16_world_killers-第24部分

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She　pleted　her　close　pass　in　the　Fighter…mode　Logan　VT；　weaving　among　stray　shots　and　deliberate　ones；　missiles　and　autocannon　both；　that　drew　lines　through　the　sky　around　her。

〃Suggest　you　delay　drop；　I　say　again；　delay　drop；　until　we　can　figure　out　what's　going　on。〃

〃Understood。〃　In　the　Ark　Angel's　tactical　information　center；　Rick　switched　to　his　link　with　Lisa　up　on　the　bridge。　〃Did　you　get　that？〃

〃Acknowledged。〃　She　swept　the　ship　around　into　a　holding　pattern；　as　it　was　jarred　by　the　atmosphere。　In　the　mustering　points；　hundreds　of　troops　cussed　at　the　delay　and　wondered　what　was　wrong；　the　waiting；　the　veterans　knew；　could　sometimes　be　the　worst　part　of　all。

Karen　brought　her　VT　about　and　went　to　Guardian　configuration　for　another　pass。　She　finally　spotted　her　objective。　〃I've　got　Tesla　sighted！　Gnea　and　Veidt；　too；　but　I　don't　see　Burak　or　Jack！〃　She　felt　her　heart　sink　within　her。

Just　then　Gnea's　voice　came　over　the　net。　〃Attention；　Karen！　Jack　and　Burak　are　inside　the　Invid　hive；　stealing　a；　um；　special　weapon　that　Tesla　says　can　win　the　battle。　Make　the　pickup　on　them　at　the　main　intersection　south　of　the　hive；　Jack　will　have　his　set　keyed　for　a　homing　signal。

〃Also　be　advised：　Tesla　will　instruct　his　troops　to　emit　blinking　signals　with　their　optical　sensors。　I　say　again；　troops　with　blinking　signals　are　friendlies。〃

〃Roger　that；〃　Karen　said。　She　relayed　the　information　to　Lisa　even　as　her　VT　leapt　away　through　the　sky；　thrusters　bellowing；　to　make　the　pickup　on　Jack　and　Burak。

Below　her；　Tesla　took　his　concentration　from　the　battle　for　an　instant　to　tell　Gnea；　〃Well　done。〃

The　faster　the　Fruit　was　brought　to　him；　the　better。　And；　having　a　Veritech　at　his　disposal　would　enhance　his　situation；　too。


This　time；　the　Fruit　was　as　yellow　as　a　sunflower　and　grew　in　a　shape　that　was　nearly　a　perfect　pyramid。

Jack　and　Burak　had　bundled　up　as　many　as　they　could　in　their　jackets；　and　crept　out　of　the　hive　once　more；　like　raiding　mice　among　the　hurrying　giant　Inorganics。

At　one　point；　they　felt　disoriented　as　Tesla　wondered　if　it　wouldn't　be　worthwhile　to　send　them　on　a　suicide　attack　to　the　Brain。　But　the　moment　passed　as　the　scientist　realized　that　the　Brain　would　be　far　too　well　guarded　for　two　lightly　armed　humanoids　to　tackle。　Besides；　he　must　have　the　Fruit；　before　something　happened　to　it。

When　they　reached　the　intersection；　Jack；　by　Tesla's　decree；　keyed　the　homing　signal。　He　and　Burak　got　ready　to　put　the　rest　of　the　plan　into　effect。


Zooming　down　in　a　wash　of　thruster　fire；　Karen　could　see　no　sign　of　either　Jack　or　Burak。　And　yet；　she　was　getting　a　strong　signal　from　the　set。

The　only　building　still　standing　in　the　area　was　a　sturdy…looking　structure　suggesting　a　bunker　of　polished　opal。　Karen　checked　her　instruments；　the　signal　was　ing　from　there。　Its　entrances　were　far　too　small　for　a　Battloid。

Jack's　voice　came　up　on　the　net。　〃Karen；　get　in　here　and　help　me　with　Burak；　he　took　a　bad　hit。〃

