15_death_dance-第26部分

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en；　a　rapture　that　could　only　endure　on　that　etheric　plane；　where　things　cast　beautiful　but　ultimately　painful　shadows。。。

Still　she　could　hardly　tear　herself　away　from　that　realm；　even　though　her　self…indulgence　might　mean　death　for　the　clone。　He　was　her　plaything；　much　as　she　had　been　Zor's！

She　understood；　however；　that　Zor　had　somehow　meant　to　redeem　himself　by　sending　the　Protoculture　matrix　far　from　his　Masters'　reach。　But　much　of　this　remained　unclear；　muddled　by　what　she　had　accessed　from　Haydon　IV's　data　systems。　These　grand　designs　again：　Zor；　the　Masters；　the　Invid；　all　locked　together　in　some　immense；　unfathomable　framework。

Along　with　this　mysterious　blue…white　world　revealed　by　the　clone's　thoughts；　this　nexus　of　events；　this　pleroma。。。

She　had　yet　to　learn　either　the　name　of　the　planet　or　its　continuum　coordinates；　but　she　now　had　a　sense　of　where　to　begin　her　search。　And　sooner　or　later　her　sensor　nebulae　would　locate　it。

I　will　follow　the　nebulae；　she　decided　all　at　once。　I　will　quit　this　Quadrant　and　place　myself　as　far　from　his　reach　as　that　matrix　was　from　the　Masters'　evil　embrace。

She　found　herself　excited　by　the　prospect；　laughing　as　she　overlooked　Haydon　IV's　artificial　land…and　cityscapes。　She　could　even　leave　some　of　her　Children　behind　until　the　moment　arrived…the　moment　when　that　blue…white　world　was　discovered　and　made　her　own！

She　increased　her　size；　towering　up　to　fill　the　room；　knowing　a　determination　she　had　thought　lost　with　love　itself。　Regarding　Rem；　she　said；　〃Now　let　the　Regent　have　his　way　with　you；　clone。　Let　him　peer　into　your　memories　of　our　time　together；　and　let　him　suffer　for　what　he　missed！〃


Miriya　did　not　look　as　well　as　Max　had　imagined　she　might。　Where　was　that　rosy　glow；　that　special　something？　Instead；　she　seemed　wasted；　baggy…eyed；　bone…weary；　even　slightly　jaundiced。

〃It's　just　from　my　exposure　to　the　atmosphere；〃　Miriya　told　him　as　he　carefully　sat　down　on　the　edge　of　her　cot。　〃But　Jean　says　everything's　fine；　all　systems　go。　So　smooth　your　wrinkled　brow；　my　darling；　and　kiss　me　before　I　do　something　violent。〃

Max　forced　a　smile　and　leaned　into　her　arms；　they　held　each　other　for　a　moment。　Max　patted　her　back　and　straightened　up。　〃I'm　not　sure　I　know　what　to　feel；〃　he　confessed。

〃I　know；　Max。　I'm　just　as　concerned　as　you　are　about　Rick　and　Lisa。〃

〃Good　news；　bad　news。。。〃

〃That's　life；　Max。　And　now　Dana's　going　to　have　a　sister。〃

Max's　brows　went　up。　〃Jean　tell　you　that？〃

〃She　didn't　have　to。〃　Miriya　caressed　her　belly。　〃I　can　sense　it。〃

Again；　Max　tried　to　feel　good　about　things；　but　the　more　he　looked　at　his　wife；　the　more　anxious　he　became。　He　was　about　to　take　her　hand；　when　someone　rapped　against　the　partition。　Crysta；　Gnea；　and　Teal　asked　if　they　could　e　in　for　a　moment。　The　Spherisian　was　carrying　the　infant…a　two…foot　Baldan；　although　still　faceted　and　speechless　as　yet。

〃As　soon　as　I　heard　the　news　I　came　down；〃　Teal　explained。　〃I　wanted　you　to　see　the　infant。〃

〃Congratulations；〃　Gnea　said　to　Miriya　uncertainly。

〃Hey；　what　about　the　father？〃　Max　asked　good…naturedly。

The　Praxian　turned　to　him。　〃Why？　Did　you　have　something　to　do　with　Miriya's　condition？〃

Max　started　to　respond；　but　thought　better　of　it；　shutting　his　mouth　and　blinking　stupidly。

〃When　does　he　bee　smooth；　like　you？〃　Miriya　was　saying　to　Teal。

〃It　doesn't。　It's　not　necessarily　a　he。〃

Miriya　looked　around　unfortably。　〃But　I　thought　that　Baldan。。。that　this。。。〃

〃It　is　of　Baldan；〃　Teal　replied；　regarding　the　infant　analytically。　〃But　the　features　and　what　I　think　you　call　'the　sex'　are　ultimately　left　to　the　Shaper。〃

〃The　Shaper？　You？〃　Crysta　said；　surprised；　one　huge　paw　to　her　muzzle。

〃Who　else？　The　young　Spherisian　remains　faceted　until　smoothed　by　its　Shaper。　Soon　I　will　de…facet　it。〃

