"Why don't you jump off the roof?"

  "My, aren't we a poor loser," Death Master said sarcastically. "You wouldn't catch me being so juvenile."

  "No, just demented."

  "Keep it up. Every insult will cost you."

  "Promises, promises."

  The mutation backed up another yard and let his body relax. "After all I've heard about you, I expected better than this. To give you your due, though, in other respects your reputation is definitely deserved. I saw you take out Rinty, Pika, and the men with them from a window on this floor. You were quite impressive."

  Blade didn't respond.

  "And since you made it this far, you must have disposed of Brahma as well. How many hybrids does that make? Six? Seven?"

  "I didn't kill Garo."

  "Six then," Death Master said, impressed. "There isn't another human alive who could dispose of so many hybrids in such a short span of time."

  "Oh, I know one or two who could."

  "Some of your teammates on the Force?"

  The Warrior sighed. "Let me guess. You knew the moment you laid eyes on me."

  "No, but soon thereafter."

  "How?"

  "I have my sources," Death Master said and chuckled. "Really, though, how many humans are there your size who always wear a black leather vest and carry two oversized toothpicks?"

  "Maybe I should start using a disguise," Blade said dryly.

  "Aren't you forgetting a trifling fact? There won't be a next time. Mesaville is the end of the line for the famous head of the Freedom Force. When the news gets out, I'll be widely regarded as practically invincible. Your death will do wonders for my business."

  "If the news spreads far enough, you won't be doing business very long."

  "Oh, and why is that?"

  "Because a few of my fellow Warriors will pay Mesaville a visit and wipe you and the rest of these scum off the face of the earth."

  "Warriors? What are you talking about?"

  Blade adopted a mocking grin. "So you don't know everything there is to know about me. Good."

  "Are these Warriors as competent as you?"

  "Some are better."

  Death Master chuckled. "Now I know you're exaggerating. I didn't take you for a braggart."

  "Suit yourself," Blade said. He heard feet pounding on the stairs.

  The titan suddenly extended the Magnum, pointing it at the Warrior's forehead. "Where are Grizzly and the bitch?"

  "Don't know them."

  "Tell me or die."

  Instead, Blade laughed.

  "Do you find death laughable?"

  "No, only your threat. You won't shoot."

  "Why not?"

  "Because it would deprive you of the chance to display me in the arena, to throw me to your pet, to let everyone see just how powerful you truly are," Blade said.

  "True," Death Master said, grinning, and lowered the gun.

  Six gunners ran onto the landing and hastened down the corridor. They halted and one said, "We're here, boss."

  Shifting, Death Master glanced sideways at his henchmen. "I can see that, Nelson, you blathering idiot."

  Nelson tried to wilt into the floor.

  "You will take Blade to a holding pen under the arena and leave four men on guard at all times. Is that understood?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Humor me. Repeat it."

  Nelson promptly complied.

  "Excellent," Death Master said ever so politely, then cracked his voice like a whip. "Cover him, you morons!"

  Blade almost laughed as the six drew their hardware with astounding dexterity. "I hope none of them are trigger happy."

  Death Master shook his head. "Not at all. They're all aware of the consequences should a prisoner be slain without proper provocation."

  "And I suppose an escape attempt qualifies?"

  "I'm afraid so." Death Master moved to the side and motioned for the Warrior to go on by. "I'll be over to see you later."

  "Don't do me any favors," Blade said and walked down the center of the hallway, acutely conscious of the guns trained on his body.

  The six gunners fell in behind him, Nelson in the lead.

  "No funny stuff, you."

  "I wouldn't dream of it," Blade lied. He went down the stairwell slowly, hoping for an opening, hoping they would make a mistake he could capitalize on.

  Lolita appeared, coming toward them.

  This could be it, Blade thought. None of the guards would dare fire if he got his hands on Death Master's favorite.

  The gunner named Nelson abruptly jammed an AK-47 into the base of the Warrior's spine. "Just in case," he said.

  Any try would be futile. Blade resigned himself to the situation. He smiled sweetly at Lolita as she drew closer.

