An Ungstiri Tale - Part 1

An Ungstiri Tale: Part 1 - Stuck in the Middle with You

Summary: Two petty thieves have a battered ledger ... that someone else wants. Very very badly.

Cast: Keshka, Rishka, Lebeau, Kittianna, Melody, Mika, Jeff Ryan, Katriel, Taeren, Tressilian, Bauran, Jerimiah, Cerdict Trainor, Brokichev, Insunin, Innokentevna, Morgan, Pierce, Mahkka, Lake, Tulkvir, Talkvir, and the Resevoir Dogs.

Air Date: 2004.07.23

Well I don't know why I came here tonight, I got the feeling that something ain't right, Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right. Here I am, Stuck in the middle with you ... Stealer's Wheel - Joe Egan & Gerry Rafferty

The Bazaar U-999: Ungstir

The chasm cuts deep through the small rock, its path cutting back and forth like a chaotic lightning bolt. At its base the deck widens and barrows, sometimes opening up to almost fifty feet ... and at other times closing all the way down to a mere five. the walls are a chaotic checkerboard of metal panels, framed windows, doors and distressed steel, each fronting some sort of shop or residence nooked in the passage's walls. They rise over five stories, connected by a maze of catwalks and ladders, criss-crossing this way and than, with a series of open grid metal bridges spanning from one side to another. The bridges are at several levels, some creaking and moaning as they are stressed by the pedestrian traffic.

The light comes a scattering of many different types of light fixtures, all suspended from the ceiling at various levels. At the very top of the chasm runs a tight spaghetti of ductwork, providing fresh air and recirculating the old. ...........................................................................

The lights are set at their dimmest level, being deep into Third Shift.

Along the narrow passage a dark haired waif weaves through the tight walk, pausing to look through a grimy window, holding for a heartbeat where a street vender hawks bits and pieces of jewelry and wrist mounted chronometers. She shakes her head, not allowing herself to be drawn in, her long coat and rakish appearance for once standing her apart from the rough crowd. She holds her own, hands sunk deep in her longcoat pockets, the jacet closed tight

A purple haired man pauses a moment on stepping from the landing cavern, almost freezing in place. His jacket is zipped up to the collar and his hands are likewise stuffed deep into his pockets. On catching sight of the darkhaired waif in the long coat, ahead of him he sets off in that direction in what seems a determined manner.

LeBeau steps out from a shadowed niche. Jeff Ryan enters from the Landing Cavern.

Innokentevna has clambered up a metal stair, crossed a catwalk and stands over the narrow path when she spies her purple haired oursuer. She holds up a single finger and then waves. That done she sprints forward, looks at the number hand painted on the corrugated next to a door with narrowed eyes. then she makes her hand into a fist and pounds upon it. ' ... Aylo ... z'ere a Jorgesson een here?"

Katriel enters from the Landing Cavern.

Jeff Ryan has just entered from the direction of the Landing Cavern, putting the collar up on his jacket he walks casually in, loosening the clip on his holster.

Tresillian notes the gesture from Innokentevna, pauses for now and looks around from behind his fringe. The purple haired man looking a little extra cautious at the moment. He pesently stands not far from the walkway Innokentevna is standing on.

LeBeau presses his way past a rather large Ungstiri miner as the miner attempts to enter the tavern the same time the cajun tries to leave. From the odor already wafting from the ungstiri LeBeau gives in and moves aside to let the miner in ... though he has more then likely had enough already.

Cedrict Trainor boots clank on the metal floor as he walk cautiously toward Katriel. Looking tense, he tightens the strap on his pack as he peers about, always looking away before eye contact is made.

Katriel steps into the bazaar not too far behind Jeff. Her gaze sweeps across the area with more wariness than would have been common a few short months ago, and she appears to be fairly intent on going unnoticed.

A door squeeks open, just enough for the one behind to peer out at the courier. "You Alek Jorgesson?" Innokentevna asks, one hand slipping inside her long coat. Her answer is a grunt from behind the makeshift door. Katya nods, passing over a datapd. "Kharasho .. sign here." From beneath her jacket she pulls out what looks to be a very fat envelope. only when her receipt is signed does the envelope disappear wthin the hovel. Stuffing her paperwork in her pocket she turns and heads back down the catwalk and stairs. She smiles as she catches sight of Lebeau ... offering a nod to him before she moves to meet Tresillian.

Jeremiah steps out from a shadowed niche.

Jeff Ryan hasn't as yet spotted anyone, not looking behind him he hasn't spotted his mystic friend, he's just entered from the Landing Cavern and is starting to make his way through the crowded Bazaar.

LeBeau just happens to be glacing around and up at the myriad of catwalks and criss-crossesof beams and girders when he notices Katya. He returns a polite nod and smile as he starts to head over to the stairway to meet up with Katya.

Tresillian nods in greeting as Innokentevna comes down to where he's standing, "I'll have to remember this place." He comments.

Katriel spots Jeff fairly quickly, and quickens her steps to catch up with him. "Hey," she greets, in a soft but cheerful voice.

Bauran enters from the Landing Cavern. Isunin enters from the Landing Cavern. Torr enters from the Landing Cavern. Mika enters from the Landing Cavern. Kit enters from the Landing Cavern. Melody enters from the Landing Cavern.

Jeremiah walks out from the hatch that leads into the bar and notices that several people have gathered in the area... turns and walks a short distance to his right and leans up against a railing, looks around and notices a couple of people that he has seen before but keeping his place.

From the direction of the landing bay comes the first hints of calamity, or at least an approaching tsunami. The voice is a woman's barking out both fast and foreceful desperate. "Move ...move ... move ... movemovemovemoveMOVE"

The call attarcts attention for sure, as pedestrians on the upper balconys and criss crossed catwalks pause on their way to look towards the commotion. "Hoop ... " the red head continues, "How was I to know they'd get so mad ... all I said was NO!"

Brokichev begins walking in the general direction of Katya, but stops as he hears the woman shouting. "Never dull moment," he mutters. It is a small ungstiri with red hair that makes the call. She is pushing the back of a much taller and broader woman, as if trying to use her to bulldoze through the crowd. the tall one is built like a mountain, and seems a touch annoyed at being manhandled by her much smaller companion. She casts a dour look, as she just glares at the redhead.

LeBeau reaches Katya and shakes his head "Yu hav god to hav a talk wit Marly. I stop by da Athena offices da oder day an..." His remarks are then cut off as his attention is drawn to the screams of a woman and then when he sees her he follows her with his eyes for a bit. "Now dis es my kinda place"

Mika wanders in, thumbs in her pockets. She takes a quick look around, lifting one eyebrow, and moves to quietly stand with the rest of the Hyperion crew. She scratches the back of her neck idly, glancing askance at Bauran. "Fer someone's 'ardly spit'n 'nother planet, y'sure do 'andle that bird okay," she remarks.

Just entering the bazaar from the landing caverns herself, Kit glances back with an annoyed scowl before she slips out of th eway, reflexively tugging her backpack a little higher over her shoulder as she watches the pair with wary puzzlement.

"How the hoop was i supposed to know they'd want it that much?" the red head replies, leaning her shoulder into her taller friend's back. Who in turn pushes into the crowd, as if to bowl down a blue shirted human unfortunately caught in her path as she attempts to barrel past. Torr is almost knocked off his feet by the brute, the next one in her way seems to be Mika.

Bauran smiles at Mika and says, "Bah, it was nothing, It wouldn't be flying if you had not made those repairs last week," He sees Torr knocked from his feet and a suprised look cross his face. Being towards the back of the Hyperion group, he works his way towards Torr's location, attempting to cut through the crowd.

"Your kint ov place?" Innokentevna can't help but chuff back a sharp single laugh at that, answering LeBeau. "You ought to try fintink an attress een z'ees place, da?" But at the first hint of commotion she rises to her tiptoes, to try and spot the source. As she does she can't help but notice a tall auburn haired woman just entering and her companion. She waves to Melody and Kittianna. However, as she waves her eyes go wide ... her mouth opening, her half completed greeting fading as her hand falls to her side. "Oh ... hoop ...'

Katriel turns her attention from Jeff to the sounds of disruption, glancing back in the direction she just came from. A worried frown forms between her eyes, and she steps closer to Jeff.

Torr moves quietly with the other crew of the Hyperion. He is silently observing the area when the shouting can be heard, though he pays it little attention at first. However, when the woman slams into him, and sends him careening backward into a stack of crates, he certainly seems aware of her. He gets back to his feet, his face darkening with a frown. "What the hell was that," he calls out after the pair angryly, more of an accusation than a question.

"Kit... do you think we could stop and get some--" Melody murmurs to her dark-haired companion, trailing a pace or two behind with her face glued to her PDA's screen. But the commotion of the redhead and her bulky 'friend' quell whatever question the highlighted brunette may have had lingering on her lips. Hazel eyes tear away from datapadd to Kittianna, to the women, then on to Katya. "Oh, there's Katya..."

