TWO OF A KIND
CHAPTER TEN
COMING HOME
COMMANDER LISA HAYES' QUARTERS
MONDAY MORNING
The alarm on Rick's aviator's watch went off. Rick began to stir out of his sleep by moving around and blinking his eyes. He then turned off the alarm and looked at his watch. He has 90 minutes to get back to his quarters, shower and shave, brush his teeth, put on his uniform and get ready for his first duty day in over weeks. As he began to wake up, he noticed his arm draped across Lisa Hayes' naked chest. He was wondering how he ended up naked in Lisa's bed when he remembered he spent the whole weekend with Lisa and spent the last night in her bed making love to her until the wee hours of the morning. He slowly crept over to Lisa and planted a light kiss on her cheek. He then threw the blanket and covers off him and started searching for his clothes and put them on. He almost had his clothes on when he heard Lisa beginning to stir out of her sleep. He did not want to wake her so he turned off the alarm as fast as he could, but she heard it anyway.
"Hey, where are you going?", ge heard a sweet voice calling.
"I have to go Lisa. I must get back to my quarters, shower and shave and get ready for the duty day. I suppose to meet some replacement pilots today and Roy has put us on Immediate Launch alert with Corsair Squadron."
"How was your first weekend with me?"
Rick walked over to where Lisa was laying and knelt next to her and kissed her. "It was…it was", Rick said trying to find the right words to say to Lisa. "It was…magical. If I never spend another weekend with a woman as beautiful as you are ever again…then this weekend would have been worth it all.", Rick said with love in his voice and eyes.
Lisa began to tear up.
"Hey, what's wrong Lisa?", Rick said as he began to gently wipe away her tears.
"Nothing Rick…it's just that…I would never think…I ever hear another man tell me that I'm beautiful…ever again."
"Well…you are beautiful…and much…much more. I have to go but will I see you when we get off duty tonight?"
"Umm-hmm" Lisa said nodding her head. "You can count on it, Rick. I love you."
"I love you too.", Rick said as he reached in and kissed Lisa on the lips.
Rick then got up and was about ready to walk out of Lisa's bedroom when Lisa called to him. "Rick."
"Yes Lisa."
"Please be careful when you're flying today."
"I will Lisa. See you when I get off duty later this evening. Bye"
"See you later this evening Rick.", Lisa said as she was waving him good-by with her fingers.
After Rick left, Lisa stared at the ceiling. She kept hearing what Rick said to her over and over in her brain; "If I never spend another weekend with a woman as beautiful as you are ever again" and "It was…magical."
'Yes, it was magical and I'm planning on making more magical weekends and nights with you from now on Rick Hunter.' Lisa said to herself. She then grabbed the pillow that Rick slept on and held it to her nose and breathe in deeply trying to input the scent of Rick into her memory bank. She then decided it was time to get up and shower and get ready for the duty day herself. Something she now does not look forward to because that means she will be away from Rick. She then threw the blanket and covers off herself and trudged into the bathroom and shower to get her ready to go back on duty, her first duty day within the last several weeks.
When Rick opened the door to his quarters, he saw the voice mail light on his telephone blinking. He then groaned because he knew who is. He did not want to hear them and wish he could skip through them, but the voice mail system is set up that messages cannot be skipped so he had to hear them anyway to clear out the voice mail's memory. He pressed a button.
"Lieutenant Rick Hunter, you have three new voice mail messages. First message was left on Friday at 10:00pm."
"Rick, its Minmei. Roy told me that you and he went to the movies with some friends of yours and you supposed to be back. Where are you? Call me."
"End of message. Please press one to hear again, press to save, press three to delete."
Rick pressed a button.
"Message deleted. Second message was left on Saturday at 5:00pm.
"Rick its Minmei again. Where are you? I have not heard from you in weeks. Are you alright? I just want to know if you are okay. Call me."
"End of message. Please press one to hear again, press two to save, press three to delete."
Rick pressed the third button.
"Message deleted. Third message was left on Sunday at 8:00pm."
"Rick what the Hell you're doing? Are you trying to avoid me? I have been calling you ever since you came back and you have not returned any of my phone calls! What the fuck is going on with you? I am not stalking you or anything; I just want to know if you are okay! Call me damn it!"
"End of message. Please press one to hear again, press two to save, press three to delete."
Rick pressed the delete button.
"Message deleted. End of voice mail messages."
Rick could not help but shake his head. Even though he uses profanity when he's either under stress, duress, pressure or when he's angry, he still tries to avoid using profanity because it shows you're unprofessional. But he cannot believe that a 16-year-old girl would use profane language so freely. He wonders where she picks up that language. After passing it off as to the environment she was surrounded by when the SDF-1 was being rebuilt and refitted, he took off his clothes, went into the bathroom and turned on the shower.
BRIDGE OF THE SDF-1
"Boy, isn't that a beautiful sight? And to think we would never see Earth again. Do you think we will ever set foot on Earth again?", the night watch enlisted tech asked as Earth came up on the bridge's HD view screen and as she began to zoom in trying to get a better view of Earth.
Claudia who came in early to relieve Lieutenant Anderson, was incredulous that the young girl would ask that question knowing full well that part of the enemy fleet is surrounding them trying to prevent their way back home. "Why don't you ask the commander of that Zentraedi task force that's blocking our way? Go ahead, look at them and ask them if it's okay if we can pass."
The tech not much older than a teenager pressed the wide screen button to see a good-sized fleet of Zentraedi warships consisting of destroyers, frigates and cruisers pointing their laser cannons and guns in the direction of the SDF-1 as it was slowly making its way towards home. The tech's eyes got big as saucers and she made an audible gasp.
"Are they still out there?"
"Yes, ma'am they are."
"Alright then, I don't want to hear any more crap about wanting to go home until the job's done and we are home! Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes ma'am. Perfectly clear!"
Sammie, Kim, and Vanessa came in and started to get their briefs from the night watch when Lisa walked into the bridge. Everyone on the bridge began to surround Lisa and hug her as tears began to flow freely from everyone's cheeks, including Lisa's. Sammie Porter was especially happy that Lisa made it because she blamed herself for quite some time for Lisa and the pilots being captured even though she knew deep down in her heart she was not at fault.
"Welcome home ma'am!"
"It's good to be home!"
One of the techs gave Lisa a fresh hot cup of coffee in a ceramic white mug that has the RDF logo and the SDF-1 on it.
"Ah, good ole military coffee let me tell you the cooks here on board may make lousy coffee but the Zentraedi make even lousier coffee. I don't know what it was, but it was horrible!", Lisa said as she took a sip.
