![\"\"](\"https:\/\/buber.net\/Basque\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/maite-and-kepa-v3b.png\")
As they got close, de Lancre looked up, a cold steely look in his eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI admit,\u201d he said as his body continued to contort and snap in ways that made Maite grimace. \u201cI didn\u2019t think you had it in you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHad what, exactly?\u201d asked Maite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe cold ruthlessness to take what you want.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maite shook her head. \u201cWe don\u2019t. We stopped her from killing you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
De Lancre laughed. \u201cYou would have been better off letting me die.\u201d He began to raise one hand, the broken fingers twisted in strange directions but snapping, as they watched, back into their normal position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d said Kepa as a gun materialized in his hand and he held it to de Lancre\u2019s temple. De Lancre lowered his hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGuns are forbidden here,\u201d said de Lancre matter of factly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLatxe\u2019s control of the nanobots is pretty amazing,\u201d replied Kepa. \u201cNow where is the zatia?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOr what? Are you going to shoot me?\u201d asked de Lancre. He looked across the room where Latxe stood in the doorway, her form silhouetted by the lights behind her. He nodded at her. \u201cShe might be able to do it.\u201d He then looked up at Kepa, shaking his head. \u201cBut, I don\u2019t believe you can.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kepa tossed the tablet back toward Latxe, who caught it in mid air. \u201cYou are right,\u201d said Kepa, as he lowered the gun. \u201cBut this time, I won\u2019t stop her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
De Lancre stood up, his body more or less back to its normal shape, though there were some hideous cracks as he stretched his legs. \u201cSeems we are at an impasse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked up. A massive skylight above them revealed the night sky. It was bright, with as many stars as Kepa could ever remember seeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis time,\u201d sighed de Lancre, \u201cis simply incredible. I\u2019ve been so many places, so many times. This one just resonated with me. They\u2019ve managed to solve all of the problems that your time has caused. The world is no longer dying. People everywhere have at least a modicum of dignity. It\u2019s really impressive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd still, you couldn\u2019t resist to use us as your toys,\u201d snarled Latxe from the doorway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
De Lancre turned to face her. \u201cIt was nothing personal. And, it will all be gone, as if it never existed, the moment I claim the zatia.\u201d He turned to Kepa and Maite. \u201cSo, what now? If I can\u2019t kill you, you\u2019ll just keep coming back, over and over.\u201d He sighed again. \u201cYou\u2019ve ruined everything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust give us the zatia and this will be over,\u201d said Maite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
De Lancre shook his head. \u201cI\u2019ll end it, but it will be me claiming the zatia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The black sphere that Maite had seen earlier floated into the room and hovered in front of de Lancre. She made a lunge for it, but it jumped up and out of her reach. De Lancre shook his head. \u201cNo, it\u2019s mine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust get it over with,\u201d barked Kepa. He looked over at Latxe. \u201cThey\u2019ve suffered enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
De Lancre smiled. \u201cOf course.\u201d The black sphere settled back down, stopping about chest height. De Lancre waved his hand over the surface of the sphere and it opened up. His face fell immediately. \u201cWhere\u2026?\u201d he began. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maite could see that the sphere was empty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n