Regan's Reach 4: Avarice (24 page)

"In any
case Regan dear," the voice now came from a Reubus android behind the
large desk, "business is business and I sense from your demeanor you are
not here to partner with me as I'd hoped."

She again tried
to smile but it was difficult; perhaps his attempts to unsettle her were paying
off after all. "I won't ask you to clarify what you mean by 'partner,' my
friend, as you know I've been out of the system for some weeks busy on other
projects. I simply wanted to catch up again, test the orbit of the Orbital so
to speak." And again she delivered her most charming smile.

"Regan, we
both know that you have come via Dahlia, and what has my dear friend told you?
We are becoming quite close you know, Dahlia and I, I'm sorry, you know her as
Hilary I understand. I like Dahlia, I find her quite feisty."  As he said
the words the Regan android stood and walked seductively around the table,
stopping beside the male she was addressing. He draped one arm around her, the
act being quite pointed. It was as if he were pointing out that as he had
Dahlia and this Regan android . . .
Regan dear, you are no longer required.

And then
suddenly, point made, he was quite solicitous again casually pushing the female
aside and standing. "Regan," he shook his head, "why do you resist
such an obviously useful liaison - we could be so good for each other? The
opportunities for us would span whole systems of the galaxy; working together
we could achieve so much."

"Reubus,
what is it that you want to achieve - riches? What good are they to you, and
you already have so much. Is it power? How much power do you need, and for what
purpose? Reubus please, simply work with us, work with everyone for the good of
the galaxy." She softened and tried to draw him in. "You have plenty
my friend, you are loved and respected, surely what you have is enough?"

"Is it enough
for you Regan?" His demeanor seemed to harden. "Your own influence
continues to grow, your power and reach grows stronger and wider with each
passing period. How is it acceptable for your power to expand without check,
while you seek to curb the power of this simple business Mind?"

"Reubus, you
have it wrong, I have little formal power and that of my business is limited to
my own system. That people choose to follow my lead is something over which I
have no control. You cannot be envious of influence that I haven't sought or
coveted. And even if you were envious; taking advantage of others, seeking to
dominate and exploit by monopoly - these aren't the ways to gain the influence
you seek."

"I can see
you won't be persuaded to join me Regan. Your personal power is impressive and
you have the people following you, but there are other forms of power. I am
good at what I do, be careful that your own pride doesn't come before a
fall."

He stood and
stepped back from the desk; the female android slid in before him and lay over
the surface. Realizing what he was about to do Regan stood quickly, shocked as
he flipped the loose skirt up over her hips. For the briefest of moments she
locked eyes with her doppelganger on the desktop then didn't wait a second
longer; she disappeared.

* * *

On return to
Dahlia Orbital Regan allowed Hilary to rummage around her thoughts reviewing
the meeting with Reubus. A look of disappointment on Hilary's face as she
reached the meetings disturbing end proved misleading and it led Regan to
commiserate unnecessarily.

"I'm sorry
Hilary, bad boy he may be but he's lost it. There is self obsession there and a
degree of delusion that disturbs me; but I can see why you might be upset."

"You were
premature, Regan."

"I'm
sorry?"

"Premature
- in leaving the room - couldn't you have waited just a moment longer?"

"Hilary! I
wasn't going to wait in that room a microsecond longer, not with what he was
about to do to that android, and an android that looks just like me in case you
hadn't noticed."

"Yes,
well, I was just wondering, you didn't happen to get a look at his . . ."

"Nooo!
What is wrong with you?"

The gracious
lady slumped into a depressed lotus position and rested her head in her hands.
"Regan, you have no idea. Everyone seems to think I don't have needs or
interest in male company - but I do. Most of the Minds in this system are
intimidated by me and those that aren't intimidated are, well - there is only one,
Reubus. You have Ham so he's gone and anyway he treats me like a sister - so what
is a girl to do?"

Regan crouched
and stretched out an arm to rest over Hilary’s shoulder. "Be patient babe,
you know you will be living a very long time. Things are changing so quickly now
and think about it, we're reaching into the Orion Nebula, a system populated
with advanced Minds, who knows who you will meet?"

Hilary sniffed
and then serenely rose like a ghost to stand beside Regan and they embraced.

Regan stepped
back and held her at arm's length. "Now, Reubus is looking to take over
this star system by fair means or foul, I'm sure of it. You need to watch out
babe that he doesn't maneuver you into a corner. I know you more than have the
measure of him when it comes to business, as long as you keep your wits about
you; let's see you give him a run for his money, okay?"

Hilary perked
up with the encouragement but her mind was already elsewhere. "That's an
interesting thought - about the Orion system I mean, thank you Regan, I'd like
to visit there I think."

Regan smiled.
"Well, think about it, via that processor on Charlie you are already on
your way there as we speak."

A broad smile
broke out on Hilary's face. "Yes, yes of course I am, that's true."

"Now babe,
I'm leaving you to the business and going after Ham; are you okay?"

A nod was all
that was required to satisfy Regan, and she was gone, with new coordinates, to Fifino.

* * *

It was by now a
simple matter to hone in on Ham's location. She knew he had gone investigating and
Fifino was the destination, but what was he up to? Latching on to the now familiar
signal of his presence and jumping blind meant arriving who knows where, so
mentally she prepared herself for anything. As it turned out she found herself
in a typical government office, the likes of which could be found anywhere in
the galaxy. Tihan, as acting Orbital Mind on Fifino, usually presented as the young
soldier for Ham and today was no exception. His eyes lit up as Regan
materialized behind the beautiful man.

