The Starstream Adventures! (Sci-fi RP)

[ShadowHounder]

Solo by ShadowHounder
Master's Wishes

Viper wondered the vast deserted through the endless day. She had decided to leave the Golden Wind behind, for their safety as well as her own. The sandstorm ravaged her synthetic skin and damaged her radio scanners. Having to rely on her optical sensors, the android found a small cave in the massive brown haze. She quickly ducked inside and sat against the hard rock wall. She came here hoping to find the ship wreckage that the rebel leader found her in prior to her reactivation. Viper slowly scanned her own body, seeing how badly she had been injured by the storm. Her breathing carried the weight of her fatigue, as even her metal body has its limits. Her vision slowly faded as she succumbed to the exhaustion and entered the infinite nothingness.

When her eyes opened, the sun’s rays shone and the sand vanished from view. Viper had no idea how much time had passed since she arrived at the cave. She only knew that she had to move quickly to reach her destination. She willed her feet to move towards the large opening and into the endless brown once more. However, she was met with a bullet piercing her shoulder from behind. Someone had been following her, and had been preparing for this moment. Viper crumbled to the ground, her life fading as five more shots drove through her body. She entered the nothingness once more.

-----

The cold steel walls layered the hallways with a soulless void. Each and every step echoed endlessly, as if the place was under a constant earthquake. The sound of the android’s body screeching across the floor only worsened this echo. The hallway reached a fork… two destinations labeled with strange characters. The echoes continued to the left, being replaced with the sounds of machines and biochambers. Inside, a man with a pure red lab coat and flowing blonde hair observed a bear being torn apart from the inside. “Subject 582’s muscular structure has failed to contain the syrem. Even the mightiest of Earth creatures can’t sustain such sudden evolution. A shame really, wouldn’t you agree? Westwood?”

The man didn’t even turn his head as Viper’s mangled body was tossed beside him. The sound of a lighter briefly sounded as the slender man in a trenchcoat prepared his cigar. “Why did you need this brat anyway? You know Master doesn’t want you messin’ with artificial intelligence.”

“That is indeed true, but he requested that we bring her in specifically.” The man stated as he examined the mechanical corpse before him. “Whether she realized it or not, Viper here has valuable information… information we don’t want to become public knowledge.”

“So we’re just silencing her now before she had tell anyone of importance.” Westwood chuckled at the thought. “So, Drake, what do you intend to do with her now?”

“Once the information is extracted and transmitted to Master…” A grin slowly stitched into Drake’s face. “I will dismantle this pathetic piece of scrap. I could make use of her uniquely magnetic alloy.”

Westwood sighed. “Always thinking about your science voodoo I see…”

 

[Insane Darkness]

DahlExpert and I sa
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JERRY present...
Making a Milk Run

On board Solex flag ship.

Roberta got tired of the mobster's wife and gave her to the crew, to do as they pleased with her. Instead her focus was on Zazks where she has been testing a new slave chip, one she implanted deep into his brain. “Alright now Zazks I need you to pick up that gun, and shoot your own foot.” With a press of a button Zazks did what she commanded and shoot his own foot.” Ou good boy eventually you won't need me to shock you anymore, now go check on our supplies.” Zazks did what she was told and left her quarters.” Now then, what do I do now, I’ve already broke my two pets. I guess I could do some training.”

As Roberta left her room, murmurs of confusion reached her ears from the crowd gathering by the airlock. Banging could be heard from the other side to the tune of a knock, but no one dared enter and open the door.

Roberta rolled her eyes. “Alright alright what the hell is going on?”

“Boss looks like we might have an intruder, do we give them the usual welcome?” One of the pirates said.

“Guns out boys and don’t fire unless I say so, or if they start shooting.” Robert leaving the area and getting her armored space suit and opening the airlock.

As the door behind her closed and the one in front of her opened, a masculine figure approached her, dressed in a very simple-looking space suit. In his hands were no weapons, nor could they be spotted on his person, at least over the suit. As he neared Roberta, he merely waved in a friendly manner until she closed the airlock. “Greetings. You are…?” he asked, removing his helmet to reveal his messy blonde hair.

“The second in command of this ship, and I demand what the hell are you doing on it?!”

“You invited me in. Though, it would have been rather rude to not invite me inside.” As soon as he responded, he recalled the first thing she had stated. “So… You’re Roberta, then?”

“Yes and I don’t recall me inviting anyone to my ship, and second you and I haven’t met before, though I can assume your with that Graeme person?”

“Hm, yes… Graeme is being… criticized. Making alliances behind the back of the leader… A fool, that one… Should’ve known better than to try to hide that sort of thing.” The man removed his suit completely, revealing purely a sweatshirt and pants, underneath a set of worn sneakers. “I can never get used to space travel…” he murmured to himself.

“That does not explain why your on my ship, why are you here? If your boss thinks she or he could send someone to convince us to partner up fully they need to learn the word no or be patient.”

“I was sent here merely to warn you. Keeping things secret only works for so long under Their gaze. Like your slavery experiments. How have they been going so far, by the way? I heard you were able to fully control people with the push of a button. Seems like rather revolutionary technology. I can imagine your days aren’t monotonous with something like that in your hands.” The man smiled sincerely, stuffing his hands into his sweatshirt pocket.

Roberta pulled off her helmet so he could get a good look at her face.” You have exactly sexty seconds to explain how you know what I’ve been working on, before things start to really get unpleasant for you.” Roberta said with her eyes glowing.

“I feel like you haven’t been listening… I’m in your ship because you opened the door and I know this because my leader told me.” He placed his head in his hand. “I really hope you don’t need me to repeat myself again…”

“Why are you here then, because your starting to annoy me. And it’s rude to spy on people, especially one that has a pirate army behind him.”

“Wasn’t me, and even if it was, it’s best to know who you’re dealing with. Although, speaking of rude…” He cleared his throat. “I suppose I should introduce myself as well. I’m Jerry, Ghost’s second-in-command. So, if you’re wondering why I’m talking to you normally instead of bowing down at your feet, it’s that I respect you, not that I look down upon you.”

Roberta raised her eyebrow. And turned around back to there ship were she reopened the airlock.” Relax everyone it’s nothing important, now then get back to work!” As she shouted the other pirates looked at the Blond-haired man as they left. Roberta then escorted Jerry to her quarters.” Alright then so what this is some kind of socal call or something?”

“I was sent to be a messenger. Ghost figured you might’ve wanted to see a friendly face when you would receive your warnings.”

“A warning and what kind of warning is that, what that you see our every move that your watching us. And if we don’t play nice you’ll come after us?”

“To sum it up…” Jerry took a moment to process her response. “Yeah. Basically.”

“Give me one minute.” Roberta got up and left for a few minutes, once a few minutes passed. A massive red and black scaled alien eight foot tall alien showed up.

“Hello. I believe you are Solex? A pleasure to meet you.” Jerry stood up and held out a hand.

“You have some guts, or should I say your boss does. How dare it send a messenger to my ship as some sort of warning to not keep secrets from them yet all they have is screats. So please tell me why shouldn't I rip you apart right now while they watch us?”

“Let me answer your question with a question. What is your group’s specialty? What is it you all are the best at?”

Solex leaned in closer to Jerry.” I think you know a little too much about my group already, ether you answer my question while you're on my ship, or I throw you out from a cannon into the planet's atmosphere.” Solex said getting more annoyed at him.

Jerry giggled annoyedly to himself, his eyes twitching. He pulled his arm back, clenching his hand into a fist. “Do not… disrespect me… you-” He paused, taking a deep breath. Once he let it out, he seemed composed once more. “Excuse me…” Jerry cleared his throat. “I was getting to that. It was a rhetorical question. I already had the answer. So, answer mine so that I can accurately answer yours.”

“Well aren’t you easily taunted, my people are pirates and that’s all you need to know at the moment. Now answer my question what does your boss want with my people?”

Jerry sighed. “Very well. I just wanted to have a fun conversation, but it seems you want me to get to the point.” Jerry looked Solex dead in the eyes. “Ghost wants to know if they can trust you or if you’ll become an enemy. They’re testing you. We specialize in keeping secrets, so we cannot give anything away. However, if you have nothing to hide, then you will have nothing to worry about.” Jerry smiled. “Your threats are very funny, by the way.”

“I don’t make threats it’ what would have happened to you if you didn't answer my question. And like I said my group are pirates thieves and murders, we take and raid wherever we please. That’s all we are.”

“Yes, I understand that. We all do. But you all are more interesting than you think you are. Habits, inventions, methods, etcetera. Loyalties. While you all are capable plunderers, how loyal are you to allies? How far would you go to protect someone on our side?” Jerry raised an eyebrow. “These are not things we can just ask everyone individually.”

“And why should I trust you or your people. Trust goes both ways and the only thing you have done is to have your boss show that they can spy on me you sent two people to my second to make sure we fall in line. So tell me in what way does any of that requires me to give an ounce of trust to you people eh?”

Without missing a beat, Jerry replied, “We found you all before you knew of us. Had we been untrustworthy, we would have taken you all out on the spot. But we were diplomatic. So long as you don’t do anything to ruin that, we will stay that way. Though, I notice you enjoy treading the line. It’s not a threat, but I warn you to not make enemies of Ghost. Especially not now.”

 

[Insane Darkness]

Making a Milk Run pt.2

“And why not now, why should I not anger you people raid your supplies kill your people and get the attention of your boss so they can finally reveal themselves?”

“Because they won’t,” Jerry stated simply. And because you couldn’t… he kept to himself.

“I’m half tempted to prove you wrong.” Solex then took a deep breath.” But that depends on you people, I told you what it would take for you to earn my trust, and that is once my people are captured by this golden wind company. You will help break them out of prison.”

“Can I offer a deal, then? So that less of them end up there and you guys have a fighting chance.”

“By all means make your deals, I’m nothing but a fair man on a good day.”

“Your slave tech for some of our experimental weaponry. I assure you, there’s nothing more reliable than what we have to offer. Experimental or not.”

“Humm if I do make this deal you have to understand that I need to see what these weapons can do. After all Not only have you seen our new tec work but Roberta might not want to part with it without seeing what we're getting in return, surely you could understand that?”

A loud knock came from the room outside. “Looks like the delivery's here. Would you mind getting that?”

Solex stood up and opened the door. Roberta along with a few other men entered her room carrying giant crates.” Boss looks like our friend here has come with a bargaining chip.”

Solex looked at the boxes.” May I ask what’s in these crates?”

“I told you. Experimental weapons.”

“He’s not wrong boss, there’s plenty of Plasma laser Kotavorg augmented. All sorts of weapons, I’ll run some tests on them later.”

Solex looked at Jerry.” Alright then I will test these weapons and give them to my two people on the ground, so for now you and I got a deal for now at least.”

“Glad to hear it. I hope you keep in mind this deal in future interactions.” Jerry’s smile widened as he grabbed a few of Roberta’s items. “It was a pleasure. I hope we can meet again.”

“I’m sure we will, since you people seem to like visiting us unannounced. Roberta look over these weapons, I’ll be in my quarters.”

“Right boss man, boys take these to the training room!” Roberta ordered as the crew took to crate to the testing area.

Jerry stepped into the airlock, placing the contents in his hand into a plastic bag and putting it in his sweatshirt pocket before putting his suit back on and closing the door behind him. Once the helmet was on, he whispered to himself, “Hold fire. I’m on my way out. Deal was a success,” before promptly pressing the button to open the door back to space.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Frostlich1228 & ZombieSplitter53
A Girl's' Night Out

It was a day or so after the mission, and Lady made it no secret that she wanted to have a good time. She decided to take JJ out for a night out and a nice drink. She hadn't had a girls night out... Well ever, and she had always wanted to capture that part of the female experience herself. So she quickly made her way over to the Captain's Quarters, a move that she knew might garner attention, but she didn't really care.

When she arrived , the captain gingerly opened her door to greet her, giving her a tight hug. "How are we doing today!?"

The Hug caught Lady off guard, "Great! And you? I feel so welcomed!"

Well, of course you should feel welcomed, silly." JJ stepped back and winked. "I am so looking forward to a chance to relax."

"Yeah me too!" Lady hopped. "Did you bring the booze?"

"Yeah, I actually grabbed a few different things." JJ waved for her to come in. "What can I interest you in?"

"Oh... Hmm... Something Sour! Anything like that." Lady stepped in, curiously inspecting her personal quarters.

They were bright and vibrant, much like the one that slept in them. There was a bright yellow couch and a fluffy, pink sandbag chair between the couch and the bed. The dresser was filled with a variety of books of all shapes and sizes for all ages, and there was a small crate filled with coloring utensils. "How about... some sour apple hard cider?" JJ offered, sifting through a long cold box filled with varjous drinks pilfered from the bar or bought from the satellite.

"This place is awesome! We have the same fashion sense!" Lady dived onto the couch. "Hard Cider yes please!"

JJ popped open a bottle for each of them and sat next to Lady, handing over one. "So what made you want to spend the night with boring ol' me?"

"Well. You're not boring for one, I-" Lady blinked, "Oh... Yixx is telling me I probably shouldn't drink this with her in my head. Alcohol messes with the sensitive probes and stuff that Yorin use to interface with creature's brains. That's what Yixx told me. But it just makes her all wiggly."

JJ giggled and nodded. "Where should we let her out?"

"Uh... Well... Okay. She has really bad anxiety when she's... You know... Out... She'll only come out if I'm watching her and only around people she trusts..." Lady explained, her fading a little.

"I'm sorry I'm such a party pooper Miss. JJ..." Yixx frowned.

JJ waved her hand dismissively. "Nah, you're fine. I guess the question is... if you trust me? Though I can understand if you don't. We've only known eachother a short while."

"W-Well... It's not that I don't... I-I I mean... You're really nice... Ernnmm..." Yixx visibly began to sweat in Lady's body.

JJ nodded. "It's okay. Um... so should I.. leave?" She scratched an ear, unsure how to proceed.

"Okay... Lady... Lady says... She'll protect me... Okay..." Yixx stood up, doing a little hop, shaking her hands." I can do it..."

"You promise, you won't hurt me right?" Yixx looked back at JJ, "We're friends right?"

JJ raised her hand. "Absolutely. You are as safe with me as you are with Lady. I swear."

She said back down, closing her eyes and clenching he fists before the tension in the slowly faded out, Lady blinking. "You got this Yixx! You can do it!"

The Human raised the back of her hand up to her ear and after a excruciatingly long minute or so, an incredibly small yellow-grey slug slithered out into it. "You did it Yixx! I'm so proud of you! This is such a big deal!"

JJ clapped her hands together excitedly. "I am so glad she trusts me! And now I am one of the few non-Yorin hosts to ever see a Yorin up close."

"A-Ye-Ye! No... Sudden Movements okay... It makes her really nervous..." The Caramel Skinned Woman warned, looking back down at the small two inch long slug.

JJ froze, not wanting to cause any harm. "Okay... sorry. Where, um... where should we put her so she'll be safe?"

"Just... I'll keep her with me for right now..." Lady smiled over at her. "This is such a big step for her!"

"I'd love it if she grew to trust everybody on the crew like me." JJ took a drink of the hard cider. "Have you had any troubles with them?"

"Uh... I've had some... Interesting experiences. So far only one person has pointed a gun at me, that's not bad." Lady chuckled awkwardly.

