12_symphony_of_light-第31部分

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No；　it　can't　be！　Scott　thought。

All　at　once　Lancer's　voice　pierced　the　cacophony　of　sounds　ing　over　the　tac　net。

〃I'm　hit；　Scott！　The　gyro…stabilizers　are　shot！　I　can't　get　myself　turned　around！　Can't　get　the　canopy　up；　either。　I'm　down　and　out…；buddy！。。。A　memory！〃


CHAPTER　SIXTEEN

One　of　the　intriguing　（and　unanswered）　questions　of　＇the　Third　Robotech　War＇　is　how　Ariel/Marlene　acplished　her　minor　miracle　in　the　skies　above　Reflex　Point。　Nesterfig　（in　her　controversial　study　of　the　social　organization　of　the　Invid）　advances　the　theory　that　Ariel　somehow　〃borrowed〃　Protoculture　energy　leaking　from　the　hive　barrier　shield…the　same　that　so　affected　the　surrounding　countryside。　But　this　does　not　really　answer　the　question。　Neither　Corg　nor　Sera　was　endowed　with　similar　abilities；　and　most　experts　agree　that　they　were　the　most　highly　evolved　of　the　Regis's　creations。　The　Lady　Ariel　herself　was　never　able　to　shed　light　on　this　curious　incident。
Zeus　Bellow；　The　Road　to　Reflex　Point

In　the　cockpit　of　her　mand　ship；　Sera　flashed　a　self…satisfied　smile　at　her　display　screen。　The　Human　pilots　had　hoped　to　get　the　better　of　her　troops　by　reconfiguring　their　craft；　but；　vastly　outnumbered；　they　were　sustaining　the　same　losses　in　Battloid　mode　as　they　had　in　Guardian。　But　suddenly　her　scanners　revealed　that　Lancer's　fighter　had　been　one　of　those　to　feel　the　Invid　wrath；　and　although　his　ship　had　not　been　destroyed；　it　was　plummeting　toward　Earth；　hopelessly　out　of　control。　As　she　watched　him　fall；　memories　of　his　face　played　across　the　screen；　and　when　she　could　bear　no　more　of　it；　she　engaged　the　thrusters　of　her　ship　and　fell　in　to　rescue　him。

Ariel's　words　came　back　to　her　now：　We　have　learned　nothing　Sera；　nothing！　And　she　answered　back：　〃You're　wrong；　Ariel。　I　have　learned　to　love　at　least　one　of　our　enemies；　enough　to　betray　my　own　people。〃

Lancer　caught　sight　of　the　rapidly　approaching　Invid　mand　ship　and　guessed　that　it　was　corning　in　to　finish　him　off。　He　had　been　struggling　with　the　canopy　release　switches　but　had　since　abandoned　any　idea　of　freeing　up　the　jammed　mechanisms。　His　teeth　were　gritted　now；　and　he　was　resigned　to　death。　But　all　at　once　the　Invid　was　actually　scooping　up　his　wounded　ship　in　its　armored　arms；　and　far　from　annihilating　him；　the　enemy　was　pulling　him　out　of　his　fall。　He　glanced　up　and　saw　through　his　canopy　and　the　enemy　ship's　bubble　cover　that　it　was　the　blond　woman　pilot。　Whether　she　was　XT　or　Human　had　yet　to　be　learned；　but　whoever；　she　was　saving　his　life。

〃Why？〃　he　shouted。　〃Why？！〃

And　somehow　her　voice　found　its　way　through　the　VT's　mand　net　to　answer　him：　〃Don't　ask　me　to　explain；〃　she　told　him。　〃But　in　saving　your　life　I　have　forfeited　my　own！〃

At　the　same　time　her　ship　let　go　of　his；　but　the　Alpha's　systems　were　revived　now；　and　the　foot　thrusters　were　able　to　maintain　it　at　treetop　level。　Lancer　had　the　Battloid's　rifle/cannon　raised；　and　it　would　have　been　a　simple　matter　to　destroy　the　mand　ship；　but　instead　he　let　it　escape　unharmed；　confused　by　this　latest　turn　of　events。


Closer　to　the　hive；　Scott　was　still　staring　at　the　flame　cloud　Marlene　inhabited。　Several　other　Battloids　were　similarly　suspended；　awed　by　the　sight。

〃Marlene。。。is　it　you？〃　Scott　asked　the　thing　hesitantly。　〃Is　it　really　you？〃

In　response；　the　flame　leapt　toward　the　hive。　Cocooned　within　its　radiance；　Marlene；　tike　some　living　filament；　stretched　out　her　arms；　and　sinuous　waves　of　lightning　leaked　into　the　sky。

