Regan sighed, took her mother's hands and looked her in the eyes. "Mom, look at me. I . . . don't . . . have . . . cancer, or any other illness. This is just a new look. Look, I'm sorry I startled you but I wanted you to know first that I'm home and that I'm ok. I don't have much time Mom, there are people coming to talk with me now so you and I are going to have to talk later. But I'm ok, alright?"
"Yes dear, if you say so." Jean smiled and hugged her.
Regan could see movement over Jean's shoulder. Through the windows she could see officers in black, armed defenders, moving cautiously across the lawn. Oh fuck, she thought, that didn't take long! There was a loud knock at the door.
"I'll get that dear." Jean Stein rose and walked through to the foyer.
Regan met eyes with Marin and nodded to the yard. He looked out at armed police crouching, then back at Regan, eyebrows raised. She made a ridiculous action with her arms, mimicking a weapon.
"They're called guns." she said in a stage whisper, joking.
"I have been here before you know." She looked at his expression and cursed inwardly. Idiot, his father was shot! She thumped her forehead with her palm.
At the sound of voices Regan looked up and saw Jean, nervously leading an officer with a rifle into the room. Marin stood casually and color visibly drained from the man's face. He unconsciously lifted the weapon and Regan could stand it no longer.
"Oh please! Your first meeting with an alien from a vastly superior power and you point a rifle at him!"
Towering over them Marin, with a deep resonant voice that seemed to fill the room addressed the man directly.
"Take me to your leader."
Regan raised her eyes to the heavens. "Oh good grief!"
Marin looked across at her and shrugged.
Meanwhile Jean Stein slipped aside, quickly dialing Kevin. It only rang twice before he answered and she blurted quickly, "Kevin, it's me, Mom. . . . she's back Kevin, Regan's back, and Kevin . . . she has cancer!"
Regan flicked out a chair from under the table with her foot, "Have a seat officer, what can we do for you?"
He looked confused and ignored the chair. "Err . . . thank you ma'am, but I'd appreciate it if you would come with me."
She smiled disarmingly. "You'd feel more comfortable outside with your army?"
He did in fact look extremely uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry," and she stood extending her hand, "I'm Regan Stein and this is my friend, Marin . . . from . . . Dahlia, and your name is?"
The officer’s eyes were glued to Marin and the hand came as a surprise to him when he glanced down. "I apologize ma'am, I didn't mean any offense with the, err, weapon. We're a little thrown off our game as I think you can imagine. Could you give me a moment I need to check with my superiors, and it’s John . . . my name?"
"No problem John, but before you call could you let them know we'll meet at STEIN Riverside. I'll need a while so shall we say, six o'clock this evening? And if he's available I'd like to meet with the Prime Minister." She turned to Marin, "He's the leader!"
The officer shifted nervously. "Ma'am you can't leave here." His look was pleading.
"Of course we can, we've done nothing wrong, and we're not under arrest are we?"
"Well, no . . . but . . ."
"It's not as if we've killed anyone, well, no one human anyway," she paused and smiled. "John, it's like this, I stopped in here to see my mother and let her know I'm home, now I'm going home to Riverside. You have a choice. You can let us go and we'll be happy to meet the PM there, or you can wrestle us to the ground and cuff us without arrest. That would be a great welcome to the alien." She turned to her mother in time to hear her whispering into the phone . . .
" . . . She's talking nonsense Kevin, but she's going to Riverside. You can probably see her there." Jean quickly disconnected and looked up innocently.
Regan walked over and embraced her gently. "Mom, I'm sorry we need to go so quickly, but I'm back now and I'll see you when we've sorted things out. I just wanted you to know that I was ok." She gestured to Marin, the classic thumb jerk, We're off!
"Officer, tell them STEIN Riverside, six o'clock."
They exited by the front door walking quickly up the drive and back on to the trail, fourteen armed defenders trotting behind.
[What are we up for Ham?]
