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e got something better to offer me than threats。〃
〃Your egotism will be the death of you；〃 the Regent said from the door。
Edwards smiled as the door slid shut。 Everything he said had been calculated to draw out the real Regent； talk was useless until then。 But he had faith that his gambit would pay off。 Eventually the Regent would show himself…in person or as before in the sphere…and when that day came； there would be much to discuss。
Incredible as it seemed； the armored Alpha was actually being carried aloft by perhaps three dozen orbs of mixed size； clustered like grapes beneath the mecha's swept…back wings and Beta…elongated fuselage。 Cheering seemed a bit premature； but that didn't stop any of the still…grounded Sentinels from sending up exclamations of encouragement。
The feat had required more orbs than anyone would have guessed…over a quarter of the number that remained in the cave； at last count…but Veidt； as promised； had been able to herd them under the hovering VT without much ado。 Several of the creatures either didn't prehend the Haydonite's telepathic instructions or thought better of them at the last moment and opted for solo flights into Praxis's cloudy and smoke…smudged skies。 The others； however； rose quickly to the task； less like lighter…than…air balloons than anti…Galilean cannonballs。 Cabell calculated that if the present rate of lift remained unchanged； the mecha would arrive at the Roche limit with ample time to rendezvous with the drive module。 At that point； Sarna； copiloting the Alpha along with Jonathan Wolff； would bid the orbs what amounted to a 〃thanks and so long；〃 and the VT would utilize its onboard puter and thrusters for guidance adjustments。 Janice； Burak； and Tesla were squeezed together in the mecha's Beta hindquarters。
Rick threw a couple of enthusiastic shouts to the Alpha before rushing off to join Vince and some of the others； who were already in the GMU's mand center monitoring the mecha's progress and supplying its telemetry systems with updates gleaned from the base's scanners and data mainframes。
Wolff was on the net when Rick entered the mand center。 〃Everything checks out fine so far；〃 he was telling Vince。 〃It's like an elevator ride to the stars。〃 The net was relatively clear； except for occasional bursts of static。
〃Ask him if Sarna anticipates any disengagement problems；〃 Rick said to Vince。
〃Uh； no problem；〃 Wolff reported a moment later。
Rick leaned in to one of the console pickups。 〃And Janice？〃
〃Here； Rick。 We're doing all right。〃 Thumping noises could be heard in the background。 〃It's just a little close for fort。〃
Rick made a mental note to tell Janice just how much he admired her。 〃Sit tight； Janice。 You're almost there。〃
Wolff and Janice acknowledged and signed off。 Rick found himself crossing his fingers； something he hadn't done in years。 He laughed in a self…mocking way； optimistic but oddly disturbed at the same time。
Outside the base； members of the Skull Squadron and the Wolff Pack were beginning to prepare a second mecha for lift。 This one was to include Lisa； Miriya； Cabell； Lron； and Crysta。 The air was filled with lightning flashes and all…but…constant peals of thunder。 Praxis trembled underfoot like the SDF…3 during fold maneuvers。 Even Cabell refused to speculate on how much time the planet had； but to a few of the Sentinels each minute felt like something to be thankful for。
Kami and Learna had yet to emerge from the orb cavern deep inside the region's now…floodlit central cave。 The temperature had dropped considerably over the past half hour； and the air was breathable once more。 Baldan and Teal had joined the Garudans to help keep count of the orbs； and with the first Alpha on its way； Jack； Karen； Rem； and Gnea appeared on the scene。
Everyone watched as two golf ball…sized spheres wafted up out of the shaft to join their brethren； who were grouped in various locations along the vaulted ceiling。 A veritable parade of overhead orbs stretched from here all the way to the mouth of the cave。 Jack directed his light down into the shaft and asked Karen and Gnea to do the same。 He had discerned some sort of movement perhaps eight feet down the well； one of the larger creatures was struggling to fit through the constricted passageway。 Each time the thing would back off； two or three smaller orbs would bubble up and out of the shaft。 The Sentinels had discussed various ways to enlarge the opening； but Rick was leery of employing explosives or lasers for fear the orbs would misunderstand their intentions。 Jack couldn't； however； see any harm in spelunking down for a closer look。
While Gnea and Rem went rushing back to the GMU for cord and anything they could find in the way of rigs and harnesses； Baldan and Teal were off in a corner of the cavern exploring a different route down。 It had occurred to the male Spherisian…earlier； when he had melded his hand with the cave wall…that there were peculiar forces at work in the depths of Praxis； and Teal； her arms buried to the elbow in rock； was affirming that now。
〃The mineral content is most unusual；〃 she reported analytically。 〃Nothing like what we've experienced elsewhere on Praxis。 It seems more a part of the planet's past than its present。〃
〃I sensed the same thing；〃 Baldan told her； gesturing to the cavern's outcroppings and formations。 〃These deposits have been exhumed from somewhere in the core； but in some unnatural fashion。 They're not so much the result of the planet's vulcanism as they are the cause of it。〃 Once again； Baldan pushed his arms deep into the wall。 〃Perhaps I can travel the Crystal Highways here as we do on Spheris； and municate with the tortured substrata of this world。〃
〃It's dangerous；〃 Teal said； pulling one of Baldan's hands from the wall。 〃Praxis is destabilized。 You might not be able to re…form。。。〃
Baldan registered surprise at her concern for his well…being； it was unlike her。 〃Then keep hold of my hand；〃 he said as he began to meld the rest of his crystalline being with the glistening rock that formed the cave wall。 Teal could see a portion of the wall assume Baldan's features in bas…relief； he seemed to smile； then disappe