The SDF-3 bridge was a busy place to be on launch day. They were going to rendezvous with satellite ships once in space near the moon. The whole fleet comprised of the SDF-3, Breetai's ship and a few smaller ships that have been built to assist in the mission.
"Commander Anderson," Lisa called her first officer's attention. "Let's head for the stars." She watched as he coordinated the SDF-3's launch into space.
The launch was routine and they were quickly met by the other ships. After a final transmission to Earth base, the fleet charted their next destination. After a long day, Lisa handed off the bridge to her first officer and went home.
"Congratulations on the launch," Rick greeted her when she arrived home.
"I guess we've had enough practice," she replied and gave him a quick hug. "How're your teams?"
"They're ready for anything. Where is our destination?" He just realized that he didn't know where they were headed yet.
"Exedore and I found a spot near Mars to practice folding," she informed him, walking to the couch. "We'll probably go forward and back to get the hang of space folds and then proceed to our next destination."
Rick quietly sat next to Lisa and drew her into his arms. The mention of Mars just made him feel uncomfortable. He would have preferred if they chose another place, another planet.
"What's the matter?" Lisa asked, sensing his dour mood. She turned to look at him but he remained quiet.
Lisa reached over and turned his face to look into his eyes. She wanted to see what might have upset him.
"Why Mars?" he finally asked.
"Why not Mars?"
Rick tried to find the words to express his discomfort but failed. He didn't know how to tell her without sounding foolish. Instead he just buried his face in his hands.
"Hey, what's wrong?" she asked again, getting concerned.
"What if," he struggled to form the words. "What if you find him there this time?"
Lisa hadn't realized he still remembered their last encounter on Mars. She had refused to leave the outpost in the hopes of being reunited with Karl Riber, her first love. Rick had literally pulled her out of Sara base before it blew up to save her.
"Rick, Karl is dead," she said finally.
Rick studied her face and remained silent. He tried to think of possible scenarios and felt his stomach hurl. In the past he probably wouldn't have minded but now he wondered if he might lose her to her first love.
"Rick, talk to me," she insisted, tugging at one of his arms. She heard him take a deep breath before speaking.
"What if he is still alive and was just imprisoned? Would you go back to him?" He finally found the questions to ask.
"Oh Rick, too much time has passed and he can't be alive."
"What if he was macronized?" he asked, knowing that it is possible. "What if the Zentraedi's turned him into one of them?"
"Rick, where is all this coming from?" She knew that she didn't exactly talk with Rick about her relationship with Karl but didn't think it was important. She was surprised he even remembered.
"Would you go back to him?" he repeated.
"No!" she said confidently. "First thing, he's dead. I confirmed that for myself when I went to Sara base. Second, if he is by some remote chance alive, too much time has passed for us to expect to feel the same way. I've changed, Rick. I'm married now … to you." She touched her forehead to the side of his head.
Rick reached out to hug her. He was relieved and felt his fears slowly melt away.
"He was your first love, wasn't he?" he finally asked.
Lisa nodded. She thought about what she would have missed if Rick hadn't rescued her from Sara base all those years ago.
"How did you meet him?" he asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
"He was the boy next door," she said shyly. "And he was the first guy to show an interest in me."
"Was he a good kisser?"
Lisa laughed at Rick's question. She hadn't seen Rick this way before and found it amusing.
"Well?" he prompted.
"You're not seriously asking me to compare him to you, are you?" she teased. "I wouldn't know." She admitted when he showed her he was serious.
"What do you mean?" he probed deeper.
"He never kissed me on the lips," she confessed. "He was always proper. I think he was afraid of my father."
"Ahh, Admiral Donald Hayes, thank you," he said in appreciation, eliciting a chuckle from Lisa.
"You would, too, if you knew my father. He's quite protective."
"Do you think he'd like me?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Yes and no."
Rick raised his eyebrow to make her elaborate.
"No, because you broke every rule in the book," she explained. "He doesn't like insubordination."
Rick groaned, knowing that she had accused him of that so many times and amazed he hadn't been thrown in the brig yet. He knew it was because she never really reported him formally.
"But he would love you for rescuing me so many times."
Rick smiled and kissed her.
"Besides, he knows better than to get between me and the man I love," she added before deepening their kiss. "Promise me one thing, if you're ever captured you'll try to return to me." She needed his assurance that he would always find a way to come home to her.
"I will find a way even if I have to pilot a giant ship all by myself," he joked. "But that won't be an issue if you never leave me behind." He knew that he would try everything to get back to her but wanted her to know he would prefer to never leave her side.
Lisa kissed Rick and touched the other half of the heart pendant on his chest which was the match to hers.