The　fighting　had　moved　from　the　area；　but　she　still　considered　Jack's　proposal　dubious。　〃Can't　you　get　him　to　the　entry？　I　can　pick　him　up　with　the　Battloid's　hand。〃

Jack　sounded　weak　and　weary。　〃Goddamn　you；　it's　all　I　can　do　to　keep　him　from　ing　apart　in　pieces！　And　I　caught　a　hit　or　two　myself。〃

Karen　imaged　the　mechamorphosis；　and　the　VT；　back　in　Guardian　shape；　knelt　with　its　radome　almost　touching　the　ground。　She　was　out　of　the　cockpit　and　running　in　another　second　or　two；　sidearm　drawn。　She　passed　into　the　dark　interior；　calling　his　name。

Something　hit　her　from　behind；　and　the　next　thing　she　knew；　Jack　and　Burak　were　standing　over　her　with　drawn　guns。


CHAPTER　TWENTY…FOUR

I've　been　accused　of　over…romanticizing　certain　aspects　of　the　events　that　day。　Maybe　so；　and　if　that's　the　kind　of　thing　that　irks　you；　then　don't　read　on。
What　you　should　do　to　keep　yourself　busy；　though；　is　make　sure　you　try　the　glass　slipper　on　every　appropriate　foot　that　es　your　way。　You　might　change　your　mind…or　your　luck。
Jack　Baker；　Upwardly　Mobile

Glowing　disembodied　along　the　crystal　highways；　Baldan　II　implored　his　people。

〃We　know　which　media　we　must　strike　at　now！　Tesla's　troops　and　even　the　Sentinels　may　not　be　enough！　We　must　help　them！〃

But　everywhere　it　was　the　same。　〃We　are　safe　here　in　the　bosom　of　Spheris。　Let　the　outworlders　fight　their　own　battles！〃

The　heart　he　had　put　into　them　was　gone　again；　now　that　someone　seemed　ready　to　hand　the　Spherisians　peace　and　freedom　on　a　platter。　Baldan　brooded；　and　wondered　if　such　a　gift　could　ever　be　trusted；　and　how　much　harm　it　would　do　Spheris　in　the　long　run。

Teal　spoke　across　the　mineral　medium　to　him。　〃What　shall　we　do？　Baldan；　if　you　want　to　fight；　I　am　with　you。〃

〃There　is　one　thing　we　might　do；〃　he　said。　Reorienting　his　mind…spirit　along　new　vectors；　he　headed　toward　Beroth。　Teal　rose　after。


Karen　knew　her　flight　helmet　had　saved　her　from　being　killed；　from　the　positions　of　the　two　as　they　stood　looking　down　at　her；　she　presumed　Burak　had　struck　the　blow。

She　tried　to　move　and　realized　she　was　trussed　up　with　her　own　flight　harness　and　their　uniform　harnesses。

Burak　was　tucking　her　dropped　pistol　in　his　gunbelt。　〃I'll　get　the　Fruit。　Make　sure　she's　secure。　And　don't　forget　to　bring　her　helmet。〃

Jack　removed　the　helmet；　but　then　stood　looking　down　at　her　uncertainly；　weighing　his　Badger。　〃Jack；　Tesla's　making　you　do　this；　isn't　he？　Jack；　don't　listen　to　him！　Stop　and　think　what　you're　doing；　before…〃

〃Silence！〃　Burak　was　back。　〃Be　grateful　that　Omnipotent　Tesla　directs　us　to　spare　you；　or…〃

Then　his　expression　became　a　little　vague；　as　did　Jack's；　as　they　both　listened　to　something　she　couldn't　hear。　Burak　glanced　down　at　her　with　a　devilish　grin；　his　horns　silhouetted　against　the　entrance。

〃It　seems　you're　not　indispensable　after　all；　Penn。〃　He　turned　to　Jack。　〃Finish　her；　while　I　load　the　Fruit。〃　Burak　had　no　punctions　about　killing　Karen…not　under　Tesla's　coercion。　But　he　was　much　more　concerned　that　the　Fruit　stay　in　his　possession；　giving　him　some　minimal　leverage　with　the　Invid。