After saying their good-byes to the night watch crew, Lisa got to work doing her checks but all the while, she was doing it with a contented smile on her face. Claudia took notice of the smile. She leaned over to ask Lisa a question without letting the Terrible Trio hear what they are saying.
"Lisa, you look like the cat that swallowed the canary. What did you and Rick do after we left the restaurant?"
"Oh…we did nothing. We just spent a nice quiet weekend together."
Claudia had a look of shocked surprise on her face. "Together?"
"Together." Lisa said matter-of-factly as she looked at Claudia with a neutral look on her face.
"Where?"
"In my quarters.", Lisa said keeping that blank neutral look on her face.
Claudia, whose curiosity was now getting the better of her, looked over at the Bridge Bunnies to make sure they were working, bit her lower lip then leaned in to whisper a question to Lisa.
"What did the two of you do?"
Lisa had a look of surprise on her face. "Claudia! I never ask you what you and Roy did while the two of you are alone together! Why should I tell you what Rick and I did while we were alone together for the weekend?"
"Oh, c'mon Lisa! I am not asking you to tell me the juicy parts! I am just asking what the two of you did together the whole weekend. I'm not going to blab it to the whole ship like the girls do!"
"And I'm going to make sure you don't! I'm not going to tell you!"
"Oh, c'mon now Lisa it's just that it's kind of a surprise for me to hear that you have done something like that. I mean, you spent the whole weekend with a guy. That was something you never did ever since I have known you! I mean, it was kind of a surprise for me and Roy when you and Rick agreed to go on a double date with us considering it was both your first dates together and considering how your first meeting went."
"Well, actually it wasn't our very first date. We went out twice before. Although the first time we went out it was to eat at the officer's dining hall after Rick arrived at the ship upset because Miss Minmei told him he was going to be her escort at the Miss Macross Pageant without telling him first and the second time we went out together was we spent the afternoon together when he dropped the rental tux. Then was the afternoon when"
Claudia waved her hand. "Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I know. I know. That was when that paparazzo shot that picture of you and Rick at the bistro, and it wound up in the tabloid…but still you spent the whole weekend alone with Rick!"
"I know. Sometimes I still can't believe it myself."
"How did it happen?"
Lisa blew a sigh of resignation. "Okay…fine…I'll tell it to you. But promise me you won't go blabbing it around the ship!"
"Now Lisa you know me better than that."
"Promise me Claudia!"
"Okay Lisa I promise!", Claudia said raising her right hand.
Lisa then drew in a deep breath and let it out in a contented sigh. "Rick escorted me to the door of my quarters to say good night. I started to kiss him, and I asked him if he had any plans for the weekend. He said no, he did not have any plans. So, something just came over me and I grabbed the front of his shirt and I pulled him into my quarters."
Claudia's jaw dropped and her eyes went wide in shocked surprise. "You didn't?"
"I did! I know Claudia! I know! I am shocked at myself that I did something like that! Well anyway, I closed and locked the door and I started to kiss him, and I told him that I had plans for him the whole weekend. And he did not leave my quarters for the whole weekend. The only time he left my quarters was to go to his quarters to get a change of clothes and to sleep."
"Oh. So what's your impression of him now?"
"It's so much different than from when we first met. Like Karl, he's warm, kind, gentle, caring. He likes me for who I really am and doesn't care about the mask I put on. But the best thing I like about Rick is that he's non-judgmental. He doesn't care about what other people say about me and the names they call me. He looks at me for what I really am, a person who had sadness and heartache in my life, just like he did.", Lisa said softly.
"See I told you that you and Rick will eventually hit it off."
"You're right Claudia. Thank you and Roy for setting us up. Anyway, we spent the whole weekend talking and playing games. We talked about a lot of things. We talked about whether he is going to make the military his career, his and my plans, goals, and dreams for the future. What he and I will want to do after both of us leave the military. His and mine likes and dislikes.
I found out like me, he loves playing board games like chess and Parcheesi, he likes playing dominoes. He loves playing sports, military strategy and simulation games and role-playing games. He likes country, bluegrass and oldies rock and roll music and some classical music. He loves reading books on aviation and with military themes. He is into boxing, the martial arts and working out. He likes walking in the woods, taking pictures, exercising, and just being active. He likes sci-fi movies and he still loves cartoons. We just spent the whole weekend just getting to know each other better."
"Oh, that's sweet.", Claudia said with a smile.
"Umm-hmm, then last night we were on my couch and we started making out and things have gotten…you know."
Claudia shook her head. "No, I don't know."
Lisa's face then became a beet red. She started motioning with her finger as a signal for Claudia to move in closer so she cannot be overheard. "Things had gotten…kind of…out of control…and before we knew it…Rick swept me off my feet…and into his arms…and he carried me to my bed. Before any of us knew it…we were naked…and we were making love on my bed.", Lisa said well below a whisper.
Claudia's eyes went wide with surprise as her jaw dropped even further. She then drew in a gasping shock and put her hand to her mouth. "Lisa you didn't! Please tell me you didn't!", she whispered.
"We did. We did not mean for it to happen…we just got carried away with our making out! We made love until the wee hours of the morning. The only reason why we stopped was because we were both tired and we had to get up in the morning to go back to work. I have not told Rick this yet…but he deflowered me. I was a virgin until I made love with Rick. I never even had sex with Karl. All we did was neck, kiss and make out."
"Lisa! That is telling me WAY too much! I hope you did not make a mistake by doing this! Do you think you might get pregnant from this?"
"I don't think so. I'm almost due for my period so I think I'm safe."
"Are you seeing Rick again anytime this week?"
Lisa nodded her head. "We're getting together after we get off duty this evening."
"Don't you think it's?"
But before Claudia can finish answering her question Captain Gloval stepped on to the bridge.
"Commander Hayes, I need to speak with you for a moment."
"Yes sir."
As Lisa stepped away to talk to Captain Gloval, Claudia began to shake her head. 'I hope Roy and I didn't make a mistake by introducing them to each other. That is just too soon for them to start having sex.'
SDF-1 CARRIER AIR WING SECTION
As Rick was walking towards his squadron's ready room, he heard a familiar voice behind. "Hey Rick wait up a minute!"
"Hello big brother."
"Hi Rick. Rick, I need to talk to you for a moment. Got a minute to spare?"
"Sure Roy. What do you want to talk to me about?"
"Look Rick, Minmei called me earlier today and she's concerned that you have not been returning her phone calls."
Rick's face then became a mask of frustration. 'I knew she was going to do this to me!'
"Look Rick, what goes on between you and her it's none of my business okay. I know you and Lisa are really growing close to each other and that is good. But when Minmei calls me and tells me that you have been ignoring her and have been avoiding returning her phone calls for no apparent reason at all, that is when it becomes my business! Now why haven't you been returning her phone calls?"
