(I created a lot of this, but not Riddick, as stated in COPYRIGHTS listed in chapter 1)
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Chapter 12
Bad Reception
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There was a hospital within the city. It primarily treated tourists and whoever could afford the care or had the insurance to pay for it. Steinen also had medical staff to cover the general needs of his guild, but when it came to matters of personal importance to Steinen, including his own health, he called on Dr Joshua Jacobson; a man who, for all intents and purposes, Steinen appeared to despise. It was an odd situation that Joshua could never quite fathom. He was a low town doctor with a relatively small clinic, not because his skill warranted such low placement, but because his heart held him in the area of greatest need. He had received his medical degree from a school of no great repute, but Joshua's endless pursuit of medical knowledge had served him well, and he had made a name for himself. Later his move to Trishary 4, and to the low town of Earratist City, provided other opportunities many doctors missed, though few regretted.
With the experience he had accrued and the innovative techniques he employed and even pioneered over the years Dr Jacobson was likely among the more skillful doctors on the planet but since coming to Trishary 4 he had done little to advertise his skill. Joshua had come to realize wealth and status were more burdens than prizes. Before he had met Sarah, he had thought being the best, being the richest, was everything he wanted in life, but somehow no matter how much he had, he never had enough. He would strive harder and harder, only to feel emptier and emptier and more and more alone. Something had to break, and it had been him. Then he met Sarah, and through her he found what he had been missing – a saving faith in a living God. Now he garnered more satisfaction from the grateful handshake of a healthy patient than he ever did from a credit payment regardless of the number of zeros, and while Sarah's death left a residing emptiness, he did not feel alone. It was quite a different life than he had once been living, and few who knew him now ever associated the Dr Joshua Jacobson whose name appeared off and on in medical journals with the quiet low town physician.
Unfortunately Steinen knew of Doctor Joshua's skills, and perhaps he enjoyed the sadistic irony of the deal, for almost a year after Dr Sarah Jacobson's death, Steinen asked Dr Joshua to act as his personal physician. Joshua would have preferred that was not the case. He would have preferred Steinen did not know he existed, but that was not what God had arranged so Joshua took advantage of the dubious honor set upon him. Steinen ensured Joshua had the best of whatever equipment he needed, nor did the hospital dare deny Steinen's own physician the use of its surgical bays, labs or resources. The moderate money Steinen paid him also had its uses. It was an arrangement Joshua forced himself to live with for Steinen care little if Joshua to abused those privileges for the benefit of his other patients so long as the doctor remained at guild leader's beck and call.
So it was he was that he was obeying Steinen's directives once again despite having been in surgery most the night, despite desperately wanting to go below, although if Richard had slipped into a coma again there was little more Joshua could do without bringing him topside. He was in the good Lord's hands again, which, truth be told, wasn't a bad place for any man to be. Joshua said a prayer for the young man, and then for himself as he always did before stepping into Steinen's presence. Steinen had demanded Joshua bring in the girl's information today at 8 AM precisely, which, other issues aside, was just as well for Joshua intended to see the young woman Richard had been protecting while he was there. At the door his bag was searched again, and Joshua considered the ridiculousness of it. They searched for obvious weapons - guns and explosives - failing to note that the doctor had a veritable arsenal of lethal drugs and medical tools in the bag that they permitted him to carry into Steinen's presence every time he answered the merc leader's summons. He wasn't sure if it was ignorance or arrogance on Steinen's part, but he suspected the latter.
Steinen styled himself an aristocratic warlord of sorts, and the décor of the meeting room was designed to impress and promote that impression. Rich works of art from several eras' graced the walls, while pedestals with an assortment of sculptures stood in alcoves along the sides. It was an eclectic collection, well displayed, with a single theme to pull it together. Every piece, no matter how beautiful, or graphic, or graceful or haunting, dealt somehow with death. There was only one piece in the room that Joshua could even remotely appreciate, and even that one he hated.
