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Marlene stood up and gently swung Lunk around to face her。 〃But I am； Lunk。 Don't you see that I have to go？〃 Lunk's face fell。 〃No； Marlene； no。 You can just stay here and let me take care of you。 You said yourself you were all right。 I could just…〃
〃No； Lunk； it's no good this way；〃 she cut him off。 〃Remember who and what I am。〃
Lunk stiffened。 〃You're Marlene； that's it。〃
Marlene shook her head。 〃I am Invid； Lunk。〃 She reached up to stroke his face。 〃But that doesn't mean I haven't loved you。〃
Lunk steeled himself； holding back his anger and grief。 〃You'll e back to me？〃 he asked softly。
〃Nothing can take away these past few months； Lunk。〃
It was Scott's turn to avert his gaze。
He swore to himself he would never love again。
With Marlene in the copilot's seat； Scott returned the jet to the REF's provisional planetside base on the Venezuelan coast and apprised Vince Grant of his plans to continue on to the Northlands。 The general informed him of the successful position jump undertaken by the Ark Angel and the rapidly approaching launch window for the fold to Haydon IV。 To speed Scott and Marlene on their way； Grant ordered that they be escorted to and from the Northlands city in one of the ship's few remaining reconfigurable Veritechs。
From what Scott could gather； Mannatan…recently returned to its original name of New York…was fast being a population center once again。 The narrow island city had miraculously escaped saturation by Dolza's deathbolts； only to suffer disastrously some twenty years later at the hands of the Regis's power…mad 〃son；〃 Corg。 But by then the city had already fallen into the hands of street crazies ‘who had' somehow survived a radiation pall that had hung over the city for more than fifteen years' and roving gangs of Foragers and rough…trade Southern Cross deserters。 A scarcity of food and arable land had kept the population numbers low； but now that New York had bee a kind of raw…materials depot for developing towns to the south and west； a barter system for foodstuffs had been implemented。
The Veritech put down west of the Hudson River； leaving Scott and Marlene to negotiate the rest of the journey on foot； along with hundreds of other migrants who were talking or buying passage through checkpoints on the single bridge that linked city and mainland。 Scott saw the end result of Corg's fiery campaign to bring the city to its knees： huge leveled tracts where tall brick and stone buildings had once stood； gridded by the scorched remains of asphalt and concrete roadways。
Marlene acted as guide； drawing on her recently enhanced psychic talents…to close on her sister simulagent's where璦bouts。 In a certain sense she seemed more the Terran than Scott。 But Scott refused to be fooled by the human guise the Invid Queen…Mother had fashioned for her； and so their conversations were strictly of the pragmatic sort。 Scott； after all； was on a military mission。
Marlene led them ultimately to a refurbished theater in the city's midtown district； where a young Hispanic named Jorge greeted them at the door and affirmed that Lancer was in fact part of a troupe of actors； singers； and musicians。
After the less than warm reunions with Rand and Lunk； Scott was expecting more of the same from Lancer； but…the former stage gender…bender surprised him by running up the broad aisle after Jorge's announcement and embracing the two of them like family。
〃Scott； I can't believe it！〃 Lancer said； gripping him by the arms。 〃God； it's great to see you again。〃 He had equal enthusiasm for Marlene； along with a bear hug that went on for well over a minute。
Lancer looked lean and limber in tight…fitting trousers and a sleeveless shirt； but Scott noted dark circles under the singer's dyes and a somberness beneath the cheeriness of the moment。 The natural color of Lancer's hair was growing in。 Scott thought briefly of Yellow Dancer and wondered whether she was gone for good。
〃You don't know how I need you guys right now；〃 Lancer continued； taking hold of their hands。
〃What is it； Lancer？〃 Marlene asked。
〃Your sister；〃 he said； favoring Marlene's hand。 〃I'm afraid she's dying。〃
Sera was bedridden in Lancer's backstage room； a tight； cluttered space that apparently served as living quarters and dressing room。 A man named Simon was ministering to her； but he exited as Lancer entered； stopping only to introduce himself to Scott and Marlene in an affected； slightly effeminate manner。
Fetally curled beneath the bed's threadbare blankets； Sera seemed hardly more than a specter。 〃I've been waiting for you to e； Ariel；〃 she said as Marlene kneeled beside the bed and laid a forting hand on her heaving breast。 〃Sister…〃
Sera pressed a finger against Marlene's lips to quiet her。 〃Do not weep for me； Ariel。 I am to rejoin the Queen Mother。 〃
〃Then I'll return with you； sister。〃
Sera shook her head。 〃No； Ariel； your destiny lies along a different path。 And what a wonderful one it is。〃
Marlene leaned closer to her sister； her eyes brimming with tears。 〃Tell me； Sera。〃
〃You need know only this； Ariel： that the world can be remade。 The Queen…Mother learned this when she mated with the Protoculture…the goal of the Great Work； the transmutation of our race。〃
〃The Protoculture！〃
〃Yes； Scott；〃 Sera said； looking at him。 〃Your people will understand what to make of this。〃
〃Stay； sister；〃 Marlene pleaded with her。 〃Love has the power to keep you here。〃
Sera smiled。 〃No； Ariel。 Love has the power to release me。。。〃
With that； the Invid simulagent shut her eyes and surrendered her all too brief life。
Scott watched horrified but transfixed as Sera grew subtle and translucent； then slowly faded from sight。 An eerie breeze caressed his cheek as the blankets dropped empty and silent to the foam mattress。
Lancer clutched desperately for what was no longer there。 〃This is my fate also；〃 Marlene said； turning to Scott with tears coursing down her cheeks。 〃You were right to promise you would never love again！〃
CHAPTER SIX
Of course I understand how you feel； you big jerk。 You think I want to break up the team？ But look at things from my side； will you； Bowie？ First； I've got Max and Miriya riding my tail about shipping back on the fortress； and now I find out that Rem's going along for the ride。 I can't handle it just yet； that's the long and short。 I look at him； and I see Zor Prime。 Ask yourself what it would have been like if Musica had died instead of Octavia…god forbid。 I mean； how could you look at her without thinking about Musica？ So maybe Haydon IV's going to work out for me。 Maybe I'll even get to know Aurora a little bettor。 Anyway； from what I hear； at least it'll be a change for the quiet。
Dana Sterling in a letter to Bowie Grant； quoted in Altaira Heimel； Butterflies in Winter。 Human Relations and the Robotech Wars
Dana Sterling tightened her grip on the balcony railing and launched phrases of gratitude into Haydon IV's amber skies。 In the plaza twenty； stories below her； pedestrians were scurrying for cover as Glike rumbled and shook。 Like bare trees caught in the hurricaning mass of a storm front； the city's tapering glasslike spires swayed and snapp