16_world_killers-第18部分

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ly　have　a　heart　attack　if　she　ever　got　a　glance　at　Gnea。

Just　as　Lisa　had　taken　to　wearing　Praxian　accessories；　most　Sentinels　pretty　much　dressed　as　they　saw　fit。　Prolonged　campaigning　had　seen　to　it　that　virtually　nobody　had　a　regulation　wardrobe　anymore；　and　people　wore　what　came　to　hand　or　caught　their　fancy。

A　case　in　point　was　Gnea。　The　ringmail　G…string　and　studded　dragonskin　halter　top　were　in　keeping　with　Praxian　fashion；　but　the　REF　dress　uniform　jacket　was　a　bit　of　a　shock。　The　high…waisted　mess　jacket　was　decked　out　with　brush　epaulets；　decorations　and　ribbons；　fourrageres；　and　insignia。

She　pirouetted　to　show　off　her　new　acquisition。　〃mander　Grant's　exec　and　I　are　just　about　the　same　size；　so　we　swapped；〃　she　said；　brushing　the　embroidery　on　her　cuffs。　Jack　wondered　how　the　economy…size　Lieutenant　mander　Shimoda　was　enjoying　her　new　gryphon…fur　shawl。　Certainly　Gnea；　a　six…foot…four　teenager　with　legs　that　wouldn't　quit；　did　things　for　that　jacket　that；　in　Jack's　private　opinion；　merited　a　medal。

〃Anyway；　what　did　you　want　to　see　me　about；　Jack？〃

He　realized　guiltily　that　he　had　been　admiring　her　long…waisted　figure　and　gave　a　start；　glancing　around　by　reflex　and　expecting　Karen　Penn　to　be　scowling　at　him。　Dammit！　The　two　were　at　one　another's　throat　as　often　as　they　were　caught　up　in　their　romantic　friendship；　and　Karen　had　certainly　never　said　or　done　anything　proprietary。　But　somehow；　he　found；　he　couldn't　look　at　another　woman　anymore　without　the　fear　of　being　clobbered。

〃The　admiral's　noticed　that　Tesla's　been　keeping　a　low　profile　since　the　Haydon　IV　tea　party；〃　he　said。　〃In　fact；　nobody's　seen　him。　For　that　matter；　Burak's　been　conspicuously　out　of　sight；　too。　So　I　figured　I'd　sort　of　take　a　stroll　and　hunt　them　up。〃

Gnea　had　been　a　confidant　of　Burak's；　at　least　back　when　the　Sentinels　first　showed　up　on　Tirol。　So；　enlisting　her　in　the　project　was　one　of　the　first　things　that　had　e　to　Jack's　mind。

〃Yes；　I　noticed　that；〃　Gnea　said　with　a　pensive　look　on　her　face。　〃It's　time　someone　found　out　just　what　those　two　are　up　to；　isn't　it？〃　She　fell　in　next　to　him　and　they　started　off；　she　a　half…head　taller　but　both　of　them　fortable　with　each　other's　pany。

〃Burak　and　I　don't　talk　much　anymore；　you　know；〃　the　amazon　went　on。　〃I　just…once　he　became　acquainted　with　Tesla；　he　started　talking　like　some　kind　of　savior。　It　was　one　thing　to　sympathize　with　him　but　a　pletely　different　one　to　put　up　with　that…what　would　Humans　call　it？　Napoleonic　plex？〃

〃I　dunno；〃　Jack　said。　〃I　majored　in　Wood　Shop。〃

Gnea　let　that　pass　without　finding　out　what　it　meant；　one　had　to　understand　that　Jack　liked　to　be　obscure。

Burak　wasn't　in　his　quarters；　and　so　they　went　to　the　partment　that　had　been　assigned　to　Tesla。　The　Invid　wasn't　there…just　as　he　hadn't　been　there　for　days。　But　Jack　had　learned　the　unpleasant　facts　of　what　it　was　like　to　turn　in　an　unsatisfactory　report　to　Rick　Hunter；　and　so　he　snooped　around　the　place；　opening　empty　closets　and　looking　through　empty　drawers。

