The Final Nightmare

by Jack McKinney

  At last a tech clone pronounced, "Full reinstatement of memory is now complete. Reintegration of memory will begin at once-" He was cut off by an intense barrage from above. The tier window and much of the complex's apparatus was shot to bits. Before anybody there could react, the ATACs had dropped to the main floor and had the clones covered.

  "Don't anybody move," Dana warned. They could see from her eyes what would happen if they did.

  Jeddar and his Clonemasters were more astonished than afraid. This was, after all, their first close encounter with Humans. Behind the raiders came Musica, and Karno was visibly shaken to see her, breathing her name.

  In another second, Louie and Angelo freed Zor from his restraints and cranial wiring. The big sergeant got the unconscious clone over his shoulder with ease. As much as Angelo might have berated Zor, Dana noticed that now he glared around furiously at the creatures who had tortured him.

  The troopers were so busy making sure that no one on the scene made any hostile moves that they missed the slight motion it took Jeddar to press a button on his wristband. A moment later, a door snapped open and three more guards leapt into the opening.

  Everyone opened fire simultaneously, and those guards who were already in the lab took the opportunity to spring for cover, as did the Clonemasters, the ATACs, and Musica. The energy bolts crashed and flashed; the air began heating up at once. Shots set off eruptions of power from the complex's systemry.

  "I believe you've gone mad, Musica!" Karno called to her over the din of the firefight. "What have these monsters done to you to make you a traitor

  to your own kind?"

  Musica, flustered, didn't know how to explain except to say, "Zor is their friend; they're saving him!"

  Then Bowie was towing her along. "We're getting out of here!"

  Intense fire from the 15th had cleared the doorway; three guards lay dead or dying there. With practiced calm and precision, the five troopers fired as they moved. The remaining enemy had no choice but to keep their heads down, only able to risk the occasional shot.

  There was another runabout outside the complex; in a moment, the escapees were roaring away, with Dana and Sean keeping up a high volume of fire to make sure no one followed or tried for a parting shot.

  Released from the grip of the mind apparatus, Zor began to stir, then came around. Dana was overjoyed and stopped shooting long enough to gush about how happy she was, but Angelo, at the controls, growled, "Secure that hearts-and-flowers crap! We've still gotta find ourselves a way outta this joint, remember?"

  At that moment three red Bioroids appeared, skimming along close to the ceiling of the high central passageway in which the runabout was traveling. Angelo managed to dodge their first bolts, nearly smearing the vehicle along the nearby wall, then made a desperate turn into a side way, losing the enemy mecha for the moment.

  "We've got to get back to the Hovertanks!" Dana yelled over the wind of their passage.

  "I'm workin' on it, ma'am."

  She consulted the tiny sensor Latell had given her. "Take that next right!" Perhaps they could retrace their steps from the control center, which Musica had pointed out along the way.

  They slewed and hairpin-turned and blasted along, coming around a corner only to run head-on into another triad of guards. Disinclined to stop, Angelo gritted his teeth and slammed into them, hurling two to either side, slamming the middle one to the floor.

  But the impact made the runabout defy its controls. It hit a stanchion,

  bounced back the other way while Angelo fired retros desperately, then hit the floor surface and slowly upended. Its occupants were spilled out and it came to a final rest with a clang and crunch.

  Dana shook her head, looking up. Directly before her was an open hatchway, and beyond-"Look! It's the central control area!" The housing in which the Living Protoculture was situated was closed, protecting it.

  For the moment.

  They heard Hovercraft approaching and scattered to find concealment in the center. In another few seconds, the three reds settled in for a landing, dismounting and scanning the area.

  Seeing the Bioroids sparked something in Zor's still-disorganized memory. He turned to Musica, who crouched with him under a huge conduit. "Why did the Masters send me to Earth in the first place?" he whispered. Somehow he knew that she, Mistress of the music that was part of the Masters' power over their realm, could answer.

