Log:WANTED ALIVE: The Smuggler King

WANTED ALIVE: The Smuggler King

OOC Date: June 22, 2020
Location: Hutt District, Nar Shaddaa
Participants: Malik Ren, Ax, Asinis, Syrus Volo, Karys, Rathe Versiano, Domino Graystorm, Sumi Kora

Partial clouds make for what is perhaps not an unwelcome change -- Nar Shaddaa is so often wet, windy, the dizzying labyrinth of neon reflected back as a mirror world in puddles underfoot. But as of now, it's only humid, overcast, and either way it wouldn't slow down either the foot traffic or the ship traffic at this busy starport.

Beings of every race, manner, and description croud the spaces here, shipping cargo, boarding and exiting shuttles, dodging droids large and small. Impromptu business owners hawk wares of many sorts, from portable arrays carried on their person, to temporary stalls that can be set up or torn down in a hurry if the proprietor finds the bribes weren't paid.

Through all this busy commerce and havoc strides a black clad man of unremarkable height, unmasked although he carries a silver and black helmet under one arm. He is armed with nothing save for a silver cylinder-like object at his belt, and a demeanor that says 'try it.' Human and of unremarkable height, Malik Ren is not physically imposing, but somehow, most pedestrians seem to move out of his way regardless. Maybe they've just got a bad feeling about it.

Asinis disembarks from the freighter that goes by the name of "Sweet Pea", he appears to be cleaning his hands with a rag. His face and clothes are stained with what appears to be grease. Pausing at the bottom of the ramp he presses the button to raise it back into the closed position before turning and making his way away from the ship.

Bad feelings often accompanied the arrival of Mandalorians. Especially the hunteress named Sumi Kora. Despite her reputation of being a consummate professional and an adequete hunter, her other reputations were less than savory. Such as her propensity to attend the slaves at the Twi'lek strip club, Twi'Lick, her proximity to the First Order and the nefarious Knights of Ren, and her reputation for enjoying bad noodles. Not just bad noodles, but noodles obtained from street vendors whose noodles were beneath the sub-standard of noodles moon-wide.

Sumi Kora is at one stand now, short, perhaps shorter than the dark knight Malik, wearing a cape, and armed to the brim in advanced, and for the most part, illegal weaponry. The most iconic thing about Sumi Kora was the helmet designed with a T-visor that was reflective silver. She wore a sash that marked her as one of the Guild bounty hunters, and the burn mark on her pauldron was the sigil of Clan Kora. Unlike Malik though, no one avoided her. Everyone hates Mandalorians. Much like they hate Corellians. They are descendant from the same garbage fires, most like.

The Black Sands was berthed in one of the public areas, having only recently been unloaded. The highly modified VCX-100 was definitely the pride and joy of some pilot lingering about the starport. Said pilot was likely the Echani in fancy attire with the Socorran tailring perched upon his shoulder.

Ax was standing just outside of his ship, looking over a datapad while his spherical BB-series droid was plugged into the ship's underbelly, running diagnostics. It's a long moment before Ax spots Malik Ren in the area, having been distracted by his ship and only being drawn away from that by whispers from a nearby freighter crew as they watched the Knight move along. Then of course, arrival of Mandos draws even more whispers from the various people gathered.

Ax mutters a few curses under his breath. "Of all the jobs I had to take today, it had to bring me here," he grumbles to nobody in particular unless it's to the black flying lizard on his shoulder.

"Sumi Kora." Malik's accent sounds like Coruscant, upper levels Coruscant -- far from the dingy lower levels, or in recent times the hideous devastation of the First Order Citadel. Sounds like money. He also, at present, sounds amused. "If I at all possessed a heart, which we're all quite relieved I do not, it would be warmed at the sight of you." He draws a few steps closer; bold move for a man with a 400,000 credit bounty to wander near such a renowned hunter! But maybe that's the fun of it? They understand each other.

He seems about to continue with wherever that greeting might have led, a professional inquiry or small-talk, who knows, when his head suddenly turns sharply to spot --! Ax! A person of interest! He looks back at Sumi, brows lifted. "Really, ought I to interpret this as anything other than complete serendipity?" he asks rhetorically, before casually issuing a salutation loud enough for Ax to hear.

Again, he sounds amused. "You've saved me a trip to Smuggler's Run, haven't you then?"

Approaching slowly, easily and with a cloak billowing around behind him, is Syrus; bad guy extraordinaire. Or at least 'misunderstood' guy.

