…that which Terrans considered non ordinary was the norm on Garuda。 Credit Haydon or blame him； but his tamperings had resulted in a planet that was hell for those offworlders who chanced to breathe its rarefied atmosphere； a heaven for those fortunate enough to have been born into it。 No； hell for the lupine Garudans was to be deprived of their homeworld's atmosphere。 And it was thanks only to treatments received on Haydon IV that Kami could function aboard the SDF…3 without the transpirator he had worn through the Sentinels' perilous campaign。
Credit Haydon again。 Or blame him。
Kami saw that Learna； his mate and partner those long years of war and tenuous peace； had discerned his intent and was also about to position herself under the full force of the teeming rain of crazed light。 Her sendings were strong as she ventured forth from useless cover； the hin both guide and umbrella。
From across the hold came shouts of concern from their Terran shipmates and Local Group brothers and sisters in arms。 Gnea said something in Praxian neither Kami nor Learns could prehend。 Baldan； Lron； Crysta； and several other Karbarrans were nearby。 There was barely a corner the light had overlooked by then； save for what some called 〃the Pit；〃 where Kazianna Hesh and a dozen or so Zentraedi were suiting up in power armor。
And it was not until the tendrils found the warrior giants that the Garudans' allies in the hin opened a portal to the truth。
Kami realized at once that the SDF…3 was not dealing with some blindly malicious Luciferian strike force but the scouts and emissaries of a powerful but childlike superintelligence。 His encounter was brief by necessity； for he could barely maintain his individual self in the suffocating intoxication of the experience。 The portal had been opened into a realm unlike any he had ever visited in the hin； opened into a soul unlike anything met there。 The call of life's beyond； a siren song of such warmth and transcendence that Kami was tempted to surrender himself and be absorbed。
It was only Learna's presence that saved him； Learna； anchored firmly in the non…ordinary and beckoning him back with her love。
The light in the fortress's belly was retreating； dazzling eye and mind with its speed and brilliance。 It had discovered something in the Zentraedi that filled it with fear； a fear that sent it screaming through the rest of the ship； as though desperate to find a route to its own safety。
〃Please； Rem； hurry；〃 Minmei said； tugging at the flared sleeve of the Tiresian's tunic。 〃I don't like this； I'm frightened of it！〃
Rem was standing in the center of the cabin； arms akimbo and face uplifted to the ceiling。 He looked like a dreamy eyed teen in love with the idea of being caught out in a spring shower。
〃You're a child sometimes；〃 he told her with a laugh。 〃Something wondrous seeks us out； and you'd have me hide under the bed。 What frightens you？〃
Minmei opened her mouth to speak but realized she had so response in mind。 The truth was that she could not articulate what it was about the lights that frightened her； but all her instincts told her that Rem was in danger。
That he was not listening to her came as no surprise； really； for who was she to tell Lord Protoculture anything？ Oh； once he would have listened； when she was still the voice that had won the Robotech War； but it had been years since that voice had sung； and it was Rem's star that had been on the ascendant since。 Playing Johnny Appleseed on New Praxis with the Flowers of Life； conjuring Protoculture from them； fabricating the matrix Lang and the REF mand worshiped like some sacrosanct icon。
Rem suddenly took hold of her narrow wrist and pulled her close； encircling her shoulders with his right arm。 〃Let it find us together；〃 he said； still eyeing the ceiling expectantly。 〃Open your mind to it。〃
She tried not to quiver so in his embrace； but dread was sluicing through her veins like ice water。 She wanted nothing more than to dig a deep dark hole for the two of them to hide in。
The first lights passed through the cabinspace with scarcely a moment's hesitation； piercing the room obliquely from ceiling to floor。 A second group followed from the opposite direction。 But the third and fourth entered through the starboard bulkhead and instead of exiting along their line of flight began to dart around the perimeter of the cabin； as if to fence the couple in。