But　it　was　Gnea；　studying　the　deck　the　way　a　Praxian　huntress　was　expected　to　examine　the　ground；　who　came　across　something　that　merited　their　attention。　〃What's　this？〃

Jack　squatted　next　to　her。　〃Mung。〃　He　knew　the　look　and　smell　of　it　well：　a　mixture　of　dirt　and　grease；　moisture　and　machine　oil。　It　was　as　mon　to　certain　starship　ancillary　power　partments　as　it　had　been　a　generation　before　to　the　power；　plants　of　nuclear　submarines。　The　mung　looked　like　it　had　e　off　Tesla's　bare　footsole。


Finding　the　right　partment　didn't　take　long；　looking　for　places　near　the　ship's　power　section　where　the　security　monitors　were　out　of　service　narrowed　it　down。　On　the　third　try；　Jack　and　Gnea　stepped　through　a　hatch　and　found　themselves　facing　Burak。

Jack　was　one　of　those　who　wore　sidearms　aboard　ship　nowadays；　and　Gnea　had　always　practiced　the　habit。　He　had　his　Badger　out　and　cocked；　and　she　had　two　feet　of　glimmering　blue　blade　in　the　air。

Burak　looked　subdued；　almost　frightened。　But　he　bowed；　his　long　horns　dipping。　〃We　wondered　when　you　would　e。〃

Jack　waffled；　torn　between　the　urge　to　get　to　the　bottom　of　things　and　the　impulse　to　call　for　backup。　Then　something　moved　in　the　shadows　of　a　corner。

〃Yes；〃　a　voice　said。　〃We　looked　forward　to　it。〃

Two　slits　of　red　light；　like　miniature　furnace　mouths；　opened。　Laserlike　beams　leapt　out　at　lack　and　Gnea。　Jack　tried　with　all　his　might　to　pull　the　Badger's　trigger；　even　though　the　muzzle　was　pointed　away　from　Tesla；　he　was　hoping　the　sheer　shock　of　the　assault　pistol's　report　would　free　him　up；　let　him　slew　the　gun　around　at　the　Invid。

Gnea　had　raised　the　sword　high；　a　very　image　of　war；　but　she　was　as　immobile　as　Jack　while　the　rays　from　Tesla's　eyes　played　across　them　exactingly；　almost　intimately。

Rocked　as　he　was　by　the　numbing　impact　of　Tesla's　will；　Jack　still　saw　that　the　scientist　had　undergone　profound　changes。　He　now　resembled　the　artists'　sketches　that　had　been　made　to　the　Praxians'　descriptions　of　the　Regis。

The　snout　had　pulled　in；　the　mouth　was　now　conventionally　humanoid。　Tesla　was　much　bigger；　though　that　was　tough　to　judge　precisely　since　he　was　sitting　in　a　kind　of　lotus　position。　He　was　hairless；　his　musculature　so　well　defined　that　he　might　have　been　a　figure　from　an　anatomy　text；　his　nerves　and　blood　vessels　visible　in　a　way　that　suggested　he　had　no　skin；　no　epidermis　at　all。

〃Gaze　upon　me。〃

Jack　and　Gnea　found　that　they　had　no　choice。　The　emanations　from　the　Invid's　eyes　saw　to　that。　〃You　will　be　my　eyes　and　ears　in　the　ship；　and　among　the　councils　of　the　Sentinels；　and　on　Spheris；〃　Tesla　said。　It　sounded　to　the　dazzled　Jack　like　something　that　was　his　own　idea。

〃Keep　the　others　at　bay；〃　the　thing　sitting　on　the　deck　said。　〃I　need　time　to　plete　my　Transformation。　And　then。。。〃

The　being　in　the　corner　of　the　partment　began　to　rise；　like　a　Robotech　mechamorphosis　shape…shifting；　until　it　stood　with　the　top　of　its　skull　nearly　touching　the　overhead。

