Ask Plot Coruscant Fixed Fight

[Kliedden Raxx]

This was it. They'd done the legwork, gathered the supplies, strategized over every scrap of information they had scrounged up. Now was the time. As the hired shuttle took them lower and lower into the putrid bowels of Coruscant's deepest levels Klied checked his gear. Cycler rifle locked and loaded, Westar set to stun, knife sharpened and thirsty for blood, breathing apparatus fully operational. He had even exchanged his usual fur clothing for dragonsnake leather. Native to the toxic swamps of Nal Hutta, Klied figured the beast's hide would serve as some extra protection in the heavily polluted atmosphere.

Once he was confident he was ready he looked towards his partner Poffo Sauvage. The brawler had stuck with him this far, and he was developing a real respect for the man. He was confident that together they could bring down their target. T'lol was smart, vicious, crafty, and well armed. But he wasn't invincible. The fact that he was hiding at all proved that. Klied reached into his pocket and handed Poffo a pair of false cuffs that would easily bust open if the brawler yanked on them hard enough. "Hand over any weapons now." He said. "I'll hold on to them. Once we're through the front door and have T'lol in our sights we'll spring the trap. Just wait for my signal." According to Ro they should be expecting around six bodyguards, possibly more or less. But the number to expect was six. Hopefully Klied could talk his way into a private meeting with the Klatoonian gangster. But if he couldn't they'd have to take the whole bunch. It would be close quarters and they'd have the element of surprise. That somewhat evened the playing field. With his quick draw and Poffo's savage speed and hand to hand skills he was fairly sure they could pull this off. Fairly sure. Things could still blow up in their face, but they'd cross that bridge when they came to it.

"We need to bring down T'lol quick," He reminded his partner. "Like Ro said, if he manages to get into that maze in the back of the compound it's going to make all of this that much harder. I want this quick and clean. And I want him alive." Klied was speaking calmly and rationally, but internally he was on fire. The thrill of the hunt was making his heart beat like a drum. The craving for battle, for danger was in him. Already he was getting drunk off the mere thought of being so close to death. This was going to be an amazing hunt. Yes, bounty hunting was definitely for him. The shuttle stopped. Here they were, Level 6, Section 1011. The walk to T'lol's compound wouldn't be far. And victory or death awaited them within.

@Isen

 

[Poffo Sauvage]

Sauvage was less excited about this part of the mission as his partner. Once again, he was the bait. And worse than last time, he would have to start off completely unarmed. He handed over his brass knuckles, one for each hand and his beat up DC-17. He compared it to the shiny new Westar that they lifted off Ro and rested on Klied's hip. If they got an opportunity for another blaster upgrade, Poffo would make his case to get it. It made sense for Klied to take the first blaster upgrade, especially one as nice as the one they came across. He was an ace with a blaster and Poffo used a more spray and pray approach.

There were a lot of ways this could go south, and a select few ways that things end up favorably. It could be that they got split before meeting T'lol. It could be that without Brag or Ro, T'lol's men would be content to just start blasting. It's possible still that T'lol would be ready to double-cross Klied, no matter how much he believed whatever yarn he was going to spin. T'lol had a vested interest in nobody knowing where he was, and it was quite likely that he would never intend for Klied to leave the hideaway alive.

Poffo had a knack for thinking of all the worst case scenarios. Poffo loved to fight, but the fight needed to be within certain perimeters. He wanted fist to fist. He hated weapons. He wanted a fair fight, one on one. Two on two. The test of a man was just that- the man. Any stick-armed punk could pull a trigger, but it took a damn man to drive a fist through the nasal cavity of another. Any group of coward thugs could gang up on someone, but it took a damn man to look one other man in the eye before breaking his rib with a hook to the body.

One thing Sauvage knew was that this would not be a fair fight. T'lol would send more than six men to take care of Poffo and Klied, and they certainly wouldn't try to handle things hand to hand. It would be a firefight. It was everything Sauvage hated. Klied may live for those kind of odds, he didn't know. Sauvage certainly didn't. What worried Poffo the most was Klied's moral compass. It made him a trustworthy partner, but his unwillingness to fight dirty amongst the trash may make him a liability. Unfortunately, Poffo could change the man's makeup. If he hadn't been sold on bounty hunting being a ticket to financial independence and a pathway to some adventures that didn't involve the sludge and trash in the bowels of Coruscant, this scenario would have been non-starter.

For once, Sauvage didn't have much to say. Part of it was his game face. He loved to talk trash, but talking trash to Klied wouldn't do any good. No sense in trying to intimidate his partner. Part of it was nerves. He just nodded to Klied. He figured he would let his shoulders and biceps do the talking. He wasn't concerned with the pollution. He had survived worse than air. He wore a sleeveless muscle shirt and tight black leather pants. He wanted everyone to see every muscle, every vein, every ounce of human sinew that was just itching to unleash fury on someone's face. The shuttle stopped and Poffo locked the cuffs in on himself. He took his place by the door beside Klied and waited for the shuttle door to open. It was too late to let common sense take over. No turning back. It was showtime.

@Reyn

 

[Kliedden Raxx]

Klied was a little surprised by Poffo's uncharacteristic silence. He expected the brawler to go on a rant about how their enemies didn't stand a chance against his fists or something. He chocked it up to the man just taking this seriously, but it was still somewhat worrying. The "city" outside the landing platform was nothing like even the lower levels they came from. This wasn't just dingy, it was festering. The air was a sickly green color, and the buildings themselves seemed to be decaying, uninhabited shells of jagged metal and broken glass. The streets themselves were completely empty save for the occasional pack of concerningly large rodents scurrying about. Death and rot pervaded every inch of this godforsaken place. Klied understood why T'lol had chosen this level to lay low. Most people wouldn't send their worst enemies to a place like this.

The two of them moved in complete silence through the abandoned streets, eventually passing by the old refinery Ro had mentioned. Not much further Klied spotted what he assumed had to be the entrance to the compound. A low, unassuming building with a single door leading inside and not a window to be seen. Standing at the door was the only sentient being Klied had seen down here so far. A Gand with a blaster rifle on his shoulder, arms crossed and leaning against the wall. His head was down too, and he didn't seem to take notice of the two newcomers approaching. Perhaps he was asleep, though it was hard to tell with an insectoid. That would make sense, as Klied didn't imagine many intruders made their way down here. Nevertheless he made an effort to keep with his ruse.

"Hey there!" He announced himself firmly with a wave of his hand. The Gand snapped awake and scrambled to grab his rifle and point it at them. Despite his instincts Klied made no move for his own weapon. The doorman seemed genuinely shocked by their appearance.

"W-who comes?" He stuttered. Klied offered him a friendly smile in return, not that he could see under the breathing apparatus.

"Kliedden Raxx, famed bounty hunter at your service!" He stated with a flamboyant bow, as though it was a rehearsed introduction he had performed a thousand times. He then tugged on one of Poffo's bound hands. "I'm here to collect the price on this beast's head. Let your boss know that Poffo Sauvage has been humbled!" Once again the Gand stared dumbfounded in response before shaking his head and shouldering his rifle again. Unsure how to respond to the two humans he got on a comlink and spoke to someone in his native language. After a brief exchange he looked back at the two humans. "Follow..." He said cautiously, and turned to open the door. Klied looked to Poffo and smirked before leading him inside.

