按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
He began to take stock of himself and these new dark and wet surroundings。 They were in an area of huge pipes； containment chambers； baffles； valves； and regulating devices； seated near the edge of a system of channels and reservoirs that stretched out into the darkness。 Shafts of light filtered down from far above them； and the thick air was filled with the sounds of mechanized pumps and filtration units； running water； and the clank and hiss of fluid control conduits。
They were both soaked to the skin； Lisa's uncoiled long brown hair hung in wet waves halfway down her back。
She said； 〃We must be in the water…recycling chamber。 It's in terrible disrepair。〃 She laughed at her words。 〃Great time to be judgmental； huh？ This pool saved our lives。 We must have fallen a hundred feet。〃
With effort； Rick got to his feet。 〃Maybe the water broke our fall； but something else saved me from drowning。〃
Lisa averted his gaze。 〃I wasn't about to have you die on me； Hunter。〃 Then she looked directly at him。 〃Let's just call it even。〃
Rick's vision was adapting itself to the dark； he began to take notice of the refuse and debris all around them。
Nearby there were hatchways and elevator platforms； and somewhere in the distance； faint light。
〃They do let things get run…down； don't they？〃
〃I've been thinking about it； Lieutenant。 Even with all their technical knowledge； maybe they only know how to use the equipment but not how to repair it。 No techs； no maintenance personnel。 Just soldier clones； every last one of them。〃
〃All this destructive power。。。I wonder how many worlds they've ended； how many lives they've taken。 It's sickening to think about： an entire civilization dedicated to war。〃
〃I guess I should feel right at home。〃
〃What d' ya mean？〃
〃My father had a favorite saying： ‘Only where there is battle being waged is there life being lived。〃' She sighed。 〃My family has been connected with the military for the past century。。。The only life I've ever known is the Defense Forces。 ‘The mission；' that's all I can think about。〃 She gestured。 〃You heard me up there。〃
〃Yeah； but； that's why you're an officer。 You're a leader。 Head of the class and all that。〃
Lisa's eyebrows knitted。 〃How did you find that out？〃
〃It's mon knowledge。〃 Rick laughed。 〃Some of the VT pilots call you Supergirl。〃
〃Wonderful。。。〃 She looked hard at Rick。 〃You know； I don't mean to intimidate anyone。 It's just that。。。〃 A sly smile replaced her grim expression。 〃Forget it。 But I'll bet Miss Macross isn't a bit intimidating； is she？〃
Rick was taken off guard。 〃Minmei？ What makes you think…〃
〃You were calling her name： 'Minmei！ Minmei！〃' Lisa playfully mocked him。
〃All right； all right。 What of it？〃
〃You tell me。〃
〃Nothing to tell。 We're friends； that's all。 You know how it is。 She's a celebrity。 Public property。 We don't have time for each other anymore。〃
〃A major talent； I'm sure。〃
Rick gave her a look that signaled she'd gone too far。
〃Listen； Lieutenant； I'm only kidding。 At least you have someone to return to。 All I have is another mission to look forward to。〃
〃There's no one in your life？〃
〃Just call me Miss SDF…1。〃
〃That's just a matter of time。 You're a beautiful woman。 Most guys would give。。。〃
〃Yeah？〃
〃What I mean is； you're a brilliant officer； and。。。〃
Lisa didn't say anything for a minute； then she cleared her throat and stood up。 〃Well； I'm not going to meet anyone sitting around here； am I？〃
She took hold of Rick's hand。 〃Let's get out of here； Lieutenant。〃
They walked toward the light。
Engine rooms； storage rooms； empty holds； a second recycling plant； more storage areas…all in the same shabby； unwashed； and unmaintained state。 But something had changed： The air had begun to lose that overpoweringly dank smell and thickness。 A slight breeze played through Lisa's long hair。
They moved toward the source of the wind。
At the far end of a supply room filled with Battlepods and ordnance of every conceivable type； they found their exit： a rectangular port in the hull of the ship。 They ran toward this； the wind no longer gentle but chilled and full of sound； and stopped short of the edge； awestruck。
So wrapped up in finding a way out； they had forgotten that they were actually onboard a ship within a ship！
If you could call it a ship。
Beyond the portal was a sight their senses were unprepared for： hundreds of Zentraedi ships anchored weightless in the seemingly sky…blue docking chamber of the mand center。 Overe by a sudden wave of vertigo； Lisa took a step back。 Was it possible？ Dolza's ship would have to be the best kept secret in the universe…a thousand miles long…to acmodate all these vessels！ Her mind wrestled with it； her thoughts spinning out of control。
Rick had taken hold of her arm。 〃Someone's ing！〃 he told her。
They concealed themselves behind some crates near the portal。 Rick tuned in to the sounds he had heard and realized at once that no Zentraedi was capable of making so little noise。 It had to be。。。
〃Ben！ Max！〃 Lisa yelled。
The four of them reunited in a group embrace； and capsule summaries of their respective adventures and ordeals were rapidly exchanged。 Max plimented Lisa on how lovely she looked with her hair down； and she congratulated him on having been able to hang on to his 〃thinking cap〃 all this time。 Ben was in his usual good humor。
〃So what's next on the agenda； friends？〃
The intrusion of reality cooled their warm reunion somewhat； what was next； indeed？ From the edge of the portal they could see a cruiser taking on supplies through a transfer tube at a neighboring port in the flagship。
〃We could get aboard easy enough；〃 said Max； 〃but where do you think she's bound？〃
〃Does it matter？〃 Ben asked。 〃Let's go。〃
〃Hold on a minute； Ben；〃 said Lisa。 〃We were brought here on this ship。 I think we'd stand a better chance of getting back to the SDF…1 by remaining aboard。〃
Max didn't like the idea。 〃Not if the Zentraedi capture us。 We've seen too much by now。 They won't take any chances with us。〃
〃He's right；〃 Rick agreed。 〃You're in charge； Lisa； but I vote for the cruiser。〃
Lisa crossed her arms； then relaxed and smiled at them。
〃All right； let's do it。〃
They set off at once。
Finding their way to the adjacent port was more difficult than they'd imagined； but once there it was a simple matter to conceal themselves from the guards and at the right moment jump aboard the cargo conveyer。 Rick thought about mice and rats again as the team was carried out of Breetai's flagship and into the purple…armored cruiser。
Azonia was the mander of the cruiser and her all…female crew。 Highly skilled； respected； and powerful； she had earned a reputation for succeeding where others had failed。 Her attractiveness and magnetism had helped secure a brilliant career； but her soft eyes and small features belied the arrogant； self…absorbed megalomaniac many knew her to be。 Here was one who would sacrifice half her fleet to fulfill that all…consuming passion for victory…a fact that had endeared her to the Zentraedi mand but one that instilled fear in the hearts of anyone of lesser station。 In fact； among all the Zentraed