by David Bishop
Only after the shuttle had docked with the crime boss's satellite did the orbital HQ become visible to Dredd and the delegates. It was shaped liked a hoop, with support struts radiating outwards from a central hub. The droid crew opened the hatch to reveal Kara standing outside in the docking bay, her body encased in revealing strips of shiny black rubbereen. "Welcome to Mr Bludd's new home. If you'd all like to follow me, I will introduce each of you to him personally." She stood aside so the four passengers could alight, then led them round the outer hoop to one of the support struts. Dredd stayed at the back of the group, keeping his face hidden from Kara's view and his thoughts a blank. A turbolift transported the quintet to the centre of the satellite.
"A most remarkable structure," Chang observed. "How was your master able to keep its construction and location a secret from the Judges?"
"Mr Bludd is most resourceful," Kara replied with a smile. "Once you have become a loyal customer of his organisation, I'm sure he will be more than happy to share such secrets with you and your city."
"But at what cost?" Belgrano asked. "Cuidad Barranquilla is not rich like other mega-cities..."
"Perhaps not in conventional terms, but your department controls a majority of the world's sugar and coffee supplies, along with many other illegal stimulants. Mr Bludd would be more than willing to make an equitable trade," Kara replied.
She was interrupted by the turbolift arriving at the central hub. Kara emerged first and led the others into a vast circular chamber, luxuriously furnished. She waved a hand at the many sofas and chairs gathered in a ring. In the centre of the circle was a low table laden with bowls of coloured candies and bottles of clear liquid. "Please, make yourselves comfortable. Feel free to sample the Umpty Candy or vintage vodka - nothing synthetic here. If anyone is in need of a boost, the black pills are pure Adifax, guaranteed to add a month to your natural lifespan. Mr Bludd will be with you shortly." Kara smiled and withdrew from the chamber, the door sealing shut and locking behind her.
Belgrano hurried to the table and began popping pills while stuffing his pockets with Umpty Candy. Smirnoff tore the stopper from one of the bottles and sniffed the contents. "This must be fifty proof, comrades! Will anyone join me in toasting our host?"
Dredd shook his head while Chang also demurred. "We are keeping a clear head for the negotiations," she replied stiffly. "Before then we have another problem to resolve - what to do with this impostor." Chang pointed a finger accusingly at Dredd. "This is not Judge Bruce. We noticed him after boarding the shuttle. We must denounce him, otherwise all our lives may be forfeit."
"Dredd!" Belgrano hissed. "What are you doing here?"
"Bringing Bludd to justice. Get in my way and you'll die too."
Smirnoff sank back into one of the plush sofas, clutching his vodka bottle. "Snekov's beard! Is there no escape from you, Dredd?"
"Apparently not," another voice replied. Bludd was standing behind Dredd in an open doorway, clad in his usual smart garb and flanked by Kara. "It seems I will have to replace the robotic shuttle crew yet again. Droids are useful but so tiresomely literal in following orders. No imagination, you see. My beloved Kara here has no such difficulties. She can be quite inventive in the bedroom, but it's inflicting pain where her true talents lie."
"I detected your presence the moment the shuttle door opened," Kara told Dredd. "Your attempt at subterfuge was doomed to failure." She produced the confiscated Lawgiver. "As was your feeble attempt to smuggle a weapon on board."
"So shoot me," Dredd replied, "and spare me the gloating."
"Each Lawgiver will fire only for its designated Judges, as you well know," Bludd said. "Should anyone else try to use the weapon, it self-destructs. Besides, why hurry? I want to savour your death, Dredd. It's not every day I get to kill a living legend, and a little gloating is so very satisfying." Bludd gestured for Dredd and those still standing to sit down. "First we have to conclude the negotiations. Business before pleasure, as it were."
Once all Bludd's guests were seated, he began walking around the room, slowly circling the chairs and sofas. "You have all witnessed the power I now wield. At the touch of a button I was able to reduce an entire city block to rubble within seconds. Imagine having such power at your command! Imagine what it could do to the cities of your enemies."
