Deathstalker 05 - Deathstalker Destiny

because we haven't heard from it since doesn't mean it isn't still out there somewhere, plotting mischief. Shub has remote control teleportation. It could have planted any number of disguised agents here on homeworld, and the only sure way we have of rooting them out is mind scanning. Set up booths in every city, and require people to walk past them twice a day. Computer records will spot anyone who tries to dodge. Of course, all private and public esp-blockers will have to be destroyed."
    "Oh, of course," said Gutman. "And that's what this is really all about. You want all esp-blockers to be destroyed, because they're the only defense normal people have against espers' invasion of their thoughts."
    "We want esp-blockers destroyed to free the living brains that power them," said Diana.
    "And so you espers can peep inside all our heads. See our personal thoughts and secrets. That kind of knowledge would give you one hell of a hold over the rest of us, wouldn't it?"
    "We wouldn't need to invade anyone's privacy, just to detect nonhuman thoughts."
    "We only have your word for that, esper. Information is currency right now. And we all have secrets we'd rather die than share."
    Diana Vertue didn't have to look around to hear the general murmur of agreement among the onlookers. She shrugged angrily. "We'll discuss this again, when everyone's feeling a little more rational."
    "Be a long wait," said Random.
    "Moving on," said Gutman, firmly, "we come to a rather delicate issue. This House refrained from discussing it until some of the Maze people had returned, because you were the only people with direct knowledge of the subject, but the situation is becoming increasingly pressing."
    Ruby looked at Random. "What the hell is he talking about?"
    "The end of everything," said Random. "He's talking about the Darkvoid Device."
    It was suddenly very quiet again in the House. Everyone was looking at Random and Ruby. Random could feel the pressure of their eyes on the back of his head.
    Even Diana Vertue was looking at him strangely.
    "Things are bad now," Random said carefully, "and I can understand the attraction of a superweapon that could end the war in a moment. But you'd have to be on the edge of actual extinction to seriously consider letting this genie out of its bottle again. The last time the Device was activated, it put out a thousand suns in a moment. Billions of people died. Who gets to die this time, that the rest of us might live? Even assuming we knew how to operate the Device safely, which we don't."
    "But you know where it is," said Gutman, leaning forward for the first time.
    "Sort of," said Ruby reluctantly. "We know where it used to be, but there's no guarantee it's still there. And like Jack said, we don't know how to turn it on…
    or off. You want to risk destroying the whole of Humanity?"
    "We're already at risk," said Gutman.
    "Hold everything," said Random sharply. "Is that why you're sending Silence back into the Darkvoid? Because he's the only other person who's been to the Wolfling World? Have you sent him after the Darkvoid Device?"
    "Captain Silence has always understood his duty," said Gutman.
    "He doesn't know the nature of the Device," said Random. "Or how to find it. Or how to make it work."
    "The good captain has always been very resourceful. And he did pass part way through the Madness Maze, and survive."
    "I won't allow this," said Random flatly. "I didn't save the Empire from Lionstone, just to see Humanity destroyed by its own stupidity."
    "There you go again, Sir Random," said Gutman, leaning back in his chair and lacing his fingers across his extensive stomach. "Deciding you alone know what's best for Humanity. Parliament represents the people. We decide what is best, and what is necessary. Not an over-the-hill rebel who can no longer be trusted to act rationally. We all know what you did on Loki."
    "I hanged a bunch of people who needed hanging," said Random, grinning wolfishly. "They were all guilty. All dirty. All politicians."
    Everyone stirred uneasily at the dark venom in his voice, including Ruby Journey.
    "We're willing to listen to reason," said Gutman. "Convince us. Tell us about the Darkvoid Device. What it is, how it does what it does. Who knows: you might even bring us around to your position."
    "I can't," said Random.
    "Can't or won't?"
    Random shook his head. "Some things… you're better off not knowing. You're all just going to have to trust me on this."
    Whatever Gutman