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Limbless£»¡¡amorphous£»¡¡asexual¡¡creatures¡vaguely¡¡mushroom¡shaped¡¡when¡¡Zor¡¡first¡¡saw¡¡them¡they¡¡lived¡¡munally¡¡in¡¡conical£»¡¡hivelike¡¡structures¡¡from¡¡which¡¡they¡¡made¡¡daily¡¡forays¡¡into¡¡the¡¡surrounding¡¡countryside¡¡for¡¡the¡¡purpose¡¡of¡¡hover¡gathering¡¡fruits¡¡and¡¡flowers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡planet's¡¡singular¡¡plant¡¡life¡£¡¡After¡¡several¡¡days¡¡of¡¡observing¡¡the¡¡creatures¡¡in¡¡their¡¡routines¡¡and¡¡rituals¡all¡¡of¡¡which¡¡centered¡¡on¡¡the¡¡flowers¡¡and¡¡trees¡Zor¡¡came¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡that¡¡the¡¡beings¡¡made¡¡use¡¡of¡¡the¡¡plant¡¡for¡¡physical¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡spiritual¡¡nutrition¡£¡¡Seemingly¡¡oblivious¡¡to¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡off¡worlders£»¡¡they¡¡ingested¡¡the¡¡flower¡¡petals¡¡and¡¡fruits¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mature¡¡crop¡¡and¡¡often¡¡sipped¡¡the¡¡sap¡¡of¡¡the¡¡seedlings£»¡¡which¡¡Zor¡¡had¡¡discovered¡¡possessed¡¡strong¡¡psychoactive¡¡ingredients¡£
Ultimately¡¡he¡¡had¡¡approached¡¡what¡¡he¡¡took¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡hive¡¡leader¡¡and¡¡had¡¡learned¡¡that¡¡the¡¡creatures¡¡were¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡telepathic¡¡munication¡£¡¡He¡¡realized£»¡¡too£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡the¡¡capacity¡¡to¡¡alter¡¡their¡¡physical¡¡being¡¡to¡¡suit¡¡their¡¡circumstances¡£¡¡While¡¡Zor¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hive¡¡leader¡¡had¡¡conversed£»¡¡the¡¡creature¡¡had¡¡actually¡¡assumed¡¡a¡¡semblance¡¡of¡¡sexually¡¡differentiated¡¡humanoid¡¡form¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡that¡¡one¡¡who¡¡had¡¡identified¡¡the¡¡race¡¡by¡¡the¡¡name¡¡Invid¡¡and¡¡first¡¡used¡¡the¡¡term¡¡¡¨Flower¡¡of¡¡Life¡£¡¨¡¡This¡¡one¡¡who¡¡led¡¡the¡¡landing¡¡party¡¡to¡¡the¡¡overlook¡¡and¡¡told¡¡Zor¡¡about¡¡the¡¡Queen¡Mother¡¡they¡¡called¡¡Regis¡£
Zor£¡¡¡Are¡¡you¡¡ing£»¡¡Zor£¿¡¡Vard¡¡had¡¡shouted¡¡once¡¡more£»¡¡and£»¡¡reluctantly£»¡¡Zor¡¡had¡¡begun¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡him¡¡down¡¡the¡¡steep¡¡slope£»¡¡along¡¡a¡¡path¡¡strewn¡¡with¡¡velvety¡¡Flower¡¡of¡¡Life¡¡petals¡£
And¡¡so¡¡had¡¡menced¡¡a¡¡marvelous¡¡journey¡¡of¡¡two¡¡Tzuptum¡¡days¡¡through¡¡Flower¡crowned¡¡hills¡¡and¡¡bustling¡¡hive¡¡settlements¡¡that¡¡weled¡¡them¡¡with¡¡silent¡¡chant¡¡and¡¡delivered¡¡them¡¡finally¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lair¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Queen¡Mother¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£
Zor¡¡stood¡¡gazing¡¡at¡¡her¡¡now£»¡¡eyes¡¡next¡¡to¡¡closing¡¡from¡¡the¡¡soporific¡¡warmth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hive's¡¡central¡¡chamber¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡conjugated¡¡herself¡¡in¡¡an¡¡approximation¡¡of¡¡humanoid¡¡female¡¡form¡¡in¡¡his¡¡honor¡£
In¡¡his¡¡honor¡£¡¡The¡¡phrase¡¡she¡¡had¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡him¡£
