Clay exited the aircar, checked his suit, and waltzed confidently into the lobby of Shimizu Synthesis. As he entered, a middle-aged, very plain-looking female holo-receptionist flicked on immediately and attempted to get his attention. He pretended to be absent-minded as he wandered the room, studying the building directory and taking note of surveillance points and exits.
The holo continued, increasing volume with each attempt. They were the only two in the room. “Yes, sir, may I help you?”
“Yes, thank you,” he said, nervously hurrying to the counter. “Mr. Alexandre Girard of the Bonai Saigo Conglomerate. I have a 10 AM appointment to see Dr. Sem Talbot.” He drew out his vowels, affecting a Procyon accent, which usually sounded haughty when used around off-worlders.
“I’m sorry,” the holo said almost instantly. “I don’t show any appointment with a Mr. Girard on Dr. Talbot’s schedule today or any other day. With whom did you make the appointment?”
“It was done via communique – in writing. You understand it’s difficult to know exactly to whom I was speaking at any given time.”
The holo’s grinning facial expression never broke. “I understand. Wait one moment, and I will see if I can get you an appointment later in the week.” Clay realized it was not full synthetic intelligence but a very basic algorithm with limited pre-programmed responses. He decided to press his luck.
“I honestly don’t know how it could have gotten lost,” he said rapidly, making the words as distinct as possible. “I seem to have a shard of recollection that it was four weeks ago. I was on the orbital habitat over the planet Keraunos with Mr. Tachibana, and he recommended Dr. Talbot because he said he went to Cerberus University, where they played on the chess team together.”
The console beeped suddenly, and the holo flickered but continued to smile emotionlessly.
“If you hurry, Dr. Talbot has an opening in his schedule right now and would be happy to meet with you. Please proceed to lift number seven.”
“Thank you,” Clay said, smiling as he proceeded towards the lift.
In his earpiece, he heard Ness laughing. “Just so I can use that trick later, how did you know it would work?”
“I’m from Earth. We can still tell a generic reception algorithm from the holo of a bored human. It couldn’t be a full synthetic intelligence because half of what they do here is probably illegal, and you don’t know how SI will react when it finds out it’s an accomplice to something unethical.”
“So, anybody can come in and spout off a bunch of keywords and phrases they know Talbot wouldn’t want discussed in the lobby, and the holo is programmed to alert him. That’s very clever.”
“It’s still risky. Sometimes, the holo just calls big guys with guns, but Talbot doesn’t strike me as the type to take the chance of killing a potential business partner.”
“So right now, he’s setting a trap for you in his office. What’s the plan, anyway? Just go in and ask if he has Keraunos on him by any chance?”
Clay smiled. “Actually, yes. Something made him bold enough to move on Tachibana’s Shadow. I’m guessing he’s somehow involved in all this.”
The lift doors opened into a dimly lit, sparsely decorated office. It was far longer than it was wide and had no windows. Talbot sat behind a cluttered worktable in front of four massive screens that ran from floor to ceiling on the furthest wall. Holo displays of molecular diagrams spun slowly around their axes in front of him, and complex chemical equations streaked between them on their way to one of the giant screens, where they turned into rows and columns of numbers. He let Clay wait in the doorway while he loaded still more formulas into a queue and studied the numbers they produced when they reached the screens behind him.
“Mr. Girard, is it?” Talbot said, avoiding eye contact, instead focusing on a holographic bio featuring Clay’s face on the wall to his left. “Suppose you tell me in thirty seconds or less what business you have with me that required that dangerous spectacle in our public lobby?”
“Well, I did try to introduce myself at the Hotel Fontaine yesterday, but the party was unexpectedly spoiled, as they say.”
Talbot continued to study the printout and stroked his chin. “Yes, that was most unfortunate. I also saw you are wanted for questioning over that little incident.” His hand dropped behind the table out of sight. His face was a picture of forced calm, but sweat began to bead on his forehead.
“Well, we both know I’m innocent.”
“So, that’s why you’re here? Looking for someone to clear your name and corroborate a story about a poor drug-addicted girl who somehow managed to sneak a knife into the party, murder Hoefer, and try to pin it on Berger?”
