Tombstone Estate

[Doc Holliday]

Doc was troubled....deeply so. The Corsairs and the Coalition using his home world as a there battleground. For one evening at least, Doc sat by a small fire pit not far from his home. A glass of cognac on a small table next to him, his eldest daughter, Emiko, sat on his lap. For him, it was soothing, making him forget all that was going on. She was 8 now and always full of questions seemingly wise beyond her years.

"Daddy, why do men fight?" she asked him as he stroked her long hair.
"I guess because they see it as necessary," he answered, unsure of his own answer.
"Why is it necessary, Daddy?" she asked.
"I guess because to most of them, fighting is talking," he replied.
"But Daddy, you talk. You do not fight," she said to him.

For a moment, he was haunted by an ancient past. He did fight and he enjoyed it when he did. It was a past that he wanted to leave behind. Back then, he had nothing to lose. No wife, no children, not even his health. Still, that old demon was there and pressing hard.

"I have before, Sweetie," he answered, still stroking her hair, "I just hope not to have to do that again."
Then she dropped the question he hoped she wouldn't ask, "Did you ever kill someone?"
He closed his eyes. He wanted to lie. He wanted to sugarcoat the answer but he wasn't one to do either.
"Yes, Sweetheart, I have," he answered, "I took no pride in it nor did I do it out of pleasure. I hope you never have to do it. At first, it didn't bother me. Now, it does, especially when I've chosen to save lives."
She then turned and looked into his eyes, "Would you do it again?"
He paused before answering, "Only if I have to."

For a moment, there was silence. He looked into the night sky. While there were only stars, he also knew that up there were the cruisers and dreadnaughts of both the Coalition and the Corsairs. He knew that far from his ranch were supposed "relief" parties of those groups. His attention returned to Emiko.

"What should I do?" he asked her. "I see my people threatened yet I don't know what to do."
"What you have always told me, Daddy. Do what's right," she answered.
"Whatever that is," he mumbled to himself.

Shortly afterward, she would fall asleep in her Dad's arms. He would sit by the fire, deep in thought as she slept. To do what was right could well cost the life in his arms as well as those in his home. Still, that old Demon tugged at him.
As he sat, Midori sat watching from the back deck, quietly sipping on a glass of wine. She knew he was troubled.

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[MFE]Med Force One | Tales of Recovery|Med Force Enterprises