nysalogs | [closed-ish] an' I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation

[ For this assignment, there isn't someone better fitted to the job than 76. As a member of the Ryders, he's been getting back into the swing of things since their return from Nadril, and learning that he can hunt down Rasyc's followers in an official capacity makes his life that much easier. His personal life might be a mess right now, due to a certain ghost who's come back to haunt him, but at least this is straight-forward.

The Ryders are enlisting the help of anyone who has the guts to go searching out a group of dangerous radicals, and so it's no surprise that Rocket shows up for both the promised silver and the opportunity to get some revenge.

This is what the two of them do best. 76's memories of being splashed with freezing cold water are still crystal clear, and he can only assume it's the same for Rocket. ]

The Ryders have sniffed out a few leads.

[ 76 is holding onto a piece of parchment with some notes jotted onto them, given to him by one of the head Ryders. It's a starting point. ]

All we've gotta do is follow 'em. You ready?

I was born ready. [The sky mansion in Wyver is looking a little emptier these days and so this came at exactly the right time for him. It's a distraction and it's payback.

He eyes the paper like it holds the key to bringing joy back to his life. Quill said it wouldn't, and he's probably right, but Quill's not here and what else does he have but odd jobs and a hopefully prospering business?]

And I appreciate you not giving me shit about siding with the Fangs all that time ago. Who woulda thought the people who acted below the line of the law would turn out to be dickheads.

Funny how it works that way.

[ Strange words to come from someone like 76, who has definitely broken his fair share of laws in recent years, but there's always a fine line between someone who doesn't want to follow the rules to the letter and someone who's a morally bankrupt criminal.

He'd like to think he's not that far gone yet, but others might argue differently.

He and Rocket fall into a similar category, and so 76 isn't going to judge his compatriot for past mistakes. None of them saw it coming, even though they probably should have, and all they can do now is try to clean up the resulting mess.

76 jabs a finger at the one of the bullet points on the parchment. ] Looks like this guy's running some kind of black market operation. He's going by the name "Tesak" now, to try and hide his identity. Wanna start there?

[Rocket just rolls his eyes, but let's it lie, since 76 has clearly been nice enough not to judge him for it ever, and the two have been perfectly amicable about the matter in the past. It's nice that he has someone who can think differently than he does, but also generally the same.

It sure makes that hole Quill and Mantis left so much less deep. If he didn't have people here he genuinely cared for, he'd be in a state right now. He shakes his head and runs his hands over his ears. No, no, Rocket. Focus on the mission. Not the hole inside of you. Fuck.

He drops his hands, laces his fingers together and gives his knuckles what would be a crack if they weren't pure cybernetics. It's mostly effect.]

We gonna talk first or are we gonna talk first? Personally, I'm all for the very specific brand of talking that leaves no room for doubt, buuut I'd hate for anyone to sneak past and get the word out to the rest of these goons. We might have to be a little gentle for now.

[ It's odd to be analyzing the body language of a raccoon, but 76 has spent enough time with Rocket to be able to tell when something's off. Is it stress? Whatever it is, something else beyond their current mission seems to be on his mind.

Having a game plan going into this will help, and 76 has to agree that they should take some care with their approach. ]

Yeah, let's be subtle about it. We don't want to send the others running and make it impossible to track them down. So, let's approach him as potential customers and try to lure him somewhere.

[ It's possible that the guy will recognize them on sight and then they'll have no choice but to escalate things, but they can wait to see how it goes. ]

I mean most of the guys that took us up into the mountains came down with a case of "not being alive anymore," so there's that. [He scratches under his chin.] I can do the talking. I'm not charming, but I do know how criminals think. I've done my fair share of shady deals in my time.

It'll be like that drug bust we did awhile back. [That was a good time. Rocket would love to go back to those times.. before dragons, before the Natha fucked off, before Quill, Gamora, and Mantis went back into stasis.

Fuck. He is so bad at focusing. Agreeing to take point on this when his mind is elsewhere was a bad plan, but once he's in it, he'll be better. Truly.] Okay. Let's get to it.

We weren't the only group that was taken, though.

