09_the_final_nightmare-第30部分

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gical；　who　can　fairly　blame　them？　The　Shaping　of　the　Protoculture　had　the　world　in　its　teeth　and　was　shaking　it。
S。　J。　Fischer；　Legion　of　Light：　A　History　of　the　Army　of　the　Southern　Cross

The　captives　could　see　that　it　was　a　very　high　space。　The　multicolored　invader　lightstructure；　as　faceted　as　a　stained　glass　chandelier　and　as　big　as　a　Hovertank；　was　hanging　unsupported　very　high　above　them。

It　looks　like…radioactive　diamond；　a　crystallized　thought…I　dunno；　Emerson　thought　woozily；　as　Brown　and　Marie　tried　surreptitiously　to　hold　him　upright　on　the　couch。

〃Well？〃　Dag　repeated。　〃Will　you　make　your　species　see　reason；　and　surrender？〃

Emerson　took　a　breath　and　looked　again　at　the　three　strange　beings　who　floated　before　him　on　their　Protoculture　cap's　small　standing　platforms。　Would　Leonard　have　gone　insane　right　on　the　spot？　It　was　intriguing　to　consider；　but　not　very　helpful。

〃‘Surrender'？〃　Emerson　repeated　the　word　tiredly；　feeling　the　wounds　on　his　face　and　neck；　and　in　his　side。　〃Haven't　you　arrogant　ghouls　learned　anything　about　the　Human　race　yet？　Your　Zentraedi　came　after　us；　and　now　you　e　after　us…ss…〃

Emerson　hissed　in　pain；　going　a　little　faint　but　ing　around　almost　at　once。　Lieutenant　Crystal　wedged　up　against　him；　propping　him　up　so　that　Emerson　hadn't　teetered。　Good　soldier！

〃…after　us；〃　Emerson　resumed；　stiffening　his　spine。　〃But　you　don't　seem　to　realize：　It　doesn't　make　us　weaker；　it　makes　us　stronger！〃

Dag　looked　down　on　him。　〃A　great　pity；　our　information　led　us　to　hope　that　you　are　seeking　the　same　peaceful　settlement　as　we…that　our　goal　was　the　same。〃

Emerson　shook　off　his　fatigue　and　pain。　How　old　were　these　apparitions；　these　seeming　Grim　Reapers　before　him？　How　many　Protoculture…grown　Dorian　Gray　portraits　in　the　old　closet？　he　speculated；　then　pulled　himself　together。　It　was　no　time　for　whimsy。

〃Nice　try；〃　Emerson　shot　back；　〃but　you　know　as　well　as　I　do　that　you　opened　fire　on　us　first。　You　never　tried　to　negotiate。〃

〃Regrettable；〃　Dag　parried；　〃but　we　respect　you　as　we　do　other　intelligent　beings　who　have　the　same　Human　form　as　we；　the　same　biogenetic　structure…even　a　kindred　intellect。〃

〃That　so？〃　Marie　glowered　up　at　the　Master　from　beneath　her　long　black　brows。　〃Then　why　haven't　you　called　off　your　Bioroids？〃

〃You're　liars；　the　whole　pack　of　you；〃　Emerson　told　the　Masters。

Shaizan's　eyes　opened　wide　with　his　surprise　and　displeasure。　〃Truly；　you　are　stupid　creatures！〃

Emerson　smiled　mirthlessly。　〃Map　reference　point　Romeo　Tango　466…292；　that's　where　you　intend　to　make　your　initial　landing；　right？　That's　how　stupid　we　are。　And　you're　going　to　see　more　mecha　and　more　fighting…mad　Human　beings　than　you　could've　dreamed　of　in　your　worst　nightmares！〃

It　was　only　a　wild　guess　on　his　part；　based　on　repeated　alien　activity　there；　and　those　last　transmissions　from　Leonard's　staff　before　mo　was　knocked　out　on　Tristar。　The　gambit　was　worth　a　try；　Emerson　had　decided。　Earth's　defenses　were　nearly　finished；　but　perhaps　the　Masters　didn't　know　that；　and　Emerson's　words　would　throw　them　off　balance　for　a　bit。

And；　terrible　as　the　aliens'　new　beam　weapon　was；　they　would　not　use　it　on　the　mounds；　that　much　was　obvious；　they　didn't　want　to　destroy　the　mounds；　didn't　dare　to；　or　they　would　have　done　so　long　ago。　It　was　tragic　irony　that；　now　that　the　Human　race　finally　knew　something　about　the　Masters'　original；　bewildering　demand；　the　Masters　had　upped　the　ante。　Emerson　saw；　just　as　Leonard　had；　that　there　was　no　way　to　evacuate　the　Earth；　and　no　place　to　go　even　if　such　a　thing　were　possible。

