Ellie & Teddy wrote:Joint Post: Ellie and Teddy
Location: Jenny Wren, Cargo Hold
Shortly after the landing, Low and Kitsune disappeared. Ellie wasn’t sure what they were up to, but it wasn’t really her business anyway. Heading down into the cargo hold she opened up the cubby hole where she had hidden the goods. She pulled the box out and slid the panel back into place. The sound of footsteps came from behind her and she glanced over her shoulder to see Teddy wander in. “Well hello there,” she commented to him as she picked up the box and turned to face him, “Got big plans for fun and recreation while we are stopped here on the bazaar?”
Teddy adjusted his glasses, as was a nervous (or more of a fidget then nerves) tweek he had now and then, and shrugged. “Oh, not so much. My luck, I’ll find myself sitting in a bar having one too many drinks thinking of old times.” He showed his toothy grin, “An old soldier like me has a few memories from his years; not all he wants to remember, ya know?” He found himself at the bottom of the stairs, next to Ellie. “Soo, looking for some company in your errand?”
“Sure! Well, I don’t exactly need help carrying the box or anything, but it would be nice to have another person along for the meeting with the buyer. Makes me less of a vulnerable mark for any unsavory types who might be looking to acquire some free goods.” Ellie set the box down, and picked up her brown leather jacket, slipping it on as she waited for his response.
Teddy smiled and nodded, looking at the box she removed. “I can watch your back Ellie, one of the few things I am still good at; I’ll try not to prattle on too much Miss Ellie.” He tugged on his bet, and adjusted his saber scabbard. “Do you already have a buyer, or hitting the streets looking around?”
Reaching into her pocket she withdrew a small slip of paper and looked at the location on it to remind herself where she was going. “Looks like the meetup will be on the third level section B. It’s a stall in the general parts market. Busy enough to throw off suspicion, hopefully not too busy though. Shouldn’t be too much to worry over though, the Alliance doesn’t pay too much attention to the Space Bazaar. They know back alley dealing goes on here, but they usually have bigger fish to fry, so I doubt you will be in much danger either.”
Teddy nodded and leaned up against the railing to the stairs, crossing his legs in a relaxed stance “Yeah, I keep wondering about that; I’d like to think that I wasn’t that important to constantly be looking for… But there is a chance that some Alliance Brass have very long memories…” He showed another smile, showing his arrogant lack of worry about facing those searching for him.
Ellie picked the small box up once more and nodded toward the door, “Let’s get going then. The sooner we offload these goods, the better.” She led the way off the ship and into the bustling bazaar. People milled around the main walkway as they picked their way through. Sellers at various stalls were calling out, trying to draw attention to their wares. The air was thick with the scents of greasy foods prepared at tiny food stalls. In the corner a barker called out above the din, expounding on the wonders of whatever was inside his dark booth that would “...both amaze and terrify…” or so he claimed. Ellie ignored most of it, she had visited here a couple times before, it was nothing outstanding, but it was a nice break from the black. She found a lift and stepped inside and once Teddy was in she pressed the button for the third level. The gate slid shut with the piercing sound of metal scraping against metal, until it clanged against the lift frame. Then the gears began to grind and the lift jerked to life. Ellie made small talk as they waited, “So is there someone in your life wondering where you might be now? Someone who doesn’t want you dead or arrested that is…” Despite having him a part of their crew for some time now, she really knew very little about him, and she didn’t like that. A captain should always have some feel for who their crew is, at least Ellie thought that was the way it should be. Hopefully he didn’t feel like she was prying too much though.
Theodore held the lift door, allowing her to enter. He stepped of center from Ellie, putting himself in between the door and her, an old security habit of his. Ellie’s inquiry seemed to echo in the lift, but as good as Teddy’s control of his body language was, Ellie was seasoned enough to see his shoulders stiffen, and his head bow ever so little. “There was… once…” He arched his head to one side, cracking his neck, then rubbing it slightly with his left hand “I doubt she would be anymore…”
One thing Ellie was good at was reading people, and it was pretty clear that she had unintentionally touched a nerve. She knew enough to let the subject go. The lift stopped and the gate scraped open, revealing the third level parts market. It wasn’t quite as busy as the first level. The people here seemed to be more on a mission to get what they need. It was less entertaining, more business. “We’re looking for a stall with a red canvas and a monkey logo,” she told Teddy as they started down the main drag of the market. She added, “Glad I brought you and not Timmy, otherwise I’d be leaving here broke. He would want to buy everything,” Ellie laughed lightly.
The old soldier in Major Grant kicked in and his eyes cut through the crowds and the scenery in seconds. He shuddered inwardly when she mentioned Timmy, something about that boy bothered him, but he’d worry about it later. In a nonchalant way, he indicated the stall she’d pointed out, “Over there Miss Ellie. After you.”
