Alvin stood beside the great hearth, sipping a mug of coffee, warming himself against the chill of a Gran Canaria late Autumn. It wasn't nearly as bad as a Volgograd summer, but there was definitely a chill in the air when he had landed at the starport.
The drive across land to the Estate had given the Premier of the Coalition a chance to think and reflect on what he needed to say to his old friend.
He'd been, politely, shown in and offered a warm drink. Hospitality he had gladly accepted. It was rare to see a place where he was welcome, not for who he was, but for what he was. Tombstone was a rare and unique place in the cosmos.
"John," He stated as he turned towards the door, knowing his friend to be there. "I need to know, is it true that Gran Canaria is being surrendered to the Corsairs?"
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Doc was told that he had a guest as he tucked a blanket around Midori who had fallen asleep on a living room couch. Having just come home from Canaria Medical, she was still quite week and tired. Hearing of Alvin's arrival, he quietly went out to greet him.
"Nice to see you again, Alvin," he said quietly as he motioned for him to go out on his back deck that overlooked his lands. Like clockwork, Grady brought the two men drinks of choice.
"Forgive me, Alvin, but Midori sleeps. We only got home yesterday so she's still recovering," he explained.
He then listened to Alvin's question, "John," He stated as he turned towards the door, knowing his friend to be there. "I need to know, is it true that Gran Canaria is being surrendered to the Corsairs?"
Doc just looked at him for a moment, confused, shocked and miffed at the same time. With a straight face of stone, he simply answered, "Not as long as I have a pulse." He then sipped his drink.
"Alvin, I've heard nothing about this," he explained, "but you can be assured that I don't like it, even less than you don't like it. I've made my home here, I have a family to raise here, my medical practice is based here."
He didn't know who he was saying it to but he said it under his breath, "Eventus Stultorum Magister."
Frustrated, he patted Alvin on the shoulder and looked out over his estate, "Sorry, old friend but that wasn't directed at you." It was obvious, Doc was just a bit annoyed to say the least.
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Doc never said a word to his wife as they returned from the Canarian feast. She knew not to ask. When they returned home, she watched him walk away, still in his robes. As he passed a table, he dropped his com link and datapad on it before entering his West room. Still unsure why he was so upset, she picked up his comm link and listened to it. She figured it would give a clue as to what was wrong. As she listened, she herself teared up as well.
Mal, it's Alicia. You need to come to Baffin. We just found Mal dead in his office. The reasons are yet unknown. Please, John, come home.
She then just looked up at the door to the room John was in, her face wet with tears and shaking her head, "Oh John." Putting the com link down, she made the slow walk into the room to find him on his piano, giving the only tribute he could to his friend. As he played, she stood behind him, her hands on his shoulders. After finishing, he began again, putting more emphasis on the song making it better. And still a third time. Who Wants To Live Forever
After the third time, his head fell on the piano as he began to sob uncontrollably. Midori could do nothing but watch.
He felt under dressed, standing there in the living room, a glass of scotch in his hand waiting for his friend to return. A simple high necked cardigan instead of his customary suit, somehow it seemed appropriate to the situation.
There had been the rush after the news, the CPW-Radek sprinting the Premier away from the Coalition to be where his long time friend needed him. The Coalition Warship now prowling around watching for trouble as Alvin did the same for the Hollidays.
It was something they did for each other, when he had needed John, the old Doctor had dropped everything and had come to the rescue, Alvin had done the same for John... friends did that for each other, it wasn't about keeping score, it was more about... being human.
The days ahead were going to be rough ones, no one had really slept, no one really wanted to. There were candles out in the halls, flickering like a silent vigil, just alone it made the rooms seem haunted, like the ghosts that once were there were never really parted.
He wanted to do something, the great and powerful premier, Leader of the People, Voice of a Nation... and yet he was utterly helpless in that situation, so small and insignificant in the great schemes of the universe. Another man amidst so many, a leaf caught in the winds of change.
He was reminded of Alexi Karchov, the wisened old Admiral that had guided Katz so many years before, when it had been an especially cold night in the Klash. There were the usual arguments of the men, kept in whispers... those who thought McIntosh had been a tyrant, and those that idolized him... neither side willing to back down.
It had been Karchov's palm slapping the table that had caused them all to turn to face him.
'No man lives forever, and there will never be another like him...'
It was true, Katz was a different from his predecessor as he could be, striving for reform and change in the Coalition. Building bridges that McIntosh had sought fit to burn... but... McIntosh, Tyrant of Idol, had been good for the Coalition, he'd made them strong.
Mal had been good for the TAZ, he had given them vision.
Yet, things came to an end, and the future would see so many better days.
Still, for the time being, there was a hollow place where once there was a person, and like all wounds, it would take time to heal.
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John emerged from the doors of his West room with his wife. For a moment, they didn't see Alvin.
"John, things will be OK," she assured him, her hands on his face while forcing a weak smile of her own.
He just sighed, "Yeah! I just feel like I've been kicked in the teeth is all."
"It going to hurt for awhile. There nothing you can do. You need time," she reminded.
Doc sighed again, the pain still fresh. When he waved his head, he saw Alvin. He was slightly embarrassed as his face was still red and damp.
"Alvin," he said as he tried to hide his face and appear strong. His attempt failed miserably. When Alvin asked him how he felt, he simply answered in his southern drawl, "I've felt better."
He then approached Alvin, Midori right with him. While Doc was trying to put himself back together, Midori managed a smile through her dampened face and hugged Alvin, "It is good to see you." She the looked at Doc real quick and back to Alvin as if to say "he needs you" and said, "Thank you."
Pulling back, she didn't wait for an answer, she just went to get him another drink, in part to leave him and John alone.
