Scene Listing || Scene Schedule || Scene Schedule RSS
Owner Pose
Starlight Bandits     Seafoam City Fandom Convention, or SCFC for short, is one of the biggest nerddom conventions this side of the Quilt. Known to be accepting of all types, it is a place where, once a year, the goths rub shoulders with the neon furries, the anime fans with the puppet show fanatics. A good time to mingle with others who share niche interests, pay exorbitant prices on food, and acquire some merchandise.

    However, this year, there is a dark underbelly to the convention, a secretive side-attraction that reeks of metaphorical blood. Its attendants, even as they do their best to blend in, have brought a pall upon the happy proceedings. The attendees don't know it, but any among them might be a hardened killer.

    Ma-con-bre has come to SCFC.

    A gathering of murderers, hitmen, thugs, mercenaries, and arms dealers. If at any point, your business interacts with paid death, Ma-con-bre is the place to be. By hosting it alongside and within a different event, attendees have camouflage, a place to blend in, an excuse for being on the premise. While SCFC seems wildly different in tone, the myriad costumes that people commonly wear means that anyone and everyone can blend in by standing out. Even the most garish costume is just one in a crowd here.

    Normally, the event location is top-secret, and circulated by word of mouth by those who are trusted. But this year, through some means or another, the Starlight Bandits have secured a panel at this year's Ma-con-bre. Perhaps they lead a double life, or just bluffed their way in. Either way, it is now semi-public knowledge that the event is occurring. Law enforcement tried to have it shut down, but the organizers were uncommonly cagey and difficult to get a hold of. No doubt, they have been paid off, but there's nothing to prove. Trying to go over their heads to local officials has only lead to stone-walling over 'lack of evidence.' Any attempts at preventing the event and handing out arrests will have to occur while SCFC is in progress.

    However, those of a more nefarious disposition now have a welcome networking scenario. A place to find work, allies, gear... just like SCFC, a place to be yourself around your peers.
Starlight Bandits     However, in response to the greater public awareness, Ma-con-bre has made it harder to discover them. No advertisement, no one obviously hanging around to give information. If someone wants to uncover Ma-con-bre, they'll have to do their own digging.

    THE FOOD COURT is always busy, no matter what time of day. Outrageously overpriced fried food is hawked to the con-goers sitting at plastic tables in plastic chairs. The air here is fairly casual, chatter and cardgames abound.

    THE DEALER'S ROOM is where the real money flies though. Local and chain merchants offer up dazzling riches of plastic and cloth. Fandom materials, apparel, and decorations are hawked by the dozen. Wallets go in laden, and come out dry.

    THE ARTIST AVENUE is where those talented in color and pen market their skills. Some sell high-quality prints of their art, others offer commissions on the spot. A place for creators... could destroyers be lurking there too?

    THE GAMING ROOM is choc full of arcade cabinets and tables for playing tabletop games. Bleeps and bloops intermingle with cries of victory and defeat. Only winners and losers here.
William Pauwel For once, William Pauwel looks exactly like he belongs in this completely foreign world. In a convention hall full of people in costumes ranging from the bizarre to the amazing to the squadron of nerds who are wearing literally-cardboard-power-armor, nobody would even think to consider that the kid dressed up like some kind of sci-fi cowboy is anything out of the ordinary.

Which is good! Because Will is here... For business.

Watch business, maybe.

Or maybe just... actual business.

He had in fact set up a covert stall in the Dealer's Room, selling not art or figurines or anything like that (though his stall /is/ somewhat cunningly hidden by a rack of handmade robotic models of various multiversal personalities), but by selling... Inventions. Portable grappling hooks, multi-wavelength sensor visors, all kinds of various things that certain unscrupulous types (and scrupulous types! Will does not discriminate as long as you're not a horrible monster) might find useful. After all, the Watch does need resources-- and connections besides.

But more importantly...!

It gives him an excuse to stick what appears to be a rebuilt ROBCO Protectron at his desk to watch the merchandise and make exchanges so that /he/ can scout the displays for his FAVORITE CROOKS IN THE WORLD.

