TWO OF A KIND

CHAPTER SIX

CALL ME MISS MINMEI

SKULL SQUADRON'S HEADQUARTERS

COMMANDER ROY FOKKER'S OFFICE

"Okay Lieutenant Dixon before you do anything rash, I saw the dress down Rick did to you on the flight line. Believe me, I have known Rick his entire life and that is not like him to do something like that. Rick's not that way. I'll talk to Rick and tell him if he has anything to talk to you about or to correct you about, to do it off the flight line and in private."

"It's not just that sir, it's his whole attitude."

"What do you mean by that lieutenant?", Roy asked as his eyes knitted.

"It's been that way ever since we were classmates at the academy."

"Really, from what Rick told me, you, he and Lieutenant Sterling were always the best of friends for your whole time at the academy."

"Well, that is true, but he is only telling you half of the story sir. At Colorado Springs, when Rick was assistant instructor in flight instruction class, he was always hard on the cadets who always fell behind or had difficulty in aeronautics class; people like me. As a matter of fact, there were many times the instructors had to tell him to reel in his criticisms and they almost threatened to take away his assistant teaching credentials."

"Hmmm, I see." That is not like Rick. What has gotten into him? Did Cathy's death affect him that much?'

"When we were plebes and sophomores when we were restricted to on campus and what little free time we had on the weekends to do intramural sports activities, Rick would spend all his time at this desk studying, at the computer lab or the library or in the flight simulators."

'It's just like what he did while he was a student at VFWTS. He spent most of his free time on the weekends in the flight simulators.'

"I mean we literally had to pull him away from his desk and force him to get interested and involved in other activities and to meet the girls on campus. The only time he had ever shown any real interest in doing other things is during the winter when he snow-skis and even then, he does it by himself and that is not the weird part."

"What do you mean by, 'not the weird part' lieutenant?"

"Well sir…I hate to say this because…you know…even though he had done this to me…he's still my friend and my classmate at the academy".

"Look Ben, I understand your hesitancy in this entire episode because he is your friend and former classmate but I need to know what happened between the three of you so I can get a better idea of how to get to the bottom of this."

"Well sir…when we were juniors and seniors when we were allowed to go off campus on the weekends and we go to Colorado Springs and Denver…even before then when we were restricted to on campus…whenever Rick saw a cute, small, short blonde haired, blue eyed girl…he always gets…wigged out."

"What do you mean by 'wigged out' lieutenant? C'mon spit it out.", Roy said as he sensed Ben hesitating in answering him.

"Well sir…whenever he sees a girl like that...you know...petite, good looking and has short blonde hair and blue eyes…he always gets so tightly wound up and he always gets this look of sadness and regret on his face."

'BINGO! He is still having regrets over Cathy's death! He's still blames himself for getting Cathy killed.' "Say no more, lieutenant. I got the gist of what you are saying. Do not worry about it; I will take care of it. Now as for you transferring out of Rick's squadron, I am sorry, but I am afraid that is impossible. You graduated near the bottom of your class at the academy. I am sorry Ben, but no squadron commander will want you in his squadron. The only reason why you were able to get into Rick's squadron is because you and he were classmates at the academy and he just made squadron commander."

Ben had a look of disappointment and resignation on his face.

"But don't worry lieutenant. I'll talk to Rick and tell him if you make any more mistakes while flying and he wants to correct you on it, to do off the flight line and in his office."

"Thank you, sir.", Ben said as he stood up and saluted.

Roy returned the salute and watched Ben march out and closed the door behind him. Alone in his office with his thoughts, Roy was deeply troubled at what Ben told him. What Ben told him just deepened his suspicions about how much Cathy's death had affected Rick. Rick had always been a happy-go-lucky fun-loving kid. But after Roy left to join the service and Pop died, it forced Rick to grow up too soon. Roy sometimes wished he did not leave Pop and the flying circus, but he wanted to do something more with his life and flying than just doing stunts in an old-World War I airplane and Uncle Jon did not want to have anything to do with the air circus.

Rick tried to do his best to keep the air circus going but because he was young and inexperienced with the business world and to top it all off Cathy's death caused the flying circus to soon go bankrupt which saddened Roy and most especially Rick because the flying circus has been in the Hunter family ever since Rick's great-great grandfather started the circus after barnstorming the country after flying in World War I with Eddie Rickenbacker.

'I think Rick would have much rather preferred losing the flying circus than to lose Cathy.' Roy said to himself.

It was right then and there Roy decided to talk to Rick but how to do it was the one-million-dollar question. Roy did not want to hurt Rick's feelings or to question his leadership abilities, but he needed to talk to Rick right away to prevent another incident like what happened earlier between him and Ben from getting out of control should something like that happen the next time.

Ben is an incredibly talented pilot who is very eager to please and learn and to do well but he is also very raw and a difficult pilot who just needs some guidance and Rick is the only person who can do it. But if he continually butts heads with Rick about his flying, Ben will either be forced to, or he will turn in his aviator's wings and will be reassigned to an administrative job which means his career will soon stagnate which ensures he will not advance up the officer's ranks. If that happens, he will resign his commission which means that millions of dollars' worth of the global taxpayer's money just went down the drain.

Roy has always known Rick to be a straight shooter, a good listener and one who values what he was taught and told. He has never known Rick to beat around the bush or tolerate people who do. So, Roy decided to tell Rick straight out about his dressing down of Ben on the flight line and his suspicions of his lingering regrets about Cathy's death. He knows that even though Rick will not like what Roy will tell him, Rick will take it like the mature young man he is.

'I think it's time that I have a talk with Lieutenant Hunter.' Roy said to himself as he began walking down to Rick's office.

VERMILLION SQUADRON'S HEADQUARTERS

LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE RICK HUNTER'S OFFICE

As Rick was clearing away the last vestiges of his predecessor's life from the walls and desk of his office, Rick went over what happened with Ben on the flight line after he and Max literally saved Ben's life when he became so impatient to get his first kill. He did not check above his 1 o'clock to see two battle pods bearing down on him. The more Rick thought about it, the more he regretted the public verbal beat down he gave to Ben on the flight line. While Ben deserved to be chastised for leaving the group, he did not deserve to be publicly humiliated in front of the other pilots. That was one of the first things they were taught in leadership class at Colorado Springs. He will have to talk to Ben and soon because he does not want to lose their friendship.

'I need to talk to Ben as soon as I can and try to smooth things over with him. I do not want to lose him as a friend. We went through so much together at the academy.'

As Rick was alone in his thoughts, he heard a knock on the door. "Come on in, the doors unlocked."

In walked Roy. "Oh, hi Roy."

"Hey Rick. Are you busy?"

"No, I'm not. I'm just packing away some of Captain Donnelly's personal belongings so it can be given to his widow."

"Oh, I see. Say, you got a minute or two so we can talk? It shouldn't take too long."

