TWO OF A KIND
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
KILLER OF A DATE
'Wait…what? Did she said what I think she said?'
Lisa's jaw dropped when she heard the news. She could barely respond because the weight of what the doctor said hit her like the analogy of the preverbal thousand tons of bricks, but she finally manages to speak after stuttering and sputtering for a few seconds.
"P…p…p…pregnant?"
"Just wait for a moment commander okay because we're getting ahead of ourselves here. Now, I am not one hundred percent certain that you are pregnant because I am not an OB/GYN, and we need to run more tests on you such as an ultrasound to be sure. But I am fairly certain that you are indeed pregnant."
Lisa buried her head in her hands. "Oh no! Now what am I going to do?"
The doctor noticed the sudden distress Lisa is in. "I take it this wasn't a planned pregnancy; am I correct commander?"
Lisa nodded her head yes. "I do have a boyfriend but he's back on the SDF-1. He is the one I became pregnant with. We have been dating for I would say over a year, but we did not had sex for a while until recently because he was in the hospital after almost dying over Pacific Ocean during a battle with the Zentraedi. We always talked about starting a family, but we were planning on holding it off until we are married."
"Did you and he ever use any kind of protection?"
Lisa shook her head. "When I first had sex with my boyfriend, I was scared that I became pregnant, but after a while I always thought I knew when my time of the month is so I always made sure not to have sex with my boyfriend until I knew my time of when I would be ovulating would be past."
"Are you and your boyfriend Catholic?"
"No. I did go to an all-girl Catholic school when I was teenager, but my family were never the church going kind and far as I know, my boyfriend isn't either."
"I hate to say this to you, but you should have used birth control since the rhythm method is the least effective method of birth control. I hope I am not intruding on you by asking this question, but have you decided on what you are going to do next? Abortion is always an option since the fetus is still in its early stages of development."
Lisa looked at the doctor in a state of astounded shock. "Of course not! I am going to keep the baby! How dare you even think about suggesting that to me! To abort my baby!"
Doctor Spenser immediately put up her hands in a defensive posture. "Calm down commander it was only a suggestion. I'm just telling you of some of the options you have."
"Well, I would appreciate it if you would keep your suggestions to yourself doctor!"
"My apologies commander. I know this news has come as a shock to you."
"Apology accepted doctor."
"Thank you. I am going to leave you for a moment to consult with an OB/GYN who will be your doctor from here on out. It should only be a couple of minutes commander."
"Thank you, doctor."
Doctor Spenser then left her office leaving Lisa alone with her thoughts. As Lisa was agonizing about what her next move should be, she began to feel that the room was beginning to spin. It was spinning so fast that she felt like she was getting vertigo and a severe headache. It was only after a short moment she realized that it was only her imagination because so many thoughts were swirling through her mind all at once. But still, the shock of her being pregnant and Rick not being there with her was so great that she wanted to break down and cry.
'Oh my God! I am pregnant! How am I going to tell Captain Gloval and Claudia? Most of all, how am I going to tell Rick? Should I tell Father? Oh God, what am I going to do? I am grounded here on Earth and Rick's not here! Oh, Rick how I wish you were here with me!'
Lisa waited in the doctor's office for fifteen minutes until an Asian woman in a white overcoat came in. The nameplate on her uniform read; "Commander Sarah Choi." The doctor extended her hand to Lisa.
"Commander Hayes, I'm Doctor Choi. I'll be your doctor."
"Hello doctor.", Lisa said as she took Doctor Choi's hand and shook it.
"Alright, I've read your file and it looks like you're in the very early stages of your pregnancy, but I want to do an ultrasound on you just to be sure that the diagnosis is positive."
"How long do I have to stay here on Earth doctor?"
"I want you to stay here until the beginning or the middle of your second trimester. Right now, because the fetus is in the early stages of development, the danger of you miscarrying is very great and if you try to go back to the SDF-1 and you are attacked on your way to the ship, the chances of you miscarrying the baby is all but certain, so I'm glad that Dr. Spenser prevented you from going."
Lisa groaned. "Oh, this is just great."
"Now, let us not get ahead of ourselves commander. We may have misdiagnosed the results of your tests. It maybe something else but I have ordered an ultrasound just to be sure. The machine should be here at any time."
Just as soon as Doctor Choi finished her sentence, there was a knock on the door. The doctor opened the door and outside in the hallway was an enlisted medical tech with the ultrasound machine. Doctor Choi thanked the tech and then closed the door. She then told Lisa to lie on the examining bed on her back and to raise her hospital gown above her stomach. The doctor then turned on the machine and put a gel on Lisa's stomach. She then placed the hand-held scanner on Lisa's stomach and started moved the scanner around. It only took the doctor seconds before she found Lisa's uterus. Even though it was extremely hard to see, Doctor Choi told Lisa she was indeed pregnant.
After wiping the gel off Lisa's stomach with a towel. She then told Lisa that she was finished with her for now and to get dressed. After dressing, the doctor asked Lisa if she smoked or heavily drank alcohol. Lisa shook her head no to both questions. The doctor nodded her head and said "good". She then asked Lisa about what she usually eats, and Lisa told her that she usually eats healthy foods, and she exercises regularly. The doctor told Lisa to keep exercising but she is going to make a slight modification to her diet. She then told Lisa to see her again next week for her first follow-up. She then extended her hand and Lisa shook it.
"You can get dressed now and leave anytime you would like commander."
"Thank you, doctor."
After the doctor closed the door. Lisa was alone and with her thoughts. She buried her head in her hands and started to cry wishing that Rick were there with her. She then started going over what she should do. She knows that she will have to ask for a temporary transfer to Alaska Base but how to tell everyone was the burning question. She knew that Claudia and Captain Gloval would eventually have to be told but should she tell her father that she is pregnant and knowing that she will have to work near him and how is he going to react to the news that she is pregnant. What about Rick? Should he be told? She had no doubt that Rick would eventually have to be told but the question was when and how to do it. She does not want to do it by e-mail because e-mails are too impersonal. All these questions and thoughts were going through her mind as she walked out of the doctor's office and into the waiting room. Her driver was there standing and waiting for her.
"Are you ready to go ma'am?"
"Yes, but I'm not going to the air station corporal."
"You're not ma'am?"
Lisa started shaking her head. "No, I'm not. The doctor found out that I have…uh…a medical condition that is preventing me from going into space and back to the SDF-1, so I have to ask for a temporary transfer to Alaska Base for at least 5 months."
"Well, I can take you to the PSD here on base. They can help you get the ball rolling with the paperwork and everything for your TAD."
