I Wanna Be An Idol!!!
Live 3-Act 2
A/N Special thanks to @kamenhero25 from Sufficient Velocity and @Mashadarof402 of Space Battles for acting as a Beta. Also thanks to @Frakir's brother also from Sufficient Velocity for offering.
And of course, all the readers for their commentary and participation. This little dream of mine would never have gotten so far without all of you.
Okay, enough with the mushy stuff. Time for fun!
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As the music died down and the lights returned to normal, Taylor gave a bow as her father clapped frantically, his face a picture of frenzied joy.
"Glad you liked it Dad." Taylor gave a wide smile to her audience of one even as she picked nervously at her skirt. Her new found instincts told her to not show hesitation when performing. It was advice that Taylor felt was very prudent, considering how nerve-wracking it was to sing for an audience, even one as friendly as her father. Danny tried to speak, but could not muster more than a hoarse gasp from his overworked vocal chords. Taylor was afraid he'd have brought down the house or annoy the neighbours with his wild cheering. Giving another bright smile to her audience, Taylor then turned to face Producer and felt her heart sink.
There was a ghost of a smile on his lips, but Taylor could tell the lack of enthusiasm easily from the frown visible on the older cape's face. Producer's eyes met hers and she felt a shiver as he tried to force a gentle grin onto his stony features. Thankfully, Producer soon resumed his usual stony countenance, allowing his idol to skip the building panic attack.
"It was an excellent performance for a first Live, Miss Hebert. No doubt you will improve further with more training and practice."
The teen idol felt the body blow of damning by faint praise acutely, the sting of her failing to meet the standards of Producer felt like a punch to her gut. Still, no one ever said idol life was easy and Taylor had prepared herself for this, powers of pop stardom or not. The young idol dismissed the swarm of fireflies and wasps she had summoned to provide superior acoustics and special effects for her performance. Their buzzing wings were perfect for creating a better experience for the audience. Producer than turned to face the now voiceless Danny, who still looked unsure.
"Sir, with your permission I believe I can make your daughter a star that will bring joy to everyone." Producer took Danny's hand in a firm grip. "If you will allow it, of course. She is still your child."
Danny stared at Producer for a while more, before nodding his assent. Taylor yelled in joy and bowled over Danny with a running hug, kissed him on the cheek before she turned back to Producer, her face flushed with joy.
"Practice begins very soon, Miss Hebert. Please refer to the smartphone I've provided you and await for updates."
Taylor frowned before she stomped over to Producer, her heels click clacking as it dug into the wood below the carpet.
"Taylor."
Producer blinked at the harshness of the tone used by his idol.
"Excuse me?"
"Tay-lor." The new idol emphasized with a jab of her finger to Producer's chest. "I'm the idol you've recruited and I don't want you referring me by my last name." The teen waved a finger in the face of the older cape to preempt any protests, the other hand firmly on her hips as she pressed forward with a pouting face, causing Producer to bend backwards at his charge's advance.
"No ifs and buts!" Taylor declared with a huff, even if she felt Producer is simply
adorable when he's flustered.
"Taylor then." The teen felt her cheeks flush as Producer smiled a smile that was more natural and subdued.
"I have to go soon. I have my eye on another potential recruit and I have reason to believe she is now available." Producer gathered up the bags scattered around the couch, going through their contents before handing them over to the Heberts.
"Mr Hebert. You may want to inventory the items I've procured for your daughter. They include a new wardrobe of clothes, make up and accessories." Danny turned a critical gaze to the bags given to him, but remained stoic. "While her powers do provide a basic costume during a performance, she'll need to get used to dressing more…presentably if she's is to carry them naturally."
"Basic costume?" Taylor gushed at the news. "You mean there's more than just the one I'm currently wearing?"
"Of course." Producer nodded before he turned his gaze out of the window.
"We will discuss more about them next time we meet. Till then, farewell." With that, the suited cape briskly strode out of the room and disappeared from view.
Smiling broadly, Danny turned to his daughter and rasped out, "We are going to need a second room for your new wardrobe."
"If this goes on, I won't be surprised if we need a second
house!" Taylor teased with a grin before it transformed into a confused frown. The idol felt her feet tapping along as her ears perked up at the sound of music.
"Were you playing opera Dad? Because I'm hearing Ride of the Valkyries."
Before the elder Hebert could respond, a dark cloud phased through the walls of the house before solidifying into a young teenage black female. Taylor cast an appreciative gaze on the newcomer as she went through her costume. Black and wavy shoulder length hair with a purple butterfly hairpin that glittered in the light, her face streaked with painted stars on the cheeks and full lips with light pink lipstick. A crimson cape, frilly orange shirt with gold brass buttons, shimmering red skirt and a pair of deep purple knee length boots made the new entry an eye catching figure that commanded attention from the room. The young idol also admired the way her black counterpart threw her cape open with a single flourish, looking absolutely dashing. Oh, were those glowing purple batwings made of light on her back? Still, no mask anywhere. So either New Wave's got a new recruit with a flamboyant fashion sense, or Producer's scouted some talent before her.
