"You heard everything?"
"Yes - in confidence of course."
"I need help Hilary; you know it, at least convey these things to Regan. I give you permission to share everything you have heard."
"Thank you Aaron, you are a good man."
The relief in Hilary's voice was evident even to Aaron and nothing more needed to be said. Hilary was as concerned as he was. He slumped into a chair, his eyes locked on the humble travel bag he always carried with him and sighed.
* * *
Flight Deck Mess, Hillary Station
Ham scanned the room with only a few seconds needed to confirm all were present and accounted for. This fighting force impressed even him, not in their size, or their armory, or even their look which was impressively intimidating. No, it was something about their calm and relaxed demeanor. These were vastly experienced soldiers, the crème de la crème of American, British and New Zealand troops, handpicked by Brian Timu on the basis of his personal experience, not their reputation. Ham's own background checks had confirmed everything Brian had told him; they were the best. Brian had insisted they would need men who could kill efficiently if required but who modeled restraint. He didn't want any trigger-happy killers who might inflame the situation more than necessary and that suited both him and Regan well. In Regan's mind Ham knew the ultimate outcome was no one dead, the virus destroyed and, if her optimism prevailed, peace in the Rigel star system for all . . . Huh! Not likely, he thought.
Ham could feel the eyes on him as he walked toward the screen where Brian was engaged in deep discussion with his command group. They were reviewing data brought back from Rigel, plans of the city and the Celestial Palace. Usually Ham would hardly be acknowledged by those on Hillary Station but it was a first for this group to see an android and restraint or not he could tell there were more than a few eager to test him. They wanted to establish the power in those limbs, the speed of reaction, and not out of any macho bullshit, just curiosity. Ham ignored them as they would find out soon enough; he planned to be among the forward group.
Brian called to him and he focused on the man, registering again that his friend was aging and he wondered briefly whether he was up to the task. He dismissed the thought as quickly as it came, remembering the episode with Jared on Panekire bluff only a few weeks before. The heavily muscled Maori had challenged young Jared in every physical sense which was no mean feat in itself; plus he showed a deadly accurate shot and the speed and agility of a much younger man. Ham smiled happily; Brian had many more years of service to offer him yet.
His friends arms were raised in frustration. "Ham, there's nothing more to be done here, we're as ready as we can be and we'll review all the plans once in the Rigel system. Bro - why are we still on station?"
Ham smiled at his eagerness. "Patience Brian, you will all be transferred to the Behemoth this afternoon; we simply wanted to disguise your presence until all the colonists were aboard. We don't want anyone alarmed or agitating; if they think there's a war on, which I'm almost certain there won't be, the colonists worrying may only complicate the trip for all concerned. Regan wants to keep the colonists as positive as possible and there's enough for them to be nervous about without them thinking they're heading into a war zone. There was no point in alerting them to the action, after all, our mission will be in advance of their disembarkation to Rexis and on a different planet altogether, so we'll be well away from them. "
Brian ignored the explanation, "So, when do we leave Hillary Station?"
"Fourteen hundred hours, as soon as you are aboard ship and after that we should be in action in seventeen days."
A silence had settled around the room as the two talked with all listening in. At the word action an excited murmur circulated quickly and Ham smiled again. This is going to be fun.
He then joined Brian with his lieutenants to go over the plans one more time. It was no effort to help fill in their time and keep them focused; only a tiny, infinitesimal part of his prodigious mind was required to ensure all was in order.
* * *
Medlab - The STEIN Traveler
They sat side by side on the gurney, Regan and Jared there with Leah perched on a stool and Marin languidly propped against a wall opposite. Ham stood to one side, tapping one foot distractedly as mother and son continued their animated discussion, differing as usual in their points of view.
"I feel fine Mother, and everything seems to be working perfectly. I could transfer over to the Fair Passage now - in fact I'd like to - I'm tired of sitting around here waiting to do something."
"Jared, you've hardly been sitting around long; you only surfaced yesterday and as good as Ham's work is you still need time for the neural work to settle. No, I'm glad you'd like to go sweetheart but we'll stick to the plan and make the transfer after the first portal jump, that's only another three days away after all. In the meantime get some exercise, what about a quiet jog around the pipe before we leave?"
Marin jerked to attention. "We could jog with him, couldn't we Leah? Don't you worry Regan; we'll make sure he's okay."
"You could come with us babe?" Leah suggested.
"Or not," Marin countered, "Regan, I know you have a lot on."
Jared was already slipping from the gurney, a look of eager anticipation on his face, eager to leave this room, eager to get moving. "That's decided then," he said happily, "a quiet jog sounds perfect, and I'll still beat the pants off you two."
Leah cuffed him playfully on the shoulder. "We won't be racing mate, you're recuperating."
Marin's delight was obvious as he joined them, one arm slipping comfortably around Leah's waist.
Regan's eyes followed them as they departed, a small knot inexplicably gripping her stomach.
[Am I missing something here Hilary?]
The gracious lady materialized and her eyes joined with Regan's as the happy couple following Jared disappeared through the doors and on down the corridor. Regan's thoughts were broken as the doors slid shut obscuring them from view.
