11_metamorphosis-第7章

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rose　out　of　the　chasm　with　them；　flashing　past。

〃Invid　Shock　Troopers！〃　Scott　shouted。　Rand　couldn't　quite　find　the　time　to　say；　Toldja。　In　the　distance；　a　thin；　incandescent　pillar　of　light　suddenly　stretched　from　the　floor　of　the　Genesis　Pit　up　to　its　ceiling　and　beyond。

The　Invid　mecha　swept　out　and　around　for　an　attack。　〃We'll　have　to　take　'em　on；〃　Scott　said　grimly。　Rand　zoomed　off　to　one　side；　to　drop　Annie　off　to　safety　on　some　rocks。

As　Scott　landed；　one　of　the　big；　purple　alien　mecha　came　his　way；　firing　annihilation　discs　from　the　bulky　cannon　mounted　on　either　shoulder。　Scott　leapt　clear　with　an　assist　from　his　thrusters；　rolled；　and　came　up　with　his　H90　in　his　hand；　firing。　The　Invid　dodged　his　shots　and　came　in　at　him。

Rand　was　standing　shoulder　to　shoulder　with　Scott　by　then；　the　two　trying　to　aim　their　shots　while　the　ground　heaved　and　jostled　under　them。　Scott　jumped　off　to　the　right　and　Rand　launched　himself　high；　barely　eluding　a　swipe　by　a　colossal　metal　pincer　on　a　forearm　the　shape　of　a　ladybug。　Rand　put　more　rounds　into　it；　but　the　trooper　crouched　in　a　defensive　posture　beneath　him；　shielding　itself　with　the　thickest　parts　of　its　panoply。

Annie　was　screaming；　pointing　to　the　pillar　of　light。　〃Look；　look！　There's　the　exit；　but　it's　disappearing！〃

The　energy　field　that　had　blocked　the　way　out　was　gone。　But　the　opening　was　shrinking；　and　the　pillar　of　light　was　getting　narrower。

〃It's　our　only　chance！〃　Scott　called　to　Rand。

Rand　was　so　distracted　that　he　was　nearly　mashed　into　the　ground　by　a　blow　from　an　Invid。　As　it　was；　the　mighty　forearm　got　a　piece　of　him；　sending　him　sprawling。　Rand　managed　to　drive　it　back　with　wild　shots　from　his　sidearm；　but　the　second　Shock　Trooper　was　angling　for　a　shot　of　its　own。

Rand　back…flipped　as　Scott　rushed　in；　the　trooper　getting　off　near　misses；　sending　both　men　reeling　back。　Scott's　targeting　module　deployed　from　its　external　shoulder　mount　and　swung　into　place　before　his　eye；　he　was　staring　at　the　Invid　through　a　sighting　reticle。　He　released　a　pair　of　Scorpions　that　missed；　but　drove　the　Invid　back。

Suddenly；　the　invaders　broke　off　the　fight；　turning　and　zooming　off　into　the　air；　ignoring　the　Humans。　〃They're　heading　for　the　opening！〃　Rand　saw。　〃We've　gotta　stop　them；　before　they　close　it　behind　them！〃

〃Take　care　of　Mint；〃　Scott　called　back；　already　aloft。　〃I'll　go　after　them。〃　As　he　rocketed　after　them；　he　saw　that　the　exit　was　closing　quickly。

The　Shock　Troopers　apparently　realized　they　couldn't　outrun　their　pursuer　and　turned　to　fight。　Scott　dodged　another　pincer　swipe；　just　as　Rand　caught　up；　having　dropped　Annie　off　again。　Scott　evaded　the　swipe　and　vaulted　to　land　atop　the　second　Invid's　crablike　head。　The　first　Trooper　was　so　caught　up　in　the　battle　that　it　swung　again；　missing　Scott；　who　hurtled　clear；　but　struck　its　rade　instead。

Scott　dispatched　another　missile　just　as　the　first　Trooper　prepared　to　unleash　its　annihilation　discs。　He　blasted　it　right　through　the　optical　sensor　that　was　its　cyclops…eye。　The　warhead　was　a　dud；　but　the　missile　penetrated　the　glassy　circle；　shattering　it。

Green；　thick　nutrient　fluid　poured　from　the　Shock　Trooper；　and　it　went　flailing　back　like　a　falling　scarecrow　and　hit　the　ground。　The　second　Trooper　charged　at　Scott；　but　Rand；　in　a　close　pass　on　raving　thrusters；　lashed　out　with　his　feet　and　smashed　that　one's　eye；　too。

〃Hurry　up！〃　Annie　shrilled。　〃The　exit's　almost　closed！〃　The　entire　place　was　shaking；　raining　boulders　and　dust；　cracking　apart；　as　monsters　roared　and　bleated。

Rand　lifted　her　up；　and　the　three　blasted　through　the　air　toward　the　shrinking　ray　of　light。　As　they　entered　it；　they　were　seized　by　the　force　that　had　drawn　them　into　the　Genesis　Pit　earlier；　only　this　time　it　pulled　them　upward。