"I... suppose not, given the circumstances..." JJ took a slow drink. "Who, uh... who pointed the gun at you?"

"Well... That weird Noir Cyborg Detective guy... Nick was his name." Lady mentioned. "But I guess we kind of worked it out. Yixx helped him anyway. She's a better person than me "

"A better person?" JJ gave her a curious look. "Now why would you say something like that. It... implies there is something wrong with you."

"I'm a bad person... I steal. I cheat. I hurt people. Honestly. She's probably too good for me." Lady sighed, taking a shot and looking at Yixx.

JJ frowned. "Now come on. I know you have had a hard life, but... those things don't have to define you. If they did, well... I woulnd't be a very good person myself..."

She leaned her head back. "Honestly... If I had never met Yixx... I would still be nothing. Less than nothing."

Suddenly something occurred to Lady, pulling out a small bag of blue liquid and finding a small, empty ashtray to pour it into. She then gently lowered Yixx into it, the Yorin seeming reluctant at first, but eventually crawled her way in. "She really is the best. Even if she doesn't think so."

"So you both struggle with self esteem issues, huh?" JJ placed her fingers over her lips. "Sorry, that... sounded a lot less rude in my head..."

"Well. Yixx likes me and I like Yixx. We complete eachother. Where one of us falters, the other can pick up the slack." The Human downed another shot, clearing her throat. "I'm usually the one the does that talking, but Yixx is a great leader."

"Oh, yeah?" JJ smiled again. "Tell me about a time she got you out of a jam."

"So... I'm not exactly... Smart..." Lady laughed. "One time we were bounty for this big Dodondari man. I think they called him Crowbar? Anyway, he wanted us to get into this house in the city they were located and steal a large briefcase with some blueprints in it. He said they were his and the guy stole them from him first, but I don't know. So we get to the place, I do a little sneaka sneaka, we bypass a number of guards and get into the place pretty much unnoticed. Unfortunately the room that the case was in was trapped with very sensitive, nearly invisible, laser wires, and I tripped one. The entire room locked down.

So I freak out, trying to bust open the metal door with my shoulder... I... Broke my Shoulder Blade... That was when Yixx look control, remembering the layout of the estate, the room we were in was just below the pool. Yixx realized that Lasers like those could be tripped by any movement, and thought that they must have problems with leakage or at least condensation.

So Yixx tool our waterskin, poured it on the floor and made sure that the water ran all the way towards the door. When we hid, hugging the wall, a number of guards came in and, seeing the water, got really frustrated and called in it on the radio as a false alarm, saying it 'Happened Again.' Then they turned around and walked out! And we were able to sneak out right behind them with the case!"

"Nice. That was some quick thinking for her." JJ grabbed another drink, a blue can that smelled like a beer and blueberries. "Though I am sure you're smarter then you give yourself credit for. I bet Yixx would agree with me.

Lady looked over and saw Yixx looked at them from the edge of the bowl, popping back down as if trying to hide. "I usually just punch things and talk."

JJ scotted a bit closer, sighing. "Lady... listen..."

Her smile dropped somewhat, "Yeah?"

"The fact is... we all have our strengths and weaknesses. You can't let them get you down. Truth is..." JJ shrugged. "I'm not very smart myself. I'd have gotten no where if not for Aya. I'm sure you're much smarter then me."

"Nooo! You're a smart Lady!" The Human took her hands. "Okay. You're right. Enough despairing, this is a party! We're relaxing!"

JJ nodded, smiling wide once more, and pulled several bottles out of the cooler along with some glasses. "What say we get wasted, yeah?"

"Fuck yeah..." Lady downed two more shots, blushing slightly.

The pair chatted for the next hour, laughing and musing about stories from their past. They tried a variety of drinks as the spoke, mixing liquors and getting quite intoxicated.

"Sho... Then... They found theses two big Shinso guys... Knocked out on the side of the street, both naked except for a matching pair of... Banana Pattern Panties...! Never saw then in the bar again..." Lady slightly slurred her words as she told her story.

Jackie-Jackie laughed loudly, smacking her leg lightly. "That is... so funny. You are, like... the best at tellin' great stories and... and memories and stuff..."

"Yeah... I'm like... Hot... It's hot in here..." Lady fanned the collar on her short sleeve shirt, eventually deciding to just take the whole thing off, tossing it on the floor, revealing a rather plain skin tone bra. "Feels better... What about you...? Don't you have like... Fur?"

JJ shook her head. "Only on my hands and feet. And my tail." She pulled up her own shirt, her own bra a rather lacey black piece. "See? No fur."

Lady looked over at her tail, smiling as she reached over and gently rubbed it. "Oooh. Soft."

Goosebumps ran all over JJ as she chuckled softly. "L-Lady? U-um... a Cartus tail is very sensative. N-not as much as a Tamearin, b-but..."

"Oh! I'm s-sorry... I don't know much about... Cartus... Or any aliens except Yorin, really..." Lady pulled her hand back, playing with her long hair.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

JJ shook her head. "Th-that's okay. You didn't know. Besides, it wasn't... u-unpleasant..." Her tail swished to the side lightly as she looked away. Was her face red from the alcohol?

Lady leaned in close to her face, her surprisingly small B plus cup breasts bouncing a little. "Want me to do it again...?"

JJ's eyes shifted back and forth. "M... m-maybe...?"

Lady giggled drunkenly, bringing the tail over and rubbing it with much more purpose this time, "How's dat?"

JJ's body tingled, and she got a dopey look on her face. "It feels.... sooooooo good..."

"Oh really?" Lady gave her a devious grin, she reached up with her other hand, gently rubbing JJ's cat ear in between her index finger and thumb. "How's dat?"

One of JJ's legs started to shake a bit as she leaned her head towards Lady. "Feels... amazing..."

Lady leaned in farther, their faces almost touching as something propelled the Human Girl to playfully kiss JJ on the nose.

JJ blushed even more, but giggled. "You're so silly," she muttered, kissing Lady's nose in turn.

Suddenly, Lady's head shot forward, pushing her lips against the Cartus', missing at first, leaving a kiss mark in pink lipstick on her cheek before correcting herself and squishing their lips together.

JJ's eyes widened in surprise, the woman unsure what to do. She was so surprised that she didn't do anything. Didn't kiss Lady back... but she didn't push Lady away. She simply let it happen.

After a few seconds, Lady pulled away, rather disappointed in her drinken state. "Wha... Oh... I'm... I'm sorry... Maybe... I've had too muchh..."

"M-maybe we both have..." JJ bit her lip. "Though was that... o-only the alcohol, or... do you..."

"I dunno... What if I do...?" Lady replied coyly.

JJ rubbed the back of her neck. "I... I-I don't know. It wasn't... bad..."

"What's wrong...?" Lady gently pushed her shoulder. "Never kissed a-a girl before?"

JJ shook her head. "No... I-I haven't. It..." She smiled. "It wasn't so bad..."

"Yeah! Woo!" Lady raised her arms up in celebration. "Yer... Not the first girl... I've been with... I know a thing or... Two..."

JJ scratched her chin sheepishly. "I've been with a... a guy or two. Just... never a girl. Not that I... ever dismiz... dimsis... threw it out as impossible..."

"Well... Why not have a little fun... Huh?" Lady mentioned, casually looking back over at Yixx, who at this point was clinging onto the edge of the bowl and giving her what the expressionless slug version of a panicked gaze.

JJ smirked slightly. "Y-yeah... why not? You... only live once, right?"

"Besides! Weren't bounty hunters! We could all die tomorrow...! Eaten by a giant... Space... Whale..." Lady seemed excited, standing up.

"Yeah!" JJ stood up with her. "So let's not... n-not han... hold anything ba-ack, right? Because... of that whale thing!"

Lady basically hopped onto her, helping her take off her shirt. "Let's... See what I'm working with here..."

JJ's lacy black bra barely kept her breasts bound, like a pair of round fruit shoved into a bin far to small for them. Her skin was silky smooth and well taken csre off, a far cry from the rough, dirty skin of the farmer she had once been.

"Wow... I'm so jealous of these!" Lady cupped both of them through the bra. "Like soft pillows of love..."

JJ gasped lightly. It had been a while since anyone had touched her. "Th-thank you, though... I-I like yours. They look... firm and perky..."

The Pink Haired girl quickly unhooked her bra and tossed it. Her skin was a few degrees rougher than JJ's, not silky by any stretch, but it was nice to run your hand across. "Then why don't you have a closer look..."

JJ laughed nervously, looking up at her chest. "Why do I get the feeling you've had an eye on me for a while now...?"

"How couldn't I, you're a beauty... a cute little... busty kitty cat..." Lady began to help JJ with her undergarments.

JJ's breasts bounced a bit as they were freed from their confines, large double Ds that were surprisingly perky despite their obvious weight and size. She obviously took great care to keep them supported, as it was unlikely she had the time or money for any cosmetic surgery. Desptie her usual nature, JJ couldn't help but blush in this situation.

"Yer so bashful... Or is that the... Al-Alco... The booze..." She chuckled.

"Mmmmaybe a... little of both..." Jackie-Jackie looked aeay. "I'm not used to this mmmmuch... affection..."

"Shhh..." Lady put a finger up to JJ's lips. "Just... Hic!... Have fun..."

The Caramel Skinned Woman pressed her lips against JJ's again, this time much more passionately, slipping her tongue into the Captain's Mouth.

JJ giggled drunkenly. She had never had such a kiss, and it made her feel all warm and fuzzy.

Lady pulled away, "How was that? See, were having fun!"

JJ laughed. "Yyyyyeah! I... urp, like havin' fun!"

"Oooo! Do you know what a Jello Shot is...?" Lady got a devious idea.

JJ shook her head. "I know what a regular shot is, but..."

"So. We have a substance on Earth that turns liquids into a Gel. It's amazing. But that also means you can take the shot off of people." Lady explained, seemingly excited.

"Like a food gel? That sounds amazing!" JJ nodded her head eagerly. "W-wwwe have ta try it!"

"We need... Ah... Gelatin! Yes, Gelatin! Call... The... AI Man..." Lady took a minute to think in her drunken state.

"Um... A... uh? Ash! Ash, we need you!" JJ finally called out.

Ash appeared in the center of the room. He gave the pair a curious look before noting the alcohol levels both displayed. "Wow... may I help you?"

"Wow is right! Hehe... Uhh... Do you have the ability to... Get us... powered gelatin?" Lady asked, flipping her hair back rather clumsily, only getting more of it in her face and forcing her to move it with her hands.

Ash smiled and nodded. "Am I safe in assuming you are asking for consumable gelatin?"

"Um. Yes please." Lady chuckled.

Ash walked over to the food replicator and started typing the recipe into it. "Is there any specific flavor you prefer?"

"Why not multiple? Cherry, Grape, maybe Green Apple?" Lady looked at JJ, "They are all Earth Fruit, have you had any of them?"

"Green apple... I think?" JJ smiled as she watched her excited friend. "And I believe we have a cherry-like fruit on my home world."

"Then yes! Those." The Human Girl nodded quickly.

Ash finished with the replicator and three bowls appeared in it. He carefully carried them over to the table. "I took the liberty of tweaking the chemical formula for you," he said. "All you have to do is pour in about two cups of water, mixed with any other liquid you might want of course, and it will set in about five minutes."

"Nice! Uh... Would you mind doing that while we have fun?" Lady asked, pointing to the bottles they had been drinking on the table. "Those should work fine."

"Of course." Ash took the alcohol, and reading their intentions, grabbed some shot glasses before going to get some water.

"Thank you!" Lady called out. "He's nice. Is it weird that I feel bad asking him to do all these things?"

JJ shrugged. "I mean..." She blinked one eye then the next in quick succession and giggled. "H-he is programmed t-to like to help..."

"Yeah. You're right..." She reached down coyly took a hold of her breasts. "Now... Where were we?"

JJ jumped a bit. "You were shamelessly m-molestin' me and I was allowing it?"

"It's not mo-molesting!" Lady feigned offense. "It's more like... well... Not that!"

JJ stuck her tongue and chuckled. "It's okay. We're just having fun, right?"

"Nothing wrong with some fun between two girls..." Lady laid her head down on JJ's chest. "So soft..."

JJ rubbed Ladu's head. "W-we shouda asked Aya to j-join us. Sh-she likes fuuuun too."

"We still can! Do you Know where she is?" Lady tapped her chin.

JJ thought about it, a process that took a few extra seconds. "Probably... in her room, reading."

"Do you wanna?" Lady smirked.

JJ nodded her head eagerly. "Let's go!" she exclaimed, wobbling towards the door.

"We should... Probably put out shirts back on... Hehehe..." However, even in her drunken state, she suddenly remembered Yixx in her little bowl. "Oh... I don't want to leave her..."

JJ grabbed her shirt and handed Lady hers. "B-bring her with! Sh-she can... she is... always welcome to j-join us."

"I-I... Don't want to take her out either..." Lady stated blankly, lifting her hand down to let Yixx climb on. "Okay! Just hand out in my head! You uh... Don't need to connect... Right?"

Yixx really couldn't respond but seemed eager to get back into the safety of Lady's head as she speedily crawled into her ear.

JJ giggled. "Does that tickle?" she was compelled to ask.

"A little. When I first started it always gave me goosebumps, but it's better now though." The Gunner Woman laughed, taking JJ by the waist. "So... How far is her room?"

JJ opened the door and stepped out, pointing to the door right next to hers. "Ta da! She says she needs to stay close ta... to keeeep me outta trouble."

"Lets see if she'll get in troubles..." Lady knocked loudly on the door.

Aya opened the door. She was in matching purple pajamas with pink, red, and yellow flowers on it. She raised an eyebrow at the pair. "You two are drunk, aren't you?"

"Oh... We aresho... Drunk... Wanna party with us...? We are havin' a girl's night in..." Lady laid her head on JJ's shoulder.

Aya slowly smiled. She was happy the pair were friends. They both needed a good friend. "Yeah... sure, why not. I'll just have to drink hard to catch up with you two."

"Wooo! It's a Threesome!" Lady called out loud, looking around. "I-I mean we have three..."

JJ laughed and grabbed Aya by the wrist, dragging her towards her room. "Come on! We jave Jell-O shots!"

"You have what-O shots?" Aya asked, nearly stumbling.

"They're like booze gel!" Lady explained, helping pull her along.

 

[ZombieSplitter53]

Ash was waiting for them. "They're ready," he said, presenting them with three bowls of gelatin, as well as several shot glasses of the jiggly substance.

"Thank you Mister Ash... Mmm... Aya, you should try the first one." Lady pointed at the colors. "Cherry, Grape, Green Apple."

Aya scratched the back of her head. "Um... the purple one, I guess." She picked up a shot glass of grape gelatin. "So I just eat it?" she said warily.

"Yeah! Just empty it out onto your hand and pop the whole thing in your mouth!" Lady smiled, picking up a Cherry one.

JJ grabbed a green apple one and quickly emptied it in her hand, chuckling at how it wiggled before shoving it in her mouth, smiling warmly at the taste as it jiggled in her mouth. Aya shrugged and did the same, surprised by the taste.

Lady did the same, giving it only good chew before swallowing. "Mmm! So good! How did you like it Aya?"

Aya couldn't help but smile. "It was excellent actually. I... wouldn't mind having more."

"Yeah!" Lady raised her hands above her head. "It's a real party now!"

