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teraction； and that was enough to make anyone knowledgeable in the ways of Protoculture cautious。
But this？ As the focus zoomed in； Karno saw his onetime fiancee； Musica； the latest of the Zor clones； and six Earth primitives ranged about at the brink of a cliff。
〃Zor is with them；〃 Darsis observed with a dispassion worthy of the Elders themselves。
〃Even Musica；〃 pronounced Karno； forcing himself to match that proper tone； willing to die before admitting the hot； hateful feelings coursing through him。
Dana looked at Zor in surprise； as he stepped to the brink and addressed the empty air。 〃If you attack； we will destroy all that is here。 Flowers。 Protoculture。 Muse。 All。〃
〃Go to your Robotech Masters！ Tell them this war must end。 You in the depths of your ignorance； you and your Masters： it is time for you to learn how to learn。〃
Zor was intent on the ship； but Nova looked at him wonderingly； and had misgivings。 What if； somehow； he wasn't bluffing？
The godlike voice from the assault ship gave the Humans a start； but Musica and Zor were braced for it。 〃We will be back；〃 it said； as flames rose from alien strikes all around； all the way to the horizon and beyond。 The assault ship lifted away； for space and the flagship。
Nothing Nova had ever been taught quite served in analyzing what had e to pass。 She； too； set aside her oath of allegiance as Dana had； silently but finally。 〃Zor； the Flowers…the Masters。。。you remember now！〃
He made the barest of smiles。 〃Yes； but only in fragments。〃 He turned the smile on Dana。 〃It's all beginning to coalesce in my mind now； and Musica is the key！〃
Dana's bark event stiff。 And that's all； huh？ Musica？ Ignoring everything Dana had。。。Ah； hell！
Zor started giving orders； and Nova for one seemed to be ready…willing…to take them。 Zor outlined his plan to have Angelo； Sean； and Louie infiltrate the GMP perimeter and e back with the 15th's Hovertanks tandem…towed。
Dana walked over to the ventlike opening in the mound； watching the minute parasol spores bump against some invisible barrier and float back down； to rise and bounce again。 She couldn't sort out for herself the reason why there was such immense fascination in it for her。 She resolved that； if they lived； she would make Zor explain。
Zor looked up at Earth's sky； while Bowie hugged Musica to him。 Some people were fleeing Monument City； terrified of another onslaught of the destructive rays or the arrival of the Bioroids。
Last of a long line of one selfsame entity； heir to brilliant mastery of the Shaping forces of the Universe and to every misdeed of his predecessors； Zor Prime sniffed the breeze。
And now the war ends； he promised himself； promised all Creation。
CHAPTER NINETEEN
This sudden shifting of focus； from Matrix to Muse…and Zor Prime…is bewildering only to those who haven't familiarized themselves with the subtler powers of Protoculture。
From a distance； we can see it； of course； and feel smug in our overview If the players on stage that day were mystified and even illogical； who can fairly blame them？ The Shaping of the Protoculture had the world in its teeth and was shaking it。
S。 J。 Fischer； Legion of Light： A History of the Army of the Southern Cross
The captives could see that it was a very high space。 The multicolored invader lightstructure； as faceted as a stained glass chandelier and as big as a Hovertank； was hanging unsupported very high above them。
It looks like…radioactive diamond； a crystallized thought…I dunno； Emerson thought woozily； as Brown and Marie tried surreptitiously to hold him upright on the couch。
〃Well？〃 Dag repeated。 〃Will you make your species see reason； and surrender？〃
Emerson took a breath and looked again at the three strange beings who floated before him on their Protoculture cap's small standing platforms。 Would Leonard have gone insane right on the spot？ It was intriguing to consider； but not very helpful。
〃‘Surrender'？〃 Emerson repeated the word tiredly； feeling the wounds on his face and neck； and in his side。 〃Haven't you arrogant ghouls learned anything about the Human race yet？ Your Zentraedi came after us； and now you e after us…ss…〃
Emerson hissed in pain； going a little faint but ing around almost at once。 Lieutenant Crystal wedged up against him； propping him up so that Emerson hadn't teetered。 Good soldier！
〃…after us；〃 Emerson resumed； stiffening his spine。 〃But you don't seem to realize： It doesn't make us weaker； it makes us stronger！〃
Dag looked down on him。 〃A great pity； our information led us to hope that you are seeking the same peaceful settlement as we…that our goal was the same。〃
Emerson shook off his fatigue and pain。 How old were these apparitions； these seeming Grim Reapers before him？ How many Protoculture…grown Dorian Gray portraits in the old closet？ he speculated； then pulled himself together。 It was no time for whimsy。
〃Nice try；〃 Emerson shot back； 〃but you know as well as I do that you opened fire on us first。 You never tried to negotiate。〃
〃Regrettable；〃 Dag parried； 〃but we respect you as we do other intelligent beings who have the same Human form as we； the same biogenetic structure…even a kindred intellect。〃
〃That so？〃 Marie glowered up at the Master from beneath her long black brows。 〃Then why haven't you called off your Bioroids？〃
〃You're liars； the whole pack of you；〃 Emerson told the Masters。
Shaizan's eyes opened wide with his surprise and displeasure。 〃Truly； you are stupid creatures！〃
Emerson smiled mirthlessly。 〃Map reference point Romeo Tango 466…292； that's where you intend to make your initial landing； right？ That's how stupid we are。 And you're going to see more mecha and more fighting…mad Human beings than you could've dreamed of in your worst nightmares！〃
It was only a wild guess on his part； based on repeated alien activity there； and those last transmissions from Leonard's staff before mo was knocked out on Tristar。 The gambit was worth a try； Emerson had decided。 Earth's defenses were nearly finished； but perhaps the Masters didn't know that； and Emerson's words would throw them off balance for a bit。
And； terrible as the aliens' new beam weapon was； they would not use it on the mounds； that much was obvious； they didn't want to destroy the mounds； didn't dare to； or they would have done so long ago。 It was tragic irony that； now that the Human race finally knew something about the Masters' original； bewildering demand； the Masters had upped the ante。 Emerson saw； just as Leonard had； that there was no way to evacuate the Earth； and no place to go even if such a thing were possible。
〃And we know about the Protoculture；〃 Marie was saying； even though the intelligence report on the 15th's discoveries inside the flagship； and analysis of the Masters' transmission to Leonard； had been very sketchy。
〃We know that if you don't get it； you die；〃 Brown added。
That gave the Masters pause again； and the captives had the impression the invaders were in silent conference once more。 After a moment； Bowkaz said； 〃Tell us just how much you people of know of us； of our history。〃
〃We know about your weak points；〃 Emerson answered。 〃The Earth is ours；