“You’ve been reading those Gothic romances again,” said Random.
Storm sniffed. “It’s a revelation to me that she can read.”
“Keep talking, Storm,” said Ruby. “There’s still room for another spare rib on the barbecue.”
“God, I swear it’s like being in charge of children,” said Random. “Shut it, both of you, and follow me. I don’t want to keep the Chojiros waiting.”
He set off down the stairs, Ruby right behind him. Storm wrapped himself in his great cloak to protect himself from the worst of the heat only slowly dissipating in the stairwell, and went after them.
They went cautiously but met no resistance. No more troops, no booby traps, no guns hidden in the walls. Just the metal steps, falling away before them. Random grew increasingly wary and gripped his gun and sword so tightly his fingers ached. This wasn’t the Clan Chojiro he remembered, with a trap for every choice of action, a trip for every footstep, and layer upon layer of treachery and deceit. Such easy going could only mean the Chojiros wanted him to reach them. Which in turn could only mean they had something really unpleasant and devastating in store for him. Random grinned his wolfish smile. It didn’t matter what they had, or thought they had; nothing was going to stop him now.
They reached the foot of the stairs and carefully approached the blank metal door that led off to the next floor. Everything was still and quiet. Ruby peered over the railings and down the stairwell, in case there were troops waiting below, but the stairwell was empty for as far as she could see. Random studied the door and the walls around it carefully, but couldn’t detect any booby traps. He was pretty sure he would have been able to sense anything wrong or out of place, but he still felt a small but definite sense of relief when he turned the door handle and eased the door open, and nothing nasty happened. He gestured for Ruby to join him, and she moved in beside him without making a sound, her gun at the ready. Random counted to three silently, then they both hit the door together and stormed into the next floor, Storm right behind them. A quick glance around assured Random there were no troops waiting, and no obvious traps; just a man and a woman standing together, waiting to greet their visitors with ostentatiously empty hands.
BB Chojiro and Gregor Shreck.
BB was a petite doll of a woman, with long dark hair and sharp oriental features. She wore a kimono of bright scarlet, wrapped tightly in all the right places. It was easy to see why Julian Skye had once fallen in love with her. The Shreck, on the other hand, was a short fat butterball of a man, with a bulging fleshy face and deep-set eyes. A tricky, dangerous, vindictive man, by all accounts.
Random moved slowly forward, stopping carefully out of reach of the Chojiro or the Shreck. Ruby and Storm moved in on either side of him, guns trained. BB Chojiro bowed deeply to them. Gregor managed a stiff nod.
“Who the hell are these people?” said Ruby, not bothering to lower her voice.
“I do wish you’d keep up on the briefings,” said Random, not taking his eyes off the two before him. “The woman speaks for the Chojiros in negotiations, and the like. She’s also Blue Block, though we’re not supposed to know that.”
“Perhaps she wants to negotiate the Clan’s surrender,” said Storm.
Ruby frowned. “Would you accept it, Jack?”
“Not a chance in hell,” said Jack Random, his voice flat and cold as death. “They’ve got nothing I want more than their destruction. You ought to recognize Gregor Shreck at least, Ruby. Chief slimeball in a totally disreputable Clan. Rebel when it suits him, but always a member of the Families.”
“Toby’s uncle?”
“That’s the one.”
“Oh yeah, I’ve heard of him. I’ll toss you for who gets first hack at him.”
“Oh no you won’t,” said Random. “I’ve seen that double-headed coin of yours.”
“If we do end up negotiating something, please leave the talking to me,” said Storm. “You two could talk your way out of a lottery win. I have experience in this sort of thing.”
“There isn’t going to be any negotiating,” said Random. “I’ve waited a long time to bring down Clan Chojiro. The Shreck is just a bonus.”
“Let them speak,” said Storm. “What harm can it do?”
“If nothing else,” said Ruby, “they might tell us where the rest of the Chojiros are hiding out. Or where they’ve hidden the valuables.”
