I’m Working Here (August 2020)
JUDAX
Judax was always rather casual with his riches, expensive things many never saw in their lifetime were now just commonplace to him, so he thought nothing of getting into the back of his sleek iridescent black-purple hovercar with blacked out windows and a green under-glow. His driver was a strange cyborg with a hairless, dog-like snout and glowing eyes.
With the window slightly cracked open Judax blew plumes of smoke out the window as they were driven along the streets of a Nikrusis city. The Tarlaxian pointed a claw to the ice bucket with expensive red wine inside of it "Pour us a glass, won't ya Vancy?" he purred lazily as he peered out the window at passers by. Some knew who's car it was and quickly hurried away, some vendors closed their stalls.
"Checkin' in with my dealers planetside, I'll introduce ya."
Course, they'd eventually turn down dark side streets and roll up into an alley behind a night club. It seemed Judax couldn't escape night clubs, given that they were a network of where he got a lot of his information from but also where he sold a lot of his stardust. The car sank down by the shady back door and parked but no one emerged from it just yet.
BEAR
Baron Vance was a consummate professional when on the clock. His nose was clean, both figuratively and literally, which—let me tell you—was not always an easy thing when he bodyguarded for Judax.
Despite the use of the word “us,” only one stemless glass was filled with the rich red of vintage wine before being handed from bouncer to boss. “It’s bizarre seeing ‘em scurry instead of flock,” Bear commented as he peered through heavily tinted and bulletproof glass out at those who quickly made the decision to pack up and get the hell out of the way of what was undoubtedly BIGGER business rolling through. Judax was well loved on Laverna but rightfully feared damn near everywhere else.
“How do Bouzo and Zeke usually play this?” Bear asked, not wanting Judax’s contacts to expect anything less than the same intimidation, heavily armed, and well muscled capability from him. Sure, he was only human, but Vance had proven himself plenty able to both kick ass and take a beating if it meant protecting the person who signed his paychecks (not to suggest that was the only reason why he defended Judax so fiercely, that is).
STELLA
The Galaxy Federation launched an internal investigation against Stella immediately upon her arrival on Earth 446. She was subsequently placed on administrative leave after the incident with Judax, which was broadcast across the galaxy by Beyond News, for her insubordination and refusal to follow orders from her superiors. Eventually she was cleared and allowed back at work, but not without being verbally reprimanded and threatened with demotion.
Andromeda was a seedy club on Nikrusis under constant surveillance by the Galaxy Federation. Known for its organized crime, Stella was tasked with a stakeout after receiving a tip about a possible drug drop sometime that evening. She was sitting in a dark car outside of the nightclub watching for anything suspicious...but after several hours, she started flipping through the news on her commlink. Her name was blasted across the Infosphere thanks to Beyond News, and she scowled at the occasional news story involving her.
Stella’s eyes flicked up from the news to the iridescent hover car that rolled through the alleyway. The color scheme and blacked out windows practically screamed criminal and she tapped on the commlink in her ear. “We have company,” she said to the agents on the other end. “Black car, iridescent. Green under-glow. Windows are blacked out, can’t tell how many occupants. Nothing to identify the vehicle.”
JUDAX
Judax sighed and took the glass "Look at you bein' all responsible." he chuckled and took a long drink before turning slightly towards his bodyguard at the question "They'd play it silent. It makes folks uncomfortable... ta be a bodyguard for me baby ya gotta play mind games with my clients and contacts. Fondle your gun a little bit, make sure it makes a little noise. Make eye contact, work your jaw... uhh" he rolled his claws in the air "crack ya neck, scrunch ya nose, dependin' on the situation. Make sure ya as unblinkin' as possible. Ya see what I mean? subtle things that only a highly strung motherfucker would latch on to."
The door to the back of the club opened and a tall, hairless man with four eyes and a strong jaw stepped out in a suit. Judax had opted for a suit today too, sleek and black, a dark grey shirt and a metallic green tie to match, such business had a dress code.
"Aight, there's our man. Lets go. Normally ya would get out the car to let me out with any other boss, I like to show em I ain't some pussy bitch like those other pretenders. Remember, Vance, psychological warfare. Never endin', it's why maintaining my reputation is so important." he tipped his guard with a smirk, putting on a pair of shades before he stepped out, standing tall with a flat line across his face, no expression and the subtlest of frowns.
"Biggs, baby." He said as he approached the big guy who stood in the alley, taking half a step back towards the door as Judax approached him. The Tarlaxian slowed down a little as he looked Biggs up and down. No suitcase "...Where's my money, Biggs?" with that he fell in closer to Vance, sensing something was off. Biggs eyes were nervously flitting everywhere as he started to stutter incoherently.
BEAR
Dressed in all black, Bear’s muted attire conjured thoughts of mourning in a decidedly threatening way...like he could put two in your head and wouldn’t even have to change his suit for the funeral service. Say no more than mind games, boss, and the bodyguard was off to the races!
Somehow able to stand and cast an imposing shadow, even as the shortest one of the bunch (it was a curse working as a human with largely alien clientele), Vance stared Biggs down with shoulders squared and jaw set. With hands clasped down in front of him, the bouncer turned his wrist and allowed the street light to cast a shine from the distinct polish of gun metal.
When Judax stepped to the side (not backwards, never a retreat, only closer), Baron stepped forward and added his own body to run block between them. This was a similar methodology to the way they’d parked the car: everything, both person and vehicle, were meant to serve as a line of defense both against clear visualization of what was about to occur (the deal itself, or fallout therein), as well as provide protection should shit go South.
Bear was at the ready, stone faced with the distinct click of his safety switched off.
STELLA
Stella leaned forward in the driver’s seat to get a better look as the back door to the club opened. She recognized the four-eyed alien as having warrants out of the Galaxy Federation for drug trafficking. “Aniello Bigsby is here,” Stella said over the comms. “He’s meeting somebody. I’m not making any moves yet.” Suddenly the car door opened and two figures stepped out. Stella squinted in the dark to see, but the vehicle was blocking the view.
