OUT OF THE SHADOWS / ±q¼v¹³
PART 6 / ²Ä 6 ³¡¥÷
--10--
Joe left the gym, took a shower and dressed in jeans and a sweater. He moved mechanically, his mind focused on Dr. Rafael's parting words: / ³ìÂ÷¶}¤F«Ø¨­©Ð, ¬~¾þ¦Ó¥B¬ï¤û¥J¿Ç©M¤@¥ó¤ò¦ç¡C ¥L¾÷±ñ¦a²¾°Ê,¥Lªº¤ß§â­«¤ß¶°¤¤¦b Rafael's ³Õ¤hÂ÷§Oªº¦r:
"They've been selecting candidates for your replacement. There's one left. His name is Eric Getz. If he survives, I think he bears watching." Joe stopped, fist clenched around his wadded gym clothes. Your replacement. / "¥L­Ì¤w¸g¬°§Aªº´À´«¿ï¾Ü­Ô¿ï¤H¡C ³Ñ¤U¤@¡C ¥Lªº¦W¦r¬O¦ã¤O§J Getz ¡C ¦pªG¥LÄ~Äò¥Í¦s,§Ú»{¬°¥L§Ô¨ü¬Ý¡C"³ì°±¤î,®±ÀY¦b¥Lªº¶ñ¶ë«Ø¨­©Ð¦çªAªº©P³òºò´¤¡C §Aªº´À´«¡C
You knew they were going to do that. They need five people to run the mechs. / §A»{ÃѤF¥L­Ì±N­n°µ¨º¡C ¥L­Ì»Ý­n¤­­Ó¤H¶] mechs ¡C
Joe threw the clothing into a hamper and left his quarters, letting the door slam behind him. He stalked through the underground complex until he found an empty computer room three levels above his apartment. / ³ì¥á¦çªA¶i¤@­Ó­¹²°¤§¤º¦Ó¥B¯d¤U¤F¥Lªº¥|¤À¤§¤@,Åý¦b¥L«á­±ªºªù¯yµMÁn¡C ¥L®¨®¨¾aªñ¹L¦a¤Uªº¦X¦¨ª«ª½¨ì¥Lµo²{¦b¥Lªº¤½´J¤W­±ªº¤@³¡ªÅªº¹q¸£©Ð¶¡¤T­Ó¤ô·Ç¡C
Idiot, his conscience chided him. They think you're dead. / ¥Õè , ¥Lªº¨}¤ß¥¸³d¤F¥L¡C ¥L­Ì»{¬°§A¦º¡C
He certainly hadn't tried to dispel that belief, had he? He'd failed them, died on the job, deserted them. / ¥L½T©w¦a¤£¤w¸g¹Á¸ÕÅX´²¨º«H©À,¬O¶Ü ? ¥L¦³©ß±ó¥L­Ì,¦b¤u§@¤W¦º,¿ò±ó¤F¥L­Ì¡C
Then go back. / µM«á¦^¥h¡C
He couldn't go back. Not now. Especially not now. Again he saw himself pulling his bloody hand from the shattered remains of the Galactor's skull. He was a menace to everyone around him. What would happen if he lost control again... in the Team's presence? / ¥L¤£¥i¥H¦^¥h¡C ¤£¬O²{¦b¡C ¤×¨ä¤£²{¦b¡C ¦A¤@¦¸¥L¬Ý¨£¥L¦Û¤v©Ô¨Ó¦Û Galactor's ªºÀY»\°©ªº³Q¥´¸Hªº¿òÀe¥L¦å¸{ªº¤â¡C ¥L¦b¥L©P³ò¬O¹ï¨C­Ó¤H¤@­Ó«Â¯Ù¡C ¤°»ò±N·|µo¥Í¦pªG¥L¦A¤@¦¸¥¢¥h¤F±±¨î¡C¡C¡C ¦b¤p²Õªº­±«e?
Then just leave it. It's none of your concern anymore. / µM«á¶È¶È¯d¤U¥¦¡C ¤£¦A¥¦¬O¨S¦³§AªºÃö¤ß¡C
Joe paced between rows of tables, and the long lines of dark monitor screens watched him like blank faces. But it was his concern. They were still his friends. / ³ì¦b±Æªº®à¤l¤§¶¡¿â¨B, ¦Ó¥B¿â¨B¶Â·tªººÊµø¾¹¿Ã¹õªºªø½u¬Ý¥L³ßÅwªÅ¥ÕªºÁy¡C ¦ý¬O¥¦¬O¥LªºÃö¤ß¡C ¥L­Ì¤´µM¬O¥LªºªB¤Í¡C
You're dead to them. Your obligations are over. / ¹ï¥L­Ì§A¦º¡C §Aªº¸q°Èµ²§ô¡C
Would Ken think this way if he were in Joe's shoes? Would any of the others? / ±N·|¦pªG¥L³B©ó©M³ì¤@¼Ëªºª¬ªp¡AªÖ®¦³o¼Ë·Q? ±N·|¨ä¾lªÌ¤§¤¤ªº¥ô¦ó¤@­Ó?
Leave them alone! Let them do their jobs. Do your own. / §OºÞ¥L­Ì! Åý¥L­Ì°µ¥L­Ìªº¤u§@¡C °µ§A¦Û¤vªº¡C
Well, he couldn't handle his own job alone. That last battle had proved it. He was outnumbered and out of control. Who was he kidding? Joe growled and aimed a kick at one of the tables, remembered and pulled his foot back before it contacted. Four science ninja, one cybernetic disaster waiting to happen. It would never work. / ¦n§a¡A¥L¿W¦Û¦a¤£¥i¥H³B²z¥L¦Û¤vªº¤u§@¡C ¨º³Ì«á¾Ôª§¤w¸gÃÒ©ú¥¦¡C ¥L³Q¼Æ¥Ø¶W¹L¨Ã¥B¥¢¥h±±¨î¡C ¥L¦b¶}ª±¯º½Ö? ¦b¥¦³sµ¸¤§«e , ³ì«ã§p¦Ó¥B§â½ð¹ï·Ç®à¤l¤§¤@, °O±o¦Ó¥B§â¥Lªº¸}©Ô¦^¨Ó¡C ¥|­Ó¬ì¾Ç§ÔªÌ,µ¥­Ôµo¥Í ªº±±¨î½×ªº¨aº×¡C ¥¦±N·|µLªk¤u§@¡C
"I think he bears watching. Your replacement." / "§Ú»{¬°¥L§Ô¨ü¬Ý¡C §Aªº´À´«¡C"
Doesn't matter, said his conscience. / ¤£¦³­«¤jÃö«Y,»¡¥Lªº¨}¤ß¡C
What would this replacement be like? Could he shoot? The team would need a gunner. Can he drive worth a damn? Do the others like him? Do they work well together? Would he fight for the Kagaku Ninjatai as hard as they deserved? What kind of man is Eric Getz? / ³o¤@­Ó´À´«±N·|¬O¦PÃþ¤°»ò? ¥L¥i¥H®gÀ»¶Ü? ¤p²Õ±N·|»Ý­n¤@­Ó¯¥¤â¡C ¥L¯à¾r¾p»ù­È¤@ÂI¶Ü? ¨ä¾lªÌ³ßÅw¥L¶Ü? ¥L­Ì«Ü¦n¦a¤@°_¤u§@¶Ü? ¥L±N·|¬° Kagaku Ninjatai ¹³¥L­Ì¸Ó±o¨ì¤@¼ËªºÃø¹ï§Ü¶Ü? ¦ã¤O§J Getz ¬O¤°»òÃþ«¬ªº¨k¤H?
What would you do with the information, anyway? / §A±N·|¹ï¸ê®Æ°µ¤°»ò,µL½×¦p¦ó?
What would they call him? Would they call him the Condor? / ¥L­Ì±N·|¥´¹q¸Üµ¹¥L¤°»ò? ¥L­Ì±N·|ºÙ¥L¬°¨rÆN¶Ü?
You'll find out soon enough. If he survives. / §A±N«Ü§Ö¨¬°÷µo²{¡C ¦pªG¥LÄ~Äò¥Í¦s¡C
Joe stopped pacing and leaned against a desk. Rafael had said that. Did he mean Getz wasn't competent? That was all the team needed--another idiot to muck up morale with his own death, risk the others' lives. / ³ì°±¤î¿â¨B¦Ó¥B­Ê¾a¤@±i®Ñ®à¡C Rafael ¤w¸g»¡¨º¡C ¥L·N¿×¶Ü¡A Getz ¤£¬O¯à·Fªº? ¨º¬O©Ò¦³ªº³Q»Ý­nªº¤p²Õ-- ¥t¤@­Ó¥Õè¦b©M¥L¦Û¤vªº¦º¤`¤h®ð¤W­±¬IªÎ, «_µÛ¥t¤@­Óªº¦MÀI©~¦í¡C
Or did it mean Galactor was gunning for him already? / ©Î¥¦·N¿×¶Ü¡A Galactor ¥¿¦b¤w¸g¦ø¾÷¥[®`¥L?
Abruptly Joe pushed away from the desk and left the room. In the hallway he stopped and listened carefully. Rafael was working on the same level, at the opposite end of the wing. Joe could hear him tapping on a keyboard, muttering to himself, occasionally clearing his throat. A bell jingled as Rafael's hawk, never far from him, resettled itself. / ¬ðµM¦a³ì±À°Ê»·Â÷®Ñ®à¦Ó¥BÂ÷¶}¤F©Ð¶¡¡C ¦b¨«´Y¤¤¥L¤p¤ß¦a°±¤î¦Ó¥BÅ¥¡C ¦b¯Í»Hªº¬Û¤Ïµ²§ô Rafael ¥¿¦b³B²z¬Û¦Pªº¤ô·Ç¡C ³ì¥i¥HÅ¥¨ì¥L¦b¤@­ÓÁä½L¤W»´¥´,¹ï¥L¦Û¤v³ä³ä¦Û»y, ¦³®É­Ô²M±½¥Lªº«|³ï¡C ¤@­Ó¹a§@¥m¾´Án¦p Rafael's ªºÆN, ±q¤£Â÷¥L«Ü»·,­«·s¦w¸m¤F¥¦¥»¨­¡C
When the lab door opened abruptly, Dr. Rafael looked up from a bank of monitor screens. His eyes met Joe's. / ·í¹êÅç«Çªù¬ðµM¦a¥´¶}ªº®É­Ô,Rafael ³Õ¤h¦b±qºÊµø¾¹ªº¤@­Ó»È¦æ¿Ã¹õ¤W­±¬Ý¡C ¥Lªº²´·ú¹J¨£¤F³ì¡C
"Doctor," Joe said. "Tell me about Getz." / "Âå¥Í", ³ì»¡¡C "§i¶D§ÚÃö©ó Getz" ¡C



Doctor Nambu surveyed the four members of the Kagaku Ninjatai with a frown. Jinpei and Ryu refused to stand still, shifting uneasily from foot to foot. Jun's face was pale and tense, and she kept her eyes on Nambu, avoiding everyone else. Ken sported a vivid purple bruise on his left cheek, and he, too, focused only on the Professor. "That's quite a shiner, Ken. Are you all right?" / Âå¥Í Nambu ¥Î½K¬Ü¼fµø Kagaku Ninjatai ªº¥|­Ó¦¨­û¡C Jinpei ©M Ryu ©Úµ´¯¸¦n,¤£¦w¦a±q¸}¨ì¸}§ïÅÜ¡C ¤»¤ëªºÁy¬O»a¥Õªº©Mºò±iªº,¦Ó¥B¦o«O«ù¤F¦b Nambu ¤Wªº¦o²´·ú, ÁקK¨ä¥L¤H¡C ªÖ®¦¹CÀ¸¤F¦b¥Lªº¥ªÃäÀU¤Wªº¥Í°Êµµ¦âªº·ï¶Ë, ©M¥L,¤],¥u¦³¦b±Ð±Â¨­¤W¶°¤¤¡C "¨º¬Û·í¬O¤@­Ó¥~×H¡AªÖ®¦¡C §AÁÙ¦n§a?"