They followed a short dimly lit hall into a the main chamber of the compound. It was dark and smoky in here, reeking of spice. Several different species of alien hung around either relaxing on couches and watching the holonet or inhaling some kind of drug from a hookah. Altogether there was nine of them, including the Gand. That was problematic, it seemed in his paranoia T'lol had beefed up security. And what was worse there could be more men further in. "T'lol will see you shortly." The Gand said before turning to return to his post, leaving them alone with the other thugs.

The aliens watched the two humans with interest, one rough looking but unhealthily thin Weequay stood up and wandered over to them, a smug grin on his face. "Well well well, Poffo Sauvage." He said with mixed amusement and contempt. "Never thought I'd see your sorry face again." He chuckled cruelly as he crossed his arms. "Course when T'lol's done with you he'll probably hang it on the wall!" He let out a ridiculously hysterical laugh, as though he had just told the best joke in the world. Several aliens joined him, others rolled their eyes or ignored the man. Klied looked to Poffo and raised an eyebrow curiously.

@Isen

 

[Poffo Sauvage]

"Course when T'lol's done with you he'll probably hang it on the wall!"

The brawler watched the Weequay closely. They called him Bookie, sometimes Book for short, because, well, he was one of T'lol's bookies. He was actually taking bets on the fight that T'lol had fully expected Poffo to throw. Well, surprise. Poffo's eyes narrowed as the Weequay came closer and closer. Poffo desperately wanted to tear out of his cuffs and rip this guy a new one, but that would ruin the setup. Conversely, they knew Poffo. Poffo not reacting would be a red flag as well. Poffo started chuckling along with the rest of the group. His chuckle rose to a laugh as Bookie continued to inch closer to him, falling for one of the oldest tricks in the book.

"Oh, yeah, yeah, Book. That's a good one," Poffo said laughing along. "But that's because I have such a pretty face, yeah. Worthy of a wall decoration it iiiiiiis," Poffo held on to the "i" for a long time. "Now, if my face looked like a wrinkled up rancor like yours, I wouldn't have anything to worry about, would I?" Poffo was no longer laughing. He was staring Bookie down, about two feet between them. "In faaaaaaact, if I was as ugly as you, he would probably hang my balls on the wall, but again, you don't have any, so you lucked out there too, yeah."

The group started laughing, but this time, not with the Weequay, but at him. He stepped up on Poffo, nose to nose. The Weequay looked taller because he was slender, but when they stood face to face, they were eye to eye, and Sauvage's build now made him look like a beast compared to the thin Weequay. Bookie never would have done such a thing if Poffo wasn't cuffed and in the hands of a bounty hunter. "You've always had a big mouth, Sauvage. Too smart for your own good."

"Well, you know, I've always..." Poffo stopped his sentence midstream drove the crown of his head right into the nose of the Weequay while he simultaneously clasped his cuffed hands together in a large club and clobbered him with a hard straight into the solar plexus. The Weequay stumbled back and then collapsed, dazed and concussed before hunkering over and trying to decide if he wanted to nurse his solar plexus or his nose which was pouring blood. Sauvage stood a little straighter and looked at the group who was now laughing hysterically at Bookie, albeit a little nervously. Lesson learned. If they talk trash, they'll keep their distance. He looked over his shoulder at Klied, and to make appearances, Sauvage said, "Might want to watch yourself too, Mr. Famed Bounty Hunter, yeah. I would hate for your face to look like porridge before you meet the King of the Castle."

@Reyn

 

[Kliedden Raxx]

For a moment Klied was afraid the Weequay's taunting might cause Poffo to blow their cover, but he kept his cool remarkably well. Well, for Poffo anyway. When the brawler headbutted the Weequay Klied's hand instantly went to his holster, expecting some kind of retaliation from those around them. Instead they just laughed. They found their "prisoner's" antics to be downright hilarious. The hunter grinned beneath his apparatus. These guys may have had them outnumbered, but they were stoned out of their minds. That was good news.

Still, he had to keep up appearances. As Poffo threatened him Klied put his foot on the back of the brawler's knee and forced him roughly to the ground. He drew his knife and pressed it to the side of his partner's head, dangerously close to his eye. "Careful now." He said in a soft but deadly tone. "T'lol might want you alive but I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I kept a few parts for myself..." He took his knife away, leaving only a tiny cut, but the show had the intended effect. The thugs around them seemed impressed by the hunter's response. The Weequay smiled as the blood ran down his face and slowly got back to his feet, brushing himself off.

"See Sauvage, act tough all you want," He said, confidence returning with the brawler now on his knees. "It won't save you. You're a dead man..." He laughed again, not the genuine laugh from before. This one was cruel and mocking. Then the door opened, and he turned around.

The ugliest Klatooinian Klied had ever seen walked through the door. And for a species like Klatooinians that was saying something. He was just as big and muscled as Poffo too, though clearly showing signs of wear from a greater age. He wore a plain white sleeveless shirt, though stained with grime. He too had a powerful looking heavy blaster holstered on one him, and a knife even bigger than Klied's on the other. So this was the man, Jalir T'lol. He took three steps in the room, bringing with him a wave of respectful silence. The mark looked down at the brawler for a few moments, not even acknowledging Klied's presence, then revealed a rotting smile, where the teeth that weren't missing were horribly crooked.

"Poffo..." He said in a deep gravelly voice. His tone was mirthful, like he was meeting an old friend. He walked forward and knelt down so he was eye level with the brawler, putting a hand on each of his shoulder. "How you been boy?" He laughed and patted his one arm. "We've missed you." Those last few words took on a deadly undertone, his smile disappearing and his brow furrowing into an insidious scowl. He kept his eyes locked with the brawler for a few moments before standing up and finally turning his attention to the hunter.

"Who the hell are you?" He asked gruffly. Klied blinked. He wasn't sure what he had been expecting, but something about this guy threw him off. After a brief hesitation he recovered his act.

"Kliedden Raxx," He introduced himself, returning to his confident tone. "I'm the guy that took down Mr. Macho." T'lol scoffed and turned, pacing away a few steps.

"Always hated that stupid name." He muttered. Grabbing the hookah pipe from one of his goons he turned and collapsed into a cushiony chair, putting his feet up on the table. "So." He started. "Tell us the tale..." He looked at Poffo. "Tell me how you managed to bring down my best slugger."

