Star Wars_ MedStar 02_ Jedi Healer - Michael Reaves [77]
It was harder dealing with scalawags in some ways, easier in others. Take Thula and Squa Tront, for example. Kaird would be quite surprised—almost disappointed, in fact—if those two hadn’t thought of ways to shortchange him and Black Sun on the upcoming transaction. Not that he really minded if they found a way to skim a little for themselves—that was the nature of business, and to be expected. But he wasn’t overly concerned. Rogues they might be, but they also seemed smart enough to realize the lunacy of attempting any major deception on Black Sun.
He dipped the mask’s snout into his drink—one reason he liked the Kubaz identity was because he could drink while in it. Pity he couldn’t just let go and enjoy the party to the fullest, but he was also here for a practical reason. As it turned out, the human pilot Bogan had taken a double shift recently, and as a result he would not be on standby for the admiral’s ship when Kaird needed him. This was easily remedied, however. There were another two pilots in the rotation, and one of them was here in this cantina, right now. This pilot, also a human—a lot of those around the galaxy, Kaird had noticed—was behaving in a responsible manner: since he was on standby, he was not drinking, smoking, or sniffing anything intoxicating. Sebairns, his name was, and while he seemed to be having a good time, smiling and laughing, he had restricted himself to some kind of steeped brew made from a local plant.
Because Kaird had access to all kinds of information, including medical records, he had learned that Sebairns had an allergic condition for which there was no cure or preventive treatment. If exposed to a certain common legume, the human would develop a fairly severe anaphylactic reaction, the symptoms of which might include urticaria and syncope secondary to ascites. Kaird had gotten this information translated via the HoloNet. It meant that the human could break out in a serious, itchy rash that could include large hives; he could faint and, if left untreated, might even choke to death as his windpipe closed. Not that it would get that bad in the middle of a Rimsoo full of doctors—he’d be whisked off to a ward in a hurry, and all his symptoms could be treated easily. But he wouldn’t be able to work for a day or two, which was more than enough for Kaird’s purposes.
Kaird had watched the servers with care, and his moment came. He stood and started away from his single-unit table, as if to answer a call of nature. The droid server bearing a tray for Sebairns’s table started in that direction as well. Their paths would intersect, as Kaird had planned.
As Kaird neared the server, he said, “Pardon me, could you point out the ’fresher?”
Even though the refresher was clearly marked in half a dozen languages and graphic images, the droid had no doubt heard the question more than a few times from inebriated patrons. It swiveled its head slightly and pointed with its free appendage. “That way, sir. The door under the glowing sign.”
While the droid was thus engaged, Kaird brought his hand around, as if to scratch his snout, and in so doing allowed a small pinch of legume powder to fall into the man’s drink.
He then headed toward the ’fresher. He would return to his table in a moment to make sure his target drank from the doctored cup and reacted appropriately. Once that was done, his objective for tonight would be accomplished.
It was unlikely that anyone would suspect the man’s drink had been tampered with—it wasn’t poison, after all, and the attending medics would recognize the reaction for what it was.