09_the_final_nightmare-第7部分

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uiser。　Still；　the　word　on　the　scuttlebutt　grid　was　that　Komodo　regretted　what　he　had　done　and　he　had　made　mention　of　his　wish　to　redeem　himself。

Now　Dana　let　herself　be　pulled　off　to　one　side　by　the　captain；　not　sure　how　anything　fit　together　with　anything　else　anymore。


In　a　small　park　near　GMP　headquarters；　Komodo　finished；　〃So　I　thought　you　could　help　me；　Lieutenant。〃

Dana　looked　him　over　carefully。　〃And　Nova's　the　one　for　you；　huh？〃　According　to　the　captain's　story；　he　had　only　talked　to　her　a　few　times；　and　always　in　the　line　of　duty。　But　when　did　love　ever　let　reality　stand　in　its　way？　she　sighed　to　herself。

Captain　Komodo　chuckled　self…consciously。　〃I'm　assigned　to　go　with　General　Emerson　to　ALUCE；〃　he　explained。

〃And　you　figure　you　might　not　make　it　back；　so　you　want　her　to　at　least　know　you　exist　before　you　go？〃　Dana　said　with　a　blunt；　uncharacteristic　need　to　hear　his　answer。

She　paced　a　few　steps　up　and　back　while　Komodo　gave　a　sighing　laugh　and　admitted；　〃I　suppose　she　could　never　want　me。　〃

〃Let's　have　no　defeatist　talk；　Captain！〃　Dana　responded。

Maybe　Komodo　could　serve　as　a　distraction　and　pry　Nova　and　Zor　apart…and　maybe　not。　Still；　it　was　the　only　card　she　had　to　play；　short　of　letting　Angelo…who　seemed　to　despise　the　alien　for　reasons　she　couldn't　understand…put　Zor　in　Intensive　Care。

She　took　Komodo's　arm。　〃You　can't　give　up　the　ship　before　you've　fired　your　first　salvo；　Captain。〃　They　both　laughed；　walking　back　toward　the　GMP　HQ。

They　left　the　trees　just　in　time　to　see　Sean　Phillips　go　racing　by　at　the　wheel　of　a　jeep；　at　breakneck　speed。　He　was　roaring　with　laughter；　and　Marie　Crystal；　in　the　ninety…percent　seat；　was　laughing；　too；　one　arm　around　his　shoulders。　He　turned　a　corner　on　two　wheels。

〃There's　living　proof；　Captain；〃　Dana　said；　frowning。　〃If　that　sorry　sack　can　win　a　female　heart；　anybody　can。〃　Her　words　didn't　seem　to　fortify　Komodo。


The　appalling　workload　at　GMP　and　the　presence　of　Colonel　Fredericks；　her　CO；　had　kept　Nova　from　seeing　Zor　when　he　showed　up　to　return　the　ALUCE　documents。　So；　Zor　had　left　the　binder　for　her；　wrapped　in　plain　paper；　and　she　had　claimed　it　when　at　last　she　knocked　off　for　a　few　hours'　sleep。

Somehow；　she　couldn't　see　what　she　was　doing　as　promising　Southern　Cross　secrets。　She　did　not　even　think　of　Zor　as　a　security　risk。　She　could　only　think　of　those　huge；　oblique；　elfin　eyes；　the　face　like　a　classical　sculpture's；　the　tumbling　lavender　locks　of　hair　that　fell　past　his　shoulders；　the　hypnotic　fascination　he　held　for　her。

At　the　door　of　her　billet　in　the　Bachelor　Officers'　Quarters；　she　found　a　lush　bouquet　of　pink；　black；　and　red　roses；　wrapped　in　silver…and…black　striped　metallic　paper。　The　sight　of　them　took　all　her　fatigue　away。

Nova　Satori　pulled　them　close　to　her　body；　inhaled　them；　and　carried　them　into　her　billet。　That　scent…she　drew　it　in　deeply　and　wished　she　could　lose　herself　in　it；　could　live　in　the　Heart　of　the　Rose　forever。　To　be　with　Zor；　somehow；　someday；　seemed　so　hopeless。

I　thought　love　was　supposed　to　make　you　happy？


In　the　dimness　of　a　bend　in　the　hallway；　Dana　patted　the　sweating　Komodo's　shoulder；　as　they　watched　Nova's　door　close　from　their　concealment。

〃That　pletes　the　first　part　of　the　operation；　Captain：　the　softening…up　process！〃