"I'm fine," Ken said stiffly. / " §Ú«Ü¦n",ªÖ®¦§bªO¦a»¡¡C
"They had a 'discussion,'" Jinpei whispered to Ryu. / "¥L­Ì¦³¤F '°Q½× ,'" Jinpei ¦Õ»y¨ì Ryu ¡C
"No shit," the big man whispered back. "What about?" / ¨S¦³ÁT,¤jªº¨k¤H¦V«á¦a¦Õ»y¡C " ¤°»ò¤j¬ù"?
"Dunno." Jinpei looked away. / "¤£ª¾¹D". Jinpei ¬ÝÂ÷¶}¡C
Nambu let the background conversation pass. "You already know why you're here, so rather than tell you what's in store, I'd like to show you." He stood up. "Come with me." Exchanging his lab smock for a suit coat, he headed for the door. The others filed behind him. Jun walked behind Ken, and he could feel her eyes burning holes into his back. He risked a glance back, and her eyes stared through him to the Professor. Ken faced forward. / Nambu Åý­I´º¥æ½Í³~®|¡C "§A¤w¸gª¾¹D§A¬°¤°»ò¦b³o¸Ì, ¦p¦¹¤£Ä@§i¶D§A¬O¦b°Ó©±¤¤,§Ú·Q­nÅã¥Ü§A". ¥L¯¸°_¨Ó¡C "©M§Ú¨Ó" ¡C ¬°¤@¥ó¶D³^¥~®M¥æ´«¥Lªº¹êÅç«Ç¤u§@ªA,¥L¥hªù¡C ¨ä¾lªÌ¦b¥L«á­±¥Ó½Ð¡C ¤»¤ë¦bªÖ®¦«á­±¨«¸ô¡A¦Ó¥B¥L¥i¥H·Pı¦oªº¿U¿N ªº²´·ú¬}¶i¥Lªº­I³¡¤§¤º¡C ¥L§â¤@¿h«_µÛªº¦MÀI¦^¨Ó¡A¦Ó¥B¦oªº²´·ú¹ï±Ð±Âª`µø¹L¥L¡C ªÖ®¦¦V«e¦a­±¹ï¡C
Dr. Nambu was gratified to see the ride to G-Town promoted the same sense of awe in his charges that it had on him his first trip down. Jinpei bounced in front of the window, pointing excitedly when he caught his first glimpse of the city-sized installation. Ryu pressed his face against the glass, gaping openly. "This thing has to be fifteen times the size of Crescent Base! And it moves?" / Nambu ³Õ¤h³Q¨Ïº¡¨¬¬Ý¨£¹ï G ªº­¼§¤-³Q«P¶i¥¦¦b¥L¨­¤W¦³¥Lªº²Ä¤@¦¸®È¦æåP¸¨ªº¥L¶O¥Îªº¬Û¦P¾_Äà·Pªº«°Âí¡C ¦bµ¡¤á¤§«e³Q¤Ï¼uªº Jinpei, ¿³¾Ä¦a«ü¥X¥L¦ó®É®·®»¤F¥Lªº«°¥«³W¼Ò¦w¸Ëªº²Ä¤@¤@¿h¡C Ryu À£¶i¤F¹ï§Ü¬Á¼þªº¥LÁy,¤½¶}¦aÁ_»Ø¡C "³o¤@¥ó¨Æª«¥²¶·¬O¤Q¤­¦¸·s¤ë§Îªº°ò¦¤j¤p! ¦Ó¥B¥¦²¾°Ê?"
"Yes," Nambu said. / "¬Oªº" ¡A Nambu »¡¡C
"How'd you build something so huge in secret?" / " How'd §A«Ø¥ß¯µ±Kªº¦p¦¹·¥¤jªF¦è"?
"It wasn't easy. Construction took place in a seismically active area to hide all the radio broadcasts and energy signatures. We were lucky not to have an eruption destroy our efforts. Now we keep the base moving constantly, so docking may be confusing until you get accustomed to the routine." Ken and Jun didn't speak throughout the trip, but watched everything silently with wide eyes. / "¥¦¤£¬O®e©öªº¡C «Ø¿v¦b¤@­Ó¦a¾_¿n·¥ªº°Ï°ì¤¤µo¥ÍÂéҦ³ªº¦¬­µ¾÷¼s¼½©M¯à·½Ã±¦r¡C §Ú­Ì¬O©¯¹Bªº¤£­nÅýÃzµo¯}Ãa§Ú­Ìªº§V¤O¡C ²{¦b§Ú­Ìºû«ù¤£Åܦa²¾°Ê ªº°ò¦, ¦p¦¹¤J¶õ¥i¯à§x´bª½¨ì§AÅܲߺD¤F¨ì¨Ò¦æ¤½¨Æ¡C"ªÖ®¦©M¤»¤ë¦b®È¦æ¦U³B¨S¦³»¡, ¦ý¬OÀqÀq¦a¥H¼eªº²´·ú¬Ý¤F¨C¥ó¨Æª«¡C
They docked at one of the smaller airlocks and climbed out of the sub, Ken surprised that there was no contingent of assistants or bodyguards waiting on the dock to meet the Professor. Dr. Nambu led the team up a flight of metal stairs and along a serviceway that ran behind the airlocks. Ken suspected they were being taken to their vehicles, and while he wasn't looking forward to seeing the Godphoenix and facing the memories it held, he knew Ryu missed his old warship and would be happy with the reunion. Ryu had guessed at their destination, and was hard pressed to stay behind the professor. Twice he led the way, to the amusement of the others. / ¥L­Ì³Q¦b¸û¤pªº airlocks ¦Ó¥B«æ¦£¦a²æ¤U´À¥N¤H­û¤§¤@°±ªy,ªÖ®¦¦YÅå¨S¦³§U²z©Îµ¥­Ô ªº«OÅß°¸µMªº¨Æ±¡½XÀY¹J¨£±Ð±Â¡C ³Q¤Þ¾É¤p²Õªº Nambu ³Õ¤h´£°ªª÷ÄÝ»sªº¼Ó±è¤@¦¸­¸¦æ©MªuµÛ¦b airlocks «á­±¶]ªº serviceway¡C ³Q²q·Q¥L­ÌªºªÖ®¦¥¿¦b³Q³ß·R¥L­Ìªº¨®½ø¡A¦Ó¥B·í¥L¨S¦³¦b´Á±æ¬Ý¨£ Godphoenix ¦Ó¥B­±¹ï¥¦®³µÛªº°O¾Ð®É­Ô,¥Lª¾¹D¤F Ryu ³Q¿ù¹L¥LªºÂ­xÄ¥¦Ó¥B±N·|¹ï¹Î»E·P¨ìº¡·N¡C Ryu ¤w¸g¦b¥L­Ìªº¥Øªº¦a²q´ú, ¦Ó¥B«ÜÃø¯d¦b«á­±±Ð±Â¡C ¨â¦¸¥L¤Þ¾É¤F¤èªk,¨ì¨ä¾lªÌªº®T¼Ö¡C
Nambu finally stopped before a large window overlooking an auditorium-sized airlock. He gestured and four shocked faces stared down, unprepared for what lay below. / Nambu ³Ì«á¦b¤@®°©¿²¤Â§°ó³W¼Ò airlockªº¤jµ¡¤á¤§«e°±¤î¡C ¥L§@¤â¶Õ©M¥|­Ó³Q¾_°Êªº³Qª`µø¤U¨ÓªºÁy, µL·Ç³Æªº¬°¦b¤U­±©ñ¸mªºªF¦è¡C
The warship was huge, at least five times the size of the Godphoenix, with a long fuselage and stubby, angled wings half-folded over the body. Nearly half of the craft consisted of engines. Looking like ants at this distance, workers crawled over the exterior, securing armor plating, and the primer-gray surface of the craft sparkled with the application of spot-welds. / ­xÄ¥¬O·¥¤jªº, ¦Ü¤Ö¤­¦¸ Godphoenix ªº¤j¤p, ÂǥѤ@­Óªøªº¾÷¨­©MÂ_®è¤@¯ëªº,¤@¥b¦a«ö¬Y¤@¨¤«×Âà°Ê¤F¯Í»H-¦b¨­Å餧¤WºPÅ|¡C ´X¥G¤@¥bªº­¸¾÷¦³¤ÞÀº¡C ¹³¿ÂÃƤ@¼Ë¦b³o¶ZÂ÷¬Ý,¤u¤H¦b¥~³¡¤§¤Wª¦¦æ,©T©w²¯¥Ò¹qÁá , ©M»P¦aÂIªº¥Ó½Ð¤@°_°{Ä£ªº¤Jªù®Ñ- ¦Ç¦âªº­¸¾÷ªí­±-²k±µ³B¡C
"This will be your mothership," Nambu said. "The New Godphoenix. Your individual vehicles will be ready in a week. I have schematics for those waiting in my office." / "³o±N¬O§Aªº mothership",Nambu »¡¡C "·sªº Godphoenix¡C §Aªº­Ó§O¨®½ø¦b¤@­Ó¬P´Á¤¤±N·Ç³Æ¦n¡C §Ú¬°¨º¨Ç¦³¹Ïªí­Ô¸É¦b§Úªº¿ì¤½«Ç¤¤¡C"
All of them moved closer to the glass to get a better look. Jinpei shook his head. "Wow. This's wild." / ¥L­Ì¥þ³¡³£²¾°Ê¤ñ¸û¾aªñªº¨ì¬Á¼þ±o¨ì¸û¦nªº¯«±¡¡C Jinpei ·nÀY¡C "«z¡C ³o¤@³B¯î³¥¡C"
Both Ken's and Jun's expressions went carefully blank, but Ryu's face clearly showed his disappointment. "What's wrong with our old ship, Hakase? The damage from Cross Karakoram wasn't that bad, was it?" / ªí¹F¤p¤ß¦a¥hªºªÖ®¦©M¤»¤ë¯dªÅ¥Õ¡A¦ý¬O Ryu's ªºÁy²M·¡¦aÅã¥Ü¤F¥Lªº¥¢±æ¡C "§Ú­ÌªºÂ²î«ç»ò¤F ,Hakase? ¨Ó¦Û¥æ¤eªº Karakoram ªº·l®`¤£¬O¨º»òÃaªº,¬O¶Ü ?"
