Deathstalker

'You're the one with the built-in compass. How much further to the Standing?'

'At least a quarter of a mile. We're barely halfway there.'

'Is that all?' Hazel shook her head wearily. 'It seems like I've been slogging through this jungle forever. Any more bad news you'd like to share with me?'

'We're draining the crystals in our guns, the screen isn't holding up as well as I'd hoped, and it's getting hotter. I don't think we've even reached midday yet. I hate this place.'

'Oh, good,' said Hazel. 'Something more to worry about. I don't know why I ever saved you, Deathstalker. You're a bloody jinx to be around, you know that?'

'Yes, I do. You keep telling me. You should be grateful to me for bringing a little adventure into your life. Would you rather be stuck in an office all day, staring into a monitor screen?'

'Frankly, yes.'

'Come on, we'd better start moving again.' Owen tried to force some confidence into his voice. 'Only a quarter of a mile to go.'

'Wait a bit longer,' said Jack Random. 'If we wear ourselves out too quickly, we'll never get there. We have to pace ourselves.' Owen looked at him, surprised. The old rebel sounded much fresher and stronger than he had. Random saw the look and grinned easily. 'I've done this before, lad. Couldn't tell you how many jungles on how many planets I've hacked my way through in my time. You have to learn to spread your strength, so it's there to be called on when you need it. Don't worry about the screen and the guns. Either they'll hold out, or they won't, and either way there's nothing you can do about it. Save your energy for problems you can solve. Like making sure the path you're cutting is as straight as you can get it. Even a mild curve could put us miles off course.'

'I'm watching the compass,' said Owen. 'We're dead on course. Listen, if you've got any other wisdom to offer, don't be shy about sharing it. I'm new to all this, and I'll take all the help I can get.'

'Good attitude, for a leader,' Random said approvingly. 'You're doing fine, Deaths talker. Lead from the front and we'll follow.'

'Speak for yourself,' said Ruby Journey. 'I wouldn't trust that inbred aristo to lead sheep to slaughter.'

'Interesting choice of phrase, my dear,' said Random. 'Perhaps you'd care to modify it, given our current position?'

'No, I wouldn't. And I'm not your dear.'

'That's for sure,' said Hazel. 'You've never been anybody's dear.'

'I've never been anybody's fool, either.' Ruby glared at them all impartially. 'I should never have let you talk me into this. I could have made a perfectly good fortune just handing you over to the authorities. Instead, I'm stuck in the middle of a bloody jungle, light-years from anywhere halfway civilized, with no provisions and no bloody ship. I should have shot you all on sight.'

'You did try,' said Owen.

'You wouldn't shoot me, Ruby,' Hazel said briskly. 'I'm your friend.'

Ruby looked at her. 'The rewards on all your heads would buy me a lot of friends.'

'Not the kind that matter,' said Random. 'It's a lonely place, this Empire, without friends to watch your back.'

'Friends are a luxury,' said Ruby coldly. 'Like faith, politics and family. They always let you down, in the end. The only person you can ever really trust is yourself. I'd have thought you'd have known that, after all the times you got your ass kicked by the Empire. Your great rebellion is over, Random.'

'It's not over till I say it's over,' said Random. 'As long as I refuse to give up, they haven't beaten me. The strength of rebellion lies in the heart, not in armies.'

'Nice sentiment,' said Ruby. 'I'm sure they'll put it on your tombstone.'

'Thank you, Ruby,' said Random, smiling charmingly. 'That's very good of you. Time to get moving again, Deathstalker. If we've got the energy to argue, we're rested enough to start up again.'

He rose easily to his feet, looking calm and relaxed and ready to go. Owen was surprised to find he'd gotten his second wind while they were talking and got to his feet with only minor winces. He put out a hand to Hazel, who ignored it and got up unaided. Owen didn't even try to offer his hand to Ruby. The bounty hunter rose up as lithely and effortlessly as she'd sat down, her face cold and calm and untouched by any trace of passion. Owen smiled, hefted his sword thoughtfully, and turned back to the vegetation blocking his trail. If he had to be stranded on an unfriendly world, he was glad he was accompanied by fighters, not quitters. He was especially pleased to see Jack Random coming to life again. This was more like the legendary rebel he'd heard so much about.

Ruby moved up alongside to help. Owen wasn't too happy about having the bounty hunter that close to him with a naked blade in her hands. She made him nervous. She had the cold poise of an Investigator, and the unrelenting malice to go with it. Owen had absolutely no doubt that she would have killed him in a second back on Mistworld if Hazel hadn't intervened. He was also pretty damn sure she'd turn on him in a moment if she decided it was in her best interests to do so. She'd have made a good aristocrat. He kept a watchful eye on her until she decided they'd made enough ground, then dropped back to walk with the others. Owen breathed a little more easily, though his back still prickled just a little. After a moment, Hazel moved up beside him.

'What's the problem between you and Ruby?' she said bluntly.

'Don't know what you mean,' said Owen.

'Come off it. I saw you shooting suspicious looks at her in what you obviously thought was an unobtrusive manner. Don't you trust her?'

'Of course not. She's a bounty hunter, and I'm bounty.'

'We're all outlaws together now, aristo.'

'Some of us are more outlaws than others.'

'She's my friend,' said Hazel coldly. 'She gave me her word. You can trust her as you trust me.'

'Exactly,' said Owen.

Hazel had to think about that for a moment, and then glared at him and fell back to join the others, scowling heavily. Owen sighed and took out his spleen on the helpless vegetation before him. It didn't help much. He liked Hazel. He admired her courage and her forthright manner, but they couldn't seem to exchange two words without arguing. Jack Random came forward to walk at his side, and they cut trail together in silence for a while, the only sound the solid chunk of steel cutting through vegetation.

'A word of advice,' Jack said finally. 'Never win an argument with a woman. They'll forgive anything but that.'

'But I was right.'

'What's that got to do with anything?'

'We're making good time,' Owen said determinedly. 'Would you like to take over the lead for a while?'

'No thanks. In my experience, the point man has the most dangerous job. You're welcome to it.'

'You should be leading this party anyway. I mean, you're Jack Random.'

'I used to be, and given time I might be again. But for the moment I'm just a tired old man pulled out of retirement for one last fight. I've got a long way to go before I'm competent to lead anything but a suicide charge. You carry on, lad. You're doing a good job as leader.'

'Am I? Hazel and I spit at each other like cats, Moon worries the hell out of me, and I daren't turn my back on Ruby.'

'And you're holding them all together. You give them purpose and point them in the right direction. That's all anyone really has the right to expect of a leader. I should know.'

He grinned easily at Owen, clapped him once on the shoulder and dropped back to the others. Owen wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve and stood a little straighter. If Jack Random said he was doing a good job, he must be. He was still getting used to the idea when Moon appeared suddenly at his side.

'I have a question for you, Deathstalker. How are you going to get me to Haden when you don't have a ship anymore? You said you'd get me there. You gave me your word.'

'I'll get you there.'

'How?'

'I'm working on it!'

Moon nodded and fell back to join the others, leaving Owen by himself. He growled not completely under his breath, and hacked at a web of hanging creepers. He felt he could use a little time to himself. For some reason, the creatures surrounding the party seemed to be showing them a lot more respect. Owen found that suspicious, but he