"Skull Leader has been hit. I repeat, Skull Leader is wounded" the words made the bridge silent as a pilot reported seeing shots hitting the legendary Veritech, these words hit Claudia even more as her boyfriend, her man was the pilot.

Her breathing stopped and she looked outside with a dead gaze.

'You better come home soon, fly-boy or I will pull you back from the dead and beat the heck out of you' she thought to herself angrily and returned to her work.

Meanwhile the said pilot felt a shill run through his back as he steered his Veritech away from his current sortie, despite his wound he had a few tricks to show.

'If it wasn't for the wound I would say that Claudia is once again threatening my life' Roy thought with a small feeling of dread, the last time he had come home with a small wound she had horrified and tried to keep him bed for almost a week. She had given up when Roy went to a doctor who said it was nothing special and some bandage would do the trick.

Returning to reality he noticed the enemy he had fought, a green mecha nothing alike the round battle pods they had been fighting for the last year.

"Max, she is heading towards you" he told the man who was already turning around to face the new threat, Roy himself turned around and headed back into the battle determined to finish the battle as soon as possible.

Thirty minutes later Max had driven the female pilot away from the civilian area on SDF-1, marking the end of the battle and soon the Veritechs were coming down for landing among them the wounded Skull Leader. As wing leader he was among the first to land and he had barely taken two steps outside his mecha when Claudia rushed over to him with medics just a few steps behind. Somehow they knew he was wounded, how he had no idea, there was a small chance that somebody could have seen him being hit but that chance was close to minimal wasn't it?

"Commander, please lie down on the stretcher" one of the medics ordered and went to help him lie down when he suddenly noticed his hand become wet with blood, he immediately pulled Roy closer and inspected where the blood came from. He soon found a large wound and that he had bleed for some time, Roy was immediately taken to infirmary where doctors were waiting for him.

Roy was about to groan in displeasure but quickly stopped by the glare Claudia gave him, somehow woman are more scary then Zentradis sometimes.

Lisa stood in front of Ricks hospital room, he had been in hospital for almost two weeks now after his emergency landing after the failed Daedalus attack. She opened the door and found Rick sitting on the bed, lazily playing with a old plan. He looked up when he heard somebody enter the room.

"Oh, hi Lisa. How are things?" he asked in a somewhat happy mood, for once they actually got along instead of arguing all the time, so when he noticed Lisas worried face he knew that something was defiantly wrong, very wrong. "Has something happened to Ben?" he knew that Ben wasn't as good pilot as him and Max, but he hoped nothing would happened any of his friends.

"No Rick, Ben is just fine so is Max. Rick...this is about Roy" Lisa felt the her throat go dry when Rick dropped the plane and stared at her. "He was hit in the last battle and lost some blood, he is currently in the surgery" the last sentence she had to say fast as Rick was about to climb out of the bed. Lisa rushed forward and stopped him.

"You can visit him in a few hours Rick, nobody can see him for the moment!"

"But...but...Roy"

"I know Rick, we are all worried and is praying for the best. And that is why we have to wait" Lisa said stopping Rick with a smoothing voice. "Tell you what, I will head down there and once he is ready to receive quest I will come directly to you and help you there?"

"I...I would really appreciate it. Thanks Lisa" Rick said and smiled at her, she knew that he trusted her with this 'mission' and she would complete it no matter the difficulty.

Lisa nodded and smiled, she was really glad that they were getting along so well now days perhaps this was a perfect chance for their relation to grow?

"So, how are you? Recover enough yet?"

"Yeah, they are letting me out either tomorrow or the day after that" Rick replied and suddenly grimaced. "I can't wait to eat something else then hospital food, I can't believe that they can't even make proper spaghetti!"

"Like you can" Lisa retorted teasingly.

"Actually, I'm a somewhat pro to Italian food" Rick stated proudly, Lisa looked at him in disbelief. "Why don't I make you some when I'm released from here and prove you wrong?"

"I'm looking forward to it" she replied with a smile, Lisa was happy that Rick invited her but she got the feeling that once he was released Minamy would soon occupy his mind as usual so she didn't put to much hope on it.

"I will go and check on Roy now" she continued and headed towards the door. "I will be back when I know more, okay?"

