09_the_final_nightmare-第26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！


　a　side　way；　losing　the　enemy　mecha　for　the　moment。

〃We've　got　to　get　back　to　the　Hovertanks！〃　Dana　yelled　over　the　wind　of　their　passage。

〃I'm　workin'　on　it；　ma'am。〃

She　consulted　the　tiny　sensor　Latell　had　given　her。　〃Take　that　next　right！〃　Perhaps　they　could　retrace　their　steps　from　the　control　center；　which　Musica　had　pointed　out　along　the　way。

They　slewed　and　hairpin…turned　and　blasted　along；　ing　around　a　corner　only　to　run　head…on　into　another　triad　of　guards。　Disinclined　to　stop；　Angelo　gritted　his　teeth　and　slammed　into　them；　hurling　two　to　either　side；　slamming　the　middle　one　to　the　floor。

But　the　impact　made　the　runabout　defy　its　controls。　It　hit　a　stanchion；　bounced　back　the　other　way　while　Angelo　fired　retros　desperately；　then　hit　the　floor　surface　and　slowly　upended。　Its　occupants　were　spilled　out　and　it　came　to　a　final　rest　with　a　clang　and　crunch。

Dana　shook　her　head；　looking　up。　Directly　before　her　was　an　open　hatchway；　and　beyond…〃Look！　It's　the　central　control　area！〃　The　housing　in　which　the　Living　Protoculture　was　situated　was　closed；　protecting　it。

For　the　moment。

They　heard　Hovercraft　approaching　and　scattered　to　find　concealment　in　the　center。　In　another　few　seconds；　the　three　reds　settled　in　for　a　landing；　dismounting　and　scanning　the　area。

Seeing　the　Bioroids　sparked　something　in　Zor's　still…disorganized　memory。　He　turned　to　Musica；　who　crouched　with　him　under　a　huge　conduit。　〃Why　did　the　Masters　send　me　to　Earth　in　the　first　place？〃　he　whispered。　Somehow　he　knew　that　she；　Mistress　of　the　music　that　was　part　of　the　Masters'　power　over　their　realm；　could　answer。

She　looked　at　him　with　infinite　sadness。　〃You　were　their　eyes　and　ears。　You　were　sent　to　Earth　as　a　spy；〃　she　mouthed　the　words　more　than　whispered　them。　〃They　planted　a　neuro…sensor　in　your　brain。　You　weren't　even　aware　of　what　you　were　doing；　Zor！〃

The　entire　center；　the　entire　ship；　began　thrumming　with　a　peculiar　vibration；　something　that　made　their　hair　stand　on　end。　The　Bioroids　cocked　their　heads；　registering　it。

〃It's　a　battle　alert；〃　Musica　mouthed　to　the　ATACs。　〃Your　forces　must　be　attacking　us！〃

〃Time　to　make　our　move；〃　Dana　said。　〃We　take　out　this　control　center；　whatever　it　costs；　understood？　Otherwise　Emerson　won't　have　a　chance。〃　With　a　little　luck；　Louie　could　figure　out　some　way　to　put　it　out　of　mission。　But　first　the　reds　had　to　go。

The　15th　troopers　fanned　out；　firing　at　the　Bioroids；　dodging　from　cover；　heading　for　the　Living　Protoculture。　They　kept　close　to　the　systemry；　shooting　from　its　protection。　The　enemy　mecha　seemed　reluctant　to　fire；　enduring　the　minor　consequences　of　the　small　arms　fire　rather　than　risk　damaging　the　ship's　core。　One　was　angling　for　a　clear　shot　at　them；　Louie　reluctantly　used　his　pulse　grenade　on　it；　but　only　staggered　it　instead　of　putting　it　out　of　the　fight。

Only　Zor　and　Musica　remained　behind；　she　stunned　by　what　was　happening；　he　immobilized　by　surfacing　memories。　Then　Zor　found　himself　remembering；　remembering　much。　His　gaze　traveled　to　the　15th's　manding　officer。

Dana。。。

He　knew　what　he　had　to　do。　He　crept　away　to　one　side；　getting　clear　of　the　shooting。

At　the　same　time；　Musica　was　ing　to　a　decision。

There　isn't　much　time。　The　ship　will　be　destroyed　soon。　I　must　get　to　the　barrier　control！

She　raced　for　the　stairs　that　wound　up　around　the　housing　that　protected　the　Protoculture。　Bowie；　seeing　her　go；　yelled　her　name　and　sprinted　after。

Musica　ran　like　a　deer　up　the　broad　steps。　But　she　was　in　the　open；　and　a　Bioroid　risked　a　shot　as　she　neared　the　top。　At　the　same　moment；　a　bolt　from　Angelo's　weapon　hit　the　red's　discus　gun；　its　discharge　hit　the　housing　near　Musica；　missing　her；　but　dazing　her　and　damaging　the　housing。

In　a　moment；　Bowie　was　at　her　side。　〃Bowie；　the　barrier！　It　must　be　deactivated！〃

He　nodded；　and　sprang　up　the　last　few　steps　to　the　control　panel　she　had　been　trying　to　reach。　The　15th　was　pitching　at　the　reds　with　everything　they　had；　and　the　damage　to　the　housing　kept　the　reds　from　attempting　another　shot　at　Musica　or　Bowie。

