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"People fear that which they don't understand," replied Doc. "Nomads are so misunderstood and met with hostility. Of COURSE they'll respond with violence." He then shrugged, "Live in peace with them? I don't know that I would go as far as to say that I live with them peacefully. I just don't shoot first which is where I disagree with the Order....that and how they bullied us in Baffin."
Doc then joked, "Kind of stinks that I've got to get back to work but it's my calling. I look forward to working with you again."
He then asked, "So that I can keep up with communications with you and my new friends, could I possibly get frequencies to communications and such? Then I wouldn't be so dependent upon one person."
"I think you have convinced me to set aside my fear of nomad and try a more peaceful approach. But still, if they attack, do you recommend to flee or to strike back?"
Dankien pulled from his bag a a laser pen, a piece of paper and start to write on it.
"These are the codes to connect to our coordination channel. You will have to enter the first one to be able to read or listen to the messages and the second to submit transmissions. We have already some ideas of projects, it will be very helpful to have your opinion on it."
Dankien gives the piece of paper to Doc Holliday and raise his glass.
"To our future collaboration, I hope it will be long and prosperous!"
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"I will tell you how to deal with Nomads," he answered. "I only know what works for me and what the directives are to my own ships. As I said, I find it's a case by case basis with each of them and I'm still far from being an expert on them."
Doc entered the codes in his datapad to the Seraphim channel. "These will come in handy. " He then looked up from his pad, "I do believe you have a code for comms with Med Force Enterprises. Admittedly, they aren't as set as your own but I'm easily reached there....as you found out when you found me. Monsieur Jean Biche is my partner in the group. He's quite good."
He then took his glass and raised it in response to Dankien, "Yes, to future collaborations. I do believe we will indeed long and prosperous."
Dankien takes notes. "Yes, I think I've found it somewhere. I am impatient to meet Jean Biche.
It has been a long day, I must admit I am pretty tired. Maybe we could have some rest now and tomorrow if you have time, we could do some trekking in the wilderness?"
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"In time you will meet most of my staff," replied Doc.
The sun had set and the sounds of night had come out. Crickets, frogs and the other night life of the area brought another aspect of life to his retreat. The stars of Sirius dotted the skies.
Doc showed Dankien the guest room. It was roomy with the choice of an oil lamp or electric light. A small stand by the bed held a silver pitcher and a glass. An old black and white picture on the wall of a time past....of a friend past. A window looked over the porch and out on the water. The water itself looked like a mirror with dots with only the occasional ring from a jumping fish.
While Dankien settled in, Doc himself leaned against the house just outside the doorway near the porch. He took his evening pleasure in an old, cob pipe with some sweet tobacco. The light scar down the center of his chest reminded him why he limited this pleasure to once a day.
It was also this time he took time to reflect and gather his thoughts. Ashlea came to mind. As to her whereabouts, he didn't know. Perhaps she relapsed to her old ways? Perhaps she needed time to search her soul...to see if things were right. Either way, Doc had Dankien and a new opportunity to ready for within a day or two.
He would be sure to bid a good night to his guest before retiring for the evening and the next day's wilderness.
Dankien looks amazed by the bed room. He tries the oil lamp and thanks Doc for the evening and wish him a good night. Then he prepares to sleep. Lied in his bed, Dankien has several thoughts. Doc is still alive and ready for action, I remember I had some serious doubt when I contacted MFE. Now, the collaboration with MFE will greatly enhanced the actions of the Seraphim.
It must be difficult for him to go back to the real world after living in this lost paradise. I can only dream the day when the zoners will own such a planet. Gran Canaria was promising, but soon or later it will fall under the influence of Bretonia, like planet Erie. However, maybe it is still possible to have pleasant zoner haven inside the Houses.
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Dankien would wake up the next morning to the smell of crispy bacon, toast, eggs and hash browned potatoes. Doc had a name for it, "Momma's Home Cooking" and as he explained it, it was just like his mother used to make him as a child growing up.
The smell of fresh brewed coffee mixed in as well while the sounds of water fowl were about on the edge of the water on this partly-cloudy morning. Still, it was pleasant with a light breeze.
"You wanted some outdoor activity," Doc stated, "I just need to know what you have in mind. I figured riding on the best off road transportation around in old world attire would be best."
