16_world_killers-第14部分

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　and　those　that　held　such　interest　in　more　recent　times　for　Zor。
He　pressed　me　for　details　and　I　had　to　point　out　that　the　Zentraedi　are　the　last　ones　to　query　in　matters　of　history。　But　nonetheless　I　expressed　my　vast　yearning　to　know　the　truth　of　it　all；　and　hoped　Emil　would　e　to　feel　the　same　way。
Exedore；　SDF…3　and　Me

The　land　cruiser　rocked　from　the　force　of　a　tremendous　explosion。　Knocked　from　his　feet；　the　Regent　rose　again　in　an　even　more　furious　temper。

〃What　was　that？〃　Surely　the　Zor　antibodies　were　not　blowing　themselves　up？

A　scientist　bowed。　〃It　appears　that　some　of　the　outworlders　have　joined　in　the　battle；　Divine　One。　That　was　apparently　a　Karbarran　shuttlecraft　loaded　with　conventional　explosives　and　sent　at　us　by　remote　control。　Fortunately；　it　was　of　insufficient　power　to　penetrate　even　our　outermost　hull。〃

〃Naturally；〃　the　Regent　snapped。　The　cruiser；　bigger　than　an　aircraft　carrier；　was　a　moving　mountain　of　weapons　and　armor　on　treads　as　wide　as　a　Glike　boulevard。　He　thought　again　about　ordering　his　gunners　to　open　fire　and　raze　the　city　around　him　as　he　withdrew；　but　that　would　run　the　risk　of　attracting　the　antibodies。　His　own　life　was　all…important　to　the　Invid　cause；　far　too　vital　to　risk　for　mere　retribution。

It　was　too　bad　this　entire　part　of　Glike　seemed　to　have　been　evacuated；　he　would　have　taken　consolation　in　grinding　the　miserable　synthetics　under　his　mobile　fortress's　treads。　It　might；　in　part；　make　up　for　his　having　had　to　abandon　his　Flower　of　Life　orchards　just　as　they　were　about　to　bear　Fruit。

Perhaps　he　would　still　be　able　to　retake　his　Haydon　hive。　With　this　thought；　he　ordered　his　techs　to　relay　the　view　from　the　automatic　monitoring　equipment　inside　the　orchard。　But　where　he　had　expected　a　view　of　luxuriant　Fruit　of　the　Flower；　he　found　himself　gazing　at　an　outlandish　yet　somehow　familiar…looking　monstrosity　that　sat　gorging　itself。　Off　to　one　side　hunkered　a　young　Perytonian。

〃By　the　Protoculture！〃　the　Regent　howled。　The　two…way　channel　being　open；　the　thing　squatting　in　the　hive　orchard　looked　up　at　the　munications　pickup。

〃Ah；　the　Divine；　the　All…Knowing；　the　Omnipotent　Regent；〃　the　thing　purred。　〃Thank　you　for　your　hospitality。　How　delicious；　this　Fruit　of　yours！〃

〃T…Tesla？〃　the　Regent　whispered。

〃Yes；　Tesla！　And　soon；　you'll　know　what　the　godlike　powers　of　the　Flower　really　are；　for　Tesla　will　demonstrate　them　to　you！〃

The　Regent's　anger　was　so　great　that　he　was　tempted　to　turn　the　Land　Cruiser　around　and　go　back　to　obliterate　the　hive　and　Tesla。　But　there　was　no　time；　tactical　displays　showed　enemy　forces　overwhelming　the　city　garrison　with　the　help　of　the　accursed　Haydonite　antibodies。　The　Regent　cut　the　munications　link　with　a　smashing　blow　of　his　fist。

〃Increase　speed！〃　he　howled。

The　scientist　cowered。　〃We　are　at　maximum　speed　now；　All…Powerful　One。　Crushing　our　way　through　the　city　makes　the　going　somewhat　difficult。〃

Another　scientist　added；　〃We　have　detected　vessels　emerging　from　superluminal　drive　in　deepspace；　but　have　as　yet　been　unable　to　make　contact。〃

