Fanfic Name / Nombre del Fanfic: Shadow of the Future

Chapter / Capitulo: Chapter 8

Author / Autor: Ronnie Floyd

Rating / Clasificacion: AP (All People = Todo espectador)

Romance

Action / Accion

Fanfic: Chapter 8 
 
Rick leaned against the countertop of the bathroom sink, cupping his hands together Rick splashed water up into his face waking himself up. After taking Lisa home from the Hospital Rick spent most of the night just holding Lisa and letting her cry out all her emotions onto his chest. “Lisa an emotional wreck?” Rick thought to himself looking up, and staring at his own reflection in the mirror over the bathroom sink. Watching Lisa last night left Rick feeling almost relieved… Seeing Lisa crying was another side of her Rick had never seen before, Lisa was always so strong, Lisa always fallowed military protocol… everything was black or white, no room for feelings or personal judgment… Rick had time and again been on the receiving end of Lisa’s strong willed always right personality, some how it was one of the things that had attracted Rick to Lisa. But over the last couple of months since he rescued Lisa from the crumbling Alaskan Base, Lisa had acted different around him… though they still fought constantly there were times when Lisa seemed to warm up to him. 
Over at another part of the military living quarters Lisa set a cup of coffee on the table next to her couch. 
“It hasn’t even been a whole day yet, and I am already bored out of my mind… how am I going to last the whole week of medical leave, stupid doctors.” Lisa thought to herself as she sat back on her couch trying to find anything on T.V. that might interest her, or at least not be talking about Minmei. Lisa wondered what Rick would tell her? This all happened so suddenly, and the last few days have gone speeding by out of control… Lisa sank into the cushioning of her couch. “Could Rick be happy with out her…? He loves Minmei… He will hate me…” Lisa shook her head trying to clear the negative thoughts out of her head, but it was no use she hung her head in her heads and started to cry unable to stop. 
************************************************************************************ 
Max jumped into his Veritech pulling his thinking cap down onto his head the flight crew lowered the cockpit window, and gave him the ok to take off. 
“Vermillion squad you are clear for take off.” A ladies voice said over the radio.  
“Vermillion squad move out.” Max said as he opened his thrusters and his 3 crew men all raced down the deck and headed to their destination. Miriya moved into position behind Max “Ready for this dear?” Max asked, as Miriya’s image winked back at him from his cockpit monitor. “Just try and keep up.” Miriya replied with a smile, and then breaking out of formation she fired three missals destroying a small group of Zentraedi battle pods. The remaining squad of Zentraedi pods scattered into the buildings of the newly built city and began firering their laser cannons at the Veritechs that were swooping down and changing into Battoloid and prepared for a ground battle. Max stepped out from behind a multi-storied building, dropping to one knee as the pods lasers blasted over his battleoid’s head, Max opened fire with his Gatling Cannon in his battleoid’s hands cutting the battle pod down at the knees sending it crashing to the ground helpless. Max’s warring alarms flashed indicating a battle pod was firering at his back, as fast as Max’s mind could react his thinking cap sent his battleoid into a dive the pods lasers scraping the back of Max’s battleoid but only leaving scorch marks. Finishing the role laying on its back, Max’s battleoid swung its cannon around and fired a single shot nailing he battlepod right in its red eye shaped looking scope sending it up in a blaze of flames. 
Up in the sky Miriya was chasing down the last couple of fleeing battlepods, unleashing the last of her side winders the last battlepods were destroyed ending the battle.  
“Good job Vermillion squad return to base.” The flight director said. 
*********************************************************************************** 
Mean while inside one of the old abandoned halls lost somewhere in the right leg of the SDF-1 four men stood in the shadows. 
“Good you are all here.” Maistroff said stepping out of the shadows, Maistroff stood about 5’9 and had an out of shape figure to him about 215 lbs. Maistroff’s balding head was always hidden under his military cap. Maistroff felt the RDF made a grave mistake by overlooking him to captain of the SDF-1, and held extremely bitter feelings against Admiral Gloval. Maistroff pulled every string he had and even black mailed several people into retirement in order to ensure his spot as Gloval’s second in command, and now he was just waiting for is chance to strike, after the SDF-1 had been banished from Earth, Maistroff knew that the Anti-Unification was the only way to avenge first what Gloval had taken from him, and second what all the Earth’s leaders has done to wrong him 
