{"id":19567,"date":"2025-04-23T14:14:39","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T06:14:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.7colors.vip\/?p=19567"},"modified":"2025-04-23T14:14:39","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T06:14:39","slug":"21_before_the_invid_storm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.7colors.vip\/?p=19567","title":{"rendered":"21_before_the_invid_storm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
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\nRobotech\uff1a\u3000Before\u3000The\u3000Invid\u3000Storm
\nBook\u300021\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Robotech\u3000series
\nCopyright\u30001996\u3000by\u3000Jack\u3000McKinney
\n
\narranged\u3000by\u3000dayuan\u3000\uff07\u3000robotech\u3000zone\u3000\uff07
\n
\n
\n
\nCHAPTER\u3000ONE
\n
\nAs\u3000a\u3000species\u3000enslaved\u3000to\u3000time\uff1b\u3000we\u3000are\u3000wont\u3000to\u3000package\u3000history\u3000in\u3000tidy\u3000bundles\u3002\u3000And\u3000so\u3000we\u3000find\u3000ourselves\u3000at\u3000the\u3000mercy\u3000of\u3000mentators\u3000who\u3000speak\u3000of\u3000First\uff1b\u3000Second\uff1b\u3000and\u3000Third\u3000Robotech\u3000Wars\u3002\u3000And\u3000we\u3000are\u3000forced\u3000to\u3000listen\u3000to\u3000those\u3000same\u3000voices\u3000obsess\u3000about\u3000the\u3000generation\u3000of\u3000Henry\u3000Gloval\uff1b\u3000the\u3000generation\u3000of\u3000Rick\u3000Hunter\uff1b\u3000and\u3000the\u3000generation\u3000of\u3000Dana\u3000Sterling\u3000\u3002\u3002\u3002\u3000When\uff1b\u3000in\u3000my\u3000humble\u3000opinion\uff1b\u3000there\u3000was\u3000only\u3000the\u3000War\u3000that\u3000began\u3000with\u3000the\u3000arrival\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Zentraedi\u3000and\u3000ended\u3000with\u3000the\u3000departure\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Invid\uff1b\u3000and\u3000only\u3000one\u3000generation\u3000that\u3000lived\u3000through\u3000it\uff1a\u3000the\u3000generation\u3000of\u3000the\u3000lost\u3002
\nJacob\u3000Remy\uff1b\u3000Robotech\u3000\u3000
\n
\n
\nMisa\u3000Yoshida\u3000sipped\u3000green\u3000tea\u3000while\u3000the\u3000Robotech\u3000Masters’\u3000flagship\u3000fell\u3000to\u3000Earth\uff1b\u3000the\u3000whole\u3000of\u3000its\u3000starboard\u3000side\u3000aglow\u3002\u3000A\u3000swarm\u3000of\u3000Logans\u3000and\u3000aged\u3000Veritechs\u3000trailed\u3000in\u3000seemingly\u3000slow\u2026motion\u3000pursuit\uff1b\u3000like\u3000wrathful\u3000wasps\u3000spilled\u3000from\u3000some\u3000unseen\u3000orbital\u3000nest\u3002\u3000Missiles\u3000of\u3000every\u3000conceivable\u3000type\u3000tore\u3000from\u3000the\u3000pylons\u3000and\u3000launchers\u3000of\u3000the\u3000reconfigurable\u3000fighters\uff1b\u3000fires\u3000blossoming\u3000against\u3000the\u3000instrument\u2026studded\u3000backbone\u3000of\u3000the\u3000holed\u3000and\u3000deteriorating\u3000battlewagon\u3002\u3000Silent\u3000explosions\uff1b\u3000both\u3000surface\u3000and\u3000internal\uff1b\u3000hurled\u3000building\u2026size\u3000chunks\u3000of\u3000slagged\u3000alloy\u3000into\u3000Earth’s\u3000already\u3000debris\u2026littered\u3000atmospheric\u3000envelope\u3002\u3000Some\u3000of\u3000the\u3000pieces\u3000struck\u3000and\u3000obliterated\u3000entire\u3000squadrons\u3000of\u3000Southern\u3000Cross\u3000mecha\uff1b\u3000but\u3000the\u3000chase\u3000continued\u3000unabated\u3002\u3000
\n
\nVeteran\u3000pilots\u3000of\u3000the\u3000First\u3000Robotech\u3000War\u3000could\u3000recall\u3000the\u3000devastation\u3000wreaked\u3000by\u3000the\u3000SDF\u20261\u3000during\u3000its\u3000gradual\u3000dive\u3000to\u3000the\u3000surface\uff1b\u3000thirty\u2026three\u3000years\u3000earlier\u3002\u3000And\u3000the\u3000flagshipravaged\u3000by\u3000fire\u3000and\u3000beckoned\u3000by\u3000gravitytwice\u3000the\u3000size\u3000of\u3000that\u3000uninvited\u3000end\u2026of\u2026the\u2026century\u3000visitor\u3002\u3000
\n
\nThe\u3000digital\u3000feed\u3000from\u3000the\u3000robot\u3000news\u3000cameras\u3000was\u3000superb\u3002\u3000Misa\u3000could\u3000almost\u3000believe\u3000that\u3000she\u3000was\u3000witnessing\u3000the\u3000scene\u3000through\u3000a\u3000viewport\u3000on\u3000one\u3000of\u3000the\u3000orbital\u3000weapons\u3000platforms\uff1b\u3000rather\u3000than\u3000watching\u3000it\u3000on\u3000wallscreen\u3000in\u3000the\u3000fort\u3000of\u3000her\u3000spacious\u3000apartment\u3000in\u3000underground\u3000Tokyo\u3002\u3000At\u3000twenty\u2026two\uff1b\u3000she\u3000had\u3000only\u3000been\u3000alive\u3000for\u3000the\u3000catastrophic\u3000conclusion\u3000of\u3000the\u3000war\u3000against\u3000the\u3000Zentraedi\uff1b\u3000but\u3000she\u3000had\u3000often\u3000screened\u3000archival\u3000video\u3000of\u3000their\u3000attack\u3000on\u3000Macross\u3000Island\uff1b\u3000various\u3000encounters\u3000between\u3000the\u3000SDF\u20261\u3000and\u3000the\u3000ships\u3000of\u3000Breetai’s\u3000fleet\uff1b\u3000and\uff1b\u3000of\u3000course\uff1b\u3000the\u3000battle\u3000against\u3000the\u3000alien\u3000armada\u3002\u3000Granted\uff1b\u3000scant\u3000footage\u3000had\u3000survived\u3000the\u3000Rain\u3000of\u3000Death\uff1b\u3000but\u3000nothing\u3000she\u3000had\u3000seen\u3000rivaled\u3000what\u3000the\u3000War\u3000Channel\u3000had\u3000been\u3000presenting\u3000since\u3000the\u3000arrival\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Robotech\u3000Masters\uff1b\u3000a\u3000year\u3000earlier\u3002\u3000