“No, I’m hardly worried about a misunderstanding like that,” Clay said coolly. “I’m only here for one thing. You see, some weeks ago, Mr. Sylvester Locke approached our chairman at Bonai Saigo about partnering up on a project called ‘Keraunos.’ Unfortunately, our chairman met with an unfortunate accident several days later. Our new leadership doesn’t share his hesitation in involving the company in such a venture. As a board member, I was sent to inform Mr. Locke that we have reconsidered and would like to offer our resources to him and any partners he might make here. As one of the largest holding companies on Procyon, we have extensive resources, raw materials, and expertise, to say nothing of the most extensive manufacturing capabilities in the anti-spinward systems.”
“I’m sorry for your luck then, Mr. Girard. I seem to recall reading that Mr. Locke recently passed away.” Talbot looked confused. “But, why would this interest me? What makes you think I know of or am interested in this Keraunos project?”
“Our mutual friend from the Fontaine mentioned you were a man in the know. A man who had his fingers in many big deals. A man who was going places.”
Talbot faked a smile as his face went white. “Who did you say you worked for?”
“Bonai Saigo Conglomerate. You’ve got my file right there. We’re looking for a reliable partner. Obviously, we can’t be seen to deal with anything less than reputable. We’re prepared to pay a premium to strike the right deal and an even higher one not to deal with the legalities of Notosian government. Obviously, given my current circumstances, such a deal would need to be completed quickly.”
“You really think Keraunos has that kind of potential?” Talbot was trying to conceal his excitement.
“Don’t you?”
Talbot’s expression shifted. He began thoughtfully stroking his chin. “Well, there are always complications in a complex project such as this, you understand.”
He was initially too surprised, and now he’s too trusting, Clay thought. Talbot was bluffing. He knew about Keraunos, but had no idea what it was. Unfortunately, this also meant Talbot was probably not the person behind Hoefer’s murder, and Clay still had no idea why this man was important to Ursza.
Clay nodded. “Well, our people didn’t think so, and our offer is legitimate. If you don’t wish to be our partner, we will happily buy the datarod from you, and I will be on my way. Simply name your price. It would certainly be worth more than the reward you think you’re going to get from holding me at gunpoint until the authorities get here.”
Talbot thought momentarily, then said, “I wish I could help you, Mr. Girard, but I don’t have the Keraunos datarod.”
“But you know who does, I assume?”
Talbot paused in thought and shrugged. “The Jade Shield. I’m afraid they’re exactly the type of organization you mentioned not wanting to deal with.”
“I was afraid of that,” Clay smiled. “Well, thank you for your time, Dr. Talbot. I should probably get back and report this development.”
“One moment, Mr. Girard,” Talbot said, stroking his chin. “It may be possible to salvage this situation. I could potentially retrieve the Keraunos data from Jade Shield.”
“How?”
“I have a man who could potentially acquire the data for us for, shall we say, fifteen million and a guaranteed 50/50 partnership between Bonai Saigo and Shimizu Synthesis?”
“Your man is that good?” Clay said, trying to sound impressed.
“He’s the best you’ll find on this planet.”
“And you’re okay with this? Knowing that if Jade Shield ever found out you were behind the theft, you’d most certainly end up dead?”
Talbot thought this through and nodded. “Perhaps you might throw in modest living accommodations on Procyon?”
Clay smiled and nodded. “The money is no issue. Time still is, however.”
“I can have it in two days, three at the most.”
Clay feigned interest. “You’re that certain your man can get it that quickly?”
“I need only get wind to his intermediary. He will perform any task she requests.”
“Will he now?” Clay asked suspiciously.
“Yes, you see, he has an honor debt to Miss Venter, our mutual friend. I don’t pretend to understand how it works, but he takes her protection and well-being very seriously. Sadly, she has a Shard addiction. There are only two ways for her to get a fix on this planet. One is to obtain it from the government for free.” Talbot tilted his head sideways. “Unfortunately, this requires her to turn herself over to Supreme Chancellor Prevo’s Tokusha, which in her case would almost certainly mean summary execution as a terrorist accomplice.”
