Hektor's musings were rudely interrupted by the sound of confrontation. He turned around to see Director McKenzie and the revivalist woman being denied access to the bay by one of the guards he'd stationed as a precautionary measure.

"The last time I checked," Mosh said to the newly stationed guard, "I was still the director here, and this is still my transport bay."

"Actually," proclaimed Hektor from across the bay, "the hospital-transport bay included-still belongs to GCI, unless, of course, you've made some large purchases I'm not aware of. Nevertheless ..." Hektor signaled the guard to let them pass.

Mosh and Neela quickly traversed the bay to where Hektor was working.

"Make it quick, please," Hektor said, "I don't have a lot of time."

"Four hours, fifty-eight minutes, and twenty-two seconds to be exact," the director answered, consulting his DijAssist.

"You've been checking up on me, I see."

Mosh was about to answer but was beat out by Neela.

"Who do you think you are?!"

"Hektor Sambianco," he replied casually. "No need for you to introduce yourself, thank you."

"I think," Mosh offered, "my overwrought employee is upset with what you're planning to do."

"No," interjected Neela. "I'm upset with what he's planning not not to do!" Turning her wrath again toward Hektor, "How can you leave him suspended?" to do!" Turning her wrath again toward Hektor, "How can you leave him suspended?"

"Don't you worry your little head," Hektor answered condescendingly. "We'll revive him, all in good time. Yes, anyways, thank you for sharing your feelings. I'll make sure to mention them to ... whoever I mention these things to." He then turned his back on them, continuing his preparations.

Neela and Mosh remained in place.

"I may have a difficult time signing the clearance order to move this unit," said Mosh. "You know, busy schedule and all. My assistant could do it, but, oh my," he said as he pressed a button on his DijAssist, "I just gave her the rest of the day off."

With a sigh, Hektor turned around.

"Perhaps I was a bit single-minded in pursuit of completing my job. What is it you need, Director?"

Good, Mosh thought, Mosh thought, he's got his eyes on the ball he's got his eyes on the ball.

"An explanation would be a start."

"An explanation about what?" Hektor asked, feigning innocence.

"About why you seem to be denying this man his civil rights," challenged Neela.

"Whoa! Who said anything about denying this man his civil rights?"

"The Constitution ... ," began Neela.

"... does not apply here," finished Hektor.

"And who gave you the right to say that the Constitution does not apply?" Neela retorted.

Hektor smirked. "Actually, I'm a constitutional lawyer. Who gave you the right to say that it does?" Chew on that one, bitch Chew on that one, bitch.

"Lawyer or not," Neela continued unfazed, "this man has to be revived immediately. It's the law, and every citizen knows that."

"OK, Miss ... Harper, was it?" Hektor began. "Let's just see about that law that every every citizen knows about. First of all, how do you even know this man citizen knows about. First of all, how do you even know this man is is a citizen? If he's not, constitutional law doesn't apply, does it? Didn't think about that, did you? Secondly, for all we know he was suspended because of some horrific act or acts he committed. Constitution or no, do you want to take responsibility for rereleasing him into our society? Would it not be prudent to wait and run some tests, and then perhaps let the courts decide?" a citizen? If he's not, constitutional law doesn't apply, does it? Didn't think about that, did you? Secondly, for all we know he was suspended because of some horrific act or acts he committed. Constitution or no, do you want to take responsibility for rereleasing him into our society? Would it not be prudent to wait and run some tests, and then perhaps let the courts decide?"

"We ran all the tests needed," answered Neela. "He's curable and poses no medical danger to society. Under the criteria of the Constitution and the Supreme Court's interpretation of it, no other consideration is needed-citizen or not. All crimes or debts will be dealt with upon revival."

"Bravo," Hektor chided, clapping his hands slowly. "I see you know the legal aspects of your profession well. But you're forgetting one thing."

"He's curable and he's here," she spat back. "That's the only criteria. I'm forgetting nothing."

"Payment," the director said, choosing the moment to step in. He had a grim smile. "You're going to steal him on payment."

Hektor's return smile was equally as grim. " 'Steal' is such a harsh word, Director."

Neela was confused. "But everybody pays with insur ... oh."

"Everybody today today pays with insurance," continued Hektor. "The first we were notified of our mystery man here was when one of our adjusters couldn't find any insurance for him. And we're certainly not obligated to wake patients without proof of ability to pay-and this revive's going to cost a doozy, I can assure you. That's the law, young lady. But don't you worry, I'm sure we'll be able to work something out, and we will get around to reviving him eventually." pays with insurance," continued Hektor. "The first we were notified of our mystery man here was when one of our adjusters couldn't find any insurance for him. And we're certainly not obligated to wake patients without proof of ability to pay-and this revive's going to cost a doozy, I can assure you. That's the law, young lady. But don't you worry, I'm sure we'll be able to work something out, and we will get around to reviving him eventually."

