The Living Illusion : A Missing Child Case For The BHG. (invite/ask)

[Arm514ve]

Shawn decided if he couldn’t lock out the security system he’ll just lock it in a diagnostic mode which would tie it up for four hours, more than enough time for Ares and Bell to escape. “Now for my escape.” Shawn looked around and found an air vent and some lockers in the room.

Shawn drew his auto pistol and shot a hole big enough for a human to fit into the ventilation system but decided to hide in the locker instead drawing his slug pistol with the explosive rounds as he hid in the locker peering through the cracks as the door fell off the hinges as the twe’lik man walked in, followed by two kiffar.

 

[T.J]

The remote primer Ares had pulled off the grenade whined and beeped as it reached the limit of its range. Ares quickly pressed the button, the explosion was unheard by the group in the turbo lift. But the room they were just in was a hellstorm of fire and shrapnel, destroying everything inside of it.

"I expect trouble when we get to the lobby." Ares said as he reloaded his pistols one at a time. "But the check-in booth looks like it would make good cover. So scramble there if we have company at the bottom. Ill try and draw the fire until you get there."

The doors to the turbo lift slid open, revealing several guards. They were caught unawares seeing as they were under the impression that they had control of the lifts. Ares immediatly opened fire, downing two before they could even bring their guns to bare. He started to gun and run, shooting while trying to stay inbetween the thugs and BelleBlair and her niece. All the while slowly making their way to the booth.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

The twi’lek dove behind the booth where the dull green from their earlier visit was hiding in the fetal position. His mouth gaped in recognition. BelleBlair pulled Kimber to her and shielded the small human with her body, in case their enemies grew nearer.

“You…”

“Yes.” She replied before he could continue.

“I’m gray.”

He squealed and ducked as a wayward blast hit the wall before them.

Kimber looked up, suddenly puzzled.

“Auntie Blair…Why are you orange…?”

The sooty toned woman pulled her blaster from her thigh and shot at the unsuspecting leg of an approaching Rodian.

“We’ll get to that later, sweetie.”


---

Bad eyes leaned in between the men.

“Quiet.” she ordered.

“after that announcement you really think he’s gonna make any mov-”

“He has to breathe doesn’t he?” She cut off the Kiffar.

It was silent for a moment.

“The lockers.” she said, patting her Twi’lek slave and taking her leave down the hall.

She entered her room as the large armored Lethan swiped the lockers with crushing consequences.

She shut the door and the commotion outside lulled.

 

[Arm514ve]

“Fraking Bitch " Shawn said as he ducked as the vibro blade cleaved the lockers in two just above his head. Luckily they didn’t hear him do to the crashing of the destroyed upper half of the lockers, and Shawn’s com unit was accidentally switched on from flying debris.

- - - - - - - - -

“Kriffing bitch was just hearing things come on big guy there’s nothing there, we might as well go after them.” One said as the two kiffarens lowered there weapons.

- - - - - - - - -

Shawn stayed down for a split second waiting for the goons with guns to lower there guard before popping up with his auto pistol in one hand and his custom slug pistol in the other, firing his custom at the giant twe’lik and the auto at the two kiffarians. The kifarians went down fast caught by surprise by Shawn’s appearance, out of the tattered lockers. The big twe’lik some how dodged two out of three of Shawn shots the third landing in his un-dominant lower arm. Shawn dodged another swing, of the huge vibro sword by a hair landing near the door and ran out into the hall. A few seconds later the round in the twe'liks arm blew, blowing his lower arm clean off sending him in a pain filled rage, and a loud roar. “Come on pinky I’m out here did that hurt?"

 

[T.J]

Ares dove behind the booth shortly after the twi'lek did. His guns were empty and their barrels poured smoke. He sat with his back agaisnt the booth as he quickly reloaded them. Ares had a smile on his face, it was plain to see that he was enjoying himself thoroughly. With fresh rounds in hsi revolvers, he poked one behind a corner and blind fired a couple rounds.

He looked over to where BelleBlair and her niece were, and saw the green twi'lek in the corner. His first impulse was to shoot him, but Ares felt nothing coming from the man. The twi'lek had done nothing horribly wrong in his life, other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Ares scooted a little closer without exposing himself to enemy fire, looking the green man dead in the eyes. "You just sit nice and quite and I wont have to shoot yah. You get me mate? This is your one and only warning."