[ Even if most of the radicals that captured them got put down in the rescue efforts, the same might not apply for some of the other refugees who'd been targeted. There are at least a few people left to hunt down judging by this list, assuming that it's all accurate, but 76 is confident that he and Rocket can suss out the truth of it.

Either way, it seems Rocket is ready to get to work, and 76 starts off in the direction of the markets. He remembers their drug bust too, but it also feels much longer ago than it really was, due to everything that's happened lately. ]

And what, you think I haven't done some shady deals?

[ It's just a way of making conversation while they're on the move, really. ]

I think you're less of a criminal than I used to be. Unless you're gonna tell me you've been in more than twenty-three prisons for less-than-legal activities in your life.

[Rocket has to stay close to make sure he doesn't get stepped on by the people milling around the market area who aren't paying attention to what's going on around their shoes. A few times he gets smacked into and snaps ineffectively at their retreating forms before turning his eyes forwards. He's on edge and he knows it.

He clears his throat, trying to press on like he didn't just almost take a chunk out of someone's calf for checking him for the third time today.] But, y'know, everybody needs a bigger dude backin' 'em up verbally as well as physically. I think we got this.

[ Twenty-three prisons? So far 76 has managed to stay out of prison, though it's not for lack of trying on the part of law enforcement. He's pretty good at deterring anyone from trying to catch him, and when he's got that bit of edge over most police officers, it makes a difference.

Which isn't to say that he judges Rocket for getting caught so many times. If anything, he's kind of impressed. ]

So who was backing you up before? You know, when you got thrown into prison all those times.

[ Probably it was one of the other people in his group from home, though somehow 76 doubts that Gamora had been the one to take that role. Even Quill doesn't strike him as quite right for the job, though he does have the mask working in his favor. It tends to intimidate people, 76 would know. ]

Uh... To be fair, it was mostly just me there for a good half. [Rocket scratches under his chin.] Then there was Groot before he, y'know, died.

[He winces. It's still hard to admit that the version of Groot that was his friend for years is gone. He loves that little twig like a son, but he isn't and never will be his predecessor, and Rocket's not fucked up enough to act like he might be some day.] That last one was the Kyln- the toughest one there is. That one, I had him, Gamora, Quill, and Drax. We made quick work of that place.

[Rocket's pace slows a bit. All those times breaking into the Institute for Cree are done now- not just because Rocket has forsaken Cree, but because he doesn't have the team. The people whose movements he can predict. You can't just replace that. He scrubs at his face with the back of a hand.] Anyway, the point is I can get in and out of places fast, which'll be handy with what we're doing.

[Nice attempt at making it a segue there, Rocket.]

[ While 76 has heard about Groot before, he doesn't know too much about Rocket's previous partner. It doesn't seem right to pry about how he lost someone, though it at least sounds like Rocket's got quite a few other teammates to fill the gap.

Which begs the question of why it's the two of them working together on this, but there's something to be said for the fact that they'd both been in that ice cave together. This is personal for them, and so the match-up feels right.

They've made it about halfway through the main thoroughfare of the market, and after taking a few more winding turns through the maze of stalls, 76 pauses and nods to one of them. ]

This should be the place. You ready?

[ Rocket's seemed distracted, but now it's time to work and 76 is hoping that his furry friend can put whatever's on his mind to the side for now. ]

[Rocket gives his head a good shake like he's chasing away all the dark thoughts completely, leaving him clear-headed and ready to face this. It's a good distraction. It'll spit in Cree's face, it'll bring some of these remaining Fang members down, and it'll net him some money. All very, very good things.]

Yeah, I'm good. Get your mean face on, man. [Despite 76 having taken the lead thus far, Rocket squares his shoulders as he sizes up the stall, and then takes the lead, rapping a staccato rhythm on the door, keeping his voice low, but loud enough that he can be heard.] I'm lookin' for Tesak. He in?

[ The comment about his 'mean face' is particularly amusing given that 76 is wearing his usual intimidating visor, but there are other ways that he can alter his body language to come off as more threatening. Either way, Rocket doesn't need to tell him twice.