\n
\nSometimes\u3000Misa\u3000found\u3000herself\u3000concerned\u3000that\u3000she\u3000didn’t\u3000know\u3000what\u3000to\u3000do\u3000about\u3000the\u3000emotional\u3000desensitizing\u3000wrought\u3000by\u3000her\u3000hours\u3000and\u3000hours\u3000of\u3000viewing\u3002\u3000A\u3000year\u3000ago\u3000she\u3000had\u3000been\u3000crying\u3000herself\u3000to\u3000sleep\u3000every\u3000night\uff1b\u3000but\u3000lately\u3000it\u3000seemed\u3000as\u3000if\u3000the\u3000war\u3000was\u3000taking\u3000place\u3000on\u3000a\u3000different\u3000world\u3002\u3000Change\u3000channels\u3000and\u3000you\u3000could\u3000still\u3000find\u3000movies\uff1b\u3000sits\uff1b\u3000sumo\u2026bot\u3000wrestling\uff1b\u3000and\u3000exercise\u3000infomercials\u3002\u3000In\u3000large\u3000part\uff1b\u3000that\u3000was\u3000because\u3000much\u3000of\u3000the\u3000war\u3000had\u3000been\u3000fought\u3000in\u3000space\uff1b\u3000and\u3000there\u3000was\u3000little\u3000any\u3000Earthbound\u3000citizen\u3000could\u3000do\u3000but\u3000support\u3000the\u3000efforts\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Army\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Southern\u3000Cross\u3000and\u3000shed\u3000nightly\u3000tears\u3000for\u3000the\u3000dead\u3002\u3000In\u3000fact\uff1b\u3000most\u3000of\u3000the\u3000world\u3000was\u3000eager\u3000to\u3000perpetuate\u3000the\u3000illusion\u3000that\u3000what\u3000was\u3000happening\u3000above\u3000would\u3000have\u3000no\u3000impact\u3000on\u3000life\u3000below\u3002\u3000
\n
\nFrom\u3000the\u3000start\uff1b\u3000it\u3000had\u3000been\u3000assumed\u3000that\u3000the\u3000city\u3000targeted\u3000by\u3000the\u3000Masters\u3000would\u3000reap\u3000the\u3000whirlwind\u3002\u3000While\u3000sovereign\u3000nation\u2026states\u3000like\u3000Bras\uff1flia\uff1b\u3000Mexico\uff1b\u3000and\u3000Rome\u3000had\u3000not\u3000been\u3000ignored\u3000by\u3000the\u3000Masters’\u3000weaponry\uff1b\u3000Monument\u3000Cityin\u3000the\u3000Northlandshad\u3000taken\u3000the\u3000brunt\u3000of\u3000their\u3000ire\u3002\u3000Headquarters\u3000of\u3000the\u3000United\u3000Earth\u3000Government\uff1b\u3000the\u3000Army\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Southern\u3000Cross\uff1b\u3000and\u3000the\u3000Global\u3000Military\u3000Police\uff1b\u3000Monument\u3000was\u3000without\u3000doubt\u3000the\u3000most\u3000important\u3000city\u3000in\u3000the\u3000world\u3000and\u3000arguably\u3000the\u3000most\u3000prosperous\uff1b\u3000though\u3000by\u3000no\u3000means\u3000the\u3000most\u3000populous\u3002\u3000It\u3000also\u3000had\u3000the\u3000distinction\u3000of\u3000being\u3000the\u3000closest\u3000city\u3000to\u3000the\u3000war\u3000memorial\u3000that\u3000was\u3000thrice\u2026born\u3000Macross\uff1b\u3000whose\u3000three\u3000Human\u2026made\u3000buttes\u3000marked\u3000the\u3000resting\u3000places\u3000of\u3000the\u3000SDF\u20261\u3000and\u3000\u20262\uff1b\u3000and\u3000the\u3000cruiser\u3000that\u3000had\u3000carried\u3000the\u3000Zentraedi\u3000warlord\uff1b\u3000Khyron\u3000Kravshera\uff1b\u3000to\u3000his\u3000death\u3002\u3000Andas\u3000with\u3000the\u3000Zentraedi\u3000themselvesthe\u3000SDF\u20261\u3000had\u3000once\u3000been\u3000the\u3000property\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Masters\uff1b\u3000dispatched\u3000from\u3000their\u3000grasp\u3000by\u3000a\u3000renegade\u3000scientist\u3000named\u3000Zor\u3002\u3000
\n
\nStill\uff1b\u3000no\u3000one\u3000could\u3000explain\u3000why\u3000Tokyo\uff1b\u3000of\u3000all\u3000places\uff1b\u3000had\u3000escaped\u3000attack\u3002\u3000Perhaps\u3000it\u3000was\u3000simply\u3000that\u3000the\u3000largely\u3000underground\u3000city\u3000hadn’t\u3000offered\u3000much\u3000of\u3000a\u3000target\u3000for\u3000the\u3000Masters’\u3000laser\u3000cannons\u3000and\u3000lesser\u3000batteries\u3002\u3000Or\u3000perhaps\u3000the\u3000Masters\u3000were\u3000under\u3000the\u3000impression\u3000that\u3000by\u3000sparing\u3000Tokyo\u3000they\u3000were\u3000sparing\u3000the\u3000life\u3000of\u3000Dr\u3002\u3000Lazlo\u3000Zand\uff1b\u3000with\u3000whom\u3000they\u3000had\u3000been\u3000in\u3000brief\u3000contact\u3000three\u3000years\u3000earlier\uff1b\u3000and\u3000were\u3000unaware\u3000that\u3000Earth’\u3000s\u3000chief\u3000Protoculturist\u3000had\u3000been\u3000relocated\u3000to\u3000Monument\u3002\u3000
\n
\nWhichever\u3000the\u3000case\uff1b\u3000Tokyo’s\u3000exclusion\u3000from\u3000the\u3000war\u3000had\u3000only\u3000heightened\u3000Misa’s\u3000sense\u3000of\u3000guilt\uff1b\u3000and\u3000so\u3000she\u3000kept\u3000the\u3000wallscreen\u3000on\u2026line\u3000day\u3000and\u3000night\uff1b\u3000in\u3000the\u3000spirit\u3000of\u3000remote\u3000participationto\u3000remain\uff1b\u3000if\u3000nothing\u3000else\uff1b\u3000informed\u3000\u3000about\u3000the\u3000war\u3002\u3000
\n
\nAnd\u3000just\u3000now\u3000the\u3000war\u3000was\u3000being\u3000brought\u3000down\u3000to\u3000Earth\u3002\u3000
\n
