The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 10

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Chapter 10

Over the next week, trade picked up. Not just in clothes, but discussions about humans. There were always things to hear, but one day there was something different. An Igorotoran group had been spotted on the station.

They were one of the council members that rarely attended. They always found it rather awkward. They didn't just not breathe oxygen; they avoided it at all costs. One breath of air containing any level of oxygen and they would die. They travelled in a transparent case that contained their life support system. A single case contained six Igorotorans that always travelled in a group and spoke as a single unit. There were three species in the Rohastin that didn't speak Hytuna because it wasn't possible. The Igorotoran were one of these. Instead, they communicated by a strange mixture of light. The brightness and the hue of a dozen natural bulbs on their body made up their language.

"So, why are they here?" Jennifer pondered when it was just her and Reggie.

"I've no idea. I've never seen them before. I've just heard about them. You have to be careful though. Those cases can move very quickly."

"Everyone is listening. Everyone seems to be watching. Why? What has happened that's made everyone worried? Now the Igorotoran have turned up."

"And what about the Urattr?" Reggie asked.

"A very good question. That has gone very quiet."

"But aren't the council looking into them?"

Jennifer pondered. "Possibly. I was once told that just because we told someone doesn't abrogate our responsibility."

"So, what are you going to do?"

Jennifer grinned. "I'm going to send a message to Rupert. I don't want to send it to Theo because that might seem like a conflict of responsibility. I also don't think it should be sent to the Ambassador. That would be like cutting out the chain."

"Is that an issue?"

"For humans, it can be. Things might get forgotten because Rupert wasn't aware of it."

"I used to ask my grandfather questions," Reggie thought aloud. "He never seemed to mind."

"Yes, but did you ask him about council items, or just normal things?"

"I never asked him questions about what happened in the council. I see the difference. And it would be even worse now."

"How is your job going? Our chat didn't get you into trouble, did you?"

"I'm going to use one of your human phrases. I explained in words of one syllable why it happened. I even told them it would be our species fault because of our interference on Earth."

Jennifer thought that might have been a bit far-fetched, but she couldn't tell Reggie that when it would be picked up by her implant and fed back to Reginadde intelligence.

"They've also seen some of the data from here. They've gone from being irritated that I spend all my time here with you, to being pleased."

Jennifer and Reggie fist bumped. However, their chatting ended as another client came in.

It was the middle of the afternoon that Rupert contacted Jennifer. "I've reviewed your message. Would you be available to meet with the Ambassador after you shut your shop tonight?"

"Just me?"

"At this point, that might be for the best."

"What's up?" Reggie said, after seeing Jennifer pause. Jennifer hadn't got the hang of talking using her mind via the device and doing other things at the same time.

"I've been invited to a meeting with Ambassador Harries when we finish here. They specified just me. As far as I can tell, Theo is being kept in the dark. He is picking up day-to-day items freeing up Rupert to assist with whatever is happening."

"Hey," a familiar voice interrupted them.

"Sam!" Jennifer called, happy to see a familiar face. "Hey James."

Reggie knew them and greeted them happily too.

"So, this is the shop. Nice. Very inclusive," Sam said.

"We could make you a nice new outfit," Reggie offered.

"Not in Yvestigan style," Sam responded, after making sure there wasn't a Yvestigan nearby who might be offended.

"I've not had any takers for that. Not even the single Yvestigan who has ventured in. So, what brings you to my neck of the galaxy?"

"We've brought the team to a conference upstairs. I hear scientists from twenty different species are in it too."

"Sheesh. What's going on?"

"I wish I could tell you. Anyway, is the leaving rule still in effect?"

"Yes. I send regular messages, but I'm sticking to the rules. I have a meeting later up there. Do you know how long my parents are going to be here?"

"No. I didn't get chance to ask you last time I saw you. Did you get a brooch at school?"

Jennifer blushed and nodded.

"Jennifer North it is then."

"Don't. My parents would be really upset they weren't there. Did you know that when Mum married my ma, she decided to take our surname of Head. That way I wouldn't feel like she was taking my ma from me. Rebecca Head, Hilda Head, Ashleigh Head, Jennifer Head, Ryan Head. Now I'm North," Jennifer sighed, getting that guilt off her chest. "For most it is easy. They have no connection back to their family for four cycles. No matter where I go, I can't hide. You and they are so much a fabric of humanity. I couldn't even escape in the Peru jungle!"

"Don't sweat it. Because of your aunt Tina, your mum has already worked out that you won't see them for four years. Becky was furious but is now resigned. There is a countdown clock in the office and in their home."

Jennifer started to cry. She couldn't help herself. Reggie who'd been listening came across and put her arm around Jennifer. This made her cry even more.

When she calmed down, Sam continued, "It is quite easy. After the four cycles, get married. You are then legally married, and your parents get the ceremony. From what I've heard from others, when they got married, they still marked the commitment ceremony date as how long they'd been married."

"Do you see my Aunt Tina often?" Jennifer asked.

