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Zira Darkstar	By : xxfatedsoulxx Category: +G through L > Knights of the Old Republic Views: 14556 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Knights of the Old Republic and make no money from writing this story. Thank Bioware for the characters and a good portion of the conversations. (Thanks all Star Wars creators.) ^-^

Chapter List
- 21
- 22
- 23
Chapter 22

The trip back to the Hidden Bek base was blissfully uneventful. The city streets were nearly empty; even though Carth couldn�t see the sky from the Lower City streets, he knew it was well past the hours any normal sentient would be up. But how many of them just stormed a gang�s base simply to get an engine part? I seriously hope this over weight lob of grease is worth all that. He ruefully thought.

Carth�s eyes continue to scan the streets ahead, and he couldn�t help but glance to Zira as she led the way. She had to be the most baffling woman Carth had ever met. She was moody, impulsive, and reckless. Yet something about her seemed to be intoxicating. As if being in her presence was being in the wake of a solar flare. It felt liberating. Like following her was benevolent, divine, or even fated.

�Uh, hey Carth. Can I� can I talk to you for a second?� Came a gentle, young voice from beside him.

Carth turned his chocolate eyes down upon the fair, blue skinned Twi�lek girl who�d caught up to him. She fell into stride and was nervously playing with one of her lekku. Carth hefted a sigh, remembering the last time things had been quiet enough for Mission to have one of these little chats. �Are you ready to have a civil chat? Or is this going to be another childish tantrum?� He asked her dryly.

Missions cheeks burned brightly and looked up at him indignantly. �Tantrum? I�m trying to apologize, you nerf-herder!�

Carth raised and eyebrow folding his arms across his chest. He gave her a critical look that seemed to suggest that was the probably not the best way to start an �apology.�

Mission seemed to understand the look perfectly. She looked down for a moment before adding in a bit more of a sheepish tone, �Uh� I mean� I�m sorry. I didn�t mean to get mad at you. It�s just that I�m sick of everyone treating me like I�m a helpless kid.�

His thoughts rolling back across the first time he�d suited up for the Republic. Back then, a whole other generation of Republic soldiers had treated him like that. He remembered how hard he�d tried to feel accepted, validated. �Yeah, I know. And I�m sorry about what I said too. I�m just a little on edge lately. Not surprising considering all we�ve been through, but I shouldn�t take it out on you. Mission, you have to know that we don�t think you�re helpless. Look where we are, look at what we�re doing. You�re not just along for the ride. We need you.�

Mission�s mouth fell agape for a moment. Carth could practically see her thoughts processing his words. The closer her mouth got to being close, the brighter her cheeks became. Carth couldn�t help but smile. When she�s not chattering incessantly, she�s actually kind of cute. Whoa� Stop right there. That is not a lane I want to be spacing down� Carth looked away for a moment to try and clear his thoughts. This girl was probably half his age, he shouldn�t be thinking like that about her.

�You really mean it, don�t you? Nobody�s ever said anything like that to me before, not even Big Z. He might think it, but he�s not really one for words, y�know? Thanks, Carth.� There was a warm, gentleness to her words now.

Carth had heard women use that tone before. That gentle cooing that often led to gentle touches, or other flirting.

�Ah, it�s no big deal. I know how it is. Sometimes you just need a few words of encouragement. Kids are like that.� He said quickly, throwing the part about her being a kid in there more to remind himself verbally of her age than anything else.

Mission�s temper flared again, �Kids are like that?? Listen you�� She trailed off and got silent a moment. �Oh, I get it.� She finally added, �Okay, you got me. You�re pretty funny, Carth, for an old guy. Come on, you geezer, let�s get back to the base.�

Carth smirked, covering the slight jab at his pride. I�m far from being a geezer� He wanted to add, but he figured it best to just let her think he was teasing her. He couldn�t help but wonder if she truly understood. She claimed to have �gotten� it, but Carth wasn�t entirely sure she did.

He spent the next half an hour lost in his own thoughts. The long maze like streets of the Lower City blurred together in his memory as Zira led them along. He could often see swoops and speeders zipping by in the lanes just beyond the walkways. It made him nostalgic for when he was just simply a pilot.

�We�re here to see Gadon again.� Zira�s voice pulled the tired pilot from his self reflection again. He looked over to see her talking to the dark-skinned door guard of the Hidden Bek base.

