Re: [Mission 18.3B] Filth Potpourri (HX-24)
A young, short-chestnut-haired woman poked her head out from around the doorframe she'd dove through when the shots rang out. Violence wasn't anything unusual in this place, and she'd seen more than her share of it. It always seemed to be over something completely petty and stupid to boot, but at least it kept most people minding their manners, since looking sideways at the wrong person could get you killed, or worse.
She'd hidden more out of reflex than fear, almost like she'd ducked inside to escape a sudden afternoon shower rather than a hailstorm of hot lead, but the streets seemed to have quieted down now after the brief bursts of gunfire, and the people were busily returning to their routines as if it was just another day. Which, of course, it was. She brushed off some plaster and sandstone dust that had sprayed onto the shoulders of her jacket, likely ejected by an errant ricochet, and after one more cautious survey of the street, stepped out of the doorjamb and down the curb.
She hadn't made it two steps when she stopped in her tracks, frowning in puzzlement and mild surprise. Crouching behind cover in various points ahead of her were a team of who certainly had to be one of the victims of the little shootout, and one didn't have to be particularly perceptive to notice that they stuck out like a flashing light in a dark room. Their brightly colored, figure hugging uniforms sharply contrasted with the dull, earth-tone rags most of the populace wore, and with the excessive flowing robes and cloaks of the so-called "nobility" in these parts. Even if it weren't for the uniforms, the way they carried their shoulders back and their chin up would have given them away, since everyone else around looked like their backs had been broken, their spirits sapped out of their shells of bodies.
Those were Star Army soldiers.
What they were doing out here on the far-flung dregs of the galaxy, she hadn't a clue. But the cat-eared female was cradling one of the bigger men, and judging from the panicked look on her face and the steadily growing puddle of blood he was lying in, things didn't look too good for them. She scanned the crowd of people filling the streets back in; every one of them was doing their best not to notice the dying soldier on the ground.
She scanned the area where the soldiers' odd-looking weapons were trained on. There was another soldier ahead of them, apparently having just taken his target down. There were a number of crannies and shallow alleyways up there one could hide themselves if they wanted; if they were looking to get the drop on them, they'd have either made their move by now or fled into the wastewater ducts. No threat up there.
Yamatai military out here on her back step, and in need of help... this was her lucky day indeed.
She approached the group from the rear, idly having shoved her hands in her pockets before she yanked them back out again, realizing that surprising a group of trigger-happy soldiers probably wasn't in her best interest. Her face remained casual, however, despite the situation.
"Hey," she called, but she worried her voice might have been lost in the din of the crowd. She glanced up where their weapons were trained a second time, reassuring herself there was no danger, but stayed off to the side just to be safe. "Hey!" she repeated, more loudly, slowing her pace so as not to approach too close just yet. "Ain't any of my business, but I'd say y'all need help finding a clinic before your buddy there bleeds out."