Inside　her　rooms；　Nova　set　down　the　ALUCE　binder　and　the　roses　side　by　side。　There　was　a　note　in　the　flowers；　printed　in　block　letters：　FROM　AN　ADMIRER。

She　held　up　the　other　note　she　had　gotten　that　day；　the　one　Zor　had　tucked　into　the　ALUCE　book。　I　can't　begin　to　thank　you；　Nova。　Every　bit　of　information　you　give　me　restores　more　of　my　memory；　more　of　me。

Then　she　realized　all　at　once　that　she　had　violated　the　regulations　she　was　sworn　to　enforce。　What　have　I　done？


So　the　screwball　contredanse　continued。　Dana　tried　to　convince　Komodo　that　his　flowers　were　the　cause　of　the　lovesickness　he　saw　on　Nova's　glum　face。　Meanwhile；　Nova　determinedly　snubbed　Zor　and　resisted　his　every　effort　to　get　in　touch…yet　she　felt　dangerously　drawn　to　him。

It　had　Nova　so　distracted　that　she　screwed　up；　and　flagged　a　VT　pilot　named　Dennis　Brown…a　former　aide　of　Emerson's；　yet！…who　had　been　scheduled　to　go　to　ALUCE　and　was　now　held　back　as　a　security　risk。

She　hunted　the　lieutenant　down　out　on　the　flight　line　to　apologize。　He　merely　shrugged　it　off。　He　looked　her　over　for　a　few　moments　and　decided　she　could　be　trusted　to　hear　the　truth。

〃Maybe　it's　all　for　the　good。　You　have　the　puters　and　you　aren't　blind；　Nova。　Leonard's　weeding　out　all　the　officers　who　aren't　loyal　to　him　personally；　like　some　Roman　emperor　sending　all　his　rivals　off　to　distant　provinces。　Thanks　to　you；　though；　at　least　one　of　us'll　be　here　to　keep　an　eye　on　things：　me。〃

He　really　was　thanking　her！　Nova　summoned　up　a　grateful　smile　and　resolved　to　bury　Brown's　name　and　file　where　few　in　the　GMP　would　ever　notice　it。

At　the　far　end　of　the　flight　line　Dana；　watching　from　behind　a　shuttle's　huge　tire；　whistled。　〃Man；　that　Nova　knows　how　to　play　the　field！〃　Captain　Komodo　fought　off　an　attack　of　terminal　disheartenment。


CHAPTER　FIVE

SPECIAL　PROTOCULTURE　OBSERVATIONS　AND　OPERATIONS　KOMMANDATURA
（DESIGNATION…〃JAMES〃　PERSONNEL　ONLY）
In　view　of　the　adverse　relationship　between　Major　General　Emerson　and　certain　members　of　this　unit；　the　transfer　of　the　Singularity　Effect…generating　equipment　to　his　flagship　will　be　effected　in　such　a　way　as　to　preclude　all　mention　of　or　reference　to　the　origins　of　the　aforementioned　equipment。
（signed）　Zand；　manding

The　15th's　ready…room　was　dark。　Most　of　the　troopers　were　out　on　pass　or　on　ATAC　guard　duty　or　dozing。　A　few；　like　Robotechnofreak…another　term　for　it　was　〃mechie〃…Louie　Nichols；　were　taking　care　of　maintenance　or　tinkering　with　their　Hovertanks　down　on　the　motorstable　levels。

Bowie　Grant　sat　playing　the　piano　softly。　Sometimes　he　went　into　the　melodies　he　had　played　for　Musica；　and　the　ones　she　had　played　for　him。　But　tonight　he　kept　ing　back　again　and　again　to　the　ones　Emerson　had　taught　him　as　a　child；　when　the　General　introduced　him　to　the　piano　and　fostered　Bowie's　love　of　music。　Bowie　played　his　own　positions；　the　early　ones　that　had　made　Emerson　so　proud。　There　was　no　one　in　the　dimness　of　the　ready…room　to　hear　the　music；　or　to　see　his　tears。

Below；　though；　in　a　long；　black　military　limousine　parked　under　the　open　windows　of　the　ready…room；　there　was　an　audience。　

Major　General　Rolf　Emerson　sat　in　the　back　seat　with　the　window　down；　listening。　He　didn't　recognize　the　alien　tunes；　though　he　suspected　what　they　meant；　he　knew　each　note　that　Bowie　played　from　their　shared　past；　however；　and　understood　those　pletely。

Emerson's　efforts　to　contact　his　ward　had　been　rebuffed；　and　the　general　respected　Bowie's　right　to　be　left　alone。

