Regan's Reach 4: Avarice

by Mark G Brewer

  [Regan, sorry to interrupt you but something has happened you need to be informed about before your meeting; I need you in Control.]

  The tone of the subbed communication made Regan pause in her step and for a moment the person following close behind thought they were going to run into her. In reaction that woman's hand came up to brace on Regan's shoulder . . . but she was already gone, snatched away by Hilary and the woman stumbled forward before regaining her balance. She looked around, embarrassed then continued on her way.

  The snatch was so unexpected even Regan stumbled on her emergence in the Hillary Control room; a startled half clad Leah already there, pulling up her suit. She and Marin, he dressed in sweaty gym gear, looked equally shocked; clearly this meeting came as a surprise to everyone. They exchanged concerned looks before all turned by habit to the large screen.

  Floating across the face of the screen they could see a body, wracked in a tortured pose, fingers rigid in that final half clench as if they were clawing at nothing, and it was tumbling slowly. Mouths agape they stared in fascinated horror as it slowly turned to face them, a male hardly recognizable due to the awful grimace and drifting across the hull of a ship. They could see ship markings; it was the leased ship Fair Passage.

  Ham spun his command chair around to face them. "You are looking at the 'ex' Commander Tyrian Juno, from Reubus."

  "TJ . . . are you sure it's him?" Regan stumbled forward to her chair.

  "What happened?" Leah asked.

  Marin's eyes were locked on the tumbling figure, looking for something . . . injury?

  Ham too looked back at the images. "We don't know what happened, but we know for sure it's the Commander."

  "How can there not be a record of what happened?" Regan asked. "Have you checked with the ship AI?"

  "The ship AI . . . has a name Regan, his name is Lucas." Ham's tone admonished her. "You of all people should know Lucas is not just a low level AI, he is as much a member of crew as any other and yes, of course I've checked. He opened to me without question and we've reviewed all his vid-feeds from everywhere on ship; there's nothing."

  "How did he die?" Marin was still following the body.

  Ham glanced casually at the screen. "A deficit of air perhaps?"

  Hilary interrupted them. "The recording we are viewing is taken from the perspective of the Ascendant which is alongside, hence our view of the Fair Passage hull. Regarding the cause of death we have recovered the body and there is no evidence of injury that we can see. Tests will be carried out soon to see if there was anything in his blood, however it appears he may have been ejected into vacuum, possibly through a refuse ejector tube."

  "Ham, what does Lucas say about this?" Regan turned to him.

  "He's embarrassed, believe me. This shouldn't happen with a Mind - we are everywhere, all the time and to not have any record of what happened is deeply disturbing to him. Vid-feeds from the refuse area were somehow turned off briefly and he doesn't know how or why. It was only on reviewing the refuse exit itself that Lucas identified a body and asked for a feed from the Ascendant. He's as shocked as we are."

  "What does Lucas say about TJ's state of mind, Ham?" Leah asked.

  "You think it may be suicide?" Regan was shocked.

  "Well, he did lose his Dahlian wife seven months ago. He seemed to be fine to me as we went through the crew selection but it's a factor and I haven't seen him for weeks."

  Ham was stretched back, clearly communicating with someone, probably Lucas, and so they waited for his input.

  "Hmm, Lucas doesn't know him that well; it seems TJ was a last minute appointment of the shipping line when we leased the ship. He now wonders whether Juno took the appointment to give himself a break following the death of the wife and I guess it is a possibility. Lucas apparently didn't communicate much with TJ on a personal level and he doesn't think anyone else did either. Let's not forget the entire crew other than the Commander is from this Solar System after all, and they've only been aboard Fair Passage a month. TJ has been spending a lot of time with the colonists helping them settle in and he focused more on the staff relations than the ship Mind. Lucas didn't worry that he was neglected, that suited him actually."

  The sight of the tumbling body was both mesmerizing and disturbing; Regan had had enough. "It's time to move on Hilary; please take those images off screen. I take it you are already making arrangements for a funeral?" She slumped back into her chair without waiting for an answer.

  A moments silence followed with everyone lost in their own thoughts. Finally Regan pushed herself up and focused on the Fair Passage, the image of the huge liner dominating the screen with the Ascendant just visible in the background.

  "Guys, we have a meeting in an hour, it's supposed to be a getting to know you time that will now be dominated by this news. So we all need to be on deck, circulating and with something positive to share. There's no time to get morose or introspective about this, it looks like a suicide but of course we'll check. Our other problem is we've now only got twelve days to appoint a replacement - any ideas?"

  "One of us could do it?" Marin suggested.

  "Babe, it's not our skill," Leah countered, "none of us have the patience to deal with the crew issues, let alone the twelve hundred colonists on that vessel."

  "Regan," Hilary interrupted, "if I may speak, it might be useful to talk to Mary, I think she may have a suggestion."

  Regan cocked her head in surprise. "Mary? I take it you have some thoughts on this too, Hilary?"

  "I do, but it would be good if you talked with Mary first, shall I set up a meeting?"

