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discretion was the better part of valor。 Max； on the other hand； credited with at least nine kills； was basking in self…adulation； wondering only half in jest whether the brass might not end up promoting him from corporal to general overnight。
Still amazed by what he had seen Max acplish during the battle； Rick found that his respect for his fellow pilot was marred by feelings of jealousy。 But he was too exhausted to dwell on it； he had just enough residual energy to carry him to his quarters。 He was already thinking about crawling into his bunk and courting sleep。
An hour later he was standing in the doorway to his room； reaching in to hit the light switch。 One step inside and his eyes fixed on the bed and the invitation laying there； paste…on red heart seal still unbroken。 He groaned： Minmei's birthday present！ It was like a bad dream； like being up in your Veritech and suddenly realizing you'd forgotten to ammo up。
Rick started pacing the room； trying to recall the mental list of gift possibilities he'd posed earlier。 What was it…shoes； jewelry； clothes？ He checked his watch： twenty…two thirty。 He knew he didn't stand a chance； but he had to give it a go。
He rode an empty tube into Macross City and ran up and down the streets searching for an open store； cursing EVE with every step； because before these artificial sunrises and sunsets the city had rocked twenty…four hours a day。 Now you were lucky if you stumbled on a place that served hamburgers past midnight。 Then he spied a robo…vending machine on one corner and called to it； he would swear that the thing turned and looked at him before streaking away。 Why did they do this？ Rick asked himself as he gave chase。 Human and animated robo…vendor ran for several blocks through the late…night deserted streets of Macross； Rick calling out to it； pleading with it； and ultimately cursing it。 But the device managed to outrun him。
He caught his breath and began heading in the general direction of Minmei's apartment above the White Dragon。 He was going to have to tell her something…anything but the truth： that he'd been too busy doing battle with the enemy to get her a gift。 Of course； there was a chance that she was already asleep。 Maybe he would just sort of lurk around underneath the balcony of her apartment； see if there were any lights on up there。。。
As if on cue； though； she came to the window； saw him out there under the streetlight； and threw open the balcony doors； calling to him。
〃Rick； I knew you wouldn't forget。〃 She was checking her wristwatch。 〃Five minutes to go。 What did you bring me？〃
He started to trip over his words。 〃Well； look； Minmei； about your present； you see； I was planning。。。er； that is； what I meant to tell you before。。。〃
She laughed。 〃e on； Rick； don't be a jerk。 I don't care what you brought me。 It's the thought that counts。 Now； throw it up here。 e on。〃
Rick's arms fell to his sides in a gesture of plete helplessness。 But his right hand had found the boxed Medal of Valor in his trousers pocket。 He pulled it out and regarded it in the streetlight。 The brass had given him this to single him out； it said： Listen； you are something special； you've been of extraordinary service to all of us in this war we're waging； wear this and be proud； wear this and be recognized by your fellow rades。
So why couldn't it say the same thing to her： By giving it to her he was saying that she was really the special one； that his bravery and valor were in her honor； that she was his inspiration； the person he returned to…the reason he returned。
He snapped the lid closed and gave the box an underhand toss toward her outstretched hands。 He couldn't see her face well enough to judge her reaction； and for a moment the silence unnerved him。 But when she spoke； he was certain there was no insincerity in her voice。
〃Rick； I don't know if I can accept this。 Really。。。〃
〃I want you to have it； Minmei。 It…it says what I can't say to you。 Please； keep it。〃
She held the box to her cheek。 〃It's beautiful； and I love it。〃
Rick smiled。 〃Happy birthday。〃
She blew him a kiss and waved good night。
Rick waited until the lights went out； then walked the quiet streets of Macross City。 It was peaceful and pleasant。 Dogs barked in the distance and laughter filtered out of open doorways。 It was almost like real life。
CHAPTER NINE
There are so many wonderful things going on in my life； it's sometimes hard to believe it can continue like this。 But what would the people of Macross City think of me if I announced to them that getting stuck in the fold and landing out here in deep space was one of the greatest things that ever happened to me？ Aunt Lena and Uncle Max's restaurant is really happening； even the mayor es to eat there。 I have three plete songs written： 〃My Boyfriend's a Pilot；〃 〃Stagefright；〃 and 〃To Love。〃 My dance instructor and my voice coach tell me that I'm making excellent progress； and I'm actually even thinking of sending in an application for the Miss Macross pageant。 But I know that I could never be accepted！ That is just too wild a dream to e true…even for me！。。。The only rough spot in my life right now is Rick； and I can't figure out what to do about him。 I owe him my life； for real； but he wants me to be something I can never be： a loyal girlfriend； maybe someone who would be content to live in his shadow。 But I have shadows of my own to cast！
From the diary of Lynn…Minmei
As the mayor of Macross City； Tommy Luan had a lot to deal with。 For a long time after the spacefold he harbored a fear that the population was one day going to wake from the collective shock of the experience and he'd have a mass riot on his hands。 But that never came about。 It was probably an indication of how inured the human race had bee to tragedy； ten years of global war had started it； and the arrival of the SDF…1 from deep space； carrying with it evidence of extraterrestrial life forms； had sealed it。 But in any case the residents of Macross City were a breed apart from the start。
Tommy Luan had been part of the second wave of newers to arrive on Macross Island。 The first consisted mainly of scientific and military representatives from the newly formed World Unification Alliance； Dr。 Lang and his group； Gloval； Fokker； Colonel Edwards； and others from the supercarrier Kenosha。 Then there followed the decision to attempt a construction of the ship… 〃the Visitor；〃 as it was called…and this brought in the numerous tech teams who were really Macross City's founding fathers。 Luan was one of these。 His background was construction…immense projects： bridges； skyscrapers； hospitals…no job was too large。 But the Global Civil War had put an end to an unprecedented period of growth in the building trades； and like far too many others Luan was on the skids and looking for a job。 He applied for a position on the Macross project and was accepted。 He received a security clearance and once on the island found himself placed in charge of housing construction for the tech and support groups。
As the SDF…1 began to take shape； so did Macross City。 The ongoing project to decipher and apply the principles of Robotechnology became the one to try for； Macross Is