Chapter VII
I glanced briefly at the intel reports as we lounged about during the day, and it read that the rebels had no activity in this sector, and would not be there in the next day or so. In the meantime, we'd gotten word from Max and Miriya that there was an informal party on the base at 1800, in part to celebrate our company's arrival, and in part to raise morale. Lisa and I found fresh uniforms from the Quatermaster, and showered and got ready for the "time". The base had a large gymnasium, which had been converted for the party. It was a little after 1830 when Lisa and I showed up.
The whole crowd shouted, "Cheers!"
A loud roar rose up, as we stared at the crepe paper and balloons. "We knew you wouldn't come over if we told you it was for the both of you," Max was saying to me.
"You do realize," I smirked, "that you just volunteered to test leaky spacesuits for a month."
"Whatever you say, boss," he replied. "It'll be worth it."
Miriya got up to the mic, obviously fulfilling the role of DJ, and said, "I think the proper phrase right now would be, 'Let's get this party started!'"
I spent last night in the arms of a girl from Louisiana,
And though I'm out on the highway, my thoughts are still with her.
Such a strange combination of a woman and a child,
Such a strange situation, stoppin' every hundred miles,
Callin' Baton Rouge.
I'd loved that song since I was a kid. I looked at Lisa; we both were keeping step with each other, looking deeply into each others eyes. The song could almost perfectly describe our courtship.
A replay of last nights' events roll through my mind,
Except a scene or two, erased by sweet red wine.
And I see a truckstop sign ahead, so I change lanes.
I need a cup of coffee, and a couple dollars change,
Callin' Baton Rouge.
Operator, won't you put me on through?
Gotta send my love down to Baton Rouge.
Hurry up, won't you put her on the line?
Gotta talk to my girl just a-one more time.
Hello, Samantha, dear, I hope you're feeling fine.
And it won't be long until I'm with you all the time,
But until then, I'll spend my money, up right down to my last dime,
Ca-a-allin' Baton Rouge.
Operator, won't you put me on through?
Gotta send my love down to Baton Rouge.
Hurry up, won't you put her on the line?
Gotta talk to my girl just a-one more time.
I never knew how graceful Lisa was before, but as I saw her line dancing, I knew I'd never forget what I had seen of her that night. I'd always admired women, growing up; I never quite ever hated them the way most little boys hated girls, I'd always liked them. And I've always admired how fluid and graceful their movements were, how they flowed from one pose to another, instead of the awkward, boxy steps that us males had to get by with. But never before had I truly appreciated the grace and agility that the fairer sex came by naturally, nor had I ever truly realized how completely and utterly Lisa had exemplified these traits. And that night, Lisa outshone all of the other women on the floor.
I guess anyone reading my notes of the past few days is thinking that I'm a little sappy when it comes to talking about Lisa, well, it's the truth. I can't help myself; it's like being drunk on expensive Scotch, without the violent vomiting and headache that happens the next day.
I only remembered a few songs they played that night, primarily because Miriya, in her zest to fit in with the Micronian culture, was absolutely schizophrenic in her musical tastes. That seemed to fit the tastes of the younger soldiers, however, as they had no problem keeping pace as she switched from pop to rock to soul to jazz. Lisa and I had a harder time keeping up, however, between our injuries and our utter fatigue from the previous night's activities. She seemed to be bracing her back, probably from the wounds that those scars covered, whereas I was favoring my left leg heavily, courtesy of the conflict in which we were engaged. I motioned to her, and we limped feebly over to the bar, where a few rounds of celebratory champagne had been poured out.
"Well, well, if it isn't the guests of honor," Max shouted. "C'mon over, guys!"
"Thanks, Max," I said. "This is certainly quite a party, how'd you throw it together on this short notice?"
"Well, I talked to Barton, and it was kind of a coincidence, because the base was going to throw a morale-booster tonight, anyway, so we decided to tweak it a little bit. And when they heard that the best soap opera this side of Monument City had touched down in their own backyard-"
"Meaning Rick and I," Lisa groaned.
"You got it. Well, the guys couldn't resist. And, truthfully, neither could we. You know us, always willing to engage death in a staredown, but also wanting to kick back every so often," Max finished up.
