to unite the members of the team and instill in each of them a confidence that hadn't been there two days before。 They were now beginning to understand and accept each other's strengths and weaknesses； and they were learning to trust one another as well。 Without any formal vote or voiced acknowledgment； Scott surfaced as the leader； which was only right given his training and resoluteness。 Lunk was something of a sergeant to Scott's lieutenant； Annie； everything from den mother to mascot。 Rook still held herself separate； but could always be counted on for her instinctive bat sense。 And Rand was their backwoods provider； fishing and hunting when he wasn't sitting under a tree scribbling notes to himself。 That left only Lancer。
Scott still had misgivings about the man； but as he listened to Lancer's detailed account of the Invid infrastructure and occupation techniques； he began to see him in a new light。 The female…singer ploy had yet to be explained； but it was obvious from Lancer's report that the adopted persona of Yellow Dancer had opened many doors to him。 He would discuss his former ties with the resistance only in a vague way； but Scott understood that his contacts were as numerous as his information was exhaustive。
The team had retrieved the two other Cyclones from where they had left them in the grass and spent three days in the river gorge dining on pit roasted fish； recuperating； and planning the next move in their northward journey。 They were careful about using the mecha now； convinced that Rand's theory was correct。 Most of the time the Invid Scouts and Troopers were operating in a kind of background net of Protoculture emanations and couldn't home in on any one source。 But when they were engaged in a particular search； their senses were more acute at screening out the random waves from the usually nearby active ones。 In any case； it was a moot point at the moment； the Alpha was depleted of charge； and there was scarcely enough left in the Cyclones to power them； let alone reconfigure or fire them。
That's where Norristown entered the picture。 Located somewhat east of their present route； it was one of the Southland's largest cities； transplanted like so many others from the devastated north during the reign of Chairman Moran and the formation of the Army of the Southern Cross。 The city had prospered throughout and boasted one of the continent's few surviving sports arenas。 But most important； it was the site of one of the Invid's Protoculture storage facilities； a heavily fortified castle （constructed years ago in the Hollywood style） that overlooked the city。
Lancer had a map of the place。
And a rather ingenious plan。
Less than a week later； Rook and Annie were on one of the roads leading into Norristown。 They made an interesting picture…the blonde in her red and white bodysuit leaning almost casually against the parked Cyclone and Annie in her military greens and ever…present cap perched on the seat like some diminutive ornament。 Not five miles away was the city itself； a tight cluster of buildings surrounded by forest； with Drumstick Butte and the hulks of two Zentraedi ships casting their giant shadows from behind。 The Protoculture storage facility could be discerned at the foot of the oddly shaped； topheavy butte； linked to the city below a well…maintained switchbacked roadway。
Rook straightened up at the sound of an approaching vehicle and glanced over at Annie； the youngster nodded and hopped down from the Cyclone's seat to stand alongside her traffic…stopping teammate。 Up the road a truck came into view； and Rook threw the driver a playful wink and raised her thumb in a hitchhiker's gesture。 Innocently and with well…rehearsed bashfulness； Annie pressed her forefingers together and called for the driver to stop and lend a hand。
The driver halted the truck and climbed down from the cab； taking in a long eyeful of the two marooned girls and their red Cyclone。 He bent down to inspect the mecha； plimenting them on the fine condition of the thing； but was sad to report that they were out of Protoculture fuel。 This was so mon an occurrence that the driver scarcely gave it a second thought； anyone might stumble upon some wonderful specimen of aged Robotechnology only to e to think of it as a worthless piece of junk when the all but irreplaceable Protoculture energy cells were depleted。 True； there was a black market； but it was one that few people had access to。 Between the needs of the Invid； the resistance； and your everyday 'Culture hounds； Protoculture had bee a priceless modity。
