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Post by Kel on Mar 12, 2011 20:53:51 GMT -5
Clea glanced at Ben as they strolled down one of the more populated thoroughfares in Coronet City. They had landed a few hours ago and had spent most of that time helping unload the Jay from the cargo load Clea was delivering to some old contacts.
She had to smile, even if there was a little sadness in it. Ben's wide-eyed curiosity at everything was slowly starting to at least partially fade as they spent more and more time on other planets exploring. He looked like a seasoned traveler now.
"All right, kiddo," she said. "I've got maybe an hour of business to attend to and then we can explore. Got your games?"
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Post by Artima Bale on Mar 12, 2011 20:57:50 GMT -5
Ben was looking around the area but turned to Clea and nodded. He already looked bored with the idea of sitting around for an hour. "Yep," he answered as he pulled out a datapad and waved it briefly. "Is it really going to take an hour?" he asked a touch sourly.
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Post by Kel on Mar 12, 2011 20:59:43 GMT -5
"Tops," Clea said. "It might take less time. Depends on how much they want to catch up before business." She rolled her eyes. "That's the one problem with sometimes leaving a long time between runs."
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Post by Artima Bale on Mar 12, 2011 21:06:09 GMT -5
Ben groaned. "Ok," he said. He shifted the 'pad in his hand as they walked.
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Post by Kel on Mar 12, 2011 21:15:01 GMT -5
They reached the office and Clea held open the door for him and smiled as she was instantly greeted. After a quick round of introductions, Clea turned back to Ben. "Wait here, okay, kid? I'll be done as soon as possible."
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Post by Artima Bale on Mar 12, 2011 21:27:47 GMT -5
Ben nodded and flopped into the nearest seat. "Ok, Mom," he acknowledged, turning on the datapad to play a game. His legs swung back and forth as he played. After getting stuck in the game for a while Ben shut it off and groaned. According to his chrono it had only been just over twenty minutes. What he really wanted to do was go outside. It looked like so much more fun to be outside. There was even a kid his own age outside across the street. On an impulse he tucked the 'pad away and slipped outside. "Hey," he greeted the other boy.
"Um, hi," the boy said and then turned away. Someone walked by and Ben only just caught the boy easily lift the being's wallet. The boy then started to walk off.
Ben only noticed because Scooter had showed him a few times. Again, on impulse Ben wandered off after him out of curiosity.
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Post by Kel on Mar 12, 2011 21:31:57 GMT -5
Clea was deep in negotiations when a beeping distracted her. She was a little embarrassed to discover it was her a moment later. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said, fishing into her pocket, figuring it was her comm. She was surprised when it wasn't and her frown deepened.
A moment later, she pulled out the small tracking device she used to keep track of Ben - and that would start beeping once he was a certain distance away from her unless she set it otherwise. "Shit," she said eloquently. "I'm sorry, I'm going to need to cut this short and go collect my wayward son," she apologized. "I'll be back shortly!" With that, she hopped up and headed out of the building, keeping half an eye on the tracking device.
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Post by Artima Bale on Mar 12, 2011 21:39:54 GMT -5
"Hey!" Ben darted forward and caught up to the boy. "I saw that. My friend showed me. Well, kinda more than friend I guess. My mom and her mom are really close. So where're you going?"
The boy just stared at him. "You're weird. Why're you following me?"
"Like I said my friend kinda showed me how to do that stuff," Ben answered.
The boy raised an eyebrow. "You any good?"
Ben shrugged. "Dunno, never really tried it I guess."
"Wanna help me with something?" the boy asked, getting a sudden idea.
"Sure," Ben agreed easily with a quick smile.
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Post by Kel on Mar 12, 2011 21:48:05 GMT -5
Clea muttered curses under her breath as Ben somehow managed to continue to put space between them. "What IS that kid up to?" she wondered out loud as she hurried down the street.
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Post by Artima Bale on Mar 12, 2011 21:59:11 GMT -5
The other boy introduced himself as Devron.
"So where we goin'?" Ben asked, suddenly glancing back and remembering that Clea's meeting wouldn't be taking all that long. Even if an hour felt like an eternity to him.
"Well, if you're gonna help me you gotta meet this guy. I grabbed this for him," Devron said.
Ben nodded. "Ok, but it can't take too long. My mom's gonna notice I'm gone soon."
"Your mom?"
Ben nodded. "If she notices I'm gone she's gonna be pretty mad at me," he admitted, grimacing at the thought.
Devron eyed him. "Didn't peg you for a street kid. Well, we're almost there." Just a few blocks later they arrived at a building and Devron led the way inside.
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Post by Kel on Mar 12, 2011 22:06:54 GMT -5
Perhaps between five and ten minutes later, Clea arrived outside the same building and eyed it, glancing at the tracker again to make sure she was correct in figuring him to be inside the building.
"Damn it, Ben," she said, with only a little rancor. The building looked safe enough, but it also had enough of a warehouse feel that Clea was a little skeptical. She seemed to have rather bad luck with Corellia - she touch the place where Kara had shot her in what seemed like a previous lifetime- and then headed for the nearest door.
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Post by Artima Bale on Mar 12, 2011 22:19:06 GMT -5
Devron took them straight to a turbolift and up. "C'mon. And watch your mouth. Bel's kinda... rough at first," he said but looked more than a little nervous. That's how he felt in the Force, too.
Ben frowned. "Ok," he said slowly.
They entered a large office and an older man was waiting for them. "You're back early, Devron," he said. "And with a friend."
Ben waved slightly. "Hi. I'm Benson," he said awkwardly.
"Nice to meet you, Benson. I'm Bel."
"Thought he could help me. You know, just for today," Devron said.
Bel narrowed his eyes slightly but shrugged one shoulder. "I don't see why not. It's always great to add a new member to the team."
**
Just inside the door were two men acting as doormen but they stopped Clea just inside. "Sorry, ma'am, this is a restricted building."
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Post by Kel on Mar 12, 2011 22:26:46 GMT -5
Clea scowled. "If it's so restricted, how come you let my eight-year-old son by?" she asked, flashing the tracker. "All I want is Ben and then we'll both leave."
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Post by Artima Bale on Mar 12, 2011 22:35:47 GMT -5
Ben shifted on his feet, an uneasy feeling growing. "I should probably get back to my mom."
Bel's eyes narrowed again. "I thought you were going to help Devron."
"Well, sure, I was, but my mom's gonna be mad if I don't get back before her meeting is over."
"Meeting?" Bel prompted.
"Some dumb shipping stuff. She was talking with some people about her shipping business," Ben answered.
Bel nodded slowly. "Interesting. Well, Devron, why don't you get Ben started quickly so he can get going."
Devron nodded. "C'mon, Ben," he said and the two turned to leave.
"What're we going to do?" Ben asked.
"I've gotta collect some credits for Bel," Devron answered.
**
The two men exchanged glances. "That tracker must be wrong. We don't allow children inside. You're going to have to leave."
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Post by Kel on Mar 12, 2011 22:39:57 GMT -5
"You're full of shit and the tracker isn't wrong," Clea said firmly, not mentioning that her son wandered off enough that she always made sure the tracker was in top condition. "Just give me back my son and I'll be out of your hair. If you continue to refuse, we're going to have a problem."
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