//------------------------------// // Draco’s Rescue // Story: Phantom War VI: Bounty Hunter Saga // by Danny Eclipse //------------------------------// I walked up to the bridge from my travel with HK-47 and Mako. We weren’t stopped since we were Bounty Hunters. We entered the encampment, killed to make our way to the tents and began to examine them. After a few minutes of searching… Mako shouted “Hey, over here! I found Draco’s tent.” Me and HK-47 walked over and see two sleeping bags and pillows. We see a datapad and grabbed it. After a few minutes of hacking, I unlocked the code and replayed the message. It was a hologram of one of the female nobles. Her name was Lady Annabella, she was one of the high ranking Equestrian Nobles. Annabella said “My dear Draco, when I got your message. I could scarcely believe it. We have found each other after all these years.” “Oh, looks like a love letter…from an Equestrian Noble, no less. Juicy.” Mako said with coldness. “Pay attention. This may help us find Draco.” Mako replied “Right-O.” “It must have been the Force that brought you here to Canterlot, dear Draco. As for your predicament, fear not. I have friends in high places, and for the right price, they have agreed to help me. When the slaves attepted their pitiful revolution, a man will come to you dressed in rags. He will bring you to me. I shall say you are my missing brother. We will be Lord and Lady. I’m afraid I cannot get you back to your beloved family, but I promise to make your every moment here a joy. Our lifestyle will be the envy of all, and we’ll attend parties at the Nexus Room every night. Be ready to join me, my love.” Annabella said before the message ended. Mako asked “Wait, do the lady is his lover, but now he’s posing as her brother?” HK-47 replied “Mockery: Completely and utter revolting. Maybe we can kill her for this…loathsome thing?” “Definitely.” I agreed with a nod. Mako agreed as well “I agree with that action. This pony needs to die. Lead on, boss.” We began to walk out. Me, Mako, and HK-47 were walking into a Cantina. I loved Cantinas, mainly because of the Vampire Wine. When I walked in, I sat at a table to talk with Mako while we wait for the couple to head into the Nexus room. I ended up talking to Mako to pass the time. “So, this is pretty priceless. There’s a ton of buzz on the ‘net about “somepony” breaking into Fa’athra’s place. Fa’athra has been throwing credits around to find out who did it. No takers. Nem’ro is paying them to keep quiet. He’s having way too much fun watching Fa’athra suffer.” Mako explained with some pleasure. “I didn’t think there was anypony in Hutta Swamps who wouldn’t sell their own mother for a quick credit.” “You’d think that’d be bigger news. “Beings with sense of humor located in Hutta Swamps! End of world imminent!” Mako joked. “You know, Braden used to say I was unique for having this HoloNet link. But I’ve no clue how I got it. I’ve had this implant forever.” She said while pointing to her Implant “Parents must have had me teched-out as a baby. Who does that?” “Maybe they were thinking about your future. I wonder, maybe we can upgrade it…” Mako replied “That’s hard to imagine. The parents who abandon me, thinking about my future? Braden was always encouraging me to look for my past. I figured street kid from Gryphus, what’s to know? Now…Gotta admit, he was right. Something weird there.” “You want any help, let me know.” I assured her. Mako warned “Be careful about promises, buddy, or you’ll wind up volunteering to wrestle rancors at Clawdor. Thanks. Really, I appreciate it. You know, before we were talking, I’ve been poking around the holonet. Heard a few things that seem suspicious…The Equestrian Empire has been searching for a stallion named Danny Eclipse. I tried to look at his files but they were all classified Equestrian and Phantom Consortium data. Even with my hacking skills, I couldn’t get through the firewalls.” “Maybe later we can look at an Equestrian Terminal later.” I suggested “Good idea.” Mako replied. “So, I looked up the manufacturer of my implant. Weird stuff. Exclusively government contractor. Everything on this model is classified like those files on Danny.” “Guess your parents had plans for you. Maybe following in their footsteps?” Mako responded “You think they were SIS? Whoever my parents were, they got their hands on one mother of a top-secret gadget. Don’t know what that means yet, but I intend to find out.” I nodded and I looked over my shoulder. I see a stallion, wearing some armor with some gadgets on it. He even had some leather as well, but he wore a cloth over his mouth and nose and wore a nice and fancy hat. I noticed he was looking at us and I knew he was watching us; he had two Gunrunner's Pistols. We got up and went towards the Nexus Room. We went into a short hallway and when we came out of the door, we saw five Equestrian Troopers, one of them was an Equestrian Navy Officer named Sergeant Wallax. An Equestrian Trooper shouted “There, sir! Just as I said.” Wallax replied “That looks like him, all right. Bounty Hunter, I am Sergeant Wallax of the Equestrian Navy. You are commanded to hand over all of your weapons and gear immediately.” “How about I just hand over the ammo instead Sergeant?” I joked to him. Wallax replied “Don’t get cute, scum. Remember, you’re an outsider here. I can shoot you just as easily as bring you in.” We began to hear beeping and Wallax pulled out a hologram communicator. He activated it and we see Tarro Blood on it. Seeing him made my anger boil. “Sergeant, Tarro Blood here.” Tarro said, “Have you completed my little errand yet?” Mako shouted with rage “Blood! You steaming pile of filth!” Wallax shouted in anger “Blast it! I told you not to call on this channel!” “Getting others to do your dirty work? That’s just low, even for a Ponylorian.” I replied coldly. Tarro responded with a groan “Oh, this is ridiculously tiresome. He’s still alive? What is wrong with you, Sergeant?” One of the Equestrian Troopers asked “Uh, sir? Who is that guy?” Wallax replied “Blood, I’ll talk to you later.” He ended the transmission “Ignore the chatter, men. Let’s take this hunter in!” The same Equestrian Trooper responded “I don’t know what’s going on here, Sarge, but I know it stinks.” Another Equestrian Trooper threatened “Yeah. Either you cut us in on this deal, or we walk.” “Save your breath. You’re dead.” Wallax ordered “Defend yourselves, men!” I pulled out my pistols, Mako pulled out her pistol, and HK-47 aimed his rifle at them. We opened fired as they began to attack. I shot Wallax and an Equestrian Soldier in the face, Mako shot the second Equestrian Soldier at the liver and then heart, HK-47 fired his shot at the third Equestrian Trooper. The last one was going to fire at me until he was shot down. We looked at our savior and see it was the same stallion from before. “Hello mate. Name’s Daniel, otherwise known as “The Gunslinger”.” The Stallion greeted, “The thing I hate most in this world is ponies hiring arms to kill other ponies. I’m a Smuggler and if this ‘Tarro’ gives you any trouble, just call me and I’ll have my friends from high places make sure ‘Tarro’ is silent for a while.” I nodded and went inside the Nexus Room. Gunslinger left us to head back into the cantina. We walked into the Nexus room and walked over to Draco. Draco asked “Yes, may I help you with something?” “Darling, please don’t speak to that filthy vagabond. It’s clearly not supposed to be here, and we shouldn’t let ourselves look like we approve. Come, let us get a drink.” Annabella said, trying to get away from us. “I know who you really are, Lord Draco.” Draco replied, trying to sound intimidating but failing horribly “Then you know I am to be, um, feared and that you should not keep talking to me.” Annabella replied “Stow it, darling. Just feel the smug knowledge radiate from him…we knew this might happen eventually.” Mako replied coldly “Yeah, only so long you can keep dating your brother before something goes wrong…” “So you know our little secret. What does an insignificant creature like you want? What would make you dare threaten a noble?” Annabella replied with a dark threat. “I was promised a pile of credits to take him back to the Horde.” I replied. Draco asled “You mean back to my family, don’t you? But I thought…You told me I was trapped here! That I would have to forget my family! That this…this charade was the only way!” Annabella replied “Inside voice, darling. I may have exaggerated a bit, but hasn’t it been nice here? The parties, the late nights, the intrigues and such?” Draco shouted with anger “You witch! Keeping me here as your plaything when I could have been home, with my sisters and dear mother.” Annabella replied “Ugh, you can be such a whiny pain. It’s a wonder you’re nobility. Let us make a new deal, bounty hunter.” “Make this fast, lady. I’ve got other things to do.” “My darling…my lovely Draco. Wouldn’t you rather stay here with me than run home to your pathetic Horde family?” Annabella asked. Draco replied “What? Of course not! You treat me like a pet and this city is digusting. In fact, I’d rather-“ Annabella replied “Yes, yes. You’ve made your tiresome viewpoint clear. Then here is what I propose…I assume Draco’s family will pay less for just his body. Kill him, show me the ship and I’ll compensate you the difference.” Draco asked in horror “Wha-What? You want him to kill me?” Annabella replied “You think I’ll let you walk away and be someone else’s pet? Never.” Mako stated coldly “This keeps getting more disturbing…” HK-47 agreed “Agree.” “She’s insane! Please, take me back to my family. It would mean so much to them…to my poor mother.” Draco begged. “Draco’s right, lady. You’re way too crazy to live.” I said with coldness and darkness. Annabella ordered “Defend me, my love!” Draco demanded “What? Are you insane!?” I pulled out my blaster pistols and shot her arm. She got hit and teleported away. She appeared right behind me and I did a quick turn and punch her down to the ground. I fired my blasters at her and killed her. Draco rushed to her body. Draco said “You killed her. Just like that. She was evil and twisted, but…I did love her once.” He got up and walked over to me “We met years ago, in Manehattan. She was so dark and mysterious. And now she’s dead.” “You can mourn her while you’re in carbonite.” Draco replied “Oh, um, of course…” I fired my Carbonite Freeze Ray and he froze up to a statue. I left him there with HK-47 and Mako. We began to head back over to the Ponylorian Enclave for the next assignment.