The trio continued taking shots while Aya focused on drinking. With her small proportions, it wasn't long until she was a drunk as the other two. She rocked back and forth with a smile on her face. "What's this... body shots thing?"

"Oh- okay-okay... Sho... Take off your shirt." Lady faced her drunkily, reaching over and clumsily unbuttoning her top.

"Take off... ma shirt?" Aya seemed hesitant, but seeing both the other women do it, she shrugged and pulled off her pajama top.

"So. What you do... is this." She picked up a green apple shot. "I'm going to put this on your boobs, and then... we're going to take turns... eating it off of you... without using our hands... Ish... Like a game kinda..."

"Offa my... boobs?" Aya looked down at her modest A cups. "I-if you say so. Seems kinda str... strweird... but okay." She laid down and got comfortable. "Go ahead."

The Human girl clapped her hands, placing three of the jello shots all along her body, one on her chest, one of her stomach, and she began to remove Aya's pants as she held the last one.

Aya raised an eyebrow. "Um... what... urp... what are you doin'?"

"Well... I wanted to put... One down here." Lady looked at her awkwardly, brushing it off. "Ish fiiinnee... We're all girls... Like we haven't-urp-seen what naked girls look like..."

Aya shrugged. "I guess so." She laughed, a giddy laugh even JJ had seldom seen from her. "Go ahead! It's all for fun, right?

Pulling Aya's pants down to reveal her underwear, Lady put her last shot directly on top of her panties. "Alright! JJ? Wannaaaa... go first?"

JJ nodded eagerly, going stright for the one on Aya's breast. Being an amateur, there was a lot of slurping, the vibration of JJ's lips making Aya laugh as she finally got it.

"Nice!" Lady smiled, her eyes darted over as she put her hands behind her back and went for the one on her underwear. Despite being more skilled, the drunkenness did cause her to miss once or twice, but she got it, slurping it up. "Ah!"

Aya laughed. "Th-that tickles! W-who gets the last one?"

"Rock, Paper, Scissors?" The Pink Haired girl asked. "Do you Know that game?"

JJ nodded. "I think so. I learned it as a child." She raised a fist. "Ready?"

"Yes." Lady nodded, putting her fist in her hand a few times along with JJ, eventually releasing and coming out with Rock.

JJ came out with scissors, laughing hysterically at her own loss. "G-guess she's... aaaaall yours."

Lady chuckled, leaning down and pick the wiggly substance up off her belly with her teeth, leaning her head up to drop it into her mouth. "Alright! Who's next!"

The next morning saw the women all passed out, various empth bottles strewn about, gelatin melting on the table. Aya was on the couch in nothing but her panties, completely unconcious and not looking like she was waking up on her own volition any time soon.

Lady and JJ, on the other hand, were curled up under the covers on JJ's bed, Lady still wearing her pants, if awkwardly as if they had been off at one point, but JJ was completely nude, her clothes strewn about the room.

Lady was the first to get up, looking around grogily, then down at JJ, her eyes widening. "Oughh... Wha... Uh oh..."

"Hmm?" JJ's eye slowly blinked open, and she quickly winced. "Oh... my head..." She sat up and stretched, yawning loudly, before slowly turning her head to look at Lady.

"Uh..." Lady looked down at her breasts. "Did we...?"

JJ blinked a few times, needing a moment for things to register. "Um... I... I don't know," she said, looking down at herself. "I can't... remember..."

"Yixx!! Ow... Loud..." Lady held her head. "Yixx...? Are you there? Did you see if we...?"

Yixx' voice spoke from within her head, "Oh! I don't know I wasn't connected! I didn't see anything!"

Lady put her face in her hands. "Yixx says she didn't see anything..."

JJ sighed, then shrugged. "Oh well. Nothing we can do about it, right?" She smiled at Lady.

Lady blinked. "You're... Taking this... Well..."

JJ thought about that, and shrugged again. "I guess it is because I am with a good friend. One that I trust."

"But... What if you get pregnant!" Lady returned to her distressed face.

"What if I get..." JJ chuckled, and shook her head. "Don't worry, Lady. Something tells me I won't get pregnant."

"O-Okay..." The Human Woman sighed, "What's uh... Telling you that... By the way?"

JJ looked around for her clothes. "Telling me what? That I won't get pregnant? Why... because we're both women, silly. Unless humans work differently then Cartus..."

"Um... Jackie... I'm not..." Lady gripped onto the edge of the blanket. "Biologically Female..."

JJ blinked a few times while reaching for her underwear. "You're not? But... but you look female to me..."

"Well... I am a Female... I just don't have..." Lady tried to explain it in a way that an alien would understand. "Girl parts..."

"Oh?" JJ scratched her head. "Ooooooh. I see. Well then... so you have a... and if we really did... then I could have gotten..." She nodded in understanding.

"Yeeeaaah..." Lady blushed. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way..."

JJ scrunched her nose in thought, but ultimately smiled. "That's okay. You're still you, right?"

"Thank you JJ. Really." Lady smiled, quickly finding her shirt and throwing it on. "For the record... I do think you're very pretty..."

JJ giggled. "I think you're pretty too." She looked over to Aya and said, "Amd Aya is adorable when she is passed out drunk."

"I'm really sorry. Yixx is my impulse control..." The Human rubbed the back of her neck.

Jackie-Jackie placed a hand on her hip. "Now, why are you apologizing? Could it be..." She gasped dramatically. "...you didn't have fun?!"

Lady waved it off. "Oh you know I had fun! I just thought that maybe you might not have wanted it to go... That far..."

"Mmm... probably not, but I think I'd probably remember if we did go that far." JJ winked and said, "Not that it isn't a possibility for the future."

Lady bit her lip. "Are you... Serious? Even after knowing my parts aren't all lined up?"

JJ waved her hand dimissively. "There used to be this indigenous tribe of Cartus on my home world. The Norvac. They saw sex and gender as completely seperate. Once you reached a certain age in the tribe, you got to decide what gender you were. So if you were born a male but wished to be a woman, you dressed like a woman, did the work of a woman, and were treated like a woman. I always that that was so cool, how open minded they were."

"That's awesome!" Lady leaned forward. "The Cartus are pretty cool!"

"Thanks!" JJ grinned proudly. "You want to talk more about them over breakfast?"

"I think so. I know this great Hummus recipe from back on Earth. I wonder if Chuck has the stuff for it..." Lady tapped her chin.

JJ nodded, quickly slipping on the rest of her clothes. "Let's find out! We'll... clean up and wake up Aya when we're done."

"Right..." Lady took a look around at the mess. "Hoo boy..."

 

[BMPixy]

Black0ut & BMPixy: “A Drink, a Duel, and the Price of Life, Part One”
Aboard the Golden Wind

Titania wandered into the lounge area, her eyes slightly glazed over, her ears pressed flat to her head, and the tail she had taken such good care of dragged behind her. In her right hand, she held a bottle that had a pink liquid within it, while her left contained her trusty sword. She sat down, placing the bottle in front of her.

She took out a locket, showing a Shinso with long black hair and a goofy, almost shy smile on it. She laid it on the table and after sighing, grabbed the bottle and took a swig. A noticeable grimace marred her normally happy go lucky face as she drank. It appeared the drink was a terrible pick for her and almost seemed like a very reserved cry for help.

A moment later the door to the lounge slid open once more, allowing a curious and inwardly concerned Gazan in after Titania - the noble having spotted her sorry state and did the only natural thing. The Shinso’s ears twitched slightly as he read the mood of the room, decided on the best course of action, and then put it into motion.

“Grandmother said this,” Gazan began, striding confidently towards the bar, finger raised towards the heavens, “Sorrows are a part of oneself. Drowning them drowns you.” Sitting down next to the foxgirl, Gazan gave a confident smile. “However, if you won’t mind, I’ll be extending a hand to save this drowning woman. A friend?” he added, nodding his head at the locket.

"Yeah…" Titania murmured, her grimace slowly reverting into a frown. "Why do you… why do you hide your emotions? My helmet recorded some sounds when I was unconscious…" She looked up at him, her eyes still carrying the semi-dead look in them.

“A noble’s duty is to be the pillar upon which a community rests,” Gazan replied, folding his hands behind his head and leaning back. “We cannot live for ourselves. In times of fear, we must be brave. In times of injustice, we must be paragons of virtue. To do otherwise risks the trust of the people,” he explained. “I, unfortunately, am not yet a perfect pillar, but I am approaching it.”

"It feels a little disingenuous… not everyone will want you to be brave, not everyone will need you to be virtuous… sometimes the best way to gain the trust of someone is to be open with them; to be yourself." Titania looked down, eyeing a barely visible spot on the bar.

“Well, then you are in luck,” Gazan replied, tilting his head to better keep an eye on Titania, “as the ‘myself’ you seek is already a man of courage and virtue. Though I imagine me simply saying that does not instill the confidence I wish it did.”

"No… it doesn't." The foxgirl merely turned her sword on, as casual as one might grab a knife before slicing the top of her bottle off. The blade quickly retracted back into its hilt. "Because you don't really stop with the whole noble persona… you keep using it and I don't feel… hic… like I'm getting to know you…" She laid her head on the bar, looking at the photo of her friend in lieu of Gazan.

Gazan was silent for a moment, pondering how to respond to this. He allowed himself to furrow his brow a touch in consternation, but shook his head to dismiss that emotion a single breath later. “I imagine that your friend was one whom you truly knew?” he asked, cocking an eyebrow. “Tell me of him, so that I may try to know him as well.”

"Chances are he's gonna die soon anyways, so why bother?" Titania lifted her head and proceeded to throw the glass bottle at a nearby chair, shattering it and its contents onto the floor. "I mean, losing your best friend from childhood because your pathetic fighter craft couldn't turn fast enough, that's always fun isn't it? Oh, and not to mention the fact you barely earn enough money to keep him alive on life support. Truly fun." She laid her head back down, this time seeking solace from her arms.

“Yes, it is fun,” Gazan deadpanned. Suddenly, an idea sprouted in his mind, and after mulling it over for half a second, Gazan tapped his watch, bringing up it’s full holo-display. After flipping through a few applications, he asked, “Where should I transfer the funds?”

She slowly lifted her head, a single tear sliding down her face. "W-what?"

Gazan bit down on his desire to lead with ‘as a noble’, and instead said, “Generosity is a virtue. Allow me to express it. Say… forty thousand?”

Two things happened in very short succession: Titania latched onto the giant Shinso, her face buried into his chest. The second happened to be the silent sobbing, her body shaking uncontrollably as she fought and failed to control her emotions. Her hands gripped onto him, not hard enough to hurt or be uncomfortable, but hard enough that Gazan wouldn't be able to get up or move without dragging her along. Gazan simply smiled, maneuvering an arm up to pat Titania’s head in an attempt at soothing her. He said nothing, letting her cry, and instead he let a low, almost purring, rumble echo through his chest.

Her sobbing soon retreated into sniffles, her hands releasing the noble. When she looked up at him, she merely asked in a soft voice, one that did not belong to a bounty hunter, but to a meek and shy trader, "Why…? Why are you being… nice…?"

Gazan pretended to ponder that question for a moment, but simply snorted and shook his head. “Because that expression you had did not fit one who chose the name ‘Flower Blooming on the Mountaintop’,” he said, giving a very slight shrug. “Though I imagine you didn’t have that meaning in mind when you chose it.”

"No… it wasn't. But I think I might prefer it still…" She said softly. She retreated back into her seat, the haunted expression she had replaced by a more embarrassed one. "I… suppose I owe you an explanation about what happened back then, don't I?"

“If you wish,” Gazan said, wiping slightly at the tear-stains on his robe. “There is no debt produced by generosity after all.”

"During my rookie years… my best friend joined me as a bounty hunter. We were both ace pilot's, with training from military, independent and even some pirates that liked us. We had a crew we were with, same like this one when we got ambushed by a cruiser." Titania closed her eyes, recounting and reliving the tale.

"Me and Tiberius scrambled to our fighter craft. A cruiser with us and our corvette of a home ship could easily take it down and, we started to do so. Blow after blow, we rained hell down onto it. I got lucky and saw their reactor and shot it, blowing it up. That's when the second pirate ship showed up.

"It was red, sleek and far more stronger than it should've been. It ripped our contractor up into itty bitty pieces within a matter of minutes. They only managed a single salvo of everything they had before they imploded. I don't think the pirates expected that because the salvo got through their shields and tore off several of their weapons. Me and Tiberius did our best to keep the heat on them and we eventually took out their bridge crew. That… that pissed them off. As the floating corpses floated into space, a laser repeater, or a ship-based minigun, fired at Tiberius, ripping his left wing off. I… wasn't fast enough to turn and fire at the weapon; it barely missed the cockpit and just destroyed his other wing. I fired all my missiles, ran my plasma gun until it overheated, and managed to rip off the front part of their ship." As she continued, tears started to come out of her closed eyes, and some of the rattling she had been experiencing came back as her hands shook.

"When I got to his craft… the cockpit was breached. Any oxygen inside was gone. And he had managed to put on a mask, but he had fucked up with it, probably because of the second shot to his fighter. He… was unconscious. I hopped out after securing a rope to the ship and… I grabbed him, put him back in my ship. And turned on the oxygen. He didn't wake up and I flew him as close as I could to a station before my fuel ran out. We drifted in space for a good hour before we got close and the station, thankfully, pulled us in. He's been there for a couple years now… and the doctors keep asking for more money each year. I had to sell my power armor last week in order for them to extend when I had to pay…" She let out a choked laugh, before wiping away her tears with an arm.

Gazan nodded slowly as Titania told her story, a pained grimace crossing his face. “A truly tragic tale,” he began, rubbing the back of his head. “I see now why you pushed yourself so hard as of late. The expenses must be astronomical if armor of your quality only bought you week.”

"Yeah… and trying to hold it together is getting harder." Titania said softly, looking over at Gazan. "But that's my lot. That's what I get for fucking up. That's why I'm more ruthless when bounty hunting; I can't afford to not be… that's why I went after the minigunner. I didn't want you to end up the same way Tiberius did." She offered a more plastic smile as if to pretend everything was fine.

“I see…” Gazan nodded. “Well, at the time you did not know that guns cannot kill me, so such an action is admirable in such a context. Another point to admire is your resolve in these circumstances… present condition not withstanding,” he added, motioning his head at the shattered bottle across the room. “You truly have built a strong core of will.”

"Not strong enough, otherwise I wouldn't try to get drunk on the worst days." Her ears started to pop up, her morose attitude fading away. "And what do you mean guns can't kill you?"

 

[BMPixy]

Black0ut & BMPixy: “A Drink, a Duel, and the Price of Life, Part Two”

“It is not something that will ever be allowed,” Gazan replied simply. “Guns and blades and bombs are the weapons of the masses, and as such have no right to damage a noble. The only thing I can imagine killing me is one of indomitable will, walking a path leading to damnation, and even then that is simply a possibility.”

"So, if you were facing a kill squad from Fee, you think they wouldn't be able to stop you?" She raised an eyebrow, her expression making it clear that she didn't agree with his words.

“Of course I do,” Gazan said with a firm and confident nod. “The Caineghis-Kruger system has no weaknesses, and neither do I. Combined, I become peerless on the battlefield, a colossus striding amidst chaff.”

