Knights Of The Black Earth

by Margaret Weis

  "Maybe, from what you've said, that's a good thing. Give me a twist, will you?" The mechanical taste was unusually, horribly strong.

  Rowan opened his pocket, removed the case, took out a twist, and put it between Xris's lips.

  "And that's why," she said steadily, "you have to turn yourself in, Xris. Clear yourself and the others."

  Xris grunted. "And the moment the Hung find out who you are, where you are, you can kiss your ass good-bye."

  Rowan's smile twisted, but remained. She shrugged. "I fought the Hung before. I'll fight them again. Who knows? This time I might finish them off for good."

  Xris raised his voice angrily. "You'd never even live through the trial. You know it. So do I. So just shut up about it."

  Rowan said nothing. She stared down at her hands, which were clasped together in her lap.

  The others were awake now.

  Jamil sat up stiffly, cradling his injured arm.

  Harry said loudly, "I can't hear a damn thing. What're they saying?"

  Quong was up, came over to attend to his patient.

  "How do you feel, Xris?"

  "Great. Switch me back on, will you, Doc?"

  Quong frowned, but--seeing Xris's dark expression--the Doc did as he was asked.

  His mechanical side working again, Xris sat up weakly on the cot, looked around. He chewed on the twist.

  "Did you all hear what we're up against?"

  "No, thanks!" Harry boomed. "I don't smoke."

  "Doc, find a notepad, take this down, and show it to Harry. I want everyone in on this. I'll explain the situation."

  When he was finished, Xris looked around at each member of the team. "I've reached my decision. I can't give myself up."

  Rowan, beside him, made a small sound of protest. Xris stretched out his hand to her, his good hand.

  She hesitated, then clasped his hand in hers.

  Xris continued, "Not without leaving Rowan here wide open. But the rest of you can. That would be my advice, in fact. Dixter'll see to it that you're treated fairly. You might even end up being heroes."

  The others exchanged glances, with the exception of Harry, who was puzzling over Quong's handwriting.

  "Turn ourselves in? Is that what this scrawl says?" Harry was suddenly on his feet, indignant. "You can't do that, Xris, goddammit! You can't let them get hold of Darlene!"

  "I'm not going to, Harry."

  "What?"

  "Doc, write down--Never mind."

  "I'm not doing it, Xris," Harry continued belligerently. "I'll stay with Darlene, if you won't."

  Quong was writing furiously. He shoved the notepad under Harry's nose.

  Harry read, looked at Xris, blushed. "Oh, sorry, Xris. I'm with you, you know." He sat back down.

  "Me, too," said Jamil gloomily. "I don't much like the idea of publicity, either."

  Xris stared at him. "Why not? What have you got to lose?"

  Jamil didn't immediately answer. He tugged irritably on his bandage. "Damn thing's too tight, Doc."

  "Count yourself fortunate," Quong returned. "You could be wearing Raoul's petticoat. And do not loosen it! You will start the bleeding again."

  Jamil scratched at the bandage, saw them all staring at him now. He gave an exasperated snort. "All right, if you must know, there's a couple of women on a couple of different planets who both think that, well, I'm married to each of them. It's all perfectly legal. Well, it's sort of legal. I do right by them both, mind you, but if one ever found out about the other ..." He shook his head gloomily.

  "I am with you also," Tycho announced. "It has occurred to me that if I am a hunted criminal, I will not have to pay income taxes."

  "That's because you won't have any income," Xris said dryly. "Things are going to be tough. We'll be spending most of our time dodging bounty hunters, the bureau, military police. With that kind of action, it's going to be difficult finding work."

  "Nevertheless," said Tycho, "it would not do to break up the team. One for all, and damn the torpedoes."

  By now Xris was smiling. Rowan was gazing at them all in wonder. Maybe he wouldn't have to explain things to her, after all.

  "You will need a doctor," Quong said stiffly. "As well as a mechanic. Besides, I want to make a thorough study of the Tongan. I will be the first human doctor to notate their physiology."

  "They might even reinstate you," Jamil muttered, but he took care to keep his voice low and Quong, fortunately, did not hear.

  "We'll need a computer expert," Xris said offhandedly. "A code breaker might come in handy, too."

  "Are you sure, Xris?" she asked softly, so softly only his augmented heating enabled him to hear her. "Yeah. I'm sure."

  Rowan squeezed his hand. She looked up at the others. "Thanks. All of you. I know you're really doing this for me and I ... I--" She choked, covered her face.

  Xris lay back down, shut his eyes. The drug was dragging him under.

  Where do you want to go, laddie?

  Olefsky's question drifted to the cyborg through a thick, pleasant mist.

  Xris shook his head. It didn't matter. From now on, one place would be as good---or as bad--as another. He shut off his heating, shut down his battery.

  Rowan, seeing him drifting off to sleep, tried to gently withdraw her hand.

  Xris tightened his grip, held fast to her.

  To Rowan. To his old friend.

  He held fast to every one of them. All seven.

  His team.

  One for all, and damn the torpedoes.