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

[Thecomicbookbroad]

The Twi’lek emerged newly orange. She smiled with her eyes shut. The sunny color made them look less olive and more emerald in the light. She laughed a little, bowing her head and looking her skin over.

“This feels so weird.” She said excitedly.

“I look like a pumpkin.” she giggled girlishly.

If they recognized her now they could catch her, they would obviously have earned to do so.

She leaned out and turned around for Shawn to see.

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn was looking around for anything suspicious and an escape route, all he saw was a few gest leaveing, and a nice street that lead to a small mall good to blend back into a crowed. He looked over at the ally just in time to see a bright orange twi’lek stick her head out of the ally. Shawn laughed a little at the massive change in color of BellBlairs skin. “So should we split up so not to raise suspicion I can go in through one of the service entrances and meet you at the, what room was it again?” Shawn said suppressing his laughter.

 

[T.J]

"Yes I believe splitting up would be appropriate. Three random people walking in might be suspicious, and I dont want any eyes on us until we cant help it any longer." Ares said as he walked over to where Shawn was standing, setting a small comlink into the young mans hand.

"The room number is 414. On the 400 floor. If things go Fubar for you get ahold of me on the comlink, I dont want anyone dieing on this mission. Remember, dont be a hero." With that said, Ares waited for BelleBlair to catch up before starting towards the massive hotel. Ares hoped that things would go better than he thought they would, getting the girl out alive was top priority.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

“Good luck.” BelleBlair bid the young bounty hunter and she walked beside Ares with an air of sanction. On the surface she looked calm and prepared, but her insides were a mess of nerves.

They entered the building.

It seemed perfectly normal, a clean, wide lobby, shiny floors, a long stretch of hall beyond that… and one ready host at the front desk.

An aging male Twi’lek of dull green looked up from his studies at the pair and took a double take, smiling at BelleBlair’s presence, which she returned courteously. His manner changed at the sight of Ares. The earthy man took another quick glance down at a holo screen below and asked grudgingly.

“May I help you?”

the room was empty save for a few strategically placed "customers."

A human who appeared to be reading at a far corner, a Kiffar who peeked only briefly from the room behind the lobby and another- a stalky man who walked down the hall just as the pair arrived.

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn ran towards an ally throwing his arm up behind him to signal him saying bye he followed the side of the hotel, till he found a service access door which was Shawn’s point of entry, of course it was locked, Shawn drew one of his new pistols and attached the silencer onto it switched it to semi auto mode and shot out the lock, Shawn holstered the pistole as he clicked the comm. Unit twice before talking.

“I’m in, all clear moving to one of the service elevators I’ll meat you on the 400th floor, Shawn out” Shawn whispered into the comm. Peace as he walked through one of the service halls of the hotel.

 

[T.J]

Ares demeanor changed completely in a matter of seconds. On the outside he was no longer a hardened bounty hunter, but a husband who had just got to a brand new planet for vacation. Everything from his walk to his facial expression changed just before entering the hotel.

"Yes, Me and the missus are on a badly needed vaca. I was just wondering if you have any open rooms available?" Ares sad as he put his arm around BelleBlair in a generally affectionate manner, making sure he didnt disturb the paint on the twi'lek's skin.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

BelleBlair flinched as Ares drew her too him. She smiled as the alibi took shape and laid a hand on his chest warmly.

The man behind the counter faked a smile, turning his attention to Ares.

‘all the good ones… always with humans…’


“yes.” he said, checking bookings.

“Of course. We have a few rooms available.”

He scratched his neck and mused.

The person in the corner ’reading’ took his leave.


“I think level 20 has quite a bit to choose from- unless you want the suite on 200?” he asked, looking from one to the other.







----

The room Shawn entered was wet and dark, puddles were spread throughout and a flickering light swayed, as the sound of water dropping in the distance sang. A hatch could be seen from the far side of it, on the floor, locked and rusty beneath pipes tall enough to resemble a door way surrounding it. The floor hummed with vibrations from the ruckus below and a lift was dead ahead.

Two entry ways. One to the upper levels and one to the pit that lay beneath.

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn started to pass the door but stopped when he heard the vibrations and noise coming from the door, he tried the door and found it locked. “this doesn’t seem right, what’s down there,” Shawn said as he looked for a way to open the door, and noticed a key pad, in the cornner of the room. ‘Way to high of security for just a hatch to boilers I’ll have to tell Ares after I get on the lift, and find some equipment to improvise a way to figure out how to crack the code,' do to the fact it’s a closed circuit and there was no exterior computer access so slicing it was a little out of the question. Shawn heard three guys coming and immediately hid out of site so not to be caught.

"Umm boss I'm going to be a little late to the party," Shawn whispered into the come unit.

