¡¨You¡¡have¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡loving¡¡me£»¡¡Scott¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡treating¡¡me¡¡so¡¡human¡£¡¨
Elsewhere¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Ark¡¡Angel¡¡Minmei¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sister¡¡clones¡¡sang£º
Little¡¡Protoculture¡¡leaf£»
Waiting¡¡for¡¡our¡¡palates£»
Where¡¡will¡¡you¡¡take¡¡us£¿
Flower¡¡of¡¡Life£¡
Treat¡¡us¡¡well£¡
What¡¡had¡¡happened¡¡on¡¡this¡¡world£¿¡¡Zor¡¡recalled¡¡having¡¡asked¡¡himself¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡days¡¡before¡£¡¡What¡¡enchanted¡¡hand¡¡or¡¡conspiracy¡¡of¡¡sky¡¡and¡¡soil¡¡had¡¡shaped¡¡that¡¡grand¡¡experiment¡¡in¡¡life£¿
For¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡the¡¡eye¡¡could¡¡see¡¡there¡¡had¡¡been¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡this£º¡¡a¡¡living¡¡landscape¡¡under¡¡skies¡¡tinged¡¡with¡¡aquamarine¡£¡¡Life¡¡pure¡¡and¡¡unadulterated£»¡¡which¡¡here¡¡had¡¡chosen¡¡but¡¡two¡¡forms¡¡of¡¡expression¡£¡¡The¡¡one£»¡¡vegetal¡¡but¡¡without¡¡question¡¡sentient£»¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡more¡¡the¡¡animal¡¡stuff¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡being¡¡but¡¡seemingly¡¡free¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gross¡¡entanglements¡¡so¡¡often¡¡given¡¡rise¡¡to¡¡by¡¡bone¡¡and¡¡sinew¡£¡¡The¡¡one£»¡¡a¡¡flower£»¡¡fruit£»¡¡and¡¡tree£»¡¡pulsating¡¡with¡¡occult¡¡power£»¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡feeding¡¡from¡¡that¡¡power¡¡but¡¡returning¡¡everything¡¡to¡¡it£»¡¡tranquil¡¡and¡¡self¡¡sufficient£»¡¡with¡¡no¡¡need¡¡to¡¡look¡¡outside¡¡itself¡¡to¡¡answer¡¡the¡¡questions¡¡that¡¡burned¡¡in¡¡Zor's¡¡soul¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡symbiosis¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡perfect¡¡sort£»¡¡true¡¡synthesis£»¡¡two¡¡life¡¡forms¡¡nourishing¡¡each¡¡other¡¡in¡¡every¡¡possible¡¡way¡¡and¡¡altering¡¡in¡¡the¡¡process¡¡of¡¡that¡¡joining¡¡the¡¡physical¡¡structure¡¡of¡¡their¡¡environment¡£¡¡Nothing¡¡there¡¡seemed¡¡fixed¡¡or¡¡constant£»¡¡neither¡¡natural¡¡law£»¡¡nor¡¡dictated¡¡shape£»¡¡nor¡¡evolutionary¡¡design¡£¡¡All¡¡was¡¡potential¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£
He¡¡recalled¡¡Vard¡¡calling¡¡out¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡Vard¡¡and¡¡several¡¡of¡¡are¡¡ship's¡¡crew¡¡on¡¡the¡¡trail¡¡below£»¡¡the¡¡one¡¡that¡¡switchbacked¡¡down¡¡from¡¡that¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡high¡¡ground¡¡the¡¡creature¡¡had¡¡guided¡¡them¡¡to¡£¡¡An¡¡eagerness¡¡in¡¡Vard's¡¡voice¡¡Zor¡¡had¡¡rarely¡¡heard¡¡before£»¡¡excitement¡¡prompted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡thrill¡¡of¡¡discovery¡£¡¡Zor£»¡¡e£¡¡¡Hurry£¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡ignored¡¡the¡¡young¡¡man's¡¡direction£¿drill¡¡too¡¡mesmerized¡¡by¡¡sky¡¡and¡¡landscape¡¡to¡¡tear¡¡himself¡¡away¡¡¡£¡£¡£
