wer。 But either way； the net result was his transformation into a short…lived burst of radiant energy。 And regardless； Dana wanted to believe that the outsize Flower of Life that took root where he had stood was actually himZand； wed to the Flower 。。。
Arriving in a hijacked alien assault craft； the members of the 15th had found her there； stripped of her armor； Polly under one arm。 Dana doing her own babbling about Zor Prime； the spores； the Invid； and a starship that she would someday pilot to wherever her parents were。 But everyone had been patient with her； figuring that the nonsense she was spewing was the result of bat trauma。 It was Dana's cry for Mommy； the orphaned generation's cry for all that had been denied them。
Nova Satori had brought her around。 〃Invid or no Invid； we have to report to whomever is in interim mand；〃 the intelligence officer had said。 Plans had to be made； defenses set in place。 No matter that Nova was cradling a clone infant in her arms。
Dana had posed herself and had ordered that the escape capsule and the bottle…shaped assault craft be emptied of all rations and emergency supplies； and then she had grabbed Angelo's side arm and assigned herself the point position。
Renewed hope had eased the burden of the first couple of miles； but as the sky darkened and Monument's fire glow suffused the horizon； Dana felt herself sliding into despair。 The brooding silence of the march told her that her squadron mates and the Tirolean clones were experiencing the same sense of loss。
〃The war is over；〃 Bowie had announced when he had stepped from the assault craft。 And at the time she had been prepared to believe him。 But now she wanted to respond； 〃This waronly this war is over。〃 And suddenly there seemed so much to do 。。。
But it would get done； Dana decided。 The way all things got done： one step at a time。 So she gritted her teeth； straightened her shoulders； and concentrated on planting one foot in front of the other。