CHAPTER 3
Darkness was a part of daily life in the Ferrin Conditioning Center. Since each of the girls had arrived, none had seen sunlight. The concrete walls kept their new home almost pitch black, except for whatever dim flood lamps Dr. Ferrin provided.
The walls were damp from condensation and specked with rust. The girls slept in metal-framed cots against the walls, each with a security camera trained on it. Their rigorous exercise routines took place between the cold walls, and they ate within them as well.
The girls were thin and weak, with sick eyes and tightly shut lips that rarely uttered a word. They wore short, simple gowns and thin slippers day and night, every one the same color as the others. But it was the girls' hair that illuminated the Conditioning Center in a myriad of colors. Beautiful hues of green, blue, gold and red stood out in the space between the cold walls as the girls ate their breakfast on the floor.
When Doctor Ferrin called them, they set down their bowls and stood.
She always appeared from the darkness; none of the girls could figure out how she got into the room. It made her presence all the more terrifying. She always came dressed in a carefully trimmed business suit, with black leather gloves on her hands, and a long knife strapped to her hip.
Usually Ferrin would come in the morning, give the girls their daily lessons and instruct them to practice on their own. Then she would disappear, and only come back to punish the girls who dared to disobey. Her punishments were often shocking.
But today, she remained in the shadows. "I want you to see something," she said. Her voice carried across the walls and made the girls cold with fear.
"I've heard some of you talking about getting out. That someone will come and rescue you. Well today, somebody tried."
Their eyes and lips didn't dare show it, but the girls cried with joy. Until Doctor Ferrin spoke again.
"Here he is."
From the shadows, a lifeless body slid across the floor and stopped under one of the floodlights. It was a young man, who wore a suit of dull green armor. The girls could not read the writing on his back and shoulders. But they saw the blood and the gunshot wounds.
Ferrin stepped into the light beside the corpse. Her knife was clenched in her hand. "His friends saw him die. I scared them all away, and they're never coming back." She sheathed the blade and folded her arms. "Is anyone coming to rescue you, girls?"
They felt like crying; none of them did. "No master!"
"Does anyone want to rescue you?"
"No!"
"Does anyone care about you?"
"No!"
She smiled widely. "That's right. You're worthless little beasts, every one of you. Nobody wants to die for you."
At the far end of the floor, a small girl with brightest blue hair looked down. She gripped her bowl and quietly wept. The Master heard, as she always did, and stepped between the others to reach her.
"I'd cut you down in a second," she sneered. "You're not even worth dulling my blade on, you disgusting little monster."
The girl gave a downcast nod, but still wept.
"But you should be the last one to cry," said the Doctor. "There's a chance you might be picked."
She gasped and looked up. Her eyes were the same shade of bright blue as her hair.
"His name is Lynn. He's rich and powerful. And if you obey him just like I've shown you, he might not treat you worse than I do. You don't deserve what you're getting, just remember that."
The Master turned to the rest of the girls. "None of you deserve what you're getting. You're animals. You can't understand what I'm doing for you."
"Thank you, Master," they replied in sorrowful unison.
"Now," she called out loudly. "Since you're not hungry anymore, we're starting lessons early today."
The girls began their exercise routine, each one facing forward without a trace of emotion. But the girl with the bright blue hair, the one who wept, was still watching the flood lamp. She watched the dead man's blood flow onto the concrete, and wished she could understand what the Master was doing for her.
Michael Joons' Veritech soared through the night sky. He was cruising at minimum thrust, only enough to keep him flying. At twelve o'clock and just above him, an Osprey refueling plane was attaching a long boom to the Veritech's fuselage.
The Osprey was still an impressive sight for Joons. It was larger than Veritech fighters, with long wings and a giant tailfin, but it could maneuver in a dogfight if emergencies called for it. Some Ospreys even had spinning radar discs attached to their backs, and acted as surveilance craft. But this one was a standard refueling and re-arming craft, designed only for supporting the Veritechs.
Joons was still trying to get his helmet to fit. "All right," he said. "We're connected."
Roger that, Lieutenant…you'll be filled up in no time. The Osprey's crew called him back through the radio.
"Who am I forming up with?" asked Joons.
Uh…come again, Lieutenant?
"I said, who am I forming up with? What squadron?"
…No squadron…you're flying this one solo.
Joons' heart skipped a beat. He sat back in his cockpit seat.
You shouldn't have any trouble finding the UAV…
"Nobody toldme I was flying solo."
Delta Base doesn't owe you an explanation, Lieutenant.
Joons sighed and shook his head. "Have you swept the area?"
