Subject: [FFML] [Fic][Robotech] TotW 2-2 Pt 2 (Final Version)
From: Starrngr@aol.com
Date: 11/1/1999, 6:50 PM
To: FFML@fanfic.com

          *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

     Claudia was headed back to the elevator on her way back to her
quarters when Roy Fokker's voice cut through her thoughts.  "Hey 
there," he greeted her from his spot just inside the waiting room 
doors.  "I had no idea my little brother was so darn popular."
Claudia filed her thoughts about Macross's newest addition to the 
population and smiled at her lover.

     "Afraid Rick Hunter is going to steal your reputation as the 
SDF's biggest heart-throb?" she teased.

     Roy's response was to sweep her into a hug.  "He can have it, as
long as I get to keep you," the tall blonde pilot replied with his 
quirky smile.  "So, how is he?"

     "He's in ICU," she replied.  "But I'm afraid that's all I know.
I'm actually here taking care of something for the Captain."

     "OH?  Sounds interesting." He replied with a gleeful twinkle
in his eyes.  "Can you talk about it?"

     "Sure I could... But then I'd have to kill you," she replied
in a teasing tone that took the two of them back to the heyday of the
reconstruction of the SDF-1, when at times security was so tight that
statement would have been true.  Roy quirked an eyebrow at that, but
changed the subject anyway.

     "So, you're heading back to your quarters then?" Roy asked,
the question of alone or not both unsaid and implicit.

     "Not tonight, flyboy.  Mama Grant's little girl needs to 
actually sleep tonight."

     "Ah well.  I did want to look in on Little Brother before I 
turned in anyway.  Breakfast in the senior officers mess?"

     "0700, flyboy." Claudia replied as she slipped from his arms and
walked over to the elevator.  "Don't be late"

     "Yes Ma'am!" Roy smirked as the elevator doors closed between
them.

          *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

     Claudia was already ensconced at 'their' table by the time Roy
appeared in the senior officers' mess the next morning.  Regardless
of what mode the SDF-1 was in, the table next to the expanse of 
armored glass always had a spectacular view of the surrounding
area.  From the reports next to her, it was clear to Roy that even
if they were having breakfast together, for her, at least, it was 
going to be a working meal.

     "You know, reading does bad things to your brain... it makes
you think," he quipped, a line that went back to the early, 
tempestuous days of their relationship.

     "Something you flyboys know nothing about, of course," Claudia
replied good-naturedly even as she collected the reports and stuck
them in a folder, also recalling that conversation long ago.

     "Yup.  Stick, throttle, and instinct are all a really good 
fighter jock needs," Roy finished as he sat down with his tray.  He 
indicated the folder with his chin even as he loaded his fork with
food.  "Your take poison before reading project, I assume?"

     "Uh hmmm," she replied as she sipped at her coffee, before 
changing the subject.  "Any word on Rick's condition?"

     "The hospital expects him to come too in a couple of hours.
I was going to drive Max and Ben in to see him once he did."

     "Isn't Skull the alert squadron this morning?"

     "Yup, but I took shameless advantage of my rank and re-arranged
the flight schedule.  Since Vermilion is so undermanned, I thought
I'd take over Rick's spot till he gets back on his feet.  And it 
would probably be a good idea to give Kramer a bit more experience
as CO.  I expect they'll be tapping him for a squadron of his own 
once the new class graduates," Roy explained.  "Even if he wasn't,
I was going to suggest him for the job."

     Claudia lifted an eyebrow in confusion, so Roy continued.
"We have to do something to help our newer pilots stay alive.  Right
now a quarter of our new pilots are dead by their fifth mission
and another quarter in their tenth.  Even if every single eligible
person in Macross enlisted, we can't take those sorts of casualties
for much longer.  So until Dr. Lang is able to get those super 
Veritechs of his off the drawing boards and into the air, our only
other option is to try and give the newbies someone experienced
to watch over them.  Even if it wasn't, Muck taught me that one of 
the jobs of any pilot is to nurture the next generation."

     "Muck?" Claudia asked as a sense of D‚j… vu washed over her.

     "Captain Micheal Thunders, my first flight leader.  He was KIA
during the Iraq Campaign."

     "How well do you remember him?"

     "Muck?  Even when I turn 100 and we're surrounded by our great
grand kids I'll still remember him."

     "Roy, there's something I'd like you to see..."

          *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

     Claudia thanked the doctor and was putting a copy of the test
results in her folder as the door to the guarded room opened and a 
very shaken Roy Fokker stepped out.  A small shake of his head 
stopped he question before it started, and his eyes indicated
the direction of a nearby office.

     "Well?" she asked as she closed the door of the office behind
them.

