The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 22

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Chapter 22

"It seems Theo and I have a guest," Jennifer stated as they got off the ship and she locked it. "An unarmed female Reginadde is waiting for us by our apartment."

Nobody asked where she got the information from. There was only one place it could have been.

"Do you want company?" Kelly asked, a polite way of asking if she wanted backup.

"I don't think we'll need it. Apparently, she is trying to keep a low profile. The Station knows who she is but can't tell us due to privacy and discreet modes being activated. When I find out what these modes are, I'll let you know."

"Give us an all-clear later," Kelly requested, and Jennifer nodded.

At the transport hub, they went their separate ways. When they got to their apartment, Theo gasped when he saw the Reginadde.

"Come on in," he said, as he opened the apartment door. To Jennifer, he said, "This is the previous Reginadde Ambassador to the Rohastin Council. She is Chief Advisor to the Reginadde leader, the Law Bearer."

Jennifer raised her eyebrows at this. Theo had been embedding himself into the Council role well if he'd covered previous Ambassadors.

"Can I get you anything?" Jennifer asked.

"Do you have any human chocolate? I've heard rumours about it."

Jennifer got some, and they all sat down. Theo and Jennifer introduced themselves.

The ex-Reginadde Ambassador said, "Apart from being the Chief Advisor, I am also head of the recently recreated Intelligence Division."

"You're the boss of the Reginadde Ambassador's granddaughter?"

"I know your alias for her. You can use that if you want. Yes, though there are a few people between us."

Theo asked, "Do you have an alias we can use?"

She smiled. "I wondered if you would ask that, so I did some research. You can call me Trudy."

Jennifer asked, "If you are in charge of Intelligence, why did you let the disclosure leak?"

"You are as blunt as I'd heard. I got wind of inharmonious discussions within the Signatories, but I couldn't find out who or why. That is why Intelligence Division was brought back on the pretext of a Rohastin issue. The shop gave more intelligence than expected. It was as if my agent was getting training from elsewhere. Training in ways we had forgotten. We weren't expecting that information to be discovered. The Rohastin Council thought the Zone of Silence information was secure and secret."

Jennifer asked, "Are you questioning the intelligence of your operative? So, how did it get from Reginadde Intelligence to the Signatories?"

"It looks like there is someone providing information outside reporting lines. And I know Reggie is intelligent, which is why she had the job. But it is still beyond what was expected."

A mole, Jennifer thought, but that wouldn't have translated so kept quiet. "Oh."

Trudy continued, "I am limited. I am an adviser not a Signatory. So far, we don't know who is splitting the Signatories or why."

Theo spoke up, "So why come to see us?"

"My position being in charge of intelligence isn't widely known. I can't risk approaching Reggie without it getting back to those traitors. I'm told she listens to you."

Jennifer and Theo shared a look.

"I'm just a shopkeeper working with Reggie. We've been friends for a long time."

"You don't trust me, do you?" Trudy said. "Fair enough. I'm just saying that she doesn't have an implant. She doesn't have to act as an implant's replacement. The Ambassador told me about human sayings. I believe you have one about seeing things as black and white. Too many are like that. They are used to things being told as is ... without context, as you call it."

Theo smiled. "Absolutes."

"Indeed. When I was Ambassador, I learnt to think differently. I feel I've lost that skill. I'm now used to dealing as the Signatories expect. I'd hoped Reggie had learnt to expand her thinking like her grandfather. There are glimpses of it. I hope she learns more."

"Have a safe trip home," Jennifer said, standing up. Theo and Trudy followed suit.

As Trudy entered the corridor, Jennifer said, "Get some rest. After ten sleeps, things will get interesting."

Trudy turned to ask what she meant, but the door had already closed.

Theo went to the bedroom and found the bug detector buried in the bottom of his suitcase. It was a modified RF detector that worked on alien frequencies as well as human. He ran it over the seat Trudy had sat in. Nothing. Jennifer then went through it carefully but there wasn't anything. Either it was too well hidden, or she didn't leave anything.

When they were lying in bed, Jennifer said, "I got told two bits of gossip earlier."

"Oh?" he said, turning to face her.

"Rupert and Beth are an item."

"I thought you knew? Kelly told me ages ago. It was one of the reasons Adelle was worried about Beth visiting. As soon as we finished there, Alex and Adelle moved out. Contractors fixed up the basement and removed anything incriminating."

