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r' or Karbarrans mention ‘the Great Augury；〃 when in effect they are all talking about the same entity or group。〃
Cabell shook his head in a self…amused way。 〃Where that group came from we cannot begin to guess。 But from myths； legends； and fanciful historical accounts that have been handed down to us emerge 'through a glass darkly；' if I may borrow a Terran phrase…two versions of the final days of Haydon's race。 In one we are told that they were on the threshold of an incredible turning point in self…generated evolution when they were destroyed in some catastrophe their own tamperings may inadvertently have brought about。〃
〃And the second？〃 Nichols asked。
Cabell let out his breath。 〃In the light of recent developments； this version is by far the more interesting。 For it suggests that the race did not vanish…though we are so led to believe…but placed itself in a state of what I once heard Dr。 Lang refer to as suspended animation。〃
〃We're all familiar with the term； Cabell；〃 Vince assured him。 〃But what are these 。 。 。 geniuses supposed to be waiting for？〃
〃An event；〃 Cabell said with a faraway look。 〃A cosmic event that would alter the fabric of spacetime。〃
Nichols gaped at the Tiresian from across the table。 〃The Invid；〃 he said； gazing at everyone。 〃Don't you get it？ Their mating with the Protoculture； their transubstantiation。 That's what Haydon's race was waiting for。〃
He threw his head back and laughed。 〃They're getting ready to wake up。 They're figuring on hooking onto the Invid phoenix and following it right off the map！〃
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Of course； we had a sizing chamber aboard ＇the SDF…3＇； but Cabell's suggestion that micronization of Drannin or the other Zentraedi children could result in developmental problems had naturally filled Kazianna with a newfound fear of the device。 I still believe the suggestion was totally unfounded； but because it was taken as gospel at the time； it meant that those Zentraedi who had elected to ship with us had done so full…size…not to mention what it meant for the work crews who now had to construct the nursery to acmodate children of vastly different sizes。 Anyway； the experience of that day I walked into the nursery to check on the children's creation left me convinced that I'd placed too much importance on all this child bonding and that maybe it hadn't been such a good idea； after all。 In retrospect I think I should have insisted that ＇the Zentraedi ship＇ Valivarre fold with the rest of the fleet instead of remaining： in Tirolspace with its skeleton crew。
Lisa Hayes； in Resh N'tar's Interviews with Admirals
〃Seven worlds；〃 Exedore said to himself； hands clasped behind his back as he paced the alloy floor of his confinement area quarters。 Max； Miriya； Dana； and the Praxians were off somewhere exchanging wall tappings with the Karbarrans。 Aurora was in the front room； glued to the display screen of their monitor unit as though it were one of Earth's old…fashioned television sets。
Seven worlds； Exedore repeated in thought； head down； eyes on the floor。
The past dozen hours had been punctuated by deep rumblings from Haydon IV's artificial core； the sound of powerful machines being reactivated after who knew how long a slumber。 On…screen schematics flashed by Veidt's device told him little； but it was easy enough to imagine modules being hoisted and repositioned by robotic arms； gigantic plates retracting； a change in the very sphericity of the world。 Exedore awaited some word from Veidt。 Haydon IV was surely reconfiguring； but reconfiguring into what？ An unassailable battle station； as the more nervous of the Karbarran captives were suggesting？ A world turned inside out？ A factory of some sort？ The Awareness still had not made any external visuals available； positional data； however； indicated that the artifact was well within three hundred thousand kilometers of the small carbonaceous moon that remained the focal point of its eccentric orbit。 Almost close enough to touch。
A deafening movement from seemingly underfoot rocked level four and nearly sent Exedore sprawling。 There had been several jarring moments already； but no one had been hurt。 No power failures； split seams； broken seals。 Buried in the Awareness's neural programming were mand codes that apparently ensured the safety of Haydon IV's passengers and guests。
As there were mand codes that safeguarded Haydon IV from the threat of attack。
But just what had the historical Haydon…as individual or race…gone to such lengths to protect： the world's passengers or the world itself？
The Zentraedi perched himself on the edge of the bed； unconsciously adopting a thinker's pose。 Seven worlds； he thought。
He had surmised from investigations undertaken during the Sentinels' campaign that the Awareness had had dealings with Zor in the early stages of his self…styled rebellion against the Robotech Masters。 Later； the Tiresian…Protoculture's midwife had for some unknown reason duplicatedthe route Haydon had taken through the Quadrant millennia before； using Haydon's chosen worlds as the objects of his seeding attempts。
Had Zor been attempting to pick up where Haydon had left he had already visited Optera； where； assuredly； Haydon had brought Invid and Flower together。
But then he had gone to seed Peryton； for which Haydon had devised a thought…propelled instrument capable of altering the rotational axis of that dying world。
And gone on to seed Karbarra； which Haydon had gifted with the ursine…responsive Ur…Flower。
And Garuda； where Haydon had restructured the biosphere to facilitate a true planetary consciousness。
And Spheris； where Haydon had experimented with the evolution of crystalline lifeforms。
And Praxis； where biological parenting had bee a single…gender affair。
And…by way of the deliberately crash…landed SDF…1…Zor had seeded Earth； where according to Dana's accounts the Flower had taken root with perplexing tenacity。
Which suggested that Haydon had used Earth for some purpose。
But a larger question remained： What had Haydon hoped to acplish on his namesake world？ What was Haydon IV that it should at all costs be spared the injustices visited upon the rest？