Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor

the main meal of the day: protein cubes and distilled water, produced by Shub machines. All the elements necessary to sustain life, but nothing else.
    “God, I hate this stuff,” said Jacks, pushing the small chunks of protein about his plate. “It tastes of nothing, takes ages to chew, and it doesn’t even come in any interesting colors.”
    “I know,” said Tallon. “I’d kill for a thick steak and a decent wine to wash it down with.”
    “We’ve killed for less than that,” said Jacks, and their eyes met across the table.
    “There’s been looting again, hasn’t there?” said Tallon. “Even though I forbade it.”
    “You can’t blame the men. I mean, the dead don’t need their food anymore, do they?”
    “But there’s never enough to go around. Only enough for a taste, for a lucky few. Enough to remind a man how foul this stuff really is. So the men fight each other over the spoils when they should be conserving their strength for the struggle to come. We can’t afford to lose any more people, dammit! I know our life is hard, but we chose it. We chose to be rebels rather than bow down to tyranny.”
    “And a hell of a lot it’s got us,” said Jacks. “Allied with the Enemies of Humanity.”
    “We had no choice! The Empire wouldn’t protect us, and the power base they inflicted on us was hopelessly corrupt. Our only chance for a decent life lay with calling in Shub’s help.”
    “You call this a decent life? Hiding in a hole in the ground, only coming out to kill our own kind?”
    “Things will get better. You’ll see. This is just a time of transition.” “What have we come to, Matt?” said
    Jacks. “Living like rats in our holes, standing by as the Ghost Warriors kill women and children. Some of our men have even started joining in. Taking out their anger and frustration on the defenseless. Are we any closer to winning this bloody war, because I can’t see it. All I can see is us becoming as inhuman as the allies we chose.” “We do what’s necessary.” Tallon held Jacks’s gaze unwaveringly. “We swore an oath during the rebellion against Lionstone, remember? Swore it on our blood and our honor, Whatever It Takes. That hasn’t changed. We’re still fighting the same enemy.”
    “Are we? Jack Random and Ruby Journey have come here to fight us! Two of the greatest heroes of the rebellion, the people who inspired us to fight, have come here specifically to fight us! How the hell did we end up on opposite sides from them! We can’t fight them!”
    “Yes, we can. There’s just the two of them. What difference can they make against an army of Ghost Warriors?”
    “Are you kidding? They overthrew Golgotha, toppled Lionstone from the Iron Throne, and remade the Empire! They’re legends!” “They’re monsters. The Madness Maze turned them into something other than human.”
    “And what are we?” asked Jacks, and Tallon had no reply. “My, my,” said Young Jack Random from the doorway. “Do I detect despondency? You don’t want to worry about Random and Journey. They may be legends, or monsters, but then, so am I.”
    The two humans looked around sharply, glaring at the machine standing at ease in the doorway. He was tall and handsome, clad in silver armor, every inch a hero. A killing machine with a hero’s face, without mercy or compassion or honor. He smiled charmingly at Tallon and Jacks.
    “Sorry to interrupt your meal, gentlemen, but I thought you should know there’s been a change in plans, and we’ll be moving out soon. Better get your people together and properly motivated. No more sneak attacks—we’re going one on one with the colonists. Our army versus theirs, winner takes all.” “What brought this on all of a sudden?” said Tallon, rising to his feet. “We’ve nothing to gain from such open tactics, and everything to lose. What’s changed?” “Jack Random and Ruby Journey will be leading the city forces. And Shub wants them very much, dead or alive.”
    Jacks stood up too. “You want them so badly you’re willing to risk all our lives, and our cause, just for a chance at getting your hands on them?” “Got it in one,” said Young Jack Random.
    “No,” said Tallon. “I can’t accept this. My people are still exhausted from their last raid. You can’t ask them to go out again.” “I’m not asking,” said Young Jack Random, smiling. “Anyone who doesn’t march with us dies here.”
    “You need us!” said Jacks.
    “Now,