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〃Tell it to the brass。〃
〃Sure； Nova； while they're busy sticking electrodes in her ears and trying to light her up like an arcade game。 Would it help to tell you she and Bowie love each other？〃
Dana knew it wouldn't…not now； with all the GMP goons standing around as witnesses。 But she wanted Nova to know just how much harm she was doing； every bit of it。
〃I always thought； as Gimps went； you were the exception to the rule； Nova； but I see now： you fit in just fine！ C'mon； let's go。〃
Dana turned to lead Nova and her squad upstairs。 She had hoped she could hide Musica until Rolf Emerson could get back from ALUCE and intercede。 All that was hopeless now。 Maybe Dana could go outside the chain of mand； appeal directly to the UEG council？ Her career was over either way。
Zor was standing near the stairs。 Dana gave him one brief； chilly glance。 〃You had the chance to do something good and kind for a change。 It might have made up for a lot of the stuff that's torturing you so； did you ever think of that？〃
Zor put on a sardonic look； but what she had said went through him like a dagger of ice。
Nova got her troops ready； and they went through the door of Dana's quarters in a SWAT…style rush； guns ready。 The balcony door was open； the curtain wafting gently on the night breeze。
The Gimps searched the place just to be sure； but it was easy to see their hearts weren't in it； they hardly even busted anything up。
Dana stood looking out at the night and wondered where Bowie and Musica could possibly find refuge in such a world。
Bowie got them over a pound wall and across a road； yanking her into the bushes out of the sudden glare of a GMP patrol's headlights。 They plunged deeper into the forest。
They ran through the darkness hand in hand； her feet were cut and bruised； branches and rocks seemed to lie in wait for her。 But she didn't plain； Bowie had enough to worry about as it was。
Musica had lived her entire life in the confined structures of the Robotech Masters and she fought back the agoraphobia that beset her now。 The darkness made that a little easier； but she wondered how she would cope when the sun came up again。
An abrupt glare turned the whole world black and harsh white。 A sound like the end of the Universe； ing with a concussion that shook the ground； made her lose balance again。 She was sure that the GMP had used some sort of ultimate Robotech weapon； that the final battle with the Masters had e； or that the Earthlings were willing to wipe out an entire region of their planet to make sure she was dead。
Bowie helped her up。 〃Just thunder and lightning；〃 he j said。 〃Harmless electric discharge。〃 Unless it hits us； or a tree near us； he amended to himself； but there was no point in worrying her。 They ran on。
A winged creature of some sort gave a hateful caw and took to the air on the next lightning strike。 And then； astoundingly； droplets of freezing…cold water were falling on Musica from out of the sky。 She knew about condensation in a cerebral way； but this was her first experience with it。
It seemed a planet that was infinitely cruel； it seemed she had followed Bowie Grant into hell。 But her hand was in his； and she recalled how bleak and pointless life without him had been。 She steeled herself and went on。
〃Don't expect us to do your dirty work for you；〃 Dana told Zor in the unit ready…room； as the torrential rain struck the windows。 〃If you want to be punished； go do it yourself。〃
She didn't know what to feel about him anymore。 There was still； somewhere； the love she felt for him； the yearning to stand by him and to take away the pain。 But he had shown that he was just too good at keeping anyone from doing that。 Dana wasn't quite ready to let him have the victory of making her hate him； but she despaired； feeling that soon he would win。
〃At least he remembered his duty； Lieutenant；〃 Nova said as she entered； shaking rainwater off her cloak。 Her Gimps were still beating the bushes for the two fugitives； but she knew it was in vain； this called for more extreme measures。
Zor took advantage of the distraction to wander out； as Dana and Nova faced off。 Dana was mounting some good arguments on Musica's behalf； but Nova cut through it with the news that the ATAC manding general had granted Nova temporary operational control of the 15th。
〃At first light； you and your unit will begin search operations； apprehend Grant and the alien； and place them under house arrest； is that clear enough for you； Sterling？ In the meantime； I will consult with the Judge Advocate General's office with regard to court…martial proceedings against you and your men。〃
Just when Musica had resigned herself to dying at Bowie's side in the endless forest； lights appeared ahead…an outlying army equipment storage facility。 Bowie left her for； a moment； disappeared into the rain； and came back mounted on a Hovercycle。
He pulled her on； and they jetted off through the driving rain； headlights ing alight behind them as jeeps took up a pursuit。 It was a mad chase over benighted roads that even the cycle's headlights couldn't seem to light。 Bowie's major advantage was that mud and slick road conditions didn't matter much to a surface…effect vehicle。
But Musica was unused to riding and couldn't help him by leaning correctly on the turns。 They got a lead on the posse； staying ahead by one or two bends in the road； but just about the time he was assuring her that he was a past master at Hovercycle racing； he snagged a branch and almost rammed a tree。
As it was； they slewed through a screen of bushes； and he laid the sky…scooter down in a not…quite…controlled fall that sent them both tumbling。
It turned out to be a blessing in disguise； because the pursuing jeeps roared on by。 Bowie crept over to where Musica lay and couldn't breathe until he saw that she was all right。
He got her under the shelter of a tree； the lightning having stopped。 The rain was letting up a bit； he drew her to him； opening his jacket； trying to warm her。
〃Bowie。。。〃 She sounded so exhausted。 〃Lying here like this； I can feel your heart beating against mine。 It's such beautiful music； I wish we could stay like this forever。〃
He felt such fear for her； such apprehension about the future； the pain of the fall； and the cold and damp of the night。 It astounded him how much of that suffering and unhappiness she took away with a kiss。
〃Zand； I haven't the time for…〃
〃Yes you have； Mr。 Chairman。〃 Zand didn't move out of Moran's way。 〃I'll be brief。〃
Even with the flock of squawking flacks and bureaucrats trailing him； waiting for the chance to get the ear of the chairman of the UEG； Moran didn't brush Zand aside。
He saw by the look in Zand's strange； liquid…black eyes that the Robotech genius wouldn't stand for it。 Moran made a casual…seeming gesture of the hand； in seconds； his security people had the followers fended back； and Moran； Zand； and Zand's aide were ushered into an empty conference room。
Zand saw no reason for preamble。 〃There's word that an alien woman has been smuggled back to Earth and that your people are looking for her so that you can use her as a peace envoy。 Don't do that； Mr。 Chai