Posted Aug. 15, 2022, 11:29 p.m. by Civilian Molly Holloway (CEO - Holloway Industries) (Joana Ribeiro)
Posted by Jerome Davis in Attack at City Center: Sacred Heart - A Surprise Visitor
Posted by Civilian Molly Holloway (CEO - Holloway Industries) in Attack at City Center: Sacred Heart - A Surprise Visitor
Posted by Jerome Davis in Attack at City Center: Sacred Heart - A Surprise Visitor
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻
The Prometheus Class Intelligence Starship USS Thresher dropped out of Warp behind Black Rock, one of the few blind spots of the ACS network and immediately cloaked before moving toward OED at maximum Impulse power. On her Bridge, Colonel Ryan York ordered the ship to Red Alert and brought all sensors to max passive power as the massive warship settled into High Orbit above the planet.“Jenny…” York turned to his Chief of Security. “… is your team ready?” The short, dark-haired woman standing at the Tactical Console in a Miami Hurricanes crop top, shorts, and a pair of Converse winked. “Of course! It’s nice to be in real clothes again RP… I had to practically fight off the whole department for the chance to actually do a little Wet Works stuff!” She had started moving to the Main Bridge lift before she turned and smiled at Ryan. “You gonna get changed or do we get to go hunting without the boss?”
Ryan smirked and shook his head. “Like hell you are, Marsh! I’ll meet your team in One in five minutes.” The young woman nodded and disappeared.
Eight minutes later
Behind a pile of bins in the alley across the street from the crash site, five normal looking folks appeared in the shimmer of transporter patterns. The tallest in a pair of slacks, dark blue button down and a black dress jacket emerged quietly. Walking over to the first CCDA guard he saw, he smiled and asked politely for directions to the nearby extended stay hotel… one about a block from Sacred Heart. The guard looked in thought for a moment then pulled out his PaDD and showed the gentleman before him the fastest way there, making a point to advise against going near the hospital. As he was doing so, what looked like two couples emerged from the alley going the opposite direction. One couple looked drunk, the other… a pair of kids from the University of Miami… couldn’t keep their hands off each other. The first looked as though they were looking for a place to sleep it off and the others clearly had things other than sleep on their mind. The guard that should have been watching their path had walked over to the guard with the gentleman and assisted Dr. Ford in finding his way. A few moments later, Dr. Ford was gone and so were the college kids. The crash site was quiet once more.
Half past 1am
A gentleman walked up to a security checkpoint just inside the west entrance. The man was dressed in a pair of slacks, dark blue button down and a black dress jacket. As he approached, the guards drew their sidearms and the man calmly produced a badge folio identifying him as a member of the Fleet Criminal Investigative Service. After a moment, one of the guards whispered into a Comm cuff mic and then looked to the FCIS agent. “General Hudson will be here in a moment.” They said sharply. “It’s her call whether or not you get in.” So, they waited.
Moments later, a tired looking officer with four small gold stars rounded the corner, took five steps toward the waiting trio and stopped, dead in her tracks. Slowly, the woman unsnapped the restraint on the top of her pistol, glaring at the newcomer. Seeing this reaction, the man showed open hands and smiled. He opened his mouth to speak but before he could say a word, Hudson grabbed him by his lapels and drug him out of earshot of the guards. Stepping around the corner, Hudson suddenly hit the man hard right in the middle of his chest. “Goddamnit York! What in the actual hell are you doing here!” The woman hissed. “I’ve got enough problems without you and your lot nosing around! How the frack did you even get down here?! Hell… how’d you even get into the system!?” Smiling softly, York shrugged. “I have my ways.”
Hudson drew her sidearm and pulled back the safety. “York… I do not have time for th…” The man raised a hand and cut her off. “Devri, I need to talk to Ms. Holloway.” Fire blazed behind the woman’s eyes as she buried the barrel of the sidearm into his stomach. “Like the hell you will York! You need to leave… now!” All friendliness gone in the blink of an eye, York looked down and in a cold tone snapped. “I haven’t the time for this bullshit Devri Rae. I just came from nearly half way across the damn Sector at Max Warp. I’m not asking you, I’m telling you… I’m going to talk to Captain Holloway. Privately Starbuck…” York stared down at the woman until Hudson finally asked bluntly, her sidearm at her side “Why do you need to talk to Captain Holloway, Colonel?” Her tone was harsh, her eyes and stance untrusting.
