12_symphony_of_light-第25部分

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　herself　turning　around。

It　was　the　green…haired　woman　they　hadn't　seen　since　the　mountain　attack。　She　was　stepping　from　the　flames　that　were　licking　at　the　armored　legs　of　her　towering　mand　ship。

〃Ariel；〃　the　woman　repeated；　and　again　Marlene　felt　something　stir　within　her。　〃I　am　Sera；　princess　of　the　Invid；　and　I　have　e　for　you。〃

Trembling；　Marlene　stared　at　her。　〃But　my　name　is。。。Marlene。　I　don't　understand　why　you've　e　for…〃

〃Because　you　have　turned　against　your　people　and　I　must　know　why；　before　we　begin　transmutation　of　our　race。　Why　have　you　disobeyed　the　Regis？〃

Marlene　gasped。　What　is　this　woman　talking　about？　〃I　don't　believe　what　I'm　hearing；〃　she　said；　as　if　Sera　were　some　hallucination　she　could　banish　through　an　effort　of　will。　〃I'm　not　an　Invid。〃

Sera　was　taking　steps　toward　her　now；　her　crimson　eyes　flashing　a　kind　of　anger　that　burned　deep　into　Marlene's　soul。　〃You　were　placed　among　the　people　of　Earth　to　learn　their　ways；　so　that　we　might　profit　from　your　discoveries。　The　Regis　has　been　awaiting　your　reports；　and　yet　you　choose　to　ignore　our　mands。　Do　you　expect　me　to　believe　that　you　have　forgotten　who　you　are　and　why　you　are　here？〃

Marlene　shook　her　head　back　and　forth；　she　tried　to　deny　the　words　her　heart　seemed　eager　to　affirm。　〃No。。。it　can't　be。〃

The　woman　regarded　her　quizzically。　〃What　can't　be；　Ariel？　Search　your　thoughts；　search　them　for　the　truth。〃

〃You're　lying！　You　must　be！〃　Marlene　screamed　as　an　explosion　tore　up　another　section　of　the　roof。

Sera　leaned　away　to　shield　herself。　〃I　must　stop　Corg；　before　the　battle　es　any　closer；〃　she　said。　Then　her　eyes　found　Marlene。　〃I　will　deal　with　you　later。〃

Marlene　watched　Sera　race　off　to　her　ship。　Behind　her；　Lunk　was　ing　around；　wondering　aloud　what　had　happened。　But　she　hardly　heard　him。

It　can't　be　true；　she　thought。　It　can't　be　true！


Down　below；　the　battle　was　raging　in　the　streets。　Reconfigured　to　Battloid　mode；　Scott's　section　of　the　Beta　was　backed　against　a　building；　the　rifle/cannon　in　both　hands　laying　down　a　thunderous　sweep　of　fire　into　the　face　of　an　advancing　Trooper。　Elsewhere；　two　Pincer　Ships　pursued　Lunk　through　the　city's　right…angle　canyons。　Two　more　had　ganged　up　on　Rook's　red　Battloid；　forced　it　into　a　corner；　and　were　now　attempting　to　open　it　with　their　claws。

She　called　for　help　over　the　net。　〃These　cursed　things　are　trying　to　rape　my　ship！〃

Rand　came　to　her　aid　a　moment　later；　his　Battloid　hovering　overhead　and　taking　out　each　ship　with　a　single　shot。　But　the　next　moment　he　was　facedown　in　the　street；　felled　by　a　blast　to　the　back　by　none　other　than　Corg　himself。

The　Invid　put　down　behind　the　crippled　Battloid　and　moved　in　to　finish　it　off；　but　Lancer　blew　it　back　into　the　air　with　a　massive　Bludgeon　release　from　the　reconfigured　burly　hindquarters　of　the　Beta。　At　rooftop　level；　Corg　countered　with　a　wave　of　annihilation　discs　that　pinned　Lancer　to　the　wall；　but　the　Invid　prince　recognized　that　he　was　outnumbered　and　darted　off　to　muster　support。

Scott　moved　in　to　check　on　Rand's　status；　the　rifle/　cannon　upraised　and　ready　for　action。　Rook　joined　him　shortly。

〃Looks　like　they're　pulling　back；〃　said　Lancer；　while　his　ship　launched　and　reconfigured。　〃What　do　you　say　we　call　it　a　day；　Scott？〃

