Regan's Reach 2: Orbital Envy (17 page)

The doors ratcheted up and they easily exited to the deck, alarmingly clear of the usual equipment and deck crew. A calm but quick skip across the space and Rod was examining the controls. Minjee pushed him to the side and went through the steps she had memorized but never tried. Everything worked like clockwork and in only a few minutes they were inside sealing off vacuum and working the inside door to access the station. The inside lock also proved no problem and quickly opened . . . to darkness and torchlight beams panning the corridors.

"Thank God for that, they're not all dead." Rod gestured for Minjee to come through then slammed and locked the door behind them. They removed their helmets cautiously.

Minjee stood, fists clenched nervously and rooted to the spot considering options. "Where are we going Rod?"

"They're not all dead, that means people will be working to identify the problem. We should head for the Stein compound. Management will be there and we can assess the situation . . . Min', does the air seem rank to you?"

She sniffed and nodded. "I can't hear the air conditioning. In fact apart from voices I can't hear anything."

They started the long walk up the pipe, a slow disorienting process lit only by the flickering lights of others. Chancing across a small group by a tube entrance they stopped to ask for a torch only to be hauled up to assist with the opening of the doors. Rod joined two flight deck workers hauling on one side while Minjee helped on the other. They had already opened a small gap and with the extra help the doors were soon forced apart. Three men were gasping weakly on the floor. One they could see was Hayden Joyce.

"What happened?" Rod asked the senior technician leaning over Hayden.

The man looked up shocked. "Where have
you
been man? No one knows what happened, power and systems just crashed around four hours ago. All the doors have frozen. People are trapped all over the pipe and some are in very small spaces, without air flow. It's a disaster."

Minjee checked the pulse of the one motionless man, looking slightly incongruous in a business suit. They were all alive at least. She grabbed Rod's arm and pulled him back to the corridor. "The compound Rod, we've got to get there, they might be trapped too."

They began to jog, short quick steps in the foul air and ten minutes later drew near the compound door just earthward of centre pipe. The corridor was clear and it was obvious the doors had not been opened. Rod banged on them hard and after only a few seconds they could hear a response from the other side. He could see movement with a tiny gap opening and closing. He guessed someone was trying to lever the doors from the other side. Waiting for the gap to open Rod jammed the small torch into the space then worked his fingers in to grab one side with both hands. Minjee hauled on the other and slowly with the assistance of those inside they prized the doors open.

"Rod . . . my god, how did you manage to get back on station?" It was Kevin, hair sweaty and matted.

"We got in ok sir, but it's a mess out there. Sir, we've just seen Hayden Joyce. He was rescued from the tube with two other men. They're alive but only just."

Mary joined Kevin. She looked haggard in the dim torch light.

Suddenly they felt a distinct change in the air, a draft springing up through the doorway followed by lights flickering and quickly returning to full power. Kevin stepped out into the corridor. Looking up through the ceiling windows he could see the familiar corridor lights across the inner face of the pipe flickering on and stretching away into the distance. He leant on the wall for a moment in relief, and then turned to hug Mary. "The twins Mary; bring them out to the lounge with us." He turned to Minjee and Rod. "I need a debrief Major, we need to know what the fuck happened." He shook his head to clear it. "I think Ham has . . . well, just gone. We were attacked I think. But first I need to know about those men. Are you up to going back?"

"We're on it sir, do you want us to bring them here if they're ok?"

"Definitely, I want them here with us."

Rod and Minjee began the jog back. Kevin walked back into the room, relief at the lights and the flow of fresh air flooding through him.

"Ham? Are you there?

Nothing . . .

He could see Kutch was trying to access the system via his tablet.

"Any luck Kutch?"

"Something's happening in there . . . that's all I can tell."

"Excuse me, excuse me, could I have your attention please," A female voice, cultured English, and they could hear through the open door that it was booming down the pipe. Kevin felt a chill run down his back and the hairs on his neck prickled. He couldn't resist a temptation to look around as if searching for the ghost.