Perhaps　I　never　should　have　made　him　enlist；　perhaps　he　shouldn't　have　had　to　serve；　Emerson　reflected。　But　then；　it　would　be　a　better　Universe　if　none　of　us　had　to。　But　it's　just　not　that　kind　of　Universe。

〃That's　enough。　Take　me　back；〃　he　told　his　chauffeur；　hitting　the　button　that　raised　the　window。

Take　me　back。。。


This　time　it　was　a　cascade　of　roses；　tumbling　down　one　Nova　in　a　fragrant　red　avalanche　the　moment　she　opener　the　closet　in　her　billet　to　hang　up　her　cloak。　Suddenly　she　wasn't　bone…tired　anymore；　not　even　with　the　liftoff　of　Emerson's　strikeforce　less　than　forty…eight　hours　away。

She　let　the　roses　shower　around　her；　giggling　and　gasping；　and　tried　forlornly　to　understand　alt　the　conflicting　emotions　and　impulses　that　were　starting　her　own　private　war。　She　was　knee…deep　in　flowers。

There　was　a…note　taped　to　the　shelf：　Depot　7　at　2100。


At　the　elegant　Pavilion　du　Lac；　Marie　Crystal　pushed　away　her　fourth　sidecar。　If　Prince　Charming　doesn't　get　here　with　the　carriage　soon；　Cinderella's　gonna　be　too　stinko　to　care！

Might　even　serve　him　right；　she　thought。　She　had　blown　half　her　savings　on　a　drop…dead　white　satin　evening　gown；　and　the　most　expensive　perfume　she　could　find。　Her　walk　was　very　different　than　it　was　when　she　was　in　uniform；　she　had　seen　men　panting；　admiring。　And　rather　than　cut　a　swath　through　the　local　male　wildlife；　here　she　sat；　waiting　for　her　Romeo。

She　went　out　onto　the　balcony　to　get　a　little　fresh　air；　sighing　in　the　moonlight；　thinking　of　Sean；　smelling　the　orchids　there。

She　had　been　shot　out　of　the　sky　and　he　had　mechamorphosed　his　Hovertank；　risen　up　in　Battloid　mode　to　catch　her　burning；　falling　Veritech。　He　had　sworn　he　would　love　her；　and　no　one　else；　evermore。　Had　held　her　to　him　as　his　Battloid　had　held　her　VT　to　it。　Had　made　her　love　him。

You　beast！　You　toad！　I've　never　been　in　love　before。。。

Below；　hiding　behind　a　column　on　the　portico；　Sean　grinned　and　got　ready　to　go　surprise　her。

Marie　had　shown　up　early　for　their　dinner　date；　and　she　had　decided　to　see　how　long　it　would　take　her　to　lose　patience。　It　hadn't　taken　long；　he　was　barely　late　at　all。　But　I've　kept　her　waiting　long　enough；　he　thought　guiltily；　and　got　ready　to　run　up　the　steps　to　her。

A　voice　behind　him　called；　〃Seanie？〃

It　was　Jill　Norton；　an　old　flame；　all　decked　out　like　a　green…sequined　sea　goddess；　throwing　herself　at　him　to　hug　him。　〃It　is　you！〃

She　locked　her　lips　to　his；　and　he　had　to　wrestle　her　in　order　to　crane　his　head　around　and　look　up　at　the　balcony。　Marie　was　giving　him　the　kind　of　stare　that　preceded　homicides。

Just　like　Cinderella；　Marie　lost　a　glass　slipper　on　the　winding　stairs。　In　fact；　she　lost　both　of　them。　She　pushed　her　way　in　between　Sean　and　his　latest　trollop；　about　to　leave；　but　spun　around　suddenly　and　grabbed　him　by　the　front　of　his　suit。

Before　he　could　move；　she　kissed　him　as　hard　as　she　could…she　put　all　her　love　and　all　her　wanting　and　all　her　hurt　into　it。　Sean　was　starting　to　think　he　might　survive　the　encounter　when　she　pushed　him　away　and　rocked　him　with　a　slap　that　almost　took　his　head　off。


In　the　poorly　lit　corner　of　Depot　7；　Dana　practically　had　to　put　an　arm…bar　on　Komodo　to　get　him　to　show　himself　and　approach　Nova。　As　he　walked　over；　he　kept　turning　around　to　make　sure　Dana　was　still　in　the　shadows　for　moral　support。

However；　his　worst　fears　came　true　when　he　turned　to　Nova　and　got　a　b