〃We're　not　done　yet；　there's　still　the　hive。〃

Rand　whistled　over　the　net。　〃The　hive！　Don't　you　think　you're　asking　a　lot　out　of　four　little　fighters？〃

〃Yeah；　Scott；〃　Rook　chimed　in。　〃Have　you　got　a　secret　army　or　something？〃

〃No；　but　I've　got　a　plan；〃　he　told　them。　〃Obviously　the　Regis　never　figured　on　a　direct　attack；　or　she　wouldn't　have　had　her　workers　build　the　hive　in　such　an　accessible　spot。　My　bet　is　we　can　bring　the　whole　thing　down　with　a　few　well…placed　cobalt　grenades。〃

There　wasn't　much　time　to　discuss　the　pros　and　cons　because　Corg　had　returned　with　three　Pincer　Ships　to　back　him　up。　So　the　three　Battloids　launched　to　join　their　leader　and　boostered　off　toward　the　hive；　the　four　Invid　ships　in　close　pursuit。


In　the　hive；　the　Regis's　voice　reached　into　the　very　thoughts　of　her　unsuspecting　children。

〃Attention；　perimeter　guard：　Four　Earth　fighters　are　preparing　to　launch　an　attack　against　the　hive。〃

But　Sera　was　nowhere　to　be　found；　and　without　her　the　Invid　drones　and　Enforcers　could　do　little　more　than　scurry　about　in　a　kind　of　blind　panic。　And　by　the　time　Corg　understood　the　Humans'　intent；　it　was　already　too　late　to　stop　them。

The　VTs　had　climbed　to　an　altitude　of　several　thousand　feet　and　were　now　falling　on　the　hive　like　metallic　birds　of　prey：　They　directed　their　warheads　into　the　conical　summit　of　the　tall　structure　that　housed　the　hive；　and　the　energy　of　the　ensuing　explosions　funneled　down　through　the　building　like　a　bomb　dropped　through　the　top　of　a　chimney。　The　hive　took　the　full　force　of　the　contained　blast　and　blew　apart；　raining　great　clumps　of　organic　mass　to　the　streets。

Corg　felt　the　collective　deaths　pierce　him　like　a　lance。　In　the　face　of　the　hive's　collapse　he　broke　off　his　pursuit　and　cursed　the　Humans　for　their　barbaric　act。

I　will　have　my　revenge　for　this　day；　he　promised　the　stars。


Lancer　insisted　on　saying　good…bye　to　Simon。

〃There's　no　way　we　can　ever　thank　you　for　what　you　and　your　friends　have　done；〃　Simon　told　him。　〃Why　don't　you　stay　here　and　leave　the　rest　of　it　to　them；　Lancer？　Surely　you've　done　your　part　by　now。〃

The　city's　survivors　were　leaving　the　subway　shelters；　taking　stock　of　what　had　been　leveled　against　them。　Simon；　Jorge；　and　the　freedom　fighters　were　near　Carnegie　Hall；　having　just　finished　loading　the　VTs　with　as　much　Protoculture　as　they　could　safely　carry。

Lancer　knew　that　Rand　had　heard　Simon's　remark　and　was　waiting　for　his　response。　Lancer　flashed　him　a　brief　look　and　said：　〃I've　been　with　these　people　for　a　long　time；　Simon；　and　I　plan　to　be　with　them　right　to　the　end。〃

Simon　offered　an　understanding　nod。

〃This　was　just　a　skirmish　in　a　much　bigger　war；〃　said　Rand。

〃Well；　I　hope　all　of　you　will　return　someday。　And　when　you　do；　we'll　have　the　celebration　you　deserve。〃　Simon　embraced　Lancer　and　wished　him　luck。


On　their　way　out　of　the　city　（Lancer；　Annie；　and　Marlene　squeezed　into　the　Beta's　cramped　storage　space）；　the　team　flew　over　the　remains　of　a　metal　statue　that　had　once　stood　proudly　in　the　harbor。　It　had　once　symbolized　liberty；　Lancer　explained。

Scott　regarded　it　and　said：　〃I　only　hope　we　can　return　that　to　the　world　someday。〃


