Deathstalker 02 - Deathstalker Rebellion

cooperate," said Toby. "Trust me, just lie back and relax, and it'll be over before you know it."
    "Get out," said Lily.
    "Honestly," said Toby, smiling till his cheeks ached, "you'll enjoy it, once we get started. Haven't you ever wanted to have your face on the holoscreen, broadcast across the entire Empire, in front of a guaranteed audience of practically everyone with a set? The stardrive ceremony is big news. There's bound to be a massive audience. Your names could be on everybody's lips." He looked hopefully at Lily and Michel, and then sighed and shrugged. "I know; get out. Come on, Flynn. We'll try again some other time when they're not feeling so aristocratic."
    He bowed briefly to Lily and Michel and left, followed by Flynn, who didn't bow
    to anyone. Michel relaxed a little as the door closed behind them. Lily scowled.
    "Impertinent little creep. Speaking to us like that. I can just imagine the sort of questions he had in mind. Publicity like that we don't need. Not with what I've got planned."
    "Well, what precisely have you got planned?" said Michel impatiently. "And who the hell are these friends of yours? Why haven't you mentioned them before? Have you told them about us?"
    "I didn't have to," said Lily. "They already knew. That's why they came to me."
    "Who the hell are they?"
    "Clan Chojiro. I've been one of their agents for ages now. They respect my witchy nature, and they pay very well. They had a great many agents in place here already, but through me they now have access to all kinds of levels they couldn't even touch before. They're quite willing to see we get everything we want, as long as they get what they want. They even have agents among the local rebels, feeding them information. Honestly, things couldn't be working out better for us. Could they?"
    "I don't know," said Michel. "Conspiring with Clan Chojiro is like shark fishing and using yourself as bait. I need time to think about this."
    "Well, think quickly. Someone will be coming here to talk to us any minute. Our plans can begin anytime now. The last piece of the puzzle has just arrived."
    "I hate it when you go all allusive. I assume we're talking about a double agent. What makes him so special?"
    "He's a Jesuit commando," said a calm voice behind them. "Which means he has access to all the security systems in and around the factory complex."
    Michel spun around, fists clenched at being caught unawares, and then he quickly unclenched them as he remembered who he was facing. The Jesuits were the
    enforcers of the Church of Christ the Warrior and were said to be the best fighters you could find outside the Investigators or the Arena. This particular Jesuit was wearing purple and white battle armor and a sardonic smile. He was tall, dark, and not particularly memorable. He didn't look especially tough, either, but Michel had absolutely no intention of testing him. Or even upsetting him. Michel's muscles were strictly for show.
    "So glad you could come and see us," Lily said graciously to the Jesuit. "I take it everything is going as planned?"
    "So far," said the Jesuit. "I am Father Brendan, Michel. You may have complete confidence in me. In this room, for example, the security systems are currently running on a closed loop, so we can talk for as long as we need without fear of being overheard. Now, I'm sure you have questions. Ask away."
    "All right," said Michel. "Let's start with why we should trust anyone from the Church. Last I heard, they were still advocating the return of the death penalty for adulterers. This could all be a setup by Kassar. He'd love to have something he could use to bring down the Wolfes."
    "The Cardinal knows nothing about this," said Brendan, or we'd all be dead by now. As to why I've chosen to work with Clan Chojiro, it's really very simple.
    Before I joined the Church, I was originally Clan Silvestri."
    "What the hell do Chojiro and Silvestri have in common?"
    The Jesuit smiled. "Blue Block."
    Michel realized his mouth was hanging open and closed it with a snap. Blue Block. The extremely secret, half-mythical school where younger members of the Families were trained and conditioned almost from birth to be utterly loyal to the Clans, to death and beyond. The Families' secret weapon.

    "But…" Michel struggled for words. "Why is Blue Block being used against the Wolfes, one of their own?"
    Brendan smiled. "The Wolfes in general—and Valentine in particular—are becoming too powerful. He's tipping the