Jennifer frowned, wondering why she'd missed something important. Reggie thought Rupert and Beth had only recently got together.

"And the other thing?" Theo prompted.

"Are you aware the Human and Reginadde Ambassadors are living together?"

"Are you sure?" Theo asked, astonished. "I've seen no sign of that. She doesn't mix with him more than any other Ambassador. But the Ambassador quarters are in a separate corridor. Only Ambassadors or invited people are allowed down it. I've never been invited. You've visited him a few times at his home. Was there any indication then?"

"No," Jennifer said, reviewing it in her mind. "I think I detected her scent there once. She does wear a distinctive perfume. But I thought she might have just visited on business."

Theo thought it over. "It is good to know, but I don't think it impacts our job."

"Agreed."

"How does that work?" Theo mused aloud. "Our species aren't compatible that way."

"Who knows," Jennifer responded, and then with a mischievous grin said, "Perhaps you can remind me how it works our way."

* * *

It was a human week before Jennifer got word that there was going to be a meeting of the interdimensional drive scientists. Reggie seemed to have calmed down her handlers regarding Jennifer. Though Jennifer didn't know the quality of Reggie's reports. It wasn't something she could ask her.

"Will you go to the meeting?" Jennifer had asked Theo.

"You know the details, not me," Theo had responded.

"You know that my Ma is going to be there. I've already stepped over the line too many times. I don't want to keep doing it."

"Have you asked your Ma not to attend?"

It had been the most ridiculous suggestion. It was her vow, not her Ma's. She just hoped it was worth it.

Jennifer slipped into the meeting room. This time nobody queried her being there. It was the usual list of scientists, but from Star Bright both Evan and Liam were there with Becky, her Ma.

"We tested a change to our drive using a new tunnel structure," Becky said. "This new structure doesn't conflict with the third tunnel that was discovered. We talked with the Igorotoran and a similar change to the communication tunnel was agreed."

"But does it work?" asked Vers'am.

"It does. We fitted a test ship, and we flew to the Zone of Silence. We were able to communicate and hop. We stuck to the edge, so we didn't have far to thrust out. When that was a success, we went further in. No conflict."

"Can I ask a question?" Jennifer asked.

Vers'am smiled and asked her to proceed. He liked how Jennifer caused these scientists to think about things they didn't consider.

"What is different about this tunnel? All the species that have discovered interdimensional travel independently created ship jump technology using the same tunnel structure. The Igorotoran and Humans created the same structure for communication. What was in the letter was the same as what they'd already started to test. So why has nobody come up with this new method before?"

Liam said, "It is a refinement of knowledge rather than what we had to learn when we worked out the initial structure. We are going to give this new structure openly to all Rohastin members and non-affiliates. Just like the Igorotoran did with the communication. It is more efficient than the old structures. It doubles the distance we could do previously. The transit time is the same as Earth jumps were previously. For some species, like the Yvestigan, it will be a major upgrade."

Becky spoke, "And to be open, we have worked out another six structures. Five of which use different dimensions. We are still testing these, but they require hardware refinements. The tunnel we tested only required a software update on human ships. It depends on the implementation other members use if a software update would be enough."

Jennifer realised that Astraea used one of the new six Earth-only structures. A much bigger improvement that they were keeping to themselves for now.

There was stunned silence in the room. The humans were giving them all a huge upgrade to their hop capability.

"Why?" Vers'am asked. A simple question, which everybody in the room was thinking.

"Why not? We don't lose anything, and it helps our new friends. I'm sure you would all have shared if you had worked out the answer. That was what this group is about, isn't it? Anyway, how are you going to free the Urattr if this isn't implemented?"

Jennifer looked lovingly at her Ma. She then realised it was just like her ma. She saved humanity. Her compassion meant she reached out to help a small unknown entity. Her ma was The Saviour.

"But nobody has proved they create this third tunnel," one of the other scientists said. "Isn't this a lot of work for something not proven?"

"Nobody has proved they haven't created the tunnel," Becky retorted. "These new tunnels are an improvement. Everybody should want to implement them. The communication tunnels carry more data over a longer distance. Distance isn't important yet, but it will become so. Exploration is nearly at the limit of the existing communication tunnels."

"I suppose we could run in parallel for communication," Vers'am stated.

