Dead or Alive

[Marius]

Spoiler: Dock

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Chasing a target on the ecumenopolis that was Denon was a tiring and annoying activity. Especially when the target is stubborn, agile and unyielding. Kreel Denko, a Coruscani con-man, was twice as evasive than any other scoundrel in the galaxy. Marius and [member="Amata Santii"] had to collaborate, which was quite hard in the first place, in order to catch Denko. Both hunters had different payment promised by their employer - a notorious Utapaun crime lord going by the name of Duke Tre'thel. Marius was to get information that lead him to a clue concerning his Teresmen ancestry while Amata's payment was a pile of credits or so Marius believed.

During their chase both had utilized different methods, Amata being more ruthless in pursuing their target. Often interrogating physically leads while Marius was far more reserved in utilizing brute force. Yet, her methods her worked, especially since Marius' Basic and generally communication skills were below average.
The relationship they developed was edgy despite demonstrating succesful teamwork. The Mandalorian blamed that on the Human-Togruta's competitiveness. Although both had the same goal, she seemed to want to catch the target on her own and to prove to be more capable than Marius.

Now both were standing a few feet from each other looking at the uncounsciouss Kreel Denko entrapped with a metal rope. They were arguing on whether they should bring the con-man alive or dead. Marius was the proponent of the former decision while she was proposing on disposing of him to save the hassle of bringing him back. In the end, she argued, that the payment remained the same.

"Alive." Marius repeated once again to the woman stubbornly insisting on not taking away a life needlessly. His accent expressed as always in his speech in Basic. Both mercenaries were simply repeating 'alive' and 'dead' for a couple of minutes now and both were stubborn on their proposition. His Mandalorian armor would've usually intimidated most but not the Human-Togrutan, she seemed even more motivated to compete with the Mandalorian.


((OOC: I will be letting you know of his equipment in the next post, if that's okay.))

 

[Vaermina]

Amata was learning one thing about herself, and that was that she was not good at sharing the glory. It wasn't that she was incapable of working with others, but when she did, they preferably worked under her. As it stood right now, she did not have the means to gather any greater following, and would have to content herself with cooperating as equals with another. At least she had been promised full pay. What the other got she did not know, and did not care. It was likely that he was either being blackmailed or was trying to settle an ever growing debt.

Though their target had hidden well, it had not been well enough. Soon enough someone had talked, and they were one step closer. No thanks to her companion, who urged more for caution and restriction. The things one has to endure in this line of work, she thought to herself. She had no doubt that had she been alone, the result would be the same. Granted, it might've taken her longer, but nonetheless, she refused to admit that she had required any assistance on the job.

They had ended up in a sort of uneasy state of cooperation. In the end it had worked out excellently for them, but now that the job was essentially over the temporary alliance was quickly falling apart. Amata was further antagonised by [member="Marius"], who now seemed to be dictating how they should proceed with the captured Kreel Denko. The blonde girl wasn't having any of it. "No, you brute" she uttered with a painful sigh following, knowing she wasn't making any progress with him. "Look, you can carry a corpse over your shoulders, or a man kicking and screaming. Corpses don't run away while you sleep. Corpses don't have allies who plot ambushes" she tried a different approach, explaining her position after the endless back-and-forwards of 'alive, dead, alive, dead'. Frankly, the very notion that she would have to explain herself to anyone at all was pissing her off. "What do you care if he lives or dies? He'll be killed anyway. He's a job. It's over. He dies." she said, as if that would be the end of their little discussion.

Considering their negotiations over, the girl drew a blade, a short-sword, and stepped towards the tied up man in-between them. There was little question that she was moving in to end his life.

(OOC: No problem at all!)

 

[Marius]

Gear: Armor in siggy ; Beskad ; Wrist combination on armor is: AT-1 Wrist Slugthrower ; ZX Miniature flame projector


Marius watched as the woman's expressions were implying she was still supporting the idea of finishing off the man. The Mandalorian was not raised in such a way. He killed only when he needed to. It was dishonorable to kill a person who was unarmed. She did not understand that and the Teresman struggled to make her understand. It was needless to kill their target, he was safely captured. They only had to bring him back to their employer. Apparently she was worried about him trying to escape and his eventual annoying behavior of kicking and screaming. Marius ignored her first epithet about him, he had been used to people calling him primitive mostly due to his bad skills in Basic.

"Look, you can carry a corpse over your shoulders, or a man kicking and screaming. Corpses don't run away while you sleep. Corpses don't have allies who plot ambushes"

The Teresman shook his head, his gaze still on Denko lying unconcious and safely entrapped.

"No." He pondered about his next statement and then continued. "A corpse has vengeful allies."

