11_metamorphosis-第5部分

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Rand　couldn't　argue；　the　armor　gave　the　men　a　lot　of　protection；　but　Annie　was　pletely　vulnerable。　Rand　rogered　and　increased　his　speed；　peeling　away　and　heading　for　some　tree　cover。　The　soaring　hunters　concentrated　on　Scott。

Scott　switched　to　full　Battle　Armor　mode；　rising　on　thrusters；　Cyclone　ponents　being　part　of　his　powered　suit。　One　blast　from　the　H90　sent　a　small　Pteranodon　tumbling　to　the　ground。　With　the　flock　hesitating；　surprised　at　the　blast；　Scott　landed　in　a　blaring　of　backpack　thrusters；　to　fight　from　the　ground。

He　blasted　the　wing　off　another　as　it　stooped；　but　then　had　to　duck　and　roll　aside　as　a　third　came　at　him　from　the　left。　Its　beak　and　wicked　teeth　would　have　taken　off　an　unprotected　arm；　but　the　Robotech　alloy　saved　him。　He　rolled　onto　his　back；　holding　his　H90　in　both　hands；　firing　at　any　pterosaur　that　came　near。

The　things　shrieked　as　the　blue　bolts　quartered　the　air；　seeking　them　out。

〃Scott's　doing　okay；〃　Rand　said；　from　the　shelter　of　the　trees；　dividing　his　time　between　watching　Annie　and　keeping　an　eye　out　for　strays。　〃I　don't　think　he　needs　our　help。〃

〃I。。。I　kind　of　feel　sorry　for　those　creatures；〃　Annie　confessed。

〃Aw；　Mint；　gimme　a　break！〃

Scott　was　back　on　his　feet　again；　shooting　this　way　and　that　with　a　high　degree　of　accuracy。　Dead　and　dying　soarers；　whole　or　in　pieces；　lay　all　around　him。　As　Rand　and　Annie　watched；　he　nailed　one　that　was　ing　straight　down　at　him　with　folded　wings；　he　got　it　dead　center　and　its　head　exploded。

Then　Rand　noticed；　from　the　corner　of　his　eye；　a　glow　ing　from　the　foot　of　the　nearby　cliff…wall。　It　pulsed　brightly；　waned　a　bit；　and　brightened　again。

〃Hang　on；　Annie；　we　have　to　check　something　out。〃


High　on　a　cliff　ledge　overlooking　the　savage　battle；　an　Invid　Shock　Trooper　mindspoke　to　itself　and　its　panion。　It　was　the　Regis's　voice；　the　same　voice　that　was　heard　through　Annie。

〃The　Human　life…forms　are　most　determined！　Their　will　to　survive　is　strong！〃

Like　the　Zentraedi　and　the　Robotech　Masters；　the　dinosaurs　were　discovering　that　Humans　weren't　as　easy　prey　as　they　looked。　Yes；　it　seemed　all　this　experimentation　with　life…forms　from　Earth's　past　and　mutations　of　various　ones　from　its　present　was　pointless。

There　would　have　to　be　further　study　of　the　Humans；　to　find　out　if　their　form　would　suit　the　Invid　despite　its　aberrant　behavioral　patterns。　But　as　for　the　ones　below；　they　had　done　enough　damage　in　the　Genesis　Pit。　It　was　time　to　rid　the　place　of　contaminants。


Rand　stopped　some　distance　from　the　tunnel；　which　was　at　ground　level。　From　the　mouth　of　the　tunnel；　the　light　and　heat　pulsed　so　strongly　that　Annie　hid　in　the　lee　of　his　armor　except　for　an　occasional　peek。

〃I　knew　something　like　this　had　to　be　here！〃　Rand　cried。　Heat；　light；　the　energy　field…perhaps　even　the　force　that　kept　the　stupendous　stone　ceiling　up…they　had　to　be　powered　by　some　source。　Some　Invid　source。　Rand　armed　his　forward　Scorpions。