 

[T.J]

Ares gave the expression like he was in deep thought, looking up to the ceiling, then back down at the ground. Looking as if he had given up he turned to the twi'lek under his arm. " Oh I dont know....What do you think hun? The suite sounds nice, and I know how much you love a good view."

The suite on the 200th floor would get them alot closer to their target than the 20th, Ares wanted to get in and out as quickly as possible. Plus he had already started to tire with the husband routine. He looked at BelleBlair with a questioning gaze, as if her answer carried the very fate of the galaxy. Playing his role as if he had been doing it for years.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

BelleBlair looked intently at Ares.

She wanted Kimber back with a burning intensity and if 200 floors were the only thing separating them, she would take a flight of stairs if she had to…200 however was a lot less then 380.

“We‘ll take it” She said piercing the green man with her eyes.

He smirked at her recognition.

“Why not?” She added looking back at her “husband” impishly. “Its not everyday…”


“Well then!” their host exclaimed, handing over a pair of keys. “Room 221 - deluxe, should be right near the lift. “




------------


Two men on the ground level exited the lift doors, with no notice of Shawn in their midst.

Humans.

Then out stepped another, just before it closed and rose to the surface.

A Togruta.

She had an air of one not to be touched, with high sharp montrals, white marks about her eyes like a mask and most notable of all,

Strange, defective eyes.

One glance was all it took to see the ones she possessed were not like others of her species. They were rich and black with a crystal like burst of white in the center, around her pupils.

She stepped lightly as if the ground was covered in broken glass, she had a smile on her face and her hand on her hip.

When addressed she spoke but continued looking about dreamily as only the blind do.

“Why Mr. Kartel waste his time on such….menial thugs I will never understand.” she said

Sharp canines flashed beneath her lips.

“I need more girls.” She said, walking to the hatch- she hesitated, punched in a code and ran a key through on the other side.

“…I need fresh blood.”


Open popped the trap door and she slid inside.

“Good luck with your hunt.” She bid the men who smiled, intrigued by the oddity.

She resurfaced once more , wagging a finger.

“Oh and Boys-” she said

And she pointed directly in Shawn’s direction.

“Take care of the stow-away.”

She shut the hatch, leaving the two humans to face the lone spy.

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn listened to the noises the key pad made, as he watched the togruta, typed in the code he said lowly so he could remember it 513904, he heard her say a few seconds latter that there was a spy.

‘Frak how the...’ Shawn moved a few feet forward where the piping still obscured thee goon’s vision and was able to climb into the rafters above them, Shawn drew his other auto slug pistol and put the silencer on it, he then drew his other one. Shawn waited for them to get a little past him before dropping down to take them out.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Shawn was luckily completely hidden the men didn’t understand what the togruta’s meaning but took her warning all the same they together began searching for the unknown person. “You know that bitchies eye site is bad she probably was just seeing shadows.” One of them said, holstering his slug thrower. “Yah well apparently her hearing is god like I hear, she’s sent hundreds of slaves to there death just by hearing them talk, about escaping.” The other one said, as the kept walking looking for a shadow.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Shawn dropped down behind them with a silent thud, and shot the one with his gun still out in the head from behind, the other one don’t have enough time to react before Shawn had him pined on a hot boiler, which was singing the guys back, the guy let out a yell, Shawn then slammed him to the ground, holding him by the neck. “What’s the code to this door?” just so he could double cheek to make sure he had the right code.

“Go to hell.” The man stated short of breath from the burn.

“Been there not that great.” Shawn said as he put a round into the mans skull and searched his body for anything that he could use, he found a key card, and hit instructions for Ares client.

“Dam I hate it when I’m right.” Shawn then hid the bodies before he headed for the elevator the three got off, and hit the button for the four hundredth floor. after there elevator started moving Shawn reported in again, “Boss I got good news and bad news, good news is taking the precaution to disguise bell, was a good idea, bad news is there is one hell of an operation going on not just a kidnapping, because I found a secure door leading underground in the service area.”

 

[T.J]

Ares was silent as he and BelleBlair walked to the lift. Even when they were in the lift and it began speeding towards their destination he remained silent. He knew there would be cameras, but he had on idea there would be so many in such inconvenient places. He knew that one of the reflective tiles that made up the ceiling of the hover lift concealed a camera, making talking over the plan almost impossible.

A plan hatched in Ares head that stemmed from his facade as a new husband. Ares positioned BelleBlair so she was in the far corner of the lift; his back was to the camera. To the ones watching it would look like they were having an intimate moment, but in reality Ares began to speak. "Shawn has informed me that the ones that took your niece are indeed looking to eliminate you also. We need to at the very least just open the door to our room, apparently this place is rotten to the core and they are probably already watching us as we speak." Ares paused for a moment to think, it was very brief, almost like the pause in-between sentences. In reality Ares felt the buzzing, but it only lasted a split second before fading.

