[dcs_p]Strider fired two additional shots. The first punctured a hole in Banter’s
collarbone, spouting blood immediately and urging Banter to place his left arm
over the wound. The second, missing once again, ricocheted off the corridor wall
and back down the passage Banter had just traveled. Suddenly Banter released
the “shredder”, dropping it to the floor and running to the corridor corner. Strider’s
eye and arm delicately followed, firing one last shot but missing Banter as he
rounded the corner. The ricochet glanced off the corridor’s sharp curve, then off
the wall to Strider’s left. It pinged just behind his head. The bullet produced a
shrill screech, as if in protest to his poor aim. Then it passed near his right arm on
its path back down the corridor.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]”DREK!” Strider yelled. “The whole plan has gone to hell.” After careful planning
on how to remove the remaining pirates, Strider’s plan had failed due to his own
shortcomings as a marksman. Now the three would face alerted foes, aided by
their injured scout. The pirate traitor waited while grinding his teeth, in both
disgust and pain, until it was clear Banter would not make a premature second
appearance. He turned to stare at Xandar and Joanna.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]Suddenly Banter jumped out from behind the corridor. Armed with a slug-thrower
pistol, he landed hard on his left side after firing 3 shots at Strider. Strider, whom
had been caught completely off-guard by the move, leapt to his right to land
inside the command room. Xandar quickly stepped over him to cover the
corridor. Catching Banter as he got up from the floor, Xandar fired the TK
assault rifle at the man.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]With each explosive shell, Banter was forced back towards the far end of the
corridor. With miniature fireballs cutting deep into his flesh, he cried out in
agony. The TK was a highly feared weapon for these explosive shells that
inflicted fiery wounds, sometimes causing rather slow deaths. Banter dropped
his pistol involuntarily in a vain attempt to hold onto his wounds and force back the
tormenting pain. Unsuccessful, he crawled towards the pistol that now lay about
1 meter from him.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]Xandar took full advantage of Banter’s weakened state. Stepping completely
clear of the hatchway, he trained his aim carefully at Banter’s midsection. He
fired the gun multiple times until Banter was finally still, save for the developing
fire engulfing the pirate’s chest. Very little of Banter’s flak vest remained.
Strider got up from the command room floor. He looked at Joanna nervously.
“Well, why haven’t you targeted that dropship’s engine exhaust area?” he
questioned.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]“And what, you filthy pirate, send all those enemy fighters flying out to destroy
us?!” Joanna screamed. Her nerves were shot. For her, the terrible wound to
her arm was the last straw. This man had been part of the force that was now
taking over her dropship. She had lost her patience. She curled her lips back in
such a way that she appeared to be growling at Strider.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]“Those fighters are duds. You honestly believe a pirate group could have fully
operational fighters? Two of those fighters are regular configurations. The other
6 have nothing but small lasers or jury-rigged machine guns.” Strider explained.
He looked for some patience in Joanna, but found nothing.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]“Stripped-down fighters, eh?” Joanna looked down at her arm. She sighed at
the sight of her wound. “Very well. Targeting dropship, Strider. You better hope
you are correct or I’m going to kill you right now.” held up her index finger to
emphasize her last point. “I’m sick of your shit.”[/dcs_p]