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On a glass…walled observation deck； a big forearm locked around a guard clone's throat； and the guard was silently removed from active duty。 Angelo resisted the temptation to dust off his palms。
Dana and the 15th looked down on the demons' workshop below。 She saw what they were doing to Zor and almost gave out a yelp； but Louie shushed her； as he studied the instruments and machinery。 He adjusted his tech goggles to detect energies on very subtle levels and looked the lab over like a sniper studying the landscape through a nightvision device。
〃Screwy operation；〃 Sean said wryly。
〃But convenient；〃 Louie countered。 〃See those gauges over there？ When they hit the top； Zor's memories will all be back in his brain。〃
Louie indicated a bank of three stacked rectangles。 The first was filled； all glowing blue； the second was filling； as if it were a resplendent blue thermostat marking a sudden； incredible heat wave。
The techs had to pry Zor's jaws apart and wedge a mouthpiece between them as the indicators rose。 As the third stack filled； he began to convulse。 Louie had to hold Dana back from hurling herself through the glassy pane of the observation deck to intervene。
At last a tech clone pronounced； 〃Full reinstatement of memory is now plete。 Reintegration of memory will begin at once…〃 He was cut off by an intense barrage from above。 The tier window and much of the plex's apparatus was shot to bits。 Before anybody there could react； the ATACs had dropped to the main floor and had the clones covered。
〃Don't anybody move；〃 Dana warned。 They could see from her eyes what would happen if they did。
Jeddar and his Clonemasters were more astonished than afraid。 This was； after all； their first close encounter with Humans。 Behind the raiders came Musica； and Karno was visibly shaken to see her； breathing her name。
In another second； Louie and Angelo freed Zor from his restraints and cranial wiring。 The big sergeant got the unconscious clone over his shoulder with ease。 As much as Angelo might have berated Zor； Dana noticed that now he glared around furiously at the creatures who had tortured him。
The troopers were so busy making sure that no one on the scene made any hostile moves that they missed the slight motion it took Jeddar to press a button on his wristband。 A moment later； a door snapped open and three more guards leapt into the opening。
Everyone opened fire simultaneously； and those guards who were already in the lab took the opportunity to spring for cover； as did the Clonemasters； the ATACs； and Musica。 The energy bolts crashed and flashed； the air began heating up at once。 Shots set off eruptions of power from the plex's systemry。
〃I believe you've gone mad； Musica！〃 Karno called to her over the din of the firefight。 〃What have these monsters done to you to make you a traitor to your own kind？〃
Musica； flustered； didn't know how to explain except to say； 〃Zor is their friend； they're saving him！〃
Then Bowie was towing her along。 〃We're getting out of here！〃
Intense fire from the 15th had cleared the doorway； three guards lay dead or dying there。 With practiced calm and precision； the five troopers fired as they moved。 The remaining enemy had no choice but to keep their heads down； only able to risk the occasional shot。
There was another runabout outside the plex； in a moment； the escapees were roaring away； with Dana and Sean keeping up a high volume of fire to make sure no one followed or tried for a parting shot。
Released from the grip of the mind apparatus； Zor began to stir； then came around。 Dana was overjoyed and stopped shooting long enough to gush about how happy she was； but Angelo； at the controls； growled； 〃Secure that hearts…and…flowers crap！ We've still gotta find ourselves a way outta this joint； remember？〃
At that moment three red Bioroids appeared； skimming along close to the ceiling of the high central passageway in which the runabout was traveling。 Angelo managed to dodge their first bolts； nearly smearing the vehicle along the nearby wall； then made a desperate turn into a side way； losing the enemy mecha for the moment。
〃We've got to get back to the Hovertanks！〃 Dana yelled over the wind of their passage。
〃I'm workin' on it； ma'am。〃
She consulted the tiny sensor Latell had given her。 〃Take that next right！〃 Perhaps they could retrace their steps from the control center； which Musica had pointed out along the way。
They slewed and hairpin…turned and blasted along； ing around a corner only to run head…on into another triad of guards。 Disinclined to stop； Angelo gritted his teeth and slammed into them； hurling two to either side； slamming the middle one to the floor。
But the impact made the runabout defy its controls。 It hit a stanchion； bounced back the other way while Angelo fired retros desperately； then hit the floor surface and slowly upended。 Its occupants were spilled out and it came to a final rest with a clang and crunch。
Dana shook her head； looking up。 Directly before her was an open hatchway； and beyond…〃Look！ It's the central control area！〃 The housing in which the Living Protoculture was situated was closed； protecting it。
For the moment。
They heard Hovercraft approaching and scattered to find concealment in the center。 In another few seconds； the three reds settled in for a landing； dismounting and scanning the area。
Seeing the Bioroids sparked something in Zor's still…disorganized memory。 He turned to Musica； who crouched with him under a huge conduit。 〃Why did the Masters send me to Earth in the first place？〃 he whispered。 Somehow he knew that she； Mistress of the music that was part of the Masters' power over their realm； could answer。
She looked at him with infinite sadness。 〃You were their eyes and ears。 You were sent to Earth as a spy；〃 she mouthed the words more than whispered them。 〃They planted a neuro…sensor in your brain。 You weren't even aware of what you were doing； Zor！〃
The entire center； the entire ship； began thrumming with a peculiar vibration； something that made their hair stand on end。 The Bioroids cocked their heads； registering it。
〃It's a battle alert；〃 Musica mouthed to the ATACs。 〃Your forces must be attacking us！〃
〃Time to make our move；〃 Dana said。 〃We take out this control center； whatever it costs； understood？ Otherwise Emerson won't have a chance。〃 With a little luck； Louie could figure out some way to put it out of mission。 But first the reds had to go。
The 15th troopers fanned out； firing at the Bioroids； dodging from cover； heading for the Living Protoculture。 They kept close to the systemry； shooting from its protection。 The enemy mecha seemed reluctant to fire； enduring the minor consequences of the small arms fire rather than risk damaging the ship's core。 One was angling for a clear shot at them； Louie reluctantly used his pulse grenade on it； but only staggered it instead of putting it out of the fight。
Only Zor and Musica remained behind； she stunned by what was happening； he immobilized by surfacing memories。 Then Zor found himself remembering； remembering much。 His gaze traveled to the 15th's manding officer。
Dana。。。
He knew what he had to do。 He crept aw