"Right, thanks"

Lisa left the room and Rick was once again alone, he slowly picked up the plane he was using earlier. Truthfully he wasn't really sure why he invited Lisa, sure they didn't argue all the time now days but still. He couldn't really place what he thought of her, she was his superior officer. But somehow they were drawn towards each other, if it was arguing or spending time together and the later he really liked it.

And now Roy was wounded, the legendary Skull Leader, his big brother that always had been there for him. It made him start thinking, perhaps he lived in his own world somehow? He know that he acted somewhat cocky when he was flying his veritech, could that had to do that Roy never had been injured before and therefor he felt safe? Perhaps he had been somewhat naive too to take everything for granted.

As he was sitting in his bed the door opened once again, Rick expecting it was Lisa turned towards it with a smile on his face. This dropped fast though as Captain Gloval entered the room along with another high ranking officer.

"Sir!" Rick exclaimed and tried his best to salute the higher ranking officers, but didn't succeed to well in the bed.

"At ease, Rick" Gloval interrupted as he raised his hand and stopped him. "I'm afraid I have to make this meeting fast with you son. After the last battle we are somewhat understaffed and that leads us to you"

Rick nodded not liking where the conversation was going.

"As Roy will be off duty for some time now, we have to get a temporary Squadron leader for the Skulls and refill the ranks. For this reason we are fusing the 'Griffons' with the Skulls. For the same reason the 'Vermillion squadron' will be fused with a new squadron with new recruits from HQ, I have appointed you to be the Commander of the squadron meaning you will be promoted to Captain"

Rick stared at Gloval in disbelief. A commander of a entire squadron? Not just Ben and Max anymore but up to nine more persons to be in command of. But was he ready? But then again, Gloval put his faith in him so it must mean something, right?

"Of course, sir. I will not let you down" he finally replied and saw the shocked look on Gloval, he had apparently thought that Rick needed more encouragement but he was proven wrong.

"We will send your new uniform and files over the new recruits to your apartment, Captain. Congratulation and best of luck" the other officer said while writing something on his pad that he had under his arm earlier.

Gloval turned to his 'aide'.

"You can leave now, Sam. I want to talk to Hunter in private" Sam left the room and Gloval once again turned his attention to the young Captain.

"You seems to have change, Rick. I had expected to try negotiate my way to your promotion. Why the change?"

"I got a reality kick or something I think, sir. When Mrs. Hayes came by and told me about Roys condition, I got thinking. Simple as that really" Rick replied with a sad face, he knew he to grow up if he wanted his friends to stay safe and sound.

Gloval nodded in approval and stayed for a while and idle chat before he to left. Rick once again picked up the plane, wondering why the good old days when he and Roy flew at circus had to end.

Meanwhile Roy had regain consciousness but stayed quiet so he could get some time to think. This was actually his first time in many months when he felt his mind was clear and no meeting to attend or any battle to fight, despite being a easy going man even he needed to think over things. Like Claudia. They have been together for many years now and he really felt something special when he was with her, they rarely had a serious fight and always enjoyed their company. Was it perhaps time to take things to the next level? Were they ready for it? Then he realized that he could have been dead by now, so why wast a good chance to enjoy his life? He slowly opened his eyes, taking his time for his eyes to adjust to the bright light of a hospital room. Turning his head to the left he saw his girl sitting on a chair, having fallen asleep while waiting for him to wake up, he grinned as he studied her features and liked what he saw. He knew his answers already, the question was rather how he would make it magical.

A few hours later Lisa returned true to her word and took Rick to where Roy was. They found that Claudia, no surprise, was already there and giving him a scolding for worry her so much, when Lisa knocked on the door Roy was glad that some help had arrived. He couldn't be more wrong, when Claudia saw the relief on his face and Rick entered with Lisa her scolding become even worse. After a few hours Rick needed to return to his own room since his doctor would came by and give him the latest report over his progress, Lisa this time stayed behind to stop Claudia yelling to loud at Roy once again.

Once Rick returned he only needed to wait for a few minutes before the doctor returned with a few papers along with him.

"Here's the deal, Captain. You are ready to leave today, but only light training for three more days and no more then fifteen minutes air-born until your next meeting in five days. Those are the terms to be discharged today, otherwise you are welcome to stay here for five more days"

Rick easily picked his answer by moving towards his closet and picked out his uniform, turning around the doctor only shook his head.

