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Not that he counted the battle lost yet； the Haydonite defenses had been designed to eliminate most of an invading force before that force got to the planet's surface； and the Invid were already at close range。 The Regent had an advantage no invader had ever achieved before。
〃Destroy all power sources！〃 he ordered。 〃Obliterate the planet's energy production centers！ The Regent was certain that without power； the antibodies would quickly de…rezz into nothingness。
Those Invid not engulfed in Zor antibodies immediately began destroying all power sources they could detect； which meant razing things at random。 The biped Inorganics； in particular； destroyed ages of craftsmanship and art in minutes； turning their aim haphazardly from one target to the next。 Minarets toppled； domes shattered； and delicate mansions collapsed like fragile pastry crust。 Fires flared up； and smoke began to block out Briz'dziki； Haydon's sun。
Then mo relays showed the Regent the nature of the antibodies。 Zor； again！ The Regent's entourage ducked and ran from his berserk blows； he lashed out at the consoles and instrument panels around him。 He wrenched the mand chair from the deck； flinging it against a bulkhead so hard that the chair dented the plates。
Zor！ The perversity of the Haydon IV machinery！ The towering affrontery of it！ 〃I will have this planet or I will destroy it！〃 the Regent roared。
Though he was in a part of the city that had been spared the appearance of the antibodies； the Regent thought better of his plan to travel on the ground。 He called for a Terror Weapon troop dropship； but of the three on Haydon IV at the moment； two were elsewhere on the planet picking up reinforcements and the third had been destroyed while hovering near its landing pad not far from the Central Slavepen。
The Regent changed his instructions； and the Land Cruiser swung toward the starport。 Time to make a break for his flagship； while he still had other cards to play。 A screen relayed the scene from the Land Cruiser's brig； showing him that Rem was still firmly chained there。 The Regent stroked his mammoth Hellcats and contemplated the horrors he would inflict on the clone when all this was over。
Even Jack and his team； who had seen the Haydon antibodies in action in other forms； had difficulty believing what they were witnessing。 From the very walls of the dungeons came doll…size Zors in every color； setting upon the Inorganics； bringing them down and blowing them apart。
They were a reminder； too； of Rem； who was still held captive by the Regent。
In the slavepens； the counterattack on the Praxians and the Sentinels stopped cold。 The main danger to the defenders now was the deafening sound of the Inorganic volleys and the reports of the mecha being blown apart。
Nevertheless； the Inorganics had taken a considerable toll on the antibodies。 When the simulacra…Zors flickered away to carry the battle outside； like torch flames on the wind； there were far fewer than there had been at the start。 The Invid destruction of Haydon's power…delivery systems was beginning to tell。
Vowad reappeared with the elevator for the next load of evacuees； but now there was no rush。 Arla…Non had her other injured ready； but many of the others wanted to be part of the campaign there underground； sweeping the Invid from the plex and searching for any other enslaved Praxians。
〃What would be most useful；〃 Lisa told Vowad； 〃would be smaller flying carpets； to support the Praxians elsewhere in the city and on the planet。〃
Vowad spoke in a monotone； still numb with the enormity of Sarna's death and his own act of vengeance。 〃I will see what can be done；〃 he said； 〃but most Haydonites are busy rescuing themselves and their dependents。 The city is dying。〃
Still； Arla…Non sent a platoon of her amazons up with Vowad； to help secure the roof and stand ready in case the opportunity arose to rescue other Praxians。
When the elevator left； the Sentinels and the released slaves began a careful advance over the ground the Invid had held only minutes before。 There was nothing but debris； smoke； and puddles of metal。
The Praxians returned to the armory and continued their plundering。 Outside the Central Slavepen； Rick and the rest found the immediate area quiet； though the sounds of battle came from close…by。
Vowad appeared； this time on a much smaller carpet。 〃I have summoned others；〃 he said； 〃and they will take you and yours anywhere you wish。〃
High above； Rick could see； some carpets of varying sizes were lifting off； some to take the wounded to the Halls of Healing； others to descend to the street and await passengers； all manded by Haydonites unfamiliar to him。 He realized that the Haydonites had somehow subdivided the huge carpet Sarna had brought。
Maybe there's only one real carpet； it occurred to him； and all the little ones are just temporarily detached pieces！
Arla…Non's troops boarded the carpets by assigned units； to be borne off to rescue more of their Sisters。 Bela had assumed the status of her mother's second…in…mand； and Gnea was a kind of aide…de…camp。 It was odd to see the hard…driving Bela deferring to someone so readily； but Arla…Non wore an invisible cloak of authority and majesty； Jack didn't blame Bela one bit。
Vowad was still next to Rick and Lisa。 〃We have attempted to contact your Ark Angel； but the Invid still interfere with our transmissions； things beyond the Haydonite atmosphere are not always within our control。〃
〃That's all right；〃 Lisa said gently。 〃There are more immediate things to think about。〃 The raiders had heard the news of Sarna's death and Vowad's sudden conversion。 Lisa had suffered her own losses in war and knew how deeply it hurt。
〃Yes。〃 Vowad nodded。 〃Power levels are dropping； due to the Invid destruction。 Inorganic reinforcements are being airlifted into Glike； and the oute hangs in the balance。 But that is not what concerns me most。 The Regent is reported to be on his way to the starport； his ship standing ready。 Your friend Rem； the Zor…clone； is still his prisoner。
〃I fear the worst。〃
Jack Baker did not have enough time to say hello to Karen Penn when he saw her。 〃So； they finally kicked you outta sick bay； huh？〃 Then it was back to fighting for their lives as the Inorganics pressed the battle； down in the slave warrens。
Now； up on the open street； he sought her out in the chaos of battle。 Sliding around a flying squad of big； gladsome amazons off to collect some more Inorganic scalps； he skirted the smoking remains of a skirmish ship； and finally spotted her。 She was listening to the sounds of conflict； but she was staring off toward the cloud…high towers of Glike。
〃Um；〃 he began； and found himself at a loss。 〃You sure you're okay？ No aftereffects？〃
She flashed him a smile。 〃Yes。 Thanks； Jack。〃
She looked back to the skyline。 〃Well； what's wrong then？〃 he persisted。
〃Nothing's wrong； Jack。 It's just that。。。all this。。。maybe it's just as well that Glike be leveled； to start from scratch。〃
〃Huh？ Look； these're our allies now； y'know！〃
She turned a hateful expression on him。 〃Allies； hell！ They're not the first beautiful culture to put up with rot and evil in its mids