18_the_end_of_the_circle-第47章

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There　wasn't　much　vigilance　to　their　withdrawal　in　spite　of　Rick　and　Lisa's　disspirited　promptings。　What　good　to　keep　your　guard　up　when　all　of　newspace　might　well　attack　at　any　moment？

Rick　thought　twice　before　approaching　Louie　Nichols；　the　Regis　might　be　listening　in。　But　then；　the　same　could　be　said　about　the　deepest　security　vault　on　the　SDF…3。

〃Louie？　What　about　the　Peter　Pan？　Can　we　make　a　run　for　it　if　we　have　to？〃

Louie　worked　his　shoulders；　adjusted　his　goggles；　and　went　through　some　more　of　his　repertoire　as　they　walked　along。　〃I　doubt　it。　It　turns　out　that　the　sphere　ships　aren't　exactly　like　I　thought　they　were。　Not　really　built　with　a　return　trip　in　mind。

〃Think　of　'em　as　bobsleds；　created　for　a　single　voyage　along　a　particular　flow　of　force…down　a　snowy　hill；　if　you　see　what　I　mean。　The　Peter　P。　might　be　forced　up　the　hill；　but　I　wouldn't　bet　on　it。〃

He　looked　so　downcast　that　Rick　figured　Louie　was　regretting　that　he　had　ever　gotten　involved　in　the　rescue　attempt。　He　patted　one　skinny　shoulder。　〃I　don't　know　if　I　ever　said　thanks；　Louie。　I'm　grateful　for　your　being　here　to　help；　grateful　as　an　officer　and　grateful　as　a　man　with　a　family　in　danger。〃

That　seemed　to　take　Louie　by　surprise；　but　he　mumbled　some　acknowledgment。　Then　he　picked　up　his　pace；　head　bent　in　thought。

Max　Sterling　had　to　restrain　himself　from　grabbing　Aurora　and　clasping　her　to　him；　shielding　her　with　his　body。　That　way；　the　Black　Knight　mecha…or　whatever　it　was　that　his　bat　skills　had　brought　into　existence　in　newspace…would　have　to　e　through　him　to　get　her。　But　she　was　so　fragile；　so　ethereal　that　he　didn't　want　to　frighten　her。　And　so　he　hung　near　her　like　a　shadow；　peering　and　glaring　in　all　directions；　sweat　running　down　his　face。

He　was　a　fighter　jock；　a　mecha　warrior；　his　talents　lay　elsewhere；　and　he　always；　felt　insufficient　to　cope　with　the　expanded　powers　and　perceptions　of　his　youngest。　And　now　he　had　sensed　some　terrible　peril；　bee　its　focus；　and　there　was　little；　perhaps　nothing；　he　could　do　to　help。　Nothing　but　protect　my　daughter　with　my　life。

At　least　one　person　in　the　group　had　kept　her　training　in　mind　and　was　maintaining　a　high　level　of　alertness　as　she　went；　though。　Dana　was　carrying　a　Wolverine　rifle　at　the　ready；　more　than　willing　to　open　up　if　a　target　presented　itself；　wishing　for　one；　if　the　truth　be　known。

She　had　fallen　far　back　to　walk　rear　guard；　relieving　Lron。　The　sight　of　Minmei　and　Rem　leaning　on　each　other　had　abraded　her　nerve　endings　and　left　her　in　an　empty；　murderous　mood。　Even　in　the　worst　of　those　days　after　her　parents　had　left　on　the　SDF…3…times　when　she　had　found　herself　in　some　agency…sponsored　home　or　care　institution…she　hadn't　felt　quite　so　resentful　and　drained。

That　was　because　she　hadn't　met　Zor　Prime　yet；　no　doubt。　And　once　in　a　while　she　got　a　visit　from　a　friend　who　loved　her　unconditionally。

She　heard　the　chirping　yip　faintly。　The　person　ahead　of　her…Dr。　Penn；　his　mind　apparently　a　million　parsecs　away　did　not　seem　to　notice　it。　But　Dana　recognized　it　at　once。

〃Polly！　〃　She　said　it　softly；　not　wanting　the　others　to　e　barging　back　to　her。　The　Pollinator　was　her　pet；　her　lifelong　friend。

Only；　how　had　Polly　gotten　there？　He　had　disappeared　let's　see…back　on　Tirol；　just　before　she'd　lifted　for　Haydon　IV。　Well；　if　walls　and　doors　were　no　barrier　to　him　or　his　kin；　why　should　space　be？

Manifestly；　it　wasn't；　because　there　he　sat；　like　an　animated　mophead；　thirty　feet　back　the　way　she　had　just　e。　His　head　was　tilted　to　one　side；　and　he　gazed　at　her　bemusedly；　as　if　she　were　the　one　who'd　disappeared　without　warning　and　he　was　the　aggrieved　party。

