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Au…ro…ra； Au…ro…ra； Au…ro…ra 。。。
The rest of the ship's plement seemed to freeze； as if they were playing statues； listening to the cadence。 Vince Grant； listening to some report； Shi…Ling； at the interface helm； Dana； poised on a maintenance job on her hovertank all eyes went to Aurora。
All at once Aurora was not alone。 Seated in a ring around her were what looked like transparent holograms of children large and small。 They sat repeating their mantra； eyes lambent with eldritch fire。
Jean Grant breathed； 〃Roy！〃
〃Drannin！〃 Miriya added。
But neither they nor the others in their circle gave any sign of having heard。 They were focused on Aurora； and she on them。 Louie； hypnotized by it； too； almost jumped in the air when Marlene spoke at his shoulder。 〃‘Straight on till morning；' Doctor。〃
Kazianna landed on streamers of fire； her weapons ready； as mecha and running ground troops closed in on the open field from every side。
It's back； the message had been； yet there was no sign of the sparkling rain that had spirited away Gnea and Dante。 But there were two figures in the middle of the field； scrambling around animatedly。
There were confused transmissions overlapping each other on the nets； but at last Rick got some order on the tactical freq。 〃Hold your fire； I say again； hold your fire！ The swirling lights came back just as our point elements were entering the field； then disappeared。 We have a visual on what appear to be Gnea and Angie。 All elements stand fast and hold fire unless otherwise ordered。〃
With the field covered from all sides and other elements watching for a trap or sneak attack； Rick selected a recon team and elected to walk point。 Jack Baker； Karen Penn； Lron； and Crysta checked their weapons； then spread out in a skirmish line； moving forward。 Baldan came； too； carrying munications gear patched to the SDF…3's TIC and bridge。
No doubt about it； the sergeant and the Amazon were there once more。 Rick was not sure what the flurry of activity had been when they had first reappeared； but it sure looked like some hasty clothes donning。
He and his team went carefully； testing the ground and watching the air around them； but there was no sign of a threat。 Angelo and Gnea； squared away； were wandering around the spot where they had appeared； apparently searching for something。 As Rick came up to them and Angelo came to attention； Gnea was carving a big X in the ground with her halberd； on the spot where they had popped back into sight； so that it could be found later if necessary。
Angelo pumped off a nervously crisp salute。 〃Um； Sergeant Dante reporting； sir。 We； ah； that is？
〃Just take it slow； Angie。 One thing at a time。 Is there still a threat here？〃
The big tanker swallowed。 〃There is； everywhere in these parts； sir。 But no more here than anyplace else。〃
Gnea had joined them。 Rick could not help noticing that she stood rather close to Dante； leaning on her halberd。 〃Give me the high points first；〃 Rick told them。
Angelo's chest expanded as he drew a deep； resolute breath。 But Gnea got the story in motion first。 〃We met the Invid Regis。 This whole newspace is her realm。 She's got the SDF…3's fold drives and won't give them back。 She doesn't want us to leave。〃
Angelo still had his chest full of air。 He let it out in one long sigh。 〃She says the real universe is ending； Admiral。〃 Rick looked at the X in the ground。 〃Does she know we're not finished with it yet？〃
He said it to cover the fact that he was dumbfounded。 What the hell was going on？ The SDF…3 had been on its way home to fight the Regis。 Was the war already lost？
Rick glanced from Gnea to Dante。 〃Looks like we're in for one helluva debriefing。〃
The municator toned。 The tiny screen showed not a TIC officer but Lisa's face。 〃Rick； we've had a new development here。 Suggest you return to SDF…3 ASAP。〃
He ran a hand through his hair； wondering why it had not all gone white。 〃What's happened？〃
He could tell it took some effort for her to stay calm。 〃The children…Roy and the others。 They've made contact with Aurora Sterling。 It seems there's a rescue ship on the way； but the kids're in some kind of trance； and Segundo can't rouse them out of it。〃
There was a sudden ground…shaking eruption of flame and blast。 Where Kazianna's powered armor had stood； there was only burning grass。 High above； her armor darted for the SDF…3。
〃No closer！〃
Segundo looked ridiculously small blocking Kazianna's path to the circle of children； but he did not budge an inch when she seemed about to trample him flat。
Instead； she stopped。 The humans knew more about young ones than she； and there was an undeniable ring of moral force in the Micronian's voice。
Still； it took a lot to keep her distance when Drannin sat bewitched with the others； droning Aurora's name。 What made it all insane was that Aurora's image； or specter； floated in the center of their circle。 Her eyes held the same macabre glow theirs did。
Lisa stood nearby； barely restraining herself from going to Roy。 〃Emilio； if this is a case of waking the sleepwalker； I'm willing to risk it rather than have their minds stolen。〃
She felt Rick's hand grip hers and give it a sustaining squeeze。
But Dr。 Segundo was shaking his head。 〃It's not that。 They are still in their bodies； as it were； and I believe Aurora is； too。 But this is not the sort of thing you can end simply by dashing water in someone's face。
〃Some exchange of information is taking place； we can all feel that。 Let it； for I suspect the children will not desist until it does。〃
Kazianna wavered like a tree swaying in a monsoon； then held her place。 〃For how long？〃
Before the pediatrician could answer； someone shouted； 〃Look！〃
Aurora was looking beyond the circle of children to where Lisa and the rest stood。 She raised her hand to them in greeting or farewell…Lisa could not tell which…as the chanting grew louder。
Au…ro…RA！
Then the chanting stopped； and Aurora faded away。 Roy and the others rose and faced their parents； their eyes still alight。 Segundo had the sense to move aside this time； nothing was going to keep Kazianna from Drannin's side。 Lisa and Rick ran to Roy； and other parents were right behind。
Lisa threw her arms around her son； possessed or not。 She half expected him to feel clammy or wooden in her embrace； but he was just a little boy who might well do with a bath sometime soon。
As she knelt by him； though； he put one hand on Lisa's boulder。 〃Mommy； 'Rora's gonna be here soon。〃
Rick hunched down by his son。 〃When？ How； Roy？〃
〃in' in a big round ship。 We told her how to find us。 Mommy； we have to go。〃
〃Yes； hon。 We'll take you home right now。〃
Roy shook his head； eyes still flashing eerily。 〃Uh uh； I mean go from here。 'Rora said。 Before it's too late。〃
〃What did she mean？〃 Rick gripped Roy's shoulders and forced himself to look into the beacon eyes。 〃Too late how？〃
〃I can tell you；〃 he heard somebody say。
Rick and Lisa rose； Lisa holding Roy。 Before them stood Rem and Minmei； hand in hand。
〃And the boy is right；〃 Rem added。 〃There isn't much time。〃
CHAPTER TWENTY…SEVEN
Why are Terrestrials so surprised there was no fossil