Encounter At Farpoint

Long Island. The ultimate symbol of engineering determination, and how to pack so many people in one relatively small area. On the East side of the island, seagulls dance around the top of the ocean waters, trying to nab lunch. Sitting on a deck chair, looking out at this is Jessica E Mathis. She is dressed in denim shorts, knee length and hemmed with a pink tank top. Her sunglasses lay in her lap, the sneakers on her feet a little sandy from her trek around the area to get to this vantage point.

Jessica Mathis: "Serenity. Not something I thought I'd miss. Especially after only two matches. Yet, with the sheer insanity that goes into the business I guess I should have figured it would come. I wonder at how someone with Robert's easy going temper got so far. Grant, being nearly seven feet tall and nearly three hundred pounds probably helped."

She takes a deep breath of the salty air and settles down into the seat. Her eyes slowly close, her arms go up behind her head. She is in this position for several minutes before a shadow casts across her.

Jessica Mathis: "Mind moving a little? You're blocking the sun."

Her query is answered by a woman's voice.

Woman: "Well, I'm not known as The Eclipse for nothing, Jem."

Jessica's eyes open quickly, she sits up, sunglasses falling from her lap onto the sand. She looks up, up, up. The woman is six feet tall, looking down at her with wide brown eyes, her brown hair knotted and pulled back over her shoulder.

Jessica Mathis: "Well, shit."

The tall woman snorts, walking around and picking up the sunglasses, brushing the earpieces off.

Woman: "Hell of a way to greet your old friend Vivian."

Jessica sighs, looking resigned to an unpleasant visit.

Jessica Mathis: "I assume Mother told Father I'm in town and he sent you to check up on me?"

The woman shrugs, crouching down next to the chair on which Jessica still sits.

Vivian: "I have no idea. I saw you walking this way, figured this is where you were going. You always did love it here."

Jessica sighs.

Jessica Mathis: "A likely story, Miss Nuune."

Vivian Nuune, The Eclipse, stands up, tossing her knotted hair back over her left shoulder.

Vivian Nuune: "I think we need to talk. Not about him..."

She raises a hand as Jessica starts to groan.

Vivian Nuune: "I do have experience as  a woman in the wrestling world, you know. I want to discuss that."

Jessica Mathis: "Father didn't send you?"

Vivian holds her right hand up, palm out.

Vivian Nuune: "Promise."

Jessica Mathis: "This is just you?"

Vivian Nuune: "Just me."

Jessica sighs and starts to peel herself from the chair, only to stop and look up again.

Jessica Mathis: "You won't tell him?"

Vivian shrugs.

Vivian Nuune: "No need to. It's my day off, and what I do on my day off is my business only."

With one last, exaggerated sigh, Jessica pushes up from the chair. She nods to Vivian as the taller woman hand her back her sunglasses.

Jessica Mathis: "Thanks, Vee."

Jessica pauses a second, a look of 'oops!' on her face. The taller woman laughs, slapping Jessica on her back, causing her to lurch forward a step.

Vivian Nuune: "Fair is fair. You call me Vee, I'll call you Jem. Deal?"

Jessica sighs, turning a half-smiling, knowing look to Vivian Nuune.

Jessica Mathis: "Trades like a Mahe."*

Both of them look at each other, sort of blankly, for a moment, before laughing and walking off down the beach together, still talking. Unseen by them both, a tall, handsome man in jogging shorts and a white t-shirt watches them walk away from his position atop a nearby pedestrian bridge. He nods in satisfaction and turns, jogging off down the trail....

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Footnote: * - This is reference to the Chanur Saga by author C.J. Cherryh. Being used here as a common link between the two women.