"No, go ahead and have a seat. So, what do you want to talk to me about Roy?"

"Well Rick, Lieutenant Dixon came into my office a few minutes ago asking for a transfer out of your squadron."

Immediately, Rick began to nod his head acknowledging what Roy was about to tell him. "I know why you came to see me Roy and I feel bad about it. I have been thinking about what I did on the flight line ever since it happened, and I should not have done it. I should have pulled him over to the side and talked to him private. I will talk to Ben and apologize to him. I'll try not to do it again."

"Don't try not to do again, don't ever do it again. You of all people should know not to do that. A leader must have the discretion and self-discipline of knowing where and when to discipline subordinates. And one of them is not in front of his peers."

"I know Roy. I'll apologize to Ben when I see him."

Roy nodded his head. "Rick that is not all Ben had told me."

"What do you mean Roy?"

"I don't know how to say this any easily to you Rick, but Ben has told me some stories of you when you, him and Lieutenant Sterling were friends at the academy and believe me, it was really difficult for him to tell it. I literally had to pull it out of him but…he told me some stories of you that have me worried. One of the stories Ben told me was that whenever the three of you would get together to do things out of class, they had to force you away from your desk because you were either studying, in the library, the computer lab or the flight simulators."

"Roy, I was at the academy. You know I was not the best student in school. I had to work twice as hard as the others just to keep up. The only reason why I was able to get into the academy was Pop was a Medal of Honor winner. I told you that before."

"Yeah, but you spent time in the flight simulators. Rick, you grew up around airplanes and flying. You could probably fly in your sleep or blindfolded with one hand tied behind your back for crying out loud."

Rick did not say anything because he knew Roy was right.

"Look Rick, the other thing that Ben told me which was the most troubling to me was that whether it was on campus or off campus, whenever the three of you would run into a petite, cute, blue eyed, short blonde-haired girl…you would always get emotional."

"Roy what does that have anything to do"

"Rick! Cathy was small, had blue eyes and always wore her blonde hair short! Are you still grieving over Cathy's death?"

"No, I'm not Roy!"

"Rick you're in denial! I have always said that you were always a horrible liar! Dammit Rick I know you feel responsible for Cathy's death, but you need to let it go! It has been over five years now going on six! It is way past the time for you to let it go and move on! Are you going to react the same way if you see another cute, petite, blue eyed short blonde hair girl here on the ship? Rick, I have always known you to be the happy-go-lucky fun-loving guy who did not seem to have a care in the world! Whatever happen to that Rick Hunter I knew?"

"It's simple Roy! You left to join the service, Pop died, and Uncle Jon did not want a thing to do with the flying circus! I had to grow up in a hurry and try to run a business when I had no experience in doing it and on top of it, I was barely a teenager myself! I never had a normal teenage life after Pop died and left me the flying circus! While everybody else was deciding on what tux to wear to the senior prom, I was making phone calls to air show operators around the country trying to convince them to let us fly in their air show during the summer!"

"Rick, you have been really lucky it hasn't affected your flying, your leadership and your decision making but one day your luck is going to run out and I don't want to see that happen! Rick, I do not want to do this, but I have no other choice in the matter. Rick…I want you to see the flight psychiatrist."

"NO ROY I WILL NOT DO IT!"

"Rick, whatever you say to the psychiatrist is between the two of you! It cannot be released without your permission!"

"Roy you know damn well that whatever the psychiatrist writes down in his report will be placed in my personnel file! Whenever I come up for promotion that report will be sticking out like a sore thumb and the board will recommend that I not be promoted. You know what that means? I will most likely lose command of my squadron, I will be forced to turn in my aviator's wings and be placed in a desk job, which means my career will go nowhere and I must turn in my commission! Now what will I do? You think some private aviation company, or an airline will hire a pilot with a detrimental mental health report in his military personnel file?"

"Rick you're jumping to conclusions! That does not always happen! The flight psychiatrist is there to help you not hurt you!"

"NO ROY I WILL NOT DO IT! Now unless you have proof that my 'psychological problems' is affecting my ability to fly or my command decisions you cannot force me to see the flight psychiatrist! Now unless you have anything else to tell me I would like for you to get out of my office!"

"Alright Rick I'll leave! But I am giving you this one-time only warning; DON'T SCREW UP!", Roy yelled pointing his finger in Rick's direction. It was something he rarely did because he never liked to point his finger at anyone, most especially at his little brother. "Because if you do and if you cause an injury or death to your wingman, squadron mate or another pilot, I will be holding you personally responsible and as your commanding officer, I will have no other choice but to force you to see the flight psychiatrist or even worse, I'll have to recommend you for an Article 32 investigation for a court-martial! And believe me; the outcome will be much worse!"

After Roy walked out of Rick's office, the telephone on Rick's desk began ringing.

'Now who is it?', Rick said to himself. "YEAH! WHAT DO YA WANT?", Rick yelled into the phone gruffly.

"WHOA! Sorry Rick. Did I catch you at a bad time?"

'No, you catch me all the time! This is simply great just what I don't need right now.' "No Minmei, you didn't catch me at a bad time, you just caught me in a bad moment. Sorry I yelled at you. What do you need?"

"I called to tell you that I'm sorry that I acted like such a spoiled brat earlier today at my birthday party."

'Boy, you aren't kidding. That isn't a stretch of the imagination.' Rick said to himself. "Oh, that's okay Minmei, there's nothing to apologize for."

"Anyway Rick, I know that you told me that you have gotten command of your own squadron but after yesterday, I'd forgotten all about it until I called your old squadron and they told me you got promoted and now command your own squadron. So, I just called to congratulate you on your promotion and getting your own command."

Rick's heart was genuinely touched. "Oh, thank you Minmei. That's real sweet of you to say that."

"Did you get my birthday present?"

'Oh, that's right! I'd forgotten Minmei's birthday present.' "Oh geez, I'm sorry Minmei but with my promotion ceremony and helping my former classmates from the academy with in-processing yesterday and today, and with the air battle, I didn't have the time to shop for your birthday present. I'm sorry."

Minmei tried not to sound disappointed but she did let it creep through in her voice. "Oh…that's okay Rick. It is the thought that counts."

'Should I give her my Medal of Honor? Eh, why not.' "But don't worry, I have something that I already have that you might like as a birthday present."

"Oh, that's sweet of you Rick. Say, are you busy for the rest of the evening?"

"No, I'm not. I am about ready to call it a day. Why did you ask?"

"Because I have something, I want to share with you, but I don't want to say it over the phone. Can you come to the restaurant after you get off duty?"

"Uh…yeah…I guess I can see you. I still must fill out and file some paperwork and I must talk to a friend of mine about something that happened on the flight line earlier today, but I can see you when I get off duty. Say…I'll see you in an about hour?"

"That will be great Rick! I cannot wait to see you! Bye!"

