"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth…
Put out my hand and touched the face of God"
High Flight John Gillespie Magee Jr.
Finally, Donald Hayes raised his head and looked Lisa square in the face. The few minutes that had passed had been the longest in her life, Lisa felt as if weeks had passed.
"Touché," he murmured, but the corner of his mouth lifted in a small smile.
"Father?" Lisa swallowed hard against the raising excitement in her heart. For the first time in many, many years she knew she had got through to her father…something she did not think would ever happen again.
"I can't deny it, you have a point," the Admiral shook his head. "I have never had patience for special treatment between family members…" Lisa managed to restrain herself from smiling, remembering well the times that her father had refused any special treatment or acknowledgement of her in pursuit of that ideal. He heaved a heavy sigh. "I ask though…that you reconsider, Lisa…think do you really wish to go back to the SDF-1? You know as well as I do how dangerous this is."
Lisa reached out a hand and touched her father's arm. "I know, Father, but I must go back. I'm sorry."
The smile tugging on her father's lips finally became a full one and he folded her in a quick embrace. "You've always been a good daughter to me, Lisa…and a finer officer."
Once he released her, she rendered him a brisk salute.
"When can I return to my post, Admiral?"
Her father sighed again and folded his arms looking back down at the floor. "As soon as there is an appropriate launch window," he said his voice almost too low for her to catch.
"Oh, thank you, Father!"
At that moment the phone on the Admiral's desk rang and Lisa excused herself almost walking on air.
But as she walked down the corridor she remembered the UEG's plan for the Grand Cannon. In her attempts to return to the SDF-1, Lisa had almost forgotten it.
They'll doom us all if they go ahead, she thought to herself, shaking her head. How can I get Father to change his mind? Especially now that I'm leaving?
It occurred to her that perhaps her father was trying to do a trade off, allowing her to return to the SDF-1 and in return she would say no more about the Grand Cannon plan.
But she knew that to do would be damning the entire human race and she could not allow that, no matter what the risks were.
If that's what your hoping Father, you've got another thing coming, she vowed, Lisa Hayes certainly doesn't let sleeping dogs lie!
Entering her room, she headed immediately for the computer and began searching for information on orbits and launch windows. Hopefully, her wait to return to the SDF-1 would not be too long, but she hoped she'd at least have another day to change her father's mind again.
The flowers Rico, Konda and Bron had purchased for the Bridge Bunnies were all ready wilting by the time the arrived at the Bamboo Hut.
"I told you this was a bad idea," Rico grumbled, holding up his oversized bouquet of white lilies. "What a waste of our money!"
"Oh, I don't know," Bron looked over his bouquet, "they're pretty colours don't you think?"
"I suppose," Konda agreed, not looking too convinced himself, "but do you think they're really appropriate for this place," he gestured towards the neon lights of the disco. "There's not really anywhere to put them when we get in there."
Rico groaned in frustration, looking as if he was ready to throw his bouquet in the nearest bin, but at that moment there was the sound of female voices.
"Rico! Konda! Bron!"
The three spies turned, and smiles spread over their faces at the sight of the three Bridge Bunnies rushing as quickly as they could on the rather precarious 'high heels' female micronians seemed to often wear against all better judgement.
"We're sorry we're late!" Vanessa was a little breathless.
"We hope you haven't been waiting long," Kim added with a bright smile for Konda's benefit.
"Oh, wow! Flowers!" Sammie cried coming over to Rico. "Lilies! They're beautiful!" She gently took them from his arms.
"Sammie!" Vanessa waggled an index finger at her. "You're supposed to wait for your date to hand them over, not just take them!"
Sammie tossed her head. "You'll never get anywhere if you wait for it."
"What a fine excuse for bad manners," Kim teased, poking her tongue out at her friend.
"Uh…these are for you," Bron worried that an argument was going to break out thrust out his bouquet of roses at Vanessa.
"Thank you so much, Bron," Vanessa grinned, her cheeks flushed. "These are my favourite!"
Bron's smile widened as Vanessa leaned forward and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Here you are?" Konda held out his bouquet for Kim, feeling a little uncertain.
"I've never seen such a huge bouquet!" Kim told him, her smile becoming even brighter. "You're all so thoughtful!"
The three spies looked to each other, very relieved that their plan had gone well, despite everything.
"Now we just need to figure out where we're going to put them when we go in," Sammie laughed, peeking over her lilies.
The three spies looked at each other with some embarrassment.
"Umm…sorry –" Bron began.
