fanfic_name = Time of Our Lives

chapter = Chapter 6

author = lisav

Rating = AP15

Type = Adventure

fanfic = Remember: This fan fiction was written for entertainment purposes only. No infringement is intended. I do not own any of the characters-- real or imaginary!

Different Paths

INTRO...

She was after all an Admiral’s daughter; born and bred. Lisa was used to having people being nice to her hoping to gain access to her father. She knew first hand about friendship and betrayal when power and greed are the two motivations.

After Karl’s death, she felt she would never trust again or love another. But as cynical as she was she knew there other others out there; people who were kind and true. People like, Roy, Claudia and Captain Gloval.

Suddenly the image of Rick Hunter came to her. Though she refused to admit it to herself, Rick Hunter had come to mean very much to her.

------------------------------------

“Max!” he heard his name being called and he turned around to see who had called him. The voice belonged to one of the bridge bunnies-- Kim Young and with her were Commander Hayes and the other two bunnies, Sammy and Vanessa.

“Where are you going, Max?” Kim asked shyly as they caught up to him. He saluted for they all out ranked him and were in uniform. Lisa returned his salute while the three bunnies just stared at him and smiled like they wanted to jump him.

He liked the bunnies. They were nice, pretty girls that any guy would be luck to have one of them as his girl. He had even thought about asking one or all three of them out but the timing and place were never right so he never made the move.

Besides it was common knowledge among the VT pilots that the bunnies don’t do pilots; something to do with too much pain and worrying. He can’t blame them for death was a pilot’s constant companion.

“I was just on my way to grab a bite to eat at the White Dragon. I think Rick is there already, would you guys like to join us?”

“Sure,” Vanessa said before anyone else could answer and they all began walking toward the restaurant.

When they got there he saw Rick sitting by himself at a big roundtop, he had the only unoccupied table in the restaurant. He directed the girls toward him and as they sat down, Max noticed that Rick had given Lisa a quick nod before turning back to the crowd that was massing at the far end of the room.

Rick might have convinced himself and everyone else around him that he disliked Commander Hayes but Max knew better. He had seen them together on and a few times off duty and knew there was more there than met the eye, more than either of them were willing to admit.

He wondered when it would be his turn.

All his life, he had never been popular with the girls because he was always too much of a nerd for them. But he had never given up hope that someday he would find her-- the girl of his dream.

He knew when he met her, he would know unlike his skipper and the Commander. Shaking his head, he turned his attention back to what Lisa was saying.

"What’s with all the people?" Lisa asked looking at her watch. “I was hoping we had beaten the lunch crowd.”

"Minmei's long-lost cousin, Kyle was in Tokyo when I escorted her there to visit her parents and she wouldn't come back without him. So it’s sort of a welcoming home party for him," Rick explained.

Lisa's face clouded with disapproval.

She knew Rick had no authority to bring an outsider to the SDF-1 but if that was the only way Miss Macross would rejoin the ship, Rick had probably done the right thing.

Why do I feel like strangling her every time I see her? And I don’t even know her except that Rick loves her.

Sammy’s loud excited voice interrupted her thought. "What a hunk! Oh I could stare at him forever," and her two cohorts were quick to agree, sounding as if they were about to swoon. Lisa looked over to where Kyle stood with Minmei and his mother, greeting people and accepting their warm welcome.

Lisa gasped, unable to tear her eyes away from him. There was something about him that brought back images of Karl, feelings she had desperately tried to bury and dreams she had tried in vain to let go.

"Kim, stop staring at him so hard!" Sammy giggled. Kim sniggered back, "Oh, sure! And I suppose only you are allowed to stare at him?"

"What did you say her cousin's name was again, Rick?” Vanessa asked.

"Kyle," Rick grunted.

"Gee, Minmei sure looks happy," Kim sighed.

Rick felt like somebody had just kicked him in the stomach at Kim’s comment and was about to say something when he noticed Lisa staring at Kyle.

