10_invid_invasion-第10部分

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　War。

〃Climb　in；〃　said　Lunk。　〃She's　ready　to　fly。〃

〃Who's　been　maintaining　it？〃　Scott　asked　as　he　struggled　out　of　the　reconfigured　Cyclone。

〃Listen；　I'm　not　as　stupid　as　you　might　think；〃　Lunk　said；　raising　his　voice　above　explosive　volleys　from　the　Invid。　Discs　were　striking　the　fields　nearby；　loosening　dirt　and　debris　from　the　exposed　rafters。　〃I　was　a　certified　bio…maintenance　engineer。　Trust　me；　this　baby　will　fly　like　a　dream。〃

Scott　climbed　into　the　barn　loft　and　gave　the　Veritech's　radome　an　affectionate　pat。　He　threw　himself　up　to　the　open　canopy；　got　a　good　handhold；　and　slipped　into　the　cockpit。　He　hadn't　bothered　to　change　out　of　the　Cyclone　armor；　but　now　he　exchanged　his　helmet　for　the　Veritech's　own　〃thinking　cap〃　and　began　a　run…through　of　the　systems。　It　was　so　long　since　he　had　piloted　a　VT　in　atmosphere；　he　wondered　if　he　could　bring　it　off　now。

〃Everything　seems　in　order！〃　he　called　down　to　Lunk　as　an　explosion　tore　out　a　huge　section　of　wall。

Lunk's　hands　went　to　his　ears；　and　he　threw　himself　to　cover。　Through　the　breach　in　the　wall；　Scott　glimpsed　the　three　Troopers　land　and　begin　their　approach　on　the　barn。　I'll　never　be　able　to　power　up　fast　enough　to　get　out　of　here！　he　thought。

But　just　then　Rand　and　Rook　arrived　to　check　the　aliens'　advance。　The　red　Cycloner　launched　herself　like　a　projectile　straight　into　one　of　the　Trooper's　optic　sensors；　while　Rand　fired　two　Scorpions　against　a　second。　It　was　all　the　time　Scott　needed　to　bring　up　the　Protoculture　levels　of　the　Veritech；　and　a　moment　later；　much　to　Rand's　consternation；　the　radome　of　the　VT　was　punching　through　the　barn's　roof。

Scott　threw　the　VT　into　a　steep　climb；　luring　the　Troopers　away　from　their　swipe　attacks　against　Rook　and　Rand。　Rand　watched　the　fighter　accelerate　through　a　sweeping　arc　and　head　back　into　the　faces　of　its　pursuers；　destroying　one　with　a　missile　too　swift　for　his　eyes　to　track。　But　that　was　only　the　beginning。　Now　the　fighter　was　reconfiguring　to　Battloid　mode　and　leading　the　two　remaining　Invid　on　a　high…speed　chase　over　the　countryside。

Scott　thought　the　ship　upright…a　techno…knight　standing　in　thin　air…while　salvos　of　annihilation　discs　beamed　past　him。　He　reached　out；　throwing　levers　that　opened　the　missile　partments　built　into　the　Battloid's　forearm；　shoulder；　and　lower…leg　armor；　and　thought　the　systems　through　to　launch。　It　was　all　ing　back　to　him　now…it　had　to！　For　a　moment；　the　techno…knight　was　enpassed　in　energy　balloons；　then　dozens　of　missiles　tore　from　their　launch　racks　like　so　many　red…tipped　arrows　of　death。　The　Troopers　took　the　full　storm　and　were　all　but　disintegrated　by　the　force　of　the　blasts。


Down　below；　Kevin　and　Spider　were　running　toward　the　barn；　a　few　steps　ahead　of　Annie；　who　had　just　leapt　from　Yellow's　jeep　and　was　calling　out　for　Lunk。　Rook　and　Rand　had　already　reconfigured　their　Cyclones　and　were　doffing　the　hot　and　cumbersome　battle　armor　when　Scott　brought　the　VT　down；　cut　the　engines；　and　threw　open　the　canopy。

