11_metamorphosis-第37章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


asn't　sure　what　would　happen　if　they　decided　to　jump　in　with　both　feet　and　a　roundhouse　swing。

Lancer　had　taken　the　Beta　up。　The　purple…and…pink　monster　machine　he　had　seen　on　the　island　came　up　fast　and　its　back　pods　gushed　forth　a　torrent　of　missiles。　Lancer　went　into　a　ballistic　climb；　cutting　in　all　his　jamming　gear；　side…slipping；　and　weaving。　Warheads　detonated　behind　him　and　missiles　fizzled　past　in　near　misses。

Then　Annie's　voice　came　up　over　the　tac　net。　〃Lancer！　e　in！〃

〃I'm　right　here；　Annie。　What's　up？〃

〃I　can't　raise　Scott。　We're　on　the　ship　and　we're　in　trouble。　Lunk's　been　hit！〃

〃Annie；　this　is　Scott。　I　just　got　to　my　Alpha；　I　heard　your　last　transmission。〃

〃Scott；　this　is　Lancer。　Hook　up　our　fighters　and　take　the　Beta。　I'm　taking　over　for　Lunk。〃

It　only　made　sense；　aside　from　Lunk；　Lancer　was　the　only　one　with　any　real　experience　at　the　helm　of　a　large　vessel。　〃I　copy；　Lancer。　Meet　you　at　the　cutter。〃

Seconds　later；　the　Beta　settled　in　on　its　blasts　and　lowered　the　bottom　half　of　its　cockpit　like　a　dinosaur　opening　its　mouth。　As　the　pilot's　seat　was　lowered；　Lancer　yelled　over　the　tac　net　to　Scott；　〃It's　all　yours；　pal！　Go　get　'em！〃　Then　he　jumped　to　the　ground　and　got　clear。

The　Beta　shifted　ponents　slightly；　preparing　for　interlock。　Scott's　Alpha　backed　in　at　its　nose；　tailerons　folding；　and　a　plex　joining　took　place　in　seconds；　with　a　clanging　of　superhard　alloy。　The　latched　fighters　formed　a　single　ship　that　sprang　away　into　the　sky　at　incredible　boost。

Lancer　ran　for　the　cutter。

Scott　scattered　the　remaining　Pincer　Ships　and　the　new　enemy　mecha；　intimidating　them　with　the　bined　fighters'　speed　and　the　volume　of　fire　they　could　spew。　Corg　and　Sera　broke　in　different　directions；　cautious；　deciding　to　feel　out　their　enemy's　strengths　and　weaknesses…if　any。

〃Follow　me；　you　guys；〃　Scott　radioed　to　his　wingmates。　〃We'll　try　to　lead　them　in　front　of　the　gunboat…in　range　for　a　knockout。〃　He　cut　in　full　thrust；　rushing　to　catch　up　with　Rand　and　Rook。　Corg　and　the　two　surviving　Pincer　Ships　climbed　after；　but　Sera's　mecha　poised　in　midair；　as　she　listened　to　her　puter　and　the　Regis's　voice。

〃Scanner　confirms　Human　life…forms　now　aboard　third　flotation　target　mecha。〃　Far　below；　the　cutter　was　underway；　racing　for　the　open　sea。


Lunk　eased　his　arm　in　its　sling　and　grated　his　teeth　against　the　agony　of　the　burns　and　what　he　figured　was　probably　a　hairline　fracture。　There　were　painkiller　ampules　in　the　med　supplies；　but　he　wanted　a　clear　head　for　battle。

〃Sorry　about　getting　you　into　this；　Lancer。〃　He　was　crowded　into　the　bridge　with　Marlene　and　Annie；　all　of　them　doing　their　best　to　give　Lancer　room　to　man　the　wheel。

Lancer；　helmet　cast　aside；　spared　one　gauntleted　hand　from　the　wheel　for　a　moment；　to　give　a　blithe　wave。　〃You　did　great；　Lunk。　The　cutter's　still　in　one　piece；　isn't　she？　I　got　no　plaints。〃