What? Lisa too? I don’t get it. What’s so special about him?

Suddenly Minmei's cousin was there, with Minmei trailing behind like a faithful puppy.

"Hi, everyone, this is Lynne-Kyle, my dearest cousin” said Minmei and she rested a possessive hand on his arm.

“He doesn’t like the military much so please don’t take it personally if he’s a bit opinionated,” she finished with a smug look on her face as she looked to the three bunnies and Lisa.

Why does he remind me so much of Karl? Lisa thought and she had to fight to not throw herself at Kyle. She didn’t realize it but the shock, pain and confusion she was experiencing had clearly showed on her face.

Rick scowled. He didn’t like Lisa being so interested in Minmei’s cousin. He didn’t understand it himself either, but he suddenly became very angry at Kyle, at himself for caring and especially at Lisa for being fooled by Kyle’s good looks.

He watched in disgust as the three bunnies fell all over one another greeting Kyle. He would have hugged Max for he was the only one, besides himself who had seen through Kyle’s fake friendliness.

But he hadn’t had the chance for Max surprised him speechless by asking Kyle if he had something against the service.

Kyle shook his head and sent his long, straight midnight hair shimmering to the delight of the bunnies including Minmei and Lisa.

"It's not just the military. I don't like fighting of any kind." Kyle said.

Sammy rested her chin on her hands and batted her incredibly long eyelashes at him promising happy endings and carefree loving. While Kim gave him her brightest smile and Vanessa looked at him adoringly like he was the greatest man ever walked the Earth.

Max smirked with amusement.

Boy, can the bunnies charmed when they want to! No wonder all the pilots were always raving about them even thought none of them had ever been invited back for second dates.

He quickly turned serious again when he saw Minmei giving the bunnies a suspicious scowl and tightened her hand on Kyle’s arm even more. He wondered if there were more to Kyle and Minmei than just cousins. He hoped not for Rick’s sake.

"Fighting equals death, devastation and destruction!" Kyle continued his voice high with righteousness and contempt for all of them.

“Are you saying that everyone in the service enjoys killing?" Max challenged.

Rick couldn't help jumping in, even if it offended Minmei and he hoped it would. "Well, I didn't join the Robotech Defense Forces because I like killing and destruction. I joined because I wanted to protect those who I cared about."

Suddenly someone ran into the restaurant and yelled, “I just heard that we’ve all been denied permission to leave Macross! No one has confirmed it yet but you know those military people... They can never tell anybody the truth even if they’re looking strait at it!”

“What?” somebody said and everybody started to talk amongst themselves, some were even yelling and cursing when they finally realized what that meant.

The party was quickly forgotten and the happy mood in the restaurant disappeared into the air like smoke. Rick could feel the frustration, anger and confusion in the room growing and he knew they had to leave now!

Kyle suddenly grabbed Lisa’s arm. “Hey, look everybody; we have ourselves a high ranking officer here. Why don’t you tell us,” and he looked at Lisa’s insignia again, “Commander, what this bullshit is all about?”

“Let go of her,” Max said with deadly calm and Rick stood up with fire in his eyes ready to fight him. Minmei backed off from the table and looked in shocked at the three men killing each other with their stares.

Lisa was so out of it that she hadn’t realized what was going on until she felt Kyle’s hand on her.

His hold was none to gentle and it quickly snapped out of her day dream. Looking up at him, she saw contempt and something cold, mean and cruel lurking in the depth of his black eyes that scared her.

Instinctively she jabbed her knee into his groin, hard and as he released her, she uppercut him squarely in the jaw. She sent him staggering back and Minmei’s scream could be heard as all hell broke loose.

Twenty minutes later and a broken heel, Lisa heard the attack siren and the fight suddenly stopped. Everybody began running out to take cover and those who couldn’t get up were trying.

Minmei had Kyle’s head on her lap and was comforting him while trying to help him up at the same time so they can go to the shelter underneath the restaurant.

