The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 18

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Chapter 18

"Have a good time away," Reggie said during their usual morning break at the shop. "I have a way to contact you in an emergency, though I can't imagine what that might be."

Theo was waiting at the door, with a suitcase. Jennifer grabbed hers from the back of the store and they made their way to the ramp. The hangar was only one flight down, and it seemed lazy to use the Transport Hub for that.

"How's your shoulder?" Theo asked as they went down the ramp.

"No twinges. I've been out of hospital for twenty sleeps now. I think I'd have problems if there were going to be any."

"The instructions are to go to headquarters," Theo said, as he called for a request hopper.

Jennifer sighed. "Do we have a meeting too?"

"I thought it was just Kelly and Hope, but whatever had been said, they want us there too with a bag. When we'd suggested Kelly and Hope have Christmas away, I'd come to terms with working over the festive period, but it seems someone has other plans."

"At least Reggie is good about it. She was rather shy when I asked about Reginadde holidays. I don't think time off is something they're used to. You either work or you don't."

The hop to London might not have been routine, but it was something they'd done several times now from the Rohastin Station. London Victoria hopperport was no longer an exciting terminal, but just somewhere to exit and move on through.

It was also the first time that Jennifer felt that Earth wasn't home. She was born there, but her life now seemed tied to the Rohastin Station. She pondered, as they made their way to the building that held the headquarters of Greenacre Services, what it would feel like when her assignment finished. Would it be strange to be back on Earth?

The feel of the cold northerly wind bit as they made their way along. People bustled along the street muttering about snow on the way. Theo noticed her contemplating something, but he didn't enquire. He knew it was best to wait until she was ready to share. He put his hand out and she put hers in his, and she gently stroked her thumb over the back of his hand.

When they got to the building, Theo placed a frozen hand on the reader. If they got chance, he'd get a pair of gloves while on Earth. He'd remembered a coat, so why hadn't he thought about gloves and a scarf? It wasn't as if he'd never lived in this country and had experienced all four seasons.

Theo's frozen hand had been good enough to let them in, and they felt the warm air hit them as they walked in and shut the door behind them. Jennifer felt her fingers tingle a bit as they thawed with the normal temperature.

"We're in the secure meeting room?" Hope said in English, as she greeted them in the lobby. "You look frozen."

She wasn't on the Rohastin Station so not Hytuna. Jennifer mentally reset. Use English. "Bad planning," Jennifer laughed. "I put my gloves in my case."

"At least you remembered some," Theo muttered.

They were ushered into the secure meeting room. Jennifer had been there a few months previously, when she'd told them about the need for a ship to rescue the trapped Reginadde scientists.

When inside, the door shut and sealed. Theo and Jennifer put their cases next to Kelly and Hope's against the rear wall and sat down. Around the table sat several people Jennifer knew, and a few that she didn't. Laura Taylor, or Miss T as the investigators called her, was sat at the head of the table. Stacy, Andy, David, Helen, Tina and Luke she knew. Jennifer looked at the other two and raised an enquiring eyebrow.

"I'm Mary-Beth, and this is Matilda. We are based in America. We are part of the unit referred to as Overwatch."

"Ah," Jennifer said. "Blimey. Good to meet you in person."

"This is most of the senior group. There are others and more junior investigators, but I wanted experienced ears and wise heads on the Reginadde issue and any potential fallout."

"Before we start," Jennifer said. "Has there been any discussion on the impact of Kelly and Hope joining the Space Racers?"

"It has been discussed," Stacy said. "Kelly and Hope want to stay part of your team. We already understood the obligations when Kelly gets picked. Them being part of the listening team has already given vital details and with them remaining in that position, will give opportunities to hear more. Your primary task is listening, not reacting. Though we are pleased that you stepped up when you did."

Laura Taylor continued, "We think that participation will help solidify humanity's position in the Rohastin. This is important at a time of strife. We like the idea of setting up a team and will find you a team manager who will handle the administrative side and interface with the Space Racer Federation."

