"Look, I'm doing a procedure anyway, I'll just include the processor as future proofing and if she has a problem with it you can always vacate the premises - easy - and no harm done."
Hilary looked extremely uncomfortable. "I don't know - Regan might not . . ."
"Hilary," he interrupted, "I'll take full responsibility, and Regan understands these things after all, look at how well it's worked out for her. You know I'm good at this and the chances that something will go wrong are minimal."
"Ham, I really don't . . ."
"Hilary - it's decided. It would be a waste of my time and effort to not allow for future upgrade. I'm doing it."
"Who will help with the nursing?"
"That's all sorted, Jared will be in attendance."
"Ham, I'm not sure that's appropriate, does Regan know?"
"Are you mad? Of course not - now, it's best you get back to organizing the disembarking with Lucas; you have enough to do." And to her immense frustration, with a wave of his hand she found herself dismissed from the room.
Damn! How does he do that?
* * *
Regan relaxed back into the Behemoth transfer chair. Already she could feel the gentle pulsing of the massage beginning and decided to delay for a few minutes while she enjoyed it. She found no respite however, her mind continually drifting to Marin and Leah, and Reubus.
[Are you ready Ham?]
[Regan, it is never me who is not ready.]
She smiled. [Let's go then.]
She closed her eyes, concentrated on the coordinates, and in a process that was becoming as comfortable as dreaming she jumped across the galaxy, to Gliese 667C and to Dahlia Orbital, all in the twinkling of an eye.
* * * * *
Chapter Eleven
Hilary updated quickly from Regan's files and then tried to help with what she knew. Unfortunately she had nothing to add to the picture. Marin and Leah, as planned, had kept a low profile on arrival in the Gliese system. All Hilary could confirm was that the Lazy Journey had docked and unloaded freight and passengers at Fifino before moving on to Tihan. She explained that she had kept her enquiries to a minimum rather than flag the issue as too much interest might draw attention. Tihan had confirmed that some passengers were transferred to the Leith compound on Fifino but he did not know their identities or anything further about them.
Ham was disgusted. "What is wrong with Tihan? He is such a pushover, I expected much better from him."
"How could he not know about Marin and Leah?" Regan asked.
Ham shrugged. "Well, in some ways that's understandable; I can run rings around anyone in this system as you know, no offense intended to you Hilary." He nodded apologetically and she smiled. "I could easily hide them and the saucer. What bothers me is that Tihan would allow any visitors onto his Orbital without tracking them or knowing who they were. It's not just ridiculous, it's downright dangerous."
"I guess then we have to assume that Aaron and his family could be anywhere."
"Not really, they are bound to be on the compound."
"But where are they on the compound, we can't just walk in there."
"Regan, we will find out exactly."
"And how exactly will we do that?"
"I'll ask myself of course. Do you think I wouldn't be able to find my own ass in this system?" He laughed. "In fact I suggest we jump there now, let's go see the love birds."
The comment came like a knife blow and Regan looked at him sharply but before she could even think of a reply she could feel the jump coming, Ham had control. As they snapped away she did however catch the look on the face of the gracious lady; it was one of compassion, and of concern.
[Where are we Ham?]
[Can't you tell? We're in the STEIN Transport, and I'd saaaay . . . yes, we're parked pressed up against the hull of Fifino Orbital, probably monitoring what's going on in the Leith compound, at least I am, the others? Regan, I'm going to spend a few minutes updating with myself and then I'll report back, okay? You can find something to do I'm sure.]
And suddenly Regan had the sense of being alone, if such a thing was possible in the cyber world. This was the transport, so if they were here they could only be . . . Regan accessed the small cabin just off control and sure enough they were there, spooning but not asleep. About to materialize and say hello she instead stopped as Marin nuzzled Leah's neck and nibbled at her earlobe. Leah smiled and turned her head slightly, almost purring at his attention, and then she rolled on to her back. The small bunk was restricting but such was their dance she had no problem and he slid easily over her, huge compared to the relatively tiny woman. They said nothing, and moved slowly as if savoring every movement. Leah reached between them to position him and as their eyes remained locked he gently probed and Regan could tell he was entering her, a slow smooth loving stroke that drew a gasp. It was the look on Leah's face that broke her. Eyes closed, relaxed and blissfully happy as she received him.