〃Rand；　what　are　you　doing？〃　Annie　asked　sharply。

〃It's　time　for　‘Last　Call　at　the　Lizard　Lounge；〃'　he　said。


Eventually　the　pterosaurs　broke　off　their　attack；　the　slaughter　having　been　too　much　even　for　them。　Scott　stood　on　the　battlefield；　the　smoking　remains　all　around　him；　fitting　a　fresh　charge　into　his　H90。

He　rolled　a　body　over　with　his　foot；　inspecting　his　work。　〃Must've　been　something　he　tried　to　eat。〃

Rand　appeared；　Annie　still　clinging　to　his　waist；　the　Cyc　skidding　to　a　stop。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃

〃All　right　so　far。〃

〃Listen；　Scott；　I've　gotta　tell　you…〃

But　before　Rand　could　get　out　his　story　about　the　Invid　power　source；　or　control　center；　or　whatever　it　was；　a　new　chorus　of　sounds　came　to　them。　They　looked　up　to　see　that　the　sky　was　filled　with　every　possible　flying　creature：　dragonflies　and　other　insects　as　well　as　pterosaurs。

〃Something's　stirring　them　up；〃　Scott　said。

〃Something's　got　'em　all　on　the　run！〃　Annie　shouted。

They　peered　into　the　haze…light　and；　sure　enough；　the　whole　population　of　the　strange　sanctuary　seemed　to　be　headed　their　way。

〃Looks　like　we're　going　to　be　right　in　the　middle　of　rush　hour；〃　Scott　was　saying。　Suddenly　the　ground　began　to　tremble　and　dance　beneath　them。　There　was　nothing　they　could　do　except　lurch　and　teeter；　trying　to　keep　their　balance。

〃Earthquake！〃　Rand　yelled。　This　wasn't　the　time　to　tell　Scott　about　the　two　rockets　he　put　into　the　Invid　cave　installation；　or　of　the　terrific　secondary　blast　they　had　set　off…or　of　the　dark　silence　in　the　cave　afterward。　They　could　hear　the　grinding　and　cracking　of　uncountable　tons　of　bedrock　all　around　them。

A　tree　swayed　like　a　giant　flyswatter；　and　came　down　smack　atop　a　Triceratops　that　just　ignored　it　and　kept　bulldozing　along。　A　big　conifer　broke　the　back　of　a　smallish　Stegosaurus；　passing　meat…eaters　ignored　it；　continuing　their　flight。　A　boulder　the　size　of　a　bus；　falling　from　the　ceiling；　squashed　an　Iguanodon。

As　the　herd　passed　by；　Rand　and　Scott　changed　modes　and　soared　overhead　on　thrusters。　Then　they　fell　in　behind　the　beasts；　letting　them　lead　the　way。

〃Scott；　doesn't　it　occur　to　you　that　being　in　the　middle　of　a　dinosaur　stampede　could　be　bad　for　our　health？〃

〃We　don't　know　where　we're　going；　Rand；　maybe　they　do。　Any　better　ideas？〃

Rand　muttered；　〃Oh；　brother。。。〃

Clouds　of　dust　rose　from　the　ground　and　fell　from　the　ceiling。　The　haze　began　to　grow　dim。　Rand　figured　that　the　energy　field　was　losing　the　last　of　its　power。　It　took　every　ounce　of　their　skill　to　keep　the　Cycs　going；　but　Scott　insisted　that　they　stay　on　the　ground。　The　air　was　a　storm　of　flying　things　that　would　have　blinded　them　and　perhaps　even　knocked　them　out　of　the　sky。

Two　big　Tyrannosauruses　some　distance　in　front　of　them　simply　disappeared；　tails　flailing；　and　Scott　barely　had　time　to　give　a　warning。　There　was　no　time　to　brake；　and　the　two　Cyclones　went　off　the　edge；　into　the　abyss　that　had　opened　in　the　ground　before　them。　All　three　howled；　Annie　loudest　of　all。

As　the　armored　men　mechamorphosed；　rising　on　their　backpack　thrusters　again…the　Cyc　wheels　repositioning　up　on　their　backs；　out　of　the　way…and　Rand　held　Annie　in　his　arms；　something　rose　out　of　the　chasm　with　them；　flashing　past。

