Fanfic Name / Nombre del Fanfic: Gloval's Letters

Chapter / Capitulo: 1

Author / Autor: Dwparsnip

Dedicated to / Dedicado a: Everyone!!!

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

Romance

Angst / Drama

Fanfic: “Excuse me, Captain Hunter?” 
 
Rick looked up from the map upon which he and Max had hashed out a patrol route to find a rather young- and slightly nervous- looking private peering around the doorway of the Skull’s ready room. Rick studied the private for a moment. ‘Let’s see,’ thought Rick, ‘six feet, short regulation style hair and nervous as hell about something.’ Indeed, Rick had to work hard to keep from asking the younger man what was wrong with him. 
 
After giving Max, who was sitting across from him, an inquisitive glance Rick put on his best welcoming smile and directed it at the private. “What can I do for you, Private…?” 
 
“Blakeney, sir, from security.” Blakeney hesitantly edged farther into view. “Captain Hunter, sir, I have something for you.” Blakeney blanched at his choice of words and tried again. “That is, I mean there’s someone here to see you, sir.” 
 
Rick gave Max another questioning look, and after receiving a shrug from his friend Rick turned his attention back to Blakeney. “Someone to see me? We’re about to go out on patrol, Private.” 
 
Blakeney’s Adam’s Apple bobbed up and down as he tried to swallow the nervous lump that was impeding his breathing. “Yes, sir. I know that, sir.” 
 
Sincerely at a loss as to who could possibly want him so much that they would come all the way to the hangar and interrupt his schedule, Rick simply sat in his chair and stared at Blakeney, making the young man’s anxiety deepen with each passing second. It wasn’t until a few moments later that the look of panic on Blakeney’s face registered with Rick, and he stood up and faced the freckle-faced private. “Okay, Blakeney,” said Rick with a gentle nod and accompanying smile, “show them in please.” 
 
“SIR!” Blakeney snapped off a crisp salute and all but ran from the room, leaving a bewildered Rick and Max in his wake. 
 
He and Max shared a chuckle when the footfalls from a pair of high heel shoes echoed around the corner before their owner did. For a moment, Rick thought it might have been Lisa coming to see him, but he instantly dismissed the hope knowing full well she was far too busy to traipse all way to the tarmac for a visit. 
 
He stared at the door, waiting patiently for his visitor to make her appearance. A moment later his eyes bulged open and his body quickly came to attention as none other than the Judge Advocate General herself walked through the doorway. Though he kept his gaze focused clearly on Rear Admiral Helen Mullins, Rick heard and sensed Max jump to his feet. 
 
He’d never officially met the JAG before though he’d seen her plenty of times at functions and meetings, especially in the last couple of weeks since Khyron’s last attack. She may not have been in the direct chain of command, so to speak, but she was still an admiral.  
 
Admiral Mullins smiled as she clasped her hands together in front of her. “Please, gentlemen,” she said, her English accent soft and gentle, “as you were.” 
 
Both Rick and Max relaxed though neither resumed their seats, a fact that hadn’t been lost on the JAG if her little half smile had been any indication.  
 
Her short dark hair, void of any gray despite her nearly sixty years of age and what had to be a stressful job, barely moved as she confidently strode the six steps necessary to reach Rick. He forced his gaze to stay fixed upon her dark eyes as she approached, tilting his head downward so that he could maintain eye contact with the shorter woman.  
 
When she stood before him Mullins extended her right hand and said, “It is an honor to finally meet you, Captain Hunter.” 
 
Rick accepted her hand and nearly winced in pain and shock at the strength with which her smaller hand gripped his. “Thank you, Admiral. The feeling is mutual.” 
 
Mullins gave Rick a grateful nod as she released his hand and then held it out to Max. “And I am equally honored to meet you as well, Commander,” she said as Max shook her hand. When she released Max’s hand she studied the two of them for a moment and then gave them a genuinely warm smile. “It isn’t surprising to find you two together,” she said as she looked back and forth between them. “From what I can gather you two are closer than any genetic brothers I’ve ever met, including my own.” 
 
Both Rick and Max shifted uncomfortably at the overt sentimentalism and Mullins gave them a brief and soft laugh before becoming serious. She focused her gaze on Max, and when she spoke the warmth had vanished from her voice and she was all business. “If you would please excuse us, Commander.” She looked to Rick and added, “Captain Hunter and I have some business to attend to.” 
 
Rick quickly turned to Max and said, “Wait a second, Max.” When he saw that Max had had no intention of moving anyway, Rick looked back to Mullins. “With all due respect, Admiral,” he said, his voice deferential yet steely in its resolve, “I would prefer that Commander Sterling stay.” When Mullins raised her brow at him, Rick gave her a charming smile and half shrug. “Besides, I’m going to tell him whatever you do or say anyway, ma’am.” 
 
Mullins’ snort of laughter caught both Rick and Max so much by surprise that she had no choice but to notice. “Very well, Captain.” She motioned to the chairs beside them and said, “Please have a seat, gentlemen.” 
 
