Deathstalker 07 - Deathstalker Return

me. Robert and Constance again."
    "Yes. They put the data somewhere safe, but no one knows where that might be now."
    "You know, it could be held in the Dust Plains of Memory," Jesamine said suddenly.
    "What the hell is that?" said Owen.
    "All that remains of the original computer Matrix," said Silence. "A nanotech construct, possibly sentient, occasionally helpful."
    "Connected to Shub?" said Owen, looking at the robot.
    "We do not know these minds," said Shub. "They are alien to us. But they do seem to know things no one else knows."
    "I think we'd better go and ask them a few pointed questions, once we get home," said Owen.
    "If we get home," growled Brett.
    "Shut up, Brett," said Rose. "Darling."
    "I don't know what the Terror is, exactly," said Owen. "I don't think the shape-changing alien knew, really. He was just a warning left by fleeing aliens whose civilization had already been destroyed by the Terror. And I hate to disillusion you good people, but there's no way in hell I'm going one-on-one with the Terror and kick its arse. I wasn't even powerful enough to do that with the Recreated. The Maze and I tricked them into pursuing me back through time, into the past, and so use up all their energy. That's how I ended up weakened, and dead, on Mistworld. Maybe after I've had a close-up look at the Terror, I'll be able to determine something useful about its nature that'll give me some idea of what to do. Once again, it seems it's up to me to stare death in the face, to give hope to others. And that, Lewis, is what it really means to be a Deathstalker."
    And then everyone jumped just a bit as Finn Durandal appeared before them. He stood tall and proud in
    front of the viewscreen, in his finest kingly robes, the great crown of Empire on his head. He smiled easily about him. It wasn't until his image jumped and twitched a few times that the others realized that they were looking at a holo projection.
    "How the hell are you doing that?" said Brett. "You're supposed to be back on Logres."
    "I am," said Finn. "I'm bouncing the image off the Havoc. It sounded like you were having so much fun down here, that I just had to come and see for myself."
    "Hate to think how much power you're burning up," muttered Brett.
    Like I care," said Finn. He turned to look at Owen. "I am your King. King Finn. You should bow to me."
    "That'll be the day," said Owen. "Takes more than a crown to make a man a King. Or an Emperor."
    "Nevertheless," said Finn, "I run the Empire these days. And you're the blessed Owen Deathstalker… I always thought you'd be taller. Your being here is an unexpected bonus. I thought I'd only have Lewis to put through my laboratories. But I'm sure my scientists will be able to discover so much more, when they have two Maze subjects to dissect."
    Owen laughed at him. "Better than you have tried, Finn. I brought down a much tougher Empire than yours… and you don't look like you'll be much of a challenge either. Now Lionstone; she was impressive. Vindictive, homicidal, and rotten to the core, she was Empress and evil personified, and she still ended up with her head on a spike. Why not just do the sensible thing, and step down? I can't waste time with you. I have the Terror to fight."
    Finn ignored him, and looked at Brett and Rose. "Ah, my wandered retainers. I have to say, I'm very disappointed in both of you. I made you what you are. How could you run out on me?"
    "Because you're just too corrupt, even for me," said Brett.
    "And because there's more to life than killing," said Rose.
    Finn raised an elegant eyebrow. "My, you two have grown and blossomed, haven't you? After all the hard work I put into you, too. Still, not to worry. Once you're back in my grasp, I'll soon make you mine again. One way or another." He looked at Silence. "And what am I going to do with you, Captain Silence, selfishly hiding your light under a Samuel Chevron bushel all these years… The things I could have done with you, if I'd only known… but I'm sure I'll think of something amusing to do with you, once you're back on Logres."
    "Owen's right," said Silence. "Villains have no style anymore."
    "I've been following your progress all along," Finn said to the group in general. "And very exciting it's been. But this is as far as you go. You all belong to me now. You can't fight the entire Imperial fleet, and Shub won't go to war with the Empire just for you; not with the Terror coming. Not even for two Deathstalkers."
    "Anything, for