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Chapter 28[]
Dead Man's Hand: Family Values[]
Nha Tranh University
Kowloon
Bucklands Province
Lyran Alliance
8th August, 3058
The rapid tapping of Liz's cane echoed across the manicured lawns as she hurried across the quad, Nathan Roshak keeping watch from a respectful distance behind.
He had surprised himself with just how quickly he had adapted to his new life as... they hadn't exactly put a name to it, but it combined all the aspects of a friend, confidante, consignee, carer and lover. It was certainly the drastic change from his previous life as a warrior, but somehow he felt, for want of a better word, content. Despite her illness, Elizabeth Ngo was seeking to reshape the universe round her by sheer force of will, grabbing it by the throat and demanding it be better. She probably would have shot him if he ever said so out loud, but she was every bit the Crusader he was, she just used different weapons to bring about the same ends.
Ahead of them stood a tall, older man in a grey suit, with a white shirt and red bow tie. His hair may have been graying, and not quite as thick as it had once been, but there was no mistaking the sparkle in his eyes.
"Dr Banzai, it is a true honor to meet you." Liz stopped before the esteemed scientist and offered her hand.
"Duchess Ngo." he took the hand and shook it with a warm smile, "Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to visit your establishment. Far too few people are investing in the further, rather than continuing old grudges."
The two turned to look at the massive, neo-gothic revival building before them. It had been built during her grandfathers time, when Archon Alessandro Steiner had sort to fortify his powerbase by installing 'representatives'. Really planetary governors by any other name, on a number of potentially rebellious worlds. The massive estate had later served as the Regents official residence and seat of power, right up until Liz had put a bullet through the few brains he had on live television, having publicly unmasked his many crimes against the people of Kowloon.
In a bid to make something useful out of the other window useless building, one of Liz's first acts had been the creation of Nha Tranh University, dedicated to to the restoration, designation and furthering of human knowledge. And, unlike many other universities in the Inner Sphere, it distinctly lacked any dedicated military departments. No MechWarrior training facilities, no flight school or even an infantry ROTC. Anyone who wanted that kind of education could apply for the Militia or the Coast Guard. Nha Tranh was about education for the sake of the betterment of all mankind, not learning new ways to kill each other.
Above the main entrance, carved into the stone and picked out in gold leaf, were Liz's words during the commencement ceremony:
[We have lost so much knowledge we don't even have names for what's been forgotten.]
[This has to stop.]
"Wise words, and one's I wish more people would live up to, your Grace." Dr Banzai nodded in agreement.
"Thank you." She positively beamed in response to the compliment, "And please, call me Liz."
"Only if you call me BB." The scientist insisted, "Now, is there somewhere we can talk?"
It took them a while, but they eventually found an empty lecture room, Banzai's MIIO bodyguards keeping watch over the door, while Nathan Roshak headed off in search of refreshments.
"I must first offer my most heartfelt apologies." Dr Banzai started, taking one of the empty seats on the bottom row, "I haven't been completely truthful with my intentions concerning my journey here. Oh, I certainly intend to take every opportunity to explore this marvelous University you have created, but my primary reason for being here is as a favor to an old friend."
"Let me guess, Morgan Kell." Liz rolled her eyes, trying to hide her genuine sense of disappointment, "How much did he tell you?"
"Just that you are suffering from Stage Two of Cholmann's Syndrome." The visiting scientist admitted, "And that, for reasons he declined to go into. He would very much like you to survive."
"Well, he at least knows to keep some things private." Liz took a seat a few desks down, "You've come a long way to tell me nothing can be done for me."
"Not exactly." Banzai stood, thrust his hands into his pockets, and started to pace back and forth, "I do not know exactly what is going on. Which, believe me, is something of a novel experience for me, but Morgan managed to provide me with some fractured data from before the fall of the Star League. Along with a computer that I would have happily killed for in my younger days, and I think I may be onto something."
"Forgive me if I don't dance a jig, but this is hardly the first time someone from NAIS has made such a claim to my family." Liz snorted, "My grandfather didn't like talking about his brother..."
"Before my time, and certainly not something I would have allowed had I been there." Banzai looked genuinely put out by the implication that he had been in some way involved, "No, they were looking at it wrong. Your family suffers from a very distinct, almost unique form of Cholmann's, one that would never respond to their treatment. No matter what they tried."
"At last, someone is willing to admit the truth!" Liz threw up her arms in mock joy, "At least you are willing to admit that I'm dying."
"Young lady, we are all each and every one of us are dying from the moment we are born." Banzai turned on her, and she suddenly felt like she was back at school, "The only question is, how hard are you willing to fight to keep living?"
Liz was very much taken aback by his words. Her family had a long history of quacks and snake oil salesmen promising them a cure to the so-called 'Family Curse', but in none of the accounts. Had any of them had anything like the credentials of Dr Banzai, a man quoted as saying that he liked to do at least six impossible things before breakfast. She felt a sudden stab of something, and it took her a moment to realize what it was hope.
Unfortunately, it was at that point that one of the doors flung open to admit a uniformed Coast Guard NCO, followed closely by Nathan Roshak and one of the MIIO guards.
"My apologies for the interruption, your Grace." the young woman held out a data-pad, "We've just received word from the Zenith JumpPoint. A ship bearing the markings of Clan Jade Falcon has arrived in system claiming to be carrying a personal envoy of Khan Martha Pryde."