Regan's Reach 4: Avarice (18 page)

The well dressed male looked concerned.
"I don't like this; we are somewhat at a disadvantage here aren't we? We
won't hear anything about the success of agent Leith for several more weeks at
least. Consequently we have no idea whether he achieved our aims or whether we
need to make alternative plans. Meanwhile Stein can jump back and forth at will.
What - is - she - up to?"

From the table the naked female rolled to
give the speaker a sympathetic look. "We shouldn't worry, eventually we'll
win Regan to our side and she will be ours, after all she suspects nothing
untoward, and how could she? We've done nothing to be ashamed of - oh we've
been unscrupulous perhaps but we've done nothing illegal. She loves a business challenge
too and will be scheming herself on that basis alone. However," she smiled
wickedly, "we know she has vulnerability in her over care of the needy;
that pitiful concern for Tihan is a case in point and it may be her downfall."
She hesitated, knowing she had the attention of the group. "It is
admirable in some ways, this caring nature she has, and we do find it quite
attractive, don't we?" She smiled lewdly.

"We'd certainly like a bit of her 'over
care' wouldn't we?" said one of the males and the group laughed loudly with
Reubus/Regan on the table curling into a ball as she shook with the effort.

"What is it that she said to Tihan
that he now holds out so determinedly?"

"And what is Dahlia up to in supporting
him?"

"Hmm, when we think of Dahlia, we must
remember she is now 'Hilary', Regan's Hilary. Dahlia is no more. The new Hilary
will always act in the way she believes Regan would, and that is another
weakness we can exploit in negotiation."

"We must remember there should be no
negotiating with Hilary, there is no point, she doesn't have energy capacity to
supply more than a few others, and therefore she is no real threat to us."

They all smiled as one. "And, we sense
that Hilary has her own interests, she is more than a little interested in us, we
the mighty Reubus; she wishes to explore the world of the sensual."

"Perhaps we could entice her into some
physical relationship? If we could win her devotion perhaps we wouldn't need
Regan at all."

"Perhaps, but we would always need
Regan and should be negotiating with her; there is her Earth system to consider
after all. We want to expand there too for trade potential; if we can win Regan
our reach will have no bounds."

All five androids seemed to shiver, not at
the idea of trade, but at the thought of negotiating with the earth goddess.
With one thought the four males turned to the table. The Regan android smiled
and rolled slowly to the edge, dropping her legs to the floor and reaching
across the table top to grip the other side, a sensuous action that presented
her buttocks to the room. No one squabbled, they simply lined up for their
turn.

This self pleasuring wasn't entirely
satisfying, but it would do . . . for now.

* * *

The Styles’ Compound, Hillary Station

Hilary
observed, digested and worried as the current objects of her concern argued
with no sign of compromise; Moriah would not wait and Aaron would leave
tomorrow. Beside himself with worry, Aaron continued to appeal as the Coran
beauty made to leave the room.

"But
Moriah, you know I must go with the fleet, but you could come too, with Ruben.
Come with me if you don't wish to stay here."

"No Aaron
- we have discussed this. The business matters cannot wait and I have made
commitments, commitments that thanks to your intransigence I cannot fulfill
completely. I must go to Gliese personally to attend to these things as a
matter of family honor - and I will take Ruben with me as an opportunity for
him to meet his relatives." Her look firmed. "Aaron, you will be away
after all, this is the best possible time."

He shook his
head in despair. "You know I'm not comfortable about this, what if they
won't let you return?" Aaron began to pace the room frantically as he
rambled on. "You will have breached contract - they may charge you with
something - they may hold you there and I don't know how these things work.
Moriah - what will happen to Ruben?"

She hesitated
at the doorway and glared back in frustration. "Aaron, these are problems
of your own making. You know I acted in ours and Rubens best interests by
signing those papers, as you gave me the authority to do. It is your reneging on
my commitment that puts us in this embarrassing position and nothing else. You
seem to care little about the future security of our son, or me. Honor now dictates
that I front this issue at home, I'm sure they will understand and propose some
kind of compromise."

"But
Moriah, I can't compromise, I don't own this intellectual property; it's not
mine to trade or give away, not on my own anyway."

"Then we
have a dilemma Aaron, because everyone except you it seems, everyone who knows
anything about these matters believes you
do
have the rights. You have
seen the legal opinions Aaron, and you must be in denial because the stars know
you are not stupid. Aaron,
you
may not want the riches that will flow
from your discoveries but your son deserves them, and do you care nothing for
me?" She took on an uncompromising determined look. "Aaron, we are
going, and that is final." Moriah stalked from the room; in her mind the
discussion was over.  

He stood there
a moment longer, desperate with worry, and then a thought occurred to him.

"Hilary,
are you there?"

"Yes
Aaron, I am here." Her voice came softly and so focused that it seemed as
if she were whispering beside him.

"You heard
everything?"

"Yes - in
confidence of course."

"I need
help Hilary; you know it, at least convey these things to Regan. I give you
permission to share everything you have heard."

"Thank you
Aaron, you are a good man."

The relief in
Hilary's voice was evident even to Aaron and nothing more needed to be said. Hilary
was as concerned as he was. He slumped into a chair, his eyes locked on the
humble travel bag he always carried with him and sighed.