"Not at all. But the design is outdated. Let's go to my office and I'll show you the details." Dr. Nambu motioned, and after taking one last glance at the construction project below, the team followed. Ryu scowled as he turned his back on the new ship. Ken gave him a warning glance as they turned the corner into another corridor. / "¨M¤£¡C ¦ý¬O³]­p³Q¹L®É¡C Åý§Ú­Ì¥h§Úªº¿ì¤½«Ç¡A¦Ó¥B§Ú±Nµ¹§A¬Ý²Ó¸`¡C"Nambu ³Õ¤h¹B°Ê¡A¦Ó¥B¦b°Ê¤Hªº³Ì«á¦b¤U­±ª`µø«Ø¿v­pµe¤§«á¡A¤p²Õ¸òÀH¡C ·í¥LÂà¦V¤F¦b·sªº²î¤W¥L­I³¡ªº®É­Ô¡A Ryu ½K¬ÜÀY¡C ·í¥L­Ì±N¨¤¸¨Åܦ¨¥t¤@­Ó¨«´Yªº®É­Ô¡AªÖ®¦µ¹¤©¤F¥Lĵ§iªº¤@¿h¡C
Nambu led them to a spacious conference room, one curved wall swallowed by windows. The feeling it evoked was not comforting, as if the glass was straining to hold back the tremendous weight of the ocean and would give at any moment. Ken frowned, remembering Galactor's attack on Crescent Coral. One missile strike here would easily put an end to the Professor's existence. / Nambu ¤Þ¾É¥L­Ì¨«¦V¤@­Ó¼s¤jªº·|ij©Ð¶¡,¤@Ås¤F³Qµ¡¤á§]ªºÀð¾À¡C ·Pı¥¦³ê°_¤£¬O¥O¤HªY¼¢ªº,¦n¹³¬Á¼þ¥¿¦b³Ò²Ö§í¨î¤j®üªº¥¨¤j­«¶q¦Ó¥B±N·|ÀH®Éµ¹¡C ªÖ®¦½K¬ÜÀY,°O±o Galactor's ¹ï·s¤ë§Îªº¬À·ä§ðÀ»¡C ¤@­Ó­¸¼u§ðÀ»³o¸Ì±N·|®e©ö¦a©ñ±Ð±Âªº¦s¦bµ²§ô ¡C
"This is what you call an office with a view." Jinpei grinned. / "³o¬O¦³µø³¥ªº§A©ÒºÙªº¤@­Ó¿ì¤½«Ç" ¡C Jinpei ÅS¾¦¦Ó¯º¡C
"Hm. This is more of a conference room, actually." Nambu gestured uneasily for them to continue. / "Hm¡C ³o¬O¤@­Ó·|ij©Ð¶¡ªº§ó¦h,¹ê»Ú¤W¡C" Nambu ¤£¦w¦a§@¤â¶ÕÅý¥L­ÌÄ~Äò¡C
From the arena they walked into a smaller and more comfortable office, the professor's actual workspace. Nambu unlocked his desk, pulled out a handful of manila folders and handed them to Ken. The folders were crammed with photos, blueprints and test results for four new vehicles as well as the mothership. Ken skimmed over the contents quickly before handing all but one of the folders to the others. / ±qÄv§Þ³õ¥L­Ì¨«¤J¤@­Ó¸û¤p©M§óµÎªA¿ì¤½«Ç,±Ð±Âªº¯u¹ê¤u§@ªÅ¶¡¡C Nambu ¶}±Ò¤F¥Lªº®Ñ®à, ©Ô¥X¤@§â manila ¤å¥ó§¨¦Ó¥B§â¥L­Ì¥æµ¹ªÖ®¦¡C ¤å¥ó§¨»P¬Û¤ù¡AÂŹϩM´ú¸Õ¤@°_¶ëº¡¥|½ø·sªº¨®½ø©M mothership ªºµ²ªG¡C ªÖ®¦¦b´X¥G¶Ç»¼¹ï¨ä¾lªÌªº¤å¥ó§¨¤§¤@¤§«e¦b¤º®e¤§¤W«Ü§Ö¦a²¤Åª¡C
The stats were impressive: the new bird-shaped craft possessed double the speed and engine capacity of the old Godphoenix and much higher tolerance for altitude and pressure--with attachable engine boosters she was even spaceworthy. The team would be sacrificing some maneuverability for that, though. Extendable missile launchers could fire salvos of up to six Bird Missiles at once (in the corner of his mind Ken heard Joe snort at that). Like the old Godphoenix, the new ship was home to four other vehicles, and Ryu now had a craft of his own: a tank. There was no vehicle for G-2, but according to the plans, there was an empty and unmarked vehicle bay under the left wing. / ÀR¬O¥O¤H¦L¶H²`¨èªº: ³Q«ù¦³ªº·s³¾§Îªº­¸¾÷¹ï©ó°ª«×¥[­¿Âªº Godphoenix ©M«D±`°ªªº¥]®e³t«×©M¤ÞÀº¯à¤O¦Ó¥B±j­¢--¥Ñ©ó¥i³s±µªº¤ÞÀº«á±Àªº¤H¦o¬O¥­©Zªº spaceworthy ¡C ¤p²Õ±N·|¬°¨ºÄ묹¤@¨Ç¥i¾Þ§@©Ê,ÁöµM¡C ¥i©µ¦ùªº­¸¼uµo®gªÌ¥i¥H¥ß¨èµo®g¹F¨ì¤»­Ó³¾­¸¼uªº»ôÁnÅw©I¡C (¦b¥Lªº³QÅ¥¨ì³ìªº¤ßªÖ®¦ªº¨¤¸¨¤¤¦b¨º¼QµÛ®ð§ËÅT»ó¤l) ¹³Âªº Godphoenix ¡A·sªº²î¬O¹ï¨ä¥L¥|¨®½øªº®a¡A¦Ó¥B Ryu ²{¦b¦³¤F¥L¾Ö¦³ªº­¸¾÷: ¤@­Ó¼Ñ¡C ³Ñ¤U¨S¦³¨®½ø¬° G-2, ¦ý¬O¨Ì·Ó­p¹º , ¨º¸Ì¬O¤@­ÓªÅªº©M¥¼³Qª`·Nªº¨®½ø®üÆW¦b¨º¤§¤U¯Í»H¡C
Ken paged through the schematics for his new fighter. Dubbed the Eagle Sharp, it was another overpowered brute armed with missiles instead of the old laser cannons. It was also as ungainly as the mothership, with an oddly shaped tail rudder and stubby quadruple wings. Already he missed the sweeping, ferocious lines of the old vehicles. Why had they changed the designs so much? / ªÖ®¦¬°¥Lªº·s°«¤h¼Ð©ú¹Ïªíªº­¶¼Æ¹L¡C °t­µ¤FÆN°ª½Õ,¬O¥t¥~¤@¦bÀ»±Ñ»P­¸¼u¤@°_ªZ¸Ëªº¯b¥Í¥N´Àªº¹p®g¤j¯¥¡C ¥¦¤]¬O¹³ mothership ¤@¼ËªºÃø¬Ý,ÂǥѤ@°¦©_§®¦a¦¨§Îªº¦b«á­±ªº²ë©MÂ_®è¤@¯ëªº¥|­¿¯Í»H¡C ¤w¸g¥L¿ù¹L¤F±½°£¡Aªº¨®½ø´Ý§Ôªº½u¡C ¥L­Ì¬°¤°»ò§ïÅܳ]­p¤F³o»ò¦h?
Then Ken remembered. Professor Matsumoto, the man who had engineered their first vehicles, had been killed during Galactor's final assault on Crescent Base, along with so many others. Most of the staff here would be fresh and untried, destined to fight an entirely new war. / µM«áªÖ®¦°O±o¡C ±Ð±ÂªQ¥»¡A¤w¸g³]­p¥L­Ìªº²Ä¤@½ø¨®½øªº¨k¤H,¤w¸g¦b¦b·s¤ë§Îªº°ò¦¤è­±ªº Galactor's ªº³Ì«á§ðÀ»´Á¶¡³Q±þ,³s¦P³o»ò¦h¨ä¥¦¤@°_¡C ¤j³¡¥÷ªºÂ¾­û³o¸Ì±N·|¬O·sÂAªº©M¥¼¸Õ¹Lªº,µù©w¹ï§Ü¤@­Ó§¹¥þ·sªº¾Ôª§¡C
Ken looked over at Jun; she ignored him, busy with her own folder. Jinpei gawked openly at the folder for the G-4 Swallow Helico. "This isn't anything like my old buggy. What's the alternate shape?" / ªÖ®¦¦b¤»¤ëÂsÄý ; ¦o©¿²¤¤F¥L,¥H¦o¦Û¤vªº¤å¥ó§¨¦£µÛ¡C Jinpei ¹ï©ó G-4 «|³ï Helico ¤½¶}¦a¦b¤å¥ó§¨Ã¨§bµÛ¬Ý¡C "³o¹³§ÚªºÂÂÂù½ü³æ®yªº»´°¨¨®¤£¬O¥ô¦ó¨Æ¡C ¥æ¤¬ªº§Îª¬¬O¤°»ò?"
"There are no alternate shapes for your new vehicles," Nambu said. "We decided that the shapeshifting mode was too much of a liability for the expense, especially now that Galactor has the Mechaziner." / "¬°§Aªº·s¨®½ø¨S¦³¥æ¤¬ªº§Îª¬",Nambu »¡¡C " §Ú­Ì¨M©w¡A shapeshifting ¼ÒºA¬O¤Ó¦h¹ï¶O¥Î³d¥ô, ¤×¨ä²{¦b¨º Galactor ¦³ Mechaziner".
"It's not gonna be very convenient," Jinpei said. "I may be getting old enough to drive legally, but not old enough to go through town in this thing without turning heads." He looked over Ryu's shoulder, then suddenly snatched a paper from his hand. "What's this? Check it out--the 'Horned Tank?'" He burst out laughing. "That's perfect for you, Ryu--a horny tank for a--OW!" Jun's swift slap caught him across the back of his head. "Jeez, Oneechan, I was just kidding!" / " ¥¦¨S¦³¥¿¦b¥h«Ü¤è«K",Jinpei »¡¡C "§Ú¥i¯àÅÜ°÷¦Ñªk«ß¤W¶}¨®, ¦ý¬O¤£¬O°÷¦Ñ¤£»Ý­nÂàÀY´N¦b³o¤@¥ó¨Æª«¤¤¥h¹L«°Âí". ¥LÂsÄý Ryu's ªºªÓ,µM«á¬ðµM¹Ü¨ú¨Ó¦Û¥Lªº¤â¤@±i¯È¡C "³o¬O¤°»ò? Àˬd¥X¥¦-- ¨º '¦³¨¤ªº¼Ñ?'"¥LÃzµõ¥X¯º¡C "¨º¬O§Aªº§¹¦¨¦¡ , Ryu-- ¤@­Ó¨¤ªº¼Ñ¬°¤@--ªí¥Ü¬ðµM¯kµh©Òµo¥X¤§Án"! ¤»¤ëªº½Å«B¿P¥¿­±¦a®·®»¥L¾î¹L¥LªºÀY­I­±¡C "Jeez ¡A Oneechan,§Ú¥¿¦b¶È¶È«¡ÄF"!
