A gambit

Niome was in her comfort zone. She could handle a fight like this. She had been trained to do so for her whole life. There were two entrances to the chamber where she sat, and where the footsteps came from wasn't easily distinguished. All she knew, and needed to know was that she had the drop on whoever it was responding. She pulled her arms back like she was holding a carbine, placing the barrel of her newly earned LL-30 flush, parallel to her wrist. The muzzle flash stung, but the right cuff popped off without any further protest. She moved quickly across the room to the small wall between the two doorways. Her steps were silent on her bare feet. The door hissed open just as she was in position.

Niome took her first shot carefully, putting a single bolt through the back of the closest man's skull. The discharge echoed about the room like a phantom. The second guard turned, his carbine aimed at the level of her head, but she struck him twice in the chest as he swung. It threw off his aim at least, and he missed where she crouched. Niome's third shot struck him through the skull, leaving him in a crumpled heap with his partner.

The guards didn't seem to be very well trained, most certainly pulled from slums, and handed weapons with little else. They wore a few plates, but nothing significant enough to save them in a real fight. It only helped Niome to hear them coming. She heard a click, and a whir from behind her, and barely had time to dive out of the way.

She swung her blaster low, at her hip so the attacker couldn't wrench it from her. but a swift kick that connected with her bare abdomen winded her, and knocked the weapon skipping across the stone floor. Niome's assailant didn't hesitate. She was the Twi'lek she'd come to despise. Her red coat contrasted her blue skin, and her eyes gleamed with malice. She lunged forward with the knife again, aiming to slash gut with the vibro actuated edge. Niome could feel the air around it pulse as she narrowly pulled back, still trying to regain her breath.

The Twi'lek again extended a leg to kick. The Gunslinger ducked the blow, throwing her shoulder up to knock her opponent off her feet. The Twi'lek managed to land however, appearing more nimble than Niome initially imagined. The red coated woman didn't expect much of a fight, and readjusted her stance. Clearly this **** wasn't one to be trifled with. She kept her blade close, stepping with Niome's backpedal to keep the huntress in striking range. Niome was seeing less, and less openings. She feinted a jab, and the Rylothian attempted to punish.

Niome threw an elbow with her left to catch her assailant's forearm. The knife wasn't lost. Niome didn't have an ounce of drop left on the woman. They stood like that for a while, or paced rather. Like two boxers daring eachother to throw the first punch. Save this was martial combat, and Niome didn't have a knife. One solid slash from the lady in the coat, and she'd likely bleed out before she could have the wound tended to. The Rylothian understood exactly the position Niome was in. She knew she had her on the ropes. The Gunslinger attempted another trick.

Abruptly, her gaze dropped, and she feigned as if she was going to turn, taking a half step to the side away from the knife wielding opponent. Like a predator, the Twi'lek lunged as soon as she saw a sign of weakness. Niome sprung off her far leg, and sent her shoulder into the Alien's own, turning nimbly as if to put her off-balanced opponent in a **** hold. Instead she gripped the Twi'lek's forearm, and bent it behind her back. She administered an elbow with her right, intending to dislocate the joint. She knife skittered across the floor, vibration suddenly loud against the stone. Niome was momentarily distracted by her success, and the Twi'lek moved stubbornly, stepping forward an turning slightly, only to bring her off hand arm back with a pointed elbow, which caught Niome in the ribs, and sent her stumbling. An oversight on the Twi'lek's part. The Huntress almost stumbled over the blaster previously discarded. Almost.