Sammy grabbed Lisa’s hand and pulled her after Rick, Max, Kim and Vanessa who were already out the door. Max was able to hail a cab and they all jammed in.

Her hand hurt where she had uppercut Kyle and a couple of the angry patrons who had made the mistake of thinking she was easy prey.

Well her hand throbbed more than it hurt and she should probably put some ice on it but she ignored it. The pain actually felt good for it reminded her that she was alive.

Rick and Max looked and felt like hell. They were bone-weary and sore all over. Their knuckles were lacerated and bloody. Rick still had a bleeding cut above his right eye brow and favoring his left side while Max had a swollen, split lip.

Lisa reached into her pocket and pulled out her handkerchief, she handed to Rick while Vanessa did the same to Max.

Now that she’s a bit calmer, she still can’t believe it that she had started a brawl!

Oh God, what had gotten into me? I will never be able to live this down once the trio gets through telling it!

She hadn’t meant to, Kyle had startled her and she just reacted. She figured Captain Gloval was not going to be too crazy about the fight. More than anything else that might come out of this stupid incident; she worried about disappointing Captain Gloval the most for he was like a father to her.

I’ll deal with it later… for now we have to survive this attack.

As they got off at the base and everybody raced off to their destination-- Rick and Max to their VTs while the trio and her to the bridge, she suddenly had an urge to tell Rick to be careful but he was already gone and she quickly dashed the silly thought away.

-----------------------------

Lisa sat outside the operating room, with her hands covering her tear stain face.

As soon as her shift had ended, she had raced down here and that was three hours ago. She knew she looked like hell but she didn’t care. All she could think about was Rick and she prayed he was okay.

‘Lisa, this is Rick! I'm in direct line of our missiles! Abort firing! Destruct! Destroy them! Mayday! Mayday, I'm hit!’

“Any words yet?”

Lisa looked up and saw Roy sitting next to her and holding out a cup to her.

When did he get here? Where was I that I didn’t even hear him coming to sit next to me?

“No, nothing yet,” she said quietly and shook her head at the cup in his hand.

“Come on, take it. It’s just coffee. Claudia is bringing me another one,” he said, urging her to accept the coffee. She does reluctantly and takes a drink all the while unable to meet Roy’s eye.

“Commander Fokker, if Rick dies I will never be able to forgive myself. It’s my fault that he’s in there now. I know he’s like a brother to you and if it’s any consolation... I’m so sorry. I didn’t know...” Lisa explained brokenly.

I didn’t know how deeply it would affect me and how much I felt for him. She had wanted to say too but didn’t and couldn’t.

“Lisa, stop it!” Roy said and chose his word carefully for he knew how much Lisa was hurting and blaming herself. She was always the hardest on herself. He knew she was her own worse critic.

“Rick’s a big boy and a good pilot. He’s in there because he was careless. I don’t want you to blame yourself, do hear me? If anything, I want to thank you for looking after him...”

Just then the doctor came through the door and both Lisa and Roy got up to greet him. Hope and optimistic shined in their eyes as they stared at the doctor.

“He’s going to be fine. Some internal bleeding which we were able to stop in time. Multiple lacerations, a few broken ribs plus a minor concussion but on the whole he’s going to be okay,” said the doctor calmly.

“We’re going to move him to his own room in a couple of minutes. Once he’s settle in you both can see him, but very briefly for sleep and rest is what’s going to get him back on the recovery road.” With that the doctor left them and they laughed and hugged each other. Lisa had tears of happiness in her eyes.

“I assumed by the way you both are celebrating and carrying on, our loud mouth pilot is going to be okay?” Claudia teased and smiled warmly at Lisa and Roy. They all laughed and Roy pulled her into the hug with them.

... Three Days Later....

“Hello, Lieutenant,” a quiet voice said from the door and he turned to see Lisa standing there.

