Regan's Reach

by Mark G Brewer

  "You know I do, what are you so worried about?"

  [My backup.] He subbed privately.

  "Ham, we do this all the time. Whenever we're moving forward in vacuum you're displacing bodies as well as the ship and we seem to survive just fine, so why not try it? It must be possible to just displace the body too, surely?" She would not be dissuaded.

  "Why not try it; well because it's a risk, an unnecessary risk and it's stupid."

  "It could be very handy and I'm prepared to do it. Shit - I can't see any reason why it won't work. It worked for the unit you displaced, it works for missiles."

  "I'm not letting you do it."

  She stopped in her tracks. "You're what?"

  "I'm not letting you do it. I don't have to activate displacement, you can't do it, and so that's it!"

  Now this was something new and Regan didn't argue. Instead she drifted through to the galley and found a cup already waiting for her on the table. She took a long satisfying sip, then another, then grabbing something to eat she joined Marin in the war room.

  He looked up. "I'm going to do it." he said bluntly.

  "What?" She slammed her cup down, "You'll do it over my dead body!"

  He smiled. "Sorry babe, but Ham and I have voted on this, we made an executive decision. It won't be over your dead body exactly, but it will be over your body."

  Already she could feel a numbness coming over her and she started swearing while Marin watched unmoved. Comfortable that she was immobilized he stood and walked casually to the door.

  "It'll be fine Regan, as you said we do it all the time. Why wouldn't it work with a live body?" And he was gone.

  She started to wobble.

  "Regan, if you keep this up you'll be watching from the floor, sit down." Ham offered no sympathy.

  She was livid but she did stop struggling, instead fuming silently, more angry and scared than she could express. On the wall she watched helplessly as the Pod appeared on screen. She knew it should be safe; Marin would have on a suit. That was her plan in case the displacement bubble dropped her in space instead of in the ship, however no one had mentioned the obvious possibility of getting things wrong and ending up half in and half out of the vessel. There was nothing they could do about it and they avoided the issue. Ham had done the theoretical and was sure he could place any object exactly, theoretically!

  "I'm ready to go!" Marin's voice came through the system.

  "I'm going to show the Pod so that we can see what's happening with the field and the arrival spot which is in the elevator as agreed. We don't need to see him disappear; after all it's more important that he gets here."

  If Ham had a body she would have thumped him. Instead her eyes remained glued to the screen as he counted down. On the split screen they watched the effectors’ teardrop reach out from the ship to the Pod, seeming more concentrated at the end than she remembered, and then it seemed a bubble broke off before disappearing. Immediately an object appeared on the other side of the screen, it was an empty seat!

  "Oh fuck Ham, what have I done?" Tears welled in her eyes.

  "Hey it's ok, it's ok, that was just a test, its worked fine."

  She could hear Marin laughing in the background, "You bastards!"

  "So it arrived then?" His voice came strong and confident. "Ok, if we're going to do this let's do it quickly, before I drop out."

  Again the effector field stretched out, a long teardrop reaching until the bubble seemed to break away at the Pod and disappear . . . then Marin appeared sitting in the elevator, a little off centre but safe and secure. He gave her the thumbs up and then mumbled something that sounded completely unintelligible to her. Her breath caught.

  He laughed again. "Only joking, I feel fine, good shooting Ham."

  It was too much for Regan, stressed to the maximum and unable to move she was hyperventilating.

  [You're going to need to calm me down Ham; I'm losing it big time.] A moment later she could feel a wonderful euphoria flooding through her.

  [I'm not happy about how you guys did this, it was my idea; it should have been my risk.]

  [Regan, you're going home and you've got to get there; it was a minimal risk so leave it there. Marin wanted to do it, he knew you'd be stubborn about it and I agreed. We're a team remember and the vote went against you, for the good of the team.]

  She now felt too good to carry a grudge.

  "So how far out was the Pod?"

  "That was about two hundred and fifty meters. I'd feel confident out to about three fifty."

