KOTOR Version 2-Chapter 7-Zaalbar's life debt

'You guys hear that?' Revan asked, his ears perking up to a roaring noise not far from where he was standing.

Mission quickly snapped out of her reverie and clued in on the sound Revan was talking about. 'Big Z!' she shouted, and started running to where she heard the noise.

'Stop right there.' Revan said, grabbing a hold of one of Mission's lekku. Mission jerked back, and started holding her neck from the sudden stop. 'Ow!' Mission said, as she rubbed her neck. 'What'd you do that for?'

'Just because we can hear him doesn't mean it's safe to go to him yet.' Revan said. 'Would you like to open the door, only to find a room full of mines, or worse, a room full of gamorreans?'

'No. I guess I don't. I'm just so anxious to find Biz Z...' Mission said, trailing off.

'I'm not saying we're not going into the room where we heard the sound. I'm just saying we should be on our guard.' Revan said, in an attempt to reassure Mission.

The attempt worked, and Mission smiled a bit. Revan was concerned about her well being as much as he was with finding Zaalbar.

In the mean time, Revan cocked his head to figure out exactly where the Wookiee was at. He noticed the noise was coming out the room where the gamorreans came out of. As Revan slowly walked into the room, he noticed two doors, one in front of him, and one to his left. And as he got closer to the one on his left, the sound of a Wookiee got louder.

Mission heard it too, and ran toward the door. 'Hmmm... look at this.' Mission said, motioning for Revan and Carth to come over to her.

'A manual lock. Don't see many of those.' Revan said. 'No computer codes or a port to slice into. There are only a couple ways to get through these, but I don't have the tools to do so.' The quickest and easiest would be to use my lightsaber on it, but since I don't have it, that option is out.

'Hey, don't worry. I've come across them before. I've rigged up a little device that should do the trick.' Mission said, digging something out of her pocket. She pulled out a small metal device capable of 'slicing' into a manual lock.

'You've got an old fashioned lock pick. You are resourceful.' Revan said, grinning slightly. Mission smiled back, and got down to work on the lock.

A couple minutes later, the lock popped open, and the door flew open, revealing the large Wookiee Revan and Carth had seen earlier.

'You're a sight for sore eyes, Mission.' Zaalbar said, rushing toward Mission, scooping her up in his arms, embracing his friend.

'I'm glad to see you too, Big Z!' Mission said, returning the hug. 'You didn't think I'd forget about you - Mission and Zaalbar, together forever!'

'Who's that with you?' Zaalbar said, realizing that there were others with her.

Mission just smiled. 'These are my new friends, Big Z. Without them I never could have got you out.'

'Nice to meet you Zaalbar. Name's Jake Katarn, and this is my partner, Carth Onasi.' Revan said, pointing at Carth.

Zaalbar was shocked at what he had just heard. The human understood him. 'You have saved me from a life of servitude and slavery. There is only one way I can ever repay such an act: I will swear a life debt to you.'

Mission was shocked at what Zaalbar just said. 'A lifedebt? Are you sure about that, Big Z? Think about it carefully.' She said, knowing what a lifedebt entailed. 'You better be sure about this.'

Zaalbar just sighed. 'I am sure, Mission. This is an issue of great importance to me. Because of our great physical strength, Wookiees are being used as slave labor on our own homeworld. They see us as brutes and animals to be exploited.' Zaalbar said, remembering painful moments in his life. 'Over the years slavers have taken many of my people; we must always be on guard against raids against our villages. When the Gamorreans captured me, I thought I was doomed to a life of servitude.' Zaalbar looked right at Revan, directing his next words to him. 'I have been saved from such a fate, and the only way I can repay that is through a lifedebt.'

'Big Z swearing a Wookiee lifedebt to you. Wow - this is major. Do you realize what this means?' Mission said, still shocked by what her friend was saying.

Revan, however, knew exactly what a lifedebt was, but he had to play dumb, so as to not blow his cover. For all he knew, this Zaalbar had been on Kashyyyk during the Mandalorian Wars. 'I'm not sure.' Revan said, lying though his teeth.

'A lifedebt is the most solemn vow a Wookiee can make.' Mission said, in the calmest tone she could muster. 'It means he'll stay by your side for the rest of your life - wherever you go, whatever you do, Zaalbar will be with you.'

Zaalbar straightened himself up, brushed himself off, and spoke in the most solemn voice he could. 'In the presence of you all I swear my lifedebt. Forever after I will be by your side, Jake Katarn. May my vow be as strong as the roots of the great Wroshyr trees of Kashyyyk.'

