12_symphony_of_light-第32部分

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

〃That　is　of　little　consequence。。。Your　species　is　nothing　when　weighed　against　the　survival　of　my　people。。。The　Invid　life　force　will　not　be　denied。。。　〃

〃No；　that's　not　right！〃　a　small　voice　rang　out　to　argue　with　her。　Everyone　turned　and　saw　Marlene　enter　the　domed　chamber　from　somewhere；　just　as　they　remembered　her　in　her　yellow　jacket　and　blue　denims。

Scott　called　to　her。

〃So；　Ariel；　it　is　true：　you　are　a　traitor。　Was　it　you　who　led　these　children　of　the　shadow　into　the　hive？〃

〃They　are　not　children　of　the　shadow；〃　Marlene　contradicted　her。　〃They　have　a　life　force　almost　as　strong　as　our　own。〃

〃They　are　the　enemies　of　our　race。〃

〃If　they　oppose　us；　it's　because　we　are　trying　to　do　the　same　thing　to　them　that　was　done　to　us　so　many　years　ago！〃　She　turned　to　her　friends　now。　〃Scott；　listen　to　me：　Perhaps　if　we　could　begin　again；　we　might　be　able　to　find　a　way　for　our　two　races　to　share　this　planet　together；　in　peace。〃

Scott　closed　his　eyes　to　her　and　shook　his　head。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　told　her。　〃But　you　must　realize　that's　impossible。〃

〃So　you'd　rather　have　the　death　and　destruction　continue？〃

〃That's　right；　Marlene；〃　Lunk　cut　in。　〃To　the　bitter　end　if　we　have　to！〃

Marlene　made　a　stunned　sound；　she　had　not　expected　this。

〃Lemme　tell　you　something；〃　Lunk　continued。　〃Maybe　you've　forgotten　that　your　species　invaded　our　world…remember？！〃

〃I　do　remember；〃　she　said　softly。


At　the　edge　of　Earthspace　the　third　attack　group　was　moving　into　position　above　Reflex　Point；　the　Shadow　Fighters　that　rode　its　wake　dematerializing　as　the　mand　was　received　for　activation　of　the　Protoculture　cloaking　device。

〃There　are　still　no　signs　of　the　SDF…3；〃　the　controller　updated。　〃All　other　ships　are　present　and　accounted　for。〃

〃Jinxed！〃　Reinhardt　muttered。

〃Ground　forces　report　successful　penetration　of　the　hive　barrier　shield；　with　heaviest　losses　sustained　by　the　Veritech　squadrons。　Invid　mand　is　either　unaware　of　our　presence　or　unconcerned。　My　guess　is　that　the　cloaking　device　has　been　successful。〃

〃All　right；〃　the　mander　said；　turning　to　the　forward　viewports。　〃Signal　the　fleet　to　form　up　for　final　attack　formation　and　prepare　to　engage。〃　Reinhardt　exhaled　slowly；　exhausted　by　the　weight　of　his　responsibility。　His　confidence　had　been　bolstered　by　the　controller's　report；　but　he　couldn't　help　but　dwell　on　the　possible　consequences　of　failure。　Hunter　had　called　for　the　use　of　neutron　bombs；　which　while　sure　to　annihilate　the　Invid　would　also　spell　doom　for　much　of　the　Earth's　population。


Over　the　battlefield　Corg　was　taking　out　ship　after　ship　in　an　effort　to　offset　Sera's　betrayal。　And　now　his　sensors　were　indicating　the　presence　of　Robotech　mecha　inside　the　hive　itself。　He　dealt　out　death　to　two　more　Veritechs　and　headed　through　the　remnants　of　the　shield　into　the　heart　of　the　hive。


In　the　inner　sanctum；　the　alien　the　Humans　knew　as　Marlene　was　still　trying　to　get　over　Lunk's　remarks。　〃But　you've　traveled　with　me；〃　she　was　telling　him；　the　hurt　evident　in　her　voice。　〃I　even　thought　that　you　liked　me；　or　at　least　accepted　me。　I'm　no　different　now　than　I　was　then；　Lunk。　So　why　have　your　feelings　changed？〃

〃What　d'　ya　mean；　you　haven't　changed？〃　Lunk's　face　was　red　with　rage　beneath　the　lifted　faceshield　of　his　helmet。　〃You're　an　alien！　You　think　we　woulda　taken　you　along　if　we　knew　that？　You're　a　spy！〃

