Regan's Reach Read online

  Sindali ran beside them. "Who is Ham, Mer? What are you doing?"

  [Go back past the clinic to the next stop. I'll have a car there. We can route around them.]

  "No time Sin, we must get to the next stop." Adrenalin drove him now and he pulled Sindali after him, the five pounding back down the passage. Passing the clinic the supervisor was talking urgently into his wrist com, they ignored him and two hundred meters further on they could see tube doors opening for them. Racing on they stumbled into the waiting car.

  Marin fell onto a seat, the beginnings of a pounding headache filling his head. He bent forward, his head in his hands. "Where are we going Sin?"

  For the first time she looked lost. "I don't know, I don't know! I don't know where they are."

  It didn't matter, the car was already moving.

  *

  [Regan, you need to move!] The sub came with urgency.

  [What's up Ham?] She stayed calm while cuddling Rhine, Buela asleep beside her.

  [I have them, Marin and Sindali are in a car, they're all safe for now but Beria knows Marin has gone. Guards are already closing on your apartment. I've found a safe place but you must get out]. Leave quickly by the emergency passage and I'll guide you from there.]

  Regan gently roused Buela and lifting Rhine led them to Sindali's room.

  "We're going on an adventure, to see Mer and your mother. Come quickly."

  They obeyed without complaint and she pushed through into the narrow closet. She was about to speak to Ham when Buela showing remarkable understanding reached up and punched a panel.

  "It's there." she said, and a thin gap opened in the wall at the side."Mother said it was for emergencies."

  "Good girl Buela, you first." and they went through into the darkness. Regan looked behind them, disturbed to see the doorway remained open. Not knowing how to close it she turned for Buela, but in the dim light could see the girl had already gone. She groaned, and reaching back through the gap pulled a garment partly over the opening, it was the best she could do. Carrying Rhine she made after Buela with the sound of pounding already coming from the apartment behind them. The narrow passage made progress easy but in the darkness she still stumbled over the girl when she got to her.

  "It's here," Buela said, "We're not allowed to go any further."

  [There's a small faux balcony outside the door Regan. Then a short drop to the next level.]

  "We can go further today honey, do you know where the pad is?"

  Clearly she did, the narrow door swung outward onto a balcony, only about half a meter wide with spikes protruding upward from the floor. Regan looked over the edge and could see a drop of about four meters to the ground.

  [That's a short drop?] Oh shit, shit, shit!

  Putting Rhine down, she squatted beside Buela. "Buela, listen darling, I need you to be brave and we need to get down to the ground. I'm going to lift you over the edge and I want you to stand with your feet between the bars while holding on to them tight. Can you do that?"

  Buela didn't reply and Regan didn't hesitate for debate. Lifting Buela over the spikes she held her until the girls feet were planted firmly and she had a good hold on the bars. Then Regan let go and lay on the ground, pushing one arm through a gap, right up to the shoulder.

  "Buela darling, reach down with one arm and take my hand, you're doing well." She marveled at the courage of the little girl as she let go with one hand and carefully reached down. Regan grasped the hand and then, without any warning, quickly pushed Buelas feet from the ledge with her other arm. The girl dropped with a startled cry, falling to dangle from Regan's arm. Regan closed her eyes and couldn't help a whimper as she braced herself for the next step. Then, she dropped the girl, immediately breaking into sobs as she lay there, too afraid to look over the side. Then she turned to Rhine. The boy stood looking at her with mouth open and eyes wide.

  "This will be easier for us Rhine."

  Before he could protest she picked him up and painfully climbed over the spikes. As she swung her trailing leg over, the suit caught on a spike and she wrenched at it desperately trying to tear it free. From the passageway she could hear voices and someone forcing their way through. With one arm she held on to Rhine and then, with her other hand on a rail, she squatted as low as she could . . . then let go.

