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Burak held his breath； expecting the antibodies of Haydon IV to hurl themselves into the air at him at any second。 But the words of Veidt came back to him； that intent had everything to do with the responses of the defense system。 And； certainly； Tesla's intent had nothing to do with invasion and conquest…at least not today。
Burak was perched on the scientist's shoulders； gripping his robe and harness for dear life； as Tesla piloted the flier along at breakneck speed； using suicidal maneuvers to avoid the mecha and miniature Zor fire…demons that fought through the air。
Burak had unconditionally accepted that his planet's fate and his own Higher Destiny； his Messiahhood； were tied to Tesla's own。
No interceptors or withering fire rose to incinerate them as they sped toward the hive； Burak felt sure that Tesla's growing powers had taken care of that problem。 Tesla brought the flier in for a landing at the mouth of an opening that led into the central dome。
Burak was beyond any thought of resistance by then。 Tesla led him in through a virtually abandoned hive。 What Invid there were were disoriented and of no consequence； they stepped aside； kowtowing； at Tesla's imperious orders。
Then the two arrived in the most holy place in any hive； the chamber set aside for those Flowers of Life that had blossomed； or held promise of blossoming。 Here； to Tesla's wild exultation； they found plants that had actually borne Fruit。
Burak had begun to recognize a pattern； that the Fruit of each world was different from that borne on any other。 And the Fruit brought forth by the worlds once touched by Haydon himself…worlds the Sentinels were trying to free…were the most pronouncedly varied of all。
In this case； the Fruit were eggplant…purple cylinders； round…bottomed and quiveringly gelid。 Tesla cupped his hands around one gently。
〃See…eee？〃 The word was more a whispered breath than a spoken sound。 〃See how the light shines through them？ These are new； just grown！ They've bee ripe in the last few minutes…no more than an hour！ Not even the Regent has tasted such Fruit as these！〃
Tesla suddenly turned on Burak； who was standing close； watching curiously。 The master scientist struck out at the Perytonian jealously； a blow that would have killed if Burak hadn't ducked。 〃Back！ You shall have none！〃
Burak backstepped warily。 〃I want none。 I only want you to keep your bargain。〃
Tesla had seated himself cross…legged on the soft sward of the arborium； a little pile of the Fruits in his lap。 〃Good。〃
Burak squatted on his haunches； to watch Tesla sink his long snout into the Fruit； slurping and slobbering at it； runnels of purple juice flowing down his chin； neck； and chest。 Soon； something pulsed within the Invid。 In moments； a light shone from him that threw Burak's shadow on the dome walls。
Burak hunkered down； shielding his eyes a bit； to witness the next step in Tesla's Flower…induced metamorphosis。
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Lang was first among the Humans to notice it； the 〃dovetailing；〃 as he called it； of the worlds specially touched by Haydon and those that held such interest in more recent times for Zor。
He pressed me for details and I had to point out that the Zentraedi are the last ones to query in matters of history。 But nonetheless I expressed my vast yearning to know the truth of it all； and hoped Emil would e to feel the same way。
Exedore； SDF…3 and Me
The land cruiser rocked from the force of a tremendous explosion。 Knocked from his feet； the Regent rose again in an even more furious temper。
〃What was that？〃 Surely the Zor antibodies were not blowing themselves up？
A scientist bowed。 〃It appears that some of the outworlders have joined in the battle； Divine One。 That was apparently a Karbarran shuttlecraft loaded with conventional explosives and sent at us by remote control。 Fortunately； it was of insufficient power to penetrate even our outermost hull。〃
〃Naturally；〃 the Regent snapped。 The cruiser； bigger than an aircraft carrier； was a moving mountain of weapons and armor on treads as wide as a Glike boulevard。 He thought again about ordering his gunners to open fire and raze the city around him as he withdrew； but that would run the risk of attracting the antibodies。 His own life was all…important to the Invid cause； far too vital to risk for mere retribution。
It was too bad this entire part of Glike seemed to have been evacuated； he would have taken consolation in grinding the miserable synthetics under his mobile fortress's treads。 It might； in part； make up for his having had to abandon his Flower of Life orchards just as they were about to bear Fruit。
Perhaps he would still be able to retake his Haydon hive。 With this thought； he ordered his techs to relay the view from the automatic monitoring equipment inside the orchard。 But where he had expected a view of luxuriant Fruit of the Flower； he found himself gazing at an outlandish yet somehow familiar…looking monstrosity that sat gorging itself。 Off to one side hunkered a young Perytonian。
〃By the Protoculture！〃 the Regent howled。 The two…way channel being open； the thing squatting in the hive orchard looked up at the munications pickup。
〃Ah； the Divine； the All…Knowing； the Omnipotent Regent；〃 the thing purred。 〃Thank you for your hospitality。 How delicious； this Fruit of yours！〃
〃T…Tesla？〃 the Regent whispered。
〃Yes； Tesla！ And soon； you'll know what the godlike powers of the Flower really are； for Tesla will demonstrate them to you！〃
The Regent's anger was so great that he was tempted to turn the Land Cruiser around and go back to obliterate the hive and Tesla。 But there was no time； tactical displays showed enemy forces overwhelming the city garrison with the help of the accursed Haydonite antibodies。 The Regent cut the munications link with a smashing blow of his fist。
〃Increase speed！〃 he howled。
The scientist cowered。 〃We are at maximum speed now； All…Powerful One。 Crushing our way through the city makes the going somewhat difficult。〃
Another scientist added； 〃We have detected vessels emerging from superluminal drive in deepspace； but have as yet been unable to make contact。〃
〃Well； make sure my