The vivid painting displayed Christ's final moments upon the cross, and as the viewer walked past the piece they could watch, in exquisite detail, Jesus offering a final despairing glance at heaven. Joshua could almost hear his Savior's final words, "It is finished,(1" all debts are paid in full, then, as the Christ's savaged body sagged in death, the sky behind the cross erupted into a violent display of lighting so vivid that the thunder was only as far away as the viewer's imagination. The lighting was joined by rain that fell like tears forming a crystal stream rushing over rocks toward the front edge of the painting, threatening to spill off the canvas, and as the sequence finished the rushing water turned crimson with blood from the foot of the cross. It was a magnificently created work that tore at the heart with the desolate pain and awful death depicted and while Joshua cherished the sacrifice represented, he hated the piece all the same. Where was the miraculous joy of the resurrection? Where was the gracious offer of forgiveness? Where was the glorious promise of eternal life? Christ had made all that possible by his atoning sacrifice, but the painting fell short of sharing that promise and left a lifeless Jesus hanging upon the cross in sorrowful incompletion.
The Christ Joshua followed was alive, and Joshua made no pretense about his faith, something which Steinen seemed to take as a personal affront. The mercenary guild owner frequently mocked the doctor, and Joshua sometimes wondered if Steinen had bought the crucifixion painting solely to spite him. Perhaps that is why the mercenary permitted the doctor his little arsenal. Steinen knew the doctor's faith would not allow its use to harm, but if he knew Joshua Jacobson's heart he might not have been so complacent. Joshua had made his peace with his wife's murder and hate no longer consumed him, but every time he left Steinen's presence some small part of him still wondered if he should have found the opportunity to draw a scalpel across Steinen's throat. Steinen's décor did little to diminish the desire, and it only served to remind Joshua how far he fell short of his Savior's example, and how much he continued to need God's strength and courage.
But while Joshua detested the dreadful room, Steinen delighted in the oppressive atmosphere his works engendered, for not only did it tend to affirm to clients that he was serious about his business, but it reminded his subordinates of the price they would pay if they disappointed him. Thus it was he conducted his everyday business there, and was using it now to conduct a long distance meeting.
As Joshua entered he saw the image of a distinguished man sitting behind a rich wooden desk upon Steinen's large wall mounted screen. The man's hair was a grizzled black, as was his beard, and both were trimmed fashionably sharp. His suit was casual, but expensive, as was the décor of the study behind him. "Ah, and here he is. Punctual as usual," Steinen crowed to the man on the screen as Joshua entered, "Doctor Jacobson, may I introduce you to my bitterest rival, Raspin Grycov." Joshua nodded politely to the man on the screen. "You have some information Raspin wants to see, Doctor. He doubts his eyes and my honesty." Steinen motioned Joshua over to the comm. terminal with surprising courtesy, and the doctor knew the show of respect was purely for Mr. Grycov's benefit. Knowing what was wanted, Joshua withdrew a data stick from his bag and inserted it in the reader.
"This is the DNA and health information from the young lady you had me take a sequence from 3 days ago," the doctor touched a few keys to display the information as well as transmit it, "When I last saw her she was in good health, although she was noticeably upset as indicated by the elevated levels here and here," he was vague as he gestured toward screen not knowing Raspin Grycov's medical literacy and well aware that it didn't matter, "They indicate exceptionally high stress and fear, but I'm confident you don't need me to clarify. You have your own specialists who can explain in detail," Mr. Grycov nodded briefly, "I did detect the presence of a dormant virus," Joshua added, "but with Mr. Steinen's permission I will start treatment today before it can become a problem."
"Of course," Steinen boomed magnanimously, but a dark undercurrent of threat flowed beneath his generous voice, "after all we can't have sweet little Vanessa getting sick, now can we?"
Raspin Grycov all but ignored Steinen as he stared at the screen, then the doctor, "What had her so upset?" he asked Joshua sharply, "…besides finding herself in the hands of this despicable thug?"
"Forgive me, sir," Joshua caught the gleam in Steinen's eye, "I can not say."
"Oh, but I can," Steinen beamed triumphantly, "She was upset at the tragic death of her poor bodyguard. One Richard B Riddick, wasn't it?" Steinen waited a moment for the impact of his statement to sink in, then continued smugly, "My captain threw him off a very high cliff. I suppose I should be flattered that you would call in the likes of him to snatch your daughter from my domain, but he failed. Now you will meet my demands, or you will never see your daughter alive again."