〃Jack；　don't　do　this；〃　she　whispered。

He　bolstered　his　gun　like　a　man　in　a　trance。　His　forehead　was　covered　with　rivulets　of　sweat。　Hooking　his　hands　in　her　bonds；　he　began　pulling　her　up。　A　part　of　him　felt　that　he　couldn't　simply　leave　her　body　there；　that　he　must　move　it　further　into　the　darkness　to　hide　his　terrible　crime。　Another　part　simply　wanted　to　lift　her　up　and　bear　her　away…away　from　the　danger。

Her　infighting　moves　were　severely　limited：　ankles　and　knees　were　strapped　together；　her　hands　bound　behind　her　at　elbows　and　wrists。　But　as　he　lifted　her　up；　she　made　her　play；　it　had　nothing　to　do　with　knocking　him　unconscious。

Lurching　against　him；　she　pinned　him　between　the　wall　and　herself；　putting　her　mouth　to　his。　The　zombielike　dullness　slipped　from　him；　and　after　a　surprised　instant；　he　kissed　her　back；　arms　going　around　her；　supporting　her。　He　buried　his　fingers　in　her　hair　and　hugged　her　tight。　Time　stopped　for　both　of　them。

〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Burak's　footsteps　clicked　on　the　floor。

Jack　could　only　release　her　and　turn　to　go　for　his　gun　in　a　desperate　contest。　Karen　tucked　her　chin　in　and　managed　to　avoid　having　her　head　cracked　open　as　she　toppled　over　backward　in　a　painful　fall。

Jack　didn't　have　time　to　unholster　his　pistol；　because　Burak　was　practically　on　top　of　him；　though　one　of　the　man's　groping　hands　blundered　open　the　retaining　strap　that　held　his　set　in　its　pouch。　But　he　managed　to　grab　Burak's　wrist　and　give　it　a　practiced　twist；　sending　the　Perytonian's　handgun　bouncing　across　the　floor。　Then　Jack　hit　him　with　a　right　cross；　sending　him　staggering　into　the　wall。

Tesla　sensed　what　was　going　on　and　strove　to　reassert　his　dominance　over　Jack；　sending　a　mental　bolt　at　him　just　as　he　went　to　grapple　with　Burak。　Jack　somehow　endured　the　attack；　but　he　was　off　balance。

Knocking　aside　Jack's　clumsy　defense；　Burak　used　an　instinctive　attack；　one　the　Sentinels　hadn't　seen　from　a　Perytonian　yet；　and　that　Jack　wouldn't　be　looking　for。　Rather　than　use　hands　or　feet；　Burak　faked；　then　lowered　his　head　and　gored　Jack　Baker。

The　long；　dart…keen；　tapered　horns　ripped　through　the　tough　fabric　of　the　man's　uniform　and　through　flesh　and　muscle；　opening　twin　channels　across　his　midsection。　One　horn　hung　up　on　a　rib；　and　Burak　was　pulled　off　balance。　Jack　managed　to　land　a　hammer　blow　to　the　base　of　Burak's　neck　with　his　fist；　but　the　Perytonian　lifted　him　from　his　feet　and　dropped　him　like　a　bull　tossing　a　matador。

As　Jack　fell；　Burak　looked　around　dizzily　for　his　gun。　But　a　burst　from　a　Badger　made　him　duck；　and　he　rushed　madly　for　the　bunker's　entrance。　Karen　fired　again；　but　with　no　way　to　aim；　she　was　lucky　she　just　stitched　a　line　of　shots　across　the　ceiling。

Lucky　I　didn't　shoot　my　own　young　tush　off！　she　told　herself。

As　it　was；　she　had　through　some　miracle　managed　to　squirm　over　to　Burak's　gun；　rolling　over　it　backward　to　get　it。

