Deathstalker 03 - Deathstalker War

onboard computers, we don't have enough power left to get us all the way back to the Standing, and still maintain full shields."
    "Then drop the shields," said David. "Our only hope is to reach the Standing."
    "My thoughts exactly. How are the girls doing?"
    "As well as can be expected. I still can't believe everything went wrong so fast. You've seen what's going on below. All the towns are in flames, and there are war machines and ground troops everywhere. This isn't a strike force, it's an invasion."

    "Look on the bright side," said Kit. "At least they're not scorching the planet."
    "I don't even want to think about that. I've never seen anything like this, Kit.
    They're butchering these people. My people. And it's all happening because of me."
    "No it isn't. It's happening because the peasants were stupid enough to fool around with democracy. They were just asking for trouble."
    "I let them do it. I could have said no. Could have cracked down hard, with my Security people. I'd have had to execute a few ringleaders, burn out some farms, but everyone else would have been safe. I failed them, Kit. It was my duty to protect these people, keep them from harm. My duty as a Deathstalker."
    "David, can we concentrate on the matter at hand, please? Like, what are we going to do if we get to the Standing and it's under the Steward's control?"
    "Improvise. There are secret ways and hidden booby traps that only I and my people know about. Owen told me about them. If the Steward has got the Standing, I'll take it back from him. And then I'll cut off his treacherous head and use it as a footstool."
    "Cute. Assume we can take back the Standing. Then what? It won't hold out long against war machines, and we don't have anything there that would get us offplanet. Unless that's another of your little secrets?"
    "Unfortunately not," said David. "But I wouldn't leave now, even if I could. My people are dying. I won't abandon them."
    "But what can you do, David?"
    "I'll think of something! I'm a Deathstalker!"
    "That," said Kit, "is what got us into trouble in the first place."
    David thought about that, and then looked at Kit. "They're after me. It's still
    not too late for you to split off on your own. Take the girls and head for cover. You used to be Lionstone's favorite. She might well take you back, if you publicly disowned me."
    "Not a chance," said Kit. "You're stuck with me. Forget the altruism and keep thinking. You're the brains in this partnership. Find us a way out of this."
    "Let me take the controls," said David. "I know this area better than you."
    They switched places, and Kit went back to check on the girls, to try and comfort them. He wasn't very good at things like that, but he supposed he ought to try. The attack ships came out of nowhere, disrupter fire raking the side of the unshielded flyer. Explosions rocked the small craft, and flames erupted in the cabin. David fought the controls as the ship plunged toward the earth. Kit grabbed a fire extinguisher and played the foam over the nearest flames. Smoke filled the cabin. Jenny hugged Alice to her. The flyer's engines cut off, and the ship dropped like a stone.
    David kicked in the reserves, cursing in an endless quiet monotone. The ship's plunge slowed, but it was still going down. The attack ships struck again, and the whole rear of the flyer blew apart. Air rushed out the great hole in the rear, sucking the smoke out with it. The flames roared up, and Kit was forced back by the sheer intensity of the heat. David yelled for everyone to brace themselves, and frantically searched his sensor screens for somewhere reasonably flat to land. There was a field next to some open woodland, and David decided he'd settle for that. He took the flyer in, the controls fighting him all the way. The ground leaped up to meet them.
    The ship hit hard, bouncing across the field and digging a great trench through the grass before finally skidding to a halt just a few yards short of the tree
    line. The cabin was full of smoke again. Flames roared as they took hold. David sat slumped forward in his chair, only his safety straps holding him upright.
    Blood ran down his face from a cut on his forehead, and he was hazily aware he'd cracked his head against something hard and unyielding on the way down. Smoke caught in his throat, and he came suddenly awake as he coughed and almost choked. Kit was suddenly there at his side, undoing his straps. David tried to help, but his hands were numb