Chapter Five: The Stingers
"Things look to be going good."
Copper glanced up from the computer, a smile on her face as she responded
to the email. "Mama says she's got a window in her filming and that she'd
love to come to Los Angeles for the show, especially if it's going toward
the Foundation. She's gonna contact Kimber about finding her a place to
stay...said she doesn't want to crash our party here...but is gonna try
and bring my brother and sister along too, if she can. Luis is in his senior
year, so I don't want to muck up his graduation the way mine went by making
him miss school."
"Lighten up, he can take a week or two off, no problems." Sylva told
her with a shrug. "This is a big deal. And we've got Kimber and Raya confirmed,
which rocks."
"What news of Aja or Shana?" Nancy asked. Sylva frowned.
"Aunt Aja's not sure." She admitted. "I spoke to Sammi on the phone
earlier about it. I don't know details and Sammi wasn't telling, but I
gather she's pretty hurt still about how she left the music industry and
she's also kind of worried about being out of practice. But Sammi said
she'd gotten Kimber on the case, so that should be all right. If we can
get Aunt Aja on our side, then I'm sure Shana will join in too."
"Looking good, then." Topaz dimpled. "Phyllis said this morning that
she thought the twelfth of June would be a good date...nothing on the books
then, and it gives us at least 6 week's preparation."
"Is six weeks enough?" Copper wondered. "We're not even confirmed with
all the acts, yet!"
"True, but we soon will be, I'm sure." Sylva responded. "We're all
set."
"You know, we probably ought to be including the Stingers in this show,
too." Topaz looked thoughtful. Nancy pulled a face.
"Rory Llewelyn? Ugh, you are kidding, I hope!"
"No, I'm not." Topaz shook her head. "I know he's a slimy jerk, but
the Stingers were a big hit, and it just might be cool to have three of
the biggest Californian based bands of the mid eighties play the gig. My
mother had one of their albums...Rory might be a sleaze but he has a great
voice and their music ain't bad, either. I think we should at least try
it."
"Aunt Phyl would freak." Nancy shook her head. Topaz grinned.
"Actually, she won't. I asked her already what she thought of it."
She replied. "She was a bit iffy, but in the end said it might be good
publicity. She told me to talk to you guys about it."
"Even after the way Rory treated Sirena?" Copper asked. Topaz nodded.
"Yes. I get the feeling actually that she was thinking it over as a
possible opportunity for vengeance." She said with a laugh. "But really,
they'd be a big crowd draw. Phyllis is talking to various television networks
about broadcasting it live, and she's planning a CD release and also a
DVD...surely the bigger the publicity blitz, the better."
"Ugh, ugh, ugh." Sylva pulled a graphic face. "Creepy, sleazy, slimy
Rory Llewelyn. Do we have to?"
"Well, we don't have to." Topaz shrugged. "It just seemed like a good
idea. And, creep though he is, he has one hell of a voice. My mother had
one of their albums. It's good music, whatever you think of their personalities."
"I guess we don't really have a choice." Nancy sighed. "Not if Aunt
Phyl has said okay. I hate to think what Em will say, but still...I suppose
we at least have to invite the Stingers to play. People will talk if we
don't."
"True enough." Copper sighed. "Maybe they'll say no."
"Or maybe they won't be able to reassemble in time." Sylva suggested.
"How many Stingers are there, anyway? Three? Four?"
"Four." Copper replied. She began counting on her fingers. "Rory Llewelyn
on vocals, Ingrid Krüger on keys, Sophie Devereux on drums and...I
can't remember the other girl's name, but she played guitar."
"Well, those three you did mention all work at Rebel Records in some
capacity." Sylva grimaced again. "I didn't know that Rory's floozie was
a bona fide Stinger."
"Well, I think it can be taken as read why she joined the band." Nancy
said dryly. "I'm sure it wasn't for her ability on the snare."
"Probably not." Topaz giggled. "She's quite pretty, Sophie Devereux,
isn't she?"
"Well, if you can call her that. It's cheap kinda prettiness in my
view." Sylva replied archly.
"And, according to Aunt Phyl, it's down to plastic surgery." Nancy
added. "There's no other way she could keep her features so youthful and
perfect."
"And we all know how Rory feels about perfection." Copper laughed.
"Then he must be gutted that he couldn't sign us!" Sylva exclaimed.
Topaz grinned.
"For sure." She agreed. "Question is, what does she see in him?"
