09_the_final_nightmare-第9章
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him。
It had Nova so distracted that she screwed up； and flagged a VT pilot named Dennis Brown…a former aide of Emerson's； yet！…who had been scheduled to go to ALUCE and was now held back as a security risk。
She hunted the lieutenant down out on the flight line to apologize。 He merely shrugged it off。 He looked her over for a few moments and decided she could be trusted to hear the truth。
〃Maybe it's all for the good。 You have the puters and you aren't blind； Nova。 Leonard's weeding out all the officers who aren't loyal to him personally； like some Roman emperor sending all his rivals off to distant provinces。 Thanks to you； though； at least one of us'll be here to keep an eye on things： me。〃
He really was thanking her！ Nova summoned up a grateful smile and resolved to bury Brown's name and file where few in the GMP would ever notice it。
At the far end of the flight line Dana； watching from behind a shuttle's huge tire； whistled。 〃Man； that Nova knows how to play the field！〃 Captain Komodo fought off an attack of terminal disheartenment。
CHAPTER FIVE
SPECIAL PROTOCULTURE OBSERVATIONS AND OPERATIONS KOMMANDATURA
（DESIGNATION…〃JAMES〃 PERSONNEL ONLY）
In view of the adverse relationship between Major General Emerson and certain members of this unit； the transfer of the Singularity Effect…generating equipment to his flagship will be effected in such a way as to preclude all mention of or reference to the origins of the aforementioned equipment。
（signed） Zand； manding
The 15th's ready…room was dark。 Most of the troopers were out on pass or on ATAC guard duty or dozing。 A few； like Robotechnofreak…another term for it was 〃mechie〃…Louie Nichols； were taking care of maintenance or tinkering with their Hovertanks down on the motorstable levels。
Bowie Grant sat playing the piano softly。 Sometimes he went into the melodies he had played for Musica； and the ones she had played for him。 But tonight he kept ing back again and again to the ones Emerson had taught him as a child； when the General introduced him to the piano and fostered Bowie's love of music。 Bowie played his own positions； the early ones that had made Emerson so proud。 There was no one in the dimness of the ready…room to hear the music； or to see his tears。
Below； though； in a long； black military limousine parked under the open windows of the ready…room； there was an audience。
Major General Rolf Emerson sat in the back seat with the window down； listening。 He didn't recognize the alien tunes； though he suspected what they meant； he knew each note that Bowie played from their shared past； however； and understood those pletely。
Emerson's efforts to contact his ward had been rebuffed； and the general respected Bowie's right to be left alone。
Perhaps I never should have made him enlist； perhaps he shouldn't have had to serve； Emerson reflected。 But then； it would be a better Universe if none of us had to。 But it's just not that kind of Universe。
〃That's enough。 Take me back；〃 he told his chauffeur； hitting the button that raised the window。
Take me back。。。
This time it was a cascade of roses； tumbling down one Nova in a fragrant red avalanche the moment she opener the closet in her billet to hang up her cloak。 Suddenly she wasn't bone…tired anymore； not even with the liftoff of Emerson's strikeforce less than forty…eight hours away。
She let the roses shower around her； giggling and gasping； and tried forlornly to understand alt the conflicting emotions and impulses that were starting her own private war。 She was knee…deep in flowers。
There was a…note taped to the shelf： Depot 7 at 2100。
At the elegant Pavilion du Lac； Marie Crystal pushed away her fourth sidecar。 If Prince Charming doesn't get here with the carriage soon； Cinderella's gonna be too stinko to care！
Might even serve him right； she thought。 She had blown half her savings on a drop…dead white satin evening gown； and the most expensive perfume she could find。 Her walk was very different than it was when she was in uniform； she had seen men panting； admiring。 And rather than cut a swath through the local male wildlife； here she sat； waiting for her Romeo。
She went out onto the balcony to get a little fresh air； sighing in the moonlight； thinking of Sean； smelling the orchids there。
She had been shot out of the sky and he had mechamorphosed his Hovertank； risen up in Battloid mode to catch her burning； falling Veritech。 He had sworn he would love her； and no one else； evermore。 Had held her to him as his Battloid had held her VT to it。 Had made her love him。
You beast！ You toad！ I've never been in love before。。。
Below； hiding behind a column on the portico； Sean grinned and got ready to go surprise her。
Marie had shown up early for their dinner date； and she had decided to see how long it would take her to lose patience。 It hadn't taken long； he was barely late at all。 But I've kept her waiting long enough； he thought guiltily； and got ready to run up the steps to her。
A voice behind him called； 〃Seanie？〃
It was Jill Norton； an old flame； all decked out like a green…sequined sea goddess； throwing herself at him to hug him。 〃It is you！〃
She locked her lips to his； and he had to wrestle her in order to crane his head around and look up at the balcony。 Marie was giving him the kind of stare that preceded homicides。
Just like Cinderella； Marie lost a glass slipper on the winding stairs。 In fact； she lost both of them。 She pushed her way in between Sean and his latest trollop； about to leave； but spun around suddenly and grabbed him by the front of his suit。
Before he could move； she kissed him as hard as she could…she put all her love and all her wanting and all her hurt into it。 Sean was starting to think he might survive the encounter when she pushed him away and rocked him with a slap that almost took his head off。
In the poorly lit corner of Depot 7； Dana practically had to put an arm…bar on Komodo to get him to show himself and approach Nova。 As he walked over； he kept turning around to make sure Dana was still in the shadows for moral support。
However； his worst fears came true when he turned to Nova and got a backhanded fist； knuckles cocked； that sent him whirling onto the cold duracrete facedown。
〃Stay away from me； Zor！〃 she shrilled。 〃You hear me； Zor？〃 But inside； she feared that she might really have hurt him。
Komodo pushed himself up partway。 〃Lieutenant Satori； I hear you。〃 He wiped blood from his mouth。
〃Oh my god！ Captain Komodo！〃
He levered himself up。 〃Zor； eh？ Now I get it！〃 He lurched off into the blackness； sobbing； running nearly doubled over； as if she had given him some eviscerating wound。
She looked around and saw Dana standing； a small pale figure； under a nearby worklight。 〃I might've guessed； Sterling。 Now do I have to part that little blond puffball hairdo with a loading hook； or are you going to tell me…〃
She was interrupted by her own wrist set。 The only way she had been able to get some time to herself for the depot rendezvous had been to sign out for a purported tour of the GMP patrols； to check up。 So she was on duty。
〃Lieutenant Satori； we have a report of an individual； thought to be a woman； driving very erratically and recklessly in a military jeep。〃
Nova was on her Hovercycle and away before Dana could get a word in edgewise。 Dana went and vaulted into the getaway jeep that was waiting； Lieutenant Brown behind the wheel。 Dana knew Brown from his brief instructor days at the Academy； and Brown was an old close friend of Kbmodo's。
Accosted by Komodo； Brown had explained why Nova had e to see him： not a matter of passion； but rather of apology。 Then； he joined in on the plot to get Komodo and Nova together； and volunteered to act as chauffeur。
〃Go！〃 Dana howled； pointing at Nova's disappearing Hovercycle as it vanished through the loading bay doors。
〃Don't turn on the light； Zand。 Just sit down。〃
Rolf Emerson's voice was soft in the darkness of the office in Southern Cross HQ； but it still filled Zand with fear。 How had he gotten in？ Not only were there guards and surveillance equipment； but Zand himself had hidden powers that should have prevented any
