The power ring lit up as Rick did a scan of the Veritech he was sitting in. He figured out all of the controls via the scan and gave an amused snort.
"So, this jet runs off my thoughts. It has to be a lot easier than trying to shove my thoughts through the ring," Rick thought. "I'll wait for Roy to get back."
A beeping noise came from the control panel and the face of a woman appeared.
"Vee tee one zero two, launch immediately," the woman said.
"But,.." Rick began.
"This is no time for arguments mister. Launch!"
Rick throttled the jet up and launched it. "All right, but its going to be on your head."
Rick took the Veritech up and saw the numerous battlepods destroying all in their wake.
"One hundred seventeen ships to track down a single battered ship that had no survivors? These invaders wouldn't let them flee a war," Rick thought, as his anger grew.
Seeing a knot of battlepods, Rick boosted his thoughts with the power ring and took the Veritech into a power dive. Right before he crashed into the ground, he flipped the B switch and dropped feet first onto of the lead battlepods. He brought his gun pod up and managed to take out four more before they knew what happened.
On the SDF-1, Lisa was about to make a call to VT-102 about the antic he just pulled. Her words died as she saw the Veritech quickly take out five battlepods and get under cover to snipe at the rest of the group he had engaged.
Lisa shook her head. "That guy is a lunatic."
Vanessa said, "Lunatic or not, he's at least holding them back."
An alert turned Lisa's attention away from the battle and she went back to her comn duties.
"Lisa, this is Roy. I'm wondering what is going on with Rick Hunter in vee tee one zero two."
"Rick Hunter. I'll look up his file," Lisa thought and then replied to Roy, "Vee tee one zero two decided to engage twenty enemy forces by himself. He is winning that fight."
"Repeat that," Roy said in disbelief.
"Rick Hunter is engaging twenty enemy units and is winning the fight. Looks like he might need help. Another twenty have turned and are heading in his direction."
"Roger. I'm taking Skull Squadron and helping him out."
Roy shook his head and led Skull Squadron towards Rick's fight. The arriving Veritechs alleviated a lot of the pressure off of Rick and they were able to dispatch the remaining forces. Roy called Rick up on the radio.
"Rick, how in the world did you do this?" Roy asked, amused.
Rick looked down at the controls of the Veritech and started shaking. A green tinge came across his face and he popped open the canopy and leaned out.
Roy closed his eyes and looked away. "First fight reaction. You'll be all right Rick."
Lisa Hayes face appeared on the radio. "Lieutenant Fokker. This pilot is a fake. I have checked the records and there is no Rick Hunter listed."
Roy cheerfully waved that off. "That's easy enough to explain. Rick here is a civilian."
"A civilian? You have a lot of nerve Lieutenant in allowing a civilian to fly one of our vehicles."
Rubbing his forehead in weariness, Rick asked, "Roy who is that old sourpuss?"
Lisa reared back at that question as Roy laughed. "Rick that is Lisa Hayes our tactical operations officer. And if she looks old to you, you're not as mature as you think you are."
"I'm fighting exhaustion and I'm about ready to pass out. If it's just the same to you, I'd like to return this jet and get back to my fan-jet."
Roy nodded and said cheerfully, "Follow me, Rick. We're coming in you old sourpuss."
Muffled laughter was heard coming from the bridge of the SDF-1. Rick followed Roy and Skull Squadron in jet mode. Rick glanced down at his ring.
"If it wasn't for you boosting my thoughts through this jet, I have no idea what would have happened," Rick thought as he smiled wearily.
Rick's jet dipped a bit as he fought off a wave of exhaustion.
"Easy Rick," Roy said.
"I told you before, I'm about ready to pass out."
"I'm going to talk to you to keep you awake," Roy said and then started asking Rick about the fan-jet and his past.
The questions allowed Rick to stay focussed long enough to land the Veritech. Rick spotted a level rock nearby and nodded. He got out of the Veritech and headed over to his vehicle.
Pointing at the rock, Rick said, "I'm going to fly over there and land. Once I do, I'm going to go to sleep."
Roy looked Rick in the eyes and clapped him on the shoulder. "You do like you need to take a few hours of sleep. I'll talk to you when you wake up."
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(Posted Mon, 26 Sep 2005 22:12)
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