Into a Galaxy at War (Bounty Hunter Edition)

After meeting with Starlight Glimmer, Spike told her, "It looks like we have to part ways. I have a safehouse to raid, and you have an alien to meet about some gifts for Nem'ro. See you around for now." before running off to Vexx's safe house. He snuck inside, only to see some hired thugs. They hadn't noticed him yet, so he shot blaster shots at the first one before launching a small rocket at the second one, blowing him to pieces, literally. He found a datapad and headed back to the Poison Pit cantina to show the others.

Mako looked over to him and said, "Find anything in the safe house?"

Spike nodded, handing her the datapad, "Vexx left this in the safe house, it's encrypted though."

Mako smiled, "Don't worry about that, I can break through any encryption." before going to work at the datapad's encryption coding. As Braden came in, she said, "Just in time, cracked the encryption in record time. Check out that last entry."

Braden looked at the datapad and said to Spike, "Our boy Vexx keeps detailed records. There's a receipt for a shuttle ticket he bought today. If you hurry to the spaceport, you can catch him before he escapes. Bring his dog tags in as proof you were the one you got him. Anything else he has is yours to keep."

Spike nodded, "You give me a target, I don't stop until I take it down." before running to the spaceport.

As Spike entered the hangar that the shuttle Vexx booked was leaving out of, he fought his way through his thugs and bodyguard. When he came up to Vexx, he turned to see Spike and said, "What's this, a lawman of sorts? Never thought I'd see the day when dashing Vexx was cornered by an ugly alien brute."

Spike rolled his eyes, "This is all about the credits, not you, not the law, so shut up and die."

Vexx scoffed, "But I know something you don't, Vexx is no run of the mill crook, oh no. Vexx is the galaxy's greatest quick-draw artist, Vexx can shoot your ears off so fast, you won't even hear yourself scream."

Spike was getting annoyed at the fact Vexx kept speaking in the 3rd person and said, "Show me!" before drawing his blaster and shooting Vexx in the shoulder before he could react.

After being knocked to the ground, Vexx yelled, "Cheater!" before firing back at Spike.

Spike activated his energy shield and put his blaster in its holster, punching Vexx in the face multiple times, jokingly saying, "Guess Vexx ain't so dashing anymore is he?"

As Vexx was recoiling from the first punch, he thought to himself, "Ah, what did my old man tell me to do in this situation?"

He had a flashback of his father saying, "Son, if you ever find yourself being punched repeatedly in the face, always remember to-" before being cut off to another punch.

"Aw, he cut off my old man!" Vexx yelled as he felt another punch in the face

Spike raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you going to dodge any of these?"

Vexx smirked lightly, "That's what my old man-" before being punched again and yelling to a bodyguard that had survived Spike's rampage in the hanger, "Biggs, support!"

Biggs smiled and said, "Well, you've got very nice hair, your eyes are a beautiful shade of blue, and honestly, you're the best boss I've worked with."

Vexx growled, "I meant shoot him you daft bastard! But thanks, you know. That did really cheer me-" before being punched again by Spike, holding his face in pain yelling, "-God I think he broke something that time!"

As Biggs and Vexx shot at him at the same time, Spike activated his jetpack and flew into the air, causing the two criminals' blasts to hit each other. Biggs fell dead from the shot hitting him in the head whereas Vexx got hit in the shoulder. Spike smirked and said, "Game over, pretty boy." before sending the final blaster shot right between Vexx's eyes.

As Spike returned to the ground, he took Vexx's ID tags and started heading back to the Poison Pit. When he got to the base of operations, he saw Braden and Jory dead. Mako ran in, crying, she asked Spike, "Are they?"

Spike growled, "Somebody's going to pay for this."

Mako was tearing up even more, "No, the old man's really... dammit!" before crying over Braden's corpse. "Wait... you had something to do with this." before getting up and glaring at Spike.

Spike put a hand on her shoulder, "I know you're upset, but why would I kill them? Braden was the one who was trying to get me into the Great Hunt, killing them is about the same as me just giving up on entering."

Mako wiped her tears, "You're right, I'm sorry... It's just, I've been with Braden for years. I'm fine, let's find out who did this, we've got security monitors all over this place." As Mako started getting the recording ready, she swore, "Damn, somebody's tampered with the recording. I can still get a bit through. Here we go."

The holo-recording of Braden and Jory started by two men, obviously, Mandalorians by their armor walked in and Braden said, "Move and you're dead. Now if you know what's good for you, you'll back out nice and slow."

One of the Mandalorians said, "Oh I know precisely what's good for me. Winning the Great Hunt won't just be good, it will be splendid. Soon the whole galaxy will know the name Tarro Blood. And I'll charge extravagant fees for my services, won't I Sedyn?"

The other Mandalorian, Sedyn said, "The highest in the galaxy, only the filthy rich will be able to afford you."

Braden spoke, supposedly know the man's name already, "Tarro Blood, I've heard of you. Nearly got crippled by the other Mandalorians in the Great Hunt ten years back."

Tarro grumbled, "Ah, yes, that. A bit of bad history, but this time, I plan to win. Of course, that will be easier if my rivals don't go above my fellow Mandalorians. The Twi'lek vibroblade master from Ord Mantell? Gone. The Chiss droid builder fond of explosives? Gone. That just leaves your protégé to deal with."

Jory scoffed, "Your quarry is not here, and your plan is in shambles!"

Tarro chuckled, explaining, "You misunderstand. The rules forbid killing competitors before the allotted hour, thus the promising up and comers I mentioned are very much alive. I simply eliminated them as threats. And how does one slow a charging Gundark Sedyn?"

"Blast his legs out from under him." Sedyn said smirking.

"Destroy the upstart's so-called crew? I'll be outside, innocently unaware." Tarro replied before leaving.

Braden yelled, "Jory, shoot to kill!" only to be shot by Sedyn, who delivered a final shot to the injured man

Mako growled, "That scum, he didn't even have the guts to kill them himself. He had his lackey do it, coward." before starting to work on the computers again. "The guy calling the shots said he was Tarro Blood. He's a big shot, even for a Mandalorian. He barely survived the Great Hunt last time, he was out on his back for years."

Spike nodded, "We need to find this man Mako, he needs to die."

Mako smiled, "Yeah, but first thing's first, you need to get over to Nem'ro. If nobody knows... that Braden's dead, I should be able to get you in to see him. I'll need the tags from your bounty, it should cover the cost of two burials."

Spike handed over the dog tags from Vexx and said, "I didn't know them well, but I'd like to pay my respects."

Mako shook her head, "No, you need to get to Nem'ro. Braden would understand and Jory would insist. Take out some of Fa'athra's street captains and you'll earn some points with the Hutt. Go show that Hutt who's the best bounty hunter in the galaxy."

Now with Braden's death, Spike is driven by his desire to avenge his mentor's death, and he heads off to meet Nem'ro the Hutt in order to gain sponsorship into the Great Hunt.