Dirk, Elise, Oscar, Roy, and Lyle started sweating as the general and her escort approached them.
"What happened here? Speak!" the middle-aged general barked.
Dirk spoke up first and loudly said, "Ma'am, Second Lieutenant Millo reporting with Second Lieutenants Maddox, Charles, Armstrong, and White! We were tasked with delivering goods from Macross 8 to Macross 10. After a slight course deviation, we found our shuttle brushing against the atmosphere of Planet Aquillane."
Before Dirk could continue, the general interrupted and asked, "Maddox? Are you related to that coot, Ricardo Maddox?"
Dirk and Elise did their best to maintain a straight face after hearing this general call their own a coot. "Ma'am, yes ma'am. He is my grandfather."
"Interesting, well, it looks like you're at least as reckless as he was," the general said while motioning towards the charred belly of the shuttle. "I am General Adra Jeanne of the Macross 10 fleet. Now, I'll give you ten seconds to explain why you have three civilians with you."
Dirk and Elise glanced at each other, but Oscar spoke up first, "Ma'am, we came to explore the great history of the Macross 10 fleet. I personally am a huge admirer of the Lioness of the Red Vipers from the end of Space War I, the Battle of Macross City."
General Adra softened slightly after hearing that name, "That was a long time ago."
Oscar slowly approached General Adra and said, "Can we talk more about her? I would like to hear it directly from the Lioness."
"Hmph, you are a cheeky one. Come with me then, we can talk in my office."
Oscar held out his arm, and General Adra linked her arm around his and started walking towards the back of the hangar.
Dirk, Elise, Roy, and Lyle exchanged looks with General Adra's escorts, unsure of what had just happened.
"Your sacrifice will not be forgotten," Roy said while saluting Oscar from a distance.
"Stop it, he's not dead!" Dirk said while grinning. "So, we good here?"
One of the general's escorts shrugged his shoulders and said, "Showers are next to the crew quarters on the lower deck. Enjoy your time here. The shuttle should be ready by the morning."
Dirk, Elise, Roy, and Lyle clumsily saluted the escorts, then hurried towards the crew quarters to get changed. Due to the similarities between the two Macross warships, Dirk and Elise were familiar with the layout and quickly found the crew quarters.
Dirk, Roy, and Lyle were quick to shower and change. They wore comfortable street clothes, each with a Night Hawks t-shirt.
"Hah! Great minds think alike!" Dirk exclaimed.
"Hells yeah!" Roy said, getting pumped up for the concert.
Finally, the door to the woman's quarters opened and Elise strutted out. She was wearing tight leather boots and a pair of black leather shorts tied around her thighs to help them stop from riding up. Elise wore a loose white tank top that exposed her midriff and ample cleavage. Over it, she wore a small black leather bolero jacket to cover her arms but not much else. Elise had put on black eyeliner to accentuate her eyes as well.
"Sorry, I'm slow!" Elise said slightly hesitantly.
Dirk's, Roy's, and Lyle's jaws hung open after looking at Elise.
Dirk felt she seemed a little nervous for some reason.
"E-Elise, are you sure you want to go like that?" Dirk asked, slightly concerned.
"Of course she does!" Roy blurted out. He could barely hide his excitement.
"I'm okay, Dad!" Elise said, then stuck her tongue out at Dirk. "Let's go boys!" She grabbed Lyle and pulled him towards the exit toward City 10.
Lyle gleefully let himself be pulled away by Elise.
Dirk and Roy followed behind Elise and Lyle to leave the ship. The four of them managed to get out without much trouble, thanks to the sentries on duty gawking at Elise.
Dirk was a little worried that it would bother Elise, but surprisingly she seemed to be ignoring it.
When they finally reached City 10, they attempted to flag down a taxi, but all of the passing taxis ignored Dirk and Roy.
Elise stood in front of them and waved her arm around, and suddenly three taxis started jockeying for their business.
"I have better assets for this sorta thing," Elise said with a grin while playfully sticking her chest out. She then climbed into the taxi in front, pointed at Dirk, and said, "You, next to me."
Dirk shrugged, then climbed in next.
Roy and Lyle followed Dirk and sat down across from Elise and Dirk.
The cab driver spoke first and said, "Where ya headed to gorgeous?"
