09_the_final_nightmare-第4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！


moky　blue　glass　and　gleaming　blue　tile　（the　most　modern　of　polymers）　set　on　a　framework　of　blued　alloy。　It　was　a　large　plex　even　though　it　only　served　as　housing　and　operational　facility　to　a　few　people；　much　of　the　aboveground　area　was　filled　with　parts　and　equipment　storage　and　repair　areas；　armory；　kitchen　and　dining　and　lavatory　space；　and　so　on。　In　many　ways　it　was　a　self…contained　world。

At　the　ground　and　basement　levels　were　the　mecha　servicing　and　repair　stations；　and　the　motor　stables　filled　with　parked　Hovercycles　and　other　conventional　vehicles；　along　with　the　giant　Hovertanks…the　15th's　primary　mecha。

Up　in　her　quarters；　Dana　wasn't　thinking　about　any　kind　of　machinery　just　then。　Agonizing　over　what　to　wear　for　her　date　with　Zor；　she　flung　every　skirt；　dress；　and　blouse　in　her　closet　in　different　directions；　draping　them　with　lingerie。

There　was；　no　doubt；　something　in　the　regs　about　officers　dating　privates；　but　Zor　was　a　different　case。　He　had　been　placed　with　the　15th　in　the　hope　that　military　service　would　help　him　recover　his　missing　memory；　and　that　exposure　to　Earth…style　social　interaction　and　bonding　would　sway　him　against　his　former　Masters。

When　it　came　to　social　interaction；　Dana　was　more　than　ready。　It　wasn't　just　that　Zor　was　dreamy　looking　and　a　little　disoriented。　There　was　also　the　fact　that　he　was　alien；　as　was　Dana's　mother。　She　sometimes　wondered　if　it　was　blood　calling　to　blood。

Long　before　she　had　actually　seen　him；　Dana　had　felt　inexplicable　emotions　and　experienced　strange　Visions　bearing　on　the　red　Bioroid　Zor　piloted。　Something　within　drew　her　to　Zor。

Now；　as　she　hurried　into　the　unit　ready…room；　which　doubled　as　a　rec　room　during　off…duty　hours；　she　tried　to　set　all　that　aside　and　concentrate　on　having　a　good　time。

Decked　out　in　a　frilly　skirt　and　silk　blouse；　she　was　all　set　to　yell　Hi　Zor！　I'm　here！　Only…it　wasn't　Zor　she　found　there。

Squad　Sergeant　Angelo　Dante　stepped　away　from　the　autobar　（it　was　after　duty　hours；　and　the　cybernetic　mixologist　would　dispense　alcohol　to　troopers　who　were　certified　offduty）　and　strolled　over　toward　her。　〃Well；　well！　Aren't　we　looking　awfully　chic　tonight？〃

She　tried　to　act　nonchalant；　she　wanted　to　enjoy　herself　with　Zor　and　not　start　off　the　evening　with　another　row　with　Angelo。　〃Have　you　seen　Zor　around？〃

In　the　days　before　the　First　Robotech　War　（after　which　an　almost　medieval　cluster　of　city…states　had　banded　in　a　loose　hegemony　to　fill　the　vacuum　of　world　rule　and　form　the　United　Earth　Government…the　UEG）　soldiers　had　had　less　autonomy　and　more　discipline；　so　the　old　salts　liked　to　say。　If　so；　she　would　have　weled　a　reversion　to　those　old　days。

If　she　kicked　Angelo's　feet　out　from　under　him　and　mashed　a　coffee　table　over　his　head；　Southern　Cross　mand　might　not　consider　the　act　a　necessary　disciplinary　measure　and　it　could　cause　sociodynamic　strains。　Besides；　Angelo　was　awfully　tough。

Dana　restrained　herself；　but　resolved　to　mand　his　loyalty…even　if　it　meant　inviting　the　very　big；　very　strong；　and　quick　NCO　to　step　downstairs　to　the　motor　stables　and　have　it　out…before　another　day　passed。　There　was　no　way　two　people　could　run　a　Hovertank　squad；　or　any　other　unit。

Angelo　smiled　spitefully。　〃Yeah。　I　bet　if　he　had　seen　you　in　your　prom　queen　rig；　he　would　have　never　asked　Nova　out　tonight。〃

〃Nova？　Nova　Satori？〃

Angelo　buffed　his　nails　on　his　torso　harness。　Dana　considered　decking　him；　he　was　large；　but　she　was　used　to　fighting　for　everything　she　had　ever　gotten；　and　if　she　could　get　in　the　first　shot。。。

〃Uh…huh；〃　he　said。　〃Let's　see　now：　something　about　dinner；　and　the　theater　afterwards。〃

He　backed　away　suddenly　as　she　came　at　him　with　clenched　fists；　ready　to　spit　brimstone　and；　he　could　see　from　the　way　she　held　herself；　do　some　damage。

She　was　raving。　〃That　no…good　two…timer！　That　sneaking　alien！　He's　getting　more　Human　every　day！〃

Angelo　was　fending　her　off。　〃Well　now；　ma'am；　maybe　all　he　needs　is　a　bit　of　passion；　remember？〃　That　was　what　she　had　said　to　him；　back　when　Angelo　was　about　to　take　Zor's　face　off。

