Deathstalker 02 - Deathstalker Rebellion

No one to be admitted once the ceremony is underway. You'll have to watch it on the viewscreens. Now, move on."
    Random gestured for the trooper to lean forward, waited until the man's head was right next to his cowl, and said, very solemnly, "Did you know the Jesuits have their very own special handshake?" And he reached forward, grabbed the trooper's balls in his hand, and scrunched them. The trooper's eyes bulged, and though he sucked in air for a scream, he couldn't seem to get it out again. He sank to his knees, and Ruby took off his helmet and clubbed him over the head with the butt of her gun. The trooper fell forward, and Random solemnly made the sign of the cross over his unconscious body. "I'd have made a great Mason," he said wistfully.

    They strolled unconcernedly out of the complex and took up a position on the edge of things. Kassar shot them a venomous glare for being late, but left it at that. Everyone else conspicuously ignored them. Daniel Wolfe was still making his speech. Badly. Random looked unobtrusively over at the rebel prisoners waiting for execution and scowled at the chains holding them in place. Heavy chains with thick steel links and blocky padlocks you couldn't hope to pick with anything less than a disrupter. Random's scowl deepened. No one had mentioned chains.
    On the other side of the crowd, Toby Shreck was also studying the prisoners, taking in the details. Many showed the blood and bruises of recent beatings.
    Even the children. All eyes were glazed from heavy-duty tranquilizers, so they wouldn't be any trouble. Not enough to knock them out, of course. That would take all the fun out of the executions. Toby frowned and looked around as Daniel stopped speaking suddenly. His teleprompter had broken down, and Stephanie was glaring meaningfully at Toby. So, rather than have Daniel look like a complete divot because he didn't know his own speech, Toby gestured for Flynn to shut down his camera. They'd blame it on technical difficulties later. And it might be handy to have the high-and-mighty Stephanie Wolfe owing them a favor. Flynn moved over to join Toby, and they both looked at the prisoners.
    "I can't believe they're going to kill the children, too," said Flynn. "I just wish there was something we could do."
    "There is," said Toby quietly. "Once Daniel's finally finished his speech, I'll do an on-camera appeal for clemency, for the children, straight to the Empress."
    "You've got a good heart, chief," said Flynn, "but it won't work. Kassar's got too much of his pride tied up in this, after his people got their heads handed
    to them down in the tunnels. He'll just say this is a Church matter. No one messes with the Church these days. Not if they're fond of breathing. And he'd probably have you executed, too, just for asking. No, boss, all we can do is film what happens and hope the audience's hearts will be touched enough to stop him doing it again. I wouldn't put money on it, though. They do so love their blood sports these days."
    "I used to be a big fan of the Arena," said Toby. "Season ticket, good seat. But that was different. At least the gladiators had a fighting chance, mostly. This is just slaughter. And I've seen so much blood here. I don't know, Flynn. I never thought of myself as political, but this…"
    "There's nothing we can do, boss. Just tough it out, do our job, and hope we end up somewhere more civilized for our next assignment."
    "I wanted to cover a war," said Toby. "Because wars are where the stories are. I never expected anything like this."
    "No one ever does," said Flynn. "That's why we have to keep covering them."
    Someone got the teleprompter working again by kicking it somewhere sensitive.
    Flynn resumed filming. Daniel finished his speech, and everyone applauded politely. Daniel nodded to Kassar and stepped back to allow him to introduce the executions. The Cardinal faced the camera with a forbidding stare and smiled coldly.
    "This day, 327 rebel prisoners will die, as an example to those who would stand against the authority of the established Church and Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress Lionstone XIV. The majority will be electrocuted through their chains, but first their leaders will be beheaded, one by one, as retribution for all the Faithful who have died in the struggle here. Stand forward, executioners, and do your duty."

    "Oh-oh," said Ruby. "He's looking at us."
    "No wonder no one wanted to mess with us," said Random.
    "What are we going to