Ask Family Business

[Dr Ilana Morata]

It was small work, doing what she did, but eventually she hoped to have a focused place to produce her medpacs and other equipment. After all, in a galaxy in constant conflict, there was always a need for bandages and healing salves. There was always a need for manufacturers and research facilities, but rather, unfortunately, in a galaxy this large scratching out a living was next to impossible.

It had been a long day. Dressed in a loose black robe, long white hair pulled back from her features, there was a soft chime as her comm was pinged. The voice of her secretary came over, slightly nervous.

"D-doctor, there's someone here to see you," the young Devaronian gulped, and Ilana frowned once, checking her timer. "I'm afraid Madame Dennah is early, please--"

"It's not Madame Dennah," the other woman whispered, and she sighed, rubbing fingertips over her temples.

"Send them up, then. Unarmed, if possible."

"Yes, ma'am."

After the call, the red-skinned woman looked at the company, eyes wide and trembling. "I-if you wouldn't mind, sir. She is ready to see you."

Upstairs, the good Doctor arranged a pot of tea and two cups, a delicate array set up. She touched a few more keys on her datapad before it dimmed, and she sighed, leaning back into her chair for a moment. Adriana, nervous? She could hardly wait to see who made her secretary a nervous wreck. It would at least make her day a little more interesting.

She gazed out over the cityscape, sighing quietly. It was a rented space, but decent, at least, for now. Perhaps she could save enough business funds to buy a station to finally begin treating the zombified plague that still ravaged many planets. But at the rate they were going, it would take decades of saving up to even find the credits to research the materials.

At the soft chime of their arrival, she laced her fingers before her, sitting further upright. A soft, raspy voice touched through to the person on the other side, and she waited, empathic senses attuned to whoever would walk through the door.

"You may enter."

@Eccles

 

[Preef Callo]

"I-if you wouldn't mind, sir. She is ready to see you."

Preef Callo turned to one of the six armed scoundrels he had brought along, "You stay with her." it didn't take a genius to understand that guy was in charge of warning Preef of any unexpected and unwanted visitors while he was inside. Operating inside the Core was tricky for someone with his reputation and he didn't want an entire planetary police force after him just for deciding to take a meeting personally.

Another scoundrel was stationed at the stairs below, then one at the top and two at the door before not just Preef, but Shere Zaa Fenn as well entered into the Morata Corp CEO's office. They were both armed, ofcourse, for no one had actually asked if the boss of the Crymorah Syndicate would relinquish his famous sidearm. Not that he would have, probably..

Preef wore a seemingly new set of an Eriadu-style tunic. Not quite a suit because the jacket would just limit his movement and after a good twenty years of literally wearing clothes he robbed from others, wearing expensive clothing kinda didn't feel right most of the time. Shere was dressed similarly, but the old cat was more suited for it and didn't actually carry a visible blaster unlike his boss.

"Ilana Morata, I presume?" the rodian began in a jovial tone of voice that suggested he fancied himself in complete control of the situation. "My name is Preef Zaa Fenn, and-" he gestured towards the old cat, "-that is Shere Zaa Fenn." He had chosen to introduce himself with the adopted last name because he had brought Shere along and he didn't want to insult the cat he held in some reverence. Besides, with his reputation everyone would know that Preef Callo is Preef Zaa Fenn by now.

"We've come about a droid."

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

At the sight of the boss and his Cathar sidekick, she would lace her hands before her, staring up from behind her desk. "Gentlemen. I apologize, if I had known of the company I would be entertaining, I would have brought some more suitable refreshments." She would gesture to the seats before her, amber eyes calm.

"Might I offer some tea, perhaps?"

It was to be assumed a member of the Syndicate would appear but never had she expected Preef Callo. And on a core world, no less. At the word about a droid, however, she tilted her head once in curiosity.

"I see. Well, if you've come to enquire about medical combat-resistant droids, I'm sorry but funding for that research is behind by several years. But... a droid?" she asked, glancing between the two of them. Nobody like them would simply happen to show here without reason, to her office no less. And armed. She had a feeling whatever these two would be here for, it wouldn't be for her benefit.

