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He laughed and tried to joke。 〃Um； in some places； that would mean we were engaged。〃
But the roar of the dragon filled the cave as it came at them like a bomber； and they were off again on the Cyc。 Off to one side was Annie； leering over the flames once more in the Genesis Pit； speaking in the voice of the Regis。
〃Look； Human； into the flames of truth and tremble； for it is your doom that you will see there。 Even now the final chapter of your people is being written in the great Book of Time。〃
Annie wasn't finished。 〃Once the Invid were a simple race； content with our own existence。 But with our world destroyed； our Flowers stolen； we were changed forever。 And once we have conquered the Universe we shall rise； rise…we shall ascend beyond the physical。 We shall rule the higher planes of existence； as a race of pure intellect； pure spirit！〃
Rand saw again those mindshapes in the flames called up by the possessed Annie。 Somehow he saw Reflex Point； and the very dwelling place of the Regis herself； though he could not see her。
She said； 〃So we have e here； to regenerate； to take Earth from the dying hands of Humanity。 From the ashes of your people we shall arise； reborn； like the Phoenix！〃
There was a lot more to the dream； and it got even weirder。 The dragon snatched Marlene again； and Rand found himself riding to the rescue with his teammates； all of them dressed in bination Wagnerian…R。E。 Howard getups； but using mecha。 And even Lunk's truck could fly。 Rand noticed that Rook seemed very displeased with him。
Couldn't I just click my Ruby Slippers three times and call it a night？
Still； it was great to have a team to back him up； great to have friends。 He realized that it was still a new thing to him； but he also realized that he had felt a little lonely back there； facing the Leaping Lizard all alone。
Somewhere along the line even the VTs got swords； gleaming silvery ones as big as telephone poles。 When that dragon came at bay； the team pureed him。
But when demigoddess Marlene had thanked the warriors for saving her； and they were following the Eagles of Light homeward； after having been assured that a new day was dawning for the Human race； Rand could still hear the voice of the Regis。 From the ashes of the Humans； the Invid would rise like a Phoenix。
What happened subsequently seemed dreamlike； but it hurt so much that he decided it wasn't。 The sandstorm had passed and he was being helped back to the cave by Rook； who had e looking for him； and his scalp was matted with blood。
But when he saw the look of concern on her face； Rand reconsidered the possibility that he was still unconscious。
When the team…except for Lancer and Marlene…ran out from the cave demanding answers； Rand found himself slurring； 〃Listen； a new day is dawning； for the Dragon is slain at last。 Shut up and listen！ The； the day of oblivion's e f'r us all。 Who th' hell were we； t'believe we could rule the Earth forever？〃
There was a lot of crosstalk and some friction； some of them mad at Rand； others…especially Rook…telling them to lay off。 But Rand plowed on； 〃The Invid have e here from across the Cosmos to regenerate themselves into a new form。 They want to rule the physical Universe； and the higher planes of existence； too！〃
〃Wow！ His brain's been fried！〃 Annie whispered。
〃Naw； Annie；〃 Rook countered。 〃The boy just hasn't woken up。〃 She gave him a therapeutic slap on the cheek that she tried not to enjoy too much。 Rand found himself back in the real world。
He took a few deep breaths and started again。 〃I know now why the Invid are here。 They're trying to survive by plugging themselves into the Earth's evolutionary system。 Don't look at me like that； you can't hardly blame 'em！ We'd do it； too； if we faced racial extinction！〃
Which we do； he realized。
Scott was close to taking a swing at Rand。 〃I couldn't care less whether the Invid survive or go the way of the Zentraedi and the Robotech Masters； just as long as they leave Earth。 This is our planet！〃
〃Well； I wasn't saying that we…〃
〃I don't know what happened to you out there； Rand；〃 Scott seethed； 〃but it seems to have knocked your loyalties out of whack。〃
〃He was lying on a bunch of Flowers of Life；〃 Rook blurted。 〃A whole little field of them。 And the sandstorm hadn't bothered them； not even a bit。〃
While the others were thinking about that； Rand said； 〃What about Marlene？ Is she all right？〃
Rook looked at him for long seconds before she said； 〃She's still pretty weak； I'm afraid。〃
Rand went down on one knee next to her。 Under his gaze； she stirred； wakened； smiled up at him as she had hours and an eternity ago。 It had taken a look and a thought； not a kiss； to wake the sleeping damsel。
Well； Fair Milady； I don't know if you'll ever realize it； but you and I have just been on quite a spin。 And I wouldn't have missed it for the world。
Rook； leaning against the cave wall with her arms crossed； glowered at the two。 Maybe Marlene was brain…damaged； but that was no excuse to gaze up at a bumpkin like Rand with liquid； lambent eyes。 He was nothing but a wasteland Forager！
〃Hi；〃 Rand smiled down gently。 And now Scott； too； was scowling。 In true military style； he didn't bother to consider his reasons for being irked at Rand。 It was easier than examining his feelings for Marlene。
Rand touched Marlene's cheek。 Her gaze gave him the eerie feeling that she had truly been along on the all…time championship motocross run。 Marlene smiled up at him。
A thought crossed Rand's mind。 What was it Rook said he had been lying on？
Eventually； as Scott had fatalistically expected； a patrol of Shock Troopers spotted them。 The freedom fighters jumped the Invid right away。
They knew little about the Regis； but they were beginning to suspect something。 The simple fact was that the Regis's attention was often diverted to matters elsewhere in her world…embracing scheme； and offworld as well。 Although the whereabouts of her Simulagent and this persistently bothersome group of enemies were high on her priorities list； the Regis had a staggering number of projects and operations to control and guide。
All the freedom fighters knew wa