Tracey's Leg

This story takes place in the “Firefly” universe, during the same period of time as the television series.

“Doctor Hofmann?”

“That’s me.”

“I’m Lieutenant Womack. I have a business proposition to discuss with you. Do you have somewhere we can speak in private?”

Dr. Hofmann gestured toward his office, then followed the tall, gruff officer inside. He stepped around to sit behind the desk, then motioned toward the chair opposite him. “Please, sit.”

Lt. Womack remained standing where he was and nervously licked his lips. “Dr. Hofmann, I need to have a surgical operation performed… discreetly. A friend of mine will be coming here as soon as can be arranged, and he’ll need all his internal organs replaced. And I’ll need the ones you take out of him delivered to me.”

Hofmann could only stare. “You’re smuggling organs. To sell on the black market.”

Womack’s face hardened. “Shiny. I’ll find another doctor. And we’ll use your organs to patch my carrier back together. Medically speaking, how long will you survive without your heart? Will you still be alive by the time we remove the lungs?”

Suddenly, Hofmann laughed. “Oh, my dear Lieutenant, that will not be necessary. I am not opposed to such activities. I have purchased illegally enhanced organs several times myself, in fact. You have my complete cooperation.”

Womack’s expression still did not change. “If you tell anyone we had this conversation, you may find yourself the subject of a few other experiments. Dong ma?”

“Indulge my curiosity, Lieutenant. May I know who will be delivering the product in question? And who the supplier is, as well, if you please.”

The Lieutenant licked his lips again, and his eyes darted around the room. Clearly, he was not accustomed to this kind of response. Hofmann supposed most people would tremble in fear before such an imposing figure, but he was too old to be frightened by bullies. He suspected that Womack was trying to figure out whether Hofmann would sell him out. If he’s done his homework, and Hofmann assumed he had, he’d know that the doctor could be trusted to keep confidence. Finally, Womack answered his question. “Little worm by the name of Tracey Littleman. The stuff comes from a place called Gemini Labs, out on Silverhold. Run by a Dr. Jones.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant. Just let me know when your Mr. Littleman arrives here on Ariel, and I’ll get your organs out for you. I believe five percent is the standard share, and I’ll expect payment when you pick them up. Will there be anything else?” Hofmann expeditiously escorted the dumbfounded officer out of his office, then picked up his phone. “Susan, patch me through to Silverhold. Dr. Jones of Gemini Labs.” He waited a few moments, then a young doctor came on the screen. He had dark skin and black hair, and looked suspiciously at Hofmann.

“I’m Dr. Jones. How can I help you?”

“Dr. Jones, I am Dr. Hofmann, Ariel Medical Clinic. I believe I’ll be receiving some merchandise from you soon.”

Jones hesitated a moment before responding. “Perhaps. Could you tell me who set up the delivery?”

“Mr. Womack did, of course. Listen, Dr. Jones, I have a small favor to ask you. There’s one thing I haven’t eaten since I was young, a very delicious treat my grandmother made called Hefekloese. Best served with hot butter and fresh blueberries. I understand you have cows out there on Silverhold?”


Carefully, Susan set down the audio-only telephone she had been using to listen in on Dr. Hofmann’s call. She had spent two years as the hospital’s receptionist, and had worked on Hofmann’s personal staff before that. She had facilitated most, if not all, of his previous black-market dealings. She didn’t know the Mr. Womack Hofmann had mentioned, but she knew plenty of others in the industry. She pondered the implications of the “special favor” Hofmann had just requested of Dr. Jones, then reached a decision. She opened a line out.

“Sully, it’s Susan Ming at Ariel Med. I have information for you.”

“I’m listening.”

“Are you familiar with Gemini Labs on Silverhold?”

“Dr. Jones produces a decent line of replacement parts there. It’s a little further out than I normally operate, but exceptions have been made before. I’ve encouraged him to move coreward several times in the past, but he’s a bit panicky about getting caught by the Alliance. He could produce much better quality if he weren’t out on some forsaken outer rim planet. Is that familiar enough for you?”

Susan gave a tight smile. “Then it shouldn’t be a problem for you to kidnap his next carrier out.”

Sully shook his head. “I don’t kidnap people, Susan. I do business. I’ve never had a client, a carrier, or even a debtor brought to me by force. It tends to make them less cooperative.”

Susan shrugged. “Then call him and ask him to come. Bribe him. However you want to do it, but you need that carrier. He’ll be carrying some extremely valuable merchandise. The contracted buyer doesn’t know it, so it’s well worth it even just to outbid him straight up. Trust me when I say that this is one deal you don’t want to pass up.”

“You’re a very persuasive girl, Susan. Just how much are you expecting to receive for this little tip?” asked Sully.

Mentally, Susan braced herself. “Ten percent of your profit.”

There was a long pause at the other end of the line. “That’s a large cut just for a tipoff. What makes you think this enhanced heart will be so much more valuable to me than any others?”

“Oh, it’s not just the heart. This guy will be carrying the full package – lungs, stomach, liver, spleen, state-of-the-art kidneys, probably a million credits right there. But that’s just a pittance compared to the bonus cargo.”

“Go ahead.”

“If you cut off his leg, he’ll give you butter.”

Want to know the rest of the story? Watch the Firefly unaired episode “The Message.”