Scott　engaged　the　VT's　boosters　and　shot　after　her。　Lancer　was　right　behind　him。

Corg's　ship　was　not　far　off；　while　he　watched　the　two　Earth　mecha　streak　off　in　pursuit　of　Ariel's　projected　image；　the　voice　of　the　Regis　entered　his　ship；　informing　him　of　Sera's　betrayal。

〃She　did　what？〃　Corg　said　in　disbelief。

〃It　is　true；　Corg；〃　the　Regis　repeated。　〃She　has　saved　the　life　of　one　of　the　Robotech　rebels。〃

〃Then　she　is　as　tainted　as　Ariel。〃　How　was　it　that　this　Human　species　could　make　his　sisters　abandon　their　duty？　he　asked　himself。

He　vented　his　rage　against　two　Battloids　and　three　Alphas；　destroying　all　of　them　with　blasts　from　the　forearm　cannons　of　his　ship；　then　he　soared　after　Ariel　and　her　rebel　friends。


But　if　the　flame　had　begun　to　alter　itself；　so　had　the　weather。　The　land　had　suddenly　passed　from　spring　to　summer；　and　now　autumn　leaves　were　falling。　Rand　and　Rook　were　still　following　Marlene's　form；　a　flickering　sun　trailing　tendrils　of　light。

〃Marlene；〃　Rand　shouted　over　the　net；　hoping　she　could　hear　him。　〃What　does　all　of　this　mean？！　What's　going　on？〃

If　they　had　any　doubts　that　what　they　were　seeing　was　truly　Marlene；　the　voice　they　heard　put　an　end　to　all　of　them。

〃Can't　you　understand？〃　the　flame　seemed　to　ask；　oscillating　as　it　moved；　its　naked　filament　regarding　them　over　her　shoulder；　long　red　hair　streaming　out　behind　as　though　it　were　a　part　of　the　light　itself。　〃We　are　only　trying　to　find　a　place　where　we　can　live　in　peace　and　security。〃

〃Yeah；　but　you　forgot　something；〃　Rand　reminded　her　angrily。　〃This　planet　is　our　home；　not　some　Invid　retirement　munity。〃

〃You　must　believe　me；　it　was　never　our　plan　to　destroy　Humanity。〃

Marlene's　flame　shot　ahead　of　them；　a　free…floating　electrical　disturbance　against　the　crimson　and　yellow　surface　of　the　hive。

〃Then　what　was　your　plan？〃

〃I　am　neither　Human　nor　pletely　Invid。　I　am　a　new　form　of　life　that　is　a　blending　of　the　two。　I　see　that　now；　although　my　Regis　does　not。　I　can　see　that　it　was　never　our　destiny　to　remain　in　this　Human　form。　But　I　must　somehow　make　her　understand。〃

Even　though　they　were　scattered；　the　rest　of　the　team…Scott　and　Lancer；　Lunk　and　Annie…were　monitoring　the　conversation。

〃And　this　new　form　of　life　is　planning　to　replace　the　old　one；　I　suppose；〃　said　Lancer；　still　thinking　about　the　humanoid　pilot　who　had　saved　his　life。

〃My　friends；　follow　me　into　the　central　core；　the　heart　of　the　Invid　civilization。　There　all　your　questions　will　be　answered。〃

With　that　the　flame　dove　into　the　hive；　opening　a　radiant　portal　in　the　side　of　the　dome。

〃She　went　in；〃　Annie　said　in　an　amazed　voice　from　the　shotgun　seat　of　the　APC。　〃You're　not　going　to　follow　her；　are　you？〃　she　added；　tugging　on　Lunk's　arm。

〃You　better　believe　I　am；〃　he　told　her　firmly。　〃Listen；　Mint；　if　you're　scared；　you　can　hop　out。　I'll　be　back　for　you。〃

〃I'm　not　scared；〃　she　harumphed；　turning　her　back　to　him。　〃I　don't　think。。。　〃

They　were　approaching　a　blinding　white　hole　in　the　side　of　the　hive　now；　driving　entirely　out　of　their　own　world；　destined　perhaps　never　to　return。


It　was　a　little　like　being　underwater　or　within　a　living　bloodstream；　replete　with　cells　and　corpuscles。　In　the　distance　they　could　discern　a　blinding　white　sphere；　bisected　by　a　horizontal　ray　that　spanned　the　field　from　one　side　to　the　other。