They approach the stall, and the person manning it looks them over with only a hint of suspicion before he nods. "That'd be me," he responds.

76 doesn't recognize him, so he must have been involved with one of the other groups. He doesn't speak for now, leaving Rocket to do the talking as they'd discussed. He's pretty sure that the red glow of his visor and the hunching of his large shoulders will project meanness, as Rocket requested. ]

I thought you'd be taller, but eh. [Trash talk- just one of the services Rocket offers that no one asked him for. It gives the appearance of confidence.] My friend and I have had heard some stuff about the kind of business you're doing. [He glances behind himself, suspiciously eyeing the marketplace before turning back.]

Buuut maybe that's better for a private conversation?

[ The trash talk isn't such a bad idea, honestly. It puts their target on the back foot, makes him defensive even if it's in a small way. The guy continues to eye them, as if weighing his options, but it looks like he isn't in a position to refuse their business.

So after a lengthy pause, he motions for them to walk around to the back side of the stall. 76 doesn't have anything to be scared of when it comes to this guy, unless he has the ability to nullify his enhancements like the shamans did.

Even then, there's a reason that he didn't come alone. He nods to Rocket and moves around the stall. Once they're at the back, Tesak addresses them in a lowered voice. "I can lead you to where the goods are, but we need to keep a low profile. At least make an attempt." He doesn't seem to expect much from a guy in a visor and a talking raccoon. ]

Dude, there's probably a reason you don't recognize us, and it's the fact that we're very, very low profile. The lowest. In fact, when we leave here, you're gonna forget you ever saw us. That's how low we are.

[He bares his teeth in a grin that's more savage than friendly, but it does the trick of making him look more criminal. The predatory look in his rust-brown eyes isn't for show, however- he's only seeing someone tangentially responsible for what they went through in the mountains and when he reaches up to scratch the back of his neck, his hand almost grips the canister on his back, undetectable as a gun unless you've seen it. Now would be a bad time to make with the threats, but god he wants to so badly.]

[ Given that 76 managed to successfully run around committing various crimes for a while before anyone started to catch onto the fact that he was Jack Morrison (and even then, it had only been a rumor), he isn't as bad at staying low-profile as some might think.

Then again, if he was better at it, he wouldn't have made news headlines in the first place. Some things never change, apparently.

Tesak doesn't seem that impressed with Rocket's brand of humor, or with the vaguely threatening vibe that he's giving off, but he ultimately relents and turns to lead them away from the marketplace -- to somewhere more clandestine, 76 assumes.

He notices Rocket reaching for his hidden firearm and shoots him a look. It's not like his expression is visible, but he's pretty sure the message will come across anyway: not yet. ]

[Rocket's voicebox translates almost all of his more animal-like vocalizations into more "civilized" sounds and words, but a feral growl is untranslatable. He may have decided to back off, but Tesak's retreating back is like an easy target, and the only thing stopping him is the fact that 76 is right- not now.

He walks in scowling silence, not feeling comfortable even whispering to his partner until they're clear of any potential traps. It's a decent distance and Rocket keeps throwing glances to the other stalls, staring down anyone who lingers too long until they break eye contact. They were probably just gawping at a man in a mask and a raccoon, but he's not taking chances.

The warehouse looks like all the ones Rocket has seen around the Old City- dilapidated and essentially a hazard unto itself to keep anyone from getting too close. Tesak doesn't so much open a door as he removes part of the wall, leaving a gap for them to enter through. Rocket goes in first, as a smaller target and his eyes adjust to the dark. Crates and barrels are spread out in a complicated grid everywhere.

Behind them, Tesak slides the wall partition back into place and lights a lamp by the door with casts some illumination on the first section of the grid- several boxes stacked upon a pallet. In that moment, Rocket's greed overrides his anger and need for satisfaction, and he peers up at 76, forgetting Tesak for the moment.] What d'you think? You wanna see what's inside?

[ Even whispers could be overheard at the short distance they're following their target at, so 76 also doesn't attempt to commiserate with Rocket as they make the trip. They both know what needs to be done, so it's just a matter of keeping up the charade until they've cornered Tesak in an enclosed area.

