11_metamorphosis-第14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！



Annie　was　struggling　to　get　to　her　feet。　〃It's　ing　straight　for　us！〃　The　deploying　blobs　had　somehow　located　them；　and　were　homing　in　from　all　over　the　chamber　like　evil　clouds　of　murderous　jelly。

Annie　threw　her　arms　around　Rand's　waist。　〃It's　g…gonna　eat　me！〃

Rand　had　his　H90　out；　gripping　it　in　both　hands。　〃Eat　this；〃　he　told　the　remains　of　the　Sensor；　and　began　firing。　But　the　bolts　just　split　the　flying　lumps　into　smaller　ones；　and　the　firing　somehow　made　them　charge　at　high　speed。

The　Regis's　voice　came　from　every　doughy　lump；　down　to　the　least　globule；　as　if　from　a　vast　chorus；　〃Attack！〃

Rand　fired　hopelessly　as　Annie　screamed。


One　pilot　short；　the　team　still　got　all　VTs　into　the　air。　The　Beta　was　linked　to　Scott's　Alpha；　which　increased　its　firepower　and　speed。　The　fighters　moved　forward　on　thrusters　that　shook　the　earth　and　started　minor　avalanches　in　the　valley　behind　them。　Down　below；　Lunk's　APC；　rigged　for　cold…weather　work；　moved　cross…country　almost　as　nimbly　as　a　snow…mobile；　bound　straight　for　the　fortress's　main　portal。

As　they　jumped　off　a　snowbank　and　roared　on　again；　Lunk　said　out　of　the　side　of　his　mouth；　〃I　hope　your　stomach's　stronger　than　your　head；　Marlene。〃　But　she　sat　hugging　herself；　eyes　unfocused；　shivering　in　spite　of　the　outpouring　of　the　heaters。


Rand　tried　not　to　retch；　as　wad　after　wad　of　the　stuff　that　had　been　the　Sensor　splattered　into　him；　coating　him。　The　stuff　had　the　consistency　of　runny　putty　but　was　warm　to　the　touch。　The　most　horrible　thing　about　it；　though；　was　that　it　moved　by　itself；　snaillike；　spreading　wherever　it　hit。　And　it　wouldn't　e　off。

The　Sensor　knew；　even　in　its　dispersed　state；　that　it　was　dying。　But　it　knew；　too；　who　its　enemies…its　slayers…were；　and　it　would　have　its　revenge。

Annie's　mind　was　about　to　snap。　She　closed　her　eyes　as　she　rubbed　and　brushed　at　the　stuff；　uselessly　tore　it　with　her　nails；　batted　it　and　shrilled；　〃No；　no；　no；　no；　no！〃

She　flung　herself　back　at　Rand；　who　was　trying　to　clear　the　plugged　muzzle　of　the　H90。　He　was　already　wearing　a　pink　mantle　that　was　surging　to　cover　his　head。　There　was　a　waist…high　pile　all　around　them；　making　it　impossible　to　run。

Rand　beat；　trying　to　shield　Annie　〃Annie；　listen　to　me！〃

〃Auff。　It's　getting　in　my　mouth！〃

The　amorphous　clots　of　residue　streamed　down　at　them　from　every　quarter。　He　heaved　at　her。　〃Hang　onto　me　and　try　to　keep　your　head　above　it！〃

Her　voice　was　muffled　by　a　mask　of　the　stuff。　〃I　can't　breathe！〃

His　arms　were　all　but　paralyzed。　〃Annie；　listen！　Check　the　emergency　tracking　beam！　Is　it　still　flashing？〃　The　crud　was　surging　up　around　his　face。

She　gathered　all　her　courage　and　forced　down　her　panic。　With　a　supreme　effort；　she　got　her　head　around　and　managed　to　get　a　glance　down　at　the　thing　like　a　silvery　fountain　pen　with　a　flashing　tip　that　was　clipped　to　one　of　her　pockets。