John finally turned, closed his eyes a moment and then took his hand, "thank you, Alvin. I could use a friend right about now."
"I know," Alvin replied, setting the glass aside and sharing a sympathetic look.
"I am here for as long as you need me." He glanced at Miodori and then back at John. "I can't offer much by the way of insightful words at this point, all I can do is be there and ready to help you if you stumble."
He blew out a ragged sigh.
"It seems the universe conspires to rob us of the things that matter most... I'll accompany you to Baffin, and remain close on hand. Best you have someone you can rely upon near by... both of you." he nodded firmly to Miodori again.
He'd been friends with the Hollidays far longer than he'd been a leader of his people. Back when he was just another face in the crowd, dealing with things that, at the time, had seemed so vast. Doc had been there, guiding and offering his wisdom. Years of friendship built a bond that, even in the darkest of hours, kept them strong.
"I'm all packed," he said nodding to a small dufflebag, the lightest he'd packed in years. All things considered, it was best he keep a low profile. "And I can arrange a shuttle to take us to the starport while you get ready."
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Doc said nothing. He was still too distraught but he did nod his acknowledgement. Finally, he just looked to his friend, "You don't have to do this."
"No, he does not," Midori interrupted as she stood before her husband, looking up at him with her hands on his shoulders, "he do it because he your friend, a friend you have earned and he know you hurting."
She softened her tone a bit as she looked into his eyes, "Go, John Henry, go to your people. Go to your flock. They need you. They your patients right now." She then smiled, "You must."
"Join us, Dahlin'," he asked of her.
"I cannot," she answered, "my place is here with Emiko, at Canaria Medical with the twins where I can feed them. Just come home soon. We need you."
Doc only nodded his acknowledgement before turning to Alvin, "I need to get a few things together. I'll be right back." He then went upstairs.
While there, Midori approached Alvin and spoke to him softly, "Make him come home when he finished in Baffin. I worry about his health. I worry about him. He need time here. Please, make him understand."
She then quipped, "give him one of his sedatives and make him if you have to!"
A few minutes later, John returned with a small bag of his own. "I have a wardrobe in Baffin so I should be set."
He hugged his wife and after a kiss, he turned to Alvin, "It is time for us to go."
It was a rare opportunity for the Permier of the Coalition to travel incognito, a book on his lap as he sat in the cabin aboard the Zoner ship that was whisking them towards Baffin. State security would never allow him to go unescorted, and there was no doubt a Coalition ship shadowing the Zoner one, along with GRU agents posing as other passengers. But for now, the Commissariat was respecting his wishes and giving him a wide berth.
"Teach me Poker," Katz said, suddenly, looking up from the book.
John had been insular and quiet since the journey began, to be expected under the circumstances. Reflecting on his own thoughts, staring out of the window at the red skies of Bretonia as they transited towards the border system of Magellan.
Katz, himself, was craving a cigarette, and had successfully managed to sneak a couple up in a cargobay to the disapproving glare of the Zoner burser who obviously disapproved of the habit. But given John's history of illness, Katz wasn't about to smoke in the cabin.
"I am serious," Alvin set the book aside. "Teach me how to play poker... I understand that it is an art form, and that the skills it teaches are practical in galactic politics."
A courier approaches Doc, delivers a single envelope, tips his hat and leaves.
The envelope is sealed with wax pressed with a golden apple seal. A single page in archaic script, seen by John only a handful of times, reads;
Quote: Dear John, (Never thought I'd be writing a Dear John letter.)
Kallisti Brother. I am sorry that my presence over the last years has been so scarce. I have heard about Mal, and I am returning, at least for now. I will be flying in to Baffin before the sun rises again on the domes there. My bomber is discreetly named Zephyr, and I would like to make sure that someone knows that I'm coming, and in case they don't remember me, I ask that you leave word. I will be around at least until final ceremonies are finished. If I can be of any service to you, Midori, or TAZ, please let me know.
One last thing. Do you mind if I put my robes back on and once more fly TAZ colors? It has been many years, and though we all know I will always be a TAZer, I feel such a request is due. I will supply funds for everything I need, no worries on that account. I just feel that would be the proper thing for this particular event, and to be honest, I miss you all. I might just stick around a while. I follow the Ladies finger wag, of course.
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Doc read the letter and raised an eyebrow. Alvin wondered if it was something serious but with a shake of his head, Doc rested that worry. "No, an old Pope wanting to return to pay respect to his old friend," he said. He sent a com to Cid:
It is good to hear from you, Cid. You are more than welcomed to return to Baffin to pay homage to Mal. He will be honored knowing you came home just for him. Of course you can wear your robes. I'm currently en route to Baffin myself so I'll meet you at Shasta. We should have a drink. I'm sure we could tell some pretty entertaining stories. I'll see you there.
-Doc
He turned his attention back to Alvin. "I understand you wish to smoke. I won't deny you that. The environmental system will filter it out so light up," Doc told him. "People forget that I had a lung transplant awhile back so I'm plenty healthy."
"Poker.....you want to learn Poker," he continued as he pulled out a pack of cards and began shuffling them like a casino dealer, "you must know the basics I'm sure. Three of a kind, full house, straight and so forth. The rest, quite honestly, is luck. You have to be able to sell a bad hand. You must also be unpredictable. By that I mean, for example, don't be afraid to raise a bet when you shouldn't because if you only do it when you have a good hand, people will know after a few times of you doing it."
He dealt the cards and then threw his own hand face up on the table. "Not much there," he said, "a pair of fives and some other stuff. Fives don't get you much but it's all I have to work with but I can discard the other three. But, I can't take my three until you decide what you want to do."
Doc sat and waited for Alvin to make his move, ready to offer advice.
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