The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 1

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Prologue

For most of its history, humanity assumed the universe kept its secrets through distance. Light took time. Ships took longer. Even the boldest dreams of interstellar travel were framed as a patient project for future centuries, not a decision that could be taken, and completed, between one heartbeat and the next.

That assumption ended with Aurora, the Star Bright test craft built to prove a single, dangerous idea; that space could be treated less like an ocean to cross and more like a page to be turned.

The flight itself was planned. The surprise was who was watching.

The first jump was modest by later standards. Three hundred and fifty kilometres into Earth orbit in under a second. A few weeks later Aurora stepped beyond the Solar System, one hundred and fifty light years in three seconds, returning with its crew alive and its instruments calm, as if physics itself had simply agreed to new terms.

What humanity did not anticipate was that the universe had been measuring for that threshold for a very long time. Far from Earth, sensors built by minds older than human civilisation registered the signature of an interdimensional tunnel forming and collapsing, cleanly, repeatably, and with intent. A new species had acquired the one capability the Council could not afford to ignore.

The Reginaddes arrived soon after the first test, neither invaders nor benefactors, but envoys responding to a signal that meant history had shifted.

They chose their moment carefully, appearing at a global economic summit where the world's most powerful leaders were already in one room. Their message was delivered with calm precision and unmistakable gravity. Humanity was not alone and never had been. The inhabited galaxy was bound, imperfectly, tensely, but deliberately, by the Rohastin Council, an ancient institution that existed to stop interstellar capability from turning into interstellar extinction.

Humanity was invited to join. Not because the Council wanted another voice, but because the technology that had just appeared on the galactic stage forced a choice: either bring this new species into the framework of treaties and expectations, or leave it outside, unaccountable, misunderstood, and dangerously easy to misjudge.

There was a condition. The Rohastin Council did not recognise fractured authority. Membership required a single diplomatic voice, a single set of commitments, and a single point of accountability. Earth could take its seat among the stars only if it could speak as one.

The announcement cracked the world open in ways no war ever had. Governments scrambled. Markets reeled. Faiths re-examined their foundations. Ordinary lives continued, school runs, hospital shifts, late buses, under a new and unsettling fact; the sky was no longer empty, and Earth's future was now part of other peoples' politics.

While humanity argued about how to respond, another species watched with growing alarm. The Yvestigans carried their own histories, their own prophecies, and their own fear of what a sudden human ascent might mean. To them, Aurora's signature was not a curiosity. It was an omen. They acted in secret. Sabotage, covert interference, and attempted assassinations designed to slow the new species before it could settle into the wider galactic system. When the Yvestigans attempted to kill a human inside the Rohastin Council chamber they were expelled. Exile did not dissolve hostility. It only pushed it into quieter, darker places.

On Earth, Aurora's success rewrote assumptions faster than laws could follow. The Interdimensional Drive collapsed traditional distance. Defence strategies built around reaction time became theatre. Space agencies rewrote missions, industries went obsolete, and the old comfort of borders began to feel like a story people told themselves rather than a rule the world obeyed.

For the first time in history, nations voted not as rivals but as a species. The referendum was stark. Accept membership in the Rohastin Council and the obligations that came with it or retreat inward and attempt to navigate an interstellar future alone.

The answer was decisive. An Earth Government formed, not to erase nations or cultures, but to carry responsibilities that could no longer belong to any single state. Interstellar diplomacy, planetary defence, and regulation of technologies capable of reshaping civilisation became shared obligations. Humanity took its seat in the Council chamber, a young voice among ancient ones, and the balance of the region shifted.

For centuries, Council species had coexisted without truly intertwining. They met, traded, negotiated, and kept polite distance. Humans disrupted that equilibrium simply by insisting on contact that was more than transactional, by treating the Council not as a static treaty machine but as a living community that could evolve. To some, that was recklessness. To others, it was the first honest sign of hope in a long time.

Among the Council's oldest traditions were prophecies. For some, they held hope. For others, they held fear. The Yvestigans feared the prophecy about humanity's rise once they joined the council. Then there was the prophecy about someone who would save the human race by creating a ship capable of interstellar travel. Those two prophecies had come to pass.

There was a third prophecy. One that was still shrouded in mystery. The Trinity. The Oracle had said The Trinity wasn't about Earth but about the Rohastin. There were three titles involved. The Saviour, the Enabler and the Knot. Jennifer was the Knot, and her parents had the other two titles. Nobody apart from The Oracle knew what the Knot meant and he refused to say more.

Becky Head did not build the Interdimensional Drive because a prophecy required it. She built it because she could not accept a universe of locked doors. Ashleigh, the person who kept Becky from burning herself out, became the steadying presence that made Aurora possible to fly, and possible to survive. Their work became legend almost immediately, the kind of story that spreads through a civilisation because it offers both warning and promise.

Their daughter, Jennifer, grew up after the threshold had been crossed. Alien languages appeared alongside school subjects. Diplomatic visitors became familiar faces. The fact that humanity's future was braided with other species' futures was not philosophy. It was background noise. Yet Jennifer's life, in its daily details, remained stubbornly human. Friends, music, lessons, and the private determination to be known for who she was, not for what people expected her to become.

She knew the stories told about her family in careful, reverent tones. What she did not know was how quickly those stories would stop being history and start being instructions written in other people's fear.

The universe had noticed humanity because Aurora's tunnels announced a capability the Council had learned to respect. What came next would not be decided by prophecy alone, nor by the Council's caution, nor by old enemies pushed into exile. It would be decided by choices, human choices, made in a galaxy that was suddenly paying attention.

The cradle was behind them. The stars were no longer distant. And the first question of humanity's new era was not whether it could reach other worlds, but what kind of presence it would become once it did.

Expansion was not as quick, or as tidy, as the optimistic headlines predicted. EarthGov existed for two years before the first colony truly took root, and even that began as something closer to a proof of concept than a grand national plan.

Soon after the referendum, Star Bright built two exploratory craft to explore the regional star systems. Astronauts and scientists queued for early missions, mapping nearby unclaimed systems and identifying worlds that were, by sheer luck, already close enough to human biology to settle without terraforming. In the first six months, four such planets were found.

Grant Collins, the first Canadian trillionaire, turned that discovery into a dare that he would fund. He challenged the University of Toronto to design an expedition that could live on 18 Scorpii c for one week, safely and cleanly, and then leave without contaminating the world. The project drew in dozens of departments and produced the first practical standards for off world living, habitats, water, power, medical contingencies, and the uncompromising rule that no waste, human or otherwise, would be allowed to touch the planet.

Star Bright offered logistical support, moving hardware, maintaining a communications hub, making the impossible feel merely complicated. People who had dismissed the challenge as academic theatre realised, abruptly, that it was real.

The students succeeded. Nobody died, helped by the fact that the planet had a breathable atmosphere, accessible water, plant life, and a small ecology of native animals. But success has a habit of becoming permission. Once the week ended, other teams asked to go. Then other universities. Then other countries.

What began as a week-long field exercise grew into a rotating presence. A broken arm justified a medical team. A month became a season. A season became permanence. Someone brought their family. Others followed. Children appeared. A school opened, because even on a new world, life insists on continuing.

Infrastructure followed. A two-pad hopper control system became the first true permanent structure. When a satellite link to Earth-1 was requested, it was clear the settlement was not going away. Some suggested naming the planet after Collins, but he refused. The students had been the first to set foot there, and they deserved the honour. After a brief parade of terrible ideas, such as Earth Two and Dirt, the name the students had always used endured. The planet became Scorpion. The founding settlement became New Toronto.

With New Toronto, humanity became multi planetary and, more quietly, multi system. It was an insurance policy written in stone and routine. If Earth failed, the species would not vanish with it.

It was not like the old terrestrial age of exploration, where distance enforced separation and news took weeks to catch up. Scorpion might have been dozens of light years away, but a hopper could bring someone back to Earth in seconds. Messages carried a tiny delay, just under a second, enough to remind everyone that physics still existed, but not enough to feel like absence. Colonists remained connected to humanity even as they looked out across a vast, empty landscape and understood they were, in the most literal sense, alone.

Other changes arrived in quieter ways. In her second week as human ambassador to the Rohastin Council, Georgina Harries travelled to the Yvestigan home world with Vers'am, the Council's head. It took a week to secure the meeting, and another measure of courage to step into a place that had recently tried to turn a new species into a warning.

The Yvestigan leader greeted them without hostility. With Earth now a Council member, they said there would be no direct attacks on humans. They had failed to prevent humanity's admission, and nothing remained that could stop humans from becoming the Council's most powerful species. It sounded like a concession. It did not feel like peace.

Chapter 1

Jennifer looked out from the roof viewing area. It was her go to place when she wanted to take in the landscape and get away from everything. Not really her thinking place. She was always thinking about something. It was her place not to think. It was her place to dream and hope. At night, if it wasn't cloudy, the stars would appear, and she would look up, wondering which species roamed the ones she gazed at. It was one of the areas students had discovered, but the school had already made it safe, knowing that one day students might find it.

Sometimes she thought life had a plan. She knew that some regarded prophecies with the highest respect and would go out of their way to help ensure they happened; or to try and stop them. Her Ma and Mum had prophecies about them, and she knew she did too. It was why, when she was offered a place at the school on the Rohastin Station, she refused. She wanted a life without someone pointing out she was one of the Trinity.

Like all school children, she took the entrance exam for Hayfield Music School. When she was invited to sit the second exam, she got scared. She was surprised when she got a letter stating someone from the music school would come to her current school and interview her.

"Why don't you want to come to Hayfield?" Kirsty Turner asked.

"Sorry?" Jenny asked, surprised. She'd expected questions about her life, or what she did.

"The second test. Your answers weren't in keeping with the first test. It was like you were deliberately trying to avoid getting chosen. I'll ask the question again. Why don't you want to join Hayfield?"

Jenny shrugged, not knowing what to say. Kirsty waited, watching Jenny's body language.

"I just want an ordinary life." What she didn't say was she didn't want the expectations to follow her. She wanted to just be anonymous and to lead her life without that weight.

"Don't you like playing the French Horn and Piano?"

Jenny gave a small smile. "Yes, and I can still play them if I go to Hayfield or not."

"Touché," Kirsty muttered. "What you do after Hayfield is up to you. But at the end of the day, the choice is yours and your parents. If you don't want to go, then that is fine. I was just curious."

"There are only twelve places. I don't want to be selfish. If I went, someone else wouldn't."

"What if you look at it differently. I know your birth mother was a psychiatrist at Hayfield. I know your aunt and uncle went to Hayfield. Yet you are only looking at it from one perspective. What if by not going, someone else doesn't get the benefit of you being there?"

"Are you saying a study partner might need me?" Jenny asked, slightly intrigued at the idea.

"You do know the lingo. Study partners are a two-way street. Hayfield can be stressful for any student. Study partners need each other." Kirsty paused, letting that idea germinate. She then threw another unexpected change of direction. "I believe you're due your lunch. If you aren't interested, let me know after you've eaten. If you are, we can talk, and I can assess you properly to see if an offer can be made."

During lunch, she sat thinking, ignoring the other girls she often sat with. Kirsty had thrown her into a spin, and she wished Kelly was around. She'd have loved to have talked with her about it. Kelly was someone she could always talk to; but she'd moved away a year ago. Her dad got promoted and they now lived in London.

All her life her parents had let her make significant decisions herself. She'd been trusted to go with her Ma to meetings. Her Ma had given her the choice about extra help with lessons. Her Ma had let her listen in while the scientists developed Aurora. Now she was being asked to make another major choice.

She suddenly jerked around, making the two others at the table jump.

"Are you okay?" asked Patricia.

"Yes. I just realised that the choice isn't now. I've been thinking about it all wrong. Right now, it's 'Do I listen?'. I might not have to make the bigger choice, and I should worry about that later."

Patricia and Andrea glanced at each other. Jenny was such a great girl, but sometimes they didn't get her. "Yay. You seem happier."

"I am," Jenny said, and started to eat. "Thank you for putting up with me."

When she went back to see Kirsty, she was packing a sandwich container in her bag. "Come on in Jenny and shut the door. How was lunch?"

"As good as school lunches go, it was fine. How was yours?"

"Delicious. That was very polite of you to ask."

"When my Mum joined the project, she took me under her wing. Sometimes my Ma would work long hours, and Mum made sure I had what I needed. She taught me to how not to rush into something, and to consider the other person. For instance, with a visitor you should ask how they are. I found that hard, but it has become second nature. Well, most of the time."

"Did you learn more from your Ma or your Mum?"

"Different things from each of them," Jenny said after a moment's thought. "Social skills more from Mum. How to face fear and never giving up probably more from Ma. I always learnt a lot from others in the team. Some I've seen basically every day since Star Bright was created."

"You probably know more about Hayfield than a lot of the other children who would join. Things you shouldn't know."

"Probably not much. My aunt and uncle never talked about it. But even before I knew my aunt and uncle, I learnt that somethings shouldn't be discussed. I never discussed what my Ma was researching with anybody. Nobody at school knew about Aurora until my parents were kidnapped. Even my best friend didn't know until she was told."

"Hayfield has changed over the years. It isn't exactly the same school as when your aunt and uncle were there. If you did come to Hayfield, you would have to start from scratch. You won't get any help because they went there or because your mother worked there."

"All I really know is they came out playing instruments really well and can cook like a top chef. I hope that part hasn't changed."

Kirsty studied Jenny's face and posture. Either Jenny didn't know more about the school, or she was very shrewd in how she framed it to just mention the public face.

"I'd like to offer you a place at Hayfield Music School. If you accept, then your parents will be asked. Before you give your permission, I need to mention some school stipulations. The parents aren't told where the school is. You will live there until you finish. You wouldn't go home for school holidays."

Jenny steeled herself and took the plunge. "I'll accept on two stipulations. One, I will not discuss with you or any other school staff, including Dr Ruiz, what Star Bright does or any of its technologies. I'm aware that I should keep no secrets from my study partner, so I won't include them in my stipulation."

"And your second stipulation?"

"That I wish to be introduced as Jennifer, not Jenny."

"The secrets of Star Bright would never be discussed. You are going to the school. The school is interested in you getting the most out of the school, not some fishing exercise. You aren't the first pupil to go to Hayfield who has an interesting background. As for being called Jennifer, that is perfectly fine. I will mark that down as your preference. How you introduce yourself to those in your year is up to you."

"You're very good," Jennifer said, feeling slightly giddy at the decision. "We went from me not wanting to go, to deciding the opposite."

"You did that all by yourself. I just gave you the facts."

Jenny got a grip, and said sombrely, "I worry about my Ma. She lost a son and first wife. Now she is losing me."

"She isn't losing you. You are just going to school. You can still write to her and your Mum. And before you say it, I know it isn't the same."

Kirsty watched the young girl. Yet again she was thinking of others before herself. "Think back over the years. How much leeway have your parents given you to make your own decisions. Your first paper indicated it was a lot higher than most parents."

Jenny thought and then nodded. It was true. Her parents sometimes pointed out why something was bad, but the choice was always hers.

* * *

"I thought you'd be up here," Theo said. He sidled up next to her, and they put their arms around each other. "It's a big day."

"I was just thinking about when I had my interview for coming here," Jennifer said. "I can't believe we've been here six years."

"I remember that day, meeting you as I was collected by Kirsty to come to the school. I was shell shocked and you looked so confident. You'd done so much before joining the school, you didn't seem phased."

"And six years later, you wouldn't be," Jennifer reassured. "At least the weather is nice to sit here. We've officially finished and just waiting to leave. For the first time in a long time, we have nothing to do."

"I know. It seems ... strange. I've said goodbye to the ones I could find. A lot were readying for The Leaving."

"Ever since the school got the new mini hoppers, it's become so different. My uncle mentioned about The Leaving once. His took two hours. Now they arrive at the destination in seconds."

"We better get changed," Theo said, getting up. He held out his hand which Jennifer took and pulled her up. "Did you know that before the hoppers, they used to change out of school clothes at their destination?"

"Even The Leaving is impacted by Star Bright technology."

Theo's mop of dark brown tousled hair and startled look were what Jennifer remembered about her first sight of him. His early days when he'd not grown into himself. Now he was tall, slender, and well-toned. His hair was swept to one side in a neat and very sophisticated look. It was still longer than a traditional male style, but that helped with school trips.

As they went down the stairs to the sleeping wing, Theo wondered what Becky and Ashleigh were like. He'd seen them on the television once or twice. They seemed to be private people who didn't like the limelight. He remembered some of the early 21st century technical entrepreneurs who seemed to get a thrill out of being interviewed. If they were anything like Jennifer, they would be wonderful people.

"Have you two been on the roof again?" Hope said as they made their way down the corridor.

"Guilty as charged," Theo laughed.

Jennifer stopped and looked at Hope. "Don't tell me you haven't been thinking about what you'll miss from school?"

"There is too many good memories here to even think about," Hope said. "But life moves on. The four of us have an adventure ahead of us. We've been trained for a different type of task than your aunt and uncle were."

Jennifer nodded. "A new world, a new hope and new dangers. Come on Theo. Let's get changed. We don't want to hold up proceedings."

He laughed. "We've time, but yeah."

They slipped into their rooms. On top of their shared bed were the clothes they were going to wear. Their leaving outfits. The last school photographs, taken as they left, would be forever immortalised in these clothes. It was clothes they would wear for such a short time as they didn't want to reveal where they were going."

"Do you regret not going the university route?" Theo asked, as he undressed.

"No. We've already got a degree. There is time for other things later, but I think the training we will get next is going to be more important."

She glanced shyly at him, and he stopped and came across to her, putting his arms around her waist and cuddling her. Her back to his front. His arms across her belly. Leaning her head back their cheeks touched before he turned his head to kiss her.

Eventually they broke apart and they finished getting changed. Even putting on different underwear. What was worn at the school stayed at the school. It was an old rule, but one still observed.

"I remember when my cousin got married. She had a special going away outfit," Theo said. "It's kind of like that."

"Do I look okay?" Jennifer asked, giving a small spin.

"You look perfect, as always."

She blushed and checked in the mirror that her commitment brooch was straight. Some ex-pupils would wear them for the rest of their lives. Jennifer knew she would rarely get the opportunity after today. It was too much of an identifier. It wouldn't lead back to the school, but it was unusual enough that people might remember her by.

Jennifer was still feeling introspective. "We've changed so much."

"I've hardly changed," Theo laughed. "You don't squeal as much."

"I've never squealed much," Jennifer complained.

"Jen. The first day you got here, we went down to our year room to meet the others, and you gave the almightiest squeal I've ever heard."

"Yeah, but I'd just seen Kelly; my bestist friend who I'd not seen for a year. I thought I wouldn't get to see her again until I left here. And before you say it, I know bestist isn't a word, but it should be. Language evolves."

Theo laughed. It was a carefree laugh. Seeing her so earnest reminded him that she might be six years older, she was still the same person. She had grown. The school had taught them both so much, but at the end of it, she was still her. Just as Kirsty had said in one of their early sessions. The school doesn't change the core person. It doesn't change what they stand for.

There was a knock on the door, and Jennifer rushed to open it. It was her room. Theo's room was through a connecting door, but it hadn't been used apart from storing clothes for three years.

It was Kirsty, their designated support psychiatrist. "I just need to check that you've changed out of all your school clothes."

"The only things we're wearing are our brooches. You mentioned we could still wear them."

"Of course. They are unique to the two of you. I've checked Kelly and Hope. You should also take your Rohastin Station device. You will need that if you ever return to there. Why don't you meet with the rest of your year in the entrance hall."

"Thanks for everything," Jennifer said, and with a sudden urge gave her a hug. "I'm sorry Charlotte wasn't here to say goodbye. I hope her first foster mum is okay. I'd have never had been as fit as I am if it wasn't for her. Though I still don't get her love for rugby."

Kirsty laughed. "I know what you mean. I'll pass on your words. It's been an interesting six years. I still remember our first non-human concert at the Rohastin Station. Our first outreach concert rather than for any other reason."

Theo laughed. "I don't think that one will ever be surpassed. I knew you had connections there, but an ambassador's grandchild hugging you like that."

Jennifer blushed. "I think we should get downstairs to meet the others before you reminisce about the other four concerts on alien home worlds."

"Spoil sport," Theo said, his eyes twinkling.

Kirsty opened their bedroom door and ushered them out.

The entrance hall was mostly plain. The only major thing in it was a large painting of the only pupil who'd died at Hayfield. Eugene had died at the previous school location, but the occasion of his death was still marked and carried through to the new building with respect and honour. The school was such a close-knit community, the thought of any of them dying would be devastating.

When she'd heard the story soon after joining the school, Jennifer knew her birth mother had tried to save him. She sobbed, and nothing anybody could say would calm her tears. Only Rachel Ruiz, the current school head, had understood and Theo hovered in bewilderment as Rachel took Jennifer to her office. When Jennifer had calmed down, Rachel gave a single instruction. To tell Theo. It was the first secret that Jennifer had told him. It was only the following year, on the anniversary of Eugene's death that she felt able to tell Kelly.

"We're ready," Rachel Ruiz said, coming into the school entrance. "If you'll make your way outside. Duncan is standing by."

Duncan was the new head pupil. He had a big job following on from Kelly, but Jennifer had no doubt he would make the position unique to him, just as Kelly had done things slightly differently from the joint heads of Jacob and Sebastian.

"Good luck to you all," said Hope as they started to make their way to the door. "I love you all."

That stopped them all and they were all hugging each other. Six years of friendship. Six years learning all about themselves. Six years of support and love. Knowing they weren't going to see each other tomorrow was a jolt. It was the end of their time together. They would stay in touch, like they were still in touch with those that had left the year before and the year before that. It just would never be the same again.

Jennifer and Kelly hugged. Kelly whispered, "See you tomorrow at nine in the morning."

"See you then," Jennifer whispered back.

"Let's do this," Kelly said to the whole year.

And together they made their way out into the May sunshine. At least the weather had held. The last two Leavings had been wet, and it really didn't work as well doing the ceremony inside and then dashing to the vehicles.

"Today is their Leaving," Duncan called as they made their way out. "Today we wish them well. We don't do this in sadness, though we are sorry you are going. But in joy that you have learnt. You are ready to face the world. A world changed and a world still changing. The challenges of today won't be the challenges of tomorrow. But Hayfield has given you the tools to not just face the challenges yourself, but to help others face them too."

"They have our stamp of approval," called out Hillary, the head of year three and there was the sound of the pupils stamping their feet against the gravel.

Tears came to Jennifer's eyes. She remembered stamping her feet the previous years. The heartbreak of seeing friends leave. Now she was leaving herself and it felt different than she thought. She was pleased she was leaving. You never stay at school forever. They would understand when it was their turn.

They all waved and made their way towards the small hoppers. They would program in their destination and go. Once they got off at the other end, the pods would return, the location where they'd gone a secret.

The house was one of the London redevelopment projects that had taken place over the last five years. Since commutes were so quick, people decided they didn't want to live in the centre of the capital anymore. They wanted to live somewhere nicer. Somewhere with space for families. A garden community which might be somewhere warmer. It was just as quick to commute from France, Spain, or the Bahamas than it was from within England. Some said that life was cyclical. What was once in fashion would become fashionable sometime later. The regeneration meant apartment blocks and old small terrace houses were demolished. Nobody wanted to live in them, and hundreds were abandoned. Replacing them were houses like elsewhere in the country. The population of Greater London was the lowest in over a century, but the quality of life was the highest it had ever been.

It wasn't their first time in the house. They'd been several times over the preceding two months to furnish it and get some clothes. It wasn't their forever home, but they knew it wasn't going to be somewhere they were very often. Their job was elsewhere. This was somewhere safe. Somewhere they could be themselves. A place they could play their instruments and repair their souls.

It was early afternoon when they got there, and Theo had carried her over the threshold. It was rather symbolic, as they'd been in the house several times. But this was different. They weren't awaiting deliveries of furniture or hanging clothes in the wardrobe. This was their home. This is where they could eat when they wanted and go to bed when they wanted. Their life was no longer restricted by school rules.

"I think we should get some food in," Theo suddenly blurted.

Jennifer looked across and saw he was nervous. She wondered if he'd been thinking about the lack of school rules. "That sounds a good plan. Shall we get a bite to eat on the way? I fancy a jam doughnut."

It was two hours before they got back, their arms not carrying that much food. They would be spending the night but tomorrow they would be on training. It might be a few months before they were back. Any milk left in the fridge would certainly not be drinkable when they returned.

When things were stored, Jennifer put her arms around Theo. "What's wrong? You seem lost."

He turned and looked at her. "I am a bit. I've grown up always surrounded by rules. I didn't have the freedom you had before Hayfield. Even though there weren't many rules, there was structure. I think I'm more bewildered than anything else; unsure what we can and can't do."

"What do you want to do?"

He gave a small smile which she recognised. She gave a returning grin. "I think that's a great idea."

She rushed and closed the curtains in the living room. "The bedroom is too far."

That didn't just break any remaining thoughts of the old school rules. It smashed them into tiny bits.

"So, this is freedom," Theo whispered to her later. "I think I can live with that."

The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 2

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Chapter 2

They'd set an alarm, but it wasn't needed. Six years of regimented wake-ups didn't disappear overnight. Nor did the habit of exercise. The school only mandated exercise three days a week, but as they progressed through the school, they got into daily runs, with at least one bicycle session a week. They were out of the door at 7am. There was a small park not far away, and they did a few laps of it for their first morning of freedom.

The school had taught them all to cook, and cook well, but any time they helped in the kitchen, it was for lunch or the evening meal. Breakfast was new, and they hadn't thought about it when they'd gone shopping.

"Oops," Theo said, as they came down from their shower and noticed they had nothing in.

They both laughed. It was something so absurd that they hadn't thought about breakfast.

"Let's pack and get going," he suggested. "I'm sure there will be a café near the international hopperport."

The Tube was Earth's first underground railway, and it was still going today. Hoppers for such short distances were rare. The electric underground was still more convenient in a city that was still transforming itself.

The hoppers they'd used to come from Hayfield were smaller than most, but that still seated fifteen. The miniaturisation of the technology was new, but a few taxi hoppers were appearing that seated six. Thousands would be needed in each area. Since each journey didn't take long, ordering a hopper would be like ordering a taxi used to be. The hopper turned up and takes you to your destination. Due to the smaller battery size, there would be a limit on distance, and they would have to stay within the country. Borders still existed.

Theo was right, there was a café near the hopperport. They'd just sat down when Kelly and Hope turned up. They were both sporting small rucksacks, just like they were.

The four of them were close. Whether that was because Jennifer and Kelly had known each other since they were small, or because of the Beta team, nobody knew. They just gelled. All of them. It wasn't like Kelly and Jennifer were the primary friends and everybody else were "plus ones". They all got on, even if it was just Kelly and Theo, they would chat for hours.

Once finished, they made their way to the request line in the hopperport. There were standard routes that ran frequently. Then there were rarer routes, which were run via the request line. You logged your destination. If you were lucky enough that someone else was going there, you'd be grouped together. The hopper took you to your destination port, then returned for the next requester and their destination.

Nobody else was going to New Toronto on Scorpion, so they waited thirty minutes to reach the front of the queue.

Journeys on the planet took a fraction of a second, but when going outside the solar system, the traveller felt the difference of the interdimensional tunnel. It wasn't dangerous, but it felt odd the first time. It was best described as nothingness. There was no extra weight or feeling of weightlessness; it was like nothing existed. Jennifer was eight when she took her first long hop, which took three seconds, when her parents took her with them to the Rohastin Station. Scorpion wasn't as far and would only take a second. The feeling of the hop would be over before the traveller knew it, but there was always the strange feeling when they arrived.

They didn't even sit down. They got on the hopper, the doors closed and, a second later, the doors were opening. They walked out, the hopper detected they were gone, closed the doors, and went back to London. They flashed their passports at a scanner, and they were let out of the terminal.

"Stacy!" Jennifer called, seeing one of the senior investigators. A small girl, aged about three, was holding Stacy's hand. Kelly had seen Stacy briefly when she was younger, though Stacy hadn't made a lasting impression. Jennifer's interaction had been a lot more intense.

"Hey Kiddo," Stacy said, giving Jennifer a hug. "Blimey, you've grown."

She was sure that would get old quickly, but it was the first time someone had mentioned it. At school, growing was gradual. A ten-year gap was different.

"And who's your friend?" Jennifer asked, indicating the young girl.

"This is Tilly. We take turns in deployment. I'm on mummy duty this time."

"Hi," Tilly said, giving a little wave.

"I'm tasked with introducing you to your trainers. We always try to send someone recognisable the first time. The others are busy elsewhere. I've no idea about your training, and I don't need to know. Once done, Tilly and I will be back home for messy play, and before her brothers are finished at school for the day."

Tilly gave little jumps of happiness at the sound of messy play.

Investigators normally retired when children appeared. It seemed that Stacy, Andy, David, and Helen were bucking the trend. Apart from Tina and Luke, Jennifer hadn't seen a team so dedicated to helping others. Tilly would know nothing different, and it was great she got time with each parent. Helen was the only one who could have carried the child. Who the father was, Jennifer didn't know and, after a moment's thought, didn't care. All four of them were a single unit at work, and their hearts beat as one at home. Tilly had four parents, and that was that.

"Update the others on who I am," Stacy said to Jennifer as they made their way down one of the streets. The huts from the initial expedition were all gone. Nothing looked temporary anymore. The bricks on the building were shiny white. They obviously weren't like Earth bricks. Perhaps something they found locally, though on second thoughts, they weren't mining so perhaps it was something one of the asteroids had provided.

Once out of the centre, none of the buildings were close together. They were like mini-mansions, with drives, walls, and gates. This wasn't traditional frontier life. Yet those who lived here might not work here. A hop to anywhere on Earth was only a walk to the hopperport.

On the ninth building along the street, Stacy opened the gate and they followed her through the garden. There were plants none of them had seen before; they were indigenous to Scorpion.

Her palmprint unlocked the door and they stepped inside. A man and a woman were waiting in the entrance lobby.

"This is Alex and Adelle," Stacy introduced. "Jennifer, I believe you've met their godson, Jay."

"You trained with Tina and Luke?" Jennifer asked.

They nodded. "They were a few years older than us."

"That puts you in the same year as Eugene," Jennifer said with care.

The expression on Theo, Kelly and Hope changed too. It was noticed by Alex and Adelle.

"He's still remembered," Kelly said. "His painting is hung at the new Hayfield. The 12th of March is still a day of remembrance."

Alex and Adelle looked pleased.

"I'll see you all around. You have their devices. Give them later today."

Tilly and Stacy gave a wave and were gone.

Alex shook his head. "That girl is like a force of nature."

"I remember meeting her when I was seven," Jennifer said. "Just vague things. I remember her letting us out of the panic room when things were clear. That stuck in my mind."

