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t it was about the lights that frightened her； but all her instincts told her that Rem was in danger。
That he was not listening to her came as no surprise； really； for who was she to tell Lord Protoculture anything？ Oh； once he would have listened； when she was still the voice that had won the Robotech War； but it had been years since that voice had sung； and it was Rem's star that had been on the ascendant since。 Playing Johnny Appleseed on New Praxis with the Flowers of Life； conjuring Protoculture from them； fabricating the matrix Lang and the REF mand worshiped like some sacrosanct icon。
Rem suddenly took hold of her narrow wrist and pulled her close； encircling her shoulders with his right arm。 〃Let it find us together；〃 he said； still eyeing the ceiling expectantly。 〃Open your mind to it。〃
She tried not to quiver so in his embrace； but dread was sluicing through her veins like ice water。 She wanted nothing more than to dig a deep dark hole for the two of them to hide in。
The first lights passed through the cabinspace with scarcely a moment's hesitation； piercing the room obliquely from ceiling to floor。 A second group followed from the opposite direction。 But the third and fourth entered through the starboard bulkhead and instead of exiting along their line of flight began to dart around the perimeter of the cabin； as if to fence the couple in。
Rem took a bold step forward and immersed a hand into the flow。 The light raced up the length of his arm and outline of his body； as it was doing to other objects in the room。 Minmei instantly became part of the tableau； her thoughts sent reeling by the tendrils' inquisitive caress。 And suddenly then was more longing in her heart than her mind could process more light in the cabin than her eyes could absorb。
Rem bellowed the most mournful sound she had ever heard and collapsed in a heap on the floor。
CHAPTER ELEVEN
With the confusion of the Great Transition behind them； the Zentraedi Imperative in place； and the pulsion implemented； the Robotech Masters went about systematically expunging Zor's name from all records of the technovoyages of the starship Amtraph。 They sought nothing less than to rewrite history in such a way that credit for the discovery of the Protoculture would go to the Elders themselves。 However； Zors own accounts of those voyages survived in secret for some time； until destroyed by the young scientist himself as he began what has been termed his quiet rebellion…save for a precious few jottings preserved by Cabell。 All details of Zor's early investigations and experiments vanished with the destruction of these notebooks and journals。 And it is likely that we will never know more than we do now about the Amtraph's first sighting of Optera。
From Emil Lang's introduction to Cabell's … Zor and the Great Transition
Rem's cells remembered。
So many worlds to explore； countless even within the limited zone defined by the ship's reflex superluminals。 So many landscapes to wander across with devices in hand； hillsides to climb； forests to penetrate； skies to soar。 So many life璮orms to contact； cultures to experience…more than a mortal should be allowed to glimpse； let alone contemplate； more than an understanding god would have created 。。。 They were there but to tempt； those climes of eruptive heat or frost waste； those worlds of nascent sentience or eons…old evolutionary struggle。 But was there any greater rapture than to journey from one to the next？ To watch worlds turn through cycles of their lives？ To gaze from a ship's deck upon the sweep of time itself？ 。。。 If there was； it was surely beyond the scope of his intellect to imagine； and even had that gift of imagining been his； would he choose to deprive himself of this joy？ He supposed not 。。。
Always those thoughts upon awakening from the essential sleep； Zor told himself。 The artificial extension of life； while the Amtraph thrust itself from star to star。 Man's little game played with time。 A bit of existential trickery 。。。
He regarded the sleep chamber now…the nutrient drips that sustained the body； the contact studs that stimulated muscle and bone； the headband that helped to nourish dreams…and laughed away his musings； chest aching from disuse； unaccustomed to the sudden return of those chaotic； nay； inspired； rhythms。
Vard was watching him from afar…able servant and faithful friend…the rest of them already hobbling away from their opened cocoons like aged ministers hurrying off to meeting； and conferences。 A spectacle ill befitting the courageous crew they were…scientists to the last； sworn to exploration and the search for truth。 Zor breathed deep； congratulating himself on the choices he had made； the paths that had turned him away from government service and carried him offworld a last； clear of Tirol's crowded skies。 If only Vard could feel the same content with the quest itself…instead of continually focusing on the goal。
But Zor was too astute； too used to their calculated designs； not to feel in Vard's promptings the hand of his Elder： in the Academy。 The hungry members of the Grand Chair； perhaps even Cabell himself； mentor and father in his own curious fashion。 No； the data he transmitted were never enough for them： the trade arrangements and scientific exchanges too profitless to sate their appetites for progress。
We must have worlds to use as way stations for our glorious expansion； they would tell him； as though it were conquest they had in mind。 We must have discoveries that will further the glory of our race； as though it were immortality they were striving for。
Oh； Vard； he thought； filling his lungs with the ship's sweetened air； perhaps this next world will be the one your real masters would have me find。 One with wondrous things to offer； the miraculous things they feel certain are out here for the taking。
He stood up and stretched； as though reaching for the very stars beyond the reflective sheen of the viewport overhead。 〃Out among you somewhere；〃 he said to the fixed lights。 〃Out among you is the world I'm destined to discover。 By Valivarre's will； may the cause of peace profit above all。〃
