16_world_killers-第41章

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s　concentration　was　divided　among　so　many　things。

But　Burak　withstood　the　bolt　somehow　and　held　up　Jack　Baker's　set。　His　thumb　was　on　its　special　switch；　the　one　that　would　trigger　the　charge　in　Tesla's　resplendent　collar。　〃Pery。。。ton；〃　Burak　got　out　between　locked　teeth。

Tesla　felt　immense　amusement　and　savage　wrath　at　the　same　time。　〃Is　that　so？　Behold！〃

Suddenly　the　unpickable　locks　that　clasped　the　collar　around　his　neck　clicked　open。　At　the　same　time；　Burak　found　that　he　couldn't　move；　not　so　much　as　the　thumb　that　rested　on　the　deadly　button。

Tesla　took　the　collar　and　hurled　it　far　from　him；　there　would　be　more　of　such　baubles　than　he　could　count　once　he　had　taken　his　rightful　place。　He　reached　out　to　push　Burak's　thumb；　there　was　a　loud　report　from　the　exploding　bib；　down　somewhere　in　the　lower　levels　of　the　landing　platform　area。

Tesla　still　had　three　valuable　hostages；　an　army　of　Inorganics；　and　his　newfound　powers。　He　had　no　doubt　now　that　he　would　prevail。

〃Very　well；　all　of　you；　we're　going　to…〃

But　as　he　turned；　he　let　out　an　enraged　bellow。　Veidt　was　gone。　Gnea　was　befuddled；　swearing　that　he　had　been　there；　with　her　Badger　trained　on　him；　only　seconds　before。　From　where　he　had　floated；　cornered；　Veidt　could　only　have　plunged　over　the　edge　of　the　platform　and　down　into　the　darkened　levels　far　below。

Only；　who　knew　what　such　a　fall　meant　to　a　Haydonite？　No　time　to　wonder　now。　Tesla　issued　a　mental　order；　and　Gnea　and　Burak　gathered　up　the　Fruit；　then　closed　ranks　behind　him。　Together；　they　descended　to　fall　in　behind　a　flying　wedge　of　Inorganics；　to　battle　their　way　toward　the　spaceport。

Odeons　lifted　them　up　and　carried　them　swiftly。


The　Invid　had　thought　the　arms　room　a　place　safe　from　Spherisian　intrusion…firstly；　because　it　held　Protoculture　weapons　the　locals　dreaded；　secondly；　because　it　was　an　enclosure　cut　off　from　the　Crystal　Highways。

The　invaders　never　thought　to　consider　their　own　thick　bundles　of　fiber…optic　filaments…thick　cables　of　silicon…based　strands。　That　same　system　was　accessible　elsewhere。

In　one　corner　of　the　room；　two　cables　swelled　and　swelled；　expanding；　drawing　in　more　material　from　floors　above　and　below；　until　at　last　the　insulation　around　them　was　blown　away　in　shreds。　The　filaments　curled　and　fused；　taking　on　humanoid　form。


This　time；　Baldan　found　himself　all　but　transparent；　the　light　shifting　within　him　as　if　he　were　a　fortune…teller's　ball　e　alive。　Teal　was　now　posed　of　the　same　clear　stuff；　though　her　body　was　still　unmistakably　female。

He　shook　his　head　to　clear　it　of　the　ringing。　The　last　stretch；　through　the　Invid　cable　system；　had　been　resonant　with　their　inprehensible　battle　signals　rather　than　with　the　songs　of　the　Highways。

〃Why　are　we　here；　Baldan？　And　where　are　we？〃

He　set　off　among　the　rearing　racks　of　outsize　Invid　weapons。　〃We're　here　because　it　isn't　right　that　Spherisians　let　others　do　their　fighting　and　dying　for　them。　It　isn't　just。　It　cheapens　freedom。〃

He's　not　using　Baldan　II's　voice；　Teal　told　herself。　Those　are　his　father's　words；　and　no　mistaking　it。