Because this is a place for fanboys and fangirls to run free, regardless of the criminal enterprize occuring just underneath the surface... And Will is nothing if not a fanboy to the Starlight Bandits...!
Starbound Flotilla     The Starbound Flotilla are here! They're... They're in the DEALER'S ROOM, running some sort of merch booth selling crafted costume arms and armor, peace-bonded and rather stylishly in line with all six aesthetics of the members. Yes, that's right, Moonfin's selling weeaboo replica katanas at the nerd convention, among the other things on sale here. Much like Will, they've put their skills to good, albeit inefficient, use. Unlike Will, some of them have objections to this plan.

"That one is holding his knife wrong."
"Yaaaaay, Floran gonna sssell more bone armor!"
"Ugh. UGH. That such people would lay hands on my swords..."
"That one doesn't have the safety on."
"I love this plan. Don't you love this plan?"
"Aye, we're making a fine profit, matey!"
"That armor isn't applied right. Could punch right through."
"Pleasant. And the people are so friendly!"
"That one doesn't have good trigger discipline."
"Are you seriously gonna be doing this the whole time? I'mma go look around."

    And so he does. Because George knows one thing: Anyone who can make a good gun can sell a good prop gun for an even higher price, because that's what the Starbound Flotilla is doing /right now/. And if there's one thing the Starbound Flotilla knows, it's arms and armor, so he's now in search of stalls all throughout the dealer room that bear the signature handiwork of a proper arms and armor craftsman, or at the very least, someone who's familiar with those sorts of things, as opposed to cinematic prop companies and suchlike. Something just a little more in tune with the craftsmanship, and a little more out of sync with the modern fandoms. Where everyone else is probably selling merch and such from Lowerstory and David Galaxy, they'll have something more generic and something more likely drawn from semi-accurate depictions of their associated worlds of crime.

    The hope is that, if he can find one, he can lock in on their exchanges and bare a little more of the Secret Convention through evesdropping and suchlike.
Starlight Bandits     The dealer's room is dense with Multiversal Elites! Will has been making a killing on the various Batmen who would like a real grappling hook to complete their costume. At least one has already dislocated an arm trying to use what they acquired elsewhere. As for the Flotilla, they've made a bundle from cosplayers and the dreaded military furries with the goddamn camo fur colours. One of them came right up the Flotilla with their desert camo fursuit, laden with shitty swords from other dealers. They took up one of Moonfin's blunt blades, examined it... and put it back!

    They then went on to Will's table, and also acquired a grappling hook for themselves. However, right after that... they went to lean on a wall, glanced around, before slipping into a closed door with 'Staff Only' on it. Suspicious! In retrospect, they also did not carry themselves like most of the nerds here... they strode with confidence, and handled even the shittiest blade with proper care.

    As for George, his walkabouts among the air soft crowd does bear some fruit. A stall manned by a girl cosplaying as 'magical girl with pink twintails #5439' has some real effort and polish put into them. The kind of guns that could probably be modded into the real thing with a bit of effort..
William Pauwel Resources can often be a little bit tight when you're in the Watch. Sure, this kind of thing won't put /much/ of a dent in that-- Will's earnings today won't be nearly enough to bribe a dirty politician or anything like that. But there's an unspoken advantage to it; the more widely distributed Will's goods get, the less likely there'll be a critical issue if, for instance, a desperate escape leaves a piece of his trademarked gear behind. If everyone is using something similar, and someone just happens to have a ~well customized~ version... Well, that's hardly suspicious, is it?

"Thank you for your business~" Will chimes cheerfully as some weirdo in a way-too-fluffy ghillie suit purchases a grapnel. What's with the snouts, anyway? And all these people trying to be... Animal-people? Weird. Good business, though-- and those masks are perfect for hiding your face beneath...

