友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
富士康小说网 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

18_the_end_of_the_circle-第36部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!


e; Horatio at the bridge。 Exedore and Cabell at the Second Gen matrix would outdo all of those。

Cabell had brought forth two protective faceplates; handing one to Exedore。 〃Here you are; my dear fellow。〃

Exedore accepted his; slipping it on。 〃You know; Cabell; I still maintain that one of us can in all likelihood carry out this; er; procedure。 There is thus no reason for you to make this sacrifice。〃

〃Now; now。 We've been all over this; old friend。 There's no guarantee that one operator could balance the induction field and simultaneously calibrate the integration mixture。 And it's far too late to automate the process。 No; that just won't do梠therwise I'd have insisted you leave。〃

Exedore shook his head; settling the faceplate into place。 Strange how; so late in his long years; he had bee friends with such an odd assortment of beings: Micronians; Sentinels; even a Clone of Zor himself。 And Cabell; who was a panion and kindred soul; rather than the master his position would once have required him to be。

Both of them were working as fast as they could even while they were musing。 Surveillance satellites gave word that the sphere ships were making planetary approach at much higher speed than had been foreseen。

Still; Exedore saw calmly; he and Cabell would have time to carry out their last act。 The special magnetic bottling fields began to e into existence; and in another few minutes Protoculture and Anti…Protoculture would mix in mutual annihilation。

There was another warning tone…from the surveillance satellites。 〃An energy plexus of unknown type has been detected; originating from the sphere fleet; moving in the direction of Tiresia。〃

The two panions stopped their work and looked at the speaker。 〃Describe its nature。〃

〃It is nonmaterial;〃 came the reply; 〃a webwork of mental energy in some ways resembling the Awareness and yet unlike it。〃

Cabell was horrified。 〃That is because it is no longer linked to the instrumentality of Haydon IV。 We've been caught unawares!〃

He leapt to his controls; Exedore doing the same; and they prepared to fire the Anti…Protoculture infusion device; ready or not。 But even as they did; the puter voice from the satellite net announced; 〃Calculations show that there is no time to plete your current endeavor。 The Awareness has raced ahead of the sphere ships and now enpasses the Royal Hall。〃

But by then Cabell and Exedore didn't need the puter to tell them something was wrong。 A sparkling network; like a highway system of strobing luminescence in the sky; had sprung into being all around the hall…not the Awareness itself but a side effect of the Awareness's presence; an exertion of its artificial mind powers。

The inside of the grand pyramidal chamber holding the matrix became like an aquarium filled with strange; insubstantial waters; shimmering air showing colors to which neither Exedore nor Cabell could put a name。 It made the facsimile matrix's music turn ominous and caused it to glimmer in a new and sinister fashion。

Cabell; suffused with light; felt his consciousness slipping away。 〃Fire! Do not wait!〃 He held his grip on his senses for an extra moment; contriving to fall against the control panel and hook one arm over the ignition release; dragging the lever down with him。

Exedore; seeing what he had done; stabbed with the last of his strength for the firing button; even though he thought the charge was too low to acplish the full destruction of the matrix。 As his finger descended; he saw that the firing unit was aglow with the Awareness's light。

It all made such chilling sense; the Awareness had been removed from its instrumentality…Haydon IV itself…and yet maintained in a coherent state。 So Haydon has disembodied his AI construct and sent it here to fuse with the matrix…its new instrumentality。

The firing unit failed to function; of course。 The device built by Exedore and Cabell to destroy the matrix began to die; its fields falling silent; its Anti…Protoculture beginning to depose at once; returning to the quantum foam from which it had been extracted with such enormous effort。

The light effects of the Awareness's merging with the matrix showed some of the cat's…cradle patterning that had been observed within Haydon IV。 Exedore slumped in his place at the controls。

All across Tiresia; those who were brave; curious; or fatalistic enough to want to bear witness to the end peeked forth from their concealment。 Out of the Royal Hall's peak rose a swirling nebula; showing some characteristics of the Awareness; some of the facsimile matrix; and some that were totally unfamiliar。

The nebula lit the city as it ascended higher into the night toward the waiting sphere ships。 Tiresia was spared a last and utter destruction。 Exedore and Cabell roused themselves from the paralysis of the Awareness's visit and watched the nebula of force rise up into the blackness to rejoin Haydon。


