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actually relinquishing some of his physicalform so that they might remain mates here 。。。 Well； that was arrant nonsense。 He could no more live here…even with the secret shared and revealed…than he could abandon the quest for enlightenment that had already taken him to scores of star systems and hundreds of planets。
Furthermore； there was a husband to consider。
Nothing like the Regis； this creature that called himself the Regent。 And Zor had barely given him a second thought when it had e down to formulating his plan for seduction and conquest。 But there was something about the Regent that rendered him more human than the Regis could ever be； for all her recently evolved anatomic curves； erogenous zones； and self…shaping talents。 And it was just this mysterious humanness that Zor made use of to ensure that the Regent was absent from the hive for long periods at a stretch。
The Regent； it seemed； had a curiosity for Zor and his kind that rivaled Zor's curiosity for the Regis。 Only the Regent was less interested in the physical and psychological differences that separated them than he was in the very artifacts the technovoyagers used in their everyday lives and travels。 It was as though the creature wished only to fill his world with such things…instruments and devices and ships。 So it had been easy enough to arrange for the Regent to be taken on a tour through this or that part of the ship or flown to distant places on his own Optera when the need arose。
And that need had arisen often these past months 。 。 。 Zor smiled to himself； lying with the Regis now； his arms wrapped around her。 He recognized that the transference was almost plete； the language of the Flower almost his。 But he recognized； too； that there were rules governing the use of this language and； quite possibly； that he had been made aware of something misunderstood by the Queen…Mother herself。 The Flower of Life apparently held a secret of its own； one that had yet to be seduced from it。
A secret Zor would one day call Protoculture。
Scott Bernard sat stiffly in his chair as the two majors led Marlene into the Ark Angel's briefing room。 Cabell； the Grants； Louie Nichols； and several intelligence officers from G2 were seated at the long table。 Bulkhead displays flashed color…enhanced visual close…ups of Haydon IV； an updated count of production vessels； an alphanumeric Karbarran attack countdown。 The ship had turned slightly to port to keep the reconfigured artifact centered in the exterior viewports。 The accretion disc of Ranaath's Star pinwheeled in the background； a sinister wheel of fortune。
Marlene； red hair pulled back behind her ears； looked ill。 〃Take a seat；〃 Vince began； sounding like a physician about to deliver bad news。
With a nervous glance； at Scott； Marlene lowered herself into one of the plastic chairs。 He held her gaze for a moment and looked away； tight…lipped。
Niles Obstat cleared his throat。 〃I think you know why we've asked you here。〃
〃I'm…I'm not sure；〃 Marlene told the intel chief。
Vince grimaced and blew out his breath。 〃We've tried to give you time to think through your position； er； Marlene。 But I'm afraid time has run out for all of us。 We have reason to believe you can tell us where the Regis is； and we need that answer now。〃
Marlene swallowed and found her voice。 〃I've been trying…〃
〃Don't give us any of that；〃 Obstat said； cutting her off。 〃You're Invid； and what one of you knows； you all know。 Just tell us where we can find the Regis； and we'll put an end to this。 It's for your own good； too；〃 he added。 〃How else are you planning to get home if we don't take you there？〃
Scott was tempted to tell Obstat how Sera had gone home but held his tongue。 Marlene was staring at the director； lower lip trembling。
〃But don't you see； I'm not all Invid；〃 she replied。 〃I have…〃
〃You're all Invid as far as we're concerned；〃 a woman officer sneered。
Marlene closed her eyes and shook her head。 〃If that's true； then how is it that one of your own kind loves me？〃 Her eyes found Scott； as did everyone else's in the room。 〃Tell them； Scott； please。 Make them understand。〃
〃Well； Colonel？〃 Vince said； averting his eyes。 〃Suppose you tell us。〃
Scott's hands clenched beneath the tabletop。 He looked at Marlene as he slowly rose to his feet。
〃I'm sorry； mander；〃 he began； 〃but I guess our trick didn't work。〃 Again he locked eyes with Marlene。 〃It was a good idea to make it seem like you were releasing her in my custody； but I guess she just didn't buy it。 I certainly did my part to convince her that I 。。。 loved her； sir。 But she wouldn't tell me anything。〃
Scott swallowed hard and continued。 〃Hell； I would have told her anything she wanted to hear to get that information。 I sure don't mind admitting now that this was the toughest charade I've ever had to play out。 Pretending love for this 。。。 Invid。 And all the while thinking about what they did to Earth； what they've probably done to our friends and rades on the SDF…3。〃 Scott snorted； averting his eyes from the table。 〃I think all I managed to do was help convince her she really is human； mander。 Imagine that； will you…this Invid； human。〃
Wide…eyed through Scott's confession； Marlene suddenly put her hands to her head and screamed。
The scream was a nonhuman one。
She aimed a finger across the table at Scott。 〃You betrayed me！ You told me you loved me！〃
Scott held his breath。
Marlene was about to continue； when her body was seized by a violent paroxysm。 The two majors flanking her leapt from their seats as she began to fade from view。
〃Don't touch her！〃 someone warned。 As if anyone was about to。
Scott thought he might pass out； but just then Marlene rematerialized； skin tinged green and expression vacant。 Her right hand was still raised but pointed out the viewport。 She regarded the table for a long moment； as though challenging anyone to speak。 But it was Marlene herself who broke the spell her brief disappearance had cast。
〃There；〃 she said finally with utter contempt。
Scott joined the others at the table in following her finger。 〃Ranaath's Star？〃 Obstat stammered。 〃Your queen is inside the black hole？〃
〃You asked to