END OF THE LINE
Chapter One: Ceasefire
“This is hopeless.” Jerrica Benton, chief executive of Starlight Music
and real life identity of rockstar Jem frowned, pushing her pile of
files
aside. “Too many business reports, too many tax returns, too much to
do!
The Holograms are so busy - I’m finding it harder and harder to be in
two
places at any one time!”
“Then why not take a break?” Rio Pacheco, her long standing boyfriend
and Jem’s overworked road manager suggested from the doorway of her
office.
“It’s a beautiful day outside, Jerrica. We could go for a drive, have a
picnic…what do you say?”
“I say it sounds wonderful, but these forms can’t wait.” Jerrica
sighed. “I don’t know, Rio. Suddenly it seems like there’s so much work
to do and everything’s getting on top of me. I don’t think the
Holograms have ever
been this busy!”
“You need to take a time out.” Rio came to join her. “C’mon, Jerrica,
it’ll be fun. We hardly get to spend time together as it is these days!”
“What do you mean?” Jerrica was taken aback. “Rio, you’re our road
manager, you’re always with us wherever we go!”
“No.” Rio shook his head. “Then I’m with Jem…not with you.”
“It’s the same thing.” Jerrica objected.
“I don’t think that it is.” Rio responded. “It’s you I want to spend
time with, Jerrica. Not Jem.”
“But I am Jem!” Jerrica looked confused.
“Maybe you are.” Rio nodded his head. “But it doesn’t feel like it’s
you, Jerrica. Even more so these days, since you girls have been so
busy. It’s like when you touch those earrings of yours you go from Miss
Benton into
Ms Hyde…I want quality time with my girlfriend and we just don’t get it
these days.”
“I am Jem a lot.” Jerrica admitted, then, “Hey, wait a minute!” As his
words sank in. “What do you mean, Ms Hyde?”
“What I say.” Rio shrugged. “I’m sorry, Jerrica, but it isn’t just me.
The girls have noticed it too. Ever since you made peace with the
Misfits…”
“Oh. That.” Jerrica pulled a face.
“Exactly. That’s precisely what I mean.” Rio nodded his head.
“Something tells me that you aren’t dealing with this truce too well.”
“Maybe I’m not.” Jerrica conceded. “I can’t help that, though, Rio. I
was kinda forced and coerced into it by Kimber and the others, and I
still think it’s a bad idea. I can’t possibly trust them, not after all
they’ve put
us through over the last few years. They’re nothing but trouble and I
don’t
see how we’re expected to suddenly drop our defences and welcome them
with
open arms. In any case, I think they’re up to something.”
“I think you’re jumping to conclusions.” Rio said gently. “When you and
Pizzazz were missing, there was a common goal at hand and it broke down
the rivalry. I think Kimber, Aja and the others recognised that the
differences between the groups were based on very superficial
matters…and I wouldn’t be
surprised if the Misfits saw it, too. At the end of the day, you have
to
realise that their teamwork helped to save both your and Pizzazz’s
lives. Had you forgotten that?”
“No, I hadn’t forgotten.” Jerrica shook her head. “And I appreciate
what you’re saying, Rio. But how can it possibly work? We’ve been
bitter foes
for so long…can we just stop the fighting and be friends? I don’t see
it.
In a crisis, there was a truce and I guess that I can deal with. But
now?
After it’s all over? I don’t know. I really don’t.”
“Well, personally I think it’s kinda neat to see Aja and Roxy working
on the Roadster, and knowing that Roxy isn’t gonna cut the brake cables
when Aja’s back is turned.” Rio remarked. “Or to see Stormer and Kimber
playing games with the Starlight kids without fear of any
repercussions. I admit
at first I had my reservations, but it’s lasted so far, and I don’t see
any
reason why it shouldn’t continue. And you know as well as I do that
there’s
more good coming of it than just getting your car fixed quicker and
keeping
the kids occupied. Musically speaking, the positive publicity must be
sending both groups’ ratings through the roof!”
“Which is probably why I’ve been so busy.” Jerrica groaned, glancing
down at the paperwork in front of her. Rio grinned.
“Listen, Jerrica. You’ve always wanted an end to the hassle…now you
have it. What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know.” Jerrica sighed. “It’s like everything is sliding out of
my grasp at once, Rio. I didn’t want this truce under these
circumstances, when I don’t feel like I’ve even had a say in things.