"Yes…uh see you later Minmei."

Rick finished doing and filling out the paperwork early. He could go straight ahead to the restaurant, but he decided to stop by Ben's quarters to try to smooth things over with him. Ben and Max are still staying in temporary quarters, so he should be in his room unless he and Max decided to go the dining hall to eat or spend an evening in town. He stopped outside Ben's room and knocked on the door.

"Come in, the doors unlocked."

Rick opened the door. Ben was lying on the couch in civilian clothes watching television. When he saw Rick, Ben had a sour look on his face.

"Oh…hello Rick…I mean Lieutenant Hunter sir.", Ben said sarcastically.

All Rick could do was to shake his head at Ben's sarcastic greeting, but he understood why Ben would make such a remark. "Ben cut the sarcasm alright. We have known each other for well over four years now and we are off duty. Besides it's just the two of us so stop calling me 'sir'". Rick said as he was finding himself a chair and sitting himself down.

"Look Ben…I want to apologize for dressing you down in front of the other pilots on the flight line earlier today. I know I should not have done that. I know that is one of the first things we were taught in leadership class at the academy. I know I should have taken you over to the side and corrected you there but Ben…you had broken one of the first rules of air combat; and that is to never, never ever leave your wingman. You were taught that at the very first day of flight training class at the academy. Abandoning your wingman is the surest way to get yourself and your wingman killed. You could have been killed had not Max and I loop over and killed the two pods that was firing at you."

Ben's angry facial expression began to change to one of embarrassment after Rick told him his impatient screw up almost cost him his life had not his friends saved him. "I know and I realize that Rick and I do apologize for leaving you and Max. But Rick…I was in such a rush and a hurry to get my first kill that I had forgotten to never leave my wingman. I thought that battle pod was alone, so I decided to go for it. I know I should have looked around to see if he had any friends nearby but…I don't know…I guess I got target fixation and all I could think of was…getting my first kill."

"I understand that Ben but in doing so you could have gotten yourself killed. Fighter combat is nothing more than a series of split-second chance meetings. You could have gotten your first kill at any time. Take it from me, I should know. I have been in plenty of dog fights. I have shot down so many battle pods that I have lost count and I do not even want to know how many of the enemy I killed. The next time we go into combat, remember to listen to my instructions. I want you to come back to the ship alive. I have already written three condolence letters and I do not want to write yours. Remember after graduation and at our commissioning ceremony your parents made me promise them that I will look after you. The last thing I want to happen after we land on Earth is for your parents to get a condolence letter from me alright, because that means I didn't keep my promise to your parents."

Ben nodded. He remembers well his parents at their commissioning ceremony in direct eyesight of him, of them grabbing Rick by the arm and making him promise them that he will look after not only their oldest child but their only son. "I understand Rick. I am sorry I had broken off from you. Next time I'll know better,"

"Good. We're still friends?", Rick said as he extended his right hand.

"Ah c'mon Rick, you know we've never stop being friends." Ben said as he was taking Rick's hand and shaking it. "Say, Max and I are going into town to eat, he's paying. Care to join us? It will be just like old times at the academy when we were seniors and spending our weekends in Colorado Springs."

"I'm going into town myself, but I have to meet someone. I can share a taxi ride with you."

"It's a deal. Let me call Max."

"Okay. While you do that I have to go to my quarters and get something. If Max arrives before me, tell him to wait."

"No problem Rick."

Rick then ran out of Ben's quarters to go to his quarters so he can grab his Titanium Medal of Honor so he can give it to Minmei as a birthday present. He raced back to Ben's room to find him and Max waiting for Rick. The trio then left Ben's room to catch a cab outside the gate. The taxi stopped at the White Dragon Restaurant first.

"Say, isn't that the place where that teenage Chinese girl was having her Sweet 16 party earlier today?", Ben asked.

"Yes, it is.", Rick said.

"Eh, skip it. Besides, the sign on the door says 'CLOSED'. Do you know of a good steak place nearby driver?"

The driver did and after Rick paid for his fare and told the cab driver to keep the change as a TIP, the cab drove off with Max and Ben in the back seat. The door was locked and the sign in the window still says; "CLOSED" but someone on the inside started opening the door. It was Uncle Max.

"Come on in Rick. Minmei's waiting for you."

"Thank you, Mr. Lynn."

"Oh, please call me Uncle Max. Everybody else does."

"Okay Uncle Max."

Inside at one of the tables, Minmei was sitting near the TV set.

"Hi Minmei. Here's your birthday present.", Rick said as he reached into his pocket to grab the box that had the Medal of Honor.

"Thank you, Rick." Minmei said as she was opening the box. She gasped in shock and surprise when she opened the box.

"Oh Rick! It is so beautiful! So sparkly and shiny! What is it?

"It's my Titanium Medal of Honor for my actions at Sara Base."

"RICK! You should not be giving this to me! It is the highest honor the RDF gives to someone for heroism and bravery! It is yours! You can't sell it or give it away to anyone! Only immediate family can keep the medal when the recipient passes!"

"I know…but as long as the RDF doesn't know that I gave it to you, what they don't know won't hurt them. Now, what do you want to see me about?"

"You know about the Miss Macross Pageant, right?"

"Of course, I have. It has been the talk of the city and the ship for days and weeks. Why did you ask?"

"Well, I have entered the pageant and I wanted you to be here to see if I made the contest so I can give you some good news."

Uncle Max then pointed to the screen. "Minmei, they're about to make the announcement."

Uncle Max, Aunt Lena, Cousin Jason, and Rick surrounded Minmei as they looked at the TV screen.

BRIDGE OF THE SDF-1

"Why didn't you fill out an application for the Miss Macross Pageant Lisa? I think you'll be the perfect representative for us military women in the pageant."

Lisa looked over at Claudia with an incredulous look on her face. "Are you kidding me Claudia? You know no one in the RDF or the SDF-1 will vote for me."

"Why? Is it because you are 'Ice Queen' Hayes? C'mon Lisa, you know you will have at least mine, Kim's, Vanessa's, and Sammie's and some of the relief crew's vote. Besides, look at you; you got a nice figure, you have a nice face, you are not too thin, you are not too tall, you're not too short."

"I'm also too old."

"Oh, c'mon Lisa, there you go selling yourself short again."

"Claudia, have you looked at the ages of some of the applicants? They're 15, 16, 17, 18 years old."

"So? Age should be irrelevant when it comes to beauty and the pageant. Far as I knew, there was no age limit on who can apply. I heard even Jan Morris filled out an application."

Lisa rolled her eyes when Claudia mentioned Jan Morris' name. "Of course, she would fill out an application. Jan Morris is nothing but an over-the-hill movie actress wanting to get back in the spotlight. Okay…well, let me ask you this Claudia; why didn't you fill out an application?"

