Chapter 10 – White Noise

Three teens tapped their feet impatiently in a long line, an android scanning telecomm app barcoded circles to the passengers ahead. "I cannot believe Jel's mom actually scored us tickets to the Astrobeats concert? This is unreal!" Veronica said, the lumbering bulky droid finally scanning theirs and letting them up boarding stairs. Within is a room the size of a clubroom with over a hundred waiting inside. They settle into the port's luxurious embrace, finding a nearby couch and sinking into the soft, memory foam-like filling. The plush walls shimmer with a starry night sky motif, twinkling fiber optic constellations casting a playful glow. "We just, sit here? Aren't there seatbelts or windows?" Thatti asked, taking notice of the refreshment stand, the small dance corner and premium holoscreens littered with ads projected into the air. "Never rode a Warpstation before? That's not really how these work, silly." Caleb chuckles. "Think of it like an Elevator, but it rides outside of space and you feel nothing." The warpstation port hums to life, its soft purr vibrating through the plush interior. A holographic countdown flickers into existence above them. aleb points to the hologram. "See that?" The three teens' eyes widen at the sight of a giant glowing map showing them where they're going. The screen pulses for a second, then the destination jumps towards them, shimmering with digital lights in glorious detail.

When the countdown is done, the timer dings. "And we're here." Caleb says. "This was Jel's birthday present to all of us, apparently she couldn't make it tho. Something about some Llavalite religious holiday? Her mom got her these tickets not knowing it fell on the date, sod we gotta go to the concert in her stead!" He crossed his fingers up.

"What manner of concert is this? A symposium, an orchestra?" Thatti asked. "It's the Astrobeats!" Veronica exclaims, looking around the now silent and dark interior. "You don't get it do you? A pop-idol band like this costs an arm and a leg to get to hear! I've been to a couple of

their other gigs but this is their big debut show for their recent tour! They're releasing a new record this year, it's going to be amazing!"

 

 

 

"Oh, yes of course. I forgot how much Xi loves its.. pop music." Thatti says, cringing as the words hobble out of her mouth. "They are super popular with teens, like so popular that there are sentient hologram holo ads are about them." Caleb added. "And this music is really good, Thatti!" Veronica pipes up. "It's an exciting dance beat and really fun to listen to! It's my favorite boyband ever, trust me you'll love it."

The Orchid girl rolls her eyes. "We have, boy entertainment and songs aswell back home. It's, not exactly to my taste." She remarks. "Bah, Xi music is, well, really, really weird and strange, it doesn't translate all that well outside of here. Ugh.. But, I'm sure this will be a new experience!" Thatti grumbled, the sound of the concert's early warmup acts starting to be heard outside of the warpstation, and into the lobby of the Star-court.

The trio of friends walk into a massive hologram-riddled concert hall that looks more like a city than a showroom. Dozens of shopping centers, sponsored kiosks, sales pavilion, hallways and food courts are seen adjacent to the nearby exits and side venues. "It is, a.. beautiful." Veronica mumbles, her eyes lighting up as the show kicks off with the band strutting out in an explosion of fireworks. The trio walk down to the stage, sitting themselves in the middle of a bunch of other fans. Caleb looks around, seeing all the happy Xi citizens with their own friends, loved ones, family and others. "This is amazing!" He exclaimed, clapping and cheering for the group that just entered the stage. "You like it?" Thatti asks. "Oh it's, so weird and strange. All these people love them, and the atmosphere is so upbeat. I'm used to music that's alot more.." She tries to fight her tongue as not to sound rude, but the word choice speaks for itself. "Refined."

"Oh come on Thatti.. these are just the opening acts." Caleb elbows her. "You didn't even wear the croptop I picked out for you."

