The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 13

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Chapter 13

Victoria Coach Station in London had been a rundown facility. Coaches had seemed a low market option when cars, trains and aeroplanes could bring people into London. Then the hoppers came, and the London Mayor made the bold decision that hoppers should be in the centre of London. A tired and unloved facility was transformed. It was now the gateway to London.

For a year, Farnborough had been the main hub for Star Bright, but it was remote. It served its purpose well, keeping them out of the public eye, but as hoppers had become mainstream, people didn't want to fly into remote areas like Farnborough, Luton or even Heathrow. Why start your trip to London fifteen miles away and potentially another hour of slow-moving traffic?

Jennifer remembered the early days. The hops made out of their factory and people scanning the skies, wanting to say they'd seen Aurora or Eos. The crowds when the first public hoppers came online where people wanted to see them up close, and marvel at how they just appeared or disappeared.

That golden age was gone. Hoppers were mainstream. Hoppers were everywhere. Nobody marvelled at them anymore. They were a tool to be used to get from one place to another. Yet as Jennifer stepped out of Victoria Hopperport, she turned to watch. Would they survive if whatever stopped the interdimensional drive crept into their portion of the galaxy?

A twenty-minute walk got her to the anonymous building. She scanned her palmprint and the front door unlocked. She'd been told the second door on the right. It was a meeting room, and she gaped when she saw Aunt Tina sitting alongside David and Miss T. The door closed and locked. It was a SCIF. A secure room against listening.

Tina was family, and she knew they were invoking the loophole. Family couldn't be seen for four years, but ex-pupils could be. Tina was firmly in both camps. It was rare for two people from the same family to attend Hayfield, so if it ever occurred, most just shrugged and said that they were an ex-pupil and knew how to keep their mouths shut.

Jennifer ignored the pot of coffee, but as she sat down, grabbed a doughnut from the plate in the middle of the table. There were various treats on the Rohastin Station, but doughnuts weren't one of them.

"You said you couldn't update us via secure comms," Miss T started. "I find that extraordinary."

Jennifer dug into her bag and removed a signal blocker. She placed it on the table and turned it on. They were already in a secure room, but Jennifer wasn't taking any chances. Yet the three people opposite her didn't show any reaction.

"A lot of trouble has gone into keeping certain things secret. I don't want to be the one who causes this to leak and spark panic across the Rohastin."

That did get a small reaction, but they continued to wait for her.

"An exploration vehicle visited a star system but couldn't get out. The interdimensional drive was inoperable, and communications also failed. This has been the first time an interdimensional tunnel has failed like this. For a lot of species in the Rohastin, this technology is an absolute. It can't be stopped. If word got out that something could break what they use to move around, panic would follow."

"That is what has happened with the Reginadde Government. They got wind of this, and internally they are fragmenting. They are acting irrationally and sometimes without thinking of the consequences. An internal power struggle appears to be taking place, including the attempted assassination of the Reginadde Ambassador to the Rohastin Council."

"Is that when you were flagged as In Action?"

Jennifer nodded. "A few things happened very quickly, and we were lucky otherwise it would have succeeded. Reggie collapsed and was being sent to medical. She was going to divert to the Ambassador Doctors, but it became unavailable. It went into lockdown when the assassins killed the Reginadde Doctor. Theo works on that floor. He got the Ambassador out, who was then protected by Kelly."

"How did you get him out of a floor that was under lockdown?" David asked.

"A maintenance tunnel. A second shooter was hiding in the forgotten areas and used a plasma bolt weapon. Both killers were detained."

For some reason, she didn't want to mention the security bots. She thought that best kept to herself for now.

"Anything else?" Miss T asked.

Jennifer swallowed, but couldn't take her eyes off Miss T. "Yes, but they hit close to home. Meetings between drive experts across the Rohastin have taken place secretly over the last two years."

"Why weren't Star Bright involved?" Miss T asked.

"They were," Jennifer said quietly, nervous if that would cause issues.

"Well, if they didn't tell one of the owners, it shows how much it was kept quiet. I presume James knows?"

Jennifer nodded. James and Miss T had lived together for ten years and had a child together.

Miss T laughed. "Don't look so nervous. James and I respect each other's professional boundaries. We know there are things we both can't talk about. I've no doubt he must be kept interested at Star Bright for him to stay there."

