Alex looks a lot more different on her shift at the bar today. It will all be over tonight, the old part of her life, but how old is it really? Now it's really hard to believe that she spent here her whole life. Ward is a not a big thinker, but she's actively questioning her own recent decisions. And it all comes to her having to go somewhere where it's safer.
Most of her regular customers are not aware that she's about to leave. And as per usual she gets a lot of smiles and a lot of attention. Working at the mining operations is hard and the bar barely has any female visitors. What makes Alex a local start of some sort. It is sad to probably see them all for the last time. It all gives her the motivation to work even harder on her last shift. Sometimes she even wants to cry.
The place is crowdy, and agent that is supposed to take her should be arriving by now. But there's no way she could see him coming. She often even forgets about it, working her day as usual. In spite of everything, Alex looks happy right now. Maybe it makes her a happy idiot, but that's the way she is.
James had planned for trouble. He didn't like waltzing right into an IMG stronghold but duty called and as always, he answered. He knew nothing about this Alexandra Ward short of having a picture of her and her supposed name. No, he didn't like it one bit, so he planned accordingly. James wasn't James Robinson today, he was Andrew Morrison, Zoner pilot and trader extraordinaire. He had parked his Dromedary at docking bay E6 and put on his light jacket, he felt weird, not wearing his normal clothes, nor his normal hair. Today he was blonde and clean shaven. The beard was done, trimmed into a mustache, and he wore rectangle eyeglasses. He walked into the bar on Holman Outpost and took a seat in the corner booth, waiting for his friend to show up.
At that moment, Ron Brimley walked into the bar. James could barely believe it, he was James' spitting image. It was amazing what they could do with prosthetics these days. James could see Ron scan the bar quickly and knew he had been seen, but neither acknowledged each other's presence. Brimley was one of two precautions that James had had time to setup for in the short time since he'd gotten the assignment. Brimley and James went all the way back to their time together in corporate intelligence for Bowex. Brimley eventually left and became and independent Junker, but the two still remained close and James trusted Brimley implicitly. He was the next best thing to SIS backup. If this was a trap, Brimley also knew as little as necessary so if he was detained, he had nothing to say, and he had hauled a shipload of and docked it in Docking Bay D4. His presence could be explained away.
James watched as Brimley walked up to the bar and sat down a couple of stools down from where Ward stood. He casually asked, Got anything good to drink back there?
The bar was crowded but James could see Brimley, that was all that mattered. They had already worked out a prearranged signal as to how the meet was going. James sat back and waited for things to kick off.
Alex is just lifting and passing four beers to the loud group of miners. Her body is not looking durable and it almost looks like her wrists are about to break any moment as she's carrying four full glasses. At this time, a person that is looking very similar to an agent that is supposed to come around that time is actually coming and asking for drinks. She cannot find words for a moment, not even knowing how to react. But soon after her professionalism is catching up. With a mild smile and sweet voice, Alex is starting her reply. Hoping not to blow up his cover too.
"Welcome to the Outpost Holman, sir! I've been waiting for you. Unfortunately, our menu list has shorted during the last time. As we were speaking the last time I had promised you some free drinks. There's a bottle of premium brandy that no one is buying if you will give me a moment I will get it..."
And then Alex stops, looking confused, from the middle of her welcoming speech supposed agent looks like he has no idea what she's even talking about. Maybe that was his professionalism and maybe she said something wrong. Now she's even getting somewhat scared. With a gesture, she's calling her young probationer, whispering to her ear as she comes closer. "I need a break, take care of those who remained." Then turning to Brimley, and her professional smile is taking over her face again. "Excuse me, sir, this girl will serve you and I need a break."
Ward then simply walks into the crowd, looking terribly confused, she's just trying to realize what is going on. This time she's not even caring about these dirty morons trying to paw the most attractive parts of her body. She usually would just slap them every now and then, but now she just walks into the corner, trying to hide from her own troubling thoughts.
James could tell that Alex was flustered by the arrival of Brimley as she walked away from the bar and right up to his corner booth. As she walked away, Brimley hiked his shoulder in "what can you do" manner. The little game he and Brimley had planned had worked even more perfectly than imagine. It became abundantly clear to James that he was not dealing with an intelligence operative here, he was dealing with a scared young lady. James didn't want to prolong her agony but waited about thirty seconds before saying anything. It was clear that she wasn't focusing on anything and probably hadn't even noticed him. When the cavalry hadn't come to get him or Mr. Brimley he finally spoke up, just loud enough for her to hear him and no one else, Well young lady, I hear you're looking for your ticket outta here.
Alex is now even more confused, switching her look between Robinson and Brimley several times. Not that it helped in anything. Ward is being even more confused with this, but at least she's sure that real agent is in front of her now. Or is he?