\n\u3003We\u3000take\u3000you\u3000to\u3000the\u3000outskirts\u3000of\u3000Monument\u3000City\uff1b\u3003\u3000a\u3000news\u3000reporter\u3000was\u3000saying\uff1b\u3000\u3003for\u3000an\u3000update\u3000on\u3000the\u3000latest\u3000in\u3000a\u3000series\u3000of\u3000ruinous\u3000developments\u3000\u3002\u3002\u3002\u3003\u3000
\n
\nMisa\u3000set\u3000her\u3000tea\u3000aside\u3000and\u3000leaned\u3000toward\u3000the\u3000wallscreen\u3002\u3000
\n
\nThousands\u3000of\u3000people\u3000were\u3000fleeing\u3000Monumentand\u3000with\u3000good\u3000cause\uff1b\u3000since\u3000a\u3000sizable\u3000portion\u3000of\u3000the\u3000city\u3000was\u3000in\u3000flames\u3002\u3000Bioroids\uff1b\u3000the\u3000saucerlike\u3000mainstay\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Masters’\u3000fleet\uff1b\u3000were\u3000dropping\u3000in\u3000waves\u3000on\u3000Monument\u3000and\u3000on\u3000nearby\u3000Fokker\u3000Aerospace\u3000Base\uff1b\u3000clearing\u3000a\u3000path\u3000for\u3000the\u3000flagship\uff1b\u3000which\u3000was\u3000descending\u3000toward\u3000Macross’s\u3000triad\u3000of\u3000mounds\u3002\u3000Two\u3000towns\u3000at\u3000the\u3000outermost\u3000perimeter\u3000of\u3000the\u3000city\u3000had\u3000already\u3000vanished\u3000in\u3000a\u3000thermonuclear\u3000inferno\u3002\u3000
\n
\nThe\u3000War\u3000Channel’s\u3000use\u3000of\u3000the\u3000phrase\u3000\u3003live\u3000from\u3000Monument\u3000City\u3003\u3000struck\u3000Misa\u3000as\u3000ill\u2026advised\u3002\u3000
\n
\n\u3003And\u3000this\u3000just\u3000in\u3000\u3002\u3002\u3002\u3000We\u3000have\u3000now\u3000confirmed\u3000earlier\u3000reports\u3000that\u3000Major\u3000General\u3000Rolf\u3000Emerson\u3000had\u3000been\u3000taken\u3000prisoner\u3000by\u3000the\u3000Masters\u3002\u3000It\u3000now\u3000appears\u3000that\u3000the\u3000chief\u3000of\u3000staff\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Ministry\u3000of\u3000Terrestrial\u3000Defense\u3000has\u3000died\u3000inside\u3000the\u3000Masters’\u3000flagship\uff1b\u3000of\u3000wounds\u3000sustained\u3000aboard\u3000the\u3000Tristar\u3000\u3000\uff1b\u3000during\u3000yesterday’s\u3000counteroffensive\u3000\u3002\u3002\u3002\u3003\u3000
\n
\nShe\u3000hugged\u3000herself\u3000and\u3000swung\u3000away\u3000from\u3000the\u3000screen\uff1b\u3000tears\u3000welling\u3000in\u3000her\u3000eyes\u3000as\u3000she\u3000stared\u3000out\u3000the\u3000window\u3000at\u3000subterranean\u3000Tokyo\u3002\u3000She\u3000knew\u3000Emersonindirectly\uff1b\u3000as\u3000it\u3000happenedthrough\u3000Southern\u3000Cross\u3000fly\u2026boy\u3000Terry\u3000Weston\u3002\u3000Terry\u3000had\u3000been\u3000Misa’s\u3000roommate\u3000and\u3000constant\u3000though\u3000much\u3000older\u3000lover\uff1b\u3000until\u3000his\u3000recent\u3000reenlistment\u3000in\u3000the\u3000Tactical\u3000Armored\u3000Space\u3000Corps\u3000and\u3000his\u3000upside\u3000transfer\u3002\u3000
\n
\nMore\u3000than\u3000the\u3000War\u3000Channel\uff1b\u3000it\u3000was\u3000Terry\u3000who\u3000had\u3000kept\u3000Misa\u3000and\u3000her\u3000closest\u3000friends\u3000apprised\u3000of\u3000the\u3000ASC’s\u3000small\u3000victories\u3000against\u3000the\u3000Masters\u3002\u3000These\u3000were\u3000victories\u3000that\u3000owed\u3000much\u3000to\u3000the\u3000efforts\u3000of\u3000the\u300015th\u3000Alpha\u3000Tactical\u3000Armored\u3000Corps\uff1b\u3000an\u3000elite\u3000Hovertank\u3000unit\uff1b\u3000which\u3000had\u3000engaged\u3000the\u3000enemy\u3000in\u3000space\u3000and\u3000on\u3000the\u3000ground\uff1b\u3000and\u3000on\u3000at\u3000least\u3000two\u3000occasions\u3000had\u3000infiltrated\u3000the\u3000enemy\u3000flagship\u3000itself\u3002\u3000In\u3000mand\u3000of\u3000the\u300015th\u3000was\u3000none\u3000other\u3000than\u3000Dana\u3000Parino\u3000Sterling\uff1b\u3000who\uff1b\u3000as\u3000well\u3000as\u3000being\u3000famous\u3000as\u3000Rolf\u3000Emerson’s\u3000ward\u3000and\u3000the\u3000only\u3000offspring\u3000ever\u3000to\u3000result\u3000from\u3000a\u3000Human\u3000and\u3000Zentraedi\u3000mating\uff1b\u3000had\u3000also\u3000been\u3000a\u3000previousand\u3000much\u3000youngerlover\u3000of\u3000Terry’\u3000s\u3002\u3000
\n
\nAt\u3000times\uff1b\u3000even\u3000Terry\u3000hadn’t\u3000been\u3000able\u3000to\u3000separate\u3000the\u3000misinformation\u3000from\u3000the\u3000disinformation\uff1b\u3000but\u3000he\u3000had\u3000relayed\u3000to\u3000Tokyo\u3000whatever\u3000scuttlebutt\u3000reached\u3000his\u3000ears\u3002\u3000For\u3000example\uff1b\u3000that\u3000the\u3000Global\u3000Military\u3000Police\u3000had\u3000managed\u3000to\u3000insert\u3000an\u3000espionage\u3000operative\u3000among\u3000the\u3000clone\u3000population\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Masters’\u3000ships\u3002\u3000And\u3000that\u3000the\u3000Mastersuntil\u3000recentlybeen\u3000tiptoeing\u3000around\u3000Monument\u3000City\u3000because\u3000of\u3000some\u3000Protoculture\u2026manufacturing\u3000device\u3000concealed\u3000inside\u3000the\u3000SDF\u20261\u3002\u3000The\u3000latest\u3000rumor\u3000to\u3000e\u3000down\u3000the\u3000well\u3000was\u3000that\u3000the\u3000Masters\u3000had\u3000issued\u3000an\u3000ultimatum\u3000to\u3000Supreme\u3000mander\u3000Leonard\u3000that\u3000humankind\u3000either\u3000abandon\u3000Earth\uff1b\u3000or\u3000find\u3000itself\u3000caught\u3000in\u3000a\u3000war\u3000between\u3000the\u3000Masters\u3000and\u3000their\u3000\u3000enemies\uff1b\u3000the\u3000Invid\u3002\u3000