Weeks¡¡before£»¡¡the¡¡dropship¡¡had¡¡put¡¡down¡¡in¡¡a¡¡boundless¡¡field¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tri¡¡petaled¡¡flowers¡£¡¡Triumvirate¡¡in¡¡their¡¡groupings£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡of¡¡a¡¡coral¡¡color£»¡¡with¡¡elongated¡¡teardrop¡shaped¡¡buds¡¡and¡¡long¡¡trailing¡¡stamens¡£¡¡And¡¡oddly¡¡enough¡¡they¡¡cast¡¡forth¡¡both¡¡pollen¡¡and¡¡seeds¡£
The¡¡landing¡¡party¡¡had¡¡made¡¡its¡¡way¡¡into¡¡a¡¡forest¡¡of¡¡sphersically¡¡canopied¡¡fruit¡bearing¡¡trees¡impossibly¡¡tall£»¡¡some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡with¡¡rainbow¡colored¡¡fluids¡¡coursing¡¡through¡¡translucent¡¡trunks¡£¡¡Zor¡¡remembered£º¡¡Tzuptum's¡¡rays¡¡warming¡¡limbs¡¡stiff¡¡from¡¡space¡¡sleep£º¡¡the¡¡spongy¡¡ground¡¡cover¡¡wondrously¡¡wele¡¡to¡¡feet¡¡too¡¡long¡¡accustomed¡¡to¡¡deckplates¡¡of¡¡cool¡¡and¡¡unyielding¡¡alloy¡£¡¡The¡¡air¡¡thick¡¡and¡¡redolent£»¡¡almost¡¡too¡¡perfumed¡¡to¡¡inhale¡¡unfiltered¡£¡¡And¡¡in¡¡fact¡¡two¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡party¡¡had¡¡succumbed¡¡to¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡delusional¡¡psychosis¡¡and¡¡had¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ship¡£¡¡But¡¡for¡¡Zor¡¡those¡¡bet¡¡weeks¡¡had¡¡been¡¡magical¡£¡¡He¡¡and¡¡his¡¡science¡¡team¡¡had¡¡run¡¡scans¡¡and¡¡collected¡¡botanical¡¡samples¡¡while¡¡other¡¡teams¡¡charted¡¡distances¡¡and¡¡topography¡¡and¡¡probed¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡for¡¡useful¡¡metals¡£
It¡¡was¡¡shortly¡¡after¡¡he¡¡had¡¡determined¡¡the¡¡inherent¡¡sameness¡¡of¡¡flower£»¡¡shrub£»¡¡and¡¡tree¡¡that¡¡the¡¡landing¡¡party¡¡had¡¡had¡¡its¡¡initial¡¡encounter¡¡with¡¡the¡¡planet's¡¡indigenous¡¡beings¡£
Limbless£»¡¡amorphous£»¡¡asexual¡¡creatures¡vaguely¡¡mushroom¡shaped¡¡when¡¡Zor¡¡first¡¡saw¡¡them¡they¡¡lived¡¡munally¡¡in¡¡conical£»¡¡hivelike¡¡structures¡¡from¡¡which¡¡they¡¡made¡¡daily¡¡forays¡¡into¡¡the¡¡surrounding¡¡countryside¡¡for¡¡the¡¡purpose¡¡of¡¡hover¡gathering¡¡fruits¡¡and¡¡flowers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡planet's¡¡singular¡¡plant¡¡life¡£¡¡After¡¡several¡¡days¡¡of¡¡observing¡¡the¡¡creatures¡¡in¡¡their¡¡routines¡¡and¡¡rituals¡all¡¡of¡¡which¡¡centered¡¡on¡¡the¡¡flowers¡¡and¡¡trees¡Zor¡¡came¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡that¡¡the¡¡beings¡¡made¡¡use¡¡of¡¡the¡¡plant¡¡for¡¡physical¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡spiritual¡¡nutrition¡£¡¡Seemingly¡¡oblivious¡¡to¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡off¡worlders£»¡¡they¡¡ingested¡¡the¡¡flower¡¡petals¡¡and¡¡fruits¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mature¡¡crop¡¡and¡¡often¡¡sipped¡¡the¡¡sap¡¡of¡¡the¡¡seedlings£»¡¡which¡¡Zor¡¡had¡¡discovered¡¡possessed¡¡strong¡¡psychoactive¡¡ingredients¡£
