that the so…called Humans now occupying the Robotech Masters' ravaged and forlorn moon had put on quite a show…with the kind of pomp and circumstance the Regent strived to imitate。 He was almost sorry he hadn't gone there himself。 What with most of his remaining fleet anchored in Fantomaspace； was there really anything to fear？ he asked himself。 Still； the fact remained that there were too many unanswered questions。 What； after all； did the would…be mander of the Human forces…this Major General Edwards…want？ He had been so quick to e to the Regent's aid in that matter of the Sentinels' ship。。。But it bothered the Regent that the Human had yet to ask for anything in return。 Did he simply wish to capitalize on the Sentinels' defeat to move himself higher in the chain of mand； or were these machinations part of some larger scheme？
In a certain sense the answer was unimportant； the Regent decided at last…providing he could make use of that factionalism that divided the Human forces。
He regarded the image in the munications sphere； catching a look in his double's eyes that troubled him。 〃Is there news of Tesla？〃
〃There is；〃 the simulagent said。 〃It appears the Tesla was aboard the Farrago when our forces destroyed it。〃
Tesla； dead； the Regent thought。 It touched him in a way he would never have believed possible。 But perhaps it was not true； perhaps there were survivors of that battle？ He had yet to hear from the follow…up forces who had been sent in to resecure the planet。 〃Who seems to be in charge？〃 he asked after a moment。
〃As you surmised；〃 the simulagent continued； 〃there are signs of an ongoing power struggle； principally between Edwards and a certain Dr。 Lang…a scientist who did his best to charm me during the introductory sessions。〃
〃Is Lang the weaker one； then？〃
〃No。。。no； this is not my belief。 The scientist in fact seems to have the backing of the Humans' council…an assembly that functions as a kind of governing body。〃
The Regent found the idea odd…as he had the puzzling gerontocracy the Robotech Masters had favored。 He couldn't understand how twelve minds could agree on anything； when he and his queen…merely two minds…had quarreled over every decision。
〃Then； you must work on Edwards；〃 the Regent said。 〃Promise your continued support in his petty struggle if it es down to that。 Tell him we'll join forces。 But just make certain you learn the whereabouts of their homeworld！ and how they came to possess Protoculture。 It may be that they know more than we do about Zor's matrix or the Masters' destination。〃
〃Am I to make no demands of Edwards in return for our support； Your Highness？ It hardly seems a wise move。〃
The Regent stared at the sphere's image in disbelief。 Was this some evil mirror he was looking into now？ 〃Just what would you have me demand？〃 he asked； seething under the restraint he kept in his voice。
〃The brain； to begin with。 Along with their promise to keep out of the sectors we still control。〃
The Regent made a dismissive motion toward the sphere。 〃These things are obvious； servant。 What else is on your mind？〃
〃Minmei；〃 the simulagent said without explanation。
The Regent made an irritated sound and scowled。 〃What's a Minmei？〃
〃The Human female that sang for my benefit。〃
The Regent caught himself from staggering back from the sphere。 He had only the vaguest understanding of this thing called singing； but the implication was clear enough： the simulagent was flawed in the same way that the Regis was。 She had allowed herself to be seduced by Zor； and now this pathetic creature the Regent had sent to Tirol was falling victim to the same perverse urge！ Was there no end to these injustices！
〃Hear me； grub；〃 the Regent growled； hood puffed up like a poisonous sac。 〃My reach is long enough to end your life where you stand。 Do my bidding； or feel the power of my wrath。〃
The simulagent genuflected for the remote eye of the sphere。 〃My lord。〃
〃Now and always；〃 the Regent said； shutting down the device。
Rick had spent the better part of the Praxian day inside the GMU； brainstorming with Vince and Wolff about possible ways to contact the orbiting Spherisian drive module。 Onboard puters had calculated the period of the module's eccentric course； and gone on to project just how much Sekiton fuel the thing contained； how far the module could be expected to fold； and just when its newly…attained orbit around Praxis might decay。 But there were still no solutions to the big questions of how to reach the module or bring it down。
Rick left the base just before sunset； as had bee his habit this past month； and joined the core group in their makeshift camp on the outskirts of the Praxian inland city。 He wasn't fond of the scene； which reminded him more of a recreational campground than the billet it was supposed to be。 Things were not just lax； but loose； as though everyone but him had grown to accept the situation。 There was a logic to it； of course； it made no sense to walk around tied up in knots。 But just the same； Rick had no patience with placency； and he silently hoped that an idea would e to them one night while sitting around these camp…fires paring cultural notes。 So he stood in line with the rest of them now； Human and XT alike； and helped himself to the Praxian gruel the mess staff was cooking up to supplement the reconstituted meals and nutrient pills taken from the base's dwindling stores。 Moreover； these sessions were the only waking hours he got to spend with Lisa…the new Lisa； that was； the liberated Lisa。
