Regan's Reach (31 page)

"You see?" He asked.

"See what?" She responded, lying
on her back, looking at the stars through the huge window in the darkened space
port. The STEIN Traveler, silhouetted in the background, was beautiful to her.

"Why I travel." Marin replied. He
turned and smiled, his teeth white in the dim light. "I'm a lover not a
farmer!" and he lay back down. "I love to explore. I love new things.
I love difference and variety. I love faults and failures, it's all
information. From every experience, even the errors of life, I learn and grow.
I do love this place, this system but we've become too complacent, too
comfortable. That's why I like the feel . . ."

". . . of the soil under your feet, I
know." She rolled to face him.

"Some combination of this . . . this
order, combined with the rawness of Earth, might just work you know." She
inched toward him on her elbows . . . "I feel like I've had no exercise in
weeks." She rested there, looking into his eyes, saying nothing.

Marin met her gaze and raised his eyebrows.
"There's always the gym?"

"Might be tough, I'm a bit out of shape?"
. . .
Last chance to pull out Marin
, she thought anxiously.

He reached out and tenderly stroked a
finger down her cheek. "You look in good shape to me."

They stood quickly and began to walk to the
ship.

[Ham?]

[All ready Regan.]

She entered first and paused, looking at
the familiar bench. She smiled as Marin reached around her to feel for the
button and part her suit. He slowly peeled it from her shoulders, sliding his
hands inside and then down her hips. She stepped out of the folds leaving the
garment on the floor and turned to face him. Already he was removing his own
suit and she rushed, pushing him onto the bench, lifting and dragging the cloth
from his legs.

He put up his hand "Slow down Regan,
go slow," and he spoke gently, "we have all the time we want or need."
Marin slipped aside and guided her onto the bench in his place. He took the oil
and poured a generous river down her shoulders and onto her breasts. Then he
began to stroke. He seemed to know just where to touch, which sensitive areas
to avoid, and Regan quickly surrendered to the ministrations. He teased out the
time before caressing her thighs, parting her legs and taking her in his mouth.
It was a watershed moment and felt to her as if she was reclaiming something
that had been taken. She reached for him, gently pulling him over her, wiping
oil from her breasts and lubricating him with her hands. "Don't wait,"
she said "This time I just want you."

He carefully entered, holding back until
with delight he felt her hand had reached from under one raised leg and gripped
him between the V of her fingers as he entered and withdrew. It was
intoxicating as he thrust harder and faster finally gasping with ecstatic
release.

Regan lay under him, overwhelmed with
relief, and then began to laugh.

He pushed up on his elbows and looked
quizzically at her, "What?" he said.

"It's nothing," She replied
smiling, "just something Ham said, about getting back on the horse or
whatever. He was right."

Soaring through space between Dahlia and
Tihan, Regan examined her growing addiction to the thrill of the experience.
This was a privileged life she knew, it was unreal, living like royalty. A
growing unease reminded her she didn't feel comfortable presuming as a guest.
At the same time she also feared that too much longer and she might not be able
to give it up. Her plan had always been to get home as soon as possible, but
like many long holidays that near an end she didn't want it to stop.

They had taken an Interceptor for this
trip, one of two that filled the spaces either side of the Pods on level one.
Much bigger than the narrow Pods, the Interceptors spanned twenty six meters,
one large curved wing, twelve meters deep from nose to tail. The cockpit, while
considerably larger than that in a Pod was still compact, four meters front to
back and around eight meters side to side. To her left, there was a small
bathroom and galley, on the right, storage units with suits and emergency gear.
Four seats with swivel consoles sat in a row facing forward with enough space
around to stretch out. With Ham as pilot Regan had nothing to do, still she reveled
in the experience, this did feel like flying. Well adjusted now, her favorite
view was half screen space as they hurtled through the vacuum.

Reclining in her chair, Regan looked across
at Marin asleep beside her. She looked troubled. [What am I going to do Ham?]

[I guess you're speaking about Marin? He's
a big boy, he'll make his own decision, you can't think for him.]

Regan looked doubtful. [That's true but I
can't help feeling I'm leading him on. Like I'm reeling in a fish.]

