10. FRIEND OR FOE
We received a call from a base in San Diego, they told us that they had rescued Rick Hunter and he was recovering from his injuries, we immediately mobilized to go for him and know his condition, Lisa was the first to be on board the plane that would take us to him, and although the squadrons and their leaders were ready and prepared for any eventuality, I was worried about the attitude of everyone in the base, especially that of Cheryl and Reggie.
"Well this is the plan, we arrived, the rescue helicopter will bring Admiral Hunter immediately and we will leave that base, is that clear?" - Cheryl said on the launch pad when boarding the units
"What is the problem? We need to know Rick's status and if he can travel, since "- interrupted Reggie
"There will not be time for that, that's why we take our best doctor, he will attend to the return for any eventuality" - he said approaching his vf
"Yes, I understand but" – insisted
"No sir, there will be no more time to stay on that base" - insisted Cheryl
"Okay enough, before we leave, is there something we should know? Because if Rick is not able to travel, we will not risk his life "- Miriya raised her voice, making everyone remain silent, silence interrupted by Cheryl
"That base is not safe sir, San Diego was very unstable after the invasion of the Invid, there are constant earthquakes and that would endanger the life of the Admiral, so we must return immediately, I say, imagine that there is a earthquake and the base falls and Hunter is inside will die crushed, and I do not think he wants that, will he? "- said Cheryl and in fact did not leave us very convinced, but Lisa just wanted to see Rick and in his condition it was dangerous to be Worry, therefore we leave immediately without saying anything else.
The base 23 of San Diego was a military complex of the largest, I could see it through the huge window of the hospital room, my wound was closed only required to remove the points and everything would be fine, a memory came to me during my life in Macross, when the missiles of our ship toppled me, and my beautiful girl came to see me, I sighed as I imagined her face, I just wanted to be with her, to hold her, to feel her next to me.
"Soon they will come, sir" - my thought interrupted Archer, turn to see him standing at the entrance to the room - "I remind him to read his mind, so I knew he was thinking of his wife, Admiral Hayes" - She looked at me a few seconds in the eyes - "Oh no apology, Ambassador Hayes, right?" - asked approaching me, depositing some clothes on the bed
"If you can read my mind, I do not see why you ask" - I said taking the clothes to change
"Admiral really, we are not his enemies, simply the EUG believed that this place was unstable and we forgot, but we were able to recover the base and now we try to have them recognize us to belong to the military complexes of the United Earth" - said approaching me
"What did they transport in that capsule? What prevented the Edwards army from advancing against you, when they rescued me "- it was impossible to put aside the memory of Archer, his son was almost a clone of that pilot lost in space a few years ago.
"Come with me sir" - and we went to a platform where there were several VFs and more people - "We are one of the few humans who took refuge in the north pole when the Invid arrived, when they banished them they started looking for shelters and here they found a place, the base was rebuilt thanks to the few soldiers who remained standing and since then we have done our best to survive, the earth is something unstable, it is true, there are small earthquakes very continuous so the UEG believed that, here there would be nothing, although we have said that you do not have to worry but with you here, I think you are going to believe us, right? "- Turn to see me -" The time this here can tell you that this base, is in good condition and we will be part of them, or not sir? "- I swallowed saliva and I only nodded affirmatively, I wanted to say something when several planes and two helicopters passed over us -" Oh, I think they arrived for you, sir, let's welcome them "- and walk behind him, until the landing
"Get away from Admiral Hunter, Archer!" - I heard Reggie's voice and saw him, him and his entire squad aiming at him with a laser gun, immediately after the Skull squadron came and they did the same, immediately the military of that base were positioned to counter attack
"Wait, wait, we have not done anything wrong, on the contrary we saved Admiral Hunter's life" - Archer pointed out to me as he approached them with his hands raised in surrender - "Do not shoot, lower your weapons" - he told the military from base 23
"Rick!" - suddenly everything stopped for me, to hear that voice and see it descend from the plane, was she, my wife, I approached and hug her as strong as I could to have her in front of me - "My love, Are you okay? - I whisper in my ear but I keep silent because of the tears, mine, they were also running down my face, life came back to me when I felt his body next to mine, after it came down Max and Miriya waited a few seconds and Then they wrapped us in a hug, my wife and my best friends were there with me, when I thought I would never see them again.
"Ok, the Admiral is fine, now let's get out of here" - Cheryl shouted, and she brought all of us out of the trance.
"Sure, but not today, see" - I point to the sky, in fact huge black clouds began to form, Cheryl and Reggie tried to leave, but when one of their VF collapsed they agreed to stay. - "Come here, you are our guests and you will be taken care of in the best way" - they took us to an area just for us, although the rest of the pilots preferred to stay on the landing platform.
