ribbons； in any case…but gestures were important for morale； even of the salute and handshake variety favored by armies the Quadrant over。 And God knew morale was in short supply just now。
She took note of the slight limp in Scott's long…legged stride as Vince led everyone to his personal quarters aft of the Ark Angel's bridge。 Up close； when she had felt Scott stiffen in her short…lived embrace； she had seen the scars on his still youthful face and graceful hands。 Nineteen now…or twenty…ix in Earth…relative years （a system she readily dismissed because of the havoc it wreaked on her own age）…he was growing to resemble his father more and more。 But from beneath the broad forehead and slick black hair peered the dreamy eyes of his mother。 He had her prominent ears as well； but the limp and the stoop in his formerly erect carriage were gifts of a war that refused to go away。
REF staffers and administrative officers stared openly as they hurried through the ship's corridors； trying no doubt to puzzle out the identity of the stranger who had been admitted into their midst； the undernourished apparition in rust…red knee boots and tattered mauve and purple flightsuit adorned with Mars Division unit patches。 The scarred warrior wearing an archaic Badger on his hip。
Jean listened closely to Scott's words as everyone settled themselves behind drinks in Vince's quarters。 And she heard the strange accent he had acquired during his time on Earth； the bitterness in his breaking voice when he recounted the Mars Division's assault against Invid…occupied Earthflow the ships had literally e apart in space； defeated long before the Regis's Shock Troopers and Pincers had moved in to loose their hyphenstorms； their fiery coup de grace。
Scott told them about the long road to Reflex Point； a journey that seemed to have bee something of a personal odyssey to despair and disillusionment。 Of the rogues； traitors； and cowards who populated that war…torn landscape。 Of his encounters with Jonathan Wolff （Scott's template for cynicism； Jean thought）； with the geriatric star…struck mechamorphs who had returned with Major Carpenter； and with Sue Graham of the Jupiter Division's 36th。 Jean remembered the photojournalist well and the agony； real or imagined； she had put Lisa Hayes Hunter through。
Her ears pricked up when Scott mentioned Reflex Point itself and spoke of some of the things he had described to neurometric analysts planetside。 She saw no reason to doubt the veracity of Scott's claims…that he had actually conversed with the Invid hivequeen…but she also sensed that Scott was leaving something unsaid。 G2 had tried to put a trace on the freedom fighters Scott claimed had acpanied him inside the plex； but a search had proved impossible among the population displacements and shifting conditions below。
In turn； Vince caught Scott up on the incredible events that had transpired on Optera shortly after Mars Division had folded for home space。 Scott was attentive； but it was apparent that he had already…heard most of it from REF mecha pilots。 Nevertheless； he had questions about Dana Sterling's nearly miraculous appearance and the so…called Nichols drive that powered the Shadow fighters and retrofitted Ark Angel。
Jean waited for a lull in the shop talk before attempting to return the conversation to personal concerns。 She had risen from her chair to gaze out the viewport； mesmerized by the scintillating dance of Earth's orbiting debris。 Of late； every viewport in the ship seemed to be a window into her private torment。 She could not regard Earth or stars without recalling the phoenix vision she had beheld when the Tokugawa had met its terrible end above Optera or the real…time manifestation of that phoenix as it had scorched its way through the expeditionary fleet。
Nor could she help thinking of Gardner and Ackerman and Gunther Rheinhardt； all dead。 And Rolf Emerson…dear Rolf； who had died in Bowie's arms。 The news of his death had seemed unreal on Tirol； but now； so close 。。。
〃We were so sorry to hear about Marlene； Scott；〃 she said at last。
By sheer reflex； Scott's hand went to his breast to feel for the heart…shaped holo…locket he wore under his flightsuit。 〃Her parents are onboard；〃 Jean added。
Scott nodded grimly。 〃And I'm sorry to hear about Bowie；〃 he said； meeting her eyes。
Jean saw concern and hatred in those eyes…hatred for Musica； the Tiresian clone Bowie was in love with。 Jean saw little purpose in going into it now that Scott was exhibiting signs of outright xenophobia。 She wondered whether Dana； too； would fall prey to his distrust。 Dana； who had remained with her parents on Haydon IV。