No one else responded. Ryu continued to scowl at the New Godphoenix plans. Ken walked over to him. "We won't know until we get behind the controls, Ryu," he said very softly, leaning close. "Give them a chance." Focused on his own work, Dr. Nambu didn't appear to notice the exchange or feel the tension in the room. / ¨S¦³¤H§Oªº¦^À³¡C Ryu Ä~Äò¦b·sªº Godphoenix ­p¹º½K¬ÜÀY¡C ªÖ®¦¨«¨ì¥L¡C "§Ú­Ì±N¤£ª¾¹Dª½¨ì§Ú­Ì¨ì¹F¦b±±¨î«á­±,Ryu",¥L«D±`¬X©M¦a»¡,¶É±×Ãö¡C "µ¹¥L­Ì¤@­Ó¾÷·|" ¡C §â­«¤ß¶°¤¤¦b¥L¦Û¤vªº¤u§@,Nambu ³Õ¤h¨S¦³¦ü¥G¦b©Ð¶¡¤¤ª`·N¥æ´«©Î·Pıºò±i¡C
"Do we get new Birdstyles too, Hakase?" Jinpei asked. / "§Ú­Ì¤]±o¨ì·sªº Birdstyles ¶Ü,Hakase"? Jinpei °Ý¡C
Nambu looked up. "The basic designs remain the same, though I've made a few technical modifications. As a matter of fact, if you're finished with the vehicle plans, we'll go down to the Development wing to take your measurements for your new uniforms and the seats for your vehicles." He looked Ken in the eye and half smiled. "Jinpei is not the only one who has gotten taller." / Nambu ¬Ý¦b¤W­±¡C "°ò¥»ªº³]­p«O«ù¤@¼Ëªº,ÁöµM§Ú¤w¸g§@¤@¨Ç§Þ³N¤Wªº­×¥¿¡C ¨Æ¹ê¤W¡A¦pªG§A³Q¥Î§¹¨®½ø­p¹º,§Ú­Ì±N¤U¥h¨ìµo®i¬°§Aªº·s¨îªA±a§Aªº´ú¶q©M¬°§Aªº¨®½ø¨ú±o®y¦ìªº¯Í»H¡C"¥L¬Ý¤F²´·úªºªÖ®¦¡A¦Ó¥B¤@¥b·L¯º¡C "Jinpei ¤£¬O°ß¤@ªº½Ö¤w¸gÅܱo¤ñ¸û°ªªº" ¡C
The fittings took more than two hours, but were the first familiar things they had done all day. The Kagaku Ninjatai had had to refit their Birdstyles more than once. During their first years of battle, Jinpei had put on two additional inches of height, and all of them had filled out. Beneath the mathematical scrutiny of the scanners, Ken discovered he had put on weight; his chest, arms and legs had thickened and his shoulders had broadened into a sturdy shape that more closely resembled his father's. Ken remembered the strength in those shoulders, too, as Kentaro had lifted him from the ground and thrown him across the deck: a final gift from father to son. / °t¥óªá¶W¹L¤G¤p®É, ¦ý¬O²Ä¤@­Ó¥L­Ì¾ã¤Ñ¤w¸g°µªº¼ô±x¨Æª«¡C ³Q¦³ªº Kagaku Ninjatai ¥²¶·§ï¸Ë¥L­Ìªº Birdstyles ¶W¹L¤@¦¸¡C ¦b¥L­Ìªº²Ä¤@¼Æ¦~ªº¾Ôª§®É­Ô¡A Jinpei ¤w¸g¬ï¤W¤Gªþ¥[ªº°ª«×¦T¡A¦Ó¥B¥L­Ì¥þ³¡³£¤w¸g¶ñ¼g¡C ¦b±½´y¾¹ªº¼Æ¾Ç¥J²Ó¬ã°Q¤§¤U¡AªÖ®¦µo²{¥L¤w¸g¼W¥[­«¶q; ¥Lªº¯Ý¡A¤â©M»L¤w¸gÅÜ¿@¡A¦Ó¥B¥LªºªÓ¤w¸g¶i¤J§óÄY±K¬Û¦ü¤F¥Lªº¤÷¿Ë±j°·ªº§Îª¬¤§¤ºÂX¤j¡C ªÖ®¦¤]°O±o¤F¨º¨ÇªÓªº¤O¶q,¦p¦P Kentaro ¤w¸g±q¦a­±Á|°_¥L¦Ó¥B¾î¹L¥á¥L¥ÒªO¤@¼Ë: ±q¤÷¿Ë¨ì¨à¤lªº¤@­Ó³Ì«áªºÂ§ª«¡C
He met the others outside the Development wing. They all looked tired, but Jinpei was still bouncing. "It's so cool. Nothing fits anymore, and I'm getting buffed!" He flexed his arms and Ryu snorted. "That's just your head swelling." / ¥L¦bµo®i¯Í»H¤§¥~¹J¨£¤F¨ä¾lªÌ¡C ¥L­Ì¥þ³¡¬Ý°_¨Ó«Ü¯h²Ö¡A¦ý¬O Jinpei ¤´µM¥¿¦b¤Ï¼u¡C "¥¦¬O¦p¦¹²D²n¡C ¨S¨Æ¤£¦A¾A¦X¡A¦Ó¥B§Ú¥¿¦b±o¨ìÀ¿¥ú½ü!"¥LÅs¦±¤F¥Lªº¤âÁu¡A¦Ó¥B Ryu ¼QµÛ®ð§ËÅT»ó¤l¡C "¨º¬O¥¿ª½ªº§AÀY¿±µÈ" ¡C
Jinpei slapped him on the stomach. "Hey, I bet the only place you filled out is in the middle!" Ryu swiped at him and missed, and no one else had the energy to chase Jinpei as he darted out of range. / Jinpei ¦b­G¨­¤W©çÀ»¥L¡C "¶Ù, §Ú¥´½ä§A¶ñ¼gªº°ß¤@¦a¤è¦b¤¤¥¡¤¤"! ¦b¥Lªº Ryu swiped ¦Ó¥B¿ù¹L,¦Ó¥B·í¥L§ë®gÂ÷½d³òªº®É­Ô¡A¨S¦³¤H§Oªº¦³¤F¯à·½°l®· Jinpei ¡C
Their new apartments were back toward Dr. Nambu's office, and as they trudged down the corridors, the techs they passed either gave them curious stares, nodded or waved. One didn't--a craggy faced man with shoulder length blonde hair and a preoccupied scowl. Instead of the Institute lab coat, tech jacket or security uniform, he was dressed casually in a cream sweater and khakis. He walked toward the fitting rooms, from where the team had come. Ken afforded him a quick, curious glance before his mind turned back inward. / ¥L­Ìªº·s¤½´J¹ï©ó Nambu's ³Õ¤h¿ì¤½«Ç¦^¨Ó¡A¦Ó¥B·í¥L­Ì¨I­«¦a¨«¤U¨Ó¨«´Y, ¬ì§Þ¥L­Ì³q¹L©Îµ¹¤©¤F¥L­Ì¦n©_ªºª`µø, ÂIÀY©Î´§»R¡C didn't-- ¤@±T¹òªº¥ÎªÓªø«×ª÷¾vºÑ²´ªº¤k¤HÀY¾v©M¤@­Ó³Q¥ý¥eªº·T®e­±¹ï¨k¤H¡C ¥N´À¾Ç·|¹êÅç«Ç¥~®M¡A¬ì§Þ§¨§J©Î¦w¥þ¨îªA¡A¥L¦b¨Å¹T¤ò¦ç©M¥d¨ä¦â¤¤³Q°¸µM¦a¬ïµÛ¡C ¥L¹ï©ó¾A©yªº©Ð¶¡¨«¸ô, ±q¦b¤p²Õ¤w¸g¨Óªº¦a¤è¡C ¦b¥Lªº¤ß§é¦^¤º¤ß¤§«e , ªÖ®¦´£¨Ñ¤F¥L§Öªº, ¦n©_ªº¤@¿h¡C

A moment after he passed them, Getz stopped in his tracks. Surrounded by older scientists and uniformed techs, the four youths stood out like neon signs. He had never seen them outside of publicity photos, but there was no mistaking those four for anyone other than the Kagaku Ninjatai. His future teammates. The people he would be working with, working for. He leaned against the wall and watched their backs until they vanished down the corridor. / ¤ù¨è¦b¥L³q¹L¤F¥L­Ì,Getz ¦b¥Lªº­y¹D¤¤°±¤î¤§«á¡C Âǵ۸û¦~ªøªº¬ì¾Ç®a©M¬ï¨îªAªº¬ì§Þ¥]³ò,¹³¦»Ã±¸p¡A¥|­Ó¦~»´¤H¬ð¥X¡C ¥L±q¥¼¦b¼s§i¬Û¤ùªº¥~Ãä¬Ý¨ì¥L­Ì, ¦ý¬O¤£­ã¥Ç¿ù¨º¨Ç¥|¬°¥ô¦ó¤H°£¤F Kagaku Ninjatai ¤§¥~¡C ¥Lªº±N¨Ó¶¤¤Í¡C ¥L±N·|¦X§@ªº¤H, ¤u§@¡C ¥L­Ê¾aÀð¾À¦Ó¥B¬Ý¥L­Ìªº­I³¡ª½¨ì¥L­Ì³Q®ø¥¢¤U¨Ó¨«´Y¡C
Considering their records, it was amazing how unimposing they looked outside of Birdstyle: four shaggy-headed kids, still all long legs and elbows. They didn't look old enough to be on a high tech base, preparing for a second round of battles in an older man's war. But Ken was only a year younger than Getz. Eric had always looked older than he was. / ¦Ò¼{¥L­Ìªº¬ö¿ý, ¥¦¬O¥O¤HÅ岧ªº¦p¦ó¤£°ó¬Óªº¥L­Ì¦b Birdstyle ªº¥~Ãä¬Ý: ¥|¤ò¾v½´ÃPªº-±a»â¤F¤p«Ä¡A¤´µM©Ò¦³ªøªº»L©M¤â¨y¡C ¥L­Ì¨S¦³¬Ýªº¥R¨¬¦b¤@­Ó°ª¬ì§Þ°ò¦¤W,·Ç³Æ¤@­Ó¸û¦~ªøªº¨k¤H¾Ôª§ªº¾Ôª§²Ä¤G¦^¦X¡C ¦ý¬OªÖ®¦¥u¬O¦~»´©ó Getz ªº¦~¡C ¦ã¤O§JÁ`¬O¤w¸g¬Ý¤ñ¥L¬O§ó¦~ªø¡C
Perhaps he should have stopped them and said hello, but what could he have said to them at this point? No, it was better to let the Professor make the introductions, smooth the transitions. Let us go our own ways for now, Getz thought. We'll be crossing paths again soon enough. / ¤]³\¥LÀ³¸Ó­nªý¤î¥L­Ì¦Ó¥B»¡«¢Åoªº, ¦ý¬O¤°»ò¥L¥i¥H¦¹®É¤w¸g¹ï¥L­Ì»¡¶Ü? ¤£,Åý±Ð±Â»s³y¤¶²Ð¬O¤ñ¸û¦nªº,¨ÏÂàÅÜ¥ú·Æ¡C Åý§Ú­Ì¬°²{¦b¥h§Ú­Ì¦Û¤vªº¤èªk,Getz ·Q¡C §Ú­Ì±N¦A¤@¦¸«Ü§Ö¨¬°÷¥æ¤e¸ô®|¡C

"Hakase, I'd like to request some leave time." / "Hakase,§Ú·Q­n½Ð¨D¤@¨Ç¥ð°²®É¶¡".
