18_the_end_of_the_circle-第50章

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ere　are　you？〃

Even　more　strangely；　he　thought　he　heard　Miriya's　voice；　too；　and　strangest　of　all；　Aurora's…for　Aurora　seemed　to　be　speaking　directly　into　his　mind。

Father；　no！　No！

It　was　no　time　to　give　in　to　hallucinatory　voices；　though；　the　Black　Knight　was　back　on　its　feet；　ing　his　way　in　a　tittering　run　that　covered　a　dozen　yards　at　a　time。　Max　imaged　and　his　rifle/cannon　slid　into　his　grip；　the　thought　that　his　laughter　might　even　now　be　lying　there　dead　made　it　that　much　easier　to　draw　a　bead。

〃Max！　Freeze！〃

He　had　no　idea　why　Kazianna　would　be　yelling　that　in　his　ear；　and　so　in　the　end　it　was　confusion　rather　than　discipline　that　made　him　hesitate　for　the　telling　split　second。　In　that　moment　the　Quadrono　powered　armor　suit　came　barreling　through　a　curtain　of　thick…leaved　branches　and　interwoven　vegetation；　throwing　itself　on　the　Black　Knight　from　the　left。

Max　held　his　fire　and　watched；　astounded；　as　Kazianna　sought　not　to　terminate　the　enemy　but　to　subdue　it　without　harming　the　occupant　and　to　shield　it　from　Max's　fire。

The　Black　Knight　fought　wildly；　but　Miriya　had　e　into　battle　fresh　and　uninjured；　armor　operating　at　peak　levels；　with　the　advantage　of　surprise。　Moreover；　the　viragos　of　the　elite　powered　armor　units　in　effect　fought　exclusively　in　what　the　REF　would　term　Battloid　mode；　the　contest　was　on　Kazianna's　chosen　turf。

Kazianna　called　into　play　all　the　tricks　of　close…in　mecha　brawling　that　she　had　picked　up　in　a　long　Quadrono　career。　Though　the　interloper　was　clever　and　savage；　in　the　end　Kazianna　held　it　immobilized　and　forced　it　to　one　knee；　standing　behind　and　maintaining　a　plicated　arm…bar　hold　on　it。

Max　expected　her　to　deliver　the　coup　de　grace　or　at　least　disable　the　thing　utterly。　But　to　his　shock；　Kazianna　freed　one　hand　for　a　moment；　made　a　quick　move；　and　dropped　a　hand　weapon　of　her　own　onto　the　forest　floor；　almost　within　reach。

Max　made　a　decision　and　raised　the　rifle/cannon　again；　hoping　he　could　avoid　hitting　Kazianna　but　determined　to　blow　away　the　black　mecha。　His　Battloid's　finger　was　squeezing　the　trigger　when　Miriya's　voice　came　to　him　again。　〃Max；　don't　shoot！〃

And　Aurora's　voice　spoke　in　his　mind：　We　have　to　break　the　spell；　Father！　Don't　you　see　what's　happened？　She　sent　a　vivid　image　into　his　mind；　the　clearest　mental　link　he　was　ever　to　have　with　his　confounding　younger　daughter。

〃Oh；　my　God；〃　he　whispered。

His　Battloid's　hand　lowered；　the　rifle/cannon　falling　from　its　lax　grip。　He　waited　as　Kazianna　slowly　released　her　hold　on　the　Black　Knight。　The　thing　reached　out　slowly；　almost　unwillingly；　taking　up　the　gun　Kazianna　had　thrown　down；　and　began　to　e　to　its　feet。

The　war　queen　of　the　Quadronos　waited；　tensed；　to　pounce　on　the　strange　mecha　again…if　it　seemed　about　to　fire　on　Max；　but　such　a　contest　might　e　out　either　way。　The　thing　was　moving　uncertainly；　as　if　in　a　trance。

Max　could　feel　Aurora's　thoughts　pouring　toward　it；　Miriya's　voice　came　over　the　　net　to　it。　〃This　isn't　what　you　want。　e　back　to　us。〃

Max　stood　looking　into　the　weapon's　muzzle；　arms　hung　at　his　sides；　in　the　profoundest　torment　he　had　ever　known。　〃Whatever　happens；　please梐lways；　always　know　that　。　。　。　that　I　love　you。　We've　always　loved　you　with　our　whole　hearts。〃　Then　he　stood　up　straight；　the　gun　barrel　centered　on　him；　waiting。

The　Black　Knight's　aim　wavered；　and　after　what　seemed　like　a　lifetime　it　dropped　the　weapon　with　a　cry　of　utter　misery　in　a　voice　they　all　knew。　The　mecha　staggered；　and　Kazianna　caught　it；　already　working　at　the　unfamiliar　lock…downs　to　crack　it　open。