A　thread　of　saliva　was　dangling　from　Gnea's　chin；　Jack　Baker's　eyes　seemed　about　to　roll　up　in　his　head。　But　both　of　them　made　acknowledging　sounds。

〃Make　yourselves　available　for　the　most　important　missions　and　find　access　to　the　most　sensitive　data；〃　Tesla　said。　〃Your　lives　are　of　value　only　in　that　they　serve　me。〃


Lisa　considered　her　fighting　stance　and　wondered　if　she　shouldn't　be　a　little　lower；　a　little　more　straddle…legged。

After　all；　Bela　was…what？…six　six　or　so？　And　yet　her　stance　was　as　low　as　Lisa's　own；　solid　and　yet　fluid。

Not　to　mention　those　big　hands；　and　the　sheer　muscle　of　the　Sentinels'　number…one　amazon。　Still；　Lisa　had　learned　to　look　for　certain　hints　and　signs　of　vulnerability；　possible　avenues　of　attack；　that　she　would　never　have　been　able　to　spot　a　few　months　before。

Lisa　faked　a　hand　bination　and　came　in　low　for　a　foot　sweep。　Bela　leaped　over　it；　kicking　in　turn；　but　Lisa　wasn't　where　she　was　supposed　to　be；　she　had　reversed　course；　her　spinning　foot　catching　Bela　right　over　the　ear。

There　was　a　solid　thwack；　and　even　though　Bela's　sparring　helmet　and　Lisa's　footpads　were　thick；　the　Praxian　was　brought　up　short…more　by　surprise　than　by　pain。

Nonetheless；　she　had　Lisa's　foot　in　those　big…boned　hands　before　Lisa；　a　fraction　slow　on　the　recovery；　could　withdraw　it。　In　another　second；　Lisa　was　on　the　mat　and　slapping　it　in　surrender；　as　Bela　exerted　pressure　on　the　leghold　she　had　gotten。

They　rose　and　clasped　one　another's　forearm；　to　signal　the　end　of　the　match；　then　moved　toward　the　sidelines　as　they　removed　their　pads。　Another　amazon　and　Susan　Graham；　the　young　munications　and　public…info　officer；　were　squaring　off；　a　number　of　the　REF　women　had　followed　Lisa's　example　and　asked　the　Praxians　to　tutor　them　in　bat　arts。

〃You　faked　me　out；〃　Lisa　grated；　cross　with　herself　for　falling　for　it。　〃I　thought　I　finally　had　you。〃

〃You　did。〃　Bela　patted　her　shoulder。　〃But　part　of　the　fighting　arts　is　to　keep　on　ing　at　your　opponent；　no　matter　what。〃

She　regarded　Lisa　for　a　moment。　〃But　then；　you　already　know　that。〃

Karen　Penn　was　sitting　back　on　her　heels　at　the　edge　of　the　mat；　like　other　Humans　and　Praxians；　waiting　for　her　turn　to　spar。　She　was　one　of　the　few　REF　members　there　who　could　hold　their　own　against　an　amazon　opponent…could　give　as　good　as　she　got　and；　often；　win。

There　were　no　males　of　any　species　present。　The　Praxians　didn't　object　to　more　general　training　sessions　and　tournaments；　and　in　fact　weled　the　chance　to　pete　with　and　learn　from　their　Sentinels　rades。　There　had　been　some　monumental　clashes；　and　the　Karbarrans；　in　particular；　demonstrated　how　much　they　loved　a　good…natured　brawl。

But　certain　classes　and　workouts　were　reserved　for　females　alone。　Karen　seemed　to　find　a　kind　of　serenity　in　them。　Lisa　had　thought　about　confronting　Karen　with　the　real　problem；　but　had　more　than　enough　mand　time　to　know　that　unless　it　was　somehow　impairing　that　person's　professional　performance；　a　subordinate's　love　life　was　best　left　for　her　or　him　to　handle。