"How long?" / " ¦h¤["?
"Two weeks." / "¤G­Ó¬P´Á".
Nambu nodded hesitantly. Though it would be more convenient to have Getz out of the way for now--he was not ready to introduce him to the Kagaku Ninjatai--he was not comfortable with Getz leaving the safety of the base. It was too early. Still, the young man had loose ends he needed to wrap up, and there was no viable excuse Nambu could use to keep him here, short of a direct order. If only the time hadn't come so soon. / Nambu ¿ðºÃ¦aÂIÀY¡C ÁöµM±q¤è¦¡¦³ Getz ²{¦b±N·|¬O§ó¤è«Kªº--¥LÁÙ¨S·Ç³Æ¦n¤¶²Ð Kagaku Ninjatai µ¹¥L»{ÃÑ--¥L¤£¹ï¯d¤U°ò¦ªº¦w¥þ ªº Getz ·P¨ìµÎªAªº¡C ¥¦¤Ó¦­¬O¡C ¤´µM¡A¦~»´ªº¨k¤H¦³¥L»Ý­n¬ï±o·x©M, ¦Ó¥B¨S¦³¦³¬¡¤OªºÂǤf Nambu ªºÃP´²¨Æª«¥i¥H¨Ï¥Î«O¦s¥L³o¸Ì,¤@­Óª½±µªº¦¸§Çµu¡C ¦pªG¥u¦³®É¶¡¨S¦³¨Ó¦p¦¹ªº§Ö¡C
"I see. Where will you be going?" / "§Úª¾¹D¤F¡C §A±N¦b­þ¸Ì­n¥h?"
"Home on personal business." / "¦b­Ó¤Hªº¥Í·N¤W¦^®a" ¡C
"We need you here for training." / "§Ú­Ì»Ý­n§A°V½mªº³o¸Ì" ¡C
"I understand, but you said yourself we have some leeway." / "§Ú¤F¸Ñ¡A¦ý¬O§A»¡¤F§A¦Û¤v§Ú­Ì¦³¤@¨Ç¼u©Ê" ¡C
"That I did..." Eric's eyes pierced him in a way that was uncomfortably familiar. Dr. Nambu opened his mouth to issue a denial, then caught himself and closed it again. He turned to the document on his desk, checked a paragraph absently, then looked up. "All right. Two weeks. Be back on the morning of the twenty fifth--no later." / " §Ú°µ¡C¡C¡C"¦ã¤O§Jªº²´·ú¦b¤@­Ó¤£µÎªA¦a¼ô±xªº¤èªk¤¤¨ë¬ï¥L¡C Nambu ³Õ¤h¥´¶}¤F¥Lªº¼Lµo¦æ§_»{, µM«á®·®»¥L¦Û¤v¦Ó¥B¦A¤@¦¸Ãö³¬¤F¥¦¡C ¥LÂà¦V¦b¥Lªº®Ñ®à¤Wªº¤å¥ó,¤ß¤£¦b²j¦aÀˬd¤F¤@­Ó¬q¸¨, µM«á¬Ý¦b¤W­±¡C "¦nªº¡C ¤G­Ó¬P´Á¡C ¦b¤­ªº¤À¤§¤G¤Qªº¦­±á¦^¨Ó-- ¨S¦³¤ñ¸û¿ðªº¡C"
Getz nodded. "Thank you, sir." Turning his back, he headed for the door. / Getz ÂIÀY¡C "ÁÂÁ§A,¥ý¥Í". Âà¥Lªº­I³¡,¥L¥hªù¡C
"Getz." / "Getz".
He stopped. / ¥L°±¤î¡C
"Be careful." / "­n¤p¤ß" ¡C
The young man looked over his shoulder, and his lips twisted into a grin. "Consider it my first test, sir." The door slid closed behind him. / ¦~»´ªº¨k¤HÂsÄý¥LªºªÓ¡A¦Ó¥B¥Lªº®B¶i¤JÅS¾¦¯º¤§¤ºÀ¾¡C "¦Ò¼{¥¦§Úªº²Ä¤@­Ó´ú¸Õ,¥ý¥Í". ªù slid Ãö³¬¦b¥L«á­±¡C
"I hope you pass," Nambu said softly. / "§Ú§Æ±æ¡A§A³q¹L",Nambu ¬X©M¦a»¡¡C
Picking up the telephone receiver, he dialed Julia's extension, spoke a few terse words and hung up. / ±µ¸ü¹q¸Ü±µ¦¬¾¹,¥L¼·¤F¯ü²ú¨Èªº©µªø, »¡¤F¤@¨Ç²¼äªº¦r¦Ó¥B±¾Â_¡C

The clock on the nightstand read 2:43 AM, and the small lamp above it cast the only light in the room Joe sat cross-legged on his bed, flipping through a sheaf of printouts. Even in this era of automation, he preferred reading hard copy to scanning information from a screen. With paper, the data was solid, more tangible, something he could literally grasp, and it made the subject seem more real. Both Rafael and his staff of assistants had collected this data a week ago at Joe's request. ISO security would have a fit if they realized how much confidential information had been pulled from their archives. / ¦b nightstand ¤Wªº®ÉÄÁŪ¦­¤W 2:43 ¡A¦Ó¥B¦b¥¦¤W­±ªº¤p¿O§ë¦b³Q§¤µÛªº©Ð¶¡³ìªº°ß¤@¥ú½LµÛ»Lªº¦b¥L§É¤W,¥Î«üÀY¼u¹L¦L¥Xªº¤@­Ó§ô¡C ¬Æ¦Ü¦b¦Û°Ê¤Æªº³o¤@­Ó®É¥N¤¤¡A¥L³ßÅwŪµwªO³Ó¹L±½´y¨Ó¦Û¤@­Ó¿Ã¹õªº¸ê®Æ¡C ÂǥѯȡA¸ê®Æ¬O©TÅé¡A§ó¦hªº¦³§Î¸ê²£, ¬Y¨Æ¥L¥i¥H·Ó¦r­±¤W¦a§ì¦í¡A¦Ó¥B¥¦Åܱo§ó¯u¥¿¡C Rafael ©M¥Lªº§U²z¾­û¦b¤@­Ó¬P´Á¥H«e¤w¸g¦b³ìªº½Ð¨D¦¬¶°³o¤@µ§¸ê®Æ¡C ¦pªG¥L­Ì¤F¸Ñ¡A°ê»Ú¼Ð·Ç²Õ´¦w¥þ±N·|¦³¾A©y¦h¤Ö¾÷±Kªº¸ê®Æ±q¥L­ÌªºÀɮפw¸g³Q©Ô¡C
The papers he flipped through now contained stats on Eric Getz, age twenty one, straight-A grad student, martial artist and aspiring security agent. A real overachiever. Eric's thin face glared at him from several snapshots, the gaze narrow and wary, a slight curve to his lips as if he were smiling at some inner joke. Eric's parents were dead; his father from suspicious circumstances involving Ameris and the CIA, his mother from cancer. His uncle was his closest surviving relative, and Eric's contact with him was fairly regular. ISO profiles described Getz as careful, methodical and shrewd. Joe wondered about instinct, one talent that had saved his own skin on occasion. / ³ø¯È¥L¥Î«üÀY¼u¹L³Q¥]§t¦b¦ã¤O§J Getz ¤WªºÀR²{¦b,ÅܦѤG¤Q¤@¡Aª½½u-¤@¦ì¤j¾Ç²¦·~¥Í¾Ç¥Í,­x¨ÆªºÃÀ³N®a©M¿n·¥ªº¦w¥þ¥N²z¤H¡C ¯u¥¿ªº overachiever¡C ¦ã¤O§Jªº½GÁy¦b¥L±q¤@¨Ç¨³³t®gÀ»µo¯t¥ú, ª`µø®ü®l©M¤p¤ßªº, ¥Lªº®B¤@­Ó·L¤pªº¦±½u¦n¹³¥L¥¿¦b¤@¨Ç¤º³¡ªº¯º¸Ü·L¯º¡C ¦ã¤O§Jªº¤÷¥À¦º; ¨Ó¦Û¥]¬A Ameris ©M¤¤¥¡±¡³ø§½ ªº¥iºÃÀô¹Òªº¥L¤÷¿Ë,¨Ó¦ÛÀù¯gªº¥L¥À¿Ë¡C ¥Lªº¨û¨û¬O¥Lªº³Ì¾aªñÄ~Äò¥Í¦s¿Ë±­¡A¦Ó¥B¦ã¤O§J»P¥Lªº±µÄ²«D±`³W«h¡C °ê»Ú¼Ð·Ç²Õ´´yø§â Getz »¡¦¨¬O¤p¤ßªº¡M¦³¤èªkªº©Mºë©ú¡C ³ìÃö©ó¥»¯à¡A¤@­Ó¤w¸g¸Ñ±Ï¦b³õ¦X¤Wªº¥L¦Û¤vªº¥Ö½§¤~¯àÃhºÃ¡C
He might work out. / ¥L¥i¯à¸Õºâ¡C
But what do the others think of him? The profiles also described Getz as quiet and solitary. Would he fit in? The data couldn't tell Joe that. Only his own assessment could tell him that. Or Ken's. Or Jun's. / ¦ý¬O¨ä¾lªÌı±o¥L¦p¦ó? ´yø¤]§â Getz »¡¦¨¬O¦wÀR©M¿W©~ªÌ¡C ¥L±N·|¾A¦X¶Ü¦b? ¸ê®Æ¤£¥i¥H§i¶D³ì¨º¡C °ß¤@ªº¥L¦Û¤vªºµû¦ô¥i¥H§i¶D¥L¨º¡C ©ÎªÖ®¦¡C ©Î¤»¤ë¡C
With a sigh, Joe tossed the notes on top of a pile of rumpled blankets and left his quarters. He spent the rest of the night topside, wandering among the ruins of the old fishing village beneath a sky illuminated only by stars. / ÂǥѤ@Án¼Û®§¡A³ì§Ë¿¨¤ò´à§ëÂY¦b°ïªº³»ºÝ¤Wªºªþµù¦Ó¥B¯d¤U¤F¥Lªº¥|¤À¤§¤@¡C ¥Lªá¶O¤F©]±ß°®²ìªº¨ä¥¦³¡¤À, ±r«Þªº¦b³¨³½ªº·´·À¤§¤¤¦b¥u¦³³Q¬P·Ó©úªº¤ÑªÅ¤§¤Uªº§ø²ø¡C



The timer chimed, marking the end of the session. Ken leaned back in the simulator, pulled off his helmet and ran fingers through sweaty dark hair. He found it both alarming and exhilarating how easily these things came back to him--to all of them. He had expected them all to fumble badly, but it seemed like they had never stopped fighting. And this was only their third day of training. / ©w®É¾¹»ï,µûŲ·|ijªºµ²§ô¡C ªÖ®¦¸g¹L¥X¦½ªº¶Â·tÀY¾v¦b¼ÒÀÀ¾¹¤¤¦V«á¦a­Ê¾a, ¶¶§Q§¹¦¨¥Lªº¿û²¯¦Ó¥B¶]¤â«ü¡C ¥Lµo²{¥¦¨â­ÓÅå·W©M¥O¤H³ßÅwªº³o¨Ç¨Æª«¦^¨ì¥L¦a¦h®e©ö--¨ì¥L­Ì¥þ³¡¡C ¥L¤w¸g´Á±æ¥L­ÌÄY­«¦aºN¯Áªº¥þ³¡¡A¦ý¬O¥¦¹³¥L­Ì±q¥¼°±¤î¹ï§Ü¡C ¦Ó¥B³o¬O°ß¤@ªº¥L­Ì°V½mªº²Ä¤T¤Ñ¡C
"Nice work, all of you," he said over his wristband--another old and welcome friend returned. "We meet here tomorrow, same time." / "¬ü¦nªº¤u§@,§A¥þ³¡",¥L¦b¥Lªº³S¤f¤§¤W»¡--¥t¥~¦Ñªº©M¨üÅwªïªºªB¤ÍÂkÁÙ¡C " §Ú­Ì©ú¤Ñ¦b³o¸Ì¹J¨£,¬Û¦Pªº®É¶¡".