@Isen

 

[Poffo Sauvage]

Poffo couldn't stand that green face of T'lol. This meeting was a long time coming, one way or the other. Sauvage's countenance stiffened and his chin rose as T'lol mocked him, touched him, made it clear he was in control. When T'lol was right in front of him, it took every ounce of restraint to not do to T'lol what he did to Book. T'lol was a punk. 15 years ago, it would have been a brawl. Heck, T'lol might have even taken him out. But today, it would be no contest...in a fair fight. Problem is, T'lol wouldn't fight fair, and he had the goons surrounding him to ensure it. T'lol had gotten his start in the criminal underworld the same way that Poffo did, more or less. Poffo loved fair fights, getting paid, getting drunk, and taking home pretty women. To that end, Poffo stayed satisfied. T'lol's start began a little more viciously, and his greed and ambition held no bounds. He started as an extortion expert, beating up business owners to collect credits they couldn't afford to give. He saved, took a little on the side, and found a little hole in Coruscant where he felt he could be the shot caller. He felt he could rise to syndicate level calling the shots from a penthouse on the surface of Coruscant.

Well, he's calling the shots...but on level six.

"Always hated that stupid name. So, tell us the tale...Tell me how you managed to bring down my best slugger."

"Why don't you tell us a tale first, yeah?" Poffo asked. "You know I seem to remember the days when you weren't hiding like a little PUNK! I remember the days when you walked down the streets and alleys on level 1313 and people would move to the side, yeah. I remember the days when you might be the richest man in the room, people fought to buy you drinks. Yeah, I remember that well. I sure do. So, why don't you tell us a little tale about how your little fall...no, not a fall, a collapse, yeah, from grace. Who has you hiding like the snake in the grass that you are?" Poffo nodded and smiled. "Yeah, I ask because I want to buy that man a drink like people once did for you, yeah!"

@Reyn

 

[Kliedden Raxx]

It was clear with every word Poffo said T'lol was getting angrier and angrier, fixing the brawler with a flinty glare, gritting his misshapen teeth, veins popping out on his head. He was mad. The whole room could feel it. Everyone looked shocked. Even Book the Weequay had lost any semblance of his smug attitude, looking nervously between the ranting human and the fuming Klatooinian. Klied was getting nervous too, this was not part of the plan.

Reaching out he grabbed Poffo by the hair roughly and yanked his head back, putting his knife to the brawler's throat. "Quiet!" He hissed, only partially playing the role. This was not the time or place for them to break out the guns. Not yet. Then he heard a cold, humorless chuckle. And looked in T'lol's direction.

The Klatooinian was still furious, but he had managed to twist his reeking maw into a forced smile as he sat forward in his chair. He took a long drag from the hookah pipe, blew out the smoke, then handed it back to his goon. "Yeah, those were the days..." He agreed with Poffo. He frowned. "I used to have something. Something of my own. I started out as some filthy Hutt's yes man, barely more than a slave with not a credit to my name. But I clawed my way up. I escaped Nar Shaddaa and I built a cartel of my own. ME!" He stood up and kicked the table over, knocking it's contents across the floor. The room was completely silent. He snarled at Poffo like a wild dog.

"And you karked me Sauvage. You karked me but good." He stalked forward, pacing back and forth before the brawler. Instinctively Klied's hand went to his holster again. This wasn't good. The Klatooinian continued his rant. "You know how it goes down here. Pay the fuzz off, they leave you be. I had a good thing with them. I did my business, they got their cut and it all ran like clockwork. Then you came along. Poffo Sauvage! Mr. Macho! You and your damn ego, just couldn't throw one lousy match could you? You think I wouldn't have made it worth it for you?" He almost sounded hurt, like he considered Poffo a partner. Perhaps he respected the brawler as well. But it wasn't long before the rage took him again.

"The commissioner was betting on your match too you know. He had even more credits in it than I did. And when you said hell to the plan, well, he thought I played him." His voice lowered, the gangster fizzling down into a more mournful state. "I went from being his most lucrative partner to the top of his hit list in the space of a few minutes. Half the planet's police came down on me within a week." He stopped pacing and knelt down before Poffo. "Now do you get it? Everything you see here boy? It's your fault. And now it's time to pay for it."

"T'lol." Klied cut it, drawing the gangster's attention. "My money." He said firmly. The gangster looked at him for several moments, glanced back at Poffo, then smiled.

"Yeah... gotta pay the man that brought me my prize don't I?" He stood up and clapped Klied heartily on the shoulder. "Come on boy, let's talk credits. Book, Shaggy, take Sauvage to the kitchen. I'll be there in a minute." T'lol led Klied back through the door into the next hallway. Book and a scruffy looking Shistavanen each grabbed one of Poffo's arms and pulled him to his feet before bringing him along. Once through the door they separated to go down different halls. This was good, Klied thought. He would have T'lol to himself, and Poffo could easily take two thugs that weren't expecting it. If they played their cards right they could pull this off without alerting any of the others. As they took their different paths Klied glanced back at the brawler and gave him a subtle nod.

@Isen

 

[Poffo Sauvage]

There were certainly some positives to come of this. The Weequay wasn't going to be a problem, but the Shistavanen had teeth and claws that could carve Poffo up real good. Still, close quarters, the element of surprise...Mr. Macho should be able to handle his business. Poffo was too proud to be drug, so he got his feet under him and let them lead him down the hallway. The best-case scenario was for Klied to take care of T'lol quickly, come get Poffo, help him, and they could make their leave. But, patience was never Sauvage's strong suit. If he found an easy opportunity to take out Book and this Shistavanen, he wouldn't hesitate. And by take them out, well, they didn't have Klied to call off the dogs this time. If Klied didn't get there before the bantha crap hit the fan, they weren't walking out. Not ever.

Book was nervous. His hand was so lightly grasping Poffo's arm, the brawler could barely feel it. And, it's not like he could have wrapped his fingers around a bicep that size anyway. He kept as much distance as he could, his arm fully extended. He wasn't doing anything but putting on an appearance. He was ready to bolt at the first sign of Poffo fighting back. The wolfman, much more assertive. Poffo hadn't seen him before, but his confidence was apparent. He'd been in some scrapes and clearly came out the better man. He hadn't said a word. Maybe he could understand basic, but couldn't speak it. Maybe he was just the strong, silent type. Maybe Book just his ran big mouth enough for the both of them. Book opened one of the doors in the hallway, and the wolfman gave Poffo a strong kick in the behind, causing him to stumble and fall into the room. He almost used his hands too much to brace himself, and he felt the fake cuffs to start to give. He managed to salvage it, but he had to go down hard on a shoulder, and his head bounced off the tile floor, causing a cut above his right eye. Book and the wolfman took great delight in that with a laugh.

To Sauvage's surprise, it was a literal kitchen. He had expected the kitchen to be code for something far more sinister, but here he was, in the middle of a dank, dirty kitchen. It was set up in a "U" shape with the appliances lining the walls. A single chair sat in the middle of the room.

"Sit," Book said and went to a door in the back that separated the cooking appliances from the refrigeration appliances and cupboards. He knocked twice and came back with a smirk. Sauvage got to his feet and sat in the chair as the door opened. A tall, gray, and gaunt Yevetha stepped through the door threshold slowly and with a smile. He had several small horns coming out of his face, and long, spindly limbs. He was smiling in a way that made Poffo feel uncomfortable. Poffo had never seen nor heard of a Yevetha, had no idea what species this guy was, but he wore a long, leather robe stained in blood. That certainly looked ominous to Poffo.

"Who do we have here, Book? Hmm?"