"And let Roy have a heart attack when he sees me in a bikini in front of hundreds of thousands of people? He will have such a conniption fit he will not speak to me for months!"

"Hey everyone, Captain Gloval is about to make the announcement.", Kim said from her station.

"And now here to make the announcement of the twenty-eight contestants for the Miss Macross Pageant is the captain of the SDF-1; Henry J. Gloval."

"Thank you, Wink. Here in my hands in this envelope are the names of the twenty-eight contestants for the Miss Macross Pageant." He tore open the envelope, took out the folded sheet of paper, unfolded it, cleared his throat, and began reading off the names. "And the names of the twenty-eight contestants of the Miss Macross Pageant are in no particular order: Paige Sumner, Jennifer Lacey, Candice Brown, Kim Soon Lee, Sarah Rhee, Tiffany Chen, Janice Hashimoto, Francesca Hyatt, Jan Morris, Lynn Minmei"

At the restaurant, the cheer that came out of the throats of everyone drowned out the hearing of the rest of the names.

"Congratulations Minmei!"

"Thank you Rick I am so happy! I am going to win!"

"Minmei, there are twenty-six other girls besides you and the actress Jan Morris.", Rick warned.

"Oh, please Rick, don't make me laugh. Jan Morris, that washed up has been actress, I should be afraid of her? Please, she can't act her way out of a paper bag." Minmei said derisively. "That doesn't matter to me. I'm going to win, and I know I will!"

"So, what's the good news Minmei?"

"You're going to be my escort at the pageant!"

"You mean you want me to be your escort at the pageant."

"No, you are going to my escort."

"Wait a minute! What do you mean I'm going to be your escort?"

"The pageant directors told me that if I make the contest, they'll give me a choice of if I wanted my own personal escort or they will choose someone to be my escort. I wanted my own escort, so I thought of you."

"Minmei you didn't even ask me if I wanted to be your escort!"

"Rick, you been busy flying all time I couldn't get a hold of you! I had to call Commander Fokker and ask him. He said yes, you can be my escort!"

'I can't believe this! She did it to me again!' Rick said to himself and he shook his head in disbelief. "Minmei that is not an excuse for not asking me first, you could have left a message with the orderly room asking me to call you! If you would have asked me sooner, I would have said 'yes' but now, it is 'no'! Find yourself another escort for the pageant! Uncle Max, I must leave now. Can you unlock the door for me?"

"Of course, Rick. Will you be stopping by here soon?"

"I…I'll try to stop by here again real soon Uncle Max. I promise."

"Have a good night Rick."

"You have a good night also Uncle Max."

ABOARD THE SDF-1

For Rick to get to his quarters, he had to go past the bridge. As he was passing by the bridge of the SDF-1, he was still steaming mad over what Minmei did. As he was approaching the bridge, he could hear Lisa's voice near the doorway.

"Good night everyone, see you in the morning.", Lisa told the night shift.

"Good night Lisa."

Lisa was such in a rush to get to her quarters, she almost ran into Rick.

"Oh, Lieutenant Hunter I'm sorry I didn't see you! I almost ran into you."

'Oh, I'm alright ma'am. I should have looked at where I was going."

"You don't look so good lieutenant. As a matter of fact, you look kind of angry. What is wrong?

"You know about the Miss Macross Pageant right ma'am?"

"Yes, of course. We have been watching Captain Gloval make the announcement of the contestants on the view screen monitors on the bridge. Why did you ask?"

"Well, one of the contestants, Lynn Minmei"

"Oh yes, she's the niece of the owners of the Chinese restaurant in Macross, the White Dragon. Many of the pilots go there to eat but I suspect most of them go there to see the girl and try to ask her for a date. Oh, excuse me, as you were saying lieutenant."

"Well…she did something that made me angry…but…it's something that I don't want to tell you here in the passageway. Look ma'am…the officer's dining hall is still open, and I am hungry. How about we eat and while we are eating, I'll tell you why I'm upset."

"Are you asking me out on a date lieutenant?", Lisa said coyly with a smile on her face.'

Rick then laughed very nervously. "Well…not really ma'am. I just wanted to know if you're hungry and you want to have some company while you eat."

"Well yes, I am hungry because I just got off duty and I haven't eaten yet. Tell you what lieutenant; I'll eat dinner with you on one condition."

"What's that ma'am?"

"That you call me Lisa. We are off duty. We can dispense with the military protocol when we're off duty."

"Uh…okay…thank you ma'am…I mean Lisa.", Rick said with a nervous smile.

As Lisa looked at Rick's nervous boyish smile, her attitude towards Rick began to change a little. 'Hmm, I like his smile.'

At the officer's dining hall, Rick and Lisa went through the line and got their food and drink. At the cash register, Rick was about to pay for his meal with his card when Lisa stopped him. "No Rick, let me pay for it."

"Okay, if you want to. I won't argue."

They sat down in the far corner of the dining hall where they hope they will not be overheard. After they sat down, Lisa began to cut her meat.

"So, Rick, what is it about that little Chinese girl that has you so worked up and angry?"

Rick began to tell Lisa about getting a phone call from Minmei asking him to come to the restaurant because she had to some news to tell him. When the announcement of the names of the contestants was made by Captain Gloval, she told him that she chosen him to be her escort at the pageant without even asking him.

"Well, that was really considerate of her.", Lisa said sarcastically.

"When she told me that, I was so angry that I left the restaurant and came back to the ship."

"Well, I can't say I blame you Rick for being angry. She should have at least called you to ask you if you wanted to be her escort."

"Thank you! That was the exact same thing I have told her!"

"So how did the two of you meet?"

Rick began to relate the story of how he first met Minmei when her cousin ran into him while he was waiting for the veritech demonstration show to begin. When the shooting started and Lisa forced him into combat and after he was shot at and he began to spiral out of control towards the SDF-1 and Lisa told him to change to battloid mode, the unfamiliarity of trying to work the battloid made him to crash into the White Dragon Restaurant. As Rick was telling the story, Lisa's face began to turn red.

"That reminds me Rick…I'm sorry I made you go into combat before you were trained. You're right; I should have looked to see if you were wearing aviator's wings."

"Oh, that's okay Lisa. It was partially my fault. I should have told you that I was not trained to fly in a veritech. Anyway, back to my story."

Rick continued to tell Lisa that after Roy came and helped Rick work the controls of the battloid, they were told the civilians had to evacuate the island and all pilots had to report back to the SDF-1. Minmei went back into the restaurant to retrieve her diary and Rick told her to get into the back seat of the veritech. As they were flying back to the SDF-1, the ship hyperspace jumped and before they knew it, the VT they were in was floating in space. They managed to find a tear in the side of the ship and Rick maneuvered his way into the cargo hold of the ship. He tried to find a way out of the hold but could not find a way out.

"So, you're the ones who got trapped in one of the holds of the ship!", Lisa exclaimed.

