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It was a short but to-the-point meeting Doc had with his chief of security. Doc feared not for himself but for his family. The bombardments were becoming a problem and he didn't want a stray shot or worse, "a message" being sent to his home.
He long ago built a defense grid with a high powered force field for Tombstone. To this day, it had never been used but with hostilities high, he felt it was time. Patrols around the estate monitored the many gardens his wife had planted and watched over. The flowers, fruits and vegetables that she took pride in. Also, the small cattle herds that were there, maintained by hired hands.
The generators for the field were deep underground, safe from any attack, generating enough power to sustain constant bombardment for weeks.
"No one enters the estate that doesn't have an appointment, an appointment that I set up. Is that clear?" Doc asked of his trusted man.
"Perfectly," replied the humanoid guard, "no one gets in without you setting up the appointment."
"Then we understand each other," Doc replied. "Should anyone try, regardless of who they are, you have my full permission to kill them."
The security chief just grinned his approval.
As Doc went to leave, he turned back to him, "Oh, the lone exceptions to this are Dr. Naggers and Duncan Stow. Anyone else has a problem? They can call me."
He then began walking away, speaking loudly as he did, "I'll be out watching my lands."
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It had been some since Doc had been home. Patients, his flock, working to keep his prized Med Force Industries going and of course, the many who would want his diplomatic abilities seemed to never end. But this return home was different.
Entering his home, he found it quiet. The estate house was well kept but the smells of Kusari cooking weren't about. But, Doc knew why. Midori had left with the kids. The work load was finally too much. Only now though did it seem real.
He explored the house. Everything was as he left it. Midori still left a full wardrobe in her closet as if it mattered little to her. He could only sigh. He then made a slow walk through the kid's rooms. First Emiko's and then each of the twins, Henry and Rachel. Now it became surreal. The walk continued through some of the other rooms as he made his way to his kitchen counter. There he grabbed a bottle of brandy and a glass. As he poured it, the voice of his faithful estate hand, Grady, somberly greeted him.
"It is good to see you again, Doctor," he greeted in his thick Bretonian accent. He then sighed before he continued, "Sir, I'm sorry. I tried to talk her out of leaving but...."
Doc put up a hand and drew a long face, "Thanks, Grady, but it's not your place....." He sighed, "....but I do appreciate the effort."
Doc took down another glass and filled it, motioning for Grady to take it. Doc took his own in both hands, cradling it in front of him as he continued to speak.
"I suppose I had this coming. All these years of medical work, taking over after Mal left us and failed diplomacy." Again, he paused before finishing, "I would leave too if I were in her place." He then took a sip from his glass before again cradling it in front of him.
"If you don't mind me saying so, Doctor, she knew full well what she was getting into when she married you," stated Grady. Doc could nod his head in agreement as he now stood before a window, looking out at the Canarian sun.
Grady took a few steps to his boss and friend, taking a sip of his own glass as he stood just behind and to the side of Doc as he shared his view. The two men stared out as they spoke candidly.
"I don't know what to do next, Grady," Doc stated. "I knew she wouldn't be here when I arrived but now, it seems so...........final." He took a sip of his brandy.
Grady gave a nod, "Well, you could make things right. Stay home more, maybe give something up to give more time. Go to Honshu and patch things up?"
Doc hung his head for a moment before looking out again. He couldn't face Grady for his next statement. "I found comfort in another," he said softly, "Think of me what you will but.......I fell for her."
Grady turned to look at Doc as he hung his head, "I wish I could tell you that I understood but I don't." Grady put a re-assuring hand on his friend's shoulder, "I've always served you faithfully and never questioned you and I won't now. You've done too much not just for me but for my family and my people to judge you."
It was a response Doc hadn't expected. He softly turned to his friend. "That means a lot," he said softly. "But never view yourself as a servant." He then turned back to the window and quietly asked of him, "If you don't mind, I'd like some time alone."
Grady nodded, finished his drink and simply answered "Of course" before he headed off.
There Doc stood, alone, looking out a window. In the sky he saw faces of friends past. Wyatt. Grady's loyalty reminded him of Wyatt. Then, Malaclypse, the man who took him in and gave him much. Doc could only manage a weak smile and nod to his old friend, "You were right, old friend. Keep it in perspective." He then finished his own drink.
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Planet Honshu, Honshu System, Kusari Space
[TAZ]Ambassador's.Ark touched down on the surface on it's way back from Crete. Doc was somewhat rested having slept in his quarters. The time alone helped him to put things into perspective. He hadn't seen his kids in some time and guilt finally got the better of him. He had hoped to patch things up with his wife before their divorce was final. They would meet at a home she was renting as she herself was doing some thinking. Upon his arrival, he bowed in respect to her.
