10_invid_invasion- 第6部分

Their　prey；　however；　had　managed　to　overe　his　initial　ineptitude　and　was　now　leaning　the　Cyclone　through　a　series　of　self…imposed　twists　and　turns　along　the　featureless　sands；　a　tactic　that　more　than　once　brought　the　Scouts　close　to　midair　collisions　with　one　another。

〃Just　lemme　know　if　you're　gettin'　tired！〃　Rand　shouted　above　the　roar　of　the　mecha。　He　laughed　over　his　shoulder　and　threw　the　Scouts　a　maniacal　grin；　but　when　he　turned　again　to　face　forward　he　found　trouble　ahead。　Something　was　approaching　him　fast；　kicking　up　one　heck　of　a　dust　storm。　Two　of　the　Invid　were　moving　into　flanking　position；　and　it　suddenly　occurred　to　Rand　that　he　would　soon　be　surrounded。


Scott　Bernard　felt　two　emotions　vying　for　his　attention　when　he　saw　the　Cyclone　rider　and　the　Invid　Scouts：　elation　that　he　had　found　one　of　his　Mars　Division　rades　and　rage　at　the　sight　of　the　enemy。　He　couldn't　figure　out　why　the　rider　wasn't　reconfiguring　but　knew　that　the　situation　called　for　immediate　action。　Lowering　the　helmet　visor；　he　engaged　the　mecha's　turbos。　For　a　moment　the　Cyclone　was　up　on　its　rear　wheel；　then　it　went　fully　airborne。　At　the　same　time；　Scott's　mind　instinctively　found　the　vibe　that　allowed　it　to　interface　with　the　cycle's　Protoculture　systems。

Helped　along　by　the　imaging　Scott's　mind　fed　the　Cyclone　via　the　helmet　〃thinking　cap；〃　the　mecha　began　to　reconfigure。　The　windscreen　and　helmet　assembly　flattened　out；　the　front　wheel　disengaged　itself　from　the　axle　and　swung　back　and　off　to　one　side。　The　rear　wheel；　along　with　most　of　the　thruster　pack；　rode　up；　while　other　ponents；　including　the　wheel…mounted　missile　tubes；　attached　themselves　to　Scott's　hip；　leg；　and　forearm　armor。　In　the　final　stage　of　mechamorphosis；　he　resembled　some　kind　of　airborne　armored　backpacker　whose　gear　just　happened　to　include　two　solid　rubber　tires　and　a　jet　pack。

Scott　let　the　thruster　carry　him　in　close　to　the　Invid　Scouts　before　bringing　his　forearm　weapons　into　play…twin　launch　tubes　that　carried　small　but　deadly　Scorpion　missiles。　Right　arm　outstretched　now；　palm　downward；　he　raised　the　tubes'　targeting　mechanism；　centered　one　of　the　Scouts　in　the　reticle；　and　loosed　both　missiles。　They　streaked　toward　their　quarry　with　a　deadly　sibilance　（Scott's　armor　protecting　him　from　their　backlash）；　narrowly　missed　Rand；　and　caught　the　Invid　ship　square　in　the　belly；　scattering　pieces　of　it　across　the　sands。

The　unarmored　Cyclone　rider　went　down　into　a　long　slide　while　Scott　took　to　the　ground　to　dispatch　his　remaining　pursuers。　Once　in　their　midst；　he　dodged　two　claw　swipes　before　launching　himself　over　the　top　of　his　would…be　assailant。　Another　missed　swipe　and　a　second　leap　landed　him　atop　one　of　the　pair；　he　leapt　up　again　and　came　down　for　the　kill；　firing　off　a　single　Scorpion　from　the　left　forearm　launch　tubes。　While　the　Invid　was　engulfed　by　the　ensuing　explosion；　Scott　put　down　to　deal　with　the　last　of　them。

The　thing　tried　to　crush　him　with　its　foot；　but　Scott　rolled　away　from　it　in　time。　Likewise；　he　dodged　a　right　claw　and　jumped　up　onto　the　Invid's　head。　The　Scout　brought　its　left　up　now；　almost　in　a　gesture　of　puzzlement；　but　Scott　was　already　gone。　He　toyed　with　the　Invid　for　a　minute　more；　allowing　it　another　shot　at　him　before　polishing　it　off　with　the　remaining　Scorpion；　which　the　Scout　took　right　through　its　red　optic　scanner。

The　Cyclone　rider　was　still　on　the　ground　beneath　his　overturned　mecha　when　Scott　approached。　〃They're　not　really　as　tough　as　they　look；　are　they？〃　he　said　to　the　bewildered　red…haired　civilian。

〃Hombre；　you're　really　something　else　in　a　battle；〃　the　man　returned；　his　bushy　eyebrows　arched。

Scott　raised　the　faceshield　of　his　helmet。　〃The　Cyclone　does　the　work；〃　he　said　humbly。