"Oh, that's okay corporal. You do not have to do that. You can go back to your duty section. I'll go to the rental car place so I can rent a car to get around here on my own."
"Oh, you don't have to do that ma'am. I was told that I was to be your driver for as long as you are here. Besides, it is getting really cold out there and the snow is beginning to pile up. I'm now used to driving in the snow."
Lisa could not help but smile and nod at the same time. 'Yes, that's father. I'll have to give him this much, at least he keeps his word and tries not to hold a grudge.' "You remind me of three enlisted girls I work with back on the ship. They always went out of their way to help me in any way they can."
"It's no problem ma'am. And you can call me Shannon."
"Why thank you Shannon. Not many enlisted people would even allow an officer to address them by their first name."
"Think nothing of it, ma'am. You will be here for a while so we might as well get to know each other. Besides, I was never comfortable with being called Corporal Dawson. I know it's military regulations and protocol, but I always felt that for people to become friends it's better to start off by calling them by their first name."
Lisa was beginning to like Shannon. She reminds Lisa of Sammie, Vanessa, and Kim because she behaves and have the same mentality as the three of them.
"You do have a good point there Shannon. I like the way the way you think." Lisa said with a smile as they were walking out of the clinic.
SDF-1
Moon Orbit
Rick looked at his watch as he was walking towards his BOQ room. 'Oh good. I have just enough time to shower, shave, brush my teeth and put on my uniform. Today's Roy's first day back on duty.'
After he entered his room and turned on the living room lights, Rick decided he had enough time to check his email, so he walked over to his desk and turned on his computer. 'Maybe Lisa sent me an email.' Rick said to himself.
After his computer powered up, Rick pointed the mouse arrow on the email icon and waited for the email program to open. As soon as the email program opened Rick noticed Lisa's email in his inbox. He clicked on the unread email and immediately began to read Lisa's email after it opened. As he was reading Lisa's email Rick's still slightly simmering anger slowly began to soften and a smile came to his face. He now began to understand why Lisa had to be so secretive and not tell him of her having to go back to Earth on Gloval's orders. He knew that Lisa is not the kind of person who can easily be bossed around by anyone even if that anyone was her father so there was no way Lisa's father can keep her on Earth. At first, he decided not to reply to Lisa's email because he knew that Lisa would be busy at Alaska Base talking to her father and the UEG and she will soon be back on the SDF-1, but he then changed his mind and decided to type a quick reply to Lisa.
"Dear Lisa.
After I arrived back onboard the SDF-1, Captain Gloval, Roy, and Claudia explained to me why you could not tell me why you have ordered to Earth. I was only angry at you because I know that your father does not want you to remain onboard the SDF-1 and I was afraid that I would never see you again or at least for an awfully long time. I am sorry for being such knucklehead and treating you so badly when we last talked. I cannot wait until you are back onboard the SDF-1 and we pick up from where we left off. I must get ready for the duty day so I will see you either later today or tomorrow when you are back onboard.
Love,
Rick"
Rick then pressed the send button and after being notified that the email was sent, he powered off his computer. He then got up from his desk and walked to the bathroom.
SDF-1 CARRIER AIR WING SECTION
CONFERENCE ROOM
SQUADRON COMMANDER'S DAILY OPERATIONAL AND INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING
ONE HOUR LATER
As he was walking into the briefing room, Rick noticed many of the squadron commander's eyes glaring at him and Rick could not understand why. Just as soon as Rick took his seat someone yelled from the back, "STAND AT ATTENTION!"
Rick immediately stood up and snapped to the position of attention. Rick using his peripheral vision, noticed Roy began walking to the front of the room and towards the dais. Rick could not help but give a slight smile to himself. Roy stopped at the dais then gave a slight cough.
"Take your seats."
After everyone had taken their seats, Roy began to slowly and deliberately began to speak from notes he had written before.
"You will have to excuse me, but this is my first briefing to you in quite a while and to tell you the truth I'm kind of nervous so it's going to take me a while to give you this briefing on top of recovering from my injury."
"That's okay commander. Take all the time that you need sir!", someone said from the back of the room.
Roy could not help but smile at the reassuring comment.
"Thank you, Wizard. But this briefing should be short because there is really not much to tell you."
After giving his briefing to the squadron commanders, Roy folded the sheet of paper that was in his hand in half and spoke from his heart.
"I would just like to thank all of you for your prayers, thoughts, and good wishes after my injury and my recovery. Just knowing that you guys were in my corner, visiting me while I was in the hospital and cheering me up when I was down and did not think I could go through anymore therapy…you do not know how much it has helped me mentally…and I am forever grateful and in debt for what you guys did…so, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for what you did." Roy said trying to choke back tears.
"Your welcome sir.", Rick said softly.
"Okay, you're dismissed."
Every squadron commander then went up and shook Roy's hand and slapping him in the back. As they were passing Rick, some of them glared at him again or completely ignoring him.
After everyone left it was only Rick and Roy in the briefing room. Rick went up to Roy and wrapped his arms around Roy.
"It's good having you back Roy."
"It's good to be back Rick."
"Why is everyone giving me the cold shoulder Roy?", Rick asked after breaking off their embrace.
"Umm…I think you should come with me to my office Rick."
"Why?"
"I have something to show you that will explain everything."
"Uh…okay Roy."
When Roy and Rick entered Roy's office, Roy picked up a newspaper from his desk and showed it to Rick. It was a copy of the Macross Post-Ledger and on the front page was a page sized color picture of Rick and Minmei entering the Vapors night club. When Rick saw the picture, he let out a big groan.
"Oh no!"
"I guess many of the pilots and commanders saw the newspaper picture also and they are either jealous of you being with Minmei or they're angry at you knowing that you and Lisa are dating, and they think you are cheating on her."
'If they only knew and thank God they don't.', Rick said to himself.
"Rick, how did you and Minmei get into Vapors? Minmei is a minor."
"Yeah, I know Minmei is a minor. She knows the owner of the club and several of the bouncers. I guess she uses her cache as a celebrity to get into Vapors. She says she only goes there to dance, relax and have a good time. She says she doesn't drink and from what I saw at the club, she doesn't."
"If you do not mind me asking, how did you and Minmei ended up at Vapors? You don't have to answer me if you don't want to.", Roy asked sitting on the edge of his desk.
"No, I don't mind Roy. When I escorted the three Zentraedi ex-spies to meet Minmei at the recording studio and when we were about to leave, Minmei pulled me aside and asked me why I was feeling down. I told Minmei about Lisa having to leave the SDF-1 to go to Earth to talk to her father and the UEG. It was then when she invited me to dinner."