Taeren enters from the Landing Cavern.

Tresillian looks from Katya to LeBeau and finally towards the commotion further down the bazaar. "This should be interesting," he comments somewhat flatly. He keeps one hand in his pocket but uses the other to brush his fringe back out of his eyes, possibly to see a little more easily without it in his eyes.

Isunin turns her attention towards the chaotic movements of the pair. She shifts slightly, ending up behind the rest of the Hyperion's crew. She apparently loses interest and obtains a PDA from within her robe.

"Goddamnit, bloody watch where yer goin'!" Mika shouts to the redhead, stumbling a step or two backward and reaching over in a futile attempt to steady Torr. She squints, setting her jaw and balling her fists, green eyes locked on the woman. "We ain'tcher goddamned doormats!"

Watching the smaller redhead push thru the crowd LeBeau nods "Jus like da ole days. NO day I would wanna liv her by da rough an tumble sord o atmosphere I definidly like." He watches the two Ungstiri continue to move deeper and deeper into the bazaar and as they do it gets more and more crowded. "Tink we should head daown an ged Melody safe?"

Kit glances once toward Melody at the aborted question before she turns to pick Innokentevna out of the crowd as well. Shrugging in response to the specialist, she begins to lead the way through the crowd toward the courier. "I am in no hurry. Unless Katya has something to take care of, you may do whatever you wish."

"Then geddouddathaway you hoopin' tourist ... big tall and disgruntled Ungstiri comin' through!" The red head snaps back, for a moment peeking around her taller companion and then changing direction. With a determined stride the woman the big black haired Ungstiri nearly clips Ryan, moving quickly down the narrow space towards LeBeau and Innokentevna. "Thataway ... thataway ... "

Melody warily glances around at the throng of people as she follows in the cut pathway that Kittianna creates, olive-skinned hands clenching on the backpack for security. "Whatever I wish? Really?" There a subtle clue of interest to her paced echo.

Scratching his chin, Bauran Damanger surveys the crowd and then speaks to his companions with a sarcastic overtone, "Certainly is a friendly place eh?" Seeing that the group survived the onslaught of rude people, he falls into step next to Mika.

Torr's fists are tightened as well, his whole body stifening. Various expressions twist his face, most angry, but then it stops. This is probably most alarming of all the expressions, as it is a mask, his eyes sharp with rage being the only sign of his anger. "-No one- pushes me down," he mutters darkly, and then begins to stalk after the Ungstiri pair.

"Uhm ... Reeemy ... uhm ... DA!" is all Innokentevna says as she tries to bolt past the handsome cajun. "LOOK OUT!" And she points behind Kittianna, towards the entrance.

Tresillian stuffs the hand he used to brush his hair back into his pocket once more though the unruly mop doesn't entirly stay back where he brushed it it is mostly out of his eyes. He is backpack free at present, perhaps having been worried that it or it's contents might get stolen. As Katya calls out though he almost jumps. 'Look out' is a call that is 'always' advisable to head in unfamiliar territory. His left hand moves from his pocket to the small of his back.

Melody feels a heavy hand wrap her collar, and she is literally lifted off her feet and half tossed aside by the blackmaned thug, lifted as easily as one might oosh a child from ones way. Unceremoniously deposited atop a streetside bin, the tall and short ungstiri push desperately on. " ... and hoop it's OURS! It's the very first thing we ever got WITHOUT stealin' it from any one! This ain't bloody fair!"

LeBeau notices the two charging women heading in his direction. Glanceing around at the girder work and the crowd already being jostled and pushed around on the ground, he begins to slowly back his way up teh stairs that Katya had come down.

Taeren starts bustling through the crowd as if searching for someone. Finding a nice wide swath cut through the press of sentience already thanks to the two deyvachka, Tay is content to go with the flow of the current and moves quickly through the opened space before the bustling bazaar claims Riska and Keshka's path again. His head swivels left and right as the Timonae works to look out across the crowd. Given the average Ungstiri height, it isn't that difficult for him to move from face to face ... but given the activity in the chaotic Bazaar, there are far too many faces for Tay to choose from to find who he's looking for at first. So, the Timonae captain follows swiftly in the wake of Rishka and Keshka.

Isunin scans the crowd, resting her eyes upon the other Mystic. She gestures vaguely in her direction.

Katriel stands on tiptoe, also scanning the area now, looking for someone. Spotting Tay a hand shoots up, and then back down as she tries to stay out of the way of the pushing and shoving tossing that seems to be going on.

"Within reason," Kit ammends with a suspicious look toward Melody before she is concentrating on the clearest path to Innokentevna once again - only to stop, stock-still, at the courier's bewildering warning. Reflexively reaching back to pull Melody behind her as she whirls around, her hand meets empty air as she is too late. Wasting a single heartbeat to process the unexpected maneuverings, she hastily scoots back and to the side after assessing that the thugs are not an immediate danger - as long as one stays out of the way, that is.

"Tourist? Tourist?! Y'think m'here fer th' blinkin' scenery?!" Mika ignores Bauran's comment, calling after the pair, her raspy voice tinged with a level of indignation previously unknown to man. Catching sight of the infuriated Torr, the aggravation simmers down a notch or two. "'Ey -- th' 'ell? Uh," -- she tosses her head to the side, directing a quick question at Bauran and Isunin before looking back -- "what th' 'ell's 'is name? Crap! HEY!" She starts to trot after him, shoving through the crowds rather uncermoniously, herself.

Brokichev tries to find a way out of the path of the oncoming juggernaut, and begins walking up a flight of stairs, away from the chaos below.

Bauran sighs and slaps his forehead as two of the crew from the Hyperion trot off through the crowd. "aww geeze, the new guy is trying to be tough," Bauran says quietly to Isunin, just loud enough to be heard over the crowd and then he takes pursuit after Mika and torr, "Hey, wait up," he calls.

The brunette Specialist first greets the touch of her collar with a cast glance, apologetic expression on her face in preparation for what she must assume to be something that is her fault. But wrong she is. "Wha--" And her face molds into a mix of pure surprise and fear as she's so easily lifted off her feet and thrown off to the side, literally hovering through the air before hitting a disposal bin with a clank of body against metal. "Unhh!" Her PDA and glasses end up flying in different directions into the crowd, their owner sliding to a crouching recovery position on the ground.

Torr blinks with some suprise, and some confusion. He slows, fists working open and shut, his face momentarily confused but back to the mask that is was. He untenses slightly, and remains in place. He seems convinced to cease his pursuit, but his eyes still follow the pair, filled with anger.

Grimacing slightly, Cedrict begins to wade through the crowd, to follow Katriel, but stop unexplainedly. Looking up, and around frantically, Cedrict then bends down, retreiving something from floor. Standing slowly, he begins again to wade through the crowd.

The two duck beneath the catwalk that Lebeau and Tyan have chosen, stumbling as they round a half bend. past the tangle of people from Wolfsbane, Hyperion, Gray horse and even farther off. Only to come face to face with a flat wall of metal and stone. The small redhead just looks up and up and up, her voice falling to a whisper of just two words, "Ot oh ... "

A ... dead ... end.

"Where ...?" Tay mutters, watching the space around him more than where he's going as he continues to follow after the oh-so-skilled crowd-parting deyvachkas in front of him. "Uh." He glances in front of him and abruptly stops just short of colliding with the taller of the two, ahem, 'contractors.' "Whoa -!" He takes a step back.

Kit frowns after the thugs for a moment before she looks for Melody, picking up the familiar pair of glasses from the ground on her way over to the Specialist. "Did you lose anything else?" she asks as she looks over her shoulder to monitor the situation.

Isunin inhales deeply as she begins walking over to Torr. She moves through the crowd politely as a mixture of puzzlement and weariness crosses her features. She reaches the man and turns to him.

LeBeau stops for a moment from climbing his steps and then sighs and seems to let out a low curse to himself as he notices something or someone moving around in the growing mob. He then vaults himself over the edge of low laying catwalk and jumping down to the ground below in the gap of people made by the two fleeing Ungstiri women.

Through the middle of the crowd Innokentevna now sprints, the small woman trying to cross between the crowded street. A hand points docks wards, as she looks first to Melody and then to Kittianna. She tries to call out, barking out in a sure voice, a single sharp and simple word. "LOOK!"

Tresillian stays pretty much wher he is, though he does wince slightly in sympathy when Melody's glasses and pda get knocked from her person. He's a bit on the short side to see much of anything esle through the chaos so he too decideds to move to higher ground, just a little more slowly than Some others have.

Katriel does as instructed and looks towards the familiar voice, going up on tiptoe again, and tryng to spot Katya.

