10_invid_invasion-第18章

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Lunk's　hands　went　to　his　ears；　and　he　threw　himself　to　cover。　Through　the　breach　in　the　wall；　Scott　glimpsed　the　three　Troopers　land　and　begin　their　approach　on　the　barn。　I'll　never　be　able　to　power　up　fast　enough　to　get　out　of　here！　he　thought。

But　just　then　Rand　and　Rook　arrived　to　check　the　aliens'　advance。　The　red　Cycloner　launched　herself　like　a　projectile　straight　into　one　of　the　Trooper's　optic　sensors；　while　Rand　fired　two　Scorpions　against　a　second。　It　was　all　the　time　Scott　needed　to　bring　up　the　Protoculture　levels　of　the　Veritech；　and　a　moment　later；　much　to　Rand's　consternation；　the　radome　of　the　VT　was　punching　through　the　barn's　roof。

Scott　threw　the　VT　into　a　steep　climb；　luring　the　Troopers　away　from　their　swipe　attacks　against　Rook　and　Rand。　Rand　watched　the　fighter　accelerate　through　a　sweeping　arc　and　head　back　into　the　faces　of　its　pursuers；　destroying　one　with　a　missile　too　swift　for　his　eyes　to　track。　But　that　was　only　the　beginning。　Now　the　fighter　was　reconfiguring　to　Battloid　mode　and　leading　the　two　remaining　Invid　on　a　high…speed　chase　over　the　countryside。

Scott　thought　the　ship　upright…a　techno…knight　standing　in　thin　air…while　salvos　of　annihilation　discs　beamed　past　him。　He　reached　out；　throwing　levers　that　opened　the　missile　partments　built　into　the　Battloid's　forearm；　shoulder；　and　lower…leg　armor；　and　thought　the　systems　through　to　launch。　It　was　all　ing　back　to　him　now…it　had　to！　For　a　moment；　the　techno…knight　was　enpassed　in　energy　balloons；　then　dozens　of　missiles　tore　from　their　launch　racks　like　so　many　red…tipped　arrows　of　death。　The　Troopers　took　the　full　storm　and　were　all　but　disintegrated　by　the　force　of　the　blasts。


Down　below；　Kevin　and　Spider　were　running　toward　the　barn；　a　few　steps　ahead　of　Annie；　who　had　just　leapt　from　Yellow's　jeep　and　was　calling　out　for　Lunk。　Rook　and　Rand　had　already　reconfigured　their　Cyclones　and　were　doffing　the　hot　and　cumbersome　battle　armor　when　Scott　brought　the　VT　down；　cut　the　engines；　and　threw　open　the　canopy。

Lunk　stepped　from　the　barn　unharmed　and　caught　Annie　midair　as　she　jumped　up　and　threw　her　arms　around　his　neck。　〃There　you　are！〃　she　gushed。　〃I　knew　they　wouldn't　get　you；　I　knew　you'd　e　back　to　me！〃

Lunk　held　her　away；　offering　a　miffed　but　understanding　grin。

〃I've　decided　you're　the　only　one　for　me！〃

〃Well；　thanks；〃　said　Lunk。　〃I　wish　I　could　say　the　same。〃　He　smiled　tolerantly　and　gently　lowered　Annie　to　the　ground。　〃You're　a　little　young　for　me。。。And　besides；　I've　got　other　plans。〃

Annie　stared　up　at　him；　despondent；　and　asked　what　those　other　plans　might　be。

Lunk　threw　his　massive　shoulders　back。　〃Join　the　resistance；〃　he　said　to　all　of　them。　〃See　if　I　can　make　up　for　past　mistakes。〃

〃I'd　be　glad　to　join　forces　with　you；　Lunk；〃　said　Scott。　〃If　you　mean　what　you　say。。。〃

Kevin　looked　from　one　to　the　other。　〃He's　not　serious；　robby。　Are　you；　Lunk？〃

Lunk　nodded。　〃I'm　sick　of　sneakin'　around　like　a　frightened　little　weasel。　Face　it；　Kevin；　I'm　a　soldier；　after　all。　And　it's　time　I　started　acting　like　one。〃

〃Use　your　head；　Lunk；〃　Kevin　countered。　〃This　war's　a　lost　cause。　What　can　two；　ten；　or　even　two　hundred　do　against　the　Invid？〃

〃We　can　try；〃　said　Lunk。

Annie　made　a　disappointed　sound　and　turned　her　back　to　Lunk；　hands　behind　her　head。　〃And　I　thought　you　were　special。。。〃

Lunk　bent　down；　perplexed；　to　ask：　〃But　a　minute　ago　I　was　the　man　of　your　dreams；　remember？〃

Annie's　lips　tightened；　and　she　shook　her　head。　〃A　long　time　ago　I　decided　I'd　never　marry　a　soldier。　They　don't　last　long　enough　nowadays。〃

Kevin　and　Spider　laughed。

〃The　kid's　no　dummy；　that's　for　sure；〃　Rand　offered。

Yellow　stepped　down　from　the　jeep　and　approached　the　VT。　〃I'd　like　to　sign　up　for　the　team；　Scott。〃

Rook　sent　a　knowing　elbow　into　Rand's　ribs　at　the　same　time　Kevin　sent　one　into　Spider's。　But　Scott's　answer　disappointed　all　of　them。

〃Thanks；〃　he　said　from　the　cockpit。　〃But　we　don't　have　enough　troops　yet　to　hire　an　entertainer。〃