〃But　you'll　shape　him；　er；　it　in　Baldan's　image；　won't　you？〃

〃Why　would　I　do　that？　I　am　bonded　with　the　infant　now。　I　could　just　as　easily　shape　it　in　my　own　image。〃

〃But　this　is　all　that　remains　of　Baldan；〃　Crysta　argued。　〃Don't　you　want　to　recapture　his　essence？　It　would　mean　much　to　all　of　us。〃

Miriya　and　Gnea　agreed。　Max　kept　out　of　it。

〃Among　Spherisians　I　am　considered　most　attractive；〃　Teal　told　them　proudly。　〃A　young　one　could　do　far　worse　than　be　shaped　as　I　am。〃　She　regarded　Max　and　Miriya　a　moment。　〃You　Earthers　don't　even　have　a　choice　in　the　matter。〃

〃No　argument　there。〃　Max　laughed。　〃But　maybe　that's　the　beauty　of　it。〃

Gnea　made　a　face；　astonishment　in　her　gold…flecked　eyes。　〃So　you　did　have　something　to　do　with　it。〃

Max　looked　from　Praxian；　to　Karbarran；　to　Spherisian；　to　his　own　Zentraedi　wife；　and　wondered　if　he　could　possibly　explain　himself。


The　Zentraedi's　cargo　transport…named　the　Valivarre　for　Fantoma's　primary…was　the　largest　of　the　ships　constructed　to　serve　the　needs　of　the　mining　op。　It　was　essentially　an　enormous　shell；　with　vast　featureless　cabinspaces　and　cargo　holds；　and　numerous　launch　and　docking　bays　sized　to　acmodate　ranks　of　surface　mecha　and　outsize　shuttles。　Typical　of　the　new　breed　SDFs…4　through　8…the　Valivarre　was　only　lightly　armed　and　somewhat　slow　by　galactic　standards；　but　unlike　those　fortresses　the　ship　was　equipped　with　Protoculture/Reflex　drives　that　enabled　it　to　astrogate　near…instantaneous　folds　throughout　〃local　space。〃

The　transport　was　in　stationary　orbit　over　Tirol　just　now；　off…loading　the　latest　of　Fantoma's　riches　to　cargo　shuttles；　which　were　making　runs　both　to　the　SDF…3　and　to　the　moon's　surface。

On　the　Valivarre's　bridge；　Breetai　was　informed　that　one　of　the　returning　shuttles　was　bringing　up　two　passengers。　He　arrived　in　the　busy　docking　bay　just　as　Dr。　Lang　and　Exedore　were　descending　the　shuttle　ramp。

Lang　took　a　look　around。　Under　the　watchful　gaze　of　four　Ghost　Squadron　Battloids；　a　dozen　Zentraedi　were　loading　the　last　of　the　monopole　ore　into　a　second　shuttle。　There　was　more　noise　than　Human　ears　were　meant　to　withstand；　so　he　donned　a　pair　of　silencer　muffs；　and　went　on　the　amplibox　to　municate　with　Breetai。

〃It　appears　that　everything　is　in　order；　mander；〃　he　said；　trying　to　sound　businesslike。　〃But　I　have　some　matters　to　discuss　with　you　regarding　the　transfer　schedule。　Is　there　somewhere　we　can　talk？〃

Breetai　led　them　out　of　the　hold　and　into　a　small　cabin…space　outfitted　with　a　Micronian　mo　balcony。

〃This　area　is　secure；〃　Breetai　told　them　after　he　had　dogged　the　hatch。

Lang　got　right　to　the　point。　〃You'll　never　get　away　with　this；　Breetai。　What　do　you　take　us　for？〃

The　Zentraedi　grinned。　〃The　fool's　ore。。。It　wasn't　my　intention　to　trick　you；　Lang。　Only　Edwards's　men。　As　far　as　they　are　concerned；　we　are　off…loading　the　monopole。〃

〃But；　mander；〃　Exedore　said；　〃what　are　you　trying　to　acplish？　You're　aware　that　Lang　and　I　will　have　to　report　this。〃

〃And　I　fully　expect　you　to。　I　ask　only　that　you　delay　your　report　for　three　hours。〃

〃You're　leaving！〃　Lang　said；　excited。　〃I　knew　it。〃

Breetai　folded　his　arms　across　his　chest　and　nodded。　〃That's　right；　Doctor。　We're　leaving。　And　we're　taking　the　monopole　with　us。〃

Lang　was　shaking　his　head。　〃It's　a　mad　scheme；　Breetai。　Edwards　will　hunt　you　down。〃

〃Perhaps。　But　he'll　think　twice　about　firing　on　us　while　we　have　the　ore　aboard。　Not　when　he　learns　that　Fantoma's　yield　is　exhausted；　I'm　relying　on　you　to　make　this　clear　to　him。〃