  To her horror the suit leg held fast and they swung under the balcony, the leg stretching out above her leaving her hanging, ludicrously trapped. She could see Buela, sitting on the ground below and rubbing one leg, not even crying! It was a simple matter now to lower Rhine almost to the ground and she dropped him.

  Then surprising even herself, with one huge effort she curled up and used the suit to pull herself back up to the bar hand over hand, grateful for the lower orbital gravity. Ridiculously exposed there she hung a moment before reaching up again with one hand to pull herself higher. As she looked up she saw a glove reaching down to grab her hand, it was a man leaning over the spikes and smiling. Sharp spikes! She didn't hesitate; Regan gripped the bar tight then put everything into one massive haul upward, passing his outstretched arm and curling her hand over the back of the man's head, and then she dropped. Please don't let them be watching, she thought.

  No such luck. Rhine peering upward, with his mouth still open and eyes agape saw the man's head impaled and sliding quickly down the spike. Having entered at the throat it then reappeared above dripping, a fountain of red raining down on the boys face.

  Mercifully, Regan felt the shaft pass between her fingers so she let go and fell, her weight dropping back onto the suit leg which stretched and slowed her fall then at last ripped clear. She dropped the last meter, thumping onto her shoulder and rolling away to the side. Looking back she could see the blood still dripping down on the children and quickly she scooped them clear.

  [Which way do we go Ham?]

  [Left, your way is clear.]

  And she ran, into the park she had so desperately wanted to see.

  So many Dahlians! It was late afternoon and Regan drew anxious looks as she pounded through the crowds like a muscular hell raiser, face black and blue, dressed in red and carrying two children covered in blood. It was an image that would make the news she knew.

  She scanned left and right seeing long haired teens and grumpy old people, mothers and children, all very familiar. Nothing new there except most were tall, thin and deeply alarmed by her approach, that much was clear.

  [In one hundred meters you'll see a stairway downward . . . take it.]

  She slowed to a puffing walk, rearranging the children on her hips before resuming the military trot and not bothering to look back, eyes focused searching for the steps. Into view came railings bordering the stairway and she made for it quickly, skipping down two steps at a time, caution thrown to the wind.

  [The first car will be yours.]

  Regan barreled through the waiting people, ignoring grunts and complaints.

  "Hospital, emergency, hospital, emergency!" she called out and the remaining pair stepped aside just as the car doors opened. As she stepped through a couple who rushed to enter with them recoiled on seeing her face and the bloodied suit. She stood barring the doorway until the doors shut, screening out the shocked crowd. Leaning on her arms, one either side of the doors, Regan finally dropped her head to her chest and gasped for air. She took a moment to gather herself then turned to face the terrified bundles curled on the floor. Squeezing between them she placed an arm each over their shoulders and hugged, "Not long now, everything's going to be alright." She dearly hoped it would be.

  *

  The apartment Ham had secured was in a university complex well away from the corridors of power and on the opposite side of the orbital from Sindali's home. He seemed quite proud of himself and explained at great length how he had scanned all holiday records of government and public service staff, then schools and universities before deciding this address offered the best medium term prospects for safe haven. Fortunately the tenant was on sab
batical away on a neighboring orbital and he was not expected to return for seventeen periods, more than enough time for them to wait out the situation until something more permanent could be arranged.

  Marin and Sindali collapsed on arrival while the guards remained all business, quickly searching each room and checking visually for communications devices before returning to the main room to report.

  Sindali took the hand of the senior officer, "Commander, thank you for all you've done, I'm so sorry; I don't even know your names." Ever the politician she acknowledged all of them with her smile.

  "It's not important, Mistress. You have more than enough on your mind yet you are thinking of us, that is enough, thank you!"

  "You were with my mother, yet you helped me, why?"

  He looked surprised. "You need to ask Mistress? Many in the service only continue in the hope you will take your place soon." He turned as he said it and looked at Marin, suddenly embarrassed. "I mean no disrespect to you sir."

