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Bruchsal base. It had been since forever since John Holliday stepped foot in it. His memory ran deep and even he couldn't remember when he was there. It was a place where he had little reason, if any, to be. He only heard the rumors of the place...college students who thought that they could change the world. The Rheinland government viewed them as terrorists so a Junker shuttle brought him anonymously. He brought only his medical bag, his sidearms and a pack of playing cards.
The request he received however, was unique. Who was this Civil Servant? What did he want and what were his motives? His request sounded sincere but dealing with the unlawful side of the tracks forced him to be careful. Still, he was relaxed as he walked into the bar at Bruchsal to meet his contact. Servant wanted something and Doc thought he may find opportunity.
The bartender was younger than most and looked at Doc suspiciously. After all, Doc was a stranger.
"What can I do for you, Stranger?" was all he asked.
"I am here to meet someone in confidence," Doc replied. He took a quick look about the bar. "Until he arrives, I will take a double Scotch over the rocks." He then gave the man payment with a very generous tip and found a table. It wasn't but a minute before his drink arrived from the now smiling bartender. "Let me know if you need anything else, Sir."
Doc just looked up with a nod. "Just anonymity from anyone except my contact and he will know who I am." With that, the bartender left. Doc sipped his Scotch and began playing Solitaire.
The few bars and canteens on this station were generally a shared place amongst all Bundschuh, many made of local Rheinlanders who seem to be of friendlier nature to strangers and independent individuals, as some of its regular visitors and residents whom many from certain backgrounds called home far elsewhere but have found a community they can blend in with here. There wasn't really a aura of ego or caution around this place as people were more than happy to keep their heads up and shown around each other unlike most freeports. Likely from the lack of the regular troublemakers.
As Doctor Holliday had settled in with his first drink, the bar was pretty lively, a single individual at the table wasn't really common to see around this bar... Except for one other, an individual that didn't seem to bother taking off her flight suit after arriving. Still wearing her pilot helmet and all, she sat at the table with an empty glass and a data-padd in hand that she seemed busy with, compounded in thought as one leg was crossed over the other under the table as her gaze never broke from her educational reading... Although her presentation was nothing short of social isolation. A strange juxtaposition for such a location to be in alone.
As Doctor Holliday's drink almost came to its last sip as the ice danced in his glass, there wasn't any sign yet of the individual that requested the meeting just yet, that was until the room slowly dipped in decibels... Chairs screeched, footsteps rushed and the occasional whispering annoyance of some of the other patrons describing a 'Dead man' to fornicate himself in a certain direction... A sudden turn of tensions.
Almost without a sound, another helmeted individual had brought himself to stand at the side of Doctor Holiday's table, although there wasn't much of a word from him... He just stood there like with arms down by his side and as stiff as a statue who's head was on a gimbal, observing not Doctor Holliday directly... But that game he was playing. His flightsuit a combination of blacks and greys augmented with combat webbing and extra pouches, The helmet of his fully encased his head and his visor was a dulled and visually opaque shade of teal that made eye contact difficult to maintain for onlookers. Not a single bit of what person was underneath was showing.
"Doctor Holliday I presume, unless my eyes are incredibly mistaken. I hope the Void kept your journey secluded."
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He flipped a card on one of the piles on the table before stopping and looking up at the helmeted individual.
"Dr. John Holliday," was the reply with a nod. "I guess it has been quite some time since I was last here as I do not remember seeing your kind before."
He started picking up his cards.
"You have me at a disadvantage," he continued as he used the table to neaten his card pile, "You know who I am but I do not know you."
He then put the cards in their box and put them in one of his jacket pockets. He then took a look around.
"We have some rather delicate matters to talk about so maybe we should find somewhere more private."
He stood up. His robe flowed around him as he took his bag in hand. "Let us find an office or conference room, somewhere away from the crowd."