Book sat up on the cabinets and let his feet dangle. He was still nursing his face that Poffo had tried to break earlier. "Meet Poffo Sauvage, Bil. He's the reason we're down here in this toxic waste dump."

The Yevetha's black eyes seemed to almost glow as he extended one of his six fingers with long claws to Poffo's cut above his eye, and got some of Sauvage's blood on his claw. He brought it to his lips and tasted it with some quick, light smacking sounds. "Mmmmm, exquisite, Mr. Sauvage. Quite exquisite."

Book grinned. "Mr. Macho, meet Bil Jaar, Jalir T'lol's personal torture expert and executioner."

@Reyn

 

[Kliedden Raxx]

Klied watched over his shoulder as Poffo disappeared into a different room. He had trust in the brawler to be able to take care of himself but it still wasn't all that comforting for them to be separated in this place with who knows how many enemies lurking about. T'lol was mostly quiet as he led him into a private office, thankfully the room was completely empty aside from the two of them.

"So let's get down to brass tacks." T'lol said as he started walking towards his desk, Klied meanwhile shutting the door behind them and slowly drawing his Westar. "I'm surprised you were able to bring Sauvage back in as good shape that you did, so I'm willing to-" He was cut off as the hunter raised his weapon and fired a stun blast, hitting him square in the back. At point blank range the power of the heavy blaster sent the gangster flying over the desk and tumbling to the floor on the other side. Klied smirked as he watched the older man go down.

"Well that was easy..." He muttered, and turned to open the door slightly. Peering back down the hall everything looked calm, indicating that no one had heard the blast. He closed the door and started to turn around to deal with T'lol when he was suddenly seized by the throat. Amazingly the Klatooinian had actually managed to weather the stun blast and get up again. He was certainly worse for wear, but he still moved surprisingly quick. And he had a look of fury on his face that frightened even Klied.

With an enraged snarl he lifted Klied up by the throat and slammed him against the door, crushing the breathing apparatus around his neck and causing him to drop his blaster as he gasped for breath. "I knew there was something off about you." T'lol growled angrily as he held up the hunter. "You're the reason Brag hasn't called back yet aren't you you little stoopa? Fine by me, you want to die too? Bil is gonna have a field day..."

Tears began to form in Klied's eyes from the effort to suck in air, his feet shaking as they hung off the ground. While T'lol ran his mouth the hunter's hand flew to his knife, drawing it and jamming it deep between the Klatooinian's ribs. The gangster cried out and dropped the hunter as he staggered back, clutching his wound. Klied slumped against the door, tearing off his breathing apparatus and breathing deeply. Thankfully the air in here was filtrated. It stunk to high heaven, but it wouldn't kill him. Meanwhile T'lol had pulled out the knife and let it clatter to the floor, roaring like a beast as he came at Klied again. It seemed he and Poffo both liked to fight with their fists.

Klied ducked a punch that dented the metal door, then quickly jabbed T'lol in his wound, drawing another pained cry from the Klatooinian. Strong, but slow. He rolled away as the gangster tried to grab him, scrambling to pick up his blaster. T'lol saw that he was outmaneuvered here and instead of continuing to fight rammed himself into the door, busting it open and opening an avenue of escape. On his way out the Klatooinian hit a button on his wrist, and the whole building filled with the sound of an alarm going off. Klied cursed and fired another stun shot, but the gangster rounded a corner, escaping the blast. The hunter grabbed his knife and followed, going directly after T'lol as he retreated into the maze behind the facility. He hoped Poffo would be doing ok, but he had to focus on catching his quarry before he escaped.

@Isen

 

[Poffo Sauvage]

Poffo sat in the chair, his chin held high. He wasn't about to show fear to this skinny twerp, even as ominous as he looked. Yeah, he looked the part of a sadistic freak, no doubt about it. This gray punk was intent on torturing him; that much was true. But, Poffo had a trick up his sleeve. Or more precisely, on his wrist. He would lull them into a false sense of security, break from the false cuffs, and go bonkers on them. It would be a bloodbath before they knew what hit them. He had just about decided to wait on Klied. If his partner took care of T'lol and then busted in the room, it would be easy pickins' for sure. All he had to do was stall. Seemed a good plan. He got the impression that T'lol wanted to see Poffo die, so they wouldn't get too physical until the boss man arrived.

"Bil Jaar, hmm?" Poffo said to the man who was standing over him. "Some kind of freak, huh? You like to taste blood? Yeah, you like torture? Were you not hugged enough as a child or something, huh?"

The Yevetha laughed and patted Poffo on the head. "Of course, I wasn't, Mr. Sauvage," the Yavetha said. He followed that with a mocking sad tone, "I'm afraid such is the culture of my people." With his hand still on the head of Poffo, Bil extended his dew claw slightly, but putting a noticeable gash on the forehead of Poffo. It caused a steady stream of blood to run into his eyes. His demeanor changed to a calm fury. "But I can see that you look upon me with contempt. Perhaps I can remedy that."

It certainly worked. As the blood streamed into Poffo's eyes, the room turned into a blur.

"Bil, slow down," Book said. "The boss wants to watch the whole thing. You remember how pissed he was when you cut that slicer up a little bit before the Boss got in here."

The gray torturer sighed. "Yes, yes. I shall wait." Bil took a few steps to look at Poffo from a distance. He started to eye him up and down as if he was a work of art. He was looking for creative and artistic ways to cut him up, ways that he would enjoy, and ways that his boss would consider just payment for Poffo's sins.

Sauvage used both of his clasped hands to wipe the blood out of his eyes. He was just about to say something smart, but a loud alarm started to echo through the complex. Not good. There was no doubt that this meant that Klied's charade was up. He heard Book yell, "Can't wait, kill him now!"

Poffo looked up to see the Yevetha squaring up and trying to stab him with his now fully extended dew claw wich was as long as a vibroblade. Poffo dove out of the chair. Unfortunately for Shaggy the Shistavanen, he was trying to lunge at where Poffo was in the chair. Bil's extended dagger of a dew claw was headed to the same spot and it went right through Shaggy's heart. Shaggy let out a howl of agony and bled out quickly. Book busted out of the door and headed to the safety of where he felt the numbers were in the holding room. That left just Poffo and Bil in the kitchen. Bil laughed and extended the dew claw from the other wrist as well. "Mr. Macho, may I call you Mr. Macho?"

Poffo shrugged and took a fighter's stance, his wrists still clasped together by the fake cuffs. "Oooh, yeah. It's a free galaxy, man. You can call me whatever your little gray heart wants to, yeah!" Poffo said back. "Because I have a little feeling that you won't be calling nobody nothing after I'm through with you, yeah. Can you dig that?"

"Such spirit," Bil hissed back as he took a fighting stance as well. He was gangly but yet graceful. He had an awkward sense of mobility, but it was strangely athletic. The crest that surrounded his face started to turn scarlet and swell. "I understand you're quite the fighter, Mr. Macho, but so am I. And, unfortunately for you, your hands are bound.And...mine are swords."

"Oh, yeeeeaaah. About that...." Poffo gave his arms a violent jerk and the fake cuffs popped off. "Since you find that so unfortunate, let's just even the odds a little bit."

