The Bounty Hunter: (M/F)
Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2024 6:51 am
Chapter 1: Just for the Credits
In the distant reaches of the universe, a lone spaceship drifted silently through the vast expanse. The ship, a sleek and battle-hardened vessel known as The Aegis, belonged to one of the most feared and respected bounty hunters in the galaxy—Jax Veridian.
Jax had spent years navigating the lawless space of the universe, tracking down criminals for Imperial Credits. His reputation was built on efficiency, precision, and a complete lack of mercy. He was a man of few words, as his hunting of those who dared defy the Imperial Order spoke on his behalf.
One day, as Jax was cruising through the Cygnus IV Supercluster, a new bounty alert flashed across his ship's console. It was marked with the highest priority level: dangerous, valuable, and alive if possible. Jax's eyes narrowed as he opened the file and read the details.
The target was a woman named Lyra Cael. The accompanying image showed a strikingly beautiful woman with fiery red hair, piercing green eyes, and a determined expression.
The name and appearance rang a bell in Jax's head. He remembered overhearing a conversation at The Oasis in Tessarat B. Galaxy.
She wasn't just any criminal, but one of the leading members of the rebellion on the distant planet of Veri Prime.
Veri Prime was a planet near the edge of the Cygnus IV Supercluster, covered in dense jungles and towering mountains. It was the heart of an uprising that had been causing trouble for the Empire for years. The planet's thick foliage and hidden caves made it a near-perfect hideout for rebels. Capturing Lyra would be a significant blow to the rebellion and a handsome payout for Jax.
"She's dangerous," Jax muttered to himself, reading the file.
According to the details, Lyra was also a brilliant strategist and a skilled sharpshooter. Many had tried to capture her, but none had succeeded.
Jax wasn't concerned. He had never failed to catch a target, and he wasn't about to start now.
He input the coordinates for Veri Prime into the ship's navigation system and prepared for the jump to hyperspace. As the stars stretched into long streaks of light around him, Jax felt the familiar thrill of the hunt. This was what he lived for—the chase, the capture, the reward.
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The Aegis dropped out of hyperspace just above Veri Prime, and the dense jungle below seemed almost impenetrable. But he managed to land the ship in a secluded area, far from any known rebel bases. He didn't need to announce his presence.
Hours passed as Jax tracked Lyra's movements, following leads and evading traps set by the rebels. He had to admit to himself that he admired her cleverness—she had set up a network of false trails and decoys that would have confused any ordinary tracker. But Jax was not ordinary.
Finally, he found her. Lyra was in a hidden cave deep within the mountains, surrounded by a small group of rebel fighters. Jax observed from the shadows, she was even more captivating in person. Her presence commanding and her beauty undeniable.
He waited until nightfall, when Lyra was alone in the cave, studying a holographic map. Jax moved silently, his blaster at the ready. He had her cornered, but he kept his guard up. There was no way she was going to be an easy catch.
Sure enough, as he stepped into the light, Lyra turned to face him, "Jax Veridian." She said.
"Bounty Hunter, at your service." Jax replied, blaster drawn. "I should've known it wouldn't be this easy."
"You're here for my bounty, aren't you?" she asked, her voice calm.
"Yes ma'am." Jax said. "I don't want to hurt you, but I will if I have to. Come quietly, and this will go smoothly."
Lyra didn't move. Instead, she studied him with a mixture of curiosity. "Do you even know what you're fighting for? Or are you just another pawn in the Order's game?"
"I'm a bounty hunter, not a politician." Jax frowned, "I do my job. That's all."
"And what a noble job it is," Lyra said, her voice seeping with sarcasm. "Hunting down people who are trying to make the galaxy a better place."
"I hunt criminals," Jax replied coldly. "Terrorists. Bad guys."
"We're fighting for freedom," Lyra shot back. "For a chance to live without the Empire's boot on our necks. Can you really say you're on the right side?"
"I don't care about sides," Jax said. "I'm just in it for the credits."