Stella put a finger to the commlink in her ear. “The vehicle is occupied x3, at least,” she said. “I’m getting out of the car, I can’t see shit.” Outside the vehicle, Stella took cover behind a dumpster as she continued to watch the deal unfold. It provided concealment and cover if necessary.
She didn’t recognize the human bodyguard, but there was no mistaking Judax. “Of course,” Stella said under her breath. But judging by Bigsby’s empty hands and Judax’s rigid body language, something was wrong...
JUDAX
Biggs hears that click and lets out a nervous squeak, slowly raising his hands "No listen- listen it's- It's just that-"
Judax bared his teeth and pulled out his own blaster from his hip "So there's a reason ya so late paying me, is that it baby?" he steps up beside Bear, not wanting a block but an intimidating co-partner in his work. That or he was just angry enough to tear this guy apart himself.
"Well?! SPIT IT OUT!" he yelled and Biggs jumped, backing up against the door "Listen! LISTEN! I - she offered us a bigger cut!"
"She...? Xari?" Judax growled and raised his weapon up under the guys chin "Haven't I been good to ya Biggs? haven't I taken care of ya all these years? You believe this bitch?!" he growled dangerously, by which point Biggs was tearful and blabbering, it didn't seem like he even had a weapon on him.
[ @Em the Green @Mia roll perception for me in bot-spam if you think your character has good perception roll a 1d20 with a modifier of up to 6 if your character is INSANELY good at spotting things as a human. ]
BEAR
Bear is blind, apparently, but standing by. Doesn’t see Stella on the move, isn’t aware of anything else at the moment. Not really much to add with Judax being the one working Biggs over.
STELLA
Stella was much more prepared this time for an inevitable confrontation. She was heavily armed with body armor hidden beneath her hooded sweatshirt, and she crouched behind the dumpster waiting for the opportune moment to step in. Not yet. Bigsby had warrants, but he wasn’t a high-profile fugitive. And he was blubbering like a child.
“Check the database for a Xari,” Stella said over the comms. “I don’t have a last name.” As the encounter escalated, she ghosted her hand over the plasma pistol on her hip. What other valuable information could she glean from this stakeout?
JUDAX
There was a phwip through the air and Judax's eyes went wide, staggering forwards and grabbing onto the wall for support "Sniper behind" he gasped out to Bear, ducking for the car with a terrible stumble as his suit started to shine with emerald green blood. "Get down- get down" he rasped as he fired three times after Biggs but the fucker got away.
Something was definitely ruptured inside of him, his eyes were wide and his teeth bared in pain, swivelling about with his firearm at the ready. They were in an alley so the only place a sniper could be was...well, up. If anyone looked they'd see him on a fourth storey fire escape, barely visible in the dark and wearing all black.
Stella's people would find nothing on a Xari, curiously. It was like she didn't exist!
BEAR
Bear bellowed at that all too familiar sound, and the sight of Judax staggering forward with that green stain blooming across his front.
Keeping low and moving fast, the human grabbed the Tarlaxian and hauled him as quickly and carefully as he could directly against the wall from where the obviously rooftop sniper’s bullet had originated from. The only way to take a shot now was to aim straight down, and should the sniper choose to do THAT, he’d find Bear aiming directly UP at him, ready to unload an ENTIRE clip that, at the VERY least, would provide them some cover when compared to the precise one-shot reload.
STELLA
Stella heard the gunshot before she saw the sniper on the fire escape. She pulled back against the dumpster for cover and radioed, "Shots fired, shots fired." And then the bodyguard unloaded an entire magazine into the sniper and he crumpled to the floor, dead. Judax was wounded, maybe fatally, if somebody didn't act quick. Criminal or not, he was far too valuable to lose, and Stella made a decision.
She scanned the area for any additional shooters, and, once it was clear, ran toward the vehicle. Inside the police cruiser was a medical kit, and Stella grabbed it. In the alley, she put both her hands up as she approached Judax and his bodyguard. She was still visibly armed, but her weapon was holstered. "It's not safe here, we need to move him. Now." That rapid gun fire was undoubtedly heard inside the club, and it was only a matter of time before someone was sent to investigate.
JUDAX
Judax looked up as the sniper looked down, staring blearily as the man was shot through with so many holes that he died almost instantly and his blood slowly started to drip down from the fire escape. "This place is hot, we gotta move." he wheezed to Bear but then his weight started going oh so heavy against his bodyguard as his legs started to give out on him "fuckin- backstabin- ... this fuckin bitch gettin in-" he panted as he tried to stay standing but only managed to sink down.
His bright eyes swivelled sharply towards Stella, quickly raising his sidearm to point it at her before narrowing his eyes and tilting the gun aside "Stella?" his brows knitted. "Aight- go with it. But we're takin' my car." his vision was tunnelling and blurring now. He was bleeding out, whatever had ruptured inside him was now bleeding a lot harder than a few seconds ago.
The driver stepped out with a hyena-like grin, the unsettling creature pulled open the back door to the hover car and stepped inside. The vehicle was long enough that there were two rows of seats in the back facing one another like in a limo. He got back into the drivers seat and waited, white eyes fixed on the mirror as he watched and waited for them to climb in.
BEAR
Dropping the emptied magazine, Baron reloaded a new clip from the quick action holster on his hip. In that same, sweeping, fluid motion from reload to ready again, Bear aimed his handgun directly at Stella upon approach and narrowed his eyes. Heaving Judax up to the point he was almost being carried in the cradle of one muscular arm (like a child would sit upon the seat of a swing), the Tarlaxian ended their tense, momentary standoff by insisting they just go with it and get the hell out of there.
Baron didn’t like this, not one bit. Between Xari sending an assassin and the GalFeds obviously staking out the club since the start, things weren’t looking good for Judax’s hive-minded drug empire. Sliding in to sit beside the Modox in a hurry, the human closed the door and gave the driver the signal once Stella had taken her seat across from them. Where the agent had brought a medical kit along with her, Baron made a point to take both of Judax’s hands, along with his own, and apply pressure to the critically bleeding bullet wound at both entry and exit (if possible).
