Ji-eun clapped her hands. “And that’s all the time we have for tonight. I want to thank CEO of Ageless Corp., Tyson Abington, for joining us for a … memorable … visit. Next up is Gill and Li-ho with an exciting recap of today’s baseball highlights, so stay tuned.”
As soon as the green light on the holocapture equipment switched to red, Tyson shot up from his chair and turned for the door. “Have a lovely evening, Ji-eun,” he said over his shoulder, without so much as offering his hand to shake.
“Tyson, wait!”
He turned. “What? You have another pit-trap ready we didn’t have time for and you don’t want it to go to waste?”
“I’m just doing my job. This is a big story and you know it, maybe the biggest in seventy years. It’s not my fault it fell right on the heels of your other misfortunes.”
“Who told you? Who’s the source?”
“So it’s true, then. Off the record?”
“I can neither confirm, nor deny the—”
Ji-eun sighed with disgust. “Yes, yes. I know the drill. And you know I can’t reveal sources.”
The two of them stared at each other for a heartbeat. “Well, here we are, then. Stalemated,” Tyson said finally.
“I guess so.”
“Good night, Ms. Park.”
“Good night, Mr. Abington. Can I call a grip to—”
“I know my way out.” Tyson spun around on a heel and stalked out of the studio. Savvy investors and AI trade platforms had watched the stream live. Within an hour, the interview will have been seen by half the people on Lazarus. Within a week, it will have been carried by drone skip couriers to six dozen colonies, moons, and planets across human-controlled space and seen by uncountable millions.
Tyson connected with Paris as soon as his feet hit the sidewalk. “How bad is it?”
“The overnights just lost another twenty-three points,” she replied without emotion. Not that she lacked them. She just knew when best to deploy them.
“Increase INN’s rent on their studio by twenty-three percent.”
“That won’t quite cover the shortfall,” she said, adding a slight stress of sarcasm.
“No, but it will send a message. And more importantly, it will make me feel better. Also, their utilities.”
“For how long?”
“Until I’m not mad anymore.”
“So in perpetuity. Understood. I should tell you, there’s several people waiting in v-space to connect with you at the office, sir.”
“At this hour? Who?”
“The board.”
Tyson sighed. “Understood. Be there shortly.” He pressed a chime in the nearest streetlamp to call for a transit pod, but before one came a woman stepped out from the flow of the crowd on the sidewalk and walked toward him with purpose. He didn’t recognize her, and considering the rest of the day’s events, he wasn’t taking anything at face value. Tyson’s legs and shoulders tensed, ready to take flight or stand his ground, depending on what happened in the next second or two.
“Mr. Abington!” she called with a wave to gain his attention. Well, at least she wasn’t trying to sneak up on him. She came to a stop a step away and held out her hand.
Tyson took it, hesitantly. “I’m … sorry, but are we acquainted?”
“We are now. Dr. Elsa Spaulding. I’m—”
“Supposed to be in space,” Tyson said as recognition dawned. She’d been on the short list for the team of immunologists and geneticists he’d picked to fight his bacterial adversary. “Yes, Doctor. I know who you are now. Sorry we haven’t met before. But, didn’t I send you to Teegarden two weeks ago?”
“You did, sir. But I’d punctured a lung in a rock-climbing accident the day before and the flight surgeon wouldn’t clear me for departure.”
“Goodness! Are you all right?”
Elsa rubbed absently at her side for a moment. “Perfectly. My ego is more bruised than my body at this point. Kwiknit is some amazing stuff.”
“Indeed.” A pod pulled up along the sidewalk. “Well, good evening, Dr. Spaulding.”
“No, sir.” She reached out and grabbed his arm before he could turn away. His eyes shot down and looked in surprise and affront at her fingers gripping his jacket sleeve, but she didn’t relent. “I’ve been coordinating with my colleagues from the ground. And I really need to talk to you.” She really needed to talk to him badly enough that she didn’t even register the pair of Wasp bodyguard drones hovering overhead that went from passive to target-acquisition the instant she reached for his arm. Not sensing any immediate threat, Tyson waved them off with his free hand.
“I’m on my way to a board meeting.”
“This can’t wait.”
Tyson’s eyes narrowed. “How did you know where to find me?”
“I saw you on that INN interview. My flat is only a few blocks away. I ran down here as quickly as I could to catch you.”
Tyson was still reticent, but he knew that when a woman wouldn’t take no for an answer, it was usually best to just let things happen. “All right, Doctor. You have my attention for the span of the podride back to the Immortal Tower. That will have to suffice.”
“That’s all I need.”
“In that case, get in.”
The ride back to the tower was significantly less entertaining, yet considerably more illuminating than he’d anticipated.
“And you can prove all of this?” Tyson asked as he took Elsa’s hand to help her out of the pod.
“‘Prove’ is a loaded term in science, but, I have substantial support for the hypothesis, yes.”
“Can you access your data remotely?”
“Of course.”
“Good, because you’re giving a presentation to the board about everything you’ve just told me.”
“Me.” She stopped in midstride. “When? Where?”
“As soon as we reach my office. And in my office.”
“But, I’m not prepared,” she stammered. “I don’t have any visuals ready.”
“You convinced me in three and a half minutes. You’re prepared. This isn’t a symposium, Doctor. You’re not presenting at a scientific conference where you have to defend yourself from other vultures in your field. This is a board meeting. They’re an entirely different kind of vulture.”
“But—”
“But nothing. Just be
