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Janice took him by the arms and shook him。 〃What happened？〃
Burak cleared his head and gave her a blank look。 He reached up to feel his horns； then regarded Tesla for a moment。 〃I think he ate too much。〃
The Regent sat slumped in his throne； feeling as though some great weight had been placed on his chest。 It was a mistake for him to have viewed the recordings of the Regis's nostalgic lovefest with the Zor…clone； a terrible mistake。 Looking for guilt； for some sign of regret； he had found only love； genuine and unfulfilled。 And he began to wonder if he hadn't been wrong in not following her lead when there was still time； when she had pleaded with him to allow himself to be evolved。 But he had been stubborn about it； hurt； unforgiving； and now she was lost to him。 He had seen； too； the Zor…clone's memories of a world far removed from Optera and Tirol's strife； linked somehow to the Protoculture matrix planet was anything more than Zor's fanciful imaginings？ Besides； he had good reason to believe that the Regis had gone off in search of that very world； and he would know if and when she found it。 No； what he needed was accurate data； data the clone had not yet surrendered up to Haydon IV's mind…probe devices。 Perhaps； he thought； it would have to be conjured from the clone； the way Zor had conjured Protoculture from the Flowers of Life。
In the meantime； however； his empire was crumbling。 Garuda had fallen to the Sentinels； depriving the Invid of the Fruits needed for the mecha nutrient baths。 And Tesla was still unaccounted for…although at times the Regent thought he could actually feel the traitor's bloodlusts reaching out for him。
Much the way he felt at the moment。 Even his pets seemed stricken by the same lassitude。 He overcame his mood somewhat when a servant entered to announce that an important message had been received。 But it was the lieutenant's words that brought the Regent back to life。
〃The Sentinels！ Here？〃
〃Yes； m'lord。 They are requesting permission to land。 Four of their number are in need of treatments apparently only Haydon IV can provide。 They are seeking a truce by way of surrender。〃
The Regent shot to his feet。 〃This is a dream！〃
〃No； m'lord。〃
The Regent stood motionless for a moment； then laughed。 〃Here！ Of course they would surrender here； where to fire first means certain death。〃 He reached up to feel his swollen cowl。 〃However。。。〃
The lieutenant waited while the Regent paced in front of his throne。 〃Yes； yes； it could work。〃 He swung around。 〃Inform the Sentinels that we accept their terms。 And bring the Zor…clone to my chambers。 I will put it to him simply： the matrix for the lives of his rades。 What could be more just？〃
〃May the Great Shaper Haydon watch over you this day；〃 Teal told the shuttle group from the balcony in the SDF…7's launch bay。
Vince； Cabell； Max； and the others saluted their friends as the hatch sealed itself。 In a moment the shuttle's attitude jets flared； and the craft began to descend toward the green and silver crescent that was Haydon IV。
The second group numbered twelve； including the three Invid…one in each of the three armored Alpha Veritechs。 Jack had a no…nonsense air about him as he strapped into the forward cockpit of his mecha。 Bela was behind him； Gnea； Kami； and one of the scientists in the Beta module。 Janice was piloting the second VT； with Burak in the copilot's seat； and Lron and Tesla in the Beta。 The third VT held Learna； Crysta； and the second scientist。 Jack had taken one last look at Rick； Lisa； and Karen before they had been moved into the shuttle； and the sight of their slack； colorless faces was with him now as he engaged the Alpha's thrusters and maneuvered the ship out of the launch bay。 The SDF…7's human and XT crew had been instructed to keep the fortress clear of the Invid fleet； but in close enough proximity to Haydon IV's surface to eliminate any threat of an enemy sneak attack。
Veidt and Sarna had done their best to convince the Sentinels to abandon their plans for an unannounced approach； but Jack and the rest were determined to give it a try。 Besides； it wasn't like they were going in with weapons blazing。 Their approach would be a gentle one； Jack had insisted； a simple landing in the forests west of the planet's principal city。 Surely； three small mecha weren't going to touch off Haydon IV's legendary （and somewhat questionable） defenses。
It is merely intent； Veidt had tried to tell them。
Jack heard the words surfacing in his thoughts； and made an effort to push them from his mind。 In a moment he would be able to discern details of the planet's surface topography。 It was bound to be an extraordinary sight…an entire world reconfigured to conform to the demands of its inhabitants。
Jack found himself wondering about the guiding intelligence behind such a feat。
Then he began to notice that the forest they had chosen as landing zone； was； well； moving…sliding east to west across the variegated landscape like some sort of by…pass door。 And something very bizarre was rising up at them from the space that forest had vacated。。。Swirling vortices of energy； radiant silken scarves riding Haydon IV's savage updrafts。
Jack sent a telephathic plea to the planet： We've e in peace。 We've e in peace！