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〃I suppose so；〃 she started to say； wondering if she could bring herself to admit more。
〃Well； there's nothing more to find out；〃 he answered before she could go on。 〃So get back in your fighter and forget about trying to involve yourself in this。〃
〃But I'm already involved；〃 Rook shouted。 〃I knew who you were this afternoon。 I didn't need to learn that in town。 And all I'm asking you for is an explanation。〃
Dusty started back to his cycle。 〃I've got things to do； Rook。 I don't have time for this。〃
Rook pushed wet hair back from her face。 〃I guess I was naive to think I could keep you from killing again； so you leave me no choice。。。〃 She drew her blaster and leveled it at him。 〃I'm a soldier； Dusty； just like the rest of them。 I have friends to protect。〃
She could see that she had surprised him； but he made no move for his weapon。 〃I don't want to hurt you； Rook…〃
〃Don't move or I'll fire；〃 she warned him。
〃You're making a mistake；〃 he said after a moment。 〃Just put the blaster away and listen to me。 Don't make me do something I'm going to regret。〃
Rook's nostrils flared； but she couldn't keep Dusty's words from undermining her will。 She recalled how he had shot Rand； and she recalled the stories of his invulnerability。。。At last she lowered her weapon； and Dusty thanked her。
〃You remember what I told you at the river； Rook？ About the Invid's experiments with me？〃 He tossed the poncho over one shoulder and opened his shirt to give her a good look at the alloy plates that covered half his chest。 〃My friends let this happen to me； Rook。 They stood by and let those monsters use me like a laboratory animal。 They replaced my entire right side piece by piece with Protoculture…generated organs and these metallic prostheses。〃 Ayres glared at her。 〃Do you really blame me for hunting them down？〃
Rook lifted her head to answer him。 〃It must have been unbearable；〃 she began on a sympathetic note。 〃But think about it； Dusty： you were a soldier once。 Maybe your friends couldn't get to you。 Maybe they tried and failed。 And look what you're doing now： you're killing the only people who can avenge you。 Your enemies are the Invid。 How can you be sure they didn't implant something in your brain when they were carrying out those experiments…something that would pel you to attack your own friends。〃
Rook waited for him to respond。 The latter possibility made a lot more sense to her than the former； because if Dusty's friends really had made an attempt to rescue him； why were they now acting like the whole deal was one big mystery to them？ It was a moot point； though： Dusty was shaking his head； rejecting what she had said。
He raised his prosthesis into the cycle's headlamp and indicated eleven crosshatched marks engraved into the forearm alloy。 〃Each mark is a name I'd just as soon forget；〃 he told her。 〃But I won't forget until I've killed every one of them！〃
More than the marks； Rook could see the madness in Dusty's eyes。 〃I understand；〃 she said softly。
He uttered a short maniacal laugh。 〃I was hoping you would； Rook。〃 He goosed the cycle's throttle and pulled the hat down on his forehead。 〃I've got no gripe with your friends； but don't try to stop me…any of you。 〃
Rook allowed him to ride off。 We'll meet again； she told herself。 And I'll do what I have to do。。。
Rand took out another Pincer unit with heat…seekers from the undercarriage launch rakes and reconfigured to Battloid mode； bringing the rifle/cannon out in the mecha's metalshod right fist。
〃It looks like we've gotten ourselves into a hole this time；〃 Lunk said from the ground； where the soldiers were pouring fire into the sky。
Employing the foot thrusters to stabilize the ship； he raised the weapon to high port position and bracketed yet another Invid in his sights。 He triggered off a burst； catching the ship midsection。 〃Just keep firing；〃 Rand told Lunk； while the enemy fell like a meteor。
Scott screeched his mecha to a halt and stood up； straddling the seat to bring his assault rifle into play。 In the distance at ground level； he saw a bright light moving toward him。 〃Something's ing！〃 he alerted the others。
〃Let's hope it's on our side；〃 said Lancer。
Lunk lowered his weapon to have a look at it。 〃It's sure moving fast！〃
Suddenly the Invid ships ceased their attack and began forming up on the blue leader； as though to observe the arrival of the newer。 Then Rand's voice cut through the net： 〃That's Dusty Ayres's machine！〃
With a dozen Invid ships still overhead； Rand expected Scott would have had sense enough to pull back and regroup； but instead； he heard Scott say； 〃Let's get him！〃 and launch himself in pursuit of the outlaw。 Two of the other Robotech soldiers followed his lead。
Dusty Ayres saw the Cyclones speeding toward him and flashed a satisfied grin。 Well； well； Steve and Kent driving out with their greetings； he thought。 How considerate of them。 The launcher's panel slid to； and Ayres let his thumb hover over the trigger button。 〃Now die！〃 he screamed； and fired。
Missiles streaked from the rack and found their targets； the two riders were blown to bits。 Scott squinted as flames geysered up out of the sands； instantly superheating the air and filling it up with the stench of death。 〃Outflank him！〃 Scott manded Lancer and the fifth Cycloner。 〃We'll try a cross fire！〃
The three Cyclones and the APC converged on the lone rider； announcing themselves with a horizontal storm of lethal rounds。 But Ayres appeared to be weathering it all； his clothes were torn to shreds and aflame； but the man himself was unscathed。
〃They were right； Scott！ The guy's indestructible！〃 Lancer exclaimed。
Ayres answered the challenge with shots of deadly accuracy； first taking out the Cycloner； then picking off the soldiers in the APC one by one before loosing missiles against the vehicle itself。 Lunk was thrown a good twenty feet from the fiery wreck； when he looked up； he saw Scott hovering over Ayres in Battle Armor mode； dumping everything the mecha had against him。 Lancer pulled up a moment later； and Scott put down beside the two of them。
〃Nice shooting；〃 said Lancer as the three of them regarded the ruin that was Dusty's cycle。
But it wasn't over yet： Ayres…at least something that resembled Ayres…was stepping from the flames。
〃I must be seeing things！〃 Lunk cried。
Scott's eyes went wide beneath the helmet faceshield。 〃I wish I could say you needed glasses； but I'm seeing it； too！〃
In the meantime； everyone had forgotten about Rand…all except the Invid Enforcer； that is。 The rest of the ships were still in formation overhead； but the mander had pursued Rand to the ground。 Still in Battloid mode； he was trying to go one on one with the thing； but his reconfigured fighter was an infant to the enemy's giant。
Fortunately； Rook came roaring to his aid not a moment too soon； somehow managing to pilot her red VT right through the Pincer bat units without a fight。 Together； the two Veritechs turned on the Enforcer and brought it down with enough explosive heat to turn the rain to clouds of steam。 When the Pincer Ship pilots saw this； they broke formation and fell on the Humans； but by now Rand and Rook were