Will watches as the camoflaged fursuiter makes their way into the <STAFF ONLY> room and frowns ever so slightly. He'd heard the Bandits were here, but... This floor seems a bit too tame for them. That guy, though-- he didn't look like your plain old ordinary nerd. Will's been around August long enough to know what those look like.

He looks... dangerous.

"I'm goin' for a walk," Will says to his Robotic Buddy. The Protectron beeps and boops and finally answers with a I WILL MIND THE STORE, BOSS before Will nods and subtly makes his way over towards that door...

...Now, what's going on inside...?
Starbound Flotilla "..."
"Curious. Moonfin...?"
"I have never sympathized with the floran urge to... 'ssstab', more than I have sympathized with that urge right now."
"Yarharharhar! Don't ye worry! Pearls before swine, matey."
"That cameoflage could be seen a mile away."
"Thank you all."
"Tactically nonsense to keep that many swords."
"/Thank you/, Albert."

    "Heyyyy, kiddo! Got some good merch here! I like the look of it, got plenty of realism to it." George says, wandering to the magical girl, stoking his chin contemplatively. "You got anywhere around here where I could see the product you're selling regularly?" To a casual observer, it might sound like he's asking for her portfolio to try to commission some work, but the particular way he's saying that seems to imply some very deeper meaning. "I'm in some pretty closely related businesses, could have a good time with that."

    His eyes have tracked the cameoman even as he says this, and he jerks his head a bit in the direction of the door, a silent question of, 'is that right?' and even a sort of unspoken query about proper procedure. George respects few authorities, but subversive criminal protocol is something he's well willing to follow. If this gunsmith turns out to be what he hopes, maybe she can provide some insight that he couldn't find through any advertisement.
Starlight Bandits     Will abandons his still, which is bad con etiquette. Hopefully his Protection will defend his wares from the sort without the social graces to understand you can't just take stuff! He too moseys over to the door, and finds it unlocked. Beyond it is the spartan maintainance tunnel that every large centre like this has, a place where janitors and repairmen can move beyond the eyes of the public. He arrives just in time to see Desert Wolf turn a corner. Footsteps would echo here, but this guy moves in a practised motion to minimize that. Coupled with the fursuit, he's practically silent.

    Following him along the tunnel soon reveals voices echoing along the walls. Two of them are familiar. "...nd then we leapt through the window! Poor fellow had to act as our anchor point if he didn't want to fall too!" "Yeah! It was really hard for him probably, because we secured the rope around his neck~" The voices originate from a small side room, likely a staff room. Desert Wolf slips inside and closes the door, cancelling the voices out.

    Meanwhile, the magical girl before George gives him a look. Before, she was all sunny smiles, but her face goes hard, her green eyes becoming darker and sharper, like shards of broken glass. She looks in the direction of George's gesture, and gives a nod. "Back here sir~!" she says, suddenly all smiles again. She parts the curtain behind her and nudges her table to give him room to get around it.

    The back area of her lot is totally curtained off, for good reason. Real guns hang on racks next to boxes of hollow points and anti-material rounds, both designed for killing with absolute certainty. She sits on an unopened box and regards George. "You're a new face. Who are you? Remember, code names only."
William Pauwel Well that's just fine! Will isn't a con at all! He's the opposite of a con. He's a... Noc...? No, that's not quite right either. He's just a good old honest son of a gun with a little too much curiosity and a little too little self control. Will is also another thing, too.

That thing is... wearing boots.

Boots that are not nearly as muffled as big fluffy faux paws.

Sure, he uses his experience in the deep bowels of Tellus to do his best to stay hidden, but there's only so much you can do when you're geared for practical comfort. Still, Will manages to make it down deep enough to hear...

Those voices...!

It's them! The Starlight Bandits are /right there/ but what's with the guy in the suit...? Will frowns and makes his way to that next door. Maybe he can overhear something going on inside...?

