Posted by Lieutenant Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in Attack at City Center: Four Days Later - Protests (Lucas’ Room) // TAG CIA, Police, CCDA, Medical, and anyone interested

Posted by Civilian Molly Holloway (CEO - Holloway Industries) in Attack at City Center: Four Days Later - Protests (Lucas’ Room) // TAG CIA, Police, CCDA, Medical, and anyone interested

Posted by Lieutenant Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in Attack at City Center: Four Days Later - Protests (Lucas’ Room) // TAG CIA, Police, CCDA, Medical, and anyone interested
Posted by… suppressed (10) by the Post Ghost! 👻
A few blocks away from the Governmental Building, crowds were gathering at the entrance of the Sacred Heart Hospital, wielding signs displaying the same messages as the ones in front of the Governor’s Office, only a little more personal to the Holloways themselves – “Not on my watch!”, “Go back to New York City”, or “Cruise out of here” were maybe the nicest ones.

Inside, the yells, shouts, and amplified chants of “What do we want? Out with the Holloways! When do we want it? NOW!” were starting to be heard.

The Protesters

Alone in Lucas Holloway’s hospital room, Molly nodded off next to her uncle. With a start, she was brought out of her doze by the beeping sound of her Starfleet Intelligence issued wrist chronometer.

Looking at her wrist, Molly read the single headline: BREAKING NEWS: Activist group Together for Peace claims attack on Lucas Holloway’s life.

What? That didn’t make any sense. Newton herself had told her they were behind the attack, who were these guys? Yet another Section 31 front for the Syndicate? Or just a different organization all together trying to get something out of the whole thing?

For a moment, she pondered contacting Ryan, but what he had told her a few days ago about no line being secure given it was an inside job, made her decide against it. He would know anyway, and if he needed to talk to her, Molly knew he’d show up.

Reaching for the remote control to the viewscreeen on the wall, Molly flipped through the channels until she found FNN. In horror, she watched as the channel repeated the ‘story’ about her and Cal’s involvement meaning that HHI and the CCDA were working together to create weapons that could… go through the new atmospheric shield!? Molly couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It was clear that people did not know what an atmospheric shield was or how it worked if they thought it was meant to stop any kind of external attack.

As pictures of her, Lucas, and Cal were shown on the screen, the footage changed to show crowds with signs gathering first at the governmental building, then Holloway Heavy’s Headquarters, and finally at the Sacred Heart Hospital. Molly couldn’t believe what her eyes were seeing.

Inside the tightly secured hospital, no external sound came in through the window panes. At least not in the rooms. Molly assumed that the chants would be able to be heard in the lobby.

Getting up and turning off the light in the room, Molly walked to the windows and discreetly peered outside, hoping not to be seen. It was true… At least a large group of the population wanted them off the planet… and over what? A conspiracy theory that had no foundation whatsoever, certainly fueled by Newton and her bunch to take their scent off of them. She wondered what the group had to gain from it.

Still in the darkened room, the only light coming from the active biobed, Molly sat back down on the chair. Looking at her uncle’s unconscious form, she could feel the anger simmering back to the surface. What had they done to them? Even though they were recognizable figures in OED, Molly had always felt safe walking around. Now, every single person who saw the report would know what they looked like. What would that mean for their safety? Or in Molly’s case, for the safety of anyone that tried to lay their hands on her or anyone she knew.

Molly sighed, trying to figure out if she could find the contact of the offices of the Federation News Network and tell them exactly what she thought about their report.

Molly Holloway, CEO Holloway Heavy Industries

Ilena entered the room and glanced at the news feed. “They have no idea what they are protesting about. They need to think rather than drink the kool-aid.” She walked over to Lucas and checked his readings while also quietly darkening the windows so it looked empty rather than occupied. The same was being done across the hospital. “His vitals are much better today.” She moved the sheet carefully to check the wound on Lucas’ leg. It was still obvious that he’d been injured there, but right now it looked more like it had happened months ago rather than just a few days. “Do you need anything Ms Holloway?”

