10_invid_invasion-第39章

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Rand　gestured　Rook　to　back　off。　He　took　two　steps　toward　the　table　and　slammed　his　hand　down。　〃Just　tell　us　where　you　were　attacked。〃

Wolff's　hand　went　out　to　steady　the　bottle。　〃If　you're　thinking　about　trying　to　go　out　there　and　find　him；　forget　it。　You　won't　make　it。〃

Rand　showed　his　teeth；　then　relaxed。　〃Look；　we've　got　an　Alpha　fighter　hidden　nearby。　If　there's　even　a　chance　that　Scott's　alive；　you　better　believe　I'm　going　out　there　to　find　him。〃

Mention　of　the　VT　seemed　to　bring　Wolff　around　somewhat。　He　lifted　the　bottle　but　set　it　down　without　pouring。　〃Even　a　fighter　might　not　be　enough。〃　Wolff　gave　Rand　an　appraising　look。　〃Yes；　Scott　told　me　that　you'd　seen　action　together。　But　we're　up　against　a　hive；　not　a　Scout　patrol。〃

〃It's　still　worth　a　try。〃

Wolff　thought　a　moment；　then　said：　〃All　right；　I'll　lead　you　out　there。〃

〃Great！〃

Wolff　stood　up　and　went　for　his　jacket。　〃We'll　leave　immediately。〃

Rand　swung　around　to　Rook。　〃Let　the　others　know　what　I'm　up　to。　We'll　get　Scott　back！〃

With　that　he　rushed　from　the　room；　Wolff　a　few　paces　behind　him。　Rook　stood　dumbfounded　for　a　moment；　then　followed　him　to　the　doorway。　〃What　am　I…your　personal　messenger　or　something？〃　she　yelled　to　his　back。　But　he　didn't　turn　around。　〃Rand！〃　she　shouted　again；　fuming。


Rand　showed　Wolff　where　the　Alpha　was　hidden；　but　the　colonel　insisted　they　recon　the　area　on　Cyclones　before　bringing　the　Veritech　into　play。　The　fighter；　Wolff　insisted；　would　stir　up　the　entire　hive；　it　was　simply　too　precious　a　modity　to　risk；　even　for　the　life　of　a　valued　friend。

Rand　saw　the　logic　of　it；　disturbing　as　it　was；　especially　after　Wolff　had　led　him　to　the　hive。

〃The　place　is　a　fortress！〃　Rand　exclaimed；　keeping　his　voice　low。　〃I've　never　seen　anything　like　it。〃

Wolff　regarded　him　from　behind　the　dark　glasses；　obviously　pleased　by　Rand's　shocked　reaction。　They　were　at　the　edge　of　the　clearing　now；　suited　up　in　Cyclone　armor　and　armed　with　hand　blasters。　〃It's　just　one　of　many；〃　Wolff　said。　〃There's　a　chain　of　these　things　that　runs　clear　to　Reflex　Point。〃

Rand　swallowed　hard；　discouraged。　〃It　was　around　here　that　you　last　saw　Scott？〃

Wolff　nodded　and　lowered　the　helmet's　faceshield。　〃We'll　search　the　perimeter　first。〃　He　motioned　Rand　off　to　the　right。　〃Stick　to　the　woods；　and　I'll　meet　you　on　the　other　side。　I　only　hope　there's　something　left　of　Bernard　to　find。〃

Rand　refused　to　allow　the　thought　to　register。　He　turned　and　was　about　to　move　off　when　the　ground　began　to　tremble。　Wolff　drew　his　blaster　and　pivoted　through　a　360；　searching　for　some　sign　of　the　Invid's　egress　point。　Rand　managed　to　get　his　blaster　unholstered　and　aimed　in　the　same　general　direction　as　Wolff　's。

In　a　moment　the　Invid　Trooper　showed　itself；　rising　up　through　the　earth　and　underbrush　just　outside　the　clearing。　Wolff　and　Rand　hit　it　full　power；　but　neither　of　them　was　successful　at　directing　a　charge　to　any　of　the　creature's　vulnerable　points。　The　Trooper　seemed　to　sense　their　helplessness　and　opted　to　kill　them　with　its　claw　rather　than　cannon　fire。　It　had　one　of　its　pincers　raised　for　a　downward　strike；　when　someone　behind　the　two　men　stunned　it　with　a　Scorpion　delivered　to　the　head。

Rand　turned　in　time　to　see　Rook's　red　Cyclone's　rearwheel　landing　in　the　clearing。　She　slid　the　tail　end　of　the　mecha　around　and　shouted　through　the　externals　for　Rand　to　jump　on。

〃I　told　you　you　weren't　leaving　me　behind；〃　Rand　heard　as　he　raced　to　the　Cyc。　〃And　it's　a　lucky　thing　for　you　two　that　I　decided　to　follow。〃

As　Rand　straddled　the　Cyclone's　rear　seat；　he　realized　that　Wolff　wasn't　behind　him。　Over　his　shoulder　he　glimpsed　Wolff　waving　Rook　off。　〃Get　going！〃　Wolff　told　them。　〃I'll　make　it　back　to　my　mecha！〃

Rook　wasn't　about　to　sit　around　and　argue。　She　toed　the　Cyclone　into　gear　and　sped　off　almost　before　Rand　had　secured　an　adequate　handhold　behind　her。　Meanwhile；　the　stunned　Invid　had　e　to　life　and　was　spewing　a　horizontal　hail　of　annihilation　discs　into　the　trees。　The　Trooper　pursued　them；　its　shoulder　cannons　blazing。　Rook　pushed　the　Cyclone　through　a　series　of　twists　and　turns；　dodging　explosions；　plumes　of　fire　and　dirt。

