A small girl approched the estate, the morning dew was familiar to her but she remembered many bad things because of it.
dressed in a knee length pleated white skirt, a pink top and a white headband, she nervously stood at the front door, holding a letter in her hand.
"Cly.. I.. hope this is the right place..."
she put the letter into the letterbox of the estate, she stood still for a moment and then shook her head turning and quickly walking away from the house.
letter reads "ohayo holiday-san, I was hoping to.. well I wanted to say hello to you, me and Cly managed to find your house, its very far from my house so I better be careful not to get sick.
this is just a letter asking if I may come over sometime today, I didnt want to just come over unanounced, im sorry im sorry, if your busy i'll understand.
um send a message to Cly and she will tell me later ok?
Clys Sirius Neural Net address is
snn.Testamentv2-64@DSS/Cly/messages"
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The Hollidays were waking up on a quiet, Canarian morning. Midori had just finished nursing Emiko and John did the honors of a burp and change, allowing Midori to prepare herself for the day. Holding Emiko in one hand and drinking a cup of coffee became almost second nature to him. As he sat on the couch cooing at her, Grady came into the room.
"Excuse me, Doc, but I found this by the door," handing him the letter.
"Um, Grady, if you would, open it and hand it to me please? I, um, kind of can't," he explained half embarrassed as he looked down at Emiko.
"Of course," Grady replied. He opened the envelope and handed him the letter inside.
Quote:"ohayo holiday-san, I was hoping to.. well I wanted to say hello to you, me and Cly managed to find your house, its very far from my house so I better be careful not to get sick.
this is just a letter asking if I may come over sometime today, I didnt want to just come over unannounced, im sorry im sorry, if your busy i'll understand.
um send a message to Cly and she will tell me later ok?
Clys Sirius Neural Net address is
snn.Testamentv2-64@DSS/Cly/messages"
He then looked forward, confused.
"Anyone you know, Suh?" Grady asked.
Doc just shook his head. About this time, Midori entered the room and he handed the note to her.
"Anyone you know, Dahlin?" he asked her.
She also shook her head no.
"Here," she said, "I take Emiko. You deal with this." He agreed and handed Emiko over to her mother and left to return the message.
Greetings, Cly,
I think I can spare a few minutes anyway. If possible, stop over say, lunch time. I am curious as to what you wish to speak to me about. I do ask that you come alone as I gave much of my staff the weekend off and didn't plan on visitors. I will see you when you arrive.
Dr. John Henry Holliday
He then had a courier deliver the message and he himself returned to the attention of his family.
As the Repentance is on patrol in the Omicrons, Captain Tiberius receives a communique.
He reads the communique and smiles. He then heads to his private quarters on the Repentance.
Captain Tiberius opens a comms channel directed to Ambassador Holliday.
Greetings Ambassador Holliday.
This is Captain Tiberius of the Repentance. We have meet before when I was commander of the Iron Legion.
I wish to express congratulations to you and your wife on your new born daughter. I am happy for the joy that has entered your lives.
Again Sir and Ma'am congratulations.
Captain Tiberius signing off.
As Captain Tiberius turns off his comms and heads back to work. *smiling*
Death Before Dishonour! Honour above all!
This masterpiece was made by Calego. (Iron Legion)
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The sun was rising on another beautiful Canarian morning. John Holliday woke early on this day. He had heard Emiko crying so he woke to take care of her so that Midori could sleep. With her wrapped in her blanket and nestled in the crook of his left arm, he sat on his deck drinking morning coffee with his right. As he watched, he heard a soft "coo." As if to share a moment with Dad, Emiko was wide awake, staring at him.
"Dahlin" he said softly, "decided to join me I see." Yes, life was good as the dual suns rose and his little girl made him smile.
He then heard the sliding door open, "Konnichiwa, John Henry," spoke Midori as she came out in her night gown. Noticing Emiko awake in his arm, she just smiled and took a seat, "she happy with you." He just nodded with a smile. She was going to take her for a feeding but as she was quiet, Midori sat and enjoyed the suns rising. As she did, the thought of the note left on the door crossed her mind.
