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whole heart into what naturally followed。
The Collected Journals of Admiral Rick Hunter
There was a girl in Rick's past； a gamine； honey blond California free spirit named Jessica Fisher； the eldest daughter of Alice Fisher； an old friend of Pop's。 Rick had met her shortly after Pop had taken the flying circus to Sacramento in search of spectators with a bit of extra wartime scrip in their pockets。
Rick had just turned nine； and he and Jessica were introduced to one another as cousins。 It had not taken long； however； to understand that there was no actual blood bond between them； especially after Pop and Alice had decided to bring their own romance out from behind closed doors。 Rick； in fact； had been there when things had gotten started between his aging dad and the independent Alice； the night the four of them had gone into San Francisco and 〃the Visitor…the SDF…1…had made its grand appearance。 Of course； very few people realized they had seen a ship in the skies that night； and Russo's government had managed to keep the Macross project under wraps for the next five years。 But Pop and Alice seemed to have been touched by something in the air； because their relationship had changed from that night on。 Rick； too； had been transfigured by the event。 Youthful flying ace that he was fast being； he had liked to think the sky as his property…even though Neasian and other military pilots might have argued the claim…and suddenly in that same sky he had glimpsed a power that surpassed all。 The impact on his young mind was as devastating as it was exhilarating； for while Pop had done his best to keep his only child sheltered from the disputes that had plagued Earth at the time； 〃the Visitor〃 had made it clear there would be no hiding from war's long reach。
Jessica； ironically； had guessed the truth about what they had witnessed。 I'll bet it was an alien spaceship； she had told Rick。 And it's e down to show everybody on Earth that war isn't the only way that things get changed； that there're all kinds of powers in the universe we'll never understand if we keep thinking war's the answer。
She was almost three years older than Rick and a lot more concerned about such things。 And after Pop decided to remain in California instead of taking the circus elsewhere； Rick would often sit at Jessica's feet for hours； listening carefully to what she had to say about hatred and injustice and greed； and he would pay close attention to the things she read aloud from novels and texts and some of Alice's books on philosophy and religion。 Outside the year of high school he had attended in Sonoma； the time with Jessica came as close to a standard education as Rick had received； by the time he had turned fourteen； he was pletely infatuated with her。
That she was still almost three years older than he made things extremely plicated； because by then older boys had begun to show up at the Sacramento farmhouse； guys who would stop by to visit with Jessica and fill her head with a lot of talk about what they were going to do when they joined the war。
Rick had already tried on countless occasions to express his feelings…he had even gone as far as writing her a poem…but the words just couldn't make it past his lips。 At the same time he had tried unsuccessfully to corner her into confessing her undying love for him。 There had been a bit of hand holding and quick kisses but nothing that approximated the passion Rick had decided the two of them were meant share。 So； invariably； when any of Jessie's prospective boyfriends were on hand； Rick could be found retreating to his room； where he would sulk for an hour or two or stare at all the trophies and medals his flying skills had earned him and wonder why they were not doing the trick。 But he certain was not about to sit out there on the porch and spew a lot of nonsense about how many enemy planes he planned to down when his turn came。 And what was Jessie doing listening all the lies those characters were feeding her； anyway？
The truth； as it would unfold； was that she had not been listening。 One night she had followed Rick back to his room to tell him just that； and damned if she hadn't been aware of Rick's feelings all along！ But how could you even think for minute I'd be impressed by all that war talk？ she had asked him。 I don't want that kind of hero in my life； Rick。 I want to fall in love with someone who isn't afraid to look for different answers。 Someone like you。
Over the next six months Jessica had led him slowly in the joys of love and sexual discovery； but by the time winter had rolled around it was plain they were not meant to be lovers； that it was more important that their friendship survive than anything else。 So Jessie had moved on to the sensitive hero of her dreams； and Rick had thrown himself in stunt flying with renewed fervor。 But lord； how his hormones had raged for those six too…brief months！ Not even Minmei or Lisa would inflame him the way Jessie had。
And oddly enough； it was Jessie he was thinking about now； laser…cutting a path through the verdant foliage of a new world； staring at Marie Crystal's shapely； jumpsuited deriere。
What the hell's ing over me？ Rick asked himself； tearing his eyes away。 He had not felt quite so lustful since Sue Graham had tried to seduce him one afternoon in the Ark Angel's situation room。
Rick stopped short on the narrow trail； only to have Karen Penn bump up against his back。
〃Excuse me； sir；〃 she said。 〃I didn't see you give a sign to halt。〃
〃I； er； that is；〃 Rick began。 〃Listen； Captain； why don't you go on ahead for a while。〃
〃Certainly； sir；〃 she said； brushing past him； face to face。 Cripes！ he thought。 Two women to leer at now。
Angelo Dante had the point； the rest of the human and XT scouting party spread out behind in a trailing wedge。 The Alpha…Beta VTs were Battloid…reconfigured on a flat spot of ground where they had left them only moments before。 The land was an undulating temperate zone forest of analogue firs； raucous with the calls of black birds that confined themselves to the upper reaches of the canopy。 The sun was intense where it shone through； the air was aromatic； rich with the smell of life。 Scans initiated from the SDF…3 had indicated the presence of an intense bio…energy nexus in the region； but several low…level passes had revealed little to add to what had already been gleaned from the ship's data readouts； and so Rick had ordered the Veritechs down。
He was not sure just what had made him think of Jessie after all those years。 It was true that the argument with Lisa had touched off a cascade of angry thoughts； but no sooner had he lowered the VT's canopy in the launch bay than they had been cleared from his mind。 And Marie Crystal's butt not been responsible； either； no matter how pleasing it was。 Because for all the lust； Rick was experiencing waves of nostalgia as well。 A yearning for simpler…alternative presents。
He felt certain that something in the air had brought it on； or perhaps it was the trees themselves and the memories of northern California redwoods and home fires that their piney aroma elicited。
Memories of Earth before the wars。
Jack Baker appeared from the underbrush a