Ursa turned three shades of red before she let out a slight breath. She brought up her beer and took a swig as a means to hide her nervousness. She shook out her hair and turned to both Mac and Emmett whispering lightly, “Let me do the talking. I don’t want either of you to incriminate yourselves..and no violence Emmett. If he is a cop. He’s not dying on my ship.” Or ever if I can help it.
She blushed again at her thought then walked into the room, straight past the cowboy to the opposite side of her desk. Her guns remained in her holsters, for him to see as she opened the desk drawer to pull out a metal box with a red cross on the top, “Oh...Well to be fair. I wasn’t really planning on guests.” She mumbled before she fell into her seat, opening the box harshly as she began pulling out some gauze and cloth, “Look, Mr. Wylder, I am not entirely sure what Mac told you, but I ain’t really looking for a new bed partner. I MEAN...trading partner.”
Ursa sunk back into her seat as she began to undo some band-aids to cover her knuckles, biting her lower lip in embarrassment. Jean felt his cheeks redden at Ursa’s word fumble despite himself. Even the stoic rough rider couldn’t keep the heat from rising in his face. Leaning back on his heels the sheriff coughed awkwardly, his mind racing for something profound to say. He was hopelessly stuck on ‘bed partners’ and no amount of metal reaching could formulate an intelligent or clever quip. “That’s unfortunate…” Jean managed at last, biting lightly on his lower lip.
Ursa looked over at Mac’s guarded face and Emmett’s amused one and gave them both an awkward shrug before she ripped off the two blood-soaked bandages on her arm and flung them over to the garbage. She continued more somberly, her attention still on her desk,“Plus Mac here, has an inkling that you are law enforcement, which you very well could be. With my luck today, you probably are. Oh by the way...you are correct. My name is Ursa Cooper. Mac has been careful enough to refrain from using it, in case you are recording me. I am telling you this because I want you to be fully aware that I have absolutely no fear that any audio will make it off this ship.”
She finished her last bandage up, then looked up putting on her serious tough guy glower, to show she was willing to kill him if necessary. After a few minutes though she immediately regretted it, blushing all over again. She dropped her eyes, biting the inside of her cheek. She felt like a creepy she goblin, ready to pounce. She never found men attractive. In fact, she found them more a nuisance if anything else. Emmett was just as good looking but when she looked at him, there was nothing. Looking at the cowboy was different though. There was just something about this one that lit something within her. It was like seeing an original edition of her favorite book, bound in leather just waiting on her desk. Her eyes just went green. What she saw she wanted. Regardless of her lack of experience and the fact that she quite truly thought he was a cop, she wanted this man, and somehow she would have him. She was sure of that.
Remaining quiet for a long while Jean studied Ursa a little closer admiring her for more than just her looks. They were clever folk them. He supposed one didn’t become so infamous by being a dullard. Still, he was right. They did strongly suspect him to be undercover, and Mac had somehow even picked up on the recording device. How? Jean couldn’t even begin to guess. Apparently, the big man was more astute than Jean had originally given him credit for. But if they thought he was law enforcement why hadn’t they plugged him and dumped his corpse in the nearest asteroid belt? Perhaps that’s what they still planned to do, he could hear the muted engines of the ship firing up, and feel the slight change in the artificial gravity as it took to the sky. Maybe they just wanted to make sure no one else would come after them. Or they wanted to know what he knew. Either way, it was going to be a serious chore trying to gain their trust, especially Mac’s. Jean would have to watch his step around him.
Sighing Jean sat down, interlocking his fingers together and sighing dramatically. “It’s a shame y’all don’t seem to trust me. I ain’t-a cop, there isn’t a recorder, no badge, no hidden motive. Sure I know who ya are Ursa Cooper. That I feigned, I’ll admit. Famed smuggler, roughish outlaw you’ve got an eight-digit bounty hoverin’ over yer head gal. But I don’ want no trouble. I just want to talk business. Lookie ‘ere see.” Reaching down with two fingers Jean eased his revolver out of its holster, placing it on the desk and sliding the weapon towards Mac. Even the slow movements caused the room to spark with tension. And now disarmed Jean knew he was playing a very dangerous game, and he had no more aces up his sleeve. Just a very incriminating hidden badge and recording device...
