Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor

way to defeat him without killing him if you’d wanted to.” “Maybe. I don’t know. There isn’t time to think about things like that in the Arena. It’s kill or be killed. Your brother knew that.”
    “Auric. His name was Auric.”
    “What do you want me to say, Julian? That I’m sorry? All right, I’m sorry I killed your brother, Auric.
    But you and I killed a lot of people in the rebellion, some of them just guards or soldiers doing their job, their duty as they saw it. They were all someone’s brother. I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused you, Julian.
    But there’s nothing I can do about it.” “I know,” said Julian. “I’m sorry too. But sometimes sorry isn’t enough.” He reached out with his esp and shut down Finlay’s mind. The Campbell toppled forward from his chair and lay still on the carpet. Julian stood up and looked down at his friend’s body, and did his best to feel nothing at all. The door opened, and three operatives from Blue Block came in, from where they’d been waiting in the next room. The leader looked down at Finlay’s still form. “Is he dead?”
    “No,” said Julian. “Just sleeping. Pick him up and carry him out. And treat him courteously. He was a great man once.”
    The three operatives from Blue Block dropped Finlay’s unconscious body onto the floor at BB
    Chojiro’s feet. He lay still, barely breathing, his sword belt and holster gone, one arm falling limply away from his body as though outstretched in supplication to BB. She studied his body for a moment, then looked up to smile at Julian Skye, standing a little to one side. He didn’t smile back, but nodded to her.
    “Hello, BB. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I like your suite. Very airy. I brought you a present. A little something.”
    “Hello, Julian. It’s good to see you again. You always were very generous to me.
    I hope you had no trouble getting to see me.”
    “I could have lived without the strip search and the probing fingers, but I can understand your need for security. You have a lot of enemies these days, BB.” “Successful people always do. You’re looking very pale, Julian. Have you been looking after yourself properly?”
    “I’ve not been well. The rebellion took a lot out of me. It’ll pass.” “Good. I’ve seen all your holo shows.
    Very dramatic. I understand you’re quite the heartthrob these days.”
    “Oh, sure. I even have an official fan club. I can get you an autographed photo if you like.”
    “So,” said BB. “Is there anyone… special in your life at present?” “No,” said Julian. “You know there isn’t. There’s only ever been you, BB. You ruined me for anyone else. That’s why I’m here. Why I brought you Finlay. To show the depths of my feelings for you.”
    “Dear Julian. There’s never been anyone but you in my life either. I never wanted anyone else. We belong together.”
    “Get rid of the shadows,” said Julian, indicating the three Blue Block operatives hovering silently in the background. “We don’t need an audience.” BB gestured at them, and the three faceless men nodded and left, closing the door quietly behind them. BB and Julian stood looking at each other over Finlay’s unconscious body, and there was a yearning look in both of their faces that might or might not have been real.
    “You’re so beautiful,” said Julian. “You’re all I ever wanted. I would have laid down my life for you.”
    “Why are you here, Julian?” said BB, her voice very small and very quiet. “After all the terrible things I did to you.”
    “I don’t know. I’m still not sure whether I ought to kiss you or kill you. You hurt me, BB. I trusted you, and you ripped the heart right out of me.” “I know. I had no choice. I’ve belonged to Blue Block since I was a small child. They were my life, my everything. I could no more reject their programming than I
    could choose to stop breathing. I loved you, but they made me give you up. I cried for days.”
    “Did you, BB? Did you really? I cried in the interrogation cells, but no one came to wipe away my tears.
    I haven’t cried since. I don’t think I have it in me anymore.”
    “Why are you here, Julian? What do you want from me?” “I had to come. And you know what I want. I want things to be the way they used to be. When we were in love, and so happy, and we thought we’d spend the rest of our lives together.”
    “I want that too, Julian. Whoever and whatever I’ve been,