Chapter 151
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General Gardner attempted to find some of those killed in the recent battle, even using allies. One such ally was Blaine, the zombie gangster. Blaine came to Gardner with what he found.
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Blaine: I've got over 100 of these souls under my "protection." I also have the names of over 100 souls trapped in slavery in the nazi kingdom. I could probably convince John Brown and Lenin to help rescue them. That is what they were fighting against wasn't it?
Gardner: The fact that you haven't brought them here suggests that this is a negotiation.
Blaine: Correct. I need a sanctuary in your kingdom to operate my business. I also want credit when you bring them back to Earth. I figure I should make myself useful to allies down there as well.
Gardner: You are a clever ally. You'll have these things. I suggest you keep making yourself useful and try to persuade John Brown and Lenin. Truth is, those two could be very useful allies.
Blaine: I'd be careful not trying to use them as cannon fodder. They'll fight for what they believe in, but they don't want to be puppets.
Gardner: Rumor is they're allied with D'Hoffryn. I wonder, what would D'Hoffryn expect of me if we were to ally with him.
Blaine: Not our souls, we're already in Hell. But I assume he would want something.
Gardner: Still, the worst that could happen is we get killed, and sent to the torture. But D'Hoffryn has the power to release us from that.
Blaine: Than I see no reason why we shouldn't ally with D'Hoffryn.
Gardner: "We?"
Blaine: I try to ally with the winning side. We get killed and D'Hoffryn releases us. We kill the enemy, they stay in the torture chambers. Sounds like a reason to ally with him.
Gardner: You're not wrong. Except that we have no idea how long before D'Hoffryn allies with the other side. Or how long before someone much more powerful destroys him?
Blaine: Fair point. And frankly it's in my best interest to prove myself useful. So I'm going to get those refugees over here to go back to Earth.
Gardner: Fair enough.