"Wait here."  Roic slid out of their own van and went to take a peek in the back of the other.  The rear doors had no windows, but had been left unlocked.  Careless of the techs, if it was carrying drugs and expensive equipment.  Roic quietly opened a door, looked inside, and raised his wristcom to his lips.  "Interesting, Johannes.  The cupboard is bare.  This isn't an ambulance, just a van."

"Uh-oh."

"Think I'll just take a stroll inside and intercept those fellows coming out.  You watch my back from there."  Roic still wasn't sure what was happening, here, although he was formulating some rapid guesses.

An anxious young lady desk clerk was peering up the central hallway when Roic entered the lobby.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"One of our guests reported in very sick, apparently.  He should have called the front desk—we would have assisted him . . ."

"Was he from off-world?  D'you think he might have brought in something bad?" asked Roic.  "Contagious?"

"No, no.  Some sort of sudden seizure, I gather.  He was lucky he could use his wristcom."  The clerk gathered her nerve.  "I should go and lock up after them, make sure the gentleman's property is secure."  She glanced back at Roic.  "Were you checking in, sir?  There's only me on duty right now . . ."

"Take your time.  First things first."  Roic waved her away.  She trotted off up the hall to where a loaded float pallet was already being shifted out a doorway and turned.  The tall man hitched an IV to a pole, bent, and checked his patient.  Roic glimpsed a blanketed male form, firmly strapped down, an oxygen mask in place across his face muffling his moans.  Roic stepped forward, radiating curiosity and concern, as the pallet floated out into the lobby flanked by its two escorts.

Dr. Leiber blinked up with bleared eyes and groaned behind his plastic mask.

"What happened?" Roic asked, following along out the front doors.  "Is it anything dangerous?  Do you need any help?"

"Thanks, no," the tall one told him.  "Everything's under control."

"So was it a heart attack?"

"We don't know, yet," said the tall one.  "He just collapsed."

"Drugs?  Is this a bad area?  I just landed, myself."  For once, Roic's not-from-around-here looks and accent worked in his favor.  "I was about to check in at this place and sleep off the jump-lag, but now I'm not so sure."

The broad one scowled at him in irritation.  "No, it's fine.  Go check in."  The pair swung the van doors wide and slid the pallet aboard, both climbing inside to secure it.

Roic stuck his head in after.  "You sure?"

"Yes, it's safe," said the tall one, exasperated, from the windowless cargo area.

"Good," said Roic, pulled his stunner, and shot them both.

That would save some heavy lifting.  And scuffling.  Roic hated scuffles.  Just because he was big didn't mean he liked getting hurt.