spot the flares。 Angelo yelled into the wintry mist through cupped hands； and Gnea fired three spaced shots； but there was no response of any kind。
〃I suppose we could reconnoiter further；〃 Gnea ventured。 〃Huh uh；〃 Angie said firmly； seating himself tailor fashion with his rifle across his thighs。 He dug for his canteen。 〃Now that we found 'em； I'm sittin' my butt right here on top of 'em till they take us home。〃
〃Yes； I thought you might feel that way。〃
Oh； yes； la…de…da。 Like she's got everything doped out。 He stopped himself before taking the swig of water； though； automatically offering her the first drink。 〃Thirsty？〃
Gnea canted her head at him。 〃I have water of my own； thank you。〃 She swiveled her hip around to show him the canteen on her belt。 It was an exquisite hip； in keeping with the rest of her。 〃Did you think a Praxian would be unequipped？ 〃
〃No。 Who cares？ Suit yourself。〃 He slugged at the canteen in an evil temper。
She hunkered down； holding her halberd upright。 Males were so difficult to understand； especially human males。 She recalled the infatuation between Jack Baker and herself。 Of course； that had had a lot to do with the pulsion Tesla had worked on them both。 But it had taught her something of the confusing； unsettling； and not always controllable； nature of relationships between the sexes。
〃If I've offended you somehow； Sergeant； I ask your forgiveness。〃
Sweet Baby Jesus cookies on Christmas！ Now he really felt like dirt！ 〃Naw； y' didn't do anything wrong ma'am…uh； Gnea。 〃
She nodded sagely。 〃I'd heard you were heartsick over the officer Dana Sterling。 Such things can be troublesome。〃 Angelo's face turned purple。 〃What'd they do； announce it over the PA？〃
Actually； he had made some inroads with his former CO on the trip out from Earth。 They had always had a sort of feuding friendship； and when Zor Prime died in the final explosion that released the Flower of Life across the planet； Dana and her senior NCO seemed to e together as natural as magnets。
Then； of course； they had arrived at Tirol； and Dana had met Rem。 Seeing what was between the clone and Minmei； Dana had forced herself to stay away from them。 Things between her and Angie were never the same again； though。 He figured that part of the reason she had stayed behind with her folks was because he…and Rem and Minmei； for that matter…were going on the SDF…3。
So； now that was general gossip； huh？ Angelo considered Gnea； squatting there in that getup of hers…part armor； part uniform； mostly skin…and realized morosely what truly had him bristling at her。
〃Hai！〃 she said； making it sound like a swear word。 〃Now I've done it again！ I didn't mean to get you upset。〃
But he shook his head。 〃Drop it； okay？ It's not important。〃 He stood up just for something to do。
Gnea stood； too； and they were face to face。 Almost touching…he could see the pulse beat in her throat and feel his own。 She smelled exotic and exciting。
Looking into the avian eyes； he heard himself say； 〃I don't want to think about 。 。 。 about 。 。 。〃
She made a raptor's hissing sound and clutched the harness at his shoulder。 Angelo reached his hand behind her neck and pulled her lips to his。 He figured they probably looked funny； running their free hands all over each other； kissing and panting while holding on to their weapons and trying to keep lookout with one eye…in case the godless XT hordes came charging over the hill。
〃Hey； before somebody gets killed；〃 he got out of the side of his mouth； and carefully tossed his rifle aside。 Her halberd landed on top of it。
They threw their arms around each other with a passion neither of them had ever felt before。 It was all moans and fumblings； neither one familiar with the other's outfit。
They sank to the surface of the containment casing； still kissing and caressing。 It was cold and； once they were out of their clothes； slippery。 That made it more fun。
Angie had heard of transcendent experiences； but nothing like this。 It seemed as though the whole world were getting brighter； going nova。
Waitaminute； waitaminute； it is！
〃Angelo！ 〃 Gnea's nails dug into his shoulder； he rolled over and found himself staring up into the face of a deity。 Out of uniform in the presence of God。 He wondered if it was a court…martial offense。
It was a visage formed from the white brume； a hairless； humanoid head； vaguely and yet unmistakably feminine。 It seemed to take up the whole sky。
They heard its thought： LIFE IS WASTED ON THE LIVING！
CHAPTER TWENTY…FOUR