Nah. He's just going to go for the doorknob, because he's basically a huge nerd for ~dashing rogues~
Starbound Flotilla     "You got it." George says, winking. "I've always been partial to Cuban Pete." George is not even /remotely/ Cuban. He IS very interested in the guns, though, and certainly has enough hard cash or very legitimate vouchers for stocks of Flotilla gun parts to make up for it. "New face on a new scene, actually, I'm hoping to make the right connection. Do you have this in a trigger type I could fit for webbed fingers?" He twirls one of the guns stylishly. He looks in every sense like a legitimate buyer... Because he is! In this case his goal is to try to connect with the broader convention, one that could let him do some proper connecting.

    "I'm gonna need to connect with the rest of this, though. Anything I can be on the lookout for?" He is continuously examining guns and making purchases the entire time, something to sweeten the deal. "Are these magic or is that just your costume? I have a friend who's all stressed out about magic, I wanna see if I can slip something enchanted on her for a giggle. You might have heard of us! Starbound Flotilla, kicked around a fair bit, was hoping to link up with the Con."

    George is hopeful she can point him to someone or send out some messages to bring people to him. Maybe he can get his connections made!
Starlight Bandits     Will grips the doorknob and opens up... just in time to see every assassin in the room pulling a melee weapon and pointing it at the two Bandits, who stand upon a coffee table. Even Desert Wolf has drawn two of his shitty katana. "That anchor point? That was Wad. He was there on a job," says one of the hitmen, a very severe-looking man in a crushed velvet suit, wearing cat ears. "He died from what you did. Obviously, we'll finish his last job, that is our code. But we'll take our pound of flesh from you two first."

    They attack in unison, forcing the Bandits to leapfrog over them to get some space from the blades and staff. "Ah, William!" Irvine exclaims, drawing his Preying Mantis to block a follow-up. "Good to see you! Feel free to assist if you like, but we can probably manage this lot!"

    The anime princess (the character is most likely a princess) accepts the payments and gathers the items with just the same level of efficency. "Magic? Nah, but I know a guy," she replies as she swaps out the trigger on a modular rifle with one with a far wider guard, suitable for webbed fingers. "And if you want to connect, there's something going down through that door. Code business. Take part, and we'll know that Cuban Pete is the real deal." She finishes assembling all the requested items and bundles it all with a smile. "Anything else I can help with sir~?"
William Pauwel You know what--

No. This is completely and totally normal by this point. How many times has Will seen the Bandits being held up at swordpoint by a bunch of thugs? Way too many times! Enough times for Will to not be phased in even the least bit. "Hey Irvine! Molly, too! Wow, I'm glad to see you guys. Making a stir as always, huh? Hey, those things working out for you? You know, the stuff you took?"

Oh right.

They DID kind of steal some of his layabout guns.

"I've got a few more things, and an idea. Y' see, if I provide you with some of my gear and it turns out well, I think we'd both be happy! So-- Oop."

Someone knifes at Will's head.

Fortunately, his head's... not there anymore.

Dodging! It's a thing. Also a thing: His gun having an 'electrocution' setting. It looks and acts like a stungun if all he does is poke someone with it. "Y' know, I've always wondered," Will says as he joins the fray, poking at one thug and then another with his amazing supertech zapper. "Does this kind of thing happen with you guys a lot? Is this part of the... the panel I was hearing about...?"
Starbound Flotilla     "Not a thing, princess." George says, gathering up the guns into his Matter Manipulator. And then swiftly striding on out.

"Got an in."
"Thank you, George, because I am in urgent need of an /out/."
"Yeahyeah, dumb fish got in fight about practicality of dumb fish sssword."
"Code biz going down, we can prove ourselves here."
"Aye? Ye think it's a dangerous thing?"
"Worried. Well, it will likely at least be something unscrupulous."
"They're death-dealers. It will involve dealing death. Let's go."
"Gettin' restless, huh? Yeah, this way. Got some guns for ya."

    The group flips a little sign -- GETTING LUNCH, BACK IN TEN! -- and heads out. George flicks through his Matter Manipulator interface, adjusting addons to the weapons... And they converge on the door, heading down the hall. Lucky guess on his part, considering what they open the door on.

