Read Online Regan's Reach 4: Avarice by Mark G Brewer - Free Book Online
Authors: Mark G Brewer
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be
no more discussion. She walked to Jared and hugged him, hard. "So then,
when will the operation be?"
Ham's excitement was obvious. "I have
Leah organized for tomorrow morning. Everything is in place and I see no reason
to delay. The sooner we do it the sooner we can get underway to Rigel."
Regan chewed at her lip nervously.
"Well, I guess we agree on at least that one thing, tomorrow it is
then."
* * *
Medlab, The STEIN Traveler, just off Hillary Station
The hours before the operation had passed
quickly. Jared looked up from the gurney and reached for Regan's hand to
squeeze it. "Don't worry Mom, Ham's the best, and you're the living proof."
She squeezed back and summoned a tight smile.
"See you on the other side babe . . . I love you."
He held on to her hand for a few seconds,
and his gaze held her eyes. "You too."And then he lay back as she
stepped away from him. Leah came to her then, already garbed and ready and they
hugged.
"Don't worry babe, he'll be fine, you
know that, and Ham is the best. Regan, you have your fleet crew meeting coming
up, focus on that for now, we've got things covered here."
Regan nodded, "You'll sub me if
anything . . ."
"Of course, I'll keep you in touch
throughout."
One look back and then Regan walked from
the room, her mind already shifting to the afternoon meeting. The senior crew
from the three vessels would all be present, and it was an opportunity for her
to connect with them, to stir the troops. With long established practice she
switched her mind off to the operation, suspending belief about the risks and
shelving the issue for the moment. A determined look settled on her face and
with just a thought command she displaced back to Hillary Station.
* * *
Hillary Station
Regan enjoyed the activity buzzing around
her as she walked up the pipe toward the conference room. The corridors seemed
much busier these days, with chattering groups moving from room to room,
heading for the various meeting or research rooms, cafes and restaurants, gyms
and recreation groups. And when schools closed they would be filled with
running children heading for apartments or play groups, all able to do so
safely in an environment where they knew their benevolent Mind, Hilary, much
more than an AI would always monitoring everything. She knew if she bothered to
listen in, many in this corridor would be chatting with Hilary via wireless
devices and there would be literally thousands of such conversations going on
throughout the station. At any one time the gracious lady would be handling
everything from special requests, to emergencies to simple friendly banter.
Hilary was simply amazing. Somehow, in the midst of all that she always had
time for Regan, and like the best assistant in the universe, she always kept
her informed.
[Regan, sorry to interrupt you but something
has happened you need to be informed about before your meeting; I need you in Control.]
The tone of the subbed communication made
Regan pause in her step and for a moment the person following close behind
thought they were going to run into her. In reaction that woman's hand came up
to brace on Regan's shoulder . . . but she was already gone, snatched away by
Hilary and the woman stumbled forward before regaining her balance. She looked
around, embarrassed then continued on her way.
The snatch was so unexpected even Regan
stumbled on her emergence in the Hillary Control room; a startled half clad
Leah already there, pulling up her suit. She and Marin, he dressed in sweaty
gym gear, looked equally shocked; clearly this meeting came as a surprise to
everyone. They exchanged concerned looks before all turned by habit to the
large screen.
Floating across the face of the screen they
could see a body, wracked in a tortured pose, fingers rigid in that final half
clench as if they were clawing at nothing, and it was tumbling slowly. Mouths
agape they stared in fascinated horror as it slowly
no more discussion. She walked to Jared and hugged him, hard. "So then,
when will the operation be?"
Ham's excitement was obvious. "I have
Leah organized for tomorrow morning. Everything is in place and I see no reason
to delay. The sooner we do it the sooner we can get underway to Rigel."
Regan chewed at her lip nervously.
"Well, I guess we agree on at least that one thing, tomorrow it is
then."
* * *
Medlab, The STEIN Traveler, just off Hillary Station
The hours before the operation had passed
quickly. Jared looked up from the gurney and reached for Regan's hand to
squeeze it. "Don't worry Mom, Ham's the best, and you're the living proof."
She squeezed back and summoned a tight smile.
"See you on the other side babe . . . I love you."
He held on to her hand for a few seconds,
and his gaze held her eyes. "You too."And then he lay back as she
stepped away from him. Leah came to her then, already garbed and ready and they
hugged.
"Don't worry babe, he'll be fine, you
know that, and Ham is the best. Regan, you have your fleet crew meeting coming
up, focus on that for now, we've got things covered here."
Regan nodded, "You'll sub me if
anything . . ."
"Of course, I'll keep you in touch
throughout."
One look back and then Regan walked from
the room, her mind already shifting to the afternoon meeting. The senior crew
from the three vessels would all be present, and it was an opportunity for her
to connect with them, to stir the troops. With long established practice she
switched her mind off to the operation, suspending belief about the risks and
shelving the issue for the moment. A determined look settled on her face and
with just a thought command she displaced back to Hillary Station.
* * *
Hillary Station
Regan enjoyed the activity buzzing around
her as she walked up the pipe toward the conference room. The corridors seemed
much busier these days, with chattering groups moving from room to room,
heading for the various meeting or research rooms, cafes and restaurants, gyms
and recreation groups. And when schools closed they would be filled with
running children heading for apartments or play groups, all able to do so
safely in an environment where they knew their benevolent Mind, Hilary, much
more than an AI would always monitoring everything. She knew if she bothered to
listen in, many in this corridor would be chatting with Hilary via wireless
devices and there would be literally thousands of such conversations going on
throughout the station. At any one time the gracious lady would be handling
everything from special requests, to emergencies to simple friendly banter.
Hilary was simply amazing. Somehow, in the midst of all that she always had
time for Regan, and like the best assistant in the universe, she always kept
her informed.
[Regan, sorry to interrupt you but something
has happened you need to be informed about before your meeting; I need you in Control.]
The tone of the subbed communication made
Regan pause in her step and for a moment the person following close behind
thought they were going to run into her. In reaction that woman's hand came up
to brace on Regan's shoulder . . . but she was already gone, snatched away by
Hilary and the woman stumbled forward before regaining her balance. She looked
around, embarrassed then continued on her way.
The snatch was so unexpected even Regan
stumbled on her emergence in the Hillary Control room; a startled half clad
Leah already there, pulling up her suit. She and Marin, he dressed in sweaty
gym gear, looked equally shocked; clearly this meeting came as a surprise to
everyone. They exchanged concerned looks before all turned by habit to the
large screen.
Floating across the face of the screen they
could see a body, wracked in a tortured pose, fingers rigid in that final half
clench as if they were clawing at nothing, and it was tumbling slowly. Mouths
agape they stared in fascinated horror as it slowly
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