He was pale and sick with worry. He’d fucked this up. He should have seen that sniper.
STELLA
“No tricks,” Stella promised, looking over her shoulder briefly at the club before piling into the backseat of the hover car behind them. She unceremoniously dumped the contents of the medical kit onto the floor and grabbed the quikclot gauze. “Let me—“ she said, and started packing the wound with gauze. “The hemostatic agent in this will help stem the bleeding, but he needs medical attention. Now.” Her hands were covered in Judax’s blood, and she wiped it on her pants. Stella put a finger to the commlink in her ear, “Location update. The shooter is deceased, and the occupants of that vehicle fled. Show me ATL’ing them.” That wasn’t entirely accurate, but sometimes the less her superiors knew, the better.
JUDAX
Judax grunted as he was made to put pressure on his wound, hissing through his teeth as the vehicle took off with them inside. Good thing hover cars didn't jostle so much, huh?
He moved his hands as Stella started to pack the wounds and grit his teeth even harder as she did so, tail lashing through the discomfort. The pain inside of him was harsh and throbbing and he was looking pale. "Gadhavi-" he rasped out and fumbled for his commlink only for it to fall from his pocket. He grabbed it with bloody hands and got up the number he needed for the doctor ... he almost hands it to Bear but then he hesitates. A doctor? ...he did trust them a little better after the last time but trust wasn't easy with Judax even if you WEREN'T a doctor.
He stared at it for a moment and then shoved it at Bear "Do it before I change my mind" he growled and then looked sharply to Stella, head falling back. The world was starting to blur but a Tarlaxian didn't easily go down, especially not one like Judax. They were hopped up on adrenaline and instincts "You stupid girl" he snapped at her "Gettin' into a car with me..." he sighed and pinched at his brow with the flat of his claws.
She lied about their location and he rose a brow at her. "Why?" never in his life had a fed done anything of the sort. Never. He was to high profile a target "I thought ya wanted ta be the one ta take me in yaself, Stella."
BEAR
Little did Judax know, he was in the car with TWO feds, not one. Stella wouldn’t recognize him, of course, Bear had come and gone like a flash in the pan long before she was even old enough to have academy ambitions.
There may have been hesitation still on the Tarlaxian’s part, but when the phone was shoved in his direction, the human dialed with haste. The conversation was brief: where to meet, what had happened, what damage had been sustained, what preventative measures were being taken, and who would be there. Broad strokes, nothing too terribly specific.
“Boss, you really need to conserve your energy,” the bodyguard pleaded, careful with the words he chose as you need to be quiet was never received well no matter WHO he was.
STELLA
After Stella finished packing the wound she took a seat across from Judax. Her pants were spattered with green blood, and there was a streak of it on her brow from when she moved the hair out of her face. “I can’t take you in if you’re dead,” Stella replied with a smirk. “And if anyone is gonna kill you, it’s gonna be me.” She briefly looked to the bodyguard and narrowed her eyes. “And you are?” She didn’t recognize him, but if he was an ex-fed, he was undoubtedly in the database.
“Gadhavi,” Stella repeated. “This is gonna be quite the reunion.” She had no idea where the driver was taking them, and it was stupid getting into a car with Judax. But they didn’t exactly have a “typical” archenemy relationship.
JUDAX
Judax grunted as he was told to keep quiet. He wasn't the sort to take that advice from anyone but he seemed to take it from Baron. He lay his head back, feeling his body grow cold and start to shake. Fucking double crossing bastards. They were almost at the private hangar they'd landed The Ovestikam at, then they could rendezvous with Gadhavi. He shuddered at the thought. He couldn't help but smirk at Stella's words, though he didn't exactly think she could ever match him well enough to take him in.
He stared quietly at Baron, starting to look real dark around his eyes as the colour drained from not only his face but his hair too in a strange way.
Almost there when the hover car took a hit and swerved violently into a building, the sides scraping up against a wall before swerving back onto the road. The jackal-like driver's grin was quickly gone, looking in his mirror as he slammed his foot down. Two speeders weren't far behind them with masked riders. One had a grenade launcher and the other had a plasma hand gun.
"Our shields- they aren't goin' up! they took it out!" yelled the driver as a round punctured through the back windshield but didn't shatter it. The jostling had thrown Judax from his seat and he lay on the floor of the vehicle panting in pain and trying to sit himself up "Kill them" he rasped breathlessly and reached for the medkit Stella had brought, rummaging around for stim packs desperately. He needed to stay awake.
[Ok so y'all are under attack so let me know if your chars try to do anything and we'll roll.]
BEAR
Stella was right: Baron Vance WOULD be in the GalFed database, along with a pock-marked and heavily redacted record. But that was a story for another day.
For one long, too-quiet moment, the agent across from them would witness the bodyguard pale equally in grave concern as all the color began to drain away from his boss’s dark, leathery hide.
But worry did little to stop Bear from leaping into action all over again the moment their vehicle was fired upon. Without shields up, even the bulletproof hull of that hover car could be made vulnerable to heavier artillery. Rolling down the window and sticking the upper half of his body out, the right-hand man spotted their two assailants closing in fast on speeders. One, three-shot burst was expelled from his own handgun, whereas the rest—as many as possible, at least—were unloaded at the more dangerous of the two targets: the one wielding the grenade launcher.
Having missed the attacker armed with a plasma blaster, Bear narrowly avoided being clipped (so narrowly in fact that his suit jacket was singed at the shoulder by the near-miss, residual heat) as he pulled himself back inside the vehicle to drop and reload yet another extended magazine and renew his offensive again. He’d continue his attempt to fully neutralize the already severely injured one by taking aim now at the larger target: his still fully functional speeder, wanting to keep him from advancing any further to where he might be within range to pop off any of those boom-cans.