Lyra sighed, lowering her gaze. "And what will you do when the Empire has crushed every last bit of resistance? When there's no one left to fight? When every last man, woman and child, innocent or not has been slaughtered?"
Lyra took a deep breath to regain her composure. "Will you still be chasing bounties?" She asked, her voice shaky.
"You don't have to do this," she whispered. "You could join us. Fight for something real."
For the first time in a long time, Jax hesitated. He now knew why Lyra had such a high bounty. She really was like the lifeline of the rebellion. Every instinct told him to fight back, to complete the mission. But another part of him, one he didn't even know existed, wanted to listen.
"You can take me in," she said softly. "Or you can join us. The choice is yours, but only one is right."
It took some time, but Jax made his choice. "I can't let you go," He said. "Orders are orders."
Without a word, Lyra presented her hands behind her back, surrendering to him.
Jax unclipped a pair of metal handcuffs and firmly secured them to the revolutionary's wrists. They buzzed to life as the restraints locked. Leg restraints, connected by a line of bright blue energy, were then fastened on her ankles.
Jax parted Lyra's hair as he held up a ballgag. "Open." He instructed.
Lyra complied, and opened her mouth, allowing herself to be gagged. The straps were then automatically secured to the back of her head. Finally, a collar and leash were fastened to her neck. Tugging on the leash, Jax escorted his bounty out of the cave and onto The Aegis.
Jax guided Lyra to a small holding cell at the back of the ship, securing her inside. Jax locked the door, making sure the security protocols were engaged. Jax met her gaze briefly, and rather than cold, it was seemingly melancholic.
But he ignored the nagging sense of guilt tugging at the edges of his conscience. He was a bounty hunter, and this was just another job.
He made his way to the cockpit, settling into the pilot's seat and initiating the launch sequence. As The Aegis lifted off, Jax felt a momentary sense of relief. The hardest part was over. Now, it was just a matter of delivering the bounty and collecting his credits.
But someone had other plans.
As The Aegis ascended into the atmosphere, alarms blared across the ship’s console. Jax’s eyes flicked to the radar, where multiple hostile signatures were rapidly approaching. A small fleet of ships was closing in on his position, their weapons hot and ready.
"Bounty hunters," Jax muttered under his breath, recognizing the telltale signs. They had likely been monitoring imperial bounty alerts, and Lyra’s high value had drawn them like vultures. They allowed Jax to capture her so that they could steal his bounty.
He tried his best to dodge, but his pursuers were on his tail, and he couldn't fire back. Lasers flew past Jax as he frantically ducked and weaved.
But soon, a direct hit to his generator took away his shields. He was now vulnerable.
Another hit to his left wing, engine 3 was gone and engine 2 was damaged.
"These guys are better than Imperial Fighter Pilots!" Jax said in disbelief.
Before any more damage could be done, he jumped into hyperspace and fled the battle. He knew it wouldn't be long before the hunters found him, so he had to make an emergency landing.
The hyperspace travel also put tremendous strain on the engines, The Aegis was barely alive, so Jax's only option was Aquattis-76.
As Jax descended into its atmosphere, the ship began to spiral out of control.
"Come on, hold together, girl." Jax growled, wrestling with the controls as he fought to stabilize the descent. The ship was barely responding, alarms screaming in his ears.
With a final, desperate maneuver, Jax managed to level out the ship just enough to avoid a catastrophic crash. The Aegis skimmed across the ocean’s surface, sending up massive waves before to a halt on the beach of a small, rocky island.
Silence fell over the ship, broken only by the hiss of steam and the crackle of damaged electronics. Jax let out a shaky breath, his hands still gripping the controls.
They had survived, but just barely.
He quickly ran a systems check. The ship was in bad shape—engines offline, shields gone, and most of the weapons systems were disabled.
Jax went over to the holding cell, Lyra seemed to be out cold. Perhaps he should've invested more credits into upgrading his holding place...
The Bounty Hunter took a few moments to gather his thoughts. What was he going to do now?