    "Heyyyyy there!" George calls out happily. The duo might be able to manage this lot, but can they manage the Flotilla right alongside them? "Heard there was some con biz needed cleaning up!" And already he's drawn a heavy electric baton, one crackling with electricity, lunging right towards William Pauwell's favorite duo with some brutal swings! He can read the room and he can realize what's going down here. "Haven't seen you two in years! Hell, I can finally get back for the Deluminated!"

    "What-- THEM!? Avast, I'll take the cost of that day from them myself!" Pavo as well! The two appear to be the vanguard in this fight, as she leaps and almost soars above the battle to try a sword-first downward strike at the pair!

    Neither have noticed William, who can intercept at any moment.
Starlight Bandits     The brawl begins in earnest! The one that William tazes was dressed as Vash the Stampede, the shock making his hair stand up. He slumps, more authentic to the character, as the Flotilla burst in. They have beef with the Bandits, but do they remember it?

    Hey Irvine, what's a Deluminated? Molly asks as she weaves around a flurry of knife swings from the man in the suit and cat ears. "Oh, I believe that was that dark street we were busking on a while back," Irvine replies conversationally as he blocks Desert Wolf's shitty katanas. Predictably, they break upon contact with a sharpened blade, but this seems to be part of the furry's plan! Because he drops the ruined sword, and grabs at the broken blade as it flies, before driving it into Irvine's shoulder with shocking strength! "GAH! A fine trick, friend! William, let us be off!" he calls, just as Pavo comes lunging down at him. Molly tosses down a smoke bomb which quickly chokes the room, with bird alien hitting only air as the Bandits escape into the tunnel once more!

    But Irvine is bleeding, and he's leaving a trail. Clearly, they're making for the convention floor. The other assassins immediately go after them, the man in the suit giving the Flotilla a look. "If you are here to assist, take their heads."
William Pauwel Are we sure it's not in fact Vash The Actual Stampede? He could very well just be That Guy, who happened to be in the wrong place, hanging out with the wrong people, not entirely sure what's actually going on. Then again, the real Vash the Stampede would probably be utterly opposed to all this nonsense...!

Irvine is stabbed! The Starbound Flotilla floods in. Will clicks his tongue against the top of his mouth, "R-right. No time to be messin' around in here! I've got your backs, bandits!"

Does... does he not care about how many times they've taken advantage of him too!?!

Nah, he's too big of a fan. After all, true Bandits SHOULD act like them, right...? And they weren't much loved by these bad folks, so they're definitely better than them!

Will darts into the smoke, tipping his visor down over his eyes. Infra-red scans start pinging out into the haze, tracking Pavo and the others as they move through. Bolts of kinetic force tear through the haze as Will again swaps out his weapon's configuration. Judgment is set in PUNCH YOU WITH FORCE BULLETS MODE...!

It looks like he's aiming for legs, knees, ankles-- anything to slow them down to allow the bandits time to get some distance!
Starbound Flotilla     "Wha-- No, ye scurvey dogs! That airship! Damn ye, ye took my target!" Pavo calls out, yanking her cutlass out, waving it in the smoke and rushing out as soon as she can identify the blood. Unluckily that's when William manages to get a bead on her, and his gun slams her knee hard, disabling much of her agility and dexterity! "Arrrgh!" She cries out! But you know, a /pain/ argh, not a /piratey/ arrrrgh. She'll recover... Soonish, but she's on the ground for now.

    George is the one who follows a little more soon. Not before assaulting William. He focused on Pavo, and this meant George had time to snap his armor into place! "Woah there! Stun guns are dangerous shit, take it from me!" He calls out, slipping into the smoke as it clears and then trying to yank William's arm into a swift and dramatic takedown! He's armored up and now wears a futuristic combat EVA hardsuit that glows a gentle red at the flat faceplate, which shines particularly brightly as it suddenly enhances his strength intensely for the assault!

"Biteblade! It's an anime con! Glomp 'em!"
"Yaaaay!"