\n
\nIf\u3000anyone\u3000could\u3000have\u3000negotiated\u3000an\u3000accord\u3000with\u3000the\u3000aliens\uff1b\u3000it\u3000would\u3000have\u3000been\u3000Rolf\u3000Emerson\uff1b\u3000Dana\u3000Sterling’s\u3000guardian\u3002\u3000And\u3000now\u3000Emerson\u3000was\u3000dead\u3002\u3000
\n
\nTears\u3000coursing\u3000down\u3000her\u3000cheeks\uff1b\u3000Misa\u3000gazed\u3000absently\u3000at\u3000the\u3000huge\u3000fiber\u2026optic\u3000display\u3000screen\u3000on\u3000the\u3000wall\u3000of\u3000the\u3000neighboring\u3000residential\u3000tower\u3002\u3000The\u3000telepresence\u3000known\u3000as\u3000EVE\u3000had\u3000once\u3000dominated\u3000that\u3000and\u3000other\u3000screens\uff1b\u3000but\u3000EVE\u3000was\u3000long\u3000gone\uff1b\u3000gone\u3000with\u3000Zand\u3000and\u3000his\u3000Protoculture\u3000research\u3000facility\uff1b\u3000from\u3000which\u3000Zand’s\u3000conversations\u3000with\u3000the\u3000Masters\u3000had\u3000taken\u3000place\u3002\u3000With\u3000nothing\u3000but\u3000advertisements\u3000running\u3000on\u3000the\u3000screens\u3000ever\u3000since\uff1b\u3000was\u3000it\u3000any\u3000wonder\u3000that\u3000Misa\u3000preferred\u3000to\u3000stay\u3000tuned\u3000to\u3000the\u3000War\u3000Channel\uff1f\u3000
\n
\nMoth\u3000to\u3000a\u3000flame\uff1b\u3000she\u3000returned\u3000her\u3000attention\u3000to\u3000the\u3000news\u3000\u3002\u3002\u3002\u3000
\n
\nDead\uff1b\u3000too\uff1b\u3000by\u3000all\u3000accounts\uff1b\u3000were\u3000Anatole\u3000Leonard\u3000and\u3000Chairman\u3000Wyatt\u3000Moran\u3002\u3000Word\u3000had\u3000it\u3000that\u3000Leonard\uff1b\u3000the\u3000Supreme\u3000mander\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Army\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Southern\u3000Cross\uff1b\u3000had\u3000blundered\u3000definitively\u3000at\u3000the\u3000end\uff1b\u3000and\uff1b\u3000by\u3000rejecting\u3000Emerson’s\u3000plea\u3000to\u3000consolidate\u3000all\u3000ground\u2026based\u3000forces\uff1b\u3000had\u3000allowed\u3000the\u3000Masters’\u3000flagship\u3000to\u3000slip\u3000through\u3000Monument’s\u3000defenses\u3002\u3000
\n
\nCameras\u3000positioned\u3000near\u3000the\u3000Macross\u3000memorial\u3000relayed\u3000a\u3000dazzling\u3000close\u2026up\u3000of\u3000the\u3000spade\u2026fortress\uff1b\u3000as\u3000three\u3000segmented\u3000appendages\u3000extruded\u3000themselves\u3000from\u3000the\u3000ship’s\u3000underside\u3002\u3000From\u3000each\u3000appendage\u3000came\u3000a\u3000zigzagging\u3000beam\u3000of\u3000light\u3000as\u3000bright\u3000as\u3000a\u3000solar\u3000prominence\uff1b\u3000which\u3000cleaved\u3000the\u3000tallest\u3000of\u3000the\u3000mounds\uff1b\u3000displacing\u3000avalanches\u3000of\u3000trees\uff1b\u3000boulders\uff1b\u3000and\u3000dirt\u3000from\u3000its\u3000flat\u3000top\uff1b\u3000ultimately\u3000exposing\u3000the\u3000headless\u3000corpse\u3000of\u3000the\u3000SDF\u20261\u3000itself\u3002\u3000The\u3000beams\u3000intensified\u3000and\u3000merged\uff1b\u3000and\u3000more\u3000of\u3000the\u3000dirt\u3000 \n
\n \n
\n
\n
\n t\u3000and\u3000debris\u3000that\u3000had\u3000been\u3000heaped\u3000on\u3000the\u3000Super\u3000Dimensional\u3000Fortress\u3000fell\u3000away\u3000or\u3000was\u3000incinerated\u3002\u3000
\n
\nBut\u3000just\u3000when\u3000it\u3000was\u3000beginning\u3000to\u3000look\u3000as\u3000if\u3000the\u3000Masters\u3000were\u3000intent\u3000on\u3000levitatingif\u3000not\u3000resurrectingthe\u3000fortress\uff1b\u3000the\u3000flagship\u3000abruptly\u3000powered\u3000down\uff1b\u3000tipped\u3000to\u3000one\u3000side\uff1b\u3000and\u3000exploded\u3002\u3000
\n
\nThen\u3000something\u3000even\u3000more\u3000unexpected\u3000occurred\uff1a\u3000the\u3000explosion\u3000appeared\u3000to\u3000arrest\u3000itself\u3002\u3000Misa\u3000thought\u3000that\u3000she\u3000had\u3000inadvertently\u3000activated\u3000the\u3000wallscreen’s\u3000replay\u2026and\u2026pause\u3000function\uff1b\u3000but\u3000not\u3000a\u3000moment\u3000later\u3000a\u3000nova\u3000flared\u3000at\u3000the\u3000center\u3000of\u3000the\u3000cleaved\u3000mound\u3000and\u3000a\u3000shaft\u3000of\u3000refulgent\u3000energy\u3000shot\u3000upward\u3000from\u3000the\u3000SDF\u20261\uff1b\u3000engaging\u3000and\u3000somehow\u3000dampening\u3000the\u3000blast\u3000of\u3000the\u3000exploding\u3000starship\u3002\u3000
\n
\nDampening\uff1b\u3000but\u3000not\u3000entirely\u3000containing\u3000the\u3000burst\u3002\u3000
\n
\nThere\u3000was\u3000no\u3000way\u3000to\u3000stabilize\u3000the\u3000satellite\u2026relayed\u3000image\u3000now\u3002\u3000The\u3000ground\u3000was\u3000shaking\u3000with\u3000the\u3000force\u3000of\u3000an\u3000earthquake\uff1b\u3000and\u3000enormous\u3000fragments\u3000of\u3000housings\uff1b\u3000armor\uff1b\u3000and\u3000structural\u3000members\u3000were\u3000pelting\u3000the\u3000two\u3000standing\u3000mounds\u3000and\u3000the\u3000surrounding\u3000plain\u3000that\u3000had\u3000once\u3000been\u3000Lake\u3000Gloval\u3002\u3000Atomized\uff1b\u3000the\u3000SDF\u20261\u3000disappeared\u3000in\u3000what\u3000at\u3000first\u3000seemed\u3000to\u3000be\u3000a\u3000storm\u3000of\u3000swirling\u3000dust\u3000particles\uff1b\u3000but\u3000in\u3000close\u2026up\u3000looked\u3000more\u3000like\u3000seeds\u3000or\u3000spores\u3002\u3000\u3000Spores\uff1b\u3000and\u3000more\uff1a\u3000petals\uff1b\u3000leaves\uff1b\u3000flowers\uff1b\u3000entire\u3000plantssucked\u3000upward\u3000and\u3000sent\u3000wafting\u3000in\u3000every\u3000direction\uff1b\u3000as\u3000if\u3000being\u3000sown\u3000\u3000by\u3000the\u3000explosion\u3000itself\u3002\u3000