  Regan was excited "You know what this means, don't you? We don't have to dock with another ship to transfer people or objects, within reason I guess."

  "Well we know we can shift something the size of a Pod, we've already done it. How much bigger would we want to get?"

  "That's way bigger than anything I imagined, do you think we can do it the other way?"

  "I don't see why not, we'll need to build an effector unit somewhere in the ship, to create the field bubble. I'll work on the plans and maybe we can convert one of the empty rooms on level three or four."

  Regan gave a long happy sigh. "Ham, I feel great, relieved now that it's over. I don't know how you immobilized me but I'm sweet now, you can let me go."

  "Sorry - no can do, Marin doped you not me, it was in your coffee. It'll wear off in an hour or two."

  She laughed. "Then you'd better keep me happy, this could get pretty stressful, like being trapped."

  Marin was still suited up as he entered the room. "Thank the stars - you're smiling, and didn't it go great!" He flopped down into a chair.

  Despite his bravado she could tell he was relieved. "Marin, you didn't need to do that but thank you anyway, and we've already got great plans for the next step." She smiled at him.

  "Now, I understand you're the one responsible for my stupefaction, and as I'm out for an hour or so, you can carry me down to my room to recover." She winked.

  "Girl, you are so obvious!" He picked her off the chair and flipped her unceremoniously over his shoulder. It wasn't romantic but she still laughed all the way to the cabin.

  Marin dropped her on the bunk and checked her face for confirmation. She was still smiling so he stripped away his vacuum suit and climbed over her, kneeling astride her shoulders, dangling in front of her face in mock torture. She laughed again then took him in her mouth. He didn't tease for long, peeling off her suit and positioning her body. . .

  Much later when he returned from the bathroom she was still flopped ungainly on the bed, smiling and content. He smiled back then sat at her feet. Playfully taking her feet he propped them against each other then parted her legs so that they gaped wide, exposing her. His eyes fixed on hers and he reached forward teasing, building into a gentle but steady pulsing rhythm "You are in my power, Regan Stein."

  "Ahem!" Ham interrupted. "Marin . . . you do know she's faking it?"

  On deck two a musical humming filled the control room. Not that anyone cares; Ham thought, but we did just complete a miracle of modern science and engineering! Starscape gone from the screen, they were riding the wave. Not that anyone cares'. . . He started to sing to himself. . . "You're simply the best . . ."

  The Ritz-Carlton, Union Square, San Francisco, January

  Mary sprawled back on the couch in a deliberate seductive pose; lacy underwear stretched tight, papers and laptop beside her and a glass of wine in hand. It was an unusual look that Kevin found intoxicating as usual. She regarded him on the screen, back home in comfortable kiwi land.

  "I've had enough Kev, this is too much. I'm sorry, I don't like to be a moaner but it's been two months and they still won't tell me anything. I spoke to Ryman today and he used the word 'escalating' in a sentence, as in, ‘We don't want this thing escalating.’ It was disturbing, I wasn't worried before but I'm getting that way. And I've put on two kilos," she hefted her breasts to demonstrate. "What the hell is going on?"

  "You could see more bell boys!"

>   He knew joking was less than helpful but she was quickly smiling anyway.

  "Mary," He continued quickly, "Steve and his team are the best. It's no consolation but this isn't about you, Steve reckons there are things going on behind the scenes to do with USDynamics and so do we. As I said before, I'm just grateful that he's got you in a hotel and they haven't doffed you in some detention centre."

  "You do know they're sending me to Washington, how do you know they won't stretch me out on the rack there?"

  Kevin's eyes glazed over . . .

  "Kevin? You're picturing that aren't you! Dammit!"

  "Well, that is an image to savor." He continued on quickly, "How do you feel about appearing before a senate select committee, which just about makes you a celebrity doesn't it?"

  "That kind of celebrity I don't need!" She thought for a moment, "All I can do is stick to the truth, I know nothing."

