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〃Just a moment。〃 Cabell stopped him。 〃There is the question of my apprentice； the young clone Rem。 I ask you to release him to us； that he may undergo the treatments； too。〃
〃I am not finished with Rem quite yet；〃 the Regent said hatefully； glancing down at them。 Even seated； the tyrant overshadowed them like some pharaonic statue。 〃And as for you； you may go。〃
Now it was Cabell's turn to bristle； the anger in his voice quite surprised the Regent。 〃Not until you let me see that boy！ Not until we take him for proper care！〃
Hearing his tone； both Hellcats came to their feet； spitting and showing their long fangs。 But Cabell was undeterred； meeting the Regent's fury with fury of his own。
Veidt spoke before Cabell could； though。 〃Great Regent！ All the galaxy has heard of your vast intellect and spirit。 Here now is your chance to prove that you can show mercy。 Consider what praise it will win you！ Why； word of it would reach even to the Regis herself。〃
Sly； the Regent mused； studying Veidt。 For a race of artificial beings； the Haydonites showed surprising emotion and understanding of motivation。
Veidt had touched a nerve。 Very likely； the Regis's spies would inform her of such a matter as the Regent's showing mercy…or if not； his own agents could see to it that she heard。 More than almost anything； he wanted to win her back。 And while his headlong plunge into deevolution kept him from truly understanding those impulses that guided his onetime mate； the Regent thought that mercy shown to the Zor…clone would certainly please her。
So he said； 〃Rem has already received the treatments I have permitted your panions to undergo； for I am not through with him as yet。 Be that as it may； I will grant you a promise solution： you may visit him in his confinement； provided that you try to get him to see reason。〃
The Regent's subject planetary systems； if they were eavesdropping； would no doubt register that in the Regent's favor。 He was quite proud of himself。 He had turned the bothersome visit of Veidt and Cabell around so that he might profit from it in a number of ways。
And； with a little luck； he had bought enough time to e up with a way of slaying the Sentinels once and for all。
Jack Baker shot yet another of the energy serpents； watching it de…rezz into fast…swirling will…o'…the…wisps of light that dissipated and went dark。 It occurred to him that those flickering pinpoints of light might be fading only to reconverge and e at him again； but there was no time to wonder about that。
〃Jack！ Two o'clock！〃 gritted Learna； who stood to Jack's right； still finishing off a writhing； crackling mass that was headed straight for her from her right。 Twelve o'clock was the leader's position； of course。
Jack finished blowing away a bunch of the things to his left that were wriggling at him； then traversed his beam and flamed the two…o'clock snakes。 He caught sinuous movement to his left again and began hosing down a nearby console with a sustained Protoculture salvo； it was thick with energy serpents； like a medusa。
Bela； in the Battloid's rear…now lower…seat； whistled and made ear…piercing war cries； when she wasn't spotting new targets for him。 She seemed to be enjoying herself。
The Battloids' security wheel was surrounded by a sea of undulating glow…shapes； more and more seeped forth by the second； from every crevice and feature of the place。 The mecha swept their constant…fire aim around and up and back； but the snakes closed in relentlessly。 It was as if the technolandscape had e alive。
The Battloids fought with all the strength； power； and precision that Robotechnology had built into them； but it seemed hopeless。 Energy levels were dropping sharply due to the ferocious demands of the weapons systems。
My first real mand。 Jack thought bitterly； and my last； too； maybe。 Perfect record： no wins。
Then he thought of the afflicted…Karen and the others…somewhere above； in Glike。 And Veidt； Cabell； and the rest of the escorts would be there； too； all of them counting on Jack's team to get through。
But it was Karen's face he saw before him； and it made him fight like a man possessed。
But even the awesome firepower of five titan Battloids wasn't enough to keep back the tide of Haydon defenders； energy serpents struck at the foot of Jan's mecha； sending out bursts of heat and light； and dissolving metal。 She lurched； checked herself when her first impulse was to stomp them （which would only have made it that much easier for them to damage her）； and zapped them instead； melting decking and sending gobs of incandescence flying。
But while Janice was doing that； another dozen snakes got in close enough to coil and strike at Kami； who was to her right。 The shields appeared to give no protection whatsoever against the things。 In the meantime； several more dropped onto Lron from high overhead and began melting their way through his Battloid。
Jack made himself face the fact that there was no way out for the Battloids。 Snakes were beginning to rain down from the ceiling； and he couldn't see any avenue of retreat for the mecha。 It was a mand he hated giving as much as a naval officer would hate giving the order to abandon ship； but Jack gritted his teeth and said； 〃Prepare to eject。〃
He got no argument； everyone had seen that their current situation was untenable； and knew that getting clear of the Protoculture…powered mecha was their only chance。 While listening to the others run through the eject checklist and doing so himself； Jack hit a control stud as he imaged his ship。
His Battloid made a bowling movement。 Crysta's cockpit/escape capsule went sliding into the clear along the decking。 A rough ride； but better than being consumed by Haydon IV's gruesome defenses。 The snakes ignored the module； but kept ing at the VTs。
〃You all strapped in tight back there； Bela？〃
〃Take us for a ride； Jackie boy！〃 she roared merrily。
Jack hurried his checklist rundown； to catch up with the others。 The Veritechs had zero…zero…eject systems； so that occupants could survive a punch…out even at ground level； even at a standstill。
The snakes had gotten through on the decking now； swarming at them； while m