Indeed。　The　kamikaze　Invid　had　taken　a　hit　at　the　last　instant　and　broken　up　in　the　water　just　in　front　of　the　cutter's　bow；　showering　it　with　flaming　wreckage。　A　chunk　of　it　had　hit　the　optical　pickup　for　the　pumpedlaser's　scope；　blowing　it　up　in　Lunk's　face。　A　major　piece　had　hit　the　turret；　throwing　the　unbelted　Lunk　out　of　the　gunner's　saddle　and　giving　him　some　considerable　lumps　and　burns…and　damaging　the　main　battery　beyond　repair。

Scott's　voice　came　over　the　net。　〃Lancer；　Lunk！　Heads　up！　We're　going　to　try　to　draw　the　enemy　down　to　you！〃

Lancer　had　barely　gotten　finished　acknowledging　and　begun　preparing　for　a　make…or…break　shootout；　when　something　enormous　blocked　out　the　sky。　Everyone　on　the　bridge　cringed；　seeing　the　immense　tower　of　Robotechnology　that　was　Sera's　mecha。　Lancer　tried　to　reverse…all；　hoping　he　wouldn't　blow　every　bearing　in　the　power　train　or　tear　apart　a　propeller　shaft。

It　did　no　good；　the　alien　advanced　at　what　was　for　it　a　slow　approach…speed；　with　something　like　a　deliberate　vindictiveness。　Rather　than　fire；　it　drew　back　one　titanic　fist；　bracing　to　put　it　right　through　the　bridge。　The　freedom　fighters　could　only　steel　themselves；　and　dread　the　impact。


In　her　cockpit；　Sera　made　an　animal　snarling；　her　teeth　locked；　eyes　like　red　coals　of　anger　fixed　on　the　cutter。　So　many　Pincer　drones　had　died！　So　many　conflicting　emotions　had　interfered　with　her　devotion　to　her　Queen/Mother；　the　Regis！　Now　it　was　time　to　thrust　aside　confusion　and　prosecute　the　war　these　Humans　seemed　determined　to　fight。

And　breaking　this　toylike　water…vessel　to　bits　with　her　mecha's　hands；　sending　it　and　its　crew　to　the　bottom；　was　the　ideal　place　to　start。

She　drew　back　her　mecha's　hand；　wrapped　in　a　fist　the　size　of　an　oldtime　tank。　She　could　see；　through　her　mecha's　eyes；　the　terrified　looks　on　the　faces　of　the　Humans。　Three　of　them　dropped　to　the　deck；　the　fourth　clung　to　the　wheel　despite　the　swells　set　up　by　her　machine's　back　thrusters。

Sera　drew　a　quick；　almost　whistling　breath。　The　one　at　the　wheel　was　him；　the　one　with　the　purple　hair　who　had　made　those　strange；　seductive；　achingly　beautiful　sounds。

Her　mecha　answered　her　thought…images；　it　drew　back；　hanging　there　on　thrusterfire。　Although　her　mecha　was　nearly　as　big　as　the　cutter　itself　and　well　able　to　break　it　to　matchwood；　it　held　back。

Lancer　thought　about　the　woman　he　had　confronted　in　the　quiet　jungle　clearing。　Why　doesn't　she　shoot？　Who　is　she；　and　what's　going　through　her　mind？　He　was　frozen　at　the　wheel；　waiting　for　the　missile；　the　annihilation　disc；　the　single　blow　of　a　mecha　fist　that　would　make　four　Human　Beings　into　scraps　of　fishfood。

He　wanted　more　than　anything　to　run　from　the　bridge　and　scream；　Wait！　I　don't　want　to　be　your　enemy！　I　don't　want　you　to　be　mine！


Sera　shrank　back　from　the　visual　displays　before　her；　eyes　still　fixed　on　the　male　with　the　purple　hair；　pressing　the　back　of　her　hand　harshly　against　her　lips；　whimpering；　sobbing。


Rook's　voice　came　over　the　tac　net。　〃Lancer；　hang　on！　I'm　almost　in　range！〃　Lunk's　eyes　flickered　to　the　target…acquisition　displays　and　saw　that　there　was　no　alternative；　the　cutter　was　helpless　before　this　Invid。