She looked good, a bit forlorn but good nevertheless; her uniform was neat, pressed and starched. He couldn’t ever remember a time when her uniformed had winkles.

Oh how he hated that hairstyle! He wished she would get rid of it.

“Commander,” he said and they stared at each other.

“Rick, I’m sorry,” she said after a while and walked over to give him her bouquet of yellow daffodils. He accepted them without much interest and sadness once more encased her budding excitement at seeing him alive again.

“It was my fault that you and Max got into that fight at the White Dragon... and now you’re here because of me again.”

“No, don’t blame yourself, Lisa,” he answered her. “Kyle had it coming. He had no right to touch you and if you hadn’t physically told him so, I would have.”

Then he laughed bitterly. “I’m here, Lisa because I was too busy chasing after the Red Baron to pay attention to what you were saying to me about staying out of the area. I just thought that if I could get him, maybe I could end this war.”

“The ‘Red Baron’?” Lisa asked confused.

“That’s what all the VT pilots are calling him. He’s the guy responsible for taking out half of Roy’s team two months ago single handedly. His mecha suit is like none that we have seen before.”

“It’s supercharged, more maneuverable and powerful than any other in the Zentraedi fleet and boy, can he fly it! The only person I’ve seen that can even match his skills is Max,” Rick explained.

Then as if seeing the daffodils for the first time, he brought it closer to him, examining the delicate folds of the flowers.

“These are real nice, thank you. I think I saw a vase underneath that cabinet, will you put them in the water for me?” he said and handed her back the daffodils.

She quickly nodded and went around looking for the vase and did as he asked, thankful for something to do. Bring the vase to his night stand she knew she had to let him know how her feelings had changed toward him.

"Rick, I don’t know what I would have done if you had died ...knowing that I caused it. I was very worried,” she confessed and refused to turn to look at him.

He snorted, "This isn't like you at all, Lisa. Where’s the confident commander who’s always so stoic and in charged?"

Why did I think that just because my feeling for him has changed, so has his also? He still sees me as just his CO and a sourpuss!

Hurt and humiliation rushed through her and she turned to anger to block out her hurt.

"No, Lieutenant, it’s not like me at all. Now if you’ll forgive me for taking too much of your time, I have to get back to my duties on the bridge. Get well,” and with that she quickly turned and walked out of the door before he could stop her.

“Lis...”

What did I say? Women! How they confused him, first Minmei and now Lisa.

Tears fell as soon as she was out the door. She couldn’t see where she was going and ran right into a hard male body when she turned the corner.

“Lisa,” Roy said with surprised and concerned in his voice as his hand reached out to steady her. “What’s wrong? Is Rick okay?”

“Umm ... yes, Roy I..,” then she saw that Max Sterling and Ben Dixon were also with Roy and smoothly she said, “I’m sorry Commander Fokker. I seemed to have got something caught in my eyes. Excused me, gentlemen but I have to go,” and she disappeared down the hall, almost running.

Ben was confused for he and Max had saluted her immediately when they saw her. But she hadn’t returned their salute like usual. Call him dumb but he knew there was nothing in her eyes but tears.

Why she was crying? I bet boss-man and her got into another roll!

He loved watching his Lieutenant and her go at it for it always gave him lots of laughs and information to tell the other pilots.

Whenever there was a rumor or gossip about them, the other pilots would come to him to confirm it for he had front roll seat to all the action. Well, so did his buddy Max but many of the pilots were afraid of him because he’s so good at what he does and quiet.

He wondered how long his skipper and the Commander were going to fight before they realized that they were better off kissing each other.

Heck! They should be marrying each other... the way they threw sparks at each other and he knew he was going to have to change his bet. Move the “getting in the sack date” up closer.

He suddenly laughed out loud at the silliness of it all and got a stern, disappointing look from Commander Fokker.

After Roy, Ben and Max had left, Rick felt depressed, restless and lonely. He turned on the television in his room and saw that Minmei was on-- live.

