"The man is Professor Wax. I don't know him. The woman is Penny DeCarlo, my oldest friend. My father was holding them prisoner. I rescued them."
"Your father? You've been to see Gregor Shreck? On your own? What happened? Where did all this blood come from?"
"We talked. And afterward… things got rough."
"Why didn't you tell me you were going?"
"I couldn't! Gregor had been… threatening me. Saying he'd kill Penny if I didn't go back to him. He insisted that I go alone. So I went there, to Tower Shreck, into the belly of the beast. And I found he'd… done that to Penny. So I made Gregor give them both up, and I took them away."
"How the hell did you get him to give them up?"
"I had my monofilament knife. The one you gave me. Such a practical present." She almost laughed again at the expression on Finlay's face. "You're not the only one who knows how to fight. A few guards tried to stop me leaving, so I killed them. It was easy. Gregor's people stopped chasing me after a while, so I came here. I didn't know where else to go."
"Of course you were right to come here, Evie. You'll be safe here. But what happened to your clothes?"
Evangeline gripped his arm fiercely. "Don't ask me that, Finlay. Don't ever ask me that."
"All right, I won't. Calm down. Damn, you did a very brave thing, Evie, but you really should have told me. I would have understood. Did he hurt you? Are you injured anywhere? Should I get you a doctor? If Gregor's hurt you, I'll kill the bastard!"
"No," said Evangeline quickly. "I'm not hurt. I don't need a doctor. I'm all right. Don't fuss, Finlay. Just… let me get my breath back. Now I've freed Penny, Gregor doesn't have any hold over me anymore. Everything's going to be all right now."
"Brave girl," said Finlay, taking her in his arms again and kissing her gently on the top of the head. "My brave girl."
The holoscreen on the wall chimed once, announcing an incoming call. Finlay started to get up to answer it, and Evangeline grabbed his arm with both hands.
"Don't answer it!"
"It's all right, Evie. Only a few trusted people know I'm here. I have to answer it in case it's an emergency."
He freed himself from her grip, smiled reassuringly at her, got up from the bed, and accepted the call. The screen cleared to show the huge, flushed face of Gregor Shreck, half covered by a blood-soaked bandage. For a moment he just stared out of the screen, taking in Finlay and Evangeline together. His mouth was trembling and twitching, and his single eye was very bright.
"What do you want, Shreck?" said Finlay. "And how did you find me here?"
"My people followed Evie all the way home. She thought she lost them." Gregor's voice was strained and high-pitched, but full of venom. "Told you all about her little adventure at Tower Shreck, has she? But what hasn't she been telling you, eh, Campbell? What about the things she never told you, the secrets she kept from you all this time? Shall I tell you all about your darling little cloned copy, hmm?"
"I know she's a clone," said Finlay coldly. "And I know you murdered the original. We have no secrets, Evangeline and I."
"Oh, but you do, you do, dear boy. I guarantee it. I'll bet she never told you how much I loved her, or exactly how I loved her. Oh, I loved her dearly and well and very often. In fact, I took her to my bed and loved her morning, noon, and night, as hard as I could. And she loved it."
"No!" said Evangeline. "No!"
"You bastard!" screamed Finlay, his face bright red with rage. "You bastard!"
"I bedded her, Campbell, long before you ever did. She was Daddy's girl, and did whatever Daddy told her to do. And we did all kinds of things. Things she probably never did for you. She'll always be mine, Campbell, because she was mine first. That's what I had her made for. I'm going to take her back from you, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."
"I'll kill you!" said Finlay, fighting for breath against the pain in his chest. "I'll kill you! Kill you!"
Gregor laughed at him, and Finlay drew his gun and shot out the viewscreen. Gregor's face shattered, and the screen fell in pieces to the floor. Smoke rose from the machine's guts. After that it was very quiet, apart from Evangeline sobbing on the bed. Finlay stood there, the gun still in his hand, trying to think what to do next, but Gregor's hateful words filled his head to the exclusion of everything else. He never doubted the truth of them. It was the kind of thing Gregor Shreck would do. He finally put away the gun and turned slowly to look at Evangeline. She stopped her tears by an effort of will, and looked back at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?" said Finlay.
"Because I knew you'd react like this. Because I knew you'd be angry and hurt. Because I thought if you knew… you might leave me. That you wouldn't feel the same about me anymore."
"You never… cared for Gregor?"
"Of course not! I was his property! I had no choice. I either did what he said, or he'd kill me and make another clone who would. I did what I had to, to survive."
"I'm going to kill him," said Finlay. "There aren't enough guards in this world to keep me from him. You stay here, and lock the door after me. Don't open it till I come back. And maybe I'll bring you back Gregor's head wrapped in a bedsheet."
"No, Finlay! That's why he contacted you, told you what he did. It has to be a trap!"
"Of course it's a trap. But that won't stop me."
"You can't just kill him, Finlay. It isn't like the old days, during the rebellion, when you had the protection of the underground. The war is over; they'd call it murder, and no one would speak for you. They'd hang you as a common killer."
"Let them try," said Finlay. "Evie, how could you keep something like this from me? We swore we'd have no secrets between us. How could you not tell me something as important as this? Didn't you trust me?"
