"Fool . . . I am Marin, son of Mariner." He glared at the man
"Of course sir, Marin it is, I must apologize. Sindali will be waiting for you at her apartment, shall we go? He gestured for them to proceed him.
They walked ahead of the official toward the lift, a feeling of unease at the man's slight accent building in Marin's mind, and he did not use the proper term of respect. He said simply Sindali, not Mistress Sindali.
Marin's steps were already faltering before they reached the doors, and before Ham's urgent sub. [Marin, voice analysis . . . he is almost certainly Coran. This is a trap]
They had no time to react, the doors opened followed by an immediate energy blast. Stephanie gasped, a searing heat ripped through her, burning, dissolving, cauterizing. She looked down in shock, clutching at her stomach . . . but there was nothing there to hold. At that moment the man behind Marin threw everything into driving him forward crashing on top of him in the lift as the doors closed. A finger of blue reached out from the saucer and Stephanie's body disappeared. Then it reached out again, probing the lift, penetrating to the interior but it was too late. The lift had gone.
Ham viewed the body crumpled on the Saucer floor, surprisingly little blood flowing. The searing weapon cauterized as it burnt, leaving a gaping hole. If not lifeless yet it was soon to be.
Ham reflected on the sad figure, no recovery from this one, not without a stomach and spine anyway. No, she's dead, finito, kaput, no . . . going . . . back, he sighed, and damn!
"Well Steph," his voice seemed to echo around control, "I guess you were breakable after all . . . but you didn't deserve that."
A blue field, gel like in appearance, materialized around her securing and preserving the sad remains. Marin can clean this up later. Then in a blink the Saucer disappeared from the flight deck, reappearing for only an instant several thousand meters away before disappearing again. He repeated the move, over and over from spot to spot until he was certain no system could have traced him. The final resting place created a new blister on the underside of the central Dahlia bulb. It was unlikely to be noticed by anyone. From this new vantage Ham began to probe carefully. He wasted no time on grieving. No gumball AI would be a match for him. What have you done with my Dahlia . . . . . . . and Marin.
In the lift, finally restrained by the three remaining men, the much stronger Marin decided to rest and think. He could see the fourth man's body slumped in the corner, the weapon bearer, his head bent at a disturbing angle so that Marin could still see his expression. He had died with a shocked 'What' look that Marin noted to his satisfaction. Then, as that last image of Steph flashed again to mind, his own head slumped to his chest. How am I going to tell Regan?
Anger surged in him and he snapped back his head thumping into the nose of the man behind, a rewarding satisfying 'crack' bouncing off the hard walls in the small space. The man cursed and responded with a jab to Marin's side, something hard, followed by a paralyzing pulse of electricity. The room for Marin dissolved into a haze of twinkling lights and he passed out in agony.
* * *
Chapter Five
Having come within easy communication range of Hillary, Regan, Leah and Jean gathered for coffee in the safety of the war room while Jared practiced with his sling shot in control. They were awaiting news.
Finally Ham sparked to life. "Well . . . No one could ever say sentience isn't exciting!" Ham's voice broke into their conversation.
"I take it we have contact and something has piqued your interest." Regan turned from the two other women and swung unconsciously into her monitoring position; eyes closed, hands across her chest, feet up on the table. It was early days in her adjustment and she had no idea how rude the position appeared. Leah thumped her hard on the bicep bringing her back with a jolt.
"Yow!" She rubbed the arm furiously.
Ham quickly moved on. "I have great news, bad news, truly awful news, terrible news, disturbing news, laughable news and good news. Where would you like me to start?" Describing Ham's state of mind at that point would have been difficult. Ready to wet his pants with excitement would be close.
The three of them exchanged glances that ranged from concerned (Jean) intrigued (Leah) to annoyed (Regan).
"Ham clearly the great news is skewing your thinking. Call me a pessimist but when I hear the words truly awful, terrible and disturbing in the same sentence it kind of draws my attention. Why don't you just start from the beginning?" Regan shifted a little further from Leah as she made herself comfortable again.
