Deathstalker 03 - Deathstalker War

deal. Isn't that right, Gregor?"
    "Get on with it," growled the Shreck. "Just because a thing's necessary, it doesn't mean I like having to bow down to rebel scum. You haven't won, Random,
    and we haven't lost. It's a stalemate. You could stick to your original plan and try to take us down, but I swear we'd fight to the last survivor of each Clan, and see most of your people dead in the process. You could still win; but you'd lose thousands of your people doing it. Well, Random? Is your need for revenge worth the deaths of so many of your followers? When you can save them and win the day, with just a word?"
    "I don't know," said Random. "It might be. As long as people like you live and go unpunished, the rebellion will have been for nothing. All those who died to help us get this far will have died for nothing The system has to fall, and you're part of the system."
    "If we go down, it won't be just the system that falls," said Gregor, grinning nastily. "You've had the carrot; now here's the stick. You reject the deal, and we'll use our financial power to destroy the Empire's economic base. We can do it. We can use our computers to crash the banking system so thoroughly it would take centuries to recover. It's already precarious after what your friend Deathstalker did to the Tax computers. We could push it over the edge with just a nudge here and there. Money would become worthless. Credit would disappear.
    Trade would become impossible. Planets would be cut off from each other.
    Millions would starve, and millions more would fight over the crumbs that remained. What of your glorious rebellion then, Random? Destroy us, and we'll destroy the people you've been fighting to save."
    "Could they do that?" said Ruby to Random. "Could they really do that?"
    "Oh yeah," said Random. "That's just the kind of thing the Families would do."
    "The order of things changes, but we go on," said BB. "We have so much to offer a new regime."
    "The rebellion isn't actually over yet," said Storm thoughtfully. "The Empress
    could still make a comeback."
    "The Empress is mad," said Gregor. "We can read the writing on the wall, especially when it's written in blood. Now are we going to agree to the deal or not? As long as we're standing here talking, people on both sides are dying needlessly. Not that I give a damn, but you're supposed to care about such things. Decide, Random. We know the underground will abide by your decision."
    "Don't listen to him. Jack," said Ruby urgently. "We haven't come this far to give up now. We can tear the Families down, just like you always wanted!"
    "You heard the price," said Random. "I always fought for the good of the people, not my own needs and wishes. What good is there in burning down an Empire, if all we have left to live in is ashes? The needs of the people come first. That's why I became a rebel in the first place. If I put their future at risk for the sake of my own revenge, then everything I've ever fought for becomes a lie. Who knows; with the Families removed from political power, maybe we can… civilize them."
    "And what about the Chojiros?" said Ruby hotly. "All the vows you made to kill them all and piss on their graves? Do they mean nothing anymore?"
    "I have more reason to hate the Chojiros than you'll ever know," Random said coldly. "I want them dead so badly I'd give up my life to destroy them all, root and branch. But I won't, I can't, give up innocent lives to my old hurts. And after all—maybe there'll still be room for a little private revenge, after the rebellion is over."
    "Yes," said BB, still smiling. "Clan Chojiro has always appreciated the honorable art of vendetta."
    "So we have a deal?" said Gregor.

    "Yes, damn you," said Jack Random. "We have a deal. Stand down your people, and I'll halt the attack. Stay in your Towers till the rebellion's over, and we'll hammer out the details afterward. And no, I'm not going to shake your hands. I have to keep some self-respect."
    "I don't believe this!" said Ruby, stepping back a pace so that her projectile weapon covered them all. "And I haven't agreed to anything! You're selling out the rebellion, Jack, selling out every promise you ever made. All the things you said to me, all the things you wanted me to believe, and now the day of judgment's come, and you're making deals!"
    "It's called politics, love," said Random. "Sometimes the price of ideals can be too high. And if I can live with this, you can."
    "You were born an aristo," said