"That was pretty cool!" Jinpei's voice came back over the tiny link, deeper than in the old days. How old was he now? "When do we get to do the real thing?" / " ¨º¬O¬Û·í²D²n"! Jinpei's ªºÁn­µ¦b·¥¤pªº³sµ²¤§¤W¦^¨Ó, ²`ªº¶W¹L¦bªº¼Æ¤Ñ¤¤¡C ²{¦b¥L´X·³? " §Ú­Ì¦ó®É¶}©l°µ¯u¥¿ªº¨Æª«"?
"Soon as the paint dries," Ken said, parroting the chief engineer's reply. He pulled the handle and the simulator hatch opened with a hiss. / "«Ü§Ö¦pªoº£§Ë°®",ªÖ®¦»¡,ÆxÄM¥D­nªº¤uµ{®vªºµªÂСC ¥L©Ô¤F¬`¡A¦Ó¥B¼ÒÀÀ¾¹¿µ¤f¥H¤@Án¼NÁn¥´¶}¡C
The others also exited simulators, capsule-shaped enclosures surrounded by wires and hoses and hydraulics in a soundproofed room with black painted walls. All of them looked weary but satisfied. Jun had already transmuted back to civilian style, and while her baggy new jersey didn't quite flatter her, the tight white jeans certainly did. Ken imagined his hands on her hips, her leaning back against his chest, warm and reassuring--then he kicked himself. That's over now. / ¨ä¾lªÌ¤]°h¥X¼ÒÀÀ¾¹¡A¦b©M³QµeÀð¾Àªº¶Â¦â¤@­Ó³Q©Ð¶¡¸Ë¹j­µ¸Ë¸mªº¤¤³Q¹q½u©M¤ôºÞ©M¤ô¤O¾Ç¥]³òªº½¦Ån§Îªºªþ¥ó¡C ¥L­Ì¥þ³¡³£¬Ý°_¨Ó¯h­Â¦ý¬Oº¡·Nªº¡C ¤»¤ë¦V«á¦a¤w¸g¨Ï¨ì¥­¥Áªº­·®æÅܧΤF¡A¦Ó¥B·í¦oªºÃP«±«±ªº¯Ã¿A¦è¦{¤£¬Û·í¹L¥÷¸ØÆg¦oªº®É­Ô,ºòªº¥Õ¦â¤û¥J¿Ç½T©w¦a°µ¡C ·Q¹³¦b¦oªºÁv³¡¤Wªº¥L¤âªÖ®¦ , ¦oªº¶É±×¦V«á¦a¤Ï¹ï¥Lªº¯Ý, ·Å·xªº©M¦w¤ßªº--µM«á¥L¦Û³d¡C ¨º¦b²{¦b¥H¨Ó¡C
Jun met Ken's gaze. Her eyes flashed coldly and she turned away. Ken's mouth tightened as he watched her leave. When would she get over this and see reason? She had to understand. / ¤»¤ë¹J¨£¤FªÖ®¦ªºª`µø¡C ¦oªº²´·ú§N²H¦a°{²{¡A¦Ó¥B¦oÂà¦VÂ÷¶}¡C ·í¥L¬Ý¤F¦oªº¥ð°²®É­Ô¡AªÖ®¦ªº¼L°Çºò¡C ¦o±N·|¦ó®É§JªA³o¦Ó¥B¬Ý¨£²z¥Ñ? ¦o¥²¶·¤F¸Ñ¡C
You're the one who ought to understand. Joe's voice again. It stung. / §A¬OÀ³¸Ó¤F¸Ñªº¨º¤@­Ó¡C ¦A¤@¦¸ªº³ìÁn­µ¡C ¥¦¨ë¡C
Go away, Ken snarled in his mind. You're not really here. Leave me the hell alone. / ¨«¶},ªÖ®¦¦b¥Lªº¤ß¤¤§q¥s¡C §A¦b³o¸Ì¤£¯uªº¡C ¿W¦Û¦a¯d¤U§Ú¦aº»¡C
"I'm off to the gym," he said. "Anyone else care to come with me?" / "§Ú¥h«Ø¨­©Ð",¥L»¡¡C "¨ä¥L¥ô¦ó¤HÄ@·N©M§Ú¨Ó"?
Ryu squinted at him. "Aren't you tired?" / Ryu ¦b¥L¨ÏÅܱ׵ø²´¡C " §A¤£«Ü¯h²Ö"?
"Not that tired. C'mon, a workout will do you good." / " ¤£¨º¯h²Öªº¡C C'mon,¤@­Ó½m²ß±N¹ï§A¦³¦n³B¡C"
"Hunh-uh. Enough's enough." Ryu shook his head. / "Hunh-uh¡C ¥R¨¬ªº¥R¨¬¡C"Ryu ·nÀY¡C
"Suit yourself. Jinpei?" / "¾A¦X§A¦Û¤v¡C Jinpei?"
Jinpei blinked. "Maybe in a few minutes. " / Jinpei ¯w²´¡C "¦b´X¤ÀÄÁ¤§¤º¤]³\¡C "
"All right." / "¦nªº" ¡C
All of them stared at Ken's back as he departed. "I don't like this," Ryu said. "He's going weird on us again." / ¥L­Ì¥þ³¡³£¦V«á¦a·í°µ¥L¨nµÛªÖ®¦¬Ý°_¨Ó¹L¥hªº¡C " §Ú¤£³ßÅw³o",Ryu »¡¡C "¥L¥¿¦b¦A¤@¦¸¦b§Ú­Ì¨­¤WÅܩDz§" ¡C
"Yes," Jun said softly. / "¬Oªº" ¡A¤»¤ë¬X©M¦a»¡¡C
"Oneechan," Jinpei turned to her. "What're you gonna do? You two can't keep on acting like this!" / "Oneechan",Jinpei ¨D§U©ó¦o¡C " What're §A¥h°µ? §A­Ì¤G­Ó¤£¯àÄ~Äò¦æ°Ê¦PÃþ³o!"
"Mind your own business." / "¯d·N§A¦Û¤vªº¥Í·N" ¡C
"It is my business." The boy scowled. "What happens with you two when we go back to fighting Galactor?" / "¥¦¬O§Úªº¥Í·N" ¡C ¨k«Ä½K¬ÜÀY¡C " ¤°»ò©M§Aµo¥Í¤G·í§Ú­Ì¦^¥h¹ï§Ü Galactor ªº®É­Ô"?
"We do our jobs," Jun said grimly. "Don't ask me about it again." / "§Ú­Ì°µ§Ú­Ìªº¤u§@",¤»¤ëÄY®æ¦a»¡¡C "¤£¦A¦V§Ú¸ß°Ý¥¦" ¡C
"That's it," Jinpei said, throwing up his hands and heading for the door. "I'm outta here." / "¨º¬O¥¦",Jinpei »¡,Á|°_¥Lªº¤â¦Ó¥B¥hªù¡C "§Ú¦b³o¸Ì¬O outta" ¡C
"Jinpei," Jun's voice made him pause in the doorway. "Don't let Ken run himself into the ground." / "Jinpei",¤»¤ëªºÁn­µ¦bªù¤f¤¤¨Ï¥L¼È°±¡C "¶i¤J¦a­±¤§¤º¤£­nÅýªÖ®¦¶]¥L¦Û¤v" ¡C
"Sure, leave it to me." There was no confidence in his voice. / "·íµM,¹ï§Ú¯d¤U¥¦". ¨S¦³¹ï¥LªºÁn­µ«H¤ß¡C
As the door closed behind him, Ryu came up beside Jun and touched her arm. "What about you? Will you be all right?" / ·íªùÃö³¬¦b¥L«á­±ªº®É­Ô,Ryu ¦b¤»¤ë®ÇÃäµo¥Í¦Ó¥B¸IIJ¤F¦oªº¤âÁu¡C " ¤°»òÃö©ó§A? §A±N¬O¨SÃö«Y¶Ü?"
