Chapter 21

Corporate Wars

The Lady Luck docked on Thyferra without incident and Lando prayed that the rest of their assignment would go as well. There were a few storm troopers in the spaceport, but their presence seemed to be more for appearances than true protection. The private guards were much more numerous and obvious to Lando, though not to the others.

Judy adopted 'doctor mode' and carried herself with the worst bedside manner she could muster. Luke had hidden his light saber under his clothes and blackened his hair to alter his appearance. He allowed his Jedi confidence to take on an arrogant air as he walked beside her. They were to meet their contact at the main offices of the Zaltin Bacta Corporation. Lando, as the ship's pilot stayed behind to complete the docking registration. Don walked behind Judy and Luke as their bodyguard. With his furtive scanning of their surroundings and 'Corellian' strut, he filled his role perfectly… by playing himself.

Their contact was a pleasant, middle aged woman who showed them the myriad of products and then deposited them with an ordering clerk. Dr. Judy was amazed by the medical technology produced by the company and, as predicted, had to be reigned in by Luke many times or their 'bill' would have been more than the New Republic had in its coffers, even with their prearranged 'discount.' Don chuckled to himself each time Luke said, "Now, dear, we must be cognizant of our resources." Ah, he loved a passionate woman.

"And what hotel will you be staying at?" the order clerk asked.

"Why do you need that information?" Luke asked.

The clerk frowned. "So that we can contact you when the order is complete or if there is a problem."

"Oh, of course. Just contact our pilot on the Lady Luck. He'll arrange delivery."

They hadn't planned on staying at a hotel, but he realized that he didn't want anyone snooping around the Lady Luck before it was time to leave.

The clerk restated, "Yes, but I still need the name of your hotel."

Luke waved his hand and stated, "You don't need to know the name of our hotel."

The clerk repeated, "I don't need to know the name of your hotel."

"Now where do we sign?" Luke asked.

The clerk looked down at the form. "Name of hotel?"

Just his luck that they had a clerk with a bureaucratic mind.

Judy intervened. "Can you suggest a hotel?"

"The Golden Arms is very nice."

"Then that is where we'll be. Oh, and, can you tell me where the Bio Tech Industries offices are?"

The clerk gave them the information. After the threesome left the office, he contacted the security department. Bio Tech had moved to gain a foothold in the bacta market and Zaltin was intent on keeping their monopoly. Corporate wars could be nastier than combat.

"Mon Mothma, you must admit that Dr. Smith could fulfill a need that has been lacking in our medical system for decades," Leia argued.

"Leia, I insist that he be charged and tried to the fullest extent of the law. I will not allow him to go free," Mon Mothma responded.

"He will not go free. He will be under house arrest, but instead of being held prisoner in a cell, it will be in a clinic where he can train others in the psychological aspects of healing. Community service would be his sentence."

"No. Had his crimes not been so severe, perhaps I would agree, but he must pay for what he's done."

"Mon, are your sure your feelings are not being colored by the… personal relationship you had with him in the past?"

Mon Mothma turned her back on Leia and walked to the window of her office. Of course she wanted him to pay for taking advantage of her while he lived under her roof. She had been a fool to trust him and not heed Leia's warnings. "Does General Solo agree with your recommendations?"

"He felt as you did at first, but I was able to convince him of the practical aspect of my proposal."

"And since you would be the witness for the prosecution, if you refuse to testify, we do not have a trial."

Leia feigned innocence. "Oh, my, I hadn't thought of that. Do we have a deal?"

Mon Mothma stared at Leia under an arched eyebrow. "Your negotiating skills continue to grow, Leia."

The trip to Bio Tech Industries had been relatively uneventful. Don swore they were being followed after they left and Luke agreed with him, but the follower somehow disappeared when they entered the Golden Arms Hotel to register.

"A double and a single?" the clerk asked.

"Connecting rooms," Don insisted.

Judy blushed when the clerk raised her eyebrows.

"Protection," Don stated.

"Of course, ahem, I'll see what we have," she responded.

Upon entering the rooms, they deposited what little luggage they had and Don did a security sweep of the room.

"Seems clean," he announced.

Judy opened up the package from Bio Tech. They had allowed her to borrow a few prosthetics to study with the understanding that they would be returned (after leaving a rather hefty security deposit).

She pulled out a large silver appendage. Don shivered. "A foot?"

"Yes. It's an early version. Now compare it to this one." She pulled out what looked like a flesh covered foot and held them up side by side, and then slipped off her shoe and compared it to her own foot.

"Ugh. Gives me the creeps," Don muttered.

Luke emerged from the attached single room. "I'm going to mediate."

"Wait a minute, Luke. What do you think happened to the guy who was following us?" Don asked.

"Must have been replaced by someone else," he replied.

"Yeah, like maybe somebody who works in the hotel?"

"That's possible, but there's not much we can do about it now."

"I'm going to have a better look around. Lock your doors and don't let anyone in except me."

"And how will I know it's you?" Judy coyly asked.

An impish grin spread across his face. "Oh, I think you'll know.

The clinic had been set-up and Dr. Smith was working under the supervision of a medical doctor, but he had free reign since psychology was a lost art amongst the medical practitioners of the New Republic. Interestingly, Dr. Smith relished the role since no one was truly his superior with regard to his knowledge of the field. The Robinsons had been surprised at Leia's creative solution as to what to do about Smith, especially Will, who, for some reason, had developed an affinity for the man.

While Don was out surveying the hotel, Judy commed her parents about what she had seen at Bio Tech and her father was especially excited about the devices she described to him. He asked her to buy a sample so that he could share it with the Yakans. Maureen's hydroponics tank was ready to be planted with the alazhi plants. Now all that was left to do was wait for the supplies to come in from Thyferra. They gave their daughter their love and hoped that the rest of the assignment would go as smoothly as the beginning. Judy never told them about being followed, partly because she didn't want to worry them, but more because she thought Don was being overly suspicious and protective… if only that were true.