STELLA
Stella was similarly thrown from her seat onto the floor of the hover car after the blast. She scrambled to her feet and unholstered her sidearm, shouting over the commotion, “Open the sun roof!” And if the driver complied, she would climb through it, but not before yelling at Judax, “Stimpak, right front pocket!” With the bodyguard unloading on the assailant armed with the grenade launcher, Stella fired several shots at their other attacker. It was difficult to land accurate shots with both vehicles swerving, and she dropped down inside the hover car to avoid being hit by return fire. Stella performed a quick combat reload and jammed another magazine into the handgun, glancing sidelong at Judax. “You’re making friends everywhere you go, I see.”
JUDAX
Grenade launcher guy might've survived as he crashed and burned from his speeder. He'd taken a shot in the chest but as he fell he discharged a grenade from his launcher by mistake and could only be heard yelling before an explosion tore through him and the building nearby.
Judax reaches for the stim pack and snorts breathlessly. They're almost at the ship... he can make it. "Yeah ...I'm real popular." he rasped and slammed himself with adrenaline, immediately reeling "OHhohoh...ah fuck yeah that's the stuff..." he sagged even as his hearts raced overtime, just blissful as the drug coursed through him. Damn had it been so long since he'd gotten high that this shit did it for him? yikes.
Hand gun guy took a harmless hit from Stella and bared his teeth as he swerved and nearly came off his speeder. Furiously looking back at his fallen colleague he leaned forwards and sped up to get in closer. This time when he raised his weapon he fired on BOTH Bear and Stella with a burning madness and determination in his eyes.
BEAR
Alright, Baron was OFFICIALLY over this shit. Ignoring Judax and Stella’s quippy banter, Bear EXITED the vehicle—tucking and rolling and likely drawing fire AWAY from the car as the wild-eyed shooter honed in on this new, moving target—but in that moment of “oh shit, where’s he going?” recalibration, Bear was up and solid, both feet on the ground with sights on the man. Bullets whizzed past him, just as narrowly as before, but gun was raised and fired without hesitation or variation to the stone cold trajectory of his aim. He wouldn’t unload the entire clip as he had on the sniper, but expend two rounds only (double tap) and reserve the rest of his last extended mag for escorting the vehicle, at a hyper-aware jog from the outside, the rest of the way into the private hangar that housed Judax’s beloved Ovestikam.
STELLA
Stella ran after Baron as he leapt from the moving vehicle. Hanging partially out of the open door, she shouted, “Yeah, OK, you do that!” before grabbing the handle and slamming it shut. Stella watched through the rear window as the bodyguard effortlessly dispatched the remaining attacker, and she turned to look at Judax. “We should be safe...for now.” Inside the private hangar, she threw open the door and stepped out of the car, taking a moment to release the handgun magazine and check the remaining bullets. “Judax, can you stand?” Stella asked, shifting her attention to Baron. “Is Gadhavi on their way? What’s the plan?”
JUDAX
Judax was still reeling and grinning from the adrenaline, laying there just chuckling to himself like the unhinged drug-loving crime lord he is. He seemed to watch Bear as the human rolled from the car, laughing halting "Shit" Bear was outside and vulnerable, the Modox pulled himself up onto the car seat and looked out the window just in time to see his bodyguard OBLITERATE the stunned rider. He took a bullet between the eyes, head flinging backwards before the second bullet hit his chest and sent him flying backwards off his speeder. The vehicle carried on towards bear and slowed down as its sensors picked up a lack of rider....free ride?
Once they were inside the unusually un-phased driver stepped out to open the doors of the vehicle for them as if it'd been a normal Sunday drive.
Judax sagged but then asked by a damn fed if he could stand he sneered at her and tried to get up only to find his legs were like jelly and he couldn't even make an attempt. "Fucks sake." he swore "Vance!" he yelled and reached out. If Stella tried to support him he'd push her hand away, too proud to accept help from a FED (heh).
"We'll rendezvous with Doctor Gadhavi in space." he rasped breathlessly, finally starting to succumb but trying to stubborn out his fading consciousness "Go home, little pig."
BEAR
Baron could have commandeered the now riderless speeder, but knowing his luck (read: Degu the sadistic DM 🤨), the fucking thing was rigged to explode should anyone but it’s intended owner attempt to saddle up. It wasn’t far: he could use a jog anyways.
Hustling his way to the hangar, Bear approached just in time to see Judax pushing Stella’s hand away and telling her to be on her way. “I’m here, boss,” the bodyguard stated, taking the hand he’d refused to give to the woman and preparing to load the Tarlaxian into the Ovestikam and get the Modox back into intergalactic space where they could rendezvous with the doctor outside of Galactic Federation jurisdiction.
He’d jack Stella’s med kit too, tucking it up under his other arm with a grunted send me the bill bout of sarcasm before hauling Jude up (not daring to sweep him off his feet, but simply giving him some support to lean against) so they could leave the hover car and load into the space ship.
STELLA
Stella offered a hand to Judax to help him stand, but when he pushed it away, she scoffed. “Suit yourself,” she said. She stood back and watched Baron transfer Judax into the Ovestikam, shouting, “Who’s Xari, Judax?” Whoever she was, she betrayed him, anyway. The least he could do was provide Stella with some intel in exchange for the quick patch job that might’ve saved his life. After that she would return to the club and her vehicle, still hidden in the alley.
JUDAX
Judax hissed as Stella bothered him again, ugh, this Fed. If only he didn't still have a twinge of guilt wrapped tightly around his neck like a leash. "Some Tarlaxian bitch who wants my job, she's who that Garou that you took in worked for" he rasped at her with exhaustion, feeling his body finally succumbing. He'd say nothing more on the topic "My driver will take you back" and with that he turned to leave, leaning heavily on Baron. His head sank forwards... if only he weren't so stubborn he might have saved his strength better, but by the time they entered the ship he simply collapsed and left Baron to support his full weight.
BEAR
Bear is a VERY rusty pilot but manages not to total Judax’s beloved Ovestikam on their way to meet Cecille in intergalactic space, far beyond the reaches of GalFed jurisdiction.