〃And　we　know　about　the　Protoculture；〃　Marie　was　saying；　even　though　the　intelligence　report　on　the　15th's　discoveries　inside　the　flagship；　and　analysis　of　the　Masters'　transmission　to　Leonard；　had　been　very　sketchy。

〃We　know　that　if　you　don't　get　it；　you　die；〃　Brown　added。

That　gave　the　Masters　pause　again；　and　the　captives　had　the　impression　the　invaders　were　in　silent　conference　once　more。　After　a　moment；　Bowkaz　said；　〃Tell　us　just　how　much　you　people　of　know　of　us；　of　our　history。〃

〃We　know　about　your　weak　points；〃　Emerson　answered。　〃The　Earth　is　ours；　and　nobody's　taking　it　away　from　us　or　making　us　leave　it！　But　if　you'll　agree　to　a　ceasefire；　then　perhaps　we　can　help　each　other。　We　can　stop　this　war。〃

〃The　Invid　are　ing；　do　you　not　understand　what　that　means？〃　Shaizan　demanded。　〃You　will　all　be　wiped　out！〃

〃We　cannot　allow　your　stubbornness　or　the　fate　of　one　tiny　world　to　endanger　the　establishment　of　our　Robotech　Universe；〃　Dag　said。

〃Your　small…mindedness　merely　illustrates　how　primitive　you　are；〃　Bowkaz　added。

Emerson　laughed　madly；　so　that　Marie　and　Brown　feared　for　a　moment　that　he　had　snapped。　Then　the　general　met　the　Masters'　glares　with　one　of　his　own。　〃Then；　so　be　it。〃

An　area　of　mottling　on　the　mushroomlike　cap　grew　bright；　and　Bowkaz　put　his　palm　to　it。　The　cap　spoke　so　that　the　Humans　could　hear　as　well；　〃I　am　receiving　information　on　Zor　Prime。

〃Zor　and　the　Human　military　unit　in　which　he　served　are　now　at　the　site　of　the　buried　Protoculture　Matrix。　Musica　is　with　him；　but　she　is　no　longer　connected　to　the　Cosmic　Harp；　she　has　given　her　loyalty　to　Zor　and　Humans。〃

〃Bowie！〃　Emerson　murmured。　〃I　knew　you　were　no　deserter；　son。〃

Shaizan　turned　back　to　Emerson。　〃Our　reprieve　is　withdrawn！　Your　Earth　has　just　run　out　of　time！〃


Sean　and　the　others　had　simply　slipped　back　to　their　concealed　jeeps；　put　on　bat　gear；　then　made　their　way　back　through　the　GMP　lines　as　if　they　were　a　recon　unit　going　to　the　rear　to　make　a　report。　Passwords　given　to　them　by　Nova　made　it　easy。　No　one　thought　to　question　them　with　the　Masters'　attacks　and　the　chaotic　situation　in　Southern　Cross　HQ。

The　return　trip　was　in　some　ways　even　easier；　the　piloted　mecha　lifting　the　unpiloted　ones　over　the　GMP　perimeter。　The　Gimps　were　hesitant　to　shoot　at　friendly　forces　without　specific　orders；　until　it　was　too　late。

Now　the　15th　stood　around　their　Hovertanks；　watching　smoke　rise　from　the　blasted　Monument　City；　which　had　taken　scattered　beam　hits　but　not　the　sort　of　all…out；　fused…earth　attack　that　had　claimed　Newton。

〃Bowie；　I'm　so　ashamed；〃　Musica　said；　tears　wetting　her　cheeks；　as　they　saw　the　ragged　lines　of　survivors　making　their　way　from　the　city。

〃It's　not　your　fault；〃　Bowie　told　her；　holding　her　to　fort　her。

She　looked　up　at　him；　trying　to　smile。　〃The　harmony　is　strong；　between　you　and　me。　I　feel　your　joys　and　sorrows；　they　are　my　own。〃　Being　close　to　him　was　so　wonderful；　a　divine　gift　of　happiness　that　shored　her　up　in　the　horror　that　was　around　them。

Off　to　one　side；　Dana　asked　Nova　quietly；　〃Do　you　think　Zor　knows　what's　going　to　happen　next？　That　he　sees　the　future？〃　It　was　no　time　to　voice　a　more　personal　question　to　herself；　And；　have　I？　All　her　dreams　and　Visions　crowded　so　close　about　her。