"Where did the two of you went to dinner?"
"Ruth and Chris' Steak House."
Roy could not help but whistle when Rick mentioned the place.
"I know Roy. You should see the prices of just the appetizers. Anyway, after dinner I wanted to go home but Minmei wanted to go dancing. I didn't want to but Minmei kind of strong-armed me into going."
"Did anything happened afterward between the two of you because some of the pilots said they saw you getting out of a limousine earlier this morning."
'Minmei did talked me into staying the night with her but nothing happened between the two of us. I'm telling you the truth."
"Okay Rick, I believe you. I better let you go so you can get to your squadron."
"Thanks Roy."
ALASKA BASE
Lisa spent several hours at the personnel service detachment getting her transfer orders from the SDF-1 to Alaska Base to be cut. The yeoman who was detailed to fill out her orders told Lisa that all was needed now was Captain Gloval's signature. Lisa looked at her watch.
"Hmm, Captain Gloval, Claudia and the rest of the crew should still be on duty even though it's almost quitting time. I need to tell Captain Gloval and Claudia directly about my situation.'
"Petty officer, can you wait until tomorrow to fax the paperwork to the SDF-1? Just long enough so I can notify my commanding officer Captain Gloval?"
"Yes ma'am. I can do that."
"Do you have or know of a secure computer terminal that it's in a private office?"
"There's one in the detachment commander's office and she's gone for the day. But I know where the key is. I can get the key and open the office for you."
"Would you please? It will be much appreciated."
"Yes, I will ma'am."
"Thank you, petty officer."
"Your welcome ma'am. Just remember to shut off the computer when you're done."
"I will."
The petty officer got up from her desk to get the office key. Lisa followed the petty officer and entered the office and turned on the light when the petty officer opened the door. After the petty officer closed the door, Lisa went to the desk, sat down, and turned on the computer and waited for the computer to warm up. When the computer finished booting up, Lisa looked for the video chat program icon on the desktop, then clicked on it. When the program came up on the screen, Lisa began typing in the protocol numbers.
BRIDGE OF THE SDF-1
"Captain Gloval, I have an incoming call for you from Commander Hayes. She's still at Alaska Base and she says it's extremely important that she talks to you and it's also personal."
"I'll take it in my office Sammie."
"Yes sir."
"Do you think Lisa saw that newspaper picture of Commander Hunter going into Vapors with Miss Minmei?", Sammie asked in a low whisper after Gloval left the bridge.
"I don't think so but if she did, she should let him have it with both barrels." Vanessa said as she was shaking her head.
"I agree.", Sammie replied.
"Girls what have I told you?! Knock it off with the gossiping! You should know better by now!", Claudia said angrily.
"But ma'am, we weren't gossiping. We're only talking about the picture of Commander Hunter and"
"Sammie, I don't care if the three of you were talking about who's going to be the next Miss Macross! What Commander Hunter was doing with Miss Minmei is none of your business! Now get back to work!"
"Yes ma'am.", the three enlisted girls said meekly.
Gloval left the bridge to walk to his office. When he reached his office, Gloval walked to his desk, sat down and wiggled the computer mouse. He hated turning his computer off and on all the time, so he always has the computer in sleep mode whenever he was not using it which was most of the time because he was not much of a computer or techno nerd. When the computer screen came on, Lisa was on the screen.
"Ah Lisa. How are you?"
"Hello sir. I'm doing well for the most part."
"Good, good. I take it things didn't went so well with your father and the UEG?"
"No sir it didn't. They flatly refused to listen to what you have suggested."
"Well, I knew it was going to happen, but I had to give it a try."
"I know sir. You tried your best sir."
"I know. Why are you still at Alaska Base? I thought you would be home by now."
"Well sir, things for me have gone a little bit out of kilter."
"Come again Lisa. I don't what you've meant by out of kilter."
"Sir…I don't know how to say this to you any easier…but…I have been ordered to stay on Earth."
"WHAT? It's your father right Lisa?"
"No sir, it's not my father…the order came from a doctor."
"A doctor! Why?"
"Uh…Captain Gloval…I'm pregnant."
Gloval suddenly sat up ramrod straight in his chair.
"WHAT? You're pregnant?"
"Yes sir. I'm pregnant.", Lisa said sheepishly bowing her head.
Gloval was stuttering and stammering trying to digest the shocking news he has just heard.
"I have spent most of the day at the personnel service detachment here at Alaska Base getting my transfer orders cut after spending several hours at one of the base clinics. As a matter of fact, I am talking to you right now from the detachment commander's office. One of the enlisted personnel specialists opened the door to the office for me so I can use the computer and tell you myself. You should be getting the transfer order request early tomorrow."
Gloval recovered enough from the shock of Lisa's news to ask her a question.
"Have you told Rick yet, Lisa?"
"No sir I haven't. You're the first one to know of this."
"Lisa! You should have told Rick first! I assume that Rick's the father am I correct?"
"Yes sir…he is."
"Then you should have told Rick first not me!"
"Your right sir. I thought that I should told you first so you wouldn't be surprised when you get the transfer order request."
"Lisa! I thank you for your consideration for me, but you should have told Rick first not me! As the father he has a right to know!"
"Your right sir. I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize Lisa. I understand why you did what you did."
"Thank you, sir."
"So where will you be working at?"
"The tactical operations center. I will be in the same building as my father but at least I won't be on the same floor because the TOC is in the basement."
"What will be your job assignment?"
"I will be the assistant officer in charge."
"I see. Okay, I will sign your transfer request when I receive it. Where are you staying?"
"I have signed out the base lodge this morning, but they allowed me to check back in and stay there until there is space for me at the BOQ here on base which will take a couple of days so the BOQ is where I'll be staying for here on out until my OB/GYN allows me to fly back to the SDF-1."
"Okay. Is there anything else I can do for you besides signing your transfer request?"
"Yes sir. Can you have a cargo shuttle bring me the rest of my uniforms, clothes and personal belongings to me after I know exactly where I will be living?"
"Yes, I can do that for you Lisa. I'll get on it as soon as I can, most likely tomorrow."
"Thank you, sir."
"Okay, I'll let you go so you can tell Rick."
"Thank you, sir.", Lisa said before breaking off the connection.
Gloval leaned back in his chair and blew out a big sigh. 'This is simply great. This is just what I don't want or need.'
