A/N: This story begins two years before Blade Runner 2049 and will have a few scenes spanning that time until the film plot begins.
Ella landed her spinner in the waste land in the ruins of Las Vegas for a routine scan of the area. She put her vehicle in park before she got out and began walking through the area to see if there were any signs of life.
She wandered around until she came upon a large building that seemed better preserved then anything else in the rest of the location. She walked up the sandy stairs until she reached the door. She stopped and pulled out her blaster and carefully pushed the door open. As she walked in, she kept her eyes open, ready to see anything.
She moved forward through the front terrace but stopped as her eyes cut down and she saw a trip line. Ella smiled as she knew there must be life somewhere in this otherwise barren land before she lifted her feet, one at a time, to step over the wire. She continued to move onward until she came to a staircase.
Ella took a quick breath as she moved ahead and climbed each stair slowly, keeping her blaster raised in case whoever was here was trigger happy. She assumed they didn't find visitors welcome since the building was rigged.
She reached the top of the staircase, Ella was greeted by the sight of a piano in another sitting room. She stepped off the final stair and walked into the room with no cover on any side. Suddenly, she heard the sound of an animal growling. Ella stopped in her tracks and looked to her right, where the sound originated, and saw a dog.
Ella hadn't seen a dog other then depicted in a book and she didn't know how to react but then she was surprised once more as she heard a voice from her other side.
The mysterious male voice said, "You mightn't happen to have a piece of cheese on you, now?"
Ella turned and saw the owner of the voice to her left holding a blaster similar to hers eye level with her. The man was older with gray hair and deep brown eyes but he was muscular and clearly still in very good shape.
"Why are you quoting Treasure Island to me?" she asked as she looked back at the dog for a moment, "I am Ella and I'm here doing a routine check on the area. Who are you?" she followed up her first question as she looked back and forth between her two threats, attempting to be ready if either or both made a move.
The man moved forward around the room, keeping his weapon pointed at her, "My name is Rick Deckard and I used to do what you do now," he began, "What are you going to relay back on your message from your routine check?" he asked, curiously. He was unsure of how trustworthy she might be. He knew the newer officers were more loyal to the cause.
Ella raised her brow at his question and stepped forward just slightly towards him, "We thought you were dead but you've been hiding out here?"
Deckard nodded, "I don't plan to be found anytime soon either. Are you going to make this easy or difficult?" he asked, his tone intimidating.
She watched him closely as she thought over her next reply in this situation. She hadn't expected to find someone but she had been toying with leaving the force herself.
"I have a proposition for you," she began as she eyed his weapon, "Can you lower that so we can talk? It would make conversation much more pleasant," she added as he looked at her curiously before doing what she said.
"I'm listening," he replied gruffly.
Ella smiled mischievously, "I'll report that I found nothing if you will allow me to fake my death and join you here. I don't want to kill anymore," she revealed, saying it aloud for the first time.
Deckard looked at her, his eyes full of questions, "Are you sure you can fake your death to ensure no one thinks you're alive? I can not risk being found here because I will never go back."
"I can do it," she replied, "I would stay right now but my last location would be here so this would be the first place they look. Do you agree to my terms?" she asked, her tone hopeful even though she didn't want it to sound that way. She wanted to keep the power of the conversation but she may have lost it.
Deckard moved around the chair he'd been standing behind and took a seat, leaning back as he pondered her offer. Finally he spoke, "I agree to your terms but if anyone comes after us, I will let them find you."
Ella nodded as she turned to go back down the stairs, "I'll be back."
Deckard watched her leave and knew he accepted out of loneliness but would never let the young girl know it.