16_world_killers-第39部分

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A　single　united　psychic　scream　came　from　the　Brain　and　the　Invid　immobilized　in　the　amber…stuff；　as　they　were　drawn；　forever　unmoving　but　still　alive；　deep　into　Spheris。　Every　Sentinel　and　Spherisian　winced　at　it。　Then　it　faded　and　was　gone。

The　Spherisians　began　melding　with　their　world　again；　all　but　the　first　two；　who　stood　looking　at　the　spot　from　which　the　Invid　had　ruled。


Tesla　had　no　time　to　be　outraged　at　the　defection…that　was　how　he　thought　of　it…of　Gnea　and　Burak。

The　Brain　was　gone！　The　Invid　garrison　was　his　to　mand！

But　at　the　same　time；　he　was　aware　of　the　terrible　fate　the　hive　had　met；　and　knew；　too；　that　the　Ark　Angel　was　in　the　area。　Though　he　had　an　army　under　his　control；　he　dared　not　use　it　there　on　Spheris。

He　heard　a　clanging　sound　and　turned　to　find　that　some　of　the　more　simpleminded　Inorganics　had　gone　back　to　fighting　one　another。　With　a　mental　shriek；　he　began　rallying　his　forces。　They　began　pouring　toward　the　camouflaged　transports。


〃Getting　strange　power　readings　from　the　spaceport；〃　someone　relayed　the　report　to　Lisa。　〃Could　be　Tesla。　Inorganics　are　disengaging　and　withdrawing　that　way。〃

She　jabbed　her　fist　into　her　palm。　He　had　to　be　stopped！　First　Karen　Penn　had　made　her　report　over　Bela's　set；　then　Gnea　returned　on　Veidt's　carpet；　to　fill　in　gaps　in　the　story；　all　of　it　proved　that　Tesla　must　be　reimprisoned　or　perhaps　even　eliminated。　And　yet　there　were　still　wounded　being　loaded　directly　into　the　Ark　Angel。　She　couldn't　just　seal　up　and　go　chasing　off　after　Tesla。

〃Have　one　Beta　do　a　recon　of　the　spaceport。　Get　all　other　available　VTs　over　here　to　fly　security；〃　she　snapped。　〃And　have　all　non…Protoculture　weapons　stand　ready。　Keep　the　Hovertanks　on　landing…zone…perimeter　patrol。〃

Rick　was　helping　lug　a　stretcher　over　to　a　cargo　lift…all　the　powered　gurneys　were　long　since　full…when　the　sound　went　through　the　city。　He　thought　it　was　an　aftershock。　But　word　of　movement　came　from　the　VTs　flying　cover；　in　moments　everyone　was　watching　as　buildings　out　at　the　starport　began　to　fly　apart。

Since　Spheris　didn't　react　in　pain；　Rick　assumed　the　Invid　had　rigged　some　sort　of　repulsion　charges　rather　than　using　Protoculture　explosives。　In　any　event；　pieces　of　what　had　been　assumed　to　be　a　hangar　plex　were　thrown　outward。　Something　began　rising　from　the　spot　where　the　structures　stood。

Somebody　shouted；　〃I…Invid　troop　transports！〃

Three　of　the　clamshell　vessels　were　lifting　off…troopships　bigger　than　any　the　Sentinels　had　encountered　before。　Rick　expected　them　to　open　up　on　Ark　Angel　for　a　parting　volley；　but　apparently　the　appalling　fate　of　the　hive　had　intimidated　Tesla。

The　starships　rose　higher　and　higher；　throwing　shadows　across　the　city。　Rick　wasn't　surprised　that　Lisa　held　fire；　Spheris　had　been　wounded　enough；　aside　from　the　fact　that　the　planet　might　react　just　as　violently　to　the　Sentinels'　flagship　as　it　had　to　the　hive。


Tesla　watched　Spheris　sinking　away　beneath　him　with　a　mixture　of　relief　and　wrath。　His　victory　had　been　so　close！

But…perhaps　it　was　better　this　way。　Surely；　the　Shapings　of　the　Protoculture　were　leading　him　toward　his　rightful；　Evolved　fate。　〃Optera；〃　he　whispered　to　himself。

He　had　the　greater　part　of　the　Inorganic　garrison　with　him。　From　what　he　could　glean　from　munications　logs　on　the　ships；　the　Regent　was　now　presiding　over　a　Home　Hive　guarded　by　a　badly　depleted　army。　If　he　struck　before　the　Regent　heard　of　the　oute　on　Spheris　and　could　reshuffle　forces；　Tesla　would　have　the　numerical　and　tactical　advantage。

