Regan's Reach (25 page)

They've had their time,
she thought.
I will not give them another minute of mine!
With one ache filled motion she swept her feet to the floor.

[Where am I Ham?]

[You're in Sindali's apartment and you're
alone at the moment. Sindali and the children have gone to the council offices
to meet with Beria. How are you?]

[I've been better, but what doesn't kill
you makes you stronger.] She wrapped the sheet around her and walked through
the door to the main room [I need a suit Ham, is there anything here?]

[Sindali's room, on your left.]

Regan walked through into the hallway. She
stopped to use the bathroom and wept briefly as she tended to her injuries. Ham
then guided her past several other rooms before doors opened to her right.
Entering she found a large comfortable room with a central bed and on one wall
a bush scene that for a moment took her breath away. She sensed movement and a
bird flew across her vision. [This is Earth?]

[Yes, from Mariner's files.]

She sat for a moment taking in the scene,
strengthened by it, and then stood, looking for storage.

[On your left Regan.]

She touched the pad and the door slid open
to reveal a wide shallow closet. Hangers and shelves were there with a
selection of garments, some obviously formal, some practical. Selecting a one
piece suit in red that looked suitably bold she walked back to the bed and
pulled it on. While too long in the legs it nevertheless stretched over her
body, so snug it felt like an athletic support.

[Is there a mirror?]

The screen picture disappeared and instead
she saw herself, standing tall, and the suit legs bunched at her ankles.
Bending she folded them like cuffs, the elastic nature of the fabric proving enough
to hold them in place. A quick look in the cupboard and she found slippers but
they were too small. Massaging her feet through the fabric she felt a pad on
the sole, like a ship suit,
it will have to do
. Stepping back she
regarded her image again, noting the swelling was down a little and she could
see out of the eye. Bruising on that side was an ugly black, blue, and yellow.
Shit!
She smiled nevertheless, not unpleased with what she saw.

"You are one mean mother fucker!"
She spoke to the image. Exiting the room Regan walked out to the open area and
noticed Sindali had left food and drink on the table. She sat and for a few
minutes contemplated her next steps, drinking and eating a little, all
business, no pleasure. "You said Marin was ok?" It felt good to hear
the sound of her voice, strong, and in control again.

[Yes, the problems were with the web
surface, not the branches reaching into brain tissue. They've been repaired and
he'll be fine, he's already on his feet but they'll hold him for a few days.]

She felt a wave of relief flood through
her; this was what she had come for after all. [Does he know what happened?]

[No, he's been unconscious for the last two
days.]

Again, relief, and embarrassment,
where
has the time gone?
"Two days? That doesn't sound right?"

[You were lost to us for a bit there Regan.
It's good to have you back.]

She stood and stretched, pleased to find
more comfortable movement than she expected. [The council rooms Ham, take me there
please.]

Regan looked thoughtful and determined as
she strode purposefully for the door. Annoyingly it didn't immediately open for
her.

[I do have to bring a car you know!]

[Just do it!]

[It's coming m'lady . . . Regan, are you
sure about this?] and the doors slid open.

[Yes, I've tried the quiet role and it
doesn't suit me. I like to speak for myself.]

She sat and looked around as the doors
closed, noting the opulent interior along with space for a small army. It
seemed extra attention had been paid to its selection and she worked a side
lever, sliding back with the seat, reclining in comfort.

"This wasn't really necessary you know,
but thank you."

[Just thought you might be a little tender.
Sorry, not much class there but I was well intentioned. Regan, it's best to
sub-vocalize now - Beria's monitoring is legendary.]

[Will do. Shit, what a control freak!]

She settled into the chair and composed
herself. The trip wouldn't be long she knew, but she was glad for the time to
calm, clear her mind, and strengthen her resolve. In the car, as with the Pod
and the ship she felt no sense of motion, in fact only in the elevator on the ship
did she feel aware of any kind of movement. The thoughts prompted her to think
about the amazing technology, to mentally review her shopping list and to wonder
how ShipHam was getting on.

[I'll be fine - and I like that by the way
. . . ShipHam . . . that works.]

[You're reading my mind now? Ham . . . back
there, with the witches’ spawn, did you feel everything?]

[Feel? I . . . appreciated . . . everything
you were experiencing and truthfully, I needed a weapon. Regan, if feeling
describes what I have now . . . it's dangerous!]

[That makes two of us Ham and I'm sorry you
had to go through that, curtains weren't on my mind.]

[Regan . . . . don't ever shut those
curtains, this is a ride I'm willing to take. One for all. . .]

[And all for one.] She replied. [Have you
heard from The STEIN?]

[No, not since Marin left for the clinic. We
could have connected but it might draw attention you can't afford. Best to
leave it for an emergency.]

[An emergency . . . now tell me what that
is again? Seriously, what does one of those look like?]

[You may be about to experience one now, we're
arriving.]

Again, with no sense of G force, no movement,
the doors simply opened and Regan leant forward, peering left and right into a
well lit corridor. Large framed pictures of distinguished figures hung on the
walls,
probably past leaders,
she thought. [So, which way do I go?] And
immediately she knew . . .
go left!
Starting down the corridor she
paused at each picture.

[This is like any council building at home.]

[Humanoids hate to be forgotten, they like
to leave a legacy.]

[Huh!] An internal grunt. [We have a
saying, history belongs to the victor.]

She walked on until one picture brought her
up with a start.

[Marin?]

[It's Mariner, now there's a man who left a
legacy! Sadly the witch has damaged it and it's time the witch was dead.]