"Did that person ever show up?" she asked.
"Nope," replied John, "not a word."
"Maybe later then," she thought out loud.
"Well, Dahlin, I have some business in Munich after I check in on Nina and Lynn so I'll be off a bit later. If she shows, well, she will have to wait I guess," he stated.
"Hai," she replied in understanding.
"John, if you do not mind, I would like my parents to come to meet their magomusume," she asked.
"Magom..What?" he asked totally confused.
She laughed, "Magomusume is Kusarian for grand daughter," she explained, still snickering. He could only give her a semi-dirty look and an "Oh."
He then gave a look of sincerety, "Of course I don't mind. I can send my shuttle for them."
"Actually, I ask one of our pilots to take my ship since it not get much use these days," she said.
"We could do that too, Dahlin!" he answered.
She then knelt beside him and put her arms around him, "I love you John Henry." She then kissed him and looked into her daughter's eyes. She said nothing. She only smiled.
She then sat in her chair on the deck and prepared herself to feed Emiko. John stood up and gently placed the infant at her mother's breast.
"While you feed her, I will pour you some coffee," he said and then went to get it.
While he was there, he received the com message from Captain Tiberius. "I guess everyone knows," he stated. Satisfied and proud, he returned to the deck, placed a mug of coffee on the table next to his wife who was busy feeding and took his own seat to continue his enjoyment of the morning.
She began her trip from home in her gunship to visit her parents on Honshu. Sleeping in an infant seat was Emiko, the Holliday's now 4 month old daughter. On this trip, it was just the two of them.
Midori was in a good mood and singing soft songs to herself as she flew.
Omega 49 was quiet as she made the jump into Omega 47. She set the ship on auto pilot while she flew between jump holes. She made her way to the galley to pour a glass of Gallic Wine for herself. She loved Gallic Wine and always had some around. She was lavishing the wine before she had to put it down to navigate the rocks of Omega 47 just before the Omega 41 hole and then the rocks of Omega 41 itself.
She quietly navigated the rocks and mines, hearing only chatter of a Corsair pirate threatening a passing trader. She said nothing and continued as small rocks repelled off of her ship before finally making the jump into Omicron Theta.
As she went to engage her cruise engine, she heard only a thumping sound each time she tried. The system would not engage.
"Well just damn!" she cursed. But before panic set in, she noticed Corfu Base within visual. Still having her impulse engines, she made her way there and landed. Through it all, Emiko remained asleep. The staff of the base took her in and gave her and her child shelter.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Holliday, but it seems you blew a coupling which is weird since they never blow out," the technician explained, "I've sent to Lividia shipyard for a new set. I'm sorry but your stuck here for a day or so but we'll make you comfortable."
Her quarters were nice that she stayed in and both her and Emiko were well provisioned. She slipped into her kibuki night gown and before she went to bed, sent a transmission to her husband.
John Henry, it seems I have blown engine coupling on my ship and will be here at Corfu for a couple of days. Worry not. Emiko and I will be fine here while we wait. I see you soon and John, I love you.
Married to Ambassador John Henry "Doc" Holliday
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He sat on his deck, overlooking the field to a distant treeline where his cabalas were grazing. His security staff kept their distance over the past several days knowing full well that something was very wrong with the man they respected and kept safe. In fact, the estate house itself was empty except for John Holliday himself. Midori and Emiko were safe in Kusari. It had been a couple of weeks since he last saw them and it made him sick. For fear of some mercenary cashing in on a bounty, she remained in Kusari and it made him sick to be apart. And, with each passing day, he grew more angry.
Today, his only friend was the bottle of Brandy on a small table next to the seat he was lounging in. He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a white cotton shirt and his old pistol belt was secured to his waist with both guns loaded. He hadn't shaved in days and he was well on his way to being drunk when he poured another glass and took a sip from it.
