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〃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 Humans； he couldn't feel pity。