Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Macross universe.
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Chapter II: Thunder
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Aimee sighed as she felt the cool touch of the smooth surface of her red Vf- 11 thunderbolt. This was what makes her feel free. The open sky and the winds under her wings.
She ran her fingers under the length of the Valkyrie. Somehow it made her fell content just to be there.
"No wonder you don't have a boyfriend," Clarissa said as she smiled at her friend. "You have this fetish with your plane that makes me want to puke."
"Perhaps she's imagining that the control stick was really something else?" Patty said with a glint of naughtiness. Aimee blushed from their implications.
"Will you stop it!" she flushed. "Anyway, we need to practice."
"See? She's even confused," Clarissa said knowingly.
"Me? Confused about what?" Aimee asked.
"We're going to the canyon," Patty said with a smile.
"Now I remember," she smiled. "Let's go."
They climbed up in their VF-11s and soared into the sky.
***
Clarissa and Patty were 'parked' near the edge of the canyon. They were watching Aimee do low level flybys which sometimes shook them up.
"She really needs a man in her life," Patty said as she looked at her console.
"With that stupid vow of hers?" Clarissa smirked as she watched the red Valkyrie prepare for another run. She then saw another speck behind Aimee that was approaching fast.
"Patty?" Clarissa looked at her friend but saw that she was already working on her console.
"I can't determine what it is," Patty said as she looked at the speck. "Aimee?"
"I saw it," Aimee's voice came from the speakers. "Do you think he's patrol?
"I don't think so," Clarissa replied. "Patrols have distinct markers. I don't see anything from it."
"I'll just wait for it," Aimee said with a touch of amusement. Patty sighed as she leaned on her chair.
"She always does this," she said. She looked at her friend's Valkyrie.
"That pilot behind her..." Clarissa said thoughtfully and smiled. "Wanna bet he'd match her?" Patty frowned in confusion. Clarissa never bet unless it was a sure thing. Patty only smiled and wore her helmet.
She needed to see this for herself.
*** *
Aimee saw it on her radar as soon as it was in range. She was about to start her canyon run when an unidentified craft approached her. It had remained in a constant speed until it was about two kilometers from her. It slowed down as it was suddenly parallel to her.
Aimee gasped at this display. Not that anyone hadn't caught he before. But their wingtips almost touched. He was flying with pinpoint accuracy. But she was more surprised on what he was piloting. She never knew that kind of Valkyrie still existed. And it seemed to be in great condition.
She never thought of the day that someone would be flying side by side with her.
In a white VF-4 Lightning no less.
She really looked at it in awe. Its delta wing design made it perfect for high-speed maneuverability. She knew it was an older model. But she couldn't shake the feeling that this one was different.
She was nearing the beginning of her run. Was he waiting for her? Smirking, she powered up her engines and dove for the canyon. Immediately, the VF-4 was hot on her tail.
Aimee concentrated on the task of piloting the Valkyrie. This was one of the treacherous canyons in the planet, every curve and turn must be carefully met with perfect precision. She didn't have time to check if the Lightning was still on her tail.
Aimee was in total concentration. It was like noting could break it. Nothing.
She approached the end of the canyon and pulled up. She was flying steady again. She looked behind her and grinned. The Lightning was not there anymore. Smiling in triumph, she turned and approached their landing site. When she landed the Gerwalk she noticed that her friends had a look of shock in their faces. Climbing out of her Valkyrie, she rushed to her friends looking smug.
"Couldn't catch up with me, could he?" Aimee looked at them with mirth but frowned when she looked at Patty. "What is it?" Patty was giving a look of disbelief that she rarely shows.
"Watch," Clarissa said as she pointed to a monitor she had just set up. "Patty recorded the run."
"Did I beat him?" Aimee asked as she looked at the monitor, but what she saw, made her jaw drop.
She dove into the canyon and the Lightning followed her move by move. And then, the unthinkable happened. At a long but treacherous straightaway the Lightning turned horizontally until it was flying up side down. Then he sped until it was directly underneath the Thunderbolt. As she had turned, the Lightning turned with her. It was like they were one.
So that's why she never saw him. He was beneath her all this time. It was not possible. He must have total control of his craft to do that.
