Part Five Chapter Six

Index

Part Six Chapter Two

Disclaimer

Macross is owned by or licensed to lots of people - Tatsunoko Studios, Harmony Gold, Studio Nue, Streamline Video...note that none of them are me.

The same can be said of Ranma 1/2 - Rumiko Takahashi, Kitty, Shonen Sunday Comics, Viz Video. Not me.

I didn’t create any of them, and I certainly do not own them. Please don’t sue me.

A blood-red sun hovering over the mountain range...

A field of flowers, coral pink and three-petaled...

A valley full of pools, each with a bamboo pole standing upright in the centre...

"RANMA!"

Akane sat bolt upright in her bed.

The room was dark, and save for the sound of her roommate’s breathing, soundless. Akane dropped her face into her hands and wept.

* * * * *

Captain Gloval cleared his throat, and stepped up to the microphone.

"It is my great pleasure to announce that as of today, September First, Two Thousand and Ten, the Zentraedi and Meltraedi forces, and the United Earth Government, have agreed to a cease-fire. All combat forces are ordered to stand down on both sides."

The cheers were deafening; Gloval paused, and waited for the noise to abate, before continuing.

"Now, the cease-fire has been made under force of certain demands on all three sides. The United Earth Government has demanded that all Zentraedi and Meltraedi forces withdraw to the Mars Orbit at the closest. The Zentraedi forces have demanded the UEG and Meltraedi to lend their support to the search for the Zentraedi war criminal, Khyron. And the Meltraedi have demanded the right to place an ambassador on Earth, to communicate with people who may be descendants of theirs."

Gloval turned to more directly face the Meltraedi Ambassador to the United Earth Government. "Miss Parino, will you be undertaking this mission yourself?"

Miriya shook her head. "I will not. A single warrior is being sent from my ship, who will serve as our Ambassador."

Gloval frowned. "I’m not sure this would be acceptable...unless the warrior were, like you, micronized."

Miriya laughed, and stood. "Yes, my good Captain, she is a Microne."

* * * * *

"Prepare to meet ambassadorial transport." Akane snapped her Battloid to attention. "Present arms."

The entire Blue Squadron, chosen (she was certain) because it was the only Squadron with a female commander, raised their rifle/cannons in salute, as the Meltraedi powered armour suit touched down on the deck. Behind the suit, the hatch sealed, and with a soft explosive noise, the bay was repressurized.

The suit knelt and cracked open, but rather than a full-sized pilot, inside was a small ball-like cockpit, which was extended down to floor-level. A hatch popped open on the cockpit, and from within emerged a purple-haired figure dressed in a tight-fitting maroon jumpsuit.

Akane gaped.

Shampoo raised a thumb towards the lead Battloid. "Is good be back. Shampoo want to go to restaurant."

* * * * *

"Granddaughter!" Cologne cackled merrily. "So good to see you. And I see you’ve become quite the warrior."

"Is true." Shampoo knelt and hugged the older woman. "Much fun, but Shampoo miss you."

Miriya smiled. "It seems that my former commander was very impressed with your fighting talent, Sister. In fact, I hear you hold the squadron record on the simulator."

"Was very surprised." Shampoo giggled. "Even beat your high score."

"Simulation bored me. Besides, there’s no substitute for real combat." Miriya was wearing her neosilk gi, to which she’d added a baldric, adorned with her Meltraedi decorations. Plus the three U.N. Spacy decorations she’d earned to date: Her Lieutenant’s bars, her pilot wings, and her Ace ribbon.

"Azonia say she give crew for Gerikai, but ship remain in Terran registry." Shampoo frowned. "Not seem right, but only way it work. What Gerikai mean?"

"The closest translation into your language would be Vengeance." Miriya smiled slightly. "And as for the Meltraedi crew, they will be taking orders from a Microne commander. One Colonel Maistroff, formerly of your Intelligence department."

"Meltraedi take orders from man?"