York sighed, rubbing his eyes and then speaking just loud enough for her to hear… his expression flat but contained. “Molly was my training partner when we both went Starfleet Intelligence. She’s one of the handful of people I truly trust, even more than you Devri. I have crucial information about the people that attacked Lucas Holloway’s shuttle that I am only at liberty to discuss with Captain Holloway. Now… we can do this the nice way or the not so nice way.” Devri scowled at York. “And just what the frack is that supposed to mean, York?!” The Intel Captain leaned over her, his patience obviously wearing thin. “That means you can take me to speak to Captain Holloway and I can discuss the information I have for her with her here… in this building. Or I can beam her up to the Thresher and talk to her there! I’ve had a transporter lock on her for over an hour. I’m here as a goddamn courtesy to you and your staff. Now… take me to see Molly!” The former Marine snapped. Hudson looked as though she could kill the man with her bare hands before her shoulders slumped, she turned and walked with York down to 104. Stepping through the door, a much gentler tone emerged from the man as he asked. “Hi ya Red… ya got a minute?”
York & Hudson
Sitting in a corner of the room, with her coat over her body, and Ali and Jersey dozing off with Boomer on nearby chairs, Molly had been trying to rest. To no avail.
When she finally found herself in that light slumber that precedes one falling asleep, reality mixing up with dream, the words and the familiar voice reached her ears.
Molly opened her eyes, fully expecting to see room 104 just like it was before she had sat down and closed her eyes to rest. Instead, she found herself staring at a pair of incredibly familiar blue eyes.
“Ryan…!” The name escaped her lips before she could stop it.
Hudson watched both Senior Officers closely, wondering if she’d made the right choice letting him back with Molly. Ryan, on the other hand, now seemed to completely forget the armed CDF Commander was even standing there.
Standing up, Molly walked the space between them at a fast pace, hugging the former Marine tightly. It was an uncharacteristic action for Molly, but for the first time during the whole night she had found someone she shared a stronger connection with.
York’s arms closed tightly around Holloway, cherishing holding her once more. Simply the smell of her hair took him back to a different place… a different time. A time when the woman in his arms wasn’t just a colleague or a training partner… but a lover and a confidant. As had always happened, he didn’t want to let her go but forced himself to do so the very moment he felt the woman pull back. Setting Molly down, Ryan heard Hudson sigh then shuffle off to somewhere other than next to where he & Molly were.
“What are you doing here?”
Molly Holloway, CEO Holloway Heavy Industries
“Why do think?” He said softly, gently kissing Molly’s forehead. “I had to see for myself that you were OK.” York then took a moment, sighed and reached into his pocket.
Molly smiled softly. He had always been thoughtful. Even though she wouldn’t trade her relationship with Cal for anything in the world, it was moments like these that made Molly think how different things would have been if they had talked about it when they finished the training program. If she had turned her back on Intelligence to be with him… For a moment, she let her mind wonder, before Ryan’s voice took her away from her thoughts.
Pulling out a small data stick, the former Marine asked gently. “Is there a place we can talk… privately?” He nodded toward the two young women asleep against each other on the couch. “Considering one of those two is one of only four people to ever actually hit me… I would prefer if she not know I’m dirt side.” He smirked. “Not that I’m scared of the little firebrand… I’d just prefer to go back to my ship this time without a black eye.” Ryan chuckled softly.
York, SFI
Molly soft smile opened slightly, as she followed his gaze to the couch. She still remembered the punch… right in front of her, on the Dresden’s Sickbay, what now felt ages ago. “I’m so sorry about that…” Molly said. Genuine concern on her face. “She’s a bit protective of Calvin… he’s almost like a father to her.”
Finally, Molly motioned with her chin to the empty hospital room she had used a few hours before. “We can talk there.”
Gently nudging her former Intel partner by an arm, Molly walked to the room, closing and locking the door behind them as Ryan entered. It was exactly as she had left it — the empty biobed, the viewscreen on the wall, the single visitor’s chair. Sitting at the foot of the bed, Molly looked expectantly at Ryan.
“It’s not exactly soundproof, but it will do if we’re mindful of our volume.”
Molly Holloway, CEO Holloway Heavy Industries
Ryan walked by Molly and with a wink, playfully ribbed. “Oh… I know you can be very mindful of your volume when you wanna be…” He winked. “… but that’s not why I’m here.”
“Watch it, York.” Molly said, her open palm smacking him square in the chest. “Things are already hard enough.” Bright pink filled her cheeks.
After a moment, York tapped a small device in his pocket Molly would recognize at once as a white noise generator then nodded to the data stick. “SFI decoded an intercept for the Syndicate about three minutes before the attack on you uncle’s shuttle. It didn’t make full sense until after the attack, unfortunately, but we came at Max Warp as soon as we heard.” York was pacing now, clearly nervous and agitated in a way Molly hadn’t seen him since they had to tackle a hostage scenario at The Farm. He walked back and forth for nearly thirty seconds before finally turning at Molly and saying words he clearly didn’t want to say.
Molly knew that whatever Ryan had to tell her was seriously upsetting to him. She recognized his pacing and his nervousness. It was incredible to think that during the one year they had trained together, they had become close enough for her to know how to read his tells. Hardship brought people together, after all. And the Intelligence training at the Farm was very much the opposite of being easy.