〃We were hoping you could fix it；〃 Annie said to the truck driver。 〃We're on our way to the Yellow Dancer concert in Norristown。〃
The driver smiled up at her。 〃Not without Protoculture。 There's nothing I can do。〃
〃Hey； mister；〃 Rook said suddenly； as if noticing the driver's Invid…occupation double…C hard…hat emblem for the first time。 〃You're from the storage facility； aren't you ？〃
〃So？〃 the man answered； wary now。
〃Couldn't you spare us some？〃 Annie asked； leaning over the Cyclone's seat。
The man snorted。 〃What're you； nuts； kid？ If anyone found out I'd shared my rations； I'd be in deep trouble。〃 He turned his head at the sound of a mechanical click and buzz and found himself staring into the laser muzzle of a strange…looking disc…shaped weapon。
Rook grinned and gestured with the blaster。 〃Know what？ You're already in big trouble； buddy。。。〃
Five minutes later the driver had been dragged to the side of the road。 His arms and legs were bound with rope； and his mouth was sealed by a piece of wide tape。 He continued to struggle while Lunk secured the final knots。
〃Relax； buddy；〃 Rook told him。 〃We're just going to borrow your truck for a while。〃 She hastened off to the spot in the woods where they had moved the vehicle。 Her teammates had the back doors opened。 〃Well； the first stage went pretty well；〃 Scott was menting as she walked up。
Rand was leaning against the trailer with his arms crossed。 〃I had no idea that soldiers also doubled as hijackers； Scott。〃
Rook looked at both of them impatiently。 〃Are you guys going to stand here and argue； or are we going to get a move on？〃
Scott and Rand exchanged looks。 〃Let's do it；〃 they said at the same moment。
A short while later the truck roared into town with Lunk at the wheel； the former driver's hard hat and permits now part of his disguise。 Rook； Rand； Scott； and Annie were in the rear； but not yet in what would soon be their hiding place。 Originally the plan had called for all of them to hide underneath the chassis while the truck was cleared through to the storage facility； but good fortune was on their side in the form of a loft partment built into the truck's trailer。 They could only speculate on what the partment had been used for； but it was perfectly suited to their present needs。 Lunk made one stop along the way to the facility gate…just brief enough to allow Annie to hop out and work her way into the crowds that were already gathering for Yellow Dancer's concert。
〃Be sure to make lots of noise；〃 Scott reminded her。
〃e on；〃 she returned； as though insulted。 〃How do you suppose I got the reputation for being such a loudmouth？〃
Scott grinned and began to pull the rear doors closed。 He was surprised by the size of the crowds and recalled what Rand had told him earlier： When people find out Yellow's ing to town； they go pletely berserk。 When Annie had jumped out； Scott had glimpsed a poster of the singer pasted to the side of a building： Yellow Dancer in a spaghetti…strapped sundress； some sort of matching turban； low heels； and a pearl collar。
Lancer had left for Norristown three days before the rest of the team。 The plan called for him to put a pickup band together and cut a deal with a local promoter； who would secure the sports arena and take care of publicity and logistics。 The promoter； a man named Woods； was an old friend of Lancer's and a member of the resistance。
Scott thought back to Lancer's departure…Lancer in his alter…ego guise。 Scott couldn't help feeling that Yellow Dancer wasn't just Lancer in female attire but an entirely different personality。 Lancer's demeanor changed as well as his voice and carriage。 Yellow was a real entity living alongside Lancer in the same body。 Scott found it inprehensible and just a bit unsettling； but it didn't detract from the trust he had in Lancer。 Scott was wondering how the second part of Lancer's plan was succeeding when he heard Lunk's fist pounding against the cab of the truck…the signal for Scott； Rand； and Rook to take to the overhead partment。 That meant the truck was nearing the twin…towered security gate on the road below the storage facility。
Farther along the road that wound up toward the base of Drumstick Butte was the barracks of the security force that staffed and guarded the storage facility。 The chief of station； Colonel Briggs； was a large； beefy man with salt…and…pepper hair and a thick mustache。 He was in his office in the barracks； feet up on the desk； daydreaming over a color photo of Yellow Dancer that had appeared in the morning edition of the city's newspaper when one of his staff arrived with good news。
〃We've been asked to supply s