She would have to wait and see what they wanted, but it had been a long time since she had met others within Syndicate circles. For a brief moment, the image of Pidge floated through her mind, but she dismissed it. It was time to see what this sudden appearance was all about.

@Eccles

 

[Preef Callo]

Both Preef and Shere took a seat, but the former notably angled his seat in such a way that if he needed to he could shoot the doc from the inside the holster. It was all a precaution, ofcourse, but one of her employees was responsible for his latest near-death experience. Shere was notably more polite in his non-verbal communication and as such was more gracious when he sat down and then refused the cup of tea.

"N4-X4, Naxa," Preef said to help remind the CEO of her Head of Security. Ofcourse, this was the point where Shere took over. "Your head of security hired the Zaa Fenn Crime Family to help him rob the Intergalactic Banking Clan. He then botched the job himself and tried to fire a ship's laser-canon into a room where both my boss-" he gestured towards Preef, "-and one other member of the Zaa Fenn was present, knowing no doubt that he, as a droid, would be the only one capable of surviving such an act."

The Cathar allowed the Doc to let that sink in for a moment. In the Crymorah Syndicate there was a clear consequence when a member of one family was responsible for a loss of profit, arrest or (near-)death of another family. Both were business organizations, despite being attached to the term 'family' instead of 'corporation' and one of MorataCorp's members had just cost the Crymorah Syndicate money and was responsible for a serious slight to their boss. According to the rules the syndicates lived by that meant MorataCorp either paid up or accepted to go to war. Reputations are fragile, after all, and none more so than that of a newly minted boss. Preef couldn't afford to look weak on this one.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Amber eyes didn't even blink as both men sat, Preef with his holster pointing at her, the Cathar noticeably seeming to be more amicable. Neither took the tea; a pity. She kept a special blend specifically for guests, but now that it was refused she began to pour for herself.

At the mention of her droid bodyguard, she stilled. Eyes narrowed a moment, and the teapot was carefully set down, fingers lightly resting on the edge of the cup.

If her pale face could go paler, it would. But not with fear. Knuckles whitened as she tightened her grip around the delicate cup, lips thinned and spine stiffened. When her voice came, it came in a harsh rasp, almost throaty in its' restrained anger.

"He. Did. What?" she finally uttered, jaw tight. Her hands began to shake, not with anger, but a strong urge to crush the droid, followed immediately by a sense of betrayal. She had assumed, blindly, that a droid could be trusted to follow orders and simple basic tenets, but not only had he jeopardized MC's integrity, but also the lives of high-ranking syndicate members and done a job without her authority. This flash of anger abruptly cooled, and she sighed, setting the teacup down, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"I see."

She remembered well the laws of the Crymorah and other Syndicate families. She had worked with some of them, lived by their laws as a physician for years. How ironic it would come back full circle once again. She lowered her hand, staring directly at Preef now, inclining her head. "On behalf of MorataCorp, I apologize for my employee's recklessness, endangering the lives of your family and yourself, and pushing you into such a risky venture."

Her jaw tightened again, amber eyes glittering in the soft light with a hard sheen. "Had I known that such a plan was within his circuitry, I would have forbidden it, especially with so many risks involved. How may I make amends for this?"

She was no fool. He wouldn't come here to hear an apology. There were debts to be paid. And when she would see Naxa again...

Hell would hath no fury, indeed.

@Eccles

 

[Preef Callo]

So far so good. The CEO appeared to have more sense in her than her droid, but words were empty and apologies too easily given. Although she had addressed Preef, the rodian once again nodded towards the Cathar. "We know MorataCorp has several medical dispensaries." he paused wanting to make sure the doctor followed his line of thinking, "The Five Syndicates have a medical-adjacent product. Unfortunately we lack dispensaries of our own." the Cathar offered a slight smile, but the rodian was notably getting impatient. "You're going to sell our spice to the Core."

