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ling a living creature was still as alien to him as it had been two months ago。 But Roy Fokker； Rick's 〃older brother；〃 was helping him through this rough period。 Roy had talked about his own early misgivings； about how you had to think of the Battlepods as mecha； about how real the enemy threat was to all of them inboard the SDF…1。 〃 ‘The price of liberty is eternal vigilance'；〃 Roy said； quoting an American president。 〃There's no more flying for fun。 This time you'll be flying for your home and the safety of your loved ones。〃 Of course Roy had been through the Global Civil War； he had experience in death and destruction。 He'd even e through it a decorated soldier。 Although why anyone would have sought that out remained a mystery to Rick。 Roy had left Pop Hunter's flying circus for that circus of global madness； and it wasn't something Rick liked to think about。 Besides； as true as it might be that the war was right outside any hatch of the ship； it was surely a long way off for a cadet whose battle experience thus far had been purely accidental。
Rick was strolling down Macross Boulevard at a leisurely pace； he still had a few minutes to kill before meeting Minmei at the market。 The city had managed to pletely rebuild what the modular transformation had left in ruins。 Taking into account the SDF…1's ability to mechamorphose； the revised city plan relied on a vertical axis of orientation。 The attempt to recreate the horizontal openness of Macross Island was abandoned。 The new city rose in three tiers toward the ceiling of the massive hold。 Ornate bridges spanned structural troughs； environmental control units and the vast recycling system had been integrated into the high…tech design of the buildings； EVE engineers…specialists in enhanced video emulation…were experimenting with sky and horizon effects； hydroponics had supplied trees and shrubs； and a monorail was under construction。 The city planners had also worked out many of the problems that had plagued the city early on。 Shelters and yellow and black safety areas were well marked in the event of modular transformation。 Each resident now had a bed to sleep in； a job to perform。 Food and water rationing was accepted as part of the routine。 The system of waivers； ration coupons； and military scrip had proved manageable。 Most people had navigated the psychological crossings successfully。 There would soon be a television station； and a lottery was in the works。 In general the city was not unlike a turn…of…the…century shopping mall； except in size and population。 Remarkably； the residents of Macross had made the adjustment…they were a special lot from the start…and the general feeling there was a cross between that found in an experimental prototype munity and that found in any of the wartime cities of the last era。
Nearing the market now； Rick began to focus his thoughts on Minmei and how the day as he imagined it would unfold。 She would be knocked out by the sight of him in uniform； she wouldn't be able to keep her hands off him； he would suggest the park； and she would eagerly agree…
〃Rick！〃
Minmei was running toward him； a full shopping bag cradled in one arm； her free hand waving like mad。 She was wearing a tight sleeveless sweater over a white blouse； and a skirt that revealed too much。 Her hair was down； lustrous even in the city's artificial light； her blue eyes were bright； fixed on his as she kissed him once and stepped back to give him the once…over。
Inside the cool and crisp cadet Rick was projecting； his heart was running wild。 She was already talking a blue streak； filling him in on her eight weeks； asking questions about 〃spacic training；〃 plimenting him； the uniform； the Defense Force； the mayor； and everyone else connected with the war effort。 Rick； however； was so drawn to her beauty that he scarcely heard the news or pliments； he was suddenly quiet and worried。 Minmei drew stares from everyone they passed； and she appeared to know half of Macross personally。 What had she been doing these past eight weeks…introducing herself on street corners？ And what was all this about singing lessons； dance lessons； and an uping beauty pageant？ Rick wanted to tell her about the hardships of training； the new friends he'd made； his unvoiced fears； he wanted to hold her and tell her how much he had missed her； tell her how their two…week ordeal together had been one of the most precious times in his life。 But she wasn't letting him get a word in。
A short distance down the block； Minmei stopped in midsentence and dragged Rick over to one of the storefronts。 In the window was a salmon…colored belted dress that had suddenly bee the most important thing in the world to her。
〃e on； Rick； just for a minute； okay？〃
〃Minmei；〃 he resisted； 〃I'm not going to spend my leave shopping。〃
〃I promise I'll only be a second。〃
〃It always starts out that way and； and。。。〃
Minmei already had her hand on the doorknob。 〃Just what else did you have in mind for today； Rick？〃
She disappeared into the woman's shop； leaving him standing on the sidewalk； feeling somehow guilty for even thinking about going to the park。
By the time he entered； Minmei had the hangered dress draped over one arm and was going through the racks； pulling out belts； blouses； patterned stockings； skirts； sweaters； and lingerie。 Rick checked his watch and calculated that he'd be AWOL long before she finished trying everything on。 She had entered the dressing room and was throwing the curtain closed。
〃And no peeking； Rick；〃 she called out。
Fortunately there were no other customers in the store at the time； but the saleswoman standing silently behind Rick had found Minmei's warning just about the funniest thing she had heard all week。 Her squeal of delight took Rick pletely by surprise。 He thought an early…warning signal had just gone off…and in the middle of squatting down for cover； he managed to lose some of the items from the top of the shopping bag。 In stooping over to recover these； he tipped the bag； spilling half the contents across the floor。
The woman was laughing like a maniac now； the door buzzer was signaling the entry of three additional shoppers； and Minmei was peeking over the top of the dressing room curtain asking what had happened。 Rick； meanwhile； was down on his hands and knees crawling under tables in search of the goods…bottles of shampoo； creme rinse； body lotion； baby oil； lipsticks； and sundry makeup containers…all of which had bee covered in some sort of slippery wash from a container of liquid face soap that had partially opened。 Each time Rick grabbed hold of one of the items； it would jump from his hand like a wet fish。 But he soon got the hang of it and had almost everything rebagged in a short time。 Only one thing left to retrieve： a tube of tricolored toothpaste just out of reach； bathing in a puddle of the face soap。 Rick gave it a shot； stretching out and making a grab for it。 Sure enough； the tube propelled itself and ended up under another table。
It was time to get serious。 Rick set the bag aside and crawled off stealthily after his prey； as though the tube had taken on a will of its own and was on the verge of scurrying off； like some of Macross Cit