It seemed though that whatever he said the woman demonstrated her signature stuborness. Something she had demonstrated on numerous occassions during their collaboration on catching the fugitive. The woman then asked somewhat of a rhetoric question that she believed would end the fruitless arguement. Thus, she proceeded with her blade in hand towards their captured fellow. Marius immediately recognized what she aimed to do.

He took a few long steps to intercept her. Marius drew his beskad that was sheathed on his back and put it infront of the woman aiming to halt her movement.

"A man said no." Marius insisted with his cold robust voice and broken Basic. If she did not back now when he drew his beskad, the Mandalorian knew that this would into a fight as such he focused all his senses on the woman and her next actions.


[member="Amata Santii"]

 

[Vaermina]

[member="Marius"]

Gear: Phase IV Confederate Trooper Armor, v1, 2 x Vibroblade, E-11 Blaster Pistol

"I don't know about you, but I don't plan on staying" Amata had muttered, dismissing the notion that vengeful allies was something to concern herself with. She underestimated the dedication and lengths people were willing to go for those they loved, whether alive or dead. Amata didn't have enough people in her life she cared sufficiently for to fully understand that. Perhaps her family, but even there she had somehow got imprinted this bizarre sense of invincibility, as if it was their destiny to amount to greatness. Failure simply wasn't an option.

Before she knew it, he was ahead of her, placing his blade in-between her and her target. This did not please the young hunter. "Out. Of. My. Way." she looked up at him with an intense fury. She was not used to people crossing her. Defiance to her will was something she repaid with death. It was clear Amata did not care much for what a man said. "A man will do as I say, or a man will die." she hissed, taking little care to veil her threat. She wasn't exactly the type that encouraged cooperation in others, it would seem. She had hoped that the the risk of all this work, only to end up with no payment to show for it, would be too great for him to actually consider standing his ground. She was about to learn a valuable lesson about his kind. Their honour and pride would allow neither to back down. It would be battle.

(OOC: Sorry for making you wait! It's been a weird week, haven't been able to post at the pace I would have wished. Hopefully back in shape now)

 

[Marius]

It was obvious where this whole conflict would lead to. Battle. There was no mistaking it, even beneath her helmet Marius could feel the venom induced words of Out. Of. My. Way. Her armor, very similiar to a Mandalorian in terms of aesthetics, was as intimidating as his to the common person. She had utilized that to her advantage when dealing with informants and leads. Marius preferred the more non-brutish way, which was ironic considering he was often labelled as barbaric, mostly due to his accent and weak skills in Basic.

His 'partner' also pointed that out mockingly when she used his way of speaking to threaten him. Just after they had caught their target. A really difficult to catch target, both would have to finally resolve their issues with each other. A clash of principles. Or stubborness of two warriors.
Marius did not plan on giving her the edge by initiating some sort of line that would start the battle that was to happen. He was sure that the woman, which never introduced herself during this whole time of chasing the man, already knew where this verbal conflict was headed to. Eitherways, he would try to surprise her.

The Mandalorian swinged back his beskad to gather momentum and slash at the midsection of the woman. He moved slightly backwards while swinging the beskad back to gain some distance from the armored woman.

[member="Amata Santii"]


((OOC: Once again, sorry for the wait! Let's have some fun now! ))

It was time to fight.

 

[Vaermina]

[member="Marius"]

They had been quickly sliding over and towards the point of no return. With the next action taken from the man they moved firmly across it. He was blameless in taking them there, however. Had he not made that first move she would have. It was only practical of him to strike first, and seek to score an early and decisive hit. At least this she would credit him for. Though she did not know how well he fought as a warrior, he initiated conflict well.

It was all she could do to avoid being carved open by his sudden strike. Hopefully her armour would've provided her with some protection, but she preferred to not find out. Her drawn blade quickly pulled into a block. With the force behind his strike, however, it sent her near stumbling backwards as he took a few more graceful step back as well. And so it had begun then.

The huntress gritted her teeth. "Fair enough" she drew her second blade, equal in length to the first one. She gave each a quick twirl, one after the other. "Combat decides" it was the way of her people, after all. The strong have their way, the weak are forced to follow. For whatever reason, she imagined they'd communicate a lot better with their blades than they ever had with words.

It seemed her turn to strike, but she was wary to fall into a simple trap. She edged closer, keeping her left leg and left shoulder faced towards hm, taunting him with feint stabs from her sword. Eventually, she would step in with a stab towards the shoulder of his sword arm (right, presumably?). She was hoping to hit that sweet spot in-between layers of armour. The strike was likely to be blocked or parried, she knew. But it was merely an attempt to get into a more favourable position.

(OOC: Never a problem! I could say the same! Apologies for the wait!)