Fanfic Name / Nombre del Fanfic: Choices and Aces

Chapter / Capitulo: Chapter 23

Author / Autor: Anonymoose_Au

Rating / Clasificacion: AP15 (For Teenagers = Para Adolescentes)

Romance

Action / Accion

Angst / Drama

Fanfic: “When trying to score a date with a woman it’s important to put your best foot forward…but not too forward.” Remark attributed to Rick Hunter 
 
*** 
 
Miriya had been thrown by the sudden appearance of blue haired micronian, thus far none had dared break her concentration on the simulation. She had not even realised two micronians could combat against each other, but it made sense. 
 
Of course none of them had been willing to challenge her, even not knowing she was Zentraedi, she could defeat anyone of them with ease. 
 
She did not expect much from the blue haired one, despite his full tray of earnings. He had probably been on one of the easier simulators or had gone against a weaker opponent. 
 
“So, should we start on Level B?” The blue haired one asked. 
 
And then he winked at her. 
 
Miriya was shocked to the core, a number of males had made that gesture at her, but she had not expected to encounter it in combat. 
 
“Hmmm, certainly,” she replied, recovering herself. 
 
They both fed one token into their respective slots and on screen two virtual micronian females appeared each one striking a gong while the word 'Begin!' appeared. 
 
And in that flying mode Miriya in her red micronian mecha faced the blue one of the male. 
 
The game moved swiftly...TOO swiftly, in seconds her mecha had been destroyed! 
 
Her eyes wide in disbelief, Miriya gaped at the screen. 'IMPOSSIBLE!' 
 
“Whoops,” the blue haired male chuckled. “Looks like I won that round. Should we go on to Level A?” 
 
“Huh?” She looked up and he winked AGAIN. 
 
A micronian weapon! She realised, a wave of disorientation sweeping over her. 'So that’s your game...act WEAK...Well it won’t work TWICE,' she swore and gave a brisk nod. “Yes, let’s go on to Level A, I’m sure that will be most interesting.” 
 
The blue haired micronian pressed a button on his console and suddenly a blue orb rose up from the flat screen and the virtual mecha, switching into that second mode rose up into it. 
 
When they were level with their player’s eyes, the mecha changed again into that body-like form, the one resembling a Quaedluun-Rau. 
 
A gong sounded and then... 
 
Miriya threw her virtual mecha into an extreme dive, just missing the laser fire of her opponent. Who would believe he’d be so fast? 
 
Miriya’s returning shots went wide and she found herself ducking and weaving just to keep in the simulation. 
 
'Who is this male and how does he fight like this?' He was not the one who had bested her in actual combat, she knew, he flew nothing like the infamous ‘Skull Leader’. But he was good, very good maybe even – 
 
Her eyes narrowed and her teeth clenched with effort, Miriya gave the simulation everything she had, she could barely find an opportunity to fire upon him. 
 
Dimly, she recalled Seloy’s report of that battle, how while Miriya fought the ‘Skull Leader’, a blue mecha had cut a swathe of destruction through the Quadronos. She had not really cared at the time, after all, it was each Zentraedis responsibility to keep themselves alive. If they couldn’t...well... 
 
But she had not expected him to be so good! 
 
Her recovering pride began to trickle away…she could not beat this one either. 
 
She could not – 
 
'Wow, isn’t she beautiful,' Max sighed to himself, watching the lovely face before him, if only briefly. She was a formidable player, he had never been up against anyone so good. She almost got him a few times! 
 
He had found his soul mate for sure. 
 
He was barely aware of the huge crowd that had gathered to watch the game play out, or that the owners of the arcade had put the game up on the various screens so even more people could watch the battle unfold. 
 
He was in his own little world, like he was in during combat, except there was one other person with him now. 
 
He pushed the fire button on his control stick rapidly, trying to get a fix on her. 
 
'Such lovely eyes,' Max thought as his met hers. 
 
At that moment his shots hit home, the red Veritech dropped its Gatling and then exploded into a million pieces. 
 
The crowd made a sound halfway between a gasp and a groan. 
 
The blue hemisphere fell away and on Max’s side of the screen, the head of his Battloid opened a little pilot jumped out. 
 
