Star Wars_ Millennium Falcon - James Luceno [36]
She laughed. “You're obviously quite alive, Captain. It was a health policy with a rider covering accidents.”
“You know about the accident I had?”
“Not the details. That's handled by a different department. When Aurora contacted CH and L to report that you had—” She glanced at the screen. “—emerged from a coma, I was dispatched to deliver the indemnity.”
Jadak turned the screen toward him. “Can't you find the details of the accident in my file?”
She swung the computer back toward her. “No, Captain. And even if I could, I'm not permitted to divulge any information beyond what I've been instructed to provide.”
Jadak narrowed his eyes. “So you're what, a claims adjuster?”
“That's a rather old-fashioned term, but, yes, you're essentially correct.”
“Exactly how much does this accident clause entitle me to?”
She cleared her throat in a meaningful way. “You should understand, Captain, that CH and L has been covering your quite substantial health care costs all these years.”
“How much?” Jadak said.
“Ten thousand credits.”
“Is that a lot? By current standards, I mean?”
“It would barely pay for a month of treatments in this place. But if you're sensible in your spending you could probably stretch it to cover a year on a world like Obroa-skai.”
“I'm not about to stay on Obroa-skai.”
“Well, then it would all depend, Captain, on how much travel you do and which world you eventually settle on.”
Jadak considered it briefly. “Forgive my asking, but what world are you from?”
She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. “Is that a polite way of asking my species?”
“I suppose.”
“I'm Firrerreo.”
“If everyone on Firrerre is as attractive as you, maybe I'll just settle there.”
“I don't think so,” she said flatly.
“Too expensive?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Your people don't take kindly to strangers?”
Her skin took on a silver hue. “Firrerre was dosed with a virus. It's a dead world. Quarantined.”
Jadak winced slightly. “Yuuzhan Vong?”
“Killed by one of our own,” Quire said, “who aligned himself with the Emperor. Many of my people were placed in stasis and sold to slavers. Some of us were lucky enough to be rescued and find a new life on Belderone.”
Jadak frowned. “I know Belderone. I don't want to live there.”
“Neither did I,” Quire said. She fell silent for a moment, then asked: “Choosing a place to live is that simple for you? You've no job, no unfinished business?”
Jadak appraised her. “What kind of question is that?”
Quire averted her gaze. “I apologize, Captain. I was simply curious.”
Jadak reeled in his anger. “I don't have a job, but I've got skills.”
“I'm certain you do, Captain.”
A smile formed on his lips. “How about I show you around Aurora before you leave?”
Quire laughed. “I don't think I've ever been asked to tour a hospital.”
“Medical facility,” Jadak said. “The food is great.”
“Are you flirting with me, Captain?”
“Trying to.”
Her skin resumed its golden color. “I'm flattered. But I'm afraid I'll have to decline your offer.”
“You don't date older men?”
She laughed warmly. “Yes, it's because of your age. Suppose we leave it at that.”
Jadak shrugged. “Then how about one small favor?”
“What?” she said warily.
Jadak motioned to the computer. “You bend the regs just enough to tell me what my file has to say about the accident.”
Her smile collapsed. “I told you, I'm not at liberty to say.”
“It's my life we're talking about,” Jadak said more firmly than he had intended.
She started. “I'm sorry—”
“Why would the Republic Group take out an accident policy on me? And why would your company keep paying for my treatments here when I was a brainwave shy of dying?”
“A vegetative state is not the same as being brain-dead.”
Jadak's nostrils flared. “It doesn't add up. Did the Republic Group take out a policy on Reeze, too? Was someone liable for the accident?”
“I have—”
“My copilot. Did Core Health cover the cost of his funeral?”
Quire was stone-faced. “And here I thought we were beginning to get along.”
Jadak balled his fists. “I'd like you a whole lot more in trade for