Ultimately¡¡he¡¡had¡¡approached¡¡what¡¡he¡¡took¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡hive¡¡leader¡¡and¡¡had¡¡learned¡¡that¡¡the¡¡creatures¡¡were¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡telepathic¡¡munication¡£¡¡He¡¡realized£»¡¡too£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡the¡¡capacity¡¡to¡¡alter¡¡their¡¡physical¡¡being¡¡to¡¡suit¡¡their¡¡circumstances¡£¡¡While¡¡Zor¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hive¡¡leader¡¡had¡¡conversed£»¡¡the¡¡creature¡¡had¡¡actually¡¡assumed¡¡a¡¡semblance¡¡of¡¡sexually¡¡differentiated¡¡humanoid¡¡form¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡that¡¡one¡¡who¡¡had¡¡identified¡¡the¡¡race¡¡by¡¡the¡¡name¡¡Invid¡¡and¡¡first¡¡used¡¡the¡¡term¡¡¡¨Flower¡¡of¡¡Life¡£¡¨¡¡This¡¡one¡¡who¡¡led¡¡the¡¡landing¡¡party¡¡to¡¡the¡¡overlook¡¡and¡¡told¡¡Zor¡¡about¡¡the¡¡Queen¡Mother¡¡they¡¡called¡¡Regis¡£
Zor£¡¡¡Are¡¡you¡¡ing£»¡¡Zor£¿¡¡Vard¡¡had¡¡shouted¡¡once¡¡more£»¡¡and£»¡¡reluctantly£»¡¡Zor¡¡had¡¡begun¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡him¡¡down¡¡the¡¡steep¡¡slope£»¡¡along¡¡a¡¡path¡¡strewn¡¡with¡¡velvety¡¡Flower¡¡of¡¡Life¡¡petals¡£
And¡¡so¡¡had¡¡menced¡¡a¡¡marvelous¡¡journey¡¡of¡¡two¡¡Tzuptum¡¡days¡¡through¡¡Flower¡crowned¡¡hills¡¡and¡¡bustling¡¡hive¡¡settlements¡¡that¡¡weled¡¡them¡¡with¡¡silent¡¡chant¡¡and¡¡delivered¡¡them¡¡finally¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lair¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Queen¡Mother¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£
Zor¡¡stood¡¡gazing¡¡at¡¡her¡¡now£»¡¡eyes¡¡next¡¡to¡¡closing¡¡from¡¡the¡¡soporific¡¡warmth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hive's¡¡central¡¡chamber¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡conjugated¡¡herself¡¡in¡¡an¡¡approximation¡¡of¡¡humanoid¡¡female¡¡form¡¡in¡¡his¡¡honor¡£
In¡¡his¡¡honor¡£¡¡The¡¡phrase¡¡she¡¡had¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡him¡£
¡¨We¡¡have¡¡anticipated¡¡your¡¡return¡¡to¡¡Optera¡¡for¡¡so¡¡long£»¡¡Bringer¡¡of¡¡Life¡£¡¡Forgive¡¡me¡¡if¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡adept¡¡at¡¡fully¡¡mimicking¡¡your¡¡present¡¡form¡£¡¨
You¡¡anticipated¡¡our¡¡ing£¿¡¡Zor¡¡had¡¡asked¡¡her£»¡¡confused¡£
¡¨The¡¡memory¡¡is¡¡ancient¡¡but¡¡deep¡¡within¡¡me¡£¡¡The¡¡Flowers¡¡were¡¡your¡¡gift¡¡to¡¡us¡£¡¨
Zor¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡being¡¡mistaken¡¡for¡¡someone¡¡who¡¡had¡¡visited¡¡Optera¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dim¡¡past¡¡and¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡correct¡¡the¡¡Regis¡¡when¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡paralysis¡¡gripped¡¡his¡¡thoughts¡£¡¡The¡¡Flowers¡¡of¡¡this¡¡world¡¡contained¡¡a¡¡form¡¡of¡¡novel¡¡bio¡energy¡£¡¡They¡¡endowed¡¡life¡indeed£»¡¡nature¡¡and¡¡matter¡¡itself¡with¡¡the¡¡power¡¡to¡¡shift¡¡and¡¡reshape£»¡¡to¡¡wrestle¡¡from¡¡the¡¡gods¡¡themselves¡¡the¡¡ability¡¡to¡¡control¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡evolution¡£
Then¡¡consider£»¡¡Zor¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡thinking£»¡¡what¡¡the¡¡result¡¡might¡¡be¡¡if¡¡the¡¡plant's¡¡bio¡energy¡¡could¡¡be¡¡harnessed¡¡and¡¡directed¡£
