"Jack McKinney - Robotech Sentientals 4 - World Killers" - читать интересную книгу автора (McKinney Jack)

Jack squeezed off a short burst into the decking in the scientist's
path, tracers drawing bright warning lines, ricochets glancing away into the
distance. Tesla stopped as if someone had slapped him out of a trance, gazing
down at the dully gleaming bullet-smears of lead at his feet.
Jack had the submachine gun up to his shoulder, Tesla bracketed in the
sight blades. Tesla moved back a step, and then another, until he was back
where he had been standing. Jack stole a quick glance aside at Burak, who was
fingering his Garudan small arm, a thing that looked like a grappling hook.
Burak looked indecisive, but it was plain that he was furious with
Jack's intervention. Then a hand fell on Burak's shoulder. Bela had shouldered
her crossbow and held her shortsword in her other hand. Gnea held her halberd
ready. There was no struggle, only an understanding that Burak was to lower
his weapon and stand his ground, or else see his head fly from his shoulders.
He chose the former option.
Wise decision, Jack thought. Otherwise those ladies would probably have
your horns on their living-room wall, kid.
"Look!" Jack pivoted, seeing what Crysta was bellowing about. His jaw
dropped.
 Janice Em was still wrapped in a strobing aurora, but she was changing
appearance. One moment, she was the Janice who had sung with Minmei and later
joined the Sentinels. The next, she was the Artificial Person she had revealed
herself to be. Then she was something even more disturbing-a transparent Human
being or a Spherisian. And after that she flickered, seeming to be a
Haydonite, with their smooth lack of features, an ectoplasmic robe flowing
around her as she hovered above the decking.
The brilliance grew more intense, so that they could barely endure it.
Jack thought about spraying a burst into the machinery or turning a random
control, but decided that might get them into even worse trouble.
A wind swept through the mammoth chamber, and somewhere in the center of
the light Janice was shifting through various forms-some Human, some not. Kami
was baying in hysteria, and Tesla was screaming, while Lron had both hands
clapped to his ears. Gnea and Bela, arms outspread, swords lifted, were war
goddesses howling a banshee challenge to the elements.
Just when it seemed they couldn't bear it anymore, the light faded and
the sound died away. The air lost every breath of movement. In the stillness
that followed, the raiders collected themselves and blinked away the dazzling
lights circling before their eyes.
Janice Em stood once more in her Human form, the disconnected interface
jack in her hand. "Are you all right?" Bela ventured.
"Yes, quite, thank you." She sounded distant, but then she beamed at
them in a very Homo sapiens smile.
"I'm fine, and I found out what we need to know."

"But..." Jack realized his submachine gun's muzzle was pointed her way
and quickly lowered it. "What was all that shape-changing about?"
Janice looked up at the web of light. "You might say that Haydon IV has
been teaching me a few things about my own capabilities and potential. The
Tokyo project teams and even Dr. Lang, I'm afraid, didn't quite realize them
all."
She collected herself, turning her attention to matters at hand. "But