Regan's Reach 2: Orbital Envy (5 page)

"Thanks again Regan. I'd get on to Kevin quickly so the call doesn't come as a surprise. Somehow I don't think the Americans will waste time getting in touch."

* * *

The Transport, or Saucer as most thought of it, drifted in from moonward and sailed down the pipe producing the first spin anyone had seen for some time. In an over the top maneuver Ham, with full merge now completed, managed three complete turns before sliding into place at the base of the keg. With both Pods in place and only one Interceptor away with Kevin, Mary and the twins, The STEIN Traveler was a picture, almost the complete sphere. Although she could only see it on screen Regan was sure she could feel the difference, and she was delighted.

The test Ham explained had been an unqualified success and He raved about young Aaron Stiles. The British physicist was brilliant he said, creative, insightful, full of ideas, fearless, undaunted.

It was too much for Regan. As they waited for the team to come up to control she baited him mercilessly. "Ham, I swear you are in love, the two of you should go off somewhere and have interceptors."

"I'm only giving credit where credit is due Regan. You wanted speed; this man gives you blinding speed. And still you mock. You don't deserve him, did I say he is a genius. He'd surprise the best on Dahlia I can tell you."

The doors of the lift opened and Aaron was the first to come out with Marin and Steph clapping behind him. Regan joined in and they embraced. She knew he was shy and true to form he didn't say anything, simply blushed and turned to usher in the other two.

[That's my man, always shares the limelight. It's an honorable trait!]

Marin stepped forward and embraced Regan followed by Steph.

"Come on all of you we can sit down over a coffee in the war room." they all trooped behind her.

[That was interesting]

[He is amazing isn't he?]

[Not your new love interest! Steph, she held back, I could feel it]

[You're being too sensitive. After all, Marin . . . a female . . . four days away . . . I mean, you do the math]

[Now
you're
being insensitive]

[Really? Your current thing for men in uniform is forgotten already?]

Regan came back with a start realizing they were waiting for her to start. They all sat bemused around the large table. "Sorry, I was a million miles away for a moment there. There's been a lot on while you've been away. Ok, give me your thoughts."

Marin jumped in. "It works Regan. Aarons understanding of the Warp Drive is amazing. From the same energy source his ideas have helped us double the output. We were hoping for forty, maybe fifty percent faster warp speeds but it seems once there, at warp, just a little more input is generating greater speeds than we dreamed about. We've reduced Warp travel times by half and Aaron thinks with time and a larger drive such as in The STEIN, he can gain even more, can you believe it." Marin hardly took a breath. He was incredibly excited, more than seemed appropriate in fact. The breakthrough clearly had him thinking.

[You want to go home don't you?] Regan subbed him privately and it caught Marin off guard. For a moment he sat there, rigid, his mouth hanging open.

Steph reached across quickly and rubbed his forearm gently. "Are you Ok?" Her concern was obvious, personal, and intimate.

Marin pulled the arm away quickly and the look on her face said it all to Regan. Steph was hurt.

She looked at him, disappointed. [Oh Marin] . . . [With my best friend?]

He looked like a boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. [Regan, it was nothing; well . . . it was pretty good actually . . . but not as good as you]

[. . . And with Aaron there!]

Marin shrugged, [He sleeps a lot]

Ham intervened. [Guys, guys . . . your audience, they're waiting]

Regan took a big breath, placed both hands palm down on the table as if bracing herself and took the three of them in, all sitting nervous across from her. She smiled breaking the tension. "Thank you Aaron. Who would have thought that we could take advanced technology like this and have one of our own improve it? You are amazing. With Ham's approval I'd like you to get to work on The STEIN immediately. I think now's the time to get on to it while things are quiet here. What do you say to that Ham?"

"There is always a place here for brilliance." Ham gushed.

[Oh get a room, please!] Regan was losing patience.

[Philistine!]

"Enough of this . . . I can read the reports, it's the result I'm delighted with. You all need a break. Ham can transport you to the pipe so you can hit your own rooms, or you're all welcome to stay here tonight. In any case we will meet again tomorrow. Marin, I'd like a word with you in private please."