"Roy, she has been calling me almost every day since we first met! She wants me to take her someplace, go shopping with her, do this do that for her or with her! I mean, it is never ending with her! She won't leave me alone!"
"Rick from what Minmei has told me that not true! She only calls you on occasion and she just want to know how you are doing and if you need anything. She's only concerned about you as a friend that's all."
"Roy that is what she is telling you and what she is telling you is a lie! I'm telling you Roy she is obsessed with me!"
"Rick how can a 16-year-old girl be obsessed with you? All the times we met and talked she has only mentioned you as a friend and nothing else! The only reason why she kept calling you recently is because when you, Lisa, Max and Ben were listed as MIA, I told her you were MIA because I felt she needed to be told because you and she are friends. When she found out that you have escaped and you have returned to us, she has been calling you to make sure you are okay and that is all! It is not going to hurt you and Lisa's relationship to call Minmei and tell her you are okay! I am sure Lisa will understand and that you are not cheating on her behind her back. As a matter of fact, I know she will understand if she finds out."
"Alright...fine. I'll call her."
"Good. Right now she on a good will tour for the RDF. She is visiting the injured and wounded pilots and soldiers in our hospitals. She gave me her smart phone number and I want you…no I am ordering you to call her right now and get this situation worked out between the two of you!"
Rick let out a big sigh of exasperation. "Yes sir, but I am telling you the truth Roy. She is obsessed with me."
"Whatever. Just call her and work it out between the two of you so I don't have to get involved in this again."
"Aye-aye sir will do."
Rick walked slowly to his office to call Minmei. He was not looking forward to calling her because he knew she was going to chew him out for ignoring her and not returning her calls. As he was walking towards his office, he was conflicted on how to answer Minmei and how to tell her to stop calling him every day. He opened the door to his office and closed the door. He picked up the phone and started dialing the number for Minmei's smart phone Roy gave to him. The phone began to ring, and it stopped at the third ring. A voice answered the phone. It was Minmei.
"Hello."
"Hello Minmei, this is Rick."
"Rick where have you been since you came back? I have been calling you and calling you and you have not returned any of my phone calls! What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing's wrong with me. I've just been busy that's all!"
"Rick you're lying to me and you're doing a terrible job at it! Roy told me that you are a horrible liar and I believe him! He told me when you escaped and came back to the ship you were given a week's medical recuperation time off. What have you been doing all that time? Sitting in your quarters twiddling your thumbs? You could have returned one of my phone calls then! I kept calling you and calling you because I just wanted to know how you are doing and if you needed anything that is all! But you never returned any of my phone calls and that is why I had to call Commander Fokker! Now he is getting tired and upset at getting phone calls from me because you are not returning my phone calls and to tell you the truth, I do not blame him! Now what is going on with you? What is the problem? Just tell me the truth! I'll understand!"
"Okay fine! You want to know the truth? I will tell you the truth! The reason why I have not returned your phone calls is that you have been calling me and calling me almost every day since we first met!"
"Rick since when I have been calling you every day huh? Tell me!"
Rick could not answer the question because he knew Minmei has not been calling him exactly every day.
"I thought so Rick! You can't answer my question because you know I haven't been calling you every day!"
"But Minmei every time I turn around, I am getting phone calls from you asking me to go shopping with you, be your escort at a pageant, spend the day or the weekend with you. I cannot spend every single day with you! I have a life of my own that I want to live!"
"Now you wait just a minute Rick Hunter! You know that is not true! We have not spent every single day with each other, and you know that Rick! Remember Rick that sometimes you have called me! Rick you are making it sound like I am stalking you or I am obsessed with you! I am not stalking you and I am not obsessed with you. It is just that ever since you started flying on missions and now, you are a squadron commander and me winning the Miss Macross Pageant, getting a recording contract, and doing concerts, we do not spend much time together as friends anymore.
Now my agent is having me looking at movie scripts and he wants me to start taking acting lessons very soon which means we will be spending even less time seeing each other. I just want to spend some time with you so I can get to know you better and stay friends! We never really have gotten to know each other ever since we were trapped in that cargo hold when we first went into space because we spent most of our time trying to find a way out of that cargo hold and just trying to survive until we were found! Now if you want me to stop calling you and you do not want me to be your friend any longer FINE, I'll stop because I am getting really tired of this crap you're pulling!"
"NO, it's not that Minmei! I do not want that to happen okay! I do not want to lose you as a friend! It is not that I want you to stop calling me, I just do not want you to call me every time you want me to do something with you, you need me or whatever. An occasional phone call is fine. Look Minmei, I am sorry I got upset with you and I am sorry I have not returned your phone calls, but you must listen to me Minmei; I just can't drop what I am doing every time you call me just because you need me, or you want me to do something with you. It does not work that way! I hope you do not get offended by what I am about to say but I cannot live my life around you okay! My life does not revolve around you! I have a job and responsibilities that comes with that job. I also have a life of my own that I want to live. As a matter of fact, I'm seeing someone right now."
Rick was lucky they were not on a videophone because Minmei had a surprised look on her face when he mentioned he is seeing someone. 'Oh, you are, aren't you? That is interesting. Who is she Rick? Tell me so I can squash her like a bug.' "I know and realize that you have a job, responsibilities and your own life to live Rick! I have my own life to live too! I don't want to lose you as a friend either but the way my life is going right now, the opportunities I get to talk to you much less see you is getting less and less, and I don't want to lose touch with you!"
"Just simmer down Minmei okay.", Rick said as he was calming down himself. "I realize how busy your life is right now. Tell you what Minmei, when you and I have some free time, we will spend an afternoon eating lunch somewhere so we can talk things over. But I am going to be extremely busy for the next several days, especially now that we are getting closer to Earth. So, when you have some free time. Call the orderly room and tell the orderly room sergeant to have me call you so we can work out a time we can get together."
"Thank you, Rick. That is all I ask."
"You're welcome Minmei. Now I really must go. I'm almost late for my operational and intelligence briefing."
"Okay Rick. Oh...Rick…I have one more thing to ask of you."
"What is it now Minmei.", Rick said in a frustrated tone of voice after he blew out a sigh of exasperation.
"Please don't get angry with me…but…I'm holding a benefit concert tonight for widows and children who were orphaned when their parents who were in the RDF were killed and we're trying to find homes for them. You and your friends are the guests of honor at the concert tonight;"
Rick could not help but shake his head in frustration when he heard the news. 'I knew this was going to happen.'