"Foundation," Kelly and Hope corrected.

"They probably won't be an investigator. They will just be good for the job," said Helen, crossing something off on a tablet.

"I have three items to mention. First the Reginadde situation. The Urattr situation seems to have exposed a power play within the Reginadde Signatories. The Ambassador survived a vote to remove him. Since then, there have been two known attempts made on his life. The last was in public, and the Council have restricted him to the Ambassador floor for the safety of the population. He told me that it has been a long time since there has been a situation like this, and the checks and balances were removed for efficiency."

"Have any other Signatories been removed?" asked Mary Beth.

"Not to my knowledge, but due to the vote being close, there could be a factional split already where someone has got backing and trying to cement their position. I'm speculating here and have no evidence either way."

"And the second?" asked Laura when nobody had anything more to ask on the Reginadde situation.

"The second and third are a bit unsettling, especially for me. Access to the Ambassador floor is by authorised people. I queried because I'd been able to visit the floor without asking for authority. I was told I was authorised when I first visited ten years ago, and The Oracle insisted it was retained. Theo, Hope and Kelly were authorised five years ago. Authorisation is reviewed bi-annually and we have not been removed."

"Are you okay?" whispered Theo, putting a hand over hers. He knew she hated prophecy discussions.

Hope looked shocked that she'd been authorised five years ago. She'd never had any dealings with an alien, and it was before their concert there had even been thought of.

Jennifer nodded. "I'm fine. You might not be with the next one. While in hospital, I managed to connect with the station AI. Most assume there is just a computer running the bots. It seems to be a lot more than that. It seems to have a purpose to protect the Rohastin. This last bit is speculation. While in the hospital, I was snoozing and I heard a whisper of 'wake up' in my sleep. It woke me and I saw the Ambassador approaching."

"The station alerted you?" Kelly said, sounding astounded. "I didn't think it could do that without instruction."

Jennifer shrugged. "It might have just been an amazing coincidence and something in a dream. I've not had a repeat occurrence, but it is something unexpected if true."

That did spark questions from all corners of the table. Important and probing questions that Jennifer had no answers to.

"Any other business?" Laura asked.

"When we went to Stratford, I saw an investigator in the crowd." Jennifer looked at Andy. "Would it be helpful if I warn of any future visits?"

"I saw no reaction from you when you went past," Andy said. "I didn't even think you saw me until I read your report. Nicely done. And yes, if you are aware that would be great."

"Reggie has done it once now. There is no saying she might just go herself," Theo pointed out.

"True, and then you wouldn't be aware to warn us," Andy retorted. "I'm not asking you to keep her on a leash."

Jennifer winced at the word and at the enquiring stares explained, "It is the term I've used for the Reginadde operatives when they are being monitored by an implant. Where they have no choice."

Andy looked shocked. "I didn't mean that at all."

"I know," Jennifer said, with a reassuring smile.

"How do you know Reggie doesn't have an implant?" David asked.

"I scan her once a week and on her return from visiting her home world. She is the one who asked me to do that. She doesn't want one, and last time she wasn't aware one was there. The deeper scan is now on a frequency that doesn't impact the Reginadde implants, so it shouldn't hurt her if we find she does have one."

"And are your thoughts that you shared about how the Reginadde situation impacts Earth still valid?"

"Yes. And I worry that the situation might be terminal. Even if we solve the Urattr situation, the power struggle isn't going to improve. A new excuse probably will be sought. This situation is beyond my knowledge of how it might play out or be stopped."

"Do you think you are too invested in the current Ambassador? Could a different one work just as well?" David asked.

Jennifer paused and considered. "Another might be as good. But that isn't the rhetoric. The vote to remove him was to try to unbalance the Rohastin. Instead of it being an independent council run for the good of the Rohastin, they want to make it work just for the Reginadde."

Jennifer took a breath and carried on. "That is where the problem is. That is where it unwinds everything. If the Rohastin doesn't function, why should Earth stay in? If they aren't in, why should there be a world government? It is still too new to not be impacted. People still remember times of individual governments. If this was in fifty years, there might not be as much impact."

