Chapter 15

<What the hell am I doing here?> David wondered for the hundredth time, his gaze drifting across the crowd that had gathered inside the banquet hall. He glanced down and checked out his dress uniform again. <At least I look decent.> 

"Hey, David!" David glanced up and saw Tony walking up to him, carrying two glasses, a broad grin on his face. 

David managed a lackluster smile. "Ho, Tony." 

"You look bushed, boss." Tony handed David a glass of reddish-colored liquid. "Here's some liquid pick-me-up." 

David eyed the glass suspiciously. "Uh, thanks, Tony." 

Tony smiled and took a large swallow from his own glass. "Relax, boss. It's only fruit punch." 

David took a sip from his own glass. He raised an eyebrow at the slightly more than fruity taste. "Only fruit punch?" 

"Well...." Tony drawled, "Maybe someone added a little something. You just can't trust those technicians, you know." He took another swallow from his glass. "So, why are you hiding over here in the corner? You with that uniform so starched that it'll stand all by itself." 

David sighed, motioning towards the crowd with his free hand. "I'm not very good at socializing with people I don't know." 

Tony shrugged. "So? Go out and mingle. Meet some of the people out there. Then you'd know them, and you can socialize better." 

"Yea, right." David muttered, lifting his glass to his lips. "I prefer to sit back and watch." 

Tony gave him a sidelong glance. "I never knew you were into that sort of thing." 

"What?" David asked, then he caught on. "You idiot! That's not what I meant." 

Tony laughed and slapped David on the shoulder. "You walked right into that one, boss." Tony glanced at his watch. "Well, 'bout time we find ourselves a seat. Care to join me?" 

David nodded. "If you insist." 

"I do, I do." Tony answered. "Follow me." 

David fell into step behind Tony and began worming his way through the crowd. Soon it became apparent that Tony was heading for the stage. "Uh, Tony? I'd prefer a seat a bit further back than this." 

"No can do, boss." Tony laughed over his shoulder. "The Commander has reserved seats for us already." 

<Oh great.> "I'm almost afraid to ask, but where?" 

"Front row." Tony replied. 

<Aw, hell.> David cursed to himself. <It would figure.> 

David's nervousness nearly erupted into a panic attack as Tony led him to his seat. <Right in front of the stage. This is not good.> He glanced at the crowd, and spotted Commander Landers working her way towards the stage, a bright red scarf highlighting her dress uniform. Then he happened to glance at the person in the seat next to his. He had seen her picture enough times to recognize her immediately. <Oh, NO!> 

Commander Lisa Hayes glanced up at him, nodded her head slightly in acknowledgment, then turned to say something to the woman beside her. David allowed his gaze to drift down the row of seat. Commander Hayes. A tall, lithe black woman he didn't know. Vanessa. Sammy. Kim. Captain Gloval. Numerous other official types. All seated in the front row with him. <Oh, I think I'm gonna be sick.> 

Tony tapped David's shoulder. "We'd better sit down now, David." When David didn't reply, Tony tapped him again. "David?" 

David turned his head and offered Tony a wan smile. "Huh? Oh, yeah. I guess so." He sat down and scooted slightly in the chair, trying vainly to find a comfortable position. 

"Hi, Tony! David!" a female voice whispered. David glanced to the side and saw Sergeants Rice and Nielsen walk up beside Tony and take their seats. 

"Hi, yourself." Tony replied. 

Chris smiled and glanced at David. "He looks pale. What's wrong?" 

"Stage fright." Tony offered. 

"But he's not on stage." Luke pointed out. 

Tony shrugged, then coughed. "Commander's here. Look official, guys." 

David turned and saw Commander Landers, carrying several small boxes and a large rolled up sheet of paper, climb the small flight of steps and walk over to the stage's podium. The quiet roar of conversation dulled somewhat, replaced by shuffling and whispering as people sought out unoccupied seats. The Commander waited silently, her gaze drifting around the room. David glanced quickly to the left. Commander Hayes was watching Commander Landers, and didn't seem to notice his gaze. Vanessa did notice, however, and offered him the briefest flash of a smile before turning towards the podium. 

