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no longer be considered invaders。
Janice's theory might be correct； but Jack still thought longingly of all the firepower they had been forced to abandon。
Janice appeared to be finding her way like an Indian in deep forest； listening and kind of sniffing the air currents as well as searching the future…tech terrain with her gaze。
As they trailed along； they grew hotter。 Lron and Crysta shed their outsize flight suits pletely； abandoning them except for helmets…and the mo equipment in them…and the harnesses that held their gear and weapons。
Jack； Kami； and Learna removed their helmets as well； attaching them to their web gear； and the two Garudans put on their special breather masks。
At last Janice stopped in another vast open place big enough to hold a cruiser。 Before them was a surprisingly delicate…looking affair that reminded Jack of a filament…bright cat's cradle the size of the REF headquarters building back on Tirol。
There were tiers of instrumentation all around； Jan selected one right away。 It only took her a moment or two to figure out which adapters to use； in which configuration； and then she was ready。
Jack volunteered to make the connection。 As he stood by with the plug in his hand； Jan seemed to revert to her Human side again。 〃If you see me go into overload； get the plug out at once。 I mean； right away； okay Jack？〃
〃Sure； right。〃 It hadn't occurred to him that she was risking her life…if that was the correct term。 He nervously worked his fingers in his flight glove； hoping it would insulate him from any power surges。
With Jan holding her hair aside again； he took a deep breath and plugged the adapter into the outlet in her neck。 Banks of peripheral instrumentation came alive in light of various colors and a deep humming filled the chamber； the humming rose in pitch until it sounded like a synthesized choir。
A glow sprang out from Janice Em； and Jack nearly pulled the plug； but she managed in a breathless voice； 〃Don't。。。don't。〃
Jack stepped back to watch as she was bathed in radiance。 He thought he could sense conversations being held all around him； and the flow of rivers of information。 He spun to see how the other raiders were weathering。
Bela and Gnea were unafraid； but had closed ranks。 Lron and Crysta had their weapons in their hands； but didn't look like they were going to blow holes in anything； their service in the Sentinels had taught them a certain self…control。
Kami and Learna were looking about them in rapture； and Jack wondered what they were seeing and hearing。 They were inhaling through their breather masks； drawing the atmosphere of Garuda； with its myriad microscopic symbiotes； into their lungs。 He knew they were in the expanded mindstate of hin； and wished he could know how the systemry of Haydon IV was manifesting itself to them。
The two lesser Invid POWs； Garak and Pye； were cringing in a corner； but Tesla had drawn himself up to his full height； hands reaching into the air imploringly。 He lurched toward a stack of control panels and indicators like a long…lost lover。
Jack squeezed off a short burst into the decking in the scientist's path； tracers drawing bright warning lines； ricochets glancing away into the distance。 Tesla stopped as if someone had slapped him out of a trance； gazing down at the dully gleaming bullet…smears of lead at his feet。
Jack had the submachine gun up to his shoulder； Tesla bracketed in the sight blades。 Tesla moved back a step； and then another； until he was back where he had been standing。 Jack stole a quick glance aside at Burak； who was fingering his Garudan small arm； a thing that looked like a grappling hook。
Burak looked indecisive； but it was plain that he was furious with Jack's intervention。 Then a hand fell on Burak's shoulder。 Bela had shouldered her crossbow and held her shortsword in her other hand。 Gnea held her halberd ready。 There was no struggle； only an understanding that Burak was to lower his weapon and stand his ground； or else see his head fly from his shoulders。 He chose the former option。
Wise decision； Jack thought。 Otherwise those ladies would probably have your horns on their living…room wall； kid。
〃Look！〃 Jack pivoted； seeing what Crysta was bellowing about。 His jaw dropped。
Janice Em was still wrapped in a strobing aurora； but she was changing appearance。 One moment； she was the Janice who had sung with Minmei and later joined the Sentinels。 The next； she was the Artificial Person she had revealed herself to be。 Then she was something even more disturbing…a transparent Human being or a Spherisian。 And after that she flickered； seeming to be a Haydonite； with their smooth lack of features； an ectoplasmic robe flowing around her as she hovered above the decking。
The brilliance grew more intense； so that they could barely endure it。 Jack thought about spraying a burst into the machinery or turning a random control； but decided that might get them into even worse trouble。
A wind swept through the mammoth chamber； and somewhere in the center of the light Janice was shifting through various forms…some Human； some not。 Kami was baying in hysteria； and Tesla was screaming； while Lron had both hands clapped to his ears。 Gnea and Bela； arms outspread； swords lifted； were war goddesses howling a banshee challenge to the elements。
Just when it seemed they couldn't bear it anymore； the light faded and the sound died away。 The air lost every breath of movement。 In the stillness that followed； the raiders collected themselves and blinked away the dazzling lights circling before their eyes。
Janice Em stood once more in her Human form； the disconnected interface jack in her hand。 〃Are you all right？〃 Bela ventured。
〃Yes； quite； thank you。〃 She sounded distant； but then she beamed at them in a very Homo sapiens smile。
〃I'm fine； and I found out what we need to know。〃
〃But。。。〃 Jack realized his submachine gun's muzzle was pointed her way and quickly lowered it。 〃What was all that shape…changing about？〃
Janice looked up at the web of light。 〃You might say that Haydon IV has been teaching me a few things about my own capabilities and potential。 The Tokyo project teams and