The fleet practiced folding a few times and got quite efficient at it. Their last try landed them at the edge of the Solar System near Pluto. Lisa, Exedore and Breetai conferred to see which galaxy to explore next. It was agreed upon to send a scout ahead to the nearest system.
"Who should we send?" Breetai inquired.
"I don't feel comfortable sending just anyone out there," Lisa declared. "I probably can go on one of the smaller scanner ships."
"Admiral Hayes, that wouldn't be wise," Exedore cautioned her. "It would be too risky and we can't afford to lose you."
Lisa pondered on it for a moment but had her mind set Exedore could see. He knew that she was still hesitant to order people out into the unknown and risk losing them.
"I'll send one of my best fighters to guard you," Breetai offered through the 3-way communication channel.
"Good luck Admiral," Exedore agreed grudgingly.
"Thank you gentlemen," Lisa said and started plans to ready the ship.

"I'm coming with you," Rick insisted.
"Rick, I can't have you following me around everywhere," Lisa countered. "Besides, I'm leaving the SDF-3 in your hands."
"Vince is more than capable," he argued. "I'm not going to let you go out there into the unknown alone."
"I'm not alone, Rick. I have escorts."
"Then consider me as another escort," he volunteered. "Besides, we agreed that you won't leave me behind."
Lisa knew it would be pointless to argue so she allowed him to join the scout team.

"It looks deserted Admiral," the lieutenant noted when they arrived at the nearest habitable planet of the system they entered. They had setup scanners to try to gather information and landed when it was deemed safe. Rick, Lisa, the lieutenant and one Zentraedi escort looked about from their vantage point.
"So do we keep going?" Rick asked as he surveyed the barren land.
"I can't imagine why this place doesn't have any signs of life," Lisa wondered. "It has all the elements necessary to sustain it."
"Maybe it just hasn't happened yet," Rick rationalized.
"What's that?" the lieutenant pointed out. Off to the distance, they saw an approaching craft.
Rick quickly ran to his VT to determine the approaching ship while Lisa and the lieutenant ran back to their ship but barely got there when a missile hit their ship throwing them both to the ground.
"Zentraedi rebels," the Zentraedi soldier yelled.
"Lisa!" Rick yelled. He maneuvered his VT to pick up Lisa while the Zentraedi soldier picked up the lieutenant. Once he was able to secure Lisa in the cockpit with him, he ordered the Zentraedi soldier to return to space.
They were trying to evade their pursuers and sent a signal for assistance to the SDF-3.
"Rick! Look out," Lisa yelled from behind him.
He was looking for his colleague and hadn't noticed the incoming missiles. They took a direct hit and it knocked him unconscious. The last thing he remembered was the warm feeling on his forehead.
"Rick!" Lisa yelled out, realizing what had happened. She struggled to keep the ship on course off the planet. She prayed that they could escape their pursuers quickly enough.
"Admiral Hunter!" Max yelled through the communication console. "Reinforcements are here."
"Max," Lisa answered back. "He's hurt. I need help to get out of here."
"I've got you covered; fly straight back to SDF-3." He and his squadron raced past her while she and the Zentraedi escort headed back to the SDF-3.

Lisa managed to land the ship and quickly opened the canopy to get Rick out.
"Medic!" she yelled as she tried to free him from his seatbelt. She saw the blood that was streaming down his forehead and feared the worse. She called for the medics again who were rushing up to help her.
"Lisa," Jean greeted her as she and the medics brought in Rick into the infirmary.
"He's hurt," she repeated and watched helplessly as the medics continued to strap Rick to all sorts of devices.
"Let me take a look at you," Jean offered, concerned that Lisa might also be injured.
"Check on Rick first," Lisa ordered. "That's an order." She made it clear that it was not a request when Jean hesitated.
"Very well, but you stay here," Jean said. She motioned for one of the nurses to keep an eye on her friend who was clearly shaken.
"I'm fine," Lisa insisted. "Please, take care of Rick."
After what seemed like hours of waiting, Jean finally returned to tell Lisa that Rick was fine. He had a slight concussion but otherwise unscathed by the attack. Lisa was relieved and was about to ask if she could see him when her vision turned dark and lost consciousness.