Tina looked at Jennifer. "What is the last bit you haven't told us? You didn't ask to talk until now and said it couldn't wait."

"As I said earlier, the Reginaddes are panicking. They sent one of their own research ships to the area where the interdimensional drive failed. It hasn't returned. Kelly overheard someone asking if a Space Racer could go in, since it has thrusters. They can't, as they aren't built for interdimensional drives. They have no solution and are running around like headless chickens. The Reginadde Ambassador isn't aware. The Rohastin Council aren't aware."

Jennifer swallowed, before continuing. "The only way to escape the area where the interdimensional drive failed is to use thrusters until you get beyond whatever causes it to fail. This is what the human explorer vessel did. It took two months until they got out. The Reginadde don't have thruster technology anymore. That was gone centuries ago. Why use thrusters when you can hop? The only species with the technology are us."

Miss T responded, "We have retrofitted an explorer ship with bigger thrusters. It has been in test for the last few months. Is this why?"

"Star Bright needs to understand why the interdimensional tunnel fails there. The only safe way is to have a ship that doesn't use the drive. However, with the Reginaddes stuck, there is the mutual rescue clause."

"But we've no details of the Reginadde ship and how we could rescue them," Miss T said, pointedly.

"I have the Reginadde ship specs, potential anchor points, stress points. They have six days of food and water remaining."

"Reggie got you this information?" David enquired, giving a small smile for the first time.

"Yes. The expedition wasn't sanctioned. Someone decided they could get more powerful if they understood the nature of the issue better. The government then tried to keep it under wraps. They were astonished when she requested the information. They couldn't imagine how she knew."

"That girl has spunk," Tina commented. "If she ever manages to escape from Reginadde Intelligence, she might be the first non-Human offered a job at Greenacre Services."

Jennifer shook her head. "She is learning but as with most Reginaddes she sees in absolutes. It is black or white. Until she can dance in the grey, I wouldn't. Her grandfather, the Reginadde Ambassador, is rare for the Reginaddes. He doesn't see things in a binary manner."

"I will liaise with Ashleigh," Miss T said. "If the ship is ready, I will ask them to call at the Rohastin Station. I'd like Reggie to be on the ship. Having a Reginadde on there might be important to keep the Reginadde scientists calm, especially if there is only local communications. It might also be good if Kelly and Hope went too. If it takes days to get that ship out, they will need a secondary pilot and support. Kelly has shown she can fly and Hope also knows how to speak the Reginadde native language."

"Anything else?" David asked.

"No," Jennifer responded, starting to get up, and then sat down again. "Perhaps. I worry about Kelly. Her parents don't understand. Most pupils are hidden for those four years. Kelly is in full view, and they don't understand why she doesn't visit or doesn't allow them to visit. I'm worried they might just turn up."

Miss T frowned, as the only one in the room that hadn't been to Hayfield, she didn't understand. "But she didn't transition at Hayfield. It wouldn't be the end of the world."

"Yes, it would," David responded. "Other Hayfield students could see them together. It would also make Hope feel abandoned. She is just as much exposed as Kelly, but she did transition. Hope's parents won't know. Not until those four years are up and she tells them."

"Because I went to Hayfield, Ashleigh understands there is a gap," Tina said. "She won't understand why but accepts it. Since Ashleigh knows Kelly's parents, I will ask her to visit. Say that Kelly and you are undercover in plain sight. Since her dad used to work for GCHQ, he should back off."

"Thank you," Jennifer said, standing up. "I better get back and prepare Reggie. How long do you think it'll be?"

"I've no idea," Miss T said. "I wish we had longer. If we have to make a modification to be able to hook onto the Reginadde ship, then it might take a day or two. Evan and Liam need to do their calculations. They will give you a time."

Jennifer nodded, collected her signal blocker and went on her way. She felt relieved that the information was with her boss, but also apprehensive about what was happening. She diverted to her Earth home. It had stood unused for a while, but it was still standing. She only had two things to get, and they would fit easily in one of her pockets.

"I have something for you," Jennifer said to Theo that night.

"Oh?"

She dug into her pocket and removed their commitment brooch and pinned it between his shoulder and his heart.