"The satellite from where that weapon was fired has been destroyed," Dredd interjected. "You shouldn't make promises you can't keep."
"Since Mega-City One has chosen not to partake of the Bludd Group's generous offer of protection from such incidents, I must request you remain silent," Bludd warned. "Otherwise Kara will strike you dumb for life."
Dredd folded his arms, a sour expression set on his mouth.
"That's better," the crime boss said. "As our unwanted guest has noted, that particular weapon is no longer available. But be assured that I have direct control over more than three dozen other weapons. One of those was the chemical and ultraviolet radiation weapon that blinded much of the Big Meg after midnight. Normally the effects of such weapons are permanent, if properly dispersed. Alas, Justice Department meddling limited the scope and scale of the weapon. I believe all those affected should recover within a week but the plague of temporary blindness is creating a chaos unseen since the days of Block Mania and the Apocalypse War." Bludd paused behind Smirnoff. "I imagine you must have especially appreciated that, comrade?"
The Sov delegate nodded. "Just like the good old days, tovarisch."
"Those two weapons were among the least powerful in my recently acquired arsenal," the crime boss said, continuing his stroll around the chamber. "I could destroy all the surviving mega-cities ten times over should I wish to, but why would I? Far better to offer you the Bludd Group's protection against such unnatural disasters."
"This is extortion backed by the threat of terrorism," Chang said. "Why should we agree to your terms?"
"You may bow out of the bidding if you wish, but the consequences for Sino-Cit could be cataclysmic. Suppose East-Meg Two decided to expand its sphere of influence and wanted some of the valuable resources your citi-state so jealously guards? Judge Smirnoff need only place one call to the Bludd Group and your people could be decimated within minutes, your land ripe for the plucking, your glorious history and culture but a memory." Bludd stopped walking. "Let me be plain. Sino-Cit, East-Meg Two and Cuidad Barranquilla are being offered a unique opportunity. Align with my organisation and you will hold the balance of power for decades to come, no longer living in the shadow of super-states like the Big Meg. If you refuse, I will make the same offer to others. I do not doubt I will find sufficient takers to satisfy my greed."
Chang said nothing in reply, her face a mask of concentration. Belgrano was nervous and sweating profusely, while Smirnoff just took another swig of vodka. Dredd glared at the trio. "Give in to Bludd now and he'll suck you dry. Blackmailers are never sated and greed can never be satisfied."
Bludd tutted to himself. "Kara, ensure Dredd does not speak again until I allow it." The psyker approached the lawman who rose from his seat, tensed for her attack. But she stopped short, holding up an open hand before her. All of a sudden Dredd felt a mental tightening that left him virtually stunned. It was like a metal vice had clamped around the area of his brain that controlled his vocal chords. He couldn't form a single sound, not even a muffled "mmmmm".
"That's better," Bludd smirked. "Disturb me again and I'll have Kara finish you."
The crime boss pointed at the door through which he had entered. "If my three invited guests would go into the next room, they will each find a secure, scrambled comms link to their respective leaders. Consult with your masters and decide how much you are willing to pay for my services. Let's say the minimum offer must be at least one hundred billion credits."
That brought a gasp of shock and dismay from the trio. "But that's impossible!" Belgrano protested.
"You go too far!" Chang shouted.
"We cannot afford such sums," Smirnoff add
ed.
Bludd silenced them with a gesture. "You will find a way, I am sure. The lowest bidder will be made to suffer as the Big Meg now does, to prove I am a man of my word. The other two bidders shall become valued clients of the Bludd Group and reap all the benefits that entails. Now, off you go."
The three delegates stumbled from the room, muttering between themselves as the door sealed behind them. Bludd joined Kara in front of Dredd. "I think you can let the good Judge have back the use of his tongue."
Kara waved dismissively at Dredd and his vocal chords were set free. "Jesus Bludd, you're under arrest!" were the first words he spoke.
The crime boss smiled and then began to giggle, his laughter becoming louder and louder. It took him most of a minute to recover, one hand resting on Kara's shoulder for support. Bludd wiped tears of hilarity from the corner of each eye. "I never knew you were a comedian as well as a lawman."
