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cerned。
She signaled at the hatch to his quarters but got no response。 Rapping on it with her knuckles was no more effective。
Claudia wasn't about to miss her chance to see him。 Perhaps he'd left her a note。 She tapped the hatch release and entered as the hatch slid aside。
Roy Fokker…leader of the Veritech Skull Team； heroic ace of the Robotech War…lay snoring softly； dead to the world； his long blond hair fanned out on the pillow。 At six foot six； he hadn't yet found a military…issue bunk that fit him； his feet and the covers stuck off the end of the bed。
It had been said of Roy that 〃he doesn't fly a jet； he wears it。〃 But right now Roy looked like nothing so much as a sleepy kid。
For months we never have the chance to be alone； and when the opportunity finally arrives； he sleeps through it！ But she couldn't be mad at him。 He'd been on duty； usually in the cockpit of a fighter； just about every waking hour since the spacefold jump。
Poor dear； he must be exhausted。 〃Oh； well。。。〃 She pulled the covers up over his shoulders； then turned to go。
〃Hey； hold up！〃 She turned to see Roy sitting up in bed； blinking the sleep away； smiling。 〃You just gonna run off？〃
She grinned at him。 〃I figured the Skull Leader needs all the beauty sleep he can get。〃
〃You were wrong。 C'mere。〃
He grabbed her wrists； his big hands engulfing hers； and pulled。 Claudia gave a laughing yelp as he dragged her down next to him； then relaxed against him in a kiss that took away all the pain and sorrow and weariness of the long voyage home。
Back in the midst of the festivities on Prometheus's flight deck； Rick Hunter stood waiting next to an aircraft。 He was wearing his old flying circus outfit of orange and white trimmed with black； and his silken scarf。
The plane was the fanliner sport ship won by Lynn…Minmei when she'd taken the Miss Macross title。 This was to be its maiden voyage in the atmosphere of Earth。
It was a sleek； beautiful propfan design by the illustrious Ikkii Takemi himself； with powerful； pinwheel…like propellers in a big cowling behind the cockpit。 It reminded Rick very much of his own Mockingbird； which depressed him because that in turn reminded him of the time he'd spent with Minmei； stranded together in a remote part of the SDF…1。 During that time she'd e to mean so much to him； but now。。。
〃You're a lucky guy； Rick； to be flying Minmei home；〃 a ground crewman was saying。 〃You not only get to leave the ship； but you spend time with a beautiful…huh？〃
Rick heard it； too； and looked around。 The roar of the crowd had increased； and there was cheering and applause。
〃Like I said；〃 the ground crewman went on； 〃you get to spend time with a beautiful celebrity。〃
Minmei's entrance was worthy of her star status…her superstar status； as far as the crew and passengers of the SDF…1 were concerned。 She was being chauffeured across the flight deck in a glittering new Macross City…manufactured limo； the crowd parting before her。 They held up signs with hearts and fond sentiments on them or waved autograph books somewhat hopelessly。
Flower petals and confetti and streamers rained down on her car； people pressed up against the glass to smile； wave； and call out her name…to feel close to her； if only for a moment。
〃Y' know； she's the only one who's been given permission to leave the ship so far； even for a short time；〃 the crewman continued。 〃Hope you enjoy the ride。〃
Minmei sat quietly in the exact middle of the limo's rear seat； hands folded in her lap； watching the people throng around her car and pay homage。 She wore her old school uniform： white blouse and necktie； brown plaid blazer； plaid skirt。 Audience research indicated that her public liked to see her in attire that emphasized her youth。
Her manager； Vance Hasslewood； sat next to the chauffeur； happily surveying the crowd。 〃Well； this is quite a turnout for you； Minmei。〃
Minmei gave a little sigh。 〃Yes； I suppose these mobs are the price one must pay for fame。〃
Hasslewood and the uniformed chauffeur exchanged a wry； secret look。
〃Could we go a little faster？ I'm late as it is；〃 Minmei added。 The driver sped up a bit； honking his horn； and Minmei's adoring public had to move out of the way quickly。
I wonder if she's changed much； Rick thought as the limo screeched up beside the little sport plane。 Minmei had promised that she and Rick could still see a lot of each other once he joined the Robotech Defense Forces； but between his duties and her skyrocketing career as the SDF…1's homegrown media idol； that promise had been forgotten。
The chauffeur held the rear door open for Minmei while Vance Hasslewood went to confer with a liaison officer from the SDF…1 Air Group。
〃Hello； Minmei。〃 Rick smiled。 〃It looked like you had a lot of trouble getting through that crowd back there。〃
She giggled； her eyes shining in the way he remembered。 〃Those are my loyal fans。 They follow me everywhere。 I just love them！〃
She turned to wave to the people being held back by a cordon of security guards。 〃Hello； hello！ Thank you for ing down to see me off！ I love you all very much！〃
Apparently she was unaware that a lot of the people； the majority of them perhaps； were simply there for the party； maybe she didn't even realize that there was a celebration going on。 Rick shook his head； laughing； Minmei was sweet and charming； but she still lived very much in a world of her own。
The fans were clapping； stamping； and whistling for her； waving their signs and banners。 Vance Hasslewood looked on approvingly； eyes hidden behind tinted glasses。
〃Thank you！〃 she called； throwing kisses。
〃Boy； they really like you；〃 Rick remarked。
〃I know；〃 she said matter…of…factly。 〃Rick； when can we take off？ I'm really anxious to see my parents。〃
〃Well； I guess we can take off any time； the engines are all warmed up。〃
He led her to the boarding ladder。 〃Just climb into the rear seat…careful； now…and sit down； strap yourself in。〃
She got into the fanliner and settled her shoulder purse next to her； taking up the safety harness。 〃Thanks； Rick。 It seems like you've bee a lot nicer now than when we first met。〃
Huh？ Minmei was still living in her own world； he saw…revising her memories of the past according to her preferences； forgetting whatever was inconvenient or troubling or replacing it with something that freed her from introspection。
So now she'd decided that Rick had been unkind to her。 Perhaps she'd forgotten that he'd saved her life several times。。。forgotten that they'd held a mock wedding ceremony and she'd worn the very white silk scarf that he now had around his neck as a bridal veil。
Perhaps she'd forgotten their kiss； there in the remotest part of the ship。 Certainly she was now surrounded by people who would go along with almost anything she said or chose to think； people not eager to remind her of her past life and ties。 She was free to be pletely self…absorbed。
As he stood on the boarding ladder looking down into the cockpit at her； he saw her in a new light。 〃Maybe I've grown up； Minmei。〃
Her brows met； and she was about to ask what he meant； but just then Vance Hasslewood； standing at the foot of the boarding