Max　dashed　to　them；　reconfiguring　as　he　went　so　that　he　sprang　down　from　a　kneeling　Guardian　whose　huge　metallic　hands　helped　keep　the　supine　Black　Knight　steady。　As　he　got　down；　Aurora　and　Miriya　were　emerging　from　Kazianna's　open　helmet；　Miriya　helping　Aurora　lower　herself　to　the　ground。　They　had　ridden　in　the　powered　suit；　which　had　been　retrofitted　back　during　the　monopole　mining　operations　on　Fantoma　to　carry　Micronian　observers。

Kazianna　had　gotten　the　soot…black；　alien…contoured　chest　plate　open。　Max；　Miriya；　and　Aurora　scrambled　up　and　raced　to　gather　around　the　pilot's　seat；　Max　fumbling　to　remove　from　her　a　thinking　cap　that　looked　more　like　an　instrument　of　torture。

Dana；　ing　out　of　whatever　spell　it　was　the　Regis　had　used　to　throw　open　her　dark　side；　blinked　up　at　them。　〃Dad；　I　uhhh。　Don't　hate　me；　I　didn't　want　to？

〃Shh！　We　know；　everything's　all　right。〃

〃Dana；　we　love　you；　oh；　sister　。。。〃

Then　all　four　Sterlings　were　weeping；　trying　to　talk　at　once；　hugging　and　kissing　each　other。　At　the　same　time　they　struggled　to　get　Dana　out　of　the　pilot's　seat/iron　maiden　into　which　she　had　been　transferred　somehow　from　the　globular　prison　out　at　the　end　of　the　Black　Knight's　arm。　Aurora's　emanations　of　grief　and　joy　bathed　them　all；　Kazianna　included。　Kazianna　eased　back　a　bit　once　Dana　was　down　on　solid　ground　again　to　give　the　four　some　room　and　privacy。　She　thought　of　the　strange　interludes　that　had　e　upon　the　newspace　castaways；　and　some　abrupt　instinct　made　her　look　straight　up　into　the　sky。

Framed　by　the　hole　the　descending　mecha　had　made　in　the　forest　canopy；　a　single　gargantuan　eye　that　Kazianna　knew　now　for　the　Regis's　gazed　back。

The　giantess　murmured；　〃You　never　learned　this　from　Zor；　did　you？　No；　nor　from　the　Great　Work；　or　your　Genesis　Pits；　or　even　the　transcendence　itself。〃

But　the　Regis　made　no　answer；　and　there　was　no　sign　what　the　new　data　would　mean　to　her　race/self。

Then　that　last；　separated　part　of　her　attention　was　gone；　reunited　with　the　rest　of　her；　as　the　Regis　addressed　herself　to　the　threat　she　sensed　from　Haydon。


People　were　used　to　deferring　to　Lang；　to　obeying　without　question　the　driving　force　of　the　SDFs；　RDF；　and　REF。　Even　when　he　landed　in　a　shuttle　whose　jamming　gear　was　fouling　up　munications　with　the　planet　below；　even　when　he　emerged　alone　and　gave　orders　to　seal　all　flight　decks　and　air　locks；　even　when　he　walked　away　without　a　word　of　explanation　or　authorization；　they　automatically　moved　to　obey。　Even　Xien　knew　his　authority　lay；　in　reality；　somewhere　far　below　Lang's。

Perhaps　every　human's　did。

Niles　Obstat　attempted　to　get　into　the　shuttle；　to　shut　down　the　countermeasures　and　jamming　gear　so　that　the　SDF…3　could　contact　the　ground　party；　but　the　shuttle　refused　to　open　no　matter　what　he　tried。

Lang　was　already　racing　to　his　sanctum　sanctorum　back　near　Engineering　when　he　heard　the　PA　chatter　about　an　unauthorized　air　lock　opening　and　the　arrival　of　an　Alpha。　He　was　too　busy　thinking　about　other　things　to　curse；　but　his　lips　curved　a　bit　in　a　cold　smile。　Nichols　the　cyber…master；　what　an　unexpectedly　worthy　opponent！

Louie　emerged　from　the　VT　to　find　the　people　waiting　for　him　looking　like　the　victims　of　some　psychic　plague：　dazed　and　unfocussed；　not　sure　who　or　what　to　trust；　least　of　all　their　own　senses。　At　least　Xien　and　Niles　Obstat　summoned　up　the　resolve　to　confront　Louie　and　try　to　intervene。

Louie　swept　them　with　his　black；　bug…goggled　gaze。　〃I　can't　explain；　follow　me　if　you　like。　Lang　has　to　be　stopped。〃

Xien　stepped　in　his　way。　〃Admiral　Hunter　hasn't　given　any　orders。〃

〃The　Hunters　and　the　rest　are　all　right；　I　think。　Ask　them　yourself。〃

Louie　had　glanced　to　where　Lang's　abandoned　shuttle　was　carelessly　parked。　Crew　members　were　swinging　a　heavy…duty　cutting　unit　into　place　for　forced　entry。　At　Louie's　glance；　various　nearby　sensors　registered　a　change；　and　somebody　from　the　TIC　reported　that　the　jamming　had　stopped。