Ilena

It was a good thing that Ilena walked in, momentarily throwing Molly off of her task of looking for a way to contact FNN, and unknowingly avoiding a more complicated situation for the HHI and its CEO.

Molly smiled softly. “You don’t believe them then?” There was a hint of relief in her tone, and Ilena would be able to feel it. “Given the report that FNN just put out I wouldn’t blame you.”

Ilena snorted, “I do not. FNN is known for going with the most sensational story, and not checking their sources. Anything to get people to watch and pay attention to them. And the more emotional they make people the more they stare on in disbelief. Their brain says stop listening but the fear makes them watch.”

Watching the nurse as she checked Lucas’s condition, Molly gazed back at the viewscreen as a way to give her uncle some privacy. She knew that the hospital staff did everything with the utmost decency, yet, Holloway had never seen her uncle in anything other than business casual clothes and even just seeing his thighs or shins felt weird to her. Heck, even just seeing him without long sleeves was odd.

As Ilena spoke, she’d be able to feel the weight lifting in Molly with her words, clearly happy to know that Lucas seemed to be recovering well.

Finally, as the question reached Molly’s ears, she replied. “No, but thank you. Part of me feels like I’d do better just turning off the news and ignore everything, but I also know that I’ll go crazy if I don’t know what’s happening.” Molly smiled softly. “Thank you for making sure that we’re safe.”

Molly Holloway, CEO Holloway Heavy Industries

Ilena smiled slightly. She fixed the sheet and blanket and then turned to Molly. “I may be over stepping Ms Holloway, but it seems to me you have people to handle this. I can understand wanting to know, they are targeting your family after all. But as a giant corporation, HHI has publicity people. They are trained to know what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. Which requires that they be very skilled in listening and find out where that information is coming from. The CCDA, the governor, the hosptial are all doing the same. If you want a private line to contact your office I can ask Dr Fayth to let you use her office. I’m not sure how secure it is, but it is private.”

Ilena

“You’re not overstepping at all.” Molly said with a smile.“ Her gaze still on the viewscreen where Governor Hyrushi seemed to be talking now. Something was thrown from the crowd at the podium. Was that… a shoe? Holloway had to give credit to the man and his reflexes, as she watched him catch the object and calmly set it down.

Ilena looked up, “Good the governor is talking. He’ll take care of it. People get scared and make assumptions and then chaos. He’s always so calm and speaks well without speaking over people.”

Turning off the viewscreen, Molly looked back at Ilena and shook her head. “I have my own private line if I need to, but thank you. That’s really thoughtful of you.” Her smile, even though not as happy as it would have been in normal circumstances, was still happier than before. “You’re right though. I guess sometimes I have to be reminded that HHI has the people to deal with these things and…” Her gaze settled on Lucas’s limp form on the bed. “… he’s not here to remind me of that.”

After a pause, Molly’s gaze returned to Ilena. “Before I came to OED I had my own Starfleet Command. Even then I was told that I was little controlling over things I shouldn’t have been… I’m used to doing things by myself and it takes time for me to trust the people around me to do their jobs. Unless it’s in a field I am absolutely worthless at.” She chuckled. “The transition has been tough, especially since a lot of things we do at HHI are within my area of expertise.” Molly shook her head. “Uncle Luc had to sit me down and have a serious talk with me when he got word from our people that I was intruding on our Tactical research department.” She sighed and looked at Lucas again. “I guess I’ll get there eventually.” She gave Ilena an apologetic smile.

“If you wonder why I sit here most of the time… it’s the same thing.” Molly shrugged. “I know that the hospital and the CCDA have incredible security measures around, and I can’t thank you enough for putting them in place.” She paused, her eyes settling on Lucas once more. “But somehow I feel like I’m the only one that can truly protect him if anyone tries to harm him.” A sad expression settled on her features. “And the signs outside are not helping matters.”