"We must get out of here" - Cheryl started looking for something between the walls
"Do you think they did this? Because I do "- Reggie was also looking for something
"Of course they did, they caused the storm, they shot down a VF and I would not be surprised if the Admiral was not released, so, we should go away if possible tonight, I do not want to stay here any longer, it's dangerous" - insisted Cheryl
"Rick, he is identical to Archer, he is" - Max began, ignoring Cheryl and Reggie in their comments
"Yes, he is the son of Archer and Sam" - I answered hugging Lisa
"He is not Archer's son!" - I raise my voice Cheryl
"Why are you so sure? We knew about him, and about his relationship with Samantha, we knew that she was pregnant, and after all this, it brings me to mind. Why so much insistence that this place is dangerous, and you want to get us out of here? I also think that we are safe, being his son and military, "- interrupted Max
"Samantha's son, Jack Archer's girlfriend, died in childbirth, that thing that presented itself as such, is actually a genetically manipulated Jack Archer clone, just like everyone who lives here on this basis.
We did not believe his words, although given the current circumstances we were no longer surprised by anything
"Why do you say that? Why are you so sure of your words? "- Max asked
"Ask Admiral Hunter, I think he already knows why" - they turned to see me but before I could say anything else Cheryl continued - "I think you've already discovered that he can read your mind, can not you? Admiral "- I sighed when she finished talking, I just nodded and kept silent for a few seconds.
"We must get out of here, we can not stay, these people are dangerous" - insisted Reggie while we were processing about what he said about Archer
"How sure are you of what you said about him? Where and how do you know? "- Miriya approached Cheryl
"Sam, Sam, she got depressed when she learned about Archer that she got lost in space, her pregnancy went from bad to worse, she did not eat, she didn´t take care of herself when she finally realized that, the only thing that would be left of that memory was her son was too late, the delivery was premature and the baby was born dead, full of regret allied to the Invid ruler and thanks to her I get to have that thing, I remind you that that happened to Scott, his fiancée was literally shattered when they knocked it down, and suddenly Ariel appeared who was nothing more than the clone of Marlene, Jack Archer is not the only one, there are cloned and genetically altered civilians who live here, in San Diego, among some officers killed in battle and they are here, alive "- Cheryl frustrated drops on a chair
"If we did not tell them about the spectrum or other technologies, Invid went through protocols of the UEG, we never wanted to hide anything from them, we are not their enemies, they do" - Reggie pointed to base 23
"Ok, and how will we get out of here? According to you they can manipulate everything even the weather and "- Max turns to see Rick -" What skill does Archer have? "- Max
"He Can read the mind" - responds very seriously waiting for the response of others
"That's not good" - Lisa was the one who broke the silence - "If he has that ability, he will never let us out of here, he will know all our plans and what we think about them, he will feel like a threat" - looking at his face of all of concern - "How will we get out of here without him discovering it?" - the exchange of looks does not help, there are no answers, Rick walks towards a window, outside the force of nature does not allow him to see clearly What is it that moves from the hills? The flashes of the rays resemble the lasers during a battle, the others follow it with their eyes waiting for a word that encourages them or those of an answer to the storm of questions that are inside their heads.
"I'm sorry, but we will not leave here, until I have the answers I want" - Cheryl and Reggie sigh with annoyance - "When they rescued me from Edwards' hands something made him stop, he did not dare to touch him, and not only was because of the resemblance to Archer, either he or a clone or whatever, being here I saw that they were transporting something inside a capsule, when questioning Jack he did not answer anything, I need to know what was in that capsule? Surrounded by security, why did Edwards stop? And to know if they really are our friends or enemies "- she approaches Lisa putting her shoulder in her hand and giving a little squeeze -" You will return to the Vancouver base, Lisa, I will not expose you, Miriya returns with you and everyone else we will stay here "- But Lisa has another idea in mind and immediately claims
"Leave me? Have you lost your mind? I will never leave you, I can´t be at the base without knowing you, I'm sorry, you will be the admiral in chief but I will not obey you and not even like my husband "- she replies annoyingly crossing her arms, and the fury in Rick comes up again.
"You will go, Lisa Hayes! Even if I have to force you, you can not be here "- raising her voice a Little
"I'm sorry I will not do it, and if you do not tell me why, I'll consider it less, especially if that T. R lunatic wants you dead" - insists Lisa
"He doesn´t want me, he wants you, Lisa" - looks at Rick, when kidnapped Edwards everyone assumed that he loved him, before Lisa followed someone else
"It's true Mrs. Hunter" - guided to the voice, this one, Archer in front of them - "Life for life is a change, his death will bring to life his ex-fiancée Brenda, that's why I kidnapped the Admiral so that you would agree to his blackmail and came by his will "- responds
"He needs the body, that's Nova Terra said, He must has the body of someone you want to revive" - Miriya crossing her arms, Rick observes Archer silently
"What was in the capsule? Jack – Rick asks approaching Lisa
"Yes Admiral, inside the capsule there is a human body" - Everyone observes him silently waiting for more of Archer's words – "and yes, that body is to Edwards´ fiancee" - Archer´s answer
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Normally I update to a double chapter every Friday, but due to issues, it was impossible for me, an apology, the next chapter will come later.
I await your comments, they are excellent to keep growing.