“I know y’all ain’t on th’ search n’ peek for a new tradin’ partner. But how ‘bout a one-time deal? A one n’ done as they say it on Tejaxs. Seein’ as ye’ve already taken’ off with me onboard, how far out o’ y’alls way would it really be to take a detour an’ smuggle some merchandise for me. Shouldn’t be too much trouble to make two stops along th’ way to wherever y’all are off too. Not in any which way I sees it. If I make it work your while.”
Ursa watched Jean with sharp eyes as he spoke about who she was and her bounty. She remained calm only until he lifted his gun and placed it on her desk, her body turning rigid at the moment. Mac took it without question, not trusting the young man for a second. Mac didn’t trust anyone though. He was the closest thing to a conspiracy theorist before actually going nuts. He trusted his instincts and in the early days of smuggling, he had saved Ursa’s life multiple times with that same instinct. If Mac didn’t trust, Mr. Handsome. Neither did she, but still the thought of spending more time with this charming devil was something she desired. Maybe...just this once she could give him the benefit of the doubt. She grabbed her beer after her upper arms were re-bandaged. She would need stitches but for now, at least they were clean. She finished the rest of the beer then tossed it into the bin raising an eyebrow at the cowboy, a smirk moving up her busted lip, “Worth my while?”
She shrugged standing up only to pull up her shirt and began pulling down her pants exposing some simple white briefs underneath, completely aware that three men were paying attention to her. A large gaping red cut was on the left side of her leg, the wound that had basically soaked her pants. She placed her hands on the table and turned to Mac, “Go get me the needle and some tongs please.”
Mac gave her a long look, which she reciprocated before speaking slowly, “I will be fine. Go.”
Mac gave the cowboy another hard look before leaving, taking the cowboy’s gun with him. She then turned to Emmett, “Perhaps you can go to Medical and check on our guest as well? I want a few words by myself with Mr. Wylder here...if you would be so kind. If I’m not there in fifteen, come back here and check on me. Thanks..”
Ursa knew that Emmett would do whatever the fuck he wanted and if that included leaving her to die, he would, so she didn’t have a right to ask him to check on her but she figured that regardless of her denying their friendship she trusted him to be on her side if things went down. After a few moments, he left the room and Ursa turned back to Jean before slowly sitting back down, pain moving up her features, “Look..Mr. Wylder I don’t know what you have heard about me but I am a rather simple person. I do my job and on most days I am actually quite cordial with newcomers, but you caught me on a bad day. So let me be blunt. I don’t have time to focus on what the fuck you are, and I sure as hell don’t have the time to help you with your business. As for it being worth my while. I am pretty damn sure that you can’t afford it. However..because you have been so accommodating.” She paused, her inner voice chiming in, ‘And for being such a stud. No man can be that pretty and a cop. No. My luck isn’t that bad.’ She blushed, “I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt. I will help you with what I can for transport but as for your business. I really don’t have the time...”
She suddenly saw her book at the opposite side of the table and gave a wide smile, “Oh you like Tolstoy as well? Well, look at that.”
She stood up slowly reaching out to grab the book when suddenly her leg gave out and she knocked the jug of water over, most of it spilling on Jean. She jolted over the desk, “Oh shit...I am so sorry about that. I am such a damn clutz..I…”
Suddenly she noticed a slight indent and wireline under his shirt and her yellow eyes met him with a cold fury. She reached down quickly to grab her guns only to find that they were still lying on her blood-soaked jeans. Her eyes moved up to Jean’s and she opened her mouth to call out instinctively for Mac, even though Emmett was probably closer, at the top of her lungs,
“Ma-”
Reacting fast Jean reached around her neck cupping his hand over her mouth silencing the cry before it could reach full fruition. Both the now ruined book and empty water jug clattered to the floor as Jean bucked upright squeezing Ursa’s throat with his free hand. Pressed in close to her hair Jean could smell the strong scent of shampoo and blood. A million questions flashed through his mind as to what she might’ve been doing before returning to the Ranger. But that was a question for another time and Jean focused instead on the rapidly deteriorating situation playing out right at that moment.
“Miz Ursa, I’m real sorry ‘bout this but I’m gonna need you to not be hollerin’ up a storm, alright.” Jean relaxed his hold on her, just enough so she could breathe and talk, but not enough to let her attempt to yell out again. “I’m gonna let you in on a little secret. I’m mighty feared o’ that big bruiser first mate you got, especially disarmed as I am. And if he hears you yellin’ yer head off ‘bout wotever it is he’s gonna come stormin’ in here shootin’ first an’ asking questions later. And I don’t wanna die. So, if you would please not be making life difficult we could ‘ave a pleasant and civil chit chat about Theonia Z17. That’s it, that’s all I want. Then we c’n part ways an’ forget this ever happened.”