"Money, power, status?" Nancy suggested. "Certainly not anything to
do with his looks...I've seen pictures, and they just made me burst out
laughing. I mean, I know styles were different in the eighties, but..."
She smirked. "I'll show you next time we're at Misfit Music. I'm sure Aunt
Phyl still has all the old records in a backroom someplace."
"I'd like to see that." Sylva admitted. "I don't know much about the
Stingers, except that Rory Llewelyn is a creep."
"Nancy's right about Rory...or Riot as he liked to call himself." Topaz
remembered. "I can picture Mom's LP now. But we're off the point. Are we
gonna invite them to play or not?"
"Guess we are." Copper sighed. "And with three of them so closely together,
I'm guessing that if they wanted to perform, it'd be the easiest thing
for them to do so."
"So long as they're in touch with the guitarist...anyone know her name?"
Topaz asked. Nancy grimaced.
"Mom refers to them as Riot, Minx, Rapture and Magique." She replied.
"Sophie's French, so she has to be Magique. I'm pretty sure that songwriter
at Rebel Records - Ingrid - is Minx. So I'm going with Rapture. I don't
remember her real name, though."
"I'm not sure I ever knew it...I'm certain Mama didn't know, because
I learnt the names of the others from living and working here." Copper
added. "That's gonna make it difficult to trace her, isn't it?"
"Do we care enough to bother tracing her?" Nancy demanded.
"Well, I know I don't." Sylva shrugged. "Let Rory popcorn hair find
her. It's their problem, not ours."
"Syl's right." Topaz conceded. "We're jumping the gun, we haven't even
invited them to play. I vote Copper goes to ask them."
"Me?" Copper looked startled. "Why me?"
"Well, you're the most friendly and tactful of us." Topaz grinned.
"Syl has a big mouth - no offence, Syl - and Nancy's the daughter of the
competition. Me, I'm just some cheap flirt from Canada...so I vote you
go. You've the charm to carry it off, and the patience too."
"I'll go with that." Nancy agreed, drowning out Sylva's indignant protests.
"Copper, you get my vote."
"I don't want to go to that creepy place." Copper frowned. "I don't
like Rory, he gives me the shivers."
"Well, I'm sure as hell not going." Sylva folded her arms. "And it
has nothing to do with my big mouth, thank you, Topaz. I'm not going because
my mother was a Misfit, and I'm not going to demean myself by grovelling
to her competition."
"How modestly put." Nancy drawled, amused. "But I guess that counts
me out too, for sure. And Mom wouldn't thank me for going to Rebel Records...not
after the fiasco with Blade." She frowned, grimacing. "I can't believe
I almost threw myself into that company at one point."
"Oh well, guess it's unanimous, Copper." Topaz settled herself on her
chair. "You're going."
"Hey!" Copper protested. "C'mon, guys, shouldn't we all go?"
"Not a hope." Sylva shook her head. "I'm not going to Rebel Records!"
"Me neither. Mom would do her nut." Nancy agreed. Copper sighed.
"All right, I'll go." She said, resigned. "But only if you come with
me, Topaz."
"Aw, do I have to?" Topaz frowned. Copper nodded.
"Yep. We both go, or neither of us do." She replied. Topaz shrugged
good naturedly.
"Okay, for sure. I'll come." She agreed. "If we go tomorrow morning,
we might catch them in a bright and fresh mood."
"You, get up early?" Sylva demanded. "C'mon, Topaz, if we don't
have studio hours, you don't emerge till eleven!"
"Like you'd know!" Topaz bantered. "You're never awake when I get up,
and you're always the one who complains about early starts the most! When
I was in Toronto I had to lump it - I can get up early."
"Touche." Sylva dimpled. "But I wasn't claiming to be an early riser."
"You'd better go early tomorrow." Nancy mused. "We've to be at Misfit
Music by ten because Aunt Phyl wants to discuss things with us."
"About the concert? Or something else?" Copper asked. Nancy shrugged.
"Beats me." She replied. "But it's been two months since our last single
and it only hit number seven here. If you ask me, it'll be about that.
She did hint to me about making our next song something special...remember
that we've a new album to promote too, when it's damn well written." She
rubbed her temples. "Man, too much stress!"
"Hey, you love the buzz of a deadline, admit it." Copper teased. Nancy
grinned.
