Zira Darkstar

**A/N** It's good to be back writing on this, as I've missed doing it. I'm going to try to update weekly, so that I don't get burned out on it, and have a little time to work on quality between chapters. As always, please review, as they are a large source of my inspiration. I also want to apologize for the lack of sex so far. It's working towards a set up, and still trying to stay somewhat accurate to the story at large as it is a "walkthrough" + fanfic.
~As always: Beta'd by Envy~
**A/N**

Chapter 18

The trip down to the Undercity went smoothly. After the guard saw their paperwork, he had waved them through without much incident. The worst of what they had to deal with was a pair of beggars trying to shake them down once they exited the elevator. They’d demanded five credits as toll for using the elevator, which Zira paid just to get them to go away.

The Undercity seemed to house the lowest dregs of Taris’ society. The beggars had run off clutching the credits as if they’d been delivered from a deity, and some woman had come over with stars in her eyes. The dark haired child couldn’t have been much beyond her late teens, with shaggy brown hair and patched clothes that looked as if they could be twice the child’s age. She’d said some things about how they were giving the villagers a bad name. She followed behind Carth and Zira like a lost kath hound begging for treats, yammering on about anything she could think of.

She spoke of their village leader, Gendar, and some story teller named Rukil. Carth and Zira took turns offering the girl polite exchanges, but neither of them were very good at masking that they were trying to dismiss the dirt covered girl.

While Carth spent a moment talking to the girl, Zira looked around to see the try and take in the true nature of the Undercity. The buildings that were overhead didn’t seem to start at ground level. Instead they were on a sort of plate that was close to a hundred meters from the ground, supported by periodic permacrete pillars. They housed a network of interlacing permacrete and durasteel framework throughout the entire expanse of the Undercity, and every few pillars was hour-glass shaped pillar. The hourglass shaped pillars were lined with lights, that outlined the pillars, even though most of them were in disrepair. Half the lights seemed to flicker on and off irregularly, while a quarter of them didn’t even light up at all.

Zira’s eyes moved down to the groundwork of the village that huddled around the elevator’s exit. It was surrounded by a fifteen meter high permacrete wall, with durasteel fencing angled outward over the top. It reminded Zira of ancient forts that people had erected on planets for guerilla warfare, designed to keep opposing forces out. Probably not too far from the truth, with all the warnings I got about those rakghoul creatures.

Zira was pulled from her inner thoughts as the girl, Shaleena, continued to prattle on about whatever she could to try and stay near the pair. She was talking about the old man, Rukil, and about how he’d told tales of the “Promised Land.” Zira’s curiosity got the better of her. Promised lands often had something of value, and she might be able to find some rare metals or stones that she could convert to credits.

“The Promised Land? What’s that?” Zira asked curiously.

“It’s… it’s just a story to make little children smile. Rukil believes in it, though. Sometimes I can almost believe it myself, but then I look around and see the ugly truth.” The girl folded her hands across her chest and gave a whimsical sigh; her eyes closed as she did so, but she frowned and open them again. Zira could tell the girl was near her wits end. She was between the stage of hopeful dreaming child and resigned, bitter adult. “I guess we have to make the best of what we have though. If you really want to learn more about the promised land, you should speak to Rukil.”

Zira nodded, and while she felt bad for the girl, ultimately, there was nothing either her or Carth could do for this Shaleena. “We need to be going now.” She offered a kind smile to the girl, “It was nice meeting you, Shaleena.”

The girl’s hopeful eyes turned towards the ground, and she spoke in a resigned, disappointed tone, “Oh… okay. Well, if you ever need anything or if you just feel like talking, come back and see me. I hardly ever get a chance to speak with someone from the up-world.”

Zira nodded once again to the girl and started towards the gate. She noticed Carth hanging back a moment to pat the girl on the shoulder and say something that she could only guess was a word of encouragement. Zira slowed to a stop near the gate leading further into the Undercity. It was a tall, grid-patterned mesh of metal and linked to a power source that lowered it into the ground. Beside the gate, an elderly man stood by a panel that Zira guessed must be used to open and close the portal.

