Tombstone Estate, Planet Gran Canaria, Omega 49 System
A bottle of red wine sat in an ice bucket with two glasses on either side of it. On a cutting board was also a block of sharp cheddar cheese with some millstone crackers and pepperoni. No big meals for now, some simple snacks to take the edge off of one's hunger and to take the edge off of the day's frustrations.
Doc himself was dressed semi-professional. A pair of slacks and a button up shirt. He wore no tie or hat, letting his long locks down over his back with just enough grease to keep his waves neat with the just-out-of-the-shower look. He had a folder on the counter nearby as he was preparing a report on orphaned children who were in refugee camps on the planet from mostly Leeds. Bretonia had been at war for what seemed like an eternity. First Kusari, then Gallia. A recent trip to Leeds found many of them left hungry and dirty as their parents were either killed, imprisoned or fighting.....and they were forgotten. It was the beginning of a very long presentation he was going to put together.
Dr. Alessa Samson was someone Doc respected to the point that they were on a first name basis. There initial meeting was shortened by duty calls and she was finally free enough to meet. He cleaned up the estate, not that it wasn't already, and made it comfortable. Most visitors were astounded at it's size and how one person could live in all this. Clearly, it wasn't built with that intent and it harbored memories of times past when his late wife and his kids ran about the place. It's exterior gardens were now Evergreens instead of flower beds due to the colder climate.
Still, Doc made it his home. It was still a place of peace where he would often pass time reviewing files or just spending hours on his piano. For the moment, he sat in a chair in his West room reading a book as he awaited the arrival of his guest.
Grabbing a white blouse out of her closet mechanism Alessa watched herself in the mirror. She choosed wearing a pretty casual business dress. Of course, this wasn't a beauty upgrade to the last time she met Dr. John Henry Holliday. "Hmmmm, you don't look like a queen, Alessa, but this should serve the meeting aswell." Luckily Alessa's travel went quicker than expected that she was able to pick up a small present for John. He seemed having a very good taste for music and on her way to planet Gran Canaria Alessa met her buisiness partner and friend Hans von Goeben. He was in ownage of a lot descent ancient collectibles and Alessa decided to purchase a western music sampler from Hans for an incredible high value. "I think he'll like it." Taking the gift and a pad she made her way towards John's estate.
The air smelled fresh, especially moments like these reminded Alessa about the real issues of being a Zoner. The restless housing on an ever moving spaceship, even it is of comfort and luxury, can make someone crazy and depressive. Usually Alessa always awaits getting the opened from her host, but for some reason she just knocked and initially entered the estate. Just amazed for a second she looked at all the beautiful items within the entry room, but missed seeing John. Initially she called him. "John, Jooooooohn, this Alessa." A few seconds passed into room when a door on her left opened.
He came out of his West room with a smile, "Ah, the lovely Alessa Samson has finally arrived." He motioned her in further and closed the door, "I'm glad that you could make it."
Without missing a beat, he removed the wine from the ice and uncorked it. He poured it into the two glasses and handed her one.
"Just as you wanted," he said as he handed it to her. Raising his glass to her, he just said, "Welcome to Tombstone. May much progress be made."
He gave her an escort into his West room, his personal favorite room. It was of an old world style. A matching leather sofa and loveseat in a "L" shape so as to face the fireplace in the wall. In the corner was a baby grand piano and pictures from both times past were about. Some were very old but had Doc in them with friends wearing a badge and he kept both a picture of him with his late wife and a family picture. Over the fireplace was hung an old rifle. Of it he only said, "it still fires." Yes, it was a room full of nostalgia. Before he got comfortable and while Alessa examined her surroundings, Doc ran out to get the bottle of wine and bring it in with them.
"Please, have a seat," he instructed. "It's nice to see you again. So what's on your mind?"
The estate was a seriously comfort place, suitably a place to relax and maybe even doing vacation to refuse any cell the body of a human. Alessa didn't hesitate taking the offered seat and the glass of whine. It was of a good taste and brought a calming vibe into the urgent reason of this meeting. Forgetting about the gift she stored in her jacket she directly decided starting the conversation with John. "Hello John, I have a few topics right now that needs a discussion with you. I guess you have noticed the current development within Omicron Delta and the approach of the Confederation of Freeports. Basically said, I am not amused of it. However I guess you remind the group the Zoner Consensus. We have adjusted it in someway and want to reestablish a real Zoner society." Alessa noticed that she shot out a lot in seconds. "But before I continue, what was your mentioned reason for a talk." Hastically she took another sip of the whine and watched the beauty of the room once again, but even awaited John's concerns.
He nodded as she mentioned the Confederation of Freeports. It reminded him too much of the long failed Zoner Alliance and the Council of Zoners. He also remembered the Zoner Defense Force before that.....before him....and how it too failed.
"I'm no fan of the Confederation either," he answered. "Omicron Delta is a powder keg and everyone, Zoners included, seem to be playing with matches."
He sighed, his face dropping slightly, "I've already buried several medical crews who worked out there. I have one ship out there, Med Force Three and I've ordered it's commander to stay out of conflict and provide medical support only." He then shook his head, "I only hope I don't regret letting it stay out there."
He then sipped his wine and put back on his friendly face, "I am curious how you intend to re-establish a real Zoner society. With all the houses fighting each other over turf, dictating to Zoners installations what they will do or annexing them all together, I find it hard to do."
"As for what I had in mind, I wanted to discuss a recent trip I made to Leeds." He put on a stern look as he spoke directly to her.
"What I saw was appalling. When I left, I left with several orphaned Bretonian children. Filthy, abused, neglected, sick and some of them had insect larvae living on them. All of them had no parents and those that could care would not. I intend to return for more. Before I continue though, I need to know how much, if any, influence you have with the government of Bretonia."
