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They recognized Minmei from transmissions of her that they'd intercepted on their original signal…intelligence mission； of course。 She'd abandoned the bizarre armor the Micronians called a bathing suit； and wore a slightly less revealing but even flimsier cover。 The trio had as yet seen no demonstration of Protoculture powers from the humans' garments； but they were still very edgy。
The crowd was still carrying on over Minmei。 〃Hey； what's going on？ A riot？〃 Bron yelled over the uproar。
They were packed in together tightly by the massed crowd； but Konda got his hands onto Bron's shoulders。 〃Don't panic！ I don't think it's a riot； it seems to be something else。。。〃
Rico was nearly at the end of his rope； sweating and shuddering a bit； a good old fashioned anti…enemy hate rally was something anybody could understand； but this was utter chaos！ He covered his ears with his hands； squeezing his eyes shut。 〃Oh； my head！〃
He began to slump in a near faint。 His panions managed to catch him somehow in the press of the crowd。 Just then； Minmei came to the edge of the stage in a convergence of spotlights and the gathered residents of Macross began applauding and cheering all over again。
〃Now what's the matter？〃 Bron asked； refering to Rico as well as the Minmei situation。
Chairs had appeared from somewhere； and Rick； Lisa； Max； and Ben were sitting unfortably。 Minmei； angelic in the spotlights； indicated them with a sweeping gesture。 〃To celebrate their return； my first song this evening is dedicated to these four heroes and all the others who guard and defend us！〃
She threw kisses to the crowd as the band came up； uptempo。 Streamers and confetti rained down； and light effects blazed。 As she threw her arms wide； she seemed to be a creature of pure light； of spirit； of magic。 The streamers and confetti rained down on the crowd； too； and many joined in； joyously； knowing the words； arms around each others' shoulders。
〃Stage lights flashing；
The feeling's smashing；
My heart and soul belong to you
And I'm here now； singing；
All bells are ringing；
My dream has finally e true！〃
In a time when the most adored performers were unapproachable and inaccessible； she was somehow the exact opposite of the media sirens who reigned elsewhere。 She was； after all； one of the citizenry； another Macross Island refugee like virtually everybody else aboard。 Her success and stardom could as easily have been theirs…was theirs in a way。
She was one of them； and she gave herself to them totally； letting them share the moment。 Her silver…bright voice soared； taking the high notes with plete confidence。 Her slim； straight figure reflected the light back into their eyes； the joy back into their hearts。
They were a battered； war…weary munity； and in a way nobody quite understood； she made them feel hope and experience a soaring elation。 It had been said…and not discounted by Minmei herself…that she was a reflection of them； the military and civilian occupants of SDF…1。
Certainly there were precedents in history。 Times of greatest danger and tribulation inevitably bring forth symbols。
In human societies。。。
The three spies couldn't quite understand it but couldn't resist it either。 It had to be admitted； the gathering of humans might as easily be an assembly of Zentraedi in some ways…except that this spirit of undisguised joy was utterly weird。 People swayed and laughed and forgot their problems； thinking about home； and there wasn't a single pro…war propaganda message to be seen anywhere。
Somebody threw an arm around Rico's shoulder from one side； somebody else hanging one around Bron's from the other； and they were caught up in the swaying of the throng。 It so happened that the groups on either side were keeping separate time； one going one way while the other went counter。
〃This must be some kind of tribal ceremony；〃 Konda speculated； but he found himself enjoying it。
Still； somehow； as easily as if they'd been doing it all their lives； the Zentraedi sorted out the conflicts and in a moment were swaying along with the thousands upon thousands of others。 It began to dawn on them what they were seeing。
As had happened before； a symbol had arisen； and Minmei was it； uniquely suited to the role。 One tiny Micronian female； hoping to get home； possessed of a kind of deathless optimism； and all that was set off by remarkable singing skills and a personality that won over whomever she encountered。 And none of it was calculated； people sensed that。 She was wonderful and straightforward； and Macross City threw itself at her feet。
She's incredibly dangerous to the Zentraedi cause； Rico mused。 Why do I like her so much？
〃I feel incredibly primitive；〃 Bron reported dubiously。
〃But it has a pleasing effect on the senses；〃 Rico was honest enough to admit。
〃It's…mass hypnosis！〃 Bron burst out； even though he'd been trained to recognize mass hypnosis and knew this wasn't it。
〃Yeah； but I kinda like it；〃 Konda confessed。 They swayed along with the music and laughed at the people who swayed and laughed with them。。。
〃Stage fright； go 'way…
This is my big day；
This is my time to be a star！
And the thrill that I feel
Is really unreal：
I can't believe I've e this far。。。〃
In the midst of the performance； people had forgotten about the four forlorn figures sitting on their chairs； very much in the background now but unable to make an escape。 Only Max Sterling seemed unbothered and happy。
Rick shifted the bouquet on his lap despondently。 He saw it all now： Minmei had been elevated to a different level of existence。 What they had gone through together and felt for each other didn't matter anymore。 He had lost her。
Lisa leaned toward him to ask； 〃What's the matter； Rick？〃
He shook himself； drawing a deep breath。 〃Nothing。 The light bothers my eyes； is all。〃
Lisa saw it wasn't true。 She hadn't gotten to be a mander and the SDF…1's First Officer by being unobservant or slow to understand what was going on。 But that didn't help her figure out what she was feeling as she looked at Rick and the now…unreachable Minmei： some plicated mixture of relief and foreboding。
Minmei's hands were high； and she had moved the crowd into a veritable transport of joy。 White light blazed all around her； and it seemed that every hope and aspiration was embodied in her。
〃I can't believe I've e this far；
This is my time to be a star！〃
The hatch to the battle fortress's bridge slid aside； all heads turned。 Gasps and yells sounded from all sides。
Lisa felt better already； there in the place that was most important to her。 〃Hi；〃 she said shyly； not recognizing many of the faces and wishing only to get back to her station； get back to her work。 She would have died before admitting that she wanted to drive all other thoughts out of her mind…to forget。
Claudia placed one hand to her chest in a 〃mercy me〃 sort of pose。 〃The prodigal returns！〃 The dark face creased in lines of real wele； and Lisa began to feel better。
Gloval was absent from the bridge。 The relief watch tech at Lisa's usual station stepped away from it； glad to see Lisa but a little intimidated before the omnipotent superwoman。 〃Ni