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Micki wanted to pinch herself but refrained as she crossed the priceless carpet to join him. Accepting the drink, which was a frosted fruit juice, she said, “Thank you so much for meeting with me. I love your music by the way. All of it but especially the most recent compositions.”
Ryder gave her a nod. “Thanks. You want to use one of my songs, I understand? Addy and I have been watching the show and voting each week. You and the billionaire are quite a couple. Very creative dancing.”
“I dream the dances,” Micki blurted out before she could stop herself. “It’s how my muse works.”
He drank half his glass of juice and set it aside. “I get it. Everyone’s muse is different. So tell me about the dance you want to do and we can figure out which song of mine would be best.”
“It’s for the finale. Of course we might not win, even with your music to help us.” Micki hated to even voice the possibility but in fairness decided she should. He might not like his song being associated with a losing dance.
“You two have been executing phenomenal numbers and each dance has been better than the last one. Hard to top yourself but you pull it off every week.” He finished off his juice.
She took a nervous sip. Her throat was nearly closed with anxiety and her chest was tight. Here was the hard part. “Before we go any further, I have to disclose I can’t pay for the use of the song. I’m sure you’re not in the show’s budget—I know none of your back catalog is on the list of what we can use but I’m hoping the idea of having one of your songs will sway them to give me permission but I can’t afford the price.”
“Benfield could.” Raising one eyebrow, Ryder studied her.
“It’s not allowed for the contestant to use personal funds to augment or improve a performance,” she said. “As the choreographer, I could but I can’t afford it on a Comette’s salary, even with the extra credits for doing the show. I know it’s presumptuous to ask any artist to give their work away for free. It’s just I see this dance so clearly and it won’t be the same with any other music.”
“Did you know my wife can hear the ship’s song?” he asked. “She hears the actual harmonics of the engines and the way the ship interacts with the space around her. Addy shares it with me by drawing what she sees when she listens to the ship and then I’m inspired to write a song.”
“I’d hadn’t heard too much about it, mostly you saying she’s your muse. But that would be so perfect for the dance I want to do.” Micki fumbled with her handheld. “I brought the rough conceptualization with me if you’d like to see it.”
For answer Ryder cleared off the table next to them. “Please.”
“It’s unfinished, not polished. Josh may have issues with it.” She felt like she had to apologize profusely for bringing him such an inferior representation of what she hoped to do with his music.
He watched the short holo three times. “I see what you’re going for, definitely. I have a new piece I’m working on which might be adapted for the performance.” Ryder drummed his fingers on the table for emphasis. “I love collaborating with other creatives. I’ve been missing that a bit.”
“You—you’ll do it?”
“Send me a copy of the dance holo,” he said. “Yes, I’ll do it, for no charge. We here on the Nebula Zephyr are a family and it’s only right I should help you out. When do you need the song by?”
In a daze Micki gave him her deadline. “We have to be able to rehearse to the actual music by then.”
“No problem. Tell your showrunner I’ll perform the song live. Hell, I’ll even attend one rehearsal briefly to get the tech right.”
Now she was practically speechless. “I never expected you to actually get involved in the show.”
“I know you didn’t, which is why I’m going to do it.” His grin was mischievous. “You’ll create quite the sensation over at ISD when you share the news, I’m sure.” Ryder rose and stretched. “I’ll be in touch when I have a draft ready for you to listen to. I can make changes as necessary to support the dance.”
Micki rose and shook his hand. “I’m beyond grateful. This is wonderful.”
“Hey, like I said, we’re a family on this ship.” He plucked her handheld off the table and gave it to her. “Don’t forget to send me the holo today.”
A minute later Micki was standing in the Level C hallway, unable to believe her luck. Hastily she sent the holo as he’d requested and then she headed for the ISD temporary offices. Might as well get the rest of this accomplished while her luck was running hot.
The show’s head choreographer was busy and impatient but agreed to see Micki for a few minutes.
“I want to use a Ryder McRhodes song for our finale,” Micki said, coming straight to the point.
The woman laughed in her face. “Right. As if my budget stretched that far, especially for the final week. You’re dreaming, girl. You have the list of approved songs so I recommend you use it.”
“I already talked to him and he’s granting me the rights for one performance and the rehearsals,” Micki said. “Free.”
Doing a doubletake, the choreographer rocked upright in her chair. “If this is a joke it’s not funny. I’m busy. Superstars like McRhodes don’t give away their songs.”
“He’s writing an original composition for my dance,” Micki said. “And he’s going to perform it for us live, also at no charge.”
The other woman shoved her chair back and rounded the desk, grabbing Micki’s hand. “We need to talk to Eddie and the creative director right away. This will take some doing, to accommodate a man like McRhodes. I don’t know how you managed this but it’ll sure put our season finale on everybody’s sensors. McRhodes doesn’t do live performances any more.”
