Post by MikDaTv on Mar 18, 2014 18:02:03 GMT -5
The rainy streets of Pandath were calm at the moment. The rain had forced everyone inside. Only those who absolutely had to be there were outside on the street. McCloud stood just inside the entrance to a bar looking out the large panel windows that lined one side. Flying in through the storm had been a little challenging, especially in his aging ship the Jessica
A beefy looking bouncer approached him. "Hi there mister, I'm going to have to ask you to check your weapons with me."
McCloud didn't respond, he simply opened up his duster coat and started filling the plastic bin next to the bouncer. Out came both blaster pistols on each hip, then came his holdout blasters, then the scatter blaster hidden within the coat. The bouncer didn't even bat an eyelash at the arsenal. McCloud figured the bouncer had seen plenty before.
The bouncer took the bin and locked it up in the storage room next to the door. "You'll get it back on your way out. Have a good time sir."
McCloud smiled at the bouncer. "Thanks much. Listen, I am looking for a guy that goes by the name of Duron, or a guy named Draksis, any idea if they're in here?"
The bouncer shook his head "I'm sorry sir, I don't know anyone's names, I'm just a bouncer, but Mariin, the bartender, might know them."
"Thanks again" McCloud replied and walked into the bar. The place defiantly smelled of ozone, a tell tale sign that someone had fired a blaster recently. McCloud figured either the bouncer didn't do so good of a job sometimes or maybe it was the bouncer who did the shooting. Just under the ozone smell was the familiar scent of alcohol being poured. McCloud followed it to the bar.
The bartender, a Twi'lek who McCloud assumed was named Mariin came over to him. "I'll have a pint of the local lomin." He said. He showed the bartender a hundred credit chit and placed it on the bar. "You can keep the change if you can tell me where Duron or Draksis is."
Mariin squinted at the mercenary before him, trying to decide if he was trustworthy or not. McCloud had seen the look before. He waved the credit chit back and forth to draw the bartenders attention back to it. Apparently deciding that a hundred credits was worth the risk, he pointed McCloud to a corner booth.
McCloud looked where he pointed and saw it was in the darkest corner of the bar and occupied by only one individual. He left the chit on the bar, accepted his lominale and thanked Mariin. Thus armed with alcohol and information, he made the trek across the bar to the indicated booth. The man sitting there noticed McCloud long before McCloud could see him fully and stood up. "McCloud! You pirate. You still owe me money you louse."
McCloud recognized the voice and quickly approached the booth. He placed the lominale down on the table and scooted it towards the man. "I figure this makes us about even eh Duron?"
Duron accepted the mug and lifted the dark green hood off his head, smiling up at McCloud. "Aye, I suppose it does."
As his eyes adjusted to the light McCloud could see more details about his old acquaintance. He had always been tall and scrawny but right now he wore a long green coat with hood that hid his skinny physique well. His bald head, which was normally shaved to the point of being shiny had some stubble and some new scars. "Taanab treating you well?
Duron gave a wide grin and gestured for McCloud to take a seat. "Not bad my good man. I haven't seen you in a long time." He said.
McCloud returned the grin and sat down. "Not that long. About eight months. I had some jobs out in the outer rim that went south."
"Ugg, the Outer Rim. I feel sorry for you my good man, what a retched part of the galaxy." Said Duron with a grimace. "Me and my boys don't operate out there, too much competition."
"You love the outer rim Duron. I know for a fact you have a mistress out on Ryloth that your wife on Coruscant knows nothing about." McCloud countered. "You'd be there right now if it wasn't for all that competition."
Durans face soured and he ran his hand along a long scar that started above his right eye and ran up over his bald head and ended behind his left ear. "Bah, what do you know? It's infinitely harder pirates here, closer to the core, what, with all the law enforcement all over the place. Rich people liking to stay rich and all that."
"Well, I'm sure that's what you tell everyone but..."
Before McCloud could finish his sentence a larger than average Trandoshan approached the booth. "Duron!!! Where is the money you owe me?"
"Ah, Mr. Tracasac. I'm happy to see you toda..."
"Keep your slippery tong behind your teeth, all I want to know is do you have my money!" The lizard like humanoid rasped between his sharpened teeth.
Duran composed himself and responded, "Listen Mr. Tracasac, like I told you earlier I can't have that kind of cash until..."
