Expect the Worst

[Kilum Bralor]

Kilum Bralor ​

Location: Maryx Minor​

Interacting with: [member="Koda Fett"]​

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An orange glow reflected off the opaque visor as the Mandalorian in steel-coloured Beskar stepped down of his ship's ramp. The intel was right - this place was a dump. As Bralor scanned over Maryx Minor's harsh landscape, he glanced back at the Zetetic, speaking quietly and harshly. "Take it up. Wait for me." As he gave the order, something seemed to obey, the ramp of his ship closng as he moved across the charred rocks and blackened stone.

Kilum pulled up his wrist, a map appearing in holographic display from it. Seeming to track a specific force signature, Bralor looked up the incline he was climbing. An active volcano. Of course. The veteran Hunter began his climb, deciding to make more of a manual trip up than just calling back his ship. It would gather too much attention - apparently there were still cultists on this world.

Reaching the top, Bralor stood on the rim of the volcano's mouth, looking across. There were four thin stone paths from each side into the middle, with a central circular platform made of the same blackened stone. And there, on top of a ceremonial table, was what he was looking for. It was a holocron, Sith in design, triangular and glowing dimly. He began to step calmly across the walkway, approaching his target.

His helmet started beeping, and Ravage began his calculations. Threat acquisition? Of course.

It was never easy.

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

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Maryx Minor, Sujimis Sector, Outer Rim Territories
Interacting With: [member="Kilum Bralor"]​

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Ravage was right. It never was easy.

When two hunters clashed a variety of events often occurred. Whether it turn into the respectful backing-down of the man who seemingly came second, or a brawl that concluded with one less beating heart - it didn't matter, not to Fett. Perhaps not to Bralor either. In truth, it was greed that motivated the true Mandalorian, or what freedoms one acquired from such a thing. At this moment it simply did not matter.

Fett stood at the lip of the volcano, looking down from his position upon the other Mandalorian that pursued the same artifact he happened to be. Of course he came armed and dangerous, to find him unarmed and passive was as rare as a rancor that wanted to dance. Impossible. He held the carbine in his right hand, wielding it as if it were a pistol - a long one at that.

"Don't bother."

His words spoke harshly, truly threatening but to a man like Bralor it fell on uncaring ears. Any passable Hunter would continue despite the danger ahead.

 

[Kilum Bralor]

Kilum Bralor ​

Location: Maryx Minor​

Interacting with: [member="Koda Fett"]​

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There we go.

As Bralor stared up towards Fett, he didn't make a sound. He was halfway towards the main platform, standing still with no weapons drawn and his hands low. He wanted to consider his options, but the first thing that happened was the images streaking through his brain as he heard the familiar voice. He had heard of Koda Fett, many in the bounty hunting world had. He knew he was a clone, that was some knowledge not as many knew - but he still hadn't expected it. His voice.

He saw Geonosis. What looked like...some kind of field, a crushing tank. Dark mists and betrayal. Yes, he knew Koda Fett. Maybe more than Fett actually suspected. In that moment though, he simply continued walking, staring at him as Ravage began to speak, his voice only heard in Bralor's helmet. "Fett Clone. Human, with all included weaknesses as such. Military training - Mandalorian and Clan Chieftain. Analysis is complete. Subject will be cautious and attempt disarmament; allow him to push offense and counter. I recommend severing of the carotid artery. It makes a sweet sound."

That was all he needed. Kilum continued to simply walk towards the holocron, preparing himself; when Koda opened fire, he would rush and take cover behind the platform the Holocron sat on. Fett needed it too, and he wouldn't be able to fire as effectively this way. That, and leaving Bralor so close to his own objective wouldn't be the idea of a shrewd hunter, so he'd have to either push or make some kind of grab for it. That was his opening.

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

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Maryx Minor, Sujimis Sector, Outer Rim Territories​

Interacting With: [member="Kilum Bralor"]​

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The Bounty Hunter was rather enigmatic when it came to his presence in the under-world and the greater galaxy. The reputation alone was all that was required and all that was known. Those who were knowledgeable enough were able to connect his voice to a Fett Clone's, much like Bralor or his Artificial Intelligence were.

He stood at the crest of the volcano, his boots embedded in the rocky terrain as the intensely harsh climate would've killed any man not adorned in such armor. It was odd, however, both Fett and Bralor would find themselves in comfortable temperatures as Mandalorian Armour would regulate such a thing for maximum comfort. Even on worlds like this they knew comfort. Perhaps the only true aspect of it.

