KotOR I: Orin Dakall

The night passed without incident, and the two breakfasted on rock-hard tack the next morning. Orin used the last of the water cleaning the blood out of her hair.



“So we’re going to go thirsty for the sake of your vanity?” Carth asked.



“Yes.” Orin turned and stuck her tongue out at him.



Mission and Zaalbar entered. “Where is your base?”



Orin looked at Zaalbar blankly. “Um. Why?”



“I have injuries. I will return there. When I am fit to help you, I will return here.”



Orin gave him directions, then Carth interrupted, correcting her.



Zaalbar waited.



They squabbled for several minutes, Orin encouraging Carth to take Zaalbar back himself, before showing Zaalbar the location on her holocron’s map. He left without a word.



“So as long as he’s injured...” Orin glanced at Mission. “You can go with him if you just let us know where we’re headed.”



She shook her head. “Naw, I better come with you. The Vulkars put up a force shield to keep the sewer dwellers out.” She puffed her chest out in pride. “I’m one of the only non-Vulkars on Taris who can get you past it.”



Of course you are. “Let’s get moving. The sooner we get there, the better.” She and Carth shouldered their packs, looking at the Twi’lek expectantly. She scuffed her boot along the floor.



“I can’t remember exactly how to get there... But I know it was somewhere here in the sewers. Over to the northeast, maybe.”



Orin and Carth sighed and looked at each other.



“Sweep each room.”



She nodded. “May find some supplies while we’re at it.”



“I just hope the rancor monster isn’t still there.”



Carth looked at Mission like a second head had popped up between her shoulders. Orin just straightened her pack. “Good,” she muttered, moving out. “I’m spoiling for a fight.”



They fought their way through rakghouls and Gamorreans, looting what they could.



“Why, why, is it that all these fucking pigs hide their valuables in the same place?” Orin grunted as she pulled the briefs off of yet another, a small pouch inside containing a roll of credits. Mission and Carth both looked fairly nauseated.



“They know only the insane are ever going to want to go near there?” Carth offered, looking away.



“And yet, they still breed,” she replied. “Guess they’re as insecure as any other male.”



“Excuse me?”



Orin looked surprised at Carth’s indignation. “They’re trying to make themselves out to be bigger than they are. I wasn’t saying you were a Gamorrean.” She shrugged slightly. “You know, this time.”



They found several human remains as they searched rooms. Sith, mainly, and a few Undercity people. Orin pocketed several holocrons along with what else they carried.



Carth was entering another room when Mission and Orin hauled him back by his pack straps.



“Are you nuts?!” Mission asked.



“Or suicidal?” Orin suggested.



“What?”



The females rolled their eyes in unison. Orin knelt on the ground, her hands deftly moving through a trip field and gently pressing a switch on a knob on the floor. It clicked and Orin picked it up, putting it in her pack.



“Frag mine.” She patted his shoulder condescendingly. “Try not to be so oblivious.”



“Right, so now I’m insecure and oblivious.”



“Some of your best qualities.”



He glared at her as they moved on.



Finally they found the great, glowing, pinkish-purple wall signaling they were headed in the right direction. Mission strode confidently to the console nearby.



“Can’t get the computer to lower the energy fields unless you know the proper codes. Lucky for you, I’ve got them.” She entered a many-digited number and the wall flickered and dissipated. “Yup,” she said with satisfaction. “I picked them off the pocket of a Black Vulkar who had a little too much to drink in the cantina one night.”



They’d just finished off a couple of war droids, and Orin sent Mission to stealth ahead to and figure out which path to take next. Once she’d gone, Orin scavenged through the droids, looking for useful bits.



“Sure wouldn’t mind some water,” Carth drawled meaningfully.



Orin frowned at the remains. Just smoking, melted metal.



“Once we reach the Vulkar’s base we’ll have plenty. Deal.”



Carth came over to her, staring at her lump. “Swelling’s not gone down.” He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “How are you not passed out in a kolto tank?”



“Too much to do first,” she said.



Carth prodded the lump.



“OW!”



“That thing’s the size of a Bith.”



“Well then, by all means, let’s poke it some more and see if that changes!”



“Don’t be such a baby.”



She narrowed her eyes, then smiled grimly. “We can always continue our discussion from before...”



Carth lowered his hands slowly, looking her hard in the eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”



“Hey, you inflict pain on me, then I figure I deserve to inflict some in return.”



“So reopen one of my cuts and be done with it,” he said, turning.



“Boring. Come on. Spit it out.”



“Listen sister,” he said, whirling back, “Just because we work together does not mean you get to badger me with constant questions!”



“Aww... do we have another problem now?” She took wicked delight in the way his hand twitched toward his blaster. But really, he was so easy to get to.



“Blast it if you aren’t the most frustrating woman to talk to! Isn’t there someone else you can harass for a little while?”



She shook her head apologetically. “Mission left.”



“Because you sent her off,” he returned, sitting down and leaning against a railing.



She cocked her head. “So what exactly is it about me that frustrates you?” she asked, one hand on her hip and grinning.



“Oh no,” he said, shaking his hair from his eyes. “I’m not falling for that one.”



Orin huffed and sat across from him, leaning on her elbows. “Trying to get a compliment from you is like trying to milk a dewlap,” she said. “And you say I’m frustrating to deal with.” She pulled out her last hunk of tack and gummed it, then threw it from her in distaste.



“What? Me?” Carth raised his hands. “What did I do?”



“Is that a joke?” she asked, picking a stray bit from her teeth. “Where have you been?”