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past but left her with an uncanny ability to sense the enemy's presence。 Her fragile beauty reminded Scott of the Marlene in his own past； killed when the Mars Division strike force had first entered Earth's atmosphere almost a year ago。。。
〃You know； just once I'd like to sit down and eat steak until I pass out；〃 Lunk was saying； tearing into the venison like some ravenous beast。
〃Just keep eating like you're eating and you might get your wish；〃 Rand told him； to everyone's amusement。
〃I've never met anyone who had such a thing for food；〃 Rook added； theatrically amazed； strawberryblond locks caught in the firelight。
Scott poured himself a cup of coffee and waited for the laughter to subside。 〃You know； Lunk； we've still got a full day left in these mountains； so I'd save some of that for tomorrow if I were you。〃 Always the team leader； he told himself。 But it never seemed to matter all that much。
〃Well； you're not me； Scott；〃 Lunk said； licking his fingertips clean。 〃Sorry to report that I've eaten it all。〃
〃You can always catch a rabbit； right； Lunk？〃 Lancer told him playfully。
Annie frowned； thinking daunt just how many rabbits they had dined on these past months。 〃I'm starting to feel sorry for rabbits。〃
Rand made a lace。 〃They like it when one of them gets caught； Annie。 It gives them a chance to go back to the hutch and…〃
Rook elbowed him before he could get the word out； but the team had already discerned his meaning and was laughing again。
Even Marlene laughed； eyes all wrinkled up； luxuriant hair tossed back。 Scott was watching her and plimenting Rand at the same time； when he saw the woman's joyous look begin to collapse。 Marlene went wide…eyed for a moment； then folded her arms across her chest as though chilled； hands clutching her trembling shoulders。
〃Marlene；〃 Annie said； full of concern。
〃Are you feeling sick or something？〃 Lunk asked。
But Lancer and Scott had a different interpretation。 They exchanged wary looks and were already reaching for their holstered hip howitzers when Scott asked： 〃Are the Invid ing back； Marlene？ Do you feel them returning？〃
〃Form up！〃 Rand said all at once； pulling back from the circle。
〃Weapons ready！〃
Annie went to Marlene's side while the others drew their weapons and got to their feet； eyes sweeping the snow and darkness at the borders of the firelight。 〃Anyone hear anything？〃 Rand whispered。 No one did； there was just the crackling of the fire and the howl of the wind。 Rand had the H90 stiff…armed in front of him and only then； a few feet away from the fire； began to sense how cold it was getting。 There was moisture in the wind now and light snow in the air。 Behind him； he heard Rook breathe a sigh of relief and reholster her wide…bore。 When he turned back to the fire； she was down on one knee alongside Marlene； stroking the frightened woman's long hair soothingly。
〃It's all right； Marlene。 Believe me； you don't have a thing to worry about。 We're safe now； really。〃
Marlene whimpered； shaking uncontrollably。 〃What's wrong with me； Rook？ Why do I feel like this？〃
〃There's nothing wrong with you。 You just have to understand that you had a terrible shock； and it's going to take a while to get over it。〃
Lancer put away his weapon and joined Rook。 〃Maybe I can help；〃 he told her。 Then； gently： 〃Marlene； it's Lancer。 Listen； I know what you're going through。 It's painful and it frightens you； but you have to be strong。 You have to survive； despite the pain and fear。〃
〃I know；〃 she answered him weakly； her head resting on her arms。
〃Just have faith that it'll get better。 Soon it'll get better for all of us。〃
Still vigilant； Rand and Scott watched the scene from across the fire。 The young Forager made a cynical sound。 〃That sounds a little too rich for my blood。〃
〃Optimistic or not； Rand； he's right；〃 Scott returned。
Rand's eyes flashed as he turned。 〃I only wish I felt that confident。〃
Not far from the warmth and light of the fire； something monstrous。 was pushing itself up from beneath the snow…covered surface。 It was an unearthly ship of gleaming metals and alloys； constructed to resemble a life…form long abandoned by the race that had fashioned it。 To Human eyes it suggested a kind of bipedal crab with massive triple…clawed pincer arms and armored legs ending in cloven feet。 There was no specific head； but there were aspects of the ship's design that suggested one； central to which was a single scanner that glowed red like some devilish mouth when the craft was inhabited。 And flanking that head were two organic…looking cannons； each capable of delivering packets of plasma fire in the form of annihilation discs。
Originally a race of shapeless； protoplasmic creatures； the creators of the ship； the Invid； had since evolved to forms more patible with the beings they were battling for possession of Earth。 This creative transformation of the race had its beginnings on a world as distant from Earth as this new form was distant from the peaceful existence the Invid had once known。 But all this went back to the time before Zor arrived on Optera； before the Invid Queen…Mother； the Regis； had been seduced by him； and before Protoculture had been conjured from the Flower of Life。。。
The Regis had failed in countless attempts at fashioning herself in Zor's image but had at last succeeded in doing so with one of her children…the Simulagent Ariel； whom the Humans called Marlene。 Then； upon losing her through a trick of fate； the Queen…Mother had created Corg and Sera； the warrior prince and princess who were destined to rule while the Regis carried on with the experiment that would one day free her race from all material constraints。
It was Sera's ship that surfaced next； the heat of its sleek hull turning the glacial ice around its feet to slush。 Purple and trimmed in pink； the craft was more heavily armed than its panion ship； with a smaller head area sunk between massive shoulders and immensely strong arms。 Momentarily； four additional ships of the more conventional design surfaced around the Humans and their windblown fire。
Sera heard the Queen…Mother's mand emanate through the bio…construct ship that had led the squad to the high pass。
〃All Scouts and Shock Troopers： you may move into your attack positions at this time！ Sera； you will now take mand。 You are personally responsible for the elimination of these troublesome insurgents。〃
Sera signaled her understanding with a nod of her head toward the cockpit's mo screen。 She had dim memories of a time not long ago when she had fought against these Humans in a different climate； and acpanying this was a dim recollection of failure： of Shock Trooper ships in her charge blown to pieces； of an inability on her part to perform as she had been instructed by the Regis。。。But all this was unclear and mixed with a hundred new thoughts and reactions that were vying for attention in her virgin mind。
〃As you mand； Regis；〃 she responded as confidently as she was able； her scanners focused on the seven Humans huddled around the fire。 〃We now have them pletely surrounded。 And with our superior abilities； we will succeed in carrying out your。。。your orders。〃 Somewhat mo