Regan's Reach 4: Avarice

by Mark G Brewer

  "Is this legal, signing without a lawyer to advise me?" Aaron asked.

  "Oh, didn't I tell you Aaron, I am a lawyer of Fifino, and I am your advisor."

  "Surely you could hardly be considered independent?"

  "True, but in this case clearly I am acting in your best interests as Moriah's cousin, and in any case I don't benefit from you signing these contracts in any way. Your signature simply begins a process that secures your patent rights and allocates future rights for the portals use."

  "To whom?" Aaron sat with his stylus poised.

  "Aaron - it is unimportant to whom, that role is merely one of station master, you will be rich beyond your wildest dreams with your percentage. Just sign and think of it as being for Ruben."

  Leith’s look as he said Ruben’s name radiated threat and malice and Aaron was about to comment when he thought better of it. Trust Regan, none of this will come to pass.

  He deftly added his signature to the digital record and stood without a word. Leith wasn't interested, swiftly scooping up the tablet and sliding it into a satchel he held ready.

  "You won't regret this Aaron, trust me, you've done the right thing. Now, go and enjoy your little family, have fun, the compound is yours to enjoy."

  Aaron stalked from the room radiating just the right amount of tension, already looking forward to the night and the excitement he was sure it would bring.

  * * *

  "So finally I get a role in this mission and it's as the hostess." Leah was grateful but embarrassed at the same time. Somehow greeting the displaced family seemed just a sop to her boredom.

  Ham unhelpfully encouraged her. "Leah, think of it not as a hostess role, more of a catcher. We're not completely sure of our control of the displacement in the tube car, it's not like we're in the saucer. They will arrive one by one and they may well stumble; we don't want anyone to get hurt."

  "And what will you and Marin be doing while they're popping out of the ether to me?"

  "Marin will be driving manually and I will be controlling the pop; you see, we will all be engaged."

  It was a losing battle and Leah turned her attention to the other practical matter. "How will you get the car in the tube?"

  "That is where Tihan comes in; he doesn't know all the details but he has a shunt coming to pick it up in an hour. We transport it to the line and rest it in a siding until tonight, and then he will cause a line stoppage at just the right time for the pickup. That's why we need Marin to manually drive it; Tihan must be kept completely in the dark."

  "I still don't get it, why can't you just do everything, like drive as well?"

  "Oh, did I say drive? I meant pedal." Ham smiled wickedly.

  Leah peeked through the door and sure enough in the front of the car a seat with pedals and chain could be seen, they would obviously connect the car to a centre rail, presumably what the vehicle rides on in the tube. She laughed with delight. "Oh man and I get to watch, I hope he doesn't have to pedal far?"

  "About a kilometer to get into position but then we can get out and transfer to a different car to get back; this car will then self destruct." He patted it affectionately. "A sad loss but it can't be helped if we're going to cover our tracks."

  "Wow." She really was impressed. "This is going to be so exciting - so what's Regan's role in all this?"

  "She'll be jumping backward and forward, to be on the inside confirming they're ready and then jumping to us so I can work the displacer. We can't communicate any other way because of the compound screening." He paused then, waiting for praise with his arms spread wide, a pose she recognized as his 'hurrah' position. She smiled knowingly and instead laughed. "You know Ham; this is about as kiwi as you can get for a plan and all the way over here on the other side of the galaxy, what a laugh."

  "Kiwi?" he sounded disappointed.

  "Yeah, the old number eight wire approach to fixing anything, you've obviously caught more from Regan than you imagine."

  At that moment Regan and Marin walked through from the neighboring room and again Leah could sense things weren't normal. Marin seemed to be pressing close to Regan but there was something about Regan's posture that said, not now.

  Babe, she thought, we need to talk - and as soon as possible.

  * * *

  The small automaton, a specialist courier unit, shuffled out of the Leith compound entrance and onto the main concourse, just another one of many going about their work. Hesitating only a second it then turned away from its scheduled path and accelerated in the opposite direction, a route that would take it toward a certain industrial complex, not for another pickup, but for a drop off. The satchel secured in its belly would be delivered to the right person but not its intended recipient who resided on another Orbital. If a humble machine could smile, this one certainly would have, eagerly anticipating the pleasure of this special person. It had a name, this automaton, given to it by its father in honor of an old dead friend; the machine was named Piglet.

  Twenty seven minutes later the unit arrived at its destination and buzzed through the factory doors before shuttling across to the goal. Regan looked down with an anxious smile, a look that quickly transformed into a beam when the satchel and tablet was revealed. As she lifted them from their enclosure, unconsciously she also reached down and patted the small machine. It hummed with pleasure.

  * * *

  Night on any Orbital is an entirely artificial concept with the Orbital Mind controlling everything, light, temperatures and even seasons. In the evening lights begin to dim in all concourses although they still maintain a reasonable level for passage and with the ability to monitor all spaces at all times any Orbital Mind could lift the levels at will should the need arise. No one was in any doubt that their Mind followed every activity on the Orbital and crime therefore proved virtually nonexistent as a result. No one seemed to mind that their every action was followed and everything was known. Privacy was protected by their Mind and since the advent of Reganism most had forged good relationships with these caregivers. In addition, such was the efficiency of the Minds everything continually 'worked'. Well, usually, but not tonight.

