Bounty on the Bounty Hunter

[lol not primary]

Another day, another glorious time to be watched by every Bendu in the Galaxy! That was Ussej's view on this new mission he'd accepted. He didn't necessarily mind going on it so much as he minded the fact that he was (in)famous for his missions and how he acted on them. He honestly tried to uphold the family name, but he just fell short of the "Perfect Bendu" routine.

And that was evident as he strolled casually into a hangar on Kal'Shabbol, awaiting the two apprentices that'd accompany him. Problem was...he had no Idea what ship was the one that'd be taking them to Had Abaddon. He only knew the name -- the Bird's Eye View. But it seemed that the Ashla was looking out for him, when someone called his name.

"Oi! Baccie Boy!" the voice said.

Confused, Ussej turned around, having never heard it put quite that way before.

"Yeah, You! Get ovar 'ere!" a Small, portly man yelled. He looked a bit....frustrated. "I tell ya, I though' ya'd nevar show up!"

"Uh...Yeah...Sorry 'bout that." Ussej said as he closed in on the Ship and her captain.

The man wore normal clothing(Or at least his version of "casual" clothes), in that he wore an odd, conical hat, a crimson shirt with a white vest ontop, and green pants that seemed to be twice the size of his legs. The Captain's short, fat nose looked the most normal on his pale face. And his beady eyes seemed smaller than the smallest of pebbles. He boasted a long, Brown mustache that went past his face and two chins and down to his chest, and Ussej could see the smallest hints of Blonde hair poking out from beneath the strange hat. Ussej also noted the complete lack of eyebrows.

"Don' be sorry, lad! Jus' get in'tha damn ship!"

"But, what abou--," Ussej started to object, but the Captain pushed him up the loading ramp and into the ship.

"You jus' wait there! I'll get yer frien's!" The Captain called up into the ship after leaving Ussej alone in the corridors of the small freighter.

 

[Solus]

He stared.

He stared out over the hills, the valleys, the cities, the lights, the maze of the streets though the borough fanning out from before him, watching the little people, mere ants, scamper about minding their own business, minding their own lives, their own worries, their own cares. He stared unblinking at the town nestled near the foot of the far mountains, watched as the few clouds above made patterns of sunlight as they passed over, watched as the wind made the grass ripple around him like some emerald ocean. He stared at it, not with awe, or even apathy, just detachment. His emotionless features softened as he thought of how very normal this little scene was, and how impossible it would be for him to experience anything like it... how impossible it would be for his sister to experience anything like it. He wanted to show her so many things to enjoy, but she could not comprehend them, she only knew his voice, the rest of it was a mindless nightmare, for both of them.

Normalcy. An unattainable goal.

As he watched the scene, waiting for whomever was to pick him up to arrive, he got into a more relaxed position, moving to a sitting position, cross-legged, as he reached out his work-roughened hand to pick up a long blade of grass and began to chew on it thoughtfully. His clothing was a simple farmers tunic of better quality than most of what owned, colored in various shades of dark or grayish green, tied with a simple brown belt and nearly knee-length boots. His frame was slightly muscular; after all, he was sued to hard work, he done it all his life, though he was thin.

The utter silence broken only by his breath was shattered upon hearing the footsteps of a Human rush towards him. A squat little man dressed rather garishly ran up to him, causing him to rise. It appeared that this was the man to take him to Ussej Padric Bac IV, son of the legend. He did not reply to anything the creature said, only beckoned him to lead the way as he followed without comment or emotion.

 

[Lillianne Crasse]

Lillianne sat humming quietly to herself as she headed to the place where Ussej Bac IV had told her to be waiting. She was surprised that the priest, descendant of the legendary Ussej Bac I, had even approached her about coming along on the mission. Was perhaps the High Priest the one that had even suggested this outing?

She fidgeted with the sword hanging by her side, hating how it beat against her. Lillianne honestly detested the thing, but knew that it was necessary for a mission such as the one they were entering upon. A man needed to be brought to justice and his path was covered in blood. Bounty hunters...how could one even enjoy killing for profit? She understood that they did some good, still this one was out for blood and not justice.

Sighing as she rounded a corner, she spied a squat little man, rather robust in size talking with a tall fellow, dressed elegantly in what seemed to be well made attire that a farmer might wear. Was he the other student the priest had mentioned was coming along? With each step, Lillianne's smile broadened as she approached them, eager to meet a new face and be on a journey.

"I hope I'm not late," she called out as she approached them.