  She looked at him with infinite sadness. "You were their eyes and ears. You were sent to Earth as a spy," she mouthed the words more than whispered them. "They planted a neuro-sensor in your brain. You weren't even aware of what you were doing, Zor!"

  The entire center, the entire ship, began thrumming with a peculiar vibration, something that made their hair stand on end. The Bioroids cocked their heads, registering it.

  "It's a battle alert," Musica mouthed to the ATACs. "Your forces must be attacking us!"

  "Time to make our move," Dana said. "We take out this control center, whatever it costs, understood? Otherwise Emerson won't have a chance." With a little luck, Louie could figure out some way to put it out of commission. But first the reds had to go.

  The 15th troopers fanned out, firing at the Bioroids, dodging from cover, heading for the Living Protoculture. They kept close to the systemry, shooting from its protection. The enemy mecha seemed reluctant to fire, enduring the minor consequences of the small arms fire rather than risk

  damaging the ship's core. One was angling for a clear shot at them; Louie reluctantly used his pulse grenade on it, but only staggered it instead of putting it out of the fight.

  Only Zor and Musica remained behind, she stunned by what was happening, he immobilized by surfacing memories. Then Zor found himself remembering, remembering much. His gaze traveled to the 15th's commanding officer.

  Dana...

  He knew what he had to do. He crept away to one side, getting clear of the shooting.

  At the same time, Musica was coming to a decision.

  There isn't much time. The ship will be destroyed soon. I must get to the barrier control!

  She raced for the stairs that wound up around the housing that protected the Protoculture. Bowie, seeing her go, yelled her name and sprinted after.

  Musica ran like a deer up the broad steps. But she was in the open, and a Bioroid risked a shot as she neared the top. At the same moment, a bolt from Angelo's weapon hit the red's discus gun; its discharge hit the housing near Musica, missing her, but dazing her and damaging the housing.

  In a moment, Bowie was at her side. "Bowie, the barrier! It must be deactivated!"

  He nodded, and sprang up the last few steps to the control panel she had been trying to reach. The 15th was pitching at the reds with everything they had, and the damage to the housing kept the reds from attempting another shot at Musica or Bowie.

  At her direction, he pushed a button, pulled down on the gleaming lever that appeared in response to that. A worldshaking hooting rose above the first alarms and even the firefight. "Hurry!" she called to him. "We must go!"

  The Bioroids were at a terrible disadvantage since it was forbidden by the unseen Masters to fire any shot that might endanger the ship's systemry.

  The ATACs had been quick to exploit this fact; five rifles were a lot of firepower if the users knew where to aim, and the troopers had had plenty of practice at hitting faceplates.

  As Bowie helped Musica down from the steps, the last Bioroid tottered backward and came to rest leaning against the bulkhead. The fugitives raced into the passageway, but another trio of reds dropped from nowhere, blocking their way. The rifles were all but exhausted, and there was no hiding behind systemry now. The leader took dead aim with its discus handgun...

  The gun and the arm blew apart in an eruption that almost knocked them flat on their backs. Jetting down the passageway behind them came a well-remembered red on its Hovercraft.

  "Go get 'em, Zor!" Dana cheered.

  Zor was still the greatest battle l
ord in the enemy fleet. He dodged the other reds' blasts deftly, firing with great accuracy all the while. He leapt his mecha from the Hovercraft, and let the saucer-platform crash into them, destroying his opponents in a collision that half-deafened the fugitives.

  Zor's Bioroid landed with a deck-shaking impact. "Dana, you and the others go ahead; the Hovertanks are that way, through there. I'll stay here and delay any further pursuit." His voice was the voice of the Zor they had served with, not the eerie, indrawn-breath voice of the Masters' slave.

  "Huh!" Angelo said, with something like approval. "We'll be waiting for you," Dana said somberly.

  There was no other option; the escapees dashed on. Zor turned to wait patiently. It didn't take long; three groups of Triumviroids raced into view on Hovercraft. Zor took aim and began firing.