Molly Holloway, CEO Holloway Heavy Industries

Ilena shook her head, “No Ms Holloway I don’t wonder. You wouldn’t be the first person to sit by a loved one, standing watch. And it makes a difference. He knows you’re here, even if it only passes like a dream and he doesn’t answer. He knows.” She had a couple of extra pillows and rolled blankets. She shifted Lucas carefully and placed the pillows and blankets under him. Laying in bed, even a sleep, and not moving the body would ache. “It seems to me, Retired Captain, that you know how to select the best person for the job at hand and how to give orders. So give them. Pretend this is your ready room.” Ilena smiled, “If you need to be here. If you are the only one who can watch over him, then do that, and pick the best people to do everything else.”

Ilena

Molly smiled momentarily at a loss for words. The woman was right, and Molly hadn’t ever given much thought to the matter.

Still she couldn’t help but feel helpless over the whole situation. “I never really thought about it like that.” Molly finally let on. “Everyone at the company has been really supportive and Ms. Bruner, our Chief Operations Officer, has insisted on taking most of the work so that I wouldn’t have to be worried about it. Holloway Heavy basically runs itself by this point.” It wasn’t just the company’s business though. Any security that wasn’t HHI’s was either CCDA’s, Starfleet’s, or from the Colony’s own police force. Molly didn’t have oversight over them. She did know a lot of people in the CCDA and knowing Calvin, and his standards, as well as most people in the higher echelons of the force, it gave her peace. Still, it was not the same.

Ilena nodded, “A testament to your uncle no doubt. Just because they can work without you while you are here, doesn’t mean you can’t be involved however much you want to be.”

Then there was the matter of the Investigation into The Syndicate itself, and who these ‘Together for Peace’ people were. Ryan was on it, and she wouldn’t have had it any other way. There was no one in the world who she trusted more than him, not even Cal, even though she would trust both men with her life any day. Still, not being able to do anything about it made her feel helpless and impatient.

Standing up, Molly walked up to the window again and to the signs on the street. The previously darkened windows not giving anything away to the outside. She sighed before returning to her seat.

“Ms. Ilena… All the people that you’ve seen standing watch next to their loved ones… what did they do to pass the time… to take their minds off of things?”

Molly Holloway, CEO Holloway Heavy Industries

OOC: Updated the title to help with the split thread

IC:

Ilena tipped her head as she thought, setting up his next calcium and mineral infusion. “I’ve seen students bring their work and study, business people teleconference. Some people read books, others get a deck of cards. One time I had this man, big Huge guy, could take a Klingon on. Big beefy hands, taught himself to knit. Others want to take on the care ofthe patient as much as possible, so they study everything about the condition and treatment. They learn to help us do as much of the care as we can legally allow. Some paint or sketch. Another young lady bought old fashioned pen and paper and wrote all her memories with her dad down. An older woman, sitting still was hard for her joints. She cleared some room and did yoga and Tai Chi.”

Ilena

Molly smiled softly as Ilena spoke. She wondered if, for as hard as the job of doctors and nurses was, it also seemed to be incredibly rewarding. Her words on the other hand, were oddly comforting. For as much suffering as she had seen Cal face, this was new to her, and it was somewhat soothing to know that she wasn’t alone in what she was going through, regardless of the outcome.

“Reading is one of my favorite things to do…” Molly offered with a sigh. “And yet… when I could use the distraction, I can’t seem to be able to focus on it.” She shrugged. “Work doesn’t come easy either. As you said, I should be able to be as involved as I want to be, and yet, every time I try to do something, someone will take it away, telling me that I just need to rest and not worry about it. I know they mean well, but I am not accustomed to that.” Holloway chuckled. “Maybe you’re right… maybe I should pretend this is my Ready Room and start putting my foot down. I know that’s what I would have done if this was happening on my old ship.” She smiled before her expression turned somber again. “Even though I know I can be a little too much to deal with.” Molly’s gaze returned to Lucas. “I just… I just want to make him proud…” The emotional turmoil would once again be apparent to the Betazoid nurse, even though it was clear that Holloway was doing her best to reign it in and hiding it behind as many mental walls as possible, but the exhaustion of the past few days was making it difficult.