"When you can figure out how to make the most profit out of him," sneered Neela.

Hektor smiled at her with all the innocence of a choirboy, refusing to bite. "Now, if we're all done here, I really ..."

"I'll pay," Neela blurted.

"You'll what?" asked Mosh and Hektor simultaneously.

"I said I'll pay. I may have to max out my credit cards, borrow on my remaining stock, and use my employee discount, but I should be able to raise the money. What's another ten thousand credits? I'm pretty much buried in the hole as it is. So what the heck ... I'll pay for his revival. You can stop doing whatever it is you're doing here, OK?" Neela sighed in satisfaction.

Hektor was smiling, too.

"What's your problem now?" asked Neela. "We have a revive that's medically viable, in a proper facility, with payment being fully covered."

Mosh was looking at Hektor, curious as to what he would do with this one.

"I apologize for underestimating your zeal," Hektor answered. "I should have seen it sooner and factored it into my considerations. Most sloppy of me. Still, I'm greatly impressed at your willingness to spend ten million credits of your own money."

Neela was flabbergasted. Mosh remained silent.

"Ten million credits for a revive?!" screamed Neela. "What are you doing? Gilding his ass in uranium?"

Hektor, busily humming to himself, began to add up points in his DijAssist. "Let's see, one million credits for a proper inspection, storage, and shipment; this is a three-hundred-year-old unit, after all. Two million credits for a thorough nanotechnologically invasive investigation of the occupant. Four million credits for consultation with the experts in the field ... and there are, as you well know, only two that matter, Bronstein and Gillette, but if you want we will even call you in on that one-add another hundred credits. And, oh, let's see, three million for, what the hell, a brand-new revive clinic, state-of-the-art, for this unique find." He held out his DijAssist to her, showing the invoice ready to be paid in its official format. "To use an old phrase, will that be cash or charge?"

"You can't be serious," cried Neela. "There's no way this is legal."

"Actually," he continued, "the law states that we can charge whatever we wish. He was found in our our territory, under territory, under our our jurisdiction, brought to jurisdiction, brought to our our hospital, and is under hospital, and is under our our care. Now a party of standing, a relative or spouse, could contest this in court and, I'll even give it to you, could probably win. However, that doesn't appear to be the case. But I'm nothing if not thorough." He spoke up loudly so all in the bay could hear. "Anybody here a party of standing, a relative or spouse? Speak up ... anyone?" care. Now a party of standing, a relative or spouse, could contest this in court and, I'll even give it to you, could probably win. However, that doesn't appear to be the case. But I'm nothing if not thorough." He spoke up loudly so all in the bay could hear. "Anybody here a party of standing, a relative or spouse? Speak up ... anyone?"

Silence.

"Hmm," he said. "How unfortunate. The gentleman in question seems to be an orphan. When we revive him he'll be free to contest the price ... in, say, four or five years."

"You mean when you've already got a firm grasp on his shares," said Mosh.

"Why, Director, you are speaking prematurely. He's not even incorporated yet. We'll need to set up a legal guardianship and assign stock options, as well as investigate the legal ramifications. It would do this man an injustice to bring him into this world without making sure everything was in order."

"Mosh can pay," blurted Neela.

Before Mosh could respond, Hektor laughed out loud. "Yes, I suppose he could. Now that is very very generous of you, spending your boss's money like that, but I think he'll be more than happy to explain to you why generous of you, spending your boss's money like that, but I think he'll be more than happy to explain to you why that's not going to happen that's not going to happen." He then looked over at the director.

"Mosh?" pleaded Neela.

Mosh raised his hand to silence her. "We've taken up enough of Mr. Sambianco's time." Then, looking over at Hektor, "I trust, sir, that you will not hold my employee's enthusiasm against her." It was delivered more as a warning than a request.

"On the contrary, Director. I'm greatly impressed by her zeal." Hektor considered for a moment, and brightened. "In fact," he said, inputting some new commands in his DijAssist, "I just placed a purchase order for another thousand shares of her personal stock."

"You really are a bastard," Neela said, before turning on her heel and storming out of the bay.

Hektor and Mosh were now alone.

"Look," Hektor said, "I know you were once a pretty powerful member of GCI, and you came to this nice little hospital of your own volition. But you were clearly outmatched today. I hope it will not be necessary to embarrass you like this in the future."

"Not if I can help it, Mr. Sambianco."

Mosh smiled thinly and walked away without saying another word.