"Guess I do." She admitted. "I like the adrenalin...sometimes it's
a lot of pressure, though. I'm petrified of a flop...public opinion can
be so cruel."
"We ain't had a single flop since we started." Sylva pointed out. "Whatever
else you are, Nance, you're one heck of a writer."
"Well, when Anna comes to LA I'm gonna ask her to help me write something
special." Nancy responded. "Do you think she'll mind? We clicked pretty
good musically in DC, but I know things were difficult then, with...well...your
family and all."
Sylva's expression clouded.
"I'd like her to." She said softly. "Depending on what Misfit Music
say about it all. It...would mean something to have a Martescu on the song-writing
credits, and...well...I've never been able to write music like Annie or
Mom."
Topaz hugged her friend playfully.
"Hey, you have your own charms." She said with a grin. "So don't fret
about it. You're more musical than I'll ever be, at least. If it weren't
for Nancy's help, I'd never have mastered bass guitar to any degree."
"We're a team, is what you mean." Copper dimpled. "Isn't it cool, though,
that we really are? Not one hit wonders or flash in the pan...we're really
friends here together as well as musicians. Doesn't that rock? I mean,
I'd trust any one of you with my life and my secrets...doesn't that say
something about our team spirit here?"
"Wouldn't trust Syl, she has a big mouth." Nancy put in dryly.
"Hey, leave my mouth alone!" Sylva exclaimed. "Okay, so I'm not the
most tactful person ever, but I don't betray promises or secrets!"
"She's winding you up, cool out." Topaz advised. "You guys know you
love each other really."
"Pah." Nancy pulled a face, but there was a smile at the corner of
her mouth. "That'll be the day."
"Well, enough of this." Sylva stretched out, grabbing her purse. "I
vote we go out for eats tonight and discuss the concert...I need some head
space, I think. Italian sound good to everyone?"
"Works for me." Topaz nodded. "Guys?"
"Sure." Copper grinned. "Let's grab our stuff and go hit the town!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Rory, you will not believe who is here." Sophie turned away from the
window of the office, a confused look on her face.
"Who?" Rory glanced up from his paperwork. "What's wrong, Sophie? We
have company?"
"We do." Sophie nodded. "Unless I am very much mistaken...it is Copper
and Topaz from Jewel."
"What do they want, do you suppose?" Rory set down his pen, a frown
on his face. "I can't think of a single reason why I would want them on
my property - they had better have a good reason."
"Shall I go out and speak to them, perhaps?" Sophie's mischievous dark
eyes twinkled. Rory nodded.
"Sure, go ahead." He agreed. "If it's worth our time, then I will speak
with them myself."
"Bien sûr." Sophie dimpled, moving over towards the door. "À
bientôt!"
"Well, we're here." Downstairs, Copper and Topaz has arrived in the
front lobby, heading across to the lift with more than a few misgivings,
and it was Topaz that had spoken. "You wanna turn tail and run yet?"
"Yep, I think so." Copper grimaced. "This place is way modern and way
cold. I mean, Misfit Music is modernised, but Phyllis has taste in decor."
"And money." Topaz added dryly, punching the lift buttons. "Come on.
Sooner we do this..."
"Hey, it was your idea to come!" Copper protested.
"I know. Just call me chicken." Topaz rolled her eyes. "I'm beginning
to wish I hadn't opened my big mouth."
"Well, we're here now." Copper gritted her teeth. "And I'm not going
back to Nancy and Syl and saying we wimped out, are you?"
"Nope, not a chance." Topaz responded. "We're the oldest Jewels, we
have to set an example."
"Don't remind me." Copper replied darkly. "I'm twenty one in July...Nancy
keeps teasing me about getting old."
"You and Aaron gonna do something to celebrate?" Topaz asked. Copper
went slightly pink.
"Maybe." She said slowly. "His birthday is June 23rd, and mine's July
9th, so we're thinking of having a joint party to celebrate both twenty-firsts
at the same time. Trouble is, I don't want to make it a star studded press
affair. I just want it to be a private party. That's why I haven't said
anything to Phyllis or Jetta...I'm not sure either of them are aware it's
my birthday soon. And if we have a joint party, it means Aaron can spend
his actual birthday with his family and hopefully, I can spend some time
with mine, if Mama stops in LA a while like she's planning."
"Sounds cool." Topaz dimpled. "So who's gonna be invited to this private
do, then?"