"It was us Lisa."

"Engineering called us several days after the jump and said there was a water pressure drop somewhere on the starboard side of the ship, but they didn't know where it was. It took them 3 hours to find the lead pipe and shut off the man valve."

"Anyway, we were eventually rescued and after we were rescued, she keeps calling me wanting to know where I'm at all the time, if I'm willing to go out on a date with her, go shopping with her."

"Oh, that reminds me Rick, Sammie told me to tell you that she apologizes for calling you a leacher. She didn't know you're an officer and she thought you were doing something…you know…wrong."

"Please tell Sammie I accept her apology. Anyway…back to my problem with Minmei…and now she did this to me. It's like…she is suffocating me, and I can't breathe."

"Well, it sounds more like a teenage girlhood crush to me than anything else."

"Are you sure Lisa?"

Lisa nodded her lead. "Take it from me Rick. I know from experience. I remember my first girlhood crush. I was either ten or eleven years old. You know it is right about the time when girls start taking an interest in boys. Anyway, there was this boy who lived down the road from me that I absolutely had the biggest crush on. His name was Mike Everett. He was already in high school and was the star quarterback on the football team. He was tall, handsome, had a great body and the blondest hair I had ever seen but what really made me fall in love with him was his eyes. He had these piercing dark brown eyes that seem to look right through you. Anyway, somehow, he found out that I had a crush on him and one day he told me that he already has a girlfriend, and she was the head cheerleader at the high school. My heart was absolutely crushed."

"So, what happened to him Lisa?"

"I found out later he was gay and the supposed cheerleader girlfriend he had was all an act because she later outed herself as a bisexual who says she was more interested in girls than boys. The last time I heard of him, he was making gay porn movies out of San Francisco."

Lisa and Rick laughed when she said that.

"Well, that just goes to show that sometimes you don't know everything there is to know about people!"

"Tell me about it. So, Rick how about telling me something about yourself? I don't know anything about you save from what Roy has told me about you."

"I grew up in Upstate New York in Windham in the Catskill Mountains. When I was not with my father in the flying circus, we farmed with my uncle and aunt on our family farm that has been in our family for generations."

"You're kidding me? My family is from New York State too! I used to live east of Seneca Falls."

"Yes, it's in the Finger Lakes Region of the state, right?"

"Yes, my family has a farm and a small winery there. That is where I spent most of my childhood."

"How were you able to grow up in New York State when your father is a naval officer?"

"My father supposedly wanted me to have a stable life growing up and not have to live the vagabond life of a military family, so he convinced my mother to stay with me in New York while he went off on his military assignments."

"Is your mother still alive?"

Lisa's face then went sullen. "No, she's dead. She died of breast cancer when I was a sophomore in high school. After she died, my father sent me to an all-girl Catholic boarding school and that is where I stayed until I went to Annapolis. God, I hated that place, and I was not even Catholic. You know you had to wear those stupid Catholic school girl uniforms with the plaid pleated skirts, white shirts and socks that goes up to your knee and buttoned sweaters and it was so strict; you could not even have boys in the room. What about you?"

"My mother died of breast cancer too. She died when I was seven years old. I lost Pop several years later when I was barely a teenager. He died of a heart attack. But I think he died more of a broken heart because he loved my mother very much."

"Oh Rick, I'm so sorry! To lose your mother when you are that young! It must have been hard on you."

"It was. Pop and Mom tried so hard after I was born to have another child. They always loved children. Before she died, they took in Roy when he became an orphan."

"Roy told me how your parents took him in and raised him as their own child when he became an orphan."

"Yes." Rick said while nodding his head. "Pop first told me the story when I was about 8 years old. Pop was still in the Air Force but was about ready to retire and Roy's dad was Pop's best friend and wingman ever since Vietnam. I was a baby when the accident happened. Pop and Roy's dad was on a Red Flag training mission at Nellis AFB when Roy's dad got too close to Pop's F-15 and Roy's dad got caught in the jet wash causing his engines to fail. He went into a flat spin and could not eject because of the centrifugal force and he crashed. At his funeral, Pop promised Roy that he will not become an orphan and he and mom will raise Roy as their own child."

"Rick…I know you're still not willing to tell me how your girlfriend died…but didn't your father also have taken her in when she became an orphan?"

"Yes, he did."

"How did it happen?"

"Cathy's dad was a pilot in my dad's flying circus. He was killed while he and Pop were doing a stunt at an air show. At the funeral, Pop promised Cathy and Cathy's dad while they were standing at her dad's casket that she was not going to be placed in a foster home and Pop will raise Cathy as his own daughter."

"That was very sweet of your father."

Rick nodded his head. "Pop was a very generous, kind, caring, giving man."

"I just wish my father was that way."

Rick was quiet for a long time before speaking up because he never grew up in a dysfunctional home. "I'm sorry Lisa…I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to apologize, Rick. All of us have to deal the best way we can with the families we were born into."

Rick and Lisa continued to exchange small talk until both were finished eating. After taking their trays up to the disposal room, they walked out of the dining hall.

"Lisa, do you mind…if I walk you to your quarters?"

"No, I don't mind at all Rick. As a matter of fact, it will be sweet of you if you did."

As they were walking to Lisa's quarters, Rick wanted to end the evening on a positive note after knowing the strained relationship between Lisa and her father.

"Lisa, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure Rick, go ahead. What is it?"

"Why didn't you try out for the Miss Macross Pageant?"

Lisa began to blush a deep shade of red. "You must be kidding me Rick! Have you seen the ages of some of the contestants? They are 15, 16, 17, 18 years old. I can't compete with girls of that age!"

"Oh, c'mon Lisa, look at you. You are beautiful, have a nice figure, nice hair, and a nice face. I bet you can beat the other girls in the question-and-answer segment. Why I bet you can even beat them in the swimsuit competition."

"Oh, stop it Rick you're making me blush and I blush easily!"

Rick just smiled at her with a devilish grin. Soon they reached to door of Lisa's quarters.

"Well, we're at my quarters. It was nice having dinner with you Rick, even if was at the officer's dining hall."

"Same here Lisa. As a matter of fact, I had a good time."

"I did too."

"Lisa, how about the next time we have dinner at the dining hall or anywhere else, I pay for the tab. Just so we're even."

"It's a deal Rick. Oh…and Rick…thank you for disobeying my order and saving my life at Sara Base. I did not realize it until much later that you saved me from doing something stupid to myself. You just don't know what you may have missed in life until you tried to kill yourself."

"You're welcome Lisa. Well, good night.", Rick said as he was offering his right hand.

"I think what you did deserve more than just a handshake." Lisa said as she pulled Rick into her and hugged him. That hug sent a warm feeling through Rick. Something he has not felt in a long time. After a while, they broke off their hug awkwardly.

"Lisa…do you mind if I give you a quick kiss on the cheek? I won't do anything else to you."