[I'm not sure he'd appreciate that analogy.
Look Regan, yes, you're both young, the sex is incredible and like any man he's
reveling in it. I've known him a long time and he's never been so voracious
before. You obviously excite him and . . .] He paused [I'm not helping am I?]

[Well . . . you get my point. He's an
exciting, interesting, intelligent man but I'm not sure I've been fair. This
physicality is all new to me. I'm not normally like this. My mother would be
appalled. I feel like I've led him on.]

[Hmm, he is a bit like a boy with a new toy
isn't he?]

[Seriously . . . I feel like I'm the one
with the new toy, Ham. The nerd vixen has been unleashed and I don't know how
to put her back in the box.]

[Why would you? Regan, I don't think this
is it, something else is on your mind. Talk to me.]

[What happens when I go back to Earth, Ham?
What happens to Marin?]

[Look, Marin's people aren't like you. For
one thing they don't usually commit to long term relationships. They're a community,
supporting each other and few here would be monogamous. Marin's happy here for
the moment but you can be sure he also wants to go back to Earth, he's told me.
Coming here was your adventure, going there is his, don't worry]

[Not monogamous? Does that mean Marin's had
other partners while I've been here?]

[Not in the last few days, no, but earlier,
hell yeah. Having said that, I've never seen him so attached to any one
individual like he is with you.]

She considered this for a while saying
nothing, then gave a long sigh of relief. A weight had lifted.

[I can't believe I'm glad to hear that. I
guess we're just crewmates with benefits. Or is it more than that? It's
complex. Right now I feel like I'd give my life for him if I had to, you know.]

[You already have.]

She wasn't listening, [And shit, he's my
first alien!]

Regan stalked around the deck on level
five, only a two meter perimeter pathway now available along with four one
meter corridors to the elevator. The remaining space was now crammed with
cases, boxed machinery, sheets of material and stacked panels. Most of it was a
mystery to her.

"What is all this stuff Ham? I gave
you a wish list, sure, but I can't see anything here that I asked for."
She continued stalking, pulling at this and that and muttering away.

"Your list was far too short and
uninspiring." Ham replied. "When a genie gives you three wishes you should
always make the third wish for three more!"

"God, I hope Sindali doesn't think I've
been greedy, this looks so over the top."

"Ahem!" Ham cleared his circuits,
"Don't visit level six then."

Taking the elevator down one level she
stepped out into an area she didn't recognize. The space was almost completely
filled with a huge container sized box squeezed in front of her.

"Fabricator," Ham advised "Not
that different from your 3D printers, only bigger and better, there's another
on the other side."

"And what are these?" Regan asked
turning to the Fort Knox like boxes on either side of her between the containers.

"Ahh, now that's where we'll really
corner the market. There are various types of 'Exotic' Matter, anti matter and
so forth. Rods of the magic bean! All sealed, mostly safe and ready for
application."

"Mostly safe?"

"That's just a little joke between us.
The rods are all insertion ready and we're taking the technology with us to
build reactors when we get there. This will get you into space babe, and anyone
else you choose to take with you."

"So what other surprises do you have
for me?" Regan pulled over a crate and sat down.

"You mean things in addition to your
list? Let's see. You had gravity plate technology, so I included around five
thousand square meters of the plates. You didn't mention effectors so I've
included around fifty million on level five. We'll need those for the
freighter, and later when we've gathered the raw material we can fabricate more
of everything. In most cases I've simply included two or three examples of
everything we have technology for. That way we have the tech and a model, it's
simple."

"Ham, is this all right? I feel like a
pirate, no one at home would give us this!"

"I'm clearly a bit more mercenary than
you, we did after all save an orbital and I figured it would be wrong to look a
gift horse in the mouth."

Regan's head was in her hands as she sat
slumped on the crate.

"Ham . . . I've been putting this off.
It's almost six months and my family will be expecting me to arrive home any
day. I've been in denial; I know it, not wanting to go. Now it's going to take
two months to get back and Mom won't forgive me for being late, we've got to
get going!" Something she hadn't felt for a long time flashed through her
again. It felt like panic.

