Assumption of risk Page 8

  Kai turned to the third man. "Keith, I got your message coming in. So, Ryan Steiner has bought out Oonthrax?"

  Keith Smith smiled as he shook Kai's hand. "Nothing official yet, but money is moving all around the Federated Commonwealth to snap up the Oonthrax debts and quietly buy out stockholders. Steiner's been trying to hide it, but they're working too quickly to hide their trail." The computer tech patted the left breast pocket of his tan jumpsuit. "I have the data here, encrypted and all, but I expect an announcement of the changeover within the week. I hear he plans to name the stable the Skye Tigers."

  Kai frowned as he considered some of the implications of Ryan Steiner buying a stable on Solaris. At first the idea had struck him as foolish because running a stable would take the duke away from his seditious activities against the Federated Commonwealth. "Is Ryan coming here to take control, or is he going to be another absentee owner?"

  Keith shrugged. "Not while his toy is still new. His personal DropShip left Porrima on the first of the year, and the traffic is right to get him here before your title defense. He might even make it in time for the announcement."

  "That would be amusing." Kai nibbled on his lower lip, distracted. "Buying a stable means the deal will have to go before the Board of Owners. Perhaps it can be voted down."

  Fuh Teng shook his head as he started the quartet heading down the long corridor toward the garage. "That's not likely. Ryan was already part-owner of the stable. All he's doing now is increasing his share. And no matter how well you argued against it, the owners wouldn't be likely to take your side in preventing Ryan from taking over."

  Kai nodded. "If I argued against it, they'd vote in favor just to spite me."

  Unlike his father, Kai had become Champion and then remained on Solaris to attend to the affairs of Cenotaph. Almost immediately he had begun to object to some of the common business practices. He thought the contracts for fighters who risked their lives in the arenas were little more than agreements to involuntary servitude, mainly because the yakuza and other organized crime forces had shattered all attempts by the Solaris warriors to form a union. The cooperatives formed by independent MechWarriors gave better deals to their owner-fighters, but the stable owners controlled booking access to the elite Class 5 arenas. The only way the cooperatives could get their fighters into those venues was to pay exorbitant booking fees that were little more than kickbacks.

  Kai had immediately instituted reforms in the Cenotaph structure that marked an end to the Dark Ages on Solaris. Because of Fuh Teng's careful attention to developing a feeder system, Cenotaph had quality fighters for all levels of the games on Solaris, and the stable's fighters became the "local" champions on Solaris. By bringing in warriors who had fought against the Clans, Cenotaph also built up a solid following for its warriors throughout the Federated Commonwealth. That some of these fighters had been prisoners of war only added to their popularity. Larry Acuff was just such a one, having survived a prison camp on Alyina.

  All this created a demand for Cenotaph fighters on fight bills, a demand that prevented the other owners from treating the stable like a giant cooperative and freezing them out. They would probably have turned to help from organized crime to break Cenotaph, but Kai's friendships with Victor Davion and Theodore Kurita's son Hohiro promised retribution if those groups began to play rough. Besides that, Kai himself was heir to the throne of St. Ives—a sovereign nation with its own army. And if that weren't enough, Kai could also call on his uncle Daniel Allard, who ran the crack mercenary unit, the Kell Hounds. None of the major stable owners truly considered violence against Kai and Cenotaph an option.

  Having established a nearly unassailable foundation, Kai then began to raise the pay of his fighters. He gave them quick-cut contracts so they could fight, win some purses, and retire to another planet if they wished. The other owners assumed that Kai was losing money left and right, and would soon realize the error of his ways. In reality, Cenotaph lost very little money because of Fuh Teng's careful stewardship of the stable.

  Then, in early 3054 Kai fought a stunning series of victories that reminded longtime fight fans of the run his father had made for the title in 3027. He scheduled himself for two fights a week, using his own money to double the purses offered. He started with Glenn Edenhoffer of Oonthrax Stables, at the time rated the number twenty fighter on Solaris, and worked his way up. In three months he had met and defeated each of the top twenty Solaris warriors. By the end of the year the Tournament of Champions seemed only a formality, and Kai officially won the title of Champion.

