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〃Maybe I oughta tie a bell to your collar。 Or better yet； get a spacefold leash…he…eeyy！〃
Wait a minute！ Polly had somehow gotten himself not just across space but into newspace。 That must mean there was some way back out！
〃Oh； baby！ Wait'll Louie and Lang hear this…umph！ You been puttin' on weight； or what？〃
The Pollinator dragged at her arm； nearly pulling her to her knees； the sheer mass of him unbelievable。 〃What's wrong…holy f…fff…〃
Polly； back on his little muffin feet； was no longer the adorable teleporting pet she loved。 His feet sprouted black claws； and his sheepdog face took on an evil leer。 What really sent shivers down her spine； though； was that he was growing like an inflating life raft； only faster。
Dana gave a yell and stumbled back； bringing her rifle up； wondering if the Pollinator had fallen prey to some weird newspace rabies。 Her finger was on the trigger； but she hesitated； this was one of her few true friends； after all； and friends meant everything to her。
Polly's hide showed through the molting white pelt as the creature grew： black； smooth； and hard…looking。 Polly heightened and broadened； bigger than Dana already； rearing back on two lengthening hind legs。
Dana had hesitated to give the alarm； fearing that someone would shoot her dog； but that ceased to matter。 The Pollinator let out an eerie inorganic sound； like a processed challenge roar。
〃Polly； stop！ Stay back！〃 She had the Wolverine up； centered； backing away herself。 The thing in front of her took a step toward her； though； and when its massive black foot pouched down； there was a distinct metallic sound。
It leaned toward her； and from its sheepdog face there appeared a single red…yellow lens。
Dana howled fiercely for a universe that would turn a dear pet and friend into a deadly foe。 She brought the Wolverine up and fired a sustained burst at the thing that had been the Pollinator。
Farther up the line； everybody froze。 Harry Penn blinked； caning out of his distraction； getting his bearings。 〃It's Dana！〃 he yelled to those ahead of him； and turned back； drawing his Badger。
Max； farther toward the front of the column； caught the news as it was passed along。 People were yelling conflicting questions； answers； and orders。
Max moaned aloud。 〃Dana！〃 He pressed Aurora into Miriya's arms。 〃Hang on to her！〃 Rick and Lisa had e hurrying back down the column； berating people to set up security and guard against a surprise attack from another quarter。 Lisa was calling in air cover； Rick was trying to find out what was going on at the rear。
People formed up to defend the children； Kazianna towering among them and unlimbering her oversized weapons。 Max shoved his wife and daughter toward them。 〃Vince！ Don't let anything happen to them！〃
Then he was off to the rear； leaving Louie and his cyberteam where they had set up rifle positions； dodging Scott Bernard； who had Marlene clasped to him protectively。
Max broke through the final screen of foliage to see something immense and black standing with its back to him； the sun of Omphalos doing little to relieve its intense darkness。
Those who had already gotten to the scene Harry Penn； Bowie； Lron； and a few others wavered； holding their fire； not sure what was going on。 The black mecha had bent to pick something up。 It turned toward them； straightening to its full height； with Dana in its armored fist。
Lron raised the squad laser weapon that he carried like a rifle and would have fired into the black mecha's leg in hopes of bringing it down； Max knocked the laser's thick barrel down。 〃Hold your fire； all of you！〃
The thing clutching Dana raised its free hand； pointing at Max。 She was struggling determinedly but weakly to break out of its grip； the effort was hopeless； and she did not seem to have the breath to yell to those below。 Huge； humped； and misshapen as a giant troll； the black mecha leaned toward Max as if about to speak。
But before it could； thrusters shook the ground and one of the escort Veritechs arrived； a Beta in Guardian mode。 It landed like an eagle ready to do battle； its balled armor fists cocked。
Its pilot couldn't open up； though； since Dana was in the line of fire。 The pilot began to shift his VT through mechamorphosis； going to Battloid； but before he could； the black mecha leapt at him and with one swing of its fearsome fist smashed the VT down。
The Guardian/Battloid crashed to the ground； broken and smoking。 Even as people raced toward it to rescue the pilot； the black mecha hit its foot thrusters and shot away into the sky； still clasping Dana。
In the middle of the confusion another escort VT； an Alpha； appeared； called back from its CAP flight； requesting instructions。 As boss of the SDF…3's fighter mand； Max got on the net。
〃Get down here right now。〃
〃But mander Sterling； shouldn't t？
〃I said land！〃
With a dozen different matters vying for his attention guarding against further attack； counting heads to see if anyone else had been taken； checking whether the Beta pilot was still alive； raising the dimensional fortress for reinforcements and to arrange a safe pullback Rick didn't realize what Max was doing until it was too late。
Max was gone； the second…generation Alpha shrieking away in Fighter mode； going supersonic in its ballistic climb； its sonic booms shaking the ground of Omphalos。 The VT's pilot was standing there bareheaded Max having appropriated his thinking cap helmet staring after his departing craft。
He saw Rick。 〃Sir； he didn't even stop to call for reinforcements。〃
〃I know； it's being done。〃
Of course； it would be precious minutes before more VTs could get there from the low…orbiting SDF…3。 The fighter jock nodded。 〃No way was he gonna wait； sir。〃
Rick； watching the spot where Max had disappeared in the distance； agreed。 〃No； the gauntlet's been thrown； Lieutenant。〃
The Alpha was one of the best in the SDF…3 inventory； a souped…up new armored Alpha version of a second…generation VT that was why Max had assigned it to fly security for the ground party but it was all he could do to keep the Black Knight in view。
〃Black Knight〃 was the way he had e to think of his anta