10_invid_invasion-第20章

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one　armor。

〃Rand；　did　you　remember　to　put　in　a　fresh　canister？〃　she　asked　him；　certain　he　had　forgotten。

〃Oh；　right；〃　he　returned；　and　stooped　ego　insert　the　fresh　pack。

〃Dimwit；〃　Rook　scolded　him　as　she　roared　off；　going　to　Battle　Armor　mode　a　moment　later。　Rand　followed　her　up　and　through　to　reconfiguration；　and　the　two　of　them　streaked　off　to　assist　Lancer；　who　was　going　head　to　head　with　two　Invid　Troopers。

Lancer　had　coaxed　the　Troopers　to　the　ground　and　was　executing　leaps　to　avoid　pincer　swipes。　Frustrated　now；　one　of　the　creatures　was　ready　to　bring　its　shoulder　cannons　into　play。

Lancer　stepped　back　when　he　saw　the　muzzles　begin　to　glow；　Rook　and　Rand　had　set　down　behind　him；　and　the　three　of　them　felt　the　blast　of　the　first　charge。

〃Let's　not　push　our　luck　until　the　Alpha　arrives；〃　Lancer　said　over　the　Cyclone's　tactical　net。

The　two　Troopers　took　to　the　air；　then　swooped　down　for　strafing　runs。　But　Rand　had　tailed　one　of　them　and　launched　shoulder…tubed　Scorpions　before　the　Invid　could　fire。　The　Trooper　took　two　missiles　to　the　face　and　went　down；　leaking　a　thick　green　fluid。

Rook　took　out　a　second　creature；　Lancer　dispatched　a　third　that　was　giving　Rand　a　hard　time；　bringing　the　odds　more　to　everyone's　liking　by　the　time　Scott　got　the　Veritech　up。

The　two　remaining　Troopers　kept　to　the　ground；　dishing　out　annihilation　discs　against　the　ining　Alpha；　but　Scott　flew　undaunted　into　the　fire；　loosing　the　VT's　own　brand　of　vengeful　energy。　With　a　last…minute　leap；　one　of　the　Invid　narrowly　escaped　the　Alpha's　angry　red…tipped　missiles；　but　the　second　stood　its　ground　and　suffered　for　it。

Scott　continued　his　power　dive　against　the　fifth　and　final　Invid　now；　it　had　put　down　again；　emptying　its　upturned　cannons　against　him。　Scott　dropped　through　the　annihilation　discs　like　some　sort　of　slalom　flyer；　getting　off　one　shot　before　pulling　out　of　his　dive。　But　that　one　connected；　impacting　the　Trooper's　midsection　and　splitting　it　in　half。

Scott　banked　hard　at　the　top　of　his　climb　and　fell　away　toward　Norristown　and　the　enormous　buttes　which　overshadowed　the　city。　Down　below　he　could　discern　a　long　line　of　police　vehicles　speeding　from　the　city　toward　the　team's　somewhat　ravaged　forest　clearing。

Hearing　Scott's　warning　over　the　tac　net；　Rand；　Rook；　and　Lancer　landed　their　mecha　and　reconfigured　to　Cyclone　mode。　Annie　and　Lunk　were　running　around　gathering　up　late…arrival　balloonloads　of　Protoculture　canisters。　They　took　to　the　police　van　at　Scott's　amplified　insistence　and　sped　off　following　the　Cyclones'　lead；　the　setting　sun　huge　and　blood…red　at　their　backs。


CHAPTER　TEN

Rook's　hometown　＇Trenchtown；　formerly　Cavern　City＇　typified　an　offbeat　trend　in　city　planning　that　was　popular　between　the　＇First　and　Second　Robotech＇　Wars。　This　plan；　called　the　Obscuro　Movement；　was　formed　as　a　reaction　to　threats　of　invasion；　real　and　imaginary；　by　Zentraedi；　Tirolian　Masters；　Invid　；　or　any　of　a　number　of　self…styled　conquerors　and　terrestrial　invaders。　Cities　were　constructed　in　the　most　unlikely　places…on　the　tops　of　mesas；　the　bottom　of　ravines；　the　heart　of　darkness…anywhere　deemed　unassailable　by　founders　and　would…be　leaders。
〃Southlands；〃　History　of　the　Third　Robotech　War；　Vol。　XXII

Rands　journal　picks　up　the　story：

〃We　had　a　good　enough　jump　on　Norristown's　police　force　to　lose　them　without　too　much　hassle。　But　just　to　make　sure；　Scott　saw　to　it　that　our　escape　route　was　wiped　out　behind　us　with　a　few　well…placed　missiles　from　the　Alpha。　Chances　are　that　most　of　the　vans　turned　tail　as　soon　as　they　caught　sight　of　the　Veritech　anyway。　We　could　only　guess　what　the　Invid　decided　to　extract　in　the　way　of　retribution；　at　the　very　least　some　heads　were　going　to　roll。〃