    And Biteblade's now suddenly armored up too! All in durasteel plating with elaborately carved wood and bone ornaments over glowing powered components that glow an intense green. She's taking off after the trail of blood, eagerly following to attempt to tackle Irvine! Tiny costumed girls tackle-hugging people on the con floor may be a faux-pas, but it's at least not going to draw attention if she does
Starlight Bandits     The Bandits have reached the con floor by the time that Biteblade catches up with them. Weaving through the crowds is touch, especially when it's a hambeast, but eventually the Floran is able to close the distance, and unleash the dreaded glomp. It's shockingly effective, because Irvine loves getting hugs, even if he's stabbed during one!

    He takes whatever blow Biteblade deals him, and returns the hug! He hugs, and begins to spin, pulling the Floran around until they are whirling, at which point Irvine would try to launch him into the air! And then, Molly would follow up by jumping after him, grabbing at his neck, and bringing him down into a DDT!

    Either way, they've certainly made a scene, and certain parties aren't having it. The anime princess running the gun stall is marching over, bearing two rifles and a furious look on her face. "Stupid assholes can't even kill them quietly out of sight... HEY!" she barks, before opening fire with both on full auto! Biteblade better get out of the way!

    Meanwhile, downstairs, George attempts to bring down Will. The other assassins still on their feet dogpile on with him, attempting to restrain the techno-cowboy. But the man in the suit demands, "Don't kill him."
William Pauwel Maybe, just maybe, Will could have somehow pulled off a miracle to avoid being dogpiled by a guy in power armor. Maybe. He certainly makes a damnably respectable effort. Bolts of kinetic force hammer into George's crimson armor as he advances, and Will's incredible quickshooting keeps the others at bay-- for a while. There are just too many, and he's just one cowpoke.

"Khh--" Will chokes as George finally manages to seize him by the arm. The other mobsters pile in as well, knocking him hard, face down, into the floor. "Darnit! I ain't gonna be so easy to take down!"

Except, er.

He... was... easily taken down.
Starbound Flotilla     "Waaaaugh! Glomp not woooork!" Biteblade calls out as she's bodily TOSSED! She sure did attempt to slip a blade in there, but it looks like it just doesn't slow these two down! She lands heavily on her back, rolling away and feeling bruised. She rolls to her feet just in time to be an obstruction! Thankfully not one for long, but just long enough to suffer some dangerous gunshots, blunted by her armor's defensive systems. She ducks down out of the way quickly! "Wah! Hey! Floran hasss handled! Gah!"

    "Hey! Don't sell me short here! I've got all kinds of skill going into-- Oof!" One of those kinetic shots William was firing manages to catch him just as he takes the boy down, and he goes flying back right out the door, splaying over the ground, and scrambling back to his feet as his suit's medical systems try to compensate for the heavy bruising William just hit him with. "I'mma follow up on the double trouble, back later!"

    "What, ye can't because of that code? Ghhh... Alright!" Pavo shouts, then something dispells the remainder of the smoke! "Ghhhhrrrrrhhh... Ahoy! Get back here!" She's finally gotten to her feet, and has donned her armor! A divine-aesthetic set of mesoamerican-style armor, with yellow runes and inscriptions lighting up on stylishly gleaming golden armor and robes. And a pair of heavy, stone-like wings at the back that have flapped away the smoke! Heavy thrusters compensate for a godawful knee wound, and she blasts off in a series of leaping short glides.

    Chaos, of course, on the con floor, but at least George and Pavo know how to maneuver chaos, from the chaos of a crowded space station or the chaos of a crowded airship deck they have the experience to try to charge the Starlight Bandits down, and if the Secret Con is going loud first, so will the Flotilla, now wielding fresh firearms!

