11_metamorphosis-第27章

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〃She　chuckled　softly；　that　throaty　laugh　that　made　me　wish　so　muck　that　we　could　be　together。　‘Boy；　will　Scott　be　mad；'　she　added。〃

〃She　laughed　some　more　and　it　made　me　laugh；　but　really　I　was　thinking　the　whole　time　what　it　would　be　like　to　hold　her　in　my　arms　and　have　her　embrace　me　instead　of　pushing　me　away。　It　made　my　head　swim　and　I　kind　of　forgot　what　we　were　supposed　to　be　laughing　about。〃

〃Scott　didn't　think　our　dropping　out　was　so　funny；　of　course。　We　kept　citing　burnout　and　the　need　for　more　troops；　without　touching　on　the　Lunk　matter；　and　poor　Lunk　just　stood　there　looking　hangdog　and　miserable。　Scott　was　hampered　by　the　fact　that；　after　all；　none　of　us　had　ever　signed　an　enlistment　paper　or　sworn　an　oath　of　loyalty。〃

〃Marlene　was　just　puzzled；　but　I　think　Lancer　wasn't　fooled　for　a　moment。　Still；　he　kept　his　peace；　for　the　most　part；　especially　when　I　told　them　I　had　thought　of　a　way　that　we　might　get　out　of　that　sepulcher。　They　heard　me　out；　disliked　my　brainstorm；　but　gave　in　to　it　anyway。〃

〃It　didn't　take　long　and　it　wasn't　too　sophisticated。　We　fastened　our　last　spare　Protoculture　cells　behind　a　kind　of　wedge　we　put　on　a　length　of　rail　that　we　cut　loose　with　H90's。　Scott　mounted　the　wedge　on　a　derelict　subway　car　using　his　Cyc　armor's　strength。　The　rest　was　pretty　obvious。〃

〃Scott　had　yanked　Lunk's　truck　loose　and　even　straightened　out　most　of　the　damage；　with　his　powered　armor。　Everybody　understood　that　there　was　a　chance　that　we　would　bring　the　whole　place　down　on　our　heads；　but　the　air　was　starting　to　get　thin；　or　so　it　felt；　and　we　had　all　had　enough　of　being　buried　alive；　there　were　no　objections。〃

〃Lunk　was　calm　again。　He　got　the　cells；　primed　them；　and　lashed　them　in　place；　steady；　proficient…almost　cheerful。　The　rest　of　us　got　into　our　armor；　while　Marlene　and　Lunk　got　to　cover。　Scott　and　Lancer　stood　ready　to　fire　in　case　Invid　came　swarming　through　the　hole　we　were　hoping　we　would　make。〃

〃The　car's　motor　was　long　dead；　of　course。　But　Rook　and　I　started　heaving　and　pushing　against　the　back。　The　powered　armor　got　that　crate　moving　in　no　time；　rusted　parts　freeing　up　with　banshee　shrieks。　Then　we　hit　our　jets　and　the　car　was　rocketing　forward；　faster　than　it　ever　traveled　on　the　Urban　Transmit　System；　I　bet。〃

〃We　couldn't　see；　of　course；　because　we　had　our　shoulders　to　the　wheel；　but　Scott　told　me　later　that　the　rail　and　the　canisters　of　Protoculture　just　seemed　to　go　into　the　rubble　like　an　icepick。　Lunk　had　mounted　the　cells　just；　right；　so　that　when　they　were　several　yards　in；　they　went　off　like　shaped　charges。〃

〃I　never　found　out　how　Lunk　rigged　those　cells；　but　suddenly　there　was　a　gap　in　the　cave…in　and　the　car　was　in　it。〃

〃The　explosion　rocked　the　car　back　and　knocked　Rook　and　me　right　on　our　butts；　powered　armor　or　no。　We　pushed　the　car　off　again　with　our　feet；　to　keep　the　way　clear。

〃It　turned　out　that　Lunk　had　had　the　presence　of　mind　to　rig　earplugs　for　himself　and　Marlene；　none　of　us　armored　types　had　thought　of　it。〃

〃Even　before　we　could　get　up；　Scott　was　scrambling　into　the　car；　running　to　the　forward　end　with　armor…heavy　steps　that　shook　it。　Lancer　was　about　a　half　a　high　hurdle　behind　him。　I　thought　they　were　being　alarmist。　But　as　I　was　getting　a　hand　up　from　Rook　I　heard　Scott　yell　over　the　tac　net；　'Invid！'〃

〃Apparently；　a　few　personal…armor　mecha　had　been　hovering　out　there；　trying　to　figure　out　what　to　do。　Maybe　they　had　been　afraid　to　start　digging　because　it　might　bring　down　the　roof　on　themselves；　maybe　they　had　some　sort　of　time　frame；　so　that　if　we　didn't　dig　ourselves　out　by　its　elapse　we　would　be　written　off　as　dead。　We'll　never　know。

