Number Two in the Galaxy

[Ghorua the Shark]

Fett disappeared into the upper boughs of the lowly-hung buildings, and Ghorua had time to breathe. He examined the situation, what had happened so far, and quickly deduced that his major advantage, surprise, had quickly disappeared. That was to be expected, of course. It was difficult to crack open Mandalorian armor without killing the being beneath it, and it took time.

With the sudden reprieve came a decision. He would regain his advantage, and add to the rumor that the Shark could disappear, only to return swinging. Like his namesake.

When Fett peeked over the edge again to fire his flame projector, he would see no sign of the massive being that was there a second before. It was as if he had disappeared into thin air.

The Shark had shifted a few meters, huddling low and making himself as still as possible. He waited, with bated breath, using his Teräs Käsi training to quiet his mind, and his vitals. His communications still weren't on, but they would be one of the first of his systems to return. And when they did, he'd show himself. Perhaps Koda would think the massive hunter simply gave up, returned to the shadows to lick his wounds.

Perhaps he'd be smarter than that.

- [member="Koda Fett"] -

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

---

---

​

---

Nar Shaddaa, Hutt Space, The Middle Rim​

Interacting With: [member="Ghorua the Shark"]​

​

The flames protruding from the Mandalorian would cease as quickly as they began; Ghorua wasn't here. At least that's what it seemed, but 'The Shark' wasn't beat, he wouldn't just retreat. He came with a mission and the only thing that would have him leave is that very mission being completed, or perhaps if he found himself outmatched. Fett turned to his sensors, pinging for lifeforms and high amounts of electrical usage. Certain that one would appear, Ghorua's armor was not without it's fair share of gadgets and internal wiring, not to mention that he was still living and breathing within the alley - or so he thought.

Though of course it was hard to lock onto a certain figure, the ion grenade had done it's work and effectively minimized his electrical capacity, which of course turned out to make it more difficult for Fett to find his target. So instead a wider area of attack was required. A sonic detonator was rolled down within the rough approximation the sensors could pinpoint 'The Shark' into. The item was intended to lure him out of his hiding, for the sound of sonic detonator could make one go deaf if not weary enough.

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

After a tense moment of waiting, Ghorua saw movement from the rooftops, and heard something drop into the alley. WIthout having his HUD to identify the object, he assumed it to be a grenade of some kind, and dove away, just as it exploded.

Not with fire and brimstone, but with sound.

Fett's sonic grenade did what was intended. The cloak around Ghorua whipped around him as he jumped, but was hit by a continuous wall of sound. Without his hemet's dampeners, his ears were mostly unprotected, the harmful vibrations stopped only by the insulated padding around his head.

Ghorua fought the urge to clutch his head in pain, trying to think, trying to do anything.

Then, a blip. Another blip.

His helmet's systems, which had been farthest away from the EMP blast, had finally gone back online.

From Koda's perspective, Ghorua seemed to suddenly snap into action, as he shot a single slug at the grenade lying on the ground, silencing it with an incendiary death. His weight bearing joints were gone, probably for the full fight, but at least his sensor data, his sound dampeners, and most importantly, his comms were back online.

"//Minna!//" Ghorua growled through his helmet, seemingly silent to the rest of the world, pulling a short, thick blade from his side, and feeling the rush of confidence it brought. "//You're up!//"

Ghorua's other hand raised, hefting his slugthrower, and aiming for Fett's head. If the Shark were firing regular rounds, the whiplash from a bullet to the head could be lethal, but he was still using incendiary. It was a distraction, something to keep his enemy busy...

While the cavalry came flying in.

- [member="Koda Fett"] -

 

[Lemon]

​Koda Fett​

---

---

​

---

Nar Shaddaa, Hutt Space, The Middle Rim​

Interacting With: [member="Ghorua the Shark"]​

​

Fett was many things, and today he was persistent. The carbine within his possession shifted it's barrel towards 'The Shark' as round after round was sent in his direction, his shots were deadly with their accuracy, and they had to be, otherwise he would wind up dead. Although he doubted any of which would have any real effect, his armour was thick enough now wasn't it? The Mandalorian's footing was firm upon the rooftop's ledge, the bright lights of Nar Shaddaa dwarfed behind the deadly figure looming above.

Ghorua returned fire, and when he did he got lucky. So, he was right, all the good bounty hunters had luck on their side. A single slug came towards the curved top right portion of his helmet. Striking and cutting out a sizeable chunk, leaving a flaming dent no large than an index finger touching ones thumb. From the force of it he fell backwards with a pained grunt, dazed and confused from the impact it had on his head.

​'The Shark' got his relief, but for how long one could never be certain.