There was silence as they contemplated that.

It was Helen that spoke first. "There is someone that could help. Georgina Harries. She is an astute political operator. She managed to steer all the individual countries on Earth to create EarthGov. You said in your report it had been discussed at the council. Perhaps you need to find a way for you or Theo to bring it into a conversation with her."

There was another hour of discussions before the meeting came to an end.

"Okay," Laura said. "I hope you all have a merry Christmas. I'm going to go home and rescue Justin. James had said he was taking him gliding. If I don't get back, I'm sure he'll start giving the little guy lessons."

"I bet he isn't so little anymore," Kelly said.

Laura had given birth at the wedding of Jennifer's parents. Kelly had been there as a bridesmaid.

"No, not so little. They grow so quickly."

"Grab your cases," said Stacy.

Laura, followed by Matilda and Mary-Beth, went out of the front door and the rest went up the stairs. All became clear when Stacy unlocked a door and they went inside.

"Is that an unregulated interdimensional tunnel device?" Jennifer said in shock.

"It's regulated. Star Bright were kind enough to install it. They programmed the destinations with a palmprint controlling who can use it and go where. Your parents installed the first one, so it was easier for James to live with Laura. Miss T requested this one for an escape mechanism. It's primarily used for one destination."

"Phones and anything trackable need to be turned off," Andy said. "You lot start going through."

"Don't you have suitcases?" Theo asked.

"We came from there for this meeting. Our cases are already there," Tina replied. "Hoppers have changed investigations too. Targets no longer expect us to always be physically close. It's meant that even though I'm undercover somewhere, I've still got a few days off."

It was like the Transport Hub on the Rohastin Station. On Earth though it was unheard of. Movement was always via hoppers and destinations controlled. Someone going to an unauthorised place was strictly prohibited. You didn't want someone just appearing in your lounge. Or at the residence of the President of EarthGov.

Jennifer and Theo went together and appeared in a room somewhere else. To give space for the next person, they stepped through the open door which Tina was holding open.

"Where are we?" Jennifer asked.

"The Farm, where else?"

The Farm wasn't the old CIA headquarters. It was a farm in the middle of the Welsh mountains. Jennifer had first gone there when mercenaries had attacked the factory soon after the test of Aurora. It was a safe haven for investigators and where some came over Christmas to be with friends they rarely saw.

The only other time Jennifer had visited had been months later when Shinara, one of the Ambassador doctors, had been the first alien to officially enter the United Kingdom. She stayed overnight keeping an eye on Becky after receiving nanites.

"It's changed a bit," Tina said as Kelly and Hope appeared behind them. "Come on. I'll introduce you to the owners."

Jennifer had expected to meet Emma and Paula, but standing there were a younger man and woman. "Jennifer, you might remember Jay. This is his wife, Melissa."

"Mel, please," the young woman said. She was about the same age as Jay, in her early twenties. Those two words came out with a rich American accent.

"I'm pleased to meet you," Jennifer said, shaking Jay and Mel's hands. She wondered what had happened to Emma and Paula, but she didn't think now was a good time to ask. "This is Theo, Kelly and Hope."

Mel's eyes widened. "The Kelly and Hope? Humanity's first person to qualify for Space Racing? And Hope, our number one spotter?"

Kelly and Hope blushed. It had been one of the first times that someone had openly recognised them.

"We're just here to relax," Kelly said.

"But you're ..." Jay came to a halt and shook his head in wonder. He knew better than to question investigators. His biological parents had been investigators before retiring when they had him. But that hadn't stopped them from dying due to other reasons. Emma and Paula had taken him in.

"Hello. Hello," a voice came. A few seconds later, Emma and Paula came bustling in. "You're all here. Welcome."

Jennifer breathed a sigh of relief. They looked older. Paula's hair was mostly grey, but it was the same two she'd remembered. "I'm pleased to see you again," Jennifer said, giving each of the women hugs.

