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and then hit the rails。〃
〃Ladies and gentlemen； it was dark down there！ Our headlights scared up rats as big as small dogs； and other things that didn't fit in any Audubon book I ever saw…mutations； of course。〃
〃I figured we could put up a pretty good fight down there； because the Invid would have to bunch up and move slowly。 But I made a note to slip on my helmet the second there was a chance； weapons make noise； and in the confinement of the tunnel a few shots would be plenty for a little short…term hearing loss。〃
〃What I hadn't foreseen； though； was that the Invid would just shoot at us from the street above。 They had tracked us by Protoculture emissions； I concluded。 I bet that big bozo we had seen was the one doing the shooting； Pincer Ships simply didn't have that kind of raw power。 Even Shock Troopers didn't pack such a wallop。〃
〃Sure enough； the first one made me partially deaf and gave me the beginnings of a week…long headache。 At every junction we looked for a way to go deeper。〃
〃The Invid shots blew straight down through ceiling and floor behind us。 The ceiling suddenly collapsed and Lunk's APC was nearly stuck； but somehow he churned free。 I do believe that glorious old wreck listened when he talked to it。〃
〃We shut down our Cycs so the Invid couldn't sense our Protoculture； but they must have gotten a final fix on Lunk's truck； because the last volley damn near nailed him。 As it was； the whole tunnel began to break up。〃
〃We all wriggled to shelter under some subway cars； except for Marlene； who had taken a spill； and Scott； who crouched over her； protecting her with his armor。 I looked at the two of them and the way they looked at each other and I knew； in that bizarre instant flash you sometimes get； that they were what Vonnegut called a 〃Duprass〃…a bonded pair。 Something to do with fate； no doubt。〃
〃It sounded like they were knocking whole buildings over up above； the tunnel was blocked by fallen debris and concrete back the way we had e。 Lunk's beloved old jalopy was crumpled； too。〃
〃Then it got quiet。 We guessed that they had decided they had destroyed us。 But there was no going back； our only chance； the way I saw it； was to look for another route out of the place…find a junction further down。 And we had to do it fast； Lancer pointed out； because there might be Invid looking for a way in。〃
〃Scott was mechamorphosing back to cycle mode while he was reminding us how persistent the Invid were…as if we hadn't seen that for ourselves。 If Scott had one weakness as a leader； it was stating the obvious。 But as he stripped out of his armor and went to look for an exit； his light showed that the tunnel had been sort of squooshed together like a toothpaste tube in that direction。〃
〃We were sealed in。〃
CHAPTER TWENTY
What is to bee of men and women…males and females…and the way they cope with one another and the differences between them？
Doesn't this go to the heart of the reason the Robotech Wars started in the first place？ The Regis and Zor？ The soullessness of the Masters？ The Shaping of the Protoculture itself？
Isn't it the question that must be answered before there's a love that's worthy of the name？
Altaira Heimel； Butterflies in Winter： Human Relations and the Robotech Wars
Rand continues：
〃Scott hardly batted an eyelash。 He just fell back to Plan W； or whatever letter he was up to by then。 Can…do； that's the attitude they had drummed into him。〃
〃But without any warning at all； Lunk suddenly lost it。 The next thing we knew he was kneeling on Scott's chest； choking him； screaming about how Scott had gotten us into this； how it was his fault we were going to die。 I think the first would be undeniable； but we had all had the chance to opt out； just like Annie； and so the second part just didn't stick。 Maybe Lunk was regretting that he hadn't stayed behind to give Annie away at the wedding and settle down in a hammock someplace。〃
〃When Lancer and I tried to peel him off； Lunk just flung us away with one sweep of his arm； growling and roaring like some berserk Neanderthal。 Rook had no intention of letting it go on； but she was smarter than we were； I saw her edging her H90 out。〃
〃Lancer saw； too； and so we made one more effort。 Lunk was foaming at the mouth； but I guess by then he had said everything he was thinking…basically； that he was afraid he was going to die。 Lancer and I got armlocks on both sides； and this time we dragged him loose。 Marlene cradled Scott's head to her and tried to stop the bleeding of his split lip。〃
〃Lancer and I had our hands full； and Lunk was howling for us to leave him alone。 Lancer stepped back and wound up for a punch。 He got a lot of power into the uppercut…I made a mental note not to poke fun at Yellow Dancer ever again…but it barely rocked Lunk。 Still； the big guy sort of came out of his fit。〃
〃Lancer was apologizing； although I noticed he was poised to give Lunk a second dosage if the diagnosis called for it。 But Lunk's madness seemed to have left him as quickly as it had e。 Lancer reminded him that Scott hadn't led us down there； I had。〃
〃And there I was； nodding； kind of smug； in a sneaky way； about how honest and forthing I was being。 It served me right for letting my ego take over； when I wasn't looking； Lunk hooked me。 It was a little like being struck by lightning。 Next thing I knew； I was lying on the ground with loosened teeth。〃
〃All I could think of to do was lie on the ground。 I settled for giving Lunk my best mean look。 'Feel better？' I drooled。〃
〃And it worked。 Next thing I know； Lunk's down on his hands and knees begging my forgiveness and blubbering that he didn't know what got into him…he was scared； he didn't belong on the team； didn't have what it took and so on。〃
〃I opted for the high road。 Rubbing my jaw； I told him that it seemed to me that he had had what it took just a second before。 I sorta sneaked a look at Rook； hoping she had noticed now mature and big…hearted I was being； but she just sniffed at me and turned her nose in the air； and said； ‘I guess he proved that； didn't he？'〃
〃Sometimes I wish there was a third gender that would do nothing but referee。〃
〃Marlene was looking around at us like we were crazy。 And I suppose we were； Christ； we were all crazy； the Robotech Irregulars off on a lark to blow up Reflex Point！ No wonder it had brought us to a dead end。〃
〃We gradually pulled ourselves back together。 Scott said his head felt like somebody had been using it to crack walnuts。〃
〃Lunk was worried about that same old thing； what else？ Back in the war he had had to make tracks from a bad situation； and he saw himself as a coward。 He was afraid he had cracked and let us down； too。〃
〃Lunk had never asked me about this； but from what he admitted about that firelight； I don't think he could be blamed for what he did。〃
〃I'm sure that it's a special kind of hell hearing your closest buddy scream for a pickup and having to stand pat。 But when the transmission's ing from the middle of a walking…barrage of Invid cannonfire； and the rest of your unit's wiped out； and the man or woman shrieking at you is mortally wounded and beyond any possible rescue； I don't call it cowardi