Hey,

This is my first crack at either title. So I'd really like some feedback =
on how I did with the characters.

Robotech/ The Sandman
Tears and Dreams of Black



	The black depths of space have been likened to death by many throughout =
the history of mankind. =20
But space is cold, lifeless, and uncaring. Death is anything but.
	High above the Earth the technological marvel that humanity called the =
Super Dimensional Fortress, or SDF-1 for short, hung in a slow orbit. =
The construct, more than a mile in length, twinkled in the void like a =
verdant star. This grand embodiment of technology with the natural =
beauty of the Earth below it made for a spectacular site. But the beauty =
of the scene was not to last.
	For approaching the Earth and the SDF-1 was a fleet of spacecraft, more =
than a million strong, bearing down on the little blue world. Their =
objective was nothing less than the destruction of the Earth and every =
living thing on it. The culmination of the conflict between humanity and =
the alien warrior race know as the Zentraedi was at hand.=20
	Atop one of the of the SDF-1=92s battle towers, in the airless void, =
sat the figure of a young woman. She looked to be in her late teens, was =
of average height, had jet-black hair that flowed to her shoulders, and =
wore a stylish Chinese gown that was also black with a bit of silver =
trim. Around her neck a silver anhk hung on a string. The girl was =
gazing towards the Earth with an expression of sadness on her face.
	Beside the girl a man suddenly appeared. His skin was white as bleached =
bones, his eyes were pools of black with white pupils, and his hair was =
an unruly shock of black the same color has the girl=92s. On his body he =
wore a loose robe as dark as space itself.
	=93Hello, sister,=94 said the man. =93I knew I=92d find you here.=94
	=93Hello, Dream,=94 replied the girl. =93And considering what=92s about =
the happen, of course I=92d be here. It=92s my job.=94
	Dream, also known as Morpheus the Sandman, nodded and turned to glance =
over his shoulder towards the approaching Zentraedi fleet. =93The work =
of Death will certainly need doing soon.=94
	The girl known as Death nodded again.=20
	=93I sense the presence of some our brothers and sisters and others. It =
seems this event will have more spectators that I=92d thought,=94 =
continued Dream.
	 =93I felt the presence of the Specter just after I arrived. Poor Hal, =
this will be really hard on him,=94 lamented Death. =93The Phantom =
Stranger is around too, but even I=92ve never been able to guess how he =
feels about anything.=94
	=93And how do you feel about this?=94
	Death turned to her brother and gave him a small smile. =93Checking up =
on me?=94
	After a moment=92s hesitation Dream nodded. =93We=92re family. It =
seemed only right. Besides, you=92ve been there for me many times.=94
	Death turned from her brother and looked back at the Earth. =93I=92m =
sad, Dream. I feel sad when anyone dies. But this=85the number of =
people, both human and Zentraedi who are going to die today=85Well, its =
impressive numbers, even for me.=94
	Dream too turned to gaze at the Earth. =93The universe is a cold and =
cruel place at times. And in it war is everywhere. I=92m certain =
you=92ve seen more people die in a day than this.=94
	Death nodded. =93True, but it never gets any easier to see so many =
lives wasted.=94
	=93I don=92t think it=92s ever supposed to become easier to accept =
senseless destruction on such a scale,=94 replied Dream. =93If it did I =
don=92t think the universe would be place worth living.=94
	=93True enough. Still, it=92s such a terrible waste of life.=94
	=93I=92ve long felt that you, more than anyone else, understand the =
beauty and fragility of life better than anyone else.=94
	=93I think you=92re giving me to much credit,=94 replied Death. =93But =
I=92m supposed to be there for people when they die. To help them accept =
what=92s happened to them and get them ready to go to whatever lies =
beyond for them. If I didn=92t love life and its beauty I wouldn=92t =
understand what people who=92ve died have lost. And if I couldn=92t =
understand that how could I help them?=94
	 =93Very true,=94 concurred Dream.=20
	The two members of the Endless stood silently for a time gazing at the =
Earth.
	It was Dream who spoke first. =93This vessel, the Super Dimensional =
Fortress as the humans call it, it is a most remarkable creation, =
isn=92t it?=94
	=93It=92s a miracle,=94 responded the Sandman=92s sister. =93To the =
people of Earth it is anyway. When it fell to Earth and crash-landed on =
Macross Island twelve years ago the world was in the middle of the =
Global Civil War. It had been going on for ten years and showed no signs =
of ever ending. I was kept terribly busy.
	=93But then this thing shows up. Suddenly humanity knew for sure that =
they weren=92t alone in the universe. The nations of Earth put aside =
their differences and pooled their resources to study and rebuild the =
SDF-1. The world was finally at peace.=94
