Music: Taris Upper City
Oh, dear, Carth wants to talk.
"Yes? What's on your mind?"
"I'd like to know some more about you, Carth."
"Me? Well, I've been a star-pilot for the Republic for years. I've seen more than my share of wars... I fought in the Mandalorian Wars before all this started. But with all that, I've never experienced anything like the slaughter these Sith animals can unleash. Not even the Mandalorians were that senseless. My home world was one of the first planets to fall to Malak's fleet. The Sith bombed it into submission, and there wasn't a damn thing our Republic forces could do to stop them!"
"You're talking like it's your fault. Like you failed somehow."
"It shouldn't be my fault. I did everything I could... I followed my orders and did my duty. That shouldn't mean I failed them! I didn't!"
"Hey, why are you getting so mad at me? It's not like this was my fault!"
"I know that. I'm not angry at you... don't think that. I must not be making much sense. You probably mean well with your questions. I'm just not accustomed to talking about my past very much. At all, actually. I'm more used to taking action... keeping my mind focused on the business at hand. So let's just do that. If you have more questions, ask them later."
Touchy. Anyway, nearby is a store we can take a look at.
Kebla: "You looking to buy some supplies? My shop's the largest one in all of Upper Taris. Best selection on the planet. Whatever you need, I've got. Well, mostly."
Would we ever! First, though, time to grill her for information.
"Do you know anything about those escape pods that crashed here on Taris?"
Kebla: "I heard a couple of pods crashed down in the Undercity. I bet the crash sites have already been stripped clean by the Sith though - unless the swoop gangs or Davik's men got there first."
"Swoop gangs? What can you tell me about them?"
Kebla: "I don't have anything good to say about the swoop gangs: zooming around on their swoop bikes, terrorizing the Lower City like a bunch of animals! Things weren't so bad when the Hidden Beks were running the show, but ever since the rise of the Black Vulkar gang the Lower City has been nothing short of a war zone! The Sith haven't even bothered trying to maintiain order down there, and I heard a rumor that Davik's own people are having problems with the Black Vulkars now."
"What do you know about Davik?"
Kebla: "Oh, Davik's a legitimate businessman, if you get my drift: smuggling, slaving, extortion. Uh huh. They say he's a member of the Exchange - you know, the big intergalactic criminal organization."
Time to get to the purchasing. Kebla doesn't have anything useful we can really afford yet...
...though something like that does sound like fun when the time comes.
The Sith aren't sounding very friendly (surprise surprise), but at least they aren't attacking.
The information droid doesn't tell us anything we didn't already know, either.
Next to him is this: the medical facility.
Zelka: "Do you require healing or medical supplies? I can treat almost any injury or ailment right here at the medical facility, except the rakghoul disease, of course."
"Rakghoul disease? What's that?"
Zelka: "The terrible affliction has plagued Taris for many generations. It is spread by the rakghouls, horrible monsters that live in the Undercity below Taris' great skyscrapers. Prolonged exposure to the Undercity breeds the disease and those infected will eventually mutate into rakghouls themselves, becoming mindless beasts that feed on the flesh of others."
"Is there no cure?"
Zelka: "There is no antidote for the disease, though I heard the Republic scientists at the military base here on Taris were close to perfecting a cure. Then the Sith arrived. They overran the military base and now they refuse to allow anyone access to the laboratories inside. The Sith are keeping all the serum for the patrols they send into the Undercity. If I could just get my hands on a sample of that serum the rakghoul disease could be wiped from the face of Taris forever. But I don't see how that's going to happen."
"I might be able to help you out... for a price."
Zelka: "I couldn't afford to give you more than a few medpacs and a handful of credits. The medical center can barely afford to stay open as it is. But it hardly matters, anyway. I don't see how anyone could get their hands on the serum. The military base is crawling with Sith guards. Breaking in there would be a suicide mission. I suppose the Sith patrols in the Undercity might have a sample of the serum on them, if they hadn't already used it because of a rakghoul infection. But I doubt a patrol would just hand the serum over. And nobody's stupid enough to attack one of the Sith patrols, even in the Undercity."
"I want to ask you some questions."
Zelka: "I am quite busy maintaining the facility, but I suppose I could spare a bit of time to answer some questions. What would you like to know?"
"Do you know anything about the Republic escape pods that crashed in the Undercity?"
Zelka: "Republic escape pods? Uh... no... why would you ask me that? I don't know. Those pods crashed in the Undercity. I'm not involved in any way!"
[Persuade] If you know something, you better tell me - unless you'd rather talk to the Sith!"
Zelka: [Failure] The Sith were already here, asking those same questions. I'll tell you what I told them. I don't know anything about those pods. Now, is there something else you need?"
After getting some healing from him (it's free!), time to look around for what he's obviously hiding.
Like behind this suspicious locked door?
Well hello there.
Zelka: "You... you recognize these soldiers? But how? Unless... unless you're a friend of the Republic."
[Persuade] "I'm a friend of the Republic. You can trust me."
Zelka: [Success] "I guess... I guess I better tell you what's going on. I only hope the Sith don't find out what I've done. 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. What choice did I have? 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."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
Zelka: "I'm afraid there is nothing more anyone can do for these soldiers. Now, if you'll excuse me I should return to the front in case anyone comes in needing medical attention."
Our first Light Side points! Each one usually doesn't count for much, but eventually these push us in one direction or the other. Aside from affecting appearance, this also affects the costs of certain force powers once we get them.
This fellow stops us on the way out.
"An offer? What are you talking about?"
"I'll keep your offer in mind."
"And then only the rich could afford the cure. Just let the poor suffer, right?"
Well, we now have two options for what to do with the serum. Moving on:
Thug 2: "Davik doesn't like you missing payments!"
Merchant: "Here - I've got fifty credits! A down payment. That should buy me some time, right?"
Thug 1: "Sorry, you're out of time. Now it's all or nothing. Davik can't have people not paying his debts!"
Merchant: "But I don't have that much! How can I give you credits I don't have?"
Thug 2: "That's too bad. Davik's going to want to make an example of you! You're coming with us."
Merchant: "No - help! Somebody help! They're going to kill me!"
Carth has a point worth listening to, for once.
Mitigated by the fact that he drew attention to us. Thanks, Carth!
Thug 2: "Davik doesn't like witnesses."
"I don't like your attitude. I better teach you a lesson."
Thug 1: "Guess we have to teach you to mind your own business!"
It's an easy fight - Davik didn't exactly send his best and brightest for this minor job.
Merchant: "Now I can't pay him back. It's not good to owe a crime lord money. He'll just keep sending more bounty hunters after me until I'm dead!"
"Maybe I can help you."
Merchant: "You already helped me by saving me from those bounty hunters. So unless you have a spare 100 credits to give me so I can pay off Davik, there's nothing else you can do."
"Here's 100 credits. Take them."
The merchant is happy. Carth... isn't, really.
Merchant: "Now I can pay off Davik. You've saved my life! Thank you! I better take these credits to him right away!"
100 credits may be a lot of money right now...
...but the bounty hunters have more than enough on them to cover the cost.
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Topic: Let's Play: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Read 55293 times)