"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.
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