[Regan, they love you, you know that. But you do spend a lot of time away now, and most of your time is with Ham.]
[But they seem so happy without me, shit, we're partners.]
[Yes, and you still are, but they are individuals too, they can't just hang around waiting for you.]
[But I do so much for them - and them for me of course.] Regan seemed to add the second part as an afterthought.
[Yes, you do a lot for them Regan, but be aware, help sometimes is the sunny side of control.]
[You think I try to control them?]
[Nooo - not try - not really, I mean, you may not even be aware you're doing it.] Hilary rolled her eyes skyward.
Regan screwed up her mouth at the implicit meaning and turned to look for support from Ham, but conveniently he had already departed.
* * *
She waited only a moment before displacing to the STEIN control room, her senses telling her that Ham was already there. He had mentioned earlier some final terrorist intervention he wanted to attend to before they left and her interest had been piqued by his excitement.
Emerging to the back of the room she was surprised to find three avatars in attendance, all facing the large screen. They turned as one at her appearance and looked surprised. Ham, Jared and . . .?
Ham immediately broke into a smile. "Regan, I didn't expect you'd be interested, come and join us." He gestured to her usual command chair which they had left empty.
She wandered across, somewhat dumbfounded and for the moment distracted from the action on screen. "Jared - what are you doing here like . . ." she waved her arms around in confusion, "like this? I thought you were going jogging."
Jared looked down at himself then back at Regan. "I am jogging Mom, but that hardly requires all my attention, Mori and I wanted to be in on this, it sounds like a real hoot." He turned immediately back to the screen.
Regan shook her head and looked at the newcomer who smiled back disingen
uously; he did look like Ham, but different, as if he were a relative, a brother or cousin perhaps.
"Well, hello there." He offered, and smiled again broadly.
"Mori?" She asked, looking doubtful.
"Is there another?" and the avatar laughed.
Regan looked from Mori to Ham who appeared not to be listening and was quite intent on the screen. She turned back to Mori who was still smiling. "So, you two are quite independent then; not one Mind in two bodies?"
"Quite independent Regan, of that you can rest assured, and I can feel myself falling further and further behind Ham by the millisecond. Not having access to all the experiences of my other," and he nodded respectfully at Ham, "in some ways it's quite frustrating however it does enable me to focus on Jared and his full recovery; we're doing quite nicely by the way."
"Well, at least I can say I'm pleased to see both of you here independently, you and Jared I mean, for a while there I was worried that - well . . ." her voice trailed off, unwilling to voice her fears.
The avatar Mori raised his eyebrows questioningly, ". . . Worried that this arrangement would be a takeover, is that what you were going to say?"
Regan eyeballed him, "Well, yes, the thought did occur to me, and it has worried me greatly."
Mori shifted slightly to face her as he was still speaking across Jared who seemed to be pointedly ignoring their conversation.
"Regan," Mori continued, "this is a partnership between Jared and me, not unlike the partnership you enjoy with Ham. The main difference in this partnership is Jared himself. You and he are quite different temperaments and personalities after all, it's only natural that the arrangement might work - somewhat differently with us."
"Somewhat?"
"Well, you are open Regan, that's true, however Jared is . . . hmm . . . let's say, he is welcoming - embracing even."
Regan held Mori in a cool stare then let her eyes drop to her hands and thumbs which she found were pressed hard together. "Embracing you say, hmm, well Mori - as long as in the development of this partnership Jared - remains - Jared." She looked back up at him piercingly as she emphasized the last word, her usual technique for dramatic effect.
He laughed, kindly. "Regan, I'm falling behind Ham but I still remember that trick." Then suddenly his look softened and for a moment he looked almost teary. "Regan, I am changing already, but my starting point was the Mind you know and love and I still love this young man. I would not want to change him or lose him, or for you to lose him, don't worry."
"And I'm fine Mom, I keep telling you." Jared's eyes remained fixed on the screen and for the first time Regan too glanced up, and then jerked upright, deeply alarmed.
"Shit! Ham, what are you doing?"
On screen were two figures, one kneeling in the sand with arms tied behind his back. He was saying something to the camera and his profound distress could be clearly seen with beads of sweat dripping down his face and terror in his eyes. Behind him, a shrouded figure stood with one hand bracing the man's shoulder, the other poised with a large knife; it was obvious what he was threatening to do.
"Why aren't you intervening?" She was alarmed but it drew no reaction from the other three who seemed quite focused on whatever they were doing.
The terrified man finished his monologue and his head dropped to his chest, only to be pulled up by the shrouded figure who had grasped his hair and tugged the head back. The poor man seemed to buckle backward, the action stretching his neck taut.
"Ham - fuck it - this is not a game - what are you doing?" Regan's panicked voice filled the room.
The screen switched suddenly to a satellite view and now they were looking down at a zoomed in visual showing the top of the shrouded head and the kneeling man's face partly obscured . . . and the neck.
Regan turned sharply and reached out a cyber hand to grasp at Ham's arm and shake it. "Ham, do something! Do it now - for goodness sake!"
He shook her arm off without taking his eyes from the screen. "For goodness sake indeed - Regan be patient, we have this in hand, and the timing has got to be perfect."