Would¡¡the¡¡power¡¡to¡¡light¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡worlds¡¡seem¡¡too¡¡much¡¡to¡¡ask£¿¡¡The¡¡power¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡ships¡¡across¡¡the¡¡sweep¡¡of¡¡stars£¿¡¡The¡¡power¡¡to¡¡shape¡¡and¡¡reconfigure¡¡the¡¡very¡¡continuum¡¡itself£¿¡¡The¡¡extension¡¡of¡¡life¡¡¡£¡£¡£
And¡¡yet¡¡the¡¡secret¡¡of¡¡municating¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Flower¡¡and¡¡harnessing¡¡that¡¡energy¡¡lay¡¡with¡¡the¡¡unknown¡¡being¡¡that¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡it¡¡to¡¡Optera¡£¡¡And¡¡with¡¡this¡¡Invid¡¡shape¡¡changer¡¡who¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡heir¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Flower's¡¡fortunes¡£
Zor¡¡was¡¡intrigued¡£¡¡He¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Regis¡¡was¡¡the¡¡key¡¡unlocking¡¡Optera's¡¡mysteries£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡of¡¡mad¡¡inspiration¡¡he¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡set¡¡himself¡¡the¡¡goal¡¡of¡¡possessing¡¡that¡¡key¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡seduce¡¡this¡¡queen¡¡to¡¡make¡¡that¡¡happen£¡¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡your¡¡highness£»¡¨¡¡Zor¡¡said¡¡to¡¡her¡¡at¡¡last¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡finally¡¡returned¡£¡¨
CHAPTER¡¡SEVENTEEN
I¡¡knew¡¡Lisa¡¡was¡¡serious¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡she¡¡stepped¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vanity£»¡¡dressed¡barely£¡¡in¡¡that¡¡revealing¡¡black¡¡camisole¡¡Karen¡¡Penn¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡for¡¡her¡¡thirty¡ninth¡¡birthday¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡surprised£»¡¡even¡¡though¡¡I¡¡shouldn't¡¡have¡¡been¡£¡¡I¡¡mean£»¡¡I¡¡remembered¡¡the¡¡look¡¡in¡¡Lisa's¡¡eye¡¡when¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡Kaziana¡¡with¡¡Drannin¡¡that¡¡first¡¡time£»¡¡and£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡we¡¡had¡¡talked¡¡over¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡some¡£¡£¡£Well£»¡¡Lisa¡¡must¡¡have¡¡caught¡¡the¡¡look¡¡on¡¡my¡¡face¡¡£¨that¡¡night¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Ark¡¡Angel£©£»¡¡because¡¡she¡¡laughed¡¡and¡¡started¡¡to¡¡accuse¡¡me¡¡of¡¡backing¡¡out¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡told¡¡her¡¡no¡¡way¡£¡¡And£»¡¡well£»¡¡let's¡¡just¡¡say¡¡I¡¡put¡¡my¡¡whole¡¡heart¡¡into¡¡what¡¡naturally¡¡followed¡£
The¡¡Collected¡¡Journals¡¡of¡¡Admiral¡¡Rick¡¡Hunter
There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡girl¡¡in¡¡Rick's¡¡past£»¡¡a¡¡gamine£»¡¡honey¡¡blond¡¡California¡¡free¡¡spirit¡¡named¡¡Jessica¡¡Fisher£»¡¡the¡¡eldest¡¡daughter¡¡of¡¡Alice¡¡Fisher£»¡¡an¡¡old¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡Pop's¡£¡¡Rick¡¡had¡¡met¡¡her¡¡shortly¡¡after¡¡Pop¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡the¡¡flying¡¡circus¡¡to¡¡Sacramento¡¡in¡¡search¡¡of¡¡spectators¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡extra¡¡wartime¡¡scrip¡¡in¡¡their¡¡pockets¡£