〃Well；　make　sure　my　flagship　is　ready　to　lift　off　the　moment　I　arrive；〃　the　Regent　roared。　If　those　were　Invid　ships；　he　would　fry　Haydon　IV　from　a　safe　distance；　if　not；　he　would　be　ready　for　a　strategic　withdrawal　in　the　fastest　vessel　in　the　Invid　fleet。

〃And　where　are　our　reinforcements？〃　he　added。

〃They　are　being　delivered　now　to　the　eastern　and　northern　sectors　of　the　city；　Mighty　One；　for　diversionary　counterattacks　to　facilitate　our　withdrawal。　We　are　also　monitoring　a　droppage　in　city　power　resources；　and　a　corresponding　decrease　in　antibody　activity。〃

Perhaps　it　would　be　possible　to　win　after　all。　How　the　Sentinels　and　the　Haydonites　and　the　Praxians　would　pay！　He　began　planning　an　elaborate；　days…long　festival　of　torture　and　executions；　but　the　daydream　was　smashed　to　pieces　moments　later。

〃Signal　from　the　approaching　starships；　Omnipotent　Lord；〃　a　technician　said。　With　that；　the　face　of　Breetai　appeared　on　the　screen。

The　giant　felt　an　unsmiling　satisfaction。　He　had　somehow　known　all　along；　in　his　bones；　that　the　Regent　was　not　dead。　There　was　no　way　the　creature　could　have　been　tricked　or　yielded　up　his　life　so　easily。

For　a　few　seconds；　the　Regent　found　that　he　couldn't　catch　his　breath。　Breetai；　the　Zentraedi's　most　brilliant　mander；　and；　after　the　late　Dolza；　their　most　powerful　warrior！

Breetai　glared　at　the　Regent。　〃We're　ing　for　you；〃　he　said；　and　nothing　more。　The　screen　went　blank。

The　Regent　sent　his　staff　scurrying　with　angry　blows　and　kicks。　〃More　speed！　I'll　kill　the　first　one　to　offer　me　excuses！〃

His　ace　in　the　hole　might　be　of　crucial　importance　after　all。　The　Regent　faced　his　brace　of　pet　Hellcats。　〃Go；　and　fetch　the　Zor…clone　to　me！〃

They　sprang　away；　and　the　Regent　summoned　a　lackey。　Quietly；　so　that　the　others　present　couldn't　hear；　he　directed；　〃Have　my　personal　battle　armor　prepared。〃


The　carpet　was　barely　big　enough　for　two　heavily　armed　Humans　and　Veidt；　and　jostling　was　a　hazardous　business　indeed。　But　somehow　Jack　and　Karen　managed　to　keep　their　footing　as　the　thing　whooshed　through　the　sky。　How　Veidt　maintained　his　place；　levitating　above　the　carpet　as　he　did；　was　something　the　Humans　couldn't　understand。

They　came　up　on　the　Land　Cruiser　from　behind；　as　it　ground　Glike　under　it；　making　its　ponderous　way　toward　the　starport。　Figuring　speed　and　distance；　Karen　calculated　that　they　only　had　a　few　minutes　to　find　and　save　Rem。

〃How're　we　gonna　find　him；　in　a　crate　that　size？〃　Jack　said　over　the　sound　of　the　air　rushing　by　them。

〃I　can　sense　his　whereabouts；〃　Veidt　responded　simply。　With　the　trauma　of　Sarna's　death；　Veidt　seemed　changed…more　intense；　more　capable；　but　cold　and　remote。　A　terrible　price　to　pay　for　increased　powers；　Karen　reflected　sadly。

She　brought　her　mind　back　to　matters　at　hand。　〃I'm　more　worried　about　how　we're　gonna　get　into　that　tin　can。〃