  "Up yours, asshole," the queen of Mesaville said, moving next to the railing and eyeing him suspiciously.

  Blade winked as he passed her. "You should write a book on etiquette some day."

  "What's etiquette?"

  The Warrior made all his escorts jump by laughing heartily.

  * * *

  Grizzly straightened and stepped into the open, turning as he did, knowing he was already way too late, knowing he'd blundered by not continuing on, by talking when he should have been fully alert. He, of all people, knew the capabilities of his fellow hybrids. He'd been a fool.

  A dark form hurtled from the top of the boulder and slammed into the bear-man's chest. They both went down, rolling and tumbling, and separated without drawing blood.

  Grizzly rose into a crouch as his foe did the same, extending his fingers and locking them. His claws slid out, ready for action.

  The other hybrid grinned, exposing a pair of incisors over two inches long. He stood six feet high and possessed a sturdy build. His entire body was covered with a coat of fine dark brown hair, except for a rim of white around his nose and a white patch between his beady eyes. Small, circular ears framed a narrow head that now bobbed as he nodded and said, "Spare yourself some grief and give up now."

  "You know better, Vank," Grizzly said. "You don't have a prayer against me."

  "Oh? I'm every bit as fast as you are, buddy, even if I'm not as strong."

  Grizzly wagged his hands. "Don't forget my claws."

  "Never in a million years," Vank said, grinning. He slowly straightened and casually folded his arms across his chest. "I intend to live to a ripe old age."

  Puzzled, Grizzly let his hands fall slightly. "We've shared some good times together. I don't want to kill you if it can be avoided."

  "Then it's unanimous."

  "Why don't you go back to Death Master and tell the scuzz that you couldn't find me? I'll certainly never tell him the truth."

  "You know better, Grizzly, old pal. He's no fool. Death Master knows how good we are, and he wouldn't believe such a lie for a minute," Vank said casually.

  "The only other option is for me to carve you into marmot steaks."

  Vank chortled. "Oh, there's another option—one you haven't considered."

  "Enlighten me."

  "You can surrender and let me take you back."

  "Dream on," Grizzly said.

  "Please. For old time's sake. I'd rather not kill you, either."

  "Don't make me laugh."

  The marmot-man frowned and let his arms drop to his sides. "Death Master wants your hide, friend. I'm bucking him by offering you a deal."

  "You call surrendering a deal?"

  "That's only half of it," Vank said.

  "What's the other half?"

  "We let your friend live," Vank said and nodded to the right.

  Grizzly looked. Instantly a red rage threatened to seize control and provoke him into a reckless charge. He subdued his temper with a supreme effort and directed his anger internally. How could he have been so stupid! Vank had always been one of the cleverest hybrids in Mesaville. The marmot-man would never confront him head-on unless he had an ace in the hole. And there it was: Athena clasped in the gecko-man's steely arms.

  Drazil smirked, his bulbous eyes unblinking as he coldly regarded the bear-man. His left hand was over Athena's mouth, his right on the back of her neck. There was no doubt he could snap it like a twig; as with all lizards, his thin figure didn't do justice to his prodigious strength. He had light tan skin marked with black, irregular blotches and spots. His limbs were short in proportion to his height, and his stubby fingers were all the same length. "Hello, Grizzly," he said mockingly, the words issuing from his thin lips with a distinct hiss.

  "Let go of her, you bastard," Grizzly snapped.

  "Be serious," Vank said. "If he released her, you'd be on us before we could blink. No way, Grizzly. She's our insurance."

  Grizzly saw Athena's M-16 lying on the ground behind Drazil. The damn gecko-man must have jumped her while Grizzly was rolling on the ground with Vank. They'd suckered him but good.

  "So what's it going to be?" Vank asked. "Do you sheath those swords of yours? Or do we off the woman and get down to basics?"

  "I'll get you for this. Both of you."

  "Frankly, old buddy, I doubt it. Once Death Master gets his mitts on you, you can kiss this life good-bye."

  "I'll get him too."