“I assume you’re the second source,” Clay said, unamused.
Talbot pressed his hands together and bowed. “I invented the drug.” His face seemed to grow a sinister smile. “I am currently the only producer of the drug. Therefore, I am uniquely positioned to control or withhold its distribution.”
Clay snared accusingly. “So, you got a pretty girl addicted to your product and now her ‘honorable’ friend is your personal lackey? That’s sick.”
“Oh, my, no,” Talbot protested. “I’m a physician. I swore to do no harm. No, Cerberus introduced her to the drug quite clandestinely to ensure she would be receptive to an employment offer. Normally, they discard the individual after the addiction becomes too intense, and the addict dies days later. She came to me, as many of them do, not really worth saving, but when I learned about her capable friend, one of the greatest, most sought-after operatives on the planet, she showed her usefulness.”
“So, you didn’t initially get her addicted, but you’re still using her and her friend. I assume she gets him to do your bidding in exchange for Shard while you keep the commissions?”
“She would be dead in a matter of days if not for me. Who can put a price on that?” He busied himself with a holodisplay, pretending not to be interested in Clay’s admiration.
“This must all be quite a power trip for you.” Clay forced a smile and decided to continue playing into Talbot’s ego.
Talbot chuckled again. “Oh, you have no idea, Mr. Girard. Men who, under normal circumstances, could beat me to death without breaking a sweat, on their knees, begging me to take their pain away. Beautiful women who would never give me the time of day, offering to do anything I ask just for a little vial of liquid.” He looked Clay in the eyes for the first time, and his face was that of a demon.
“This Shard stuff. It’s that powerful?” Clay asked, pretending to be impressed.
“With all humility, I must say, It’s ingenious. As a drug, it is tasteless, colorless, odorless, and has no real effects, making it a simple matter to slip it into food or drink and get an individual addicted without their knowledge. Shard withdrawal, on the other hand, is a completely different matter. After a few months, the user’s system becomes saturated, and the drug is only effective for 24 hours or so before withdrawal begins. The addict then suffers nerve pain so excruciating that within two days, even the strongest man goes insane and, if he’s lucky, lapses into a peaceful coma before the stress on the body causes stroke, aneurism, or cardiac arrest. They know this and will give me anything to hit that magic reset button and give them just one more day to feel normal again.”
Clay purposely avoided Talbot’s gaze and pretended to admire the formulas and mathematical diagrams that swirled around the worktable, recording everything through his ocular implant. Slowly, he sidled towards Talbot. “I don’t suppose you’d be amenable to making a Shard distributorship a part of our deal?”
“I already distribute through most of the organizations on this planet and, frankly, can’t keep up with demand without giving my formula and production methods away,” Talbot said. “It would have to be an extremely lucrative deal.”
“I think we could come up with something that benefits both of us. Suppose you give us Keraunos and the production process for Shard. We double our offer, guarantee secrecy, and agree not to sell or produce on Notosia. We don’t compete with you and can give you, say, 10% of our business as a royalty payment.”
Talbot almost seemed dizzy at the prospect. “I would need to see some guarantees.”
Clay nodded. “We would need a small sample to verify your claims about the product’s potency.”
Talbot thought about this and nodded. He walked to the wall and held up his hand. It was instantly bathed in light. A chime sounded, and a panel slid back. Talbot reached in and extracted a metallic case, which he carefully brought back to his desk and opened. Inside were five vials of a clear liquid, along with a hypogun.
Upon seeing the drug, Clay’s jaw clenched. “So, this is how you do it. This is how you control and torture people until they do your bidding.”
Instantly, the image of Clay on the monitor changed, replaced by a much younger man with fair hair. Most of the bio and details remained the same, except for one small entry.
“Well, this is disappointing,” Talbot said. “It seems Alexandre Girard was killed two weeks ago along with the chairman of Bonai Saigo when the hull of their transport was pierced during an accident involving an exploding power coupler.” Instinctively, he pulled his hand from his coat pocket, revealing a plaser. He held it waist-high and kept it pointed at Clay. “It’s a shame, but that offer did seem too good to be true.” He rolled his eyes. “I should have known someone would try this, given the current climate of distrust, but as a scientist, I always try to remain optimistic. Now, please, step away from the case.”