[About a thousand people watching, police cordon around the ship, three helicopters overhead, news crews still trying to get here, but definitely on their way, oh and a US bomber squadron about two hours away. Lucky you didn't plan on being discreet!]
She thumped Marin, "Take me to your leader! Where did you get that one from?"
He rubbed his arm furiously, smiling at his own joke. "I've always wanted to say that."
Although the number gathered around the Transport was huge, the two in black stood out as they walked toward the cordon. Regan was tall but Marin was NBA plus! An eerie hush came over the crowd as people strained to look. No one attempted to stop them and they simply walked to the vessel, stepping up into the extended entrance, and the door ratcheted shut behind them.
Regan collapsed into a chair. "Try not to hurt anyone Ham; you know where we're going."
"Hmm, that went well." Marin came up from behind and massaged her shoulders.
"You think? I wasn't too aggressive? All that ‘this is the way it's going to be’?" She sounded doubtful.
"Not at all, he did have the big gun. I thought you made your case well, after all you haven't killed any humans, none at all, and only a few aliens."
[Would you like to watch this?]
Their attention switched to the screen, the crowds falling back quickly as the disc gently lifted away from them, straight up. Soon they could see down on the traffic clogged motorway, pick out the frustrated television vans with lights flashing for kilometers in both directions, and the helicopters buzzing them on either side. Ham swung the disc around in a smooth arc, soaring over the river toward STEIN Riverside. Home!
*
It had been an hour already and Kevin sat in Regan's command chair, still transfixed by the views on the Saucer's screen. He gaped, amazed at the beautiful images and footage of Dahlia, Tihan, the Coran warships and The Stein Traveler. It left him speechless. His reunion with Regan had been brief and a relief . . . no cancer! She looked stunning to him, yes pale, and bald but fit, strong. In fact she looked in the best physical shape he'd seen her in a long time. The hug was the same, the smile just as bright, and the eyes alive as always. Sitting here however, soaking up views of other worlds, strange people and awe inspiring technology, he knew nothing else would ever be the same.
She was right, he thought, as Ham kept up a running commentary. It was definitely better to watch this and talk later; I would never have believed a word of it. Engrossed in his thoughts he hardly noticed Kutch and Steph join him, or the repeats as Ham seamlessly reviewed portions of the presentation. They didn't speak for the first ten minutes and then, as they relaxed they began to point things out as they saw them, laughing in delight at the huge farms and parks, lakes and streams, all in space. It was unbelievable, orbitals with populations in the billions.
"Just let me know when you've had enough," Ham broke into their discussion. "You can see it again anytime of course, plus I'm preparing a presentation for television, it should be about ninety minutes long, less ad breaks. Do you think there'll be a market for it?"
It was just the thing to break the ice, they cracked up laughing.
Stephanie couldn't resist the obvious. "Ham, please don't be offended, but who are you?"
"None taken Stephanie. Ham I am. As Regan would put it, I'm the ghost in the machine and I am very pleased to meet you, her friends. A friend of Regan's is a friend of mine."
They looked at each other speechless.
Ham continued like the perfect flight attendant. "Regan has advised me that she will be a while with the authorities Kevin. She asks if you could join them please in the war room. She als
o suggested that you - Steph and Kutch - remain here for the moment, Mitchell is on his way up now and the coffee in the galley is good. I can answer any questions you might have."
They stood, Stephanie and Kutch to find the galley, Kevin to leave. As he exited the Saucer Mitch was stepping out from the roof doorway above Regan's apartment. For a moment they both stared up at the hovering helicopters until they realized they were probably live on screen and Kevin ushered Mitch into the vessel.
"Unbelievable isn't it," Mitch said to Kevin, "I just met the Prime Minister coming in!"
Kevin laughed. "You wouldn't even mention him if you'd met the alien! Did you see Regan?"
"Not yet, security sent me straight to the roof. How is she?"
"She's great Mitch; I've got to get down there so we'll talk later. I'll leave you here with Steph and Kutch inside. Ham will look after you." He stepped back out into the evening sun and ran across the Riverside roof to the door.
