Deathstalker 01 - Deathstalker

her.
    "Looks like we'll get to be part of the great rebellion after all. I wouldn't have put money on it. Still, think of the glory."
    Ruby sniffed. "Think of the loot."
    "That, too," said Jack Random.
    Owen would have liked to laugh, but he didn't have the strength. Hazel finished fussing with the tourniquet and looked at him sternly.
    "You should really dive into that regeneration machine of yours, or let the Hadenmen repair you."
    Owen shook his head. "I don't trust that machine after what Oz had it do to us.
    Who knows what other mental traps he might have programmed into it, or us? And I'm not sure I trust the Hadenmen that much, either. My body will heal itself in time. I can feel it. Now help me up, there's a dear. I want to talk to the Captain."
    Hazel got him to his feet, and he walked more or less steadily over to Silence and Frost. Giles nodded and moved off to stand by Dram's body. The Investigator glared at Owen coldly, but the Captain inclined his head slightly. The Hadenmen had repaired his nose, but there was still a massive dark bruise between his eyes.
    "You're really not very impressive, Deathstalker, to have led the Empire such a
    chase."
    "I'll try harder," said Owen. "Now pay attention. You and the Investigator are being allowed to return to the Empire alive for a reason. We want you to tell the Iron Bitch that the rebellion has begun. The next time she sees us, we'll be leading an army specifically put together to kick her off the Iron Throne. Make her believe it. Captain. I want her to have plenty of time to squirm."
    "What about the Wampyr?" said Silence. "They're a bit strange, but they're still my crew."
    "They're staying here. The Hadenmen are fascinated by them. Why did you destroy the Maze, Captain?"
    "It was necessary. It was killing my people."
    "You don't know what you've done. It was a place of miracles, of possibilities.
    The future of Humanity."
    "What future has Humanity got if you lead the Hadenmen against the Empire?"
    Frost said harshly. "You might as well side with Shub."
    "The Hadenmen… are not at all what I expected," said Owen. 'The Empire has lied about many things. Maybe it lied about them, too. But don't worry. I'll keep an eye on them."
    "And what could you do to stop them?" said Silence.
    "You'd be surprised," said Hazel. 'The Maze changed us, Captain. We're a lot more than we used to be."
    "It's time for change," said Owen. "The Empire is corrupt from top to bottom. I can vouch for that personally."
    "Think about what you're doing, Deathstalker!" Captain Silence took a step toward him, then stopped as everyone's hands went to their guns. He made himself
    speak calmly and evenly. " The Empire is currently under threat from two separate alien species, each of them possibly more technologically advanced than we are. Humanity itself is at risk. This is no time to fragment our attention and waste our resources."
    "There'll never be a better time," said Hazel. "Who knows, maybe the aliens will side with us."
    "You damned fools," said Frost. "I've seen one of the aliens. It made that creature the Deathstalker killed look like a wet-nosed puppy."
    "Then we'll deal with it when it appears," said Hazel. "Tell the Iron Bitch we're coming, Investigator."
    "And when you get there, I'll be waiting for you," said Frost. "I'll enjoy sticking your head on a pike, traitor."
    Owen looked at Silence. "Is she usually this cheerful?"
    Silence nodded solemnly. "This is restrained, for her."
    They found themselves sharing an understanding look, while Hazel and Frost stared at them blankly.
    "Don't judge us too harshly. Captain," said Owen. "We've been through a lot just recently. Lionstone has to fall. If it wasn't us, it would be someone else.
    Maybe even someone like you, Silence."
    "Never," said Silence.
    "Everybody stand exactly where you are!" said a loud shrill voice in all their ears. "This is Security Officer Stelmach, on the bridge of the Dauntless' main pinnace. I have the forward disrupter cannon aimed right at you! All rebels will give up their weapons immediately, or I'll open fire!"
    "I wondered what had happened to him," said Frost.
    "Can I just point out," Silence said reasonably, "that if you open fire on them,
    you will also kill me and the Investigator?"
    "You're expendable," said Stelmach.
    "Somehow I just knew he was going to say that," said Frost.
    "You see?" said Hazel. "This is the kind of thing we've been talking about."
    "Hold on just a minute," said Owen. "Who's