Certainly；　the　physical；　mental；　and　emotional　wringer　of　the　Sentinels'　campaigns　seemed　to　have　worked　a　change　in　Jack；　anyone　with　eyes　could　see　that　he　was　more　open　and　giving　with　Karen。　But　the　two　had　worked　up　determined　defenses　against　one　another；　and　Karen　was　loath　to　drop　hers。

If　Penn　and　Baker　never　admitted　to　themselves　or　each　other　that　they　were　in　love；　it　would　be　too　bad；　but　a　matter　that　others　would　be　well　advised　to　keep　out　of；　Lisa　decided。

The　next　bout　was　as　good　as　Lisa　and　Bela's　or　better：　two　Praxian　middleweights；　veteran　fighters　and　as　fast　as　rattlers；　were　mixing　it　up。　Blocks　and　parries　came　as　fast　as　kicks　and　punches；　the　amazons　at　the　sidelines　began　rooting　and　cheering。　Neither　woman　on　the　mat　could　score　a　point　on　the　other；　though　they　were　using　everything　they　knew。

In　the　midst　of　it　all；　nobody　noticed　a　newer　enter　the　hold。　Then　the　ref　shouted　the　winning　point　as　a　blow　landed；　and　somebody　became　aware　of　who　was；　against　all　tradition　and　decorum；　standing　there。

The　amazons　were　less　offended　or　outraged　than　amazed。　Baldan　II　took　advantage　of　the　sudden　silence　that　fell　over　the　partment　to　walk　toward　Lisa　and　Bela；　who　stood　watching　him。

His　feet　were　bare；　and　yet　they　didn't　make　the　glassy　tinkling　Lisa　would　have　expected　on　the　hard　deckplates。　Instead；　there　was　a　kind　of　steady　rising　and　falling　vibration；　like　someone　running　their　wetted　finger　around　the　rim　of　a　crystal　goblet。

Lisa　saw　that　the　Spherisian　wasn't　looking　at　her；　and　stepped　aside　as　Baldan　came　to　stand　before　Bela。　Bela　held　her　padded　sparring　helmet　in　her　long…fingered　hands；　her　strange　avian　eyes　as　wary　as　a　hawk's。

〃You　know　the　plan　for　scouting　Spheris；〃　Baldan　said。　〃There　are　some　few　days　yet；　before　I　have　to　leave。　I　ask　you　to　teach　me　some　of　the　fighting　skills　you　know；　for　I　know　none。〃

The　amazons　murmured；　some　of　them　holding　their　halberds　uneasily　or　putting　a　hand　to　a　shortsword　hilt。　No　male　was　permitted　to　invade　the　sequestered　training　places。

Bela　looked　down　at　him。　He　was　already；　in　size　and　form；　a　being　resembling　a　Terran　nearing　the　end　of　his　teens。　Baldan　wore　only　a　brief　waistclout。

He　was　not　translucent；　but　rather　seemed　to　give　off　light　that　he　had　gathered　from　sources　around　him。　His　facets；　convexes；　concaves；　and　planes　without　number　had　made　him　a　being　almost　too　beautiful　to　believe；　shining　with　the　youth　that　was　in　him。

Bela's　voice；　usually　a　hearty　shout；　was　now　only　a　husky　near…whisper。　〃You　must　learn　those　things　from　others；　no　male　is　allowed　here。〃

He　was　ready　for　that。　〃By　your　own　laws；　you　cannot　refuse　entry　to　a　godchild。〃

Bela　looked　up　sharply；　eyes　wide；　shock　and　anger　and　a　sort　of　involuntary　tenderness　mixed　together。　〃Godchild？〃

〃You　saved　my　life；　you　and　Miriya　Parina。　By　your　own　laws；　that　makes　me　your　godchild；　and　your　responsibility。〃

A　Chinese　obligation；　Lisa　thought。　She　was　thinking　back　on　the　moment　when　Bela　emerged　from　Miriya's　VT；　cradling　the　quartzlike　egg　that　was　to　bee　Baldan　II。

Lisa　figured　that　Bela's　sudden　lack　of　balance　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　biology…as…destiny　or　melting…mama　theories　of　instinctive　female　behavior。　But　it　had　everything　to　do　with　a　feeling　of　connectedness；　and　a　satisfaction　in　having　done　the　right　thing。