Regan walked on without thought, Ham would
warn her when they were nearing the meeting room. On the corridor walls she
could now see ceremonial regalia, shields and crossed spears.

[Really?] She paused and looked up,
incredulous.

[Be fair, even on Earth you see displays
like this. Everyone likes to give the impression they're building on prior
noble history.]

The doors to the meeting room were closed,
and unlike every other entrance she'd seen, this one had a wide ornate double
width jamb,
did that signal a much larger room beyond?
Regan planted her
feet and drew in a healthy breath.

[Ready Ham.]

The doors opened silently, inward to the
room. Regan paused and took in the situation, a conference room of sorts, with
a large group gathered toward the front, clearly split into two factions. She
could hear voices raised with anger and accusation.

Stretching to her full height, still well
short of most in the room, Regan padded forward like a cat. Ten paces in and
Buela ran from the side to greet her, her squeal drawing the attention of the
group and the room was suddenly, deathly quiet. The group parted, and she took
in at least thirty people of different ages. In the middle, apoplectic with rage
was Beria, while Brun and Sarin stood to one side looking unrepentant, even
arrogant in their stance. Sindali on the other side looked on anxiously as
Regan stalked forward.

Regan paused, gently putting down the child
and gesturing for her to join her brother. Then she calmly padded on through
the silent group prompting Sarin to step forward, positioning himself between
her and his mother.

[That suits me!] She said silently to Ham.

Then in one smooth powerful motion she spun
and jumped, delivering a high, high kick, her heel catching Sarin's jaw with a
crack that echoed around the walls! It lifted him off his feet, sending him
crashing to the floor at Beria's feet. He lay there like a rag doll motionless
and possibly dead.

Beria looked down, both shocked and
horrified. She flicked Sarin's hand off her foot with a kick then screamed, "Guards!"

"No!" Sindali yelled and stepped
forward, quickly insinuating herself in front of Regan. "No! She will not
be harmed."

The uniformed guards hesitated, unsure what
to do until Brun stepped forward and slapped his sister to the ground. Chaos
broke out, with Beria's guards wrestling those loyal to Sindali while others
hustled Beria from the room. Regan saw Brun making for the children and tackled
him to the ground. She rained punches down until he slumped still, his face and
her fists both bloodied. Panting with the effort she scooped up the children,
one in each arm and turned looking for cover.

[Regan, take the door!] And she ran with long
loping strides, ignoring the whimpers from Buela and Rhine, there was no time
for niceties. Reaching the door she looked back and saw Sindali held by two
guards and Brun, staggering toward her, pulling a blade from a concealed
sheath. She dropped the children, turned to the corridor wall and wrenched a
spear from the wall.

A match made in heaven!
Calmly she lined up, took three steps and a skip then launched the
spear with all the force she could muster. It took Brun just below the left
shoulder, skewering him in front of the shocked guards. Sindali's eyes met hers
across the room and Regan nodded an unspoken promise. She picked up the twins
and ran down the corridor heading back toward the car, the sounds of fighting
dwindling behind them. The doors were already open for them and she pushed the
children through, diving after as the doors closed, then lay on the floor
gasping.

[You missed his heart.]

[I'm a little out of practice Ham.] Pumped
with adrenalin now, Regan pushed herself up, all action.

[Where do we go now?]

[The apartment will be best for the moment.
It's a fortress and I can secure the entrance. If it's needed there's a
security exit that I don't think anyone would know about other than Sindali.]

Regan looked behind her. The children were
in shock and shaking so she moved back and took them in her arms.

"You're ok, in fact everything is going
to be all right, and your mother will be too." Or so she hoped,
desperately. They said nothing, and simply clung to her. If they noticed she
could talk, neither mentioned it.

The fifteen minute journey was filled with
tension as Regan reviewed the situation, still worrying about Sindali.

[We're there Regan, and I've checked the
apartment, its clear.]

The doors parted and she gave thanks for
transport that opens straight into the home with no corridors to navigate, no
dark corners to hide in, or elevators to share with unknown persons. It also
helped of course to have an invisible partner who navigates cyberspace in an
instant.

Ushering the children into the room Regan
felt that familiar flash of anxiety as they ran off to find their mother. She
shook her head in anguish and walked to the bathroom to clean her hands, Brun’s
blood still drying there on her knuckles.

[Have you any idea where Sindali is Ham?]

[I'm still tracking her. She's with a group
but whether she's captive I don't know. As soon as they come near to a camera I'll
tell you.]

[She's alive. That's the main thing, what
about Beria?] She scrubbed her hands furiously, anger building as Brun’s blood
washed away.

[Beria is in her offices, I can't break her
encryption yet but she's communicating with someone off orbital. ShipHam may be
following this
-
I'm sure he . . . I . . . will contact us if something
important happens. Events have probably overtaken secrecy now.]

[I agree Ham, make contact anyway. There's
no point in the charade any longer and we need all the information available.]
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Rhine standing in the doorway, he looked
bereft. She smiled welcomingly; dried her hands on the suit and picked him up,
carrying him through to the food preparation space.

"We can't find her." was all he
said.

"Where's Buela, Rhine?"

"In our room," and he pointed.
She followed his direction back into the hallway and found Buela face down on
her bed. As she sat down Ham reported back.

[She's with allies Regan. They're going to
Marin.]

Marin!
[Can
you check on him too Ham? Try to make contact. Let him know what's happened if
you can, and what do you know about Sarin and Brun?]