"John Henry," she said with a return bow, "Konnichiwa."
"Midori.......Dahlin'" he said somberly. He then looked about and asked, "Where are the kids?"
"My parents house," she answered, "I did not want distraction."
He looked at her. She was pretty as always and she still wore her rings. He managed a weak smile, "I see you still wear your rings." He paused a moment and finished, "I didn't think you would have after our last fight."
She walked over to a window and spoke as she looked out, "I never give up hope on us." She then turned to him, her hands clasped in front of her, "I married a doctor, a humanitarian, a diplomat and an administrator. After I leave, when I considered ending our relationship, my father put things into perspective. He reminded me of these things." She paused a moment as she turned back to the window, "It was a gentle fatherly scolding if you will."
Doc approached her. He wanted to caress her from behind but didn't feel that it was time for that. Instead, he stood behind her. "I no longer lead TAZ nor do I do diplomatic work."
She turned to him, "No?" He only shook his head.
"Why?" she asked.
"You were right," he began, "I was spread too thin. I just chose not to see it. My own flock complained of my absences. The more I thought about it, the more I understood so, I turned TAZ over to John Rackham and hung up my robes of diplomacy. Now I solely do medical and humanitarian work but even those I can delegate as I always have."
She took his hands gently and smiled, "You give that up for me?"
He nodded slightly, "For you and for others. I just couldn't do it anymore."
She softly replied, "Arigato."
Doc then pulled back for a moment. He looked at her as he spoke after taking a deep sigh, "Midori, there is something I need to tell you, something that you may not be able to forgive me for. After you left, after we fought, I felt alone and weak. I found comfort in the arms of another, a woman who came to me as a patient."
He sighed again as shame crossed him, "I should have known. I should have seen it. I guess if there was only one good thing in all of it is that it lasted but a few days and it made me put things in perspective."
Midori again turned toward the window, her hands again before her, "She no longer in picture?"
"No," Doc softly answered in barely a whisper.
"What her name?" she asked.
He again came up behind her, still not touching her, "Her name was Jaden, a former Corsair turned hunter. She came to me for help with infertility. I offered solutions but none were taken. I don't know where she is now and maybe it's just as well. I was played and I lost."
There was a long silence as Midori processed what she had heard. Doc had his own thoughts. He knew Midori. Might this news be what ended it? What he did was for the most part unforgivable. His only hope was that she was indeed a very good hearted woman. After a few minutes that seemed like eternity, she turned to him, taking his hands in hers, her eyes welling up with tears.
"I am sorry, John Henry," she began, "I am sorry for leaving. I forgive you for your infidelity. I guess it is partially my own doing." The tears began to fall, "Hold me," was all she asked and he did so, holding her tightly as she wept.
"It's OK, Baby," he said softly.
As they embraced, Doc told her of Gran Canaria and how all they had built was icing over. "We have no home, no planet besides the cabin on Erie."
"I go with you wherever," she replied, still holding him.
"I may have an idea, an old base we can go to where I can work in peace and there are few aboard," he said softly.
"Hai," she replied. She then pulled back and began untying the rope that held her kimono around her.
"For now, stay with me, John Henry," she asked of him as the gown fell to the floor revealing her naked body.
"I will," he softly replied, "And I won't deny you what you have wanted after I told you that you couldn't. We'll find a way."
The craft that would come to the entrance of the estate wasn't something that could be marked as unique rather it was a very plain Eagle vessel, any attempts to find out who the pilot was ended up coming back to a civilian from Bretonia, how ever the man who exited the ship was defiantly not the same one. Unkempt as before he held a bottle of win in hand, his clothing closely croped mostly to prevent one believing him concealing a weapon. he was in this regard completely unarmed.
"Well, Doc, lets see how our little meeting shook you." A small smile playing across his lips as he made his way up to the front door of the house, he was quite familiar with Doc's security. the bottle of win held in his hands as he simply now waited to be received.
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Tombstone was cold. What were once rich, luscious gardens and pastures were now dead flower beds and tundra. Tombstone was right in the heart of the planet's climate change and had largely been left for the snow, ice and re-occurring frosts. It was a cold, desolate reminder of what was. There was also no security present.
As the stranger stood at the door, a small vehicle approached and a boy not more that ten or eleven stepped out and addressed the man in his Bretonian accent.
