Nar Shaddaa

If there was anything most soldiers didn’t want for, it was bravado. For this reason, it took a matter of moments for Cole to find a volunteer who thought the best way to honour Private Finama was to show the Hutts that the Republic Military wouldn’t be so easily cowed.

Kidaja had said not to open another clinic, and Cole had exactly zero intentions of doing that. If anything, the Hutt’s actions had convinced him that he needed to do more, not less, and there were no shortage of back-alley clinics and ad-hoc hospices for people to quietly die in because there were no doctors or medicine for them.

He wasn’t exactly streetwise, but he’d gained some ground since arriving on Nar Shaddaa four days ago. If he knew Kidaja’s territory, he’d have taken pains to pick a place in the Hutt’s stomping grounds, just to rub it in. As luck would have it, he finds a place and, with Private Yongo in his heels, he ducked inside.


[D5 EA] Knowledge: Underworld: 1eP+3eA+2eD 2 successes, 1 Triumph




He was starting to feel like a character in a really bad holonovel, but no matter how stupid it made him feel, he still took care to try and make sure that no one would get his message but the intended recipient.

Clinic hours as usual, if you want to help.

He attached his location coordinates, and hit send.


[D5 EA] Computers: 1eP+3eA+2eD 1 success

Lord Haydriss stepped into the clinic and went straight to doctor. "I had been informed of much in regards to your comings and goings, Cole Ormont." She glanced about and then back to him. "I am not here to extort you or threaten you in the slightest. My curiosity was simply earned when I heard of you from your student, Ashla Vyliis. I also was told that your clinic was destroyed by the Hutts. Is this all true?"

His cool, professional exterior gave away no hint of surprise; not for the masked Sith's curiosity, nor the idea of Ashla consorting with the other side.

Cole runs a hand through his hair, "the Hutts burnt down a clinic. And it's true that I'd been volunteering there for a few days. But it was no more my clinic than this place is."

"Ah, semantics," she replied, followed by a laugh garbled by her mask. The woman then paused for a few moments before giving him a curt nod. "I am Lord Haydriss. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

The Sith Lord looked around the establishment before looking back to Cole. "I presume you have had professional training, unlike Ashla?"

The lanky officer stands up and offers a hand, "Petty Office Cole Ormont, Galactic Republic Navy Surgeon. Which probably answers your question."

The Sith Lord looked down at the hand and then back up to the man. She eventually complied and took his hand. "Indeed." A pause. "A pity you must be on the opposing side. I sense that you are highly capable in the field and I could use someone of your talents. However, to make a Republic surgeon privy to my secrets would be absurd."

She looked to some of the patients in the clinic and then back at him. "What are the most common problems you encounter among these people?"

He realised that he'd given his name an rank by reflex, even though he'd relieved himself of duty, "I'm Republic until the end of these peace talks. After that, who knows?" and he shrugs a little.

"Malnutrition and lack of basic medical care," was his flat reply. "Most of them would be fine if they were getting real food."

"Oh? Did you resign from your position? Would that not still mean you would be a citizen of the Galactic Republic."

The woman nodded. "They are a symptom of the sickness corrupting this system. The grand wealth of the upper levels is due to the costs paid by those here."

"I'm thinking of heading for the Outer Rim. Somewhere that doctors are needed."

"I presume you hope to help those displaced by the war," Haydriss replied. "An admirable task although I question the amount of which you can help. However, I predict you care more about the small victories you will accomplish."

He glanced coldly at the masked Sith, "more than I can help here, or with the Navy."

"Intriguing. I would have thought the Republic would have ingrained in you the idea that you had to serve the cause. 'Stop the Sith Empire' or some other propaganda piece."

"They tried, don't worry about that. I guess I just wasn't any good at being brainwashed."

"That further proves to show your intellectual mind, Cole Ormont," she remarked. "I am curious and I will see that satiated: how do you plan to fund your endeavors in the Outer Rim?"

Cole shrugs, and it's obvious that he's never had to worry about where his food or shelter will come from a day in his life. "If Ashla could learn to cope, I can too."

"Do you plan on charging those who come to you or will this be purely a volunteer effort?"

"I don't charge the people here because I have the wealth to spare, and these people deserve better. Out there, without the Republic Navy at my back," he half shrugs, "I'll charge those who can pay, and I'll take food, lodging, transport from those who can't."

"A reasonable conclusion. We will see if it works in practice," she said without any sarcasm. In fact, it appeared that she was genuinely curious if he would succeed.

"I'm less worried about keeping food in my mouth than about whether or not I can keep myself stocked with basic antibiotics and anti-biologicals."

"You may be able to convince benefactors to supply those needs. The terms of such a transaction are unknown to me. I simply have never had to worry about such matters."