JUDAX
Judax was always rather casual with his riches, expensive things many never saw in their lifetime were now just commonplace to him, so he thought nothing of getting into the back of his sleek iridescent black-purple hovercar with blacked out windows and a green under-glow. His driver was a strange cyborg with a hairless, dog-like snout and glowing eyes.
With the window slightly cracked open Judax blew plumes of smoke out the window as they were driven along the streets of a Nikrusis city. The Tarlaxian pointed a claw to the ice bucket with expensive red wine inside of it "Pour us a glass, won't ya Vancy?" he purred lazily as he peered out the window at passers by. Some knew who's car it was and quickly hurried away, some vendors closed their stalls.
"Checkin' in with my dealers planetside, I'll introduce ya."
Course, they'd eventually turn down dark side streets and roll up into an alley behind a night club. It seemed Judax couldn't escape night clubs, given that they were a network of where he got a lot of his information from but also where he sold a lot of his stardust. The car sank down by the shady back door and parked but no one emerged from it just yet.
BEAR
Baron Vance was a consummate professional when on the clock. His nose was clean, both figuratively and literally, which—let me tell you—was not always an easy thing when he bodyguarded for Judax.
Despite the use of the word “us,” only one stemless glass was filled with the rich red of vintage wine before being handed from bouncer to boss. “It’s bizarre seeing ‘em scurry instead of flock,” Bear commented as he peered through heavily tinted and bulletproof glass out at those who quickly made the decision to pack up and get the hell out of the way of what was undoubtedly BIGGER business rolling through. Judax was well loved on Laverna but rightfully feared damn near everywhere else.
“How do Bouzo and Zeke usually play this?” Bear asked, not wanting Judax’s contacts to expect anything less than the same intimidation, heavily armed, and well muscled capability from him. Sure, he was only human, but Vance had proven himself plenty able to both kick ass and take a beating if it meant protecting the person who signed his paychecks (not to suggest that was the only reason why he defended Judax so fiercely, that is).
STELLA
The Galaxy Federation launched an internal investigation against Stella immediately upon her arrival on Earth 446. She was subsequently placed on administrative leave after the incident with Judax, which was broadcast across the galaxy by Beyond News, for her insubordination and refusal to follow orders from her superiors. Eventually she was cleared and allowed back at work, but not without being verbally reprimanded and threatened with demotion.
Andromeda was a seedy club on Nikrusis under constant surveillance by the Galaxy Federation. Known for its organized crime, Stella was tasked with a stakeout after receiving a tip about a possible drug drop sometime that evening. She was sitting in a dark car outside of the nightclub watching for anything suspicious...but after several hours, she started flipping through the news on her commlink. Her name was blasted across the Infosphere thanks to Beyond News, and she scowled at the occasional news story involving her.
Stella’s eyes flicked up from the news to the iridescent hover car that rolled through the alleyway. The color scheme and blacked out windows practically screamed criminal and she tapped on the commlink in her ear. “We have company,” she said to the agents on the other end. “Black car, iridescent. Green under-glow. Windows are blacked out, can’t tell how many occupants. Nothing to identify the vehicle.”
JUDAX
Judax sighed and took the glass "Look at you bein' all responsible." he chuckled and took a long drink before turning slightly towards his bodyguard at the question "They'd play it silent. It makes folks uncomfortable... ta be a bodyguard for me baby ya gotta play mind games with my clients and contacts. Fondle your gun a little bit, make sure it makes a little noise. Make eye contact, work your jaw... uhh" he rolled his claws in the air "crack ya neck, scrunch ya nose, dependin' on the situation. Make sure ya as unblinkin' as possible. Ya see what I mean? subtle things that only a highly strung motherfucker would latch on to."
The door to the back of the club opened and a tall, hairless man with four eyes and a strong jaw stepped out in a suit. Judax had opted for a suit today too, sleek and black, a dark grey shirt and a metallic green tie to match, such business had a dress code.
"Aight, there's our man. Lets go. Normally ya would get out the car to let me out with any other boss, I like to show em I ain't some pussy bitch like those other pretenders. Remember, Vance, psychological warfare. Never endin', it's why maintaining my reputation is so important." he tipped his guard with a smirk, putting on a pair of shades before he stepped out, standing tall with a flat line across his face, no expression and the subtlest of frowns.
"Biggs, baby." He said as he approached the big guy who stood in the alley, taking half a step back towards the door as Judax approached him. The Tarlaxian slowed down a little as he looked Biggs up and down. No suitcase "...Where's my money, Biggs?" with that he fell in closer to Vance, sensing something was off. Biggs eyes were nervously flitting everywhere as he started to stutter incoherently.
BEAR
Dressed in all black, Bear’s muted attire conjured thoughts of mourning in a decidedly threatening way...like he could put two in your head and wouldn’t even have to change his suit for the funeral service. Say no more than mind games, boss, and the bodyguard was off to the races!
Somehow able to stand and cast an imposing shadow, even as the shortest one of the bunch (it was a curse working as a human with largely alien clientele), Vance stared Biggs down with shoulders squared and jaw set. With hands clasped down in front of him, the bouncer turned his wrist and allowed the street light to cast a shine from the distinct polish of gun metal.
When Judax stepped to the side (not backwards, never a retreat, only closer), Baron stepped forward and added his own body to run block between them. This was a similar methodology to the way they’d parked the car: everything, both person and vehicle, were meant to serve as a line of defense both against clear visualization of what was about to occur (the deal itself, or fallout therein), as well as provide protection should shit go South.
Bear was at the ready, stone faced with the distinct click of his safety switched off.
STELLA
Stella leaned forward in the driver’s seat to get a better look as the back door to the club opened. She recognized the four-eyed alien as having warrants out of the Galaxy Federation for drug trafficking. “Aniello Bigsby is here,” Stella said over the comms. “He’s meeting somebody. I’m not making any moves yet.” Suddenly the car door opened and two figures stepped out. Stella squinted in the dark to see, but the vehicle was blocking the view.
