Deathstalker 07 - Deathstalker Return

other selves have run every test we can think of on the cell samples we took from the bodies, and I have to tell you, in my expert opinion, this whole project is a waste of everybody's time." Du Katt met Finn's gaze squarely, the effect only slightly spoiled by his trembling lower lip. "The whole thing's impossible! The genetic material involved has been so altered and transformed through contact with the Madness Maze that it doesn't respond to any of the established cloning procedures. There's nothing there we can work with!"
    Finn frowned. "Are you saying… it isn't human tissue anymore?"
    "I mean, it isn't any form of life I'm familiar with! It just… doesn't make sense!"
    "Send all the information you have to our Shub allies on Haden," said Finn. "See if they can make anything of it. And calm yourself, du Katt. Hysteria is so unattractive in a scientist."
    Du Katt nodded quickly, and actually did relax a little. He'd been expecting a far worse reaction from Finn. "How is our James performing?" he said, trying hard to sound casual and not at all like he was trying to change the subject. "Performing well, I trust? Giving no cause for concern?"
    "Any reason he should be?" said Finn.
    "Oh, no! No, of course not! I was just… asking." Du Katt decided he might have been better off with the first subject after all. 'You know, according to certain records I uncovered in the clone underground's files, you weren't the first to suggest creating a clone of the dear departed James Campbell. It seems such an offer was made, to the then—King William and Queen Niamh, by my predecessor of that time. They could have produced a perfect clone to replace the deceased original, and no one need ever have known, but… it seems the King and Queen reacted very badly to the suggestion.The Queen apparently said it would be an abomination… and that was the end of the clone underground's power and influence for a long time…"
    "Did you follow up on my other suggestions?" said Finn, seating himself comfortably in du Katt's favorite chair as if by instinct. "Tell me you have had some success there, at least."
    "I'm… afraid not, Sir Champion." Du Katt could feel small beads of sweat forming on his upper lip. He held his hands tightly together behind his back to keep them from shaking. Finn being so calm in the face of continual bad news was not a good sign. "I had theVictoryGardens searched from end to end, using the most thorough equipment, but there was no trace anywhere of any remains of the late Captain Silence. His ashes may have been scattered over theVictoryGardens , but that was over a century ago.
    None of his genetic material remains there. I'm sorry."
    "Well, let us not despair," said Finn. "I've had another idea that I thought we might try." He reached inside his armor, and all the du Katt clones dived for cover in case it was a weapon. Du Katt would very much have liked to have done the same, but he couldn't afford to appear weak in front of Finn Durandal.
    So he stood his ground as Finn's hand came out holding a test tube containing barely half an inch of clear liquid. Finn smiled at it fondly. "This is all that remains of the esper drug I purchased from the estimable Dr. Happy. A most remarkable drug. I thought we might try it on the cell samples you have left. See if anything happens."
    Du Katt accepted the test tube gingerly, but knew better than to argue, or appear less than enthusiastic.
    He stalked over to his other selves, only now reappearing from behind the more solid pieces of lab equipment, and bullied them into setting up the necessary conditions for the experiment. It wasn't difficult.
    Place cell samples and esper drug in the same secure container, bring them together through remote control, and then observe the results from what everyone hoped was a safe distance. They watched the results on a computer screen, but for a long time nothing seemed to be happening. Du Katt was already rehearsing some credible-sounding excuses, when… everyone's head snapped round suddenly.
    Something had changed. There was something in the lab with them. Finn was on his feet, his gun in his hand. They all looked frantically around. There was nothing to be seen, but they were not alone. They could feel it.
    There was a presence, unfixed and unfamiliar, slowly suffusing through the lab. It was growing steadily
    stronger, as though approaching from very far away, from some unknown direction. It felt angry, dangerous,