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s concentration was divided among so many things。
But Burak withstood the bolt somehow and held up Jack Baker's set。 His thumb was on its special switch； the one that would trigger the charge in Tesla's resplendent collar。 〃Pery。。。ton；〃 Burak got out between locked teeth。
Tesla felt immense amusement and savage wrath at the same time。 〃Is that so？ Behold！〃
Suddenly the unpickable locks that clasped the collar around his neck clicked open。 At the same time； Burak found that he couldn't move； not so much as the thumb that rested on the deadly button。
Tesla took the collar and hurled it far from him； there would be more of such baubles than he could count once he had taken his rightful place。 He reached out to push Burak's thumb； there was a loud report from the exploding bib； down somewhere in the lower levels of the landing platform area。
Tesla still had three valuable hostages； an army of Inorganics； and his newfound powers。 He had no doubt now that he would prevail。
〃Very well； all of you； we're going to…〃
But as he turned； he let out an enraged bellow。 Veidt was gone。 Gnea was befuddled； swearing that he had been there； with her Badger trained on him； only seconds before。 From where he had floated； cornered； Veidt could only have plunged over the edge of the platform and down into the darkened levels far below。
Only； who knew what such a fall meant to a Haydonite？ No time to wonder now。 Tesla issued a mental order； and Gnea and Burak gathered up the Fruit； then closed ranks behind him。 Together； they descended to fall in behind a flying wedge of Inorganics； to battle their way toward the spaceport。
Odeons lifted them up and carried them swiftly。
The Invid had thought the arms room a place safe from Spherisian intrusion…firstly； because it held Protoculture weapons the locals dreaded； secondly； because it was an enclosure cut off from the Crystal Highways。
The invaders never thought to consider their own thick bundles of fiber…optic filaments…thick cables of silicon…based strands。 That same system was accessible elsewhere。
In one corner of the room； two cables swelled and swelled； expanding； drawing in more material from floors above and below； until at last the insulation around them was blown away in shreds。 The filaments curled and fused； taking on humanoid form。
This time； Baldan found himself all but transparent； the light shifting within him as if he were a fortune…teller's ball e alive。 Teal was now posed of the same clear stuff； though her body was still unmistakably female。
He shook his head to clear it of the ringing。 The last stretch； through the Invid cable system； had been resonant with their inprehensible battle signals rather than with the songs of the Highways。
〃Why are we here； Baldan？ And where are we？〃
He set off among the rearing racks of outsize Invid weapons。 〃We're here because it isn't right that Spherisians let others do their fighting and dying for them。 It isn't just。 It cheapens freedom。〃
He's not using Baldan II's voice； Teal told herself。 Those are his father's words； and no mistaking it。
He came at last to what he was searching for： a row of heavy Enforcer rifles。 They weren't even locked up。 He lifted one； making sure that its charge was full。 As heavy as it was； he handled it easily； his structure was stronger than that of ordinary flesh and blood。 Teal saw that he was drawing on Baldan I's memories as much as he was upon the training Bela and the others had given him。
He heard a quiet clicking and turned to see Teal checking over a second rifle。 〃No！〃 he said softly。 〃Where I go from here you cannot follow。〃
She held the rifle resolutely。 〃You plain because Spherisians won't fight； and now you lose your posure because one wants to！ Make up your mind； young man。〃
The features of his face slid around into a wry look； then straightened again。 〃Keep your head down； Mother。〃
They stole out along Invid…style corridors； through the great hive。 They were near the innermost sanctum； having bypassed ring upon ring of sentries and guardposts and surveillance by means of the Crystal Highways。 In moments they hung back in the shadows of a structure like a huge fibroblast； looking out at the Invid Brain that held sway over most of the occupying army。
It was pulsing and emitting strange sounds； so agitated and apprehensive that even the two intruders could sense it clearly。 The battle wasn't going well。
There was a handpicked elite of Officers and Enforcers around the Brain； conferring in low tones and attending it。 Baldan looked to his mother； raising his chin and brows inquiringly。
What misplaced practical joke of the Protoculture brought me here？ she carped to herself。 All she had ever wanted to do was enjoy life and the attentions of admirers； to let her beauty speak for itself and languish in the adulation that everyone seemed eager to accord her。
But she nodded to her son that she was ready。 The two leapt out to either side of the cover； rifle muzzles at waist level； firing Protoculture blasts。
CHAPTER TWENTY…FIVE
Tesla was very troubled in the last hours before the attack。 When I asked him about it； I expected one of his evasive numbers or egomaniacal silences。
But he seemed to need to talk to someone。 He was psychotic by then； I think； the lab people conjecture that he'd actually been increasing his chromosome numbers。
At any rate； he said； 〃I have had a recurring dream lately。 A great phoenix of mind…force rises from a small blue…white world and soars away to another plane of existence。 It fills me with apprehension。〃
Lisa Hayes Hunter； Recollections
Karen had seen to Jack's wounds as best she could； but he went into shock； still losing blood。 It came down to a simple choice of leaving him there and going for help； or staying with him and watching him die。
Then the decision was taken away from her。 A Hellcat bounded into sight at the bunker's entrance； showing its glowing fangs。 Its eyes were flashing rhythmically； it was one of Tesla's。
Three had originally been dispatched by Tesla to keep Karen and Jack from getting word of his treachery back to the Sentinels。 But an ambush by the Brain's forces