\n
\nMisa\u3000gaped\u3000at\u3000the\u3000wallscreen\uff1b\u3000not\u3000knowing\u3000what\u3000to\u3000make\u3000of\u3000the\u3000sight\u3002\u3000She\u3000reached\u3000a\u3000trembling\u3000hand\u3000for\u3000her\u3000cup\u3000of\u3000green\u3000tea\u3000and\u3000raised\u3000it\u3000to\u3000her\u3000lips\u3002\u3000Had\u3000the\u3000Earth\u3000been\u3000savedrescued\u3000one\u3000final\u3000time\u3000by\u3000the\u3000very\u3000ship\u3000that\u3000had\u3000started\u3000it\u3000all\uff1f\u3000Or\u3000had\u3000something\u3000more\u3000sinister\u3000than\u3000defeat\u3000been\u3000visited\u3000on\u3000the\u3000world\uff1f\u3000
\n
\n
\nDana\u3000Sterling\u3000marched\u3000bravely\u3000at\u3000the\u3000head\u3000of\u3000the\u3000crowd\uff1b\u3000the\u3000side\u3000arm\u3000she\u3000had\u3000filched\u3000from\u3000Angelo\u3000Dante\u3000tucked\u3000into\u3000her\u3000broad\u3000leather\u3000belt\uff1b\u3000Polly\u3000the\u3000XT\u3000pollinator\u3000gamboling\u3000at\u3000her\u3000feet\u3002\u3000She\u3000felt\u3000ravaged\u3000in\u3000every\u3000part\u3000of\u3000herself\uff1b\u3000burned\u3000raw\uff1b\u3000inside\u3000and\u3000out\u3002\u3000Rolf\u3000Emerson\uff1b\u3000Leonard\uff1b\u3000and\u3000Morandead\u3000\u3000\u3002\u3000The\u3000afternoon\u3000made\u3000colder\u3000by\u3000strange\u3000winds\uff1b\u3000born\u3000of\u3000the\u3000destruction\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Masters’\u3000flagship\u3000and\u3000the\u3000SDF\u20261\u3000mound\u3002\u3000The\u3000sky\u3000shrouded\u3000by\u3000black\u3000smoke\u3000from\u3000the\u3000funeral\u3000pyre\u3000that\u3000had\u3000been\u3000Monument\u3000City\u3000\u3002\u3002\u3002\u3000
\n
\nBehind\u3000her\u3000marched\u3000the\u3000rest\u3000of\u3000the\u300015th\u3000ATACAngelo\uff1b\u3000Bowie\uff1b\u3000Sean\uff1b\u3000and\u3000Louiealong\u3000with\u3000Cosmic\u3000Unit\u3000manders\u3000Marie\u3000Crystal\u3000and\u3000Dennis\u3000Brown\uff1b\u3000Global\u3000Military\u3000Police\u3000lieutenant\u3000Nova\u3000Satori\uff1b\u3000Musica\uff1b\u3000Mistress\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Cosmic\u3000Harp\uff1b\u3000and\u3000the\u3000two\u3000hundred\u3000or\u3000so\u3000alien\u3000clones\u3000the\u300015th\u3000had\u3000rescued\u3000from\u3000the\u3000Masters’\u3000flagship\u3002\u3000
\n
\nIn\u3000the\u3000east\u3000hung\u3000a\u3000great\u3000roiling\u3000cloud\u3000of\u3000spores\u3000and\u3000petals\u3000that\u3000had\u3000been\u3000funneled\u3000into\u3000the\u3000upper\u3000atmosphere\u3000by\u3000the\u3000destroyed\u3000flagship\u3002\u3000Dana\u3000had\u3000e\u3000to\u3000think\u3000of\u3000the\u3000mushroom\u3000cloud\u3000as\u3000a\u3000transfer\u3000station\u3000for\u3000the\u3000seedlings\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Flower\u3000of\u3000Life\uff1b\u3000a\u3000place\u3000of\u3000penultimate\u3000appointment\u3000where\u3000they\u3000hung\u3000until\u3000the\u3000winds\u3000dispersed\u3000them\u3000worldwide\u3002\u3000The\u3000physical\u3000and\u3000spiritual\u3000foodstuff\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Invid\uff1b\u3000the\u3000Flowers\u3000of\u3000Life\u3000were\u3000harbingers\u3000of\u3000Earth’s\u3000next\u3000cataclysm\u3002\u3000
\n
\nTo\u3000many\u3000it\u3000would\u3000appear\u3000that\u3000Zor\u3000Prime\u3000had\u3000died\u3000for\u3000nothing\uff1b\u3000having\u3000sacrificed\u3000his\u3000life\u3000to\u3000prevent\u3000the\u3000Masters\u3000from\u3000retrieving\u3000the\u3000Protoculture\u3000Matrix\u3000hidden\u3000by\u3000his\u3000namesake\u3000aboard\u3000the\u3000SDF\u20261\u3002\u3000But\u3000Dana\u3000had\u3000been\u3000granted\u3000a\u3000glimpse\u3000of\u3000a\u3000deeper\u3000truthor\u3000at\u3000least\u3000she\u3000thought\u3000she\u3000had\u3002\u3000Mirroring\u3000the\u3000chaotic\u3000dance\u3000of\u3000the\u3000spores\u3000overhead\uff1b\u3000images\u3000swirled\u3000in\u3000her\u3000mind\uff1b\u3000though\u3000she\u3000couldn’t\u3000say\u3000which\u3000were\u3000the\u3000by\u2026products\u3000of\u3000real\u3000events\u3000and\u3000which\u3000were\u3000flashbacks\u3000of\u3000hallucination\u3002\u3000
\n
\nHer\u3000recollection\u3000of\u3000those\u3000final\u3000moments\u3000aboard\u3000the\u3000flagship\u3000were\u3000nothing\u3000less\u3000than\u3000dreamlike\u3002\u3000The\u3000plummeting\u3000ship\u3000\u3002\u3002\u3002\u3000Zor\u3000Prime’s\u3000assassination\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Master\u3000named\u3000Shaizan\u3000\u3002\u3002\u3002\u3000Zor\u3000Prime’s\u3000final\u3000words\u3000to\u3000her\u3002\u3000\u3003They\u3000brought\u3000punishment\u3000down\u3000on\u3000themselves\u3000through\u3000their\u3000misuse\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Protoculture\uff1b\u3000and\u3000I\u3000am\u3000the\u3000instrument\u3000of\u3000that\u3000punishment\uff1b\u3000ordained\u3000by\u3000the\u3000Shaping\u3002\u3003\u3000