He had heard all that was going on in the Omegas and Omicrons, the Corsair assault and how his life's work was all for not. He had heard of the deaths of many a pilot defending all they had left. His dream, [i]Med Force One[/] was now in control of his chief medical officer Dr. Edward Tesh. John, seething with anger and growing more so by the day, had become a shadow of his peaceful self.
"You are a man of peace," ran through his mind over and over, the statement made by his friend, Alvin Katz.
"Then why don't I feel it?" he asked out loud before taking another swallow of Brandy.
Memories of a life past surfaced from a time when he and his good friend, Wyatt, sought revenge on those who made trouble for them and killed their friends.
But this was different. The Corsairs weren't the McClaurys or Clantons, no, they were more deadly and more numerous. On the ground, he could still out duel any one of them but in a cockpit, he was worthless.
Yes, he missed his friend...he missed him a lot. It was times like this that he cursed the cryogenic team that preserved him and brought him back.
But, as he sat, another thought crossed his mind....Gallia. The words of Aurelia DeFrance seemed to loom large, "With all of you Sirians tearing at each others throats, you're all ripe for takeover." He just nodded at this thought with a smirk.
"I warned them," he said quietly but out loud to himself, "I warned you all."
He then finished his Brandy and poured yet another glass.
"I think I'll just sit on my intelligence and let them figure it all out," he said to himself as he continued staring off into the horizon.
There he sat, overlooking the field to a distant treeline where his cabalas were grazing. He said nothing. He just stared and continued to seethe in rage.
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Freeport 5, Omega 41 System
It was day number three of his visit to "Radiation Rock" as he called it. It was a place seldom visited but the Zoners there needed medical like anyone else. For now, he was relaxing in an executive suite, such as it was, away from most of the base personnel. His door was locked as he valued his privacy.
"I hate this place," he told his wife as they finished a conversation, "but, I do care about those here."
"Hai," was his wife's reply, "Just come home safe."
He then smiled, "in a day or two. Love you, Dahlin'", he said
She blew him a kiss and the channel was cut.
He was tired and still mentally drained but strangely, he was relaxed. In a pair of sweats, t-shirt and a bath robe, he poured himself a glass of Gallic Wine. Taking it in his hand, he leaned back and put his feet up on his desk as he looked out over the Neuron Star off in the distance. For such a dead system, it was strangely intriguing.
"How many times have I flown past that?" he asked himself, "Hundreds, maybe?" He then shrugged and took a sip of his wine.
"Delicious!" he said and the took another.
For a few minutes, anyway, all was right. In the backround played the music of Mozart, unimpeded by any other noise. Outside, passing ships made there way from place to place. His dinner, which had arrived only minutes earlier, was still hot in it's serving dishes. It wasn't his beloved's Mahi Fish that she was famous for but it was darn good. Leaning back up, he served himself a dish and began eating. With a nod, he commented, "Not bad for rations!"
But, his peace wouldn't last long. With a mouthful of food, his com sounded. Still chewing, he looked over at the screen: "Secure, Encrypted Message From Med Force One"
He finished his bite and swallowed. He then said, "Great! Secure and Encrypted usually means trouble." He then answered. On the other end was his medical chief, Dr. Edward Tesh.
"Edward! How goes the rebuilding effort out there?" he asked.
Edward sighed, "John, I wish this was for pleasantries but it is not." He sighed again.
"Ed, what's the problem?" he asked, now very concerned.
"One of the engineers was murdered on Freeport 9," stated Edward.
"Murdered?" asked John.
"Yes, Murdered. He was knifed from behind. It cut his spinal cord and went through his heart. Whoever did this knew what they were doing."
"Any suspects?" asked Doc.
"None yet but Commander Haddock has ordered an investigation," continued Edward.
"Very well," nodded Doc, "my shuttle isn't due to pick me up for a couple more days so if there is a ship there to get me, I'll come to Med Force myself. I'm staying on ship as I have no intentions of going on the Freeport. That diplomacy isn't mine to be involved with."
"Understood. I'll have someone pick you up first chance I get," said Edward, "See you soon."
The comm then went blank.