Titania playfully punched the much larger man in the arm. "Ten credits says I could knock you out with my simple skinsuit and a dull wooden blade. Although, I bet you'd struggle with fighting me; I am very good about making people expose their weaknesses."

“While I will accept the challenge, I won’t accept the bet - after all, I just gave you money, it would be rude of me to take any from you in this trying time,” Gazan said, standing and stretching. “The name Caineghis-Kruger does not know defeat, after all.”

"It doesn't? Then what about keeping me conscious? Wouldn't that qualify as 'defeat'?" Titania smiled, as she stood up, cracking her neck. "Or were you just allowing me to bleed out a little?"

Gazan simply chuckled and gave no reply, a sparkle in his eye signalling that he knew that trap well. “Are you certain you are at your best? You were imbibing quite heavily not too long ago, and I don’t want you to have any excuses afterwards.”

"Oh? And should I actually win? What then? Will you say 'oh that doesn't count because you were drunk' or will you accept defeat and admit that you outclassed by a drunk?" She sauntered past him, her tail brushing up against him as she made her way to the door, stopping to look at him expectantly.

Gazan’s grin grew wide, and for a brief, almost imperceptible moment predatory. “Didn’t you just hear me? The name Caineghis-Kruger does not know defeat,” he said, following along after Titania. “You may be a flower blooming atop a mountain, but I am he who conquers mountains.”

"Do you know what a Ronin is, Gazan?" She asked, a small grin of her own taking root.

“I am eager to learn,” the noble replied in turn as the two walked down the halls of the Golden Wind.

"A ronin is a masterless warrior who got strong by being defeated. They covet no wealth, they have already fought powerful enemies, but at a certain point, they too stopped being defeated." She paused, looking at him with a predatory stare. "I am a Ronin. And I also learned how to fight from my mother who was an assassin. I think you're going to end up regretting trying to beat me. Then again, I'm sure you have a quote from your grandmother about something like this, so let's hear it."

“I see you are learning my habits,” the Shinso said, cracking his knuckles ever so slightly. Raising that ever so faithful finger to the heavens, he began. “Grandmother said this. An assassin needs only win one battle to succeed. A noble must win every. Strength comes from diligence.” He lowered that outstretched hand, and motioned for Titania to lead the way into the holo-room.

"I still am sure I could knock you down; but I can't very well tell you how I'm going to do that. I'll make sure not to hurt you too bad." She chuckled, walking in and setting up an urban environment. "After all, bruising your ego is punishment enough." She stuck out her tongue at him, as a wooden blade appeared in one of her hands.

“Those words make me wonder if I am the only one with an ‘ego’ at risk of bruising,” the noble taunted in turn, plucking his own wooden blade from the air and giving it a few swings to test the weight. Finding it acceptable, he settled into a stance, the hilt of the blade held at just below head level with the tip angled down, the Shinso’s other hand clutching it from underneath at the midway point. “Now then, shall we begin?” he asked, his eyes focused on Titania, yet not unaware to the world.

Matching his stance at first, she changed it, holding the blade in front of her, both hands gripping the hilt. Her eyes scanned him as she started to circle, quick yet careful with her footwork to ensure he simply couldn't just bowl her over. "Talyin Seth Quoto Saikon... (Have it your way…)" She replied in her native tongue.

Gazan gave firm, jerky nod, his eyes not breaking off of Titania throughout the motion. His vast kinesthetic knowledge analyzed Titania’s guard, imagining all the strikes that could flow from that position, all the ways the blade could be brought to defend, the Shinso visualizing all this knowledge as a barrier in front of the foxgirl at the very edge of her range. Gazan lowered his blade and settled into a different stance, blade held low and off to the right with one hand, tip down, whilst his other hand was freed and held forward, his own footwork keeping him on the inside of Titania’s circling. This was a message - if Titania wanted in, she would have to get there herself.

She smiled, not in a predatorial fashion but rather in a sweet way, like what one might do with a friend. She shifted herself closer, making sure the only attack he could try would be a lunge and punch which she could deflect. "Sooo… When am I going to experience the expertise of the Caineghis-Kruger bloodline, hmmm? Or are your skills a little rusty?"

Gazan’s answer was not with words, but a sudden, almost impossible, burst of action - both of his feet shuffled forward in a blur of motion, closing the gap to just outside of Titania’s range yet well within his. His right hand slashed sideways, the blade turning into a mass of brown as it swept from side to side. It was a telegraphed, predictable, and easily blocked blow - exactly as Gazan intended it to be.

The fox dropped to the floor, not expecting Gazan to close so quickly. However, from her lower vantage point she realized three things: His knees could be targeted, his groin could be targeted, and finally her blade couldn't reach his neck before she would receive a downwards strike. With that in mind, she swirled herself around to deliver a harsh kick, one that was tamed down from its full power but still would trip him up. Her blade thrusted at his stomach, eager to draw his blade to block so she could recover and back away.

But again, that unbelievable ability to move came to Gazan’s aid, as the momentum from those two steps forward was shifted into three steps backwards in an instant, weaving back from the kick, then a fourth step, just stepping out of range of the thrust. The noble returned to his stance, as if that blur of violence had not occurred.

Titania leaped to her feet, her eyes more cautious than before. However, that did not stop her from charging at the Shinso at a ridiculous speed… before diving through a window of a nearby building.

As much as Gazan wished to transform and put his armor’s cards to use in this situation, he did have some sense of fair play. After all, this was merely sparring. However, this couldn’t mean he couldn’t speak up, as he re-positioned himself towards the middle of the street, keeping his senses open and aware. “I should have expected as much. Assassination techniques aren’t the strongest in open battles, it makes sense you would try to shift the battlefield to your favor. However, you seem to think I’m obliged to honor that shift. You are the one who is trying to knock me down, after all.”

"I could also use several more dirty attacks to incapacitate you, but I'm not. Besides, this bed is comfy… why should I come down and fight you head-to-head?" Came the Fox's voice. However, to a discerning ear, it didn't sound right as if it had been slightly distorted.

“Because you are trying to win, are you not?” the Shinso said in turn with a smirk, closing his eyes and focusing his senses elsewhere. His ears flickered, awaiting the barest of sounds. His nose twitched, searching for that scent of alcohol he knew lingered on her. His feet held still against the ground, searching for the telltale vibration of footsteps. And the fur on the back of his neck twitched, attuned to his primal instinct’s sense for danger. His breath grew still, his patience immeasurable, and he readied himself for Titania’s next trick.

Several wooden daggers that appeared to have been sharpened from the house Titania entered, flew at him from several different angles. "Give in, Knight. It'll be easier that way…" came the distorted voice softly, as what appeared to be a table leg sharpened into a javelin flew at his stomach amidst the knife barrage.

 

[BMPixy]

Black0ut & BMPixy: “A Drink, a Duel, and the Price of Life, Part Three”

An idle portion of Gazan’s brain wondered why it always came down to stabbing in these sorts of situations, but that portion was conscripted to use for better purposes. One hand went to his robe, ripping and tearing it free towards the largest cluster of daggers, sending them spiralling out of control from the sudden obstruction. The other hand twisted the sword, wood cracking against wood as the few remainders were parried, leaving only the improvised javelin and the need for the noble to get serious for a moment, something he desperately wished he didn’t have to. He would just have to finish this fast, before...

“Unbound Kata: Phantom Pace,” he unconsciously muttered, his body twisted and jerked unnaturally, and the table leg seemed to phase through the Shinso’s body, and he quickly snapped his guard back into place as the barrage concluded, his only defense against the world his blade and his athletic shorts.

"Impressive reflexes. You are actually a threat to me… but I hope you don't mind if I eye your chest a little…" Titania flirted lightly, her sword landing among the daggers and spear.

“Looking is free,” Gazan replied, twirling his blade confidently, repositioning himself to face Titania proper. “But touching - you’ll have to work a lot harder for that.” With his free hand he beckoned for her to come hither.

Titania walked out the door of the building she had taken refuge in, but she had managed to find a blue piece of cloth that she wrapped around her head. "Of course. I wouldn't do that to someone who is helping me… but those abs… mmm. I'm surprised you haven't been snapped up by some girl by now." She grabbed two daggers off the ground, putting her left hand in front of herself while her right stayed low and to the side.

Gazan snorted lightly in response. “Some have tried, but I am a knight in all matters,” Gazan answered, mentally counting down how much time he had left. “But that is a tale for another time,” he said, measuring out the ranges in his head once more, placing himself between Titania and the blades across the street. Carefully he took one step forward, and then two, seeking to provoke her into trying to blitz in with his low guard.

She threw a dagger in response, her eyes hardening as she utilized her enhanced speed rushing around the man as she tossed her remaining dagger before picking up the spear and her sword. "But why not now?" She asked, raising the spear to head level while her sword pointed at Gazan.

“Because you already have enough distractions.” As Titania readied herself, Gazan’s remark was punctuated by the first dagger she threw careening towards her position, it’s twin carried in Gazan’s right hand as he blitzed in low, almost parallel with the ground. As his left hand with the sword lanced out at shin level, his right caught the ground, shifting his momentum and twisting him forward into a reverse scorpion kick, matching his low blow pace for pace.

The spear she had kept spiked towards towards him, losing some momentum as his lower blow struck true; she stumbled backwards, the blow ensuring a fall was inevitable. However, her sword, at the same time, went to slash at his legs with her full force - intent on crippling his legs in a similar fashion to what he had done to her but with more force involved.

Despite the taunting and bantering, the details of the world had long since fallen away from Gazan’s senses. The grind of asphalt against his bare hand, the simulated sun hovering above, the expression on Titania’s face, all had disappeared in his mind, leaving only form and motion. In this state of absolute focus with no room for thought or analysis, Gazan went for the first answer to his situation.

“Henshin.”

Wood cracked against - wait - carbon-neutrolite composites, Gazan flipped himself forward with the - wait - momentum from his kick, his sword following forward in a perfect arc, aiming directly for - wait! Gazan’s blade halted in place, his faceplate expressionless as he held his blade still before Titania.

She laid on the ground, her eyes wide in surprise. She offered a weak smile, her wooden weapons lying in ruins around them. "Although, I know we were both fighting pretty hard, I'm pretty sure you were cheating… but uh…" Titania tapped her hand on the ground, trying to signal him that she surrendered.

“...Right,” Gazan said, a little too slow for such a simple answer. He tossed his blade to the side and offered a hand to Titania, still keeping his armor on for the moment. She hesitantly took his hand, her eyes revealing no emotions as she tried to analyze the situation.

Gazan helped Titania to her feet, before taking a few steps back to give her a little space. “I’m sure you would appreciate answers for that sudden burst of killing intent,” Gazan began, rubbing the top of his helmet, before shaking his head and dismissing his armor entirely, his replicator also helpfully building him a new robe in its place. “The Caineghis-Kruger system is meant for war. In learning it, you enter a certain mental state where there are but two things you perceive - threats and non-threats. And from there, well, instinct takes over. It is an… unfortunate side effect of fully utilizing the system’s techniques.”

"So you basically you entered into a bloodthirsty rage. I'm going to say I won that little skirmish because using armor defeated the whole purpose…" Titania started, crossing her arms but smiling, "but I'm also pretty proud of myself; my skills are good enough to make you have to rely on your training and take me seriously."

“Less bloodthirsty rage, more… hyper-focus, but you understand the point,” the noble said, tilting his head side to side slightly. “And you can say you won all you wish, as I cannot consider that a true defeat. I lost to myself, after all.” Shaking his head once more, he added, “No, that is unfair of me to say, you are indeed quite skilled.”

"We'll call it a draw. You were just as skilled… not many can dodge the spear, much less all the knives." Titania bowed, somewhat, before quickly deactivating the simulation. "It's unfair to say I won, even though I want to."

 

[BMPixy]

Black0ut & BMPixy: “A Drink, a Duel, and the Price of Life, Part Four”

“Three thousand years of history produce solutions for a variety of situations,” Gazan replied with a slight shrug. With a self-assured smirk, he added, “There was a time when those of my family were the finest warriors in the Kingdom of Estalucia. Even to this day our martial tradition and prowess is matched only by a few. Consider your techniques to be among them.”

"I decided to use my mom's techniques. They're meant to take out honorable warriors. I have some time before I'm confident in using my own techniques against you." Titania opened the holo-room door and turned around to look at the Shinso.

“Well, I look forward to that day then,” Gazan said, brushing back his mane. “Testing myself against strong foes is part of my goals as a bounty hunter - adding something concrete to this system is part of the legacy I wish to create. I imagine that your learning can help with my own development.”

"How so?" Titania asked, briefly turning on her blade and inspecting the hilt after a few moments.

“If you grow stronger, than I have no choice but to grow stronger myself, don’t I?” Gazan asked, raising an eyebrow. “And when physical strength peaks, the only room for improvement is execution and technique - exactly the sorts of things I wish to develop for the Caineghis-Kruger system.”

"Okay… but isn't your system already perfected? You said it yourself, 'One to replace the gods' and all that. Why does the system need tuning if it runs just fine?"

“Because nothing perfect stays that way without constant improvement,” the Shinso explained. “Times change, and the system must change with it, lest it be left behind. For instance, when guns first became popularized, the Duchess at the time adapted the use of the brace of pistols into the style. When the technology improved, a dozen pistols became a single one, and the style grew. Techniques to deal with those with firearms developed, were put into practice, and either adapted or were discarded. Truth told, that is why the Caineghis-Kruger system is perfect - because it evolves with the times.”

"So you think my family techniques will improve your own?" The fox merely smirked. "I could always say no…"

“True, but live training will hone your own techniques, no? We spar every once in a while, and we both become stronger. Maybe next time you can handle the gene-modded Shinso yourself.”

Titania frowned. "Given that you were under a hail of bullets and pinned, I think I get some slack, especially since I got ambushed." She shook her head, before a slight smile came to her lips. "But it also let me see that you don't like others getting hurt for you. You're a softie on the inside, huh?"

The noble shook his head. “No, it is simply my duty to get hurt before my allies do. That is why knights wear armor, after all. That sentiment goes double now that you lack your own. Even if your circumstances are difficult, it is no cause to get yourself killed by pushing yourself too hard.”

"It is exactly that. If I stop for a second, if I give myself time to think, that's it. He dies. If I don’t break myself over and over, I can't pay his medical bills." Titania offered a rueful smile, as she shrugged. "So unless you have a magic way to stabilize him, I'll keep going until I do eventually die."

“On the other hand, the sooner you die, the sooner he does,” Gazan replied in turn. “And while I can’t help stabilize him…” he pauses for a moment, then shrugs and adds, “Well, suffice to say I am working on matters to get more, better work our way. Being a Duke, even in absence, does have benefits.”

"Like?" Titania's tail swished behind her impatiently.

“Friends within the government,” Gazan said simply. “Nothing concrete yet, but I have a meeting with an acquaintance of an acquaintance soon which I imagine will be quite beneficial to us all.”

"And I should wait for this acquaintance of an acquaintance?" Titania frowned. "That still involves waiting and that is not something I can afford to do."

“Give it a few days at most, Ronin,” Gazan said, raising a confident finger. “I am the man who stands at the top of forming profitable arrangements.”

"I'm still taking contracts." A pause. "But I'll be nice and not take the more dangerous high-paying ones. Fair?"

“Indeed. If you die pointlessly, I’ll kill you myself,” the noble said, leveling that finger at Ronin.

