Read Regan's Reach 4: Avarice for Free Online Page A

the regulars had avoided the
gym rather than share with the kids. Certainly he knew the grav free room would
be an adult free area today and he determined to avoid it himself, not
interested in playing. Moving to the bench press a scuffle by the changing
rooms caught his attention. Curious he peered through the other gym goers to
make out what he could.
    There were two older boys, a tall Coran he
knew only by sight and his usual partner in crime, the odious human, Gabriel Bishop
or 'Gabe' as he liked to be called. Bishop was a bully, usually of much younger
boys; however if he could gather support his attentions occasionally extended
to those from Jared's year. It didn't bother Jared particularly as they avoided
him and with good reason as the son of the founder was not one to touch. Jared
however longed for Gabe to try. They seemed to be dragging a boy to the grav
room and he stretched up to try and make out who it was . . . and froze; it was
Ruben, Aaron's son.
     
    None of this had escaped the attention of Hilary
who always monitored proceedings as with everything on station, never letting
things get too out of hand but always trying to leave space for the normal
rough and tumble of life and relationships. She tracked Jared now as he calmly
began a stealthy slide through the exercising crowd like a cat on the hunt. His
look made her wonder whether preemptive intervention might be required, however
in her moments of dithering he was suddenly there and she decided to watch
instead. It wouldn't be too late to stop them if she needed to.
    "What are you doing?" Jared asked
nicely and the two older boys hesitated in their steps, turning to see who was
speaking.
    Ruben recognized the voice and desperately
appealed for help. "Jared, they're going to kick me around." He
wrestled against the arm holding him but it was hopeless in the Coran’s strong grip.
    Bishop cuffed the boy and barked at Jared
to back off. "Piss off Stein, we're just having some fun." He then stepped
forward placing himself between them. While the bully boy was heavier and
seventeen, neither fact impressed Jared too much. The Coran however was an
unknown quantity, taller and surprisingly heavy in his build for a Gliese
system native. Jared guessed he was probably a year older than Bishop and
judging by the vacant look he constantly wore, not the brightest candle burning
in the Coran ranks. He dismissed the Coran for the moment and turned his
attention to Bishop.
    "Gabriel, I think you should let him
go, he clearly doesn't want to play."
    Bishop sneered. "You're missing the
point Stein; I said we're having some fun." He laughed at his
little joke with a conspiratorial glance to his tall friend.
    Jared appeared unfazed. "And you have
missed my point Gabe, I think you should let him go, he clearly doesn't
want to play."
    Bishop looked back at his friend and then
returned his gaze to Jared, sneering. "What are you going to do about it
little man, there's one of you and two of u . . ."
    He collapsed to his knees, with his breath
gone and the ability to draw a fresh one removed from him. The short sharp
punch to the solar plexus had driven the air from the boy's lungs and he rolled
forward, with pained grunts and futile intake attempts. Jared turned to the
Coran with calm deliberate purpose.
    "And then . . ." he paused for
effect, "there was one." Jared let the words hang.
    The tall boy dropped Ruben's arm and
squared off. "You think you can beat me, Stein?"
    Jared smiled disarmingly, "Oh - I
don't need to beat you; your problem is that I'm not afraid of you hurting me.
But while you're trying to do that, I'm going to deliver a power of hurt to you.
The question you need to ask is - is the effort worth it?"
    The youth glowered at him and then down at
his friend, still bunched up on the ground. He hesitated a few seconds and then
shoved Ruben in the back pushing him forward into Jared. He glared for a moment
then snarled, "You'll keep Stein." It was unconvincing and he