Confluence Point (41 page)

"They'll have to? Having to do something, being forced into it, is not generally how people like to do it Ham."

"There you go you see, you understand these things so well, I know you'll be able to sell this. You'll have them eating out of your hand."

She could see he wouldn't be moved and there was no point in arguing so she moved on. "Time to get ready I guess; is there a gym around here?"

Ham smiled happily at her apparent acceptance and without further comment simply disappeared, leaving gym directions to Dahlia.

He was quite happy - everything was going to plan.

* * *

Hillary Station: The Solar System

As the memorial service drew to a close Kevin slipped alongside Minjee Chow, looking stoic and calm, but still hurting deeply he knew. The loss they all felt was profound but particularly for Minjee. Having established an unlikely bond with Rod that went far beyond passion she was lost and they could tell. Kevin offered what words of condolence and encouragement he could, then moved on to speak with the families of the other lost flight crew.

The four caskets arranged on the flight deck were purely symbolic with only recovered pieces of craft placed there in remembrance. Sadly, despite all their technology, in the wake of the Mother Lode nukes and the force of two craft colliding no bodies were found. All families had agreed for the remnants to be sent sunward, a fitting end for their space faring kin.

Kevin looked beyond the families to the gathered diplomats, ostensibly here for the service but using this opportunity to meet and finalize terms for the new Space Coalition. The new agreement, he was sure, would be the key to progress, allowing development out into the solar system and beyond. STEIN Corp would be the senior partner and all current members of the Hillary Step coalition would work in with them, sharing the costs and the benefits that technology from STEIN could bring. The latest Coran threat and the subsequent warship capture had made all the difference. Now with two huge interstellar ships available for exploration near star systems would be in easy reach and even colonization would be a real possibility. No one wanted to miss out or wait.

Regan must be pleased,
he thought.
She and Ham brought this about, of that there is no doubt.

He nodded to the Hillary Commissioner, Hayden Joyce, a man much respected by all the delegates. Hayden acknowledged the look and quietly began to prompt the representatives toward exits. They would meet in the new conference centre.

With one last sad look back to the caskets and in particular to Rod's, draped with the American flag, he then turned and followed the diplomats. In Regan's absence and as STEIN CEO he now headed this Coalition and he shook his head in wonder at the knowledge. Who would have thought it?

Watching, unseen by the grieving, three figures sat in symbolic black, silent and reflective, lost in their own thoughts.

Regan moved first, standing and walking slowly to the caskets through the milling crowd, an invisible ghostly presence. Resting her hand on one she paused there, her lips appearing to move, her eyes closed. Then she turned and walked back to her friends who stood to join her. In unspoken agreement they then disappeared.

"Is it too soon to discuss business?" Hilary asked.

Now in the cyber STEIN war room the three cradled coffee mugs, drawing comfort from the warmth. Only Hilary appeared alert, Regan's visage distant and contemplative, Ham was similarly distracted.

Regan smiled and nodded, "Of course not Hilary, what's on your mind?"

The gracious woman shifted nervously, reaching for and shuffling some papers on the table in front of her. "There are a number of things; the Coalition meeting is going well with no opposition to Kevin's proposal; he's a tough negotiator, that one.

The Ascendant crew members are settling in well. Our Coran liaison from the Behemoth has been wonderful, he seems a good man and very persuasive so I think many of them may wish to stay. We're missing an ADF . . . the lake in Central Park is being filled as we speak, it looks beautiful and . . ."

"Hold on!" Ham interrupted her, suddenly all interest. "What was that about an ADF?"

Regan stiffened.

"Yes, yes, I've noticed an ADF is missing." Hilary repeated it uncomfortably.

"How can an ADF be missing?" He asked.

"I thought as Minister of Defense you might have some idea."

"I
have
been rather busy defending . . . when did it go missing?"

Hilary appeared embarrassed. "I have no idea," she turned to Regan, "I'm sorry Regan I feel terrible about this, things like this don't happen on my watch."

Regan leant forward and smiled, "Don't worry; I'm sure it will turn up."

It was suspiciously reasonable and Ham exchanged looks with Hilary. He turned slowly back to her.

"Do you know anything about this Regan?" He asked.

She shifted nervously and looked away. "I . . . don't think so."

"What does that mean
-
I don't think so?" Ham sat up straight now, his eyes boring into Regan as she continued to shuffle in her seat.

"Honestly, I have no memory of it . . . only an inkling, something I thought about . . ." Her voice trailed away and again her eyes sought refuge from the ceiling.

Ham swiveled his chair and somehow did the same with hers so that they faced each other. Leaning forward and putting his hands on her knees he locked her there. "Regan dear," his voice became treacle sweet, "what inkling are we talking about?"

She pushed away his hands, suddenly defensive. "I have ideas you know, some of them are quite good, and I am Jared's mother."

"What
are
you talking about Regan?" Hilary asked.

Ham's eyes were still locked on Regan's and he uttered one word . . ."Beria?"

Regan blurted her reply, "She didn't deserve to live
-
she wanted my son
-
I considered . . . look, I have no memory of it, honest. There's nothing." She glared at him to back off and if she had hissed audibly it couldn't have been clearer.

"You made a copy?" He asked gently.

"Perhaps . . ." and she appeared to deflate, all resistance crumbling.

