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again about ordering his gunners to open fire and raze the city around him as he withdrew； but that would run the risk of attracting the antibodies。 His own life was all…important to the Invid cause； far too vital to risk for mere retribution。
It was too bad this entire part of Glike seemed to have been evacuated； he would have taken consolation in grinding the miserable synthetics under his mobile fortress's treads。 It might； in part； make up for his having had to abandon his Flower of Life orchards just as they were about to bear Fruit。
Perhaps he would still be able to retake his Haydon hive。 With this thought； he ordered his techs to relay the view from the automatic monitoring equipment inside the orchard。 But where he had expected a view of luxuriant Fruit of the Flower； he found himself gazing at an outlandish yet somehow familiar…looking monstrosity that sat gorging itself。 Off to one side hunkered a young Perytonian。
〃By the Protoculture！〃 the Regent howled。 The two…way channel being open； the thing squatting in the hive orchard looked up at the munications pickup。
〃Ah； the Divine； the All…Knowing； the Omnipotent Regent；〃 the thing purred。 〃Thank you for your hospitality。 How delicious； this Fruit of yours！〃
〃T…Tesla？〃 the Regent whispered。
〃Yes； Tesla！ And soon； you'll know what the godlike powers of the Flower really are； for Tesla will demonstrate them to you！〃
The Regent's anger was so great that he was tempted to turn the Land Cruiser around and go back to obliterate the hive and Tesla。 But there was no time； tactical displays showed enemy forces overwhelming the city garrison with the help of the accursed Haydonite antibodies。 The Regent cut the munications link with a smashing blow of his fist。
〃Increase speed！〃 he howled。
The scientist cowered。 〃We are at maximum speed now； All…Powerful One。 Crushing our way through the city makes the going somewhat difficult。〃
Another scientist added； 〃We have detected vessels emerging from superluminal drive in deepspace； but have as yet been unable to make contact。〃
〃Well； make sure my flagship is ready to lift off the moment I arrive；〃 the Regent roared。 If those were Invid ships； he would fry Haydon IV from a safe distance； if not； he would be ready for a strategic withdrawal in the fastest vessel in the Invid fleet。
〃And where are our reinforcements？〃 he added。
〃They are being delivered now to the eastern and northern sectors of the city； Mighty One； for diversionary counterattacks to facilitate our withdrawal。 We are also monitoring a droppage in city power resources； and a corresponding decrease in antibody activity。〃
Perhaps it would be possible to win after all。 How the Sentinels and the Haydonites and the Praxians would pay！ He began planning an elaborate； days…long festival of torture and executions； but the daydream was smashed to pieces moments later。
〃Signal from the approaching starships； Omnipotent Lord；〃 a technician said。 With that； the face of Breetai appeared on the screen。
The giant felt an unsmiling satisfaction。 He had somehow known all along； in his bones； that the Regent was not dead。 There was no way the creature could have been tricked or yielded up his life so easily。
For a few seconds； the Regent found that he couldn't catch his breath。 Breetai； the Zentraedi's most brilliant mander； and； after the late Dolza； their most powerful warrior！
Breetai glared at the Regent。 〃We're ing for you；〃 he said； and nothing more。 The screen went blank。
The Regent sent his staff scurrying with angry blows and kicks。 〃More speed！ I'll kill the first one to offer me excuses！〃
His ace in the hole might be of crucial importance after all。 The Regent faced his brace of pet Hellcats。 〃Go； and fetch the Zor…clone to me！〃
They sprang away； and the Regent summoned a lackey。 Quietly； so that the others present couldn't hear； he directed； 〃Have my personal battle armor prepared。〃
The carpet was barely big enough for two heavily armed Humans and Veidt； and jostling was a hazardous business indeed。 But somehow Jack and Karen managed to keep their footing as the thing whooshed through the sky。 How Veidt maintained his place； levitating above the carpet as he did； was something the Humans couldn't understand。
They came up on the Land Cruiser from behind； as it ground Glike under it； making its ponderous way toward the starport。 Figuring speed and distance； Karen calculated that they only had a few minutes to find and save Rem。
〃How're we gonna find him； in a crate that size？〃 Jack said over the sound of the air rushing by them。
〃I can sense his whereabouts；〃 Veidt responded simply。 With the trauma of Sarna's death； Veidt seemed changed…more intense； more capable； but cold and remote。 A terrible price to pay for increased powers； Karen reflected sadly。
She brought her mind back to matters at hand。 〃I'm more worried about how we're gonna get into that tin can。〃
〃Vowad has arranged for。。。a diversion；〃 Veidt said。 Even as he said it； kaleidoscopic flames licked up from the rubble around the Land Cruiser's treads and the buildings about to be crushed under them。 The flames circled and formed a swirling whirlpool； a scintillating funnel of Haydonite antibody power。 Up and up it rose； until it stood two hundred feet high。 Then it shifted； flashing； and took form。
〃Oh my god！〃 Karen breathed。
It was a fiery image of Zor； straddled…legged； blocking the Land Cruiser's path of retreat。
〃Kill him！ Kill him！？the Regent yammered； laying about him on the Land Cruiser's bridge。 〃I； your god； mand you to kill Zor for once and for all！〃
When the Land Cruiser loosed its awesome barrage at the unmoving figure； Veidt was ready。
He wove the carpet in among the volleying supercannon and lesser gun batteries。 The salvos were disintegrating the cityscape before them； but had no apparent effect on the colossal Zor。
High on the aft part of the cruiser's hull； a rack of missiles was rising into place from its shielded pod。 As the pod doors opened to allow it to rise； Veidt swooped through； into the space between the hulls。 Karen and Jack found themselves clinging to one another； trying to keep their footing； praying the Haydonite knew what he was doing。
Jack was so scared that he couldn't even enjoy the embrace。
Veidt seemed to know the entire layout of the cruiser； every nut and bolt。 An ammo elevator to the launcher's magazine gave them； in turn； access to a utility core。 In seconds； they were racing down a passageway scaled to media size； high over the heads of the preoccupied Invid。
Veidt flew them to a remote part of the cruiser's belly。 They stopped before a partment with a giant hatch。 〃Rem's cell；〃 Veidt explained。
But the hatch was open。 Karen and Jack piled off； rifles ready； to peer inside。 The Regent's two Hellcats； having cornered Rem； spun on the intruders。
The 'Cats pounced at the Humans even as Jack and Karen brought their muzzles up blazing。
Clad in his heavy； powered battle armor； the Regent railed and raved as his cruiser's most powerful cannonades failed to have any effect on the enormous figure of Zor that stood blocking his way。
〃Have my flagship lift off and op