〃Optera；〃　he　said；　a　little　louder；　to　his　bridge　crew。　They　hastened　to　plot　the　course。

Once　he　had　slain　the　Regent　and　assumed　control　of　half　the　Invid　species；　Tesla　would　lead　his　race　to　triumph。　There　were　ways　of　coping　with　the　Sentinels　and　the　Robotech　Masters　and　the　rest　that　the　devolved　maggot　hiding　on　Optera　couldn't　begin　to　conceive。　And　once　Tesla　had　the　universe　beneath　his　heel；　there　would　be　the　Regis　to　win。　But　how　could　she　resist　him；　Evolved　as　he　was？　No　doubt；　he　would　conquer　her　without　firing　a　shot。

〃Optera！〃　he　exulted；　and　took　his　first　bite　from　one　of　the　sunflower…yellow；　pyramid…shaped　Spherisian　Fruits　of　the　Flower　of　Life。　The　juices　ran　down　his　chin　and　moistened　his　magnificent　robes。

His　aura　shone　brighter。


Because　the　new　starships　still　under　construction　had　no　drive　units　or　functioning　weapons；　Breetai's　Valivarre　was　the　only　hope　of　catching　Edwards。

The　fact　that　the　hijacked　SDF…7　mounted　more　fire…power　and　had　more　fighting　mecha　aboard　didn't　deter　the　Zentraedi　giants　for　a　moment；　Edwards　had　made　himself　their　blood　enemy。　Skulls　and　others　were　quickly　boarding　in　their　VTs　and　Hovertanks；　even　as　the　Valivarre　was　casting　off；　but　Wolff　hadn't　been　able　to　get　back　through　the　press　of　battle。

〃Sorry；　Colonel；〃　Breetai　said　sincerely　when　Wolff　pleaded　with　him　to　wait。　〃Every　second　counts　if　I'm　to　catch　that　devil。〃

But　Wolff　had　his　own　schedule；　and　he　kept　it　by　getting　three　Diamondback　VT　pilots　in　Battloid　mode　to　add　their　boost　to　his　own　Hovertank　Battloid's　back　thrusters。　It　was　a　near　thing；　but　he　managed　to　grab　the　aft　section　of　Valivarre　without　being　roasted　by　its　thrusters；　and　drag　himself　to　an　airlock。

〃Wele　aboard；〃　Breetai　said　dryly　over　the　inter。

Edwards　refused　to　stand　and　fight；　and　wouldn't　even　answer　their　transmissions。　〃It's　a　drag　race　now；〃　as　one　Human　officer　put　it。　Both　ships　increased　velocity　toward　lightspeed；　but　bit　by　bit　the　SDF…7　pulled　away。　And；　once　superluminal；　she　could　multiply　her　lead　many　times。

〃We're　losing　him；〃　Breetai　said　in　his　bulkhead…shaking　basso。　Valivarre　had　never　even　gotten　within　weapons　or　VT…strike　range。

Wolff；　standing　near　on　one　of；　the　high　catwalks　Humans　used　for　face…to…face　conversations　with　the　giants；　begged；　〃At　least　let　me　try　a　mo　channel　with　him　one　more　time！　He'll　talk　to　me；　I　know！〃

Breetai　hid　his　pity　behind　a　stern　military　mien；　but　ordered　that　it　be　done。　The　colonel　said；　〃Edwards；　this　is　Wolff。　Answer　me！　Edwards；　I　challenge　you　to　answer　me！〃

He　was　about　to　give　up　in　despair；　the　SDF　widening　its　lead　on　the　Zentraedi　ship。　But　to　everyone's　surprise　Edwards's　contemptuous　smile　appeared　on　the　main　screen。

〃Jonathan；　old　man！　Sorry　I　can't　dawdle；　but　tempus　fugit；　and　so　must　I。　You　understand。〃

〃I　challenge　you；〃　Wolff　said　again。　〃One　on　one。　VTs；　Hovertanks；　bare　hands…name　it。〃

The　Zentraedi　on　duty　on　the　bridge　grunted　a　certain　grudging　respect　for　Wolff　then；　even　though　he　had　shown　certain　weaknesses；　this　was　a　challenge　worthy　of　a　Zentraedi！

But　Edwards　shook　his　head　in　mock　exasperation。　〃Still　the　romantic；　eh；　Jonathan？　Well；　I'm　afraid　I　haven't　got　time　to　play　black　knight　to　your　Galahad。　I've　other　things　to　do；　as　you　can　see。〃