Lunk　stepped　from　the　barn　unharmed　and　caught　Annie　midair　as　she　jumped　up　and　threw　her　arms　around　his　neck。　〃There　you　are！〃　she　gushed。　〃I　knew　they　wouldn't　get　you；　I　knew　you'd　e　back　to　me！〃

Lunk　held　her　away；　offering　a　miffed　but　understanding　grin。

〃I've　decided　you're　the　only　one　for　me！〃

〃Well；　thanks；〃　said　Lunk。　〃I　wish　I　could　say　the　same。〃　He　smiled　tolerantly　and　gently　lowered　Annie　to　the　ground。　〃You're　a　little　young　for　me。。。And　besides；　I've　got　other　plans。〃

Annie　stared　up　at　him；　despondent；　and　asked　what　those　other　plans　might　be。

Lunk　threw　his　massive　shoulders　back。　〃Join　the　resistance；〃　he　said　to　all　of　them。　〃See　if　I　can　make　up　for　past　mistakes。〃

〃I'd　be　glad　to　join　forces　with　you；　Lunk；〃　said　Scott。　〃If　you　mean　what　you　say。。。〃

Kevin　looked　from　one　to　the　other。　〃He's　not　serious；　robby。　Are　you；　Lunk？〃

Lunk　nodded。　〃I'm　sick　of　sneakin'　around　like　a　frightened　little　weasel。　Face　it；　Kevin；　I'm　a　soldier；　after　all。　And　it's　time　I　started　acting　like　one。〃

〃Use　your　head；　Lunk；〃　Kevin　countered。　〃This　war's　a　lost　cause。　What　can　two；　ten；　or　even　two　hundred　do　against　the　Invid？〃

〃We　can　try；〃　said　Lunk。

Annie　made　a　disappointed　sound　and　turned　her　back　to　Lunk；　hands　behind　her　head。　〃And　I　thought　you　were　special。。。〃

Lunk　bent　down；　perplexed；　to　ask：　〃But　a　minute　ago　I　was　the　man　of　your　dreams；　remember？〃

Annie's　lips　tightened；　and　she　shook　her　head。　〃A　long　time　ago　I　decided　I'd　never　marry　a　soldier。　They　don't　last　long　enough　nowadays。〃

Kevin　and　Spider　laughed。

〃The　kid's　no　dummy；　that's　for　sure；〃　Rand　offered。

Yellow　stepped　down　from　the　jeep　and　approached　the　VT。　〃I'd　like　to　sign　up　for　the　team；　Scott。〃

Rook　sent　a　knowing　elbow　into　Rand's　ribs　at　the　same　time　Kevin　sent　one　into　Spider's。　But　Scott's　answer　disappointed　all　of　them。

〃Thanks；〃　he　said　from　the　cockpit。　〃But　we　don't　have　enough　troops　yet　to　hire　an　entertainer。〃

〃There's　a　lot　more　to　me　than　meets　the　eye；〃　said　Yellow。

〃As　if　that　isn't　enough；〃　Rand　mented　under　his　breath　but　loudly　enough　for　Rook　to　hear。

〃All　I　see　is　an　attractive　woman　in　a　rather　slinky　outfit；〃　said　Scott。

〃Wrong　on　both　counts；〃　Yellow　answered　him；　walking　back　to　the　jeep。　〃I've　got　something　to　show　you。　〃

A　buzz　of　general　puzzlement　swept　through　the　would…be　team　as　Yellow　sauntered　off；　especially　when　she　turned　her　back　to　them　and　began　to　undo　the　rear　buttons　of　her　strapless　top。

〃Hey；　w…wait　a　minute；〃　Scott　stammered　in　protest。　〃I　appreciate　your　wanting　to；　er…show　me；　but　don't　think　for　a　moment　that's　going　to　change　my　mind。。。〃

〃Is　she　going　to　do　what　I　think　she's　going　to　do？〃　said　Annie；　gulping。

〃Sure　looks　that　way；〃　Rook　said　in　an　interested　way。

Yellow　meanwhile　had　removed　her　top　and　tossed　it　into　the　open　jeep。　She　still　had　her　back　to　them；　long　lavender　hair　falling　all　the　way　to　the　narrow　band　of　her　brassiere。