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

The Twi’lek man put his head between his knees with a whimper and BelleBlair watched Ares with startled amusement. She had never known a man quite like him- one who could blend as one with the blood shed and would willingly strike down the wicked with such animalistic precision. He was a new breed of man, a terrifying, righteous human like a modern war god brought to life by some legend. Wrathful but not malicious…no, it was not malice that drove his violence. She again turned her attention to firing upon the opposing attackers but her thoughts were with Ares…

‘how does someone become like him? How do you kill with such ease-repay the immoral by mimicking them?’

She looked at Kimber. It gave her the answer. She needed no second thought on the matter.


------


“pinky” erupted from the rage his mortal would caused, charging Shawn and chopping like a butcher with his muscular frame wet with perspiration. He sought to kill, not to care, he was bred for it- his mind had been programmed for it, he knew nothing else.

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn moved and dodged the slashes only to meet a foot which sent him flying into a wall and splitting his head open causing blood to flow into Shawn’s eye obscuring his vision a bit, for his right hand witch carried the auto pistol. “Ok you’re stronger than you look, but if I shoot you enough you will go down.” Shawn said as he tried to keep his distance a few of his shots impacted but non were fatal and most of them were shallow hits.

- - - - - - - - -

“Pinky” just kept swinging and not caring about his wounds. And hit Shawn in the right shoulder with the vibro sword but the Dura steel plate there took the brunt of the impact but still cut through and left a deep cut, but didn’t hit any verves or arteries. Shawn was stopped by the pain and the Twe’lik kicked him again while pulling the blade out causing even more damage, then charging Shawn as he regained his composer.

- - - - - - - - - -

Shawn regained his composer breathing hard and lifted his right arm which held his custom pistol and smiled “say good night pinky.” Shawn said as he pulled the trigger and the round nailed “pinky” square between the eyes, he didn’t seem to die or feel it as he just looked surprised as; Shawn turned around and started walking towards the elevator “pinkies” head exploded in a crimson mist.

Shawn stepped into the elevator and hit the down button then leaned on the back wall and slid down sitting on the floor, the elevator music playing cheerfully, Shawn looked up “you can’t be serious."

 

[T.J]

Ares popped up again to fill a couple more goons full of lead, only pausing to reload. Only 3 remained, and their resolve was starting to falter. Their advances became less agressive, and they where more reluctant to come out of cover to shoot. Ares took this opportunity to start an advance of his own. He rolled out from behind the desk taking a few steps before diving behind cover that was the fountain in the middle of the lobby.

The 3 thugs spoke amongst each other. Being in close enough proximity, Ares was able to listen in on some parts of the conversation. They were scared, tired, and had lost the will to fight. But they had killed innocents in the past, just because they were stronger most likely. It made their lives forfeit.

Ares tossed a flash-bang grenade into their midts, holding his ears and shutting his eyes tight to avoid most of the damage. After that it was simple, he calmly walked to each thug, putting a bullet between their eyes as he strolled. He turned to BelleBlair and her relative."OK!. Everything is clear. You can come out now. All we have to do is wait for Shawn and get the hell outta here." Right as Ares finished talking the light above the turbo lifts dinged, the doors began to open.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

BelleBlair rose with the senior twi’lek clinging to her, his face streaked with tears. She gently refused his embrace, turning him loose on his own where he retreated to the comfort of the empty back room behind the desk.

She then approached Ares, hand in hand with Kimber.

She was grateful.

The most grateful she had ever been to a human man with a gun in his hand and smile on his face…but something was missing….

Everything seemed a bit to…quiet.

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn just sat there with his weapons still in his hands, as the lifts doors opened playing dead making it look like he had succumbed to his wounds from the sword wielding “pinky,” which weren’t bad just looked bad from the amount of blood that was running down his face and right arm, that turned his now tatared blue coat right sleave a dark red color. He just sat there long enough to here no gun fire and no screams of shock at a person who looks dead in the lift. Shawn took the chance to raise his head a little and look through the one eye that wasn’t covered in blood, and saw Ares standing there, with BelleBlair and her niece in tow. “well I guess I don’t have to play dead." Shawn said as he got up shakily and walked a little unbalance from the lose of blood and adrenalin warring off, “I wish you guys didn’t wait for me there is one Bitch of a Togruta here that has to has to have, force powers or really good hearing twice she’s known where I am I don’t recommend staying any longer, and I’m sure more are on the way down.” Shawn said as walked past the two for the main lobby, that had the doors out of the hotel.