More, I don’t trust it. The Misfits are still there, still recording,
still competing with us for number one, only they’re willing to resort
to all kinds of underhand means
to win that battle. What’s to stop them taking advantage of us while
our
backs are turned? I think I’ll only be happy when they’re no longer a
factor.”
“Aren’t you being a little harsh?” Rio chided gently. “There’s no
reason to think that they’ll be sabotaging you - Jem and the Holograms
have played a lot of gigs since the truce, including a tour of the East
Coast, without a single murmur of trouble. Isn’t that a nice feeling?
And, since we settled the business of Jem’s identity, I feel like you
and I have been closer,
don’t you? Clash and Video are no longer at loggerheads and Video is
really
doing good with that girl, you know, putting her onto the right track
at
last and truly helping her out. Isn’t that what the Holograms stand
for?
Clash looks like making a real go of things in backstage production,
and
it’s only the truce that’s allowed these things to happen. I don’t see
what
bad has come of it.”
“Nothing has, yet.” Jerrica replied. “But it’s coming, Rio. I feel it.”
“Well, stop feeling it for a moment and come and have lunch.” Rio
wheedled. “You need a break from things, Jerrica, whatever you say.”
“Okay.” Jerrica set down her pen, getting to her feet with a
resigned sigh. “I’m coming.”
“Finally.” Rio grinned. “Where do you wanna go?”
“Someplace green and peaceful. I need to relax.” Jerrica responded.
“The girls and I have a session at two, so I gotta be back here for
then, okay?”
“All right.” Rio agreed. “Let’s roll!”
* *
* * *
* * *
* * *
“This is so much fun.”
Kimber Benton paused to examine her reflection in the mirror, running
her fingers through her long red hair and eying her makeup critically.
“That
you and I can shop like this without getting stamped on. Having a truce
rocks, don’t you think?”
“Definitely.” Her companion, Mary Phillips, or Stormer of the Misfits
nodded her curly head. “I wrote to tell Craig and he was over the moon,
said now he didn’t feel so awkward about playing piggy in the middle
when he came
over to see Aja. I might be wrong, Kimber, but now there’s a truce at
hand
I can see things really working out between those two.” Craig was
Stormer’s
elder brother, who had been dating Aja Leith of the Holograms on and
off
for the past couple of years.
“Ooh, I hope so. It’d be outrageous if they did.” Kimber nodded
enthusiastically. “I never thought that the Holograms and the Misfits
could really be friends, you know? But, we’re three months on and still
on speaking terms! I think it’s gonna last! Even Pizzazz hasn’t
contested it!” Pizzazz, or Phyllis
Gabor, was the Misfits’ lead singer.
“She knows that the rest of us don’t want to fight.” Stormer shrugged.
“Roxy, Jetta and I are all sick of fighting a war that none of us, when
we stopped to think it over, actually understand, so she didn’t have
much
choice but to follow what the majority decided for once. Jetta put her
in
her place about it and that was that. I can’t say she loves you or Jem
yet,
and she’s fairly indifferent and cool towards Raya, Shana and Aja,
but…it’s
a step the right way and we’re working on her.”
“Cool.” Kimber grinned. “I have to admit, it is a bit surreal still,
but I dunno, I’m game to let bygones be bygones and go with the
flow…hey, what do you think? Does this outfit suit me?”
”Kimber, it’s truly outrageous!” Stormer giggled. “You should
definitely get it!”
“You don’t think it’s a touch too Misfitty for a Hologram?” Kimber
asked.
“Does it matter? It suits you.” Stormer replied. “I remember the first
time Roxy dragged me in here and got me wearing a miniskirt, heels and
fishnets. I’d never felt so terrified in all my life!”
“And now look at you.” Kimber grinned, eying her friend’s attire in
some amusement. Short black dress up to here, bright coloured jacket
and heels higher than mine. What’s more, you look fabulous, too. That’s
one thing
I have to say about your group. Your clothes are outrageous.”
“Well, we’re Misfits. We have to stand out.” Stormer shrugged. “I
have to admit, though, I love this outfit. The colours go so well
together…it’s probably one of my favourites.”
“Well, I think I will get this outfit.” Kimber eyed her reflection
again, then nodded decisively. “Yeah, I will. But then you gotta help
me do my
makeup to go with it, all right? If I’m gonna dress like a Misfit then
I
wanna look like one too!”
Stormer laughed.
“I can try.” She agreed. “Time for a makeover, huh?”
“You betcha.” Kimber winked. “To mark a new era of Hologram-Misfit
friendships.”
“I’ll go with that.” Stormer nodded. “There’s been way too much nasty
stuff between our groups.”