Twice. It's clear…no hostiles in sight. This is a cakewalk. Just radio the location of the UAV to us, and we'll send down an Evac team.
"Can you give me some Reapers?" asked Joons. He looked out his canopy at a pair of empty Veritech wings.
You kidding, soldier? There's no way you can fire a missile in the middle of New Macross! You'll shoot with your gun pod, if you shoot at all.
"Fine," said Joons. "Fine…I've just…got a bad feeling about this."
Just get this over with…we wanna go home too.
Rick and Lisa had to pass through the Warehouse District. It was the quickest way to Lisa's place, but they both wished there was a safer route. Since the RDF had taken emergency control of the industries, the Warehouse District had all but fallen apart.
Buildings were falling apart, with cracks and amber rust crawling up their sides. The streets were always moist from the broken drainage systems. Gangs of Malcontent Zentraedi were rumored to be in hiding, somewhere in the abandoned factories. It was a terrible place to be caught, especially now that night had fallen.
"Why aren't there any RDF patrols out here?" Lisa asked. She pulled her coat collar up against her cheeks.
"I dunno," Rick shook his head. "We know about this place…I guess we're just…short-handed."
Another taxi passed them by. Rick and Lisa quietly watched as it sped away.
"That's unbelievable," groaned Lisa. "What gives?"
"He's probably lost too."
She rubbed her tired eyes. "Rick…we have to get out of here. I don't care if we're late…let's go back."
A pair of bright headlights trained on them from behind. A luxury car pulled up beside them, with black paint that shone under the street lamps. The rear window rolled down.
I beg your pardon. Do you need a ride?
It was Lynn Kyle. He leaned out the window with sharp eyes and a very composed smile. He seemed to be enjoying this very much.
"No thank you," Lisa said curtly.
"It's a bad time to be stuck around here. I'll take you where you're going."
"We're perfectly fine walking there, thank you."
Lynn nodded. His eyes seemed to smile, and to pry at her. "Stay here, I'll call you a taxi."
Rick stepped up to the car and leaned forward. "Leave us be, Lynn," he said.
"Suit yourself. Enjoy your stroll…perhaps some of your Malcontent fanswill recognize you."
The car drove off and turned a corner. Lisa was furious, but Rick put his arm around her and told her not to worry about it.
A high-pitched scream and a streak of glowing blue light flashed across the sky. They looked up between the tall buildings around them. Michael Joons' Valkyrie fighter was flying in Guardian mode, with its powerful engines extended into backward-bent legs. Rick and Lisa watched as it hovered down, until it disappeared behind the buildings.
"He didn't have any weapons," said Rick. "That's odd."
"I was thinking the same thing…maybe it's some kind of rescue…"
"I don't even know anymore…"
They passed by an alley without looking. They weren't about to slow down for anything.
A Zentraedi fell dead on the cold street. His green hair was splashed with thick, red blood. A military assault rifle dropped out of his hands when he hit the ground.
A group of five Zentraedi stepped over his body as they advanced down the street.
Michael Joons had just crawled from the wreckage of his Valkyrie. A rocket-propelled grenade had shot him down as he descended and the Valk had crashed on its side. Michael was alive, for the moment.
He was pinned down behind the Valk's half-buried wing. Leaning over the edge, he shot suppressing fire to slow the Zentraedi's approach. But they were everywhere – at least five of them were on the street, and one more, somewhere in the windows of the buildings. They screamed at him as they grew closer.
You'll pay for the sins of your people!
Death to Micronians!
Torture the Human!
Michael grabbed his radio and called for his comrades in the air.
"Osprey…this is Joons! I'm pinned down…somewhere in the district! My Valk crashed and Zentraedi are approaching!"
The Osprey didn't respond. Michael was left completely on his own. He turned the radio off and attached it to his shoulder.
"Minmei…if I don't see you again…I'm sorry."
He switched his rifle to full-auto and jumped into the clear. His fire dropped every Zentraedi in the street with grim efficiency. And then there was no choice but to run.
He took cover behind parked cars and down alley-ways. Bullets rained all around him, falling from the sky. He couldn't stay in one place long enough to find the shooter.
He caught his breath behind a garbage dumpster. His hands were shaking on the grips of his rifle. And he couldn't think of anything but to make another charge, when the dumpster's lid popped open and a mangy-looking cat crawled out.
It hopped onto the street beside him and looked up, with shining yellow eyes.
Michael smiled and reached for his helmet. It gave him an idea.
He leaned around the dumpster with infra-red goggles on his eyes. There was only time for a quick scan – a split second and nothing more.