"The Platform welcomes you to Bruschal, good Doctor. We're a recent civilian movement and paramilitary formation, but if you mean specifically myself and my tribe then not to worry, a case of me knowing you and you not knowing me means I'm doing my job effectively... My name is Civil Servant, but many just rely on 'CS'." His tone was more genuine with a hint of exhilaration rather than one of pride showmanship, even if his body had an uncanny machine like smoothness as he observed the room around them both. CS allowed the doctor to gather his belongings and assortment of playing cards from the table, ensuring that he nodded as he listened to show acknowledgement of the doctors conversation. "Yes, I have made arrangements for a SCIF to be made available for us on a Platform administrated deck, we take our privacy concerns here seriously. I hope that alleviates any pressures of potential interruptions."
There was suddenly a considerable absence of patrons around where both the Doctor and CS were occupying, so the overall temptation to bother the pair were so far free from likely disruptions. The helmeted individual gazed over at the other similar helmeted female sitting quietly in her own isolation in, who in return lowered her data-padd as she responded with an equal staring silence to CS in return. "Do you require anything else during your stay here?" Bringing his attention back to Doctor Holliday as the helmeted female had began to prepare herself for departure as she packed the data-padd into her own flight suit. "If not, Doctor Hope and I will escort you there now or while you browse the stations communal districts."
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He rose to his feet and offered a hand shake to the suited man. He noticed the other helmeted person but for the moment paid no real mind for the moment.
"No reason to browse for now," he replied. "Let us commence with business then perhaps we can do more."
Doc was looking around as they walked. He wanted to know where he was should something go awry although he didn't feel any danger. He held his bag in his left hand as they walked. His only thoughts were who were these people who wanted his help? He had not heard of them but time would tell. He did wonder how he would feel about his diplomatic stance towards Liberty considering he had a home on Erie. Again, all in due time.
Eventually, they would find themselves in a private office where they could conduct business. For a moment, he looked out a window into the space of Frankfurt. It had been some time since he had been there. His time in the system had been mostly passing through. Relaxed a little, he poured a seltzer from the small bar and took a seat, putting his bag beside him.
"So....CS....I must admit that I was caught off guard by your request. I had to think on it for a bit but I think you may have something I could use...or someone for that matter and you may not even realize it."
He then looked at his helmet. "Am I allowed to see who I am speaking with or do you prefer anonymity?"
It took some time to reach the conference room, CS paced himself with Doctor Holliday to ensure his escorting was sufficiently maintained through the crowds and corridors of the communal spaces, seeing Doctor Holliday observe his space around him was easily cued as being aware of one's space. A familiar action...
As CS reached the entrance of office, he placed has palm over the control panel of the entrance, although gloved it recognized his presence and bestowed a makeshift conference room upon opening. "We usually reserve these rooms for internal discussions and local council meetings, it's less likely to be bugged than with our diplomatic rooms..." He said with confidence as he was highlighting potential previous experiences. A basic steel dining table was set in the centre, likely stopped off a military ship with a few mess hall chairs. Thankfully it was accompanied by a welcoming stack of beverage filled boxes on some storage shelves and workbench counters... But there she was again, she was last seen about to depart as soon as CS and Doctor Holliday left the bar, how she got here without being seen during their route to the conference room was done without a whisper. The helmeted figure finishing up her arrangement of data-padds and various goods on the table, quietly pacing around
"I'd like you to meet--""Hello Doctor Holliday... I am Doctor Forlorn Hope." It was as blunt as could be and without hesitation, not an interruption but a seamless continuation of his sentence. She kept her hands behind her back, stood at the end of the table observing doctor Holliday at the bar, a seemingly alluring position for himself. She gazed on with her helmet's muted purple visor and her flight suit is also fully concealing herself too just like CS, although several markings and embroidery on her suit is slightly different.
