y¡¡chants¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡them¡¡Wagnerian¡¡visions¡¡of¡¡doom¡£¡¡The¡¡Garudans'¡¡hin¡¡sendings¡¡had¡¡the¡¡lupine¡¡XTs¡¡fatalistic¡¡and¡¡despairing¡£¡¡Baldan¡¡had¡¡had¡¡ghostly¡¡encounters¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Crystal¡¡Highways¡¡of¡¡Omphalos¡¡and¡¡at¡¡length¡¡had¡¡been¡¡ejected¡¡by¡¡them¡£¡¡
Even¡¡the¡¡music¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Muses¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Cosmic¡¡Harp¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡on¡¡a¡¡doleful¡¡sound¡¡they¡¡seemed¡¡helpless¡¡to¡¡rise¡¡above¡£
The¡¡libidinous¡¡climate¡¡of¡¡the¡¡past¡¡few¡¡days¡¡had¡¡changed£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡only¡¡possible¡¡explanation¡¡was¡¡that¡¡something¡¡about¡¡the¡¡Regis¡¡had¡¡changed¡£
And¡¡what¡¡if¡¡Her¡¡Highness¡¡doesn't¡¡feel¡¡like¡¡granting¡¡us¡¡an¡¡audience£¿¡¡Rick¡¡was¡¡asking¡¡himself¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡moment¡£¡¡Do¡¡we¡¡sacrifice¡¡a¡¡few¡¡oxen£»¡¡blow¡¡on¡¡a¡¡ram's¡¡horn£»¡¡or¡¡what£¿
But¡¡as¡¡he¡¡pushed¡¡through¡¡the¡¡last¡¡screen¡¡of¡¡bush£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡reason¡¡to¡¡hope¡¡for¡¡an¡¡audience¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Regis£»¡¡after¡¡all£º¡¡The¡¡field¡¡had¡¡changed£»¡¡even¡¡though¡¡nobody¡¡from¡¡the¡¡SDF¡3¡¡or¡¡the¡¡recon¡¡flights¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡it¡£
Where¡¡the¡¡swaying¡¡grasses¡¡had¡¡grown¡¡to¡¡midcalf¡¡height£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡structure¡¡that¡¡brought¡¡a¡¡sinister¡¡grunt¡¡from¡¡Scott¡£¡¡¡¨Invid¡¡hive¡£¡¡Huh¡£¡¡Looks¡¡like¡¡a¡¡miniature¡¡Reflex¡¡Point¡£¡¨
It¡¡did¡¡indeed£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡far¡¡smaller¡¡than¡¡the¡¡sprawling¡¡stronghold/nerve¡¡center¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the¡¡Regis's¡¡seat¡¡of¡¡power¡¡on¡¡Terra¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dome¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same¡¡organic¡¡look£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡glowings¡¡in¡¡orange¡¡and¡¡red¡¡and¡¡yellow£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡super¡high¡speed¡¡photograph¡¡of¡¡a¡¡thermonuclear¡¡explosion¡£¡¡Around¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡strange¡¡foam¡¡of¡¡bubblelike¡¡objects¡¡suggesting¡¡concentric¡¡waves¡¡ing¡¡in¡¡at¡¡the¡¡dome£»¡¡as¡¡at¡¡Reflex¡¡Point£»¡¡there¡¡were¡¡the¡¡same¡¡smaller¡¡peripheral¡¡nodes£»¡¡much¡¡like¡¡the¡¡central¡¡structure£»¡¡all¡¡of¡¡them¡¡interlinked¡¡by¡¡a¡¡network¡¡of¡¡conduits¡¡or¡¡accessways¡¡as¡¡brilliant¡¡as¡¡tubes¡¡of¡¡flowing¡¡lava¡£