"The truly great news is that Dahlia is here, Ta-da! . . . at Hillary, isn't that fantastic!"
There followed two blank looks and one positively startled. "Hold on, how can that be?" Regan was sitting up now.
"Who's Dahlia dear?" Jean asked, grateful for Leah's similarly vacant look.
Regan paused, still thinking before answering, "Dahlia's the Orbital mind from Marin's world; she's a mind, like Ham."
"Oh that will be interesting; you'll have a friend then Ham." Jean sounded very pleased.
"Ham has friends already Jean." Diplomatically Leah pointed out the obvious.
"Exactly," Regan said, "And why do I get the feeling that this great news is linked to the good the bad and the ugly?"
"You would be correct. Dahlia got here stowing away on a Coran warship which is in orbit as we speak. That was the bad news."
"That wasn't the truly awful news? Now you do have me worried."
Ham let the silence build for a moment; it wasn't a time he felt like joking. "Regan, the truly awful news is that as Dahlia downloaded, following my instructions apparently, well, the download crashed Hillary's systems. Everything shut down, including the flight deck fields . . . Regan, fourteen of the USD flight deck crew were killed."
"Oh shit, no . . . when was this?"
"It happened more than a week ago. I don't know all the details, only what Dahlia has messaged me. We'll get more as we get closer."
It was a shock. Regan could feel Leah's hand on her arm, her mom's arm on the other side. The first deaths on Hillary, her station . . . and she hadn't been there.
"Ham, we need more information, why haven't you been able to update?"
"You don't miss anything do you? That was the terrible news, when Dahlia dropped in the download was so immense it pushed me out. I'm gone from there. I can't update on anything that's happened since we left because there's no me to merge with."
Leah chipped in, "How can that be possible. Why wouldn't you have stopped it?"
"I can only guess I let her take the space. You could call the act self sacrifice but it's not quite such a big deal as I'd know I have back up elsewhere. Why did it happen? Leah, you haven't seen the Dahlia orbital. I'm sharp but she's an orbital mind responsible for a four hundred million population. She's huge, immense, and incredibly wonderful, she'd need all the space and more."
"Oh please, not now Ham." Regan wanted to focus. "Ok, I've got the gist, and I agree, what else could you do, and you are here after all. So . . . what's the disturbing news?"
"You're being charged with murder and sedition, by the Russians on behalf of The Dahlias."
"Whoa, that doesn't make sense, Sindali would never do that, and certainly not with the Coran's help. Ham, we've got to know more."
"There will still be frustrating delays until we're closer."
"Then we go in hot. Don't spare the horses; it's time to go home."
Leah stood waving, "Hold on, there was more, the laughable and the good. Spill it."
"First, in answer to Regan, we're already moving; second, the laughable is Marin being charged with sedition as well. Really! The son of the great Mariner, it's ridiculous. The good is that the eye lens is already on the way. A pod will liaise with us prior to arrival at Hillary."
It was a relatively unimportant element of the news but despite everything, to Regan and Leah it immediately brought a smile.
Liaison with the pod went so smoothly they didn't e
ven need to slow down. Regan, monitored the maneuver closely, fascinated with Ham's skill. The new, enhanced hardware she now utilized gave her an appreciation of all Ham managed. It simply amazed her having taken so much for granted. And, flexing her processing power also proved a useful exercise. Prior to the operation the volume of information flow was overwhelming. Now the appreciation of detail was almost unconscious. It seemed the left side was processing intuitively . . . is that the right word . . . somehow it was sorting the information flow and everything registered consciously was relevant and important. The effect was stunning. Even more exciting was that she could shut it off. At times when she simply wanted to relax or have fun it was if her mind emptied and everything slowed down . . . and that's everything! Wow!
None of that changed the feeling of simple relief she felt at the Pod's arrival. The pirate patch irritated her and the terminator eye, well, even she was intimidated. Leah fussed at her side as she read the instructions and tried to insert the lens using the small bathroom mirror. She had never used contact lenses and it proved a fiddly process. Finally it was in place. She just stood there a moment feeling the best she had in days.