〃H…hey；　now　hold　on！〃　Rand　said　with　a　desperate　tone。

Lunk　laughed。　〃Well；　she's　right　about　one　thing…she's　not　wearin'　no　slinky　outfit　anymore。〃

Yellow　turned　to　throw　them　a　wink　over　her　shoulder；　then　reached　back　the　way　only　a　woman　can　and　unfastened　the　bra；　letting　it　slip　from　her　breasts。　She　still　had　her　back　to　them　when　she　undid　her　trousers　and　let　them　fall。　The　pink　jeep　concealed　whatever　treasures　these　moments　might　have　held　for　the　red…faced　team。

〃Now　what's　she　doing？〃　Lunk　said　as　Dancer　picked　up　a　towel　and　began　to　scrub　her　face　with　it。

〃I　don't　know；〃　Scott　responded　sternly。　〃But　I　want　an　end　to　it　right　now；　hear　me；　Yellow？　You　can　stop　this　little　game；　because　we're　not　taking　you　with　us；　and　that's　final！〃

Then　Yellow　swung　around　to　face　them。

And　something　was　wrong；　very　wrong；　indeed。

〃Oh；　no！〃　Rook　screamed；　and　began　to　laugh　hysterically。

〃Y…yellow　Dancer？〃　Rand　said　tentatively。

Lunk；　Kevin；　and　Spider　drew　in　stunned　but　disappointed　intakes　of　breath。　Annie　was　simply　confused；　Scott；　wordless。　It　was　plain　enough　to　see　that　Yellow　Dancer　was　a　man…a　tall；　rather　hairless；　lean　and　attractive　man。

〃You　can　start　by　calling　me　Lancer；〃　he　told　his　stunned　audience；　his　voice　deeper　now。　〃I　think　the　name　suits　me　a　little　better。　So；　I　hope　there　are　no　further　objections　to　my　tagging　along　with　you。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　know。。。〃　Scott　started　to　say。　Woman　or　cross…dresser；　what　was　the　difference？　he　asked　himself。　But　looking　down　at　Rook　now；　he　began　to　have　second　thoughts　about　all　of　this。　Earth　was　a　fascinating　but　bizarre　place　where　women　seemed　to　want　to　mix　it　up　as　much　as　the　men。　So　maybe　there　was　a　place　for　her；　er；　him。

Rand　meanwhile　was　beside　himself。　There　were　all　those　dreams　of　Yellow　Dancer　he　had　lived　with　for　months…all　those　fantasies！　〃It　can't　be！〃　he　was　saying。　〃How　could　you　do　this　to　me…your　biggest　fan？！〃

〃I　wasn't　exactly　thinking　about　you；　Rand；〃　Lancer　said。

〃Yeah；〃　Rook　chimed　in。　〃Not　like　he　was　thinking　about　you！〃

Everyone　laughed；　except　Lancer。　〃So　how　about　it；　Captain？　Do　I　make　the　team　or　not？〃

Scott　and　Lunk　exchanged　looks　and　shrugs。　〃Yes；〃　Scott　said　at　last。　〃I　guess　you　do。〃


CHAPTER　SEVEN

Mom；　who　thrived　on　adversity；　had　met　her　perfect　foil　in　Rand。　Fortunately　for　me；　they　eventually　worked　it　through。
Maria　Bartley…Rand；　Flower　of　Life：　Journey　Beyond　Protoculture

The　team　had　been　formed：　Scott；　Rand；　Rook；　Annie；　Lunk；　and　Lancer　（although　Scott　wondered　if　the　singer　shouldn't　be　counted　twice）。　None　of　them　promised　to　acpany　Scott　all　the　way　to　Reflex　Point…if　such　a　place　actually　existed；　it　was　simply　a　loose　agreement　among　six　people　headed　in　the　same　general　direction；　each　with　a　separate　purpose　in　mind。　Scott　wanted　to　see　the　Invid　defeated；　at　the　very　least　he　hoped　to　link　up　with　other　downed　fighters　from　the　Mars　Division　and　establish　an　organized　resistance。　Lunk　was　searching　for　a　redemption　of　sorts；　Annie；　for　a　family。　But　the　aims　of　the　others　were　less　clear…cut；　their　pasts　remained　unrevealed；　their　motives　somewhat　suspect。　Nevertheless；　Scott　had　himself　a　team。