She　forced　herself　to　get　out　the　words；　〃I　think　so…yes！〃


The　Pincer　Ships　still　casting　about　for　Rook's　trail　weren't　prepared　for　the　sudden　appearance　of　a　vengeful　trio　of　Veritechs。　The　dogfight　had　barely　begun　when　four　of　the　Invid　personal…armor　mecha　were　falling　in　whirling；　flaming　fragments。　The　team　spent　its　missiles　prodigally；　their　kill　score　climbed。

Lunk's　truck；　bounding　and　slewing　across　the　open　snowfield；　attracted　other　attention。　He　saw　cannons　in　a　half…dozen　niches　in　the　cliff　face　open　fire；　and　he　began　dodging　and　juking。　Invid　annihilation　discs　began　Frisbeeing　all　around　him。　Snow　was　melted　and　earth　blown　high　in　fountains　of　flame　and　smoke。　As　was　his　habit；　Lunk　froze　from　his　thoughts　the　image　of　what　even　one　hit　would　do　to　him；　Marlene；　and　the　truck；　in　view　of　the　ordnance　and　Protoculture　they　were　hauling。

But　Scott　had　seen　what　was　happening；　and　dove　in；　loosing　more　missiles。　The　gun　emplacements　were　knocked　out　in　cascades　of　snow　and　broken　rock；　leaving　only　smoking　holes　like　horizontal　chimneys。

Rook　and　Lancer　had　vanquished　the　last　of　the　opposition；　the　VTs　made　an　attack　run　and　blew　open　the　main　gate　of　the　Invid　fortress。　The　fighters　slowed；　moving　on　hoverthrusters；　sailing　into　the　colossal　main　corridor。　Lunk's　APC　brought　up　the　rear；　his　finger　on　the　autocannon's　steering　wheel　trigger。

They　had　little　time　to　observe　the　fortress；　with　its　bizarre　and　unnerving　bination　of　alien　technology　and　XT　organics。　Following　Annie's　tracer　beam；　they　came　to　the　Hive　Center　at　last。　The　aircraft　had　been　forced　to　slow　down　in　the　maze；　so　that　Lunk　pulled　to　a　stop　just　as　they　grounded　VTOL　style。

The　VTs　knelt　in　a　Hive　Center　of　twisting；　still…burning　Controller　mecha。　The　place　was　filled　with　thick　smoke；　the　stench　of　incinerated　organic　material；　and　the　reek　of　the　disintegrating　matter　that　had　been　the　Sensor。　The　pilots　jumped　down；　as　Lunk　and　Marlene　both　coughed　from　the　foulness　around　them。

At　last　they　spotted　the　mound　of　pinkish　stuff　that　had　been　the　Sensor。　Then　they　saw　the　dim　flashing　ing　from　its　summit。　Scott　dashed　toward　it。　〃Gimme　a　hand　here！〃

The　Sensor…stuff　was　beginning　to　melt；　in　another　moment；　Scott　and　Lunk　had　pulled　two　bodies　free。　Rand　was　barely　breathing　when　they　got　him　out；　but　he　had　shielded　Annie　in　a　little　air　pocket　he　had　formed　with　his　own　body。

Rook　stood　to　one　side；　staring　down；　not　moving。　She　seemed　about　to　speak；　then　was　silent。　But　she　never　took　her　eyes　off　of　Rand。

At　last　Rand's　eyes　opened。　〃W…what　took　you　so　long；　pal？〃

Rook　let　out　a　breath　and　pulled　her　features　back　into　their　normal　unconcerned；　uncaring　expression。　And　so　when　Rand　eagerly　looked　at　her；　she　gave　him　a　casual　look。　He　still　managed　a　smile；　grateful　that　she　was　alive；　though　he　would　have　crawled　back　in　under　the　Sensor　offal　before　admitting　it。

Lunk　called　over；　〃Annie　sez　she'll　be　all　right　once　she　brushes　her　teeth！〃

Rand　was　already　pushing　Scott　away　from　him；　ing　to　his　feet；　clearing　the　last　of　the　goo　out　of　the　H90；　weaving　a　little。　〃I've　had　it！　I'm　gonna　slaughter　those　walking　tin　latrines！〃　He　steadied　himself　and　lurched　away。　By　the　time　Scott　caught　up　with　him；　Rand　was　standing　at　a　lower　entrance　to　the　huge　dome　where　empty　mecha　waited　in　fetal　repose。

