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Zeus Bellow； The Road to Reflex Point
In the cockpit of her mand ship； Sera flashed a self…satisfied smile at her display screen。 The Human pilots had hoped to get the better of her troops by reconfiguring their craft； but； vastly outnumbered； they were sustaining the same losses in Battloid mode as they had in Guardian。 But suddenly her scanners revealed that Lancer's fighter had been one of those to feel the Invid wrath； and although his ship had not been destroyed； it was plummeting toward Earth； hopelessly out of control。 As she watched him fall； memories of his face played across the screen； and when she could bear no more of it； she engaged the thrusters of her ship and fell in to rescue him。
Ariel's words came back to her now： We have learned nothing Sera； nothing！ And she answered back： 〃You're wrong； Ariel。 I have learned to love at least one of our enemies； enough to betray my own people。〃
Lancer caught sight of the rapidly approaching Invid mand ship and guessed that it was corning in to finish him off。 He had been struggling with the canopy release switches but had since abandoned any idea of freeing up the jammed mechanisms。 His teeth were gritted now； and he was resigned to death。 But all at once the Invid was actually scooping up his wounded ship in its armored arms； and far from annihilating him； the enemy was pulling him out of his fall。 He glanced up and saw through his canopy and the enemy ship's bubble cover that it was the blond woman pilot。 Whether she was XT or Human had yet to be learned； but whoever； she was saving his life。
〃Why？〃 he shouted。 〃Why？！〃
And somehow her voice found its way through the VT's mand net to answer him： 〃Don't ask me to explain；〃 she told him。 〃But in saving your life I have forfeited my own！〃
At the same time her ship let go of his； but the Alpha's systems were revived now； and the foot thrusters were able to maintain it at treetop level。 Lancer had the Battloid's rifle/cannon raised； and it would have been a simple matter to destroy the mand ship； but instead he let it escape unharmed； confused by this latest turn of events。
Closer to the hive； Scott was still staring at the flame cloud Marlene inhabited。 Several other Battloids were similarly suspended； awed by the sight。
〃Marlene。。。is it you？〃 Scott asked the thing hesitantly。 〃Is it really you？〃
In response； the flame leapt toward the hive。 Cocooned within its radiance； Marlene； tike some living filament； stretched out her arms； and sinuous waves of lightning leaked into the sky。
Scott engaged the VT's boosters and shot after her。 Lancer was right behind him。
Corg's ship was not far off； while he watched the two Earth mecha streak off in pursuit of Ariel's projected image； the voice of the Regis entered his ship； informing him of Sera's betrayal。
〃She did what？〃 Corg said in disbelief。
〃It is true； Corg；〃 the Regis repeated。 〃She has saved the life of one of the Robotech rebels。〃
〃Then she is as tainted as Ariel。〃 How was it that this Human species could make his sisters abandon their duty？ he asked himself。
He vented his rage against two Battloids and three Alphas； destroying all of them with blasts from the forearm cannons of his ship； then he soared after Ariel and her rebel friends。
But if the flame had begun to alter itself； so had the weather。 The land had suddenly passed from spring to summer； and now autumn leaves were falling。 Rand and Rook were still following Marlene's form； a flickering sun trailing tendrils of light。
〃Marlene；〃 Rand shouted over the net； hoping she could hear him。 〃What does all of this mean？！ What's going on？〃
If they had any doubts that what they were seeing was truly Marlene； the voice they heard put an end to all of them。
〃Can't you understand？〃 the flame seemed to ask； oscillating as it moved； its naked filament regarding them over her shoulder； long red hair streaming out behind as though it were a part of the light itself。 〃We are only trying to find a place where we can live in peace and security。〃
〃Yeah； but you forgot something；〃 Rand reminded her angrily。 〃This planet is our home； not some Invid retirement munity。〃
〃You must believe me； it was never our plan to destroy Humanity。〃
Marlene's flame shot ahead of them； a free…floating electrical disturbance against the crimson and yellow surface of the hive。
〃Then what was your plan？〃
〃I am neither Human nor pletely Invid。 I am a new form of life that is a blending of the two。 I see that now； although my Regis does not。 I can see that it was never our destiny to remain in this Human form。 But I must somehow make her understand。〃
Even though they were scattered； the rest of the team…Scott and Lancer； Lunk and Annie…were monitoring the conversation。
〃And this new form of life is planning to replace the old one； I suppose；〃 said Lancer； still thinking about the humanoid pilot who had saved his life。
〃My friends； follow me into the central core； the heart of the Invid civilization。 There all your questions will be answered。〃
With that the flame dove into the hive； opening a radiant portal in the side of the dome。
〃She went in；〃 Annie said in an amazed voice from the shotgun seat of the APC。 〃You're not going to follow her； are you？〃 she added； tugging on Lunk's arm。
〃You better believe I am；〃 he told her firmly。 〃Listen； Mint； if you're scared； you can hop out。 I'll be back for you。〃
〃I'm not scared；〃 she harumphed； turning her back to him。 〃I don't think。。。 〃
They were approaching a blinding white hole in the side of the hive now； driving entirely out of their own world； destined perhaps never to return。
It was a little like being underwater or within a living bloodstream； replete with cells and corpuscles。 In the distance they could discern a blinding white sphere； bisected by a horizontal ray that spanned the field from one side to the other。
And Marlene's form was still leading them in。
〃I can't believe it；〃 Rand said to Rook over the net。 〃We're inside Reflex Point。 I thought we were supposed to be destroying this place； not taking the grand tour。〃
〃I think I prefer the view from the outside。 Where do you suppose she's taking us？〃
〃Over the rainbow；〃 said Rand。
Almost everyone emerged at the same moment： Rook and Rand； still in Battle Armor mode； Lunk and Annie in the APC； and Lancer and Scott in their fighter mode Alphas。 The place was a huge cavernous chamber； filled with light and supported by what seemed to be webwork strands of living neural tissue。 Suspended overhead was an enormous globe of pure Protoculture instrumentality； a kind of veined bronze sphere with dark shadows moving and shaping within it； responding to a will that was fearful to contemplate。
They were all shocked to see each other； but where Annie was excited； Scott was angry； he threw off his 〃thinking cap；〃 raised the canopy of the alpha； and hopped out； storming over to the two Cycloners。
〃I thought I told you two to stay put；〃 he began。 〃You're not soldiers！〃
Rand marveled that the man could even be entertaining such thoughts given the circumstances。
〃Well； since we're not soldiers； we don't have to follow your orders； do we？〃 Rook th