Karen Penn tried one final time to inflict some damage on the lights； to extract a toll for whatever it was they had done to her Red teammates。 With disciplined hand and quieted mind she reconfigured the Alpha to Fighter mode and burned for the fortress's stern； where the lights had clustered on and around the reflex drive exhaust ports。 Jack was in plain view at three o'clock； his burn through the eerie glow of newspace plete； a Veritech pas de deux as they fell toward the ship。
The Blue team mecha； Battloid…configured； were hitting hard at the SDF…3's bow from just below the midline； head lasers emitting a deadly light of their own。
Karen planned on depleting her undercarriage lasers this time； taking no quarter； routing the light or luring it away； making it cry uncle or roll over and die。
She was shifting her weight in the padded seat； posing herself for the kill； willing the VT in； when all at once the fog of newspace lifted。
Her eyes were so fixed on the reticle of the Alpha's targeting screen that it took a moment for the change to register。 Then； suddenly； there was darkness where there had been glow； and the lights were gone。
〃Sonuvabitch；〃 she heard Jack exclaim。 〃We're home； gang…we're home！〃
But Karen was not buying it。 Though they seemed to be drifting through the inky blackness of home space； something was missing。
〃If we're home； Jack；〃 she asked over the net； 〃where the hell are the stars？〃
On the fortress bridge； Lisa mimicked Lang's on…screen head…scratching pose。 She did not understand it； either： One minute the lights were digesting critical portions of the ship； and the next they were gone。 Had the SDF…3 punched or been punched out of the hyperdomain？ she wondered。 And was that actually the real world outside the viewports or yet another black tunnel in the sky？
〃Stations shipwide report all clear； Admiral；〃 Forsythe said from across the bridge。 〃The lights are gone。〃
Lisa ran a palsied hand through her undone hair。 〃Damage assessment； Mister Price。 Immediate。 All decks。〃
〃Aye； aye； sir。〃
Lisa returned her attention to the …line monitor。 〃Well； what about it； Lang？ Are we home？〃
Lang looked at something off screen and shook his head。 〃No； Lisa； nothing has changed。〃
〃Maybe you'd better have a look outside； Doctor。〃 Lang's puzzled expression remained in place。 〃I have looked； Admiral； I assure you。 But present readings are identical to those previously assembled。〃 He snorted。 〃We're still a long way from home。〃
Lisa felt her heart race。
〃We've lost a good deal of our reflex drive systemry；〃 Lang continued as though to himself； pupilless eyes glazed over。 〃I'm beginning to believe that the reason the Veritechs were assimilated had nothing to do with defense against intrusion。 No； whatever was directing the lights had need of specimens。 Perhaps it has yet to make up its mind about us。〃
Lisa swallowed hard。 〃You make it sound like our pilots were appetizers； Doctor。〃
〃In effect； they were just that；〃 he told her； more animated suddenly。 〃By the time the lights reached the ship； they knew exactly what they were after。〃
〃We're crippled； then。 Is that what you're telling me？〃 The scientist shook his head。 〃Oh； no； we have some drive capacity left to us； although nowhere near what we'd require to go superluminal。 In fact； as things stand we would be as stranded in our own space as we are here。〃
Lisa let out her breath。 〃You're full of good news； aren't you？〃
Lang shrugged。 〃I'm sorry if I can't tell you what you'd undoubtedly like to hear。〃
Lisa waved a hand at the screen。 〃I'm the one who's sorry； Doctor。 But you've got to give me something to go on。 I mean； do we sit here and wait for those 。 。 。 things to e back and nibble away at more of our systemry？〃
〃As opposed to what； Admiral？〃 Lang wanted to know。 〃Christ； I don't know。 Move。 Somewhere。〃
Lang smiled； recalling Rem's real…time bubble theory。 〃Your husband suggested that I fashion us a world。〃
Lisa regarded him tight…lipped。 〃Then do it；〃 she said after a moment。
Minmei cradled Rem's head in her arms。 She pushed his hair back from his face and leaned an ear close to his parted lips。 She was certain he had ceased breathing for a time； but that heart…stopping moment was past； his exhalation ruffling the strands of hair she had hooked behind her ear。 Her breath was ing in shallow gasps as she pressed his head to her bosom； praying that he would regain consciousness soon。
Holding him like that； staring down at his beautiful face； she found herself walking through an ancient memory。 Tiresia； on the night of the SDF…3's New Year's celebration。 The Sentinels' ship； Farrago； had yet to arrive in Fantomaspace； and there she was with eyes only for Jonathan Wolff： But she remembered watching Rem that night while Wolff told her all the things he must have assumed she wanted to hear。 And she remembered gazing at him the way she had often observed others gazing at her； with a look people reserved for screen idols and heroes。 What might have happened if Rem had remained in Tiresia instead of joining the Sentinels？ she wondered。 Would his presence have altered events； given her the strength to steer clear of Edwards and grandiose plans？
It was Rem who had rushed to her side after she had killed Fdwards's horrible minion on Optera。 Her voice had awarded a personal victory； a fitting end； she had decided。 But on that same day Janice had walked out of her life forever。 And Lynn…Kyle so soon before that 。。。 It had been difficult for to go on when the memories of the sacrifices made in her behalf were so vivid。 When she had been so undeserving。 So evil。
But Rem had continued to stick by her in Tiresia； during the months she had languished under doctors' care； the Booths and years when she had so little will to survive。 And looking at him now； imagining the two of them walking Tiresia's Romelike streets together； she was not sure she was envisioning a past that almost was or a future that could be。 A kind of alternative present； she told herself。 One they could fashion together to erase the mistakes both Zor and Minmei had made。