ALASKA BASE
After breaking the connection, Lisa broke down and cried. 'You're right Captain Gloval, I should have told Rick first. Oh Rick, how I wish you are here with me. I'm so lost and alone without you!'
Lisa then heard a gentle knocking on the door. It was the petty officer who was handling Lisa's paperwork.
"Ma'am, can I come in?"
"Yes, petty officer, you can come in.", Lisa said wiping her tears with her hand.
"I'm sorry to bother you, ma'am but it's 1630 hours and I'm about to leave for the day. I'm afraid I will have to kick you out."
"It's alright petty officer, I understand. I'm finished in here anyway."
Lisa exited out of the PSD office to find her driver waiting for her in the hallway. As soon as she saw Lisa, Shannon immediately stood up.
"Where do you want to go next ma'am?"
"Base exchange Shannon. I need to buy some extra clothes and uniforms."
"Yes ma'am."
BASE LODGE
After buying extra uniforms, civilian clothes and undergarments, Lisa got dinner at a fast-food restaurant after some gentle persuasion from Shannon. She then drove Lisa to the base lodge. After re-checking in and receiving her room card, Lisa took the elevator and walked to her room. After opening the door, turning on the room light, and checking around the room to see if everything in the room was fine with her, she went over to a bed and sat down. So many emotions were swirling through her head. She knew that Rick must be told about her pregnancy and him being the father, but she did not know what to say to him, when to say it and how to say it. So, instead of calling Rick and telling him the news, she decided to tell Claudia. She looked and watch.
'Hmm, it's 2100 hours. Claudia and the crew should be off duty by now and she usually does not go to bed until around midnight, so it should be okay to call her.'
Lisa got up from her bed and retrieved her laptop from a case, sat down at a desk, laid the laptop on top of the desk, connected, and plugged the power cord to the computer and wall outlet, and turned the power on. After waiting for her laptop to warm up and seeing the desktop, she clicked on the icon for her video chat program. When the program came up Lisa clicked on Claudia's picture.
SDF-1
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER CLAUDIA GRANT'S QUARTERS
Claudia was sitting on the couch with Roy. She was resting her head on the side of Roy's chest as Roy's arm was draped around Claudia's shoulder. They were enjoying being alone together for the first time since Roy almost being killed by a Zentraedi battle pod when the laptop in her bedroom began ringing. Claudia got annoyed.
"Now who would be calling at this time of night?", Claudia asked at she got up from the couch. She then leaned down to kiss Roy. "I'll be back in few minutes, Roy."
"Okay Claudia."
Claudia walked into her bedroom, closed the door, and walked to her desk. After opening her laptop, Claudia waited for the laptop to warm up. After her laptop warmed up, she saw Lisa's face on the screen.
"Lisa! How are you?", Claudia asked cheerfully.
Lisa hesitated to answer her. "I…I'm doing okay for the most part."
Claudia sensed something was not right with Lisa by the way she answered her question and tone of her voice, but she decided not to push the issue just yet. "Where are you, girl? I thought you'll be back onboard the ship by now."
"I'm still at Alaska Base."
"Alaska Base! Why? It is your father, right? He has violated the regulations and he's forcing you to stay!"
"No, it's not my father Claudia, it's a doctor that's forcing me to stay on Earth."
Claudia began concerned with the tone of her voice. "A doctor?! Why Lisa? Are you sick?"
"Claudia…I don't know how to say this to you any easier…but…I'm…I'm pregnant."
Claudia sat straight up in her chair at the shock of Lisa's news.
"WHAT!?"
A few seconds later Roy came bursting in.
"Claudia are you alright? I heard you yelling."
"Who is that? Roy?!"
"Yes, I'm alright Roy. It's Lisa."
"Oh."
Roy walked over to be next to Claudia. When he saw Lisa on the computer screen, he waved his hand.
"Hi Lisa."
Lisa was surprised to see Roy on her computer screen. "Roy, is that you? Are you out of the hospital?"
"Yes, I am Lisa."
"It's good seeing you Roy. I take it that Captain Gloval made you CAG again?"
"Lisa don't change the subject! What is the big idea of you saying you are pregnant? Are you pulling a joke on us?"
"What?!", Roy exclaimed.
"No, I'm not joking Claudia…I'm pregnant."
"Rick's the father right Lisa?"
"Yes, he is Roy."
"Have you told him yet Lisa?"
"No, I haven't Claudia."
"Lisa! What's the idea of you telling me and not tell Rick?"
"I don't know Claudia. I was not thinking. Also, I don't how to say to him that I'm pregnant and he's the father."
"Just tell him Lisa. You should have told Rick first because he deserves to know. He's the father."
"You're right Roy. That's what Captain Gloval said."
"You told Captain Gloval and us and not even tell Rick!?"
"Yes, I did Claudia.", Lisa said slightly bowing her head in shame.
Claudia with her well-known short-fused temper, suddenly became livid. "LISA! What were you thinking?! Rick's been your boyfriend for quite some time now! You should know by now about how he thinks and how he would react to news like this!"
"Take it easy Claudia. Calm down. It won't do any good in getting upset and yelling.", Roy said as he rubbed his hand on the back of Claudia's shoulders.
"I don't know Claudia. I'm sorry."
Claudia began to calm down. "It's okay Lisa. You do not have to apologize. I should apologize to you for yelling at you. How long will you have to be on Earth?"
"For at least five months."
"Have you told your father yet?"
"No, I haven't Claudia. I do not even know if I even want to tell him or even how to tell him. I don't know how he would even react."
"Why don't you worry about that after you tell Rick Lisa?"
"You're right Claudia. Okay, I will let the two of you go so I can call Rick and see if he is in. I just wanted to call you and tell you the news about my pregnancy. Can both of you do me a favor and not tell Rick the news about my pregnancy?"
"Of course, Lisa. We won't tell Rick.", Claudia said as Roy was standing behind her nodding his head.
"Thank you, Claudia and Roy. Well, I will let the two of you go. I don't know when I will be able to call you again because the next few days will be crazy for me, but I will try to call you when I can."
"Don't worry about that, Lisa. You do what you need to do. Call me when you can."
"Thanks Claudia. Good-bye."
"You're welcome Lisa. You take care of yourself."
"I will Claudia. Good-bye.", Lisa said as she broke the connection.
"It's a good thing Lisa's on Earth and not here on the ship.", Roy said after Claudia's laptop screen went back to the desktop.
"I know. Lisa will have a conniption fit if she saw that picture that was in the newspaper. What was Rick thinking?!"
"I wouldn't worry about that Claudia. Rick said nothing happened between him and Minmei and I believe him. He maybe a horrible liar when it comes to some things but one thing, he doesn't lie about is his personal relationships."
