“Fine, we’ll do it your way.” Veda took one last scan of the streets below, placed the small binos in the chest pocket of his jacket, and turned back inside. After a quick scan of the room to make sure the group had left nothing that could trace back to them, he calmly walked out the door and toward the stairwell. No cameras and more cardio, he thought to himself. He darted down the stairs and out the side exit, taking a hard right out the door.
Or left. Two burly looking thugs stood on the corner to the right of the exit, carbines in hand. E-11s? Cheap knockoffs? Veda was no small man, but these monstrosities were each several inches taller and had a good 75 pounds on him. Veda quickly turned around, flipped up his jacket collar, and started walking the other way. Too late. “Hey, you!” called out one of the men. He took a few more steps. “Hey, I’m talking to you!”
Veda turned around and smiled. “Oh, you were talking to me?” he asked, feigning a puzzled look. “What’s up guys?”
They approached him cautiously, muzzles pointed in his direction, fingers on triggers. Veda was a fast draw, but he knew this wasn’t the right time. Yet. “Where do you think you’re going?”
”Oh, you know, just out for a walk.” The chaos from just a few blocks away echoed through the neighborhood. Those Mandos had blown something else up, it seemed. “A pretty day, isn’t it?”
”Out for walk? Nobody just goes out for a walk here.” They continued to study him. “You don’t look familiar. Who are you?”
Veda started closing the distance, casually walking toward the two gunmen. “You know me, guys. I’ve certainly seen you around.”
”I don’t think so, buddy.” Another boom in the distance. What are they doing over there?
One of the thugs put his finger to his ear, obviously listening to instructions through an earpiece. “Boss says those two Mandos ain’t alone,” he said to the other. “I ’spect this guy is with them.”
”What? With who?” Veda attempted to make his puzzled expression more puzzled. Trying a little too hard. But they were just a few meters away now. This was his chance. Before either of the men could respond, Veda drew his blaster and dodged left toward the street. He and the thug on the left fired at the same time — Veda’s shot hit its mark, but his opponent shot wide. Just as he expected, the gunman on the right had not been able to get a shot off with his comrade in between his blaster and target.
With the first man down, Veda rushed the second man, tackling him to the ground. Or he tried to. This guy was tough, and big, and strong, and not staying on the ground. He quickly recovered his stance, but Veda flew beneath his arm and climbed to his back, dropping his blaster but locking the man in a rear choke. The gangster struggled and clawed, but he eventually dropped to his knees, then dropped his arms, then drooped his head. Out like a light. Veda let the limp body go to the ground, then picked up his blaster.
“Alright boys, I’m coming your way.” No need to ask where they were, even if they had made any progress toward the ship during his scuffle with these two brutes. He’d just follow the sounds explosions and blaster shots.
