18_the_end_of_the_circle-第41部分

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to　a　phoenix　of　psi…essence…and　saw；　too；　where　the　phoenix　flew。

Both　were　also　silent　watchers　of　each　other's　memories；　like　visitors　to　alien　screening　rooms。　Their/her　consciousness　was　wrenched　this　way　and　that　by　the　unimaginable　forces　grappling　at　the　sphere　ship；　between　torment　and　joy　they　attenuated　her　。　。　。

Until　there　came　a　moment　of　profound　trauma；　the　cessation　of　external　influences…the　ship's　emergence　into　new…space。　With　an　almost　physical　jolt；　the　two　halves　of　her　were　snapped　together；　fully　integrated　for　the　first　time。

She　opened　her　eyes　and　saw　Scott　gaping　at　her。　She　looked　down　and　saw　that　her　body　was　pletely　material　once　more。　She　felt　a　tranquillity　and　quiet　triumph。　She　was　healed　and　whole。

He　breathed；　〃Marlene。〃

Marlene。　Yes；　that　was　the　name　that　fit　her　best；　even　though　Marlene's　memories　and　identity　were　only　a　ponent　of　what　she　was　now。　Ariel　was　a　name　the　Regis　had　given　her　capriciously；　and　she　was　not　Invid　anymore。

She　lay　on　a　pallet　spread　directly　on　the　ship's　deck。　Scott　came　to　her　side　on　one　knee；　hesitating　to　take　her　hand　but　wanting　to。　〃You're　alive。　Thank　God。〃

He　was　haggard　and　drawn；　not　from　the　passage　to　new　space；　she　knew；　but　from　self…torture　over　what　he'd　done　to　her。　With　the　disparate　parts　of　her　mind　and　psyche　integrated；　she　understood　what　he　had　done　and　what　external　pressures　it　must　have　taken　for　him　to　do　it。

His　sense　of　duty；　his　fealty　to　his　oath　of　service；　his　feelings　of　obligation　to　those　on　the　SDF…3：　those　were　human　things；　and　Marlene　understood　them　now。

〃Yes；　Scott。　Alive。〃　Her　hand　covered　the　last　bit　of　distance　to　grasp　his。　His　expression　swung　from　astonishment　and　doubt　to　relief　and　the　beginnings　of　rapture。

Before　he　could　answer；　though；　a　face　appeared　over　his　shoulder；　long　and　pale　with　insect　goggles；　wearing　an　irrepressible　smirk。　〃Back　in　action；　huh；　Marlene？　Aces！　Scott；　didn't　I　tell　ya　this　little　jaunt　would　give　her　a　new　lease　on　life？〃

There　stood　one　of　the　main　pressures　that　had　forced　Scott　to　treat　Marlene　as　he　had　back　on　Ark　Angel。　Scott　didn't　know　if　Louie　Nichols　realized　how　lucky　he　was　that　all　this　had　worked；　had　Marlene　been　put　through　all　her　anguish　for　nothing　and　perished；　somebody　would've　paid。

Scott　only　grunted　in　answer　to　Louie's　promptings　and　put　his　other　hand　on　Marlene's。　〃Lie　back；　now；　you've　been　through　a　rough　time。〃

〃Scott；　I　know　what　I'm　saying。　I've　made　a　full　recovery。　Besides；　I　presume　Doctor　Nichols　has　some　more　questions　for　me。〃

She　looked　at　Louie　slyly。　She　still　had　that　otherworldly　strangeness　to　her；　but　there　was　a　certain　human　knowledge　behind　it　now。　Louie　found　himself　realizing　what　a　dish　she　was。　〃You　said　it；　gorgeous！〃

Scott　shot　him　a　jealous　glance；　and　Louie　reined　in　a　bit。　Marlene　rose　to　her　feet　without　any　difficulty；　shaking　back　the　waves　of　crimson　hair。

〃Um。〃　Scott　smiled　awkwardly。　〃Wele　aboard　the　REF　prize…of…war　vessel　Peter　Pan。〃　He　shrugged。

Marlene　stepped　forward　to　look　out　over　the　inner　globe　of　the　ship。　There　was　no　shortage　of　space；　a　fairly　healthy　piece　of　legendary　Macross　could　have　been　rebuilt　inside　the　yawning　sphere。

Improvised　bridges；　ladders；　and　catwalks　connected　the　various　levels　and　platforms；　and　human　furnishings　had　been　fastened　to　its　decks　with　adhesives　and　strapping；　the　techs　and　engineers　could　find　no　way　to　drill　or　bend　the　stuff　of　the　ship。　〃‘Peter　Pan？'〃