At　her　direction；　he　pushed　a　button；　pulled　down　on　the　gleaming　lever　that　appeared　in　response　to　that。　A　worldshaking　hooting　rose　above　the　first　alarms　and　even　the　firefight。　〃Hurry！〃　she　called　to　him。　〃We　must　go！〃

The　Bioroids　were　at　a　terrible　disadvantage　since　it　was　forbidden　by　the　unseen　Masters　to　fire　any　shot　that　might　endanger　the　ship's　systemry。　The　ATACs　had　been　quick　to　exploit　this　fact；　five　rifles　were　a　lot　of　firepower　if　the　users　knew　where　to　aim；　and　the　troopers　had　had　plenty　of　practice　at　hitting　faceplates。

As　Bowie　helped　Musica　down　from　the　steps；　the　last　Bioroid　tottered　backward　and　came　to　rest　leaning　against　the　bulkhead。　The　fugitives　raced　into　the　passageway；　but　another　trio　of　reds　dropped　from　nowhere；　blocking　their　way。　The　rifles　were　all　but　exhausted；　and　there　was　no　hiding　behind　systemry　now。　The　leader　took　dead　aim　with　its　discus　handgun。。。

The　gun　and　the　arm　blew　apart　in　an　eruption　that　almost　knocked　them　flat　on　their　backs。　Jetting　down　the　passageway　behind　them　came　a　well…remembered　red　on　its　Hovercraft。

〃Go　get　'em；　Zor！〃　Dana　cheered。

Zor　was　still　the　greatest　battle　lord　in　the　enemy　fleet。　He　dodged　the　other　reds'　blasts　deftly；　firing　with　great　accuracy　all　the　while。　He　leapt　his　mecha　from　the　Hovercraft；　and　let　the　saucer…platform　crash　into　them；　destroying　his　opponents　in　a　collision　that　half…deafened　the　fugitives。

Zor's　Bioroid　landed　with　a　deck…shaking　impact。　〃Dana；　you　and　the　others　go　ahead；　the　Hovertanks　are　that　way；　through　there。　I'll　stay　here　and　delay　any　further　pursuit。〃　His　voice　was　the　voice　of　the　Zor　they　had　served　with；　not　the　eerie；　indrawn…breath　voice　of　the　Masters'　slave。

〃Huh！〃　Angelo　said；　with　something　like　approval。

〃We'll　be　waiting　for　you；〃　Dana　said　somberly。

There　was　no　other　option；　the　escapees　dashed　on。　Zor　turned　to　wait　patiently。　It　didn't　take　long；　three　groups　of　Triumviroids　raced　into　view　on　Hovercraft。　Zor　took　aim　and　began　firing。


Astoundingly；　the　tanks　were　just　as　the　15th　had　left　them。

〃But　what　good'll　they　do　us？〃　Angelo　asked；　as　the　squad　fired　up　their　mecha。　〃There's　no　way　we　can　reach　Emerson　on　just　tank　thrusters！〃

〃Don't　you　think　I　know　that？〃　Dana　snapped。　With　their　mecha　in　tank　mode；　the　15th　followed　her　as　she　tried　to　retrace　the　route　she　had　taken　on　her　first　evasive　dash　with　Bowie　and　Louie。

At　last　she　found　what　she　was　searching　for；　a　sort　of　cul…de…sac　partment　piled　high　with　salvaged　ponents　and　disabled　equipment。　It　was　obvious　that　a　lot　of　repair　work　was　done　there　as　well。

The　tanks　stopped；　cannon　trained　on　the　only　hatchway。　The　troopers　rose　to　stand　in　their　cockpit…turrets。　Dana　pointed　to　a　rank　of　Hovercraft　that　had　seen　better　days。

〃Louie；　you've　got　to　find　us　the　five　best　out　of　those；　and　make　sure　they'll　get　us　to　Emerson。〃

Easy　for　you　to　say！　he　thought。　Was　she　crazy；　or　just　ignorant？　〃Lieutenant；　I…〃

〃I　don't　want　to　hear　it！　I'm　not　talking　about　winning　a　Formula　X　race；　we'll　only　need　them　for　a　few　minutes。　If　we're　not　back　with　the　fleet　by　that　time；　it　won't　make　any　difference。〃


Aboard　his　flagship；　Emerson　had　long　since　reached　the　conclusion　his　subordinates　were　warily　expressing。　The　Earth　forces　were　going　at　the　Masters　with　hammer　and　tongs　once　more；　but　couldn't　take　the　beating　they　were　getting　for　much　longer。

There　was　no　sign　of　the　15th　and　no　radio　contact。　Emerson　ordered　that　the　fleet　prepare　to　withdraw；　that　the　A…JACs　prepare　to　return　to　their　transports。　When　Lieutenant　Crystal　objected；　he　dressed　her　down　brusquely；　and　reiterated　his　orders。

But　the　whole　time；　he　thought；　Bowie。　Dana。　And　he　knew　the　other　names　as　well。


CHAPTER　FOURTEEN

Bowie；　life　in　danger　with　you　is　so　much　more　than　Life　without　you　would　be　even　if　death　strikes　its　chord。
Musica；　〃End　of　the　Old　Songs〃

While　Louie　did　his　wizard…of…Robotech　number；　Dana　and　the　others；　with　Musica's　help；　discovered　the　controls　that　opened　the　shaft　overhead。　The　ATACs　redonned　their　armor；　and　Bowie　made　s