Jack stepped through the airlock back onto the decks of Rochester base. Back again in only a few days. He carried a small bag with him. The rest would come later. He made his way down the familiar corridors to his old office. It had not seen use in quite some time, but had been preserved for him. "I guess they always knew I'd be back", he thought to himself.
He sat down behind the desk and logged into the station network. He began scanning over communication logs and station bulletins trying to get an idea of what had been going on. Then he sat back in his chair. Ok, time for the reason he was here. He punched a button to contact the station control center. "This is Crow. Find Doc Holiday, and let him know I'm on the station. Tell him he can meet me in the lounge on level 3A anytime in the next few hours. I'll be at my usual table in the back."
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Doc had been gambling in the lounge, making a hefty profit from the Rogues who frequented the table. He didn't know if he was noticed or not as he let his hair grow since stepping down as administrator of TAZ and sported a goatee. His glasses also had transition lenses to filter out the bright lights around the table. Needing a break, he excused himself with a tip of his hat and headed for the bar.
The bartender, probably one of the few that knew who he was and keeping quiet about it, stopped Doc as he walked by and whispered in his ear, "Jack Crow, 3A."
Doc gave a light nod and kept going. Picking up a bottle of Coalition Vodka and two glasses from the bar, Doc made his way to 3A. He kept his senses about him as he didn't want a lot of attention. After all, he had enough just getting their when his engine got shot out in someone elses firefight.
He got to 3A and buzzed the door. Jack would greet him at the door where Doc held up the bottle with a cheshire cat smile, "I heard you were here."
Jack stepped back and allowed his friend to step in a take a seat. "It's good to see you my friend, and bearing gifts as well." Grabbing a chair to sit across from him, Hack sat down and said, "I want to be polite and ask you how everything is going. I know things have been quite difficult on Gran Canaria and you've got some problems of your own at home as well. I value your friendship and I want to help anyway I can, but I have to say you appearance here is quite a surprise and has me most curious. I never thought I'd be back in Liberty now, and I definitely did not expect to be on Rochester sharing a drink with you although this is a pleasant surprise. So, what's going on in your world?"
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Doc put a glass in front of each of them. Smiling, he filled Jack's and then his own. He then put the bottle down and took the glass making a quick toast. "To friendship" where he then took a sip.
"Where do I begin, old friend," he asked as he put his glass down, "Canaria isn't a total loss yet but my home pretty much is. When I built it, I did so away from Port Canaria to the Northeast. Well, my home is basically uninhabitable. I did manage to get my livestock to my cabin and small ranch on Planet Erie but I haven't seen much of that since."
Doc finished off his drink before continuing. It was obvious that he wasn't himself and that while he could handle his liquor, old habits were finding him.
"So why am I here? I came to Rochester to pick up some supplies. Some time ago, I told you I would rather buy goods at a Junker base than a house corporation. Rochester is a nice stop as is Beaumont, Trafalgar and Kreuzberg and that occasion trip to Culabra in Puerto Rico. I meant what I said, Jack."
He sighed, "As to why I'm here, I'm picking up some supplies for a project I'm working on in Cassini. I can't give details but I'd rather get my goods here."
He snickered, "I will say though, your Rogue visitors are a nasty lot but after a rough start a few drinks and cards smoothed things over."
Doc became more somber, "What I do after this I don't know. I don't lead TAZ anymore, my wife and I are separated and how much longer my protoge can keep Canaria Medical open is up to her. I really don't want to see her out of work. I mean, I still have my Med Force ships but she's not one who wants to live on station if possible."
He lightly smiled again, "So what brings you back? I thought you had retired somewhere."
Yes, I had retired. It was definitely what was needed at the time. You know me though, I'm not the retire to waste away kind of guy. I need to stay busy. I continue to run my own businesses in space. I maintain a list of contacts for shipping delicate hard to find items. It's been my passion for quite some time and I love it. There have been many new opportunities of late. Anyway, I always maintained my credentials with the Congress, because...........well, I like Junker bases too.
You and I have many of the same interests, but then you knew that. I don't trust the house governments or their corporations. I prefer to deal with people off the grid. I also like helping those who are struggling because the influence of the houses. That's kind of why I'm here now. JT asked me to accept the position of ambassador so I could help the Congress with some difficult issues. It allows me to do some of the things I used to do without really taking my old job back. I wouldn't take that for anything. It also helps me promote some of my business interests.
So, you're working in Cassini now? I must say you are really peaking my curiosity now.
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Doc sighed at the mention of Cassini. It was bad enough that he had to admit to a Rogue what his intentions were but to Jack? He was a friend sure enough but he was also a Junker, a high ranking official of a group that had been known to traffic cardamine and slaves. To most, Doc would mention things without much thought but for the first time in a long time, he showed worry.