"They visit frequently, though haven't been around for several months. Why?"

"I'm just curious."

Reggie asked, "Have there been any issues with the tunnel network?"

James scowled, and Sam asked, "Why do you ask that specific thing?"

"Because that is what the Star Bright scientists created. And the Igorotoran were the ones who perfected the communications tunnels for the Rohastin. Before them, they only had physical hops."

"I think we should go," James said. "Before we inadvertently say anything else."

"Be safe out there," Jennifer said, and hugged Sam and James before they left.

When they'd gone, Jennifer and Reggie looked at each other, their eyes open in surprise. Had the Rohastin Council kept what was happening from all the home worlds? If so, Reggie's handlers were going to get the motherlode of information.

"Why has a brooch caused you so much anxiety?"

"It is a ceremony I went through. It is historic but still occurs at the school. Many cycles ago, only males and females could get married. The school is very open and some of the students decided there should be a school ritual to declare that they loved each other even if they weren't a male and female pair. It has no legal standing, like when my parents got married. But for those that went to that school, it is something even more important. When humans get married, they exchange rings. When they go through the school ceremony, we get brooches."

"I've never seen you wear one."

"It makes us more identifiable if we do, so we forgo it at the moment."

"You are just you. Everyone knows who you are. You don't have to hide that part of you too."

Jennifer felt the tears coming again, but managed to say, "Why don't you take a break?"

Reggie gave a grateful smile, glad that Jennifer understood she had to send a report. If she didn't, they wouldn't understand half of that discussion. She also didn't want them to not act on anything until after Jennifer had talked with the human Ambassador. If they did, it might dry up a source. Phrasing it like that was something they would understand. They wouldn't protect Jennifer for Jennifer's sake, but to keep information flowing, they would.

Jennifer watched her friend go into the back. What must it be doing to the young Reginadde. That implant gave her little choice. It was like she was on a tight leash and no privacy. What had they told her that made her accept such a duty? Also, if Miss T didn't know, what must that be doing to James. They lived together. They had a child together. Yet it seems they didn't share information.

Reggie was longer than Jennifer had expected. Jennifer had served three customers. There was another break in traffic and Reggie appeared looking upset.

"What happened?" Jennifer said, rushing to Reggie and hugging her.

"I hope I haven't got grandfather into trouble."

"The Rohastin Council doesn't appear to be what I expected," Jennifer mused. "The representatives there seem loyal to the council over the species they represent."

"They serve the Rohastin, not a given species desire. The only time this has been an issue was with the Yvestigans. It is the first major threat to the Rohastin that I've ever heard of. It is going to be hard for them, but also the individual species. The newer species, like Earth, might try to plot their own solution and not go via the Rohastin. This might cause issues if that occurs."

Jennifer nodded. "That's very grownup thinking."

"My grandfather likes to talk about it. I was born on the Rohastin Station and live here most of my life. I probably have more of a Rohastin view than those at home."

"Don't you feel that the Rohastin Station is home, rather than the Reginadde home world?"

Reggie shook her head. "No. I might have been born here, and agree with what the Rohastin Council is doing, but home is always our planet of origin."

Jennifer paused and then said quietly. "I envy you. You know who you are. I've no idea."

Reggie smiled. "That's simple. You're Jennifer Head. Sorry, Jennifer North. You can't let a prophecy define you. Don't try to become The Knot because that is already you. You define what that means not the other way around."

As they shut up the shop, Jennifer asked, "Do you want to go for a quiet drink later?"

"Sounds fun. Let me know when you're finished. But from what we've found out earlier, I think you will be a while."

The corridor outside the Transport Hub on the Ambassadorial level was clear. As she went to Georgina's office, she only saw Vost'am, one of the Alphonian aides, walk by. He greeted her and went on his way.

Georgina Harries's outer office had two desks. Rupert was at the one nearest the door. Further back was Theo, who was looking very surprised to see Jennifer coming in.

"This is a nice surprise," Theo said, getting up.

"She's here to see Georgina," Rupert said, not unkindly. "Remember the rules. No family in the office."

Theo caught himself, nodded and sat down. Jennifer didn't say anything. After all, Rupert ran this office, but she did give him a reproachful look. He gave a firm look back. He wasn't backing down. "The Ambassador is free. Go on in."

Jennifer nodded and went through the door he pointed to. Georgina was sat behind a metal and glass desk. It looked a typical human modern desk. On the right were three comfortable chairs. She got up and indicated they were going to sit on those chairs. Jennifer recognised the designs. They would change shape slightly depending on the species.

Jennifer waited for Georgina to make the first move. There was a moment's pause, as Georgina looked over the young woman. "You asked about the Urattr?"

"Yes," Jennifer responded, her hands in her lap.

"There is a lot more to this. We didn't know the Urattr were trapped. They'd been there for centuries. The Rohastin thought they were indigenous and had been missed in previous scans. It seems not. We came across their species two years ago while exploring."