Ellie’s gaze followed where Teddy was pointing. She could just barely see the stall past a larger one full of engine components. With a nod she headed that direction, her way was blocked by a large man in dirty overalls. He tried to get her attention, “Well hello little missy, you need engine parts? I’ve got the best selection, quality parts.” She tried to go around him, but he moved to block her path again, “Everything’s guaranteed. You have a problem with a product, I’ll replace it.” She shook her head and moved the other way to try and go around him, but once again he blocked her path, this time catching hold of the crook of her arm, “Come on, pretty girl like you, don’t give me the cold shoulder.”
Theodore was close by, but was working not to stand out as a bodyguard. Teddy was next to her in an instant, his right hand goosenecking the wrist of the loud salesmen, pushing his fingers back almost to his own elbow joint. He immediately let go of Ellie’s arm. “Now now now, good Sir.” Teddy stepped in and gave a little extra push, and the loud man in the overalls was being loud again, but there was pain in it now, as he was down to his knees “That’s no way to treat a lady.”
He looked back at Ellie to make sure she was okay, even knowing she would be. “Now, you have something you want to say to this lovely lady?” There was a confused look in the man’s eyes, as he was fighting through the pain. After a moment’s hesitation, he mumbled something, and Teddy leaned in closer to him and whispered “Say it like you mean it…” The harassing salesmen looked back at Ellie “I’m sorry good madam, I was out of line… forgive me?”
“Thanks,” she gave Teddy a grateful look as they moved on over to the stall with the red canvas. A woman was in the stall and she eyed them as they approached. As Ellie entered the stall, the woman looked back down at the engine part she was cleaning. She was a thin woman, with jet black hair, tied up in a loose, messy bun. She had grease smeared on her chin and ear and was wearing a white crop top and baggy cargo pants and clunky work boots.
“Oy, what do you want?” the woman demanded tersely in a thick Cockney accent as they walked up to her. Ellie set the box down on the metal table with a clang. “Marcum gave me your name. Said you’d be interested in this,” she tapped the box lid.
The woman didn’t even glance at the box, but instead turned her gaze to Ellie’s face, studying her intently and without any expression. Ellie returned her gaze without flinching, waiting for her response. The woman tossed the part she was cleaning on the table and the rag on top of it. “Marcum told me to expect McKee, didn’t figure it to be a sodding princess. Come on,” she turned and lifted a canvas flap into the enclosed back area of the stall. Ellie grabbed the box and shot an annoyed look at Teddy, “Figures we got the Ice Queen for a buyer.” She followed the woman into the back and Teddy followed her. Ellie set the box on the floor and the woman faced them with her arms crossed, “Were you tagged?”
“If you mean, were we identified during our job or do the feds know we picked up these goods, then no,” Ellie responded with growing irritation.
“My experience, girl like you tends to throw a spanner in the works. I don’t need that kind of mess in my lap, dong ma?”
Ellie stepped up to bring her a mere few inches from the other woman’s face, “I don’t know what your problem is, but me and my crew are capable of pulling a job off. Marcum told me you’d be interested in the goods,” as she said this Ellie used her foot to flip open the lid of the box without giving a bit of ground to the other woman, “Goods that can earn a middle man a nice bundle. Now if you don’t want them, I’m sure I can find another buyer with enough business sense to know a good deal when it bites them in the ass. What’s it going to be?”
The woman looked down at the box for a moment and then back at Ellie in surprise before kneeling down and inspecting the contents more closely. She stood up and said, “We can deal.”
“I thought you might see it that way,” Ellie smirked.
A short while later, Ellie and Teddy were back on the ship minus one box and with a considerable bit of credits concealed on their persons. Ellie smiled at Teddy, “I’d call that a win.”
Teddy smiled “Well, it’s always nice to feel useful!” that big grin of his shinny through. He parked the mule for Ellie, and then stopped her before she head back to check on her ship and crew. “Um, thanks Miss Ellie.” there was a short pause. “I appreciate the trust you’re trying to place in me, and the fact that you asked me to come along with you.” He adjusted his glasses and rubbed left shoulder, another wound he suffered during his recent escape from Alliance forces. “Glad I was able to help. A good day's work; a wins a win.”
Ellie gave him a grin and replied, “You’ve been a lot of help to me, so no need to thank me.” She looked around, “I wonder what everyone else is up to?”
As Ellie left, Teddy gave her walking away a look, and then turned back and walked away. He went to the cabin that was assigned to him, and sat down at the desk. He opened the drawer and took out a flask, and an old book. He poured himself a couple fingers of the liquor he had with him, and opened the book; he sighed.
Location: Jenny Wren