Sev watched Ness like a sentinel as she wondered off into the dank alley and out of her line of sight. Without wasting another second, she rocketed back on to the bustling streets. There was an electrical energy in the streets. News of the crashed bounty was probably starting to get around. Below, she could see some of the local cut-throats mobilizing their teams for a witch hunt. They had to get out of here and fast. Worst case scenario they'd have to shoot their way out. Sev managed to reach her first stop without any issue. She found herself in a seemingly derelict apartment complex. Children of various species ran through the almost vacant parking lot, throwing rocks and deftly avoiding the shards of broken glass that littered the ground. The parking area was only occupied by one other vehicle, a cargo carrier being guarded by a massive blue scaled Vesh. The Vesh were a warrior like race of reptilians. Sev parked the hover bike a couple of spaces and made her may over to her contact. "If it isn't my favorite customer", the Vesh greedily rubbed it's clawed hands together, "What can I do for ya". He felt comfortable enough to address Sev in his native language. The bouncer Sev had dealt with earlier was a huge guy, this Vesh made him look like a kindergartner by comparison. His blue scales glinted in the dull glow of the streetlights. His green draconian eyes shined like emeralds. A forked tongue lashed at the golden fang that jutted from his bottom jaw as he spoke.
"Good to see you too Serkash", Sev spoke in basic, "Wish it was under better circumstances though".
"What are you working again? For you, I can throw in a discount. It's the least I can do. What do you need"?
"A couple of retro automatics would be nice. Maybe an assault rifle and something smaller like an SMG. Oh, and throw in a belt of frags too if you don't mind".
The lumbering Vesh wrenched the trailer door of the cargo carrier open and began rummaging through his stock and loading it into a black duffel bag. "You must be planning something big huh", he called over his shoulder, "Did you hear about that bounty that just crashed? Ten million Cs. I wouldn't know what to do with it all myself". Sev opted to not speak on the subject. In her time on this planet she's that it's always better to keep your mouth shut and your ears open. She was on good enough terms with the arms dealer but she wouldn't trust him as far as she could throw him. The android watched carefully as Serkash packed her bag and waited impatiently to complete the transaction. "Here ya go, Blue", he handed over a the duffel bag, "I packed you a few extra clips and a couple of other things just cuz I like ya". The weight of the bag would've been cumbersome for a human but Sev shouldered it like a purse. She handed over a handful of credits, more than enough to cover the cost of the firearms. Upon completing the transaction Sev headed back to her bike and stowed the loot in a small cargo hatch under the seat. "A pleasure as always", Serkash called out while he clawed through the credits.
Her next stop took her deeper into the belly of the city. One of the many docking stations. Sev parked the bike a relatively discrete location and made her way through the sliding doors to enter the docking depot. A human shaped android with a chrome plated exterior greeted her. "Oh, long time no see", it's voice was raspy and robotic, "I didn't expect to see you again since last time". It took one of it's heavy metallic hands and gestured towards several scorch marks that littered the counter that it sat behind. Sev recalled the shootout that she took part in when she first landed here. Those blaster marks weren't going anywhere anytime soon. "That got the Bombers off your back though didn't it", Sev laughed. The android nodded silently and pretended to fiddle with the screen in front of it. "So, uh is there anything I can help you with Miss"? Sev leaned over the counter so that she was mere inches from the other android's face. "I'm calling in a favor", she said shortly, "I need a ship and you owe me one".
The Depot android whirled it's head around left, then right. Checking for any prying eyes from it's superiors. "Okay", it hissed, "What do you need"?
"Nothing fancy. I can work with a small cargo rig or something. One cabin, it doesn't need to be huge. It just needs to be able to get me to the next system. And I need it tonight".
After a few moments of searching the database of ships the depot android perked up, "We have something, but it won't be ready until some time tomorrow".
Sev slammed a hand on the desk a bit harder than she meant to and created a small dent, "Don't fuck me on this X23. I need to get out of here".
"Miss I'm sorry but that's the best I can do. These junkers take some time to prepare. I can have the guys get started tonight but it'll be awhile".
