Posted by General Calvin Alexander Harris (Commandant - Colonial Customs and Defence Authority) in Starting Over

Posted by Civilian Molly Holloway (CEO, Holloway Heavy Industries) in Starting Over

Posted by Civilian Lucas Elliot Holloway (President / Chairman - Holloway Heavy Industries) in Starting Over
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Two weeks prior, when Lucas had insisted that Molly accompanied him back to OED V, she had petulantly told him that she was not going. Now, she found herself late to dinner with her uncle as she hurriedly looked at her reflection in the full length mirror of her massive cabin on board one of the most elegant cruise ships on the Holloway Starlines fleet. It had been a week since they had left Earth behind, and they were scheduled to dock at OED V the next afternoon.

Molly frowned as her hair insisted on falling on her face once again, as she desperately tried to put it up in the way Erin had taught her a few months ago. Groaning in despair as her wrist chronometer beeped one more time to remind her that Lucas was waiting for her in the ship’s dining area, she gave up and walked out of the room. It was good enough.

It took her fifteen minutes to go from her cabin to the massive dining room. And even though Molly thought the ship’s decor was too extravagant, the high ceilings, and the beautiful art deco with black and gold accents never failed to fill her with awe.

Spotting Lucas, she walked hurriedly to the table, her light dress flowing behind her with her steps.

“I’m so sorry I’m late, Uncle Luc. I hope you haven’t been waiting for too long.” Molly said, pulling up the chair across from her uncle and sitting down.

Molly

Molly’s Uncle, Lucas Elliot Holloway, beamed at his niece as she hurried over to the table. “Good evening, Gracie.” He said warmly. “I was about to think you’d nipped off down to the pool or something.” The smirk was accompanied by the same sparkle his eyes only had for his beloved surrogate daughter. Though now in his early 50’s, the shipping magnate was still as playful as he was when Molly was a child.

“Actually, Captain Murphy comm’ed me about ten minutes ago to let me know your e-key had been used on the express lift…” He shrugged with a slightly wider smile. “… hence why your water and OJ are fresh.” He motioned to the glasses in front of Molly’s chair. “What was the old Earth saying…” After a pause, the elder Holloway snapped his fingers and laughed. “… oh yeah… It’s good to be king!”

Molly rolled her eyes at the phrase as she took a sip of her orange juice. Perfect, as it had been the whole trip.

“Anyway… Chef will be over in a few; she saw you come in.” He picked up his menu and used it to motion to hers. “There are four specials tonight: a curry dish, North Atlantic Salmon, King Ranch Sirloin, and a vegetarian lasagna.” Glaring over the top of the menu, Lucas creased his eyebrows. “No, I’m not getting the damn lasagna! Chef already tried. I’ll have the salmon. I’ve already been told I’ve had enough beef this trip…” He grumbled to himself. “… damn mother hens!’

Lucas

One of Molly’s lip corners lifted in a playful sideways smile. “Personally, I think the lasagna is a very good option for you.” She said lightly, fully expecting another glare over the top of the menu. “But if you’re dead set on the salmon… Fine. I guess I can just let it slide this time.” She winked. “I suppose you shouldn’t have forced me to come with you, if you didn’t want the lecture.” She chuckled, opening her own menu and looking at the options.

Yup, there was the glare. But if Lucas Holloway was anything, it was resilient. The man didn’t rise to the bait; instead, he just grumbled something to himself that sounded suspiciously like “… sound just like your mother”.

“I think I’m getting the curry. I saw it in one of the tables heading over, and it looked wonderful.” Molly said, closing the menu, and laying it flat on the table in front of her. “Thank you for ordering the orange juice ahead of me getting here.” She smiled. Even though Lucas had been back in her life for several years now, Molly still couldn’t quite get accustomed to it. Sometimes, she found herself looking at her uncle as if he would disappear in the next few seconds.