"Sure, but make sure there is a deadline. On Earth they tried to move from one network protocol to another. Over forty Earth years later, they are still running in parallel because nobody has had the guts to put an end date on the old one."

The Igorotoran flashed their colours to deliver a message. "There would need to be an outage while the change is made to the station beacon. No communication could occur during that time."

"If communication is down, hopper traffic would have to stop at the same time. Ship communication is used for ships to come into the station to a clear spot. Would that be enough time for the trapped Urattr to escape?" Jennifer asked, hopefully.

Vers'am said, "If they're capable of travelling, perhaps. It depends if they know the impediment is down."

"The Urattr here might be an advance party. It also might allow others in, blocking all access to the station," the Reginadde scientist said. "I don't think we should lower our defences."

"Are you saying you think we shouldn't do anything?" Jennifer asked, astounded.

"I'm not saying that. I'm saying there is a risk that nobody is thinking about. Only a few human ships have this new technology. Even with them sharing the details, it will take a time to upgrade ships. And our scientists will need to prove it."

"So that they can be ordered to kill themselves for public safety?" Jennifer muttered, trying to keep her bubbling anger under control.

"You are asking us to risk our way of life. Our esteemed Signatories have said we are in a state of war with the Urattr. They risk our colonies. They risk this station. They sneak around and stop us communicating."

A state of war? Jennifer said no more. This was news and not good news. And how did they come to this conclusion? The Urattr were in their own system about a thousand human light years away, minding their own business. Just because they caused the Reginadde interdimensional drive to stop working, only while in the Urattr system, didn't mean they were hostile. And the interference ran the other way. The interdimensional traffic at the Rohastin Station had stopped the Urattr that were at the gas giant from leaving.

"Do you blame gravity if you trip over?" Evan asked.

Jennifer looked across and saw Liam and Becky trying not to laugh.

"That's not the same thing," fumed the Reginadde scientist. He wasn't happy they were laughing at him.

Becky said, "When First Contact occurred, some humans panicked, saying we were going to be attacked. Our leader at that time said that the aliens had always been there. The only difference is that we now knew. It is the same for you. The Urattr have always been there. You didn't know it before. Now you do."

Vers'am, who'd been chairing the meeting, frowned. "This is a science meeting, not a political meeting. We are here to assess the information the Humans and Igorotoran have discovered so we can coexist with the third tunnel. Let's take a break where you can all go over the details that have been provided. You are all experts in your drives. I'd like an assessment of how long it would take you to implement."

"We can't accept alien technology," the Reginadde scientist said.

"That's great," Liam responded. "But we aren't giving you technology. We are giving you some science and mathematics. Just like the Igorotoran did. You build it as you want. This is no different from when you accepted details of the communications."

The scientist nodded and looked at the formulas. He muttered to himself, "The Signatories aren't going to be happy."

Becky turned to say something to Jennifer and then stopped herself. Looking sad, and resigned, she left the room to grab a drink in the mall area one level below.

"Are you having issues with Becky?" Vers'am asked gently, as Jennifer walked out.

"No. It is a vow I made when I finished school. No contact with family for a period of time. Yet here, I'm always coming up against one or both of my parents. It's hard on them."

"And on you. I'm sorry this has caused you both pain."

"There are bigger issues at stake here. If I have to bend my vow to help, I am. It is just when you hear talk of war, it puts things in perspective. It's like they don't want to resolve the issue, because the excuse goes away."

Vers'am looked across at her. "You seem very versed in political thinking."

"Human history is full of it. Politicians look for someone to blame. Point at them and tell them they are the cause of all that is wrong. Whip them into a frenzy by instilling fear. Tell them they won't be able to leave their planet. Tell them their race will become fragmented. Tell them that the current leaders are not doing enough and only they can restore their species to supremacy."

"It isn't something the Alphonian or most other species have dealt with for a long time. We are stable. I thought the Reginadde were too. We don't have disagreements like this. Georgina outlined it like you did. She said they won't want the solution until they get into power."

It was as if a bolt of lightning hit Jennifer, feeding realisation into her mind. "Of course. Thank you, Ambassador."

Vers'am looked perplexed at the sudden change in Jennifer. "Are you okay?"

"Oh yes. You've helped me understand more than you realise. Sorry, but I can't come back to the meeting. I hope they accept what Becky, Evan and Liam are giving. And please, help the Urattr."