A grimace is what Melody wears, her tawny eyebrows dipped low on her forehead and teeth gritted. Shakily does she push herself standing, making a soft noise of pain that is followed by a hand gripping the opposite's elbow. "Mhm... Yeah, I think... my PDA." Her gaze searches around the crowd until it locates the device off to the left. "There it is... Thanks, Kit." It's a weak gratitude as she takes the glasses and puts them rightly on her face.

Mika manages to catch up to Torr, pushing through the throngs of people and scrambling those last few steps and nearly collapsing beside her crewmate. "Christ, man, loosen up," she says, panting. "Dunno... dunno what th' boss told ya, but I'M th' troublemaker'n th' ship! Th' only one't does any clockin' 'round 'ere is me, dammit, an' it ain't done'n business trips. Th' boss don't like't when we whack 'is customers." She tries to turn up her lips into a small grin.

Katriel spies Katya, and then where she is pointing, and turns to look now in the correct direction, wobbling as she is still on tiptoe.

Kit nods once in acknowledgement before she hesitates in her next reply, distracted by Innokentevna's continued insistence. Tensing once again, she quickly turns to look where the courier points.

Torr regards Isunin with a mix of anger and puzzlement. "Stay out of my head," he comments darkly to the woman. "I don't appreciate shit like that," his tone is slightly harsh, and then he turns to regard Mika. "I hope that their kind aren't our customers," Torr continues, "And I havn't met the boss yet."

Tresillian also looks in the indicated direction, spotting Katriel in the process, "Kat! Try moving up." He calls to her, concentrating on those words too.

Spinning on her heel the small red head just nods to a fifty gallong drum. And without a word her partner just reaches over and yanks, sending it and two companions tumbling to the ground behind them. The short woman then spins, reaching to her side as she drops behind the newly created cover ...

... it is Taeren who spies the dangerous anomaly first. The red head is not just drawing a gun ... she's drawing a hooping flecehette pistol.

Brokichev watches the two Ungstiri women from his spot on the stairs. "Wish I had popcorn."

... At the entrance to the bazaar there is a group moving into the market passageways ... they are too organized, too much of a group not to be anything but a gang. There must be at least ten of them ... some of them already reaching beneath their jackets and coats for ... guns ... chains ... one carries a piece of wood with nails stuck in it. Behind them slowly walk three figures in Boromov black, two men and a woman. They are flanked by a pair of Zangali. And everyone ... Lebeau, Katya, Melody, Mika, Bauran, Taeren, everyone .... is stuck in the middle between them and Keshka and Rishka.

All about the marketplace the crowd is suddenly thinning. There is the harsh slam of metal shutters being drawn, of feet pounding across the metal grated catewalks, of makeshift doors being pulled closed and latched. There is also a hooting and cheering and barker-speak call outs. "Fifty rubles! Five minutes on the red head!" Then an answering call "Six to one odds on the Zangali!" Followed by a third voice shouting abov the bedlam. "Twelve to one .. there's TWO Zangali!"

Tresillian continues up the stairs untill he's on untill he reaches a catwalk then ducks, to present a smaller target as he tuggs something from the small of his back. He pauses a moment and seems to concentrate then calls barely loud enough, "Kat. Find some cover." Then he too trise to find some crates or something to duck behind.

And from the bazaar's entrance comes a deep rumbling. "Can we bashererer them nows, huh? Time to basherers, you PROMISEDEDED!?" The tall lizards tower over those at the entrance, more distracting than the hints of steel carried by those now sweeping into the market.

Kit releases a quick breath as she spies the goings on by the entrance, concern replacing the casual annoyance she had displayed before. "Come," she says quickly to Melody, grabbing the Specialist's sleeve and not bothering to wait for a response as she drags the woman after her. She tries to angle them out of the direct path of the impending confrontation, her free hand slipping a knife from its sheath and keeping it tucked close to her forearm in preparation.

"S'what she does, jack, whether y'want't 'r not, get used t'it," Mika mutters, folding her arms and glaring in Isunin's direction. Her expression softens, but not by much, as she regards Torr. "An' y'don't really get t'pick'n choose who we deal with, so uh, I'd advise y'um, learn t'cope, r'maybe start appreciatin' th' contents've a liquor bottle." She lowers her voice, glowering. "God knows s'what I gotta do." Her head then suddenly snaps up at the new commotion, puzzled eyes looking everywhere.

LeBeau hits the floor and drops to one knee just as the crowd begins to flow back into a large group. He pulls a rod of sorts from his boot as he stands and glances back towards the two women who are now attempting to make a haphazard shelter. He then pushes his way towards them and calls out "Looks like yu two ladies ar en a bid o trouble. An I tink yu migh need a liddle help...dat es if yu wanna tell me wha dis es aboud?"

"Oh. Okay, just a seco--" Melody's docile and distracted tone replies to her 'catetaker,' cut off by the sudden yank of her arm. "Or now's fine." She mewls out as Kit drags her along, pausing to swipe up her customized PDA along the way and nearly stumble over her own feet. Where it is that the woman's headed...

Tresillian stays behind cover once he finds some, save to occasionally look down towards the lower lever and the fight that seems about to unfold there muttering something inaudible.

Torr snorts. "Scum like that rarely turns a profit for us, I'm guessing. Our employer must want to make some cash, I'm always ready to." He lights up another cigarette now, taking a long drag as he turns his attention toward the landing bay. "Good. Looks like they might actually get what they deserve. Bitches." He moves toward the side of the area now, moving toward the boxes which he had previosly been shoved against, and preparing to hunker down and spectate as the need be.

"Oooh, th' new guy's just a bucket'a joy, ain't he?" Hard to tell whether or not Mika's joking, or who she's addressing, as she makes her way back to Bauran and Isunin.

Katriel looks up towards Tres, nods at the sensible suggestion, trying to move towards Tres and higher ground on the stairs. Then she gets his second suggestion, and her eyes get very wide and frightened and she tries to find somewhere she can hide, but staying next to Jeff for the moment.

Taeren's eyebrows raise at the sound of something metallic being pulled behind him, eyes widening as he finds himself looking down the barrel of the contractor's large, bulky, business-looking sidearm. "I didn't mean to, I swear!" he says, holding his hands up at his shoulders and stepping aside. His eyes shift from her to over his shoulder, and as if something suddenly dawns on him, he bends his knees and dives quickly off to the side of the alley, towards some carbage cans.

Bauran looks around and starts to notice something is amise as the bazaar atmosphere begins to change, he turns to Mika and grabs her arm and begins to walk out of the open area, "Come on, I smell trouble," is muttered under his breath towards Mika, "Lets get out of the way."

Tresillian continues to occasionally check below but essentially stays behind his source of cover.

Jeremiah turns his head back to the crowd after watching the fiasco with the two women charging through the bazzar and then looks towards the landing bay when he hears more loud voices over the general din of the bazaar... hears brief bits of someone talking about bashing something or someone as well as voices from a couple of different places that seem to be placing bets and decides that now is probably a good time to find somewhere to get to... looks around for a moment and spots a stack of large metal bins just a few feet away and moves to get behind them.

Balking, Cedrict seems stuck, looking more than willing to hightail any possible direction, but he is undecissive in the unfamiliar territory. Sliding his way between the thinning crowd, he reaches the cavern wall, ducking down and peering about, looking for better cover.

The small ungstiri courier suddenly is caught, like a deer in ancient headlights. In the center of an empty chasm of steel. She looks one way, then the other, teeth set upon her lower lip. "Oh hoop ..." A hand reflexively goes to her fat jacket pocket where her pistol ... used to be kept. "OH HOOP!" A sprint, a leap, she tries to reach Melody and Kittianna.

Brokichev, still keeping an eye on the scene, deftly lifts the clasp on his holster and reaches for his pistol, though doesn't make any movement to aim it at anything.

Isunin notices Mika and Bauran slip away and begins to follow them, attempting to keep out of the hostilities.

Narrow-eyed and with his hands deep in his pockets, Reslienki slowly begins to walk into the bazaar. He paces in leisurely... for about three steps. Luck in timing doesn't seem to be his today. He winces at the booming of the Zangali a few feet behind him, his shoulders raising as if fending off a blow. Turning his head to look over his shoulder, his eyes narrow even further. "Shit.", he murmurs succinctly. Seaching for higher ground, both hands leave his pockets, one leaving behind a white plastic, gun-like bulge in the pocket, which jostles as he speedwalks. He hops to a catwalk within reach, his hands finding purchase on the rough surface, swinging a leg up.

Jeff Ryan looks from his gun to the Zangali he hands it to Katriel, "If he keeps coming after I've done my part, just point and shoot." He smiles, "Trust me, I do this all the time."

Katriel looks at Jeff incredulously. "But, I don't-- I've never used one of these!" she responds as she takes the gun, looking at it as if it might bite her. She holds the weapon awkwardly in both her hands, and tries to figure out what to do with it, now that she's got it.