Minmei somehow sensing that Rick was getting frustrated with what he thought was another example of Minmei's constant butting in on his life was quick to explain her side of the situation. "But it wasn't my idea Rick! You must believe me! It was an idea that Mayor Luan came up with as a way of boosting morale and Captain Gloval approved it."
"What time do you want us to be there?", Rick asked in an exasperated tone of voice.
"We want you to be in your seats by 7:30pm which means you need be at the concert hall by at least 7:15 at the earliest or 7:25 at the latest. Someone will meet you backstage to escort you to your seats. You will be in the front row in the VIP section. All we are going to do is to acknowledge you. What I will be doing at the concert is to call out your name; you will stand and wave to the crowd while someone gives you a bouquet of roses as a token of thanks and you will sit down, that is it. You do not have to come up on stage and we will not embarrass you in anyway. All you do is to stand and acknowledge the crowd by waving to them. You do not even have to stay for the concert. I'm telling you the truth."
Rick blew out a sigh of resignation. "Okay fine I'll be there. I will have to talk with Lieutenants Dixon and Sterling and see what they say. Most probably they'll say yes."
"Thank you, Rick. Most likely Captain Gloval has talked with Commander Hayes and has ordered her be at the concert, thank you for saying yes Rick."
"Well…you're doing it for the children so how can I say no?"
"That's the spirit Rick! All righty then, I will see you at the concert hall at 7:30 this evening. Thank you for saying yes Rick."
"You're welcome. Minmei, I really have to go now."
"Okay Rick. Oh…and Rick"
"Yes Minmei."
"Please stay safe."
Rick was genuinely touched by what she said. "I will Minmei, I promise. See you tonight. Good-bye."
"Good-bye Rick."
Rick then hung up the phone hoping that when he does talk to Minmei, he hopes that they will at least come to an understanding of each other. He then walked out and closed the door to his office. He then looked at his watch and began to run. He will barely make it to the operational and intelligence briefing on time.
SINGLE ENLISTED HOUSING SECTION OF THE SDF-1
WOMEN'S WING
1700 HOURS
Vanessa, Sammie, and Kim left the bridge several minutes ago walking back to their rooms.
"Boy I'll be glad to get out of my uniform.", Sammie said.
"I think my uniform will be glad to get off of me.", Vanessa joked.
"Hey, I just remembered something! Sammie's no longer on restriction! How 'bout we go somewhere and celebrate!", Kim said with a smile on her face.
"You're right Kim. Where do you want to go Sammie?"
"Oh, I don't care."
"How about we go to that hot new dance club down in the Market Garden District? I think it is called the Bamboo House Discotheque. I heard it's the happening place to be at." Vanessa said.
"That's fine with me.", Sammie said.
"If you say it's the hottest place to be at, I don't mind going there.", Kim added.
Unbeknownst to the three young women, three Zentraedi soldiers who were on board Breetai's ship and witnessed Lisa and Rick kissing, the same three soldiers who Lisa and Rick saw being shrunk down in the cloning room when they were ordered by Breetai to be shrunken down to human size so they can spy on the humans were hiding in the shadows. After being shrunken down to human size and secretly delivered onto the SDF-1, the three soldiers now spies were hiding in the shadows watching the three young women enter their rooms. Several minutes later, the three young women had changed their clothes and walked out their rooms. The three Zentraedi soldiers now acting as spies were amazed that the three came out of their rooms wearing different "uniforms".
The three spies then began wondering how they were able to change "uniforms" so fast, sneaked into their rooms and began to start looking through their clothes closet, it was then that it all started to make sense to them. The three spies dressed in nothing but cloth bags with holes cut out for their heads and arms and with a piece of rope tied around their waists for a belt, knowing that they need to change clothes themselves and figuring out that taking off their uniform and into another one is how the three women were able to change "uniforms", decided to change out of their cloth sack bags and into Vanessa, Sammie, and Kim's clothes.
After changing clothes, they then walked out of the Bridge Bunnies rooms and entered an elevator. When they walked out of the elevator, they were met with a sight they have never seen before; a city where people were walking around in different "uniforms", talking on cell phones, riding on bicycles or on skateboards. Male and female were talking to each other as they were walked side by side. Some were even holding hands. Some people were walking around with strange white buds sticking out of their ears. There were even people going around in strange chariots.
As the three spies were looking around amazed at what they were seeing, they noticed that people were laughing at them. At first, they could not understand why they were being laughed at until one of them looked around at the crowd and realized they were wearing women's clothing. The rotund spy then panicked and ran into the women's bathroom trying to find a place to hide only to be thrown out seconds later to the sound of women screaming and with bumps on his head and bruises on his body commenting on what a violent culture the Micronians have. They then ran off to hide someplace until they can find some male clothes to wear.
MACROSS CITY CONCERT HALL
1925 HOURS
Lisa clearly not wanting to be at the concert but was ordered to by Captain Gloval arrived at the concert hall, way ahead of Rick, Max, and Ben. When the three pilots arrived backstage, an employee of the concert hall escorted the four officers to their seats. Lisa clearly not wanting to be the center of attention was getting fidgety and started shaking her legs.
Rick sitting next her noticed her nervousness. "You're nervous Lisa?", he said out of concern.
Lisa nodded her head. "I'm always nervous Rick whenever I'm asked to do anything in front of a crowd. To tell you the truth, I would rather be stuck back on that Zentraedi ship than to be here."
"What is there to be nervous about ma'am? The only thing we will do is to stand up when Miss Minmei calls our names, and we wave to the crowd. Just relax and enjoy the moment commander. Besides, you may never have the chance to be in the spotlight again.", Ben said with his legs stretched out and his hands behind the back of his head.
"Ben, you can be relaxed in a dentist's chair for all we know.", Rick said looking over at Ben.
Lisa could not help but laugh at Rick's snarky remark despite the nervousness she was feeling.
"It's true Lisa. I could tell you stories about Ben when it came around to final exams time."
Rick's remark was cut off by the clapping of the audience when Minmei walked out on stage waving and blowing kisses to the audience. The four officers stood up and clapped along with the audience. She then walked to the microphone and took the microphone out of its stand and held it in her hand. The crowd then sat down and became quiet as a spotlight shone down on her.
"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's concert is a benefit concert for widows and children who have been orphaned when their parents who were RDF personnel were killed during this long war. Before I start singing, I would like to acknowledge four real heroes. A week ago, I told you about a friend of mine who along with three other officers were listed as Missing in Action when they were captured by the enemy after fighting with them in combat. I then told you that these four heroes somehow managed to escape their captors and to make it back home.