〃Invid　Shock　Troopers！〃　Scott　shouted。　Rand　couldn't　quite　find　the　time　to　say；　Toldja。　In　the　distance；　a　thin；　incandescent　pillar　of　light　suddenly　stretched　from　the　floor　of　the　Genesis　Pit　up　to　its　ceiling　and　beyond。

The　Invid　mecha　swept　out　and　around　for　an　attack。　〃We'll　have　to　take　'em　on；〃　Scott　said　grimly。　Rand　zoomed　off　to　one　side；　to　drop　Annie　off　to　safety　on　some　rocks。

As　Scott　landed；　one　of　the　big；　purple　alien　mecha　came　his　way；　firing　annihilation　discs　from　the　bulky　cannon　mounted　on　either　shoulder。　Scott　leapt　clear　with　an　assist　from　his　thrusters；　rolled；　and　came　up　with　his　H90　in　his　hand；　firing。　The　Invid　dodged　his　shots　and　came　in　at　him。

Rand　was　standing　shoulder　to　shoulder　with　Scott　by　then；　the　two　trying　to　aim　their　shots　while　the　ground　heaved　and　jostled　under　them。　Scott　jumped　off　to　the　right　and　Rand　launched　himself　high；　barely　eluding　a　swipe　by　a　colossal　metal　pincer　on　a　forearm　the　shape　of　a　ladybug。　Rand　put　more　rounds　into　it；　but　the　trooper　crouched　in　a　defensive　posture　beneath　him；　shielding　itself　with　the　thickest　parts　of　its　panoply。

Annie　was　screaming；　pointing　to　the　pillar　of　light。　〃Look；　look！　There's　the　exit；　but　it's　disappearing！〃

The　energy　field　that　had　blocked　the　way　out　was　gone。　But　the　opening　was　shrinking；　and　the　pillar　of　light　was　getting　narrower。

〃It's　our　only　chance！〃　Scott　called　to　Rand。

Rand　was　so　distracted　that　he　was　nearly　mashed　into　the　ground　by　a　blow　from　an　Invid。　As　it　was；　the　mighty　forearm　got　a　piece　of　him；　sending　him　sprawling。　Rand　managed　to　drive　it　back　with　wild　shots　from　his　sidearm；　but　the　second　Shock　Trooper　was　angling　for　a　shot　of　its　own。

Rand　back…flipped　as　Scott　rushed　in；　the　trooper　getting　off　near　misses；　sending　both　men　reeling　back。　Scott's　targeting　module　deployed　from　its　external　shoulder　mount　and　swung　into　place　before　his　eye；　he　was　staring　at　the　Invid　through　a　sighting　reticle。　He　released　a　pair　of　Scorpions　that　missed；　but　drove　the　Invid　back。

Suddenly；　the　invaders　broke　off　the　fight；　turning　and　zooming　off　into　the　air；　ignoring　the　Humans。　〃They're　heading　for　the　opening！〃　Rand　saw。　〃We've　gotta　stop　them；　before　they　close　it　behind　them！〃

〃Take　care　of　Mint；〃　Scott　called　back；　already　aloft。　〃I'll　go　after　them。〃　As　he　rocketed　after　them；　he　saw　that　the　exit　was　closing　quickly。

The　Shock　Troopers　apparently　realized　they　couldn't　outrun　their　pursuer　and　turned　to　fight。　Scott　dodged　another　pincer　swipe；　just　as　Rand　caught　up；　having　dropped　Annie　off　again。　Scott　evaded　the　swipe　and　vaulted　to　land　atop　the　second　Invid's　crablike　head。　The　first　Trooper　was　so　caught　up　in　the　battle　that　it　swung　again；　missing　Scott；　who　hurtled　clear；　but　struck　its　rade　instead。

Scott　dispatched　another　missile　just　as　the　first　Trooper　prepared　to　unleash　its　annihilation　discs。　He　blasted　it　right　through　the　optical　sensor　that　was　its　cyclops…eye。　The　warhead　was　a　dud；　but　the　missile　penetrated　the　glassy　circle；　shattering　it。