It was clearly a dismissal. Aaron immediately and without a word headed for the displacer room. Steph stood but clearly didn't want to leave so Regan walked around the table and hugged her. It's OK Steph, I just have some things I need to talk about with Marin. He'll be along soon. She blushed, nodded, and slipped away.
Sheesh! Does she even know where Marin's room is?

They both took chairs and looked at each other, each waiting for the other to speak.

Marin finally stood and began to pace. He turned back to Regan and stretched his arms wide as if appealing to her.

"I know what you're thinking . . . Why? Why you ask . . . Why? Regan . . ." And he sighed, his shoulders slumping clearly having no answer, ". . . because it was there. I'm sorry . . . That's all I've got."

"But she's my best friend Marin . . . really? I don't think you get it. It's not that you enjoy sex that bothers me; nor that you've had sex; it's that you had sex with her! She doesn't play the field the way you do. If you hurt that woman Marin, so help me . . ."

"I won't hurt her. I'll talk to her."

Ham could stay silent no longer. "Well that'll be a first. I agree with Regan Marin. We've got good a understanding here and it works. She doesn't have that with us and she'll be easily hurt. She's not someone you just love and leave."

Marin slumped into a chair. "And Regan, she wants to go with me too."

Regan sighed, slumping back into her own chair, knowing what was coming, "And you said?"

"Well . . . it's a month each way even with the new drive, in just the Transport, on my own; I knew
you'd
be too busy . . . what's a Dahlian to do?"

"Oh, good grief!" Regan dropped her head into her hands.

"
I'm
disappointed with you too Marin." Ham radiated judgment.

"
You!
. . . you were there all along, you saw and heard everything and now you pretend that it's all a surprise!"

"Just because I see doesn't mean I agree."

"Well you should have said something then."

"I did say something, I said Marin don't do it."

"It? It? What does 'it' mean?"

"I specifically said, Marin, don't do it; don't screw Stephanie."

"Well I can't remember that, I can't have heard you." He looked away.

"You said, Ham, I know what I'm doing."

"Well you should have told me again, what are friends for?"

"I told you each of the seven times, in three different rooms, Marin don't do it, don't . . ."

"SEVEN TIMES!" Regan glared at him. You were only away three days! Surely you were working some of the time." She stood and made for the door. "I'll speak to her, she's my friend. Where is she Ham?"

[In the rakes room]

Great! This will be interesting, wonder what she thinks of that dump.
She turned back to Marin. "You stay here until Ham says."

"I'll just get a coffee then." and he was off to the galley.

Regan found Steph sat on Marin's bed. She was fingering a crumpled sheet, regarding the scattered rubbish and mess, her nose crinkled up with disgust. Regan sat beside her and joined her survey of the ruins. "We tend to use my room more." She said.

"I'm so sorry Regan, he said you weren't exclusive, and the temptation . . ."

"Steph, stop right there. I'm not angry with you, because it's true, Marin's his own man and you aren't the first earthling he's enjoyed, not by a long shot I'm sure.
You're
all I'm concerned about. He's a knight, but just realize he's not going to be your knight in shining armor. Be very sure you want to do this. In his society they have open relationships, many partners, most don't even have children. Marin's not a bad guy. For him this is normal, but don't fall into the trap of thinking great sex means marriage, house, and kids. It aint gonna happen!" She drew the words out.

Steph turned to face her."It's not just that, I want to see Dahlia Regan. You can understand that. Maybe that's part of why I so easily, well you know. I wanted him to want to take me. I've only got my brother in the UK. Mom and Dad are gone. I want to do this. Kutch has special projects on a string down there, like he does with everything. You don't need me here."

Regan hesitated, her thoughts whirling.
You are so wrong, I feel like I need you here more than ever.
"Babe, as long as you go with your eyes open it's ok with me, I won't hold you back." She stood, putting one hand reassuringly on Steph's shoulder. "I'll leave you here for now, we can talk more tomorrow." She stood with no more words to say. Emotions churning she left immediately, for the displacer.

