Deathstalker 07 - Deathstalker Return

been done to his father and his home, and never felt a twinge of mercy. He hauled William to his feet, and set off again for the wine cellar.
    More guards appeared to blockDouglas 's way, and he killed them all. And every time he killed a man he saw Finn's face, and smiled.
    Along the way, he came across a gravity sled, and laid his father out on it to act as a stretcher. They made quicker time after that. William lay unnervingly still and silent on the sled asDouglas pulled it along, running full-tilt now for the cellar. He could hear a growing clamor behind him. He came at last to the cellar, pulled the sled inside, and then locked and wedged the door shut, before guiding the sled and his father down through the trapdoor and into the tunnel. And so father and son left what had once been their home, heading for freedom and an uncertain future.
    Douglasheaded his craft back towards the Parade of the Endless. Not because he thought it would be safe there, but because his father clearly needed medical treatment fast. And once it was clear what Finn had done to the old King,Douglas was pretty sure he could get his side of the story heard. Even Finn couldn't control all the news feeds; there were just too many of them. And if it all did go wrong… there was always the Rookery. They didn't care who you were, and all kinds of care and protection were available, for the right price. There were people in the Rookery who owedDouglas , from his Paragon days, and he was of a mind to call all his old markers in. He heard William stir beside him, and looked across at the copilot's chair. William sat there limply, held upright only by the crash webbing.
    "Where are we going, Son?"
    "To get you medical treatment. And then to drag Finn down and stamp on him."
    "Sounds like a plan. James isn't your brother. Not this James. He's a clone."
    "Ah, right. That would have been my second guess."
    "What? Don't mumble, boy, it's a bad habit. They desecrated his grave,Douglas . Took cell tissues from James's body. And laughed at me when I tried to stop them. They killed all my people, all my old retainers. Just because they could. And it was Finn behind it all, Douglas! Finn! Your old friend… I couldn't believe it. You and Finn and Lewis were always so close… honored guests at House Campbell, many times. You were all so happy, then… You were all Paragons, and heroes. What happened?"
    "I don't know," saidDouglas . "But I don't think Finn was ever anyone's friend. Not really. Now you get some rest. We'll be back in the city before you know it."
    "Won't do any good. I'm dying, son." William's quiet voice held some of his old authority. "All that dope they put in me, it's a wonder I lasted this long. I think I was just… waiting for you. I knew you'd come.
    Never doubted you for a moment. Get the truth out, boy, that's what matters. Tell it to Parliament, and the media, and anyone who'll listen. Finn has to be stopped."
    "You're going to be all right, dad," saidDouglas , staring straight ahead and fighting to keep his voice steady. "I'll get you to a hospital, and everything's going to be all right."
    They flew on,Douglas pushing the craft's speed till the engine complained, and then pushing it even harder. He didn't like the sound of his father's breathing. They'd barely crossed the boundary of the city before Church Militant gunships came screaming in to surround him.Douglas looked immediately for a weapons console, but of course there wasn't one. This was a pleasure craft, after all. But the other ships didn't open fire either. Finn must have given orders for them to be taken alive—for a show trial, knowing Finn. The gunships closed in around Douglas, dangerously close, trying to force him down, butDouglas had been a Paragon and knew more about close flying maneuvers than they ever would. He gunned his engines for all they were worth, sweeping in and out of traffic. The other ships stuck with him. His comm unit spoke briefly, ordering him to land.Douglas told it to go to hell, sweeping in so close to the side of an office building that he could see horrified faces looking back.
    "Land now, or we'll blow you out of the sky," said the comm unit in a cold, impartial voice.
    Douglaslaughed at it. "You wouldn't dare. I'm still your King, and Finn would have your balls."
    "I have new orders, Your Majesty. You are a murder suspect, and a fugitive from justice. Land now, or we open fire."
    Douglasconsidered the matter. They might just mean