〃We'll find them；〃 Scott said suddenly； watching as meaningful glances were exchanged。 Then： 〃All right； what aren't you people telling me？ You said you received transmissions from Tirol。〃
〃From Cabell；〃 Vince answered； setting aside his drink。 〃But it's only what we've told you； Scott。 The SDF…3 executed its fold shortly after Rheinhardt's Neptune and Saturn groups were away。 Rheinhardt's final munique with Admiral Hunter…〃
〃Rick；〃 Jean thought to point out。
〃…involved decisions on deployment of the Cyclones and Shadow fighters。〃 Vince paused。 〃And the use of the neutron ‘S' missiles if all else failed。〃
Scott's eyes widened。 Then the rumors were true： Rheinhardt had been prepared to render the planet uninhabitable rather than surrender it to the Invid。 〃Madness； 〃 he said through clenched teeth。
Vince looked to his wife and let out a long breath。
〃It wasn't an easy decision to arrive at； Colonel；〃 Senator Huxley said。 〃There was a high probability that most of the Southern hemisphere would survive the saturation。〃
Scott stared at her； then ran his hands down his face。 〃So where the hell's the ship if they pleted their fold？ It's been three months now！〃
〃Easy； Scott；〃 Vince said； straightening in his chair。 〃We're doing all we can。〃
Scott glared at him。 〃By sitting here？ No； I don't think so。 Hasn't anybody thought of returning to Tirol？ There has to be some trace of them。〃
Dr。 Penn cleared his throat。 〃The truth is； son； we're not sure we can return。 We are； however； planning to execute a trial jump to lay all doubts to rest。〃
Scott nodded in prehension。 〃The Protoculture。 The one thing that's plaguing most of the mecha downside。 The reason I had to ride a damn chemical shuttle up here。 Nothing's working； is that it？〃
〃Yes and no；〃 Penn said quickly。 〃Some of the Veritechs are functional and fully capable of mechamorphosis。 Others have limited capacity for flight or bat maneuvering。 Now it this last is something I find disturbing。〃
Scott glanced at Vince before responding； if the general was willing to let Penn's ment slide； so would he。 〃I heard some talk： there's something different about the Flowers you harvested from Optera…〃
〃New Praxis；〃 Justine Huxley amended。
〃New Praxis； then。 But why would the older models suddenly shut down now？〃
At the viewport； Jean folded her arms。 〃We were hoping you might be able to tell us； Scott。〃
Scott touched his fingertips to his chest。 〃Me？ What could I…〃 Then it occurred to him。 〃The Regis；〃 he snorted。 〃We've read your debriefing reports； Colonel；〃 Huxley said。 〃You claim you were inside the central hive just before the end； that you actually spoke with the Regis。〃
Scott swallowed and found his voice。 〃Yeah； it's true； but e on； it's not like she explained herself to me。〃
〃Then what did she say？〃 Jean asked。
Scott smoothed back an undisciplined ma of hair。 〃What did she say？〃 He laughed nervously。 〃I'm still not sure what I heard and what I imagined。 But I think we were； well； arguing。〃
〃Arguing？〃 Huxley said dubiously。
〃Yeah。 About 。。。 ethics。 About whether the Invid had a right to Earth after what the Masters had done to Optera。〃 Scott searched the faces appraising him。 〃It sounds crazy； I know； but she was just raving about what warlike beings we are； about how the universe would be better off without us。〃 No one said anything for a moment。
〃Anyway； I still don't see what all this has to do with the SDF…3。 The Invid are history； aren't they？〃
Jean turned to the viewport and thought of the phoenix once more； the transubstantiation of an entire race。 〃Maybe the ship went where she went；〃 she suggested softly。 Vince sent her a questioning look as she swung around。 〃The Regis； I mean。〃
Penn made a knowing sound。 〃It's a pity there are no Invid left to quiz as to just where she might have gone。〃
Scott put a hand over his mouth as though to bite back his words。 Somewhere below； in one of the burgeoning cities of the Southlands or wandering the waste of the Northlands； were two of the three children the Regis had conjugated in human form。 Sera and Marlene…clone…close in appearance to the Marlene lost to him over a year ago。
Could he face them again？ he asked himself。 Could he enlist the enemy's help in finding his friends？
〃What is it； Scott？〃 Jean said； watching him。
Scott clamped his jaws shut； then relented。 〃Not all the Invid have left；〃 he told them at last。
Above them rose crystal palaces and translucent spires； mansions of white…frost gingerbread and platforms of smoky blue glass； elfin halls and m