Adelle nodded. "We know who each of you are, and your backgrounds. While you're here, you're going to learn some new languages and cultures. It's going to be intense. Like a bootcamp."

"What languages?" Kelly enquired.

"The home languages for the Alphonians, Reginaddes, Frotanians and the Yvestigans. Jennifer and Kelly have some advantages as they've mixed with some of them. You've all played concerts on all their home worlds. Before we start, are you all comfortable mixing with non-humans? If not, we need to know now before you spend weeks learning."

Nobody minded. Instead, there was a hint of excitement. All the species in the Rohastin spoke Hytuna. Even some of the species that decided not to join did too. But just as they were talking in English now when not dealing with someone unfamiliar with the language, the people on the home worlds would not speak Hytuna. They were lucky though. Those races had matured to the point there was a single home language. So, they only had four languages to learn. Sheesh.

Understanding and speaking a language was one thing. Reading and writing was something else.

"In this house, you will only speak Hytuna or one of those four languages. You will chat over breakfast in Hytuna, you will dream in Hytuna, you will curse in Hytuna, and you will cry out in ecstasy in Hytuna. When you go to see your family in four years will probably be the next time you speak English."

The four of them glanced at each other. Hope then said in Hytuna, "Sounds fun!"

"Let me show you the house and your rooms. You can then unpack and we can get going."

The ground floor had a large open plan kitchen and dining room. The counter appeared to be the same white material as the outside of the buildings. There were four barstools along one side of a kitchen island. Beyond that was a formal table for ten, and four double sofas. Jennifer noticed a door at the end with a palm reader, which she would inspect later. The other rooms were offices or setup for teaching. Upstairs were the six double bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom.

"This one is ours," Adelle said, pointing to the first one. "Choose which two you want. They are all soundproofed."

Even though they were soundproofed, they still left gaps. In Jennifer's mind, Adelle's room was bedroom one. Jennifer and Theo took bedroom three, and Kelly and Hope took bedroom five.

While putting their rucksacks in their room, they had a glance around. A large bed. Windows looking out over the garden and two desks for private work. Jennifer was itching to give the room a thorough inspection, but she left to rejoin the tour. There would be time later to get acquainted with her room.

"There is a small empty attic, accessible via that door," Adelle pointed out. "You can inspect it later if you wish. Let me finish the tour with the basement."

They marched back downstairs and into the kitchen. They went to the secure door that Jennifer had noticed earlier.

"All your palm prints are already registered in the house," Adelle said, unlocking the door.

They followed the stairs down. There was another secure room to the right, and two open doors along a small corridor on the left.

The first room on the left was a gym. The second room had a large mat on the floor.

"At school you learnt how to defend yourselves. You will continue that here, but you'll also learn some offensive fighting styles. You will learn human and non-human styles. Hopefully you will never need any of that, but it's best to be prepared."

Finally, they went along the short corridor to the locked door. None of them were surprised to see a weapons room with a firing range. What they were surprised to see was the cabinets were filled with weapons from multiple species.

"You will learn how to identify, defend against, and use each one. The grunts and cries of each species need to be understood. You need to know when someone is tiring or egging you on. There is no range officer here. You unlock and lock the weapons. You train when you can. All the rooms have cameras apart from the bedrooms and bathrooms."

The warning was implicit. Foul up and someone would know. Any stupid behaviour and someone would know.

As they made their way out of the basement, Adelle finished with some basic house rules. "You are responsible for keeping your room tidy and maintained. We aren't housekeepers. We are here to mentor you, and we have our own training to do. Cooking and cleaning the house are all our responsibilities."

She guided them to one of the training rooms where Alex was. Laid out on one of the tables were four tablets and four phones.

"These are your official devices. Email is routed via a proxy on Earth, so messages to family aren't tracked to your location. When you deploy, you will be given other devices."

Theo spoke up. He'd been quiet through most of the tour. "We're going to be learning a lot about these four species. If we tried to go undercover at one of their home-worlds, we would stick out. Humans on their planets would be rare that it would incite chatter."

Alex said, "True, if that was your job. It isn't. The initial part is based on the Rohastin Station. Aliens speak Hytuna when speaking with others, but if an Alphonian is speaking to an Alphonian, they will speak their native language. If you then need to follow, you need to understand their psychology. If there is danger, what does a Yvestigan do compared to a Reginadde?"

Adelle added, "The plan is for you to have jobs at the station. You will do those jobs and listen to the underlying talk of the station. Two of you are already known to others there. That is good. You may get invited to events that investigators might otherwise have difficulty getting to."

"What type of jobs?" Hope asked.

"That is still being worked on. I'm aware there might be some additional training to get you into roles, but that isn't the issue now. Now we get you so you can do your real job. Sit, and let's start with the Alphonians. We will start not with language, but with a dichotomy. They have a single language but two numeric systems. They've been embedded with the base-8 Hytuna for so long, they use base-8 at home too. There is a group of traditionalists that insists base-10 is retained, and it is used for a lot of formal government work."

It was a major difference in how they'd previously learnt a language. Earth languages like French and Spanish were simple, as the units of measurement never changed. There were always twenty-four hours in a day, and distance was mostly kilometres, with only a few countries retaining the use of miles. Temperature was Celsius, Fahrenheit, or occasionally Kelvin.

When they learnt Hytuna, which they'd all had a good understanding of before joining Hayfield, even the numeric system was different. Most people went through their lives knowing only decimal. Hytuna used octal. Time was different, temperature had a different scale, and distance had only three subdivisions.

When they finished for the day, there was no formal homework. It wasn't school. But there was love of learning in each of them. After they ate, all six of them sat on the settees and chatted about the Alphonian home-world of Alfare.

As the evening drew to a close, Kelly piped up. "Jen, this morning Stacy said that you should tell us something about her."

Jennifer nodded and then paused. "I'm not sure whether there is a Hytuna word for their relationship type."

"There is a close phrase," Alex said. "I'll be interested in how you explain it."

The other three younger adults looked interested. "Stacy is part of a unit of four. She is married to Andy. David and Helen are married. That is the legal side. You could say, though, that they are all married to each other. They, along with Luke and Tina, came to look after us early in the project. Someone in the company had heard some talk in the underworld about the project having had a breakthrough. Those six came to see if anything came of it. On the Saturday it was just me, Ma and Mum. They cross-dressed so we'd know how they would look that way too. As part of that, the four of them also swapped partners."

The other three gave small shrugs. Hayfield's attitude to love was: if you loved someone, you loved them. They'd seen gay, straight, and everything in-between. A Polyporus relationship was unusual, but it had been covered in their life skills lessons, so it wasn't unfamiliar.

"To them the biological parents of Tilly and her brothers are irrelevant. They are all parents to them," concluded Jennifer.

Adelle smiled, "Those four are the most senior investigators. Stacy probably wanted the others to know just in case they see one of the others with Tilly. Stacy and the others are always willing to talk about a tasking, but private life to them is treasured. For them to show you Tilly is high approval."

"But could it have been that there was nobody to babysit?"

"Tilly has grandparents who are retired. There is never a lack of love for that girl. No, for Stacy to bring Tilly, it was deliberate."

"Am I okay to go into the back garden?" Jennifer asked.

"Sure," Alex responded, unsure why someone would want to go outside when it was dark.

Jennifer went out into the warm night, shutting the door behind her. The blackout blinds hid the majority of the light, and she inched forward to where the alien grass was. If there were streetlights, they were not projecting much light. She lay down on the grass and gazed up at the stars. Hayfield had been remote, and the view of the sky had only been surpassed by the Welsh mountains. Here, though, there was no light pollution, and she almost wept at the vista.

The sound of the door filtered through her amazement, but she didn't glance across. It wasn't just Theo; she heard the sound of other footsteps. Theo's hand found hers on her left, and she heard him sigh. "There's too many stars to wonder which species live where we're looking."

"There might be ones outside the Rohastin's knowledge," Kelly mused.

"It takes about three seconds to get from Earth to the Rohastin Station which is about one hundred and fifty light years away. That's fifty light years per second. The centre of the galaxy is twenty-six thousand light years away, so that would take—"

"Five hundred and twenty seconds," said Alex. "Under nine minutes. But you wouldn't want to go there. It's a gigantic black hole."

Jennifer said, "Dr Mann once told me that the Yvestigans could only do jumps a maximum distance of thirty light years. They never worked out why. I've no idea what the limit is for Eos."

"And what happens if you hit that limit?" Kelly asked. "Do you stay in the interdimensional tunnel, or do you get spat out at the limit? Or is the limit, how far the tunnel can reach and doesn't form if you try too far?"

"Do you want me to ask?" Jennifer said after a pause.

"That depends if you are comfortable asking," Adelle said. "Your file states we can't ask Star Bright secrets."

"I don't think it's a secret about the Yvestigan limit. I just don't think it is widely known. It is why the Yvestigans arrived last over Australia. The Rohastin Council saw the jump and got two faster ships to Earth first."

"If you do ask your Ma, or Dr Mann, don't ring them. They'll detect the delay."

There was silence before Theo asked, "I thought Scorpion had three moons?"

"You obviously didn't get time to study last night," Kelly laughed. "It does. The orbit of two of them means they are never really visible from New Toronto. The other one will rise in a few hours. It isn't very bright."

Theo asked, "Is there a park I can run around?"

Alex was the one who answered, "Just carry on up the road, away from the centre. You'll come to the northern nature reserve. It has a path around it. The reserve itself hasn't been changed. It is what has been there for thousands of years. Some might call it bleak, but some of the native flowers are beautiful."

"I think I'll call it a night," Jennifer said, sitting up. "Good night."

Theo helped her up.

"You don't have to come," she whispered to him.

"I'm getting tired too," he responded, gently stroking his fingers across hers.

They grabbed their tablets on the way through the kitchen and scarpered up the stairs to their bedroom.

"What are you doing?" Theo asked, as she set the tablet on one of the desks in their bedroom.

"I'm going to send two emails. First to my parents to let them know I'm safe and started work but will be training for a bit. The second I'm going to send to one of the scientists and CC my Ma. These will be sent encrypted. I don't want that second question being in the open."

Theo sat at the bottom of the bed, watching her. She sensed something was up and turned to see him gazing at her looking a bit lost. She knew the problem. She was sending a message to her family, and he was torn what to do. Six years and these ghosts weren't laid to rest. She wondered if they ever would.

She went and sat next to him and put her head on his shoulder. "I know he might not respond, but what harm will it do if you send your dad a message?"

"He hates me," Theo said with feeling.

She took her head from his shoulder and moved so she could look straight into his eyes. "You weren't responsible for your mother's death. You were at Hayfield. Your dad wasn't responsible. It was a tragic accident. When he gets his head together and realises that, perhaps your messages will help."

"It's just so demoralising that I have to be the adult. He never responds."

"One day he will. They loved each other so much. He loved you too. And suddenly he found himself alone, not knowing what to say. I remember at the funeral you and he stood together at the side of the grave, both trying to be brave for each other. Both trying not to cry."

"And that was the last day I saw him. I was so grateful you came with me."

"That's what study partners are there for," Jennifer said, emphasising the word study.

Theo gave a small chuckle, and they rested their heads against each other's.

After a minute, Theo said, "You'd better send your messages before it gets too late. I'll send one to my dad."

Ten minutes later, they were both in bed, snuggled up together.

"What a first day," Theo whispered, even though it was a soundproof room. "What do you think tomorrow will bring?"

"Probably more of the same. There will be no introductions, so after a run and breakfast, we'll probably be at 100% intensity. They'll then ramp it up over the next few weeks."

Theo didn't chuckle. He knew she was right. After kissing her forehead, they both fell asleep on a world fifty light years from home.

The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 3

---

Chapter 3

Earth Two might not have been a bad name, mused Jennifer, as she set off for her run with Theo, Kelly and Hope. There was a slight difference in the chemical composition of the atmosphere, but the light wasn't too different. The hue of blue was a bit off, but that was something the mind soon forgot. The flowers were different, she noticed, as they made their way up the road, following the instructions they had been given.

Not once did they see an Earth plant. Nobody had brought something to remind them. If that was chance, deliberate, or the law, she didn't know. Surely someone would have wanted a rose bush, or a cherry tree.

The road was quiet. It was early, but why drive when most things were only a ten-minute walk away? The total population was just under a thousand. She'd once asked why there weren't more settlements. The answer was quite simple: settlements on Earth sprang up because people needed to be where they worked. There were no factories or mines on Scorpion. Two test farms had been created to see whether some of the indigenous animals could be bred and used for food. Until there was a reason for another settlement, New Toronto would remain a small blot on an unspoilt planet.

New Toronto wasn't ready to stand on its own. It was still reliant on food from Earth. Water and sewage were on a closed circuit. Electricity was local too, but food and rubbish were not something they could yet handle. It was no harder to ship from the warehouse to a shop in Toronto on Earth than it was to ship to New Toronto on Scorpion. Yet the desire to be independent resulted in the test farms. The near miss, three years ago, of an Earth-bound asteroid had given them the push to solve those last problems.

As they finished their run, they came out on the other side of the park. They went past the hopperport and into the centre. They slowed to a walk so they could take it in. There was a food store, a hardware store and a hairdresser. There was no sign of anybody selling clothing, unless that was in the back of the food store. There was a store under renovation, with a sign indicating Cathy's Café would be opening soon.

As they approached the street, they saw Alex and Adelle coming in from the direction of the wilderness beyond. They must free-run, rather than stick to structured paths.

After Jennifer showered, she quickly checked her tablet. There were two messages. The first was from her parents.

Jen,

We're so proud that you managed to get a job so quickly. It didn't surprise either of us, though. Your temperament has always been close to Tina's. You've never taken the easy road, but one that is true to your heart. Stay safe and train hard. Based on how long it was before Tina saw relatives, we know we probably won't see you for a while. Just let us know every so often that you're well.

You are an adult now, so we've secured your DTD to stop your location from being stored. You never used it at school, and you said you'd only use it in an emergency because your location could be derived. Use it as you see fit, as nobody, not even us, can track you that way.

Love, Ma and Mum

Jennifer sat there for a few minutes, crying. The enormity of what she was doing overwhelmed her for a moment, but it seemed they understood.

"Hey, what's up?" Theo asked, putting his arms round her.

Jennifer pointed to the screen and he read.

"They care. You told me about Tina and Luke. Your parents know the type of thing they do. They've done so much in life that they know what you're doing. They haven't said to stop. They haven't tried to persuade you to change your plans. Your parents have always let you control your own destiny. Doesn't that make it easier?"

Jennifer wiped her eyes. "It does and it doesn't. It is like one of those unwritten things. They know what I'm doing, but we still have to dance around the subject."

"You'll always have to dance around it. They might understand that you're an investigator, but what you do and where you go will always be a mystery to them. They know that. You have to come to terms with it."

Jennifer laughed. "That's easy as I don't know myself what we're going to be doing."

"It sounds like our first deployment is to embed ourselves on the Rohastin Station and listen. That place is the centre of this segment of the galaxy. Nothing happens without some rumours there. It sounds like they realise it is a hole in their current intelligence network, and we are going to fill that gap. What's a DTD?"

"Direct Tunnel Device," Jennifer whispered back. "I don't have to use the beacons to communicate."

Theo's mouth dropped open. "But that's impossible."

Jennifer's eyes twinkled. "One of the privileges of having a parent who designed it."

The final message was from Evan.

Jenny,
I bet you are taller than me now. Liam and I were impressed with your questions. It isn't something we know all the answers to. The longest single tunnel has been 493.2 lightyears. That was the limit based on the ship's power. None of this is confidential, though it's rarely discussed. A larger ship takes more power than a smaller one, but that ratio is a lot less than the distance. As an example, an Alphonian City Ship using our drive would go about 470 lightyears.

If you try to dial in a distance longer than the power allows, the tunnel doesn't form. We block the attempt for safety reasons. The ship knows the power available and what distance is permitted based on that power. If that restriction wasn't there, you would attempt to draw more power than the system could give, and cause a failure. The power core has a safety mechanism to stop that.

For our tunnels, the power needed for a distance is the only restriction we are aware of. What it is for other species we don't know. Tunnel technology isn't shared.

The only ships that would need to go further are research and exploration vehicles. We plan to upgrade their power and drive as we further develop that technology.

If there is ever a need to go beyond the drive distance, you can perform intermediate jumps. For instance, if you needed to go 800 ly, simply jump 400 ly and then do the last segment. Our knowledge of stars is less comprehensive the further away you go. The difference between current and visible position becomes harder to account for as distance increases. Dimmer stars will be missed, and safety goes down.

There is more to say, but not over email.

Evan

"And who are Evan and Liam?" Theo asked, as Jennifer sent a thank-you response.

"Evan is the chief scientist at Star Bright. Liam works with him. Last time I looked, they were both still in the UK's current top ten for IQ."

"And you can just email them? I mean, I know you said you were sending an email last night, but that was a lot of detail."

"They used to give me science lessons when I was young. I would hang out in their lab and listen as they came up with the drive concept. When Kelly lived near me and was told they'd created Aurora, she used to get science tuition from them with me."

"I knew your Ma came up with the idea and worked with a team, but I'd no idea you used to be there. You never said."

"I don't talk about that company, like we don't talk about what we do. If someone could replicate the technology, they could send anything anywhere."

"I know. Bad people would do bad things if they got that power."

"I get enough issues because of the Trinity prophecy. If people realised that I knew Star Bright, I'd get offered all the wrong jobs. I want to make my own way because of what I can do, rather than because of who my parents are, or what some Oracle has said."

Theo shook his head. "You are you because of what you've learned and your genes. Star Bright is part of that. The aliens are also part of that. You didn't get an alien pen pal because you were chosen, but because you asked. You earnt that. It wasn't given. When you were learning with Evan, it wasn't because you were Becky's daughter, but because you wanted to learn. If you didn't want to learn, or didn't have the attitude to learn, he wouldn't have bothered."

"Let's go and have breakfast before my head explodes," Jennifer said, getting up. "Anything from your dad?"

"No. Not a thing. It shows he opened it."

"That's great. It shows he's not ignoring you."

Kelly and Hope had been busy in the kitchen and breakfast was ready when Jennifer and Theo came down.

"I got a response from Star Bright," Jennifer said, as she tucked in. The others looked up and she started to fill them in, stumbling when she realised it contained a human measurement. She had to pull out her phone and convert 493.2 lightyears into srohytms.

Kelly pulled out her phone and did a quick srohytm to lightyear conversion.

Adelle frowned. "That isn't the way to think. You have to think in Hytuna measurements. You might be able to converse in Hytuna without translating, but you aren't fully immersed until you can think in their units without converting."

She went to the fridge and pulled out some sausages. "How long should I cook these for and at what temperature?"

"That's a trick question," Hope said. "On the Rohastin Station, they don't cook using heat."

Alex sniggered and Adelle laughed before saying, "Perhaps that wasn't a perfect example, but I think you get what I meant."

Hope piped up again, her eyes wide with realisation. "Hayfield got it wrong. When we did a concert in Italy, we learnt Italian and we immersed in that. But Hytuna is different. It isn't just a language. When we did the concert on the Rohastin Station we could all make ourselves understood, but we converted measurements. I still thought in seconds, not ticks."

Hope reached for her tablet to send a message to Rachel Ruiz, but Kelly put her hand on her partner's. "Don't. I'm sure Alex or Adelle has a way of letting Dr Ruiz know without it becoming obvious that we are studying Hytuna at such a level."

"Which of your family taught you to be so security aware?" Adelle asked Kelly.

Kelly looked unsure. Jennifer answered, "She was always like that. She was inquisitive and wanted to know things she shouldn't, but she never gave anything away."

"What aren't you telling me?" Kelly asked. "What do you know about my family that I obviously don't know?"

"We didn't realise you didn't know," Alex said apologetically. He looked at his wife unsure and she shrugged.

"Can you tell me?" Kelly persisted.

"If you want. Do you want to go next door?"

Kelly shook her head adamantly. "No, tell the others too. It saves me telling them."

Adelle was the one to tell. "Your great-aunt used to work for MI6. Your father worked for GCHQ while he worked in Cheltenham."

"So why the move to London?"

"When the World Government was formed, GCHQ closed. He worked out of London for them on their internal communications security. Poacher turned gamekeeper."

"Is that why the police didn't deal with my parents when I was kidnapped and after?"

"Probably. Everything you said would have been channelled through a security team to make sure you didn't tell them anything you shouldn't have."

"My dad was very good at not saying anything. I got the opportunity to have science lessons at Star Bright. One of the rules he laid down was never to tell him what I saw or learnt. He said he couldn't tell what he didn't know. I didn't get that then. It makes sense now. Sheesh. His bosses would have loved to know what went on in that old pub."

"Your family couldn't have told you," Jennifer said. "That was part of their operational security. They kept what they did to themselves. Just like you aren't going to tell them what you do."

"Finish up, we have classwork to do," said Alex.

When they got there, they all sat in a circle of chairs. Alex didn't stand up at the front and preach; it was more of a conversation. "We need to do some reframing. So, we will start with a few basic pieces of human general knowledge. What temperature does water freeze? How long does it take light to get from the Sun to Earth? How far is Scorpion from Earth?"

"I've got another," said Kelly. "What is five times three?"

Alex nearly answered and then stopped himself. "Wow. I nearly fell for that one. Seventeen. I instinctively nearly said fifteen."

"When Jen and I were eight, we had a few hours at a multispecies school on the Rohastin Station. It took me ages to understand why fifteen was wrong."

"Is the school leader as fierce as the rumours go?" Alex asked.

"No," Kelly replied. "Unless you're thinking about the senior school or someone else has the job. They were a Pretotian. And yes, they do have feathers. They were so caring of the pupils."

The Pretotian were one of the few species where gender wasn't male and female. Surprisingly, that trait, seen in a lot of Earth species, was the same across space. The Pretotians laid an egg, but the egg was only activated by the blossom from the Itotran bush.

"Kelly is right, though," Alex said after a moment's thought. "Base-8 maths is where we need to start. It's like we are back in primary school. We have to be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide in base-8 as instinctively as we do in base-10. I know it sounds boring, but knowing that four times two is ten is fundamental to the rest. For instance, if it takes a Yvestigan vehicle five ticks to travel three hundred srohytms, how long will it take to get to Earth from their home world? Actually, let's try that. I will do it too. I want to see all your workings."

"Do you have any contact with App builders?" Hope asked after they worked away on the question. "I'd like a calculator that only worked in base-8."

"Try HCalc," Theo responded absentmindedly as he scrubbed out his calculation.

"I did. It also shows the decimal values. I want something purely Hytuna based. Total immersion."

"Go to settings. There is that option."

A few seconds later, a "Yay" from Hope made Theo smile.

There were so many different variables, it took time to bring it together, but after thirty minutes, they had all reached the same answer.

"Not bad for our first attempt," Alex said.

"Why are you doing this with us?" Jennifer asked. "I thought since you were teaching us, you would already be an expert."

"We are mentors, here to guide you in the preparation for your first assignment," Alex said after a moment's thought. "You've already proved at Hayfield that you can learn quickly and adapt. What you need now is different from school. Nobody has ever trained for this task before. There isn't any syllabus. So, our role is to guide you, highlight what matters, and help you build the instincts you'll need."

"This is the first time a team has been asked for this level of immersion in non-Earth environments," he continued. "Two of you already have more direct experience with other species than most investigators currently do. The bosses believe that our experience in preparing for taskings, combined with your abilities, will get you where you need to be."

He gave a small smile. "And you're already bringing ideas to the table. The discussion about not converting into familiar units? Kelly added another angle, and now you're working towards using base-8 instinctively. That's exactly what we want. This afternoon we'll move downstairs where Adelle will lead the weapons session. That's an area we are already skilled in, and by the time you leave here, you'll be better than us."

"Can you get a dartboard?" Kelly asked.

"What?" Alex said, confused at the sudden request.

"A dartboard. Base-8 of course. It has double and triple scores. We have to add up our three darts and then subtract from the starting number."

Alex grinned. "I'm going to like preparing you. You have a gift for making it fun!"

"You'd better add a Hytuna version of Monopoly too. Shake a five and a four, that is eleven. Land on somewhere with a set, that is double. It's all maths. Perhaps we can add a timer. If you can't work out the value in seven ticks, you forfeit the request."

"Great ideas, but unless Hasbro has one in development, don't expect it quickly. The dartboard is something that we could easily get a company to make."

As promised, the afternoon was in the basement. Adelle was ready for them. "Let's start with knives. Choose one each and we can work from there."

There were four knives on the table, each one a favourite style for one of them. Jennifer knew they were being played, so she grabbed Hope's. Noticing, each of them grabbed someone else's.

Adelle didn't comment, but pointed them to four lanes. "Let me see your style."

They each went and threw. Four bullseyes.

"Nice. How far would you say the target is?"

"About..." Theo tailed off with a groan. "Is this torture ever going to end?"

"Finish off what you instinctively were going to say," Adelle pressed.

"I was going to say about six metres. I stopped because I suddenly realised what I'd done, but I couldn't articulate the distance without converting. I don't want to convert, because I won't learn then."

"Good. Now go and fetch your knives. I see you didn't go for your expected versions. It wasn't a trick. You will go through each weapon."

When they returned, Adelle said innocently, "How heavy would you say your knives are?"

The four trainees looked at each other, despair on each of their faces.

"I see," Adelle said, looking at each one of them. "What are you going to do to fix this?"

The four of them looked bewildered.

Adelle continued. "This isn't school. You have some issues. We aren't here to spoon-feed you. We are here so you learn how to be an investigator. Part of that is recognising when you have an issue, and another part is coming up with your own solution to solve it. I heard about your idea with the dartboard. That was an interesting solution for becoming instinctive with the basic maths, but what are you going to do for weight and distance?"

"Do you have any alien cookbooks?" Jennifer asked.

"Sorry?"

"We need to get up to speed not just with Hytuna, but with four alien cultures. Cooking will be part of that. When you cook, you have to weigh the ingredients. Some species may also have cooking times. As we cook, we get to learn weights instinctively. We also learn about their base ingredients, so we are proactively learning more about them."

Theo added, "Some human recipes mention the size of tin you need, such as when making a cake. I've no idea if they'll have that, but if so, we get a bit of extra measurement knowledge."

"No," Kelly said slowly. "Well, I think no. We need to check. Wouldn't an Alphonian recipe be in Alphonian units, rather than Hytuna? They, and the Reginaddes, are one of the oldest races in the Rohastin Council. Would Hytuna units have filtered into their customs, rather like base-8 has, or will they use native units?"

"If they are in native units," Theo said, rubbing his nose in thought, "how instinctive would the species be for weight and distance in Hytuna? Wouldn't they always naturally think in their native units?"

Adelle smiled. "But what if an Alphonian and a Reginadde are discussing something? Wouldn't they then use Hytuna? Remember, they grow up with their native culture and the Hytuna culture. They learn both, rather like some parents on Earth used to speak multiple languages to their children, so they naturally became bilingual."

Kelly sighed and said, "Why don't we carry on with weapons training now. We can discuss more later."

Adelle nodded and brought a knife from the cabinet. "This is a traditional Alphonian hunting blade. They are rarely used today, especially on worlds close to their home world. It can be found in some of their wilder worlds which haven't been fully tamed."

They each held it, taking in its feel, weight and balance. Hope ran her finger gently along the blade. "The handle certainly isn't for a human. What metal is this?"

"A type of iron compound. Not steel in the human sense. There is no carbon in the mix. It is quite a weak metal, but it doesn't break easily."

"Can I?" Theo asked indicating the lanes.

"Yes. Use lane five, it has a soft target setup. We only have one of these."

Theo hesitated when he heard it was the only one.

Adelle nodded in appreciation. "Throw it. It isn't a priceless weapon. We can acquire more from their markets."

Theo shrugged and let it fly. He didn't use as much force as he had earlier, but it still found the centre of the target.

"It wasn't comfortable in my hands and felt strange as I let it go. For me, the handle is too large and the blade too thick."

Jennifer pondered and said, "It isn't designed for human hands. And if they are readily available in a market for use on underdeveloped worlds, they probably aren't going to be well made."

Adelle took out a jewel-encrusted blade. "This is a Hobitoa. It's a Reginadde ceremonial blade. I'd rather you didn't throw this one. The metal is liable to snap."

Jennifer's eyes grew wide when she got a closer look. "Kelly, think about the Reginadde neck and then this tip."

"It's an assassination knife! Well, not anymore if it is ceremonial, but I agree with Jennifer. That's what it looks like."

"The Reginadde hands aren't too dissimilar," said Jennifer to Kelly. "Try it, just don't break my skin."

In a flash, Kelly had twisted Jennifer and held the knife to her throat. A deafening alarm rang out, and Kelly quickly removed the blade, wondering if she'd set it off. Hope took the knife from Kelly and put it to one side, out of the way.

Adelle looked at the nearest camera and made some sort of gesture. She repeated it, and the sound stopped. She put the knives away and locked the cabinet.

"Now you get a different type of training. You learn how to write a report explaining what you just did and why."

Alex was at the door, his face ashen. "Are you all okay? The life at risk alarm went off."

"Yes. Some eager trainees decided to see if a knife felt like an assassination weapon. I don't think Kelly was going to kill Jennifer, but the automatic system hadn't been warned, so it triggered the alert."

"I'm sorry," Jennifer said, almost in tears. "I didn't mean to cause a problem."

"We know," Alex said. "We also have to do a report on why we didn't warn you."

The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 4

---

Chapter 4

"How much are you in contact with Reggie?" Alex asked a few days later. They'd all finished their evening meal and were relaxing in the lounge.

Reggie was the nickname Kelly had given their Reginadde friend. She'd been introduced to Jennifer when she was eight by the Reginadde Ambassador to the Rohastin Council, and they'd become pen pals before becoming close friends. Jennifer, Kelly and Reggie had been bridesmaids at Becky and Ashleigh's wedding.

"I haven't messaged her since we finished school," Jennifer said.

"Neither have I," Kelly added. "I haven't heard from her either. Why?"

"We're not sure. She was seen with someone from Reginadde Intelligence. Next thing, she went back to their home world."

"Is she okay?" Jennifer asked, concerned.

"Her grandfather is still at the Rohastin Station, as are her parents. There doesn't appear to be anyone flapping about her leaving. The assumption is that she hasn't been arrested, but is being recruited to work for them. She has good contacts with the strange new humans."

"Are we being asked to break off contact?" Jennifer asked, trying to keep her voice neutral.

"Not at all. There is an old saying, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. It is just conjecture, but you're being told so you are careful what you say."

"If she is being recruited by Reginadde intelligence, could it be because we're here?"

"We don't know the depths of their knowledge. But remember, if she is, she will be working for the state. We aren't EarthGov intelligence, but a private company trying to keep the peace and stop instability when people commit crimes and think they are protected."