Poffo was surprised that the torturer didn't show any fear or disappointment. If anything, he saw the smile on the face of his captor widen a little. "Full of surprises, aren't you, Mr. Macho?" Bil asked. "Killing you will be so very intoxicating."

Without warning, Bil kicked the chair, lifting up about to chest level and flying toward Poffo. The move surprised the pit fighter, and Bil following behind the chair with a leap and a dew claw extended at center mass also surprised him. Poffo caught the chair and stumbled off to the side on one knee to avoid the bladed claw. Bil swiped hard with his right claw, but Poffo used the chair to block it. Sauvage tried to get to his feet, but Bil unleashed a flurry of swipes and stabs with his claws. Poffo managed to evade or block them as he continued to retreat as best he could on his knees. Bil finally gave a strong front kick to Poffo's chest, and Sauvage fell to his back. The Yevetha leaped and came down hard with his right claw aimed at Poffo's heart. Still holding the chair, Poffo extended it in front of him. The dew claw penetrated through the chair and the impact caused Poffo to give some recoil with the chair. It wasn't a mortal blow by any means, but a couple of inches of claw penetrated between Poffo's ribs.

Bil straddled Poffo's chest now, and he pulled back to unleash another flurry of swipes and stabs with the intent to land kill strikes. Before he could throw the first punch, Poffo brought his knees up, weaseled one of his feet under Bil's behind and launched him. Bil flew over Poffo's head and crashed into the door that led to the hallway. Poffo rolled over onto his knees and looked up. Bil was snarling and shaking the cobwebs. They looked at each other. They both realized that they took each other too lightly in round one. They were both determined not to make that same mistake in round two. Poffo knew the pressure was on him. The alarm was going. All the goons were alerted. Poffo had to take chances, win this battle quickly, make a quick exit, and catch up with Klied if they were going to get out of this alive.

@Reyn

 

[Kliedden Raxx]

Klied rushed down the hall, looking for any sign of his quarry. How could this guy move so fast with a stab wound like that? The sterile white lights within the building had turned a blood red, and that incessant alarm was still blaring. Reaching an intersection of corridors Mil Ro's words stuck in the hunter's head. This facility turned into a maze once beyond the first few rooms. More and more that was becoming the case. He had to catch up to his target and quickly, or he'd be lost forever.

Kneeling down Klied inspected the floor briefly before finding a lead. Droplets of blood, a trail left by his quarry. "Bingo." He said, looking up to see which hallway the trail led down. A moment later a blaster bolt whizzed past his head, just barely missing him. Klied rolled to the side and pressed his back against the wall, peeking back the way he had come from. Three of T'lol's thugs were there, he recognized them from the first room. A Cathar, a Devaronian, and a Rattataki. Klied assumed the others were tracking down Poffo. The hunter raised his comlink to his mouth and spoke as he stayed behind cover.

"Sauvage, I'm going for T'lol," He told the brawler. "You've got four more goons heading your way." He figured, minus Book and Shaggy that's how many thugs weren't in front of him right now. "Don't fight them head on. Try and make your way into the maze, pick em' off one at a time."

With that said he leaned out from behind cover and fired a series of shots, not at the goons but the ceiling above them. There was a flash of light and sparks, and then the corridor went completely dark. Satisfied that would disorient his pursuers for a few moments Klied continued after T'lol's trail, moving from one hallway to the next, to the next. The gangster knew what he was doing. He was zigzagging like crazy back here in an attempt to throw Klied off. Finally rounding a corner the hunter thought he caught a glimpse of the Klatooinian, but he only stopped to punch a few buttons into a panel on the wall before he kept running. Klied started after him only to stop a few steps later and start scrambling backwards, as an autoturret descended from the ceiling and started blasting wildly in his direction.

Klied just managed to take cover in time, the shots peppering the floor and walls around him. T'lol had managed to shake him for the moment. And what was worse, the sound of blaster fire was attracting his pursuers to his position. He could tell from the volume of their voices he had only seconds to spare. Klied paced for a moment, thinking, then looked up again. He used the same tactic of shooting out the lights before leaping up and grabbing on to some pipes running along the ceiling. With a heave he pulled his legs up and crossed them around the pipe as well to hang there silently. He closed his eyes and listened as the thugs drew closer and closer. He had to make this work. Every second he wasted dealing with these fools was another second T'lol would get closer to escaping him.

@Isen

 

[Poffo Sauvage]

Poffo was staring across the room at the gray figure in front of him. Bil's dewclaws were fully extended, waiting for a chance to sink into Sauvage for a kill. Poffo's comlink lit up and he heard Klied's voice say, "Sauvage, I'm going for T'lol. You've got four more goons heading your way. Don't fight them head on. Try and make your way into the maze, pick em' off one at a time."

Seemed like Klied was alive and well, but had somehow managed to let T'lol slip away. The Yevetha got a good chuckle out of that and his laugh just oozed with sinister expectations. "Things not going as planned, Sauvage?" He tutted. "Such a shame. Such an awful shame."

Poffo grinned, stood, and wiped the blood from his face. "Don't you worry your little stone-cold heart on me. Don't worry about me at all, yeah," Poffo said. "I got you man to man, yeah. Just you and me. No blasters, no weapons. Just the natural order of things, yeah."

The Yevetha's eyes narrowed and his smile widened. "A man after my heart, Poffo Sauvage."

"That's assuming you have one, yeah."

Bil Jaar chuckled at that. "Very good, Mr. Macho. Very good indeed." Jaar hunkered down and his fingers began to move like a man prepared to catch prey as it was about to run by. He knew that Poffo would not try to simply escape. This would be a fight, likely one to the death, and that pleased the Yevetha very much. He did not fear death, but welcomed the opportunity to bring it to someone else. Poffo, on the other hand, loved a great fight, but he had no intention of dying. He didn't mind killing if it came to it, but he took no particular joy in it. Time was wasting, however, and Poffo grabbed some shards of what remained of the chair. He charged Bil Jaar and threw the shards at his face as he closed in. The Yevetha raised both hands to shield his eyes from the peppering of wood and metal filings, leaving his skinny and unprotected torso a massive target for a man like Sauvage. Poffo took full advantage and landed a brutal left hook to the body that doubled Bil Jaar over. Poffo had hammered enough to ribs to know the distinct feeling of ribs cracking against his fist, and he felt that here. He followed that up with a double axe-handle on the back, putting flat on his stomach and face.

Poffo assumed Bil was out cold. Sauvage was about to leave, but he felt an intense, sharp, and hot pain sear through his foot. Bil Jaar was not out at all, and driven his massive dewclaw into Poffo's foot, using it as a stake to keep Poffo firmly planted where he was. Worse yet, there was another claw just as sharp that could inflict much more damage. Sauvage caught the other hand by the wrist as Bil was trying to swipe it across his Achilles. Poffo uses his free hand to start raining down hammer fists on Bil's face. The Yevetha refused to relent and refused to pull his claw out of Poffo's foot and unstake him from the ground.

