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h glory…these things all had the Macross City inhabitants at a fever pitch。
The emcee was holding his hands up。 The uproar died a little。 〃There's more to e！ To properly demonstrate our high regard for these young heroes； we present that singing sensation； Miss Macross herself； Lynn…Minmei！〃
〃Miss Macross？ Minmei！〃 Rick had almost forgotten about the Miss Macross contest Minmei had so recently won when he'd gone out on this last mission。 It felt like a century before； but it was really only a few days。
She emerged from the wings； most of the spotlights going to her…followed by an escort； a fellow in white tie and tails who carried bouquets of red roses； as if she were royalty。 And she was； of a sort； the audience went wild； shouting her name and whistling； clapping。
Rick could see a cluster of people waiting in the wings…Minmei's entourage； apparently…men in expensive suits who wore sunglasses at night and stylish women with calculating looks in their eyes。
But Minmei。。。She was gorgeous in a frilly dress whose hem was gathered up high on one side to show off long； graceful legs。 Her jet…black hair swayed behind her； and her eyes were alight。 She seemed used to the spotlight； used to the devotion of the crowd。 She was the same young woman who had shared so many adventures and so much privation with Rick and…at the same time…a new persona； a darling of the mass media。
She blew kisses to the crowd； and it went even wilder； guards at the edge of the stage； who hadn't been too hard…pressed to keep people away from the military heroes； had all they could do to keep…rabid fans from getting out of control。 Young girls especially were reaching out in a hopeless effort to touch Minmei； many of them crying。
〃I don't know about you；〃 Ben's voice grated。 〃But I'm embarrassed； being put on display like this。 And just look； will you？〃 He held up a limp lapel that had been stiffly starched at the beginning of the evening。 〃My uniform's starting to wilt。〃
Lisa was watching Rick watching Minmei。 Lisa didn't feel very much like a heroine； didn't feel strong or brave。 Instead； she found herself resenting the sideshow atmosphere。 What did civilians know about military achievements； anyway？ Show them some beauty contest winner and they forgot all about the people who put their lives on the line to safeguard the SDF…1。
〃I think I'd rather be trapped back in that Zentraedi headquarters station；〃 she blurted before she herself could quite analyze what she meant by it。 Rick gave her a quick； troubled glance； then looked back at Minmei。
It was Max Sterling； calm and unflappable； who answered good…naturedly。 〃Well； it might never happen again； so let's just sit back and enjoy this； huh？〃
Minmei held up her hands for silence； and the ovation became relative silence。 She took the first of the bouquets of red roses from the man in the tuxedo and gave it to Lisa。
〃Congratulations on your safe return！〃 Minmei's winsome smile and enthusiastic manner were difficult to resist。 She had a way of putting something extra into the words； of breaking through resistance； so that whomever she was talking to virtually had to respond in kind。
Lisa simply couldn't think badly of Minmei…found herself saying； 〃Thank you very much；〃 and meaning it； and even returning the bright smile。 Minmei surprised her by shaking her hand warmly； then went on to Rick； taking another bouquet。
Lisa closed the hand into a tight fist。 In those seconds Minmei had made her feel like a friend； as if she was all…important to Minmei。 Lisa had to admit that that would be a very hard thing for anybody to resist…especially a man。
CHAPTER FIVE
As veteran Zentraedi warriors； you will； of course； even in your micronized state； find it necessary to hide your natural superiority。 Be sure to conceal your immunity to the degenerate behavioral impulses of the humans。
Breetai； from his instructions to the spies Rico； Bron； and Konda
Minmei had gone on to Rick； taking another bouquet and presenting it to him。 〃And congratulations on your safe return； you handsome devil！〃
She handed him the flowers with a wink and a laugh。 He stood for a second looking as though he'd just touched a live wire。 Then he blurted out； 〃Well！ Um； thank you！〃
Minmei put one slender hand to his right cheek and held him steady while she kissed his left。 Fire and ice coursed through him； he remembered the moment； months before； when； trapped together in a distant partment of the SDF…1； they'd shared a deeper； more lasting kiss。
The crowd had suddenly gone ugly。 Minmei was everybody's favorite； and there was a strange current of jealousy at seeing her single out a nobody lieutenant； hero that he might be； for special treatment。 She was the dream girl； the idol； the fantasy figure； an undertone of hostility ran through the crowd。
She turned to the audience without losing her merry persona。 〃Now； now！〃 she chided； shaking a finger at them in mock chastisement。 Amazingly； the sounds of resentment died away as quickly as that； and people were applauding her again。 To make her point； Minmei kissed Max's cheek； and Ben's； as she gave them their roses。 〃Congratulations。。ngratulations。。。〃
The crowd loved it； the crowd loved her。
Down among the people near the stage were the three spies。 At first they'd merely drifted along with the people assembling in the amphitheater； to make sure they'd eluded any Micronian pursuit。 Then it had bee apparent that a major gathering was taking place； and they'd set out to infiltrate it。 That had proved amazingly easy。
Bron had gotten rid of his pleated skirt and knee socks and white silk blouse and even the tasteful string of pearls。 He was wearing a blue turtleneck and dark slacks； although it had taken a little doing to get new clothes。
On a quiet side street； they had stumbled across a metal bin stenciled CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE NEEDY。 With some effort； the portly warrior had hauled himself into it and found Micronian male garments that fit。
The three spies concluded that keeping contributions for the needy in the difficult…to…enter metal housing served as a kind of minimum qualification test in the savage Micronian culture； any needy individual who wasn't fairly spry would be out of luck。 It was a stern way to run things； the trio agreed； but no doubt very efficient。
Now； though； they looked around themselves worriedly。 These Micronians were obsessed with the creature Minmei。 At first the spies had thought that they'd stumbled onto a simple propaganda rally and that they'd get insights on the humans' attitudes toward the Zentraedi； but the Zentraedi had hardly been mentioned。
Instead； there was a lot of strange business with passing plants around…flowers； to be precise…and a very confusing level of noise and emotion； virtually all of the outpouring directed at Minmei。
Konda in particular felt that they were close to uncovering some important military secret。 There was no question but that the enemy was highly motivated； perhaps some new sort of mind control technique would be revealed。
They recognized Minmei from transmissions of her that they'd intercepted on their original signal…intelligence mission； of course。 She'd aban