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He showed no emotion as Dana clapped her hands and began organizing the escape； somehow drawing Nova into her little band as if the GMP lieutenant had always been an ally。 That instinctive talent for manding loyalty and cooperation must be something Dana had inherited from both her warrior…woman Zentraedi mother and her ace…of…aces Human father； Zor reflected in passing。
Suddenly there was that sound again； the one Bowie had heard before； as if something was moving among the mass of Flowers。 They all heard it； as they heard a sudden； high； playful sound； like a cross between a small dog's yip and the tones that came from the Matrix。
〃Polly！〃
Dana was on one knee； beckoning to him； and Bowie groaned。 〃I should've known。〃 Nova and the others stood trying to fathom their latest marvel。
The little creature looked a low…slung white dog or mophead； some kind of crypto…Lhasa apso with a sheepdog forelock； until one noticed the knob…ended horns and feet something like untoasted muffins。 He showed a miniature red swatch of tongue and yipped again； running to her。
〃You know this thing？〃 Angelo demanded； scratching his head。
Bowie answered for Dana。 〃All her life。 Her godfathers introduced her to him。 Only I never believed in Polly till now； never saw him。 I； uh； always thought he was imaginary。〃
Dana was nuzzling and laughing； hugging the little beast。 A Pollinator； her three unlikely； self…appointed godfathers； the former Zentraedi spies Konda； Bron； and Rico had called him。 Three…year…old Dana had given him his shortened name right then and there。
She had quickly learned that Polly was a magical beast who came and went as he willed； no walls or locks could hold him。 He showed up very rarely and went his way when he wished； simply vanishing while she was looking the other way。 In her whole life； she had seen him perhaps seven or eight times。 He never changed； or seemed to grow older。
〃A Pollinator； yes；〃 Zor said； looking down。 〃And now you know what he pollinates。〃 She's been tied to all this since she was a child…perhaps before her birth。 Dana； Dana： who are you？
Dana couldn't picture Polly buzzing around like a bee there in the Flower mass； but obviously something had been at work。 She let the little creature lick her cheek again； then stood up with him in her arms； petting him。
〃What're you all staring at？ Let's go！〃
Zor looked to the Flowers of Life that would no doubt be detected by the Invid。 He still couldn't recall everything； but one thing； he knew。
The Masters' power must be broken。 The original Zor was not altogether responsible for what had happened once he beguiled the Invid Regis。 Perhaps I am not either； though I am him and he is me。
But it lies within my power to do what must be done。 Let this be the lifetime when at last I acplish it！
The fighting raged around the five great surviving mother ships of the Masters' fleet。 The Humans were proving to be enemies even more terrible than the teeming Invid。
But that was not the worst news。 Optical relays showed an invader in the realm of their Protoculture masses； a thing to be feared more than any Invid or Battloid。
It was small and white； yipping and chasing its own bedraggled tail among the storage canisters。 A Pollinator。
The Masters knew better than to waste time attacking it。 Try to stab the wind； shoot a bullet at the sun。
The Masters accepted the devastating news with the same emotionless reserve they had always displayed。 To say it was stoicism would have been inaccurate。 It would have implied they had some other mode of behavior。
The dissipation of Protoculture made itself felt not only in the declining performance of the Masters' Robotechnology； but in the failure of judgment； dispiritedness； and lack of coordination of the clones themselves。 Never had the Masters' own…the primary…Protoculture cap been so weakened。
Even now； whole masses of Protoculture were transforming； all through the fleet； into the Flowers of Life； just as was happening below。
Their unspoken conference was short。 Shaizan gave the order。 〃Transfer all functioning clones and all Protoculture reserves to Our flagship。 Set automatic controls on an appropriate number of bat vessels to land them on the Earth's surface； and fuel them for a one…way voyage。 Process as many clones as is feasible to serve as mindblank assault troops。〃
The Scientist bowed his head； swallowing his objection。 The clones were mere plasm； subject to the dictates of the Masters。 Who dared declare things otherwise？
Even if it meant genocide。。。
Allegra and Octavia had not so much adjusted to their reduced status as gone into a sort of lasting shock that insulated them from it。 Even though they were Muses； Musica and her Cosmic Harp were the key to their triad's power and effect。 Without her they were all but useless to the Masters。 Since being interned； they had seen the horror of reduced Protoculture and the dissonance of Musica's absence all around； they had bee desensitized to it。
But a new flurry of activity roused them a little。 The most ambulatory of the malfunctioning clones were being injected by guards； shunted along in a torpid line； at the end of which was a door。 None who were passed through that door returned。
Antipain serum； the words came quietly among the despondent prisoners near them； Allegra looked to Octavia。 They both knew what that meant： clones who would be all but immune to normal sensation once the drug took effect…who would be aggressive； terrible antagonists。 Their minds would be blanked to anything but fighting； until they were blasted apart or until the drug burned up their physiology pletely。
〃Mindblanked assault troops；〃 a voice said。 Octavia turned to see who it was； and gasped。
In the advance stages of Protoculture deprivation； the clone had bee a crone； witchlike； nodding out the last moments of her life。
She gazed； glassy…eyed； at the other clones being injected。 〃Sacrifices on the altar of war。 That is the Robotech way。〃
Resistance from the mother ships seemed to be failing； but Marie Crystal kept herself from any hope or distraction； dodging through enemy fire and preparing for another run。 At Emerson's order； she began to consolidate elements of the various shattered TASC units。
But we better get some help soon； she thought； or that's all he wrote。
〃General； you have to mit all your reserves now；〃 Emerson's image said to Leonard。
The supreme mander kept his face neutral。 〃Current tactical trends preclude that at this time。〃
So much easier than saying 〃screw you； 〃 Emerson thought； as his flagship shook to a Bioroid assault and the guns pounded。
〃There'll be no other chance！〃 he roared at Leonard。 〃Move now； you fool！〃
Leonard's wattles shook with his anger。 〃You dare give me orders？ Carry out your mission！〃
He had barely broken the connection； and was picturing Emerson's imprisonment for insubordination under fire； when an aide leaned close to say； 〃Enemy assault ship descending for landing； sir； about five miles outside the city limits。〃
Leonard turned back to raise Emerson again。 There must be no more penetration of Earth's defensive forces； whatever it took。
Predic