ALASKA BASE
After breaking the connection, Lisa was about to click on Rick's picture when an alarm went off notifying her that she has email in her inbox. Lisa clicked on the email icon and waited for the email program to come up. When the program came up, she noticed that was Rick's reply to her email. When the email came up, she began reading. As she was reading Rick's reply tears began to well up in her eyes and flowing freely down her cheeks.
'Oh Rick! I love you so much!', she said to herself.
Before deleting the email, Lisa pressed her fingers to her lips and kissed them. She then pressed her fingers to the computer screen and whispered, "I love you Rick." She then deleted the email. Lisa then clicked on the video chat icon and was about to click on Rick's picture when she looked at her watch.
'It's almost 2200 hours. I do not know if Rick is on duty tomorrow but just to be on the safe side. I won't call him.'
She then powered down her laptop and closed the top. She then went to her bed and flopped down on the bed with a sigh. Her legs were dangling off the edge of the bed. She usually does not go to bed until late in the evening so she was wondering what she should do for the next hour or two. It was then she realized that she had several paperback romance novels she brought from the base exchange earlier in the afternoon. At first, she wondered why she would buy those kinds of books because she is not a fan of women's romance novels, but she knew that she must have something to do to pass the time since she is stranded on Earth for the next five months and since she likes reading books it was better than sitting around in her BOQ room alone doing nothing.
The first book she pulled out of the plastic shopping bag was a book she brought at the base exchange after reading the plot summary that was on the back of the book. The story reminds her a lot of her and Rick's sometimes rocky relationship. The story is about a yuppie lawyer named Simone who left a prestigious and high-powered law firm in Los Angeles and moved back to New Hampshire to work in her father's small town law firm after suffering the loss of her fiancé who was a medical doctor and about to do his residency at a major hospital in the Los Angeles area when he was killed in a horrific automobile accident on the Pacific Coast Highway. A drunk driver who was driving on the wrong side of the highway at a high rate of speed as he was being chased by the California Highway Patrol, crashed his car into her fiancé's car instantly killing them both. Broken hearted and grieving she agreed to move back East to New England to work with her father even though she and her father never had a close father-daughter relationship after the death of Simone's mother.
One day a handsome young man named Mason walked into the law firm and walked up to Simone's desk asking her if she can take the case of his late wife's estate that was in probate because she did not leave a will. His wife died bravely battling late-stage breast cancer which understandably tore his psyche to the core. Grieving at the loss of his wife, he came to Simone asking her if she can handle his wife's estate, Simone agreed. As she was working with Mason, she began to see him more than just another client whose only one thread they had in common was they were both grieving at the loss of someone they loved, she was falling in love with him. But there was a catch, Mason was not ready much less thinking about getting into a relationship so soon after his wife's death.
'Hmm, this book is not bad. Reminds me a lot of myself and Rick.', Lisa said to herself as she reading the book reclining on her side on the bed.
Lisa became so immersed in the book that she lost track of time. While she was taking a break from reading her book, she looked at her wristwatch, it read 1:15 in the morning. Lisa recoiled in horror.
'Yikes! I have been up this long? Oh, my goodness!'
Lisa dropped the book and fished in her shopping bag looking for something to use as a bookmark. She fished around until she found the shopping receipt. After deciding the receipt would make a good temporary bookmark, she shoved the receipt on the page of where she stopped reading and closed the book. She then got up from her bed, grabbed the suitcase that has her dental floss, toothbrush and toothpaste and laid it on the bed. After opening the suitcase and grabbing her toothbrush and toothpaste, Lisa went into the bathroom to brush her teeth. After finishing brushing and flossing her teeth and turning off the light, Lisa began taking off her uniform. As she was taking off her pantyhose, she hesitated about taking her bra and panties off, but she has become so used to sleeping naked with Rick, she went decided to go ahead and take off her bra and panties and sleep naked even though Rick is not with her. She then called the front desk to ask for a 0600 wake-up call. She then turned off the light to the nightstand lamp and went to sleep.
ALASKA BASE
0600
The telephone that was on the nightstand began ringing at precisely 0600. Lisa groggily turned on the light to the nightstand lamp and answered the phone. After thanking the clerk, Lisa returned the phone to its cradle and slowly began to wake up. After stretching and yawning for several seconds, she slowly climbed out of bed. It was then when the morning sickness kicked in again.
'Oh no, here we go again.', Lisa said to herself as she was running to the bathroom. She barely made it to the toilet when she began throwing up. After a minute of throwing up, she began to feel the morning sickness easing up.
'Doctor Choi said that the morning sickness shouldn't last much longer, thank God. Or least I hope so.', Lisa said to herself as she was turning off the bathroom light and leaving the bathroom.
After grabbing her suitcase and laying it on the bed, she opened her suitcase to retrieve her toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, bath soap and shampoo. After grabbing those items, Lisa trudged into the bathroom, turned on the light and turned on the water to the bathtub to take a shower. After taking her shower, Lisa turned off the bathtub water facet and grabbed several bath towels to dry off herself and her hair. She then used the hair dryer that lodge supplied with to dry her hair. After brushing and flossing her teeth, Lisa gathered up her toiletries, turned off the bathroom light and left the bathroom.
Back in the main room, Lisa put her toiletries back in her suitcase and began grabbing a new bra and panties set, her makeup and hairbrush. She then sat down in front of a mirror and began brushing her hair and applying her makeup. After finishing putting on her makeup, she went to the closet to get her uniform and a new pair of pantyhose out of a shopping bag. After finishing putting on her uniform and shoes, she looked at her wristwatch, it read 0700.
'Good. That should be more than enough time to eat breakfast before Shannon comes to drive me to PSD.', Lisa said to herself as she was walking out of her lodge room.
At the lodge's restaurant, Lisa was finishing eating her breakfast and was sipping a cup of tea bemoaning the fact that Dr. Choi has forbidden her from drinking coffee. As she was drinking her second cup of tea, Corporal Dawson came into the restaurant. After politely declining a menu from a waitress, Shannon sat down across from Lisa.
"You're not eating breakfast with me Shannon?"
"No ma'am, I ate at the dining hall before I came here."
"Okay, that's fine."
"Oh ma'am, before I forget I have been ordered to tell you that you are ordered to see Admiral Hayes at HQ ASAP. So, if you have anywhere to go after you are finished eating breakfast, I'm afraid it will have to wait."
Lisa gave Corporal Dawson a blank poker-faced stare, a brief nod, and a mumbled "okay" but inside, her guts were being tied in knots.