David sighed and did the same. <Damn, she's cute.> 

Commander Landers arranged the small boxes on the podium and glanced around the room one more time. David saw her blanche slightly, then reach into a pocket. A look of confusion flashed across her face, and she quickly reached into another pocket, then into an inside pocket. Then she quickly glanced at the boxes she had brought with her. 

"What's she doing?" Tony whispered. 

David thought he heard someone in the command staff snickering softly as he leaned slightly towards Tony. "Beats the hell outta me." he offered as quietly as he could. 

"Methinks someone forgot their speech." Chris replied, also whispering. "This could be bad." 

Nielsen hissed a not so quiet "Shhh!" as Commander Landers stepped closer to the microphone. 

"Welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen..." her amplified voice echoed throughout the room, her tone serious. Then, more cheerily, "I hate long speeches, don't you? We all know why we're here, and you don't need me to go on and on about the same old thing for an hour before we get down to business, do you?" She paused a moment, as if expecting someone to answer. "Of course not! Well let's get started then: Sergeant Rice!" 

David glanced sideways as Chris stood up, slapping Tony on the back and then giving his shoulder a playful squeeze. As she walked past them, David turned and gave Tony a questioning look. Tony noticed and shrugged, whispering "So, she likes me." 

"Right..." David muttered, turning back to the stage. Chris stopped, turned towards the crowd, and saluted. <What the...?> David wondered. <Oh, she's saluting the brass! Good job, Chris!> 

Commander Landers picked up the microphone and one of the boxes she had placed on the podium, and walked over to Chris. There was a brief exchange that was too quiet to be overheard, and Chris executed a crisp right face so that she was facing the Commander. "Sergeant Christina Rice," the Commander began, her voice carrying throughout the hall, "in recognition of your able service to the Robotech Defense Force, I would like to present to you - A silver star. Wear it with pride." 

David's eyes widened slightly. <Silver star?> He glanced at Tony and Luke, both of whom were smiling broadly up at the stage. <The four of us were in front of the bridge. The four of us are in the front row.> David turned back to face the stage, where Sergeant Rice was saluting the Commander. <Oh, nuts.> David's nervousness increased, and his attention wavered as his thoughts turned to escape. So enthralled was he in his own troubling thoughts that he almost didn't hear Commander Landers as she called out his name. 

David glanced around nervously as he rose to his feet. <Oh great. I'm the center of attention.> He felt his stomach rumble in protest, and he fought down a wave of nausea. He cautiously stepped past the seated officers, all too aware of the severe gaze Commander Landers was directing towards him. He climbed the short flight of steps to the podium, each step seeming to take a lifetime, while his heartbeat raced at break-neck speed, filling his head with a staccato rumbling that sounding like nothing so much as a machine gun. <What the hell do I do now?> He remembered Chris's actions as she had taken the stage. <Well, it worked for her.> He came to a stop, performed a perfect left face, and saluted the officers in the front row. Then he turned back and stepped closer to Commander Landers. He stood at attention and saluted. "Yes, Sir!" 

The Commander picked up the last remaining medal case and walked over to him, her face neutral, her stance formal and rigid. She held the award box behind her back. "Sergeant David Marshall." she began, speaking the words slowly, which only increased his tension. "You have gone above and beyond the call of duty, and, through your actions, you saved the SDF-1 and all aboard it." David felt his pulse race even faster. <What? I didn't...> "It is, therefore, my honor and my pleasure to present to you:" She brought the box from behind her back and David glimpsed the award inside. <That's too big to be a Silver Star.> "The Distinguished Flying Cross!" Her face split into a wide grin. 