 

[Solus]

He turned his head slightly and cocked an eyebrow at the new visitor. A young Human female, bright and lively. Everything he wasn't. "I don't believe so." He said in his low, gruff voice in response to her statement. He continued to walk as he looked her up and down. "You joining me and Ussej?"

((Sorry it's so short... I couldn't think of what else to write))

 

[lol not primary]

ooc: *Is surprised no one pointed out his "Baccie Boy" reference*

"Well," the Captain said as the final 'student' arrived. Scratching his head underneath the hat he wore, he continued. "Now that we're all here, I suggest tha' we get goin'!"

This Captain wasn't much for manners, and it showed as he walked up the Boarding Ramp without them. Inside, Ussej leaned against one of the walls of metal, his arms crossed over his chest, and his eyes closed. He seemed to be deep in thought, but a sigh revealed that he was just really really bored.

"Finally!" he yelled as the Captain passed by him. Apparently, the man didn't take too kindly to being yelled at.

"Boy, you best shut ya mouth 'fore I Blast a whole new one for ya!" he threatened, not stopping once to turn around.

Mumbling, Ussej went back to leaning against the wall and 'meditating'. His version of meditating like this involved deep breaths, vivid images in his mind, and snoring. But when the other two got aboard, Ussej quickly opened his eyes and yawned. He was tired, yes, but he could hold out for a few minutes.

"Hey there!" he greated casually. "Name's Ussej. Just Call me Ussej. None of this 'Sir Knight' or whatever, okay? Got it?"

Ussej then realized just how...rude he came off with that quick greeting. So he threw on a friendly smile.

 

[Lillianne Crasse]

She nodded her head excitedly as got ready to introduce herself, yet stopped when the short fella began to leave them behind.

"I'm Lillianne. I don't believe I've met you before," she said as they walked, following the captain.

As he lead them into the ship, she glanced around, trying to catch the eye of the priest who would be leading this mission. So far, she hadn't been introduced to the other priests of the Bendu. Of course, she had seen many of them in passing, yet most of the time they were engrossed in talk with one another. Her mentor was not one for much chit chat in training. She wondered if Ussej would be similar.

"Finally!" he yelled as the Captain passed by him. Apparently, the man didn't take too kindly to being yelled at.

"Boy, you best shut ya mouth 'fore I Blast a whole new one for ya!" he threatened, not stopping once to turn around.

Mumbling, Ussej went back to leaning against the wall and 'meditating'. His version of meditating like this involved deep breaths, vivid images in his mind, and snoring. But when the other two got aboard, Ussej quickly opened his eyes and yawned. He was tired, yes, but he could hold out for a few minutes.

"Hey there!" he greated casually. "Name's Ussej. Just Call me Ussej. None of this 'Sir Knight' or whatever, okay? Got it?"


Lillianne's eyes finally found the source of the Bendu priest's voice and watched him carefully, studying him from afar. He didn't exude the same sense of peace that the High Priest did, yet she knew that he was a very powerful and influential priest within the Bendu Order too.

Walking up to him, she smiled sweetly at him and bowed her head in respect to him. "Yes, sir. It is a pleasure to meet you, Pri...Ussej," she said correcting herself.

Turning her gaze back to where the captain disappeared, she leaned toward Ussej and lowered her voice. "Why is the wee man so angry?"

 

[lol not primary]

"Beats the Hell outta me." Ussej said, not really wanting to think about the guy who would be in charge of flying them to Had Abaddon.

"So! I remember you," he said to Lillianne, clapping his hands. "But," Ussej said, turning to look at the other apprentice. "Your name escapes me for some...odd and unknown reason."

 

[Brandon Rhea]

FYI: Had Abaddon. Doube Ds (lol), not Double Bs.

 

[Solus]

((I haven't much time to reply lately... I'll post as soon as I can. Sorry!))

 

[Solus]

He hadn't seen many ships in his lifetimes, or very many technological wonders at all, for that matter. His sister was the most advanced he'd ever gotten. As a result of this, it was little wonder that as he walked up the ramp he lanced around curiously at everything. He had been on ships before, but all ships seemed different, and this one was no exception. However, he hadn't seen enough of them to conclude that this one was his favorite, but so far it ranked pretty high. He gently reached out a finger to brush some of the nearby buttons and switches, taking care not to press or otherwise disturb any. During his veiled awe, however, he still kept tabs on his companions. He was a devilishly good eavesdropper.