"No, I don't mind.", Lisa said as she offered her cheek to him.

Rick gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "Well." Rick said as he was clearing his throat and smiling his boyish smile. "I guess I'll see you on duty tomorrow morning." Rick said as he was walking away.

"See you tomorrow morning Rick." Lisa said as she touched the area on her cheek where Rick kissed her. It was a warm nice feeling, and it was something she has not felt in an awfully long time. As she was watching Rick walk down the passageway, she began to wonder to herself. 'Is Rick the one who will help me get past Karl, is he? I like him as a person, and I hope to like him as a friend. I love to know him more. Maybe one day I would want him as my boyfriend, but I still do not know much about him. He's still such a mystery to me.'

Rick began walking back to his quarters with a nice warm feeling in his heart, but he did not want to give his heart away too soon to someone who might not have any interest in him. And besides, Cathy's death was still too raw and painful for him to deal with. When he came to the door of his quarters, he began fishing for the keys in his pants pocket. After finding his keys and opening the door, he entered his living room and fined the voice mail machine on his table blinking. He pressed the button.

"Lieutenant Rick Hunter, you have one new voice mail message waiting to be heard."

"Hi Rick…its Minmei. I know you are angry at me and I do not blame you! I now realized that I should have asked you first. And I am sorry I did not. Look Rick, after you left, Uncle Max yelled at me for not telling you first. He yelled at me in English and Japanese. He even yelled at me in Mandarin. The reason why I called you is because the pageant is a week from Saturday, and we have rehearsals everyday between now and then. I need you to be at least two of the rehearsals not including on the day of the pageant itself. Please Rick I need you to say yes! If you do not say yes, the pageant will have to choose an escort for me and it maybe someone I will not like. Please Rick, please say 'yes'! Goodbye."

Rick could do nothing but tilt his head back in frustration and sigh. 'Minmei, why do you keep doing this to me?'

He then picked up the telephone. 'Why do I keep doing this to myself? Rick said to himself as he was dialing the number. "Hi Uncle Max, this is Rick. Is Minmei there?"

NIGHT OF THE PAGEANT

Every television set in Macross and on the ship was tuned to the pageant, even on the bridge where Lisa, Claudia and the Bridge Bunnies were making small talk on who will win.

Lisa looked at one of the HD view screen monitors. "Hey everyone, quiet down. The pageant's about to begin."

An announcer's voice then came on. "Live from the Macross Amphitheatre, the Macross Broadcasting System proudly presents its first telecast of the Miss Macross Pageant. The Miss Macross Pageant is brought to you in part by: 'Shapes' Macross' only all women health club and beauty spa. By 'Healthy and Beautiful' the magazine for women who like to be healthy and beautiful and by 'Naturally Bare Cosmetics' cosmetics that are so natural, you barely know it is there. And now…here's your Master of Ceremonies for the Miss Macross Pageant: Wink Martin!"

The audience starts to applause as the MC came out on stage.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you very much and welcome to the first annual Miss Macross Pageant live from the Macross Amphitheatre. Tonight, twenty-eight beautiful young women from across Macross will vie for the title of 'Miss Macross' but only one will win the title.

The pageant is broken down into four parts, the introduction of the contestants, the swimsuit or bikini competition and the evening gown competition with a question-and-answer session given by our judges. After the evening gown competition is over, our judges will choose five finalists. Out of the five finalists, one will be chosen Miss Macross by you the viewers at home and our audience here at the Amphitheatre.

Here is how the pageant is broken down. First in the introduction segment, every minute or so, each of our contestants will walk to the beginning of the runway escorted by an escort that she has chosen or one that the pageant has provided for her. She will then walk slowly down to the end of the runway where there will be a microphone. There she will say her name and something interesting about herself. As she is speaking, a photo of the contestant will appear on a high-definition video screen here at the amphitheater that you the viewers at home will be able to see that will show all her vital statistics including that all important measurements of her chest, waist, and hips.

The second part of the pageant is the swimsuit or bikini competition. Each contestant can choose between a bikini and a swimsuit. Every few minutes, one contestant will be escorted to the beginning of the runway where she will slowly walk down the runway by herself, turn around at the end of the runway and walk back to the beginning of the runway.

The third part of the pageant is the evening gown competition. Each of our contestants is wearing a designer gown made especially for her by a top fashion designer. Instead of me asking the question, our judges will ask the questions.

After the evening gown competition is over, our judges will choose five finalists. After the five finalists are chosen, this is where you the home viewer and our audience here in the Amphitheatre comes in. For the home viewer, each of our five finalists will be assigned a telephone number. When you are told, you will call the telephone number for that finalist. The audience here in the amphitheater will vote by a keypad. You can only vote once. Fraudulent or multiple votes will not be counted.

Now, before we go any further, let us meet our judges. Our first judge is talent agent extraordinaire; Vance Hasselwood. Our second judge is international fashion, glamour, and nude supermodel and Macross native Loretta Lee. Our third judge is Macross' mayor, the Honorable Tommy Luan. And last but certainly not least, our fourth judge is the captain of the SDF-1, Captain Henry J. Gloval.

And before we meet our contestants, let us show what the winner will receive. First will be 500,000 dollars in United Earth money backed by the Macross National Bank. Next, our winner will receive a year's worth of fashion advice and wardrobe designed by renowned fashion designer Denise Wang. Third, a year's worth of cosmetics and cosmetic advice by a representative of Naturally Bare Cosmetics and finally, a sports car courtesy of Macross Motors. And now, let us meet our contestants."

When it came for Minmei's turn to walk down the runway, Rick as rehearsed offered his arm to Minmei, which she took. As she walked down the runway in a purple Chinese dress, Minmei gave a look of self-confidence to the audience. When she stepped up to the microphone, she spoke into the microphone in her high-pitched teenaged voice with a bit of nervousness but also with an air of confidence to it after rehearsing it repeatedly.

"Hi, my name is Lynn Minmei; I'm originally from Yokohama, Japan. I speak English, Japanese and some Mandarin. I just turned 16 years old, and my favorite color is blue." When she was finished her introduction, Minmei winked at the camera.

As she walked back to the beginning of the runway and took Rick's arm to go off stage, she dared to ask Rick; "How did I do, Rick? I wasn't too self-confident, was I?"

"You did fine Minmei. I think when you winked at the camera it helped you."

Minmei blushed a little. "Oh, thank you, Rick."

In the dressing room as Minmei was changing into her blue swimsuit for the swimsuit competition, she saw Jan Morris talking to an assistant. Even though she knew she was going to win, she still was a big fan of Jan Morris. Wanting to get her autograph but could not find anything but a sheet of paper and a pen; Minmei went up to Jan and asked for her autograph.

"I'm sorry young lady. I do not have time to sign autographs." Jan said in a snooty tone of voice.

