Regan's Reach 4: Avarice

by Mark G Brewer

  Ham smiled. "Let's look at it another way, what if one of you gets taken out unnecessarily, Regan would never forgive me, now, does that hurt?"

  Brian shrugged. "Okay, I guess that will work, and what happens if you find the room is occupied?"

  "Then we will quickly try another spot. I can make that call virtually instantly and communicate it to your guys via the headsets at the same time."

  Finally he got a nod from Brian, "Okay, I'm with you, so when do we move?"

  "As planned, we'll wait for the end of the day. They clear the palace of visitors quickly as they shut down and darkness comes early at this time of year, we should have a free run with tired crews waiting to knock off."

  "So, end of the day," he raised his wrist watch, "how long have we got?"

  "Five and a half hours from now, on the dot. I'll displace the ship down there so fast they won't see it coming. A quick EM pulse will disable the palace electronics, although remember emergency lighting will still come on. Alarms etcetera should be disabled and we will sit hovering above the palace while you displace in. From there we follow the plan and take the palace, securing the technical facility as an absolute priority."

  "How will we know we have this virus thing secured?"

  "Leave that to me." Ham didn't elaborate.

  "O - K." Though Brian still looked doubtful he didn't question, and anything to do with a virus of any kind he was happy to avoid; a bullet he could take happily provided it was in the right spot, a virus - no.

  * * *

  Ham guided the Interceptor in through the field screen and straight on to the deck for the moment. Regan watched Perin as they approached, his eyes never leaving the screen and she noted his awe at the huge liner and the images of the Behemoth and the Ascendant they could see beyond. That look was nothing compared to his present amazement as they were swallowed by the Fair Passage and entered the flight decks. It was only then that the scale could truly be appreciated. The Interceptor was a tiny fly entering a gaping maw.

  They disembarked quickly and Regan firmly guided Perin toward the elevators, she and Ham flanking him guardedly but not so attentive as to alarm those interested watchers amongst the passengers jogging the perimeter. As they entered the elevator Regan subbed Charlotte knowing her words would be transferred via the earpiece.

  [Charlie, its Regan, I'm sure you know we're back and that we have a passenger. I'm wondering where we should put him until we're ready for questioning; he looks pretty washed out.]

  "Welcome back Regan," Charlotte’s familiar voice simply registered in Regan's mind, "I suggest the cabin Leith was in, it's near to mine and it's available. He'll be handy then too when you want to talk."

  [Will do babe, and after that we'll meet in control.]

  Charlotte smiled happily, babe? - I am one of the team it seems.

  It took only a few minutes to reach the empty cabin and Regan was impressed with its size. Hmm, she thought, Leith certainly did have pull with the Commander.

  Perin had said nothing since leaving the Interceptor, seemingly overwhelmed or perhaps simply tired, and indeed as she explained that he would be confined there he seemed to deflate, events of the past day finally overcoming him. She could tell he would soon sleep and decided to say no more for now. She nodded farewell and stepped out behind Ham as the door slid closed with a swish.

  [Please secure the door Lucas, I don't want Perin leaving the room or communicating with anyone else around the ship.]

  [It shall be done; I'll seal the room and close all communications.]

  [And Lucas, please join us for the team meeting in control.]

  There was a short pause. [Are you sure?]

  [Of course, I'd love to have you participate fully, you're on the team.]

  [Of course, yes, I'll join you.] The pleasure in his voice was embarrassingly obvious.

  Regan smiled as Ham raised his eyes and looked pointedly toward the ceiling. [Regan Stein, you are such a flirt.]

  [It's not flirting Ham, why would you see it like that? It's just being friendly and he could be a great acquisition.]

  [He is not property, Regan.]

  [I meant as a team member, you know that.]

  The elevator doors opened to control and Regan could see Charlotte and Jared already there and sitting facing each other with determined looks, each holding a tablet closely. They were clearly in the final phase of some game so she left them to it, heading instead for the small galley before pulling up short. Damn, this isn't one of my ships . . . no coffee!