  "Yes, yes of course and we'd better get down for the crew meeting, could you pop us down there please."

  "Errr, and Hilary," Leah glanced at Regan apologetically, "could you pop me back to the Medlab please."

  Regan swung to her. "Oh shit . . . of course, Jared, what's happening down there?"

  Ham quickly raised a hand, "Everything is going fine Regan, I'm operating even as we speak and I didn't need Leah for the moment but yes, there is some cleaning up to do, we should get back there now . . ." already his form was beginning to fade but not before Regan just caught his final words, "I do have a lot on . . . and oh, I've had to make some executiv . . ." and he was gone.

  Regan cringed . . . executive decisions!

  * * *

  The Stein Family Compound, Hillary Station

  Mary was talking with the US office, as always busy with the responsibilities of STEIN CEO, a role that she thrived on. She loved the action, the deals and the profit returns while Kevin worked the international circuit as head of the International Space Coalition.

  There would be no hurrying Mary, Regan knew from experience she moved at her own pace, so instead she took a seat to wait. As an old friend and colleague Mary was one of the few who didn't jump when Regan entered a room and she loved that about her, she was a great sister-in-law. Making herself comfortable she reclined on the couch, closed her eyes and used the time to review the earlier meeting in quadruple time. At times she imagined her left brain processor must be buzzing away frantically and she could almost hear it. She chuckled at the thought.

  The meeting had gone well, with just the senior crew present, all of them good men and women. They mixed well together and the camaraderie was evident from the moment of the first arrivals. Only the crew from the Fair Passage looked in any way stressed and that was understandable; they arrived last and immediately the mood had become somber with the death of the Commander on everyone's minds. Conversations changed with the shift in mood and everyone began to focus on the risks in space. It took a few drinks and good food before the atmosphere started to lift.

  Commander Rubik of the Ascendant had proved a revelation. Personally Regan would have dropped him after the battle seven years earlier but Ham seemed to have confidence in him and that confidence had been rewarded. The man seemed positive and optimistic and was a great encourager of the Ascendant senior crew who were mos
tly Coran like himself. Humans and Dahlians made up the balance of his own crew complement and all were experienced operators they trusted.

  While the ship was only leased from Reubus, the Fair Passage crew all came from Hillary Station and they were among the best. Nevertheless, none of the appointed crew had the gravitas required for the role of Commander, which on a vessel largely run by the ship mind, called more for people skills than piloting or engineering aptitude. Regan allowed her mind to drift, pondering the problem. Who does Hilary have in mind for commander?

  "Done!" With the sound of Mary's exclamation Regan's eyes popped open, almost startled to find herself back in the lounge so real was the cyber review of the meeting. She turned to see her friend’s ample figure approaching and knowing the bubbly woman would not be rebuffed she quickly stood for the usual all enveloping hug before they both took seats.

  "Are you joining us Hilary?" Regan asked the ever present Mind.

  "Thank you Regan, I will." The gracious lady materialized in flowing white dress sitting opposite them.

  Regan settled back and waited, noting that Mary and Hilary exchanged conspiratorial looks; it was Mary who took the lead.

  "I understand you have a need for a Commander on Fair Passage Regan." The hint of excitement in Mary's eyes couldn't be missed.

  "Yeeess," Regan looked at Hilary and raised her eyebrows questioningly before turning back to Mary, "do you have someone in mind . . . I didn't think Starship Command was an area of your expertise?" And she smiled to soften the statement.

  Mary ignored it anyway. "I do have someone in mind actually, someone I think would be perfect, someone ready for a change, and someone I think would grow in the role to be a real asset to you."

  Regan's interest was piqued and she sat up, a cock of the head the only indication of doubt. "Okay, you have my interest, who?"

  "Charlotte."

  "Charlotte . . . Charlotte who?"

  "Charlotte Carson."

  Regan looked startled. "Charlie . . . your PA?"

  "Regan - Charlie hasn't been my assistant for six years, keep up girl. She's long moved on from that role, and I miss her every day."

  "Sooo - where is she now?"

  "She manages Riverside for me, the whole shebang, and does a damn good job of it."

  Regan leant forward and patted Mary's knee, "You do realize this is a starship role, in space, has she ever even been in space?" Regan paused and then shook her head. "I'm sorry babe, it's just not on, I'm sure she's very good but we're looking for a Commander. There's a mixed species crew of two hundred and fifty, not to mention the twelve hundred passengers, oh, and did I mention it was in space?"

  "Oh please," Mary pushed the hand away, "look at me for god's sake, who would have thought I'd end up in space and I work up here every day. I manage a company with thousands of employees, the largest company by capital in the world, and all from here."

  "Really?"

  "Yes, you know I do."

  "No . . . I mean are we really the largest company in the world?"

  "Shit Regan you are so out of touch. Yes of course, by market capitalization anyway, and by a long way, are you so uninterested in money? What - is - wrong with you?"

