Canaria Medical Center

[SoF]

As Sol was decending towards the landing pad, he gazed upon the planet's surface for the first time. Unlike Malta's seemlessly extending orange fields, Gran Canaria had vast green pastures, trees and plants Sol had never seen before, ponds and lakes providing life freely around them and shining brightly under a different light than Malta's. It was a very relaxing sight for Sol who has lived his whole life under the green sun, and above the orange earth...

I would happily live here forever, Sol thought. But I need more than the air the planet can provide me.

He finally landed his sabre in the city after a brief tour around the planet, and stepped out of his ship. Took a deep breath first, oxygen filled his lungs, smelling and tasting the planet before he put on his cardamine breather. Now he had to look for someone named "John Henry" as Concordia instructed him.

Looked around and scanned the people, they were also scanning him, he had a very unconventional look. The clothes were dark and dirty, a torn up cape hanging over his left shoulder, a huge giant like frame, but the cardi breather took their attention the most, or Sol thought so. They did not see many outcasts around probably.

For half a day he searched for John Henry with no success, and while doing that he learned that many here are corsairs, outcasts' worst enemies. They would look at Sol's cardi breather with a wicked grin or an annoyed stare, then ignore him. If Sol was still like his old self and didn't feel so weak and desperate, he would probably cause some trouble there. His appearence didn't help one bit, people were afraid to talk to him and tried to get away from him as soon as possible. "I don't know", was the best answer for that.

After he got tired of walking around, he found a park and sit on a bench. Took his head between his arms and lost himself in thoughts. His cardamine stock was getting low, only enough for a few days. Had nearly no money left and didn't know where to get the cardamine around here either. Then he heard a little girl's voice appearantly calling out for him.

"Hey mister! Would you buy some flowers?"

Sol raised his head and stared at the girl, she was around thirteen-fourteen years old, wore a yellow dress. She was smiling with all her strength. Sol didn't know what to say for a second then tried to speak softly as if trying not to scare the girl.

"Sorry... I... don't have much money."

Girl's smile didn't fade away... and stared at Sol's face for a short while, then looking into his tired eyes hidden behind the weird looking goggles Sol wore.

"Mister, you don't look too well... May I help you with something?"

Sol was surprised... he didn't expect a question like this now... Did he look very bad? Didn't check a mirror for weeks.

"No! I am fine... Ah... Actually... Do you know someone named "John Henry"?"

The girl's smile was gone now as she was trying to concentrate on the name John Henry...

"John... John... John Henry... uhh... mister... Could it be that Dr. John Henry --- Holliday?"

Sol felt that this is it. A doctor, named John Henry Holliday... He grabbed her hand without thinking about it and rose up from the bench he sat with a sudden move.

"Yes! He must be the guy! Tell me please, where can I find him?!"

The girl looked at her hand Sol's holding now and smiled. Sol now realized what he did and blushed, her hand got free again.

"Hmm... I think, he is probably where docs are... yeah? Canaria Medical Center?"

Sol was taken aback by his own stupidity... Of course he had to be there, how couldn't he guess it. The girl spoke again...

"Mister, CMC is easy to find just follow the signs over there *pointed the signs with the label "Canaria Medical Center" just behind where Sol sat before*... I am sorry, I have to sell these flowers... oh... here take one!"

She gave a flower to Sol, still smiling, the flower was bright yellow like the dress she wore.

"T-thanks..." Sol muttered as he watched the girl rushing away, running and jumping around merrily...

----

It didn't take too long for Sol to find the CMC. He slowly and tiredly climbed the stairs leading to the entrance.

After a few trial and error, he found the right counter and asked to meet Dr. John Henry Holliday... The woman said there is already someone waiting to meet the doc. Sol thought that the guy is the real thing, and must be famous, since Concordia said that he can even cure the cardamine addiction... Sol really hoped that his time here would not be a waste, as every second he loses means that he could be closer to death now.

As soon as he entered the waiting room, he saw a girl sitting there waiting, her face was hidden behind her PDA... But he took a peek... Sol knew her from somewhere... But where...

A lightning struck in his mind, he realized that the girl is Anna Prentice, the girl Sol caught in the Barrier Gate and even killed her boyfriend... Sol didn't know what to do now... Should he leave there and come back later? Ignore her and wait somewhere else? What a damn annoying coincidence!

The last thing he wanted was to create a commotion there now... He turned back and was about to leave as he came.