'Oh great! Somehow or the other father found out about my transfer request and is wondering why. Now I am going to have to tell father about me being pregnant and Rick. Just what I don't need.'
"Well, I'm basically finished eating my breakfast. Let me finish sipping the last of this tea and pay the bill and we're out of here."
"Okay, ma'am.", Shannon said with a smile.
RDF HEADQUARTERS
ALASKA BASE
0900
ADMIRAL DONALD HAYES' OFFICE
Lisa stood outside of Admiral Hayes' office at the door psyching herself up for the meeting with her father. She nervously tugged at her uniform for the last time before deciding she could not delay meeting her father any further.
'Okay, enough dilly-dallying around Lisa Hayes. You might as well get this over with.', Lisa said to herself as she was straightening herself up and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Lisa opened the door and walked through the threshold, turned, and closed the door. Then with military precision, she marched until she was almost parallel to the desk then turned right. She then stopped in front of a cushioned chair that was several feet away from the admiral's desk and saluted.
"Commander Lisa Hayes reporting as ordered sir."
Her father stood up behind his big oak desk and returned the salute.
"Please, have a seat commander.", Admiral Hayes said as he pointed to the chair with his hand and as he was sitting down.
"Thank you, sir."
"Okay…before we begin Lisa…I know we will never have the father-daughter relationship we should have…but for this short meeting…can we at least try to be civil with each other?"
Lisa was silent for a moment not sure what to say but in the end, she nodded her head.
"Very well father. I will be civil with you.", Lisa said quietly.
Admiral Hayes nodded his head. "Good. Okay Lisa the reason why I have called you here is because early this morning I received word that you requested a transfer from the SDF-1 to Alaska Base. My question to you is why? Why are you asking for a transfer? Did you have a change of heart? And I'm not being facetious or sarcastic."
"I know you're not father. I've been ordered to stay on Earth by a doctor."
Admiral Hayes suddenly became concerned. "A doctor? Why Lisa? Are you sick?"
"No. I'm not sick father.", Lisa then drew in a deep breath and blew it out. "I'm pregnant." Lisa said softly.
Admiral Hayes went from relief to shocked and surprised in a split second.
"Wait…WHAT?! You're pregnant?!"
"Yes father…I'm pregnant."
Admiral Hayes then began stuttering trying to recover from the shock of Lisa's surprising news. "How…when?"
"I found out yesterday afternoon at a base clinic. Corporal Dawson noticed I was not feeling well, and I have been throwing up for several days now. She drove me to the clinic and after several hours of waiting and tests, I found out I was pregnant."
"No…no, that's not what I meant Lisa. What I meant to say is how long have you been pregnant?"
"For only several days."
"Who's the father?"
"His name's Rick Hunter. He is a lieutenant commander and a fighter pilot. He's the commanding officer of Skull Squadron on the ship and he's one of the first graduates of the RDF Academy at Colorado Springs."
Admiral Hayes was impressed. "Wow! That is some résumé. From what you're telling me you have caught quite a fish Lisa.", he said with a mischievous smile.
Lisa's eyes went wide with surprise at what her father said. "Father!"
Admiral Hayes threw up his hands in a defensive posture. "I was just joking Lisa. Don't bite my head off."
"That's okay father. I am sorry. It's just that I've never known you to be the one to crack a joke."
"No need to apologize Lisa. I guess with me, with age comes a sense of humor. Why have you never told me you have a boyfriend?"
"Father I'm a grown woman! I think there are some areas of my personal life that I can keep private from you and one of them is whether or not I have a boyfriend!", Lisa said crossly.
"You're right Lisa. I'm sorry I asked you that question."
"That's alright father. I know you're just being curious."
"So, have you told him yet?"
"No, I haven't yet father. I'm planning on telling him in a video chat later this evening."
"LISA! How can you tell me and not tell him? He is the father! He has the right to know!"
"I know father. It's the same thing Captain Gloval and my friend and co-worker Claudia Grant told me."
Admiral Hayes was incredulous at what his daughter told him. "WHAT? LISA! What's the big idea of you telling everyone else except the father of your unborn child?"
"Father everything has been a blur for me these past several days! In between meeting you and the UEG to finding out I'm pregnant trying to decide what to do next being restricted here on Earth and missing my boyfriend I wasn't thinking!" Lisa said before breaking down and crying.
Seeing his daughter crying made Admiral Hayes soften his hard exterior. He got up from his desk, grabbed a chair and placed it next to Lisa. He then sat down and held out his arms guiding Lisa's head to his shoulder.
"I'm sorry that I yelled at you Lisa. I know this must be hard for you.", Admiral Hayes said softly as he was gently stroking her long auburn hair.
"It is father.", Lisa sobbed.
"It's okay Lisa it's okay. Everything will eventually work out for you. Do not worry. Let it go.", Admiral Hayes said soothingly as he was gently rocking his daughter.
After letting Lisa cry on his shoulder for a moment, he gently pushed Lisa away. "Listen Lisa. Why don't you take the rest of the day off? Go back to the lodge, get out of your uniform, put on some comfortable clothes, and just relax. Afterwards, get a nice filling lunch then in the evening you get a good dinner somewhere. Then later in the evening you can tell your boyfriend. I'll take care of notifying the necessary people of your absence for the day."
"Thank you, father. Yes, that sounds like a good idea. If you do not mind…can you join me for dinner this evening? I really don't like eating alone, especially now that Rick is not here with me.", Lisa as she was drying her tears.
Admiral Hayes was taken aback at what Lisa asked considering how their relationship is now, but he recovered quickly. "Sure Lisa…I don't mind joining you for dinner. Where would you like to go to eat?"
"I don't care father. Anywhere is fine with me. And if you are worried about what I can and cannot eat, my OB/GYN said I can eat whatever I want as long as it's not too spicy and I can't drink coffee."
"Okay. Well, there's a nice Texas style barbecue place just outside the base that I like to go to sometimes."
"That's fine with me father."
"Good. I'll pick you up around 1900?"
"That will fine with me father."
"Before you go, is there anything I can do for you? I can get an order for your boyfriend to be temporarily transferred from the SDF-1 to here. He can be a pilot in one of the fighter squadrons here on base. It won't be a veritech squadron but at least it's a fighter squadron and the two of you will be together again."
"I'll ask him when I talk to him later this evening."
"Okay. If there is anything else, I can do for you, you let me know okay."
"Thank you, father. I will."
"You're welcome Lisa. You can just walk out. You don't have to salute me."