"Oh, you're a fine one to talk about keeping secrets, Finlay Campbell! Are you ever going to tell Julian Skye the truth? That the man he admires so much is the same Masked Gladiator who killed his brother, Auric?"
"That's different!" said Finlay. And then he stopped, hearing a strained noise behind him. He looked around, and there, standing in the open doorway, was Julian Skye. The young esper's face was bone white, but his dark eyes were fixed steadily on Finlay's.
"Julian…"
"You should have told me, Finlay. When we first met, you should have told me. How could you do such a thing?"
"I killed a lot of people in the Arena," said Finlay. "While I was the second Masked Gladiator. Auric was just one of them. I never knew he was your brother till after we'd become friends. And I never told you then because I knew how much it would hurt you."
"And the Masked Gladiator I killed during the rebellion?"
"That was Georg McCrackin, the first man to wear the mask. He was my teacher. I inherited the role from him."
"So I killed an innocent man."
"He stood with the Empress! He would never have surrendered. He would have killed you."
"An innocent man. You bloody bastard. Did you think it was funny? Did you have a good laugh at the brother of the man you murdered trotting at your heels like a puppy?"
"No, Julian! It was never like that!"
"I'm going away for a while. I don't want you to call me. I'll contact you when I've decided what I'm going to do. When I've decided whether or not I'm going to kill you."
He turned and left, and Finlay wanted to run after him but didn't. There was nothing he could say now that wouldn't just make things worse. He stood silently in the middle of his room, in the ruins of his world. In the space of a few minutes he'd lost his friend and perhaps his love, the only things that really mattered to him. He wanted to go out and kill Gregor, and seek solace in slaughter, but he couldn't. Not now, with so many matters left unresolved. So he went back to the bed, sat down beside the sobbing Evangeline, and took her in his arms and comforted her as best he could.
And let the bloody red rage simmer in his heart.
In the best suite that the best hotel in the Parade of
the Endless had to offer, BB Chojiro reclined peacefully on the huge bed while Cardinal Brendan brought her up to date on the latest news. BB enjoyed a little luxury now and again, and saw no point in denying herself just to save her Clan a few pennies. Besides, the people she had to deal with expected to see and meet her in the same kind of surroundings they enjoyed. It was necessary they perceive her as at least their equal, or they wouldn't strike deals with her. She realized Brendan had stopped talking, and turned her head lazily on the pillow to look at him.
"Yes? Is there a problem?"
"No. I was just wondering… how did you get to be the official spokesperson for Blue Block? I'd never even heard of you before the rebellion."
BB Chojiro smiled. "I am spokesperson because Blue Block wants it that way. Which is really all you need to know. But, vanity, vanity, thy name is woman, so it pleases me to inform you that I am the end result of extensive planning and programming, designed for just this task. I am the voice of Blue Block. My thoughts are those that Blue Block gave me."
"But then… how much of you is left?" said Brendan. "I mean, the real you. The original BB Chojiro?"
"Ah," said BB. "You'd be surprised. Let's just say, more than you'd think. But it doesn't matter. Their interests are mine and vice versa."
"But why…"
"Did they choose me, out of all the subjects at their command? They've never told me. Genetics, presumably. They had my parents killed when I was very young, and took me away from my Clan so that I would have no ties or loyalties to anyone but them. I never knew a Family, or what it could be, so I can't honestly say I lost anything. Blue Block is my father and mother, and all my brothers and sisters too. They made me what I am today."
"And who are They?" said Brendan. "I've only ever been on the edges. The mysteries are closed to me. Who is this They that runs everything?"
"Ah," said BB, smiling up at the ceiling. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Cardinal Brendan sighed quietly. He should have known better than to expect a straight answer from BB Chojiro. "So, where are we going next?" he asked, moving on to the safer ground of the day's business. "We've been through everyone on my list, but you had me leave the rest of the evening free."
"So I did," said BB. "I'm not exactly sure what's going to happen now. Several trains of events have been set in motion. The only certainty is that somewhen this evening, several important members of Blue Block will be journeying here to discuss forming an alliance with Jack Random."
"What? You have got to be kidding! What could he possibly have in common with us?"
"Simple. He's a Chojiro."
Brendan just stared at her for a moment. "Jack Random is a Chojiro!"
"You didn't really think his name was Random, did you? His mother was a part of my Clan. His father was no one important. What matters is that Jack has blood connections to a major Family, at a time when he feels more isolated than at any other time in his life. And however far we stray, Family is still Family. If we could persuade him to join with us, the legendary professional rebel and hero, the man who made the deal with Blue Block…"
"It's risky," said Brendan. "Too risky. He may be politically isolated at the moment, but he's still a man of power and influence. And on top of all that, he's one of the Maze people. Whatever they are."
"They are the future," said BB. "Whoever controls them, or can remove them from the playing field, will control the fate of Humanity. However, the Maze people may be powerful, but they all have their weaknesses. Jack Random will succumb to the comforts of Family, of belonging. Ruby Journey needs action, and a direction if not a cause; she's incapable of running her own life, and needs to feel needed. Owen Deathstalker and Hazel d'Ark… are a problem. Together they are greater than the sum of their parts, so it is in our best interests to separate them. Turn them against each other, setting his idealism against her practicality, and they might well destroy each other."