  "None taken, you and your colleagues are most wise my friend. You say there are many of you, how many?"

  "Most of the Guard is ready for change sir. The Guard is loyal to our home and the tribes of this orbital, but not Beria, although it is sedition to say so. Beria is . . . disliked . . . I'm sorry." He paused in the middle of speaking as if weighing up something and then continued, "In fact Mistress, it's worse than that, she is hated."

  He looked at Sindali, pleading with her, "You must know that, only her closest troops and bastard sons are behind her." He gestured to his men to stand. "Sir, you're safe here. We must return to the barracks. Things have gone too far now and there will be no going back. With your permission, it's time we gathered support and stormed the palace, so to speak."

  Marin stood and extended his hand "You don't need my permission Commander."

  He clasped it then turned to Sindali. "I most certainly need your permission Mistress Sindali, I will be asked and if you are not prepared to fill the role then we are lost."

  "You go with my blessing Commander and I apologize to all of you. It's my fault that I sat on the sidelines for too long, and it may have cost me my children, my own life. Beria is a danger to us all now. Please, overthrow her yes, but if you can, preserve her life."

  [Ham, is the car still there?] Marin subbed.

  [It's still there Marin, and Regan is on her way.]

  Marin turned to the guardsmen. "Commander, take the car. How will we contact you?"

  [I've got that Marin, I can always contact him.]

  Marin raised his hand quickly, his message clear. "Never mind Commander, just go with our blessing, and thank you for caring for my sister."

  The doors were already opening as the guards made for them and without another word they were gone, leaving brother and sister alone.

  Sindali put her hands to her face looking distraught. "Mer . . . what have I done? I've betrayed her."

  "She betrayed us, remember that too. I will acknowledge her, yes, but I will not follow her. You've done the right thing Sin; it was the only thing to do if our home is to prosper."

  She wrung her hands, suddenly galvanized by a thought. "Where has my head been? The children, where are my precious children?"

  "Ham says Regan is on her way."

  "And what about Buela, and Rhine?" Sindali's eyes were wide, appealing desperately.

  "They will be with her." Marin said it more in hope than conviction, quietly subbing for confirmation [Ham, are they all ok?]

  [Yes, they are with her.]

  [Thank the stars!]

  "They're coming together Sin, sit down and rest, they won't be long."

  [Marin, it may be helpful to prepare Sindali. They are all right but Regan looks like the babysitter from hell and, well, there's a lot of blood, it's not theirs but it doesn't look good].

  [What happened?]

  [Oh, you know, a body here, a body there, blood, lots of blood, the usual thing.]

  Marin gave a long sigh. "Sin, I'm going to find something for my head, it's killing me." He walked through to the kitchen and searched the storage drawers . . . nothing. The bathroom likewise yielded nothing of use. Finally in the second bedroom he found a medpac with drugs he could use. His head still pounding. he swallowed three pills dry, and then lay on the bed, buried under the cover.

  It felt like only a minute, but was actually twenty before Sindali's scream woke him with a start and Marin ran for the door. There, standing just inside the room, was Regan, in a bright red skintight suit torn at the leg, blood stained and dirty, face swollen and colored black blue and yellow, one eye partly closed, skull stained red, a child in each arm, both bloody and battered. If he had any doubts to that point they were gone, Ham was right. You've got to love this human!

  Of the three adults, it was agreed Marin would be the least conspicuous in public as Sindali was too well known and Regan was too short, alien looking and bruised. They dispatched him with a shopping list for supplies, food and drink.

  Sindali focused on the children who were soon bathed and finally asleep. It was disturbing to see them so traumatized and numb from their experience, but they had held up well. Rhine, as Sindali stroked him his head, talked excitedly about a man's head on a spike and she shuddered, hoping he was exaggerating. Guiltily she dosed them from the medpac to help them settle.

