Riding the Rainbow
27 Jun 2019Kara waldeN
Imperial SpaceCubeo System
The offices of Alicia Mellor, Vice Herald of The Prismatic Imperium
Slices of light knifed through the shuttering, cutting the desk between them.
“Ten Billion viewers will certainly buy you some editorial concessions,” agreed Kara. In her hand was a lead crystal glass of iced lemon water. She twisted it backwards and forwards, toying with the blades of sunlight which passed through it.
“I have to be honest Alicia, I like the way you negotiate,” she said thoughtfully.
The woman on the opposite side of the desk took a swig from her own glass of Cubeo Pure. She nodded.
“Thank you, I’ve had a lot of practice this last year,” she said.
“Not that it matters now,” she added reticently and Kara grinned mischievously.
“I bet you are sooopeerrrr excited about the party to welcome the Lord Herald back this weekend, aren’t you?” she asked as innocently as she could.
Alicia drained her drink and placed the glass on the desk. The Diamonds in the bottom caught the light, shattering it into rainbows.
“I’ve worked very hard to get where I am and the last time I checked, ambition is not a dirty word. Especially not in The Prismatic Imperium,” she said and activated her data slate to look at the figures Kara had brought with her.
“Focus groups say that the veterans of the Pegasi war believe this show, to be insensitive,” she said, drawing out the word, as if it to give voice to the concerns of the veterans.
“Fall out from bad reviews would do my career no good at all at the minute,” she continued. “I have a mind to put the whole deal on ice until we get more editorial control,”
Kara shrugged.
“That’s not a problem. I’m something of a freed slave myself, I don’t see why the show can’t drive home a message about the triumph of the human spirit over physical circumstance,” she said
“You mean a clear and unequivocal, anti-slavery message,” Alicia replied firmly.
“The phrasing isn’t important,” Kara replied. “It’s those Saud Kruger and Delacey advertising revenues that we should be focusing on. The Galaxies Greatest Jewel Thief is a show which has a huge following in the Pegasi, and despite what Sagittarius Eye would have you believe, it’s not all crazy Pirate Queens and inbred tribesmen anymore. There are some huge commercial concerns out there nowadays, DaVinci Corp for one. Those Commanders buy a lot of ships. You can’t move for Cutters in some of their starports. This deal will transmit your evangelical message into the heart of Delaine territory at the same time as driving revenue into the accounts of The Peoples Media. The reboot will still use the long standing syndication deals of the original, only this time, as well as spreading the good word of Cubeo, a percentage of the earnings will go directly to the channels which host the show and let’s face it, ten billion is a big number, but it is only the start,”
“I tell you what, as a sweetener, I can even cast a role for you, maybe revive your acting career now that politics is getting a little crowded again,” she added with a wink.
“My acting career is behind me, thank you,” Alicia replied quickly, remaining stoney faced, but to Kara’s eyes it seemed that her body language betrayed a brief flicker of interest.
Alicia’s attention returned to the data slate.
“Your revenue projections do look interesting,” she admitted, “ and I think that if the anti slavery message is clear from the start, and the advertising contracts are in place, then I dont see why we can’t sign off on the first series,” she held out her hand to shake on it.
Kara let out a whoop and slapped Alicia’s hand.
“On the side,” she shouted and then held out her hand, palm upwards
“Down below?” Kara asked and nodded eagerly for Alicia to go for the low-five but she regarded it suspiciously.
“You’re just going to move your hand away aren’t you,” she said, clearly unimpressed.
Kara feigned shock.
“Alicia, I can’t believe you would say such a thing. To think that I would play a childish trick on my new multi-billion credit business partner? Come on, down below?” she replied and wiggled her fingers.
After a second or two Alicia Mellor reached out to give her a low-five.
At the last moment Kara snatched her hand away.
“You’re too slow!” she laughed.