Ham stood and leant over to embrace her. "It's ok, we understand, you're a good mother, a she wolf!" He laughed unconvincingly."Things will work out I'm sure . . . now Hilary, tell us about the work on the park, we could even go down and take a look." As he said it he looked over Regan's shoulder and winked at Hilary, followed by a subtle lift of the head.

In that instant the two split, with one copy of each staying to continue the meeting with Regan while another pair met in a new cyber discussion.

"I had noticed we've lost three drones at the edge of the system." Ham spoke quietly as if deeply engaged in other thoughts, "I was going to look into it, but it seems we may have found the problem."  

As they talked, simultaneously they looked down on themselves talking with Regan. She looked much more relaxed now, even relieved as she discussed the park with enthusiasm.

"She looks as guilty as sin, poor thing" Hilary said, deeply concerned.

"If she's done what I think she has Hil, she's been extremely naive, why didn't she talk to me about it, we talk about everything?" He sounded hurt, and angry.

Hilary reached over and squeezed his arm. "You know why she didn't ask Ham, you would have said no, so she took matters into her own hands. I suppose if the ADF hasn't come back then I'd guess she's done the deed. She's a brave woman."

"It isn't as simple as that Hilary and you know it; just think about the possible consequences, it was a stupid thing to do."

Hilary did think for a moment, and then her eyes widened, a single "Oh. . ." uttered as the implications came to her, "But Ham, you saw what was left of Rod's ADF, there'll be nothing to find."

He turned to face her, choking with emotion. "I can't take that chance Hilary, I won't . . . I couldn't live with myself."

She smiled sadly, "You’re going out there aren't you?"

He nodded, "I'm already on my way."

On the flight deck, crew turned in surprise as the STEIN transport lifted gently and slid across open space toward the field screen in an unscheduled departure. As they followed the Saucer's progress they exchanged curious looks.

The Saucer entered vacuum . . . and disappeared in a blink.

The search: Day one . . . 

* * * *

Chapter Nine

Who Knows Where?

"So, was it good for you?"

Ham's teasing jibe was clearly designed to wind her up and she chose not to respond in kind.

"You know it was."

Regan strolled from the bathroom following the indulgent twenty minute shower, a wonderful experience as she adjusted the android’s receptors to enhance every sensation. Nevertheless she knew that the shower wasn't the focus of Ham's questions, he was intruding shamelessly and she pretended not to care, "Who would have thought they'd make an android so anatomically correct?"

"So, was it similar, or different?"

"You're not going to give up are you? You know it was similar, with some obvious differences."

"Similar, hmm." Ham considered a suitable response. "I guess that confirms both male and female humans evolved from a common root." He laughed wickedly.

"Ham, that is a terrible joke and why are you teasing me anyway, anyone given this opportunity would grasp it."

"Literally it seems, ha-ha."

She sighed, long past embarrassment with Ham. "Haven't you got something better to do while we wait?"

"Chill out, I'm already off doing it."

"Damn it Ham, when I said to go about your business I didn't mean copy yourself here."

"What did you think I was going to do? I'm a multi-tasker and I usually do it by multiplying myself."

"How come they're not picking you up?"

"No virus protection, can you believe it? They've kept themselves so isolated they have no resistance. It was a big call bringing you here, honestly, they took an incredible risk."

"The irony of you saying that doesn't escape me Ham."

Ham froze for a second . . . "Regan, he's coming back. Tidy yourself up for goodness sake
-
and babe; try to find out how he got you here. I'm not even sure where we are yet."

With a brief shimmer Bob materialized across from her, seated comfortably with his legs crossed and one winkle picker shoe, ridiculously long, pointed to the ceiling.

He smiled. "Good news, the meeting is confirmed and there will be others present, interested parties, all very hush hush." He tapped his nose.

"I guess that's good." She replied. "Bob, I've been thinking about this, naturally, and I want to help you in any way that I can; however in return I need some answers."

He smiled again. "That depends on the questions."

"Well, for example, you said we're on the other side of the galaxy, which means we got here just like . . . that!" She attempted to snap her fingers, failing miserably in the process and drawing a strange look from Bob. Abandoning any further attempts she continued.

"If you're being truthful with me about where we are it just doesn't seem possible, and that's an understatement."

"First, I have been truthful with you; we are on the other side of the galaxy."

"Then how did we get here?"

Bob settled back in the chair, thinking. "In this form," he gestured to himself, "we are just information. Ordered information yes, but not tangible. Imagine a book, with many pages of information. To get from one page to another you need to physically turn the page . . . are you with me?"

She nodded.

"Suppose," he continued, "the galaxy was carved up in very fine slices, like pages of a book. To move across it from one side to the other, you would need to physically move from page to page and it's a very big book. But suppose you don't want or need to read every page. Another way to move through it might be to punch a blade through from the front to, well, wherever. You might find with one stab you are all the way through to the middle of the book. That might be one way. Now, suppose our book was a digital book, all the information intangible, you would just select the page and snap, you'd be there."

"This is bullshit!"
The thought burst into her consciousness.

Regan smiled knowingly, a memory returning from years earlier. "Bob, I wasn't born yesterday and I've been down this path before, it's really nothing like that at all is it?"

He looked disappointed and then joined her in smiling. "OK, you're right, it's nothing like that, but it is about all things . . ." and he gestured widely to illustrate, "ultimately being stored information. We do choose a page of sorts and just go there but how I can't tell you, yet. It's only because we're not tangible we can move like that, I couldn't bring you here physically, but I can bring this . . ." and he swirled his arms as if grasping for the words, ". . . this 'essence' here."