"Because we didn't give it to them! It's OURS!" The red head barks back to LeBeau, a hand drawing back the bolt of of her short stubby pistol, the gun whining as its flywheel charges. One hand slams what looks to be a block of metal where a magazine might go, while her other hand desperately seeks .. and finds a pair of glasses ... which she dashes upon her nose. "They want our hoopin book! And its all in scribbles anyways!. I mean ... how were we supposed to know ..." She swallows as she looks at the gang descending upon them. " They' want a hoopin' book so badly!" She then braces herself, holding her pistol in both hands and raising it up, a natural motion, as if she had been born to it. "Come to granddaughter, you hoopin' bastards."

Looking down upon Lebeau, the tall dark maned thugess finally speaks. "I told her booklearning would get her nuthin' but trouble. But does she ever listen to me ..."

LeBeau slowly draws himself to his feet and continally trading glances between those moving up behind him and the two women hiding in front of him. He twirls the rod around in his right hand. "Well dis whole siduation looks like ids aboud to explode, an two hav picked some very nasty playmades by da loko o id." HE then turns and takes a couple steps back to face his back to the women and keep an eye on the approaching people. "Jus how empordan es dat book to yu, id rader no stard a riod here if id can be avoided, perhaps yu can yu can barder a deal wit dem?"

And that is when the wave begins. Upon all those caught in the hall between predator and prey. Ungstiri in rough clothes and dockside looks let out a deep throated war cry, drowned only by the whine of energy pistols and rattling chains. Behind them with thunderous steps two Zangali brigands romp, one picking up a fifty five gallon metal drum as he lopes forward. Last ... the last three watch. All dressed in Boromov black. Forward are two men ... behind a black haired woman. The taller of the two men draws a scoped pulse pistol, while the second man draws out a dangerously long switchblade.

Kit gives Melody's rambling scant notice as she first concentrates on getting them to the edge of the cavern and near some possible cover - in this case, the supporting struts of a walkway one level up, around which some nearby store owner has stacked some shipping boxes, still to be stowed away. Only then releasing Melody, she immediately scans the milling bodies for Innokentevna's figure. As soon as she spies the courier, she gives Melody the single admonishment, "Stay," before she is venturing partway out to meet Innokentevna, watching the woman's back-trail.

The black haired giantess just chuffs at LeBeau. She then nods past the Zangali, speaking one a Boromov Era word. "Spooks."

Melody's feet clank lightly on the walkway as she's led to the stockpile of cargo, one of them labeled with spices of some kind. Her mostly green spheres, astute and curious, flicker from crate to Kit and the second command word she's given in just as many minutes. When she too spies Katya there's a protest on her lips... but it dies down to logical thought. "Okay..." Squeezing close to the boxes, the girl tries to stay 'hidden.'

Mika breaks free from the Waldheimer's grip and whirls around just in time to catch her first glimpse of the impending chaos. "Aw, SONUVABITCH! Fuckin' get down, get down, get down!" Her words are hardly a request, as the engineer quite literally throws herself at Bauran, attempting to knock him back into the cavern wall and tackle him to the ground. The shouts and cries of the panicking crowd around her drown out her next statement, though the totally baffled look on her face speaks volumes.

Katriel huddles in on herself, still holding the weapon awkwardly, and tries to make herself an even smaller target than she already is. Her eyes dart around the crowd frantically, and she backs up almost unconsciously away from the approaching violence.

"Getting *out* of here," Tay mutters in a singsong as he rustles up from the pile of trash he dived into. His hand reaches behind his back for the pulse pistol tucked into his waistband, shifting it into his left hand as he puts distance between himself and the contractors with all speed. He catches sight of Katriel through the crowd, loses sight of her, catches it again and starts to slide towards her. With a worried frown, Tay's finger flicks against the pistol and its charging whine joins the cacophony of such sounds raising up throughout the bazaar. He tries to keep his head down as he moves to join the Mystic.

It's never a good idea to fight a Zangali, however if you do, make sure you do it hard and fast, try and get in a good first shot. You probably won't get a second, that's what Jeff is doing now, launching himself at the Zangali, fist bunched together

Behind his cover Tres turns his attention to the gun in his hand, perhaps pondering just what setting to use. Taking one last glance towards the Zangali he flips it to full power just incase then keeps his head down.

It starts with a simple pull of the trigger. Loud and grumbling the red head's gun whines, its deadly mechanism shaving off splinters of metal from the bar slammed in as its magazine. The flechettes then snap like thunder as they they break the speed of sound as they leave the pistol's muzzle. And she is answered, bright lances of energy then leaping back from the gangland thugs. The scent of ozone as the rock air ionizes is bitter .... and caught in the crossfire is Bauran, the flyboy looking lost as he feels the metal splinters slice into his leg, as a bolt of energy skims across his shoulder from the other direction. He is spun around, spraying crimson as his leg collapses.

Like ancient samurai the dock thugs slam forward, rushing Lebeau and Rishka's gunfire. The second Zangali throws his barrel, sending it arcing towards the two women and then follows at a full run.

The first Zangali ... he stops dead in his tracks. The big lizard blinks, looking down a mite perplexed as Ryan slams hard into him. And then simply just rebounds off. The lizard then reaches down, and with two strong arms lifts the lunite rebel off the ground, raising him high over his head. There's a dark chuckle. "Throw-bar!"

The melee is entered. Mika dives, the engineer sprawling down across the deck as the gunfire erupts, feeling the warmth of a blaster bolt above the back of his shirt. Taeren barely manages to reach Katriel amidst the gunfire, weaving and ducking through the arcing bolts ... feeling the sie of his shirt becoming shredded by metal spines ... leaving a slight trail of blood. For kittianna, when her hand snares katya's they are suddenly surrounded. TFour thugs enroute threaten to run them down in their charge, one with chains, one with a kinfe ... and two with makeshift pistols. They do not seem to care who they blow through to reach their prey ...

Deciding that the peace isn't going to be kept LeBeau readies himself for battle, the first shot frmo teh pistol behind him into the oncomming gang a puncuation on that. His eyes scan the wave of thugs as they pour thru the bazaar, the rushing Zangali he picks out easily as he sees it barreling down in his direction. He then takes of in a rush himself towards the Zangali, pulling to a halt and dropping to one knee...waiting for just the right moment, then it shows itself. With a flick of his wrist the rod in LeBeau's hand extends outward from both ends to form a two meter long staff which he then braces with both hands and swings it towoards the knee of the charging lizard.

"Dive!" Kit hisses needlessly, giving a sharp yank as soon as she has a hold of the courier's hand to help impel the woman on. She too reverses sharply to join Innokentevna in a headlong flight out of the way of the four thugs - but not before sending her knife flying toward the nearest one as deterrance.

Horror. Simple horror. Melody's visage fills with it, on behalf of her friends, on those enduring the bloody battle, and for her having to witness it all... helpless. She's caught between focusing on her surrounded fiancee and that of the gun that makes its appearance onto the scene. "Watch out! There's a gun!" The girl calls from her nook, hand pointing as she dips forward and then jumps back into its confines.

Katriel watches Jeff as he flies towards the Zangali, a startled gasp leaving her lips. And then the true violence erupts around her as weapons fire. Backing up even further, the little Mystic has a shocked, panicked look in her eyes, the whites around them showing clearly. She screams, pain lancing through her at the same moment that Tay receives his own wounds. Her feet stumble on the unfamiliar ground, almost tripping her in the process, the gun in her own hand nearly forgotten. And then Tay is appearing next to her, and she takes in the red stains on his shirt, and anger begins to smolder in those peaceful eyes of hers.

"Kat - OW!" Tay grunts as the metal debris bites through his leather jacket, shredding the material on his right side. His left hand goes to clasp over it as he hisses, "Maza's TITS that hurt." He stumbles, recovers, glancing up at Kat and holding out the hand - the bloodied hand - towards her, waving it. "It's all right, it's all right, I'm okay," he hisses quickly, ducking and reaching out to grab her arm. "Get *down*!" He moves to grab her and pull her to the deck with him against a fruit vendor's stand.

Hearing Melody's call the courier looks, blinks and then is tossed, her own momentuum sending her out of the knot of gangland thug surrounding Kittianna. She tumbles, a touch ungainly upon the metal floor ... reaching out to grab a loose stone as she does. Without pauseing she brings it up, hard, slamming it against the side of the closest brigand to her. Its the sharpshooter.

Tresillian peeks from cover, his aim to check on the situation for those he knows, noteably Tae, Kat, Jeff, Kit and one or two others. Seeing Jeff hoisted bodily into the air by the Zangali he winces it would seem he's of two minds wether to shoot at the lizard, though. Perhaps concearned he might miss and accidentially hit Jeff then his attention moves to LeBeau and his extending pole as he swings it towards the other Zangali. He mutters something to himself, unheard over the din of combat and lies him self out prone while trying to stay mostly behind his cover then takes careful aim at the Zangali that has Jeff over it's head.

