David Robbins - The Kalispell Run

We? Blade, about to lift Geronimo’s legs, glanced at Gremlin. “You want to come with me?”

“Nowhere else to go, yes?” Gremlin replied succinctly.

“What about the Citadel? Or anywhere else in the Civilized Zone?”

“Doktor find there, yes? Doktor kill.”

“You’re welcome to tag along with us,” Blade offered. “I saw a lot of the things we came here for in the back of our transport, so I’m heading for our Home. Do you want to go along?”

Gremlin nodded, smiling. “Will go with, yes?” He paused, debating.

“How will your people, the Family, react?”

Blade carefully raised Geronimo from the ground, assisted by Gremlin.

“Let me put it this way,” he said as they slowly walked toward the SEAL.

“They’re in for a big surprise.”

“Still no sign of any tracks?”

“Nothing man-made.”

“I don’t like this. Something isn’t right.” Napoleon placed his hands on his hips and watched Seiko search for prints.

“Are you sure we’re in the right area?” Spartacus inquired, his right hand on the hilt of his broadsword.

“This is the spot,” Napoleon confirmed, scanning the nearby woods.

“Plato told me one of the Omega Warriors on duty above the drawbridge spotted someone out here. He thought it might be another saboteur, possibly one of the Watchers spying on us. That’s why Plato sent us out here.”

“Then there must be someone around here,” Spartacus stated.

“Why can’t I find any tracks?” Seiko demanded. “I may not be as skilled a tracker as Geronimo, but I’m still one of the best in the Family.”

“And one of the most modest,” Spartacus rejoined.

“We must be a mile west of the Home by now,” Napoleon remarked.

“We’ll keep going for another mile or so, but if we don’t find any sign by then, we’re turning back.” He motioned for them to follow and led off, going deeper into the forest. In addition to his revolver, he carried a Browning BPS Pump Shotgun.

They proceeded cautiously, listening for any telltale foreign sounds.

Napoleon was considering an attractive option. If there really was a Watcher out here, they might be able to capture him. Instead of taking him to the Home, a bargain might be struck. If the Watchers knew the Family leadership would be changing hands, they might be willing to agree to a truce or some form of working partnership. This little foray might be the break he needed to open negotiations with the Watchers.

“Hold,” Seiko whispered.

“What is it?” Napoleon asked.

Seiko was intently scrutinizing the grass near his feet. “I thought I saw…” He shook his head. “No. It couldn’t be. I am mistaken.”

“Sounds to me like you could use some practice,” Spartacus joked.

They continued through a dense stand of trees and brush. Birds chirped overhead. All seemed peaceful enough.

“If you ask me,” Spartacus commented, “we’re on a wild-goose chase.”

The trees ended at a large clearing.

Napoleon held his right hand aloft, signaling a halt. “When we get back,” he vowed, “the first thing I’m going to do is find out which of the Omega morons thought he saw someone out here and suggest he get his eyes examined by the Healers.”

Spartacus, swinging his gaze to their right, suddenly tensed. “It looks like the Omega moron was right.”

The others followed the direction of his stare.

“I knew it,” Seiko said, an edge to his voice.

Napoleon gawked for a moment, then hastily recovered his composure.

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi was standing twenty feet away, his katana, still in its scabbard, held low in both hands, near his knees. He wore loose-fitting black clothes similar to Seiko’s.

“Hi, Rikki,” Napoleon greeted him. “Did Plato send you out here after the man the wall guard saw?”

Rikki walked toward them. “Plato sent me out here, all right.”

“I thought so.” Napoleon grinned.

“After you,” Rikki stated flatly.

Napoleon moved further into the clearing. “After us?” he pretended to be surprised. “Why? Did he think we couldn’t handle it by ourselves?”

Rikki stopped ten feet from Gamma Triad. “You know the reason I am here,” he said quietly.

“I do?”

“I will not play word games with you, Napoleon,” Rikki declared. “I will give you one chance, and one chance only, to recant and renounce your scheme to take over the Family.”

Napoleon, forsaking all subterfuge, smiled sardonically. “How damn decent of you.”

“I do it for Plato,” Rikki clarified.

“Does the old bastard think offering clemency will change anything?”

Napoleon angrily asked.

“He does,” Rikki nodded, then added, “but he doesn’t know how sick you are.”

“And if I tell yon to kiss my ass?” Napoleon snapped.

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi grinned. “Then I will kiss your ass.”

“You will?”

Rikki slowly drew the katana, the blade gleaming in the afternoon sun, and dropped the scabbard. “With this.”

“You’re forgetting one thing, bright boy,” Napoleon mocked him.

“What is that?”

Napoleon beamed confidently. “There’s three of us, and only one of you.”

“Uhhhhhh…” Spartacus interjected, glancing at Napoleon.

“What is it?” Napoleon prompted him.

“I have some news I don’t think you’re going to like,” Spartacus informed them.

“Like what?” Napoleon queried, keeping his eyes on Rikki. What other weapons did Rikki usually incorporate in his personal arsenal? Would any of them stand a chance against a shotgun?

Spartacus took a deep breath, girding his nerves. “There’s only two of you,” he corrected the count, “and one of him.”

Napoleon whirled on Spartacus, his face reddening. “What?” he bellowed, enraged.

“You heard me. Count me out,” Spartacus stated firmly. “I want no part of this.” He looked at Rikki. “I won’t help them, but I won’t help you either.

I owe them that much. We’ve been together too long. You understand, don’t you?”

“Perfectly,” Rikki responded.

Napoleon’s lips curled into a snarl. “Why, you yellow bastard!” He began to level the shotgun at Spartacus.

The broadsword was a blur as Spartacus whipped it from its scabbard.

He took four quick steps and pressed the tip of the blade against Napoleon’s jugular. “Don’t even twitch,” he threatened the Gamma leader, “or I’ll take your head off!”

Napoleon’s features were distorted by his unbridled fury. His mouth moved, but nothing came out.

“Lower the shotgun to the ground,” Spartacus directed. “Slowly! One false move, if you so much as blink, I’ll ram this through your neck!”

Napoleon complied, easing to a squatting position and setting the Browning on the grass.

“Now back off,” Spartacus ordered.

Napoleon rose and backed away about three feet.

“Far enough,” Spartacus told him. “And don’t touch that revolver!” He looked at Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. “That’s as even as I can make it.”

“I thank you,” Rikki said. “This is… unexpected.”

“You wouldn’t be so surprised if you knew I was the one who informed Plato about Napoleon’s plans,” Spartacus revealed.

“You? Plato said one of the Family overheard a conversation concerning the rebellion,” Rikki remarked.

“He made that up,” Spartacus explained. “I told him I didn’t want anyone to know it was me, under any circumstances.” He sighed and stared at Napoleon. “I guess it doesn’t matter now.”

“You traitor!” Napoleon roared, taking a menacing step toward Spartacus. “You lousy, stinking traitor! I thought I could trust you! After all the years we’ve spent as a team!”