Jean felt a slight twitch in his gut at those final words. A part of him didn’t appreciate the idea of just forgetting Ursa. Even if it was a statement of point not a reflection of reality. Just the inflection of having to disregard Ursa’s existence on the front of a gambled negotiation tactic caused an unwanted sense of regret, that even Jean couldn’t quite place. He’d never felt that way before, even after uttering those same words countless times in many similar scenarios. It was strange and foreign and Jean wasn’t sure if he liked it or not.
Ursa panicked when she felt something behind her. She was pulled close and her breath was cut in half with his hands at her throat and mouth. The back of her legs hit the edge of the desk as she pounded on Jean’s chest frantically before grabbing at his hands. He was way stronger than her, and after the fight with Maria and the car chase, she was in too much pain to put up much of a fight. After a few seconds, she slumped listening to him speak. Her eyes rested on his shoulder as he began to speak in her ear. Theonia Z17? Juniper’s planet. She automatically felt defensive, her guard up when it came to her stowaway.
When Jean explained that all he wanted was for them to chat and then he would leave, something made her heart jump. ‘He couldn't leave. Not after she had just met him.’ The thought came out of nowhere and when he finally relaxed his hold on her she let out a slightly choked breath attempting once more to pull away from him. She didn’t get anywhere. She sighed speaking softly, into his own ear, “Alright. I won’t call him, but if you want to have a proper chat, let alone get off this ship alive you better not lie to me again. I don't react well to people recording me. So you better fess up and tell me who you are!”
She paused, not understanding why she wasn't furious right now, or trying to get him to release her. She shut her eyes letting out an exhausted groan, “Look. If your worried about us killing you. We won't. I have a strict no killing cops policy, and Mac would never break orders, but..if..if you hurt me…”
She shivered, finally realizing that he could if he wanted to, “Y..you will be in big trouble.”
“I feel like you n’ Mac are th’ kinda people who’d back that up.” Jean said releasing Ursa from the choke hold. He kept one hand on her shoulder, concerned her leg might give out again or more importantly she might go for the kill. “There ya are, free. But you go for them pistols there and I’ll make sure yer passed out on th’ floor in eight seconds easy. You’re in no shape to be fightin’ right now, so let’s call a truce an’ leave th’ killing out of the equation.” Increasing the pressure on Ursa’s shoulder Jean guided both Ursa and himself into chairs, all the while keeping an eye on the door. Mac could return at any minute which gave him precious seconds to ensure his own survival. Reaching down Jean snatched up the fallen book smoothing out the soaked and crumpled pages, hoping this act of goodwill would reinstate some mutual understanding.
“That’s fair enough Miz Cooper, I’d say you caught me fair n’ square. I’m a Sheriff from Tejaxs, with the Long Range Galaxy sheriff’s department, the ranger some call me.” Opening up his vest Jean unfolded the hidden flap in the fabric withdrawing the wire bug, turning it off in the process. Placing the small device on the desk, he pushed it towards Ursa inviting her to inspect it. “I was orbiting Theonia Z17, monitoring th’ situation and following up a lead when I watched your ship break off from th’ main shin-dig an’ fly here. I assume you’re workin’ for th’ head dogs an’ they’re paying you well. Let me assure you th’ Galactic Federation c’n pay better. An’ I c’n pull strings and make people forget things. Important things if you get wot I’m sayin’.”
After a few words, Jean let go placing his hand on her shoulder and guiding her to the chair. She tried to reset her footing grabbing his arm and shuffling over to the seat which she happily collapsed into. She kept her eyes on him the whole time, heeding his warning ongoing for her guns. She rubbed her neck lightly, looking slightly pale after the slight scuffle. She took the book from him cautiously, remaining quiet as he started to explain who he was and why he followed her. When he handed over the recording device she pulled it slowly over to her, her bandaged fingers pulling it close to her side of the desk so he couldn’t take it. She leaned back against the seat and considered how she should approach responding to him. She kept her eyes on him as she spoke, “I make a good couple of kredits doin.g what I do Mr. Wylder, and as for wiping the slate clean, I have never even considered changing my career or regretted my choices. Honestly, it’s a pure coincidence you found us leaving that rock. I didn’t even have a job there.”