"And why do you care so much about me? Last I checked, our deep connection was you carrying me over your shoulder." Titania raised an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly to the side.

“Because I like helping people. Or, rather, I dislike not helping people. If there is someone within my reach who needs help… well, why not?” The noble shrugged, as if this was the most obvious thing in the universe.

"You're a very strange man… you know that, right?" Titania shook her head, before looking up with a smile. "Alright, 'One who stands on insert something here', I'll be careful. Wouldn't want to hear you crying from the afterlife." She started to walk out before pausing. "See you around, Gazan?"

“Of course you will,” he replied with a smirk and a wave. “I have been told I am hard to miss.”

 

[BMPixy]

“A Civil Servant, Soba Noodles, and Daylight Crime, Part One”

The slow rhythm of a restaurant settling down from peak hours always appealed to Gazan - the clinking of plates and glasses as tables were cleared, the measured pace the wait-staff worked at knowing that the worst was behind them, the friendly chatter of those patrons who missed the rush filling the air, slightly drowned out by the light city-pop playing over the speakers. Gazan took a heady sip of his drink, the cherry and mango flavors combining with the light carbonation to produce a wonderful mix of flavors in his mouth as the Shinso gazed out the window by his booth, out at life moving on within the station.

A trolley rolled to a stop on the farside of the street, disgorging it’s contents of students out to freedom from the grind of school. Laughing and joking, they went their separate ways - some to visit the stores populating this boulevard of the station, others to make the trek back home, still more just to relax and hang out with those they called friends. A street-cart attendant took this chance to hawk his wares, cheap food perfect to spend an allowance on. The trolley took off once more, leaving behind a young Cartus boy gazing out, empty-eyed, into the world, meeting Gazan’s own eyes. Contact was held for a moment, two moments, before -

“My apologies for being late,” a voice interrupted Gazan’s reverie, pulling his attention from the child and back into the restaurant. A slim Shinso man slid into the seat across from the bounty hunter, delicate features, close-cropped mane, and modern fashion all standing in contrast to the burly scion of Caineghis-Kruger. “Shuttle met some delays on docking.”

Gazan nodded. “It is of no concern, you arrived,” he said. “I took the opportunity to order our lunch, this course came highly recommended.”

“And is their water highly recommended as well?” the other Shinso motioned at the glass of water placed before him, prompting a chuckle from Gazan.

“No, I simply did not know your tastes in drink, that is all.” Gazan shook his head. “Still, color me surprised to hear you had entered the civil service, Oriens. I thought you were intending to join the Navy?”

“I was, but bluewater vessels are becoming a rarity these days. After all, why lay down a keel for a battleship when you can lay one down for a starship instead?” Oriens replied bitterly. “Regardless, I have my half-brother to thank for this position, he managed to pull some strings.”

“Well, then I am glad he did, as I do have a little favor to ask,” Gazan began, before noticing the waitress approaching, carrying a tray laden with food. “But business can wait for a moment, I’m sure you must be famished from your long flight.”

“Aye, star-lagged to hell and back,” Oriens said, leaning back slightly to let the waitress lay out the food - two wooden trays laden with cold buckwheat noodles matched with two dishes of a dark brown sauce, a third plate heaping with grilled and raw vegetables, and finally a fourth bearing a golden-brown bundle of fried Halsingland prawns. Before the waitress could leave, Oriens raised a single finger. “A Blue Auguste, please,” he asked, prompting a nod from the serving staff. As she left, the slim Shinso looked over the assembled food, smacking his lips in anticipation. “Well, certainly hits the Six Colors, now how do I figure out if it hits the Six Flavors?” he asked, reaching for a fork.

“I am told you eat these noodles like so,” Gazan replied, taking up his own utensil. Deftly he twirled a clump of noodles around the fork before lifting it up and dunking it into the sauce dish. Ensuring it was properly coated, he raised the dish to his mouth and chomped down onto the noodles, taking a moment to savor the rich mix of flavors. Following the noble’s example, Oriens took his own first bite of his noodles.

“Ah, delicious,” he said, losing himself in the culinary experience. “The savoriness of the sauce strikes a beachhead, and off the landing crafts roll the tanks of the noodles’ sweetness, supplemented by a lingering saltiness from the sauce.” Oriens smacked his lips and readied himself a second serving of noodles. “Though I’m certain this is just standard fare to one of your standing.”

“Well, yes, but not through the manner you imagine,” Gazan replied, cutting into one of the prawns, his manners contrasting against the other Shinso’s haphazard eating style. “The good Captain of the vessel I find myself working aboard has managed to acquire a most curious specimen - an Azisin chef.”

“Interesting, interesting,” Oriens replied through a mouthful of noodles, swallowing them before continuing. “I had thought their kind preferred the more physical arts, but the galaxy is full of surprises, isn’t it? Like the Duke of Caineghis-Kruger deciding to become a bounty hunter for the Feds.”

Gazan chuckled lightly, taking a sip of his drink, enjoying the fruity contrast to the heavy astrekan tones of the prawn. “The UFP controls vast territories, far more than the homeworld does, do they not? Consider it a larger backdrop for the legendary opera I am to perform on it.” Gazan set down his drink and leaned back in his seat, smoothing out the front of his robe. “Though that does bring me to the reason I invited you here. You recall the matter of Kolshei Vilanov?”

“Aye, news nets were all over it for a li’l while,” Oriens said, taking a break from his meal for a moment as well, the waitress returning with his drink order at the same time. The civil servant took a sip of his Blue Auguste, enjoying the interplay of cool vegetable flavors and the slight touch of alcohol. “He’d been out of our reach for a while, so it was a real surprise that he’d been snagged.”

“He is one of many, no?” Gazan replied, cocking a curious eyebrow. “Shinso law enforcement and bounty hunters have a hard time entering Federation space, meanwhile our criminals exploit the information divide to hide amongst the populace across the border. Though, I’m certain you’re already well aware of this, Western Assistant Executive Secretariat of Extra-Imperial Crime Oriens Yatsunar?”

“‘Surprised to see me enter the civil service’ my ass,” Oriens quipped, grinning slightly. “Alright, what’s your deal, Duke Caineghis-Kruger?”

“I’m sure your men are keeping an eye on these sorts of individuals, even without the correct jurisdiction,” Gazan explained. “And, well, wouldn’t it be so convenient to have someone with the correct jurisdiction and access to the updated and accurate information on hand? And for not half-bad credits too, considering that I am the one who stands at the top of bounty hunting.”

“Aye, it’d be convenient,” the ‘civil servant’ replied, chasing down his drink with a few bites of vegetables. “I’d start to ask conditions, these sorts of things don’t just fall in your lap, eh?”

“Well, the crucial one is this,” Gazan said, leaning forward and raising a single finger. “I am not a slave catcher. Real criminals only. The good Captain I spoke of is a Cartus - freeborn, before you ask - and I certainly do not wish to endanger the relationship I have forged, not to mention that UFP licensing forbids it.”

“Right, right,” Oriens answered with a nod. “You do know that it would likely be those criminals that escape both our and the UFP’s nets that will end up on your plate, correct?” he asked. “Dangerous game.”

“Grandmother said this,” Gazan replied, raising a single finger towards the heavens. “Chase two birds, and you catch two birds.”

“Hm. I thought that it was Nastassja Fine e’la Sangermain who said that.”

“You assume they are not the same,” Gazan replied with a ‘humble’ nod. Wiping his mouth with his napkin, he rose from his seat. “Well, regardless, feel free to think on your answer for a moment. For me, the lavatory beckons. Excuse me.”

 

[BMPixy]

“A Civil Servant, Soba Noodles, and Daylight Crime, Part Two”

“One of the Shinso’s heading for the bathroom,” Eifyhid murmured into his comm-link, nursing a cup of coffee while overlooking the restaurant booths. The Tamearin ruffled back his hair, stealing a quick glance at his co-conspirators scattered about the restaurant. A Quin, Hyzas, sitting at the bar, munching on a basket of fries. A Cartus and a Human, Awriosth and Geoff, waiting for their order.

“I’ll keep an eye on him,” Geoff murmured, rising from his seat to follow that fiery-maned Shinso into the restroom. Eifyhid watched the burly and tanned human walk out of the corner of his eye, tracking him and his target until they vanished through the door.

“T-minus?” Hyzas asked between mouthfuls of fries.

“Once that family gets seated.” Eifyhid set down his cup of coffee, reaching into the deep pockets of his coat and feeling for the two crucial ingredients to the plan. In his right hand he curled his fingers around the grip of his revolver - a primitive powder weapon, but a gun nonetheless. Awriosth had been a genius to suggest the idea of using such old-fashioned weapons, the only part that would alert security upon replication was the powder, and making that by hand was simple chemistry.

However, the small tub the Tamearin held in his left hand would be the key to their plan. Even if they got what they wanted, cameras would be all over their asses once a crime was reported. Slowly he unscrewed the lid, slipping his fingers deep into the container and lathering them with its contents. BLIT paint. As Hyzas said, a swab of this across the face would make facial recognition go completely bonkers - could turn a Quin’s head into a Pickio’s from the camera’s view.

The family was led to their seat, waitress splaying out menus on the table before the couple and their children, boy tossing a small plastic ball up and down. Hyzas finished his basket of fries, reaching into his own coat. Awriosth opened her purse as a second server laid out her and Geoff’s meal on the table. Three… two…

“Now.”

“Everybody put your hands up, this is a robbery!” Hyzas yelled as the three shot from their seats, in practiced motions slapping their faces with the paint and raising their revolvers, taking aim at the nearest person. The waitress by Awriosth yelped as the Cartus slammed the gun barrel into her chest, sending the plates spilling across the floor. The couple screamed, grabbing their children close, sending the boy’s ball careening across the dining room. The Shinso sighed, and raised his hands obediently. And from the bathroom -

A crash, a yelp of pain, the shattering of glass. And then, silence. The three robbers looked between each other, and Eifyhid tapped his comms as Hyzas and Awriosth shuffled the hostages closer together. They all knew something bad happened in there, but as to what…

“Geoff?” the Tamearin barked. “Report.”

And then, like something out of a bad comedy sketch, the bathroom door opened slightly and a clearly unconscious Geoff leaned out through the slim gap, puppeteered by a gauntlet of some sort. A high pitched voice spoke up as the hand waggled the unconscious human’s torso.

“Uh, everything’s alright in the bathroom,” the voice ventriloquized, even as Geoff’s head sagged forward, blood dripping from the glass cuts on his face. “The Shinso went down just-”

Bang. Eifyhid snapped his gun to the spot where this attempted comedian was hiding and fired, knowing full well that the cheap walls wouldn’t stand up to even weapons as old as these. But, just to be sure, he pulled the trigger five more times. Geoff’s unconscious body slumped as the civilians cried out in shock and fear - not the Shinso hostage, for some reason, Eifyhid noted - but the gauntlet remained hovering in the frame of the door.

“Well, it was worth a shot,” the bathroom Shinso said, returning to his natural voice as he strode out into the dining room, revealing -

“Shit!” Awriosth cursed, snapping her pistol from the waitress to the figure.

- golden armor, underlaid by black, striding forward confidently. An unrelenting gaze through the visor’s slits, observing like a predatory hawk waiting to strike. Awriosth panicked, emptying the magazine. This stopped the figure’s advance as sparks scattered from his armor, pushing him back ever so slightly, but more importantly -

“As I thought, slugs,” Gazan said, shaking his head, wiping at one of the points where a bullet ricocheted off his armor. In one quick motion, a card went from his pouch to his belt buckle, and he plucked his Evoltech shooter from the air, and two beams lanced out, downing the Tamearin and Cartus one after another. The barrel of the phase pistol twisted to the Quin, but stopped.

“Right, you know as well as I do what’d happen if you pulled that trigger,” Hyzas grinned, pressing the barrel of his revolver to the little human boy’s temple, his mother pleading with the Quin and the child beginning to tear up. “Alright, drop the gun, hero,” he ordered, gritting his teeth as he watched the emotionless visor.

“Now isn’t the time to cry, boy,” Gazan said, keeping his gun trained on the would-be robber. “Everything will be just fine. Do you know why?”

“I said drop the gun!”

The boy shook his head.

“Grandmother said this. I am the center of the universe. So… I will save the universe,” Gazan said. “And one grey mass won’t stop me.”

“Why you-!” the Quin’s eyes went bloodshot at that insult, and his pistol arced up towards Gazan, desperate to repay tha-

The bounty hunter pulled the trigger, stun bolt knocking the Quin back before he could even think to pull the trigger, sending him crashing through a table, spilling food and drink through the air. Gazan held the barrel of his pistol to his faceplate as if to blow off some smoke, then twirled it around his finger before dismissing it in a flash of light.

“So, then, Oriens,” Gazan said, turning his gaze to the ‘civil servant’, who in turn couldn’t help but shake his head and smile. “How about that deal?”

 

[Black0ut]

Dhalexpert & Black0ut present:
A Bombastic Fight

On board the space station.

A petty mercenary went flying out a bar, as he started to crawl away from the bar. ”God Damn Kotavorg, it was supposed to be easy money!”

“Yeah an easy couple fifteen millions dollar bounty, all you gotta do is kill me, buddy any bounty worth that much for you its not worth it. Unfortunately you won’t learn from this.” Blisk said using his flamethrower to burn the would be mercenary.

A tall cyborg walked up, a cigar in his mouth already lit. "You know, broadcasting that kinda makes people want to kill you. Hell, if I wasn't your crew member and I was more morally grey, I might just take that bounty. Anyways, you gonna eat 'em or were they not that good of a fight?"

“Don’t you start with me, this is my fourth fight today. And my adrenaline is going pretty good, thankfully I felt nothing killing this fool and he’s not worth eating.”

"But irritating my crew members is my special talent. I don't want to be a liability." Nick sarcastically replied. "So what stupid idea did you act on to get such a bounty?"

“I destroyed a space station that was controlled by a drug lord, i captured a pirate that was a slaver. Captured gangsters, mob bosses warlords may I go on?”

"Oh, please do. I'm now curious to just how fucked you are." Nick replied, gesturing with a hand for him to continue.

“Look point is, my list of good deeds is to long for a simple conversation. But that’s just some of the big jobs I’ve done.”

"Fair enough. I thought I'd give you a warning, seeing as your my crewmate and all..." Nick held up his hand and snubbed out the cigar. "There's a big Quin looking for you. Seems like a gene-mod, but he's also got the look of a psion about him. Of course, I could hook you up with some info about him. Weaknesses and equipment so you can take him out easier. It only will cost you some credits."

“Of course what happened to all that were crew members and stuff. You would really charge a ally with information?”

"Not would, will. Keep in mind the only thing binding me to watch your back is a digital contract with Captain Jackie. I don't know you, we haven't gotten along in the past, and you're kind of an asshole." Nick held out a finger for each reason, cracking his neck with his free hand. "So, you either pay me my fee and learn all about what this guy can do and all his weaknesses or you go in blind and probably get your ass handed to you. Your choice."

"I'm half tempted to fight this Quin on my own, and from what i'm hearing your not gonna help me with this bastard. So why would I ever pay you for any information when your not gonna help me ether?"