"Jennifer?" Emma asked.

"Don't tell me, I've grown up since you last saw me."

"Of course you have. You were only eight when I last saw you. And no alien with you this time. Now, introduce us to the others in your group."

"This is Theo, my better half. The other two are Kelly and Hope. We were in the same year at Hayfield." Jennifer turned to her friends. "Emma and Paula were in the same year as David and Helen."

"Let me show you to your rooms," Mel said. "If you were only eight when you last came here, things will have changed a bit. There are now six cottages. Two of them have five bedrooms."

They had been in a special room anchored off a corridor at the back of the cottages that connected them to the large communal lounge. It also served as an entertainment space.

"Ask me the question," Mel said, as they walked down the route to cottage number 3.

Jennifer laughed. "So how did you meet Jay?"

"Close enough. I came to the UK to study farming and met Jay at agricultural college. He had the same passion for life and focus on learning. Running a farm wasn't just crops and animals, there was finance, negotiation, planning and management. And music. We both found we had such an eclectic taste in music."

They reached the end of the corridor and Mel continued, "Oh, and my parents both have brooches like yours. Not the same, but similar."

"Each is unique to the pair," Theo responded. That snippet of information had told them that Melissa's parents had gone to a similar school to theirs. Probably The Manor in America.

"Are your parents farmers too?" asked Kelly.

Melissa laughed. "No way. My Mom handles logistics. My Pa is a psychiatrist. Their philosophy was to work hard, play hard and find something you love to do. They are amazing people. When I visited a farm once they saw something in me. They supported that, even though it was something totally unfamiliar to them."

They got to the cottage. It was similar to what Jennifer remembered. "Ah, here we are. You are in the first two rooms at the top of the stairs. Franco and Manuel are in the other room. Well, we'll see you later."

"What is this place?" Hope asked, as they walked into the open plan lounge and kitchen area.

"A farm in Wales. They are also holiday cottages where people went to get away from the world. It still is a secret retreat for investigators. A place where they can relax, play music, dress as they like, and not talk about work. And most important of all; a place they can hide if needed."

"Is this where you were going to take Theo, but suggested Hope and I came instead?" Kelly asked.

"Yes. I thought it was a place where you could decide what you wanted without the pressure of being on the station. It looks like you've already decided. This is where Tina brought us after the attack on the factory when I was little."

"You are a woman with lots of secrets," Hope said without rancour.

"You know most of them. Only where it isn't my secret to tell. One thing you should know about Jay. Emma and Paula are his foster parents. His parents died. Remember the portrait of Eugene at the school?"

They all nodded. It was so part of the school. It was the first secret Jennifer had told Theo.

"Well, after the funeral, Eugene's study partner, Ben, requested a new study partner. Jennifer joined. Ben and Jennifer were Betas. They were Jay's parents."

"I remember you telling me," Theo said. "It sometimes is a small world."

"I tend to think of it as us mixing with exceptional people," Jennifer said.

"I think we're all pretty exceptional too," Kelly added. "Now, where is this bedroom and where does everyone meet?"

"That corridor we came down. Well, if we'd gone the other way we would have got to the communal lounge. They used to have a fantastic grand piano in there. I hope it's still here."

"Let's just dump our bags and go explore together?" Hope suggested.

"Can I have the middle room?" Jennifer asked. "It is the room I had the other two times I came here."

"I've no issue if Hope doesn't," Kelly responded.

"Less distance to travel is better," Hope said. "An extra few seconds in bed each night!"

They all laughed, hung up their coats on the coat stand near the door, and put their suitcases upstairs.

"Is it the same as last time," Kelly enquired, as they made their way to the rear corridor that connected all the cottages.

"Basically. The rooms have been updated. The settees changed. But it is basically the same place."

"It's fantastic," Hope enthused. "Chic, but comfortable. I could see old CEOs wanting to be here and escape the rat race. It's so chic, I could see sheiks staying here."

As they wandered down the corridor, a young girl came skipping the other way.