  She turned back just as Charlotte burst out in a throaty laugh of triumph while Jared slapped the arm of his chair in frustration.

  Charlotte lifted her head finally to engage Regan with a happy grin. "Sorry Regan, I knew that wouldn't take me long. How's our visitor?"

  As she spoke, the gracious lady materialized and Regan nodded welcome, noting that Ham had also already taken one of the spare control chairs in a prominent position. She looked around for Lucas who was nowhere to be seen, and then a figure emerged, a tall rugged male with chiseled features and a warm smile. It was Lucas. She nodded welcome to him as she scanned the avatar from feet to head and back. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Hilary doing the same and she smiled happily.

  "Sorry Charlie." Regan turned back and got down to business. "Our visitor is ensconced in his cabin and I'm fairly sure he will be sleeping as we speak. The question is what will we do with him?"

  Ham shuffled in his chair. "We need to find out whether he played any part in the destruction of that vessel, until then we can't trust him. Frankly, as a fundamentalist Mind killer I don't trust him anyway."

  "Ham we don't know that, let's hold judgment shall we?"

  "Regan they are all like that, it's indoctrinated in them from childhood."

  "Ham, again let's not judge on that, not yet anyway, after all, not that long ago the people of your system were all indoctrinated to fear artificial intelligence and now look at what's happening there."

  He grudgingly settled back in his seat.

  "Now," Regan asked, "bring me up to date, have we any more clues about our other suspected passenger?"

  "Still nothing Regan." Charlotte replied unhappily. "This ship has been searched from bow to stern, but really, it's such a huge vessel and this thing we're looking for, if it exists at all, is tiny. What's the saying? It's like looking for a needle in a haystack."

  "You sound like you have doubts now."

  Charlotte screwed up her mouth in frustration. "Truthfully, I think it's somewhere on the ship. I just don't like the fact that we can't find a murdering intelligence on my vessel."

  "My vessel actually." Lucas corrected. "Regan, I think we just need to wait, at some point our stowaway or murderer or whatever will show their hand."

  "And we have three Minds monitoring everything." Hilary added. "We can be on to the rat in a fraction of a second."

  Regan could see Ham looked troubled. "What is it babe?"

  He stood and began to pace. "This is clearly a cunning Mind, I have to admire what they have achieved by concealing themselves, first from Lucas and secondly from us. They have covered their tracks well. My concern is that their sole purpose might be, for whatever reason, getting to Rexis. They have covered their tracks and been prepared to stay hidden and they may intend to stay that way until the last possible moment. Then I guess it's possible for them to jump in a data burst as soon as we make some link with the planet."

  "Then we won't make that link." Regan concluded. "We'll keep the ship in quarantine until we know it's safe."

  "As long as that wait doesn't go on forever, Regan." Charlotte replied. "I mean what if it just lingers on? We've got one thousand plus passengers waiting to get down there."

  "I don't have an answer to that yet Charlie, all I know is I'm not going to risk that planet to some rogue, murdering Mind. I guess there's nothing more we can do for now. Guys, keep tracking those data trails but forgive me, I'm bushed. While our fr
iend sleeps I'm going to grab some shut eye too, we'll question him when I wake."

  Lucas disappeared much to Hilary's disappointment and then she too dissolved in a typically gracious manner. As Regan walked to the elevator she could see Ham was still troubled while Charlotte and Jared were reaching for their tablets.

  * * *

  Regan rolled in her bed, curling to a ball and snuggling into the mattress and pillows.