He　came　at　last　to　what　he　was　searching　for：　a　row　of　heavy　Enforcer　rifles。　They　weren't　even　locked　up。　He　lifted　one；　making　sure　that　its　charge　was　full。　As　heavy　as　it　was；　he　handled　it　easily；　his　structure　was　stronger　than　that　of　ordinary　flesh　and　blood。　Teal　saw　that　he　was　drawing　on　Baldan　I's　memories　as　much　as　he　was　upon　the　training　Bela　and　the　others　had　given　him。

He　heard　a　quiet　clicking　and　turned　to　see　Teal　checking　over　a　second　rifle。　〃No！〃　he　said　softly。　〃Where　I　go　from　here　you　cannot　follow。〃

She　held　the　rifle　resolutely。　〃You　plain　because　Spherisians　won't　fight；　and　now　you　lose　your　posure　because　one　wants　to！　Make　up　your　mind；　young　man。〃

The　features　of　his　face　slid　around　into　a　wry　look；　then　straightened　again。　〃Keep　your　head　down；　Mother。〃

They　stole　out　along　Invid…style　corridors；　through　the　great　hive。　They　were　near　the　innermost　sanctum；　having　bypassed　ring　upon　ring　of　sentries　and　guardposts　and　surveillance　by　means　of　the　Crystal　Highways。　In　moments　they　hung　back　in　the　shadows　of　a　structure　like　a　huge　fibroblast；　looking　out　at　the　Invid　Brain　that　held　sway　over　most　of　the　occupying　army。

It　was　pulsing　and　emitting　strange　sounds；　so　agitated　and　apprehensive　that　even　the　two　intruders　could　sense　it　clearly。　The　battle　wasn't　going　well。

There　was　a　handpicked　elite　of　Officers　and　Enforcers　around　the　Brain；　conferring　in　low　tones　and　attending　it。　Baldan　looked　to　his　mother；　raising　his　chin　and　brows　inquiringly。

What　misplaced　practical　joke　of　the　Protoculture　brought　me　here？　she　carped　to　herself。　All　she　had　ever　wanted　to　do　was　enjoy　life　and　the　attentions　of　admirers；　to　let　her　beauty　speak　for　itself　and　languish　in　the　adulation　that　everyone　seemed　eager　to　accord　her。

But　she　nodded　to　her　son　that　she　was　ready。　The　two　leapt　out　to　either　side　of　the　cover；　rifle　muzzles　at　waist　level；　firing　Protoculture　blasts。


CHAPTER　TWENTY…FIVE

Tesla　was　very　troubled　in　the　last　hours　before　the　attack。　When　I　asked　him　about　it；　I　expected　one　of　his　evasive　numbers　or　egomaniacal　silences。
But　he　seemed　to　need　to　talk　to　someone。　He　was　psychotic　by　then；　I　think；　the　lab　people　conjecture　that　he'd　actually　been　increasing　his　chromosome　numbers。
At　any　rate；　he　said；　〃I　have　had　a　recurring　dream　lately。　A　great　phoenix　of　mind…force　rises　from　a　small　blue…white　world　and　soars　away　to　another　plane　of　existence。　It　fills　me　with　apprehension。〃
Lisa　Hayes　Hunter；　Recollections

Karen　had　seen　to　Jack's　wounds　as　best　she　could；　but　he　went　into　shock；　still　losing　blood。　It　came　down　to　a　simple　choice　of　leaving　him　there　and　going　for　help；　or　staying　with　him　and　watching　him　die。

Then　the　decision　was　taken　away　from　her。　A　Hellcat　bounded　into　sight　at　the　bunker's　entrance；　showing　its　glowing　fangs。　Its　eyes　were　flashing　rhythmically；　it　was　one　of　Tesla's。

Three　had　originally　been　dispatched　by　Tesla　to　keep　Karen　and　Jack　from　getting　word　of　his　treachery　back　to　the　Sentinels。　But　an　ambush　by　the　Brain's　forces　had　cut　down　the　other　two　'Cats。

