by Allan Cole
“I do not like this mission, Little Friend of the World,” he said. “I do not fear for my own sake. I am old and of little importance in the scheme of things. I fear for thee, my young Friend of the Heart.
“Many years are ahead of thee, even in the miserably shortened span of softskins. We may not succeed in our mission. And even if we do, the chances of our survival are slim, indeed.
“This Planetar Demon is most powerful. We will attack him in his lair, which will make him more powerful still.”
“I don’t give a darn about the Planetar Demon,” Billy said, quite coldly. “We’ll find him and we’ll kill him. Just you wait and see.”
Then he hesitated, his smooth forehead suddenly running into scars of worry.
After a time, he said, “It’s those other guys who bother me. They didn’t kill my grandparents … or Lupe. But they might as well have. They’re the ones responsible for this whole Cold War thing.
“Making everybody hate everybody. Stopping peace every chance it had.
“I gotta say, I don’t know who I’m madder at. The Planetar Demon, who killed everything I loved. Or those dirty rotten bastards on the Council Of Eight who set it up.
“Those are the guys I wanna get, Scratchy. Damn and double damn, they’re the ones we ought to do in. Not just the stupid Planetar Demon.”
Old Scratch was amazed at the child’s adult reasoning. Billy had elicited feelings that Scratch shared deep in his own breast.
But there were other considerations that overweighed these feelings. How could Scratchy possibly explain Tanya’s plan to the boy? How could he make him see the light of weary adult expedience over truth, truth and nothing but the truth?
The very ship they were flying had been seized from a member of the group Billy despised so much: Infeligo.
Scratch and Billy had overpowered Infeligo’s spirit crew, reducing them to the mere spirit world slaves that Scratch so detested.
At this moment, Infeligo was frozen and chained by powerful spells created by Scratch, Billy and the three softskins who were making a daring gamble to solve the whole catastrophic problem.
He started to explain this to Billy, hunting for reasonable words that would press past the boy’s most reasonable instinct for revenge.
But every word that came into his mind was weak. Words that held logic, but no real power.
At that very moment a transmission came streaming in from the Void. The message they had all been waiting for.
Old Scratch wasn’t certain whether he’d just been blessed or cursed by the intervention of that transmission.
It was from the Council Of Eight.
Swiftly, Scratch keyed it through to the waiting softskins.
CHAPTER FIFTY
Although the two enemy camps were physically separated by millions of light years, magical transmission waves collapsed that distance into a scant few yards.
Apollion and his fiendish comrades glared at the holo images of Tanya and the two softskin traitors. While Davyd and Vlad, feeling totally betrayed— the underpinnings of ten centuries of faith ripped from under them— glowered back in return.
In the background, Infeligo, who had been propped upright on the couch, seethed in helpless fury at his predicament.
Tanya spoke first: “Greetings, gentlemen,” she said to the fiendish Council Of Eight. “Before we begin, I want to say that I am addressing you as the independent representative of the United Worlds Police.
“As you know, I was charged by my superiors— at the mandate of the United Worlds Organization— to investigate the causes of the attack on the civilian cruise ship, the HolidayOne.
“The good news, gentlemen, is that I have not only solved that crime, but also the collateral crime of the attack on the Russian military base.
“The bad news is that I’ve uncovered another crime as well. Your conspiracy to enslave and exploit billions of human beings and spirit world creatures all across the galaxy.”
Apollion, ever the diplomat, brushed this last charge aside.
“Thou art to be congratulated, Major Lawson,” he said, “for getting to the bottom of those two evil deeds. We’ve studied the preliminary report thou hast already broadcast to the UWP. And it is clear that neither the Russians or the Americans were to blame for these incidents.
“As we speak, thy news is being relayed to the appropriate government authorities and I expect there will be a joint declaration of peace announced very shortly.”
Tanya nodded with visible satisfaction. “Then the war is over?” she said.
“Indeed it is, Major Lawson,” Apollion replied. “And it is my understanding that thou wilt be rewarded mightily for thy efforts. Thou wilt surely be promoted vastly in grade. A general with several stars at the very least.”
He smiled. “There is even serious discussion,” Apollion went on, “Of making thee supreme commander of the United Worlds Police.”
For the briefest of moments Tanya saw all her dreams come true. She had a flash of Harry’s look of terrible disappointment and fear as he realized his subordinate was being promoted over him. A subordinate he’d treated rather shoddily over the years.
She savored the victory, then she threw all those dreams away.
“It’s more likely,” she said, “that you gentlemen will do your best to kill me. After all, I not only know your dirty little secret, but have absolute proof of the conspiracy you’ve engaged in.”
She jabbed a thumb at Infeligo. “I’ve brain scanned your colleague, here,” she said. “And have recorded all his darkest thoughts.”
There were angry mutterings from the other Council members. Frozen though he was, Infeligo rolled his eyes in shame and fear.
Pilyardock spoke up. “What if we were to inform thee, Major,” he said, “that a powerful ship has been dispatched to deal with thee.”
Auerkhan added. “And those two traitors as well. All of you shall pay for your crimes!”
