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without firing a shot。
〃Optera！〃 he exulted； and took his first bite from one of the sunflower…yellow； pyramid…shaped Spherisian Fruits of the Flower of Life。 The juices ran down his chin and moistened his magnificent robes。
His aura shone brighter。
Because the new starships still under construction had no drive units or functioning weapons； Breetai's Valivarre was the only hope of catching Edwards。
The fact that the hijacked SDF…7 mounted more fire…power and had more fighting mecha aboard didn't deter the Zentraedi giants for a moment； Edwards had made himself their blood enemy。 Skulls and others were quickly boarding in their VTs and Hovertanks； even as the Valivarre was casting off； but Wolff hadn't been able to get back through the press of battle。
〃Sorry； Colonel；〃 Breetai said sincerely when Wolff pleaded with him to wait。 〃Every second counts if I'm to catch that devil。〃
But Wolff had his own schedule； and he kept it by getting three Diamondback VT pilots in Battloid mode to add their boost to his own Hovertank Battloid's back thrusters。 It was a near thing； but he managed to grab the aft section of Valivarre without being roasted by its thrusters； and drag himself to an airlock。
〃Wele aboard；〃 Breetai said dryly over the inter。
Edwards refused to stand and fight； and wouldn't even answer their transmissions。 〃It's a drag race now；〃 as one Human officer put it。 Both ships increased velocity toward lightspeed； but bit by bit the SDF…7 pulled away。 And； once superluminal； she could multiply her lead many times。
〃We're losing him；〃 Breetai said in his bulkhead…shaking basso。 Valivarre had never even gotten within weapons or VT…strike range。
Wolff； standing near on one of； the high catwalks Humans used for face…to…face conversations with the giants； begged； 〃At least let me try a mo channel with him one more time！ He'll talk to me； I know！〃
Breetai hid his pity behind a stern military mien； but ordered that it be done。 The colonel said； 〃Edwards； this is Wolff。 Answer me！ Edwards； I challenge you to answer me！〃
He was about to give up in despair； the SDF widening its lead on the Zentraedi ship。 But to everyone's surprise Edwards's contemptuous smile appeared on the main screen。
〃Jonathan； old man！ Sorry I can't dawdle； but tempus fugit； and so must I。 You understand。〃
〃I challenge you；〃 Wolff said again。 〃One on one。 VTs； Hovertanks； bare hands…name it。〃
The Zentraedi on duty on the bridge grunted a certain grudging respect for Wolff then； even though he had shown certain weaknesses； this was a challenge worthy of a Zentraedi！
But Edwards shook his head in mock exasperation。 〃Still the romantic； eh； Jonathan？ Well； I'm afraid I haven't got time to play black knight to your Galahad。 I've other things to do； as you can see。〃
The camera angle shifted to a long shot； and Wolff moaned。
He and the others in Valivarre were staring at the most outlandish wedding scene conceivable。 Inorganics formed a guard of honor。 Ghost Riders stood in ranks in a 〃chapel〃 that was a vacant hold。 The altar appeared to be the unadorned spacefold mountings； presided over by Benson； one of Edwards's aides。
The pickup followed Edwards as he went to the altar。 Waiting for him there was Minmei； still wearing the clothes she had worn in her cell but with the addition of a veil improvised from gossamer antivermin netting。
The pickup zoomed in on Minmei。 She seemed a little pale； but her eyes were bright and adoring as she took the general's hand。 She turned to the camera for a moment。
〃Good…bye； Jonathan。 I've found happiness at last。 I do really think it's time you go home to the family you deserted and try to make amends to them； don't you？〃
Then she and Edwards knelt before Benson； as he raised his arms to the crowd and intoned； 〃My fellow Edwardsian warriors； we are gathered here…〃
The mo link was broken at the SDF's end。
Wolff was sobbing and shaking his head。 〃It's a trick！ It's a phony tape； or he's got her drugged！〃
〃Intel officer？〃 Breetai snapped crisply； turning to his staff。
〃Voice…stress and imagery…interpretation puters confirm authenticity；〃 a giant tech officer answered。 〃No indications of coercion or chemical manipulation。〃
〃That can't be！〃 Wolff howled； then put his face in his hands。 Some of the other Humans got him off the bridge。
Breetai's eyes stayed with his instruments in the vain hope that a power failure or a change of mind would put Edwards back within his grasp。 He castigated himself for not giving in to one of his hundred impulses to kill the man； despite his Zentraedi oath of fealty to the REF。
And he felt a pang of sorrow for Wolff。 Breetai； as much as anybody； knew what hurt the love of Minmei could inflict。
The Crann； Scrim； and Odeon watching the wedding service hadn't the vaguest idea what it meant； so they weren't surprised when the bride went berserk； just as the soft music began to play。
The Humans did understand； but tried to ignore her rising shriek as she leapt up from her kneeling position and turned on Edwards； trying to claw out his good eye。 Edwards hissed out a few perfunctory vulgar words as he fended her off。 The two Hellcats flanking the altar backed away； spitting。
He had e so close。 Experimenting with the power of the Invid Brain he now controlled； he had learned how to bend Minmei to him。 The effort had taken the major part of his will…to the point where the Inorganics were little more than awkward puppets…because somewhere deep inside； Minmei was fighting him every inch of the way。
It had almost been perfect； his Living puter control of her made it almost seem as if she really loved him。
It was that damned music！ Song had always been her unique power； and when the bland strains played over the PA system； the innermost part of her began to sing along。 With that； she had thrown off his hold over her in moments。 He fought to reassert it； but something told him that she would never be vulnerable to that particular kind of domination ever again。 Not while the voice within her lived。
Edwards lost patience and swung his fist。 Minmei dropped； senseless。 He tried to insinuate his mind into hers； greedy to