Rick sat down in his chair, immensely grateful that Mullins had let Max stay. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but whatever it was he sure felt better having his wingman by his side. 
 
Mullins looked to Rick and produced a letter from her right pocket. She held the standard white envelope in her right hand and held it front of her as her left hand grasped her right wrist. “I have a letter for you, Captain, from Admiral Gloval.” 
 
Rick wouldn’t have been any more surprised if Breetai himself had walked through the door wearing a pink tutu and matching ballet slippers. His shock must have shown on his face according to Mullins’ next comment. 
 
“Yes, Captain,” she said with some amusement tingeing her accented voice. “You heard me correctly. I have a letter for you from Admiral Gloval.” She waited a second for that to sink in and then explained herself. “Admiral Gloval was an exceptional man, gentlemen,” she smiled and nodded towards them. “A fact of which you are both quite aware, I’m sure. At any rate, he was also in an exceptional position. Despite his humility and insistence upon an elected government for the surviving population, he was still the man who had saved humanity and was, for all intents and purposes, the most powerful man on the planet. Trusting his personal business to outside sources simply wasn’t acceptable. As such, he tried to keep his business within the RDF for obvious reasons.” She studied both men to make sure she hadn’t lost them, and when she was assured that they were still with her she went on. “One part of that business was his will, and it is my duty as his friend, the executor of his estate and the JAG to inform you, Captain Hunter, that you are in it.” She found it interesting that Hunter’s face registered surprise at her pronouncement while Sterling’s face betrayed curiosity and concern. Mullins held out the letter to Rick and waited for him to take it and when he finally did she said, “I apologize for the delay in delivering it to you, Captain, but with the destruction of New Macross and so on, time has been a very rare commodity for us all.” 
 
Rick nodded absently as he studied the envelope in his hand. The only blemish on the perfectly white envelope was his first name, neatly written in jet black ink and in the obvious handwriting of Henry Gloval. 
 
‘What the hell is this about?’ Rick asked himself, suddenly oblivious to the flag rank officer watching him so intently. ‘Why would Gloval put me in his will?’ It wasn’t until a few moments later that he turned to Max and saw his friend’s meaningful glance forward that he remembered that Mullins was still standing there. He quickly stood up and smiled shyly at Mullins. “Sorry, Admiral.” He gave her a nod and said, “Thank you, ma’am.” 
 
“You’re most welcome, Captain.” She looked over to Max, and as he stood she said, “I wish our meeting could have been under happier circumstances, gentlemen.” 
 
“Likewise, Admiral,” Max said for the both of them. 
 
Mullins nodded appreciatively and turned to leave. When she reached the door she turned around and gave the men a warm smile. “Stay safe out there, gentlemen.” 
 
“Yes, ma’am,” replied Max as Rick said, “Thank you, Admiral.” 
 
Mullins gave them one final smile before walking through the door and leaving them alone. 
 
For nearly a minute after she’d left Rick and Max simply stood there looking at the door. Finally it was Max who came to his senses first.  
 
“Rick?” 
 
Rick tore his gaze from the door and found Max looking at him expectantly. Rick gave his head a gentle shake and sat down as did Max. He glared as his neatly written name on the letter for a moment, then he took a deep breath and proceeded to carefully tear open the envelope. 
 
Inside was a piece of ordinary paper, folded three times so that it could fit inside the envelope. Rick gave Max a ‘Here we go’ look before he unfolded the paper. He glanced over the hand written letter before leaning forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees and reading the letter out loud. 
 
“Dear Rick,” he said and then stopped. Gloval had only rarely called him by his first name. He sighed and started again. 
 
“Dear Rick. If you are reading this letter, I have passed on. It is the way of all living things, I suppose. Anyway, I am certain you are surprised to be reading a letter that I have left you in my will, so I will come to the point. I am writing to you about Lisa.” 
 
Rick stopped and looked over to find an apprehensive look on Max’s face. ‘Come to think of it,’ thought Rick, ‘I’m a little nervous myself.’ 
 
He cleared his throat and read on. “She has been the daughter I never had, Rick, and I care very deeply about her safety and her happiness. Her life has been full of tragedy which she has borne with great dignity, and my pride in her is equaled only by my love for her.” Rick paused, his own feelings of pride and adoration overwhelming him for a second. “I have debated for a long time about whether or not to write this letter, but in the end I decided I had no other choice, as Lisa would never approve of me actually speaking to you about her feelings for you. Lisa loves you, Rick.” 
 
Rick collapsed back into his chair and closed his eyes.  
 
‘Even Gloval knew!’ he thought, then his inner voice dripped with self loathing as he thought, ‘But not you, Rick. No you couldn’t see what was right in front you.’ He sighed and looked back to the letter. 
 