  A moment of silence settled, both of them thinking quietly to themselves. It was Mary who spoke first.

  "Kev . . . Regan?" Just the name said it all.

  "There's still nothing." He offered nothing more and she knew better than to ask. She was almost two months overdue and everything had been said already. It was becoming a raw wound.

  Mary changed the subject. "I'll be fine here Kev, don't add me to your worries, I'm keeping busy enough. Thanks for listening and just make sure they don't send me to China, you know I'm not a rice girl and I'd be no good breaking rocks!"

  "I'll do my best . . . .love you." And he disconnected.

  . . . Love you? She smiled and turned to look at the desk, with papers scattered about, tablet, wine bottle, and glass there was hardly room to rest her latté.

  Mary returned to the figures she'd been working on before receiving the call.

  Hmm, share price doubled in the last two months . . . that makes their market capitalization around six billion. We're doing way better than them; we've got to be worth double that when we list . . . even if we only sell thirty percent . . . ?

  She laughed and sipped from her glass.

  Chapter Five: The Return

  Revenge is a dish best served cold.

  Dropping out of warp well outside the the Solar System, Ham began to work through the myriad of adjustments and processes required to slow The Stein as the ship hurtled on toward sun and earth.

  As if it were necessary, Regan reminded them again; the plan was simple, keep out of trouble. She wanted a slow stealthy approach with time to review whatever data they could obtain as they drifted in so Ham squirted a message ahead to their drone.

  'Action full updates and transmit.' It would be forty eight hours before he could process any new information.

  By the time they made orbit it would be late January and Regan's guilt was making her incredibly nervous.

  "I told them I'd be back in six months," She looked at Marin anxiously, "God knows what Mom's been thinking, she's going to be spitting. And I left the guys facing a disaster."

  Sitting together in control they both sat staring at the screen, Sol dominating the local starscape.

  "They're adults Regan, not children and you aren't the mother of the nation, they'll have handled things." Marin couldn't understand her taking responsibility for everything, his own approach being much more laid back, what will be, will be.

  "You're probably right, but I did say six months and they have no idea that I couldn't contact them. It's only natural they'd worry and assume the worst, that's what I feel guilty about."

  "Well, you'll be there soon enough and they'll be even gladder to see you." he wasn't fazed.

  "Aren't you nervous?" She asked, genuinely interested.

  "Nervous about what specifically?" he seemed surprised at the question.

  "Marin, to us you're a giant alien, proof of life on other planets, this is going to be the biggest news on Earth since the great wars and there's a depressing thought. Surely you're a little nervous?" She looked astounded.

  "First, I'm not a giant; I'm like an NBA basketball player. Second, how could I not be excited? I've been studying this world for as long as I can remember, studying your people and now I've got the chance to finally walk among them."

  "Well, they might shoot you - have you thought about that?" She looked doubtful.

  "Really?" He looked concerned.

  There was a pause, "No, of course not." She still looked doubtful, "I don't think you're in any danger but neither do I know how they'll react. Honestly, this is going to be pretty scary for a lot of people, I mean, you've lived with the knowledge there are other humanoid species for generations, for us this is confirmation of fantasy or nightmare becoming real; it's going to be overwhelming."

  "You weren't overwhelmed."

  "Oh yes she was," Ham interrupted. "Her stress levels were through the roof for days and it took a business disaster to get her back on track. That USDynamics business really got you focused Regan."

  "It's doing it again believe me, how long before we hear anything Ham?"

  "Still two days babe, nothing has changed in the last ten minutes!"

  "When it comes in could you do a quick update? Do a full forensics on it, look for everything related to the USD deal and compare it to your existing files. I want you to note anything, and I mean anything that's changed since we left. Put the new stuff you find and anything else you think is relevant together in a brief."

  "Yes Ma'am!"

  "How will Marin communicate with people while he's there?" The thought struck her for the first time.

  "He'll be able to talk just like you, it happens through his web, in connection with the ship, provided there's wireless contact."