His walk halts as he spies Ax. It's been a while since he's laid eyes on the Echani. A lifetime ago, depending on one's perception. For those that aren't as poetic, however, it's only been like a year or two. Either way, Syrus will offer a nod in the man's direction before he moves to close the distance towards Sumi and Malik.

Sumi's head turns at the sound of the noble's voice. Former (?) noble's voice? He was both Oran Arcantael, and whatever Malik Ren was, simultaneously. Sumi had lost count of the times Malik had exacted his ire against her, using his command of the esoteric Force to control and throw her. Having experienced all of this trauma, the Morellian Mandalorian turns to face him without so much as a subtle flinch. A respectful dip of her head issues a proper greeting to the former scion of an ancient noble house of Coruscant. <"My Lord.">

If comforting greetings were to ensue, they were cut short by his abrupt twist of focus. Sumi is not so direct as she steps slightly behind the dark Knight to follow his gaze to find the familiar form of Ax, a smuggler touched by the force who openly admitted to having lightsaber(s?). <"Irony."> Sumi adds in a cold tone that spoke to the more business nature she was notorious for. She rests a hand on her blaster, unclipping the band that kept it smoothly seated in its holster.

Much like they'd squared off before, Sumi took a leading step after pausing with Malik, then squared her balance. This was a Mandalorian stance, one where she was prepared to fight should the notion take the smuggler, force using, lightsaber wielding, New Republic ally (an assumption given his proximity to the representative of Iridonia when last Sumi visited Chandrila.)

There's definitely more cursing, and Ax looks at his droid muttering for it to wrap up and get onboard. He even gives a command to the tailring on his shoulder, telling it to board the ship to which it does, with only a little hesitation. If things got hairy, Ax didn't want his childhood pet getting hurt, after-all.

Ax turns to face Malik while his droid seals the hatch he was working under and starts to roll onto the ship, the crew ramp raising up behind him while Ax steps towards Ren. "Smuggler's Run, Smuggler's Moon, seems like I have a type, huh?" He looks between Sumi and Malik, a sash falling from his waste to display an ornate pair of curved metal cylinders. "Figured this time would come at some point. Not necessarily today, of course."

Syrus's arrival doesn't go unnoticed, but Ax doesn't show any sign of it at the moment. Hopefully, should things get too crazy, his droid will have had time to power the ship up and prepared for liftoff.

"Entertainment," Malik supplies another choice of word to Sumi, one corner of his mouth crooking upward in a hint of a smile as he steps forward. A hand lifts to Syrus, but Malik seems confident the Kiffar will meet them at the Entertainment, no particular need to call out to him.

Both brows lift as the little animal goes scampering away, and Malik affects a scandalized look to Ax. "What is this, do you imagine I'm in the business of kidnapping whatever sort of filthy little alien you are employing as an accessory? Perish the thought. But it seems you do have a type, Smuggler King. You do indeed." He smiles. "What 'time' are you referring to, Ax? You'll enlighten me, of course?"

"An interesting assortment of characters," Syrus says as he comes to a stop next to Sumi and Malik, the former receiving a somewhat discerning look. An interesting choice of companion, indeed. Syrus's own hand rests atop the pommel of his saber as he looks over towards Ax. "You're looking well. It seems the Jedi life suited me as well as it did you. That is to say, neither of us was quite cut out for it," the Kiffar says, sniffing softly.

His eyes move to Malik, looking the man over to see what exactly the smarmy, possessed Coruscanti has planned. It's always hard to tell who or what is in control at any given moment.

Sumi has no reply but the cold silence of a reflective silver stare that grants Ax his own reflection. Sumi's BHG recording device initiated, and what breeze passed through this place ruffled the length of her cape as the Kiffar Knight joined the Coruscanti noble in a 3 versus 1 standoff.

Rather than posture, or exact some poetic vengeance in how the tables have turned, Ax is granted a stoic silence. Further displaying that the hunter had nothing to prove to him. The irony being, she did find him again; just like she promised.

A single finger tap-tap-taps on the pistol grip of her GLIE-44. An audible metronome, or perhaps, the percussive representation of the calm, steady beat of her heart.

"That I'd get a visit from the Kylo Ren's replacement," Ax said. "He blew up my hangar here at Corestar, and I figured it was only a matter of time before the Knights came to renegotiate."

Ax sighs, looking at Syrus. "Apparently not," he mutters before looking back towards Malik. "Though, I prefer neutrality as opposed to going from one side to another. My only loyalty is to my friends and family, to hell with the politics of the galaxy."