CHAPTER　THIRTEEN

Reflex　Point　consists　of　a　central　hemispherical　hive　close　to　what　was　once　the　city　of　Columbus；　Ohio　and　several　attendant　structures　linked　to　it　by　numerous　Protoculture　conduits　and　instrumentality　lines。　There　appear　to　be　seven　secondary　nodes…one　at　twelve　o'clock；　a　second　at　two；　a　third　at　four；　a　fourth　and　fifth　at　seven；　and　a　sixth　and　seventh　at　eleven…along　with　an　unattached　and　somewhat　larger　dome；　south　at　six　o'clock。　And　that's　about　the　best　we　can　offer　you　right　now；　fellows。　We　hope　you'll　be　able　to　tell　us　more　once　you　get　down　there。
An　excerpt　from　the　Mars　Devision　premission　brief…as　quoted　by　Xandu　Reem　in　his　biography　of　Scott　Bernard

She　was　most　definitely　humanoid　but　of　indeterminate；　often　variable　height。　The　form　was　as　close　an　approximation　of　Zor's　as　was　possible　for　the　Invid　Queen…Mother；　with　her　children　she　could　work　wonders；　but　to　bee　like　them　she　would　need　to　divest　herself　pletely；　a　thought　beyond　contemplation。　Her　cranium　was　well　shaped　but　hairless；　her　large；　exotic　eyes　a　deep　royal…blue；　elongated　to　near　slits；　with　sparse　lashes　and　pencil…thin　brows。　She　was　attired　in　gloves　and　a　full…length　red　robe　whose　curious　collar　encased　her　ears　like　a　kind　of　neck　brace。　Two　oval…shaped　sensors　were　set　into　the　robe's　collar；　they　matched　a　third　that　was　affixed　to　her　breast。

She　was　deep　inside　the　hemispherical　hive　that　was　the　living　heart　of　Reflex　Point；　positioned　beneath　an　enormous　globe　of　Protoculture　instrumentality；　her　link　with　the　outside　world　in　which　her　children　lived　and　died。　The　trigger　point　for　the　Flower　of　Life　grew　near；　but　the　recent　events　had　made　her　more　fearful　than　encouraged　by　its　timely　approach。　The　experiment　in　racial　transmutation　had　bee　hurried　and　desperate　now；　in　the　face　of　an　imminent　Human　onslaught　from　the　far　reaches　of　space；　from　that　very　world　that　had　once　doomed　her　own　Optera　to　death…the　Tirol　that　haunted　her　memories　and　dreams。

How　like　those　war…hungry　creatures　I　have　bee　in　my　drive　to　possess　this　world！　she　told　herself。　But　wasn't　this　a　condition　of　the　body　she　inhabited？

It　was　strange　that　this　very　Human　form　should　be　deemed　the　one　best　suited　to　her　designs　for　racial　transmutation；　that　these　very　beings　she　and　her　children　had　labored　to　enslave　should　prove　the　form　most　suitable　to　the　planet　itself。　And　yet　didn't　she　know　somewhere　in　her　heart　that　this　would　have　to　be　the　true　form；　the　form　that　she　had　grown　to　love；　the　form　that　Zor　had　inhabited　when　he　first　seduced　the　secrets　of　the　Flower　from　her　innocent　and　trusting　nature？

The　Regis　was　well　aware　of　the　recent　destruction　of　her　outpost　in　the　Human　city　of　tall　towers　and　artificial　environments；　and　that　the　Robotech　rebels　who　had　so　far　eluded　her　were　quickly　closing　in　on　the　central　hive　plex。　But　she　couldn't　hold　Corg　or　Sera　accountable　for　their　failures；　or　even　Ariel；　now　that　she　understood。　It　was　this　physical　form　itself　that　was　to　blame；　once　instilled　with　consciousness；　a　subtle　sabotage　began　to　occur；　an　undermining　of　all　spiritual　vigor。　It　was　like　the　Protoculture　itself；　that　artificiality　the　Robotech　Masters　had　conjured　from　her　precious　flowers。　These　bodies　took　over　the　stuff　of　soul　and　subverted　its　true　purpose；　enslaved　it　to　emotions　and　whims　and　unfathomable　interior　currents。　

But　if　these　things　were　not　far　from　her　mind；　they　were　at　least　somewhat　removed　from　her　priorities…the　continuation　of　the　Great　Work。　And　the　Human　form；　however　gross；　would　have　to　serve　them　in　this　purpose；　it　would　merely　represent　a　stage　on　the　way　to　the　final　realization；　the　transcendence　itself。


The　sky　above　the　western　horizon　was　drained　of　col