2 Minutes to Midnight[Jackal]

[Jace]

Ryloth. It wasn't exactly the most inviting place. Then again, he wasn't after a very inviting person. No, he wasn't here for a vacation, quite the opposite in fact. Though now that he thought about it, he never really taken a vacation before. Maybe that was something to think about after this, assuming he succeeded in his mission. Chances were if he didn't, it meant that he was already dead....the eternal vacation. His mind was already in the wrong place.

Thoughts of failure already...I must be getting old.

Ocelot took a sip of whiskey as he waited in the cantina. This job was a little more dangerous than the usual fare. Thus he was going to need a little help. Though the Red October crew had gone their separate ways months ago, Ocelot still kept in contact with a few of them. One of them was Arc Laud. If he had learned anything when he worked with Arc, it was that he was reliable. The man took his job seriously, and he was damn good at it.

Even as the older merc took a puff from his cigar, his mind drifted back to the job. Assassins. They were a trick bunch, and dangerous to boot. Some were just serial killers who got paid, others were much more devious in their work. This one was apparently one of the latter. Ocelot had heard rumors of his work. Work which had pissed off a good deal of people, rich people. The pay was good and he would be doing the galaxy a public service.

He removed his pistol from its holster and checked it once more. It was a habit he had got into awhile ago. While he loved slugthrowers, if they weren't maintained properly, they could easily jam up or even worse. You do not want that happening to you in the middle of a firefight. He checked to make sure his multiple blades were in the places they should be. Everything was in place, now all he had to do was wait for his partner.

[Grawn]

The shuttle settled slowly upon the landing pad in the busy starport. The hatch opened downwards, touching the ground as it served its dual purpose as a ramp. A few beings filed out of the craft and went on their way. One man, who had to crouch down slightly to prevent his head from hitting the top of the entrance, walked down the ramp. Doned in a dark duster, long black hair that went to his shoulders, Arc Laud looked around the starport as he stepped off the ramp.

Not looking back despite the loud noise of the door coming back up and the shuttle taking off, he immediately went to a large holo-map that was placed for assisting tourists with getting around. His red eyes, hidden behind his reflective orange shades, narrowed as he looked for the cantina Ocelot had summoned him to. The bounty hunter had been wise to give Ocelot his comm number, if the man proved to have a job for him, it would be a good change of pace. Things had become far to complacent for Arc. He needed the thrill of death flying by his head at speeds unavoidable.

Finding the place on the map he needed, he uploaded into his datapad and started in the direction of the place. Twi'leks of many colors were the most present of the many species walking around. While he had to admit the tails coming out of their head, or "lekku" as they called them, were a bit odd, their women had a certain charm about them. Clearing his head of the perverted thoughts that wanted to rise, the bounty hunter yawned. His hands went absentmindly to his weapons that were holstered on his belt.

Two pistols that were probably closer to him then any being could be hung on his belt. One was grayish black with a longer then average barrek. It weighed more then an average pistol but its firepower was greater with more of a punch. The other one was silver, an average pistol but with a larger magazine. Arc had done his job as a bounty hunter very well with both of his slugthrowers as his constant companions. Realizing he had been walking for some time without really thinking of where he had been going, Arcs eyes scanned his current location.

A dark alley. Peeeerfect. Now all was needed was the original scenario of a guy-

"You seem lost, human", a voice told him from behind, drawing a sigh as Arc looked up towards the sky irritatedly. "Perhaps I could assist you for a fee".

"I don't think that will be needed", Arc replied, all to knowing where this was going, as he turned to face a yellow Twi'lek dressed in black leather carrying what looked like a gaffi stick.

"A Tusken weapon? Interesting", the bounty hunter brought his finger up to the side of his glasses and clicked a tiny button. The orange tinted lens opened a display in themselves that were only visible to them. A box aligned itself on the Twi'leks head as the Twi'lek in question smiled as he started towards Arc, bouncing the gaffi stick against one hand as the other held it.

Arc concentrated on the stats that sprung to the right of the box. He chuckled as the sentence, Bounty: 2000 credits dead, 4000 Alive, appeared.

"Mr. Aaculya, I do believe you have made my day a tad less boring", Arc informed the Twi'lek just as he raised the gaffi stick to mug what he mistaken for a lost tourist at first. Before the look of surprise could come to Aaculya's face, Arc drew Integra and had the barrel pressed against the Twi'leks face as his other hand grabbed the muggers wrist and twisted it. Aaculya dropped the gaffi immeditately and went to a knee, his face etched with pain by his near broken wrist.

Lowering his gun, he slammed his knee into the Twi'leks face and let him fall to the ground, writhing on the ground in further pain. "Jeehly Aaculya, you're worth four kay to the Ryloth police forces. Since a station is so close to where I'm going, you have the pleasure of fattening my bank account. Make any sudden moves and I'll blow your damn head off, you're worth half as much dead as you are alive". The Twi'lek only groaned in response.