CS in the meantime looked over the arranged documents on the table, circling around it before sliding out a seat from the table. Just as he was about to sit down, the question of identity was brought forward, forcing him to hesitate and address Doctor Holliday immediately. "... Our seclusion is much preferred. In my honest words, bad secrets are to be taken to their grave for good efforts to justly flourish. It would be better for yours and my wellbeing if you didn't know... If my compatriots can tolerate it, I ask if you do the same." Spoken with true deflection like a politician, but without the self-praise that comes with that position, but his insistence felt as if the room itself was drowned out by his words; calm yet captivating.
Both Civil Servant and Doctor Hope placed themselves on one side of the table, leaving a pair of empty chairs on the other for Doctor Holliday to choose."Whenever you're comfortable Doctor, we may begin."
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"Dr. Hope," Doc stated with a tip of his hat. "I have heard of you but only of you. This is an honor."
Doc took a seat at the table but only after the others had. It was his way.
"I respect your anonymity," stated Doc to his hosts. "It will not be an issue." It was this point that Doc took his seat.
He turned toward Dr. Hope. "I do hope that we can at least get to know each other professionally. I am sure that I could learn much."
He then took a look at documents on the table. He didn't know what they were about just yet. The Poker player in him was telling him not to play his hand just yet. What were these documents about? He wanted to know before he opened his bag. He also wanted to know more about the Platform before he committed a working relationship for as much respect as the Enterprise had Sirius wide, he kept private his relations with his clients from all others.
"Where shall we start?" he asked, not wanting to be too forward.
CS and Doctor Hope turned to each other quietly, nodding, shrugging and even tilting heads without a single word being echoed from their helmet speakers. All before CS faced back towards the observing Zoner and Doctor Hope returned to preparing several data-padds with merely a list of numbered statistics.
"First of all, I want to thank you for visiting us personally on this matter as we're usually met with silence for any request for assistance to aid those without much to gain in return. The Platform are invested in ensuring its communities and allies are able to rely on their support in return for being critical members in our movement. This sometimes brings to light issues that maybe we wouldn't have faced in the House governments of Sirius..."
CS turned to Doctor Hope who had already brought her view to the Doctor in sequenced trade. "Our request comes as we're facing supply issues to our own communities who involve people with Cardamine dependency, while we maintain stable distribution of this controlled substance our demand exceeds supply in the long-term. We can't continue to rely ambushing police contraband convoys or dealing with the extortion of the Junker network to supply our needs. As such we've noted on our civilian anonymous survey that we may be looking at a depletion of stockpiles in 6 months... "
"Multiple factors have exaggerated the issue with major repercussions in our local operations. The influx of refugees has seen us providing more Cardamine than ever since the exodus and rebellion of Slaves from the trade ring, or those who have lost a stable source with the restriction of the export by the Don's, these problems keep stacking on top of one another and we can't risk directly attacking and raiding Outcast trade ships with our other local adversaries to contend with... As such, we need a supplier, one at least who we can trust... rather than profit from. Take a look at the statistics for yourself."
Doctor Hope slid a data-padd towards Doctor Holliday with an effortless and silent glide across the table. Its screen dimly lit and hard to see unless at a specific angle thanks to its privacy filter.
"As you know topics like this are sensitive, as such the cells have asked us to deal with the issue... We at least understand how complex having these dependencies can be, we have afflictions of our own that have a hard to manufacture lifeline. So right now, we're hoping we can help eachother to amend this issue that is in both our interests. We have no intention of turning people away anytime soon."
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He nodded as he listened. He hated cardamine for the evil that it was but he also had a heart for those addicted to it. For many, it started as a moment of experimentation only to realize they had given their soul to it. He tried to hide his hatred but failed miserably.
"That shit has cost me much," he said bluntly. "I have a daughter that I no longer speak and the remains of my grandson are buried at my home on Erie, both because of cardamine."
He stood up, obviously annoyed, his hands in his pockets as he vented. "If it is the last thing that I do, I will figure that stuff out and break people free of it. I will at least reverse the sterilization caused by it. A young woman should not have to suffer a life time of grief for a moment's bad decision to experiment."
