"Trigger Happy" (ask)

[Thecomicbookbroad]

The club previously mentioned was full.

In lower Coruscant the guest spent less time viewing the dancers and more staring at a female Zabrak in the front who sat with her legs crossed on the stage like a foot stool and crossed her arms behind her head like she was about to take a nap.

She was the only woman in the room who wasn’t striping, but rather sat with the men making idle conversation with a tall scalped cerean.

“Has anyone ever told you you’re …ravishing?” She asked in a seductive whisper as she leaned in near his lips.

He grinned and began to speak before she said:

“because you’re not!”

She planted a blaster shot through his skull and stood as his body fell limp on the floor.

“And you’re worth more dead.” she added, fixing her sleeves and holstering her weapon.

“H-hey!” the twi’lek dancing in front of them called tensely, she leaned over the stage to check the man’s status and drew back at the sight of the wound. Her eyes were caiman and bronze and she wore a netted outfit that gave her the sleek, scaled, dangerous look of a snake- a creature she had all the makings to resemble with her small nose and mouth of fangs.

“You had to kill him here!?” She shouted as Evie turned to leave.

“bounty hunters…” She hissed under her breath.

“Who is going to clean this up?” she whined.

Evie Silence her, pulling the elastic of her bottoms and dropping a ridiculous amount of credit chips in side.

“here, study to join the senate and put that whining to good use.” She said, slipping out the door.

“Ta~” she bid adieu.

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

Ashes grew uneasy as she began to take note of of their surroundings and became suspicious of their destination. They seemed to be headed towards the club she had just this morning attempted to "work" at. She doubted Ares would have Business in such a place - but even so she dreaded being recognized by its patrons in the presence of her father.

 

[T.J]

As Ares arrived to the club, he was pleasently suprised and slightly confused to se none other than his wife walking out of the strip joint. His pace increased slightly to catch her before she disappeared into the corwds.

" Honey? What are you doing here?"

He looked past his wife, seeing the informant near the enterance of the club, his face was paniced, and he looked as if he was about to bolt at any second. The man was a lanky rodian, and blended in pretty well with their current surroundings. Ares patiently waitedfor Stasha to explain herself, all the wihle keeping an eye on the nervous rodian.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

Evie Blushed when she spotted Ares and looked back to the club with guilt. She was flustered to be caught in such a compromising position.

“Oh! “ she exclaimed.

“I was just on my way back from a case-”

The door opened and the earthy green, Serpentine twi’lek peeked out, beckoning the bounty hunter.

“You forgot your keys….” She said, looking at the three outside the door with annoyance.

“Thank you” Evie said threateningly. She smiled at Ares and looked past him at Her own twi’lek familiar with a wink.

Ashes turned away embarrassed.

“Well errand to run and people running to chase.” She said, placing a hand on her hip and swaggering to her next destination.

 

[T.J]

" Sure thing Stash, Ill see yah back at the Jericho."

Ares made the mistake of taking his eyes of the informant to watch his wife leave. She was quite the catch indeed, and Ares still often wondered how he was able to find someone like her. As he lazily took his eyes off the swaying hips coverd in leather and back to the riodan, he was shocked to see that the little alien was no longer there.

The bounty hunter was a blurr of motion for a moment, running closer to the clubs enterance and looking both ways the rodian could have escaped to. He hated it when those willing to share secrets had second thoughts, it made it all the harder for him to do his job.

He finally saw what he was looking for deep into the crowd to the left of the clubs main door. The ordian's green bumped head bobbed in and out of sight. He chased after without much forethought. Hoping his daughter had chosen to follow him.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

Ashes sprinted after the Rodian who had so obviously been the target of Ares thoughts. She hesitated as he left but after the bounty hunter's reaction to his departure she took off like an unleashed animal and cut through the crowd like a missle.

cutting around the massies she attempted to bypass by the alien and cut him off as Ares gained on him.

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn had waited at the club for the Rodian informant for information on a hunt that may lead him to Kartel. He waited there for several hours, and the only thing that caught him off guard was the appearance of Stasha’s adopted daughter. he paid her to go home, since he didn’t want to see her working here and he was sure Stasha, and that traitor of a father didn’t eather. Eventually Shawn left the club to get some air since the ass hole never showed at the time he designated. Maybe the coward was scarred of the reputation he was getting from his hunts, and the new armor he had gotten from Xano wasn’t exactly all that friendly looking. Shawn was walking back to the club for one last attempt to contact the informant, when he saw him dodging in between people Shawn caught up to the rodian and grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off the ground kicking. “Where you going friend?”