〃But　the　fact　that　I　could　travel　among　you　as　a　friend　should　tell　you　something；　Lunk。　Isn't　it　possible　that　we're　not　so　different；　after　all。。。your　people　and　mine？〃

The　Regis　had　been　following　these　exchanges　with　interest；　and　she　learned　more　about　the　Humans　in　the　past　few　minutes　than　she　had　in　the　past　three　years。　But　Ariel　still　had　a　lot　to　learn。　〃Look　at　these　friends　of　yours；〃　she　said　to　Ariel　and　directly　into　the　minds　of　the　Humans。　〃Notice　how　they　stare　at　you　in　fear　and　confusion…emotional　states　that　in　their　species　inevitably　lead　to　hatred。。。and　violence！〃

〃Yes；　they're　confused　because　they　feel　I　betrayed　them；〃　she　argued；　〃but　they're　not　full　of　hatred。〃

〃Your　contact　with　them　has　blinded　you　to　their　true　nature；　my　child。　It　is　their　genetic　disposition　to　destroy　whatever　they　cannot　understand。〃

〃Now　just　wait　one　damn　minute；　Dragon　Lady！〃　Rand　interrupted　her；　willing　to　risk　a　step　forward。　〃I've　had　about　enough　of　this！　How　do　you　know　what　we're　thinking？　I'm　willing　to　take　Marlene　as　she　is…and　I　think　Lunk　feels　the　same　underneath　all　that　armor　of　his。　I　don't　hate　her。　Especially　now；　knowing　what　she　stands　to　lose　by　ing　to　our　defense　like　this。　But　you　are　another　matter。　As　far…〃

No　one　saw　the　crimson　paralyzing　rays　until　it　was　too　late；　they　seemed　to　bubble　up　out　of　her　blue　eyes　like　dye；　and　they　knocked　Rand　off　his　feet…the　proverbial　look　that　could　kill…but　his　battle　armor　saved　him。

〃It　is　natural　to　them；〃　she　explained　to　Marlene/Ariel；　barely　missing　a　beat。　〃As　natural　as　breathing　itself。　Their　entire　history　is　a　catalog　of　murder；　conquest；　and　enslavement；　all　directed　against　others　of　their　own　species。〃

〃That's　not　true！〃　Sera　now　threw　back；　suddenly　materializing　in　the　chamber。　〃Ariel's　right；　Regis。　Forgive　me；　please；　but　I　too　have　begun　to　doubt　whether　we　are　any　better　than　they　are。〃　She　looked　briefly　at　Lancer　before　continuing。　〃You　say　this　species　is　guilty　of　murder　and　enslavement；　but　how　is　that　any　different　from　what　we're　doing　to　this　planet？〃

〃So；　Sera；　you　and　your　sister　have　been　turned　against　us。〃

Sera；　Lancer　thought　to　himself；　watching　her。

Ariel　was　now　gesturing　toward　the　Humans。　〃Look　at　them；　Regis。　They're　not。。。animals　or　barbarians。　They　are　a　brave　and　noble　people　trying　to　protect　what　is　rightfully　theirs；　just　as　we　tried　to　do。〃　She　offered　Scott　an　imploring　look；　hoping　he　would　understand　and　forgive　her。　Something　in　his　eye　told　her　he　would。

Corg　had　by　now　joined　them　also；　not　in　the　flesh　like　Sera　but　via　the　instrumentality　sphere；　where　his　image　appeared　five　times　life　size。

〃Have　all　of　you　gone　mad？〃　he　shouted。　〃How　did　these　Humans　gain　entrance　to　the　hive？！　Sera；　remove　them　at　once！〃

Sera　thrust　out　her　chin。　〃I　was　not　aware　that　I　had　to　obey　your　orders；　Corg。〃

He　scowled　at　her。　〃Your　contact　with　the　rebels　has　made　you　weak　and　spineless。〃

〃And　it　has　made　a　monster　out　of　you；〃　she　returned。　〃Consumed　by　vengeance　and　evil　passions。　You　are　a　child　of　shadow；　Corg；　not　the　Humans。〃

〃What　are　you　saying？〃　he　bellowed。　〃This　pathetic　species　you've　bee　so　fond　of　cannot　be　allowed　to　stand　in　the　way　of　our　future。　Have　you　forgotten　what　we　have　been　called　to　do？〃

〃If　you　keep　fighting；　there　won't　be　a　future　for　any　of　us；〃　Lancer　said　from　the　floor　of　the　chamber。