Nova　considered　that。　〃What　are　you　saying？〃　The　results　of　her　interrogations　and　observations　were　inconclusive　but…if　Zor　did　have　some　sort　of　precog　powers；　perhaps　the　Human　race　could　turn　them　to　good　use。

Dana　was　looking　at　Zor；　who　stood　alone；　watching　the　pyre　that　was　Monument　City。　〃He　doesn't　want　to　help　Musica；〃　Dana　faced　the　truth。　〃He　wants　revenge；　and　he　wants　to　die　more　than　he　wants　to　live；　I　think。〃　Her　voice　caught　a　little；　she　still　loved　him。

Zor　studied　the　destruction　and　suffering　before　him；　standing　near　the　Three…In…One；　Dana　had　supposed　he　named　his　tank　that　because　of　its　three　configurations；　but　understood　now　that　it　was　some　deeper　memory　that　had　moved　him　to　do　so。　Zor　was　repeating　the　silent　vow　as　if　it　were　a　mantra；　This　time　they'll　pay！　This　time　I'll　stop　them！

That　was　when　he　heard　the　crackle　of　Shaizan's　voice　over　the　cockpit　speaker　of　Sean's　Hovertank；　the　Bad　News。　〃Zor！　Traitor！　Are　you　there？〃　Sean　nearly　jumped　out　of　the　tank　like　an　ejecting　pilot。

Zor　was　in　the　cockpit　of　his　Three…In…One　in　an　instant；　hands　on　the　control　yoke　grips。　〃I　hear　you。〃

Somehow；　the　Masters　had　contrived　to　send　their　image　over　the　tank's　display　screen。　〃You　are　aware　that　the　Protoculture　Matrix　is　undergoing　degradation；　as　the　Flowers　bloom。〃　It　wasn't　a　question。　〃And　by　now；　the　Sensor　Nebula　has　surely　alerted　the　Invid。〃

Zor　looked　at　his　onetime　Masters。　The　words　made　bits　of　memory　and　realization　fall　into　place。　〃I…yes。　But　I　also　know　that　I　control　the　key　to　this　planet's　survival。　I　dictate　the　terms。〃

〃We　are　of　the　opinion　that　you　are　mistaken；〃　Shaizan　replied。　〃Watch　closely；　and　you　will　see。〃

The　other　ATACs　were　watching　on　their　own　screens；　with　Musica　looking　over　Bowie's　shoulder　and　Nova　over　Dana's。　They　saw　Rolf　Emerson；　teeth　locked　in　pain；　with　Marie　and　Brown　trying　to　fort　him。

〃Emerson；〃　Bowie　said　numbly；　while　Sean　whispered　Marie's　name　like　a　hopeless　prayer；　and　Dana　heard　Nova　breathe；　〃Dennis。〃

Then　the　Masters　were　onscreen　again。　〃'These　three　men　will　be　released　when　you　return　Musica　and　remove　your　troops　from　this　area。〃

Men？　Sean　Phillips　found　a　second　to　think；　wondering　if　they　had　gotten　a　good　look　at　Marie。　I　suppose　everybody　in　armor　looks　the　same　to　them　but…maybe　these　vampires　aren't　as　smart　as　everybody　keeps　tellin'　me　they　are。　Anyway；　if　that's　what　it's　like　to　be　immortal；　they　can　keep　it！

〃Do　you　find　this　acceptable？〃　Shaizan　continued。　〃We　trust　that　we　need　not　mention　the　alternative。〃

Zor　fought　down　his　fury　long　enough　to　ask；　〃What　are　your　conditions？〃

〃You　will　be　picked　up；　and　we　will　exchange　prisoners　onboard　our　mother　ship。〃　The　Masters　disappeared　from　the　screen。

Zor　lowered　himself　from　his　tank　wearily　and　had　barely　begun；　〃I　do　not　wish　for　the　rest　of　you　to　be　invol…〃　Bowie　hit　him　with　a　shoulder　block；　driving　the　bigger　Zor　up　against　the　armored　side　of　Three…In…One；　trying　to　choke　the　life　out　of　him。

〃They're　not　getting　Musica！　I'll　kill　you！〃

Zor　grimaced；　trying　to　twist　free；　but　didn't　strike　out　at　him。　〃Then　stay　here　and　do　nothing；　and　watch　your　good　friend　be　killed！　The　techniques　of　the　Masters　can　be　more　cruel　than　anything　you　can　conceive　of！〃

Dana　was　dashing　to　intervene；　but　somehow　Musica　got　them　first。　〃Stop　it；　Bowie！〃