Poffo continued to hammer and hammer and did so harder and harder until Bil's body turned completely lifeless and limp. The front and sides of his face were a bloody mess from either Poffo's fist or his face bouncing off the tile floor. Poffo's problems were just beginning, however. He was still staked to the ground with a dewclaw that was about two feet in length. As Sauvage tried to pull the claw from his foot, he noticed his foot went with it. With a scream of pain, he used his good foot to hold his staked foot on the ground and used both hands to pull the claw out of his foot. He fell back, his body close to going to shock. Blood was pouring from the large hole left in his foot.

Poffo ripped some of the cloth off Shaggy's clothes and did his best to try to stop the bleeding, but it was a half measure at best. Thank goodness he was in the kitchen. He scooted over to an oven. It was an ancient kitchen, as one might expect on level six of Coruscant, and used real fire flames...Poffo's lucky day. He got the flame as high as he could. He found a pair of tongs among the utensils and stuck them in the fire. He needed those tongs to get red-hot and fast. If he could cauterize his foot before he lost too much blood, he might still be to bow his neck, toughen himself up, and walk out. Maybe even have enough left to throw some haymakers.

He hit his comlink. "I'm still in the kitchen, brother. Doing a little cooking." He looked up at the tongs. "I'm hurt pretty bad, yeah. I'm going to fix myself up. I might just have enough in the tank to help if I do, yeah. Kill T'lol if you have to. Take the head off the snake, and the rest of these punks will scatter like roaches."

Poffo needed some breaks. He needed to get his foot cauterized before he lost so much blood he would be a sitting duck. He also needed the goons that were headed his direction to look everywhere but the kitchen until Sauvage was ready to throw hands yet again.

@Reyn

 

[Kliedden Raxx]

Klied waited in silence. He could barely see anything in this darkness, but then he didn't have to. An entire lifetime spent training to be the perfect hunter had honed his senses to the sharpest humanly possible. He heard the sounds of footsteps, the unnerved breathing of his pursuers. They were getting closer... Closer... The first passed by him... Then the second... Now came the third...

Klied released his grip on the pipe and hung upside down as the Devaronian passed beneath him. Groping in the dark he felt one of the alien's horns and grabbed it tightly. The alien gasped, and that was all he got to do before the hunter drew his knife and slit his throat. As the thug collapsed while choking and grasping at his open wound Klied dropped down with him, facing towards his two remaining pursuers.

"What was that?" The Rattataki remarked as they both swung around. They raised their blasters and fired, both shots missing. They saw a flash of Klied, standing over their fallen comrade, then they were in the dark again. The Cathar cried out as he was sliced with the knife. In panic the Rattataki turned towards him and fired two more shots. The flash of the blaster bolts showed that both had hit his own ally in the torso. "Kark! Kark!" The Rattataki cursed fearfully as he backed up into the wall, still blind. Then Poffo's transmission came over Klied's comlink.

"I'm still in the kitchen, brother. Doing a little cooking."

The Rattataki made another vain attempt to shoot Klied, the hunter grabbing his wrist and slamming it to the wall while holding his knife to the man's neck with his free hand. He didn't kill him yet though, instead remaining silent in the dark as he listened to the rest of Poffo's message.

"I'm hurt pretty bad, yeah. I'm going to fix myself up. I might just have enough in the tank to help if I do, yeah. Kill T'lol if you have to. Take the head off the snake, and the rest of these punks will scatter like roaches."

Klied thought about that. No, killing T'lol wasn't an option. He wanted him alive. More of a challenge that way, and it would show the Guild he meant business too. Instead he turned his attention to the Rattataki.

"Get on your comlink and tell your friends you've found me, direct them to that hallway there." He gestured towards the hall where the autoturret was. The Rattataki hesitated.

"B-But..." He started, Klied held the knife closer to his throat and spoke coldly as he drew a thin line of blood.

"Do it or you're dead." The Rattataki swallowed nervously, then brought up his comlink and relayed the orders. Once he was finished Klied grabbed him by the collar and slammed his head against the wall twice to make sure he was out cold. As the limp body slumped to the floor he got on his own comlink.

"Glad to hear you're still with me Sauvage," He finally responded to his partner. "I'm trying to divert attention away from you. Try and catch up if you can." Turning off his comlink Klied moved back to the shadows. Hopefully the remaining thugs would slaughter themselves while giving him the cover he needed to get to the next hallway past the turret. Time was running out, he needed to find T'lol.

@Isen

 

[Poffo Sauvage]

Poffo took a look at the tongs that were in the flame. They were starting to glow red with heat. Poffo took some deep breaths and said, "Oooooooh, yeeeeeeeahhhhhhhh...." as quietly as he could through clenched teeth as the tongs plunged through the hole in his boot and his foot. The smell of burning flesh wasn't welcomed to his nose, but it was necessary. Poffo had been in a lot of painful spots before, but this may have been the most painful thing he had ever endured. He fought back tears, and when he couldn't take it anymore, he yanked the metal rods of fire out of his foot and started panting.

"Glad to hear you're still with me Sauvage," he heard Klied say over the comlink. "I'm trying to divert attention away from you. Try and catch up if you can."

Poffo's foot still hurt like mad, so he crawled his way over to two dead bodies in the room. Maybe there was something he could salvage that would make his life easier. Bil was wearing nothing but some loose pants and the apron of death. He wasn't even wearing shoes. Shaggy's body was a little more fruitful. He had heard a muffled comlink transmission just a few moments ago, but Shaggy's furry body was laying over the top of it, and he couldn't make out what was said. Poffo took it off the wolfman's wrist and put it on his own, opposite the one that was connected to Klied's comms. Maybe he'd get lucky with some pointers from the bad guys.

Poffo also found a small Blurgg concealed blaster stuck in one of Shaggy's cargo pockets. That certainly might come in handy. He was about to pack it away, but he heard a familiar voice. It was Book, and he was coming down the hall, and he was nervous.

"I don't want to go in first!" Book yelled. "He, he's insane! And, and, and he hates me."

Poffo assumed they were talking about the Yevetha, but the other voice mentioned Sauvage by name. Book was afraid that somehow Poffo had managed to kill Bil and Shaggy...and if they were trying to contact Shaggy and Bil with no response on the comlink, they would come to exactly that conclusion. Poffo sat on the floor, still trying to give himself time to get accustomed to the pain in his foot. He raised the little Blurgg and pointed it toward the door. When it finally opened, Book's eyes got real big, but he froze. Poffo pulled the trigger and dropped him dead on the floor. Poffo immediately crawled to the area behind the door to hide. Whoever Book's buddy was would have to walk all the way in and close the door to find Poffo waiting on him.

That's exactly what happened. He charged in after hearing the blaster fire, walked three steps inside the room, and absent-mindedly closed the door behind him. Poffo recognized him from earlier. It was the Gand with the rifle that guarded the entrance. He looked perplexed at the carnage in the room, like he didn't know where to start. He had no idea that Poffo was waiting behind him with a blaster trained on him, center mass.