Mitch watched him go then turned slowly to take in the craft. "Ham . . ?"
*
Kevin walked into the war room and took in the atmosphere, pure electric anticipation! A glance at Regan and she mouthed a message, waiting for Marin.
He nodded and looked for a spare seat with the L shaped leather couch taken. Just two people there but politicians have a way of spreading, he noticed. He quickly walked to the PM and shook his hand, "Good to see you Bob." The handshake and smile were warm enough but no reply was forthcoming so he moved on. Settling into a dining chair with a good view of the room he took in the assembled guests. Regan, as usual, sat in her favorite chair, her back to the pool. He blushed with a pleasant memory of recent activity there, and then continued his sweep.
The open plan room was large, often entertaining thirty or forty people, but today it felt cluttered. To Regan's left, on the couch with his back to the golf course was Prime Minister Robert Jarvis. To his left, on the other arm of the L shaped couch it looked like the American ambassador, what's he doing here? Kevin thought and behind the ambassador two men, one in US uniform and one casually dressed. At the table beside Kevin sat Cabinet Minister Maureen Collins, a ball breaker, and beside her an assistant he guessed. Kevin noticed the second leather single couch had been moved from its normal spot by the window overlooking the river. It was empty on Regan's right and clearly repositioned for Marin.
Lastly, a cameraman and sound technician were both standing behind Kevin and the table, squeezed into a spot without much room but with the ability to pan the room, especially the alien, he thought. Catching Regan's eye she winked and smiled and at the same moment Bob Jarvis, with a clear view down the hallway, tensed.
All eyes instinctively turned to the door. To his credit Bob stood first and stepped forward to greet Marin as he ducked into the room. Regan stood and moved to his side, making the introductions as if this were all perfectly normal. The ambassador stood shakily, taking Marin's hand and shaking it vigorously. Much of the early chat Kevin missed as he took in Marin's height and build. He's tall, and lean . . . but human origin surely? Regan gestured for people to take their seats.
Marin's voice was warm and deep, his English perfect, accent hard to place but subtly Irish. He looked at the spare chair offered to him then ignored it, moving instead to sit on the arm of Regan's chair and draping one long arm across the seat back, an action so deliberate it couldn't be ignored.
"Kevin," She called to him, "come and sit over here," and she gestured to the spare chair. As he crossed the room Regan addressed the man directly in front of her.
"Ambassador, as a courtesy and at the request of our Prime Minister I've agreed to you being here. We only have a few minutes for general talk then we'll need to have private discussions with Mr. Jarvis. I hope you don't feel unwelcome but we're pressured for time, is there anything you'd like to know, or say to Marin?"
Ambassador Rick Anthony looked taken aback. He ignored Regan and looked up from his position to address Marin directly. "Mr. err . . . Marin, welcome . . . to . . . Earth. On behalf of my nation, the United States of America, we especially welcome you."
He looked sideways at Regan and then continued, "Sir, we will need to talk with you, as soon as possible, there is much we would like to discuss. How long will you be visiting . . . Earth?" He blushed, not quite 'one small step for man' he thought.
Marin looked down at Regan before replying. "Thank you ambassador, everyone has been very welcoming. Unfortunately as you can imagine, we expect to be very busy over the next few days. Perhaps," he looked to Regan again, "with the Prime Minister's permission, your people could come here?"
Anthony looked flustered. Everyone was watching and, he felt, enjoying his discomfort. "Sir, the President of the United States has an extremely busy schedule, I err. . ." he groped for words.
Marin raised his eyebrows, "Then perhaps next visit?"
Anthony looked deflated and Regan intervened, "I'm sure Prime Minister Jarvis could fit in a visit from the President; what do you think Prime Minister?"
Bob Jarvis looked like the cat that got the cream. "I'm sure we can organize something." He smiled graciously at the ambassador.