"You, Syl, Nancy, of course." Copper grinned. "Dean, Zoe...I'd invite
Cameron, if he were in the States. Any of the Teenangels who are flitting
about here at the time are welcome too. Um, then I was thinking about asking
Anna - Syl says she's spending the summer with Mary in LA, so she'll be
about. Other than that, I don't know. I'm considering inviting Sirena,
but I don't want a fight between her and Syl, and with the babe she probably
couldn't come anyway. I know she and I aren't great pals or anything, not
like she and Nancy are, but...she's kinda alone, when you think about it."
"You're too sweet." Topaz laughed. "Well, if you do have this do, count
me in!"
"Well, what brings two such high spirited Jewel musicians to Rebel
Records?"
As they left the lift, the two girls found their good mood dimmed some,
for waiting in the top floor foyer was the elegant Sophie, clearly both
curious and amused by their discomfort.
"It is an unexpected pleasure to see you."
"We...kinda hoped to see Rory." Copper said slowly. "It's...a kind
of business proposition."
"Business?" Sophie looked startled. "Quoi? What kind of business can
you have with us?"
"It's more to do with the Stingers than with Rebel Records itself."
Topaz responded earnestly. "Can we see him, please?"
"I will go speak to him." Sophie agreed, her eyes bright with curiosity.
"The Stingers? I do not understand!"
"Well, we can't go back now, even if we wanted to." Copper muttered
to her companion as they followed the frenchwoman to the door of the office,
waiting outside. "Does she give you the creeps too?"
"I dunno. Can't make her out." Topaz admitted. "I can't see what she
sees in Rory Llewelyn, though. The guy's a jerk."
"Yeah, I'd noticed." Copper agreed dryly, then, as the door re-opened,
"Ooh, looks like we're in."
"Riot will see you." Sophie said slowly. "If you make it quick."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Well, here I am."
Sirena perched herself on the desk of her mother's office, setting
the baby basket down on the floor beside her and meeting the executive's
startled gaze with a questioning one of her own.
"So I see." Phyllis eyed her daughter thoughtfully. "And Michael too...I
hope you ain't gonna ask me to bratsit, cos I'm not biting."
"No, I got more sense than that." Sirena replied dryly. "Nancy came
and told me about the concert...well, I wanna be involved."
"You do?" Phyllis frowned. "What about the munchkin here?" She cast
a wary glance at the basket. "He asleep?"
"Yeah, at the moment." Sirena nodded. "I had to come see you...needed
out of that apartment, else I'd have just phoned. Well? You signed me on...can
I do it? Do I have your blessing, Mom?"
"Don't be smart." Phyllis told her sharply. "Sure, if you can find
someone to watch Mike. It ain't gonna be me."
"I called Grandpa." Sirena replied. "He said that he'd love to have
him...and would catch the show on cable when it aired. So that's fine...Mom,
I wanna sing so bad. I hate being stuck at home playing Mom all the time...I
need to get out for a night and perform again...be Sirena again."
"Well, it's cool by me." Phyllis shrugged her shoulders. "I'll add
your name to the bill. Don't s'pose you'll sing much, though. We got a
full programme, and..." She paused, eying her daughter slightly awkwardly.
"And I don't know as you're up to a full scale performance yet."
"I'm fine. It's been nine weeks." Sirena dismissed it carelessly. "I
feel great. Just bored. But sure, I don't mind playin' just a couple of
tracks. I actually..." She hesitated, then, "I kinda hoped maybe I could
perform with you."
"Me?" Phyllis was floored. Then, "Why?"
"The Misfits were my heros growing up." Sirena twisted her hands together,
embarrassed. "And...well...you're my Mom. And I thought it'd put a hush
on any speculation in the press that we hated each other."
"We spent years hating each other...they got a point." Phyllis said
dryly, reaching for a pen and making a note on a nearby notepad. Sirena
shrugged.
"I dunno. Since Mike was born I think I understand you more than I
ever did." She said reflectively. Phyllis grimaced.
"Don't get all deep and meaningful." She warned. "I just ate."
Sirena laughed.
"We ain't so different at the end of the day." She mused. "But okay,
I'm done. I just wanted to tell you that. Is it cool? Can I sing with you
guys?"
Phyllis considered, then,
"If it means that much to you." She said, her tone slightly uncomfortable.
"Then sure. I'll talk to...speak of the devil." As the door of the office
swung open to reveal Mary. "Stormer, I was just gonna call you. You psychic
or something?"