Doc again leaned back with his wine, "One of my crew? Murdered?" He shook his head, "But why?" He shrugged again, "Well, we'll find out more soon enough."
Despite the news, he leaned back, finished his wine and fell asleep.
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Secret Laboratory, Tombstone Estate
It was some rare quiet time for John as he worked in his laboratory after returning home from a trip to Cambridge. Dressed in a smock, he found time to complete some work he had spent much time on.
He reached into a cage where a rat was kept and pulled her out.
"OK, Dora, time to see if all this research has paid off," he said to her as he stroked her back. He hated using lab animals but he saw no other way to test things. He then took a small syringe full of a greenish-yellow liquid and before he injected Dora, he apologized, "Sorry, Girl." With that, he injected the animal with the liquid. Putting it down, he began to pet her and gave her a treat.
She was strangely comfortable sitting there as he held her, Dora munching on her treat. He knew it would take at the very least, several minutes for the formula to work so, Dora in hand, he rose to get himself a cup of coffee and some Kusari cookies provided by his wife. After a short snack, he held the rat to his face and smiled, "Now, Girl, you have been addicted to cardamine long enough. Time to see if that worked."
He put her on a scanner and as fast as he put her there, took a full scan of the animal. Then, taking an empty syringe, he drew a blood sample. Giving her a few more strokes, he placed her back in the cage with several treats, locked the door and began to study the readings and sample. He finished the final sip of his coffee and looked skyward, "Eris, let's see if all this work was for nothing." He sighed, "Let's hope not."
He had began his study of the mysterious drug that gave the Outcast Nation such a vial reputation as well as their big edge in a fight when he first began studying medicine. Why was it so addictive? Why was it so genetically altering? These were but a couple of the questions he had. He studied both the liquid and it's natural form. He had cured two former Outcasts, at their request, of the drug's grip but, as he said, "anyone can succeed a time or two." Now, he wanted to be the one who could do it upon request.
He had also learned that in some cases, the alterations and damage done to the body by it would gradually return to normal. This was the hard part as well as the most deadly. Too fast a change meant an often painful death. But, in controlled amounts, the results were successful. In one case, a once sterile female gave birth to a healthy child. Still, he kept his studies private, never telling even his own wife of his results. For the wrong people to learn of this work would surely put his own life in jeopardy.
Nanites and even alien organisms, kept addicted to cardamine, were injected into a patient. They sought out the drug in their new host, eating it, taking it for themselves and leaving the host free of the drug's grip. After the organisms cleared the host, they would gradually die from not having more of the drug themselves. Their remains became a sort of anti-body and stay with the host.
For now, the time had come. He took a slide of blood and placed it under his microscope. As he studied, he smiled a bit. Platelets, red and white blood cells, nutrients and....dead nanites were present with NO cardamine. "So far, so good," he said.
Then, he ran the scans of Dora. Again, he began to smile, "Not a sign of the drug...anywhere." He also found that healing had taken place. Satisfied, he turned off his computer. He then retrieved Dora from her cage and placed her in a cage with another rat, Samson. "Now, let's see if you two can reproduce. That would be my final victory."
With that, he removed his smock and hung it over his chair. He secured the door to the lab behind him and with a look of satisfaction, went to have dinner with his wife and daughter.
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Lividia Shipyard, Omicron 74 System:
At a table in the shipyard lounge, John Holliday sat with his old friend, Christian Naggar, over a drink shortly after he had arrived with a load of superconductors. They sat waiting for their meals to arrive, the table set around them with a basket of bread before them.
"It's good to see you again, Doc," said a thankful Christian, "at least now it's under much more pleasant circumstances."
Doc just smiled, "Well, I wasn't about to watch the Rheinland court grill your son, all of what, thirteen? No! I had enough at the point."
Christian took a sip of his lager and looked sincerely at his friend, "Rightfully, I belong in Vierlande."