Green；　thick　nutrient　fluid　poured　from　the　Shock　Trooper；　and　it　went　flailing　back　like　a　falling　scarecrow　and　hit　the　ground。　The　second　Trooper　charged　at　Scott；　but　Rand；　in　a　close　pass　on　raving　thrusters；　lashed　out　with　his　feet　and　smashed　that　one's　eye；　too。

〃Hurry　up！〃　Annie　shrilled。　〃The　exit's　almost　closed！〃　The　entire　place　was　shaking；　raining　boulders　and　dust；　cracking　apart；　as　monsters　roared　and　bleated。

Rand　lifted　her　up；　and　the　three　blasted　through　the　air　toward　the　shrinking　ray　of　light。　As　they　entered　it；　they　were　seized　by　the　force　that　had　drawn　them　into　the　Genesis　Pit　earlier；　only　this　time　it　pulled　them　upward。

Within　the　Genesis　Pit；　the　roof　began　to　give　way。　The　shallow　waters　churned；　throwing　up　waves　and　living　things　that　would　soon　be　dead。　The　great　beasts　of　land　and　sea　threw　their　heads　back　and　bellowed　their　agony　to　the　world　that　had　obliterated　them　once　and　was　now　doing　it　again。

The　cliffs　and　ceiling　gave　way；　the　floor　of　the　Genesis　Pit　fissured　open；　letting　forth　the　magma　the　Invid　had　diverted　to　heat　the　place。　A　surge　of　molten　fury　gushed　up　the　exit　shaft　behind　the　three　Humans；　threatening　to　overtake　them。

Then　the　two　armored　figures　and　the　little　girl　in　her　oversized　battle　jacket　were　flying　upward　under　the　moonlight。　The　magma　stopped　its　upward　motion　and　spread；　igniting　fires；　and　then　it　began　draining　down　into　the　Pit　once　more。

All　three　Humans　were　laughing　and　cheering。　Scott　and　Rand　flew　far　away　from　the　site　to　a　distant　hillside。　The　moon　was　full；　but　it　looked　to　Rand　as　if　rainclouds　were　moving　in。　Good；　those　fires　wouldn't　last　long。　〃Isn't　that　a　beautiful　moon？〃　Rand　said　wonderingly。

But　Annie's　attention　was　elsewhere。　〃Look　at　the　mountains！〃

〃The　whole　mountain　range　is　sinking　into　that　Pit；〃　Scott　said　quietly。

The　ground　rumbled　and　moved　again；　clouds　of　dust　obscuring　the　mountains；　as　a　huge　area　went　into　subsidence；　filling　in　the　Genesis　Pit。　〃That　one　was　close〃　was　all　Scott　could　find　to　say。

Annie　said　mournfully；　〃But　what　about　the　poor　dinosaurs？〃　She　looked　at　Rand。　
〃The　Invid　created　them；〃　he　told　her。　〃And　I　think　it's　just　as　well　that　they　left　the　dinosaurs　down　there　to　be　destroyed。　Conditions　up　here　aren't　right　for　them；　there's　just　no　place　for　them　to　survive　anymore。　Time　simply　passed　them　by。〃

Annie　intertwined　her　fingers　behind　her　back　and　scuffed　the　ground　with　one　toe。　〃Y'mean；　it's　the　same　as　when　the　Invid　talk　about　the　Human　race　being　all　finished？〃

Rand　was　starting　to　nod　when　Scott　interrupted。　〃No！　Earth　belongs　to　us；　it's　the　Invid　who　are　going　to　be　extinct！〃

He　sounded　ferocious。　Rand　knew　all　about　Scott's　fierce　hatred　of　the　species　that　had　killed　his　fianc閑　and　wiped　out　his　unit；　but　this　was　no　time　for　propaganda　speeches。　〃All　right；　Scott；　all　right…〃