The　amazon　looked　him　over。　〃But…are　you　sure　you　won't　shatter？〃

He　turned　and　did　a　diving　roll　along　the　deck；　the　singing　of　his　shifting　facets　and　angles　sounding　like　celestial　music。　ing　to　his　feet　in　the　same　move；　he　faced　her　with　a　luminous　smile。

〃If　I　were　breakable；　I'd　have　been　broken　long　since；　Godmother。〃

Bela　threw　her　head　back　and　laughed；　and　other　Praxians　joined　in；　first　a　few；　then　all。　Lisa　stood　to　one　side　with　Karen　Penn；　looking　on　as　Bela　handed　her　godson　a　plete　suit　of　pads　and　a　helmet。　〃Things　have　to　change　with　the　times；〃…Bela　shrugged…〃even　Praxian　rules。〃

There　are　things　ing　out　of　this　war；　byproducts；　that　are　almost　as　important　as　victory；　it　occurred　to　Lisa。


CHAPTER　NINETEEN

You're　free　to　be　THE　BEST　〃YOU〃　THAT　YOU　CAN　POSSIBLY　BE！　You're　OKAY！　So　take　charge　of　your　life　and　learn　how　to　be　YOUR　OWN　BEST　FRIEND！
Also；　get　PERSONAL　POWER　over　your　POTENTIAL　and　LEARN　HOW　TO　ASSERT　IT！！　Grok　yourself　fully　during　QUALITY　TIME！！　Dare　to　be　great！　Remember：　TODAY　IS　THE　FIRST　DAY　OF　THE　REST　OF　YOUR　LIFE！！！
Kermit　Busganglion；　The　Hand　That's　Dealt　You

The　REF　had　always　been　intimidated　by　the　stupendous　Royal　Hall　of　the　Robotech　Masters　on　Tirol…had　never　in　their　total　muster　been　able　to　fill　more　than　a　portion　of　it。

But　now　the　Royal　Hall　was　lit　from　one　end　to　the　other；　thanks　to　amblers　and　floating　illumination　drones。　For　an　evening　at　least　a　corner　of　it　was　free　of　the　tyrants'　echoes。　There；　among　ranked　mecha；　a　court　of　inquiry　had　been　convened。　The　Plenipotentiary　Council　sat　ready　to　discharge　one　of　its　gravest　functions；　defendants　and　accusers　waited　silently　or　held　quick　conferences　behind　cupped　hands。

It　was　going　out　to　just　about　every　outlet　and　terminal　under　REF　purview…with　one　special　exception。　In　the　prairielike　square　outside；　the　throngs　looked　at　the　screens；　as　people　were　doing　elsewhere　on　Fantoma's　moons；　and　on　SDF…3。

Most　of　the　accused…Wolff；　Vince　Grant　and　officers　of　the　expedition　that　had　been　sent　to　bring　back　the　Valivarre…sat　at　the　defense　table。　Breetai　was　the　lone　Zentraedi　there；　seated　off　to　one　side　in　a　monumental　chair。　Kazianna　Hesh　and　the　rest　of　the　giants　were　still　aboard　the　Valivarre；　and　while　no　one　had　made　much　mention　of　it　yet；　so　was　the　monopole　ore。

There　had　been　some　surprises　for　the　returnees；　the　chief　among　those　being　that　Wolff　had　been　charged　with　the　murder　of　the　Regent/simulagent。　But　that　charge　had　been　set　aside　with　their　news…and　indisputable　proof　in　the　form　of　sworn　reports　and　battle　recordings…that　the　Regent　still　lived。

The　group　had　also　brought　back　word　of　Janice　Em's　true　identity。　Vince　feared　that　it　would　prejudice　the　case；　since　it　might　make　people　pletely　mistrustful　of　Lang；　but　that　did　not　seem　to　be　the　case。　Vince　figured　that　Lang　was　so　far　outside　of