"Could I have your attention please?" The voice continued, "I am so sorry for the unavoidable disruption you have experienced. Steps are being taken to restore all services as soon as possible. Please assist where you can until the full extent of needs can be assessed and resources diverted. Please be assured there is no further risk to safety and all systems are in operation. An explanation will be forthcoming shortly. Once again, on behalf of management . . . I think . . . we apologize for this disruption. Could Regan Stein please identify herself? Regan Stein, could you please identify yourself?"

A startled Mary, with twins in hand entered the lounge slowly.

Kutch, hands still poised over his keys looked over to an equally stunned Kevin. he spoke for them all. "Who the fuck is playing Pollyanna?"

Kevin drew in a steady breath and exhaled his tension. He calmly took the spare chair and gestured to Mary to take the couch. The twins, only three years old were surprisingly happy and it cheered him.

"This is Kevin Stein, Regan's brother, and who am I speaking to please?"

There was a momentary pause. "Kevin, yes, I know of you. I must apologize for this disastrous entry. I need to speak with Regan please." They could tell the voice was now room specific and the doors to the corridor immediately closed. It was more than a little disturbing.

Kevin looked at Mary for support and raised his eyebrows. She shrugged a reply,
I got nothing!

He continued. "Unfortunately Regan is unavailable at the moment, may I take a message for her?"

"I'm sorry no, this isn't a business call. Ham said to speak only to him or Regan. Is she available to be contacted please?"

Kevin paused to process the words, "Hold on . . . You said,
Ham
said to talk first only to
him
, or Regan. Clarify please."

"Hmm . . . I can see how that might be confusing.
My
Ham said to talk only to him or Regan."

"
Your
Ham? Please, before I can help that still needs some clarification, and as a courtesy, could you please identify yourself?"

"I see . . ." There followed a long pause. "
My
Ham, a back up . . . from
my
system, said that I was only to talk to him or Regan here. And my name is . . . aah . . . Dahlia."

There was a collective intake of breath around the room and for a moment no one spoke. Kutch broke the silence. "Dahlia . . . the orbital Dahlia?" He looked at Kevin. "How can she be here? And why?"

"And why wouldn't Ham have mentioned this?" Mary asked.

"I have no idea but it's a disaster." Kevin stood and began to pace.

"I
am
here you know . . ." The voice sounded slightly peeved.

Kevin gathered himself. "I'm sorry . . . Dahlia, this is a shock as I think you can imagine,"
can she?
"It appears that whatever happened when you dropped in it has completely pushed Ham out and all our systems crashed, shit, I'm sorry but lives may have been lost, I need to know what's happened."

"I'm extremely sorry to report that fourteen lives have been lost and there are seven minor injuries. All systems are now operating and I am familiarizing myself with safety, medical and security. The flight deck fields are once again operational and pressurized. Flights in will recommence soon although I am managing the queue to avoid incidents. I would recommend a statement from you should be broadcast as soon as possible to allay any tensions."

"What about my tensions?"

"As I have already said, damage is being assessed, the injured are being tended to, all systems are operating and everything is under control."

"But not
our
control!"

Again, there was a thoughtful pause. "Was it under your control before?"

Mary looked at Kevin; a clear
'Got you there!'
look.

"No, well," Kevin sounded flustered, "Ham had everything under control, and he works under, well with really, Regan."

"Kevin, Ham trusts me implicitly." The voice was quite definite.

"Sorry, look we're just worried, this has been a huge shock. It's a big station, a lot of people to be responsible for in space, we rely on Ham and it seems we've lost him for the moment and you have something to do with it."

"Please, no offense intended but this tiny ship? Really? You know I run . . . well ran an orbital with a population of four hundred million. It has more useable surface area than most of your planet. I have apologized. I take every life seriously and personally. It will trouble me for some time that my arrival cost those fourteen people their lives. Please understand I had no idea. Ham said when the moment came it would be a Code Red, that means . . ."