She watched as Carth walked towards her, a gentle smile creeping onto her face. He may not trust anyone, but she could see that deep down, he was still just as caring and sweet as any man, but before she could ask what he’d told Shaleena, shouting pulled her attention out beyond the gate.

“-rry, Hendar, hurry! I can hear it coming!” Called a winded, female voice.

The guard at the gate had hit the button and the slow moving gate dropped down into the ground, with the sound of grinding gears and chains. Zira’s hands went to the weapons at her hips, drawing a blaster in each hand. Carth seemed to agree, doing the same thing and drawing his own blasters.

As she crossed the threshold, the guard hit the close button and the gears and gyros inside the gate’s mechanism began to reverse, slowly starting to raise the clambering metal back into position. “He’ll never make it. He’s doomed. Argh! I told him he was a fool to leave the village.”

The woman hissed at him, “He WILL make it! Run, Hendar! Run!”

The man outside the gate, Hendar, called to them, “Open the gate! Quickly! There isn’t much time!”

The guard’s brow furrowed, and Zira could practically smell the panicked fear emanate from the man. “Ugh… I… I can’t… the rakghouls are too close!”

The shocked woman began to plead with him, her eyes widening in fear, "The mutants will kill him if you don't open the gate!"

“And if I open the gate they will kill us all!” The guard indignantly responded,

Zira frowned as the gate continued to slowly rise, now about three foot up. There was no way the man would make it before the slow moving metal would be well over head, and it would be too late for him.

The woman’s dark eyes brimed over with tears as she pleaded with him. “No! You can’t do this! It isn’t fair!” She’d look around desperately, her eyes falling on Carth and Zira, “Please, make him open the gate. Hendar will die if he doesn’t!”

As if heading off an argument before it could start, the guard spoke up, “I can’t open the gate… not while the rakghouls are so near.”

Even before the guard had begun to speak, Zira’s mind was made up. She broke into a sprint at the gate, leaping up into a dive to go over the slow metal. She estimated it to be about a meter and a half from the ground, and she cleared the metal easily, landing on her hands and tumbling across the back of her neck and back, all the way to her feet.

Zira shot back over her shoulder quickly, “Open the gate… I will kill the rakghouls.“ As she looked back, she saw Carth had moved to follow her but fell short, stopping inside the gate. Now that she saw him standing against the gate, she realized she’d estimated wrong. It was already well over his head, easily three to four meters up. Just how high did I jump…? She thought to herself in astonishment.

Before she could be too amazed with herself, however, she heard a strange sound from the other direction and turned to face it. It had come from the rakghoul that was chasing Hendar. The creature stood a full head over the man, or so Zira would’ve guessed. It barreled after the fleeing man on all fours, bounding forward onto it’s ’hands’ and then the feet landing beside them to launch it further forward. It was an ugly, slimy looking thing with grey skin. It’s mouth was mammoth, and hinged far back on it’s head. Long, jagged teeth spread in two rows along the creature’s mouth and it released another strange ‘roar.’

Zira heard Carth bark something behind her, but she couldn’t make it out as she felt the calm focus that came naturally to her. The crystal clarity that seemed to wash over her mind in times of combat and stress.

With surreal grace, she raised her arms dropped down into a kneel, to steady her aim. She watched the creature, moving with supernatural speed. Hendar rushed past her, and hit the gate with his hands, still begging and pleading to be let in.

She heard the guard’s strangled voice, “You would risk your life for a stranger? Heh. You are brave up-worlder. I will open the gate for you, but you’ve got to be quick. In a few seconds I must close and lock it again.”

Carth must have him by the throat. Is he really that worried about me? She found herself wondering.

The rakghoul monster was now large enough to target and Zira opened fire with both blasters. Her first shots flew well over it’s head, burning holes into the ground. It was faster than she’d anticipated. Zira’s second shots, however, burned deep into the creature’s grey hide, causing it to fumble it’s step and tumble forwards. It rolled a few times, before laying still.

Zira stood up slowly, a cocky grin starting to spread across her lips. That’s it? That’s what people were SO worried?

She started to lower her blaster’s when the creature twitched, then rolled onto it’s stomach. It stood up to it’s full height, easily three meters tall. It let out another deep throated howl and leaned in, it’s arms curling under it threateningly. It’s shriek was long and loud, splattering spittle from it’s maw all over the ground.