“After that we're probably going to have a whole lot of slugs coming our way. Ill make sure we get your niece back though, I promise." With that being said, Ares took a step back and let BelleBlair get some air. He kept his act up, having a devious grin on his face for the camera to see as the lift slowed and came to a stop.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

BelleBlair’s eyes were shut in thought when she felt a close presence, she instinctively backed further into the corner when Ares “made his move” but listened carefully to what he had to say- careful not to let her tongue slip any reply that would trip the camera- or the very distracted man behind the monitor, elbowing his buddy to get a gander at what was taking place in the lift.

She looked past him at the panel above, surely where they were being watched but her eyes fell back on the bounty hunter’s close bearded face with a silent gasp of the new danger directed at her.

‘Oh Mullen…’ she thought.

‘what have you done?’

She nodded and as he distanced himself she thanked him quietly.

When the doors opened The Twi’lek stepped out, examining the hall with apprehension.

It looked normal enough. Quite. Uneventful- empty…

Just as the man in lobby assured them, room 221 was just a few feet away.

She opened the door and entered.


-------------

The Host previously mentioned spoke into a small comm. from the front desk, recounting his keys and letting one fat lekku curl around his neck comfortably.

“Sir.” he said discreetly.

“two checked in- a Human man- dark haired, green eyes- had uhh.” He gestured at his chin.

“facial hair- the other one was a woman. A Twi’lek. Real pretty…”

“what color?” a voice crackled on the other line.

‘Oran-”

He paused, examining his finger tips.

A small carroty stain made itself known.

The brief contact when he had passed the key to her hand from his was enough to leave evidence.

“kapuna…”

“Quickly!” The voice ordered.

“Which room are they in?- the number! Give it to me!”

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn was standing quietly in the elevator, glancing, and waving at the camera that wasn’t so hidden for the fact it was in a service elevator it had to be monitored, for staff stealing things. As soon as the elevator just hit the mid way point between floors two ninety-nine and three hundred the elevator stopped, leavening Shawn in the dark for a minute, before the emergency lights came on. “I think I’m stuck, I think I’m stuck.” Shawn said as he was pressing a few of the buttons for the corresponding floors. “Yep I’m going to go with stuck, in the elevator.” And with that Shawn busted the camera and opened the elevator access door the top of the car and into the elevator shaft, Shawn did a short hope onto the ledge that housed the doors to floor three hundred, just as the elevator anti-grav feild shut off and fell all the way back down to ground floor. "way to close." Shawn then forced the door to the all open stepping into the hall and saw no one in the area “guess I’m walking.”

“Boss I’m on floor three hundred they caught onto me I’m going to have to take the stairs up, awaiting orders.” Shawn said as he made a B line run for the stair well.

 

[T.J]

Ares quickly shut and activated the locking mechanism on the suite door shortly after entering. He knew it wouldn’t matter either way; after all, they were in the enemies building. They would have keys to every room and every area in the hotel. As he received Shawn's message, he put his hand onto the comlink to activate it.

"Continue as planned Shawn. We are currently on the two hundred and twenty first floor. If they're on to you then they're most likely onto us. Rendezvous with us on the four hundredth floor." Ares said as he stood near the door, he didn’t plan on staying long.

Ares turned to face BelleBlair. "We need to move. Now. We'll take the lift up to as far as it will take us. Then take the stairs. Expect firefights, they'll probably be waiting for us somewhere along the way." He said as he re-opened the door, left hand on the pistol grip of one of his slugthrowers. The hallway was still empty and quiet, not a necessarily a good sign. He calmly walked over to the hover lift's door and pressed the up button.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

The sound of quickening footsteps began to approach just as the lift closed and BelleBlair shoved her hand beneath her coat, touching her blaster for reassurance.

She was ready. Her muscles firmed and clenched in preparation for whatever awaited them above.

----

On the 200th floor five men opened the door where the bounty hunter and the Twi’lek had just left- blasters drawn.

“Damn!” Cursed a kiffar who made up the rear of their party.

“They’re gone-”

‘They took the lift!" The leading human shouted.

“head them off! They’re going up!” shouted a Rodian taking off at full speed.


“you don’t think it was Mullen do you?” questioned one as they gave chase.

“Warn the guys below! Prep them for raid procedures!” ordered the lead once more, sending one of the men - another human-in the opposite direction.


“If is him, he’s got a pair. If its not…they’ve lost their mind!”

'Could be a cop....a nark...whatever it is it isn't one of ours and they have the twi'lek!'

A comm sounded

“We’ve lost a camera!” the voice squeaked.

“The third lift- its out- some kid took it out- he wasn’t checked in- we tried to drop him but no optics to prove it!”

“where did it stop?” asked the leader between deep breaths.