Tanya laughed at them. “So much for your generous offers of vast rewards and promotions,” she mocked.
Davyd broke in. “Send your soldiers,” he taunted. “Send all you like. And I’ll return them to you in caskets.”
Vlad stepped forward. “Then I’ll come for you myself,” he declared. “To cut your throats one by one. I’m well-trained at such work, you know. After all, I have you to thank for that training.”
More angry mutterings from the Council. Then Apollion waved them into silence.
“These threats are foolish on both sides, gentle lady,” he said to Tanya. “As I’m sure thou must agree. And I doubt such remarks were ever thy intention.
“After all, thou hast not sent the report of our … activities … to your superiors. But have withheld it for some purpose of thy own.
“A bargaining chip, perhaps? To save thy life and the lives of thy noble friends?”
Tanya smiled back. “You’re partly correct,” she replied. “We have withheld the records for a bargaining chip. But not only to save our lives— but yours as well.
“Although I don’t much care about any of you. However, we are all much concerned about our fellow citizens of the galaxy.
“It’s true that you are a grave danger to them. Have been so for a thousand years when you foiled all those hopes to end the great Cold War between the Americans and Russians.
“However, my comrades and I are all convinced that a still greater— and more pressing threat— exists.”
Apollion grinned understanding. “Thou must mean the Planetar Demon,” he said.
“The very same,” Tanya replied.
“Art thou proposing an alliance?” Apollion asked.
“A temporary one,” Tanya said.
“Why should we agree to this, gentle lady?” Apollion asked. “What purpose would this alliance serve?”
“You can’t kill the Planetar Demon on your own,” Tanya said. “As a matter of fact, using the sorcerous computers on this ship— your own ship— I firmly believe
if you engaged in direct conflict with him that the Planetar Demon would most likely prevail.”
A dead silence descended on the Council Of Eight. Not one of the fiends moved, or even fidgeted in stressful reaction to Tanya’s words.
Apollion himself became as pale as a corpse.
“Am I not correct in this assumption?” Tanya pressed.
Apollion nervously plucked at his lip. Then, instead of answering directly, he asked, “Doest thou think thee and thy friends can do better?”
“Absolutely,” Tanya said quite firmly. “I’ve run those progs as well.”
“Then tell me, gentle lady,” Apollion said, “what doest thou proposeth?”
And Tanya spelled out her plan.
* * *
After Apollion and the others had agreed to Lawson’s proposal and the Council was once again alone and unobserved, the members looked at one another uneasily.
Then Simionte said, “If this woman and her companions succeed in killing the Planetar Demon, it may very well be that she also possesses the power to defeat us as well.”
Auerkhan nodded. “I was thinking those very thoughts myself, noble Simionte.”
Mamri said, “I suggest, noble ones, that we prepare an alternate plan. I have no doubt this softskin woman will reveal our presence and purpose to one and all, once the Planetar Demon is defeated.”
“Assuming she is successful,” Syrr weighed in. “Her chances are quite slender.”
“Unfortunately, noble ones,” Simionte said, “we must pray for her success. I shudder to think what the Planetar Demon will do if he finally breaks his bonds and comes after us.”
“Gentlemen, gentlemen,” admonished Apollion, “there is no cause for panic. We’ve have been through greater crises before, have we not?
“After all, it was we who overthrew the softskin way of things and took control of their lives. And have we not fed well all these years?”
“Yes, but now we are faced with a threat of revolt from the wild ones,” Mamri reminded him. “Our own kind will certainly be aroused by this woman’s statements.”
“Noble Mamri, noble colleagues,” Apollion said. “I considered all these things whilst we were discussing— and agreeing upon— Major Lawson’s plan.
“We must simplify the tasks before us: First, to defeat the Planetar Demon. This is of the utmost importance, do you all agree?”
“Aye,” chorused the frightened others.
“Secondly, we must then act quickly to remove the threat of Tanya Lawson and our former vassals, Davyd Kells and Vlad Projogin.
“Do you agree with this as well?”
Another chorus of ayes echoed across the chamber.
And, to the immense satisfaction of the council members, Apollion once again proved his worth as their leader by laying out a most satisfactory plan.
After they’d considered and agreed, the council members faithfully complied with the first part of Tanya Lawson’s bargain.
Actually, it was something Davyd and Vlad had insisted upon in no uncertain terms.
Apollion summoned Father Zorza and his Church Of The Sword counterpart, Father Onphim.
The two quaking softskins were led into the chamber by a squad of fierce demons, with yellow eyes, long fangs and sharp claws.
There were the usual protestations of innocence, loyalty and pleas for mercy based on long and faithful service.
The members of the Council Of Eight enjoyed the misery of the two priests immensely— feeding on their fear and pain as if they were a large tubs of fine caviar.
In the end, they had the fiendish squad hang them both.
Kicking and screaming, loops were placed over their necks, and they were hauled up on the chamber’s ancient beams. But that was only a temporary measure. Next, they pierced their heels with meat hooks and let them dangle like squealing pigs from the ceiling.
They recorded the priest’s deaths with much close attention to their agonies.
Then transmitted the scene to Davyd and Vlad: the softskins who had demanded this price for their participation.