     "It's him, but it can't be him.  Its impossible," Roy replied
flatly.  "He died almost twenty years ago.  I was with the SAR team
that found the body, Claudia.  I don't know who or what that is in 
there, but its not the man I few with in Iraq!"

     "Maistroff thinks it could be some kind of clone, programmed
to act as a spy."

     "I suppose it could be, but that's even more impossible.
How did they get it aboard?  Heck... how were they able to get him to
clone? None of this makes sense, Claudia!"

     "That is the understatement of the year, Roy.  At this point
I don't know what to think.  Can you think of any way to settle the
issue once and for all?"

     Their conversation was cut short by a commotion outside.  They
burst out of the office and saw that the commotion was centered
on the subject of their conversation.  They followed the nurse in, 
and what they saw next surprised them to the core.

     The prisoner was in the middle of some sort of convulsion
or hallucination, thrashing wildly on the bed as the doctor attempted
to administer a sedative.  That wasn't the odd part, the odd part was
that the prisoner seemed to be transforming...  sections of his skin
seemed to shift between flesh and metal, and at one point Claudia
gasped as the prisoners head became that of a battloid.  Then the 
sedative took effect and the prisoner relaxed, becoming a totally
normal appearing human once more.  Roy led an equally shaken Claudia
back to the office they had been using.  Even then it was a long 
moment before Claudia spoke.

     "Roy, what could that... that thing possibly be?"

     "I don't know.  If anyone on board does, though, it would be 
Doctor Lang."  A knock on the office door interrupted them again.
"Yes?" snarled a now irritated Roy.

     The door opened a crack and a nurse poked her head in, "Um, 
sorry to interrupt you, Commander, but you wanted us to let you know
when Lt. Hunter regained consciousness."

     Roy pasted on his best girl killer smile.  "That's good to hear.
I'll be in to see him in a little while.  Thank you."

     "Your welcome sir," the young nurse replied before closing
the door.

     "You'd better go get Max and Ben, Roy," Claudia decided, slowly
composing herself.  "I'll go see the captain and Dr. Lang."

          *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

     Claudia looked up as Lisa entered the bridge.  Although Claudia
had been temporarily removed from the duty roster to pursue her 
investigation, Captain Gloval had been in a meeting when she had 
arrived on the bridge, so she had offered to take over for Lisa for
a few minutes to allow her friend to visit Lt. Hunter.  "So, how IS 
Lt. Hunter, Lisa?" She asked, then frowned as she caught her friend's
downcast expression.  "Come on baby; it can't be as bad as all that."

     "You're wrong."

     Claudia folded her hands to her bosom.  "And now the sting of 
Cupid's arrow strikes home!"

      Lisa's mouth dropped open.  "WHAT?"

     "You needn't be ashamed to talk about it, Lisa.  I know what 
it's like to be in love, y'know.  Roy and I started out the same 
way."

     "But you two love each other!"

     Claudia set her hands on her hips.  "Of course, silly.  So, 
what's the difference?"

     Lisa fought down an overwhelming desire to gnaw on her 
fingertips.  "I don't think Rick cares."

     Claudia leaned close, slightly exasperated with her friend.
"Its very simple, Lisa.  If you're in love with him, go after him!
You ARE in love with Rick Hunter, aren't you?"

     Lisa felt her cheeks redden as she nodded.  "What should I do,
Claudia?"

     "Be a woman! Stop moping and-" she gave Lisa a light cuff on the
shoulder.  "Smile more often!"

     Behind them, the hatch slid open and Captain Gloval stepped
onto the bridge.  "Lisa, let me know as soon a Logistics has finished
loading all supplies."

     Lisa felt her blush grow even deeper.  "Its already been ordered
sir.  Commander Grant was just taking a moment to instruct me on some
other military procedures while she was waiting for you, sir."

     Captain Gloval studied the two women as he stroked his 
moustache.  "Umm.  Well, its unlikely we'll need much hand to hand
combat expertise up here on the bridge.  I hope this means you have
something to report, Claudia?"

     "Yes I do, sir."

     "Very good.  I'll be in my cabin if you need me, Lisa."

<To be continued in TotW2-3>


Authors Notes: Well, not much to say at this point except to note 
that action fans take heart, I'm not about to try and write a 
Robotech story that doesn't involve action.  Hang in there, things
are going to be picking up shortly.

I also want to apologize for the long delay between chapters 1 and 
2... That old bugaboo of real life commitments raised its ugly head.
Its going to be a while before Chapter 3, though, because I have a 
couple of other projects I need to finish up as well...

Coming eventually, Chapter 3: Repercussions.

--
Starrngr -- Ranger HQ
HTTP://home.talkcity.com/TheSanitarium/Da_Muck/

"You wear a Hawaiian shirt and bring your music on a RUN?  No wonder they 
call you Howling Mad..."  --  Rabid the Pysad.


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