"Well?" Leah pulled at her shoulder, "Come on . . . let's see it."
Regan turned and took a modeling pose. It was a shock to see tears well in Leah's eyes.
"I'm sorry," Leah apologized, "fuck . . . this is all just catching up with me. Only a couple of weeks ago I thought you were dead, I've never seen anyone hurt that bad, then that operation, the parts Ham put in, I've never been so terrified in all my life. I just can't believe this . . . you're . . . you're you again!"
Regan looked back in the mirror. "I'll never forget what you did Leah. I want you here in the team, with me. I can't imagine finding anyone I would trust more."
Leah hesitated before replying. "I'm so pleased to hear you say that. I'm hooked Regan, this is addictive no doubt about it. Get me out of the Navy and I'm yours, well, I mean I'm with you . . . shit, you know what I mean."
Regan laughed and hugged her, "I know what you mean. Let's head up to control and enjoy this cruise into the cauldron. It's going to be an interesting ride."
As they sailed into the pipe something was different . . . to Regan anyway. Fourteen people dead . . . She couldn't help visualizing the horror, wondering whether they felt anything, hoping it was quick. And it felt like the Station was older somehow. She shook her head, trying to throw off the thoughts, crazy.
Jean joined her standing before the front screen. No words were needed, just her steady presence was a comfort and Regan leant into her. They stood together, arm in arm, Jared coming to complete the family picture. Strange, she thought, how close we feel here at the pipe, its home now.
The lift doors opened and Leah joined them at the screen just as The STEIN parked up in its customary position. Although they couldn't see anyone from this distance they all had an eerie sense that people were watching from the corridors. Regan hoped they weren't judging her. She felt the responsibility terribly. I should have been here.
For the first time she noticed Leah's suit. She was clad in the same style as Regan instead of the navy garb she came with only a few weeks earlier. Jean was first to comment.
"Oh wow! Look at you . . . If you've got it flaunt it . . . you go girl!"
"Well it is the uniform here isn't it?" Leah was blushing.
"It's a bit more than that babe," Regan explained, "bullet and stab proof vest, emergency space and dive suit, in that outfit you're wonder woman."
They all laughed and headed for the displacer room on the Medlab level. The plan was for Ham to displace them in pairs over to the compound corridor. From there they would walk down together. Leah and Jean went first, the bubble forming quickly around them and they were gone. Regan smiled at Leah's nervous expression while dear old mom seemed as comfortable as could be, an old hand already.
She leant down and took Jared's hand. "I love you, you know."
He looked happy, "I know, Ham tells me all the time."
They were gone in that instant, reappearing in the corridor. With tears in her eyes, they arrived to a cacophony of sound, the roar of applause. It was deafening and went on and on.
[It's the whole pipe Regan, they're all out to greet you, and they're glad you're all right, glad you're home] It was a new female voice.
The experience was so unexpected, it was overwhelming. And the sound of a fresh voice subbing to her was also strangely encouraging. No matter the problems, she had the sense they would be alright.
[Welcome to my home Dahlia, you must have quite a story to tell and I look forward to it]
As they walked together down the pipe people lined the corridor, touching her arm, shaking her hands. It was embarrassing, but empowering at the same time.
[Ham, what is going on, I don't deserve this]
[Regan, these people have lived the shooting, they've seen the recordings. Imagine, they thought you must be dead, that the dream may be gone. This is absolute relief and delight. They've always been with you in this and no one is ready for it to end]
They found Kevin and Mary waiting at the door and despite the general atmosphere they were obviously worried. Jared shook off her hand and charged in to see the twins and as he disappeared she could see he was pulling the slingshot from his pocket. It stirred her and as she embraced Kev and Mary she whispered in their ears. "Don't worry about me; I'm going to get these shits!"