Adelle added, "Still be her friend. She might need it. If she is intelligence, she will probably be worried about you. Did her parents really take you Space Racing?"

Jennifer and Kelly shared a look and grinned. "Oh yes. That was fun."

"The Space Racer facility at the Rohastin Station is the premier track. It's like learning to drive at Silverstone or the Indianapolis Motor Speedway."

"Is it on Kelly's file that she is a Level 4 certified Space Racer?" Hope asked, trying to hide her cheeky grin. Kelly tried to swat her.

Alex and Adelle looked at her with astonishment. "How?"

Kelly blushed. "Hayfield sponsored me. The day after my eighteenth birthday, the school had me take the required lesson and test at the Rohastin Station."

Space Racers was the major cross-species sport right across the Rohastin Council members. Even Earth was building a facility in high Earth orbit to take part. While a driver is underage, the craft nulls out some of the g-forces. Level 4 certification meant she could do a primary course with full g-forces. She completed the course without crashing, and within the required time.

"If you were Level 5 certified, you would be able to race for a team in the entry category," Alex said, his mind racing. "Do you think you could manage that?"

Kelly shrugged. "With a lot of practice, I might. No human has achieved Level 5 certification. And it isn't just making the cut, which is extremely hard. Level 5 certification is more about being able to perform certain manoeuvres safely. You still need to post a fast enough time for a team to pick you up. Why?"

"And these manoeuvres you've never done?"

"I tried some a few times. I put on crash mitigation, not wanting to cause damage when I tried. The problem was that without feeling the full g-force, you couldn't visualise them. It's not like being in a car, where you can see what's going on. You are in a zero-gravity arena with gates to traverse. Think of it like a cross between Formula 1 and giant slalom in zero gravity. The only way you know if a manoeuvre is working is by feel."

"Do you need to put in so much time to maintain your level?" Adelle enquired.

"What do you mean?"

"We have a few investigators that are pilots. They have to log a certain amount of time in the air. Do you have to do the same for your Level 4 certification?"

"I don't think so. Though you would get rusty if you left it too long, just like anything else."

A tinkle was heard on all their phones. It signalled the front gate had just opened.

They all looked at their screens to see who it was. Stacy. It had been a week since she'd brought them here, and they all scrambled to the entrance lobby.

Tilly was with Stacy. The small girl had bright red rain boots on and looked far brighter than a three-year-old would be at that time of the evening. Stacy was carrying a large bag.

"What time was it in the UK?" Theo asked in Hytuna, then worried that would exclude Tilly.

"Early morning. It's raining and we had fun splashing in the puddles."

Tilly jumped up and down, then said in Hytuna, "Big puddles."

"Come on in," Alex said. "Do you want a drink?"

"Sure. We've brought a few things you ordered."

They went through to the kitchen and Stacy got the items from the bag and laid them out.

"A dartboard in base-8. Monopoly in base-8. It's the UK version, and someone redid the cards and money. The board is the same, with stickers over the prices. It is the best we could do. Finally, a few packs of playing cards. We like this idea and are researching games that different species play."

"You aren't here to also tell us off, are you?" Kelly asked nervously, as Hope made a drink for Tilly and Stacy.

"No. If that was going to happen, it would have been the day after. You all learnt there are safety precautions. The look on Adelle's face when you made your move was fantastic. And not a drop of blood spilt. When you're training, it is important you get the most out of it. You know what it feels like to hold, and Jennifer knows what it feels like against her neck. Have you seen the recording?"

"No," Kelly said, perplexed.

"Watch it. You can see a lot from it, from your technique to Jennifer's absolute trust in you. She totally relaxed her body and became a doll in your hands."

"If I can't have total faith in these three, who can I trust?" Jennifer responded.

"You remind me of your mum. You might not be her blood, but you can see her upbringing in you. Do you remember when she and your ma were kidnapped?"

Jennifer nodded, remembering those awful days. Those memories were forever ingrained in her mind.

"Brenda and Helen were undercover as pilots. Your mum was dragged into their plane and she saw them. She realised they were undercover and stared at the carpet. She didn't call out their names or ask for help. She trusted them to get word out and she would be rescued. She was confused why there was nobody to rescue her at the airport, but she never lost faith that she would be freed."

"Without that, you might not have shut down that group," Jennifer said.

"Correct. But we also trusted her that she would be able to cope for those days. When you and Kelly were kidnapped, Kelly gave a code word that she wasn't coping. The police changed their tactics to get you out quicker. They reacted based on what was needed."

Hope hugged Kelly when she shuddered.

Stacy continued, "You learnt to trust each other at Hayfield. That shows. You need to learn to enhance your perception, to read the situation around you. You knew that the areas other than your rooms were monitored. What you didn't think about were the protocols that might be in place. You will learn as your training progresses."

Tilly had been looking out of the back door. "Can I see the stars now?"

Stacy rolled her eyes. "I mentioned to her that there were lots of stars visible from your back garden. She kept looking since we landed, but the streetlights kept coming on as we got near."

"Did you see the stars last Christmas?" Jennifer asked Tilly. She had to use the English word Christmas. It was a purely human event, so there was no Hytuna word.

The girl nodded. "Lots of them."

"We have more," Jennifer said conspiratorially. She'd have to introduce Theo to the farm and the cottages before Christmas. "The best way to see them is to lie on the grass and look up. It might take a few ticks to see them."

The girl stuck out her hand for Jennifer to hold. Jennifer looked across at Stacy, who nodded. Carefully, they went out and lay down. Stacy had a quiet word with Alex and Adelle, but soon the others joined them. Stacy lay down on the other side of her daughter.

"The grass tickles my ears," the girl giggled in Hytuna. She then went quiet for a bit, before saying, "There are a lot more stars."

"There are the same number of stars," Stacy said. "It is darker here, so more are visible. Theo?"

Theo had a flashlight with him, so it was easier to see the way back to the house. He turned it on.

"It is brighter, so you see fewer stars," Stacy continued. Theo turned the light off, and after several seconds she said, "The stars don't hide. We just couldn't see them."

That was probably a lot for a three-year-old to take in, but Stacy wasn't hiding the truth just because it was hard to understand. Tilly didn't stay lying down long. She was only three and her attention span was short.

"You lot stay here. We can find our way out," Stacy said, getting up after her daughter.

"There aren't any puddles here," Tilly complained.

"Let's go find some puddles to splash in," Stacy laughed.

"Splash!" Tilly squealed and they went on their way.

* * *

The next day didn't turn out like any of the trainees had anticipated. They thought they would be continuing the same routine as they had in the previous days. It wasn't to be.

"Kelly, a discussion occurred overnight. We'd like you to go to the Rohastin Station and try out some of the Level 5 manoeuvres."

"You want me to see if I might be able to achieve it?" Kelly confirmed, stunned.

"Stacy's husband is a pilot. He, or rather Brenda, was one of the pilots who spotted Ashleigh when she'd been kidnapped. That skill opened a door. We like to know the limits of an investigator's skills. This is finding out yours. If you don't think you can reach Level 5, that is just as valuable as if you think you can."

"When do you want me to go?" Kelly asked, as she finished her breakfast.

"Today. The Rohastin Station isn't a regular destination and might be memorable if you get a request hopper directly from here. I'd like you to go to a busy UK hopperport, like Manchester or Birmingham, and get a request hopper from there."

Kelly nodded. Having a British passport made it easier to go there than through any other country. Not that it wasn't easy these days. Borders still existed, but the requirements for entering a country were a lot less. If you travelled a lot, you got your passport pre-authorised at World Government level and just flashed it when you arrived. As long as there were no markers against you, you were let in.

All four of them had preauthorised passports, having performed concerts all around the world.

Hope got up to go along too, but Alex indicated she should stay. This wasn't Hayfield, where their study partner would always be there. They might go on investigations alone, or with other investigators.

"Can I ask a personal question?" Hope asked her mentors, as Kelly grabbed her coat, Rohastin Station communication device and was on her way.

Alex and Adelle looked at each other, then shrugged. Adelle responded, "You can ask, but it depends how personal it is, and whether we will answer fully."

Hope took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "When you've gone on investigations, how often was it with someone other than your partner?"

"It has been a mixture," Adelle said, wondering how that was personal. "Some were on my own. Sometimes there were more than two of us. Sometimes I've presented as female, sometimes as male. I'm so glad I never got too large on top, as that might have been harder."

"Did you ever have to do an investigation where you were in a relationship with someone else?" Hope asked, clarifying her thoughts.

"Yes. We've both had to do that," Alex said. "And it is the hardest thing we do. It impacts the two people involved, and their partners. Sometimes it can be faked. My second time, there were hidden cameras." He paused, then said quietly, "We had to perform."

Adelle moved closer to her husband. "We knew that was a possibility. I worried about it while he was away. I worried he wouldn't love me anymore. He does love me." Then with awe in her voice, "He's always loved me."

Jennifer said, "There are other difficult things you sometimes have to do to keep your cover. Can I show something?"

Adelle nodded, and Jennifer did a web search. They crowded around her tablet. "This was the Birmingham Rally for Earth First from ten years ago. Try not to look at the front, but listen to the crowd."

Hope and Theo would have been eight when this happened and might never have seen it. She was sure Alex and Adelle would have. She watched her colleagues as her ma was dragged to the podium and humiliated. She watched their look of revulsion, not at her ma, but at what was being done to her. After the call "Kill it" was heard, the crowd broke up and ran.

"The person who shouted that is my uncle," Jennifer said. "Even though his wife is trans, and Ashleigh was his sister-in-law, he did it to get recruited into Earth Fist, which was the splinter group of Earth First. It also caused the crowd to disperse and Becky to be rescued. Two simple words that he hated saying, but said because he needed to."

"They were a hard group to get into," Alex said. "There were investigators from Italy, America, Canada and Japan trying to get in there. It is still the biggest group ever broken up. The largest number of rescues."

Adelle said, "And what you are being asked to do is different. You are going to be in plain sight on the Rohastin Station. You can't pretend to be someone else because of the station's computer system interface. It knows your brain patterns. This is what has always made it hard, as we can't use normal investigators. You aren't going to be asked to go undercover there. You can't. You will be you."

"And in some ways that is going to be easier, and in others harder. You are long-term embeds rather than tactical deployments. But no matter the type of deployment, you always have to remember who you really are. This is especially true for long-term deployment agents. You four have a grounded sense of identity, much more than the majority. Without that, you would have been tactical investigators like we are. You are also a cohesive team who can remind each other of who you really are."

Theo, Jennifer and Hope looked at each other. It sounded like a big deal and Kelly wasn't there to witness it.

The day passed. The dartboard was installed, and Hope created a score chart on the whiteboard. The promise they made to themselves, and Alex, was that they were going to score without translating. It was the only way they would get used to it.

They also didn't use a calculator. From somewhere, an old-fashioned pad of paper was found and they did everything longhand. Just like how they'd learnt basic maths when they were tiny.

"We start with 765," Theo said.

"That is a direct translation of decimal, but it seems wrong to do that," Jennifer said. "Perhaps start with 1001. It's only fourteen higher."

The game itself wasn't the priority, but the maths. So, instead of always going for the triple twenty-four, they jazzed it up. The first game was Hope and Jennifer. Theo wrote the numbers, and any multiples, on the board. Then each would calculate what they thought the score was, and what the new value should be.

Hope hit a triple twenty-four and, as they calculated it, it suddenly dawned on them that four was the half measure, like five is in decimal. Four, ten, fourteen.

"A pattern," Jennifer said excitedly. "Then three times two is six. Add the carry. Triple twenty-four is seventy-four."

As the morning progressed, the speed of the game increased as they got more comfortable with the maths. Subtraction was a pain, with many fingers being used, and no thumbs. If they ignored their thumbs, they had eight digits, which was perfect for rudimentary base-8.

It was during the afternoon training on weapons that Alex interrupted the training. This was unusual and the three trainees wondered if he had news on Kelly. "No," he said. "Rhonda had gone into labour."

"Weapons away," Adelle instructed. "We've got to be down there for this historic event."

"What's going on?" Hope asked.

"Rhonda is pregnant. In a few days she was due to go back to Canada, so she was on Earth to have her baby. There is a medical rule that people shouldn't be moved via interdimensional drive during labour. I've no idea where that came from, but it is why anyone in the last stages goes back to Earth."

Jennifer smiled, remembering Miss T going into labour during her parents' wedding, and the elite Rohastin Ambassador doctors saying she couldn't be hopped to the hospital. Miss T gave birth in one of the rooms upstairs. It was a momentous day.

A crowd had already formed outside the hardware shop. This would be the first birth on Scorpion. It would be the first human baby that wasn't born on Earth.

"Dr Dougal is already in there," someone told Adelle. "Since it is the first birth here, I heard Randy say a medical team from a hospital is being hopped across to assist."

Being one of the last to arrive, they were towards the back of the crowd. A couple of the town's police made their way from the hardware store near to where they were. They quickly sealed off the centre of the wide road. Alex and Adelle inched away so less of the town associated them with the other three.

"Don't enter. They are hopping directly from the hospital to here."

Jennifer tried to go back into the crowd, but it was too thick for her to make good progress. Hoppers going to bespoke locations were limited due to security concerns. Most went between hopperports. A few seconds later, her fears were justified as Eos jumped into the cordoned-off area. The medics were helped off by the ship's pilot, James, and engineer, Sam, people that Jennifer had grown up with before Hayfield.

The crowd surged. What a day they were having. The first labour on the planet, and now Eos appearing. The ship was probably more famous now than Aurora. It was the second ship that Star Bright had built and one that ferried the executives of Star Bright. As soon as Theo and Hope saw the ship, they tried to shield Jennifer, but for a fleeting moment Sam spotted her. In a moment, Sam's gaze had moved on as if not recognising her.

"Make way," the two police officers insisted, and being good citizens, a gap formed for the medics and a trolley to go into the store. The three trainees managed to blend more into the background.

Rhonda's husband, Greg, emerged a few minutes later, beside his wife on the trolley. She was in discomfort and being wheeled towards the small medical centre. At least there she would have a more comfortable birth than in the back of a hardware store.

The new café brought out sandwiches and drinks. They might as well; nobody was going in. The town were all awaiting news. Only those that hopped back to Earth for work were missing this event.

"Is that Eos?" Kelly said, joining them.

"Yes," Jennifer said, looking at her best friend. "James and Sam."

"Did they spot you?" Kelly whispered, her eyes wide.

"Sam might have. It's difficult to tell. I doubt they will tell anybody else. Theo and Hope tried to shield me."

It was over an hour later that Greg came out, carrying a crying baby. "I'd like to introduce you to New Toronto's youngest resident. This is Eve," he informed the crowd.

A cheer went up. It might not have been their original choice, but the name was inspired. She'd be forever known as the first girl born on the planet Scorpion.

The press were slow off the mark. New Toronto didn't have a reporter, and the locals kept things to themselves. So, it was only when someone questioned why Eos had picked up a medical team from Toronto, Canada, that they jumped on a hopper. Jennifer and her friends were back in the training house when the news crew arrived to get the reaction to the first non-Earth birth. Adelle and Alex were there soon after.

"That was historic," Theo said. He turned to the two mentors. "Thank you for letting us know so we could witness that."

"I think Sam might have spotted me," Jennifer confessed. "Theo and Hope tried to shield me, but still..."

Alex didn't have to think about that one for long. "Sam went to Hayfield, then The Manor, and knows not to gossip. I'll get someone to have a quiet word, but I doubt Sam would tell your parents. The training at school and then the military is too ingrained. Kelly, how did it go?"

Kelly's grin told them she'd had great fun. "There are fourteen mandatory manoeuvres. I tried three today and made progress. Ve'tran himself came across while I was having a break. He gave me some pointers, and I made better progress."

"The Ve'tran?" Hope enquired, sounding incredulous. "The number two Alphonian racer?"

Theo laughed, then said, "If he drives like his last race, he will soon be the number one Alphonian racer."

Hope, Jennifer and Theo all gave her hugs.

"You did so well," Hope said, proud of Kelly.

"Did you get to see Reggie?" Jennifer asked, happy for her friend, but anxious if there was news about her other friend.

"I went to see her parents. I thought it was polite since I was there," Kelly said, getting all serious. "They were happy to see me and invited me in for a drink. They didn't seem concerned about me being there. They told me that Reggie had a job and was away from the station for at least twenty days, but couldn't send messages from where she was. They promised to mention I'd visited when they spoke to her next."

"I hope she's okay," Jennifer sighed and Kelly nodded.

The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 5

---

Chapter 5

The doorbell rang, echoing through the house. This was unusual. Nobody called.

"Stay inside," Adelle said to Jennifer and Theo.

It was just the two trainees. Kelly and Hope had gone to the Frotanian Space Racer track. It was a race day. Hope had gone with Kelly as they'd been invited by Ve'tran to see what it was like from inside a team during the event.

Jennifer looked out from an upstairs window. A small electric pickup truck was outside. Alex and Adelle were carrying boxes from the truck. As the last few boxes were taken off, the two trainees went down to see if they could help.

"Research time," Alex said, as he saw them. "Help us get this lot into the kitchen and we can start."

Theo glanced across at Jennifer to see if she had any clue at what was going on. Jennifer gave a tiny shrug in response. She had no idea either.

"We have Alphonian food," Adelle said as the last box was brought into the kitchen. "This is a task for all four of us. Identify what each item is and how it should be stored. These are based on some of the cookery books for popular dishes."

Jennifer squealed in delight. "Was Foyt'aap one of the dishes?"

Adelle consulted her phone. "Yes."

"I so hope we do it justice. That was such a fantastic dish. I had it the first time I ate on the Rohastin Station."

"You've done so much," Theo said wistfully, no malice in his voice.

"We've done different things," Jennifer said. "You did plenty before joining Hayfield too. And then we did lots of things together. How many can say they've been to a few alien home worlds? We can. I doubt, if you exclude Hayfield, there will be more than a handful who've even been to one, let alone more than one. You have experiences unique to you."

They sorted the boxes into items to freeze, put in the refrigerator or keep in the cupboard. They then looked up what each item was and how it was used. Human food is based on what is grown or on animals. Since crops were different, how they cooked was different too.

"You've got a lot of each ingredient," Jennifer pointed out. "How much cooking are we going to do?"

"This is new to us. We are going to make mistakes. I've also stocked up with Loperamide."

"So little faith," Alex cackled.

"Hopefully we won't need it, but it is better to be prepared," Adelle responded. "Remember your trip to Mumbai?"

Alex grimaced. "Please never remind me of that again! I don't think I've forgiven Ruth for telling you about it."

Jennifer and Theo grinned at their banter.

"She just wanted me to make sure you were okay and had no long-lasting effects."

"Poppycock. Anyway, let's finish putting things away and get cooking."

Hayfield was academically one of the best schools in Britain, yet it also made sure they knew how to cook. When Alex and Adelle had gone there, the head chef, Justin, made it his mission that every leaver could cook a simple meal. That was his stated aim. However, his real goal was to make sure they could cook to a much higher standard than that. The current head chef, Nancy, had carried on that mantra and enhanced it.

Yet they were faced with ingredients that they'd never seen before, and methods that made no sense.

"What do you think it means when it says, 'jiggle until lava jellifies'?" Theo mused.

"You're translating again," Jennifer said, and he groaned. "But even if we don't, it makes little sense."

Alex, trying a different recipe, said, "I have 'Tropando heat until bubble jiggle'. So, we both have jiggle. I've no idea what 'Tropando heat' is, or how it differs from any other heat."

Adelle giggled. "This is going to be so much fun to eat."

The other three looked up at her, and she chortled some more. In the end, they went with gut instinct. Looking at what was before them, they tried to imagine what they needed to do.

Alex gently rocked the bowl. "This is the closest I can think of. Nothing is jellifying."

When it came to sampling, they each took one taste and spat it out.

"I don't think our jiggling was correct," Alex said in a flat, deadpan voice. He turned to Adelle. "Make the call. Jill said she would be able to help."

"She doesn't work for us though."

"No, but she has the knowledge. Jill says she can keep secrets. I trust Jill. We trust Jill."

Adelle stalked out of the room and Alex sighed. "Let's clear this up and make something edible."

Theo and Jennifer glanced at each other. They'd never seen any tension between Alex and Adelle but there seemed to be something going on.

"Don't worry about it," Alex said, putting some bowls into the dishwasher. "She rightly has concerns. She'll make a phone call and Miss T will confirm whether it's appropriate."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. The possibility was already discussed. Do you know Jill Toms?"

"I've heard of her. Julia, the IT teacher's daughter?"

"Yes. She was a Beta but didn't go down the usual route. She joined an orchestra and kept her eyes and ears open as they travelled. She and her wife are a different way of intel gathering. Anyway, Jill's sister is a chef. For the last eight years, Beth has worked on the Rohastin Station."

Jennifer nodded, understanding now what was happening.

Fifteen minutes later, Adelle stalked back into the room. The smell of normal food was in the air, and she seemed to relax a little. Not wanting to be anywhere near that discussion, Jennifer and Theo made a tactical withdrawal to do some more basic base-8 maths by playing darts.

Kelly and Hope arrived during the second match, and the game was forgotten. They were dressed in bright clothes, with their hair styled, wearing make-up. The two of them had dressed to impress and would have stood out. It wasn't the blend-into-the-background style they normally went for. They had only just started to tell their tale when Alex popped his head round the door.

"Haven't you seen it's time to eat?" Alex asked.

"Sorry," Theo responded automatically and they followed Alex to the kitchen.

Adelle had calmed down, which was a relief for everyone. Her hair was down and something had changed, though none of the younger people could put a finger on what it was.

"How was the racing?" Adelle asked, as she served the meal.

Hope and Kelly lit up like Christmas trees.

"We had positions in his booth," Hope said. "We were right next to Po'ropkin, who is Ve'tran's spotter. We could hear all the chat between them, the tactics before the race, and the feedback during it. Po'ropkin was anticipating moves three or four turns before they happened. It was amazing."

"And I got to see some of the manoeuvres I'd been practicing in action," Kelly added. "He managed to come in second."

"How did you get there?" Jennifer asked.

"The hoppers from Earth don't list it as a destination. We went on a special race transport from the Rohastin Station. Coming back, we had to wait for another person heading to the UK. We got invited to the next race too."

"Hope, how much did you understand what Po'ropkin was doing?" Alex asked.

Hope wiggled her hand. "Some of it. It helped that we've been watching Space Racers for years, so it isn't new. We also watched the lower leagues, and they are a lot simpler. The top manoeuvres aren't allowed at that level."

"Any idea why you are getting this level of attention?" Theo asked.

"Ve'tran thinks I have a skill," Kelly responded, blushing. "And he said it would be good for humans to have a racer. It would increase the sport's popularity on Earth."

"What's it like compared to television?" Theo asked.

"You don't appreciate the noise of the crowd," Kelly said, and Hope nodded along. "There was seating all around the track, including what we would describe as above it. Because the gravity isn't due to centrifugal forces, they have a special curved hallway that gradually moves you into the downward look. The technology for that is so impressive."

"Did you get to meet any officials or judges?" Theo asked.

"No. They were in a room beyond where we were permitted. We did get into areas the normal crowd couldn't go, but there are limits."

"You need to get the skills here first, but training there will be good for both of you. More for Kelly at first, but then Hope too."

Hope went white. "You want me to be Kelly's spotter? You want Kelly to do Space Racing?"

"If you can get the skills needed. It is a place that a lot of people go to. It is one of the only places that all species attend. If you are part of that world, then you will hear things."

"Ah, like Jill does?" Jennifer said, proud that her friend was getting recognition.

"Exactly," Adelle said, with a smile. "Like Jill does."

"What did we miss?" Hope asked, wondering who Jill was, but not pressing it at the moment.

"We tried cooking Alphonian food," Jennifer responded. "It was a disaster."

"I'm sure it wasn't that bad," Kelly responded, looking at her friend.

"Adelle and I tried to do a recipe too, and ours was just as bad," Alex said. "We spat out our single mouthful and binned the rest."

"Though I did start to get used to some of the measurements used," Jennifer added after a moment's thought. "At least that made sense. I've no idea how to jiggle."

Kelly grinned and jumped off her chair. She did a little dance. "That's a jiggle."

Jennifer laughed. "Ah, that's what we missed."

As they cleaned up after the meal, Theo pointed out that Adelle and Alex were being more meticulous with the cleaning of the sides.

"Let's do the entrance hall," Jennifer whispered and nudged Kelly to follow.

"Someone's coming to help with the cooking," Theo told Kelly and Hope when they were out of the room. "I think Alex and Adelle are house proud. Let's do it out here."

"I'll grab some dusters," Hope responded. "You grab the mop!"

By the time Alex and Adelle had realised, they'd done the entrance hall and the training room. They'd started on the stairs when Adelle came out. When she saw them busy cleaning she burst into tears.

"You didn't have to," Adelle said.

"We have guests tomorrow, and it's nice for your home to look the best. That's no different from when we were at school. When we had a concert there, it always got an extra special sparkle."

* * *

The next day, not long after breakfast, they heard the warning that someone was at the gate. They'd been putting the dishes away when the alert sounded.

"Why don't you four relax on the settee?" Alex suggested. "Adelle and I can sort out the initial steps first."

It wasn't long before Beth and Jill were ushered in. When Jennifer saw Beth, she realised what Adelle's issue was. A good investigator was instantly forgettable. If someone was asked what they looked like, they would struggle to remember. Beth, though, wasn't forgettable. She was beautiful, with a grace that made her look stunning. Adelle had been jealous. They got up to meet them at the kitchen island.

"Jill has already briefed Beth," Alex said. "She has been given some examples and has promised to keep things to herself. She is happy to help you learn what you need to."

"Beth has never gossiped about my past nor that of Julia's," Jill said.

"We meet again," Kelly said to Beth.

Beth paused for a moment and then smiled. "Oh, yes, you were on the hopper last night from the Rohastin Station. I hardly recognised you."

"Are you able to help us learn how to cook non-human food?" Jennifer asked, hopefully.

"Of course. I believe you have some ingredients. This is going to be fun. It's so different from human cooking."

Jill stayed with her sister, wanting to see how to cook Alphonian food too.

"We tried to make Foyt'aap," Jennifer explained as they got utensils out. "I got lost when it mentioned jiggle."

"Jiggle is a medium stir."

Theo opened the Hytuna recipe book and showed the bit they'd had trouble with.

Beth shook her head in disgust. "You really need an Alphonian book, not a Hytuna translation. It makes more sense. Okay, we'll start with what look like beans. These are quite delicate and come from the Po'roshon tree."

Slowly Beth introduced them not just to cooking, but what the ingredients were and where they came from. "You can't begin to cook properly unless you know what you're handling, and the reason why the method tells you to do something. Following a book will only give you an approximation."

This wasn't new to any of them. Beth and Jill had been taught that by their mother before she died. Jill had seen the same at Hayfield.

"This is like learning to cook at school," Hope sighed. "Understanding leads to perfection."

"How did you learn all this?" Adelle asked.

"The restaurant I'd been working at went under. I got a hopper to the Rohastin Station and found a restaurant. I'd learnt enough Hytuna to speak with confidence and asked a cook there if I could help impart human cooking to them. They accepted but said someone on the station had enjoyed salmon but didn't like eggs."

Jennifer burst out laughing. "Shinara, one of the diplomatic doctors."

"I know Shinara," Beth said, with a grin.

Jennifer thought about telling Beth about when Shinara first visited Earth but thought that was too much information.

"The recipe we'd been following said something like, 'jiggle until lava jellifies'. We have jiggle, but the rest?"

Beth rolled her eyes and took one of the beans from the bag. "These are edible without cooking. Try one."

Jennifer did, and a second later she felt like her mouth and then throat were on fire. The fire spread as it went. After downing a glass of milk, that Beth had given her, she said hoarsely, "Ah, lava."

"If you stir too slowly, you don't get the reaction to jellify. If you stir too vigorously, it doesn't get the chance to blend properly. So, you jiggle."

When it was cooked and they sampled it, nobody spat it out. If anything, it was even better than Jennifer remembered from her first meal on the Rohastin Station ten years ago.

"Now imagine that with the view of a gas giant visible through the window," Jennifer said, with a sigh of satisfaction.

"That's where I cook now," Beth said. "I started near the hangars."

"Do you miss Earth?" Theo asked.

"I can go as often as I like, as it doesn't take long. But cooking there has been one of the best experiences of my life. I get to see so much. Other humans come to the station too. I heard a concert there a few years ago. The human ambassador comes and eats most days in the restaurant with her aide."

"What other species foods can you cook?"

She rattled off a few, including Reginadde and Frotanians.

"Not Yvestigan?"

"Not many can, and there isn't a big demand. The Yvestigans might be back in the Rohastin Council, but I don't see many about the station. I don't think I've even seen their new Ambassador in the restaurant."

"You have been really helpful," Adelle said, her previous rancour gone. "Would you be willing to do this again?"

Beth shrugged. "Sure. It's nice to pass on my cooking knowledge, like my mum did for me. You aren't looking to be cooks on the station, are you?"

"No," Kelly said. "We just need to immerse ourselves a bit. Be able to understand what's out of the ordinary. Cooking is teaching us more about the different species, things like their weights and measurements."

"Since you've lived on the Rohastin Station for a while, and probably heard lots of things over the years, do you know who any of us are?"

Beth hesitated and pointed to her sister, Jill. "I know her."

Jill had been mostly quiet, letting the conversation flow. She spoke now, "Beth, it isn't a trick question. I think they're just trying to judge what is known about them. You are an independent person, so a good person to ask."

Beth nodded. "Okay. I don't know you two," she said pointing to Alex and Adelle. She then pointed to Theo, "I've no idea about you, either. The other three a little."

"Oh?" Kelly asked, intrigued.

"Jennifer is famous on the station. First Contact, The Trinity and a few other things. You two," she pointed to Kelly and Hope. "I saw you earlier on the hopper, but you were also shown on the Space Racer broadcast. You were seen as guests to one of the premier racing teams. Nobody knew who you were, but that you," she pointed at Kelly, "had been seen training hard and that you might be the first human to race."

"I bet my parents are having kittens if they saw that," Kelly said.

Beth looked perplexed. "You aren't trying to go undercover then?"

"You have a Device to allow communication with the space station computer, don't you?" Kelly asked.

"Sure. You wouldn't get far without one."

"It works by communicating with your brain. It recognises who you are by your brain patterns."

"Oh," Beth said, now thoroughly confused.

"Don't worry. We just don't want people to know we are learning about other species' cultures," Theo said. "Once that's over, I hope we can stay in touch. You're a nice person to know, and I don't mean for the cooking."

Beth blushed at the compliment.