〃Scott　and　Lancer　got　in　the　first　eight　or　ten　shots　and　some　missile　hits；　and　that　set　the　stage　for　a　rub…out。　Rook　and　I　followed　as　fast　as　we　could；　but　there　really　wasn't　much　to　do　but　mop　up。〃

〃The　next　part's　a　little　anticlimactic；　we　had　to　wait　a　bit　for　the　tunnel　to　cool　off　from　the　heat　of　the　firefight　and　the　Pincer　Ships'　thrusters；　but　clearing　a　way　with　the　powered　armor　was　a　cinch。　In　less　than　an　hour；　we　were　back　on　the　surface；　with　no　sign　of　any　patrols　and　no　hint　of　that　big…bruiser　enemy　mecha。〃

〃We　took　off　our　armor。　I　kept　starting　to　put　my　arm　around　Rook's　shoulders　when　she　was　looking　the　other　way；　and　then　deciding　that　she　would　take　offense；　then　starting　to　edge　my　arm　up　again…then　pulling　it　back；　hoping　nobody　had　noticed。　I　probably　looked　fairly　spastic。〃

〃Here's　where　it　gets　surprising　again：　When　we　finally　trudged　back　to　where　we　had　left　the　VTs；　Annie　was　standing　there。〃

〃She　was　wearing　her　olive…drab　army　surplus；　that　pink　rucksack；　and　an　E。T。　cap　just　like　the　one　she　had　lost　in　the　fortress…a　spare；　it　wouldn't　surprise　me。　She　was　sort　of　moping　around；　but　when　she　saw　us　her　face　lit　up　like　a　Christmas　tree。〃

〃After　some　reunion　time；　we　got　the　story　out　of　her…or　at　least；　her　version。　‘Can　you　picture　me　as　a　jungle　princess？　They　expected　me　to　gather　fruit　and　nuts　and　stand　in　the　background　while　the　men　held　council！　So　I　said　so…long！　Dumb；　hmm？'〃

〃I　suspected　that　there　was　probably　also　the　problem　that　the　tribe　wouldn't　rename　itself　in　her　honor。　And　that　Magruder　expected　certain　matrimonial　acmodations。　Annie　was　a　lot　like　me：　talked　a　better　fight；　in　certain　arenas；　than　she　could　deliver。〃

〃It　was　pouring　down　rain　by　then　and　we　were　all　standing　under　the　Beta；　which　had　been　hidden　in　a　parking　garage。　I　had　to　interrupt　Annie。　I　told　her…and　everyone　else…that　Rook　and　I　were　pulling　out　because　we　couldn't　hack　it　anymore。　Rook　watched　me　and　didn't　say　a　word。　Annie　was　shattered；　poor　kid；　but　then　Rook　spoke　to　back　me　up。〃

〃Marlene　said　she　would　stay　with　Scott；　and　that　seemed　only　as　it　should　be。　Lunk　was　in　for　the　whole　nine　yards；　as　the　ancients　put　it；　to　Reflex　Point。　To　prove　himself；　he　said。　（Though　I　thought　that　was　the　wrong　reason　to　go　on　a　mission　like　that；　I　kept　my　mouth　shut。　I　guess　all　motives　and　ideals　were　at　least　a　little　tainted；　by　then。）〃

〃The　way　it　turned　out　was　just　Rook　and　me　riding　away　into　a　curtain　of　icy　rain；　while　the　others　prepared　to　go　on　without　us。　Annie　was　crying　her　heart　out　on　Lunk's　shoulder。　The　farewells　had　hurt　a　lot　more　than　they　had　helped。〃

〃Some　brilliant　plan；　Rand！〃

〃Rook　was　tearing　along　way　too　fast　for　weather　and　road　conditions；　and　almost　slammed　me　with　her　Cyc　when　I　mentioned　it。　So　we　rode　on；　with　all　of　it　eating　at　us　and　no　possibility　of　talking　it　out。〃

〃And　we　were　thinking　the　same　thing：　The　team　was　going　to　carry　on　the　mission。　Dropouts；　losses；　setbacks…none　of　that　mattered。　Something　greater　than　themselves　had　taken　hold　of　them。〃

〃The　last　straw　was　when　Scott　and　Lancer　cruised　slowly　overhead　in　VTOL　mode；　a　slow　flyby　and　solemn　salute。　Suddenly　my　adored　Rook　wasn't　there　anymore；　she　had　made　a　bandit　turn　on　the　slick　street；　risking　her　neck；　and　was　charging　back　the　way　she　had　e。　Back　to　greet　Lunk　and　Annie；　back　to　board　the　Alpha　she　had　left　behind。〃

〃I　turned　more　slowly；　I　just　didn't　feel　like　talking　to　anybody　for　a　while。　I　was　going　to　have　to　get　Scott　to　land；　because　he　had　my　Beta　mated　to　his　Alpha。〃

