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〃Well； since we're not soldiers； we don't have to follow your orders； do we？〃 Rook threw back at him； raising the faceshield of her helmet。
〃Marlene led us to this place；〃 Annie explained； climbing down from the APC。
Scott looked around unfortably。 〃She led all of us here； I guess。〃
Suddenly Rand was pointing up to the sphere； its interior was growing brighter by the second。 The glow culminated in a flash of threatening light。
〃Foolish Humans；〃 an omnipresent deep but female voice began； 〃you have e here seeking to look upon the face of the Invid Regis。。。So be it。 You shall see her。〃
Over the rainbow； indeed！ Rand said to himself。
The next thing anyone knew； someone had pulled the plug； plunging the Regis's inner sanctum into darkness； except for the inner glow of that sphere； directed down on them now like stage light。 Then a towering flame formed beneath the base of the sphere。 It was similar to the one that had enpassed Marlene earlier； only this one was larger and more menacing。 And within it they could discern a hairless humanoid figure； thirty feet high and dressed in a long red robe and strange gloves that dangled a kind of tail。
〃Behold； I am the Invid。 I am the soul and the spirit。 I have guided my people across the measureless cosmos； from a world that was lost to a world that was found。 I have led my people in flight from the dark tide of the shadow that engulfed our world； one that threatens to engulf us even now。 I am the power and the light。 I am the embodiment of the life force； the creator…protector。 In the primitive terminology of your species； I am。。。the Mother！〃
While she spoke they had views of nebulae and star systems； the journey the Invid had taken from Optera to Tirol and on to all the worlds that had led them eventually to Earth。
Light returned to the chamber； and they had a full view of the blue…eyed creature； the Invid mother。
〃You are surprised。。。So were we； when we discovered that the planet to which we were led by the Flower of Life was inhabited by the very species who had destroyed our homeworld。〃
〃I'd say ‘inhabited；'〃 Rand started to say。
〃That is of little consequence。。。Your species is nothing when weighed against the survival of my people。。。The Invid life force will not be denied。。。 〃
〃No； that's not right！〃 a small voice rang out to argue with her。 Everyone turned and saw Marlene enter the domed chamber from somewhere； just as they remembered her in her yellow jacket and blue denims。
Scott called to her。
〃So； Ariel； it is true： you are a traitor。 Was it you who led these children of the shadow into the hive？〃
〃They are not children of the shadow；〃 Marlene contradicted her。 〃They have a life force almost as strong as our own。〃
〃They are the enemies of our race。〃
〃If they oppose us； it's because we are trying to do the same thing to them that was done to us so many years ago！〃 She turned to her friends now。 〃Scott； listen to me： Perhaps if we could begin again； we might be able to find a way for our two races to share this planet together； in peace。〃
Scott closed his eyes to her and shook his head。 〃I'm sorry；〃 he told her。 〃But you must realize that's impossible。〃
〃So you'd rather have the death and destruction continue？〃
〃That's right； Marlene；〃 Lunk cut in。 〃To the bitter end if we have to！〃
Marlene made a stunned sound； she had not expected this。
〃Lemme tell you something；〃 Lunk continued。 〃Maybe you've forgotten that your species invaded our world…remember？！〃
〃I do remember；〃 she said softly。
At the edge of Earthspace the third attack group was moving into position above Reflex Point； the Shadow Fighters that rode its wake dematerializing as the mand was received for activation of the Protoculture cloaking device。
〃There are still no signs of the SDF…3；〃 the controller updated。 〃All other ships are present and accounted for。〃
〃Jinxed！〃 Reinhardt muttered。
〃Ground forces report successful penetration of the hive barrier shield； with heaviest losses sustained by the Veritech squadrons。 Invid mand is either unaware of our presence or unconcerned。 My guess is that the cloaking device has been successful。〃
〃All right；〃 the mander said； turning to the forward viewports。 〃Signal the fleet to form up for final attack formation and prepare to engage。〃 Reinhardt exhaled slowly； exhausted by the weight of his responsibility。 His confidence had been bolstered by the controller's report； but he couldn't help but dwell on the possible consequences of failure。 Hunter had called for the use of neutron bombs； which while sure to annihilate the Invid would also spell doom for much of the Earth's population。
Over the battlefield Corg was taking out ship after ship in an effort to offset Sera's betrayal。 And now his sensors were indicating the presence of Robotech mecha inside the hive itself。 He dealt out death to two more Veritechs and headed through the remnants of the shield into the heart of the hive。
In the inner sanctum； the alien the Humans knew as Marlene was still trying to get over Lunk's remarks。 〃But you've traveled with me；〃 she was telling him； the hurt evident in her voice。 〃I even thought that you liked me； or at least accepted me。 I'm no different now than I was then； Lunk。 So why have your feelings changed？〃
〃What d' ya mean； you haven't changed？〃 Lunk's face was red with rage beneath the lifted faceshield of his helmet。 〃You're an alien！ You think we woulda taken you along if we knew that？ You're a spy！〃
〃But the fact that I could travel among you as a friend should tell you something； Lunk。 Isn't it possible that we're not so different； after all。。。your people and mine？〃
The Regis had been following these exchanges with interest； and she learned more about the Humans in the past few minutes than she had in the past three years。 But Ariel still had a lot to learn。 〃Look at these friends of yours；〃 she said to Ariel and directly into the minds of the Humans。 〃Notice how they stare at you in fear and confusion…emotional states that in their species inevitably lead to hatred。。。and violence！〃
〃Yes； they're confused because they feel I betrayed them；〃 she argued； 〃but they're not full of hatred。〃
〃Your contact with them has blinded you to their true nature； my child。 It is their genetic disposition to destroy whatever they cannot understand。〃
〃Now just wait one damn minute； Dragon Lady！〃 Rand interrupted her； willing to risk a step forward。 〃I've had about enough of this！ How do you know what we're thinking？ I'm willing to take Marlene as she is…and I think Lunk feels the same underneath all that armor of his。 I don't hate her。 Especially now； knowing what she stands to lose by ing to our defense like this。 But you are another matter。 As far…〃
No one saw the crimson paralyzing rays until it was too late； they seemed to bubble up out of her blue eyes like dye； and they knocked Rand off his feet…the proverbial look that could kill…but his battle armor saved him。
〃It is natural to them；〃 she explained to Marlene/Ariel； barely missing a beat。 〃As natural as breathing itself。 Their entire history is a catalog of murder； conquest； and enslavement； all directed against others of t