And he found his target! Three stories up and across the street, in the window.
He pulled the trigger and a grenade fired from below his gun barrel. It was a perfect shot, right into the window, and the explosion threw the enemy flying into the street.
It was quiet for a while. Michael couldn't pick up any more heat signatures. For the moment, he seemed clear enough to keep moving, and so he went on down the street.
And it came as a shock when he discovered the Urban Assault Vehicle. He'd been looking for it in the first place, but he'd almost forgotten about it.
It was a hulking, six-wheeled truck covered with armor plates. A turret on its roof had a high-caliber cannon attached to it. The UAV was motionless and its engine was shut off. If he could get the vehicle started, it would save his life.
After a careful approach, he dashed for the rear door and grabbed the handle. The door slid open with ease. It was unlocked.
He jumped into the UAV's belly and switched on his rifle-mount light. And instantly, he was face-to-face with a beautiful Zentraedi girl, dressed in rags.
Michael was stunned. He stopped and stared at the girl, and she stared back. Her eyes grew hollow and she started to cry.
"No…no, wait…it's okay…" Michael slowly lowered his gun and approached her.
He felt something moving behind him. Before he could turn around, a powerful blow met the back of his head.
Rick, can you get my uniform for me?
"Where is it?"
Hanging up in the living room!
Rick ran across Lisa's apartment flat and found her officer's uniform, pressed just right. He couldn't believe that in just a few hours, Lisa Hayes would be the RDF's newest admiral.
"Okay, I got it! You want it now?"
No…gimme a second…
" 'Kay," nodded Rick. He wasn't wearing his own officer's uniform. He wished he was. But Lisa didn't mind at all. He did just come back from a sortie, after all. Lisa was thrilled that Rick could even make it.
Lisa growled from behind her bedroom door. I can't find my shoes! she cried.
Rick looked down quizzically. "Why are you looking for your shoes? You don't have your uniform on."
Because I need them eventually!
"I'll help you find them later," said Rick. "Just get dressed…we've got plenty of time."
He looked at the clock on Lisa's wall: they had forty-five minutes.
No we don't!cried Lisa. We have forty-five minutes!
"Don't worry!" he laughed. "I'll help you find whatever you need."
He strolled around the apartment, looking for a pair of shoes, and wondering what the shoes even looked like. He almost got down on his knees, but realized that Lisa's uniform was still in his hands.
Another cry of frustration came from Lisa's bedroom. This time it was followed by some loud banging.
"…Ready yet?" asked Rick.
Aughhh! Rick I am doing my hair, wait a minute! Oh, I need to get into the bathroom now…
He sighed and stepped up to the bedroom door. "Relax…you look wonderful!" he called.
Some more violent banging. You aren't even in here!
"You looked wonderful before you went in there!"
She threw something against the wall. Oh, what do you know!
Rick was a little taken aback. He leaned his head against the door and gave a little knock.
"…Hey," he said quietly.
Lisa stopped making so much noise. She sighed and whispered back. No, Rick…I didn't mean…I'm just…
The door opened up a little. Lisa peeked her head, and a bare shoulder, into the open and gave him a pleading smile.
"I'm sorry, Rick…I didn't mean that. I'm just really…upset, I guess."
"You look wonderful," he said again. "The most beautiful admiral in the whole fleet."
She looked up with her emerald green eyes. "Thank you," she said.
Doctor Ferrin was nervous as she stood in her "business room" above the Conditioning Center. It was lavishly appointed with fine paintings and sculptures, a mahogany table and leather sofas. A bottle of expensive wine was on ice at the table, and two glasses had yet to be touched.
One of the walls was a two-way mirror. It looked down to the first floor, where the girls lay in the darkness. The window was covered with steel plates. And it was at this window that Lynn Kyle stood in patient wait.
"I apologize," she told him. "A little disturbance among the creatures. Some of them are still learning."
"It's a long process," he said as he straightened his tie. "If only we could impose such obedience on the rest of the Zentraedi. Then we'd only have the RDF to deal with."
"Indeed," she nodded quickly. "Now if you'd like to wait outside, I'll be happy to bring yours to you."
Lynn frowned. "Not so fast," he said. "Can't I see how she acts around the other girls?"
"I'm afraid not," said Ferrin. "I'm having trouble with the security on that window. It won't open."
With the raise of an eyebrow, Lynn pressed a few buttons at the window's controls.
"Is that so..."
The steel plates opened away. Lynn glanced down at the cave below. The floor was smeared with blood. Two RDF soldiers lay on the cold concrete, motionless. The girls sat on their beds, looking at them with horrified eyes.
