Read Online Deathstalker 02 - Deathstalker Rebellion by Simon R. Green - Free Book Online
Authors: Simon R. Green
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way."
"You espers or something?" said Stevie One.
"Something," said Owen. "The Investigator must have put himself out and alerted his people. Any minute now we're going to be hip deep in security guards."
"That's not all," said Stevie Two. "They've got an esp-blocker with them. I can feel my powers fading as it gets closer."
"Wonderful," said Hazel. "Can anything else go wrong?"
"Quite a lot, if we just stand around here waiting for them," said Owen. "May I suggest we get the hell back to the computer room?"
"Too late," said Stevie Three. "They're here."
The three clones drew their swords with the same quick, professional motion and moved to block the head of the stairwell. Owen and Hazel moved in beside them, guns at the ready, just in time to see a single tall figure step into sight at the final corner of the stairs below. He was dressed in jet-black robes and battle armor, looked to be in his early thirties, and was handsome in an unspectacular way. His dark eyes and slight smile were utterly cold, and just standing there with empty hands, he looked calm and confident and very dangerous. Stevie Two whistled softly.
"The Lord High Dram his own bad self. We should be honored. He normally only murders espers from a safe distance."
"He can't just blast and burn the tower this time," said Stevie One. "The Empress would have his nuts if he let the Tax computers be destroyed."
Owen and Hazel looked at each other thoughtfully. "That man is quite definitely dead," said Owen. "I saw the body."
"So who's this?" said Hazel. "A clone? Does anyone at Court know? Or was the one we saw die a clone?"
"Are we supposed to understand any of that?" said Stevie One.
"I'll explain later," said Owen. "Assuming there is a later. "For the moment, just believe me when I say things just got a lot more complicated. The Widowmaker will be a major rallying point for the Empire that we hadn't counted
on. We have to get this information back to Rebel HQ."
"I've got a better idea," said Hazel. She raised her projectile weapon and let Dram have it point-blank. The stairwell echoed to the roar of the gun as bullets hammered into the steel walls over and over, but Dram's cold smile never wavered. His holo image shimmered slightly, but was otherwise unaffected.
"You didn't really think someone of my quality would come in person to deal with rebel trash, did you?" said Dram calmly. "The lower floors of this tower are now blocked off and occupied by my troops. There's no way out, and nowhere for you to go. Surrender, and at least you'll live long enough to stand trial."
The Stevie Blues glared at him fiercely. Stevie One spat on the floor. "What makes you think we'd trust treacherous scum like you? You came to us pretending to be a man called Hood, and we trusted you. In return, you betrayed us to the Empire forces. Hundreds of good men and women died that day, just because they happened to be espers or clones. We'll all die before we surrender to you."
"Suit yourselves," said Dram, and his holo image disappeared like a popping soap bubble. The steel stairs shuddered as a large body of armed men came crashing up them. Owen fired his disrupter down the stairwell, but the energy beam ricocheted away from an advancing force shield wall. The espers concentrated and boiling flames filled the stairwell. The force wall just kept coming, pushing back the flames, which were already beginning to die out as the esp-blocker drew nearer. The Stevie Blues looked at Owen and Hazel.
"Don't look at me," said Hazel. "I'm right out of ideas. How much longer does the program have to run, Owen?"
"Can't be long now. A few minutes at most. But we can't afford to be cornered in the computer room with it."
"And we don't have a few minutes, anyway. How about setting up a barricade?"
"Couldn't hurt," said Owen. "See, you can come up with ideas when you have to.
Stevies, if you'd care to lend a hand…"
They dashed back into the computer room, grabbed everything
"You espers or something?" said Stevie One.
"Something," said Owen. "The Investigator must have put himself out and alerted his people. Any minute now we're going to be hip deep in security guards."
"That's not all," said Stevie Two. "They've got an esp-blocker with them. I can feel my powers fading as it gets closer."
"Wonderful," said Hazel. "Can anything else go wrong?"
"Quite a lot, if we just stand around here waiting for them," said Owen. "May I suggest we get the hell back to the computer room?"
"Too late," said Stevie Three. "They're here."
The three clones drew their swords with the same quick, professional motion and moved to block the head of the stairwell. Owen and Hazel moved in beside them, guns at the ready, just in time to see a single tall figure step into sight at the final corner of the stairs below. He was dressed in jet-black robes and battle armor, looked to be in his early thirties, and was handsome in an unspectacular way. His dark eyes and slight smile were utterly cold, and just standing there with empty hands, he looked calm and confident and very dangerous. Stevie Two whistled softly.
"The Lord High Dram his own bad self. We should be honored. He normally only murders espers from a safe distance."
"He can't just blast and burn the tower this time," said Stevie One. "The Empress would have his nuts if he let the Tax computers be destroyed."
Owen and Hazel looked at each other thoughtfully. "That man is quite definitely dead," said Owen. "I saw the body."
"So who's this?" said Hazel. "A clone? Does anyone at Court know? Or was the one we saw die a clone?"
"Are we supposed to understand any of that?" said Stevie One.
"I'll explain later," said Owen. "Assuming there is a later. "For the moment, just believe me when I say things just got a lot more complicated. The Widowmaker will be a major rallying point for the Empire that we hadn't counted
on. We have to get this information back to Rebel HQ."
"I've got a better idea," said Hazel. She raised her projectile weapon and let Dram have it point-blank. The stairwell echoed to the roar of the gun as bullets hammered into the steel walls over and over, but Dram's cold smile never wavered. His holo image shimmered slightly, but was otherwise unaffected.
"You didn't really think someone of my quality would come in person to deal with rebel trash, did you?" said Dram calmly. "The lower floors of this tower are now blocked off and occupied by my troops. There's no way out, and nowhere for you to go. Surrender, and at least you'll live long enough to stand trial."
The Stevie Blues glared at him fiercely. Stevie One spat on the floor. "What makes you think we'd trust treacherous scum like you? You came to us pretending to be a man called Hood, and we trusted you. In return, you betrayed us to the Empire forces. Hundreds of good men and women died that day, just because they happened to be espers or clones. We'll all die before we surrender to you."
"Suit yourselves," said Dram, and his holo image disappeared like a popping soap bubble. The steel stairs shuddered as a large body of armed men came crashing up them. Owen fired his disrupter down the stairwell, but the energy beam ricocheted away from an advancing force shield wall. The espers concentrated and boiling flames filled the stairwell. The force wall just kept coming, pushing back the flames, which were already beginning to die out as the esp-blocker drew nearer. The Stevie Blues looked at Owen and Hazel.
"Don't look at me," said Hazel. "I'm right out of ideas. How much longer does the program have to run, Owen?"
"Can't be long now. A few minutes at most. But we can't afford to be cornered in the computer room with it."
"And we don't have a few minutes, anyway. How about setting up a barricade?"
"Couldn't hurt," said Owen. "See, you can come up with ideas when you have to.
Stevies, if you'd care to lend a hand…"
They dashed back into the computer room, grabbed everything
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