The Emperor was still disbelieving. "But how can that be? And all these ships, they must have come from all the tribes, why would they come out for Sindali?"
The aide looked truly desperate now . . . how to explain the truth?
"Sir, they are not here for Sindali, they are here to meet the human, Regan. Some think they are here to install her as leader in the system; it’s true sir, she has returned." He finally threw all reason aside and tugged at the Emperor’s arm, hauling him to a sitting position.
"Guards, guards . . ." He called desperately, summoning guards from the door.
The aide helped the flustered Emperor to his feet and together, escorted by the guards, they rushed through the security access to the palace tube. It would be a short trip to the flight deck and his private yacht.
Outside the palace thousands were already gathered, with hundreds more pouring into the gardens by the minute. The word was spreading rapidly, Sindali was home, restored by the deliverer, the legend, Regan.
All over the Orbital the Coran occupiers sought refuge wherever they could. Running for the flight decks was now almost pointless and with the fleet gathered around the Orbital it was effectively under siege. There would be no resistance, sheer numbers made it impossible. Thankfully word had come that the Emperor would be granted safe passage away.
In the relative quiet of the palace tube and isolated from the turmoil in the gardens the trip to the flight deck passed without incident. The doors opened and a chair was already waiting. The by now befuddled man didn't protest as they guided him to the conveyance and escorted him across the deck to the yacht.
A subbed message to the guards caused them to pause for a moment as they received new instructions
[Remain and guard the deck. Rebels are coming through the tube.]
The guard and aide turned to face the doors as the Emperor’s automated chair carried him safely up the ramp on to the vessel and the doors closed behind him.
Immediately the yacht powered up and lifted from the deck, a small shuttle joining it as it slipped away toward the field screen.
The aide slumped to the floor as the tension finally caught up with him. The guards watched as the craft surged from the flight deck, smoothly exiting the field screen and then disappearing off into the black.
The Emperor looked in vain for a guard or aide as the chair trundled forward into the heart of the yacht and to his private lounge. He was old but not stupid and guessed the truth immediately . . . he was alone.
"Greetings Emperor, and welcome to your personal nightmare." The voice was unfamiliar, the tone chilling, the future clearly uncertain.
Ignoring the voice the Emperor pushed himself up from the wheelchair shifting to the much more comfortable and opulent couch.
"I am old." he finally offered. "Tell me what you want and I will give it, but do not expect me to beg, you will wait a very long time." He seemed remarkably calm.
"Oh no sir . . . I want nothing, but how insightful of you to use that phrase, a very long time. Tell me, can you cook?"
"Cook . . . what are you talking about? I'm asking what you want from me." He shuffled his large form deeper into the plush surface, unruffled and still radiating the confidence of a man used to getting his way.
"Yes, cook, sir," the voice continued. "The yacht is well stocked but unfortunately, no chef on board. I wondered whether you cook, it might be useful."
"Where are we going?"
"Where . . . oh you will be going, and going and going, where is unimportant."
The Emperor shifted uneasily, "And why is it not important?"
"Why you ask? Let me see . . . you sir have been weighed in my balance and found wanting . . . you ordered the death of my dear friend, the Orbital Mind Dahlia. You ordered the death of my dearest friends, the human Regan, and Marin, the son of Mariner. You exiled the rightful leader of Dahlia Orbital, Sindali, and lastly you led your people into disrepute. For those things I am sending you on a very, very long trip, think of it as an adventure."
"Just kill me; I'm too old for adventure."
"Oh don't tempt me, I would delight to carry out that sentence . . . but Regan would make my life miserable if I did, so I need plausible deniability you understand, a way to answer her honestly. She would notice, you see, and therefore instead of killing you I'm sending you into exile. You will not be back."
"Ha . . . so you are stuck with me."
"Happily no sir, we will journey only a short distance together, I will transfer to my shuttle and then the yacht will go to warp as programmed taking you who knows where. It will be a onetime jump, you will not be able to return."
The Emperor settled back and closed his eyes. "I am old, do with me what you will."
For a moment Ham contemplated changing plans as this wasn't proving quite as satisfying as he had envisaged. The old dog had some metal after all.
He sighed inwardly with resignation. He couldn't kill the man. Something of her he now carried with him, always, my own conditional other . . . damn it. The inner voice would give him no peace he knew, so he stuck to the plan.
The Emperor would need to learn to cook.
* * *
Well short of the Orbital, the Behemoth and the Hammer were forced to a halt with the sheer number of craft gathered making it impossible to proceed. The flotilla hove to.
Regan turned slowly to Ham who still looked extremely happy with himself.
"Well, evangelist Ham, how do we proceed from here?"
Mercifully, she winked and Ham looked so pathetically grateful Marin laughed out loud. It drew a threatening glare from the beautiful man.
Ham quickly recovered. "I'm sure they have something arranged, we would need to shuttle over anyway so perhaps the STEIN Traveler might be more appropriate?" He phrased it as a question, looking to Regan for approval.