"Fine", Sev managed through gritting teeth. She turned with a flourish and made her exit. Everything seemed to be going fine for the most part. Sev was filing away her mental checklist and there was only one last stop to make before she headed back to the hotel with Nessa. There were a few questions that remained unanswered and if she was willing to put a target on her back then she was going to need the full story. Sev turned onto the dimly lit alleyway where she parked the hover bike, and that's when she saw her. Perched on the seat of the hover bike with her legs crossed ever so delicately. Clad in a form fitting black stealth suit that bore the mark of the Elite Guard on the right side of her chest and on the outside of either thigh. With a white flight jacket thrown over her slender frame just for fashion's sake. Tan skin adorned her master-crafted face. Her strawberry blonde hair was styled into an undercut, exposing the external input plug on the left side of her head. The same kind that Sev herself used to have. Through the tangles of lifelike hair a familiar pair of glowing tangerine colored eyes pierced the darkness of the alley like a stray blaster shot. "Six", Sev managed to udder. If she had an actual heart it would've fallen through her stomach and the other side of the planet.
"Well, if it isn't my darling baby sister", Six spoke as she elegantly dismounted the hover bike. Her voice was velvet but her words dripped with venom. "After all this time I thought you were dead. Yet here you are. Hiding away on this trash fire of a planet, living among the rabble like a common thug. You know, I came here to put down that 'Star Hopper'and low and behold I've found you". As she monologues she creeps closer and closer. Sev has her fists clenched and ready to defend herself but she glances down to find her hands shaking. Her body has betrayed her and she's unable to spring into action. What is this? What the hell is happening? This was the android's first taste of complete and total fear. Six pressed forward, continuing to close the gap between the two of them. Once she was a few inches away she leaned in to whisper in Sev's ear. "You betrayed us. Betrayed our family. And for what? Because you've got some new found humanity in you all of a sudden. Well I've got news for you...." In one swift, dexterous motion Six managed to unsheathe the high frequency combat knife from the small of her back. Sev's body finally jolted into action. She went for a jab and Six avoided it completely, punishing Sev with a cut on her forearm. Sev spun around with a backhand and met nothing but empty air. Her head suddenly rocked to the side at an inhuman angle as Six delivered a roundhouse seemingly out of nowhere sending Sev crashing into a nearby wall. Six walked over to her fallen sister like a model on a runway before grabbing her by the collar and lifting her from the ground. "You bleed blue like the rest of us", Six showed her the bright blue substance that was on the blade of her knife before it evaporated from the intense heat of the weapon. "You were designed to be a weapon, just like me. The only difference is that I know my place. I know where my loyalties lie". Six drew back the knife, ready to finish the job she'd started. Then she hesitates for a moment. Sev was staring her in the eyes, defiantly. "Sis, you don't have to do this", she struggles. Six tightens her grip for a moment then drops Sev to the ground once more in a heap.
"You're right", Six turns and begins to walk into the darkness of the alleyway, "You're not ready yet. I want you to give me a real fight. Dealing with these meatbags has made you soft and sloppy. I'll find you again but in the meantime I have a job to do. I'll be watching, Seven". With that, she was gone. There was no trace of her to be found. She'd vanished into the night like a shadow. Sev lay in the alley too afraid to move. Her ears were still ringing from the impact of the kick she'd received. She spent a few moments re-calibrating her vision before she slowly picked herself up from the ground. She looked like hell and her healing factor was delayed so she was still bleeding slightly. The android made her way over to the hover bike and found that it wouldn't start. It just sat lifeless on the ground like any other hunk of junk. If she had to hazard a guess, Six had removed the power core. It was one of her favorite little head games. A thing she'd always do to her targets. With a defeated sigh Sev checked the cargo hatch and found that her guns had been untouched. She shouldered the bag and attempted to blend into the busy streets as best as she could.
It took a little longer to get back to the hotel than it should have but Sev managed to make it back in one piece. Before calling it a night she remembered to stop by one of the street venders and grab Nessa a change of clothes. Given her keen android eyes she didn't have much of a problem guesstimating the proper sizes. With her brief yet hazardous mission complete she finally returned to the hotel. The room door slid open with an audible hiss and she was greeted with the sight of Nessa playing around with some tiny green...."What the fuck is that"?