〃Yeah；　it's　quite　a　rig；〃　said　Rand。　He　got　up；　dusted　himself　off；　and　righted　the　cycle；　marveling　at　it　once　again。　〃You　are　a　Forager？〃　he　asked　Scott　warily。　〃Some　kinda　one…man　army？〃

〃You　might　say　that；〃　Scott　began。　〃Now　listen…〃

〃It's　the　first　time　I　ever　actually　rode　one　of　these　things！〃　Rand　interrupted。

〃I　need　some　information…〃

〃I'll　bet　I　could　modify　this　to　go　twice　the　speed！〃　Rand　was　on　his　knees　now；　fidgeting　with　this　and　that。　〃Look　at　this　control　setup！　I　can't　wait　to　try　to　reconfigure　it！〃

〃Just　where　the　hell　are　we；　outlaw？〃　Scott　managed　at　last。　But　when　even　that　failed　to　elicit　a　response；　he　reached　over　the　Cyclone　and　grabbed　Rand　by　the　shirtfront。　〃I'm　talking　to　you；　pal。　Where'd　those　Scouts　e　from？　Is　there　an　Invid　hive　around　here？〃

Rand　began　to　struggle　against　the　mecha's　hold；　and　Scott　let　him　go。　He　was　a　scrappy　kid　but　might　make　a　decent　partner。

Rand　backed　off；　arms　akimbo。　〃What　do　I　look　like；　some　kind　of　travel　agent？　I　don't　make　a　habit　of　asking　them　where　they　hail　from…you　just　look　up　and　there　they　are。　I　hate　those　things！〃

〃Take　it　easy；〃　Scott　told　him　harshly。　He　explained　about　the　ill…fated　invasion　force　and　their　abortive　attempts　at　securing　a　groundside　front。

〃I　didn't　think　you　were　from　around　here；〃　Rand　said；　somewhat　relieved。　〃Admiral　Hunter；　huh？〃　It　was　as　if　Scott　had　mentioned　George　Washington。

〃Ancient　history；　I　suppose。〃

Rand　shrugged。　〃I've　never　heard　of　Reflex　Point　either。　'Course；　I　don't　mix　much　when　I　don't　have　to。　As　far　as　I　know；　the　Invid　HQ　is　north　of　here…way　north。〃　Fascinated；　he　watched　as　Scott；　now　on　his　knees；　collapsed　and　stepped　out　of　the　two…wheeled　backpack；　returning　the　mecha　to　Cyclone　configuration。　〃You　really　going　to　try　and　find　Reflex？〃

〃That's　what　I'm　here　for；〃　said　Scott；　doffing　the　helmet。　As　he　pulled　it　over　his　head；　the　chin　strap　caught　the　holo…locket's　chain　and　took　it　along。　The　heart　fell　and　opened；　replaying　its　brief　message　to　Scott　and　his　stunned　panion。


〃。。。I'm　looking　forward　to　living　the　rest　of　my　life　with　you。　I　can't　wait　till　this　conflict　is　all　behind　us。　Till　we　meet　again；　my　love。。。〃


Wordlessly；　Scott　stooped　to　retrieve　the　heart。

〃Hey；　that's　great！〃　said　Rand。　〃Is　that　your　girl？〃

〃Uh。。。my　girl；〃　Scott　stammered。　He　straightened　up；　clutching　the　heart　against　his　pectoral　armor；　and　turned　his　back　to　Rand。


CHAPTER　THREE

Dolza's　annihilation　bolts　had　devastated　the　South　American　coastal　cities　and　turned　much　of　the　vast　interior　forest　into　wasteland。　Ironically　enough；　however；　repopulation　of　the　area　was　largely　the　result　of　the　hundreds　of　Zentraedi　warships　that　crashed　there　after　the　firing　of　the　Grand　Cannon。　Indeed；　even　after　Khyron's　efforts　to　stage　a　full…scale　rebellion　had　failed；　the　region　was　still　largely　under　Zentraedi　domination　（the　T'sentrati　Control　Zone；　as　it　was　known　to　the　indigenous　peoples）；　up　until　the　Malcontent　uprisings　of　2013…15　and　the　subsequent　events　headed　up　by　Captain　Maxmillian　Sterling　of　the　Robotech　Defense　Force。　But　contrary　to　popular　belief；　Brazilas　did　not　bee　the　lawless　frontier　Scott　Bernard　traversed　until　much　later；　specifically；　the　two…year　period　between　the　fall　of　Chairman　Moran's　Council　and　the　Invid　invasion。　In　fact　the　region　had　seen　extensive　changes　during　the　Second　Robotech　War　and　surely　would　have　risen　to　the　fore　had　it　not　been　for　the　disastrous　end　to　that　fifteen…year　epoch。
〃Southlands；〃　History　of　the　Third　Robotech　War；　Vol。　XXII