"Producer!" The new idol bellowed with a voice that caused the room to quake. "From the depths of hell I spit at thee! Through the blackness of my heart I stab at thee!" The caped idol pulled out a bright purple crossbow, bejewelled with sparkling crystals across the frame. The glowing bat wings flared, casting their light over the living room of the Heberts while glowing feathers fell from the roof.
"I am Shadow Stalker and you've made my life a living hell!" The feathers burst into fireworks. "Now, prepare to die!"
Shadow Stalker bowed deeply at the sound of applause before catching herself. She felt very proud of herself despite her burning cheeks for resisting the urge to dig a hole to die of embarrassment.
"That's a wonderful entrance!" Shadow stalker looked at the brightly dressed girl who gushed at her with suspicion, "But should you be using the name of a Ward for your stage name? Not that I care for that particular Ward though. Dark and brooding is so late nineties."
"Hey! Not that I care but I will have you know I've got plenty of fans on PHO!" The brightly dressed teen blinked at Shadow Stalker in surprise, before she pulled out a mirror and showed it to the Ward.
The dark idol saw her mask-less costume, paused for a beat before she
screamed.
"I'm going to kill that fat fuck! Then I will toss his guts into the mosh pit like chum to lure sharks! I will gut him, dice him, and mix him into a stew!"
"And you!" Shadow Stalker whirled to her fellow idol. "Bimbo with the necktie and mic. Did the Producer Master you, or did you always have a breeze blowing between your ears."
"Hey! Rude much?" Taylor huffed at the abrasiveness of her fellow idol. "Just because Producer chose you as my backup doesn't mean you have to be a bitch about it."
"
Backup?! I don't have to take lip from you!" The dark idol glared at her counterpart. "Got a name, or do I go with Mic Ditz?"
"Taylor."
Shadow Stalker felt her brain grind to a halt, before the gears slowly started cranking again as she looked at the new idol with narrowed eyes.
"As in Hebert?" Taylor started at the dangerous low growl from the dark idol, before her mind clicked. Still hesitant, the idol decided to venture a question.
"Do I know you?"
The dark idol sneered, causing Taylor to frown at the unearned hostility.
"Surely you haven't forgotten the
fun we have at school so often, Hebert? I'd be so
hurt."
"Sophia Hess!" Taylor hissed out as her suspicions were confirmed. "Y
ou're Shadow Stalker? A hero?" Outside, swarms of wasps and spiders began gathering in the shadows.
"I didn't ask to be one, Hebert. Those boy scouts at the Protectorate caught me being a bit rough with the criminals they left to run free on the streets." Sophia shrugged. "But having a badge and logistics support does have their perks."
Taylor glared at the dark idol, fists clenched and her face locked into a scowl. Sophia gave a cold smirk and returned the stare.
"Now if you'll excuse me and you will, I have a certain Mastering Trump with a liking for young teens to turn into a porcupine."
As the idolised Ward turned to leave, she was found herself stopped dead in her tracks with a single challenge.
"Sing off." Taylor flashed her phone at Sophia who had turned back. "Or this goes online to PHO and joins your
other video in the playlist."
The dark idol paled as she saw her flashy introduction playing back to her. As Sophia suppressed her newfound instincts screaming to take up the challenge and reached for her bolts, but the sound of sirens made her pause.
"Guess the neighbours must have called the police after all the noise." Danny rasped out as he put down the receiver to the phone. "Sure you want to do this?"
"Fine." Sophia spat as her hands moved away from her bolts. "But I get to choose the venue for the Live."
"Sure." Taylor glared at her tormentor. "I will school you anywhere. Name it."
The dark idol bared her teeth.
"Winslow High auditorium."
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A suited woman with long wavy hair kept watch over the armoured truck currently being loaded with a specially made metal box built to block out all forms of acoustics by a forklift. She tutted her tongue at the sheer paranoia on display before she touched the tip of her fedora and moved it to the right.
"Groove of Victory- Track Select.
Beat it."
Cracking a satisfied smile as a cone of light surrounded her, she shook her head to the rhythm of the bass guitars and synthesizers and slid over to the gathering PRT prisoner escort.
/////////////x///////////////
Paige Mcabee sat in the darkness alone, with even her thoughts and the tune she'd usually hear in her head drowned out by the noise machine within the Tinkertech containment unit. The Rogue singer couldn't even gather her thoughts as the ever present whining that sounded like an unholy mix of whistling artillery shells and brakes played in the back of her head. She couldn't even sing due to the muzzle placed over her mouth, not allowing her to utter even a squeak much less hold a tune. Paige almost wanted to cry, for the music which had been her constant companion since her trigger left her.
