What kind of logic is that? Why would I kick him? I meant help him up.
In this lawless place, I shouldn't get extorted for helping someone, right?
Amir pulled Milisen toward 032. The primary reason this test subject from the same batch as him had appeared here was likely Amir himself. Otherwise, why would a patient with no identity and almost no knowledge of the outside world appear here so coincidentally? From the moment he got off the ship, Amir had sensed the Force connection between them. 032 was looking for him.
Only after getting closer did Amir realize 032's condition was even more serious than he imagined. Beneath the ulcerated skin, even the fascia was visible. Everything was raw and bloody. After being knocked over by that Snivvian, he had fainted.
Milisen hid behind Amir with some disgust.
"I've seen him!" Milisen whispered. "Just before we left."
032 definitely wasn't just kept in a bacta tank all the time. He would also be pulled out for testing. It wasn't surprising that Milisen had seen him.
Amir handed the food bag to Milisen, but she couldn't hold it all. He had to hang the bag on BD-4's head and have the droid stand on his shoulder. After doing this, Amir used his free hands to help the fainted 032 up from the ground.
"We've window-shopped enough. Let's go see the doctor. We just happen to have an extra patient," Amir said.
"And that! I want to play that game!" Milisen shouted, pointing at an arcade machine, unwilling to give up.
"I want to play too. I'll buy two later and put them on our ship!" Amir promised. Playing that damn Dejarik every day was too boring. Back on Coruscant, many clubs and bars had holo-arcade units, but most were boring, low-quality games, making it hard for someone like Amir, who had been exposed to a plethora of high-quality games in his past life, to get interested.
This time, he could write a few simple games himself for entertainment.
Supporting the mess of a boy, Amir didn't waste time and walked directly toward a nearby building.
It was a round tower-shaped structure with a sharp spire on top. It wasn't just for decoration; the tip continuously received signals from all over the sector.
Although this was a lawless place, the Empire undoubtedly knew of its existence but had always turned a blind eye. The Imperial official in charge here likely received high-priced bribes regularly. Besides, this was the favorite entertainment spot for many senators. With their protection, it was difficult for the Empire to make a move against it.
Despite this security, the space station still had a very strong armament and defense system.
The building in front of him used materials that were practically starship-grade. Even if the station's main shields failed, it could independently maintain its integrity. Its own shield could even withstand a considerable degree of bombardment. There were also many hidden compartments in the structure, concealing all sorts of point-defense weapons.
In case of an incident, this building and other similar ones around it would form a strong fortress and launch a fierce counter-attack against any enemy.
Logically, this should be the command center of the Eternal Ark, but its sign actually bore the symbol of a medical institution.
Amir walked forward, supporting the unconscious 032. He didn't know if it was coincidence or the will of the Force that 032 had appeared just as he was looking for the clinic.
At this moment, the boy, who should be his age, was emitting a rotten stench. If he hadn't confirmed he was still breathing, Amir would have thought he'd been dead for a long time.
Without wasting time, Amir walked to the front of the medical institution.
Although the space station was massive, it was still quite crowded with so many buildings and people. But this clinic, despite being near the bustling city center, had a calm entrance. This was likely due to the respect the people here had for the Eternal Ark's boss.
There was a person on guard at the door. Amir couldn't recognize her species at all, because almost her entire body was covered in cybernetics. However, Amir was sure she wasn't a droid, because she had a strong life force signature.
The silver-white base alloy was sprayed with colorful patterns, looking sharp but not flashy. The skeletal design made the movement of the parts inside clearly visible. Unlike messy, exposed wiring, what was shown were concise components, fully embodying a mechanical aesthetic.
Amir's eyes lit up. The designer of this prosthetic set must be an artist. Although technology could fully restore limbs to look indistinguishable from flesh, that would lose the artistic meaning of prosthetics!
Just like Veronica's left arm. When she was younger, Amir always made camouflage skins for her, but now she increasingly liked the exposed mechanical feel.
The cybernetic woman at the door seemed used to seeing people seeking medical help. After sizing up Amir and 032, she leaned against the side of the door, signaling for the three people—no, three and a half—to enter. BD-4 was still serving as a bag holder, looking resigned.
