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

[Thecomicbookbroad]

BelleBlair Silently thanked the woman with a nod, scooped up the key and trotted after Ares, She looked back only once and shivered. Slowing her pace she peered at Ares’ back with trepidation.

“Ares…” she said imploring him to speak his mind.

The written word and threat had brought back all the sensations the event had arisen in her. As she had read the note it was as if it were narrated by the same bass voice that had tore her shoulder and left her defeated and thieved. She was angry but she knew there was no good in being so, it would only lead to rash behavior and what she needed now was a clear head.

‘The spire …site.’ her brain repeated.

She looked down at the key and tucked it away.

After Ares spoke she snapped back to reality.

"Of course." she said.

 

[T.J]

Several minutes and even more passageways and open markets later, Ares stopped at a hole in the wall motel that was only a partlry 4 stories tall. He walked into the lift that took the two to the very top story, Ares then walked down one of the many hallways and stopped at an unassuming door. The bounty hunter pulled a datacard out of one of his pouches on his belt and quickly swiped it on the doors opening mechanism. The rusting metal door opened with a groan to reveal a much cleaner looking room in contrast to the rest of the complex.

Popping the seal on his helmet as he walked into the room, he tossed his shield to the world around him near the top of the bed. Ares then began removing other non-essential parts of his armor, or parts he couldn't conceal with conventional clothing. This process left him with little more than just the chest plates of his armor remaining under simple spacer clothes. What armor he wasnt wearing lay neatly in a human shape on the bed. He seemed completely oblivious to the twi'lek, truthfully he didnt care.

Ares turned to face his companion, setting his rifle down next to the bed as he did so. " I needed to loose the armor. Its too recognizible down here, and I dont want them to kill your niece at the first sight of me. This way ill be able to get close enough to make a move." The only gear Ares had left on him was several grenades, his two slug throwers, and his combat knife.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

BelleBlair followed Ares silently in awe of the ease it took for him to access the room. The surroundings however, made her uneasy, she began to question what exactly he had in mind- She trusted the bounty hunter and resolved that his methods were just. If they weren’t…well she had a weapon and good running shoes.

The twi’lek quickly turned her back at the first sign of his armor striping. Letting out a small cough she stood with her hands laced in front of her and her olive eyes raised to the ceiling.

" 'erm….”

Upon hearing his explanation she relaxed.

Turning back to face him she looked him in the eyes, assured.

"I understand." she said, massaging her wrist.

She then took out the key.

"To another hotel I presume..."

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn was in one of the under city markets buying a pair of auto slug pistols, and was quite pleased with himself for the find, just as he holstered them on his belt holsters underneath his blue coat that covered his full body armor, and sub slug thrower he watched a silvered haired girl walk by ‘I think I’ve seen her before.’ As he followed her, with his eyes he noticed a tall armored clad man ‘wait I know him’ Shawn was just about to yell "hay boss” when he noticed a grey twi’lek. ‘Huh that’s odd’ he thought as he followed them to a back water hotel. Shawn approached the room and waited just outside the door leaning on the wall, and waited for the two to come out, figuring he didn't whant to disturb his fun. Shawn chuckled "as if thats really going on." Shawn chuckled again.

 

[T.J]

"Exactly." Ares said, his voice no longer tainted by cold metallic voice modulators. "It near the boundary between the upper and lower cities, having a mix of both cultures and peo-" His sentence was cut short. Ares heard foot falls come towards and slowing down near the room the two were in. He put his finger to his lips to silently tell BelleBlair to keep quiet. He stepped past her, able to walk silently due to the loss of his heavy armor. Ares looked through the eye hole on the door to see who it was, what he was sent a mix of confusion and slight anger race through his body. He saw none other than Shawn Mac’ Neal, walk past the door and out of sight. Probably hiding in wait.