Neela was anxiously pacing outside the transport bay entrance when Mosh emerged.

"Sorry about that," she said.

Mosh put his hand on her shoulder and smiled.

"Don't worry about it."

They walked down a long hallway toward the cafeteria.

"No, it really was wrong of me to offer your your money," Neela continued, narrowly avoiding a group of internists on their rounds. Then, as an aside, "Like you'd even have that kind of money lying around anyways." money," Neela continued, narrowly avoiding a group of internists on their rounds. Then, as an aside, "Like you'd even have that kind of money lying around anyways."

"Actually, Neela," he said, stopping to thumbprint-approve some forms handed to him by a nurse, "I do." He continued walking-minus his rebellious subordinate. After a few paces he turned to Neela, standing in consternation. "You coming, or what?" he asked.

He waited for her at the entrance to the cafeteria. They headed together to his reserved table. "You're telling me," she asked, "you have ten million credits?"

"Considerably more, actually." She knew he wasn't bragging; it wasn't in his nature.

"Then why didn't you just pay him?" she asked. "Why did you let me go out on a limb for ten thousand when you had millions, no, I'm sorry, tens of millions in the bank?"

"Neela," he answered, reaching across the table to take her hands into his. "I'm truly sorry, but I had to let you, well ... be you. Besides, I never would have been able to pay, and neither would you."

"Care to explain that one?"

Mosh smiled. "Of course," he said, releasing her hands from his grasp and leaning back into his chair. "Neela, you're an excellent revivalist. With experience, you may be one of the best. Hektor's not the only one buying your stock."

"Really?" she asked in disbelief.

"Ten thousand shares, to be exact, but only in options. You have a temper that may get the better of you. As I was saying, you really are quite talented. But you don't have a corporate bone in your body. As much as this may surprise you, I never went to the transport bay with any hope of helping that man."

"Why would you leave him like that?"

"I wouldn't. But Neela, it's not up to me. It never was. Nor is it up to you. Even if I'd been suicidal enough to want to pay, I wouldn't have been allowed to."

"How could they stop you from paying with your own money?"

Mosh sighed. "Neela, I can think of three ways off the top of my head, conflict of interest being right at the top. But they don't need to stop payment-just delay it. A court order from a friendly judge would be more than enough to delay the revive for days, if not weeks."

"So we revive him in a couple of weeks instead of hours. Better than five years, no?"

"Neela, GCI wants him. In a couple of weeks he could be lost in a warehouse with a foreman all set up to take the blame for misplacing him. Or worse, someone could decide that he's too much of an inconvenience, and the corpsicle disappears for another hundred years."

"That doesn't happen!"

"Not often, but yes, it does. Why do you think I got out? The price was too high for the power I was capable of wielding." Neela looked at her boss with a mixture of respect and worry.

"But ..."

"No buts, Neela. Suppose that we had had managed to succeed. And I was willing to expend the bulk of my fortune using the connections built up over a lifetime to protect and revive this man against the most powerful corporation in human history-against, I might add, a corporation that wants this man for numerous compelling reasons, and would be willing and economically justified to go to incredible lengths to insure their investment in him. Now, my dear girl, what do you think GCI would do to anyone standing in their way?" managed to succeed. And I was willing to expend the bulk of my fortune using the connections built up over a lifetime to protect and revive this man against the most powerful corporation in human history-against, I might add, a corporation that wants this man for numerous compelling reasons, and would be willing and economically justified to go to incredible lengths to insure their investment in him. Now, my dear girl, what do you think GCI would do to anyone standing in their way?"

"Oh please, Mosh, you don't really mean to say that they'd ..."

"Neela, don't be dramatic," he continued. "But they would make our lives miserable, if only as a warning to others. How would you like to spend the next hundred years performing emergency suspensions on the frozen moons of Jupiter?"

"But what could they do to you?" Neela asked. "You're rich and have already made majority. You're untouchable, aren't you?"

Mosh looked at her, his sad smile the precursor to an answer she suspected but had never really wanted to hear.

"Neela," he said, "most people assume that when you get majority all your worries go away-in most cases that's correct. As long as you don't try to off yourself you can pretty much do what you want with your life. But let's assume that GCI decides to make an example of me. I might start getting audited medically on a monthly or even weekly basis. There may be court challenges as to my fitness to maintain control of my own portfolio."

"On what basis?"

"Well, the willingness to spend ten million credits on someone I have never met may be justification for trial alone."

Neela sighed. "That wouldn't stand, Mosh."

"Neela, it doesn't have to stand. But it would be expensive and time consuming. Or they could just have people sue me, not for money but for stock. I would just need to lose three or four cases, and there goes my majority."

"Damsah's ghost," whispered Neela.