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shadows for moral support。
However； his worst fears came true when he turned to Nova and got a backhanded fist； knuckles cocked； that sent him whirling onto the cold duracrete facedown。
〃Stay away from me； Zor！〃 she shrilled。 〃You hear me； Zor？〃 But inside； she feared that she might really have hurt him。
Komodo pushed himself up partway。 〃Lieutenant Satori； I hear you。〃 He wiped blood from his mouth。
〃Oh my god！ Captain Komodo！〃
He levered himself up。 〃Zor； eh？ Now I get it！〃 He lurched off into the blackness； sobbing； running nearly doubled over； as if she had given him some eviscerating wound。
She looked around and saw Dana standing； a small pale figure； under a nearby worklight。 〃I might've guessed； Sterling。 Now do I have to part that little blond puffball hairdo with a loading hook； or are you going to tell me…〃
She was interrupted by her own wrist set。 The only way she had been able to get some time to herself for the depot rendezvous had been to sign out for a purported tour of the GMP patrols； to check up。 So she was on duty。
〃Lieutenant Satori； we have a report of an individual； thought to be a woman； driving very erratically and recklessly in a military jeep。〃
Nova was on her Hovercycle and away before Dana could get a word in edgewise。 Dana went and vaulted into the getaway jeep that was waiting； Lieutenant Brown behind the wheel。 Dana knew Brown from his brief instructor days at the Academy； and Brown was an old close friend of Kbmodo's。
Accosted by Komodo； Brown had explained why Nova had e to see him： not a matter of passion； but rather of apology。 Then； he joined in on the plot to get Komodo and Nova together； and volunteered to act as chauffeur。
〃Go！〃 Dana howled； pointing at Nova's disappearing Hovercycle as it vanished through the loading bay doors。
〃Don't turn on the light； Zand。 Just sit down。〃
Rolf Emerson's voice was soft in the darkness of the office in Southern Cross HQ； but it still filled Zand with fear。 How had he gotten in？ Not only were there guards and surveillance equipment； but Zand himself had hidden powers that should have prevented any such unpleasant surprise。
And yet； there stood the Chief of Staff for Terrestrial Defense； in the glow spilling into the darkened office from streetlights and moonlight。 〃I won't stay long；〃 Emerson added。 〃Just close the door； sit down； and listen。〃
Zand did； leaving his office dark。 He thought about sounding an alarm； Emerson certainly outranked him； but this kind of unauthorized visit was nothing that even a general's stars would justify。 However； there were old animosities between the two； nothing Zand would like to have brought to light。 And so he sat； waiting。
〃I'm leaving in the morning； you already know that； no doubt；〃 Emerson said； sounding tired。 〃I just wanted to say this…〃
Suddenly he was at Zand's side； his strong hand around Zand's throat。 Emerson shook him like a rag doll as the Robotech scientist made strangling sounds。
〃You will leave Dana alone while I'm gone； do you hear me？ If I e back to find that you've tried anything； anything； I'll kill you with this same hand and let the Judge Advocate court…martial me。〃
For all his mild appearance； Zand could easily have shaken off the grip of virtually anyone else； the Protoculture powers he had given himself through dangerous experimentation made such physical tricks simple。
But for some reason； Zand's enhanced powers simply didn't work on Emerson。 It was as if the general was immune to Zand's abilities。 Emerson knew very little about Protoculture； he had no conscious access to its vast gifts。 Emerson had no idea that he was throttling a superman。
He shook Zand。 〃Do you hear？〃 Zand managed to nod； breath rattling。 Emerson let him go。 There would be fearsome bruises on his throat by daylight。
The last time Zand felt Emerson's grip on his throat was fourteen years ago。 That was at night； too； when Emerson burst into Zand's lab upon discovering that Zand was running bizarre experiments on the baby daughter left behind by Max and Miriya Sterling。 He was exposing Dana to Protoculture treatments and substances from some strange alien plant。 Emerson had heard it had something to do with activating the alien side of her mind and genetic heritage。 The general was Bowie's guardian； but had been a good friend to Dana's parents。
Zand had believed he would die that night； that moment； Emerson's strength seemed illimitable。 Or perhaps it was simply that none of Zand's acquired powers worked in Emerson's presence？ Zand avoided him from that time to this moment； and Emerson had made sure； no matter where he was or what he was doing； that Dana was beyond Zand's reach。
Gasping and wheezing； rubbing his throat； Zand tried to make some sense of it。 How could a mortal like Emerson block the Shapings of the Protoculture this way？ And in such plete ignorance of what it was that he was doing？ It was as if the overwhelming frustration of it all was some tithe Zand had to pay to win that ultimate triumph； that incredible prize； that he saw promised to him by the Shaping。
It was even more humiliating that Emerson didn't even realize with whom he was dealing。 To Emerson； Zand was some half…demented Protoculture mystic from R&D； who had deviated from the saner paths followed by Dr。 Lang； and ended up deranged。
〃I know you've been keeping tabs on her through backchannels and informants；〃 Emerson said quietly。 〃Don't ever do it again。 If I have to e and see you a third time； Doctor； it will be to take you off the roll call for good！〃
Zand didn't even realize that Emerson had moved away from him until he heard the door open and close。 The heir to Emil Lang's Protoculture secrets； and master of new； more perilous secrets of his own； massaged his tortured windpipe One thing was clear： Emerson was an obstacle that would have to be dealt with first。
Dana Sterling was vital； because she stood at the center of all Zand's star…spanning schemes。
Marie wove her jeep through the streets and byways of Monument City。
What a little idiot I've been！ I knew what Sean was like。 I heard all the stories。 Yet I still believed he'd change just for me！
She ignored lights； ignored speed limits； ignored all peril to herself and others； sideswiping whoever didn't stay out of her way。 The night and imminent death drew her on。
Her jeep bounced through an alley and onto an access road that would take her to the cliff overlooking the city。 She wasn't thinking clearly about what she would find there； but something told her it would be better than what she was feeling now； and she liked the feeling of the accelerator under her stockinged foot。 She only wished she were in her mecha。
It took her some time to realize that a GMP Hovercycle and a jeep were behind her。 Over a loudspeaker Nova Satori's voice was manding her to halt。
Marie stepped on the accelerator。
As the chase barreled out onto the cliff headland； Nova tried to sideswipe her to a halt。 Marie's jeep jounced off a rock； and slewed at the cycle。 Marie had an instant's view of Nova's terrified face as she fought her handlebars。 Marie hit the brakes and over…corrected； and her jeep went sliding towa