¡¨We¡¡have¡¡anticipated¡¡your¡¡return¡¡to¡¡Optera¡¡for¡¡so¡¡long£»¡¡Bringer¡¡of¡¡Life¡£¡¡Forgive¡¡me¡¡if¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡adept¡¡at¡¡fully¡¡mimicking¡¡your¡¡present¡¡form¡£¡¨
You¡¡anticipated¡¡our¡¡ing£¿¡¡Zor¡¡had¡¡asked¡¡her£»¡¡confused¡£
¡¨The¡¡memory¡¡is¡¡ancient¡¡but¡¡deep¡¡within¡¡me¡£¡¡The¡¡Flowers¡¡were¡¡your¡¡gift¡¡to¡¡us¡£¡¨
Zor¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡being¡¡mistaken¡¡for¡¡someone¡¡who¡¡had¡¡visited¡¡Optera¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dim¡¡past¡¡and¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡correct¡¡the¡¡Regis¡¡when¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡paralysis¡¡gripped¡¡his¡¡thoughts¡£¡¡The¡¡Flowers¡¡of¡¡this¡¡world¡¡contained¡¡a¡¡form¡¡of¡¡novel¡¡bio¡energy¡£¡¡They¡¡endowed¡¡life¡indeed£»¡¡nature¡¡and¡¡matter¡¡itself¡with¡¡the¡¡power¡¡to¡¡shift¡¡and¡¡reshape£»¡¡to¡¡wrestle¡¡from¡¡the¡¡gods¡¡themselves¡¡the¡¡ability¡¡to¡¡control¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡evolution¡£
Then¡¡consider£»¡¡Zor¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡thinking£»¡¡what¡¡the¡¡result¡¡might¡¡be¡¡if¡¡the¡¡plant's¡¡bio¡energy¡¡could¡¡be¡¡harnessed¡¡and¡¡directed¡£
Would¡¡the¡¡power¡¡to¡¡light¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡worlds¡¡seem¡¡too¡¡much¡¡to¡¡ask£¿¡¡The¡¡power¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡ships¡¡across¡¡the¡¡sweep¡¡of¡¡stars£¿¡¡The¡¡power¡¡to¡¡shape¡¡and¡¡reconfigure¡¡the¡¡very¡¡continuum¡¡itself£¿¡¡The¡¡extension¡¡of¡¡life¡¡¡£¡£¡£
And¡¡yet¡¡the¡¡secret¡¡of¡¡municating¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Flower¡¡and¡¡harnessing¡¡that¡¡energy¡¡lay¡¡with¡¡the¡¡unknown¡¡being¡¡that¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡it¡¡to¡¡Optera¡£¡¡And¡¡with¡¡this¡¡Invid¡¡shape¡¡changer¡¡who¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡heir¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Flower's¡¡fortunes¡£
Zor¡¡was¡¡intrigued¡£¡¡He¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Regis¡¡was¡¡the¡¡key¡¡unlocking¡¡Optera's¡¡mysteries£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡of¡¡mad¡¡inspiration¡¡he¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡set¡¡himself¡¡the¡¡goal¡¡of¡¡possessing¡¡that¡¡key¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡seduce¡¡this¡¡queen¡¡to¡¡make¡¡that¡¡happen£¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡your¡¡highness£»¡¨¡¡Zor¡¡said¡¡to¡¡her¡¡at¡¡last¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡finally¡¡returned¡£¡¨
CHAPTER¡¡SEVENTEEN
I¡¡knew¡¡Lisa¡¡was¡¡serious¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡she¡¡stepped¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vanity£»¡¡dressed¡barely£¡¡in¡¡that¡¡revealing¡¡black¡¡camisole¡¡Karen¡¡Penn¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡for¡¡her¡¡thirty¡ninth¡¡birthday¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡surprised£»¡¡even¡¡though¡¡I¡¡shouldn't¡¡have¡¡been¡£¡¡I¡¡mean£»¡¡I¡¡remembered¡¡the¡¡look¡¡in¡¡Lisa's¡¡eye¡¡when¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡Kaziana¡¡with¡¡Drannin¡¡that¡¡first¡¡time£»¡¡and£