Robotech vs Transformers: Revenge Road
Chapter 14
Izzy Randal strode into the hospital room, the green haired young woman looking determined. Roy Fokker looked up from his hospital bed, the blond haired man smiling sheepishly, "Hey, Izzy..."
"You IDIOT!" Izzy clouted him on the side of the head.
"Oww!" Roy flinched away as the older man said, "Take it easy, I'm delicate."
"Idiot," Izzy repeated as a few tears trickled down her face, "You scared the hell out of us! What were you THINKING?"
Roy winced, looking away. He had taken at least one bullet in the chest in the last battle, and instead of getting checked over like he should have he instead snuck off. If someone hadn't realized he was hurt and sent out medical teams, he didn't know what would have happened. No, he knew what would have happened, he'd have bled out in Claudia's quarters...
"I'm sorry," Roy admitted quietly, "I don't know what the hell I was thinking."
"Probably just dodging the doctors," Izzy sighed as she sat down in a chair beside the bed.
Roy sat back, sighing as he asked, "Has the bad news hit the rumour mill yet?"
"There's a couple of pretty garbled stories out there," Izzy hedged.
"Yeah," Roy sighed. He leaned back, looking away from Izzy as he said, "The docs are pretty hopeful I'll recover, but they're saying I won't fly again." He blinked away a few tears, "My body won't be able to handle the strain."
Izzy reached out and put her hand on his arm, squeezing gently. "I'm sorry," she said quietly.
Roy put his hand over hers, sighing softly. "Well, I'm still alive," he said to her quietly, "that's something, right?"
"More than something," Izzy answered. She looked around, taking all the flowers and other items that had been left for him, "Popular as ever, I see."
Roy grinned faintly, "Half from my fellow pilots, half from my ex-girlfriends."
"And what does Claudia think of this?" Izzy asked, laughing.
"She ain't happy," Roy admitted ruefully.
They talked for awhile, then Izzy reluctantly got up. "I gotta go," she said apologetically, "but I'll be back to see you soon."
"Be careful out there," Roy nodded as she headed out.
"Always," Izzy called over her shoulder as she left the hospital room.
The city the hospital was attached to was inland, and not far from one of several major defence bases established to guard the continent much like the Fortress Carriers guarded the sea. Modelled after Autobot City the base was heavily armoured and bristling with weapons, intended both to protect and draw enemy fire away from 'softer' targets.
Izzy trotted out of the hospital, once again wishing they could have kept Roy on Fortress One. Still, even she could see it didn't make much sense to have a seriously injured man healing up on a base that was attacked every few days by killer robots.
Terri Okuda watched from the jeep as Izzy walked up, the private having been ''loaned' to Izzy as a driver for her visit. It wasn't that people distrusted Izzy's driving, but she had managed to trigger a police chase last time she was in town for R & R.
"Lieutenant," Terri saluted, her red hair falling into her eyes.
"Private," Izzy smiled as she climbed into the passenger's side. "So, are you still not letting me drive?" she asked.
"The city can't afford the damages, ma'am," Terri answered frankly.
"You've been talking to Commander Hayes, haven't you?" Izzy laughed, sitting back. "Can you run me out to the base?"
"Got it, ma'am," Terri agreed, starting up the jeep and they drove off. "How was Lt. Fokker?" she asked respectfully.
"Depressed," Izzy shrugged, "but I can't really blame him. Piloting was his life, and now..."
They went through the city at a brisk pace, Izzy taking a moment to look around. The city had a 'new' feeling to it, as did many cities in the war. Rebuilding happened a lot with the heavy Decepticon attacks, and the rapid rebuilding techniques developed as a spin off from Robotechnology. Parts of the cities were now modular, and could even 'transform' to reveal devastating fire bases.
They passed through town out to the base, watching as Destroids lumbered by on patrol. "Do you think they'll get that transforming tank off the ground?" Terri asked curiously.
"Why, it doesn't fly?" Izzy teased.
"Ma'am," Terri sighed.
"The Autobots are helping us with the technology," Izzy said, "at least that's what Arcee is telling me. We should have it running pretty soon."
"Good," Terri grinned, "I think I'd make a pretty damn good tank jock."