 

 

 

The host of the concert, l'Riht-Ly, finishes congratulating the bandmates in front, he's a squid headed dandy with flamboyant robes, a species Thatti vaguely remembered seeing in a textbook once. "Ladies, gentlemen and, hive-breeders! Welcome. To. The ASTROBEATS!" The man yells, and the crowd goes wild. "For our next performance, by the boyband Echo-Kai Starling!" Four androids come out onstage, each a different color but all wearing the same style of suits. They dance, and sing along with each other as if in harmony, in front of a massive, glowing stage. A spotlight appears inbetween the 4, and a figure emerges. Veronica starts crying out from the excitement. Thatti and Caleb look to her, and their mouths drop as out comes the main singer, a shorter but handsome boy with cyan-hair, wearing a black-and-pink jumpsuit with squeaky gloves, jackboots, a magenta beret and a scarf to match. "Welcome lovelies, I hope tonight finds you well! Are you here to get. BEAT!" He says, before performing the lyrics. Thatti's jaw goes slack, the boy's singing was powerful, charismatic, and the sheer talent radiating from him was hard to deny. The song they perform, and the rest of their set is a joy to listen to and watch.

Thatti starts to feel as a young child with a huge crush, bouncing around to the song and enjoying the atmosphere. She turns to Caleb. "I can't believe it, I thought this music was.. terrible. But, this is so much fun!" She exclaims, not having been this happy in a long time. "They're awesome!"

RATATATATATATATAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTT

 

Suddenly the crowd panics, horrified as they watched gunfire reign down, three of the androids falling as their bodies were riddled with bullets. A series of rocket-like projectiles slammed into the backstage and explosions rocked the concert venue.

"EVERYBODY GET DOWN!" Lt.-Riht screamed. "What's going on?!" Veronica sobbed, hiding her face in her hands. Thatti ran with the fleeing crowd. "Wait a minute." She took out Headhunter. "Leave your mark, God's Spark." In a flash, she switched with Becca and raised her palms. "GIGA FREEZE." The entire Star-Court froze in time, for what she assumed would hold a few moments at best. She climbed on stage and squinted, looking at a trenchcoated assailant at the top row in the far back audience holding a rifle of some kind.

"W-who are they?" A voice said nearby. "Huh, wait what?" Becca looked down at the audience, that baggy eyed gem girl was there. Lazuli Kazan-Sung.

"YOU!" She snarled. " "The traitor." "YES! I'M NOT THE ONE WHO'S TRAITOROUS HERE!

YOU ARE KAZZY-G!" She shot back. "Talk about pot calling the kettle black." Kazan attacked, grabbing Becca by the shirt and lifting her.

"Easy now." Petal leapt onstage and pulled the two apart. "We're not here to fight, honest." "Like ass you aren't! Murdering bots ain't cool."

"Look!" Petal pointed her spear. A green haired figure whose face was hidden behind a handkerchief over the top-platform holding a rifle. Becca aimed Headhunter, just as the effect faded and time resumed- the panic crowd still fleeing. The shooter immediately leaving in the hysteria.

"You let them get away! Why are you two pebblebrains doing here anyway?"

 

Petal threw her arms around Lazuli and coaxed her. "She is a crystal gem now, remember? I agreed to take her out to celebrate. Me and Moonbeam here happen to be rather big fans of Echo-Kai Starling You, on the other hand, seem to be a fan of murder. And that is inexcusable." She pulled the skintight fabric of her kiosk-bought oversized shirt, then Lazuli's. "See? We're even wearing Echo-Kai's brand jersey."

"I ain't murdered shit!" Becca yelled. "Why do you gems always mess everything up? If it weren't for you I'd have them!"

"Look, I didn't ask to be born into a gem society. I didn't want to be a gem. I wanted to be a normal girl, I wanted to be human! This whole thing is just a cruel joke on me, and I won't stand for it!" Kazan shouted, holding her face with her hands. "Then do something about it!" Becca says. "Get mega lost!"

"KAZZY!" Petal jumped in. "Calm down! You gotta relax."

 

"I WON'T! If you knew what I've had to endure, to hear that I-"

 

"Save it." Becca said, looking towards Caleb and Veronica catching up to her. "You 4 stay put, I'm going after the shooter." She ran down the hall, pursuing the shooter to the back entrance, a small and narrow hallway. The shooter hid behind a corner exit, out of her line of sight. "Come out!" She soon pushed the corner exit, gasping as she looked up.

 

 

 

What looked like practically skyscrapers and a cityline in every direction greeted her outside the venue, all in a dome miles ahead. "This whole thing is, a Star-court? It's FRIGGIN HUGE!" Thatti says, looking around the star-court. A massive star shaped orb is seen far away, lighting up the massive dome city in the air. She could see the shooter running towards a figure on what looked to be.. a floating broom? Becca held Thatti to her chest and she morphed, becoming a metallic but taut suit with a jetpack and a cannon-shooter arm, her friend wrapped around her entire body as advanced metals. She blasted up towards figure, the assailant taking off their hankerchief mask.

