Private Bounty Complications

[Grigonju]

​

CORUSCANT​

Uscru District​

The glow of the neon lights illuminated the Uscru District in a whole spectrum of colours. It didn't stop the lower levels from being enveloped in darkness, and not just in the literal sense. It was known for being one of the more seedier areas of the planet-sized city but for Gri, that just meant more work and more credits. It seemed like a simple enough job - retrieve a rodian and get paid for it. Gri didn't ask too many questions; that was the business of those involved. All he had to do was fulfill the bounty and he would be on his way a little richer. From what he could tell, it appeared as though money was owed and a little friendly persuasion was needed. For times like this, Kaliah tended to be a very useful asset.

Within the rundown speeder repair workshop, only a flickering bulb kept the shadows at bay. There was an eery silence from within the walls, blocking out the constant buzz of the city. A sound caused the rodian to turn his head towards some crates, lasting only a split second. Then silence again. His dark eyes wandered over to the location of the source. There was no sign of life. His attention went back to his work before there was another clang. Putting down his equipment, he looked again for longer, calling out to anyone who may be lurking in the dark. It was answered with a low growl, reverberating in his bones. Slowly, the maws of a creature with rows of razor-sharp teeth emerged from the black, the light from the flickering bulb glinting on the saliva-covered fangs. Four red eyes glared up at him as the nexu slinked in his direction.

In a fit of panic, the rodian shrieked and ran towards the exit of the shop. His path was blocked by a tall figure clad in navy armour akin to those worn by mandalorians. Trapped between the two, the rodian looked back to the beast with uncertainty, its forked tail flicking from side to side. The toothed grin made it look like it was enjoying itself, as though he was just prey for the hunt. Confirming that the man was unarmed, Gri removed his helmet to look upon him properly as he now darted away from them. There was no way out that way - had made sure.

"Esti Geemetree," he began, his voice loud and authoritative. "I've been hired to take you in." Gri's expression was unchanging as the man babbled and pleaded. Seeing that his cries for help were in vain, the rodian ran again. "The bounty says to bring you alive but that doesn't necessarily mean unharmed," he said as Kaliah pounced in front of him. Gri's threat was empty, he was just trying to intimidate the guy. He had found that people were usually more compliant when there was the risk of dismemberment. Despite his appearance, he did feel sorry for the man but a job is a job. With a short whistle, Kaliah stepped back, sitting patiently but keeping her eyes on the target. "So what's it gonna be?"

TAGS: Glen Cowen​

 

[Azelle Narzisce]

MYNOCK
HUNTING | CORUSCANT
TAG: Grigonju
GEAR: Armour under a trench coat | Jetpack | Jump boots | x2 Hybrid Pistols | x2 Backup Pistols | Sniper Rifle | Joey

SO FAR FROM YOUR WEAPON​

Cities.

They were shit. But they also delivered the jobs that paid. It just meant that he would have to keep his guns holstered as much as possible. Glen glared at the street that stretched from the landing pad in the lower levels for a few heartbeats.

Then he sighed.

"On my whistle, boah. And erase anyone puttering around ya." he said, glancing back at Joey. It was best that the large droid stayed on the landing pad. They drew too much attention otherwise.
Joey merely rumbled in acquiescence, not bothering to reply verbally.
Glen then put on his helmet, returned his hat on top of it and then his jetpack burst to life, taking him to the air. The Rodian's last known location to the Guild was still a ways off. There was no risk to spooking the amphibian.

It felt like a second had passed before he touched down a few meters from the building in a quiet little alley. A quick thermal scan, however, revealed that there was more signatures than just the mark.
He sighed. It was either thug company or competition. Either way, it was an inconvenience.

Glen looked up at the higher windows of the shop. Might as well just drop in from above. He jumped, allowing the much quieter jump boots to do their job to get him to a window that he cut through with the plasma cutter.

Zipping through the hole he'd cut, he ended up perching on a roofbeam, looking down at the fiasco going on down below. Greeeat....he thought. It was competition. One with a damn cat at that. And Guild rules dictated that killing a fellow hunter was out of the question.

There was only one other way then.

"So what's it gonna be?"

