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edges pushed outward as the Main Control section detonated。
〃You stupid alien；〃 Dana said in a small voice； looking back at it。 〃You said you'd catch up。〃
〃I'm truly sorry； Dana；〃 Angelo fumbled； not used to soft words。 〃I…I know you were fond of him。 And he liked you a lot； I could tell。〃
Sean was already in contact with Emerson's fleet。 The 15th hadn't beaten the clock by much； they just about had enough time and fuel to catch the withdrawing strikeforce。
Louie also watched the explosion。 He adjusted his tech goggles； trying to see what information they might offer。 He did a slight double take； changed magnification and spectrum bands； and looked again。 〃Lieutenant？ I think you better check this out。〃
It was beginning to be visible to the naked eye against the glare of the explosion so close behind it…a form resolving itself into a red Bioroid on a Hovercraft。
〃It's him！〃 Dana's heart had never been so full。 At first it looked as if Zor was helping along a wounded red； but then they saw that he had his Battloid clasped to him。
〃Whaddaya know；〃 Angelo drawled。 〃He even brought along a change of clothes。〃
Zor； racing to overtake them； wondered about the ways of fate； and the Shapings of the Protoculture。 The last effort of the living mass that served the Masters had only contained the inevitable explosion for scant seconds…enough time for him to retrieve his tank and find a Hovercraft and flee。
But he was still an alien in a strange land。 He wondered if what waited ahead would be any better than what he left behind。
The Masters knew their flagship was doomed。
Invader assault ships； forward mand ships； and the other smaller craft that were berthed in the Masters' flagship took aboard as many clones as they could in the little time they had left。 But because the Masters were impatient to get to safety and unwilling to risk themselves or their possessions for the sake of unstable clones； many were left behind。 And so they abandoned their faithful slaves。
In one evacuation ship； Allegra and Octavia clung to each other； Karno staring out the viewport furiously as explosion after explosion rocked the flagship。
Musica！ the two sisters sent out the silent； plaintive cry。
In the cockpit of the Re…Tread； Musica gasped。 But when Bowie asked what was wrong； she just shook her head and said it was nothing。
〃The whole thing's gonna blow！〃 he yelled excitedly。
She turned in time to see blue； concentric rings leap out from the flapship。 Then a star grew from it； hurling forth a gaseous cloud。
Farewell； my sisters； she thought； as the 15th got ready to link up with Emerson's fleet。
While Emerson elected to withdraw to the ALUCE base with the main body of his mand； damaged vessels and as many of the casualties as possible made a run for Earth。 One such vessel was the one that happened to have picked up Dana and her panions。
In the tremendous confusion； it wasn't hard to smuggle Musica to a place of temporary safety； but that left the problem of Fokker Base； and debarkation。 Fortunately； the rest of the 15th； having been separated from them； were on another ship； bound for ALUCE base with Emerson's main force； leaving fewer to keep the secret。 Surprisingly； Angelo was loudest among those voices raised to protect the Mistress of the Cosmic Harp。
〃We can't let the GMP get her！ Remember what they did to Zor； all that testing and probing and scanning； like he was some kinda animal？〃 It was already a matter of barely spoken agreement that there would be no mention to Southern Cross mand of Zor's temporary defection； at least for the time being。
Dana was calmer。 〃Don't worry； anybody who messes with Musica is going to have to mess with us first。〃
〃Blast him！〃 Leonard bellowed in Southern Cross Army HQ。 〃I question Emerson's mitment！ I question his sanity！〃
It was all for the benefit of UEG observers who were on the scene； Leonard knew his words would reach Moran and the rest of the council promptly。 〃The enemy fleet still has five fully operational mother ships； and yet he withdraws！〃
But Leonard was upset for another reason。 Now he could no longer fall back on Emerson's genius and leadership。 There was no one to whom he could delegate authority； the defense of Earth； the responsibility and the culpability； fell squarely on him。 He was unsure now； his attitude toward Emerson's absence in the field was very different。
Zor had passed out just after being brought aboard the transport and had suffered the injuries to justify it。 Dana had no choice but to turn him over to a med team and hope he would keep the secret of what had happened in the flagship； as the 15th would keep it。
The ambulance with Zor in it had barely pulled away when Nova Satori showed up。 〃Wele back； Dana。 What what did they say about Zor？〃
They hadn't spoken to one another since Komodo's death。 They felt uneasy in each other's pany。
〃He'll recover。 Listen； Nova； I'm really busy right now； so if you don't mind。。。〃
That kind of evasiveness from the 15th's CO set off alarm bells in Nova's head。 Now what were these eight balls up to？
Musica held back panic； enclosed by armor that seemed ready to crush her； fearful of what life among Humans might hold。 Oddly enough； it wasn't any of those； or the danger of exposure； that beset her the worst just then。 Instead； it was a paratively little thing； the sickly…sweet； rubbery smell of the ATAC helmet's breather mask； she was nauseous； not sure how long she could control herself。 The 15th； long since oblivious to the smell； had forgotten how it sometimes affected boot trainees。
She did her best to be brave； but wasn't sure she was up to it。
〃Looks like somebody else took a hit； too。〃 Louie and Angelo； suit helmets doffed； were carrying the stretcher themselves。 As they passed Nova； they both suddenly put on expressions more appropriate to a poker game than a homeing。
Nothing they could say could keep Nova from getting to the stretcher； throwing back the blanket。 Dana sighed； and took off the reclining trooper's helmet when Nova threatened to do it herself。
Sean Phillips smiled up at her。 〃Shrapnel； right in the big toe； can ya believe it？ But I still qualify for a medal and recuperative leave； and it does smart； and…〃
Nova upended the stretcher and walked away。 Dana was yelling at the few 15th troopers around her…her core group to get busy and off…load the Hovertanks； and she even gave Sean a swift kick。 Then she barked at another； 〃You； too！ Hurry along there； Private Doppler！ Double time！〃
Then they had disappeared back into the transport。 Nova stalked away angrily； but stopped suddenly。 〃‘Doppler'？〃
Minutes later； GI personnel staff was confirming that the only Private Doppler was a 15th trooper who had died during the assault that had temporarily brought down the mother ship； weeks before。
Who could Dana be hiding； if that's what she's doing？ The only possibility seemed too farfetched。 Even Dana wouldn't be that crazy。
〃Here： Lemme take a look at you。〃 Dana felt only mild jealousy that Musica looked better in one of her outfits than Dana herself。
Musica turned 180 degrees self…consciously。 Her green hair would fit