\n
\nThe\u3000Shaping\u3002\u3000Over\u3000the\u3000years\u3000she’d\u3000heard\u3000the\u3000term\u3000bandied\u3000about\u3000by\u3000the\u3000disciples\u3000of\u3000Dr\u3002\u3000Emil\u3000Lang\u3000and\u3000Lazlo\u3000Zand\uff1b\u3000both\u3000of\u3000whom\u3000had\u3000turned\u3000Robotechnology\u3000into\u3000a\u3000kind\u3000of\u3000religion\uff1b\u3000with\u3000Protoculture\u3000as\u3000its\u3000demiurge\u3002\u3000But\u3000to\u3000hear\u3000the\u3000word\u3000from\u3000Zor\u3000Prime’s\u3000lips\u3000\u3002\u3002\u3002\u3000Was\u3000he\u3000crazy\u3000at\u3000the\u3000end\uff1b\u3000she\u3000wondered\uff1b\u3000or\u3000merely\u3000a\u3000victim\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Protoculture\uff1f\u3000
\n
\nOnly\u3000moments\u3000earlier\uff1b\u3000on\u3000the\u3000flagship\uff1b\u3000as\u3000a\u3000consequence\u3000of\u3000touching\u3000a\u3000canister\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Protoculture\uff1b\u3000Dana\u3000had\u3000had\u3000her\u3000own\u3000fling\u3000with\u3000madness\uff1a\u3000a\u3000vision\u3000of\u3000sorts\uff1b\u3000fashioned\u3000of\u3000images\u3000lifted\u3000from\u3000events\u3000of\u3000the\u3000past\u3000year\uff1b\u3000mingled\u3000with\u3000others\u3000whose\u3000origins\u3000she\u3000couldn’t\u3000explain\u3002\u3000
\n
\nShe\u3000recalled\u3000a\u3000green\u3000field\uff1b\u3000lush\u3000with\u3000the\u3000Flowers\u3000of\u3000Life\uff1b\u3000surrounded\u3000by\u3000hills\u3000and\u3000valesthough\u3000only\u3000her\u3000Southern\u3000Cross\u3000body\u3000armor\u3000and\u3000the\u3000distant\uff1b\u3000wind\u2026blasted\u3000crags\u3000gave\u3000any\u3000hint\u3000that\u3000she\u3000was\u3000on\u3000Earth\u3002\u3000Dark\uff1b\u3000cloaked\u3000figures\u3000had\u3000shown\u3000her\u3000a\u3000youthful\u3000image\u3000of\u3000herself\u3000and\u3000had\u3000intimated\u3000that\u3000she\u3000belonged\u3000to\u3000a\u3000triumvirate\u3000of\u3000clones\uff1b\u3000like\u3000those\u3000the\u3000Masters\u3000had\u3000created\u3000on\u3000Tirol\u3002\u3000
\n
\nShe\u3000had\u3000rejected\u3000the\u3000suggestion\uff1b\u3000even\u3000if\u3000it\u3000wasn’t\u3000far\u3000off\u3000the\u3000mark\u3002\u3000She\u3000was\uff1b\u3000after\u3000all\uff1b\u3000half\u3000Zentraedi\uff1b\u3000and\u3000that\u3000race\u3000of\u3000giant\u3000warrior\u3000clones\u3000had\u3000also\u3000been\u3000created\u3000by\u3000the\u3000Masters\u3002\u3000And\uff1b\u3000yes\uff1b\u3000there\u3000were\u3000many\u3000times\u3000when\u3000she\u3000had\u3000tried\u3000to\u3000deny\u3000her\u3000ancestry\uff1b\u3000in\u3000the\u3000interest\u3000of\u3000fitting\u3000in\u3002\u3000But\u3000in\u3000the\u3000hallucination\uff1b\u3000rejecting\u3000the\u3000alien\u3000side\u3000of\u3000herself\u3000had\u3000landed\u3000her\u3000in\u3000a\u3000bleak\u3000landscape\uff1b\u3000among\u3000skulls\u3000and\u3000bones\u3000and\u3000the\u3000ash\u3000piles\u3000of\u3000ten\u3000thousand\u3000cremations\u3002\u3000Only\u3000to\u3000be\u3000rescued\u3000from\u3000her\u3000exile\u3000by\u3000a\u3000black\u2026eyed\u3000sprite\u3000of\u3000a\u3000girl\uff1b\u3000who\u3000was\u3000wearing\u3000a\u3000short\uff1b\u3000flowing\u3000garment\u3000of\u3000gold\u3000and\u3000white\uff1b\u3000cinched\u3000at\u3000the\u3000waist\u3000by\u3000a\u3000broad\u3000belt\u3002\u3000A\u3000garland\u3000of\u3000woven\u3000Flowers\u3000of\u3000Life\u3000in\u3000her\u3000hair\uff1b\u3000the\u3000sprite\u3000had\u3000introduced\u3000herself\u3000as\u3000the\u3000other\u3000\u3000child\u3000of\u3000Max\u3000and\u3000Miriya\u3002\u3000
\n
\nDana’s\u3000sister\u3002\u3000
\n
\n\u3003Oh\uff1b\u3000Mother\u3000and\u3000Father\u3000will\u3000be\u3000so\u3000glad\u3000to\u3000know\u3000that\u3000I’ve\u3000finally\u3000made\u3000contact\u3000with\u3000you\uff1b\u3003\u3000she\u3000had\u3000said\u3002\u3000
\n
\nAnd\u3000Dana\u3000could\u3000recall\u3000thinking\uff1b\u3000Finally\uff1f\u3000\u3000
\n
\nAround\u3000them\u3000were\u3000low\u3000crystal\u3000domes\uff1b\u3000and\u3000arching\u3000overhead\u3000was\u3000a\u3000purple\u3000sky\u3000hung\u3000with\u3000unrecognizable\u3000constellations\u3002\u3000Faint\u3000music\u3000filled\u3000the\u3000air\uff1b\u3000reminiscent\u3000of\u3000the\u3000ethereal\u3000strains\u3000that\u3000emanated\u3000from\u3000Musica’s\u3000Cosmic\u3000Harp\u3002\u3000The\u3000sprite\u3000pressed\u3000a\u3000bouquet\u3000of\u3000Flowers\u3000into\u3000Dana’s\u3000hands\u3000and\u3000hurried\u3000away\u3000to\u3000join\u3000two\u3000shadowy\u3000figures\u3000that\u3000had\u3000appeared\u3000on\u3000the\u3000scene\u3002\u3000
\n
\nTime\u3000grows\u3000short\uff1b\u3000\u3000one\uff1b\u3000or\u3000perhaps\u3000both\u3000of\u3000them\uff1b\u3000had\u3000sent\u3000to\u3000Dana\u3000without\u3000speaking\u3002\u3000So\u3000much\u3000has\u3000happened\u3000since\u3000our\u3000last\u3000contact\u3000with\u3000Earth\uff1b\u3000so\u3000many\u3000astounding\u3000things\u3002\u3000Your\u3000powers\u3000are\u3000awakened\u3000now\uff1b\u3000and\u3000they\u3000are\u3000growing\u3002\u3000Use\u3000them\u3000cautiously\u3002\u3000We\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Sentinels\u3000are\u3000only\u3000beginning\u3000to\u3000understand\u3000the\u3000true\u3000nature\u3000of\u3000Protoculture\u3002\u3000\u3000