"You two are in for a WORLD of pain!" She slurred.

"The sky's not blue out here. The star's are burning with envy." The figure on the broom responded, her pure white bodysuit gleaming in the Star-court's lights. Her eyes glowed bright green. "Looks like a rat found you Eldric. I told you to be covert."

"She followed me!" Eldric said. Becca fired Headhunter from her arm, the cannon shooting missiles at the shooter. They were useless, though she didn't know why, some strange electrical barrier shaped like a hexagram dissipating her shots. "W-what, how did you-"

The woman pulled her shades slightly and observed Becca. "You're.. the Domina's daughter. And her weapon."

"How did you know that?" Becca yelled defiantly. "Fuck whatever. I don't care! I'm gonna blow this chick to Kingdom Come!" She yelled, readying her cannon-arm again. The white-suited woman pulled her arm and put a hand on her forehead, flicking her, a strange pulse sending Becca flying, until she crashed into another building under the dome. "How?" She grit her teeth.

"Becca, be careful! She seems to be some kind of a.. techno magic-user." Thatti said, her suit dissolving around her and revealing a pair of butterfly-like wings and an electrically-charged spear and boots beneath. She flew towards the woman.

"Oh! Your little friend, Thatti? Well, the two of you aren't my only concern. I'm after a certain trio of gems. Those three who managed to evade us, the first time around." She slicked her rubbery gloved hands through her white hair. "The name's White Nebula." She looked up as some Court security officers arrived to back them up. They shot their guns up at White in the air, the same hexagonal barrier negating them completely.

Becca managed to fly towards her in the air finally and swing her spear as hard as she can, attempting to penetrate the barrier. "Oh, you.. are so bad at this." White laughed.

White sighed and looked at them in a pained gaze. "Guess I'm going to have to teach you a lesson firsthand." A loud, high-pitched whistle rang out from her lips, Becca and Thatti looking at the source and seeing a strange-looking flying-rocket like device speeding towards Becca.

The blasted her spear and it dissipated in the blink of an eye. "Oh, please, spare me." "Nah." White pointed behind her.

"Huh?"

 

The same missile did a cyclone-like 360 turn and spun around before shooting at Thatti's head. "W-what?!" Thatti screamed, jumping out of the way, narrowly missing the missile's impact. The rocket, exploding in a green plasma.

Becca pulled her hair back and raised her spear. "No, I'm just getting started, ass!"

 

"That one was your warning shot." She tapped something digital on her arm, and a huge launcher on her back appeared. She aimed at Becca and said "Boom." A dozen massive missiles flew out. "Oh you've got to be kidding me." She placed two hands on herself. "I hate this one. Code 9: Avalonia! Icarus Overdrive!" Becca, spouting even larger flame-like wings thrust in the other direction and accelerated, leaving a sonic boom behind her. Thatti's wings shimmered, fluttering in the air as she watched her friend speed out of the city dome. "Wait!

Icarus Overdrive isn't supposed to launch me that far-"

 

"Don't really have a choice Thatti. Look!" The missiles were in hot pursuit lying out and around the buildings, trying to catch up to her. She looked ahead and spied a small door ahead, dashing through it and closing it behind her, the missiles smashing into the door and dissipating as if the barrier was impenetrable. "Wait!" The dome opened up and the missiles were free to fire at her. "WHAT?! HOW?" Without missing a single beat, the missiles smashed through walls and

surfaces, exploding and still tracking her without losing any momentum. She flew through the interior of a building, going through hallways and doorways, twisting and turning, watching them blast every wall inbetween themselves and the target. She finally flew out the other side of the tall interior, the entire building toppling in a crackling detonation.

 

 

 

"Thats's what you get when you cross me, Thatti." White Nebula said as she watched.