Random nodded curtly. BB Chojiro smiled charmingly at her three visitors. It had no obvious effect, but she kept smiling anyway.
“Welcome, honored guests. Please excuse the earlier armed responses; at that time the Families had yet to reach agreement on the best course of action to take, and they felt the need to defend themselves while the talks continued. I am happy to be able to inform you that all discussions have now ended, and I am empowered to speak for all the Clans. The Shreck is here to confirm my words. Basically, we wish to surrender.”
Random’s jaw dropped just a little. Of all the situations he’d expected to face this day, that wasn’t one of them. “What? All the Families?”
“I speak for every Clan in the Empire,” said BB. “We see no point in continuing in an armed struggle.”
“Don’t let her throw you,” said Ruby. “Remember why you came here. She’s just trying to distract you.”
“If she is, it’s working,” said Storm. “There’s got to be a catch.”
“Our surrender is of course dependent on our agreeing to certain conditions,” said BB.
“That sounds more like it,” said Storm.
“The Families are prepared to give up their Lordships and associated privileges,” said BB calmly, “in return for their survival. Essentially, the aristocracy will disappear, to be replaced by family-owned business operations. The Clans will continue to run their particular financial concerns, but will take no further part in the governing of the Empire. It’s really quite a simple deal. You call off your dogs, guarantee our safety, and we give up politics. We’re not so blind that we can’t see the old order is finished and a new way is beginning. And isn’t that what you really wanted, Jack? An end to established, inherited wielding of power in the Empire?”
“How can we be sure you speak for all the Families?” said Random. “You’ve never agreed over anything before.”
“Because I’m Blue Block,” said BB, still smiling, “No one Family is greater than Blue Block.”
“Jesus,” said Ruby. “I always thought they were just a myth. Young Family members conditioned to be utterly loyal to death and beyond, right? Infiltrated everywhere, hidden in deep cover, the Families’ last weapon against Lionstone. You’re that Blue Block?”
“Oh yes,” said BB Chojiro. “Only down the many years we slowly evolved into something more than was originally intended. Our loyalty now is to the protection and survival of all the Families, not just the Clans that birthed us. This came as something of a surprise to the heads of the various Clans, but they were quick to grasp the possibilities. Particularly when we proposed this plan to ensure the Families’ survival. There were those who took some convincing. Who were so sure they were impregnable in their ancient Towers. Your unexpected form of attack changed all that, Jack. As soon as your people started crashing through their defenses and smashing their way into the top floors of their precious Towers, it was amazing how fast the recalcitrant Families changed their tune, and told us to go ahead and make the deal. Isn’t that right, Gregor?”
“Get on with it,” growled the Shreck. “Just because a thing’s necessary, it doesn’t mean I like having to bow down to rebel scum. You haven’t won, Random, and we haven’t lost. It’s a stalemate. You could stick to your original plan and try to take us down, but I swear we’d fight to the last survivor of each Clan, and see most of your people dead in the process. You could still win; but you’d lose thousands of your people doing it. Well, Random? Is your need for revenge worth the deaths of so many of your followers? When you can save them and win the day, with just a wo
rd?”
“I don’t know,” said Random. “It might be. As long as people like you live and go unpunished, the rebellion will have been for nothing. All those who died to help us get this far will have died for nothing The system has to fall, and you’re part of the system.”
“If we go down, it won’t be just the system that falls,” said Gregor, grinning nastily. “You’ve had the carrot; now here’s the stick. You reject the deal, and we’ll use our financial power to destroy the Empire’s economic base. We can do it. We can use our computers to crash the banking system so thoroughly it would take centuries to recover. It’s already precarious after what your friend Deathstalker did to the Tax computers. We could push it over the edge with just a nudge here and there. Money would become worthless. Credit would disappear. Trade would become impossible. Planets would be cut off from each other. Millions would starve, and millions more would fight over the crumbs that remained. What of your glorious rebellion then, Random? Destroy us, and we’ll destroy the people you’ve been fighting to save.”