〃We　were　all　feeling　great。　The　Cyclones　practically　had　to　be　reigned　in；　thanks　to　the　fresh　infusion　of　'Culture。　Scott　thought　that　the　Invid…manufactured　batch　was　more　powerful　than　the　'Culture　Earth　mecha　had　been　operating　on　during　the　last　twenty　years。　The　only　thing　that　held　us　back　was　the　police　van　we　had　mandeered。　But　it　seemed　a　wiser　idea　to　accept　the　thing's　limitations　rather　than　carry　Lunk　and　Annie　on　the　Cyclones　or　in　the　fighter。　It　continued　to　puzzle　us　why　the　Invid　didn't　simply　overwhelm　us　with　Troopers；　with　three　Cycs　running　at　high　speed；　it　should　have　been　easy　enough　to　track　us　down。　But　Scott　explained　that　they　had　demonstrated　the　same　sort　of　tactical　shortings　in　previous　encounters。　I　was　always　trying　to　press　him　to　elaborate；　but　he　was　reticent　to　talk　about　Tirol　and　the　other　worlds　he　had　seen。〃

〃We　traveled　north　for　two　days　almost　without　letup；　using　the　scrip　Woods　had　given　Lancer　to　barter　supplies　and　bedrolls　in　some　of　the　settlements　we　passed　through。　The　terrain　was　arid　and　rugged；　characterized　by　buttes　and　tors　and　mesas　similar　to　those　around　Norristown　but　softened　by　small　skyblue　lakes　and　patches　of　hardwood　forest。　We　made　our　first　real　camp　alongside　one　of　these　cold　water　lakes。　We　had　e　across　a　dozen　wild　cattle　earlier　on　and　shot　one　for　provisions；　so　we　were　eating　well　and　getting　good　rest　in　the　sleeping　bags。　Scott　ran　us　through　a　kind　of　mutual…appreciation　debriefing　on　the　Norristown　raid。　More　and　more　we　were　beginning　to　feel　like　an　actual　team　and　not　just　six　individuals　on　the　run。〃

〃I　tried　to　insist　that　we　make　camp　in　the　woods；　but　everyone　else　was　intent　on　enjoying　the　sunlight　at　the　edge　of　the　lake。　I　put　Annie　in　charge　of　gathering　firewood；　and　she　kept　ing　in　with　nearly　petrified　pieces　of　hardwood。　（Not　that　we　really　even　needed　the　fire…I　was　doing　most　of　the　cooking　over　a　propane　stove　anyway…but　a　fire　was　their　idea　of　camping　out；　and　I　wasn't　into　spoiling　anyone's　fun。）　Lunk　whittled　when　he　wasn't　going　over　the　Cyclone　and　VT　systems。　Scott　cleaned　and　maintained　the　ordnance。　Lancer　was　finding　it　easier　and　easier　to　relax　around　us；　and　he　would　often　fall　quite　naturally　into　a　kind　of　midway　mode　that　was　part　Lancer　the　freedom　fighter　and　part　Yellow　Dancer。　He　had　fashioned　a　shower　for　himself　by　punching　a　series　of　holes　in　one　of　our　old　cook　pots。　He　would　bring　in　water　heated　on　the　fire　and　pour　this　into　the　holed　pot　he　had　fastened　to　an　overhead　branch。　Lunk　got　a　big　charge　out　of　this　and　once　tried　to　interrupt　Lancer　while　he　was　showering。　It　was　a　pretty　ical　exchange　that　ended　with　Lancer　calling　Lunk　〃a　mindless　brute；〃　and　Lunk　amazed　that　Lancer　of　all　people　should　be　modest。〃

〃Rook　was　the　only　one　keeping　to　herself。　I　would　see　her　standing　alone　by　the　lake；　absently　skimming　stones　across　the　surface。　It　was　obvious　that　she　had　something　disturbing　on　her　mind；　but　she　didn't　want　to　share　it　with　the　rest　of　us。　Scott　also　sensed　it。　I　have　since　learned　what　the　brooding　was　all　about；　but　back　then　all　I　could　sense　was　Rook's　uneasiness　and　an　inexplicable　feeling　of　helplessness。　The　only　time　the　team　discussed　it　was　after　she　had　turned　on　Annie；　who　was　only　trying　to　entice　her　to　join　us　around　the　fire。〃

〃‘What　d'ya　thinks　wrong　with　her？'　Lunk　asked　the　rest　of　us。〃

〃‘Women's　mood　changes　are　unpredictable；'　Lancer　said　knowledgeably　in　Yellow's　voice。　He　had　just　stepped　from　the　shower　and　was　wearing　a　long　yellow　terry　robe　and　had　his　hair　up　under　a　towel　wrapped　turban…style　around　his　head。〃

〃‘Just　leave　her　alone；'　I　suggested。　‘She'll　e　out　of　it。'　But　Scott　took　issue　with　me。〃