'I'm honored Zaalbar.' Revan said, but he was already thinking of the problems and the advantages of having Zaalbar bound to him like this. On the one hand, Zaalbar's mere presence would have an affect on his foes, and the lifedebt also meant Zaalbar would defend Revan to the death if he had to. But this also meant Revan would have to reveal his real name and identity soon. He wasn't going to do it while they were on a Sith infested world, however, because in the unlikely event that someone understood Shyriiwook, Zaalbar using his real name could raise all kinds of problems. And Mission's next words presented a lot more problems for Revan's identity as well.

'Well, I guess this means you're stuck with me too. Wherever Big Z goes, I'm going. I almost lost him once - it's not going to happen again.' Mission said, and she meant it. If Revan was going to leave the planet with Zaalbar, she was going too. She would not abandon her friend again.

'Glad to have you aboard Mission.' Revan said, wondering how Mission was going to react to the news that he was the former Dark Lord of the Sith.

Mission just smiled. 'So... I guess I still owe you one secret path into the Vulkar base. That was the deal, wasn't it? Don't worry, I know a backdoor into that scum den!'

'Good. We need to hurry. We don't have that much more time before the swoop race, and we still need to find the other two journals for Rukil.' Revan said.

'The Vulkars put up a force shield to keep the sewer dwellers out. I'm one of the only non-Vulkars on Taris who can get you past it.' Mission said. 'I can't remember exactly how to get to the base after we get passed the Force shield, but I know it was somewhere here in the sewers. Over to the southeast, if I remember right. I just hope the rancor monster isn't still there.'

'Great,' Carth said. 'Even a Jedi has a hard time with those things. Their hides are tough enough to resist blaster bolts, and not even vibroweapons can cut through it easily.'

'We'll get by it. And if I remember correctly, rancor insides aren't nearly as tough as the outside.' Revan said.

'And they're not too bright either.' Mission said. 'I was able to sneak past it before, so I'm sure we'll figure something out. That is, unless you want to change your mind.'

'Not a chance.' Revan said. 'We need that swoop accelerator, and we need it yesterday.'

'Okay then, off we go. Like I said, somewhere to the southeast after the force shield.' Mission said.

'So,' Revan said. 'Zaalbar, do have a weapon?'

'The gamorreans took my bowcaster when they locked me in that room.' Zaalbar said.

'What about melee weapons? If I gave you an axe from one of the gamorrean corpses, would you know how to use it?' Revan asked, searching for a way to arm the Wookiee.

Zaalbar nodded. 'Before I was exiled, I trained in the use of 2 swords. And with my strength, I should be able to handle a gamorrean axe.'

'Good. Then you should take an axe and use it until we find your bowcaster. Once we return to the Upper City, I'll get you a couple of vibroswords to use.' Revan said.

Zaalbar nodded, and saw the group of gamorreans that Revan, Carth and Mission had killed a few minutes ago. He picked up the sharpest one he could find, and tested out the weight of it before returning to Revan.

'All right, next on the agenda is finding those journals for Rukil. While we're at that, we'll see if we can find Zaalbar's bowcaster as well. Once we're done with both, we head back to the outcast village, give Rukil his journals, then return to the sewers and head to the Vulkar base.' Revan said. 'Everyone got that?'

Carth and Zaalbar both nodded, both understanding their roles in what needed to be done. Mission, though, was still unsure of what she was supposed to do. This was turning more and more into a military operation, something that Mission had no concept of. Revan saw this, and tried to reassure her.

'Mission, I know you feel out of your league, I can assure you are still as needed as Carth and Zaalbar are. I have no doubt you're a better slicer than me, and from what I've seen, you are very good at remaining unseen.' Revan said. Mission smiled at Revan, obviously feeling better. 'Don't ever sell yourself short. Even though your worth may not be apparent at the moment, you are a very skilled young girl.'

From there, Revan turned his attention to the unopened door in front of him. And as the door flew open, Revan, Carth, Mission and Zaalbar saw four gamorreans, two guarding the door in front of them, two guarding the other door. And when Zaalbar saw the gamorreans, rage filled up inside him. And when a wookiee flew into a rage, bad things happened. Zaalbar roared his battle roar, and charged at the gamorrean closest to him.

Mission and Carth, who had never seen the legendary wookiee rage, were taken back by the ferocity and power of Zaalbar's attacks. The way Zaalbar drove the axe through the head of the gamorrean, causing blood and gore to fly everywhere was shocking and slightly disturbing. Carth had seen some pretty nasty things as a career soldier, but never saw something as bad as this. And Mission, who knew about the wookiee rage, had never seen it. So dieturbing were his actions, Mission had a incredibly hard time holding onto her lunch. To know that her friend was capable of that was frightening. But, Mission realized, when it was all said and done, Zaalbar would need his friends, and Mission would be right there for him.