"Why don't you do Mr. Macho favor? Drop the rifle, yeah, and turn around reeeeeal slow-like." Poffo startled the Gand, who nearly made a fatal mistake by turning around too quickly with his rifle raised. He managed to stop himself. "That's it, I want you to really take your time, yeah."

The Gand laid his rifle on the ground and slowly turned to face Poffo.

"I got a deal, Poffo," the insect said. His breathing apparatus filtered his already strange voice to make it very difficult to understand. "I know how to get out of here. Me and you, let's get out why we can. You let me live, I show you out before you T'lol releases the toxic gas in the compound. He'll kill all of us if it means it would help him get away and get that bounty hunter off his back. Not to mention, it would kill you."

"I have to tell you that's a very interesting deal, yeah. I gave it a single micro-milli-second's worth of consideration," Poffo said back. "Buuuuuuuuuuuut, you're going to get on your comlink and tell T'lol and whoever else is listening that Poffo is a dead man in the kitchen. And in return, I don't drop you stone dead like Book here."

Gand wanted to protest, but he didn't have any bargaining power. He raised his wrist to his mouth and told T'lol and the rest of his goons, "Don't have to worry about Poffo anymore. He's dead in the kitchen."

@Reyn

 

[Kliedden Raxx]

Klied waited in the shadows as the next three of T'lol's thugs approached, though it was too dark to make out their species clearly. Whatever they were, they fell for the ruse hook line and sinker. The trio came storming down the hall, intent on stopping the hunter from getting to their boss. Upon reaching the junction they turned and started down the hall with the autoturret, Klied quickly and stealthily slipping in behind them. What happened next was not a pretty sight.

T'lol's autoturret didn't seem to have a very good IFF system. That or it was trying to hit Klied and didn't care what got shredded in the crossfire. At any rate it opened fire on the three thugs almost immediately. The hallway was lit up by the flashing red light of blaster fire. Klied caught a glimpse of what looked like a Rodian getting torn apart. The second thug tried to take cover, but there were no other hallways to turn down or nooks to hide in. He pressed himself up against the wall as small as he could and managed to squeeze off a few shots at the turret before getting mowed down himself.

The third was the smartest among them. Seeing the danger he stopped in his tracks and tried to turn around, but he was too late. Klied wrapped an arm around him and started pushing him forward, using him as a shield. From the helmet he identified the man as an Ubese. That was good, his armor might hold up better against the blaster fire. The thug of course panicked and tried to break free, but taking a few dozen blaster bolts to the torso put an end to that fairly quickly. Klied continued running forward with the dying Ubese, drawing his Westar and turning back to the blaster setting before firing at the turret. Powerful bolts exploded around the end of the hall, one eventually striking true and destroying the turret.

Klied let the Ubese collapse and continued down the hall and a running pace. From what he counted that left three enemies that he had identified: Book the Weequay, the Gand, and T'lol himself. Of course there was no telling who else might be skulking about down here, but at the rate they were cutting through the opposition Klied was fairly confident they could take anything the gangster could throw at them.

Reaching the end of the hall he found himself at yet another junction. Stopping briefly to look for T'lol's blood trail he followed it down the right hall, using his comlink as he moved to keep Poffo updated while he moved. He didn't want his partner getting lost when he needed his backup after all. Eventually he came to a door. The hunter pressed his ear against it, closing his eyes and listening very carefully. He couldn't hear anyone inside, but T'lol may have been lying in wait. Slowly, with Westar again set to stun, he opened the door and stepped inside.

It appeared to be a crude medical bay, with a dead human sitting in the chair. Killed by a blaster shot between the eyes. Judging from the fact it was an older man and a bit too scrawny to be a gangster he was most likely T'lol's medic. The gangster must have ordered him to patch him up and then killed him so Klied couldn't get any info out of him. "Dammit..." The hunter cursed as he rubbed his chin and started pacing. That meant no more blood trail to follow, he would need to find a new way to get a lead on T'lol. And he would need to find it fast, as a green colored gas started creeping in from the vents. Klied cursed again. Whatever this stuff pumping into the air was he doubted it was healthy, and with his breathing apparatus destroyed he was on a time limit. Where the hell was Sauvage?

@Isen

 

[Poffo Sauvage]

"Poffo's dead, huh?" Poffo heard T'lol say over the Gand's comlink. "Good. Just that damned bounty hunter to worry about. Where's Book, Shaggy, and Bal?"

Poffo looked at the Gand with the Blurgg pointed at him and nodded to answer. "They're dead. They're all dead. Poffo must have killed them. Looks like Bal stuck Poffo good....he bled out in here."

There was a silence on the other end for a short period, but T'lol's voice broke the silence. "Fine. We're misting. Time to evacuate. Don't contact me again."

With gritted teeth and a grunt, Poffo stood to his feet. His foot had pains both sharp and throbbing that radiated through his entire foot and into his ankle. The Gand looked down and Poffo could see him contemplating Poffo's condition and if he could take him. Even with one foot almost fully out of commission, Poffo's confidence was supreme. He could take this punk with a bad foot and a hand tied behind his back. Nevermind he still had the Blurgg blaster fixed on him still. "Oh, yeah, I know what you're thinking," Poffo said, forcing a smile. "You're thinking you can take Mr. Macho because he's got a bad wheel, huh?" Poffo hobbled over, nudged the rifle away, and tucked the Blurgg into the back of his pants. He lifted his shoulders and showed his palms, taunting him to take his shot. And take his shot, the Gand did. He threw a wild haymaker which Poffo ducked and used his good foot to plant. The damaged left foot had a perfectly good knee, and it caught the Gand just under the ribs. The insectoid dropped to his knees, and Poffo delivered a sharp, pointed elbow to the base of his neck to follow up.

"You ain't in my league, man. Oh, nooooooo, you ain't even in the league below the league that's below my league." Poffo drew the Blurgg again and put it to the Gand's head who was now begging for mercy. "So, here's a new deal. Yeah, I like doing deals with you. You win a little, and I win a lot, yeah. A great return on investment, you know what I mean?"

"Poffo, we have to get out of here. Look...the vents...T'lol is going to poison everyone in the compound. We have to get out. That's the deal!"

Poffo pistol-whipped the Gand, dropping him to his stomach. "Wrong again, you Buzzy Little Bee. I do not agree to your terms. I don't agree at all, No, no." Poffo grabbed the insect by the back of the head and lifted it so that he had to look him in the eyes. "You're going to tell me where T'lol is going, and then you're going to take me there."

"There's no time!"

This was not the response that Poffo was looking for and he pistol-whipped him again. "Then you should get to talkin' and walkin, yeah."

The Gand managed to make his way to his feet. "Follow me then. But we'll never make it. In the far northeast corner of the compound, he has a hatch that was once a garbage chute to the core. A lot of the gangsters have hidden access to it now, and it acts as an elevator to several levels."

Poffo pushed him out of the door and started following him. "Yeah, now we're getting somewhere. Me and you, we're going to make a great team, yeah. Go on. What level is likely to get off on?"

The Gand tried to make a run for it, but Poffo grabbed his shirt and slammed him backward. His head bounced off the tile harshly. "Kraak!" His head started oozing yellowish-green fluid, and Poffo stood over him.

