10_invid_invasion-第14部分

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itch。　Rand　watched　amazed　as　the　cycle　restructured；　wrapping　itself　around　her　and　integrating　with　her　armor。　〃Treat　it　gently…like　it's　alive；〃　Rook　added；　standing　now。

Scott　meanwhile　was　off　in　another　part　of　the　grassy　fields　dancing　between　the　annihilation　discs　sent　his　way　by　the　Troopers　who　had　put　down　on　either　side　of　him。　Lunk　saw　him　lift　off　after　half　a　dozen　agile　leaps　and　bounces　and　return　fire　from　the　suit's　forearm　rocket　launchers。

〃I　can't　escape　it！〃　Lunk　yelled　to　no　one　in　particular。　〃I　thought　I'd　never　be　fighting　again！〃

Rook　was　engaging　the　third　Invid；　while　Rand　continued　to　struggle　with　reconfiguration。　He　was　about　to　give　up　on　it；　when　he　felt　the　mecha's　reciprocal　vibe；　and　suddenly　the　damned　thing　was　actually　conforming　itself　to　his　armor。　He　stood　up；　showing　a　look　of　disbelief　under　the　helmet's　faceplate；　and　gently　engaged　the　system's　hoverthrusters；　searching　the　skies　for　signs　of　Rook　or　Scott。　At　last　he　saw　the　red　Cyclone　rider。　She　was　powering　up　through　a　backflip　one　minute　and　dropping　like　a　stiff…legged　bomb　the　next。　But　her　Invid　target　leapt　away　in　time；　hooking　itself　overhead　and　dishing　out　a　blast　that　nearly　caught　her。　She　avoided　the　explosion　by　launching　straight　up；　but　the　Trooper　was　sticking　close；　discharging　two　more　bolts；　one　of　which　nicked　her　armor　and　sent　her　into　a　spinning　descent　toward　a　stand　of　trees。

Scott　was　handling　himself　well　against　the　other　two　Troopers　but　had　yet　to　land　a　Scorpion　on　either　of　them。　He　was　down　on　the　ground　now；　getting　off　another　shot　before　the　Invid　surrounded　him；　pincers　swinging；　discs　cratering　the　soft　earth。　Rand　joined　him；　and　together　they　managed　to　chase　the　Troopers　off　momentarily。

Scott　was　congratulating　Rand　on　his　mechamorphosis　when　Lunk　pulled　up　alongside　on　the　triplewheeler。

〃You　weren't　ever　a　member　of　the　space　battalion；　were　you？〃　Lunk　asked　Scott。

〃Yeah？。。。〃　said　Scott。　〃So　what？〃

〃Then　you　can　fly　a　Veritech。〃

〃Of　course　I　can；〃　Scott　said　excitedly。　〃Do　you　have　one？〃

Lunk　nodded。　〃Follow　me。〃

Rand　watched　them　zoom　off；　Scott　running　alongside　Lunk's　cycle。　He　dodged　an　Invid　that　attempted　to　flatten　him　into　the　ground　and　brought　his　forearm　up　to　fire。　But　the　Trooper　was　already　flying　off　to　link　up　with　the　other　two；　all　three　headed　in　the　same　general　direction　as　Lunk　and　Scott。

If　I　hang　around　with　this　guy　long　enough；　I'm　gonna　get　myself　killed　for　sure；　Rand　said　to　himself。

Then　Rook　was　suddenly　beside　him；　upright　in　Battle　Armor　mode　and　hovering　two　feet　off　the　ground。　〃What's　the　matter；〃　she　asked　him；　〃your　joints　rusting　up　on　you　or　something？〃

〃No；　I　was　just　trying　to…〃

〃You　really　aren't　much　use　in　bat；　are　you？〃

〃Hey；　wait　a　minute！〃　Rand　shouted　as　she　began　to　hover　off　in　the　same　configuration。　〃It's　not　like　I'm　supposed　to　be　here；　you　know。　I　mean；　technically　I'm　a　nonbatant；　did　you　know　that？　Did　I　ever　tell　you　about　the　time　I　fought　off　three　Invid　patrols　at　the　same　time。。。？〃

From　the　cover　of　the　ranch　house；　Ringo　watched　Spider　set　Kevin　free　from　the　ropes　that　held　him　to　the　tree。　Knifer　was　kneeling　by　the　window；　peering　over　the　stool；　the　hulk　was　cowering　in　a　corner　under　a　shelf。