  Though the title gave him unprecedented leverage, he used it only in tiny doses. Kai still intended to revamp the Solaris system to make it fairer to the men and women who risked their lives in the fights, but he also knew that salaries spiraling out of sight would destroy the Solaris games. The only way to walk that tightrope was to expand the market for the games, which would also increase profits for the owners.

  Making his case to the other owners was difficult and had set off an ongoing war between them. But Kai had a secret weapon—Keith Smith's incredible ability to worm his way into the computer systems of the other stables. With Keith's help, Kai got hold of the kind of financial data needed to pinpoint and demolish resistance to his ideas. It also put him into position to exert pressure on the other owners if they balked and dug in their heels.

  Up till now Kai had succeeded, to a certain extent, in arranging matters to his liking. The arrival of Ryan Steiner could upset all his careful planning. Solaris City was nothing if not a political place, and a sizable chunk of the population supplemented their income by being on the payroll of the various intelligence organizations in the Inner Sphere. The politics of the Game World seldom operated on the interstellar levels of power, however. In fact, Kai was in some ways the biggest dog in the pound because of his ties to Victor and St. Ives. Ryan, on the other hand, had an established power base as well as more years' practice at politics. He seemed to have a real taste for it.

  And I have none of those things. Kai shook his head. "Keith, any word yet on whether or not Taman Malthus and his Elementals will be allowed to come to my title defense?"

  "The same troop movements that slowed you down have made it really difficult to create a command circuit of ships from Jade Falcon territory to Solaris, but we're hoping things will improve."

  "Good. Keep me informed on the logistics of it all. What's the word on the diplomatic clearances for the trip?"

  "Mostly a lot of 'we're considering it.' The Federated Commonwealth government is willing to permit a diplomatic mission from the Jade Falcons to come here for the fight, but only because the request came through the St. Ives Compact government. ComStar, who has to approve it, is stalling. There's also a rumor that the ilKhan is willing to approve the journey, but the Free Worlds League is wary of having Clanfolk so close to their border. The real sticking point concerns Rules of Engagement. Everyone agrees the Clanners should be able to defend themselves if attacked, but ComStar and the Jade Falcons are arguing over what constitutes an attack."

  He shook his head. "You had to go and befriend Clanners who consider sarcasm a breach of honor."

  Kai shrugged. "I don't believe there are any Clanners who'd be terribly receptive to humor at their own expense."

  Larry's head came up. "Speaking of the humorless," he managed in a stage whisper.

  Kai glanced further along the corridor and saw a group of tall, strong, silent types wearing the dark suits, white turtle-necks, and dark glasses that his uncle required of his security men. Weariness from the long journey down washed over him anew. This is all I need.

  Just rounding the corner behind his men was Tormano Liao, displaying the air of a busy man who was happy to have made time to greet his nephew. Smaller than Kai, yet still possessed of a wiry strength, Tormano ignored the phalanx of security men and quickened his step. "I am pleased to see that you weathered your journey well."

  "Zao, bofu." Kai bowed sharply and
maintained the bow for a respectful number of heartbeats. "The journey was less taxing than the funeral. I offered your condolences, as you would have wished."

  "I am in your debt."

  Kai sensed Tormano's desire to trap him in a web of conversation that would eventually separate him from his friends and culminate in another recital of all the Free Ca-pella efforts to unseat Sun-Tzu. Having neither the time nor the inclination to endure that, he decided to cut his uncle off before he could even begin. "It's good to run into you here, Uncle. I assume you were here on business and managed to slip away when you heard I was coming in?"

  Tormano's eyes half-shut and his face lost its joyful animation. "Actually I came expressly to welcome you back to Solaris. I thought we could spend some time together, perhaps dine. You must be famished."

  Without being prompted, Keith looked at his chronometer. "Forgive me for interrupting, sir, but we're running tight on that meeting."

  Kai almost winced at Keith's use of such formality, but Tormano had accepted the charade of the subservient tone without suspicion. "Thank you, Mr. Smith. Perhaps if Mr. Acuff, Fuh Teng, and you will give me a moment, we can still make it."