"How?" he said, a big grin over his face.

"A few days ago, Reggie reminded me that I was here as me. I'm not undercover. So why not wear them?"

She took out the other one and passed it to Theo. "Will you do the honours?"

He took it carefully and pinned it just above her left breast. "Now we look complete. Shall we see if the others want a drink?"

"You want to show it off, don't you?" He blushed and she kissed him. "Arrange it."

While they were heading to the Transport Hub, Jennifer got a call. She listened and before she could say anything, they were gone.

Theo didn't miss the telltale sign that she'd been distracted. She had some improvement to do in that area. There was a story that people who used to work in NASA mission control could listen to six conversations on the mission loops, answer questions where needed and still do a crossword at the same time.

They slipped through the maintenance panel, down the small ramp and into the hidden bar. It was in a disused section of the station, but not part of the hidden areas the bots resided where they'd hidden the Reginadde Ambassador. Kelly, Hope and Reggie were already there.

"Nice brooches," Kelly said, as Jennifer sat down. "I didn't think you brought them with you?"

"I had to go to Earth for a meeting. I collected them on the way back."

Jennifer looked around and took out the signal blocker. She was taking precautions. Reggie had no idea what it was, but the others did. The only sign was a slight raised eyebrow from Hope.

"I have news. Earth has a ship. It will be here in two days. They are making the modifications needed based on Reggie's data."

"Why is it coming here?" Kelly asked. "Wouldn't it be best to send it directly to where it's needed?"

"They want you, Hope and Reggie as members of the crew. The Reginaddes won't recognise the human ship design. Hopefully, Reggie can keep the Reginadde crew calm if RF communications can be made. They need an additional pilot when the main one is asleep. Hope can fill in when Reggie sleeps."

Reggie's hand fluttered twice, and she settled. "I'll be ready. It is going to be hard going there. No communication at all is going to be strange. We've lived where we're constantly in touch with each other and background systems. A hop is only a maximum of fifteen ticks. I don't know what it will feel like once I'm in the Zone of Silence. But I will have others with me. For the Reginadde crew that are trapped, they will have been there for days. I hope it hasn't driven them mad."

"Will you tell those back home?"

Reggie considered. "Yes. I think I should. But if they say no, I will still go. Earth is risking a crew to help. I think it is only right that I help."

"What about your grandfather? Will you tell him?" Kelly asked.

"I'm still not sure if he's been told. I don't plan on telling him. He could stop me. Will you please tell him when I've gone?"

"I will tell him," Theo promised. "I think he'll be proud of you. I'm in awe. You know there is danger and a good chance you might not return, yet you are still willing to go."

"Thanks," Reggie said, a small tear coming out of her strangely shaped eyes. "You also put yourselves in danger. My grandfather told me what you did. Theo got him out while tackling one assassin. Kelly shielded him with her own body when the second assassin fired a plasma bolt. Jennifer was already down three ladders in the dark to tackle him before the bots got there. And Hope stood alone to protect me, just in case one came for me."

Jennifer turned off the jammer, and the conversations turned to normal conversations like what Kelly was doing to try and attract a team. The trouble was that the existing racers had contracts. Kelly hoped she wouldn't need to wait for the next season for a team to sign her.

"I've started work on the Level 6 manoeuvres. If I can get a team to sign me, I don't want to be in the entry level forever."

* * *

Without Reggie, the days dragged. Jennifer was sat in the shop dealing with customers. Everyone going about their normal business. None of them aware of the danger that lurked at the rim of explored space. Explorers had been so frightened of this discovery that no more jumps had been performed in that area.

The rescue ship had collected Kelly, Hope and Reggie and jumped to where the explorer ship had escaped previously, hoping it was still a safe spot. It had been. They got a message that they'd arrived safely and could see the other ship. They were jumping in.

And then silence.

She'd manually cleaned the shop twice. Not that there was anything to clean. The service bots did an exceptional job. There was never a smudge or a speck of dust left when they'd finished. Once she'd tried staying the night to see if she could spot them working, but they would never appear while the room was occupied. She left the shop to grab a drink, and on her return, it was cleaned. Giving up, she went back to her apartment and fell into bed next to Theo.