"I'm deadly serious," Dredd maintained.
"I don't think so. This satellite is somewhat beyond your jurisdiction so you can't legally arrest me. Even my guests have full diplomatic immunity in Mega-City One, granted by your own Chief Judge I believe."
"Immunity is only proof against prosecution, not death. I don't care about jurisdiction, I only care about justice and that's what you're going to face."
Bludd raised an intrigued eyebrow. "And how will you administer this justice, I wonder? You have no weapons. You can't call for back-up. And Kara could and would have you in a comatose state long before you ever laid a hand on me. You are hardly in a position to make threats."
"Wrong. By now Justice Four is probably closing in on this satellite. The commander will have orders to destroy this place unless I give an all clear in the correct code."
"You're bluffing, Dredd, and you're not very good at it."
The Judge scowled. "Check your instruments if you don't believe me."
Bludd rolled his eyes but nodded to Kara. She strode to a console set into one wall and called up the satellite's security sensors. "He's right, there is a Justice Department attack ship approaching."
"Coincidence. No doubt they extrapolated the shuttle's trajectory from that tracking device. But they still can't see past our stealth tech-"
"Justice Four to Jesus Bludd!" a stern voice announced via the satellite's comms system. "We have weapons lock on your satellite. Surrender within two minutes or we will open fire on your position."
"Now who's bluffing?" Dredd asked.
"No reply, ma'am." Tyler was hunched over his console, listening intently for any response from the hidden satellite. Justice Four had closed in on the void among the stars until Taschen was convinced she knew the location of Bludd's satellite. The commander resisted the urge to bite her nails, a childhood habit that recurred in times of extreme stress.
"Either they heard us and don't believe us, or else they are trying to pretend they're not there," she muttered.
"Or we could have got it wrong and be threatening a hole in space," Tyler added, getting a glare of disapproval from his commander.
"The next time I want your opinion I'll ask for it," she snarled.
"Have they got weapons lock?" Bludd shouted at Kara. His enforcer was still processing streams of data hurtling across the console. Finally she smiled.
"No," she replied. "If they opened fire now, they would miss us - just."
"It seems the game is still afoot," the crime boss said, smiling once more. "Kara my dear, activate the nearest weapons satellite we control and begin targeting Justice Four . Two can play at this game."
"What happens if you lose?" Dredd snarled. "You got lucky, Bludd. You realised the exhibit at the Dustbuster was the real thing, not a replica. But even with all those ancient weapons under your control, you're still just one man. What was it you said to me at the diner? Some perp would get the drop on me one day and I'd die, face down in a pool of my own blood. No glory, no fanfare. Just another dead Judge. Well, much the same will be true about you, Bludd. If I get the drop on you then you'll die too, just another dead perp. You told me you wanted to be the best at what you do." Dredd laughed hollowly. "I've seen creeps like you come and go, and I've outlived them all. I'll outlive you too, punk."
"Really?" Bludd asked, a smile on his face.
"You better believe it," the lawman replied.
Bludd turned to his lover. "Kara, do you still have Dredd's Lawgiver?"
She produced the handgun from a holster tied round her waist. Bludd pointed at the Judge. "I want you to make Dredd kill himself. Plant a suicidal impulse into his head and then hand him the Lawgiver. I want to see him take his own life. I want to savour the final moments of his meaningless existence. I want to witness him losing the hopeless war against crime he has been fighting all his career."
Kara closed her eyes to concentrate. After a few seconds she smiled and then tossed the weapon to Dredd. He caught it and aimed the gun at Bludd. "Now kill yourself," Kara commanded.
"Not before I kill you both first," Dredd spat back through gritted teeth. But no matter how he fought the impulse, the barrel of the Lawgiver was slowly twisting round in his hands, moving ever closer to his head.
"You want to die," the psyker said, licking her lips in anticipation. "You want to end it all. You've had enough, you can't go on any more."
