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her。〃）　＇Bela＇　even　allowed　Cabell　to　tour　the　whaashi…〃birthing　center；〃　or　creche…although　refused　to　enter　it　herself。　It　was　understood　that　certain　members　of　the　Sisterhood　were　preselected　to　receive　female　〃offspring；〃　who　were　then　raised　as　〃daughters　of　the　Sun。〃　The　Praxians　had　little　understanding　of　courtship；　sexuality；　or　pregnancy；　the　〃coupling　rite〃　being　a　kind　of　catch…all　mystery　that　was　at　the　same　time　enticing　and　fearsome。　Cabell；　of　course；　was　quick　to　see　Haydon's　hand　at　work。
A。　Jow；　The　Historical　Hay　don

Of　all　the　worlds　she　had　visited；　this　was　the　saddest；　the　Regis　decided　as　she　contemplated　Haydon　IV's　cityscape　from　the　uppermost　tier　of　the　Invid　headquarters　there。　It　was　a　small　world；　perfect　in　every　respect；　but　with　a　heart　as　lifeless　as　the　faceless　beings　who　hovered　across　its　surface　and　seemed　to　know　one's　every　thought。　The　Regent　liked　to　believe　that　he　had　conquered　the　place　by　cajoling　his　way　into　a　position　of　absolute　authority；　but　Haydon　IV　had　seen　many　a　would…be　ruler　e　and　go；　while　it　itself　remained　unchanged；　ungovernable；　unreachable。　It　was　one　of　the　few　open　trading　ports　left　since　the　Tirol…Optera　war　had　spread　like　some　contagion　through　the　Quadrant；　and　as　such　Haydon　IV　enjoyed　a　semblance　of　peace。　Still；　the　Regis　sensed　the　presence　of　an　inprehensible　evil　here；　far　worse　than　the　vulcanistic　horrors　her　Genesis　Pit　experiments　had　unearthed　on　poor　Praxis。

She　had　e　to　see　for　herself　what　the　Invid　scientists　had　found　here；　and　now；　as　grateful　as　she　was　for　the　data　they　had　supplied　her；　she　could　feel　nothing　but　a　kind　of　vague　dread　for　the　future；　for　the　very　path　she　had　embarked　on。　Haydon　IV's　sophisticated　scanners　had　picked　up　a　trace　of　the　Robotech　Masters'　course；　and　in　effect　pointed　a　way　to　Zor's　ship　with　its　matrixed　Flowers。　But　the　Regis's　private　samplings　of　the　planet's　vast　store　of　metaphysical　knowledge　had　revealed　something　of　potentially　greater　import…a　suggestion　that　she　had　been　as　self…deceived　as　the　Regent　had　been。　That　her　ostensibly　evolved　nature…along　with　her　continuing　efforts　to　search　out　the　physical　form　deemed　most　perfect　to　embody　her　intellect…was　but　a　carefully　constructed　delusion；　self…generated　and　engineered　to　keep　her　from　the　real　truth。　And　yet　it　was　a　truth　she　refused　to　contemplate；　a　mating　she　would　not　accept…one　she　was　not　at　any　rate　prepared　to　accept。

There　would　e　a　moment　years　hence　when　these　truths　would　dawn　on　her　like　the　primordial　fireball　itself；　and　the　Invid　Regis　would　willingly　surrender　the　shackles　of　physicality　and　ascend；　but　just　now；　she　chose　to　keep　Haydon　IV's　revelations　from　her　thoughts；　and　turn　her　attention　to　the　Praxian　woman　who　had　requested　audience。

〃This　world　is　a　paradise；〃　the　Regis　said；　turning　from　the　spire's　inparable　view；　but　gesturing　to　it　nevertheless。　〃I　have　traveled　the　Quadrant　over；　and　never　have　I　known　such　an　exquisite　place。〃

