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tairway cubicle dressed like a June bride。
〃Look what I found！〃
The dress was a soft pink； with a white ruffled collar and matching bonnet。 But it was at least four sizes too large for her； so she had most of the train gathered up in her arms。
〃Just what are you supposed to be？〃 Lunk asked her。
Lancer laughed and stood up； wiping his hands on his trousers。 〃She's a bride…and a pretty one at that。〃 He formed his hands into an imaginary camera and brought them to his eye。 〃What I'd give to have my old Pentax。〃
Annie put up her hands to stop him。 〃Wait！ I want my bridegroom in this photo！〃 And with that she jumped up； threw her arms around Lunk's neck； and hung there； the hem of the gown touching the floor now。
Lunk went rigid for a moment； then scooped her up and cradled her in his arms； his dismayed expression unchanged。
Lancer threw his head back and laughed。
〃Perfect！〃 he enthused。
Scott couldn't get that zipper out of his mind； except now he was wondering what it would be like to undo it。 Since Marlene's death he had been convincing himself that celibacy had been written into his destiny； but suddenly this nameless goddess； this new Marlene； was bringing all the old allegiances into question。 Was it wrong for him to be having these thoughts？ he asked himself。 Would his Marlene have wanted him to remain faithful to her no matter what？ He sensed that the phrasing was wrong； perhaps even the questions themselves； because he knew that his love for Marlene could never be extinguished。 But these new feelings had more to do with happiness and panionship。
The two of them were exploring a department store。 Scott had located the sound system and an original Lynn…Minmei disc…probably the first one she had ever recorded。 He knew her well from Tirol； but how different that Minmei seemed from the innocent girl whose bright eyes shone from the CD jacket。 It seemed ages ago； Scott realized； before all the troubles with Edwards； before Minmei's devastating encounter with Wolff。。。
〃Stagefright；〃 one of the singer's most popular numbers； was blasting through the PA speakers。 Marlene； still in that strapless gown that fit her like a glove； was trying on jewelry。 Scott watched her in wonderment。 They picked out a silver and brass collar and a bracelet of gold。 He found her a leather shoulder bag and a floppy blue hat。
They exchanged meaningful looks。 And Scott asked her about love。
〃Was there anyone； Marlene？ Were you ever in love？〃
〃Love？〃 she asked him。
He could see that she had no understanding of the emotion。 How traumatized she must have been to have had even that erased from her past！
He began to envy her。
In the next store they separated； as two people might drift apart in a museum； lost in private thoughts and personal moments。 It was the toys that fascinated Marlene： wind…up clowns and talking bears； music boxes and transformable gadgets； drummer boys and lively ballerinas。 She switched all of them on； filling her world with a symphony of transistorized sounds and songs。 She was handling a fragile glass giraffe when the gorilla showed up。
Marlene uttered a frightened scream and fell back； dropping the small figurine to the floor。 Of course it was only Scott in a mask； but how was she to know that？
She ran to him after he had taken it off； seeking shelter in his arms。 〃Hold me； Scott；〃 she whispered。 But he held back and gently pushed her to arm's length； his hands on her shoulders。
〃Marlene； I。。。I want to know all about you。〃
She gave him a helpless look。 〃I wish I could tell you；〃 she apologized。 〃I wish I knew the words。。。〃
But what he saw in her eyes was enough。 〃We don't need words；〃 he told her； drawing her in。 They kissed lightly； tentatively； exploring each other。
Then suddenly she pulled back； overe first by dread； then pain。 〃They're ing！〃 she managed。 〃It's hopeless； hopeless！〃 Her mane of red hair was shaking back and forth。 〃There's no escape from them！〃
Scott did what he could to fort her and began to look left and right in desperation。 〃We're trapped down here！〃 he berated himself。 〃Trapped！〃
There was no escape！
Far above them in those displaced mountains that towered over the buried city； Corg； the crown prince of the Invid horde； had zeroed in on the rend the freedom fighters had inadvertently opened in the dome。 He was a sharp…featured young man with lean good looks and mysterious oblique blue eyes。 His hair； which was also blue； lay flat and fine against his skull； lending itself to his somewhat cruel and ascetic look。 Corg had been created from the lifestuff of his race by the Regis herself； to rule at Sera's side in the new order。
His mand ship was like hers： somewhat acephalic； top…heavy； and buxom…looking with its heavily weaponed torso pods and power nacelles。
Acpanying him were two Enforcer ships that represented the most recent examples of technological innovation from the Regis's weapons factories。 They were not unlike their crablike prototypes but somehow appeared almost naked beside them。 They were bipedal and seemingly four…armed； their optic scanners were more Cyclopean in placement； and there was a phallic； muscular flexibility to the top…mounted cannons that was absent in the more cumbersome…looking Shock Troopers and Pincer Ships。
Corg chose to make his own opening in the city's dome and did so with a massive charge from his ship's shoulder cannon。 Then he began his hellish descent； his two underlings following him down into the breach。
The freedom fighters were waiting for them； though。 Scott had alerted the rest of the team to Marlene's premonition； and they had elected to draw the Invid down into the city and utilize the more maneuverable Cyclones to battle them in the streets。
In Battle Armor mode； Scott； Lancer； Rand； and Rook were assembled at street level when the first two Invid blasts shook the city； impacting against the upper storys of one of the tall towers and showering them with chunks of concrete and shards of plate glass。
〃We won't stand a chance head to head against these guys；〃 Scott said over the tac net。 〃We've got to take advantage of their clumsiness！〃
〃Gotcha！〃 Rook returned as everyone took to the air。
Rand lingered behind and was almost slagged because of it。 〃We'll make mincemeat out of them；〃 he was saying when an energy bolt exploded in the street。 He caught up with Rook a moment later in an alleyway； but the newfangled Enforcer had pursued him and loosed a shot that nearly fried both of them where they stood。 They launched and took up ground…level positions on either side of the alley's exit and poured return fire into the Invid ship as it rounded the corner。
The Enforcer found Rand first and swung toward him； the triple nodes of its cannon primed for fire。 Rand leapt away just in time； amazed to see two steady streams of crimson fire where he had expected annihilation discs。
Elsewhere； Scott and Lancer were facing off with the second Enforcer。 They had their backs to the wall as the Invid came at them； its rear thrusters keeping it airborne； a flying insect nightmare in the city's twilight。
〃I'll draw its fire；〃 Scott told Lancer。 〃Get above and do some damage！