The run-down warehouse is the perfect setting for what they need to do, and 76 is a little surprised that the guy's so quick to let them inside. Maybe he's that in need of extra silver, or maybe he's got a way to defend himself that they can't see or predict.

Now that they're inside, this seems like the perfect time to drop the act and go on the offensive, but Rocket's sticking with it for now. While 76 doesn't know what he's getting at, or why he wants to stretch this out any longer, questioning him would only tip Tesak off. ]

That's what we're here for, right?

[ 76 fixes his attention on Tesak and nods slowly. ]

Let's see what all the fuss is about.

[Most of it is greed, but Rocket's also invested in making sure this isn't a trap. It would be a good one. As he shoves off a loose lid and notes the contraband within- it's all real, so Tesak didn't take them to a decoy- he looks upwards...

And notes movement in the rafters.

Of course.

Rocket slaps 76 on the arm to get his attention. There's a brief flicker of light as someone ignites something up there, and even with Rocket having eyes on it, he doesn't have time to pull his gun and fire before the flaming arrow strikes one of the crates and a small explosion rocks the building, scattering contraband and making the entire thing shake on its foundation, the walls threatening to collapse from the sudden assault.

Rocket only has time to leap off the edge of the crate and duck and cover his head and gets a deeply singed tail in spite of it. Once the explosion has subsided, he can take stock- a small localized one, meant to deter, not destroy everything. There's still a lot of crates that aren't harmed. The sniper in the rafters appears to be holding with no indication whether he's the only one or not, and Tesak crosses over to them.

"Now that I have your attention, I'm gonna need some assurances you two aren't Ryder scum. There's only two ways out of here- loyalty to me and my group or stuffed into one of those crates and left to rot in the swamp. What's it gonna be, boys?"]

[ It all goes to shit in a matter of seconds, but that's usually how these things happen. 76 notices the archer at about the same time that Rocket does, and his quick reaction time means that he's able to get behind cover before the explosion can do much damage. He makes sure to dart in a different direction than Rocket did, not wanting them to get pinned in one location. It'll make it easier for them to retaliate.

Regardless of Tesak's words and the threats that he's making, 76 only has one thought in mind. That had been a warning shot of sorts, but they need to take the sniper out of the equation before they can worry about anything else. On top of that, the idea is to take Tesak in alive, and that becomes a lot more tricky when they're smack-dab in the middle of a powder keg.

76 can't actually see Rocket with both of them behind cover, which means that he's just going to have to trust that he'll follow his lead. Without any warning, he rolls out from cover and aims up toward the archer in the rafters. He still has his pact with Ana to fall back on, which has gifted him with her unnaturally good aim.

He doesn't aim for the guy's head, though, instead going for a shot in the kneecap that immediately sends him falling from his perch. That'll hurt, but it won't kill him. ]

[Rocket observes 76 with cautious, calculating eyes, taking in the scenario. They're definitely not giving in nor are they cowed and that display of amazing sharpshooting is all the response Tesak might need.

Rocket holds his gun close to his chest and steadies himself behind his cover. Tesak was briefly distracted by the sight of his archer going down, but now he's hunting with purpose for the one he thinks will be an easier target.

"GET HIM," he shouts, indicating 76, but Rocket can't see anyone else in the rafters, so he can't be sure if they're coming in from the sides or if they're hiding really well up there. A little twinge of fear grips his chest (fuck fuck you can't lose anyone else, Rocket), but he swallows it down. 76 can handle himself, and in the meantime, his overconfident target is approaching him.

Tesak's shoved the crate he's hiding behind away and stands lording over Rocket's three foot tall frame, cradling his gun in his arms. For a brief moment, Rocket just wants to take the headshot. The delight at successfully cornering his target vanishes out of Tesak's eyes as the weapon turns towards his forehead.

Pull it. Take him out. As long as these assholes are alive, you're not gonna feel safe, so just fuck the Ryders and do your own thing like you always do.

But Quill told him not to kill everyone who'd harmed him- it wouldn't make him feel better. And, in the end, that's what gets him to lower the weapon. Tesak sees this as cowardice and reaches down to grab him by the front of his jumpsuit.