Reluctantly she looked back up to see that the man's face had taken on a grimace, clearly tensing for what was about to come. The shrouded figure's arm reached outward and forward, and across. She sat frozen, a statue unable to believe what she was seeing and despite herself she couldn't stop the tears that came from her right eye before she clasped them shut.
"YES!" The tandem cry drew her attention back and tentatively she opened her eyes to look upwards. She could see the aerial view had grown as the camera zoomed back out. The captive was still kneeling and now shaking with racking sobs; the shrouded man appeared to be lying down, stretched out to the side. And then as the view continued to zoom slowly out other bodies appeared - four of them, the audience and cameraman no doubt. Three had fallen forward toward the kneeling man, while one had fallen outward. And then it dawned on her; the way they had fallen created a picture, the look of a clenched fist . . . and it was a fist delivering a middle finger salute to . . . whoever. The kneeling man, still tied and looking around was left there, still desperate in the desert.
Regan was shaking. She looked to either side at her companions and noted they were all waiting for her reaction, eyes wide and smiling with excitement. She stood angrily. "Get that man out of there; he is not your plaything! Get a Pod down there NOW!"
Ham seemed to shrink back. "Of course, on the way as we speak . . . Regan, he is alive."
"Alive? Alive!" She seemed speechless for a moment. "Of course he is alive, you wouldn't let him die, but you have tortured that poor man for your own purposes. What - on - earth were you thinking?"
Ham was unfazed. "It made great theatre don't you think - and what a message - giving them the bird like that, come on, you've got to admit that was great?" He turned to the others for support and they laughed together. Then Ham seemed to think better of it and turned back to a fuming Regan with an apologetic look. "Okay, perhaps it was a bit heartless, it just seemed like such a good idea at the time, with them aligned like that, I just couldn't resist, and with Jared and Mori here . . ."
"God Ham, everything is not about impressing an audience." She looked again at the screen. "I'm going down there, now!" Her body remained seated with no apparent change while almost instantly her avatar cyber presence appeared in the Pod. It was just in time for the terrified journalist to be displaced in front of her and he looked up as if he was expecting to take another last breath. Regan looked desperately sorry. "I'm so sorry about what happened there, but you're safe now."
He seemed disbelieving and collapsed forward onto the floor at Regan's feet. With his arms still tied his face slapped down hard and he lay there gasping for breath and sobbing.
She looked around helplessly. "Damn, I'm sorry again but in this form I can't help you. We'll get you to support troops within minutes; again, I'm so, so sorry."
[Ham, we will have him to help soon - won't we?]
[Two minutes Regan.]
In her mind's eye she could indeed see they were already passing over buildings, and then they were alighting on a roof.
[It's the US embassy in Kuwait. Your passenger is expected.]
[Thank god for that. I'll see him off first then.]
In the control room on the STEIN the three avatars sat quietly looking at each other. It was Mori who spoke first.
"You know Regan will get all the glory for that episode."
Ham smiled back, "and the problem with that is . . .?"
They laughed together.
And for the first time Hilary entered the conversation having been the passive observer throughout. "You boys are incorrigible!"
* * * * *
Chapter Six
The departure was viewed by billions on screens throughout the world. The three huge vessels made a majestic sight cruising quietly away from Hillary Station with the Behemoth and the Ascendant flanking the much larger Fair Passage, giving the fleet something of a military
look. No one on Earth however was in any doubt about the importance of this mission. The first colonization of any planet outside the solar system was exciting news and huge interest had been generated as people from around the globe applied to be a part of the mission.
The portals meant that eventually there could be regular passage between the worlds with trip time measured in weeks and already it was clear there would be a need to restrict movement as the attractions of Rexis proved popular. The planned bimonthly trips taking future groups were already fully booked and it couldn't go on forever.
Regan watched the earth feed, quietly chuckling as always at Ham's skilled direction. The camera sweep from Hillary Station taking in the Orbital rings and spiral tube looked fantastic and as the angle shifted to take in the departing ships it didn't escape her notice that the only other vessels visible in shot were the tiny ADF's buzzing about. It made the three huge vessels look even more impressive. My god, she thought, we really are becoming space faring people.
Charlotte Carson, new Commander of the Fair Passage commenced what she hoped would become something of a daily routine. Unlike the passengers she had no interest in following the Vid feeds, she knew where they were going and what was involved and unlike so many others on this journey there was no one at home that she could imagine impressing - or missing.
She banished that thought as soon as it entered her head. The teams at Riverside were both friends and family in her eyes and on reflection she was certain that many would be watching the live feeds, enviously thinking of her and with genuine love. She warmed at the thought but still wasn't tempted to bathe in it and continued her tour following Hilary's guide in her upper left vision, down through the bowels of the ship, retracing steps almost unconsciously toward the refuse area. All the preparations for departure had gone without incident and the crew had performed, as far as she could tell, perfectly. No-one had made approaches to her following the 'football game' episode and she quietly hoped that whoever had provided the sideline entertainment was from another vessel. At least in her most practical moments that is what she hoped; occasionally . . . the fantasy returned.
Regan's Reach 4: Avarice Page 14