SOP　said　that　she　should　signal　for　a　halt　and　request　permission　and　backup　before　fetching　him；　but　by　that　time　Polly　might　take　it　into　that　cute　knob…horned　head　of　his　to　vanish　again。　Dana　glanced　to　make　sure　Harry　Penn　hadn't　noticed…he　was　still　going　his　way　deep　in　thought…and　turned　back　to　make　the　pickup　on　the　Pollinator。

〃Don't　give　me　that　innocent　look；　you　little　deserter！〃　She　knelt　by　him；　shifting　her　rifle　so　that　she　had　a　free　hand　to　scoop　him　up。　〃Maybe　I　oughta　tie　a　bell　to　your　collar。　Or　better　yet；　get　a　spacefold　leash…he…eeyy！〃

Wait　a　minute！　Polly　had　somehow　gotten　himself　not　just　across　space　but　into　newspace。　That　must　mean　there　was　some　way　back　out！

〃Oh；　baby！　Wait'll　Louie　and　Lang　hear　this…umph！　You　been　puttin'　on　weight；　or　what？〃

The　Pollinator　dragged　at　her　arm；　nearly　pulling　her　to　her　knees；　the　sheer　mass　of　him　unbelievable。　〃What's　wrong…holy　f…fff…〃

Polly；　back　on　his　little　muffin　feet；　was　no　longer　the　adorable　teleporting　pet　she　loved。　His　feet　sprouted　black　claws；　and　his　sheepdog　face　took　on　an　evil　leer。　What　really　sent　shivers　down　her　spine；　though；　was　that　he　was　growing　like　an　inflating　life　raft；　only　faster。

Dana　gave　a　yell　and　stumbled　back；　bringing　her　rifle　up；　wondering　if　the　Pollinator　had　fallen　prey　to　some　weird　newspace　rabies。　Her　finger　was　on　the　trigger；　but　she　hesitated；　this　was　one　of　her　few　true　friends；　after　all；　and　friends　meant　everything　to　her。

Polly's　hide　showed　through　the　molting　white　pelt　as　the　creature　grew：　black；　smooth；　and　hard…looking。　Polly　heightened　and　broadened；　bigger　than　Dana　already；　rearing　back　on　two　lengthening　hind　legs。

Dana　had　hesitated　to　give　the　alarm；　fearing　that　someone　would　shoot　her　dog；　but　that　ceased　to　matter。　The　Pollinator　let　out　an　eerie　inorganic　sound；　like　a　processed　challenge　roar。

〃Polly；　stop！　Stay　back！〃　She　had　the　Wolverine　up；　centered；　backing　away　herself。　The　thing　in　front　of　her　took　a　step　toward　her；　though；　and　when　its　massive　black　foot　pouched　down；　there　was　a　distinct　metallic　sound。

It　leaned　toward　her；　and　from　its　sheepdog　face　there　appeared　a　single　red…yellow　lens。

Dana　howled　fiercely　for　a　universe　that　would　turn　a　dear　pet　and　friend　into　a　deadly　foe。　She　brought　the　Wolverine　up　and　fired　a　sustained　burst　at　the　thing　that　had　been　the　Pollinator。


Farther　up　the　line；　everybody　froze。　Harry　Penn　blinked；　caning　out　of　his　distraction；　getting　his　bearings。　〃It's　Dana！〃　he　yelled　to　those　ahead　of　him；　and　turned　back；　drawing　his　Badger。

Max；　farther　toward　the　front　of　the　column；　caught　the　news　as　it　was　passed　along。　People　were　yelling　conflicting　questions；　answers；　and　orders。

Max　moaned　aloud。　〃Dana！〃　He　pressed　Aurora　into　Miriya's　arms。　〃Hang　on　to　her！〃　Rick　and　Lisa　had　e　hurrying　back　down　the　column；　berating　people　to　set　up　security　and　guard　against　a　surprise　attack　from　another　quarter。　Lisa　was　calling　in　air　cover；　Rick　was　trying　to　find　out　what　was　going　on　at　the　rear。

People　formed　up　to　defend　the　children；　Kazianna　towering　among　them　and　unlimbering　her　oversized　weapons。　Max　shoved　his　wife　and　daughter　toward　them。　〃Vince！　Don't　let　anything　happen　to　them！〃

Then　he　was　off　to　the　rear；　leaving　Louie　and　his　cyberteam　where　they　had　set　up　rifle　positions；　dodging　Scott　Bernard；　who　had　Marlene　clasped　to　him　protectively。

Max　broke　through　the　final　screen　of　foliage　to　see　something　immense　and　black　standing　with　its　back　to　him；　the　sun　of　Omphalos　doing　little　to　relieve　its　intense　darkness。

Those　who　had　already　gotten　to　the　scene　Harry　Penn；　Bowie；　Lron；　and　a　few　others　wavered；　holding　their　fire；　not　sure　what　was　going　on。　The　black　mecha　had　bent　to　pick　something　up。　It　turned　toward　them；　straightening　to　its　full　height；　with　Dana　in　its　armored　fist。

