Disclaimer ROBOTECH is a trademark owned and licensed by Harmony Gold U.S.A., Inc. This fan fiction was written for entertainment purposes only. No infringement is intended.
Note: For my story purposes, Roy Fokker is alive. This story is kind of AU. It does not follow strictly the Robotech storyline.
Chapter VIII
As quietly as she opened the door, Lisa closed it, and ran into the night.
He lied to me! She thought distraught as the rain pasted her hair to her face.
The shock had sobered her up pretty quickly as well as the cold rain.
He's with Minmei…He's never forgotten her!
She heard a loud crash and looked around, wondering if there had been an accident. A bitter laughed escaped from her lips as she realized it was the sound of her heart breaking.
"Minmei, no!" Rick pulled away from her.
"Rick, I love you!"
"Minmei…" He shook his head.
"I need you Rick!"
"Minmei, I'm in love with Lisa…and you have Kyle." Rick handed her the t-shirt.
"I don't love Kyle!" She pulled the t-shirt over her head.
"I remember the look you gave him when he proposed on TV…that was the look of a woman in love."
"You're wrong!" She started sobbing into her hands. "You don't understand!"
"What don't I understand, Minmei? That you want what you can't have?"
"Rick!" She looked at him in total shock.
"Minmei, I'm not trying to be mean." He smiled at her.
"Kyle doesn't mean as much to me as you do, Rick," she insisted.
"You've been with him for so long that's it's hard to believe what you're saying."
"You've always been there, Rick…"
"As a friend, Minmei and that was your choice."
"I always loved you."
"There was a time when I would have paid to hear you say that, Minmei." He held her hand. "But that was long ago."
"Don't say that Rick."
"I'm in love with Lisa, Minmei, and she makes me very happy."
Minmei pouted.
"I'll be so alone without you…"
"You have Kyle. He loves you and I think you love him, too."
"Kyle…Kyle and I…" She lowered her eyes and stared at her feet.
Rick heard her sob full of pain. "What's wrong? Are you having problems with Kyle?"
"It's not…it's just that…" her voice faded. She buried her head in his chest.
"Minmei, what's wrong?" He stroked her hair trying to encourage her to speak.
"Please hold me, Rick…" She let her tears flow freely.
"It's going to be okay, Minmei…," he tried comforting her.
"I know," she sniffled. Rick handed her a handkerchief and she wiped her tears.
"Feeling better?"
"I feel embarrassed," she confessed. "Please forgive me."
"It's okay, Minmei. I've been known to drive women crazy." He winked at her.
"And I thought I was the conceited one," she hit him playfully.
"I learned from the best," he teased.
"I don't know what got into me…" She pulled her hair over her shoulder. "I should go."
"Do you want me to call a cab for you?"
"Actually," she looked at him sheepishly. "Would you mind if I stayed for a while?"
Rick looked at his watch. It was pretty late.
"Unless you're really tiered and want me to leave." Minmei sulked prettily.
"I wouldn't mind having some company," he smiled at her. "Would you like some coffee or tea?"
"Tea would be nice." Minmei looked into his eyes. "You're such a good friend…"
"That's me," he said without bitterness, "a friend."
"We have so much catching up to do!" she said enthusiastically. I don't think you're getting any sleep, Rick."
Oh, brother!
"Wake up, sleepyhead."
Rick stretched lazily before opening his eyes. Minmei's smiling face was hovering over his.
"Minmei! Oh, my gosh!" He sat up on the sofa. "What happened?"
"Good morning!" She handed him a cup. "We fell asleep, silly! I woke up a few minutes ago and decided to make you some coffee to thank you."
"To thank me?" Rick sipped from his cup.
"For being such a good listener. I really appreciate it."
"Anytime." He looked at his watch. It was ten thirty.
"Got an appointment?" Minmei asked noticing his gesture.
"I'm going out with Lisa. I have to get ready, Minmei."
"I understand." She kissed his cheek. "I hope you have fun."
"Do you need me a cab?"
"Nah, I feel like walking," she smiled. "Goodbye, Rick."
"Goodbye, Minmei."
He closed the door behind him and ran to his room.
She's going to kill me if I'm late!
By 10h59, Rick, dressed in jeans and a white shirt, was ringing Lisa's doorbell. Patiently, he waited a couple of minutes before ringing again.
No answer? Where can she be?
He walked to the back and tapped on her bedroom window. Still no answer.
Did I get this all wrong? Did I tell her to wait for me at the hangar? He scratched his head. Yes! That must be it!