It took a little bit longer but Arc got the Twi'lek to the police who paid him the 4000 to his account and arrived at the cantina. Taking his shades off and pocketing them, a quick scan of the room revealed Ocelot and soon he found himself sitting across a table from the man.

"What'cha got for me?". That was his style. Quick and to the point.

[Jace]

"What'cha got for me?"

"Right to business as always" replied Ocelot

Arc wasn't the type to be late, but if he was, he probably had a good reason. Ocelot was enough of a professional not to pry into the man's business. Either way, his down to business style suited Ocelot quite well. He had never been one for idle talk, just a waste of time and credits.

"This job isn't going to be a walk in the park. The bounty is as dangerous as you are, and quite a bit more sadistic. Sadly, thats about all thats known. An assassin and psychopath to boot. He is about as close to a ghost that you can get. The only rumor that seems to be floating around is that he operates out of Ryloth." He paused for a moment. "Thats the bad news, the good news is that their is substantial credit involved." Ocelot made sure to put a strong emphasis on his last words.

There were easier jobs out there, much easier, but that was the problem. Ocelot was getting old, he had a decent amount of credits saved up, though some more wouldn't hurt. No he was in this line of work for the rush. The thrill of using his skills and talents to overcome his opponent. Capturing a low grade thief wasn't exciting or challenging at all. An highly trained and methodical assassin on the other hand...

"You see that Twi'lek off to the right end of the cantina, Orange, dressed appallingly, and surrounded by guards? Apparently hes one of the more prolific middle men here on Ryloth"

A middle man could mean a whole arrangement of things. In Ocelot's line of work, it meant the person that connected the client to the worker. The rich people who couldn't do things with their own hands needed other people to do it for them. The thing is, they don't know how to contact these people. This is where the middle man came in. All of Ocelot's sources told him that this Orange twi'lek would be his best shot.

"Well what do you say? shall we get to work?" asked Ocelot as the Twi'lek got up and left the cantina with his entourage.

[Grawn]

As Ocelot began to explain the mission, Arc cupped his fist before his face and pressed his elbows on the table. Closing his eyes, the bounty hunters mind went to work as it was fed the words from the man across from hims mouth.

About time a mission was dangerous, he thought to himself as he continued to listen. It didn't matter the person, Arc hadnt survived by being unprepared all these years. Assassin, politician, other bounty hunters, they all led to his bank. Not that the bounty hunter himself had much a use for credits. Material possessions other then his ship and his guns, were not something he deemed highly important.

No no, the thrill of death at any given moment in the middle of a gunfight was what he lived for. The adrenaline rush as he sneaks into a heavily guarded base to kill but a single man, while dodging patrols and security cameras. Arc hadnt experience that kind of action in a long time. Over the last few months it was nothing but cute blonde smugglers, small time assignments and random chance encounters with easy targets.

"You see that Twi'lek off to the right end of the cantina"

Arc opened his eyes, the overhead lamp making his unnatural orbs seem to glow with a inner light, and turned his head to regard the person in question. Interesting clothes indeed. With enough of an armed entourage to warrant him a figure of some importance. Since he came with lots of guards, this meant the Twi'lek himself couldn't fight. The guards were probably lightly trained. Point and pull the trigger style. Nothing he couldn't handle.

However the Twi'lek was apparently starting to leave. His guards stopped flirting with waitresses and formed up around him.

"Well what do you say? Shall we get to work?" Ocelot asked.

Arc smirked and looked back to Ocelot.

"I'll follow you're lead", he said to his former boss, patting the black gun hidden behind his duster.

[Jace]

The mercenary got up slowly from his table, leaving a couple credits for his drink. He checked to make sure his weapons were ready before heading out of the cantina with Arc. Ocelot had made sure to leave at a leisurely pace, he didn't want to leave right after the Twi'lek after all. As he exited the cantina, he made note of his surroundings. One could never be too careful. His target didn't seem to be the smartest guy, but sometimes you could never tell with these people. Off to his right, he could see the Twi'lek and their group walking away.

This man had to be a fool, they were making such a ruckus. That or he was just arrogant enough to think that he was untouchable. Well he would soon learn the error of his ways. Ocelot began to follow the group but made sure to keep a decent distance behind. The mercenary studied the group as he followed them, and found himself a little surprised. Apparently the security the Twi'lek hired were not just run off the mill thugs. They were spacing themselves appropriately, and being watchful of their surroundings. Though he could tell that they were still rather relaxed, complacent in the fact that nothing would happen.