"Then it's time for a crew meeting
Regan. There's nothing to stop us leaving as soon as we're ready. I'll sub
Marin."

*

Regan sat in her usual control seat taking
in the large screen image. On the spaceport platform she could see Sindali, the
children and a number of officials watching the ship depart. The parting would
have been unbearable without Sindali's farewell. "You will be back."
she had said smiling, and it was enough. Regan determined she would be back and
it would not be long.

"Did you gather those warp studies
Ham?"

"Really, you need to ask? You'd hardly
finished asking and I had the files."

"What's that all about?" Marin
asked.

She reached across and linked their hands. "This
is how close I want us to be, we've got to find a way to increase that warp
speed."

He laughed. "You didn't even have warp
capability and now you want to improve it? You don't do anything by halves do
you?"

The STEIN slowly moved out of dock, leaving
the egg cup space she remembered from arrival. It struck her again that this
was a private parking space, and Marin's family really were like royalty here .
. . and yet he was coming with her.

"Are you sure this is what you want to
do?" She looked sideways at him but his eyes were locked on the screen.

"I want this more than anything. You have
walked my world openly, now, I will walk yours. It's a dream!"

Chapter
Four: Home, Where The Heart Is

New Zealand, STEIN Aeronautics Wairarapa,
November

"Have you ever had that feeling that
you're all dressed up with nowhere to go?" Kutch was half talking to
himself as they walked down the long runway, heat shimmering off the tarmac
stretching two thousand meters into the distance. He kicked a small pebble in
front of him.

Stephanie Howard, with hands in pockets,
scuffed her feet as she walked, not bothering to answer the question. She
looked toward Hayden Joyce walking alongside.

"You know, we could land a Jumbo here
if we wanted to."

"Maybe we will one day, although
truthfully it's a little short for a fully laden Jumbo, and there aren't too
many of them around anymore." Hayden, looking happy but ridiculous in
cargo shorts and sandals had joined them for a break.

"So, how are your guys going Hayden?"
Stephanie hardly knew the meaning of the word break.

He stopped, clearly excited and brought the
group to a halt. "I have never worked with a group so engaged on a
project. The theoretical data looks good, the prototype is flying, the
performance data from fuel and propulsion tests looks outstanding and we are
itching to get going; what are we waiting for?"

"Regan," Stephanie replied. "This
is her baby and if we're going to send the ADF into the upper atmosphere I know
she'd like to be around."

Hayden looked away, clearly frustrated.

"So . . . have we heard anything?"
Kutch gave the pebble one last kick, sending it off into the grass. "I
checked yesterday, it's been six months for a week already."

Stephanie took in a big breath, her tension
clearly showing. "No news that I know of Kutch, and you know how that
makes me feel. If I knew anything I'd tell you. Kev wants us back at Riverside
for a meeting tonight and I have to say he sounded stressed. Hayden, that
includes you if you're available, sounds like a strategy meeting so something's
obviously up."

"Wouldn't it be best to wait until
Mitch and Mary are back from the States? They're due Friday aren't they?"
Kutch looked surprised.

"I suggested that and he said we'd
talk later then hung up. It's not like Kev to be so abrupt but I guess he had
other calls to make. Hayden, is that going to be alright with you?"

"No problem, Jenny's in Melbourne with
Abby so I'm free as a bird, I might even stay over."

"Great, well we might as well head
back." They turned, looking back up the five hundred meters they had
covered toward the huge hangars in the distance only completed five weeks
earlier. To the right of the hangars they could see a flag flying above the
three story research centre, occupied but still under construction. Walking
back Stephanie's eyes drifted to the hills beyond and the housing estate Regan
had established.

All dressed up and nowhere to go
, she thought.
Hmm, I hope not
.

*

A pall seemed to hang over the Jackson and
Associates offices. No music, no talkback, no chatter, just a deathly hush.
Barbara watched Marcus through his office window. He was on the phone and
looked more concerned than she had seen him in months.

". . . I'll be there Kevin, I may be a
little late because of time differences with the States and, well, you know the
drill, and they'll have more to tell me I'm sure."