〃‘No。　This　is　different。'〃

〃‘Let　it　go；'　I　started　to　say；　but　Scott　was　already　on　his　feet　and　off　to　seek　her　out。　I　felt　pelled　to　tag　along　at　a　discreet　distance；　probably　because　I　was　afraid　of　Scott's　scoring　points　where　I　couldn't。〃

〃Rook　was　standing　near　the　lake。　She　didn't　even　respond　when　Scott　called　her；　I　saw　him　give　a　small　shrug　and　pull　out　that　holo…locket　he　wore　around　his　neck…the　one　Marlene　gave　him　shortly　before　she　went　down　with　her　ship。　I　wasn't　sure　just　what　he　was　thinking；　but　what　bothered　me　most　was　the　idea　that　Rook's　moodiness　was　going　to　have　a　contagious　effect　on　the　team。〃

〃In　a　moment；　however；　we　all　had　bigger　problems　to　deal　with。〃

〃I　saw　Scott　and　Rook　turn　at　the　same　moment　to　stare　at　something　off　in　the　distance；　so　I　stepped　out　from　cover　to　see　what　was　going　on　and　heard　the　telltale　approach　of　an　Invid　ship　even　before　I　saw　the　thing　appear　from　behind　one　of　the　buttes。　It　was　a　large　patrol　ship；　a　rust…brown　number　boasting　twice　the　firepower　of　a　Trooper。　I　ran　back　to　the　fire　and　started　stomping　it　out；　while　Scott　and　the　others　headed　for　the　woods。　The　Invids　hadn't　spotted　us；　and　it　wasn't　likely　that　a　simple　campfire　was　going　to　bring　it　down；　but　for　all　we　knew　the　patrol　ships　had　now　been　ordered　to　incinerate　anything　that　moved。　Rook's　Cyclone　was　my　main　concern；　she　had　thoughtlessly　left　it　by　the　lake　in　plain　view。〃

〃The　patrol　ship　swept　along　the　shore　directly　over　our　smoldering　campfire　and　headed　out　toward　the　lake；　but　suddenly　it　swung　about；　its　optic　sensor　scanning　the　woods。　I　voiced　a　silent　prayer　that　the　thing　wouldn't　spot　us；　and　what　seemed　an　eternity　later；　the　Invid　blasted　up　and　away　from　our　small　piece　of　tranquillity。〃

〃‘Close　one；'　I　said　when　the　thing　had　disappeared。　‘But　it　looks　like　we're　safe　for　the　moment。'〃

〃‘Uh　uh；'　Scott　said　worriedly；　shaking　his　head。　‘We've　got　to　assume　they　found　us。'　He　saw　the　chagrined　looked　on　my　face　and　hastened　to　add：　‘It　might　have　gone　for　reinforcements…we'd　be　foolish　to　remain　here　any　longer。'〃

〃Lunk　was　taking　stock　of　our　surroundings。　‘Bad　place　to　get　caught　if　they　mean　business。　I'm　for　splitting。'〃

〃‘Then　let's　move　it；'　Scott　said。〃

〃I　knelt　down　by　the　remains　of　our　fire　and　poked　at　the　coals。　‘So　much　for　dinner。。。'〃

〃Lancer　sauntered　by　me；　dangling　an　outstretched　limp　wrist　from　the　robe's　broad　sleeve　and　feigning　a　bored　yawn。　‘Well；　it　didn't　look　very　appetizing　anyway；'　he　minced。〃

〃Movement　was　likely　to　make　matters　worse；　but　there　was　high　ground　nearby　that　provided　substantially　more　in　the　way　of　cover。　We　rode　out　most　of　the　afternoon　looking　over　our　shoulders　and　waiting　for　Scott's　warnings　over　the　tac　net；　but　no　Invid　appeared。　It　was　beginning　to　look　as　though　we　hadn't　been　seen　after　all；　but　no　one　was　making　an　issue　of　having　abandoned　our　campsite。　The　air　in　the　highlands　was　invigorating；　and　we　found　an　expanse　of　conifer　forest　to　call　home　for　the　night。　Even　Lancer　had　to　admit　that　the　steaks　were　tasty；　and　Rook；　who　had　been　sullen　and　lone…riding　all　day；　seemed　to　be　ing　around　some。〃

〃I　woke　up　sometime　during　the　night　and　noticed　that　Rook　wasn't　in　her　bag。　I　took　a　quick　look　around；　counting　heads　and　quickly　realizing　that　Scott　had　the　watch。　（Actually；　it　turned　out　that　he　wasn't　on　watch　at　all；　but　I　imagined　him　absent；　once　again　falling　victim　to　a　kind　of　irrational　jealousy。）　I　unzippered　myself　from　the　bag；　egged　on　by　thoughts　of　Rook　and　Scott　cozying　it　up　somewhere　in　the　woods。　Just　lean　on　my　shoulder　and　tell　me　all　about　it；　Rook；　I　could　almost　hear　Scott　saying；　when　it　was　my　shoulder　she　should　have　been　leaning　on！〃

〃The　moon　was　full　and　low　in　the　west；