Tonight, I would like for them to be acknowledged for the heroism they have displayed in escaping their captors and to make it back home to us. They say they are not heroes, that all they are doing is doing their jobs. But to me they are more than just people doing their jobs, they are true heroes. So now, I would like for each of them to stand up when their name is called so you can see who they are, and you can show them your thanks by giving them a big round of applause."
An usher was standing off to the side with four bouquets of roses.
"First, Commander Lisa Hayes."
Lisa slowly stood up as a spotlight shone down her. She waved to the crowd as the audience along with Minmei started to clap. The usher gave her a bouquet of roses. She accepted them with a smile and a "thank you" to the usher. Quickly she sat down relieved it was all over.
"Standing next to her is my friend, Lieutenant Rick Hunter."
The spotlight then shifted to Rick as he also slowly stood up, waved his right hand slightly, and nodded to the crowd with a slight smile on his lips. He also accepted the bouquet of roses when the usher gave it to him. Rick then sat down.
"Next to him is First Lieutenant Maximillian Sterling."
Max equally as uncomfortable as Lisa being the center of attention stood up and waved to the crowd with a slight smile on his face. He also accepted the roses with a "thank you" and sat down.
"And finally, is First Lieutenant Benjamin Dixon."
Unlike Lisa, Rick, and Max, Ben clearly enjoying being in the spotlight stood up with a big smile on his face and started waving to the crowd with both of his arms up high as he was constantly turning himself around. When the usher gave Ben the bouquet of roses, Ben put the bouquet to his nose, took in deep sniff and said "Ah". After savoring the sweet aroma of the roses, he sat down.
Rick looked over at Ben, chuckled as he rolled his eyes and shook his head in amusement. 'Oh boy! What a ham!' Rick said to himself.
Minmei then nodded to the orchestra conductor to tell the orchestra to start playing. As Minmei started to sing, Rick leaned over to Lisa and had to yell near her ear.
"Lisa, we don't have to stay for the concert! You want to leave?"
Lisa nodded her head.
Rick then leaned over to Max and Ben. "Max, Ben, Lisa and I are leaving now! Are both of you staying around for the rest of the concert?"
Both Ben and Max nodded their heads.
"Okay, I'll see you both tomorrow morning. Enjoy the rest of the concert."
Lisa and Rick then stood up and started to walk. An usher stopped and asked them if they were leaving. They both said yes, and the usher escorted them to the back of the concert hall where a limousine was waiting to take them back to the base.
As she was singing, Minmei happened to glance over and spotted Rick leaving the concert with Lisa. Is she the "someone" Rick said he is seeing? I wonder if she is. I like to find out who this Commander Lisa Hayes is and if she is someone I have to look out for because no one is standing in the way between Rick and me.'
THE BAMBOO HOUSE DISCOTHEQUE
MACROSS' MARKET GARDEN DISTRICT
Even though the club was crowded with people, Sammie, Vanessa and Kim were bored; no guy was asking any of them to dance with them. All they have been doing for the past hour was sitting at the bar sipping their sweet cocktails.
"I thought you said this was the happening place to be at Vanessa!", Kim complained loudly over the din of the loud pulsating music.
"That's what I've heard Kim! Happening doesn't mean that every single guy in the club will be jumping out of their seats wanting to dance with us!", Vanessa said defending herself.
"I'm bored. I'm going back to my quarters.", Sammie said.
"Wait for me Sammie. I'm coming with you.", Kim said as she was grabbing her purse.
"Girls, just wait a minute! Do not leave yet! Look at what just walked through the door!", Vanessa said pointing her finger towards the door.
It was the three Zentraedi spies. They somehow managed to sneak into a laundry mat and steal some men's clothes that were being tumbled dried in several dryers. They then went to the concert thinking that would be a good place to start spying. Having never heard music before and not know what a concert is, they had no idea of what to do. They then started to get into the music with the audience. They were enjoying the concert until they were discovered that they have somehow sneaked into the concert without tickets and were thrown out. The three spies decided that the discotheque would be a good place to start doing some serious spying.
The three girls looked at each other with smiles on their faces. "Our dance dates!", they said together.
"I got the cute one with the spiked black hair.", Sammie said.
"The hunk with the purple hair is mine.", Kim said.
"I don't mind dancing with him.", Vanessa said about the rotund spy.
The three young ladies quickly ran up to the three alien spies.
"Hi, what are the three of you doing here?", Sammie asked.
The three Zentraedi spies recognized the three Micronian girls as the three young women they spied on when they first came on the ship and whom they stole clothes from. The three spies hoped that they would not notice later that they were missing some clothes and figure out it was them who stole their clothes.
"Oh…nothing.", the rotund spy named Bron said.
"Great! How 'bout we go dancing?"
"I…I…I…don't know how", the black spiked haired spy named Rico said hesitantly.
"Don't worry about that I'll teach you!", Sammie hurriedly said as she grabbed Rico's hand. Before he could react or object, Rico was being pulled onto the dance floor.
The two other spies huddled together.
"Do you suppose that this 'dancing' is some form of Micronian torture?", the rotund spy named Bron asked his partner Konda in a whisper.
"It does not matter Bron. We must do our duty and face our fate as brave Zentraedi soldiers."
With a nod of their heads, Bron and Konda stood straight up determined that if they were going to die, they will face their deaths as brave Zentraedi soldiers. With a smile, Kim and Vanessa lead their dance dates on the dance floor.
On the dance floor, the three spies had a difficult time trying to keep up with the three girls. All Rico could do was to move his legs up and down with his legs apart like he was riding a horse. Sammie looked at her dance partner in wide-eyed disbelief. "I have never seen a dance like that before."
The three spies could not believe the stamina and endurance the three young Micronian girls have. The three Zentraedi spies were literally wiped out, sweating, and breathing hard after just several dances but they were determined to keep up with the young girls. After for what seem to be hours, the girls finally decided they had enough dancing for the night. The three shrunken Zentraedi soldiers now spies relieved that their ordeal was finally over with escorted their dance dates outside. The sextet stopped on the sidewalk to say good night.
"You have the weirdest dance style I have ever seen in my life, but I love it.", Sammie said with a giggle and a smile as she was shaking her head still in disbelief at Rico's dancing. She then put her arms around Rico's neck and kissed him on the cheek.
"Let's do this again boys.", Vanessa said as she hugged Bron.
"I agree. We had a lot of fun with you. We hope we'll see you again.", Kim said as she hugged Konda then blew a kiss at him as she was walking away. The three girls then turned around to wave good-bye to the trio.
The three shrunken alien spies having never had any serious social interactions with women before waved back at them as they watched the three girls leave with wonderment in their eyes at what the three girls just did.
"You know what guys…I did too.", Konda said to his partners.