〃Vowad　has　arranged　for。。。a　diversion；〃　Veidt　said。　Even　as　he　said　it；　kaleidoscopic　flames　licked　up　from　the　rubble　around　the　Land　Cruiser's　treads　and　the　buildings　about　to　be　crushed　under　them。　The　flames　circled　and　formed　a　swirling　whirlpool；　a　scintillating　funnel　of　Haydonite　antibody　power。　Up　and　up　it　rose；　until　it　stood　two　hundred　feet　high。　Then　it　shifted；　flashing；　and　took　form。

〃Oh　my　god！〃　Karen　breathed。

It　was　a　fiery　image　of　Zor；　straddled…legged；　blocking　the　Land　Cruiser's　path　of　retreat。


〃Kill　him！　Kill　him！？the　Regent　yammered；　laying　about　him　on　the　Land　Cruiser's　bridge。　〃I；　your　god；　mand　you　to　kill　Zor　for　once　and　for　all！〃


When　the　Land　Cruiser　loosed　its　awesome　barrage　at　the　unmoving　figure；　Veidt　was　ready。

He　wove　the　carpet　in　among　the　volleying　supercannon　and　lesser　gun　batteries。　The　salvos　were　disintegrating　the　cityscape　before　them；　but　had　no　apparent　effect　on　the　colossal　Zor。

High　on　the　aft　part　of　the　cruiser's　hull；　a　rack　of　missiles　was　rising　into　place　from　its　shielded　pod。　As　the　pod　doors　opened　to　allow　it　to　rise；　Veidt　swooped　through；　into　the　space　between　the　hulls。　Karen　and　Jack　found　themselves　clinging　to　one　another；　trying　to　keep　their　footing；　praying　the　Haydonite　knew　what　he　was　doing。

Jack　was　so　scared　that　he　couldn't　even　enjoy　the　embrace。

Veidt　seemed　to　know　the　entire　layout　of　the　cruiser；　every　nut　and　bolt。　An　ammo　elevator　to　the　launcher's　magazine　gave　them；　in　turn；　access　to　a　utility　core。　In　seconds；　they　were　racing　down　a　passageway　scaled　to　media　size；　high　over　the　heads　of　the　preoccupied　Invid。

Veidt　flew　them　to　a　remote　part　of　the　cruiser's　belly。　They　stopped　before　a　partment　with　a　giant　hatch。　〃Rem's　cell；〃　Veidt　explained。

But　the　hatch　was　open。　Karen　and　Jack　piled　off；　rifles　ready；　to　peer　inside。　The　Regent's　two　Hellcats；　having　cornered　Rem；　spun　on　the　intruders。

The　'Cats　pounced　at　the　Humans　even　as　Jack　and　Karen　brought　their　muzzles　up　blazing。


Clad　in　his　heavy；　powered　battle　armor；　the　Regent　railed　and　raved　as　his　cruiser's　most　powerful　cannonades　failed　to　have　any　effect　on　the　enormous　figure　of　Zor　that　stood　blocking　his　way。

〃Have　my　flagship　lift　off　and　open　fire！〃　he　shrieked。

As　the　order　was　relayed；　a　tech　said；　〃All…Powerful　One；　there　is　an　unidentified　flying　object　approaching！〃

The　Regent　looked　at　the　monitor　to　which　the　tech　was　pointing。　Sure　enough；　something　was　racing　forward　right　along　the　upper　hull；　weaving　in　between　gun　and　missile　batteries；　too　close　to　the　cruiser　to　be　fired　upon。

〃I…I…〃　The　Regent　felt　his　head　spin。　He　saw　a　Haydonite　flying　carpet　with　several　figures　riding　it。　As　it　zipped　past　the　bridge；　two　resplendent　objects　were　tossed　and　bounced　off　the　forward　hull　just　in　front　of　the　viewport。

The　Regent　shoved　aside　the　crew　members　who　were　trying　to　see　what　had　been　dropped；　and　had　a　look　for　himself。　There　on　the　deck　lay　the　two　mighty　collars；　mounted　with　gems　from　all　the　Invid…dominated　worlds；　that　his　pet　Hellcats　had　worn。　The　Regent　let　out　a　piercing　screech；　and　was　about　to　direct　all　fire　at　the　fleeing　carpet；　when　yells　of　horror　burst　from　his　crew。

