按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Nova ignored Zor's attempted intercession。 〃I'll expect you all to remember your oaths of service；〃 she said； sweeping her eyes across the 15th。 She gave Bowie Grant a particularly fixing stare； he was the key to it all。 If she could get him to see past his deluded attraction to the clone woman； the whole affair would be resolved peacefully。 If not。。。
〃I'm not part of the military anymore；〃 Bowie said stubbornly； squeezing Musica's hand。
〃General Emerson is；〃 Nova invoked the name。 〃And he's fighting with everything he's got to save this planet。〃
〃I don't care！〃 Bowie burst out。 〃Musica's my friend…not my prisoner or my enemy； and not yours either； do you hear me？ Why can't you leave us alone？〃
Nova saw that all the ATACs quietly agreed…even the normally duty…bound Dante。
〃Is love so difficult for you to understand； Nova？〃 Dana asked angrily。 〃Why d'you always have to be so coldblooded？〃
The question rocked Nova a little； almost as if Dana had struck her。 She had felt like an outsider all her life； the more so when she had joined GMP。 The bewildering attraction she had felt for Zor； and then the sudden absence of it； the slow warming to Dennis Brown； the pity she held for Captain Komodo； because she knew how it felt to be rebuffed…those were things she didn't dare inspect too closely。
She drew her sidearm； holding it close to her hip and leveling it at them。
〃It's my duty； that's why；〃 she told Dana。 〃And for me； Earth es first。 And the Human race。 I'm taking Musica back； whether some of you get hurt or not。〃
It was all too melodramatic； Dana thought； even as she got set to play out her role。 Bowie had stepped into the line of fire； shielding Musica； and Musica was already making timid but determined insistence that he move aside； to avoid bloodshed。
The rest of the 15th reacted to the appearance of the pistol with predators' reflexes； shifting weight； edging this way and that slightly； barely seeming to move their feet。 They turned their bodies side…on to Nova to minimize their target silhouettes； bracing to take her。
〃What happened to all that talk back at GMP headquarters； Nova？〃 Bowie challenged； holding Musica back。 〃Honor。 Freedom。 Defending Human ideals and our way of life。 You said you could be a friend to anyone who valued those things。〃
〃Well； this is my life。〃 He put his arm around Musica's waist。 〃D'you really have it in you to be a friend？〃
〃I…〃 Nova had forgotten those talks； an attempt to win over a friend in the enemy camp of the 15th。 It had started out as a turning operation； at Colonel Fredericks's direction。 But it ended up with her actually feeling something for the maverick trooper private； if only an unspoken sympathy for his confusion； his alienation。 And then he was also Claudia Grant's nephew。
Nova had the flash of memory again； not clear but strong。
It was Christmas in rebuilt Macross City； the Christmas that would see Khyron's sneak attack。 Little Nova Satori was out with her older sister and her sister's friends； caroling； as the snow drifted down。 They happened upon a tall； regal black lady； beautiful as a Snow Queen； who looked very sad。
But when she spoke to them； Nova's sister recognized the lady's voice； as all the older girls did。 Back on the SDF…1； hers had been the PA voice that so often restored hope in the midst of war； told the people where to go and what to do； gave the world calm； transmitted courage。
She was mander Claudia Grant。 The chorus of little girls gathered close in a ring around her and sang； the best they ever sang。 There was no question about what carol it would be。
〃An…gels we have heard on high！ Sweetly singing o'er the plain！〃
They all wanted to be mander Grant； mander Grant wanted them to be more。 She'd hugged them all to her and wept。
〃…I'm a friend。。。。〃 Nova managed； not sure what she was saying。 Her training and the pistol gave her mand of the situation。 She knew what moves to make and procedures to follow； even what tone of voice she ought to be using at this point to ensure that Phillips and the others didn't try any of their absurd heroics。
She had singlehandedly managed situations against even greater odds； against truly ruthless and evil people； and that last part was the glaring incongruity。 She was disarmed of her greatest weapon： the conviction that she was totally in the right。 And all her other resources； powerful though they were； began to fail her。
When Zor's big hand closed over the weapon and took it from her； Nova barely registered it through the sudden numbness she felt。 〃You won't need this；〃 he said in an almost conversational tone。 She could have had the pistol back at once； by using an infighting trick； she didn't。
Nova shook herself loose of the paralysis； the realization that she couldn't fire at these people； that her oath conflicted with the ideals it was supposed to uphold。
She looked to Zor。 〃But…isn't she one of the clones？ Zor； they did such terrible things to you…〃
Zor was shaking his head； the lavender curls swaying。 〃She is a Muse； the very soul of harmony。 She is vital to the Robotech Masters； however。 Look！〃
Nova and the others followed Zor's pointing finger。 They were watching the great mass of the Flowers of Life； hearing the tonalities from the Matrix that were so like the Muse's songs。 〃From the Protoculture all life flows。 Once the clones have been quickened； it is the playing of Musica and her sisters that keeps them docile and obedient。 That tells them； in effect； who they are。〃
〃And now； she's learning to play the songs of Humankind；〃 Louie Nichols said quietly； the words forming a core of argument there at the very center of Nova's decision。 There was too much happening for her to consider the fact that it was an amazingly profound thing for such a mechie…as she had always thought of him and his ilk…to put forth。
And if Fredericks and Leonard and the UEG got their hands on Musica？ They would pull her every which way like a wishbone…cruelty was one of their first resorts。 Musica embodied the hope of peace； but Nova dreaded to think what her songs would sound like once she had been put into the United Earth Government's mill。
〃We have to move quickly；〃 Nova said。 〃I mo'ed for a flying squad of GMP officers； it'll be here any time now。〃
〃We've gotta get out of here！〃 Dana snapped。 Emerson was in battle； and there were few others she could trust。 But the world was wide； much of it unpopulated； and a Hovertank squad mounted plenty of firepower。 They would have to lay low； try to get to someone sane。 Perhaps they would have to contact the Robotech Masters as well； and force some kind of ceasefire。 Then a truce； then peace。
She threw aside her oath in that moment； the other party…the UEG and； by extension； the Army of the Southern Cross…hadn't kept its end of the bargain。 She sensed that her ATACs stood with her； as did Nova and Musica。
Peace renegades！ It sounds so weird； she thought。
〃Your officers won't make any moves without instructions from you；〃 Zor； who knew from experience； reminded Nova。 〃We must move calculatedly； but very quickly now。〃
He showed no emotion as Dana clapped her hands and began organizing the escape；