“Level 300! the doors opened there!"

they headed to the level, where more men would soon join them

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn already made it to the three hundred and fifty floors when he heard noises, of shouting, and panicked running, Shawn double timed it up the stairs. “Finally the four hundredth floor could this place get any larger." Shawn said out of breath, Shawn creeped out into the hall looking for all clear and saw five guys, run by the intersection towards where the elevators were and Shawn hurried to the corner then peaked out there were at least ten guys waiting there. “The more the merrier.” Shawn said drawing his Sub slug thrower.

- - - - - - - - -

“This is level four hundred section three were in position to intercept them.”
All of the goons in the hall in front of the elevator loaded and made sure there blasters were ready for the intruders.

- - - - - - - -

“Three, two, one.” Shawn rounded the corner with slug thrower ready, and let the rounds fly he caught them by surprise, the three, that were spared from getting hit from the initial barrage returned fire, forcing Shawn to take cover he, took the chance to re-load, and waited to here them reload, and stop firing, before sticking his head out again, one guy jumped the gun and charged where Shawn was, and Shawn took him down with a single shot the other two were in the open finishing there reload as fast as the could, but the surprise and fear made them fumble the clips and were taken down, quickly.

“Well that wasn’t so hard”

 

[T.J]

The lift shuddered when it slowed at the 400th floor; they had barely made it to their floor of choice when the lift was shut off from an outside source. Ares had one of his slug pistols out already, expecting a small group of armed men waiting for them when the doors opened. Instead he saw several dead men on the ground, consisting of several different types of species. He made a bold move by sticking an arm out the doorway to check for survivors. Seeing that his arm wasn’t instantly shot at, he stepped out and into the hallway. Ares saw Shawn not to far off; he walked over keeping his revolver out and at the ready.

"Well it looks like you've taken care of things here. Let’s get up the last forty one floors and get the girl out of there before they start trying to bargain." He said as he walked past Shawn and into the stairwell.

"This is going to be our only way in and out. They shut off all the lifts. Kinda makes me wish we had a third man to land a ship on the roof....."

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

BelleBlair poked her head out of the elevator and smiled at the sight of Shawn rather then the expected enemies.

“Well done, Red!” she exclaimed.

The little bounty hunter could back up his bark after all.

“Let’s go get my niece!” She said as she began the last stretch of their journey, she drew her own blaster and ascended triumphantly.

The floor was empty.

Completely empty.

She slowed her pace, wary of an ambush.

Room 414 was just ahead.

She reached it without interruption, entering the key


“Uncle Mullen?” A small tired voice called from inside.

Belleblair paused, her heart began to beat so hard it hurt.

“Kimber!” she shouted back, leaning against the door to listen.

“BelleBlair!”

The door opposite swung open.

In the room directly behind stood the masked man, guns drawn.


“Stay there.” He warned.

Right on cue the surrounding rooms opened, each with a gunman of its own. They appeared up and down the halls for at least 12 occupants.


“Weapons down. Lets make this…civil.”

“What have you done with Kimber?” The Twi’lek snarled.

“I’ve done enough to know your ‘brother’ would rather keep his tail between his legs then keep a promise!” He said in a cold , dry whisper. He stayed in the door way, his feet firmly planted on the ground.


“You think your little dye job would throw me off? I can smell the human on you, Schutta. Only pets reek of the stench.”

He looked at the bounty hunters with amusement. As if their presence proved his own worth.

“I knew he wouldn’t show.” He said to himself.

He then turned back to BelleBlair with wide eyes.

“But now I have a guarantee…”

The faceless speaker tucked away one blaster, trading it for a vibro knife with a flat butcher blade, ridged with teeth.

BelleBlair was unmoved.

She stayed steady, staring him down with no visible fear- It was there and it was strong, but she refused to show it.

The ring leader took a hold of her left Lekku and jerked her forward.

“Your shaking.” He said.

“Must run in the family…”

 

[Arm514ve]

“Red that’s new, never heard that before.” Shawn said in a bewildered but pleased expression as Bellblair passed him, Shawn took out a pair of sunglasses that were polarized to protect from sudden flashes. “I may need these, besides busting bad guys makes me feel good.” Shawn said as they reached the target floor. It was quiet way to quiet for the commotion earlier, “I don’t like this Ares its way to quiet.” Shawn raised his Slug thrower at the ready.

When the masked man busted out of the room and ordered them to drop there guns Shawn was reluctant at first till they were boxed in, on both sides of the hallway, Shawn turned towards the direction they came from and layed his rifle on the ground but kept kneeling on one foot. Shawn turned his head to see the masked man grab BellBlair grabbing her by the lekku “what are you going to do to her cut her up and send her to the Mullen guy? Hell you couldn’t even find him not to mention he didn’t show up to get his niece what makes you think he’d do something if you have her to, not to mention where would you send it if you could find him I’m sure you would have left the family out of this and killed him you’re self.”