The　camera　angle　shifted　to　a　long　shot；　and　Wolff　moaned。

He　and　the　others　in　Valivarre　were　staring　at　the　most　outlandish　wedding　scene　conceivable。　Inorganics　formed　a　guard　of　honor。　Ghost　Riders　stood　in　ranks　in　a　〃chapel〃　that　was　a　vacant　hold。　The　altar　appeared　to　be　the　unadorned　spacefold　mountings；　presided　over　by　Benson；　one　of　Edwards's　aides。

The　pickup　followed　Edwards　as　he　went　to　the　altar。　Waiting　for　him　there　was　Minmei；　still　wearing　the　clothes　she　had　worn　in　her　cell　but　with　the　addition　of　a　veil　improvised　from　gossamer　antivermin　netting。

The　pickup　zoomed　in　on　Minmei。　She　seemed　a　little　pale；　but　her　eyes　were　bright　and　adoring　as　she　took　the　general's　hand。　She　turned　to　the　camera　for　a　moment。

〃Good…bye；　Jonathan。　I've　found　happiness　at　last。　I　do　really　think　it's　time　you　go　home　to　the　family　you　deserted　and　try　to　make　amends　to　them；　don't　you？〃

Then　she　and　Edwards　knelt　before　Benson；　as　he　raised　his　arms　to　the　crowd　and　intoned；　〃My　fellow　Edwardsian　warriors；　we　are　gathered　here…〃

The　mo　link　was　broken　at　the　SDF's　end。

Wolff　was　sobbing　and　shaking　his　head。　〃It's　a　trick！　It's　a　phony　tape；　or　he's　got　her　drugged！〃

〃Intel　officer？〃　Breetai　snapped　crisply；　turning　to　his　staff。

〃Voice…stress　and　imagery…interpretation　puters　confirm　authenticity；〃　a　giant　tech　officer　answered。　〃No　indications　of　coercion　or　chemical　manipulation。〃

〃That　can't　be！〃　Wolff　howled；　then　put　his　face　in　his　hands。　Some　of　the　other　Humans　got　him　off　the　bridge。

Breetai's　eyes　stayed　with　his　instruments　in　the　vain　hope　that　a　power　failure　or　a　change　of　mind　would　put　Edwards　back　within　his　grasp。　He　castigated　himself　for　not　giving　in　to　one　of　his　hundred　impulses　to　kill　the　man；　despite　his　Zentraedi　oath　of　fealty　to　the　REF。

And　he　felt　a　pang　of　sorrow　for　Wolff。　Breetai；　as　much　as　anybody；　knew　what　hurt　the　love　of　Minmei　could　inflict。


The　Crann；　Scrim；　and　Odeon　watching　the　wedding　service　hadn't　the　vaguest　idea　what　it　meant；　so　they　weren't　surprised　when　the　bride　went　berserk；　just　as　the　soft　music　began　to　play。

The　Humans　did　understand；　but　tried　to　ignore　her　rising　shriek　as　she　leapt　up　from　her　kneeling　position　and　turned　on　Edwards；　trying　to　claw　out　his　good　eye。　Edwards　hissed　out　a　few　perfunctory　vulgar　words　as　he　fended　her　off。　The　two　Hellcats　flanking　the　altar　backed　away；　spitting。

He　had　e　so　close。　Experimenting　with　the　power　of　the　Invid　Brain　he　now　controlled；　he　had　learned　how　to　bend　Minmei　to　him。　The　effort　had　taken　the　major　part　of　his　will…to　the　point　where　the　Inorganics　were　little　more　than　awkward　puppets…because　somewhere　deep　inside；　Minmei　was　fighting　him　every　inch　of　the　way。

It　had　almost　been　perfect；　his　Living　puter　control　of　her　made　it　almost　seem　as　if　she　really　loved　him。

It　was　that　damned　music！　Song　had　always　been　her　unique　power；　and　when　the　bland　strains　played　over　the　PA　system；　the　innermost　part　of　her　began　to　sing　along。　With　that；　she　had　thrown　off　his　hold　over　her　in　moments。　He　fought　to　reassert　it；　but　something　told　him　that　she　would　never　be　vulnerable　to　that　particular　kind　of　domination　ever　again。　Not　while　the　voice　within　her　lived。

Edwards　lost　patience　and　swung　his　fist。　Minmei　dropped；　senseless。　He　tried　to　insinuate　his　mind　into