[Darius]

I threw the half-full crystal tumbler against the bulkhead, shattering it into shards, and creating a viscous, caramel-colored smear that sloughed down the white wall to the deck.

"Idiots!" I blurted out to the otherwise unoccupied lounge aboard my corporate starship.

"Sir?" Cerese said, poking her pretty red-haired head through the hatch. I had chosen her as my personal assistant because of her attractive body and subservient nature. Being relatively short and not so trim, I relied on power and wealth to attract the amorous attention I desired, although infrequent. She stepped in, and her eyes widened upon notice of the shattered glass.

"Clean up this mess, Cerese."

"But sir, the board is ready for you."

"Then, get out." I ordered with a dismissive wave.

I did not look forward to this meeting. Standing within a red circle at the lounge center, I straightened by black suit coat and cleared my throat. "Activate."

The Board of Directors appeared as eight holographic seated figures surrounding me. Because of the long distance and bandwidth limitations of the long-range coms, the images periodically blurred and pixelated. Every director wore characteristic disdainful expressions, and I wondered if they ever smiled.

One director was notably missing: Anastasia Whitehall, the old crone that so often opposed me. Certain unsavory business associations became publicly known, prompting her resignation. Wealth insulated us from most controversy, but even I knew human trafficking was too dark a stain to cover up. I had no doubt that Pheonix was behind the mysterious disclosure.

"Well, Dr. Welde?" said Augustus Windsor, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, as he lifted a thin gray eyebrow.

I bit back a scathing reply, since they already had my preliminary report, instead repeating, "A small group of Red Caste members boarded the Coronis Station under false pretenses, posing as cyber security auditors in a stolen company shuttle. While at the station, they did considerable damage to research data systems. Three of them died and one was captured, but two escaped."

Another board member, a white-haired man with a bushy mustache, sneered, "My sources tell me you ordered the audit, Dr. Welde."

Hands behind my back, fingernails pressed into my palms as anger simmered within at the accusation, but otherwise I appeared calm. "In no way, director, did I approve of anything such. Your information is false, sir."

"How was it they accessed and destroyed our most secure research data system?" a female voice asked.

"Investigations are underway, but apparently one saboteur was an Aberrant named Avia, who created false credentials and access the database. She is listed on the Federation wanted list."

"And I understand your nephew Zachery was involved. Can we trust you with this investigation?"

My cheeks burned. I had protected Zachery thus far, but no longer. "My primary loyalty is to the corporation, ma'am. He will answer for his crimes, I assure you."

"What of the research data, Dr. Welde?" Augustus asked, guiding discussion to the main issue. "According to your report, the primary and both backup systems were compromised."

"Yes, sir. I won't bore you with the details, but there are ways to retrieve lost data. This is merely a temporary setback."

"I hope so, for your sake," he threatened. "In the absence of a favorable outcome, you will be terminated. Am I clear, Dr. Welde?"

I gulped. "You are clear, sir." In this situation, termination would likely be worse than just loss of employment.

"We expect regular updates. That will be all, Dr. Welde."

With that, the holographic Board of Directors disappeared.

I let out a deep breath — that actually went better than expected. Returning to my desk, I filled another tumbler with a stiff drink. Pushing a com button on my leather chair arm, I said, "How long until we dock, Cerese?"

"Approximately twenty minutes, sir," her voice replied. "We have priority clearance."

"We damned well better have," I muttered to myself as I switched off the com.

The com beeped, and I punched the button. Cerese must want something else. "What is it now?" I growled.

Another voice answered. "Is that any way to greet me, Dr. Welde?"

"Phoenix. What do you want?"

A hologram of a man appeared before me as if seated across my desk, but with features blurred. "So, the board didn't fire you," he said as a statement, obviously knowing the outcome of the directors meeting. "Not yet, anyway."

Glaring, I asked the same question I posed at our last interaction, "How do you eavesdrop into our secured coms?"

"I have my ways," Phoenix said with a chuckle. "Fascinating turn of events, don't you think? Never expected Avia to be so bold, but perhaps it was your nephew's influence?"

"Zachery is no longer my nephew," I grumbled.

"We can't choose our family, can we? Or lack thereof."

What did he mean by lack thereof?  

Phoenix continued, "You should not make promises you cannot deliver, Dr. Welde. Avia is, if anything, thorough. You won't be able to recover any research data from the data storage."

My heart dropped as I sucked in a breath. If the data could not be recovered... I didn't want to think about the consequences.

Phoenix chuckled. "Don't look so glum, Dr. Welde. There is still a way."

"How?"

"Avia, Dr. Welde. She is the key to everything, now more than ever. The research data still exists in her cybernetics. That's why I caused that frigate to break off its attack. I told you before I wanted her alive. Now, so do you."