Clay kept his face expressionless, staring relentlessly at Talbot. Finally, he nodded slightly and stepped back.
“So, who sent you? Who finally broke our agreement after all these years? Cerberus, I imagine?”
Clay shrugged. “I suppose you’ve got us now.”
“I knew that bitch Omari would never be satisfied with being one of the richest women on the planet. She has to ensure the rest of us are broke, too.” Talbot swore under his breath, deciding what to do. Instinctively, his first thought was protecting the secret of the Shard. He reached forward, keeping the gun on Clay, and started to shut the case.
Suddenly, Clay sprang forward, grabbing Talbot’s right hand and pulling it upward, twisting at the wrist. Like a well-practiced drill, the gun fell, and Clay expertly caught it, stepped in, held the barrel to Talbot’s abdomen, and fired. Talbot gasped in surprise. Clay moved the gun six inches to the right and slightly higher before firing a second time, then he stepped back and admired his handiwork.
Talbot stumbled backward, grabbing his stomach. Clay kept the gun aimed squarely between the man’s eyes.
“It’s excruciating, I know.” Clay nodded without satisfaction or sympathy as he helped Talbot to his chair and sat him in front of his desk. “Right now, you’re hemorrhaging from your stomach and large intestine. It might just be as excruciating as Shard withdrawal. I suppose we’ll never know.”
“If I die …” Talbot was wincing in pain and breathing heavily. “You’ll never get Keraunos.”
“Except that you’ve already told me how, Doctor. That pain you’re feeling right now? It’s going to get about ten times worse. I’ve seen strong men take twelve hours to die from wounds like that. I figure you, not being accustomed to receiving pain, will be begging me to finish you in less than three.” He paced slowly around Talbot, pretending to think. “Of course, if you cooperate, I could call for emergency medical assistance. They can put you in stasis, patch you up, and have you back on your feet in time for dinner.”
Talbot’s eyes pleaded with Clay. He was too deep in shock to speak.
“I’ll take that as ‘yes,’ then,” Clay said, his voice not wavering. “Now, Hēi Gēzi. Where do I find him?”
Talbot shook his head defiantly, which surprised Clay. He had no fear of Cerberus or Jade Shield. Clay didn’t understand what could have frightened the man into defiance now.
“How’s the pain, Doctor?” Clay spat. “Isn’t this exactly what you’ve been doing to those people? If you die for your principles now, Isn’t this exactly what’s in store for them? How many people are you stringing along with this stuff, Talbot? Can your soul handle it if they all die? Is this really what you call your sacred oath to ‘do no harm?’”
“The girl, Ursza. She lives in Harba City. Only she can contact him.”
“Good enough. Now, how do you break the addiction cycle?” Clay said, raising his voice for the first time.
Talbot shook his head. “You don’t …” He winced in pain and managed a chuckle. “Oh, it’s not just my people that will suffer. How many of your operatives do you have hooked? I can guess based on the size of your orders. Even with all Cerberus’ resources, I doubt you can make Shard fast enough to save everyone in your organization you’ve gotten addicted. Maybe you have a stockpile, but if you let me die, how long will that last? Then what will be left of the mighty Cerberus army?”
Clay closed the case, picked it up, and headed for the door.
“Please!” Talbot gurgled in pain as he grabbed his stomach. “Help me?”
“Fair enough,” Clay nodded and pulled up a communications interface to emergency services on Talbot’s desk. “One more thing,” he turned and smiled. “I’ll need you to tell me who at Jade Shield has the Keraunos data.”
“Klein.” Talbot wheezed, convulsing. “Markus Klein, head of the Nakano Cell. Now, please, call the medics.”
Clay considered the situation for a moment. There was still a chance that somebody might come and find Talbot and save him before he died. Clay needed to be free and clear of the building before that happened. Finally, he sighed. “It’s more than you deserve,” he said as he aimed the plaser at Talbot’s face and fired twice.
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