"Oh no, no," Vanessa cried, "Sammie's just teasing you! We'll find somewhere to put them, don't worry."
"Yeah," Kim took a hold of Konda's hand and gave him a tug in the direction of the front door of the Bamboo Hut. "Let's get dancing, huh?!"
Before the Rico or Bron could reply, they had their hands grabbed to and the six of them headed into the disco where they had first danced together.
Max wasn't really walking anywhere in particular, but he decided not to return to the barracks. A few months ago, there would have been no problem, Ben would have just been down the hall and would probably burst in cajoling him into going out for a huge dinner or to the arcade.
Life just wasn't the same anymore.
And of course there was Miriya.
Just my luck, he thought to himself, shaking his head and shoving his hands deeper into his pockets. Of all the girls on the ship to fall in love with…I might as well have fallen for Commander Hayes!
He gave a small chuckle at that, thinking that perhaps, Commander Hayes falling in love wasn't as unlikely as a Zentraedi doing the same.
After all, she seems to hold a torch for the Boss…if only he wasn't hanging on for Miss Macross…There's no way that can ever happen.
At that moment, Max thought he heard a noise behind him, and quickly he turned. The holographic sky and lighting had almost faded away, bathing the city in long shadows. But he saw no-one.
Shrugging, Max turned back around and began walking again.
It was not too long though, before he heard another sound and this time when he turned he saw a shadow disappearing down a narrow alleyway between two buildings.
Max frowned, he had the strangest feeling…could it be…
Don't be ridiculous, he chided himself, just keep on walking; it's probably just a shop keeper or something going in the back way.
A small part of him continued to hope, but he pushed the thought away and returned to walking.
Finally he came to the end of the road, where an enormous observation window looked out on the field of stars beyond. The SDF-1 was in a position where Earth could not be seen but the large black mass of the Zentraedi fleet blocking out part of the moon could.
Is Mr. Dixon right? Max wondered, looking hard at the mass he knew was thousands and thousands of enemy ships. Can we trust the Zentraedi…they're bred for nothing but war, after all…
And then in the window he caught a reflection, a face…
Max whirled about so fast he almost tripped himself up.
But he was not imagining things…
Right there in front of him was the face he could not get out of his mind no matter how hard he tried.
"Miriya," he breathed…part of him was telling him to get the Hell out of there, that the Zentraedi could become violent at any moment, as he had witnessed only a few nights ago.
Miriya though made no move to attack him…Max wondered if she had a weapon, since obviously she had escaped from the hospital and was still dressed in a thin hospital gown. Her green eyes were wide and she looked not frightened, or angry…Max couldn't figure out what her expression was.
"What…what are you doing here?" Max finally managed to ask, the whole encounter seemed surreal.
"I must know," Miriya spoke in a low voice, taking a small set forward. "You must tell me…why did you not kill me?"
Max blinked at her, stunned. "What?"
"I attacked the Skull Leader, I could not best him…you were in a position to kill me," Miriya took another step. "But you did not. I don't understand, is it not in your warrior code?" She swallowed hard. "Or does your code insist upon a face to face battle on equal terms?"
Max had no idea how to reply to her.
Her face took on a proud look and she tossed her head back. "If that is the case then, I am ready."
"Ready?" Max repeated, shaking his head.
"You have no weapon, nor do I…we will fight hand to hand then?"
"Fight?" Max gaped at her. "I don't want to fight you!"
The proud look left Miriya's face immediately, her brows furrowed. "You don't want to fight me? But why? Do you believe I am too poor an opponent? I assure you, I will not make it easy for you."
"It has nothing to do with that," Max shook his head, "why would I want to fight you…you haven't done anything to me."
"Perhaps not, but you have done something to me," Miriya stood up straight and glared at him. "You bested me and humiliated me!"
"That was a game," Max told her, realising as he said it, that the Zentraedi probably didn't have games and she probably wouldn't understand what he was talking about.
"A game," Miriya repeated, rasing an eyebrow. "I have heard that word…you bested me then for amusement…for entertainment?" Her eyes were hard and cold.
"No, I got in a game with you because I…I wanted to get to know you." Max swallowed nervously, wondering how a Zentraedi would take that sort of declaration.
"Know me? What do you mean know me?"
"Since I first saw you all those weeks ago… it must have been when you first came aboard as a spy. I didn't know you were a Zentraedi…and honestly I don't care."
"What do you mean you don't care?"