Then Paige felt madness grip her, because she suddenly heard music in her head. The unmistakeable upbeat tunes of the Hammond organ mixed with the background of the electric bass guitar punctuated with the whammy bar abuse, spiced with the pulse of the drum and all set to the backdrop of the synthesizers. The blonde singer felt her head swaying to the music that felt like a blast from the golden age of Parahumans in the eighties, a time when things were happier and brighter.
"
Lucky really loved the music from that era. " Paige thought fondly of her trainer who had guided her before and after she purchased her trigger.
"I wonder where she is now."
The music got clearer, masking the whining pitch of the noise machine playing in her head as Paige felt her sanity slipping over the edge.
"
They told her, "Don't you ever come around here. Don't wanna hear your voice. You better disappear."
Outside, she could hear the sounds of boots scrambling, orders screamed and guns firing mixed in with the music. Then she heard the blare of a truck's horn before the loud roar of metal crashing against metal startled the restrained Parahuman singer.
"
The hate in their voices and the fear in their eyes are very clear."
The sound of flesh against flesh and more guns cracking. Paige squeezed her eyes shut as she remembered her ex mutilating himself on her word as she heard the steady tapping of booted feet outside her box.
"
So beat it! Just beat it!"
Paige wanted the music to stop. It was bringing up too many things she'd rather leave buried.
"
You wanna be happy, better do what you can. So beat it. Just beat it!"
"I can't!" Paige suddenly heard herself screaming. Paige saw the darkness of her shut eyes retreat just a bit followed by the hissing of air escaping before a fresh breeze blew against her cheeks. Paige's green eyes strained from the sudden burst of light as they cracked open to the sight of a familiar face.
"Ms Lucky?" A tall thin woman with pale skin, brown eyes and long wavy hair smiled at her while she tipped her white fedora. She reached into the ruby red jacket over a white t-shirt that clashed with her black skinny jeans, fishing out a bunch of keys and unlocked her cuffs.
"Go on. Let your voice be free, Paige."
Paige gingerly reached for the restraints on her mouth with her liberated hands and felt them fall apart as she gingerly touched it with her finger tips. The singer's voice quaked with emotion as Lucky began ruffling her blonde hair and feathers.
"Why?"
"The busting you from a prison transport, or the part about the singing?" Her saviour quipped as she pulled Paige from her seat in the box out into the sun. As her eyes adjusted to the solar glare, Paige stared dumbfounded at the sight of PRT troopers and police laid still on the floor, lined up in formation. The parahuman singer turned an accusing gaze at her old teacher.
"Not my fault the police and the PRT can't train people to match my footwork, Paige." Lucky gave a wink and shrug, much to Paige's chagrin. The singer heaved a sigh of relief as she noted the moving chests and groans from the prone lawmen. At the very least, her mentor wasn't a mass murderer. Paige followed her old teacher to a police cruiser, hoping to the front passenger's seat. No way is she ever going to seat in the back again.
"So where are we going, Lucky?"
Paige had braced herself for a life of crime considering she was now a wanted fugitive. As her old mentor handed her a bag, her eyes widened as she found a sequined sunflower coloured dress.
"My stage costume." Paige whispered.
Lucky touched the tip of her hat and shifted it to the right.
"Groove of Victory- Track Select.
Born Wild"
Gloved hands laid on the wheel as the engine started. Paige leaned back towards the window as Lucky leaned towards her, a manic gleam in her eyes.
"Darling, we're gonna make it happen." The thumping drums and screaming guitar got the singer's heart racing as Lucky drawled out her answer.
"After we get some adjustments done on you, we're going to make you a star again."
///////////////x///////////
Officer Joe looked into her rear view mirror at his cuffed passenger. For all his years inside the force, the veteran beat cop had never heard of a fugitive calling the police and asking for a ride. Much less specifying for "the cop who brained me with the baton."
"Hey." Dull eyes looked at him, causing him to feel a chill as he flinched. "
Guy's got the look of a serial killer," thought the policeman. His rookie partner felt the same way, looking uneasy despite having some five inches of height and twenty pounds of muscle over their quarry.
"You a cape or something?"
The suited perp shrugged, causing the chains on his cuffs to jingle.
"I'm just a producer, ever on the look for more talent to bring joy to the world."
"Okay, so you're one of those crazy ones." Joe nodded as he turned his gaze back to the road. The veteran policeman began to radio back to HQ informing them they'd picked up a suspected parahuman and request PRT support, when the perp interrupted him.
"I've reached my stop. Thank you, Joe."
Joe wasn't sure what happened. One second the suited cape was secured with leg shackles on top of Brute rating handcuffs. The next second, he stood some twenty feet away on the other end of the road, walking towards the Boardwalk.
"Hey Joe." The rookie asked him, disbelief clear in his voice. "Did someone just use a police cruiser as a taxi service?"
Working as an unpowered cop in a cape heavy city like Brockton Bay, the veteran lawman had the perfect answer.
"Fucking capes."
