Deathstalker 03 - Deathstalker War

reassuringly, and tried not to notice when they all flinched and drew back from him.
    "Take it easy, people. We're here to help. This is your city; you tell us how best we can help you defend it."
    Donald Royal stepped suddenly forward to stare into Owen's face. His gaze was firm and steady. "Yes, you're a Deathstalker, all right. I can see it in your eyes. Damn, it's good to have a Deathstalker with us again. Your Family always did have a talent for stirring things up. I knew your father and your grandfather, boy. Good men, both of them, in their different ways. When all this is over, I'll tell you some stories about them that you probably won't find in your Family records. It's good to see you here, maintaining your Clan's traditions."
    "Leave the old-times shit for later," said Castle. "What kind of help are you offering us, Deathstalker? Going to walk out into the streets and awe the Empire troops to death, are you? You might have esp or juju coming out your ears, but that won't stop an invading army. Surely Golgotha didn't just send us the pair of you and their best wishes? We need guns, explosives, equipment."
    "We brought a ship full of projectile weapons and crates of ammunition," said Owen calmly. "They should be being distributed even as we speak. That's it."
    "Projectile weapons?" said Magnus. "What use are bloody antiques against gravity barges with disrupter cannon?"
    "You'd be surprised," said Hazel. "Besides, you've got me and Owen. We're an army in our own right."
    "Oh wonderful," said Lois Barron. "An ex-aristo and an ex-pirate with overblown esp and delusions of grandeur. Like we haven't got enough of those already. Why
    don't we all just shoot ourselves now, and get it over with?"
    "If you don't stop whining, I'll shoot you myself," snapped Royal. "These two are different. You felt their power."
    "Oh, we're different, all right," said Owen.
    "That's for sure," said Hazel. "And there's always Jenny Psycho. Wherever she is."
    "I don't think we need to tell the Council about her yet," said Owen. "They'd only worry."
    "And if you find those two disturbing, there's always me," said Young Jack Random.
    Everyone turned to look at him. He'd been quiet for so long that everyone had forgotten he was there. It quickly became clear that the Council found his tall muscular frame and handsome face much more satisfying than Hazel and Owen.
    "And who the hell are you?" said Castle, climbing onto a stool to get a better look over people's heads.
    "I know the face," said McVey. "I'm sure I know the face."
    Donald Royal smiled. "Allow me to present my good old friend, the one and only Jack Random."
    The Council gaped soundlessly for a moment, then left the table en masse to crowd around Random, pumping his hand and slapping him on the back, and saying how delighted they were that he'd come to save them in their hour of need.
    Random smiled and nodded modestly, looking every inch a hero and a legend born.
    Owen looked at Hazel.
    "I may puke."
    "You already did. Try not to get it all over me this time."
    Eventually the Councillors got tired of telling Random what a savior he was to
    them, and having him modestly nod and agree, and they brought him over to the table to show him the great map of Mistport. Steel pulled Random in beside him to explain things, and Owen and Hazel pushed in on the other side, determined to not be left out of anything. Steel ignored them, concentrating on Random.
    "Right, Jack, this map covers all four Quarters of the city, from boundary to boundary. The city's perimeter is defended by high stone walls, but they won't last long. They were only ever intended to keep out marauding local wildlife. A war machine will walk right through them. And of course they don't do a thing to stop gravity barges and sleds. To the north we have Merchants and Guilds Quarters, and Thieves and Tech in the south. The River Autumn runs through all of them except Tech. With our communications out, and most of the streets blocked with people and barricades, we've been using the barges on the Autumn to transfer messages and people. One of our few Emergency plans that is worth anything. Most of the rest depended on espers, and they're not part of the agenda anymore. Whatever it is the Empire's doing, it's scrambled the minds of practically anyone with even a touch of esp in them. A few of the stronger talents are holding out, but it's anyone's guess as to how long. What's left of the esper union is concentrating on