"The deal is, I take him, and you're coming with us." The man said, as if it was the simplest thing in the universe. He pressed the barrel of his gun against the back of Neil's head for emphasis. The bounty ticket made a face, showcasing the position of his arms and the material of the gun against his head was not the most comfortable in the world. Jocasta stood up, hands in the air. She reached to brush her thick hair, but the man barked for her to stop. 

"Calm down, jeez." Jocasta marveled, lowering her hands again to a more neutral height. "This is not how one negotiates." 

"You think I give a fuck?" The gunman asked. "Start moving!" 

Jocasta scoffed, giving a good show of confidence. "Look buddy, you come in here, wake us up, we're hung over, filled with pizza. You do know where you are, right? This is an official mecha fighting area. How do you plan on getting past security? I mean, look at that clunker right there! You realize how long it took us to give it that kind of shine?"

Neil's face twisted in confusion. They never gave it a shine, did they? He glanced at Hunk, and saw just a rough silhouette of his and the hired gun's reflection. He was about to look away, before he realized...he could see the [i]hired gunman's reflection[/i]! Not well, but enough to give him a good scope to gauge his movements.

"You mean nothing to us," The man said with a chilling finality. Neil knew his next words would have no bluff in them. He would kill Jocasta if she did not comply. "You are going to come with me. I'm giving you until the count of three..." 

Neil had to act. "Can I at least-" he started, raising a hand. At the corner of his eye, he saw the slight change in color along Hunk's steel as the hired gun raised his weapon to butt Neil in the back of the head. He smiled inwardly, amused that one word from him could annoy someone so much. 

He felt time slow, felt himself exhale, and inhale, and he ducked so late he swore he felt the wind of the weapon gently brushing his hair. Without hesitating, Neil glanced back and reached up, gripping the killer's weapon arm as he regained his feet, trying to grapple the assault rifle out of his hands. Neil immediately knew he was not in an advantageous position, his arms unable to lock with his opponent, and Jocasta flew behind the couch as the man's weapon discharged, bullets firing across the room, cutting holes through furniture, memorabilia, and shattering half finished bottles of whiskey. Neil felt the immense heat of the ammunition fuming into his face, stinging his cheek until the clip was empty, before he lashed back with his elbow. The man had armor, but he managed to hit the spot between the chest plate and the belt, causing the gunman to stagger for a second. Neil spun, getting hit in the face by a palm, but undeterred as he bowled the man over and they started wrestling on the ground. After a few moments fraught with struggle, his assailant got his feet under Neil's stomach and launched the thief into the air. Neil cried out, hitting the ground in a long half-roll, half-slide before he hit the tail end of the fallen billiard table. His hand finding Jocasta's fallen gun. 

"Hey, thanks." Neil said quickly as the man went for his assault rifle, only able to get his gun up before the ionized round from Jo's gun punched through his chest. The gaping wound cauterized within the span of a second. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out save a wheeze, before he collapsed onto the floor with a loud thud, breaking the plate of his face helm. 

"It's safe now!" Neil called with mock enthusiasm.