Within　the　Genesis　Pit；　the　roof　began　to　give　way。　The　shallow　waters　churned；　throwing　up　waves　and　living　things　that　would　soon　be　dead。　The　great　beasts　of　land　and　sea　threw　their　heads　back　and　bellowed　their　agony　to　the　world　that　had　obliterated　them　once　and　was　now　doing　it　again。

The　cliffs　and　ceiling　gave　way；　the　floor　of　the　Genesis　Pit　fissured　open；　letting　forth　the　magma　the　Invid　had　diverted　to　heat　the　place。　A　surge　of　molten　fury　gushed　up　the　exit　shaft　behind　the　three　Humans；　threatening　to　overtake　them。

Then　the　two　armored　figures　and　the　little　girl　in　her　oversized　battle　jacket　were　flying　upward　under　the　moonlight。　The　magma　stopped　its　upward　motion　and　spread；　igniting　fires；　and　then　it　began　draining　down　into　the　Pit　once　more。

All　three　Humans　were　laughing　and　cheering。　Scott　and　Rand　flew　far　away　from　the　site　to　a　distant　hillside。　The　moon　was　full；　but　it　looked　to　Rand　as　if　rainclouds　were　moving　in。　Good；　those　fires　wouldn't　last　long。　〃Isn't　that　a　beautiful　moon？〃　Rand　said　wonderingly。

But　Annie's　attention　was　elsewhere。　〃Look　at　the　mountains！〃

〃The　whole　mountain　range　is　sinking　into　that　Pit；〃　Scott　said　quietly。

The　ground　rumbled　and　moved　again；　clouds　of　dust　obscuring　the　mountains；　as　a　huge　area　went　into　subsidence；　filling　in　the　Genesis　Pit。　〃That　one　was　close〃　was　all　Scott　could　find　to　say。

Annie　said　mournfully；　〃But　what　about　the　poor　dinosaurs？〃　She　looked　at　Rand。　
〃The　Invid　created　them；〃　he　told　her。　〃And　I　think　it's　just　as　well　that　they　left　the　dinosaurs　down　there　to　be　destroyed。　Conditions　up　here　aren't　right　for　them；　there's　just　no　place　for　them　to　survive　anymore。　Time　simply　passed　them　by。〃

Annie　intertwined　her　fingers　behind　her　back　and　scuffed　the　ground　with　one　toe。　〃Y'mean；　it's　the　same　as　when　the　Invid　talk　about　the　Human　race　being　all　finished？〃

Rand　was　starting　to　nod　when　Scott　interrupted。　〃No！　Earth　belongs　to　us；　it's　the　Invid　who　are　going　to　be　extinct！〃

He　sounded　ferocious。　Rand　knew　all　about　Scott's　fierce　hatred　of　the　species　that　had　killed　his　fianc閑　and　wiped　out　his　unit；　but　this　was　no　time　for　propaganda　speeches。　〃All　right；　Scott；　all　right…〃

〃Hey！〃　Annie　blurted。　〃Y'hear　that？〃

It　was　the　sound　of　large　engines。　In　a　few　moments　mecha　came　into　sight；　seeking　the　source　of　the　vast　disturbances　their　instruments　had　detected。　In　another　moment；　the　survivors　spotted　an　aircraft。

〃It's　the　Alpha　Fighter！〃　Scott　said。　〃And　there's　the　rest　of　the　team！　It's　about　time。〃

Annie　was　dancing　from　foot　to　foot。　〃Wait'll　I　tell　Rook　what　happened　to　me！　Oboyoboy！'

〃Y'better　make　sure　she's　sitting　down；〃　Rand　said　dryly。　He　wondered　if　Rook　would　care　to　hear　his　story。　There　was　just　no　telling　how　the　young　lady　would　react　sometimes。　Still；　maybe　it　would　be　worth　the　risk。


CHAPTER　SIX

The　grand　themes　of　the　Robotech　Wars　are　so　dominant　that　the　lesser　ones　are　sometimes　ignored。　But　those　lesser　themes；　I　insist；　are　more　instructive。
The　matter　of　Marlene　Foley's　ultimate　destiny　is　a　primary　case　in　point。　Surely　Protoculture　is　a　force　to　be　reckoned　with　in　our　every　thought。
Jan　Morris；　Solar　Seeds；　Galactic　Guardians

The　five　Invid　mecha　cruised　slowly　across　the　night　sky；　navigating　with　care；　surveying　the　terrain　below。　They　brought　with　them　a　sixth　Robotech　construct。　Within　it　was　a　cargo　of　critical　importance。

