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c act。
I will have my revenge for this day； he promised the stars。
Lancer insisted on saying good…bye to Simon。
〃There's no way we can ever thank you for what you and your friends have done；〃 Simon told him。 〃Why don't you stay here and leave the rest of it to them； Lancer？ Surely you've done your part by now。〃
The city's survivors were leaving the subway shelters； taking stock of what had been leveled against them。 Simon； Jorge； and the freedom fighters were near Carnegie Hall； having just finished loading the VTs with as much Protoculture as they could safely carry。
Lancer knew that Rand had heard Simon's remark and was waiting for his response。 Lancer flashed him a brief look and said： 〃I've been with these people for a long time； Simon； and I plan to be with them right to the end。〃
Simon offered an understanding nod。
〃This was just a skirmish in a much bigger war；〃 said Rand。
〃Well； I hope all of you will return someday。 And when you do； we'll have the celebration you deserve。〃 Simon embraced Lancer and wished him luck。
On their way out of the city （Lancer； Annie； and Marlene squeezed into the Beta's cramped storage space）； the team flew over the remains of a metal statue that had once stood proudly in the harbor。 It had once symbolized liberty； Lancer explained。
Scott regarded it and said： 〃I only hope we can return that to the world someday。〃
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Reflex Point consists of a central hemispherical hive close to what was once the city of Columbus； Ohio and several attendant structures linked to it by numerous Protoculture conduits and instrumentality lines。 There appear to be seven secondary nodes…one at twelve o'clock； a second at two； a third at four； a fourth and fifth at seven； and a sixth and seventh at eleven…along with an unattached and somewhat larger dome； south at six o'clock。 And that's about the best we can offer you right now； fellows。 We hope you'll be able to tell us more once you get down there。
An excerpt from the Mars Devision premission brief…as quoted by Xandu Reem in his biography of Scott Bernard
She was most definitely humanoid but of indeterminate； often variable height。 The form was as close an approximation of Zor's as was possible for the Invid Queen…Mother； with her children she could work wonders； but to bee like them she would need to divest herself pletely； a thought beyond contemplation。 Her cranium was well shaped but hairless； her large； exotic eyes a deep royal…blue； elongated to near slits； with sparse lashes and pencil…thin brows。 She was attired in gloves and a full…length red robe whose curious collar encased her ears like a kind of neck brace。 Two oval…shaped sensors were set into the robe's collar； they matched a third that was affixed to her breast。
She was deep inside the hemispherical hive that was the living heart of Reflex Point； positioned beneath an enormous globe of Protoculture instrumentality； her link with the outside world in which her children lived and died。 The trigger point for the Flower of Life grew near； but the recent events had made her more fearful than encouraged by its timely approach。 The experiment in racial transmutation had bee hurried and desperate now； in the face of an imminent Human onslaught from the far reaches of space； from that very world that had once doomed her own Optera to death…the Tirol that haunted her memories and dreams。
How like those war…hungry creatures I have bee in my drive to possess this world！ she told herself。 But wasn't this a condition of the body she inhabited？
It was strange that this very Human form should be deemed the one best suited to her designs for racial transmutation； that these very beings she and her children had labored to enslave should prove the form most suitable to the planet itself。 And yet didn't she know somewhere in her heart that this would have to be the true form； the form that she had grown to love； the form that Zor had inhabited when he first seduced the secrets of the Flower from her innocent and trusting nature？
The Regis was well aware of the recent destruction of her outpost in the Human city of tall towers and artificial environments； and that the Robotech rebels who had so far eluded her were quickly closing in on the central hive plex。 But she couldn't hold Corg or Sera accountable for their failures； or even Ariel； now that she understood。 It was this physical form itself that was to blame； once instilled with consciousness； a subtle sabotage began to occur； an undermining of all spiritual vigor。 It was like the Protoculture itself； that artificiality the Robotech Masters had conjured from her precious flowers。 These bodies took over the stuff of soul and subverted its true purpose； enslaved it to emotions and whims and unfathomable interior currents。
But if these things were not far from her mind； they were at least somewhat removed from her priorities…the continuation of the Great Work。 And the Human form； however gross； would have to serve them in this purpose； it would merely represent a stage on the way to the final realization； the transcendence itself。
The sky above the western horizon was drained of color and angry with flashes of intense light； brighter than the midday sun。 It was all the world's lightning in concert； a blinding stroboscopic show that could be seen and felt for a radius of one hundred miles。
Scott looked into the face of it； hands shielding his eyes from random bursts of unearthly whiteness。 The assault has begun； he told himself with a mixture of excitement and terror。 Hunter's forces have arrived and are attacking the hive plex itself。
The team was at the eastern perimeter of Reflex Point； Veritechs and Cyclones grounded after Scott's advance sightings and subsequent mands to regroup。 They were in an area that had seen relatively recent tectonic upheavals； jagged outcroppings that looked as though they had been thrust up from the bowels of hell and had no place in this otherwise stable terrain of soft grasslands and rolling hills。
Annie stared at the sky in wonder。 〃Is it some kind of storm？ A tornado； maybe？〃
Rand and Rook； exchanged grim glances。 〃I wish it were；〃 Rand told his young friend。 Bass sounds were rumbling across the sky； seconds late of the explosions that birthed them。
〃It has to be Admiral Hunter；〃 Scott said behind them。 Squinting； he could discern dark shapes streaking through that celestial chaos。 Hundreds of shapes…fighters； mecha； and surely the Invid ships launched to engage them。 〃Let's move in；〃 he said firmly。 〃We can't just stand here and watch。〃
They kept to the high ground and began a slow forward advance。 Oddly enough； the light show seemed to wane as they approached； and when at last they reached the arena itself…a wooded valley； host to a wide； meandering riser…they understood why。
〃We're too late；〃 Scott informed everyone over the net。
They could see for themselves what he meant from their vantage on a cliff overlooking the battleground。 The landscape was littered with the smoldering remains of Veritechs and Invid Pincer Ships and Trooper craft。 Patches of forest across the valley were burning； and layers of smoke and gas hovered above