Theo wasn't as close to Reggie as Jennifer was. He'd not had trouble sleeping. Yet when she climbed into bed, he'd rolled across and snuggled into her. She had been coming to bed late, her mind too troubled to sleep, and not wanting to disturb Theo, had taken to prowling the floors of the Rohastin Station.

"They said it would take at least five days. It has only been four. Now sleep."

She shuffled back so she was secure in his arms and drifted into a fitful sleep.

"You need to find yourself," Theo said the next day. "You can't keep going on like this."

"It isn't just Kelly, Hope and Reggie. There are others in the crew. Evan, Sam and James. I heard my Ma was furious she'd been left out of this."

"It's a rescue mission, not a science mission and you were furious that you weren't allowed either. You need to be able to turn off. Don't fret about the things you can't control. It doesn't help them. It doesn't help you. You need to be ready if they come back."

"When they come back," Jennifer snapped.

"If," Theo insisted. "You saw the odds. And they are out there in the silence. We won't know anything and we might not for a while ... Think of it like one of the tactical investigations, like your aunt and uncle did. When they were undercover, they couldn't send messages."

"I know. It's just that because our mission is different, we didn't train for that."

"What do you think about while you're walking the corridors?"

Jennifer gave a small shrug. "Mostly about the Urattr trapped here. Everyone's been more worried about the Zone of Silence than why the Urattr here can't get away. And how did they get here in the first place? It's a long way from their home system and no sign of ships."

Theo blinked, surprised. "You've been thinking about that? Why?"

"I'm not sure. It feels like the same situation as the Zone of Silence but reversed. If we understood what's happening here, we might understand what's happening there. As I've been walking, my device has been giving me information about what is known about the Urattr."

"And?" Theo prompted.

"Not much is known. They seem to live in the cloud tops of gas giants. That might be their native habitat."

"But don't different gas giants have different chemical compositions?"

Jennifer nodded. "Yes. Different chemicals. Different pressures. Different temperatures. Is this one similar to their home world or are they just that hardy? Why gas giants at all? And is the Zone of Silence their home system or just one they've expanded into?"

"Have they checked to see if there are any on Jupiter or Saturn?"

"Yes, a survey of the entire Rohastin was done. The only planet in the whole of the region known to have them is here."

"That says something. Why travel that far? Why here? What is here that isn't elsewhere? What makes this place stand out?"

Jennifer looked at him and gave a glorious smile. "The number of interdimensional tunnels. Sure, there will be lots of hops across planets and within their own systems, but all points lead to the Rohastin Station. All species come here. It all comes down to the interdimensional tunnels."

"How much do you understand tunnel technology?"

"I was seven years old when Star Bright designed the ship interdimensional drive. I remember some of it. Why?"

Theo asked, "The communications tunnel is different to the tunnel you use for ships. Why?"

"It makes communication quicker. The tunnel doesn't have to be as big as it is just electromagnetic waves. I don't know the details. Do you think it's important?"

"You were the one mulling it over. I've just been trying to clarify your thoughts. Ever since we saved the Reginadde Ambassador's life, they've not hidden as much from me. There is a meeting of the interdimensional tunnel scientists today."

Jennifer asked, "Who from Star Bright?"

"Liam ... and your Ma."

Jennifer let out a ragged breath. "If I don't look at her or talk to her, will it still count?"

"Give it up, Jen. You both live in a world where you're going to be bumping into each other. Now, make sure your brooch is straight, and let's do this."

Shakily, Jennifer got up. "You'll be with me?"

"I'll be with you. Anyway, some of the questions are mine. I want to hear the answers too."

They made their way up to the Ambassadorial floor. It was where Theo normally worked. But instead of going to the office he shared with Rupert, they went to the meeting rooms.

"They're in here," Theo said and with a deep breath, opened the door.

As soon as they went in, everyone in the room fell silent, and they all looked at the young people entering.

"I think you have the wrong room," said one of the Frotanian delegates.

"No, we haven't," Jennifer said, stepping out from behind Theo. Her eyes scanned the room and quickly found her Ma and Liam.

Vers'am, the Alphonian Ambassador and also head of the Rohastin Council, was sat at the table. He decided not to say anything and see how it played out. He'd heard how they'd saved his colleague's life, and one of them was Jennifer. The universe seemed to grant her special gifts and torments.