She leaned forward against the desk, trying to keep her voice even as she omitted the part about finding Juniper, “We just heard about the attack and figured they weren’t using their resources anymore, and us smugglers can’t necessarily walk into any fuel hub easily, so we picked through what we could find. Which didn’t include any survivors...or invaders mind you. Just rubble and corpses.”
Her expression turned sad, but she pulled away trying to hide her emotions a bit better so that he wouldn’t catch on. Juniper was just a young girl and she wasn’t going to readily hand her over to someone whom she did not know let alone trust. Even if he was handsome.
“Damn.” Jean sat back in his chair causing the structure to creak in protest. He had no reason disbelieve Ursa on this point, not significantly at least. It made sense, the way the ship avoided the invasion fleet and warped to a seemingly random planet. They were just smugglers going about their business. This meant that his time here was being wasted, he’d followed a bad lead and was no closer to finding Bart’s boss because of it. The mastermind behind this grand criminal scheme couldn’t have planned it any better. Sighing Jean drummed his fingers on the desk’s top trying to collect his thoughts. He needed a ride back to Zaron, and he could only hope that by some miracle Leeroy and the Bessy Girl were still there when he got back. Then he’d have to contact the Director and report that the lead was a failure. Which meant that was Bart getting free early, and by the time he returned to Theonia Z17 the invasion fleet and any evidence would be long gone. So much headache and all for nothing.
“That’s a stinking pile of spugheffer shit.” Jean ceased tapping his fingers ending off by slapping the desk and making his hand smart. “I’ll be honest Miz Cooper. Normally I’d try and get something out of this whole debacle and take you in to collect the bounty. But I’m thinking I ain’t too far off in assuming that ain’t gonna happen. So instead I’m putting my cards on y’all’s anti-cop killin’ sentiment. Which is shit because Bob’s gonna walk again leavin’ me with naught. Guess I put to many eggs in one basket on this one.”
Ursa couldn’t help but smile at his cursing, happy he didn’t question what she said. Juniper was safe...for now. She crossed her arms at the mention of dropping her off, her expression an obvious, ‘fuck no!’ to that statement. She was just about to put his mind at ease when an easter egg of a name popped up, “Bob. How the fuck do you know about Bob? THAT SON OF A BITCH JUST TRIED TO HAVE ME KILLED!”
Once the words were out of her mouth she sunk back into her chair, her cheeks going red. She shouldn’t have said that. This would just lead into a whole new range of questions that she really wasn’t prepared to answer. She decided the best course of action was to maybe beat him at asking questions, “Is Bob related to what happened on Theonia Z17?”
Surprised by this sudden burst of passion Jean leaned forward, a fresh spark of interest shining in his brown eyes. “Not to be th’ bearer of stale news ma’am, but there could be a quintillion Bobs in this universe. Still, how many are th’ heads of massive criminal conglomerates, and have a stake in murderin’ big name smugglers?” Jean mulled this new information over, wondering whether he should indulge Ursa on his suspicions or not. She could be playing him, but something told him the wounds crisscrossed across her body spoke the truth and innocence of her curiosity. “Are ya well acquainted with this Bob who tried to kill you?” Jean countered, breaking the short silence that had fallen. “I ‘ave reason to believe he’s involved at Theonia Z17. Though I ain’t even sure if that’s his real name, or jus’ an’ alias he or she uses. Th’ Bob I’m referrin’ to has been frustrating in his avoidance of th’ law. Similar to you actually.”
A smirk tugged at the corner of Ursa’s lip at his comment about her evading authorities. She debated answering him openly about the mission and decided that it was perhaps in her best interest to introduce him to Emmett and Juniper. Emmett would know way more about Bob then she would, being a direct client of his and if Jean tried anything on Juniper, Emmett would be able to take him out with ease. She frowned at the thought, not liking the idea of the cowboy hurt. She shook her head then spoke evenly, “I do my best to stay under the radar. As for Bob, I think we should extend this conversation to some more of my….guests. They might be able to shed some more light on this particular topic. Plus...I really should get to the med bay.”
She stood up slowly, gripping the table tightly as she began to walk over to the door, reaching forward to lean against the wall as she pushed the button. Her left leg was feeling numb and with every movement pain seared through her. She opened the door and turned around to lean against the wall extending a hand, her words slightly gaspy, “You first. Mr Wylder.”
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