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of us； of our history。〃
〃We know about your weak points；〃 Emerson answered。 〃The Earth is ours； and nobody's taking it away from us or making us leave it！ But if you'll agree to a ceasefire； then perhaps we can help each other。 We can stop this war。〃
〃The Invid are ing； do you not understand what that means？〃 Shaizan demanded。 〃You will all be wiped out！〃
〃We cannot allow your stubbornness or the fate of one tiny world to endanger the establishment of our Robotech Universe；〃 Dag said。
〃Your small…mindedness merely illustrates how primitive you are；〃 Bowkaz added。
Emerson laughed madly； so that Marie and Brown feared for a moment that he had snapped。 Then the general met the Masters' glares with one of his own。 〃Then； so be it。〃
An area of mottling on the mushroomlike cap grew bright； and Bowkaz put his palm to it。 The cap spoke so that the Humans could hear as well； 〃I am receiving information on Zor Prime。
〃Zor and the Human military unit in which he served are now at the site of the buried Protoculture Matrix。 Musica is with him； but she is no longer connected to the Cosmic Harp； she has given her loyalty to Zor and Humans。〃
〃Bowie！〃 Emerson murmured。 〃I knew you were no deserter； son。〃
Shaizan turned back to Emerson。 〃Our reprieve is withdrawn！ Your Earth has just run out of time！〃
Sean and the others had simply slipped back to their concealed jeeps； put on bat gear； then made their way back through the GMP lines as if they were a recon unit going to the rear to make a report。 Passwords given to them by Nova made it easy。 No one thought to question them with the Masters' attacks and the chaotic situation in Southern Cross HQ。
The return trip was in some ways even easier； the piloted mecha lifting the unpiloted ones over the GMP perimeter。 The Gimps were hesitant to shoot at friendly forces without specific orders； until it was too late。
Now the 15th stood around their Hovertanks； watching smoke rise from the blasted Monument City； which had taken scattered beam hits but not the sort of all…out； fused…earth attack that had claimed Newton。
〃Bowie； I'm so ashamed；〃 Musica said； tears wetting her cheeks； as they saw the ragged lines of survivors making their way from the city。
〃It's not your fault；〃 Bowie told her； holding her to fort her。
She looked up at him； trying to smile。 〃The harmony is strong； between you and me。 I feel your joys and sorrows； they are my own。〃 Being close to him was so wonderful； a divine gift of happiness that shored her up in the horror that was around them。
Off to one side； Dana asked Nova quietly； 〃Do you think Zor knows what's going to happen next？ That he sees the future？〃 It was no time to voice a more personal question to herself； And； have I？ All her dreams and Visions crowded so close about her。
Nova considered that。 〃What are you saying？〃 The results of her interrogations and observations were inconclusive but…if Zor did have some sort of precog powers； perhaps the Human race could turn them to good use。
Dana was looking at Zor； who stood alone； watching the pyre that was Monument City。 〃He doesn't want to help Musica；〃 Dana faced the truth。 〃He wants revenge； and he wants to die more than he wants to live； I think。〃 Her voice caught a little； she still loved him。
Zor studied the destruction and suffering before him； standing near the Three…In…One； Dana had supposed he named his tank that because of its three configurations； but understood now that it was some deeper memory that had moved him to do so。 Zor was repeating the silent vow as if it were a mantra； This time they'll pay！ This time I'll stop them！
That was when he heard the crackle of Shaizan's voice over the cockpit speaker of Sean's Hovertank； the Bad News。 〃Zor！ Traitor！ Are you there？〃 Sean nearly jumped out of the tank like an ejecting pilot。
Zor was in the cockpit of his Three…In…One in an instant； hands on the control yoke grips。 〃I hear you。〃
Somehow； the Masters had contrived to send their image over the tank's display screen。 〃You are aware that the Protoculture Matrix is undergoing degradation； as the Flowers bloom。〃 It wasn't a question。 〃And by now； the Sensor Nebula has surely alerted the Invid。〃
Zor looked at his onetime Masters。 The words made bits of memory and realization fall into place。 〃I…yes。 But I also know that I control the key to this planet's survival。 I dictate the terms。〃
〃We are of the opinion that you are mistaken；〃 Shaizan replied。 〃Watch closely； and you will see。〃
The other ATACs were watching on their own screens； with Musica looking over Bowie's shoulder and Nova over Dana's。 They saw Rolf Emerson； teeth locked in pain； with Marie and Brown trying to fort him。
〃Emerson；〃 Bowie said numbly； while Sean whispered Marie's name like a hopeless prayer； and Dana heard Nova breathe； 〃Dennis。〃
Then the Masters were onscreen again。 〃'These three men will be released when you return Musica and remove your troops from this area。〃
Men？ Sean Phillips found a second to think； wondering if they had gotten a good look at Marie。 I suppose everybody in armor looks the same to them but…maybe these vampires aren't as smart as everybody keeps tellin' me they are。 Anyway； if that's what it's like to be immortal； they can keep it！
〃Do you find this acceptable？〃 Shaizan continued。 〃We trust that we need not mention the alternative。〃
Zor fought down his fury long enough to ask； 〃What are your conditions？〃
〃You will be picked up； and we will exchange prisoners onboard our mother ship。〃 The Masters disappeared from the screen。
Zor lowered himself from his tank wearily and had barely begun； 〃I do not wish for the rest of you to be invol…〃 Bowie hit him with a shoulder block； driving the bigger Zor up against the armored side of Three…In…One； trying to choke the life out of him。
〃They're not getting Musica！ I'll kill you！〃
Zor grimaced； trying to twist free； but didn't strike out at him。 〃Then stay here and do nothing； and watch your good friend be killed！ The techniques of the Masters can be more cruel than anything you can conceive of！〃
Dana was dashing to intervene； but somehow Musica got them first。 〃Stop it； Bowie！〃 He had no choice but to risk harming her or back off。 He let go his grip on Zor。
〃I will not permit you all to suffer because of me；〃 she； told Nova and the 15th。 〃I will go back。〃
Before Bowie could object； Dana said； 〃She's right。 Saddle up； Fifteenth！ C'mon； what're you all gaping at？〃
Nova was the one among them most distanced from Emerson's predicament。 The fate of a few Human beings； even a flag…rank officer and two TASC fliers； was insignificant against the survival of the Human race and its home world； everyone who took the Southern Cross oath understood that。 Shaping strategy and policy on the basis of hostages and emotional responses led to disaster； it had been one of the major contributing factors to the Global Civil War。
Marie thought about her pistol again； but realized that events had gone too far for that； and that she must see things through along with Dana's ATACs。 Protoculture seemed to have some barely hinted…at power to shape events； and she could only hope that the benign sid