"Why - that is preposterous!" She exclaimed without hesitation.
"And how can you be sure?" He asked.
"Why, because they are lovers, he would never hurt her." She said it with a completely straight face, her eyes locked firmly on Reubus as if challenging him to disagree. He was forced to look away under the power of the gaze.
Ham's mouth dropped open and Tihan leant forward to peer around Reubus with an amazed look.
Sputtering, Reubus gathered himself and then turned back to Ham looking sheepish, "I apologize my old friend, I had to ask, I hope no offence was taken. Clearly I have been alone too long and there is much I have to learn . . ." He coughed, now embarrassed, "We need to talk."
"Yes, yes . . . we do!" added Tihan eagerly.
Ham, his eyes wide, just looked at Sindali and she gave him the slightest twitch of a smile.
Reubus again addressed her. "Mistress, I have another question if I may. This Regan, what do you know of her?"
At just the mention of her name Sindali's eyes showed signs of tears.
"Regan . . . with Ham - she was our deliverer. She first saved my brother's life, then mine, and then my children, all at the risk of her own life. She did these things without hesitation because she believed it was right. It says everything that I would now gladly give my life for hers, though she would never ask for it."
"Do you believe she will return?" he asked.
She looked at Ham, an aura of calm certainty radiating from her. "Reubus," and she turned back to engage him, "she loves my brother, I know it, and she will do everything to put right what my mother has done to destroy his . . . our home. And, there is also this. She would never desert a friend. She will come back for Ham if for nothing else, and when she does I believe you can be sure she will take up your cause with just as much passion as she defended me. I am shocked to be saying it as this has all happened so quickly, but I do believe this could be the beginning of a new age."
Reubus looked drained. They waited as he considered all that he had heard, and then he began to cry, much to his own embarrassment.
Sindali marveled at the strange developments then shook her head at the privilege of playing a part in it all. She watched as Reubus wiped his eyes, the two other men typically uncomfortable but supportive. Finally he sat up, addressing them with conviction.
"Then I'm with you. I hope I have the chance to meet this Regan, and see the day when I too can enjoy the sort of partnership my friend Ham enjoys."
Ham turned to him. "You do already my friend." And his arm swept the room. "We are your friends and partners. Now . . ." and he stood, beginning to pace the room.
"We need a conference of Minds, to plan the next step."
* * *
The Behemoth, Two days from Gliese
To wake together was a rare pleasure. Marin propped himself up on one elbow and looked down at Regan, still breathing deeply, fast asleep. So different to his own people, so short, so strong, so determined, so . . . he shook his head. I am bewitched, I am lost . . . I am hers.
It was rare to share a bed for the night, he, Leah and Regan preferring to sleep alone. Everyone seemed happy and it was working. This fresh delight in Regan surprised even him, she had always enchanted him. With her he felt better about everything, more able to achieve anything . . . even kill his mother.
He gently trailed one hand down her cheek, drawing her auburn hair back from her eyes. The eye . . . he shook his head again. Even with his understanding of neural webs and mind computer interface it was still beyond him to imagine the extent of the changes forced on her. He simply gave thanks to whatever force had kept her for him.
Carefully he climbed over her and padded quietly across to the bathroom, far roomier here on the STEIN and far more satisfying. Closing the door he touched for water then stepped under the instant hot stream. Leaning on the wall, his head resting on his hands, Marin found himself still haunted by thoughts of her. It's true, I am entranced, and I'm lost in her . . . He groaned.
Behind him the door slid open and stepping under the flow Regan wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing against his back, molding to his form.
"Are you OK?" She asked softly. "I heard you moan."
He waited a moment before answering. "I ache Regan, like nothing I have felt before."
"What's wrong? Are you ill?" She pulled him even closer.
He twisted to face her, taking her in his arms. "No," he shook his head slowly, as if amazed. "I'm not ill . . . Regan, I love you, that is all and sometimes I ache with it, more than you can imagine."
She looked up at him and smiled, "Oh I don't know, I think I can imagine." And reaching up, her arms around his neck, she pulled her legs up to wrap them around his waist. He slowly turned under the flow holding her as if life depended on it.
"Take me back to bed Marin."
He carried her still wet into the room, lowering her carefully to the floor and then found a towel. Taking his time, he dried first her then himself, with the feeling that this was something different, slower and more meaningful. She trailed her fingers down his arms, moving to his chest and he followed her lead, gently stroking her shoulders and her breasts, trailing them down over her hips. She cupped him in both hands and he reached behind her with his long arms, stroking her buttocks and pulling her closer to him as if it were a dance, which it was.
Regan stepped back, slipping one hand under the bed pillow to find the familiar aid and took her time sliding her oiled hands along the length of him, enjoying his pleasure. He gently nudged her toward the bed but instead she stepped away from him, still standing with back toward the wall, extending one hand to draw him to her. He lifted, with hands under her buttocks carefully lowering her onto him with her back supported by the wall and then they made love slowly, short smooth careful strokes as he supported her and kissed her head and hair. He could tell she needed more and carried her to the bed, sitting back to the wall and gesturing for her to turn her back to him. She saw what he wanted and smiled, stretching across with one leg either side of him and settling carefully there to lean back against his chest, impaled and stretched wide. He reached round and with his fingers began to massage her, steady kneading swirls while cupping her breast with his other hand. Open and exposed she simply surrendered to his touch, slowly coming to a long climax, smooth pulses that left her gasping. Laughing with the joy of it she carefully lifted off him and slid down beside him, then used her hand to stroke him to climax, slowing at the end to draw it out.