  "My. Aren't we in a grumpy mood," Vank said. He motioned at the bear-man's hands. "We don't have all day. What's it going to be?"

  Athena tried to speak but Drazil tightened his grip, and her muffled words came out as gurgled gasps.

  His shoulders slumping, Grizzly relaxed his fingers, and his claws vanished up his fingers and thumbs. He knew Athena wanted him to resist. She'd make any sacrifice to save him. But the same held true in his case, and he wasn't about to jeopardize her life. He'd bide his time. Sooner or later someone would make a mistake, and he'd be all over them like their worst nightmare.

  Vank smiled. "I knew you would be sensible if you put your mind to it."

  "You're dead meat, Vank. You and Lizard Breath."

  "Be nice." Vank shifted and nodded at the edifice. "Since I'm such a nice guy I'll let you go first. Draz and the chickadee will bring up the rear. Any fancy moves on your part, Grizz, and she's pet food. Get me?"

  I'll get you, all right," Grizzly vowed and moved out.

  Vank glanced at Drazil and chuckled. "Never underestimate the power of positive persuasion."

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Blade was testing the shackles and chains securing him to the stone wall when he heard the guards outside his cell address someone. A moment later the door was thrown wide and in walked his four guards, two hybrids he'd never seen before, Grizzly and Athena with their wrists bound behind their backs, and four more guards who kept their automatic weapons trained on the bear-man at all times.

  The light from the flickering lantern on the wall near the door revealed the hybrids' smug expressions, the guards ill-concealed fear, Athena's forlorn countenance, and Grizzly's simmering fury.

  "Blade!" Athena said. "They got you too."

  "Afraid so," the Warrior said.

  "And now Death Master has a complete collection," joked a hybrid who bore a striking resemblance to a groundhog or a marmot.

  "Remember my words, Vank," said Grizzly.

  "Sticks and stones, old pal." Vank nodded at the cell guards, who promptly took the bear-man over to the wall, unfastened the rope binding his wrists, and secured him with chains. They stepped back to admire their handiwork, but a growl from Grizzly sent them scurrying.

  Vank and the other hybrid cackled.

  In less than half a minute Athena joined her companions, chained on the other side of the Warrior.

  "There," Vank said. "That should hold the three of you until the games." He glanced at a guard. "What time is it?"

  The man checked his watch. "Seven a.m."

  "That gives you thirty-five hours to live," Vank told the prisoners. "Cherish every minute." He snickered and departed and the rest filed out.

  The cell door clanged shut.

  Grizzly surveyed the square cell, noticing the lack of windows and air vents. He sniffed and scrunched up his nose. "This dump reeks. I bet they haven't cleaned it out in decades."

  "Tell me about it," Blade said. "I've been here for almost thirty minutes."

  "How'd you manage to get caught?"

  "Stupidity."

  "The same here."

  "I was hoping you'd come to my rescue."

  "Actually this is all part of our clever plan to set you free. It only looks as if we're in the same boat as you."

  "I figured as much."

  Athena suddenly strained against her chains, rattling them, and looked from one to the other. "How can the two of you make jokes at a time like this? We've failed! Death Master has us at his mercy, and before we know it we'll be facing his pets in the arena."

  "Calm down," Grizzly said softly.

  "A lot can happen in thirty-five hours," Blade said. The wild gleam in her eyes worried him; she seemed on the brink of losing her self-control. This wasn't the Athena he knew, the woman who had fought the Reptiloids, the Vampires, and the minions of the Lords of Kismet in Alaska. This was a woman who hadn't seen action in a year, a woman finding it extremely difficult to cope with the reality of their predicaments. "Take deep breaths. Relax."

  "Yeah. Right," Athena snapped, sagging and leaning on the wall.

  "We'll get out of this mess," Grizzly said. "Wait and see."

  "How?"

  "We'll find a way."

  "I feel better already."

  Blade saw the hurt in Grizzly's face and elected to divert the conversation to another topic. "Be careful. Don't talk too loud or the guards outside will hear."

  "I don't care," Athena said.