My eyes widened. So, Phoenix did that...

"I'll utilize every Omni-Corp resource to capture her," I said, straightening up in my chair.

"Oh, don't bother, Dr. Welde," Phoenix said with a dismissive gesture. "Avia's too clever for your corporate goons. They already pathetically failed to catch her at the Thalassa Alpha Station. I'll get her."

"How would you find her if we can't?"

"Oh, I won't. Rather, she will find me."

"What is your endgame, Phoenix?" I spat, narrowing my eyes. "Why should I trust you?"

Phoenix let out a long sigh. "We have discussed this before, Dr. Welde. You should trust me because you have no other realistic choice. Recall, if you will, your participation in certain past illegal business practices? And numerous questionable moral choices? Dr. Welde, you've been such a naughty boy."

"Are you threatening me, Phoenix?" I said with a growl.

"Think of it not a threat, but a consequence. I possess all the information needed to ruin you, Dr. Welde, and have you sent to some dank Federation prison cell. Besides, now I have additional means to ensure compliance."

"What would that be?"

Phoenix put on a wide smile, noticeable even within the blurred holographic image. "I'm glad you asked, Dr. Welde. I've been eager to try out the experimental nano-bots within you."

As Phoenix raised an arm and extended two fingers, a nauseating vertigo overcame me. My body shuddered and my vision blurred. Then it got worse. Mind swirling, my muscles seized, and I slumped to the deck in a fetal position and shook as if suffering a seizure.

After a terrifying moment, it stopped. I rose to hands and knees, drawing deep breaths and struggling to hold down my stomach contents.

"Interesting," Phoenix said, putting a hand to his chin as if viewing a science project. "Interesting how nano-bots meant for healing can be compelled to cause harm. The mind-altering capabilities are not yet fully realized, though, but that is why you do research, is it not?"

Slowly, I stood on wobbly legs and glared at him. "You bastard," I snarled.

"Oh, don't be so grumpy, Dr. Welde. We share the same goal, that Project Asclepius succeeds. It will be, as the business jargon goes, a win-win? Until later, Dr. Welde." The blurry holographic image disappeared.

Stumbling to the desk, I plopped down into the chair. The dizziness soon cleared and the soreness quickly dissipated — likely a benefit of the nano-bots, but this time performing as they should.

Previously, Zachery and Avia's motivations eluded me. Why destroy the research data? What was their profit in that? But now that I know Avia had copied the data, it made more sense. They might sell it, or simply hold it for ransom, either way at considerable price. If Phoenix captured Avia, he might not return the data to me, or he might use it for leverage against me — that's what I would do. But I'm still unsure of his endgame.

Regardless, I needed to find Avia first.

And then, somehow, I will give Phoenix his due.

*****

With four corporate security guards and Cerese behind me, I marched into the Coronis Station docking bay. A small contingent awaited me, including the station director, Helena Rafe, and security chief, Gideon Lief.

Helana stepped forward, displaying a practiced, confident demeanor. She extended a hand. "Welcome, Dr. Welde--"

"You're fired, Helana. Effective immediately," I said in a dismissive tone. She froze, mouth gaping wide at my verdict. I looked back at the guards behind me. "See that she turns in her credentials and leaves on the next available shuttle."

While two guards led the stunned woman away, I approached Gideon. He gulped, then stood upright with hands at his side as if a soldier at attention.

"Dr. Welde, sir," he said curtly.

"Oh, don't worry, Mr. Leif. I will not fire you. It was you, after all, who alerted me to the incursion." I sighed. "If only you would have recognized Avia sooner, we wouldn't be in this position."

"Yes, sir."

"Walk with me," I said with a head tilt, leading him away from the others. "So, you served with this Avia during the Border Wars?"

"Yes, sir. On the Cyber Assault Force. But I was not assigned directly to her assault group, and she was only a girl then."

"Of course. I suppose it was remarkable that you recognized her at all as an adult. But it was on your watch that she destroyed the database and then escaped with my nephew."

Gideon dipped his head. "Yes, sir."

"Did you learn anything from the woman you captured?"

"She cracked easily, telling us everything she knew," Gideon replied, "but unfortunately, provided very little actionable information. What do you want me to do with her?"

"I don't care. Just make sure she isn't heard from again." Continuing our little walk, I said, "I offer you a chance to make things right again, Mr. Leif."

Stopping, Gideon lifted an eyebrow. "Sir?"

"I want you to find Avia, capture her, and bring her back to me alive. Utilize any Omni-Corp resource that you require."

A smile grew on Gideon's previously stoic expression. "Yes, sir."