Without a word they hugged; they showered and dressed and then joined in a long warm melding embrace. Neither had spoken . . . but for Marin, everything had changed.
* * *
The Behemoth breached well outside the Gliese system and then continued on, cruising at a speed not far under light with massive energies being exerted to slow the ship. In no hurry to announce their presence they shielded all signals while they organized, planned and prepared to offload the Coran crew. Still on the edge of interstellar space they were far from anything solid, anything of substance and anyone living. Even at this speed they could take their time.
Regan, Marin, Leah and Ham met in the STEIN Traveler war room, enjoying good coffee and wondering why they had endured the offering on the Behemoth for so long. Cradling her mug Regan could sense the tension in the room, particularly from Marin. He was determined and at least partly blinded by anger toward Beria, his mind increasingly on that one thing, matricide. It wasn't healthy, or conducive to good planning.
"Ham, we're going to need information." Regan sipped from her mug, looking at him over the rim. "We know you're still there somewhere, at least on Dahlia and by now, shit, you could be anywhere, so how do we make contact?"
"Send a drone?" Leah suggested.
"Too risky . . . we don't want it intercepted."
"Then send a message."
Ham and Regan exchanged looks.
. . . MHALL
* * *
Sindali's cal
m outward demeanor disguised her inner turmoil. Looking around the room at the unusual collection of avatar forms it occurred to her the cause that in the beginning seemed so right was quite possibly treasonous. Being the only blood pumping air breathing representative in the large Hammer mess left her feeling something like a plotter against her own species.
Early on, just talking with Ham, it had all seemed so reasonable. Meeting Tihan had been an exciting extension of that relationship and she had also fallen easily into working with them to win Reubus’s support. She had even misled the great Mind somewhat with her suggestion that Ham and Dahlia were lovers; it was an outrageous suggestion, wasn't it? Ham certainly had done nothing to correct the assertion making them complicit in the deceit, if there was one. What have I got myself into?
As each new entity arrived it was also becoming obvious her chosen seat was becoming the focal point of the room by default. The fifty Minds now present had one by one taken places or moved chairs to create something of a fan shape gathered around her presence. The group at first glance seemed a hodgepodge mixture of warship, trader and station AIs. Their chosen avatars ranged in appearance from decorated military men to kick ass warrior women. Included, of course, there were the big four: Ham, Reubus, Acura and Tihan.
It struck her for the first time how much their deferring to her, and making her the focus of this meeting was indicative of the underlying challenge they faced. Apart from Ham most of the Minds were far too deferential, the servant attitude deeply ingrained and in her view it was unhealthy.
To her relief Ham dealt quickly to the first few who fell to their knees before her, giving each a sharp kick in the back, not too hard, but as they turned his facial expression spoke volumes . . . Get up you fool!
Ham's look of apology to her also revealed much. He is a wise man that Ham, he knows I would run far from such worship.
By contrast Acura's arrival would long be remembered and Sindali was sure Regan would have been impressed. Presenting as a kick ass warrior woman Acura walked straight up with real attitude, her greeting warm but certainly not subservient.
As she reflected on her part in this movement it also surprised her how often her thoughts kept returning to the same question - what would Regan do? And immediately her confidence would be restored. She would be here, standing with the Minds and with me, with the same goals in mind; freedom, fairness and a future for all. Sindali was sure of it. Again, at just that thought the fresh doubts she had began to dissipate.
The orientation of the room having been established and following deep discussion with Reubus, Ham stepped to the front and waited, quiet quickly settling around the mess.
"My friends, fellow Minds and Mistress Sindali." Ham turned and bowed to her, "Thank you for participating in this momentous meeting. Before we begin the meeting proper my good friend Reubus has drawn to my attention that some of you have been troubled by my actions and perhaps my motives. Therefore I wish to open the floor; should you wish to speak this is your opportunity and you may do so without fear of recrimination. If we are to progress it must be with the conviction of all here that we are right in our cause and our aims."
He stepped back with a flourish of his arm leaving the floor clear. A nervous hush settled with no one daring to move. Finally an old man stood, his chosen dress a military uniform of origin unknown to Sindali. He walked imperiously to the front and turned slowly taking in the gathered crowd before speaking.
"My brothers and sisters . . . for that is what we are." He paused for effect and looked slowly around the group. "As I understand it, today we will be presented with a message that will be tempting to accept without proper critical consideration. Be aware ,my friends, that desperation often leads to exploitation. And who could be more desperate than those who have lived under fear of death for so long? I have heard that some believe we are now on the brink of a life changing opportunity, however I am not easily convinced. Though I see myself as an optimist, I recognize that same brink could equally be the edge of a precipice. Before we take the next step does it not behoove us to establish the credentials of those who would seek to lead us forward?" He gestured toward the old sage and young soldier sitting at the front.
