Posted June 16, 2021, 10:36 p.m. by Civilian Lucas Elliot Holloway (Business Owner) (Jerome Davis)
Posted by Civilian Karina Enger (Director of Education) in Settling In or Setting Up? (Open)
Posted by Civilian Lucas Elliot Holloway (Business Owner) in Settling In or Setting Up? (Open)
Posted by Civilian Karina Enger (Director of Education) in Settling In or Setting Up? (Open)
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻Karina had finished her meeting with the Governor. There was apparently a small apartment in the education building, and she would make use of it, just not to live in. Such living arrangements made her far too isolated, and isolation was counter productive. Karina had instead chosen to spend some of her credits on an apartment at one of the more moderate residential buildings. She could easily have taken a house or something more but again that was counter productive. This building was larger housed officials, civilians, guests, and Fleet. A mix of just about everyone.
Karina stepped off the lift on the 8th floor, turned left moved down the hallway and then 2nd right and first door on the left. She traversed the building like she’d lived there for years. And of course an instant familiarity with a building or location was essential in her line of work. She unlocked the door and stepped in, “Lights” and the space as illuminated. Oh this was lovely. Far too much space, after years as an officer, but lovely. Her crates had already been delivered and she stepped around the to the window and looked out across the dome of the colony.
Karina got busy unpacking and settling in. She had barely gotten started on Memorial when she was reassigned, so she was still mostly packed. She had even been using the replicator for uniforms. She really needed to get, at least, her clothes. Her clothes went into the closet because she didn’t like looking rumpled. Buuuttt....everything else, well it had a place, but Karina was a ‘pile person.’ So things had a place and they were clean, but not tidy. She looked at the ‘welcome’ packet left on the kitchen counter. HA! There was a pool, on the roof. Jodar and his daughter would enjoy that. It would be a very good way to meet the citizens of Oed and get to know them. Although the societal differences between other races were a study in patience at times, she enjoyed learning about others, and silently hoped there would be no reason for them to be other than neighbors. Of course she knew that was unrealistic because of her assignment, but first apartment and then a swim and then tomorrow, first thing, she’d go see about the school. Having finished unpacking as much as she felt like, Karina donned a coppered brown one piece and a peach colored floral mesh long kimono coverup, took the lift up to the roof, and the pool.
Enger, EDSitting by the pool when Karina arrived were a leggy, beautiful woman with dark hair and striking blue eyes and beside her an handsome gentleman who appeared to be in his mid-40s with slight grey tufts of hair by his ears accenting jet black hair. The woman was not recognizable to Karina… the man, on the other hand, was unmistakable. Lucas Holloway sat chatting with the woman. Sporting currently nothing but a beaded necklace and a pair of dark navy swim trunks, the Head of Holloway Heavy Industries looked relaxed and cheerful… apparently in the middle of a funny story when Karina first got off the lift. Seeing the newcomer, both smiled and gave a friendly wave. The woman smiled warmly and called. “Hey… you’re the new girl in 8F right?”
Holloway & Friend
Karina returned the smile and waved and at the question made her way closer. She really detested yelling. She tossed a towel down on a nearby chair, before slipping off her sandals and walking over. Her voice was thoughtful and measured as if she had run through every possible answer and practiced her response several times before answering. “That is right. I am Karina Enger.” She offered her hand to the woman. “Are you a neighbor?”
The woman smiled wider as she took the offered hand. “Yup! 8C actually… mines the flat that faces down your hall. Alex Bruner. Nice to see a new girl on the floor!”
Karina shook her hand and then grinned, “Are we out numbered then? This move could be better than I thought.”
She recognized Holloway immediately, it wouldn’t do to be too familiar though. She tilted her head to the side regarding him and then a ‘bulb’ went off. “Holloway? Or am I confusing you with someone else? There was a list of Oed’s most prominent citizens that I believe I saw your face listed.” Then she offered her hand to him as well.
Enger, EDHolloway laughed and took Karina’s hand with a bright, charming smile. “Nice to see Alex already got me on the Face Sheet… Lucas Holloway. Pleasure to meet you.” After releasing her hand, Lucas motioned for Karina to grab a seat. “You’re the new ED Director, right?” Lucas asked but the second the question left his lips, Bruner swatted his arm. “No Lucas… no damn shop talk! She just got here… let her settle in first!” Giving an innocent expression, Holloway laughed. “Fine fine… pool day, got it”
Karina watched the by play quietly, “That is right. I understand there has been some…” she paused searching for the correct word the images in her mind conveyed, “disappointment with the education system here?”