"Thank you, father.", Lisa said as she leaned in and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"You take care of yourself alright. You have my grandchild growing inside of you.", Admiral Hayes said as he gently gathered Lisa's hands in his and gently patted them.
"I know father I know. See you later this evening. Good-bye father."
"Good-bye Lisa."
Lisa then got up, walked out of her father's office, and gently closed the door. After she left his office, Admiral Hayes breathed in a breath and let it out in a big sigh then leaned back in his chair. Maybe, just maybe they are on their way of trying to repair their family relationship or at least try to stay on friendly terms.
In the hallway as she was walking to the outside, Lisa had a smile on her lips. She was surprised at what her father did when she told him the news of her being pregnant and Rick. Instead of getting upset or angry, he acted more like a gentle understanding father, especially when she broke down and cried after admitting her frustrations of the past several days to him, which was something he never did.
'Maybe father's beginning to calm down and mature knowing he's about to be a grandfather.'
Outside the Base Lodge
1900
Even though it was only early October, the cold Alaskan weather and early darkness made Lisa bundle up and shiver in the cold night air. Like clockwork, Admiral Hayes drove up in his privately own vehicle. Lisa was surprised to her father driving because it is something he usually does not do.
"Father, you're driving yourself?"
"Uh-huh. I decided to give Petty Officer Thomas a well-deserved evening off. Besides, I just want this dinner to be the two of us."
"Okay.", Lisa said as she got in her father's car.
At the restaurant, Lisa spent most of the time telling her father about Rick, his life and how they met. The more Lisa told her father about Rick, the more he liked Rick. He was really impressed with Rick.
"Wow, Rick sounds like quite the catch Lisa. He sounds like he is a very well-adjusted and well-mannered mature young man and officer. He sounds like he will make you a fine husband and father. I hope to meet him very soon."
"Oh, I hope so too father. You'll love him."
2030
"Thank you, father, for paying for my meal."
"Think nothing of it, Lisa. Besides, it was nice having dinner with you. You keep me appraised of how you're doing and how my grandchild is doing."
"I will father.", Lisa said before kissing him on the cheek and opening the door.
After she closed the door, she waved to her father and watched him as he drove away. She then jogged into the lobby and went to the elevator. When the elevator reached her floor, Lisa ran out of the elevator and ran to the door of her room. She inserted her room card and waited for the light to turn green signaling that the door was unlocked, Lisa opened the door, turned on the light and walked in. She raced to the desk and opened the top of laptop computer.
"C'mon warm up! Warm up!", Lisa said impatiently even though it only took a short matter of moments for the laptop to power up and show the desktop.
Lisa clicked on the video chat icon and clicked on Rick's picture. The program came up and Lisa waited for Rick to answer.
SDF-1
Rick was lying down on his couch when he heard the alarm on his computer buzzing from the bedroom notifying him of an incoming video call.
"Oh, please let it be Lisa! Let it be Lisa!", Rick said to himself as he was running to his bedroom.
Rick watched as the computer came out of sleep mode and the video chat program came up. When he saw Lisa, Rick nearly broke into tears.
"Lisa. It is you?"
"Yes Rick. It's me.", Lisa said trying not to cry.
"Oh Lisa. I love you! I've missed you so much."
"I miss you too Rick."
"Why are you still at Alaska Base? It's you father, right?"
"No…it's not my father Rick. It's…I don't know how to say this Rick…but…I'm pregnant."
"What? Really? Is it true of what you're saying…you're pregnant?"
"Yes Rick…I'm pregnant.", Lisa said as she can no longer hold the tears back.
"How long have you been pregnant?"
"For only several days."
"When did you found out you're pregnant?"
"Yesterday. Everything has been a whirlwind ever since I got to Alaska Base that I didn't even thought of letting you know until yesterday evening and by then I didn't know if you were still awake or not."
"Oh baby, it's okay. As long as you've told me I'm not mad."
"Oh Rick, I love you so much.", Lisa said in a relieved tone of voice.
"When are you coming back to the SDF-1?"
"Rick, that's what I have to tell you next. I have been told by my OB/GYN that I am restricted to Earth for at least five months. It's to let the baby grow and to reduce the chances of miscarriage just in case if the shuttle gets attacked."
"Oh no."
"That's not all Rick. My father has offered to have you reassigned to a fighter squadron here at Alaska Base. It will not be a veritech squadron but at least it is a fighter squadron so you can keep flying and you can be with me. He'll do it if you say yes."
"That's kind of him. Let me think about this. This all too much for me to take in right now. I just need some time to think."
"Okay Rick. I understand. Take all the time that you need."
"Thank you, Lisa."
"How have you been doing?"
"I've been okay for the most part. I've been missing you that's all."
"I know. I've been missing you too Rick."
Rick and Lisa spent the next half hour talking and making small talk. Afterward, they decided it was time to end the chat because talking on the computer was not the same as talking to each other face-to-face.
"Alright Rick, I'll let you go. I don't know when I'll be able to call you again, but I will try to call you as often as I can."
"Okay Lisa.", Rick said clearly reluctant of ending the call and saying good-bye to Lisa. "Good-bye Lisa…I love you."
"I love you too Rick. Good-bye.", Lisa said as she pressed her fingers to her lips, kissing them and pressing her fingers on the computer screen before breaking the connection and before Rick can see her crying.
Rick left the bedroom and returned to the living room and flopped down on the couch. As he was moping, he heard a knock on the door.
"Come in."
It was Ben and Max.
"Hey Rick. You know, we have been noticing that you have not gone out or done anything lately ever since Commander Hayes left for Earth. How about the three of us go out and have some fun like we did back at the academy?"
"I don't know Ben. I'm really not in the mood for going out."
"C'mon Rick. It will be much better than sitting around in your BOQ room moping that the commander's not here."
"I'm not moping Max!", Rick said defensively.
"Ah, c'mon Rick! Who are you trying to kid? You are moping. Besides, the three of us haven't done anything together in a long time."
"Well…I guess so Ben. Where do you want to go?"
"How about that video arcade that is just outside the gate? It just opened several days ago.", Max said.
"Sounds good to me. How 'bout you skipper?"
"I don't care."
"Okay, well that's two yeses and an "I don't care", majority rules. Let us get out of here and have some fun.", Max said cheerfully.
LOOSE CHANGE VIDEO ARCADE
Max and Rick sat down to play a veritech flight simulator game while Ben went off to play a first-person shooter game. Max was scoring points for what seem to be like every second and gold tokens came pouring out of the chute while Rick was getting frustrated and growling. He was barely scoring any points.
