1.2 - Shopping Trip

The lead Kenku, who had been making the sound of coins clinking together and holding had hand out to the elf woman, turns with only enough time to see a bolt of energy flying across the clearing at him, his surprise puts him at a distinct disadvantage to avoid it.

The bolt slams right into his chest as he turns and he is suddenly locked in place, as if frozen.

The other Kenku are distracted by what has just befallen their leader and Breech-a's intimidation seems to affect a few of them, but as this alley is a dead-end, and the Kenku are a flightless species, their only option is to fight their way out. The direness of the situation causes them to draw arms and ready themselves for combat.

The elf woman takes the moment of distraction to try and move further away along the wall towards a corner of this enclosed space.

Kessel steps aside, effectively opening up an escape route for the kenku while at the same time moving closer to the elven woman. "Breecha, primary objective is to protect the civilian." As he moves, turns his attention back to the remaining kenku. "Alright, bird-brains, you better clear your sorry asses out of here while my friends and I still have our sense of humor."

Two of the four Kenku take this opportunity to flee down the path Kessel left for them, trying their best to scramble around Breech-a, while keeping as much distance as possible from the large bot. The third had stepped in front of it's frozen leader and drawn a gun. He screeches out the word "COWARDS!", but it sounds as though it comes from a deep, but distinctly female, voice. You think this is a regurgitated sound it has heard once before.

The last Kenku is still frozen in place, but he struggles to regain his mobility.Kessel's words seem to fall on deaf ears with Razor Beak and he fires a shot at the Breech-a unit. Redfeather manages to free himself and pulls a weapon as well, but doesn't have time to get a shot off.

Kessel starts slinging energy bolts at Razor Beak, talking cover behind Breecha as he does so, urging the battle droid closer to the defenseless elf woman.

Breecha moves forward even as the bullet slips past his shield to slice sparks off his body. Seeking to maneuver around Razor Beak while keeping Kessel behind him (thus rotating his CO towards the woman), Breecha moves to the side nearest the wall of the alley. His mace lashes out at Razor Beak's weapon arm, looking to dislodge the gun from the kenku's grasp.

The Kenku takes the hit hard, not expecting the mace to do so much damage. He does his best to keep a hold of his weapon. But it's clear his arm was pretty well broken by the mace, and the gun topples to the ground.

He quickly looks between Breech-a, and his boss Redfeather. He opens his beak and the sound is that of a whining puppy. He turns to try make his way out of the alley while he still has his life.

As Breech-a finishes his move he winds up between Redfeather and the elf woman who is now hiding behind a trash can near the corner of this clearing, trying to avoid the loud gunfire and battle.

Mack causally spins his guns and points them at Redfeather. He casts-and-holds Fire Bolt, willing to dismiss the spell should Redfeather show some intelligence and make a run for it. If the scrawny bird decides to have a hack at anyone, he's getting a flaming bolt of magic to the torso.

"Be smart about your next move there, sir." Mack says, thinking of a classic Flint Entwood line, but feeling far too self-conscious to lift it outright.

Breecha's audio plays a lion's growl, a deep baritone rumble to lend emphasis to Mack's gesture.

Redfeather looks to Mack, and back to Breech-a, then to the elf woman cowering behind the bot.

He seems to consider for a moment and then lowers his weapon and scrambles away down the alleyway out of here. You hear what sounds like incoherent muttering as he goes by, probably another copied sound he had heard before.

The alleyway is suddenly calm as the elven woman looks up to Kessel. P...please don't hurt me, I have credits. I...I can get you credits, if you let me go.

You can see closer up now that she has light blond hair that blends into her light skin. She is wearing a business skirt and button up blouse, a small bag carried over her shoulder is clutched in her hands. She straightens her glasses and looks on the verge of tears at this point.

"You're safe now, lady. We're not here to hurt or rob you." Kessel helps her up.

She tentatively takes your hand and stands up, seeming to relax only a little. She still clutches the bag under her arm.

T...thank you. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come along. I guess I don't know my way around here very well.

Still facing the direction the kenku ran off to, Breech-a picks up the dropped gun and positions himself to shield the woman both from view and from anything that might come forth. He scans the elf with the optics from his shield briefly before returning it to a protective guard, and remains on the lookout for activity beyond.

Your data turns up not too much on the elf. She seems to be a corporate employee who just got turned around in the Trade Ward. Not the best thing for a creature not familiar with the more unsavory elements that may appear this far south in the ward.

Looking around the alley all seems calm now, a basic pistol is your reward for disarming the enemy. There are only a few bullets in the gun. You can definitely tell this is the back alley of a few stores. Utilities meters dot the back of the buildings that surround this place. The only entrance or exit is the alley you came down, unless you have access to one of the rear entrances to these buildings, but they all seem locked with small digital locks.

Kessel sends O.W.L. zipping back up the alley to make sure there are no surprises when the group heads back out. "We'll get you out of here, miss...?" Kessel already has her name scrolling across his HUD of course, but asks her like a normal person to avoid alarming her.

Mayweather. Lacei Mayweather, she says, extending her hand for a shake. Her grip is light. If you could get me back to the bus stop, I am such a dunce. I was daydreaming on the bus ride into work and missed my stop by a good seven or eight stops and wound up down here. Those birds followed me for a ways after I was off the bus and then chased me when I tried to run down the alley. It's been a very stressful morning, she explains. She begins speaking quicker and quicker in a nervous way.

Sorry, she says, I just talk when I'm nervous. Can you escort me to the bus stop?, she asks, readjusting her glasses which have started to slide a bit down her nose.

Mack spins his guns and holsters them with practiced ease. No. Seriously. He practiced a lot to make sure he could do that and look suave. In front of a mirror even. Ever a sucker for a damsel in distress, as he maintains this is how he met Tymora, he offers, "Certainly we can escort you to a bus stop." He considers offering a ride, but decides that might be creepy.

In the back of his mind he wonders what gang they just pissed off by disrupting their enforcers, but since no one is dead, surely it won't be that bad...

She flashes baby blue eyes at Mack, Thank you! That's so generous of you Mr. uh..., she trails off waiting for a name.

Breech-a slips the pistol into his tactical vest, and walks back the way they arrived down the alley. Conversation was never his strength, so the construct moves to secure their departure.

"Let's move as we talk eh, Mack?" Kessel ushers everyone along after Breech-a.

Breech-a, coming out of the alleyway first you see the Kenku have indeed made a swift escape. They are already long gone from this area. You are able to easily secure the exit route from danger, your optics quickly scanning anything that moves in the area.