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h but decided not to contradict her quite so publicly。 It might cause serious morale problems maybe even a breakdown in discipline…to announce that nobody was going anywhere for a while。
The main delay in docking ships was necessitated by Peter Pan's techs having to fit external securing gear on the outer hull。 But two hours later the mated air locks opened； and despite the strain of the crisis； there was a reunion that made the bulkheads rattle。
Lisa had left Forsythe in mand of the bridge。 She waited on the SDF…3's side of the lock； since it was roomier。 Vince stepped through from Peter Pan； they saluted each other； and then he swept her up in a laughing hug。 Rick did not bother with salutes； throwing his arms around Jean and bussing her soundly。
Restraint and order broke down； with more hugging； joy； and laughter than any of them could recall in a long time。 Vince was in no position to object； since he no sooner released Lisa than he was…confronted by his son。 Bowie held out a hand shyly。 〃Hello； Dad。〃
Vince took it and shook it； but Jean threw her arms around Bowie and kissed him over and over； laughing even though there were tears streaming from her eyes。 Musica and Allegra watched from one side； fascinated。 Then Jean embraced them。
The two groups met and mingled in individual encounters that varied greatly。 Dana managed to clutch both Sean and Marie to her and at the same time kiss a strangely blushing Angelo Dante； while Gnea looked on dubiously。 Harry Penn embraced his daughter and spared a handclasp； albeit a cool one； for Jack Baker。 Scott Bernard led Marlene over by the hand to meet Lang； who seemed subdued； even shy； out in public like that。 Kazianna sat to one side； not wanting to trample anybody； but knelt to exchange kisses； like humans； with her old rade…in…arms Miriya。 Angie saw Dana's face go blank and distant as she caught sight of Rem。
Minutes went by before Miriya realized that Aurora was not anywhere to be seen。 She mouthed the name to Max； and he shrugged helplessly while Rick Hunter pumped his hand and pounded him on the back。 Then Miriya realized that there was a spreading pool of silence over by Peter Pan's lock and another on the opposite side of the partment。 The crowd went silent by degrees； being aware that Aurora waited on one side； Roy and Drannin and the SDF…3 children on the other。
Some had not seen the children's glowing； otherworldly eyes before； there were murmurings and uneasy shiftings in the crowd。 People instinctively made way until the children and Aurora were staring at each other over a gap of empty deck。 Aurora and Roy moved at the same time； drawing close like kids in a pretend wedding。
When they came together； they took each other's hands； and a crackle of blue radiance startled the grown…ups。 Aurora informed her parents； 〃The others and I must talk。〃
Roy led her over into the circle of lamp…eyed youngsters； and the group headed for the lock。 Lisa wanted to haul them back； but Jean put a restraining hand on her arm。 〃We need to talk； too； Lisa。〃
With some difficulty； Lisa cut the core leadership people out of the herd and got them across the passageway to the conference partment。 Vince and his essential people came； too； while the rest of the celebrants repaired to a nearby rec hall to carry on with the reunion。
〃We've run some calculations；〃 Lisa began before everyone was seated。 〃I want to get all personnel evacuated…in one hop if you have sufficient deck space。 Even if that means we'll be sitting on each other and take only the clothes on our backs。 〃
Rick had been watching the troubled look on Vince's face and braced himself as the general spoke。 〃Lisa； I'm not sure we have any place to go back to。 Whatever it is that happened when you were drawn here； it's affecting the universe。 Louie； maybe you'd better take over。〃
Louie rose； adjusting his black goggles； his grin ing and going in tics。 He launched into a recap of what had happened； the SDFers interrupting with intermittent questions but for the most part listening。
The transcendence of the Regis and her race； the appearance of Ark Angel in Earthspace； the search expedition for the SDF…3 and the battle at Ranaath's Star…Louie recounted it all succinctly； although Lisa noticed that he described the strange psi…contact between the SDF…3's children and Aurora in oddly neutral terms； apparently not wanting to offer much theory about that just yet。
Lang watched Nichols； that Robotech up…and…er。 The scientist； having studied some of Louie's brilliantly insightful work； became convinced nonetheless that Louie saw the solving of the mysteries of Protoculture not as a holy pursuit and the search for the Grail but rather as some immense and rather elite game。
So： there was Rem the reborn template； and Nichols the secular adept； along with all the others…half…breeds； Wyrdlings； mind…savants； and the rest…gathered in one place at last。 But none of them could occupy the place in the Shapings that Lang could。
If only he had the strength to seize it。
CHAPTER THIRTY
In that happy…yet…sad reunion with the people from Peter Pan； I felt one special pang but kept it to myself。
It was clear how much Scott Bernard's mixed feelings about Marlene had put him through； but in some ways I couldn't help envying him。 As much as I loved Rick and Roy； I couldn't help thinking about other human DNA remains； in other wreckage at Sara Base； on Mars。 How would I feel if Karl Riber reappeared？
At one point I discovered I'd been sitting there for five minutes； staring out the bridge viewpane； lost in that thought。 And realizing newspace's apparent affinity for our memories and emotions； I knew we really had to get out of there。
Lisa Hayes…Hunter； Recollections： The Lost Journey
The Robotech Elders' tempers flared； even though the rage was impotent。 You fancy yourself a god？ Then act like one！
Haydon ignored them as usual。 That was far more infuriating than if he had caused them pain or silenced their mental rantings。
The Second Gen Flowers from New Praxis had been taken below the surface of the artifact planet； and faraway sounds and tremors indicated that they were being processed； or perhaps digested； in some fashion。 And yet； aside from Haydon IV's superluminal passage to the Valivarre system； nothing seemed to have been acplished。
If the Awareness and your facilities cannot produce any warcraft or bat mecha； then arm the sphere ships and send forth your Haydonites to do battle！ You cannot venture into bat this way； OUR lives are at risk as well as yours！
Haydon was as imperturbable as he was vast。 He watched as the planet went subluminal and； swung toward majestic； green Fantoma。 His planet's sensors told him that His arrival had been noticed and that a flotilla of ships was deploying even now to intercept。
He ignored their hails。 Once He would have swept them aside like so many gnats or drowned them under an ocean of His own war simulacra。 But the damage done to Haydon IV by space attack and cyber…burn had limited His options。
That only meant that His victory would be somewhat uneconomical； a bit inelegant。 In another way； though； it would show those absurd little creatures wha