"Who gave Miriya the job of DeeJay," Lisa asked. "She seems to be holding her own."
"Actually, she volunteered for it," Max chuckled. "She feels that, by immersing herself in the culture of our 'insane sonic patterns' as she puts it, she will become closer to her goal of being a full Micronian. And, I have to admit, she'd played a few of my favorites tonight, without me asking her to."
"Yeah, I wondered why there were a lot of Beatles songs in the rotation," I joked.
We paused and listened to the lingering strains of "Rock Around the Clock" dying in the distance. "By the way, Rick, Lisa," Max said, "The guys have a little gift for you two."
Lisa looked at him, half grinning and half wary. "Why do I think that we should start running fast and far right about now?"
"You're both probably right," he replied, as a shower of ice water from an oversized cooler greeted both Lisa and me.
"I take it this is your way of telling us to cool it off a bit," I snapped in jest.
"Well, actually, no. But we went with this instead of the Zentraedi tradition of boiling lava on the backside for celebrating a combat kill," Max said. The whole group looked at him. "Don't ask, you do not want to know."
I chuckled at the mental image of Zentraedi fighter jocks pouring molten lava over each other as they celebrated a piloting kill. "You definitely got yourself an interesting situation, there, Max," I chuckled, pulling him aside, for a little mano-a-mano chat.
"True, but I wouldn't miss it for the world. Definitely a cut above anything I could have ever predicted when I graduated from the Academy. And she's worth her weight in Zentraedi gold, Rick. I was lucky that she was in the right place at the right time for me, and she feels the same way. And we're happy for you, Rick. Just keep in mind that we need your heart in the cockpit as much as your brains."
"Thanks, Max," I said.
Then, we both looked over and saw a truly amazing, albeit comedic, sight: Miriya selected the Macarena, and she was leading the crowd in doing the dance, along with several gaffes and some facial expressions she had that I couldn't identify. Max grabbed me by the back of the collar and said, "The guys and I have an idea, Rick, and we'll need your help. Wanna give it a go?"
I looked at him strangely. "As long as it doesn't involve any explosions, I'm game."
He gave me a pair of dark sunglasses, and said, "C'mon backstage, we're gonna give this crowd a little audience participation. There's a karaoke contest, and the XO's and I entered. We need your vocals, Rick."
"What's this 'we' stuff, anyway? What song did you select?"
"You'll find out in a few, boss," he said.
"Are you drunk, Max?"
"Nah, just a little buzzed. That's all I ever get. Miriya doesn't like it when I'm drunk, and an enraged Quadrano pilot is definitely not a pleasant living companion."
As we meandered to the back of Miriya's podium, Max gave me the final instructions as to dance moves and rhythm. Max stepped up and whispered in her ear as "Cotton-Eye Joe" was finishing up. Lisa, I could see from across the floor, was enjoying the dance rather thoroughly, and was adept at the spins and kicks it involved. I smiled half nervously, and then Miriya announced, "Greetings, all! Tonight, we have a very special production for you; The Spacefold Singers have graciously agreed to sing for you all, to kick off the action in our karaoke contest."
As she spoke, we all put on our shades, buttoned up our BDU's to look more official, and got in step with each other. Two steps, clap; another, clap; repeat, twist our shoulders and shuffle our feet as we clap to the beat. Point the toes out dramatically every four beats. I was lead vocals, and had Max and two XO's in the backup and rhythm section.
Hot sun, beatin' down,
burning my feet, just walkin' around.
Hot sun, makin' me sweat,
gator's getting' close, hasn't got me yet…
I can't dance, I can't talk,
Only thing about me is the way I walk;
I can't dance, I can't sing,
I'm just standin' here, selling everything.
Billy Jean's sittin' on the beach,
her dog's talkin' to me, but she's outta reach;
She's got a body, under that shirt,
but all she wants to do is rub my face in the dirt.
I can't dance, I can't talk,
Only thing about me is the way I walk;
I can't dance, I can't sing,
I'm just standin' here, selling…
And checkin everything is in place,
You never know who's a-lookin on…
We scanned the audience dramatically, and in rhythm to the music.
