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one was up on its rear wheel； then it went fully airborne。 At the same time； Scott's mind instinctively found the vibe that allowed it to interface with the cycle's Protoculture systems。
Helped along by the imaging Scott's mind fed the Cyclone via the helmet 〃thinking cap；〃 the mecha began to reconfigure。 The windscreen and helmet assembly flattened out； the front wheel disengaged itself from the axle and swung back and off to one side。 The rear wheel； along with most of the thruster pack； rode up； while other ponents； including the wheel…mounted missile tubes； attached themselves to Scott's hip； leg； and forearm armor。 In the final stage of mechamorphosis； he resembled some kind of airborne armored backpacker whose gear just happened to include two solid rubber tires and a jet pack。
Scott let the thruster carry him in close to the Invid Scouts before bringing his forearm weapons into play…twin launch tubes that carried small but deadly Scorpion missiles。 Right arm outstretched now； palm downward； he raised the tubes' targeting mechanism； centered one of the Scouts in the reticle； and loosed both missiles。 They streaked toward their quarry with a deadly sibilance （Scott's armor protecting him from their backlash）； narrowly missed Rand； and caught the Invid ship square in the belly； scattering pieces of it across the sands。
The unarmored Cyclone rider went down into a long slide while Scott took to the ground to dispatch his remaining pursuers。 Once in their midst； he dodged two claw swipes before launching himself over the top of his would…be assailant。 Another missed swipe and a second leap landed him atop one of the pair； he leapt up again and came down for the kill； firing off a single Scorpion from the left forearm launch tubes。 While the Invid was engulfed by the ensuing explosion； Scott put down to deal with the last of them。
The thing tried to crush him with its foot； but Scott rolled away from it in time。 Likewise； he dodged a right claw and jumped up onto the Invid's head。 The Scout brought its left up now； almost in a gesture of puzzlement； but Scott was already gone。 He toyed with the Invid for a minute more； allowing it another shot at him before polishing it off with the remaining Scorpion； which the Scout took right through its red optic scanner。
The Cyclone rider was still on the ground beneath his overturned mecha when Scott approached。 〃They're not really as tough as they look； are they？〃 he said to the bewildered red…haired civilian。
〃Hombre； you're really something else in a battle；〃 the man returned； his bushy eyebrows arched。
Scott raised the faceshield of his helmet。 〃The Cyclone does the work；〃 he said humbly。
〃Yeah； it's quite a rig；〃 said Rand。 He got up； dusted himself off； and righted the cycle； marveling at it once again。 〃You are a Forager？〃 he asked Scott warily。 〃Some kinda one…man army？〃
〃You might say that；〃 Scott began。 〃Now listen…〃
〃It's the first time I ever actually rode one of these things！〃 Rand interrupted。
〃I need some information…〃
〃I'll bet I could modify this to go twice the speed！〃 Rand was on his knees now； fidgeting with this and that。 〃Look at this control setup！ I can't wait to try to reconfigure it！〃
〃Just where the hell are we； outlaw？〃 Scott managed at last。 But when even that failed to elicit a response； he reached over the Cyclone and grabbed Rand by the shirtfront。 〃I'm talking to you； pal。 Where'd those Scouts e from？ Is there an Invid hive around here？〃
Rand began to struggle against the mecha's hold； and Scott let him go。 He was a scrappy kid but might make a decent partner。
Rand backed off； arms akimbo。 〃What do I look like； some kind of travel agent？ I don't make a habit of asking them where they hail from…you just look up and there they are。 I hate those things！〃
〃Take it easy；〃 Scott told him harshly。 He explained about the ill…fated invasion force and their abortive attempts at securing a groundside front。
〃I didn't think you were from around here；〃 Rand said； somewhat relieved。 〃Admiral Hunter； huh？〃 It was as if Scott had mentioned George Washington。
〃Ancient history； I suppose。〃
Rand shrugged。 〃I've never heard of Reflex Point either。 'Course； I don't mix much when I don't have to。 As far as I know； the Invid HQ is north of here…way north。〃 Fascinated； he watched as Scott； now on his knees； collapsed and stepped out of the two…wheeled backpack； returning the mecha to Cyclone configuration。 〃You really going to try and find Reflex？〃
〃That's what I'm here for；〃 said Scott； doffing the helmet。 As he pulled it over his head； the chin strap caught the holo…locket's chain and took it along。 The heart fell and opened； replaying its brief message to Scott and his stunned panion。
〃。。。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。。。〃
Wordlessly； Scott stooped to retrieve the heart。
〃Hey； that's great！〃 said Rand。 〃Is that your girl？〃
〃Uh。。。my girl；〃 Scott stammered。 He straightened up； clutching the heart against his pectoral armor； and turned his back to Rand。
CHAPTER THREE
Dolza's annihilation bolts had devastated the South American coastal cities and turned much of the vast interior forest into wasteland。 Ironically enough； however； repopulation of the area was largely the result of the hundreds of Zentraedi warships that crashed there after the firing of the Grand Cannon。 Indeed； even after Khyron's efforts to stage a full…scale rebellion had failed； the region was still largely under Zentraedi domination （the T'sentrati Control Zone； as it was known to the indigenous peoples）； up until the Malcontent uprisings of 2013…15 and the subsequent events headed up by Captain Maxmillian Sterling of the Robotech Defense Force。 But contrary to popular belief； Brazilas did not bee the lawless frontier Scott Bernard traversed until much later； specifically； the two…year period between the fall of Chairman Moran's Council and the Invid invasion。 In fact the region had seen extensive changes during the Second Robotech War and surely would have risen to the fore had it not been for the disastrous end to that fifteen…year epoch。
〃Southlands；〃 History of the Third Robotech War； Vol。 XXII
Countless people found themselves homeless after the Invid's preemptive strike against Earth； the waste was awash with wanderers； thieves； and madmen。 And； of course； children： lost； uprooted； orphaned。 They fared worse than the other groups； usually falling prey to illness； starvation； and marauding gangs。 Occasionally； one would stumble upon groups of them in devastated cities or natural shelters…caves； patches of forest； oases…forty or fifty strong； banded together like some feral family； and God help the one who tried to disturb their new order！。。。But this was the exception rather than the rule。 The great majority of them had to make their own way and fend for themselves； attach themselves…more often； enslave themselves…to whomever or whatever could provide them with some semblance of protection； the chance for a better tomorrow。
Laako City； largest settlement in the southern wastes； saw its fair share of these nameless drifters； and Ken was usually the one who weled them with open arms。 He was a tall； gangly streetwise eighteen…year…old with a reputation for dirty tricks； mean…spirited by nature but a charmer when he needed to be。 His long hair was a pewter color； save for the crimson forelock that was his trademark。
His most recent conquest was a young girl named Annie； who claimed to be fifteen。 But Ken had grown bored with her； besides； he had his eye fixed on a pretty little dark…haired urchin who had just arrived in Laako； and the time had e to kiss Annie off。
The trouble was that Annie didn't want to go。
〃Don't leave me like this！〃 she was pleading with hum just now； alligator tears coursing down moon…face cheeks。
〃Hey；〃 he told her soothingly； disengaging himself from her hold on his arm。 〃You knew from the start you'd have to leave someday。〃
This was and was not true： Laako did maintain a policy of limiting the time outsiders were allowed to spend in the city； but well…connected Ken could easily have