With a shrug, he takes a deep breath, centering himself. "So, how are things going to go from here?" he asks, hands still kept away from his dual sabers for the moment.

Asinis had stopped mid stride as he saw the scene unfolding before him. He takes a few steps back, who would notice a human covered in grease at a starport. He resigns himself to watching for the moment, unsure of whether to leave, run or help one of the sides.

"You played a stupid game and you won a stupid prize, Smuggler King." Malik is not apologetic about the Corestar incident, apparently. "It could have been far worse for you, and you know it. But we did not know then as much as we know now, and it would be fair to say some interesting information has come to light in the intervening span of time."

His steps take him in a slow circle around the Echani, implied threat without action at the moment. He hasn't reached for a weapon either. "Do you honestly believe neutrality is legitimate or possible? Silence implies consent, and no matter which side you think is just, there is a war on. You hide in your little hole, running back to safety like your erstwhile accessory pet, surrounded by all of your Things, and tell yourself it has nothing to do with you. But you are not a galaxy apart, Smuggler King, and everything you were too frightened to prevent should weigh heavily on your mind."

The circle stops in front of the dual-sabered man again. "How do you want it to go, Ax? You have a moment here in which you could act instead of react, but said moment will be fleeting."

"I merely accepted the truth, Ax," Syrus says, thumb brushing the pommel of his saber. "You'd do well to do the same," he adds, his cybernetic eye's power flickering and waning, sending shocks of feedback surging through his gray matter. A wince accompanies this, but he seems to recover well enough.

"Tough call, Knight. So close to your reinforcements, it would be foolish for me to go on an offensive. Even were I to have an advantage in a dual, which I have no clue about, I am not foolish enough to think I can win a war of attrition," Ax says as he looks upon the man. "Then, there is the matter of collateral damage. When Corestar was attacked, thousands lost their lives. This starport is just as busy or busier. While I value my life, I value the lives of innocents more," he adds.

Ax looks to Syrus, "What truth is that, Syrus? I could not abide by the Jedi and I refuse to abide by the rules of the Sith or the Knights of Ren and whatever they follow. I do not need a shepherd to follow."

Then, back to Malik Ren. "So. What do you want from me, Knight? Do I truly believe in neutrality? No, but I do believe in independence and just trying to stay out of the way of the First Order and the Republic, two sides of a bad coin."

Asinis is moving now, a strained look on his face as he weighs his options. He hand snaking behind his back as his path brings him closer to the others, but not uncomfortably so.

"Oh, come now. You have two sabers. We have two sabers. What's the problem?" Two sabers and a Mandalorian, of course. Malik looks amused, then pulls on that black and silver helmet he was carrying. The design isn't the same as Kylo Ren's, but it looks similar, as though both perhaps reference a shared point of origin. "You definitely have different tolerance limits for acceptable collateral damage than I do," he agrees conversationally. "Certainly something to keep in mind."

The black-clad man continues, "The Jedi and the Sith pull the wheel of war into a never-ending cycle of conflict, Ax. I'm not here to make more 'rules,' I am here to break the wheel. I aim to burn the system, because unlike your esteemed personage, I can't sit idly by without regard for trillions of lives trapped in the cycle. And if you are not with me, you are against me."

Malik unclips the cylinder from his belt and with a snap-hiss, the red blade ignites, filling the air with an eerie hum! "You do so little that you are, admittedly, not high on my list of people to cross, unless they appear before me by chance. But you did. And you now stand on a precipice: What will it be? Accept my cause, strike first at an evil thing... or leave, and by doing so, understand yourself for what you are?"

Ax sighs, hands going to his sabers and pulling them from his belt. "I will forever defend people from your kind, and from the overreaching hand of the Republic, should the need arise," he says, igniting his twin emerald blades.

Taking a step back and moving into a defensive stance, he looks between those gathered. "I am a fighter, but I do not fight for you or the Republic. I fight for all that would be destroyed by you both." Well, it's an awkward moment, and he sucked at speeches. Not like he'd prepared for this, after all, no time to rehearse.

Lightsabers were Sumi's cue for distance. The sudden ignition of her jetpack kicked up dirt, trash, and dust (if there's dust) before the blue form in beskar'gam took to the sky, flying elegantly backward to obtain a vantage from the top of a two-story building.