His friends and fellow spies smiled and nodded in agreement.
"C'mon guys, I'm tired. How 'bout we find a place to sleep for the night.", Rico said.
COMMANDER LISA HAYES' QUARTERS
Rick told Lisa she can have his bouquet of roses. Lisa took both bouquets to the kitchen sink. With a pair of sharp scissors that she took out of a kitchen cabinet drawer, Lisa cut the roses to size. She then opened a cabinet and took out a vase. She then arranged the roses in a nice arrangement and filled the vase with water and put the roses on her kitchen table. Rick looked at the arrangement and liked what he saw.
"That's a nice arrangement Lisa."
"Thank you."
Sitting on a couch in Lisa's quarters, Rick stared at Lisa with love in his eyes as he was running his fingers through Lisa's hair and twirling it on occasion. Lisa looked back at Rick with equal love in her eyes.
"Do you know Lisa; you have the most beautiful and sexiest hair I have ever seen?"
"Really? I do?"
"Umm-hmm, you do.", Rick said nodding his head.
"Rick, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure Lisa. What is it?", Rick asked as he was running his fingers through Lisa's hair.
"What happened last night…when we made love…do you regret us making love?"
Rick began to gently shake his head. "Not for one second Lisa. If I never make love to another woman again, making love to you last night was worth it all. Why did you ask that question Lisa? Are you having regrets?"
Lisa began to shake her head. "Of course not, Rick. It's just that I'm wondering…if you do because you haven't told me if you have gotten past your guilt over your girlfriend's death yet and I don't want to become someone you run to whenever you feel lonely."
"Well Lisa, you haven't told me yet if you have ever gotten over the death of your boyfriend.", Rick countered.
Lisa abruptly turned away from Rick. She then slowly got up from the couch and began to walk away from Rick as if she were contemplating what next to tell Rick. She then stopped several meters away from Rick, slowly turned around to look at Rick as she was wringing her hands.
"To tell you the truth Rick…even before you rescued me at Sara Base when the base blew up, I knew in my head that Karl was gone forever when I saw his deserted room. But even then…my heart just could not let go of him and his memory. Even when we were being held prisoners on board…that Zentraedi ship…when I finally told you about…Karl and his death…I was still holding on to his memory…hoping that somehow…it was not true…that he was not gone forever. But after we…and I know this will sound strange to you…but after we made love…I was finally free of Karl's memory! You let me know in your own special way that I was loved and loved for who I am! You set me free of Karl's ghost and you let me live again!" Lisa said with love in her voice as tears began to fall freely from her face.
Rick got up from the couch and ran towards Lisa and let her cry in his chest. Lisa then looked up at Rick as the tears were continually flowing freely and unashamedly down her cheeks.
"Oh, Rick I love you. I love you more than you will ever know. But I need to know if you still haven't gotten over the guilt of your girlfriend's death because I can't be the one"
Rick pressed his finger against Lisa's lips. He leaned down and kissed her ever so lightly on the lips. He then took in a deep breath and blew out of his nose. "I'm still working on it, Lisa. But that does not mean I do not love you and I have regrets making love to you last night. And I'm telling you the truth because it's coming from my heart.", Rick said quietly as he tapped his heart.
Lisa was thrilled he would say that and prove it by tapping his heart. "Oh, Rick I love you. I love you with all my heart.", Lisa said through her tears.
"And I love you Lisa.", Rick said as he leaned his head down as a signal to Lisa to kiss him. Lisa obliged by closing in on Rick at the same time. She closed her eyes and parted her lips and Rick met her lips with his.
ON BOARD THE SDF-1
THE NEXT DAY
Sammie was listening for any sign or signal from Earth. Suddenly, she heard something through her earpiece.
"SDF-1 this is RDF headquarters do you read me over?"
"Captain I have an incoming message from Washington, DC!"
"Put it up on the speakers so I can hear it."
"Aye-aye sir."
"RDF headquarters to SDF-1 do you read me over?"
"SDF-1 to RDF headquarters, we read you loud and clear over."
"SDF-1, due to the possibility of our security being breeched and our transmission being intercepted by the enemy, we cannot give you the information you have requested about our present security systems. Fortunately for us, the enemy forces seem to be more interested in the SDF-1, so consequently, we request that you keep the enemy at bay, and do not attempt to return to Earth. Repeat; do not attempt to return to Earth. That is all. RDF headquarters out."
The whole bridge crew was stunned to hear that. Claudia began having one of her famous short-tempered outbursts of anger.
'What the Hell are they talking about? We never requested any information about security systems! '"I cannot believe this! They expect us to stay out here in space like sitting ducks while they…they sit on their…oh excuse me sir, I was out of line when I spoke."
"That's alright Claudia; you weren't out of line."
"What are we going to do sir?", Lisa asked.
"We're going to go on ahead and punch through the enemy defenses and land on Earth. If HQ calls back and asks why we disobeyed a direct order, we will tell them that the last part of their transmission was garbled, and we could not hear what they said. Besides, they said 'we request'. They didn't say 'we order you'."
"I love your way of thinking sir.", Lisa said with a smile.
"Besides, we need to get these civilians off this ship. Civilians don't belong on a military vessel."
"We are approaching Earth at maximum speed captain."
"What is the enemy fleet doing Vanessa?"
"They are still surrounding us sir but maintaining a relative safe distance away from us, I would say they are about 50 kilometers away from us sir and matching us speed for speed."
"Hmm, it means that they don't want to fire on the ship for some reason."
"We are approaching Luna orbit sir."
"Keep monitoring the enemy closely Vanessa. Who do we have on the catapults Lisa?"
"We have Vermillion and Ghost squadron sir." 'Vermillion…oh no, that means Rick is in the line of fire.'
"We have a squadron of approximately 10 enemy cruisers approaching us at a high rate of speed captain. Vanessa reported in a urgent tone of voice.
"Alright, Lisa alert Vermillion and Ghost squadron and have them launched immediately!"
"Yes sir."
"VERMILLION AND GHOST SQUADRONS! SCRAMBLE! SCRAMBLE! SCRAMBLE! REPORT TO THE FLIGHT DECK AND PREPARE FOR IMMEDIATE LAUNCH! WE ARE UNDER ENEMY ATTACK!" 'Oh Rick, please be careful."
In Vermillion Squadron's ready room, Rick and his fellow pilots jumped out of their chairs.
"ALRIGHT GUYS! YOU HEARD HER! LET'S MOVE IT! DOUBLE TIME!" Rick yelled.
Rick, Ben, Max and the other pilots of Vermillion and Ghost squadrons were in their veritechs within a matter of minutes and were being launched off the catapults like bees leaving their hive.