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

A few moments of distraction were all Ghorua needed. He got more than that.

Most of he impacts of the hunter's lazer bolts sunk into Ghorua's armor, leaving spots of molten orange, and not much else. A few bolts snuck past the Avalanche Armor, however, scorching part of his arm, and the side of his belly. While Ghorua was protected by thick duraplast, thick skin, and thicker blubber, the shot against his lower torso began to bleed.

That would be a problem.

Still, as Ghorua fired his slugthrowers, Fett fell back, propelled by heavy projectiles. That would be all the distraction he would need.

Racing across the sky, boosted by custom boosters, Ghorua's personal ship, the Jawsome. In command of the heavily-armed large star yacht was a very bright, very talented six year old. Minna didn't understand many of the finer controls of the Saotome ship, but she knew what was important: How to fly, and how to shoot.

The girl had needed time to navigate the tightly packed buildings, but once she had found a path, she'd taken it, accidentally chipping the side of a building, cracking windows and denting the alusteel walls of the skyscrapers to come within range of the fight, swearing like a smuggler all the way.

If he were up, Fett's sensors would begin to read the ship's ion cannons powering online. The quickest option for Koda to dodge the blasts would be back into the alley with Ghorua, although he could try his luck with a different plan. These cannons were meant for cargo freighters and starfighters.

Who knew what would happen if it hit the Mandalorian?

- [member="Koda Fett"] -

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

---

---

​

---

Nar Shaddaa, Hutt Space, Middle Rim​

Interacting With: [member="Ghorua the Shark"]​

​

The sound of an engine larger than any conventional speeder in addition with the creek and scraping metal as it squeezed between two skyscrapers caught Fett's attention, it was in no way a stealthy approach. The Bounty Hunter rolled over onto his front, attempting to bring himself up - but slowly - the man's head was ringing. Although it was subsiding as he came visor to viewport of 'The Shark's' yacht. It's ion cannons primed and ready, locking directly onto the Mandalorian.

Instead of dropping back into the alleyway with Ghorua, perhaps something the imposing Herglic had desired, he did not. Flames once again spat from the bottom of his jetpack as he was launched up and into the air. Utilising the burst mode in order to propel him at intense speeds. The highest it was capable was 145 km/ph. In such a closed in environment for the yacht, it surely wouldn't be able to pivot it's guns or ship itself in order to strike him out in the air.

In an arc he moved, up and forwards with a downwards looping. Passing the cockpit and landing on it's hull. If there was a way in, then maybe he would use it against Ghorua, but little did he know a six year old was piloting it.

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

Instead of flying down to join Ghorua, Fett instead tried his luck, flying up and towards the Jawsome. And, Ghorua realized, with growing dread, towards Minna.

The ion bolts blasted the air around the Mandalorian as he sailed through the air, the targeting systems of the starship having difficulty locking onto such a tiny silhouette. Koda latched onto the hull of the ship, and as he looked, he would find an access hatch that led down into the belly of the beast.

"//Dad!//" Minna seemed worried, scared even, as she contacted Ghorua, who was frozen himself. "//He's on the ship! I can't shake him!//"

"//Minna, listen to me very carefully! Open up the system's suite, and turn on the cockpit shield. Lock down everything!//"

A few clicking buttons, and the vrrr of an extra layer of protection closed over the cockpit, and somewhere, a warning klaxon began to go off. The entire ship was on lockdown.

"//Got it?//"

"//Got it!//"

"//Good. Turn on the defenses, and stay on the sensors. You need to know where he is, at all times!//"

"//I'm coming, baby! Stay strong! And don't do anything rash!//"

~ ~ ~​

Koda Fett would be able to open the access hatch, and make it into the ship before everything closed. The hunter would find himself in a maintenance room, with a single, large door. The hatch on the door locked, and red lights began to flicker in the hallway beyond. He wouldn't see it, but Koda would definitely hear the sound of a small, wall-mounted automated turret spinning to life.

Minna sat in the command chair of the Jawsome, peeking at Fett through the hardlight projections of the various security cameras, and the sensors in the floor. This wasn't the plan her father had laid out for her, but it was the situation that had unfolded before them. Dad always said she'd need to improvise on the job.

It was time for her to do something rash.

- [member="Koda Fett"] -

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

---

---

​

---

Nar Shaddaa, Hutt Space, The Middle Rim​

Interacting With: [member="Ghorua the Shark"]​

​

Little did Fett know he was searching for a six year old aboard this Yacht. The Mandalorian slinked through the hatch before everything came to a close, the sound of a wall mounted turret whirring caught him off-guard as it acted so quickly. He couldn't see it, wherever it was it didn't matter, he had to act quickly. Crushgaunts were a fabled weapon, able to augment the strength of the user to the point in which they become super-human, and with them over his hands Fett tore the door ahead of him from it's place. Barging through with perceptive eyes darting around, a carbine raised.