The next day, they all had a go at cooking Alphonian style. The result wasn't as good as Beth's, but it was edible, and they began to understand a bit more about the road ahead. It was also the last day, for the next week, that Theo would be in the house. He was to have a crash course in being a Personal Assistant. This would be back in London at Laura Taylor's public company, GWPP.

Laura Taylor was an enigma. She'd inherited GWPP when her mother died and was well known as one of the top business executives in the United Kingdom. She also had side projects. She was part owner of Star Bright, the company founded by Jennifer's Ma. She was also one of the executives in the secret shell company, Greenacre Services, which the investigators worked for. There, she was affectionately known as Miss T.

Theo's time in London was to see if he could pick up the skills. If so, he would be back at GWPP later to fully immerse himself in that world before moving to the Rohastin Station.

It was unsettling for Jennifer. Kelly and Hope were going to embed in the Space Racer world. Theo would potentially be working as a Personal Assistant. But Jennifer wondered what she'd be asked to do, and why she hadn't been given any additional training.

The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 6

---

Chapter 6

Jennifer came down the stairs, unsure what was in store for her. Today it was just going to be her and the two mentors. Theo had been back on Earth for a few days. Kelly was back training on the Rohastin Station, with Hope trying to pick up spotter details. Kelly and Hope had gone to be at the station before breakfast, on station time, which is when a few racers that lived on the station practised.

The last two days she'd had trouble getting to sleep. It had been rare for her to be alone in bed, and her body seemed to miss having the gentle rhythm of his breathing next to her. It was like they were part of each other, and even a few days apart was hard. She knew she had to get used to it. They couldn't spend every night together, no matter how much they wanted that. Their jobs would mean being apart sometimes, and they both knew it.

"Missing Theo?" Adelle asked kindly.

Jennifer nodded. It was pointless trying to hide the situation.

Adelle placed a tea in front of her. "I know it is going to sound cruel, but it is best to know that feeling now rather than on an investigation."

Jennifer held the mug, letting the warmth filter into her hands. "I know. I'm just surprised how much it's impacting me. I mean I used to sleep on my own before Theo without issue."

Adelle sat next to her. "You are part of each other. You know how much. You went through the Search of Finding."

Jennifer nodded. If she hadn't known before that Adelle had gone to Hayfield or one of the sister schools, the mentioning of one of their closely guarded rituals would have made it obvious. "I could have slept for days after that."

With a sigh, Jennifer straightened up and looked across at Adelle. "Why haven't I been assigned additional training?"

"Because you only need a refresher for the primary employment. For the second, that is taking time to arrange."

"I was worried I'd been forgotten."

Adelle nodded gravely. "No, but it is harder. We don't know if you being one of the Trinity will help or hinder. What does The Knot mean?"

"I don't know. The Oracle only mentioned it once, at my parents' wedding. He refused to say more. One thing he did say was that the Trinity was about the Rohastin, not about Earth. My parents told me to just be myself, not to let that sword hang over me. I try not to think about it, but it is always there. I see how some look at me, especially on the Rohastin Station."

"Having the weight of expectations must be hard. I won't mention it again."

"So, what is the real reason Theo is being trained as a Personal Assistant and why is he seeing Miss T?"

"It is a quiet and convenient place for him to learn. And stressful. She is a fair employer, but she is in the upper echelon. A good Personal Assistant can anticipate what their boss needs before they realise it themselves. He needs to get some grounding before learning that. If he can get the experience there, he will be halfway to being what he needs."

"Which is?" Jennifer asked, a bit exasperated.

"To work within the Rohastin Council. Georgina Harries has a personal aide, Rupert, but there is a deputy position that they have difficulty filling. It is long hours, and not many humans are comfortable with so many different aliens."

Jennifer was horrified. "You want to spy on the Rohastin Council?"

"No. But when something bad happens, the council hears about it and discusses it. He has a secondary job too, to protect Georgina and other council members if needed. The discussions he hears are never to be relayed."

"But that is the most secure area of the station."

"Yes, but the Yvestigans tried to assassinate Georgina Harries in the actual chamber. And some of the Earth Fist leadership have been released from prison and they want revenge."

Jennifer stifled a shudder. "Are my parents aware that some of them are free?"

"Yes, as are their security team. They aren't as vulnerable as they were ten years ago. You aren't there either. But you will need to be on your guard when you leave here."

"So, what is my cover job and my secondary job?"

"What was the style of work experience you did the last three years of school?"

"Tailor, dressmaker, designer and shop front."

"That is your front role. It isn't going to tax your brain. Currently the shops that sell clothes just cover their own species. You are going to sell clothes to all species. Alterations and bespoke items for added closeness."

"I'm just trying to imagine a Yvestigan in a pinstripe suit. Do you think they'll go for that?"

Adelle continued, "From soundings we've made, they may just. Your secondary role is a human interface. Not a smuggler. Not a fixer. But someone who can advise aliens on human culture and products. If someone wants a crate of Barolo, you will source and provide. You will be the go-to person. Someone they will be glad to know. Someone who gets invited places. Someone who hears things."

"But there is no currency on the Rohastin station and on a lot of the older races. I think out of the four we are starting with, only the Yvestigans still use money. Even Earth seems to be phasing it out. With the new abundance of power, robots and AI, they dabbled with Universal Basic Income. It was easier to just make certain things free."

"Yeah, the free electricity killed off cryptocurrencies. The economics of currency mining meant that the value plummeted. For you, information is your value, not money."

Jennifer had a sip of her drink and thought a bit about what Adelle had told her. "How much information do you have on the Rohastin Station?"

"What do you mean?"

"There are ramps for species to use, or the transport hubs. But are there older things? Maintenance corridors and back routes between floors?"

Adelle was perplexed. "Why?"

Jennifer shrugged. "Perhaps I've seen too many movies. There were always escape routes, or secret entrances people attacked from. Since the station is old it will have grown over time. There will be some parts it was simpler to just hide. You never see maintenance drones moving about, but I'm sure there are some keeping it clean and in good repair."

"I will enquire. Are you okay about sizing clothes for non-humans?"

"Mostly. As you know, little of human clothing is pre-made anymore. It was too wasteful. When you buy a design, it is loaded into the machine and made to your specific measurements. Manual tailoring is only needed for repairs of bespoke designs. I have been trained for that. The 3D body scanner and design patterns will need to have appropriate information. For instance, the way the arm moves on the Alphonians will need to be accommodated."

"That is already being taken care of. We want this to be a large catchment area. We are thinking about a store on the floor above hangar-two. You will get the widest variety in clientele. If we put you near the ambassadors, the range is more upmarket, but fewer people would go to that floor, and you might not hear as much."

"The other merchants aren't going to be happy," Jennifer mused, more to herself than Adelle.

Adelle shrugged. "You will be selling human designs to everyone. You aren't selling Reginadde designs."

"I could, though. Make it for everyone. I remember my Aunt Tina telling me she went into one of the shops because she liked the design. They told her they only made it for the single species. If I sold an Alphonian design to a Reginadde or a human, that is just as important. I'd capture those customers too."

"Oh, you're right. The other merchants aren't going to be happy. Perhaps start slow and then expand to all species. Give them chance to get used to you."

Jennifer nodded but wasn't convinced. When her ma removed a plaster, it was always best to remove it quickly and get it over with. Taking it off slowly just prolonged the agony.

"So, what are we going to do this morning?" Jennifer asked after a moment's silence.

"Today Alex and I are going to review your defensive combat skills. You will have one or both of us attacking you using different hand-to-hand styles or weapons."

"Oh great. Is building up my anxiety before the event part of your plan?"

Adelle nodded, her warm smile gone. "It's nice to see how you react under pressure. When you are on your own you might know you're walking into a trap. It's important you know how to handle that situation as much as a sudden attack."

"Theo likes those old Pink Panther movies that starred Peter Sellers. He had a sidekick called Cato who used to surprise attack him. I think that might be going too far."

"I think we will limit it to downstairs," Adelle agreed. "Though you never can tell. I'll see you downstairs."

Adelle left her and after a few seconds, Jennifer put her mug into the dishwasher and scarpered upstairs to put on her gym clothes. When she got to the basement, Adelle was waiting. She'd put on a tight-fitting outfit, which would make it harder to grab.

"I've turned down the automated safety," Adelle informed Jennifer. "Alex is monitoring as is someone back on Earth."

Jennifer nodded. She'd expected a training session based on what Adelle had said in the kitchen. Also on the side was a selection of blades, including the jewelled Reginadde blade which caused the safety alert. Adelle's phone was by the knives, and Jennifer placed hers next to it.

"Remember," Adelle continued, "You are defensive only."

Then, with no warning, Adelle lunged, catching Jennifer by surprise. Adelle swept Jennifer's legs from under her, and she was down.

"Hey, you didn't give me a chance to warm up," Jennifer complained as she warily got up.

"If someone attacks you, are you going to be given time to warm up?"

Jennifer realised this wasn't like school where she was learning the moves. Adelle expected her to know what to do, and to use what she'd been taught over the last six years.

There was no warning, no sound to scare her. One tick, Adelle was moving, and the next she'd turned and hit out, grabbing Jennifer and throwing her onto the mat.

Jennifer reminded herself to focus. Adelle had used two different techniques in two attacks. Be ready for anything. Getting up, she looked at the mentor. She just stood at the edge of the mat, assessing her student.

"Relax," Adelle said. "You're stood there like a tiger ready to spring."

"I wonder why?" Jennifer retorted.

Adelle had the temerity to laugh, and then lunged halfway through it. Jennifer sidestepped and tripped Adelle. She stumbled, but responded with a dive, and again Jennifer was on the floor.

"That's better," Adelle said, getting up herself. "I'm not made of china. A few bruises are expected. When you tripped me, you should have followed through. Remember to calm your breathing. You don't want to hyperventilate. You're unfocused."

Adelle came again. Jennifer saw her and remembered a move that Charlotte had taught her at Hayfield. She caught the attack and did a classic rugby tackle. Adelle hadn't expected that and wasn't able to react in time.

Alex appeared at the door. Without hesitation, Jennifer grabbed him and flipped him onto the training mat. The bottles of water fell harmlessly nearby.

"Do you want a drink?" Alex said, getting up. "Had I attacked? You're supposed to be defensive, not offensive. I could have been an innocent coming in to see what was going on, or I could have just been bringing some drinks. You were reacting to everything as if it were an attack."

"And if I hadn't attacked you?"

"I might have given you the drink, or I might have dropped them and attacked you. You'll never know."

A glint of light from a knife caught Jennifer's eye. She realised that Alex was distracting her and she dove to one side as the knife sailed past.

"Never stop observing just in case you're attacked again," Adelle chided.

"Have fun!" Alex called and left the two women to continue the exercise.

Adelle said, "I'd like to do something more structured for a moment, instead of us just duking it out. You impressed me with your total trust in Kelly, but I'd like to see how you'd react in that circumstance. I'm not going to use that fragile knife, but something a bit sturdier. When I grab you, I want you to disarm me. Put me on the floor if you can. Remember, the attacker might be stronger than you."

Knife training was always dangerous. There was more than a fifty-fifty chance someone would get cut, or worse. Jennifer needed to trust that Adelle would not seriously hurt her. Adelle also had to trust that Jennifer wouldn't do something stupid.

Adelle moved too quickly for the response Jennifer had planned. She was going to drive the momentum forward, but she didn't get a chance as Adelle's arm circled her. Instinct took over and she kicked back into Adelle's left knee. The only difference was a grunt. Since Jennifer was slightly smaller, she threw her head back, hitting Adelle's nose. That caused the knife hold to slacken for a more strategic disarming.

"Safety on," called Adelle and sank to the ground. "That was good. Alex will come in to treat me. Don't attack."

Jennifer moved back, to show that she wouldn't attack Alex, but she never took her eyes off Adelle or the entrance. Alex wasn't long, and he came in with a large red medical bag.

As Alex attended Adelle, he asked, "How is your head? That was a violent movement."

"It sounded worse for Adelle. Is she going to be okay?"

"A broken nose is probably the worst. The company doctor is on his way to check you both out. Training accidents happen. Training is suspended until you are medically cleared. Come and sit down. I don't like you hovering when you might have a head injury."

Jennifer's phone rang. It was the ringtone she'd selected to let her know it was Aunt Tina ringing. Carefully she took the phone and answered.

"Breathe and calm down," Tina said with authority. "You look like you are ready to attack. Training is suspended. Breathe."

Jennifer took the first calming breath and only realised then how quickly her heart was racing.

"That's it. Slow breathing ... Relax."

"I hurt her," Jennifer said in horror.

"No more than others have had in training. Why do you think we have protocols like this? Now keep calm and Dr Mike will be with you soon."

Tina ended the call. Jennifer put the phone back on the side and slowly made her way to sit next to Adelle. Her hands trembled as she tried to relax but made no effort to hide it. Adelle and Jennifer didn't apologise to each other, but at that moment Jennifer no longer feared being with Adelle and Alex.

"I need you to talk with us," Alex said to Jennifer. "We need to know you aren't delirious."

"That was more instinct than planning. I need to do better when restrained. I panicked a bit."

"You're analysing what happened?" Alex said in amazement.

"I've nothing better to do. Until Dr Mike arrives, I doubt you'll let me go anywhere."

"None of us are going anywhere," Adelle said. "Dr Mike has access to all training facilities. He knows where we are. It depends how quickly he can get a hopper. Who calmed you down?"

"Tina. I hadn't realised I was so entrenched in defence. Looking back, that is why I moved out of the way. I was still frightened that you or Alex might attack again."

"It isn't a bad attitude," Alex said. "You just need to learn to get out of the zone and analyse the situation in front of you."

"Just be careful when you spar with Kelly. We were kidnapped about ten years ago. She managed to kick the kidnappers in the balls. Her great-aunt taught her how to fight dirty. Kelly showed me that trick."

"You're all looking a sorry sight," a voice said from the door.

Jennifer looked up to see a tall man, with blond hair, bright blue eyes and an amused smile. He'd been speaking Hytuna. Was there a file somewhere that stated any visitors must only speak Hytuna?

"Dr Mike," Alex said in greeting. "I'm not sure if you've met Jennifer."

"I've not had the pleasure. Let me check all three of you out."

"I was next door monitoring," Alex said. "It's the other two you have to worry about."

"I worry about all of you. Let me start with Adelle."

The doctor opened his rucksack and extracted a portable imager.

"I was told you suffered a few heavy hits in the face and legs. These new imagers are great, so much better than the old X-ray machines. Let's see."

The doctor scanned Adelle all over. "I see your previous injuries are doing well. Your legs and knees are a bit bruised but nothing that needs my attention. Your nose though took the brunt. You've got a nasal bone fracture. I'll do a quick closed reduction and put a support strip on. You'll be sore, but you'll be fine."

He scanned Jennifer all over. "You have mild bruising in a few places, but no more than you'd expect when sparring. You have a mild concussion and a tiny non-displaced occipital hairline fracture. Nothing dangerous, but you're off training until the symptoms settle."

Finally, the doctor scanned Alex. "A few minor bruises. I thought you said you were monitoring."

"I brought in some drinks, but she foiled my surprise attack," Alex muttered.

There was no laugh from the doctor. It wasn't anything he hadn't seen before. The knives had him worried there might be more serious wounds, but not this time.

"Alex and Jennifer, why don't you go upstairs. Jennifer, sit on a settee, if you have one, but I don't want any napping. I want you to stay conscious for the next few hours. Adelle and I will be up once I've set her nose."

Jennifer and Alex went upstairs, and she sat on the settee. Alex seemed to hover a bit, and she wasn't sure how she felt about it. He was concerned, but she felt fine.

"Is training always like this?" Jennifer asked, trying to distract Alex.

"It isn't the first incident. It won't be the last. It's why we have a trauma doctor always on call for situations like this." He sat down on an adjacent chair. "That isn't a move taught at Hayfield. What made you do that?"

"It's something Kelly showed me when I was little. Years before Hayfield. We were kidnapped and she fought back when the vehicle stopped. It's something her great-aunt had shown her."

Alex shook his head slowly and let out his breath. "Okay. I think I recognised the style. When you are back in training, we'll get someone who knows that style to assess your level and fill in any gaps. You also went for obvious human weak points. I'm glad you didn't go for her eyes. You will need to learn the pain points for the common aliens."

"My arms were too constrained for me to get my elbows out to hit her eyes," Jennifer responded. After a moment she asked, "You're not mad at me for hurting Adelle?"

"No. I bet she thought you were going to yield. She will be mad at herself for not realising it when you kicked at her knees. You showed her you had training we weren't aware of. We can work with that. You were overwhelmed at the beginning. That isn't unusual and is a base to build from. This is the first day of physical training. You can't be expected to be an expert on day one."

Jennifer wondered how to explain her feelings. "This is no longer school. I got that soon after starting here. I just didn't realise how much of a gap there was between the protected atmosphere of school and reality."

Alex smiled. "We've all been there. Don't forget Adelle and I were Hayfield students once. Even worse, we were in the shadow of David, Helen, Tina and Luke. I'd offer you a congratulatory beer after that battle, but I doubt the doctor would approve."

As on cue, the doctor and Adelle came in. Her nose looked odd with the support strip, but if you didn't know what had been going on she would have been her normal self.

"If you were on the Rohastin Station, what would the normal treatment have been?" Dr Mike asked Jennifer.

"They would have put nanites in me. They would have kept watch for any complications. However, my location would be forever known. It would seriously hinder me taking part in future investigations."

Alex got up to put on the kettle, glad he didn't have to tell Jennifer the impact of nanite treatment. Adelle tutted but followed the doctor's orders and sat down. She didn't like relaxing when there was work to be done.

"How's the head?" Adelle asked kindly, which surprised Jennifer.

"I have a bit of a headache, but I sometimes get them after an adrenaline spike."

The doctor did a quick scan. "Your brain is no different from earlier. No signs of bleeds. I'm going to stay a few hours to make sure."

"How many were watching us spar?" Jennifer asked Adelle.

"Just Alex and one other. We only have those to give privacy but with the needed level of safety."

"So how did Tina know to ring me?"

"You weren't calming down. It went up your lifeline chain until someone was available to help. Tina was the first available."

"Lifeline chain?"

"People who know you and who can understand what's happening. They are your lifeline. It probably includes Theo, Kelly and Hope, but it seems it includes Tina. People who you can trust and who you will listen to. She wouldn't have seen what happened but would have been told there had been a training accident. She would have got access to the video feed for the length of time she needed to calm you."

The doctor was still there when Kelly and Hope came back. They were chattering away, obviously still excited at what they'd been doing. When they saw a stranger, they instantly stopped. They then saw Adelle and Jennifer all banged up.

"Jen," Kelly said, rushing across. "What happened?"

"There was an incident during training. Adelle has a broken nose, and I've got concussion. We have to take it easy for a few days."

"Does Theo know?" Hope asked, wondering what had happened in training.

"I doubt it," Jennifer said. "He is away in training. Even if he did know, he can't just come here. I know that when investigators are away, they have little communication home for their safety. I remember when I was kidnapped, Aunt Tina and Uncle Luke didn't find out until debriefing. When you're undercover, embedded with a bunch of criminals, your life depends on not being distracted. Most criminals would rather kill you than be found out."

When they'd eventually persuaded the doctor that all the patients would be okay, Jennifer crept off to bed. Alone, she had nothing to do other than reflect on the day. Sleep didn't come, and all that played on her mind was the sound of Adelle's nose as her head hit it, and the cry, warning her not to attack Alex.

After a few hours, her thoughts changed. Was that just training, and reacting as needed, or was she an animal? If someone held a knife to her throat like that, would she do it again? It was painful, but she knew she would. Her life depended on it. But she didn't know what that made her.

The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 7

---

Chapter 7

It was three months of gruelling work before Kelly and Hope completed their training. Dr Mike visited to make sure he had full body scans and that they were current with their inoculations. They would be based at the Rohastin Station, picking up things there, and hopefully Kelly would gain Level 5 certification. Going once a week had hindered her progress. She would be able to train daily from now on.

Theo was working away in London. He was working as a project assistant on the Covid-19 memorial. Ex-ministers and scientists who'd steered the country through the crisis were coming to the unveiling, alongside current officials. It was hoped this was prestigious enough to get an interview with Ambassador Harries.

What held up Jennifer finishing her training was learning more about human culture and products from around the world. She needed to have a basic understanding for her secondary role. This wasn't something quick to learn, and it was even longer to remember.

When she'd lived with her parents, she had been brought up in an environment of learning and science. The project was the sole focus. Travelling abroad and experiencing different cultures were not high on the list of activities. At Hayfield, she'd learnt about other Earth cultures and some alien cultures, but it was a drop in the ocean compared with what she was now discovering. Earth might now have a single government, but its citizens had a wide variety of ideas, thoughts, experiences, foods and cultures.

"I'm never going to get all this," Jennifer said, frustrated.

"You're doing well. You just need some experience. It is Theo's last day on his project. He also needs some rounding out. Both of you have time to immerse yourselves in human culture. You are going to go backpacking. It is something slightly less in vogue, but it will do the job."

"That's fantastic," Jennifer screamed. "You are full of such fantastic ideas. I'd never thought of a practical, immersive solution."

"This only works because you have knowledge that you will be able to relate to what you experience. It will help it sink in. And if someone asks you about the vineyards in Argentina, or the smell of the Serengeti, you will be able to answer with real experience."

Alex said, "Pack your items and go back to your home in London. You have finished here. Once you've finished your cultural experience, you will move to the Rohastin Station. The items for the shop will be ready on your return."

"A tip," Adelle said with a smile. "Spend a few days planning where you want to go. Prepare properly. And have fun."

Jennifer rushed across to the two mentors and hugged them tightly. "Thank you both for all you've done."

"Our pleasure," Alex said, returning the hug.

Packing her rucksack didn't take long. She'd not taken much with her, and she hadn't done any shopping locally. She grabbed a few items Theo had left and was ready.

As she left the house for the last time, she turned and hugged them again. "And good luck with your next investigation."

Jennifer didn't look back as she walked out of the gate. She didn't ask what they'd been preparing for, but she knew it was something and they'd done that while still mentoring them. As she made her way to the hopperport, she walked slowly through the town centre. There was a young woman with a pram outside the hardware store, and a few people talking and peering at the baby. It was probably Rhonda.

The town had a nice atmosphere. People seemed to have time for each other, and supported one another. It reminded her of school, where if anybody needed help, there would be a queue offering their time.

There was no queue at the hopperport. The commutes were strange. They staggered through the day depending on where people were heading, or what time their work shifts on Earth were. But that was no different from how life had been evolving on Earth. People who worked nights in America wanted to move to countries where they slept at night, had a bit of a morning, and then headed off to work. Night shifts no longer meant sleeping during the daytime.

The rotation of Scorpion was slightly longer than Earth's. Therefore, there was a gradual drift between the Earth time zone and New Toronto. It was the same when visiting the Rohastin Station. App developers had made it easy, and phones showed popular and less popular places for tracking time.

It might have been morning when she left New Toronto, but in London it was late afternoon. When she got home, the house was quiet. The fridge had a few items in it, and the bin had a few things in it. So, wherever Theo had been working, he'd been able to get home.

She sent him a simple message. Home.

After putting her rucksack upstairs, she started looking at gap year websites. It was late in the season, but backpackers went all year round. It was autumn now in the UK, so her thoughts were to start in the southern hemisphere. Late spring and early summer would be a good time to be there.

Her phone pinged with a response from Theo. A heart emoji. An hour later, he was home and they were in each other's arms.

"Why are you home?" Theo asked a bit later.

"Aren't you happy to see me?" Jennifer asked, pretending to sound a bit miffed.

"I think you've just discovered how happy I am to see you," he responded, trying to hide his elated grin.

"So true. Well, we need a bit of rounding out. Get some cultural experience. So, we're going backpacking."

"Cool. Like a gap year thing."

"Exactly, but not for a year. We have our job to get to."

Theo suggested, "How about starting in Peru. Go along the Inca trail? Isn't that something you've always wanted to do?"

"Yes, but it is a well-trodden trail. Will we get the real culture that way?"

"Perhaps not, but it will give us the experience of backpacking in a slightly more controlled way. We then will have a bit more experience to go off trail."

Jennifer nodded. "If we can get a permit. It's still restricted by numbers to limit impact. There is an alternative trek called Lares, which can also be done from Cusco. Perhaps we save Machu Picchu for another time, when we can plan properly and have a guide. We'll get more out of it that way. You can't just turn up to a place like that. Anyway, whatever we do, we'll need hiking boots and thick socks."

"Plus a first aid kit. I'm sure we will both get blisters. Have a look at the backpacking website. It probably has a good list."

There were several, but they all covered the same things. Lots of items they hadn't even dreamed of, but which, when mentioned, made perfect sense. Some they ordered online to go to a locker. The rest they'd get from the shops the following day.

After more discussion, they decided to forgo historic sites. It would be interesting personally, but they might not get as much culturally out of it. Going into small villages, stopping for a few days, gaining and sharing knowledge, and learning about local life would be more important than looking at ruins.

In the end, it was two days of planning and making sure they not only had what they needed, but knew how to use it. They hadn't put up a tent since they'd gone camping two years earlier as part of the Beta training with some of the younger Beta team.

They got a scheduled hopper to Lima, Peru, so they could legally enter the country. Then a request hopper to one of the smaller towns in the San Martin region.

Before the Interdimensional Drive and Aurora, this type of journey would have taken thirteen hours in the air to get from London to Lima. That wouldn't have included the two hours waiting at London before even setting off. Today, it was done in minutes. Planning your journey became more about making sure you knew the time at the destination and didn't turn up in the middle of the night, just because it was a good time when you set off.

There were two scheduled hoppers per hour at peak times. With a five-hour difference, they didn't start until 11 am UK time, arriving at 6 am in Lima. If you wanted something earlier, you used the request queue. They'd booked on a hopper to arrive at noon in Lima. It was pointless getting there too early, as the hotel they'd booked for the first night wouldn't check them in until the middle of the afternoon.

When hoppers were first introduced, the process was slower. People got in, got seated, the doors closed and only then did it hop. As people became more comfortable that there weren't any jolts, they didn't bother sitting. Half the seats were removed and the remaining were left just in case. The whole process became more streamlined. You waited for your vehicle. When the doors opened, you got in, the doors closed and it went. Unless there were people with movement difficulties, the whole process on small hoppers was often less than a minute.

It was the first time Jennifer and Theo had been in Peru. The first thing they noticed as they went out of the international arrival doors was the smell. Jennifer didn't know how it was different, just that the scent wasn't the same.

The hoppers within Peru were most frequent to the large cities and towns. Their destination wasn't listed as scheduled, so they registered for a request hopper. Hoppers worked the same in Lima as London, and they had no difficulty registering where they wanted to go. The only difference was that the interface defaulted to Spanish, whereas it was English in London. It even had a Hytuna version.

They only had a ten-minute wait and soon were stepping off into a small town in the middle of the Peruvian Amazon. The scent changed again as they exited on their first trip to nowhere.

"We did it," Theo said proudly, as they checked into the hotel.

"We did," Jennifer agreed, trying not to laugh at his earnest tone.

It hadn't been a difficult journey. Once you'd done one hopper flight, there was no difference. They'd done request hoppers before too. They'd been to hotels before. It suddenly dawned to Jennifer why it felt momentous. It was the first time they'd made the decision and booked everything. They'd decided on Peru, and they were in Peru. They would see what they could learn there, and if they decided to move to Thailand, or Vietnam, they would. It was their trip. It was their adventure. It was their learning experience.

"Bienvenido," he said automatically in Spanish as they approached the reception desk. Then, wondering if they would understand, he said in English, "Welcome."

"Hablamos Espanol," Theo responded, perfectly comfortable speaking Spanish.

The man beamed, pleased as his English wasn't that good. There wasn't that much demand for it in this provincial town.

As international guests, they still had to show their passports and have them scanned. Some processes hadn't caught up with the world shrinking. The receptionist couldn't remember the last international guest that had stayed. Government people sometimes stayed when they were going to be driving into the reservations or wilderness. But this couple had backpacks.

"You are aware this isn't the region for Machu Picchu?" he asked the two guests.

"We know," Theo responded, with a disarming smile. "We want to see the real Peru. We want to see the Peru of today, not ruins from five centuries ago."

"I have you here for just one night?" he asked, still confused about them.

"Yes," Jennifer said, and pulled up the map on her phone. "We plan to hike along this route."

"That is very wild," was his only response before he pulled out an old-fashioned key. The hotel only had three rooms. They were all wooden and very simple. There was a bed, and a toilet with a sink. There was no shower and no television. There were plugs, with working electricity, which was good. They wanted their phones to be nicely charged before setting off in the morning. They didn't want to rely on the powerpack so early in their journey.

After depositing their bags in their room, they set off to explore. It wasn't a big town, but it was larger than New Toronto. There was a garage that handled motorbikes, and another small garage. Carrying on, they found a small café. The plastic chairs and tables were all outside, under a corrugated overhang to protect people from the sudden downpours. They relaxed, watching a stray dog trot along the road, while drinking café pasado along with pan dulce provided by the surprised owner.

"This is nothing like anywhere we've been," Jennifer said to Theo. "It's certainly more humid, but certainly not as connected to the world."

In the distance, they could see the little hopperport. It was no more than two concrete stands with fences around them. Even New Toronto had a more sophisticated setup. It had the security needed to stop someone entering the pads, but that was about it.

During their time, they saw no hoppers, but there was a flurry of activity as a large crate appeared on one of the pads. It must have been big as it was visible from where they were. Four small vans appeared, and they quickly unloaded the boxes into the vans. The wooden crate was broken down and ten minutes later, the pad was again clear.

A bit later, one of the vans appeared at the café. The driver dumped the boxes destined for there under the shelter and was gone to make his next delivery. Jennifer and Theo jumped up to help the owner carry the boxes inside.

"Gracias," she said as she opened them up. It was a food delivery from a local warehouse. The easiest way to ship goods. Direct to the hopperport. No longer did lorries or vans need to deliver to the area. If trees blocked the road, the deliveries still got through.

"Your ma really did change the world," Theo said simply, as they decided to carry on their exploration.

"She really did," Jennifer agreed. This was nothing to do with First Contact or the creation of the world government. This was just a total change in how goods and people moved.

They'd been passing a small row of buildings that looked shut when a man came out and called, "Theo."

They stopped, surprised that someone knew their name. They turned around and approached the man.

"I'm Theo."

"You eat here tonight. Manuel at the hotel said you were staying there. Rosa, my wife cooks. You eat here tonight."

"We'd be honoured to," Theo said, with a genuine smile.

The man, who hadn't given his name, went back inside.

"Is this wise?" Jennifer asked Theo.

"He offered. Remember, when we go into the rainforest, we have rations, but we will be reliant on small villages as we go. There won't be shops or restaurants. It will be just what we are provided, or what we catch ourselves."

