Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor

he attended the meeting as a hologram. The new rebels provided the coordinates, and at the approved time Valentine sent his image down to join the meeting.
    Due to the never ending storms churning up the planet’s atmosphere, reception wasn’t everything it might have been, and Valentine’s holo image appeared as a crackling, sometimes translucent figure. Valentine approved. He prided himself on the dramatic range of his entrances.
    He found himself in an anonymous back room, standing before a table around which four people were
    sitting. There was a fifth Figure standing to one side, whom Valentine recognized immediately. He decided to concentrate on the four at the table first. He liked to know exactly who he was dealing with.
    “Well, well,” he said calmly. “Here we all are, under one roof at last, with myself as always the ghost at the feast. What are we calling ourselves today; renegades, rebels, or, dare I say it, traitors to the Empire?” “We’re no traitors,” said one of the men immediately. “We are merely practical men, doing what we must to survive. The fact that we’re prepared to deal with scum like you should show that.”
    “How very rude,” Valentine murmured. “You have the advantage of me, sir. Perhaps you would be good enough to honor me with your name?” “I’m Tarquil Vomak, MP for Graylake East in the Golgotha Parliament. I represent powerful and influential people. An insult to me is an insult to them.” “How wonderfully time-saving,” said Valentine. “Be so good as to introduce your colleagues.”
    Vomak sniffed, as though he felt the task was beneath him. “If I must. To my left is the lady Donna Silvestri. She speaks for Blue Block, who brought us together to meet with you. Opposite us are Matthew Tallon, ex-Planetary Controller for Loki, and the ex-Mayor, Terrence Jacks. And I’m sure you know our associate in the corner there, Kit SummerIsle.” “Oh, yes,” said Valentine. “I know Kid Death.”
    He let his gaze drift unhurriedly over the conspirators. The MP Vomak was a large, blocky man dressed in scarlet, possibly to match his cheeks. He was handsome enough in an undemanding way, the impression somewhat undermined by a sulky mouth. Donna Silvestri was vaguely known to him as one of the people who ran Clan Silvestri finances. She was round and broad and motherly, with faded blue eyes and a thick gray woollen cloak pulled about her, and possibly only Valentine would have noticed that her warm, maternal smile wasn’t in the least reflected in her eyes. If she spoke for Blue Block, she was where the power lay. Tallon and Jacks had the same stubborn, weatherbeaten look common to all who lived their lives in Loki’s tempestuous embrace. Tallon was the older and more solemn. Jacks the younger and more impatient. And finally, of course, there was Kit SummerIsle. Kid Death, the smiling killer. A slender figure in black and silver armor, with pale blond flyaway hair and icy blue eyes. “Hello, Kit,” said Valentine. “Last I heard, you were a rebel hero and a pillar of the new establishment.”
    “Hello, Valentine,” said the SummerIsle in his cold, implacable voice. “I never was one for philosophies.
    Civilized society got very boring. I’m a killer, so I go where the killing is. For the moment, Blue Block are providing me with necessary distractions.”
    “I was sorry to hear about the loss of your friend David on Virimonde.”
    “No, you weren’t.”
    “All right, I wasn’t. I was just being polite, Kit. You really should try it sometime. What exactly is a notorious killer such as yourself doing here?” “Blue Block said there would be work for me here.
    Treason and death have always been close bedfellows.”
    “Of course,” said Valentine. He smiled at those seated around the table. “Perhaps someone here would be good enough to explain exactly what it is you wish me to pass on to Shub. What is it that brings us all together?” “Necessity,” said Donna Silvestri. “Humanity has many enemies, of which the Recreated are just the latest. Our struggle with Shub draws away people and resources that could be better employed against more immediate threats. A temporary and strictly limited alliance with Shub is in everyone’s best interests. We don’t have to like each other to be able to work together against a common enemy.
    Afterward… perhaps we will have developed enough interests in common to make our previous antagonisms