As he stood in the Imperial City Medical Supply Warehouse, Phaanan took one last look over the checklist Faace had given him of things he would need to bring back to the Spaceport. He'd been told by the cloned actor that if he was going to go all that way as a chauffer, he at least ought to pick up some things that were needed at the Spaceport. And so, each day the poor cloned doctor had to go to a different warehouse to supply the purported needs, and the cargo holds of the transport were nearly filled. This was his last stop, once he got everything on the ship, he'd be able to take some time to himself for recreation... finally.
"Sir, I can help you with your needs, if your list you will give me, please." A Ho'Din spoke to the musing blonde man.
Phaanan nodded, sure that he had everything needed on the list, and handed it over. "Thank you for your trouble."
"Oh indeed, no trouble for me. This is my job, to supply what you need. Feel free to wander as I fill your order, perhaps you will find something you had forgotten," the Ho'Din laughed and shook a finger as she smiled at him. "And then, poor dear, wouldn't you feel quite rotten."
Phaanan smiled in return, and nodded as he went to move about the Warehouse as the order was filled. The Ho'Din race's way of speaking in rhyme never ceased to amaze him. He wondered if it was a way of speaking created to help them not to say something they would regret later.
As he walked along, imagining the sorts of exploits he would hold once he had time to himself, and how he would brag to the other clones when he returned to the spaceport, he soon found himself surrounded by medical text-discs. He stopped walking as a thought hit him.
Dr. Lovely's going to probably need to read up on some of these basics. If she's well enough integrated to be traveling here from Terra, she's likely going to get to use all sorts of the usual equipment... he half smiled to himself as he started selecting some discs to add to his purchase. Except the equipment isn't at all usual to her. I'm sure Faace won't mind me picking a few up.
The warehouse speaker buzzed to life. "Would Doctor Ton Phaanan please come to the front desk, your order has been filled. Please do not put patience to the test, make your way quickly if you will."
He shook his head to himself, hastily picked out a few more, then made his way to the desk.
The Ho'Din smiled a thin, lipless smile, as her flowery tresses (looking much like a colourful version the Terrans' mythological creature Medusa) moved in the current of the building's conditioning system. "Is there anything you would like to add, before your bill is to be had?"
Phaanan nodded and produced the seven text-discs he'd chosen out. "I would like to purchase these as well. Could I have them in a bag to keep on my person, rather than boxing them with the rest of the order?"
"Certainly I can do as you demand, as the customer your wish is my command," she smiled and took the discs, ringing them in and depositing them into a small sack before handing them back.
Once the order had been fully rung, he paid the fee and directed the workers to bring the three gravsleds to the back where the large vehicle he'd borrowed from the port sat in wait. They helped him load everything up, and so he tipped them and with the exchange of farewells he was headed back to the spaceport where his transport lay in wait.
Some workers at the port offered to help him unload his burdens into the transport, and he welcomed their help, paying them for their trouble, of course. He was about to exit the ship when he heard his comlink chirp.
"Sithspit..." he had a sinking feeling as he flicked it on. "Phaanan."
"Ton, it's Dour Watcher."
"Please don't be calling me to tell me it's time to go."
I'm on my way, should be there in about twenty minutes, think we can leave then?"
"I thought I asked you not to tell me it was time to go. I only just finished being errandboy and I was just going to go spread my superior wit and charm among the ladies of this planet."
"Sucks to be you."
Phaanan grumbled a few incoherrant curses, "Fine then, I'll be ready to go by the time you get here."
"I'll tell Faace what a good boy you've been so you can take a vacation. Out."
He turned off his comlink and looked at it, tossing and catching it slowly as he pondered throwing it up against the bulkhead. Finally, he put it in his pocket, and headed down the ramp, closing up the transport. Wouldn't do to have to replace the sithing thing anyway....
When he reached where the Gaia was being kept, he noted a young man with black and blue streaked hair walking solemnly toward it. Despite the change of hair colour, he recognised him from pictures Sylvana had showed him, on a previous visit, of her siblings... this being her younger brother. "Lorrdain!" he called as he jogged to intercept him.
He turned slowly, stopping where he was, allowing Phaanan time to intercept. "Is there something you want?"
Phaanan nodded and pulled out the small bag, "This is for Dr. Lov-" he coughed to cover his mistake, "Dr. Lorrdain."
The Lorrdain boy took the bag, looking to see the seven discs within. "What for?" he asked, obviously curious.
"They're medic-texts. Information on how to use technology she may not be quite familiar with, and things like that."
He nodded, "All right. Who shall I say brought them?"
Phaanan shrugged and smiled, "A friend." At the Lorrdain's confused look he smiled, turned, and left. A friend? How corny is that? he chuckled to himself as he shook his head. He'd obviously been reading too many of the Terran comics lying around the spaceport.
Not looking where he was going, he ran into someone, knocking them down. "My apologies," he said quickly, extending a hand to help them up.
Picking up a few things she had dropped, a woman was crouched on the floor, with long black hair and a few thin silver streaks intertwining in the braid that fell down her back.
The way she moved seemed oddly familiar to him. She accepted his hand up and sorted the discs and flimsies she was carrying. "It's alright, I wasn't looking where I was..." she looked up.
Their eyes locked. Oh SITH!
He knew who she was, then, and her face began to pale as though she'd seen a ghost. "Ton? Ton Phanan?" she asked disbelievingly, taking a hesitant step backward as her eyes widened in shock.
Eyes he once knew all too well... or rather, the original Ton had. "Anreson." [1]
Whatever it must have been about the way he spoke her name, it was too much. Blood draining from her face, the woman fainted, falling to the ground once more.
Confused as to her actions, but also very glad that he wouldn't have to find a way to explain his presence, he bent beside her to be sure she was all right. Then, he thought it would be a very good idea if he wasn't there when she came to her sensibilities. He called out for someone to get the medic assigned for that section of the spaceport, and once the young boy (likely only just out of medical school) arrived, he quickly took his leave.
The Watcher was standing on the boarding ramp, his arms crossed, as Phaanan approached. "I thought you said you'd be here?" he let the question hang.
The blonde man got to the transport's ramp and made a face, "I was, but I... uh... ran into a few problems."
The Watcher raised an eyebrow and motioned for the young clone to proceed him onto the ship so he could close the ramp and they could be on their way. At the rate they were going, they'd be lucky to reach Terra the same time as the Gaia. Which was just a bit later than he'd rather, and Phaanan knew it.
Finally, after wading through the tediousness of civlilian flight channeling, they were given permission to take off and enter the holding lanes for the planetary shield-door. By the time they were able to wait for the first of the two shields, it was already a bit of time after the Gaia was scheduled to leave. At least, according to what the man who called himself "Dour Watcher" said.
Which also meant his companion, or rather employer, was in a dark mood.
By the time they were exiting the second shield, they saw a ship that the both of them recognised well. "That looks like Lady Sky's ship."
"It is," the man told the cloned doctor moodily. "Figures that now she decides to show up...."
Phaanan raised an eyebrow at this response, but wisely kept his thoughts to himself. For now. There was a three day trip ahead of them, perhaps he'd learn something from this quiet employer yet.
-------END-------
[1] Anreson and Ton's history can be seen here, True Love, and in a sequel here, Dream Gone Wrong.