18_the_end_of_the_circle-第37部分

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ant　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　means　something；　perhaps　gives　some　irreducible　validity　to　existence　itself。　Or　maybe　the　struggle　of　evolution　against　entropy；　of　ferment　against　mere　sameness。〃

〃And　I　find　that　I　cannot　let　the　past　die；　for　all　its　short璱ngs。　There　are　too　many　precious　things　in　our　space　time；　preserved　in　amber；　as　it　were。　I　won't　let　them　perish。〃

Louie　wondered　if　he　had　the　strength　to　wrench　that　long　control　around　on　its　hinge；　swing　it　against　Lang's　head；　get　in　the　first　shot。　〃You　can't　do　any　of　that　by　trying　to　control　the　Shapings；　Doctor。　Zand　proved　that。〃

Lang　shifted　to　turn　a　dial。　The　console　shone　brighter　and　sang　more　gloriously。　〃I　know　that。　What　I'll　do　is　merge　with　them。　For　they；　too；　are　reaching　the　end　of　a　vast　cycle。

〃Not　that　I'm　of　any　significance；　but　perhaps　I　can　be　like　an　insignificant　snowflake　that　determines　which　way　the　avalanche　shall　fall。　In　any　case；　I　won't　know；　for　Emil　Lang　won't　exist　anymore。〃

Louie　had　taken　Lang's　shift　of　position　into　account　and　now　gathered　himself。　But　Lang　threw　him　off　by　rising；　and　Louie　noticed　for　the　first　time　that　something　truly　new　had　been　added　to　Zor's　apparatus：　a　pair　of　brass　handgrips　set　perhaps　a　yard　apart　on　the　console。

Lang　smiled　suddenly；　his　black；　all…pupil　eyes　gleaming　limpidly。　〃There's　no　one　else　eligible　for　the　job；　so　I　have　to　try；　at　the　very　least。　Won't　you　wish　me　well　。。。　Louie？〃

Louie　froze　and　found　himself　answering；　〃I　do；　Emil。　I　wish　you　well。〃

He　moved　with　all　the　speed　he　could　muster　but　stopped　just　before　he　got　within　reach。　The　control　bar　was　forgotten；　the　fight　forgotten。　Louie　Nichols　found　himself　guided　by　a　simple　intuition…nothing　to　do　with　Shapings　or　psi　but　only　a　feeling　that　the　man　had　spoken　the　truth。

〃I　wish　you　well。〃

〃Thank　you；　Louie。　Good…bye。〃

Lang　rose　unhurriedly　and　seized　both　handgrips。　A　light　like　the　beginning　of　the　universe　filled　the　vault　module；　and　Louie　felt　as　if　all　the　winds　of　time　were　blowing　through　his　brain；　something　so　symphonic　and　grand　and　terrible　that　he　shrank　from　perceiving　them。

He　was　hurled　back　through　the　air；　through　the　door　of　the　vault；　as　the　light　expanded。


CHAPTER　THIRTY？SIX

What　with　all　the　new　psi　powers…and　other　faculties…we　saw　manifested　along　the　way；　maybe　this　whole　kick…out's　just　been　the　universe's　way　to　give　evolution　a　leg　up。
Bruce　Mirrorshades；　Machine　Mind　and　Arthurian　Legend　

Down　near　Ranaath's　star　the　sphere　ships　spiraled　along　the　accretion　disc；　orienting　themselves　for　the　final　transit。

The　mingled　energies　of　Second　Gen　Protoculture　and　the　Awareness　cloaked　them；　so　that　they　were　like　a　string　of　mirror…perfect　pearls；　to　shield　them　against　the　tidal　forces　and　the　more　menacing　phenomena　beyond。

Within　the　ships；　all　platforms　but　one　were　occupied　by　simulacra　of　the　One　Haydon；　giants　but　still　minute　now　that　they　were　parts：　tens　of　thousands　of　them　watching　silently　over　the　ships'　systemry　as　the　moment　approached。

On　that　other　single　platform　stood　the　Robotech　Elders；　watching　gleefully。　The　infusion　of　Protoculture　had　freed　them　of　the　need　for　their　life…support　thrones；　they　were　swelled　and　vibrant　with　the　vitality　the　Second　Gen　essence　had　given　them。

They　waited　near　a　sphere　of　their　own；　a　small　vessel　fashioned　and　put　there　by　Haydon。　In　it　they　would　journey　back　from　the　moment　of　intersection　with　all　the　power　of　Protoculture　at　their　mand。　That　power　would　bring　the　Local　Group　under　their　dominion；　just　the　springboard　they　needed　to　put　the　universe　at　their　feet。

The　Elders；　looking　like　scavenger　birds　on　a　storm　wind；　gazed　into　the　scanner　hungrily。

The　Event　Horizon　loomed　up　before　them。


〃I　just　get　the　feeling　that　the　people　in　this　whole　long　historical　contest　are　starting　to　fall　together　like　pieces　of　a　puzzle；〃　Jean　Grant　pondered。　〃I　mean；　from　Zor　to　Roy　II…〃

〃It's　as　likely　as　any　other　explanation；〃　Lisa　admitted。　Just　then　Rick　turned　to　them　in　the　crowded　shuttle；　lowering　the　　unit　he　had　been　using　to　follow　what　was　going　on　between　the　SDF…3　and　the　shuttle's　　officer。　He　was　still　holding　Roy　II　in　his　lap；　but　it　didn't　look　out　of　place　with　humans　and　XTs　and　Zentraedi　children　and　so　forth　all　crammed　into　one　ship。

〃Somebody　shut　down　the　mo　jamming；　but　I　don't　think　we're　gonna　be　able　to　make　any　sense　of　anything　until　we　get　back　to　the　SDF…3。　Louie　and　Lang　are　having　some　kind　of　showdown　or　something。　But　at　least　Vince　has　Engineering　alerted　and　getting　set　for　the　big　push。〃

Lisa　reached　out　to　smooth　Roy's　raven　hair。　Even　with　the　proof　that　the　children　had　preternatural　powers；　even　accepting　the　fact　that　they　were　the　newspace　strandees'　only　hope　of　survival；　she　had　trouble　from　moment　to　moment　keeping　herself　from　denouncing　the　plan　Rick　had　formulated。

She　reminded　herself　of　the　Sterlings'　encounter　with　the　Black　Knight；　though。　What　hope　was　there　for　Roy　if　he　became　part　of　the　Regis's　lab　experiments？　Or　if　Haydon　took　over？