Chapter 19

The stage was set. Instruments, mixing boards and turntables were ready and waiting. Giant stacks of speakers rose like pillars beside the platform. And the shining blue Valkyrie fighter lay behind it, reflecting the golden hues of the setting sun.

It had been almost ten minutes since the ground crew had stopped working on the stage. The background music had stopped. A silent crowd was growing curious.

The command tower's entrance slid open, and Lieutenant Joons stepped inside. His hair was matted down from sweat. He waved to the lower-ranking officers as he passed by, zipping down the neck of his flight suit. But he reserved a formal salute for Lisa Hayes.

"Made it back, ma'am!" he smiled. He was slightly out of breath.

"That was a tough one, eh soldier?" she replied with a smile. "You'll be decorated for your performance!"

Michael sighed and nodded. He remained at full attention, his eyes wandering uncomfortably around the room.

Lisa looked at him strangely. "Oh! At ease, Joons! Come on now!"

He nodded shyly and leaned against the terminals.

"You want a seat?" she asked, turning her attention to the radar screens. "Go ahead, take mine."

"No thanks," he said shakily. "Well...yeah, thank you." Michael carefully sat down in the commander's chair. He seemed just as nervous.

"Is something the matter, Lieutenant?" she asked.

Joons quickly rubbed his face. "No...no ma'am. Just need to calm down."

"Get a glass of water if you need one," she said, and turned her back to him.

She glanced carefully back at the young pilot, making sure he didn't notice. His hands were tightly gripped on the chair's arm rests. His breathing had been tense ever since he walked in. And Lisa even noticed a few beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

What kind of pilot gets shaken up by an air show performance?

She nearly gasped. Was he staring at her? The lieutenant's nerve-wracked eyes were looking her way.

Oh my gosh! I...I don't believe this!

"Is that him?"

Joons' voice nearly made her jump from her skin. She quickly composed herself. "What's that, lieutenant?" she asked.

"That blip right there," said Joons. He pointed past her, to one of the radar screens. "Is that Commander Hunter approaching?"

Lisa heaved a mental sigh. "Uh...no, it's not. That...looks like our recon unit. It's patrolling the local airspace."

"Oh yeah," nodded Joons. "Man...I wonder where he's at. The sooner we get this over with, the better."

Lisa gave him another curious glance.

The crowd was getting restless. Anonymous voices were calling out their complaints. Some people were stretching, or getting a closer look at the empty stage. Children were trying to climb over the fence, but soldiers with riot helmets gently pushed them back.

Suddenly, a voice made every other silent. It came from the speakers, powerfully drawing their attention.

Ladies and gentlemen, Humans and Zentraedi... we gather here today in celebration of our freedom, our independance from the evil minds that would drive us against one another. And there is one young woman who represents this freedom better than any other...

A roaring cheer lifted into the air, and the announcer's voice grew stronger.

In the days of the SDF-1, her song gave us hope. And it was her song that brought Zentraedi and Human together as brothers! Today, the Robotech Defense Force is honored to present a young woman who transcends all introduction...the sensational Miss Lynn Minmei!

In one sweeping motion, the riot guards turned to face the stage. They ran and jumped high onto the platform. A blast of pyrotechnics exploded around them, covering the stage with smoke. The audience grew wild.

When the smoke faded away, the military clothing was gone. The band members were at their places, dressed in flashy, futuristic outfits. The DJ spun a record on his turntable. The keyboardist eased into a trance-like melody. A set of electronic drums burst in, adding to the energy.

Front and center was Lynn Minmei herself. The stage lights brought a radiant glow over her smiling face. She swayed lightly to the music's ethereal rhythm. Television cameras swung past her as she danced. Her hands stretched out to the crowd, and the crowd stretched back.

Lisa watched from the the tower above. She lightly closed her eyes and turned away from the scene, but the somber electronic music was pulsing through the whole command center.

"All right," she spoke routinely into her headset. "She's on the stage. Everyone stay alert. Eagle group, acnowledge position."

A black-masked soldier appeared on her video screen, with a sniper rifle in his arm. "Eagle One, standing by." He disappeared, and another came after him. "Eagle Two, standing by."

Joons looked out the window from his borrowed chair. His arms were folded tightly across his chest. "Who is that?" he asked. "The one dancing in the middle."

Lisa opened her eyes. "Are you serious?" she asked.

"Yes ma'am. I thought Lynn Minmei was performing today."

She was astonished. "Joons, are you telling me you've never seen Lynn Minmei before?"

Joons shook his head. "No ma'am. So...where is she?"

"She's right there!"

He watched for a moment, and then sat back in his chair. "Am I thinking of a different Minmei?"

"I doubt it," Lisa laughed. "Why, what's wrong?"

"Well...she's just a girl!"

Lisa chuckled again. "She's not much older than you. What's wrong with that?"

Joons grew more formal. "Oh, no offense, ma'am! I didn't mean to sound insulting. I'm sure you're both friends and all."

"I...don't know her too well," said Lisa.

He nodded, and looked back down at the performance. "It just surprises me...how young she is. That means she was...what, sixteen during the Macross War? That's unbelievable!"

"What's so troublesome about that?" smiled Lisa.

He sighed and shook his head. "Nothing, I guess. I just...can't believe that a teenage pop singer could stop a Zentraedi armada!"

At once, Lisa grew more serious. "You know," she said, folding her own arms. "She had a little help from the RDF..."

"Oh! Yes ma'am!" said Joons sheepishly. "Of course."

Minmei swayed from side to side in her pretty yellow dress. Forever a beautiful child in the eyes of those who watched, she danced on the stage just as she always had. The times had brought a different world, but the person of Minmei was a constant in everyone's mind. No matter what she said, the world always stopped to listen.

She raised the microphone to her mouth, and her smile drifted away as she began to sing.

I've given up on

The girl that I was

I've put to rest

All of those selfish games

They say the world is

Changing, as it does

So please, tell me...

Does that mean I can change?

Soaring on the clouds,

We'll find just what we're looking for

If only we could fly

On wings of steel

If only you could feel

The way I feel

Maybe we could make

This something real

If only we could fly...

Fly on wings of steel

Joons peered out the window. He watched her dance, and followed the trail of her voice in his mind. He watched the reflection of her yellow dress on the Valkyrie's nose.

Lisa rolled her eyes. "You've seen one pop star, you've seen them all."

"I've never heard her sing," said Joons.

Lisa looked closer at his gaze. "Don't start drooling on my chair, Lieutenant!" she laughed.

He paid no attention, and kept his eyes on the starlet below. "I understand," he whispered.