* * *

Flight Deck Mess, Hillary Station

Ham scanned the
room with only a few seconds needed to confirm all were present and accounted
for. This fighting force impressed even him, not in their size, or their
armory, or even their look which was impressively intimidating. No, it was
something about their calm and relaxed demeanor. These were vastly experienced
soldiers, the crème de la crème of American, British and New Zealand troops,
handpicked by Brian Timu on the basis of his personal experience, not their reputation.
Ham's own background checks had confirmed everything Brian had told him; they
were the best. Brian had insisted they would need men who could kill
efficiently if required but who modeled restraint. He didn't want any trigger-happy
killers who might inflame the situation more than necessary and that suited both
him and Regan well. In Regan's mind Ham knew the ultimate outcome was no one
dead, the virus destroyed and, if her optimism prevailed, peace in the Rigel
star system for all . . .
Huh! Not likely,
he thought.

Ham could feel the
eyes on him as he walked toward the screen where Brian was engaged in deep discussion
with his command group. They were reviewing data brought back from Rigel, plans
of the city and the Celestial Palace. Usually Ham would hardly be acknowledged by
those on Hillary Station but it was a first for this group to see an android and
restraint or not he could tell there were more than a few eager to test him. They
wanted to establish the power in those limbs, the speed of reaction, and not
out of any macho bullshit, just curiosity. Ham ignored them as they would find
out soon enough; he planned to be among the forward group.

Brian called to
him and he focused on the man, registering again that his friend was aging and
he wondered briefly whether he was up to the task. He dismissed the thought as
quickly as it came, remembering the episode with Jared on Panekire bluff only a
few weeks before. The heavily muscled Maori had challenged young Jared in every
physical sense which was no mean feat in itself; plus he showed a deadly
accurate shot and the speed and agility of a much younger man. Ham smiled
happily; Brian had many more years of service to offer him yet.

His friends
arms were raised in frustration. "Ham, there's nothing more to be done
here, we're as ready as we can be and we'll review all the plans once in the Rigel
system. Bro - why are we still on station?"

Ham smiled at
his eagerness. "Patience Brian, you will all be transferred to the
Behemoth this afternoon; we simply wanted to disguise your presence until all the
colonists were aboard. We don't want anyone alarmed or agitating; if they think
there's a war on, which I'm almost certain there won't be, the colonists
worrying may only complicate the trip for all concerned. Regan wants to keep
the colonists as positive as possible and there's enough for them to be nervous
about without them thinking they're heading into a war zone. There was no point
in alerting them to the action, after all, our mission will be in advance of their
disembarkation to Rexis and on a different planet altogether, so we'll be well
away from them. "

Brian ignored
the explanation, "So, when do we leave Hillary Station?"

"Fourteen
hundred hours, as soon as you are aboard ship and after that we should be in
action in seventeen days."

A silence had settled
around the room as the two talked with all listening in. At the word action an
excited murmur circulated quickly and Ham smiled again.
This is going to be
fun.

He then joined
Brian with his lieutenants to go over the plans one more time. It was no effort
to help fill in their time and keep them focused; only a tiny, infinitesimal part
of his prodigious mind was required to ensure all was in order.

* * *

Medlab - The STEIN Traveler

They sat side
by side on the gurney, Regan and Jared there with Leah perched on a stool and
Marin languidly propped against a wall opposite. Ham stood to one side, tapping
one foot distractedly as mother and son continued their animated discussion,
differing as usual in their points of view.

"I feel
fine Mother, and everything seems to be working perfectly. I could transfer over
to the Fair Passage now - in fact I'd like to - I'm tired of sitting around
here waiting to do something."

"Jared,
you've hardly been sitting around long; you only surfaced yesterday and as good
as Ham's work is you still need time for the neural work to settle. No, I'm
glad you'd like to go sweetheart but we'll stick to the plan and make the
transfer after the first portal jump, that's only another three days away after
all. In the meantime get some exercise, what about a quiet jog around the pipe
before we leave?"

Marin jerked to
attention. "We could jog with him, couldn't we Leah? Don't you worry
Regan; we'll make sure he's okay."

"You could
come with us babe?" Leah suggested.

"Or
not," Marin countered, "Regan, I know you have a lot on."

Jared was
already slipping from the gurney, a look of eager anticipation on his face,
eager to leave this room, eager to get moving. "That's decided then,"
he said happily, "a quiet jog sounds perfect, and I'll still beat the
pants off you two."

Leah cuffed him
playfully on the shoulder. "We won't be racing mate, you're
recuperating."

Marin's delight
was obvious as he joined them, one arm slipping comfortably around Leah's waist.

Regan's eyes
followed them as they departed, a small knot inexplicably gripping her stomach.

[Am I missing
something here Hilary?]

The gracious
lady materialized and her eyes joined with Regan's as the happy couple
following Jared disappeared through the doors and on down the corridor. Regan's
thoughts were broken as the doors slid shut obscuring them from view.

[Regan, they
love you, you know that. But you do spend a lot of time away now, and most of
your time is with Ham.]

[But they seem
so happy without me, shit, we're partners.]

[Yes, and you
still are, but they are individuals too, they can't just hang around waiting
for you.]

[But I do so
much for them - and them for me of course.] Regan seemed to add the second part
as an afterthought.

[Yes, you do a
lot for them Regan, but be aware, help sometimes is the sunny side of control.]