"You're right," Jennifer said after a moment's silence. "You're doing better than me. I just don't want to seem like I'm just taking."

"They offered. We didn't demand. And you saw this town is on the supply network. The hotel doesn't charge. The café we drank at doesn't charge. Unlimited energy and asteroid mining changed a lot. It even seems to have impacted small towns in Peru."

Jennifer still looked torn, so Theo continued. "It is a different culture. We're not doing this trip to impose our views, but to experience theirs. In some cultures, hospitality is a gift."

"How am I so open when I'm visiting different species, but on Earth I struggle?"

He shrugged. "I've no idea. Perhaps it's easier to accept differences with different species because we don't expect them to be the same. Here, they look like us, so it is harder to get our heads around it."

"I don't want to insult them or their beliefs."

Theo put his arm around her. "I know. You have such a heart. We will learn new things. We are young and haven't forgotten how to dance."

Jennifer laughed aloud. "I can't believe you worked that television quote into a conversation. Well almost quote. My shoes aren't too tight. Theo, what am I going to do with you?!"

That evening, they made their way back to the house where they'd been invited. As they approached the door, it was the man that had rushed out to see them earlier.

"Come in," he said welcoming them into his home. "I realised I hadn't told you my name earlier. I'm Raul, one of the town elders. Welcome to our home."

"We are grateful for your invitation," Theo said, hoping it was polite. He'd no idea of the proper etiquette and Jennifer was being very quiet, letting him do most of the talking.

They all sat around a varnished wooden table. Being in the jungle area, it wasn't a surprise on how much wood was used. Even though it was evening, the weather was still hot. There was no air conditioning, but there was a fan on the ceiling which was circulating the air.

His wife, Rosa, brought plates of food across and joined them.

Raul said, "Manuel said you were from the United Kingdom. Your Spanish is very good."

"Our school taught us. It is important to know how to communicate clearly."

The food was a type of fish stew. Both the youngsters ate with relish.

Rosa spoke for the first time and surprised them all. She spoke slowly in Hytuna. "Do you know this?"

"We do," Jennifer said in Hytuna, surprised that it was taught out in what was rural Peru.

Seeing Manuel's blank face, Theo said in Spanish, "Rosa asked if we know Hytuna. Jennifer responded we did."

"Things have changed a lot over the last ten years," Raul said, keeping to Spanish. "There was the referendum. It sparked much debate in the town and even into the jungle. The small hopperport was built and things started to be delivered to the town that way. Some still think they are evil spirits. They just appear. You appeared on one."

Jennifer tried not to laugh. "I'm sure your grandparents thought electricity was magic. Light just appears without fire."

Raul nodded. "I was small when electricity came here. There was a lot of distrust, but we got used to it. Rosa has a computer. She has been using it to learn more about what is happening."

"Have you tried a hopper?" Theo asked.

"No. They come here rarely and then disappear. Food and tools arrive that way too. I don't think anybody has gone the other way."

"Would you like to try it? You can ask a hopper to go to a lot of places in Peru and further. We can show you and then you can show others in your town."

Raul frowned. "When I was younger, I once went to Lima. It took two days to get there."

"It is quicker in the hoppers. Much quicker."

"It would have to be," Rosa said. "I heard that people have gone to another world in them and returned. They must be really quick."

"Jennifer is a hopper expert," Theo said, and Jennifer kicked him under the table.

When they'd finished eating, Raul looked at his wife. "If these hoppers are like the change electricity brought to us, we should understand it. We can show others it is safe and how to use it. If you show us, do we need to bring anything with us?"

Rosa got up quickly, looking very excited. She rushed upstairs to grab something and was soon back. She seemed the more adventurous of the pair. Raul seemed more interested as an elder. He thought it was his responsibility to set an example to the town.

"No. Just yourselves. There will be less hopper traffic at this time, so we might get one quickly."

As they walked there, they went past the café where Jennifer and Theo had enjoyed a drink earlier. There were several people sitting outside. As they went by, someone asked what was happening.

"They're going to show us how to use the hoppers." Raul replied.

"It might eat you," someone called back.

That got the others interested, and soon they were following behind. It was unclear to Jennifer if this was because they wanted to know how to use it, or if they wanted to see if their elder would be eaten alive.

When they got to the hopperport, there were about thirty people who had tagged along.

Jennifer indicated that Theo should tell them. It was an area which seemed to treat male knowledge as better than female.

After wondering how to explain it, he said, "This is a request stop. You have to ask a hopper to come. At big cities there are scheduled stops."

They looked a bit confused at that. He thought it best to show. He indicated the panel. "Here you decide where you want to go. As an example, let's choose Lima."

Raul looked and saw the place. He touched it, and it asked him for the number of people. "Say three. Jennifer can stay here and you both can come with me."

Raul did and it changed to a timer showing how long before the hopper got there. It was less than a minute.

The hopper's sudden arrival startled some. Others laughed as they'd seen the food crates just turn up. The door swung open and Raul, with his wife holding his hand, followed Theo.

When the door closed and it disappeared, there were a few shrieks. Someone shouted that it had eaten them.

"Where are they?" someone demanded to Jennifer.

"Lima," she responded, not flinching as someone got close to her. "They will be back soon. It depends how busy the hopperport is in Lima."

"She's lying. They couldn't have got to Lima. It takes two days."

Jennifer hoped they would get back quickly and not want to go sightseeing. The crowd seemed upset that Raul and Rosa had disappeared. As the minutes progressed, they seemed to get more agitated.

Just as quickly as it had appeared the last time, the hopper suddenly appeared again, and Raul, Rosa and Theo stepped out. The doors closed and the hopper disappeared.

Raul and Rosa were surrounded. The first queries were if they were well and if it had taken them to Lima. That was followed by someone asking if it hurt going so fast.

"It is like magic," Raul responded. "One second I was here, the next I was in Lima. It was like I stood still and the world changed around me."

"Can it go to Cusco?" a young man at the back of the crowd asked.

"Yes," Raul answered, having seen it on the screen.

Three of them came forward, eager to have a go.

"Raul, you show them," Theo said, encouraging the leader. "I'll come with you just in case, but you've got this."

For the next hour, more and more places were visited. The hopperport had never seen this amount of activity. Only two of the thirty that had come along had refused to use the hopper.

Jennifer turned to Raul and Rosa. "Do you have a passport?"

Rosa nodded and pulled it out of her bag. "I got it when you said we would learn. I didn't know if I'd need it."

Raul didn't have one.

"Let me get mine," Jennifer said and rushed back to the small hotel. She grabbed it and a few other things she would need.

When she got back, the crowd had thinned. Jennifer didn't know if they'd hopped somewhere or if they'd gone home.

"Are you up for a double hop? We go to Lima and go elsewhere. We would be gone about thirty minutes. Perhaps a bit longer."

"Where are you be going?" Raul asked.

"I was going to show Rosa the longest jump you can do. The jump takes three seconds."

Theo understood but didn't say anything. Raul might have been reluctant for his wife to go off planet. It had been a big jump to experience the journey within his country.

"If Rosa wants to go. She went to Argentina once. We will wait here."

Rosa nodded.

"Okay. Our first hop is to Lima," Jennifer said. "You call the hopper."

If anybody had been monitoring the hopper activity in Peru, they would have been perplexed. A quiet, rural hopperport had suddenly had a huge spike in activity. Someone would be wondering what had happened.

Raul had done the hopper requests, so this was Rosa's first opportunity. She'd been paying attention and did it flawlessly.

"Good job," Jennifer said as they got off in Lima. "Now the new bit."

They went to a terminal and Jennifer said, "Find Rohastin Station."

Rosa gasped and her fingers trembled with excitement as she typed it in. Jennifer was impressed. Rosa didn't scare easily. She was prompted to scan her passport which was a new step. Then the hopper was booked.

"We can just go there?" Rosa said, a bit surprised at how easy it had been.

"Yes. The hop takes about three seconds and the first time it feels strange. It doesn't hurt or anything. So, sit down when we get on. When you've done it once, you will be okay for future. You might even get to use your Hytuna."

Their hopper arrived and Jennifer called aloud, "We will sit." The hopper waited until they were seated before setting off. Before Rosa could say anything, they'd arrived.

"What was that?" Rosa asked, as Jennifer got up.

"That is the magic of long-distance hops. Come on," Jennifer said. "The hopper needs to go back. Its work is never done."

Rosa laughed as they stepped off. "Are we really on the Rohastin Station?"

"Yes. Now, let's see how good your Hytuna is."

Rosa looked round in surprise at the different ships in the hangar. Where they'd been dropped off was at the front, where most species hoppers came in.

"Are there aliens here?" Rosa asked, still in Spanish. She sounded slightly nervous.

"Here, we are just as alien as they are. Have you seen images of them?"

"Yes, but I doubt that is the same as seeing them."

"True. Do you want to go straight back home, or explore for a few minutes?"

Rosa looked around and seemed to be fighting with herself. "You won't leave me?"

"I'll stay right by you. Now we do have one thing to do. At home, you used a screen to request the hopper. Here, the computer interface is a bit different." Jennifer got the Rohastin device out of her pocket. "You need one of these."

Rosa was puzzled. "There's no screen on it."

"It works differently. Let's go upstairs and get you one."

They walked up the ramp and into the small shopping mall. Rosa saw a non-human for the first time and stifled a scream. "There's so many different types."

"I've yet to meet one that eats humans," Jennifer responded and Rosa gave a nervous giggle. "Apparently we should be able to pick one up in the small café. If we're quick, we might have time for a drink."

"How did you find out?" Rosa asked as they made their way along the corridor. She'd calmed down a bit as none of the aliens had paid her any attention.

"I asked the station computer via my device. It talks directly with the brain."

"Don't tease me," Rosa scolded.

Jennifer didn't say anything, but they crossed the café threshold and the atmosphere changed. The almost sterile atmosphere of the corridor disappeared and there was the gentle hum of people chatting. There was the smell of food. It wasn't like the full restaurant, but it still made Jennifer want to eat.

Rosa stopped and looked confused. Jennifer remembered her first time and the surprise when crossing that hidden forcefield that kept the sound and smell inside.

"This is..." Rosa waved her arms around. She was lost for words.

After a few seconds, Jennifer steered her towards the counter where a Frotanian was looking at them. In Hytuna she said, "This is Rosa, her first time from Earth. Can you provide a device? She only speaks a little Hytuna."

"Welcome Rosa," he said slowly and handed her a device.

"Thank you," she responded also in Hytuna. She then realised she'd spoken with an alien and her thanking him had been instinctive.

After Jennifer ordered two drinks, the two of them went and sat down. Jennifer instructed Rosa on how to turn it on and then watched as Rosa set it up. The drinks arrived as Rosa was going through the setup process.

Rosa nodded, unsure what she thought about talking with the device. It only spoke Hytuna but understood she was a novice and took it slowly. "What can this device do?"

"That is like asking what a computer can do. I've no idea of the full capabilities. I find new things each time I come. It can guide you to where things are. You can call people on the station with it. You will use it to get the hopper."

"This drink is really nice. It is very warming."

When she was done, Jennifer said, "Let's go. I need to show you two more things. First, we will use it to go back to the hangar."

"How?"

"The important thing is a bit of new Hytuna," Jennifer said in Spanish. And then in Hytuna, "Hangar Two."

Rosa repeated the words. The 'two' was fine, but the 'hangar' came out garbled. Jennifer repeated it, and Rosa got better.

As they walked to the Transport Hub, Jennifer talked to the device mentioning that Rosa was a novice with Hytuna and where they were going. It told her she would make sure Rosa didn't get lost.

When they got there, she told Rosa, "Just ask the device for Hangar Two. When you get there, step out of the room so you don't block it."

Rosa nodded, slightly overwhelmed. So much had happened. Only twenty minutes previously she'd been in Peru. They stepped inside together and Jennifer waited for Rosa to vanish. When she did, Jennifer checked that Rosa had gone to the right place and followed.

"That was like the hopper without the hopper," Rosa said excitedly as they met up outside the Transport Hub.

"That just about sums it up," Jennifer agreed. "One last task. You need to get a hopper back to Lima, Peru, Earth."

"Ooh, I see a timer overlaying my vision," Rosa said when she'd managed to do it.

"Well done."

"It's ticking down strangely though. It is missing the eight and nine."

"Hytuna uses base-8 maths. Octal. It goes from seven to ten. It missed out eight and nine."

"I read something about that, but I didn't get it. I suppose it will come with experience. I need to polish my Hytuna though."

"There are websites and online practice groups that you will be able to do. Do you think you'll come again?" Jennifer asked.

Rosa nodded, and the hopper arrived. Five minutes later they'd gone through Lima and hopped back to Rosa's hometown. When the doors opened, she rushed out and into Raul's arms.

"How was it?" Raul asked, stroking his wife's back. Theo had told him where Jennifer had taken her.

"I talked in Hytuna ... to an alien," was all she could say. It had been a whirlwind, and she wondered if it had been real.

Rosa realised she was still clutching the alien device. She separated herself from her husband and offered it to Jennifer.

"No," Jennifer said firmly. "That is yours. It is tuned to your brain pattern and will only work for you when you're in the Rohastin Station. If you go back, you will be prepared. You might never want or need to. But if you do, you have it."

"But..."

"You might be the only person in Peru that has ever been to the Rohastin Station. If someone in your town ever needs to go there, you now have the skills to help them. Just like you both have the skills to teach others how to use the hoppers. Yesterday Lima was two days away. Now it is a hop away."

The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 8

---

Chapter 8

In the morning, Manuel was back covering the small hotel's reception.

"Sleep well?" he enquired.

"Yes. And thank you for the introduction to Raul," Theo said, handing back the room key. "Rosa cooked a wonderful dish."

"I'm glad." He then looked around and said quietly, "Is it true you showed them how to control those evil spirits?"

"They are just vehicles, just like a car. They just go a lot quicker," Theo responded. "And yes, we showed them."

"And did you really take Rosa to see the aliens?" His voice was no longer a whisper, and his pitch had gone up an octave.

"Where did you hear this?" Jennifer asked.

"I heard Nantu telling his cousin. He'd heard it from his uncle last night."

Jennifer stifled her laughter and she saw Theo was doing the same.

"Yes," Jennifer said. "I showed her how to get there and back. It isn't a secret. It isn't difficult. It is just nobody had shown anybody here how to do it. About thirty people were able to use them last night. Though only Rosa had a passport to leave the country. She can show anybody here who wants or needs to go."

"Raul is waiting outside in his car. He said he would take you the forty kilometres to the trail. I hope you find what you're looking for."

They'd already put on their wet weather hiking gear. Their rucksacks were waterproof as were their footwear. This was something they'd only had to touch on when they'd done the previous camping. As they dashed out to the car, they experienced the Amazonian rain for the first time. It seemed different to the rain they had in the UK where it was cold. Here the rain was warmer, and it seemed to fall off the clothing in strange ways.

Theo sat up front, and Jennifer sat in the back, alongside the two large rucksacks.

"Thank you for this," Theo said. "It saves us a day of hiking."

"I'm glad to," Raul said, setting off along the main road. "It's little compared to what you gave us yesterday. We are no longer isolated. We no longer have to wonder about the rest of the country. Our capital is now a walk to the hopperport away rather than two days drive. A dozen people went out at first light to spread the word to neighbouring towns."

This was different from what Jennifer had ever thought about. She'd grown up in an affluent small country. She remembered reading the book Cider with Rosie. How the small village where they grew up was isolated, and how the world expanded as technology changed. Peru was much larger. The thought of a two-day road trip to the largest city felt so different. Yet that was the world Raul had been in. And now it was changing. She just hoped it didn't cause them problems.

Jennifer tuned back in and heard Raul, "When I get back, I'm showing Manuel how to use the hopper. He has been the one talking to the electric company, but they seem to ignore our pleas for upgrades. It was too far to see them. That's no longer true. And it is obvious that it isn't too far for them to come and fix things when it goes wrong."

When they were dropped off, Raul said, "The first settlement you'll come across is about a day's hike. They have a few Spanish speakers. As you go further in, they will become smaller and more traditional. If they don't want you there, move on. Some fear outsiders."

"Thank you," Theo said, and they hitched on their backpacks, pulled up their hoods and started down the trail.

At first the going was good. It had been walked many times and there was a clear route. After a few hours they realised that it wasn't as easy going. The training in the woods near the school was nothing like the jungle. The trees had gradually become closer, and they were shaded by the tree canopy. Instead of the patter of rain, they suddenly got splodges of it, as clumps of water ran off the leaves higher up.

"You're going to have to go at some point," Theo said, after his second toilet stop. "You'll make yourself ill if you don't."

"I'm fine," she lied.

"You've cut down the amount of fluid. If you keep on like that, you will get dehydrated. If you don't urinate, you'll get a UTI. You have that special gadget."

"I know. And I practiced. It just seems wrong."

"It isn't wrong. It is practical. And if you think it's bad for you, what do you think it would be like for Hope or your Ma?"

"Hope hasn't had the op," Jennifer snapped.

"Okay, that was a bad example," he conceded. "Tina then."

She sighed and turned her back to him, so he could get into her rucksack. "Get it out."

Silently he did and passed it to her. She disappeared around a large tree, worried what he would think of her. It was ten minutes before she came back, passing the small package back to him to put in her rucksack.

"Thanks for looking out for me," she said, as they carried on. "I think I've got the hang of it now."

Neither of them talked about the awkwardness of a larger toilet stop.

It was getting late and the sun starting to become low when they came across some dim lights. They'd discussed making camp but decided to press on a bit further.

As they got closer, they saw a man waiting. "Raul said you would probably come this way. Come. I'm Chief Sala."

Surprised, they made their way in. The path had widened again, and there were about a dozen small huts set on both sides, with some of the trees cleared. They carried on into a large clearing containing several solar panels with wires going into a hut.

"Raul contacted you?" Jennifer asked, surprised.

"We might be remote, but we aren't disconnected. We have a phone linked to satellite internet and last year the government gave us a device to connect to the faster internet. He sent an email after dropping you off. We have a hut at the side of the field that has been cleared so you can stay the night. It is small, but you will be dry."

"Thank you. You are most kind."

He guided them to it. It was small, but there were two areas for sleeping. "Leave your bags here and come and eat. You must be tired after such a long walk."

They followed the man, through a small path to another wider clearing. There was a fire burning in a pit. There were about a dozen people sat around. Two clay bowls were passed to Jennifer and Theo with wooden spoons. They sat down where they'd been told.

"These are the two people Raul mentioned. He said they were from a long distance and had knowledge of far-off worlds. We might not be in a large town, but we learn. We have schools. We like to live a simpler life, but that doesn't mean an ignorant life. Some, like myself, prefer this life. My brother Raul didn't and moved to the town. It is too far for most walkers and we rarely are disturbed. Yet he said you deliberately came here and were planning on going further. Tell us about yourselves and what you are doing?"

Theo indicated Jennifer to answer. "I'm called Jennifer. This is Theo. We are from England—"

"That's Europe. Part of the UK," one of the villagers said, and there was much nodding from some.

Jennifer continued, "We finished school recently, but most of our experience is life near home and school. We know there is more to the world than that and are trying to experience that."

"Yet you didn't stay in town long?"

"Life there is only a little different to back home. Would it be an imposition if we stayed here a few days? Help if we can, but to learn about you all."

"How about an information exchange," he responded. "You tell us about this new technology and the worlds beyond ours, and we will tell you about us, where we've come from and what we believe."

"Sounds good. Where do you want me to start?" Jennifer asked.

"We're aware of the First Contact and the referendum. We all took part in that. That is how this village first got Internet so we could have a voting machine here. Raul said that you took Rosa to the alien space station. Is that true?"

"It is. She has been learning their language. Theo showed Raul how to use the hoppers. They are able to go to Lima in under a second."

"This is using the Interdimensional Drive?" a middle-aged lady asked.

"Yes," Jennifer responded, slightly stunned. She was quickly reassessing her expectations. "It takes about a second to get to New Toronto on Scorpion. That is the human planet on 18 Scorpii. It takes three seconds to get to the Rohastin Station. Hoppers don't come here, do they?"

"No. Chief Sala has cleared an area just in case emergency medicine is needed for someone. We don't have constant power, which would be needed for a hopperport. And if there was a proper hopperport people would come. We like being by ourselves."

"We grow our own food," Chief Sala said. "We catch fish or animals when we need. Food is fresh. Food is pure."

"And very tasty," Theo said, putting his empty bowl down, mimicking what the natives had done.

"Tell us about the Rohastin Station," an elderly man said. His face had many wrinkles, but his eyes shone with vigour.

Jennifer nodded, unsure why they were so interested. "It is a structure built in space. It is very large with hundreds of floors. It is where the Rohastin Council meets. It's neutral territory. No species owns it or runs it."

"Have you looked at the swirling planet it orbits?" the man said, his voice getting urgent. "Have you looked at the creatures trapped there. The Urattr cry for help, but nobody hears."

"For twenty years Kantu has talked about this," Chief Sala said.

Jennifer bowed her head, trying to understand it. At least it wasn't a prophecy about her.

"Help them," Kantu whispered, breaking into Jennifer's despair.

"Let me call someone," Jennifer said, wondering if this was the right move. "Do any of you speak English or Hytuna?"

None of them did.

"Then I hope they understand Spanish," Jennifer said. "I will need to get some things from my rucksack."

The night was upon them, but the small lights from the solar battery gave enough light for her to find the way. She rummaged for her tablet and tunnel device. As an afterthought she also took out the power cell that Henry had given her when she went to Hayfield. It was the same technology that was in Aurora and Eos. It would never run out.

Theo saw the two strange boxes, and he looked at Jennifer. She didn't say anything but set everything up. "Theo, I'm going to ring Rupert. If he doesn't speak Spanish, will you translate my Hytuna?"

"Sure, though I don't want to be in the picture. It might impact independence for my job interview."

"Understood."

Reluctantly she made the call to Rupert. She was nervous about it, but she wanted to ease the mind of Kantu. He seemed so earnest.

"Jenny?" Rupert answered, almost immediately in English. "Sorry, Jennifer. I should have read your profile, but I was so surprised getting your call."

"Do you speak Spanish?"

Rupert nodded, then in Spanish, "Sure. Why?"

"I'm in Peru and I want the people here to understand. Do you know if there is life in the gas giant you orbit?"

"I heard it mentioned once, but I have no detail. Let me ask."

Before Jennifer could say anything, she was placed on hold. A few seconds later, she was looking at the face of Georgina Harries. Human ambassador to the Rohastin Council.

"Jennifer. Great to see you," Georgina said in Spanish. "Rupert says you've been asking about life in the planet we orbit?"

"Yes, Ambassador. Sorry if this has taken you away from your work. Are you aware if there is life there, and if so, what it's called?"

"There is. Contact has been attempted multiple times by the council, but they never get an answer. They call them the Urattr."

"I'm in a jungle settlement in Peru. An elderly man here has had a vision for the last twenty years that the Urattr are trapped. He called them by that name. They've asked for help, but nobody answers."

"Peru. Ah, things make sense now. Are you aware the hopper system in Peru has caused issues in half the world?

"Sorry?"

"The activity for request hoppers from the towns and large villages in Peru ramped up exponentially. It started in the San Martin region and spread across the country. Extra hoppers from across the world ended up getting drafted in. Nobody can understand it."

"We showed thirty people last night how to use them. I heard a dozen went out this morning to tell other towns."

Georgina laughed. "Fantastic. They should have been trained years ago. I've requested a council meeting to discuss the Urattr. Could the person who had the visions come to the station?"

"We are in the jungle. It was a long day's hike to here. I wouldn't want to ask that of him. It isn't on the hopper network."

"Could Eos jump there?"

"Ambassador, can you please wait a few."

The Ambassador nodded and Jennifer put her on hold. She glanced away from the screen and saw that all the villagers sat around the fire were looking at her in amazement.

"I'll go," Kantu said, standing up. "If I'm there, I might hear them better."

Theo spoke up, "Chief Sala. It is your village. Are you okay for a hopper to come here?"

"If Kantu wants to go, then yes. It is the easiest way for him to go. But Eos? Isn't that Star Brights company ship?"

"It is only Aurora and Eos that can jump anywhere. The rest are based on defined hopperports."

Jennifer took Georgina off hold. "He will come."

"Thank you, Jennifer. Will you accompany him?"

"Yes." Theo tapped her and pointed at himself. "Plus my partner."

"Can I have the coordinates? It's midnight in the UK. This isn't going to go down well."

Theo rushed into the clearing and took a reading on his phone which Jennifer relayed.

"I suggest we all move back towards the treeline," Jennifer said. "Are we okay leaving our bags here?"

"Of course. Do you know how long it will be?"

Jennifer was unsure what he meant. "The jump to here from the UK will take under a second, but the people driving her might be in bed. The jump to the Rohastin Station will take three seconds. How long Kantu is in with the council, I don't know. I've been to the station, but I've never been in that section."

It was twenty minutes before Eos arrived. She landed right where Theo had measured. It was close, but just far enough not to touch the fire pit. The locals gaped, never having seen anything like it.

"I suggest nobody goes into that area until we return," Jennifer said. "We don't want to hit anybody."

Jennifer offered Kantu her arm, but he was clutching a paper file. They went to the ship, and Sam helped him in and to a seat.

"I'm not going to be able to hide this from your Ma," Sam said, as the doors closed. "Did you cause the hopper crisis in Peru?"

"It seems so. James, can you hold a second."

"Sure."

"Kantu. When we jump, it will feel like nothingness for three seconds. It doesn't hurt, but I don't want you panicking thinking something is wrong."

He just nodded. James, who'd been watching, turned back around and pressed the button. The interdimensional drive activated, and they hopped the three seconds to the Rohastin station.

When the door opened, Theo helped Kantu out, with Jennifer following. She noticed where they were. "We're in the Ambassador hangar?"

"Yes. Kantu is going to the council. Ambassador Harries authorised it. We will stay here for your return."

Rupert walked up and greeted them in Spanish. "Mr Kantu, it is an honour you are here. I am Rupert, aide to the human Ambassador. Let me show you to the council. In the waiting room, there is a window where you can see the planet."

They walked at a sedate pace down the empty corridor. Jennifer and Theo followed behind. When they got to the council waiting room, Rupert indicated the window. Unaided, Kantu went across to see. Theo rushed alongside to see himself.

"They cry," Kantu said, his voice full of anguish. "They are louder here."

"Can you identify whereabouts on the planet they are?" Theo asked.

"No. But their voices swirl, just like the gasses do."

Kantu turned to see Rupert standing nearby. "You might want to see these. I drew them twenty years ago with my first visions."

There were two sheets of paper. They were drawn in pencil, worn with age. The first showed the space station and the planet behind it. The second were drawings of five faces. Four of the faces Theo recognised. They were of him, Jennifer, Kelly and Hope. The fifth wasn't human, but a Reginadde woman. At the top of each page was the simple motif of a Figure-8 knot.

Theo heard a cry of anguish, and he turned to see Jennifer sink into one of the chairs. She'd seen the drawings.

"Excuse me," Theo said, full of politeness and rushed to Jennifer's side.

"It's another prophecy," she said, holding back her tears.

"It is just a drawing. Yes, it has us in it with a Reginadde. But that doesn't mean anything. It could mean we all like to share a bottle of wine."

"Didn't you see the top of both pages? It was a knot."

Theo shook his head. "I thought it was an infinity sign with some roping around it."

Kantu had sat by them. "Have I caused you pain?"

Jennifer wiped her eyes and looked at him. "No. Pictures like that just make me question where I stand in the universe. You have a gift. Drawing a vision is never bad. It can help, like you might help those trapped in the gas giant."

"For you to walk into my village shows how special you are. You helped those in town. You were willing to talk to us and share your knowledge. Not many people would do that. You are both fine people. Gifted with love. I remember my first vision. I was twelve. I thought there was something wrong with me. I had a vision of a hut being struck by lightning and the chief rushing out. The chief slept elsewhere the following night because of my warning. It was the new hut that was the one struck."

"Never act on a prophecy," said a new voice, in Spanish. They all had been so busy talking, they hadn't seen anybody approaching.

"Kantu, this is the Reginadde Ambassador," Jennifer introduced, not surprised that the Reginadde Ambassador knew Spanish. He'd answered questions in several Earth languages the first time he'd visited Earth. She turned to the Ambassador. "This is Kantu. He is the one who mentioned about the gas giant."

"Rupert mentioned a drawing that contained my granddaughter. Can I see?"

He opened the file and showed the two drawings. The Reginadde ran his finger across the drawing of his granddaughter. "How long ago was this drawn?"

"Twenty Earth Years," Theo said.

"The scar you show on the Reginadde girl. Has that been in the drawing all the time?"

Kantu nodded.

"She got that scar 2000 ticks ago. Kantu, will you please come and talk with the Council. We would love to hear about the Urattr. Theo, will you come and help translate for Kantu."

"Me?" Theo said.

"Ambassador Harries is under the impression you were going to apply for a job working with Rupert. Is that not so?"

Theo blushed. "I was going to."

"Excellent, then let's just say this is part of the interview. Follow me."

Theo looked across at Jennifer who just waved him on.

Jennifer was left in the room with Rupert. "How did the Ambassador know Theo was going to apply?"

"Because of the work he did on the Covid-19 Memorial. With you applying for the shop in Mall-2, it seemed to her that he would apply here."

"How is life here?" Jennifer asked. "Do you miss London?"

Rupert paused. "I thought the Council would be like the government I worked in. It is nothing like that. Theo will understand soon. It is amazing as much as it is frightening."

Thirty minutes later, the Reginadde Ambassador came into the waiting room. "Georgina and Theo are talking with Kantu and The Oracle. I don't think they will be quick. The Oracle is very interested in Kantu's other visions."

"How is your granddaughter?" Jennifer asked him. "You said she has a scar like the drawing. Is she okay?"

The Reginadde looked at her, taking in her genuine concern for his granddaughter.

"She is fine. It will gradually heal over the next year. Things like that happen sometimes."

"When she is finished on your home-world, does she have something to do? I'm planning on opening a shop on mall-2. Would she be interested in working with me?"

"Do you know what she's been doing?"

"I don't know for certain," Jennifer responded.

Rupert laughed. "Ambassador, she is using a human phrase in Hytuna to mask her true meaning."

The Ambassador was intrigued. "Oh?"

Rupert said, "She doesn't know, but she suspects. Or has an idea."

Jennifer wanted to scowl but kept her expression neutral.

"I've worked with Georgina for years and I still forget how Humans hide the truth with their words. You suspect, but you still make your offer."

"Reggie is my friend," Jennifer said. "Sometimes other people's demands can be hard and lonely. Having a friend can help."

He nodded, still unsure.

