AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Is Ryder—” Micki started to ask.
“He’s here. Don’t worry about Ryder, get to your spot.”
Josh grabbed Micki’s hand and dragged her to the correct place as the show went to commercial. “Breathe,” he said. “Feel the music, lose yourself in the dance.”
“Oh now you’re the pro?” she said, raising her eyebrow, amused.
The co-hosts introduced special guest Ryder McRhodes and the audience lost its collective mind over the unexpected appearance of an interstellar superstar.
Josh assumed his pose. Micki kissed him and relaxed into hers as the stage floor under her began to rise. Ryder hit the first notes of his special new song. The antigrav flicked on and Josh shot into the air as they’d practiced, Micki right behind. Through the magic of special effects lighting, the set conjured up the illusion of being adrift in a galaxy and as Josh and Micki swirled and catapulted through their dance space, the lights on their suits twinkling and strobing, the dance became magical.
Micki lost herself in the choreography, portraying the faithful ship, always there for the adventurous captain who wanted to explore the universe. Her moves mirrored and matched his and there were moments where they danced in the air together, entwined in embraces that were, as she’d warned Maeve, sinuous and sexy. Being able to defy gravity was a dancer’s dream and Micki had made extremely good use of the gift for her dance. It was as if Ryder’s music was providing them with additional lift and the ending of the dance was triumphant, captain and ship united in a starburst of light and color, locked together in midair, triumphant in conquering the universe.
She hoped the audience inferred at least some of her dance imagery but even if it all went right over their heads, the beauty of the moves and the synergy of the technology made for a once in a lifetime experience.
The co-hosts had to wait for the audience applause to subside before saying anything.
“Spectacular dance,” the male host said. “Humankind to the stars as it were.”
“And the two of you portrayed the love theme so beautifully, as we’ve come to expect from you,” his wife added.
“We have to thank Ryder McRhodes for his extraordinary music,” Josh replied, with a wave toward the musician, still seated at his piano. Ryder rose and bowed to Micki and Josh and then to the audience as the wild applause broke out again.
The judges were all raving about the dance and the moves Josh had pulled off in the antigrav in perfect time with the music. Their scores were 10’s across the board and then the other two couples were called to come out and learn who was the winner of the season. A model carried the matching trophies onstage and handed one to each of the co-hosts.
There was a bit of drama while each of the previous weeks’ losing couples came onstage, each pair executing one dance move as they arrived and then stood in a line, waiting to congratulate the winners. Micki was having a hard time catching her breath, afraid to hope they’d won. Josh had his arm around her in reassurance, which helped.
“Win or lose, I’m going home with you which makes me the luckiest man in the universe,” he whispered in her ear."
She smiled and the third runner up was named—the aging actress, who accepted her defeat with grace. The publicity she’d garnered on the show had brought her new offers for roles and her personal goal was achieved from what Micki had heard over the seven weeks.
Now it was down to Josh and Andrus and the two couples moved together in the spotlight.
"And the winning team is—” The male co-host did the obligatory long, suspenseful pause.
“Josh and Micki,” his wife said.
Andrus and Elsara stepped away, out of the spotlight.
The ISD champions music played, confetti drifted from overhead and the co-hosts handed Josh and Micki each one of the deliberately kitschy trophies with “Winner Season 20” emblazoned in faux diamonds across the front. Josh clasped hands with Micki and raised his trophy high. “Thank you to my exceptional partner and our loyal audience here and across the Sectors!”
He turned to Micki and went down on one knee. At first she panicked, fearing he was injured but as the co-hosts motioned for silence from the crowd, Josh pulled a black box from his pocket and opened it to reveal the biggest diamond she’d ever seen in her life. The stone caught and reflected all the lights onstage and blazed with fire. “Will you marry me?” he asked, gazing into her eyes.
“Yes!” There was no other answer possible and Micki was glad she could manage the single syllable through her shock. She hadn’t expected a proposal tonight.
As the audience roared its approval, Josh placed the ring on her finger and spun her gently to show the cameras and the crowd. As the ISD theme song swelled to drown out everything, the show ended as they kissed.
The crowd flowed around them. Many of Micki’s fellow Comettes were there, including Tassia. Ryder and his wife came to congratulate them, the rest of the cast—except Andrus—offered congratulations. It was dizzying and wonderful and Micki was so grateful for Josh’s presence beside her. The ring was heavy on her hand. She wasn’t used to it yet and every time she saw it she was astonished and weepy all over again. Josh’s mother and brothers came to say nice things and welcome her to the family and then Captain Fleming stepped up.
The crowd parted for him of course. “Enjoyed the dance,” he said to them. “Creative. It’s quite an honor for our own Nebula Zephyr Comette to be one of the winning team.” He leaned close to Micki. “Maeve told me about the story behind the dance tonight. While I’m not as given to drama as the captain in your scenario, I approve the emotion. You were both exceptional.”
While Micki stammered her thanks, he shook hands with them, nodded to Ryder and Addy and departed.
Finally they were able to escape backstage, clutching their trophies.
“This is the ugliest damn thing I’ve ever seen,” Josh said, examining his closely. Then he gave Micki a dazzling smile. “But I’ll be proud to display it in my main office.”
There was a disturbance behind them and Micki watched in shock as a flying wedge of business-suited men and Nebula Zephyr security personnel in uniform surround Andrus Kumisarc with weapons drawn. Josh pulled her behind him as the man in the lead of this activity flashed a golden badge at their quarry and announced loudly, “Andrus Kumisarc, you’re under arrest for conspiracy to commit sentient trafficking and other crimes to be identified later at time of booking. Cuff him.”