 

 

 

 

She watched as Becca shot several energy-pulses at the missiles, dissipating their explosive force momentarily, but the missiles recalibrating and pursuing her immediately after. "I gotta say, using Icarus Overdrive for more than a minute is a pain." She said, joints creaking and feeling like her body was put through a stretcher. "Mega FREEZE!" She put out her hand, attempting to stop them in time. They momentarily froze, a cyan aura around them, before twitching and resuming a second later. "Not even that? Oh you've GOT to be getting me, this lady is such bullshit!" The quicker she flew, the faster the missiles appeared to speed up. White glided on her broom following her from above and looking through buildings, watching as Becca dived downward, dodging the missiles pursuing her in turn, the girl flying back and up, dodging each new hit.

She blasted one missile with a pulse-blast, seeing it fail to slow even slightly. "Why won't these things just dieeeee?!" She cried, soaring like a rollercoaster in mid-air without the ability to lose them.

"The two of you are just expendable, your presence here was random, unbeknownst to me until now. You're not even the target, you're just collateral damage. I do apologize." She said. "Becca! We gotta find a way to stop this!" Thatti yelled, the missiles still following her.

"I've tried! They don't stop!" The missiles kept trying, the girl still dodging as the ballistics targeted towards her. "If I cannot dodge them, I'll just have to faceplant them." "Becca no-"

"Code 19: Eternal Wall!" Thatti yelled at the top of her lungs, her hands filling with metallic fluid and becoming a a copper shield that encased most of her metallized body. She flew back at the missiles, her body flashing, fear drenched from the sweat of her brow.

Suddenly, Lazuli flew up, a gigantic waterfall behind her. The missiles were caught in it and soon frozen, before exploding.

Becca yelled out in frustration. "NO! You idiotic, useless gem." She screamed, sputtering as flames danced around her. Moments later the missiles cracked out of the ice and sped towards Becca, with no time for her to flee.

The gem of Envy threw her body in front of her and took the massive slam of all twelve missiles in her body, the explosions and the cracks of her Blossoming form causing sparks and electricity to radiate all around. Her head fell back in fear, the sound of her screams echoing as she tried to get up, before finally giving up and falling to cracked icy pieces, her gem falling from the sky.

Becca flew quickly and caught it in mid-air. ""Hmph. You're an idiot Kaz. Why would you-" "Hell if I know how she did that." White said, her broom gliding around.

"You did all this, a whole concert shooting just to get to her?" Becca screamed.

 

"No, that was my assistant. And it's not like she's dead, your friend will be just fine. Gems pull themselves together quick. And no, of the 3 gems she wasn't one of them. That Petal yes though." She sighed, gracefully placing out her hand. "Magnetica." She said, Becca's airborne body suddenly electrifying and then plummeting downwards, crashing hard against the ground. Her limbs twitched and then stilled. "Oh, I'm done. See ya around then, Domina's daughter."

"Don't move!" Petal yelled nearby, her spear at Eldric's neck. "Or, this kid gets it."

White tapped her broom. "And?"

 

"I'll hurt him!" Petal shoved the spear closer.

 

"Go ahead, he's been hurt far worse than that, you aren't going to get a rise out of me." She shrugged. "Look'it Petal, the leader of the crystal gems. Taking a hostage because she knows a Nebula cannot be matched, even by a couple of scrappy gems."

Eldric pointed his gun at Petal. "I like my chances. Goodbye." He pulled the trigger. The bullet went through Petal's head, blood eating through her scalp. She blinked, falling down, and landing in a heap, lifeless. "I'm not even gonna bother with you." White sighed.

Petal's bullethole began to close up quickly, the Space Witch wiggling her fingers and a rune flattening her. She gasped as she revived, but found herself unable to move at all.

She pulled her eyelid down and tapped her eye, a cyan aura shining in her orb. She looked at the sky. I'm going to shatter you to finish my own war."

"Why?" Petal choked. "What did we ever do to you?"

 

"Oh, you think you can find out someway?" She laughed. "Why do you think this happened?"

 

"Shutup!" Becca yelled. She got up slowly, feeling as if she was glued to the floor and every muscle in her body was pulling apart, straining her against the ground. "Damn.. you really are a bitch." Becca's transformation came apart, leaving Thatti on the floor. White Nebula marched close, the sound of her boots clacking against the tinned floor chiming like the emissary of death. She pulled her arms up and yelled. "Giga Fr-"

White grabbed her wrists and slapped her before she could get the last word out. "Don't kid yourself. You think a trick like that will work on me? Cascade hexes are like toads in my land, a dime a dozen for a witch like me." She threw Thatti's body to the ground, the girl falling back

down. "I will make a deal with you though." She spoke. "I will get my revenge on Petal, but if you get those other 2 gems to me, I will let you and your friends go."