Landing smoothly, the warrior hits the ground walking, casting her cape backward in a form of theatricality to draw up the exclusive rifle given to her as standard issue for a Hunter. A practiced hand keys the rifle by charging its handle and prompting a high-pitched whine that was indicative of its modded output. A casual flick lifts the lens cap of her optics before she takes a lean against the wall and assumes an expert marksmen stance.

Her optics switch from Ax toward Asinis, and the contrail of a red laser appears before the wayward spacer from the ship Sweet Pea. He had a choice to make.

"The truth that all of these teachings are better left buried. The Galaxy would do well without the influence of ancient dogmas with ideas above their stations. You know this," Syrus says, looking the man over as everyone's sabers are now drawn. His own crimson blade leaps to life and it's whipped a few times in front of him. "You only fight for yourself, Ax. Dress it up however you like, but you know the truth."

Asinis pauses when he sees the lightsabers ignighted. He takes note of the red beam before him but three on one is not a fair fight. His hand comes from behind his back as he moves forward, taking a wild swing at the knight. Wild barely describes it, maybe he tripped, thats it; whatever happened, the dagger came nowhere near the saber wielding Knight

"How many times exactly have you defended anyone against our kind /or/ the Republic?" Malik wonders at Ax, admiring the appearance of the twin blades. Red sabers, green sabers, it's the Knights before Christmas. "Now is your chance, fighter, defend the -- really?"

There is a knife coming at him! KNIFE! Ah! It turns out evil black cloaked sorcerers are slightly harder to hit than they might first appear, however, because when Asinis makes his strike, the blade finds nothing but air. Then Asi himself finds air, hurtled across the vicinity as though by an invisible hand of force! Or Force! "Sit down," the Ren chides. "Look at your life. Look at your choices."

"More than you'll ever know," Ax says, ignoring Syrus's jibes for the moment. Three against one, well maybe two, there was the random stranger with the vibrodagger, but he didn't pose much of a threat. Well, maybe he gave enough of a distraction for Ax to even the odds and the Echani erupts into a whirling dervish of green energy blades. No strike connects, of course, because that would make things easier for the rest of the fight. "Well damn," he mutters with a heavy exhale.

The space atop the building lights with blue as a stun array passes harmlessly by and hits Ax's ship. Their movements were very difficult for the Mando to track, but she did her best to follow the angle, chewing her cheek in idle thought as she aligned another shot.

Asinis proved the heroic type, and the reality of the situation came when Malik removed him from the fight showing some element of mercy instead of just maiming the poor bastard. It's enough to make Sumi chuckle aloud. <"Hahahahaha!"> Is heard from above.

The ramp of the Bad Influence lowers it's ramp and Dom descends, "If you need help hauling the medical supplies lemme know, I promised I'd restock Champ after pilfering his last time I got hurt. I've got things to see to tonight but I'll be back by the morning if you wanna swing back by for the conclusion of that chat." she is blissfully oblivious but the report of a blaster has her looking up and around and she skitters back up her ramp, "The friggin stars is going on out there?!" She reaches out to hook a hand on Rathe's shoulder, "No-nope, keep your sassy ass aboard this ship."

Dropping his cloak to the ground, Sy glides forward with his saber leveled. Ax's attention is on Malik. But Syrus isn't above stabbing someone in the back. As evidenced by him stabbing Ax. In the back.

The Kiffar zips forward, his blade finding some resistance as Ax's manifestation of the Force does its work to try and protect him. However, like with Qui Gon and the door, Syrus redoubles his efforts and drives the blade through the Echani, its growling crimson form sprouting from his gut before its withdrawn and Syrus hefts it up to slash the man across the back.

Whipping the blade down and to his side, Syrus watches Ax, waiting to see his former better crumble before him.

<"If you insist. Oh Threl seems to be all healed up, dissapointed she missed out on getting a scar though."> Rathe is idly commenting as he descends the ramp in his full armor. Strange combat noises attract his attention. Of course he is going to ignore Momma Dom trying to heard him back up the ramp. <"Well. Memories. Wait is that...">

As Syrus strikes, Malik does not add insult to injury, or decapitation to injury, and merely steps back, extinguishing his own blade with a brief flick of his wrist and a hum of the blade, vwom VWOM, before it disappears. "If they want him, let them claim him," he advises Syrus, should any of Ax's friends attempt to recover the green-bladed fighter and escape.

"Let this be a lesson to you, Echani," Malik notes, whether Ax can hear him or not. "There is no such thing as neutrality. I suggest you pick a side."