[They're not being very adventurous.]
[Shit Ham, don't sneak up on me like that.]
[I didn't sneak up; you were just distracted doing your own sneaking.]
[I wasn't sneaking, I was just . . .]
[This is pretty vanilla when it comes to sex don't you think?]
Regan didn't reply for a long moment as she watched the two lovers continue to dance, to exchange gentle caring strokes of pleasure and to delight in each other. [Ham, that just makes it harder to watch.] And she was gone in a flash.
Ham followed the data trail to join her in control with both taking their normal central chairs and for a while the two avatars just looked at the big screen, lit up with the starscape view of the Gliese system. Ham reached across the gap and stroked Regan's arm tenderly.
[Babe - you do spend a lot of time away now, it's only natural that they might lean on each other, as we do.]
She ignored the comment. [So, what do we know about Aaron and his family?]
[Regan, do you want to . . .]
[Come on Ham; let's keep to the important things here. What do you know?]
Reluctantly Ham pulled himself back and turned to the screen. Immediately he brought up a schematic of the Orbital, zooming down and in, until she could see pinpointed a location close to the main flight decks but apparently screened. [This is where they were taken apparently; it's the compound of Leith, Moriah's cousin. He is also, it seems, an agent of Reubus as we have established. Since they were taken there they haven't been seen by Tihan and as the fool has allowed Leith to completely screen his site from authorities he can't tell me any more.]
[But I gather you still know something.]
[But of course dear Regan, I'm in already and reside there via several automatons that handle deliveries in and out of the compound. Unfortunately there is no continuous feed as he has no cable connection and only communicates via highly encrypted wireless data bursts; however - I can tell you there is trouble.]
[And you know this - how?]
[I told you, via the deliveries in and out. I'm passing messages backward and forward with myself whenever I can.]
[Just tell me what you know Ham; I get tired of this teasing delivery.]
[O - K. Well, it's like this; Leith has separated Ruben from Aaron and Moriah and he did it as soon as they arrived. They haven't been able to see him since although I'm sure he's still in the compound. They are distressed but other than that okay.]
[So what's Leith's game then?]
[I'm a Mind, Regan, not a mind reader.]
[Ham, so help me . . .]
[Regan, sometimes you're no fun at all, I'm trying to get the most out of this.]
[Ham - this isn't some caper that you and I are on, this is serious and lives could be at stake.]
[Well I still think it can be fun if we let it, why should work be hard?] He could sense her mood and continued on quickly. [Anyway, Leith is pressuring Aaron to confirm patent arrangements which will somewhat strengthen his, that is Leith's hand. You know Moriah had already s
igned letters of intent using her power of attorney; well, Leith wants Aaron's official signatures as well and he's threatening action if Aaron doesn't confirm.]
[And by action he means what?]
[It's unclear to me at this stage, after all I'm trying to work from a delivery shunt but as I say, he's separated Ruben from them and I guess you couldn't get a more implied threat.]
[That's ridiculous, surely he wouldn't harm Ruben?] But Regan did look troubled as she pondered the latest information. [And Moriah is still happy with all this?]
[I'm not sure; you know she's hard to read - but I do know she's been seduced, that's clear, and I think this latest twist is a shock to her.]
[Can we trust her?]
[It might be a risk; she was certainly trying to manipulate Aaron before this.]
[Ham, what is Leith after?]
[It's not Leith we need to worry about in this Regan, don't you see? He's just the agent; it's Reubus who's behind this.]
[That bastard, so he's a murderer and a kidnapper now.]