Fifteen minutes later, Rick arrived at the hangar and searched for Lisa. No one had seen her so he figured she must be late. He patiently waited another fifteen minutes, then half an hour before marching into the lounge. He called her at work, then at home, and finally decided to call Claudia.
"Hi Claudia!" Frustrated, he pushed his unruly hair out of his eyes. "Is Lisa there?"
"Hello Commander," she replied in her soothing voice. "No, she is not."
"What?! Do you know where she is?"
Claudia could hear the tension in his voice.
"I have no idea, Rick. I know she's not working. Have you tried her place?"
"Of course I have!" he replied angrily.
"Are you yelling at me, Commander?"
"Sorry Claudia! I'm a bit worked up…"
"I see…"
"It's just that we were supposed to go flying today and I can't find her anywhere. I've been at the hangar for over and hour and there is no sign of her. Do you think she's alright?" he asked, worriedly.
"I'm sure she's fine, Rick," she tried reassuring him.
"If she comes by, will you ask her to call me? I'll be at the hangar."
"Will do, Rick".
"Thanks Claudia. Bye!"
Rick slammed the phone down on the handset.
"Hey! That's government property!" yelled the receptionist.
"Sorry!" Rick walked outside to calm down.
Where can she possibly be? He wondered as he paced through the hangar.
In her living room, Claudia turned to look at her friend.
"He's waiting for you, Lisa."
"Let him wait! For all I care, he can rot while he waits," she exclaimed angrily.
"Why don't you talk to him, Lisa?"
"After what he did to me? No way!" Lisa shook her head angrily.
"I'm sure there's a logical explanation to this."
"The only explanation is that he's a liar, and a cheater, and…and…" Lisa started crying. "He loves Minmei not me!"
"Lisa…"
"I should have known." Lisa's tears streamed down her cheeks. "I should have known he couldn't forget Miss Macross."
Claudia embraced her friend and let her bawl.
Minmei walked quietly into her room, only to find an angry Lynn-Kyle waiting for her.
"Where were you?!"
"Walking,"
"All night?" He eyed her suspiciously.
"I also visited a friend," she said removing her raincoat. "Would you mind leaving me alone? I'm really tired…"
Kyle watched her lie on the bed and noticed her blouse was inside out. He felt his blood boil in his veins, and approached her with a wild look in his eyes.
"You were with him!" he nearly growled, pulling her to his eye level.
"You're hurting me!" she wailed.
"You were with your flyboy, weren't you?" He looked at her fiercely.
"It's not what you think…"
"Did you enjoy sleeping with him, Minmei?!" His dark eyes seemed to pierce through to her soul.
"What?!" Minmei went pale. "I didn't - -"
"Don't lie to me, Minmei." He pointed at her blouse. "Next time, make sure your clothes aren't inside out."
"You're wrong!"
"How could you?! How could you do this to me, Minmei?!" Kyle's voice faltered.
"I haven't done anything that you didn't force me to!"
"What?"
"You smother me, Kyle!"
"I smother you?" He crossed his arms over his chest. "Well, you didn't seem to mind while I was building your career!"
"Kyle…you've pushed away anyone who cared about me." She looked at him with pain in her blue eyes.
"Who are you talking about? Rick?"
"We used to be so close…"
"Why do you care so much about that pilot?" he asked angrily.
"Because I love him!" she spat.
Kyle felt as if she had slapped him.
"So, what have I been?"
"My agent, my bodyguard, my friend…"
"Stupid me," said Kyle, "I thought I was your boyfriend."
"You're very special to me, Kyle…"
"Do you think you'd be a star if it weren't for me?" asked Kyle angrily.
"I was a star even before you came along! I don't need you!"
They stared at each other for a few minutes without saying a word.
"Then, Miss Macross, I'm leaving."
The threat had its expected effect on Minmei. She went pale.
"You, what?" What will I do without you? "Kyle, let me explain- -"
"There's nothing to explain," he said sadly. "I will never be good enough for you, Minmei."
"That's not true!"
"You said it yourself, Minmei. You said you love Rick, and I'm not going to stick around to watch you run back to that pilot…"
"Kyle…I…that's not what I meant." Minmei placed her hands on his shoulders but he moved away
"It's what you said." He sighed tiredly. "It doesn't matter how much I love you, you will never love me back."
"Kyle…"
"Goodbye Minmei." He walked towards the door.
"You're leaving?" She felt her knees go weak.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be what you wanted me to be…"
"Kyle, wait!" She ran after him.