Arla…Non　flashed　her　a　scornful　look；　and　tossed　back　a　luxuriant　mane　of　sun…bleached　hair。　〃Better　a　cave　on　Praxis　than　a　palace　here；〃　she　sneered。　〃Every　nerve　in　my　body　screams　at　me　to　beware　this　place；　this　planet。　Every　breath　of　its　wind　carries　a　lie。〃

She　was　tall　and　powerfully　built；　clothed　in　swaths　of　colorful　fabric　and　knee…high　boots　of　soft　hide。　Looking　at　her；　the　Regis　couldn't　help　but　be　reminded　of　her　own　failed　attempts　to　emulate　that　racial　form；　to　please　Zor。。。

〃Is　that　fair？〃　the　Invid　Queen…Mother　asked；　an　edge　to　her　voice　as　she　approached　the　Praxian。　〃You　knew　nothing　but　hardship；　and　now　you　have　luxury　beyond　the　dreams　of　most　beings。〃

〃And　you　have　Praxis；〃　Arla…Non　shot　back。

The　Regis　made　an　impatient　gesture。　〃You　must　learn　to　forget　Praxis；　as　I　have　Optera。　Your　world　is　doomed。〃

〃So　you　continue　to　tell　me。　It　is　your　way　of　decreeing　that　Praxis　had　bee　nothing　more　than　an　Invid　breeding　ground。〃

〃Praxis　will　breed　nothing　but　asteroids！〃　the　Regis　seethed。　〃I　cannot　change　the　past；　Praxian。　Make　your　peace　with　this　world；　or　live　out　your　days　in　torment。　I　offer　you　no　other　choice。〃

Without　a　word；　Arla…Non　spun　on　her　heel　and　headed　for　the　entrance　to　the　spire's　transport　shaft；　she　stopped　short　of　its　triangular　accessway。　〃I　can　choose　to　fight　you　to　the　last；　Invid。〃

The　Regis　had　her　back　turned；　but　the　Praxian's　words　found　their　mark。　She　was　beginning　to　understand　why　the　Regent　had　never　regarded　persuasion　as　a　viable　option　where　force　could　be　employed。　The　Regis　made　note　of　it；　promising　death　for　the　next　beings　who　attempted　to　thwart　her。


Praxis；　meanwhile；　was　beginning　to　e　apart。

Forced　by　ground　swells；　fissures；　and　rock　slides　into　taking　the　long　way　around；　the　GMU　arrived　at　the　caves　precious　hours　behind　its　projected　ETA。　But　with　the　region's　numerous　caves　and　shafts　to　vent　the　planet's　internal　pressure；　the　land　here　had　been　spared　some　of　the　tectonic　turmoil　afflicting　other　areas。　Nevertheless；　the　air　was　filled　with　static　charge；　heat；　and　stench；　and　the　cave　that　housed　the　orbs　was　fast　being　unworkable。　The　Skull　had　arrived　hours　earlier；　and　by　the　time　Vince　and　Jean　Grant；　Janice；　Rem；　Wolff；　Burak；　and　the　others　stepped　from　the　mobile　base；　the　rest　of　the　core　Sentinels　were　well　into　Rick's　impromptu　briefing。　Several　dozen　orbs　of　varying　size　had　already　exited　the　cave；　and　were　well　on　the　way　to　their　enigmatic　deepspace　destiny；　but　Veidt　and　Sarna　had　〃persuaded〃　the　stragglers　to　lag　behind　awhile　longer。　Kami　and　Learna　had　reported　the　emergence　of　yet　more　spheres　from　the　cavern's　internal　chimney。　Cabell　speculated　that　it　might　be　possible　to　widen　the　access　some；　and　thereby　increase　the　chances　of　additional　creatures　reaching　the　surface。

