Post by Darko on Jan 17, 2015 14:58:21 GMT
Mythus picked himself up, blinking repeatedly to get dust out of his vision. The unmistakable sound of blasters accompanied the rapid bursts of lasers overhead. People were gunned down remorselessly. He turned frightfully to see the source of this chaos and was nonplussed as he recognised Imperial Stormtroopers. Then he saw something amongst the Stormtroopers coming through the smoke in the breach point: a crimson blade of light.
His eyes widened. He hadn't seen anything like that since Masters Kothari and Corso had taken him and the others as apprentices all those years ago. Despite the fear running through him, in the back of his mind those old memories resurfaced as clear as day. Looking at that figure as he advanced through the smoke reawakened something within him, as if all of his senses suddenly expanded tenfold.
He was painfully aware of the death all around him and something about the one wielding the lightsaber filled him with overwhelming dread. He felt transfixed as he watched the figure advance towards the fleshy vastness that was Gorbula, whose own thugs dropped like flies in the face of the shock and awe attack.
"Garen! Look at me!" A voice shouted. It was Zeek. Somehow he seemed more familiar. There was no time to ponder it however. "We have to go - back entrance, now!"
Mythus nodded. They turned and ran as assorted scum were shot dead all around them. A few bounty hunters and Vilyak gangers reacted fast enough to draw their own weapons and return fire. Ultimately there could be no doubting the result. It would be a slaughter.
The door to the balcony swung open forcefully and the trio hurried around the outside of the Rowdy Ronto. All around in every direction, countless speeders sped through the air, weaving between monolithic skyscrapers. The wind would have surely swept them off the edge and tumbling to their doom were it not for the tall, secure railing around the perimeter.
They scurried towards the other side where a number of speeders were parked outside the main exterior entrance to the cantina. They startled when they rounded the building's curve only to find five stormtroopers standing guard over the vehicles.
"Blast 'em!" One shouted.
Zeek didn't hesitate and continued running towards them, blaster in hand. A quick shot capped a trooper in the faceplate and he toppled off the edge of the building. Zeek tackled another who clipped his shoulder as he did so. They both fall to the ground in a desperate brawl. Eights agilely closed the distance with the hostiles, easily dispatching one trooper with a precise shot to the throat as he moved in. The other two peppered him with lasers, although his thick armour plating absorbed most of it. One shot seemed to hit something vital and the commando droid staggered, a small trail of smoke coming off his chassis.
From further back Mythus raised his blaster pistol in a two-handed grip, firing off a hail of inaccurate shots, somewhat worried about hitting his companions. The two troopers turned to flee, as Eights continued to close with them despite the damage he had sustained. The trooper grappling with Zeek managed to momentarily gain the upper hand, and Eights joined the brawl. The trooper was easily dispatched when facing the both of them.
However, before anything else could happen, a stray laser shot by Mythus hit the thermal detonator attached to the combat belt of one of the trooper's running for cover. A fantastic explosion engulfed everything and Mythus' vision clouded over. He scrabbled desperately backwards, realising he had been knocked nearly clear of the platform's edge. In fact, most of the platform was now gone and he could barely see anything. His ears were filled with an overbearing ringing and his heart pounded in his chest like the steps of an Imperial combat walker.
He felt around for his blaster but it was lost. No time to look for it. No sign of Eights or Zeek. For several seconds he simply lay there, utterly stunned. Eventually his vision stopped dancing like a pair of x-wings in a dogfight and he struggled to regain his footing.
Unable to see much through the fire and smoke, he wandered dazedly away from the perilous edge, stepping over several charred and unidentifiable limbs. A mostly intact body lay prone in one direction, wearing the unmistakable armour of a stormtrooper. Nearby a speeder lay on its side, looking as though one of its repulsorlift plates was damaged. It was difficult to discern how badly it was damaged.
Spotting another body under some rubble, Mythus hurried over. Pushing the detritus off and rolling the body over, he discovered it was Zeek. He was unconscious and had evidently been shot in the shoulder. Feeling undeniably unsafe on a platform which seemed likely to collapse entirely at any moment, Mythus desperately dragged the larger Zabrak onto the speeder. Gritting his teeth and pushing his strength to the limit, he managed to haul the unconscious enforcer on board.