It was quite obvious that Steinen thought he had played his trump card, so he was completely nonplussed when Grycov stared at him over the view screen and asked flatly, "Where's the body?"
"Body?" Steinen started in surprise, "what body?"
"Riddick's body," Grycov answered plainly. If he were the least bit concerned for his daughter, he didn't let it show. Joshua wanted to smile. "If your going to tell me Riddick's dead," Grycov continued, "you better show me a body with full DNA sequence," he nodded toward the doctor, "because until you do I won't believe it, and until I believe it you've got no deal."
Steinen's demeanor changed, his genteel front dissolving, "Captain Cuddian sent your precious Riddick over a cliff outside the city and left him laying in a pool of blood at the bottom." Steinen stalked over to a clear display cabinet and removed a talon shaped knife that Joshua recognized. "You don't think I'd be able to get my hands on this otherwise do you?" he brandished the knife as if he could toss it on Grycov's desk through the screen, "Fifteen minutes later the city was locked down for a Big Freeze. I don't need to tell you what that means do I, Raspin?" His sneer turned the name into an insult, "Your Riddick is dead and frozen stiff on the rocks below the city. Don't play games with me, Grycov, it's your daughter's life on the line."
"I'm not playing games," Grycov responded just as sharply, "I simply know Riddick much better than you, Fredrick," he grinned, "and reports of his demise in the past have been very premature. Let me put in simple terms you can understand; no body, no deal." He shook his head, "If you don't have a body, I suggest you find it because if you can't," his grin grew broader, "you'd better be watching your backs. Grycov out." The man reached to the side and the screen went blank.
"No!" Steinen screamed, "NO!" He slammed his fist down on the table, then went still as he drew a deliberate breath and let it out slowly. When he straightened up his face was cold and emotionless. He stabbed a code into his comm. console as if it was Grycov's heart, and when the light flashed he shouted, "Cuddian!" Joshua heard the captain answer, "Listen up," Steinen commanded, "you go back to the cliff where you grabbed Grycov's brat and you get me Riddick's body."
There was an exclamation of surprise on the other end, then the start of a protest that Steinen cut short, "I don't care how you get it. I don't care it you have to pry it off the rocks in pieces. You just get that body and bring it to me yesterday." Joshua felt a flutter of panic. Daria said Richard had landed right on her doorstep… If Captain Cuddian found the cave, if he searched…
Joshua offered a brief heart felt prayer. They had created a mocked cave-in to block the cave for just such a purpose as patrols were occasionally sent down the valley, but Daria disliked its awkwardness and protested Josh's insistence that she have it in place anytime she was not actively using the tunnel, and there was no way he'd have time to warn her… then he heard Cuddian respond, fear making the captain's voice sharp, and Steinen growled in frustrated fury, "Fine," the merc leader finally snapped, "but the minute you're finished you get that body and have it here by this afternoon or I'll have you thrown off the cliff! Do I make myself clear!" Joshua caught his breath. Perhaps he'd have time to warn her after all. Cuddian's affirmative was brief and Steinen punched the console off. Joshua wanted to shrink away from the hate and rage he saw in the merc leader's eyes, but said a second silent prayer and stood his ground. "Now, Jacobson," Steinen crooned maliciously, "I think you said you needed to see the Grycov girl."
"Yes," Joshua nodded, "I detected a dormant virus in her blood. If I treat her now it can eliminated before she becomes infectious."
"Very well," Steinen smiled. It was not a friendly smile, "you do that, and you make sure she's in perfect health because that girl is going to serve my purpose one way or another." A chill went down Joshua's spine. They were too close. They couldn't risk everything for a girl, and yet Joshua's heart wouldn't let him consider forsaking her. He could not let another girl becoming one of Steinen's playthings. As he turned to leave he prayed again, fervently asking God for wisdom, and in his thoughts he heard a name. Richard Riddick. The certainty of it was so profound that Joshua nearly stumbled. Just who was this young man that two of the most powerful mercenary guild owners in the galaxy knew him by name? And why was that name familiar? The accident yesterday afternoon had prevented him from doing the research he desired, but God willing, he would find the time today. It was a lapse of memory the doctor knew he must remedy as soon as possible.
