18_the_end_of_the_circle-第37章

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In　the　sphere　ship；　Louie　Nichols　gathered　the　survivors　of　his　team。　Other　personnel　were　distracted　by　the　strange；　swirling　limbo　through　which　the　craft　was　passing　on　its　way　between　continua；　it　was　the　cybernauts'　chance　to　regroup。

They　set　up　a　prefab　secure　cubicle　high　up　on　an　unoccupied　platform。　Louie　was　helped　onto　a　robot　med　diagnostic　table　that　deployed　itself　from　a　pact　shipping　case。

There　were　some　gasps　when　he　removed　his　tunic　and　they　saw　the　marks　the　cyber…burn　had　left　on　his　body。

He　gritted　his　teeth。　〃All　right；　quit　gawking。　You　know　what　we　have　to　do。〃

They　did。　The　headlockers　began　unpacking　machines　and　remotes；　fitting　them　together；　and　patching　into　power　sources　with　protech　proficiency。

Louie's　mouth　felt　very　dry；　and　when　he　tried　to　lick　his　tips；　he　could　not　work　up　any　saliva。

Several　remotes　floated　in　at　him。　Behind　them　were　the　surgical　waldos　loaded　with　the　implants　and　bionics　he　needed　and　wanted　to　receive。

Louie　drew　a　deep　breath　and　lay　back　down　on　the　table。


Rem　awoke。　His　head　was　still　in　Minmei's　lap；　but　her　tears　had　long　since　dried。　His　face　was　slick　with　moisture；　however；　he　was　crying　as　Zor　had。

Minmei　sang　softly；　sadly。


CHAPTER　TWENTY…SIX

When　Nichols　emerged　from　that　lockbox　cubicle　his　disciples　had　set　up；　he　was　the　same　studiously　irreverent　young　pain　in　the　neck　who'd　gone　in　with　some　noticeable　increase　in　vigor　and　agility。　But　there　was　also　an　undertone　of　indefinable　strain　to　him。
I　resolved　to　keep　an　eye　on　him；　he　played　his　part　well　except　for　one　occasion　during　transit；　the　one　slip　that　hinted　at　the　change　in　him：　He　leaned　to　a　scope　that　was　controlled　by　a　sensor　and　of　course　accepted　it　matter…of…factly　when　the　scope　swiveled　to　him　and　adjusted　height；　focus；　etc。
What　he　didn't　know　was　that　the　auto…adjust　mechanism　wasn't　working…had　developed　a　glitch　and　been　switched　off。　But　the　scope's　servos　had　obeyed　his　silent　will；　anyway。
It　was　no　time　to　confront　Nichols　and　his　familiars；　but　thereafter　I　kept　an　even　closer　watch　on　them。
Dr。　Harold　Penn；　The　Brief　but　Timeless　Voyage　of　the　Peter　Pan

For　her；　the　tribulations　of　the　passage　were　a　multiple　torment；　because　she　was　not　One　but　Two。

Marlene　had　heard　the　humans　refer　to　the　ghosts　and　visions；　memories；　and　chimeras　as　space　lace。　She　had　heard　them　talk　of　out…of…body　episodes　and　afterlife　experiences。　They　were　all　but　unintelligible　concepts　to　her；　being　in　her　present　body　was　phantasmagoria　enough；　her　life　a　nightmare　almost　beyond　coping。

By　the　time　the　hijacked　sphere　ship　plunged　into　the　gravitational　abyss　of　Ranaath's　Star；　she　seemed　a　ghost；　a　semitransparent　thing　of　ectoplasm　fading　fast。　In　a　kind　of　terminal　sleep；　she　was　unaware　that　Scott　Bernard　kept　a　bedside　vigil；　though　it　made　him　nearly　insane　with　guilt　and　heartache。

Marlene/Ariel's　fold　jump　dreams　were　a　kind　of　mental　multiscreen　image　deluge。　She；　too；　experienced　the　birth/death　trauma；　understanding　it　in　a　way　she　never　otherwise　would　have　because　in　that　moment　the　nucleic　memories　and　perspectives　of　the　original　Marlene　Rush　resurfaced。

But；　as　well；　she　felt　the　cellular　tide　of　the　Invid　like　a　moon…drawn　ocean　within　her；　swelling　and　falling。　Ariel　knew　the　all…enpassing　sadness　of　the　great　Invid　downfall　and　the　loss　of　their　paradise；　recalled　the　unity　of　plasm　that　the　Invid　shared　and　what　it　was　to　be　a　race　literally　sprung　from　one　flesh。

Marlene　saw　once　again　her　youth；　her　ing　of　age　on　the　REF　expedition。

Ariel　went　through　her　strange　birth；　a　shivering；　naked　simulagent　delivered　by　a　Protoculture…spawned　egg。　Marlene：　falling　in　love　with　the　taciturn　but　idealistic　Scott　Bernard。