The woman nodded towards the door and activated a transmitter on her belt to give the signal to disengage the door�s lock. The large durasteel door hissed, clicked, then seamlessly parted allowing them to enter.

Once again, Carth felt an uncomfortable chill run the length of his spine as he entered the Bek base. Zira marched across the place in confidence, but Carth still felt ill-at-ease around these gang types.

�We�re back.� Zira announced quietly to Gadon, who looked as tired as Carth felt. However, when the man heard her voice he sat up, and looked to rouse quickly.

�You have returned. Do you have the prototype swoop engine accelerator with you?�

Carth moved aside as Zira made a �come hither� motion to Zaalbar who set the heavy part down on the table that Gadon and Zaerdra were sitting at. �We have the accelerator right here.� She said to the blind man.

Gadon�s expression brightened as if he were a boy receiving a present for his birthday. �I was beginning to wonder if you would make it. The race is tomorrow, and my mechanics need time to install the prototype into the swoop engine of our bike.�

Judging by the wall-chrono on the wall behind them, those mechanics weren�t going to get any sleep that night. Zira continued, leaning in on the table. Carth could tell she was frustrated, �Okay, I�ve lived up to my end of the deal. Now you better come through!�

Gadon looked almost hurt by her words, but Carth could read the sarcasm in the old man as if he printed it on a flimsy and attached it to his forehead. �Don�t worry, I�m a man of my word. I promised you could ride in the swoop race under the Hidden Bek banner, and I�m still going to let you do that. And I�m even going to go one better - I�m going to let you ride the swoop bike with the prototype accelerator installed on it. Without it, you won�t stand a chance.�

Carth was a bit stunned. It wasn�t the first time he�d met �honorable� people in the most unlikely places, but he couldn�t help but wonder why this gang-leader was so quick to be helpful to a stranger.

The grey-skinned Twi�lek, Zaerdra, incredulously �Gadon! You can�t be serious! We need one of our best riders on that bike! We can�t let some rookie take the prototype engine into the race!�

Zira seemed as skeptical as Carth felt, and he was relieved to see that she didn�t just buy into his sudden, �generosity.� �Why are you doing this, Gadon?�

Gadon�s brow knit as both Zaerdra and Zira�s words met him. After a second a look of guilt washed across the man�s aged features, �I have to be honest with you - there�s a reason I�m letting you take the prototype engine. The accelerator isn�t stable; there�s a good chance it could explode during the race. I can�t ask one of my own riders to take the risk - they�ll be running unmodified swoops in the race. You�ll be the only one using the prototype. If you can complete the track before the accelerator overheats then you�ll win for the Beks. If you die, then one of my other riders could still come through for me.�

Carth drew a breath to say something but Zira cut him off, �Suddenly, I�m not so sure about this.�

Gadon responded quickly also, and for a �blind� man, he sure seemed able to focus intently upon Zira. �Without that prototype you don�t� stand a chance of winning. And if you don�t win, you can�t get Bastila back - none of the other riders will give her up. This is your only chance.�

Carth felt himself deflate at that. He didn�t know what kind of a rider Zira was, or if she was any good at it. The cunning old man was right about one thing: she was going to need any edge she could get.

Zira, again, seemed to come to the same conclusion as Carth, saying in a defeated town, �Okay, I�m ready for the race��

Gadon�s tone became warm, almost fatherly, �You can stay here tonight. The mechanics need time to install the accelerator on the engine, so you won�t be able to practice your riding. But I�ve got good instincts, and you have the look of a racer about you. Just try to relax and in the morning we�ll take you to the swoop track.�

Zira gave a nod, �Okay� thank you.� She pushed off the table and as Zaerdra called over to a few Beks. They led the group into a side room and then into a large room that reminded him of crew quarters on a ship. The square room had two sets of bunk beds on either wall, with a large sitting table in the center of the room, and two dressers along the back wall near the head-boards of the beds.