Before he returned to his seat, he picked his medical bag off of the floor and placed it in front of Dr. Hope, unzipping it as he did.
"I do not know how long it will last but it is something," he stated as he sat. The bag was full of cardamine.
"We keep enough on our stations to treat those with the addiction that come for medical help but getting it can be a challenge on a good day," he explained. "House authorities will confiscate it if they do not kill you first and enemies of the Outcasts will do the same. You may not like it but we are neighbors of the Corsairs and we peacefully co-exist so for us that could be a challenge. Like you, I do not like to turn someone away."
He relaxed a bit. The intentions of the Platform seemed to be genuine. He also wanted a chance to get to know Dr. Hope. He knew of her but knew little of her work.
"I do not know the Platform but perhaps in exchange I can get some help with information and some study."
He looked toward Dr. Hope. "I seek medical knowledge of your people, in particular, females affected by cardamine addiction. We, well I, want to undo the sterilization cardamine causes. For me, it is personal. Also, have you ever substituted Stabiline?"
The anger and frustration, enough to animate Doctor Holliday was observed by the two as they remained seated. Hearing him losing his loved ones from a vicious and addictive substance that has lured many into a sense of superiority and belonging, to only then collapse under manipulated scarcity and life threatening dependency, only to be a heavy weight burdened onto those desperate to help them smile. Doctor Hope tightened her fists as she watched Holliday unpack his tribulations of aid, CS on the other hand was patiently taking in everything he said as his focus onto the enraged Doctor was unbroken.
"Doctor Holliday..." CS spoke up once the Doctor found a pause in his rant, as his fingers slowly spread open as his palms rested flat on the table. "A combination of an powerful euphoric mutagenic and a hedonistic evil in control of a broken system. What it leaves in its wake is a ruined mass of victims falling deeper in their own struggles that were promised an escape... People like you and me choose not to ignore the source.""Your daughters justice will be delivered by the 'light at the end of the glass...' Even in shared spirit." Her voice through the speaker was clear and stoic with her yet simultaneously carried a whisper of furious conviction within the flow of her words. Hope's fists still gripped tightly, the synthetic material of her gloves creaking with the tightness of her grip. "What Doctor Hope means is that the pain of your daughter is carried in our drive to fight, the morally ambiguous actions in our hands in the name of what is justly right and good. No matter the cost to me or my kin. I hope you're willing to work with us towards a goal so desperately desired..."
But when Doctor Holliday answered with the delivery of a medical field bag brimming with capsules of the narcotic mugaten. "By the Void..." Hope and CS both gave immediate attention to it. "We're thankful for anything we receive. You have your deepest gratitude Doctor." Hope turned her visor towards CS briefly. "Enigma and Cipher are on their way, they'll deliver these to the labs for purity assessment." Doctor Hope zipped the bag back up and place it on the edge of the table on her side.
"Just so you have an understanding Doctor Holliday, these will be distributed to our clinics on our stations and within the underground, there people receive prescriptions with help towards civil stability. We're attempting to substitute in stabiline where we can on as many as possible but it's hard to purchase--" Doctor Hope quietly gave CS a nudge with her elbow. "Or steal... such a high scarcity pharmaceutical These people are in a health crisis, so I don't think the Platform will be partaking in the profit driven end of its distribution, I myself have no interests whatsoever to possess an obscene amount of credits."
"One issue is that the Outcasts will likely see this as a disruption to their network monopoly... So therefore we have considered this more of a Corporate sabotage effort rather than merely cartel countermeasures. With our growing numbers, the last thing I want to see is a mass triage of withdrawal victims on stations all while House states call this suffering 'problem solved.'"
"Now this... Medical research. As you know we can't force anyone to undergo any invasive testing or examination, we can put word out for our clinics for any volunteers and I may be of assistance in some way, but then we need to ask what you want from our patients." Doctor Hope had obtained another data-padd from under the table, preparing to write up whatever the Doctor mentioned.
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