Koda did fire a shot at Kilum, and whether or not it struck he happened to find himself behind cover. The Holocron was required of course, and so nothing too disruptive made it's way down. Precise accuracy was all that was viable right now. He shifted about the lip of the Volcano, walking around it with the carbine, now held in both hands, aimed down in his direction. Yet he was at a disadvantage, Bralor knew his tricks. Somehow.

 

[Kilum Bralor]

Kilum Bralor ​

Location: Maryx Minor​

Interacting with: [member="Koda Fett"]​

​

Bralor rushed into cover as soon as Koda's shot was fired, taking cover behind the platform and moving around it in tandem with the other Bounty Hunter. His helmet's scanner was picking up Fett's location through it, able to tell him when the Clone was repositioning and do the same equivalent, to avoid being blasted by Fett's carbine.

He hadn't brought a lot of heavy armaments for this one - there was only meant to be cultists at most, after all. He preferred to handle things without a lot of tech or firepower if he could help it. It was cleaner, more efficient and tended to produce better results. After all, he only wanted to rely on himself, not some gunsmith's handiwork. Misfires, bad loads of ammo and next to anything else could cause gadgets to let you down.

His plan now was to keep this distance. He didn't move the holocron, knowing its teetering position made this an awkward shot for Koda. He wanted to lure in Fett, where it was eaaier to disable him. He had the feeling he was the better close-range fighter, but for that, he'd need the range closed, simple as that. Rather than do it himself, he'd try and make sure Fett came to him.

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

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Maryx Minor, Sujimis Sector, Outer Rim Territories​

Interacting With: [member="Kilum Bralor"]​

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He couldn't do much, no, not from here at least. It proved difficult to get an acceptable line of fire on a man that seemingly cowered behind an object. If not for the Holocron a missile would of sufficed, though that was the twist now wasn't it? Without the ability to poke and prod he found himself unable to complete his refined process. The only thing that ever did make a true replacement to it once it was unavailable emerged: improvisation.

If Bralor would not expose himself in a foolish gambit then it seemed it was Fett who had to. He leaped from the lip of the volcano, activating his jetpack at the exact moment his feet left the ground - flames extending out the bottom as he soared. He moved over ahead in an attempt to hover directly above Kilum, firing rapidly and with extreme precision; such a thing came from years of experience in combination with that flash training Kilum was familiar with himself.

 

[Kilum Bralor]

Kilum Bralor ​

Location: Maryx Minor​

Interacting with: [member="Koda Fett"]​

​

As he kept behind cover, Bralor heard the noise of the jetpack activate. The exhausts shooting as the noise of Fett's movement rose in the air. Kilum had a plan, and it hadn't come from Ravage's assessment. He was quieter when it came to Fett than he usually was - probably because there weren't anywhere near as many weaknesses in his game as you'd find in most combatants.

Kilum waited, watching as he saw the green appear in the air. Suddenly he moved from cover as Fett fired, his wrist going upwards. He fired his cable, directly below Koda as he fired. The objective was to go under, and get just into Fett's blind spot as the cable came up, make sure that one second he needed to not notice the cable accomplished exactly that. Suddenly, Bralor dropped and slid, turning his body as he did so around the platform.

The gameplan was as such; with this momentum as he slid, the cable would likely wrap around Fett's lower leg, and hopefully yank him down out of the sky and flat onto his face on the hard rock platform. With it potentially going taut around the platform the holocron landed on, it would provide more force on the impact, and when he retracted the cable, hopefully it would drag the Mandalorian face first into the holocron's platform. Hell, if he was lucky he'd drop his carbine into the lava on the way down.

This was all of course, just him working out the logistics in his head for a few seconds of actions, and a plan on impulse; he'd learned how to do them quickly, adapt to his opponent's actions. He'd need it now.

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

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Maryx Minor, Sujimis Sector, Outer Rim Territories​

Interacting With: [member="Kilum Bralor"]​

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The Bounty Hunter began soaring overhead, performing his act that was more of an attempt to lure him out from his cover than anything else. He pivoted, twisted and turned in the air - doing his very best to keep an eye on Bralor at all times. Though that one second was all Kilum needed, and he used it effectively. The whipcord launched itself upwards and wrapped itself around the Mandalorians lower right leg, grabbing the calf and the area just above the knee. As soon as it was felt he began to feel a descent, but in that very moment he also applied all power to the pack itself.

Whilst he wasn't torn from the sky he was definitely eased out of it, but forcefully nonetheless. With no chance of coming free he turned his attention to the ground - landing feet first with a relatively heavy thud. Fett stood on the opposite side of the ceremonial table, the cable still latched around his leg yet not after it was swiftly sliced off as the dual vibroblades protruded out the end of the gauntlet itself, slicing through.