  "But doesn't he need a device?" Regan asked.

  "A device?" Marin looked confused.

  "No." Ham interrupted firmly and with finality.

  "I thought you needed a device?" Regan looked at Marin and could see he had no idea what she was talking about . . .

  "Ham?"

  "No Regan," he sounded annoyed. "The ship does everything. A translator device is only in the movies."

  "Oooo K. Sooo . . . a device would only be used for say, storing something, like data storage, not anything to do with translation at all?"

  "That's right." Ham was dismissive.

  "Sooo, the only reason a separate device would be carried would actually be for storage, like a back up or something?"

  "Yes, now can we move on?"

  Marin's face said everything as he listened to the exchange. What are they on about?

  "Uhhh huh!"

  [Regan . . . we've been through this. I messed up! But you do now have a fucking data bank, a partner and hi tech control unit with you all the time. You've hardly started to work out all the things you can do. Stop torturing me!]

  [Ham, my man, this is getting too easy.]

  Alone in her room Regan couldn't shake the anxiety building slowly within her.

  [Ham?] The room seemed dark, silent, empty. The feeling of pressure, crushing.

  [I'm here.]

  [How far are we from home?]

  Ham pondered the concept . . . Home . . . Dahlia . . . Earth . . . Here?

  [We're still about 90AU from Earth.]

  [How far is that?] She was lying on her back, arms at her sides, sinking into the bed with her morbid thoughts.

  [In distance, it's still a long, long, way. In time, it's about ten days; we're slowing all the time. Regan, talk to me.]

  Silence. . . . .

  [I feel like this weight is coming down on me Ham, pressure, dread, dire anxious feelings. I've felt so light and free for weeks and weeks, what's happening?]

  [You want me to psychoanalyze you? Hmm, ok . . . you're crazy!]

  [I'm crazy?]

  [No, you're crazy to listen to me . . . look Regan, I'll do my best.] He waited a moment, as if he was thinking.

  [Perhaps it's like this. For much of the time you've been away, it's been like travelling to another land where no one knows you and in s
ome ways it freed you up. You're your own worst critic. But your judges are all internal, they're in your head, and the further you got from home and the more different and otherworldly your situation became, the easier it was to put them aside and just be yourself. Tell me, was it liberating?]

  [So I'm really a slut?]

  [What? What are you talking about? . . . No! How many people have you had sex with on this trip?]

  [Just the one I guess . . . but many times . . . in many ways. God, it's true, I am a slut!]

  [Well, ok, you've had one lover, but technically he might not even count, he's an alien. Look, what you're feeling is this. The nearer you get to home after your liberating holiday, the more you feel the weight of all those old responsibilities and expectations pressing back down on you. The truth is you're doing it to yourself, not that you're conscious of it. You might even be starting to doubt what you're doing. You might think that the feelings are telling you not to go back at all.]

  [Oh . . . you are good!]

  [Well, the point is Regan, you are doing the right thing and much of what you're feeling isn't that helpful to you, just a hangover from the past. Don't be ruled by it. Choose the good stuff from the past and embrace it. Hang on to things you've learnt about yourself that you like and embrace them too. Sometimes it's time to move on. Stop trying to satisfy your conditional others, live your own life.]

  ['Conditional others', you've lost me Ham.]

  [Conditional others, all the people whose opinions you value. They may not be here with you in person but you carry them around in your head. Some of them you should have let go years ago, be true to yourself.]

  Silence . . .

  [Regan?]

  [Yes.]

  [Honestly, I think this return is going to be a blast. I think you're going to enjoy it too, putting things right, better than sex.]

  *

  Wellington Airport, New Zealand

  Kevin scanned the crowd drifting through from baggage claim in the International wing. He could see the usual mix of tired travelers, scratchy children, raggedy bags and the odd celebrity wannabe. He let his eyes rest on the many reunions going on, happy relatives, couples and even a mini Haka for a school sports team.