Zira looked on in stunned, shock as two blackened score marks were visible in the creatures wide chest. Both would have been fatal to a human, or most species for that matter, but this thing could still not only stand, but roar. For a moment, fear gripped her, but a voice from behind her snapped her out of it. “Blast the damn thing Zira!”

Zira’s blasters once again leveled upon the beast, and she began squeezing round after round off with both hands. Deadly, crimson energy burned from the muzzles of her pistols and lanced out across the distance. Several hits burned deep into the creature and it began to rock backwards with each one.

The impact caused the creature to stumble backwards, halting it’s war cry. Zira was sure she must have shot it fifteen times before the thing finally tumbled onto it’s back, it’s arms and legs limply dropping to the ground.

She slowly exhaled a breath she didn’t even realize she was holding, keeping her blasters trained on the creature.

She also became vaguely aware of the rattling mechanism behind her, and decided to hazard a glance backwards. The gate was almost completely opened again and Hendar had already jumped over it and was now holding the woman closely. Carth had also jumped the gate and was walking up towards Zira, both of his blasters were still trained on the downed rakghoul. “Is it dead?”

Zira shrugged her shoulders lightly and looked ahead, “I have no idea.” She began to move toward the creature, keeping both her guns trained upon it, just in case it moved. As they closed the distance of about ten meters, they could smell the putrid, burning stench off the creature’s once slimy hide. It’s chest cavity was completely caved in, and it didn’t move at all. “Yes. It’s dead.” She affirmed for Carth.

“Lookout!” He suddenly called and his blasters lifted up to take aim further away.

Zira noticed that the further out from the little village they got, that there was a light fog that continued to get thicker, obscuring vision. Sure enough, another figure was moving in the dimly lit fog, approaching. Zira began to take aim also before catching sight of something. She stood up straight and holstered her blasters, reaching over to lay a hand across Carth’s forearms and gently push them down, “It’s okay.” She said softly to him, and he soon saw why.

The bobbing brain-tails of a blue skinned Twi’lek came fully into view as Mission cleared the fog. She had one hand wrapped around her side, clutching to a wound that bled through her fingers at her lower abdomen. “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?”

Zira moved ahead to try and catch the girl by the shoulders. She felt a gut wrenching pain as she smelled the blood, and saw the still wet tear lines down the girl’s face.

Mission was still sobbing, panicked, and Zira could feel her trembling within her grasp, “Whoa, slow down, Mission. What’s wrong?”

Mission’s free hand moved to cover her delicate, pink lips as gave a wet cough, and Zira saw the blood spatter the inside of hand. She finally resumed speaking, slowing down a little bit, but terror still gripped her voice, “It’s Zaalbar. He’s in trouble. Big trouble! We have to help him. If we don’t they’ll sell him into slavery!”

Zira tried to offer the alien a warm, soothing smile and moved to put an arm around her, “Calm down, Mission. Take a deep breath and tell me what happened.” She cooed softly into the young woman’s ear.

Mission did as instructed, closing her big auburn eyes and taking a steadying breath. Even as she did, Zira could hear the wet, raspy tone in the girl’s breath and she began to escort her back towards the village. She spoke a bit calmer, still sounding on the verge of breaking out into renewed sobs, “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.”

Carth had waited for them to pass and began to walk backwards with them, his blasters scanning the foggy horizon. “I guess with a Wookiee at your side, you’ve got to figure you can handle the odd rakghoul attack.” He commented darkly.

Mission continued as if Carth had never spoken, “Only this time they were waiting for us.” She paused to cough a bit, and Zira felt the girl’s weight get a bit worse. She was having trouble standing now, but her voice seemed to work just fine, “Gamorrean slave hunters. We didn’t even have a chance to run. Biz 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.” Tears once again began to flow from Missions lovely auburn depths, “He couldn’t get away. They’re going to sell him to a slaver… I just know it!”

Zira shook the girl lightly, trying to get her to stay awake. “If I help you get Zaalbar back, you have to get me inside the Vulkar base.” She said in a commanding tone, hoping that having a goal would inspire the girl to stay awake.