The　giant　Zor　was　moving。

The　fiery　image　strode　forward；　straight　for　the　Land　Cruiser；　even　as　the　flagship　rose　from　the　nearby　starport　and　began　firing　at　it　with　all　guns。　The　Regent　bleated　in　pure　dread　and　hurled　techs　out　of　his　way；　charging　for　the　bridge's　hatch。

The　towering；　demonic　Zor　dove　at　the　cruiser　in　apparent　slow　motion；　arms　spread　and　fingers　curled；　as　if　to　enfold　it。　The　collision　sent　waves　of　light　racing　outward　like　waves　in　a　pond　when　a　rock　is　thrown　in。　Multicolored　flames　flared　up　along　the　cruiser's　bow　as　the　figure　began　to　merge　with　it。

High　on　the　hull；　an　emergency　ejection　port　opened　and　a　metallic　shape　shot　straight　up　like　a　sub…launched　missile。　Riding　the　propulsive　power　of　his　augmentation　modules；　the　Regent　arrowed　away　toward　his　flagship。

Below　him；　the　cruiser　was　already　half　engulfed　in　the　destructive　force　of　Haydon　IV's　defensive　system。　A　series　of　explosions　ripped　the　war　machine　apart　like　an　overtaxed　boiler　and　leveled　that　part　of　the　city。

In　that　moment；　gazing　down　as　he　ascended　on　his　suit　jets　and　reflecting　upon　the　sum　total　of　defeats　and　reversals；　the　Regent　retreated　into　uttermost　devolved　depths。　While　his　powered　armor's　automatics　made　the　linkup　with　the　flagship　and　guided　him　into　its　airlock；　and　the　vessel　itself　lifted　away　from　Haydon　IV　at　maximum　boost；　the　Regent　abandoned　temper　tantrums　and　frustrated　rantings　for　the　impersonal　malevolence　of　a　serpent。

The　Regis　would　never　understand　his　choice　of　deevolution；　but　then　she　had　never　sampled　it。　She　had　never　known　how；　in　its　purest　form；　the　devolved　state　took　away　the　pain　of　introspection；　of　reflection；　of　shame　and　regret　and　misgiving。

She　would　never　know　the　mindless　hatred　and　untainted　hostility　and　the　personal　peace　that　state　could　bring。　But　for　her　mate；　it　was　a　chosen　way　of　life。

His　defeats　were　forgotten　now　that　he　had　submerged　his　higher　self；　he　luxuriated　in　a　rancor　so　all…embracing　that　it　satisfied　him　like　a　drug。　But　in　that　trance；　contrary　to　the　accustomed　blankness；　a　Vision　appeared。　It　defined　itself；　ing　into　mental　focus；　thrown　up　before　the　Regent's　eyes　by　the　depths　of　his　loathing　and　his　thirst　for　revenge。　It　was　an　answer　to　his　dilemma。　It　was　the　face　of　General　T。R。　Edwards。


Like　other　worlds　the　Sentinels　had　visited；　Haydon　IV　had　its　shrine　to　the　godlike　being　after　whom　it　had　been　named。

This　one　did　not　occupy　a　mountaintop　or　city　plaza　or　polar　ice　cap。　Rather；　it　stood　at　the　center　of　a　burnished　alloy　plain　three　hundred　miles　in　diameter；　the　only　feature　of　a　landscape　that　was　otherwise　as　smooth　as　a　looking　glass。

Unlike　other　worlds'；　Haydon's　icon　wasn't　carved　from　ice　or　hewn　from　the　living　rock　of　a　peak。　Instead；　a　projected；　ghostly　image　of　the　legendary　figure　stood　nearly　a　mile　high。　It　bore　a　resemblance　to　a　Haydonite　in　that　the　features　were　smooth；　anonymous；　the　arms　were　within　the　high…collared　cape；　so　that　Haydon　looked　very　much　like　the　inhabitants　of　that　world。　Only　the　hint　of　flowing　hair　contradicted　it。