〃Stop　your　whinin'；　you　lily…livered　rogue！〃　Ringo　shouted　from　the　window。

Knifer　looked　up。　〃Hey；　Ringo；　I　think　I　can　hear　your　knees　knockin'。〃

Ringo　made　an　exasperated　face　and　brought　his　fist　down　on　Knifer's　skull。　〃It's　because　I'm　mad；　bonehead。　Mad；　mad；　mad！〃　He　punctuated　each　word　with　a　follow…up　blow。

Elsewhere；　Annie　was　asking　Yellow　Dancer　why　she　was　hanging　around。　They　were　in　the　singer's　pink　armored　vehicle；　parked　some　distance　from　the　scene　of　the　initial　fighting。　〃What　do　you　want　from　them？〃　Annie　wanted　to　know。　〃I'm　warning　you；　I　can　get　very　jealous。〃

Yellow　turned　to　her　from　the　driver's　seat　with　an　enigmatic　smile。　〃Believe　me；〃　she　assured　Annie；　〃there's　absolutely　nothing　for　you　to　be　jealous　of。〃

〃Well；　then；　it's　okay；〃　Annie　said；　perking　up。　〃You　can　hang　around　as　much　as　you　want。〃


The　Veritech　hangar　was　a　dilapidated　circular　building；　holed　in　numerous　places；　with　a　hemispherical　red　roof　sectioned　off　and　reinforced　by　curved　trusses。　A　mostly　ruined　solar　windmill　rose　alongside　the　structure；　which　Scott　guessed　was　a　barn　of　some　sort。　Up　ahead；　he　saw　Lunk　give　a　wave；　jump　the　triple…wheeler　from　the　top　of　a　small　grassy　embankment；　and　accelerate　through　the　fallow　fields　that　led　to　the　makeshift　hangar。　The　Invid　Shock　Troopers　were　in　hot　pursuit　overhead；　their　gleaming　crablike　bodies　filling　the　sky。

〃Hurry！〃　Scott　could　hear　Lunk　shout。

Scott　had　been　expecting　to　find　the　rusting　shell　of　a　first…generation　Veritech；　but　once　inside　the　building　his　hopes　took　a　leap　forward。　Carefully　positioned　in　the　spacious　loft　was　what　looked　to　be　a　well…maintained　Alpha　Fighter；　sans　augmentation　pack　and　boosters；　and　certainly　a　leftover　from　the　latter　stages　of　the　Second　Robotech　War。

〃Climb　in；〃　said　Lunk。　〃She's　ready　to　fly。〃

〃Who's　been　maintaining　it？〃　Scott　asked　as　he　struggled　out　of　the　reconfigured　Cyclone。

〃Listen；　I'm　not　as　stupid　as　you　might　think；〃　Lunk　said；　raising　his　voice　above　explosive　volleys　from　the　Invid。　Discs　were　striking　the　fields　nearby；　loosening　dirt　and　debris　from　the　exposed　rafters。　〃I　was　a　certified　bio…maintenance　engineer。　Trust　me；　this　baby　will　fly　like　a　dream。〃

Scott　climbed　into　the　barn　loft　and　gave　the　Veritech's　radome　an　affectionate　pat。　He　threw　himself　up　to　the　open　canopy；　got　a　good　handhold；　and　slipped　into　the　cockpit。　He　hadn't　bothered　to　change　out　of　the　Cyclone　armor；　but　now　he　exchanged　his　helmet　for　the　Veritech's　own　〃thinking　cap〃　and　began　a　run…through　of　the　systems。　It　was　so　long　since　he　had　piloted　a　VT　in　atmosphere；　he　wondered　if　he　could　bring　it　off　now。

〃Everything　seems　in　order！〃　he　called　down　to　Lunk　as　an　explosion　tore　out　a　huge　section　of　wall。

Lunk's　hands　went　to　his　ears；　and　he　threw　himself　to　cover。　Through　the　breach　in　the　wall；　Scott　glimpsed　the　three　Troopers　land　and　begin　their　approach　on　the　barn。　I'll　never　be　able　to　power　up　fast　enough　to　get　out　of　here！　he　thought。

But　just　then　Rand　and　Rook　arrived　to　check　the　aliens'　advance。　The　red　Cycloner　launched　herself　like　a　projectile　straight　into　one　of　the　Trooper's　optic　sensors；　while　Rand　fired　two　Scorpions　against　a　second。　It　was　all　the　time　Scott　needed　to　bring　up　the　Protoculture　levels　of　the　Veritech；　and　a　moment　later；　much　to　Rand's　consternation；　the　radome　of　the　VT　was　punching　through　the　barn's　roof。