Mission took the bait, half opening her eyes and looking up at Zira. “It’s a deal,” she whispered weakly, “as soon as we get Big Z back, I’ll show you a way into that Vulkar base! Now, come on… We have to find Zaalbar before they sell him to slavers, or worse!” Her raspy whisper was slowly becoming more urgent.

Carth spoke up from behind them as they began to move through the gate, “Do you know where he’s being kept?” He asked gently.

Mission tried to look over her shoulder to Carth, but Zira kept a firm hold of her, not wanting the young woman to become side-tracked from going to hospital. Surely even in this cesspit there has to be some kind of doctor… Didn’t those beggars say something about buying medicine?

Even though she couldn’t see Carth, Mission tried to talk to him, “The Gamorreans make their camps in the sewers. The stink reminds them of home, I guess. I bet that’s where we’ll find Zaalbar, and that’s where I’ll show you the secret entrance into the Vulkar compound.”

They finished crossing into the village and the gate guard began to say something to them, “You are braver than I, up-worlder. Maybe we Outcasts have lived too long in selfish fear. Perhaps we can learn a lesson from your brave actions.”

Zira cast the man a foreboding glare, saying nothing to him.

“Hmph. But, enough of my ramblings… is there something you need, up-worlder?” He asked.

“Goodbye.” Zira said menacingly, her upper lip curling in disgust as she spoke.

The man stopped in his tracks and just muttered, “Goodbye, up-worlder,” in a quiet, shamed voice.

Once back inside the village, Carth holstered his blasters and fell into step with Zira, offering to help ease her burden and carry Mission, to which Zira quietly accepted.

She couldn’t help but be a bit amazed as Carth scooped the near unconscious Mission up into his arms. He made lifting her weight look effortless, and she wondered if it had looked the same when he’d done that with her. Before she could worry too much, a squeaky, rodent-like voice broke her train of thought.

He hissed something about them being from the up-world and having credits. Zira already didn’t trust him when Carth spoke her thoughts for her. The short, dirty, rat-faced man continued to rub his greedy little mitts together as he eyed the trio, but Zira just coldly blew him off. He said something about running a ‘salvage shop,’ but Zira was in no mood to put up with some slimy bastard’s sales pitch while they were carrying a bloodied girl towards a hospital. She snarled at him and told him to get lost. He seemed to get the hint, and stopped following them.

As they began to weave their way between the tents and small, crude houses of the village, a woman approached them, “Wait, up-worlder. You can’t go through this gate. There is too much danger and suffering beyond. For your own sake, turn back.”

Zira frowned and looked at the gate, then to Carth who’d stopped also. As far as she knew, neither of them were even planning on going through the gate.

Zira started to say something when the dark haired woman rushed past her towards Carth and Mission. She began to examine the wound and motioned Carth into a small hut nearby.

Carth looked a bit bewildered as he was ushered in, and looked to the woman who motioned to a cot. He set Mission down and watched as she started pulling out items from a pouch at her hip and tending to Mission’s wound.

Zira followed the pair of them and finally asked, “Who are you?”

The woman looked up, from where she was working, her dull blue eyes looking a bit weary. She had a gaunt, slender frame, with visible cheekbones and an extremely pale complexion. “I am Esala, healer of this village.” She wearily explained, turning back to finish cleaning and tending Mission’s wound. “I use my knowledge and what little resources we have to care for the Outcasts who are sick or injured, but despite my medical training, there is nothing I can do to help the poor souls locked on the other side of that gate.”

Zira smiled, feeling a little more at ease now. She pulled a medpac from her rucksack and offered it to Esala, who thanked her. She sat on the foot of Mission’s bed, deciding to ask, “What are you talking about?”

Esala rubbed her forehead with the back of her forearm, wiping away nervous sweat, “The villagers infected with the rakghoul disease are quarantined beyond that gate. It’s only a matter of time until they transform into horrible creatures that would destroy us all.”

Zira’s smile faded, and was replaced with a frown. She’d seen how dangerous those things could be. If she’d missed even one more shot, it would’ve been atop her. She shivered at the thought of what it’s gnarled fangs and claws would do to flesh.

The hut became silent for a few minutes, aside from Esala’s work, before Carth’s deep voice split the silence, “So you just lock them away in a cage?”