"I am obligated to help you take him down. I can't exactly let the piece of shit kill you, that'd look bad on my record. But I can give you info so he actually struggles to deal any meaningful damage to you. You just have to pay if you want to know what his weaknesses are." Nick replied, blinking slowly. "So am I going into a fight with an ally who knows nothing or an ally who does?"

“Alright then if I were to pay you for this.”Information.” How much would I have to give you for it?”

"Two thousand credits. Half-now, half-later. That way if my information is faulty or I miss anything, you don't spend the full amount." Nick answered, his hand flipping back in lieu of his gun. "And I promise that if I don't deliver, I'll refund all credits back. Do we have a deal?"

“I’m half tempted to rip your arms, and pawn your cybernetics.” Blisk said giving Nick a thousand Credits.” This has information had better be good.”

Nick smiled like a shark would at a potential meal. "His name is Darmooth, he weighs about as much as we do, and is obviously taller. He has enhanced strength, eyesight, endurance and toughness. He is sluggish and struggles to connect blows on typical enhanced levels. Basically if he hits you, you're going to get fucked up pretty badly, but it should be easier to dodge his blows."

"Equipment is pretty standard: laser assault rifle, several backup laser weapons, tough and durable armor, and a few grenades of various types. Moving onto his psionics, He's a Yellow, but he doesn't seem to have Magnokinesis, but he can Blink around. No other discernible traits were found." Nick cracked his neck. "Is that good enough for you?"

“Hum Yeah that works just fine, sounds like he’s gonna be a great fight.”

"So how do you want to handle him? Ambush or do you want to find him right now?" Nick asked.

“An ambush would be good, after all he’s after me and from what you told me ambushing him should be easy. In short I bring him into position we fight for a little bit, and then when the moment present itself you jump in as well.”

"Alright. If things get too hairy, I might intercede and start shooting to buy you time." Nick warned, before taking out a datapad. "The guy you're looking for is was last seen about half a klick from here... to the north. I'll set up here, but uh, try not to die before you get back."

“Please I won’t be dying to a genetically enhanced psion Quinn. I’m a professional after all.” Blisk pulled out his pistol and started to make his way to Darmooth's position.” Hum I can smell he’s close, hum.” Blisk used the augmentation in his leg to jump onto a small building rooftop. He then used his new eye augmentation to look through the walls.” There you are.” Blisk started to load his pistol and waited for an opening.”

The Quinn soon walked into range, but he seemed to be cautious, a hand near his assault rifle. He scanned the street, his eyes threatening murder if they found their target.

When Blisk Saw his target he jumped off the roof and landed on the Quinn, once he was on the ground Blisk picked him up and started punching him several time in his jaw and ribs before kicking him to the side." Heard you were looking for me."

The Quin disappeared in a brilliant flash of yellow before Blisk was struck in the back of the head and promptly kicked as hard as a giant genetically modified Rhino-like man could deliver. "Yup. Now if you could please just stay still..."

Blisk then stood up and cracked his neck." That would hurt if I was a normal man, but I've been hit by much worst. So what I take your some small bounty hunter that wants to make a name for himself?"

"I am, but you're only one of two bounties I'm after." The Quin grabbed two assault rifles, which were dwarfed by his monstrous hands, making them look more akin to sawed-off shotguns.

"I am, but you're only one of two bounties I'm after." The Quin grabbed two assault rifles, which were dwarfed by his monstrous hands, making them look more akin to sawed-off shotguns.

"The young are so dumb, and arrogant." Blisk said firing his pistol and at the Quit hitting his cheats and knees.

A look of surprise flickerered over the Quin as he wobbled on his legs. However, that look passed as massive bursts of flame washed over Blisk, hot enough that any synthetic flesh he had would be burned badly. However, as if this cowardly attack was not enough, the rival Bounty Hunter teleported away, more than likely to heal himself.

Once Blisk brushed the fire off him he turned on his communications to Nick." Your information is faulty, apparently he's not only a yellow psion but he also has some red parts as well!" Blisk said angerly trying to catch the scent of the Quinn .

"Not faulty; just missing. Everything I said was true." Nick protested, frowning a little from his perch. "Besides, if you look behind you, you'll see a very nice skyscraper building that overlooks a fair distance of the area... I have sight of him, he's a couple streets ahead of you, but it looks like he's limping towards some kind of car. You might want to hurry if you want to catch him... I'll catch up as soon as I can." Blisk soon heard a click, which signalled that Nick had deactivated his comms, probably to do as he just said.

Blisk groaned in anger and fallowed the Quinn sent to see him driving off into the road. Blisk ran after the car and used the springs in his legs to jump onto the car and used his knife to get a grip onto the car, Blisk Climbed closer and closer to the driver part of the car." Boy you new hunters never learn there's a reason why I'm worth so much to criminals."

The Quin, however, was promptly shot repeatedly in the left leg, the laser burning it off into a nub. As Darmooth screamed out in pain, he received an elbow to his jaw, dislocating it, as well as a hard metallic stomp to his back, shattering several bones. "Fuck! Fuck, shit, ass, tits! Blisk, you better be fucking alive!"

A man covered in what looked to be in black armor walked out of the wreckage the fire dissipating from the black armor around Blisk.

Nick watched, his expression a mix between guarded optimism and vague wariness. He pointed his rifle at the Quin, making sure the Bounty Hunter couldn't move too much. "Blisk..." He cautiously said, unable to discern if that truly was his fellow crewmate.

Growling could be heard from Blisk he then let out a primal roar and jumped one the hunter that was after him. Blisk proceeded to punch the Quinn repeatedly, ever clawing bits of his skin and one eye.

 

[Black0ut]

A Bombastic Fight, cont.

Nick paused and briefly recalled where they were, who they represented, and the numerous civilians who were watching them. He quickly grabbed onto Blisk, struggling to keep him away from the other bounty hunter. "Blisk, not here...!" Nick growled, his hand attachment for his laser rifle flipping back onto help restrain his fellow crew member.

Blisk then grabbed Nick and tossed him into a nearby car, he then looked down at the would be hunter and saw that he was gone. He then smiled the blood of the man that wounded him and ran after him.

Nick coughed up a bit of blood as he got up, knowing full well that Blisk was his responsibility, and began to chase after him.

Meanwhile, the mostly mauled Psion bounty hunter had teleported away as far as he could: nearly a mile and half. He crawled as quickly as he could towards a nearby garbage can, hoping it would buy him some time.

He could hear the faint sound of metal hitting the ground like foot steeps, and faint sniffing. Blisk sniffed all over the ally. He then looked at a trash cans and snarled. He the continued to walk forward.

The bounty hunter breathed a sigh of relief, and pulled out some blood-soaked bandages for the mauled areas of his face and chest, wrapping them as efficiently as he could. He then laid down admist the garbage, a rifle aimed at the lid. He needed to wait a day or so, just because the crazy Kotavorg would forget about him.

He then heard footsteps coming back around, and was ready to fire his rifle, Blisk punched a hole through the back of the trash can and forcefully pulled him out. He then grabbed the hunter rifle and pressed it against his neck all while biting the side of his neck.

The man let out a scream before another a metal hand grabbed Blisk's throat and started to squeeze. It was followed up by the cocking of a gun. "Blisk, drop the fucker. He's down and by bounty law, you can't just kill him. Not to mention if you do, you'll fuck up JJ's career. Now..." Nick's hand tightened. "Let go of him..."

Blisk cybernetic eye pupils got smaller as he grabbed Nick arm and Slammed the back of his head into Nick nose, After doing this several times he then ducked down and tossed Nick off him. Blisk snarled while looking at Nick.

Nick's now broken nose leaked out some blood, as the former soldier aimed his gun at Blisk, ready to fire if he made a move. "I really don't want to shoot you, Blisk, but if you're going to keep acting like an asshole..." Nick said quietly, his free hand reaching down towards his leg.

Blisk started to pace side to side and used his armor augmentation, he then got on his hands and knees and looked like he was gonna pounce Nick.

Nick raised an eyebrow as his leg opened to reveal several items, but only a plasma pistol was grabbed out. He aimed both of his weapons at Blisk, ready to open fire. "Don't do something you'll regret, Blisk..."

Blisk then pound forward onto a nearby rooftop, causing Nick to fire at him. Blisk then jumped off the roof onto the ground and drove him head into Nick stomach.

This, of course, caused Nick to cry out in pain, promptly before he started bashing Blisk's head with his fist. The blows were hard and vicious, but lacked the lethal quality they should've. However, a gun barrel pressed into Blisk's side. "A-asshole..."

Blisk quick used his tail to sweep the legs of Nick, once on the ground Blisk plunged his knife into the hand Nick arm and held his other hand with the gun in it. Saliva started to poor out of Blisk mouth, as he opened his a small beeping could be heard coming from Blisk chest. Blisk yelled in pain as electricity started shock his body.

A hard kick to the back of the head provided Nick enough time to shake free his gun arm from Blisk's grasp, the hand attachment going over the open barrel. He proceeded to yank the blade out of his other hand and toss it away, promptly before jutting his plasma pistol in Blisk's side. "Enough."

Blisk looked at Nick and was about to use his flamethrower, until he was shocked again bringing him to his knees. Blisk the looked at his arm and opened a small slot in them, he pulled a large shot needle and injected himself with the blue liquid.

Nick aimed his plasma pistol at Blisk, unsure of what was happening, but knew he could kill his crewmate more easily while he weighed in pain. "Are you done being an asshole?"

"If you don't get that gun away from me I will be sure to tear the arm that weapons attached to." Blisk then stood up and took the needle out of his cheat." Ugh gods damn I hate when that happens."

Nick kept the plasma pistol aimed at Blisk for a few moments before lowering it and sticking it back into his leg compartment. "You're lucky you didn't shoot my chest. If you had, you'd be barely alive, and probably in the process of dying..."

“Yeah sorry about that, Ugh dumb hunter clearly didn’t do his research or he skipped school his whole life. He should have known that blowing me up would turn me into that.”

"I didn't know you would turn into that. I thought you'd not attack me, damage JJ's reputation, and nearly kill a surrendering enemy in front of civilians." Nick crossed his arms.

“Then you clearly haven’t faced many Kotavorgss either. Basically that’s what we call blood raging, it’s when my adrenaline and dopamine mix together. And for me time slows down my senses are heightened, in short I’m feral.”

"So you're incapable of controlling it despite your augmentations? Or in other words, you're not as much of a professional as you like to admit." Nick took out a cigar and lit it. He took a deep inhale, before letting out a puff of smoke. "You're paying the bill for breaking my nose."

“Fine. But I am a professional, normally I can control this it’s just when I feel like I’m gonna die and my survival instinct kicks in on top of the everything I’ve mentioned. That’s when I loose myself.” Blisk said reloading his pistol.

"Fair enough. You're still an asshole." Nick grumbled, taking a look at the barely alive bounty hunter still on the ground. "We best turn him in alive for a small bounty and... well, damage control. I don't want to be chewed out by the captain and I'm sure you don't either, right?"

Blisk groaned and launched a Tesla coil around the hunter. Blisk then walked to the hunter and looked at the hunter." Ugh part of me still wants to eat him, but I guess I have to go to a restaurant for that he better be worth. Ou who am I kidding i'll be lucky to get five hundred credits for this fool."

"Probably, but still: don't do stupid shit in front of the public. That's a good way make more enemies than you already have, and kill the few friends and allies you got." Nick took his cigar out of his mouth, tapping it to get the ashes to fall. "Not that I'm your friend or anything, but the fox chick - Titania, I think - she is. What happens if someone decides to off her?"

Nick paused, putting his cigar back as he grabbed the nearly dead Quin, grunting from the effort. "So... you gonna work on that whole don't do stupid shit in public?"

“I would lie and say yes, but more would be hunters will come after me so probably not. And don’t worry about Titania, I mentioned this to her about people coming after her. She says she can handle herself if it happens, now if you excuse me I’m desperately hungry so I’m gonna go get something to eat.”

"She's kind of a glass cannon, but alright. There's a diner about a couple streets down that is rather safe considering its automated defenses. Foods not bad either." Nick shrugged, before he started walking off with their money in living form.

"Thank you, and I watch what you say about Titania. She might be a glass cannon whatever that means. But if she heard you say that she will more then likely try and fight you." Blisk said as he waved goodbye and going to the Direction Nick pointed for the restaurant.

 

[Dahlexpert]

The fallowing is done by Dhalexpert&ZombiSplite53

Hunting pirates and being hunted

On board golden wing

Blisk made his to JJ room knocking.” Boss Lady found something interesting that you should look at.”

"Just a minute," JJ said in a sing-song voice. "She opened the door with a smile. “Blisk! It's been too long since we talked. You're always out on a mission it seems. So what did you find?"

“Found this interesting report, apparently pirates raided a bank on a space station, apparently they sent other hunters to get them, and local police. None have captured them, could be a good money in it?”

JJ's smile widened. "Yeah! That sounds right up our alley! And with you on the case, we'd get them in no time. Mind if I come along? I want to see some action."

“You and me on a bounty, together?” Blisk shrugged.” Sure why not I’ll give you the quitdanets and gear up.”

"You got it. Meet in the shuttle bay in twenty minutes?"

“Right then.” As Blisk left JJ room and went to the armory, he grabbed his LMG and shotgun as well as made sure his flamethrower hade plenty of fuel. Once he was ready he made his way to the shuttlebay.

JJ had just arrived when he got there, geared up with pistols on her hips, a high powered rifle on her back, and a few grenades. She stood in front of one of her newest little toys, recently acquired and fixed up. It was a Merc-Sendi Space Harrier 7x, capable of a top speed of Warp Three with twin laser cannons on the front, and gattling turrent on the bottom, and radar stealth. "Ready?" she asked with a grin.

"I see the money iv'e been giving you from the morons trying to hunt me has gone to good use, nice to see my hunts being put to good use." Blisk said smiling.

"Eyup." JJ pressed a button on her wrist and the back of the shuttle open for them. "Climb aboard and we'll get going. Can't wait to nail these guys!"

As Blisk entered the shuttle, the two made there way to the space station. Blisk looked at JJ." You gonna be alright with this JJ I mean when was the last time you were out in the field?"

"Recently. I went out to settle a dispute with some Pickio. Granted there wasn't a lot of fighting." JJ looked over. "You worried about little old me?"

"Call it me getting used to being around of you all, Like I said I've been doing this alone for years. So yes you could call this me getting worried." Blisk said loading his weapons.

"Don't worry. I trust you to get me out of any trouble. So where are these punks hiding out?"

"Way out in the frontier area. Apparently these pirates came in attacked the bank, kidnapped a mans wife and are currently whelp destroying the space station. And wait this can't be right, there's only two of the original pirates still around the others. So it looks like the pirates are using local criminals to get around."

"Well, the common goons shouldn't be too much trouble. It's those to hotshots that I'm worried about." Aya shook her head. "Why resort to messing everything up and kidnapping? It's like they wanted a bounty on their heads. Well, we're here to collect."

"I'm more curious about the other hunters, apparently during my digging they sent dozens of other hunters to capture these two and none did so far. So that's worrying."

"Yeah. By we got something they didn't have." JJ smiled at him. "We have you. Aya says you're a bit reckless, but you really kick butt and get the job done."

Blisk raised his eyebrow. "Right the scared veteran of this, whelp I’m gonna look over these two and see what were up against and see if these tow have a record and what they've done."

"Gotcha. And I'll... well, pilot the ship." JJ winked at him. "Let me know if you find anything."