Revan, on the other hand, who had seen the wookiee rage near the beginning of his involvement in the Mandalorian Wars, (what little he could remember of it anyway. But it had been from afar before, so he hadn't seen it this graphically) was only slightly bothered by Zaalbar's actions. And as Zaalbar crushed the face of the other gamorrean close to him with his bare hand, Revan was surprised at just how fierce a wookiee really was.

Zaalbar ripped the axe out of the one gamorrean's head, and used his other arm to tear flesh and bone from the other's face. Blood was all over him, and as the dead gamorrean bodies dropped, everyone could tell that Zaalbar wasn't finished yet. The other gamorreans, who had never seen an angry wookiee, didn't know what to do. And as Zaalbar charged at them, they knew their lives were over.

With his powerful arms moving with the force of a pile driver, Zaalbar brought the axe across the neck of the gamorrean on his right, and grabbed a hold of the throat of the other. And despite the 100+ kilogram weight of the gamorrean, Zaalbar was able to lift it over his head. He held the gamorrean there, choking the life out of it, while Revan pondered how bad an idea it would be to be on the wrong side of Zaalbar's rage.

When Zaalbar was sure that the gamorrean was dead, he dropped it, his rage finally spent. 'Feeling better?' Revan asked as he walked over to him. Zaalbar nodded. 'All right then. Let's see if we can find anything useful in this room. Mission, Zaalbar, see get that footlocker open. Carth, keep an eye on our flank. We can't let the gamorreans get behind us.'

'And what will you do, Jake Katarn?' Zaalbar asked.

'I'll wait by this door, in case anything comes in.' Revan said, standing by the unopened door. 'We've got to cover our asses.'

As Mission and Zaalbar worked on opening the footlocker, Revan closed his eyes and reached out with his perceptions. Using the Force, Revan checked to see where things, whether it be rakghouls or more gamorreans, that were a threat to them would be. Revan could feel the rakghouls in the next room, and was able to position where all the other rakghouls and gamorreans were all around the sewer, before the force shield.

Meanwhile, Mission and Zaalbar were able to open the footlocker. 'My bowcaster!' Zaalbar said, picking the weapon up.

'What?' Carth asked, not knowing what Zaalbar said. He looked over at Mission and Zaalbar. 'Oh, you found your bowcaster.' Carth said, as he walked over to them. He took a long look at the weapon before looking up at Zaalbar's face. 'Did the gamorreans damage it?'

'It doesn't appear so,' Zaalbar said. 'But I won't be able to tell until I have the time to take it apart and clean it.'

Carth just shook his head. 'I'm sorry Zaalbar, but I never learned Shyriiwook, so I don't understand you.'

Mission stepped up for translation. 'He says he doesn't think so, but he'll have to clean it to be sure.'

Knowing that cleaning a weapon meant taking it apart, Carth immediately understood. 'Well, if it doesn't work, at least you've still got that axe, right?' He said. Zaalbar nodded. 'And Zaalbar, I'm sorry I'll need what you say translated. In my time in the military, I've gone to great lengths to learn the most widely known trade languages as well as the Mandalorian tongue. I never thought I'd meet a wookiee, so I never took the time to learn your language.'

Mission looked at Carth and smiled. 'That's okay.' She said. 'It took me a while to learn his language, but now I don't have any problems with speaking to him.'

Carth grinned at Mission. 'But how long did that take?' He asked.

'About a year.' Mission said, trying to hide her embarrassment.

'Well,' Revan said, interjecting into the conversation from across the room. 'If you three are done talking, I'd like to get going. We still need to find the other two journals if we're going to help Rukil.'

Mission, Carth and Zaalbar nodded in agreement, and Revan opened the door to an ambush of rakghouls. They dispatched them quickly, and continued their search for the journals.

Two hours of slimy, stinky, rakghoul infested walking, Carth, Mission, Zaalbar and Revan had climbed out of the sewer and into the Undercity, with the other two journals in tow. 'Once we get retrieve the swoop accelerator, I want to go back to our apartment and get a shower.' Carth said, sniffing his clothes. 'It's too bad we don't have a change of clothes though.'

'Don't worry Carth. We'll get off this Sith infested planet soon enough.' Revan added. 'We've just got to be patient.' They walked through the door, and saw that the slimy merchant had perked up at the site of Mission and Carth. He was about to run over to them when he saw what appeared to be an angry look on Zaalbar. He paused, but only for a moment, to summon up the courage to approach them.

