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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？
〃Exedore；〃 Aurora called from the front room。
That she had said it just loud enough to be heard did not keep Exedore from jumping out of his skin。 Miriya's youngest had that effect。
He entered the room a shaky step or so ahead of Max and Miriya； who had also e running。 Aurora was seated in front of the monitor screen； one finger raised to it。
〃It's the reconfiguration pattern；〃 Exedore said excitedly after a moment's study of the displays。 〃We'll be able to see…〃 Miriya gasped。
Haydon IV's northern and southern hemispheres were separating。 The artifact world was about to open up like a hinged ball！
In newspace； Lisa edged quietly through the doorway to the nursery。 She told herself that in addition to being a naturally inquisitive mom； she was being considerate just now； mindful not to disturb the children's play。 At the same time she realized that her inner voice was not urging caution but demanding it； the feeling was similar to the fight…or…flight hormonal responses that were triggered every time she had to give the order to deploy the fortress's defensive shields。
The kids； human and Zentraedi； were still grouped around the enormous sphere they had constructed； pletely absorbed in their work。 The toe of Lisa's heelless boot touched down on a squeaky toy； and a dozen pair of eyes were suddenly trained on her。
〃Hi； kids；〃 she said； pinning a smile on it。
Roy glanced at his peers； rose out of his cross…legged pose on the deck； and walked over to meet her halfway。 Lisa squatted down to his eye level and mussed his black hair。 〃Hey； that's some globe you guys made；〃 she began。 〃What is it； some kind of space base？〃
Roy took a quick look over his shoulder at Drannin。 〃It's secret； Mommie。 You have to leave。〃
Lisa adopted a wide…eyed expression。 〃It's so secret you can't even let your mom have one quick peek？〃
〃No。〃
〃Oh； sweetie； please。〃
Roy shook his head； adamant。 Behind him； the human children had formed a guarded line in front of the sphere。 Lisa straightened up to her full height。 〃Just one peek； Roy； and I'll leave you guys alone；〃 she said more firmly。
Roy's eyes and faltering tone of voice betrayed his ambivalence。 〃You can't； Mom。 We're doing something secret。〃 Stern…faced； Lisa folded her arms across her chest。 〃Now listen to me； young man； I'm still the mander of this ship。 Just show me what you've built and I'll…〃
Abruptly； Roy turned on his heel and rejoined the group； leaving Lisa standing in the center of the room。 She shook her head in disbelief at the mirrored side of the observation window and was about take a forward step when Drannin and the other Zentraedi children suddenly positioned themselves between her and the sphere。 It was like facing a fifteen foot…high wall of muscle and bone。
Lisa tried to contain her unease。 She had not had to face off with a Zentraedi in almost longer than she could recall； but some part of her remembered and pumped fear into her blood。
〃Drannin；〃 she said in a scolding voice； 〃I don't approve of this behavior。 And Kazianna won't； either。〃 She could see Roy peering from behind Drannin's knee。 〃Do you want me to go get her； or are you going to show me what you've built？ I promise I'll keep the secret；〃 she thought to add。
〃It's almost finished；〃 Drannin answered in English。 〃We can show you after； not before。〃
Lisa softened her expression somewhat。 〃So it's not really a secret； then。〃
Drannin spent a moment considering that； almost as though monitoring something just out of earshot。 〃No； it isn't really a secret；〃 he said at last。 〃It's more like a surprise。〃
Angelo Dante was the one who had discovered Rem slumped unconscious in the rec…deck corridor and had carried him over his shoulder； like a fireman； down to the med lab。 The experience had been more troubling than the recent EVA and had cost the sergeant the few hours of after…mission rest he had ing to him。
〃The guy's bad news；〃 he was telling Sean； Marie； and Jack。 They were picking at meals in the ship's missary/mess； Karen's harsh reprimands having worked a temporary truce among them。 〃I've been through this before； so help me。 Once I caught him hanging around outside of Major Emerson's office。 Then I found him snooping around Fokker Base。〃
〃Wait a minute； wait a minute；〃 Jack cut in； gesturing with both hands。 〃You caught Rem where？〃
Dante showed him an impatient； look。 〃Not Rem…Zor Prime。 〃
Jack scratched his head。 〃You mean the Masters' clone； the one Southern Cross mand stuck with the Fifteenth？〃 Dante nodded。
〃So what's Zor…Prime got to do with Rem？〃 Jack persisted。
Dante growled。 〃That's what I'm trying to tell you； Captain。 They're the same guy！〃
Jack looked to Sean； then to Marie for support。
〃What the sergeant's saying is that both Rem and Zor Prime were cut from the same cloth；〃 Sean explained。 〃They're both clones of the same donor。 It's like they're identical。 〃
〃On the nose；〃 Dante said。
Jack tried to dredge up what little he knew about theories of nature and。 nurture。 〃Biologically； maybe；〃 he argued。 〃But Rem was raised on Tirol； for cryin' out loud。 Zor Prime grew up on one of those space fortresses； didn't he？〃
Dante waved a muscular hand。 〃Splitting hairs。 You find Rem lurking around； you know something's going on。〃
〃Like what？〃 Jack started to say； when the sergeant suddenly shot to his feet and began beckoning someone over to the table。 Jack turned and saw the keyboard man； Bowie Grant； headed their way； meal tray in hand。
〃Just the person I was looking for；〃 Dante said as Bowie was sliding into one of the molded chairs。 〃You heard what happened outside the music room； right？〃
Bowie nodded uncertainly。 〃Rem passed out or something。〃
Dante returned to his eat and fixed Bowie with a gimlet stare。 〃I want to know what was going on inside； Bowie。〃
Puzzled but wary； Bowie tucked in his chin。 〃We were running down some old songs。〃
〃Who was？〃 the sergeant demanded。
〃Me； Musica； Allegra； Minmei。 Why？ What's