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

Ashes Sprung into action and slid to a stop as she found an unexpected armored man holding the Rodian captive. His polarized red lenses hid his face and her first impulse told her to raise her blaster- she refrained., he better judgment suggested she wait for Ares.


there was a familiarity with his frame.

 

[T.J]

Ares came up behind Ashes and stopped behind her, slowly pushing his daughter behind him by her shoulders. He instantly recognized the man standing before them. He used to be a firend, but the loss of his family left him mentally unstable and violent. Blaming Ares personally for the death of his loved ones, even though considerable evidence had been brought forth proving Ares innocent. The real culprit had been a Clawdite by the name of Kartel. Ares had his own agenda with the shape shifter, being that he had brutalized Ares wife in his infiltration of the Jericho that led to the armored man's family being killed.

" Shawn...." Ares said as he took a step forward. He clunched his right fist, the servo motors whining quietly as he did so.

" You mind putting down my informant?"

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn looked at Ares with his Visor reflecting Ares armor in it. The Rodian choaking in Shawn hand. Shawn then tossed the Rodian to Ares feet. Staring at Ares, "I was here first, Ares." Shawn then heard Xano call his name from behind him. 'frak how did he find me.'

 

[T.J]

" It doesnt matter who was here first. " Ares said as he picked up the rodian as if he was luggage.

" Your just going to have to wait for me to finish up with this slime ball. Then you can do whatever you want with him." He said dryly as he brought up the rodian to eye level with his visor. Ares cleared his throat beore speaking.

" You my little rodian friend, have been tough to track down...... Now tell me. Where is he dealer going to be? I wont ask twice."

The rodian male coughed due to the fact that Ares was choking him by the collar if his shirt, he played it off for a moment. Pretending to make it seem like he was really being choked to hard. A rough shake courtesy of Ares snapped him out of the facade and the alien spoke.

" All I know is the Dragon's Den Cantina" The Rodian started to whimper.

" Thats all I know I swear! Please dont kill me!" The alien was practically sobbing at this point. Ares's reputation in the undercity obviously preceded him. The armored man dropped the alien with a thud on the ground.

" Thanks mate, now run along to the other big scary metal man." Ares said with a kick to the rodian's backside. It wasnt a very hard kick, and only made the rodian yelp. Just as he heard a familiar voice call Shawn's name.

 

[n2crimson]

Xano approached the familiar scene with mixed feelings, he had been down on the surface to gather several materials he needed to finish up some minor repairs and tweaks on his battle armor and was dressed in moderately civilian clothing. As he walked closer his long white hair billowed out and his pale grey cloak dusted the ground, it was cleverly concealing the two custom repeater blaster pistols at his slender hips. His boots thudding underneath him as he drew near his friends; he called out as he noticed the familiar glint of battle armor, “Shawn! It is so great to see you after so many years!”

Then he noticed something different about the atmosphere, he glimpsed everything at once, the sweat dripping from some rodian as he was being pushed towards Shawn, the air was intense between Ares and Shawn, and Ashes, had a small blaster trembling in her hand. Xano found this odd, mainly because he had seen her on the Jericho’s shooting range and knew she could handle a gun. He slowed his pace, the bags of materials bouncing against his built yet slender body, his young looking face displaying a look between a smile and shock.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

Ashes internally gasped at Shawn’s name. Not only did her father have a history with him but after the incident that morning she felt awkward under his presence.

“Shawn…?”

As a fair haired man approached she instantly recognized him to be guild member, Xano Mettengar, his emerald eyes full of concern the closer he grew.

“Vishna Zano!” She said excitedly. Her tone dropped when the weight of the situation finally fell upon her shoulders.

She had known Shawn most of her life- grew to love him even, but something changed between the time her parents were married and she grew up. He disappeared from her life and left the guild he called home- When he lost his family everything changed. She awaited the conflict that was sure to unfold with steady body language and averted eyes.

 

[T.J]

" I think we better go honey." Ares said to Ashes as he turned his head slightly towards her.