Xien's　mouth　became　a　thin；　resolute　line；　and　he　pulled　his　sidearm；　training　it　on　Louie。　〃You　stand　fast　until　the　admiral　says　differently。〃

He　had　just　turned　to　muster　a　security　detail　to　bring　Lang　to　ground；　when　they　all　heard　the　grinding　of　mecha。

All　over　the　hangar　deck　war　machines　were　moving；　mechamorphosing；　rousing　up　like　wakened　fairy…tale　monsters。　Xien　was　brushed　back　by　a　Guardian's　careful　hand；　unhurt　but　helpless　to　interfere。　The　would…be　security　detail　found　themselves　boxed　in　by　a　Battloid　and　the　single　functioning　second…generation　Destroid　aboard。　Similarly；　other　personnel　moved　out　of　Louie's　way　or　were　moved　from　it。

Louie　showed　a　bit　of　harried　delight　as　three　figures　stood　forth　from　the　shadows　to　regard　him。　Strucker；　Shi…Ling；　and　Stirson　had　to　maintain　their　concentration　with　so　many　mecha　to　remote…control。

〃Keep　them　all　here；〃　Louie　ordered　his　men。　〃Same　goes　for　the　Hunters　and　the　rest。〃

〃Listen；　you　need　us　with　you；〃　Shi…Ling　began。

〃Uh　uh；　I've　got　Lang's　number；　but　he'd　just　burn　you　out。〃

The　unplugged　people　present　heard　the　toccatas　and　rondos　of　data　only　as　dim　sounds　from　control　panels　and　puter　units。　To　Louie　and　his　disciples　it　was　a　symphony　and　light　show　that　surrounded　them　and　validated　Louie's　assertion　with　hard　proof：　Only　he；　with　his　augmentations；　could　hope　to　survive　a　clash　with　Lang。　Stirson　conceded；　〃We　understand。　Wipe　'im；　man。〃

Louie　ran　on　his　way。　He　never　knew　if　he　found　the　passages　empty　by　some　doing　of　Lang　or　as　a　result　of　the　Regis　or　sheer　coincidence。　He　got　to　Lang's　sanctum　sanctorum　to　find　the　heavy　hatch　of　the　armored　vault　module　hanging　open。

Emil　Lang　was　poised　on　a　stool　within；　contemplating　the　apparatus　taken　so　long　ago　from　Zor's　quarters。　Now　it　was　radiant　with　Protoculture。

Lang　spoke　casually；　without　looking　at　him。　〃I　think　you'll　find　this　interesting；　Doctor。　Do　e　in。〃

Louie　shrugged　out　of　his　jacket。　Where　his　black　turtleneck　was　torn；　the　bionics　and　chip　technology　that　had　bee　parts　of　his　body　could　be　seen；　along　with　the　cyberport　at　the　back　of　his　neck。

Lang　glanced　at　him。　〃Don't　be　frightened；　it's　too　late　for　you　to　do　me　any　harm；　so　I've　no　need　to　harm　you。〃　Louie　was　not　ready　to　put　money　on　that　yet；　but　it　was　certain　that　Lang　was　on　his　own　playing　field。　Oh；　maybe　there　was　something　Louie　could　do　about　the　door　servos　or　the　conventional　light　fixtures；　but　everything　of　any　significance　was　Protoculture；　and　Lang　had　already　proved　who　was　top　dog　in　that　particular　arena。

Louie　gulped　but　entered。　What　else　was　there　to　do？　〃Doctor；　look：　I　know　what　you're　thinking；　but　you　can't　control　the　Shapings。　Remember　what　happened　to　Zand？〃

Lang's　voice　cut　like　razor　wire。　〃You　impertinent　little　cyborg　Pinocchio！　Do　you　think　you've　risen　so　high　that　you　can　look　down　on　me　in　that　fashion？〃

〃That　wasn't　what　I　meant。〃

Lang　eyed　him　and　grudgingly　believed　him。　〃Doctor　Nichols；　if　what　we　are　observing　were　allowed　to　e　to　pass…if　real；　spacetime　were　drawn　into　newspace　and　the　whole　reformed　along　lines　chosen　by　the　Regis…I　believe　that　your　somewhat　unorthodox　intellect　and　talents　would　make　you　the　new　template　for　the　nature　of　Protoculture。　〃And　I　do　not　find　that　an　easy　thing　to　concede。〃

Louie　swallowed。　〃I　just…〃

〃Please。　Allow　me　to　finish。　As　glorious　a　thing　as　that　new　universe　would　be…that　fresh　start；　that　shining　correction；　perhaps；　of　all　that's　gone　wrong　with　our　old　one　there　is　much　that　would　inevitably　pass　away。　Maybe　most；　or　virtually　all；　of　everything　we　have　known。〃

〃I　don't　celebrate　evil　or　pain；　oh；　no！　But　all　that's　happened　m