Chapter 16: Doctor Hanri

Nyk stood with Andra on the palace landing strip. “Nykkyo,” Wygann said, “thank you for your efforts. With any luck we will dispose of this threat in short order. We’ll rid the hegemony of these terrorists.”

“I’m afraid not, Chancellor,” he replied.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s something I’ve observed on Earth. That world seems perpetually threatened by this group or that who believe violence and terror is the way to impose their will. If you seize or kill one of them another will take his place. Even if you capture or kill the leader, another will step forward.

“Floran authorities are holding Egon Hanri -- the man who invented the virus. Perhaps another man of his stature won’t come forward, but others will -- others who are just as vicious and just as clever in their own way. No, Chancellor -- before we can eliminate these groups we must understand and eliminate the root cause.”

“Of course,” Wygann replied.

Janna extended her hand. “Nykkyo -- you are welcome here any time.”

A transport cart stopped near them and an attendant helped Dyppa to her feet. “The medics think I’m well enough to travel -- and, I’m not contagious.”

“Do you feel well enough?”

“I think so.”

Nyk turned and climbed the steps into the diplomatic deep-space courier. The hatch closed and the vessel rolled down the landing strip, lifted off and headed into orbit.

The courier touched down at the Floran City shuttleport and taxied to a stop near the diplomatic terminal. Nyk supported Dyppa as they walked through the boarding tunnel and into the concourse. Among the sea of blond hair he spotted black. “Suki!” he yelled and waved. “Over here!” She pushed her way through the crowd and embraced him, then, she hugged and kissed Andra. “This is Dyppa Hawryt.”

“I’m Sukiko, Dyppa. Nykkyo told me of you.”

“Dyppa will spend a couple days recuperating at Central Clinic, and a few more convalescing at the Residence before we head to Earth together.”

Andra turned to Suki. “Did you bring what I asked?” Suki reached into her lifxarpa and handed over a packet.

“What’s that?” Nyk asked.

“Something,” Andra replied.

“I can see it’s something.”

“Something we may or may not need.” Andra tucked the packet into her own sash.

“More need-to-know?”

“You might consider it that,” Andra replied with a smile.

“Has your questioning of Hanri revealed anything?” Nyk asked.

Kronta shook his head. “He maintains an air of cool innocence. ‘When will I be permitted to return to my work?’ he asks. I’ve had to plead before a magistrate to extend his detention, and that extension is about to expire.”

“You’ve confirmed the implant?”

“Yes -- we’ve performed blood tests. No interrogator would touch him.”

“You’ve searched his home and office?”

Kronta let out an exasperated sigh. “Of course we have and we’ve come up empty.”

“Maybe Lom was wrong.”

“I believe Lom,” Andra said. “It’s the only explanation. Senta must’ve conferred with him on the viral genetics.”

“Yes,” Nyk replied. “I recall her telling me she discussed it, early on, with her advisor. He gave her advice that steered her in the wrong direction.”

“Misinformation,” Kronta suggested.

“She obviously got it right, eventually.”

“May I suggest something?” Andra asked. She withdrew the packet from her sash. “These are cartridges containing Zander’s mind-control mixture. It can serve as a truth drug. Perhaps one of these will loosen Hanri’s tongue.”

“Those are hypnotics,” Kronta replied. “Hypnotics have been outlawed.”

“So has kidnapping been outlawed.”

Kronta drummed his fingers on his desk. “Let’s have a talk with Hanri.”

Nyk followed Illya to a detention center located beneath the Government Center tower. Inside a cell was a distinguished looking slender man with grey hair. “Good day, professor Hanri,” Kronta said.

“Mr Kronta again ... Can you tell me when I’ll be released -- or speak with my solicitor?”

“That depends on you.”

Hanri’s gaze fell on Nyk. “I’m Nykkyo Kyhana.”

“Ah, yes ... I believe we’ve met, years ago. You’re with Senta. She was my best student.”

“We thought you might know where she is.”

“Me?” He shook his head. “I haven’t spoken to her in ... I don’t know how long.”

“She informed me the two of you spoke not more than ... twenty-five to thirty days ago.”

Hanri looked at the ceiling. “Now that you mention it, I do remember a vidphone conversation with her. She was asking about some ... rather esoteric aspect of DNA replication if I recall.”