Deathstalker 02 - Deathstalker Rebellion

but Finlay didn't give a damn. He hadn't done it for the applause. He looked around for Evangeline, or even Adrienne, but the crowd was too big. Mr. Perfect began speaking again, a frown marring his classical features, like graffiti on a famous portrait.
    "It is imperative we establish proper contact with the new rebels as soon as possible. We sent Alexander Storm and the Stevie Blues to join the raiding party and return with them, but it's clear we're going to need a cooler, more politically minded envoy to represent our views in the future. We need an ambassador to link both of us together. It is vital that future raids or attacks
    be decided by both of us, in advance, precisely to prevent this kind of destruction happening again. What little good will the underground had among the general population vanished with the alien ship's first strafing run. The council has discussed this, and we have a volunteer to be our ambassador.
    Evangeline Shreck."
    Finlay mouthed the word no, but his reaction was lost in the applause from the crowd, which this time seemed louder and more genuine. Evangeline was suddenly standing before the esper leaders, head respectfully bowed. She turned around to acknowledge the applause from the crowd, and her eyes met Finlay's as though she'd expected him to be right where he was. She looked away, but there was no guilt or weakness in her cold, composed face. Finlay started to push his way forward through the crowd. Skye tried to follow him, but lacked the strength to force his way past the people packed together before him. He called the Campbell's name, but if Finlay heard, he paid it no attention, and Skye was quickly left behind.
    Finlay burst through the final few ranks, not caring if he hurt or affronted anyone. No one objected. Finlay's reputation as a swordsman and a crazy bastard was well-known throughout the underground. He stood face-to-face with Evangeline, and she met his gaze unflinchingly. Finlay took her by the arm and pulled her a little away from the esper leaders. She went with him unresistingly, but her face never changed.
    "Why are you doing this, Evie?" he said finally. "Why are you going away and leaving me?"
    "I'm not leaving you," Evangeline said calmly. "I'm just going on a mission.
    I'll be back before the year's out. My position as ambassador is only temporary,
    until the council can decide which of them will replace me."
    "Why did they choose you?"
    "Because I asked them. I wanted to go. I need to get away from things for a while. I've done too much, been involved in too much. I owe too many commitments to too many people, and I can't keep them straight in my head anymore. Leaving Golgotha will give me time to think. It's been a long time since I could just be myself, with no responsibilities to anyone but myself."
    "You don't have to go do that. We can leave the underground, be together, just the two of us. I'm here only because you are."
    "That might have been true once, but not anymore. You said yourself, you need the action, the blood and slaughter of the missions they give you."
    "None of that means more to me than you. You're the heart that beats in my breast, the air in my mouth. I can't live without you."
    "Yes you can. For a while. I need this, Finlay. I need… I don't know what I need, but it isn't here. Adrienne helped me to see that."
    Finlay nodded grimly. "I might have known she'd be at the back of this. She's never happy unless she's screwing up my life."
    "No, Finlay. This was my decision. I need to get away from the subsystems, my father…"
    "And me?"
    "That, too. Nothing's really going to change. We hardly ever see each other anyway. I have my duties, and you're always off on one of your missions…"
    "That can change. I can change. What do you want from me?"
    "Your understanding. I still love you, Finlay. I'll always love you, no matter where I am or you are. But I can't go on like this. It's tearing me apart, and I can't stand it anymore. I have to take some control of my life. Don't fight me
    on this, Finlay. It's important to me."
    He took a deep breath and nodded abruptly. "Then it's important to me, too. Go.
    I'll manage." He opened his arms to her, and she came into them, and for a long time they stood together, blind to the outside world. Finlay held her close, like a drowning man, and if his strength hurt her, she never said. He could feel tears prickling his eyes, but he wouldn't let them out. "What am I going to do without you,