In that time frame, however, Bralor certainly had time to make an act of his own.

 

[Kilum Bralor]

Kilum Bralor ​

Location: Maryx Minor​

Interacting with: [member="Koda Fett"]​

​

Koda had reacted faster than he'd be anticipating; that figured. Bralor immediately start retracting the cord as Fett began to land, though he leaned down to cut it with his wrist gauntlet - there was another opening there, even if most would not see it that way. Looping around, Fett's cutting of the cable actually meant that Bralor had freedom to move, and he used that freedom far from sparingly.

The Hunter rushed up to the side of Fett as he began to raise again, thrusting his helmet forward for a visceral attempt at blindsinding the younger Mandalorian with a headbutt. In that motion, he gripped onto the carbine in Fett's hand, figuring he would have the more powerful strength at this range. He yanked on it towards him while moving to the side. Utilizing his leg, he improvised a trip in the Echani style, attempting to force him onto his front while keeping a hold on the carbine; and its attached harness.

Should Fett fall to the ground, Bralor would move the second part of the plan into action - adjusting the carbine's position so that the harness lined up on Fett's throat, placing his boot on the younger Mandalorian's back and pulling back with as much of his strength as he could. With luck, he'd perhaps force Koda to cut the harness and he could dump the gun, or perhaps the Mandalorian would take a bit too long to strategize and find himself more out of breath than he needed.

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

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Maryx Minor, Sujimis Sector, Outer Rim Territories​

Interacting With: [member="Kilum Bralor"]​

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The following events that transpired had all been so in the favor of the older Mandalorian, Bralor. Fett had found himself tripped over, landing face first onto the stone and subsequently began finding it harder and harder to breathe as his own blaster's harness as used against him. This was a first, that he could honestly say. Perhaps Kilum had hoped Koda would attempt to discard the blaster in an attempt to breathe once more. Yet of course that's what Bralor wanted, but still, Fett had a plan of his own in mind.

Brown and cautious eyes shifted beneath the black t-shaped visor. Sporadically but with a purpose. The majority of his equipment, gadgets and so on were accessible via eye movements. As such, the jetpack began spurring up once more. His body was arched at the time, and so as it did begin to lift the two off of the ground, assuming Bralor hadn't let go, they would find themselves colliding with the inner-wall of the volcano, and of course Kilum taking the brunt. Yet it wouldn't stop there, no. The jetpack only continued, grinding up against the wall slowly until they would gradually reach the top of it and be sent elsewhere. All of which, of course, if Kilum so chose to hang on.

 

[Kilum Bralor]

Kilum Bralor ​

Location: Maryx Minor​

Interacting with: [member="Koda Fett"]​

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Bralor, despite the jetpack, only kept pulling back as hard as he could. Perhaps it would crush Koda's throat or simply cause him more discomfort and choking, but either way, he kept his firm grip, his foot on Fett making the jetpack struggle a bit. In fact, thanks to the angle, the younger Mandalorian's body was slowly dragged across the rocks as Bralor continued to put an obscene amount of strength into strangling the life out of him.

However, it didn't last. As Koda came off the side, the jetpack sped up and the torque was gone. The angle changed and Kilum yanked upwards and let go. The carbine went over Fett's head, tumbling into the lava below as Bralor turned, grabbing at the last moment onto the edge of the platform with one hand. He held for a moment before he brought it up his second hand, getting more grip. Bralor hoisted himself up, needing a breather for a moment after all the effort put into the strangulation.

As he pulled up onto the platform and began to get to his feet though, he found himself at a disadvantage. For a few moments he was in the open, and Fett was in the air again. Not where Bralor needed him to be. He obviously had good instincts and a head for this sort of thing, to be adapting the way he was.

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

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Maryx Minor, Sujimis Sector, Outer Rim Territories​

Interacting With: [member="Kilum Bralor"]​

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To be entirely honest it was the thick padding around Fett's neck that saved him, and the restriction of breathing only came from force being applied to it. Though nothing of it had caused any lasting damage, that much was certain. The reasoning behind such a thick padding was due to a distant memory, one in which his template was beheaded - to prevent such a thing happening to himself, specific modifications were made. The event taking place at a time that Fett and Bralor were familiar with, though one more so than the other.

The Carbine was lost as Koda broke free, hovering in the air without his famed weapon. Something in which he rarely if ever parted with; a shame, truly. As a former Advanced Recon Commando modifications were made to his genetics, and as a result he was stronger, faster, smarter and more resilient than any normal man - and so he was quick to recover. It would be a lie to say he hadn't taken worse beatings before.