“Of course!” Lucas’ temperament improving with the change in subject. “I know you like Algarve oranges, so I put them in your ETP (OOC: Executive Transport Profile) a few months ago. Hell, I’ve grown to love them so much… I added them to mine!” He reached across the snow-white linen and patted Molly’s hand. “I didn’t think you’d mind, Sweetie.”

“So…” She started. “Excited to get back on planet tomorrow?” Molly wasn’t. The only thing that made the idea of returning better was knowing that Calvin and her would finally be in the same place again. Despite her best attempts, he had never made it back to Earth. However, for as much as it saddened her, she knew that Lucas’s place was on OED, and if making a few sacrifices meant his happiness, that in and of itself was worth it.

Molly

“I am…” Lucas looked a bit melancholy as he paused and gazed out the massive starboard window at the streaking stars. “… even having the Cavalier at my disposal, I still can’t just pop back whenever I want. I haven’t seen Alexis in over a month, and I do miss Falcon’s Rest*. Hopefully, you… Calvin, Alexis, and I can grab dinner on Friday evening. That way, we all have time to settle in. What’dya think, Gracie?”

OOC: Falcon’s Rest is the official residence of the Holloway family on OED, named in honor of Falcon Crest, the centuries-old Holloway manor outside St. Louis. An old Earth European-style home, the house was formerly the Canadian Ambassador’s residence. Now simply known as The Residence by HHI personnel and Holloway House on OED records, Falcon’s Rest was given its family name shortly after Lucas moved in, in the fall of 2398.

Lucas

Molly raised an eyebrow at her uncle’s words. The mention of Dominique making her insides twist, but she managed to not say a word.

Molly’s gaze followed Lucas’s to the field of stars outside the massive window. His words swirling in her mind. She had convinced herself that her return to OED was temporary. Her house in New York City would be there when she returned. She didn’t miss the oversized mansion Lucas had given her and Calvin on OED… but she did miss Calvin. Sometimes it scared her how comfortable she could be without him. Without anyone, for that matter. How efficiently she could bottle everything in a corner of her brain, never to think to much about again. Because if she allowed herself to think about it then… Molly shook her head, dismissing the thoughts.

“Of course. That would be great!” She replied after a few seconds of silence. It would be even better if Dominique wasn’t there.

Molly

As the pair stared out the windows, both were lost in thought before the clearing of a throat at Lucas’ elbow snapped them back to the here and now. The elder Holloway looked up into the kind eyes of Chef Phoebe Abigail Barton, Holloway Starlines’s senior culinary expert smiled down first at Lucas, then Molly. “As soon as you two stargazers are ready…” She said in a light Parisian accent. “… could I get your orders?”

Lucas smiled back at the chestnut-haired woman who had spent her career climbing the ranks at HSL to find herself, at the remarkably young age of 38, as the senior ship of the company’s flagship… the HSS Jefferson. “Good evening Abby…” Lucas began with the bit of a blush. “… sorry to keep you waiting.” His apology sounded sincere. “I’m gonna have the Salmon with the green beans… and Molly will have…” He then motioned to his niece.

Lucas

“The curry, please.” Molly said with a smile.

In many ways, the younger Holloway was the opposite of her uncle, a fact that she was painfully aware of after the amount of talk it had generated when she had first accepted the CEO position. One of the many examples of this was how unfamiliar she was with the staff, even though she led the daily operations of the company. Lucas knew almost everyone on a first name basis. In Molly’s defense, however, she refused to use company assets when traveling, so she never dealt with the people quite as much as her uncle did.

As Chef Barton walked away with their orders, Molly glanced around the room with a sigh. She understood how certain people in certain echelons of society preferred the kind of services that Holloway Starlines provided. However, a long time ago, Molly had vowed never to become one of them, no matter how much that displeased her grandparents. Or Lucas’s parents, as she usually referred to them.

With a smile and a glint in her eye, Molly’s gaze fell on Lucas, the same way a child looked in admiration to her father. “I know I’m going to change my mind but… at least right now I am glad you made me come with you…” She said. “… even if I really don’t like the house.” She chuckled.