* * *
Davyd forced himself to stare with an unwavering gaze at Father Zorza’s final agonies.
But he felt no satisfaction.
Instead he was sickened by the hateful desires of his own dark soul. Scarred and notched so many times by so many sins, that Davyd wished that it was he who was being drawn up by the strangling rope.
Vlad had a similar reaction to the scene. He felt as if he were killing himself as Father Onphim gasped his last pleas for mercy, brothers, mercy.
Tanya, seeing their pale looks, intervened, leaning forward to palm the switch that cut off the last agonizing throes of the two priests.
Forcing a cold calmness on herself that belied her inner torment, she said, quite cruelly, “You’re both bastards, I hope you know that. You have a shitty way of getting your revenge.
“And if that scene is what makes you happy, I don’t want to have another thing to do with either of you when this is over!”
Both men were abject, saying they were sorry, sorry, sorry.
“Sorries don’t cut it!” the UWP detective snapped.
“The two of you are serial killers, as far as I’m concerned. Hell, you’ve both got a longer string of murders to your names than any other psycho in history.”
Davyd bowed his head. “I’ve always known that, Tanya,” he said. “And right now my only consolation is that finally, I get to die.
“They’ve kept me alive for a thousand years as their personal assassin. And by damn, I was good at it. And by damn and double damn I was bound for Hell. I always knew that.
“At least, now I get to go to some kind of peace. Paybacks, big time, for yours truly, David Kells.”
Vlad was looking at Davyd the whole time he spoke. Tears of empathy jutted in his eyes, but he fought them back. Then he looked at Tanya.
“As Davyd said … and you said,” he added in a hoarse whisper, “we deserve whatever terrible things await us, once our souls are set free. And I hope to God that my own soul is bound in chains so hot they burn right through. For even then I could not repay my transgressions.”
Tanya was stunned at their reaction to her accusations. She’d been angry. Disgusted at the price they’d demanded from the Council Of Eight.
But all along she’d known it wasn’t their fault. They’d been pawns, just as the human and spirit-world race had been pawns, of the creatures who’d seized control of a whole galaxy’s destiny— even before the galaxy could be accurately described.
Comforting words rose up. She wanted to tell them they’d been brainwashed and manipulated, just like several billion others— including herself.
Tools and ensorcelled fools, bent to the deadly purpose of the Council Of Eight.
It had been a coup above all coups.
The whole human and spirit world race enslaved in a sudden overturning of reason, just when reason and hope had coincided to change the course of all the events that were to follow.
She started to explain this … to haltingly offer shattered sentences of comfort.
But as she looked into their faces, she knew there was no comfort she could ever offer that would salve the wounds that had been suffered by these much violated men.
At that moment— as she looked at them— a strange and indescribable thing bloomed in her heart. It was so deep and overwhelming that it nearly carried her away.
Shaking her all the way down to her upcurling toes.
And Tanya snorted and said, “Jesus Christ! Apparently I’ve fallen in love with both of you guys! Now what in the hell are we gonna do about that?”
Vlad and Davyd glazed at her, astounded by her announcement. Neither man knew what to say, although they both stuttered some remarkably silly words of reaction.
Tanya stared at the two foolish men she’d been cursed to fall in love with, and shook her head.
“I am the dumbest broad in all creation,” she said. “T
o fall for two mass murderers. Well, read ’em and weep, those were the cards I was handed and I don’t have any time at all left to figure out how to play the hand the fates dealt me.”
Then she became very stern, standing over them.
“The only thing is,” she said, “is that I have to ask you both to do it one more time.”
Vlad shrugged. “If you love me, Tanya,” he said, “I’ll kill the whole fucking galaxy.”
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph,” Davyd broke in. “All she’s asking is that we kill the Planetar Demon! Not the whole galaxy. What the hell is the problem with you?”
Vlad gave a Russian shrug, saying, “My only wonderment is who shall she love when this is done?”
Tanya laughed at his reply. “Don’t worry about it,” she said. “Assuming I survive— and get back into my right mind— I’ll probably tell both of you to get the hell out of my life!”
“That’s fair,” Davyd said.
“An even chance,” Vlad agreed, suddenly feeling much better.
Tanya snorted in displeasure at both of them.
“Okay, say we survive the Planetar Demon,” she said. “A big damned assumption. But after that …”
“The Council of Eight is going to want to wipe us off the face of the Galaxy,” Vlad provided.
“You’ve got that straight,” added Davyd. “They’re probably plotting our demise at this very minute.”
Both men looked up at Tanya. Eyes full of many, many questions.
Davyd was the first to ask: “What do we do after that?” he asked. “Assuming we take out the Planetar Demon?”
Tanya shrugged. “I’ve got it all figured out,” she said. “If for some reason, by some goof up on the part of the deadliest power in the galaxy we happen to survive …
“Here’s what we do: we run like hell!”
“That’s the plan?” Davyd asked, aghast.
Another shrug from Tanya. “Under the circumstances— and given the time I’d had to consider … Yep!
“Do either of you have an alternate suggestion?”
One by one, both men shook their heads— No.
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
