I felt something then, a sharp stabbing pain that went on and on. Someone was driving a needle into my back. I hissed and squirmed, but that didnt make it any better.

"That works pretty good," said Randy from behind me. "You see Bill? This man doesnt mind a punch in the back, but a needle-thats different."

"Yeah," said Bill, as if bored and a little uncomfortable.

"Looks like I kicked the wrong guy," I said.

"No, no," said Randy cheerfully. "Bill is just as big of an a.s.shole as I am. Now, next question."

"Whats the point?" I demanded between gritted teeth. "You already know my story. Theres only one answer for why youre on revive number seven."

"Whats that?" Randy asked.

"Youre having fun, thats all. This is a kick for you. Bill here, he was honestly p.i.s.sed. I can understand that. But you Randy-youre the sick f.u.c.k, arent you?"

The needle was driven in again, and it was going for broke. I twisted and writhed.

Finally, Bills big hand came down on the s.a.d.i.s.ts wrist. "Thats enough. McGills right. No one dies seven times telling the same story. Were not going to get anything else out of him."

The freak looked disappointed. He sighed. "Yep, I guess its over. Time to end it. Goodbye McGill. Its been fun, but youre all used up now."

I glared at him while he put a black hood over my face.

"Too chicken-s.h.i.t to kill a helpless man who looks you in the eye, huh? Just as I thought-a pair of wimps."

They pulled off the hood, and Bill looked at me curiously.

"Why keep lying, McGill?" he asked. "Why keep lying and dying? This is your last go-round. Youre permed after this. Its all signed, sealed and delivered."

"Ive got my orders," I said. "I cant talk to anyone less than an officer. And besides, Im not going to be permed." I laughed and let blood dribble on my chest. "If you clowns only knew how many times Ive been killed and told I was permed-Ill be back alive in a week."

They looked curious. Maybe I hadnt talked this way before. Maybe past McGills had taken different approaches. Me-I knew I was screwed so I didnt care anymore.

"What do you mean youll be back?"

I told them real shockers then. I told them about killing a Galactic back on Steel World, being executed for it and coming back. I told them about a few other times, too, where I should never have drawn breath again. They listened, and I could tell theyd never heard these stories before. They seemed a little shocked and upset.

"Thats crazy," Bill said. "You cant just go killing Galactics and erasing their tappers."

"Weve all got our jobs to do," I said. "Your work is easier than mine, thats all. You get off on it, I understand. Everyone has their dark secrets. But youre not going to perm me. Youre just having a bit of fun."

Bills face darkened at my off-handed a.s.sumption he was a s.a.d.i.s.t. He didnt like to think of himself as a s.a.d.i.s.t. Randy, on the other hand, never argued with my accusations. I could tell hed made peace with what he was.

"Weve got to report this," Bill said.

"Aw come on, its total bulls.h.i.t."

Eventually, Bill called for an officer. It took a while, but they brought in a new face. She was familiar to me, but not really a friend. It was Centurion Belter.

"He keeps telling us that h.e.l.l talk to you, sir," Bill said. "Hes got some crazy stories-things that might change our status with the Empire. I thought it would be best to bring in an officer as he requested before we perm him."

Belter frowned at them, then at me. She crossed her arms under her small, tight b.r.e.a.s.t.s and stared. "What do you have to say, McGill?"

"We arent screwed. The ship blew up before it hit Gamma Pavonis corona, didnt it?"

"Yes, but that could be due to-"

"A lot of things, I know. But I know exactly why it happened."

I told her about Claver and his squid mini-missiles. When the region of s.p.a.ce and the wreckage that was still orbiting the star was a.n.a.lyzed, the radiation signatures would implicate the squids, not us.

"The Nairbs arent going to buy it, McGill. Even if youre right. Claver has evidence all lined up to show he wasnt involved."

"Okay," I said. "Then well have to blame the squids for an outright attack. We should do that anyway-why not lie? The Empire should declare war on the squids, not just call them neutrals. This is the second Imperial ship theyve destroyed."

"They marked the cephalopods as exterminated back on Dust World and didnt pursue it further."

"Why not?" I demanded. "Because theyre weak, thats why not. They dont have a fleet out here, so they dont want a war. We should make them join us. Force them to follow their own policies against the squids."

Centurion Belter nodded tiredly. "Youre probably right, but it doesnt really matter. Youve been tried and convicted. Youre to be permed. Im sorry about that as I owe you one."

I glanced over at the two fiends. "Take me out of here. Let me talk to you about something important you dont know. Then you can do what you have to."

She shook her head, and the two guards laughed. "Thats not going to happen, McGill," she said.

"All right then, get them out of here, and turn off the recorders."

She thought about it for a minute then ordered the guards to leave. They didnt like it, but she outranked them. She switched off the recorders and faced me.

"What?"

"Youve got to know a few things about Imperator Turov."

Her eyes widened a little. "Ive heard things-about you and her."

"Im not talking about personal stuff. Im talking about geopolitical realities. She ordered me to kill the Nairb ship. Check the logs. She was the last one I talked to before leaving Cyclops."

Belter was frowning now. I had her attention.

"Why the h.e.l.l would she do that?"

"Because we worked together to kill a Galactic-back on Earth. You remember that 'accident that happened with an air car on top of Central?"

She nodded slowly. Her frown was bigger than ever.

"Didnt that seem a little odd to you? Well, it was bulls.h.i.t. Turov and Claver were up to all kinds of shenanigans, and the Galactic found out. She ordered me to kill him, and we faked the wreck together. Then we erased the Galactics latest mind back-up and pushed him over the side of the building."