Aimee looked at the screen, determining if it was all real. And then, they heard the engines of a hovering Gerwalk. The three friends turned to at the source only to find that the Lightning was peering at them just above the canyon.
Aimee frowned at it, her pride was shattered. She walked to her Valkyrie and turned on her com unit.
"Who are you?" Aimme asked. But all she got back was the blaring of rock music. Turning off her com unit, she glared at the pilot but the canopy was covered in dark tint. The Gerwalk quickly transformed into a fighter and flew away at full throttle.
"Finally," Clarissa sighed in relief. "Aimee's going to have a boyfriend!" she exclaimed happily. Aimee was more embarrassed than angry at her friend's statement. But she knew one thing for a fact: she needed to find that pilot.
*** ***
Nat was reading his favorite magazine in his favorite café. He turned the page to an article about the coming air show this week. He sighed as he placed the magazine down. It seems like everyone's talking about it. And it seems like everyone in town will be watching it.
"Excuse me?" Nat heard someone say. "Is this seat taken? Everywhere else is filled."
"Be my guest," Nat said without looking up. He picked up his magazine to make room for the person.
"Thanks," the person sat down. Nat continued to read but switched to a different article.
"Valkyrie buff?" the person asked. Nat lowered his magazine to look at his companion.
"Pardon?" he asked but slightly blushed. It was one of the girls he saw the previous day, the one that looked at him.
"It's just you were reading Valkyries of Valhalla," she smiled her green eyes were filled with mirth.
"It actually became thicker ever since Macross 20 landed," Nat sighed and placed the magazine down. "Everyone's looking forward to the air show. That's all they write about."
"You don't like air shows?" she asked in amusement.
"It's not like that," Nat admitted. He barely knew the person but he was talking to her more openly than he did with Chris. "I'm actually fascinated with the Valkyries."
"Really?" he somehow got her interest somehow. "What type do you prefer?"
"You first," he smiled. He never had gotten this comfortable with anyone before. Why now?
"Fair enough," she smiled. "I prefer the VF-11 thunderbolt," she said.
"Doesn't the forward canard wings lower the fighter's top speed?" Nat asked. The girl was shocked to hear him talk like that.
"It's just takes a lot of getting used to," she agreed. "But it made it more maneuverable."
"Especially in low altitude high speed flying," he said as he looked at his magazine once again. The girl frowned but smiled once again.
"True," she said. "You next," she said like a child.
"Unfortunately the one I want is beyond my grasp," Nat sighed as he looked at her. "Are you Zentraedi?" she blinked at his bluntness and nodded her head.
"My name's Aimee," she said.
"Nathaniel," he bowed but felt a tinge of heat on his face. "Sorry about my bluntness."
"It's okay," she giggled. "Haven't seen a Zentraedi woman before?"
"Not quite," he blushed. "Are all Zentraedi women are as beautiful as you?" Aimee laughed. She was warming towards him. He's not like the typical Mr. Thinks-he's-wonderful. But he seemed decent enough.
"Now that sounded like a line to me," she smiled. "We're slipping from the subject..."
"Right," Nat blushed. "I fancied piloting an Excalibur."
"Really?" she smiled. "Why?"
"It's got more maneuverability than any other Valkyrie," Nat said as he looked at her. "It all depends on the pilot though." He looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. "You're from Macross 20, aren't you?"
"How'd you guess?" she asked. So far he had been right with all of his guesses. Nat smiled and sighed.
"Believe it or not, Janus is a small place," he said. "But you don't sound like someone from here, another clue."
"That's all?" she asked.
"Maybe," he smiled.
"Actually I just transferred from Macross 20 to Valhalla high," Aimee smiled at him.
"You're not going with the colony fleet?" Nat was bewildered. "Why do you want to stay in a planet when you have an opportunity to see different worlds?"
"Would you leave this planet to find adventure?" Aimee asked. Nat didn't answer but looked at her intently.
"Miss Aimee..."
"Just Aimee."
"Aimee," Nat sighed. "Let's change the subject."
"Okay," she thought for a moment. "Do you know anyone who has a VF-4 Lightning?"
"Kind of rare," Nat said. "A rumor. All I know is that it will be one of the entries in the inter-high competition."
"I never heard of one joining," she said.
"Now you do," he smiled. "But it is only privilege information."
"Which school does it represent?" she smiled. Nat smirked and laughed.
"You're spying," he accused. Aimee laughed with him and leaned back on her chair.
"No I'm not. Anyway, I'll be seeing it in the air show then?"
"Definitely," he nodded.
"Do you fly?" Aimee suddenly asked.
"Just got my license."
"What have you flown?"
"I.... Ah....." Nat blushed. He was embarrassed to say his next sentence. "An air cruiser." Aimee smiled at his bashfulness.
"Are you doing anything?" she asked.
"No. Why?"
Aimee smiled cryptically.
*** ***
"Pat? Am I dreaming?" Clarissa asked Patty as she saw Aimee talking to one of the crewmen.
"Why?" she asked. Clarissa inclined her head to where Aimee was and saw that she was not alone. There was a boy their age in a flight suit looking a little nervous. They recognized the boy and both girls grinned.
"What do you make of that?" Patty asked. Clarissa smiled and shook her head.
"Do you want to follow them?" she asked.
Ratty merely frowned in thought.
*** ***
"Ease off on the throttle, we might get a ticket," Aimee joked from the back seat of the VF-11D, the two seater version of the aircraft. Nat smirked as he slightly gave the engine less power.
"It's quite complicated," Nat mused as she worked on the controls.
"Of course it is," Aimee smiled. "You have to be used to it to pilot it efficiently."
"I'm sure you have already mastered it," Nat said as he turned the Thunderbolt around.
"Had enough?" she asked.
"Quite," he sighed. "It's different from the controls of the Vf-1. It would take a lot of getting used to."
"Yeah," Aimee smiled. "Listen, are you going to the air show?"
"Maybe," Nat smirked. "Why?"
"I just... I don't know. It could be fun."
"I'll think about it," he promised.
"Thanks," she sighed. What was she doing? Was she picking up guys? That was all she thought about it until they were back on the landing field.
*** ***
"What are you smiling about?" Mr. Newmann said as he noticed Nat's features while he worked in his hangar.
"Nothing," he blushed. "Just couldn't wait for the air show."
"Did something happen?" Mr. Newmann asked with mischief in his eyes.
Nathaniel only blushed
End of 2
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Chapter II: Thunder
.
Aimee sighed as she felt the cool touch of the smooth surface of her red Vf- 11 thunderbolt. This was what makes her feel free. The open sky and the winds under her wings.
She ran her fingers under the length of the Valkyrie. Somehow it made her fell content just to be there.
"No wonder you don't have a boyfriend," Clarissa said as she smiled at her friend. "You have this fetish with your plane that makes me want to puke."
"Perhaps she's imagining that the control stick was really something else?" Patty said with a glint of naughtiness. Aimee blushed from their implications.
"Will you stop it!" she flushed. "Anyway, we need to practice."
"See? She's even confused," Clarissa said knowingly.
"Me? Confused about what?" Aimee asked.
"We're going to the canyon," Patty said with a smile.
"Now I remember," she smiled. "Let's go."
They climbed up in their VF-11s and soared into the sky.
***
Clarissa and Patty were 'parked' near the edge of the canyon. They were watching Aimee do low level flybys which sometimes shook them up.
"She really needs a man in her life," Patty said as she looked at her console.
"With that stupid vow of hers?" Clarissa smirked as she watched the red Valkyrie prepare for another run. She then saw another speck behind Aimee that was approaching fast.
"Patty?" Clarissa looked at her friend but saw that she was already working on her console.
"I can't determine what it is," Patty said as she looked at the speck. "Aimee?"
"I saw it," Aimee's voice came from the speakers. "Do you think he's patrol?
"I don't think so," Clarissa replied. "Patrols have distinct markers. I don't see anything from it."
"I'll just wait for it," Aimee said with a touch of amusement. Patty sighed as she leaned on her chair.
"She always does this," she said. She looked at her friend's Valkyrie.
"That pilot behind her..." Clarissa said thoughtfully and smiled. "Wanna bet he'd match her?" Patty frowned in confusion. Clarissa never bet unless it was a sure thing. Patty only smiled and wore her helmet.
She needed to see this for herself.
*** *
Aimee saw it on her radar as soon as it was in range. She was about to start her canyon run when an unidentified craft approached her. It had remained in a constant speed until it was about two kilometers from her. It slowed down as it was suddenly parallel to her.
Aimee gasped at this display. Not that anyone hadn't caught he before. But their wingtips almost touched. He was flying with pinpoint accuracy. But she was more surprised on what he was piloting. She never knew that kind of Valkyrie still existed. And it seemed to be in great condition.
She never thought of the day that someone would be flying side by side with her.
In a white VF-4 Lightning no less.
She really looked at it in awe. Its delta wing design made it perfect for high-speed maneuverability. She knew it was an older model. But she couldn't shake the feeling that this one was different.
She was nearing the beginning of her run. Was he waiting for her? Smirking, she powered up her engines and dove for the canyon. Immediately, the VF-4 was hot on her tail.
Aimee concentrated on the task of piloting the Valkyrie. This was one of the treacherous canyons in the planet, every curve and turn must be carefully met with perfect precision. She didn't have time to check if the Lightning was still on her tail.
Aimee was in total concentration. It was like noting could break it. Nothing.
She approached the end of the canyon and pulled up. She was flying steady again. She looked behind her and grinned. The Lightning was not there anymore. Smiling in triumph, she turned and approached their landing site. When she landed the Gerwalk she noticed that her friends had a look of shock in their faces. Climbing out of her Valkyrie, she rushed to her friends looking smug.
"Couldn't catch up with me, could he?" Aimee looked at them with mirth but frowned when she looked at Patty. "What is it?" Patty was giving a look of disbelief that she rarely shows.
"Watch," Clarissa said as she pointed to a monitor she had just set up. "Patty recorded the run."
"Did I beat him?" Aimee asked as she looked at the monitor, but what she saw, made her jaw drop.
She dove into the canyon and the Lightning followed her move by move. And then, the unthinkable happened. At a long but treacherous straightaway the Lightning turned horizontally until it was flying up side down. Then he sped until it was directly underneath the Thunderbolt. As she had turned, the Lightning turned with her. It was like they were one.
So that's why she never saw him. He was beneath her all this time. It was not possible. He must have total control of his craft to do that.
Aimee looked at the screen, determining if it was all real. And then, they heard the engines of a hovering Gerwalk. The three friends turned to at the source only to find that the Lightning was peering at them just above the canyon.
Aimee frowned at it, her pride was shattered. She walked to her Valkyrie and turned on her com unit.
"Who are you?" Aimme asked. But all she got back was the blaring of rock music. Turning off her com unit, she glared at the pilot but the canopy was covered in dark tint. The Gerwalk quickly transformed into a fighter and flew away at full throttle.
"Finally," Clarissa sighed in relief. "Aimee's going to have a boyfriend!" she exclaimed happily. Aimee was more embarrassed than angry at her friend's statement. But she knew one thing for a fact: she needed to find that pilot.
*** ***
Nat was reading his favorite magazine in his favorite café. He turned the page to an article about the coming air show this week. He sighed as he placed the magazine down. It seems like everyone's talking about it. And it seems like everyone in town will be watching it.
"Excuse me?" Nat heard someone say. "Is this seat taken? Everywhere else is filled."
"Be my guest," Nat said without looking up. He picked up his magazine to make room for the person.
"Thanks," the person sat down. Nat continued to read but switched to a different article.
"Valkyrie buff?" the person asked. Nat lowered his magazine to look at his companion.
"Pardon?" he asked but slightly blushed. It was one of the girls he saw the previous day, the one that looked at him.
"It's just you were reading Valkyries of Valhalla," she smiled her green eyes were filled with mirth.
"It actually became thicker ever since Macross 20 landed," Nat sighed and placed the magazine down. "Everyone's looking forward to the air show. That's all they write about."
"You don't like air shows?" she asked in amusement.
"It's not like that," Nat admitted. He barely knew the person but he was talking to her more openly than he did with Chris. "I'm actually fascinated with the Valkyries."
"Really?" he somehow got her interest somehow. "What type do you prefer?"
"You first," he smiled. He never had gotten this comfortable with anyone before. Why now?
"Fair enough," she smiled. "I prefer the VF-11 thunderbolt," she said.
"Doesn't the forward canard wings lower the fighter's top speed?" Nat asked. The girl was shocked to hear him talk like that.
"It's just takes a lot of getting used to," she agreed. "But it made it more maneuverable."
"Especially in low altitude high speed flying," he said as he looked at his magazine once again. The girl frowned but smiled once again.
"True," she said. "You next," she said like a child.
"Unfortunately the one I want is beyond my grasp," Nat sighed as he looked at her. "Are you Zentraedi?" she blinked at his bluntness and nodded her head.
"My name's Aimee," she said.
"Nathaniel," he bowed but felt a tinge of heat on his face. "Sorry about my bluntness."
"It's okay," she giggled. "Haven't seen a Zentraedi woman before?"
"Not quite," he blushed. "Are all Zentraedi women are as beautiful as you?" Aimee laughed. She was warming towards him. He's not like the typical Mr. Thinks-he's-wonderful. But he seemed decent enough.
"Now that sounded like a line to me," she smiled. "We're slipping from the subject..."
"Right," Nat blushed. "I fancied piloting an Excalibur."
"Really?" she smiled. "Why?"
"It's got more maneuverability than any other Valkyrie," Nat said as he looked at her. "It all depends on the pilot though." He looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. "You're from Macross 20, aren't you?"
"How'd you guess?" she asked. So far he had been right with all of his guesses. Nat smiled and sighed.
"Believe it or not, Janus is a small place," he said. "But you don't sound like someone from here, another clue."
"That's all?" she asked.
"Maybe," he smiled.
"Actually I just transferred from Macross 20 to Valhalla high," Aimee smiled at him.
"You're not going with the colony fleet?" Nat was bewildered. "Why do you want to stay in a planet when you have an opportunity to see different worlds?"
"Would you leave this planet to find adventure?" Aimee asked. Nat didn't answer but looked at her intently.
"Miss Aimee..."
"Just Aimee."
"Aimee," Nat sighed. "Let's change the subject."
"Okay," she thought for a moment. "Do you know anyone who has a VF-4 Lightning?"
"Kind of rare," Nat said. "A rumor. All I know is that it will be one of the entries in the inter-high competition."
"I never heard of one joining," she said.
"Now you do," he smiled. "But it is only privilege information."
"Which school does it represent?" she smiled. Nat smirked and laughed.
"You're spying," he accused. Aimee laughed with him and leaned back on her chair.
"No I'm not. Anyway, I'll be seeing it in the air show then?"
"Definitely," he nodded.
"Do you fly?" Aimee suddenly asked.
"Just got my license."
"What have you flown?"
"I.... Ah....." Nat blushed. He was embarrassed to say his next sentence. "An air cruiser." Aimee smiled at his bashfulness.
"Are you doing anything?" she asked.
"No. Why?"
Aimee smiled cryptically.
*** ***
"Pat? Am I dreaming?" Clarissa asked Patty as she saw Aimee talking to one of the crewmen.
"Why?" she asked. Clarissa inclined her head to where Aimee was and saw that she was not alone. There was a boy their age in a flight suit looking a little nervous. They recognized the boy and both girls grinned.
"What do you make of that?" Patty asked. Clarissa smiled and shook her head.
"Do you want to follow them?" she asked.
Ratty merely frowned in thought.
*** ***
"Ease off on the throttle, we might get a ticket," Aimee joked from the back seat of the VF-11D, the two seater version of the aircraft. Nat smirked as he slightly gave the engine less power.
"It's quite complicated," Nat mused as she worked on the controls.
"Of course it is," Aimee smiled. "You have to be used to it to pilot it efficiently."
"I'm sure you have already mastered it," Nat said as he turned the Thunderbolt around.
"Had enough?" she asked.
"Quite," he sighed. "It's different from the controls of the Vf-1. It would take a lot of getting used to."
"Yeah," Aimee smiled. "Listen, are you going to the air show?"
"Maybe," Nat smirked. "Why?"
"I just... I don't know. It could be fun."
"I'll think about it," he promised.
"Thanks," she sighed. What was she doing? Was she picking up guys? That was all she thought about it until they were back on the landing field.
*** ***
"What are you smiling about?" Mr. Newmann said as he noticed Nat's features while he worked in his hangar.
"Nothing," he blushed. "Just couldn't wait for the air show."
"Did something happen?" Mr. Newmann asked with mischief in his eyes.
Nathaniel only blushed
End of 2