  Astoundingly, the tanks were just as the 15th had left them.

  "But what good'll they do us?" Angelo asked, as the squad fired up their mecha. "There's no way we can reach Emerson on just tank thrusters!"

  "Don't you think I know that?" Dana snapped. With their mecha in tank mode, the 15th followed her as she tried to retrace the route she had

  taken on her first evasive dash with Bowie and Louie.

  At last she found what she was searching for, a sort of cul-de-sac compartment piled high with salvaged components and disabled equipment. It was obvious that a lot of repair work was done there as well.

  The tanks stopped, cannon trained on the only hatchway. The troopers rose to stand in their cockpit-turrets. Dana pointed to a rank of Hovercraft that had seen better days.

  "Louie, you've got to find us the five best out of those, and make sure they'll get us to Emerson."

  Easy for you to say! he thought. Was she crazy, or just ignorant? "Lieutenant, I-"

  "I don't want to hear it! I'm not talking about winning a Formula X race; we'll only need them for a few minutes. If we're not back with the fleet by that time, it won't make any difference."

  Aboard his flagship, Emerson had long since reached the conclusion his subordinates were warily expressing. The Earth forces were going at the Masters with hammer and tongs once more, but couldn't take the beating they were getting for much longer.

  There was no sign of the 15th and no radio contact. Emerson ordered that the fleet prepare to withdraw, that the A-JACs prepare to return to their transports. When Lieutenant Crystal objected, he dressed her down brusquely, and reiterated his orders.

  But the whole time, he thought, Bowie. Dana. And he knew the other names as well.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Bowie, life in danger with you is so much more than Life without you would be even if death strikes its chord.

  Musica, "End of the Old Songs"

  While Louie did his wizard-of-Robotech number, Dana and the others, with Musica's help, discovered the controls that opened the shaft overhead. The ATACs redonned their armor, and Bowie made sure his canopy was tight; Musica had no other protection.

  In Battloid mode, the 15th boarded the Hovercraft. Dana's Valkyrie reached out a huge finger to flick a Bioroidscale switch. The shaft hatch opened, triggering the closing of emergency doors in the passageway leading to the cul-de-sac. The 15th rose amid a storm of junk and debris hurled upward by the escaping atmosphere.

  It was the first and last time such an unlikely combination of Robotechnology took place. Weaving through volleys from their own forces, the ATACs started their survival run. There was still no sign of the red Bioroid, and it was too late to turn back.

  Unstoppable, unbeatable, Zor not only sent his opponents reeling back, but actually fought his way forward towards the control center.

  Knowing all the Triumviroids' weaknesses, he was also their superior in experience and speed and adaptability, master of virtuoso tactics they had never even had time to learn. He had left a trail of death and destruction through the flagship's passageways.

  Now Zor stood before the Living Protoculture, which still hid within its armored cylinder. He knew, though, that it was too weak to defend itself, depleted and wounded by the battle raging through the ship. He felt that it sensed its impending destruction.

  I betrayed my friends. Just as it happened so long ago, with the Invid!

  Am I damned, doomed to live this agony over and over? The red Bioroid raised its discus weapon and aimed at the cylinder. Fire and smoke rose around it.

  And now my only way to redeem myself is by betraying my people.

  Everything I touch turns to ashes. So be it.

  Dana, good-bye!

  He triggered the weapon just as the cylinder slid open, and the Living Protoculture lashed out in a last desperate effort to save itself.

  The explosion was bigger than anything ever seen from a mother ship before; an entire section of the stupendous vessel was simply vaporized, its edges pushed outward as the Main Control section detonated.

  "You stupid alien," Dana said in a small voice, looking back at it. "You said you'd catch up."

  "I'm truly sorry, Dana," Angelo fumbled, not used to soft words. "I-I know you were fond of him. And he liked you a lot, I could tell."