	=93If the world was at peace then why did the humans feel the need to =
use the technology they gained from the SDF-1, =91Robotechnology=92 I =
believe they call it, to make weapons?=94 asked the Sandman. =93Those =
transforming fighter planes, the Veritechs, for example.=94
	  =93It=92s cheeky to ask questions you already know the answers to, =
little brother,=94 said Death with a tiny smile. =93Humanity knew that =
whoever the fortress belonged to might come looking for it one day. =
Plus, they did find the remains of many Zentraedi onboard. I=92m sure =
the fact that the aliens who built the thing were fifty feet tall was a =
great motivator.=94
	=93I suppose its fortunate that for humanity=92s sake that they did =
develop those weapons,=94 mused Dream. =93When the Zentraedi did show up =
to reclaim their ship the Veritechs finally had a chance to prove their =
worth.=94
	 =93Not that it did much good at the time,=94 countered Death. =93When =
the Zentraedi attacked Macross Island there ended up being plenty of =
people who needed my services. But I guess all those people dying is =
what made the SDF-1=92s commander, Captain Gloval, order that spacefold =
only a few hundred feet above Macross City.
	=93At the time he just wanted to get the ship away from Macross Island =
since that=92s clearly what the aliens were after. He was right in =
thinking that if he could get the SDF-1 away from the Earth that the =
Zentraedi would stop their attack on the planet and come after the ship. =
Ordering a spacefold to the moon seemed like the only option.=94
	=93But things did not work out as well as Captain Gloval had hoped,=94 =
said Dream.
	=93No,=94 confirmed Death flatly. =93They certainly did not.=94
	=93The events of that day frequently haunt Gloval=92s dreams,=94 =
informed the Sandman. =93It is understandable, of course. The shock of =
discovering that the spacefold had transported the SDF-1 not the orbit =
of the moon, but to an area just beyond Pluto must have been massive.=94
	=93I=92m sure it was,=94 said Death. =93Just as I=92m sure it was a =
shock to discover that a large part of Macross City and over 50,000 of =
its inhabitants had inadvertently been transported as well. Lucky for =
all those people that the shelters they were in were airtight.=94
	=93I think it is this part of these people=92s story that has most =
impressed me,=94 mused Morpheus. =93Transported millions of miles from =
their homeworld, the people of Macross City chose to rebuild their city =
within the massive confines of the SDF-1 and carry on their lives as =
best they could.=94
	=93People will always surprise you,=94 shrugged Death, her manner =
cheering a bit. =93Knock =91em down and humanity will just get right =
back, dust themselves off, and start over again.=94
	=93The fact that so many continued to try and lead normal lives while =
living in a space battlefortress that was being pursued across the solar =
system by a hostile alien fleet for more than a year is a testament to =
human tenacity, if nothing else,=94 said Dream.
	=93I doubt the universe will ever see anything quite like it again,=94 =
replied Death as she stood and gave a little stretch. =93And the =
SDF-1=92s problems didn=92t end even when they made it back to Earth. =
But that=92s another story.=94
	=93If you care to tell it I=92ll listen,=94 said Dream.
Death gave her brother a look of scrutiny. =93Why the sudden interest in =
recent history? I don=92t think I=92ve told you one thing you didn=92t =
already know.=94
Dream turned his gaze from his sister to look back at the Zentraedi =
fleet that was still drawing nearer. =93I=92ve found that that letting =
people talk is a good way to help understand what=92s bothering them =
when you want to help them.=94
After a moment=92s contemplation Death gave a little laugh and nodded. =
=93I get it. You knew this was going to bother me so you got me to play =
history professor to get a read on how I was feeling.=94
=93You did very well,=94 complimented the Sandman. =93Destiny would be =
proud.=94
=93Thanks,=94 replied Death. =93For both the compliment and trying to =
help me.=94
The siblings of the Endless then returned to looking at the Earth =
silently.
Again it was Dream who broke the silence. =93You know, sister, you =
remarked that it=92s unlikely that the universe will ever see anything =
quite like what is happening ever again.=94
Death, still gazing at the blue world below, nodded.
=93If that is the case then let us closely examine some of the key =
people involved,=94 suggested Morpheous. =93Even being such as ourselves =
can still learn from mortal men and women. So let us observe the people =
of this vessel and learn what we can while we can. For soon many of the =
souls gathered here will be called to your embrace and the dreams of =
those who survive will be changed forever.=94  =20
=93Sounds good to me,=94 said Death. =93And I know just the person to =
start with.=94


There's a reason Death isn't in her normal outfit. I'll get to it later.

Skyrocket

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