"It seems you're not telling me everything," he stared down at her coldly. "I rely on my business associates to be trustworthy."
"Wait!" she cried. "I can explain!"
Lynn Kyle crossed his arms. His eyes grew steely and cold.
"Sir, you must believe that I have everything under control. This is all part of their conditioning. They're being taught that no one will come to rescue them. I'm always looking for new ways to impress theirworthlessness upon them...and this is my newest one."
He looked right through Doctor Ferrin, at the gruesome scene below. "Are they real soldiers?"
Ferrin smiled. "Of course not," she said.
"The girls look terrified."
"They can't feel athing, trust me."
Lynn pushed the buttons on the console again, and the window shut. He examined Doctor Ferrin's clean business suit, and her perfect red hair.
"You surprise me, Doctor," he said. "At first glance, you don't look like a monster."
She gave a strong stare right back at him. "Mister Lynn, this is a world full of monsters."
Michael Joons opened his eyes. He heard a distant sound – the dragging of chains.
His vision was blurry at first, but it began to focus after a moment. He looked over his surroundings. Concrete walls, cold floors, and almost no light.
He looked beside him. An RDF soldier was laying face-down on the floor. Bloody wounds covered his back. Gunshots, and slash marks from a knife.
"…Where am I…"
He crawled to his feet. He was so dizzy, he could barely stand. But when he fell backwards, someone caught him.
It was a green-haired Zentraedi girl, dressed in a ragged gown. She looked at him with hollow eyes.
"Who are you?" Michael whispered. But the girl wouldn't speak. She ran her thin, weak hand along Michael's arm, and then stepped away into the darkness.
The sound of dragging chains came again.
"What's going on here!" Michael cried.
We live here, said a voice from behind him. This is where the Master teaches us.
He turned around; a row of dirty, rusted cots was lined up on the concrete wall. Pale girls with beautiful colored hair sat in their beds, watching him. They were all Zentraedi.
"Tell me what's going on!" he shouted. "Why are you here…!"
His boot stepped on a clay bowl, crushing it. Dozens of bowls were lined up on the floor, in a perfect row. They were filled up with uneaten gruel.
He felt just as cold as the girls did. Whenever he looked at one, he could feel how numb and terrified she was. He could connect with each one of them. They were Zentraedi – his sisters.
We are animals, said one of the girls. Her voice made Michael's head ache.
The Master teaches us how to behave, said another girl.
We do not understand, said another.
A drop of water fell on Michael's head. He looked up at the ceiling and saw the network of security cameras that watched over the chamber. The cameras' lenses zoomed in on Michael.
"Who are you!" he cried. "Why are you doing this!"
He stumbled away from the gaze of the cameras. His head pounded and he lost his balance, falling hard into a pool of water. His face crashed into the cold ground and the water stung his eyes.
When he rubbed them out, he saw his reflection. His armor was slashed to pieces with knife-marks. The slashes were cut into his chest, so that they formed letters. Not human, but a Zentraedi message.
It was the Zentraedi word for "Dead."
But Michael Joons felt no pain.
Another voice startled him.
Please…tell her that I am sorry.
Michael pulled himself off the ground. A Zentraedi girl was beside him, chained to the foot of her bed. She had the most beautiful blue hair, and the coldest, most fearful eyes.
He reached out and touched her shoulder. "What…happened to you?"
Please, she whispered. Tell her that I am sorry…I did not mean to offend her…I want to be chosen…please tell her that I am ready…
"Wait…calm down," Michael whispered back. "What's your name?"
I am Naoko, she said.
"My name is Joons. I'm here to help you."
The girl shook her head. No…you are dead. You cannot help.
"No, listen to me. I'm going to help you."
Have you come to punish me? Is the Master going to teach us a lesson?
The girls all bowed their heads. Teach us! they all cried.
"No! No…stop it. Don't say that."
Teach us, Master…we are ready.
"Stop it! This iswrong!"
Teach us, Master…we are ready.
Michael grabbed Naoko's chains, and broke them with his bare hands. He pulled the chains off and threw them into the security cameras. Alarms went off; red lights flashed. The girls hid their eyes and screamed.
Michael Joons staggered to his feet. "Where are you! Who did this to them! Come on…show yourself!"
A flash of white light opened in the far wall. And the girls' master, a Melina Ferrin, appeared with a combat knife in her hand.
"Which one of you girls helped him live?" she shouted. "Whichever it was…I will punish you so severely that you will never forget…!"
No Master!
It was not I, Master!
Please do not punish me!
