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nce。
Still he held fire； trying to get his bearings。 It was a singular piece of discipline； as someone in an earlier war had remarked； you would shoot your own mother if she happened to charge across your field of fire in battle。
Bad News settled in for a low hover； as a triad of guards concentrated their fire on it。 Sean would wonder later if the clones had any real idea of warfare； would feel as though he had simply executed them。 But in the heat of the moment； seeing there were no friendlies near； he laid out a single bolt from the cannon and was on the move even while the immolated bodies were turning to ash。
He was too zoned…up for bat to feel sorry for them； there was only one thing he cared about； and the voice Sean heard then sent waves of relief and joy pushing through him； remarkable in their intensity。
〃You took your time getting here！〃 Marie scolded from behind a fluted column； snapping off judicious shots with a fallen guard's rifle。
〃But my heart was with you all the while。 Believe me； my little pigeon！〃
The romance had started； for him； as just one more conquest。 When did she e to mean everything to me？ Sean couldn't help wondering； even while trying to keep his mind on business。
Maybe it was because Marie Crystal wasn't dazzled by him； having more than enough medals and decorations of her own； or maybe it was bound up in that spooky destiny stuff Dana kept yammering about anal Sean refused to accept。 Most likely； if he and Marie lived to be together again and spent their whole lives that way； they would still never figure it out； he decided。
He thought all that in a tiny slice of time； pivoting the Bad News and laying out heavy suppressive fire； blowing beautiful friezes to cinders and fountaining tiles from the deck to keep the enemy's head down。
The clones didn't seem to care about their own lives。 Some stood right up into the fire and shrapnel； their small arms counterfire was radiant dotted lines running at every angle across the partment。
CHAPTER TWENTY
Emerson！ Shoulderer of sorrow！
Champion of the light！ Although …
It wasn't given him to know that
Until his work was done
Mingtao； Protoculture： Journey Beyond Mecha
Rolf Emerson looked up； clutching his wounded arm to him； to see Bowie and Musica sheltering in the lee of a column not far away； and a guard clone angling to get a clear shot at them from behind。
Dispassion and logic were no part of it； Emerson was sprinting headlong through the gauntlet of weapon blasts before rationale had any chance to e to bear。 The space between his cover and Bowie's column was fairly safe； the shots were well directed by then。 Emerson launched himself through the air just as the clone pressed his cheek against the stock of his rifle for maximum accuracy； down on one knee。
There was a split…second image of Musica's face； frightened； worried for him； Emerson could see。
So beautiful； it occurred to the general as the charge hit his back。 Perhaps she's the better part of us all； we must listen to her。
The bolt hit him squarely in the back； vaporizing flesh and singeing bone； setting his tunic afire。 The next thing he knew； he was in Bowie's arms and the clone rifleman had been mowed down by Dana's fire。
Sean was walking his tank's secondary…battery fire back and forth in the partment； most of the enemy withdrew and the rest died。 In moments； the violent echoes gave way to silence。
Bowie threw his helmet aside； kneeling to gather Emerson into his embrace； smelling the charred flesh。 〃Rolf。 Father。。。〃
Emerson found his hand； gripped the cold alloy。 〃I heard your music。 The night before they sent me to take over ALUCE base； I stood under the barracks window and listened to you play。 It was beautiful； Bowie； you have a gift。〃
〃I wasn't…I haven't…〃 Bowie wanted to talk about love and found only apologies on his lips； and knew there was no more time。
Emerson's hand squeezed the metal…sheathed fingers。 〃You and Musica。。。it's such a good thing； Bowie。 You must both teach it。 Son。〃
Emerson was still alive for another few seconds； though he would never speak again。 He looked up over Bowie's shoulder to see Dana with her helmet faceplate open。 Her armor was seared where an enemy bolt had burned out her transponder； but failed to wound her。
She might have even more to teach than Bowie or Musica； it occurred to him。 Dana gave him a nod； knowing words wouldn't serve。 Then she slipped away out of sight； rifle held at high port。
Emerson saw with some surprise that the world wasn't going dark； the way traditional lore said it would。 Instead； the range of his vision and perception went out and out； enpassing things wonderful and terrible； things defying all description…a terrible beauty beside which mortal life seemed a lesser matter。
There was a celebration of light around him； and he threw himself forth willingly。 The Universe embraced him； opening all secrets； answering every question。
In his protected sanctum； Dr。 Zand； monitoring the battle through technical relays and paths of information of his own； suddenly straightened as if he were about to suffer a stroke。 But he relaxed again in a moment； breathing raggedly。
He grasped the front of Russo's tunic。 〃Emerson is dead！ The Moment es！ Gather my special equipment！〃 He sent the smaller man on his way with a shove。
As Russo slunk away； Zand began unbuttoning his uniform jacket。 Nevermore would he wear false colors！ It was time to garb himself in more fitting vestments。
Today a new Universe begins！
Nova was wearing a spare suit of ATAC armor； a thing with long horns that had originally belonged to Cutter； who had died in that first assault on the mother ship。 She looked a little like a metallic steer； gazing back in the direction from which the two tanks…formerly three…had e on their rescue mission。
〃I don't see Zor anywhere；〃 she leaned down to tell Angelo Dante。 〃He's sneaked off somewhere。〃
In another part of the mother ship； Zor stepped his red Bioroid forth； stalking the passageways； willing to die so long as he could work his revenge。 For a moment the image of Dana's face was before him； for no reason he could name； but he thrust it aside and went on again； the ultimate intellect； bereft of any thought but revenge。
〃Sarge； these passageways all look the same to me！〃 Louie called over the tae net。 〃How'll we ever find them？〃 Some new interference was jamming all long…range mo and even blotting out Bowie's transponder。
〃We keep lookin'；〃 Angelo said。 Damn Phillips anyway； for not marking his trail！
Just then figures came dashing and dodging from a side passageway up ahead； fire ranging all around them from behind。 〃It's Lieutenant Crystal and Lieutenant Brown！〃 Louie yelled。
Bowie and Musica came close after； ducking for cover at either side of the passageway； as the two TASC pilots did。 Intense fire from the guards splashed from the bulkheads。 The guards' counterattack was so sudden and determined that the Humans had been forced to leave Emerson's body behind。
Sean's holding action back in the 〃senate〃 chamber wasn't keeping all the guards pinned down。 More showed up； from the other direction； with a clear line of fi