A grunt of pain escapes Bauran's lips as he is pelted twice, one in the shoulder and the other into his knee. It all happens so fast that Bauran is sprawled on the floor before he even knows what happened. His immediate concern is to crawl towards cover, but with things happening so fast he cannot quite figure out what to do. He looks around for Mika to see if she has been hit and then he tries to find Isunin in the chaos that surrounds the bazaar. After a brief spout of a pain, Bauran manages to say to himself, "Boy, did I pick a bad day to leave the ship"

Cursing to himself and pressing back harder against the metal wall as the loud crackling shots and whinning of energy weapons, Jeremiah tries to make himself as small as possible amid the chaos while trying to keep aware of which direction the sounds of firing are comming from. He hears someone shouting about a gun and someone else screaming in a way that sounds like it hurts and starts looking around for something to use as a makeshift weapon if needed.

Cedrict Trainor crawls near the door in the side of the wall, still low to the ground, hand reaching up and jiggling the handle.

Brokichev continues watching, wincing as shots are fired. He ducks into a storefront to avoid any stray fire.

The scene in the merchant corridor is a dangerous chaos. On one end, behind a row of downturned barrels, the red haired Ungstiri defends her dark haired companion, the roar of her flechette pistol filling the air. That roar is accented by the deadly ricochette of the needled projectiles carooming across the narrow space like a fragmantation grenade going off. On the opposite side three blackcoated spooks move forward, like deadly wraiths. At their feet now lies Innokentevna, having been thrown aside by Kittianna. Kittianna has now just snared the attention of the thugs overruning her .. one now sprawled on the deck with a long stiletto buried in his neck. Above, on the catwalks, are Melody and Tresillian, while nearby and below Taeren and Katriel shelter. In the middle is Bauran, on the ground and bleeding, but luckily now so low the shots go over his head. The two Zangali enforcers are engaged. One by LeBeau ... the other by Jeff Ryan ... though the latter's position of command is a touch dubious ...

There is a loud smash, a sharp and sudden crack and a deep roar of surprise. The Zangali Lebeau faces falls, crashing down on one knee as the cajun's steel rod slams hard into the lizards knee, shattering scale and sinew. For the moment the great alien is befuddled, as if an impossible thing had just occured. The second one is not so unlucky. While Ryans blow is hard enough to draw blood from his lizardish nose, the primary result is for the Zangali to wish the lunite as far away as possible. Ryan is thrown, sprawling in the air straight towards the red head's flechette gun ...

And that is when Tresillian's bolt slams into the Zangali's chest. A good hit, a solid hit ... a hit that seems to annoy the big lizard to no end. "Stupissoftskinnofightycheatyfights!' he bellows, turning to rush towards the stairs above which Tresillian lurks. Nearby Melody can only watch, as Innokentevna rolls upwards, her block of stone catching the gun wielding sharpshooter in the knee. He falls, turning, and when he lands ... it is with the barrel of his gun now inches away from the courier's face.

In the safety of thir shelter, Taeren and Katriel watch as the redhead calmly mows down the forward ranks of the spook trio's thugs, the gang of resevoir dogs vaporising in clouds of red spray, caught by the flechette pistol's deady rain ... until she has no choice but to dive to the side, trying to aviod the incoming Ryan.

... last, however, the fight is joined. From a sheltered corridor an older man limps forward, a long silver steel rod held in one hand. He looks at the lizards and whispers, " ... dragons ..." and then he blinks, his clear eyes sparkling with a wild fire when he sees Kittianna surrounded. " ... one does nay a Lady so treat!" Caught by surprise there is a bone crunching snap as with a wild roundhouse swing the elderly man catches one of the brigands in the side of his neck.

Kit pulls her second knife from its place at the small of her back as soon as she sees the first one hit its mark. A quick glance is spared for the courier - and as she sees the man fall with the gun straying dangerously close to Innokentevna, her decision is made without hesitation. Flinging her last knife at him, she reaches down in the same motion in an effort to help pull the Ungstiri out of the immediate line of fire.

The throw of Ryan leave the lunite in a very undignified position, he lands next to the woman with the flechette gun who's just dived out of the way, he rolls and is back on his feet with a grin. He finds himself in the middle of a firefight, unarmed.

LeBeau seems bolted into the rock below him as the Zangali barrels down on him. Then he swings, his staff arcing thru the air even as the snapping of bone and cartlidge fill the air. His eyes the only thing that betray any awareness or emotion as they faintly glow. In a flash the cajun is on his feet and spins the staff once before twisting on the balls of his feet and bringing the end of his weapon down towards the back of the surprised Zangali's skull.

With eyes widening at her courier's valiant - if albeit reckless - attempt at disarming the thug going awry, Melody's jaw sets and flexes in determinated zeal. Her eyes search around her for a split-second, perhaps searching for something... until her hand reaffirms its squeeze on her trusty PDA. Shoving forward, the girl uses herself as distraction, "Hey, up here!" She then hurls her 'padd at the gun-toting bruiser.

It happens in a moment, a heartbeat. Kittianna's dagger strikes, but only slashes through the cloth of the sharpshooter's pants. Reflexively the sharpshooter's gaze rises, to meet this new and sudden danger. His shot blasts out, high, the bolt of energy racing towards Melody. While the specialist goes unharmed, the pulse pistol charge does trike the catwalk, taking out a set of fragile hangars. The grating suddenly tilts more than forty five degrees, almost tumbling Melody and Tresillian to the deck.

Tresillian eyes the Zangali, then his gun, then the Zangail once more while muttering something that could be 'load for bear' for those who may be able to read lips. Finally he shifts his attention to the stairs between his position and the rushing Zangali, perhaps looking for a weak link in their fabrication or perhaps a drum of something flamable. If he finds one he takes aim at it then waits.

With chaos still devestating the bazaar, Bauran huddles up against a support strut and tries to tend to the wound on his leg. A grimace of pain cross his face as he rips a piece of his left sleeve to apply as a bandage to his leg wound.

Jeremiah looks back towards the closed end of the bazaar and sees a long section of stout metal railing laying on the floor against the wall just a few feet away. He leans away from the metal bins that are providing him cover and reaches for it, wrapping his fingers around it and yanking it close. Looking out across the bazaar and seeing the mayhem as well as the downed and injured guy in the middle of the shooting, he decides to try and get him out of there. Dropping the metal railing that he had grabbed and lunging out from behind his shelter in an effort to reach the wounded guy quickly and get him behind some shelter.

Taeren has his own ideas about who to hit ... his eyes search as if trying to find someone ... and finding it in the form of the businesswoman near the back. He shifts an almost imperceptible amount to the right in order to allow his gun arm more play as he draws a bead on the woman directing the thugs and fires. "Cut off the head," he mutters.

Cedrict Trainor reachesa cautious hand towards the metal doorhandle, hearing the unfortunate 'clack' of a locked door. Collecting himself within the jam, he takes a quick survey of the cavernous bazaar. Doing a quick mental calculation, he determines that a mad dash to the landing pad might not be in his best interest. A few random blasts of gunfire streak across his vision, causing Cedrict to again crouch, pinned in his current position.

Brokichev draws his pistol as the Zangali runs up the stairs towards him, aiming it at the large reptile. Or would, if he had a pistol to draw. "Hoop." The fight option now no longer feasible, Ivan does what he does best, and takes off down the bridge, away from the Zangali.

Lebeau's blow hits solidly, sure and even, smashing down hard on the Zangali's back. There is a whumf, and the Zangali just looks back at the lunite with a flat toothed smile. It is just barely in time that Lebeau jumps backward ... for while he can't move far on one leg, the large lizard can swipe with a deadly clawed hand. The second Zangali charges forward ... as Tresillian's shot takes out the remaining catwalk hangars, spilling both he and Melody down from their perch. They are not hurt, however ... or at least not badly, as their fall is broken by Taeren and Katriel.

Bauran is finally reached however, by Jerimiah's mad dash. An arm and shoulder grabbed, from the center of the melee the wounded man is now taken, half carried, half dragged from the open ground to the shelter of a venter's cart. For Ivan, however, there is no such cover. Thwarted by a tangle of broken metal from his previous prey, this Zangali does what any hunter does when their quarry flees ... he gives chase.

Kittianna's hand snares the courier's leg. the motion makes her duck, and as she does there is a solid whoosh abover her head, the old man's pole whipping around and catch brigand number two right across the face. The gentleman's gray hair is thin and whispy, as he apologizes to kittianna. "Pardon, fair lady ... he seemed to be bothering thee ..."

It is almost as if she heard. The tall woman in Boromov black turns and looks, her eyes meeting Taeren's, black as midnight as he raises his weapon. The bolt drives forward, and at the last second she jerks backwards, one hand grabbing one of her other thugs and yanking him between her and the Timonae's shot. Flesh burns, the man screams and then he falls. She however, barks out a simple command. "Mahkka ... get Pierce ... we are leaving!"

