rebel, everyone had, but the man had to be getting on in years now. And he didn't trust legends anymore. Not since he found he'd become one himself.
'What's all this got to do with the new mission I'm not going on?' he said loudly, and the applause died away as everyone looked interestedly at the esper leaders and waited for their reply. This was why they enjoyed Finlay's reports. He always gave a great performance. Mr. Perfect looked steadily at Finlay.
'Thanks to our new friends' attack, Golgotha's defenses and security systems are currently in tatters. Things are now possible that were not before. You will remember Julian Skye. It was only thanks to him that the underground was able to reform itself after Silo Nine. Skye has been captured. They haven't had him long, but it is imperative that he doesn't talk. He alone knows all the locations, names, and passwords that made our reforming possible. There are blocks and defenses in his mind, but they won't last long once the Empire mind techs really get to work on him. Any other time, we would have been helpless to retrieve the situation, but in the current chaos, who knows what might be achieved by one determined man?'
'Who knows what might be achieved by a small army with lots of weapons?' said Finlay doggedly. 'Think of all the other prisoners you could rescue.'
'We can't risk losing any more of our people,' said the mandala. 'Skye is being held in the maximum security area. Even with the present disruption, he will undoubtably be very well guarded, by both human and inhuman guards. One man might sneak in and out, where an army could not hope to You will be that one man.'
'Because I'm brave, talented, and entirely expendable?'
'Exactly. It helps that you are also the most likely to succeed in such a desperate mission, despite the odds. What's the matter, Finlay? I thought you liked a challenge?'
'This isn't a challenge, it's a death sentence. And contrary to popular impressions, I don't do suicide missions. Find another sucker.'
'You will this time. Skye must be rescued or silenced before he talks. You will decide which option is the most practical, under the cirumstances.'
'Hello? Are you listening to me? I'm not going!'
'We have a trace on Skye. All espers in the underground have a telepathic beacon, buried deep in their minds. The Empire hasn't silenced it yet, so we have his exact location. Which means we can teleport you right to him.'
'All right,' said Finlay. 'I'll bite. What's the snag?'
'The Empire must know about the beacon. They've captured enough espers before and silenced their beacons quite efficiently. If Skye hasn't been blocked, it can only be because he is being set up as bait in a trap. They know how badly we need his silence. They're expecting a small army. They won't expect you. However, we feel it only fair to warn you that while we can teleport you in, we will almost certainly not be able to teleport you out again. The Empire will no doubt have taken measures to prevent that.'
'Let me get this straight,' said Finlay. 'You're going to drop me right in the middle of the Golgotha interrogation center, surrounded by legions of armed guards, both human and inhuman, and it's up to me to free Skye and fight my way out?'
'That's right,' said Mr. Perfect. 'A walk in the park. We have every confidence in you. After all, since it's so obviously a trap, there's always the chance they won't be expecting anyone to actually walk into it. Let alone one man on his own. You should take them entirely by surprise.'
'I can't help thinking
'That's why they wanted me to be here,' said Evangeline. She walked slowly forward to join him, their eyes holding contact all the way. She put out her arms to hold him, but he stopped her with an upraised hand.
'Don't. I'm covered in muck and blood. I'll get your dress dirty.'
Evangeline looked him over, trying not to wince at the sight of his wounds, and shook her head sadly. 'More blood. More pain and suffering, on my behalf. I've always known you only do this for me. You've never given a damn for the rebellion or the underground, have you?'
'I needed something to do down here,' said Finlay uncomfortably. 'Something to keep me busy. And I do care, in my way. I still remember what I saw in Silo Nine, down in Wormboy Hell. I will not allow that kind of suffering and horror to continue. I have sworn a death oath, upon my blood and my honor, to fight to put an end to Silo Nine and the system that produced it. The underground's the best way for me to do that. But I'm still not going on this mission, Evie. Not even for you. I know my limitations.'
'So do I. You're quite right. It probably will get you killed. But we need you to do this mission. I could come with you, if you like. Fight at your side, die beside you.'
'No! I don't want that. I nearly lost you in Silo Nine. I won't risk that again. I need to know you're safe. I wouldn't want to live without you. Is this Skye bastard really so important?'
'If he talks, the underground will have to scatter again. Thousands of clones and espers and their supporters would risk capture or death all over again. It could take anything from ten to twenty years before we could pull ourselves back together again, and that's being optimistic. The underground might not survive at all. Certainly the rebellion would be set back indefinitely. It's the timing that's so ironic. Things are finally going our way, Finlay. These new rebels, with Jack Random to lead them, could be the final spark we need to blow the whole corrupt Empire apart.'
'What do you want me to do, Evie?'
'I want what you want: for us to be here, safe, together. But what we want doesn't matter anymore. If Skye talks, what little we have will be taken from us. You have to go, Finlay. You're the only one who stands a chance of bringing this off and coming back alive.'
'And if I don't? If I get myself killed, fighting for the damn Cause?'
'Then part of me will die with you,' said Evangeline, looking at him steadily. 'I know what we're asking of you. What I'm asking. It's tearing me apart. But…'
'But you're still asking.'
'Yes. I know my duty. To every esper and clone who suffered in Silo Nine, or suffers every day as non-people in the Empire.'
Finlay smiled briefly. 'You always did fight dirty.'
'I love you, Finlay. If you say no, I'll still love you.'
'I love you, Evie. Even though you're asking.'
They looked at each other for a long time, seeing nothing but each other, their love so strong and fierce it filled the chamber. The crowd was silent, holding its breath. So Adrienne cleared her throat and stepped forward.
'Don't do it, Finlay. You'd have to be crazy to take on a mission like this. Everyone's been telling me what a great fighter you are, but no one could face these odds and come back in one piece.'
Finlay smiled coldly at her. 'You never did believe in me, Adrienne.'
'That's not the point. Let them find somebody else. There's always somebody else.'
'There isn't time,' said Finlay. 'Weren't you listening?'
'Damn it, stop fighting me! I'm worried about you!'
'Really? What brought that on?'
'Damned if I know. I don't even know what I'm doing here. But Evangeline and I have become rather close just recently, much to our mutual surprise, and since she's clearly not stupid or easily impressed, I'm forced to the opinion that you must be something of the hero and fighter she says you are. Though if you're that good an actor, you should be on the stage. But this assignment has suicide mission written all over it. You might as well walk into the Arena with no weapons and one leg tied behind your back. Don't go, Finlay. I don't want you dying before I've had a chance to finally get to know you. Tell them to stuff their mission. There's always another way, if you look hard enough.'
'You don't think I can do it, do you?' said Finlay. 'Well, you're wrong, Addie. I can jump in there, grab the bastard, and be gone before the guards know what's hit them. I'm a fighter, Adrienne. The best damn fighter you'll ever meet.'
'You're not listening to me!' said Adrienne. 'But, then, you never did. You talk to him, Evie.'
'But I want him to go,' said Evangeline. 'Please, Finlay. Do it for me. I don't want to end up in whatever they build to replace Silo Nine.'