A disheartened sigh escaped Esala’s thin lips, “For the sake of the village, we have to keep the infected ones locked away. And when they finally do transform into rakghouls, we’ll let them destroy each other.”

Zira watched carefully as she continued to work on Mission, before looking to Carth, pleading softly, “There must be something someone can do!”

Carth’s shoulders sagged as he looked away from her, and she knew what he must be thinking. If they could find the serum that the Sith supposedly had, perhaps that someone would be them. Esala, however, did not seem so optimistic as she grimly explained, “Nothing can be done for the infected villagers. Even the serum to counteract the rakghoul disease wouldn’t be of any use, now.”

Zira felt her breath catch in her throat. She didn’t like the idea that nothing could be done. When did you get to be such a goody-goody. You are a smuggler! Unless there’s a payday in this for you, why the hell should you care!? The nagging, voice in the back of her mind spoke up. They are nobodies! They’re not worth worrying about. Why would you step into there to help potential monsters anyway!?

“Nobody would be foolish enough to risk going into the pens to give them the cure: the infected ones could transform into rakghouls and attack them at any moment.” Esala explained, seeming to pick up on Zira’s thoughts.

Zira fought back at the voice in her head, “So you’ll just leave the infected ones to die? You’re a coward!” Zira regretted speaking the words even as they left her lips, and she realized that she was speaking more about herself than Esala.

Esala looked stung by her words, and somehow managed to sound even more depressed and meek, “I can’t help the infected ones. They have to die so that the rest of the village can live. I accept this. If you think that makes me a coward, so be it.”

Zira looked down to the ground in front of her. “I’m going through those gates to try and help the infected ones!” She said solemnly, to quiet the selfish voice in her head, once again realizing she’d spoken aloud.

Esala finished her work on Mission and pulled a small vial of smelling salts out of the medpac that Zira had given her. She waved the pungent vessel under the Twi’lek’s nose, causing her to sputter and push it away as she roused. “I can’t stop you from going through the gates, up-worlder, but if the infected ones have already transformed into rakghouls, you’ll be walking into your grave.” She explained bleakly.

Mission slowly lifted herself up, her warm, cheerful voice speaking up, “Who’s going to a grave?”

Zira smiles and shakes her head, “No one, Mission. How are you feeling?”

Mission gave a weak smile, “Like I just got knifed by a Vulkar, but I’ll be alright.” The smile faded quickly as the beautiful young Twi’lek finished waking, “Zaalbar?” She asked, sounding a bit urgent.

Carth’s soft tone returned as he spoke up soothingly to Mission, “We just had to get you patched up. We’re ready to leave whenever you are.”

Esala nodded to the group and stood up to go stand just outside the room. Zira watched her go, feeling a sense of guilt wash over her. She nodded to Mission and Carth and got up to follow her out. “Esala…? Hey, about earlier… I’m sorry. I just don’t like the idea of it.”

Esala nodded, “Nor do I, but the disease has existed for ages. I realize you do not understand. You didn’t have to grow up near those who were infected, nor did you have to see friends become rakghouls and try to kill you or your friends and family.”

Zira nodded again. She might be right, but she might not be. How would I know? I don’t even remember anything about myself beyond the last few years of smuggling… Maybe I did go through this. Perhaps that’s why it strikes such a nerve. Zira felt a strange pain in her head that seemed to knock the wind out of her. She dropped to her knees and instinctively clutched to her head, trying to apply pressure against the pain.

Esala knelt beside her, “Are you alright?” Her words might as well have been spoken from the other end of the village. Zira’s vision began to tunnel as the pain got more intense, making her feel like her head was going to split open.

A strong thought burned into her mind. I have to do something! I cannot just stay here and do nothing while everything I’ve sworn to protect burns! Please Alek, I will need you with me. I can’t do this alone. The image of a tall man, with short black hair burned into view. The look in his eyes was so warm, and kind. Zira wasn’t sure if it was just the way he looked in her mind, but he seemed to glow. His words were the last she’d hear before sinking into oblivion, “Anything for you. We shall find others, and together we will stop them.” He spoke with a warm, softness that put Zira’s mind at ease as she watched the world swirl away to blackness, wondering who it was she’d remembered, and if she’d ever see him again.