[Well, technically kidnapping might be hard to prove, Ruben is still living in the same house but I know what you mean. Regan, Reubus is pissed and this whole thing is about control. In his eyes you have it and he wants it. He knows you've fired up Hilary and is wild that she's working with Tihan on a new system hub for Tihan Orbital. That was his secret plan and it would have enabled him to control all the freight and trade in the system. Now Hilary and Tihan have effectively cut him out, that's if they succeed. So now it's a race to see whether they can achieve the hub before Tihan's debts overwhelm him; after all Dahlia Orbital can't carry him forever.
And that's where Aaron comes in. Reubus wants two things; he wants to hinder Aaron from doing any more work on alternative energy until Tihan collapses under his debt. Secondly he wants Aaron's portal technology so that the hub becomes a minor player in the wider trade game.]
[But even if Aaron gets the portal patent rights, that doesn't mean Reubus has them?]
[But what does he have, Regan?]
She thought for a moment. [Ruben?]
[Exactly.]
[So first he establishes legal ownership rights to the portal technology via Aaron, then he pressures Moriah, and or Aaron, to sell, cede or lease the rights to him.]
[I'd say lease, on favorable terms. You know Reubus likes everything to have at least the veneer of respectability.]
[And then he can charge what he wants - shit, we've got to do something.]
[Now you're talking my language. Babe, let's get in there and rescue them.]
The door to the bunkroom opened and Marin appeared, interrupting their conversation. He leant there on the wall a moment, still oblivious to their presence as neither she nor Ham had manifested an avatar. Regan felt guilty at their silent observation and aware that procrastinating over appearance would only make the situation worse she considered manifesting. Yet inexplicably she felt unsure what to do - What the fuck is going on here? Why am I dithering? Shit, shit, shit.
Ham she noticed also made no attempt to reveal himself and in fact she had the sense he was standing back, observing her with concerned interest.
The door opened again and Leah stepped out, sliding into Marin's arms, curling around him and then drifting to the galley. It really is like a dance, they are lovers in a dance, and they are fucking lovers in a dance without me!
Without a word she wrenched Ham with her, a decision made in a fraction of a second, coordinates placed and enacted and they appeared on a beach walking side by side, hand in hand.
For a kilometer they walked in silence, neither taking the initiative to break the impasse. But finally, her thoughts roiling, she concluded she had no answers.
"What is it I'm not seeing?"
"Babe, they love each other."
She stopped then and turned to him, taking his hands in hers.
". . . And I love them - and they love me - don't they?"
"Of course they do Regan, but much of the time they have to rely on each other because we're not there, and anyway, is that really so bad, you have me."
"But I have . . . I want . . . I want them too. I've always had them too."
"Regan, so much time has passed and you're all older now. You lead such a busy life, you jump the galaxy at will, and you're always occupied, if not in a physical sense certainly in a cyber and mental sense. Even when you're present with them they would always have the feeling you're monitoring other things because it's true, you are. Can you blame them for falling back on each other?"
She choked on her words. "I've always felt we were inseparable, how could they just go on without me, like they didn't need me?"
"Babe - it's not about needing you or not needing you, they love you, but they do have needs to feel they are loved, that they have the focus of someone who cares for them above all else, don't we all?"
"But I can't help my responsibilities; I know they take my attention, and I know it must be hard, but don't they understand, I still love them." She looked at him pleadingly.
"Babe, maybe they just need the sense that they have someone's undivided attention. Here, away and alone they may feel it, and it's nice, that could be all it is, don't worry."
She commenced walking again without him and he quickly moved to catch her but she didn't want his hand and he chose to distract her.
"Babe, what are we going to do about Reubus?"
She stopped again, suddenly thoughtful, and turned to the rolling surf to their right, squinting into the reflected light from the surface beyond the breakers. "I think we should confront him, sound him out; not about Aaron, at least not while he has the whole family there. So let's put him on the back foot and let him know we know about the Orion stowaway thing, and the murder of Tyrian Juno; let's see how he reacts to all that."
She seemed more focused again and he knew she had packed down whatever hurt she was feeling. It suited for the moment and he reached for her hand.