Ares took a step back, pulling out one of his revolving slug throwers. He wasn’t entirely sure why Shawn was there, but he was damn sure gonna find out. He quickly pressed the button to open the door, stepping back with his gun ready. Hopefully Shawn would jump the gun and expose himself. If not, Ares would have to call him out.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

BelleBlair's head turned to the door and she quietly obeyed, looking alert and stern with her brow lowered and her eyes narrowed.

She backed against a wall before the door, concealed lest their guest was hostile. She layed a hand on her own weapon, hoping it wasn't necessary to reveal.

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn herd the door open and turned his head and looked at the door but no one came out. A smile cracked at the corner of his mouth. "Hay boss how’s it going?” Shawn said as he came around the corner with his hands up smiling. “Is that anyway to greet a subordinate, even if he’s annoying as hell?” Shawn said smiling. Ignoring that fact that Ares was not in his full armor now.

 

[T.J]

Ares ignored Shawn's statement and fired. Shooting right next to his head. He had no intention to hit Shawn, just to try and spook him a bit. If Shawn didnt move the slug would wizz right past him and into the sky beyond.

"What the fierfek are you doing here Shawn?! Do you miss your shebs getting kicked so bad you decided to come find me?"

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

the twi'lek craned her neck to hear the conversation in the hall. Gingerly peering from the door way she saw a young man about her age, he had hair the color of a copper and two distinctly different eyes- a new face.

Feeling unthreatened she sighed in relief and stepped out to greet him.

"is everything alright?" She asked Ares as she came to his side.

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn didn’t even flinch his eyes narrowed for a second then went back to normal and Cherrie “I was in the neighborhood buying new equipment and saw you I just thought I would see what you were up to, especially with a beautiful twi’lek like her, in you’re company.” Shawn said looking to the right past Ares at BellBlair behind him, and smiled, “don’t get the wrong impression I thought she was a bounty or something, thought I could help though seeing you come here and the clear lack of armor guess I was wrong, oh well sorry for messing up you’re fun boss see yah.”

 

[T.J]

Ares stood motionless for a moment before it clicked what Shawn was hinting at. In a blur of motion he dropped his slug thrower and charged Shawn, sending a fisted hand towards his face. The young bounty hunters remark had offended Ares and his honor, and he planned on doing something about it. BelleBlair's question fell on deaf ears, as now Ares was totally focused on his old recruit.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

The Twi’lek jumped back in shock as The bounty hunter assaulted the one who called him “boss”. It happened so fast she had to double take before she could react. It was easy to see the two of them had an already established relationship-

“Ares no!” she pleaded, taking his arm.

The redhead was obviously not a threat- Ares wouldn’t have opened the door if he was and she couldn’t afford a quarrel at this time- bruised faces and a waste of much needed minutes.

“Please-”

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn barley saw the punch coming since Ares was moving faster than he usually does, but thanks to the Twi’lek slowing down the punch a little gave Shawn enough time to bring his arms up in a cross guard in front of his face blocking Ares hit though it sent Shawn flying and hit the guard rail falling to the floor. “Ow that was ow there, what was that for? You really expect me to think something else with a hotel, a girl, and you not in armor.” Shawn said as he rubbed his right arm which took the brunt of the damage from Ares punch.

 

[T.J]

Ares looked back at BelleBlair for a moment, his eyes hot coals of anger. She had prevented him from giving Shawn a little dose of medicine, but it was not the time or the place for fighting. His eyes quickly softened when he saw the twi'lek's distress to the whole situation.

"You have not the authority nor the jurisdiction to question my methods!" Ares said with the last bit of anger. "......But if you must know. I'm trying to find a missing child, wearing my armor in the undercity makes me a sore thumb. I needed to become another faceless member of the croud, so loosing my metal coating was neccessary." Ares picked up his discarded slughthrower as he spoke, replacing the empty shell with a new one.

"If you like you may accompany me. But know now that if you jepordize this mission or get Miss BelleBlair's niece killed. I will personally make you cease to exist."

