KotOR I: Orin Dakall

“I’ve not seen you here before, humans. You are new to the bounty office, yes? My name is Zax. I’m the one in charge here.” He waved a stubby arm at the bounty hunters lounging lazily around the room. “If you want work there are many bounties available here, legal and otherwise.” He took a closer at Orin. “...Or are you here for information? Everyone knows I’m one of Davik’s best agents. The Hutt with all the answers.”



“You work for Davik,” she said dully. A government employee openly admitting his corruption. Such a wonderful planet, Taris.



“Not officially, no,” he said with a leer. “I work for the bounty office. But Davik pays me to keep my eyes open and report to him. And to post his bounties.”



“Well, let’s hear them.”



“Two government contracts. An assassin named Selvin, the other is Bendak Starkiller. He’s a famous death-match duelist. Between them they’ve killed hundreds.”



“I can’t see anything wrong with getting rid of people like that,” Carth said at her elbow. “As long as we don’t end up on the list of their victims.”



“But not all the bounties are dangerous,” Zax said with a satisfied little smile. “Davik’s got some special contracts.”



“Dia and Matrik. Anyone else?”



Zax looked like his thunder had been stolen. “There was Largo, but Davik removed the contract yesterday. Must’ve come up with the credits,” he said with a bit of a sulk. “Davik particularly wants Matrik dead. He betrayed the Exchange.”



“The Exchange, or Davik?” Orin asked with a bit of a sneer.



“Both, I would think,” Zax said, indifferent.



“You aren’t thinking of doing a crime lord’s dirty work, are you?” Carth muttered in her ear. She gave him a withering look.



“Not his.” She turned, skulking off.



“Can’t you see I’m auditioning?!” came a panicked shriek as she ran into a dancing Twi’lek. “This is my shot at the big time!” She looked over at her auditioner and sighed in despair. “What’s the use? There’s no way Bib’s going to hire me unless he gets a chance to see me dancing with a partner. I should just give up.”



“You want to spend your life dancing half-naked in front of horny men?”



“What?”



“I said...” She sighed. “Maybe I could be your partner,” she said with a sinking feeling.



“I admit I’m getting desperate, but how do I know you’re any good?” she said, casting a discerning eye over Orin. By now Carth had given polite goodbyes to Zax and had caught up. He watched the two with obvious interest. Orin gave him another dirty look and swung her head to the Twi’lek.



“What other choice do you have?” she asked, annoyed.



“Well, you do have that certain look about you, a confidence of movement.” She sighed. “I guess you’ll have to do. But I’m warning you, don’t screw this up!”



Orin bit back a retort and instead took off her belt and harness holding her weapons and passed the lot to Carth. He took them silently, his raised eyebrows and shadow of a smirk saying more than enough.



“Mr. Surool, I’ve got a partner now. I’d really like to audition for you again.”



The auditioner looked Orin up and down. “Okay Lyn, you’ve got one more chance. I’ll give you a minute to get your partner set up, then let’s see what you’ve got. Three dances, so make them count.”



“Just follow my lead,” Lyn said, looking nervous. “The more complicated our steps and the closer we dance the more it will impress Bib. Just don’t get in too close if you can’t handle it.”



The first two dances passed easily enough, though Lyn berated Orin for only dancing beside her the first time. But both Bib and Lyn were looking pleased now.



“As long as we don’t screw up I think we’ve got it! Follow me and please, just keep it simple,” Lyn whispered.



Her idea of ‘simple’ varied hugely from Orin’s. She began a slow, insinuating, slithering sort of dance. Orin took a deep breath, moved close to face her, and followed. They locked eyes as they danced, but Orin could feel everyone in the room staring at them. She suppressed a shudder at the thought of Zax watching her twining herself around Lyn.



She felt her eyes move toward Carth and she stumbled, but Bib was already clapping. She didn’t listen. She got the gist that Lyn was in from her squeal of delight and focused on getting her weapons back on. She felt like she’d been violated. Carth handed her the vibroblade and sword without looking at her. Fantastic. I suppose I should just be glad he isn’t looking at me like a steak. She shoved them into their sheaths and headed for the door.



Why did I even do it? she demanded to herself. So I ran into her. Her audition was already blown, she said so herself. Now she’s going to be treated like a prostitute the rest of her life. She shook her head and nearly ran into another Twi’lek, but Carth caught her shoulder right before.



Some Rodians were harassing the kid. She must’ve been 15, 16 tops, and a blue shade Orin had rarely seen.



“I told you to leave me alone,” she said hotly, “so give me some space, Bug-eye! Your breath smells like bantha poodoo!”



“Looks like our services are required once again,” Carth whispered. Orin was getting tired of playing hero, but she wasn’t going to let the kid get slaughtered just for shooting off her mouth. She loosened her swords, ready to pull them in a moment. Carth quietly pulled out his blasters, keeping them at his sides.



“Little girl needs lesson in manners!”



Her swords were half-unsheathed when the Twi’lek put up her hand and turned her head. “Just a sec, boys. Zaalbar, a little help here?” She smiled back at the Rodians. “I need you to rip the legs off some insects.”



A Wookiee looked up from a plate of food. “I’m busy,” he whined.



“You can eat later. Besides, you need the exercise, so get over here.”



Orin put her swords away and Carth looked at her questioningly. She shrugged. “I guess the kid’s with the Wookiee.”



“Say, I don’t recognize you and I know pretty much everyone in the Lower City,” said a chirping voice at Orin’s side. “You must be new down here. I guess that makes me and Big Z your official welcoming committee!”



Orin didn’t know how to respond to the bubbly Twi’lek. “You... speak Basic,” she said dumbly.



“I grew up on Taris,” she said with a shrug, “so I just sort of got used to speaking the native tongue.”



“You showed a lot of guts dealing with those Vulkars, kid,” Carth said, putting his blasters away. “You got a name?”



“Mission Vao, and this big Wookiee is my best friend, Zaalbar. I’d offer to give you a tour, but the streets down here aren’t safe. But if there’s anything else you need...”