Young punk spillin' beer on my shoes, (I pointed to the XO of Hawkeye Squadron, Billy Byrd)
Fat guy's talkin' to me, trying to steal my blues. (Pointed to XO for the Rogues, Richard Jannsen)
Thick smoke, see the smilin' fool, (Pointed to Max, smiling broadly)
I never thought so much could happen just shootin' pool.
I can't dance, I can't talk,
Only thing about me is the way I walk;
I can't dance, I can't sing,
I'm just standin' here, selling…
And checkin everything is in place,
You never know who's a-lookin on…
The perfect body, with the perfect face. (I pointed at Lisa on this line, causing her to blush and the crowd to roar with approval)
Um-hm.
I can't dance, I can't talk,
Only thing about me is the way I walk;
I can't dance, I can't sing,
I'm just standin' here, selling everything.
I can't walk…
No, I can't dance…
I can't dance…
I can't sing…
Lisa and the girls in our squadrons were getting revved at our act, and apparently hatched a plot of their own. She motioned me aside, and whispered their idea to me. I couldn't fault them, and nodded in reply. I'd always liked Lisa's singing, and this was a perfect showcase for it. Max took his cue from Miriya, and assumed the DJ setup for the song. I attempted to leave the floor, but Lisa caught me by the arm, chuckling, "Oh, no, flyboy, you don't get out of it that easily."
I took a seat near the front of the stage, and then Lisa, Miriya, and a woman I didn't know, took the stage.
Ooooh…ahhhhh…I need, I need, I need, I got to hold on to your love…Hey, baby, thought you were the one who tried to run away?
Ooh, baby, wasn't I the one who made you want to stay?
Please don't bet that you'll ever escape me, once I get my sights on you…
When she go to that point in the song, and at every chorus, Lisa made a pistol with her thumb and forefingers of her right hand and slid them in a seductive fashion up her right thigh, as if drawing a real pistol.
I got a license to kill, (to kill)
And you know I'm going straight for your heart…(Got a license to kill)
She aimed it slowly at my heart and pretended to shoot me.
Got a license to kill, (to kill)
Anyone who tries to tear us apart…(with a license to kill)
Mhmmm…license to kill…
Hey baby, think you need a friend to stand up by your side? (Yes you did, your side…)
Oooh, baby, now you can depend on me to make things right…(things right)
Please don't bet that you'll ever escape me, once I get my sights on you…
I got a license to kill, (to kill)
And you know I'm going straight for your heart…(Got a license to kill)
Got a license to kill, (to kill)
Anyone who tries to tear us apart…(with a license to kill)
Got a license to kill, (to kill)
And you know I'm going straight for your heart…(Got a license to kill)
Got a license to kill, (to kill)
Anyone who tries to tear us apart…(with a license to kill)
Say that somebody tries to make a move on you;
In the blink of an eye, I'll be there too.
And you better know why; I'm gonna make them pay…
Till their dying day, till their dying day, till their dying day…
Got a license to kill, (to kill)
And you know I'm going straight for your heart…(Got a license to kill)
Got a license to kill, (to kill)
Anyone who tries to tear us apart…(with a license to kill)
I got a license to kill, (to kill)
And you know I'm going straight for your heart…(Got a license to kill)
Got a license to kill, (to kill)
Anyone who tries to tear us apart…(with a license to kill)
Ooooh, license to kill…
Gotta hold on to your loving…
License to kill…
Kill…(fade out)
The crowd went wild, and I was left breathless. That was, simply, the most stunning and seductive live performance I'd ever seen anyone put on. I decided my next move, dully reminding myself that this was a crowd competition, not an officer's party. The crowd, however, was definitely interested in watching us out-duel each other in songs, and there were no complaints as I took the stage yet again, with Max, Billy, and Richard as backup. This one song I had in mind described how secure I felt with her love in my life, and the guys were there to help me whip the crowd into frenzy.
We got into a rocking, stomping rhythm, clapping and stomping to the beats of the music. The crowd joined in, as well, when it picked up what song we were doing.
