Posted Nov. 11, 2022, 9:29 p.m. by Civilian Molly Holloway (CEO - Holloway Industries) (Joana Ribeiro)
Posted by Jerome Davis in [Attack at City Center] The Beginning of the End
Posted by Civilian Molly Holloway (CEO - Holloway Industries) in [Attack at City Center] The Beginning of the End
Posted by Jerome Davis in [Attack at City Center] The Beginning of the End
Posted by… suppressed (3) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Molly knew that her uncle’s request for her to grab him the newspaper was not an innocent one. Ever since he had woken up, Lucas had made no secret of the fact that he thought she should go outside, instead of spending her days inside the hospital’s walls. She had argued, but this had been the first morning she had had no excuse. It was just the newspaper. At the kiosk across the street from Sacred Heart. One of the few places that sold both breakfast items and paper based newspapers and magazines.Who buys the newspaper anyway? Paper snobs like her uncle, her mind completed. Molly scoffed in annoyance, ignoring the fact that book reading was something she frequently did and that she enjoyed much more than doing so on a PaDD.
Molly walked at a fast pace. Her face half buried under the collar of the long tweed coat the Mannings had gifted her, hoping she wouldn’t get recognized on the street — something that had become much harder after the protests that had swept the center of the city the week before.
“Oh uh… M… Miss Holloway…! What can I do for you?” The young man working the small establishment stuttered, and his face blushed bright pink when he recognized her amongst the people waiting around for their morning coffee, his words prompting many of them to look in her direction. Molly sighed inaudibly and her face opened in the most polite smile she could muster. “Just a coffee to go and today’s issue of The OED Times.” She said as she patted her pockets in search for credits. “Yes Ma’am.” Came his prompt reply as he took a copy of the colony’s newspaper and handed it to her, before waving his open palms. “Don’t worry about it, it’s on the house!”
“No, please.” Molly said, trying not to sound visibly frustrated. “I’m a customer just like anyone else on this line.” With a swift movement she placed the credits on the small counter filled with numerous magazines and took the newspaper. “Keep the change.” The young man opened his mouth to protest, but the glare Molly gave him made him take a step back. “Yes Ma’am. Th- Thank you.” He said shakily before pointing to the left side of the kiosk. “You can grab your coffee on that side. It will be right out.”
With the same polite smile as before, Molly nodded, placing the newspaper under her arm. “Thank you. Have a good day!” And she moved to the small group of people waiting.
A few of them glanced at her curiously, and a woman stepped closer to her making Molly take half a step back. “Miss Holloway. I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am about what happened to your uncle. I hope he gets better soon. Send him my regards.”
Molly smiled at the woman, glancing nervously at the coffee counter, hoping that hers was coming out soon. “Thank you.” She glanced back at the woman, clutching tightly the newspaper under her arm. “I’ll let him know.”
“Mine too.” Another customer stepped closer. “We’ve seen it on the news. The shuttle… and then all those protesters. Rest assured, Miss Holloway, we never doubted you or your uncle!”
The smile on Molly’s face became more nervous as the interactions progressed, as she became visibly more uncomfortable. “Miss Holloway!” This time it was a teenager stepping away from his mother. “I’m sorry to bother you. Can I get an autograph?” Autograph!? Molly’s mind was starting to be overwhelmed, and anyone that knew her would know that that was not good. She smiled at the teenager that was now holding out a pen and a piece of paper for her to sign, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
Molly Holloway, CEO Holloway Heavy Industries
“Sign the kid’s autograph Red, then we can go for a walk… we have things to discuss” The soft, familiar voice came from just above and behind Molly’s right shoulder. Looking behind her, Molly would find Ryan York… in a suit, long coat, and fedora smiling down on her. He looked as though he’d fallen out of an old earth detective novella. Reaching over to the kid, Ryan smiled kindly as he took the pen and handed it to Molly. “Come on hun… no reason to disappoint your adoring public.” He smirked then gave a playful wink.
