ough Granite refused to recognize the new Earth government's authority； the government gave what help it could； without it； the city couldn't have kept functioning。
〃A stinkin' handout from our military overlords！〃
〃And what else do we need for survival？〃 she asked him； watching his eyes。 Two years with Kyle had made her older； much older。
〃Have you given any thought to taking in a little cash for a change？〃 he snarled。
She came to her feet； the jacket clutched to her。 〃No； I haven't！〃
If it was going to be another argument； she decided； this time she was going to get a few things off her mind。 〃This was supposed to be a benefit concert for those poor people who're trying to make their lives work in Granite； not some big…deal career move for Lynn…Minmei！〃
She had him； and they both knew it。 All at once his ranting sounded like empty talk。 He was suddenly contrite。 〃Aw； c'mon； Minmei。 You know I didn't mean anything like that。〃 It was not quite a whine； but somehow it only made her detest him more。
She knelt and began picking up the things he had spilled； brushing dirt from them。 〃We're getting paid like everyone else is； in the things that keep us alive。 I think we should show a little appreciation。〃
That made him cough on the mouthful of brandy he was chugging。 He almost finished the bottle； and his mood swung end for end； as quick as his martial…arts moves used to be。
〃Appreciation？ I should appreciate the great military mentality that brought us to this？〃 He opened his arms as if to embrace the blighted world。
She straightened and met his stare。 〃Earth was attacked； and it fought back。 I don't want to hear anybody knocking the military。 If it hadn't been for them； I wouldn't be alive right now。 And for that matter； neither would you。〃
So； we e to the core of the matter； he thought blearily。
That moment on the SDF…1； with a planet dying at his feet and great fleets slaying one another while he kissed her； was two years behind him。 And yet it played over and over in memory； as fresh as if it had happened that afternoon。
The secret that glowed in him like a reflex furnace； the one Kyle would never be able to bring himself to admit to her or even put into words to himself； was that he had exulted in that moment even as he had been repulsed by it。
He had loved it！ He had been taken by the drama pletely； swept up in the battle。 He had cast aside every conviction he ever had and gloried in what was happening。 He had hoped with all his soul for human victory。
His father had been a soldier； both family restaurants had catered to the military trade。 Lynn…Kyle scorned all of that； scorned military and government and authority in every form。 And yet when it had e down to a question of seeing his planet and people die； he had been out there rooting for the home team； as red of fang and claw； as contemptible； as any of them。
He had never lost a fight since his father had pummeled and shamed him into learning the martial arts。 Indeed； he'd bee a very genius of unarmed bat。 But this contest with himself was one he felt fated to lose。 As he hated himself； so he had e to make Minmei hate him。
He had seen that the military； with the SDF…1 and Macross as a power base and Breetai and his Zentraedi as allies； was destined to be the force that reunited the planet。 Nevertheless； he resisted it every inch of the way； going deeper and deeper into despair as the vast egalitarian movement he had envisioned dwindled away to a few pitiful holdouts。
So if this was going to be the argument that had been building between Minmei and Kyle for so long； let it be so。 He turned his face to an ugly mask with an elaborate sneer。 〃You're breaking my heart。〃 He swallowed the last of the brandy。
You're breaking my heart。
Twenty yards away； behind a broken piece of cornice at the top of a rise； Rick Hunter squatted with his back against cold stone and listened to Minmei and Kyle。
He sat still as a rock or one of the pieces of dead mecha that now littered the world。
〃Must you keep drinking？〃 Minmei said。 〃It's getting out of hand！〃
Kyle upended the bottle and let the last few droplets fall on soil that hadn't tasted moisture in two years。 Then he tossed it high； launched himself through the air in a reverse spin kick； a ki…yi yell ing from deep within him； turning twice； and popped the little brandy bottle out of existence like a trap shooter。
Pieces of dark glass landed at Minmei's feet。 She watched Kyle steadily。 〃Did that make you feel any better about yourself？〃
How can she wound me so easily with just a word or two？ he wondered in confusion。
His mood swung again； and there was an endless affection in him for her。 She was； after all； the sum of his life。 All he had ever really acplished； Lynn…Kyle saw now； was getting Minmei to love him。
But Minmei's mood was riding a different swing。 〃Whatever you think of the RDF； there are a lot of fine men and women in it；〃 she said levelly。 〃Much better people than you are right now。〃
A moment that might have been a reconciliation and a new start was gone forever。 Kyle ran the back of his hand across his mouth again。 Al！ right； we might as well have it all out。
〃What's that crack supposed to mean？〃
Minmei was actually shaking a fist at him。 〃It means they're trying to rebuild Earth； while all you can do is drink and feel sorry for yourself！〃
〃Is that so？ Well； I've done a pretty good job of takin' care of your career； little Miss Superstar！〃
She had been loud a moment before； her voice was quiet now。 〃Maybe we'd better split up then； Kyle。 So you can look after your own career。〃 She gathered her pink jacket around her。
She had been hurt until her endurance was all gone； and now she only wanted to hurt in retaliation。 〃I didn't realize I owed it all to you； Kyle。〃
He had his hands out in fending…off gestures。 〃Wait； wait。 I didn't mean…didn't mean I wanted to split up our partnership。〃 〃Partnership〃 was a weak word for what they'd had； but somehow the vocabulary of love was steamrollered by the vocabulary of argument。 He felt something slipping away even as he made the choice of words。
She drew a long； deep breath； looking him in the eye。 〃Maybe not； but it's what I meant。〃
The pass of Lynn…Kyle's emotions swung a last time； and his mouth resolved into a straight； thin line。 〃Okay； go！ Who needs you？〃 He kicked the empty carton high into the air。
Rick Hunter didn't know exactly what to feel。 The fact that Kyle had alienated Minmei might have been enjoyable from a distance； but it was harrowing to see at close range。
And then there was the whole question of going out and intervening。 Rick had no illusions about being able to take the tall； cobra…fast martial…arts expert hand to hand； and he had forgotten to bring along the survival pistol from his VT's ejection pack。
Suddenly the rover radio buzzed in its thigh pouch。 〃mander Hunter； e in please！〃 It was Vanessa's voice； sending from the rusting； soggy…footed SDF…1。
He had turned the volume down low when he came out to the edge of the wastelands； following leads to find Minmei。 Now he held the rover up to his ear。 Minmei and Kyle didn't seem to have heard a thing。
He thumbed the transmit switch。 〃I'm here。〃
〃Sir； you're directed to lead your flight to New Portland。 A residential district is under attack by several Zentraedi malcontents。〃
〃Malcontents。〃 That was what the new world government was calling them so far。 But those who had sworn the Zentraedi warrior oath and turned their back on human society were a lot more than malcontents。 They had only to walk out into the wasteland and keep going； find the right wrecked ship。 If they were lucky； they would find arms； mecha； rations； water； and shelter。
Rick poised for a moment in a pain so precise that it defied any random theory of the universe。 Most of what he had e to believe in impelled him to get to New Portland with all possible speed。
Everything else told him to stay there； because this was the moment he could win Minmei back。
But he thumbed the rover's transmit button again。 〃What weapons？〃
〃Three battlesuits and four pods； a total of seven；〃 Vanessa's voice came back。 That wasn't exa