Jennifer continued. "Can I ask a question. Do you have a Hobitoa? I know it is ceremonial, but did it used to have a different purpose?"

The Ambassador looked surprised, but drew his top to one side slightly, and she saw a jewelled blade strapped there. Rupert looked surprised. He'd worked with the Ambassadors and had never known.

"You really do have a good education. Yes, the Hobitoa is classified as ceremonial. It used to have a darker history, but they haven't been used like that since we joined the Rohastin. You are correct in your assessment. Her scar was made by a Hobitoa. I will pass on your job offer, but I've no idea how quick you will get a response. When do you plan to open?"

"It depends on Theo. If his job here starts soon, then I will be here with him. To be honest, backpacking lost its appeal when prophecies started jumping out at every village we visited."

The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 9

---

Chapter 9

Ambassador Georgina Harries's request that Theo start as soon as possible was the final nail in their backpacking trip. James and Sam had taken them back to the village to drop off Kantu and collect their belongings. Then they were dropped back in Lima so they could leave Peru properly. Back in the UK, Jennifer and Theo packed what they needed and, after spending one last night, shut up the house. They knew they wouldn't be back for a while.

Kantu had been saddened by the pain he felt from the Urattr while so close, but that was mixed with relief that he understood his vision more. He would share his stories with the rest of the tribe and would become part of their folklore.

* * *

Not finding Jennifer at their apartment on the Rohastin Station, Theo went hunting for her. She was where she'd spent all her time; at the shop trying to prepare it for opening.

"Theo, perfect timing. Can you pass me that bracket," Jennifer said, balancing a shelf in one hand and trying to keep the other bracket from falling out.

Whoever thought that just delivering the equipment would be enough hadn't understood reality. She had to set up the full body scanners. She had to set up the machines that would create the clothes on demand. She had to load the patterns in. She still had to configure the changes for the different species.

Several times, she'd passed the other clothing shops and looked at their displays. They were closer to the restaurant and going by wasn't thought strange, even though a human looking in was odd. They only served clothing for their own species, but they did have some professional curiosity about what human clothes would be displayed.

The last day before opening, there was still too much to do. Theo wanted to help, but he was busy at work. Kelly and Hope had helped where they could but today, they were away for a Space Racer race.

"Hello," came a voice at the door and Jennifer looked across.

"Reggie," Jennifer shrieked, dropped the garment she was folding, rushed to her friend and enveloped her in a human style bearhug.

When they parted, Reggie asked shyly, "Is the job offer still open?"

"Only if you can start now and help me get this place ready."

The work stopped feeling like a chore, but more like a manageable task. Together they finished getting the store ready. They even had time to brush the floor, even though Reggie had said the cleaning bots would do that. During the work, they talked about Kelly and her Space Racing. Reggie already knew of Hope and Theo. They had been prominently mentioned by both Kelly and Jennifer over the years.

"How have you been since finishing school?" Reggie asked, as they went to get something to eat.

"All four of us went to do some training for living here," Jennifer answered honestly. "It was hard work. I even tried cooking some non-human dishes but struggled at first. Eventually I got better. Hang on, let me introduce you. Can we eat up near the Ambassador floor?"

Reggie waved her hands, which was like the equivalent of a human nod. When they got there, Jennifer asked someone if Beth, the human chef, was working. She was, and came out to see who was asking for her.

"Beth," Jennifer said, with a genuine smile. "Meet my friend Reggie. Reggie, this is Beth. She gave me some lessons on how to cook non-human food."

"Hi Reggie," Beth said. "I've seen you in here a few times, though I'd heard you'd moved away. Are you back?"

"Yes. I'm back. I'm going to work with Jennifer in her shop."

"No, Reggie, we are working together. I think of it as our shop."

"I will have to visit you when it is open. Now both of you sit down and let me make you both something different."

Different sent alarm bells through Jennifer. It must have done for Reggie too.

Reggie asked, "How different?"

"It is something I've been working on. It has a mixture of ingredients from across the Rohastin."

Jennifer and Reggie shared a panicked look.

"You aren't the first to try it," Beth said, rolling her eyes. "I've not had anybody falling ill yet. Now go and sit down and let me make your taste buds dance."

Jennifer and Reggie went to the table they'd first sat at together ten years ago. The large gas giant was visible out of the window. Reggie looked shocked as Jennifer took out her device and turned it off.

"I can't," Reggie said, worried what Jennifer would say. "Mine is an implant."

"That's okay," Jennifer reassured. "That was more for me than you."

"Theo and I tried to do a cultural experience that young adults do on Earth. We call it backpacking. Basically, we carry a big bag on our back with some clothes and essentials and visit places you've never been before."

Reggie nodded, not sure what to make of this human experience.

"We walked for a day into the jungle. There are small settlements in them with people that live differently. We thought it would be good to hear how they felt about life, and we could tell them our tales. When we got to the first settlement, they made us welcome and we talked. There was someone there, like The Oracle. He had a vision about this gas giant. He drew two diagrams. The first of the station and the planet. The second was of five people. It was you, me, Theo, Kelly and Hope. It was drawn many years before any of us were born."

Reggie looked surprised but just encouraged Jennifer to continue.

"I was worried, so rang the human Ambassador. She called a council meeting. That is when I talked to your grandfather and made the offer about you working with me."

"How did he know the drawing was accurate?" Reggie asked.

"The drawing of you had a scar caused by a Hobitoa blade."

Reggie gasped and touched her scar. "How did you know what caused it?"

"I've had one held to my throat. Even though it was just a demonstration, that experience stays with you. I remember that blade very well."

"You know what I've been doing, don't you?"

Jennifer shook her head. "I am guessing. But I'm not going to hide from you or shun you. You are my friend. In my knowledge of the Reginaddes, this is not usual. For them to ask you for help must mean there is something serious happening or they are very worried about something. You can do that job as well as working in the shop. You haven't confirmed anything, so if someone does review your recording, you can't be blamed."

Though Jennifer did think it would cause some urgent conversations if she wasn't part of Reginadde intelligence.

"What makes you think something is happening."

"Because you were asked to be here, and I'm here because I was asked to be. Theo got the job he did far too easily. No, something is wrong and I don't think anybody knows what."

The food arrived, so that conversation came to a halt. Jennifer turned back on her device.

"Do you think we're ready for tomorrow?" Jennifer asked, carefully trying the food and finding it was very good.

"I don't think we can do anything else," Reggie responded, attacking the food with gusto.

"At the moment, I don't think the full extent of the shop is understood."

"By me either," Reggie admitted. "I'm not sure why you want me there."

"Because we're not going to just sell clothes to humans. We're going to sell clothes to everyone. Whichever style they want. When we've finished, I'm going to create my outfit for tomorrow using a Reginadde design."

Reggie laughed, thinking Jennifer was teasing. When Jennifer didn't join in, Reggie stopped and looked at her friend. "Are you serious?"

"Yes. Now, a question for you. Who is the most famous human female on the Rohastin Station?"

"You."

"No. Hardly anybody knows me. I managed to get a seat here without half the station shouting Trinity. I've grown up and don't look like I did ten years ago."

"Georgina Harries then. The human Ambassador."

"Exactly, and every time I see her in the news, she has a certain style of dress she wears."

"Yes. And?"

"I've got that style in the machine with alterations coded for different species. How do you feel about dressing like that?"

Reggie's nose flattened, and her mouth made a strange motion. Her hands clasped as if she was trying to control herself. Jennifer knew she was trying to stifle a Reginadde equivalent of a giggle. Reginaddes were a very serious species, and it took a lot to amuse them. However, Jennifer and Kelly had found out many years ago it was possible. Rare, but they were capable.

"I'll do it," Reggie confirmed. "I do hope she visits your store, just so I can see her face."

As they got up, they saw Beth hovering near the kitchen door.

"How was it?" Beth asked eagerly.

Both Jennifer and Reggie gave it high praise which Beth blushed over.

"You should have it on the menu. Not under any species, but separate. The Rohastin Special. It is perfect for here. It is what the Rohastin seems to be. A mixture of species trying to work together. That is what your dish mirrors."

"Oh, you get it," Beth said, looking even happier. "I've got to share this with the other chefs before it can be promoted. I do want some time off."

Reggie gave a human wave goodbye, which surprised Beth and they were on their way.

"You've lived here most of your life," Jennifer said. "Is there anywhere else we can relax?"

She nodded. "It isn't advertised, but there is a ... drinking club. Why don't you ask the others to join you. It will be a surprised then when they see me."

"Let's check it out first."

It was two levels below Hangar Five. It didn't have a Transport Hub and was only available via a small ramp behind a maintenance door. This looked like a disused level, but it wasn't unused. They passed a few people and tried a few doors until they found the right place. For some reason, the device couldn't guide them. Jennifer smiled. It was perfect. A small bar where nobody cared about who was in there. There were plenty of tables and chairs, but very few people in there.

Jennifer group-called Theo, Kelly and Hope to give them directions.

Theo said after a moment, "Where are you? My device isn't showing your location."

Reggie ordered two drinks and they took a table away from the few other patrons.

"How did you find this place?" Jennifer asked, when she'd finished with the call.

"My grandfather showed it to me before I went back to my home world. He said if it ever got too much, to come here for a drink and find myself. I'd then be able to face whatever challenge I had."

Reggie paused and moved her head a few times. "My implant doesn't work. Strange, you were able to contact your friends using a device, but my implant is blocked. I wish I'd known before we had that discussion upstairs."

Jennifer shrugged. "There is a human saying—"

Reggie laughed. "Humans always have a saying."

Jennifer rolled her eyes. "We do like them. Anyway, it goes 'There is no point in crying over spilt milk'. It means there is no point in getting upset about what has happened. It can't be undone. We had that chat, so we live with it. Getting upset won't change anything. Anyway, it will be good for those at your world to have heard it."

Kelly, Hope and Theo arrived at the same time. For a second, the bar was no longer quiet as Kelly spotted Reggie. She squealed and rushed across to hug her friend.

When they calmed down, Kelly introduced Hope and Theo.

"I remember all but Theo in the concert," Reggie said. "Do you work for the human government?"

"No," Jennifer said. "Okay, a bit of history. Some is going to be new for you all. A prophecy was made that one day a woman would come along who was Earth's saviour. She would create a drive which took humans to the stars. While they waited there was too much risk of either humans stagnating or us wiping ourselves out. Two groups were created to try to stop either of those events happening. One tried for stability, and another conflict and confusion."

"We are from what was the stability group. After the truth came out with First Contact, the conflict group broke up in acrimony. A few joined the stability group, a few walked away, and some others became crime bosses, just interested in making money."

Jennifer had no need to mention who the creator of the drive was. It was her Ma.

"The stability group is still active as there are still groups out there doing evil. Like the people who kidnapped my parents. We, however, are tasked differently..."

"Should you be saying this?" asked Theo.

"I think so," Jennifer replied. "Reggie's implant seems to be blocked in here. And the Alphonian and Reginadde ambassadors were behind the two Earth groups. Well not them but their predecessors. Georgina Harries also expected you."

"So how did you end up here?" Kelly asked. "I thought you were going to be away getting in some culture."

"It lasted two days," Theo said. "The first day we went to a small town in Peru. We were invited to have the evening meal with a town elder. We found nobody knew how to use the hopper system, so we showed them. We heard it caused chaos as they then went out and showed the other towns. There was that much activity, request hoppers from around the world moved there to stabilise the times."

Kelly and Theo laughed but Reggie just looked on, unsure why that was funny.

Jennifer took over the tale. "Our second day we hiked into the jungle and just as it was getting to dusk, we arrived at a small settlement. We were welcomed and we had a meal around their campfire. During it, an old man called Kantu described a vision of a species trapped in the planet outside the station. I asked Ambassador Harries for confirmation, and she ordered Eos to pick us up. He'd also drawn a picture from before any of us were born. A drawing of all five of us. At the top was the drawing of a knot."

Jennifer had spoken in a steady tone. Kelly knew what the knot being drawn meant to her and rushed across and hugged her from behind. Jennifer put her hand on Kelly's arm. She felt much better after that.

"So, what now?" Hope asked.

"We have a quiet drink," Jennifer said. "Just the five of us having a chance to escape others' expectations for a short time."

"To a quiet drink," Theo said, raising his mug. Had aliens no concept of drinking glasses?

"We'll make an appearance tomorrow," Hope said. "It would only be expected as there are only a few humans on the station."

"Just don't laugh when you see how I'm dressed," Reggie said.

Kelly said, "I can imagine Jen had a wild idea. You know she'd never do anything to humiliate you, don't you?"

"I do. But I'm still nervous."

"I thought it would be a good way to show the concept. If you don't like it, then we'll come up with a different plan. I don't want you worrying about it."

Reggie frowned. "I tried asking my implant the time. It feels strange not being connected not just from the station but from the Reginadde home system. If it wasn't too late, I was going to make one and try it on. That way I don't panic all night."

"Let's all go," Jennifer said.

"One thing before we do," Theo said. "I was going to tell Jen later, but I think you should all know. I think my job is a trap."

"What type of trap?" Kelly asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Rupert has never had an assistant until we were about to leave school. They advertised, but I didn't apply. They employed someone on a short-term basis so they could advertise the job again. When we came here with Kantu, they asked if I was applying for the job and as soon as I said yes, I got the job after the simplest interview possible."

"It sounds possible. But why?" Jennifer asked, looking at Theo with support.

"I've no idea, but I thought you should know. We thought we were infiltrating them, but it seems we had an invite. When she was Prime Minister, she was known as being straightforward. If I get a chance for a private conversation, I might ask the Ambassador."

"If you're sure. You know the plan if you need to do that."

"I do. Anyway, let's drink up. Reggie needs to try on this outfit. The rest of you go home. I don't want to spoil any surprises."

The next day, Jennifer was apprehensive. The shop sign was up, and as the station woke up, she and Reggie opened their store. It wasn't as close to the centre of the mall as the other clothing shops, but it was on the corridor from the Transport Hub. Therefore, people coming to eat, work or take their children to the primary school on that level would pass it.

As the traffic increased, they started to get noticed. People doing double takes as they saw the store and what they were selling. Jennifer and Reggie were in prominent view. A few even stopped suddenly and there were a few incidents where people behind bumped into those ahead. Yet the shop was quiet.

"We need to do some advertising," Jennifer mused, and Reggie looked at her unsure what she meant. The word 'advertising' came out in English. There wasn't a Hytuna word for that.

"What do you mean?"

"Can you go to the café and get two drinks? You will be noticed and they will realise the outfit is practical and not just for show."

"Oh. I get it."

When Reggie returned with the drinks, she was excited. "I got asked a few times where I got the outfit."

"Great work."

Slowly, a few people came into the store. People from several species wondering if it was true they sold cross species designs. They touched the soft fabric from an Alphonian, and the harsher cuts of a Reginadde.

Their first sale was to the school leader where Jennifer and Kelly had been while Jennifer's Ma was having an operation. A Pretotian wasn't who they expected to be their first customer.

"This is such a great idea. I think I need a collection of clothes from different species. I can wear a human outfit one day, and a Reginadde on another. Will it work for my hands though?"

"Of course," Jennifer said, with a smile. "What would you like first? I know you are working, so why don't I do one, and you can let me know what styles you want for the others."

"Okay. I want human blue jeans and a bright red polo shirt."

Reggie took the scan which had automatically happened when anybody came into the shop and fed it into the machine with the parameters requested. Soon their first product was walking the corridors to the school. The feathers on the Pretotian contrasting nicely with the top.

As the Pretotian left, Reggie and Jennifer squealed in delight. They'd had their first customer.

By lunchtime they'd sold six outfits. Four of them had been Georgina Harries style outfits.

"We need to spread the word more," Reggie said, as they closed the shop to get some food.

"Oh?"

"If we eat upstairs near the Ambassador level, we will advertise to people who haven't seen."

Jennifer smiled. "I love it. Let's go."

When they got to the correct level, they made their way slowly along the concourse, letting people spot them. Theo was sat eating with Rupert and a few other Rohastin aides. When they saw the outfits, all they could do was stare. They worked with Georgina Harries on a daily basis and knew her dress style. Seeing Reggie dressed like that was a shock.

They sat down and placed their order. They'd got the impact they desired, but still needed to eat, so decided on something simple and quick. The shop would need their attention.

"Do you still live with your parents?" Jennifer asked as they ate.

"No. When a Reginadde comes of age, it is expected they move out and start on their own. Is that different for humans?"

"It depends where you are. Because humanity has only started expanding from a single planet, the home planet is a lot more crowded. We also had currency until recently. Housing was expensive, and a lot couldn't afford it, so would live with parents. In some cultures, there are sometimes three or more generations living in the house."

"Does Kelly see her dad much?" Reggie suddenly asked.

Jennifer considered for a moment how to answer that. Was Reggie saying something? It seemed an odd question to ask. "No. Where we went to school, we don't visit our parents. When we leave school, we strike out on our own. Our school has an unwritten rule that we don't visit family for four cycles. It helps hide that the school has helped those who've changed the most."

"Like Hope?"

"Yes, like Hope."

"But Kelly hasn't changed like that."

"No, but it shows solidarity with those that have."

"That isn't something a lot of Reginaddes would understand. I do because I've been your friend for a long time and understand a lot more about humans."

Jennifer pondered what Reggie was asking. She made a choice she hoped wouldn't hurt Kelly. "Kelly might not be able to see her parents, but I could."

"That is good to know, but I don't think I need to go. But it is a shame Kelly doesn't see him. Parents can teach their children so much of the world that is hidden. Though he might find it easier talking to someone he knows that isn't his child."

That afternoon more people came into the shop. Some glanced at the patterns shown on a screen. Some asked questions. They got a few more sales, but that wasn't important. To them it was getting people coming into the shop.

The other humans on the station came too. Rumours had been floating around, and they wanted to see. When Georgina Harries came in, Reggie got nervous, but she smiled.

"This is wonderful and innovative," she said, having a look. "Reggie, if I may call you that, you have become quite the fashion icon."

"Of course you can. It is the name I can use. It makes it a lot easier for a lot of people. As for being the fashion icon, it wouldn't have worked without your presence."

"That time away has grounded you," Georgina said. "You have a lot more confidence in yourself. It is good to see. Now, I'd like my usual cut but, say, with a Frotanian pattern. That should spice things up. It would be interesting to see what they say in the Council meeting later. Now what does the sign mean about you selling other human goods?"

Reggie responded, "Some are interested about humans. We've had someone order something called grapes."

"You can get grapes? I think I'll be visiting more often."

The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 10

---

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."

The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 11

---

Chapter 11

Both Reggie and her grandfather had been summoned back to their home world. Reggie by the head of the Reginadde Intelligence Division who was overseeing her. Her grandfather by their leader, the Law Bearer.

It had been two days since Reggie had worked out what had been going on, but nothing had leaked out. They'd obviously got concerns, but Jennifer didn't understand why it was still secret. Perhaps they worked differently to the governments of Earth. If that had happened there, it would have been over the internet within a day.

Without Reggie, the shop didn't feel the same. There were still the people coming in, and the gossip still flowed, but it seemed empty. Dull. When there were no shoppers, she was on her own with little to do. To pass the time, she got the device to provide her with various cultural topics to build up her knowledge.

On the third day they both returned. She didn't say anything when she saw Reggie, but just held her.

"You can talk to me. My implant has been removed. When we returned, my grandfather ordered the doctor to remove it."

"What's upset you? That it's removed?"

"No. I hated the implant. Back home some called my grandfather a traitor. That he should have warned them so they could protect themselves. They have lived with an interdimensional drive for so long, the thought of not having it is making some of them irrational."

Irrational didn't sound good. "Oh no. What happened?"

"Someone in the government tried to get him removed. There was a vote by the signatories. They are like your ministers. They failed, but it was close."

"He's still the Ambassador then?"

"Yes. There can't be another vote for two cycles."

This was something she needed to report. Adelle had given a detailed session on reporting, but this was the first thing she felt she could report. Even with her secure connection, she didn't feel she could safely report about the interdimensional drive issue.

A customer interrupted their discussion. An Alphonian. He wasn't there for clothes, but for some human chocolate. He'd tried a sample that Jennifer had given two days previously, and he wanted a box as a gift for his wife.

"I think we need a day off," Jennifer said. "You've had far too much excitement. That was the last pickup. Let's go see how Kelly is doing with her training. She said yesterday she was getting better."

In a sudden peak of curiosity, Jennifer turned on the full imager. As Reggie walked out of the door, not only did the 3D body scanner do its usual scan, the extra electronics in the ceiling and floor came on. It wasn't a perfect image, but she saw the implant Reggie had previously was gone. It had been replaced with something shaped differently.

Reggie gave a gurgled scream of pain and put her hands to her head. A few ticks later, she was unconscious on the floor just outside the shop.

Jennifer instantly used her device to contact the doctors. As she did that, she shut down her scanner just in case that had caused the issue and raced across to her friend. While she waited for medical help to arrive, she sent a message to Reggie's parents and grandfather.

The first medic on scene was a species Jennifer hadn't had many dealings with. A Scotutr.

"What happened?" he enquired as he began to check Reggie.

Jennifer filled him in with what she saw, omitting the implant. "I believe the Reginadde ambassadorial doctor performed a procedure on her this morning."

"I can see that, but not what it was. He isn't available."

A trolley that looked like it was floating in the air approached from the main shopping area. It was at waist height with a large upright segment so people could see it. When it arrived it automatically lowered itself to the floor next to Reggie. With the help of a few passers-by, she was placed onto the floating trolley which enveloped her in some type of material to keep her from moving or falling.

"Where are you taking her?" Jennifer asked while closing the shop.

"Medical-2. No, I've just been instructed to take her directly to the medical bay on the Ambassadorial floor."

Jennifer followed and watched as they went to the Transport Hub and disappeared to the relevant floor. Jennifer went in and asked her device to hop her to the Ambassadorial floor.

"Access denied," her device informed her.

"Please retry."

"Access is still denied. That floor is sealed. Nobody can enter or leave."

"I just saw Reggie go there," Jennifer fumed at her device.

The device responded in the same pleasant tone. "They went to Medical-2 as the floor was sealed."

"Why was that floor sealed?"

"Security."

"Take me to Medical-2," Jennifer mentally screamed.

She then followed the tracker to where Reggie was being treated. As she walked, she contacted Theo. "What's happening?"

"How do you mean?" Theo asked.

"The Ambassador floor is in lockdown. My device says nobody can enter or leave that floor."

"Is it? I'm not sure if anybody is aware."

"Find the Reginadde Ambassador. He will have been notified that Reggie has been taken ill. He might be trying to get off the floor. Someone tried to remove him from his position while visiting his government. They failed. If he is locked on your floor, he will be a sitting duck."

"On it," Theo responded, already rising from his desk.

Rupert looked up at him quizzically.

"Lock yourself in with Georgina," Theo said to Rupert as he strode purposefully towards the door. "I've been told this floor is sealed. Under some type of lockdown. I've also been told someone doesn't want the Reginadde Ambassador to retain his job."

Rupert gave a quick squeak of surprise at Theo's assertiveness and did as he'd demanded.

"Good job," Jennifer whispered in Theo's mind. "I need to concentrate on getting Reggie safe and getting a message out."

Next, she contacted Hope. When she answered, Jennifer said, "Code 323."

"Acknowledged. What's happened?"

Jennifer gave an executive summary. "Someone might come to see why Reggie isn't responding. Though the doctors have contacted their home-world, so the people responsible may be aware."

"And K?"

"She knows what to do."

She disconnected the connection as she approached the medical room where Reggie was. She looked in and saw three doctors were looking at Reggie. Any scans they did would show in their brains. They had no need for monitors like hospitals on Earth.

"She told me earlier that her implant had been removed. She said she could no longer interface with it after that."

"Jennifer. You are classified as a close friend. Her parents are on the way, but they said we could talk to you. We can see the implant was removed. However, another one was inserted. This is an old-style Reginadde unit that was discontinued because it couldn't be removed. It was recording only. There was no way she would know it was there."

"I don't think she knew about it."

"It has become dislodged. She is unconscious because the new implant is unstable and it is hurting her. I have asked for assistance from the Reginadde doctor, but he still isn't available. A request to her home world has been made but they said this type of unit is not used. They are researching it to give us advice."

Jennifer let out a long breath. She'd had some emergency medical training, but nothing that covered anything like this. It was more how to patch themselves or someone else up if injured by a weapon. It wasn't anything to do with delicate neural surgery.

Reggie's parents arrived. They had normal jobs and were totally at a loss seeing their child hurt like this. They were just concerned about their child. There were no recriminations about her job. She did the job she did and they accepted it. What they couldn't understand was why someone had done something without her consent. That wasn't the way the Reginaddes behaved.

Reggie's mother looked at Jennifer. "We'll keep her safe. My father showed me some tricks, though I've not had to use them since Reggie was born. Do you have somewhere to be?"

Jennifer nodded. "I might send a friend to visit. She's called Hope. She is the partner of Kelly."

"If she is anything like you or Kelly, she will be a wonderful person. If she visits, we will make her welcome."

Jennifer crossed her hands at her wrists and put her head to one side. It was the Reginadde sign of goodbye, and she was out of the door before Reggie's parents could respond in kind.

Jennifer made her way back to her apartment and got out her rucksack that was already packed for emergencies. It contained her Direct Tunnel Device. After never using it, this was the second time so soon after the first. She didn't make the call from in her room but made her way to the lower viewing window. It looked out towards the stars, not towards the planet. It was a random location, so she hoped that randomness gave a touch extra privacy.

She placed the call, not going via the Rohastin Beacon. It wouldn't even touch Earth-1. It would hit one of the three planetary nodes. It was the closest and most secure she could make it. She overlayed the call with the notation "IA". In Action.

"Yes?" The call was answered immediately. No names were given. Jennifer recognised the person who answered but didn't mention that.

For what seemed like the first time in ages, Jennifer spoke in English. "The Rohastin activity that has led to a lot of species becoming nervous, has leaked. I can't reveal the details of the issue. However, Reginadde Intelligence became aware. This has led to instability in one of the most stable species. One that is the backbone of the Rohastin. It was described as them acting irrationally. There was a vote to replace the Reginadde Ambassador. It failed by a narrow margin. His granddaughter is in hospital. The ambassadorial floor is under lockdown. We are working on the assumption of an attempt to remove the Ambassador by extreme measures."

"What is your worst case?"

"If the Rohastin falls, there is a good chance the World Government might fall and instability returns."

"Understood. Is there any information we can get locally?"

Jennifer considered. "Yes. But I can't visit for four years to get it. Getting that issue resolved would calm everything down. Until then, it is just sticking plasters."

"Good luck. We have faith you can keep a lid on things. We're always here if you need advice."

What they would do with the information, she didn't know, but she knew it was just the four of them. But that is how it had to be. They might only be eighteen, but it was their region of knowledge.

Jennifer never wanted to be like her aunt and uncle. She never dreamed she would have a job similar to Stacy, Andy, David and Helen. They'd swept in when she was seven and protected her and the project. Andy and Helen had spotted her mum when she'd been kidnapped. Her aunt had gone into the lion's den and steered the situation to keep her mum alive until rescue arrived.

All she wanted was to learn and help others. She'd had that at Hayfield in ways she had never dreamed of. Her desire to help others had been the hook that made her look at Hayfield from a different perspective. She wondered what Hayfield could do for her. Then if going to Hayfield would be selfish when others would miss out. Until she was asked if going would help someone else. Was that a chance question? Looking back, probably not. Hayfield were nothing if not thorough in their research. They'd wanted her, and they made it seem like it was her choice.

She didn't care. If Hayfield had steered the conversation, it no longer mattered. They hadn't lied. She did learn. She did help others. Then the invite to the Beta program was given. She could have said no, but by the time she was asked, she was comparing it to her aunt and uncle. They'd gone there. When they explained the Beta program, she knew that had been their route. She knew her life would be in helping others and she wanted it.

And then there was her birth mother. She hadn't only helped others; she'd helped the world. It showed how helping just a few people could make the world of difference. Literally. She'd been there to help Georgina Harries when she'd been infected with a virus that should have broken her mind. She'd helped Becky start Star Bright and kept the scientists from burnout. She'd given birth to Jennifer who was in some ways following her footsteps.

Without those people before her, she would not have been there today. It was her turn, along with Theo, Hope and Kelly. She just hoped they were ready to stop the galaxy falling to bits.

She packed her items back into her rucksack and powered down her device. She wouldn't be able to talk with the station, but it would remove the easiest method to track her. Making sure nobody was watching, she went to one of the maintenance bot ports. It was small, not being designed for a living person. Now the bots were tiny, but going back a few centuries, they must have been a bit larger. Nobody had bothered to make the entrances smaller, so there was just enough space for her to wriggle through.

She almost banged her head when she was half-way through. There was a narrow passageway that went left. She had to twist her way around to get in. Helpfully the hatch closed behind her. Unhelpfully she was plunged into darkness. The bots didn't need light, so why would they light a maintenance corridor? She fumbled for her rucksack and after fumbling with the catch heard the contents clang onto the corridor floor. They seemed to echo on the metal surface, breaking the silence. She'd never heard the maintenance bots and hoped the soundproofing had masked her mistake.

She berated herself for her clumsiness in not spotting the rucksack had been upside down. At least the corridor was flat, so things didn't roll everywhere. Finding the torch was her first success. Once the area was lit, she packed everything away and crawled onwards. The blueprints that Adelle had sourced had indicated a wider vertical corridor. She just hoped there wasn't a bot trying to come down this narrow access corridor as she edged forward, trying to make as little noise as possible.

When she reached the end of the passage, she wanted to praise the bots. It seemed they didn't just clean the public part of the station, but also the maintenance corridors. She'd thought they might be dirty, with decades of grease and muck. But they were clean and sterile. Perhaps someone could introduce the bots to a nice citrus smell or even lemon zest. It might make these corridors feel a bit more homely.

At the end, there was another crawl hatch. She lifted it, hoping to see a magical environment with stairs, ramps, lifts and bots zooming everywhere. She was disappointed. It was so dark she was sure she couldn't see the end of her nose. She'd grown up with darkness, so it wasn't her enemy. The little hamlet she'd spent the first twelve years of her life had no streetlights. Without a torch, it was dangerous going out at night. It wasn't pitch black as there was light pollution from neighbouring cities that spoilt the view of the stars. Hayfield did have outside lights along the driveway. It was never as dark as home, but it wasn't the city life that her parents had grown up in.

"Light on", she whispered in Hytuna. She meant it as a joke to relieve a bit of pressure. But when the area lit up, she almost fell out of the hatch.

There were levels. Walkways. Ladders. Ramps. And some type of zip wire, with bots using it to move quickly between levels.