〃I　watched　Rook　speed　through　the　rain　like　a　Valkyrie　on　two　wheels；　a　War　Stormqueen。　I　didn't　want　to　talk　over　the　tac　net　or　hear　the　brave　words。　I　was　staying　because　Rook　had　stayed；　I　would　have　left　if　she　had　left。〃

〃Something　greater　than　myself　had　taken　hold　of　me。〃


CHAPTER　TWENTY…ONE

I　suppose　it's　net　a　secret　by　now；　though　it　was　a　long　time　till　Pop　knew　it。　When　the　team　members　plained　about　what　bothered　them　the　most；　Rand　agonized　over　how　the　books　and　films　and　tapes　were　dying…how　Human　history　was　passing　away。　And　I　guess　sometimes　he　admitted　he　was　trying　to　be　a　one…man　databank/preservation　society。
A　lot　of　things　happened　after　that；　but　if　you　want　my　opinion；　that's　when　Mom　fell　in　love　for　the　first　and　the　last　time。
Naturally　she　didn't　tell　him　right　away。
Maria　Bartley…Rand；　Flower　of　Life：　Journey　Beyond　Protoculture

The　evolution　wasn't　finished。　It　was　just　beginning。

The　time　had　e　for　a　form　beyond　that　of　the　Enforcer。　It　was　time　for　a　new　category　of　mecha…a　new　evolutionary　step。

In　the　Hive　Center　at　Reflex　Point；　the　Regis　looked　down　on　two　Enforcers。　One　was　the　one　that　had　failed　to　eliminate　the　freedom　fighters；　the　other　had　been　quickened　less　than　a　week　earlier。　These　two　were　the　most　intelligent；　capable　and　adaptable　of　the　Regis's　children。

〃You　have　been　summoned　here　to　assume　your　rightful　place　in　the　new　order　of　our　society；〃　she　told　them。　〃First　you　must　undergo　transformation　to　the　life　form　most　suitable　to　this　planet。　Prepare　for　bio…reconstruction！〃

Jagged　nets　of　energy　whirled　out　from　the　huge　globe。　in　the　center　of　the　dome；　to　ensnare　the　two　Enforcers　and　etch　them　in　light。　They　writhed　as　if　in　torment；　then　froze　like　statues。　In　moments；　the　mecha　had　been　stripped　away；　dissolved　to　particles。　In　the　midst　of　the　Protoculture　fires　two　figures；　in　fetal　tuck；　floated…the　forms　of　two　fully　developed　Humans…a　male　and　a　female。

〃My　children；　you　now　share　a　part　of　my　own　genetic　code。　You　are　a　prince　and　princess　of　our　race；　and　shall　be　known　hereafter　as　Corg　and　Sera。〃

The　Regis　appeared　again　in　her　almost…physical　manifestation；　the　swirling　barber…pole　stripes　of　energy　spiraling　up　and　down　around　her。　The　Regis　poured　forth　a　purity　of　Protoculture　power　on　a　scale　that　only　an　Invid　monarch　was　capable　of　ordaining　or　controlling。　In　moments；　new　mecha　formed　around　the　floating　twins；　Corg　and　Sera。

〃We　must　soon　begin　the　mass　transformation　of　our　people　to　the　Human　life　form；〃　the　Regis　went　on；　〃the　form　in　which　I　have　conceived　you。　The　most　advanced　and　flexible　configuration　for　survival　on　this　planet…this　world　to　which　the　Flower　of　Life　has　led　us。〃

Two　mecha　stood　side　by　side　now；　bigger　than　Enforcers。　They　were　more　humanlike　in　form　than　any　of　the　other　alien　war　machines。　They　looked　like　the　powered　armor　the　Zentraedi　had　used　long　ago；　but　they　were　larger。　The　upper　torsos　were　heavy　with　weapon　pods　and　power　nacelles；　so　that　the　things　gave　a　strange　appearance　of　buxomness。　The　head　area　was　quite　small；　sunk　between　massively　armed　and　powered　shoulders　and　immensely　strong　arms。

The　mecha　of　Corg；　who　had　so　recently　harried　the　freedom　fighters　in　their　underground　escape；　was　drab　gray…green；　with　highlights　in　an　orange…tan　color。　Sera's　mecha　was　purple；　with　trim　of　dark　pink。　The　great　Robotech　digits　worked　and　tested　themselves；　the　Prince　and　Princess　of　the　Invid　had　risen　above　the　claw；　the　pincer。

〃However；〃　the　Regis　told　them；　〃there　may　be　hidden　dangers　in　this　physical　form。　An　earlier　experiment　with　Human　reconstruction　appears　to　be　malfunctioning。　Our　spy；　Ariel；　whom　the　Humans　call　Marlene；　has　failed　to　establish　munications　with　me。　You　must　seek　out　Ariel　and　determine　the　cause　of　her　dysfunction；　before　we　mit　our　race　to　a　plete　metamorphosis。　You　must　prepare　the　way　for　the　final　phase　of　our　domination　of　this　planet！　Go　now；　and　prove　yourselves　w