Rand　was　thinking　they　were　in　the　clear　when　the　carapaced　head　of　a　second　Invid　appeared　in　front　of　them；　pushing　itself　up　from　the　soft　forest　ground；　an　unearthly　land　crab。　Rook　tried　to　launch　the　Cyclone　over　the　thing　before　it　pleted　its　rise；　but　the　Invid　got　one　of　its　pincers　free　just　as　the　mecha　was　directly　overhead。　Rand　felt　the　jolt　as　the　alien's　claw　impacted　the　mecha；　and　the　next　thing　he　knew　he　was　on　his　butt　in　the　grass；　dazed；　Rook　similarly　postured　nearby。　The　Cyclone　was　nowhere　in　sight。

Rand　shook　his　head　clear　and　raised　the　helmet　faceshield。　〃We've　gotta　find　the　Cyc；〃　he　shouted　to　Rook。　〃Split　up。〃

Rook　got　to　her　feet；　Rand　waved　her　the　okay　sign　and　disappeared　into　the　brush。


Splitting　up　was　a　bad　idea；　Rand　told　himself　fifteen　minutes　later。　The　woods　were　thick；　impenetrable　in　places；　he　had　started　working　circles　to　fix　his　location；　but　he　soon　lost　track　of　his　own　center…along　with　Rook　and　the　missing　Cyclone。

He　was　close　to　the　hive　clearing　again；　removing　his　helmet；　when　he　heard　sounds　of　movement　close　by。　Rand　turned；　glimpsed　Colonel　Wolff；　and　almost　called　out　to　him。　But　something　made　him　pull　himself　into　concealment　at　the　last　moment。　Wolff　had　holstered　his　blaster　and　looked　as　though　he　were　waiting　for　a　delivery　of　some　kind。　A　Human…size　figure　was　walking　toward　Wolff；　but　it　was　still　too　far　off　for　Rand　to　get　a　good　look　at　it。　And　even　when　it　finally　approached　Wolff；　he　didn't　know　what　to　make　of　it。

Rand　had　his　H…90　aimed　at　the　thing　now：　It　was　taller　than　it　had　first　appeared；　perhaps　eight　feet　tall；　bipedal　and　suited　up　in　bulky　dark…colored　battle　armor。　The　creature's　head…if　that　was　indeed　its　head　and　not　some　kind　of　helmet…reminded　Rand　of　a　snail's　foot。　He　told　himself　that　it　had　to　be　an　Invid。　It　certainly　matched　Scott's　description　of　them；　but　Rand　had　for　so　long　e　to　think　of　the　aliens'　ships　as　the　creatures　themselves　that　his　mind　refused　to　accept　the　idea。

Then　Rand　saw　the　Invid　soldier　hand　Wolff　a　carry　pack　of　Protoculture　canisters。

He　was　tempted　to　kill　them　both…alien　and　traitor…but　knew　as　the　rage　spread　through　him　that　he　wanted　Wolff　to　know　who　was　taking　him　out　when　the　moment　came。

Rand　lowered　the　weapon　and　silently　began　to　work　his　way　toward　the　conspirators。　There　was　an　outcropping　of　rock　behind　Wolff；　Rand　made　his　way　to　the　top　of　this　while　the　Invid　walked　back　to　the　hive。　Wolff　had　the　Protoculture　and　was　about　to　return　to　his　Cyclone　when　Rand　surprised　him。

〃So　the　hero's　a　traitor；〃　Rand　said　from　the　outcropping；　his　blaster　aimed　down　at　Wolff。　Wolff　had　been　quick　to　raise　his　own　weapon；　but　Rand　went　on；　undaunted。　〃No　wonder　the　city's　full　of　laughing　soldiers…it's　so　safe　and　secure　now　that　you've　arrived。〃

Rand　risked　a　leap　and　in　a　moment　was　standing　face　to　face　with　Wolff；　who　had　yet　to　say　a　word。　〃The　Robotech　hero's　made　a　deal　with　the　Invid！　For　a　few　measly　canisters　of　Protoculture；　the　great　Jonathan　Wolff　leads　his　own　soldiers　to　the　Invid's　doorstep。　Isn't　that　it？〃

Wolff　fired。

The　low…charge　blast　caught　Rand　in　the　right　forearm　guard；　knocking　the　weapon　from　his　grip　and　sending　a　jolt　of　searing　heat　to　the　flesh　beneath　the　battle　armor。　He　went　down　on　one　knee；　as　much　from　surprise　as　pain；　and　stared　up　at　Wolff　in　disbelief。

〃Go　ahead　and　finish　me；〃　Rand　spat。　〃I　was　meant　to　be　Invid　bait　anyway。。。Just　like　Scott　and　all　the　others。。。It's　how　you　always　manage　to　return　in　one　piece　and　well　stocked　with　'Culture。。。〃

Wolff　put　the　short　muzzle　of　the　blaster　to　Rand's　head。　〃Easy；　boy；〃　he　warned　him。

Rand　was　shaking　uncontrollably　in　spite　of　his　best　efforts　to　contain　his　fear。　〃How　could　you　do　it？〃　he　asked　Wolff。　〃Scott　idolized　you。。。He　told　me　you'd　saved　his　life　once。〃

〃Now　you　know　about　the　dark　side　of　heroism；〃　Wolff　said　flatly。

Rand　could　feel　the　blaster's　priming　charge　grounding　on　his　skull。　He　wished　he　could　see　the　man's　eyes；　know