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〃Shoot for the faceplates； that's their weak spot！〃 Dana confirmed； as the ATACs rushed the hatch； covering one another。 〃If y'get one or two away from the third； it slows them down； if you get a trio； hit them at exactly the same moment。 Looks like that overloads 'em somehow。〃
〃They have discovered an inherent weakness of our Invid Fighter；〃 Shaizan said tonelessly。 It seemed that the single…thinking Human animals were a match for the Three…Who…Act…as…One。
Dag said； 〃Then； we must reactivate Zor Prime's programming； and resume full mand of his mind and actions。〃
A perfect solution。 There could be no chancre of malfunction； since Zor was so close to the Protoculture cap。
Bowkaz touched his long； nailless fingers and his palm to a mottled patch of the cap； and the patch shone with radiance。 〃It is done。〃
〃Lieutenant； somethin's wrong with Zor！〃
It was odd to hear concern in Angelo's voice。
Dana and the others stopped and pounded back to where Angelo's Battloid faced Zor's； which stood stiff as a manikin。
The power of Protoculture coursed through Zor's brain； taking control of every corner of his mind in moments。
Dana shook the paralyzed Battloid a little。 〃Zor； what's wrong？ Are you hit？ Answer me！〃
Suddenly the Three…In…One lashed out； grabbing the enormous alloy fist of Dana's Valkyrie in its own； bending it in a take…away hold； threatening to rip it off。
Angelo yelled； 〃Zor； that's enough！〃 He had his rifle up； but Dana was in his line of fire。
She worked a quick hand…to…hand trick； rotating her mecha's wrist out of the grip and yanking herself free。 〃What's gotten into you？〃
But Zor's Battloid was already running in the other direction； off toward a side passageway。
Dana only had a second to decide； and no time to sort through her various motives。 A part of her simply could not bear to see Zor go off； perhaps blanked out again or suffering some mental seizure； to be captured or slain。 Furthermore； he was an important resource to her mission and to the Southern Cross； perhaps her best hope of doing her job in the mother ship and getting her unit out alive。
But she couldn't risk her whole squad trying to tackle one berserk trooper。 〃Angelo； e with me！ The rest of you set up security here and maintain radio contact！〃
They had barely started to chase Zor when another threesome of the reds tried to block their way。 Dana felt sure the Triumviroids were covering Zor's escape； that he had given them the order to do so。
Dana managed a broken…field run through them； but Angelo took one out with a shoulder block； slamming it against the bulkhead； as the disc guns opened up and the rifle/cannon replied。 The passageway was an inferno of close…range firing。
Sean yelled an obscenity as he； Louie； and Bowie set up the heaviest fire they could； distracting the enemy from Dana and Angelo。 The Triurnviroids seemed to hear an unspoken order； and turned their attention on the remaining troopers。 The mecha blasted at each other； blowing holes in deck and bulkheads； brilliant spears of novafire skewing across the small distance separating them。
CHAPTER TEN
You look at us and ask why we are slaves。 But we look at you and wonder why you are not。 What hideous mutation has given you the curse of free thought； and taken away your peace of mind forever？
Remark of an anonymous clone to ATAC trooper Corporal Louie Nichols
This place could be Roman！ Dana thought； looking around the partment into which Zor had disappeared。
It was like same vast gathering hall or ballroom； There was invader systemry around the bulkheads。 But set all around the hall/partment were what seemed to be marble columns in the classic style； supporting entablatures with carved friezes。 The ceiling was a smooth dome of polished stone。 It made no sense to her； and she had no time to puzzle over it all。
〃Zor！ Zor； please e out！〃 The design of the bulkheads was so strange； she couldn't tell what might be a hatch or place of concealment； the columns were too small to offer a Battloid cover。
〃We're your friends； Zor！〃
Angelo's Trojan Horse came double…timing up； having hung back to cover their rear。 〃Lost him； huh？〃
〃I saw him e in here。〃
Angelo raised his weapon。 〃He can't be trusted。 He betrayed us。〃 The punishment for treason in wartime or desertion under fire was obvious。 〃And I'm gonna give him what he's got ing。〃
It was also obvious that Zor wasn't going to willingly show himself； but Angelo had his own straightforward solution for that。 〃Gladiator mode！〃
The sergeant imaged the transformation through his spike…topped thinking cap； and his Trojan Horse went through mechamorphosis。
Angelo opened fire； hitting one of the columns dead center。 It broke into a shower of stone splinters and dust； collapsing and breaking into a thousand fragments。 He traversed the barrel and let off another round； blowing chunks from the ceiling。
〃C'mon； Zor！ Show yourself。〃
He was right； Dana saw。 All her anger at the Robotech Masters welled up； what right did they have to live in such beauty； slave keepers that they were？ She went to Gladiator as well； and together she and Angelo Dante stomped about the hall； firing； demolishing the gorgeous entablatures and columns。
Then at random she fired at another bulkhead of rectangular metal。 The rectangle crumpled and fell； revealing a space beyond。 The hatch fell and through the smoke and flame stepped one lone red Bioroid。
〃Zor！〃 Dana knew it had to be him。 All her anger was gone in a moment； and the terrible thought that she had lost him again； perhaps forever； to the Masters； brought out the other side of her personality。 Forgetting everything； she hiked herself up out of her seat； and leapt to lower herself from her cockpit…canopy。 〃Zor！〃
〃Lieutenant！〃 Angelo's first impulse was to fire for effect； but before he could do anything； she was in too close； nearly at the Bioroid's feet； arms held up to it imploringly。
〃Oh； Zor；〃 she cried forlornly。 〃Don't you remember me？ Have they taken that from you； too？〃 But the great discus…shaped handgun in the red fist swung to bear on her。
Angelo locked down his controls and rose； to drop from his tank。 He couldn't start a firefight and he wouldn't leave Dana to be captured or killed。 He chose not to question his own motives as he ran to stand at her side； but he knew loyalty and duty were not his only ones。
Dana was so young and beautiful； so filled with a fighter's spirit。。。In his whole life； he had met only a handful like her： good soldier； reliable panion。。。someone you could trust； could count on。 In Angelo's vocabulary； those words meant everything。
Zor's voice came to them without benefit of their headphones。 It sounded； once more； as it had when Dana had first seen him revealed； near the burial mound of SDF…1。 His mindspeech was thin and reedy； higher than it had been a few moments ago； and sounding like someone talking on the inhalation rather than the exhalation。
〃Do not move。 Surrender or you will be instantly destroyed。 〃
〃Zor；〃 she murmured； distraught。 〃What have they done to you？〃
Then light broke from the Bioroid as its head swung back。 Its chest and shoulders opened outwards；