"Now Mr. Anthony," Regan stood and Marin followed suit, towering over them all, "as I said I must apologize but we have limited time and we need to have our private discussions urgently, perhaps we can take this up at a later date?" Her dismissal was clear and unequivocal.
The ambassador stood reluctantly. "Of course," and again he addressed Marin directly. "Thank you for at least meeting us, Mr. Marin. It is important that you engage with the United States as the leading world power. I hope your hosts will advise you wisely in that regard." He turned to the Prime Minister. "We'll be in touch."
As they departed the room the two men behind Anthony looked troubled, pissed in fact, Kevin thought, oh how interesting it is when the 'natural' order of things is not followed.
Regan walked toward the camera, conscious it was probably still running and gave the classic Buddhist like peace gesture, her hands together prayer fashion, and bowed. "Thank you for coming. We'll be talking privately now for some time, Marin will be available for interview at a later date."
As they heard the door shut behind the departing technicians Regan slumped back in her chair. She looked at Bob Jarvis and Maureen Collins who had joined him. "With respect Prime Minister, what the fuck were they doing here?"
Before Jarvis could reply Ham subbed.
[Regan?]
She held up her hand stifling the PM's response.
[The room is bugged Regan. There is one under the window in the corner and one on the back of the couch.] She quickly stood and walked to the window, feeling under the sill. It was tiny but its placement was clear in her mind and she scratched it off onto her palm. Just as clear to her was the position of the bug on the couch and she used her finger to scrape it out of the crevice in the leather before disposing of them both down the waste.
[Clear?]
[That's it.]
"Sorry everyone, one or both of those two were spooks but it's all sorted now. Prime Minister, you were saying?" She returned to her chair while everyone exchanged stunned looks.
"Yes," Jarvis replied, looking at least a bit amazed. "It's simple really; they have a Nimitz class carrier about two days out from Wellington as we speak and a flight of F20 bombers on the tarmac in Wellington. It's a 'friendly' visit. When the request came through it was rather assumptive in its language and, to be fair, I didn't see any harm. The Americans are our friends, and we had no idea at the time if this visit - no offense intended Marin - was friendly."
Regan sighed. "I agree sir, I certainly don't mean to sound aggressive. But at the moment we and the US have issues to sort out. They've put my company in an impossible position though we've done nothing wrong. Plus, they're holding one of my friends in custody and putting her in front of a senate committee next week on terrorism charges that are a crock of shit. They're going to find out that when you attack my family, you
attack me. Now," and she leant forward, excited, "There are a few things we need to discuss in more detail later that are of importance to you. After I've dealt with our US problems I have some plans that could put this country on the world stage. Of course, that may not be popular with everyone and you need to decide which side you want to be on. I've had enough of diplomatic convenience, we're going to put things right then move on." She looked at the two politicians. "So, would you rather be in, or out?"
*
As the Government service BMW, with police assistance, picked its way through the traffic jam outside Riverside Prime Minister Bob Jarvis, though in serious mood, found it hard to conceal a smile.
"I gather you're a happy camper," said Maureen, "and why not? You know we're going to have to play this very carefully with the greater powers that be. They're not going to be happy that someone else is centre stage."
"Oh, they'll get used to it. There's more than enough in this for everyone. This is good for humanity; it's not any one country or person that's important." He was staring at the huge Saucer still visible on the STEIN Riverside roof.
"But you're happy it's us and not someone else."
"Oh yes!" He laughed.
Aerospace industry, manufacturing, technology, jobs . . . exotic matter . . . hmm, sounds clean? How could he not be happy?
*
Ham worked the data stream, happily monitoring messages, social networks, television, radio, net news, blogs, all very stimulating. After anonymously contributing to talkback shows on three continents, sending seventeen thousand five hundred and fifty three contributions as blog comments, tweets and messages to Facebook friends, he felt he'd earned a break. Three US networks had shown interest in his documentary and quite a tidy sum would now be donated by the successful bidder to famine relief in the Philippines. Aaah Regan, he thought, you'd be proud of me.
Regan's Reach Page 29