One by one the other three men stepped into the light. First was Colonel Edwards. Edwards stood at 6’4 and a very muscular 210 lbs. his white skin was so tan that were it not for his long blond hair you might think he was pure blooded Italian, Edwards was stationed on Alaska Base when the Zentraedi Rained down their lasers of terror, crawling out of the rubble Edwards reached the escape tunnel in enough time to watch Rick’s Veritech speed off with Lisa, barley able to climb out with his life and presumed dead like everyone on Earth, Edwards has held a personal vendetta against Rick Hunter for leaving him for dead down in that hole.  
The second man to step out into the light was Shawn Tidestien (Ty-Des-Teen), Shawn was 5’11 with a slim figure about 160 lbs with short green hair parted down the middle just long enough to reach the tops of his ears. Shawn was one of the original test pilots of the new Veritech planes when they were first conducted, originally Roy Folker’s wing man back in those days he was recruited to join the Anti-Unification, a group of mercenaries apposed to the ideal of the United Earth Defense. Used to capture one of the first space stations built by the United Earth Defense and destroy the SDF-1 and all of Macross Island. But Roy Fokker was able to single handedly destroy the Space station, and all onboard with it. Shawn was barley able to jettison an escape pod that crash landed miles away from the Island, the scars worn on his face and his whole body showed just how close he came to death… and Shawn swore he would have his revenge of Fokker.  
The third man stepped out of the shadows and into the light; it was Lieutenant Jonathan Wolfe. Lt. Wolf stood at 5’11, and a fit 180 pounds. Lt. Wolfe was a young 22 years old, he graduated the training academy just months before the great battle against Dolza’s armada, Having graduated number one in his class, and by a great many points above the rest of his class, Wolfe was nick named the Ace. Having grown up in the cockpit of a Veritech Wolfe was recruited as a child by his father the original leader of the Anti-Unification group, and trained in secret, so that once of age, Lt. Wolfe would quickly rise to the top and become a highly ranked spy onboard the SDF-1. With Captain Floyd just recently found in the Hospital, but far to injured to return to active duty, Lt. Wolfe was place in command of the Wolf Squadron of Veritechs.  
Maistroff continued “Gentlemen, we are the last four remaining members of Anti-Unification, as the leader, I have personally watch, reviewed, and hand picked each of you to be my command.” Maistroff said looking at each man “Together we will re-build the Anti-Unification group even stronger then it ever has been, and crush the RDF once and for all.” All three men raised a hand in the air and cheered as Maistroff finished. 
“Lt. Wolfe, how is your pilot recruiting coming along?” Maistroff asked. Lt. Wolfe folded his arms and answered. “I have two pilots with me and all the new recruits are being reviewed and closely watched for talent and possible attitude traits that would make them worthy of serving our cause.” Maistroff nodded his approval. “I have put into motion events that will lead to the removal of Gloval and give complete control of the SDF-1 to me, and with the SDF-1 we will control all of Earth.” All the men cheered once more before heading out each in a separate direction. 
*************************************************************************************************** 
Rick raised his hand to knock on the apartment door in front of him, pausing for a moment; Rick lowered his hand “I can’t do it, I… I don’t even know what to say.” Rick thought to himself.  
“Rick?” Rick jumped when he heard Minmei’s voice behind him, Rick felt a very heavy weight in his stomach, he felt sick like everything was spinning around him, Rick wipe his hands on his pants trying to dry the cold sweat off of them. Slowly turning around, Rick hoped with all his heart that it wasn’t Minmei standing behind him that his mind was playing a mean trick and making someone anyone else sound like Minmei. 
Minmei stood on the bottom of three steps that led to her apartment door, Her hair was down some of it spilling over her shoulders, Minmei was wearing a short halter top that started out pink at the top and faded from pinkish/purple in the middle to a light purple at the bottom hemline that stopped a couple inches above her belly button accompanied with a pair of black bell bottom jeans rolled three or four time over providing a thick cuff at her ankles with a black belt that was covered in some kind of sparkles that reflected the sun, Minmei finished off her look with a pair of black platform sandals that ran straps zig zaging across the top of her feet and a ankle strap to hold them on. Minmei stood there her hands clasped together in front of her with a bag from the local grocery market in her hand. Rick put one hand up scratching the back of his head. 
“Hi Rick, did you need something?” Minmei asked walking up beside Rick and unlocking the door.  
“Well… I…” Rick tried to think of something quick, but he couldn’t get anything out. Minmei just smiled and grabbed Rick’s arm, dragging him in and closing the door behind them. “Rick I am so glad you are here, I had such a long day yester day, first there was rehearsal for Saturday’s concert, its gong to be my first concert here on Earth, I am so excited, it is a big charity…” Minmei’s voice trailed off as she disappeared into the kitchen. Rick looked around sweating even more now that he was trapped inside of Minmei’s apartment; looking at a table next to her T.V. Minmei had a picture of her onstage at the Miss Macross Pageant. That pageant changed their relationship for what turned out to be the worse, Rick quickly turned and stood up straight at the sound of Minmei’s voice returning into the living room. “And then there is all this talk about another movie, and the fans, I think some of them are stalking me, it’s scary I am thinking of hiring a body guard.” Minmei stopped right in front of Rick and smiled waiting for him to say something.  