"You pilots claim to be so strong but first chance given you are out of the hospital like it's a plague" he laughed and left the room. Rick in turn only shake his head and also leave his room and heads back to his room in the officer quarters, he now had more things to think over. Should he invite Lisa tonight already, dismiss the whole idea or call Minmay?

As Rick is a man of his words, the second option was quickly removed from the list. The option to Minmay felt somewhat wrong too, she hadn't visit him since he was hospitalized and that didn't make him feel better. So pretty soon he found himself by the telephone and made the call to Lisa, hoping their new friendship wouldn't be destroyed.

"This is Lisa Hayse speaking"

Rick felt his stomach tighten as she answered the phone. "Hi, Lisa. It's Rick" the line went silent for a few seconds.

"Are you released already? That was fast, Rick"

"Well you know me. Can't stay still for more then a few minutes" they both chuckled at the fact. "Anyway, I was wondering if...if you are still interested trying my pasta" he swallowed nervously, he have asked out girls before but never really inviting them over to his own home.

"I..I would love to! I have a shift that ends at 1800, is it okay if I come by then?" was she sounding excited? Rick smiled happily over this fact. Looking at the clock he notice he have plenty of time.

"That would be perfect. Just come here as soon as your done with your shift and everything should be done" he replied now also feeling excited. "I will see you later then Lisa" he faintly heard a goodbye as he ended the call, quickly making his way to his kitchen where he started going over ingredients.

'Let's see, I will need...'

Meanwhile at Lisas place she was starting to get nervous, she knew she felt strange around the flyboy Rick Hunter and she clearly hadn't taken him seriously when he said he should offer her food. But he had called her and asked her over that had to mean something right? She notice that her shift was about to start so she fixed her hair and headed towards the bridge with a smile on her face.

After have been around in town and picked up several ingredients that he will be needing for the food tonight, he arrived home and saw that his new uniform and a small letter was placed above it as it laid on his couch. Placing his bags in the kitchen he picked up the letter and read it after opening it.

To: Cap. Richard 'Rick' Hunter

From: Cap. Henry J. Gloval

New orders from HQ. You are to make your way to Okinawa with Corp. Ben Dixon and Corp. Maximillian Sterling in three days and join your new pilots. Once in Okinawa, Ben and Maximilian will do a officer training and if successfully completed they will be promoted to Lieutenant. You will be at Okinawa for at least two weeks.

Best of luck

Captain Gloval

Rick sighed, as he sat down beside his new uniform. Two weeks away from the SDF-1 and actually on real ground, should sound like magic but somehow it still felt wrong as he and all the other crew of the SDF-1 considered it 'home'. Slowly rising he notice the clock, panic quickly runs through him as he had wasted to much time on the crouch, reacting quickly he take the uniform and letter and place it in his bedroom and hurry over to the kitchen where he starts with his food.

"And now you directly to Hunters room and have a good time, do you understand Lisa?" Claudia pointed her finger at Lisa in a mother way. "I don't want to hear you grumble tomorrow or that you skipped it..."

"Alright, mom. I understand" Lisa laughed it was good too see Claudia back like her former self, she had been so worried and depressed when Roy was shot down and in surgery. Roy was still, and would be, in hospital for quite some time in order for his body to rest after the surgery.

"I will tell you everything tomorrow, Claudia" she continued before the other women got the chance to continue. "But I most get going now or I will be late"

"Hah! Sounds like a excuse to escape from mother Claudia to me" she pointed her finger close to Lisa again who chuckled once again while leaving the bridge. She tried not to run but in the end almost jogged all the way to Ricks apartment, where she stopped to regain her breath and adjust her hair. Feeling pleased with it, she pushed the doorbell and waited.

She could soon hear somebody moving towards the door and Rick opened it. Still in his uniform with a chaperon over it he smiled once he saw Lisa and motioned her to come in.

"I'm almost done, why don't you sit down in the living room for a few minutes?" he asked before hurry back to the kitchen, Lisa couldn't help but look somewhat strangely at Rick in the kitchen. Rick was among the cockiest pilots on SDF-1, young and was familiar with Roy Focker and now he was in a kitchen and making food that smelled fantastic? Something must be wrong or Rick was a very strange pilot.

"Hotshot, need help with something?" she asked after a moment, she wasn't the kind of person to let others do all the work while she was resting.

