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ent； was steadfast in her refusal to so much as speak to him。
His first impulse was to call his security convoy over to the Royal Hall with lights flashing and sirens wailing。 But in the cautious head…on power games he was playing with Lang and the rest of the Plenepotentiary Council； he couldn't afford to attract attention to the secret advantage he held。 So the trip was low…profile。
With Ghost Rider guards flanking； Edwards picked his way through the catabs under the gargantuan Royal Hall； ing at last to the carefully guarded installations that was under his personal control。
〃We have a contact signal； sir；〃 the officer on duty explained； 〃but no response to our acknowledgment。 We just get the same word in code。〃
The officer turned up the volume and the speakers murmured Edwards's name over and over。
Edwards issued terse mands。 The room was cleared； leaving him alone with the apparatus。 It took a bit of remembering； but he had been careful to learn how to operate the devices himself。
〃Edwards here。〃
There was a moment's silence； then he found himself looking into the face of the Invid Regent。
I knew it！ Edwards exulted。 Perhaps it was in some measure a function of the strange insights he had gotten when he had taken that brain…boost from the captured Invid equipment； but perhaps it was just as much a matter of his innate suspicion。 In any case； he had never believed that the creature strangled on Tirol by Tesla was the real Regent。
〃You took your time answering； Human；〃 the Regent said。
〃I'm here now。 What do you want？〃
Each was inspecting the other with the same thought： this fool could be the answer to my problem！
〃There have been。。。unfortunate mishaps；〃 the Regent said。 〃Your enemies and mine now hold Haydon IV。〃
Edwards bit back an insult； he had to appear absolutely calm。 The failure of his Ghost Riders to return from the pursuit of Breetai had been clear enough proof that the Zentraedi had probably linked up with the damned Sentinels。 But to hear that they had triumphed again was almost enough to make him doubt his own high destiny to rule all Creation。
But no； here was the Regent； a sign that Edwards was； indeed； the Chosen of the Gods。
Edwards resisted the impulse to taunt the Regent； he would need the creature's goodwill for a while longer yet。 〃That's too bad。 What are we going to do about it？〃
The Regent hid his satisfaction at hearing that Edwards would willingly be a part of the Regent's web of machinations。 〃I am on my way to the Home Hive on Optera now。 Once there； I will contact you with details of our bined effort。 The Protoculture willing； we shall wipe the Sentinels out of existence。〃
〃I look forward to that day； my good friend；〃 Edwards said in a butter…wouldn't…melt voice。
The two broke contact with an identical silent thought： Just wait until I no longer need you； you gullible simpleton！
On Haydon IV； the sorrow over Sarna's death and the deaths of thousands of others； and the destruction of Glike； was lessened somewhat by the somber satisfaction of having evicted the Invid。
Once the Regent departed in his flagship； the Invid simply lost their will to fight。 The mopping…up hadn't taken long。 By the time Breetai's Valivarre and the two REF cruisers were making planetfall； most of the fighting was finished。
They found a city where triumphant amazons were celebrating their liberation； patrolling the city with weapons in their hands and heads held high。 The Haydonites； too； had undergone a change： gone were the days when they could stomach Invid tyranny over themselves or others。 The ruins of Glike had the air of a monument to the trans…species hunger for freedom。
In the wake of the struggle； the other Sentinels were left in various moods and states。 Vince Grant and his wife hugged； rejoicing in the victory； but were melancholy in the knowledge that there was so much more yet to do。
Jack Baker and Karen Penn； watching over Rem in a Hall of Healing； found that they didn't despise one another quite so much。 〃Glad you made it； Penn；〃 Jack blurted。
〃Thanks for。。。for riding to the rescue； Lancelot；〃 she tried to joke； but she couldn't bring herself to say it lightly as their eyes met。
Across from them； Janice Em was gazing down on Rem； too。 She saw images of Rem and Zor and…something else； impulses fought in her for dominance。 Although it was contrary to her programming； an undeniable tide of emotion welled up in her every time she looked at the clone。 She longed for a chance to ask Lang what it all meant； but despaired of ever having the chance； the war seemed to have taken on a life of its own。
For Breetai there were cheers and accolades； and kisses； too； though his sixty…foot height made those a little impractical。
Lisa didn't care； she insisted that the Zentraedi lift her high so that she could plant a wet one on his cheek。 She had the interesting experience of seeing one of the universe's biggest blushes up close。 There was a tallish female Zentraedi close…by； someone Lisa had heard called Kazianna； who frowned a bit at Lisa's display of affection。
Lisa understood the possessive look she was seeing on Kazianna's face； and lingered a moment； literally grabbing Breetai's ear。 〃Well！ Congratulations！〃 she said slyly。 The ear grew red and warm in her grasp； but Breetai was grinning like a schoolboy。
As for Lisa and Rick； there was something between them that hadn't been there before the Haydon campaign。 It was the unweighted love that had e into being when it was proven in battle that there was no inequality of courage…or concern…between them。 Each was an acplished fighter now； and it was understood that each would have dangers to face。 And so each felt equal love for the other； and apprehensions； and pride。 And each felt the immeasurable value of every moment they shared。
The Karbarrans and Garudans managed to contact the members of their respective races who were on Haydon IV； and enjoyed the particular pleasures of hometown manners。 It pleased the other Sentinels to know that word of the exploits of Lron； Crysta； Kami； Learna； and the rest would be carried back to their homes。
Max Sterling took no part in the impro