¡¨Maybe¡¡we¡¡should¡¡send¡¡in¡¡a¡¡recon¡¡team£»¡¨¡¡Lisa¡¡said¡£
¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡even¡¡see¡¡a¡¡way¡¡in¡£¡¡Scott£¿¡¨
But¡¡before¡¡the¡¡Invid¡¡invasion¡¡veteran¡¡could¡¡answer£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡motion¡¡from¡¡farther¡¡back¡¡in¡¡the¡¡line¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Drannin¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other¡¡Zentraedi¡¡children£»¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡Roy¡¡and¡¡the¡¡humans£»¡¡pushing¡¡to¡¡get¡¡through¡¡and¡¡head¡¡for¡¡the¡¡miniature¡¡hive¡£
¡¨Roy£»¡¡wait£¡¡¨¡¡Lisa¡¡dodged¡¡around¡¡Payton£»¡¡another¡¡Zentraedi¡¡giant¡youngster£»¡¡to¡¡try¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡her¡¡son¡£¡¡Just¡¡then£»¡¡knocking¡¡small¡¡trees¡¡aside£»¡¡Kazianna¡¡and¡¡a¡¡Zentraedi¡¡male¡¡caught¡¡up¡¡to¡¡head¡¡off¡¡their¡¡kids¡£
Roy¡¡did¡¡not¡¡push¡¡Lisa¡¡away£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡writhed¡¡¡¨in¡¡her¡¡grasp¡£¡¡¡¨Mommy£»¡¡please£¡¡¡She's¡¡waiting¡¡to¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡us¡£¡¡But¡¡we¡¡haveta¡¡hurry£¡¡¨
Lang¡¡had¡¡left¡¡his¡¡place¡¡in¡¡line£»¡¡too£»¡¡with¡¡Louie¡¡Nichols¡¡and¡¡his¡¡cyber¡whiz¡¡disciples¡¡in¡¡his¡¡wake¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡understand¡¡your¡¡reticence£»¡¡Admiral£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡lad¡¡is¡¡right¡£¡¡Right¡¡now¡¡our¡¡chief¡¡jeopardy¡¡lies¡¡in¡¡delay¡£¡¨
¡¨But¡¡how¡¡do¡¡we¡¡get¡¡¨¡¡Rick¡¡swallowed¡¡the¡¡question¡¡when¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mini¡hive¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡semicircular¡¡opening¡¡directly¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡them¡£
His¡¡lips¡¡became¡¡two¡¡thin¡¡lines£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡little¡¡mand¡£¡¡¡¨Listen¡¡up£¡¡¡We're¡¡going¡¡in¡£¡¡Remember¡¡your¡¡orders£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡want¡¡all¡¡weapons¡¡on¡¡safety¡¡and¡¡either¡¡holstered¡¡or¡¡slung¡£¡¨