When Ussej blurted out his greeting, the Anzat's head snapped over to him with something similar to shock that one was trying to hide. He certainly didn't act like the son of a legend, and the grin he'd plastered on his face only made him appear younger than himself, which felt distinctly odd. He just nodded slightly in reply. He was dressed more like a warrior than a priest, which, in ways, made one respect him more. People who used long words and spoke in monotone after kneeling silently all day were more like distant teachers than companions. Teacher... that's what I need. Desperately. A teacher and a miracle worker.

When the man... or boy - he didn't know the plateau in Humans at which one was called the other - turned to him, expelling all of the piety of a ball of hyperactive lightning, and asked him his name, he couldn't help but feel a little... outweighed? No, what was the word? Intimidated by the man's vivaciousness and the underlying power he could sense beneath. Oh... there was a lot of it. He could smell it's sweet savor...

His hand snapped to the medallion - the small charm - on a necklace under his tunic to grasp it to help overcome this scent of a craving before it grew into something that would be incredibly untimely. He took a deep breath before answering, only little more than a second after having been asked, "Riv... ah... Darius. Darius. But I'm used to being called River, I was only recently named Darius." He said, bowing his head slightly as he had seen - was it Lillianne? Yes, Lillianne - do.

"It is an honor to meet a Bendu."

 

[Lillianne Crasse]

Lillianne moved her gaze to her companion and smiled reassuringly at him. He seemed to be a bit...out of place. Taking a step closer to him, wanting to reassure him that things were okay, she Lillianne tried to catch his eyes. Nodding her head to him in acknowledement of his name, she hoped that he would become more at ease with time.

Turning her gaze back to the Bendu priest, she wondered if he would share with them any more information about the man they were hunting that had not already been disclosed.

OOC: Edited...lol.

 

[lol not primary]

ooc: *Cough*

She was surprised that the priest, descendant of the legendary Ussej Bac I, had even approached her about coming along on the mission[/b]

*Cough*


"Ooh-kaaaay...? River, then." Ussej said awkwardly. Of all the odd names he'd heard in his life, River ranked at the top. "Please, no Titles. I hate Titles. Just Ussej."

The way in which Darius, or River, acted intrigued Ussej....and at the same time, made him worry slightly. He'd never met someone who acted that way before, but should know to expect the unexpected by now. He smiled at Lillianne as she asked him if she'd ever met him before. He knew the answer was a deffinite 'no', but he knew of her at least.

"Don't you remember getting a personal summons from me to join this mission? I figured that of the two of you, you'd be Lillianne! At least, I hoped so!"

He chuckled lightly before clearing his throat. Time to get serious. And his 'switch' flipped immediately, causing him to stop smiling and stop laughing. Bendu Time.

"Alright, as far as I know this...'Slayer' killed a Bendu who was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. At least, that's what it seems. Knowing my luck, that's obviously not the whole picture!" Ussej started as the Boarding Ramp closed, causing him to turn around to see what the noise was. The Captain called back to them and told them to sit down and strap in, which Ussej happily did so. "Hopefully things'll go smoothy and we won't have to fight the guy."

 

[Lillianne Crasse]

OOC: My excuse is that I'm tired.

 

[lol not primary]

OOC: Suuuure!

 

[Solus]

It was obvious that Ussej thought his name rather odd, so he related to him, briefly, in his low, husky voice, "My race's tradition says I have to be named when I have earned one. I could not be named until then, so my sis..." He paused at the mention of her before moving on. It brought back terrible memories and a dread of the future... for them both. "My sister 'nicknamed' me 'River' as it is not a name. She said it was because I was a river of emotions." However, his last statement must have been hard to believe, as his face was as if made of stone, difficult to read and hard, though it had a soft edge to it.

River also couldn't help noticing how Ussej responded to him - as if... put off? He believed that was the correct term. He didn't want to 'weird him out' at a moment like this, he needed him, to teach him. To help his sister. To help him, before he did something to either of his companions...

Once again he clutched the charm hidden around his neck as he repeated the motions of the other two; strapping himself in, making sure not to louse it up.

"How would you catch the Slayer without a fight? You hardly seem subtle enough to trap him." He commented, concentrating on keeping his thoughts straight within the presence of someone with such a terribly delightful, intoxicating, vibrant life...! As he fought the darkness, careful to give no outward sign of his struggle, he asked, straining his voice slightly, "Do we get separate rooms, and can they be locked?"

 

[Solus]

((Should we wait for Kelly?))

 

[lol not primary]

ooc: Si.