"Whatever happens, we have to prevent the forthcoming marriage between Owen and Constance Wolfe," said Brendan. "Owen as Emperor, even just a constitutional Emperor, is unthinkable."
"Not necessarily," said BB, stretching lazily. "If we can't destroy him, we can always manipulate him. More important, we have to remove Finlay Campbell from the board. It's vital that Robert be installed unopposed as the Campbell."
"I've set things in motion," said Brendan. "All we have to do is wait. But I don't see that Robert's going to be any improvement as the Campbell. The word is he has no love for aristocrats in general, and Blue Block in particular."
"But he was Blue Block for a time, and once you are ours, you are ours forever. When the time comes, he'll do the right thing. He won't be able to help himself."
The viewscreen on the wall chimed politely, and Brendan went to answer it. Julian Skye's gaunt face appeared on the screen, and BB quickly lay down again, to ensure Julian couldn't see her. He looked tired, and his eyes were suspiciously puffy as he glared out of the screen at Brendan.
"I want to speak to BB. Now."
"I'm sorry, Julian. She doesn't want to talk to you. Not until you've proved your love and your loyalty to her."
"I can deliver Finlay Campbell. If that's what she wants."
"That's… good news, Julian. I'm sure BB will be very glad to hear that. How soon…"
"Very soon. But I'll only deliver him to BB. In person."
"I'm sure that can be arranged. Contact me again when you're ready to make delivery, and I'll give you a time and place. BB will be there, waiting for you."
"Tell her… tell her I love her."
"Of course I will. You're doing the right thing, Julian. Take care with Finlay, he's…"
But Julian had already broken contact. Brendan stared at the blank screen, and then turned to BB as she got up off the bed and came over to join him.
"Well," said Brendan, "that was unexpected. I hadn't foreseen complete and utter capitulation for days yet."
"He loves me," said BB. "My dear, sweet, vulnerable Julian. He always said he'd do anything for me."
"Even betray his friends?"
"Of course. What are friends for?"
"But can we trust him to keep his word? You betrayed him to the torturers. You stand for everything he hates."
"None of that matters. He belongs to me. It should have been his more malleable older brother, Auric. He would have been far more useful to us. But he insisted on fighting that stupid duel in the Arena and was lost to us. Julian was second choice, but to be fair, he's come much further on his own than I ever thought he would. Another official hero of the rebellion could be very useful to us…"
"Do you really think he'd kill his closest friend? His savior? Even for you?"
"Probably not. More likely he'll bring me Finlay alive but helpless, and make all kinds of conditions before his conscience will allow him to hand Finlay over. It doesn't matter. One way or another, we'll get what we want."
"Poor Julian," said Brendan, smiling. "Already out of his depth and sinking fast. Almost makes you feel sorry for him, doesn't it?"
BB looked at him coolly. "Are you asking if I have any feelings for him? Of course I do. I'm only human, after all."
"Really?" said Brendan. "I thought you were Blue Block."
Evangeline sat stiffly on the edge of the bed in Finlay's quarters, still wrapped in her bedsheet. Finlay was sitting in a chair opposite her, scowling darkly. They'd been trying to talk, but not getting anywhere. Talking had never been what Finlay did best. The backup viewscreen chimed suddenly, and Finlay had to think hard for a moment to remember where it was. He'd never had to use it before. He finally found the small screen in the headboard of the bed and accepted the call. Julian Skye's face appeared on the small screen, and Finlay gave a small sound of relief.
"Julian! I was worried. How are you? Are you all right? Listen…"
"We need to talk, Finlay."
"Of course we do! Look, I can't leave Evie just now. Why don't you—"
"We have to tal
k now, Finlay. Come over to my town house. I can't leave. I can't risk being seen. You have to come here. It's important. My old esper contacts have turned up a connection between Gregor Shreck and the Chojiros. They're working with Blue Block on some kind of scheme. I tried to contact Jack Random, but no one knows where he is. You're the only other person I can trust with this."
"Yeah, right. Shit. Some days everything happens at once. All right, stay where you are. I'll be with you as soon as I can."
"Sure, Finlay. See you."
The screen went dead. Finlay turned away to see Evangeline looking at him in disbelief. "You're not seriously thinking of going, are you?"
"I have to," said Finlay. "I need to talk to him, to explain… you saw the state of him when he left. I'm worried he might do something… stupid. I won't be long."
"What about me? Don't I matter? I don't want to be left alone, Finlay!"
"I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Finlay!"
"Evie, I have to do this. The Chojiro stuff might be nothing, just an excuse to reach out to me, but I can't afford to assume that. If he's right, I've got to contact a whole bunch of people… Evie, you know I wouldn't leave you unless I had to."
"You're always leaving me, Finlay. Rushing off to kill someone, to be the hero one more time. It's always about what you need. What about what I need?"
"You're safe here. No one can get to you, not past Arena security. I have to go. This is important."
"And I'm not?"