  The Warrior gazed at the bear-man. "Have you been down here before?"

  "Nope. Only the captives slated for the games are held here. The hybrids always entered the arena through the entrance nearest the tower. Once we did our dirty work, we went out the same way. There was never any reason for us to come down to the sublevels."

  "Where are Death Master's pets housed?"

  "On a sublevel on the other side of the arena. A tunnel leads from their holding pens to the arena floor, or so I was told."

  "And there must be other prisoners in cells near ours?"

  "Probably, but I wouldn't know the head count," Grizzly said. "Why all the questions? What do you have in mind?"

  "Nothing yet. I just want to get the layout clear in my head."

  "I wish I could be of more help."

  The Warrior studied the shackles biting into his wrists. Under other circumstances he might have admired the craftsmanship; they were solid steel and as smooth as glass. The chains had also been constructed to last; the steel used in each link was over an inch thick and would require dynamite to shatter. He'd broken chains before, but never any like these.

  Grizzly moved a stride from the wall, which was all the further the chains allowed, and pulled, striving to rip the steel anchors out. He clenched his teeth and exerted all of his phenomenal might, but to no avail. After several minutes, he ceased and glared at the circular anchors.

  Now it was Blade's turn. He heaved until his face turned red, and he sputtered from the effort, but the chains held fast.

  "No one has ever escaped from the holding cells," Grizzly said when the giant eased off to catch his breath.

  "There's always a first time."

  "I'm game if you are."

  "Then we keep trying until we break free or they take us to the arena," Blade proposed.

  "Fine by me. I could use the exercise," Grizzly said and stared at Athena. "Don't count us out yet."

  She simply nodded, her eyes on the floor.

  For the next couple of hours, the Warrior and the hybrid exerted themselves tremendously, alternating turns, first Blade and then Grizzly, attempting to break loose. Sweat poured from the giant's pores and the hybrid's fur became damp with perspiration.

  Blade would add mental impetus to his attempts by thinking of his wife and son, Jenny and Gabe, and the misery they would experience if he never returned to the Home. Their love served as the fuel for his gradually flagging body.

  Grizzly had only to look at Athena's despondent form for all the impetus he needed. His adrenalin would surge and his muscles ripple, but the chains silently mocked him. In his own right, he was one of the strongest beings on the planet; to the chains, he was less than nothing.

  They were still going at it, with Blade puffing and huffing, when a key grated in the cell door. The Warrior stopped as an unexpected visitor walked in.

  "And here are my special guests," said Death Master, striding to the center of the cell and regarding them with humorous contempt. He glanced at Blade's flushed features and chuckled. "Keeping busy, are we?"

  "Go gloat somewhere else," Grizzly snapped.

  "But I'd rather do it here," Death Master said. "The rest of my prisoners are basically a craven, pathetic lot. They cringe in my presence. The three of you, on the other hand, are endowed with admirable degrees of courage. None of you will cower at the sight of me."

  "I might barf," Grizzly said, but the insult was ignored.

  "What would you like for your breakfast?" Death Master asked. "My cooks are quite adept at preparing fine meals."

  "You're going to feed us?" Blade asked in disbelief.

  "Of course. I want you to keep your strength up for the games. You'll be the stars of the show, and my audience mustn't be disappointed."

  Grizzly snorted. "You know where you can stick your audience."

  Death Master stepped closer to the bear-man and frowned. "I expected better from you after all I've done in your behalf during your stay here. I gave you a roof over your head and all the food you could eat. I elevated you to the status of one of my favorite fighters. And this is how you treat me? With petty insults?"

  "As usual you've got the facts all butt-backwards, turkey," Grizzly said. "First of all, you didn't elevate me anywhere. I earned the status of a top fighter by eliminating everything you put in the arena with me. Second of all, I stayed in this dump because it was convenient. It helped me forget."

  "Forget what?"

  Grizzly stiffened, knowing he'd said too much.

  Death Master pivoted and scrutinized Athena's dejected posture. "What have we here?" He walked up to her.

 

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