He reaches into one of his sleeves and retrieves something which he passes up, up, up to Sumi, telekinetically. "You know I appreciate you," Malik notes, and then turns to step away, as though nothing is amiss at all.

Domino blink-blinks, "Aw hell. Drop the supplies, looks like you may be doctoring." She sighs "And Malik Ren, indeed. The inevitable has happened." She peers out carefully and descends the ramp the rest of the way warily. To Syrus, "Do I wanna know what's happened here?"

'That didn't go as planned,' Ax thinks to himself as molten plasma erupts from his torso. The Echani drops, knees buckling underneath him, blood erupting from his mouth with a cough. Yeah, this was a bad day altogether for the Echani. The twin sabers fall from his hands, and he just looks down at the hole in his chest, hands going to it.

The Sands powers up finally, and the laser turrets pan around and the sensor and comm jammers come to life. A male Trandoshan in light battle armor is the first to drop out of the ship, rifle in hand followed by a less combat-capable pair of Duros dressed in typical smuggler gear. Apparently, crew loyalty superceded their desire to just survive and get the hell out of there. Well, it looks that way at first, but the trio just freeze. Maybe they weren't as brave now that they were outside of the ship. Not like they had any medical training amongst them, there wasn't even a medical droid aboard the ship.

"A lesson has been taught and hopefully learned," Syrus says, his blade squealing back into its hilt as he kneels down to pluck up the sabers that Ax has dropped, watching as his crew move to retrieve him, and letting them do there work. "Think about what has happened here, Ax. Think of what you could accomplish with true power."

<"Not just him."> Rathe dryly comments on the topic of Malik Ren. Who is departing and is watched warily the whole way. His visor turns towards Sumi on the rooftops. A twitch of th chin so he can bring up the private Kora comlink while shutting down his helmets external vox. <<"Sumi. It is Rathe. New armor. Anyway, any holes in you I need to worry about?">> Switching back he starts to finish his descent down the ramp, he can worry over clinic supplies later. Somebody is down. <"This is a paying gig, right?"> The War Medic idly enquires. For the moment he's not ripping the Tracker off his shoulder.

Asinis was lying crumpled next to a stack of crates, out cold it seems. Eventually he starts to come around, shaking his head and sitting up.

Domino strides towards the prone echani and triumphant night, She notes Syrus taking the sabers and grimaces, "Oh, so this is going to be a thing now." She siiiighs and looks down at Ax. She squints at Rathe, " Yes. We'll discuss it later now I want you to help me get him to his ship and patch him up." The tone and the stare she gives makes it very clear she's not in the mood. She looks over Ax's carefully, "You going to break us if we try to help you, Ax?"

Sumi catches the credit chit after chicken-winging her rifle and angling it up stylishly. <"I do enjoy being paid.">

The sudden ignition of her jetpack sounds and Sumi lands amongst the Knights, peering onto the form of Ax. She pockets the creds, and hoists the rifle upon her back by way of sling. Turns to acknowledge Syrus with a quiet nod, and leaves the Smuggler King to his fate. A slow swagger is adopted as she brushes the cape back over her form.

The encryped Mando comms crackle in her ear, sounding just loud eneough to be heard over her tinnitis. <<"I'm fine. The smuggler is not. Feel free to help whom you desire. This conflict has ended.">> With nothing further to add, Sumi returns to the noodle stand to buy noodles, using her new found creds.

Ax wasn't in condition to break anything right now, he was still staring at the gaping hole in his chest. At least it was mostly carteurized, right? He didn't even seem to notice or react when Syrus took his sabers. Another cough is given, more blood coming out of his mouth. Definitely a damaged lung in there.

His new prizes clipped to his belt, Syrus leans down to pluck up his cloak and sling it on over his form, a glance spared for the fallen smuggler and erstwhile friend. Just a moment. No longer.

With that, the Kiffar will continue on his way back to his Silencer, likely off to suppress some other poor souls.

Karys is walking into the chaos that is subsiding and noting several familiar faces. The left arm of her armor is unoccupied and thus the plates are missing. THe one good one holds her helmet to her hip and the blonde hair is slowly growing out to show the very dark near black roots now. She tosses the shag out of her sharp blue eyes as she slows. "Alor." She greets Sumi with a quistivie raise of her brow as her steps slow and she passes her attention over each. Assessing.

"This.." she sniffs the air. It smells strange yet familiar.

