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I'm not a prisoner anymore。 I have my own part to play now。
She glanced around the room； and everything she saw seemed to be an edged weapon or a bludgeon。 Edwards； still trying to arrange for a rendezvous； was suddenly troubled when he saw Minmei's slow smile。
CHAPTER TWENTY…TWO
Strange； that the 〃Loki〃 of the Sentinels campaign should have a namesake so renowned in Earth's scientific history。 But the Human Tesla invented polyphase systems； dynamos； oscillators； and so much more； whereas there is no record of his Invid counterpart making any contribution whatsoever…beyond the abominations that are already so notorious。
Simon Kujawa； Against All Worlds： A Biography of Tesla the Infamous
〃What's your hurry； Jack？〃
Karen tried to make it sound joking； but some of her concern slipped through nevertheless。 Jack paused； there in the Ark Angel passageway； to face her。
〃Tesla's due to speak to the leaders；〃 he said in an emotionless voice。 〃I'm making final arrangements； and I'm very pressed for time； so if you don't mind…〃
〃What are you now； that big slug's errand boy？？she sneered。 〃Does he keep you busy kissing his feet？ Is that why you and Gnea are holed up down in that partment with him all the time？〃
Wrong tone； girl； she told herself。 But she couldn't help it。 She was angry at him for avoiding her； she was suspicious of all the time he was spending together with Miss Teenage Amazon； and she was worried about what Tesla might be cooking up。 And she was PO'd at herself for caring so much about Jack Baker。
He had that same distant； dispassionate look he had been wearing lately； studying her like she was something on a microscope slide。 〃You're an idiot；〃 he said； and about…faced and marched off on his way。
She fought the urge to go after him and put his lights out。 Violence never solves anything unless you happen to live in certain parts of New Jersey； as someone…W。 C。 Fields？…put it。
There was some slight reassurance in the fact that Tesla was about to make his long…postponed appearance before the Sentinels elite。 Rick Hunter had decided he wasn't going to put up with any more stalling； and had in fact been in the process of organizing an armed contingent to drag the Invid before a board of inquiry…even if it meant clapping Gnea and Burak and Jack Baker in irons and giving the alien scientist a taste of the business end of a cattle prod。
But Tesla's relayed announcement…that he had something of great importance to lay before the leadership forestalled all that。 There were a hundred different scuttlebutt theories about what was about to happen； and some of them were awfully disquieting。
But apparently Jack Baker wasn't about to clarify anything。 Karen Penn found that she had curled her hands into fists。 Idiot； huh？ She went after him with every intention of dumping him on his keister。
It surprised her almost as much as it did Jack Baker when； grabbing his elbow and dragging him around on his heel； she kissed him instead of belting him。 She put one hand behind his head and the other on his cheek and went toil。
It wasn't the first time they had kissed； but Karen made it something that said a lot more than the friendly/petitive necking they had occasionally done in the past。 She knew then that Jack definitely wasn't his normal self； it was like kissing some unyielding stranger。
But then the kiss changed； and for a moment Jack felt stirrings of his true self and his own free will。 He put his arms around Karen and kissed her back； as astonished crewmembers of various species detoured around the two or stopped to stare。 A few whistled and cheered and applauded。
Tesla's mindlock reasserted itself； though； and Karen felt Jack go distant and emotionless。 He held her at arm's length； his hands on her shoulders。 The kiss had left her breathless； but he was behind some strange emotional barrier once more。 The interplay of his features told her that there was a struggle going on somewhere inside。
〃Let's see you shrug that one off； Jack；〃 she whispered to him； her hands pressed to his cheeks。 He lurched free； staggering a bit； and continued on his way。 There were a few sniggers from the sidelines。 Karen spun to face the onlookers。
〃What're the bunch of ya doing standing around leering！ Haven't you perverts got sex lives of your own？〃
Her temper was well known。 In five seconds she had the whole passageway to herself。
My god！ Maybe we should shoot him right now； before it's too late！ That was Rick Hunter's first thought when Tesla appeared before the Sentinels' leadership。
The scientist was now fully as tall as the Regent； but more strongly resembled the Regis。 He reminded Lisa of a store mannequin or an ancient statue； his bodily structure and face now clearly defined along Human lines but still devoid of any real identity。
Tesla had had robes made for him…by Baker and Gnea； Rick supposed； the two were doing all his stepping and fetching in alarmingly devoted fashion these days…robes like those of the Invid monarch himself。 He even wore the jeweled collar Lisa had once fastened around his throat； but now； Rick assumed； the Tango…niner explosive charges had been removed。 Tesla looked。。。godlike。
What Rick couldn't figure out was how the big grub was doing all this evolving。 There had to be a technique or medicine or something； but no one had a clue as to what it might be。 Of course； Burak and Jack and Gnea might know； but they were now over in Tesla's camp； and weren't talking。
The Invid spread his huge five…fingered hands and spoke from his new mouth in a saintly voice。 〃I'm here for just one reason； my friends： to bring an end to these unfortunate hostilities between your races and mine。 I propose to begin my great mission by alleviating the suffering and oppression down there on Spheris。〃
〃And how will you do that？〃 Rem asked in clipped； precise tones。 More and more； he found himself a sort of moderator among the Sentinels； since he had a certain diligent impartiality and a need to repair the damage done by his species。
Tesla raised a single； Human…looking forefinger dramatically。 〃The Invid were a peaceful race； since time out of mind； we didn't know the me