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t it was about the lights that frightened her； but all her instincts told her that Rem was in danger。
That he was not listening to her came as no surprise； really； for who was she to tell Lord Protoculture anything？ Oh； once he would have listened； when she was still the voice that had won the Robotech War； but it had been years since that voice had sung； and it was Rem's star that had been on the ascendant since。 Playing Johnny Appleseed on New Praxis with the Flowers of Life； conjuring Protoculture from them； fabricating the matrix Lang and the REF mand worshiped like some sacrosanct icon。
Rem suddenly took hold of her narrow wrist and pulled her close； encircling her shoulders with his right arm。 〃Let it find us together；〃 he said； still eyeing the ceiling expectantly。 〃Open your mind to it。〃
She tried not to quiver so in his embrace； but dread was sluicing through her veins like ice water。 She wanted nothing more than to dig a deep dark hole for the two of them to hide in。
The first lights passed through the cabinspace with scarcely a moment's hesitation； piercing the room obliquely from ceiling to floor。 A second group followed from the opposite direction。 But the third and fourth entered through the starboard bulkhead and instead of exiting along their line of flight began to dart around the perimeter of the cabin； as if to fence the couple in。
Rem took a bold step forward and immersed a hand into the flow。 The light raced up the length of his arm and outline of his body； as it was doing to other objects in the room。 Minmei instantly became part of the tableau； her thoughts sent reeling by the tendrils' inquisitive caress。 And suddenly then was more longing in her heart than her mind could process more light in the cabin than her eyes could absorb。
Rem bellowed the most mournful sound she had ever heard and collapsed in a heap on the floor。
CHAPTER ELEVEN
With the confusion of the Great Transition behind them； the Zentraedi Imperative in place； and the pulsion implemented； the Robotech Masters went about systematically expunging Zor's name from all records of the technovoyages of the starship Amtraph。 They sought nothing less than to rewrite history in such a way that credit for the discovery of the Protoculture would go to the Elders themselves。 However； Zors own accounts of those voyages survived in secret for some time； until destroyed by the young scientist himself as he began what has been termed his quiet rebellion…save for a precious few jottings preserved by Cabell。 All details of Zor's early investigations and experiments vanished with the destruction of these notebooks and journals。 And it is likely that we will never know more than we do now about the Amtraph's first sighting of Optera。
From Emil Lang's introduction to Cabell's … Zor and the Great Transition
Rem's cells remembered。
So many worlds to explore； countless even within the limited zone defined by the ship's reflex superluminals。 So many landscapes to wander across with devices in hand； hillsides to climb； forests to penetrate； skies to soar。 So many life璮orms to contact； cultures to experience…more than a mortal should be allowed to glimpse； let alone contemplate； more than an understanding god would have created 。。。 They were there but to tempt； those climes of eruptive heat or frost waste； those worlds of nascent sentience or eons…old evolutionary struggle。 But was there any greater rapture than to journey from one to the next？ To watch worlds turn through cycles of their lives？ To gaze from a ship's deck upon the sweep of time itself？ 。。。 If there was； it was surely beyond the scope of his intellect to imagine； and even had that gift of imagining been his； would he choose to deprive himself of this joy？ He supposed not 。。。
Always those thoughts upon awakening from the essential sleep； Zor told himself。 The artificial extension of life； while the Amtraph thrust itself from star to star。 Man's little game played with time。 A bit of existential trickery 。。。
He regarded the sleep chamber now…the nutrient drips that sustained the body； the contact studs that stimulated muscle and bone； the headband that helped to nourish dreams…and laughed away his musings； chest aching from disuse； unaccustomed to the sudden return of those chaotic； nay； inspired； rhythms。
Vard was watching him from afar…able servant and faithful friend…the rest of them already hobbling away from their opened cocoons like aged ministers hurrying off to meeting； and conferences。 A spectacle ill befitting the courageous crew they were…scientists to the last； sworn to exploration and the search for truth。 Zor breathed deep； congratulating himself on the choices he had made； the paths that had turned him away from government service and carried him offworld a last； clear of Tirol's crowded skies。 If only Vard could feel the same content with the quest itself…instead of continually focusing on the goal。
But Zor was too astute； too used to their calculated designs； not to feel in Vard's promptings the hand of his Elder： in the Academy。 The hungry members of the Grand Chair； perhaps even Cabell himself； mentor and father in his own curious fashion。 No； the data he transmitted were never enough for them： the trade arrangements and scientific exchanges too profitless to sate their appetites for progress。
We must have worlds to use as way stations for our glorious expansion； they would tell him； as though it were conquest they had in mind。 We must have discoveries that will further the glory of our race； as though it were immortality they were striving for。
Oh； Vard； he thought； filling his lungs with the ship's sweetened air； perhaps this next world will be the one your real masters would have me find。 One with wondrous things to offer； the miraculous things they feel certain are out here for the taking。
He stood up and stretched； as though reaching for the very stars beyond the reflective sheen of the viewport overhead。 〃Out among you somewhere；〃 he said to the fixed lights。 〃Out among you is the world I'm destined to discover。 By Valivarre's will； may the cause of peace profit above all。〃
Karen Penn tried one final time to inflict