“Oh MAN, I can’t believe you pulled that off!” A guy next to him exclaimed, giving him a clap on the back. “You must be some sort of piloting GENIUS!” 
 
Max grinned, watching as a virtual Minmei ran to the little pilot on screen and threw her arms around him. Together they jumped up and down, the little Minmei planting kisses all over the pilot’s face. 
 
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that exactly,” he shrugged, “there were a coupla tight spots in the middle and near the end, but all in all it wasn’t TOO tough.” 
 
He didn’t have time to bask in his success though, at that moment his soul mate got to her feet and whirled about as if to leave. 
 
“Wait!” Max cried, almost in a panic and lunging forward grabbed her wrist. “Don’t leave yet! This is my only chance to get your name and phone number.” 
 
The girl glared at him and he wondered, too late, if his gloating had annoyed her. “Hmpf! My name is Miriya, and I don’t presently have a phone number,” she replied tightly, tugging on her arm. 
 
Max thought to ask why that was, EVERYONE had a phone in Macross didn’t they? But he dismissed it. “Well, can you meet me at the park tonight at nine o’clock?” He asked while his confidence was still high, nonetheless he still held his breath, waiting for her answer. 
 
“Oh, whatever you want!” Miriya cried. “Just let me go!” 
 
Max was loathe to do so, but he loosened his grip. 
 
“Thank you,” she did not look at him as she yanked her hand away and ran from the arcade. 
 
“Wow,” Max leaned back in his seat, “isn’t she amazing?” 
 
But he did have to wonder from her expression just how well that date would go.  
 
*** 
 
“So?” Lisa asked, barely able to get the word out. 
 
Her father had now viewed it all, what would he say? Would he react like Captain Gloval hoped or like Lisa feared? 
 
Her father returned to his desk and set the report and medical files on the table top, looking down at them for some minutes. Finally he looked up. 
 
“I think with this information the UEC will change its mind,” he spoke slowly, each word lessening the tension. “It’s certainly changed mine It seems improbable, but the aliens are practically humans themselves! I believe then that they can be reasoned with and we MUST reason with them.” 
 
“Oh, Father!” Lisa jumped to her feet. “I’m so relieved you think that! Together we can stop this war, I know we can and then the SDF-1 can come home!” 
 
Her father gave her a small smile. “It can indeed.” 
 
“Are you going to talk to the Council right away? We should get the report to them as soon as possible, “Lisa went over to eject the vid-recording. “After all, every day we’re at war is a day needless killing could occur.” 
 
Her father looked slightly surprised at her words, but he nodded, gathering up the report and files and placing them back in the brief case. Lisa handed him the recording and he put that in too before closing the case. 
 
“I’ll convene a meeting straight away,” he told her, pressing a button on his desk. “I’m afraid you can’t actually enter the Meeting Room,” he continued, coming around the desk and putting a hand on her shoulder. “You can wait outside, or if you’d rather your quarters-“ 
 
“No, I want to hear the news the moment you get out,” Lisa spoke firmly. 
 
“All right, then let’s go.” 
 
This time the ride in the elevator did not seem stifling to her. 
 
*** 
 
“Don’t we have any coconut, how could we not have any coconut?” 
 
Roy looked up from his laptop, where he was going over the performance ratings for the first combat flight of the FAST pack Veritechs. 
 
Claudia was in the kitchen doorway, hands on hips. 
 
“Huh?” He asked, absently, distracted by the amazing figures on his screen. 
 
“COCONUT, Fokker, you know, MY favourite tropical treat? We’ve got enough pineapple here to sink a SHIP!” 
 
“I hope not,” he wagged his eyebrows at her. 
 
“Oh, shut up,” Claudia rolled her eyes, “what are you going to do about this?” 
 
“ME?” Roy pointed to himself. “Why do I have to do anything?” 
 
Claudia gave him a pleading look. “Because you’re a gentleman, you ARE a gentleman, aren’t you?” 
 
“That’s an unfair question.” 
 
“No, it’s not,” Claudia battered her eyelashes at him in an exaggerated manner. “It’s a perfectly fair question, especially since you’re just sitting there while I slave over the stove.” 
 
“You’re making a COLD dinner,” Roy objected, “and this is important stuff,” he gestured to the screen. “Caruthers and Maistroff could test me on this crap at anytime.” 
 