He then motioned to a file he was creating. "It is not complete but that folder will be a very large report on my findings. I won't use it to attempt diplomacy as I no longer wear those robes but perhaps if when I'm finished, someone with some pull within their government might......acquire.....a copy and use it to snap some sense into Corina. That conflict needs to come to an end....somehow."
Alessa stroked over her eyebrow and started massaging it in slow speed. "This sounds terrible John and I am seriously sorry. I have to disappoint you. I personaly don't have any notable influence in Bretonia." She continued massaging her eyebrow and remained silent for some seconds. Alessa still used to handle the information she just received, but an idea came to her mind. "Though, I want to talk to our Consensus about this. I am certain there is one, who has ties in Bretonia. In fact, especially such events are the reason for my visit. I am here, because our society wants to invest into your organisation. We want to help Med Force Enterprises to increase and upgrade their fleet and want to assist in building up hospitals. The hospital John Holliday Mediplex is already in preparation to be constructed on planet Saigon" Alessa leaned back and rotated the glass in her hand. "And exactly with moves like this we want to draw back aggressions against Zoners. Other than all previous attempts and even the Confederation of Freeports our society doesn't move from a neutral basis, aligns to a military organization and never pretends any militaristic patterns itself." Finishing the last sentence Alessa reminded the prensent stored in her jacket. With a slight smile she took it out and gave it to John.
"For some reason, I thought you had ties to the Bretonian Crown. I stand corrected," he answered. "Still, if you know of someone who may be of help then I welcome it. My intention is to speak with the Dean of Cambridge University the next time I lecture at the medical college there. What you have in your hand isn't yet complete so before you do present it, I will finish the work first."
He then took his datapad, hit a key and uploaded the file to her own datapad. "You now have what I have. As I said, I need to finish it so I will send you the rest when I finish."
He scratched his head for a moment. "Planet Saigon. I honestly don't know where it is." He then smiled and sat a bit stunned at the same time. "The John Holliday Mediplex," he repeated softly under a kind smile, "I am honored and grateful. I'm just not sure what else to say beyond thank you." He then sighed, "I do hope this does help in Zoner relations but admittedly, a lot of Zoners bring a lot of their own problems upon themselves. I've tried on several occasions to teach the Zoner way to them but it often falls on deaf ears. Even my own daughter has decided to find her own way......." He again sighed, "......wherever she is. She has my temper and her late mother's beauty so she needs to be careful."
He looked at the present that he was given and cocked his head. "What is this?" He smiled a bit. It had been awhile since he received a gift. With that, he opened it.
Alessa just checked the transmitted file and nodded slightly. "I will get through it later. Of course, I will wait before I present it to anyone else. My mentor Eli was a professor at Cambridge some years ago. Guess he can help with establishing a contact." She awaited John to open the present, but decided to continue talking. "This is exactly the reason your name was picked, your imagination and expression of the Zoner culture are the truth. Your name can be a beacon for the rightful path of the illusionated Zoner society. I know if you agree with this it also comes with a responsibilty, but we have trust in you. I want to offer you a voice in our social network."Alessa watched John and tried to figure out his mind, she was aware that one of his greatest ideals was the independence. However, her eyes moved to the present again. "Please, feel free to open the present." Watching John still holding the present in hands, Alessa hoped that he was in ownage of a proper device for the music disc.
He still feeling flattered at the his name being used on a hospital. Perhaps all of his work, all of his sacrifice was all worth it. He was also distracted between the conversation at hand and the present he was opening. He had finished opening it to reveal a disc. It was something he hadn't seen in awhile. It made him smile when he read on it, "Classic Piano." He then shifted focus.
"I am curious about this social network," he inquired. "I'm hoping it's something that I can use to promote Zoner life as it's supposed to be." He then gave a snort, "It seems at times that I'm the last of the true Zoners, one of the last who actually lives the Zoner way as it was written and taught."
He then looked at the disc. It wasn't easily found and was clearly antique but it appeared to be in perfect condition. He nodded his approval and smiled as he stood up.
"Please, relax," he instructed as he went to a corner table in the room and removed a cloth that covered....something. Underneath was a record player, a very old one. Carefully, he put the disc on it and turned it on to have the magical sounds of classic piano coming from it. He was seated again as it began and as the music played, he got lost in thought as his eyes closed.
"Simply beautiful," he said. It was odd that the sounds of piano filled the room yet he wasn't playing the Baby Grand in the other corner.
After a minute, he again shifted focus.
"So tell me more about this social network," he again inquired.
Seeing John took pleasure of the music, Alessa was very much satisfied. As he did she also closed her eyes and felt the music raining her body. Simply beautiful and one of the most fascinating things."I see, you like it. Great. Well, this social network is something I have started some years ago. Easily said it is a sharing platform for opinions and discussion with the goal to reiniate and teach the true zoner culture, though we also share a financial pool and invest into organizations that may support this goal such as just mentioned MFE." Alessa picked up the glass and moved over to John. The music was at a perfect volume creating a harmoniously and relaxing background. "We want left behind the influence and affects of governmental structures and local politics. The Confederation of Freeports is such a government acting behind a shut door and decide things that go down to all Zoners. This is not our way, not the way of Zoner." It was pretty sure, this was a topic that concerned Alessa very much. Even though, she spoke in calmy tone, the seriousness and certainty were strongly present in her voice. She stepped towards the dusty ancient music player, watched at the awkward retro display and restarted the track.
"Beautiful, isn't it? What do you say? Do you want to share your opinion with us?" Pleasuring the music once again Alessa closed her eyes and laid her head to the neck. Slowly she began to swing her body to the piano sound and sank down into the ocean of melody.