Hope's Haven ~ A little taste of Gallia

[Malaclypse 666]

The [TAZ]Sophie.Noir slowly thrusted towards it mooring with Belfast Production Facility, a load of optical chips bound for Cambridge in her hold.

Sophie had decided to stop and visit Hope's Haven for a few hours on her way through Newc'sle. She wanted to "see" how Moira Kentigearna was faring with her renovations and new staff. Sophie had some experience in the trade, after all. She had helped run the Perfect Blossom on Roppongi before opening her own cafe in Port Canaria.

Sophie had found Moira bustling about Hope's, her flaming red hair tied back by a bandana decorated with small golden apples.. a present from Reggie, no doubt.

Their conversation had bounced through many topics.. menus, decorations, pricing, and had drifted into more personal matters. Moira prodded Sophie about her past history with Reggie Waverly. Sophie had shared tales about her partnership with Reggie in the 1st Bank of Flax, and even about the days when she had been little more than a FnordNet transponder attached to Reggie's first ship, the Daddy Warbucks. Moira had laughed with delight at how Sophie had once "stolen" Reggie's ship to go "shopping" on New London while Reggie had been soused at the IND bar on Newark.

Sophie was curious about Moira's time with the NLH Gaians, and the Plague Dogs before that. They had been standing at the bar, and Moira had been telling her about her mates in the NLH.. Silvy, Sean Dawson, Red, and the one who had reappeared from the Dogs, Damien McEwan..

Suddenly, Moira's face had gone ghostly white! Her green eyes had rolled back into her head as her knees buckled, and she collapsed behind the long bar of hopes.

Sophie had keyed into Belfast's comms instantly. *Infirmary! We need a medic at Hope's Haven, level 14, now!!* Sophie hovered above the raggedly-breathing Gaian for what seemed like an eternity, but was actually a few minutes. The medics arrived, and revived the shaken women with a mild stimulant. They reported no apparent medical problems.

As soon as the medics had left, Sophie questioned Moira. *Lass, you went down like you'd been poleaxed! Is there something I should know? You're not bloody pregnant, are you??*

"No, Sophie." Moira still seemed disoriented, and in mild shock. "It's.. something I used to experience when the Plague Dogs were active. We all became so close that we shared a sort of.. telepathy, you might call it.. something at the intuitive level.."

Moira looked at Sophie with eyes which reflected pain and loss. "I've lost that ability for the most part, Sophie, but what just occurred doesn't bode well. It feels as if something from my past has just been lost to me.. forever!"

Moira Kentigearna, former Plague Dog, buried her face in her hands and sobbed uncontrollably. Fnordette Sophie Noir for once wished she had real arms that she could throw around the grieving woman.

((Note: For more background on Moira's "collapse", see "The Plague Logs - Festival of Blights".))

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