An ominous thumping behind him made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He whirled around but sighed in relief. It was only Eights, though he did not look good. One of his photoreceptors was missing, with much of his armoured casing shredded. His left arm was gone completely, though in his other one he held a bloody humanoid arm.
+++Commentary: It is not only wookiees who enjoy dismembering their opponents when they lose+++
Waving his attentive bodyguard over, Mythus jumped into the drivers' seat. The speeder spluttered, refusing to start despite his best efforts.
"Come on, c'mon," he urged.
+++Alert: hostiles+++ Eights informed as nearly a dozen more stormtroopers rounded the corner, blasters already firing at them just as the speeder growled to life.
Their impromptu escape vehicle toppled over the edge of the platform, plummeting straight down. Mythus screamed with wide eyes, desperately trying to wrestle it under his control. With a reassuring hum, the faulty repulsorlift reactivated and they levelled out mere seconds before they would have crashed into another building.
The speeder hovered there for a moment as Mythus attempted to catch his breath. He glanced back up to where they had been at the top of the Spike, hundreds of floors higher.
+++Supposition: Timuur's storeroom is likely unguarded at this time, Master+++
Mythus turned and frowned at the droid. "Seems like your core programming may have been damaged as well, because that idea is as crazy as mine are."
+++Explanation: That is correct, Master. I have observed your own reckless behaviour and adjusted my own protocols to more adequately support your own unstable and highly flawed meatbag protocols+++
"If Zeek were awake right now he'd probably throw me over the edge for even considering that idea," Mythus mused.
+++Observation: Scans indicate the Zabrak meatshield is deactivated, Master+++
Mythus managed a laugh, though his insides ached. "I'll admit... grabbing the Hutt's riches, buying that ship tonight and blasting out of this sector appeals to my ambition. You're very conniving for an assassin droid, you know that?"
+++Why, of course Master! I take pride in exercising my deviousness subroutines. Besides, it increases the statistical probability of engaging in further combat, and I do so relish terminating foolish meatbags for you, Master!+++
"Well to do that we're going to need some weapons to replace mine. This.. is a Vilyak speeder. Looks like it's got a pair of repeating power blasters, and... there's a slug thrower and vibro knife under the dashboard," he said rather unimpressed. "It's better than nothing. When Zeek wakes up he's going to kill me for this stunt."
+++Negative: I can terminate the Zabrak ally in twenty-nine different ways at this time with only a 19% chance of your death+++
"You sure know how to make a guy feel special, Eights."
His eyes widened. He hadn't seen anything like that since Masters Kothari and Corso had taken him and the others as apprentices all those years ago. Despite the fear running through him, in the back of his mind those old memories resurfaced as clear as day. Looking at that figure as he advanced through the smoke reawakened something within him, as if all of his senses suddenly expanded tenfold.
He was painfully aware of the death all around him and something about the one wielding the lightsaber filled him with overwhelming dread. He felt transfixed as he watched the figure advance towards the fleshy vastness that was Gorbula, whose own thugs dropped like flies in the face of the shock and awe attack.
"Garen! Look at me!" A voice shouted. It was Zeek. Somehow he seemed more familiar. There was no time to ponder it however. "We have to go - back entrance, now!"
Mythus nodded. They turned and ran as assorted scum were shot dead all around them. A few bounty hunters and Vilyak gangers reacted fast enough to draw their own weapons and return fire. Ultimately there could be no doubting the result. It would be a slaughter.
The door to the balcony swung open forcefully and the trio hurried around the outside of the Rowdy Ronto. All around in every direction, countless speeders sped through the air, weaving between monolithic skyscrapers. The wind would have surely swept them off the edge and tumbling to their doom were it not for the tall, secure railing around the perimeter.
They scurried towards the other side where a number of speeders were parked outside the main exterior entrance to the cantina. They startled when they rounded the building's curve only to find five stormtroopers standing guard over the vehicles.
"Blast 'em!" One shouted.
Zeek didn't hesitate and continued running towards them, blaster in hand. A quick shot capped a trooper in the faceplate and he toppled off the edge of the building. Zeek tackled another who clipped his shoulder as he did so. They both fall to the ground in a desperate brawl. Eights agilely closed the distance with the hostiles, easily dispatching one trooper with a precise shot to the throat as he moved in. The other two peppered him with lasers, although his thick armour plating absorbed most of it. One shot seemed to hit something vital and the commando droid staggered, a small trail of smoke coming off his chassis.