A.N - A lot of exposition here, next chapter will have more tie-up scenes lol.
In the distant reaches of the universe, a lone spaceship drifted silently through the vast expanse. The ship, a sleek and battle-hardened vessel known as The Aegis, belonged to one of the most feared and respected bounty hunters in the galaxy—Jax Veridian.
Jax had spent years navigating the lawless space of the universe, tracking down criminals for Imperial Credits. His reputation was built on efficiency, precision, and a complete lack of mercy. He was a man of few words, as his hunting of those who dared defy the Imperial Order spoke on his behalf.
One day, as Jax was cruising through the Cygnus IV Supercluster, a new bounty alert flashed across his ship's console. It was marked with the highest priority level: dangerous, valuable, and alive if possible. Jax's eyes narrowed as he opened the file and read the details.
The target was a woman named Lyra Cael. The accompanying image showed a strikingly beautiful woman with fiery red hair, piercing green eyes, and a determined expression.
The name and appearance rang a bell in Jax's head. He remembered overhearing a conversation at The Oasis in Tessarat B. Galaxy.
She wasn't just any criminal, but one of the leading members of the rebellion on the distant planet of Veri Prime.
Veri Prime was a planet near the edge of the Cygnus IV Supercluster, covered in dense jungles and towering mountains. It was the heart of an uprising that had been causing trouble for the Empire for years. The planet's thick foliage and hidden caves made it a near-perfect hideout for rebels. Capturing Lyra would be a significant blow to the rebellion and a handsome payout for Jax.
"She's dangerous," Jax muttered to himself, reading the file.
According to the details, Lyra was also a brilliant strategist and a skilled sharpshooter. Many had tried to capture her, but none had succeeded.
Jax wasn't concerned. He had never failed to catch a target, and he wasn't about to start now.
He input the coordinates for Veri Prime into the ship's navigation system and prepared for the jump to hyperspace. As the stars stretched into long streaks of light around him, Jax felt the familiar thrill of the hunt. This was what he lived for—the chase, the capture, the reward.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Aegis dropped out of hyperspace just above Veri Prime, and the dense jungle below seemed almost impenetrable. But he managed to land the ship in a secluded area, far from any known rebel bases. He didn't need to announce his presence.
Hours passed as Jax tracked Lyra's movements, following leads and evading traps set by the rebels. He had to admit to himself that he admired her cleverness—she had set up a network of false trails and decoys that would have confused any ordinary tracker. But Jax was not ordinary.
Finally, he found her. Lyra was in a hidden cave deep within the mountains, surrounded by a small group of rebel fighters. Jax observed from the shadows, she was even more captivating in person. Her presence commanding and her beauty undeniable.
He waited until nightfall, when Lyra was alone in the cave, studying a holographic map. Jax moved silently, his blaster at the ready. He had her cornered, but he kept his guard up. There was no way she was going to be an easy catch.
Sure enough, as he stepped into the light, Lyra turned to face him, "Jax Veridian." She said.
"Bounty Hunter, at your service." Jax replied, blaster drawn. "I should've known it wouldn't be this easy."
"You're here for my bounty, aren't you?" she asked, her voice calm.
"Yes ma'am." Jax said. "I don't want to hurt you, but I will if I have to. Come quietly, and this will go smoothly."
Lyra didn't move. Instead, she studied him with a mixture of curiosity. "Do you even know what you're fighting for? Or are you just another pawn in the Order's game?"
"I'm a bounty hunter, not a politician." Jax frowned, "I do my job. That's all."
"And what a noble job it is," Lyra said, her voice seeping with sarcasm. "Hunting down people who are trying to make the galaxy a better place."
"I hunt criminals," Jax replied coldly. "Terrorists. Bad guys."
"We're fighting for freedom," Lyra shot back. "For a chance to live without the Empire's boot on our necks. Can you really say you're on the right side?"
"I don't care about sides," Jax said. "I'm just in it for the credits."