And　Marlene's　form　was　still　leading　them　in。

〃I　can't　believe　it；〃　Rand　said　to　Rook　over　the　net。　〃We're　inside　Reflex　Point。　I　thought　we　were　supposed　to　be　destroying　this　place；　not　taking　the　grand　tour。〃

〃I　think　I　prefer　the　view　from　the　outside。　Where　do　you　suppose　she's　taking　us？〃

〃Over　the　rainbow；〃　said　Rand。


Almost　everyone　emerged　at　the　same　moment：　Rook　and　Rand；　still　in　Battle　Armor　mode；　Lunk　and　Annie　in　the　APC；　and　Lancer　and　Scott　in　their　fighter　mode　Alphas。　The　place　was　a　huge　cavernous　chamber；　filled　with　light　and　supported　by　what　seemed　to　be　webwork　strands　of　living　neural　tissue。　Suspended　overhead　was　an　enormous　globe　of　pure　Protoculture　instrumentality；　a　kind　of　veined　bronze　sphere　with　dark　shadows　moving　and　shaping　within　it；　responding　to　a　will　that　was　fearful　to　contemplate。

They　were　all　shocked　to　see　each　other；　but　where　Annie　was　excited；　Scott　was　angry；　he　threw　off　his　〃thinking　cap；〃　raised　the　canopy　of　the　alpha；　and　hopped　out；　storming　over　to　the　two　Cycloners。

〃I　thought　I　told　you　two　to　stay　put；〃　he　began。　〃You're　not　soldiers！〃

Rand　marveled　that　the　man　could　even　be　entertaining　such　thoughts　given　the　circumstances。

〃Well；　since　we're　not　soldiers；　we　don't　have　to　follow　your　orders；　do　we？〃　Rook　threw　back　at　him；　raising　the　faceshield　of　her　helmet。

〃Marlene　led　us　to　this　place；〃　Annie　explained；　climbing　down　from　the　APC。

Scott　looked　around　unfortably。　〃She　led　all　of　us　here；　I　guess。〃

Suddenly　Rand　was　pointing　up　to　the　sphere；　its　interior　was　growing　brighter　by　the　second。　The　glow　culminated　in　a　flash　of　threatening　light。

〃Foolish　Humans；〃　an　omnipresent　deep　but　female　voice　began；　〃you　have　e　here　seeking　to　look　upon　the　face　of　the　Invid　Regis。。。So　be　it。　You　shall　see　her。〃

Over　the　rainbow；　indeed！　Rand　said　to　himself。

The　next　thing　anyone　knew；　someone　had　pulled　the　plug；　plunging　the　Regis's　inner　sanctum　into　darkness；　except　for　the　inner　glow　of　that　sphere；　directed　down　on　them　now　like　stage　light。　Then　a　towering　flame　formed　beneath　the　base　of　the　sphere。　It　was　similar　to　the　one　that　had　enpassed　Marlene　earlier；　only　this　one　was　larger　and　more　menacing。　And　within　it　they　could　discern　a　hairless　humanoid　figure；　thirty　feet　high　and　dressed　in　a　long　red　robe　and　strange　gloves　that　dangled　a　kind　of　tail。

〃Behold；　I　am　the　Invid。　I　am　the　soul　and　the　spirit。　I　have　guided　my　people　across　the　measureless　cosmos；　from　a　world　that　was　lost　to　a　world　that　was　found。　I　have　led　my　people　in　flight　from　the　dark　tide　of　the　shadow　that　engulfed　our　world；　one　that　threatens　to　engulf　us　even　now。　I　am　the　power　and　the　light。　I　am　the　embodiment　of　the　life　force；　the　creator…protector。　In　the　primitive　terminology　of　your　species；　I　am。。。the　Mother！〃

While　she　spoke　they　had　views　of　nebulae　and　star　systems；　the　journey　the　Invid　had　taken　from　Optera　to　Tirol　and　on　to　all　the　worlds　that　had　led　them　eventually　to　Earth。

Light　returned　to　the　chamber；　and　they　had　a　full　view　of　the　blue…eyed　creature；　the　Invid　mother。

〃You　are　surprised。。。So　were　we；　when　we　discovered　that　the　planet　to　which　we　were　led　by　the　Flower　of　Life　was　inhabited　by　the　very　species　who　had　destroyed　our　homeworld。〃

〃I'd　say　‘inhabited；'〃　Rand　started　to　say。

〃That　is　of　little　consequence。。。Your　speci