Miriya sighed. "Probably not easily. But there is only one female of command rank in the U.N. Spacy. And Captain Gloval says he is not willing to give her up. This I understand." She smirked. "He needs a woman to keep thing from going to hell."

The bell over the door rang, and Ryouga entered the restaurant. "Miriya!" He stepped forward, then paused. "Ummm..."

Miriya smiled. There was a Micronian gesture they used, she’d seen, to greet one another...She stepped up to him, and embraced him warmly. "Ryouga. Good to see you again."

Shampoo and Cologne blinked. Ryouga nearly passed out. Miriya stepped back, puzzled. "Is something...wrong? My actions are not proper? Do your people not grasp each other like this as a greeting?"

"That depends, Sister." Cologne’s grin returned. "Usually, a hug is reserved for someone you like a lot. A family member, or a mate."

"Oh." She turned back to Ryouga. "I’m sorry if I caused you distress."

"I don’t mind." His voice was unsteady. "Feel free to hug me anytime."

"I understand that you and Ryouga have dated in the past...Perhaps things have gone further than I knew?" Cologne shrugged. "I have been wrong in the past."

"Well, I am pleased to see you, Ryouga." Miriya smiled - a pleasant smile, for once. "Where have you been?"

"Well, Wild Horse One took some damage in her last battle, and I’ve been repairing that for the last four days. Plane Captain, remember?" Ryouga scratched his head. "I think I was in Hydroponics for a day or two before that...I remember some really big glass tubes with plants in ’em. Before that, well, you were in custody, and I didn’t get to see much of you."

"What Wild Horse One?"

"It’s Captain Saotome’s personal Valkyrie," said Miriya. "The one he was flying on his last mission."

"Yep." Ryouga nodded. "As far as I know, it’s been his personal airplane since the day he took command of the Angel Squadron."

"Was it not assigned to another pilot, while Captain Saotome was in the brig?"

"Yeah, I think you’re right, Miriya." Ryouga pulled out a notebook and flipped through it. "Yeah...one Max Sterling. Flew it on one major mission."

"Max Sterling..." Miriya’s smile reappeared, rather more predatorial this time. "I still wish to meet this gentleman..."

"He normally hangs out at the White Dragon. I could take you there now, maybe buy you something to eat--"

"Yes, that would be nice. Thank you ever so much, Ryouga."

* * * * *

Paperwork. It’s the bane of officers everywhere.

Max wasn’t certain why exactly he’d let Rick talk him into becoming XO for the Skull. Perhaps it was his respect for the older pilot. Older, hah. By maybe a year, if he’s lucky. But one thing he was certain of was that the resulting extra paperwork really cut down on his free time.

I could be out trying to get laid right now if it wasn’t for this confounded stuff.

The bell rang over the door of the White Dragon, and simultaneously, Max’s danger sense pinged. He glanced up, to see the Meltraedi defector, Miriya Parino, followed by a Valkyrie tech.

"Maximilian Sterling?"

Max stood up slowly. "Uh-huh. And you’re the Meltraedi sent to assassinate me?"

"Yes." Miriya smiled slightly. "The dishonour of being defeated by a male is not something I can easily forget."

"I see." Max shifted his feet. "If you think you’re up for it, by all means..."

Miriya shook her head. "No, I am not here to attack you. As satisfying as it would be to prove I am the superior, my sister Shan Pu has told me where my duty lies."

"Yeah?"

Miriya drew in a deep breath. "Maximilian Sterling. I wish to marry you."

"WHAT?!?"

The cry of astonishment came from both Max and Ryouga.

"It is my duty to conserve and protect such strength. I have no need to demonstrate my superiority; I am female. But to bind myself to a great warrior..."

"Hold on." Ryouga stepped around Miriya, placing himself between her and Max. "You mean you have to marry him, because he beat you in combat?"

"As I understand Shan Pu, yes."

"That’s crazy!"

