Waiting On A Rival

Chapter 13

My hands tapped my leg anxiously. Adipose Industries introduced this fat lost pill that seemed suspicious.

Suspicious enough for me.

The woman, Miss Foster, was giving a presentation to an audience of several dozen including me, disguised as a newspaper representative. "Adipose Industries, the twenty first century way to lose weight. No exercise, no diet, no pain. Just lifelong freedom from fat. The Holy Grail of the modern age. And here it is." She held up a pill. "You just take one capsule. One capsule, once a day for three weeks, and the fat, as they say-"

The narrator from the film playing behind her finished, "The fat just walks away."

"Excuse me, Miss Foster. If I could? I'm Penny Carter, science correspondent for The Observer," Penny asked, "There are a thousand diet pills on the market, a thousand con men stealing people's money. How do we know the fat isn't going straight into your bank account?"

Miss Foster looked amused as if the girl was a child asking. "Oh, Penny, if cynicism burnt up calories, we'd all be as thin as rakes. But if you want the science, I can oblige." I noticed a red headed girl to the right of me and frowned. I really want to be ginger.

"Adipose Industries. The Adipose capsule is composed of a synthesised mobilising lipase, bound to a large protein molecule," the film continued, "The mobilising lipase breaks up the triglycerides stored in the adipose cells, which then enter."

"One hundred percent legal, one hundred percent effective," she reassured.

Penny inquired, "But, can I just ask, how many people have taken the pills to date?"

"We've already got one million customers within the Greater London area alone, but from next week, we start rolling out nationwide. The future starts here," Miss Foster promised, "And Britain will be thin."

Once the presentation ended, I went to the call center where a bunch of people in cubicles were on the phone. "Good morning. I represent Adipose Industries."

I sat down quietly next to a man on the phone. He looked at me strangely. I flashed my own physic paper. "Celeste Smith, Health and Safety. Just keep talking."

"That's a three week course of pills for a special price of forty five pounds," he informed the customer, "We deliver within three working days. The box comes with 21 days worth of pills, a full information pack, and our special free gift, an Adipose Industries pendant." The man gestured to the gold necklace with his head. I cautiously picked it up and examined it.

The gold pendant was just a capsule that looked like it could screw on and off. The man ended the phone conversation. "May I keep this?" I asked innocently, "Might need to run some tests." He nodded.

Miss Foster walked in with two guards and called, "Excuse me, everyone, if I could have your attention." The workers stood up. "On average, you're each selling forty Adipose packs per day. It's not enough. I want one hundred sales per person per day. And if not, you'll be replaced. Because if anyone's good in trimming the fat, it's me. Now. Back to it."

Once she left, the workers sat back down. "That's a nice boss," I said lightly.

"Yep," the man agreed.

"Thank you for your time," I stood up, "Your comments will be viewed."

Before anyone noticed me, I went back to my TARDIS and scanned the capsule, not getting a thing of importance. My TARDIS was getting pretty empty and I sighed.

The next morning, I went in through the fire exit. To make sure I didn't set off the alarm, I soniced it quickly.

I went into the first storage room I saw. A few minutes later, I heard a sonic outside and held my breath. The door opened and someone else stepped in. Converse Doctor.
"Hello," I greeted.