Colonel Ryan York, SFI
Taking a deep breath, Molly took the pen and the piece of paper. With a quick motion she signed her name and handed it back to the teen with a smile. “Oh this is so cool! Thank you!” He said as he turned away to rejoin his mother waiting in line.
“Molly Holloway!” Came the voice of the kiosk assistant as he placed the lid on a steaming cup of coffee and sat it on the small counter. With a nod to the young man running the small place, she grabbed the cup and walked back to Ryan, her uncle’s OED Times issue still firmly tucked under her arm.
It was only when they had walked far enough away from the kiosk that Molly spoke. “So what brings you here, Mr. Dixon Hill?” She said with a smirk, taking a tentative sip from her coffee, making sure she didn’t burn her tongue. “I assume you didn’t just come to help me give out random autographs?” Molly smiled at Ryan, and sighed. Her heart fluttering slightly as it always did when York was around. “Thank you though. I hate it every single time it happens and after the protests and all the news reports… even those that didn’t know who I am are suddenly familiar with my face.” Molly sighed again, looking disheartened at her coffee cup. “It’s exhausting.”
Molly Holloway, CEO Holloway Heavy Industries
“I understand Red… I really do.” Ryan began gently and though Molly knew his attention as far as the conversation was totally his, it would be one of the few times recently Molly could walk comfortably in public… knowing the Intelligence Operative’s eagle eyes were taking in every inch of their surroundings. “And no, I didn’t come here just to help you with autographs.” He made a point of looking left and right before continuing. “Target is in play…” Ryan said flatly, the term would immediately register with Molly. “… the team is closing in. We will close within the hour. Ya ready Red?”
Colonel Ryan York, SFI
There was a pang of hurt as for a moment Molly thought Ryan was blowing her off. Until his final words registered in her brain. He was in business mode. She should have known what he was there to tell her.
As her light brown gaze locked with his blue eyes, the turmoil of emotions within her would be impossible to miss. To him, she knew she was an open book, and she didn’t really hold it back. “I…” Molly had dreamed with this moment for months, maybe even years, and now that it was finally here she didn’t know how to react. Nodding, she cleared her throat. “I need to bring my uncle his newspaper… I can leave it with Hudson and she’ll get it to him. I’ll need someone to cover for me anyway and she’ll likely be the one that asks the least amount of questions. Other than that… I feel like I’ve been ready for this my whole life.”
Molly Holloway, CEO Holloway Heavy Industries
Ryan smiled warmly at Molly’s last words. Looking around, the former Marine looked to a small gathering of trees nearby. Nodding toward the trees, he said flatly “Meet there in five.” Then, without another word, he walked off toward the trees. It was almost like the man vanished… or did he? York had stepped around a larger tree about twenty feet away and then was just… gone. Molly would remember that the man, contrary to Calvin, loved point-to-point beaming as a great way to prevent people from following him.
Colonel Ryan York, SFI
With a smile on her lips, Molly shook her head and rolled her eyes as she saw Ryan vanish. Show off.
The walk back to Sacred Heart was a short one, barely more than crossing the road. Once inside the hospital, it didn’t take long for Holloway to find Hudson and pull her aside into an isolated corner away from the rest of the CCDA personnel.
“Hey.” Molly started both in greeting and in a way of getting the woman’s attention. “Do you mind getting this to my uncle?” She asked, giving Hudson the copy of The OED Times she had just bought. “Something came up and I need to be away for a bit. If he asks, tell him that Cal can get him up to speed. If anyone else asks, tell them I’m at work.” She smiled. “I’ll be back later.”
Without another word, Molly turned on her heel and walked out of Sacred Heart and back to her and Ryan’s agreed upon rendezvous spot. It was exactly five minutes after they had separated. Not a second later.
Molly Holloway, CEO Holloway Heavy Industries
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