Deathstalker 02 - Deathstalker Rebellion

It collapsed instantly, and Hazel staggered toward him on unsteady legs. He took her in his arms for a moment and then gently pushed her away, handing her over to Random. He wasn't finished yet. He turned to face the Blood Runners, his face cold and hard, and they stared back at him, contemptuous and defiant.
    "You think you're safe, don't you?" Owen said quietly. "You're light-years away, at the other end of the Rim. But I can reach you wherever you are."
    He reached out in a way that was new to him, but was so obvious now the power was awake in him, and his anger fell upon Scour. The Blood Runner screamed once as blood erupted from his mouth and nose and ears and eyes, and then he exploded, spattering those around him with blood and shredded flesh. Owen Deathstalker smiled at their shocked and bloody faces, and then he turned and stared grimly out at the crowd that had been ready to sacrifice Hazel for their greater good. They shivered under his gaze, but still couldn't look away. Owen could feel the power surging within him, demanding to be used, but he clamped
    down on it hard. He didn't understand it yet, and he had a strong suspicion it just might have an agenda of its own. He concentrated, let the power sink back into the undermind, into the back brain, and became just a man again. Hazel pushed herself away from Random, and moved uncertainly toward Owen. Her face was composed, but her hands were trembling slightly.
    "Thanks, Owen. I owe you one. I didn't know you could do that."
    "Neither did I," said Owen. "I think the Maze changed us more than we're willing to admit. The power's in you, too. You could have saved yourself."
    "Next time I will. We're going to have to study what we're becoming, Owen. What we're capable of."
    "Talk later," said Random. "We don't want to freak out our prospective new friends. I think it's better if they find out about us a little bit at a time."
    He turned to look at the remaining Blood Runners. "And you can get the hell out of here, like I told you. We're fighting this rebellion to put an end to practices like yours."
    "We will have her," said one of the Runners. "If not now, later."
    "No you won't," said Owen. "If I ever clap eyes on you again, you're history.
    Now, go back to whatever cesspit you crawled out of, and don't try to get in touch with us again until you're prepared to act civilized."
    The Blood Runners stared at him for a long moment, and then they were gone.
    There was a general sigh of relief from all present, followed by a low rumble of conversation in the crowd. Just a sighting of Blood Runners was rare enough, without seeing them get their ass kicked so convincingly. A number of people looked admiringly at Owen, but he couldn't help noticing there were just as many who seemed disturbed, even scared, by the power he'd wielded. Owen understood.
    It scared him, too. As the power within him grew, would he become more than
    human, or less? He looked around as Jack Random finally called everyone's attention back to him, and the crowd fell silent again.
    "I think we've had enough excitement for one day," Random said dryly. "We can continue this meeting through the usual channels over the next few days. We'll meet again when we have something more concrete to discuss. Unless there is still some urgent piece of business that absolutely must be dealt with now…"
    "There is," said a deep, authoritative voice from the crowd, and once again people fell back as a tall, commanding figure strode forward to stand before Random. He was a head taller than anyone else present, well-muscled and devilishly handsome. His long dark hair fell to his broad shoulders, and he wore silver battle armor chased with gold as though he'd been born to it. He radiated strength and confidence, and wisdom and compassion showed clearly in his striking features. He held himself like a warrior, and his charisma outshone the overhead lights. Owen distrusted him on sight. No one had a right to look that good.
    "And who the hell are you?" he said, not bothering how it sounded.
    "I'm Jack Random," said the newcomer. "The real Jack Random."
    The crowd erupted into a deafening babble as everyone tried to talk at once.
    Random's jaw dropped, and for a moment he looked like nothing more than a tired old man who'd had one shock too many. He pulled himself together quickly, but a lot of people had seen the lapse. Ruby Journey moved in protectively close beside Random, but his old friend Alexander Storm stayed