 

[Lillianne Crasse]

Lillianne seemed relieved to hear the Bendu Priest was not looking for a fight with this killer. Every life was precious, even the most vile of men. With a bit of rehabilitation and love, the hardest of hearts could be melted. The vilest of men could become dutiful citizens. She firmly believed in this, too. However, her companion, the other Bendu apprentice seemed deeply troubled.

Lillianne turned to the seats and picked one a bit away from the apprentice, feeling his apprehension in even being here. She didn't want him to feel too uncomfortable, yet she hoped, and yes, planned, to change that.

"How would you catch the Slayer without a fight? You hardly seem subtle enough to trap him." He commented, concentrating on keeping his thoughts straight within the presence of someone with such a terribly delightful, intoxicating, vibrant life...! As he fought the darkness, careful to give no outward sign of his struggle, he asked, straining his voice slightly, "Do we get separate rooms, and can they be locked?"

"River!" she blurted out, not believing how he had spoken to the Bendu Priest. Where was his sense of respect? "Appearances are not always what they seem...."

Her eyes darted toward Ussej, wondering if he had taken offense to the man's insinuation, not wanting the whole trip to be spent in a tense spirit.

 

[lol not primary]

Ussej just scoffed when River accused him of not being subtle. While it wasn't his Forte, Ussej could be subtle. If he tried, at least.

"You'll find I'm full of surprises." he said cheerfully, as if it were just a joke between two friends. But now he had a goal. To somehow trap this killer... And to him, subtlety meant making it so obvious that it was a trap, that you had to doubt it being a trap.

"But as far as I'm concerned, you can lock yourself in the Med Bay! I don't really care, so long as I get plenty of room for....Meditation." Ussej answered. His slight pause at the word "meditation" was merely because he wanted to seem somewhat rounded as a Knight....Instead of just "I fight with swords and nothing else". But something caught Ussej's attention. While he didn't show it outwardly, he felt the presence of the Bogan trying to creep into the ship. For an instant, he thought that it might try to attack him while away from the Temple of Light, which somehow seemed to repel the Bogan entirely, and turn him against everything he'd been taught! And his Great-Grandfather's words(or writtings, rather) echoed in his mind. We are the Bogan.

The thought utterly creeped him out. But he knew that his Great-Grandfather had to have been right. People did terrible things to each other and for seemingly no reason. The Bogan just seemed to be a convenient excuse. That was why he was dedicated to learning of the Force of Others. To not only become stronger and more powerful, but to help protect the people around him from the Bogan inside them.

"So, I think we should get to planning right away! Any ideas Lillianne?"

 

[Solus]

He was a little preoccupied at the moment when he'd spoken, so when River had been alerted to his error in - total call? Protomatics? - He immediately sought to rectify it, after all, Ussej was his only hope at the moment. His current Master he barely knew, and did not seem at all to be... active. Not efficient. Not that Ussej seemed to be, but he seemed like the type to get things done. The only problem was that River was not used to apologizing, and was glad when Ussej brushed it off and reassured him. He flashed the man - boy? - a small, almost unnoticeable look of gratitude, something near a small grin, before it lapsed back into its former stoney state.

"I trust you." He replied simply, almost as if it were a platitude said in some small talk, but for him it meant something deeper. If only he knew how deep. As he watched, he could sense within him that a cloud had passed over Ussej's demeanor, soul, thoughts. If only he knew that the darkness he felt was in him... a darkness that craved his soul. I trust you... but don't trust me. he thought inwardly with a shadow of despair... and hatred.

His face remained without emotion except maybe a hint of curiosity as he listened to Ussej's reply to his question. He nodded slowly. "I admire that one would bother with meditation. I don't trust myself to sit in a room and think for too long. The mind wanders." He stated. "Bu it is very important that I know if I am sleeping in a room with anyone else in it. You wouldn't understand." He said in an almost dismissive voice. He couldn't tell him... yet. He would have to disclose it piece by piece.

"Planning?" He muttered to himself in response to Ussej's question - not directed at him, he noticed. He'd already gained animosity with him... he hated when he did that to people. Looking up at the viewport ahead, he asked, in a nearly monotone voice, "Before we do that, I have a few questions. Firstly, where are we going, and why? Secondly, does the Slayer just kill, or does he commit other crimes? Was the Bendu his first murder? How did he kill him? And where? Was there any provocation, and if so, how much?" He asked, moving through his thoughts systematically. "It helps to know a subject before one tracks it. My race is good at tracking, but not that good."

He thought a moment before turning once more to Ussej. "You do know I'm not Human, right?"