The¡¡door¡¡was¡¡high¡¡enough¡¡even¡¡for¡¡Zentraedi¡£¡¡The¡¡party¡¡filed¡¡into¡¡the¡¡unfortably¡¡warm¡¡darkness¡¡under¡¡the¡¡dome£»¡¡smelling¡¡again¡¡the¡¡strange¡¡aromas¡¡and¡¡alien¡¡odors¡some¡¡pleasant£»¡¡others¡¡not¡of¡¡an¡¡Invid¡¡hive¡£
It¡¡was¡¡like¡¡being¡¡inside¡¡a¡¡cathedral¡¡of¡¡dark¡¡stained¡¡glass¡£¡¡Most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡space¡¡enclosed¡¡under¡¡the¡¡dome¡¡was¡¡occupied¡¡by¡¡a¡¡veined¡¡bronze¡¡sphere¡¡that¡¡shone¡¡dimly¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡room¡¡for¡¡even¡¡the¡¡tallest¡¡Zentraedi¡¡to¡¡stand¡¡erect¡£¡¡The¡¡contingent¡¡from¡¡the¡¡SDF¡3¡¡ranged¡¡themselves¡¡along¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡waiting¡¡to¡¡see¡¡what¡¡would¡¡e¡¡next¡£
Rick¡¡felt¡¡sweat¡¡trickling¡¡down¡¡his¡¡uniform¡¡collar¡¡and¡¡soaking¡¡his¡¡shirt¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡faced¡¡Zentraedi¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Regent£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡never¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡misgiving¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡there¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shrine¡¡of¡¡an¡¡entity¡¡that¡¡was¡¡close¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡a¡¡deity¡¡as¡¡to¡¡make¡¡no¡¡difference¡£
The¡¡children¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡one¡¡another¡¡with¡¡their¡¡lambent¡¡eyes£»¡¡then¡¡stepped¡¡closer¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sphere£»¡¡joining¡¡hands¡the¡¡Zentraedi¡¡sitting¡¡in¡¡lotus¡¡position¡¡so¡¡that¡¡the¡¡humans¡¡could¡¡reach¡¡them£»¡¡Aurora¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡their¡¡line£»¡¡a¡¡nimbus¡¡of¡¡whirling¡¡scintillas¡¡welling¡¡up¡¡from¡¡her¡£
Without¡¡warning£»¡¡a¡¡zigzag¡¡bolt¡¡of¡¡incandescence¡¡broke¡¡from¡¡somewhere¡¡overhead¡¡to¡¡smite¡¡the¡¡bronze¡¡globe£»¡¡turning¡¡it¡¡into¡¡a¡¡ball¡¡of¡¡deep¡¡amber¡¡light¡£¡¡Shadows¡¡moved¡¡within¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Regis£»¡¡exalted¡¡and¡¡endowed¡¡with¡¡a¡¡terrible¡¡beauty£»¡¡gazing¡¡back¡¡at¡¡them¡£
They¡¡heard¡¡her¡¡voice¡¡in¡¡their¡¡minds£º¡¡AT¡¡LAST£»¡¡THROUGH¡¡YOUR¡¡EVOLVED¡¡CHILDREN£»¡¡YOU¡¡HAVE¡¡TOUCHED¡¡THE¡¡PLANE¡¡UPON¡¡WHICH¡¡WE¡¡CAN¡¡MUNICATE¡£¡¡KNOW¡¡THEN¡¡THAT¡¡THE¡¡CUSP¡¡IS¡¡NEARING¡¡IN¡¡WHICH¡¡ALL¡¡THAT¡¡EXISTS¡¡WILL¡¡E¡¡TOGETHER¡¡IN¡¡THIS£»¡¡MY¡¡CREATION£»¡¡MY¡¡NEWSPACE¡£