"I’m not so sure," offered Max. "After all, it allows the stronger bloodlines to mix, producing better offspring, right?" He shook his head. "What the hell am I saying?"

"In times past," said Miriya, "a Meltraedi warrior defeated by a male would be forced to commit suicide to regain her honour. Later, we allowed such to do battle with her defeator, in single combat, to the death. But Shan Pu offers me a superior option."

"Miriya, do you even know what marriage is?"

"Yes, Ryouga." Miriya nodded. "It is the union of two people, choosing to bind their lives together so that each may be made stronger by the support and aid of the other."

Max spoke softly. "And what of love?"

"Love?" Miriya frowned. "I do not truly understand ’love’; it is a concept alien to my people."

Max chuckled. "Ours too."

"Miriya, what if another defeated you?" Ryouga was thinking hard; one could almost see the smoke. "If two men had both defeated you, which would you choose?"

"I cannot choose both?"

"Two people, remember?"

"Ah." Miriya considered. "I would have to choose the one that displayed the most positive traits. The one I could more easily respect."

"Very well. Miriya Parino, I challenge you to single combat!"

Both Max and Miriya were struck silent. Max’s jaw dropped as though suddenly dislocated.

"Well? Do you accept my challenge?"

Miriya closed her eyes, and a look of momentary pain crossed her face. "Ryouga, as I understood it, we were friends, possibly even more. Why do you wish to battle me?"

"To win your respect." Ryouga hesitated, then blurted out, "I love you!"

"You already have my respect." She sighed. "You wish to marry me."

"I..." He stopped, startled. "I don’t know about...marriage. Not yet. But I want to make sure I have a chance. I don’t want that door closed just yet."

"I think I understand." She stepped back from him. "I accept your challenge."

"Oh, boy," muttered Max.

* * * * *

"Lisa."

Commander Hayes pulled her eyes away from the console. "Yes, Captain?"

"Is the Ambassadorial transport ready to depart?"

"Yes, sir. The Glamour is fully prepped, and just awaiting the Ambassadors." She stood. "Sir, I respectfully request--"

"No."

"But, sir--"

"No, Lisa. My decision on the command of the Vengeance stands. I need you on this bridge."

Lisa blinked. "Actually, sir, I wanted to request permission to accompany the Ambassadors."

"Oh..." Gloval pulled out his pipe, and started packing it. "I’m sorry. I can’t allow that either. Partially because the transport’s just before liftoff, but also because I need your help ironing out the next set of treaties. The Meltraedi will react better to you than to me."

"I’m a soldier, sir, not a diplomat."

"Then why do you wish to accompany the Ambassadors?" His eyes twinkled with amusement.

"Ummm...curiosity, sir."

"I thought so." He sighed. "Sadly, we must set it aside for duty."

Duty, mused Lisa Hayes. How often must it get in the way? Then she paused. "Captain...if it’s duty...who’s the Macross’ representative to these Amazons?"

"Akane Tendo, CO of Blue."

"No, Captain." Lisa shook her head. "Akane’s going as the UEG representative."

Gloval’s jaw dropped, and his pipe fell to the floor. Then he laughed, loudly and without restraint. "You sneak! You know damn well they’d accept no-one but a female!"

Lisa smiled slightly. "That’s what I thought. If you’ll excuse me, Captain, I need to pack."

"Don’t lie; your bags are probably already down on the flight deck."

Claudia turned from her communications console. "Captain, the Glamour reports ready for liftoff, but they say the Ambassadors have not yet arrived."

"Oh? And where are they?"

"I don’t know. I can page Miriya’s quarters--" She paused, and turned back to the console. "Sir, the Military Police are reporting a fight in Macross City."

"Bozhe Moi. Let me just guess."

"Yes, sir. One of the combatants is Parino. Lieutenant Sterling is there too."

"Oh, great." Lisa dropped her head into her hand. "She finally caught up with him."

"No, Lisa. Max is just watching the fight. The reports are that Miriya’s fighting a tech...one Ryouga Hibiki."

