Deathstalker 08 - Deathstalker Coda

second-class heroes along with him, and Brett looked at her thoughtfully. “We’re doing that more and more lately. Completing each other’s thoughts, coming up with the same ideas, even sharing body language. I notice these things. We’re becoming more like each other, and I don’t like it. There’s only room in this Empire for one Brett Random.”
    “I’m horny,” Rose said implacably. “Find me someone to kill. Sex with you is nice, but it doesn’t satisfy like the real thing.”
    “Why me?” said Brett piteously, to the heavens. “Try and contain yourself, Rose. Please? Soon enough we’ll be going up against Finn and all his armies, and then you’ll be hip deep in all the slaughter you can handle.”
    “Yes,” said Rose. “I’m looking forward to it. But I am concerned about facing the Durandal again. He scares me.”
    She said it in her normal, casual tone, but there was no denying she meant it. Brett was actually shocked. “I didn’t think you were scared of anything.”
    “Finn is a special case,” said Rose, and Brett had to agree. Just thinking about facing Finn again made his heart pound in his chest.
    “I have been thinking,” Rose announced, and Brett winced. It was always dangerous when Rose started getting ideas. She looked at Brett thoughtfully, and he felt the first few beads of sweat pop out on his forehead.
    “Oh yes?” he said, in a very nearly normal voice.
    “I’m remembering my past differently, Brett. Seeing things differently. Because we are linked, your mind affects me as much as mine affects yours. There are times . . . when I think of other things than killing. It would be wrong to say I’m developing a conscience; I don’t think you and I possess one between us. But I am capable of seeing people differently now. As people, rather than just targets. It . . . disturbs me.”
    “Do you feel any differently about killing people?” Brett said hopefully.
    Rose considered the question. “I think . . . it might make killing people even more fun.”
    “I’m changing the subject,” Brett said, in a loud and very determined voice. “We need to work out a way to make ourselves some serious money, before the action starts. Mistworld turned out to be a complete bust, and Virimonde was always going to be a nonstarter. We could sell our stories to the media after the war, but that rather assumes there’s going to be an afterwards. Besides, most of our stories aren’t suitable for the mass media. Either way, I think I’ve done my part in this rebellion. No more fighting and diving into danger for me. I don’t care if our mental link has made me a better fighter; it’s just not me. I’d grab a ship and desert, if it weren’t for the marvelous possibilities of looting when we finally take the Parade of the Endless. But I’ve got to find something to do before then or I’ll go crazy from boredom. Something worthy of my talents. So, let’s try the directions that kind and accommodating crewman gave us before he had to go and change his trousers. There’s got to be a friendly card game I can get into somewhere. There’s always good money to be made from the kind of people who think poker is a friendly game.”
    “I still want to kill someone.”
    “All right, I’ll accuse someone of cheating! After I’ve made a decent sum.”
    They headed down to deck forty-three. It was a long way down. Brett tended to forget, until forcibly reminded, that Imperial starcruisers were the size of floating cities, and as complex. Normally it was a very well run, very calm and tranquil city in between engagements, but Brett couldn’t help noticing the freshly daubed graffiti that appeared on the steel walls as they descended towards deck forty-three. The Church is the only true Authority. The true Owen is watching you. Death to heretics. Pure Humanity; Pure Loyalty. Long live Emperor Finn. And The voices in my head are getting louder.
    “Some of those sentiments are really worrying,” said Brett. “Particularly that last one.” He looked at Rose. “You don’t get the significance, do you? This graffiti means that not all the crew are of one mind. They were all supposed to have had a change of heart once Owen appeared to them, but this suggests very strongly that there are still Pure Humanity and Church Militant fanatics on board this ship, still loyal to Finn. The real hard cases. Which means . . . well, I don’t know. Sabotage, maybe? Knives in the dark? Internal