  His three companions moved further down the corridor and Tormano's security men turned to watch them as if they were serial murderers. Kai shook his head. "If I had known,

  Uncle, I could have made time. I have been away far too long and there is business to which I must attend."

  Tormano laid a gentle hand on Kai's left forearm. "I understand. My former secretary would have taken care of just such detail, but he is no longer with me."

  "I heard he had been compromised by Sun-Tzu."

  "Yes, but the attempt was clumsy. He was discovered and immediately confessed. We got his controller and have another Romaniac under surveillance." Tormano smiled coldly. "Sun-Tzu is dangerous, as well you know. He is not, however, invincible. He will fall."

  "Of that I have no doubt, Uncle." Kai felt the conversation headed toward uncomfortable territory. "I've had my accountant shift money to some of the causes you're sponsoring, so they're covered. I will see what more I can do when this next match is over."

  "Wu Deng Tang will be a formidable opponent." Tormano's voice dropped to a raspy whisper. "This is a fight you must win."

  "And that is just what I intend to do." Kai patted the hand on his arm. "You will be a guest in my box, of course?"

  "It would be my honor." Tormano nodded gratefully to his nephew. "I am planning to hold a reception for you and Wu a month or so before the fight. I have been told that Katrina Steiner and Galen Cox may be here then."

  And winning influence with Katrina wouldn't hurt your cause, would it? Kai smiled. "Wonderful. I am certain Omi Kurita will enjoy seeing them again."

  Tormano blinked. "The Coordinator's daughter is coming to Solaris?"

  "The Taizai is no more than half a day behind the Zhangshi." Kai wanted to laugh at the shocked look on his uncle's face, but he maintained control of himself. "I trust you will invite her to your reception as well."

  "Yes, yes, of course."

  Kai smiled innocently. "And I imagine you would not want to slight Ryan Steiner, either."

  Tormano recovered himself with that suggestion. "Of course not."

  So, you knew about Ryan Steiner buying a stable here. Your intelligence network isn't so bad after all. "Good."

  Tormano's grip on Kai's arm tightened ever so slightly. "You will win this fight, Kai. And all your friends will be honored by your victory."

  "Thank you for your confidence, Uncle." Kai bowed again, then slipped his arm free of the other man's hand. "Please, call my office and have them arrange for us to have dinner some time this week. Would that it could have been now ..."

  "Go to your meeting, I understand." Tormano gave him a bow. "Later this week, then."

  * * *

  Kai caught up with his friends in the underground garage. They had recovered his luggage from customs—a task made simple by the diplomatic tags—and had already loaded it into the boot of the stretch Feicui aircar. Keith Smith slid onto the bench seat, his back to the driver's seat, with Larry Acuff sitting beside him. Kai and Fuh Teng occupied the back seat, sunk deeply into the plush leather.

  Fuh Teng hit a button that informed the driver—one of his grandnephews—that they were ready to be on their way. "Did your uncle have any news of import?"

  "Not really. He knew about Ryan Steiner."

  Keith frowned. "I'll do another sweep on our systems, but I don't think he pulled it from us."

  "Don't worry about that." A chill ran down Kai's spine as he replayed the conversation with Tormano. "He seems to desperately want me to beat Wu Deng Tang. It would be just like him to do something sneaky to make sure I won."

  "Like what? Making sure you got to use both hands for once?" Larry laughed.

  Kai shook his head. "No, he's more likely to make a move against Wu. Put the word out, Fuh Teng. Let me know if anything strange is going on. Be sure folks know that Wu's safety is guaranteed by my honor. Keith, can you penetrate Tormano's computers?"

  "Faster than you go through opponents." Keith's face darkened for a moment. "Tormano does keep an incredible amount of information off-line, but some quick passes through his stuff might pick up trace memos and notes. I'll see what I can do."

  "Good." Kai settled back in his seat as the aircar emerged from the garage and into the streets of the Black Hills. Overhead, the clouds had already begun to reclaim the sky, veiling the day in grayness. "Despite the gloom and double-dealing," he said, "it really is good to be home."