“In that case, I would suggest you read, but read something that is your absolute favorite. That way it’s like an old friend, and if you can’t concentrate or your mind wanders, then it’s still there when you come back. You know you are different than most people sitting at a bed side. See most people sitting where you are, are civilians. The person in the bed may not be, and understand the risk and what not, but the person in the chair doesn’t. They don’t know how to cope with it, and so they need people to say ‘no, take care of you, rest, let us take charge’ because they don’t know how. You do though. You’ve sat in the big chair and you know how to handle the fear and stress and worry and big decisions and get it done. HHI, well they might have some veterans working for them, but for the most part, they don’t know what it’s like and can’t imagine themselves handling it. So they treat you how they would want others to treat them. It’s not wrong, they mean well, but they don’t understand. Right now, it’s totally okay to be selfish and tell them what you want and need.” Ilena didn’t comment about him being proud of her. She was sure the man was, but she didn’t know him, and Ilena didn’t like to comment on things without foundation. Ilena also didn’t think much about the emotional turmoil she felt from Ms Holloway. It was expected and there was no fault in feeling it. People handled it differently and it wasn’t for her to say if they should share or not.

Turning back to Ilena, Molly asked. “Is it really true what you said before? Does he know that we’re here? Or is it just something people hope in order to feel better?”

Molly Holloway, CEO Holloway Heavy Industries

Ilena nodded, “Oh yes. If we had the neural scanners activated you would be able to see it. The sound of your voice would trigger the memory centers of the brain and then you’d be able to see the emotional response as the brain lights up. Most often the patients are too deep asleep for their brains to move what you are saying from short to long term memory, but they do know you are there. Some telepaths could even tell you what they are thinking, what memory was triggered. Some empaths too can pick up on the emotions.”

Ilena

The awe in Molly’s face was evident as her eyes settled back on Lucas. Her fingers slowly reaching out to him, but stopping short before they reached the regenerative field around the biobed. “That’s fascinating.” The words came almost in a whisper. “So… if he won’t be able to move his perception of this from his short to his long term memory, that means that, even though he knows I’m here, he won’t be able to remember it once he wakes up, right?”

Ilena nodded, “That’s correct. Now I have seen patients who have vague impressions of words or things being done to them, or sharply clear seconds of memory, but not enough to really piece together the whole story. My guess is that those snippets happen as they cycle through levels of sleep and consciousness.” Having seen her reach, “This round will be done in 3 minutes.”

Molly nodded in understanding.

With a sigh but with resolve building within her, Molly looked back at the nurse. “Thank you, Ms. Ilena.” She smiled. “Thank you for helping me see things differently. After so many years in Starfleet, civilian life has been… an adjustment. Thank you for making me realize that I don’t have to let go of who I am and try to become someone new.” She pondered for a moment. “Would it be possible for me to set up an ‘office’ here?” Holloway added air quotes to imply that it was more like a makeshift place for her to do what she needed to, rather than a real office. “I’d prefer to work from here if that’s possible. All I need is an isolated corner… but I don’t want to get in your way or in the way of the medical staff.”

Molly Holloway, CEO Holloway Heavy Industries

Ilena smiled and hugged the other woman. She seemed to need it and Ilena was always happy to offer them to anyone who even looked like they might want one. “Of course! We want you to be comfortable too. I have to finish my rounds, but make a list of what you would like and then I’ll come back and we can see what we can find for you.”

Ilena

Molly was taken aback by the embrace, remaining frozen in place for a split second before returning it. Many years before, she’d have flinched at the touch of another person, especially one she was not incredibly close to, but over the years she had come to learn that not everyone meant to harm her. In fact, more often than not people were being friendly, had Molly’s best interests in mind, and were either showing affection or trying to comfort her, or both. Ilena would have been able to sense the surprise, followed by a fleeting moment of shock turned into gratitude.

“Oh, I don’t need anything special.” Molly said with a smile. “I brought a few PaDDs with me and…” She shook her left wrist. “… HHI issues our own wrist comms, so I have everything I need in my chronometer. I just want to make sure that I am not in the way.”

Molly Holloway, CEO Holloway Heavy Industries