Dropping down to the floor right next to the target, his boots slowing his descent to touch down lightly, Glen then tipped his hat at the fellow hunter.
"I'd take him unharmed, thanks son." he said, grabbing the Rodian around his waist before he could scramble away again, pulling a pistol with his free hand and pointing it at the Nexu in warning.

It was definitely going to be a problem.

 

[Grigonju]

​

CORUSCANT​

Uscru District​

Instinctively, Gri withdrew his right blaster as a man in a trenchcoat landed beside the rodian. Just what he fucking needed. For once, he wished that a simple job would be just that - a simple job. Just once! It seemed that there were always complications that arose as though it were some kind of running joke that the universe was pulling on him. The pistol was aimed at the cowboy's head as Gri tried the maintain a blank expression. He didn't like that Kaliah was being threatened but he wasn't about to show any sign of weakness. He didn't take kindly to being called 'son' though.

The nexu also didn't like it. Her fangs were once again on show as a menacing growl reverberated in her throat, her shoulders hunched to extenuate her spines and display a show of size. Kaliah was ready to pounce at a moment's notice but a whistle from Gri signaled for her to back down. The large cat relaxed but kept her crimson eyes locked onto the man. "No one needs to get hurt here. How about you lower the gun and stay out of the way?" he asked, knowing that his response wouldn't be compliance. It was worth a try...

Gri's blaster remained aimed at the man, unwavering. The rodian shuffled uncomfortably, unsure of what to do. A strand of orange hair hung over his stern gaze, ready to retaliate with gunfire at the first hint of a move against him or Kaliah. "Seems you're backed against a wall and outnumbered. Do you really think you can get out quick enough with those fancy boots and jetpack of yours? Carrying another person is gonna slow you down, 'son'." His voice was getting agitated but he composed himself again. "Put the blaster down and walk away and I'll even forget this happened," he began with an annoyed grin. "Then Mister Geemetree and I can get back to our little chat." His words were calm but he was annoyed by the inconvenience.

TAGS: Glen Cowen​

 

[Azelle Narzisce]

MYNOCK
HUNTING | CORUSCANT
TAG: Grigonju
GEAR: Armour under a trench coat | Jetpack | Jump boots | x2 Hybrid Pistols | x2 Backup Pistols | Sniper Rifle | Joey

SO FAR FROM YOUR WEAPON​

"No one needs to get hurt here. How about you lower the gun and stay out of the way?"

"Not likely, son." Glen smiled behind his helmet, keeping the blaster trained on the cat and the Rodian firmly in his grasp. His armour would be able to tank a few shots from the hunter. He'd rather put a bolt in the nexu if she tried anything.

Glen had just started backing up toward one of the exits when his competition spouted his next words.

"Seems you're backed against a wall and outnumbered. Do you really think you can get out quick enough with those fancy boots and jetpack of yours? Carrying another person is gonna slow you down, 'son'."

The hardened bounty hunter snorted at the ginger.
"You think I'm so stupid as to not have a way out?" he laughed. Then whistled into his helmet. "I'll hold onto Mister Geemetree here, son. I don't think he appreciated your conversational expertise." he added, very much aware of his competition's frustration.

As Joey's howl got closer, Glen looked at the other guy, the Rodian hanging like a limp tulip over his arm, completely defeated by the two hunters.
"Look, I'd be willing to split the cut 70/30 for your trouble in trapping our friend here. How's that?" he begrudgingly made the offer. He was an ass for sure, but at least he was a Guild one. You never know when you're going to need another hunter on a job.

Although he had no way of knowing if this man was also Guild. Its Code at least required the feller to consider the offer. At least the Rodian was worth a bunch. So Glen could technically part with a few of the credits.

But only if the damn cat remained where she was until Joey got here.

 

[Grigonju]

​

CORUSCANT​

Uscru District​

Gri was cautious to make any moves whilst the blaster was still aimed at Kaliah, though his own remained poised at the fellow bounty hunter. Whilst a nexu's hide can be resistant to blaster fire, a shot from that close would only have one outcome. She was all that he had left in this world and he was not going to risk her life over a dispute for some credits. His upper lip twitched in frustration.