Without giving Duron a chance to finish his sentence the Trandoshan slammed his fist down into the table, putting a large dent in the metal surface. "You'll pay in blood, this is the last time I let you disrespect me"
Duron leaned back as far as he could in his booth and used the extra room to kick upwards. The kick caught the underside of the table forcing it up and into the Trandoshan. Tracasac was big but the sudden attack caught him off guard and he stumbled backwards slightly.
The surprise attack gave McCloud an opening to roll out of the booth and flank the stunned attacker. He reached to his belt to draw his blasters but found his holstered empty. His head snapped around towards the entrance as he remembered that the bouncer had checked his weapons at the door. McCloud switched tactics and before Tracasac could recover he charged forward and gave the alien a right hook to the gut. Pain shot up his arm when his fist made contact with the solid abdominal muscles of the alien.
The Trandoshan made a short laugh at the punch, grabbed McCloud's arm and lifted him completely off the floor. "What? Did you think you could knock the wind out of me? Ha ha ha." A shooting pain came from McCloud's right side all of a sudden as his adversary punched him. The air shot out of his lungs in one quick gasp.
Stars formed in McCloud's vision as he strained to stay conscious. Through his dim vision he could see the Trandoshans face twist into what must have been the equivalent of a smile. Strangely enough, he had enough air in his lungs to notice that the Trandoshan's teeth were sharpened to fine points much more than your average Trandoshan.
"Hey, put him down a familiar voice yelled across the bar." The bouncer came running over with a blaster drawn.
"Raaaggghh," the alien yelled as he flung McCloud across the bar and pulled out a hidden hold out blaster from a holster under his arm.
McCloud hit a table on his way to the floor. The ringing coming from his head drowned out the sounds of the fight behind him. He could barely hear the first blaster shot.
The next thing he knew, a smoking, blaster burned body that used to be the bouncer landed next to him. The sight of the mortally wounded man was like a jolt; bring him back to full awareness. Mack picked himself up off the floor and looked over at the fight. Duron picked up the booths table under his arm like a battering ram and charged forward. The impact nearly knocked the Trandoshan over but Duron lacked the momentum to finish the job and just bounced off the heavy built alien.
McCloud scrambled for his comlink and pulled it out. "Frank! I need you buddy!
The call for help drew Tracasac's attention and he turned from the fallen Duron to McCloud. "Fool, you should have stayed down." He bellowed before stomping over to let McCloud know what he thought about his distress call. McCloud scooted away from the Trandoshan backwards on his bum, trying to grab onto anything he could use as a weapon. A bottle found it's way into his hands and he hurled it at Tracasac's head hoping to buy some time.
Tracasac caught it by the neck crushed the bottle between his leathery hands and hurled the shards back at McCloud.
McCloud turned his head in time to avoid getting glass in his eye but he could feel little cuts and punctures on his exposed skin. He continued to drag himself backwards away from his attacker, his hands digging into broken glass as he did so. He ignored the pain and kept up the retreat until his back was up against the bar.
Tracasac, triumphant and gloating slowly walked over to McCloud and stood over the mercenary. "First little human, I'm going to crush you, then I'm going to go finish off your friend Duron and add one of his bones to my collection!" He said, waving his holdout blaster around.
Before he could aim and fire his weapon however, the trandoshan's attention was suddenly drawn to the sound of smashing glass and bending metal from the entrance. The face of a gloating victor evaporate from his face and a spark of worry filled his eyes as he saw what was coming.
"Mr. Tracasac, meet my friend Franklin." McCloud said from his place on the floor. "Frank, give my new friend here a hug."
The eight foot droid lurched through the hole in the wall that used to be the bars entrance and surged towards the Trandoshan. Tracasac tried to fire off a few shots but the holdout blaster barely made a scorch mark against Franklin's metal skin. The droid towered over Tracasac and reached it arms around the Trandoshan, squeezing tightly.
McCloud winced as he heard bones cracking under 2000 pounds of pressure. Tracasac went silent and limp in the droids arms. McCloud regained his footing and took the holdout blaster from his enemies outstretched hand. "Next time you pick a fight, make sure the guy your fighting doesn't have a friend who has a repurposed loader droid following him around." McCloud said into Tracasac's lifeless eyes. "Put him down Frank. Thanks for the help."
Franklin let the trandoshan out of the bear hug and gently lowered him down onto the bar, reaching out with two robotic fingers to close Tracasac's eyes.