The pair spent the next couple of days flying through space, the ship luckily more roomy on the inside then it appeared, especially for two people. "We're approaching the coordinates you gave me," JJ said on the second day. "You find out anything interesting on them?"

"See that's the thing no, there's practically nothing on the woman or the guy, apparently the woman is a cartus and the man is a normal human and according to the reports there both augmented. That's it."

"Well that sucks," JJ mumbled. "Do we at least know their names?"

“Yea Mei and Guther, apparently these two were the main ones engaging the police during the bank robbery. And those two are apparently augmented or at least Guther is according to the reports.”

"Alright. Mei and Guther. Well... at least we'll know who to ask for." JJ started scanning for anywhere they might be hiding.

"Hum try looking for recent police reports or were there currently most of the forces are being deployed."

JJ pulled up some reports on recent activity in the area. "Huh... it seems like a lot of disappearances have happened around the third planet in this system. Seems as good a place to start looking as any, yeah?"

"As good a place as any to start, now we don't have any idea how many hunters are still around. So it might just be us versus who knows how many people."

"Oh, I didn't think of any othef hunters being here," JJ said, rubbing her chin. "I guess of we run into any, we'll either try and cooperate or stay out of each other's way." She shrugged and started to make their way towards the planet, an Earth-sized planet with a variety of terrain and ecosystems.


"Ugh well the oxygen is fine for breathing, so first things first I'm not sure I could smell them yet. So why don't we go ask around and see what we can find?"

"Good idea. There is a town not far from the snowy region in the north." The captain tokk them to the city and touched down in a small port, the pair heading out to look around. "Should we hit the usual spots? Maybe a bar for gossip?"

"That would be a good idea, we could go to the local brothal as well. Prostatuts can hear everything, but we could start at the bar and make our way to the police department."

They asked around town and found the most commonly frequented bar, a large dive run by Celentius of all people, the name of their bar written in their odd language. It was populated by races of all creed and color, some recognizable, many not. "Um..." JJ scratched her head. "I guess I'll start on the left with those, uh... blue aliens. You start on the right. We can meet back in the middle in a few minutes."

"Alright then this should be fun." As Blisk made his way around the bar he ran into some other Kotavorgs. "Ou boy this should be fun it's been a while since I've talked to my own kind. "Yo hay can I ask you guys something."

"The female Kotavorge looked Blisk up and down." Well hello there what can I help you with huh?"

"I've heard of people going missing hear anything about it?"

"Yea heard about that, you won't find them by smelling them. They are blocking there scent with I don't know what, But you might be able to smell there blood but you need to know were they are."

"Hum well thanks for the help."

JJ stood before a large Cubator with a psychic link to a pink alien with large horns. "A lot of Bounty Hunters come here," it said. "You are far from the first. As I told them, most of the trouble here is on the north edge of town in the old, abandoned warehouse district. Every hunter who goes there comes back empty handed... or doesn't come back at all." It curled up into a ball and said, "You have been warned, so it isn't my fault if you're killed."

 

[Dahlexpert]

JJ chuckled nervously, partially at the creepy feline. "Thanks," she muttered before moving on.

Blisk met back with JJ and ordered a drink. "Whelp I got nothing did you at least find something?"

"Yeah. I mean, maybe?" JJ scratched one of her ears. "A couple people said they saw some weird people in the warehouse district up north, and Mr. Kitty over there said Bounty Hunters have gone there and disappeared."

"Well it's a start I guess, if bounty hunters that go up there go missing. That could ether be our targets or something else entirely. But it's what we got so you wanna head out there?"

"We could gather more information first..." JJ rubbed her chin. "Someone also mentioned strangers frequenting the brothel down the street. Wanna ask around there first?"

"Alright then you can go down to the brothel, i'll go look at the warehouse area get a good look at what's been making hunters dispersing that sound's good to you?"

"Yeah, sure." JJ didn't look like she liked the idea of going to a brothel, but nodded. "Just please, if you see anything, promise me you won't do anything reckless. We're in this together, right?"

"I won't do anything besides as fun as it would be to fight this on my own, I have no idea what were up against so i'm just gonna look through the walls see what's happening and if who were looking for is up there." Blisk waved at JJ and started to head north.

As Blisk continued north, he found there to be less and less people until he saw no one at all. It seemed this part of the town was abandoned, and there were signs here and there that warned about the structural integrity of the buildings. Some of the structures were buried in snow, a frigid breeze occasionally rolling down from the northwest mountains.

Then he smelt it. The scent of blood. It was extremely faint, and almost hidden by the smell of rust, but it was there. He spotted a pair of warehouses were the scent was coming from, and it was the only structure that had any people. At first sight there were two men dressed as local law enforcement, pacing back and forth and watching the outside of the warehouses.

Blisk whiled at the officers to which both of them jumped and pulled their guns on Blisk." Wo wo there relax officers I’m a bounty hunter, I’m after Mie and Guther. And by the smell of it looks like I’m on the right path."

Both men slowly lowered their weapons and nodded to each other. "So you know them by name. We have them cornered inside." The officer waved his arm towards one of the doors. "They're in there. The officers inside could use your help."

"Hold on a minute." Blisk used his eye augmentation to look through the walls and saw two people. One with a plasma minigun and another with a light machine gun, Blisk looked down and saw the officer’s corpses. "Hat to break it to you but your people are dead, there in there alright. But they are heavily armed pluse we don't know were there reinforcements are."

A bead of sweat rolled down one of the men's cheeks, and he pointed behind Blisk. "Here they come now." When Blisk turned to look, both men raised their guns to fire at Blisk.

"Are you kidding me do you really want to do this? You know what I’m gonna give you three seconds to lower your weapons and not die."

The pair exchanged a look, almost doing as he said, but instead raised them all the way and fired.

Blisk used his skin augmentation to harden his skin. As they continued to fire a blond haired Cartus came from the woods and ponce on one of them bringing one to the ground, as the other one looked at the woman Blisk set the man on fire with his flame thrower.

"Wow a little bit of a warning would have been good there partner." The Cartus stood up and stomped on the man she pounced on.

When Blisk looked at the woman she was a blond with green eyes and was wearing a white shirt, with a brown duster duster coat and blue jeans. "Yo um JJ was it is this your guy?"

JJ ran up, and shook her head. "Not mine. When I got to the brothel, besides having my tail pulled a lot and being propositioned, I met her. We were both told that guy, Guther? He comes to the brothel a lot. Knowing that, we hurried over here, afraid you might walk into a trap since they also said two officers no one recognizes are always patrolling the place."

“Hum thanks then JJ and your name is?”

“Bonny, Bonny Van Dam. It’s a pleasure to meet you Blisk, I can’t believe I’m standing in front of you.”

“Enough gawking, our targets are here. But it looks like there waiting on something, they could be regrouping.”

Could they simply be waiting for us?" JJ pondered. "Everything seems to imply that they want bounty hunters to find them. But why?" She shook her head. "At any rate, is it just them inside?"

"From the looks of it, but it is weird that there just waiting. Now as for there Calvary I don't see any but best we handle this now while there here, also they do have plasma weapons. So we might be in deep trouble."

"Let's just... head in around the back side," JJ suggested. "Try and catch them by surprise. Sound good, Bonny?"

"Hay i'm one of the last bounty hunters still stupid enough to still be here, I'll take what I can get."

"Sounds good now as for me I will take the high ground shoot through the ceiling, bringing fire from above should provide some cover to you guys. That sounds good to you as well JJ?"

"Sounds good." JJ waved for Bonny to follow her around the back. Finding no resistance, she slowly opened a door, sneaking inside. She raised her pistols and slowly stepped forward. "Don't make any sudden movements," she warned.

Mei turned around and saw two Cartus." Well look here more bounty hunters, tell me something who do you tow work for?"

As the started to talk Bliks climbed up the warehouse being careful to not to make to much noise.

"Well if you’re asking who we work for I’m independent her on the under hand she's with the golden wind."

Mei smiled. "Did you hear that Gunther, there with golden wind. It's about god damn time you showed up seriously we’ve been waiting forever for you."

JJ tilted her head slightly. "I guessed you were luring in Bounty Hunters, but you're saying you were waiting for us specifically?"

"That's right." Guther looked her up and down. "Not that we were expecting much from you."

“Yep we got orders to see what your like.” Mei them pointed her weapon at JJ.” So let’s find out!” The moment Mei pulled the trigger Bonny pushed JJ out of the way into a crate of boxes, Bonny then duck behind cover as well.

"Thanks," JJ said. "Not one to shoot someone in the back, but maybe I should have." She ducked out of cover, firing off several shots before ducking back.

"Am I allowed to go all out now?" Guther asked, lifting a plasma minigun.

 

[Dahlexpert]

“Of course you can friend, after all we’re meant to see what there capable of. So if they die like the others, this was a waist of time.” Mei said as her plasma weapon burned through the crates forcing JJ to move.

Guther unleashed a hail of plasma bolts her way, JJ barely able to stay ahead of the stream before ducking behind a steel support beam to rest. "They ain't playing around!" She took one of the grenades off her belt and tossed it. It exploded into a plume of smoke that covered half the warehouse.

“No there not if only we had some backup!” Bonny shouted.

As if on cue, a rain of bullets came from the ceiling down on Guther hitting him several times in the back and legs. His armor taking the blunt of it.

At the same time Bonny pounced out of cover on to Mei, Mei kick Bonny off her and fired her machine gun at her. However Bonny pulled out a sheild that absorbed all the plasma shots as she charged Mei punching her in the face.

With Mei occupied, JJ rushed out of the smoke and scored several successive hits on Guther. All it seemed to do is make her hands hurt. "Ow! What are you made of?"

"Sturdier stuff then you I'm sure." He reached for her, but JJ slipped between his legs, kicking up as she did. That got his attention, and he stumbled forward. "Not... cool..."

More bullets started to come down on to the ceiling, hitting Guther back again. "Damn tough son of a bitch what kind of augmentations does this guy has?" Blisk questioned.

Bonny on the other hand was giving Mei a run for her money constantly punching and kicking her, until Mei cought her last hit and head butted her and kicked her to the side.

"Damn flanking bastard, you wanna attack from the roof well then let me give you a show!" Mei fired a grenade at the ceiling bringing some of the debre down forcing Blisk to move. she then started to fire randomly at the cling trying to find the mysterious gun man. Gunther quit playing with the kitty and bring down this mysterious gun man!"

"Yeah... working on it..." Guther suddenly reached out and grabbed JJ by the leg, lifting her up. With his other arm he aimed his massive weapon up and riddled the ceiling with plasma.

As the ceiling started to fall Blisk came falling down landing on his feet.” Well there goes the element of surprise.”

Aya quickly grabbed a flashbang off her belt, tossing it in Guther's face and shielding her eyes. He cried out in anger as he was temporarily blinded, releasing JJ. She quickly ran over to Blisk. "You okay?"

“I’ve been worse, might wanna help our temporary friend There. I think I can handle mr mini gun here.”

JJ nodded, running to help Bonny. Guther rolled his neck and laughed. "You think you can take me just because of a few upgrades, Kortovog?"

Blisk didn’t say anything but held up a flashgarnade in his hand, when it went off Blisk eye augmentation made the flash ineffective. Blisk then switched to his shotgun and started firing at Guther.

Guther ran to the side. "Gah! Again with the eyes!" He barrelled through crates in an attempt to avoid being hit. He pointed a hand in the direction of the gunfire, and his palm split open to reveal his own shotgun, which he fired blindly.

Blisk ducked behind cover and reloaded his shotgun, he then went around the blind Guther and used his flamethrower to burn the area he was around burning his cover.

Guther grunted, his eyesight coming back, and he suddenly rushed through the fire, clothes and skin catching aflame, and shoulder tackled the Kortovog.

Blisk coughs the tackle and laugh.” Boy you must be desperate, because getting this close to a Kotavorg is horrible idea.” Blisk said early lifting the man and tossing his to the side. Blisk then got on top of Guther and shouted.” What did you mean earlier when you said you were waiting for us!?”

Guther laughed. "Like I'd tell you!" he shouted, swing at Blisk's face. Blisk was pushed back by the Punch and rubbed his jaw. He then saw Guther spinning his minigun But Blisk quickly used his armor aug to protect him, though after a few shots it was already breaking.

Guther laughed as he continued to fire. "You're nothing! This was a waste of our ti-" JJ sent a flying drop kick to the side his head before running back to Mai and Bonny. Guther staggered, the full wait of the Cartus enough to leave even his thick head spinning.

Blisk then punched and grabbed his minigun and crushed the barrel. “Congratulations you managed to anger me, and if you had some common since you know that is a horrible idea.”

On the other side of the wear house Bonny and Mei were punching each other constantly, with Bonny getting the upper hand. Until Mei pocked Bonny eye and kicked the side of her head.

“God damn you’re annoying, this is not a boxing ring you bitch!” She screamed about to shot.

"How about a wrestling ring?" JJ wrapped her arms around Mei's waist from behind, bringing her up and back in a german suplex.

Mei being sent on her back she quickly rolled on her knees and aimed her gun at JJ, but Bonny kicked the side of Mei head and kicked her chest sending her back. As she got up she put away her plasma weapon for a rifle.” Alright you wanna fight with fist, that’s cool but soon you’ll be frozen.”

"What's that supposed to mean?" JJ demanded, raising her fists.

Mei chuckled to herself as she put some blue liquid into the weapon.” It means eat ice and die you bitches!” As Mei fired the weapon a blue laser came out of it, as the two Cartus dogged the ray when they looked back they saw it frozen the wall behind them.

“Ou that’s lovely to look at.”

"Yeah, just don't let it hit you!" JJ jumped and dodged, using her natural reflexes to avoiding being hit. "Can we go back to the punching?" She reached for the last granade on her belt.

“Shut it!” Mei yelled firing the rifle at JJ freezing the area around her, Bonny tried to help but Mei fired her plasma rifle at Bonny forcing her into cover.” You know Guther I gotta say how are these guys doing?”

"They're doing pretty good, actually." Guther shoved Blisk back and fired at him, forcing him into cover. "Better then expected. The boss will be pleased."

“Who the hell is your boss!” Blisk yelled his dopamine and adrenaline starting to spike. He giggled to himself and loaded spike rounds into his shotgun. When he fired five burning spiked went deep into Guther leg.

On the other side of the wear house Bonny look at JJ I’m guessing you have a plan?”

"Mhmm." JJ winked. "Get her to make as much ice close to her as possible, then cover your ears."

“You’re joking, you want me to get close to that?” Bonny looked at JJ and saw she was serious.” Ugh if I get frozen and killed I’m gonna haunt you.”

JJ nodded. "Noted. Be careful."

Bonny growled and jumped at Mei, she then pulled out her sheild to absorb the ice beams, after a wile she then threw the sheild at Mei but missed. When it hit the wall behind her the wall froze, everything thing the sheild touched before being caught by Bonny.

"No, get to cover and cover your ears!" JJ through the grenade. A few moments later, it went off. It was a high powered sonic grenade that reverberated high frequency zound waves throughout the building, so high frequency that the wall of ice around Mei shattered, raining large, heavy chunks of ice on top of her.

As Guther looked at what happened to his friend, Blisk quickly fired a Tesla coil as it wrapped around Guther and shocked him.” Huh nice work boss, is she alive?”