So Rocket pulls the gun back up and blasts off his hand. The wound instantly cauterizes from the laser fire, but the hand is just gone and Tesak's screaming echoes in the busted warehouse. Without abandoning his position, he calls out to 76.] He's fine! He's just being a baby about a missing hand. They probably got cybernetics in Nadril that'll take care of that.

[ It's hardly the first time that someone who's essentially a gang leader has yelled out "GET HIM" in reference to 76, and he's already spinning around searching out heat signatures with his visor. The good news is that there's only one other person hiding above them, while the rest are coming in from the back door of the warehouse.

Rocket's got Tesak to deal with, so 76 leaves that to him, diving back behind cover so that he can shoot at the reinforcements as they bottleneck through the door. He keeps a careful eye on the other sniper, but it takes a while for there to actually be any clear sight lines between them, and as soon as she shows herself 76 squeezes off another perfectly-aimed shot.

It's around then that he hears Tesak screech in agony, and it's enough to distract him until Rocket offers an explanation. Shooting off a hand isn't something to shrug off, but it's probable that he's maimed a few of his targets too.

Kind of hard to feel bad about it when all of these people are accessories to kidnapping and black-market arms dealing, so he won't lose much sleep over this.

After taking a few more shots, everyone who's left decides to get the hell out of there, realizing that they picked the wrong fight. That leaves a few people writhing on the floor with their various wounds.

76 comes out from cover and walks over to Rocket, still catching his breath. ]

All right, let's take him in. Don't know if anyone else here is on the list, but I think this might make them think twice about throwing in with a criminal.

[Tesak is on his knees swearing a heated blue streak, clutching his stump of a hand, his eyes rolling around in his head like a madman as he just seems to be instinctively looking for his own missing appendage, like that will somehow comfort him. Rocket could tell him that the remains of it are a gory mess on the crate to his left, but he's too busy counting his own breaths and coaxing himself to pull his finger away from the trigger.

Even when 76 approaches, his spindly, weirdly human fingers are still positioned on the trigger and his eyes are locked on Tesak's head like he has a mental crosshair going. Quill said, Quill said, is the mantra with every breath. But Quill isn't here and what's he gonna know? He doesn't get a say in this, does he? He left him here.

And then 76 is speaking and Rocket removes his finger from the trigger, reality slamming down on him as he remembers that he isn't alone here and there are other people who need him to stay grounded and not driven by rage and spite.]

Uh-huh. [He collapses the gun to remove the temptation and slides it back against its holster.] Look at us, regular heroes. Bringing in the bad guys instead of brutally torturing 'em, unlike what you do, Tesak. [Rocket does allow himself one bit of pettiness as he passes by Tesak, since he's physically incapable of holding up the man, and that's to flick the raw cauterized bit of meat on his stump, sending another shriek of pain echoing through the warehouse.] Okay, now I'm done.

[ That kind of blind rage, that need for revenge, it's something that 76 recognizes all too well. Is it a little strange to see something like that mirrored in a sentient raccoon of all things? Maybe, but he and Rocket have spent enough time together that 76 barely blinks at it. He mainly wants to make sure that Rocket doesn't blow this guy's head off.

Would Tesak deserve it? There's no denying that he would, but 76 has made a point of drawing a line for himself. There are times when he's crossed it, but he has to continually remind himself that sometimes that line is the only difference between them and people like Tesak.

Ultimately, he doesn't need to say anything. Rocket reins himself in, and also makes a point of distinguishing them from their mark. It's worth doing, so that both of them can keep their heads on straight in a moment like this. That flick against Tesak's stump isn't strictly necessary, but 76 isn't going to hold it against Rocket.

With no further ado, 76 steps forward and swings the butt of his very large pulse rifle against Tesak's temple. He collapses like a sack of potatoes, and then 76 lifts him up like one, laying him over his shoulder.

He turns back to Rocket and nods. ] Good work.

[closed-ish] an' I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation

SOLDIER: 76 (RISE OF THE RYDERS)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

wanna end this here?