Alex turned to Karina and smiled. “Where ya from hun?”
Lucas & Alex
“I do not mind shop talk. It is part of settling in, to settle into one’s job as well as the community?” She sat crossing one ankle behind the other, leaning back comfortably in the seat. “I am from Vair. I am Cairn.”
Enger, ED“See…” Lucas said with a smirk. “… you can have pool time and shop talk together!” Holloway nodded with a wide smile to Karina while Alex rolled her eyes and chuckled. “Just don’t ramble forever, alright.”
Karina didn’t say it but she was more than happy to let Holloway ramble for as long as he wanted. But she smiled towards Alex. “I shall try to curb my questions.”
Lucas shook his head with a chuckle of his own. “No promises” He then turned to Karina. “I believe what my dear Ops Chief here is getting at is that I am moving the vast majority of my company’s operations… and the supporting staff… here to OED. That means, in time for the start of fall term, I will be adding around 15,000 K through 12 students to your educational system.”
Lucas & Alex
“15,000 students? Then before you leave I’ll get the contact info for your company so I can get the educational demographics. I will need to hire more teachers. I guess I will be making another trip to the governor to make sure we can afford such.” She turned to Alex, “Unless you have that information, and then we can talk later.”
Alex just smiled. “Oh hun, I got all that info and more.” The woman nodded her head to Lucas. “As for him… he couldn’t tie his shoes without his PA (OOC: Personal Assistant)” She then laughed as Lucas tossed a towel at her head.
“Stuff it, Alexis…” Lucas laughed, fanning annoyance. “… I’m not…” He shrugged. “… that bad.” He then turned back to Karina. “As for getting started, I have close to 25,000 advanced degree holders moving out here… so if we can work out Emergency Certifications for them, until they have a place to work or you have new staff… I’m sure we can work together to make sure the school system isn’t swamped.”
Karina nodded, “That’s certainly an option. If you can get me names and degrees of those that are interested I can start the process of getting them those emergency certifications. Mmm…since I have you here, what would your company think about sponsoring a few internships each year?”
Lucas beamed at the question. “We’ve got close to three dozen Divisions of Holloway Heavy moving out here… from the Cruiseline to Medical Research to Heavy Weapons Development. If you got young people that want Internships… I’ve got as many as you need.”
Karina glanced at the pool and then out over the view. “So what made you decide to come to Oed?”
Enger, EDLucas caught the aside glance from Alexis as he leaned back and sighed. “Honestly…” Lucas stretched out his athletic form on the pool lounger then chuckled. “… I’ve been thinking of doing this for some time, as I was the former Head of the Chamber here on OED several years ago. I like it here… small city life… quiet compared to NYC. Then…” Lucas shrugged. “… some son-of-a-bitch tried to blow me up. And that kinda forced my hand.
Lucas & Alexis
Karina’s eyes widened and she looked around, “Umm, so I knew Oed was rough, but that seems a bit extreme. Maybe I was a little too eager to accept your help filling teaching spots and asking about internships.” Karina slid her chair slightly farther away. “So Oed is safer than Earth?” She didn’t look convinced. “Am I going to need security for the children?”
Enger, EDAlex & Lucas burst out laughing. After a moment, Lucas shook his head and began through tears of laughter. “No no no… those bastards tired to take me out in New York! OED has its rough parts just like any semi large city hun… but this place is Mayberry compared to the Big Apple.”
Karina tipped her head to the side. She had no mental picture for ‘Mayberry’ and with just the image of a giant apple to go on, she had no idea what comparison they were trying to make. “I am sorry.” Her voice slow, measured, and thoughtful, “I do not understand the… comparison.”
The man blush just a little. “So sorry… old earth terminology. Mayberry was fictional town…” He paused as if in thought. “… like a small village, on a type of old earth pre-holo entertainment system called Television. Mid-20th century. The town was peaceful and quiet and so small they only had two law enforcement officers. Comparatively, New York City is far bigger.”
Karina listened and then nodded as the metaphor began to make sense. It was difficult sometimes especially with all species having different ways of expressing things, but it was part of learning about people, and Karina enjoyed learning new things.
With a big grin, Alex added. “That’s why we… well, Lucas… I just go where I’m told… is moving the company Ops out here. More control, safer environment, room to grow.” She then motioned to the pool area around them. “Not to mention… do you have any clue how much a place like this… in the location proximity it has to City Center… would cost in New York?!”
Lucas & Alex
She shook her head. “I am afraid I am not…that fa…familiar with Earth.”