"Hey Tilly," Theo said.

"Hi," she responded but didn't stop.

"Not an adults-only occasion then," Hope said.

"It might have been at one stage, but with Stacy, Andy, David and Helen not retiring when they had children, this would be a place they brought them. A larger family. A family that if anything ever happened to all their parents, would happily step in and wouldn't be strangers. Just like Emma and Paula did for Jay."

The biggest change had been to the room at the rear. With the extra cottage, it had been expanded. The grand piano was still the first thing you saw as were the walls lined with real books. There was now an additional room at the rear left for quiet time if desired.

The right and rear walls were still the same. Large glass panels looking out over the mountains beyond.

"This is fantastic," Theo said. "How you described this really didn't do it justice."

"I was only small," Jennifer said with a fake sniff. "It is hard to remember everything."

"Ahh. And I thought you had a perfect memory," teased Kelly. "We are the new ones in this group. Let's do what we do in that circumstance."

"Hide in the corner?" Hope said with a grin.

"Mingle!" Theo responded, trying not to laugh at Hope's reference to their first meeting at Hayfield.

They didn't get far into the room when a voice called out, "Welcome to four new guests!"

The conversations stopped and everyone turned to look at the four of them.

"Thanks Andy. Don't worry about us. We were just going to hide in the corner," called out Theo.

That got everyone laughing. There was no such thing as a shy investigator. "I'm Theo. This is Jennifer, Kelly and Hope. I know we look young, so forgive us if we put our foot wrong."

And that was the introduction done. The four of them spread out and started mingling.

Jennifer came across Luke. "Hey Uncle."

"It's great to see you here this Christmas. I was really disappointed when you said that you might not be able to make it."

"I'm glad all four of us did. Can you tell me who Franco and Manuel are? I thought I'd say hi since we are in the same cottage."

Luke smiled. "Come. I'll introduce you. Oh, did you get the dress code for the next few days?"

"Oh yeah. We've come prepared. It's no issue with the three children?"

"Not at all. It's something they've grown up with their entire life."

They finished wandering across to the window, where four people were chatting. They looked across as Luke and Jennifer came up to them.

"Jennifer. I'd like you to meet Franco, Manuel, Sakura and Yuna."

All four of them looked like they were in their mid to late twenties.

"How was the play?" Sakura asked, her English perfect.

"Sorry?" Jennifer said, as Luke sniggered.

"Hamlet, wasn't it? When you went to Stratford the other week."

"Sheesh. Does everyone know about that?" Jennifer responded, her face turning slightly red.

"Eighty percent of the world probably heard a Reginadde had gone to a play with the daughter of the Star Bright founder and her beau. Someone released a picture of the two of you with Reggie which got into the press."

"The play was fantastic. They were right when they said I could never operate as a tactical investigator. I'm too well known."

"You aren't really deep cover either, are you," Franco said. "It's like you are something else. Something new."

"Not new. Just rare. We listen. We watch. We try not to get killed. No different than you. Yet on the station, I can't be anything other than myself."

"The brain patterns on the Rohastin Station?"

"Yes."

"The only one that isn't really public is Theo," Sakura observed.

Jennifer looked around to make sure Theo wasn't in earshot. "He's got the worst job. Working with the Ambassadors. I don't know how he does it!"

"We all get shit positions sometimes," Manuel said. "It's the first time Franco and I have met Sakura and Yuna. They were on a gig last year."

"So, what's Japan like?" Franco asked, finishing off for Manuel.

As Yuna talked about her home country, the sun gently set, disappearing behind the mountains.

When she looked back, all of them were staring at her. "What?"

"You suddenly looked dreamy," Luke said.

"Sorry. I've not seen an Earth sunset in months. It's the small things, like seeing a sunset, that makes me realise how different things are."

"Tell us about the Station," Sakura said. "Not your mission, but what it's like."

They found a comfortable seating area, and Jennifer talked. A few others in the area heard what was being said, and listened in. It was somewhere that they'd never been. Luke and Tina had. She also suspected some others had probably, but it was still rare. They had their jobs to do and that was on Earth.