The Cathar's smile quickly disappeared as the rodian had just ruined his slow built-up. "You're small and you have a humanitarian reputation. Both allow you to operate largely under the radar and that is useful to us." he produced a small datapad, pressed some buttons and presented it to Ilana to check the numbers. "Every week you'll receive a shipment that you will split between your dispensaries and sell under the counter. If you need help to find reliable people to handle transport then we can make some suggestions." and every single one of them could be trusted not to do stupid shit like her head of security had. "At the end of the week you give 90% of the proceeds to our delivery man," he looked shortly at Preef, who again nodded and apparently gave the Cathar approval for the next part. "After four months your cut goes up from 10 to 25 percent and we'll consider N4-X4's actions as forgiven."

Preef looked at the CEO closely. He had his suspicions when he first read that the heist-organizing droid was part of her security that MorataCorp was just a front for a synth-spice lab. Let's just say he was keen to see how she would react to his proposal. Agreeing to it too readily meant she was already dabbling in the spice business, but she also couldn't outright refuse it and risk the Crymorah Syndicate destroying her little corporation either. If she had promise and potential, Preef was sure she would rise to the occasion and attempt to negotiate a better deal.

@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Though externally she seemed cool, remote, even calm, internally she seethed. After years of remaining clear and free of spice, of any drugs whatsoever, she had been offered a deal that was little more than being a spice mule for the Syndicate. It went against everything she stood for as a physician. But to refuse would put not only her own life in danger but others as well. None of them, she felt any particular attachment to; they were all merely bound by contract, and for the most part, were loyal because she paid them. "Marketing... spice?" she finally managed to speak, then exhaled slowly, once more rubbing the bridge of her nose between her fingers.

If she had been on the same side as this Zaa Fenn, she would have appreciated the flawless execution of planning. However, it was cutting to the cheap if he thought she'd agree to so minimal an amount of a cut. And more than that, this was a threat to her reputation, and to the tentative rapport she had within the Core. Either way, she was at their mercy and they knew it.

Still, she had to consider her options here. He had a golden opportunity here to expand so much more than marketing an illicit drug. A pity, she had hoped to meet under better circumstances. She looked over the numbers, frowning. They were cutting on the cheap side as well; they both knew no corporation worth their salt would take such a low deal. She exhaled slowly, then handed the datapad back.

"Why limit to dispensing a drug?" she asked them both, glancing between the two of them. "Here in the Core, there's a much higher risk of overdose. I've treated many patients because of it, and giving more access will limit customer numbers in the long run. It will negatively affect your ability to market if I lose my humanitarian credibility."

The word was ironic. She was no more humanitarian than they were, but there was an image to protect. "You would make far more taking a cut of over-the-counter drugs than not. Moratacorp is currently researching an alternative to bacta and kolto, with several viable alternatives; an edge on that market would make far more, and you could be a silent partner of Moratacorp's majors and shares." She also tapped on her own datapad, showing the current figures of what they would make with this, "and if your current concern is the shipment of illicit drugs, there could be alternate ways to market it without being limited to simply dispensaries."

She glanced between them again, frowning slightly. "If, however, you are firm on your ideals... I request 15%, with the guarantee I limit the dosages and quantities myself within reasonable amounts. And increasing the cut to 28% within three and a half months." Her jaw tightened at the thought of dispensing spice of all things... the urge to reject it was deep. She loathed spice, almost as much as she loathed the practice of it, the use of slaves. But the only other choice was to go to war, and that was simply not an option. They were a medical corporation, not a Syndicate family.

@Eccles

 

[Preef Callo]

Preef's mind raced trying to keep up, but Shere was way faster and let out an involuntary growl before regaining control and smiling politely. "So," Preef stopped thinking for himself and listened to the Cathar, knowing the latter would now give a summary. "You're saying that because some local dealers cut our pure product with trash, you think its okay to lower the dose?" Preef frowned upon hearing that, quickly understanding why even the usually diplomatic Shere Zaa Fenn had trouble repressing a scratching urge. "Let's for a moment pretend we're not amateurs, so as long as you don't cut our spice with trash to increase your cut of profits-" that was a subtle hint that he didn't like her trying to negotiate on the amount of money it took for the Crymorah Syndicate to forget one of her own tried to kill Preef Callo. "-overdoses will be far from frequent." The nerve to suggest that the syndicate didn't know how to make a dose that suited the pedantic core-worlders was clearly taken as an insult.