Max found himself walking slowly toward her, willing to risk it. "I don't care that you're a Zentraedi, I think…We aren't all that different."
Miriya's eyes narrowed. "You think that? You think that a Zentraedi would ever stoop to the base emotions and behaviour of the micronian race?"
"I…uh…" Max suddenly wondered what he had got himself into; Miriya had a look on her face now that he understood very well.
"I will not stand here and be insulted by you any further!" Miriya shouted her cheeks red and her eyes flashing with fury.
Max held his hands up in gesture of peace. "I'm not trying to insult you –" He began, but Miriya had lashed out with a fist catching him on the jaw with a blow that sent him reeling.
"Is your race not proficient in hand to hand combat?" Miriya asked, a smile curving her lips. "What a shame."
As she lashed out at him again, however, Max quickly raised an arm blocking her swing and he pushed her back.
"So you do know," Miriya looked happy at this fact. "Very well then."
She launched herself at him and Max had no choice but to jump out of the way.
"I don't want to fight you!" He cried.
This didn't make much of an impression and before he knew it, she had brought a leg across in a sweeping motion just behind his knees causing them to buckle and him to sprawl face up on the pavement.
"Such cowardice will not save you," Miriya sneered, "and I thought you would be such a worthy opponent."
But Max noticed she did not press her advantage when she had the chance, quick as his reflexes could carry him he got to his feet.
Miriya seemed to regain her resolve and rushed for her, her arms outstretched as she went for his neck.
Max caught her by the wrists and with all his strength kept her at bay. "I know Zentraedi are bred for nothing but war, but is that really all you want to know?" He demanded.
Miriya managed to kick his left shin and wincing he let go of her wrists and she quickly moved out of his reach. "I have no idea what you're talking about," she snapped, "I have learnt enough of micronians to tell me there is nothing special about your race. Your rebuilding of the fortress was no doubt a fluke. You should be exterminated…all of you!"
She went for him again, but Max was ready for her and they began grappling.
"Worthless micronian!" Miriya spat.
Max had no desire to fight at all, but he did want he had to do, avoiding Miriya's attempts to deliver blows at his throat.
The fact that he made no move to defeat her only seemed to anger her further, which certainly didn't make her a better fighter.
Max remained cool…or as cool as he could in the circumstances and finally he got her back up against the observation window, his forearm resting just in front of her throat…
Miriya gave a strangled cry.
"Well…what do you have to say to that?" Max demanded, smiling slightly at the fact he had managed to subdue her.
"You…you have beaten me…"
"Uh huh," Max nodded, backing away slightly, even though he was not sure what she would do.
But what she did do, he certainly did not expect.
Tears welled in Miriya's green eyes and spilled over down her cheeks. She slid down the window to her knees, and hung her head.
"What-" Max began, for a moment wondering if he had hurt her badly…she had after all been in hospital…
"You have proven yourself superior," Miriya's voice was trembling. "Proceed then."
"What?"
"End my life," she responded, looking up ever so briefly before hanging her head again. "I have proven myself unworthy."
"End…end your life?" Max could barely believe it, just the sound of the words made his chest feel tight. "But…but I couldn't!"
Reaching down he put a finger under her chin and gently raised her face to his. "You're so beautiful!"
Miriya stared at him, she obviously didn't know the meaning of his words, but he was determined to show her.
Reaching down with his other hand her slowly lifted her to her feet and then before he could really think about what he was doing he pressed his mouth to hers in a kiss.
Dr. Lang turned to Dr. Hassen.
"How in God's name did this happen?" He demanded, looking back at the empty hospital room, the empty bed.
"Didn't we warn you about these damn aliens?" Colonel Maistroff growled, glaring at Dr. Hassen as if he wanted to come to blows with the man. "They're dangerous! And now this one is on the loose!"
"They are not animals, sir," Dr. Hassen replied, adjusting his glasses in a rather impatient manner.
"They are not human!" Maistroff all but roared.
Dr. Lang shook his head. "Gentlemen, this arguing is completely useless," he said in an even tone, then turned to Hassen. "Do you have any idea vhen the Zentraedi female might haff escaped?"
"Well, some time between five-thirty and six," Hassen said, "the nurse made her rounds at five-thirty and saw her here, she was gone when dinner was brought around at six."
Dr. Lang took a quick look at his watch. "So, she has almost an hour's head start on us…."
"It's not that big a ship," Maistroff growled, suddenly. "All we need to do is make a ship-wide announcement and we'll have that alien tracked down before it can cause any damage."