"I know we're in a hurry, yeah. But I don't know if you've noticed, but my foot isn't exactly 100%." Poffo motioned for him to get up. "Now, lead on at a walk...otherwise, I'll think you're trying to get away, yeah." The two started walking, Poffo with an obvious limp. It was excruciating, but it was life or death for Sauvage. "Now, what level is he likely to get off?"

The Gand shook his head in desperation. "It could be any level, but the most likely spot is the top of the chute which is 1718."

"The junkyard?"

"T'lol has a few ships hidden among the junk. They look like junk," The Gand said. "But...they ain't. They ain't junk at all."

Poffo kept pushing the Gand forward and got on his comlink to Klied. "Mr. Famed Bounty Hunter, I have good news and bad news. The good news is I know where T'lol is headed, yeah. Northeast corner of the compound, there's a hatch in the ceiling that leads to an elevator. The elevator goes up to the junkyard on 1718. The bad news is that T'lol has some getaway rides hidden among the heaps. I have a personal escort to lead the way."

@Reyn

 

[Kliedden Raxx]

As Poffo came back in over the comlink Klied made his way back to the hallway with the destroyed autoturret. He hastily pulled off the dead Ubese's helmet and put it on himself, hoping it would filter out the toxic gas. He then raised his own comlink to his face. "Got it, on my way. I'll meet you there." He told the brawler before breaking into a dash again.

Knowing where he was going made things much sooner. He even managed to close the distance somewhat between himself and his quarry. So much so that he rounded a corner in time to see T'lol preparing to climb the ladder to the aforementioned hatch. The Klatooinian had taken off his shirt, bare chest now showing and waist wrapped in red-stained gauze. Klied immediately raised his blaster and fired a warning shot, hitting the ladder just above the gangster's hand. As sparks flew T'lol flinched and stepped back, shooting a furious look in the hunter's direction.

"Warm or cold T'lol?" Klied shouted to the Klatooinian threateningly. "You're worth plenty either way..." The gangster snarled back.

"I didn't make it this far to be taken down by the likes of you bounty hunter!" He shouted back, then turned and kicked a lever. The device opened the doors to what appeared to be a kennel, with three massive Sibian hounds bursting out. T'lol pointed in Klied's direction and shouted. "Sic em'!" Then turned and made for the ladder yet again. As the pale skinned beasts bounded towards him Klied refocused his aim on the new enemy. He fired once, killing one of the charging hounds. While holding his ground and maintaining a calm demeanor he adjusted his aim and downed the second as well. He moved to target the third, but it had gotten too close.

Before he could fire the hound leapt on him, the hunter raising his forearm for the beast to bite onto. Klied couldn't help but let out a pained cry as he collapsed with the creature on top of him. The dog's bite was so powerful it felt like his bone was splintering. With his free hand he drew his knife and attempted to stab it in the throat twice, it's hide too thick to pierce. Meanwhile the hound shook his arm violently, threatening to tear it right off. Klied screamed again as he drove the knife into the creature's vulnerable eye. In response the dog whimpered and released him, momentarily backing off. Seizing the opportunity Klied raised his foot and kicked the hound in the head, causing it to stagger back further. He held his Westar in both hands, struggling to level the blaster with his wounded arm, and fired. This time he killed the beast.

Standing up again he stumbled down the hall, T'lol gone from sight. Holstering his Westar he slowly and painfully made his way up the ladder to a small cramped chamber with a set of turbolifts. One of them was in motion, already about three hundred floors above them. Klied cursed as he sank to the ground besides the remaining elevator and brought his comlink back to his mouth. "Sauvage, T'lol beat me to the elevator. Hurry the hell up or I'm leaving you behind!" His words were more to light a fire under Poffo than an actual threat. In his condition he'd need the brawler's help to bring down his quarry. But they would need to leave soon to have any hope of capturing T'lol.

@Isen

 

[Poffo Sauvage]

The brawler had one major advantage, one ace of up his sleeve. There was a Gand leading him straight to the hatch, and with the corridors of the maze filling with toxic air that his breathing apparatus wasn't fit to filter, the insectoid had every motivation to get to that hatch. His life literally depended on it. He knew every shortcut, every secret passageway, and even though Sauvage was slowed by his hurt foot and he bobbed like a wheelbarrow with a square wheel, he was making extraordinary time thanks to the map in front of him with a blaster on the back of his skull.

"Sauvage, T'lol beat me to the elevator. Hurry the hell up or I'm leaving you behind!"

Klied probably heard Poffo's comlink as he spoke as Poffo was turning a nearby corner with his hostage as Klied sent the message. Poffo surveyed the damage. Three dead dogs. "You won't kill the most dangerous man in the Coruscant underground when he's sworn to kill us, but you'll kill three perfectly innocent pups, yeah. I don't get you all the way around, man, you hear me?" Poffo chuckled under his breath, giving the Gand a nudge in the back with his knee to urge him along. "I'm thinking our friend here should stick his head above the hatch first, yeah. If T'lol is waiting to play Whack-A-Bounty hunter, we'll know when his head comes back frizzled like a fried pie at Dory's, yeah."

@Reyn

 

[Kliedden Raxx]

Klied just rolled his eyes as Sauvage made his joke and raised his mangled arm to make a rude gesture at the brawler. "This look like the face of innocence to you Mr. Macho?" He attempted to maintain an angry expression, but couldn't help but smirk a little. Maybe the blood loss was getting to him. The Gand just looked between the two humans in disbelief before muttering to himself.

"You guys are completely insane..." Shaking his head he moved up the hatch, knowing he had no other choice, and then gestured for them to follow. The alien led them to the elevators, one of which was already well on it's way to level 1718. Without saying a word Klied set his blaster back to stun and blasted the Gand in the back before removing his helmet and taking a deep breath of fresh air. Well, relatively fresh. Level Six was still disgusting.

"Come on, time's wasting." He said as he stepped into the elevator and waited for Poffo to join him. Once both men were inside he'd hit the button for the lift to begin rising. As the two of them stood waiting while the elevator rose at rapid pace Klied would look his partner up and down. "What the hell happened to you?" He asked concernedly.

@Isen

 

[Poffo Sauvage]

"What the hell happened to you?" Kiled asked Poffo once they were on the elevator. A fair question. Poffo looked down at his foot as the primary source of concern, but he had lacerations across his forehead, his back, and cuts and scrapes all over. He looked like the bringer of death, and Poffo supposed that may not be far off.

"What happened to me, huh?" Poffo said. "I just thought that I would even the odds, yeah. Thought I might give T'lol a fighting chance. I'll go to any length for a fair fight, you better believe that, yeah. And I ain't sure that it's fair yet."

Poffo was talking a tough game, because that's the only game he knows how to play. He was hurting bad, and it was obvious. Limping, sighing, and grunting with every step. The loss of blood was starting to make him dizzy and slightly unsteady. He put his hand on the rail to steady himself and took some deep breaths. As he and the bounty hunter rode up to the junkyard, he was hopeful this showdown with T'lol wouldn't the be last showdown of his life.

@Reyn