Target Practice

[Jack Graves]

Jack checked his ammo and simply shook his head, waste of bullets. A lone sniper in the middle of the desert didn't make sense. His shots were wide even when his targets weren't moving. Even now as they pursued him he didn't dim his lights or try anything fancy to lose them. Blinking the bounty hunter looked to the rebel in sudden recognition,

"I think he's leading us into a trap"

As if on cue a set of lights appeared behind them. The hunters had become the hunted. Jack was glad to have been stingy with his ammo, he'd very soon be using it. They had been lead into the perfect murder hole, nothing but flat lands all around. No civilization for miles. Collecting his thoughts as he went over their resources all the bounty hunter could think about was how he should have just paid for the damn water.

Shots roared over the two and given the bulky slow nature of this poorly named "speed"er, it may not be long before the were hit. With that in mind Jack began readying his rifle.

 

[Jorrin Pell]

"About time they showed up."
Said Jorrin, slowing his speeder-truck to a halt. He grabbed his rifle, and headed back into the cargo space, peeking through the back window at the approaching speeders.

"Lets wait for them to get close, theres no point trying to race, and we aren't going to shoot them off their bikes."

 

[Jack Graves]

Jack couldn't help but agree. They'd lose the sniper, but he had ditched his rifle so he was no threat from afar anymore. Nodding to Jorrin he got his rifle's stock out and bumped it against a solid surface. Steadying himself, the bounty hunter aimed as the speeder slowed. Waiting for the opportune moment, Jack had to back up quickly as a shot nearly glanced off his side.

Quickly getting back into position and readying a shot before taking it. It wasn't a perfect hit, but it was solid enough that the telltale clatter of a weapon falling off the bike certainly showed it was effective. While the rider kept his seat shots were notably slowed as they kept on.

"Next ones on you"

 

[Jorrin Pell]

"Will do."

Jorrin let the second speeder pass by the truck. They wanted to shoot through the driverside window. Instead, Jorrin popped out the back of the truck, and shot from the hip, aiming a pair of shots at their exposed back. They were on target, though even if they did hit, the target would live for some time.

 

[Jack Graves]

Jack never got used to the sound of blaster fire. Hot gas ripping through air heading to scorch your internal organs didn't sound pleasant to begin with, but the actual bloodcurdling shriek of entropy was over the top. Still this was a man of focus, commitment, and pure willpower. So while Jorrin's shots hit the back of the man on the speeder he wasn't so shaken that he couldn't fire back.

A scrape of burning slag ricocheted off the bounty hunter's shoulder as he cried out. While armor dulled the shots damage it did little to dilute the pain. Gripping the wound with his gloved hand he felt the heat emanating from his scarred tissue. Removing the hand he again lifted up his blaster rifle relying on the stock a bit more heavily this time as he took his own shot. As Jorrin had shaken the fellow and he wasn't focused on dodging the blast managed to shake his steering hand loose. Tumbling into the dirt, one thing was for sure. The pair wouldn't be troubled by that one anytime soon.

All at once it seemed the night opened up and besides the low buzz of fleeing raiders there was nothing about them. A bit disappointed by the anticlimactic end, but grateful to get a chance to check his wound the bounty hunter looked to Jorrin,

"Keep on?"

 

[Jorrin Pell]

Jorrin glanced at Jack's wound, frowning. "Bad luck. I should've taken that shot." Then, he shut the back gate, and went back to the drivers seat.

"They're a speeder gang, doubt they'll stick around when they know they're being hunted. Better to go back, you need some kolto."

 

[Jack Graves]

Jack nodded, he hoped their intervention would at least bring a little good to these parts. Unfortunately now he had to add Kolto to his list of things to buy,

"I'm not thinking this is going to be good enough for the shopkeep...and I need my bike towed back for a patch and pump"

This was a disappointing day. Though it would not be long before a new horizon dawned it left the bounty hunter bitter. It wasn't either of their faults, but some things can't be handled so easily. Looking back Jack blinked. Adjusting the magnifier on his helmet he spotted the glint of armor.