"I'll be just fine." Jun's lips quivered as she turned away from him. Ryu's gentle question did more to unravel her composure than all the day's tensions combined. Quickly she headed for the door before Ryu could say anything else or she could dissolve into tears. / "§Ú±N¬O¥¿ª½ªº»@´Ú" ¡C ·í¦oÂà¦V»·Â÷¥Lªº®É­Ô¡A¤»¤ëªº®BŸ§Ý¡C ¤ñ¸û¾ã¤Ñªººò±iÁp¦X¡A Ryu's ªº·Å©M°ÝÃD¦h°µÄÄ©ú¦oªºÂíÀR¡C «Ü§Ö¦a¦b Ryu ¥i¥H»¡§OªºªF¦è¤§«e , ¦o¥hªù¡A§_«h¦o¥i¥H¶i¤J²\ºw¤§¤º·»¸Ñ¡C

Ken entered the dressing room, changed into sweats, and after a quick stretch, began running on the track that circled the perimeter of the exercise area. The gym was amazingly well-equipped with everything from weight machines to boxing bags and gymnastic equipment--even a training ring. All of it smelled new and unused; sterile, expectant. He picked a hard but steady pace, a little harder than his routine running sessions, and could feel each part of his body working, pushing, moving ever forward. / ³Q¶i¤J¤Æù۫ǪºªÖ®¦,´«¦¨¦½, ©M¦b§Öªº¦ù®i¤§«á,¶}©l¦b¥]³ò¤F½m²ß°Ï°ìªº©Pªø­y¹D¤W¶]¡C ¥O¤HÅ岧¦a«Ü¦n¦a«Ø¨­©Ð¬O-¸Ë³Æ±q­«¶q¾÷¾¹¨ì®±À»ªº¨C¥ó¨Æª«³U¤l©MÅé¾Þªº»ö¾¹--¨Ï¤@­Ó°V½m§Ù«ü¬Ûµ¥¡C ¥¦¥þ³¡³£»D°_¨Ó·sªº©M¤£¥Î; ¤£¥¥ªº,¹w´ÁªÌ¡C ¥L¬D¿ï¤F¤@­ÓÃøªº¦ý¬Oí©wªº³t«×,µy·L§ó§V¤O¦a¶W¹L¥Lªº¶]·|ij ªº¨Ò¦æ¤½¨Æ, ¦Ó¥B¥i¥H·Pı¥Lªº¨­Åé¤u§@ªº¨C­Ó³¡¥÷,±À°Ê¡A¦V«e¦a´¿¸g²¾°Ê¡C
Forward. Running straight into an uncertain future. Again he heard Nambu's words from the morning's briefing: "No, we don't know what we're up against--how large or powerful it is. We do know that Sosai X has returned to Earth and is gathering his forces. We don't yet know how well these forces are organized. For this reason, the four of you will be staying on base between missions." The others had loved that: their freedom lost, the money and effort they had poured into the past two years now abandoned. The fact that they were now hiding from their enemy galled Ken the most. / Âà±H¡C ¶]ª½½u¶i¤£½T©wªº¥¼¨Ó¤§¤º¡C ¦A¤@¦¸¥LÅ¥¨ì¤F¨Ó¦Û¦­±áªºÂ²³ø Nambu's ªº¦r: " ¤£¡A§Ú­Ì¤£ª¾¹D¤°»ò§Ú­Ì¦V¤W¬O¤Ï¹ï-- ¦p¦ó¤jªº©Î¦³¤Oªº¥¦¬O¡C §Ú­Ì½T¹êª¾¹D Sosai X ¤w¸g¦^¨ì¦a²y¨Ã¥B¬O¶°·|¥Lªº­x¶¤¡C §Ú­Ì¤£¤´µMª¾¹D³o¨Ç­x¶¤¬O¦h¦n²Õ´¡C ¦]¬°³o»¡ªA,§A¤¤ªº¥|­Ó±N¦b¥ô°È¤§¶¡ªº°ò¦¤W°±¯d¡C" ¨ä¾lªÌ¤w¸g·R¨º: ¥L­Ìªº³Q¥¢¥hªº¦Û¥Ñ¡A¥L­Ì¤w¸gª`¤J³Q©ß±óªº¹L¥h¤G¦~²{¦bªº¿ú©M§V¤O¡C ¥L­Ì²{¦b¥¿¦b±q¥L­Ìªº¼Ä¤HÂ꺨ƹê©}°d¤FªÖ®¦¤j³¡¤À¡C
The sounds of Ken's footsteps echoed in the large gym, and the wind cause by his movement cooled his face and lifted his sweaty hair from his neck. He could already feel the fresh perspiration trickling beneath his clothes as he ran. / ªÖ®¦ªº¸}¨BÁn­µ¦b¤jªº«Ø¨­©Ð¤¤ÀHÁnªþ©M¡A¦Ó¥B¥Lªº¹B°Ê­·¦]¯À§N«o¤F¥LªºÁy¦Ó¥BÁ|°_¤F¨Ó¦Û¥Lªº²ä¤l¥L¥X¦½ªºÀY¾v¡C ·í¥L¶]ªº®É­Ô¡A¥L¥i¥H¤w¸g·Pı¦b²¾°Ê¤§¤U¥Lªº¦çªA ªº·sÂA¦½¡C
Four teammates piloting unfinished vehicles, represented by ambiguous computerized shapes, fighting against... what? It was Gallactor, but a strange, more competent organization, as his recent combat experience had revealed. Who led them now that Katse was dead? / »â¯è¥¼§¹¦¨ªº¨®½ø, ³QÀǬNªº¥Î¹q¸£³B²z§Îª¬¥Nªí, ¹ï§Ü ªº¥|­Ó¶¤¤Í¤Ï¹ï¡C¡C¡C ¤°»ò? ¥¦¬O Gallactor, ¦ý¬O¤@­Ó©_©Çªº, §ó¯à·Fªº²Õ´,¦p¦P¥Lªº³Ìªñ¾Ô°«¸gÅç¤w¸gÅã¥Ü¤@¼Ë¡C ½Ö²{¦b¤Þ¾É¤F¥L­Ì Katse ¦º?
The rest of the team performed as well as they could in the simulators, but the two years of inactivity had taken their toll. And Nambu's obvious caution wasn't doing much for Ken's confidence. He felt as if they were all sixteen again, inexperienced and vulnerable. Even more so since they were short one member. This time Joe wasn't there to share the strain, to help anchor them. Gallactor had killed him, one Ken had thought to be unkillable, and now Gallactor was even more formidable. / ¤p²Õªº¨ä¥¦³¡¤Àªí²{©M¥L­Ì¥i¥H¦b¼ÒÀÀ¾¹¤¤¡A¦ý¬O¤G¦~ªº¤£¬¡°Ê¤w¸g±Ä¨ú¥L­Ìªº³q¦æ¶O¡C ¦Ó¥B Nambu's ªº©úÅã¤p¤ß¨S¦³¦b¬°ªÖ®¦ªº«H¤ß¦h°µ¡C ¥L·Pı¦n¹³¥L­Ì¥þ³¡¦A¤@¦¸¬O¤Q¤»,µL¸gÅ窺©M©ö¨ü¶Ë®`ªº¡C ¬Æ¦Ü§ó¦p¦¹¦]¬°¥L­Ì¬O¸G¤@­Ó¦¨­û¡C ³o¦¸³ì¤£¦b¨º¸Ì¤À¨Éºò±i, À°§UÁã¥L­Ì¡C Gallactor ¤w¸g±þ¥L, ¤@­ÓªÖ®¦¤w¸g·Q¬OµLªk±þªº¡A¦Ó¥B²{¦b Gallactor ¬O¬Æ¦Ü§ó±j¤jªº¡C
The four of them. Nambu had said that the mothership would be operated by an autopilot, freeing Ryu to join them in battles where they'd have to split up. But there was still a big gap in their ranks. With even one piece gone, they were weak, and even if no one mentioned it, all of them felt it. / ¥L­Ì¤¤ªº¥|­Ó¡C Nambu ¤w¸g»¡¡A mothership ±N·|³Q¤@­Ó¦Û¤Þ¥Ü¾Þ§@, ÄÀ©ñ Ryu ¦b¥L­Ì¦³¥²¶·¤ÀÂ÷ªº¾Ôª§¤¤°Ñ¥[¥L­Ì¦b¤W­±¡C ¦ý¬O¤´µM¦³¥L­Ìªº±Æ¦W¤@­Ó¤jªºÁ_»Ø¡C »P¥­©Zªº­×¸É¥h,¥L­Ì¬O®zªº¡A¦Ó¥B§Y¨Ï¨S¦³¤H´£¨ì¤F¥¦,¥L­Ì¥þ³¡³£·Pı¤F¥¦¡C
Ken's feet pounded harder on the track; the soles of his running shoes slapping hard on the rubberized surface, pushing it away.What are we going to do? / ªÖ®¦ªº¸}¦b­y¹D¤W§ó§V¤O¦a±j¯P¥´À»; Ãøªº¦b³Q¶î¾ó½¦ªºªí­±¤Wªº¥X©_¦a§Öªº¥L¬y°Êªº¾c¤l¸}´x,±À°Ê¥¦Â÷¶}¡C§Ú­Ì±N­n°µ¤°»ò?
He heard himself saying jokingly to Ryu on the first day Joe turned up missing from the track: Oh, he's okay, He's too mean to die. They had laughed. He saw his own hands folding Joe's icy fingers around the blades of his boomerang. / ¥LÅ¥¨ì¤F¥L¦Û¤v¶}ª±¯º¦a»¡¨ì¦b²Ä¤@¤Ñ³Q¥X²{±q­y¹D¥¢¥hªº³ì¤W Ryu: ®@,¥L¬O¦n,¥L¬O¤Ó§C¦H¦ÓµLªk¦º¡C ¥L­Ì¤w¸g¯º¡C ¥L¦b¥Lªº¦^­¸´Îªº¤M¾W©P³ò¬Ý¨£¥L¦Û¤vªº¤â§éÅ|ªº³ì¦B¤â«ü¡C
Jun, in her car after he came out of the hospital: When Red Impulse died, then Joe... I got so scared. I keep thinking our luck has run out. / ¤»¤ë,¦b¥L«áªº¦o¨T¨®¤¤±qÂå°|¥X¨Ó: ·í¬õ¦âªº½Ä°Ê¦ºªº®É­Ô, µM«á³ì¡C¡C¡C §Ú³o»ò±o¨ìÅåÀ~¡C §ÚÄ~Äò·Q§Ú­Ìªº¹B®ð¤w¸g¥Î§¹¡C
Ken's breath came faster. / ªÖ®¦ªº©I§l³Q´£¥X§ó§Ö³t¦a¡C
Who can replace you, Joe? I need you here. Tell me I'm being stupid. / ½Ö¯à´À´«§A,³ì? §Ú¦b³o¸Ì»Ý­n§A¡C §i¶D§Ú¡A§Ú¬O·MÄø¡C
Ken tried to imagine his friend running beside him, keeping pace with easy, long-legged strides, but the vision eluded him. He scowled; after what had happened in Jun's bar--after hearing Joe's voice in the simulator room only minutes ago--he should be able to do it, to bring Joe back at least in his memories. He tried again. Dammit, where are you now? / ªÖ®¦¸ÕµÛ·Q¹³¥Lªº¦b¥L®ÇÃä¶] ªºªB¤Í,«OºÞ©M®e©öªº, ªø- »Lªº¤j¨B¿â¨B¡A¦ý¬Oµø³¥°kÁפF¥L¡C ¥L½K¬ÜÀY; ¦b¤»¤ë¤w¸gµo¥Í°s§aªºªF¦è¤§«á--¦b¦b°ß¤@ªº¤ÀÄÁ¥H«e¦b¼ÒÀÀ¾¹©Ð¶¡¤¤Å¥³ìªºÁn­µ¤§«á--¥LÀ³¸Ó¯à°÷°µ¥¦, ¦b¥Lªº°O¾Ð¤¤¦Ü¤Ö§â³ì±a¦^¨Ó¡C ¥L¦A¤@¦¸¹Á¸Õ¡C ¸Ó¦º,²{¦b§A¦b­þ¸Ì?