Duron hobbled over and put a hand on McCloud's shoulder. "Come on my good man, let's get out of here before this guys friends decide to put in an appearance!"
Don't need to tell me twice, McCloud thought. "Right behind you Duron! Come on Franklin."
A beefy looking bouncer approached him. "Hi there mister, I'm going to have to ask you to check your weapons with me."
McCloud didn't respond, he simply opened up his duster coat and started filling the plastic bin next to the bouncer. Out came both blaster pistols on each hip, then came his holdout blasters, then the scatter blaster hidden within the coat. The bouncer didn't even bat an eyelash at the arsenal. McCloud figured the bouncer had seen plenty before.
The bouncer took the bin and locked it up in the storage room next to the door. "You'll get it back on your way out. Have a good time sir."
McCloud smiled at the bouncer. "Thanks much. Listen, I am looking for a guy that goes by the name of Duron, or a guy named Draksis, any idea if they're in here?"
The bouncer shook his head "I'm sorry sir, I don't know anyone's names, I'm just a bouncer, but Mariin, the bartender, might know them."
"Thanks again" McCloud replied and walked into the bar. The place defiantly smelled of ozone, a tell tale sign that someone had fired a blaster recently. McCloud figured either the bouncer didn't do so good of a job sometimes or maybe it was the bouncer who did the shooting. Just under the ozone smell was the familiar scent of alcohol being poured. McCloud followed it to the bar.
The bartender, a Twi'lek who McCloud assumed was named Mariin came over to him. "I'll have a pint of the local lomin." He said. He showed the bartender a hundred credit chit and placed it on the bar. "You can keep the change if you can tell me where Duron or Draksis is."
Mariin squinted at the mercenary before him, trying to decide if he was trustworthy or not. McCloud had seen the look before. He waved the credit chit back and forth to draw the bartenders attention back to it. Apparently deciding that a hundred credits was worth the risk, he pointed McCloud to a corner booth.
McCloud looked where he pointed and saw it was in the darkest corner of the bar and occupied by only one individual. He left the chit on the bar, accepted his lominale and thanked Mariin. Thus armed with alcohol and information, he made the trek across the bar to the indicated booth. The man sitting there noticed McCloud long before McCloud could see him fully and stood up. "McCloud! You pirate. You still owe me money you louse."
McCloud recognized the voice and quickly approached the booth. He placed the lominale down on the table and scooted it towards the man. "I figure this makes us about even eh Duron?"
Duron accepted the mug and lifted the dark green hood off his head, smiling up at McCloud. "Aye, I suppose it does."
As his eyes adjusted to the light McCloud could see more details about his old acquaintance. He had always been tall and scrawny but right now he wore a long green coat with hood that hid his skinny physique well. His bald head, which was normally shaved to the point of being shiny had some stubble and some new scars. "Taanab treating you well?
Duron gave a wide grin and gestured for McCloud to take a seat. "Not bad my good man. I haven't seen you in a long time." He said.
McCloud returned the grin and sat down. "Not that long. About eight months. I had some jobs out in the outer rim that went south."
"Ugg, the Outer Rim. I feel sorry for you my good man, what a retched part of the galaxy." Said Duron with a grimace. "Me and my boys don't operate out there, too much competition."
"You love the outer rim Duron. I know for a fact you have a mistress out on Ryloth that your wife on Coruscant knows nothing about." McCloud countered. "You'd be there right now if it wasn't for all that competition."
Durans face soured and he ran his hand along a long scar that started above his right eye and ran up over his bald head and ended behind his left ear. "Bah, what do you know? It's infinitely harder pirates here, closer to the core, what, with all the law enforcement all over the place. Rich people liking to stay rich and all that."
"Well, I'm sure that's what you tell everyone but..."
Before McCloud could finish his sentence a larger than average Trandoshan approached the booth. "Duron!!! Where is the money you owe me?"
"Ah, Mr. Tracasac. I'm happy to see you toda..."
"Keep your slippery tong behind your teeth, all I want to know is do you have my money!" The lizard like humanoid rasped between his sharpened teeth.
Duran composed himself and responded, "Listen Mr. Tracasac, like I told you earlier I can't have that kind of cash until..."
Without giving Duron a chance to finish his sentence the Trandoshan slammed his fist down into the table, putting a large dent in the metal surface. "You'll pay in blood, this is the last time I let you disrespect me"
Duron leaned back as far as he could in his booth and used the extra room to kick upwards. The kick caught the underside of the table forcing it up and into the Trandoshan. Tracasac was big but the sudden attack caught him off guard and he stumbled backwards slightly.