He went back to his bed, sat down and prepared himself to watch her. To let her voice lure him to sleep and forget about everything else that was troubling him, like Lisa and his growing attraction to her. He had hoped that it would fade but it hadn’t, in fact it was getting stronger.

Just when he was about to close his eye to take a nap, an older mean looking man came on and Minmei’s singing was cut short abruptly.

--- ‘We apologize for this interruption but Captain Gloval has an important announcement to make.’---

He watched as Captain Gloval walked to the mic and took a deep breath. Rick already knew what Captain Gloval was going to say before he even said it.

Finally it’s going to public knowledge...

“Ladies and gentleman, I regret to inform you that the United Earth Government has denied my request to let you leave the SDF-1. They specifically state that if I disobeyed their order, anyone caught leaving will be captured and jailed, and the SDF-1 will be shot down.”

“In short, we have been exiled by them and they want us to leave Earth immediately. They believe that the enemy is after us and if we leave, so will the enemy. They do not want Earth to go through another war. I am sorry I let each and everyone of you down...” and he stopped unable to go on.

Then Minmei came on and hugged Captain Gloval, with tears shinning in her eyes she began to speak:

“Please everyone, give the Captain our support. Without him who knows if we would have made it this far. We have lived through so much in the last two years and have become stronger because we had each other. Now is not the time to start splitting up. Now is the time for us to united and band together for we have no one else but each other. I don’t know about you but I love being here among each and everyone of you and I consider all of you my family. I am proud to call this spaceship my home!”

With that she signaled her band and began singing her favorite song-- My Time to be a Star, like her life depended on it.

How could she be so sensitive to everybody’s needs and know just want to do to inspire them, to unite them, to love and to calm their raging anger yet so blind to my need?

Nevertheless she had made him proud to have known her and be her friend for he knew only she could have succeeded where countless of others had failed. She didn’t know it but she had just saved the RDF from a major headache in dealing with civilian riots.

Minmei...

-------------

I will show them who is incompetent!

Miriya Parino, leader of the Quadronos smiled and hit her thrusters. She knew this was wrong to defy Azonia but her pride would not let her stop. She had to show that posturing fool Khyron who was the best.

She could still hear Khyron's words picking at her pride and skills.

‘If you think you could do better, I dare you to kill the Micronian ace pilot. How can you call yourself the best if I know there’s somebody out there better?’

Dammed you, you Backstabber! I will show you and everyone else that no one is my equal.

All her life she had lived for combat and victory. She had never been beaten in battle before and this little skirmish she was leading her trusted Quadronos to would be no different.

“Attack!”

Miriya couldn’t believe it! Not only had she not destroyed the Micronian, she'd come very close to being killed herself. He was as good as Khyron had said and better. For the first time, she was beginning to doubt herself and her skills.

Seething, Miriya guided her mecha back to her battle cruiser. Getting off, she looked at no one and no one dared to look at her. She walked to her quarters calmly but inside she was a burning inferno.

You’ll pay Micronian for making a fool of me today. You will die by my hand and no other, this I swear!

-----------

He knew he had been shot but it didn’t hurt. It fact, he kind of felt numbed; a bit light headed and weird like this was a dream.

What am I doing here? I feel fine. Oh yea, I came to check up on my wingman, Captain Williams and Rick’s corporal, Dixon.

"Hey, nurse-"

Then he saw Dr. Chang, the man in charge of the Special Military Medical Unit whose main job was to care for VT pilots and waved him to where he was.

Dr. Chang came for he recognized the Skull Team leader. He bent down to look him over for Roy was sitting on a bench outside the ER.

“Commander, you look very pale. You’d lost some blood, right? Nurse!” and two of them came running. “I want him hook to a plasma bottle now!” They took one look at the pilot and hurried away to do as they were told.

“Where are you wounds, Commander? Let me see.”

“No, doc... just flesh wounds; nothing serious,” Roy said and pushed Dr. Chang’s hand away.

