The Big Day Continues

Posted on Fri 11th Sep, 2020 @ 12:36am by Elizabeth Anderson M.D. & Renato Solis & Mozatholm Zaldekulmu

1,972 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Resolution
Location: Refugee Center Midnight (Renato PI office)
Timeline: MD 14, 1845

Previously, as Renato Solis solicits help from Dr. Anderson ....

The parents were not around, and given the scene, Renato explained, gesturing to them by way of introduction. "Sorin, Aber, and Chiicha. Those children had no parents here, separated or lost during the aftermath of the Dominion war, and Lexy..." He pointed at Lexy, a brazen young Bajoran girl fiercely holding her own in a contest for the only bouncing ball..."brought them here for food one night. They all stole the pantry blind."

And now, to meet more of the people who live in this little corner of the Brown Sector ....

---

Kya was having some wine, watching the diners clean up. Dinner had only just finished, "Oh Kya, have you put it away? We have a guest I'd like you to meet, I promise to clean up after myself."

Kya smirked at his earnest face, knowing how the dish would wind up on his desk as he slept in his chair. "I set aside two bowls, rice and bread."

Renato couldn't just leave, "Dr. Anderson, Kya, pleased to introduce you."

Kya wasn't dressed in her best, a simple, loose yellow shirt and light pants. Renato brought people in without notice all the time, and it was a sore point. She could appreciate the man for his intentions, and so greeted the guest with bemusement. "Hi, I am Kya Adtani, that's my daughter Lexy, we are the mascots here."

Since the woman hadn't extended a hand, Elizabeth didn't offer hers, either. These people weren't from Earth, and they had different customs. "I'm pleased to meet you," was all she said, but she said it with a smile and warmth.

Renato began to speak again, "Kya and her family were..." but there was a vibe from Kya which stopped him before he started.

She also didn't appreciate her story being told so causally. She didn't have to appreciate that, but it was part of the deal with him. "Kids asked where you were, go say hi."

He definitely read the intent, and graciously leaned away, "Oh yes, I'll introduce you in a moment, Doctor. I'll be right back, thank you, Kya."

Renato went to the kids who immediately exploded with energy when they saw him. Within moments a line was formed and shoulder high rides were in demand.

Watching in bemusement, Elizabeth turned to Kya after a moment. "There's no need to tell me your story, if you don't choose to do so. Many of us don't want to think about some part of our lives best left buried. It's still nice to meet you, and have the chance to thank you for saving dinner bowls for us. I came straight from the clinic and haven't eaten yet."

Kya showed her the table, several spots empty and ready for diners who would come and go. "Please, sit, I'll be happy to talk but let's get you some dinner. If I don't pull a few bowls for him, he winds up rooting through the pantry and eating whatever is ready to go, so I've always got a plan for him. Do you eat meat?"

"I do. I eat anything that doesn't eat me first," Elizabeth laughed. "Where do the supplies for the pantry originate? Do you have ... donors? Patrons? I'm not sure what term would apply here."

Kya appreciated her easy demeanor, Lexy had once needed medicine for an ear infection but found Starfleet impossible to work with. This one wasn't Starfleet, so Kya felt the knot between her shoulder blades release its tension. Renato would sometimes put her on the spot to prove the concept of this place, but to be a mascot was exhausting. Tonight was a more charming encounter.

"We started here four years ago, before then we... served other communities. Renato was known as a man who would help you, I was pregnant with Haksin... and well for better or for worse, I've not gone hungry one night since. The man can be impossible to deal with, but we all made this place a home because no matter what he... well eventually we... kept the larder stocked. We trade, we farm, we work for energy credits. Donations go straight to the needy... and I think Starfleet is the only patron who contributes anything, but even that is strictly medically focused."

She had heated the bowls while chatting, setting them on a tray, separate bowls of rice and a bread roll with single slick of butter. In a glass, freshly made lemonade with real sugar. She kept the lid on Renato's since he was still playing, and brought the other over to the table.

Taking a sip of the liquid in the glass, Anderson exclaimed, "Oh, lemonade! How lovely to have that, thank you! Everything looks delicious." She took a few bites, savoring the flavors and spices which were new to her. "I'm still not entirely sure why Mr. Solis asked me to visit, but what you've said makes me wonder whether there's anything I might do to get more help from Starfleet. Not directly, but I do have friends who are fleet and might be in a position to redirect some resources your way, if I asked. Is there something you need that isn't readily available?"

Kya laughed, "I couldn't ask for anything like that. Part of the pride of this and others like us is we did it on our own. I think you are here, because your clinic can say the same. We don't really trust Starfleet to think about our well-being. Many of us feel like Starfleet just sees a problem they wish would go away. We repaired our own broken lives, it's possible for everyone else too."

