fanfic_name = What if Lisa had entered the Miss Macross contest?

chapter = 5

author = gppr

Rating = AP

Type = Humor

fanfic =
Disclaimer: I do not own Robotech or its characters. This fan fiction was
written for entertainment purposes only. No infringement is intended.

CHAPTER 5

Critical

--------

"No use. She is dead," said the paramedic. The recovery team slowly pulled the
body of who had been a contestant in the beauty pageant out of the rubble of
Macross' auditorium. "What a waste," She thought looking at the pretty face.
She closed the victim's terrified green eyes with her fingers. "When is this
going to stop?"

The Zentraedi pounded the SDF-1 mercilessly before finally been forced to
retreat. Not only the military took huge losses. The battle inflicted a lot of
damage to the city. The rescue crews sorted carefully through the grisly sight
of destruction and death. The paramedic stood surrounded by it all, silent.
Elsewhere on the rubble, a man unearthed yet another body. It was the 50th. He
bent mechanically to feel any signs of pulse or faint breathing. His eyes went
wide. "Quick! There is one over here. I feel a pulse!" he yelled.

-------

One by one the outlasting veritechs docked to the battle fortress. Lieutenant
Rick Hunter's Vermillion 1 was among them. Roy, Ben and Max already docked,
welcomed his sight. The four pilots traded looks. Nothing was said; still, each
of them knew they were lucky.

-------

Captain Gloval forced Claudia to leave the bridge after a 20-hour shift. She
reluctantly complied. The Captain knew she was in need of a break. Roy's Skull
One encountered heavy fire on countless occasions during the battle. Her heart
had been on the verge of arrest each and every time. She knew he had docked
safely. Despite her exhaustion, she rushed to see him. She needed his support
at this moment.

She found him at the hangars, Ben, Max and Rick on his side. He smiled at her.
She ran to him and clung to his neck. He wrapped his arms around her thin
waist. "Oh Roy," she said.

"It is okay, Claudia," he said soothingly, seeing the concern in her loving
brown eyes.

"Commander Fokker is a lucky man!" said Max softly.

"What would I give to have a girl wait for me like that," said Ben. "What do
you say, Lieutenant?" he asked Rick.

Rick kept silent. He was imagining Lisa Hayes running to greet him like that.
It was just a dream. There was no chance that would ever happen. Maybe one day,
Minmei would.

"I bet you are thinking of Commander Hayes in her bikini," said Ben chuckling.

Everyone's heads turned towards the source of such a comment.

"What?" asked Ben.

"How can you think of something like that now, Ben!" said Rick annoyed.

"Sorry Boss," he said embarrassed.

Claudia recovered a bit. "Lisa has been missing for over 18 hours," she
announced somberly.

Roy and Rick gasped. Ben and Max were shaken.

"The Macross auditorium collapsed during battle. She was inside when it
happened. I… I am afraid she didn't make it," she declared with teary eyes.

Rick's vision blurred. Minmei was there and Commander Hayes, Lisa… "No!" he
said and ran.

-------

Rick had taken quite a few hits during the battle. His head was light, yet he
moved as fast as his legs would allow him. He reached the place where the
auditorium stood. It was in ruins. The devastation was complete. He closed his
eyes. "No one could have survived that," he thought.

A few seconds later, he spotted a rescue worker. "Wait," he yelled running
towards the man. "Is there any survivor?" he asked crazed.

The man informed Rick that many people made it outside on time due to a prompt
evacuation effort. They were at the hospital being treated for shock and minor
injuries. From within the rubble, only three survivors were extracted. Rick
took off; there was hope.

-------

"Rick," let out Minmei between sobs when he encountered her at the hospital.
She hugged him.

"Minmei! Are you okay?" he asked relieved.

"Yes, Rick… It was horrible!" she said and threw herself in his arms. "If it
wasn't for that woman… I wouldn't be alive now," she added.

"Who?" he inquired.

"I think her name was Lisa. She was a candidate in the contest," replied Minmei
clearing tears from her eyes. "You must have known her, she was in the
military. She pushed us out before everything came down," she added.