Ariel：　the　bewildering　travels　across　a　blasted　Earth　with　the　last　Robotech　fighters。

Marlene　relived　the　moment；　on　the　deck　of　a　starship　racing　to　do　battle　with　the　Invid　conquerors；　when　Scott　asked　her　to　marry　him　and　she　said　yes。　Ariel　witnessed　the　defeat　of　her　race　and　the　transfiguration　of　the　Invid　into　a　phoenix　of　psi…essence…and　saw；　too；　where　the　phoenix　flew。

Both　were　also　silent　watchers　of　each　other's　memories；　like　visitors　to　alien　screening　rooms。　Their/her　consciousness　was　wrenched　this　way　and　that　by　the　unimaginable　forces　grappling　at　the　sphere　ship；　between　torment　and　joy　they　attenuated　her　。　。　。

Until　there　came　a　moment　of　profound　trauma；　the　cessation　of　external　influences…the　ship's　emergence　into　new…space。　With　an　almost　physical　jolt；　the　two　halves　of　her　were　snapped　together；　fully　integrated　for　the　first　time。

She　opened　her　eyes　and　saw　Scott　gaping　at　her。　She　looked　down　and　saw　that　her　body　was　pletely　material　once　more。　She　felt　a　tranquillity　and　quiet　triumph。　She　was　healed　and　whole。

He　breathed；　〃Marlene。〃

Marlene。　Yes；　that　was　the　name　that　fit　her　best；　even　though　Marlene's　memories　and　identity　were　only　a　ponent　of　what　she　was　now。　Ariel　was　a　name　the　Regis　had　given　her　capriciously；　and　she　was　not　Invid　anymore。

She　lay　on　a　pallet　spread　directly　on　the　ship's　deck。　Scott　came　to　her　side　on　one　knee；　hesitating　to　take　her　hand　but　wanting　to。　〃You're　alive。　Thank　God。〃

He　was　haggard　and　drawn；　not　from　the　passage　to　new　space；　she　knew；　but　from　self…torture　over　what　he'd　done　to　her。　With　the　disparate　parts　of　her　mind　and　psyche　integrated；　she　understood　what　he　had　done　and　what　external　pressures　it　must　have　taken　for　him　to　do　it。

His　sense　of　duty；　his　fealty　to　his　oath　of　service；　his　feelings　of　obligation　to　those　on　the　SDF…3：　those　were　human　things；　and　Marlene　understood　them　now。

〃Yes；　Scott。　Alive。〃　Her　hand　covered　the　last　bit　of　distance　to　grasp　his。　His　expression　swung　from　astonishment　and　doubt　to　relief　and　the　beginnings　of　rapture。

Before　he　could　answer；　though；　a　face　appeared　over　his　shoulder；　long　and　pale　with　insect　goggles；　wearing　an　irrepressible　smirk。　〃Back　in　action；　huh；　Marlene？　Aces！　Scott；　didn't　I　tell　ya　this　little　jaunt　would　give　her　a　new　lease　on　life？〃

There　stood　one　of　the　main　pressures　that　had　forced　Scott　to　treat　Marlene　as　he　had　back　on　Ark　Angel。　Scott　didn't　know　if　Louie　Nichols　realized　how　lucky　he　was　that　all　this　had　worked；　had　Marlene　been　put　through　all　her　anguish　for　nothing　and　perished；　somebody　would've　paid。

Scott　only　grunted　in　answer　to　Louie's　promptings　and　put　his　other　hand　on　Marlene's。　〃Lie　back；　now；　you've　been　through　a　rough　time。〃

〃Scott；　I　know　what　I'm　saying。　I've　made　a　full　recovery。　Besides；　I　presume　Doctor　Nichols　has　some　more　questions　for　me。〃

She　looked　at　Louie　slyly。　She　still　had　that　otherworldly　strangeness　to　her；　but　there　was　a　certain　human　knowledge　behind　it　now。　Louie　found　himself　realizing　what　a　dish　she　was。　〃You　said　it；　gorgeous！〃

Scott　shot　him　a　jealous　glance；　and　Louie　reined　in　a　bit。　Marlene　rose　to　her　feet　without　any　difficulty；　shaking　back　the　waves　of　crimson　hair。

〃Um。〃　Scott　smiled　awkwardly。　〃Wele　aboard　the　REF　prize…of…war　vessel　Peter　Pan。〃　He　shrugged。

Marlene　stepped　forward　to　look　out　over　the　inner　globe　of　the　ship。　There　was　no　shortage　of　space；　a　fairly　healthy　piece　of　legendary　Macross　could　have　been　rebuilt　inside　the　yawning　sphere。

Improvised　bridges；　ladders；　and　catwalks　connected　the　various　levels　and　platforms；　and　human　furnishings　had　been　fastened　to　its　decks　with　adhesives　and　strapping；　the　techs　and　engineers　could　find　no　way　to　drill　or　bend　the　stuff　of　the　ship。　〃‘Peter　Pan？'〃