\n
\nOkay\u3002\u3000She\u3000had\u3000known\u3000about\u3000the\u3000Sentinels\u3000since\u3000Major\u3000John\u3000Carpenter’s\u3000bumbling\u3000return\u3000from\u3000Tirol\uff1b\u3000months\u3000earlier\u3002\u3000But\u3000was\u3000she\u3000supposed\u3000to\u3000accept\u3000that\u3000the\u3000hallucination’s\u3000two\u3000shadows\u3000were\u3000her\u3000parents\uff1b\u3000who\u3000had\u3000apparently\u3000thrown\u3000in\u3000with\u3000that\u3000ragtag\u3000band\u3000of\u3000alien\u3000freedom\u3000fighters\uff1f\u3000Sounded\u3000like\u3000more\u3000of\u3000that\u3000nonsense\u3000about\u3000the\u3000Shapings\u3002\u3000Even\u3000so\uff1b\u3000the\u3000sprite\u3000had\u3000given\u3000voice\u3000to\u3000a\u3000warning\u3000that\u3000was\u3000still\u3000ringing\u3000in\u3000Dana’s\u3000ears\u3002\u3000\u3003Beware\u3000the\u3000spores\uff1b\u3000Dana\u3002\u3000Beware\u3000the\u3000spores\u3000and\u3000the\u3000Invid\uff01\u3003\u3000
\n
\nDana\u3000had\u3000still\u3000been\u3000in\u3000the\u3000throes\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Protoculture\u2026induced\u3000vision\u3000when\u3000Zor\u3000Prime\u3000had\u3000kissed\u3000her\uff1b\u3000scooped\u3000her\u3000up\u3000in\u3000his\u3000arms\uff1b\u3000and\u3000sealed\u3000her\u3000inside\u3000an\u3000ejection\u3000capsule\uff1b\u3000like\u3000she\u3000was\u3000some\u3000Lisa\u3000Hayes\u3000Hunter\u3000surrogate\u3002\u3000Astounded\u3000by\u3000his\u3000actions\uff1b\u3000she\u3000sat\u3000frozen\u3000while\u3000he\u3000had\u3000secured\u3000the\u3000latch\u3000of\u3000the\u3000little\uff1b\u3000superhard\u3000alloy\u3000sphere\u3000and\u3000tasked\u3000it\u3000for\u3000launch\u3002\u3000\u3003I\u3000will\u3000allow\u3000no\u3000harm\u3000to\u3000e\u3000to\u3000your\u3000people\uff1b\u3003\u3000he\u3000had\u3000assured\u3000her\u3002\u3000
\n
\nBut\u3000Dana\u3000had\u3000wondered\u3000during\u3000her\u3000slow\u3000descent\u3000to\u3000Earth\uff1b\u3000had\u3000Zor\u3000Prime\u3000been\u3000referring\u3000to\u3000Humans\u3000or\u3000Zentraedi\uff1f\u3000
\n
\nThe\u3000capsule\u3000had\u3000landed\u3000on\u3000the\u3000crest\u3000of\u3000a\u3000low\u3000foothill\uff1b\u3000atop\u3000which\u3000sat\u3000the\u3000Macross\u3000Scenic\u3000Overlook\u3002\u3000It\u3000had\u3000puzzled\u3000her\u3000that\u3000Zor\u3000Prime\u3000should\u3000send\u3000her\u3000there\uff1b\u3000of\u3000all\u3000places\uff1b\u3000but\u3000then\u3000it\u3000dawned\u3000on\u3000her\u3000that\u3000she\u3000was\u3000meant\u3000to\u3000bear\u3000witness\u3000to\u3000his\u3000self\u2026sacrifice\u3000and\u3000to\u3000the\u3000death\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Robotech\u3000Masters\u3002\u3000And\u3000she\u3000had\uff1a\u3000curling\u3000herself\u3000into\u3000a\u3000ball\u3000when\u3000the\u3000flagship\u3000exploded\uff1b\u3000then\u3000railing\u3000at\u3000Zor\u3000Prime\u3000and\u3000the\u3000falling\u3000sky\u3000when\u3000the\u3000Protoculture\u3000Matrix\u3000had\u3000released\u3000the\u3000Flowers\u3000of\u3000Life\u3000from\u3000bio\u2026stasis\u3000and\u3000seeded\u3000the\u3000world\u3000with\u3000their\u3000spores\u3002\u3000
\n
\nBut\u3000she\u3000did\u3000so\u3000only\u3000for\u3000a\u3000moment\u3002\u3000Because\u3000Lazlo\u3000Zand\u3000and\u3000Napoleon\u3000Russo\u3000had\u3000suddenly\u3000appeared\u3000on\u3000the\u3000scene\uff1b\u3000pletely\u3000out\u3000of\u3000their\u3000skulls\u3002\u3000Zand\uff1b\u3000who\u3000had\u3000had\u3000a\u3000fixation\u3000on\u3000Dana\u3000since\u3000her\u3000infancy\uff1b\u3000was\u3000vampirelike\uff1b\u3000displaying\u3000some\u3000sort\u3000of\u3000high\u2026tech\u3000Dracula\u3000device\uff1b\u3000babbling\u3000about\u3000Dana’s\u3000matchless\u3000powers\uff1b\u3000how\u3000they\u3000went\u3000beyond\u3000Protoculture\uff1b\u3000and\u3000how\u3000he\u3000\u3000would\u3000have\u3000them\u3002\u3000
\n
\n\u3003First\u3000the\u3000power\u3000of\u3000Protoculture\u3000fills\u3000me\uff1b\u3003\u3000Zand\u3000had\u3000raved\uff1b\u3000\u3003then\u3000the\u3000power\u3000of\u3000Dana\u3000Sterling\u3002\u3000The\u3000Masters\u3000promised\u3000me\u3000that\u3000I\u3000would\u3000be\u3000wed\u3000to\u3000the\u3000Flower\u3000and\u3000I\u3000will\u3000not\u3000be\u3000disappointed\uff01\u3003\u3000
\n
\nPolly\uff1b\u3000Dana’s\u3000Cheshire\u3000cat\u3000of\u3000a\u3000pet\uff1b\u3000had\u3000shown\u3000up\u3000shortly\u3000after\u3000Zand\u3000had\u3000activated\u3000the\u3000device\uff1b\u3000but\u3000could\u3000do\u3000nothing\u3000as\u3000he\u3000trained\u3000it\u3000on\u3000Dana\u3002\u3000The\u3000Protoculturist’s\u3000own\u3000form\u3000enlarged\uff1b\u3000vibrating\u3000and\u3000contorting\uff1b\u3000while\u3000Dana\u3000stood\u3000paralyzed\u3000and\u3000rotund\u3000Russo\u3000cowered\u3000like\u3000the\u3000little\u3000creep\u3000he\u3000was\u3002\u3000
\n