〃mander；　may　we　enquire…〃

〃To　search　for　Admiral　Hunter；　Exedore。　I　don't　accept　that　the　Sentinels　have　bee　outlaws　any　more　than　I　believe　the　Invid　Regent　is　dead。　We　know　that　enemy；　Exedore；　we　engaged　them　throughout　this　sector。　If　he　had　been　assassinated；　his　queen's　troops　would　have　already　massed　against　Tirol　and　atomized　it。〃　Breetai　leaned　closer　to　the　balcony　railing　to　regard　his　Micronized　friend。　〃We　are　free　of　all　imperatives　now；　Exedore。　The　Zentraedi　will　follow　none　but　their　own。　Will　you　join　us？〃

Exedore　bowed　his　head。　〃mander；　you　honor　me。　But　I；　too；　have　an　inner　imperative。〃

Breetai　mulled　it　over；　then　nodded。　〃I　understand；　my　friend。〃

Lang　looked　at　the　two　Zentraedi；　suddenly　aware　of　the　import　the　moment　held。　A　surge　of　misgiving　washed　through　him；　a　shaping　charge　he　could　barely　sustain。　His　voice　cracked　when　he　spoke。　〃To　Praxis；　Breetai？　Garuda？　Spheris？　The　ship　you　seek　is　small　enough　as　to　be　insignificant。〃

Breetai　fixed　his　eye　on　Lang。　〃I　don't　believe　that；　Doctor。　Nor　do　you。〃

Lang　rasped；　〃Haydon　IV。〃　She　is　there；　something　told　him。

Exedore　stretched　out　a　hand。　〃Doctor…〃

〃Don't　ask　me　to　explain。〃　Was　it　Janice；　he　wondered；　or　some　other　she？　It　was　a　presence　the　Shaping　had　alerted　him　to；　a　power　unlike　anything　he　had　experienced。。。

Breetai　regarded　him　for　a　moment。　〃I　will　begin　my　search　there。〃

Lang　nodded；　weakly；　wondering　whether　he　would　ever　see　the　Zentraedi　again。


On　Garuda；　the　Sentinels　grouped　together　in　the　long…house　to　discuss　their　options　and　priorities；　which　meant　that　it　was　back　to　transpirators　for　almost　everyone　involved。　Vince；　Max；　and　Jack　were　so　certain　of　where　they　stood　that　they　had　already　had　Rick；　Lisa；　and　Karen　brought　up　to　the　SDF…7。　Under　Wolff's　and　Janice's　supervision；　Tesla　and　the　two　Invid　scientists　had　also　been　moved　to　the　ship；　along　with　Miriya…who　was　still　too　weak　to　take　part　in　the　meeting…and　Teal　and　the　Spherisian　infant。

Most　of　Garuda　was　celebrating…the　grieving　would　e　later…and　the　wild　sounds　of　song　and　dance　made　it　all　the　more　difficult　for　the　group　to　e　to　any　agreement　concerning　the　Haydon　IV　option。　They　did　find　themselves　united；　however；　on　the　issue　of　Garuda。　With　the　Optera　tree　orchards　in　ruins；　it　wasn't　likely　that　the　Invid　were　going　to　have　much　use　for　the　planet…especially　not　when　their　initial　campaign　against　Garuda's　inherent　defenses　had　ended　in　so　many　deaths。　But　just　in　case　the　Regent　decided　to　think　along　the　lines　of　reprisals…which；　Cabell　maintained；　was　highly　unlikely　given　the　disastrous　defeats　the　Invid　leader　had　been　suffering　in　other　quarters…the　Sentinels　were　prepared　to　leave　most　of　their　forces　〃onworld　to　plement　the　strength　of　the　remaining　Bioroid　clones。　The　one　Invid　hive　that　had　e　through　the　battle　reasonably　intact　would　serve　as　their　base。　Vince　and　Veidt　were　in　favor　of　this　even　though　it　would　significantly　reduce　the　Sentinels'　firepower。　Haydon　IV；　though；　was　not　be　thought　of　in　terms　of　a　military　campaign；　they　were　undertaking　the　journey　for　the　sake　of　Rick；　Lisa；　Karen；　and　Rem。

Once　again；　as　someone　pointed　out。

But　the　Karbarrans　and　Praxians；　in　any　case；　chose　to　disregard　Vince's　statement。　They　likewise　ignored　Veidt　and　Sarna's　claim　that　the　planet　had　not　been　adversely　affected　by　the　Invid　presence。　Haydon　IV　had　Invid；　therefore；　Haydon　IV　needed　to　be　liberated。

Kami　and　Learna　were　reluctant　to　leave；　reluctant　to　abandon　the　hin　and　to　have　to　reattach　themselves　to　life…support　systems；　but　they　agreed　to　see　things　through　to　their　pletion　after　Lron　and　Crysta　reminded　them　of　how　they　had　left　their　son；　Dardo；　behind　on　Karbarra。

The　Sentinels　were　back　to　the　core　group。

And　they　were　also　back　to　unknowns。

It　was　possible　they　might　beat　the　Regent's　fleet　to　Haydo