The Deal

"BURN BURN BURNING FOR YOU!!!"

Rayelle exhaled after scream-singing the last line during Night Raven's practice session.

Adam and Martin exchanged glances with each other and then turned to Rayelle.

"What was that?" Adam asked.

"Uggg... it's not the same!" Rayelle complained.

"What's not the same?"

"You both were there! You heard him sing it, why can't I do it like that?" Rayelle said, flustered.

"Huh, wish I could've heard it," Lisa suddenly chimed in when she walked through the door to the practice studio.

Rayelle, Adam, and Marty turned to look at Lisa.

Lisa wore her favorite white tank top that barely covered her chest with a small blue puffer coat. Her blue denim pants hugged her lower half tightly. She sauntered into the room with her usual swagger as if she was the center of attention.

"...Glad you could make it," Adam said with a hint of anger.

"Sorry, I had stuff," Lisa said flippantly. She ran her fingers across the keyboard and flipped on the synthesizer.

Rayelle would love to get rid of Lisa, but Lisa was probably the best keyboardist she's ever worked with, as well as a good music synthesizer.

"Whatever... Hey, Amy! Play it back for me!" Rayelle shouted.

Behind a glass wall, Amy sat next to the recording equipment. She may just be their manager, but she liked to watch over them during their practice. Plus, she liked saving money by not hiring a technician to push buttons that she could do herself.

Rayelle, Lisa, Adam, and Martin all cringed when they heard the recording of Rayelle attempting to sing how Dirk sang.

"You heard someone sing like that? Who professionally sings like that? That is how I would sing if I wanted to make someone turn deaf," Lisa said while stifling her laughter.

"It's not the same. I need to hear it again, but not through a comm. What was his name, Dirk?" Rayelle asked Adam and Martin.

"Second Lieutenant Dirk Millo," Martin said quietly.

"Thanks, Marty! I did promise him tickets, so this could be two birds with one stone. Amy! Can you find this Dirk Millo on Macross 8 and send him four front-row tickets to our next show?"

"No, we're sold out for the next several shows." Amy said sternly through the mic.

"Thanks, you're the best!" Rayelle said while winking at Amy.

Amy felt a headache coming as she gripped the armrests on the chair hard enough that her fingers left permanent dents. "This girl," Amy seethed through her teeth.

She would have to pay a ridiculous amount from a scalper or reseller. Alternatively, Amy figured she could arrange something special for someone who had bought the tickets.

Amy suddenly had a moment of inspiration. She thought of a way to fulfill Rayelle's request and get back at her for being a pain in the butt.

Amy grabbed the mic in the booth and asked, "Rayelle, if I can't buy them back, would you be willing to help out?"

Rayelle was off in her own little world, trying to recall the same feeling from listening to Dirk sing. She heard the question but didn't think much of it and said, "Yeah, sure, whatever you need to make it happen."

Amy grinned and immediately started flipping through her phone book. She knew one person that always bought front-row seats.

Rayelle saw Amy's grin and thought she saw a pair of devil's horns protruding from Amy's head. She had a terrible feeling about what Amy was about to arrange.

__________

Garret Forger sat leisurely in his office. He stared lazily around his office and wondered if he should redecorate.

A sturdy wooden desk made of solid wood dominated the office. Various projectors cleverly hid inside of it so he could watch whatever his heart desired. Behind the desk sat his transforming chair that gently supported each of his limbs, making it almost feel like he was floating. Shelf after shelf of trophies lined three of the walls. The fourth wall was solid glass so that he could look outside.

Garret stood up and walked towards the window. He pressed a specific place on it, and part of the glass wall swung open so he could step outside. Garret breathed in deeply once he stepped outside.

"Feels the same," Garret said dejectedly.

Like almost all Macross fleets, Macross 10 had a single massive city ship that was a self-contained city. There wasn't any outside air since the outside of the city-ship was pure space.

Garret reached his hand toward Planet Aquillane like he was trying to grasp it. He wanted to visit it and breathe fresh air, but the scientists and doctors have been testing the air and water intensively for weeks. They had to make sure no microorganisms were present that could hurt them.

"Just a little longer, I can't wait to feel the waves wash on my feet," Garret said to himself.

He started to imagine himself on the beach and then found himself imagining Rayelle on the beach with him as well.

Before his thoughts could stray further, his comm beeped at him, indicating his manager was trying to call him.

"Just when it was getting interesting," Garret said, then tapped 'Accept' on his comm and said, "What is it?"

"Request from Miss Rayven's manager came in, she would like to make a trade with you. Sending you the details now."

Garret nodded, then opened the document his manager sent him. After glancing it over, he asked, "Whatever? She will do whatever I want?"

"That's what she said, but don't go overboard."

Garret didn't even need to think about it, "Give her the four front and center tickets for the next show, in return, we're going on a beach date when Planet Aquillane opens up!"

Garret's manager visibly sighed in relief. He was worried Garret would've asked for something more extreme, like having Miss Rayven be his maid for a week or even marry him. "That... is unexpectedly reasonable from you. I'll send them over right away!"

"Me? Unreasonable?" Garret said innocently.

"You've blocked off entire city blocks just to make a dramatic entrance for Miss Rayven..."

"That was only twice!"

"You tried to buy every seat at a Night Raven concert because you wanted a private concert."

"I didn't try... I succeeded," Garret said proudly.

"You still buy a dozen front-row seats at her concerts. I can't hear for days after those things."

"It's my money, I'll spend it how I want."

"Just... hold back a bit. You're gonna scare her off."

Garret paused, then agreed, "Fine, I'll... tone it down a little bit."

"Good choice, I'll send you next week's schedule later, but you can relax for the next few days if you want. Go visit Macross 8 for a change of scenery."

Garret nodded, then switched off the comm. He started imagining his date with Rayelle on a beach, and his mood soared. Garret stepped back into his office and flipped on the stereo system.

"'tis, 'tis feel LOVE 'tis, 'tis feel LOVE!"

"If we don't get flyin', we won't be able to see the future,"

"So take me to the farthest reaches -"

"Fly away!"

Garret let his urge to dance overtake him as his favorite group of all time started blasting through his office, Walküre.

Yes, the current top male actor of Macross 10 loved idol groups. He could sing, he could act, he could even cook. He cannot dance.

His body twisted and contorted awkwardly to the music. Garret knew it was ugly, so he only danced by himself.

"Walküre Attack!" Garret shouted. He froze as he posed after blowing a random kiss to what should've been nobody.

A security guard noticed the door outside was still open and went to close it.

Garret paused the music, coughed, then hastily walked up to the guard and said threateningly, "YOU SAW NOTHING!" and then slammed the door shut.