A guard escorted Joshua to Steinen's personal floor. A sophisticated security system required a keycode to select Steinen's personal floor, and the guard, used to Joshua's passive indifference, didn't noticed the doctor's cautious watchfulness as he entered the code this time. Joshua then stood patiently, memorizing the keystrokes he had seen, as the lift rose. The doors opened to a lavishly decorated waiting area, and across the way stood a massive door with Steinen's guild mark on the surface in high relief. Joshua and his escort passed through the waiting room without pause, nor did they greet the two armed guards standing on either side of the door. Instead, his escort flashed a pass card and they were allowed to enter Steinen's personal residence. As Joshua's escort went through he let the heavy wooden door go and it came back at Joshua with startling speed forcing the doctor to throw his arm up to catch it. One of the ornate carvings impacted against his forearm causing the doctor to grunt in pain and surprise, and the guards on either side snickered. Steinen's disrespect for the doctor had proven communicable.
Doctor Joshua needed his escort but only for the keycodes, and as they passed through the private residence Joshua was taken back over a year in his memories. Steinen had awakened him in the middle of the night with an immediate summons, and Joshua had had no choice but respond. To this day Doctor Jacobson was not entirely certain why he had been called that night. To be sure the young girl he had come to know as Daria needed urgent medical attention, but Joshua was not sure why Steinen had bothered. The man had killed people before. Joshua had difficulty imagining Steinen troubled by a 13 year old girl dying of injuries the guild leader himself had inflicted, and yet something about the situation seemed to make Steinen strangely anxious. Did Steinen have some small portion of a heart somewhere after all? Joshua wasn't sure, for Steinen also forbid his doctor to call an ambulance or even take the girl to the hospital – perhaps even the great Fredrick Steinen was uncomfortable with the scandal that might arise from such an incident, or the influence it might give to the rebellion if it became publicly known - so the doctor had been forced to carry Daria's broken bleeding body to his own vehicle and transport her to the clinic.
Joshua did have a small surgical bay, vastly inferior to the hospital's, but that was where he spent the next 8 hours of his time, and it was a near thing. Joshua decided then and there that if the girl survived, which was questionable, he was not returning her to Steinen's possession. Thus, when her condition stabilized, the doctor hid her away in the tunnel beneath his clinic. Then, after many prayers, Joshua took what felt like the biggest risk of his life. He went to Steinen and lied through his teeth. He told Steinen the girl had died. The guild leader had not seemed surprised, although the information had brought a strange disquiet to his eyes. He had asked no questions, nor had he offered any funds or instruction for respectful disposal of the body. If the doctor had not had reason to despise Steinen already, that alone would have been sufficient. Joshua still had the shirt he'd worn as he carried Daria to his vehicle, spotted and blood stained, and he looked at it whenever he was tempted to be quit of Steinen. Another doctor might have let Daria die, or saved her and returned her to the guild leader. Another doctor might take Steinen's money and put it in his pocket instead of using it to help his poorer patients pay costs not covered by the authority of Steinen's physician. Serving Steinen was a means to an end allowing Joshua to help more people, but the doctor frequently prayed that his time under the guild leader's thumb would soon to be finite one way or another.
Joshua knocked as his escort unlocked the door, and opened it. "Miss Grycov?" the doctor asked pleasantly as he entered. There was a scramble of movement as she rolled off the bed so that it was between the doctor and herself. She stood in a panic, back against the wall, her eyes wide and terrified, then hesitated when she recognized him. "Why are you so frightened?" he asked with concern, "Has anyone hurt you?" His tone soothed her equally as much as the fact that the guard shut the door behind him leaving the two of them alone.
"No," she shook her head, the immediate fear in her eyes fading to a dull enduring shadow, "but it's only a matter of time isn't it?"