“Why? Just like that?" Thatti asked.

 

"Because I don't care about you. If I were to see the same chance again, your friend is already dead, but I could always kill all of you, that's one way to win, Domina's daughter."

Thatti struggled to push herself up. "Why are you so obsessed with gems? What is it to you? What does the Domina have to do with any of this? Who are you exactly?" She said.

White turned her back. "That's not your business. No deal? Then we are through." She pulled out her runic guns. "Gangstara!"

A vivid series of beams shot out the guns over at a figure ahead, them rapidly ducking into an allyway. "Auuuuhh, at ease! It's me! Eldric, what's going on?!" Thatti recognized Echo-Kai Starling coming forward with his hands up. Eldric gasped and ran forward.

"The concert got interrupted, because he tried to shoot you." Becca coughed. "And that crazy witch just blew up half the city with her ridiculous death missiles."

"Eldric, are you behind all this? What are you doing?" They said, stepping to help Becca.

 

He looked at his palms. "I know what this feels like, not having control over one's self, but we're getting you out of this."

"Euurrgh! Eldric, I told you to stay away!"

 

"You two know each other?" Becca asked, barely able to sit up now.

 

Echo-Kai Starling looked left and right, then took off his wig and a holographic generator bracelet, morphing into a green haired girl with pointy elves. A felfling.

Thatti was stunned. "What? You're, not a boy?"

 

"We can discuss that later. C'mon, the Star-court managers will be calling in backup security within fifteen minutes. Let's head back to my auto-dresser room, we can talk there." White Nebula looked at Petal, and snapped her fingers. The rune of light crushing Petal released. She grabbed her broom, and sashayed along towards Emira and Eldric.

Thatti and Becca looked at each other, wand-to-eye.

 

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

 

The sound of sirens was loud outside the venues, numerous audience members interviewed by security teams. Inside a room full of mechanical booths and three leathery couches, costume racks rolled about. Emira sat down with Eldric, Becca with Petal. White Nebula stood outside the room, her back against the door.

"So. You two are, brother and sister? Then why were you after her?" Becca asked.

 

Eldric looked down, embarrassed. "I wasn't really trying to shoot her. I only shot her dance droids, as a means to startle the crowd. My aims were.. abit of an empty threat." He tightened his brown leather gloves. "My real purpose was to make enough of a scare to ward off.. them."

"Them?" Becca asked, setting Thatti on her lap. "Caldera." Emira said, before an awkward silence.

"Huh, I think that's the first time I heard of them. What are they?" She asked.

Emira laid back, kicking some of the slinky rubber dresses on a moveable rack. "This halter top is a couture Myrocod Kem synth, have you ever touched one? It's magical to wear really." She rubbed it against her chest. "It cost more than a thousand tickets for this concert. Lights, costumes, holo-maintenance, giftshops, catering, atmospheric systems, sponsorships, AI, sound technicians, kiosks and staff. It's insanely expensive. Star-Courts, haven't been profitable in a long long time." She sighed, leaning on the stretchy garb. "That goes double for Idols nowadays. It's cut-throat really."

Becca kicked her legs abit. "O-okay. Then who are 'they' exactly?"

 

"They are something of a mafia, and they're very.. dangerous." Eldric said.

 

Emira continued. "It's a bit complicated to explain the whole story. When I started out as an Idol, the culture and economic boom from XU was still fresh. My mom pushed me into auditions and gigs because, I wasn't the brightest student and she thought it'd be good PR. Helps she had a lot of company connections to get me through the door. For awhile it was fun! Really, what was there to complain about? I loved it. The fan mail, the cheers, the girls, that's what started all of this. That's what changed. You see, the thing with being an Idol, being a performer is you have to have a real life persona to sell. It's the illusion, it's that your life, your image, is exactly as your music suggests. My fans would be in love with my voice, my looks, my persona, because they saw that it was real. Then, one day, it's not real. My manager and company was bleeding profits to HoloLive, so they had me 'reinvent my image.' The Idol persona loses its spark. Boys are in, y'know? I refused to go with a Gender change operation, so I settled for a holographic disguise to rebrand. It changed me, but not who I am." She gave the sparkly haltertop a good stretch and sniffed it.