Doc cut him off, "...and there you would have stayed, quite possibly dying of old age. I've heard of Rheinland prison sentences. Again, no, a man of your talent shouldn't be left to waste like that which is why I brought you here." He took a sip of his water and continued, "While I don't subscribe to your course of action, you did what any father would do when he lost his job and could find nothing else suitable. The mistake you made was allowing a Hessian to lead you into illegal activities."
Christian only bowed his head for a moment as he nodded his agreement.
He looked back up, wanting to speak but his eyes began to well up a bit. He grabbed his napkin and quickly tried to hide his feelings. Doc only watched, seeing the pain his friend must feel. Still, he said nothing, allowing Christian to compose himself.
"Most importantly, Doc, I need to thank you for all that you have done for my daughter," he explained, "we talk often. Considering what she has been through, she has really put it all together."
"That she has," Doc replied, "and what makes her so good is that she uses experience and puts it to use. She loves children and hence, decided to study pediatrics. She is also a steady assistant at the operating table. She will be a great doctor once Cambridge gets finished with her."
Christian took another sip of his beer, "I just hope that when she graduates that I'm there to witness it."
"You will be," Doc replied sharply, "I'll make sure of it."
Christian just smiled and raised his glass, "To the soon-to-be Doctor Doreen Naggar" he toasted.
"I'll drink to that," replied the smiling Doc as he raised his own glass. They touched glasses and drank to the soon-to-be Doctor Naggar.
"Gentlemen," came the young ladies voice next to them, "your meals." She set their plates before them.
"Anything else that I can get for you?" she asked.
"Just refills," said Doc.
"Right away," replied the smiling waitress who then walked away.
As Doc got himself ready to eat, he asked Christian, "I know you considered joining the Omicroners as a shipwright. Still considering it?"
"Yes, I'm still thinking of it," he replied, "but I hear some of them speaking of your people in such brutal ways that I have thought otherwise at times. I can still do my work here regardless of whether or not I sign on with them."
Doc swallowed his first bite of food, sat sternly and replied, "Listen, the downfall of the Zoner Alliance is my cross to bear and mine alone. Perhaps I do deserve some of the criticism. You do what is right for Christian Naggar. Don't do or not do something on my account."
Christian realized Doc was a bit annoyed and just simply responded with a nod.
"Now, where were we?" asked Doc with a grin, "oh yes, enjoying our meals. Let us continue."
It had been a long time since Alaric had been in this part of space. After chasing the folks who took down Sam Nichols for months, Alaric has brought his battered gunboat back to Livadia. The political situation within the Zoner ranks was at critical mass. The ZA was dissolved, the Zoners were at each others throats and it seemed to be getting worse from there. Alaric had just walked away. His command in the ZGW was gone, since they fell apart as well, his ship was scrap, it was time for a break. Catching a transport to Barrier gate station Alaric stated holed up for months.
Then one day he happened to run into the new OSI CEO and after a pleasant meeting decided it was time to get back into things. Tapping his almost empty bank account he headed over to Gran Canaria and purchased a Border Worlds Transport and got to work. It felt good to be back in space again. It was funny how things came full circle. He had started as a transport pilot and now he was back at it again. His father would be proud.
Alaric had stopped at Livadia after making the trek to Corinth to check on his current guard status. Finding himself still in very good standing made him feel much better. He was offered a slot, but declined. Maybe later he told them. For right now I just want to be a regular zoner.
Alaric sat sipping his ale in the corner when he noticed a familiar voice. Grabbing his drink he moved closer and studied the duo. Yup that was his old friend Doc Holliday. A smile broke out across his face and he shook his head.
Walking up he said
"Doc you should not be so hard on yourself. We all had a part to play in that fiasco. It's not surprising that OSI fell out of the ZA after Sam died. They were in the middle of a transition to start and things just got worse after that with the attack on FP10. At least things are calmer now. I thought the whole Zoner faction was gonna blow up there for a while."
Alaric shook his head sadly
"But hey, we are all still here, well most of us. We just make do, it's what we always have done and will continue to do."
Alaric looked about and sighed "It's good to be back. So while I am limited at the moment on what I can do. I'll offer you all the help I can give ya."
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