Where Gnea and Bela were still unforgiving of Miriya Sterling's Zentraedi past； they had embraced Lisa as though she were a long…lost member of the Sisterhood。 At first Rick was not entirely unhappy about it； but all at once Lisa seemed a different person than the one who had argued so strongly against his joining the Sentinels to begin with。 And while it was true that what was good for Lisa was good for the group； Rick couldn't help but feel a bit； well； jealous of the partnership Gnea and Lisa had formed。 The Praxian seemed to draw this sort of reaction everywhere she stepped。 Rick knew that Karen was having troubles with her； and he guessed that even Bela must be harboring some ambivalent feelings about her friend's sudden preoccupation with Lisa。
With Gnea it was martial skills that mattered most； but beyond speed and strength； Lisa had discovered something else： an independence and self…assertiveness that was taking some getting used to。
Rick had these thoughts in mind when she came over to sit beside him in the firelight； still flushed and exhilarated from her latest weapons training session。 She talked about the feel of the halberd in her hands； the power of the naginata； she was practically poetic in describing Gnea's crossbow and two…handed shortsword。 Rick took it all in； forcing a smile and offering all he could in the way of appropriate nods and utterances； but behind the smile his mind was doing backflips。 What next？ he asked himself。 Would he e out here one evening to find her parading around in some skimpy fighting costume； like Bela's bossed and D…ringed body harness？ Would she suddenly take to buccaneer boots； some totem…crested helm； long…bladed dirks and throwing knives？ Rick shuddered at the thought； grateful for the fact that that damned Robosteed； Halidarre； was temporarily grounded。 Unfortunately； however； the Praxian's lambent…eyed malthi； Hagane； was not； and the winged pest nearly parted Rick's hair as it came darting in just now to settle itself on Bela's bulky forearm sheath。
Rick muttered a curse and looked over at his wife。 〃Glad to hear how well it's going；〃 he told her。 〃And I'm sure all this'll e in handy at the next Tirol decathlon。〃
She looked at him askance and took a forkful of food from his plate。 〃Something bothering you； Rick？〃
〃No； no； I mean； it's good to see you keeping busy； Lisa。〃
〃Is that what you think I'm doing…'keeping busy'？〃
Rick inclined his head； eyes narrowed。 〃It's what we're all doing； isn't it？ What am I supposed to do： spit in my palm and pledge my fealty to someone？ 'For the Eternal She and the glory of Haydon！'〃 Rick mimicked。
〃Rick…〃
〃No； really。 Maybe we should all be practicing swordplay and crossbow technique； leaps and high jumps。 Then maybe one of us'll be able to reach that module instead of wasting away down here。〃
Almost everyone in the circle caught an earful of Rick's words； and the usual evening's chatter abruptly ceased。 The fires crackled； and four Hovercycles could be heard approaching the perimeter。 Lisa and Rick seemed to be locked in an eye…to…eye contest when Jack； Karen； Kami； and Lron entered the camp。 Jack took a long look around； oblivious to the unfortable silence his swaggering entrance had dispersed； and announced cheerfully： 〃Wait'll you hear what we found。〃
〃They've agreed to help us；〃 Veidt said later on； hovering into the cavern where Rick and some of the other Sentinels were puzzling over the hideous cave paintings Karen had pointed out。 〃If 'agreed' is the proper word。〃
Karen noted that there were fewer globes than there had been that afternoon； several had apparently found their way out； as evidenced by the fact that one or two had been found bobbing against the ceiling close to the mouth of the cave。
〃Then they are life…forms？〃 Rick said。
〃Oh； most assuredly。〃
Rick heard Bela snort behind him。 After Jack had told them of the find； the Praxian women claimed to have heard tales of these orb creatures from Arla…Non； chief of the Sisterhood。 But the things were believed to be extinct； just as the beasts depicted on the cave wall were…or so Rick and the others hoped。
They had all tried to convince Rick that the orbs could wait until the morning； but he had insisted Jack lead them back to the caves immediately。 Now； not quite four hours since Jack's return to the base； Rick and half a dozen or so of the core group were standing in the floodlit heat of the cave； listening to the results of Veidt's telepathic probe。
〃I register no sense of how they came to arrive here；〃 the mouthless Haydonite was mind…speaking； motioning to the cavern。 〃I only know that their destiny lies somewhere in space。 This condition of。。。levity is