Deathstalker 01 - Deathstalker

shapes, the subtle ongoing processes of transformation. He couldn't grasp the scale of it, not just because it was so vast, but because his mind instinctively retreated from it. He couldn't think that way and still be human. He tried to follow that thought to its inevitable conclusion, and then suddenly he was out of the Maze, and his thoughts were swept away by reality crashing down on him again.
    "Where the hell have you been?" Ozymandius yelled in Owen's ear. "I've been trying to make contact with you for the past six hours!"
    "What are you talking about?" said Owen. "We couldn't have been in there for more than twenty minutes at most."
    "Time moves differently in the Maze," said Giles.
    "Now he tells us," said Hazel.
    They had all emerged from the Maze now, and Owen could see the same expression on everyone's face. They were losing the scope and range of thought they'd had in the Maze and were becoming more narrowly focused, more human again. Owen decided he'd think about that later.
    "All right, Oz," he said soothingly. "Take a deep breath and tell me what's been
    happening."
    "What hasn't?" snapped the AI. "The Imperial starcruiser has sent down mining engineers and equipment and blasted a path right down to the city. They found the old route the Hadenmen used and just reopened it. No big deal with the kind of energy cannon they were using. They're currently right on the other side of the Maze, and when I say they, I mean a whole damn army. The Dauntless has been ferrying people down in pinnaces for hours. We're talking about marines, battle espers and even some Wampyr, headed by an Investigator. The Captain himself has come down to personally see you all get your ass handed to you. They knew where to find us, Owen. They knew we were coming here. Someone told them."
    "They knew we were coming here?" Owen fought to hang onto his calm. "How could they have known? No one's had a chance to talk to the Empire."
    "We have a spy among us," said Ozymandius. "A secret agent who has been in constant contact with the Empire, wherever we went. This was all planned some time back. You were outlawed specifically to set in motion a train of events that would lead the Empire first to Shandrakor, and then to the Darkvoid Device.
    You've been on a leash, Owen, and now they're pulling it in."
    "I can't believe this," said Random, looking from one blank face to another.
    "The Empire's always been devious in its dealings, but… none of us have any reason to betray the others! The Empire is our enemy; it wants us all dead."
    "Not all of us," Owen said slowly. "I'm outlawed, with a price on my head. So are you and Hazel. And Moon's a Hadenman; they'd shoot him on sight on general principles. And we can count out Giles and the Wolfling for practical reasons.
    But Ruby Journey is a bounty hunter. When we first met her, she admitted she was hunting us on the Empire's behalf. We thought we'd outbid them, but the Empire
    has deep pockets. Isn't that right, Ruby?"
    "No!" said Hazel immediately. "Ruby's my friend! She wouldn't betray me like that. Tell them, Ruby."
    "What's the point?" said the bounty hunter coldly. "Look at them. They've already made up their minds."
    "I trusted you, Ruby," said Random. "We all did. How could you?"
    Ruby Journey took a step back from the group, her gun suddenly in her hand.
    "Let's all remain calm and civilized.
    If I was the traitor, you'd all be dead by now. I could shoot you all with this amazing projectile weapon and still get the price on your heads. They don't need you to find the Darkvoid Device, after all; I could show them where it is. If I was the traitor. But I'm not. There are more important things in life than money. I don't give a damn about your rebellion, but Hazel's my friend. I'd die for her, and her for me. We've always known that."
    "Then prove it," said Owen. "Put away your gun."
    "If I do, you'll kill me."
    "No," said Hazel. "I wouldn't allow that. Ruby, please. Put your gun away."
    There was a long pause, tension crackling on the air as hands hovered over weapons, and then Ruby slowly lowered her gun and bolstered it. She moved her hand conspicuously away from her gun and looked challengingly at the others.
    There was another tense pause as everyone looked at everyone else, to make sure no one else was going for their gun, and then they all relaxed in what seemed like one long simultaneous sigh of relief. Owen gave Ruby an apologetic shrug, and then looked back and forth at the