Scott　whistled　low。　〃What　is　it；　an　incubator？〃

Rand　brought　up　his　pistol。　〃Whatever　it　is；　it's　history！〃

Something　inside　him　knew　he　should　be　off　somewhere　ferreting　out　the　place　where　the　drones　themselves　were　created…that　he　should　be　wiring　that　place　up　with　all　the　explosives　in　Lunk's　truck。

But　he　just　wasn't　made　that　way。　The　drones；　for　all　their　grotesqueness；　were　living　things。　And　without　their　mecha；　they　were　nothing。

Rand　fired　into　the　hemisphere　in　the　middle　of　the　dome…the　thing　that　looked　so　much　like　the　first　instant　of　a　nuclear　explosion。　He　didn't　know　quite　what　would　happen；　but　it　turned　out　that　the　thing　was　fragile　as　stained　glass。　Sections　of　it　geysered；　then　caved　in；　and　black　smoke　roiled　forth。

Rand　was　watching　it　in　stonefaced　satisfaction　when；　suddenly；　Marlene's　screech　echoed　to　them　down　the　alien　halls。

They　raced　back　to　find　the　others　trying　to　help；　without　any　effect；　as　Marlene　knelt；　clutching　her　head。　She　wept　that　she　couldn't　stand　it…though　she　didn't　say　what　it　was。

When　Lunk　wondered　aloud　what　could　be　the　cause　of　Marlene's　seizures；　no　one　answered　until　Scott　said　softly；　〃I　wish　I　knew。〃

〃Bad　news；　guys；〃　Rook　cut　through　their　unease。　She　was　standing　by　Lunk's　truck；　examining　its　beeping　displays。　〃That　Invid　patrol　that　left　the　hive　this　morning　is　on　its　way　home！〃

Scott　didn't　take　the　time　to　wonder　if　it　was　because　the　raid　had　taken　too　long　or　because　the　destruction　of　the　Sensor　had　alerted　the　mecha。　〃Okay；　people：　let's　get　out　of　here　on　the　double。　Rand；　take　the　Beta　Fighter。〃

Rand　was　already　off　and　running。　When　the　VTs　hovered　in　the　Hive　Center　and　Lunk　was　racing　his　engine；　Scott　said　over　the　tac　net；　〃Listen　up：　you　either　break　out　of　this　rat's　nest　now；　or　you　spend　the　rest　of　your　lives　as　sharecroppers　on　an　Invid　Protoculture　farm。〃

〃What　d'you　mean　‘you'？〃　Rand　challenged。　〃What's　Bernard　gonna　be　doing　while　we're　busting　out？〃

Scott　tried　to　sound　matter…of…fact。　〃I'm　the　one　who　got　us　into　this。〃

〃Nobody's　arguing；〃　Rand　shot　back。

〃As　you　were！　So；　it's　my　place　to　take　some　of　the　heat　off　you。　I'm　going　to　block　the　front　door　for　a　while；　don't　lollygag　getting　out　the　back。〃　His　thrusters　lit　like　blue　novas；　and　his　Alpha　sprang　away　into　one　of　the　huge　elevated　conduit…passageways。

〃Lancer；　we　should　back　him　up；〃　Rand　said　slowly；　pulling　on　his　thinking　cap。

〃Let　him　go；　country　boy；　he'll　be　fine！〃　Rook　snapped。　〃We've　got　enough　problems　of　our　own！〃


Scott　mechamorphosed　to　Battloid　mode　as　he　zoomed　toward　the　shattered　main　gate。　He　met　the　first　of　the　returning　Pincer　Ships　with　blasts　from　the　mecha's　massive　rifle/cannon；　a　weapon　with　a　muzzle　as　wide　as　a　storm　drain。　The　enemy　flight　was　ing　head…on；　and　Scott　had　little　chance　to　dodge　them。　He　blasted　the　first　ship　out　of　the　air　and　scattered　the　ones　near　it。