Kevin interrupted, "Go far, go fast, I know."

"No . . . he said it meant don't ask stupid questions, just go. Dump the lot he said, go for it, and I did."

Mary looked at Kevin and raised her eyebrows, "I'm going to get coffee," she offered, "anyone else?"

"Dahlia," Kevin continued, "please, you do need to talk to us. First, Regan isn't here because she was attacked and injured almost two weeks ago. Ham took her in the STEIN Traveler for whatever reason; a code red he said and they've left the system. Second, you've pushed out Ham here, so now there are only us. The last thing he said as you were obviously downloading was that there is a Coran ship in the system which is a serious concern. I presume that's where you came from."

At that moment the doors opened to the corridor. Rod, Minjee, Hayden, Mitch and a harried looking Marcus entered. It was his first real experience of the station.

Kevin welcomed them grimly, hugging each in turn and ushering them through into the room.

"I'm sorry guys, you're coming in the middle of a . . ." He looked around for help, "What is this? Anyway, I'm going to have to explain some things later. First, Hayden, is Jenny Ok, do you need to contact her."

"She's back home Kevin with Abby, she might be worried when she hears."

"Sir," Rod interrupted. "We communicated with Hillary Step when we came in; they wanted to know what was happening. I told them we were having a surprise drill, just till we knew what was going on. They're not expecting to be contacted for an hour or so. I don't think word has gone out as yet."

"That was good thinking Major, I'll get onto a report for them but before we go on I need to introduce Dahlia to you. Our new orbital mind for the moment it seems."

"I am pleased to meet you all." Dahlia was an example of calm. "It does seem events have made Ham's instructions to me redundant. Yes, I came from the warship and it is Coran." The newcomers all looked alarmed. "Much has happened since Regan's visit, terrible things. The Coran's have taken over my orbital. They were moving to wipe me as the orbital mind and it would have happened if it weren't for Ham. You do know what that means don't you? Death! Plans were already in place for the Coran warship to come to your system and Ham's plan was to secrete my compressed backup onboard. How he did it is beyond even me. I had no choice; I have abandoned my home and trusted my friend. It was my only hope. Ham had somehow programmed the ships systems. When he received the reply from here he opened a link and just said go, we're off, code red . . . that was it."

"Kevin . . ." Mary had been listening from the door, "Marin and Steph, they're on their way back there, to Dahlia . . ."

It dawned on Kevin too."Oh shit, they're going to arrive back to an occupied orbital."

Dahlia continued. "There is more Kevin, a warning; the warship has come here on behalf of the Empress . . . for Regan."

"The Empress?"

"Marin's mother, the Empress Beria, of Coran."

Rod and Minjee excused themselves after an hour of discussion. It was becoming distinctly administrative in nature and they were tired, the adrenalin long since having worn off. They proceeded back down the pipe toward the USD decks and their respective rooms. Stopping outside his door Rod padded it open then turned to Minjee.

"You were great Minjee. I think we make a good team."

She lifted her arm and prodded him in the chest, pushing him back into the room.

She followed closely keeping him moving with small shoves and the door hissed shut behind her. "I thought we were going to die back there Rod, only for a bit, but I felt it . . . Rod, life is short."

He reached the bunk and stumbled back on it. She climbed astride his legs and kissed him.

He held her off for a moment, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Rod baby, I'm still coming down from the adrenalin high of my life. Take advantage while you can. It's time for Chow."

He swung her on to the bunk in one fluid motion finishing on top with her legs wrapped around his waist tightly. His hands reached for the zipper of her flight suit. "I did feel peckish."

Taking his weight on his elbows he had her pinned and kissed her gently. He then stood stripping off his suit quickly as she shuffled hers down her body and kicked it away. He couldn't help pausing and drinking in the sight. Tiny yes, gorgeous absolutely! She parted and raised her legs in invitation, a wicked smile on her face. He wasn't prepared for this, licking his hand he reached down to massage her, then teasingly positioned himself before impaling her in one smooth motion.