  They walked hand in hand through knee high summer grass, with Leah on one side and Marin in the middle. They were both laughing at something and happy she could tell, as was she. A low wall appeared running lengthways for a short distance in front of them and Marin shifted slightly to allow for it, the wall or protrusion now between them with their clasped hands over the top, she on one side now, Marin and Leah on the other. They walked on and inexplicably the wall seemed to be rising so that soon it was difficult to hold on, but the wall didn't seem to extend much further so she unclasped and walked on. But then it did seem to extend, on and on it went, and it was even higher. On the other side, though she couldn't see them, she could still hear Leah and Marin laughing.

  She stopped and looked up to the top, it was much too high to climb. She looked forward and could only see the wall extending hugely into the distance, a scarily infinite look that made her turn back with alarm only to see the wall now seemed to stretch infinitely back behind her also. A moment of panic seemed to grip her and she called out to Marin and Leah who seemed not to hear her; but she could hear them and their laughter, the joy, and suddenly it seemed to disturb her. And then she heard Leah squeal delightedly, and gasp, a sound she knew only too well and unaccountably she was overcome with grief, leaning forward to grasp at the wall and press her face to the surface, the tears on her right cheek wetting the surface.

  And then she realized the surface wasn't hard in a concrete or metal like way. It was soft, and smooth, almost skin like in texture and touch, and it was familiar in some way, something she knew. And then it hit her; what it felt like, the substance of this wall.

  It was android . . .

  It was an android arm.

  She woke in a cold sweat and just lay there for a long while pondering the dream and wondering whether to consult the oracle as she normally would. For some reason she thought better of it and rolled back into a curl, tucking her head to the pillow and drifting back into tired sleep.

  * * *

  Perin too was awake. Lying on his back he stared at the ceiling pondering the future in light of the unfolding events. He had failed - for now anyway. He hadn't reached the planet Rexis and he wasn't even in the hands of those people - and who were these rescuers anyway? What part of the system did they come from? Were they another unknown branch of the tribes, perhaps descended from the founders as were his people? The questions rolled around in his mind as he fought off despair at his situation. What would Maynard say? What is happening at home?

  And then it hit him . . . Maynard would be in charge! As the senior senate member and acting Premier Maynard could already have ascended to the throne with no competition of note. A cold feeling swept through Perin’s body and tingles of fearful anxiety raced down his arms. Was this Maynard's plan all along? If he, Perin, had succeeded then Maynard could still have taken the leadership despite his act of heroism and if he had failed then Maynard also had the leadership and opportunity to lead the people out of disaster and perhaps to war.

  As he considered these things Perin nervously fingered the small processor concealed at his midriff. What could he do now? His thoughts roamed through desperate options. Perhaps the future for him may be bleak but there may yet be a small victory to be won, and an act true to his faith. He could perhaps take down this ship and that accursed android. Just the thought was enough to give him encouragement.

  Taking out the small tube he eyed the button, wondering whether it still functioned at all and remembering the occasion on the ship where the button lit up and he had quickly pressed it hard again in an attempt to shut it down which mercifully it did. Is it broken, or perhaps one time only? He spun the tube in his fingers, his hands becoming sweaty and clammy. Finally he could stand it no more. What, after all, do I have to lose?

  Holding the tube out in front of him so he could clearly see the button he thumbed it nervously and his hands began to shake. Quickly he pressed it hard, and then jerked in panic as the button lit up. He fumbled and the tube dropped to the floor with a clatter. He shrieked and dived for it, frantically scrabbling to grab it and thumb the button again. It only took a second or so but as the light went out and with his heart pounding he couldn't raise the strength to climb back to the bed, instead just sitting there with his back to the bunk hyperventilating in short panicked gasps.

  And then he heard a beep - and then another - and then another, it was coming from the bed head. Perin turned slowly to look in that direction just in time to see a small slot open in the wall and a tiny curved drawer slide out to rest there. On it, cradled on the drawer there was a tube, not unlike the one he carried except it was glowing.

  Perin stared at it in horror - and then he heard a voice . . .

  "Leith . . . is that you . . . I didn't expect to hear from you again?"