“Oh please, they’re too upset about the aliens being on board to even leave their quarters. If anything you’ll be SAFER from them in Macross City.” 
 
Roy groaned and threw up his hands. “You’re not gonna let this one go, are you?” 
 
“Nope.” 
 
“Oh fine,” Roy closed the FAST pack file and shut the laptop lid, “I’ll go, but you OWE me.” 
 
“Well, I guess THAT answers the ‘gentleman’ question,” Claudia folded her arms. 
 
“No,” Roy said with a lecherous grin. “THIS does,” he gave her bottom a pinch as he walked by. 
 
“Hey!” Claudia objected as Roy laughed. “You better get the coconut from the best grocer in town,” she warned as he disappeared through the door. 
 
*** 
 
For the past week Minmei had spent nearly all her time at Kyle’s bed side. She hadn’t planned to, of course, not after he’d kissed her, but Aunt Lena had told her that Kyle seemed much happier with her around and considering he’d saved her life less than a month before she felt she really owed him. 
 
Kyle had been quite groggy at first, but now he was much more alert, though his head was still swathed in bandages. 
 
“Well, tonight’s the night,” she announced as he walked about the room packing up various things Minmei had brought him from his room at the Hotel. “You’ll be free of this white walls and the icky hospital food.” 
 
Kyle didn’t respond his mind seemed far away. 
 
Minmei puffed up the pillows on the bed, which he had remade, hospital corners and all. 
 
“So, what should we do first? I think we should go to the 'White Dragon', after all your parents will be there.” 
 
“Of course, that’s where they’ve been this whole week,” Kyle replied, his tone distinctly sour. 
 
“Well, they’ve been supplying food for all the clean-up crews,” Minmei pointed out. 
 
“They wouldn’t be if we weren’t fighting this pointless war,” Kyle snapped. 
 
Minmei decided to change the subject this was always bad territory. 
 
“I hope we won’t be mobbed when we leave,” she said instead, “after all you DO have a head injury.” 
 
“I can handle the press just fine,” Kyle spoke confidently. 
 
'I’m not sure I can,' Minmei thought, but did not say so aloud. 
 
At that moment a nurse appeared at the door. “Miss Lynn, Mr Lynn, I take it you’re ready to go.” 
 
“Certainly am,” Kyle remarked, “the quality of care in this place is pathetic. No doubt you’re all too busy fawning over the military men who end up in here.” 
 
Minmei gave a nervous giggle, trying to make it seem that Kyle was joking. She could tell by the look the nurse gave that she wasn’t fooled. 
 
“Well, you’re free to go whenever you’d like,” she responded, coolly, “and I hope we won’t need to see you again.” 
 
Minmei watched the nurse leave and considered saying something nasty to Kyle, instead she said in a small voice. “Was that really necessary?” 
 
“I’m just telling it like it is,” Kyle replied, snapping his suitcase closed. He took a look out the window then picked the suitcase up. “All right, let’s go, I can’t wait to sleep in a comfortable bed for once.” 
 
With that he strode from the room, Minmei in his wake, she, too looked forward to getting back to the hotel. 
 
But as the elevator opened on the ground floor and microphones and cameras appeared Minmei’s heart sank. 
 
It looked like it wasn’t going to be that easy. 
 
*** 
 
“Hey shut up! It’s Minmei!” Tezel shouted, grabbing the remote to un-mute the TV. 
 
The Zentraedi gathered in the common room around Rico, Konda and Bron turned as one. 
 
True to Tezel’s word there was Minmei, seated primly on a bench a long haired micronian beside her. 
 
“Who is she?” One of them wondered idly, pointing. “She looks strange for a female.” 
 
Rico chuckled. “That’s not a female! His name is Lynn Kyle and he spends a lot of time with Minmei.” 
 
The Zentraedi gave Kyle an envious look, each one wishing they could be in his place. 
 
“If he’s not a female, why is his hair so long?” Furel wanted to know, looking at a strand of his own hair. 
 
“Some micronian males grow their hair out like that,” Konda shrugged. “It’s up to them though.” 
 
“Ooh,” the Zentraedi were still trying to grasp the idea that most of the micronians wore whatever they chose, not uniforms. They all still felt they should be commonly dressed to represent their alien status. 
 