"Williams and Dixon?" Roy asked hopefully.

"I'm sorry, Commander. Dixon was dead upon arrival but Williams, he didn’t make it. He died on the table," Chang said quietly.

Roy couldn’t speak.

“Stay here do you hear me? Do not leave, Commander Fokker. I want a look at you again after you get your blood. I don’t like your color. I will be back,” said Chang and quickly went to check on the others.

Roy squeezed his eyes shut. He didn’t want the tears to come but they did anyway.

How do you let go of the pain of a close friend's death?

Jack Williams and him, they go way back. They were at flight school together and even did their first tour together. Every time they go out into battle, he could always count on Williams to back him up without a doubt.

Dixon, Rick’s going to kill me now for sure for losing one of his men. He was just a kid. A brave kid nevertheless who came to my aid and took the hit, dammed! It should have been me!

“Commander, give me your arm,” a pretty blond nurse said and he was just about to tell her to get lost when he saw Claudia standing not two feet from him, tears streaming down her face.

“Claud, what are you doing here? Am I dreaming love, I just wished for you and here you are?” he said dreamily for he was slowly loosing his grip on reality.

“Shut up, Roy. Just shut up!” and she was next to him in a blink of an eye. “Give her your arm Roy Fokker or I swear I will kill you myself!” she threatened. To her horror, Roy only smiled and closed his eyes.

Claudia nodded to the nurse and they got him hooked up. Then she disappeared and Claudia was left holding Roy in her arms.

She brushed his blond hair lovingly away from his face and kissed his forehead. She had run like a mad woman all the way down here from the bridge when she’d heard about the shape of Skull One from one of the maintenance tech.

Don’t you dare die on me, Roy Fokker!

“Nurse!” Claudia said in an almost panicky voice, “There’s something wrong? He’s barely breathing and his skin feels cool, almost cold!”

Just then Dr. Chang came around the corner and came to them. He quickly opened Roy’s flight suit. “He’s been shot! My God, he’s got internal bleeding. Why didn’t he say anything?”

“Code Red everyone!” Dr. Chang yelled and nurses came running with equipments and medical supplies.

-----------------

Rick was sitting up in bed watching the late night news for any information about the recent attack. From his room he had seen the enemy entered the ship and seen Max chased after it but he hadn’t been able to see or determined what happened next.

The enemy was the Red Baron Rick was sure. He knew if anyone could take on the Red Baron it would be Max but he still worried.

Max, Ben and he had been through a lot together since he had become their skipper. He liked both of them very much and had come to appreciate them for being his wingman as well as his friends.

Suddenly the door opened and he looked up to see Lisa standing there.

"Lisa! I didn’t expect to see you again. Look, I’m sorry about this morning if I said something..."

Then he saw something in her expression, and he knew she did not come to see him but rather to inform him of something.

“Rick, Commander Fokker... he’s wounded and in a coma. The doctors are not sure if he’s going to make it,” she said and hastily added, “Ben’s dead, Rick. He’s dead.”

“What! No! I was just talking to them earlier today. In fact Ben even told me that I was a jerk for making you cry. I never figured him to be a fan of yours ...”

Lisa interrupted him, “I’m sorry Rick. I’m so sorry.” She said sadly and walked up to his bed. She was about to reached out her hand to him but he turned away from her and stared into the dark fake night sky outside his window.

Her heart dropped and she told herself to leave for clearly he did not want her or her sympathy. She blinked away tears and turned to leave when he stopped her.

“I want to see Roy. I want to see my big brother, Lisa.”

“Rick, it’s late. There’s nothing...”

“Either you help me or I will do it myself, Lisa!” he yelled at her in anger and frustration.

Looking at him Lisa nodded, “I will help you, Rick.” She had wanted to add, ‘because I love you’ but she didn’t for she knew his heart still belonged to Miss Macross.

State = Continuará/To Be Continue

feedback = Sí/Yes