Deathstalker 06 - Deathstalker Legacy

world on which Swart Alfair live, as long as required population levels are maintained. We wish to grow and expand, and scatter ourselves across the stars as humans do. This is our price. For weapons and ships and technology beyond your expectations. Swart Alfair are very old. Asleep for a long time, but waking up now. Embrace us, or fall to the Destroyer."
    "Yes . . ." said Douglas, after a long pause. "Well; that's a very interesting offer. Which I'm sure the House will want to discuss in some depth. In the meantime . . . we'll take your offer under advisement, and get back to you as soon as we can . . ."
    "Don't leave it too long," said the Swart Alfair. The ectoplasm boiled thickly around it, despite everything the House's air conditioning could do to disperse it. "We have tech that can hide us from the Destroyer, as it hid us from the Empire and its Investigators, in days of old. You have nothing like it. And no, your Majesty; Mog Mor feels no duty, no responsibility, to offer it to the Empire free of charge. Not so long as Empire remains poisoned by Pure Humanity philosophy. Going now. Mog Mor will not be seen again in House. Call Mog Mor, when you are ready. When you are scared enough. You have no choice, really."
    The tall scarlet bat-creature stalked out of the House, its ectoplasm following it. Douglas didn't know whether to feel insulted or relieved when it was finally gone.
    "If nothing else, he does know how to make an exit," said Jesamine. "The ham."
    Douglas looked at her. "You think he really means it?"
    "Who knows, with the Swart Alfair? They've been in the Empire for over a century, and we've still no idea what makes them tick. What we do know, or more often suspect, is frankly disgusting. You don't even want to know how they go about breeding. While they have been known to volunteer information, they rarely answer direct questions, and they've never once allowed xenobiologists to visit their planet.
    Creepy bastards the lot of them, darling, and arrogant with it. Possibly with good cause. They lived right
    here in Lionstone's backyard, and she never even knew. Maybe they could hide themselves from the Terror. And if they can do that. . ."
    "What else can they do?" Douglas shook his head unhappily. "It could be a bluff, or it could be our salvation. My head hurts."
    "Do they really ask so much?" said Lewis. "A few worlds, compared to what we stand to gain? Or lose?"
    "But if they're so powerful, why don't they just take what they want?" said Jesamine.
    "Wonderful," growled Douglas. "More complications. Just what we needed. Any other thoughts that won't do terrible things to my blood pressure?"
    "Just the one," Lewis said quietly. "And I can pretty much guarantee you're not going to like it. A really unpleasant comparison has occurred to me. What the Terror did to those people on the Rim planets looked an awful lot like what the ELFs did to those people in the Arena . . . possessing and then feeding on their suffering and emotions . . ."
    "You're right," said Douglas, also keeping his voice low. "I don't like it. In fact, I hate it. You keep that thought strictly to yourself for now, Lewis.
    That's an order. There's still a lot of general resentment out there, over the way the espers shut down the Neuman riot; I don't want that stirred up again. The last thing we need is even more anti-esper feeling.
    We're going to need the oversoul's help, and I can't afford to have them feeling alienated or unappreciated. If you want to talk to anyone, Lewis; talk to the oversoul. Maybe it can derive something useful from your ... comparison. Otherwise; you keep your mouth shut on the subject."
    "Oh hell," said Jesamine. "Now what?"
    Douglas and Lewis looked round in time to see one of the honorable Members striding out onto the floor of the House, his head held high. Michel du Bois, representative for Virimonde, stopped directly before the Throne, and bowed deeply. When he spoke, his rich, dramatic voice rolled across the House.
    "Your Majesty, honored Members, it seems to me there is one obvious answer to the threat of the Terror that has not been touched on yet."
    "Is there, by God?" said Douglas. "You do surprise me, du Bois. I can't think how we missed it. Feel free to enlighten us."
    "It's really quite simple, your Majesty," said du Bois, spreading his arms in a familiar expansive gesture.
    "Owen Deathstalker must return to save us all, as he did before. Virimonde's noblest son, the greatest hero Humanity