"No...not that I know of." Mary cast Sirena a curious look. "What's
the deal? I came to ask you if it'd be okay for Kimber and I to sing a
couple of numbers at the show."
"Sure, why not? Everyone and his dog is gonna perform, why not you
two as well?" Phyllis replied, but there was a smile on her face that belied
her tone. "Anyway, I got a job for you. If you're still the writer you
were, and I don't doubt you are, do you think you can write something new
for the show? Something...Misfitty. Something...well, something which will
take the crowd by storm. And something which can be sung as a duet, too."
"A duet? Well, I'll try." Mary looked startled. "I need a project,
anyway, and Nancy has my scripts. Are we gonna get together and play sometime,
then?"
"Day after tomorrow if I can get the studio free." Phyllis nodded.
"We're gonna need some practice to get back into eighties mode."
At this juncture, baby Michael began to emit whimpers and Mary, who
had not seen the baby basket in the corner, turned, startled.
"Em, shut that brat up, will ya?" Phyllis rolled her eyes. "This isn't
a nursery."
"Well, if you think you can do better." Sirena retorted, scooping her
son up. "Shh, Mike. Grandma can't cope with your noise."
"I warned you about that." Phyllis scowled. "No way am I old enough
to play gran!"
"Oh! You're Emily!" Mary's eyes became big with surprise. "I didn't
recognise you without your hair dyed!"
"Yeah, that's me." Sirena nodded, rocking her son almost instinctively
as his whimpers began to quiet. "Guess you know who I am, huh?"
"I held you when you were first born." Mary said softly. "You were
so sweet then...I feel old, seeing you grown up and a mother to boot. How
old are you now? Twenty? Twenty-one?"
"Twenty two in July." Sirena blushed slightly at the reference to her
babyhood. "You...held me?"
"You liked her better than me when you were born." Phyllis said darkly.
"She could stop you crying...none of the rest of us could."
"I didn't know that." Sirena responded. "I...I guess I kinda thought
I was smuggled away and you guys never saw me. I didn't know..."
Anything else she said was drowned out by Michael's screams for attention,
and she paused with a sigh, ministering to her son.
"Get out of here, will ya? You're giving me a headache." Phyllis groaned.
"Both of you, go! Stormer, I'll call you 'bout rehearsing. I need a break."
"Sure." Mary grinned, opening the door and holding it for Sirena to
follow with the still screaming baby. Once in the corridor, Sirena shot
her companion a helpless look.
"He's not gonna shut up." She said hopelessly. "Can...can you try?"
"If you like." Mary set down her bag, taking the baby gently and rocking
him. "What's his name? Mike, did you say?"
"Michael, yes." Sirena nodded, marvelling at the expert ease with which
the writer soothed the baby's squeals. "You must've had some practice at
that, huh?"
"I raised twin girls." Mary smiled slightly. "So I guess you could
say that."
"Twins? Man...I couldn't even begin to go there." Sirena shuddered.
"One is definitely more than enough for me!"
"He's cute, though." Mary's expression became wistful. "Makes me remember..."
She paused, shaking her head. "No...I shouldn't think that way. It was
too long ago."
"I'm sorry?" Sirena was nonplussed. Something about this woman's gentle
air made her feel a sense of warmth towards the Misfit, and there was something
in the sadness of Mary's smile that troubled her.
"I...had a son, once." Mary admitted softly, handing the drowsy baby
back. "He was stillborn."
"Oh!" Sirena looked startled, then. "I...I didn't know. Mom...never
told me much about you or Roxy and family."
"Your mother doesn't know either." Mary replied quietly. "Nor Jetta.
Roxy does...but it was so long ago now, I...try not to think of it. But,
well, you know how strong a bond is between mother and baby. I...wish I
could have raised him like I did Sylvie and Anna."
"Sylvie?" Shock registered in Sirena's green eyes. "You're Sylva's
mother?"
"Yes." Stormer nodded. "You didn't know that, either?"
"No, I didn't." Sirena looked uncomfortable, then, "Your daughter hates
me."
"Yes, I know." Mary agreed calmly. "Does that mean I should hate you?"
"I..." Sirena was startled. Mary smiled.
"I think I had more conscience pangs than your mother when Aja took
you into the Foundation. I knew they'd give you all the love you could
ever need, but I was afraid it wouldn't be enough." She said. "I know how
important my mother was to me...I remember thinking how sad it was that
you'd not have anyone to call Mommy."