A leap back as claws swipe at his chest, Lebeau's coat flares out around him as his feet touch the ground again with a sly chuckle "I see yer head es a bid tough den oder pards o yu huh? I suppose 'll jus hav to stop pulling my punches den won I mon ami." He then lunges forward thrusting the end of his staff towards the injured Zangali, aiming at the spot just between its eyes.

"Tres~!" Melody yells in disbelief at the data specialist, just before the hangar snaps and goes right out from underneath her feet. She doesn't even have time to cry out as she literally drops like a rock onto the fleshy forms of Tay and Kat below. A grunt is pressed from her lungs as she entangles with the other three people. "Ohh..."

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRR!" is the roar erupting from Jeff, moments after landing on his feet he's not satisfied he's survived one Zangali he's charging towards the second attacking LeBeau in time to see his fellow lunite's blow, this time he's aiming lower, much lower, just below the stomach. Fists held together he attempts to give the lizard a damaging blow.

Kit sucks in an involuntarily sharp breath as she feels the wind of the pole's passage, glancing toward the old man with a disbelieving snort. As soon as she is reassured that Innokentevna is out of immediate harm's way, she edges around to retrieve one of her knives from a body, watching the fight warily with it poised for use again if it is needed.

Katriel squeezes off her shot, for the first time in her life firing a weapon, closing her eyes in the instant that she does. The wild shot misses the Zangali-- but not by as much as one might expect. She doesn't get the chance to see much of what happens next, though, as Tres and Melody come tumbling down on top of her and Tay with a crash and screaming of metal, as the hangars supporting their catwalk are destroyed.

Tresillian attempts a tuck and roll like you seen in those action holovids as he comes toppling down ontop of those below when the catwalk beneath him collapses. It'll probably hurt a bit but he attempts to keep a hold on his gun as well. The words that escape his lips are mostly unintelligable to most though their tone implies they are the colourful kinds of pharses one utters when things don't go quite the way they were expected to. "Sorry!!" He calls loudly managing to sound somewhat Sivadian as he does.

Grabbing hold of the guy who is trying to bandage his leg with a tattered piece of his shirt, Jeremiah hauls him across the bedlam and yanks him down behind a venter's cart with a half yelled, "Here!.. Get in behind here!!!" Then... once they are behind the cart he turns and checks on the injuries to the fellow, then up to the cart, sees a towel laying over a handle, grabs it and looks back down at the guy's arm and tries to staunch the bleeding while trying not to look at the mess that has been made of his leg and asks, "You all right there pal?!?"

Brokichev is in full sprint, trying to lose the Zangali as his shoes make heavy thudding noises on the metal bridge. "Hoop! Little help, someone?"

Wrapping his wounded leg lightly with a tiwel, Bauran looks up at Jeremiah and says, "Yeah, I think I will make it. Thanks man, I owe you one. I think I am going to take a breather." At that, Bauran passes out.

Taeren fires a moment after Kat, blinking and cursing under his breath as his attempt is frustrated by the conveniently placed henchman. "What the -?" This exclamation is changed into a vociferous "OOF!" as a Specialist and a Programmer come tumbling down on top of him. Completely unaware of their impending arrival, he has no time to react.

LeBeau's Zangali is distracted, Jeff Ryan's assault coming up from the lizard's weak side. And yet while his blow has no effect, it allows Lebeau's attack to land square and hard. Already down to one knee, The Lizard 's eyes roll, and with a loud and tumbled whumf he falls forward upon his face. That is matched by the sound of a softer blow ... the old man's staff driven into the last thugs belly, sending him sprawling. At that the gray haired warrior plants his staff upon the deck and leans heavily upon it, taking in deep sobs of breath.

The other Zangali has also vanished, now chasing Brokichev deeper into the rock.

Of the three spooks there is no sign. For a moment there is a shocked silence in the marketplace, until the shutters and doors start to open again. A bit of a murmur is then followed by a yell. "Look! They are still standing ... PAY UP! ... twelve to one! I'm rolling in rubles!"

At Kittianna's feet now, Innokentevna slowly sits up, hands reaching for her hair to rufle through it vigourously. "Hoop ... spasiba ... t'ank you Kitt." She immediately looks for Melody then, the catch of her breath hard as she sees the specialist now on the street level. "Meloty ..." She turns to scramble to her beloved. "You okay? An vhat zee joop vas all z'eese about?

As the last brigand is vanquished, the red head carefully holsters her gun, snapping the leather cover over it. She kicks lightly at the barrel before her, head tilting. "That's all of them, right?"

Cedrict Trainor emerges from his spot, scurrying over towards Kat and the various bodies sprawled in a pile. "Shit shit shit!" he exclaims, as he unceremoniously attempts to clear Melody and Tres from the pile. "Oh, that's bloody.

The tall woman, the scarlet hued one's companion, now finally peeks out from around the corner. She speaks three simple words. "I hate guns." Beneath her arm is carefully and protectively carried a large black leather bound tome.

LeBeau watches the Zangali fall face first as his staff cracks its skull. He then taks in a deep breath and sigh. He then holds the staff out and it retracts in on itself. He then knees down and replaces the rod in his boot and begins to pat the Zangali body down for any ident-cards or other clues.

Kit scans the general area uneasily before finally beginning to relax, watching Innokentevna's scramble toward Melody and ensuring that there is nothing else requiring her attention before she turns to eye the old staff-wielding man. "Thank you. Who are you?" she asks, gratitude and question given nearly in the same tone.

Jeff Ryan rubs his brow, he says to LeBeau, "I thought I'd had it for a second there." He turns his eyes in Katriel's direction, seeing her down on the ground next to Taeran he strides over.

The old man blinks quietly, drawing himself up. he leans on the staff, like one might a walking stick. "I apologize ... Thou may call me Lake, mi'lady. Are you well? They did not harm thee?" He then looks over the small collection of defenders and the fallen. "Or any one else?'

Taeren groans underneath Melody. "Maza's open thighs ... it feels like a Zangali just crushed my spine," he mutters, shifting but stunned and unable to move himself out from under the Specialist.

Katriel winces, and gives a pained sounding "ow," as she tries to emerge from the tangle of people and metal. "Tres-- where did you come from?" she asks, looking a bit on the stunned side.

It's a whirl of people doting on her welfare as Melody pulls herself from the small mound, accepting help from both Tres and her courier. She doesn't appear to be too hurt, not when compared to being throw onto metal disposal bins. "Yeah... I'm okay." The researcher informs Katya and those around her, nodding a few times while taking inventory of her person. "Oh. I'm really sorry..." She tells Tay and Katriel. Shaken up, maybe bruised and embarrassed, but not hurt.

While holding the towel firmly against the guys shoulder as he slumps over, Jeremiah begins to look around once again for some sort of make shift weapon and decides to simply stay where he is for the moment. Looks around and sees several people crawling out from under a collapsed walkway and spares a thought to hope they are all right. Turns and looks the otherway, crouching down and peering under the cart at the other end of the bazaar closer to the landing bay and trying to catch his breath again as he keeps watching the scene and the passed out person beside him. Finally noticing that the shooting has stopped for the time being, he moves out from behind the cart to look around and calls out, "Hey... I need some help over here please?!? This guy has been hit and needs help!"

As Jerimiah calls, Innokentevna pushes herself to her feet, squeezing her reseracher's hand as she does. "Da ... I can look at heem ..." and with heavy steps she crosses to the cart and the fallen human. She crouchs, nods and begins a simple examination. "hye'll be fine, once he gets som rest I theenk."

Jeff Ryan squats down next to Katriel and Taeran, concern in his eyes he catches sight of Taeran's blood, his eyes widen. He immediately start to look the timonae over.

Kit quirks one brow upward at the old man's speech, but otherwise maintains a neutral expression as she nods. "No, I am well. You have excellent timing, Lake," she compliments before Jeremiah's call has her glancing his way. "Some others do not appear as lucky, however."

Taeren rises slowly. "Ngh ... I guess you didn't have a choice in the matter," he admits to Melody. As Ryan hops towards him, Tay waves him off, batting away any hands that reach for his bleeding side from the man. "Gaaah ... no, get off. Ech, that stings." His jacket is shredded from flechette, but there's only a trickle of blood. It looks like he's got only a flesh wound, although he peers in Rishka and Keshka's direction to call angrily, "You owe me a new jacket!"

Cedrict Trainor drops his pack to the ground, looking through it for medical supplies. Scrounging through, his pack produces mostly regular toiletries. Finally, it seems, Cedrict finds what he is looking for: A slightly damp towel. "It's the best I can do, right now", he says sheepishly.

Innokentevna takes the towel with a nod, 'It'll hafe to to, da?" And she slowly starts to bandage and set to the unconscous man's wounds.

