Back to Business (Haka)

Haka was still recovering from his previous job. It'd been a rough one. So rough that he barely remembered it! But all that aside, he was glad at least that his tools had been seen to. Someone had bothered to pick em' up when they dragged his sorry ass to this Tuffle Hospital. Odd, that. Especially on the Saiyan side of things. He was glad for it—Tuffles had worked their technological marvels on im' and he was all spiffy now. He strapped 'Peacemaker' across his back, hung his ammo belt round im', and slung 'Conquerer' at his hip. 

It stung a bit, but he'd have to report failure. Werent often that he did that, a rarity for one of his skill. He'd eventually made it back to his snug little ship, where he'd hidden it away in the Saiba Wastes. He'd a few new messages... Not too many—Folks on the other side were probably lookin' to confirm if he was dead or not. The silence was their answer, they'd think. Well, until now. He sent a couple spacemails, got his things sorted, and prepared to leave. But... Somethin' in him. Pride maybe. Somethin' kept him from wantin' to leave. Empty handed anyway. Maybe that Saiyan was still prowlin' around... But the gap in their skills was obvious.

On a whim, he checked for any other outlaws that might be hangin' round here. There were a fair few, but he decided to take the nearest ones out. Pair o' ship thieves. 15,000 Imperial Credits for both of em', dead or alive. Empire always listed em' that way. The Patrol would give him slightly less, but only alive. He did those sometimes, just for the challenge. He felt like he wanted a challenge, now. Especially after his recent humiliation. Requiping, rather quickly. Still sore after his month-long stay in hospice... The Lone Wanderer went into the bluffs.

Didnt take long to find the two. He stood ominously, thirty feet back. They were whisperin' to each other, a Heran listening to em'. An accomplice? Herans were the type to engage in this sorta stuff. He shook his head, lifting the brim of his hat slightly.
"Jakobs," He announced, hands at his side (almost lazily). Jakob was one of the bandits names. "You know why I'm here?" He asked lowly, casting a leveled gaze at the group.

The Heran woman was first to respond. Haka got the sense that she and him were a lot alike. She was clearly adept, though to be fair... He hadn't yet met any 'weak' Herans. He took note of her measured movements, how she placed herself between him and his prey. "I'd reckon I wouldn't like what was goin' on here, ma'am," He said carefully, eyes flicking to the subtle shifts in her poncho. "But ignorin' that... I got a duty of sorts... And waitin's for the rich," He replied slowly. "Not a luxury of mine,"

A gust of wind shifted his cloak. The standoff stretched on. He still couldn't quite tell what this one was all about. Maybe a contact of some sort. Maybe just an untimely guest. Though, the way she was acting—He assumed the worst. Either someone with something to gain, or a third bandit to take care of. Either way, a problem for him. After a time, Haka spoke again.

"Don't know what yur' about, but tread carefully there partner..." He grumbled, slowly throwing a part of his own cloak over one shoulder—Revealing his 'Conquerer' six-shooter resting at his side.

His gaze flicked back to the pair of vagrants cowering in the shade. Still there, he thought quietly. "You might be fast with whatever yur' hidin' under there... But I can promise—It won't be fast enough,"

He held her gaze as he finished. Hand hovering now by the grip.

Blue on Orange. From one hunter to the hunted This other Heran feller was clearly different. Held herself better than any of the pirate rabble he'd dealt with. Didnt change what she was, how she engaged in these petty crimes. Maybe that was just in Heran blood? Haka couldn't deny his own rush whenever a fight broke out. He was suppressing it now, even. The building anticipation. He'd already seen in this woman's eye, she wasn't the type ta' back down.

She let her arms fall to her side, in apparent defeat. Though... Her words didnt match her actions. Overconfidence, then? She stood there for a brief moment, sizing him up. And then the music started up. Haka had already started his lightnin' draw as the energy coiled round' her hand. Time passed so very slowly. His six-shooter moving in sync with the energy whip lashin' out towards him. He'd only barely gotten it out as the rope closed around im'

It was a crushin' force, squeezing down on him with a fierce strength. He strained against it, feeling his terrible pain round' his arms. He thought he heard his armor crack, givin' way before his body did. Gritting his teeth, he barely angled his body, pointing his revolver just right. He let out a quick burst of rapid-fire shots, accurate enough that maybe this Heran hag might loosen her grip on this damned rope!

His little gambit had just barely worked! Thank Hera for that... It was a darn exhaustin' thing, rapid-fireing a revolver with one hand. The Ki-bullets flew across the dunes, the first few blasting into something Inga had shot out at them. Damned good shot it was... But it wasn't enough to stop the hail that followed. Haka felt the grip round' him loosen, and immediately ducked to one side, throwing the rope off. He fiddled with his harness, cracking open 'Conquerer's' chamber and sliding a few extra shots in.

He glanced up as the chamber closed shut, seeing the Heran rushin' up at him. Aw shit, He grimaced, raising an arm to try and catch the blow, but it'd been a bad angle for him. The attack slammed into his shoulder, and he grunted as he stumbled back a few feet. Conquerer dropped into the sands, and he glanced down at it uncertainly. Only for a moment though, as he rushed back towards Inga, making up the short distance. He raised both arms, guarding his head as he approached the female warrior. "I've tussled with bigger bandit's than you, ya' old hag," He asked, his gaze piercing into hers, quickly flickering over and noting the bleeding arm. "Why don't ya' just mosy on down to the retirement home!" He yelled, letting loose a flying punch directly towards that wound.

Growling as his fist soared, the old hag started ta' move aside. Just barely enough he though, that his fist managed to miss its target. Clicking his teeth in frustration, he bounty hunter started ta' pull his fist back, only for the woman to lunge forward—Holding it close with a steely grip. "Let go ya' damned crone— Ahck!" 

Not having much mobility ta' work with, the Heran could only watch as the woman lunged forward once more, knocking his fost aside, and wrapping her extra hadn't round' his throat mid-sentence. He struggled to pull her hands off of im'... Even with both hands.  She started to speak, reaching behind her for somethin' as she did so. It wasn't all too subtle...

She was tryin' ta convince him to abandon his quarry—Or maybe she just wanted him ta' let her go. That wasn't the way these showdowns went. "YOU sure aint... But that feller back there?" He nodded towards the bandit hidin' out behind Inga. "As it turns out... He's worth an awful lot... An' the way I see's it—The only thing in my way is you granny. So why don't ya' go on and GIT!"

AS he spoke, Haka suddenly leaned back, his right leg shootin' forward and attemptin' ta' slam into the woman's tummy with all the force he could muster.