ugh, sorry about not postin Tuesday! I meant to and I had a conference to get to! Plus it ended late! What ya gonna do eh? Oh well, here is meh next chapter! I am so glad to hear that someone likes my cliffhangers. I feel so special! Ok, R&R!
Water dripped from the pipes above the small ally way and landed upon the dank ground. Many walked by but never gazed down into the darkness. What lived in the Underlevels of Coruscant was not what human or alien alike wanted to deal with. Missing grew in number. This was a bounty hunters play ground, for these were one of the few places that the Jedi never ventured. The residents of the city below often associated themselves as the beings of darkness while the 'good and pure' politicians and Jedi stayed within their haven in the clouds. If you wanted to disappear, this was the spot. Even if you wanted a drag, everything would be at your fingertips.
A figure was huddled against the wall of that ally. It was a man and he was obviously stoned. His laughter was that of one in agony yet in pleasure. He reached into his pocket and yanked out a death stick. The liquid in the vial was glowing an eerie green color.
Yanking off the lid, he sniffed the substance through his nose and closed his eyes. Gin LaHouch had just finished dropping off a fresh batch of girls to a bartender down in the 84th quadrant. His job was one that required a clear mind, and each time that he finished his job, his mind began to spin.
Being in Coruscant sent shivers of pain down his spine. This place only reminded him of what was never to be; everything he left. In these instances reality needed to be pushed out of his life. Drugs of all sorts kept his mind far away from where he should be. All his pain washed away with each sniff.
Pressing his back against the wall, Gin stood to his feet. The world in front of his eyes began to spin. Within seconds he felt all powerful; that was how he liked life to be. Gin loved to be in control.
"Gin LaHouch, is this how you spend your free time?"
His green orbs fluttered up toward a female figure that lurked in the shadow. Gin knew who she was but didn't want to acknowledge her. "Get out of here Orion! I have no use for bitches like you!"
"What a compliment." She came closer to him. Her gaze noted the uncombed blond locks, dimpled chin, and glazed eyes. "Getting stoned once more? You do know that stuff will kill you."
"And what do you care? You'll be happy to get competition out of the way."
"You're no competition Gin. The price on both our heads is the same, and the only difference is…"
"Cause you are more loyal to…"
"Loyal?" She cut him off then threw a handkerchief at his face. "A bounty hunter loyal? Maybe one of those stiffs that works for the Huts. No, I had to finish your job! You'll be happy to know that Senator Pumbbala was taken care of."
Gin's face was set to rage. He inched closer to Orion though he didn't tower over her. The man was 5'7 and so was the woman in front of him; not that intimidating. "That was my job!"
"You failed and like always I have to come and pick up the pieces."
"Pick up the pieces!"
"The boss isn't happy with you." She took her blaster out of its holster. Dark eyes scanned over the black metal while she shook her head. "He would just let you go but you know too much. I'm sorry Gin."
Noting the grin on her face, he could tell that the last thing she was thinking was being sorry. This was what Orion wanted and Gin knew it. For years the two had been battling for dominance in the underworld. At this moment he knew that he was loosing. "Don't do this!"
"Why? You want me to let you go so you can waste your life on Death Sticks? I don't think so."
Her arm was raised with the barrel of the blaster pointing toward Gin. She rested her finger on the trigger. All excitement was playing on her face at the moment. This was what she wanted. "So long…"
Gin wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His gaze grew intense, almost intimidating. When the round had gone off, Gin tilted his head to the side. The round flew past him and hit a trash can.
Orion knitted her brow. She had a clear shot so there was no way he could dodge it. Once again she fired.
He rolled to the left in an effort to dodge once again. "Is that all you got?"
With a face of pure rage, she fired rounds off blindly. Each time Gin would escape the peril. This only enraged Orion to the point of insanity. She charged at him, her foot coming up to kick him in the stomach.
Gin jumped to his feet in a couching position. He caught her leg in his hands and twisted it. She flew to the ground. Orion placed her feet upon the concrete and pushed herself into the air. The woman landed on her feet only to receive a swift punch in the face.
Never before had someone beat her like this; in hand to hand combat or weaponry. She lay on the ground dazed.
Gin towered over the female with a look of annoyance. He saw her raise a blaster towards him and let out a deep breath. Suddenly her hand began to shake. Something was keeping her hand from setting off the trigger and firing at him, though that wasn't all. Her neck began to grow tight.
Breathing became harder for the bounty hunter as she gripped her neck with her free hand.
"I warned you not to do this. You play by my rules now." Gin smiled and released his grip with the force slightly; just enough to let her talk but still be uncomfortable. "Tell me where the Senator is and what information you know."
Orion set her eyes to flaming. "Fuck yo…"
He let out a deep sigh while the force around her neck tightened. "Fine then."
Suddenly Orion released tension on the blaster. Her eyes rolled back into her head as she tried to speak. The words could not come from her gapping mouth until Gin released the pressure. "Senator Pumbbala… is in the lower levels… of sector 21. He won't… talk. He's been shipping equipment… and supplies for the… Separatist movement…."
Gin tilted his head. A warm smile washed over his face while he contemplated. "You can be very useful when you want to be Orion. Well, I guess that is all I need out of you. Good bye."
She went to say something but the pressure on her neck began to grow. Her air supply was being cut in half. Shaking, Orion felt her hand turning. She set her dark eyes towards her hand to discover that the barrel of her blaster was pointed toward her now. In vain, she tried to move her hand but it was stuck. Almost like, she could not control her own body.
Gin let out a sigh. "It's strange how well known your name is, Orion. Too bad all the pressure was getting to you. But, did you have to take your own life?"
Orion was now going mad within herself. She could feel her fingers tightening on the trigger. Beads of sweat rolled down her face as she screamed in her mind.
Within seconds the blaster was fired and Orion lay dead on the ground. Gin didn't even gaze at her mangled face. "Such a waste of beauty." He shrugged his shoulders, now reveling in his triumph. "Oh well, one more obstacle out of my way. Now… let's see how we can get this Senator to babble."