"If I wanted to split the bounty, I would've asked for help." That was a lie. Gri never wanted to look like he wasn't capable of something himself and it sometimes put him in more trouble than it was worth. It was evident that Glen now had the upper hand but to allow him to win would be a slight on his honour. It also made him like the man even less that he was the sort of hunter to hijack another's hunt. It was even stipulated in the Bounty Hunter's Guild creed that interference would result in expulsion from the Guild. There was no way of knowing if the man before him lived by their creed but the situation suggested that he did not.

"How about a new deal?" he said, not really asking. The barrel of his gun slowly moved from the hunter to the captive in question. "Leave now and quit interfering in my hunt or our rodian friend here doesn't leave the building." His stubbornness often got the best of him. If he wasn't going to collect the bounty from a job that he had started then he wasn't about to let someone else get the prize either. Either Glen would shoot Kaliah first and lose his captive or lower his gun and back off. The feline's head tilted slightly, as though she had heard a noise of interest but Gri's eyes remained locked on the man in anticipation of his decision.

TAGS: Glen Cowen​

 

[Azelle Narzisce]

MYNOCK
HUNTING | CORUSCANT
TAG: Grigonju
GEAR: Armour under a trench coat | Jetpack | Jump boots | x2 Hybrid Pistols | x2 Backup Pistols | Sniper Rifle | Joey

SO FAR FROM YOUR WEAPON​

"If I wanted to split the bounty, I would've asked for help. How about a new deal?" he said, not really asking. The barrel of his gun slowly moved from the hunter to the captive in question. "Leave now and quit interfering in my hunt or our rodian friend here doesn't leave the building."

Glen gave a snort.
"Go ahead, son. This ain't my only contract. But you seem a bit hard up on money. You sure you want to erase your paycheck like that?" he asked, the smirk on his face evident in his voice. This wasn't his first pokergame.
"W-wha-? N-no!" Esti stammered while he still dangled over Glen's arm.
"Calm down, Mister Geemetree." Glen said conversationally.

Just then the howl thundered just outside before dying down and a great metallic bulk touched down outside and the metallic clicking of a rotary cannon could be heard.
"That's my exit, friend." Glen said as he started to back up toward the warehouse doors, his blaster now hovering between the Nexu and the other hunter. "It's been a nice chat, but time's up."

A brief groan could be heard from the doors before they burst apart and a clawed metallic appendage could be seen retracting back into the night. It was in this moment that Glen had no illusions that chaos wouldn't ensue within a heartbeat.

But there was that brief moment of hope.

 

[Grigonju]

​

CORUSCANT​

Uscru District​

If the jab was to get a rise out of Gri, it was unsuccessful. He wasn't going to give the man the satisfaction. Gri was tired of the stand-off the two were having and just wanted to get the job done as he had intended before this son of a murglak poked his nose where it wasn't wanted. "If you've got other jobs to be doin', by all means, go do them and quit getting in the way of mine." He knew no matter what he said, the bounty hunter wouldn't give up the target and it was making his trigger finger itch. If only he could knock that smug expression off his face.

The barrel of his gun stayed trained in the direction of the Rodian as Glen backed away slowly. The spines on the nexu's withers bristled as she, too, was becoming increasingly agitated. Clattering from outside the warehouse made her uneasy as she got close to the ground, her shoulders raised and clawed limbs bent beside her body, ready to move in an instant. The sound of machinery was followed by the large doors to the building bursting open, revealing a towering droid in the dark streets of the grimy district.

Almost in the same second, Gri opened fire with his blaster toward the other hunter as Kaliah streaked to the side, diving behind boxes to maintain cover as she rapidly closed the distance. Blue bolts of plasma illuminated the storeroom in bursts as they tried to find their mark. He began quickly walking towards Glen as he fired, keeping his body sideways to make himself as small a target as possible. He knew he was outgunned with the metal monstrosity outside so he crouched behind a crate, aiming to prevent him from reaching his ride. A beige blur emerged from the shadows beside the hunter as the nexu leaped through the air at Glen, her claws outstretched and her fangs aligned in a menacing grin. With the fire from Gri from one direction and the assault from Kaliah from another, the aim was to divert his attention enough to create an opening that could be exploited.

TAGS: Glen Cowen​