Private Cross Junction

[Jonath Kago]

LEXRUL
MID RIM​

Even with trouble biting at his tail he did not back down and continued his work. Lucky for Jon his operations didn’t attract the attention of big name bounty hunters due to this head having a small reward of a mere ten thousand credits. Guess the “Red Mist” (a moniker the thugs called him) wasn’t that big of a nuisance.

Yet.

At least he had the affordability to walk with his bare face, and not be constantly hiding with his visor that rewarded his reputation throughout Syndicate space. His face was one of exhaustion, walking down to a local cantina where smugglers and other misfits broke bread together. Sitting down at a booth alone he scrolled through his holopad looking for bounties only to stop at the sight of a familiar female face. An old bounty that was probably void, but always looking at the image for a few seconds before scrolling again until finding a target suitable to him. One that was a violent criminal belonging to some gang. Smugglers and other nonviolent outcasts didn’t mind Jon; he was wanting something that needed to be terminated and would effect change.

Something like a female Clawdite wanted for burglary, murder, illicit distribution…

“Yeah, yeah, I get the picture,” taking a swing of Corellian spirits before leaving the cantina in pursuit of this hardcore thug.

Talin Treicolt​

 

[Talin Treicolt]

Shadows shimmered. Beneath a force cloak ‘bout as worthless as gum on a boot heel, Talin tore the last drag off a smoke and tossed the dead butt aside. Weeks, she had been practicin’ this darned skill, and still, the eye only just moved over her easier, her noise barely muffled. Wasn’t like them shadows who could make themselves totally disappear. This job sure woulda been a lot easier if it was.

Couple ‘o days parked outside the apartment building, and no one had come out. It was mostly empty, save for the clawdite and her cronies. Talin had already tried to force entry, with little luck, and makin’ too much noise would likely draw attention of the neighbors. This wasn’t the kinda place that took kindly to hunters.

Still, she was about done sittin’ around. Feet sore, hands chilled, the worst of it had to be the time. It let her mind run, thinkin’ about too much best not thought about. The only thing on her mind was gettin’ enough cred to get off this planet and onto the next one. This had been the pattern, since Atrisia. Talin didn’t really know where she was goin’, or what she was lookin’ for, but she’d know it when she found it. ‘Till then, good whiskey and work were good enough.

“Alright.” Talin muttered to the empty alley, and stomped across the street.

No part of her was subtle. She didn’t have to be. There was only one other entry way, on the back of the ground floor, and she’d see ‘em tryin’ to go. The disruptor rifle was pulled up and over her shoulders, finding its familiar cradle in her arms. A few loud thwumps, and Talin was walkin’ through the door.

Cries echoed from upper levels, frantic footsteps resonatin’ overhead. Something else stopped her pursuit in its tracks. The hair on the back of her neck stood up as she glanced behind her, to see a strangers form comin’ from the same alley she had been duckin’ in. Chit. Another hunter? Really?! No way was she lettin’ a couple days work go to waste.

“Wrong mark to choose, buckaroo.” Talin shouted as she spun around and opened fire on the newcomer. The shots were more a warnin’ than any honest attempt at killin’ him. For now. Honor among thieves, or somethin’. “Turn on around and go on home.”

 

[Jonath Kago]

A bribe here, a bribe there to scorned individuals lead him here to this uninviting apartment. Those with a need of spice or whatever vices they were a slave to did had their uses after all. It was much more cheap than an information broker, even amateur ones to a person of his status. Only one esteemed bounty hunters and others with the capital could afford that luxury.

He made little effort to survey the apartment, already deciding exactly how to play this out. When life gives someone mysterious cybernetic arms and a talent of fighting, then suddenly they’ll think themselves invincible. It didn’t help Jon was never proven wrong from all of his violent interactions with serious criminals.

And speaking of…

“Turn on around and go on home.”

With the shot of the disruptor rifle missing him completely although intentional by the woman. She sounded familiar, too familiar. But it couldn’t be. Anytime he he heard that tone of voice he was always disappointed of not finding what he was hoping for. So would she be disappointed in knowing he would not retreat from this hunt.

So now what was to be done?

Familiar reflexes upon his command unholstered his pistol and shot a trio of blaster bolts. Not exactly accurate, but maybe accurate enough to make her run from her position. He would not be denied from the one thing that made him cope with living.

Talin Treicolt​

 

[Talin Treicolt]

“It’s always the masked ones thinkin’ they’re hot chit.” Talin muttered.

The shots had sent footsteps stomping about above, but they were beginning to quiet. They were waiting on her ascent. If they got brave enough to come on down that lift, she’d be stuck between two barrels. From her handy dandy Jedi utility belt, Talin pulled a thermal detonator and threw it haphazardly it out the door. It landed in the street, short of her mark, but the impending blast would buy a few precious seconds.

Spinnin’ on her heels, the rifle was stowed away to its place on her back. One freed hands grabbed another detonator from her belt, one triggered by pressure, whilst the other impatiently pounded on the turbo lifts buttons. It came rolling slowly, but just a blast in the street went off, the telltale ding sounded. Talin quickly placed the detonator right inside the opening of the lift’s doors. If this chick’s cronies got any ideas about comin’ down to take advantage of the chaos, they’d be in for a surprise.

Then it was back again to the door way, this time drawin’ a blaster from its holster, lookin’ through the plume of dust the explosion had thrown up in the street.

“I done warned ya.” Talin called, scrambling over the rubble in front of the threshold. “Yeehaw, motherkarker.”

And it was on. The former Jedi needed no line of sight. A shot flew through the wreckage in the street.

 

[Jonath Kago]

A tactical retreat and it queued him ready if she tried to fight back with pistol aiming dead center. The door creeped open and out came-

“Oh shit,” and darted away from the small sphere lobbed out towards him. How long was it primed? There were some objects he could use as cover, but there wouldn’t be time to make it. Coming to a halt Jon fell to his front with both hands covering his head. The detonator roared, leaving a small crater from the damaged floor and a curtain of smoke and dust. Small pieces of debris and shrapnel scattered with bits making minuscule cuts into Jon’s clothing.

Crouched up on his fours he was just about to stand up, but remained hidden from the sound of blaster fire being shot at him. His competition was just firing blind into the cloud of dust, hoping to hit something. Two can play at that game. He still remained low, but observed the trail of blaster fire trying to find a somewhat accurate trace. His mask was just for show, not for tactical purposes so there was no fancy thermal imaging to pierce through the plume.

Finally comfortable with his calculations he raised his blaster again and returned fire. He’d take advantage of the smokescreen of dust until it began to fail him. Just to find time to reposition himself.