He made his best attempt at finding the cockpit. From what he saw it was the highest point, and so Fett would attempt to reach that portion of the ship, but there was no doubt other obstacles in his path.

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

It was a difficult trek, to be sure.

Fett had to climb up various hatches, only to find yet another automated blaster turret waiting for him, peppering him in blaster bolts before he could dispatch them. Doors that opened and closed around him, sometimes seeming to lead him off to nowhere, sometimes opening towards where one could only assume the cockpit was.

It was during the last leg of his journey that Fett would face the real defenses. Minna had been purposefully deactivating the most dangerous traps for the sake of surprise.

Finally, Koda Fett would see his prize, a door that had been blocked by heavy door after heavy door. It was the cockpit, blocked by what defenses the Jawsome had. Two other doors to each side of the hall, one leading to a small pool, the other a training room, were open.

But there were two hidden traps in Fett's way.

Covering the floor directly in front of the door was a set of nearly-undetectable variable plating. If Fett stepped on it, he would be crushed to the floor, completely immobilized. Directly overhead the hidden trap, a ray shield generator.

Two traps, both very difficult to see, and even more difficult to escape.

- [member="Koda Fett"] -

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

---

---

​

---

The Jawsome, Nar Shaddaa, Hutt Space, The Middle Rim​

Interacting With: [member="Ghorua the Shark"]​

​

The Bounty Hunter continued through the ship, as of now it's defences were of no match but that was to be expected when facing down one of the most feared men in the galaxy - but then again, it was a man who was being put up against minor defences. He was, unknowingly, falling into a false sense of security. However, Koda Fett was suspicious by nature. The ship was large, large enough to be a home, and that was the conclusion that Fett drew. Yet if this was a home there would be greater defences of a man of Ghorua's fame and notoriety. Yet he carved through the defences nonetheless before coming to a decision; a pool or a training room.

​Yet neither of which, in his head, led to where he wanted to be. With all the twists and turns he faced so far, it was likely to assume he had fallen victim of yet another trap. His focus didn't centre on what was ahead of him, except the scanners he required to find Ghorua. Whoever the pilot was, they were stalling, and in time 'The Shark' would be here in his home environment. Blast! He cursed internally. Not many had outwitted him, and now that he knew his anger only grew.

​It was the reactor now - that was his goal.

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

"Chit!"

Minna watched the displays with growing dread. He hadn't gone for the bait. She'd figured the Bounty Hunter would try to force his way into the cockpit, and fall into a few layers of traps. Instead, he seemed to switch his priorities, going back the way he came. The little girl wasn't sure what his target was, but she was sure it wasn't good.

She needed to buy more time. Hands moving fast over the Jawsome's controls, she began to activate more traps, trying to hold Fett up as much as she could.

Unsurprisingly, the reactor of the star yacht resided somewhere in the center of it's bulk. Which meant it be a bit farther then the Mandalorian had to go to reach the cockpit, and that it was full of more roadblocks. More laser turrets began to appear from the walls, firing off their munitions before inevitably being dismantled by the professional bounty hunter. Above all that, the rest of the ship's variable plating went online. Each one was indiscernible from any other piece of the floor tiles, but with a savage twist.

That being it twisted one's body to the ground savagely. Even if Fett stepped in just one, it could impede his progress for a long time.

Which was what Minna needed, if they had any chance of Ghorua making it back in time.

- [member="Koda Fett"] -

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

---

---

​

---

Nar Shaddaa, Hutt Space, The Middle Rim​

Interacting With: [member="Ghorua the Shark"]​

​

With cautious steps, Fett searched through the Jawsome with eager eyes, intent on destroying his attacker's vessel - maybe at that point they would call it quits - but this ship was filled with more traps than he had previously anticipated. Most of the defenses were of no concern, as they were easily disposed of like the common thug, in fact maybe they were more deadly. The Mandalorian was being tracked throughout, but that's not why he was in a hurry, Ghorua was on his way and fighting him on his home turf wouldn't be ideal, no, not at all.

As he approached the tiles that would tear up his leg if trapped he had no clue, and as Ghorua would've thought, good Bounty Hunter's are lucky - Fett was no exception. He became aware of their presence as a small portion of his foot leaned over to another tile, and at that moment it collapsed into the flooring. From there, it was a simple game that took longer than expected - quite the opposite of what he wanted. Slow precarious testing steps were made to check each and every tile in front of him. Surely that gave Ghorua some time to catch up.