<Distinguished Flying Cross?! Me?> David was reeling, his mouth moving silently, his voice trapped deep within his chest. He was only peripherally away of the cheering of the crowd, which had leapt to its feet. He reached out tentatively and took the box from her hand, unable to tear his gaze away from the sparkling prize within. <Distinguished Flying Cross. For me. I can't believe it. I just can't believe it.> 

"Sit _DOWN_ and _SHUT UP_!" the Commander shouted into the microphone, the sheer volume causing a feedback-induced shriek that drowned out the cheering of the crowd. 

David was staring at the medal when he became aware of the Commander's voice, quieted now, whispering his name. He glanced up, his mouth still open in shock. <Idiot! Shut your mouth before you start drooling!> He clamped his mouth shut. Commander Landers smiled at him and lifted the microphone to her lips. "I give you my congratulations, Sergeant. Keep up the good work." 

David saluted sharply, military training taking over when conscious thought failed. He performed a perfect about-face and was about to step off towards the steps when a female voice called out from the audience. "Excuse me." David stopped and looked towards the source. Vanessa was standing in front of her seat, looking up at David and Commander Landers. She glanced towards Captain Gloval and Commander Hayes before saying, "Since this ceremony has already lost all semblance of formality, would you mind if I made a presentation too?" 

<Another presentation? What now?> David swallowed and glanced back at Commander Landers. She was nodding. "By all means." Vanessa stepped up to the podium, along with the rest of the bridge crew, and the Commander handed her the microphone. "Here you go." 

David stood silently as the bridge crew gathered around him, Vanessa standing next to him, the rest to either side. Vanessa momentarily fixed him with a gaze that was both threatening and soothing at the same time. He sighed and cast a plaintive look at Tony, who was grinning like an idiot, along with Sergeants Rice and Nielsen. Tony flashed him a thumbs-up. 

Vanessa cleared her throat. "Err... I, er, I mean, we wanted to give you this photograph as a thank-you present for what you did for us." There was some movement beyond David's sight, and Vanessa handed him a picture frame. He glanced at the picture it contained, then did a double-take. <Oh, dear God.> 

It was a picture of a green-trimmed battloid tackling an alien officer's pod. David knew immediately whose battloid it was, and he felt his jaw threaten to drop open again. <Where the hell did they get a picture of this?> Vanessa smiled at him. "It's a picture of you knocking the officer's pod away from the bridge before it could open fire." she spoke into the microphone, more for the crowd's benefit than David's. A firm hand grasped his shoulder, and David looked up to see Captain Gloval standing there, his moustache almost concealing the smile that creased his face. 

David swallowed, then returned the Captain's smile. "Thank you, Sir." The Captain nodded, and the entire bridge crew stepped away from David. Then, in one movement, they all saluted him. So consumed was he in the furor of the moment, the picture that he held in one hand, and the medal he held in the other, that David forgot to return their salute, and didn't realize his error until they had all returned to their seats. 

David glanced up at the crowd, and saw a sea of smiling faces, all smiling at him. <I don't deserve this. I only did what had to be done.> Commander Landers stepped up to David and looked into his eyes, her expression showing none of the coldness that he had imagined in there before. She smiled and looked towards the audience. She raised the microphone to her lips. "Now that's over and done with... Let's eat!" 

David blinked several times, then a smile began spreading across his face. <Well, what do you know. I actually survived that.> He glanced around the room. <Now, where are the munchies?> 

"Damn, but there little whore thingies are good." Tony mumbled as he stuffed another one into his mouth. 

David laughed "They're called hors'd'ourves, you idiot. Not whore thingies." He popped one into his mouth. "But they are good, aren't they?" 

"Bet he wishes they were a whore's thingy." Chris Rice said, smiling evilly. 

Tony adopted an incredulous look. "Why, I never!" he squeaked, in a falsetto voice. 

"That's not what I heard." David retorted. 

Tony opened his mouth, closed it, then burst out laughing. "Oh, you hurt my feelings." 