His attention shifted onto the recovering Kilum as his right arm was raised, the red-gauntlet that contained a plethora of weapons stared the adversary down. A barrage of wrist-mounted rockets found their way towards Bralor. Without the Holocron in the way more destructive methods could be taken. A personally favorable tactic.

 

[Kilum Bralor]

Kilum Bralor ​

Location: Maryx Minor​

Interacting with: [member="Koda Fett"]​

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Ah, kriff.

Bralor found himself in a similar situation that he assumed Fett had been in moments ago - if he moved, the missiles might strike the holocron. So instead, he did something else that was stupid and impulsive, typical of him. He stood up straight, looked at the missiles heading his way and steeled himself. His gaze turned towards Fett as he did, before he suddenly felt the air driven out of him and a burning sensation on the left side of his body.

The explosions were fast, and his hearing was knocked into a daze. Bralor was thrown back and smashed into and through the small rock platform that held the Sith holocron, slamming down onto the floor with some of his left arm exposed, the armour burn through and the same for a small left area of his abdomen. The holocron had fallen, clinking across the platform and now hanging just barely on the edge.

Kilum stirred, pulling himself to his feet in a bit of a drowsy state as he tried to keep himself properly balanced and focused. The holocron was important, and it was about to fall; not what he needed. He finally got to his feet, moving towards it. Even if Koda had more weapons, hopefully he would refrain with his opposition being this close to his objective.

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

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Maryx Minor, Sujimis Sector, Outer Rim Territories​

Interacting With: [member="Kilum Bralor"]​

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"Hmph."

It was a proud scoff of sorts that occurred shortly after Bralor took the missiles, leaving Fett to believe the man was dead or in no state to be moving. Though as the smoke cleared that much was terribly untrue, the man was alive and walking. The Mandalorian attributed it to some exotic species trait, but he really had no idea what he was facing. An abomination of sorts. Un-killable, but maybe that could change today.

With haste and swiftness Fett had landed, not bothering with a flawless landing and instead whatever got him there the quickest. The Holocron teetered on the edge; perhaps it would fall, or remain where it was. Neither was certain. Though to allow it to fall into Kilum's hands? That was a risk he couldn't afford to take. This wasn't about the bounties reward anymore - this was about beating this mysterious stranger. Allowing him to know why he earned the reputation he had.

In one quick movement the fibrecord extended from the red gauntlet as the arm itself was raised. The chord moving outwards rapidly with the intent on encompassing Bralor's throat. If it connected Kilum would find himself being yanked backwards and potentially to the ground. Away from the Holocron.

 

[Kilum Bralor]

Kilum Bralor ​

Location: Maryx Minor​

Interacting with: [member="Koda Fett"]​

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As he approached the holocron, Kilum's eyes crossed where Koda was, his eyes staring towards the whipcord that came tumbling towards him. In that moment, he decided that the holocron wasn't even important to him now. He knew what was - proving something. Fett had more of a reputation with him; someone that was easily marketable. Bralor cared little about it, but he knew Fett would. He wanted to show more than anything, that it didn't matter; reputation didn't make or break any hunter.

Kilum put his arm up in the way of the whipcord, letting it wrap around his wrist and arm. With anger and focus running through him, Bralor stood up more fully as he gripped the cable, yanking back with all of his strength to pull Koda towards him again. This time however, there was nothing fancy that he had in mind.

Loaded up and prepared for as soon as Fett got close, Bralor was preparing one hell of a punch; the helmet or not, Crushgaunts combined with his own strength wouldn't care. Whether it shattered his jaw or simply stumlbed him, the older Mandalorian was simply interested in putting a beating on the clone now.

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

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Maryx Minor, Sujimis Sector, Outer Rim Territories​

Interacting With: [member="Kilum Bralor"]​

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And so that was where the two would disagree. To Fett a reputation meant everything, whilst one may easily be built to maintain one as the very best the lucrative business could offer was one of the very few things that held any substance. Bralor wouldn't understand, or so he assumed. Fett considered himself a one of a kind, despite having a face shared by so many millions. Something ironic about it, that much was certain.

The whipcord hadn't worked as planned and that was shame. For a split second the ability to recover from such blows was impressive, even admirable. Though clearly he wasn't human - that was crossed off the list already. As he found himself pulled in he stumbled forwards slightly, it was no use at this point. Yet as the punch came through it was with a certain amount of grace that the Bounty Hunter merely ducked beneath it before crashing into the man with a tackle.