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡we¡¡had¡¡talked¡¡over¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡some¡£¡£¡£Well£»¡¡Lisa¡¡must¡¡have¡¡caught¡¡the¡¡look¡¡on¡¡my¡¡face¡¡£¨that¡¡night¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Ark¡¡Angel£©£»¡¡because¡¡she¡¡laughed¡¡and¡¡started¡¡to¡¡accuse¡¡me¡¡of¡¡backing¡¡out¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡told¡¡her¡¡no¡¡way¡£¡¡And£»¡¡well£»¡¡let's¡¡just¡¡say¡¡I¡¡put¡¡my¡¡whole¡¡heart¡¡into¡¡what¡¡naturally¡¡followed¡£
The¡¡Collected¡¡Journals¡¡of¡¡Admiral¡¡Rick¡¡Hunter
There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡girl¡¡in¡¡Rick's¡¡past£»¡¡a¡¡gamine£»¡¡honey¡¡blond¡¡California¡¡free¡¡spirit¡¡named¡¡Jessica¡¡Fisher£»¡¡the¡¡eldest¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡Alice¡¡Fisher£»¡¡an¡¡old¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡Pop's¡£¡¡Rick¡¡had¡¡met¡¡her¡¡shortly¡¡after¡¡Pop¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡the¡¡flying¡¡circus¡¡to¡¡Sacramento¡¡in¡¡search¡¡of¡¡spectators¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡extra¡¡wartime¡¡scrip¡¡in¡¡their¡¡pockets¡£
Rick¡¡had¡¡just¡¡turned¡¡nine£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡and¡¡Jessica¡¡were¡¡introduced¡¡to¡¡one¡¡another¡¡as¡¡cousins¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡not¡¡taken¡¡long£»¡¡however£»¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡actual¡¡blood¡¡bond¡¡between¡¡them£»¡¡especially¡¡after¡¡Pop¡¡and¡¡Alice¡¡had¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡their¡¡own¡¡romance¡¡out¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡closed¡¡doors¡£¡¡Rick£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡there¡¡when¡¡things¡¡had¡¡gotten¡¡started¡¡between¡¡his¡¡aging¡¡dad¡¡and¡¡the¡¡independent¡¡Alice£»¡¡the¡¡night¡¡the¡¡four¡¡of¡¡them¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡into¡¡San¡¡Francisco¡¡and¡¡¡¨the¡¡Visitor¡the¡¡SDF¡1¡had¡¡made¡¡its¡¡grand¡¡appearance¡£¡¡Of¡¡course£»¡¡very¡¡few¡¡people¡¡realized¡¡they¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡a¡¡ship¡¡in¡¡the¡¡skies¡¡that¡¡night£»¡¡and¡¡Russo's¡¡government¡¡had¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡Macross¡¡project¡¡under¡¡wraps¡¡for¡¡the¡¡next¡¡five¡¡years¡£¡¡But¡¡Pop¡¡and¡¡Alice¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡touched¡¡by¡¡something¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡because¡¡their¡¡relationship¡¡had¡¡changed¡¡from¡¡that¡¡night¡¡on¡£¡¡Rick£»¡¡too£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡transfigured¡¡by¡¡the¡¡event¡£¡¡Youthful¡¡flying¡¡ace¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡fast¡¡being£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡liked¡¡to¡¡think¡¡the¡¡sky¡¡as¡¡his¡¡property¡even¡¡though¡¡Neasian¡¡and¡¡other¡¡military¡¡pilots¡¡might¡¡have¡¡argued¡¡the¡¡claim¡and¡¡suddenly¡¡in¡¡that¡¡same¡¡sky¡¡he¡¡had¡¡glimpsed¡¡a¡¡power¡¡that¡¡surpassed¡¡all¡£¡¡The¡¡impact¡¡on¡¡his¡¡young¡¡mind¡¡was¡¡as¡¡devastating¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡exhilarating£»¡¡for¡¡while¡¡Pop¡¡had¡¡done¡¡his¡¡best¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡his¡¡only¡¡child¡¡sheltered¡¡from¡¡the¡¡disputes¡¡that¡¡had¡¡plagued¡¡Earth¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡Visitor¡¨¡¡had¡¡made¡¡it¡¡clear¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡no¡¡hiding¡¡from¡¡war's¡¡long¡¡reach¡£