She turned to Sindali who had been strangely silent, her eyes roaming the wide screen and clearly deep in thought. "How would you like to handle this Sindali, it is your homecoming after all?"
She looked up. "Regan, think how the Orbital senators are processing this?" She waved at the screen. "The Inter Orbital Council must surely think we are in rebellion. Half the system fleet are gathered out there and not just unmanned craft. There seem to be tens of thousands from all the tribes here." She shook her head almost in disbelief.
"Regan, I'm a diplomat, I'm not afraid to speak up on any issue, but this is an order of magnitude above anything our Orbital has had to address in the past. They will almost certainly call me to appear and explain."
Marin stepped to her and embraced his sister before gently holding her at arm's length. "Sin, we will find a way. You know speaking to the council would always have been a part of Ham's great plan." As he said this he looked over her shoulder at Ham who just shrugged. "For now, we simply need to get you home. You will not be alone dealing with the other Orbitals."
"Yes, yes of course, and your ship will be fine." Regan added, earning a grateful look from Sindali.
"Then I suggest we make our way across. Over to you, Ham my man."
* * *
The STEIN Traveler control room seemed full to overflowing with everyone gathered together there for the first time in a long while. They were joined, of course, by the ethereal presences of Ham and Hilary.
Regan scanned the room thinking about family, how large hers seemed to have grown, and how much they meant to her. Her eyes lingered on Ham; frustrating, comforting, annoying, challenging, infuriating, fun, crazy, wise. He was all of those things and much more.
He really does want to see me a queen. I don't want to be a queen, not like this. I'm happy to be his queen, can't he see that. He wants more for me than I want for myself.
She paused in her thoughts, the knowledge of how important this was to Ham hanging there, just on the edge of her consciousness, and then it came to her . . . for him . . . I can do this.
With new confidence she stood and walked through to the galley.
The expressions on faces as she returned made her follow their eyes the screen. An embarrassing pathway of vessels stretched all the way from the STEIN to the Dahlia flight deck and they were literally skimming over the ships, as if all were delighting in submission. She looked at Ham, suddenly nervous despite her earlier confidence.
"Really Ham - is this necessary?" She gestured at the screen.
Even he looked embarrassed. "Well it does make great newsreel . . ." then he quickly thought better of pursuing that line. "Look, I didn't organize this, honest, and it is possibly getting a bit out of control, but babe, this is bigger than both of us now."
"You think?" About to deliver a withering retort, instead she stopped in her tracks.
Over Ham's shoulder by the entrance and leaning against the wall she spied a familiar man in mustard stove pipe trousers with winkle picker shoes and today, a multicolored shirt with flowers and stars.
Regan's mouth dropped open as the man started toward her and her stunned reaction caught Ham's eye. He turned, and erupted.
"Oh for goodness sake, what is the dandy doing here - seriously?" He looked at Marin for support as the group all turned toward where Bob was standing. They could see nothing.
"Look at him Regan," Ham continued, "the only thing missing is a cod piece."
Bob ignored him, smiling now as he stepped forward to Regan with hand extended.
She looked at Ham, already darting to intervene but instead she reached out in friendship, taking the extended hand firmly . . .
. . . And then was snatched away.
* * *
Regan sat stunned, still in the control room, her mind a blur, fuzzy, unfocused.
[That sneaky shit.]
[Ham . . . what happened?]
[He's a kidnapper, the bastard; hold on babe, I'm still reloading you.]
[Reloading?]
[Yeah, and for the record you should backup more often. Fortunately your right brain knows everything that's been happening but this digital version is a bit behind. Give it a minute.]
Marin leant across, concerned at her glazed look. "Regan, are you ok?"
"What's happened Marin?" Leah asked as the group also gathered round.
"I don't know . . . she suddenly fainted." He was in front of her now, relieved to see her coming round.
"She just needs a minute." Ham interrupted. "We've been looking at options and it . . . overloaded her systems." He lied.
They looked at him strangely, buying just enough time for Regan's neurons to start firing appropriately. She shook her head and gestured for them to calm down.
"Did anyone else see Bob over there?" She asked.
They shook their heads blankly as Hilary put one hand up nervously, looking at Ham at the same time, not sure whether she should speak up. "Err, I did." She answered.
[Ignore them Regan, we'll talk about this later. Keep your mind on the new job OK, savior of the Orbital and all that, look for those files in the religious section, we're gonna need them soon.]
She began to perk up and subbed the crew, [I've got this guys, I lost it for a minute there, Bob was here, I'll tell you more about it later.]
[Good Regan, good, you're a champion.] Ham encouraged her.
"Mom, could you please get me a coffee, I feel a bit woozy, and it might be the last one for a while."
Jean slipped from the room without a word, knowing Regan wouldn't like a fuss and attention shifted back to the screen as the Orbital drew nearer, the assembled vessels no less concentrated nor less astounding. Adding to the growing tension as they neared was a feed from the Orbital flight deck. It showed the deck empty of ships, but crowded with hundreds of well wishers.