  * * *

  The STEIN Traveler in orbit, Planet Regis

  Ham reveled in the testosterone fueled environment with the ship feeling more charged and masculine than he had ever experienced it, and he liked it, especially the pervading sense of action and battle looming. He could feel the android nostrils flaring and something primal gripping him before, in a sudden realization of what was happening; he hauled himself back from the brink of an embarrassing animal roar. He scanned the control room and was relieved to see that no one had noticed, and then continued his search of the data trails, accessing Regis’s basic computer systems via the satellite links and capturing the latest information on the planet.

  "Brian, it's no surprise but I can confirm they are in a state of high alert. This is going to be challenging, certainly more so than we originally planned. We will go with the new plan, as soon as you're ready I'll take the STEIN down and we'll commence displacements almost immediately. The major goal is to secure the technical facility and my feeling is we aim to capture the Premier as well. He's in the palace according to reports and may be the key to confirming we have the virus."

  "We're ready to roll when you are, just give the word." Brian's nod to the two leading teams of four drew a cheer that rang around level four. He laughed and checked his own equipment for the umpteenth time. He himself would go in with the third group who would be displaced straight to the technical offices. The genovirus was the major goal and that is where it was most likely to be; as such he wanted to be there.

  Ham closed the android eyes and began the ships slide down into atmosphere, not worrying about detection, only about the lives of the crew once they left the STEIN Traveler. Onboard the STEIN he knew they were virtually impregnable, but in the palace Brian's team were just vulnerable sacks of flesh, bone and blood. It didn't sit well with him that good people may die on this mission, but this was war, and the goal overall was to minimize loss, not just for this mission but for both Rexis and Regis, now and into the future.

  Lightning quick the STEIN displaced through atmosphere; resistance free, quiet and frighteningly stealthy. It seemed as if one moment they were in space, the next in the clouds and the next over the city as they drifted in toward the palace. In the dark of the night and with the stealth of their approach they were almost on the palace before the first missiles were fired in defense. As they drew nearer still, a hail of smaller weapons fire strafed out at them, all passing harmlessly on as Ham deftly displaced projectiles from one side of the STEIN to the other where they then continued on wherever. He quietly hoped those missiles and projectiles would find harmless targets when they alighted, but sadly he knew some would cause devastation over which he had no control. In only minutes they were taking position over the palace proper a
nd Ham subbed word through to Brian . . . Action bro'.

  In minutes the shuffle began, with Ham's android displacing first and then in quick succession others followed, four by four, in a continual stream of soldiers displacing throughout the Palace, all with their specific targets and objectives. Ham hoped it would create panic among the guard with reports circulating of enemy here, and there, and there and . . . Pretty soon they wouldn't know where to run. He hoped they would gain the impression of a much larger invasion force than that actually faced.

  Finally, with the last four successfully transferred Ham made the last jump to join them. Leaving a full copy of himself on the STEIN he simply displaced from the spot where he stood, down into the palace and the Technical facility in particular. He arrived to the sound of gunfire, good old fashioned semi automatic firing and to his dismay he saw two of Brian's team already down and injured. With just another thought he instantly displaced them back to the STEIN knowing as he did so that for the moment they would need to look after themselves, perhaps with some servitor support. But there was no time to worry about that now; he began to stalk the sound of gunfire, becoming angrier with every step.

  Twelve had displaced to this facility, and now with two injured there should be ten remaining as far as he knew. Gunfire and the sound of percussion grenades guided his progress but nevertheless he coolly checked every room as he passed. A dead guard sprawled across the corridor at one point caused him to pause as did the looks of frightened night staff and he rapidly developed the opinion this wasn't an action he would enjoy. It was one thing to have righteous objectives, to have the intention of preventing greater injustice later, but it was quite another to effectively invade, terrorize and take lives in the process. He started to have doubts for the first time and quietly hoped that there was in fact a deadly virus, that this wasn't only a Rexis Mind myth.