"Looks like someone's not having such a good time." Chris observed. 

"What?" David turned, following her gaze, and saw Vanessa working her way in their general direction. Tears were welling up in her eyes, some spilling down her cheeks. <What the hell?> "Hey, Vanessa!" 

She looked around, spotted David, and forced a small smile. She stepped up to him, tears still flowing. "Hi, David." 

"What's wrong?" David asked, straightening slightly. 

She turned to look back over her shoulder. "It's...well," she turned back to face him. "Are you doing anything later?" 

David ignored Tony's chuckling. "There's a party at the White Dragon after this breaks up. Why?" 

She leaned closer to him, and whispered in his ear, "Would you mind meeting me someplace later. I'd like to talk to you." 

David inhaled slightly, all to aware of the pleasurable smell emmanating from her. <Damn. And I probably have some dumb-ass expression on my face.> "I wouldn't mind at all. Where?" 

"By that fountain in the park." she replied, sniffing back a tear. "You know the one?" 

"Sure do." David thought for a moment. "Say in about an hour?" 

It was her turn to think for a moment. "Better make it an hour and a half." 

"Okay, then." He smiled up at her as she straightened. "I'll see you there." 

She smiled back, then stepped past him, heading for the exit. He turned to watch her go, a concerned smile on his face. <What in the world has got her so upset?> 

"Uh, David?" Tony asked, tapping him on the shoulder. 

David turned back around, trying to adopt a calmer air. "What?" 

"What? What do you mean what?" Tony jabbed a finger in his ribs. "What was that all about?" 

Chris was standing beside him, her gaze flicking back and forth between Tony and David. 

David smiled an "I know something you don't know" smile. "None of your business, Tony." 

Someone stepped up beside him, and he glanced over and saw Commander Landers standing there. He saluted. "Hello there, Sir." The rest of the group saluted as well. 

The Commander returned their salutes, smiling. "You've already saluted me too often today. Give it a rest, will ya?" She looked around. "You guys enjoying the party?" 

Tony smiled wickedly. "I know HE is, Sir. I'm doing great, too." 

David flipped him the bird, behind the Commander's back. 

"It's great, Sir." Chris added. "I especially enjoy getting a full thirty-two hour break in the middle of our squadron's duty week." 

David shrugged. "Enjoy it while you can, because next week, while the squadron's off duty, you're going to be doing your wing's paperwork... Oh... wait..." <So will I. Damn!> 

Tony laughed out loud and slapped him on the shoulder. "What was that you were saying, _boss_?" 

"Oh, shut up." David shot back good-naturedly. 

Someone called out his name, and he looked around. Kim and Sammy were motioning towards him. David raised an eyebrow. Kim mouthed the name "Vanessa", then pantomimed looking around. David pointed towards the exit Vanessa had headed for. Kim nodded and then she and Sammy headed for the door. 

"Hey, David?" Chris whispered, leaning close. 

He turned and looked at her. "What?" 

"If I lean real close will you get all ga-ga eyed over me, too?" She cracked a broad smile. 

David rolled his eyes. "Oh, brother. Everybody's a comedian." Tony was laughing even harder now, and the Commander was daydreaming. "You guys want to head out to the White Dragon?" 

Tony and Chris both nodded. The Commander was still off in her own little world. 

"Commander?" Tony asked. 

"Huh? What was that?" Her eyes suddenly had a haunted look about them. "Oh, sorry. I've got some things to do. Maybe I'll catch up with all of you later." With that, she turned and headed for the door. 

David shook his head. "Things are getting mighty strange around here, guys. Let's get outta here." 

As the three of them headed for the door, David caught a glimpse of Izabelle Fate standing near one of the food tables. Her hair had been dyed a honey-brown color. It made her look different... very different. David stared at her and her change in appearance for a moment, then decided that he'd think about it later. 

Forward to Chapter 16. 
Back to Chapter 14. 

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