  Hilary leant forward tentatively and extended a hand between them, "Err . . . girls, aren't we getting a little off the point here . . . Mary, you were saying . . . Charlotte? " and she twirled her arm as if to say, continue, continue.

  "Yes, yes of course, where was I?"

  "You were talking about even someone like you being in space . . ." and Hilary twirled her arm again.

  Mary looked at her. "What do you mean - someone like me?"

  "Nothing . . ." Hilary looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights for a moment and then caved. "Oh for goodness sake Mary, I thought you meant your . . . ample figure. You don't exactly have the look of an astronaut."

  "Oh, so we're addressing the elephant in the room are we?"

  Hilary looked crestfallen. "No, I didn't mean that, I was trying to agree with you."

  Mary smiled, "I know babe, and I'm just messing with ya." She turned back to Regan who was trying to stay out of the whole discussion. "Regan, the point is I'm here in space and doing quite nicely thank you; the company is thriving."

  "But Mary, this is an Orbital, she would be commanding a Starship."

  Mary now waved her hand dismissively. "Oh please, tell me exactly; in what practical way is a Starship different from an Orbital or from Riverside for that matter, in day to day people management I mean?"

  Regan laughed "Well, for one thing the Starship moves, it can jump interstellar; it's a ship for goodness sake."

  Again Hilary leant forward. "Err, technically I could point out we can move the station too, and pretty damn quick if we have to."

  "We can?" The look of surprise on Regan's face was priceless and Mary laughed out loud.

  Hilary reached out to her friend. "Regan, Mary's right. The ship is largely run by Lucas, the ship mind, and he's has been sailing this vessel for fifteen of your years. He looks after everything technical and the control crew are really only there for the unlikely circumstance that something goes wrong or some paranoid Commander wants to fly manual, which is never nowadays. The main role will be maintenance and support for the passengers. What is needed is a people manager with adaptable skills; someone who pays attention to detail, someone who likes solving problems . . . and puzzles."

  "Puzzles . . . ?"

  Hilary just looked at her for a few seconds. "Regan, we still have a death from unknown causes on our hands."

  And suddenly Hilary had Regan's full attention.

  * * *

  Nevertheless, Regan wanted to meet Charlotte first before committing. This would be a big call and it concerned her that while Mary was a great champion, her judgment might have been clouded by the personal relationship. However, Mary had been open and honest; explaining that personal issues for Charlotte meant a new role, in a different place might be good for her. They were not problems with Charlotte herself, Mary was quick to point out.

  Hmm, we shall see.

  The flight down to Riverside in the morning was a joy and a beautiful clear Wellington day in brilliant sunshine made the Interceptor cruise up the valley a delight. Ham took them a little north to hover for a few minutes over the rock groyne below the old house, the spot where she had scattered Jean’s ashes only two years earlier.

  Then, having paid respect to her mother they smoothly lifted away from the fast gathering crowd and continued back to the Riverside complex, settling to hover just off the roof of the apartment. Regan hesitated before stepping down to the asphalt surface and looked across to the familiar door, one she hadn't passed through for more than a year. A wistful feeling swept over her and for some unaccountable reason feelings of guilt, even betrayal. How did I lose touch with these roots?

  Ham's subbed encouragement accompanied by a flood of warmth came quickly.

  [You didn't lose touch babe, these are still your roots; it's just that the tree is much bigger now.]

  [Stick close with me Ham, I need you.]

  [Always babe, now come on, we have an interview to do.]

  Regan stepped down and began the walk across the tarmac, gaining confidence with every step. This was home after all, her home and by the time she reached the door a feeling of joy was replacing the sadness. We all have to grow up, but it's good to be home.

  She didn't linger in the apartment and much had changed anyway with it often being used for functions and guests. Instead she proceeded straight through to the stairway, ignoring the elevator and leaning for a moment on the banister at the top.

  Hilary's sub gently intruded on her consciousness. [That's her Regan - at reception.]

  Regan stepped back, taking her out of the direct line of sight and allowing just enough view to watch the foyer below. Of course that's her. Charlotte was older than she remembered, with a little extra padding in all the right places, still attractive and with
a look she remembered suddenly and with fondness. A hint of mischief and a take no prisoners attitude.

  But it was the receptionist and those passing who drew her attention most. The receptionist looked so delighted at the conversation they were having, and everyone passing either called a greeting or tried to get Charlotte's attention. They were all young of course, but they clearly looked up to her and joined her abandoned laughter which reached even to the third floor.

  Walking to the top of the stairway Regan began the slow step process down the three flights, only drawing attention as she neared the bottom. Even then only Charlotte recognized her at first and she walked to greet Regan with a smile and a confident handshake, not at all overawed.

  "God, it's good to see you again Regan, it's been years but I've followed you on the news, how are you?"

  "I'm good thanks Charlie, and how are you?"

  She laughed. "Oh you know the saying, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, I'm good, and loving it here, what a great bunch they are."

  Behind her Regan could see the receptionist literally swell with pride at the words and she couldn't hide a smile herself.