The　Terrans　had　been　surprised　to　realize　that；　by　Haydon's　own　decree；　no　precise　image　of　him　had　ever　been　made。　And　so　he　remained　shrouded　in　mystery　just　as　the　projection　stood　wrapped　in　its　long　cape。

The　Sentinels　and　the　freed　Praxians　had　offered　to　provide　an　honor　guard　for　Sarna's　funeral；　but　Vowad　and　Veidt　declined。　Together；　they　boarded　a　small　carpet　and　undertook　the　journey　with　the　body　of　the　beloved　mate　and　daughter。

Soon　the　leveled　city　was　left　behind　and　the　idyllic　countryside　of　Haydon　IV　rolled　by　beneath。　But　the　two　kept　their　gazes　straight　ahead。　During　that　long　flight　not　a　word　was　exchanged　between　the　two；　each　being　lost　in　his　contemplation。

When　at　last　they　hovered　before　the　projected　figure；　there　was　no　need　to　say　anything　aloud。　They　had　already　muned　their　sorrow　to　the　very　planet；　and　to　one　another。

Nevertheless；　Veidt；　having　picked　up　new　customs　in　his　travels　and　travails；　bade　the　figure　of　Haydon；　〃Take　her　into　your　keeping；　she　who　was　everything　in　this　life　to　me。　Grant　that　her　words　were　true；　and　that　we　will　be　together　again！〃

He　wasn't　praying　to　Haydon；　but　rather　addressing　a　higher　power　that　even　the　Haydonites　only　dimly　understood　and　could　not　fathom　by　any　application　of　mere　logic。

Still；　the　image　of　Haydon　moved；　as　the　living　Awareness　of　the　planet　willed　it。　Arms　appeared　from　beneath　the　cape；　and　eyes；　like　Human　eyes；　or　Tiresian；　came　into　shadowy　resolution。　The　open　palms　beckoned。

Sarna's　body　rose　from　the　carpet；　poised　and　erect　as　though　she　lived　once　more。　As　the　father　and　the　husband　watched；　she　was　drawn　into　the　valley　of　Haydon's　cupped　palms。

Vowad　struggled　within　himself；　moved　by　the　words　Veidt　had　spoken　and　by　the　wretched　grief　of　the　moment。　Sarna　was　gone；　her　essence　having　passed　to　some　other　plane　of　existence；　therefore　it　was　illogical　to　base　decisions　on　what　would　please　her。　And　yet。。。

Sarna's　body　had　vanished　into　the　cupped　hands　of　Haydon。　A　glow　rose　from　between　them；　lighting　Haydon's　smooth　face　and　the　sky　above。　The　two　mourners　heard　many　voices　raised　in　wordless　music　as　the　light　intensified。　Then　all　at　once　it　was　unbearable；　and　they　had　to　look　away。

When　they　turned　back；　Haydon　was　lowering　vast；　empty　hands。　In　moments；　the　projection　stood　as　it　had　when　they　appeared。　They　stood　looking　at　it　for　long　minutes。

〃Veidt；　I…I　would　like　to　be　friends　with　you　from　now　on；　if　you　will　it。〃

〃Thank　you；　Vowad。　It　will　give　her　great　joy。〃


CHAPTER　FIFTEEN

So　it's　eloquence　or　violence；
'Cause　no　one　believes　in　coincidence！
The　Robotones；　〃Protoculture　Junction〃

The　call　from　his　secret　facility　under　the　Royal　Hall　didn't　awaken　Edwards；　he　slept　less　and　less　nowadays；　animated　by　his　relentless　hunger　to　wrest　control　of　the　REF；　and　by　his　frustration　that　Minmei；　still　in　solitary　confinement；　was　steadfast　in　her　refusal　to　so　much　as　speak　to　him。

His　first　impulse　was　to　call　his　s