Marcus hung up the phone. Pushing back from
the desk he left his arms stretched out, palms down on the desktop. He dropped
his head between his shoulder blades and he closed his eyes, a silent wordless
prayer. Drawing in a long breath, he braced himself and stood to yell through
the wall.

"Barbara, could you get me Steve Ryman
in San Francisco please."

He heard a muffled reply that didn't need
translating.

"I know the time there Barb, just get
him, and tell whoever you speak to that it’s urgent."

He thumped his fist on the desk then walked
to the bookshelves mumbling to himself. "Got to be here somewhere, fuck .
. . fuck, fuck."

He continued to grumble as he searched,
finally pulling a pristine volume from the shelf. He circled the desk with it
before sitting and taking in the Title.
Paust, Van Dyke and Malone's
International Law and Litigation in the United States
. He took another
large breath that radiated resignation. He opened to the index.

Thirty seven minutes later, and the call
came through from the States. Barbara put Ryman through and then listened
through the door while packing up her things to leave for the day.

"Hello Steve? Yeah it's Marcus, sorry
to bother you at this time. It's the Regan Stein thing again . . . yeah, I
know, the gift that keeps on giving. Now listen up, there are some things we
need you to do . . . "

Barbara shook her head.
Marcus, look
after yourself,
she thought then walked out the door, locking it behind
her.

Marcus checked his watch as he pulled into
the Riverside car park; eight p.m. Looking for the most well lit spot he parked
the new Mercedes out front and skipped up the steps. A short wait for night
security and he was through to the elevator, composing himself as he rode to
the third floor. The doors opened to Regan's reception area and he could see
the door to her apartment was already open.

Unusually, the conversation was muted as he
entered with Kevin, Stephanie, Milo and Hayden all there waiting. He thought
about a joke,
just us tonight?
But somehow it didn't seem appropriate.
Kevin looked at him, radiating tension as he walked to the central couch and
took a seat.

Stephanie broke the ice. "So, what's
up Marcus? Kev wanted us to wait until you were here. It feels like someone
died in here."

Kevin shuffled over to shake his hand "Sorry
Marcus, I wanted to wait, get the latest before I wound everyone up." He
took in the small group. "Sorry to keep you all waiting. My mind hasn't
been on the job today. You'll understand why in a moment. Marcus?"

Marcus gathered his thoughts. "There's
no point in delaying the news, I've just confirmed it, Mary and Mitch have been
held in the States." He let the statement sink in.

"Held? What does that mean, held?"
Stephanie, Kutch and Hayden were stunned.

"Held means they can't leave at the
moment. No charges have been laid at this stage, but authorities can hold people
without charge under the Patriot Act while they carry out investigations. It's
a ploy Steph, we know that, they want Regan and this is just leverage to force
her hand. Anything with a sniff of terrorism allows them to take unprecedented
steps in the interests of national security. Using the old Patriot Act is a
stretch in this case but it's convenient for them. They wanted to extradite
Regan and they haven't been able to get her, so they've held Mary and Mitch
instead, that about sums it up."

"What did you get from the States,
Marcus?" Kevin wanted the latest.

"Ok, I talked to our representatives
in San Francisco and they're bringing in a top international law consultant
they use to help. Our guy there, Steve Ryman, a top lawyer by the way, he's
getting straight down to meet with Mary and Mitch right now and I'll hear more
tonight. He thinks he might be able to get Mitch released as he has nothing to
do with Arteis but Mary is a different matter. As I said, they want Regan and
Mary is close to the next best thing. She's Chief Financial Officer of STEIN
and they'd see that as third in command - Kevin, it's lucky you weren't there."

"Lucky! Shit, I'd trade places for
Mary in a heartbeat!" They all looked at him.

"And Mitch of course! Shit, you know
what I mean!"

Stephanie slumped in her chair. "We
couldn't give them Regan anyway; we don't even know where she is."

"Steph, we wouldn't give them Regan
regardless!" Kevin paced the room. "Fuck, why did I agree to Mary
going? And they haven't shown any interest in Mitch before this."

"This is just the kind of dirty pool
that's played with this stuff Kev. Mary and Mitch are collateral damage to
them, just pawns they play with to win their game. Steve will sort it out. They
won't be harmed; they just won't be able to leave."