Lyra sighed, lowering her gaze. "And what will you do when the Empire has crushed every last bit of resistance? When there's no one left to fight? When every last man, woman and child, innocent or not has been slaughtered?"
Lyra took a deep breath to regain her composure. "Will you still be chasing bounties?" She asked, her voice shaky.
"You don't have to do this," she whispered. "You could join us. Fight for something real."
For the first time in a long time, Jax hesitated. He now knew why Lyra had such a high bounty. She really was like the lifeline of the rebellion. Every instinct told him to fight back, to complete the mission. But another part of him, one he didn't even know existed, wanted to listen.
"You can take me in," she said softly. "Or you can join us. The choice is yours, but only one is right."
It took some time, but Jax made his choice. "I can't let you go," He said. "Orders are orders."
Without a word, Lyra presented her hands behind her back, surrendering to him.
Jax unclipped a pair of metal handcuffs and firmly secured them to the revolutionary's wrists. They buzzed to life as the restraints locked. Leg restraints, connected by a line of bright blue energy, were then fastened on her ankles.
Jax parted Lyra's hair as he held up a ballgag. "Open." He instructed.
Lyra complied, and opened her mouth, allowing herself to be gagged. The straps were then automatically secured to the back of her head. Finally, a collar and leash were fastened to her neck. Tugging on the leash, Jax escorted his bounty out of the cave and onto The Aegis.
Jax guided Lyra to a small holding cell at the back of the ship, securing her inside. Jax locked the door, making sure the security protocols were engaged. Jax met her gaze briefly, and rather than cold, it was seemingly melancholic.
But he ignored the nagging sense of guilt tugging at the edges of his conscience. He was a bounty hunter, and this was just another job.
He made his way to the cockpit, settling into the pilot's seat and initiating the launch sequence. As The Aegis lifted off, Jax felt a momentary sense of relief. The hardest part was over. Now, it was just a matter of delivering the bounty and collecting his credits.
But someone had other plans.
As The Aegis ascended into the atmosphere, alarms blared across the ship’s console. Jax’s eyes flicked to the radar, where multiple hostile signatures were rapidly approaching. A small fleet of ships was closing in on his position, their weapons hot and ready.
"Bounty hunters," Jax muttered under his breath, recognizing the telltale signs. They had likely been monitoring imperial bounty alerts, and Lyra’s high value had drawn them like vultures. They allowed Jax to capture her so that they could steal his bounty.
He tried his best to dodge, but his pursuers were on his tail, and he couldn't fire back. Lasers flew past Jax as he frantically ducked and weaved.
But soon, a direct hit to his generator took away his shields. He was now vulnerable.
Another hit to his left wing, engine 3 was gone and engine 2 was damaged.
"These guys are better than Imperial Fighter Pilots!" Jax said in disbelief.
Before any more damage could be done, he jumped into hyperspace and fled the battle. He knew it wouldn't be long before the hunters found him, so he had to make an emergency landing.
The hyperspace travel also put tremendous strain on the engines, The Aegis was barely alive, so Jax's only option was Aquattis-76.
As Jax descended into its atmosphere, the ship began to spiral out of control.
"Come on, hold together, girl." Jax growled, wrestling with the controls as he fought to stabilize the descent. The ship was barely responding, alarms screaming in his ears.
With a final, desperate maneuver, Jax managed to level out the ship just enough to avoid a catastrophic crash. The Aegis skimmed across the ocean’s surface, sending up massive waves before to a halt on the beach of a small, rocky island.
Silence fell over the ship, broken only by the hiss of steam and the crackle of damaged electronics. Jax let out a shaky breath, his hands still gripping the controls.
They had survived, but just barely.
He quickly ran a systems check. The ship was in bad shape—engines offline, shields gone, and most of the weapons systems were disabled.
Jax went over to the holding cell, Lyra seemed to be out cold. Perhaps he should've invested more credits into upgrading his holding place...
The Bounty Hunter took a few moments to gather his thoughts. What was he going to do now?
A.N - A lot of exposition here, next chapter will have more tie-up scenes lol.