Rick wished he had never met Minmei, she was such a beautiful young lady, she always had such a cheerful out look on life like nothing could bring her down, but now Rick was going to tell her the hardest thing he ever had to say… Rick opened his mouth, but nothing came out, Rick felt like he was drowning in guilt, thought they never were really together and everyone knows Minmei sure didn’t act like Rick was her boyfriend still some how Rick felt like he had cheated on Minmei with Lisa, and the guilt was weighing heavily in the pit of Rick’s stomach. Minmei felt something was wrong standing in silence, she moved in to kiss Rick, but he moved away, Minmei folded her arms across her tummy, and made a pouty face. “Rick, why are you acting like this?” She demanded. Rick turned to face Minmei he summoned every ounce of strength and courage he had. “Minmei, I can’t see you anymore.” Rick felt a pain in his heart at the sound of his own words, and watched helplessly as Minmei’s face dropped from her pout to a gasp of shock, her mouth wide open, Minmei fought to hold back tears, but they started to well up in the corners of her eyes, She stepped in and slapped Rick’s face with all the anger that suddenly flared to life inside her. “RICK!!!! DON”T YOU EVER JOKE LIKE THAT AGAIN!!!!!” She yelled at the top of her lungs. Rick rubbed the side of his face his cheek starting to turn red. “Unfortunately I am not kidding.” Rick said, and at these words Minmei couldn’t hold back her tears and they ran freely down her face, black lines of mascara streaking to her chin. “What… What the hell changed?” Minmei asked her voice choked up by her sobs, Rick stepped in to try and comfort her, but she stepped back. Letting his arms fall to his side and lowering his head Rick continued. “Minmei, I fell in love with you from the moment I saw you on Macross Island, but then I joined the RDF and you… you became a star and well…” Minmei turned to look at Rick she shook her head trying to wake herself from what she hoped was a nightmare “We never have any time, you are always rehearsing, or performing… And I am always on flight duty these days.” Minmei took a step towards Rick with a spark of hope returning to her eyes “Is that what this is about silly?” Minmei said cutting Rick off before he said something she regretted hearing. “I make more then enough money for the both of us; you could leave the service, and go on tour with me.” Minmei finished putting her normal smile back on her face. This time Rick wore the look of surprise on his face. “What? I could never quit flying, all I ever wanted to do is fly, and besides your cousin Lynn Kyle wouldn’t like me hanging around like some groupie.” Minmei’s smile started to fade, and the desperation could be herd in her voice as she spoke “I… I could leave my carrier then and stay with you on base.” Minmei hoped with all she was that Rick would agree, but Rick just stood there tears starting to well up in his eyes, and she knew she wouldn’t like the words to fallow. “Minmei, over the last few months since we last met I have grown close to some one, she has… shown me another side of her that I have fallen for.” Minmei’s tears raced down her face out of control once again, as she threw herself onto her knees wrapping her arms around Rick’s legs so he couldn’t walk away. “DON’T LEAVE ME RICK!” Minmei cried “I need you Rick please tell me you will stay.” Rick had to swallow before he could speak again “I am sorry Minmei, but we both know it never would have worked between us.” Rick said prying her arms from his legs; Minmei looked up at Rick wiping the last of her tears from her eyes “Tell me who it is.” Minmei protested climbing back to his feet. Rick looked Minmei in the eyes, part of him wanted to kiss Minmei to take away all her tears, yes another part of him was sick of her selfish temper tantrums Rick grabbed her shoulders to support her. “It’s Lisa.” Rick said. Minmei took a step back from Rick putting a hand over her mouth. “Lisa?” Minmei replied with surprise “But why? She is always bossing you around; I didn’t think she even liked guys.” Minmei said with a bit of emphasis on the last part. Rick shook his head, she was acting so immature “Like I said the last few months Lisa has shown me a softer side, and with all the time we have been spending together lately I have fallen in love with her.” Minmei had heard enough “Rick Hunter, I don’t believe you, and I have heard enough if you really don’t love me anymore and love this Lisa then I want you to get out of my apartment right now.” Minmei said pointing to the front door. Rick opened the door and looking back at Minmei one last time he turned and closed the door behind him and on his relationship with Minmei and left for his jeep.  

Continue / Continua: Yes / Si

Feedback / Comentarios: Yes / Si

Author email / email del autor: deegan4everAThotmail.com