" I can already tell where this is going and I dont want you to see it." Ushuring his daughter away from the confrontation as he spoke. He nodded at Xano, since he didnt have any qualms with him.

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn watched as Ares walked by and let the Rodian run away in fright, as he turned to Xano. "Years I saw you last week I think you have gotten a screw loose little genious, what brings you here?" Shawn said following a few feet behind Ares.

 

[n2crimson]

Xano, looked back at the armored man smiling, “You know what I mean! We barely ever talk anymore.” Looking Shawn up and down Xano continued, “I hope that armor is working well for you,” smiling once more, “Do you need any supplies, I just got some materials,” Xano replied shaking the bags for emphasis. Xano’s carefree spirit had been gained from years of emotional training, although still cold inside he now could share the light in his life with others.

Xano knew Shawn was a troubled man, after the loss of his family, he had broken down inside, Xano could empathize with this loss; he had suffered similarly so many years ago. He knew eventually he would get back to some level of normalcy, but never be quite the same. Xano had been bitter and sullen for several years and he didn’t expect anything different from his friend.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

Ashes quietly obeyed, looking back only once as they took their leave from the former ally.

""Why is he like that?" she asked herself. She knew Shawn had been through hell and back but he bared the burns all the more apparent with no desire to heal them.

It was so contradictory to the nature he had once been known for.

 

[T.J]

Seeing that Shawn was following him, Ares turned and faced his former colleauge and friend.The whole ordeal that lead to the two hunters being against each other left a bad taste in his mouth. Inside he blamed himself for the whole thing happening, if had just been there when Kartel infiltrated, if he hadnt been going out on one of his off the books hunts. Maybe Shawn's wife and little girl would still be alive. He had gotten past it though, like all the bad things that happened in his life.

" Look Shawn. I'm not gonna fight you. You and I both know it wasnt me who stole those files. So just drop it and move on. Your not the only one to have last loved ones." His voice sounded pained, like he wanted nothing more than to go back to his living quarters and sleep it off. Ares still stood between Shawn and Ashes, not entirely sure how far Shawn would go to get his revenge.

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn chukled as he watched Ares get into a defensive stance to guard Ashes and stoped in front of Ares. "I guess thats the difference we have now, you still have something to protect, while the hunters that kartel got info on lost everything." Shawn said, Ares couldn't see it in Shawns face do to the helmet, but the bickering had started to wear on Shawn a little to, and the pain he felt that Ares would think he would harm a inocent person that had nothing to do with any of this, even in his state of mind. He never fully lost himself, the old him was still there screaming to trust Ares but he just wasn't sure what to beleave any more he was betrayed by his partner in Corsec, thank to kartel, and he could have been betreayed by his mentor and the first person he trusted completly, to the same man. but most of all he hated himself the most for being so powerless again to save the people he cared about.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

"Did they?" a husky voice with a defiant pearl of characteristic feminine texture broke in.

Stasha Evie stood behind her daughter.

“If you recall, Shawn Mac’ Neal, my file is still being passed around the under city like a best seller.” She stood akimbo, letting her eyes roam up and down the armor her longtime friend was clad in. She knew the former bounty hunter well and thought it laughable the clownish red head she used to know was parading in it and actually inspiring more the chuckles amongst his targets.

“when are you going to let this go? We could use you in guild…”

 

[n2crimson]

Xano rudely interrupted, being back to his normal cold self, “Oh great, you again,” looking at the Zabrak with disgust. Ever since he had met her he couldn’t stand her.

He remembered it very well; he and Shawn had been working on a droid in the maintenance bay when she had approached. Somehow, she had caused the droid to malfunction and nearly take his head off, she denies it to this day, but Xano had spotted her fiddling with the instruments under the table, even though no one else could have seen that. Oh she was sneaky alright, he knew it was probably meant just as a joke but seriously, trying to kill someone for a laugh, typical bounty hunter behaivior.

Xano continued speaking ignoring the Zabrak as he conversed, “So now I guess we can all be one happy family again!” Sarcasm oozed from his words like the last blood dripping from a severed limb.

He wasn’t wearing his armor, but he wasn’t worried about anything if a fight did break out. One thing did trouble him, if a fight did break out he wasn’t sure whose side he would join. Shawn was after all Xano’s first true friend.