  She could hear Regan in the bathroom showering and walked to the door just as the water stopped. The door opened and Regan, naked, stepped out looking for a towel, bringing them suddenly face to face. The two stood there frozen for a moment with Sindali shocked at the battered body before her. Naked, Regan looked shockingly beaten and bruised beyond reason. Sindali embraced her and then wept with deep sobbing cries as her own shock and fear caught up with her. Regan simply held her until finally Sindali pulled back embarrassed and apologizing that it was she who was crying. Regan quickly stepped into a bedroom, grabbed a sheet from the bed and then took Sindali's arm leading her back to the lounge. Wrapping the sheet about her she considered what to say that might put Sindali at ease. She had a story to tell, about two wonderfully brave children and their exploits, although I might miss the out blood and head stuff, she thought.

  Much later, though well fed and tired, no one felt like sleeping. They followed the news feeds reporting on the martial law established and listened for any news on the fate of Sarin or Brun. There was nothing, no confirmation of their deaths or the episode at Sindali's apartment, only that she and the children were missing and that authorities wanted to speak to a mystery woman. They cycled a poor image of Regan entering the council chamber which, while unclear, nevertheless revealed a stature that made her an easy target. There were reports of a woman of a similar description running through Central Park with two children that also left a disturbing impression. Had this madwoman kidnapped Sindali's children? And who knows what had become of Sindali, the Founders’ daughter? An orbital wide alert was in place to find the mystery woman.

  Ham's updates told a different story. Beria was secure in her apartments; there was obvious dissention in the Guard. Representations to Beria to step down had all been rebuffed and, most disturbing of all, Ham was currently tracking two ships on a clear path to Dahlia. Their origin he couldn't confirm but trajectory indicated they were most likely from Cora, the most remote orbital on the edge of the system.

  Regan mentally reviewed the information she had on Cora. A tribe harvesting the asteroid belt, they were suppliers of the vast ore and mineral supplies upon which all other orbitals depend.

  [Beria's decided to dance with the devil.] Ham suggested [Dahlia controls much of the food required in the system, certainly food types that the others want. Maybe she's proposed an alliance with another powerful controlling orbital, it might suit both?]

  Regan and Marin relayed Ham's thoughts to Sindali who looked doubtful.

  "We're small, tiny compared to the others," she said, "really, what have we to offer and what have we to gain from them? No, this is about Beria sec
uring her position. The question I ask is what concessions has she made, without authority, to win Coran support?"

  With a shudder Sindali declared they could only be military vessels coming.

  "And I have a question, who . . . is . . . this . . . Ham?"

  Marin answered first, "Ham is just a friend, a hacker and a good pilot."

  This drew a dark sceptical look from Sindali. "Hmm, I look forward to meeting this, 'Ham'. When this is all over you must introduce me!"

  They talked for several more hours until Regan could take no more. It would be twelve hours before the vessels would be in range of the orbital and she excused herself, dragging her aching body to the second bedroom.

  For a long moment Marin and Sindali sat in silence.

  "She's in shock." Marin finally spoke.

  "I would say so, and in need of rest, but something else is on your mind brother."

  Marin stood and stalked the room. "She hasn't spoken to me directly, not once, since she arrived with the children. Does she think I care about my brothers? Sin, they were trying to attack you and they deserved to die, I would have done it myself. Their selfish ambition cost them their lives and I won't mourn them. My anger burns against that witch, she's brought nothing but shame on our family and none of this is Regan's fault. Doesn't she understand that?"

  Sindali shook her head. "Marin, you men can be so exasperating! It's not about you or what you think. She arrived here today with blood on her head, literally, and it wasn't her own! Does she look like a killer? Yet in defense of me she put a spear through Brun from forty paces."

  "She looked like a killer today!" He said, remembering the startling figure in the doorway.

  "Idiot!" She stood angrily. "I could slap you!" Sindali walked to him, taking his hands. "Marin . . . they raped her."