All　he　needed　now　was　an　adequate　plan。

The　present　one　wasn't　working　well　at　all。　Rather　than　risk　calling　attention　to　their　latest　acquisition…the　Alpha　Fighter　Lunk　had　so　reverently　maintained　after　his　rather　hasty　departure　from　the　Army　of　the　Southern　Cross…Scott　and　Lancer　had　flown　the　mecha　north　under　the　cover　of　night　and　secluded　it　along　the　river　that　marked　the　border　of　the　neighboring　territory。　Lancer　was　to　remain　with　the　Veritech　while　Scott　rode　back　to　town　on　his　Cyclone　to　collect　the　others。　In　the　meantime；　Lunk　and　Annie　would　be　in　charge　of　gathering　up　what　they　could　in　the　way　of　supplies　and　foodstuffs。　Rand　and　Rook　would　secure　a　safe　route　out　for　the　loaded　APC。

Things　went　smoothly　enough　at　first；　Lunk　had　seen　to　his　assignment；　and　Scott　rendezvoused　with　the　APC/Cyclone　convoy　on　schedule。　They　had　begun　their　trek　north　and　entered　the　highlands　when　the　Invid　appeared。　It　hadn't　paid　to　leave　enemies　the　likes　of　Ringo　behind。。。

Scott　held　the　lead　up　the　rugged　mountain　road；。　Rand　and　Annie　were　a　few　lengths　behind；　then　came　Lunk　in　the　APC　and　Rook　on　her　red　Cyclone。　There　were　at　least　five　Troopers　in　pursuit；　with　annihilation　discs　striking　the　cliff　faces　above　and　below　the　roadway。

Scott　waved　for　the　others　to　pour　it　on　and　accelerated　along　the　arid　slope。

Rook　pulled　alongside　him　and　shouted　above　the　deafening　explosions。　〃They're　gaining　on　us！〃　To　maintain　their　low　profile；　they　had　opted　against　suiting　up　in　helmets　or　battle　armor。

〃We　haven't　got　a　prayer　unless　we　can　reach　the　Alpha。〃　Scott　turned　to　Rand；　who　had　e　up　on　the　inside；　and　told　him　to　take　the　lead。　He　and　Rook　would　stay　behind　to　armor　up　and　reconfigure　for　bat。

Rand　signaled　his　assent；　cautioned　Annie　to　hold　tight；　and　moved　out　front。　But　no　sooner　had　they　reached　the　crest　than　two　Invid　rose　into　view。　Rand　engaged　the　brakes；　pivoting　the　mecha　through　a　clean　180；　and　headed　back　down　the　hill。

Scott　hadn't　even　dismounted　yet。　〃Why　are　you　turning　around？〃　he　shouted。

〃They've　got　us　surrounded；〃　Rand　reported。　〃We'd　better　go　cross…country。〃　He　indicated　the　steep　grade　above　the　roadway　and　lowered　his　goggles。

〃No。　No　detours；〃　Scott　argued。　〃The　Alpha's　only　a　few　miles　down　the　road…we've　got　to　break　through！〃

Rand　snorted　and　shook　his　head。　〃You　break　through；　Captain。　I'm　heading　for　the　hills。〃　He　stomped　the　Cyclone　into　gear　and　took　off；　scrambling　up　the　rutted　incline；　heedless　of　Scott's　shouts　to　stop。　But　not　a　moment　later；　Invid　Troopers　were　ascending　into　view　at　both　ends　of　the　road；　and　Scott　saw　the　logic　of　Rand's　choice。　He　gestured　to　Rook　and　Lunk　and　screeched　off　up　the　hill。