Rem took a bold step forward and immersed a hand into the flow。 The light raced up the length of his arm and outline of his body； as it was doing to other objects in the room。 Minmei instantly became part of the tableau； her thoughts sent reeling by the tendrils' inquisitive caress。 And suddenly then was more longing in her heart than her mind could process more light in the cabin than her eyes could absorb。
Rem bellowed the most mournful sound she had ever heard and collapsed in a heap on the floor。
CHAPTER ELEVEN
With the confusion of the Great Transition behind them； the Zentraedi Imperative in place； and the pulsion implemented； the Robotech Masters went about systematically expunging Zor's name from all records of the technovoyages of the starship Amtraph。 They sought nothing less than to rewrite history in such a way that credit for the discovery of the Protoculture would go to the Elders themselves。 However； Zors own accounts of those voyages survived in secret for some time； until destroyed by the young scientist himself as he began what has been termed his quiet rebellion…save for a precious few jottings preserved by Cabell。 All details of Zor's early investigations and experiments vanished with the destruction of these notebooks and journals。 And it is likely that we will never know more than we do now about the Amtraph's first sighting of Optera。
From Emil Lang's introduction to Cabell's … Zor and the Great Transition
Rem's cells remembered。
So many worlds to explore； countless even within the limited zone defined by the ship's reflex superluminals。 So many landscapes to wander across with devices in hand； hillsides to climb； forests to penetrate； skies to soar。 So many life璮orms to contact； cultures to experience…more than a mortal should be allowed to glimpse； let alone contemplate； more than an understanding god would have created 。。。 They were there but to tempt； those climes of eruptive heat or frost waste； those worlds of nascent sentience or eons…old evolutionary struggle。 But was there any greater rapture than to journey from one to the next？ To watch worlds turn through cycles of their lives？ To gaze from a ship's deck upon the sweep of time itself？ 。。。 If there was； it was surely beyond the scope of his intellect to imagine； and even had that gift of imagining been his； would he choose to deprive himself of this joy？ He supposed not 。。。
Always those thoughts upon awakening from the essential sleep； Zor told himself。 The artificial extension of life； while the Amtraph thrust itself from star to star。 Man's little game played with time。 A bit of existential trickery 。。。
He regarded the sleep chamber now…the nutrient drips that sustained the body； the contact studs that stimulated muscle and bone； the headband that helped to nourish dreams…and laughed away his musings； chest aching from disuse； unaccustomed to the sudden return of those chaotic； nay； inspired； rhythms。
Vard was watching him from afar…able servant and faithful friend…the rest of them already hobbling away from their opened cocoons like aged ministers hurrying off to meeting； and conferences。 A spectacle ill befitting the courageous crew they were…scientists to the last； sworn to exploration and the search for truth。 Zor breathed deep； congratulating himself on the choices he had made； the paths that had turned him away from government service and carried him offworld a last； clear of Tirol's crowded skies。 If only Vard could feel the same content with the quest itself…instead of continually focusing on the goal。
But Zor was too astute； too used to their calculated designs； not to feel in Vard's promptings the hand of his Elder： in the Academy。 The hungry members of the Grand Chair； perhaps even Cabell himself； mentor and father in his own curious fashion。 No； the data he transmitted were never enough for them： the trade arrangements and scientific exchanges too profitless to sate their appetites for progress。
We must have worlds to use as way stations for our glorious expansion； they would tell him； as though it were conquest they had in mind。 We must have discoveries that will further the glory of our race； as though it were immortality they were striving for。
Oh； Vard； he thought； filling his lungs with the ship's sweetened air； perhaps this next world will be the one your real masters would have me find。 One with wondrous things to offer； the miraculous things they feel certain are out here for the taking。
He stood up and stretched； as though reaching for the very stars beyond the reflective sheen of the viewport overhead。 〃Out among you somewhere；〃 he said to the fixed lights。 〃Out among you is the world I'm destined to discover。 By Valivarre's will； may the cause of peace profit above all。〃
Karen Penn tried one final time to inflict