〃Yeah。　‘Second　star　from　the　right；　then　straight　on　till　morning'；　and　all　that；〃　Louie　supplied　with　one　of　his　quirky　shrugs。　Marlene　watched　people　laboring　over　the　interface　equipment　required　to　run　the　ship　or　setting　up　living　facilities　on　unused　platforms。　It　was　odd　to　see　portable　sanitary　booths　side　by　side　with　modules　of　Haydonite　technology　and　to　smell　heated　rations　there　where　Protoculture　had　been　intended　as　the　only　sustenance。

There　were　parked　mecha；　too；　and　piles　of　weapons；　ammunition；　and　ordnance；　but　no　weapons　had　been　mounted　as　the　ship　itself；　since　it　was　impossible　to　penetrate　its　hull　for　firing　ports　and　anything　mounted　externally　would　have　been　annihilated　in　the　passage。

〃We're　sure　bombin'　along　now。〃　Louie　scratched　his　hen璦ed　hedgehog　of　hair：　〃Thing　is；　we're　not　all　that　sure　where　we　are。　I　hoped　you　could　give　us　a　clue；　Marlene。〃

As　she　stood　there　gazing　out；　she　wore　the　expression　Scott　had　seen　that　day　when　she　had　first　cast　eyes　on　a　mountain　lake；　not　long　after　his　team　of　irregulars　had　found　her。　Her　beauty　and　her　delight　in　nature's　beauty　had　simply　taken　hold　of　him　and　never　let　go。

She　smiled　faintly；　〃What's　the　matter；　Doctor？　Afraid　the　others　will　think　you're　crazy　if　you　tell　them　yourself？〃　She　turned　to　Louie；　who　was　for　once　speechless。　Scott　had　the　feeling　that　behind　the　goggles；　byte　buckaroo's　eyes　were　starting　from　his　head。

〃You're　in　what　some　call　new…space；〃　she　told　them。

〃Is　the　SDF…3　here？〃　Louie's　levity　had　left　him。　〃Is　the　Regis？〃

Marlene　turned　to　see　what　effect　it　would　have　on　them　both。　〃New…space　is　the　Regis…is　the　entire　Invid　race；　in　a　way。　We're　outside　the　province　of　spacetime。　You　might　say　we've　entered　the　mind　of　the　transubstantiated　Regis　herself。〃

Louie　was　quick　to　get　in　the　next　remark　while　Scott　was　still　making　choking　noises　and　trying　to　shift　mental　gears。　〃Marl！　Babe！　Hey！　Work　with　me；　here！　How　do　we　talk　to　her？〃

The　corners　of　her　mouth　turned　up　ever　so　slightly。　〃1　think　you're　about　to　learn。〃

The　two　men　followed　her　gaze　and　saw　what　others　were　being　aware　of。　On　a　platform　near　the　center　of　the　ship's　interior；　Aurora　stood；　a　blue　glimmer　growing　up　around　her。　Max　Sterling；　standing　near；　had　started　toward　his　daughter；　but　Miriya　was　holding　him　back。　As　they　watched；　Jean　Grant；　too；　put　a　restraining　hand　on　him。

All　through　the　ship　people　stopped　working　and　turned　to　watch　Aurora　as　they　became　aware　of　a　chant　impinging　on　the　very　fringes　of　their　perception。

Au…ro…ra；　Au…ro…ra；　Au…ro…ra　。。。

The　rest　of　the　ship's　plement　seemed　to　freeze；　as　if　they　were　playing　statues；　listening　to　the　cadence。　Vince　Grant；　listening　to　some　report；　Shi…Ling；　at　the　interface　helm；　Dana；　poised　on　a　maintenance　job　on　her　hovertank　all　eyes　went　to　Aurora。

All　at　once　Aurora　was　not　alone。　Seated　in　a　ring　around　her　were　what　looked　like　transparent　holograms　of　children　large　and　small。　They　sat　repeating　their　mantra；　eyes　lambent　with　eldritch　fire。

Jean　Grant　breathed；　〃Roy！〃

〃Drannin！〃　Miriya　added。

But　neither　they　nor　the　others　in　their　circle　gave　any　sign　of　having　heard。　They　were　focused　on　Aurora；　and　she　on　them。　Louie；　hypnotized　by　it；　too；　almost　jumped　in　the　air　when　Marlene　spoke　at　his　shoulder。　〃‘Straight　on　till　morning；'　Doctor。〃