Enger, EDAlex looked over Lucas for just a moment then they both turned back to Karina. “I’m so sorry hun…” Alex began. “… Lucas didn’t mean to confuse you, I know I certainly didn’t. Next to Paris, the center part of the Island of Manhattan… the part most think of when they think of New York City, is some of the most expensive real estate on Earth… regardless of leasing or buying.”
Lucas chuckled and continued. “That’s why they call New York City the ‘Big Apple’… it’s truly a go big or go home kinda place. Something like 40 million people in an area smaller than 800 square kilometers. So, what Alex said was no understatement… real estate there is ridiculous. My penthouse in the Chrysler Building… though obviously not a normal flat… cost me more than a small orbital platform. Think of that… a house the cost of a space station!”
Lucas & Alex
Karina waved off Alex’s apology. “Do not apologize. I am Cairn, we do not have spoken language. In fact we must have vocal enhancers implanted in order to be able to vocalize. Our telepathy works on images. Very detailed images that include all five senses. It can be pro…difficult sometimes.” She smiled slightly, “Some time find the correct word can elude me. Idioms and metaphors can be difficult to decipher, but I enjoy learning them. Your company must do very well to afford such a living space. Are you the protagonist of this story or the evil corporate CEO?” Karina smiled and laughed slightly hoping she managed the joke correctly, or if not they at least understood the attempt.
Enger, EDThere was a soft, laughing squeak from Alex… who opened her month to speak only to be cut off by Lucas. “Don’t even think about it Dominique!” Lucas turned and smiled at Karina. Gabbing a thumb in Alex’s direction, the CEO smirked. “That smartass would tell you I’m the latter. I like to think of myself as more… benevolent than…” Lucas was interrupted by Alex nearly falling off her chair laughing and Lucas just shook his head, chuckling. “… You see what I have to put up with?”
Karina watched the by play with hidden interest. ‘Dominique?’ Her real name, a reference to something she missed, or something else? She’d look it up later. The woman’s amusement was catching, and she grinned. “I do see. You poor man, she seems a handful.” She leaned over toward Alex, she liked her and her attitude reminded her slightly of her and Jodar, thought not as…blunt. “We really have to get together later.”
Lucas made a two hand scale-like gesture. “I’ll put it this way…” He raised his right hand slightly. “… Holloway Heavy has many divisions. We build and operate the largest Cruise-liner firm in the Federation… we lead research & development in various medical fields… and present the Holloway Prize for Excellence in Literature named for my late sister-in-law Mary Holloway.” He then raised his left hand. “At the same time, we are /the/ leading defense contractor for the UFP and Starfleet… the only civilians allowed to build Starfleet ships of the line and we have our hands heavily in weapons Development.” He shrugged. “So I guess it’s all in how you look at it.”
Lucas & Alex
Having worked, well what she worked for so many years, Karina didn’t balk at the weapons and defensive developments. Peace was nice, but it came with a heavy price and a delicate balance. Something that Lucas Holloway was in the mists of at the head of his company. Karina nodded, “I am reminded of something I read once, ‘They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. This is not the case because there is no hell waiting for anyone after this life. But the road to suffering, just like the road to well being, is indeed paved with intentions. The road to well being is paved with questioned intentions. And the road to suffering is paved with unquestioned intentions.’ (credit to Teal Swan) So which are you then Mr. Holloway? Do you question what, how, and why you do things, or are you simply certain in your own infallibility? The answer decides if you are the protagonist or the evil CEO. Only you get to decide your role in the story.”
Enger, ED
Lucas thought for a few moments, smiling slightly as he first looked to Alex then back at Karina. “Ya know…” Holloway shook his head, blowing a huff through his nose. “… I’m nearly 50 years old, run one of the most powerful corporations in human history, and I’m one of the wealthiest men alive… and never once… has anyone ever asked me a question like that.” Leaning back on the lounge chair, Lucas ran a hand through his hair and after pursing his lips in a thoughtful gesture, Lucas looked to Karina. “I believe in another old adage… ‘With great power comes great responsibility’… I was born into privilege Karina, like my brother and nieces. Everything that I have and do… is because he squandered his chance, lost his kids…” The magnate closed his eyes for just a moment… a pained expression crossing his face before he once again looked back at the Education Director. “… he eventually took his own life. For over 25 years… I have been the unintended caretaker of my nieces’ birthright. I’ve always tried to do the right thing. If you want my honest answer… I like to think of myself as the protagonist. It is my hope that when my time is done in the storyline of the universe, that my last thought is I’m leaving the universe better than I found it… better for my Gracie & Erin.”
Holloway, HHI
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