River's Market, Part 4. Jobs.
Apparently, River had some kind of mental programming, and triggers, but the chemist that supplied the meds, was able to work with the girl, to help her overcome those... which Mal was relieved... he had seen the girl sparring against Riddick, and didn't want to worry about her suddenly getting "Triggered" by the wrong phrase. Luckily, the Lord Pharmacist was able to give her some kind of drug induced therapy, to completely remove the programming...
Mal had, of course, heard about the Lord Pharmacist... but he never had the chance to meet him, before. The guy had been infamous, during the unification war, as their primary supplier of bioweapons. Although he also supplied most of the meds the Independents used.
It was great, having the man as the ship's own contact, to resupply their infirmary. Riddick's contact's were definitely paying off. Man even offered Mal a job, to get him supplies for his drugs. It was mostly just hunting for some plants, on border worlds... Although the part about stealing some chemicals, from any of the Alliance run research labs, did sound fun to Mal's ears.
Best yet, the man was in no hurry, as he contracted several ships for this job. He was just willing to pay Mal, for anything the crew might stumble on. So the crew had time to plan a heist of the research lab...
It was good to have a reliable source of income, as the Lord Pharmacist. As he was willing to pay, as often as the crew brought him supplies, with no deadlines.
Though they couldn't start on the job, until the ship was ready to set sail.
"You got a job for us?" The new contact already paying off. Mal did his best to hide his eager smile.
The Lord Pharmacist did no such thing. Smiling widely, although there was something deliberately disarming. "Been having trouble getting anyone to accept it. Hoped yur lot was crazy enough. Need ya to go a smuggling job, on Regina, in the Georgia system," The older man gave a shrug. "Ah put the meds in yur hold, and ya deliver them to every city on the planet."
"Seems straight forward enough." Mal shrugged.
"It ain't," The Lord Pharmacist was upfront. "The reason these people need these drugs, is because the planet's entire shipment got stoled. Guy who stole them been selling them back, at outrageous prices. Alliance, as usual, ain't doing shit to help. Decided Ah might make myself known to the local market. Do myself a good deed while Ah'm at it. Offering these people a discount, bulk deal.
"Ya deliver the drugs, pick up the money, and deliver it back... though Ah'd appreciate it, if ya kept Riddick out of it."
Mal blinked, his theory of why he was being offered this job, going out the window.
The former lord sighed, "Boy's got himself history, with the thief. Not much scare that boy, but Adelai Niska can name himself among them."
Mal froze, "You want us to get in the cross hairs of Niska?"
The Lord Pharmacist gave yet another sigh, "Ah wouldn't think of asking, given what that man did to Riddick, when he was just an ankle biter... but Ah literal-like got no one else. Ain't one of mah usual contacts, willing to subvert Niska's business... but that bastard deserves it. Ah just need someone willing to stand up to him."
"Our ship's in the middle of a refit." Mal informed. "But if you're willing to wait a few weeks, I'm willing to take the job."
The Lord Pharmacist smiled. "It take a few weeks just to get the meds in yur haul. Ah'll have da goods delivered to Athens' scrap yard in three weeks, then give ya uh month ta da'liver da goods, and two weeks to gib me mah cut."
Mal nodded, that gave him some leeway. He'd have an extra week and a half, to get his ship put back together, after getting the meds.