"The points are piling up Rick."
Rick could not do anything but growl.
"C'mon Rick. You are one of the top fighter pilots in the air wing. What is it with you?"
"I'm not good at video games Max. When was the last time you saw a video game console in my quarters?"
"You're good at the flight simulators."
"Yeah, that's because they have something called a cockpit and an instrument panel and not just a joystick, a throttle, a few buttons, and two pedals like on this game."
Downstairs a young woman with green hair, wearing a red shirt, brown stocking knickers, and a yellow scarf around her throat sat down at a similar game. Soon as she sat down, she pressed her left foot on a pedal, put one hand on the joystick and the other on the throttle, and began playing. Just as soon as she began shooting, she began scoring points and tokens began pouring out of the shoot. A young boy wearing a black hoodie with the RDF seal was standing off the side vividly impressed at her gaming skill.
"Wow! You're good!"
The young woman was not listening to him or even said a word to him.
'So, this is how the Micronians train to fight. Hmph, this is too easy. No wonder they are easily defeated.'
One of the arcade's worker ran up to the owner of the arcade who was standing behind a booth who a sad look on his face.
"Hey boss! We're getting wiped out at some of our most difficult games."
The owner did not say a word.
"Boss! Did you hear me?"
"Yeah, I heard you Ryan. Oh man, I should have known better than to open this place near where all these RDF maniacs hang out."
"Well, that's it for me Max. I'm dead.", Rick said after his holographic veritech was destroyed by a battle pod.
"Yeah, I'm finished too."
"Hey, how 'bout we go find Ben. If he has finished playing, how 'bout we get out of here and get a late evening snack at the ice cream shop before we go back to base."
"Okay."
As Rick and Max went downstairs so that Max can cash in his tokens, Max noticed the woman. Max immediately became infatuated with her.
"Hey Rick. See that girl sitting at that game."
"Yeah, I see her. So, what about her?"
"Isn't she incredible? I've been seeing her everywhere."
"Well, she is kind of attractive."
"Do you think she be willing to play a game with me?"
"Go ahead and ask her, I don't mind. Just don't take too long."
"Okay. Excuse me miss."
"Yes."
"Would you mind playing a game with me? From what I saw, I think we are equally matched. What do you say?"
"Are you willing to bet all that?"
"Yes I am. This is terrific. I know we're going to have a great game."
"Very well then. Yes, I'll play you."
"How about we start a level B? Alright with you?"
"Fine."
"Alright. Here we go."
A holographic red veritech came up which the woman took while Max took the blue veritech that he is so familiar with. Her eyes narrowed at the choice of color Max chose. Immediately both players began diving, twisting, and turning trying to gain the advantage over the other. Before she knew what happened, her red veritech exploded. She gasped in surprise. Her face then became a mask of rage.
"Whoops. Looks like I won. Want to go on to level A?" Max said as he was feeding tokens into the slot.
"Yes, let's do." She said tightly.
As Max and the woman were playing, people began gathering around the game table looking at the action. The arcade worker noticed what was going on.
"Hey boss. There is a great game going on at table 17. I'm putting it up on the main screen."
After a few high scissor rolls and yo-yo turns, Max gained the advantage by transforming into battloid mode. He easily destroyed the red veritech just about the time when she transformed into battloid mode. She recoiled back in shock and horror. Her face then became angrier. In a huff, she got up from the table and turned to go out of the arcade. She then felt her forward momentum stopped by Max grabbing her wrist. He was not letting go.
"Let me go!"
"I'm sorry. Please, just wait for a minute. I have been wanting to speak to you for an awfully long time. I think you are wonderful, and I just want to get to know you better. Can I have your name and phone number?"
"My name is Miriya Parino, and I do not have a phone number!"
"Then can you meet me at Central Park near the Peace Fountain, at 9:00pm tomorrow night?"
"Do whatever you want! Just let me go!"
Max let go of Miriya's wrist. "Great. It is a date then. See you tomorrow."
"Wow! Isn't she something?"
Rick chuckled as he was shaking his head in disbelief. "Max, I really have to question your technique in asking women for a date."
"Hey, it worked with her didn't it."
"I don't know Max, from what I saw she's more than mad at you and I don't know why. I am surprised she did not turn around and slapped you. Don't be surprised if she doesn't show up."
"I'll worry about that when the time comes. Let us go find Ben."
Miriya was seething as she was walking to the abandoned house she was staying at.
It is him. It must be him. He is the Micronian who defeated me in battle in the city. I have never been shot at and damaged much less defeated. He shall pay! Very well, Micronian, you want a date? I will give you a date. Tomorrow is the date that you will die!'
THE NEXT EVENING
Rick was lying on the couch in his living room when he heard a knock on his door.
"Come in."
Max came dressed in a white shirt, black tie and shoes, a red sweater vest and a blue suit.
"Well Rick, how do I look?"
"You still think she's going to show up?"
"Yeah, what makes you think she won't?"
"I don't know, she shot you down faster than a Sidewinder missile going up the tailpipe of a MiG."
"No, she didn't!"
"Well, she didn't exactly say yes."
"And she didn't exactly say no."
"I don't know Max. She was pretty steamed when you destroyed her veritech and she didn't have any planes or tokens left."
"So, a lot of people get mad when they lose at a game."
"Yeah, but she looked more than mad that she lost at that video game. It's like she has something in for you."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know. I can't put my finger on it exactly, but she looked like she has a grudge against you."
"Oh, c'mon Rick, you're imagining things. We never met each other until yesterday."
"I know that."
"Look, I don't care what you say. I'm going out to meet her."
"And if she doesn't show up?"
"If she does not show up, she does not show up. It won't be the first time a girl has ditched me on the first date.", Max said with a shrug of his shoulders.
Macross Central Park
2115
Max looked impatiently at his watch for what seemed to be the umpteenth time waiting for Miriya to show up.
'Where is she? I hope she's okay.'
Max waited for another minute before looking at his watch again. 'Forget it. If she doesn't show up within five minutes I'm leaving.'
After looking at his watch again, Max looked up to see Miriya running towards him. His face lit up.
"Oh, there you are."
Miriya came running towards Max with a knife in her right hand. "Prepare to die Micronian!"
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTES
MILITARY ACRONYMS
PSD – Personnel Service Detachment. Place where military personnel have their administrative services done.
TAD – Temporary Additional (or Assigned) Duty. U.S. Navy acronym for duty away from parent command for a short period of time. Also known as TDY (Temporary Duty) in the U.S. Army.