Katriel rises to a sitting position, but doesn't actually try standing yet. She looks at Tay with open concern on her face. "You okay?" she asks softly, mostly just for the reassurance, since he seems to be doing rather well, really.

LeBeau finishes patting down the Zangali then gets up and walks back over to teh two Ungstir women hidding behind their barrels. "Well ladies, looks like da fun es o'er. Now as much fun as 've had an gedding da chance to tes myself agains a Zangali was a nice touch." He then sighs and raises a voice a bit "Jus wha da hell were does Boromov securidy forces afder yu fo?"

At Taeren's words the tall and darkhaired ungstiri just gives him an alomsot bored and dour look. She does, however, curl her hand into a large fist.

Tresillian unzips his jacket a little, "Unfortuneately I left my first aid kit at home." He then grins sheepishly at Kat and points up to where there was formally a stretch of catwalk, "Err... up there."

Taeren seems about to adjust his grip on his gun, leg lifting as if perhaps to take a step towards her, when his arm passes over the wounded area and he inhales sharply. "Ahh - watch where you're shooting next time," he growls at the tall woman, perhaps in too much pain to be concerned with the look she's giving him, turning to inspect where he's been hurt and shrug his jacket off that shoulder. "I think I'm all right ..." he responds to Katriel.

Jeremiah watches the lady come over and check the guy out and nods... taking her word for his welfare and then finding a sturdy crate to sit down on and take a moment to gather his wits about him. Looking around the partially destroyed area and partially watching what the lady does as far as tending the guys wounds, muttering to himself, "What is the bloody blue blazes was that all about I wonder?" ... Sighs deeply, unzips his jacket and takes it off, laying it on the crate beside him as he looks around again at the people starting to pick up the pieces from the brief firefight.

Melody winces again as the courier departs to help the wounded, cradling her spare arm again. That's going to leave a bruise tomorrow. At the very least her glasses were spared from being crushed. "That wasn't the greatest of ideas, Tres..." She lightly tells the data specialist while giving another apologetic look to Taeren. Finding herself separated from companions, the researcher heads to join where Kittianna is.

Looking up to her tall friend, the fire haired one chuckles. She then looks back to the Timonae. "Keshka says that it was your fault for getting in the way ..." Her words fall short, though, as Lebeau questions. "Hoop if I know ..." She blusters back, "I mean, I thought all the spooks were gone and everything. They musta have th sam luck as Keshka and me have had, getting real work ..." She then glances to the book her companion carries. "They want our book, I guess. But its ours We didn't even steal it. Got it fair and square!"

Katriel smiles at Tres. "Oh," she replies simply. "Wow," she adds, and then focuses her attention on Tay. "Well, sit down," she tells him, exasperated concern in her voice. "Someone needs to look at that," she concludes, looking at the wound on his side.

Jeff Ryan grunts at Taeran, "Yeah you'll live." He looks up at Tresillian and smiles, "Hey Tres, long time no see." He offers his hand to the purple-haired kid.

LeBeau glances from one of the Ungstir women to the other, he then glances at the book that seems to be the reason for the current bloodshed. He then holds out his hand "Min if I can see dis book, an if yu don tink I should 'll remin yu dat I di jus stop a large luggage bag from ripping da two o yu to pieces."

Katriel suddenly gives a sharp look to Jeff, and Tres. "Jeff," she says, an anxious note sounding clearly in her voice.

Kit glances toward Melody as the Specialist joins her, and she nods slightly in greeting before bending down to wipe off her knife on the fallen man's shirt, tucking it back into its sheath as she looks around for her other weapon. "Do the others know what happened?" she asks.

"But they do feel the care of thine companions touch ..." The old man nods knowingly. But as the rest of the conversation drifts, it does catch his attention. he focuses upon Lebeau, Rishka and Keshka. "I had heard ... " he whispers, speculatively."

Tresillian takes the hand profered by Jeff and gives it a firm shake. "Yes been a while, Jeff." He replies.

The second he has the hand, Jeff's grip tightens and the smile fades. With his left hand he swings at the younger man.

Jeremiah looks down and asks the lady tending to the unconcious man and asks, "Is there anything you need me to do miss?"

Taeren shakes his head at Kat. "I'll get looked at," he says, walking towards the two deyvachka and Lake. "I'd kinda like to know what all the shooting was about," Tay notes, wincing a little as his ribs bother him. Jeff is behind him when he takes his swing at Tres.

Melody shakes her head with a vague shrug of her shoulders and a look about her that shows she's utterly clueless about what caused the ruckus to start in the first place. "I don't know..." She spares a glance to the fallen man as well, swallowing hard to force back the welling desire to... In a lowered voice, she continued, "I haven't asked them. Busy falling from catwalks..."

Katriel who has been watching the exchange intently, tries to get herself between Jeff and Tres as soon as she sees Jeff start to swing.

Tresillian it would seem was expecting something like this, though it's hard to say just why he was expecting it and he steps IN towards the lunite lifting his knee as he does.

Tresillian's movement does one thing. He bounces into Katriel ... who then bounces into Jeff Ryan the result of the carooming being a rejostling of position and no one getting hit.

LeBeau begins to flip thru the book pages, looking from page to page. "Dis es no no jus some book. Id looks like some sord o ledgar. Maybe o busniess dealings o agens." He looks to teh two women "Where di yu ged dis?"

"We found it in the basement of the Castle ... and we had permission to be there and *everything*" Rishka answers Lebeau, standing up proud. "We know its important .. it told us where to find the old photographs and all." She then frowns, "Not that the photographs did any good ..."

With an angry growl Jeff ignores Katriel as he swings again, this time being more careful with his delicate area.

Katriel again tries to step between the two, a determined little bit of interference.

"I had heard ..." The old man whispers quietly, his attention on Lebeau and keshka. But then his head lifts and he speaks up. "I say ... did we not just end the fighting?" His gaze now falling on the trio of Mystic, Lunite and Human.

As Kat steps in, Tay stops walking towards LeBeau and the gang, turning and sighing. "Kat - aww ..." he pushes between the two guys, too, moving to shove Jeff away from Tres rather than simply get in the way.

Tresillian moves in towards jeff's swing again forcing him to pull the blow if he intends to make contact. "I don't CARE if you've been tortured near to Death! I nearly got pushed out an airlock because I got traced placing that false ID into the Le Terre system... for YOU."

"Stop it, stop it, stop!" Kat is yelling at the two men.

Kit turns from her scan for the second knife to give the three a perplexed frown. Taking a few steps toward the burgeoning brawl, she pauses when she sees others getting involved. As she absorbs Tresillian's protests, her expression smooths out in comprehension, and then she simply watches and waits for the tangle to sort itself out.

LeBeau is distracted a bit by the scuffle behind him then turns back to the ledger. "Yu can read dis?" He ask pointing to the pages "An wha pictures?"

Hearing an odd noise and turning quickly, still mindful of the recent violence, Jeremiah sees two people, who were fighting against the unknown attackers, start to go head to head. Watches as the apparent fighters are partially seperated before they can really get started and then notices the old man standing a short distance away. He picks up his jacket from the crate and walks over towards the older man, feeling just a tad curious as to why and when he showed up to this party when most other people were headin for the hills.

As the arguing and tussle begins, Melody huddles in closer to the now re-armed Kittianna, glancing to read her expression in order to form an outwardly visible opinion of her own: no need for alarm. "Are you okay?" She asks to the dark-haired woman beside her, a background question while the ruckus plays on.

From where she sits, Innokentevna looks up, having finished her tending to the wounded. She then stands, dusting herself off as the fracas breaks out between Tresillian and Ryan. One step, two ... and she calls out. "Ryan, you touch heem an I'll toss you out ov zee hoopin' airlock myself!"

"Yeah, I'm okay... A little uncomfortable." The highlighted brunette replies, hand gently patting her elbow for specifics on where. She doesn't move from where she stands, however, preferring to stay stationed where she is rather than brave the unruly surroundings.

As all step forward, there is the whoosh of silvered metal. The old man's stainless steel rod snaps forward in a smooth arc, its fall placing it directly between Ryan and Tresillian, barring the lunite's approach to the data consultant. "What madness is this?" The gentleman simply looks between the two. "That is the Ledger Black they carry ... taken from the bones and ashes of not just this generation ... but seven from before. And then even more tracing back to the Tsarin ... the Princess Fair, the child forgotten ... just names in a book to you, but the heir to the First and Last Castle. And you would squabble amounstgt yourself, as when the land was broken? I have seen friednships torn asunder before ... and seen what it teaches to even those without a heart ... the meaning of regret."

As the turoil builds, Keshka opens to a page where a few photographs and a note have been tucked within. But as Lake speaks, she raises her head and blinks. "Say what?"

Jeremiah stops in his tracks and watches... keeping quiet and listening carefully to what is said.