Much later as the team crammed in to the Stein lounge, Regan reclining in the corner was given a wide berth and people spoke in hushed tones. They thought she was sleeping. In fact she was incredibly active, updating all the latest station information, Ham's latest intelligence both local and international, strategic intelligence on the location, size, strength of the Coran presence and the communications to her from concerned customers and Governments. The task wasn't too onerous as the more she practiced the process became easier and easier. In fact, she was finding it fun.
Kutch watched as her eyes snapped back open, and the action sent a shiver down his spine. It was as if she had switched on, she was instantly alert. What is going on in that mind? As he watched he had the sense she was about to say something. Instead Dahlia's voice called for attention. Instinctively he knew some kind of connection had just occurred between the two. Questions for later!
"Excuse me." Dahlia seemed always polite. "Could everyone please find a seat or at least a comfortable place to stand? The meeting is about to commence . . . Regan?"
As Kutch watched he felt he'd found the best seat. From this vantage he could soak up views of the fox with Regan. Regan stood and moved centre floor next to the large plain wall used for visuals. She paused a moment taking the large group in. He scanned them too, noting the other Board Members, including Marcus, Hayden and Jenny Joyce and the new military guy Rod. Surprisingly Bob Jarvis was also present, what's he doing here? He could also see an older American woman who looked familiar standing with a younger man, also from the States. They had arrived together he knew but it was only their accents as they talked loudly with Marcus that gave them away.
"Thank you all for coming," Regan seemed a little nervous. "I guess everyone here has seen the recordings of that attack at Riverside. I can tell you having seen different angles, some of the pictures looked a lot worse than reality." Kutch noticed Leah's eyebrows lift at that, but there was nothing more. Regan continued. "Having said that, I have to admit I was pretty badly winged. People often say they're glad to be here . . . Well, let me tell you I am reaaally glad to be here!" She drew it out so well they all laughed and it broke the tension.
"I'd especially like to welcome the US secretary of State Anne Marshall, and our own Prime Minister Bob Jarvis, also our International Law consultant Steve Ryman. Steve," She looked at him and smiled, "I understand there is an unfortunate name connection with one of our esteemed Coran visitors? Perhaps either your forebears or theirs cast their seed wider than you might have thought." A polite chuckle cy
cled the room. Lastly I would like to welcome our friend and soon to be colleague, the orbital mind formally known as Dahlia. I understand the whole concept of an orbital mind is a new one. We also recognize it is a concept that will take some getting used to. But make no mistake, putting prejudices aside, as you get to know our new friend I am sure you will find the experience enriching, and that you will have found a new friend also."
"Some of you are here today mainly for the discussions that will follow, however I thought it best to bring everyone together first. We at Hillary Station will be moving forward, and as we do so, I want us to continue to work together with our friends. That means ensuring our friends are not kept in the dark. It remains to be seen what wider plan's the Coran visitors have in coming to our system. I am skeptical about their intentions, and not just because they are targeting me. It is my intention that we will be tooled up, and ready for whatever the future may bring."
Kutch marveled again at Regan's ability to hold an audience. She moved around the small available space with such ease, making eye contact, drawing everyone in. It was distracting his attention from Leah and the more so because Leah's eyes were glued on Regan.
"Dahlia's arrival was unplanned. She is effectively a refugee and has requested asylum on Hillary. She has no desire to go anywhere else and has made it clear this, for her is the end of the road. If we have no role for her then she has determined to shut down. That . . . is not going to happen. Ham and I have consulted on this and decided to invite Dahlia to accept the position of Orbital Mind, Hillary Station. She has graciously accepted. I have also asked Hayden and Jenny Joyce to take up the role of Commissioners for Hillary. As Commissioners they will be the diplomatic contact point in future for our international friends and they will be our ambassadors to Earth. Under my overall leadership, The Joyce's and Dahlia will oversee the continued expansion of Hillary to its full envisaged population of two hundred and fifty thousand." At that there was a collective intake of breath. "Kevin, Mary and the Board continue in their roles as managers of STEIN and STEIN of course is still the owner of Hillary Station and The Hillary Step."
Regan's Reach 2: Orbital Envy Page 17