There was a wide ledge, so she finished climbing out of the corridor. The door sealed behind her. It was the first time she'd been able to stand since she'd entered the hidden area of the station. She wondered if there were workers who maintained it, or if there were repair bots who serviced the maintenance bots. Reggie had mentioned the bots cleaned, but she'd heard nothing about station maintenance. Perhaps it was something long forgotten about because nobody had to think about it.

The almost vertical ladder was the shortest way to climb. It wasn't straight up, but close. There were steps, and not rungs, so it was easier on her feet. She had a long way to go. Every level, there was a ledge and she had a new ladder. At least it didn't seem she'd have far to fall if she ever did. She estimated she'd climbed four levels when she hit a barrier. If it was a ship, they would be described as bulkheads. A way to limit any disaster to a limited range of floors.

She had two choices. A hatch leading up, but another one on the opposite wall. She opened the hatch. It was dark. She called for the lights to turn on, and she saw the same pattern as earlier. She asked for the lights to turn off, and they did. She decided she would see what was behind door number two.

There was a chamber, which was lit as she opened the door. There was a ramp, which seemed to arch so at the end, someone would be horizontal. Strange. She thought about going back, but she was curious why the ramp was like it was. Slowly climbing the ramp, she felt strange and stopped, trying to work out what was strange. She took another few steps, and realised it never felt like she was approaching vertical. It was like spinning in a hamster wheel, but gravity was moving with her. When she reached the hatch at the end, what had been horizontal was now vertical. In Earth terms her orientation had changed ninety degrees.

She entered into a wide corridor that ran up the length of the station. Movement would be easier now she no longer had to climb those almost vertical ladders. The gravity in this corridor was different. She could now walk along the station. What would have been a long climb was just a hike.

It made sense. The station didn't spin. All gravity was artificially created using some amazing technology. So why shouldn't they have a corridor that had gravity that went the other way? If they could create artificial gravity, they would be able to control the structure to cope with it being different in some areas.

There seemed to be two sides to the corridor. Bots zipped one way on one side and zipped the other way on the other side. If she kept to the middle, she wouldn't be in the way of any of them. There weren't a lot of bots, but she saw several types, probably designed for different tasks. They ignored her, as if it was expected to have someone walking in that corridor. Where they lived, or who was instructing them, briefly crossed her mind but she didn't have any data to go on. That would be something interesting to discover if she survived this.

This route meant she could make better time. She didn't run. She could have done, but she suspected there would be hatches to go through along the way. She kept a steady pace. Every four levels there was a door continuing along the corridor and another door leading back to the ladders.

In her mind, she counted the levels at each hatch. When she'd reached the rough level she wanted, she returned to the ladders. She entered from the transition chamber. It was dark. She didn't know if they were there.

After waiting and not hearing anything, she decided to chance seeing if they were waiting for her. It was where they were supposed to meet. She cupped her hands over her mouth and mimicked an owl hooting. It was a pretty lame impression. It was good enough for a light to come on, a level below her. She leaned over and saw Kelly and the Reginadde Ambassador. She sighed in relief. Theo had managed to extract the Ambassador and pass him to Kelly.

A fiery plasma bolt shot across the enclosure. Jennifer felt a lurch, not from fear, but from a sudden change in gravity. The plasma started dissipating before hitting the wall behind where Kelly was. Kelly quickly extinguished her light before a second shot was fired. How had that weapon got past the stringent security of the station? How had the gravity suddenly shifted? As soon as the plasma bolt hit the wall, gravity went back to normal. If it hadn't been for that change in gravity, it would have hit where they were. If that was a Reginadde weapon, she would have 60 ticks before they could fire again. If it was a Yvestigan, 40 ticks. But they could also have a second gun that they could fire instantly.

She slowly made her way as quietly as possible down the ladder. It was all about feel. She couldn't have moved quickly, even if she wanted to. She couldn't see where she was going, and it was all memory from her initial climb. How many steps to the next ledge. How far along the ledge to the next ladder.

She'd made it down two ladders when she heard the clunk of a hatch shutting. She paused, trying to listen. Had the shooter left? Had Kelly and the Reginadde Ambassador left? Or had someone else joined them?

There was a muffled noise followed by the sound of something dragging on the metal. The light came on, and Jennifer saw a Reginadde wrapped in a mesh. Two bots next to him.

"They do exist," the Reginadde Ambassador said in awe as he got up.

"What do you mean?" Kelly asked.

"Security bots. I've never seen them. There hasn't been a call for them in a long time. Just folklore recorded by some of my predecessors. I knew the station security protocols were already heightened because the attack that killed the Reginadde doctor that sealed the floor. The gravity change must have been the station too. I heard my granddaughter was taken ill. Is she okay?"

"She's in the medical ward. A colleague should be with her. Her parents are with her too."

"Do they know what's wrong?"

"Yes. What was your instruction to the Reginadde doctor?"

"To remove the implant. He did that. I saw it after the surgery."

"He took it out but replaced it with an old model. One that she couldn't interact with. One that they said couldn't be removed."

The Reginadde Ambassador became extremely angry. He muttered words in his native language. Only some Jennifer had understood and those weren't nice words.

"Watch your language," Jennifer scolded him, but her tone was light and teasing.

They made their way carefully to the secured assassin. The bots hadn't moved him. Jennifer didn't know why. Perhaps they were waiting for instructions, or maybe their job was just to secure and other bots take them away.

"Why?" the Ambassador asked, his voice full of fury.

"You lost our confidence. We had to put someone in here to take control. We can't risk losing interdimensional drives. We would lose contact with our other planets. We would stop being one."

The Ambassador said gravely, "We are part of the Rohastin. We do things together. Other species have different skills with the drive. Only by us working together will we solve this. Only the humans have skills with thrusters on large ships. They are new to interdimensional drives and have not lost that knowledge like we have."

A trolley like the medical one Jennifer had seen Reggie on arrived. It positioned itself upright, wrapped more fabric around the assassin, and then slowly rotated, the Reginadde losing their footing. It then went up the levels to the outer hatch and the corridor.

"Is it safe now?" the Ambassador asked. "I don't have access to the station systems while in here."

Jennifer set her rucksack down. "I will make a call via Earth. It will be slow, but we won't be tracked by the beacon."

The definition of slow was relative. Back before using the interdimensional tunnel technology for communication, a message would have taken longer than their life. Because she was bouncing via Earth, she would probably have a two second delay.

"Status," Jennifer said to Theo, as the call was connected.

"Everybody safe. The person who killed the Reginadde doctor attempted to kill the Ambassador. He was still unconscious when some bots arrived and took him away. The floor is still locked. Is there another threat?"

"The station detected the threats. Ask your device if there is still danger?"

The delay was longer than expected, but Theo responded. "I didn't have access, but Georgina did. There is a Yvestigan at the top of the ramp, waiting for the unlock. The station can't do anything as he hasn't made any violent moves. A trio of Alphonians from the mall are going to have a word with him and find out why he has a weapon and how he got it on the station. Very few know my involvement. Nobody knows yours."

"Okay. We're going to make our way down and exit via the next larger hatch. I'll let you know when we're out."

Jennifer hung up and placed everything back in her rucksack. She turned and saw the Reginadde Ambassador looking at her with interest.

"That is an interesting tool," he said.

"It is. Shall we make our way out of here? I'm sure you're eager to see your granddaughter."

"That was where I was heading before this incident happened."

"If we go down through to the next section, there is an easier route," Jennifer suggested.

"It's a hidden area of the station that nobody really knows about," he mused. "Perhaps it's best like that. Just in case I need to escape again."

The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 12

---

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Reggie was still unconscious when Jennifer, Kelly and the Reginadde Ambassador arrived, but there were more doctors. Doctors that Jennifer knew. The Ambassador floor must have been open because four of their elite team that were based close to the Ambassadors were there. The only one not there was the Reginadde doctor because he'd been killed.

"Ah. You made it," Shinara said to the Reginadde Ambassador.

"I seemed to have been slightly delayed," he responded, taking a seat next to his daughter. He turned to her and said, "The very best doctors are looking after her."

They all turned as one to look at the doctors. Shinara took the lead. "The initial doctor's assessment is correct. The implant is loose and is causing brain interference. I find this strange as the doctor who fitted it was usually meticulous. We have two options. We can put it back in securely or we can look at removing it."

"I didn't think it was possible?" Reggie's father said.

"A way has never been found. That doesn't make it impossible. It shouldn't have come away like it has either. Some of the fine hairs that link it to the brain are detached. Before we operate, I'd like to see if we can find out what dislodged it."

Jennifer felt torn. She didn't want Reggie's parents to think that she'd caused her daughter to collapse. Yet if the imager did cause it to dislodge and a repeat would help her get rid of the implant, then wouldn't that be good? She asked her device to extract the memories from Reggie appearing that morning to when she collapsed and send a copy to Shinara.

Receiving a copy of someone's thoughts is disconcerting for those that have never experienced it, but Shinara continued her normal routine. There was no pausing or sitting down. Jennifer had enough trouble in calling someone while doing something else, let alone analysing a mental video from a different species. It made Jennifer wonder if she'd viewed it.

"We are still waiting for information from the Reginadde doctors on their home world," one of the other doctors said. "She is sedated. She is comfortable. She isn't going to get brain damage if we wait. The implant was a violation on what she wanted. If there is a way to remove it, we should see if we can. That would be the more ethical solution."

"I'd like to see where she collapsed," Shinara said. "Jennifer, since you two run the shop together, can you show me?"

"I better get back to my training. I'm hoping to take my test soon," Kelly said. Then she turned to Reggie's parents and asked, "Are you okay if I come back later to see your daughter?"

"You are always welcome," Reggie's father said.

Kelly and Hope gave the Reginadde sign of goodbye and disappeared.

"Are all humans that polite?" Reggie's mother asked.

"The ones worth knowing are," the Reginadde Ambassador responded.

"Shall we go?" Jennifer said to Shinara. "I'll show you the shop. I might even be able to make an outfit for you."

"Just don't make anything like those scrubs your hospital doctors wear. They're so boring."

As they walked, Shinara asked, "Since it is just the two of us, is the rumour true that you went for a walk into the middle of the wilderness, and still managed to find someone who had a prophecy about you?"

"I'd say it was a vision, rather than a prophecy."

"I'm really going to have to get you into my lab. I'd like to see if I can work out what gene you have that seems to make you attract prophecies and visions."

They both laughed and Jennifer felt better. Shinara was not only a very good doctor, but she was also wonderful at putting people at ease.

Once they got to the shop, Shinara went through what happened, step by step. She then took a few things out of her bag and placed them on the floor underneath the area.

"Can you initiate a scan on those?" Shinara asked.

Jennifer gave a small shrug and did as she'd been asked. The image shown on her screen gave no clue to what Shinara was trying to achieve.

"What do they do?" Jennifer asked, when the scan was completed.

"Electromagnetic radiation can have a serious impact on some species. Having a device that captures that detail can often be revealing."

"And the other three devices?"

Shinara smiled. "They are all linked, recording the frequencies and patterns. The type of equipment you have is never straightforward."

"So, what now? You take them back to your lab and analyse them?"

"I could, but I want a more direct test. Not only can it record what it sees, it can also simulate. I should be able to put this over your friend's head and see if there are any reactions. She will be monitored while we do this to make sure there aren't any adverse reactions."

"I wouldn't want to melt her brain," Jennifer responded.

For a brief moment, Shinara looked worried and then she relaxed. "Is that one of your sayings?"

"Sort of. I'm sure there is nothing you would do that would melt her brain. But it is also true, melting her brain isn't desired, no matter what."

"This is a longshot," Shinara said, as they got back to Reggie. "I need to set some monitors up. We will then run the test. See if this has any impact."

"It won't hurt her, will it?" Reggie's mother said.

"She is already unconscious," Shinara replied. "We are carefully monitoring her to make sure she doesn't wake up while we do this."

Instructions must have been given by her implant, as technicians started coming in with extra equipment. When Reggie was hooked up to it, nothing happened until Shinara had personally checked everything.

"I'm ready to do this," Shinara said to Reggie's parents.

"Is there anything we can do?"

"You know your daughter the best. If you think she is suffering, tell me. She shouldn't, but parents are always the best people to look out for their children."

Instead of the image of her brain being shown directly to Shinara, it was shown as a full colour three-dimensional hologram so they could all see. Jennifer marvelled at how the structure of the brain was so different to hers. It was the first time she'd seen a different type of brain. It looked so intricate and delicate. Full of different colours. And sitting next to it was this black blob, looking like an evil invader, with thin wires going into the swirls and arches of her brain.

Jennifer felt repulsed by it but couldn't say anything. Reggie's parents needed calm strength.

"We are going to go with the strength the logs indicated when we captured the data. We have a sedation line in, so she shouldn't wake."

Reggie slept on, like an alien sleeping beauty. She never flinched as the duplicated imaging waves were sent. The top of her brain, though, changed colour slightly. The wires held fast for three ticks and as the simulation ended, more wires came unattached.

"Well, look at that," a voice said from the back, and they turned to see the Reginadde Ambassador. "Yet again, the impossible has been shown to be possible because other species do things differently."

There were still a few wires attached, but the majority now were floating freely, like hair blowing in the wind. After Shinara was confident that Reggie had recovered, they repeated the process and the last few wires disconnected.

"I need you to leave while I operate to remove it," Shinara demanded.

"Can I observe?" Jennifer asked, as the others left.

Shinara looked across. "Have you watched an operation before?"

"On Earth. I trust you, but I need to be able to say to Reggie that I saw it with my own eyes."

"I know, but operations here are rare and very different to that on Earth. I was lucky to see a few when we treated your Ma after her kidnapping."

"You don't just extract it, like you do blood samples?" Jennifer said, surprised.

"No. There is too much risk working so closely to the brain."

She passed two small objects to Jennifer. "Place one each side of your nose. Like I am."

Jennifer looked and replicated what Shinara had done. Whatever they were, they attached snugly to her skin.

"On Earth, you would have put on a surgical mask. This does the same thing. It creates a small forcefield around you. It stops your breath impacting our patient or any microbes that are on your clothes. I'm ordering the room airtight. There are filters in each hospital room. We will be operating inside a bubble with no dust."

Shinara placed four similar objects on Reggie's head where she was going to operate. "The surgery area is in its own bubble giving the protection of a sealed room, the operating bubble and the surgical bubble."

The operation was quicker than Jennifer expected. There wasn't a single knife used. A small laser removed the bone in the designated area, and Shinara used another tool to grab the implant. She placed it in a small box marked evidence, which instantly sealed. The bone removed for access was placed back, and some type of artificial bone welded around it, fusing her real bone back in place. Tissue and skin were reapplied and the operation was over.

When they stepped out of the surgical bubble, there wasn't a sign that she'd been operated on.

"We have nothing like this on Earth," Jennifer said, as she removed the two shield generators.

"We've already shown this technique to some of your surgeons. It's all Rohastin shareable technology. I'm sure it will start to be used when they're ready. A skilled surgeon using their current techniques is still better than a skilled surgeon using an unfamiliar technique. As it is taught in medical school and existing surgeons upskill, it will probably be seen more. We share, not mandate."

"Thank you for your help with Reggie. I'm saddened that the Reginadde doctor did that. I know he saved Georgina's life and helped with my Ma."

"I've known him for many cycles. I doubt he did it willingly. Now he is dead and can't tell anybody who ordered him to do it."

That was a sobering thought, and Jennifer didn't know what to say. Instead, they worked together in clearing up from the operation.

"All she needs to do now is wake up," Jennifer said as they finished.

"It won't be long. Let's get the family in. It's always nice for them to see the patient awaken."

"You have quite a range of hidden talents," the Reginadde Ambassador said to Jennifer as he came into the room.

"Shinara did the work. I was just a witness."

"We are grateful," Reggie's father said.

A small voice from the bed distracted them. "Why am I in hospital?"

"You were ill," the Reginadde Ambassador said simply. "Shinara made you better."

"The last thing I remember was we were about to leave the shop," Reggie frowned, trying her best to drag memories into her brain.

"You collapsed. Your doctor took out your implant, but secretly he put a different one in. One you wouldn't know about."

Reggie gasped. "A Poaart?"

"Yes."

Reggie was shocked. "But they were banned because they could never be removed."

"It's gone," Jennifer reassured. "Your parents watched as it was disconnected. I watched Shinara remove it. You can have any doctor you want to perform a scan to prove to you it is gone."

"How?" Reggie asked, finding it hard to believe. It couldn't be done.

"Magic," Jennifer said, and Reggie's eyes shone. She knew Jennifer was teasing. "Now you are awake, I need to tell Kelly. I'll see you tomorrow."

And before she would change her mind and sit with her friend, she departed. She knew she had a report to make to downgrade their status from In Action to Listening.

When Theo got home, they snuggled up on the settee. He said, "That was some day."

"What happened with the Yvestigan?"

"It was a false alarm. It was the new aide to the Yvestigan Ambassador. He had a ceremonial knife. He was reminded it was only the Ambassadors that were allowed them and they had to be pre-notified."

"So not another attack?" Jennifer asked.

"It seems not. Or if it was, and he changed his mind when confronted."

"What about your position? Georgina hasn't sacked you?"

"No. It seems she and Rupert are happy with my work." He looked across at her. "Why did you leave Reggie?"

"It was too much. After the day, and then seeing her awake, it just came crashing down. I didn't want to burst into tears in front of her and her family. The family needed to be there for Reggie. I didn't want to distract from that. And you are my comfort. Where else could I be after a day like today, but in your arms."

"And I in yours. Though my day seemed a lot less exciting than yours. Any idea where the prisoners were taken?"

"No. I hope somebody does otherwise they will literally rot in a prison that everybody has forgotten about."

Theo sighed. "Who would have thought such a stable species would fall apart like this?"

"That's the issue. Because they've been stable for so long, they've forgotten what happens when it all falls apart and they have no checks and balances to stop it escalating. Someone is using the opportunity to make a play for power and so far, nobody seems to be doing anything about it."

"Play on their fear. If you don't follow my plan, we will lose our way of life. Humans see it all the time. Stroke their fear and they'll gladly follow. Who knows, they might have a better plan, but they're going about it in the wrong way."

Jennifer looked down at her lap. "I don't think anything will get better until they find out what stopped the interdimensional drive. Something they thought was an absolute is now in danger of disappearing. For us, we've not had that technology long. For them, it's like saying the sun won't rise in the morning. It's just so unthinkable."

"I have something for you," he said, untangling himself from her arms. He guided her to a box that was placed neatly next to the door to the bedroom. "Open it."

She did and gave a squeal of joy. She removed an instrument case. She knew what was inside based on the shape. With shaking hands she opened the clasps, revealing a French Horn, the gleaming metal she knew she would always keep polished. Theo had ordered it as soon as his action was over. He marked it as urgent and a hopper had brought it. He'd hidden it in the room and gone back to work.

"Oh Theo. After a day like today, this is perfect."

The next day, Reggie was in the shop with Jennifer. It was a testimonial to the medical skills of everybody that after spending the previous day unconscious and having two major operations, she was able to go to work.

"I think there are going to be some very confused people on our home world," Reggie said, as they opened the shop for the day.

"You can confuse them even further," Jennifer said, a small smile appearing.

"Oh?"

"Write them a report. Continue your job. Show that just because you don't have an implant doesn't mean you aren't a loyal citizen."

"But they tried to kill my grandfather."

"That is why it will confuse them. Anyway, if you continue to send reports, they won't send put someone else to replace you. You then can control what you tell them, rather than having someone else tell them everything."

"That sounds wrong," Reggie said. "Either I tell them nothing, or I tell them everything. It would be dishonest if I only told them some things."

Jennifer nodded, surprised that someone who had been persuaded to join the Reginadde intelligence community was still full of their own convictions. Reggie's look on life was still mostly black and white. Jennifer sighed and wondered if her hundreds of different shades of grey was where the problems lay. Had she lost her morals?

It was quiet the next few days. Quiet in that nobody was trying to kill them or their families. The shop was never quiet. Things picked up even more when the Alphonian clothing shop decided to close. They only made clothing for Alphonians using Alphonian styles. Even with Jennifer showing that Alphonians wanted different colours and cuts, they stuck with the traditional. In the end, with very little footfall, they decided to do something else with their time.

"I got a strange response," Reggie said as the morning footfall died down.

"Oh?" Jennifer enquired.

"I did a report mentioning the doctor had put in a Poaart, and that there had been an assassination attempt on my grandfather. They responded that the Poaart is banned and would never request one be implanted. They stated implants were always inserted with the knowledge of the recipient. They want more information. I don't know what to make of it."

"Interesting. Either they had no idea, and someone else made the instruction, and intelligence are bewildered. Or they are lying. We've no way of telling. It could be the person who tried to get your grandfather removed is pulling the strings and they didn't know."

Around lunchtime, they got a call from Hope. "Kelly's going to go for it. Can you come?"

"Go for?" Jennifer asked.

"Level 5 certification. She did a trial run earlier, but the course was too busy."

The shop was empty. They might get some customers at lunchtime, but they could wait. This was their friend. "We're on our way. Are you contacting Theo?"

"Already done. He asked Rupert, who told him to get across here."

Jennifer filled in Reggie, who started shutting down the equipment. She wanted to be there as much as Jennifer did. Both Jennifer and Kelly were her closest friends, and she wasn't going to miss out on seeing Kelly reach competition level.

Thankfully, the shop entrance was on the corridor leading to the Transport Hub. In twenty ticks they were already at the Space Racer facility. It wasn't like the first time Jennifer and Kelly had been, where it was before breakfast and the place was mostly deserted. Now, it was full of activity.

As they rushed towards the entrance, where they knew Kelly and Hope would be, they could see the vast arena enclosed behind a clear wall. Beyond that, it was a vacuum, and zero gravity. Where they were, it was just a little under Earth level. They were so used to different parts of the station being configured for the comfort of those on the station that it no longer registered as wrong. They'd been here so many times that the step now naturally adjusted without having to think.

Theo caught up just as they saw Kelly and Hope. Hope waved them across.

"It's great you came," Kelly said. She then looked around to make sure nobody else was in earshot. "I just overheard something you might be interested in. I heard a Reginadde talking to one of the competitors. He wanted to know if a Space Racer could go elsewhere. A science ship went to investigate the star system that had the drive disruption. They've not been heard from. Space Racers don't have interdimensional drives, so couldn't help."

"I thought Earth was sending a ship," Jennifer said.

"Perhaps they didn't want to wait," Reggie responded. "But it's awful they didn't know that Space Racers don't contain interdimensional drives."

"It sounds like they're panicking," Hope said. "Clutching at straws."

Reggie had heard of that saying and nodded.

"It's coming up to your time," Hope said to Kelly. "Get in the zone. You have three laps."

"Good luck," the others called and stepped away to the viewing area. They didn't want to disturb Kelly's preparations.

The first set of spectator stands were full. Space Racers from the leagues had heard that an attempt had been booked and had arrived to watch. They wanted to know if that young human female they'd watched wrestle her vessel using her unique controls would make the grade.

The controls in the racer were designed by the driver. When they got in, the area at the front would morph to the remembered settings for that racer. Kelly had been eight when she'd visited for the first time. She'd been used to games consoles, so her requested Space Racer control system was based on what she was used to. She'd never changed much from her original design. As she'd grown, she'd wanted a few things more spaced out to give her room, but that was it.

"I've made a request to home for information," Reggie said as they sat down to watch Kelly. "I've flagged it as urgent."

"And if it's true?" Theo asked.

"Let's cross that bridge when we have to," Jennifer responded, a plan already forming in her mind. If humans had been building a ship, there were only a handful of people who would know the status and two of them were her parents. Again, she was coming close to breaking the rule about not contacting her family for four years after school. It was a rule designed to protect the school, and it was something that all the pupils followed because they wanted future generations to continue to get the support that school gave.

"My device just told me Kelly's attempt was just mentioned on some sports channels," Theo announced.

"I'm so glad she isn't aware," Jennifer said, slightly amazed at all the interest. "That would be too much pressure."

A racer left and entered the route. "It's Kelly," shouted Reggie standing up as if it would help her see it better.

Kelly's ship did a triple full rotation as she performed a sharp turn and dived through the first gate starting the timer. They'd all watched the space racer league and the different level of skill each of the four professional racer levels. For this qualification, she had a set routine with specific moves to perform, and it had to be completed within a set time.

Half-way through the first lap, she missed a gate. She'd been too aggressive with upward braking. She continued using the rest of the lap to reset and get back into the groove. Jennifer looked across at the professional racers, and they'd not taken their eyes off the track. Even after the mistake, they'd not given up. They knew she had two other laps.

As she came through the last gate on the first attempt, she was within the time but had one demerit. Again, she made the triple rotation and turned into the first gate. A holo-screen had come on, which was unusual for something that wasn't being broadcast. The spectators could now see every move in full closeup. As she banked into the tunnel, the lights flashed by as her ship dropped into the 110-degree turn. The lights made it seem narrow, but three ships could comfortably race through it, side-by-side.

As she went through the gate she'd missed the previous lap, something seemed to change. Her aggressive moves seemed to settle. She was in the zone. Her moves seemed to become more fluid as she was not having to make late corrections. The professionals had noticed, as they seemed to be leaning forward almost as they were willing her on. Her craft entered the final straight and when she passed through the final gate, she'd become the first human to achieve Level 5 status.

But Kelly didn't stop. She had one lap remaining and she was going to use it. Her ship sang to her touch as she soared through the first gate. Even by the second gate she was noticeably quicker than her previous runs.

A message came through to Jennifer. It was from Dr Ruiz from Hayfield. Her second run had been broadcast across all of Earth television. Lessons at Hayfield had come to a standstill as they were all screaming for a girl that six months previously had been head-girl. She smiled and as she continued to watch, she noticed that Reggie had sat down, her head lowered. It wasn't in fear for Kelly. Jennifer recognised that her friend had a call that was coming through her device.

As the call ended, Reggie was back on her feet. Kelly came onto the final straight, heading to the last gate. The professional racers were also on their feet, as she screamed through the gate. It wasn't the fastest lap ever, but if that had been qualifying for the entry league, she would have started seventh out of thirty.

The three of them rushed to where Kelly would dock. They weren't the only ones. The league racers were there too. Kelly might have qualified, but she would still need to be picked by a team. Other racers made way for Ve'tran, the number one Alphonian racer, to the gate. It was known by the others that he'd been giving Kelly some tips, and his spotter, Po'ropkin, had been giving advice to Hope.

"Let them through," Hope called out, indicating Jennifer, Theo and Reggie. "They are Kelly's friends."

And to Jennifer's surprise, a gap appeared, and they were ushered through. A Frotanian spotted Jennifer and said, "It's one of the Trinity."

As Kelly got out of her racer, she was beaming. She was hugged by her friends and then they stepped aside for Ve'tran to offer his congratulations. With that over, she made her way towards the other races, who gave her the traditional Space Racers salute. She was being welcomed into a club that very few in the whole of the Rohastin got to be in.

The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 13

---

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."

The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 14

---

Chapter 14

When they came out of the Zone of Silence, Reggie gave an audible gasp as she was once again connected to the Reginadde network.

"We're out," she called, knowing before anybody on the ship that they were in a position to jump.

Sam said urgently, "Reggie, please remind them not to jump. We need to detach first."

"Fantastic," James said. "We don't have to go as far as we expected. The exploration vehicle tried periodically and was quite a bit beyond the interference. Reggie is obviously a better monitor. I'm so glad she came."

Kelly and Hope blew raspberries at James and Evan laughed. Reggie thought for a second and realised the meaning. She then tried to mimic it. She didn't do too badly for her first attempt.

"Okay, Kelly. Unhook us," James said.

Kelly nodded, her heart rate picking up. James had hooked them up, and he said Kelly would do the reverse. She'd planned what she was going to do, so there was no fretting about that. The screen showing the connection had been on since they'd started the journey. It was the area they were constantly monitoring.

There hadn't been a need for constant thrust. Instead, they'd used gentle thrust to negate the pull from the gas giant they were near and then let nature take over. They knew they had enough momentum to get out of the zone, but they stayed latched, just in case.

Kelly gave a small burst of the manoeuvring thrusters, rather than the large ones at the back of the ship that had got them out of the planet's gravity well. Slowly, they came apart. The design had been crude but effective. The Reginadde ship had a small loop on its roof used for lifting during construction. They'd fitted a hook on the underside of the rescue vehicle and slotted in. A simple solution often was the easiest in an emergency.

As they gently drifted apart and came clear of the loop, Kelly gave another small burst to move them upward. It lasted less than a tick. Just enough to move without causing a big reaction to the Reginadde vehicle.

"We're clear," Hope said as they drifted further apart.

"Null out your reverse drift," James suggested. "You don't want to end up drifting back into the Zone."

Kelly did, and with James's nod of approval took her hands from the controls. She dropped them to her knees and wiped them on her trousers. James might have noticed, but she'd seen him do the same after they'd connected to the stranded vehicle.

"How are they?" Sam asked Reggie.

"Relieved. Ready to go home. They seem to be a bit better now they aren't disconnected."

That was a vast improvement from when they'd initially arrived. The Reginaddes were stranded. No communication. A finite amount of food and water. They thought they were going to die. They hadn't seen the human ship arrive, and it wasn't until Reggie made contact that they understood they were being rescued. That was their first hope that they might survive and they clung to it. Reggie and Hope's constant communication kept them going. A human had made the effort to learn their native language.

A day before they exited the zone, the Reginaddes ran out of food. They still had some water left, but it reopened their depression. It was Hope that stood for none of their wallowing. She told them that scientists didn't behave like that. It was a new experience for them, and they should record their findings, so they had something additional to give back to the Reginadde science community.

"I've informed the Rohastin Council we are safe," Sam reported. "They've told me they are working on a drive upgrade, so it doesn't happen again."

Kelly opened a communications tunnel to the Reginadde ship and got their hop sequences for their home world. It was too distant for a single hop, even for human ships. The human ship could have gone straight back to the Rohastin Station to drop off Kelly, Hope and Reggie, but they wanted to accompany the Reginaddes. It had been a traumatic experience for them and that little bit of extra company might make the difference.

They jumped into orbit just outside the Reginadde home world. What was strange, though, was that the Reginadde science ship was further away than they'd been after previous hops.

The captain of their ship came through, his voice very formal. "I wish to thank you for rescuing us. You put yourselves in personal danger and our whole species is humbled by that. A senior Signatory has invoked Safety Order Six. The planet will witness their safety being retained."

"NO!" Reggie yelled, the only one understanding. However, before she could say more, the Reginadde ship exploded.

Kelly didn't hesitate but set a random destination away from the planet. She'd no idea what they would do to them.

The jump to safety was over in the blink of an eye. Kelly turned her chair, so she was looking at Reggie. In a shaky voice she asked, "What was that?"

"There are laws for exploration. Someone decided that they might be a danger to the public. If that is determined, the rule is absolute. Once that order was issued, that is it. You don't question an order like that."

