2028: Drawing her back cloak about her red, purple, and silver form and
then drawing up her hood over her head, she entered the smoke filled bar.
It was your typical bar with your typical card games, alcoholic spirits,
and chatter. It was also dark and dingy, but it would suit her purpose.
Approaching the bar, she noted a few questioning glances in her direction.
It was one of those times she was glad she had the privacy afforded by her
clothing, it gave no inkling to the observer what gender she was,
therefore none of the males in the room could start in on the typical
suggestions, verbal or otherwise. Leaning across the bar, she gestured to
the servo-droid with a slender and long, clawed finger.
It approached and droned, "Your pleasure?"
"Information. But give no inclination of my gender." she murmured.
The gaze of her sky blue optics was warning enough, it replied,
"Whatever way I can help, I will."
"Seen this guy?" she asked and showed a photo of a renegade Decepticon.
"Yes. Came in on a flight two days ago. He's frequents this
establishment at happy hour. That would be an hour from now." the droid
intoned.
"Thank you for your cooperation. I'll make myself comfortable." she
said.
Making her way to the corner table away from the customers, she again felt
the curious, drunken gazes. Sitting down, she made sure all her limbs were
covered by her black cloak, and ordered a drink so special and rare she
had to explain to the droid how to make it. The 'Con arrived a half hour
late. She watched him order a Nebula Fizz and draw up a chair at a table
at the far end of the room. She waited for him to get thoroughly plastered
before making her move. She sidled up to his table and waited for him to
notice her.
"Whatcha -hic- wants?" he slurred.
"A little action, you and me." she whispered.
His optics flashed with lust as his drunken-filled optics ran down
her form, "Sure 'nuff!"
Taking his hand, she allowed him to lean his heavy drunken form on her.
She led him well away from the bar and into a dark ally.
"We -hic- we're gonna does it here?" he drawled.
"It'll do." she smiled.
The look on his face was classic when she whipped out a hidden shott
blaster and placed it in a hole where her left hand had been.
"Time to die." she said coolly.
She leveled it at the 'Cons face. She heard a resounding click near her
head, a hand placed itself on the end of the blaster.
"Put it down, he's mine." a male voice warned in her audio.
"What?!" she asked in annoyance.
"Oh shit, Defcon!" the 'Con cried.
"That's right. He knows why I'm here, but you do not. Put it down or
I may have to hurt you." came the reply.
She snorted, "I was hired to kill this robo-bastard."
"I was hired to bring him to the intergalactic courts for trial."
Defcon retorted.
"He'll die either way. Besides, I've a living to make." she shot
back.
"I've a responsibility to the high council and the government. Now
put that down for Primus' sake." Defcon stated.
She pulled the gun off and placed it in its spot.
"That's better. Hold it you!" Defcon shouted, moving his blue form
after him.
The 'Con was making a break for it. She acted out of pure instinct and
automatic reflexes. Making a leap into the air and doing an acrobatic
flip, she landed before the fleeing robot. He tried to avoid her, but was
tripped up.
"He said hold it scumbag." she growled, pinning an arm behind his
back.
"Ow! I give. Ow! I give." he cried.
With a disgusted 'pah' she let his arm free and then gestured saying,
"All yours."
"I didn't catch your name." Defcon said.
"Dawnstarr." she replied and skulked off into the shadows. She was in a dark mood for the rest of the day. She'd lost a good 500 credits not getting to kill the 'Con.
'I'm sure another hit will come up soon enough.' she thought, 'Almost
wish Defcon hadn't interfered.' She recalled his image to mind, though it had only been a glance, it was enough to remember his most obvious feature. 'A vigilante Autobot, how amusing. Bet the governmental courts pay him handsomely. Not as much as I make I'll wager.' she mused.
Wandering the night streets of the city was a comfort to her. By dawn she
was ready to go job seeking again. She made her way to the bar and checked
with the droid if it had heard of anything. It did and gave her an
address. She arrived at a middle class domicile. 'Not bad.' she thought and knocked.
A short, stout green colored lizard creature answered. One eye was covered
by an eye patch, it mumbled something.
"I've come about the job." she smiled at it.
It mumbled and gestured for her to enter, it closed the door. She followed
until it indicated for her to sit and then scurried off. She took in the
decor, the furniture was for a being at least her size. There was a
spectacular view of the mountains from a floor to ceiling window. Upon
hearing footsteps she turned to face the party. Her surprise was internal
only for she kept her face cool and calm.
"Hello again, Dawnstarr." Defcon nodded.
"Defcon." she said coolly.
"Want a job eh?" he asked.
"Yes. What is it?" Dawnstarr inquired.
"I've been looking for a partner. Basically I hunt for criminals who
have to be brought into justice for their hearings." Defcon stated.
"A legal bounty hunter.. well, well." she mused.
"What are your qualifications?" he queried.
"I'm hired killer. If you need credentials, I've got plenty." she
replied.
"Can you work with another?" he asked.
"It would be nice to have someone watching my back for once."
Dawnstarr nodded.
"Would you be willing to be tested?" Defcon questioned.
"Quite. I must warn you, I was trained very well and I know how
handle myself." Dawnstarr reported.