"Begin modular transformation and prepare the pinpoint barrier system! We are going to break through their defenses!"
"The enemy is in range of our guns and modular transformation is complete sir!"
"FIRE!"
Lisa pressed a button firing the main gun. Dozens of ships disintegrated in matter of seconds, yet it did not stop them.
"More enemy ships are closing in on us sir. We are being outnumbered."
"Now what do I do?' "Keep firing the main gun!"
'It's hopeless.', Lisa said but mostly to herself.
"Lisa! Did you hear what the captain ordered?", Claudia asked.
"Yes, I did.", Lisa said with a nod of her head.
The SDF-1's main gun kept firing as more enemy ships were being destroyed yet more of the enemy was closing in on the SDF-1.
"Our starboard engine is now out.", Sammie reported.
"The enemy is sending in even more reinforcement's sir! We are going to be overrun in a matter of seconds! Wait a minute! Something strange is going on here sir!"
"What is it Vanessa."
"Some of the enemy ships are using a tractor beam to pull back their own ships! We're free and clear sir!"
"Then let us go on! All ahead full!"
"All ahead full aye-aye sir."
"Sir the starboard engine has exploded! Our landing will be a little bit uncontrolled."
"It's going to be a bumpy landing. Let us hope we land on soft water.", Gloval said without humor in his voice.
"We'll have reentry burn in 10 seconds sir."
"Steady as she goes Lisa."
"Yes sir."
The heat of the ship rubbing against the upper reaches of lower space began to engulf the spaceship in a brilliant fiery glow of red and orange.
"Have all personnel secure for landing."
"Yes sir."
"We have past the stratosphere and now approaching the upper atmosphere captain."
"We should make contact with Earth within minutes sir, but it will be a bit uncontrolled."
The gigantic spaceship contacted the water and went under with steam coming out from where the hot engines contacted the water with a huge hissing sound. Seconds later, the giant alien ship bobbed up from the water like a diver who had just came up from under water and stayed.
"We made it sir. We made it back home.", Lisa said as she turned to Gloval with tears in her eyes.
"What's our current position Lisa?"
"Our coordinates are: Latitude: N 29° 22' 55.8303" Longitude: E 172° 47' 34.6875", which puts us in the North Pacific Ocean somewhere between Hawaii and the Northern Mariana Islands sir."
"And the time and date that we've splashed down?"
"Today's date is Monday, 15 October 2012. Coordinated Universal Time is 0045 Zulu which would make local time 1045 hours sir."
"Very good, open up all hatches and doors to let the fresh air and sunshine in. Tell damage control to make immediate assessments and start making repairs right away."
"Yes sir."
As the hatches and doors began to open, military personnel and civilians alike began to peek outside and notice something they have not seen and felt in over two years, the sun, the water, blue skies, and the wind of Earth. People began to pour out onto the flight deck, yelling, screaming, and jumping for joy while others fell to their knees and started to cry.
Kim's voice came over the PA system. "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE TOUCHED DOWN IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN. TODAY'S DATE IS OCTOBER 15, 2012, LOCAL TIME IS 10:45AM. THE SUN IS SHINING, A FRESH GENTLE OCEAN BREEZE IS BLOWING THROUGH AND THE SEAS ARE CALM. ON THE BEHALF OF CAPTAIN HENRY J. GLOVAL, THE CREW AND PERSONNEL OF THE SDF-1 WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITIZENS OF MACROSS FOR YOUR COOPERATION, PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING DURING THIS LONG, DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS VOYAGE BACK HOME. WE HAVE LOST SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY, BUT WE ARE FINALLY HOME. IT'S GOOD TO BE HOME."
Upon the bridge, Gloval was stoic but a tear began to well up in the corner of his eye. "Lisa you have control of the bridge. I'm going to my office to relax for a while."
"Yes sir."
Gloval walked back to his office and closed the door. He cannot believe it. He led his crew, the pilots and service people under his command not to mention 70,000 displaced civilians back home to Earth from the other side of the solar system. All the while fighting an alien race for reasons no one seems to know for sure. But so many people, good people died along the way. Never to feel the warm ocean breeze, smell the salty ocean air or see the blue ocean and the blue skies dotted with white clouds ever again, and for what and why? He cannot understand why they were fighting this war. That question was weighing heavily on his mind as he lay down on his office couch to catch a few hours of sleep.
When Gloval left the bridge, the five women encircled each other and started to hug each other as they all began to cry, finally they are home. Just then Lisa remembered that Rick and his fellow pilots were still in space not knowing the ship made it to Earth. Lisa went to her workstation and punched in the coordinates of the ship and pressed the 'UPLOAD" button to send the ship's coordinates to the veritechs.
Meanwhile, back in space, Rick, Max, Ben, and the other pilots were wondering what had just happened. At one moment they were engaging the enemy the next, they were all alone. It was if the enemy just disappeared.
Ben's face came over the video radio. His face was obscured by his flight helmet, but Rick could tell he had an excited look on his face. "Sir! I have just been informed that the SDF-1 made it back to Earth! They have just uploaded their coordinates to our navigational computer!"
Rick looked at his computer. "I've just received it Ben! Alright Vermillion Squadron, let us raise our heat shields because we are heading home for Earth!"
Ben, Max, and the rest of Vermillion Squadron's pilots let out a yell for joy. They and Ghost squadron did a quick turn and pointed their noses of their veritechs towards Earth. As they reached the outer reaches of Earth, they turned their veritechs up at an angle so that the bottom of their veritechs can take the heat of the upper atmosphere and the reentry burn. Minutes later, they could make out the blue skies and calm blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. A tear came to Rick's eye. He then thought of an idea.
"Control tower this is Vermillion Leader, request permission for a fly-by to celebrate our return home over."
Lisa' voice came over the radio. "Permission granted Vermillion Leader."
"Alright guys, you heard her. We can do a fly-by but let us not do it at full throttle. We want to make some noise but not too much."
"Roger."
As the veritechs of Vermillion and Ghost squadrons did their fly-by, civilian and military personnel alike began to wave at the veritechs. After they landed, Ben began to dance and do somersaults, cartwheels, and back flips as he whooped and yelled for joy.
"I never knew Ben was so nimble and I knew him my whole life. He could make a great acrobat, can he Rick.", Max asked.
"Yeah but…can you really blame him Max? I mean…just look at that blue sky and tell me what we're seeing is not real?", Rick said softly as he was looking at the azure blue sky.
Later that evening, Rick managed to call Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Rebecca in Windham, New York. Rick had difficulty getting through on the phone lines because all the phone lines were jammed because everyone on the ship wanted to call relatives and friends to tell them they are alive and back home on Earth. The phone rang for three times before it was answered.