One, two, a one two three four…
Some love is just a lie of the heart,
The cold remains of what began with a passionate start,
And they may not want it to end,
But it will, it's just a question of when.
I've lived long enough to have learned:
The closer you get to the fire, the more you get burned…
But that won't happen to us,
Cuz it's always been a matter of trust.
Now I know you're an emotional girl;
It took a lot for you to not lose your faith in this world.
And I can't offer you proof,
But you're gonna face a moment of truth.
It's hard when you're always afraid;
You just recover when another belief is betrayed.
So break my heart if you must,
It's a matter of trust…
You can't go the distance,
With too much resistance.
I know you have doubts,
But for God's sake don't shut me out.
This time, you've got nothing to lose,
You can take it, you can leave it; whatever you choose,
I won't hold back anything,
And I'll walk away a fool or a king.
Some love is just a lie of the mind,
It's make-believe until it's only a matter of time.
And some might have learned to adjust,
But then it never was a matter of trust.
We moved out into the audience and busted our own, individual moves, and the crowd went wild. Lisa came up with me for a few seconds and we did a little grind during the bridge to the song.
I'm sure you're aware, love,
We've both had our share of
Believing too long,
When the whole situation was wrong.
Some love is just a lie of the soul,
A constant battle for the ultimate state of control.
After you've heard lie upon lie,
There can hardly be a question of why.
Some love is just a lie of the heart,
The cold remains of what began with a passionate start.
But that can't happen to us,
Cuz it's always been a matter of trust.
It's a matter of trust…
It's always been a matter of trust…
Again, the crowd went wild as we finished singing. Lisa looked at me as if a gauntlet had been thrown down, and she was planning her next move, when the Klaxons went off, as well as an order on the intercom. "Attention all personnel, the enemy is attacking. All pilots, report to your squadrons, and prepare for immediate takeoff. All infantry, to your post. Three columns of tanks and infantry vehicles heading our way, plus a full wing of assault aircraft. All personnel, scramble!"
I ran hell-for-leather to the hanger, with Lisa, Max, and the Skull pilots following me. When we got there, we saw most of the squadron's fighters were on hydraulic lifts, undergoing refit. "You've gotta be kidding me," I groaned.
"No joke, Captain," the lead tech said. "We've been overhauling these fighters all day, and we've only got yours and Captain Hayes' finished."
"Great," I groaned, as Lisa and I put on our harnesses and parachutes.
"We do, however, have some conventional, Harrier-class fighters available. I know they're no replacement for your mechs, but it's either that or take the Destroids or a hovertank," he finished lamely.
Max and four of my squad volunteered for the Harriers, while the rest opted for hovertanks to take on the ground forces. The tanks were called Savannah Masters, and were lightly armored, though mounting 3 medium lasers, and were extremely fast. The hovertanks moved off to the front as the air defenses sprung into action. Lisa and I taxied onto the runway, and were given clearance to lift off. We flew high, switched into Guardian mode, and fired a burst at the woods along the edge of the clearing that surrounded the base. She took out a few heavy tanks with her burst, and I attracted the attention of a few surface to air missiles, which my ECM swiftly disposed of. The first thing I noticed was that we had a shared targeting computer link. "Lisa, are you getting my data?"
"Yes, Rick, I can see."
Then, a flight of enemy VT's swept on us like a wild wave. I don't think Lisa or I had ever engaged in such flying before in our lives, even on The Line, and the dogfights that went on were intense and painful, because we knew everyone that we were putting a bullet into. Max and the other escorts put a barrage of missiles into the woods, just as the enemy charge began. A few prototype mechs took the leading edge of their charge, sporting two medium lasers and two streak SRM packs. A streak missile is easier to target than a normal missile, and all missiles in those packs automatically hit once the target is acquired. Lisa and I focused on these first, as the VT fight was all but over, since the other Skulls made short work of the remaining combatants.
My four medium pulse lasers locked onto the leading mech…
AN: Another cliffhanger. J I hope you enjoyed the comic relief, but remember, this is the military, and they do have a government to restore and evil to conquer, and all without messing up their hairdos and uniforms, right? Read and review, please!