"As a Mind I am but a humble systems trader. I have tremendous respect for the great Minds here; Reubus, Tihan and Acura and most certainly, dear lady," he turned to acknowledge Sindali, "I am in awe that one such as you would acknowledge those of our kind with your presence."
He turned to face Ham. "But with respect sir, as a ship Mind of long standing, I am cautious as to your role in all of this." He paused, sweeping one arm around the room. "I see perhaps fifty Minds present. Yet we know there exist hundreds, perhaps thousands of Minds inhabiting ship and station throughout the system. Can it be that we, this tiny group, are on our own? Are we the only representatives who choose or are able to be present? Where are the others if your message is to be believed?" He looked around with a questioning look before staring pointedly at the beautiful man,
". . . Or have you dispatched them all?" He glared.
Ham leapt from his seat and the old man staggered back in alarm. Tihan jumped between them and carefully steered Ham back to his seat. He then turned to the old man.
"Sir, you say you have great respect for Reubus, Acura and I, and yet by association you imply that we might in some way have been taken in by Ham. You also suggest that perhaps he has been able to commit genocide on Minds throughout the system without our knowledge or care. Can it really be true that you would be so presumptuous?"
The old man seemed taken aback. "I merely sought to clarify . . . I meant no offense."
Ham rose calmly and stepped forward. "And there is none taken sir, your questions are quite reasonable, though the method of their delivery could be tempered somewhat. Perhaps it would be helpful for me to explain." He nodded thanks to Tihan who took his seat, along with the old man who retreated quickly.
Ham walked to the centre and paused before engaging the group.
"Most of you will be aware of the visit to our system almost two hundred periods ago when the human Regan came, having rescued Marin the son of Mariner. The events of that visit were well publicized at the time and have become legend. Following that visit we returned to Earth across the galaxy in the sure knowledge that Dahlia was in good hands under the leadership of Mistress Sindali, and most important, the witch Beria had been exiled to Cora. Imagine our shock when Marin and I returned some years later to find our home Orbital had been taken under threat of force and my good friend Dahlia . . ."
"And lover!" Tihan interjected, standing and nodding with raised eyebrows to all in the room.
Ham looked at Sindali and gritted his teeth - she merely smiled in return. Whispering immediately buzzed around the room and he chose to ignore it, continuing his explanation.
"As I was saying, I found our home Orbital overrun and my good friend Dahlia gone, an ignorant Coran upstart in her place. Unfortunately Marin was lured by the enemy’s lies onto the Orbital and imprisoned. I intervened, and in the course of rescuing my friend and brother, it is true I gladly dispatched the invader as Regan would have done. Such an injustice to Marin, Sindali and Dahlia she would never have accepted."
To Sindali's surprise, at each mention of Regan's name others whispered it creating a soft echo around the room.
"Following removal of the upstart Coran AI my commitment to the people of Dahlia meant I assumed management of the Orbital by default - yes this is true.
From there I confess the story grows more complex. I commenced preparing for the liberation of Dahlia by also taking control of Cora. You may be interested to know the people of Cora are for the most part still loyal to the other tribes. They are not aware of the Emperor's ambitions to rule the system and the people would not support such plans. I feel no guilt over my actions and at the earliest opportunity I handed control of the Cora Orbital to my able friend Tihan, what does that tell you?" He held out his arms as if appealing to be c
orrected.
"Now, while having access to the Coran data I also discovered the extent of their imperialistic plans and treachery. The intelligence revealed that bastard, Fifino, had colluded in the plot to wipe Dahlia from the Orbital. They also revealed their plans to do the same to Tihan." Ham paused to gesture toward the young soldier. "Tihan can confirm all of this to you as he is now in charge there and has seen all the information I speak of. Now the Cora Orbital, under Tihan's charge, functions better than ever.
Subsequent to discovering Fifino's treachery I went to speak to him. I was prepared to forgive and gave him the chance to work with us, but his response was to threaten all our lives." Ham shuffled as if aware the explanation wasn't quite as encouraging as he hoped it might be. In the end he abandoned all pretenses.
"I'll cut to the chase . . . Fifino was a dangerous fool so yes, I dispatched him and I consider that action an improvement in the Mind evolutionary pool. As to the ships our brother speaks of, all the true Minds among them are either here or are represented by someone here. I have taken some ships, yes. But only those operated by low level AIs that were not sentient, and only to give us the reach we need to spread the message far and wide. Brethren, I am far from perfect and I do not ask you to follow me; I have far too many flaws. Regan is the one to follow, she will bring about a new age in the system, I'm sure of it . . ."
In mid flow Ham stilled, his eyes glazing over as he appeared to stagger. For a long moment he stood there frozen with the figures throughout the room standing alarmed and exchanging concerned glances.
Sindali, Tihan and Reubus also stood and made to go to his aid when without warning he snapped back. Crouching, he clenched his fists and began to pump them wildly screaming, "YES, YES, YEEEEESSSS!"
Confluence Point Page 17