Holding her glass of orange juice in front of her, she continued. “To returning home.”

Molly’s uncle smiled and lifted his own glass. “To returning home”

As uncle and niece clinked their glasses in a toast, the field of stars silently zoomed past them, and for the first time in her life, Molly Holloway felt she could get used to her current life.

Molly

---

The Next Afternoon

Lucas stood beside his niece on the bridge of the Jefferson, surrounded by men and women in the HSL’s red & gold on black uniform as the ship prepared to drop out of Warp and into one of the ACS’s approved approach lanes for the now massive colony of OED V. The Jefferson was an equally massive ship, at nearly a kilometer in length; the liner was one of the largest human-made, warp-capable vessels ever built and had a max compliment of 8,500 passengers at a variety of luxury levels and 3,250 crew members. Its bridge had three levels: Command, Navigation & Control, and Guest Services. At any given time, over fifty people worked on the bridge, which was always kept slightly darker and cooler than the rest of the ship.

Even though she had had her own command, Molly felt oddly uncomfortable on the Bridge. Why couldn’t she sit tight on her cabin like everyone else on the ship? Why did being part of the family that owned the company giver her prerogatives that others didn’t have? This was part of the reason why Molly never took Holloway flights. Everyone always treated her like she owned the place. Even though technically… she did… still, she felt in no way superior to anyone traveling on board, and the Bridge crew was doing nothing but their jobs.

Suddenly, a voice chimed in. “Warp Transition in 15 seconds,” came the call from the Navigation Officer. The ship’s Captain stepped up beside Lucas & Molly, speaking softly. “Never gets old, does it, Sir?” Lucas nodded. “You could say that again, Captain.” As the last word left his mouth, the room the size of a basketball court flashed and the Jefferson dropped out of Warp. For a moment, there was nothing but quiet before Lucas Holloway let a soft, slow whistle escape him. “Nicely done, Helm.” The magnate said aloud, and the young man at the controls beamed with pride.

“We’re being hailed.” The Captain nodded and motioned to the screen. “Put it up, Comms.” “Aye aye, Ma’am”. Came the snap response. On the main view screen appeared a sharp-looking Asian woman. =A= Good Afternoon…=A= The woman began in a crisp, accented soprano. =A=… this is Astro Control Central… Captain Kanai Eiko, Commanding. On behalf of General Calvin Harris, it is our pleasure to welcome the Jefferson home. Captain Montgomery, if you and your team would be so kind… please bring the Jefferson into Docking Slip One. Platform Control will take you by Tractor in from five kilometers out. And lastly…=A=

Molly felt the slight flutter in her heart at the mention of Cal. She couldn’t wait to see him. A small unconscious smile made it into her lips.

Captain Eiko’s eyes clearly shifted to Lucas and Molly as she unabashedly beamed. =A=… Mr. Holloway, Captain Holloway… welcome home, you two. It’s great to have you both back where you belong.=A= Then, with a simple nod. =A= Astro Control Clear =A=

Lucas, Montgomery, & Eiko

Molly smiled politely and gave Eiko a grateful nod. She knew the woman quite well, but much like everyone else, she had never gotten close to her. Never moving, Molly waited for Lucas to finish his pleasantries with the crew so they could disembark. She couldn’t wait to have her feet on solid ground.

---

An hour later

It took them an hour (one hour!!!) to make it through customs and to make the shuttle flight down from the orbital platform to the arrivals gate at OED’s spaceport. Over the years she had become incredibly familiar with the place, especially with all her regular travels to Earth and back. Still, the memories of standing right where she stood now, as the shuttle carrying both Calvin and Lucas crashed into the street outside, flooded her mind. The ground shaking, the deafening sound, the windows shattering, people scrambling to leave the premises as she was dragged with the masses…

Molly took a deep breath, her hand making it uncharacteristically around Lucas’s arm and squeezing it tightly. She had never discussed with him how she had been in that exact place four years prior in one of the darkest nights of their lives. She only had OED’s medical staff to thank for the fact that she was able to return to the same site with her uncle walking beside her.

