Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor

rebellion, but unfortunately, so did the politicians. We tried hard to make a difference, but in the end we just got tired of banging our heads against all the lies and the corruption, and we took off on our own. We run Mistworld now. Doing a pretty good job, if I say so myself. It’s a smaller stage, and we can make more of a difference there. The Empire’s going to hell in a handcart, but then, it always was. We were stupid to think we could ever change the system. “Jack was killed in a bomb blast outside Parliament. Ruby killed a whole bunch of people she blamed for his death. She’s on the run, with a price on her head. Last I heard, she was happy enough, running Blood on Madraguda.
    How about you?” Owen told their story, with Hazel interrupting. When Owen was finally finished, Bonnie shrugged a few times, her piercings clattering attractively, and then fixed Owen with her gaze.
    “So much for the potted histories. Let’s get down to business. What are we doing here? Why did Hazel choose us?”
    “I just put out a call,” said Hazel. “And you were the two that answered.”
    “I came because I wanted to see Owen again,” said Midnight. “And I… was looking for a little action,”
    said Bonnie, smiling her disturbing smile. “Mistworld’s got too damned civilized of late.” “Wonderful,”
    said Owen. “So… what abilities did the Maze give you?” “I’m a teleporter,” said Midnight. “If I’ve been somewhere, I can go there again in a moment. Otherwise, I’m limited to line of sight.” “Very useful,” said Hazel. “What about you, Bonnie?”
    “I regenerate,” said Bonnie. “Any injury, big or small, in a matter of seconds. Nothing can stop me. I just keep coming.” She lifted her left index finger to her mouth, and calmly bit off the end, down to the first knuckle. The other three made sharp involuntary noises of distress. Bonnie just smiled, chewing unhurriedly. After a moment she swallowed and spat out the bone. Owen felt his last meal starting to come back up. Midnight and Hazel were both hanging onto his arms painfully tight. Bonnie held up the finger she’d bitten. It had already stopped bleeding. As the others watched, a new fingertip pushed its way out of the stump, complete with a new fingernail. In a moment the finger was good as new, with nothing to show it had ever been damaged. “Ah, what a rush,” said Bonnie Bedlam. “I love it.” She looked at Owen. “And where I come from, so do you. Darling.”
    “I have seen some truly disgusting things in my time,” said Hazel. “And that was very definitely one of them. I don’t know whether to puke or applaud.” “I think she’d probably take puking as a form of applause,” said Midnight. “We haven’t time for either,” said Owen, in what he hoped was a firm, calm voice. “Very impressive, Bonnie. Please don’t do it again. Now, why don’t we all move on to the matter at hand, namely opening this bloody seal so we can get into the city proper and start looking for the Hadenmen’s captives?” “You’ve got Hadenmen here?” said Midnight Blue, looking sharply at Owen.
    “Where I come from, they vanished right after you freed them from their Tomb. Ungrateful bastards.”
    “What the hell’s a Hadenman?” said Bonnie Bedlam. “I’ve never heard of them.” “Cyborgs,” said Hazel shortly. “Powerful, treacherous, and very nasty. And there’s a whole city full of them right above us.
    They’ve got human hostages.
    Lots of them. If they’re still alive…”
    “That’s what we’re here to find out,” said Owen. “And, hopefully, to work out a practical plan for rescuing them.”
    “Assuming we don’t get horribly killed in the process,” said Hazel.
    “Sounds like fun,” said Bonnie. “Is it okay if I kill a few of these Hadenmen?”
    “Kill lots,” said Hazel. “Feel free.”
    “After we’ve got the information we need,” said Owen firmly. “Spying first, killing later.”
    “Don’t worry, Owen,” said Midnight. “A warrior always understands the need for subtlety. Am I not a thing of mists and shadows?” “Don’t you start that,” said Owen. “I get enough of that stuff from my AI. If we do encounter any Hadenmen, I want all of us to make an effort not to start anything. There’s always the chance this has all been a hideous misunderstanding. And even if it hasn’t, maybe I can talk them into doing the right thing. They do claim to respect me as their