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There were carefully planned explosions； and the overhead gave way； tons of metal and conduits and organic…looking Protoculture systemry landed on him like a cave…in； pinning him。 At the same time； the bulkhead collapsed； tearing aside； leaving him exposed to his enemies' fire。
Karno looked down on Zor； not with the dispassion of a cloned slave； but rather with the cold hatred he had felt since losing Musica。 Emotions were seeping throughout the servants of the Masters； unstoppable and often unrecognized。
〃You're a fool； Zor；〃 Karno snarled； 〃if you believe you have the power to stand against us！ Now that this lunatic quest of yours has failed； I am instructed to offer you one final chance to repent； and rejoin us。〃 The tone of his voice made it clear that Karno offered reconciliation unwillingly。 He would much rather give the order to fire again。
Zor's red managed to lever itself up。 But despite all its immense strength； it still couldn't fight its way clear of the pinning wreckage。
Zor looked into the muzzles that had been brought to bear on him； his red's gleaming black visor panning slowly； and said； putting weight behind each word； 〃Never。 I won't stop until I end the Masters' tyranny or they end me。〃
Karno nodded； not unhappy with that pronouncement。 〃It shall be as you wish it。〃 He raised his hand again to give the signal to resume firing； and the fetal clones curled in each Triumviroid's control sphere sent out mands of readiness； preparing to shoot Zor's mecha to incandescent bits。
〃And so passes the very last of Zor。〃 Karno hissed out the words； looking like a handsome young demigod turned angel of death； signal arm ready to fall。
But like a wash of pure light； an enormous bolt from a Gladiator's main battery came through another gap in the bulkheads； sending one Triumviroid leaping off the firing ledge in a volcanic blast。 The Gladiator； standing in the smoking breach； traversed its great gun to blast another enemy； and then another； like clay pipes in a shooting gallery。
The lack of Musica's harmonics and the decline in Protoculture energy had the clone operators at a level of functioning that was near failure。 Instead of firing back； they awaited orders； or turned and collided with each other； or merely stood waiting to die…except for the one or two who shot； inaccurately。 Karno was enough of a realist to flee through a side hatchway； seething with the need to slay； to avenge himself…reverting to a level as primitive as that of any primate； without realizing it； because his intellect fed him justifications。
CHAPTER TWENTY…ONE
When I was a little kid； after my parents left in SDF…3； I had three godfathers for a while。 Maybe you heard about them； the ex…Zentraedi spies…Konda and Bron and Rico。
They knew I was half Zentraedi and that I had no close family after my folks went； so…they appointed themselves。
What I'm getting at is； they were kinder to me than anyone ever was。 They had loved three female techs who were killed in the SDF…1； and I suppose to some extent I was the Zentraedi…Human kid they never had。
And when I was…I don't know； six or so； I guess…they got very ill。 I found out later that the doctors said it was something that came from being reduced to our size in the Protoculture chambers。 What I didn't know was that there was a possible cure； but it would only work on a full…size Zentraedi。 But they stayed Human…size； so they could look after me。
They died within weeks of each other。 So what I'm saying is； don't ever ask me if I'm ashamed of being half alien； or ask why I'm willing to grant Zor the benefit of the doubt。 A lot of people think courage is something you can only prove on the battlefield； and love is something noisy and…what's the word I'm looking for？ Demonstrative。
But aliens taught me differently。
Dana Sterling； in a remark recorded by Nova Satori
Dana fired again； then saw that the Triumviroids were making no meaningful resistance； and ceased fire； her war wasn't with mind…enthralled； blameless clones anymore。
She operated controls and imaged with her winged； crested helmet。 Valkyrie pivoted end for end； changing； rearing up； and in an instant she was an armored Goliath； holding a rifle the size of a field piece。
Something about the mechamorphosis made some of the reds react； it seemed； they were in motion again。 She laid not a few rounds to keep their heads down； but suddenly they moved with more purpose。 Dana leapt to crouch by Zor's red Bioroid； partly shielding it with her own Battloid； pouring out covering fire。
〃Zor； stay down！〃 She shot from the hip； and a red that had been about to nail Zor went down in a subsidence of ripped armor and glowing ponents。 But others stirred； raising their discus pistols shakily。
More reds were being brought back under control； getting ready to take up the attack once more。 Valkyrie swung its weapon back and forth； Dana was well aware that so many Triumviroids； even hindered as they were； would shortly prevail unless she did something。 She fired with one hand； trying to drag Zor free with the other。 A red tromped over to a point on the ledge behind her； ready to shoot directly down。
Zor's red's arm pulled free and swung its weapon； fierce artificial lightning crashed； and the red above toppled from the ledge； even while others staggered to move into positions of advantage。
〃Thank you for saving my life； Dana；〃 Zor said； a little numbly。 〃But I must go on alone。〃
Dana dismissed the matter of who had saved whom from what in the time since she had first seen him。 Each had spared the other in bat； did that count as a higher form of rescue？
Anyway； there would be better times to sort all that out； the problem was living to see them。 〃No way； trooper！' She was helping his mecha to its feet； pulling wreckage off it； supporting it。 〃It's my fight； too。〃
It is； to some ways I can explain； and others that I just can't； yet。
Then he was up； and the red Bioroid and the blue…and…white Battloid were pounding along the passageway shoulder to shoulder； so that the deck alloy gonged 〃Be warned： I mean to confront the Robotech Masters and destroy them；〃 he said。
〃Long as you don't destroy yourself at the same time。 Or me；〃 she cautioned。 He heard her concern for him in her tone； and in the midst of his killing wrath； he felt a calm； clear sanity flowing from her to himself。
But a hatchway loomed up before them just then。 〃Look sharp； now；〃 she said。
They took it ATAC style； poised to either side with their backs against it； like infantry in house…to…house fighting； or SWAT cops going in。 Another red's shots fireballed through the hatchway past them。
Zor waited for the right moment； went through the hatchway firing； bent low； and rammed his foe shoulder…on。 Dana followed； waiting for a clear shot。
〃There are my people！ Oh no； no。。。〃
Musica was nearly collapsed against a crystal concavity of a viewport taller than herself； seemingly close to a faint。 Bowie； Angelo； and the others halted in some confusion； not sure what she meant and thoroughly spooked by the abandoned residential district around them。
The Humans had been forced to leave their tanks behind； to pass through the tight