Rick¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡Aurora¡¡to¡¡speak£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡the¡¡children¡¡were¡¡the¡¡ones¡¡in¡¡contact¡¡with¡¡the¡¡higher¡¡mental¡¡realms¡¡where¡¡the¡¡Regis¡¡moved¡£¡¡He¡¡saw¡¡his¡¡mistake£º¡¡The¡¡children¡¡might¡¡have¡¡powers¡¡of¡¡munication¡¡and¡¡perception£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡lacked¡¡their¡¡elders'¡¡experience¡¡and¡¡training£»¡¡their¡¡grasp¡¡of¡¡the¡¡situation¡¡and¡¡ability¡¡to¡¡deal¡¡with¡¡it¡£¡¡Despite¡¡the¡¡kids'¡¡astounding¡¡powers£»¡¡the¡¡oute¡¡of¡¡the¡¡crisis¡¡would¡¡still¡¡hinge¡¡on¡¡the¡¡adults'¡¡actions¡£
He¡¡was¡¡the¡¡leader¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡unit£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡his¡¡place¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡up£»¡¡but¡¡before¡¡he¡¡could£»¡¡Lang's¡¡voice¡¡broke¡¡the¡¡silence¡£
¡¨Mother¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Invid¡¡race£¡¡¡Why¡¡have¡¡you¡¡brought¡¡us¡¡here£¿¡¡Why¡¡is¡¡the¡¡universe¡¡we¡¡know¡¡being¡¡drawn¡¡into¡¡this¡¡one£¿¡¡Haven't¡¡the¡¡Shapings¡¡been¡¡fulfilled£¿¡¨
Rick¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡Lang¡¡was¡¡not¡¡addressing¡¡what¡¡was¡¡to¡¡him¡¡a¡¡critical¡¡point£º¡¡getting¡¡the¡¡fold¡¡drives¡¡back¡¡and¡¡getting¡¡the¡¡SDF¡3¡¡and¡¡Peter¡¡Pan¡¡out¡¡of¡¡newspace¡£¡¡But¡¡before¡¡he¡¡could¡¡interject¡¡that¡¡matter£»¡¡the¡¡Regis¡¡answered¡£
KNOW¡¡THEN¡¡THAT¡¡I¡¡WHO¡¡AM¡¡THE¡¡REGIS¡¡AND¡¡ALL¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡INVID¡¡RACE¡¡IN¡¡ONE¡¡ENTITY¡¡BROUGHT¡¡YOUR¡¡VESSEL¡¡HERE¡¡IN¡¡MY¡¡TRANSUBSTANTIATION¡¡BY¡¡MY¡¡DOMINION¡¡OVER¡¡THE¡¡PROTOCULTURE¡£¡¡YOUR¡¡SDF¡3¡¡WAS¡¡SELECTED¡¡BECAUSE¡¡ITS¡¡ENGINES¡¡WERE¡¡BEST¡¡SUITED¡¡TO¡¡SUCH¡¡A¡¡CONTINUUM¡¡FOLD¡£¡¡YOU¡¡MADE¡¡THE¡¡FIRST¡¡TINY¡¡PUNCTURE¡¡THAT¡¡HAS¡¡BEE¡¡A¡¡MIGHTY¡¡RIFT¡¡IN¡¡THE¡¡BARRIERS¡¡BETWEEN¡¡THE¡¡REAL¡¡UNIVERSE¡¡AND¡¡NEWSPACE¡¡BUT¡¡MORE¡¡IMPORTANTLY¡¡YOU¡¡ARE¡¡HERE¡¡BECAUSE¡¡YOU¡¡NUMBER¡¡AMONG¡¡YOU¡¡SO¡¡MANY¡¡WHO¡¡LED¡¡THE¡¡WAR¡¡ON¡¡THE¡¡INVID¡¡AND¡¡WHO¡¡HAVE¡¡STRONG¡¡TIES¡¡TO¡¡THE¡¡PROTOCULTURE¡¡AND¡¡THE¡¡SHAPINGS¡THE¡¡GREAT£»¡¡INELUCTABLE¡¡CYCLE¡¡OF¡¡COSMIC¡¡EVENTS¡£