"But it's all gone downhill. People can't afford Star-Courts anymore. We're all struggling to stay afloat. So my manager took out a very dangerous, illicit loan to pay off some other debts, and

needless to say.. Caldera expects it soon. It's actually fairly common for Idols nowadays to take out illegal loans from them, 'Crime Sirens' as they're dubbed. That's bad news for me as I'm drowning in debt, all of the star-courts as well. Caldera has bigger fish to fry, but "Glass Eye" Altoni Mistral has a very real business with organized crime, and the only way to pay them back is through blood. That's how it is." Emira sighed.

"So basically I knew there was a chance they'd kidnap me or kill me tonight if we didn’t pay them back. In fact I got threats before the concert explicitly stating as such, that if I put on the concert tonight they’d come. I could call on some connections but, my sister, if she would've known about this she’d probably have stopped me. Eldric certainly did."

"Stop you? Uh.. how exactly?" Becca looked at the twins confused.

 

Eldric sat up. "Well, y-you know! It's like the old Merchant Guild cinema, where someone gets into conflict with two rival gangs? I thought if I could organize a violent distraction, I could make it look like you had others after you and scare them off! There’s no way some Caldera smallfry would come running into an actual public shooting. Right?" He explained.

Becca looked around the room and threw a pillow at him.

 

"THAT DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?"

 

"Shut up!" Eldric yelled, turning red.

 

"Look, you idiot. I used to be, guess you could call it a gangster of sorts. I was good at crime. And if I were in their shoes, I'd say there's no way a vicious rival stepping on your territory, is EVER going to spook them or stop them from coming. Nor a random shooting. They won’t even reconsider it. Not only is the idea stupid, but to pull an innocent girl into it and concert bystanders, that's too far."

She turned to Emira. "Secondly, you never should've come here if you knew you had a target on your head. Why did you accept a hand from these people anyway? Why, what for?"

"For money, duh." Emira said bluntly. "I wanted to show Xi I’m still the best idol!"

 

"The best? Because of big shows and expensive concerts, where thugs are trying to kill you?"

 

"And what's wrong with that?" Emira practically barked. "I'm not going to give up singing or idoling just because of some stupid jerks! Hololive Idols are thriving right now and taking over! The era of the classical, flesh-and-blood Idol is on the decline, I even went into retirement for a while to play school teacher. But I just.." She sighed and looked at the autodresser. The things she could buy, the shows she could create, the glamor of it all. "I wanted to live that magic one last time. When you're on that stage it's, your soul kind of soars you know? It’s an Xi thing." She sighed. "It's- it's not like you know how a girl like me, a singer feels! I do a lot of good, make people happy. It makes ME happy, and a woman will do whatever it takes to find happiness.

Why not? I've got the money to do so."

 

"Money that you haven't even earned, but borrowed." Becca glared at her and Eldric. "Sounds abit selfish to me. Maybe you should reap the consequences."

"Maybe, but even so." Emira put her hands on her hips and glared at Eldric. He threw his arms up and looked away. "Fine, let's just pretend I'm not a genius. And my sister isn't a saint. What about you?" He said. "You're not exactly the poster-child of good morals if you ask me. How were you going to help? You chased after me didn’t you?"

Becca looked at Thatti in her hands with an awkward shrug.

 

"I didn't really think about it in advance." Thatti said. "I just, felt that I had to help somehow, because they needed the help."

“Even if it meant beating me up?” Eldric asked.

"Yeah well- I could've died just as easily to that commando warrior-witch of yours. Speaking of which.." Becca picked up a water bottle and threw it at the door. "What about HER? If you knew, she knew." White Nebula was silent on the other side.

Eldric looked at the door, biting his lip.

 

"Yeah but.. This is my mission. She doesn't really care." "Why not?" Becca yanked her own cheek.

"Because she doesn't. She's powerful. It would be child's play for her to take out Altoni Mistral and his men, take on all of Caldera by herself really. But.." He paused.

"She doesn't care about anyone."