He told of his stable as he fed his guest and then himself. His two horses, George and Gracie, would be the transportation. He motioned to his gun cabinet in the back of the room with rifles and some pistols from a time past. Old but still deadly accurate and effective.
"Now you can understand why leaving here for work is difficult," he explained, "perhaps if Canaria warms a bit where my mansion still is, I can re-settle that albeit alone."
Dankien comes out his bedroom, looking rested.
He smiles when Doc explains the breakfast: "It sounds terribly good" and after he sat at the table and start eating : "And it actually is.... How I am supposed to eat synth paste after tasting that? Seriously, this is delicious. You should consider to teach cooking at the University instead of medicine." He laughs. "This place is so quiet, it feels good to sleep without any mechanical sound in background. Maybe we should work on mega-biodomes not only to grow crops but also to host people.
"Riding? You mean we are going to mount on these big horses? Sounds like crazy to me, but ok I am for it. Let's give it a try, but they must not try to beat me! I would like to explore the wilderness and see some beautiful landscapes. And can we hunt with these antique guns or is it to protect ourselves if we encounter some wild beast?"
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He was almost offended by the mention of Synthe Paste at his breakfast table and the look on his face showed it.
"Gah!" he said disgustedly, "No self respecting human will eat that stuff. While I cannot stop it from being grown on Freeports, I did have Midori import seeds from her garden on Canaria to grown in biodomes as an alternative."
Doc lightened up a bit as he continued. "It worked to a degree but water consumption increased to grow them as did the price of importing water."
He then smiled at the thought of Midori, "She was quite the green thumb. I miss that."
He turned to Dankien, "This is old world cooking and it is nothing special. I'll stick to teaching medicine, thank you."
After breakfast, he handed Dankien one of the old rifles and explained it. "This is a model 1860 Henry rifle. It will load sixteen shots up the breech, fires a .44 caliber round, it's lever action and will fire as fast as you can run the lever. It is very accurate at about 300 yards with iron sights and with a scope, even further away. It is deadly at it's range and even though it is old school technology, it can still be used now with the development of armor piercing, hollow point and even and what I call a "gel round" in which a bullet is hollow and filled with an energy gel which will work like an energy shot as if it was an energy weapon."
He went silent for a moment as Dankien admired it, "I will not reveal who makes the ammo special for it. Rest assure that I have plenty for both my rifles and the pistols I carry." He then waited another moment, "Keep it. I have plenty more of those rifles."
The two men then spent the day on horseback exploring the woods and fields around the lake. By day's end, Dankien was more than comfortable on Gracie and could hold his own with a rifle. Dinner was shot in the form of a large deer in which Dankien received a lesson on skinning, cleaning and prepping for cooking. Some of it was put into the smoke house for preservation and prep for travel to the far reaches of Sirius. For that day, the worries of work and events around Sirius weren't even a thought.
After breakfast, Dankien get ready and prepared a bag with a few personal belongings. Then he joined Doc to his antique armory. He looked truly impressed by the firearms and asked a few questions about their functioning. He helped Doc to prepare a lunch for the riding day and they move to the stable.
Dankien pass a deal with Gracie : "if you bite me I kick you!". Doc showed him how to behave with the horse and helped him to attach the saddle. Finally, they get ready to go and left the cabin. At first Dankien is embarrassed on Gracie's back but slowly he gained confidence. From time to time Gracie decided to stop and eat some grass along the sidewalk but Doc taught Dankien how to deal with it. During the ride, Dankien admired the landscape and took some pictures of it.
Then they hunted the deer-like animal. They prepared it, and Dankien commented: "I would have expected more blood flowing from the wound. It's almost clean if we exclude the smell".
During the diner, they keep talking about the the day and the living in such a remote place. In the end of the day, Dankien thanks very much Doc: "That was really great to spend the day with you. Thank you for everything. I hope I will have my cabin on a new zoner planet one day. Then I'll invite you." Then he pursued: "Tomorrow I will go back space, the Seraphim are waiting for me, this is the beginning and we have a lot to do."
They finished the day, playing some challenging games of chess.
![[Image: 7Md2x4D.png]](https://i.imgur.com/7Md2x4D.png)