“Minmei! Minmei!” A loud voice came from the TV. “Is it true that while Lynn Kyle has been convalescing here you’ve been at his bedside CONSTANTLY?” 
 
Minmei frowned. “I wouldn’t say that, I’ve been giving my evening performances after all.” 
 
The Zentraedi all nodded eagerly, they had been watching of course. 
 
“So, there’s not truth to the rumours that you’re planning to marry?” The voice pressed. 
 
Minmei looked almost as stunned as the Zentraedi did. “What? That’s completely untrue!” 
 
“Really, you’ve never thought about marriage to anyone at ALL? What about that pilot of yours? How does he feel about that?” 
 
Minmei looked completely bemused, then he face relaxed into a smile and she waved a hand. “Oh, you mean Rick Hunter?” She laughed. “He was just a friend.” 
 
“What’s this marriage they keep talking about,” Mardul, still grimy from his day of work with the micronians, wanted to know. 
 
There was a chorus of ‘Yeahs’. 
 
Rico, Konda and Bron exchanged looks, as if they were considering something, then Rico spoke. 
 
“It’s a very important micronian custom, basically a male and female go off alone together for a while and spend all their time pressing lips.” 
 
There was a cacophony of sound at this, the Zentraedi looking at each other wild eyed. 
 
“Pressing lips all the TIME?” 
 
“Why would they do that?” 
 
“Will WE have to do that?” 
 
“How do we choose a female?” 
 
Bron held up his hands. “It’s not required! And as for choosing which female you want...” he trailed off. 
 
“You spend time with them first,” Konda picked up,” doing non-lip pressing activities until you like each other.” 
 
“Oooh.” 
 
“So does that mean YOU three are going to marry the three females we saw today?” 
 
Rico, Konda and Bron looked at each other in shock, they had never even considered THAT. 
 
Now it had been suggested, though... 
 
“We might,” Bron said with a grin. 
 
“If you all stop talking about us pressing lips with them in front of them,” Konda remarked with a glare. 
 
“Yeah, females don’t like that,” Rico added, “so don’t blow our chances.” 
 
*** 
 
Donald Hayes wiped the perspiration from his forehead as he opened the secondary Meeting Room door. The rest of the council exited through the main door, but Lisa was waiting for him here and he had to tell her the good news. 
 
Lisa looked as if she wanted to climb the walls, he couldn’t blame her, it had been a sixty long minutes since he had left her sitting there. 
 
“Father!” She came to her feet. “What happened? What did they say?” 
 
He came over and took her hand. “Well, I don’t know for sure, but I think I got through to them…they’ll agree to negotiate.” 
 
“Oh Father!” Lisa cried, and suddenly she wrapped her arms around him tightly, hugging him like she hadn’t in years, not since she was a little girl, not since before Andrea had died. “Thank you! Thank you!” 
 
Donald felt his eyes fill with tears; he closed them and hugged his daughter back. 
 
Finally, sniffling the two let go of each other and laughed at the sight of each others faces. 
 
“Well, I guess we’re normal after all,” Lisa gave a laughed, wiping at her eyes. 
 
“Oh, I don’t think we ever could be,” Donald disagreed, shaking his head, then he took her arm in his. “Come on, let’s go.” 
 
He didn’t say where, but Lisa didn’t ask and soon they were in the elevator again. 
 
He had noticed a change in her, she seemed to be more open now, with herself as well as others. He had a suspicious as to what it was, but now he felt able to ask. 
 
“So, tell me what’s been going on with you?” He began. “Is there any special man in your life?” 
 
He was rewarded by his daughter blushing and ducking her head, he chuckled. “Hmmm...?” 
 
Lisa twisted a strand of thick brown hair around her finger. “Well...there IS a young man,” she finally admitted. 
 
“Aha, military, I suppose?” 
 
“Yes, he’s a pilot,” Lisa nodded, still not able to meet his eyes. 
 
He was happy to hear it. He had not exactly approved of Lisa’s last love, Karl Riber, not because of his pacifist views, per se but because he seemed less serious about Lisa then she was about him. He hoped this new man would care for Lisa as she deserved to be. 
 
The elevator stopped with a ping and the doors opened. 
 
