were not so foolish as to run from your obligations.” He rumbled.
Steven bristled. Sure, he wasn’t as, well, bad-ass as Layla, but he’d been doing his best to be helpful and had never thought about fleeing the planet alone!
“Here now, that’s just rude!” His voice was a little higher than usual. The air of disapproval the other gave off was getting to him. “We’ve been looking for you, to help complete the… the mission you’re on!” He still didn’t remember what that was…
Konshu tilted his head to one side, still ignoring the rest of the group. “You… you are not- Oh. The parasite I was informed of.” The disgust in the tall being’s voice was like a physical thing, pressing on Steven’s mind. “Where is the one I spoke to before?”
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Layla and the others were staring, wanting answers. He wants some too. His head feels… wrong. He’s dizzy, afraid and feeling anger that is so distant it’s like it belongs to someone else.
“Wake up. We have terms to discuss. The situation has changed.” The pressure, some of it at least, is coming from Konshu, he realizes. It’s intrusive in a way he can’t quite describe. The Jedi was trying to get into his mind and, in his building panic, Steven imagined a bird, pecking the eyes from a corpse to get at the brains.
“Th-that hurts!” He can’t help but double over, covering his eyes as if not seeing those huge, black pits will stop the other’s power. “Please, just-” Wait! Later. I promise, later. The pressure cuts off suddenly and Steven almost falls. Zaalbar stops him from going all the way to the floor.
“I mistook you for someone else. You are not damaged.” There’s no hint of apology in Konshu’s voice before he shifts his attention to Layla. “Captain El’Faouly. It is good that someone competent survived. I assume you have a secure place for us to return to?”
Layla did not answer for a moment, her eyes flicking between Steven, who was trying to tell Zaalbar and Mission he was fine, and the towering Konshu. “What did you do to him?” Her voice was tense.
“As I said: I mistook him for another. When I attempted to communicate, it was on a level that a worm such as he is not capable of.” The Jedi sounded a little huffy. “He is not hurt.”
“You’re pretty damn rude for someone who was waiting to get saved!” Mission was the shortest one present by a long shot, having to look so far up to meet the deep pits of Konshu’s eyes that her neck ached.
“But I did not need saving.” Konshu regarded her curiously. “I was resting, recovering from the landing, then got my weapon and prepared to leave. Letting these fools think they could hold a Jedi was convenient.”
“But we still came! And they’ve been doing all sorts of things to find you. Even if you *say* you didn’t need saving, we still went through all the steps to save you, so you should be nicer.” She told him through gritted teeth.
Watching Konshu shrug was unsettling. It was a familiar bit of body language on an unfamiliar body. “Perhaps, little one.” His attention shifted back to Layla. “Well, captain? Returning to my earlier question…?”
“Yes. We… have an apartment in the upper city.” Where they’re hostile to aliens, where there are sith patrols and where you will stand out like a sore thumb. Layla pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache coming on. “Look, Mission, if I gave you an address, think you could find an… alternate route to get there? One that keeps us off the main streets?”
“I can try.” The teenager said, a little doubtfully.
As they left, Steven couldn’t help but try to keep Zaalbar and Layla between himself and the Jedi. He couldn’t tell when Konshu was looking at him (or which way his eyes were pointed in general), but he felt watched. He also didn’t want to give the Jedi any reason to try and ‘communicate’ with him like that again.