Stella put a finger to the commlink in her ear. “The vehicle is occupied x3, at least,” she said. “I’m getting out of the car, I can’t see shit.” Outside the vehicle, Stella took cover behind a dumpster as she continued to watch the deal unfold. It provided concealment and cover if necessary.
She didn’t recognize the human bodyguard, but there was no mistaking Judax. “Of course,” Stella said under her breath. But judging by Bigsby’s empty hands and Judax’s rigid body language, something was wrong...
JUDAX
Biggs hears that click and lets out a nervous squeak, slowly raising his hands "No listen- listen it's- It's just that-"
Judax bared his teeth and pulled out his own blaster from his hip "So there's a reason ya so late paying me, is that it baby?" he steps up beside Bear, not wanting a block but an intimidating co-partner in his work. That or he was just angry enough to tear this guy apart himself.
"Well?! SPIT IT OUT!" he yelled and Biggs jumped, backing up against the door "Listen! LISTEN! I - she offered us a bigger cut!"
"She...? Xari?" Judax growled and raised his weapon up under the guys chin "Haven't I been good to ya Biggs? haven't I taken care of ya all these years? You believe this bitch?!" he growled dangerously, by which point Biggs was tearful and blabbering, it didn't seem like he even had a weapon on him.
[ @Em the Green @Mia roll perception for me in bot-spam if you think your character has good perception roll a 1d20 with a modifier of up to 6 if your character is INSANELY good at spotting things as a human. ]
BEAR
Bear is blind, apparently, but standing by. Doesn’t see Stella on the move, isn’t aware of anything else at the moment. Not really much to add with Judax being the one working Biggs over.
STELLA
Stella was much more prepared this time for an inevitable confrontation. She was heavily armed with body armor hidden beneath her hooded sweatshirt, and she crouched behind the dumpster waiting for the opportune moment to step in. Not yet. Bigsby had warrants, but he wasn’t a high-profile fugitive. And he was blubbering like a child.
“Check the database for a Xari,” Stella said over the comms. “I don’t have a last name.” As the encounter escalated, she ghosted her hand over the plasma pistol on her hip. What other valuable information could she glean from this stakeout?
JUDAX
There was a phwip through the air and Judax's eyes went wide, staggering forwards and grabbing onto the wall for support "Sniper behind" he gasped out to Bear, ducking for the car with a terrible stumble as his suit started to shine with emerald green blood. "Get down- get down" he rasped as he fired three times after Biggs but the fucker got away.
Something was definitely ruptured inside of him, his eyes were wide and his teeth bared in pain, swivelling about with his firearm at the ready. They were in an alley so the only place a sniper could be was...well, up. If anyone looked they'd see him on a fourth storey fire escape, barely visible in the dark and wearing all black.
Stella's people would find nothing on a Xari, curiously. It was like she didn't exist!
BEAR
Bear bellowed at that all too familiar sound, and the sight of Judax staggering forward with that green stain blooming across his front.
Keeping low and moving fast, the human grabbed the Tarlaxian and hauled him as quickly and carefully as he could directly against the wall from where the obviously rooftop sniper’s bullet had originated from. The only way to take a shot now was to aim straight down, and should the sniper choose to do THAT, he’d find Bear aiming directly UP at him, ready to unload an ENTIRE clip that, at the VERY least, would provide them some cover when compared to the precise one-shot reload.
STELLA
Stella heard the gunshot before she saw the sniper on the fire escape. She pulled back against the dumpster for cover and radioed, "Shots fired, shots fired." And then the bodyguard unloaded an entire magazine into the sniper and he crumpled to the floor, dead. Judax was wounded, maybe fatally, if somebody didn't act quick. Criminal or not, he was far too valuable to lose, and Stella made a decision.
She scanned the area for any additional shooters, and, once it was clear, ran toward the vehicle. Inside the police cruiser was a medical kit, and Stella grabbed it. In the alley, she put both her hands up as she approached Judax and his bodyguard. She was still visibly armed, but her weapon was holstered. "It's not safe here, we need to move him. Now." That rapid gun fire was undoubtedly heard inside the club, and it was only a matter of time before someone was sent to investigate.
JUDAX
Judax looked up as the sniper looked down, staring blearily as the man was shot through with so many holes that he died almost instantly and his blood slowly started to drip down from the fire escape. "This place is hot, we gotta move." he wheezed to Bear but then his weight started going oh so heavy against his bodyguard as his legs started to give out on him "fuckin- backstabin- ... this fuckin bitch gettin in-" he panted as he tried to stay standing but only managed to sink down.
His bright eyes swivelled sharply towards Stella, quickly raising his sidearm to point it at her before narrowing his eyes and tilting the gun aside "Stella?" his brows knitted. "Aight- go with it. But we're takin' my car." his vision was tunnelling and blurring now. He was bleeding out, whatever had ruptured inside him was now bleeding a lot harder than a few seconds ago.
The driver stepped out with a hyena-like grin, the unsettling creature pulled open the back door to the hover car and stepped inside. The vehicle was long enough that there were two rows of seats in the back facing one another like in a limo. He got back into the drivers seat and waited, white eyes fixed on the mirror as he watched and waited for them to climb in.
BEAR
Dropping the emptied magazine, Baron reloaded a new clip from the quick action holster on his hip. In that same, sweeping, fluid motion from reload to ready again, Bear aimed his handgun directly at Stella upon approach and narrowed his eyes. Heaving Judax up to the point he was almost being carried in the cradle of one muscular arm (like a child would sit upon the seat of a swing), the Tarlaxian ended their tense, momentary standoff by insisting they just go with it and get the hell out of there.
Baron didn’t like this, not one bit. Between Xari sending an assassin and the GalFeds obviously staking out the club since the start, things weren’t looking good for Judax’s hive-minded drug empire. Sliding in to sit beside the Modox in a hurry, the human closed the door and gave the driver the signal once Stella had taken her seat across from them. Where the agent had brought a medical kit along with her, Baron made a point to take both of Judax’s hands, along with his own, and apply pressure to the critically bleeding bullet wound at both entry and exit (if possible).