As　Burak　fled；　he　kicked　something　that　skittered　ahead　of　him。　He　instinctively　scooped　it　up　as　he　ran；　barely　breaking　stride：　Jack's　set；　which　had　bounced　loose　in　the　struggle。

Karen　fired　one　more　burst　blindly；　then　let　Burak　go　and　set　the　Badger　aside。　She　went　back　to　work　on　the　makeshift　bonds。　By　the　time　she　had　her　wrists　loosened　up　a　bit；　the　rumble　of　her　ascending　VT　shook　the　air。

Burak　didn't　have　the　flight　helmet；　but　with　luck　and　a　little　skill　he　could　get　back　to　Tesla　using　sheer　manual　controls。

Other　hands；　slick　with　blood；　fumbled　to　help　Karen　free　herself。　In　seconds　she　was　kneeling　by　Jack；　and　he　curled　back　on　the　floor。　The　goring　had　been　savage；　and　he　was　losing　blood　fast。　But　she　could　see　that　he　had　shaken　off　Tesla's　influence。

She　looked　around　for　her　flight　helmet　to　call　for　a　medevac　but　saw　it　lying　in　pieces；　an　inadvertent　victim　of　one　of　her　own　unaimed　bursts。

Jack　managed　a　pale　ghost　of　one　of　those　maddening　grins。　〃Isn't　Prince　Charming　supposed　to　awaken　Sleeping　Beauty　with　the　kiss？　Penn；　can't　you　get　anything　right？〃


Armed　with　all　the　non…Protoculture　weaponry　they　had　been　able　to　muster；　the　Sentinels　dropped　into　Beroth　to　throw　themselves　in　on　the　side　of　the　blinking　Invid。

If　the　Brain　had　been　more　devious；　it　might　have　had　its　troops　imitate　Tesla's　strobe　signals　and　confuse　things　again。　But；　an　aging　and　somewhat　obsolescent　organism；　it　practiced　only　the　standard；　brute　tactics　of　Invid　warfare。

The　Sentinels　had　e　in　armed　with　everything　from　Karbarran　pneumatics　to　Garudan　slingshots；　but　most　were　carrying　REF…style　non…Protoculture　weapons。　Even　the　Praxians　had　put　aside　their　polearms　and　swords　and　dart…throwers　willingly　for　submachine　guns　loaded　with　explosive　bullets；　heavy　machine　guns　that　fired　discarding…sabot　rounds；　and　portable　recoilless　rifles。

There　were　also　mortars；　flame　guns；　Garudan　things　that　squirted　molecular　acid；　blowtorches；　and　a　lot　more。　The　VTs　and　the　few　remaining　Hovertanks　couldn't　use　Protoculture　weapons　either；　of　course；　but　there　had　only　been　time　to　retrofit　a　few　of　them　with　old…style　autocannon　and　rocket　pods。　Still；　even　lacking　firearms；　a　multi…ton　mecha　throwing　armored　punches　or　swinging　a　superalloy　club　as　long　as　a　utility　pole　could　do　a　lot　of　damage。

It　was　easy　to　sort　out　friend　from　foe；　Tesla's　new　subjects'　cyclopean　eyes　flashed　brightly。　The　Sentinels　launched　themselves　into　the　fray　with　that　same　hunger　for　revenge　and　victory　that　they　had　brought　to　other　battles。

But　Tesla　was　beginning　to　feel　misgivings。　Burak　was　already　on　his　way　back　with　the　Fruit…slowly；　because　he　wasn't　used　to　handling　a　VT；　and　certainly　not　without　the　special　thinking…cap　flight　helmet…but　the　Sentinels　might　discover　Tesla's　treachery　at　any　time；　if　Baker　or　Penn　could　get　word　back　somehow。

Was　it　luck　or　was　it　the　Shaping　of　the　Protoculture　that　Penn's　helmet　had　been　shot　up　and　Baker's　set　taken　by　Burak？　Tesla　steeled　himself　against　doubts。　Though　every　Inorganic　he　could　mand　was　sorely　needed　in　the　battle；　he　detached　several　and　sent　them　toward　the　bunker；　to　do　away　with　two　troublesome　Humans　before　they　could　interfere　any　further。

