Deathstalker 01 - Deathstalker

did he manage to build something like that on a planet like this?"
    "It wasn't exactly what I was expecting," Owen admitted. "He must have had help of some kind."
    "Right," said Random. "In case you hadn't noticed, the boundaries of this clearing are extremely distinct. Which suggests it was probably cut using energy weapons. Still doesn't explain where he found all that stone, though."
    "Must have a quarry somewhere," said Owen.
    "Then who worked in it?"
    They stared at the castle in silence for a while.
    "The force shield's another complication I wasn't expecting," said Owen. "The only way to lower a shield like that is from the inside, and we've no guarantee
    there's any living soul left in there. Since the shield's still up, I think we can safely assume there's some degree of automation. Computers running things on a low priority basis."
    "Must have an amazing power source in there," said Hazel, "to be still running things after all these years."
    "Unless somebody else got here first," said Ruby.
    They all considered that.
    "The beasts of the jungle acted like they'd encountered energy weapons before,"
    said Moon. "And they stopped bothering us the closer we got to the castle and the clearing. If the Empire got here first…"
    "Then we're in real trouble," said Random.
    "Nothing could beat my ship here," said Owen.
    "Only one way to find out," said Ruby, and she stepped out into the clearing, gun in one hand, sword in the other. Two bright glows appeared in windows on either side of the great door. Hazel threw herself at Ruby and knocked her to the ground, and two disrupter beams flashed through the air where she'd been standing and incinerated the trees behind her. They burned fiercely for a moment, and then the flames died down and flickered out. The charred wood smoked gently.
    "Tough trees," said Moon.
    "Like everything else on this planet," said Owen. "You girls all right?"
    "We are not girls," said Hazel.
    "That's for sure," said Random.
    Hazel dragged Ruby back into the shelter of the trees and helped her to her feet. Ruby didn't even nod her thanks, her cold eyes fixed on the castle. The
    two glows on either side of the door were still there. Ruby raised her gun and then lowered it again.
    "Top of the line force shield," said Owen. "Lets energy beams out without having to drop the field first. Must use a hell of a lot of power to cover something that large. Certainly we haven't got any weapon that'll bother it."
    "I think we can safely assume that whoever's in there, they're not feeling friendly," said Hazel, brushing grass and insects from her clothes.
    "I don't know," said Random. "Those had the feel of warning shots. A computerized defense system would have tracked you no matter how fast you moved and kept on firing till it was sure its target had been eliminated."
    "So what do we do next?" said Hazel. "Apart from suicide tactics." She glared at Ruby, who was still ignoring her.
    "Communicate," said Moon. "People or machines, they might respond to contact."
    "It might also give them something to aim their guns at," said Hazel.
    "She has a point," said Random.
    "We can't just stand around here," said Owen. "In case you've forgotten, we've nowhere else to go, except the castle. Either we find a way in, or we live in the jungle. Which doesn't exactly appeal to me. I'm going to go out there unarmed and talk to them. If those are my ancestor's computers, they might react to me. I am a Deathstalker, after all."
    "You go right ahead," said Hazel. "Personally, I'm going to find something large to hide behind."
    Owen smiled and couldn't he]p noticing she didn't make a move as he stepped cautiously out into the clearing. He put away his gun and his sword, and held up his hands to show they were empty. He cleared his throat carefully. He didn't want to be misunderstood.

    "I am Owen, first of Clan Deathstalker. I come to you in need and danger and call upon you for sanctuary. I bear my Family's ring."
    He held the hand forward, so that the castle sensors could get a clear look at it. Sweat was running down his face again, and it wasn't from the blazing heat of the open clearing. A light appeared in another window, and he had to fight not to flinch. And then all the lights went out, and the force shield snapped off just in front of the door, leaving a clear tunnel open in the shield. Owen blinked and looked back at the others.
    "I think that's an invitation. Let's move it, before they change their minds.
    And