The　plan　called　for　the　spheres　to　lift　an　Alpha　with　a　crew　of　five　clear　through　Praxis's　suddenly　albescent　atmosphere。　Once　in　space　and　under　its　own　power；　the　mecha　would　plete　the　rendezvous　with　the　drive　module。　When　that　was　acplished；　the　crew　would　drop　the　module　into　a　lower　orbit　while　the　spheres　continued　to　raise　five…person　crews。　It　was　conceivable　that　the　GMU　would　have　to　be　abandoned；　but　at　least　the　VTs　and　Hovertanks　would　survive。　Although　it　sounded　crazy　the　plan　was　straightforward　enough；　there　remained；　however；　several　variables　to　deal　with。　First；　the　Sentinels　had　no　idea　how　many　orbs　might　be　required　to　lift　a　VT；　or　just　how　fast　they　would　be　able　to　raise　it　the　requisite　distance。　An　incorrect　guess　could　leave　the　mecha　hanging　in　space　waiting　for　the　module　to　plete　another　orbit；　or；　worse　still；　missing　the　thing　altogether。　Second；　and　equally　problematic；　the　initial　crew　would　have　to　be　prised　of　personnel　capable　of　piloting　the　module　into　a　lower　orbit；　and　possibly…should　the　orbs　for　some　reason　withdraw　their　support…through　a　spacefold　to　Karbarra；　or　equidistant　Fantoma。　Third；　someone　was　going　to　have　to　stay　in　touch　with　the　orbs。

This　last　issue　had　been　decided　by　the　time　the　GMU　contingent　joined　the　others　near　the　cave　entrance。　Sarna　was　going　to　be　in　charge　of　mustering　and　instructing　the　creatures　in　their　task。　Veidt　had　simply　said；　〃Sarna　will　do　it；〃　and　no　one　argued　the　point。　Rick　now　had　the　module　in　mind。

Most　of　the　XT　aliens　were　out　of　the　running　for　this　slot；　except　Veidt…who　was　needed　down　below　to　mind…link　with　the　spheres…and　Lron。　Rick　had　doubts　that　the　burly　Karbarran　could　successfully　pilot　the　ship　through　a　jump；　and　although　the　module　was　Spherisian　in　design；　neither　Teal　nor　Baldan　were　qualified　to　handle　it。　Vince　was　needed　for　the　GMU。　That　left　only　Lisa；　unless。。。

〃Janice；〃　Rick　said　suddenly；　〃can　you　handle　it？〃

Burak　almost　volunteered；　but　Tesla　restrained　him　at　the　last　moment；　gesturing　him　silent　while　everyone's　attention　was　focused　on　Minmei's　former　partner。

She　nodded；　without　saying　anything。　If　it　came　down　to　a　fold　for　Tirol；　Lang　would　be　delighted　to　find　her　aboard。　She　sensed　Lisa　looking　at　her；　and　gave　her　a　tight…lipped　but　understanding　look。

〃Lisa？〃　Rick　said；　figuring　he　would　be　safer　with　a　crowd　around　him。

〃I'm　fine　with　your　choice；　mander；〃　she　told　him　evenly。　〃But　just　who　do　you　have　in　mind　to　pilot　the　Alpha？〃

Rick　looked　around　unfortably。　〃Well；　I　think　I'm　the　most　qual…〃

Half…a…dozen　voices　interrupted　him　at　once。

〃It's　too　risky；〃　Max　said；　speaking　for　all　of　them。　〃I'll　go。〃

〃Your　place　is　with　the　Skull；〃　Rick　pointed　out　firmly；　and　everyone　grumbled　their　agreement。　Several　of　Max's　squadron　volunteered；　including　Miriya；　but　Rick　rejected　all　of　them　for　one　reason　or　another。　Then　Jonathan　Wolff　stepped　forward。

〃I'm　the　logical　choice；〃　he　said；　addressing　the　circle。　〃With　Vince　and　Max；　we'll　still　have　our　air…and　ground…based　forces　intact　in　the　event　of　a　follow…up　attack。　One　less　tanker　isn't　going　to　influence　things　one　way　or　another。〃

Rick　had　to　smile　at　Wolff's　attempt　at　humility；　but　Wolff's　reasoning　was　sound。　〃All　right；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃you've　got　it。〃

Just　then　Tesla　began　to　shoulder　his　way　to　the　center　of　the　circle。　〃mander；　I；　too；