"I...guess I felt angry rather than sad." Sirena admitted. "I...ain't
really talked about this with anyone, except Grandpa and Mom, kinda. I
mean, we're on okay terms these days. I call her Mom cos...I want to feel
she's my mother, but she's more like a friend than a Mom in a lot of ways.
I like it that way, don't get me wrong, but...well, there are things I
can't talk to her about. And for the first time ever, I kinda have things
I need to talk about." She set Michael in the basket. "Mostly to do with
him. I'm scared of being a bad mother...hell, six months ago I'd never
admit to being scared of anything. But I don't want him to grow up angry
at me too."
"I don't see why he would." Mary eyed the girl thoughtfully. "It takes
a lot of guts to make a decision like you did to have and raise him. And
I can see you love him. More, I think he loves you too."
"You really think so?" Sirena glanced at the sleeping baby doubtfully.
"I dunno. How do you tell?"
"Call it intuition." Mary dimpled. "But I think you'll both do fine,
Emily."
"I hope so." Sirena admitted. "I ain't a soft touch...but I'm kinda
gooey in the head where he's concerned. Can't help it...he's a part of
me."
"Of course." Mary nodded her head. "My girls are the most precious
thing I have."
"You...you're real nice to me." Sirena's spoke a little awkwardly.
"Why?"
"Why shouldn't I be? I like you." Mary replied with a grin. "And I
always wondered how the first baby Misfit ended up. Jetta had her kids
and I had mine...but you were the first, Emily. You began the trend."
"Guess I did." A slight smile touched Sirena's face. "I...I wish Mom
had been able to raise me. I...think I'd have learnt a lot from you."
"Well, how about this." Mary's compassionate nature took control, and
she sent the girl a warm smile. "I'm as bewildered as you are at the moment
with the change in my life. My marriage has broken down and I'm moving
back to LA in the middle of a divorce. This concert is taking my mind off
things...but they're always there at the back of my mind. It occured to
me that things aren't so different for you, what with your new baby and
all, things have changed drastically in the last few months. So I'll say
this. If you ever want to talk to anyone, you can come talk to me."
"I...can?" Sirena was touched. "Even...even though Syl doesn't like
me?"
"Sylvie knows that she and Annie are the most important things I have."
Mary said quietly. "But I wanted to be there for you when you were little,
because I had a feeling you needed more than a big family of foster kids
to make you happy. If I had been older and more stably settled, I would
have adopted you myself, but I was only twenty three or twenty four and
the Misfits was all the security I had. So I want to make up for it now."
"I...I appreciate it." Sirena smiled, tears touching her eyes. "Everyone
always said you were the sweetheart Misfit...guess it was true."
"I dunno about that. I gave my husband a few harsh words before I left."
Mary looked rueful. "But if you want to think it, sure. Hey, do you have
a car here?"
"No, I caught a taxi." Sirena shook her head.
"Well, if you want I'll give you a ride home." Mary suggested. "Michael
probably needs feeding, which is why he's so grumbly...and you don't want
to be hanging around with a squealing baby."
"No, I guess not." Sirena smiled. "I guess...I guess thanks."
"Not a problem." Mary grinned. "It's my pleasure."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"So?" Nancy opened the front door of the Starlight Mansion, eying her
two bandmates with a curious look. "What's the deal? What did he say?"
"He said yes." Copper rolled her eyes. "Provisionally. Dependant on
whether they can get hold of Rapture. Oh, he was so smarmy about it, though!
Like we'd come grovelling to him! He's such a creep."
"Copper put him in his place." Topaz looked amused. "He said something
like 'I suppose you need a big name act like the Stingers to add a little
prestige to your performance'...and she looked him straight in the eye,
gave him a patent Copper innocent smile and said 'Oh no, but we were rather
worried that you'd need the publicity for your company, considering all
that's happened recently.' He was speechless."
"Woo, go Copper!" Nancy looked impressed.
"There's something about him I really don't like." Copper admitted.
"I couldn't help it."
"We'll make a Misfit of you yet." Sylva came up to join them, having
overheard the exchange. "But the Stingers are game to play?" She grimaced.
"Wonderful. Sharing a stage with Mr Ego."
"Actually, I had an idea about that." Topaz looked thoughtful. "If
they sign papers to play at the gig, well, what's to stop Phyllis or Jetta
fielding them early on in the programme? Don't worry, I think Mr Ego is
gonna be dealt a severe blow."