“I know that might come as a surprise to you,” read Rick, his voice strained with a combination of surprise and anger at himself. “For some reason, and I believe we both know who that reason might be, you can not see it, and I am certain that Lisa will never tell you unless something drastic occurs. It is my opinion that she has loved you for some time, and that she loves you very much. In fact, I have never seen her care for anyone as much as she cares for you.”  
 
“You are,” Rick’s voice failed him and he had to clear his throat again.”You are an excellent officer, Rick, and a fine young man who has borne your own demons and tragedies exceptionally well under the most difficult of circumstances. You have been able to do this using your own strength, I know, but I also know that you have had tremendous support from your friends,” Rick gave Max a glance, conveying to his friend the profound appreciation he felt for all Max had done for him, “and loved ones. Especially Lisa, who has been there for you in the most trying of times and many times at the expense of her own happiness.” 
 
Rick knew without thinking about it that Gloval was right. There had been many instances of Lisa being there for him, but the image of Lisa holding him and promising that it would be alright after she’d told him that Roy had died sprang to mind. She’d stayed with him as he’d cried his eyes out, not even batting an eyelash at the emotional outburst and only smiling- lovingly?- at him when he’d mumbled an apology for soiling her uniform with his tears. 
 
‘But at her own expense?’ Rick asked himself. ‘What the hell did Gloval mean by that? Most of the time we were talking about the future, or work related stuff, or Minm…’ Rick gave himself an internal facepalm and he just barely resisted sighing out loud. ‘How many times did I gripe about Minmei to Lisa?’ he thought bitterly. ‘It must have killed her every time.’ The bitterness left him to be replaced by tenderness and the love he felt for Lisa. ‘But she never said a word. Each and every time she listened and offered advice and told me to follow my heart. Oh Lisa.’ 
 
Rick forced himself to focus back onto Gloval’s writing and read, “I am not an expert on love and relationships, Rick, and I have plenty of failed romances to back that up, but I can see that you two are a perfect match for each other. You are polar opposites in some ways, yet eerily similar in others. It is a combination that breeds passion, a passion you are both lacking in your lives, a passion you would both be able to embrace and harness with each other’s help.” 
 
Rick couldn’t help but smile at Gloval’s uncanny and exemplary assessment. For most of his life passion had been something Rick had only ever felt for flying, until he’d come to his senses and realized his feelings for Lisa. Since that moment, passion had come to take on a new and much more beautifully intense meaning for him, especially as their relationship had progressed from verbal declarations of love to physical intimacy.  
 
“I know I am giving you a lot to think about right now,” read Rick, “and for that I am truly sorry, but I would not be able to rest easy if I hadn’t done something. No matter what path you choose, rest assured you have had and will continue to have my utmost respect.” 
 
Rick swallowed hard before reading the last couple of lines. “It has been an honor to have you serve under my command, and it has been a privilege to know you, Rick. Warmest regards, Henry.” 
 
Rick lowered his hand onto his lap and closed his eyes for a second. Images of Gloval floated in the darkness, all of them putting on display the great man that he was. Rick opened his eyes and looked over to Max. His friend had a small smile on his lips and a wistful look in his eyes, telling Rick that he seemed to be caught up in his own memories of the Admiral. 
 
“He was a wise man,” said Rick when Max finally looked back at him and Max, moved just as much as Rick had been by Gloval’s letter, could only nod in agreement. Rick looked through the letter one more time and then carefully, with all the reverence he could summon, folded the letter and placed it back into the envelope. 
 
“Excuse me, sirs.” 
 
Rick and Max looked up towards the door to find one of the Skull’s pilots looking at them with more than a little concern in her blue eyes. “Yeah, Gwen.” 
 
Lieutenant Gwen Jacoby gave them a salute and then slowly stated, “The tower has cleared us for take off, Captain.” She hesitated for a second, debating whether or not to give two melancholy looking senior officers the message she’d been sent to deliver. In the end she decided she had no choice and then said, “Commander Sterling told me to come find you and tell you to, and I quote, sirs, ‘Get your asses in gear’.” 
 
Rick and Max shared a smile, and then Max said, “I think we’ll scrub the patrol, Lieutenant. I’ll see if the Ghost can…” 
 
“No, Max,” interrupted Rick as he stood up, the letter from Gloval gently clutched in his right hand. He gave Jacoby a quick nod and said, “Lieutenant, tell Commander Sterling to get the birds hot and we’ll be there in a minute.” 
 
“Yes, sir,” said Jacoby as she gave the men a casual salute and then left the room. 
 
“You sure about this, Rick?” asked Max. 
 
“I am,” replied Rick as he looked at his name written in Gloval’s impeccable penmanship. He held the letter up and indicated it with a small nod. “We owe him that much.” 
 
Max smiled and said, “Couldn’t have said it better myself, Boss.” 
 
Rick smiled as he walked past Max to the small wall safe located in the ready room. Using a code only he, Max and Miriya knew, Rick opened the safe and gently placed the letter inside. He closed the safe and turned to give Max a roguish smile. “Let’s go flying. 
” 
The End. 

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Author email / email del autor: dwparsnipATyahoo.ca