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e alloyed death machines slag and melt away in the creature's wake。 And he realized that this was to be his own fate as well。。。
There was nothing but brilliant yellow light in the viewports now； throughout the fleet men and women stood naked before it； unable to prehend what was happening but aware that it was something that had never occurred before。 They were unable to understand That they had e all this way to meet death face to face； like the Zentraedi and Robotech Masters before them。 It was as though they had been chosen to reap the whirlwind that had blown in from the other side of the galaxy。 And they were unable to understand that they had been chosen to unite with the Invid in some inexplicable way； in the same manner that the Invid were uniting with the wraiths of the Protoculture。 They were the homunculi； the Micronians who had been used by the conjurer Zor in the carrying out of the Great Work。
Some people； in ships at the perimeter of the fleet； saw that tower shoot up from Earth's surface like a lance of pure light； only to be joined as it pierced the night by coils of unequaled brilliance delivered up from the planet itself； encircling it for a brief moment like the shells enpassing an atomic nucleus。 For this really was a kind of cosmic orgasmic fusion。
〃e with me！〃 the Regis's voice rang out； like the music of the spheres。 〃Discard this world and follow the spirit of light as it beckons us onward。 And let our leavetaking heal this crippled world and reshape its destiny。〃
Then that light contacted the warships of the main fleet and digested and assimilated their strengths and weaknesses as it had the bombs sent against it； incorporating into itself all the contradictions and ironies and； most of all； Humankind's ability to wage war。
The dragon seemed to yawn and bellow its triumph as the light streaked on into the void。
〃Our evolutionary development is plete；〃 the racial voice continued。
〃To all of my children scattered throughout the cosmos。。。Follow me to a new world； a new plane。 Abandon this tortured life and follow the spirit of light as it spreads its wings and carries us to a new dimension。。。〃
And those few who survived told of the ray's plete and total transmutation。 To a feline face with bright blue eyes； through one that was surely Human in form。 And then it had collected itself into one mass。。。like a phoenix on the wing； a radiant bird with outstretched wings wider than the world it was leaving behind； soaring away quicker than thought to another plane of existence。
EPILOGUE
Which came first： the Flower or the Protoculture？
Louie Nichols； BeeZee： The Galaxy Before Zor
Life is only what we choose to make it；
Let's just take it；
Let us be free。
Lynn…Minmei； 〃We Can Win〃
There were few salvageable Veritechs left after the Transformation； but Scott Bernard had managed to secure one of them。 Most of the crew and ships of the main fleet had perished with the Invid's departure…gone with them； as some were saying。
A month had passed； and Earth was indeed beginning to heal itself； as the Regis's voice had promised it would。 Grass and nascent forest covered what had been wasteland before； and regions that had been hot since Doha's rain of death were showing markedly lower levels of radioactivity。 Even the devastated area around the central hive had been sanitized by the light's leave…taking。
But two of the Regis's children remained。。。
Scott was saying good…bye to one of them now on a rise overlooking the scene of what was to be Yellow Dancer's last concert； an outdoor amphitheater not far from the city that had once been called New York。 People had been drawn to the concert from all over the Northlands and Southlands； seeking some explanation for what had occurred； almost as though the Invid's departure had been something of a Second ing。 There was a sense that the Earth had e to play a pivotal role in events that were beyond anyone's ability to prehend； that the world had been used somehow to further one species' progress toward an end that awaited all of them。 And in the process Humankind had been saved from self…annihilation； so that Earth； too； might someday follow along the same path。
A feeling of peace prevailed； of lasting calm few had ever known。 War had been placed out of reach。 And if one were to be fought； it would have to rage without Protoculture； for almost all that precious substance； along with all the Invid Flowers； had vanished from the face of the Earth。 It would have to be a war fought with sticks and stones by a species that had been returned to a kind of primitive innocence； to childhood； perhaps。
But these issues were far from Scott's teammates' thoughts that day； rather； they were dwelling on endings and beginnings of a different sort。 For now that they had done their part in allaying everyone's initial fears and confusion； the time had e for them to think about their own individual paths and the inevitable farewells those steps toward the future would entail。 And amid all that returning splendor； there was an awkwardness they had never experienced with one another。
As for Scott Bernard； his mind was made up。 The SDF…3 had never appeared out of spacefold； and Scott was going out to look for it aboard the only fleet cruiser that had survived the Transformation。
〃But why？〃 Marlene wanted to know； raising her voice above the music booming out from the concert shell below them； where Yellow Dancer held center stage。
〃Really； Scott； what's the point？〃 Rand said； backing Marlene up even though he knew it was futile。 〃You can start a new life here。〃
〃I've got to go back；〃 Scott insisted； turning the 〃thinking cap〃 over and over in his hands。
〃But how will you figure out where to begin looking？〃 Annie asked him。 〃I mean； couldn't you be happy staying down here on Earth with your friends and everything？ Gee；〃 she added； tears welling up in her eyes； 〃I miss you already。〃
How could he explain it to them？ That although their friendship had meant so much to him this past year； he had other friends as well。 Dr。 Lang； Cabell； and so many others。 He had to find out what had bee of the SDF…3。 And more to the point； space was his home； more than the Earth ever was and perhaps more than the planet would ever be。
He looked down at Annie and forced a smile。 〃Admiral Hunter's lost out there； and someone's got to find him and his crew。 We've got to try while there's still one ship left with enough reflex power to make the fold。〃 He glanced over at Rand and Rook； Marlene and Lunk。 〃Fate brought us together for a journey none of us will ever forget。 But we've reached the end of that road； and there're only individual ones left for us now。〃 Scott shook his head。 〃I don't know； maybe to spread some of what we learned while we were together。 Does that make any sense to you？〃
Rand caught Scott's eye and smiled broadly。 So it's not meant to be a winding down； after all； he told himself； but a gearing up for new quests。。。
〃Well； good luck；〃 Lunk said dubiously； walking over to shake Scott's hand。 〃I think I'm through with the road for a while。〃 He gazed appreciatively at the green hills above the festival grounds。 〃I'm going to do a bi