KotOR I: Orin Dakall

“N-nothing. This... This isn’t your concern. Just... just forget you saw anything, okay?”



Not likely, she thought, looking back at the other kolto tanks, seeing faces she recognized, people she’d laughed with over meals and cards. “I’m a friend of the Republic,” she said, turning away. “You can trust me.” She’d said it to Zelka, but as she looked up, Carth was staring hard at her. His eyes flicked to the tanks and he walked over, placing his hands on each in turn as Zelka spoke.



“I guess,” he said slowly, “I guess I better tell you what’s going on. I only hope the Sith don’t find out what’s going on.” He sat down heavily on a bench and Orin joined him, still keeping an eye on Carth. “Since the space battle overhead, people have been secretly bringing in these Republic soldiers who crash landed on the planet. I had to take them in,” he said, as if there really had been no other possible option, “What choice did I have?”



He looked over at Carth, staring into the faces of these near-dead comrades. “Their injuries are terrible; most won’t survive. But at least I can make their last days more comfortable. And at least here they are hidden away from the Sith.”



Carth turned, one hand still on the glass of the tank. “For that you have my thanks. It’s good to know that at least some of these men ended up in compassionate hands.” Orin was a little surprised. She didn’t even know he was on the Endar Spire until the attack; there was no way he’d met these people. He had to’ve been in his quarters the entire trip. She’d never seen him in the mess hall and was willing to bet every credit she had that he wasn’t the type to sit around chewing the fat with the boys, bragging about his battle scars. But still, he was obviously moved by what this man had done for people whose only connection to him was their government. Their occupation.



“Is there anything I can do to help?” Orin asked, looking over at Zelka. He shook his head.



“I’m afraid there is nothing more anyone can do for these soldiers.” He left, giving the two a moment to silently say their goodbyes. Carth hung back as Orin walked by each tank once more, wishing she could touch the people inside. Wishing they could hear what she wanted to say... but she wasn’t even sure what that was. She turned to Carth.



“He owes me money,” she said, tilting her head to a barely recognizable man. “Think he just wants to get out of forking over the creds?” The gallows humor fell flat.



“You knew them?”



“I know them,” she said, suddenly angry. “They’re not dead yet.”



Carth looked stricken. “I’m sorry.”



She shook her head and headed for the door. “Come on. We have a party to get to.”



As they reached the exit, Zelka’s assistant accosted them.



“Psst, you there! I need to talk to you about the rakghoul serum. I’ve got an offer you might want to hear.”



“Not interested,” Orin said flatly, continuing toward the door.



“Oh, don’t be an idiot,” he spat, checking to make sure Zelka wasn’t paying attention. “Davik Kang wants the cure, and you’d be smart to give it to him.”



Orin froze at ‘Davik’ and Carth ran into her. “What does Davik want with the cure?” she asked, turning slowly to the assistant. He shrugged.



“It can turn a profit. He could make a fortune selling it; not like Zelka who’ll practically give it away.”



“And why do you care?” she asked darkly.



“You think Zelka can pay me much? You sell the serum to Davik, and I get a nice finder’s fee.”



She moved for the door, halfway through, before she said, “I’ll keep your offer in mind.” Carth was immediately at her side as the door shut.



“And then only the rich can afford the cure,” he spat accusingly. “Just let the poor suffer, right?”



Orin stopped, looking up at him. “You think I even considered handing it over to Davik?” She shook her head and started walking again. “We have to find it first. When we do, it goes to Zelka.”



Their progress to the party was impeded by two bounty hunters blocking their path, threatening a frightened man who screamed for help. “I know we have to be careful about drawing attention to ourselves,” Carth whispered, “but are we just going to let them drag this guy off?”



Orin barely heard him. Her vibroblades were already in her hands and she was walking straight for the two. One turned and tapped the other. “Looks like we got ourselves a witness here!”



The other turned. “Davik doesn’t like witnesses.”



“I don’t much like Davik,” Orin growled, her vibroblade plunging through the second bounty hunter’s throat, leaving him gurgling as his eyes went dim. The first pulled his blaster, but froze, a look of recognition on his face as she turned to him.



“You--” He was cut off by a blaster shot between his eyes. Orin glared over at Carth as the bounty hunter fell.



“I had him!”



He lowered his blaster, looking at the bodies apprehensively. “I didn’t say we should kill them.”



Orin grunted in frustration and slammed her long sword down into the first hunter’s heart, somewhat stymied at the feel and sound of cracking ribs. “I hate this planet,” she muttered, yanking out the sword and cleaning it on her suit as she turned to the man, feeling Carth’s eyes on the back of her head.



“Thank you!” he said. “I owe you my life! My wife warned me not to take a loan from Davik.”



“Glad I could help,” Orin said, not very convincingly. The man didn’t seem to care.



“I’m getting out of here before more of Davik’s goons show up. You should do the same.” He grabbed her hand, wringing it for a moment before leaving.



Carth stepped up next to her, handing her the vibroblade that had killed the second hunter. “Should I ask what the hell that was about?”



“No,” she said shortly, sheathing the sword and stalking silently to the apartment complex where Yun was having his party.