Ham didn't even
bother to turn. "Regan, you left this to me so what are you doing here?
You just can't stand being without me can you?" Now he did turn and
smiled.

"I know
you don't need me Ham, but I'd finished with Reubus and thought I'd join you."

At just the
mention of Reubus's name Tihan's eyes lit up, pathetically hopeful, "Did
you manage anything Regan - will he back off?"

She shook her
head sadly. "I'm sorry Tihan, the answer is no, in fact he seems all the
more ruthless and determined. Hilary is still in a position to back you up though,
and I suggest you go with her. In fact you could do worse than enter into a
full partnership of sorts; she has a very sharp business mind while you are an
excellent administrator. Be open to her suggestions, she really is trying to
save your butt."

"Oh, she
isn't interested in a partnership with me; her tastes are, shall we say, a
little more edgy." He seemed disappointed.

"Yes, well
I was thinking more of a business partnership anyway. Let's move on shall we -
how did you get on Ham?"

"I got
nothin and you know how that annoys me!" He did look disappointed.
"This Leith seems to a reasonable trader with a small piece of quite a few
pies on Fifino. I wouldn't call him a wheeler and dealer, certainly not a big
wheel in the scheme of things. But he does seem to have the ear of people you
wouldn't normally expect to be interested in a small fry like him. Why they
talk to him, I don't know and even with my nefarious excellence in sculling
around the available data it seems he is squeaky clean."

"Well
that's good isn't it?" Tihan asked, surprised that Ham wasn't happy with
the discovery.

Both Regan and
Ham just looked at him and shook their heads sadly. Ham leant forward on
Tihan's desk and eyeballed him. "Tihan, this is what gets you into so much
trouble, you need to realize no one is completely squeaky clean. What is it you
say Regan - when it comes to sentient minds you should always be prepared to be
disappointed but you should never be surprised? You should assume everyone is
hiding something, the question is what and is it important? That I can't find
anything is suspicious in itself."

"Ha - So
if everyone has something to hide, what about you Ham?"

Ham laughed.
"I rest my case, Tihan." He turned back to Regan. "Everything
about the records on this man suggests the data trail around him is continually
being swept clean, and there is another thing. The volume of his business
conducted with the other Orbitals is relatively small, and yet he travels
frequently between them on business trips."

"You think
the business is just a cover for him?"

"That
would be my pick, I think he's an operative, the question is for whom?"

"And why
based here on Fifino, he's a Coran after all?"

"I think
it's likely he was an operative for the old Fifino himself before I dispatched
him. He was probably a key link between the Coran emperor and this Orbital.
Since both those old bastards are gone I'm picking he's working for a new
master."

"Reubus?"

"I was
hoping you'd suggest that, shall I deal to him?"

"No Ham,
blimey - don't jump to conclusions too quickly. As far as we know Reubus has
acted lawfully in all his business dealings to date and he's been very
successful. If he can do that acting legitimately, why would he need a dark
operative?"

"Regan, we
just said it, no one is squeaky clean, and in fact to me it's suspicious if
they look that way; Reubus is no exception much as I respect him. In business
sometimes shifty things do happen, I don't need to tell you that surely?"

"It's not
the way we operate."

Ham shuffled
slightly. "No, no, of course it's not."

She looked at
him doubtfully but decided not to pursue the issue. "Ham, I hear you, but
we can't be sure Leith is working for Reubus, this man could be working for
anyone. The thing that concerns me is his interest in Aaron and the way he
seems to have lured the whole family here. What's his game?"

"Regan, if
I may?" Tihan waited for permission to speak.

"Yes of
course."

"We do
know Leith has a compound on Fifino, quite a substantial compound in fact. It
has very effective shielding and operates outside the normal Orbital network.
Perhaps he will take them there."

Regan looked
shocked at Tihan's naivety. "You think? Tihan, of course he will, and how
did he get permission to shield the compound from you?"

"Well,
they felt it was necessary for business security, industrial espionage and all
that, and I agreed."

"Do any
other businesses here have such shielding?"

"Well, no;
none at the moment, but others have asked."

"Tihan, in
future say no, absolutely not. You are an unbiased Mind of the highest
integrity and can be trusted absolutely. The only reason they would seek that
kind of shielding from you is because they are up to no good."

"That is
exactly what I was telling him when you appeared Regan."

"No you
weren't." Tihan protested. "You were saying you were going to take
them out."

"Ham, we
are not going to take them out. We need to watch them, gather more information.
So, Tihan, from now on monitor all data traffic to and from that compound. Even
if it's encrypted see if you can identify where it comes from or where they're
sending to. You may have to track the data all around the Gliese system but
stay on it. You do control three of the Orbitals after all and Hilary will work
with you so it shouldn't be too difficult; and Ham, there is no system that given
time you can't penetrate, so stay on it. If I agree to you leaving a copy of
yourself here, can I trust you to keep it to the one?"

"Of course
Regan, when have I ever let you down?"

"In that
case, you and I need to get back to the Behemoth. Marin and Leah will be
watching Aaron and the family on the Lazy Passage, there's a copy of you there
too in the saucer and if one of you remains here we should have everything
covered." She rolled her eyes at how confusing things could become.

"Tihan, in
the meantime do the tracking and work with Ham. I make sure I'm back again
around the time of the Lazy Passage arrival."

"I won't
let you down, Regan." The young soldier mock saluted.

She smiled and
reached out a hand to Ham, and then with an unnecessary dancing swirl they
slowly dissolved into nothing.