But　they　came　at　him　anyway；　Frisbeeing　their　annihilation　discs。　He　ducked　into　a　side　passageway；　an　upright　Battloid；　back　and　foot　thrusters　gushing　blue。　The　Invid　dove　after　him。

Then　it　was　a　game　of　evade　and　hide；　ambush　and　run。　The　Invid　were　unrelenting；　attacking　him　even　though　he　had　the　advantage　of　standing　or　fleeing　as　he　chose。

At　last　he　darted　like　a　huge　wasp　into　a　corridor　that　led　to　an　intense　light。　At　its　mouth　stood　two　Scout　guards；　so　surprised　at　his　appearance　that　they　were　slow　to　react。　Scott　knocked　them　off　their　feet；　and　they　plunged　backward；　unable　to　attain　a　useful　flying　attitude。　They　tumbled　and　thrashed　to　their　doom。

Scott　found　himself　in　a　place　that　was　miles　wide。　In　its　center　was　a　tremendous　globe　that　reminded　him　of　the　ancient　ones　in　dance　halls；　the　ones　that　reflected　light。　Only；　this　one　was　wired　up　with　Invid　Robotech　hardware　and　organic　wetware。

This　must　be　the　central　power　core　for　the　fortress！

Pincer　Ships　entered　the　spherical　vastness　from　three　different　conduits；　and　he　felt　the　sweat　run　down　his　face。　He　eyeballed　the　power　core　quickly；　spotting　a　glowing　circular　opening　or　access　port　a　hundred　yards　across。　Through　it；　he　could　see　the　scintillating　mysteries　of　Invid　Protoculture　technology。　His　puters　told　him　it　was　the　alien　equivalent　of　a　main　control　matrix。

Scott　made　his　decision；　and　the　Battloid　roared　toward　it。　Invid　noted　his　presence；　drove　toward　him　at　full　acceleration；　claws　outstretched　to　grip　and　rend；　since　they　didn't　dare　fire　there。　Scott　fooled　them　by　hitting　the　core's　outer　hull；　absorbing　the　impact　with　the　Battloid's　mighty　legs；　and　springing　away　again。

The　personal…armor　mecha　couldn't　fire；　but　Scott　felt　no　such　punctions。　He　whirled　in　midair　and　dispatched　six　air…to…ground　Bludgeon　missiles　from　his　right　and　left　shoulder　pods。　The　Pincers　dodged；　thinking　the　missiles　were　meant　for　them。

One　of　the　Bludgeons　detonated　on　the　rim　of　the　access　opening；　but　the　rest　lanced　through　into　the　power　core's　innards。　Scott　had　already　turned　his　Battloid　on　its　heel　to　run　like　all　hell。


CHAPTER　FIFTEEN

Homer　posited　two　kinds　of　dreams；　the　〃honest〃　one　of　Horn；　and　the　〃glimmering　illusion〃　of　Ivory。　So　Dad　shot　for　Ivory；　what　else？
Maria　Bartley…Rand；　Flower　of　Life：　Journey　Beyond　Protoculture

The　core's　vitals　suddenly　turned　white…hot；　and　the　whole　miles…wide　spherical　chamber　lit　up　like　the　interior　of　an　arc　furnace。

Although　her　Sensor　was　gone；　the　Regis　spoke　to　her　remaining　children。　〃Control　Matrix　breeched！　Reflex　furnace　overload！〃　All　she　could　do　was　tell　them　that　they　were　all　going　to　die；　but　at　least　they　would　hear　her　voice　in　their　final　moments。　Gargantuan　sheets　of　electrical　discharge　played　all　through　the　place。

The　core　came　apart　at　its　seams；　like　a　soccer　ball　full　of　Tango…9　explosive。　The　Pincers　were　vaporized；　the　explosion　raced　outward。