"She just works in the shop downstairs," an Alphonian scientist said, dismissively. They'd obviously not scanned her using their device. Vers'am glared at the scientist. That was an arrogant attitude.

Calmly, Jennifer went to a board and used the equivalent of a marker pen to write out the formula for the communication interdimensional tunnel, first using Hytuna symbols, then Alphonian.

Liam sniggered and Becky looked on, slightly amused.

"Perhaps you are in the right room," the Frotanian admitted and then gasped. "You're Jennifer North."

Jennifer looked quickly at her Ma, who went from perplexed to angry and then disappointed.

Theo said in English, so only Liam and Becky would understand. "We aren't legally married. We're saving that for four years time."

Becky relaxed and Theo switched back to Hytuna. "Jennifer, highlight your thoughts and questions."

"Apart from the Zone of Silence, the only other place the Urattr have been found is at the gas giant outside this station. Why here? What is special about this place? It is the biggest junction of interdimensional tunnels in the Rohastin. And it is these tunnels that are causing the problem to our ships. What if it is causing a problem for them?"

Jennifer paused, and after a beat Liam said, "Carry on."

"We use two different tunnels. One for ships and one for communication. The ship one came first and the Igorotoran created the communication tunnel. Why use that frequency?"

The Igorotoran didn't breathe oxygen and were sat in special tanks with the air they needed. They also used lights to talk, and they had special devices that translated Hytuna into lights.

It was a few ticks for them to respond. "Because it was far enough from the main tunnel to not interfere."

Jennifer and Theo looked at each other. Theo said in English, "Bingo!"

Everybody looked confused, including the two humans.

"This is a theory for you to test. What if there is tunnel activity using a frequency in between what you use. What would happen?"

There was silence and then more silence. Eventually Becky said, "If there was enough tunnel activity, we wouldn't be able to open either type of tunnel. Too much interference."

"And the opposite?" Theo prompted. "At the Rohastin Station there is a dense amount of communication and hopper traffic."

"That would block the other tunnel structure."

"But there isn't anybody using a different structure," pointed out the Frotanian.

"You're forgetting the Urattr," Jennifer said.

That set off a lot of the delegates arguing that there wasn't any way the Urattr could be involved.

Eventually Vers'am stood and said, "The time for discussion is over. We have the first hypothesis that fits the facts. I want two things. One, can you scan and detect a different tunnel? Two, if there is someone using a different tunnel structure, is it possible for us to change ours to not interfere?"

"Thank you for answering our questions," Jennifer said. Vers'am nodded, and Jennifer, with Theo following behind, left the meeting room.

"I thought that was a closed meeting?" Jennifer and Theo whirled around to see Georgina Harries walking down the corridor.

"We just popped in to ask some questions," Theo said. "I better rush or Rupert will be upset that I'm late for work."

"Traitor," Jennifer muttered as Theo rushed off, leaving Jennifer with Georgina.

Georgina heard, but her expression didn't change. "How much chaos did you cause in there?"

Jennifer shrugged. "I don't think any were ready to lynch me, but there was some uproar. How's the Reginadde Ambassador doing?"

Georgina considered and said, "The Ambassador is stoic. Reggie's grandfather though would be pacing the corridors at night if it wouldn't raise eyebrows."

Jennifer wanted to say something witty in response, but there was nothing that she could say. "I better go and open the shop. I hear your order of fruit will be in later this morning. I've tried, but I doubt I got any bananas. Cavendish bananas are too rare now, and the replacement variety is taking a long time to build up."

"See you later," Georgina said, and watched the young woman go. Perhaps chaos was what that meeting needed. She'd speak with Vers'am later and find out the whole story.

It was later than normal for the shop to open, and Jennifer had an initial rush of people who wanted something before work. She realised that the Rohastin Station would have over 100,000 people living in it. No wonder it seemed like she had a constant stream of customers. It wasn't that the same people were coming in and getting a new outfit every day, but with that many people, she would always be busy, even if most of the other shops stayed open. She wouldn't be able to listen to so many conversations if she got much busier.

