knew
she would also soon know, but for now she was happy to inform.
The greetings over, she reclined in her deck
chair on the beach, reflecting on how nice it was to be meeting in this
beautiful bay, and reclaiming it as a favorite meeting place they could take
anywhere in the Galaxy.
"It was an interesting meeting with
Reubus."
"Interesting - how so dear?"
Hilary asked.
"Hmm, it would be easier and you'd
get a better feel for everything if you experience both meetings for yourself. Feel
free to rummage around in here, both of you; do the Tihan meeting first then
Reubus, I'd be interested to know what you think."
And she opened to them, a vague sense of
shared space coming to her as they updated from her data files, and she joined
them, reliving the meetings for the few moments it took but this time as an
observer, not a participant. Although she had been instinctively aware of Reubus's
solicitous attention on review, as she focused on him his look was unmistakable
- it was lust, he wanted her.
"What a shit!" Ham finally
exclaimed. "Is there anything more odious than a randy android?"
"Actually, he was very nice Ham, not
forceful at all, or odious."
"You're not seriously considering
it?"
"No of course not, but for the
moment it won't hurt that he's interested." Regan turned to Hilary and
noted a slightly wistful look in the gracious lady’s eyes. Putting the
observation aside for later she pressed on to the most concerning issue.
"Hilary, what's your take on this,
the business thing?"
"Hmm, I've never taken much
interest in inter-Orbital politics or business, not until meeting you anyway
dear and even now all that's happened is that I look a little further afield in
protecting our interests as I see them. I had no idea Tihan had allowed himself
to put the Orbital in such a precarious situation. Reubus is right, he's the
businessman and he knows how to maximize returns. Tihan is more an
administrator and he enjoys it, whereas Reubus would always employ a manager to
administrate. Therein lies the difference, Reubus can't really be blamed for
that."
Ham shook his head in concern.
"That may be true but he will get stronger and stronger if we let him.
Perhaps we should have considered this Regan; it may have been remiss of
us."
Regan turned slowly to the beautiful
man. "Oh . . . so now it's 'we' and 'us', cyber man." She looked
stern and then broke into a disarming smile. "Whatever - we need to
monitor the situation . . . and Hilary, now that you are fully aware of the
situation please be careful. You don't need anyone else to take over your
businesses. If you do need help, just call."
"Thank you dear, you know I
wouldn't hesitate but I have things in hand."
Regan nodded agreement "Of course,
I must say I smiled when I heard you'd already purchased your own energy
source. Well done, and Tihan is envious for sure. Plus you at least have your own
primary industry; you're already the main exotic food source for the system.
How could they do without you and your produce?"
Ham and Hilary exchanged knowing looks,
an action that did not escape Regan.
"What am I missing?"
"Regan, think about it, it's only
humanoids and other animals who are concerned about food; food isn't important
to Reubus, he's a Mind. You can't assume he cares whether humanoids can eat."
Her look changed as the insight dawned
on her too.
"Oh . . ."
* * *
Sol System, Hillary Station
The jump back to Hilary Station was
instantaneous and uneventful. Regan mused on the thought that she was
effectively a data transport now. Ham and Hilary began immediately updating
with their local selves as did she, and of course she returned with the alternative
energy data from Tihan. She wasted no time passing this on to Aaron, knowing he
would need a new challenge soon anyway. The wormhole project was now largely
completed and for the time being anyway it was simply a matter of portal
construction, anchor placement and refinements. He was
she would also soon know, but for now she was happy to inform.
The greetings over, she reclined in her deck
chair on the beach, reflecting on how nice it was to be meeting in this
beautiful bay, and reclaiming it as a favorite meeting place they could take
anywhere in the Galaxy.
"It was an interesting meeting with
Reubus."
"Interesting - how so dear?"
Hilary asked.
"Hmm, it would be easier and you'd
get a better feel for everything if you experience both meetings for yourself. Feel
free to rummage around in here, both of you; do the Tihan meeting first then
Reubus, I'd be interested to know what you think."
And she opened to them, a vague sense of
shared space coming to her as they updated from her data files, and she joined
them, reliving the meetings for the few moments it took but this time as an
observer, not a participant. Although she had been instinctively aware of Reubus's
solicitous attention on review, as she focused on him his look was unmistakable
- it was lust, he wanted her.
"What a shit!" Ham finally
exclaimed. "Is there anything more odious than a randy android?"
"Actually, he was very nice Ham, not
forceful at all, or odious."
"You're not seriously considering
it?"
"No of course not, but for the
moment it won't hurt that he's interested." Regan turned to Hilary and
noted a slightly wistful look in the gracious lady’s eyes. Putting the
observation aside for later she pressed on to the most concerning issue.
"Hilary, what's your take on this,
the business thing?"
"Hmm, I've never taken much
interest in inter-Orbital politics or business, not until meeting you anyway
dear and even now all that's happened is that I look a little further afield in
protecting our interests as I see them. I had no idea Tihan had allowed himself
to put the Orbital in such a precarious situation. Reubus is right, he's the
businessman and he knows how to maximize returns. Tihan is more an
administrator and he enjoys it, whereas Reubus would always employ a manager to
administrate. Therein lies the difference, Reubus can't really be blamed for
that."
Ham shook his head in concern.
"That may be true but he will get stronger and stronger if we let him.
Perhaps we should have considered this Regan; it may have been remiss of
us."
Regan turned slowly to the beautiful
man. "Oh . . . so now it's 'we' and 'us', cyber man." She looked
stern and then broke into a disarming smile. "Whatever - we need to
monitor the situation . . . and Hilary, now that you are fully aware of the
situation please be careful. You don't need anyone else to take over your
businesses. If you do need help, just call."
"Thank you dear, you know I
wouldn't hesitate but I have things in hand."
Regan nodded agreement "Of course,
I must say I smiled when I heard you'd already purchased your own energy
source. Well done, and Tihan is envious for sure. Plus you at least have your own
primary industry; you're already the main exotic food source for the system.
How could they do without you and your produce?"
Ham and Hilary exchanged knowing looks,
an action that did not escape Regan.
"What am I missing?"
"Regan, think about it, it's only
humanoids and other animals who are concerned about food; food isn't important
to Reubus, he's a Mind. You can't assume he cares whether humanoids can eat."
Her look changed as the insight dawned
on her too.
"Oh . . ."
* * *
Sol System, Hillary Station
The jump back to Hilary Station was
instantaneous and uneventful. Regan mused on the thought that she was
effectively a data transport now. Ham and Hilary began immediately updating
with their local selves as did she, and of course she returned with the alternative
energy data from Tihan. She wasted no time passing this on to Aaron, knowing he
would need a new challenge soon anyway. The wormhole project was now largely
completed and for the time being anyway it was simply a matter of portal
construction, anchor placement and refinements. He was
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