The Elysium Commission
by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.
Available February 20, 2007, from Tor
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L. E. Modesitt Jr. returns to science fiction with a new future world on the brink of destruction. A brilliant scientist on the planet Devanta has created a small universe contiguous to ours, and a utopian city on one of its planets — but a utopia for whom? And why is a shady entertainment mogul subsidizing the scientist? More critical than that, does this new universe require the destruction of a portion — or all — of our universe in order to grow and stabilize itself? Blaine Donne is a retired military special operative who solves problems for a living. He is hired by a woman who has unlimited resources, but neither a present nor a past, to investigate a series of seemingly unrelated mysteries. His sleuthing yields more questions than answers. What is the role of the two heiresses who are more — and less — than they seem? With time running out, Donne is becomes an unwilling pawn in what threatens to become a catastrophic interstellar war.

EXCERPT

Chapter 3
All choice is based on illusion.

Incoming from Seldara Tozzi. Max alerted me to the vidlink.

I was mind-deep in the datastacks, trying to integrate Western Ocean anchovy patterns, Antarctic currents, solar fluctuations, and a dozen other variables. My hope was to find a predictive regression pattern that would allow me to anticipate probable seasonal arbitrage variances employed by the energy brokers at places like Cartiff and Selemez Sisters. It wouldn't be highly profitable, but it would add to my credit balance. That would be useful, because matters had been slow in my normal line of work. More than slow.

It would also be personally satisfying. Satisfying is always good.

It was also a distraction from the hangover of the nightmares.

Seignior Donne… Max reminded me.

I straightened in the chair behind the table desk and smiled politely. Accept.

The holo image appeared in front of the table desk. The very fair-skinned Seldara Tozzi had the excessively fine features of an older woman. Modern medicine kept complexion and skin and body healthy, but a certain fineness still appeared with age. She wore a jacket and trousers of a slivery gray with brownish tones, and a cream blouse. Her hair was jet black, as were her eyebrows.

Max, quick profile on Seldara Tozzi.

"Seignior Donne? Real or simulacrum?"

"Real, and real-time." I pulsed a vid-ID.

"Thank you. I have a modest commission for you."

At the moment, any commission would be better than modest. Over the years, I'd found that business was either non-existent or everyone wanted something immediately. But you have to take clients when they arrive, because that's when they need you. They don't pay when you need the credits, but when they need the work. Those times seldom coincide. "I'm available. I'll need some details to determine whether it's something I can do."

"It's very simple. It's also rather embarrassing and disgusting. Not for me. For the family."

I nodded. I wasn't about to comment on what other people thought embarrassing or disgusting. I was also skimming through the profile Max had pulled and displayed on the recessed screen in the table desk.

Seldara Tozzi was one of the grande dames of Thurene. One of those whose names never appeared, except as a patron of all the arts. Her wealth was estimated at well over a billion credits, and she had three homes. She was a widow, with three children and four grand-children and eight great-grand-children. She lived in a palacio almost as grand as Principessa Odilia's — virtually next door to Odilia, as such matters went.

"I have a great-granddaughter," began the seigniora. "I have several, but one of them is considering marrying a most unsuitable man. He is exceedingly handsome, well-educated, well-bred, and intelligent. He is also without a definable moral code and represents himself as normal — what I believe is called straight-straight — when I have been led to believe he is keeping another man. I have no problems with his personal habits or sexual orientation. I have great difficulties with his misrepresentation of his orientation to my granddaughter."

"I assume you wish iron-clad documentary evidence of his character and deception, preferably in his own words."

"I would wish his complete vanishment, but that would be most unsuitable and would certainly reflect negatively upon us both in these times. Your suggested alternative will have to suffice, unless you can persuade him to depart Devanta and reject my granddaughter in a fashion that will illustrate his true lack of character."

I laughed, sympathetically. "I can't promise anything without details and looking into the matter first."

"I would not expect otherwise. Despite your… shall we say shadowy… reputation, you are known as honest and trustworthy. I propose an initial retainer of two thousand credits for your assessment. That is yours, even if you believe you cannot assist me, but I would like a written report explaining why not. If you agree to proceed after the assessment, I will provide another five thousand credits as an initial fee. Beyond the first ten stans, you will document your time, and I will pay you at the rate of five hundred credits a stan. If you are successful in a graceful resolution, I will provide a significant sum in gratitude."

I inclined my head. "Those terms are most acceptable, with one addition. If I cannot resolve the matter in less than a hundred billable stans, I will not charge more than the initial retainer plus twenty stans."

"You're that confident, Seignior Donne."

"No, Principessa Tozzi, I'm that proud."

She laughed. "The credits and the information are on the way. So is a contact code. Good day, Seignior Donne."

"Good day."

Max, check incoming and credit transfers.

Data is ready for you. Incoming has accepted seven thousand credits. Max the scheduler and villa intelligence served as my alter ego. To me, Max's full name is Maximus Tempus, but officially, he's Time/Events/Systems Maximizer, Mod VIII, version two. With a number of custom adjustments unknown to the Civitas Sorores. Quite a number.

Interrogative seven thousand? From Seignora Tozzi?

Seven thousand from the Tozzi palacio account.

I laughed. The principessa clearly didn't want me to refuse the commission.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
L. E. Modesitt, Jr. has written more than forty novels for Tor, roughly half of which are science fiction and the other half fantasy, including the bestselling Recluce and Corean Chronicles series. His books have been published all over the world in English and in translation. Before becoming a full-time writer, he worked as an aide to Sen. Bill Armstrong and as congressional liaison in the Reagan-era Environmental Protection Agency.