"A human explorer ship hopped into a star system, and it was full of this species. There were seven gas giants, and they were spotted on all of them. The ship had trouble leaving. They couldn't communicate either. There was a total failure of the tunnel technology. They had thrusters and managed to get enough velocity to move away from the gas giant orbits. After two months they were able to use their drive and get home. It has been nicknamed the Zone of Silence."

Jennifer nodded in understanding. Things began to make more sense than what they'd worked out. "Hence why the Igorotoran were here. They were the first ones to create a communications tunnel."

"Yes. They have been working with some other teams trying to understand the issue."

Jennifer looked directly at Georgina. "Have you been keeping this from the individual species governments?"

"Yes. They think that interdimensional travel is foolproof. We didn't want a panic while we understood the problem. Why?"

"Because Reggie worked some of this out a few hours ago. If you don't understand why that is an issue, you better ask the Reginadde Ambassador to join us."

Georgina looked puzzled. "I know Reginadde Intelligence has been using her because of her knowledge on humans."

"She has an implant. Because she knows, they know. She has got them to sit on it for now, but you're going to have to do something."

Georgina opened her tablet and sent a message. She then looked at Jennifer. "I keep running into Hayfield students. When I was Prime Minister, my deputy was an ex-Hayfield student. The person who interviewed me the best was an ex-Hayfield student. Do you know a Sally?"

Jennifer didn't understand where Georgina was going. "I know several Sallys. Do you have a particular one in mind?"

Georgina flicked through her tablet and showed a picture to Jennifer. It was the only one she had of a woman who'd called herself Sally when she'd managed to smuggle a phone to her at the Royal Albert Hall.

Jennifer smiled. It was a picture of Helen. One of the three people in a Polyporus relationship with Stacy. "Oh, that Sally. She's a very private person."

"I'm sure she is. Do you work with her or for her?"

"I work with Reggie in the shop downstairs."

Georgina shook her head, seeing straight through her words. "You are only just out of school. You shouldn't have that knowledge of evasion at your age."

"I was seven when I was first introduced to it. We'd had to run away because thirty mercenaries had stormed the factory. When I got back, it was suggested I told them there was a family emergency. It was true. Nobody asked what the emergency was."

"So, who do you work for?" Georgina persisted.

"Let me explain a bit better. Do you remember my parents getting kidnapped?"

"Yes. I remember making some very hard choices. I nearly made the wrong one."

"My Ma was rescued quickly because of you. My Mum was taken elsewhere. She was spotted by Sally and someone else working undercover. She couldn't be rescued at that time, due to the danger to the children. The French were told her location and they rescued them all. Other people were also undercover in Earth Fist. That is how Interpol took down the network."

"You've still not answered my question."

"No, I don't work with Sally. I've not seen Sally for over ten years. But I would protect them because of what they do. If you are looking for more information, speak with your Alphonian colleague. Sally is the product of what they did in 1923 to protect the world."

"Oh, I know what the Alphonian and Reginaddes did. That is water under the bridge. I might not like it, but we can't change it."

"Why did you go out of your way to recruit Theo? I don't mean when we turned up, but before. You wanted him when we left Hayfield."

"His work experience the last two years of school made him stand out. I know the quality of Hayfield pupils. He was the obvious choice to take the workload off Rupert while this challenge with the Urattr and the drives are sorted. It was a happy coincidence when I found out you were partners."

"What are you doing to help the Urattr that are trapped here?" Jennifer asked.

"We don't know why they feel trapped. We don't know how they got here, and don't know why they can't leave. We keep trying to communicate but nothing."

"It's almost like what happened when we hopped into their system. We were trapped and couldn't leave."

Georgina smiled. "Evan remarked the same thing in today's meeting. For the last eighteen months a ship has been under preparation with more powerful thrusters. The other species have used hoppers for so long, they don't know how to drive in space anymore. They go from place to place, but whatever is in between is ignored."

"That's not quite right. The stars of Space Racers know how to fly."

"Why do you think the Earth Space Racers facility has been built so quickly? We want to make sure we can train in a safe place away from the normal space racers."

"It's a secret training facility in plain sight?" Jennifer gasped. "That's great."

She said that as the Reginadde Ambassador came in. He took the third seat, and it gently moulded to the Reginadde shape.

"You said there was something important," he stated, looking at Georgina.

"Jennifer let me know that your granddaughter had worked out the issue with the interdimensional drive."

Jennifer added, "She spoke with her handlers and asked them to not do anything. I've no idea if that worked or if so, for how long."

"Impressive," he muttered. "Reggie worked it out, not you?"

"It was her. The biggest clues I believe were the Igorotoran and the meeting of so many scientists."

"How did you know about the Igorotoran?" he said in surprise.

Georgina suddenly sat up straight and glared at Jennifer. "Was your shop designed as a listening post or just chance?"

Jennifer just smiled and Georgina groaned. "And I thought having Hayfield graduates here would help! We've managed to keep this under cover for two cycles, and it is exposed as soon as you arrive."