Corg　dismissed　the　threat　without　a　word。　〃Enough。　I　am　called　to　battle…where　my　duty　lies！〃

〃I've　got　to　stop　that　lunatic！〃　Scott　yelled；　ignoring　Marlene's　pleas　for　him　to　wait　and　racing　for　the　cockpit　of　his　fighter。


The　Alpha　gave　chase　to　the　alien　ship　through　that　same　netherworld　of　moving　cells　Rand　and　Rook　had　navigated　earlier。　I've　got　you　now！　Scott　thought；　training　his　weapons　on　Corg　even　before　the　two　of　them　had　left　the　hive。　But　the　XT　swung　his　craft　around　and　loosed　a　stream　of　discs　before　Scott　could　get　off　his　shot；　and　an　instant　later　they　were　outside；　dogfighting　in　the　skies　over　those　recently　altered　autumnal　forests。　Red…tipped　heat…seekers　and　anni　discs　cut　through　the　air　as　the　two　aces　put　their　ships　through　their　paces；　dodging　and　juking；　climbing　and　dropping　against　each　other。

Views　of　the　battle　were　displayed　inside　the　chamber；　where　the　rest　of　the　freedom　fighters　were　still　gathered；　along　with　Ariel　and　Sera。

〃I　don't　like　just　standing　around　and　watching　this；〃　Rand　told　Rook。　〃What　do　you　say；　do　we　stay　here　or　go　out　there　and　help　him？〃

〃I　don't　know　anymore；　Rand。　I'm　all　confused。。。　〃

All　at　once　the　sphere's　images　de…rezzed；　only　to　be　replaced　by　space　views　of　the　approaching　Expeditionary　fleet。

The　Regis's　lapis　eyes　narrowed。　〃No！　They　have　e！　The　dark　tides　of　the　shadow　have　e　to　engulf　us　again！〃

〃It's　the　rest　of　Hunter's　fleet！〃

〃Wow！　I　didn't　expect　so　many　ships！〃

〃Well；　that　does　it；〃　Lancer　said　softly；　filled　up　with　a　sudden　despair。　〃Any　hope　of　a　peaceful　settlement　has　just　gone　down　the　drain。〃


CHAPTER　SEVENTEEN

Throw　water　on　her！　Throw　water　on　her！
Remark　attributed　to　Rand　（unconfirmed）　on　seeing　the　Invid　Regis　for　the　first　time

Most　of　Earth's　population　was　unaware　of　the　Expeditionary　Fleet's　arrival；　let　alone　of　the　Olympian　battle　that　was　taking　place　in　the　skies　above　Reflex　Point。　But　even　as　far　off　as　the　remote　areas　of　the　Southlands；　people　knew　something　was　up。　The　Invid　were　suddenly　taking　their　leave…from　cities；　towns；　munications　outposts；　and　Protoculture　farms；　a　steady　stream　of　Troopers　and　Pincer　units；　all　headed　north　for　some　unknown　purpose。

Meanwhile；　in　one　small　section　of　those　embattled　northern　skies；　a　green　and　orange　Invid　mand　ship　was　going　one　on　one　with　a　Veritech；　each　oblivious　to　the　ferocious　fighting　going　on　around　them；　as　though　these　two　had　been　chosen　representative　batants。　And　in　some　ways　they　had。。。

For　Corg；　the　alien　prince；　there　was　no　thought　of　defeat；　only　the　glory　of　victory。　Showing　a　malicious　grin；　he　raised　the　right　cannon　arm　of　his　ship　and　loosed　a　bolt　of　red　death　at　the　approaching　fighter。

But　Scott　was　well　prepared　for　it　and　already　thinking　the　Beta　through　an　avoidance　roll；　he　returned　two　bursts　to　Corg's　one；　reconfiguring　to　Battloid　mode　as　the　VT　came　full　circle。

Corg　darted　left　and　right；　almost　playfully；　then　threw　his　ship　into　a　frontal　assault；　even　as　the　Battloid's　rifle/cannon　continued　to　pour　energy　his　way。　The　two　crafts　collided　and　grappled　in　midair；　thrusters　keeping　them　aloft　while　they　flailed　at　each　other　with　armored　fists。　Scott　tried　to　bring　the　cannon　down　on　the　ship's　crown；　but　Corg　parried　the　blow　and　punished　the　VT　with　body　blows。　Scott　twisted　and　hurled　his　opponent　way；　once　again　he　brought　the　cannon　i