Deathstalker 07 - Deathstalker Return

path but his own. So, who are you? Really?
    James finished his speech to thunderous applause, but Finn wasn't finished yet. He took up a martial stance beside James, and fixed the media crowd with a stern stare. "Some of you will still be doubting that this really is the genuine James Campbell. Of course, that's quite understandable, given the extremely dramatic nature of his return. I see Nigel Glover, of the Logres Times, right there in the front as always. I have to say, Nigel, you don't look entirely convinced. Is there some question you wish to raise?"
    "I remember James," said the old man. "I got there in time to see him being loaded into the ambulance.
    Half his head was gone. How can we be sure this isn't some look-alike from the body shops? Or even a clone?"
    And that was as far as he got. Other reporters started to shout him down, some pushed and shoved him, and then suddenly they were all crowding in on him, shouting abuse and throwing punches.Douglas looked immediately at Finn's Paragons, expecting them to dive into the crowd and rescue the old man, but they did nothing. They just stood there, sniffing and smirking.Douglas was just about to dive in himself when James launched off the dais into the crowd, grabbed the old reporter, and hauled him onto the safety of the raised dais. The old man stood trembling, more shocked than hurt, while James put a comforting arm around him. The other reporters milled uncertainly before the dais, still in an ugly mood.
    Finn stepped forward, raising both hands in a calming gesture.
    "Enough of that, my friends. This is a time for rejoicing, not violence. The Times has raised a very reasonable question. It's been a long time since we had to beware of clone imposters in public life, but in as important a case as this, the question had to come up eventually. That's why I have invited here today Elijah du Katt, the current clone representative in Parliament."
    Du Katt came through the curtains at the back right on cue—a blocky, medium height, average-looking fellow. He strode up to the front of the dais, stood beside Finn, and spoke in a clear, firm voice. "At the Champion's request, I have performed a genetest on James Campbell. He is exactly who he claims to be.
    Details of my findings will be published shortly. My tests were very thorough. There is no way he could hide a clone background from me. DNA can't lie."
    The media pack cheered again, and a still shaken Glover was allowed to rejoin his fellows, who ignored him.Douglas was still looking at du Katt. You couldn't fake a genetest. So either James really was James, or… the conspiracy went deeper than he'd suspected. If a respected figure like du Katt had been suborned, who else did Finn have in his pocket? But stillDouglas found that easier to believe than that his father and his mother could ever have been the villains Finn had declared them to be.
    Du Katt left the dais, and Finn turned the meeting over to questions and answers. The reporters couldn't get the questions out fast enough. James avoided answering a lot of them by pleading ignorance of most recent events, for obvious reasons, but he still managed to push Pure Humanity and the Church Militant as the answer to most of the Empire's problems.Douglas admired the performance from behind his pleasant face. Anne had clearly done her usual excellent job in preparing and coaching James.
    AndDouglas was pretty sure a lot of the questions had been planted. It was what he would have done.
    Interestingly enough, James wasn't too good at the personal stuff. Questions like How do you feel? and What are you most looking forward to doing, now you are free? left him thrown and uncertain, and glancing to Finn or Anne for reassurance.
    In the end, Finn just stepped in and declared the audience over. He promised the media pack there would be further opportunities for interviews, and even one-on-ones, but that James was clearly tired now, and needed time to himself. Adjusting to his new world was obviously going to take time. Anne quickly ushered James offstage while Finn was still speaking, and he was gone through the curtains before the reporters realized it.Douglas got to his feet, inclined his head regally to the media, and strode off the dais after Anne and James. He had no intention of being left alone on the dais after Finn and his people left, facing questions he had no idea how to answer safely.
    Behind the hanging curtains, Anne was patting James reassuringly on