"Plus, this research you mentioned-" he took his own datapad back from the table and once again let his eyes pass over the MorataCorp publicly listed assets. "-I see you haven't filed a patent for it yet, which suggests its early stages and definitely not-" his sharp cat-like eyes suddenly focused intently on the CEO's face, "-a sure thing." It was a real gamble to suggest a criminal organisation invest into your company based on a drug you weren't sure you could even deliver to market. Drug manufacturing and testing isn't easy, or cheap, and it failed more often than not. Failing had lethal consequences if you went into business with the syndicates, though.

"Hmmm," Preef cleared his throat, "So what about this." he smiled, for her idea sounded like it could give him a large perfectly legal fortune and there were dozens of corporations like hers they could muscle into selling their spice for them. This was a personal visit for a reason, though, and he wanted MorataCorp to pay with something they would be hesitant to part with. "You sell our spice under-the-counter until your new miracle drug is in production. A drug, which we'll own let's say-" he looked at Shere shortly and then shrugged, "-fifty fifty." Shere nodded, "It can be included in the patent and I know just the patsy." It wasn't hard to come up with how to do it. You register a corporation on an Outer Rim world, create the necessary financial commitments, appoint a CEO that's not directly linked of affiliated with the syndicates and boom.. co-owner of a new miracle drug. Preef always let the details to be handled by Shere or Marissa, they were better at it than he was. "As a gesture of good faith from us, you can keep your shares in MorataCorp." That way, if MorataCorp gets burned the patent isn't suddenly public domain.


@Killa Ree

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

It didn't take an empath to sense the anger coming from both of them; it seemed once more she was adept at inadvertently insulting others, but at least the Cathar Shere seemed to have a bit more patience than most others of the Syndicate. At his words, she nodded once. "I'm sorry, I spoke in error." And she was genuinely sorry; she could understand the anger if someone had accused her own products as being of lesser quality, and would have probably acted with less grace. That he had, spoke to his favor.

At Preef's words, however, a lambent amber stare settled on him, listening. Surprise made her blink once; she hadn't anticipated the Zaa Fenn head to agree to such a deal, but since this meeting was made to prove a point that no one struck against the Syndicate family leader, and it had been proven. Her throat tightened slightly at the idea of having to share profit at so steep a cut; fifty-fifty, though fair on paper, was far more hurt to the CEO of MC in the name of profit than it was to a leader who no doubt made bank in other ways, and earned far more. She swallowed once, features settling to her regular glacial neutral chill. She inclined her head once, lips parting slightly.

"Fifty-fifty sounds agreeable," she murmured throatily. "Do we have a deal?" Four months to be forgiven... she would have to tread carefully. And find that droid. He betrayed her. Such a faux pas on a personal level wouldn't be forgotten or forgiven so easily on her end.

@Eccles

 

[Preef Callo]

Preef nodded towards Shere and the Cathar pocketed his datapad. "It's a deal, then." Then they rose from their seats, straightened their respective tunics as one does, and smiled. "It was a pleasure doing business with Morata Corporation," Preef said, suddenly fancying himself on par with the likes of Vivienne Donatade. This was an altogether different time of crime than he was used to, but... yeah, he could get used to this, too.

Preef was the first to turn around and leave through the door, collecting his guards as he went. Shere Zaa Fenn was slower, not because he was old, but because he felt the need to direct a last few words to the CEO. "Instructions will be send with the first shipment."

It was altogether possible that said instructions were in the form of a droid liaison whose heavily encrypted brain would form sufficient protection for the Crymorah Syndicate in case law enforcement ever started investigating Morata Corp on the suspicions of criminal activities. That, however, these doctors would find out when it arrived.

/end thread



@Killa Ree