  In an unprecedented breakdown one section of the Fifino tube network was presently down. Helpfully, Tihan was keeping up constant updates for those who cared to listen, advising that repairs were underway and directing those who requested help to find alternative methods of transport to their destinations. In effect, apart from some minor diversions, so efficient was the process that the inconvenience was as usual, hardly noticed.

  Within the tube itself Marin was sweating profusely after only six hundred meters of hard pedaling and embarrassed by a constant stream of delighted ribbing from Regan and Leah. It occurred to Leah that Ham's android would no doubt have performed this task far more efficiently but he seemed either occupied or entertained, it was hard to tell. Regan's android was back in the factory as with only limited room in the car they would need the space for Aaron, Moriah and Ruben. Her avatar laughed again at Marin's discomfort and Leah too smiled, not at Marin but to see Regan happy . . . four hundred meters to go.

  "Stop pedaling!" Ham's voice broke the happy mood and they all paused to listen, the only sound now the slight hiss of silicone bearings on rail as the car coasted forward. Then suddenly they could feel Ham apply brakes and the car stopped.

  He turned with a grin. "Aaaaand . . . action!"

  Regan smiled and winked, then disappeared as Marin collapsed in sweaty exhaustion.

  Materializing in the bedroom she was surprised to find the family huddled on the bed, eyes already glued to her position in the centre of the room. Ruben's eyes were wide and frightened but as soon as he saw Regan the look changed to delight, a smile that she quickly returned.

  "We're on guys; everything is ready, are you?"

  Aaron shuffled off the bed. "We are Regan, how do we do this?"

  "One at a time, so who's going to go first?"

  "Take Ruben first." Moriah quickly replied and enc
ouraged the boy forward.

  Regan smiled at him. "Okay Ruben, this is going to sound strange but Ham is going to home his signal in on me, so what you have to do is step right into me and wait while I give him the word, can you do that?"

  The boy nodded confidently and stepped forward without hesitation, and to Aaron's and Moriah's amazement Ruben seemed to merge with Regan's avatar. Once in position there was no delay, a shimmering bubble forming quickly around the pair and then Ruben was gone. She didn't hesitate, gesturing for Moriah to now come forward and join her. The Coran beauty was more reluctant and seemed to recoil at the prospect of stepping into the avatar figure. Summoning her courage but not without a shudder she stepped forward and seemed to be absorbed just as Ruben had been and then she too disappeared instantly. Regan waited a moment, clearly communicating with someone as Aaron waited anxiously. Then she broke into a smile.

  "They're out and okay Aaron, now it's your turn." He stepped forward much more confidently; this time straight into her embrace and the two became one for that moment before he too disappeared. Regan scanned the room and to her satisfaction saw nothing out of place. She chuckled at the mystery Leith would need to explain and then disappeared; mission complete.

  Passage to the Fifino flight deck via tube was swift and secure thanks to Tihan who opened the line as soon as Ham sent the word. With the Saucer already parked for pickup the Styles family and the incriminating tablet were on their way to Dahlia within the hour. For the moment anyway Dahlia Orbital would likely be the only safe haven until they were ready to return home.

  Regan's thoughts quickly turned to the coming Inter Orbital Council and the inevitable showdown with Reubus. He was active, of that there was no doubt, and feedback from Sindali indicated he was using considerable leverage to swing votes already. But she knew she held the main trump card, her bodily appearance . . . as long as the STEIN Traveler made it in time.

  * * *

  Edge of the Gliese system

  Reubus strolled through the Cora energy development stirring neither interest nor dust, his android being the only sign of life in the fully automated production facility. He sniffed at the uncompleted work, problems with supplies of materials having caused delays in schedule that he found unacceptable under the market circumstances. Demand for the insertion ready antimatter tubes was high and their manufacture required both continual processing and a ready supply of the exotic raw materials, something that for this plant had become more and more of a challenge. At any other time he would have been angry at all the delays; he would have stewed over loss of profits, and worried about the risk to existing business contracts; but not today.

  Regan, if indeed she was coming, would emerge in deep space outside the Gliese gravity well but on a path that would bring her within easy reach of this place on her way through to Dahlia. Much was gambled on this assumption but he felt the risk was worth taking. Hilary of Dahlia was the key ally he reasoned and Regan would go there first, and yes, he was sure he could draw her here instead. Her curiosity would tease her to talk and perhaps he could yet persuade her to join him, and if not . . .?

  The thought caused his mind to turn to the second and perhaps most important matter of concern, his nemesis Ham. How could he ensure Regan would be free of the old Mind’s accursed influence was the question? Certainly he needed time until he knew the outcome of their discussions; Reubus quietly ruminated on the problem. A full circuit of the plant yielded no answer but at least some ideas and a swift process of elimination drew him to the only possible compromise. It would not be possible to exclude Ham from the plant, but it would be possible to restrict them in communication. He would wait until they were in the plant, then an incident could be triggered, something that would interfere with all wireless signals. With luck Ham would have no android and if in avatar attendance the interference would signal the end of his participation in discussions. If on the other hand he did have an android he would still be restricted to speech communication and neither he nor Regan would be able to access the plants central computer system. If not perfect as a solution, it was close.