Countless　people　found　themselves　homeless　after　the　Invid's　preemptive　strike　against　Earth；　the　waste　was　awash　with　wanderers；　thieves；　and　madmen。　And；　of　course；　children：　lost；　uprooted；　orphaned。　They　fared　worse　than　the　other　groups；　usually　falling　prey　to　illness；　starvation；　and　marauding　gangs。　Occasionally；　one　would　stumble　upon　groups　of　them　in　devastated　cities　or　natural　shelters…caves；　patches　of　forest；　oases…forty　or　fifty　strong；　banded　together　like　some　feral　family；　and　God　help　the　one　who　tried　to　disturb　their　new　order！。。。But　this　was　the　exception　rather　than　the　rule。　The　great　majority　of　them　had　to　make　their　own　way　and　fend　for　themselves；　attach　themselves…more　often；　enslave　themselves…to　whomever　or　whatever　could　provide　them　with　some　semblance　of　protection；　the　chance　for　a　better　tomorrow。

Laako　City；　largest　settlement　in　the　southern　wastes；　saw　its　fair　share　of　these　nameless　drifters；　and　Ken　was　usually　the　one　who　weled　them　with　open　arms。　He　was　a　tall；　gangly　streetwise　eighteen…year…old　with　a　reputation　for　dirty　tricks；　mean…spirited　by　nature　but　a　charmer　when　he　needed　to　be。　His　long　hair　was　a　pewter　color；　save　for　the　crimson　forelock　that　was　his　trademark。

His　most　recent　conquest　was　a　young　girl　named　Annie；　who　claimed　to　be　fifteen。　But　Ken　had　grown　bored　with　her；　besides；　he　had　his　eye　fixed　on　a　pretty　little　dark…haired　urchin　who　had　just　arrived　in　Laako；　and　the　time　had　e　to　kiss　Annie　off。

The　trouble　was　that　Annie　didn't　want　to　go。

〃Don't　leave　me　like　this！〃　she　was　pleading　with　hum　just　now；　alligator　tears　coursing　down　moon…face　cheeks。

〃Hey；〃　he　told　her　soothingly；　disengaging　himself　from　her　hold　on　his　arm。　〃You　knew　from　the　start　you'd　have　to　leave　someday。〃

This　was　and　was　not　true：　Laako　did　maintain　a　policy　of　limiting　the　time　outsiders　were　allowed　to　spend　in　the　city；　but　well…connected　Ken　could　easily　have　steered　his　way　around　the　regs。　If　he　had　been　so　inclined。

The　two　of　them　were　standing　at　the　causeway　entrance　to　the　city　in　the　lake；　the　tall　albeit　ruined　towers　of　the　Laako's　twin　islands　visible　in　the　background。　Sundry　trucks　and　tractors　on　their　way　to　the　causeway　checkpoint　were　motoring　by；　kicking　up　dust　and　decibels　alike。

〃Please；　Ken！〃　Annie　tried；　emphatically　this　time；　launching　herself　at　him；　hoping　to　pinion　his　arms　with　her　small　hands。　It　was　push　and　pull　for　a　moment…Ken　saying；　〃Annie！。。。Cut　it　out！。。。Stop　it！〃　to　Annie's　〃I　can't！。。。I　won't！。。。I　can't！…〃　but　ultimately　he　put　a　violent　end　to　it；　bringing　his　arms　up　with　such　force　that　Annie　was　thrown　to　the　ground。

Which　was　easy　enough　for　him　to　do。　She　was　a　good　foot　shorter　than　Ken；　with　a　large　mouth；　long；　straight；　carrot…colored　hair；　and　what　some　might　have　termed　a　cherublike　cuteness　about　her。　Her　single　outfit　consisted　of　an　olive…drab　double…breasted　military　jumpsuit　she　had　picked　up　along　the　trail；　set　off　by　a　pink　frameless　rucksack　and　a　maroon　visored　cap　emblazoned　with　the　letters　E。T；　a　piece　of　twentieth…century　nostalgia　that　dated　back　to　a　popular　science…fantasy　film。　It　was　difficult　to　tell…as　it　was　with　many　of　the　lost…whether　Annie　was　searching　for　a　friend；　a　father；　or　a　lover。　And　it　was　doubtful　that　she　could　have　answered　the　question　either。

〃I　told　you　to　cut　it　out；〃　Ken　started　to　say；　but　the　sight　of　her　kneeling　in　the　dirt　crying　her　eyes　out　managed　to　touch　what　meager　tenderness　he　still　possessed。　〃Don't　you　see　I　have　no　choice？〃　he　continued　apologetically；　walking　over　to　her　and　placing　his　hand　on　her　heaving　shoulder。　〃This　whole　thing　is　just　as　hard　for　me　as　it　is　for　you；　Annie。　Please　try　and　understand。〃

She　kept　her　face　buried　in　her　hands；　sobbing　while　he　spoke。

〃Nobody　who　es　from　the　outside　can　stay　for　more　than　a　little　while；　remember？　And　if　I　left　here；　I　wouldn't