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Well； no； he wasn't。 Karita had been a Zentraedi soldier some forty feet tall。 But now； having been reduced to the size of a human and defecting to their side in the Robotech War； he was only a medium…build； slightly less…than…average…height fellow facing three hulking brawlers eager to split his head wide open in a Macross alley。
Even as a Zentraedi； Karita hadn't excelled at bat； his main duty had been tending the Protoculture sizing chambers； the very same ones in which he had been micronized。 The situation looked hopeless； the three ringed him in； fists cocked； light from the distant streetlamps illuminating the hatred in their faces。
He tried to dodge past them； but they were too fast。 The biggest grabbed him and hurled him against the wall。 Karita dropped； half…stunned； the back of his scalp bleeding。
He cursed himself for his carelessness； a slip of the tongue in the restaurant had given him away。 Otherwise； no one could have told him apart from any other occupant of the SDF…1。
But he could scarcely be blamed。 The wonders of life aboard the super dimensional fortress were enough to make any Zentraedi careless。 The humans had rebuilt their city； they mingled； both sexes； all ages。 They lived lives in which emotions were given free expression； and there was an astonishing force called 〃love。〃
It was enough to make any Zentraedi； born into a Spartan； merciless warrior culture with strict segregation of the sexes； forget himself。 And so Karita had made his error； he had gone into the White Dragon in the hopes of getting a glimpse of Minmei。 He didn't realize what he was saying when he let slip the fact that he had adored her since he had first seen her image on a Zentraedi battlecruiser。 Then he saw the hard looks the trio gave him。 He left quickly； but they followed。
During the course of the war； everybody aboard had lost at least one friend or loved one。 The Zentraedi； too； had suffered losses…many more than the SDF…1； in fact。 That didn't stop Karita and the other defectors from hoping for a new life among their former enemies。 Most humans were at least tolerant of the Zentraedi who'd deserted from their invading armada。 Some humans even liked the aliens； three of them； former spies； had human girlfriends。 But he should have known there would be humans who wouldn't see things that way。
The three closed in on him。
One of the men launched a kick Karita was too dazed to avoid。 It was not so much a sharp pain he felt as a tremendous； panic…making numbness。 He wondered woozily if his ribs were broken。 Not that it mattered； it didn't look like his attackers were going to stop short of killing him。 They didn't realize that they had picked on one of the most unmilitary of Zentraedi； given a different one； they would have had more of a fight on their hands。
One of them drew back his heavy work boot to kick Karita again； Karita closed his eyes； waiting for the blow。 But the sudden sound of shoe leather sliding on pavement and the thud of a falling body made him reopen them。
He looked up to see one of the assailants down and the other two turning to face an interloper。
Max Sterling didn't look like the conventional image of a Veritech ace。 The brilliant Robotech Defense Force flier was slender； wore blue…tinted aviator glasses…with corrective lenses…and dyed his hair blue in keeping with the current fad for wild colors。
This young RDF legend looked mild； even vulnerable。 In a time of crisis； Max Sterling had risen from obscurity to dazzle humanity and the Zentraedi with his matchless bat flying。 But that hadn't changed his basic humility and self…effacing good…naturedness。
〃No more；〃 Max told the assailants quietly。 The bully on the ground shook his head angrily。 Max stepped between the other two； went to Karita's side； and knelt； offering his hand。
Minmei's Aunt Lena had watched the ominous trio follow Karita when he left the White Dragon； it took her a few minutes to find Sterling； so Max said； 〃Sorry I'm a little late。〃
This bookish…looking young man who held the highest kill score of any bat pilot in the ship offered the Zentraedi his hand。 〃D' you think you can stand？〃
The attacker Max had floored was back on his feet； eyeing Max's RDF uniform。 〃You have two seconds to butt out of this； kid。〃
Max rose and turned； leaving Karita sitting against the wall。 He took off his glasses and dropped them into Karita's limp hand。
〃I guess there's gonna be a fight here； so let's get one thing straight： In case you missed the news； this man isn't our enemy。 Now； are you going to let us by or what？〃
Of course not。 They had looked at Karita and automatically thought； We can take him！ And that had decided the matter。 Now here was the pale； unimposing Max； and their assessment was the same： We can take him； too。 No sweat。
So the one Max had knocked down came at him first； while the others fanned out on either side。
Max didn't wait。 He ducked under a powerful； slow haymaker and struck with the heel of his hand； breaking the first one's nose。 A second attacker； a thick…bodied man in coveralls； hooked his fist around with all his might； but Max simply wasn't there。 Dodging like a ghost； he landed a solid jab to the man's nose； bloodying it； and stepped out of the way as he staggered。
There wasn't much fighting room； and Max's usual style involved plenty of movement。 But it didn't matter very much this time； he didn't want to leave Karita unprotected。
The third vigilante； younger； leaner； and faster than the other two； swung doubled fists at him from behind。 Max avoided the blow； adding momentum with a quick； hard tug so that the man went toppling to his knees。 Then Max spun precisely so that he had his back nearly up against the first attacker and rammed his elbow back。
The man's breath rushed out of him as he clutched his midsection。 Max snapped a fist back into his face； then turned to plant a sidelong kick to the gut of the one in the coveralls。 The incredible reflexes and speed that served him so well in dogfights were plain； he was difficult to see much less hit or avoid。
Karita had struggled to his feet。 〃Stop！〃
The three attackers were battered up a bit； but the