Looking¡¡about¡¡her£»¡¡Lisa¡¡thought¡¡how¡¡true¡¡that¡¡was¡£¡¡Oh£»¡¡a¡¡few¡¡like¡¡Exedore¡¡and¡¡Cabell¡¡were¡¡absent£»¡¡but¡¡of¡¡the¡¡survivors¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Robotech¡¡Wars£»¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡principals¡¡had¡¡been¡¡snatched¡¡is¡¡the¡¡dimensional¡¡fortress¡¡or¡¡drawn¡¡hither¡¡in¡¡Peter¡¡Pan¡£
And¡¡if¡¡the¡¡Regis¡¡could¡¡assert¡¡her¡¡will¡¡so¡¡thoroughly¡¡over¡¡events£»¡¡what¡¡hope¡¡could¡¡mortals¡¡have¡¡of¡¡prevailing¡¡against¡¡her£¿
AS¡¡ONCE¡¡UPON¡¡EARTH¡¡I¡¡SOUGHT¡¡TO¡¡FIND£»¡¡THROUGH¡¡EXPERIMENTS¡¡IN¡¡MY¡¡GENESIS¡¡PITS£»¡¡THE¡¡IDEAL¡¡FORM¡¡THAT¡¡MY¡¡RACE¡¡WOULD¡¡ASSUME¡¡FOR¡¡ITS¡¡EXISTENCE¡¡ON¡¡THAT¡¡PLANET£»¡¡SO¡¡I¡¡HAVE¡¡BROUGHT¡¡YOU¡¡HERE¡¡FOR¡¡MY¡¡STUDY¡£¡¡BY¡¡SIFTING¡¡THROUGH¡¡YOUR¡¡PSYCHES¡¡AND¡¡WHAT¡¡SOME¡¡OF¡¡YOU¡¡CALL¡¡YOUR¡¡SOULS£»¡¡I¡¡WILL¡¡DECIDE¡¡THE¡¡NEW¡¡MENTAL¡¡AND¡¡EMOTIONAL¡¡CLIMATE¡¡OF¡¡THIS¡¡CREATION¡¡OF¡¡MINE£»¡¡THIS¡¡MALLEABLE¡¡DOMAIN£»¡¡THIS¡¡NEWSPACE¡£
Lang¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡have¡¡assumed¡¡the¡¡role¡¡of¡¡speaker£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡showed¡¡a¡¡pronounced¡¡vexation¡¡when¡¡Louie¡¡Nichols¡¡butted¡¡in¡£
¡¨Hey£»¡¡retro¡¡back¡¡a¡¡second£¡¡¡You¡¡mated¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Protoculture£»¡¡you¡¡went¡¡through¡¡your¡¡transcendence¡£¡¡What¡¡more¡¡d'¡¡you¡¡want£¿¡¨
TRANSUBSTANTIATION¡¡IS¡¡A¡¡MOCKERY£»¡¡A¡¡PRISON£¡¡¡I¡¡WAS¡¡DRIVEN¡¡TO¡¡SEEK¡¡IT¡¡BY¡¡YOU¡¡HUMANS£¡¡¡THE¡¡SHAPINGS¡¡ARE¡¡A¡¡HOLLOW¡¡JOKE£»¡¡A¡¡CELL¡¡WITH¡¡NO¡¡EXIT¡£
The¡¡Karbarrans¡¡were¡¡growling¡¡as¡¡if¡¡they¡¡might¡¡utter¡¡some¡¡defiant¡¡roar£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡Rick¡¡hastened¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡¡¨But¡¡what¡¡do¡¡you¡¡want£¿¡¨
A¡¡harsh¡¡beam¡¡of¡¡light¡¡sprang¡¡from¡¡some¡¡unseen¡¡source¡¡to¡¡pin¡¡Rem¡¡squarely¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡weapon£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡he¡¡cried¡¡out£»¡¡throwing¡¡an¡¡arm¡¡across¡¡his¡¡face¡£
I¡¡WISH¡¡ONLY¡¡A¡¡RETURN¡¡TO¡¡THAT¡¡STATE¡¡MY¡¡INVID¡¡AND¡¡I¡¡ENJOYED¡¡WHEN¡¡ZOR¡¡CAME¡¡LIKE¡¡A¡¡THIEF¡¡IN¡¡THE¡¡NIGHT¡£¡¡I¡¡WISH¡¡OPTERA¡¡TO¡¡BE¡¡AS¡¡IT¡¡WAS¡¡AGAIN¡¡AND¡¡FOR¡¡THE¡¡INVID¡¡TO¡¡REVERT¡¡TO¡¡THE¡¡FORM¡¡WE¡¡KNEW¡¡THEN¡£
¡¨Then¡¡why¡¡don't¡¡you¡¡do¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡Louie¡¡shouted¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡have¡¡total¡¡control¡¡over¡¡newspace¡£¡¨