〃Yeah。　‘Second　star　from　the　right；　then　straight　on　till　morning'；　and　all　that；〃　Louie　supplied　with　one　of　his　quirky　shrugs。　Marlene　watched　people　laboring　over　the　interface　equipment　required　to　run　the　ship　or　setting　up　living　facilities　on　unused　platforms。　It　was　odd　to　see　portable　sanitary　booths　side　by　side　with　modules　of　Haydonite　technology　and　to　smell　heated　rations　there　where　Protoculture　had　been　intended　as　the　only　sustenance。

There　were　parked　mecha；　too；　and　piles　of　weapons；　ammunition；　and　ordnance；　but　no　weapons　had　been　mounted　as　the　ship　itself；　since　it　was　impossible　to　penetrate　its　hull　for　firing　ports　and　anything　mounted　externally　would　have　been　annihilated　in　the　passage。

〃We're　sure　bombin'　along　now。〃　Louie　scratched　his　hen璦ed　hedgehog　of　hair：　〃Thing　is；　we're　not　all　that　sure　where　we　are。　I　hoped　you　could　give　us　a　clue；　Marlene。〃

As　she　stood　there　gazing　out；　she　wore　the　expression　Scott　had　seen　that　day　when　she　had　first　cast　eyes　on　a　mountain　lake；　not　long　after　his　team　of　irregulars　had　found　her。　Her　beauty　and　her　delight　in　nature's　beauty　had　simply　taken　hold　of　him　and　never　let　go。

She　smiled　faintly；　〃What's　the　matter；　Doctor？　Afraid　the　others　will　think　you're　crazy　if　you　tell　them　yourself？〃　She　turned　to　Louie；　who　was　for　once　speechless。　Scott　had　the　feeling　that　behind　the　goggles；　byte　buckaroo's　eyes　were　starting　from　his　head。

〃You're　in　what　some　call　new…space；〃　she　told　them。

〃Is　the　SDF…3　here？〃　Louie's　levity　had　left　him。　〃Is　the　Regis？〃

Marlene　turned　to　see　what　effect　it　would　have　on　them　both。　〃New…space　is　the　Regis…is　the　entire　Invid　race；　in　a　way。　We're　outside　the　province　of　spacetime。　You　might　say　we've　entered　the　mind　of　the　transubstantiated　Regis　herself。〃

Louie　was　quick　to　get　in　the　next　remark　while　Scott　was　still　making　choking　noises　and　trying　to　shift　mental　gears。　〃Marl！　Babe！　Hey！　Work　with　me；　here！　How　do　we　talk　to　her？〃

The　corners　of　her　mouth　turned　up　ever　so　slightly。　〃1　think　you're　about　to　learn。〃

The　two　men　followed　her　gaze　and　saw　what　others　were　being　aware　of。　On　a　platform　near　the　center　of　the　ship's　interior；　Aurora　stood；　a　blue　glimmer　growing　up　around　her。　Max　Sterling；　standing　near；　had　started　toward　his　daughter；　but　Miriya　was　holding　him　back。　As　they　watched；　Jean　Grant；　too；　put　a　restraining　hand　on　him。

All　through　the　ship　people　stopped　working　and　turned　to　watch　Aurora　as　they　became　aware　of　a　chant　impinging　on　the　very　fringes　of　their　perception。

Au…ro…ra；　Au…ro…ra；　Au…ro…ra　。。。

The　rest　of　the　ship's　plement　seemed　to　freeze；　as　if　they　were　playing　statues；　listening　to　the　cadence。　Vince　Grant；　listening　to　some　report；　Shi…Ling；　at　the　interface　helm；　Dana；　poised　on　a　maintenance　job　on　her　hovertank　all　eyes　went　to　Aurora。

All　at　once　Aurora　was　not　alone。　Seated　in　a　ring　around　her　were　what　looked　like　transparent　holograms　of　children　large　and　small。　They　sat　repeating　their　mantra；　eyes　lambent　with　eldritch　fire。

Jean　Grant　breathed；　〃Roy！〃

〃Drannin！〃　Miriya　added。

But　neither　they　nor　the　others　in　their　circle　gave　any　sign　of　having　heard。　They　were　focused　on　Aurora；　and　she　on　them。　Louie；　hypnotized　by　it；　too；　almost　jumped　in　the　air　when　Marlene　spoke　at　his　shoulder。　〃‘Straight　on　till　morning；'　Doctor。〃


Kazianna　landed　on　streamers　of　fire；　her　weapons　ready；　as　mecha　and　running　ground　troops　closed　in　on　the　open　field　from　every　side。

It's　back；　the　message　had　been；　yet　there　was　no　sign　of　the　sparkling　rain　that　had　spirited　away　Gnea　and　Dante。　But　there　were　two　figures　in　the　mi