Deathstalker 03 - Deathstalker War

inhuman. There's no way Lionstone's going to get away with this. This is my world and my people and I will not stand for this!"
    "There's nothing you can do," said Kit. He shut down the viewscreen, and David
    turned his glare on him. Kit met his gaze calmly. "You've been outlawed, David.
    You no longer have any followers or power base, and even your own Standing may be compromised. You can't fight, and surrender isn't an option, so that just leaves flight."
    David shook his head stubbornly. "If I can get to the Standing, there's still a chance I can contact the Company of Lords. Show them what's happening here, what Lionstone's doing to one of their own. If this could happen here, no Lord's holdings would be safe anymore."
    "They won't interfere," said Kit. "No one objected to Owen's outlawing, remember? While the Empress has the backing of the armed forces and the war machines, no Lord's going to risk making a stand against her."
    "Then I'll use the Standing's comm station to broadcast what's happening here on an open channel, so everyone in the Empire can see what's being done in the Empress's name."
    "Your Standing is most probably in the Steward's hands now," Kit said patiently.
    "Then we'll take it back from him," said David.
    Kit took David by the shoulders so he could stare into his friend's eyes.
    "David, let it go. They're just peasants. They're nothing to do with us.
    Virimonde is a lost cause. It was the moment Lionstone decided to send in the troops and the war machines. We can't fight this. All we can do is cut and run and hope to save our own skins."
    "I won't abandon my people," David said flatly.
    "They're just peasants!"
    "What about Alice and me?" said Jenny, from the other side of the bar.
    "What about you?" said Kit.
    "You bastard," said Jenny. "You'd just run off and abandon us, wouldn't you?"

    "No one's abandoning anyone," said David. "Our flyer's still in the stable out back. It can carry four of us. There's got to be some organized resistance, somewhere. You and Alice can connect us with the nearest rebel cells, and together we can take back the Standing. Stevie Blue!"
    The two clones looked back from the doorway. "Yeah?"
    "We are leaving; you want a lift?"
    "I don't think so," said Stevie One. "Once you're safely on your way, our responsibility to you is over. We'll head for the nearest city still standing, organize resistance, and generally make trouble wherever it'll do the most damage."
    "Right," said Stevie Three, and held up a fist. Blue flames crackled menacingly around it.
    "Then it's time to go," said David. He looked around him, as though seeing the tavern bar for the first time. "I should have listened to Owen. He tried to warn me. Damn, I wish I'd had a few more hours' sleep. The shock's driven the booze out of my head, but I feel like shit." He stopped, and looked at Kit for a long moment. "Kit, you don't have to come with us. You haven't been outlawed, so presumably they don't know about your rebel links, or don't care. You could cut us loose and make off on your own…"
    "No I couldn't," said Kit calmly. "You're my friend. And if you're determined to fight for a lost cause for no good reason that I can see, then I'll fight it with you. I am Kid Death, the smiling killer, and I will not desert my friend in his hour of need."
    "You're a good sort, Kit," said David, smiling. "Weird as hell and spooky with it, but you'll do." He grinned suddenly. "What the hell; I was getting bored
    with peace and quiet anyway."
    "Damn right," said Kit. "The holiday's over, time to get back to work. We were never meant to be gentlemen of leisure."
    They turned to look at the two girls. Alice had stopped crying. Her mouth kept trying to tremble, but she was back in control.
    "We're sticking with you," she said flatly. "This is our world, too. We have a right to defend it."
    "Of course you do," said David. "And maybe on the way we'll find time for some personal revenge. Now let's go."
    They headed for the back door together, waving briefly to the Stevie Blues.
    Jenny glared at Kit. "You slow us down, SummerIsle, and we'll dump you to fend for yourself. Got it?"
    Kit smiled at her. "I always knew you were a woman after my own heart."
    In his private command center on the planet's surface, inside a great slow-moving armored vehicle well away from the main fighting, Valentine Wolfe sat at his ease in a comfortable chair and watched death and destruction and bloody butchery on the many monitor screens