Hayden pitched in. "There's not much I
can add I know, but I'll call my contacts at home and see what latest news
there is about the Chinese action. It might be related, maybe someone's heard
something."

Thanks, Hayden. I brought you in because I
thought you needed to be kept informed. God knows what your team will think of
this. The bottom line here is we've done nothing wrong but we're certainly
looking like the bad guys. The irony is the overall business is doing great,
even if everything else seems to be turning to shit. Look, I thought we might
talk some more but we'll only go round in circles so all of you, go home. I'm
sorry to have dragged you all the way here but I wanted you to hear this first
from me before it hits the papers tomorrow, which it probably will. We all have
our jobs to do so let's keep moving forward. That's what Regan would want."

"You'll keep us up to date on Mitch
and Mary, Kev?" Stephanie asked.

"Of course, as soon as I hear
something I'll let you know. Marcus?"

"Yeah, absolutely Kev, I should know
more tonight, I'll call you."

It was a very different meeting. No drinks,
no coffees, and the sombre group drifted out of Riverside to disperse
throughout the Valley.

*

Kevin's home system buzzed him "Answer!"
. . . And he heard a click.

"Kev, are you there?"

"Mary!" He sat up quickly. "Shit
it's good to hear your voice, where are you, what's happened?" Kevin stood
and walked to the window, staring at his own reflection in the glass.

"I'm at the hotel Kev, Steve Ryman had
us released but I still can't leave the country, they've taken my passport. No
bond or charges though so this is all very strange."

"God - I'm glad you're in a hotel and
not some detention centre, and where's Mitch?"

"He's fine too. They're letting him go
thank god, it's Regan and STEIN they're after. Hey, don't worry lover, things
could be worse. Five star hotel, great restaurant, young Hispanic bell boys, I'm
in heaven!"

"This could take a while you know."
Despite her attempt at positivity he did not sound happy.

"Weren't you listening, bell boys?"
She hesitated. "Kev . . . I know what you mean but you don't have to worry
about me. Marcus and his cronies will sort this out and I'll use the time to do
what I came for anyway, set things up for the Ezas share float. I'll make good
use of the time, believe me. And Kev . . . there's another good thing we can
take out of this."

"Enlighten me sweetheart, I'm not
seeing much upside."

"Well, think about it. If they're
holding me, they don't have Regan."

Kevin swung into the Belmont driveway and
parked up under the oak tree. Stepping down to the lower lawn he walked over to
the fence seat and sat in the morning sun, staring out over the river.

"You look like you're a million miles
away." The call came from behind him. He turned to see his mother gingerly
stepping down from the patio and walking toward him across the grass.

"Hi Mom!" he stood to hug her,
and then she gestured for them both to sit. "I was just enjoying the peace
for a moment."

"You look like you have the weight of
the world on your shoulders Kevin, what's up?" She put one arm over his
shoulder and gave him an encouraging hug.

"Oh, there's a bit on the go. Nothing
you need to worry about, I just wanted to check up on you, see how you were
going."

"Kevin Stein, you can't fool me. When
you come and sit down here you need to talk, so talk to me. If I can't offer a
single piece of sound advice I can certainly be a sounding board."

He smiled "Mom, you've never been one
to stick to a single piece of advice." He laughed affectionately. "We
heard yesterday that the States have held Mary over there, they're not letting
her come home."

"You mean the United States?"

"Is there another? They want Regan Mom,
you need to be prepared for that and we're going to have to fight this one out.
It's all bullshit but it can tie up a lot of time and effort." He sighed.

"And money!" She said, "Marcus
will be pleased." Jean hesitated, immediately regretting the comment.
"No, I don't mean that, he'll help Mary won't he?"

"Yeah, of course, he's on to it and
Mary's looking on the bright side of things. She's in a top hotel and still
making us money. Hell, money is not the issue, we're swimming in it! Mom, it's
just not a nice feeling when you know the powers that be are training their sights
on your sister."

She shook a tight fist. "No one is going
to hurt my daughter - that will have to be over my dead body!"

He laughed. "They don't know what they're
taking on. Come on," he stood and helped her up, "let's go and make a
cup of tea."