"Let me go, Minmei." Kyle released himself from her grip. "Just remember that I loved you as best as I could."
"Don't leave!" She panicked and hugged him. "Please don't leave me!"
"Good bye." Kyle pushed her aside.
"Kyle! Kyle, wait!" The door closed behind her quietly as Minmei realized the mess she had made.
An upset Rick Hunter walked onto the bridge the next morning.
"Where is Lisa?" he asked Vanessa.
"She's around here, Commander Hunter." Vanessa noticed how upset he looked. "Do you want her paged?"
"That won't be necessary…" He saw Lisa walk onto the bridge with Claudia. "Lisa!"
She frowned at him.
"It's Captain Hayes…and good morning to you," she said coldly.
The Terrible Trio looked at her in disbelief. Rick didn't notice how upset Lisa seemed.
"Where have you been? I've been worried sick for you, Lisa."
"Really? I thought you'd be entertained..."
"What do you mean?" He pushed his hair away from his eyes.
"I have work to do, Commander. I don't have time for you at this moment. I suggest you make an appointment."
Vanessa and Kim exchanged surprised glances. Claudia stepped away from them and went to her station.
"What?! What is wrong with you? What's up with all the formalities?"
"I suggest you lower your voice, Commander Hunter."
Rick looked at her as if she had lost her mind. "What is wrong with you?"
"We'll talk later. Have a good day." She dismissed him with her hand.
Rick frowned at her gesture and held her by the arm as she tried to step away.
"Unhand me!" Lisa had so much venom in her eyes that he let her go.
"I've been trying to get in touch with you for the past two days…are you ignoring me?"
"I always knew you were bright," she said mockingly.
That did it! Rick could not tolerate her attitude any longer. He held her arm once again.
"Talk to me!" He raised his voice again. "What's wrong?"
"If you don't leave immediately I will have you locked up."
She's really lost it, he thought as he shook his head. "You what?!"
"You heard me!" She eyed him angrily. "Now leave!"
"I'm not leaving until you tell me what's wrong!"
"I warned you!" Lisa pressed a button.
Almost immediately, two guards showed up on deck. The girls upstairs gasped as Claudia shook her head.
"Lock him up, boys!" Lisa ordered as Rick's jaw dropped.
The two MPs looked at each other, confused.
"The charges, ma'am?" The MPs couldn't believe what they were hearing. Aren't they dating?
"Lack of respect for a senior officer as well as harassment."
"Lisa! You can't!" Rick looked at her in disbelief.
"Commander Hunter, you are under arrest," said an MP as he cuffed Rick's wrists.
"But…but," he stammered. "Lisa, you're not going to allow this, are you?"
She turned her back on him.
"Lisa! Lisa! Captain Hayes!"
Lisa heard the doors close behind them. She let a sigh escape from her lips as she tried to control her tears.
"Wow! I can't believe this…" said Vanessa in awe.
"What? What just happened here?" Sammie scratched her head.
Lisa buried her face in her hands.
"What in the world happened today?"
Claudia raised her eyes from the book she was reading. She smiled at Roy as he dropped his bags on the floor.
"Honey!" Claudia got up to greet him. "How was your trip?"
"I missed you, beautiful." He kissed her full on the lips. "Now, tell me, what happened on the bridge? Why is Rick in jail?"
"How did you find out?"
"Everyone knows! I hadn't even finished landing Skull-1 when I heard that Lisa had Rick thrown in jail. Is it true?"
Claudia nodded to Roy's surprise.
"What happened?"
"He wanted to talk and she didn't want to listen…"
"What's the surprise in that? They've always argued."
"I think Rick took it to far for Lisa's taste." Claudia tried covering for Lisa but Roy knew her too well.
"What else is there to this story, Claudia?"
"Why would you say that, honey?" She couldn't help but blushing.
"Because I know Lisa and she is too professional to let her emotions take over her. Something major must have happened. Tell me."
Claudia sighed and told him the events of the past days. Roy opened his blue eyes in utter surprise.
"On top of him? Are you sure?"
"That's what Lisa said."
"I don't believe it! Rick wouldn't do that!"
"Are you sure? We all know how strongly he felt for Miss Macross." Claudia eyed him.
"I can't believe it, Claudia," he shook his head.
"Lisa saw it with her own eyes, Roy."
"There must be a logical explanation, sweetie. Rick is not the kind of guy that would play with her feelings."
"Are you sure about that?"
I want to be…
To be continued...
A.N.: I look forward to your reviews. And thank you for reading!
