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All the freedom fighters knew was that there was still a chance to avoid disaster if the team could act quickly enough。 Once more the VTs dodged and fired； barrelrolled and spat missiles。
This battle took place over a strange landscape。 The place looked like a jungle； except it appeared to have been roofed over。 A translucent； shell…like pink covering stretched over hundreds of square miles of river valley。 The roof； or whatever it was； had numerous irregular openings in it； openings so big that the VTs could fly in and out virtually at will。 But so could the Invid。
The Humans were hampered by low Protoculture levels and ordnance supplies； Scott wondered if they would even have enough to get them through this latest mass dogfight。 But Lancer was a tough； precise fighter jock； frugal with fuel and ammo when it was necessary； and he and Scott had taught Rand and Rook well。 Trooper after Trooper went tumbling； burning； from the air under the weird shell…roof。
Down below； Lunk； Annie； and Marlene were having it a little tougher； as a Trooper noticed them and came swooping down at them。 〃Hey； you fancy fly…boys up there！〃 Annie squawked over the tac net； 〃you forgetting your friends here on terra firma？〃
Rand broke away from the 〃ratrace〃 and； nearly at deck level； went after the Shock Trooper that was on the APC。 But suddenly a bunch of trees came at him out of nowhere。 I think I zigged when I shoulda zagged； he thought； as retros proved insufficient and the Beta hung up in a treetop。
A disc's explosion overturned the truck and the Trooper closed in for the kill； as the shocked Lunk； Annie； and Marlene watched。 All in an instant； a bolt from a heavy VT cannon holed the enemy through and through； and it toppled。
The three looked up to where Rand's Beta hung like a fly in web。 〃Some shot； huh？〃 he beamed； although he was draped over his instrument panel at an undignified angle。
〃Jeepers； what a dopey landing；〃 marveled Annie。
Above； Scott and the others switched from Protoculture to reserve impulse power； and used their jamming gear and spread clouds of aerosol smokescreen behind them。 Then they dived through one of the holes in the river valley's 〃roof；〃 breaking contact。 As they had hoped； the Invid went off in all directions； apparently mystified as to where the prey had gone。
The group made its camp and held council。 With power and ammo levels so low； Scott unveiled what he considered to be the only workable plan for continuing the trip to Reflex Point。
〃A raft？〃 Rand exclaimed。
Scott sipped from his mug。 〃There are two things to remend the idea： We'll save what little Protoculture we have left； and we won't attract the Invid by activating our mecha。〃
Lancer blew on his coffee。 〃I think it's a brilliant idea。 We'll just let the river do all the work。〃
Rand looked at the mecha。 〃You're talking about one helluva raft； there。 D'you know anything about rafts； spaceman？〃
Annie started demanding that she be allowed to supervise and that the raft be named in her honor。 Rook scolded her and said that this wasn't some dumb jungle movie where all you need is a couple of vines and a coconut。
Things began to turn into one of the team's signature free…for…alls。 Lancer rose； stretched； and paced away toward the river。 〃Since I don't know the first thing about marine engineering； I volunteer for lookout duty。〃
〃Probably afraid he'll break a fingernail；〃 Lunk grunted。
Rand was agreeing； 〃The guy's just a lazy bum；〃 when something heavy tapped his shoulder。
Scott was handing him the ax。 〃Country boy； it's time you showed us your stuff。 I know this thing's a little primitive； but at least it works without Protoculture。 Just think of a raft as a very large ski。〃
Lancer drank in the quiet beauty of the place。 He found himself in a very quiet； serene world。
ing to the shore of a fast…moving stream； he decided the current was too swift for predators and elected to bathe。 In a moment； he had stripped； taken soap and personal articles from his belt pouch； and plunged in。
Several miles downstream from the team's landing spot； another Invid stronghold straddled the river on five asymmetrical legs。 It looked like a bulbous insect with a glowing； low…hanging belly。
Inside was a Hive Center like and yet unlike that of the fortress。 The Sensor there was identical to the other in its physical shape； but its color was a putrid； lit…from…within green。 But in one particular way； this was a very different scene： The Regis had manifested herself。
An oval energy flux surrounded by a blue nimbus； its long axis vertical； hung over the Sensor。 The mauve flux gave off solar prominences of light。 Within it were swirling lights and within the swirl； barely discernible in the brilliance； was the female form of the Regis。
〃Our Matrix is now approaching the bio…energy level needed for transmutation。〃
Regis and Sensor were attended by several Shock Troopers。 One of these the Regis instructed； 〃Trooper； step forward！〃
The Shock Trooper obeyed； somehow seeming subdued despite its immense size and armaments。 The incandescence played across its armor as it stared at its ruler…deity； the Regis。
〃You have proved yourself time and again；〃 she told it； 〃as both a soldier and a shape…changer。 In both these capacities you have helped ensure the survival of our race。 Your outstanding achievements won you the honor of engaging the enemy in the Shock Trooper armor that now enfolds your being。〃
Her face was little more than a blank mask with shadowed eye sockets and the ridge of a nose。 〃Now the time has e for you to continue your evolution； to take the next step upward in the spiral of Protogenetic progress！ Are you ready？〃
The Trooper； watching her with its single optical sensor； made a biotechnic gurgling and a kind of hunching bow of obeisance。
〃Very well！ As I have spoken； so it shall be done！ Prepare yourself for disembodiment and transmutation！〃 The Regis flung her arms wide； and the green Sensor was aglow。 Energy crackled and sizzled through the Hive Center。
Vines of living Protoculture power snaked out from the Sensor to envelope the Trooper。 In another moment it seemed to be in a