Kazianna　landed　on　streamers　of　fire；　her　weapons　ready；　as　mecha　and　running　ground　troops　closed　in　on　the　open　field　from　every　side。

It's　back；　the　message　had　been；　yet　there　was　no　sign　of　the　sparkling　rain　that　had　spirited　away　Gnea　and　Dante。　But　there　were　two　figures　in　the　middle　of　the　field；　scrambling　around　animatedly。
There　were　confused　transmissions　overlapping　each　other　on　the　nets；　but　at　last　Rick　got　some　order　on　the　tactical　freq。　〃Hold　your　fire；　I　say　again；　hold　your　fire！　The　swirling　lights　came　back　just　as　our　point　elements　were　entering　the　field；　then　disappeared。　We　have　a　visual　on　what　appear　to　be　Gnea　and　Angie。　All　elements　stand　fast　and　hold　fire　unless　otherwise　ordered。〃

With　the　field　covered　from　all　sides　and　other　elements　watching　for　a　trap　or　sneak　attack；　Rick　selected　a　recon　team　and　elected　to　walk　point。　Jack　Baker；　Karen　Penn；　Lron；　and　Crysta　checked　their　weapons；　then　spread　out　in　a　skirmish　line；　moving　forward。　Baldan　came；　too；　carrying　munications　gear　patched　to　the　SDF…3's　TIC　and　bridge。

No　doubt　about　it；　the　sergeant　and　the　Amazon　were　there　once　more。　Rick　was　not　sure　what　the　flurry　of　activity　had　been　when　they　had　first　reappeared；　but　it　sure　looked　like　some　hasty　clothes　donning。

He　and　his　team　went　carefully；　testing　the　ground　and　watching　the　air　around　them；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　a　threat。　Angelo　and　Gnea；　squared　away；　were　wandering　around　the　spot　where　they　had　appeared；　apparently　searching　for　something。　As　Rick　came　up　to　them　and　Angelo　came　to　attention；　Gnea　was　carving　a　big　X　in　the　ground　with　her　halberd；　on　the　spot　where　they　had　popped　back　into　sight；　so　that　it　could　be　found　later　if　necessary。

Angelo　pumped　off　a　nervously　crisp　salute。　〃Um；　Sergeant　Dante　reporting；　sir。　We；　ah；　that　is？

〃Just　take　it　slow；　Angie。　One　thing　at　a　time。　Is　there　still　a　threat　here？〃

The　big　tanker　swallowed。　〃There　is；　everywhere　in　these　parts；　sir。　But　no　more　here　than　anyplace　else。〃

Gnea　had　joined　them。　Rick　could　not　help　noticing　that　she　stood　rather　close　to　Dante；　leaning　on　her　halberd。　〃Give　me　the　high　points　first；〃　Rick　told　them。

Angelo's　chest　expanded　as　he　drew　a　deep；　resolute　breath。　But　Gnea　got　the　story　in　motion　first。　〃We　met　the　Invid　Regis。　This　whole　newspace　is　her　realm。　She's　got　the　SDF…3's　fold　drives　and　won't　give　them　back。　She　doesn't　want　us　to　leave。〃

Angelo　still　had　his　chest　full　of　air。　He　let　it　out　in　one　long　sigh。　〃She　says　the　real　universe　is　ending；　Admiral。〃　Rick　looked　at　the　X　in　the　ground。　〃Does　she　know　we're　not　finished　with　it　yet？〃

He　said　it　to　cover　the　fact　that　he　was　dumbfounded。　What　the　hell　was　going　on？　The　SDF…3　had　been　on　its　way　home　to　fight　the　Regis。　Was　the　war　already　lost？

Rick　glanced　from　Gnea　to　Dante。　〃Looks　like　we're　in　for　one　helluva　debriefing。〃

The　municator　toned。　The　tiny　screen　showed　not　a　TIC　officer　but　Lisa's　face。　〃Rick；　we've　had　a　new　development　here。　Suggest　you　return　to　SDF…3　ASAP。〃

He　ran　a　hand　through　his　hair；　wondering　why　it　had　not　all　gone　white。　〃What's　happened？〃

He　could　tell　it　took　some　effort　for　her　to　stay　calm。　〃The　children…Roy　and　the　others。　They've　made　contact　with　Aurora　Sterling。　It　seems　there's　a　rescue　ship　on　the　way；　but　the　kids're　in　some　kind　of　trance；　and　Seg