"Why didn't someone tell us before we spent days rescuing them?" Sam said angrily.

"Because the only way that would have worked is in the full view of everyone," Kelly replied. She then said sarcastically and with more than a hint of bitterness, "Look how we're protecting the public."

"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark," Hope said.

James looked at Hope with surprise. "You know Hamlet?"

Hope and Kelly shrugged. They got a wide education at Hayfield.

"Is it safe for us to go back to the Rohastin Station?" Evan asked.

"Let me ask," James said, his voice slightly husky. He'd not been expecting that to happen. The conversation wasn't long. "We've been given a different return location. Once we've arrived, we are to remain inside the ship."

"It's still at the station," Kelly said, looking at the coordinates. "But not our usual place."

"Take us in."

When they exited the interdimensional tunnel, they were in an enclosure that wasn't much bigger than the ship.

"I hope this isn't a coffin," Sam muttered.

Kelly's device connected. They were on the Rohastin Station. The device informed her that the ship was inside a forcefield and within a sealed container. The ship was being checked to make sure there weren't any undesired guests.

"I hope they aren't going to scan us too," James said. "I've not had a shower for a week."

"Do you remember the time we set the scanners off at the factory?" Sam said to James, reminiscing on one of the early hops while still testing the first ships.

James chortled. "I hope Ashleigh never hears about this."

"I remember Evan giving me and Jennifer a cautionary tale about that," Kelly said. "I never thought I'd be in a similar situation."

"They really need red flashing lights," James added.

"I'm sure there will be if they find anything."

"I sense a story here," Hope said, stretching her legs across several seats and resting her back against the ship wall.

"That is a story Kelly can tell you one day over a nice glass of wine."

Kelly snorted. "I don't know when I last had alcohol. We've found a nice bar, but we only drink non-intoxicating drinks. I don't want to be banned from racing. Anyway, if you ever get a week on the station when you are definitely not piloting a ship, there are non-human drinks that will get you buzzed a lot quicker than beer, wine or spirits."

"We did all that to save them, and it was for nothing," sighed Evan, his eyes focused on the floor. He'd not spoken since they'd jumped into the Rohastin Station and had only vaguely been listening. He'd been trying to process what had happened. "It seems ... a waste."

Evan was a scientist. He was the purest one in the ship. James was ex-RAF. Sam had been in the US Navy. Kelly and Hope were trained to be undercover investigators, and Reggie had been recruited by Reginadde Intelligence. It wasn't a surprise that Evan was having difficulty finding the right words to explain how he felt.

"It was a waste, but not ours," James responded. "We have shown we were willing to step up where nobody else could. We got them out. The science has moved on, and it sounds like a solution to stop us getting stuck again is being worked on. Them being ordered to blow themselves up was out of our control. The Reginadde have their systems. I personally think it is a waste of life, but I'm sure the Reginadde think some of the human rules are inexplicable."

"We are cleared," Kelly said, having had updates on the progress. "I'll hop to the main hangar bay. Reggie, Hope and I can then depart. Are you heading back to Earth?"

"Yes. And hopefully I can get that shower before Justin comes home from school," James said.

* * *

Jennifer finished reading Kelly's report and then read it again, not believing what she'd read the first time.

"What's up?" Theo asked, at Jennifer's reaction.

She passed him her tablet. "Read it yourself."

He scanned the report, then put her tablet down. "That's... Hytuna needs some better expletives. I can't express my feelings properly."

Jennifer nodded. She'd not expected anything like that. She had been sent a copy. The report was sent back to Miss T on Earth. "I've sent a message to my Mum suggesting she check on Evan. Sam has Jessica."

"What about Reggie?" Theo asked, moving next to Jennifer. "This is a two-bedroom apartment. Should she be on her own after something like that?"

"Are you sure?" Jennifer asked.

"She's our friend," Theo said. "I've no issue with her staying if she wants to."

Jennifer sent a note and got a quick response. "Thank you. Kelly and Hope also reached out, but all I want to do is get a good night's sleep in my own bed. See you at the shop tomorrow."

"It seems so wrong," Theo sighed. "But it is their rules. Is our job here over? We found what everybody was trying to discover."

"The Urattr are still here. There is a discussion about changing how the tunnel is formed, but that seems to be about them not getting blocked. There has been no urgency on helping the Urattr stranded here to leave. Our job isn't just this crisis. It's being here for the next one. We are long-term agents, not tactical. We aren't like my aunt and uncle. I run a shop. You help with the day-to-day at the Rohastin Council. Kelly and Hope are based with the Space Racers. We all listen."

"What could be done about the Urattr? The ones trapped here," Theo mused.

"There is a really simple solution, but it will never happen. Shut down the transit and communication beacon on the station for a short time. It will give the Urattr a chance to escape. But there is no agreement that it is the Urattr creating the third tunnel. They just see them in the gas giant clouds. They know they are intelligent, but see no sign of technology."

The next day Reggie was in the shop before Jennifer got there. She was busy with a customer, showing some patterns as examples. It was a relief to Jennifer that Reggie appeared okay.

A Reginadde came in to pick something up, and Jennifer was busy, but the customer didn't head to Reggie.

"Can you see my colleague?" Jennifer said, as she was trying to place an order for sushi that the previous customer had ordered.

"I'd like to deal with you," he said after a moment's hesitation.

"Oh?" Jennifer said, glancing up. "Ah, you were after a case of cornflakes. Do you have an issue with my colleague?"

The man looked uncomfortable. "I've been told she went somewhere dangerous and not to approach her."

"I see. She went to rescue a ship. Who said she was not to be approached?"

"It was on the news this morning," he said, thinking he was helping her. "I'd be careful."

Jennifer leaned towards him. "Did you know when she returned, the ship was checked and so were the occupants. Nothing was found."

"The edict is that anybody who visits a system with that species in should not be approached."

Jennifer paused. Was this a translation issue? Was she misunderstanding that Hytuna phrase? Edict sounded a bit strong.

"The species is on the planet this space station orbits. It has been from before I was born."

The Reginadde gave a croaking sound. "That can't be. If I'm unsafe—"

"Ask your Ambassador. Now, let me get what you ordered."

When the customer had gone, Reggie said, "You shouldn't have done that. There will now be mass panic in the Reginadde community."

Jennifer took a moment to calm down. As she did, she realised what she'd done. "I better ring Rupert. Mass hysteria of a significant population of the station isn't what I was aiming for."

Reggie gave a small snort as she tried to control herself. Laughter was rare for Reginaddes, but Reggie seemed to have gained a small sense of humour. Jennifer smiled, glad Reggie wasn't as worried.

"Hey Rupert," Jennifer said. "I'm sorry, I think I might have just caused a big problem with the entire Reginadde community. I didn't mean to cause mass panic or worse."

Rupert sighed. "What have you done?"

Jennifer outlined the situation. She finished with a, "I'm so sorry."

Rupert stayed very neutral. "Let me talk to the Reginadde Ambassador. I'll contact you when that's done."

As she waited, she fretted. Reggie seemed a lot more relaxed about it. She stood up straight and lowered her head as if she was listening. When she raised her head, she said, "The Reginadde Ambassador made a statement to all Reginaddes in the station. He reminded them that all the Signatories were on the station when Earth officially joined. Nobody has suggested the Signatories were infected, therefore nobody here will have any infection from the Urattr."

"Is that it? Is it over?"

"My grandfather is very good at his job," Reggie said proudly.

When Rupert contacted her, he said, "As you probably know, the Reginadde Ambassador made a clarifying statement. Early indications are that it was successful." Rupert paused and then said more quietly, "He also says thank you for standing up for his granddaughter. We all look forward to seeing the reaction from his home world."

Soon after, the Reginadde customer from earlier appeared. "I wish to apologise to you both. We all misunderstood what we'd been told."

"You didn't misunderstand," Jennifer said kindly. "The people who told you misunderstood. Now, have you tried human chocolate yet?"

"Oh yes. My wife loves it."

"There is a secret recipe that humans have called Chocolate Cornflake Cakes. Let me tell you about it. And perhaps you can share some Reginadde recipes with me."

When he'd finished with Jennifer, he went across to Reggie and spoke some words in their native language.

When they were alone again, Jennifer asked Reggie, "How are you doing?"

"Much better than earlier," Reggie admitted. "You also look happier."

"I am. When my friends are hurt, it hurts me. You, Kelly, Theo and Hope are my best friends. Working with you has made my job so much easier than I thought."

Reggie didn't know what to say about that. She moved towards Jennifer and paused. "It was so busy earlier we missed out on our morning drinks. I have a few questions for you. Can we talk in the café?"

"Sounds good to me," Jennifer said, so they shut the shop and ambled to the café. With their drinks ordered, they settled down in two chairs opposite each other.

"I've been learning your language, English, over the last few years. But I'm having trouble. Hope said something which James said came from Hamlet. I looked it up. It seemed like it was English, but the words were all ... wrong."

"Humans have grown rapidly over time. We are quite a young species compared to a lot in the Rohastin. We've only just learnt to create an interdimensional drive. We've only just formed a central government. Different countries still speak different languages."

Reggie nodded, having been to Earth several times.

"Keeping it in your octal, about 700 cycles ago there lived a man called Shakespeare. He wrote plays. They are stories enacted on a stage, like when you saw me play in an orchestra on a stage. His plays still have meaning today. Sometimes humans like to quote Shakespeare as a way to give extra meaning to what they're saying."

"So why is it so unreadable?" she asked, confused.

Jennifer smiled kindly. "The English language has evolved. You might have picked an original version. His plays are so popular, the words have been translated to current English."

"I'll have a look tonight. See if I can make sense of Hope's words."

"There is something rotten in the state of Denmark?" Jennifer enquired, remembering what she'd read in Kelly's report.

"Yes," Reggie said, glad Jennifer knew. It also showed they talked, which she filed away for more thought.

"Just to give you some context. Denmark is a country."

"Okay. Denmark is a country. That might help. Thank you. Do you agree with what Hope said?"

Jennifer rubbed her nose in thought. "Yes... but that's from our perspective. What we are seeing might be normal or expected for the Reginadde. If you understand Shakespeare, then it only tells you what it means for humans. It might not help you understand what it means for you."

"You're being very cautious and not giving a straight answer."

"I am being careful. And perhaps that is why Hope quoted Shakespeare. Think of it like a code. James understood what she meant, but you didn't. She didn't want to influence you. You are your own person. A true friend isn't someone that tells you what to think, but points things out and lets you make your own decisions."

In the middle of the afternoon, Jennifer got a message from her mum, Ashleigh. Part of her unwritten job specification was to look after the welfare of the scientists. They'd got a tendency to get engrossed in their work and forget to eat or sleep when things got too interesting.

"Thank you for thinking about Evan. I also got a message from Sam and one from James raising the same concerns. It's great that even when you are far away and are older, you still worry. He explained what happened. It was such a shock to hear. To them though, it might have been an honourable act. A perceived danger can cause as much panic as real danger."

"Liam had an idea about the tunnel. Your Ma and Evan are in the lab with him. I've no idea how long this will take. Liam didn't think it is that hard since they already understand a lot more about how the interdimensional tunnel is formed. Evan thinks Liam must have eaten some strange food while on the Rohastin Station for such an idea. I sense much midnight oil being burnt."

The message then went on to personal items about the village and the latest from Caroline, Ashleigh's older sister. There was nothing at all about Tina, Ashleigh's younger sister. Jennifer pondered what Tina might be up to.

Thinking of Tina made her think about Christmas. On the Rohastin Station there was no change of the seasons, but it was getting late in the year on Earth. She sent a message asking if they should be on station during the Christmas week. If so, Theo would have to wait another year for Christmas in the Welsh mountains.

The Fall of the Absolute

by Karen Page

Chapter 15

---

Chapter 15

When Reggie arrived at the shop, Jennifer noticed Reggie's nose was flattened. That mixed with the slightly dejected look told Jennifer that Reggie had suffered from a sleepless night.

Not wanting to intrude, Jennifer didn't say anything. Reggie could have found someone, and they'd spent the night together. That first night was never conducive to sleep.

"You're wrong," Reggie said, during their first lull. "Well, Hope was wrong."

"Shakespeare?" Jennifer guessed.

"Yes. I spent all night reading it. I found a modern English version." Reggie shrugged. "I learnt some new words as well. I don't think there is corruption or decay in my government."

Jennifer kept her thoughts in check. "You know them better than I do. I'm blinded by human history and sometimes we forget you are different. You have a different government structure."

"I read somewhere that back in Shakespeare's time that there were only male actors?"

"I believe so."

Reggie looked puzzled. "Then who played Gertrude and Ophelia?"

Jennifer grinned. "Men did."

"Oh. So cross dressing was acceptable back then, but then became problematic later?"

"I don't know if it was ever truly acceptable. It was just the norm in the theatre at that time. They probably thought actors were strange people anyway. Over the last, say, twenty Earth cycles, things have got better, especially in the United Kingdom. We managed to not only elect a leader who had been forcibly transformed, but then Lewis was re-elected with an even bigger majority. During the election, someone leaked that he'd been born female and he was gay. The whole country shrugged and carried on. He was the best person for the job. He was Prime Minister for two terms before losing last May."

"So why was your Ma so nervous?"

"Earth might have a world government and a single voice to the Rohastin. But we are still a world with differences. Each country has its own government for local laws. In some countries being transgender or gay is still a crime."

"Why?"

Jennifer shrugged. "Some is historic. What their parents had taught them passed down the generations. For some countries, it is a way of deflecting attention from their own failures. For others, it might be religious, or a way of making sure there is a high enough birth rate. I remember reading about someone calling them non-breeders."

"Your Auntie Tina explained the feelings she had before she transitioned," Reggie confided. "It sounded awful. I'm glad there are people like your birth mother who help them. It doesn't happen often with our species, but when it does, we fix the brain. Reduce the conflict so they can lead a happy life."

"This is where our two species differ a lot," Jennifer said. "To you, the body is the temple and shouldn't be touched. To us, our minds are who we are, and to change that means we aren't the same person."

"Here both treatments are available," Reggie responded. "So, if there is a human that wants to fix the mind, they can do. And if there is a Reginadde that wants to change the body, that is also an option. The Rohastin is great because we are no longer restricted to the path our species dictates."

Jennifer contemplated that. "If a Reginadde had surgery here, how would they be treated?"

"No differently. They aren't shunned. Most wouldn't understand. We even allow them to register under their new gender. There are processes in place, even when it is really rare."

"I didn't mean just that. I meant if a Reginadde broke their leg, or there was an issue with one of their organs?"

"Oh, we use the nanites. They fix things internally and it can never reoccur. I hear there is a trial happening on Earth where they are using nanites to cure ... runaway cells. Sorry, I don't know your term."

Interesting she knows, Jennifer thought to herself. It wasn't a secret trial. It had been in the news. But it showed how much Reggie was paying attention to what was happening on Earth.

"Cancer. I heard about that trial. It will be interesting to see how it goes. Some are worried about little robots in their bodies, but I think they are more frightened of dying and are willing to try anything."

"But you can also joke about death. I remember hearing someone saying, 'Dying is bad for your health'. That is something we have trouble understanding."

"Death is painful for us. We therefore try to make light of the situation."

Reggie pondered and shook her head. It didn't make sense to her.

"How good is your English?" Jennifer asked in English.

Reggie looked confused and responded in English, "It is okay. I understand more than I speak." Then back in Hytuna, "I do not get much practice apart from talking to the Station computer."

"Then we need to make an effort to help you. With no customers, we will talk English."

"Really?"

Jennifer nodded. "Really. Do you know any other Earth languages?"

Reggie said, "A bit of Chinese, but I've not had to use it much. That and some Spanish. I've used that less. Why?"

"You are one of the human experts for your species, aren't you?"

"Yes," Reggie said confidently.

"Then it helps if you understand more. I'm sorry I hadn't thought about your needs more."

Reggie now was really confused. "Why would you want to help me? You do remember who I work for, don't you?"

"Of course," Jennifer smiled.

"Then why help? And don't say because we're friends."

"We are friends. But the worst thing you could give is something mistaken. We get on, but as we've discussed this morning, humans and Reginaddes have very different views. If you don't understand why a human is doing something, it could cause an invalid interpretation. It helps you. It helps us. A new human phrase for you, 'win-win'."

"Oh, I've heard that one. When it is good for both sides. Both sides win."

"Well done. I've also got an ulterior motive. It is coming up to a human festival called Christmas. I want to take Theo away for a few days. If you understand human culture a bit more, you could look after the shop by yourself."

"You looked after the shop while I was on my home world and then on that rescue mission. I think that is only fair. I can also send any gossip I hear. But could Hope or Kelly pop by sometimes, just in case I get stuck with a request on human culture?"

Jennifer smiled. "We can talk next time we meet up for a drink."

That meant later that evening. It was rare they didn't meet up somewhere. Until the four humans had moved to the station, Reggie hadn't known Hope and Theo apart from mentions in emails from Kelly and Jennifer. But she was starting to know them and admitted to herself that they fitted in well with her friends. And Hope had rushed across to protect her when someone was trying to kill her grandfather; though she still wondered if that was a job or personal.

Tonight, they would be trying a new place. When Kelly and Hope weren't training, they'd been going through each floor seeing what they could find. The bar Reggie had introduced them to hadn't been on the blueprints Adelle had got them, so they wanted to know more. One or two floors were done per day. They'd found a few interesting areas; some which followed a pattern over a few floors, others which seemed to be one-offs.

Species tended to group together over time. Alphonians might have congregated in a section of a floor or even most of a floor. Reginaddes in another area. People liked to be close to people they knew, and that was often the same species. Sometimes a little bar or café might open up close to them. Why traipse up several floors to socialise when you could do it locally with just the people you knew? Hope had called it a Rohastin version of a locals bar.

"Is your Earth Entry Visa still valid?" Jennifer suddenly asked Reggie.

"Yes," Reggie responded, surprised. "Why?"

"I have a plan to help you. A surprise. Would you be up for a trip to Earth after work? Not tonight. You are too tired, and I need to book a few things."

"Sounds fun," Reggie responded with only a little apprehension. "What do you have in mind?"

Jennifer gave an impish grin. "I said it was a surprise."

Reggie blew a raspberry at that statement.

"Oh, very good," Jennifer said, surprised. "Where did you learn that?"

"Kelly and Hope did it on the rescue ship. Did I do it right?"

"You did and at the right time. It isn't something you'd do in polite company but between friends it is fun. Did you practice it?"

"Yes. A few times in my room," Reggie said, sounding proud.

"You are getting to be a human expert! Though I only know the western style culture. There are so many other ways of living on Earth. Different social norms. Different expectations. Different ways of showing manners. For instance, in France they used to kiss on the cheeks. In Japan they bow. In America they fist bump."

"Used to?" Reggie asked. "I'd read about that and handshakes."

"There was a virus that was spread by contact. It caused a lot of people to be ill and some to die. Hospitals and healthcare got overwhelmed. So, some traditions changed. A fist bump replaced a handshake. After a while our immune systems tolerated the virus better, and some returned to the older ways, others didn't."

"Sounds a scary time."

"I believe it was. It was before I was born. It isn't the first time in our history that viruses have caused major death. In Earth units, Spanish Flu killed about fifty million, Smallpox about three hundred million, Ebola, Black Death killed about thirty million in Europe which at the time was about half the population of that region."

"I've been told my nanites will protect me while I'm there," Reggie said.

"I know. If we weren't aware of that, you wouldn't have been invited to my parent's wedding. For this surprise outing, are you okay if Theo comes? Or do you want it to be just the two of us?"

"Bring Theo. I wouldn't want him to feel left out. What about Kelly and Hope?"

"I'm putting this down as part of my cultural exploration. I hope Kelly and Hope will understand but I want at least two of us to be here as much as possible. They've been back to Earth a few times for social things too. I'll get Theo to ask Rupert. But if he is too busy to finish on time, I'll take either Kelly or Hope."

Jennifer continued, "I do have a question though. If a non-Reginadde stepped foot on your home world, what would the reaction be? I know we played a concert there and were treated well. But how often does, say, an Alphonian visit?"

"It is rare. There isn't that much mixing between the species. Only humans seem to do that. When you played your concert, it was a big event. All the news sites on our planet and our colonies covered it. Music like that was very different to our usual style."

"Human music can vary by age, and country. People seem to keep to the styles they grew up with. What we played was classical music because it suits an orchestra. What people listen to is a lot different to what we played. And that is different to what might be heard in Kenya, Jamaica or Japan."

Reggie thought. "You know I said that it was in the news when your school came to play? I was thinking that might happen if I visit Earth. Will there be any problem me visiting with you?"

Jennifer flagged this point for discussion with Theo. She needed advice if there was any protocol they'd need to follow. It was handy having a partner who worked for the Ambassador. "There will probably be some ... curiosity."

Slightly later, Georgina, the Human Ambassador to the Rohastin Council, visited to order a few outfits. She was going to visit Earth the following week to meet the Worlds Assembly. They overarched EarthGov and the Scorpion governments.

After she had been served, Jennifer said, "Ambassador, a question if you don't mind."

"Of course," Georgina said with a smile.

"If Reggie came to the UK with me, are there any procedures that need to be followed? She has an Earth Entry Visa. I know she came to my parents wedding, but since the formation of EarthGov things have changed."

Georgina paused and Jennifer wondered if she was counting to ten.

"No," Georgina said. "Technically she could just turn up at an international entry port. She would have to go through manual entry with an official checking. However, since this is not something that happens often, it might be advisable for me to let the local government know."

"It is a surprise for Reggie, so I'll send you the details," Jennifer said. "I'm sorry if this is going to cause a burden."

Georgina smiled. "It is part of my job. Hopefully, others will follow Reggie's footsteps and visit. After all, Earth is a beautiful planet. The other thing I would advise is for her to let the Reginadde Ambassador know."

To Jennifer, it seemed strange her referring to Reggie's grandfather in an official way.

"He might want to come too," Reggie stated. "He doesn't like to miss out on things."

"If he does, it is a different process. He is an ambassador. That would be a notification to EarthGov. Escorted vehicles etc."

Jennifer connected to her device and sent a small message to Georgina, outlining where she planned to take Reggie and to do what.

Georgina stopped at the threshold having received and read the message. "Do you have tickets?"

"I've organised seats in the circle. The theatre has open seating with no boxes. I was going to ask Theo about coming if he has finished work on time. If not, I might take one of my other friends with me."

"I'll keep you informed about Earthside preparations," Georgina said, and went on her way.

"This sounds like a lot of hassle," Reggie said when they were alone again.

"Things are until they are normal. You are paving the way for others."

* * *

It was the evening two days later that they made their way to the hangar. Theo had called for a request hopper, and they were waiting for it. Rupert had made sure Theo was finished in plenty of time and had told him to wear something nice. Theo thought it was strange a man giving him sartorial advice but had shrugged it off.

"Where are we going?" Reggie asked while they waited, clutching a warm coat.

"Earth."

"This is where you pout like this," Theo said, demonstrating the facial expression. He'd not been told the destination either.

This was a hard one for Reggie, but there was a Reginadde equivalent which she demonstrated.

"We're going to England," Jennifer added, looking at their expectant faces. "Stratford-upon-Avon."

"The theatre to see a play?" Theo guessed.

"Ooh. I've heard of that. Wasn't that where Shakespeare was born?"

Jennifer pretended to huff. "See. I give one clue and you are both quick to discover my secret plans."

The hopper arrived and they all climbed aboard and it transported them via interdimensional tunnel to Earth.

"Welcome to Earth," Theo said as they stepped out at London Victoria Hopperport.

There were other arrivals and a few people stopped to stare. An alien in London wasn't what anybody expected. They weren't unknown. There had been pictures, documentaries and news reports. For the last ten years, aliens had become a fact. Yet there were very few that had seen one with their own eyes. With a population of 9.2 billion people, only twenty thousand might have met one.

They followed the sign for Manual Border Control. There were a few officials there and only a single person being looked after. Most went through the automated procedure. Jennifer and Theo could have scanned right through, but they were sticking with Reggie.

Reggie was waved across to one of the free desks. In shaky Hytuna, the border official said, "Do you have an Earth Entry Visa?"

"I do," Reggie responded and handed it across. Then in English said, "I can speak English if that helps."

The official didn't say anything, just examined it, and ran the details in his system. He looked Reggie over and said, "Everything is in order. Your visa allows entry for thirty Earth days. How long do you plan to stay?"

"If everything goes to plan, just for the day."

"Enjoy and welcome to London, England, Planet Earth."

As Reggie went through the gate, Theo noticed the official looked relieved and slightly proud. It was probably his first non-human he'd processed. Theo and Jennifer quickly scanned their passports and were soon with Reggie.

"Look at this place," Reggie said, sticking with English. "When I came to Earth last, there was nothing like this."

"Was that for my parents wedding?" Jennifer asked.

"Yes."

"Things have changed a lot. Back then the only hoppers were Aurora and Eos. Things have changed since then. We've now got to get a hopper to Stratford. I've only been on the Rohastin Station for a few months and I miss the device. I wanted to check on the schedule and realised I'd have to do it manually."

"All these extra lights and embellishments."

"Oh. It is coming up to Christmas. It is a holiday and they put up these decorations. Do you still have access to your Reginadde systems?"

"Yes, but it doesn't have information on Christmas."

"Something to add when you get back. We'll tell you about it as we go."

They slowly made their way along the concourse towards the domestic hoppers, Theo and Jennifer filling Reggie in about modern Christmas. It was quite busy, but people stopped to look at them. There were a few incidents where people suddenly halted, and someone behind crashed into them, but nobody made any threats.

"I wonder how long the press will take?" Theo muttered as they waited for a scheduled hopper. They'd put their names down and there was room for all three of them. It was a six-minute wait.

A young girl aged about six broke free from her parents grasp and rushed towards Reggie. "Hello," she said excitedly in Hytuna. "Are you a Reginadde?"

"I am," Reggie responded in Hytuna. "You speak Hytuna very well."

"I've been learning it," the girl said proudly, as her parents caught up with her.

"Don't annoy the alien," the mother said.

Jennifer and Theo winced slightly at her tone when she said 'alien'.

"I'm sorry she disturbed you," the mother then said in Hytuna.

"It's fine," Reggie said in English. "Have a wonderful Christmas."

The woman blinked, surprised. "Oh, thank you." She then dragged her child away to continue their journey.

They'd just got into the hopper when they saw press streaming into the hopperport. Their hopper jumped before they spotted them.

The hopperport in Stratford-upon-Avon was at the other side of the river from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. At one stage there had been a large Ferris wheel there and a car park. People didn't use cars for visiting Stratford anymore, so it had been converted to a hopperport.

Being winter in England, it was dark during the evening. But being a major route to the theatres, the bridge and paths were well lit.

"I'm glad you told me to bring a coat," Reggie said as they made their way out of the hopperport.

"It's actually quite mild for this time of year. We shouldn't get a frost," Jennifer said.

Frost was a word she knew and she shuddered. It was never this cold on the Rohastin Station. It was always the same temperature all the time. When she visited the Reginadde home world, there were temperature variations, but it wasn't ever this cold. The wind, coming off the river, impacted her face.

"Are you okay?" Theo asked. "How is your face?"

"Cold, but we can survive much colder. It's just a shock."

"We don't have far to go," he reassured her.

The people in Stratford hardly noticed. Someone bundled up in a coat was just another person keeping out of the cold. Nobody expected a Reginadde to be one of them as they strolled across the bridge.

"Evening," a man greeted, going the other way. He had no idea who he'd passed.

Jennifer gave a small giggle, especially as someone walked towards them and Reggie politely said, "Evening."

When they got to the theatre entrance, things were lit more brightly, and when Reggie lowered the coat hood, there were a few intakes of breath. There was a stifled scream at one side, but they ignored it.

A man who looked in his fifties rushed up. He was wearing a suit and looked very formal.

"Welcome. This is a great honour. I'm Graham Foster, manager of the theatre. Let me take you to your seats."

Jennifer wondered if he was moving them on so as not to disrupt the lobby, or if he gave this treatment to everyone. Reggie wasn't anyone. To the theatre it would be like a special guest. They wouldn't have had a non-human in the audience. She wondered if the actors knew.

Reggie gasped when she saw a Rohastin adjustable chair where they would be sitting. "This is very kind. But how?"

"Mrs North arranged it. We had no idea, but we've ordered several so we can accommodate where needed. Fascinating chairs. I tried one and never felt so comfortable."

When he'd gone, Reggie looked at the small booklet on her chair. "Hamlet! I suspected when I knew it was linked to Shakespeare. I'm looking forward to seeing this."

"A lot of plays adapt the story for modern audiences. I'm told this is very in keeping with the original."

During the interval, they moved to a small bar by the stairs. Jennifer brought them drinks and mince pies. The area was crowded, but nobody disturbed them and nobody screamed or cowered. The rumours of a Reginadde being in the audience had already filtered around the hall. It probably spread quicker than if King George had been in attendance.

Theo gasped. "Mince pies. My first of the season. We should ask Beth to make some back on the station."

Reggie looked at the pie suspiciously. Human food could easily be a miss as much as a hit. She was especially suspicious of pies. She knew they were food surrounded with pastry. Pastry was meh, but it was what was hidden inside that always made her nervous.

Jennifer saw the hesitation. "It's a traditional British food at Christmas. It is mostly dried fruit with a bit of spice. There may be a small bit of alcohol in them. It will be a bit crumbly."

Reggie gave a small nibble but only got the pastry. She then took a larger bite. She didn't want to spit it out, but it didn't do anything for her. The full flavour hit on her next bite, and she paused, taking it in.

"You have such different types of food," Reggie said with awe, after she'd finished it. "Different textures. Different flavours."

"So does Reginadde food," Jennifer insisted. "I'm always trying different dishes. I've yet to have one I didn't like. How are you doing with following the play?"

"Not bad. It helps that I have read it."

"That's why I chose this one. I thought it might be an easier first glimpse at what a historic play is like. Theatre isn't just like this though. There are other types of plays, and also musicals, which are like sung plays. Abroad there are other styles. Then there are different types of music to deal with."

Jennifer's phone buzzed. She'd put it on silent when the play started. "Press have reported that a young Reginadde is watching Hamlet in Stratford. Remnants of Earth First plan to protest. Do you need an extraction?"

Memories of her own kidnapping at the hands of Earth First, the militant wing of Earth First, and then her parents being kidnapped a few months later flooded through her mind. She felt a hand on hers and she looked across at Theo, radiating support in the only way he could.

She prepared a message. "No. We're not going to run. If we do, they win. We will walk out of here."

Theo nodded when she showed it to him and she pressed send. They would tell Reggie after the play had finished. She was here to enjoy Earth culture, and they weren't going to spoil it by giving her something to worry about.