16_world_killers- 第53节

Therefore　the　Regent's　scientists…mostly　culls…hadn't　been　able　to　fathom　all　the　potentials　and　secrets　of　her　Special　Children。　Several　savants　had　died　before　the　Regent's　fury。　The　Invid　monarch　finally　decided　that　he　didn't　need　geniuses　or　great　biogenetic　artists；　ESP　savants　or　spiritual　guides。　〃Give　me　living；　breathing　killing　machines；〃　he　manded。

And　so　it　was。　The　things　that　began　hurling　back　the　invaders'　advance　were　bigger　than　any　other　mecha　the　Invid　were　ever　to　field。　They　resembled　the　Enforcers　that　the　Regis　was　later　to　develop　on　Earth；　but　were　bigger　and　of　greater　brute　strength；　bearing　heavier　armor　and　firepower。

But　like　the　Inorganics；　the　Special　Children　had　multiple　upper　limbs。　These　were　provided　with　pincers；　tentacles；　great　scythelike　ripper…blades；　weapons　muzzles；　and　more。　The　things　could　defend　and　fight　on　all　sides。

They　waded　into　Tesla's　attack　waves；　slashing　Inorganics　in　two　and　hurling　the　pieces　in　different　directions；　blasting　them　apart；　tearing　them　limb　from　limb；　or　simply　stomping　them　into　the　ground…up　soil　of　Optera。　The　advance　was　stopped；　the　lines　breached；　the　Special　Children　spread　out；　visiting　destruction　upon　everything　in　their　path。

But　Tesla；　in　the　safety　of　his　transport　ship；　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief。　Only　in　his　Evolved　state　had　he　finally　understood　some　of　the　things　for　which　the　Special　Children　were　designed。　One　of　those　functions　was　to　absorb　and　store　Protoculture　energy。

Brought　to　term　properly；　the　Children　wouldn't　have　been　particularly　imposing　specimens　or　doughty　fighters；　but　they　could　have　stopped　Tesla　cold　by　draining　all　energy　from　his　soldiers。　The　Regent；　however；　had　approached　the　situation　with　exactly　the　devolved　simple…mindedness　Tesla　had　foreseen。

〃Second　wave；〃　he　ordered。

In　his　hive；　the　Regent　shook　the　walls　with　his　ire　when　twice　again　as　many　Inorganics　were　sent　in　by　Tesla。　Again；　the　renegade　was　willing　to　suffer　horrific　losses　in　his　drive　to　victory。　For　every　Inorganic　that　the　Special　Children　slew；　three　more　swarmed　up　at　them。

The　irreplaceable　Special　Children　began　to　suffer　losses；　driven　back　toward　the　hive　though　they　fought　like　demons　every　foot　of　the　way。　One　of　the　Invid's　greatest　genetic　treasures　was　being　spent；　at　a　hellish　rate　and　to　no　great　effect；　in　a　few　minutes　of　a　battle　between　equally　unworthy　leaders。

〃mit　all　reserves！〃　the　Regent　ordered。　〃And　establish　a　direct　link　so　that　I　may　speak　to　Tesla　face…to…face！〃


The　defending　lines　wavered　but　held。　The　last　power　of　the　hive　was　supercharging　the　Regent's　fighters；　and　Tesla　suffered　more　attrition。　But　it　didn't　matter。

In　his　mand　ship；　he　vowed；　I　will　rule　the　Invid！