Back in the shop, Reggie was dealing with two customers. Jennifer took over one of them, letting the rhythm of the work settle her thoughts.

When the last customer left, Reggie hurried over. "Are you okay? You were quicker than I thought you would be."

"I'm fine. I got a lot out of it." Jennifer gave a weak smile. "My Ma was there."

Reggie's expression softened and she pulled her into a hug. She knew about Jennifer's vow of four Earth years without family contact. Every accidental encounter hurt.

"What happened in the meeting?" Reggie asked, bright with curiosity. "Is the crisis over?"

Jennifer explained the new drive mode and the Reginadde reluctance.

Then Jennifer asked, "How good is Reginadde Intelligence?"

Reggie tilted her head. "They are growing. They were recreated because of this crisis. I can't tell how they compare to human intelligence. Probably not as good. Why?"

That matched what Trudy had said. Trudy. What a name. Had she really researched human names on the off chance they'd ask?

"I have an idea," Jennifer said. "We can discuss it between the five of us. Then you can give an assessment from your side."

Reggie's giant eyes gleamed, her hands fluttering. "Are you planning on putting me in an awkward position again?"

"I hope not. But it might include you going to your home world."

"You're filling me with joy at that."

Jennifer laughed. "Wow, you've picked up human sayings. Though it sounds strange to hear them in Hytuna."

When she finally had a free moment, Jennifer connected to the Greenacre Services email proxy and sent a message outlining her thoughts and asking for information. She would have preferred to ask in person, and she hoped the proxy was secure enough.

A response was quicker than she thought. She hadn't had time to disconnect when it arrived. It answered one of her questions. She'd check later for the other.

"Hey Kiddo," Liam said, coming into the shop. It wasn't long before they would finish for the night.

"Hey Liam," Jennifer said with a smile. "You've gone beyond everybody's wildest dreams with that drive update."

"Thanks," he responded, blushing at the compliment. "I have an updated ... er, box for you."

"Ahh. My old one is in my apartment. We will be closing soon. Can you wait?"

"Sure."

They finished with the last customer and Jennifer locked up. "See you later," she called to Reggie.

"We took the ship out for a test. We clocked 1.3 seconds from Earth," Jennifer mentioned to Liam as they went to her apartment.

He smiled. "Oh, trying it out?"

"No. Kelly found it. Seems the Station detected it came in different."

"That is the simplest level of the extra dimension jump. We're still testing the other tunnel structures, so haven't unlocked them. We made sure your drive had the capability for all of them."

"We went out using the original."

"Not quite. The original is hidden. All new ships are being set to the new tunnel we just gave the Rohastin. There's no point creating more of an issue for the Urattr. Look under the configurable options."

Jennifer beamed. Star Bright were really thoughtful.

"What about the hoppers?"

"It is just a software update to use the alternative tunnel. A few have been done and will be left for a few weeks. If all is good, the rest will be updated over the next few weeks in batches. All new hoppers will be built with the additional hardware change, just in case and existing ones will be upgraded when they come in for a service. The three main gateways on Earth and two on Scorpion are already running in both structures in parallel. Earth-1 is next week with Mars-1 being used as a backup gateway for humanity during the upgrade."

"That's some plan," Jennifer said.

"It is. Your mum has been liaising with the World Hopper Council about it for weeks. She has a dedicated team of twenty at Epney making sure this all goes smoothly."

"Poor Mum."

Liam laughed. "She's managed all that and organised a Christmas celebration. She doesn't seem to like a quiet life."

"You can talk! How much managing did she have to do while you and Evan worked out the science? How many late nights did she tell you to go home and sleep?"

Liam blushed and Jennifer laughed. She loved the scientists. She'd known Evan and Liam since she was little.

They got to Jennifer's apartment and she let him in.

"I've never seen what they're like," Liam commented. "Very nice. Homely. I see you have your instruments. Do you have a piano?"

"No. I've not even tried to get one of them shipped across. Would it fit in a cargo hopper?"

"Yes. Well, an upright would. Perhaps not a grand piano, but you'd have no room for that."

Jennifer grabbed the rucksack from the bedroom and took out the old DTD.

"You have a go bag?" Liam said, slightly surprised.

"Yes?" she responded, nervously.

"Okay," he responded, passing her the replacement. "You look after yourself. The Reginaddes seem to be struggling."

Jennifer's smile tightened. That was putting it mildly.