Domino's eyes widen and she turns, "Did he attack Malik?" this occurring to her belatedly and giving her a moment of indignation. She looks down at Ax and her expression Darkens. She lifts her hands, "Do what you want." She tells the Doctor, she's on the fence about it letting Ax lay there as she seems to process the karmic calcus of oweing someone who then presumably just tried to kill one's Beau.

<"As you wish"> Rathe responds to Domino's instructions. He starts for the downed Ax while keeping a wary visor trained upon the others. Once more clicking out to privacy. <<"Very well, Alor.">> Already Rathe is reaching into his medpac one handed blindly, a clearly practiced move. In it is the scanner and knuckled is the autoinjector. <"Well now. been a while since I have had to deal with a Saber wound."> His helmet goes up and tracks the area again out of caution. It stops upon Karys approaching Sumi. Then his head shakes from distraction and drops down to the job at hand.

Asinis slowly gets to his feet, holding the back of his head. He looks around as if trying to figure out where he is.

Ax is too disoriented to figure out what the hell was going on. While Rathe was stabilizing him, he was still fighting shock, and the fact that he was so damned close to dead anyway, and likely would have been had it not been for the medic's hasty intervention.

Mumbling a bit, blinking, Ax manages to get out a "Th...an..." well, it wasn't quite a thanks, but it was as good as he could muster with only one functioning lung at the moment. Hopefully, he'd be able to heal. Wasn't his first time getting gutted, but this was likely the worst.

THe mention of saber wound is enouhg to confirm the smell and those sharp blue eyes snaps back to Rathe. Her gaze settling on the figure he is tending as she remains at Sumi's side. Karys adjusts the way her helmet rests on her side and then speaks quietly to Sumi as her gaze settles on the other woman. She mmms thoughtfully and then is once more watching the injured be attended to. "Do you need help, Rathe?" She asks of him, a curious uptick of her brow as she quickly turns her head about. No more lightsabers. This is a good thing and the nervous twitch is lost as she takes a step closer to Rathe.

Domino sighs and carefully moves to help Ax up, "You're lucky I owe you and I'd hate to break Kadi's heart. Swing on my man again and I will destroy your world." she siiighs "Ehm, should wait for him to maybe not die before I go dick waggling eh?" She carries Ax with Rathe's help to Ax's ship and hands him off to his crew. Calling over her shoulder, "Hi Karys! Can you do me a favor and take my datapad. Turn it on, say protocol five, if you would for me please?" Then you can like...leave it on his chest or with his crew."

"Protecting inno..." Ax tries to say, but no, he's too weak at the moment. The pair of Duros and the Trandoshan that came from Ax's ship move to assist their boss when the laser-sword wielding people depart. They were a pair of smugglers and a merc, not professional soldiers or jedi.

Sumi nods quietly to Karys, acknowledging first her greeting by honorific, then her quiet message. Holding a massive steaming box of noodles, she orients to deposit them into her satchel and finally lifts her helmet up. Long dark hair cascades down upon her shoulders, and she shakes her head, revealing a once scarred face made clean and smooth again. An exotic beauty, reforged.

Her helm is placed atop a box beside her, and she lights a smoke while watching the others.

Rathe's acknowledgement earns a nod as well; perhaps he saw, or perhaps he did not. Sumi was not much of a talker afterall. She was a silent observer. Dark eyes watched as she sparked up a smoke and breathed in the lingering smell of burned flesh. It was just as sickening the first time, yet she took it with a weathered expression all the same.

Blindly at the sound of Karys' voice, Rathe waves a thumbs up in her direction as he finishes working on the impaled Ax. <"Yeah save it. I get it. You want to thank me. Stop trying to thank me, it may kill you."> At some point Ax gets manhandled onto his side so he can work on the exit wound. <"Actually Karys, yes. Hold him like this for me so I can get both sides? Need to staple these with shockfoam and I'm just going to slap on sealant."> Rahte's tone is distracted sounding while working on his calling. Well. Without the War part. He does sigh a bit realizing this. Then there is Domino. <"You could kick him and he's not going to either understand nor feel it right now Domino. You may harangue him later."> Ax is trying to talk. AGAIN! Rathe flicks an armored finger against the Echani's forehead, voxing loudly. <"NO...TALKY!">

Karys is waylaid by Domino and at her request she nods. "Hold onto this." She shoves the helmet at the two armed woman so she can take the datapad. The t-vizored helmet handed off she adjusts the pad in her hand and clears her throat. "Protocol five." Her rich mezzo is offerd out and she steps up to lean down over Ax to place the pad upon his chest. Her gaze flits up tp Asinis for a moment before she is going to a knee. Scooting to where Rathe needs her she does as he asks, moving the pad for now and holding Ax as best she can. "Stillness." she says in that emotionless voice but she attempts a smile. The smell of flesh is all too familiar. "They are unforgiving. Best never to face them."