* * *
The news feeds now being transmitted around the system revealed an unbelievable sight. Dahlia Orbital’s space was cluttered with vessels. Every tribe would recognize markings from their own craft, and every Orbital authority would wonder what they were doing there.
Through this mass of ships, making its way through an open path, the relatively small but impressive sight of the STEIN Traveler drifted into view, cruising gently through the field screen and settling to the deck, well back from the crowd. A hush came over the gathering and around the system billions seemed to hold their breaths, few missing the spectacle, not really understanding what was happening but excited nonetheless.
Ham watched from his multiple vantage points, more restrained now but quietly confident. Months of well seeded rumor, cultivated myth, and gentle encouragement through news and social media was bearing fruit. He began to hum to himself.
The cheers began to build as viewers sighted the STEIN level five beginning to slide out smoothly. From the crowd’s perspective only the face of the door could initially be seen, however, as steps appeared from one side the sound built to an expectant roar.
Regan, more confident now with her update complete and mind clear, viewed the assembly outside with cautious optimism. They did look happy and there seemed no apparent threat. Just in case, for now Aaron, Jean, Jared, Buela and Rhine would remain on the STEIN.
Gathered with Regan were Leah, Marin and Sindali, all able to communicate by subbing. It was clearly the only way they would be able to talk in the roar of sound they could hear.
[Ham, give us the word please, are there any threats you can detect?]
[There's nothing Regan and your suits will protect you regardless.]
[What about Sindali?]
[Hmm, there is that. Perhaps you or Marin should step out first.]
[I'll do it.] Before anyone could protest Marin moved forward, stepping through the gap and down the stairs. The crowd erupted with cheers. He stopped at the bottom, looking back up to Regan. She turned to Sindali. [You should be next Sin.] The tall Dahlian, almost in tears at being home, nodded in thanks and stepped through the gap to another huge burst of cheering and applause.
Regan looked at Leah [Together?]
[You bet babe.]
They linked arms and stepped through together.
A wall of sound met them as they joined Marin and Sindali on the deck, waving to the crowd like conquering heroes.
Sindali raised her arms and waited, amazingly the noise quickly died away so that she could speak. Regan heard little of it. Turning back to look at the STEIN, to her shock she saw Ham was displaying a live feed of them on the face of the ship. Except she was the focus, the others slightly out of focus, and it seemed she looked taller relative to Marin by her side.
She blushed in embarrassment, noticing none of that appeared on the screen. She was presented there as tall, smiling and confident. Hi tech airbrushing?
[Why is it, Ham, that my life is not under my own control?]
[Regan you are in control, as always. Just think of this as power assisted steering.]
She sighed and turned back to the crowd, just as Sindali looked around and gestured for her to come forward. The noise quickly became deafening.
* * *
Who Knows Where?
The eyes blinked open.
"Ahh . . . good, you're with us then?"
Regan looked out at Bob, dapper as always, and then swiveled her eyes taking in her surroundings; apart from the two of them it appeared to be an otherwise empty room. Having a definite sense of physical as opposed to cyber presence she unconsciously reached up with her hand to rub her forehead, an action which revealed to her an arm she didn't recognize, thicker, longer and more olive in complexion. Showing remarkable calm she regarded the cyber form before her coolly.
"You cyber napped me, how could you do that?" The voice sounded strange, unfamiliar, and she looked again at the hand, the long fingers and manicured nails.
"I must apologize for the manner of my intervention. No harm was intended. I needed to separate you from your friend, I'm sure you will appreciate the need."
Bob's calm assumptive demeanor annoyed her and momentarily she contemplated reaching out and taking him by the throat but then thought better of it. He
wasn't physically there after all.
"Where am I?" She asked. Gather all the information you can.
He put one hand to the chin and pursed his lips as if considering whether to answer. "Suffice to say, a long way from where you were, on the other side of the galaxy actually. I may tell you more depending on the outcome of our meeting but for the moment, best to leave it at that, you understand."
"No, I don't," she flared, "you've ripped me from my body and deposited me here, wherever here is, and you did it without my permission. Why should I cooperate with you at all?" Again she raised her hands in wonder, becoming more aware of her body and the strangeness of it by the minute.
"Regan . . . may I call you that?" He continued straight on anyway. "You don't have to cooperate, but we hope you do. Either way, you will be returned. Please, enjoy a drink with me. I have your coffee, or something like it. I will try to explain what I can, and then later we will meet with the elders."
He turned and sat in a chair opposite. Looking down for the first time Regan realized she too had been standing and she twisted to see a chair behind her. Feeling slightly clumsy she sat, uncomfortably. Something didn't feel right.
She looked at Bob, infuriatingly neutral in his appearance. "Why the body?" she asked bluntly and held up her hands to take in the strangeness of them again.
"We couldn't afford the risk of allowing you straight into our system, hence the android. They are common here; many of our Minds inhabit them in the course of their work. It seemed an ideal way to quarantine you while we talk and of course you still have all your mental faculties. I would ask that you please refrain from trying to leave the room. You are perfectly safe here for now but it might be best to avoid contact with the people of this system in case you are discovered."
Confluence Point Page 28