No reply. He felt nothing. Empty. / ¨S¦³µªÂСC ¥L¤°»ò¤]¤£·Pı¡C ²MªÅ¡C
Ken ran and ran. He no longer saw the track, no longer counted the laps. He lashed at the ground with his feet, struggled against muscles that were beginning to ache. Ken gasped for air, his strides erratic as the panic washed over him. His foot scuffed hard against the track, which grabbed on and pulled back. Ken stumbled and fell. He hit the ground in a roll and came to rest on his back, staring up at the ceiling. His chest felt as if it was going to explode; lungs pumping, heart pounding like a sledgehammer against his ribcage, rattling his entire body. / ªÖ®¦¶]¤F¤S¶]¡C ¥L¤£¦A¬Ý¨£­y¹D,¤£¦A­pºâ¤F½¥»\¡C ¥L¦b©M¥Lªº¸}¦a­±Ã@¥´,»P¥¿¦b¶}©lµhªº¦Ù¦×°_ª§°õ¡C ªÅ®ð³Ý®ðªºªÖ®¦ , ¤£Ã­©wªº¥L¤j¨B¦p®£·W¦b¥L¤§¤W¬~¡C ¥Lªº¸}§V¤O¦a¤Ï¹ï­y¹D¶_µÛ¸}¨«¸ô, §ì¨ú¦b¦Ó¥B¤§¤W¦V«á¦a©Ô¡C ªÖ®¦²Ì­Ë¦Ó¥B¶^¸¨¡C ¥L¸I¼²¤F¤@­Ó±²ª«ªº¦a­±¦Ó¥B¨Ó°±¯d¦b¥Lªº­I³¡¤W, ª`µø¦b¤ÑªáªO¤W­±¡C ¥Lªº¯Ý·Pı¦n¹³¥¦±N­nÃz¬µ; ªÍ©â¬¦,¤ßºV³ßÅw¹ï§Ü¥Lªº ribcage ªº¤@­Ó¤jÂñ,Åå·W¥¢±¹¥Lªº¾ã­Ó¨­Åé¡C
"Aniki!" / "Aniki"!
The sound of quick footsteps, then Jinpei was leaning over him. "You okay?" / §Öªº¸}¨BÁn­µ,µM«á Jinpei ¥¿¦b¥L¤§¤W¶É±×¡C " §A¦n"?
Ken didn't bother to move. It felt good to just lie there, staring at the ceiling tiles, his sweat-soaked back pressed against the cool floor. "Hokay," he panted. / ªÖ®¦¨S¦³·ÐÂZ²¾°Ê¡C ¥¦¦b¨º¸Ìı±oµÎªA¨ì¥¿ª½ªºÁÀ¨¥,¨nµÛ¤ÑªáªO¥Ë¤ù¬Ý,¥Lªº¦½-®ûÀã¤F³QÀ£¹ï§Ü«Ü´Îªº¦aªO­I­±¡C "Hokay",¥L³Ý®§¡C
"I was gonna work out, but now I'm too tired just from watching," Jinpei said. "You've been at it for hours." Ken's face was flushed, but the glazed look Jinpei had seen in his eyes was fading. "You sure you're all right, Aniki?" / "§Ú±N­n¸Õºâ¡A¦ý¬O²{¦b§Ú¶È¶È±q¬Ý¤Ó¯h²Ö",Jinpei »¡¡C "§A¤w¸g¬O¦b¥¦ªø¹F¼Æ¤p®É¤§¤[" ¡C ªÖ®¦ªºÁy³QÁyµo¬õ¡A¦ý¬O¹³¬Á¼þªº¯«±¡ Jinpei ¤w¸g¦b¥Lªº²´·ú¤¤¬Ý¨ì¥¿¦b®É©|¡C " §A·íµM§A¬O¨SÃö«Y ,Aniki"?
Ken's breathing slowed. He focused on Jinpei's worried face and his expression compressed into a glare. "I'm fine." With a determined lurch, he pushed himself to his feet and walked past the boy to the showers. / ªÖ®¦ªº©I§l´îºC¡C ¥L§â­«¤ß¶°¤¤¦b Jinpei's ªºµJ¼{Áy©M¥Lªº¶i¤J°{Ä£¥ú¤§¤º³QÀ£ÁYªºªí¹F¡C " §Ú«Ü¦n" ¡C ÂǥѤ@­Ó°í¨MªººG±Ñ¡A¥L¨ì¥Lªº¸}¹G­¢¤F¥L¦Û¤v¦Ó¥B¶V¹L¨k«Ä¨«¸ô¨ì°}«B¡C

--11--
Carry-on bag in hand, Getz let the crowd sweep him to British Immigration and Customs. An ISO shuttle had taken him to Utoland, and from there he'd arranged a cheap flight to London after a layover in New Jork. He hadn't slept on either flight, and his eyes felt like they'd been rubbed with sandpaper. / ¤âªºÀH¨­Äâ±aªº³U¤l,Getz Åý¸s²³±½°£¥L¨ì­^°ê²¾¥Á©MÃöµ|¡C ¤@­Ó°ê»Ú¼Ð·Ç²Õ´¤ÓªÅ±ô¤w¸g±a¥L¨ì Utoland ¡A¦Ó¥B±q¨º¸Ì¥L¦b·sªº Jork ªº¤@­Óµu¼È¤¤Â_¤§«á¦³¦w±Æ¤F«e©¹­Û´°ªº¤@¦¸«K©yªº¯Z¾÷¡C ¥L¨S¦³¦b¥ô¤@­¸¦æ¤WºÎ¡A¦Ó¥B¥Lªº²´·ú·Pı¹³¥L­Ì¤w¸g»P¬â¯È¤@°_À¿¡C
A woman bumped into him and apologized. Getz nodded to her and moved to the shortest Immigration line. His skin was itching: it was starting already. He only hoped there wouldn't be a confrontation now. Galactor wasn't the type to be deterred by crowds of bystanders, and it wouldn't do to have all those innocent deaths on his conscience. / ¤@­Ó¤k¤H¸I¥©¹J¨ì¥L¦Ó¥B¹Dºp¡C Getz ¹ï¦oÂIÀY¦Ó¥B²¾¨ì³Ìµuªº²¾¥Á½u¡C ¥Lªº¥Ö½§¥¿¦b·kÄo: ¥¦¤w¸g¶}©l¡C ¥L¤£¹L§Æ±æ²{¦b±N·|¨S¦³¤@­Ó¼Ä¹ï¡C Galactor ¤£¬OÃþ«¬³Q¤@¤j¸s®ÇÆ[ªÌ¨î¤î¡A¦Ó¥B¥¦±N¤£°µ¦³¦b¥Lªº¨}¤ß¤è­±ªº©Ò¦³¨º¨ÇµL¸oªº¦º¤`¡C
He passed through security and made his Customs declarations: a case of expensive cigarettes and two bottles of Ameris bourbon for his uncle, the man who had gotten him into this mess in the first place. He deserved the rotgut. The airport staff worked with their usual cool efficiency, masking their boredom. / ¥L³q¹L¦w¥þ¦Ó¥B§@¤F¥LªºÃöµ|¤½§i: ¬°¥Lªº¨û¨û,¤w¸g­º¥ý±o¨ì¥L¶i³oÂø¶Ã¤§¤ºªº¨k¤H¶Q­»·Ï©M¤G²~ Ameris bourbon ªº¤@­Ó±¡§Î¡C ¥L¸Ó±o¨ì¤F¦H½èªº«Â´µ§Ò°s¡C ¾÷³õ¾­û»P¥L­Ìªº¥­±`²D²nªº®Ä²v¦X§@ , ±»½ª¥L­Ìªº¹½·Ð¡C
Before he reached the bus and taxi terminal, Getz stopped in the men's lavatory, stepped into a stall and closed the door. He took off his coat then pulled a small box from his bag, an item that looked like a calculator. He flushed the toilet, and with the water running, ran the device over his clothes, then his coat. At the collar of his coat, the display flashed. Getz took a closer look, then with his fingernails, extracted a small, pronged device from the fabric. Flipping the tracer behind the toilet, he shrugged his coat on and left the stall. / ¥L¨ì¹F¤F¤½¦@¨T¨®©M­pµ{¨®²×ÂI¡A¦b¨k¤Hªº¿d¬~«Ç¤¤³Q°±¤îªº Getz ¤§«e¡A¶i¤J¤@­Ó³fÅu¤§¤º½ñ¦Ó¥BÃö³¬¤Fªù¡C ¥LµM«á²æ±¼¥Lªº¥~®M©Ô¤F¨Ó¦Û¥Lªº³U¤l¤@­Ó¤pªº²°¤l,¤@­Ó¬Ý°_¨Ó¹³¤@­Ó­pºâªÌ¤@¼Ëªº¶µ¥Ø¡C ¥LÁyµo¬õ¤F´Z©Ò, ©M¥Ñ©ó¤ôÁɶ],ÁÓ¹L¸Ë¸m¥Lªº¦çªA, µM«á¥Lªº¥~®M¡C ¦b¥Lªº¥~®M¦ç»â¡A®iÄý°{²{¡C Getz ±a¤F¸û¾aªñªº¯«±¡,µM«á¥H¥Lªº¤â«ü¥Ò,§l¨ú¨Ó¦Û´ª«ªº¤@­Ó¤pªº, ¦yºÝ¤À¤eªº¸Ë¸m¡C ¥Î«üÀY¼u¦b´Z©Ò«á­±ªº°lÂܪÌ, ¥LÁqªÓ¤F¥Lªº¥~®M¦b¦Ó¥B¤§¤W¯d¤U¤F³fÅu¡C
So far so good, but this was only the beginning. His greatest point of vulnerability lay with meeting Mako. / ¨ì²{¦b¬°¤î¦p¦¹¦n,¦ý¬O³o¥u¬O¶}©l¡C ®zÂIªº¥L³Ì¦nªºÆ[ÂI¥Ñ©ó¹J¨£ Mako ©ñ¸m¡C

To Be Continued
/ ¬OÄ~Äòªº

¡m¦^¤W¤@­¶¡n