JJ hoped between chunks of ice, having to dig Mei out a bit. "Yeah, she's just knocked out. Didn't think we'd actually take them alive."

Guther grunted and struggled. "You... you weren't supposed to win! Let us go!"

Blisk Punched Guther with enough force to knock him out.” Well this was definitely a tougher job but it’s done. I gotta say JJ glade you found this other Cartus.”

"Me too. Hey Bonnie? You said you were working alone, right?"

“That I am just recently started bounty hunting a few months back, what you all looking for a new member?”

JJ nodded. "You've already proven how capable you are. So what do you say? Wanna join the team?"

“Me joining a team, Hum never thought I would be asked to be with a team of hunters. Sure why not I see no harm in it.”

JJ offered her hand. "Welcome aboard."

Bonny took JJ hand and shook it.” Glad to be here.”

“Great wonderful now then we need to get these two in the space station they robbed. I’m sure the will give use one hell of a reward.”

"Let's just hope someone can figure out why they were 'waiting' for us." JJ sighed. "It's a little off putting..."

Well look into it later for now let’s go get our money.” As the hunters started walking off Roberta looked from a rifle scope seeing her friends get captured.

 

[Dahlexpert]

“Boss looks like the captured them, did you enjoy the show?”

“I did I got to say that Cartus that was with Blisk was very smart a little too protective though.”

“So you want me to go get our comrades?”

“By all means but wait until the hunters leave, don’t want the odds to much in there favor.”

Roberta smiled as she went to her ship, and started a corse to the station.

At the space station Blisk JJ and Bony carried the two pirates to the police station.

"Whelp here you go two pirates that terrorized your station wrapped up like present, so how much money do we get for this huh?" Blisk asked.

The officer punched some numbers into a computer. "They are worth quite a bit. The man offering the bounty wired a lot of credits for them, dead or alive." He turned the screen towards them.

"Whoa..." JJ's eyes lit up. "Even split three ways, that is a lot..."

The officer nodded, and put the credits on three cards, handing them over. "These two will be shipped out immediately. Thank you for your cooperation and hard work."

“Wow that’s fast, now I’m not one to look big money and the mouth but. This is a lot of credits even for just two people who’s the person that put this much money up for these two and not the station?”

"The man they robbed," the officer said. "I'm not at liberty to say who, but they evidently robbed his bank, plundered his house, threatened his children, kidnapped his wife, and left him crippled. He put up the bounty as soon as he woke up in the hospital. There was a bonus if you recovered his wife, but I'm guessing she wasn't with them."

Mei laughed. “She’s with us, I’m sure Roberta is having a lot of fun with her!”

Blisk went visibly pail at the sound of Roberta name.” Officer is there another bounty for a blue haired Tamarin?”
"Yes. It is connected to their bounty. A Tamearin named Roberta and an unnamed individual working with her."

Blisk went even pailer knowing who the unnamed person was.

Bonny looked at Blisk confused.” Um big man you Ugh you Alright, JJ is he saposed to be this pail?”

JJ placed a hand on his shoulder. "What is it, Blisk?"

“Officer you need to evacuate the station immediately, get everyone out of here now!”

Mei then looked Blisk over.” Ou I remember you know, your Blisk Oliver Blisk Right you’re the guy we hired for that Zazks job. Wow this is awkward.”

"Sir, what is going on?" the officer demanded.

"Yeah, why do we need to evacuate?" JJ asked.

Because if you think what they did originally was bad, that was nothing more then a taste. Roberta will come for these two and depending on how Solex is feeling, he may ether destroy this station kill all of you and
take himself. Or worse take the station keep the young woman as a birthing farm, enslave the men and sell the kids.”

Mei smiled.” Aw you know our work that’s flattering, Ou Yeah we won’t be here long.” Mei said smiling from ear to ear.

JJ suddenly pulled a pistol out and pointed at her face. "If he's going to do all that even with you alive, give me one good reason I shouldn't just kill you now to ensure he at least losses you." She had a serious glare Blisk didn't know she was capable of.

“Because I’m in police cussaty, and as a bounty hunter killing a prisoner in front of the police that would be bad for you. Even if they want you to do it.” Mei said giggling to herself

"You think I care?!" JJ snapped angrily. "They're all going to die, right? So here is the deal. When your boss gets here, you're going to talk him into leaving with you and not touching this station. Otherwise, I kill you and your brute of a partner."

“JJ a minute of your time please.” Blisk said grabbing her arm while Bonny looked confused about the hole ordeal.

“JJ let me be the voice of reason her and say, that you’re jumping the gun for a pirate lord if you knew you would not be doing this.”

"Right, and... what do you suggest?" JJ asked him.

“This is one of those situations as a hunter, we do what bounty hunters do. We did our job word spreads about us and we leave.”

"You want us to leave these people to die?!" she asked in shock.

“Jacky this one of those moments that all you can do is warn the people there end is coming, there’s nothing else we can do it’s say it’s depressing but it’s reality we can’t help everyone.”

JJ closed her eyes and squeezed her fists. "F... f-fine! But they know who you are, you know? Who we are? They'll come for us."

“Not at the moment they won’t, look JJ I know this is a shit situation I’m not proud of it. But you need to think this through.”

JJ slowly nodded. "You," she said, pointing at the officer. "Code Red. Bounter Hunter Code 11c-16J-12."

The man's eyes widened. "You... that is not a code to be given lightly, mis-"

"I'm not. Full evacuation. Immediately. And leave them or you will be chased." JJ turned to Blisk and Bonnie. "We're out of here. Let's go." She walked towards the exit, shooting Mai one last glare.

Mei Just winked at JJ.” I’ll be seeing you baby doll.”

Bonny looked at the two hunters.” So um are you sure you want me around, i mean this sounds way above my pay grade.”

JJ looked back at her as they hurried to their shuttle. "I can't force you to come with us, but we pay well. Just know that we might have to deal with some serious bad guys in the future."

"You kidding me this was a blast! I'm not going any were, I just hope these people can defend themselves."

"Hopefully, though most of our bounty's aren't this exciting. Though I gotta admit JJ this is the right call, I also never seen you that angry before I thought you were more relaxed."

"Hmmm? She looked back and smiled a cheerful smile. "Sorry. Even I get ticked off. Promise I won't make a habit of it."

"Well it's nice seeing you serious from time to time, and bonny welcome aboard. So we captured some pirates got a new allie and got paid a crap load of money. Over all this was a fantastic job." Blisk said smiling.

"Yeah... fantastic..." JJ said, worry crossing her face as they climbed aboard the ship and took off. Would the people heed their warning and evacuate the city? Or would a pirate strong enough to worry Blisk destroy them?

A few hours passed and Mei was rubbing her nails note showing an ounce of worry. "Hay I need to make a phone call." Mei said as she was allowed to make her one phone call. "So Roberta jobs done, so do we wait for a rescue?"

"Ou of course, I'll come get you two a little later for now let them take you to this prison and relax for a few weeks and i'll come and get you."

Mei rolled her eyes."Fine then well wait but don't make us wait to long Guther might get a little restless. But well wait and play nice with them. So do we take the rest of the station? Because they might start evacuating."

"Well see what happens so for now just relax make some friends, and start making a list of the guards you will kill." Roberta said hanging up the phone and went to her gunship and left the station.

 

[ShadowHounder]

Frostlich and ShadowHounder: Contract of Blood and Faith

Villies M-3
Teron-4

Nessiera leaned over a large table, it was a huge map of the local galactic arm, listing many planets and stars in Green and Yellow dots respectively. Large Blue Dots stood out on the Map, scattered around sparsely, out of each one stretched a line and then a name, the name of a Laepaede Hive. Then, out if those, more lines branches out to various Laepaedan names, persons of interest in each hive.

She zoomed in closely on her local system, the holo map the only light source in this room, situated in one of Nessiera's far flung moon outposts.

Outside of her building, a soft, feminine humming could be heard in the distance, followed by the question: "When can we go back? I'm bored."

A stern voice answered, sounding more concerned with something else then the girl's boredom. "We can leave once I find the samples that are on this moon. Such unique specimen like the ones we found could not have gone far... so if you help me find one we can prepare to head out as soon as possible."

"I could use a snack~" The girl's voice stated with chilling joy, following by the sound of someone sprinting off.

The man's voice coughed before yelling. "Dammit Sun! I need those things alive, so slow down!"

Nessie perked up instantly, grabbing her two rifles off the the wall and finding a nearby polymer glass window to look out of, trying to spot the intruders.

Outside were a man in a lab coat with long, red hair and a young girl with blonde hair of similar length. The girl had obtained a large lead over her comrade... As they approached a herd of strange looking boars. The animals turned to find the girl had leaped on top of one of them and shoved her hand into it's throat.

The Insectoid woman's eyes widened slightly, checking the ammo in her rifles as she continued to watch. They clearly weren't here for her, but they could easily find the entrance to the base and get curious.

"Sun, you'll scare off the herd again like that." The scientist stated as he rushed forward to catch up with the ravenous girl. As he approached the scene, one of creatures impaled him with it's long, curved tusk. "You sure you want to do that?" He stated as the boar began to step back.

"What the..." Nessiera whispered to herself, pulling down a holo keyboard and sending a quick message to Sirius. 'Sirius, there are two strange individuals outside the bunker on Teron-4, I may have a problem, make your way here as soon as you can'.

Outside, the man began to vigorously shake "Sun" by her shoulders. "What did I tell you about killing animals before I've had the chance to obtain DNA? What if that creature was about to go extinct? What am I supposed to do then? I can't get living cell samples when their dead before I can even restrain one!"

Sun looked at him with an innocent face and blood smothered lips. "But, I was hungry..."

"Why did I inject you with Shark DNA?" The researcher stated with a disappointed sigh.

Nessiera'tora shook her head, typing a few buttons into the keypad on the wall as a speaker outside the bunker crackled and blared. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

The scientist covered his ears as the speaker screeched into them. "Why do those things have to be so loud?" He muttered to himself before facing where the speaker originated from. "My name is Drake. I am a researcher who specializes in genetic manipulation. This is my assistant, Sunflower."

"Okay. But who are you?" The speaker vibrated as she spoke.

Drake gave the bunker wall a puzzled look. "Are you sure you're asking the right question? I already told you our names..."

"So you expect me to believe that you are just explorers? Do you?" She asked with suspicion.

"For one, you ask who we were, not what we were." Drake answered with slight irritation. "And two, I never claimed to be an explorer... If you're going to act paranoid... At least be paranoid of the correct issues."

"Then what are you?" She sighed.

"I am a genetist who has performed countless operations involving DNA splicing and forced evolution. I currently work for a man who goes by the name of 'Master.' You could say I have a knack for making abominations." Drake stated in a blunt, bored tone.

"And that's what you're looking for? Samples?" The speaker vibrated out.

"Yes, we were looking for a group of exotic, and potentially endangered, boars that found their way onto this moon." The researcher explained, glaring at Sunflower. "We would've been gone without complain if someone didn't kill them all..."

"Is she one of your subjects?" Nessiera'tora asked plainly.

"Shark, tiger and fox DNA." Drake stated. "A unique combination... That also gives her an uncontrollable bloodlust."

Nessie paused, then pulled up quickly a list of the animals, "They're all Earth Animals. Interesting."

"Yes, seeing as I was born there... I've developed a fondness towards the creatures there." The man explained, his previous wound mostly healed.

"Why is the rock talking again?" Sunflower asked innocently, prompting a aggravated sigh from Drake.

 

[ShadowHounder]

Frostlich and ShadowHounder: Contract of Blood and Faith Part 2

"You didn't create her with intelligence in mind, did you?"

"To be fair, she was three years old and dying from brain cancer at the time." The geneticist stated. "I hadn't taken into account the damage her mind had already suffered prior."

"So you're a regular savior then? I'm surprised you haven't asked me who I am." The Laepaede chuckled through the speaker.

"I wouldn't call myself a savior... Simply a master of his craft." Drake quickly corrected. "I am very curious why there is an outpost on a rock like this. I was under the assumption the GFP didn't extend this far."

"They don't. This is my private hideaway. My name is Nessiera'tora, I am second-in-command of a powerful guild of Bounty Hunters." She explained pridefully.

"Wow... he really did get our bounties expunged... didn't he?" Drake muttered into his fingers as he approached the building. "Would you allow us the ability to see the interior of your facility."

"Why? Planning something, or are you just looking for hospitality?" Nessie interrogated.

"No, Mister Drake just likes examining anything that is similar to his facility." Sunflower chimed in, catching Drake completely off guard.

"This is the stupidest thing I've ever done... Are you armed?" She asked.

Drake gave his assistant a puzzled look, as if such a question was foreign to them. "We have little need for physical weaponry... so answering such a question is challenging."

"Sigh... I would like to offer you a potential business opportunity. Since you're here, after all." Nessie told them plainly.

"We already have an arrangement..." The researcher replied coldly. "He would not take kindly to us making a contract without his permission."

"Oh? Well. Maybe you can give your Master our references." She suggested.

"I'll be sure to bring the matter up next time I see him." Drake thought about the situation for a moment. "What do you get out of forging an alliance with us?"

"Connections. Favors. Information." She listed off casually.

"Information is not something we hand out freely." Drake grinned. "Though I'm sure Master wouldn't mind dealing with the matters of others... Should he deam you worth our time."

"That's a red flag. Sigh..." She shook her head, even if they couldn't see. "I'll make my way out then. No funny moves."

"I see no reason for you to be concerned." Drake remarked.

"Something smells tasty." Sunflower muttered behind him, licking the blood off of her cheek.

"Okay, maybe one reason..."

"Doesn't she have like... A leash?" The Speaker asked again.

"She's been capable of bending steel bars... I doubt a leash can stop her."

"You really have a twisted mind, don't you?"

"Sometimes you don't think about the adverse sideffects until after you already preformed the operation." Drake replied to the lady on the speaker. "And sometimes those mistakes cost you your entire career."

A Metal Door disguised as two large rocks skid open, revealing a dark metal corridor. "Enter then. If you please."

Drake waved a hand for Sunflower to follow him as he entered the facility. "I hope I didn't just walk into a trap..."

The door suddenly closed behind him, the door before him opening up to reveal a number of defenses, non active, by the looks of it, but that could likely be quickly changed. A Tall Insectoid Woman with a dull green and grey carapace, "Welcome."

Drake let out an unsettling chuckle. "I am getting a sample of you for sure..."

"I'd like to see you try." She glared. "I'm not the only Laepaede in the Universe you know."

"No... But you are currently the closest." Drake said with a grin of devilish joy. "The possibilities are endless."

She suddenly raised a hand up, the nearby defenses powering up and pointing at him menacingly. "I wouldn't recommend that."

Sunflower tapped his shoulder. "Mister Drake, you're making that face again."

Drake immediately dropped the grin and cleared his throat. "My apologies... That wasn't very professional of me."

"No. It wasn't." She rolled her eyes. "Now if we are going to get back on track. A potential working agreement, yes?"

"Give me a minute." Drake noted as he placed a finger on his ear. "This is Drake, you there Westwood?" He paused, waiting for a response. "What are our timetables looking like? Yes I'm asking about that... Would you believe me if I told would an insect lady wanted to speak with Master?" A unamused look covered the researcher's face. "If you care that badly you can track my coordinance and get here your damn self... Drake out."