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Unlike the contest in which Jack's raiders had fought beneath the planet； the antibodies weren't in unending supply now。 There were limits even to Haydon IV's power。 As Inorganics everywhere blazed away at the tiny demons fashioned in Zor's image； fewer and fewer appeared to take their places。
But the city was still blanketed with antibodies eager to hurl themselves onto the mecha。 As Max watched； a Hellcat； coated with the shifting； coruscating colors of the antibodies that had plastered themselves to it； rolled and spat and flopped； clawing at itself uselessly。 Its destructive aura grew brighter； and a moment later it was ruptured by a dazzling explosion； vanishing from sight。
Elsewhere； an Odeon staggered drunkenly； firing into the air； as antibodies engulfed it。 It tried to decontaminate its arm with blasts from its hand weapon； but only succeeded in blowing the arm off。 A moment later it； too； blew apart。
Max spun on Veidt。 〃Hurry！ Get that elevator back down for the others！ Quick； before this whole plex goes！〃
Veidt was still stretched out across Sarna； oblivious to everything around him。 At length； Vowad regained some part of his posure。
〃I will go；〃 he said。 In a moment； he had started the elevator back down in a race to save as many others as he could。
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK
Graffito found on Sentinels barricade in the Central Slavepen； thought to be attributable to Bela
When the Regent heard of the revolt among the Praxian slaves； he took mand of the situation himself。 He left his hive just outside the city and called for his Land Cruiser…the grotesque mobile ground fortress that was the centerpiece of large…scale Invid surface action。
When he was told that the Sentinels were in some way responsible for the slave uprising； he sent word to his torturers to prepare for a much more demanding schedule。 But once he was informed that the antibodies of Haydon IV had turned against him； he instructed his personal flagship to stand ready against immediate departure。
Not that he counted the battle lost yet； the Haydonite defenses had been designed to eliminate most of an invading force before that force got to the planet's surface； and the Invid were already at close range。 The Regent had an advantage no invader had ever achieved before。
〃Destroy all power sources！〃 he ordered。 〃Obliterate the planet's energy production centers！ The Regent was certain that without power； the antibodies would quickly de…rezz into nothingness。
Those Invid not engulfed in Zor antibodies immediately began destroying all power sources they could detect； which meant razing things at random。 The biped Inorganics； in particular； destroyed ages of craftsmanship and art in minutes； turning their aim haphazardly from one target to the next。 Minarets toppled； domes shattered； and delicate mansions collapsed like fragile pastry crust。 Fires flared up； and smoke began to block out Briz'dziki； Haydon's sun。
Then mo relays showed the Regent the nature of the antibodies。 Zor； again！ The Regent's entourage ducked and ran from his berserk blows； he lashed out at the consoles and instrument panels around him。 He wrenched the mand chair from the deck； flinging it against a bulkhead so hard that the chair dented the plates。
Zor！ The perversity of the Haydon IV machinery！ The towering affrontery of it！ 〃I will have this planet or I will destroy it！〃 the Regent roared。
Though he was in a part of the city that had been spared the appearance of the antibodies； the Regent thought better of his plan to travel on the ground。 He called for a Terror Weapon troop dropship； but of the three on Haydon IV at the moment； two were elsewhere on the planet picking up reinforcements and the third had been destroyed while hovering near its landing pad not far from the Central Slavepen。
The Regent changed his instructions； and the Land Cruiser swung toward the starport。 Time to make a break for his flagship； while he still had other cards to play。 A screen relayed the scene from the Land Cruiser's brig； showing him that Rem was still firmly chained there。 The Regent stroked his mammoth Hellcats and contemplated the horrors he would inflict on the clone when all this was over。
Even Jack and his team； who had seen the Haydon antibodies in action in other forms； had difficulty believing what they were witnessing。 From the very walls of the dungeons came doll…size Zors in every color； setting upon the Inorganics； bringing them down and blowing them apart。
They were a reminder； too； of Rem； who was still held captive by the Regent。
In the slavepens； the counterattack on the Praxians and the Sentinels stopped cold。 The main danger to the defenders now was the deafening sound of the Inorganic volleys and the reports of the mecha being blown apart。
Nevertheless； the Inorganics had taken a considerable toll on the antibodies。 When the simulacra…Zors flickered away to carry the battle outside； like torch flames on the wind； there were far fewer than there had been at the start。 The Invid destruction of Haydon's power…delivery systems was beginning to tell。
Vowad reappeared with the elevator for the next load of evacuees； but now there was no rush。 Arla…Non had her other injured ready； but many of the others wanted to be part of the campaign there underground； sweeping the Invid from the plex and searching for any other enslaved Praxians。
〃What would be most useful；〃 Lisa told Vowad； 〃would be smaller flying carpets； to support the Praxians elsewhere in the city and on the planet。〃
Vowad spoke in a monotone； still numb with the enormity of Sarna's death and his own act of vengeance。 〃I will see what can be done；〃 he said； 〃but most Haydonites are busy rescuing themselves and their dependents。 The city is dying。〃
Still； Arla…Non sent a platoon of her amazons up with Vowad； to help secure the roof and stand ready in case the opportunity arose to rescue other Praxians。
When the elevator left； the Sentinels and the released slaves began a careful advance over the ground the Invid had held only minutes before。 There was nothing but debris； smoke； and puddles of metal。
The Praxians returned to the a