 

[Kilum Bralor]

Kilum Bralor ​

Location: Maryx Minor​

Interacting with: [member="Koda Fett"]​

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Bralor felt something take the air out of him again as Fett ducked the punch, looking to tackle him. Though he was nowhere near as heavy as he used to be, thankfully the older Mandalorian was still quite weighty thanks to his muscle mass. Able to stand his ground despite the tackle, Kilum wrapped his arm around Fett's neck in that position and began lifting his knee with serious force towards the other Bounty hunter's chest and abdomen. As he did it, he spun around to face the opposite way, hoping to throw Koda's balance and footwork off to make it harder to block.

After turning, Kilum let go of Fett's neck and attempted to push him back up to a vertical base; a straight standing position, and immediately follow up with an attempted gut punch. It was to wear down the stamina and potentially take the breath out of the other hunter, and he had a contingency in mind; his head. As he threw the punch, he readied for a headbutt, either as a follow-up to the punch or if Fett blocked it entirely.

This was where Kilum felt most comfortable; in a slug match in close quarters, able to use his training and familiarity in this particular area. Even without the Echani styles, his footwork, speed and ability to target vital zones and areas useful to a fighter was impeccable. This was where he shined.

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

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Maryx Minor, Sujimis Sector, Outer Rim Territories​

Interacting With: [member="Kilum Bralor"]​

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It was against a man like this he knew he didn't shine. Whilst proficient in hand-to-hand combat, and deceptively strong Kilum was trained in a style that wasn't particularly beatable. The best he could do was endure what he could, take his licks and attempt to come back with something else. His neck was snatched once again, and a knee struck his chestplate. A grunt was emitted, as expected, bouncing upwards from the impact itself. The issue with fighting in such heavy armor was that not much came of it other than the shock of each hit. It would take a lot to send either man down; though that was the point wasn't it? The better Mandalorian would be the one who could withstand the most, both physically and mentally.

After being let go and into the upright positioning Fett was quick to react. He had enough of being a metallic punching bag for Bralor. In this instance it was cunning versus raw strength, and this environment didn't leave a lot to be cunning. The gut punch was evaded once he turned to his left with just the left foot, and simultaneously, the right crushgaunt adorned fist was sent in the direction of Kilum's jaw, or where it should be behind that helmet, of if he even had one. Not even Koda knew what was behind that.

 

[Kilum Bralor]

Kilum Bralor ​

Location: Maryx Minor​

Interacting with: [member="Koda Fett"]​

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Bralor wasn't exactly expecting that kind of evasion, or the kind of punch that came rocketing towards him. If he'd known Fett a bit better in close quarters already, maybe he'd have seen it coming, but that wasn't quite happening. The punch rocked Kilum's whole head, causing it to turn away for a moment before it seemed to whiplash back, and the angry stare from beneath it could be felt, it was palpable despite being obscured.

Despite how hard that punch was, the older Mandalorian didn't stumble, almost as though he wasn't phased, though that was more his pride than anything. Pushing forward, as though he was about to swing again, Bralor's boot suddenly stomped down on Koda's, while his hand gripped at the fabric beneath Fett's shoulder guards. It was intended to confuse for just a moment - and hold him in place.

Suddenly, Kilum's other hand came up in a flurry of blows towards Koda's helmet and face. Jabs, hooks and an uppercut, intended to hurt and break, smash or damage his helmet, anything. Mixing up his blows, Bralor suddenly transitioned for a gut punch, then winded up his fist again as feint before simply headbutting as he pulled his foot off of Fett's and let go of his grip; hoping to knock him silly, and most importantly, hopefully onto his back.

 

[Lemon]

Koda Fett​

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Maryx Minor, Sujimis Sector, Outer Rim Territories​

Interacting With: [member="Kilum Bralor"]​

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The instant in which Kilum's head and body jolted backwards something clicked within Fett's mind. This was the moment, he had his reprieve and would act accordingly. Wasting such a precious commodity was for a fool, and Koda Fett was no fool. There were very few men that didn't wield a lightsaber that Fett wouldn't fight in hand-to-hand combat if given the chance- and Kilum Bralor had earned a place at the top of that list. He was vicious and unrelenting, a combination that never favored the receiver. There was something not quite right about the man, however. The Bounty Hunter just couldn't put his finger on it, whatever it may be.

In that moment of freedom a burst of his jetpack was activated, lunging backwards and away from whatever punches, holds, kicks and headbutts that Bralor had in store. He was simply too far away. Some honored a fair fight, but nothing was fair in this galaxy and Fett knew that best of all. With that in mind, the decision to raise a wrist mounted blaster and fire several shots should of come to no surprise. This was a man he wanted dead.