He was pale and sick with worry. He’d fucked this up. He should have seen that sniper.
STELLA
“No tricks,” Stella promised, looking over her shoulder briefly at the club before piling into the backseat of the hover car behind them. She unceremoniously dumped the contents of the medical kit onto the floor and grabbed the quikclot gauze. “Let me—“ she said, and started packing the wound with gauze. “The hemostatic agent in this will help stem the bleeding, but he needs medical attention. Now.” Her hands were covered in Judax’s blood, and she wiped it on her pants. Stella put a finger to the commlink in her ear, “Location update. The shooter is deceased, and the occupants of that vehicle fled. Show me ATL’ing them.” That wasn’t entirely accurate, but sometimes the less her superiors knew, the better.
JUDAX
Judax grunted as he was made to put pressure on his wound, hissing through his teeth as the vehicle took off with them inside. Good thing hover cars didn't jostle so much, huh?
He moved his hands as Stella started to pack the wounds and grit his teeth even harder as she did so, tail lashing through the discomfort. The pain inside of him was harsh and throbbing and he was looking pale. "Gadhavi-" he rasped out and fumbled for his commlink only for it to fall from his pocket. He grabbed it with bloody hands and got up the number he needed for the doctor ... he almost hands it to Bear but then he hesitates. A doctor? ...he did trust them a little better after the last time but trust wasn't easy with Judax even if you WEREN'T a doctor.
He stared at it for a moment and then shoved it at Bear "Do it before I change my mind" he growled and then looked sharply to Stella, head falling back. The world was starting to blur but a Tarlaxian didn't easily go down, especially not one like Judax. They were hopped up on adrenaline and instincts "You stupid girl" he snapped at her "Gettin' into a car with me..." he sighed and pinched at his brow with the flat of his claws.
She lied about their location and he rose a brow at her. "Why?" never in his life had a fed done anything of the sort. Never. He was to high profile a target "I thought ya wanted ta be the one ta take me in yaself, Stella."
BEAR
Little did Judax know, he was in the car with TWO feds, not one. Stella wouldn’t recognize him, of course, Bear had come and gone like a flash in the pan long before she was even old enough to have academy ambitions.
There may have been hesitation still on the Tarlaxian’s part, but when the phone was shoved in his direction, the human dialed with haste. The conversation was brief: where to meet, what had happened, what damage had been sustained, what preventative measures were being taken, and who would be there. Broad strokes, nothing too terribly specific.
“Boss, you really need to conserve your energy,” the bodyguard pleaded, careful with the words he chose as you need to be quiet was never received well no matter WHO he was.
STELLA
After Stella finished packing the wound she took a seat across from Judax. Her pants were spattered with green blood, and there was a streak of it on her brow from when she moved the hair out of her face. “I can’t take you in if you’re dead,” Stella replied with a smirk. “And if anyone is gonna kill you, it’s gonna be me.” She briefly looked to the bodyguard and narrowed her eyes. “And you are?” She didn’t recognize him, but if he was an ex-fed, he was undoubtedly in the database.
“Gadhavi,” Stella repeated. “This is gonna be quite the reunion.” She had no idea where the driver was taking them, and it was stupid getting into a car with Judax. But they didn’t exactly have a “typical” archenemy relationship.
JUDAX
Judax grunted as he was told to keep quiet. He wasn't the sort to take that advice from anyone but he seemed to take it from Baron. He lay his head back, feeling his body grow cold and start to shake. Fucking double crossing bastards. They were almost at the private hangar they'd landed The Ovestikam at, then they could rendezvous with Gadhavi. He shuddered at the thought. He couldn't help but smirk at Stella's words, though he didn't exactly think she could ever match him well enough to take him in.
He stared quietly at Baron, starting to look real dark around his eyes as the colour drained from not only his face but his hair too in a strange way.
Almost there when the hover car took a hit and swerved violently into a building, the sides scraping up against a wall before swerving back onto the road. The jackal-like driver's grin was quickly gone, looking in his mirror as he slammed his foot down. Two speeders weren't far behind them with masked riders. One had a grenade launcher and the other had a plasma hand gun.
"Our shields- they aren't goin' up! they took it out!" yelled the driver as a round punctured through the back windshield but didn't shatter it. The jostling had thrown Judax from his seat and he lay on the floor of the vehicle panting in pain and trying to sit himself up "Kill them" he rasped breathlessly and reached for the medkit Stella had brought, rummaging around for stim packs desperately. He needed to stay awake.
[Ok so y'all are under attack so let me know if your chars try to do anything and we'll roll.]
BEAR
Stella was right: Baron Vance WOULD be in the GalFed database, along with a pock-marked and heavily redacted record. But that was a story for another day.
For one long, too-quiet moment, the agent across from them would witness the bodyguard pale equally in grave concern as all the color began to drain away from his boss’s dark, leathery hide.
But worry did little to stop Bear from leaping into action all over again the moment their vehicle was fired upon. Without shields up, even the bulletproof hull of that hover car could be made vulnerable to heavier artillery. Rolling down the window and sticking the upper half of his body out, the right-hand man spotted their two assailants closing in fast on speeders. One, three-shot burst was expelled from his own handgun, whereas the rest—as many as possible, at least—were unloaded at the more dangerous of the two targets: the one wielding the grenade launcher.
Having missed the attacker armed with a plasma blaster, Bear narrowly avoided being clipped (so narrowly in fact that his suit jacket was singed at the shoulder by the near-miss, residual heat) as he pulled himself back inside the vehicle to drop and reload yet another extended magazine and renew his offensive again. He’d continue his attempt to fully neutralize the already severely injured one by taking aim now at the larger target: his still fully functional speeder, wanting to keep him from advancing any further to where he might be within range to pop off any of those boom-cans.
