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〃So…you know why I'm here？〃 Zor asked； eyes narrowed。
Shaizan nodded serenely。 〃But of course。 Your purpose has always remained the same…through every incarnation。〃
〃You are the embodiment of the original Zor；〃 Bowkaz added； 〃creator of the first Protoculture Matrix； the Master responsible for our race's ascendancy。〃
The words had Dana reeling； she had good reason to know some of the Masters' works。 〃You mean。。。Zor also developed the Zentraedi people？〃
Dag studied her。 〃Zor was the prime force behind all the advancements of our race。〃 He sensed that Zor Prince hadn't yet recalled all the things the Masters and their Elders had done to the original Zor。 If he had； Dag thought； the clone would have entered firing。
Dana studied Zor Prime； reincarnation of the man who had created her mother's race…he who was therefore； at least in part； her own creator as well。 She looked back to the Protoculture mass； and wondered if it was the key to everything： the war； peace； and her own origins and destiny。
〃But his most important discovery…the one from which our lifeblood flows…is the Protoculture that makes possible eternal life；〃 Shaizan was saying。
Zor； though； was shaking his head angrily； eyes squeezed to mere slits； breathing hard。 〃No！ I was never a Master； never one of you！ And the Protoculture hasn't brought life； it has brought only death！〃
He brought the assault rifle level with his waist and fired； the weapon burping brief meteoric bursts that blew open a half dozen of the canisters of degraded Protoculture mass along the wall。 It showered the deck with nutrient fluids and the raveled； dripping Flowers of Life； their soaked petals and spores； their intertangled roots and blossoms。
〃I will end this here and now！〃 he screamed； turning the barrel on his onetime Masters。
In spite of their calm greeting； the Masters hadn't thought to confront Zor at this moment； in this situation。 It was suddenly clear that he was too overwrought to listen to reason or blandishment。 The accursed Human emotions had thrown the Masters' calculations awry yet again。
Shaizan stepped from the Protoculture cap to stand protectively near the resplendent globe that held the remaining mass。 Zor must be kept at bay； until the help that had already been silently summoned could arrive。 〃Surely you are not prepared to destroy your most precious creation； the embodiment of all your hopes and dreams。 Without it； your own species and the civilization you founded will die。〃
Shaizan himself felt a strange ripple coursing through him。 He felt as if he needed biostabilization and longed for contact with the Protoculture cap； but there was no time for that in this crisis。 He could see that both Dag and Bowkaz were experiencing the weird perturbations； too。
〃My civilization is already dead！〃 Zor hissed； and opened fire again； bolts chopping at the spilled； saturated Flowers； sending up steam and burning blossoms and bits of glowing deckplate。
Zor felt as if he were made of pure rage。 Strange； that beings as emotionless as the Masters should find it so easy to use emotions to their own ends…to torment him and manipulate him so with guilt and sorrow…to batter down his resolve。 They made it so hard to think clearly； and unclear thought could only work to their benefit。
Then； all at once； the scent of the Flowers came to him。 The aroma summoned up a memory as clear and substantial as diamond； though it was a memory inherited from a Zor who had died long ago。 He recalled how he had plumbed the mysteries of Protoculture； and why； and the tragedies of that great undertaking。 He recalled； too； that he had never intended his discoveries to be used for the ends to which the Masters had put them。 He saw that the civilization…if that was the word for it…around him was their perversion； their responsibility； not his。
And he saw； in an almost preternatural calmness； that it didn't lie within his power to change the Masters' civilization； only to stop it。
Zor brought his weapon around and blasted the base of the sphere。 The glassy material shattered； in big fragments and infinitesimal ones； like the end of some Cosmic Egg。 Shaizan bent aside； shielding himself with his hands。
A secondary explosion in the systemry under the Masters' last protoculture mass shot the hurricane…lantern canister into the air； as if a child had launched a tin can with a firecracker。
Trailing wires and dendrites； it turned slowly end for end。 Unused to physical action； Bowkaz still sprang from his standing place at the ca tog catch it before it shattered against the deck。
But Zor was pivoting； livid with anger。 Perhaps he would have fired at anybody who came into his sights then…even Dana。 Certainly； he shot Bowkaz； the impact of the blasts sending the Master back； setting his monkish robes on fire； his Flower of Life…shaped collar flopping； to fall to the deck。
But while Zor was distracted； firing at the Master； Dana was in motion； slinging her carbine over her shoulder and leaping high。 It wasn't so different from football or volleyball； but it was the best save she had ever made。 She had always been athletic； but a desperation to save what might be her own personal salvation and the key to the war made her faster and stronger than she had ever been before。
And yet； even while she hurled herself up for the catch； gauntleted hands closing in； she could hear the one called Dag actually screeching； 〃Do not touch the terminals！〃
She had no choice； Dana caught it as best she could； and as her hands closed over the discs of systemry at either end of the canister； there was a bright discharge。 She wailed； a long； sustained sound； as an absolute…zero shock of energy pulsed through her； and time seemed to slow。
She could see every detail of the vegetable mass in the canister。 It was really very beautiful。 Unhurriedly…though she could sense； somehow； that it was happening very quickly…the little twisted buds that reminded her of the mother ships' cannon began to open。
Sheets of crackling energy raged and swept through the partment； throwing out harsh shadows one moment； then making her and Zor and the Masters all transparent as X rays the next。 Bowkaz had barely begun to fall； but his fall was stopping； making him seem to her to hang in midair； contorted with pain from Zor Prime's shot。
The canister and its Protoculture mass glowed like a star。 Shaizan； watching； registered Impossible！ The Masters； in concert with their Protoculture cap； might have been able to work something like that effect； but no unaided entity…not Elder； Master； clone； Zentraedi； or Human…could so evoke the power of the Universe's most potent force。
But Dana heard。 Somehow； as if from far away； she heard Shaizan's thought…speech； The Flowers have blossomed！
Far below； Flowers began opening faster and faster； as the three enigmatic entities set to guard and watch over the matrix by Zor sensed what had happened in the mother ship。 The three wraiths began to gather themselves； depleted as they were； for their final task。
Zor felt himself engulfed in a quicksand of time dilation； he began to mouth a cry that echoed Dana's； a cry that seemed to stretch to Forever。 And