Izzy didn't have the heart to tell her that the experienced Destroid pilots would probably get first shot at them. They stopped by the hangers and she got out, smiling at the younger woman as she said, "Thanks for the lift."
"No problem, it's safer than letting you drive around," Terri teased.
"I'm never gonna live that down," Izzy laughed as she walked away.
Her Veritech waited in the hanger, the sleek silver-white aircraft trimmed with green. It was the standard 'command' version, and had served her pretty well in the months since she got it. One of these days she would be sent the next upgrade with armour and the new booster rockets, but until then she and her buddy would fly on together.
"Lt!" the maintenance man nodded, moving away from the wheel assembly as he wiped his hands with a greasy rag. His name tag read 'Hawkins' and he had a warm smile.
"How's my baby?" Izzy asked, sweeping the fighter with her eyes.
"Just fine," Hawkins said, "the only think I had to do was grease a couple of wheel gears. Other than that she's good to go."
"Good," Izzy said, "but do you mind if I check her over myself?"
"Go right ahead," Hawkins said, standing back with a confident smile.
Izzy was a perfectionist, at least as far as her fighter went. The slightest flaw or accident could get you killed in combat, and the only thing standing between you and death was your fighter. So every time she took off Izzy circled the plane, her trained eye sweeping it for anything out of place.
"Looks good," Izzy finally conceded. She nodded to Hawkins, "thanks for your help. Best clear out, I'm taking of immediately."
"Thanks!" the young man grinned as he hurried out of the hanger.
A few moments later Izzy taxied out onto the base runway, the twin engines rumbling loudly. Then with a roar and a jet of flame the fighter barrelled down the runway and blasted off, arching up into the blue sky.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Lisa Hayes looked at her captain with a fond but somewhat exasperated expression. "You know you can take some time off, Claudia," she told her.
Claudia Grant shook her head, the black woman sitting in the command chair as the bridge buzzed with life around them. "We aren't married, so I can't take the usual compassionate leave," she told Lisa flatly.
"Oh, bullshit," Lisa growled, "you know they would make an exception if you asked them to."
Claudia shook her head, "I don't want to have a reputation for getting special favors."
Lisa made a soft growling noise in the back of her throat. "At least tell me you're catching rides out to see him when the pilots go visit?" she asked.
"Yes, I am," Claudia flashed a smile, "momma didn't raise no dummies."
"That's questionable," Lisa muttered.
"What was that?" Claudia smiled sweetly.
"Nothing, nothing," Lisa smiled innocently.
"Right," Claudia snickered softly. She sat back, her expression thoughtful, "Has a decision been made on who to bump up into Roy's slot?"
"We've got two candidates," Lisa admitted, "one of which I'm kind of biased about."
"Oh?" Claudia asked.
"The one is Roy Fokker's buddy Rick Hunter," Lisa admitted.
Claudia actually smiled slightly, "The one who called you a old lady? That Hunter?"
"Him, yes," Lisa growled. She sighed, "The other is Izzy Randal."
"Your protege," Claudia noted with a smirk, knowing that pissed Lisa off.
"She is NOT my...," Lisa trailed off, knowing her friend was winding her up. "What do you think?" she asked after a moment.
"Who's the most experienced?" Claudia asked reasonably.
"On paper, Izzy," Lisa answered frankly, "but Izzy took nearly a year out after..."
"Ah," Claudia nodded, "which means actual flight time is pretty close."
"Exactly," Lisa agreed. She frowned, "And symbolically Skull One is a important slot, too."
"What does your gut say?" Claudia asked, looking at Lisa thoughtfully.
Lisa frowned, looking down at her computerized station for a moment. "Give it to Hunter," she admitted reluctantly. "Izzy already has a reputation, and Hunter needs the confidence boost getting Skull One would give him."
"Besides, Izzy doesn't want the attention," Claudia pointed out reasonably.
"That too," Lisa conceded. "Who gets to tell Hunter?" she asked curiously.
"I'll leave that in your capable hands," Claudia smiled slightly.
"Gee, thanks," Lisa sighed.
To be continued...
Notes: Yes, I'm bringing in Southern Cross style tanks, too. I'm also debating bringing in the transforming cycles from Next Gen... they're not really practical against most transformers, but they're kinda cool. ^_^