She snorted. "Thats absurd."

"It happened. I was there. She was there. Check the logs, not the candied up news reports. Heres something interesting-Graves and Leeson needed a revive after that accident, too. Why was that? They werent in the air car, were they?"

"Shut up for a second," she said. She was working her tapper quickly. She brought up the official reports of that fateful days events and went over them.

"Okay," she said after a few minutes. "Lets say I believe your crazy story. How the h.e.l.l did you erase the mental backup of a Mogwa official?"

"Now youre thinking," I said encouragingly. "The answer to that one is in Turovs office. In fact, its probably in her pocket."

She looked at me curiously. "She wouldnt let us question you and perm you if all this was true. She has too much to hide."

I laughed. "Im not getting permed. Abused, yes. But not permed. I work for her. I just thought Id give you a few pointers on how things went around here to help you out. If you stay quiet about all this, now that you know the score, youll keep your career intact."

I thought I had her pretty bamboozled by now. Most of my story was true, but not my importance, which I was exaggerating. h.e.l.l, Turov was probably hoping theyd perm my a.s.s after torturing me for a while.

Belter moved with sudden decision. She unclamped my right arm, then drew her sidearm, pointed it at my chest and stepped back.

"All right," she said. "Free yourself and come with me. Were going to talk with my primus."

"How about your tribune?"

Belter looked troubled. "I dont think hes been revived yet."

I brayed with laughter while I fumbled out of the clamps. "Thats old Turov again. Shes tricky that way. Doesnt like high-level bra.s.s around. They argue too much when she wants to do something off-script."

"Shes dramatically off-script on this campaign, Ill grant you that. Youll repeat your story to my primus, and youll go back to a cell. You wont be permed until youve given a full deposition in front of an officers court."

I knew now that Belter had taken the bait. She wanted to take on Imperator Turov, and she thought my testimony might be enough. Everyone in Solstice was mad at Turov for a stack of good reasons. Id been counting on that.

She let me get dressed, signed me out of the detention center and marched me down the pa.s.sages toward Gold Deck. I didnt move on her until we were in a fairly lonely pa.s.sageway.

I had a b.l.o.o.d.y streak down my ribs and was breathing hard before it was over, but she was face down on the deck, unconscious. I dragged her into a data closet and locked it.

Belter had fought well, but shed made a critical mistake: Shed let me get my hands free.

-40-.

Leaving Centurion Belter asleep in the data closet with computers humming all around her, I moved on determinedly. I strapped on her sidearm, happy that smart cloth uniforms could stretch to fit anyone, and marched the rest of the way to Gold Deck.

Fortunately, not every man in the task force knew me and my status as a prisoner. As it was a sensitive case, it probably hadnt even gone public yet. No one wanted to create more witnesses than necessary for the Nairbs to question later.

I wasnt challenged until I reached the hatchway that led to the command section, and there I used Turovs name. They contacted her, and I waited and sweated.

Turov allowed me to pa.s.s the guards. That was a relief, sort of. I marched up to her office, and the door opened.

We greeted one another with guns in our hands. She was aiming hers at me, and I was aiming mine at her.

We both smiled tightly.

"Who ordered you to be released from detention?" she demanded. "I didnt authorize it."

"I wasnt exactly released."

She nodded, unsurprised. "All right then. What do you want from me McGill, you crazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d?"

I looked her straight in the eye. "The Key," I said.

Her eyes widened. She hadnt expected that one. "No," she said quickly.

"Ill bring it back," I said. "I promise."

"No way."

"Then Ill kill you where you stand and take it anyway. Your choice."

She glared at me. There was blood on my face and scabs on my wrists. There was also a determined look in my eye that no one who knew me could completely ignore.

"Why did I let you in here?" she asked.

I wasnt sure if she was asking me or talking to herself.

"I dont know, sir. Maybe you like my smile. But here we are."

She took a deep breath.

"No," she said again. "I cant let you have the key. Not even for old times sake, James."

"How long has it been since you killed someone with that pistol, Imperator?" I asked her. "This is a duel at two paces. Thats harder to win than it seems. And if I win, I promise, Ill perm you."

Her eyes narrowed, and her small fingers tightened on her weapon. "Youd go that far?"

"Yes. Im on a mission."

"I dont like threats. If I win, Ill do the same."

I shrugged. "Ive got nothing to lose. This is all up to you."

She saw something in my eyes or maybe heard it in my voice. She could tell I wasnt bluffing.

"Have you told anyone about the Key?" she asked.

"No. Not yet," I lied.

She lowered her gun and walked away into her office. This surprised me, but when I thought it over it made sense. If she went along with my threats, she knew Id probably let her live. On the other hand, even if I killed her right here on her plush imported carpet, shed be revived in the end, and Id be permed for my crimes. The guns didnt even matter in a way, as long as she got me out of her office before I erased her data with the key. For her, dying would be unpleasant but only temporary.

I took her sidearm anyway, just in case she changed her mind, and then I took the Galactic key. She had it in her belt pouch like I figured she would. Something like that was too valuable to leave in a safe or under your pillow. You had to have it handy for emergencies, or it wasnt worth owning.

Getting close to her and searching her body-that did something to me. I could smell her perfume while I dug in her pockets. Her body was warm and firm, and her eyes shone in the office lights as she glared up at me.

Angry, but pretty. I couldnt help but recall a few blissful experiences wed shared in the past. I wanted to kiss her, but I sensed this wasnt the right time.