She looks up at her comrade and nods her head. Ready. Dark rooted blonde hair shifts about her face before she glances down at the patient.

Domino mutters as she helps him over, "Okay, okay, okay. Doc did what he could do, I got an urgent call going to sesti with your location, if that doesn't get answered it'll route to Wayside hospital, so just try not to die beforemore help gets here." She snorts at Rathe "OH sure but screaming at him's helpful."

Meanwhile the datapad powers on and after a moment there's a soft chime and the datapad declares <Voicekey for Karys 0218: Recognized. PRotocol five invoked. Medical assistance is being requested and routed to this device's location>.

One of the Duros pilots tells Domino that if they can get him on the ship, it's one of the fastest in the galaxy and will get him to Sesti on Chandrila faster than she could get here, or anyone else for that matter. The Trandoshan shoulders his rifle and moves to assist the others in carrying Ax aboard. The ship was powered up, there was a full crew aboard, and they'd cleared out Ax's room, ready to strap the smuggler to his bunk.

Asinis wanders aimlessly around the starport, gaining his wits slowly. He makes his way through the people and things placed here and there. His path leading him close to Sumi's noodle stand, where he finds himself a box or something to take a seat on.

Domino's waylaying of Karys brings up the helmet visor sharply. Then he is looking back down at this patient finishing what needs to be done even as Karys arrives to assist. It makes his work easier, leaving both his hands free. Years of practice meant Rathe can literally do the job one handed in the dark. He comments dryly <"Domino. The screaming I assumed is good for your sake. Not his."> there is a bit of amusement at the end. The datapad gets a wary once over and he's even leaned his head away from it just in case of boom. Sealants applied to both sides, he steps up and out of the way of the inistant crew, not his fight. Not what he's getting paid for.

Sumi offers Asinis her half-finished smoke. "You took a hard hit. But you come away with your life. Not many earn the mercy from a Knight of Ren, but I'll say this." Sumi snorts in a soldier/unladylike fashion and spits off to the side. "You got balls. I respect that."

Domino's waylaying of Karys brings up the helmet visor sharply. Then he is looking back down at this patient finishing what needs to be done even as Karys arrives to assist. It makes his work easier, leaving both his hands free. Years of practice meant Rathe can literally do the job one handed in the dark. He comments dryly <"Domino. The screaming I assumed is good for your sake. Not his."> there is a bit of amusement at the end. The datapad gets a wary once over and he's even leaned his head away from it just in case of boom. Sealants applied to both sides, he steps up and out of the way of the inistant crew, not his fight. Not what he's getting paid for. A nod of appreciation for Karys. <"Thank you. Glad you remembered how to tilt them for the last part.">

There it is. Done. Karys looks at the datapad curiously before she sets it back on his chest and moves to rise up. "Lightsabers hurt..." she murmurs, wincing for Ax as she gets to her feet. Karys looks up at Rathe instead of staring at the datapd just so she can study him. "I have a good teacher," she says this without faltering. She steps back then and gives Ax another look before her head swings up and she moves to take her helmet from Domino. She will grab it with her one hand. "Your datapad knows my voice. I would ask, but I think I will not." She admits to the woman.

She rolls her one existing shoulder and nods her head. "Nice walk down memory lane..that smell."

Domino notes Rathe's head motion "Don't be alarmed, when you all were still troopers I coded all my devices with protocols that'd allow you all to override the security on it for a specific purpose and I recorded some of your voices for voicekeys so the voice was the key. Not even Clawdites can trick voicekeys." She sighs, "I gotta go. KArys, Doc, Thank you both for the help." and with that she trots back to the ship.

Asinis looks over to the voice, his faculties finally returning. "Hmm? Oh." he looks around as he realizes where he is, trying to spot the Knight. Then back to Sumi, "Thanks?" he shakes his head, "I gotta learn to fight better, or buy a blaster." he comments, more to himself than anyone else.