The surprise attack gave McCloud an opening to roll out of the booth and flank the stunned attacker. He reached to his belt to draw his blasters but found his holstered empty. His head snapped around towards the entrance as he remembered that the bouncer had checked his weapons at the door. McCloud switched tactics and before Tracasac could recover he charged forward and gave the alien a right hook to the gut. Pain shot up his arm when his fist made contact with the solid abdominal muscles of the alien.
The Trandoshan made a short laugh at the punch, grabbed McCloud's arm and lifted him completely off the floor. "What? Did you think you could knock the wind out of me? Ha ha ha." A shooting pain came from McCloud's right side all of a sudden as his adversary punched him. The air shot out of his lungs in one quick gasp.
Stars formed in McCloud's vision as he strained to stay conscious. Through his dim vision he could see the Trandoshans face twist into what must have been the equivalent of a smile. Strangely enough, he had enough air in his lungs to notice that the Trandoshan's teeth were sharpened to fine points much more than your average Trandoshan.
"Hey, put him down a familiar voice yelled across the bar." The bouncer came running over with a blaster drawn.
"Raaaggghh," the alien yelled as he flung McCloud across the bar and pulled out a hidden hold out blaster from a holster under his arm.
McCloud hit a table on his way to the floor. The ringing coming from his head drowned out the sounds of the fight behind him. He could barely hear the first blaster shot.
The next thing he knew, a smoking, blaster burned body that used to be the bouncer landed next to him. The sight of the mortally wounded man was like a jolt; bring him back to full awareness. Mack picked himself up off the floor and looked over at the fight. Duron picked up the booths table under his arm like a battering ram and charged forward. The impact nearly knocked the Trandoshan over but Duron lacked the momentum to finish the job and just bounced off the heavy built alien.
McCloud scrambled for his comlink and pulled it out. "Frank! I need you buddy!
The call for help drew Tracasac's attention and he turned from the fallen Duron to McCloud. "Fool, you should have stayed down." He bellowed before stomping over to let McCloud know what he thought about his distress call. McCloud scooted away from the Trandoshan backwards on his bum, trying to grab onto anything he could use as a weapon. A bottle found it's way into his hands and he hurled it at Tracasac's head hoping to buy some time.
Tracasac caught it by the neck crushed the bottle between his leathery hands and hurled the shards back at McCloud.
McCloud turned his head in time to avoid getting glass in his eye but he could feel little cuts and punctures on his exposed skin. He continued to drag himself backwards away from his attacker, his hands digging into broken glass as he did so. He ignored the pain and kept up the retreat until his back was up against the bar.
Tracasac, triumphant and gloating slowly walked over to McCloud and stood over the mercenary. "First little human, I'm going to crush you, then I'm going to go finish off your friend Duron and add one of his bones to my collection!" He said, waving his holdout blaster around.
Before he could aim and fire his weapon however, the trandoshan's attention was suddenly drawn to the sound of smashing glass and bending metal from the entrance. The face of a gloating victor evaporate from his face and a spark of worry filled his eyes as he saw what was coming.
"Mr. Tracasac, meet my friend Franklin." McCloud said from his place on the floor. "Frank, give my new friend here a hug."
The eight foot droid lurched through the hole in the wall that used to be the bars entrance and surged towards the Trandoshan. Tracasac tried to fire off a few shots but the holdout blaster barely made a scorch mark against Franklin's metal skin. The droid towered over Tracasac and reached it arms around the Trandoshan, squeezing tightly.
McCloud winced as he heard bones cracking under 2000 pounds of pressure. Tracasac went silent and limp in the droids arms. McCloud regained his footing and took the holdout blaster from his enemies outstretched hand. "Next time you pick a fight, make sure the guy your fighting doesn't have a friend who has a repurposed loader droid following him around." McCloud said into Tracasac's lifeless eyes. "Put him down Frank. Thanks for the help."
Franklin let the trandoshan out of the bear hug and gently lowered him down onto the bar, reaching out with two robotic fingers to close Tracasac's eyes.
Duron hobbled over and put a hand on McCloud's shoulder. "Come on my good man, let's get out of here before this guys friends decide to put in an appearance!"
Don't need to tell me twice, McCloud thought. "Right behind you Duron! Come on Franklin."