Scott　had　turned　and　turned　again；　hurtling　along　at　max　thrust；　praying　the　walls　and　turns　would　muffle　some　of　the　blast。

Then　it　caught　up　with　him。

The　Beta　and　the　other　two　Alphas；　shepherding　Lunk's　truck；　arrowed　toward　the　titanic　triangle　of　the　alien　stronghold's　rear　gate。　Beyond　it；　a　snowy　Earth　shone。

〃Nice　of　'em　to　leave　the　back　door　open；〃　Rook　smiled。　Then　she　felt　her　flesh　goosebump　as　she　saw　that　the　light　was　dwindling；　the　two　halves　of　the　giant　triangle's　door　were　sliding　in　from　either　side。

〃But　not　for　long！〃　cried　Lancer。　〃Lunk；　hurry！〃

Lunk　gritted　his　teeth；　floored　the　accelerator；　and　hit　a　few　buttons。　〃Can't　make　it；〃　he　muttered；　but　the　APC　leapt　ahead　in　a　way　that　disputed　that。

The　VTs　had　to　e　through　standing　on　one　wingtip；　the　APC　almost　got　its　tailpipe　caught。　But　they　all　made　it；　as　the　massive　door　halves　ground　shut。

〃I　think　that　one　took　some　paint　off　my　baby；　here；〃　Rook　said　cheerily；　patting　her　instrument　panel。

Lunk　just　tried　to　control　his　trembling；　Annie　was　either　meditating；　praying；　or　passed　out。　Marlene　looked　atose。

Rand　glanced　back　over　his　shoulder　at　the　fortress。

C'mon；　Scott！


Somehow；　being　slammed　against　walls　and　dribbled　along　the　deck　for　a　bit　hadn't　destroyed　the　superstrong　Battloid。　Even　though　the　blast　from　the　reflex　furnace　had　shaken　the　whole　mountain　and　had　fissured　walls；　floors；　and　ceilings；　it　had　somehow　been　relatively　contained。　But　he　was　registering　secondary　explosions；　and　there　was　every　chance　that　the　core　was　going　to　explode　again　with　an　even　more　spectacular　Big　Bang。

Then　it　was　on　his　tail；　a　fireball　even　bigger　than　the　first。　His　sensors　picked　it　up　even　while　he　was　jetting　for　a　secondary　reargate；　unable　to　find　the　main。　Fast　as　it　was；　the　Battloid　had　no　chance　of　outrunning　the　flashflood　of　utter　destruction　for　long。

And　the　bad　news　was　that　the　gate　he　was　headed　for　was　closed。

He　let　the　gate　have　everything　he　had　left；　his　only　hope　being　to　break　through。　No　room　for　explosives；　he　fired　pumped…lasers。

Well；　Scott：　make…it…or…break…it　time！　he　thought；　all　in　an　instant；　as　the　valve　before　him　disappeared　in　a　wash　of　demonfire。

Then　he　was　through；　the　Battloid　thrown　into　the　clear　like　a　marionette　fired　out　of　a　mortar。　But　somehow　the　Robotech　colossus　held　together；　straightened　itself；　and　regained　flying　posture；　as　the　core　explosion　reached　the　open　air　on　the　mountain　behind　it。　It　was　as　if　somebody　had　opened　a　floodgate　into　the　heart　of　a　star。

Scott　dazedly　shook　his　head；　trying　to　image　his　mecha　along；　looking　around　him　wonderingly；　and　tasting　the　special　sweetness　of　being　alive。　Well；　what。。。do。。。you。。。know！　He　went　down　to　join　the　others。


Down　below；　Annie；　Lunk；　and　Rook　cheered　as　the　mountain　shook　to　its　roots。　Lancer　was　silent；　but　even　he　nodded　approval。

But　Marlene　only　watched　dully；　hearing　the　distant　wailing　of　the　Regis；　and　Rand　was　thinking　to　himself　that　somewhere　thousands　upon　thousands　of　drones　had　been　consumed。　When　he　thought　about　the　horrible　things　their　quickening　would　have　meant　for　Huma