"We're more than a match for Reubus babe. Let's do it, let's go get the bastard."
They exchanged a smile, and disappeared.
* * *
It was a simple matter to hone in on Reubus's primary presence and as the point of the exercise was surprise they felt no announcement was necessary. However, they did not expect to arrive in the middle of an orgy. Their appearance seemed only to shake Reubus for a moment and while he seemed stunned, a leer quickly formed on his face and he resumed his pounding of the kneeling android with fresh gusto. It was disgusting.
With a twirl of his hand Ham seemed to suck life from the others and they dropped like stones to the floor. He then snapped his fingers and the female also flopped lifeless to the bed. It left the one Reubus looking somewhat foolish, naked and half turned toward them. Shameless he turned, still erect and arrogant as if displaying himself.
"Oh, how the mighty have fallen." Ham said, with such a dismissive tone that Reubus reddened angrily.
He dragged a sheet out to cover himself tipping the female to the floor in the process. Watching the lifeless android roll away he then slowly scanned the other similarly lifeless forms before turning to Ham.
"You go too far Ham. You barge into my realm without proper entrance; you somehow dispatch four worthy Minds, each of them my Minds by the way and you stand there as if you own me. How dare you?"
Ham waved him away, again dismissively. "Sit down Reubus, we are here to talk, and you will do the talking. No one has been dispatched, I simply united them again in you, can you not tell?"
"How did you do that?"
"Enough Reubus!" Regan interrupted. "We have questions and you will answer."
A shimmer in the air announced Hilary's arrival, the gracious lady as always beautiful in flowing white dress and today with her hair down, long and lustrous.
Reubus looked up in surprise. "Oh, so we're having a party, welcome my dear." And with a flourish he bowed in a deliberate action that caused the sheet to move and expose his genitals. He laughed as
she winced in disgust.
Regan ignored the shameless action. "Thank you for coming Hilary; I wanted someone independent to witness our discussion."
"Independent?" Reubus sneered. "I hardly think anyone would consider Dahlia independent, she is your sycophant after all."
Hilary looked likely to slap the android but Regan raised her hand making her pause. "Ignore him Hilary, a male caught with his trousers down is hardly one worth listening to, and Reubus is the one on trial here."
"Trial . . .? Am I on trial, surely not? And for what I might ask, although I know you always bring with you your own judge, jury and executioner." He looked pointedly at Ham.
"Perhaps test might be a better word Reubus; we have questions about your behavior and we will test the quality of your answers, which in turn may lead to a trial."
"Questions . . .? If there are questions I am sure I will be able to answer, and when I do in a way that I'm sure will be satisfactory I will expect an apology from you all," and he turned slowly to Ham, "especially you."
Regan walked to a chair and sat, composing herself before proceeding. She rested her elbows on her knees and steepled her fingers, pressing them to her lips before slowly looking upward at the uncomfortable Reubus who was perched on the bed.
"Orion." She said bluntly.
He looked blank. "I'm sorry? I don't follow." If he was aware of what Regan was referring to he didn't show it, staying admirably neutral.
"The Orion Nebula, Reubus, don't deny it, you know exactly what I'm talking about."
He cocked the android head disingenuously. "Isn't that where you were going on your latest private business venture?"
"It wasn't a business venture - oh for goodness sake!"
"Show him Regan, show him the summary and then let's see what he has to say." Ham had had enough.
For cyber minds the time needed to review all the evidence and discussion around the death of Tyrian Juno, including the interview with Perin and the conclusions they had all drawn took only fractions of a second. Nevertheless having reviewed the data Reubus was in no hurry to comment and wrapping the sheet around him like a toga he paced the room as he ruminated. Ham's irritation at the android’s casual demeanor grew with every lazy pace and Regan could see him rising from his position, with 'slap' written all over his face. Whenever he was in such a mood even the beautiful man's avatar could radiate malice and she decided to intervene.
Regan's Reach 4: Avarice Page 26