Tresillian nods at Jeff. "He started it." He says simply. "He swung at me first and under the guise of a friendly handshake what's more." He shakes his head. "Maybe I should stat swinging first and asking questions later as well..."

The blade between them Jeff turns to the old man, there's a humorless smile, "This piece of filth sold out every one of my people to save his own worthless neck. Beat me, torture me, kill me." He turns his attention back to Tresillian, "But don't *ever* sell out my people. Every one is now at risk because of you, their lives in danger." He turns again to the old man, "Is a friendship torn asunder by treachery truly a friendship? Honour has seen me through the worst that humanity has to offer me." Without looking he points to Tresillian, "Is it not better to die for your friends than to live and know that you were the instrument that could lead to their deaths." He ignores Tres' words.

Katriel is looking between Tres and Jeff, frankly close to tears. "Please. Stop. This isn't helping anything, or anyone," she pleads.

Kit dips her head in acknowledgement of the specialist's response, shifting her weight in interest as Lake brings about a sudden resolution to the conflict. At the heated words from both Tresillian and Jeff, she snorts and snaps out impatiently, "There was no need to 'sell' anyone, Mr. Ryan. All of your movements were quite transparent. Besides, there seems to be other, more pressing concerns right now."

Tresillian steps back and shoves his hands into his pockets. "Oh. I'm supposed to take a step out an airlock... when the authorities already know about the Watchers, am I? I offered to give up every one... and do you know what answer I got?" He breaks off and turns his attention to the rest of what's going on, apparently ignoring Jeff. "Now what's this about a ledger?"

Melody's attention is seducted away from the squabble to that of knowledge - specifically what the old man speaks about the tsarin, the heir. It strikes a familiarity. "This is the Black Ledger?" The analytical researcher murmurs softly as her steps carry her cautiously closer, the unconscious draw of the book calling. "Really...?"

LeBeau sighs and rolls his eyes at the tussle between Jeff, Kat and Tresillian. He then looks back to the two Ungstiri women as he he continues to flip thru page after page of the ledger. "So yu foun dis back en da ruins o da castle. Wha were yu planning to do wit id? AN yu sur yu wanna go on doing id now dat yu hav drawn so much attention." He then looks to the little redheaded girl "An I tink dat if dees spooks o yers ar still loyal to a dead house, yu jus migh be a targed yerself Ms. Kalashnikov."

Taeren reaches for Kat's hand. "It's over, Kat ..." he turns to regard Lake. "You make more sense than anyone here, sir," Tay says, tilting his head at the book. "What's this book stuff about?"

The old man simply gives Ryan a quiet look, eyes sad, deeper than the deepest well. "You, mi'lord, know nothing about betrayal ... there are things worse than death, and hurts that can never be healed. There is a distinct difference between could have had blood spilled, mi'lord ..." A break a pause. "Than having that blood spilled. Speak only of what thou knows ... and speak not harsh, because the actions that cannot be taken away ... one bears forever."

Jeff Ryan growls at Katriel, "Send out the word Katriel, the Watchers are gone, finished. From now on, I work alone." He nods to the swordsman, "Perhaps you are right." He shoves his hands into the pockets of his jacket and begins to walk away.

After watching the brief, heated exchange between the two men... Jeremiah continues walking closer to Lake and then small group listening to him. Again Jeremiah listens carefully to what Lake says and his oddly poetic use of words...

Kit's eyes follow Jeff for a moment before she shakes her head once and also returns her attention to the mystery surrounding the ledger.

Katriel stays right where she is, waiting, holding her breath, her attention focused on Jeff. At his words, she sighs, watching him walk away and shakes her head, a deep crease forming between her eyes.

"Ryan ..." Innokentevna draws herself back up, walking up behind Melody and kittianna, a hand placed on one's arm ... the other's waist. "Coult be vorse, gospadin Ryan. Look about you ... at least one person here steel cares for you. Probably more. At zee ent ov zee tay, z'ats vhat matters. Eet toesn't matter zat I vas at zee Tover on Fracture ... vhat matters ees comink home to Meloty."

Jeff Ryan passes through the heavy portal and into the landing cavern.

"Can I see?" Melody asks the gentlemanly cajun, smiling faintly to him as she edges closer to look over his shoulder as pages flip. "And there... are photographs too?" This is aimed at Rishka while the researcher adjusts her poor glasses. All that throwing its been through that evening.

Tresillian just lets Jeff leave though he does mutter something in a rarely heard Terran dialect under his breath. Other than that he remains quiet and listens to what the old man has to say.

At Lebeau's words the redhead just shakes her head. "My name is Rishka, mister ..." She pauses, and holds for a beat. "Tasha had to die a long while ago ..." Those last words are a quiet whipser, however. She then taps the book. "Well we'll use it to find stuff." Her brow furrows. "Well ifn we can get it translated, and if we can get can figure out what it means. And i bet it will be nicer stuff than photographs, next time."

... K+R's photographs may be seen at: http://www.morrigu.com/otherspace/album.jpg

LeBeau steps aside and ruffles Melody's hair "Sur yu can beaudiful. Yu could proabaly read dis bedder den I can anyway." He then smirks at Kishka and winks " 'm sur she had to. Bu dat does no mean day would no like to take da chance to seddle a score o two." He then cracks his neck "Why don we ged da two o yu an dis book to a mo secure place so we can all res an maybe try and decifier a bid mo o dat book."

As Ryan takes his leave the old man just lowers his steel pole, eyes closing for a long, long moment. He then walks forward, slowly, to add himself to the ring those gathered. Lake lets out a breath, brows rising. And leaning his staff against himself ... he reaches into his own heavy pockets and carefully, like one might a poker hand, look at some papers he carries.

Katriel sinks to the ground where she was standing, too tired to stand anymore, and rests her forehead on her updrawn knees. "Why do people hurt each other so much, all the time?" she whispers to herself, at an absolute loss for an answer to the question.

"Human nature," Tay drawls, turning to listen to those in the circle. "Scuse me, sir," Tay begins to Lake. "Did I hear you say something about a book, a princess, and an old castle?"

Tresillian's ears perk up and he looks towards LeBeau, brushing his fringe back out of his eyes. "Someone say decipher. If I can decipher an Alien OS..."

Kit waits until the shift of bodies allows her to slip into the ring as well, craning her head curiously for a glimpse of the book's pages.

"Because pain lets us know ve are not deat, Katriel ..." Innokentevna sadly responds. She then leans forward, and for a moment, just one, rests her head against Melody's shoulder. "An lofe ... vell z'ats to remint us z'at lifeees vorth hafink. One es lifink ... zee ozer, eets just surfifink."

Jeremiah listens quietly from where he stands.

Katriel turns her head to the side to look at Katya, and smiles wanly. "There are so many other things that can do that... Why is it that people seem to choose that one, every time?" She draws in a deep breath, and holds it for a moment, slowly releasing it in a steady stream of air. Once, twice, three times, and then she is standing again, walking towards the knot of people surrounding the book.

For the first time that evening Melody is sent a-blush in genuine embarrassment of the good kind, head ducking after the ruffle is given. "Thanks..." At the feel of a hand on her back, the brunette Specialist tilts her head to view Katya with an affectionate exchange through the softening of her hazel-green eyes. A hand sneaks out to pat the courier's, her words and their multiple meanings not lost on her. "Both I wouldn't mind doing, as long as it's with you..." Her eyes turn back on the book and LeBeau. "Sure, yeah. That's a good idea. And I could probably help with the translations... research, too, of course."

"The Tsarina's great great grand daughter ... holds the key to the Last Castle ... and within there ..."

The old man closes his eyes,

" ... is kept the hopes and dreams of a people lost. That which cannot be had, but can never be forgotten ... the hidden wish of all ... those torn asunder, from the fields of Cornwall to the rocks of Ungstir."

Lake looks up then, very quietly,

"And maybe ... even ... finally ... forgiveness."

... later that morning, in Madina's gun shop ...

Slowly the woman gets up, hauling herself to the back room. She returns in a bit, with a metal military style packing case. Stenciled on the side are the letters LMMC. She sets it on her side of the grille and opens the case. "Heard none here ... everyone knows all the old names are dead. Though there has been rumours of a big strike, you know, gold and silver an gemstones ... instead of just more steel. Like they'll really find an island paradise somewhere in the rock fields. Get rich schemes. They only work when you shoot the richer guy. No profit in shooting someone poorer than yourself."

LeBeau looks over the case as the woman open it "I only ask because some crazed ole man showed up afder da figh las nigh. Was going on aboud some los treasure an los zsarina an someting aboud zeys an redemtion. I was no paying dat much attention."

"You mean the old guy with the steel pole?" Madina just snorts. "He's just going to get himself shot, one of these days. Touched ... goes around protecting the weak an' smaller rats here on Triple-Niner. Hasn't quite figured out that the moment he goes elsewhere the little ones get squished anyhows. Bah ... fine words, that just don't mean a real thing in tha real world."