In　the　meantime；　sensing　the　deployment　of　the　Sentinels　and　the　manner　in　which　the　battle　was　taking　shape；　he　began　a　series　of　strategic　withdrawals；　in　order　to　shift　the　burden　of　the　fighting　over　to　his　former　captors。　He　would　need　his　own　troops　for　other　things。


On　Optera　the　Regent；　still　dripping　from　nutrient　immersion；　viewed　a　recording　of　the　brief　fragment　of　message　that　his　Spheris　garrison　had　managed　to　send。

〃Under　attack　by…〃

Then　the　screen　went　blank；　because　the　main　munications　installation　had　been　the　first　thing　against　which　Tesla　directed　his　troops'　fire。

But　the　Regent　could　hardly　know　that。　He　could　only　quake　with　rage　and　fright；　that　an　enemy　could　so　suddenly　overwhelm　his　most　important　remaining　stronghold　outside　of　Optera。

Burak　barely　survived　his　landing；　crumpling　the　Guardian's　powerful　leg　under　it　with　a　creaking　of　metal；　and　stoving　in　the　radome。


〃Can　you　fly　it？〃　Tesla　demanded　of　Gnea。

She　shook　her　head　somewhat　groggily；　leakage　from　Tesla's　mind　let　bits　and　pieces　of　the　fierce　battle　through　into　her　own。　〃Not　without　a　helmet。〃

Tesla　roared　and　reached　out　to　swat　her　like　a　bug；　she　never　even　flinched。　But　he　stopped　himself；　realizing　that　she　might　be　of　some　further　use。　Burak　emerged　from　the　keeled…over　Guardian　hobbling；　somehow　contriving　to　carry　the　bundled　Fruit。　The　ring　of　flashing…eyed　troops　that　Tesla　had　drawn　around　the　area　to　protect　himself　opened　for　Burak。

By　the　time　the　Perytonian　was　dragging　himself　up　the　ramp　to　join　him　on　the　landing　platform；　Tesla　was　already　issuing　new　marching　orders　to　his　usurped　army。

Just　then　a　contact　signal　came　from　the　municator　on　Gnea's　belt。　It　was　Lisa　Hunter's　voice　over　the　mand　freq。　〃Tesla；　get　your　eastern　and　northern　elements　going　in　a　pincer　movement；　do　you　read　me？　What　they're　doing　now　is　worse　than　useless！〃

Tesla　took　the　set　in　his　now…dexterous　hand。　〃Oh　yes！　I　read　you；　female；　have　no　fear。〃

He　broke　the　contact；　but　continued　what　he　was　doing。　His　objective　now　was　the　troopships　on　the　other　side　of　the　city；　the　Brain　was　too　well　guarded；　and　he　had　sworn　never　to　go　back　into　Human　captivity。

The　VTs　the　Sentinels　had　been　able　to　field　had　already　hit　some　of　the　tanker　ships　in　port；　sending　tidal　waves　of　nutrient　fluid　washing　outward。　But　the　troopships　stationed　there　in　long…term　ground　positions　were；　in　accordance　with　military　procedure；　camouflaged　against　space　attack…just　as　the　Terror　Weapons　on　Tirol　had　been。　They　were　still　there　awaiting　Tesla's　pleasure。

〃And　then　on　to　Optera！〃　he　cried；　shaking　his　fist　at　the　sky。

〃No！〃　It　was　Burak；　limping　toward　Tesla　with　a　wild　look　on　his　face　and　Jack's　blood　still　glistening　darkly　on　his　horns。　He　dropped　the　bundles　of　Fruit　and　stepped　back　from　them。

〃Not　Optera；　Peryton！　You　promised！〃

Tesla；　furious；　sent　out　a　mental　bolt　that　almost　flattened　Burak。　How　the　Perytonian　had　slipped　his　mental　leash；　Tesla　had　no　idea；　except　that　Tesla's　concentrati