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Settling In or Setting Up? (Open)

Posted July 11, 2021, 9 a.m. by Civilian Karina Enger (Director of Education) (Jennifer Ward)

Posted by Civilian Lucas Elliot Holloway (Business Owner) 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! 👻

(snip)
There 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

No one had ever asked him something like that? Maybe he should evaluate the motivations of those around him, then. Karina nodded, “Have you ever read great literature? Fiction or non-fiction? No protagonist always gets it right, they struggle, they fail, they muck it all up and nearly loose everything they worked for. Then a moment of clarity comes, they are able to see what needs to be done and they do it, no matter how hard it is. Protagonists mess up Mr. Holloway, but what sets them apart, is the ability to admit their mistakes and learn from it. If you’ve done that, you’re moving in the right direction.” Karina turned back to Alex with a grin, “So tell me more about our shared neighbors. I got the impression from the Governor I will have absolutely no chance for a social life for the next 10 years at least. So I need to know what I am missing out on.”
Enger, ED

Holloway leaned back and thought about the question. After a moment, he gave a very subtle self-nod and smiled at Karina. “I can a sure you, I do fail… more often than I care to admit. When you take risks, you are bound to fail.” He chuckled. “Do I wish I failed less…? Of course I do. But, each of those failures taught me something and unlike many of my contemporaries… I didn’t blow those lessons off. Today… thank God… I make far fewer mistakes because I did’t let me big head rule my life…”

“And believe me…” Alex jumped in. “… he has a big enough head for two people!” She said with a smile. Lucas opened his mouth to cut in, but Alex shut him down with a raised hand. “Now, as for the building and our neighbors… most are middle-level bachelors. I think you are the highest ‘ranked’…” She air quoted. “… official in the building. Most of us are single and work for people like you and Lucas here. The only reason he isn’t in one of the high-rises is because he, well… I on his behalf… bought a place here around 7 years ago. Its big and private and he likes the quiet.” After a quick pause, Alex asked. “Why didn’t you grab a spot in the towers. I mean… you’re basically a Cabinet-level officer around these parts?”

Lucas & Alex

Karina considered her words and the way she described the people in it - middle-level bachelors. As if their economic status assigned their worth. Interesting. “We all need our privacy. I imagine that the high attention you receive because of your company and who you are you need more quiet than most.” She looked at Alex and shrugged dismissively. “I am…unaware of being a cabinet officer. I suppose if the governor wishes it I will be. Cabinet member or not no one railroads my school. I will be heard from.” Karina sat forward slightly, angling her posture towards Alex, elbows on knees, “Do you know what happens when the ‘high-ranking’ and privileged put themselves in ivory towers? They become stuck there and unapproachable. I am a teacher to everyone, high, middle, or low ‘ranking’. The next Lucas Holloway could be the street urchin digging for scraps in a trashcan. And how would he approach me if I am surrounded by glitz and security? He will not. And if I am in a high-rise I will not be close enough to the ground to see him. No thank you. You can take your glitz and privilege and ‘position’ and toss it outside the dome.”

Karina


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