"Besides young lady, if you want an autograph from a real movie star, you use a real autograph book. Not a sheet of paper." Her assistant said.

Minmei did not show any kind of expression on her face but inside, she was steaming mad. 'Why you bitch! You think you are still such a big shot movie star when you are nothing but a washed up has been who is now nothing but a publicity whore wanting to get back in the public eye. I'm going to beat your ass!'

In the swimsuit competition, Minmei was walking down the runway in her blue swimsuit with no problems, when suddenly one of the spikes on her high heeled shoes broke and she fell to her knees. One of the straps to her swimsuit fell to her shoulder and she began to put it back in place. Immediately Rick and a stagehand rushed to her aid.

"Are you okay Minmei, are you hurt?"

"No, I'm okay Rick. Just help me up to my feet so I can take off the other shoe. I'm going to walk down the runway barefoot."

"Okay."

Rick and the stagehand helped Minmei up to her feet where she took off the other shoe. The audience soon began to clap showing their appreciation. Rick and the stagehand stayed on either side of her but Minmei said she will continue walking on her own. The crowd started to get up on their feet and began to clap very loudly and cheered at the gutsiness Minmei was showing by continuing. Minmei knew in her heart that she lost the competition right then and there, but her pride did not allow her to shed tears of self-pity.

At the evening gown and question and answer segment, all the judges were commenting positively at what Minmei did during the swimsuit competition, especially Captain Gloval.

"Minmei, I want to commend you for the courage you've shown during the swimsuit competition. That was a very brave thing you did."

"Thank you, captain."

"Minmei, I've noticed that your escort is one of my pilots and you have chosen him to be your escort. Are you and he girlfriend and boyfriend or just friends and was he the inspiration for your song; 'My Boyfriend is a Pilot'?"

Minmei blushed and then giggled with embarrassment. "Well captain…hee-hee…to tell you the truth no Lieutenant Hunter is not my boyfriend. I like to think we are girlfriend and boyfriend and I wish we are. I hope one day we will be but for now, we are just friends. As for him being the inspiration for my song no he is not. I wrote the song in general terms with no one particular in mind."

"Wow, you're just sixteen and already you're writing songs. You must be incredibly talented Minmei."

"I like to think that I am very talented captain." Minmei said confidently.

"Well, I think you are talented. Thank you for your time and answering our questions Minmei."

"You're welcome Captain Gloval and thank you judges."

At the back of the stage, Rick was seething. He wished Minmei did not give people the impression that they were girlfriend and boyfriend, but he decided not to press the issue.

When it came time for Jan Morris to be asked a question, a judge asked Jan to recite a line from one of her movies. She recited a line that made many people in the audience and everyone on the bridge groan. The line came from "Playing Solitaire"; one of the worst movies she had ever starred in. The critics panned it and it was a box office bomb. She was making an absolute fool of herself. Jan Morris frowned when she realized she made a mistake in reciting that line.

The time came for the contestants to be whittled down to the 5 finalists. The MC, Wink Martin came on stage with a sealed envelope.

"The judges have made their decision and in my hands is the envelope that contains the names of the five finalists." Wink Martin slowly tore open the envelope while a drum started doing its roll. He then took out a folded card and opened it. And the five finalists are…Sarah Rhee, Janice Hashimoto, Jennifer Lacey, Susan Brown…and…Lynn Minmei."

The audience then stood up and gave a loud rousing cheer. A camera panned over to where Jan Morris was standing with a sour mad look on her face when she did not hear her name called. In the audience, Roy who along with Ben and Max who was able to get in free to the pageant because Rick convinced Minmei to get free tickets for them nodded and smiled a smile of satisfaction. Ben noticed Roy smiling. "Why are you smiling sir?"

"Jan Morris did not make the final five. She should have never been in the pageant in the first place. She is too old to be doing this. The only thing she should be doing is to be one of the judges. She is nothing but a washed up has been movie actress who is desperate to get back into the public eye. The only way I think she was able to get into the pageant was she probably bribed a pageant official."

The MC continued. "Each of our five finalists has a telephone number that you at home can call and a number that our audience at the Amphitheatre can press on a keypad. When you are told, either start calling that telephone number that is on your TV screen or key in the number on your keypad. You will have thirty minutes to vote and remember you can only vote once. Multiple and fraudulent votes will be tossed out. Each vote is being watched over by a certified public accountant of the accounting firm of Harrelson, Jemison, and Pike. When all the votes are counted and tallied up, a CPA with the firm will add up the votes, seal it up in an envelope and under armed guard will deliver the results to me where I will read the results. You can start voting…NOW!"

After the voting ended, then came the wait. After for what seem to be hours, an envelope was delivered to the MC by a guy in an expensive suit escorted by an armed guard.

"I have the results. Here are how the results will be read off; I will first read off the name of the fourth runner-up, then the third and the second. I will then read the name of the first runner-up. Good luck to all of you ladies and may the best woman win.

The five finalists held hands nervously as the MC slowly opened the envelope, unfolded a card, cleared his throat, and began to read off the names.

"The name of the fourth runner-up is…Susan Brown!"

The audience then began to cheer.

"Our third runner-up is…Jennifer Lacey."

The audience clapped and cheered again.

"The name of our second runner-up is…Janice Hashimoto."

The audience applauded and the tension ratchet up as Minmei and the first runner-up closed in and held hands very tightly.

"Sarah Rhee, Lynn Minmei, before I read the name of the first runner-up, I want to inform you that if one of you does become Miss Macross and if at any time during your reign, you cannot or do not fulfill the duties and obligations of the title of Miss Macross or if the pageant committee determines that you have done something detrimental to the crown and title and you are forced to resign and give up the crown, the first runner-up will then immediately assume the title of Miss Macross. Sarah, Minmei…good luck. You are both winners to make it this far."

After a dramatic pause, the MC went on. "And the name of the first runner-up of the first annual Miss Macross Pageant is…Sarah Rhee! LYNN MINMEI YOU ARE OUR WINNER!", Wink Marin said as he pointed the card like a finger at Minmei. However, his last words were drowned out as the audience in the Amphitheatre went up on its feet as they roared, cheered, clapped, and applauded.

Minmei had an absolute look of shock on her face because she was sure she had lost the competition when the spike of her high heel shoe broke during the swimsuit competition. She then put her hands to her mouth and began to cry as the other contestants began to encircle her and did a congratulatory group hug everyone that is except Jan Morris who was conspicuously absent.

As a pageant official gave Minmei a scepter to put in her hand, placed a tiara on her head and a sash that said; 'MISS MACROSS" on the front across her chest and handed her a bouquet of roses, a stagehand rushed backstage to get Rick and to tell him to get onstage to escort Minmei down the runway. Rick who was still dressed in a tux and was watching the pageant in the backstage green room rushed onstage to escort Minmei. As he offered his arm to Minmei he whispered "Congratulations Minmei" to her. Minmei whispered back a "thank you Rick" as they began their walk down the runway.