Max had hoped to score a quick victory in hand…to…hand bat with the black mecha; but the enemy machine was tremendously strong and agile; at least a match for his Alpha and maybe more。

He held his own against it; though; his own lightning reflexes being relayed through the 〃thinking cap〃 and a lifetime's training in unarmed bat ing to his aid。

Above all; he clung to the thing's globular right fist; terrified that if he released it for even an instant; the black mecha would harm or kill Dana; perhaps even by smashing it against Max's own Battloid。

The two war machines wrestled and struck at each other as they fell from the sky; neither one's thrusters able to stop it or give it the upper hand。 Max tried to force the foe's right arm around to gain leverage with his Battloid's legs and rip loose the all…important right arm。 But the enemy was fiendishly clever and nearly managed to kick his Battloid's head off。

In all the confusion; though; the two managed to get their foot thrusters under them and cushion their fall somewhat。 They crashed into the top tier of a three…layer forest canopy; breaking off limbs and sending wildlife flapping and skittering。

They hung up in the second tier layer; entangled in more branches and networks of heavy vines。 Max thought he saw a chance to pin his antagonist where one of the great trunks divided; immobilizing the black mecha and giving him the chance he needed to rescue Dana。

But the foe seemed to read his mind and struck at the Battloid's head with the globe at the end of its right arm。 Max dodged desperately to avoid harming his daughter and lost his balance。 The Black Knight brought its huge left fist down on the Alpha where a human's collarbone would be。 The Battloid reeled; falling 。。。


Rick dashed to catch up with Louie; who in turn was hotfooting it so as not to fall behind Lang。 〃Halt; goddammit!〃 If anybody could shed some light on what was happening; it was the two Protoculture hotshots; but neither seemed inclined to stop。 Finally Louie; younger and fleeter; of foot; caught up with Lang and hauled him around by one shoulder。 〃Doctor! Listen to me!〃

〃Let go!〃 Lang shoved Louie with that strange strength Rick had seen him exhibit on one or two rare occasions。 But cough Louie was hurled back with extreme force; taking an impact against a tree that made Rick wince; he bounced back for more; taking up the chase again。

〃Rick!〃 It was Lisa; perhaps no other voice could have made him stop and turn around just then。 She was ing along at a run; too; with Scott Bernard and Marlene。 The children and most of the others were following more slowly in good order; but Rick noticed that Kazianna was nowhere to be seen。

He got on the tac net to the guards posted back at the landing zone。 〃Hold Doctors Lang and Nichols under close arrest until I get there…and keep 'em away from each other!〃

He had time to repeat the message for clarity's sake; with the guard detail mander acknowledging; before Lisa caught up。

〃Rick; Marlene says everything's starting to unglue or melt down。 Something's trying to change even the Regis's plans。〃 Marlene was nodding。 〃I can feel it; even though my connection with the Protoculture isn't as strong anymore。 I believe that the Regis and something else are about to lock in some tremendous struggle。〃

〃Haydon? 〃

Lisa nodded; 〃It sounds like a good bet。 I wanted to hear what Aurora had to say; but she's gone; too…she and Miriya and Kazianna。〃

She pointed to a disappearing Quadrono armored suit; vanishing in the direction Max and the Black Knight had taken。 〃Something about that black mecha; and none of them would take the time to explain。〃

Rick wanted to wait until they were all back aboard the SDF…3 to clear things up; but he understood that there might not even be that much time。 〃What do Roy and the other kids say?〃

〃They're too upset to make a lot of sense; but they obviously think something very dangerous is about to happen。〃

〃That's it; then; we get everybody back to the ship before we do anything else。〃 As he said it; they heard the sound of heavy engines; and one of the two shuttles lifted off。 Rick got the group moving as fast as he thought they could stand。 Luckily; Kazianna had left her Zentraedi behind to help maintain security。

Just before the party reached the landing zone there was another roar; and an Alpha went leaping away after the shuttle。