Carth swept the room quickly with his eyes, trying to make sure there were no hidden traps or anything. He couldn�t see any, but that didn�t take him off edge just yet. He tromped over to the table and pulled a chair out, to drop down into it. Relieved to be off his feet, at least for a time, Carth looked to the group. �So. What�s the plan?�

The others followed Carth�s lead, pulling out chairs and settling into the table around him. Zira was the first to speak, �Don�t see much we can do except try to get a shower, nap, and hope that I can ride well enough tomorrow to win.�

Carth frowned, the idea of that accelerator exploding her swoop into a plume of flame, metal, and flesh flashed through his mind. �I could try riding� if you like.�

She shook her head, �No� I would rather see it through myself. Besides, the deal with Gadon is with me, not you.�

Mission interjected groggily, �He might be willing to work something out.�

Zira gave a light shrug, �It�ll be fine. That Bek that led us here was explaining that only racers and mechanics are allowed into the hanger bay, and racing arena. I�m not a bad pilot, so I�m sure I�ll figure it out.�

Carth wasn�t whole-heartedly convinced by her words, but he didn�t have a particular argument to it. �Okay, so what are the rest of us supposed to do? Sit here and wait for you to come back? I don�t think I can sit and do nothing.�

Carth felt a sense of warmth wash over him as Zira�s dark, navy blue eyes locked with his. �Well, if this goes according to plan, I�ll be returning to the apartment in Upper Taris with Bastila in tow. We still have a few other things that need done, if you guys want to split up the chores and go get them done while I�m at the track.�

Carth sat up a bit more. A mission. Excellent, something to keep my mind focused and off of worry. Anything is better than just sitting on my hands and waiting for word. �Okay, that sounds good. What needs doing?�

Zaalbar and Mission perked up a bit too, though Carth noted that Mission�s was a bit more of a �startled� attention. He wondered if perhaps Zaalbar had done something under the table to revive the exhausted girl.

Zira pulled out a datapad from a belt compartment, that Carth had often seen her pull out to tap away notes or whatever else she�d done on it with. �Okay. We need to take at least two vials of that rakghoul serum up to the doctor in the Upper City, I believe his name was Zelka.�

She paused a moment and Carth thought back to the kind doctor who�d been caring for the injured Republic soldiers, even at great personal risk. �I�ll take care of that.� He said without thinking.

Zira looked up and nodded, �Okay� While you�re up there, we still need to tell a Dia that the bounty has been removed, and seeing as you�re the only one who knows her�� She trailed off, and Carth didn�t need her to finish the sentence.

Carth�s stomach slowly twisted into a knot as he remembered his last encounter with Dia. Low-light images of the sleek, sexy woman painted his mind. His voice caught in his throat, so he just coughed to try and clear it and nodded to Zira.

Zira didn�t seem to take much heed of his sudden discomfort and moved on. �Zaalbar, there�s a Twi�lek man named Matrik here in the Lower City that needs a bit of help as well. If you go to the Upper City with Carth, you can pick up a Permacrete Detonator� I believe I saw one at the weapon emporium near the cantina there. He wants to use the device to fake his own death, and claims to have knowledge over explosives.�

Zaalbar let out a low whine followed by a couple yelps. Carth had no idea what he said, but Zira seemed to understand perfectly, �Yeah, it should be relatively easy. Just take him the bomb, and make sure he doesn�t blow himself up with it. We�ll claim full price on the bounty from Zax and use the credits to help us get off this rock when we get the chance.�

He nodded and rubbed his large furred head.

Zira bent over to pick up a her bag from where she�d deposited it on the floor and set it down on the table top. She rummaged through it a moment before producing a few datapad journals that Carth recognized from the corpses of fallen Outcast people in the Undercity. Zira also put a pair of vials of rakghoul serum on top of them. �Okay� Mission, I would like you to deliver these to the old man in the Undercity, and the rakghoul serum should be enough to give doses to those in the cage down there. Be careful though, okay?�

The girl�s groggy nod suggested she�d heard about half of that. �Okay� So, we�ve all got our assignments�� Carth said, trying to sound objective. �How will we pass between the checkpoints without paperwork?�

Zira�s brow furrowed slightly. �Right� I hadn�t thought about that��

Mission, proving she was more awake than Carth had previously thought, interjected again, �Don�t worry about me. I can get to the Undercity without a problem. I know all the back tunnels to get around. I don�t need to use the main lift.�

Zaalbar grumbled and barked something in return. �That�s true� I suppose Carth won�t need a copy if he isn�t coming back down, so you can take the paperwork Zaalbar.�

Carth�s stomach did a back flip. �Wait, then how will I get back down here?�

Zira shook her head, �You shouldn�t have to.�

That didn�t settle well with him. �What if you need help?�

Zira gave a small shrug, �Then I�ll have Zaalbar and Mission to back me up� and I�m sure if they need your help, they can come collect you from the Upper City.�

Carth�s eyes narrowed, but he didn�t have a better idea, so he stowed his thoughts.