Even though he was happy for Minmei, Rick was clearly not happy being the center of attention and having the flashbulbs of hundreds of thousands of cameras going off in his face. Minmei with her peripheral vision noticed the sour look on Rick's face. As she was waving to the crowd, Minmei whispered to Rick in a clenched teeth smile; "Look Rick, I know you do not want to be here but how about at least faking it for me by smiling for God's sake? The camera will be on you at any minute. Do not make me look bad! This is my night!" Rick managed to smile halfway.

On the bridge of the SDF-1, Claudia and Lisa noticed the unhappy look on Rick face when a camera gave a close look on him/

"Do you notice the sour look on Rick's face Lisa?"

"Yes, I do Claudia. He clearly doesn't look happy being there." 'Oh, poor Rick, he clearly doesn't look happy being up there. I wish there is something I can do for him, like reaching out through the camera to him. But what can I do?'

Rick never gave Lisa the phone number to his quarters, but she called the ship's information office to get the phone number to his quarters. After writing down the phone number, she called the number. After letting the voice mail service pick up the call, she began leaving a message on his voice mail. "Hi Rick, its Lisa; I have gotten your phone number from ship's information. We are watching the pageant on the view screen here on the bridge and we noticed that you are not happy. If there is anything you would like to talk to me about, just call the bridge or leave a message on the voice mail to the phone in my quarters and tell me when you would like to meet up okay? Talk to you later, Rick. Bye."

When Lisa hung up the phone, Claudia had a look of surprise on her face.

"We came to an understanding, Claudia."

AFTER PAGEANT RECEPTION PARTY

BALLROOM OF THE MACROSS REGENCY HOTEL

All the contestants were having a good time at the after-pageant party. Each of the contestants commented on how much personal courage Minmei had to continue after the spike of her high heel shoe broke during the swimsuit competition. The only person who was not enjoying the party was Jan Morris who was drowning her sorrows by downing bottle after bottle of champagne in a corner of the ballroom. This was her last chance in getting back into the spotlight and a 16-year-old brat ruined it for her by winning the Miss Macross Pageant.

'Well, I'm not going to let that little brat get the best of me! I'm going to give the performance of my life.' Jan said to herself as she got up from her chair and started walking towards Minmei to give her what look like a fake congratulatory hug. But in her drunken stupor, she stumbled and tripped over her own feet mere centimeters away from Minmei while holding a full flute of champagne in her hand. The champagne flew and it landed on the front of Minmei's evening gown. The same gown she wore during the competition and won in. She gasped in shock then got mad.

"YOU BITCH YOU'VE RUINED MY GOWN! GET HER OUT OF HERE!"

"Excuse me Minmei?" A pageant official said not believing Minmei wanted Jan Morris kicked out of the party.

"I SAID GET THIS BITCH OUT OF HERE!"

"Minmei, Miss Morris didn't mean to do it."

"THE HELL SHE DIDN'T MEAN TO DO IT! WHERE THE HELL WAS SHE WHEN WE DID THE GROUP HUG?"

"But Minmei…Miss Morris is a contestant."

"THE HELL SHE IS A CONTESTANT! I WON THIS DAMN PAGEANT AND I WANT HER OUT OF HERE! IF YOU DON'T THROW HER OUT OF HERE THIS VERY INSTANT, I AM GOING TO RESIGN MY CROWN AND I AM GOING TO HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE AND TELL THE CITY AND THE PUBLIC THAT THIS PAGEANT IS NOTHING BUT A DAMN FRAUD BY YOU LETTING A WASHED UP HAS BEEN MOVIE ACTRESS BRIBE YOU INTO LETTING HER BE A CONTESTANT IN THIS DAMN PAGEANT!"

Pageant officials then became incredibly nervous at Minmei's threat and allegation. There were rumors among the contestants of Jan Morris bribing pageant officials into letting her become a contestant; a charge of which officials of course denied. But they did not want this minor flap to turn into a major embarrassment to the pageant after such a successful first outing. If Minmei does go through with her threat to give up the crown and hold a news conference saying the pageant is a fraud by them letting Miss Morris in the pageant, the public will most likely take Minmei at her word proof or no proof because she clearly was the public's favorite. She won the pageant by a wide margin. Most likely the runners-up will also take Minmei's side by refusing the crown. If that happens the pageant will most likely be done with and there will be nothing to occupy the citizens of Macross' time and raise their morale while being trapped on a military spaceship that is fighting its way back to Earth.

"Very well Minmei. We'll escort Ms. Morris out of the party."

"AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION OR IF YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN, IT'S NOW MISS MINMEI!"

"Yes Miss Minmei."

Two pageant officials went on either side of Jan Morris and started to escort her out. Jan Morris started to vigorously shake her head. She then started to scream and apologize saying she did not mean to spill champagne on Minmei and not to throw her out. The officials literally had to pick up Jan Morris by her arms and carry her out of the ballroom.

Everyone even the contestants were shocked into silence at the scene Minmei caused. Rick could not believe that Minmei would use her status as pageant winner to literally throw Jan Morris out of the party just because she spilled champagne on Minmei's gown. He suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable and wanted to leave. He decided that now is as good of a time as any to leave. Even though Roy allowed Rick the next day off because he was Minmei's pageant escort, he decided he would tell her he had to be on duty the next day and had to leave early. He hoped Roy did not tell Minmei that.

"Minmei"

"Oh Rick, I'm sorry you had to see that…but that Jan Morris…just did that…OH! The nerve of her!" Minmei was still steaming mad.

"It's okay Minmei. Minmei, I have to be on duty tomorrow so I'm afraid I have to leave now."

"Oh Rick, do you have to?"

"Yes, I have to." 'Good, she doesn't know.'

"Okay. Well, I will call for the limousine to take you back to your quarters. It's the least I can do for you after all you've done for me."

"Oh, thank you Minmei. Up until tonight, I never had a ride in a limo."

"Oh, don't mention it Rick. Rick, I am afraid I will not be able to call you or see you for the next couple weeks. You know…press junkets, the TV talk shows, radio shows, you know the whole bit."

"Oh, don't worry about it Minmei." But in the back of his mind, he was rejoicing.

"Well, take care of yourself Minmei and call me when you can." Rick said as he was hugging Minmei. 'But call me too soon.', Rick said to himself.

"I will Rick. You take care of yourself also. Have a good night."

"Thank you Minmei. You have a good night also."

The limousine drove Rick back to the base after picking him earlier in the day for the pageant. When he entered his quarters, Rick noticed the voice mail light on his telephone blinking. He pressed the button.

"Lieutenant Rick Hunter, you have one new voice mail message waiting to be heard."

When he heard Lisa's voice, a gentle smile came to his face.