"Well, you are the quest so technically no. But I can't reach the pot on the stove, can you lower the temperature please?" once again was Lisa somewhat shocked, Rick was asking for help? Wasn't he a cocky pilot? Walking in into the kitchen, she notice why he was having problems as he was currently fixing some kind of cheese while a large pot was cooking over.

In the end the food was saved by a joint effort by the two of them and in Lisas opinion it was clearly worth the dirty she got on her uniform for helping out as the food was really good and she was alone with Rick.

"I guess you take all girls here, flyboy?" she asks as she takes some more of food, realizing her mistake to late about girls but before she can continue Rick reply with a shrug.

"Not really, you are the first women I have asked to come here" he took a sip of his water, before continue. "Women that I have been interested in have never been interested in me, so things have never really gotten far"

"Not even with Minmay?" Lisa hated asking the question but deep inside she wanted to know.

Rick was silent for a moment.

"No, not even Minmay" he finally replied and rose from his chair, shaking his head slowly. "Want tea or coffee? To the ice cream?"

"I would like coffee please" Lisa replied also rising from the chair. "Listen, Rick. I'm sorry if I asked a question that hurt you, I really am" she tried to apologize desperately, she didn't want to lose their friendship that could grow into more.

Rick merely continued to shake his head as he finished the coffee.

"If you had said that a few days ago I would probably been quite angry, but you know what? Minmay never visit me while I was in hospital, not even calling me it was just Max, Ben, Roy and...you who actually visited" he sighed. "I don't really know if I know her anymore, it have been moths since we last were in touch with each other and she only talked about her career and so on"

They made their coffee in silence and went back to the living room and sat down again. Lisa looked up at Rick and mustered her strength.

"You know that you can always talk to me if something is on your mind right? That..that is what friends are for right, hotshot?"

Rick smiled back, a honest smile she recognize that made her smile back to.

"Yeah" Rick started then something suddenly hit him. "Guess what happened after you left me in the hospital the first time?"

Confused Lisa shook her head.

"Captain Gloval visit me and gave me and the rest of Vermillion squadron new orders" he rose, filled his breast so it looked bigger and pointed at himself, all in humor. "I'm now a captain of the RDF and in charge of a new squadron. How is that?"

Lisa chuckled at the facetiously of the stance but was really surprised by the news.

"A captain? Really that is great Rick! What squadron will you fly and what happened to Vermillion?"

Rick sat down again and sighed.

"The new squadron is formed yet and me, Max and Ben will travel to Okinawa and meet the rest of the squadron there"

"Then you can get a nice souvenir then, it must have been ages since I went to a beach" Lisa replied and thought back at the time when she and the rest of bridge girls went on holiday on a beach far away from work.

"I will try my best, but can't promise how much time it all will take but as I will be gone for two weeks I should find a chance somewhere I guess"

Lisa was stunned, two weeks? He would be gone for two weeks when they finally were on a good track, god must really hate her.

"When will you leave then?" she forced herself to ask, hoping that it wasn't tomorrow.

"In three days, enough time to settle things around here and inform everybody. Now Lisa, I need to get up early tomorrow and find Max and Ben" Rick replied and scratched his head in awkwardness. Lisa slowly nodded and rose from her chair.

"Thanks Rick I had a really great time tonight. I hope you will have a safe trip to Okinawa" she said and started moving towards the door, leaving a confused Rick. Rising quickly he hurries after her and catch her just before she open the door.

"Listen Lisa, I will have a lot of spare time on all three days so if you are free perhaps we can talk some more?" Rick watch as Lisa slowly turn around with a shocked expression on her face, was she perhaps thinking he wanted her out of his room Rick thought shocked. "I had a really nice time tonight too and would like to spend it more with you, taking my time to learn what is behind the 'old sourpuss' if you don't mind" he hoped the joke about one of the first things he ever called her, something he now was shameful off.

Lisa shined up like a sun with that declaration and smiled happily when she replied.

"I would love that Rick. I might have a gap between 1300 to 1500 and end my shift 1700 tomorrow, perhaps we can discuss it better tomorrow?"

Rick smiled back, happy that a misunderstanding was easily averted.

"Let's do that. I will see you tomorrow, Lisa"

They said their goodnight and as Lisa left Ricks apartment both of them could somehow feel that themselves becoming closer.