�Zira? Is there anything else? Or can I get some sleep� I�m beat.� Mission asked groggily.

Zira gave a soft chuckle, �Yeah� get some sleep. I�m going to ask about a refresher and a shower then try to get some sleep also.�

Mission was quick to hop up from bed and walk over to scramble her way up onto the right-side top bunk. She didn�t even strip her armor, and Carth knew that wouldn�t end well. He�d tried that several times, and it never equated to a good night�s sleep. He just shook his head though: she�d learn.

The soldier stood up from the table and walked over to the left side. He decided to also claim a top bunk, figuring it�d be more polite than making Zira crawl up there after a long day. He, however, un-strapped his armor and set it on the floor near the dresser. He left one of his blasters there as well, climbing up onto the top bunk.

He watched as the massive Wookiee flumped down on the lower bunk under Mission. He was almost envious of that �no clothing� rule that Wookiee�s had. No time wasted on suiting up or down� just always ready for action, but again, I prefer to have something between me and blaster fire, so I guess it evens out. His heavy lids finally beat out his will, and he closed his eyes. Almost instantly, he tumbled down the Lepi hole, into the Wonderland of sleep.

***

Zira�s shower was glorious. She felt like it�d been a galactic standard month since her last. The sensation of being clean was worth the loss of an extra half hour�s worth of sleep. She could hear the constant clamor and din of people talking throughout the base, but after her day, she didn�t care.

As she settled into her bunk, she noticed Mission was groggily sitting up and un-doing her light armor to try and remove it. Zaalbar was snoring quietly under her, right up until Mission swung one of her boots around and into his bunk. The boot landed square on the Wookiee�s stomach, causing him to sit upright and smack his head on the underside of Mission�s bunk.

Zira could resist the small giggle at the comical act of the pair. She covered it to try and go un-noticed however. Mission leaned over the bunk and glared down at him, her long, pale blue Lekku dangling as she did, �Hey, Big Z, we�ve got to do something about your breath. I didn�t want to say anything, but it�s bad. Worse than usual, which is hard to believe. In fact, now that I think about it, your breath has been pretty rancid ever since we rescued you from those Gamorrean slavers. What did they feed you, buddy?�

Zaalbar gave a low growl of protest. �Mission� I was sleeping!� He let out an annoyed grunt, �Besides, they didn�t. I wasn�t their guest, Mission. I was a prisoner. I don�t think they cared much what happened to me.�

Mission gasped and said in a mocking tone, �Oh, Zaalbar, that�s terrible! I know how grouchy you get if you don�t get your eight square meals a day. I�m amazed you didn�t pass out from hunger.�

Zaalbar laid back down, rubbing his head with a massive paw, �I did manage to take a chunk out of the arm of a guard that wandered too close to my cage, but it tasted awful, so I spit it out.� He commented.

Zira�s thoughts were voiced by Missions high-pitched, �Ewww!� The Twi�lek shook her head, waggling her tails at Zaalbar. �No wonder your breath is so bad, Big Z. Gammoreans smell like bantha poo-doo! We�ll have to pick up a toothbrush to clean that stench out of your choppers.�

Zaalbar didn�t seem amused at all, �Wookiees do not brush their teeth, Mission! It� it just isn�t done! What humiliation will you use on me next? A comb?�

Mission recoiled back. Zaalbar�s gaze had squared at her, and in his protest, he must have breathed directly at her. Mission swung herself around and into her bunk, �Okay, relax. No toothbrush. Sheesh. Just try to eat something else to cover up that smell, okay? Stay away from anything that�s smart enough to lock you in a cage this time.�

Zaalbar let out a long sigh, before barking a reply, �I�ll take care of it as soon as I can, Mission. For now, can I please just go to sleep?�

Mission gave a sleepy �Hmph!� as her only reply.

Zira rolled onto her side, and glanced up at the bunk above her. She could almost feel Carth�s soft breathing from here. And how would you respond if I did something playful like that? Her thoughts began to roll over Carth, and she wondered earlier if he was actually worried about her, or if he was just worried she wouldn�t be a good enough pilot to �win� Bastila. Zira�s last thoughts of the night were on Carth, before she joined her companions in dropping off to sleep.

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Zira Darkstar