When the group got to the remaining shuttle; they found dazed security people dealing with their own wounded。 〃I…I'm not sure how it happened; sir;〃 a rattled mander told Rick。 〃We had Doctor Lang and Doctor Nichols in custody…and then suddenly Lang had knocked out three of my best people; and the shuttle hatch opened all by itself to let him in。 〃Everybody piled on Nichols to make sure he didn't get away。 We had 'im held down pretty good until one of the Battloids just knelt down; without anybody even at the controls; to get him loose。 Then he boarded and flew off after Lang。〃

〃The new age of miracles;〃 Vince muttered。

Rick didn't answer。 Lisa had already sent someone to see if the remaining shuttle was working; it was; as were the mecha。

〃Various people have had their mental powers expanded in one fashion or another;〃 Jean Grant observed。 〃It seems that; at least in some cases; those expanded powers are now growing。 〃

Rick heard a thoughtful note in her voice and turned to her to see her looking at the SDF…3 children。 Lisa blurted; 〃Jean; what are you saying?〃

For a moment Rick feared the same thing his wife did: that Jean's point was that the children were now to be considered a threat; that it had at last e down to war within families。

But instead; Jean Grant showed the first hint of a smile they had seen from her in a long time。 〃What I'm saying is; the children think it'd be a good idea to get out of newspace?and the Regis is somewhat occupied all of a sudden…and somewhere not too far away; our spacefold drives are sitting there waiting for us。〃

In the moment's silence that followed Rick heard the strange cries and stridulations of Omphalos's wildlife。 Vince threw an arm around his wife and kissed her。 〃You're one of a kind; kid。〃

Rick was already giving hand signals。 〃Okay; get ready to board。 We'll all have to squeeze onto one shuttle。〃

〃Are we going home; Daddy?〃

He reached down and gathered up his son。 〃Yes; we are。〃


CHAPTER THIRTY?FIVE

How hot a pilot was Max Sterling? Perhaps this simple observation makes the point best: Among the VT fighter jocks; his modest; upbeat middle…American manner of speech replaced the Chuck Yeager drawl that had dominated among pilots for decades and sifted down among other fliers as well。
If you don't understand how very much that meant; go ask any old stick…and…rudder hand。
Theresa Duvall; Wingmates: The Story of Max and Miriya Sterling 

All his training; experience; and remarkable skills came to nothing in that critical moment after Max was struck by the Black Knight。

But blind chance stepped in to fill the gap; if only for a half instant。 A springy hawser of vine had bee looped around his Battloid's foot; and it served the dual purpose of swinging him around to where he could get a grip on the immense tree trunk from which he was suspended and allowing him to lash out with his foot。

But most importantly; it bobbed him out of the line of fire of his foe's dory…shaped hand weapon。 The purple lightning snapped and discharged; blowing a distant limb to vapor; before the enemy could correct its aim; the massive metal battering ram that was the Battloid's foot connected。 The Battloid…scale hand weapon went flying。

At the same time; Max was firing thrusters; righting himself。 He rose on full back and leg blasts to grapple with his enemy; pounding the weapon out of its fist。 Locked together; they fell to bend down a stout branch that; even though it cracked somewhat; sprang back like a diving board to flip them into empty air。 They left behind a trail of smoldering foliage and a few fires; but the vegetation was too wet to burn easily。

Again they fell; but this time Max had both hands fast at the Black Knight's right wrist。 Both fired thrusters; heaving this way and that; kicking and flailing。 Max saw the ground ing at him and twisted to cushion his landing with blaring power bursts。 The black mecha wasn't as alert; and he managed to land on top of it。

They had e down in a large clearing; branches and leaves and lengths of vine raining down after them; along with burning bits of debris。

The enemy lay there stunned and partially staved in; shorted power leads crackling and throwing off sparks。 Max seized a hold; planted his feet; twisted; and pulled with all the might he could focus through the thinking cap。 With a shower of sparks and the tearing loose of strangely designed linkages; the right arm came off。

While the foe thrashed and bounced about the clearing in spasms; Max jumped clear to lay the globe aside carefully。 He wanted more than anything to make sure Dana was all right; but there was no time。 The living demon that was the black mecha might e at him again at any moment。

There wasn't even time to answer as; amazingly; he heard Kazianna Hesh's voice e over the net; though he thought his corn equipment had been knocked out。 〃Max! Where 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 battl
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!