Tesla　had　picked　the　feline…shape　for　the　job　because　it　was　smaller　and　more　limber　than　the　biped　Inorganics。　Now；　it　slunk　into　the　entranceway　of　the　bunker　on　all　fours；　belly　scraping　sparks　from　the　gleaming　floor；　yeowling　at　its　prey。

Karen　was　already　trying　to　drag　Jack　back　to　safety；　but　the　side　doors　were　all　secured。　So　at　last　she　wound　up　crouched；　with　Jack；　against　the　dead　end　of　the　entrance…way's　rear　wall。　The　Robobeast　edged　nearer；　its　strobing　eyes　lighting　the　darkness；　claws　gouging　the　quartz…hard　floor。

Karen　raised　Jack's　pistol　and　her　own　side…by…side　and　opened　fire。　The　'Cat　screamed　and　lowered　its　head；　shielding　its　eyes；　but　kept　ing；　it　had　little　to　fear　from　a　conventional　handgun。　One　paw　reached　out　to　slice　her　wide　open。

But　it　missed　because　it　was　being　yanked　backward。　It　turned　to　grapple　with　something　Karen　couldn't　see；　unable　to　get　any　fighting　room　in　the　confinement　of　the　entranceway。

Then　it　was　gone；　dragged　into　the　open；　and　there　was　a　monstrous　clash　going　on　outside。　Karen　rushed　to　the　entrance；　looking　for　Skull　colors；　nothing　short　of　a　mecha　could　have　jerked　the　Hellcat　out　of　the　bunker　tail…first。

She　was　right。　It　was　an　Odeon；　rolling　with　and　slugging　the　smaller　'Cat。　Another　Odeon　joined　it；　its　nose…tentacle　flickering　out　to　ensnare　the　Hellcat。　In　another　moment；　they　were　socking　and　kicking　the　thing；　dismembering　it。　Their　optical　sensors　were　not　flashing。

Karen　thought　about　making　a　dash　for　it；　but　she　couldn't　leave　Jack　behind。　The　Odeons　were　rising　from　their　savage　battle　and　turning　their　attention　to　her。

She　backed　into　the　shadows　once　more；　they　closed　in。　But　as　the　nasal　whips　curled　and　snapped　at　her；　a　stream　of　depleted…transuranic　slugs　the　size　of　candlepins　hit　them。

Karen　spun　and　threw　herself　headlong；　shielding　her　face。　The　Odeons；　holed　through　and　through；　leaked　green　nutrient　fluid　for　a　moment　as　their　systemry　fizzled；　then　they　collapsed；　smoke　and　flame　belching　from　their　split　seams。　They　ruptured　open　with　explosions　that　mingled　with　the　sounds　of　a　descending　Alpha's　thrusters。

Karen　had　sat　up　again；　face　smudged　and　pallid。　The　VT　was　in　Guardian　mode；　its　canopy　raised　now　as　the　pilot　stood。　Blaze's　light　reflected　off　a　well…remembered　flight　helmet；　one　cast　in　the　image　of　a　Praxian　war　helm。

〃Well；　well！　Maybe　when　we　get　a　moment；　you　can　tell　me　why　two　enemy　slugs　killed　&　friendly　'Cat　that　was　in　turn　just　about　to　eat　a　Sentinel！〃

It　was　Bela。


〃Tesla！　Ark　Angel　to　Tesla！〃

〃Still　no　acknowledgment；　Captain；〃　the　Human　mo　officer　told　Lisa。

〃Keep　trying　anyway；〃　she　said。　To　the　mike；　she　repeated；　〃Your　troops'　lines　are　collapsing　in　all　sectors！　You　must　get　them　to　stand　fast！〃

She　switched　off　her　mike　and　told　the　officer；　〃Keep　on　trying　to　raise　him。〃　Then　she　switched　to　ship's　net。　〃Rick；　he's　not　answering。　I　think　it's　a　double…cross。〃　She　looked　intently　at　the　duplicate　trigger；　on　her