BUT¡¡NOT¡¡CONTROL¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡SHAPINGS£¡¡¡AND¡¡BECAUSE¡¡THE¡¡INVID¡¡LEFT¡¡THEIR¡¡FORMER¡¡STATE¡¡BEHIND¡¡TO¡¡WAGE¡¡WAR¡¡AND¡¡STRIVE¡¡AGAINST¡¡THE¡¡SHAPINGS£»¡¡CLOSING¡¡CERTAIN¡¡CONFIGURATIONS¡¡BEHIND¡¡THEM£»¡¡A¡¡REVERSION¡¡TO¡¡OUR¡¡ORIGINAL¡¡STATE¡¡IS¡¡THE¡¡ONE¡¡THING¡¡I¡¡CANNOT¡¡DO£»¡¡EVEN¡¡HERE¡£
NEITHER¡¡DO¡¡I¡¡WISH¡¡TO¡¡LIVE¡¡IN¡¡THE¡¡CHAOTIC¡¡NOTLAWS¡¡THAT¡¡ARE¡¡THE¡¡NATURAL¡¡STATE¡¡OF¡¡NEWSPACE¡£¡¡THEREFORE£»¡¡I¡¡WILL¡¡PERMIT¡¡THE¡¡REAL¡¡UNIVERSE¡¡TO¡¡BLEED¡¡INTO¡¡THIS¡¡SPACETIME£»¡¡AND¡¡WHEN¡¡ALL¡¡MY¡¡RAW¡¡MATERIALS¡¡ARE¡¡AT¡¡HAND£»¡¡I¡¡SHALL¡¡REFASHION¡¡ALL¡¡THE¡¡COSMOS¡¡IN¡¡THE¡¡IMAGE¡¡I¡¡DEEM¡¡FIT¡£
¡¨No£¡¡¨¡¡With¡¡help¡¡from¡¡Minmei£»¡¡Rem¡¡was¡¡struggling¡¡to¡¡rise¡£¡¡¡¨It's¡¡not¡¡their¡¡fault£¡¡¡You¡¡can't¡¡banish¡¡away¡¡their¡¡entire¡¡existence£¡¡¨
AND¡¡WAS¡¡IT¡¡MY¡¡FAULT¡¡WHEN¡¡THE¡¡FIRST¡¡OF¡¡YOUR¡¡BLOOD£»¡¡ZOR£»¡¡CAME¡¡LIKE¡¡A¡¡POISONOUS¡¡VIPER¡¡TO¡¡OPTERA£¿¡¡WAS¡¡IT¡¡MY¡¡FAULT¡¡THAT¡¡YOUR¡¡ROBOTECH¡¡MASTERS¡¡DECREED¡¡THE¡¡RAZING¡¡OF¡¡OPTERA£¿¡¡THE¡¡UNIVERSE¡¡CARES¡¡NOTHING¡¡FOR¡¡JUSTICE¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡NOR¡¡DO¡¡THE¡¡SHAPINGS¡£
It¡¡was¡¡Learna£»¡¡mate¡¡to¡¡Kami¡¡and¡¡at¡¡one¡¡with¡¡the¡¡hin£»¡¡who¡¡spoke¡¡then¡£¡¡She¡¡stood¡¡erect£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡though¡¡she¡¡was¡¡of¡¡smaller¡¡stature¡¡than¡¡anyone¡¡else¡¡there¡¡but¡¡the¡¡children£»¡¡her¡¡foxlike¡¡appearance¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡nobility¡¡that¡¡struck¡¡the¡¡others¡¡with¡¡an¡¡undeniable¡¡poignancy¡£
¡¨Then¡¡why¡¡spare¡¡us£¿¡¡Why¡¡not¡¡obliterate¡¡us¡¡and¡¡make¡¡a¡¡clean¡¡beginning£¿¡¨
No¡¡one¡¡else¡¡had¡¡been¡¡brave¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡call¡¡out¡¡the¡¡question¡£¡¡The¡¡Regis¡¡hesitated¡¡long¡¡seconds¡¡before¡¡replying¡£¡¡BECAUSE¡¡I¡¡NEED¡¡TO¡¡STUDY¡¡YOU¡£¡¡I¡¡MUST¡¡DECIDE¡¡WHETHER¡¡THERE¡¡SHALL¡¡BE¡¡IN¡¡THIS¡¡NEWSPACE¡¡THE¡¡ONLY¡¡THING¡¡YOU¡¡MORTAL¡¡RACES¡¡HAVE¡¡DEVELOPED¡¡THAT¡¡IS¡¡OF¡¡ANY¡¡SIGNIFICANCE£º¡¡LOVE¡£
¡¨In¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡what¡¡it¡¡did¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¨¡¡Lisa¡¡heard¡¡Rick¡¡murmur£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡thinking¡¡the¡¡same¡¡thing¡£
Lo