When it came time to eat, Jay came in. "We're setup in cottage five."

That cottages lounge kitchen area was a lot bigger than the one Jennifer was sleeping in. A true family cottage that would work for four adults and three children. It was decorated with Christmas decorations and there were two long tables set with food. A Christmas Eve banquet.

Name tags were on each setting. Again, designed to mix. No cliques. She was sat next to Melissa on one side, and Charles on the other. Jennifer was pleased that Jay, Melissa, Emma and Paula were all there enjoying the meal with everyone else. Charles, she found out, was married to Rosemary who was on an investigation.

"So, when did you marry Jay?" Jennifer asked Melissa.

"Spring last year. What a whirlwind. Emma and Paula gifted us the farm as a wedding gift."

"So, where do they live now?"

"In a house just outside the grounds. They can't be seen to benefit from the farm for tax purposes."

"Is there still tax then? I thought most money had gone."

"Welcome to the world of farming. We might not pay financial tax, but if not handed down properly, the farm would be seized."

"Do you have any photos from your wedding?"

"Oh sure," Melissa said, delighted someone was showing an interest. She pulled out her phone. "We got married in the village church near here. All my family hopped across from America."

There was a picture of her and Jay outside the church. It had been a gorgeous day. There wasn't a cloud in the sky.

She moved on to the next photograph. More family were in the picture. She steeled herself not to react when she saw three people in the photograph that she recognised with two other adults she didn't.

"Is this your family?"

"Yes. This is my parents, Rachael and Nathan Wilson. We also have Rachael's sister Matilda and her wife Mary-Beth. And Rachael and Matilda's mother, Edith Covington."

Jennifer couldn't help but stare at the friendly face of Edith Covington. The councillor who'd talked with her after the kidnapping and stayed in touch for almost a year making sure she was okay. And she'd just met Matilda and Mary-Beth and hadn't realised they were Covington's.

"What a lovely day you had," Jennifer said as she finished looking and handed the phone back.

"Oh, it was, and not just the weather. British churches have so much history. You are following in the footsteps that others have done for centuries. That church is older than the Declaration of Independence. How many marriages have happened in those solid brick walls?"

"So why come to the UK to study farming? Isn't it taught in America?"

Melissa laughed. "Yes. It was actually my Aunt Matilda that suggested it. She said I might get a different perspective on farming where the farms are smaller and more hands-on. She had some research about different ones. I'm so glad I did, as I met Jay."

"I knew your grandmother," Jennifer said with warmth in her voice. "Ten years ago, I was kidnapped. She was my councillor for a year as I recovered."

"Ten years ago? You look younger than me!"

"I was eight when I was kidnapped. Kelly, my bestist friend then, and still my bestist friend was taken too."

"What a small world. Fancy you knowing my grandmother all those years ago. She would never have mentioned anything. Her consultations were always confidential. My parents brought me up to always respect confidentiality. And America isn't too far away anymore. A trip to the nearest hopperport. If I didn't have to go via an international hopperport, I could be there in seconds."

"Is it mostly request hoppers out here?"

"Yes. When I heard about the Peru incident, I was worried we were going to be isolated again. But it quickly got sorted."

Jennifer tried not to blush when she heard about Peru. The protest the following week outside the electric company by a dozen rural towns had also made the news. Manuel must have got really frustrated for that to happen. The uprising of the downtrodden had been the headline.

"When you next speak with Edith, please say hi from me. Let her know that it was her help that helped. And if she ever decides to visit the Rohastin Station, I'd be honoured to give her a tour. It's only a three second hop away."

The meal really brought home the family feeling. Everyone sat round two tables, sharing food. People you didn't know, you began to understand. There was a shared background, with them all working in the same business, but this was not about that. Each person was an individual, and as the meal progressed, Jennifer realised this is why they all came. In a job where you could never be yourself. Where you constantly lived in fear. This was a place of family, freedom and love.