 

[T.J]

Ares quickly followed his former trainee out of the building, bringing a small vial of bacta and some gause as he walked. Once he caught up to the bleeding man, he grabbed Shawn by the shoulder and spoke. "Shawn wait. I need to patch that wound up of yours. Dont want you bleeding all over Jericho." Ares said with a slight chuckle as he moved the fabric that was Shawn's coat aside to get to the wound. The bounty hunter quickly applied the bacta and shoved gause into the wound, letting Shawn's clothes hold it in unitl they got back to the Jericho or his safe house.


" There. Thast oughta keep you together until we can get this mission over with. I have a feeling in my gut that this might not be over yet." Ares looked back to ensure BelleBlair and her niece were still with them, he knew it wasnt over yet. And Ares was never one to let his guard down. Ever.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

When Shawn first appeared BelleBlair was horror stricken. her stomach turned and she felt sorrow begin to build as her hands clapped over her mouth- when he spoke however she laughed out loud. Glad for the scrappy, little ,sarcastic man's well being she followed the bounty hunters out the door.

She smiled her family was returned to her.



----


Suddenly a shot rained down from above with the precision of a sniper.

Aimed at Ares’ bare shoulder it tore through the air with a wheezing whistle.

BelleBlair Pulled Kimber to her and raised her eyes to the Spire.

The devil red Togruta hung from a shattered window, several stories above.

She blew a kiss and sent it to far off destinations with two fingers drawn from her lips before pulling herself back inside.

She dismantled her rifle inside softly singing so low no stray ears could hear as she removed spectacles to even out her ugly sight:


“ I fell in love with a young war man…

And I married him on my twenty-first year.

Six months later I was pushing out babies…

after the third they began to disappear.

….

Little children, little children fall down.

Stray from the water, lest you drown.


…

First was Kiyo, I sang her a lullaby

The next morning she did no wake.

Then came Daran he was easily disposed of.

‘took any medicine I ordered him to take.


……

Little children, little children fall down.

Stray from the water, lest you drown.

….



Tanya was a quick one

‘got her with a loaded gun .

Lovely Nina died at her birth.

Some may claim that I should feel guilty…

But I admit the freedom gives me great mirth.

….

Little children, little children fall down.

Stray from the water, lest you drown…"

 

[T.J]

Ares didnt have time to react to the shot. Only seconds after hearing it he felt what was like one thousand suns shooting through the upper half of his shoulder and into the far side of his chest cavity. It ripped through the corner of his right lung and stopped traveling when it hit his chest plate on the back side. The bounty hunter dropped to his knees and fought to keep his conciousness as he gripped his chest in agony. The hot bullet burned his chest as it impacted with his durasteel armor.

He knew his lung had been punctured, being that his breath was pained and severly shortened. Blood loss was a concern for him also, being that he was no longer in the protective shell of his full armor. Ares turned to look at the large durasteel and permacrete face of the hotel building, barely catching a glimpse of a red figure escape into a window. Ares weakly stood back up, fighting for breathe, he was officially done fighting wise. That pot shot had almost competely removed him as a combat threat, he could barely breathe, let alone run and fight.

"Was.....was that....the one....you saw...Shawn?" Ares said as he slowly walked over to a lightpole and leaned against it. "We....need to..... get our shebs....out of here." As the wounded man spoke he started to slide down the pole, blood smearing its brilliant silver finish.

 

[Arm514ve]

"Thanks but we don't have time for this they could be sitting up snipers, as we speak we need to move now these aren’t as bad as they look.” As soon as Shawn got done saying those words a shot rang out hitting Ares, Shawn immediately looked up to see a red figure run in. “you have got to be kidding me that bitch.” Shawn then felt Ares fall.

And followed Ares over to the light post “Yah that’s the bitch.”

Shawn ran up to the entrance of the hotel’s parking lot and jacked a speeder and drove it back to where the three of them were at, “get in now!”