"Hey the one who fell, his guys never picked him up. Let's check him"

 

[Jorrin Pell]

Jorrin was about to drive off when Jack pointed the raider out. He considered it for a moment, and started the truck. They stopped behind the fallen raider, and Jorrin stepped out of the car, pistol in hand. The raider managed to roll himself over, but he'd dropped his rifle a few meters back.

"He's alive at least."
Jorrin got on top of the raider, grabbed the raiders left arm, and pinned it with his legs. Then, he wrapped his left arm under the raiders right, grabbed his wrist, and pinned that too. His blaster pistol was jammed into the bandits chest.

"Wanted to ask him questions?"

 

[Jack Graves]

Jack got out trailing behind the alien. Seeing he was quite capable of holding the man, the bounty hunter took his time to trail around and look upon the raider. He wore a ramshackle of armor, in a way it looked familiar, but also pathetic. Slipshod and put together in methods long surpassed by other smiths. This man was almost entirely unremarkable until he saw the symbol on the man's wrist. Their eyes met as he saw the crumpling teeth and red scraggly beard. Even the stench of some pickled cod gave Jack all the evidence he needed before the man uttered words in a tongue he hadn't heard since he was sent to The Facility,

"Refurinn sendir sér kveðjur"

There wasn't a moment to utter another syllable before Jack pressed his holdout blaster deep into the mans throat. He had to suppress his instincts. This was his best lead in years. He couldn't let this opportunity slip through his fingers. Not like all those others. Breathing. Breathing now. Regaining control. He was just about to pull it out when the raider managed to free his hand just long enough to reach out and grab the trigger.

Red stained sand lay below the now dead man as his eyes lay wide open staring towards the stars he was destined for. Jack backed away in shock. That was his chance. That was how he could have found them. They could have been a family again, but he did this. He failed. This couldn't be happening.

Jack was quiet for a time. If the Firrerreo expected an explanation none would be forthcoming. Subdued and sullen, the bounty hunter abruptly rose and headed back to the speeder.

"I could use that kolto"

It wouldn't take the pain away. Not even close.

 

[Jorrin Pell]

Jorrin assumed it was some foreign insult and payed it no mind. He didn't respond to the bounty hunter, and instead started the speeder up, saying.

"I could use that map."
He went back the direction they came, following their own trail, still fresh. He occasionally checked behind them, but it looked like nobody was following. He just hoped his truck wouldn't become a target.

 

[Jack Graves]

Eventually the two found his speeder. Getting out numbly Jack hooked it to the back of the alien's speeder. Words of thanks, or agitation, or any sort of comment at all didn't escape the mans lips. His only response to his companion at all was to hand him the map so he could take the patient man home.

The Fox. He hadn't heard that name in ages. He'd always called her by her name despite her protests that she earned the title. Something about hiding from an enemy for three days in harsh terrain. Actually probably exactly like that. Still he didn't want to inflate her ego and he'd always had misgivings about her culture. Misgivings he should have spoken up about. Stupid, all of this, everything that had happened was his fault, but it was her fault too.

If there was one shred of hope from all this, it was that he must be close enough to be scaring her. At the same time as he searched for her she was watching him. He supposed that did make her quite fox-like in the end. Jack knew what happened to caught foxes though.

At last the light of the town shined ahead and before he knew it, Jack was able to get his speeder to a garage. Looking back to the Firrereo he gave a curt nod. He had a lot to think about and none of those thoughts were reserved for this one. As the garage shut behind him, the man went over his resources and all else he had gathered. He'd have to get supplies by tomorrow to be out of here. He'd keep searching. He would find them.

He had to.

 

[Jorrin Pell]

Jorrin nodded back, and drove off without a second though. He wasn't sure what changed the bounty hunters mood, but equally did not care. As far as Jorrin was concerned, the important thing was driving the bandits off. That said, he seemed trustworthy. Not emotionally stable enough for the Rebellion, sure. Still, Jorrin noted the name down. Jack Graves -- Bounty Hunter.