There　was　a　barren　stretch　of　plateau　at　the　top　of　the　slope；　separated　from　twin　fingers　of　pine　forest　by　steep　crevices　too　wide　to　jump。　The　Invid　Troopers　realized　their　advantage　and　began　to　loose　disc　storms　of　energy　from　their　cannons。　As　always；　there　seemed　to　be　an　effort　made　to　incapacitate　rather　than　kill　the　humans；　but　it　could　just　as　easily　have　been　poor　marksmanship　on　their　part。　In　any　case；　the　plateau…great　swirls　of　weathered　rock　and　shale…was　being　torn　up　and　superheated　by　the　Troopers'　fusillades。　Lunk's　APC；　slower　and　far　less　maneuverable　than　the　Cyclones；　provided　the　best　target；　and　the　Invid　were　soon　concentrating　their　bursts　against　it。　Inside　the　cab；　the　big　man　was　bouncing　around　like　a　featherweight；　barely　in　control　of　the　thing　anymore。　When　a　blinding　disc　streaked　by　inches　from　the　carrier；　he　lost　it　pletely；　the　APC　crashed　into　a　boulder　and　overturned；　hurling　Lunk　twenty　feet　to　a　hard　landing　facedown　on　the　shale。　At　the　last　instant；　however；　he　had　grabbed　two　sacks　of　supplies　and　had　managed　to　hold　on　to　them　during　his　brief　airborne　journey。　The　sacks　cushioned　his　fall　somewhat；　but　he　blacked　out　momentarily　nevertheless。　ing　to；　he　heard　Rook's　voice　behind　him；　warning　him　to　keep　his　head　down。　He　did　as　instructed　and　felt　rather　than　saw　the　red　Cyclone　streak　over　him。

Scott　and　Rand　had　witnessed　the　collision　and　stopped　their　Cyclones　to　return　fire　against　the　Troopers；　bringing　rear　weapons　into　play。　Behind　them；　Lunk　was　attempting　to　gather　together　and　rebag　items　spilled　from　the　sacks。

〃Lunk！　Forget　that　stuff　and　e　on！〃　Scott　shouted。

〃But　we　need　these　Protoculture　energy　cells　for　the　mecha！〃　Lunk　countered；　ducking　as　a　series　of　annihilation　discs　Frisbeed　overhead。　The　Invid　were　close　at　hand　now；　upright　and　laying　out　salvo　after　salvo　of　white…hot　fire。　Explosions　began　to　erupt　all　around　him；　orange　blossoms　in　the　shale；　and　he　was　forced　to　abandon　the　supplies。　He　made　a　beeline　for　Scott's　idling　Cyclone；　straddling　the　rear　seat　not　a　moment　too　soon。

〃My　toothbrush！〃　Lunk　moaned；　looking　back　at　the　wrecked　APC　as　Scott　gunned　the　mecha　into　a　wheelie。

〃So　your　teeth　will　fall　out；〃　Scott　said　into　the　wind。　〃It's　better　than　having　your　head　blown　off。〃

They　were　headed　downhill　a　moment　later；　across　a　smooth　flow　of　solid　rock　with　an　inviting　forest　of　tall　firs　and　eucalyptus　at　its　base。　As　they　neared　the　trees；　Scott　spied　an　unpaved　road　and　made　for　it；　signaling　the　others　to　follow　his　lead。

Two　of　the　Invid　attempted　to　track　them　but　eventually　gave　up；　it　was　widely　believed　（but　certainly　unproven）　that　the　Invid　had　a　kind　of　fearsome　respect　for　forests　in　general。　The　Troopers　circled　overhead　for　a　long　while；　then　began　to　fan　out　trying　to　cover　all　possible　points　of　egress。　Meanwhile；　Scott　directed　his　band　north　in　an　effort　to　strike　the　river。　By　his　reckoning；　they　were　now　somewhat　west　of　Lancer　and　the　Veritech；　but　reaching　the　river　would　put　them　in　good　position　for　a　direct　eastward　swing。

The　forest　thinned　as　they　worked　their　way　north；　giving　way　to　a　series　of　tall　grass　terraces　that　dropped　in　measured　steps　to　the　river　gorge　itself。　The　grass　was　deep　enough　to　offer　places　of　concealment　for　themselves　as　well　as　the　Cyclones；　so　they　continued　their　cautious　advance。　There　was　no　sign　o