  Sean was already in contact with Emerson's fleet. The 15th hadn't beaten the clock by much; they just about had enough time and fuel to catch the withdrawing strikeforce.

  Louie also watched the explosion. He adjusted his tech goggles, trying to see what information they might offer. He did a slight double take, changed magnification and spectrum bands, and looked again. "Lieutenant? I think you better check this out."

  It was beginning to be visible to the naked eye against the glare of the explosion so close behind it-a form resolving itself into a red Bioroid on a Hovercraft.

  "It's him!" Dana's heart had never been so full. At first it looked as if Zor was helping along a wounded red, but then they saw that he had his Battloid clasped to him.

  "Whaddaya know," Angelo drawled. "He even brought along a change of clothes."

  Zor, racing to overtake them, wondered about the ways of fate, and the

  Shapings of the Protoculture. The last effort of the living mass that served the Masters had only contained the inevitable explosion for scant seconds-enough time for him to retrieve his tank and find a Hovercraft and flee.

  But he was still an alien in a strange land. He wondered if what waited ahead would be any better than what he left behind.

  The Masters knew their flagship was doomed.

  Invader assault ships, forward command ships, and the other smaller craft that were berthed in the Masters' flagship took aboard as many clones as they could in the little time they had left. But because the Masters were impatient to get to safety and unwilling to risk themselves or their possessions for the sake of unstable clones, many were left behind. And so they abandoned their faithful slaves.

  In one evacuation ship, Allegra and Octavia clung to each other, Karno staring out the viewport furiously as explosion after explosion rocked the flagship.

  Musica! the two sisters sent out the silent, plaintive cry.

  In the cockpit of the Re-Tread, Musica gasped. But when Bowie asked what was wrong, she just shook her head and said it was nothing.

  "The whole thing's gonna blow!" he yelled excitedly.

  She turned in time to see blue, concentric rings leap out from the flapship. Then a star grew from it, hurling forth a gaseous cloud.

  Farewell, my sisters, she thought, as the 15th got ready to link up with Emerson's fleet.

  While Emerson elected to withdraw to the ALUCE base with the main body of his command, damaged vessels and as many of the casualties as possible made a run for Earth. One such vessel was the one that happened to have picked up Dana and her companions.

  In the tremendous confusion, it wasn't hard to smuggle Musica to a

  place of temporary safety, but that left the problem of Fokker Base, and debarkation. Fortunately, the rest of the 15th, having been separated from them, were on another ship, bound for ALUCE base with Emerson's main force, leavi
ng fewer to keep the secret. Surprisingly, Angelo was loudest among those voices raised to protect the Mistress of the Cosmic Harp.

  "We can't let the GMP get her! Remember what they did to Zor, all that testing and probing and scanning, like he was some kinda animal?" It was already a matter of barely spoken agreement that there would be no mention to Southern Cross Command of Zor's temporary defection, at least for the time being.

  Dana was calmer. "Don't worry; anybody who messes with Musica is going to have to mess with us first."

  "Blast him!" Leonard bellowed in Southern Cross Army HQ. "I question Emerson's commitment! I question his sanity!"

  It was all for the benefit of UEG observers who were on the scene; Leonard knew his words would reach Moran and the rest of the council promptly. "The enemy fleet still has five fully operational mother ships, and yet he withdraws!"

  But Leonard was upset for another reason. Now he could no longer fall back on Emerson's genius and leadership. There was no one to whom he could delegate authority; the defense of Earth, the responsibility and the culpability, fell squarely on him. He was unsure now; his attitude toward Emerson's absence in the field was very different.

  Zor had passed out just after being brought aboard the transport and had suffered the injuries to justify it. Dana had no choice but to turn him over to a med team and hope he would keep the secret of what had happened in the flagship, as the 15th would keep it.

  The ambulance with Zor in it had barely pulled away when Nova Satori showed up. "Welcome back, Dana. What what did they say about Zor?"

  They hadn't spoken to one another since Komodo's death. They felt