\nAcross\u3000the\u3000plain\uff1b\u3000the\u3000Masters’\u3000flagship\u3000was\u3000ing\u3000apart\u3000and\u3000the\u3000genetic\u3000messengers\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Flower\u3000were\u3000gushing\u3000into\u3000a\u3000hellish\u3000June\u3000afternoon\u3002\u3000Dana\u3000felt\u3000the\u3000tap\u3000of\u3000Death’s\u3000bony\u3000hand\u3000on\u3000her\u3000shoulder\u3000and\u3000was\u3000on\u3000the\u3000verge\u3000of\u3000turning\u3000into\u3000the\u3000Reaper’s\u3000embrace\uff1b\u3000when\u3000Zand\u3000loosed\u3000a\u3000howl\u3000of\u3000such\u3000agony\u3000and\u3000fright\u3000that\u3000even\u3000the\u3000Reaper\u3000retreated\u3002\u3000
\n
\nZand\u3000had\u3000perhaps\u3000underestimated\u3000the\u3000dosage\u3000the\u3000device\u3000was\u3000feeding\u3000him\uff1b\u3000or\u3000somehow\u3000underestimated\u3000Dana’s\u3000contribution\u3000to\u3000the\u3000influx\u3000of\u3000power\u3002\u3000But\u3000either\u3000way\uff1b\u3000the\u3000net\u3000result\u3000was\u3000his\u3000transformation\u3000into\u3000a\u3000short\u2026lived\u3000burst\u3000of\u3000radiant\u3000energ \n
\n \n
\n
\n
\n wer\u3002\u3000But\u3000either\u3000way\uff1b\u3000the\u3000net\u3000result\u3000was\u3000his\u3000transformation\u3000into\u3000a\u3000short\u2026lived\u3000burst\u3000of\u3000radiant\u3000energy\u3002\u3000And\u3000regardless\uff1b\u3000Dana\u3000wanted\u3000to\u3000believe\u3000that\u3000the\u3000outsize\u3000Flower\u3000of\u3000Life\u3000that\u3000took\u3000root\u3000where\u3000he\u3000had\u3000stood\u3000was\u3000actually\u3000himZand\uff1b\u3000wed\u3000to\u3000the\u3000Flower\u3000\u3002\u3002\u3002\u3000
\n
\nArriving\u3000in\u3000a\u3000hijacked\u3000alien\u3000assault\u3000craft\uff1b\u3000the\u3000members\u3000of\u3000the\u300015th\u3000had\u3000found\u3000her\u3000there\uff1b\u3000stripped\u3000of\u3000her\u3000armor\uff1b\u3000Polly\u3000under\u3000one\u3000arm\u3002\u3000Dana\u3000doing\u3000her\u3000own\u3000\u3000babbling\u3000about\u3000Zor\u3000Prime\uff1b\u3000the\u3000spores\uff1b\u3000the\u3000Invid\uff1b\u3000and\u3000a\u3000starship\u3000that\u3000she\u3000would\u3000someday\u3000pilot\u3000to\u3000wherever\u3000her\u3000parents\u3000were\u3002\u3000But\u3000everyone\u3000had\u3000been\u3000patient\u3000with\u3000her\uff1b\u3000figuring\u3000that\u3000the\u3000nonsense\u3000she\u3000was\u3000spewing\u3000was\u3000the\u3000result\u3000of\u3000bat\u3000trauma\u3002\u3000It\u3000was\u3000Dana’s\u3000cry\u3000for\u3000Mommy\uff1b\u3000the\u3000orphaned\u3000generation’s\u3000cry\u3000for\u3000all\u3000that\u3000had\u3000been\u3000denied\u3000them\u3002\u3000
\n
\nNova\u3000Satori\u3000had\u3000brought\u3000her\u3000around\u3002\u3000\u3003Invid\u3000or\u3000no\u3000Invid\uff1b\u3000we\u3000have\u3000to\u3000report\u3000to\u3000whomever\u3000is\u3000in\u3000interim\u3000mand\uff1b\u3003\u3000the\u3000intelligence\u3000officer\u3000had\u3000said\u3002\u3000Plans\u3000had\u3000to\u3000be\u3000made\uff1b\u3000defenses\u3000set\u3000in\u3000place\u3002\u3000No\u3000matter\u3000that\u3000Nova\u3000was\u3000cradling\u3000a\u3000clone\u3000infant\u3000in\u3000her\u3000arms\u3002\u3000
\n
\nDana\u3000had\u3000posed\u3000herself\u3000and\u3000had\u3000ordered\u3000that\u3000the\u3000escape\u3000capsule\u3000and\u3000the\u3000bottle\u2026shaped\u3000assault\u3000craft\u3000be\u3000emptied\u3000of\u3000all\u3000rations\u3000and\u3000emergency\u3000supplies\uff1b\u3000and\u3000then\u3000she\u3000had\u3000grabbed\u3000Angelo’s\u3000side\u3000arm\u3000and\u3000assigned\u3000herself\u3000the\u3000point\u3000position\u3002\u3000
\n
\nRenewed\u3000hope\u3000had\u3000eased\u3000the\u3000burden\u3000of\u3000the\u3000first\u3000couple\u3000of\u3000miles\uff1b\u3000but\u3000as\u3000the\u3000sky\u3000darkened\u3000and\u3000Monument’s\u3000fire\u3000glow\u3000suffused\u3000the\u3000horizon\uff1b\u3000Dana\u3000felt\u3000herself\u3000sliding\u3000into\u3000despair\u3002\u3000The\u3000brooding\u3000silence\u3000of\u3000the\u3000march\u3000told\u3000her\u3000that\u3000her\u3000squadron\u3000mates\u3000and\u3000the\u3000Tirolean\u3000clones\u3000were\u3000experiencing\u3000the\u3000same\u3000sense\u3000of\u3000loss\u3002\u3000
\n
\n\u3003The\u3000war\u3000is\u3000over\uff1b\u3003\u3000\u3000Bowie\u3000had\u3000announced\u3000when\u3000he\u3000had\u3000stepped\u3000from\u3000the\u3000assault\u3000craft\u3002\u3000And\u3000at\u3000the\u3000time\u3000she\u3000had\u3000been\u3000prepared\u3000to\u3000believe\u3000him\u3002\u3000But\u3000now\u3000she\u3000wanted\u3000to\u3000respond\uff1b\u3000\u3003This\u3000\u3000waronly\u3000this\u3000war\u3000is\u3000over\u3002\u3003\u3000And\u3000suddenly\u3000there\u3000seemed\u3000so\u3000much\u3000to\u3000do\u3000\u3002\u3002\u3002\u3000
\n
\nBut\u3000it\u3000would\u3000get\u3000done\uff1b\u3000Dana\u3000decided\u3002\u3000The\u3000way\u3000all\u3000things\u3000got\u3000done\uff1a\u3000one\u3000step\u3000at\u3000a\u3000time\u3002\u3000So\u3000she\u3000gritted\u3000her\u3000teeth\uff1b\u3000straightened\u3000her\u3000shoulders\uff1b\u3000and\u3000concentrated\u3000on\u3000planting\u3000one\u3000foot\u3000in\u3000front\u3000of\u3000the\u3000other\u3002\u3000
\n
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