Ocelot had studied the surrounding area before arriving at the cantina. He had marked out a few places where they could ambush the Twi'lek. The group was coming close to the first area. The longer he waited, the higher the chances of some unknown factor intruding and screwing things up. The current street they were in had smaller alleys which branched off on both sides and ran parallel to the street. All Ocelot and Arc had to do was sprint down these alleys and flank the group from both sides.

"Alright Arc, you go right, I go left."

He had worked with Arc a long enough time that they clearly understood each other. All Ocelot needed to say was those few words and that was it. The merc turned into the left alley, and covered the distance quickly. He could hear the voices of the group, he was no doubt parallel to them now. He was nearing the end of the alley. Ocelot drew his revolver out with his right hand, and unsheathed his blade with the left. He was just ahead of the group now, peering from the corner of the wall he could see them approaching.

The first of the group passed, then the Twi'lek himself, and then finally the rear guard. Ocelot sprung from his position, his blade flying in a beautiful arc, continuing even as it cut through the man's neck. Ocelot's gun was already aimed by the time the next guard even realized what happened. Suffice to say, he hit the ground quite dead seconds later. He changed to his next target, depressing the trigger once more, sending another slug into a guard's chest. He didn't have to worry about the others, Arc was quite good at what he did. The Twi'lek finally shook off the shock and turned and began to run. Ocelot brought his revolver up again, and fired a bullet right into the back of his leg. The Twi'lek stumbled to the ground, and Ocelot slowly approached him. He leaned over and with a rather passive face said

"We need to have a little chat"

[Grawn]

Arc steeled himself as he rose with Ocelot, not needing to leave any credits since he didn't order a drink. Show time, the bounty hunter thought as he followed his former boss through the door and out into the open, his gloved hands near his waist and ready to draw his pistols.

After a quick scan, realizing no danger was waiting for them, they saw the Twi'lek to their right and began pursuit. They weren't hard to follow, seeing as how the idiots were doing little to hide their lack of intelligence or show any caution. The fact alone that the guards horded around the man showed he was of some importance, but from what he could tell, they thought themselves untouchable with so many.

Then it changed. They went around a bend and apparently decided they would act professionally. Arc watched with dull interest as the men circling the Twi'lek spaced themselves and held their guns to their chests, eyes with a hint of caution. Perhaps he had been wrong. Not idiots completely, but not enough to be a danger to Arc or Ocelot.

Ocelot did his homework from what Arc could tell as they came to an area with several alleys that would be perfect for flanking them. The bounty hunter was pleased for the most part. When he partnered with someone, he preferred them not being stupid and inexperienced, he didn't have to worry about that with Ocelot.

"Alright Arc, you go right, I go left."

The bounty hunter's face grew serious as the "business" side came to surface, all hint of lazy uninterest disappearing as he split off immediately into the alley. Drawing Integra and Onyx from their holsters, Arc walked down the alley at a quick pace and a minute later came near the end. He picked up the voices of the group chatting as they walked, undoubtedly they were not far and soon would be passing by his end of the alley.

His red eyes watched from the shadows, noticing Ocelot from the otherside, as the group began to file by. The alley was to dark to see far so he didn't fear being seen as he brought his pistols up near his head, pointing towards the sky. Arc watched patiently as the front section moved past, followed by the Twi'lek and then finally the rear flank. As if the two were psychicly linked, Ocelot and Arc jumped out. The bounty hunter took notice of the excellent slash across the first mans neck made by Ocelot's sword as Arc finished his roll to come to his knee.

The group were just realizing what was happening when Arc unloaded on the guards with Integra, the hairtrigger and large ammo clip in the gun insuring it was spraying bullets constantly into the guards. His aim was precise from years of training, not one of his bullets striking the Twi'lek, but decimating the guards. One guard apparently lost his gun in the chaos and charged Arc with a vibrosword. The bounty hunter smirked as the man came with a overhead chop that was blocked by Onyx, the blade stuck between the gun and the finger guard.

The pistol was constructed with a cortosis weave and could be used to block melee weapons. While it increased its weight because of the reinforcement, it was perfect for surprise blocks and Arc had learned to deal with the weight. With Arc's momentum of jolting upwards off his kneeled position, he was able to throw the guards vibrosword off to the side. The guard stumbling backwards, Arc's red eye lined up with Integra as he brought her up and fired, taking the man in the chest.

The fight was nearly over, Ocelot and his combined assault taking out the guard rather quickly. The Twi'lek went to run and just as Arc brought Onyx straight to fire a round into his leg, Ocelot got to him first and fired. The shot mangled the Twi'leks leg and he stumbled to the ground, Ocelot on him as Arc nodded silently in approval. Yes, he liked working with Ocelot.

The bounty hunter walked up beside his former boss as he leaned down to the Twi'lek.

"We need to have a little chat"

Arc only smirked and whirled his pistol around his finger, then stopping it so he aimmed at the Twi'lek. The Twi'lek blanched at this, but it would ensure he would talk.