From further back Mythus raised his blaster pistol in a two-handed grip, firing off a hail of inaccurate shots, somewhat worried about hitting his companions. The two troopers turned to flee, as Eights continued to close with them despite the damage he had sustained. The trooper grappling with Zeek managed to momentarily gain the upper hand, and Eights joined the brawl. The trooper was easily dispatched when facing the both of them.
However, before anything else could happen, a stray laser shot by Mythus hit the thermal detonator attached to the combat belt of one of the trooper's running for cover. A fantastic explosion engulfed everything and Mythus' vision clouded over. He scrabbled desperately backwards, realising he had been knocked nearly clear of the platform's edge. In fact, most of the platform was now gone and he could barely see anything. His ears were filled with an overbearing ringing and his heart pounded in his chest like the steps of an Imperial combat walker.
He felt around for his blaster but it was lost. No time to look for it. No sign of Eights or Zeek. For several seconds he simply lay there, utterly stunned. Eventually his vision stopped dancing like a pair of x-wings in a dogfight and he struggled to regain his footing.
Unable to see much through the fire and smoke, he wandered dazedly away from the perilous edge, stepping over several charred and unidentifiable limbs. A mostly intact body lay prone in one direction, wearing the unmistakable armour of a stormtrooper. Nearby a speeder lay on its side, looking as though one of its repulsorlift plates was damaged. It was difficult to discern how badly it was damaged.
Spotting another body under some rubble, Mythus hurried over. Pushing the detritus off and rolling the body over, he discovered it was Zeek. He was unconscious and had evidently been shot in the shoulder. Feeling undeniably unsafe on a platform which seemed likely to collapse entirely at any moment, Mythus desperately dragged the larger Zabrak onto the speeder. Gritting his teeth and pushing his strength to the limit, he managed to haul the unconscious enforcer on board.
An ominous thumping behind him made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He whirled around but sighed in relief. It was only Eights, though he did not look good. One of his photoreceptors was missing, with much of his armoured casing shredded. His left arm was gone completely, though in his other one he held a bloody humanoid arm.
+++Commentary: It is not only wookiees who enjoy dismembering their opponents when they lose+++
Waving his attentive bodyguard over, Mythus jumped into the drivers' seat. The speeder spluttered, refusing to start despite his best efforts.
"Come on, c'mon," he urged.
+++Alert: hostiles+++ Eights informed as nearly a dozen more stormtroopers rounded the corner, blasters already firing at them just as the speeder growled to life.
Their impromptu escape vehicle toppled over the edge of the platform, plummeting straight down. Mythus screamed with wide eyes, desperately trying to wrestle it under his control. With a reassuring hum, the faulty repulsorlift reactivated and they levelled out mere seconds before they would have crashed into another building.
The speeder hovered there for a moment as Mythus attempted to catch his breath. He glanced back up to where they had been at the top of the Spike, hundreds of floors higher.
+++Supposition: Timuur's storeroom is likely unguarded at this time, Master+++
Mythus turned and frowned at the droid. "Seems like your core programming may have been damaged as well, because that idea is as crazy as mine are."
+++Explanation: That is correct, Master. I have observed your own reckless behaviour and adjusted my own protocols to more adequately support your own unstable and highly flawed meatbag protocols+++
"If Zeek were awake right now he'd probably throw me over the edge for even considering that idea," Mythus mused.
+++Observation: Scans indicate the Zabrak meatshield is deactivated, Master+++
Mythus managed a laugh, though his insides ached. "I'll admit... grabbing the Hutt's riches, buying that ship tonight and blasting out of this sector appeals to my ambition. You're very conniving for an assassin droid, you know that?"
+++Why, of course Master! I take pride in exercising my deviousness subroutines. Besides, it increases the statistical probability of engaging in further combat, and I do so relish terminating foolish meatbags for you, Master!+++
"Well to do that we're going to need some weapons to replace mine. This.. is a Vilyak speeder. Looks like it's got a pair of repeating power blasters, and... there's a slug thrower and vibro knife under the dashboard," he said rather unimpressed. "It's better than nothing. When Zeek wakes up he's going to kill me for this stunt."
+++Negative: I can terminate the Zabrak ally in twenty-nine different ways at this time with only a 19% chance of your death+++
"You sure know how to make a guy feel special, Eights."