STELLA
Stella was similarly thrown from her seat onto the floor of the hover car after the blast. She scrambled to her feet and unholstered her sidearm, shouting over the commotion, “Open the sun roof!” And if the driver complied, she would climb through it, but not before yelling at Judax, “Stimpak, right front pocket!” With the bodyguard unloading on the assailant armed with the grenade launcher, Stella fired several shots at their other attacker. It was difficult to land accurate shots with both vehicles swerving, and she dropped down inside the hover car to avoid being hit by return fire. Stella performed a quick combat reload and jammed another magazine into the handgun, glancing sidelong at Judax. “You’re making friends everywhere you go, I see.”
JUDAX
Grenade launcher guy might've survived as he crashed and burned from his speeder. He'd taken a shot in the chest but as he fell he discharged a grenade from his launcher by mistake and could only be heard yelling before an explosion tore through him and the building nearby.
Judax reaches for the stim pack and snorts breathlessly. They're almost at the ship... he can make it. "Yeah ...I'm real popular." he rasped and slammed himself with adrenaline, immediately reeling "OHhohoh...ah fuck yeah that's the stuff..." he sagged even as his hearts raced overtime, just blissful as the drug coursed through him. Damn had it been so long since he'd gotten high that this shit did it for him? yikes.
Hand gun guy took a harmless hit from Stella and bared his teeth as he swerved and nearly came off his speeder. Furiously looking back at his fallen colleague he leaned forwards and sped up to get in closer. This time when he raised his weapon he fired on BOTH Bear and Stella with a burning madness and determination in his eyes.
BEAR
Alright, Baron was OFFICIALLY over this shit. Ignoring Judax and Stella’s quippy banter, Bear EXITED the vehicle—tucking and rolling and likely drawing fire AWAY from the car as the wild-eyed shooter honed in on this new, moving target—but in that moment of “oh shit, where’s he going?” recalibration, Bear was up and solid, both feet on the ground with sights on the man. Bullets whizzed past him, just as narrowly as before, but gun was raised and fired without hesitation or variation to the stone cold trajectory of his aim. He wouldn’t unload the entire clip as he had on the sniper, but expend two rounds only (double tap) and reserve the rest of his last extended mag for escorting the vehicle, at a hyper-aware jog from the outside, the rest of the way into the private hangar that housed Judax’s beloved Ovestikam.
STELLA
Stella ran after Baron as he leapt from the moving vehicle. Hanging partially out of the open door, she shouted, “Yeah, OK, you do that!” before grabbing the handle and slamming it shut. Stella watched through the rear window as the bodyguard effortlessly dispatched the remaining attacker, and she turned to look at Judax. “We should be safe...for now.” Inside the private hangar, she threw open the door and stepped out of the car, taking a moment to release the handgun magazine and check the remaining bullets. “Judax, can you stand?” Stella asked, shifting her attention to Baron. “Is Gadhavi on their way? What’s the plan?”
JUDAX
Judax was still reeling and grinning from the adrenaline, laying there just chuckling to himself like the unhinged drug-loving crime lord he is. He seemed to watch Bear as the human rolled from the car, laughing halting "Shit" Bear was outside and vulnerable, the Modox pulled himself up onto the car seat and looked out the window just in time to see his bodyguard OBLITERATE the stunned rider. He took a bullet between the eyes, head flinging backwards before the second bullet hit his chest and sent him flying backwards off his speeder. The vehicle carried on towards bear and slowed down as its sensors picked up a lack of rider....free ride?
Once they were inside the unusually un-phased driver stepped out to open the doors of the vehicle for them as if it'd been a normal Sunday drive.
Judax sagged but then asked by a damn fed if he could stand he sneered at her and tried to get up only to find his legs were like jelly and he couldn't even make an attempt. "Fucks sake." he swore "Vance!" he yelled and reached out. If Stella tried to support him he'd push her hand away, too proud to accept help from a FED (heh).
"We'll rendezvous with Doctor Gadhavi in space." he rasped breathlessly, finally starting to succumb but trying to stubborn out his fading consciousness "Go home, little pig."
BEAR
Baron could have commandeered the now riderless speeder, but knowing his luck (read: Degu the sadistic DM 🤨), the fucking thing was rigged to explode should anyone but it’s intended owner attempt to saddle up. It wasn’t far: he could use a jog anyways.
Hustling his way to the hangar, Bear approached just in time to see Judax pushing Stella’s hand away and telling her to be on her way. “I’m here, boss,” the bodyguard stated, taking the hand he’d refused to give to the woman and preparing to load the Tarlaxian into the Ovestikam and get the Modox back into intergalactic space where they could rendezvous with the doctor outside of Galactic Federation jurisdiction.
He’d jack Stella’s med kit too, tucking it up under his other arm with a grunted send me the bill bout of sarcasm before hauling Jude up (not daring to sweep him off his feet, but simply giving him some support to lean against) so they could leave the hover car and load into the space ship.
STELLA
Stella offered a hand to Judax to help him stand, but when he pushed it away, she scoffed. “Suit yourself,” she said. She stood back and watched Baron transfer Judax into the Ovestikam, shouting, “Who’s Xari, Judax?” Whoever she was, she betrayed him, anyway. The least he could do was provide Stella with some intel in exchange for the quick patch job that might’ve saved his life. After that she would return to the club and her vehicle, still hidden in the alley.
JUDAX
Judax hissed as Stella bothered him again, ugh, this Fed. If only he didn't still have a twinge of guilt wrapped tightly around his neck like a leash. "Some Tarlaxian bitch who wants my job, she's who that Garou that you took in worked for" he rasped at her with exhaustion, feeling his body finally succumbing. He'd say nothing more on the topic "My driver will take you back" and with that he turned to leave, leaning heavily on Baron. His head sank forwards... if only he weren't so stubborn he might have saved his strength better, but by the time they entered the ship he simply collapsed and left Baron to support his full weight.
BEAR
Bear is a VERY rusty pilot but manages not to total Judax’s beloved Ovestikam on their way to meet Cecille in intergalactic space, far beyond the reaches of GalFed jurisdiction.