〃Hey！〃　Annie　blurted。　〃Y'hear　that？〃

It　was　the　sound　of　large　engines。　In　a　few　moments　mecha　came　into　sight；　seeking　the　source　of　the　vast　disturbances　their　instruments　had　detected。　In　another　moment；　the　survivors　spotted　an　aircraft。

〃It's　the　Alpha　Fighter！〃　Scott　said。　〃And　there's　the　rest　of　the　team！　It's　about　time。〃

Annie　was　dancing　from　foot　to　foot。　〃Wait'll　I　tell　Rook　what　happened　to　me！　Oboyoboy！'

〃Y'better　make　sure　she's　sitting　down；〃　Rand　said　dryly。　He　wondered　if　Rook　would　care　to　hear　his　story。　There　was　just　no　telling　how　the　young　lady　would　react　sometimes。　Still；　maybe　it　would　be　worth　the　risk。


CHAPTER　SIX

The　grand　themes　of　the　Robotech　Wars　are　so　dominant　that　the　lesser　ones　are　sometimes　ignored。　But　those　lesser　themes；　I　insist；　are　more　instructive。
The　matter　of　Marlene　Foley's　ultimate　destiny　is　a　primary　case　in　point。　Surely　Protoculture　is　a　force　to　be　reckoned　with　in　our　every　thought。
Jan　Morris；　Solar　Seeds；　Galactic　Guardians

The　five　Invid　mecha　cruised　slowly　across　the　night　sky；　navigating　with　care；　surveying　the　terrain　below。　They　brought　with　them　a　sixth　Robotech　construct。　Within　it　was　a　cargo　of　critical　importance。

Two　Shock　Troopers　brought　up　the　rear；　and　a　partially　evolved　Invid　in　personal　battle　armor…the　so…called　〃Pincer　Ship〃…led　the　way。　In　the　center　of　the　flying　convoy　were　two　more　Pincer　Ships。　Between　them　they　carried　a　hexagonal　canister。　The　canister　was　like　a　Robotech　setting　for　a　cosmic　gemstone；　inside　its　crystal　cocoon　there　throbbed　and　shone　a　fantastic；　translucent　egg。　The　thing　was　luminous　in　deep　corals；　gentle　reds；　and　flesh　tones。

〃We　must　know　more　about　these　new　enemies；〃　the　Regis　had　decreed；　in　the　wake　of　the　Genesis　Pit　catastrophe。　Her　servants　had　been　quick　to　act。　Soon；　a　Simulagent；　a　triumph　of　Invid　biogenetic　engineering；　would　be　in　the　enemy's　midst。　And　before　obliterating　them；　the　Regis　would　know　whether　the　Humans　posed　any　possible　danger　to　her　grand　scheme　for　her　race。

The　Simulagent　was　code…named　〃Ariel。〃　Ariel　had　been　replicated；　with　certain　alterations；　from　a　Human　tissue　sample　that　had　been　recovered　while　the　Invid　were　examining　the　debris　of　the　Human　strikeforce　they　had　destroyed　weeks　before。　It　was　inconceivable　that　anyone　on　Earth　would　recognize　Ariel　as　a　clone；　since　the　source　of　most　of　her　genetic　design　was　a　dead　woman　from　the　long…gone　SDF…3　expedition。。。

The　Invid　flight　leader's　optical　sensor　scanned　the　area　for　any　sign　of　Human　presence；　but　there　was　none。　The　timing　of　the　drop　was　important。　The　Simulagent's　placement　must　be　unseen；　so　that　its　origin　would　remain　secret；　and　yet　Ariel　must　not　be　left　unprotected　for　long。

But　the　Invid　had　a　recent　fix　on　the　Humans'　route；　which　made　things　easier。

As　the　Invid　formation　neared　its　dropoff　point；　the　crystal　cocoon　began　to　crack　like　an　eggshell　being　pushed　open　from　within。　The　strobing　light　from　its　center　shone　brighter。

Just　as　the　formation　flew　low　over　a　deserted；　devastated　village；　the　crystal　shattered。　The　egg　fell；　lighting　the　nigh