"Excuse me, Suh, but no one is home here. Dr. Holliday left some time ago, probably a year or so. After the climate changes and his divorce, he just left and never returned even though he still owns it."
Vaelin looked down at the boy curiously looking at the house, it had changed much since he had been there, his back turned still to the boy as his head was craned over his shoulder, his fingers gently touching the door frame.
"I expect he will come along, we have an appointment he and I and I am sure there are those still with the capability to contact him, I am left with the impression he is either avoiding contact or merely wishes me sent away, it is a curious thing for one at your age to be given use of a motorized vehicle for this task, to my mind as paranoid as it might be, it only seems logical that one would employ you because someone would rather dismiss themselves believing it a waste of time talking to you as you could possibly know nothing,"
Turning Vaelin looked to the boy, his eyes observing every detail of him. on his left arm was a tattoo with symbols in a seemingly unknown language.
"If you have contact with Holliday, convey to him that I am here, if your intention was simply genuine consideration so I don't waste my time, then I thank you for such, but I am intent on remaining, I would believe Doc would consider this matter to important to warrant it being left to uncertainty."
Vaelins eyes fixated on the boys eyes now intent on reading the reaction and looking for any indications in the lack of child innocence.
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The boy was most polite and kind. "Well, Suh, I only know that the only place he calls home is the quarters aboard his,..." He looked skyward as he spoke, ".....hospital ship. As to how to get ahold of him? I would not know, Suh."
He then looked down, softly smiling at his vehicle. "Well, Suh, these are common for even us younguh kids. They aren't highly powuhed and we ride around on them often. I miss Doc. I do wish he would come back but..." He hung his head a bit, "...I unduhstand why he's no longer here." He looked back up at the man again, "If you wish to see him here, Suh, you will have to contact him. How? I am not sure."
With a bow and a "Good day, Suh." The child got back on his vehicle, met up with a passing friend outside the old gate, waved his hat to the man and sped away.
After the boy had left, Vaelin let himself into the house moving through it with intimate knowledge at least to some smaller extent, his eyes closed as he envisioned as how things use to be. The chill of the air was new to him and it was only now he considered that this planet was warmer normally then this, even in its colder cycles, he wasn't un-use to the cold and in-fact was more inclined to be in such environments
After a length of time Vaelin finally left the house making his way out to re-board the Eagle.
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A small shuttle landed in what was the front yard. Doc exited the shuttle and entered the now abandoned mansion in his trench coat. He wasn't prepared for just how cold it was.
"Damn it's cold in here," he shivered as he went to the thermostat. With a few button pushes and a turn, the heating system came to life. "Well, at least that works."
As the house warmed up, he slowly walked through. It was much as he had left it, clean and well maintained. As he passed though, the past depressed him a bit. The smiling Kusari girl he was once married to seemed to still be in the kitchen making Mahi fish after her welcome home embrace and kiss while Emiko would come running to him. But, they weren't there now. Only the memories remained.
Doc had been alone now for some time and it was wearing on him. There was a time in his life where companionship meant little. After what was a good marriage and the loss of his once fine home to the climate change of Gran Canaria, he was a somber man and often on edge. Old memories didn't help.
He poured a drink of brandy and sat in a chair in his West room which was still as it was before he left. Pictures of a lifetime ago, dimly lit and his baby grand piano were there. It was the room where he did his thinking. He sipped his drink as he looked around. Thoughts of selling the whole thing crossed his mind but he spoke out loud, "I couldn't give away this ice cube!" It was liveable but he had no one to share it with, no one would want to live in such a place now and to live in it alone was depressing. For now it was like old times, Doc, a glass and a bottle.
Vaelin upon seeing the shuttle had stopped, rather then continuing he had watched it approach and the figure that had gotten out, he waited in a secluded manner, he had expected at least some sort of security, but at the lack of it he just frowned and shook his head tracing Doc as he would entered the home. Vaelin ghosted him through the house silently moving after him as Doc was occupied with memories and internal problems.
Hearing Doc talking to himself only presented a thin frown on Vaelins features, he caught the reminiscent look on his features and decided to interrupt the old man from his mind. "That's a shame, there goes my hope for acquiring this place, the planets come to a more favorable condition for myself, though it would need at least some modification for how things are deteriorating." He had moved to the other end of the piano and placed his hands on the edge, there was no present weapons and his open posture displayed as such.
"The last time I was here it was a bit more lively, I also expected security, which at the lack given the enigma of what produced, I would have expected at least some measure of violent protection - then again there is always the factor of range, Doc Holiday, its been some time."
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