Reason For Vengeance (Dark Vengeance Book 1) by Adrian D Roberts Page A

circumstances, the autopilot could not be switched off.  Accidents had happened when Traffic Control went wrong and people died.  It had been decided that the much smaller risk of computer failure, was more preferable to the greater one of human nature.  If a ground car hit something, the death toll was mostly one or two people.  If an aircar crashed, the force of the impact was so much higher and particularly in an urban environment, the death toll could easily be in the hundreds.
    Valerie’s licence allowed her to fly clear up into orbit if she so chose, the Kingfisher was rated for a maximum ceiling just short of the top of the Indigo band.  Today it was a short flight from the Space port to home, so she was skimming just above the autopilot zones and enjoying it immensely. 
    For fun she switched the Kingfishers artificial gravity off and initiated a barrel roll.  The G-forces pulled at her and she grinned in pure glee, revelling in the freedom of the skies.  Valerie followed this up by first straightening the Kingfisher and then pulled back on the controls.  The Kingfisher went first into a climb that became steeper and steeper, until it pulled all the way over onto its back.  Now in an upside down dive, Valerie continued the manoeuvre to bring the Kingfisher level.
    Not finished with her fun, she decided a simple lateral spin was in order and brought the joystick all the way over to the left.  The Kingfisher responded instantly and spun around and around.  Valerie could not help but to let out a load whoop of joy.  It was all too short though and she soon saw the sprawling town of Gooseberry Green, in the low hills on the out skirts of Zeus, passing over her head as she spun around.  With a contented sigh she straightened the Kingfisher one final time.
    Built exclusively for those with the larger bank balance, it was a sea of expansive houses set back from winding roads, with swimming pools, landing pads and large gardens.  Broken up by communal woods, parks and schools, with open shopping and entertainment boulevards it was as close to perfect a place to raise her children, as Valerie had experienced.
    The salary from Valerie’s cover identity, of a Senior Grade Lieutenant, wouldn’t come close to cover the cost of these homes, but Tom’s, coupled with his Family’s money, made them actually a few steps down from what they could afford.  Tom wanted a homely and open area for their children, something Valerie firmly agreed with.  His family hadn’t liked the idea, they thought it was below his station.  Marrying a lowly lieutenant had given Tom a lot of practise when dealing with his family, so their opinion had little impact on his and Valerie’s decision.
    Valerie braked gently and brought the Kingfisher round in a gentle curve, its guidance system steering her directly above their home.  Once at a complete stop, hovering high above Gooseberry Green, she retracted the air wings and engaged the autopilot.  The Kingfisher smoothly descended to land lightly in front of the house.  The engines whined down and she shut down the various systems.  Grabbing her bag, from where she tossed it on the front passenger seat, she opened the side door and stepped out. 
    “Mummy!!”  The cry sang out as a blonde ball of energy leapt at Valerie.  She needed her enhanced reflexes to gather Daphne into her arms, hugging her fiercely.  Daphne of course knew exactly how fast her mother could catch her.  She had a child’s unfailing trust that her parents would never let her fall.  She also knew Mummy was much better at catching her than Daddy. 
    Valerie buried her nose in her daughter’s blonde hair, breathing her scent in and knowing it had been far too long.  When you are over a hundred years old, a couple of months seems like no time at all.  For a six year old it was an eternity.  Valerie saw how much she had missed.  Daphne was taller and her hair was desperately in need of a cut, Valerie cut