"I guess the Misfits will headline the show?" Nancy asked. Copper shrugged.
"I don't know. Probably." She agreed. "Since Phyllis is backing things.
Them or the Holograms, but I'd say the Misfits."
"Well, that's cool. It's their show really." Sylva acknowledged. "I
just wanna see Mom perform live."
"Me too." Nancy dimpled. "It's gonna be a real buzz!"
"Yeah, it's gonna be one hell of a show." Topaz nodded. "Nancy, have
you messed around with any of the Misfit manuscripts?"
"A couple. Tomorrow I'm going to go see Aunt Phyl and ask her which
ones we can do, since Mary said we could do any." Nancy replied. "I think
we ought to tackle a few Hologram songs too, mind you - Copper, do you
know who has the music for those?"
"It could be Kimber." Copper looked thoughtful. "Since she did a lot
of the writing. But...I'm kinda afraid they might be at Starlight Music,
in the archives."
"How are we meant to get them from there?" Sylva demanded. "Jerrica
is a witch!"
"She can't be that bad." Topaz objected. "She's a businesswoman, surely
she can be reasonable?"
"I don't think so." Copper shook her head. "I don't know what the real
story is, Topaz, but something happened. Something big. Jerrica used to
be one of my mother's closest friends - she was also the voice and the
business behind Jem. But somewhere along the line things went wrong. The
band fell out bigtime, and for a year they were kinda estranged. Then,
suddenly, Jem apparently drove off a bridge - though we all know now that
it was an elaborate hoax - and the group repaired its bonds. It looked
like everything would be fine. But..." She frowned. "Mama gets very angry
whenever I ask her about it, so I tend not to ask. Jerrica and Aja had
a row...I don't know what about, but it escalated. Aja found herself more
or less driven out of the Holograms, and the band fell apart. Aja married
and moved to England...is that right, Syl?"
"Yes." Sylva nodded solemnly. "She married Uncle Craig almost as soon
as she knew Sammi was on the way. His work was out there and she wanted
a new start. But like you, I don't know the ins and outs. I think maybe
Sammi does...but she hasn't told me. Either way Jerrica hurt my aunt and
that's not on. Noone messes with members of my family."
"Wow." Topaz let out a low whistle. "Dramatic."
"Yeah." Copper nodded. "Mama is a very patient and peaceful person,
Topaz, but when Jerrica gets mentioned she still gets angry."
"Okay, so Starlight Music is a no-go." Topaz frowned, leading the way
inside to the lounge and dropping down onto the couch. "What does that
leave us with?"
"Tackling Kimber, I guess." Sylva said slowly. "Or...well, that's about
it."
"Syl's right." Copper agreed. "Though Mama might have a few drum scores,
I know she hasn't got any full scripts."
"I don't suppose you could reconstruct the songs by ear, Nance?" Topaz
sent Nancy a hopeful glance. Nancy grimaced.
"Yeah, I could." She agreed. "But it'd be time-consuming and tedious,
and I don't really wanna if we can avoid it. Remember, I have a Jewel album
to write too."
"True." Topaz sighed. "Well, we could help you out some with the Jewel
stuff, lyrics and so on..."
"None of us are composers, though." Copper pointed out. "Words are
one thing, but music is another."
"Yeah, I guess." Topaz conceded. "Okay. So we're back to tackling Kimber?
Would she even want to give us her music?"
"Mom and she are pretty good friends." Sylva said. "I reckon that she
would."
"Oh!" Copper's brown eyes lit up all of a sudden. "Oh, wait, I just
had an idea! I'll be right back!"
And with that, she was gone, leaving her bandmates staring blankly
at one another.
"What do you suppose that's about?" Sylva demanded. Nancy shrugged.
"You got me." She replied dryly.
Within a minute, the redhead was back, breathless and excited.
"I know how we can get the music!" She exclaimed. "Synergy!"
REUNITED: PART ONE
Chapter One: Copper's Idea
Chapter Two: Tackling Sylvina
Chapter Three: I'm Okay
Chapter Four: Preparations
Chapter Five: The Stingers
Chapter Six: Cynthia to the Rescue
Chapter Seven: The Holograms
Chapter Eight: Jack and Courtenay
Chapter Nine: Phoebe Asche
Chapter Ten: Copper
Chapter Eleven: Unrest