Lron　raised　the　squad　laser　weapon　that　he　carried　like　a　rifle　and　would　have　fired　into　the　black　mecha's　leg　in　hopes　of　bringing　it　down；　Max　knocked　the　laser's　thick　barrel　down。　〃Hold　your　fire；　all　of　you！〃

The　thing　clutching　Dana　raised　its　free　hand；　pointing　at　Max。　She　was　struggling　determinedly　but　weakly　to　break　out　of　its　grip；　the　effort　was　hopeless；　and　she　did　not　seem　to　have　the　breath　to　yell　to　those　below。　Huge；　humped；　and　misshapen　as　a　giant　troll；　the　black　mecha　leaned　toward　Max　as　if　about　to　speak。

But　before　it　could；　thrusters　shook　the　ground　and　one　of　the　escort　Veritechs　arrived；　a　Beta　in　Guardian　mode。　It　landed　like　an　eagle　ready　to　do　battle；　its　balled　armor　fists　cocked。

Its　pilot　couldn't　open　up；　though；　since　Dana　was　in　the　line　of　fire。　The　pilot　began　to　shift　his　VT　through　mechamorphosis；　going　to　Battloid；　but　before　he　could；　the　black　mecha　leapt　at　him　and　with　one　swing　of　its　fearsome　fist　smashed　the　VT　down。

The　Guardian/Battloid　crashed　to　the　ground；　broken　and　smoking。　Even　as　people　raced　toward　it　to　rescue　the　pilot；　the　black　mecha　hit　its　foot　thrusters　and　shot　away　into　the　sky；　still　clasping　Dana。

In　the　middle　of　the　confusion　another　escort　VT；　an　Alpha；　appeared；　called　back　from　its　CAP　flight；　requesting　instructions。　As　boss　of　the　SDF…3's　fighter　mand；　Max　got　on　the　net。

〃Get　down　here　right　now。〃

〃But　mander　Sterling；　shouldn't　t？

〃I　said　land！〃

With　a　dozen　different　matters　vying　for　his　attention　guarding　against　further　attack；　counting　heads　to　see　if　anyone　else　had　been　taken；　checking　whether　the　Beta　pilot　was　still　alive；　raising　the　dimensional　fortress　for　reinforcements　and　to　arrange　a　safe　pullback　Rick　didn't　realize　what　Max　was　doing　until　it　was　too　late。

Max　was　gone；　the　second…generation　Alpha　shrieking　away　in　Fighter　mode；　going　supersonic　in　its　ballistic　climb；　its　sonic　booms　shaking　the　ground　of　Omphalos。　The　VT's　pilot　was　standing　there　bareheaded　Max　having　appropriated　his　thinking　cap　helmet　staring　after　his　departing　craft。

He　saw　Rick。　〃Sir；　he　didn't　even　stop　to　call　for　reinforcements。〃

〃I　know；　it's　being　done。〃

Of　course；　it　would　be　precious　minutes　before　more　VTs　could　get　there　from　the　low…orbiting　SDF…3。　The　fighter　jock　nodded。　〃No　way　was　he　gonna　wait；　sir。〃

Rick；　watching　the　spot　where　Max　had　disappeared　in　the　distance；　agreed。　〃No；　the　gauntlet's　been　thrown；　Lieutenant。〃


The　Alpha　was　one　of　the　best　in　the　SDF…3　inventory；　a　souped…up　new　armored　Alpha　version　of　a　second…generation　VT　that　was　why　Max　had　assigned　it　to　fly　security　for　the　ground　party　but　it　was　all　he　could　do　to　keep　the　Black　Knight　in　view。

〃Black　Knight〃　was　the　way　he　had　e　to　think　of　his　antagonist。　Supposedly；　that　made　him　the　White　Knight；　but　he　felt　a　poor　excuse　for　one。

And　a　despicable　failure　as　a　father。

He　had　worried　about　Miriya　from　the　first；　always　apprehensive　because　she　had　gone　through　the　sizing　chamber；　had　been　subjected　to　so　many　dangers；　had　nearly　died　in　battle　and　childbirth　alike…he　himself　had　nearly　killed　her！　And　for　Aurora；　otherworldly　entity　from　the　very　start；　with　her　mind　powers　and　unnatural　maturation　rate；　Max　had　had　constant　concern。

But　Dana；　Dana　。。。　what　malign　brilliance　for　the　being　that　ruled　newspace　to　test　him　this　way！　He　had　left　Dana　behind　on　Earth　against　his　own　better　judgment　when　the　SDF…3　set　forth。　No　one　but　Miriya…except　perhaps　Aurora…knew　how　bitterly　he'd　condemned　himself　when　he'd　heard　about　the　suffering　and　hardship　she　had　had　to　bear。

Never　knowing　a　true　home；　growing　up　in　war；　her　heart　wounded　terribly　by　Zor　Prime　and　he