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

“Ares!” BelleBlair cried.

She ran to his side and touched him- suddenly repelling and lifting her blood soaked hand. She stared at the sanguine, entranced until Shawn’s words reached her and the tugging of her pants by her niece brought her back to reality.

She entered the speeder without hesitation, pulling the girl with her.

“Is he gonna’ be alright?” Kimber asked her voice was shaky with worry.

“He’ll be fine.” The twi’lek assured her.

She looked at his injuries with fear.

Somewhere in her mind an old Red woman was weeping.

Red always brought her back, clear as day; The Lethan….

It was only befitting of fate for the sniper to share the color.

She shivered and hugged herself.

“Ares’ I swear I’ll get you the best medical attention money can buy…” she promised.

She felt obligated.

She owed him a debt that could never truly be repaid.

 

[T.J]

Blood from Ares ragged lung started coming up with he breath, it started to trickle down and out the side of his mouth. Ares didnt actually realize it until he tasted the iron taste in his mouth. He gently sat himself down into the speeders passenger seat as he fought off the shock that was slowly gripping his body. He quickly started stripping his armor to get to his chest before their vehicle even got into the sky.

The metal plates clanged onto the floor of the speeder as Ares assesed the damage. The slug had shrapneled slightly, showering the right side of his chest with little bits of hot metal. None of them went deep enough to cause fatal damage, but they would all leave scars. Ares pulled out his last vial of bacta, smaller than the one he gave Shawn. It would do almost nothing other than stop some of the internal bleeding.

Ares didnt look up to BelleBlair when she spoke, but still answered. "Oh.....I'm alright.....Its.....Its just a.....flesh wound." He said as he struggled for air. If he had any type of tube he would have used it to reinflate his lung, but not having one he was forced to suffer. " Can this.....bucket....of rust....go any...faster?" Ares silentyl cursed himself for his mistake. He was so used to wearing his armor that he stopped taking snipers into consideration. It was one of his greatest flaws, and yet one of his greatest strengths.

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn was already pushing the speeder as fast as it would go, and trying to keep the speeder as steady as he could, but dodgeing traffic and takeing meassures to make shure they weren't followed made it hard. “I am taking us to the Jericho we will be able to get medical aid for Ares and keep you two low for a few days, and make sure you’re safe." Shawn said dodgeing a truck "from there you can contact you're familly but you can't tell them were you're at cause we don't know if they would be listenning in. But atleast they would know you and you're niece are safe."

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

BelleBlair nodded.

She felt a tightness in her core at the thought of visiting the head quarters of the bounty hunters, It was almost exciting...


but she had had enough excitement for today...

 

[T.J]

Ares was realeved when the jericho came into view, he almost jumped out of the speeder before it even touched down. BUt he knew that doing so would aggrevate his condition, so he waited as patiently as he could.

The wounded bounty hunter didnt ask for help as he he grabbed his armor plates and popped the door to the speeder open, stepping out onto the durasteel deck of the spaceport. The bleeding had slowed, but not entirely stopped. It slowly started to run down his now bare back as he shuffled to the main door of the jericho. He deaftly punched in the combination, and entered as the doors parted with a hiss of compressed air.

Usually a rythmic tone would be heard as Ares walked down the winding corridors that made up the interior of the Jericho. This time however, it sounded like shambling almost, uneven and pained. When he got to the medical bay he turned and blocked the door with his frame so the others wouldnt enter with him."Shawn....I.....want....you to.....watch her.......until I can......get this......under control......Got me?" With that said he shut and locked the door from the inside, Ares was always one to not want any help. He quickly set to work, reinflating his lung and pretty much filling his chest cavity with bacta.

 

[Arm514ve]

“On it Boss….This way please.” Shawn said taking them to one of the only three suite rooms on the ship, and led them inside. “There’s a com unit over there in the corner the bathroom is through those doors, and there’s a kitchen, over there, on the other side of that half wall, and two rooms beyond that so please make you’re self at home, if you need me you can contact me via the com unit, if you’ll excuse me.” Shawn said as he left the room making sure the room door closed behind him. Shawn slammed his fist on the wall, “dam I should have known I even stated about the possibility of a sniper, dam it.” Shawn said as he stood out side the quarters on guard.