With Ax being rocketed away to another part of the Galaxy, Rathe turns attention to Karys once more. <"Eh, he's ok."> This in response to her teacher. Then there is her statement to Domino. Visor tracks from Karys to Dom at the admission of the protocols and then back to Karys. <"Never fully free of the past."> He makes a gesture towards the noodle stand with Sumi and Asinis. <"May as well eat, too.">

"Mmmmm maybe..still got the smell in my nose." Karys can not rub at it currently with her helmet in hand and so she reaches around and clips it to her belt. It frees up her one appendage and she gives Rathe a look. Her gloved hand smooths through her hair and she glances to Sumi and Asinis. "Very well. I will accompan you." Does not mean she will eat. She glances to the others once more. Lead the way he will have to for she falls into step slightly beside him.

<"That memory will never die."> Rathe quietly offers. His movements are almost stalking, but he forces himself to slow the armored walk down, meet Karys' pace to the stall. Pausing as they approach he taps at his left wrist gauntlet. There is a soft hiss as the helmet environmental seals release. He pulls off his helmet to clip it to his belt on his left side. "Noodles are my treat. I think I see the nerf chunk style too."

"Or both." Sumi replies curtly, a 'hmph' of amusement at his expense. "Probably best not to fight them. Of course that means little coming from someone who fought one touched by the Force, but.. I like pain." Sumi guides the smoke she offered back to finish it, scowling slightly from the heat's proximity to her lips before flicking it over the edge toward the endless (looking) cityscape below. A long exhale trails smoke from her nostrils and mouth as she hoists her helmet back up. "Welcome to Nar Shaddaa."

She slides her helmet back on, its seal established with a loud HISS.

<"That man owes you his life."> Sumi says to Rathe. Her hand rises to rub her index and thumb together, gesturing 'money'. <"If you're good at something. Never do it for free. This is the way."> There's a bit of humor in her voice.

Asinis nods and sighs, muttering something under his breath before offering his name; not that she asked for it. "Asinis Dievs" he says then looks to the stand, "They make good noodles?"

"No..no it will not," her voice quips iwth no modulation as the helmet bumps her hip at her side. Asinis is given a look as the two start for the food cart. Watching the gesture from Sumi there is a quirk of a smile. "She is not wrong. We need a larger ship," she points out to him and then is resting her good hand on her hip. "Things cost money in this galaxy, it is the way." She echoes with a sigh. "Unfortunately."

Her eyes however tick towards the food and the shaggy hair cut is given a shake to keep the bottle blonde mess from her eyes. "Karys." Is offer to Asinis. As for good food..its hit or miss here."

Struck as that is a hell of an idea. Rathe digs out his own rumpled pack of cigarillo's from his belt. He fishes one out and returns the back before lighting. He is sure to exhale away from Karys and what is to likely be her dissaproving look on the topic. As Sumi addresses him, he nods in understanding. "Someone does yes. If not him, Domino will cover it. Either way, profit." His left eyebrow arches as she mentions not working for free as being the way. He's not questioning the Clan Boss tonight. Another sharp nod, noting the helmet being sealed back on.

"Done for the evening?" A glance down and back to Karys at the mention of needing a larger ship. Another sharp nod. "Working on it, well. The credits side. Being a wartime medic does make good money." He orders two of the noodles with the thick nerf cubes, hoping it's actually nerf. His eyes turn towards Asinis and he practically grunts. "Rathe."

"I am called Sumi." She answers back after her squad of Koras respond in kind. Karys' pretty smirk is noted with just the motion of her dark eyes, but that remained masked by the reflective visor of her helmet now. <"These noodles? No. But it's the first noodle stand I found after a good fight my first time here. I was so parched and hungry, I ate what they gave me, and ever since then.. it reminds me of that day. Poetic, perhaps."> Sumi explains Asinis, not really noting much to the notion of a larger ship. Everyone had their ambitions, and Sumi respected that.

The two cups of noodles obtained, Rathe holds on to them. "Speaking of the ship. We have to finish tackling the maintenance and housework." He hefts the bowls. "We'll take these along and eat in the lounge?" He turns to nod at Asinis. Then a sharper nod towards Sumi. "Alor. Another time. Another mission." Another respectful nod and he is already turning to head himself and Karys to the Redemptor.

Asinis nods and turns to the stand, odering the same. "Good to meet you all." he says as he pays and waits. He looks back toward the ships.

"I suppose whatever fills the void that is my stomach," Karys remarks, not overly picky in the moment as she inclines her head to them both and Rathe makes excuses. "Aye, well. Not wrong and we will see about a better functional ship for later. Both of you, good evening." She inclines her head again and follows after the medic.