Although he really wanted to discuss whose masterpiece these modifications were, Amir restrained himself and walked inside first, because 032's condition worried him greatly.
"Remember to keep quiet," the gatekeeper said. Her voice was a soft, human tone, though it was impossible to tell if it was synthesized.
The door opened to reveal a large hall. There were already many people waiting inside. Amir felt anxious, thinking, Don't tell me we have to queue?
Fortunately, a medical droid floated right over. It automatically began scanning 032's body. It was just a rough scan, but 032's condition was obviously critical even without sensors. The medical droid clearly realized the urgency.
"This way. Into the bacta tank first." After giving the calm command, the medical droid floated toward the side of the hall. There was a row of private rooms, most of which were occupied. The outside area was just for waiting.
Amir hurried to follow. After entering a room, with the help of the medical droid, he stripped 032 and lowered him into the bacta tank.
After 032 was submerged, the medical droid connected the nutrient and oxygen tubes and finally began the routine diagnostic check.
Only then did Amir have the chance to take out the appointment voucher Hak had given him.
"My friend helped me book an appointment with Doctor Kahraman Juarez," Amir said.
"Please wait. The Doctor is currently in surgery," the medical droid replied.
After learning the situation, Amir stayed by 032's side for a moment.
Not long after, the preliminary results came out. The medical droid said, "The patient's physical condition is extremely poor, but his life is not in immediate danger. He needs to stabilize in the bacta tank for initial repairs. Please wait outside."
Seeing that 032's condition was relatively stable, Amir went to the waiting area. Milisen and BD-4 had already found seats and continued eating their snacks. Amir sat down with them.
At this moment, a middle-aged man sitting upright next to him leaned over. He smiled at Amir and whispered, "Your friend... he looks beyond saving. That's very special. Very good."
. . .
[After Doctor Kahraman arrived, he was shocked by 032's condition and immediately began an examination.]
"It's nothing!? How can it be nothing!" Milisen demanded, staring at the doctor.
"But he is fine!" Kahraman replied, even more agitated than she was.
"????"
In an instant, everyone and every machine in the room froze.
"I'm very sorry, Amir. Please wait a moment. I need to examine him first. Forgive me, it's been too long since I've seen such a high-quality patient!"
Amir could perfectly understand that some people had strange quirks, and his personality had always been easygoing, so he didn't pay much attention to Kahraman's manic behavior. He let him continue studying 032. Only Milisen continued to glare fiercely at the Ardennian.
His only worry was whether 032's body could withstand this kind of manhandling.
As if he knew what Amir was worried about, Kahraman explained, "His body is strange, but it's not a problem."
"Strange? Not a problem? Can those two words be used together?" Amir was puzzled.
"No, no, I mean... hmm... he won't die."
"Then there's no problem." Amir walked to a corner of the room, sat down, and watched.
Milisen gave Amir a shocked look but followed him, sitting down and staring without a word.
In truth, Amir was also a little curious about what 032's structure was really like.
After an unknown amount of time, Amir was starting to get drowsy before Kahraman finally stopped.
He put 032 back into a nearby bacta tank, and the four-armed doctor began operating a console on the side, observing the data streams.
"I'm hungry!" Milisen had long since been bored to death. Now she was starting to get hungry again. She couldn't stay any longer.
"Then let's go get something to eat outside first," Amir suggested.
"Yay!"
Without disturbing the hard-working Kahraman, Amir quietly led Milisen and BD-4 out.
Walking out of the "little clinic," Amir found that the fully modified female guard was gone, replaced by a professional-looking bodyguard.
"Where's the person from before?" Amir asked.
"Shift change."
Amir didn't ask further and went to the nearest restaurant.
As soon as he entered, Amir saw a fellow patient. Harley, who had already gotten his new arms, was at a table chatting animatedly with several other upper-class-looking people.
He was spotted by Harley the moment he entered. Harley raised his right arm high and waved to Amir.
Amir had a good impression of him too. After all, he had been kind enough to explain things in the waiting room. So he walked over.
"Hey, I still don't know your name," Harley said.