Scott　threw　the　VT　into　a　steep　climb；　luring　the　Troopers　away　from　their　swipe　attacks　against　Rook　and　Rand。　Rand　watched　the　fighter　accelerate　through　a　sweeping　arc　and　head　back　into　the　faces　of　its　pursuers；　destroying　one　with　a　missile　too　swift　for　his　eyes　to　track。　But　that　was　only　the　beginning。　Now　the　fighter　was　reconfiguring　to　Battloid　mode　and　leading　the　two　remaining　Invid　on　a　high…speed　chase　over　the　countryside。

Scott　thought　the　ship　upright…a　techno…knight　standing　in　thin　air…while　salvos　of　annihilation　discs　beamed　past　him。　He　reached　out；　throwing　levers　that　opened　the　missile　partments　built　into　the　Battloid's　forearm；　shoulder；　and　lower…leg　armor；　and　thought　the　systems　through　to　launch。　It　was　all　ing　back　to　him　now…it　had　to！　For　a　moment；　the　techno…knight　was　enpassed　in　energy　balloons；　then　dozens　of　missiles　tore　from　their　launch　racks　like　so　many　red…tipped　arrows　of　death。　The　Troopers　took　the　full　storm　and　were　all　but　disintegrated　by　the　force　of　the　blasts。


Down　below；　Kevin　and　Spider　were　running　toward　the　barn；　a　few　steps　ahead　of　Annie；　who　had　just　leapt　from　Yellow's　jeep　and　was　calling　out　for　Lunk。　Rook　and　Rand　had　already　reconfigured　their　Cyclones　and　were　doffing　the　hot　and　cumbersome　battle　armor　when　Scott　brought　the　VT　down；　cut　the　engines；　and　threw　open　the　canopy。

Lunk　stepped　from　the　barn　unharmed　and　caught　Annie　midair　as　she　jumped　up　and　threw　her　arms　around　his　neck。　〃There　you　are！〃　she　gushed。　〃I　knew　they　wouldn't　get　you；　I　knew　you'd　e　back　to　me！〃

Lunk　held　her　away；　offering　a　miffed　but　understanding　grin。

〃I've　decided　you're　the　only　one　for　me！〃

〃Well；　thanks；〃　said　Lunk。　〃I　wish　I　could　say　the　same。〃　He　smiled　tolerantly　and　gently　lowered　Annie　to　the　ground。　〃You're　a　little　young　for　me。。。And　besides；　I've　got　other　plans。〃

Annie　stared　up　at　him；　despondent；　and　asked　what　those　other　plans　might　be。

Lunk　threw　his　massive　shoulders　back。　〃Join　the　resistance；〃　he　said　to　all　of　them。　〃See　if　I　can　make　up　for　past　mistakes。〃

〃I'd　be　glad　to　join　forces　with　you；　Lunk；〃　said　Scott。　〃If　you　mean　what　you　say。。。〃

Kevin　looked　from　one　to　the　other。　〃He's　not　serious；　robby。　Are　you；　Lunk？〃

Lunk　nodded。　〃I'm　sick　of　sneakin'　around　like　a　frightened　little　weasel。　Face　it；　Kevin；　I'm　a　soldier；　after　all。　And　it's　time　I　started　acting　like　one。〃

〃Use　your　head；　Lunk；〃　Kevin　countered。　〃This　war's　a　lost　cause。　What　can　two；　ten；　or　even　two　hundred　do　against　the　Invid？〃

〃We　can　try；〃　said　Lunk。

Annie　made　a　disappointed　sound　and　turned　her　back　to　Lunk；　hands　behind　her　head。　〃And　I　thought　you　were　special。。。〃

Lunk　bent　down；　perplexed；　to　ask：　〃But　a　minute　ago　I　was　the　man　of　your　dreams；　remember？〃

Annie's　lips　tightened；　and　she　shook　her　head。　〃A　long　time　ago　I　decided　I'd　never　marry　a　soldier。　They　don't　last　long　enough　nowadays。〃

Kevin　and　Spider　laughed。

〃The　kid's　no　dummy；　that's　for　sure；〃　Rand　offered。

Yellow　stepped　down　from　the　jeep　and　approached　the　VT。　〃I'd　like　to　sign　up　for　the　team；　Scott。〃

Rook　sent　a　knowing　elbow　into　Rand's　ribs　at　the　same　time　Kevin　sent　one　into　Spider's。　But　Scott's　answer　disappointed　all　of　them。

〃Thanks；〃　he　said　from　the　cockpit。　〃But　we　don't　have　enough　troops　yet　to　hire　an　entertainer。〃

〃There's　a　lot　more　to　me　than　meets　the　eye；〃　said　Yellow。

〃As　if　that　isn't　enough；〃　Rand　mented　under　his　breath　but　loudly　enough　for　Rook　to　hear。

〃All　I　see　is　an　att