KotOR I: Orin Dakall

Author's Note: Sorry for the lateness--due to a crazy life I didn't have access to my computer until this morning.



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“It’s kind to offer,” Orin said, “but I’ll leave it up to you. Actually, if you want to be helpful, you could just tell us where Brejik’s stashed the accelerator.”



He shook his head. “Such a pity. It’s always the beautiful that are the victims of cons. How much is Gadon offering for you to steal it?”



“Brejik stole that engine from Gadon,” Mission interjected. “We aren’t stealing it...”



“We’re liberating it,” Orin supplied. “We’ll have Gadon and Brejik on opposite sides of a room, and whomever it runs to when it’s called, that’s the rightful owner.”



The female Twi’lek laid her head on the male’s shoulder, entwining her limbs around him. “Would you like me to dispose of these Bek spies, Kandon?”



“No,” he said, giving one of her lekku a fond caress. “Not yet.” He looked back at Orin. “I see you aren’t wearing the Hidden Bek colors, so I’m guessing you aren’t part of that feeble old man’s gang. You must be a freelance mercenary.”



“With such acute powers of observation, you must be Brejik’s right hand,” she replied, dryly.



“Instead of stealing the prototype for the Beks, why don’t you come work for us? The Black Vulkars could use someone like you.”



“Especially as we’ve already wiped out at least half your numbers. What’s your offer?”



“What?” Mission squeaked, turning to Orin in horror. “You can’t betray Gadon! I won’t let you!”



Kandon smiled. “Ah, Mission. The Hidden Bek’s unofficial mascot! Your loyalty is admirable, but misplaced. Gadon only kept you around so they could laugh at you and your furry friend.”



“You’re lying!” she spat at him.



“Am I? How long have you known Gadon? How long have you worked for him? But they never offered to make you a Hidden Bek, did they?”



She hesitated. “They... they said I was too young.”



“And you believed them?” He gave her an incredulous look. “Come on, Mission, you’re smarter than that. To Gadon and his crew you were nothing but a running joke. Weren’t they always teasing you?”



“Well, yeah. Some of them were.” Her eyes went hard. “But you Vulkars have tried to kill me more than once!”



“That’s only because you were with the Beks,” he countered. “And because we respected you. Brejik knows you’re not a joke, Mission. He made sure the Vulkars took you very, very seriously.”



Kandon’s bodyguard pressed her face into his shoulder, hiding her smile.



“He’s gonna convince her to switch sides,” Carth murmured to Orin.



She nodded. “Kid’s a good fighter, but she’s still a kid, and therefore, stupid.”



“Will she turn on us?”



“Guy’s not that persuasive. Soon as he thinks he’s got her, attack. I’ll take out the little guys first, then focus on the bodyguard.”



He nodded. “I’ll go for Kandon.”



“Gadon had to poison your mind against Brejik,” Kandon was saying. “It was the only way to keep you from seeing the truth. The Beks were mocking you, Mission. You don’t need friends like that.”



“You’re right,” she said. “I don’t need anyone but Zaalbar! If Gadon dies, he’s only getting what’s coming to him!”



Two blaster shots hit Kandon squarely in the chest and he flew backwards to the ground, taking the bodyguard with him.



“I can see there’s not much chance of convincing you after all,” he deadpanned. “How unfortunate.”



“Now can I kill them, Kandon?” the bodyguard asked, muffled beneath him as he struggled to his feet.



“Yes, darling,” he growled. “Kill them. Kill them all.”



Orin had already lobbed grenades at the two guards, and with a quick “He was twisting your mind,” to Mission, she sprinted to the now-concussed Vulkars. She finished them quickly, her vibroswords pulling from them with sick, squelching sounds.



“Not bad.”



She whipped round, and the bodyguard’s blaster was leveled at her head.



“You know, it’s not smart to get involved with your boss,” Orin said, sheathing her vibroblades slowly and raising her hands.



“It’s not smart to get involved with your employee,” the Twi’lek countered smoothly.



Orin looked around her to the three still fighting.



“Carth? Naw, no heavy petting there. Besides, he’s the--” she used her hands to make quotation marks, “--Republic’s top pilot.” She sneered slightly. “Not likely to see him fetching my slippers and polishing my boots anytime soon.”



The bodyguard lowered her blaster slightly. “Really?” She looked over her shoulder at Carth. “Another Republic--ungh!” Orin punched her in the gut, taking her blaster as she fell.



“Um, I’m now realizing I probably shouldn’t have shared that information with you, and while I don’t think you’re a bad person, per se..." She sheepishly scratched the back of her head with the blaster.



"I mean, really, you appear to be quite intelligent and, hell, sexier than a mad beast, it’s just--” She lowered her foot onto the Twi’lek’s neck as she tried to crawl away. “With the knowledge you have now, I can’t really let you go.”



She shifted her foot slightly, and shot point blank into the base of the bodyguard’s skull.



“Fucking waste,” Orin said, dropping the blaster on the corpse.



She looked over at Carth and Mission. They were stripping Kandon’s body of anything worth having. Carth saw her, and tossed a visor over. She caught it.



“It’s pink,” she said with distaste.



“And it’s better than nothing,” he returned. “Put it on.”



She huffed and did so, looking around the room, adjusting to the pink haze.



“Ten points to me!” she said suddenly, heading for a back corner. She quickly dismantled the proximity mine and hefted up the prototype accelerator. “Maybe we’ll even get some sleep before the race.”