"Amir. This is my sister, Milisen," Amir said.
Bleep-bloop-bloop! BD-4 chirped, unhappy that Amir hadn't introduced him.
"And BD-4," Amir added helplessly.
"Amir, hello. How is your friend? I heard Kahraman himself is on the case. I'm sure he'll be fine," Harley said.
"Thanks for your kind words. It looks like your surgery was a success." Amir looked at Harley's arms, which he couldn't stop fidgeting with.
"It's great! Almost no different from the original! Just in appearance, of course. Sit, since you're here, let's eat together," Harley invited.
Amir glanced at Milisen. Seeing that she didn't object, he sat down. There were two other people at the table.
"Friends, these two are from the clinic just now. You should have seen the patient he brought in, looked just like he was dead! Skin all rotted, like a melourun melon left out for a month!" Harley said vividly, not noticing that the others were trying to eat.
Although Amir wasn't that close to 032, it was strange to hear him described like that. But he couldn't really refute him; this guy was a bit of a blockhead.
Obviously, the two people across the table also looked a bit uncomfortable, just smiling awkwardly but politely.
"Hello, Amir, and Miss Milisen. I'm Cordell Gilbert, and this is Keeley Gae'tner. Like Harley, we're merchants. Though we can't say we're extremely wealthy, we have a small family fortune and know quite a few people. If you need any help, you can find us."
After greeting the two, Amir and Milisen got down to business. They took the menu, ordered one of the restaurant's specialties, and began to eat.
In front of outsiders, Amir was too embarrassed to gorge himself. Even Milisen became relatively ladylike.
Although Harley had a big mouth, he was a straightforward and talkative person. With him around, the atmosphere would never get cold.
Amir also joined in and chatted with them. Only then did he discover that all of them were in the mineral business. Although Harley seemed oafish, he was a minor tycoon.
In short, his family owned mines.
"I'm so jealous of Harley, having a mine right on his doorstep. Business is so hard for us now. Most of the mines were forcibly taken by the Empire. Years of construction, manpower, and resources... all for nothing," Cordell, a dark-skinned man, said with a sad face as he spoke of his experience.
His other companion, Keeley, comforted him: "Same for me. But I recently got in touch with the sector's Moff, so at least I can do business steadily now."
"Of the more than one hundred mining areas I had, only forty-something are left. The total value is less than four million credits. It's really shameful," Cordell sighed.
Okay, my apologies. Amir reluctantly recalled his own savings and sighed. He was still a long way from becoming a wealthy farmer on Alderaan.
"I heard the Faruc sector was recently taken by the Empire," Cordell said.
Amir's ears perked up. Wasn't the Faruc sector where he had rescued Lango?
"I heard about that too!" Harley said, chewing on a cutlet. "Many mining areas were seized by the Empire. Such robbers."
"Keep it down, Harley. There might be Imperial senators nearby. If they hear you, there'll be trouble." Keeley was clearly different from the other two, much more cautious.
Hearing Keeley's reminder, Harley instantly shrank his neck.
"I've been there too. I even saw a Star Destroyer with my own eyes." Amir roughly described the situation at the time, trying to get them to talk and reveal more.
"Such despairing military power. Originally, a leader there named Greta Beli... she was a good person to deal with. She had many mines, and we traded many times. Fortunately, I heard she escaped," Cordell said.
Greta. He hadn't seen her since she helped him escape the blockade. But as long as she was safe, that was good. If fate willed it, they would meet again.
"What about you, Amir? What do you do?" The group looked at the young Amir.
"I... I'm still a student." Amir couldn't just say he was a happy-go-lucky unemployed fugitive. Saying he was a student wasn't wrong; a Jedi apprentice counted as a student.
"A student? What are you studying? I've always wanted to donate some money to become an honorary professor. Otherwise, people always say I'm uncultured. I'm so jealous of you cultured types," Harley said, scratching his head.
"Right now, I'm mainly researching ruins in various places." Amir lied smoothly. He said this with the intention of leading the conversation toward Massassi crystals. These men were all in the mineral business; they might come into contact with ancient structures and have news about such artifacts.
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