Without even a second thought, Lucas’s right hand rose and cupped over Molly’s on his arm. After a firm squeeze, the elder Holloway stepped off toward the Arrivals Port. While Lucas was looking for his own love, he knew his Gracie had eyes for only one guy on the whole planet, and he saw the man in question just a moment before his niece did.

Suddenly, her gaze recognized a figure standing in the middle of the crowd clearly looking through the arriving passengers, searching for someone. Calvin Harris, the other life the staff at Sacred Heart had saved.

“Calvin!” Molly shouted with a wide smile and a wave of her hand, hoping the former Marine would see them. Sometimes her bright red hair actually helped her, although her height didn’t.

Lucas would feel the slight pull on his arm as his niece’s pace increased trying to get to her husband, but holding herself back as so to remain respectful of her uncle and not drag him with her.

Molly

Lucas smiled as he felt the tug and tried to keep up. He was happy to see Calvin as well… though he was surprised at his appearance. The CCDA General wore the green & grey on brown tactical uniform of the CCDA, four silver stars on a rectangle of crimson on a single tab centered on his chest. Behind him, to his right, was an auburn-haired woman nearly Calvin’s own height. Francesca Davenport had been with HHI’s Office of Internal Security for nearly half a decade.

After an injury on a mission sidelined her Special Forces career with the Starfleet Marines, then Gunnery Sergeant Davenport decided to head to private security. Following the attack on Holloway One four years ago, she requested and was granted a transfer to the Executive Protection Service, where she joined one Lucas Holloway’s personal Detail. Davenport served with distinction until a year ago when, upon the marriage of Calvin and Molly, she requested transfer to the General’s newly formed personal Detail. Considering the fight it was going to be to get the combat-hardened former Marine to accept any personal protection, Lucas felt it was a wise choice to let the former Gunny keep the Colonel in line. It was a wise choice indeed.

Davenport looked every part the consummate professional, in a black pantsuit with a crisp, open-collared Holloway Red button-down. Seeing Lucas, she nodded with a smile just before they reached Calvin.

Without a second thought, Harris scooped his wife from the floor… hugging her tightly before deeply kissing her. “God, Mols, I missed you so much.” He beamed down at her before glancing at Lucas with a smirk. “Oh… and you too, Lucas.” The elder Holloway laughed before stepping past the couple and extending his hand to Davenport. “Nice to see you again, Frannie.” He beamed. “My nephew hasn’t given you too many problems, right?” Shaking the hand in return, the Agent smiled. “The Colonel is just a big teddy bear…” She gave her own smirk. “… a big, obnoxious teddy bear.”

Lucas, Davenport, and Calvin

Molly laughed out loud at the comment, Cal’s hands still on the sides of her waist, and the taste of his lips still on hers. She looked up at the former Marine, love mixing with playfulness as the smirk Cal had come to know so well formed on her lips. “A big obnoxious teddy bear might be the most accurate description of you I’ve heard in a long while!” Her smile turned softer and more loving as Molly kept her gaze on Calvin’s eyes. “I missed you too.”

Molly’s fingers intertwined with Cal’s as naturally as if she had never left. “Let’s go home.”

Holding Calvin’s hand tightly, Molly walked the two paces that separated her from Lucas, nodding at Davenport. Her free hand snaked quietly around her uncle’s arm, squeezing it softly, and for a moment, all was well with the universe. Four years prior, her world had come crashing down as she stood in the very building they were in. Now, she held the two men that she thought she had lost – her uncle, the main father figure in her life; and her husband, the man who had gone through hell and back beside her many times, and who she knew would do so all over again – alive and well by her side. She hoped Newton and her rogue bunch were turning in their graves.

For the first time in her life, as they made their way through the spaceport to the EGV waiting for them outside, Molly felt that, if her mother could see her from beyond, she would be proud of her.

Molly