Jessica£»¡¡ironically£»¡¡had¡¡guessed¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡about¡¡what¡¡they¡¡had¡¡witnessed¡£¡¡I'll¡¡bet¡¡it¡¡was¡¡an¡¡alien¡¡spaceship£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡told¡¡Rick¡£¡¡And¡¡it's¡¡e¡¡down¡¡to¡¡show¡¡everybody¡¡on¡¡Earth¡¡that¡¡war¡¡isn't¡¡the¡¡only¡¡way¡¡that¡¡things¡¡get¡¡changed£»¡¡that¡¡there're¡¡all¡¡kinds¡¡of¡¡powers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡universe¡¡we'll¡¡never¡¡understand¡¡if¡¡we¡¡keep¡¡thinking¡¡war's¡¡the¡¡answer¡£
She¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡three¡¡years¡¡older¡¡than¡¡Rick¡¡and¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡more¡¡concerned¡¡about¡¡such¡¡things¡£¡¡And¡¡after¡¡Pop¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡in¡¡California¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡circus¡¡elsewhere£»¡¡Rick¡¡would¡¡often¡¡sit¡¡at¡¡Jessica's¡¡feet¡¡for¡¡hours£»¡¡listening¡¡carefully¡¡to¡¡what¡¡she¡¡had¡¡to¡¡say¡¡about¡¡hatred¡¡and¡¡injustice¡¡and¡¡greed£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡would¡¡pay¡¡close¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡the¡¡things¡¡she¡¡read¡¡aloud¡¡from¡¡novels¡¡and¡¡texts¡¡and¡¡some¡¡of¡¡Alice's¡¡books¡¡on¡¡philosophy¡¡and¡¡religion¡£¡¡Outside¡¡the¡¡year¡¡of¡¡high¡¡school¡¡he¡¡had¡¡attended¡¡in¡¡Sonoma£»¡¡the¡¡time¡¡with¡¡Jessica¡¡came¡¡as¡¡close¡¡to¡¡a¡¡standard¡¡education¡¡as¡¡Rick¡¡had¡¡received£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡time¡¡he¡¡had¡¡turned¡¡fourteen£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡pletely¡¡infatuated¡¡with¡¡her¡£
That¡¡she¡¡was¡¡still¡¡almost¡¡three¡¡years¡¡older¡¡than¡¡he¡¡made¡¡things¡¡extremely¡¡plicated£»¡¡because¡¡by¡¡then¡¡older¡¡boys¡¡had¡¡begun¡¡to¡¡show¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Sacramento¡¡farmhouse£»¡¡guys¡¡who¡¡would¡¡stop¡¡by¡¡to¡¡visit¡¡with¡¡Jessica¡¡and¡¡fill¡¡her¡¡head¡¡with¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡talk¡¡about¡¡what¡¡they¡¡were¡¡going¡¡to¡¡do¡¡when¡¡they¡¡joined¡¡the¡¡war¡£
Rick¡¡had¡¡already¡¡tried¡¡on¡¡countless¡¡occasions¡¡to¡¡express¡¡his¡¡feelings¡he¡¡had¡¡even¡¡gone¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡writing¡¡her¡¡a¡¡poem¡but¡¡the¡¡words¡¡just¡¡couldn't¡¡make¡¡it¡¡past¡¡his¡¡lips¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡he¡¡had¡¡tried¡¡unsuccessfully¡¡to¡¡corner¡¡her¡¡into¡¡confessing¡¡her¡¡undying¡¡love¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡There¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡hand¡¡holding¡¡and¡¡quick¡¡kisses¡¡but¡¡nothing¡¡that¡¡approximated¡¡the¡¡passion¡¡Rick¡¡had¡¡decided¡¡the¡¡two¡¡of¡¡them¡¡were¡¡meant¡¡share¡£¡¡So£»¡¡invariably£»¡¡when¡¡any¡¡of¡¡Jessie's¡¡prospective¡¡boyfriends¡¡were¡¡on¡¡hand£»¡¡Rick¡¡could¡¡be¡¡found¡¡retreating