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

Time was all Ghorua needed. And he got it.

Ghorua exited the Saotome Runabout with a slight limp, stopping himself from holding his side. Blade gripped with white knuckles in one hand, the Shark forged forward, receiving a layout of his ship on his HUD, as well as where the pressure sensors in the floor placed Fett. Minna may not have noticed, but Ghorua knew where the Bounty Hunter was headed. Minna had wasted plenty of Fett's time, but the Mandalorian was nearly at his prize. The reactor.

He would have to hurry.

Meanwhile, Fett would find it extremely slow goings. To test each floor tile, and finding ways to skirt around them, was time-consuming progress, and he had to travel a longer ways than he had for the cockpit. But, finally, the hunter had found his prize. The reactor room, sealed off by heavy blast doors, and a variable plating tile directly in front of it.

Now, it was a question of time. Could the human get into the reactor room before the Herglic could stop him? Time would tell.

- [member="Koda Fett"] -

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

---

---

​

---

Nar Shaddaa, Hutt Space, The Middle Rim​

Interacting With: [member="Ghorua the Shark"]​

​

Every door had a lock, and with that lock came a key. A possession any undesirable who sought to enter places he well and truly shouldn't was a Anti-Security Blades. They could defeat fence fields and tune out security cameras and other security systems. They functioned by emitting intense harmonic interference waves that caused devices and systems to malfunction. When they were set on a higher level, anti-security blades could erase magnetic locks and allow the operator access to nearly any door. Fortunately enough for the Mandalorian Bounty Hunter, he was in possession of one. All it took now was for him to make a bit of a reach, he placed it into the lock and allowed the blade to do it's work. Opening both the door and shutting down the security cameras in the room ahead.

After a few short seconds he was through. The door opened with speed as a swoosh sound was made. Here he was, the belly of the beast, right where Ghorua and Minna wouldn't of wanted him to be. Yet still, it was too late now. The Bounty Hunter had hidden a remote charge on the reactor itself, and now he had to head back the way he came - unless there was another door. Fortunately enough, each tile that was dangerous to him had already been scouted out - so a clear path back was his way. Though something told him Ghorua wasn't going to let him go so easily.

 

[Ghorua the Shark]

If Ghorua had his way, Koda Fett wouldn't be leaving quite as soon as he anticipated.

For as the smaller bounty hunter exited the reactor room, he would see Ghorua the Shark, in all his splendor, fists sparking with electricity, not five feet away from him. The massive behemoth grinned under his helmet, surging forward with the strength of ten men.
It had been relatively easy to track Fett down this time. The pressure plating in the floor revealed his every step, and Minna calling out what corridors he had been trouncing through had been similarly helpful. He hadn't gotten there in time to stop the Mandalorian from... whatever he was doing in the reactor room, but Ghorua had caught up to him right after.

Ghorua was in close combat with Koda in the blink of an eye, his years of shockboxing and Teras Kasi honing his strikes. His first punch was smooth like butter, but would hit like a truck. His second was a left hook, a beautifully choreographed strike. The headbutt sailing down from the sky was a bit sloppier, but had the element of surprise.

Again, Ghorua had Fett right where he wanted him. He dully wondered how long Koda would stay there.

- [member="Koda Fett"] -

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

---

---

​

---

Nar Shaddaa, Hutt Space, Middle Rim​

Interacting With: [member="Ghorua the Shark"]​

​

There was no out. A Herglic that could dominate him through brute strength stood in his way, there was no way around, under or over. Only through. His Blaster Carbine was thrust upwards, the barrel of it staring Ghorua in his amphibious eyes. The left hand remain clutched onto the detonator he recently tied the charge too. The charge was enough to destroy the reactor, and a reactor explosion could bring down a Star Destroyer, it would certainly do the same on a Yacht. It had seemed as if his 'luck' had run out, though Fett didn't believe in such a thing, he made his own luck.

The thumb of his left hand pressed down upon the detonator, an audible beep emitted whilst a red light glowed upon the button itself. "Don't bother." It was game over by this point, the instant the pressure of the Mandalorian's thumb was relieved, the ship would go up in flames. Killing all of those aboard, even if Ghorua tried to stop him it would be an inevitable demise he would face. There was apart of this plan that wasn't accounted for, but ultimately it worked within his favor. The daughter, surely the Herglic would see to her safety rather than let her be killed in a fruitless attempt.

"Move." Fett said with a nod, ordering 'The Shark' to go back the way he came. He had only two options; grab his daughter and leave, or try and disarm that charge before Fett could leave the Jawsome. One was more preferable than the other, however, the other was a question of time. Something in which he hadn't truly had a lot of.