Now her eyes are running all over his face. Nearly begging for help. "That girl at the bar may replace me for the rest of my workday. And my things are should be at cargo..." The girl stops, it looks like she's too tired to even speak. "At cargo section of the hangar... Sorry I feel a little bit dizzy."
Easy now, first of all take a couple of deep breaths. James began and motioned in and out with his hands to try to calm her down. At the same time he looked over at the bar and nodded very slightly to Brimley, who paid and finished his drink, leaving without another word or look. Mr. Brimley has the dual virtues of being both an old friend and rather fond of theatrics. Your cargo has already been loaded into my ship but will be arriving separately. He paused for a moment and looked back at her, she seemed to have caught her breath a bit but he couldn't be sure, his primary concern was that the patrons didn't notice the two of them. When he started talking again it was both low and calm, I know you're nervous, maybe even scared, but I need you to keep it together until we're on the ship. Can you do that for me?
Ward is doing as she was told, taking a long and deep breaths. She is not paying that much attention to his explanations though. Alex nods many times, thinking about something. "Yes, we will go now, give me a moment."
With that, she soon starts heading to exist, still not paying much attention to anyone else around. And Alex just paid for it, when she pushes a random man who is carrying drinks to his table. Then would both fall, spilling beers all over her left shoulder, breasts, and belly. There are even a few drops on her back. Alex is not saying anything, but just listening to the fallen man swearing. With her clothes now being wet and smelling with cheap beer, she's slowly getting up again attempting to move to the exit.
"That's alright don't worry. Not the first time such happens." She says to James, as they finally reach that exist.
James could tell she was hearing but not really listening to anything he said. When she said they were going he wanted to tell her to wait but she was already gone. He got up out of his booth and started following after her. It didn't take long for her to complicate things, running into some poor guy carrying drinks back to his table. She was soaked in beer and he was glad he and Brimley were switching ships, better Brimley's CSV smell of beer than his dromedary. As she got up and made a beeline for the exit, James helped the man she collided with up, Sorry, she just got some bad news. Here, this should cover the beer and a couple extra rounds for you and your friends. He said in with an accent straight out of Planet Pittsburgh and continued on after Alex.
As they made it out of the bar and set out towards docking bay D4, James leaned in and said, very quietly, I bought the guy you gave a beer bath a couple extra rounds but you need to keep it together. Bay D4. As they rounded the corner leading to the docking bay, his earpiece went off, the voice was Brimley'sIt's me, ship is cleared for takeoff with a load of Tungsten, flight plan headed to Munich.
"Ah? Yes, sure. Mind if I will take a little nap there?" Alex is keeping it together, she just way too tired and emotionally exhausted to pay attention. "I will turn on the heating to dry my clothes. It will smell anyway. ****." She starts walking a little slower. "Imagine spending all your life at this station." Alex says to her companion as if he was her soulmate.
James led Alex forward with purpose, his body language impressing how urgent the situation was to make it clear that they weren't going to be stopped or interrupted. James opened the cargo bay door and allowed Alex in first, sealing the door behind them. Sorry, there's not a hell of a lot of room, she wasn't designed for passengers but she'll get us out unnoticed. James sat down and the pilots seat and powered the ship up, Holman Control, this is Junkers Gamma-3, requesting permission to depart.
The comm crackled to life a few seconds later Acknowledged Junkers Gamma-3, cleared for departure, safe skies. James gave his thanks and set off into the trade lane.
They covered the distance to the Leeds Jump Gate in about five minutes, James didn't utter a word until they were to the Stokes wreck. Once they were into the trade lane going towards what was left of Leeds when he opened a secure channel Control, Omega-5 reporting, package secure, on our way home, out.. He opened another secure channel to Brimley We're clear old friend, thank you for the help. Your ship will be at the prearranged dropoff. Give Margaret my best.
Finally, James turned on the shipboard comm, Ms. Ward. We're passing Leeds now. You're welcome to join me in the cockpit. He paused for a moment Mr. Brimley wishes you a happy and interesting life.
Despite his invitation Alex never came up to the cockpit, which didn't matter to him anyway. He was more preoccupied with her calming down than talking to him, the last thing he needed was for her to have a heart attack after making their escape. The rest of the tripped past in silence without incident. When they arrived at Cambridge, the Director was waiting outside the exit. Mission successful without incident sir, she's all yours, he then turned to Alex, If you ever do want to talk, leave word with my office.
From Cambridge, James flew to Omega-49 and docked the CSV on Gran Canaria. He walked into the bar and joined Brimley, who was already sitting there. So, who is she she? Brimley asked, sipping his whiskey.
I have no idea, James replied, sipping on his gin and tonic, But I wouldn't mind finding out...