  Feeling more confident by the second Reubus strolled back to the flight deck and mused on this new lone role, unusual after many months of working as a team. He took his time traversing the huge deck, which was currently clear of the normal freighters and shuttles that would be in attendance if the plant was in full production. Stopping at the edge of the deck he meditated there, staring out through the blue field screen at the distant starscape.

  * * *

  Dahlia Orbital

  With Aaron, Moriah and Ruben well settled in the care of Sindali, Marin and Leah again sat in wait with growing frustration. As usual, Regan was absent, still jumping between the Orbitals lobbying council members and the representative Minds. She seemed unwilling to rest - or was it unwilling to engage with them - it was hard to tell. Marin batted away Leah's concerns, certain that nothing could come between them. "Don't worry babe," he had said, "once she is here in person everything will be back to normal, you'll see." Her look said everything, she wasn't so sure.

  And then word came from the edge of the system.

  Hilary subbed the intelligence through to them. [Reubus is signaling for the STEIN Traveler. It's a general message to greet Regan and invite her to talk.]

  [How does he even know she is coming?] Marin subbed.

  [Perhaps he's guessed. This is a message being sent continuously on loop from a probe on the edge of the system. It's been picked up from a freighter coming in from Earth and relayed to me. I've no idea how long Reubus has been transmitting.]

  Leah shared a concerned look with Marin. [What does the message say?]

  [A bit smarmy, he welcomes her back to the system and craves her indulgence in a personal discussion before the Orbital Council Meeting. He feels they have much to discuss and that agreement could easily be reached on compromises that could please everybody.]

  Leah looked doubtful. [Not very likely I would have thought, what's his game do you think?]

  [He's suggested they meet at the old Cora energy production facility. It's being upgraded by Reubus, but there have been delays. I hear the plant now has the latest technology, perhaps he wants to impress her?]

  [I doubt that too - Ham, are you there?]

  [Always Leah, why do you doubt me?]

  She smiled ruefully. [Not doubt exactly, it's just that sometimes I prefer to forget, no offence intended.]

  [And none taken, what do you have in mind?]

  [I'm thinking we should get out there too, to greet her and, you know, be the cavalry if we're needed.]

  [You're bored.]

  [That too, so - no joking Ham, what do you think?]

  [I say let's go, and now, it will take a bit of time to get there.]

  [We should assume she'll respond to Reubus,] Leah was thinking ahead, [I reckon we head straight for that facility.]

  [What about our Regan?] Marin asked.

  Ham dismissed the concern. [She's on Tihan at the moment, and anyway I can update her as soon as we're within signal range; she can catch up later.]

  Leah rolled her eyes at Marin; he knew immediately what she was thinking, there were Regans everywhere - and yet none for them.

  [Hilary, could you let the flight deck know, we'll take the Saucer naturally.]

  [It's done; you know your displacer is still not working?]

  Again they exchanged looks before Marin replied. [I guess if we need to displace then once we get there the STEIN Traveler’s displacer will be sufficient.] He looked at Leah with a nod to the door; they didn't hesitate.

  * * * * *

  Chapter Thirteen

  The STEIN Traveler emerged from warp still in interstellar space but within days of the outer Gliese system. An uneventful journey incorporating three portal and four warp jumps had flashed by without incident or collision, much to Regan's relief. Taking a fresh, unexplored line between the Orion and Gliese Portals had been nerve wracking but in
addition Ham seemed to delight in leaving emergence until the last possible moment. He would then coast toward the different portals at ludicrous speed before power drifting in and sweeping through the gates like a boy racer. It was pointless questioning his judgment or timing and although the obvious question had occurred to her, how are you timing this to coincide with the gates openings and directions, she didn't bother asking as such questions as it only appealed to his pride. Ham loved to have secret knowledge and he would only have dismissed the query with some flippant retort anyway. When instead she made passing comment to Jared about it his reply was also Ham like, brief and to the point.

  "Mom, why do you need to ask, Ham knows everything."

  First reception of the looped Reubus message came at the outer edge of the system and at Ham's call Regan and Jared came pounding through to control from their jog on level six. Sweaty and keyed up they listened several times before she switched off the message and settled back in her seat.

  "What do you think Ham?"

  "Does he really think he can talk you around?"

  "Could it be a trap?" Jared asked.

  That gave Regan pause but she quickly dismissed the thought with a shake of the head. "I can't see that, he really does want to partner with me, and on top of that Ham still scares him big time, I'm sure of it. More likely he wants to try to change my mind, get the compromises he mentioned."

  "I wouldn't give him the time of day babe. We don't need him, let's just ignore him and cruise in to Dahlia, we'll know more then."

  "Hold on Ham, remember we're not sure about a lot of this Reubus stuff. Maybe this is a chance to confirm a few things too; I mean what have we got to lose?"