"Jack, I....." he paused, obviously bothered, "You are a friend, a good friend, one of the few that I have and I'm afraid of what you would think of me if I got down to the true root of what I desire. For the wrong person to find out of my intentions, it wouldn't be a bounty on my head but a full fledged death warrant."
Doc sighed again only this time, he took the bottle and re-filled his glass, "I'm here, for now, to get supplies for the abandoned Foster base in Cassini. It is a place I can work under the radar and away from House corporations and authorities." He paused a moment to wet his palate, "I've been chatting with some Rogues there to re-furbish the base for them to use and for me to work under their protection."
He took a large sip, "I even mentioned a biodome. Still, this is all in discussion right now." He finished his drink and looked at Jack with a straight face, "How much do you trust me, Jack?"
Jack put his drink down and looked at his old friend.
"Outside my staff, there are few that I trust more than you. You have always been good to me. You have your opinions with the way I do things, or have done things in the past. I'm a little too old to be causing trouble the way I used to, although some things are still not beyond me. I'll be honest. I'm not really sure where I'm going. I'll be here directing things for a while, and I may even be called to Bretonia to help with a situation there. In any case, if there is anything I can do to help you, I hope you know you can count on me."
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Doc thought through a short silence that seemed like an eternity. He trusted Jack but was more concerned about what his actions would affect him. He cared that much anyway.
"I'm not sure how you or the Junkers can really help me," he began, "I come for supplies here and I know that won't be an issue but my concern isn't here but back in Canaria. I'm trying to keep Canaria Medical open as long as possible so my concern is the young lady administering it. Where will she go?"
He paused a moment. Doreen was a nice young woman who made a lot of positive change for herself. She didn't want to raise her son on a station and he knew that.
"Tell me, Jack, if you had to open a business and wanted it on a planet where all could go for services away from Canaria, where would you do it? I mean, Canaria was perfect. Even lawfuls could get treatment there. If I move it to Erie, unlawfuls couldn't and I fall under Liberty taxes and rule."
Doc sighed again speaking under his breath as he did, "Doreen won't be happy."
"Do keep in mind, what I'm doing in Cassini will be separate of that," he added.
He then pulled up a datapad scrolling for.....something. When he found it, he smiled a bit and showed it to Jack.
"I found her drifting in space in Omega 47, a lost child very pregnant with child," he said softly, "that young girl is now Dr. Doreen Naggar and has earned everything she has worked for as she has flawlessly run Canaria Medical."
He put the datapad away, "I believe Ortog Ashford may have had a dinner date with her but I'm not sure."
Jack's attention perked at the mention of Ortog Ashford.
"I'm wondering if maybe you shouldn't speak with Ortog. He is part of a project hoping to terra form a planet in Inverness. I haven't actually been paying that much attention to the project. I've had my doubts about whether they could actually do it, plus with the harassment they've been getting from the Bretonian government, it seems even less likely this will happen. Still, I'm guessing you might have the resources to help make this happen. I have to ask, do you have any other prospects? I know this is sensitive information, but on this you can trust me. I was once a Junker Arbiter. I kept secrets for years about planets, bases, and jumpholes that even high ranking Junkers didn't know. On the off chance that you don't have any more prospects, I'd be willing to employ my resources to help find something, but I'm guessing you already have a better grasp of that. Looking into the project in Inverness is probably the best advice I can offer right now. It's a shame too, since I know how much work you have put into this throughout your life and how much good this project would do."
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"Interesting," answered Doc, "I pictured Iverness as a hiding place." He smirked and put a finger up, "Let me guess. Bretonia is laying claim to the system and asserting itself upon the Junker populace." He chuckled as he knew the answer, "That's so Bretonia."
He collected himself and cocked his head a bit, "A habitable planet would be nice there but may put a target on you much like Canaria has to the Zoners."
Doc took a drink and gave an all business look to Jack, "You know, we may be able to help each other out here. I'll need a place for Canaria Medical and I know of a small Klingon colony on Canaria who's warrior populace would aid it's hosts in a minute. Perhaps Ashford should contact Dr. Naggar and begin a planning process. Think of it, a fully staffed medical center in Iverness."
Doc again thought a moment, "I do have a concern. The Junker Marauders. There have been reports out of Freeport 1's security that they have pirated Zoner transports. I want to know that if I or any of my people, particularly Dr. Naggar, is going to co-exist with them that they will leave Zoners alone."
Doc took another sip and again quipped, "Bretonia. Queen Corina....so spoiled."
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