〃There's　a　lot　more　to　me　than　meets　the　eye；〃　said　Yellow。

〃As　if　that　isn't　enough；〃　Rand　mented　under　his　breath　but　loudly　enough　for　Rook　to　hear。

〃All　I　see　is　an　attractive　woman　in　a　rather　slinky　outfit；〃　said　Scott。

〃Wrong　on　both　counts；〃　Yellow　answered　him；　walking　back　to　the　jeep。　〃I've　got　something　to　show　you。　〃

A　buzz　of　general　puzzlement　swept　through　the　would…be　team　as　Yellow　sauntered　off；　especially　when　she　turned　her　back　to　them　and　began　to　undo　the　rear　buttons　of　her　strapless　top。

〃Hey；　w…wait　a　minute；〃　Scott　stammered　in　protest。　〃I　appreciate　your　wanting　to；　er…show　me；　but　don't　think　for　a　moment　that's　going　to　change　my　mind。。。〃

〃Is　she　going　to　do　what　I　think　she's　going　to　do？〃　said　Annie；　gulping。

〃Sure　looks　that　way；〃　Rook　said　in　an　interested　way。

Yellow　meanwhile　had　removed　her　top　and　tossed　it　into　the　open　jeep。　She　still　had　her　back　to　them；　long　lavender　hair　falling　all　the　way　to　the　narrow　band　of　her　brassiere。

〃H…hey；　now　hold　on！〃　Rand　said　with　a　desperate　tone。

Lunk　laughed。　〃Well；　she's　right　about　one　thing…she's　not　wearin'　no　slinky　outfit　anymore。〃

Yellow　turned　to　throw　them　a　wink　over　her　shoulder；　then　reached　back　the　way　only　a　woman　can　and　unfastened　the　bra；　letting　it　slip　from　her　breasts。　She　still　had　her　back　to　them　when　she　undid　her　trousers　and　let　them　fall。　The　pink　jeep　concealed　whatever　treasures　these　moments　might　have　held　for　the　red…faced　team。

〃Now　what's　she　doing？〃　Lunk　said　as　Dancer　picked　up　a　towel　and　began　to　scrub　her　face　with　it。

〃I　don't　know；〃　Scott　responded　sternly。　〃But　I　want　an　end　to　it　right　now；　hear　me；　Yellow？　You　can　stop　this　little　game；　because　we're　not　taking　you　with　us；　and　that's　final！〃

Then　Yellow　swung　around　to　face　them。

And　something　was　wrong；　very　wrong；　indeed。

〃Oh；　no！〃　Rook　screamed；　and　began　to　laugh　hysterically。

〃Y…yellow　Dancer？〃　Rand　said　tentatively。

Lunk；　Kevin；　and　Spider　drew　in　stunned　but　disappointed　intakes　of　breath。　Annie　was　simply　confused；　Scott；　wordless。　It　was　plain　enough　to　see　that　Yellow　Dancer　was　a　man…a　tall；　rather　hairless；　lean　and　attractive　man。

〃You　can　start　by　calling　me　Lancer；〃　he　told　his　stunned　audience；　his　voice　deeper　now。　〃I　think　the　name　suits　me　a　little　better。　So；　I　hope　there　are　no　further　objections　to　my　tagging　along　with　you。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　know。。。〃　Scott　started　to　say。　Woman　or　cross…dresser；　what　was　the　difference？　he　asked　himself。　But　looking　down　at　Rook　now；　he　began　to　have　second　thoughts　about　all　of　this。　Earth　was　a　fascinating　but　bizarre　place　where　women　seemed　to　want　to　mix　it　up　as　much　as　the　men。　So　maybe　there　was　a　place　for　her；　er；　him。

Rand　meanwhile　was　beside　himself。　There　were　all　those　dreams　of　Yellow　Dancer　he　had　lived　with　for　months…all　those　fantasies！　〃It　can't　be！〃　he　was　saying。　〃How　could　you　do　this　to　me…your　biggest　fan？！〃

〃I　wasn't　exactly　thinking　about　you；　Rand；〃　Lancer　said。

〃Yeah；〃　Rook　chimed　in。　〃Not　like　he　was　thinking　about　you！〃

Everyone　laughed；　except　Lancer。　〃So　how　about　it；　Captain？　Do　I　make　the　team　or　not？〃

Scott　and　Lunk　exchanged　looks　and　shrugs。　〃Yes；〃　Scott　said　at　last。　〃I　guess　you　do。〃


CHAPTER　SEVEN

Mom；　who　thrived　on　adversity；　had　met　her　perfect　foil　in　Rand。　Fortunately　for　me；　they　eventually　worked　it　through。
Maria　Bartley…Rand；　Flower　of　Life：　Journey　Beyond　Protoculture

The　team　had　been　formed：　Scott；　Rand；　Rook；　Annie；　Lunk；　and　Lancer　（although　Scott　wondered　if　the　singer　shouldn't　be　counted　twice）。　None　of　them　promised　to　acpany　Scott　all　the　way　to　Reflex　Point…if　such　a　place　actually　existed；　it　was　simply　a　loose　agreement　among　six　people　headed　in　the　same　general　direction；　each　with　a　separate　purpose　in　mind。　Scott　wanted　to　see　the　Invid　defeated；　at　the　very　least　he　hoped　to　link　up　with　other　downed　fighters　from　the　Mars　Division　and　establish　an　organized　resistance。　Lunk　was　searching　for　a　redemption　of　sorts；　Annie；　for　a　family。　But　the　aims　of　the　others　were　less　clear…cut；　their　pasts　remained　unrevealed；　their　motives　somewhat　suspect。　Nevertheless；　Scott　had　himself　a　team。