¡¡to¡¡his¡¡room£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡would¡¡sulk¡¡for¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡or¡¡two¡¡or¡¡stare¡¡at¡¡all¡¡the¡¡trophies¡¡and¡¡medals¡¡his¡¡flying¡¡skills¡¡had¡¡earned¡¡him¡¡and¡¡wonder¡¡why¡¡they¡¡were¡¡not¡¡doing¡¡the¡¡trick¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡certain¡¡was¡¡not¡¡about¡¡to¡¡sit¡¡out¡¡there¡¡on¡¡the¡¡porch¡¡and¡¡spew¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡nonsense¡¡about¡¡how¡¡many¡¡enemy¡¡planes¡¡he¡¡planned¡¡to¡¡down¡¡when¡¡his¡¡turn¡¡came¡£¡¡And¡¡what¡¡was¡¡Jessie¡¡doing¡¡listening¡¡all¡¡the¡¡lies¡¡those¡¡characters¡¡were¡¡feeding¡¡her£»¡¡anyway£¿
The¡¡truth£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡would¡¡unfold£»¡¡was¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡listening¡£¡¡One¡¡night¡¡she¡¡had¡¡followed¡¡Rick¡¡back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡room¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡just¡¡that£»¡¡and¡¡damned¡¡if¡¡she¡¡hadn't¡¡been¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡Rick's¡¡feelings¡¡all¡¡along£¡¡¡But¡¡how¡¡could¡¡you¡¡even¡¡think¡¡for¡¡minute¡¡I'd¡¡be¡¡impressed¡¡by¡¡all¡¡that¡¡war¡¡talk£¿¡¡she¡¡had¡¡asked¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡want¡¡that¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡hero¡¡in¡¡my¡¡life£»¡¡Rick¡£¡¡I¡¡want¡¡to¡¡fall¡¡in¡¡love¡¡with¡¡someone¡¡who¡¡isn't¡¡afraid¡¡to¡¡look¡¡for¡¡different¡¡answers¡£¡¡Someone¡¡like¡¡you¡£
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And¡¡oddly¡¡enough£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡Jessie¡¡he¡¡was¡¡thinking¡¡about¡¡now£»¡¡laser¡cutting¡¡a¡¡path¡¡through¡¡the¡¡verdant¡¡foliage¡¡of¡¡a¡¡new¡¡world£»¡¡staring¡¡at¡¡Marie¡¡Crystal's¡¡shapely£»¡¡jumpsuited¡¡deriere¡£
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Rick¡¡stopped¡¡short¡¡on¡¡the¡¡narrow¡¡trail£»¡¡only¡¡to¡¡have¡¡Karen¡¡Penn¡¡bump¡¡up¡¡against¡¡his¡¡back¡£
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He¡¡was¡¡not¡¡sure¡¡just¡¡what¡¡had¡¡made¡¡him¡¡think¡¡of¡¡Jessie¡¡after¡¡all¡¡those¡¡years¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡true¡¡that¡¡the¡¡argument¡¡with¡¡Lisa¡¡had¡¡touched¡¡off¡¡a¡¡cascade¡¡of¡¡angry¡¡thoughts£»¡¡but¡¡no¡¡sooner¡¡had¡¡he¡¡lowered¡¡the¡¡VT's¡¡canopy¡¡in¡¡the¡¡launch¡¡bay¡¡than¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡cleared¡¡from¡¡his¡¡mind¡£¡¡And¡¡Marie¡¡Crystal's¡¡butt¡¡not¡¡been¡¡responsible£»¡¡either£»¡¡no¡¡matter¡¡how¡¡pleasing¡¡it¡¡was¡£¡¡Because¡¡for¡¡all¡¡the¡¡lust£»¡¡Rick¡¡was¡¡experiencing¡¡waves¡¡of¡¡nostalgia¡¡as¡¡well¡£¡¡A¡¡yearning¡¡for¡¡simpler¡alternative¡¡presents¡£
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Memories¡¡of¡¡Earth¡¡before¡¡the¡¡wars¡£
Jack¡¡Baker¡¡appeared¡¡from¡¡the¡¡underbrush¡¡a¡¡few¡¡steps¡¡behind¡¡Rick¡waved£»¡¡and¡¡came¡¡up¡¡alongside¡£¡¡Rick¡¡not¡¡only¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡younger¡¡man¡¡but¡¡noticed¡¡the¡¡same¡¡wistful¡¡in¡¡Baker's¡¡green¡¡eyes¡£¡¡He¡¡tracked¡¡Baker's¡¡gaze¡¡to¡¡Karen's¡¡backside¡£
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