"Hello." It was Aunt Rebecca.
"Hello…Aunt Rebecca…it's Rick."
"Rick is it…is it…is it really you?
"It is really me Aunt Rebecca. It took some time…but I'm home along with Roy.", Rick said with tears coming in his eyes.
"Oh Rick, you don't know how much we have been worried about you and Roy. When your ship disappeared, and the RDF came to our door and said that the both of you are reported MIA and presumed dead…we have thought the worse have happened to you and Roy!"
"I know Aunt Rebecca…but we're home and doing fine. How are you and Uncle Jon doing?"
CAPTAIN GLOVAL'S OFFICE
THE NEXT EVENING
Gloval was in his office finishing up taping his report to RDF headquarters. He spent the whole day dictating his report. From there, his taped report will be transcribed and be sent to the United Nations where the General Counsel will read and digest his report. It will then be sent to the United Earth Government and Counsel where they will also read and consider the recommendations in his report. It was late evening, and the sun was setting over the Western horizon when Lisa came in with a cup of coffee for him and another one for herself.
"Here's a fresh cup of hot coffee for you sir. Don't worry sir, its decaf."
"Oh, thank you Lisa."
As Gloval and Lisa looked out at the view of the setting sun in his office window, Lisa looked at out the view with a tear in her eye.
"That is such a beautiful view. Did you ever think we would ever see a sight like that ever again sir?", Lisa asked.
"Hmm, Lisa…I have been ordered earlier today to meet with your father and the other brass of the RDF at Alaska Base and I need you to be with me."
"Alaska Base sir?"
"Yes. During the Cold War, the United States Government built an underground complex near the Arctic Circle at what used to be the DEW line. It will be there when I will ask them if the civilians can be evacuated from the SDF-1 and to report what has happened during our last 2 years in space. Frankly, I am not sure they will believe what I will tell them and that it why I need you to be with me."
"But why Alaska Base sir, why did they move to there?"
"I have no idea Lisa. But what I do know is that after we touched down, many of the RDF inexplicably moved to there. Many of the UN and UEG split up and moved to Cheyenne Mountain to the former headquarters of NORAD in Colorado, the Catoctin Mountains in Pennsylvania where Site R used to be and to Martinsburg, West Virginia."
"That is where the United States Government used to have an underground bunker in a hotel during the Cold War."
"That's right. Somehow or another, they wanted us to stay in space for some other reason than what they told us, and I do not know what it is. Far as I know, I never asked for any information about our security systems. I think they know more about what is happening here than what they are letting on and they are not willing to tell us for one reason or another. However, if I cannot get a straightforward answer from your father and the rest of the Joint Staff about why they wanted us to stay out in space, the least I'm going to do is to try to convince them to let the civilians off the ship."
"When are you leaving for Alaska Base sir?"
"It will be tomorrow morning at the earliest."
"I will be there waiting for you, sir."
"Just make sure you bring some warm clothes with you Lisa."
"Yes sir."
COMMANDER LISA HAYES' QUARTERS
LATER THE SAME EVENING
Rick and Lisa were sitting on her couch. Rick looked at Lisa with love in his eyes as he was running his fingers through Lisa's long auburn hair.
"You like running your fingers through my hair, do you?"
"Umm-hmm, like I said before you have the most beautiful and sexiest hair I have ever seen."
"Well…you know Rick…flattery will get you everywhere with me.", Lisa said as she leaned into Rick with a loving leer on her face.
"Well…I sure hope it does.", Rick said as he began kissing Lisa's neck.
"Rick, I have something to tell you.", Lisa said trying not to giggle as Rick was beginning to nibble her neck like he was Dracula.
"Rick, I'm being serious. Now stop trying to give me a hickey."
"Okay Lisa. What is it?"
"Rick…I don't know how to say this to you any easily…so…I'll just tell it to you straight. Captain Gloval is going to meet with my father and the rest of the RDF brass at Alaska Base tomorrow."
"Okay, but what does it have to do with you?"
"I'm going with him."
"Why…I don't understand."
"We're going to try to convince the UN and the UEG to at least let the civilians evacuate the SDF-1 and to work with the RDF to come up with a plan to deal with pending enemy invasion."
"When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"How long will you be gone?"
"Hopefully if things go smoothly, we will just fly to Alaska, meet and immediately fly back. So hopefully it will only be a day to a day and a half. Most likely it will be two days at the most. However, if things get testy…and it most probably will be knowing my father…it will be longer. How much longer, I don't know."
Rick then grabbed a hold of Lisa's hands and put it in his. "Lisa…just promise me you will come back."
"I always come back to you Rick. You know that. Why did you say that?"
"Look Lisa, it's not a secret on the ship that your father didn't want you to be on the SDF-1 and I'm afraid he will try to use what happened to you to try to get you off the SDF-1."
Lisa smiled then kissed Rick on the lips. "Rick, don't worry. No matter how much my father will try, he cannot make me be reassigned off the ship. I am my own person. My father maybe the head of the RDF but even he must follow the rules on nepotism. I love you Rick and nothing and no one, not even my father can keep me from coming back to you."
"Lisa…just promise you will come back to me please."
"I will come back to you Rick don't worry. I promise."
"I love you Lisa."
"Please Rick, don't act like it will be the last time you will ever see me. I will come back to you; I promise I will."
Rick then slowly began to nod his head. "Okay Lisa, I believe you. I love you."
"I love you too Rick."
They spent the rest of the evening in each other's arms kissing and making out. Lisa told Rick she had to go to bed early because she and Captain Gloval will be taking off for Alaska in the early morning. Rick was about to leave for his quarters, but Lisa stopped him. Lisa then led Rick by the hand to her bedroom. They took off all their clothes and went under the covers. Rick and Lisa continued to kiss and make out until Lisa started yawning and fell asleep in Rick's arms with a smile on her lips. Rick then kissed her forehead and heard her sigh when he kissed her. Soon Rick fell asleep himself.
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTES
MILITARY ACRONYMS
DEW – Distant Early Warning Line. A system of radar stations set up in the Artic regions of Canada and Alaska above the Artic Circle to detect incoming Soviet bombers and missiles during the Cold War. It was active from 1957 to 1993.
NORAD – North American Air Defense Command. Joint United States/Canada military command operated by the United States Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force that observes and protects U.S. and Canadian airspace from terrorists, enemy bombers and planes, unknown aircraft, and nuclear missile strikes.
PACOM – Pacific Command. Unified U.S. military combatant command whose area of responsibility is the whole Pacific Ocean, Asia, and the Indo-China area of Asia.