Not odd to note； perhaps； in view of the upheavals in that particular period of Aeon Lanack。 But the truth is that in spite of the laborious； even stern； inquiries made by the Elders and their servants； no one ever seemed quite certain as to exactly where Zor came from。 We know that； like so many others born during that era （for that matter； like many born before and after it and many born into other races on other planets）； he was raised in a succession of government care facilities and the like from the time he was very young。
But no record of his birth or precise origin could be found。 This frustrated the Elders； who wished to analyze and duplicate the secrets of his genius and extraordinary affinities； beyond words。
Cabell； Zor and the Great Transition
She had often crashed through enemy fortifications or target cities； brushing aside buildings or shouldering her way between defensive works。
But now Kazianna Hesh moved easily and carefully through the venerable old trees on the planet that had appeared from nowhere。 Her enemy had not chosen to reveal itself yet； and caution was warranted。
Rick Hunter had assigned the Zentraedi to sweep paths accesible to their mechaed bulk； the humans and Sentinels were working their way through the denser growth； and a few Cyclone outriders advanced along the wider footpaths and streambeds。 Periodically； she heard Jack Baker and Rick Hunter trying to contact Sergeant Dante or Gnea on their tactical freq； but there was no answer。
Like Angelo； she tried to keep her mind on her job but found herself distracted。 It seemed that her team was too； she snapped at them to stay sharp。
What was it about the place？ She had expected to have Drannin and the problems with the children on her mind； had recognized that she would have to make sure she kept full concentration。 But she had not expected what she was feeling； what kept running through her mind。
Breetai； oh； my Breetai 。 。 。
His face was there before her； his phantom arms around her； his kiss pressed on her lips。
Stop！ You're a war leader of the Quadronos！ But it did no good castigating herself。 A moment later the memories were there before her again； as though she had not grieved and struggled to reclaim her life。
Breetai； my lord and my love 。 。 。 What was it about the place？
Kazianna saw the sky reflected in her helmet …facebowl and realized as if from afar that she had stopped advancing； was standing； swaying； in a grove of trees whose tips came even with the top of her powered suit。 A leaf the shape of a kite came loose from a branch； fluttering down。
But it was only her body there。 Kazianna Hesh was years and light…years away。
It was her first major action； an assault landing on a strategic Invid stronghold on icy Tawkhan； and everything had gone wrong： more Invid than anybody had projected； fleet deployment from fold jump hopelessly snarled； Lord Dolza s flagship missing and perhaps lost。
Kazianna was pinned down with what was left of her battalion…her battalion； because all senior officers had fallen before waves of Invid。 Scout Shock； Trooper； and Pincer Ship； they seemed to spring from the ground； a horde for every individual the massed Zentraedi firepower burned down。
The resources of an entire sector had been marshaled。 Out beyond the atmosphere a total of nearly a quarter million ships of all classes hammered away at one another。 They were at virtual point…blank range for a space engagement； Kazianna and the other ground troops could look for little help from that quarter。 Even on the daylight side of the planet； the incandescent bursts flashed bright； far overhead。
The giants had never had music of their own； the Robotech Masters had reserved the arts of the Muses and the Cosmic Harp to themselves and their clone triumvirates； yet how the blood sang in the veins of the Zentraedi that day！ Fired by the eons…old traditions and honor that Exedore had taught them； they hurled themselves at the Invid with a will。
This was what the Zentraedi had been born for。 They followed their Imperative。
Oyster…shaped Invid troopships blotted out the sky。 The entire planet was a theater of war。 Whole armies were thrown against each other as if they were mere panies。 Nearly eight million Zentraedi eagerly locked in mortal bat with over twenty million Invid。
Battlepod went muzzle to muzzle with Shock Trooper； weapons vomiting forth death。 Powered armor suits darted in aerial bat； fought as infantry； and even rolled and tore with the enemy hand to hand。 There were massed charges of entire corps； met by equal or greater numbers of teeming Invid。
bat heated the atmosphere of Tawkhan itself。 Explosions and energy volleys