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

When Ares first faced her she was sure he would ignore her plea and continue. When he did not she went to the side of the fallen “man with the mouth” and offered her hand. The look in his eyes when he was over come with rage was familiar-unexpected but familiar. Up until that emotion was displayed she had thought his face unbefitting for what she imagined beneath his mask previously. The anger fit him like a glove. She thought He was a man of pride, like her father, the little crude remark that hadn't touched deeper then her flesh had shaken the core of him.

Her brow wrinkled as she was reminded of grave task at hand.

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn accepted the twi’ lek's help to get up, and as he got to his feet Shawn said “That’s all you had to….” Shawn paused at the realization of what Ares just said about a missing child. “You’re orders boss,” Shawn said as he dropped his arm and was completely at Ares service

 

[T.J]

"We should get going then, I dont want to draw any more attention to this room than we already have. Ill breif you on what we have on our way there." Ares said as he holstered his pistol and grabbed a trench coat out of the closet. He put the coat on as he walked past Shawn and BelleBlair and out the door. Ares waited for the two to exit the room before sealing the door behind them.


Ares walked with a quickened pace, time was of the essence, and they needed to get to the hotel as quickly as possible. There was no telling what those bastards could be doing to the defenseless girl. The lift ride back to the bottom floor of the small motel was quiet and uneventfull. So was the walk to the hotel they needed to be at. Ares almost missed the fear his armored visage caused in the hearts of the wicked that dwelled in the undercity. The hotel lived up to its name, resembling a large duraplast and peracrete spire reaching up into the cityscape above.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

BelleBlair urgently followed.- when they reached the “spire” she looked up mesmerized. Their reason for visiting gave the building a new ominous glow. Its peak looked as thought it was reaching up to pierce the sky. An ugly, cruel looking scape. The new additional bounty hunter helped ease her uncertainty, but her Lekku still quivered in their holds.

“she’s been here this whole time…”



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


Below the surface there were darker procedures being done then what went on in the unsuspecting rooms with a view. Death sticks were being trafficked by the bulk, served and ordered. slythmongers lay in wait for the liquid, barred from the “kitchen” and a man in a black mask chatted with two.

“It wasn’t the right twi’lek anyhow.” One said.

“He’s wasn’t there-He probably left the planet.” the other added.

Their concealed proprietor scratched his chin and removed his cover. A Balosar with a down turned nose, low brow and defined cheek bones.

“What should I tell Kartel?” He pondered to himself aloud, patting back sandy hair.

“Hm. Perhaps we should have hit him a little lower then his heart- try under the belt.” he chuckled.

“Find the Gray Twi’lek.” he said. “The right twi’lek- and bring me a piece of her to send. He already has a key.”

He left them with a wave and boarded the lift ahead parting with:

“He has till tonight to visit his niece. I’ll go keep her company while you…raise the stakes.” he pulled his mask back over his head and smirked. Folding his arms behind his back he gripped the handles of his conceled blasters and thought aloud once again.

" We're gonna' have a hell of a time!"

he exited on the 400th floor and entered room 414- closing the door behind him.

 

[Arm514ve]

Shawn got the gist of the situation from Ares on the way to the hotel, when they arrived Shawn looked up. “Wow that’s some building. Anyway what’s the plan two guys and a twi’lek would look suspicious even if it was under better circumstances, not to mention they may know what she looks like too, especially if this hotel is run by them, they'd be on the look out for something strange. So any ideas boss?”

 

[T.J]

"I agree Shawn. If they have BelleBlair's niece they will and probably are looking for her." Ares said as he stared at the large structure infront of the small group. His eyes strained in the sunlight, not being used to not having a polarized lense to shield them.

"Thats why I thought I should bring this." He said as he pulled out a small cylinder from an inside pocket in his trench coat. It was a small can of latex spray paint, which was orange in color. Ares gestured for BelleBlair to follow him to a small alley that he made sure dead ended at the opposite side. He handed the twi'lek the can of spray paint and stood infront of the narrow alley facing outward to guard the girl from view. Ares folded his arms ifront of his chest and patiently waited.