    "Worried. We're not hurting him, right? Um..." Seft wanders into the room with William. "Hopeful. There's a code to leave innocents out of it, right? Would you mind if I administer some medical aid?" She seems /incredibly/ apologetic about this and will, in fact, be trying to help William out while the rest of the Flotilla are busy elsewhere, just since she can get away with it while they're not looking.
Starlight Bandits     "Go ahead," the man in the suit says to Seft. "Our code does indeed forbid the harming of innocents. Which is why I must attend to what is happening upstairs. Pardon me." And with that, he strips out of his suit in a fluid motion, leaving him clad in the uniform on the Seafoam City Police Department. He produces the usual firearm, pulls the slide, and starts to make his way upstairs from behind Pavo.

    George and Pavo catch up with Biteblade in the middle of a gunfight with the anime princess. Molly is supporting Irvine, who is suffering from multiple stab wounds as they hide behind an ATM. She's returning fire, but is outgunned, and soon to be outmanned as the Flotilla converge. Things are looking bad...

    When suddenly, another gunshot from nowhere, and the princess slumps, her chest blooming blood. The source? The man in the police uniform, now looking for all intents like a police officer responding to the scene.

    He goes over to secure her as the life ebbs from her. "Winnie," he whispers, unheard among all the shouting of the con-goers. "I told you not to get involved. You would take it too personal. Now you broke the Code. This is what happens."
William Pauwel Somehow, by the Criminal Code, Will... Escapes being massively and terribly mauled by a gang full of crooks. He wheezes as the last of the mob peels off of him to go take care of some rather more important business than a misguided fanboy. Will's finger subtly slips off the trigger of his all-too-subtly glowing firearm.

What was he planning, exactly?

Well. The world will never know, now.

"'M fine, 'm fine," Will says to Seft, "Just... Help me up. T'is ain't the worst I've been hurt, t'won't be the last time I do something that gets me on the wrong end of somebody's ire. Just... I need to go help those two, okay?"

Though Seft may be in a position to prevent him from moving in that direction. If he does manage it...

Well. The fact that there's someone /bleeding out/ in plain sight of Will's keen eyes is enough to get him all a-flustered. "Don't-- don't waste time on me! I'll be fine. Go fix her up! Go! I'll keep 'em off y'all!"

Suppressive fire is Seft's to take advantage of... If she goes for the wounded girl. Though Will's position /is/ ideal to help cover the Bandits as well...!
Starbound Flotilla     Seft goes ahead and helps William up. It seems like she's one of the few parts of this little gang that doesn't like antagonizing William himself. "Relieved. Thank goodness. Here you go, Mr. Pauwel. Sorry about that..." She says, awkwardly emitting a few uneasy buzzes. She seems... Uncertain about whether or not to stop him, but she's not going to be the one to do it if none of the local murderers are planning to. She does follow, and does move to administer some emergency first aid, though... She looks, in a worried way, at the so-called "police officer" first. She has the feeling this might be one of those Assassin Things.

    She feels like she might need to catch a hint that she's meant to die for violating their code, space-medicine or no, and she can't really interfere with that without putting herself at significant risk. Maybe William's interference can justify this...? She hopes he'll focus that on the assassin.

"Behind the ATMs!"
"Aye, sighted!"
"Watch the return fire! The girl's got him up!"
"Avast! Took a chunk off ome!"
"Well let's hope it doesn't take any chunks between you and the trigger finger, okay?"
"Aye! Keep that trigger down, matey!"

    They're not doing any kind of slaughter, but they are laying into the triggers... Pavo's in a more vulnerable spot in her long hovering sequences of laying down automatic fire, meaning she's often knocked around a bit, and George isn't aware of the issue with Will. If the duo bandits intend to escape, they'll have an easy chance if Will takes the two shots...
Starlight Bandits     Fire is opened upon the ATMs, but nothing comes back. Upon inspection, it seems the two used the momentary distraction offered by the shooting of Winnie to warp out. As such, Will's covering fire is meaningless. The bullet passed through her heart. She's dead.

    "Well," the man in the police uniform says. "Let us call this done for now, and go our own separate ways before the real authorities show up. Deal?" He doesn't even wait for an answer before stalking away. Other assassins who just showed up also back off, leaving behind the body of their compatriot.