Roy replied, "City 10 Concert Hall!"
Dirk and Lyle exchanged looks with Roy.
"What? I am gorgeous!" Roy said with a huge grin.
The cab took off, and the lights inside the cab dimmed.
Elise wrapped her arms tightly around one of Dirk's arms, put her head on his arm, and whispered, "Lemme stay like this for a bit."
Dirk merely nodded and let her be.
Seeing her personality suddenly switch, Roy and Lyle looked questioningly at Dirk.
Dirk mouthed, "Later."
Roy and Lyle nodded, then turned to look out the windows while they sped off towards the concert.
__________
Backstage at the concert venue, Rayelle and Lisa were putting the finishing touches on their makeup.
"What's up with you?" Lisa asked.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Rayelle replied while slowly applying eyeliner.
"You seem more excited than usual this time."
"Oh, I invited someone and get to make him my personal servant for a weekend for getting him front row tickets."
"Oh? Garret agreed to give up some front row tickets?"
Rayelle sighed, then said, "I don't know. I had Amy arrange it for me."
"So... who is he?" Lisa asked while leaning in closer to Rayelle.
Rayelle playfully pushed Lisa away and said, "Just a guy. You should hear him sing! It sent chills down my body!"
"Chills, huh? You've been dolling yourself up like a middle-school girl before a school dance. Trying to make Garret jealous?" Lisa teased.
"Come on, you know I really didn't like him. I don't know why he's so obsessed with me."
"Who cares if you like him or not! He's rich and hot. Give him to me!"
Rayelle couldn't argue with Lisa about that. Garret's looks and status had initially blinded her, and she still struggled against his charm. "Take him, please! I don't feel a connection with him, and I don't get his fascination with me."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure he forgets all about you." Lisa said seductively, then winked at Rayelle.
Rayelle shook her head and said, "Whatever, just don't suck the life out of the one I invited tonight. His name is Dirk."
"Hey, that's harsh! I've never sucked the life out of anyone. They just couldn't keep up with my lifestyle!"
Rayelle could only laugh at Lisa's comment. She recalled the last poor guy that managed to date Lisa and remembered him going from strong and healthy to gaunt and sickly from trying to keep up with Lisa's lifestyle.
Amy, the manager of the Night Ravens, poked their head in and said, "Rayelle! Lisa! Twenty minutes to curtain!"
Rayelle remembered she never asked Amy what she gave Garret for the tickets and asked, "Hey, what did you give Garret in exchange for the tickets?"
"He asked for a date with you down to Planet Aquillane when it opens up."
Amy froze in place, then carefully said, "And you said no, right?"
"You're the one that said you would do anything, so you're welcome!" Amy said gleefully, then flashed Rayelle and Lisa a victorious smile before leaving to check on the other band members, Adam and Marty.
Rayelle realized she would have to choose her words a little more carefully the next time she tried to make a deal with Amy.
"Hey, bring me along, I'll turn you into a third wheel," Lisa said with a grin.
Rayelle felt slightly insulted that Lisa thought she could turn her into a third wheel. She also remembered trying that with Amy once and was somewhat impressed that Garret had brought someone to counter Amy.
"No, I tried it once with Amy. He had someone ready."
"Bring a couple along, then have them breakup in the middle of the date, wouldn't that ruin the vibe?"
"That's mean! I do not want to destroy someone's relationship just for my own convenience!"
"Why not?" Lisa said bluntly.
Rayelle could only stare at Lisa in disbelief.
"I was kidding! Just bring a guy and girl, ask them to pretend to be a couple then act like they brokeup in the middle of the date."
Rayelle pondered it for a moment, then said, "That... that could work. I just wish I had friends he didn't know about for this to work."
"You'll think of something. Maybe you'll get lucky and the eggheads will declare the planet unsafe."
"I hope not! The planet is beautiful! I want to walk around and feel actual ground under me, not this spaceship."
The cheers from outside started to get louder, indicating that Marty and Adam must've gone onstage already.
"The boys are raring to go, let's go!" Lisa said excitedly, then left Rayelle behind in the dressing room.
Rayelle checked her makeup, adjusted her wig, then tugged on her leather pants.
"Listen to my song!" Rayelle shouted to pump herself up, then left the dressing room.