"Never mind the damage the alien may do, think of what might happen if we cause a ship-wide panic," another voice sounded.
The three turned to find Captain Gloval, nervously fingering his unlit pipe.
"Are you accusing our civilians of been uncontrollable?" Maistroff demanded, as if looking for a confrontation with the SDF-1's captain.
"No, but even the most level headed populace can been induced into violent behaviour by false warnings."
"False warnings?" Maistroff spluttered. "Have you forgotten what these damn aliens did to us just a few weeks ago? The damn things almost destroyed Macross City in its entirety!"
Captain Gloval was not in the least swayed. "You are forgetting they were at least thirty Zentraedi all of whom were full-sized and in battle pods. One human-sized Zentraedi certainly poses no such threat."
"It's decent of you to be so open minded," Maistroff sneered, "but need I remind you this particular alien made no claims of wanting a peaceful existence upon this ship, she even attacked Fokker."
"I am not saying we don't need to apprehend her," Gloval replied, coldly, giving Maistroff a warning look. "But I will not allow a ship-wide panic to break out over it."
"This is pathetic!" Maistroff burst out. "You have all gone completely mad! If you actually believe that this aliens can be convinced to live a peaceful existence. For all we know the entire thing is a cover and reinforcements are just waiting to bear down upon us. For all we know the human-sized ones in this damn place are planning to poison the water."
"I must say Colonel Maistroff, I never suspected you as the sort who vould engage in bizarre conspiracy theories," Dr. Lang couldn't help but remark at this tirade.
Maistroff's face turned an angry red and turned to face Lang. "You're overstepping your boundaries, Doctor," he sneered.
"Colonel," Captain Gloval spoke warningly, "arguing among ourselves won't do any good. What needs to be done is a low-level search of the ship to find the alien, there will be no wide-spread announcements and no overt military action."
Maistroff looked as if there was nothing more he wanted to do than object, but he obviously valued his rank more than his xenophobic ideas. "Fine then, Captain," he spoke in an overly polite tone. "I'll have your orders fulfilled to the letter."
With that he saluted and left.
Gloval shook his head. "Obviously, he's hoping that our escapee will cause trouble and allow blame to be pinned upon us."
"It may not be as bad as mass poisoning of the water supply," Dr. Lang said, quietly. "But there's no telling vhat the Zentraedi has planned…after all, Roy Fokker was discharged today."
Gloval placed his pipe between his teeth. "We'll find her," he swore. "Before she can cause us any more trouble."
Everything was spinning…for a moment, Miriya thought she must be ill or even dying, she had never felt anything like this before…
The mircronian…he was…he was doing that horrible thing the one known as Lynn Kyle had done during that battle footage…
Briefly she recalled how she had thought that it must be some sort of weapon; such was the effect it had had upon the female micronian.
But if it was a weapon, it was the strangest one of all.
Because against all her instincts, against everything she had ever known, she was enjoying it!
It was the most amazing sensation, this pressing of lips, it made her feel as if she was floating in the air, as if nothing was important but the blue haired micronian.
He pulled away from her, looking at her wide eyed. "Uh…"
"This is why you do not wish to kill me," Miriya whispered, her voice sounding very strange to her. "Because you wish to press lips instead?"
The blue haired micronian's cheeks were red and he gave a small laugh. "Well…I guess…if you put it that way…"
Gripped by decidedly non -Zentraedi feelings, Miriya leaned in and pressed her lips to his.
She understood now, this bizarre micronian custom, and all the others that sprang from it.
It was pleasurable.
More pleasurable then all the battles she had even fought in and all the kills she had ever made.
Breaking away she gazed into the eyes of this strange micronian, realising now why she had been so desperate to follow him, to find out about him.
"Your name…." she murmured.
"Huh…" he looked at her his eyes seeming rather unfocused at first, then he shook his head. "Oh, uh, I'm Maximillian…Max…"
It was not like any Zentraedi name, but Miriya liked the sound of it. "Maximillian," she repeated.
"Miriya," he smiled at her, at gesture she could not help copying, but this time she meant it. "This…this is gonna sound crazy…but…" he swallowed and stepped back a little. "Will you marry me?"
The word was unfamiliar to her, but Miriya was quite certain that it was one of those male and female micronian customs, ones she had not wanted to know anything more of after ascertaining the basics.
But, now, enraptured of this blue haired micronian, this Maximillian, she wanted to know everything about it.
"Marry," she repeated the word, "yes, Maximillian, of course I shall."