Two　Shock　Troopers　brought　up　the　rear；　and　a　partially　evolved　Invid　in　personal　battle　armor…the　so…called　〃Pincer　Ship〃…led　the　way。　In　the　center　of　the　flying　convoy　were　two　more　Pincer　Ships。　Between　them　they　carried　a　hexagonal　canister。　The　canister　was　like　a　Robotech　setting　for　a　cosmic　gemstone；　inside　its　crystal　cocoon　there　throbbed　and　shone　a　fantastic；　translucent　egg。　The　thing　was　luminous　in　deep　corals；　gentle　reds；　and　flesh　tones。

〃We　must　know　more　about　these　new　enemies；〃　the　Regis　had　decreed；　in　the　wake　of　the　Genesis　Pit　catastrophe。　Her　servants　had　been　quick　to　act。　Soon；　a　Simulagent；　a　triumph　of　Invid　biogenetic　engineering；　would　be　in　the　enemy's　midst。　And　before　obliterating　them；　the　Regis　would　know　whether　the　Humans　posed　any　possible　danger　to　her　grand　scheme　for　her　race。

The　Simulagent　was　code…named　〃Ariel。〃　Ariel　had　been　replicated；　with　certain　alterations；　from　a　Human　tissue　sample　that　had　been　recovered　while　the　Invid　were　examining　the　debris　of　the　Human　strikeforce　they　had　destroyed　weeks　before。　It　was　inconceivable　that　anyone　on　Earth　would　recognize　Ariel　as　a　clone；　since　the　source　of　most　of　her　genetic　design　was　a　dead　woman　from　the　long…gone　SDF…3　expedition。。。

The　Invid　flight　leader's　optical　sensor　scanned　the　area　for　any　sign　of　Human　presence；　but　there　was　none。　The　timing　of　the　drop　was　important。　The　Simulagent's　placement　must　be　unseen；　so　that　its　origin　would　remain　secret；　and　yet　Ariel　must　not　be　left　unprotected　for　long。

But　the　Invid　had　a　recent　fix　on　the　Humans'　route；　which　made　things　easier。

As　the　Invid　formation　neared　its　dropoff　point；　the　crystal　cocoon　began　to　crack　like　an　eggshell　being　pushed　open　from　within。　The　strobing　light　from　its　center　shone　brighter。

Just　as　the　formation　flew　low　over　a　deserted；　devastated　village；　the　crystal　shattered。　The　egg　fell；　lighting　the　night　and　the　landscape　below。　It　bounced　from　a　tree　branch　to　a　half…demolished　roof　to　the　ground。　Light　and　resilient　and　yet　astonishingly　strong；　it　suffered　no　injury。　The　flight　of　alien　mecha　turned　around　and　started　back　toward　Reflex　Point。

The　egg　rested　under　a　tree；　casting　its　flesh…tone　light　all　around。　Soon　it　sensed　the　approach　of　its　targets。　Its　glare　grew；　and　it　pulsed　with　the　rhythm　and　sound　of　a　quickened　heartbeat。　Darker　colors　swirled　among　the　lighter　ones　now；　and　the　egg　stretched　against　the　confines　of　its　own　skin　with　each　beat。


This　time　Scott　was　flying　directly　over　the　rest　of　his　team；　keeping　close　in　case　of　trouble；　easing　along　in　Guardian　mode。　The　Veritech　fighter　looked　like　a　cross　between　an　armored　knight　and　a　robotic　eagle。

The　subsidence　of　the　mountains　into　the　Genesis　Pit　and　the　aftershocks　had　made　the　terrain　dangerous　and　their　maps　useless。　It　had　taken　days　to　blaze　a　new　trail　through。　They　traveled　at　night；　both　to　make　up　for　lost　time　and　because；　at　last；　they　had　found　a　major　highway。

Rand；　Rook；　and　Lancer　were　all　riding　close　to　Lunk's　APC。　Like　Scott；　the　Cyc　riders　had　shed　their　armor；　they　all　needed　a　chance　to　get　out　of　its　confinement　after　days　of　travel；　and　the　scans　and　scouts　indicated　no　Invid　presence　anywhere　nearby。　Scott　flew　his　Alpha　without　his　control　helmet…the　〃thinking　cap；〃　in　Robotech　jargon…controlling　it　with　the　manuals　alone。

Furthermore；　it　took　Protoculture　to　power　the　armor；　and　they　had　used　up　a　lot　of　their　reserves　in　traveling　the　difficult　mountain　terrain。　Several　times；　Scott　had　been　forced　to　ferry　the　APC　across　unavoidable　gaps；　which　was　something　he　hated　to　do。　By　acting　as　a　transport；　the　fighter　was　left　highly　vulnerable　to　sudden　Invid　attack。　Also；　since　this　task　demanded　very　slow；　deliberate；　painstaking　maneuvering；　it　ate　up　a　lot　of　Protoculture。　It　was　a　workhorse　role　the　fighter　wasn't　built　for；　and　one　that　strained　its　autosystems。

At　times　like　those　Scott　cursed　the　truck；　but　when　he　had　to　land　and　replenish　his　Proto