'You there, up-worlders!' Igear said, running toward them. 'Have you found the journals yet?'

'We never agreed to help you, you kriffing sithspawn!' Mission shouted at Igear. 'So get out of our face already!'

Revan just grinned at Mission's way of dealing with Igear as he ran away. 'A little vulgar, but very effective.' He said, placing his hand on her shoulder. 'Though, you should watch where you say that once we get off world. And you are leaving this world, probably for good.'

'Yeah, I guess.' Mission said. 'I never really thought I'd leave Taris, you know? At least, not without Griff.'

'Griff? Who's Griff?' Carth asked, figuring it was a street urchin boyfriend.

'Griff's...my brother.' Mission said. And with those words, a wave of relief came over Carth's face. He had hoped Mission was smart enough not to get involved in such a deep relationship at 14, and she didn't disappoint.

'Well, you don't have to talk about him if you don't want to.' Revan said, trying to quell potential temper flares.

'No!' Mission blurted out. 'I don't have any problem with it.' Mission looked up at Zaalbar. 'No offense Big Z, but it would be nice to talk about this with someone who doesn't reply in growls and grunts.'

Zaalbar just grinned a wookiee grin and allowed Mission to tell her story.

'It's complicated. Griff wasn't the most popular guy, he had his faults.' Mission said. 'But I still loved him, you know? Sometimes people don't understand.'

'Well, that's the important thing, isn't it?' Carth said.

Mission smiled. Maybe the old guy understands better than I thought. 'I never knew my parents, my brother always looked out for me. He's the one who brought me to Taris. I was just a kid, only five. But I remember the trip - if you could call it that. We were stuffed inside a packing crate in a star freighter's cargo hold with just enough food and water to make the trip. Not exactly first class, you know?'

'Why would he do that?' Revan asked. What did he do that caused him to flee Ryloth?

'I don't know the whole story - I was pretty young. But my brother owed a lot of money. Might even have been a few arrest warrants out for him, I don't know. The only way to get off the planet was to smuggle ourselves out.' Mission said, and quickly thought about what she just said. 'I mean, I don't want to make it sound like we were criminals... well, maybe my brother was. See, this is why I don't like to talk about it. It makes Griff sound worse than he really was. My brother had his problems, but he always looked out for me.'

'What kind of problems did your brother have?' Carth asked. He didn't know why he was interested in this young girl's life, but he was. Maybe it was because she was Dustil's age when Saul attacked Telos, maybe not. But all that mattered was that he did care.

'He gambled. And drank. And he was always borrowing money for his latest get rich quick scheme. But he had a good heart, you know?' Mission said. 'He taught me how to survive. He showed me how to slice into a computer's security system; how to get inside a locked building without the entrance codes, and how to spot a wealthy mark for a quick shell game.'

'Pretty handy skills, considering where you live.' Revan said, but Carth didn't agree.

'Sounds to me like Griff was nothing more than a criminal.' Carth said in a judgmental tone.

'Hey, you don't know what it's like!' Mission shot back at Carth. 'You need those skills here in the Lower City.'

'Yeah Carth. Living on the fringes means you have to know things that you wouldn't have to know on 'civilized' worlds.' Revan said.

'Anyway, I really miss him since he left. I keep hoping he'll come back some day. He promised me he would.' Mission said, lowering her head slightly. Thinking of what happened was obviously painful for her to remember.

'Why'd he leave?' Carth asked, trying to get back on Mission's good graces.

'He fell in with a bad crowd. It's all Lena's fault. She's the one who took him from me!' Mission yelled. 'Just batted those long lashes at him and off he went!'

'Who's Lena?' Revan asked.

But Mission didn't feel like talking about that anymore. 'I don't want to talk about Griff and Lena - just the thought of that space tramp makes my blood boil! Subject's closed as far as I'm concerned!' She took a minute to calm down before speaking again. 'If I'm going to be any help to you I can't be worrying about my brother running off with some schutta!'

'Well, now that that's over with,' Revan said, changing the subject. 'We need to give these journals to Rukil. From there, we head back into the sewers and into the Vulkar base.'

Author's Note: And thus brings me back to the point I was at took all this down, and brings me back to the hardest chapter to write. It took me six months to to get to the point I was at, and I lost most of what I had written twice. I will get it done, but not right away, because I am taking a little break and writing the second chapter of KOTOR Version 2: Sith Triumvirate. Look for it soon!