“Come along, I want to show you something,” he said, getting to his feet. 
 
Lisa followed and started as they immediately walked out onto a narrow walkway suspended far in the air. 
 
“It’s perfectly safe,” he assured her, reaching out to take her hand. 
 
Lisa smiled. “I know, I was just reminded of the alien battle cruiser…the one I ended up on,” she clarified. 
 
“Ah, yes, of course,” he nodded. “Well, it’s not surprising, after all this is based upon alien technology after all.” He waved his hand about the cavernous space. “This is the Grand Cannon, Lisa.” 
 
Lisa’s eyes widened, he didn’t blame her, he too sometimes felt overwhelmed at the sheer size of the weapon. 
 
He turned to look up at the shaft of the weapon. “Before we enter negotiations with the aliens, we plan to fire it at their fleet.” 
 
“WHAT?!” Lisa’s voice echoed loudly. 
 
Donald looked over his shoulder, surprised at her response. “It is our belief that a show of great force will strengthen our position and if there’s anything we’ve learned it’s that force speaks volumes.” 
 
“I don’t believe this!” Lisa cried, shaking her head. “You can’t be serious! Do you realise how BIG the alien fleet is? This...THING,” she gestured around, “wouldn’t destroy a small flotilla! Never mind one of their enormous motherships! The completely outrank us in firepower, Father! The only way to save ourselves is to try and bring peace WITHOUT escalating the war!” 
 
Donald was completely stunned, he had not expected such a reaction, things had been going so well… 
 
“Lisa, you know what war is like as much as I do, how things are done and believe me, this Grand Cannon is more powerful than anything you could conceive.” 
 
“All I can conceive of it is that it will doom us all! The Zentraedi won’t be meek when exposed to force, they’ll fight back! And we’ll die, all of us will!” 
 
“Lisa,” Donald held up a hand, trying to calm her. 
 
“Father, listen to me! The defectors came to us without us fighting them or threatening them! They came because our society offers a life beyond warfare, beyond violence! THAT'S the way to get through to them!” 
 
Donald shook his head, the entire notion was ridiculous! As if it was that easy?! 'What nonsense has Gloval been filling her with now?' He thought, anger at his old friend bubbling to the surface again. 
 
He turned his back on his daughter and clasped his hands behind his back. “Lisa, the decision has been made,” he said, coldly, “the Cannon is all ready being prepared to fire. And when it does, you will see I’m right about this.” 
 
Lisa did not respond, in fact the silence was eerie. When he turned around he realised why. Lisa had left the platform, gone back to the elevator and the doors were closing, before they did Donald saw tears streaming down her cheeks, but they were no longer tears of happiness. 
 
***  
 
Miriya stalked through the city streets, her fury was almost uncontainable. She clutched one of her knives in hand, she saw nobody in the street, which was probably a very good thing for them because she was willing to use that knife on the first person she came across. 
 
There was a terrible pain in her chest, it had been there since she had run from the arcade. She wished more than anything that that feeling would just go away, she had never felt anything like it before.  
 
Her defeat at the simulator played over and over in her mind, along with her defeat in actual combat. 
 
'Two micronians! Two puny micronians had defeated me! This cannot be! This cannot stand!' The furious thoughts whirled through her head. Closing her eyes tightly Miriya tried to banish them, to get a hold of herself. Zentraedi did not run wild, well good Zentraedi didn’t at least. 
 
But the thoughts would not leave her. 
 
She looked about the street, wishing she was full-sized, so she could lash out destroy these buildings, this horrible, disgusting society. At that very moment, she wished that the entire universe would destroy itself, she did not care for her own life, she did not care if she never saw another battle. If she had to die to wipe out the entire miserable race she would do it in heart beat. 
 
And then...there he was. 
 
Ahead of her...the tallest micronian she’d ever seen, dressed in a grey jacket. 
 
She knew every detail of that uniform, she had memorised it that day she had snuck into the base. 
 
Her grip tightened around the knife. Her eyes narrowed, her body filled with hate. 
 
Finally it had come, finally she would have her revenge. 
 
Without even thinking she started running, she swung the knife above her head as a scream tore from her throat. 
 
“’Skull Leader’, prepare for your doom!” 

Continue / Continua: Yes / Si