Author's Note: I do not own any aspect of Robotech nor do I intend to infringe upon the rights of the owners.

Robotech: Rise of the Shadow

Chapter 1: A Sister's Help

The long pink haired woman stood quietly next to the large viewport overlooking the Earth. Scott was in a meeting with Captain Vince Grant. She knew they were discussing logistical issues. But, somehow, the young woman felt that something was missing, or rather overlooked, by her beloved human officer and his superiors.

With the revealation of the Haydonites as the Children of the Shadow, Ariel felt that she needed something, no someone, to help her on this quest. But whom?

She continued to stare out the large viewport as the Sun slowly rose over the distant horizon. Oh Mother, what should I do? She thought. The humans have heeded my warnings concerning the Children of the Shadow and now engaging themselves in another war. A war that they do not have enough protoculture to fight.

However, the Invid's mother did not respond. Nor did she expect a response from her mother, the Regis. To think otherwise was contrary to her understanding of her mother.

"There you are," she heard that familiar voice, the voice that she always longed to hear. The young woman felt her heart race as she turned to face the man she loved.

His blue eyes locked with hers as he approached her and kissed her, passionately. "You must be tired," he whispered against her lips as he embraced her.

She nodded slightly as she wrapped her arms around him. "Scott," she whispered but was silenced as he kissed her again. "Serious, Scott. Why are still we on Earth?"

Her lover stood up straight, but never let her go from his embrace. "We are going to get some provisions and as much protoculture cells that we can get before we set off," he answered.

The Invid turned to her head to look out the viewport again. "I need to talk to someone that could help us," she said as she looked up to her lover.

He looked down into her eyes and nodded. "Sera?" he questioned her as he caressed her cheek.

"Yes," she answered softly. "I think she can help us."

She could see her beloved Scott understood her reasoning and did not protest. "Okay, I'll get us a plane to find them. They may still be near the area where Reflex Point was," he said.

Ariel smiled as she stepped out of his embrace, holding his gaze with hers. "You can be silly sometimes," she said playfully as she began to glow. "I know where my sister is at this very moment."

But, before he could protest, a flash of light engulfed both of them. The familiar surroundings of the observation deck of the Ark Angel faded, only to be replaced by a street lined with worn buildings on either side.

---

Scott looked around as he and his beloved Ariel appeared on the street of a small town. No one was in sight. The streets were deserted.

Quickly, he glanced down to ensure Ariel was not wearing her Invid uniform. Much to his gratification, she was wearing the brown jacket given to her by Rook. He looked at himself and saw that he was still wearing his uniform. Oh well, not everything was perfect.

Ariel gestured to the door of a three story building, a rundown hotel. "They are in there," she said, looking up to Scott expecting permission to enter the building.

Realizing that it is still early in the morning, Scott became hesitant to impose, actually intrude, upon his dear friend. Quickly, he started to look around the town and saw a small café about two blocks from where he and Ariel stood. "Let's get something to eat first," he suggested with a gesture to the café.

Ariel looked down the street and to the café. She nodded and allowed Scott to escort her. "I'm a bit hungry," she admitted.

The Robotech officer smiled, thinking to himself, You owe me one, buddy.

When the couple approached the café, they were greeted by a large man with thinning black and gray hair and a salt and pepper beard. He was wearing black and white checkered pants and a white wrap around tunic. "Welcome," he spoke as he showed the pair to a table and handed both of them a menu.

Scott quickly glanced over it before he realized Ariel had already set the menu aside. She looked at him from her seat with her reddish-brown eyes. He could see the love she held for him there and knew they were going to be happy together. Yet, he could there was still something troubling her and that worried him.

He reached across the table and took her hand in his, offering her a reassuring smile. "What is it?" he whispered his question.

"I never thought of it until now," she said. "But, what if she doesn't want to join us?"

Sighing, Scott squeezed her hand. "Don't fret about it," he reassured her. "Regardless of Sera's decision, we will still be together."

A smile creased her lips as she mouthed to him a thank you.

"Can I take your order?" the café owner interrupted politely.

---

Holding Scott's hand in hers as they walked back toward the hotel put the young Invid at ease. She was still feeling apprehensive, but she knew that regardless of the outcome, Scott would be with her.

Hand in hand, the lovers entered the hotel and began to climb the stairs. She led her lover to the door that concealed her sister and Lancer. With her free hand, she knocked on the door.

After a few moments, the door knob turns and opens slightly. A tall, slender man long, messy purple hair peered at her. "Marlene?" he said in disbelief upon seeing his friend standing by the door. She watched as he realized that she was not alone. "Scott?"

The door closed briefly before being reopened. "Come in," he said as he stepped aside, wrapped in a bathrobe.

Ariel led Scott into the room where they saw Sera sitting in the bed, with the sheet pulled up to her chin. To her surprise, Scott's hand pulled quickly away as he turned his back toward Sera, allowing the young Invid woman time to get dressed.

"Scott, Marlene, what brings you here?" asked Lancer.

Smiling politely and feeling a slight burning sensation along her cheeks from embarrassment, Ariel lowered her head to allow her sister some modesty. "I'm sorry," she spoke softly. "Sera, Mother sent me a vision. The Children of the Shadow have attacked the humans."

Sera stood up, her eyes wide. The sisters' eyes held each other as Ariel delivered the message.

"Are you sure?" is all that her sister could muster.

Lancer looked between Ariel and Scott, confused.

Scott turned to his friend to answer the unspoken question. "The Haydonites have attacked our fleet at Liberty. The fleet was destroyed. We used the station as a decoy to blow up their fleet. All that remains of those forces are on the Ark Angel with Captain Grant," he elaborated.

The former simulagent turned toward Lancer as Scott broke the news to both, her sister and her sister's lover.

"Admiral Hunter and the SDF-3," Scott continued. "Is lost, last seen in the Omicron Quadrant. We are gathering provisions and protoculture to find them. Without the protoculture matrix on the SDF-3, we don't have enough protoculture to last a year."

"Without protoculture," Lancer finished, "no Robotechnology to defend the Earth. We will be destroyed."

"We need your help," Ariel said to both of them before turning toward Sera. "I need your help, sister. With you, I can help the humans find more protoculture. Maybe persuade our Mother, the Regis, to form an alliance with the humans."

Shaking her head, Sera carefully wrapped the sheet around slim body. Looking into her sister's eyes with understanding and saying, "Dear Ariel, Mother Regis has left this world and allowed us to stay because we love. But, if she has sent you a warning that our home, here, is threatened, then I have to protect it."

Without so much as another word, Ariel embraced her sister with tear stricken eyes.

Lancer then turned to Scott, asking, "What about Rook and Rand? Lunk and Annie?"

Scott sighed as he answered, sorrow in his throat, "Rook and Rand are civilians, their place is here. As for Lunk, he's a soldier, but Annie needs him as much as he needs Annie. I can't…No, I won't ask them to join us."

Ariel knew her lover could not ask them to fight again. Honestly, neither could she.