“They’re a plant Molly…” The words would fall on Holloway like an avalanche. “… Section 31 all the way. They’re one of ours… a front organization established decades ago and modeled after the old Terra Japanese Mafia families.” He was so angry he was shaking. “They’ve been independent for so long, it’s one of a handful that lost formal recognition years ago but by the time we cut them off, they were self reliant. They don’t ‘play’ Mafia family anymore… they practically are one.” He looked at Molly, pain in his eyes. “You can’t go after these people alone Molly… they’re some of the most dangerous people in the Sector. We don’t really know who the hell is in charge but for whatever goddamn reason, they are really pissed at your uncle.”
Molly. Ryan never called her by her name unless something was incredibly wrong. To him, she was always ‘Red’. It was a small detail that Molly had always cherished. The fact that he chose not to do so didn’t get lost on Molly. In fact, it deepened the worries about the information he had just disclosed to her.
York rubbed his eyes and pressed on. “Section 31 and SFI wanted you here for a reason Red… to keep an eye on Lucas and to be someone with some sense in charge at HHI. Your uncle is one sharp son-of-a-bitch but he ain’t you Babe. They needed someone on the ground here that those bastards couldn’t railroad. Now…” York sighed. “… you got me and the Thresher for at least four weeks. I can’t promise you more time but at least you’ll have real resources without having to blow your cover.” He smiled and then paused, a stern look crossing his painfully attractive features. “Look Red… you’re a stubborn ass and we both know it. I know telling you to sit tight while Jenny & I hunt these bastards down won’t fly with you for a nano-second. That said… Captain…” He spoke in an oddly firm tone given their past. “… this is my investigation. You wanna put on the Blacks again, in secret of course, and help… you’re welcome to do so. You’re still a Senior Field Agent… but you will do so under my direction. Clear?”
York, SFI
Molly didn’t know what to say. She was still processing all the information Ryan had just dumped on her. The Syndicate being Section 31, him inviting her to work with them even though just a few months ago he didn’t want her anywhere near this line of investigation… she was at a loss.
After everything that had already happened that day, the uncertainty about Cal and Lucas and whether they would be alright, Molly’s exhaustion would be even more apparent. Not even the deepest training could hide the emotions she was buried under.
Molly didn’t answer Ryan’s question. Not immediately anyway. Instead she gave him a piece of information of her own.
“Do you remember Ashley Newton?” Holloway asked, seemingly out of the blue. “The FCIS Agent that was leading the investigation on Beta Prime and the rogue Intel base led by Tomas? The one who took the investigation from you and almost managed to convict me of conspiracy to steal the Dresden?”
“I didn’t believe my uncle when he told me that her and her bunch were behind his attack in New York City…” Molly sighed. “Just like you, I thought they had been dealt with. It turns out he had very good reasons to believe that they were behind it.” Holloway looked at her lap for a moment, before looking up to face Ryan again. “He just didn’t want to show me, because he didn’t want to put me in danger.” Another sigh. “He’s received three transmissions from them so far… and if I was to bet, I guess they’re getting ready to send a fourth.” The sadness in her face was visible. And then, realization hit her. Ryan would be able to see the hurt and anger starting to simmer in her eyes. “But you knew this already, didn’t you? If you picked up on a transmission right before the attack, you picked up on the ones my uncle received!”
<reply>
“They contacted me too… when I got home from the crash site earlier today… the lights were on. Calvin never leaves the lights on so I knew something was wrong…” Molly felt more tired than at any point in the day. She was just grateful to finally have someone in whom she could confide what had happened. “To be honest, after the recordings my uncle showed me, I was expecting it. I just wasn’t expecting it to be… her.” Molly’s hands balled into fists so tight that her knuckles were turning white. “There she was, sitting in Calvin’s chair…” Her eyes met Ryan’s. “It was a hologram… I thought I had her, Ryan… but…” He would see the bruise still on her left wrist. “She escaped through my fingers yet again…”
“I want to help… I want… I need to go with you. But I’ll have to be here every day at some point during the day. I have to be seen… so nobody gets suspicious. And I don’t want to leave them alone. Especially my uncle.” Molly hear still recall Newton’s words echoing in her mind. I’ll be sure the first thing your precious uncle sees when, and if, he wakes up… will be my face.
“I’ll be sure the first thing your precious uncle sees when, and if, he wakes up… will be my face.” Molly repeated the words out loud, but her voice faltered just as she finished them, tears returning to her eyes. “I can’t leave him alone, Ryan… I can’t let her be there… or he might not survive.” Her voice was getting shakier with every word. She sobbed softly before clearing her throat and composing herself. Her gaze steady on the former Marine’s blue eyes once more, only this time they had a seriousness behind them that Ryan knew meant that nothing would change what Molly was about to tell him. “Your message came through crystal clear, Colonel.” She started, her tone unwavering. “I will help with the investigation under your direction. Just understand that if I find Ashley Newton, I will not be responsible for what I may do to her.”
Molly Holloway, CEO Holloway Heavy Industries
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