Elizabeth swallowed and took a sip of lemonade. "I wasn't thinking so much of a handout. More like something you need that you simply can't acquire. If I can find it, we can work out a deal of some kind - doesn't have to be money. I'm really fond of bartering." She grinned, and added, "Actually, for food like this, maybe we could work out lunch deals when I'm down here at the clinic!"

The door to the Refugee Center opened, and a tallish boy with pronounced cheekbones and curly, black hair stepped inside. He glanced toward the noise, which was hard to miss, and then turned his attention to Kya and the lady who was visiting. He bowed slightly. "Good evening, Ms. Kya." He turned to Elizabeth. "Hello, Ma'am." Then he turned back to Kya. "I came to talk to Renato. I can wait."

Renato had only finished back rides for the children. With every tug, their childish joy was shared with him and it was easy to become lost, heady, like a drug almost. He had to rein it in, before he lost himself too much and become a child. Seeing Moz, he almost wanted to play tag before he caught himself. Moz had likely found a juicy tidbit, came for the cash and candy exchange. His eyes took in more than anyone, and he was as useful as an intelligence bureau.

"Mozatholm, delighted to see you. Please stay! Do you have time for Jal-Dor cashew sticks? Jumja cake?"

Mozatholm stifled a sigh. Renato always plied him with sweets. "Thank you; I've already eaten. Maybe just some cashew sticks?" He could give them to his brothers and sister and let them fight over them. He had a book.

Moz was all serious today, a fact Renato used to adjust the rewards metric. This meant something worth a pretty penny. The boy was bright, but not yet so wise as to protect himself from that bright sunbeam of an intellect to be used against him. He needed protection from those who would use him without appreciation for the man fast forming underneath it all. Other children with his story would have turned to the criminal life, but Moz kept coming back for the steady paycheck Renato provided. Over time they had become more than simply traders of secrets, Mozatholm was a friend.

"Take as many as you want, don't make your siblings fight over them, be nice. I got your slips too, I might as well get them for you now." He gestured for Moz to follow. Haksin had clamped onto one leg and was trying to tackle the much larger Renato, who ignored the adorable tyke and limped to his office down a different interior hallway.

Watching the by-play between Renato and the children, then the teenager, Anderson turned to Kya. "He's really just another child at heart, isn't he?"

Kya looked forlorn, memories of the long years flashing into her consciousness. "I think it's how he once was, always, and playing like this brings it back." She didn't want to talk about his past so changed the subject quickly, "I am curious about your clinic, what brought you here?"

"To the base or to Brown Sector, do you mean?" Elizabeth asked, savoring the food. "I guess what brings many people here, really. I was with Starfleet, and then I got out. I had friends here, and there's quite a civilian population, so I stayed and opened an office in Tivoli Gardens. I'm never going to be rolling in latinum, but I live above my office, and I do okay.

"As for Brown Sector ..." she glanced at the woman across from her, having felt the pain she'd covered. "I suppose I've come for the same reason many people here do. It's ... a place to land. A place which needs some good done, and it's good I can provide. I have a ... I guess it isn't exactly proper psychological terminology, but it fits ... a fixer personality. When I see something that can be made better, I want to help. I know, it sounds like I'm unrealistic and a dreamer."

Elizabeth cocked her head considering that. "I suppose a part of me is. The rest really is grounded in reality. I do know that if someone doesn't want changes, there's nothing I can do to help.

"So, what can I do to help? Mr. Solis wouldn't have invited me if he didn't see something for me to do," she challenged gently.

This was the elevator speech she hated giving. She understood the politics of why, and hated them for being so effective. It felt like she was using this speech as a parlor trick for emotional authenticity. She kept it simple, avoiding embellishment.

"We had a shared vision after the passing of a dear child to our small community. We needed daily access to medicine, and when Starfleet left us ... we lost that access. After nearly a year of agonizing wasting away, mercy took him in his sleep. That was a hard time for both of us. We resolved to end pain like that, to be a source of kindness and demonstrate reverence for life. Renato sees in people, like you, a capacity to provide that service to life. I happen to agree, so consider yourself vetted." She took a moment to clear the taste out of her mouth, feeling it necessary to add, "We can't offer much ere beyond the safe place you see, but if we can refer people to you, there's folks here, like you said, needs some good done."

"I'd be happy to be a part of what you are offering people at the center. Hope is the beginning of everything. My fees are low anyway, mostly what people feel like they need to pay not to be on charity, but for people who are served here, we could call it part of the package deal of getting them on their feet again. I believe in teaching people to take care of themselves," Anderson emphasized, "and I think you do, too."

 

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