Rick¡¡had¡¡just¡¡turned¡¡nine£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡and¡¡Jessica¡¡were¡¡introduced¡¡to¡¡one¡¡another¡¡as¡¡cousins¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡not¡¡taken¡¡long£»¡¡however£»¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡actual¡¡blood¡¡bond¡¡between¡¡them£»¡¡especially¡¡after¡¡Pop¡¡and¡¡Alice¡¡had¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡their¡¡own¡¡romance¡¡out¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡closed¡¡doors¡£¡¡Rick£»¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡there¡¡when¡¡things¡¡had¡¡gotten¡¡started¡¡between¡¡his¡¡aging¡¡dad¡¡and¡¡the¡¡independent¡¡Alice£»¡¡the¡¡night¡¡the¡¡four¡¡of¡¡them¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡into¡¡San¡¡Francisco¡¡and¡¡¡¨the¡¡Visitor¡the¡¡SDF¡1¡had¡¡made¡¡its¡¡grand¡¡appearance¡£¡¡Of¡¡course£»¡¡very¡¡few¡¡people¡¡realized¡¡they¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡a¡¡ship¡¡in¡¡the¡¡skies¡¡that¡¡night£»¡¡and¡¡Russo's¡¡government¡¡had¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡Macross¡¡project¡¡under¡¡wraps¡¡for¡¡the¡¡next¡¡five¡¡years¡£¡¡But¡¡Pop¡¡and¡¡Alice¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡touched¡¡by¡¡something¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡because¡¡their¡¡relationship¡¡had¡¡changed¡¡from¡¡that¡¡night¡¡on¡£¡¡Rick£»¡¡too£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡transfigured¡¡by¡¡the¡¡event¡£¡¡Youthful¡¡flying¡¡ace¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡fast¡¡being£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡liked¡¡to¡¡think¡¡the¡¡sky¡¡as¡¡his¡¡property¡even¡¡though¡¡Neasian¡¡and¡¡other¡¡military¡¡pilots¡¡might¡¡have¡¡argued¡¡the¡¡claim¡and¡¡suddenly¡¡in¡¡that¡¡same¡¡sky¡¡he¡¡had¡¡glimpsed¡¡a¡¡power¡¡that¡¡surpassed¡¡all¡£¡¡The¡¡impact¡¡on¡¡his¡¡young¡¡mind¡¡was¡¡as¡¡devastating¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡exhilarating£»¡¡for¡¡while¡¡Pop¡¡had¡¡done¡¡his¡¡best¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡his¡¡only¡¡child¡¡sheltered¡¡from¡¡the¡¡disputes¡¡that¡¡had¡¡plagued¡¡Earth¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡Visitor¡¨¡¡had¡¡made¡¡it¡¡clear¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡no¡¡hiding¡¡from¡¡war's¡¡long¡¡reach¡£
Jessica£»¡¡ironically£»¡¡had¡¡guessed¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡about¡¡what¡¡they¡¡had¡¡witnessed¡£¡¡I'll¡¡bet¡¡it¡¡was¡¡an¡¡alien¡¡spaceship£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡told¡¡Rick¡£¡¡And¡¡it's¡¡e¡¡down¡¡to¡¡show¡¡everybody¡¡on¡¡Earth¡¡that¡¡war¡¡isn't¡¡the¡¡only¡¡way¡¡that¡¡things¡¡get¡¡changed£»¡¡that¡¡there're¡¡all¡¡kinds¡¡of¡¡powers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡universe¡¡we'll¡¡never¡¡understand¡¡if¡¡we¡¡keep¡¡thinki
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü