Chapter VIII: VT
Journal entry # 312.
Date, June 22, 2063.
Talking about the canyon run made my blood boil. Out of anger, or the excitement or maybe the beautiful Meltran sitting beside me I could not know. But it relieved one of the scariest and wonderful experiences in my life had a distinct effect on me.
An effect that made me want to visit the cavern again.
Now where is that hydrowrench?
In attempt to brave the canyon, I needed a working Valkyrie. (crashing in the background could be heard) OUCH! Damn access panel. I never thought that my mom's VT would be in terrible shape.
Both thrusters are blown. Computer components are burned. And I think the only thing that's working is the radio. (crackling of static was heard and after that a small pop) Correction. Nothing worked.
Luckily I had... er... liberated some spare parts. Mostly from Doc's Junkyard. Interesting stuff he had there. I think Macross 20 emptied its junk in his yard. And how it found it's way in my yard is another story.
I had scrounged enough parts to fix the VT. The question is, will it work? The VT is outdated and the components I found were dated. Kind of a fuss.
Wait a sec... they threw away a perfectly good speaker pod? This has possibilities.
Why am I doing this? Just to impress a girl? Albeit I do like her. Perhaps this is all too soon. I don't know a thing about her.
"And I don't know a thing about you so we're even."
What the! Entry pause.
Nat turned from his position under the left wing to find Aimee in her flight suit leaning on the barn's doorframe with a mischievous smile upon her face.
"I couldn't help but overhear that... you like me," she blushed. At least she wasn't making a joke out of it.
"Resume entry," Nat said in a careful manner.
My imagination must have played tricks on me. I could have sworn that Aimee was here in my barn blushing as if she found out a terrible personal secret. And if this is real, I need to construct an early warning device for visitors.
How long have you been there?
"Shouldn't you turn that thing off first?"
Oh, right. Entry pause.
"Since the part where you liberated the parts from Doc's junkyard," she said as she entered the barn.
"Then you've heard enough," Nat sighed as he walked towards her. "How did you find me... Chris. I didn't hear you."
"Didn't bring my Valkyrie," she smiled. "I didn't want to make your place conspicuous."
"The only way you could make this place conspicuous is to park Macross 20 in my yard," he laughed. "Due to my... eccentricity, I'm usually left alone."
"Even by Chris?" she asked.
"Not anymore," Nathaniel said as he beckoned her to enter. "He heard I keep a Valkyrie in here and now he's going to pester me to let him fly in it."
"Would you let me ride in it?" she asked as she climbed into the cockpit. As she bent over to peer into the cockpit, Nat's eyes widened as his gaze was fixed at her shapely bottom. He suddenly turned in the pretence of examining a circuit.
"I'd travel the universe with you," he said softly. But having good ears, Aimee heard him. She was thankful that she was facing away for he might see the effect his statement had for her. She was blushing a deep crimson and her heart began to pace faster.
"It must have been exciting," she suddenly said to hide her embarrassment.
"What was?" he asked grateful that she had entered the cockpit and settled into his seat. He would go crazy if he saw the outlines of her body another second.
"Being a pirate," she said. "My mother was a pirate. I never told anyone and I don't know why I'm telling you this."
"Perhaps because I'm listening," he said as she climbed next to her. He was leaning at the cockpit's edge, conscious that he could smell her fragrance.
"Perhaps because you have pirate blood in you," she smiled. "You have the makings of a good pirate. Smart, cunning and able to think through a crisis. And..." she smiled as she looked at the pile of junk outside the barn. "... a good thief."
"That doesn't make me a good pirate," Nat said as he began to replace some of the circuit panels while Aimee was in the cockpit.
"I know," she smiled. "My mother was a member of a pirate group that steals from other pirates. They were called the Nightbirds." Nat froze as he looked at her. "You've heard of it?"
"Quite," he said rather evasively. "But not enough. What else did your mother tell you?" Due to her suspicious nature that she inherited from her mother, she looked at him but due to their close proximity, her lips were inches from his.
Nat could have sworn his heart stopped right there and then. If either of them moved, their lips would touch. Nat was tempted to lean forward to diminish the gap, but his hesitation came for the respect he had for her. What if she didn't return his feelings? What if he lost her respect? To him, she was all that there was.
"Do you mind being this close to a pirate?" she teased but her heart was not in it for she trembled in anticipation of the kiss. Lips rising into a smirk, Nat leaned closer. As he shifted his weight, he accidentally shoved a circuit in place.
"This is Jade leader," the onboard radio crackled. "We're getting swamped here, captain."
"Keep them distracted until we get the citizens evacuated," Captain Dyson said. "We'll try to fend off as many as we can." Aimee suddenly felt a chill down her spine. Nathaniel understood the situation and nodded. Smiling apologetically, Aimee gave him a peck on the cheek and jumped down the cockpit.
"I have to go," she said and with a sigh, she ran.
As he watched her go, Nathaniel felt an urge to protect her. Frowning, he looked at his mother's VT and saw that it was hopeless to fight in a trainer. Looking at the back of the barn, where most of the junk was kept, was a huge tarp that covered something her mother gave her as a reminder of what she was.
If he accepted what her mother was, then he must accept his own blood. Smiling, he walked towards the tarp and yanked it, revealing the blood that flowed through his ancestors.
"I hope you can see me now," he smiled and prepared to help the girl he cared about.
...
Elia Aurious, mayor of City 20, stood in her office watching the battle in her video screen. Captain Dyson and she were friends and he had at least given her access to the monitors of Battle 20, Macross 20's military section. For months, they have been plagued by pirates and these ones, it had seemed, held a grudge.
Six months ago Macross 20 stopped a pirate ship from hijacking its people. The pirates used various Valkyries, no doubt stolen, in their attack. From VF-1s to VF 5000s they struck the colony ship with everything it had.
So far, it was a standstill. Captain Dyson never thought that they would follow them in a colonized planet. Elia sighed. Her Meltran blood boiled as she looked at the pirates with disdain. There was a time when she and her old crew sailed the galaxy and fought these pirates. They thought they were unstoppable.
They were wrong.
The city defense force was on standby, guarding the citizens of City 20 from the pirates that would enter the city. It had happened before and now they were prepared.
One image of the spy cameras caught her attention. It was the image of a young lady in a flight suit with flaming red hair helping the citizens of Janus evacuate. Elia's heart sped as she saw the young lady direct the people to safety. She was proud of her. At that young age she had learned responsibility and leadership.
Her little girl had already become a lady.
Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a battered VF-11 swooped down and fired a barrage. Fortunately, none of the civilians were harmed. But the Valkyrie was preparing for another sweep.
A rain of bullets showered on the VF-11's path. When she saw the defending unit, her heart almost stopped.
It was a Valkyrie she never thought she would see again.
...
Aimee ducked as the pirate VF-11 fired. She was leading the civilians towards safety when the rogue unit attacked. Suddenly her life flashed before her eyes and regrets entered her mind.
The regret that she did not kiss the pilot who bested her. She lost in the air and she lost her heart on the ground. She lost her heart to the boy that pretended to be indifferent.
The pirate swung around, preparing for another run. And as it neared, she prayed for a second chance.
And her prayers were answered.
A red angel descended from the heavens and warded off the demon. Looking up into the sky, her metallic angel spurted fire and vanquished the demon.
Aimee didn't know who it was but had a feeling she already knew it.
...
"What the?" Captain Dyson looked at the screen and saw something out of the ordinary. A lone red Valkyrie was fighting the pirates and giving them hell. He never saw any fighter do what it did. Swift and agile, the Valkyrie swooped like a bird of prey angling for the kill.
"What is that thing?" the captain asked. "Is it a colony defense fighter?"
"The markings suggest that it is not," one of the techs said as she consulted her panel. "According to the records... it's a pirate fighter."
"From what clan?" the captain asked. The pirates that were attacking them belonged to the Kalrar clan, the most dreaded clan in the galaxy.
"It looks like an Excalibur," another tech commented.
"It's much smaller," Captain Dyson said.
"It looks like a cross between a Lightning and an Excalibur," the second tech said.
"I don't believe it," the first tech said in awe. "I didn't think they still existed. Sir, we have a match in the files pertaining to that fighter. But I thought it was a myth."
"Spill it out Lieutenant," the captain ordered.
"Captain, the pirates are engaging the red Valkyrie," the second tech said.
"How many?" he asked.
"All of them," the tech said. As Captain Dyson watched the battle, his heart pounded. The red Valkyrie evaded and shot down each pirate fighter in full throttle. The rumors are true.
A Valkyrie that flies like the majestic bird of lore that passes through enemy fighters like an angel of death leaving death and destruction to those who opposes it.
A legend in the pirate world, the fighter aptly named the Phoenix that flew a VF-9 Cutlass.
This fight, was over.