“Could they do that?” said Ruby to Random. “Could they really do that?”
“Oh yeah,” said Random. “That’s just the kind of thing the Families would do.”
“The order of things changes, but we go on,” said BB. “We have so much to offer a new regime.”
“The rebellion isn’t actually over yet,” said Storm thoughtfully. “The Empress could still make a comeback.”
“The Empress is mad,” said Gregor. “We can read the writing on the wall, especially when it’s written in blood. Now are we going to agree to the deal or not? As long as we’re standing here talking, people on both sides are dying needlessly. Not that I give a damn, but you’re supposed to care about such things. Decide, Random. We know the underground will abide by your decision.”
“Don’t listen to him, Jack,” said Ruby urgently. “We haven’t come this far to give up now. We can tear the Families down, just like you always wanted!”
“You heard the price,” said Random. “I always fought for the good of the people, not my own needs and wishes. What good is there in burning down an Empire, if all we have left to live in is ashes? The needs of the people come first. That’s why I became a rebel in the first place. If I put their future at risk for the sake of my own revenge, then everything I’ve ever fought for becomes a lie. Who knows; with the Families removed from political power, maybe we can . . . civilize them.”
“And what about the Chojiros?” said Ruby hotly. “All the vows you made to kill them all and piss on their graves? Do they mean nothing anymore?”
“I have more reason to hate the Chojiros than you’ll ever know,” Random said coldly. “I want them dead so badly I’d give up my life to destroy them all, root and branch. But I won’t, I can’t, give up innocent lives to my old hurts. And after all—maybe there’ll still be room for a little private revenge, after the rebellion is over.”
“Yes,” said BB, still smiling. “Clan Chojiro has always appreciated the honorable art of vendetta.”
“So we have a deal?” said Gregor.
“Yes, damn you,” said Jack Random. “We have a deal. Stand down your people, and I’ll halt the attack. Stay in your Towers till the rebellion’s over, and we’ll hammer out the details afterward. And no, I’m not going to shake your hands. I have to keep some self-respect.”
“I don’t believe this!” said Ruby, stepping back a pace so that her projectile weapon covered them all. “And I haven’t agreed to anything! You’re selling out the rebellion, Jack, selling out every promise you ever made. All the things you said to me, all the things you wanted me to believe, and now the day of judgment’s come, and you’re making deals!”
“It’s called politics, love,” said Random. “Sometimes the price of ideals can be too high. And if I can live with this, you can.”
“You were born an aristo,” said Ruby. “And you’re still one at heart after all. Make your deal, Jack. But I’ll never believe anything you tell me, ever again.”
And in the end, it was as simple as that. The word went out, the armada broke off its assault on the Towers, and both sides stood down. Many of the rebels still cried out for revenge, for those who had fallen this day as well as for all the many the Families had trampled underfoot down the centuries, but in the end the carrot and the stick convinced them. And as Random said, no one had ruled out the possibilities of some private revenges, afterward.
Some unexpected good came from the deal. Valentine Wolfe didn’t trust it to guarantee his safety, after all he’d done, and so he fled Tower Wolfe to take sanctuary in Lionstone’s Court. By leaving his Tower he broke the deal, and made himself a legitimate target for anyone who wanted to go after him. Ordinary people began to stream back into the city, sensing that the worst of the fighting was over. They cheered the rebels and called for the downfall of the Empress. They tore down her statues and spit on them, torched public buildings, and generally ran riot in the streets, drunk on the promise of freedom. The underground had to direct people away from the fighting to control the growing jubilation and prevent widespread looting, which put something of a dent in their general popularity. The underground had no choice but to ignore that. They had more important things to think about. They knew the war wasn’t over while Lionstone was still safe and secure in her steel bunker, deep below the surface, far away from the fighting.
