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〃Fascinating。 The Earthlings have a pronounced tendency to turn upon one another in confinement；〃 Shaizan remarked。
Dag said； 〃They are too primitive to prehend that what we are doing will ensure their survival as well as our own。〃 It did not need to be added； of course； that that survival would be as a slave species。 The Masters considered their slaves greatly honored； Chosen。
〃If the Invid obtain the Protoculture Matrix before we do；〃 Bowkaz put to words what they all knew； 〃it will in all likelihood mean the eradication of the entire Human species。〃
〃The last part of that statement is not an entirely unpleasant prospect；〃 was Shaizan's rejoinder。
〃As to the prisoners；〃 Dag went on； 〃my suggestion is that the five of them should be reprocessed as new biogenetic material for our cloning vats straight away。〃
〃No…all but the female；〃 Dag corrected。 〃According to our measurements； her intellect and biogenetic traits are extremely contrary to Human norms。 Dissection and analysis are in order。〃
〃I say it might be more efficient and safe simply to destroy them all；〃 Bowkaz said。
Jeddar； group leader of the Clonemasters…whose triumvirate floated nearby on its cap…took the extraordinary step of interjecting a ment。 〃Excuse me； my Masters； but we propose that you delay these actions until we've reprogrammed Zor Prime's memory； restoring full awareness to him。〃
Tinsta； the female of their triad； continued； 〃His experience on Earth has increased his bio…energy index above that of any other clone； even far above precious Zor clones。〃
〃We believe it has something to do with his prolonged exposure to Human emotions。 We think that these emotions maximize certain aspects of clone performance。 But we cannot be certain until further…eh？〃
A message was being broadcast over the ship's annunciator system。 〃Attention； all sectors。 This is Clone Control。 Quadrant four reports that Zor Prime is missing。 Repeat； Zor Prime has left his assigned sector。 All guard units begin search pattern sigma。 Security leaders contact Clone Control at once。〃
Musica's attempts to drown her grief in her songs were unsuccessful。 Even the acpaniment of her sisters on spinet and lute couldn't lift her spirits or erase the image of Bowie from her mind's eye。
At last she hit a dissonant note and turned to them。 〃I am sorry； sisters； but there e upon me now times when I wish we weren't always together…the Three…Who…Act…as…One。 I find myself wondering what it was like before the time of the triumvirates； when each individual was able to act independently。〃
Allegra and Octavia showed their revulsion； crying out at her to be still； but she went on。 〃A time when we were capable of feeling pleasure； pain； happiness； even loneliness！ I wonder what it is like to love。〃
She bent over her Cosmic Harp； face buried in her hands。
The words of three guards； making a sweep through the chamber； brought her up sharply。 In answer to Allegra's question； they explained about the escape of Zor Prime and their search。
I know what I must do now； Musica realized。
Zor Prime wandered aimlessly through the various districts of the flagship's residential sector。 He hadn't evaded the search by any conscious effort； he was too disoriented for that。
The ancient stone buildings seemed to fade in and out； to be replaced by scenes of Monument City； so that part of the time he thought dazedly that he was back on Earth。 The sun seemed too bright and hot； too intense； overhead。 Often he saw Dana ing toward him； beckoning； laughing； so desirable。。。
A patrolling guard runabout failed to spot him because a veiled figure pulled him back into the darkness of an alley。 Zor shook off his trance and saw Musica lower her veil and look up at him hopefully。
So many half images and confused memories assailed him that he lost balance and fell to his hands and knees on the gleaming terrazzo flooring。 〃Why is my mind so full of nightmares？〃
〃You are the clone of the original Zor；〃 she said。 〃In a way； it might be said that you are the only true Robotech Master。〃
With her help； he found the strength to rise again。 But just then a bright ray struck him from behind； and he fell once more。 Standing behind him were guards； and the Clonemasters； on an antigrav platform。
〃It was only a low…gain destabilizer；〃 Jeddar told Musica。 〃We need the clone for a little while longer。〃
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Dear Mom & Dad；
Everything here remains quiet； as always； and I don't know why you two keep insisting there's bad war news。 Take it from me。 As I wrote you before； I'm in a rear…echelon unit that hardly ever sees any action at all。 So I hope you'll excuse me for asking you both to kindly quit worrying。 Especially with Pop in the condition he is in。
I'm sorry I missed Christmas。 There's always next year； after all。 I think I might be able to pull a furlough soon； with things being so dull around here and all。
Thanks for the fruitcake； it was great。
Love； Your son；
Angelo Dante
The order of the day was execution； and the clones with the rifles weren't listening to any ATAC objections about the Geneva Convention。 Dana and her squadmates had no room to try anything in the cell； they marched out with hands behind their heads； as per instructions。
Surrounded by guards； the troopers were marched through the detention center and into a side corridor。 Without warning； the clones' exacting schedule was interrupted。
A driverless runabout with its engine shrilling came zooming at the lead guards。 The triad was knocked high in the air with bone…breaking force； Dana just barely managing to pull back out of the way。 In a shower of sparks and metal fragments； the runabout overturned and shrieked to a stop upside down。 The first guards were crunched to the floor as the troopers jumped the other three； who seemed paralyzed by what had happened。
It was a short fight； Sean ramming an elbow back into one rear guard's throat； Angelo crashing the heads of the other two together like cymbals。 Even as the 15th was rearming itself from the selection of weapons lying around； Musica came running toward them。 〃Bowie！〃
Louie was delighted to find that one of the guards was carrying the pulse…grenade that he himself had been carrying when he'd been captured。 Okay； Living Protoculture； let's just go another round； what d'ya say？
In the Memory Management plex； Zor rested； strapped to a padded slab； at an acute angle； nearly standing upright。 He was still unconscious； his head encased in a helmet like a metal medusa。
Technician clones were moving precisely； ensuring that no mistake would be made。 Zor's original memories； as servant to the Masters； Bioroid warrior； battle lord of the fleet； must be restored to him and integrated with the memories of his time among the Humans。 Then the totality of his memory would be prehensible； and would be shifted to storage banks for further study。 The lump of tissue that was the last Zor clone could be disposed of。
Jeddar watched the preparations with satisfaction。 He would have been less happy had he seen what was transpiring on an upper tier of the chamber。
On a glass…walled observation deck； a big forearm locked around a guard