“True.” Kimber agreed, as she disappeared back into the cubicle to
change into her original outfit. “But things are neat now. When the
car’s bust,
Aja scoots over to yours and asks Roxy to help. When there’s a fashion
emergency, you guys call on Shana. Sometimes we even play together. Not
to mention
the fact that you and I can hang out as much as we want to, no
questions
asked. It totally rocks!” She pushed back the curtain, draping the new
outfit
over her arm as she led the way to join the queue at the paydesk.
“Actually,
I’ve been meaning to mention something, speaking as we sort of were
about
playing together.”
“Oh?” Stormer looked interested. “What’s up?”
“It’s this new song Aja and I have been working on.” Kimber responded.
“I swear since we began to write Hologram music together my writing has
improved by a mile. Anyhow, well, we both agree that it needs something
else, and Aja thought that maybe…a saxophone might be what we’re
looking
for?”
“Jetta.” Stormer deduced, looking thoughtful. Kimber nodded.
“Have you asked her?”
“No-o-o…not yet.” Kimber looked shamefaced. “Aja pulled big sister rank
on me and persuaded me that since you and I were such good friends and
all I was better placed with the Misfits to do the asking. It’s one
thing to have
the idea, Stormer, but a total other one to actually put it into
action. Jetta’s
sharp-tongued and I’m half afraid she’ll laugh in my face.”
“Jetta is sarcastic.” Stormer nodded slowly. “But Kimber, playing the
saxophone means a hell of a lot to her, you know. Music is a big part
of all our lives, it’s what brought four totally different people
together and made the Misfits a hit in the first place. I don’t think
there’s any harm in asking her.”
“You reckon?” Kimber considered. “See, Jetta might be a Misfit but
she’s the best saxophonist I know, and it’s a complicated
counter-melody. I don’t know anyone else who could even begin to tackle
it, but I was listening to that Misfit record you leant me the other
morning and I’m sure if she can handle your notes she can handle ours
no problem.”
“I did wonder why you wanted to borrow that.” Stormer grinned.
“Now all is explained.”
“Yeah, I was doing a little extra-curricular research.” Kimber
giggled. “I know we do play together occasionally, Stormer, but so far
Jetta’s barely played a note when we have, and I wanted to see what she
could do without having to quiz her personally. You really think she’d
be game?”
“Mm.” Stormer nodded. “The Misfits haven’t much on their schedule at
the moment - well, Roxy’s working on a solo album, would you believe,
and I’m helping her here and there with that where she needs me, but as
a band I
think we’re taking a bit of a break from the hassles of music life.
Things
got a bit nasty a few weeks ago - Roxy and Jetta actually came to blows
-
so I think we all needed the break.”
“Lucky you.” Kimber dimpled. “Must be nice to be on vacation.”
“Well, yes.” Stormer nodded. “Kimber, ask Jetta. She can but say no.”
“You sure she won’t bite into me?” Kimber asked nervously.
“Jetta’s not as hard or as cold as she likes people to believe she is.”
Stormer said wisely. “She’s just a very good actress who’s come from a
very unloving background, that’s all. It’s taken me a while to get to
grips with her, because she is so difficult to break down and get to
know, but she’s not all that bad really. Okay, I admit sometimes her
ethics and morals are kinda lacking, but she’s not all bad.”
“Well, I’ll take your word for it.” Kimber shrugged. “Shana likes her,
anyhow. Says it was more fun than she could have imagined working with
her
when we were looking for Jerrica and Pizzazz, and actually admitted
that
by the end of it she felt like they were working as a team. Shana’s got
her head screwed on, so I guess I should take her word for it.”
“Yep, you should.” Stormer nodded. “What did Jerrica say about the
idea?”
“She hasn’t even heard the song yet - there hasn’t been time and she’s
had a lot of paperwork to settle this week.” Kimber replied. “We’ve a
session at two, though, so she’ll hear it then and we’ll run the idea
by her. What time is it, by the way?”
Stormer checked her watch.
“Just after one.” She reported.
“Cool, then we have ages yet.” Kimber dimpled. “And finally, we’re
almost at the desk. Let me buy this, then we can go over to Starlight
Mansion and work on makeup, huh? I wanna look outrageous!”
“If you say so.” Stormer grinned. “But I wouldn’t say I’m the best in
the world at doing other people’s makeup, Kimber. Roxy taught me to do
mine.”
“Well, it’ll be fun, anyway.” Kimber shrugged. “Let’s go!”