"Drokk you!" Dredd cried out, but his hands kept moving the Lawgiver closer and closer. Soon the end of the barrel was resting against the side of Dredd's helmet.
"Justice Four to Jesus Bludd, you now have one minute to comply!"
"Pull the trigger," Kara ordered. "End your useless, pathetic, loveless life."
Dredd's fingers opened outwards and then one slipped itself around the trigger. Sweat trickled down his face as he battled the overwhelming psychic impulse to fulfil Bludd's prophecy.
"That's quite some resistance you're displaying," Bludd said. "But even one as strong-willed as you cannot hold back my beloved for long. Kara can make almost anyone do anything she desires. Some are able to resist her fleetingly, but all crumble before the might of her mind eventually. Even you, Dredd."
"I know," the Judge replied. "That's why she was chosen for you."
"What do you mean? Chosen for me - how?"
"Kara is a sleeper, a Justice Department operative implanted into your organisation more than a year ago. She's been so deep undercover, you've never suspected her. It never occurred to you she could be a Judge."
Bludd was shaking his head in disbelief. "Nonsense! You'll have to do better than that. She's killed half a dozen undercover Judges on my orders!"
"Volunteers," Dredd said, still fighting against the impulse to blow his own brains out. "Brave Judges who willingly sacrificed their lives to prove Kara's worth to you. Ryan and the others, they knew the risk they were taking."
"You're wrong!" Kara shouted. "Now pull the trigger!"
"Your entire personality is fake, another implant," Dredd replied, "written over the top of your real persona. Psi-Division did a real job on you, wiped away almost every trace of who you used to be, the woman you were. They buried that person where you could never find her and concocted Kara in her place, a psyker capable of doing anything to anyone, all in the service of Jesus Bludd. Before today only two other people knew about you: Chief Judge Hershey and the head of Psi-Division. Everyone else involved in creating Kara had their memories erased to prevent your real persona being divulged. Hershey told me about you before I came here. She gave me the one word that will kill Kara forever and reinstate your true persona. The trigger only works if I say it to Kara in person, face-to-face."
"Lies, all lies!" Kara screamed. "You'd say anything to save yourself."
"I don't need to say anything more except one single word."
"Justice Four to Jesus Bludd. You now have thirty seconds!"
"Kill him, Kara!" Bludd commanded. "Finish him off, now!"
Dredd looked her in the face before speaking. "Janus."
Kara staggered backwards, twit
ching and flinching as if under attack from unseen insects. Her body went into spasm and she collapsed to the ground, writhing uncontrollably. The jet black wig fell to one side, revealing the bald scalp underneath.
"Her true personality is cascading back into place," Dredd said. "Kara is being wiped away and the real persona restored."
Bludd watched his lover's contortions with horror and amazement. "This isn't possible, this can't be happening," he insisted weakly.
"But it is," Dredd replied, shifting the barrel of the Lawgiver away from his head and pointing it at the crime boss.
The woman that had been Kara sat bolt upright, blinking and dazed. "Where the drokk am I? What happened?" She looked down at the wisps of rubbereen wrapped round her body. "Sweet Jovus, who's been dressing me?"
"Meet Psi-Judge Judy Janus," Dredd said.
"No, it can't be," Bludd whispered.
"Justice Four to Jesus Bludd, you have less than ten seconds!"
Dredd jerked his Lawgiver towards the console set into the wall. "Janus, you'd better call off Taschen and her crew before they blow us to bits." While the Psi-Judge was contacting the nearby spaceship, Dredd advanced on Bludd. The crime boss sank slowly into a chair, still shaking his head at how quickly everything had unravelled for him.
"But I still don't understand. How could you know what I was going to do? How could you have anticipated? I didn't know about the command and control system until long after I acquired Kara."
"We didn't know the details," Dredd replied, "but our precogs foresaw you would become a significant threat to Mega-City One and others in years to come. It was decided to implant a sleeper beside you, someone who could gain your absolute trust. Then, when you did become a threat, we always had a weapon to use against you; your own enforcer, the only person you ever cared about besides yourself."