  9

  Zurich

  Sarna March, Federated Commonwealth

  24 January 3056

  Deirdre Lear offered her hand to the man in the white lab coat. "I'm Deirdre Lear, Dr. Bradford. Pleased to meet you."

  Bradford, a smallish man who looked rather haggard despite his youth, shook her hand with surprising vigor. "Not as pleased as I am to meet you, Dr. Lear." He looked beyond her at the two nurses who had arrived with Deirdre for orientation. "Ms. Thompson, Ms. Hanney, glad to have you with us." He straightened up from shaking their hands, then opened his arms wide. "Welcome to the Rencide Medical Center. It may not look like much, but it's the only thing most of these folks have."

  Deirdre had to agree with the assessment, though she knew it was overly harsh, considering where they'd set the place up. The three-story building had been plunked down in the middle of a rain forest, and it was all but invisible until the last twenty-five meters of the approach up the bumpy road leading to the front entrance. Climbing out of the wheeled vehicle that had brought her, Deirdre noticed so many tracks leading up to the door that she guessed most patients came either on foot or carried on stretchers.

  "We built the center here, away from Daosha, because we knew so many of the country people are too afraid to go to the city. We get our power from Daosha, but we have generators in case the power goes out." Rick Bradford pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped sweat from his brow and upper lip. "We also have air conditioning most of the time, but it's down for repairs at the moment."

  The cracked tile floors and dingy walls suggested other repairs that needed doing, but Deirdre ignored them. "You've got a hundred and fifty patient beds here?"

  Bradford nodded and beckoned as he led deeper into the complex. "Fifty per floor. Bottom is pediatrics, which handles everything except surgical recovery. That's up on the top floor along with the intensive care unit and surgery. The middle floor is reserved for the adult wards and that's where we handle most communicable diseases and maternity— well-isolated from each other, of course."

  "Of course." Deirdre smiled and Bradford responded in kind. "Oh, the emergency room is on the ground floor and we have one trauma surgery theater there. We've got triage rules, of course, but we don't need to rely on them very often."

  Anne Thompson, her white uniform already beginning to wilt in the high humidity, tried to put a serious expressio
n on her pudgy, apple-cheeked face. "Do you have a terminal illness hospice annex?"

  Bradford shook his head as fatigue began to sap the animation he had so far displayed. "I know that dealing with the terminally ill is your specialty, but we haven't had the staff to set one up. I hope it's something you can do. Actually, I wanted the project further along by the time you arrived, but our funding got trimmed when the government started cutting back a year ago."

  Cathy Hanney frowned, her pale eyebrows nearly meeting in the middle of her forehead. "I thought this clinic was independent of the government?"

  "It is, it is." Bradford stopped in the middle of the corridor and folded his arms over his chest. "We're funded by private donations by and large, and they were plentiful until the Clan War. Now there's a new focus for most of the charity drives, and people of the Federated Commonwealth find it easier to give money to relocate Rasalhague refugees than to help folks who were conquered twenty years ago. Our largest contributor—our patron, if you will—has been Mandrinn Tormano Liao, but his resources only stretch so far. Luckily, CCI picked up the slack after a funding gap of four months, so we're back on track."

  Cathy shook her head. "Victor Davion's money being laundered through Free Capella is still government money. I thought. . . ."

  Deirdre reached out and laid her left hand on Cathy's right shoulder. "Look, you may have decided to come here as some sort of protest against things you don't like about Victor Davion. For all I know you think he had his mother killed—"

  "He did, you know."

  Deirdre and Rick exchanged quick glances, then she shook her head. "Well, that would probably be a good topic for discussion later on, if we have time for it. We may not have much leisure here, where so many people need our help. If I can give them that, I don't really care whose money is funding the medical center or paying for me to be here."

  Cathy's blue eyes narrowed as she looked from Deirdre to Rick and back again. "It may be easier for you FedComs to accept Victor's money, but not me. His father let the Clans rape the Lyran Commonwealth, and he's no different. He ran from the Clans on Trellwan and then again on Alyina."