〃You're　enjoying　this；　huh？〃　she　seethed　at　him。　Then　she　had　an　image　of　suitable　revenge。　She　held　up　the　two　movie　tickets。　〃Well；　I　guess　you'll　just　have　to　escort　me；　big　boy！〃

Angelo's　face　fell　and　he　made　some　odd　sounds　before　he　found　the　words。　〃Uh；　ah；　thanks；　Lieutenant；　but　I'll　pass…〃

〃You　ain't　reading　me；　Sergeant！　It's　an　order！〃


The　Clonemasters'　update　was　even　more　bleak　than　had　been　anticipated。

〃My　lord；　our　reservoirs　of　Protoculture　power　are　running　dry。　The　effects　of　this　are　being　felt　throughout　the　fleet。　Our　new　clonelings　are　lethargic　and　unresponsive；　the　effectiveness　of　our　weapons　is　limited；　and　our　defensive　shields　cannot　be　maintained　full…time。　If　we　do　not　secure　a　large　infusion　of　Protoculture；　we　are　doomed。〃

As　Jeddar　spoke；　the　humpish　Protoculture　cap　of　the　Masters　showed　them；　by　mind…image；　the　deteriorating　situation　in　all　six　of　the　enormous　mother　ships。　Where　the　Protoculture　energies　had　once　coursed　through　them　like　highways　of　incandescence　or　arterial　systems　of　pure；　godlike　force；　those　flows　were　now　reduced　to　unsteady　rivulets。　It　was　like　looking　into　one　huge；　dying　organism。


Elsewhere　in　the　colossal　flagship；　six　clones…two　triumvirates…faced　off；　five　against　one。

On　the　one　side　was　Musica；　ethereal　weaver　of　song；　Mistress　of　the　Cosmic　Harp；　whose　melodies　gave　shape　and　effect　to　the　mental　force　with　which　the　Clonemasters　controlled　their　subjects。　She　was　pale　and　delicate　looking；　slender；　with　long；　deep　green　hair。

To　one　side　were　her　two　clone　sisters；　Octavia　and　Allegra；　both　of　them　subdued　and　frightened　by　the　very　idea　of　discord。　And　across　from　Musica　was　the　triumvirate　of　Guard　leaders：　tall；　fit；　limber　military　males　who　were　now　unified　in　their　anger　as　much　as　in　their　plasm。

Lieutenant　Karno　spoke　for　them。　His　long　hair　was　a　fiery　red；　he　spoke　with　uncharacteristic　anger；　for　a　slave　of　the　Masters。　〃Musica；　it　is　not　your　place　to　decide　how　things　shall　be！〃

Another；　Darsis；　looking　like　Karno's　duplicate；　agreed；　〃It　has　been　decided　for　us　and　you　have　no　say　in　the　matter！〃

Sookol；　the　third；　added；　〃That　is　our　way；　as　it　has　been　since　the　beginning　of　time！〃

Musica；　eyes　lowered　to　the　carpeted　deck；　trembled　at　the　heresy　she　was　mitting。　And　yet　she　said；　〃Yes；　I　know　that。　We've　been　chosen　for　each　other　as　mates；　and　we　must　resign　ourselves　to　it。　But…that　doesn't　change　the　fact　that　we　are　strangers；　we　Muses　and　you　Guards。〃

Karno's　brows　knit；　as　if　she　were　speaking　in　some　language　he　had　never　heard　before。　〃But。。。what　does　that　matter？〃

Musica　gave　him　a　pleading　look；　then　averted　her　eyes　again。　〃I　want　so　much　to　accept　the　Masters'　decision　and　believe　that　it　is　right；　but　something　very　strange　within　me　keeps　saying　that　the　Masters　cannot　be　right　if　their　decision　makes　me　feel　this　way。〃

〃‘Feel'？〃　Karno　repeated。　Could　she　have　contracted　some　awful　plague　from　the　Humans　when　the　primitives　from　Earth　managed　to　board　the　flagship　for　that　brief　foray？

Darsis　and　Sookol　had　gasped；　as　had　Allegra　and　Octavia。　〃It's　madness！〃　Sookol　burst　out。

Musica　nodded　miserably。　〃Yes；　feelings！　Even　though　we've　always　been　told　that　we're　immune　to　them；　I'm　guilty　of　emotions。〃

Madness；　indeed。

She　saw　the　repulsed　looks　on　their　faces　as　they　realized；　she　was　polluted；　debased。　But　somehow　it　didn't　change　her　determination　not　to　surrender　these　new　sensations…not　to　be　cleansed　of　them；　even　if　she　could。

〃I　know　I　should　be　punished　for　it；〃　she　declared。　〃I　know　I'm　guilty！　But…I　cannot　deny　my　feelings！〃　She　broke　down　into　tears。

〃What's…what's　that　you're　doing？〃　Darsis　asked；　baffled。

〃I　think　I　know；〃　Karno　answered　tonelessly。　〃It's　a　sickness　of　the　Earthlings　called　‘crying。'〃

If　it　was　a　sickness；　Musica　knew；　there　was　no　question　about　who　had　infected　her　with　it。　It　was　Bowie　Grant；　the　handsome　young　ATAC　trooper　who　she　had　met　when　his　unit　staged　a　recon　on　board　the　flagship。

Instead　of　a　mindless　primitive　in　armor；　he　had　turned　out　to　be　a　sensitive　creature。　Bo