Back in Tower Chojiro, Gregor Shreck and BB Chojiro had left to carry the good word back to their respective people, leaving Jack Random, Ruby Journey, and Alexander Storm alone. Random had already contacted the underground and apprised them of the deal, and was now thinking hard, trying to work out all the angles, desperate to be sure he hadn’t, after all, made a terrible mistake. Ruby was stomping up and down, fuming quietly, kicking the furniture and helping herself to any bright and shiny thing that took her fancy. Storm watched them both and for a time said nothing. Random finally looked around and caught the expression on Storm’s face.
“What is it, Alex? The rebellion’s all over now, bar the shouting.”
“No,” said Storm. “It isn’t over as long as the Empress still sits on the Iron Throne. She has access to all kinds of support. Weapons, people, secrets that the underground knows nothing about. She could still turn it all around, and the people in the streets would cheer her victory just as loudly as they’re now calling for her head. Lionstone always knew a day like this might come. Do you think the Families are the only ones who could made doomsday threats?”
“If she had any last nasty surprises, she’d have used them by now,” said Ruby.
“Is that what’s upsetting you?” said Random. “Forget it. Ruby’s right. Come on, cheer up. I haven’t seen you smile once since we got here.”
“They came to you to make the deal,” said Storm. “Not to me. Even though I represent the underground. They trusted your word, not mine. A small thing, perhaps, but the last of many.” He looked at Random almost helplessly. “But it’s still going to be harder than I thought.”
“What is?” said Random. “Look, if you’ve got something to say, spit it out. I haven’t got time to worry over your hurt feelings.”
“Time,” said Storm. “This has all been about time, really. Time steals our life away, day by day, and we don’t notice how much we’ve lost till it’s too late. We fought for years, you and I, and all for nothing. Gave up our youth, and all our chances for love and marriage and children and happiness, all for a dream that never came true. When we started, you promised me power and success, victory over our foes and justice for all, and I never saw any of it. Just hard fighting and harder living, cold food and bad liquor, and one lost battle after another. Running from world to world with nothing to show for it but more dead friends and a few new scars to nurse. And that was my life with Jack Random.”
“But that was then,” said Random. “We’ve moved on. Things have changed. We’ve changed . . .”
“Yes,” said Storm. “We got old. Bu
t you got young again. That was the last straw, really. I could have stood it if Time had cheated us both equally, but you got a new life again, and I didn’t. You were right, Jack; there’s always time for a little personal revenge. Thanks for helping me think this through. You’ve made this so much easier. Jack, Code Zero Zero Red Two.”
Jack Random convulsed, his back arching as though he’d been hit from behind. He sank to his knees, trying to force words out of a contorted mouth. Ruby was quickly at his side, kneeling down and holding his shaking hands in hers. “What is it, Jack? What?”
“He can’t hear you,” said Storm, almost regretfully. “You see, when the med techs had him in their nasty little hands, not all that long ago, they took the precaution of implanting certain control words in his head, just in case he ever got away from them. And they gave those words to me, when I agreed to become an Imperial spy, their agent in the heart of the underground. They always thought there was a chance we might meet again, eventually. And how right they were. Ever since then, it’s just been a question of waiting for the right moment. I kept putting it off and putting it off, hoping for a return of the old camaraderie we used to share. Hoping for a chance to be a hero again. But he wouldn’t even allow me that. So in the end, I am the Empress’s man. And now, so is he.”
“But you were a hero!” said Ruby. “Everybody said so!”
“And now I’m a traitor. Only if the Empress wins, then I’ll be the hero, and he’ll be the traitor. It’s all a matter of how you look at things. And who are you to judge me? You always said you were only in this for the loot. Well, now so am I.”
“You bastard!” said Ruby. Letting Random go and scrambling to her feet, she reached for her sword.
“I never liked you,” said Storm. “Jack, shut this bitch up.”
Random rose to his feet. Ruby turned on him, sword in hand, her face desperate. Random slapped her sword aside and hit her once on the jaw, snapping back her head. She fell to the floor, and lay still. Storm moved over and kicked her in the ribs. Her head lolled helplessly. Storm nodded, satisfied. “Very good, Jack. Now pick her up and follow me. Lionstone is waiting for us to join her.”