Redemption Protocol (Contact) by Mike Freeman

where nothing but the annihilation of your competition was your goal, and had acquired enemies with a diligence that bordered on recklessness. The surprise was perhaps that he’d lasted as long as he did.
    Darkwood looked thoughtful.
    “Being appointed the head of Horizon and the ultimate governor of fifty planets has been something of a learning curve for me, John. Having achieved stability at home and, dare I say it, grown up a little in the process, I've become far more interested in what lies beyond. Our role in the universe. How we are, as a species, to survive and prosper.”
    “Is this one of your ships?”
    “Yes. My price of admission, so to speak. We're using one of Horizon’s ships because this mission is so very secret .”
    Darkwood said this in an amused way, adopting the tone of a not-so-subtle stage whisper. He was teasing the proven inability of the Alliance to keep anything secret for long.
    “Horizon sells these ships to the Alliance military, so it's not so lacking in features. She’s fitted out for long range travel and research since this is an LR mission and perhaps much more .”
    Darkwood eyes flashed and he smiled. Havoc was pleasantly surprised. He was sure that the guy running one of the largest privately owned conglomerates in the Alliance could toughen up if needed. But the fact he could also relax was a major bonus.
    “So, why me, Mr Darkwood?”
    “You're the best, John. Or should I say, you’re the best of those on the list I was strongly advised not to take by the Alliance.”
    Darkwood laughed.
    “I believe every name on their recommended list works, either directly or indirectly, for the various nations represented on our mission. Which is not exactly what I want, for obvious reasons.”
    “You realize my status with the Alliance?”
    “Yes I do. But your legal status is not a factor here.”
    Not for you, Havoc thought.
    Darkwood smiled.
    “Besides which, in the circumstances, you will clearly be my man. And a little moral ambivalence could be an asset on occasion.”
    Havoc stiffened.
    “Don't believe everything you hear, Mr Darkwood.”
    Darkwood watched him, his eyes bright.
    “Of course, John, of course.”
    “How did you...?”
    “Pertinax offered you. I understand you owe him a considerable sum of money.”
    “Do you know how I made it out?”
    “I know the medical details. I didn't want to know the specifics of the... situation.”
    Havoc nodded, interested.
    “Your colleagues found you dead. You were oxyperfused but the trauma was too great. You were taken to orbit and frozen. It didn't look impossible to resuscitate you; it just looked extremely... difficult.”
    Expensive .
    Darkwood was trying to find a polite way of saying that medical care costs money, Havoc had needed the best and his associates wouldn't ante up.
    “Your colleagues decided to ship you back to Gevale, payment on receipt.”
    A death sentence. The cheap bastards.
    “And no one was there to pick me up?”
    “Precisely. But Acharya Yadesi of the Morvent Academy was on your ship. Your presence came to light because on arrival there was a dispute at customs between the carrier, the customs people and the crew as they realized that there was no one there to... collect you.”
    Pay for him, in other words.
    “Acharya Yadesi, your Prince of Serendip for the day, overheard this commotion and in particular your name and decided to intervene on your behalf.”
    Darkwood stopped and looked at him with a curious expression.
    “I must say, John, I was fascinated to hear of a man that the Morvent Academy would go out of their way to help.”
    Darkwood paused to give Havoc the opportunity to elaborate.
    Havoc nodded.
    Darkwood gazed at him.
    Havoc said nothing.
    “And not only that, John. My sources tell me that none other than Acharya Laztal himself had a hand in your recovery.”
    Darkwood was shaking his head in what appeared to be nothing short of wonder. Maybe even a hint of... jealousy?