"That depends a great deal on your father…," Joshua answered truthfully, "and a few other things," he added off handedly glancing at the camera in the corner. Steinen was sure to be watching. "Your father's cooperation is conditional upon proof that your bodyguard, Richard Riddick, is indeed dead. Captain Cuddian has been sent to retrieve his body."
At his words Vanessa sagged, "He's dead. I saw him," she said tonelessly, "It's my fault, you know. I did this to myself. Riddick told me to stay against the wall, but I didn't listen. When the cliff crumbled he caught my hair, somehow managed to swing me back on the walkway, but he… " she sighed, "…he fell. If I'd listened I'd be on my way home by now. He'd already wiped out half the squad. The other half didn't have a chance until I went over the edge. Why didn't I listen?" It was clear that the girl regretted events on the walkway, but Joshua found himself puzzled. It sounded very much as if she only regretted Richard's death as it pertained to her capture. Could a life, the life of the man who had saved her's, mean so little to her? "So what are you here for?" her mood suddenly shifted, "Didn't get enough blood last time?"
"The amount was sufficient." Doctor Joshua answered, "It was what was in the blood that brings me back. You picked up a virus somewhere. I am here to treat it before it becomes infectious."
"I refuse," Vanessa snapped spitefully.
A humorless smile flickered across Joshua's face, "I'm sorry you feel that way. Refusal is not an option." He saw the rebellion rising in her eyes, "Now, you can accept my care like an intelligent young woman," the doctor offered evenly, an edge of threat in his voice, "or I can call a guard or three to secure your cooperation. Either way, you will be treated."
He saw her temper flare, her eyes flashing, then in a moment it was gone as his words drove home the utter powerlessness of her position. Even the "kindly" doctor was against her. An expression of plaintive despair crossed her features, then she let herself slide down the wall to slump in a heap. "It's hopeless," she muttered piteously, "I'm going to die here. My only hope was Riddick and now he's dead."
Joshua set his bag on the bed, and from its depths pulled a flexiglass cylinder, which he loaded into his hypo. He checked the settings to verify the contents and the dosage, then went to kneel by the troubled girl. When she made no move to resist him, he laid the hypo alongside her neck and the device infused the contents of the glass capsule directly into her bloodstream. "I don't think dying here is a concern at the moment. Mr. Steinen has indicated he wants to keep you healthy. That is why I am here," he said comfortingly.
"Are you naive, or just stupid?" she looked up and glared at him sullenly, "It's hopeless. You think Steinen's going to let me go if he can get my dad to do what he wants by holding me? And if dad won't deal…" her voice trailed off. It was clear that she believed that was a valid possibility, "…Steinen won't have a use for me," she finally whispered softly, her voice filled with dread. She ducked her head, wrapping her arms around her knees.
Joshua only felt an inkling of pity for the cold-hearted teenager. It seemed no part of her distress stemmed from the thought a man had given his life to save hers, but was devoted completely to her own misery. He wondered what she would do if he told her Richard was alive, but knew he couldn't, not with Steinen watching. And the doctor thought, not entirely unkindly, he wasn't sure Miss Grycov deserved to know even if she could be trusted with the information, which he questioned. He did know, however, that the girl was justifiably frightened and offered the only comfort he could, "When I feel things are beyond my control and I'm feeling overwhelmed, I pray. Would you like to pray with me now?"
"Pray?" she answered in surprise, "You mean, like, to God? OK, that confirms it; just stupid. I can't believe a doctor would believe in God. I thought doctors were supposed to be intelligent."
"And what would lead you to believe I'm not," Joshua asked halfway between amusement and irritation.
"Well, God is just some mythical crutch, isn't he?" she snorted scornfully, "Why would you want to believe in myths if you're so intelligent?"
"And what if He's not a myth?" Joshua retorted patiently, "Care to discuss that possibility?"
Vanessa gave it due thought, then answered with honest arrogance, "No. Religion is for wimps too scared to enjoy their lives and who want rules and boundaries so they don't have to think for themselves. I know what prudes you Christians are and I don't want to live like that. I want to do what I want, when I want, and enjoy my life."