Rick's heart jumped. "Was? It couldn't be!" he thought. "What happened to her,
Minmei? Tell me where she is?" he inquired shaking her.

"Rick, I don't know," she said. "Ouch, you are hurting me," she cried as Rick
had unconsciously tightened his grip on her arms. He felt as if lighting struck
him. His vision went completely blank and he fell on the floor.

"Help, help!" yelled Minmei kneeling next to him in the middle of the
hospital's reception room.

-------

Rick stayed at the hospital for a short while. After he collapsed, he was
examined and treated for his injuries. Physically, nothing appeared to be wrong
with him. However, he insisted in having a sharp pain in his chest. In that
moment, the doctor was in his room asking him all sorts of questions. It all
seemed incongruent mumbling for Rick. Nothing seemed to matter anymore. To
Rick's relief, the doctor finally left to order another batch of tests be
conducted.

Rick starred blankly at the wall in front of him. He remembered her. She had
the most beautiful and shy smile he had ever seen. And her eyes… He could get
lost in them. They always sparkled, even when she was yelling her lungs out at
him over the Tac Net. That lady could yell, all right! He would have given
anything to hear her yelling at him just once more.

When she walked down the stage of the Miss Macross beauty pageant, time stopped
for him. He could still remember every detail. The first time she appeared, she
was wearing that sexy dress… she caused quite a stir. He froze when she looked
in his direction, then he melted when she smiled. The second time she walked
that stage, she simply rendered everyone speechless. She was flawless, walking
elegantly in her bikini. How is it that he didn't recognize her beauty before?

Minmei had him blind. Well, Lisa always tried hard to keep people away and
toning down her beauty seemed to be one of her strategies. Everyone knew that
she was beautiful, not that it mattered now.

He knew her looks were not the most special thing about her. Although he could
not say he knew her that well. He had witnessed and heard of things that hinted
Lisa Hayes was an extraordinary woman. He first saw it when she risked her life
to liberate the battle fortress from the Zentraedi trap on Mars. She was crying
when he pulled her out. She must have lost someone dear there. She had a
sensitive heart, a brave spirit and determination. Lisa was devoted to her job,
not because she sought recognition for it; what she truly cared for were the
lives of the pilots and the civilians aboard the SDF-1. She had cared for
others to her last minute, pushing people to safety before thinking of her own.
Now Rick could see how truly beautiful she was; he could see beyond her body
and face.

She was gone now and he found himself regretting sourly not having taken the
time to know her better. He imagined her being crushed under the auditorium.
His fists were clenched. The Zentraedi would pay for it.

In the middle of his darkest thoughts, Commander Roy Fokker came into the
room.

"Hey little bro. How are you doing today?" he said.

"Hi Roy," he replied coldly.

"Your enthusiasm is overwhelming, Rick. Aren't you happy to see me?" Roy teased
him.

"Don't push it, Roy. Not now!" he said aggressively.

"Okay, Rick. I guess I better leave," Roy said stung by Rick's mood.

"No, wait. Sorry Roy," he apologized. "It is good to see you, bro. I am just
not feeling so well," he added monotonously.

"Well, I have some news that may cheer you up a bit," announced Roy. Rick
looked at him unconvinced.

"Hmmm. I see," said Roy. "You might be glad to know that Commander Hayes
survived the collapse of Macross' auditorium.

"What? … She… survived? Where is she, Roy? You have to tell me!" said Rick who
suddenly was off the bed.

"Hey, hey, calm down. Aren't you sick or something?"

"No, I am fine. The doctor just said there is nothing wrong with me. Just tell
me, Roy. How is she? Where is she?"

"Calm down, Rick," said the Commander. "Lisa is very weak. She barely made it.
Her condition is critical but the doctors have stabilized her vital signs. She
is in the intensive care unit at the hospital," he added.

"I must see her, Roy," Rick said with determination and walked towards the door
of his room.

"Okay, okay, little bro. But you may consider getting yourself more covered,"
Roy said, pointing at Rick's open robe. "You don't want to startle her, do you?
Shock therapy would definitely be against the doctor's orders," he added. Rick
blushed furiously.