Sera's　indecision　gave　way　to　conviction。　She　couldn't　harm　the　man。

All　the　rest　was　murky：　whys　and　wherefores　and　what　might　happen　next。　She　had　failed　her　Regis；　and　yet　something　had　been　born　in　her　that　was　herself；　that　was　Sera；　and　not　something　that　had　been　put　there。　It　was　frightening；　and　it　was　at　the　same　time　wonderful。

Her　mecha　was　jolted　by　an　Alpha　energy　volley。　She　looked　and　saw　Rook　diving　at　her　like　an　angry　hawk；　going　to　Battloid。　Sera　whirled　her　mecha　away；　leaking　fire　and　smoke；　dodging　further　damage。

Rook　hovered　close；　confronting　her；　whamming　away　with　the　Battloid's　fearsome　rifle/cannon。　Sera　gathered　herself　and　sprang　away　into　the　air　faster　than　any　rocket；　unable　to　tell　if　she　had　won　some　personal　victory　or　suffered　a　disastrous　defeat…or　both。

Lancer　watched　her　go；　his　heart　beating　hard；　pulse　throbbing　against　the　collar　ring　of　his　Robotech　armor。

Scott's　voice　crackled。　〃Lancer；　we're　almost　to　you！　ing　into　range　now！　Get　set！〃　Lancer　glanced　aside；　target…acquisition　displays　had　them。

〃Ready　Scott。〃　He　could　see　the　VTs　and　their　Invid　pursuers。

〃Breaking　on　three！　One；　two〃　Lancer　clutched　the　remote　firing　grip；　his　finger　curled　just　off　the　trigger。　〃Three！〃　Scott　finished。　〃Fire！〃

But　Lancer　had　seen　his　three　friends　break　away；　and　was　already　triggering。　The　cutter's　fore　and　aft　launchers　belched；　racks　of　Tarpons　emptied；　and　thick　flights　of　Copperheads　went　up　as　well。　〃Firing！〃

Two　Copperheads　broke　in　burning　wrack　across　Corg's　mecha　but　were　otherwise　insignificant。　But　other　missiles　savaged　the　Pincers　that　had　made　it　that　far；　and　not　a　single　personal…armor　machine　survived。　Corg's　mecha　closed　its　bulky；　armored　forearms　around　its　cranium；　protecting　its　pilot；　while　an　inferno　washed　past　it。　Sera；　soaring　in　to　join　her　brother…unsure　of　what　she　would　do…pulled　clear；　as　the　missiles　drew　instant　lines　of　contrail　across　the　sky。

Rand；　Rook；　and　Scott　stayed　out　of　the　demon's　brew　of　detonating　warheads　until　there　was　quiet　again。　There　was　no　sign　of　the　enemy　anywhere。　They　banked　and　headed　for　the　cutter；　which　sailed　along　on　an　impossibly　placid　ocean；　a　Pacific　unaware　of　the　carnage　that　had　ended　seconds　before。


Sera　landed　on　a　beach　from　which　she　could　watch　the　cutter　and　its　acpanying　VTs　dwindle　from　sight　toward　the　horizon。　Soon　Corg　landed；　and　the　two　skyscraper　mecha　stood　shoulder　to　shoulder。

〃Patrol　escorts　destroyed；〃　their　puters　told　them　in　the　Queen…Mother's　voice。　〃Abandon　further　pursuit。　Do　not　risk　loss　of　royal　mecha　at　this　time。〃

Corg　emerged　from　his　upholstered　nacelle。　He　was　a　sharp…featured；　handsome　young　man　with　lean　good　looks　and　mysterious；　oblique　blue　eyes。　His　shoulderlength　hair　was　blue　as　well；　lying　flat　and　fine　against　his　skull　and　lending　itself　to　his　cruel；　ascetic　look。　He　snarled　at　the　escaping　enemy；　then　looked　to　his　twin's　mecha。

/Sister；　what　possessed　you？/

/Brother；　I…I　do　not　know。。。/


Lancer　stood　looking　out　over　the　fantail；　as　he　had　for　so　much　of　the　voyage。　Annie　showed　up　in　her　usual　ebullient　mood