* * * * *

Miriya blocked the kick, and forced herself not to gasp out at the pain that flared in her arm. She’d badly misjudged her opponent; he may not have been a fighting soldier, but he was most certainly a warrior.

Ryouga pressed the attack, his face set into a blank mask of concentration that would have surprised any who knew him. For Ryouga, battle was normally a result of his anger and fury; this time, he was controlling his emotions, and concentrating solely on the fight. Miriya knew that his resolve to win drove him to new heights; he felt that under no circumstances could he lose this battle.

Miriya ducked under a punch, sidestepped a kick, and turned aside another punch with as glancing a contact as she could. Inwardly, she was starting to doubt...and that was not at all something she was used to.

Ryouga could well win this fight...and I’m not entirely certain this is a bad thing.

Where is my resolve?

She blocked another punch, sidestepped another kick...then realized that the tricky spin-kick Ryouga had thrown, one she’d thought she’d seen from before he started it...actually travelled in the opposite direction. Straight into her head.

She hit the pavement hard, rolled, and tried to kick herself to a standing position, but Ryouga’s weight slammed her back to the concrete. His face hovered over hers, his fist drawn back...and his expression melted into one of sadness.

"I’m sorry. Really."

Her last thought, before the fist slammed into her face, was one of mild surprise.

In so many ways...he’s just like me.

* * * * *

Max turned to the MPs. "Show’s over, guys. Just a little challenge; no laws broken here." He turned back to Ryouga. "I guess this means we’re rivals, eh?"

"Really?" Ryouga frowned slightly, and stood. "You didn’t seem that interested."

"Well, in the second place, she is quite lovely. Not to mention an ace pilot. That’s something I could go for. But in the first place...she’s gotta make the decision."

"I guess you’re right about that." He hung his head. "I don’t feel real good about this. I just didn’t wanna...ya know...be written out like that. And it seemed the only way to..." He sighed, at a loss for words.

"Trust me, buddy. I know." He dropped an arm on Ryouga’s shoulders. "Hey, you’re pretty good at unarmed combat. Think you and I could work out together sometime?"

Ryouga chuckled. "Guess we could."

Max grinned good-naturedly. "After all, it’s not like we’re fighting over the same woman, right?"

"No..." Ryouga sighed again. "She’s gonna be the one doing the fighting."

"And all, on the inside, where we can’t help." He gestured towards the unconscious Meltran. "Let’s help her up; she’s got a flight to catch."

* * * * *

The VC-20 Glamour was not the best transport for this sort of duty. Even the VIP version was rather spartan in its creature comforts, hardly the sort of thing an Ambassador might be pleased with. Luckily, its current occupants were not typical Ambassadors.

More to the point, as there was no airstrip within reasonable distance of the Joketsuzoku village, the vertical takeoff and landing capabilities of the airplane made it the only real choice.

Lisa was the first off the plane, stretching to work out the kinks. In the distance, she could see a small group of Amazons approaching the landing zone. She turned, to see Miriya, Akane and Shampoo disembarking. Akane and Miriya were staring at the scenery, a look of shock on their faces.

"All right, girls, we’re here for work. Save the rubbernecking for your next shore leave."

"Commander...I’ve seen this." Akane’s voice was nearly a whisper. She pointed at a nearby flower. "I remember these..." She pointed over at the mountains. "I remember those...I saw them in a dream."

"Those plants are the Flowers of Life. They are found wherever Protoculture has been. It seems even more likely that the people of Shampoo are Meltraedi." Miriya’s voice was soft, reverent.

"A dream?" Lisa turned towards the approaching Amazons. "We can deal with dreams later. Right now, we need to deal with..."

She broke off, catching sight of a red-headed woman in the party. One wearing a familiar red silk shirt, and an all-too familiar pigtail.

"...A dream..."

Akane gasped.

Shampoo yelped.

Lisa almost burst into tears.

"Ranma!"