"I'm sure you do. Let's get started. Outside in ten minutes." Defcon
said.
With a nod she went through the door held by the creature. ' Doesn't know me very well now, but he will when I'm through with him.' Dawnstarr thought and chuckled lowly to herself.
She made a check on her weapons and then readied herself mentally and physically. A wry smile broke her concentration, the sly fellow had tried very hard not to take a gander at her, that she had noticed by her trained observation. She had read his thoughts, though a business man up-front and an Autobot at heart, there was no denying he was intrigued. His thoughts were ones of measured temperance, but a few strays betrayed his innermost desires. She knew how nervous he was about having to test her and she was sure he'd dealt with very few females with any amount of experience in the ways of battle. 'It will be interesting to say the least.' she thought.
The lizard creature scrabbled out of the house hauling a strong box of weapons. 'A boy and his toys.' she thought while taking into account what each weapons' potential was. 'Very powerful toys.'
Defcon strode out, it was a confident yet unsure gait. She stood her ground, for the first time really taking in his physical aspects. He'd obviously cleaned up a bit for the twin suns made his light blue armor gleam spectacularly. Strong in build and despite herself she found him to
be good looking. What would the Trechercons call his type, a pretty boy? He was definitely a pretty enough picture to frame.
Drawing her sword out, she proffered, "Any good at sword play?"
Defcon smiled slightly, "What kind of bounty hunter doesn't learn all
the weapon and non-weapon arts?"
She smiled and chuckled lowly, "Indeed?"
Drawing a blade to be reckoned with, he approached cautiously. Dawnstarr
stood there observing, holding her sword with a confident ease. Defcon
stopped just within sword reach and it began. Dawnstarr had to admit that
he knew how to handle his weapon and himself.
"Enough." Defcon stated, "I'm convinced. Let's try a little target
shooting. I'll demonstrate." he placed his sword in its sheath and reached
into the strongbox, bringing out a long and graceful rifle, "Ready?" the
last was to the creature who had finished setting up a machine, "Pull."
thirty objects sprang into the sky and all were shot at and destroyed,
"Think you can handle more than that?"
"Fifty." Dawnstarr requested, they were loaded, "Pull." As the
trigger caught, she whipped out her shott blaster and placed it where her
left hand had been and caught all the projectiles with three laser shots.
Defcon nodded and asked for more. They increased the number until it come
to five hundred. Defcon made all but two, but Dawnstarr got them all.
"You were indeed trained well, but what of non-weapon arts?" Defcon
inquired.
"I know every dirty trick in the book, you sure you'd like to
tangle?" Dawnstarr smiled.
In answer Defcon came upon her like a whirlwind only to be stamped out by
her tornado. Try as he could, she countered with such ease he was
mollified. As a last ditch effort he tried something dirty and
underhanded. He landed a smart rap at the base of her neck, she landed a
good boot in his crotch. As he fell to his knees he was surprised to see
her fall unconscious. Defcons' surprise was shared by the lizard creature
who approached with a first aid kit.
"Well--unh--she warned me about playing dirty. By Primus that
smarts." The lizard nodded with understanding and mumbled,
"I don't know. Strange place--uhnh--for a weak spot. I hope she's only
unconscious." Defcon replied.
Crawling over to her, he placed an audio sensor to her chest and listened.
Nodding to himself with a smile of relief he said, "That's one tough lady,
a lucky shot I got in." The lizard mumbled excitedly. "Yeah, I'll hire
her all right. The best damn fighter I've ever had the pleasure to battle.
Let's get her into the house."
With protests from various parts of his body, he managed to lift Dawnstarr
up in his arms and carried her toward the house. When Dawnstarr awoke, she
had one hell of a headache. She had underestimated the probability of
Defcon getting in a lucky shot. Had he hit her much harder, he'd would
have killed her.
"Awake I see, sure had me scared." Defcon said as he entered what she
now noticed was the bedroom, "Here, I got you something to drink." Taking
the proffered glass with annoyance, she gave him a wavering glare.
"Hey now, let's not go getting to harboring bad feelings. You did
give me the beating of my life." Defcon reported.
Sipping at the drink, Dawnstarr thought that fact over and said,
"True. So am I hired?"
"I wouldn't dare say no after what I've seen and felt today." Defcon
smiled.
Dawnstarr had to smile, "You did want to test me."
"Only good policy. A assignment came in while you were unconscious.
We got three escaped convicts running amok in the area." Defcon stated.
She nodded, "How much does it pay?"
"If we bring them all in, about ten thousand credits for each of us.
You think you can go?" he asked.
"Of course I can, I'm a tough nut to crack." she nodded.
"That you are. Get the ship." the last was to the creature.
"He's coming too?" she queried.
"Don't worry, he doesn't get any money. I can't trust him with it
because he gambles it all away." Defcon said, paused, then continued, "May
I say something not related to business."
"Sure." she replied.
"You are the most incredible female I have ever met. I want you to
know that I'll treat you as an equal. Of course working so close
together.." Defcon began.
"Will bring us closer in other ways too?" Dawnstarr finished, "If
we're compatible, if we can stand each other."
Defcon laughed, Dawnstarr had to as well, this was going to be an
interesting partnership.