Michael Joons watched as Doctor Ferrin came closer. He stared at her with fire in his eyes.
"You…monster!"he sneered.
Ferrin only smiled. "You hate them just as much as I do," she said. "You kill them every day."
"You…damnedmonster."
"I wonder how you survived," said Ferrin. "Maybe one of these girls has an ability she hasn't disclosed to me? Well, I'm sorry, but it's not going to happen again."
Naoko gave a piercing scream; she fell on her knees and began to plead. Joons charged across the chamber as quickly as he could.
Doctor Ferrin raised her other hand. She looked down the sights of a pistol, aimed at Joons. Crack, the gun flashed.
But Joons didn't slow down. The girls' eyes grew wide, as they watched on their beds.
Crack, another shot fired. But Joons only ran faster.
He moved swiftly, grabbing her arm and twisting it back until she dropped the pistol. He spun around, threw his elbow into her face, and twisted her legs with a sweeping kick. Doctor Ferrin hit the ground with a cold slam.
She howled in agony. The combat knife was in her stomach.
Joons kicked the pistol up into his hands. Crack-Crack-Crack! He fired three shots.
The girls couldn't believe their eyes. Their master was quiet and still, laying in blood, in a pile of crushed food bowls.
Michael Joons dropped the gun. He turned to face the girls. There were two bullet holes in his chest armor. He fell on his knees, and then on his face, next to the girl named Naoko.
A taxi cab pulled up in front of Lisa's apartment complex. She came out the front door, dressed in her brand new uniform and looking beautiful as ever. The only thing missing was her Admiral's medal. She would have that within the hour.
Rick was missing too – but not for long. He came crashing through the doors behind her, a moment later. He'd found just enough time to change into his own uniform. He was straightening his tie as he ran toward the curb.
"So…how come this ceremony's so late?" he asked.
"Oh…they always do it later in the day," said Lisa. She didn't want Rick to know the real reason; it was the only way Mayor Saul could find the time.
Rick finally caught up. "How do I look?"
Lisa giggled and brushed his hands off his tie. She straightened it perfectly for him. "Just fine," she replied. "Do I look nervous?"
He gave her a kiss. "You look wonderful. I'm so proud of you…"
The rumble of a Robotech TC-1 transport interrupted them. The RDF vehicle pulled up and stopped beside the cab. A soldier called to Rick from the gunner's position, a seat on the roof.
"Commander Hunter! We've been looking everywhere for you, sir!"
Rick grew sick. "What's wrong?"
"Sir, something's happened in the Warehouse District! We've brought down one of the Zentraedi slave traders!"
Both Rick and Lisa gave a sigh of relief.
"That's great news," Rick said. "I was beginning to think Admiral Reave wasn't sending anyone in there. Glad to hear they're cleaning the place up."
He helped Lisa into the cab, but the soldier called out again. "Uh…sir…that's not all."
Rick looked back. "…It's not?"
"No, sir. Your wingman…Lieutenant Joons. He was the one who discovered the traders. He's…been wounded, sir. I've been ordered to take you to base, immediately."
He stopped in his tracks, staring at the soldier and the TC-1. His hand slipped off the door of the taxi.
The cab's door shut. Lisa had pulled it closed. Her face was smiling but her eyes were full of tears.
The Warehouse District was alive with RDF activity. Veritechs roared in from the sky, dropping supply crates full of medicines and food. Transport trucks rolled down the streets, filled with rescued Zentraedi servants, and bound for hospitals. Heavily armed soldiers covered the blocks, watching the buildings with their assault rifles ready.
Lynn Kyle watched it all with a coldly solemn face.
"How long have they been treated like this?" he asked, as he walked with an RDF soldier to his limousine.
"Months, probably," said the soldier. "We've been spread so thin lately, we haven't been able to cover this area. These poor Zentraedi have been stuck here for a while."
"It's such a shame," said Lynn. "Such a waste of life. Have they all been recovered?"
"All but one. A girl with blue hair…she ran off down the street before we could catch her. We hope we can find her soon."
Kyle sighed. He shook his head, and stepped into his waiting limousine. "If there's anything I can do, let me know. I want these girls to receive thebest possible care."
"Thank you, sir," said the soldier. "You know…you're not as bad as everybody says you are."
Kyle grinned at him. "I like to think not," he said, and shut the door.
As the limo rolled away, he rested comfortably in his seat. He watched the Veritech Guardians stomping down the streets, carrying cargo and supplies into the neighborhood. The RDF war machine had made itself another stronghold.
He smiled, when he remembered what the Doctor had told him.
It's a world full of monsters.