"While you have it," Joshua added grimly, and the words had their desired effect as the shadow of fear returned to her eyes, "The rules God gives us serve a purpose, Vanessa. God doesn't stop us from doing things because he wants to spoil our fun, but rather because those behaviors can be harmful. He doesn't call things sin to make them bad. It is because they are bad that he calls them sin. He's trying to keep us safe, and at times like this," he gestured to the room around them indicating her captivity, "there is another benefit to believing. I have come to believe in God because I have seen what life can dish out. There is so much that is beyond our control, things occur that leave us helpless, simply waiting to see what will come because there is nothing we can do. That's when God has proven himself to me. The difference between our faiths is that you, having none, are left to rely on yourself. When you are powerless you have nowhere to turn; you feel hopeless."
"And I suppose you wouldn't if you were in my position," she snapped.
"No," he shook his head with a smile, "I might be frightened -I think it would be hard not to be - but when I find myself in situations beyond my control, I am reassured knowing they are not beyond God's. And when I find myself powerless, unable to do a thing to help myself, I still have hope, for when I recognize there is nothing I can do, I have opened the door for a miracle." He stood and went back to his bag. Reaching inside he pulled out a thick paper book, "Here you go, some good, old fashion, low tech reading material. I always carry one of these in my bag just in case someone needs it," he laid it on the bed, "I'll have to order more; you're getting my last copy, but perhaps, if you get bored, it will give you something to do." He closed his bag and walked to the door, rapping on it sharply with his knuckles. "I'll be back in a day or three to give you a booster injection. Perhaps we'll have more to talk about then."
"Don't count on it," Vanessa muttered as she flounced her way over to the bed, and as Joshua exited she picked up the book, looking it over critically.
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Steinen watched the screen as the girl thumbed through the book Jacobson had left with her. He had no doubt it was a Bible. Some time ago the simple-minded doctor had tried to give him one too, leaving it in the war room after a summons. Steinen had glanced through it out of curiosity, not that he was going to let the doctor or anyone else know. The religious book recorded the history of some ancient tribe of people in Earth Prime history and their Messiah. There were some good gory tales in the Old Testament part, and when God was acting to punish or protect his people he'd do any merc unit proud, wiping out whole armies in a single night, but Steinen couldn't help but think the guy was a bit of a wuss. If the tales in the book were to be believed, the big schmuck would beg and plead with his thick-headed people for centuries before he'd finally send in some army to whip their sorry butts into line, and then some 100 or so years later He'd have do it all over again.
It got even worse when Steinen hit the New Testament. All of a sudden God wasn't trying to save just His little scrap of people, He was out for the whole human race! One of the verses from the book erupted in his thoughts; 'For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransomfor all(2.' Steinen growled and shoved the verse from his mind as he glanced at the crucifixion painting on the wall. Like a man would willingly do that for anyone. Love, patience, forgiveness... it was enough to make a good merc sick! Steinen had finally thrown the book in the recycler. It just wasn't believable. The God-dude was just too damn patient. People didn't love others like that, not if they were working with a full set of I.Q. points, they certainly didn't deserve second chances to betray you, and you didn't forgive the bastards that killed you.
Steinen figured it was only a matter of time before this religion eliminated itself completely. It's population was full of hypocrites and wimps as it was; either people who said one thing and did another, or people like Jacobson who rolled over in the name of their precious savior and let people walk all over them. The stupid sap was so caught up in his 'God is in control' religion that he'd actively refused to get involved in the resistance the way his wife had, and hadn't even figured out that his wife had been killed on Steinen's orders. He quickly buried that thought, quick and deep, and focused on the girl in the room. Vanessa Grycov had opened the bible, and for a moment Steinen thought she was going to read it, then she carefully tore a page from the middle and began folding it into a paper aircraft. As she sent it sailing across the room Steinen laughed out loud, startling the guard at the door. Score one for the other side. Well, Jacobson had told her he'd hoped the antiquated paper book would give her something to do.
-oOo-
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CARE TO LOOK THEM UP? Here's the Bible references used in this chapter:
1) John 19:30
2) 1 Timothy 2:5-6