Jennifer remembered a book she'd read years earlier called Nightfall. It was set on a world that always had sunlight from six suns, but once every 2049 years there was a short period of darkness and the whole society would collapse out of fear and madness. That darkness lasted half a day. The Reginaddes had been out of contact for five days. Would they survive that when they'd lived all their life being connected? Would Reggie survive or would she be driven to madness?

Over the days being on her own, she'd only briefly shut the shop to get something to eat from the shop around the corner. The first day she'd gone and eaten in the café and come back to a queue. A few regulars for Earth food had asked where Reggie was or when she'd be back. Reggie was a popular person.

"Hey Kiddo," Liam said in English as he walked into the shop.

"Liam!" she called and rushed forward to hug him. "I hope my questions this morning didn't cause too much of a ruckus. The thought of that third tunnel seemed to upset some."

For Jennifer it seemed strange talking in her native language. Theo and she even spoke Hytuna while in the apartment.

"It used to be heresy to say that the Sun didn't rotate around the Earth," he responded. "You might be right. You might be wrong. Until we test, we won't know."

"How?"

"They built a detector. We are going to jump to see how the rescue ship is doing, and we are going to scan the area. The technical bods here built something we can put into Eos."

"Who flew you?" Jennifer asked. Eos's usual pilot, James, was the one piloting the rescue ship. She was trying not to panic that another ship was going towards the void. And this one wouldn't just have Liam, someone she knew from the project, but also her Ma. If Miss T knew that all the other co-owners of Star Bright were doing this, she would go ballistic.

"Kazunori. He was one of our recruits that came out of JAXA. He can fly almost as well as James."

"Thank you for letting me know," Jennifer said, trying to ignore her tightening stomach. "Please pass my love to my Ma."

"Will do."

"And tell Kazunori that barrel rolls aren't allowed," Jennifer quipped, trying to hide her anxiety.

He gave a small laugh and was gone. After a customer came in, and he had to repeat himself several times, she decided she wasn't in a fit state to be there. Grabbing Georgina Harries's delivery, she shut the shop. If she delivered the fruit basket personally, she hoped she might find out more information about the test.

Rupert looked up as she walked into his office. Theo who was sat further back looked up but didn't say anything.

"I brought these for the Ambassador," she said, placing the basket of fruit onto Rupert's desk so he could take them into his boss's office.

"A personal delivery. The Ambassador will be pleased." Then quietly, so Theo wouldn't hear. "Head to the meeting room you were in this morning. They are monitoring the science Eos is going to do."

"Thank you," Jennifer said, relief flooding into her.

Rupert turned to take the fruit into his boss's office. With his back to Jennifer, she turned to Theo and blew him a kiss. It was obvious that he didn't know about this test.

She went in, and the scientists were grouped around the table, like they were earlier. The only ones missing from earlier were Theo, her Ma and Liam.

"Good you could join us," Vers'am said. He then sent Jennifer the code so she could join in the monitoring when it came up. The images would come directly to their brains via their device. There were no presentations on the wall where you had to get close to see any real detail, or duck to one side to avoid looking at the back of someone else's head.

"Testing communications," she heard her Ma say.

Jennifer's heart leapt with joy. They were outside the impacted area. Communications were possible. Jumping would too. Her Ma wasn't trapped.

"We are hearing you," Vers'am responded. "Can you see the rescue ship?"

"Yes, it has connected successfully to the Reginadde ship. It has made most of the way out. I will get an update from James in a moment via radio waves. We have deployed the sensor and are awaiting the readings. You will get them at the same time as us."

Liam's voice came through to Jennifer. "I see you have joined the main discussion. This is private. Reggie is shaken from being disconnected from any communication, but she had done a good job talking to the Reginadde scientists. Having Kelly and Hope on board helped her. Please update her family later."

Jennifer smiled. "Will do. Thank you for that update. It means a lot."

The readings from the sensor started to come in. They were layers of numbers and strange symbols. It meant nothing to Jennifer. She looked at the scientists.

The Alphonian said, "There is a third tunnel."

With that, Eos jumped out. It took two hops to get to the Rohastin Station, but the time between hops was only a few ticks. When she heard they were back on the station, she smiled and said, "Thank you for letting me see that."

"Please stay," the Alphonian said. "You have a very analytical mind. You saw past our preconceptions."

"That is kind of you," Jennifer said, rising. "However, I have a shop to run."