[Ham, tell Marin he can come down now. I can't stay here another minute, can you send me to the pipe. I think I'll check out this new compound tonight]

[Care for some company?]

[If you mean you my friend, always, I need to talk]

As she walked down the pipe, an unerring sense of where to go directing her Regan and Ham chatted silently as always. She found herself talking and thinking at the same time, about Ham and what their relationship had come to mean to her. That someone knew her needs so well and cared enough to intervene, even with her family meant a lot. She really didn't know how to tell him, or, given how close they were, if telling him was necessary.

Standing outside the Stein Compound entrance she felt a nervousness that hadn't been there even a day ago. Inside she knew would be her mother, and Jared. She hadn't seen him for three days although they had communicated via Ham and his ear implant often.

[Let's do this Ham]

The door slid open. It was beautiful. She walked through the entrance into a garden with paving leading to a lounge area, large screen, and comfortable couches. Jean Stein was stretched back watching her favorite soap and turned in surprise as Regan entered. Her look of delight was a tonic and Regan hugged her as if life depended on it.

"Isn't this wonderful Regan?" Jean stepped back holding her at arm's length, a broad smile on her face. "It was nice on The STEIN but Ham has excelled himself here. I can't believe we're going to be all together." She hugged Regan again.

"I can't believe it either mom and yes, it will be great to stay, not that work lets me do that as much as I'd like." Regan stopped, stepped back and gripped her mother's hands warmly. "Mom, thank you for all you do for Jared. You've saved me, you and Ham. I don't deserve either of you."

Jean lifted her own arms and gripped Regan's. "Sweetheart, that boy is a gem, and he knows he's loved. We're a team and our lives, his included are all the richer for your dreams. I . . ."

A small form burst into the room, all energy and excitement. "Mom! Mom! You won't believe what Ham and I have been doing! We're building a bob!"

[He's excited, he means a bomb]

She paused [Seriously Ham? A bomb!]

Regan bent over and picked him up for a hug that felt more like a swirling dance. It was hard to think of Jared as four. His height and build made him a handful.

"Show me what you've been up to, and I want to hear all about what you intend to blow up."

[Oh boy . . .]

She glanced apologetically back at her mom as Jared literally dragged her from the room. Jean settled happily back into her seat, but not before talking to her friend. "It's going to be all right Ham."

"Jean, I never doubted her."

* * *

Chapter Two

Regan moped in her command chair, replaying for the umpteenth time the Saucer spiraling showily down the pipe moonward before curving off out of frame.
I should be on it!
With just a thought she switched to the external view, zooming in to keep sight of the already rapidly dwindling vessel and listening to the excited chatter from Steph in the Transport control room.

"Why do you do this to yourself Regan, it's been five days for goodness sake." Ham's voice for the first time began to display some impatience. He'd tried understanding, then compassion, then patience, even stoicism. He'd had enough.

"Regan we're sitting around doing nothing. I'm starting to feel like a starving Vulture, fuck this waiting, I'm gonna kill something! We need to do something, anything, make things happen."

She stood and began to pace Control. "I know it's crazy but I can't escape this feeling that I'm missing the party, like I'm standing outside while everyone else is having fun."

"You are
not
a woman who lets others decide what fun is. Let them go, let them screw, get bored whatever. But please, please don't become boring yourself. I couldn't bear it."

"Don't you have lots of other pursuits to keep you busy?" Regan dangled her hands either side of the chair, deflated like a rag doll.

"This is pathetic. I'm not insensitive, unsympathetic or uncaring but there are more important things to be doing than wondering what positions they're discovering without you."

Silence . . .

"Regan, have you given any thought to the scroat who tried to kill you at Base Camp?"

She sat up, suddenly focused. "Have you discovered anything?"

"No, the man hasn't been identified and there is no match for his DNA or face in any data system or records I can access, and as you know I'm the best. I'm disturbed by that. And I'm surprised you haven't mentioned it. Anyone can see that bruise on your ribs is still a doozie."