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This had nothing to do with enemy laser fire or plasma annihilation discs； it had nothing to do with bat or close calls。 This was a larger terror； a deeper one； springing from an archaic part of himself he had never met face to face。
Unnerved； he ran for the safety of the Veritech cockpit as lightning struck and ignited one of the trees； toppling it with a second bolt that split the forest giant along its length。 He lowered the canopy and hunkered down in the VT seat； hugging himself for warmth and security。 Eyes tightly shut； ears filled with crackling noise； he shouted to himself： What am I doing on this horrible planet？
As if answering him； his mind reran images of the mand ship's fiery demise； that slow and silent fatality。
〃Marlene；〃 he said through tears。
His hand had found the holo…locket she had given him on the bridge。 But his forefinger was frozen on the activation button； his mind fearful of confronting the ghosts the device was meant to summon up。 Still； he knew that he had to force himself to see and hear her again。。。before he could let the past die。
The metallic green heart opened at his touch； unfolding like a triptych； from its blood…red holo…bead center wafted a phantom image of Marlene。
〃Scott； my darling； I know it isn't much； but I thought you'd get a kick out of this trinket。 I'm looking forward to living the rest of my life with you。 I can't wait till this conflict is all behind us。 Till we meet again； my love。。。〃
The voice that had been Marlene's trailed off； and the shimmering message returned to its place of captivity。 Scott closed the heart and clutched it tightly in his fist； wishing desperately that he could so easily de…rezz the images held fast in his own heart。 Outside； the storm continued unabated； echoing the dark night of his soul。 Lighting fractured the alien sky； and rainwater ran in a steady stream across the protective curve of the VT's canopy。
In the morning Earth's skies seemed as blue as the seas Scott had seen from space； the air smelled sweet； washed clean of last night's violence。 But this was little consolation。 Fear and sorrow had lulled him into a fitful sleep； and the stark images of Marlene's death were with him when he awoke。
At a clear stream near the crash site； he filled his canteens with water。 Taking in morning's soft light； the spectacle of the forest itself； the profusion of bird life； he suspected that Earth could be a tolerable place； after all； but doubted that he would ever feel at home here。 He promised himself that he would turn his thoughts to the mission and only the mission from this point on。 Insanity was the only alternative。
He returned to the Veritech and stowed the canteens with the survival gear he had already retrieved from the mecha。 He had enough emergency rations to last him the better part of an Earth week； if he didn't e across a settlement or city by then； he would be forced to forage for food。 And given what little information he had about edible plants and such； the thought was hardly an appetizing one。
He turned his attention now to the one item that was likely to rescue him from edible plants or privation： the Cyclone vehicle stored away in the fighter's small cargo partment。 A well…concealed sensor panel in the fuselage gave him access to this； and in a moment he was lifting the self…contained Cyclone free of the cargo hold。 In its present collapsed state the would…be two…wheeled transport was no larger than a foot locker； but reconfigured it was equivalent to a 1；000…cc twentieth…century motorcycle。 Which in fact it was； after a fashion。
Originally one of Robotechnology's first creations； it had undergone some radical modifications under Lang's SDF…3 teams。 The Expeditionary Force had e to rely upon the vehicle as much as it had on the Veritech fighters； even though its design was still a basic one： a hybrid piston and Protoculture…powered transformable motorcycle that was a far cry from the Hovercycles developed on Earth during the same time period。 Unlike that Southern Cross marvel； the Cyclone required the full interaction of its pilot； whose 〃thinking cap〃 and specially designed armor were essential to the functioning of the vehicle's Protoculture…based mechamorphic systems。 In addition； it was light enough to carry； and wondrously fuel…efficient。
Scott carried the Cyclone several feet from the fighter and set about reconfiguring it； which entailed little more than flipping the appropriate switches。 That much acplished； he transferred his survival gear to the cycle's rear deck and began to struggle into the mecha's modular battle armor…not unlike the shoulder pads； hip harnesses； and leg and forearm protectors worn by turn…of…the…century athletes； except for the fact that the armor had been fashioned from lightweight alloys。
Scott was wearing Marlene's holo…heart around his neck now and gave a last look at it before snapping the armor's pectorals in place。 It's time； my love； he said to the heart。
Again he told himself to concentrate on the mission。 He recalled mander Gardner's words： If only one of you survive the invasion； you must locate the Invid Reflex Point and destroy it along with their queen； the Regis。 Scott had no idea how many people from Mars Division had survived atmospheric entry； but it was unlikely that any of them had touched down near his crash site。 He had been so caught up in the destruction of the mand ship that he had failed to lock the proper coordinates into the VT's autopilot。 As a consequence； the mecha had surely delivered him far from any of the dozen preassigned rendezvous points and who knew how far from the Reflex Point itself。 The stars told Scott that he had e down somewhere in the southern hemisphere； which put thousands of miles between him and the Regis if he was lucky； oceans between them if not。 In any case； north was the direction of choice。
Scott donned his helmet and mounted the Cyclone。 A thumb switch brought the mecha to life； he found his confidence somewhat restored by the throaty； synchronous firing of the cycle's systems。
Now let's get on with evening the score with the Regis and her Invid horde； Scott said to himself as he set off。