Mark Tiedemann - Chimera

"So that's what made you so happy."

"I'm already moving on Kysler stock."

"Assuming Mikels loses to Towne, he has a ready-made position with this new company."

"New company? What new company?"

"At a guess, he'll call it Nova Levis," Coren said.

"Maybe…which brings up another thing. Nova Levis was not unprofitable. There was no reason for it to shut down."

"I thought it had been under suspicion in a police investigation. "

Kelvy made a harsh sound. "Companies get investigated all the time, they don't close up shop and sell their assets over it. Often such an investigation benefits them. When they're cleared of any charges, it's like getting a recommendation from the police. Their market value rises. "

"Nova Levis…?"

"Increased in value. The investigation did not shut it down. A year afterward, the board began buying up out standing shares. It took six months for them to gain the necessary control to sell, over the loud protests of a number of shareholders."

"What happened to the rest of the shares?"

"Over time Kysler bought them all out. Even after Nova Levis ceased to be a corporate entity, Kysler paid options and bought off the last few until no outstanding stock remained. But now here's the thing. When Captras Biomed sold to Kysler, it did so through a blind. At least a dozen former Nova Levis shareholders made up that blind, all of whom were shareholders in Imbitek, all of whom sold their shares in Imbitek and bought shares in Kysler."

"So they bought their own company."

"In essence. "

"One thing…what was the primary focus of Nova Levis?"

"Ah, now that took some digging. You know me, I'm not the most tech-literate. Primarily, they were doing research and development on chronic inorganic infectious syndromes."

Coren wrestled with the term for a few moment. "What?"

Kelvy chuckled. "My words exactly. I'm not sure exactly what they are, but I get the impression that these are diseases caused by allergic reactions to certain technologies-old nanotech, specifically. You don't hear about them much anymore because we pretty much beat them, but once in a while some poor child is born with a dysfunction that's basically untreatable."

"UPDs…"

"That's one term, yes. Do you know something about this?"

"No, not really. I've just heard about it-I don't know what it is. How many children?"

"It varies. Between ten and a hundred a year. Most of them don't live very long. Quarantine is about the only thing to do."

Coren thought about that. "You said we beat them. How?"

"That would take a little more research than I thought you wanted." She paused. "What do you think?"

"I think…dinner at Rhiomay's and a foot massage afterward."

"That good? I hope you don't stop at the feet."

Coren grunted. "How long have you known me?"

"Not long enough, Coren, love. Not nearly long enough."

"Thanks, Kelvy, this has been a great help. Um…by the way, have you ever heard of something called a 'decompiler'?"

"Sure. Curiously enough, given what we've been talking about, they're a class molecular reagent. Nanotech, used mainly for terraforming on colonies."

Coren blinked. "You knew that off the top of your head?"

"I didn't two days ago. It's one of Captras Biomed's main exports. They're banned on Earth."

"I see. Well. This definitely extends things to the calves and thighs, too."

Kelvy laughed languorously. "Can't wait. Call me when you're done doing whatever it is you're doing. I'm dying to hear the details. "

"No doubt. Talk to you soon."

Coren broke the connection and pocketed the comm.

All the lists began to make sense now. Shareholders. Follow the credits. Coren had always relied on the money trail to tell him which way to turn, who to look at. This one was nearly a maze, an ouroboros swallowing its own tail.

Rega…how deeply into all this are you…?

One or two questions remained, besides the big one. Who had killed Nyom? And why?

Coren Lanra shuddered, from weariness and despair.

Nyom…

The Hunter Group owned the warehouses. They owned Kysler Diversified, which now owned Nova Levis. Apparently they also owned the colony Nova Levis-or Cassus Thole, whichever name it went by. Alda Mikels owned a good piece of that.

Coren rubbed his eyes and looked down the avenue to the innocuous entrance at the T-crossing. Myler Towne lived behind that door. Coren fished a pill from another pocket and popped it into his mouth. He had waited till he knew what he wanted from Towne before taking the stim. Now he was ready. He waited for the clarity and temporary strength and the illusion of rested power.

It came like a coolness over his skin, a slight increase in hearing sensitivity, and an internal rush in his muscles. He pushed away from the wall and started down the street. Towne wore a deep green dressing gown and sat in an enormous wingbacked chair that he still managed to dwarf.

Del Socras stood within arm's length of Coren. He had supervised a very thorough search of Coren before bringing him to see Towne. Coren felt uneasy without any weapons.

"Unusual hour for you, Mr. Lanra," Towne said. "Or maybe not. It is for me, certainly. "

"Sorry if this is inconvenient for you," Coren said. "But I think we need to talk. "

"I agree. Have you given my proposal further consideration?"

"Some. I'm afraid I have to turn you down for the most part."

Towne raised his eyebrows. " 'The most part'? Intriguing choice of words."

"I find that I've done work for you in the course of doing my job. I need to know a few things, though, to be sure."

"Are you suggesting I owe you compensation?"

"I may send you a bill. But for now, let's just see how much what I've done is worth to you."

Towne waved his hand as if to say "continue" and eased further back in his chair.

"Alda Mikels is trying to oust you from the chairmanship of Imbitek. He may also be trying to kill you, but he's certainly trying to frighten you."

Towne frowned and glanced at Socras. Coren felt the bodyguard's presence fade. When he glanced back, Socras was gone.

"How did you arrive at this conclusion?"

"Circuitously. Someone killed Rega Looms' daughter. I'm trying to find out who."

"Do you think Mikels is involved in that?"

"Directly? No. But it was his people."

"And who are they?"

"I don't have names…yet. But they all work for the Hunter Group, in one way or another. So does Mikels."

Towne steepled his fingers below his chin and stared at Coren for a long time. "You are either very diligent or very lucky, Mr. Lanra. The Hunter Group wants to buy Imbitek. I've no doubt Alda is behind the attempt. Even for them, we're a bit too large and perhaps too dangerous."

"Who are they?"

"On Earth? They own shipping companies and warehouses, that's about it. Off Earth, however, they are one of the largest consortiums in the Settlers' worlds. Fewer rules, more places to move things when the law tries to compensate for the newness of the colonies. They own a little of every kind of industry. No one worried about it two or three centuries ago, before Terrans began to go out to space once more, and only Spacers existed away from the homeworld. It's fairly brutal business out there now. Mind you, I don't quite understand why Hunter wants us-they own comparable firms on several worlds. Maybe it was a prize for Alda."

"He got them Captras Biomed. "

Towne sighed and dropped his hands. "You are very well informed. That's disappointing. I spent a lot of money trying to keep that news from spreading."

"Why did you want to get rid of Captras in the first place?"

"No real applications. I'm trying to consolidate Imbitek, streamline the company, get us back to our base product. Most of the things Captras produces have no use here-they're all exports."