 

"And you are just fine with that?" Becca groused.

 

"She's saved me more times than I can count. But she doesn't need anyone else and she’s not doing anything like that for free. I told her my plan and she said she’d accompany me on it, not help me. Stop asking stupid questions and mind your own business!"

"And the way you speak, like she's some kind of.. cold-blooded killer! You're really just fine with letting that woman do whatever she wants?"

"Shut up, I don't know what to tell you! It's not her priority to go handling my sister's debts or petty affairs like that, even if I asked she wouldn't."

"Then.. Why are you so obsessed with her? She sounds like a huge bitch. Your sister is in lethal trouble and she just won't do shit? That lady's such a big shot that she won't stop a few goons?" Becca said, looking from Eldric to Thatti, then back to the door.

"Honestly, I can't.. explain it. And there's nothing to explain anyway. I don't know. I just.. Either way I just, want to help." He sighed.

"But what if, it kills you?! You think you can just pretend-shoot up a concert and run away without mafia catching wind, without getting hurt?"

"Look I-"

 

Headhunter started shaking wildly. Suddenly the wand jumped up off Becca's lap and a female voice screamed.

"GIRL'S SHOULD NOT JUST BE TURNING INTO BOYS. IT'S WEIRD. STOP DOING THAT!"

Thatti declared, to the utter bafflement of the entire room, all air sucked up by her pronouncement. Everyone went confused and silent.

White Nebula knocked and peered in. "My drone's scanners detect unauthorized ships en route to the Star Court. Likely Caldera. They won't use Warp Station, too much security and surveillance. Jackboots imminent in 10 minutes. The audience is still here, this is your only heads up." Then slammed the door.

Emira and Eldric gave each other a look. Eldric cleared his throat. "Erm, I'm afraid this really isn't your concern. We need to finish this."

Thatti shook her head. "No, you can't. I mean, we're not.. friends or anything but.. You need help." The girl held Emira's hands for just a moment as she looked her directly in the eyes. "Look, you're both kinda doofuses. You did selfish as fuck things, one to save someone they love, the other for their dream. But even so, I know what it was like to have friends and a dream. You cannot perform while you live the rest of your life on the run, now can you? That’d suck." And with a crooked smile, she tried to console.

"Go sing, finish the concert. Go live your dream. You won't have to worry about a thing." "But, why?" Emira was speechless.

She got up, and picked up Thatti. "I used to BE one of the goony types who'd be sent to kill people like you, I’d even gun down an idol who owed money if asked. Bad lifestyle. That was a long time ago yo. But now.." She sighed. "Things are different. I have a new fire. I’ll take care of things." Becca put Headhunter in Petal's direction. "You're off-duty right? This is a fun concert for you. No fights, no mission, no feud. A truce? Help me kick some jackasses’ asses."

Petal looked down at her Echo-Kai Starling jersey, and bit her lip. "Just this once, little starbeam. Not for you, for the fans! For the arts and culture that have been kissing the obituaries, I shall assist." She placed it on her lap. "But why are you giving me this?"

Becca got up and stretched, cracking her knuckles. "Made a funny promise, don't wanna talk about it but.." She picked up a mannequin, broke it's backside and ripped out the pole. "Needless to say, Headhunter is a weapon for fighting gems. And monsters like that women outside. Fighting actual warriors. Against crooks with toys, it's overkill." She turned to Petal. "Can I count on you?"

Petal stopped for a moment to think, then saluted. "For the love of Echo-Kai Starling! I shall-"

 

"Good." Becca shoved the pole in Petal's chest and nabbed her spear. “Cuz if you cannot, I’m

not handing you back Lazuli.” She waved Lazuli’s gem in front of her.

 

“What’s this pole for?” Petal asked.

 

"Need someone to look out for Court security." "W-what?!"

Becca grinned. "We'll take out the trash." She marched out the room. "Let's get this over with."

The two of them turned in the hallway, up the tall stairs and went to the nearest landing platform.

 

Emira gave a gentle smile. She scoffed, and put the hologen-dress and wig on, slinking down the stairs as "Echo-Kai Starling" asked her sound technician to play her latest single, "Xi'traordinary Romance in Pilltopia." She walked onstage, others pointing and taking notice. Becca and Petal sat waiting on the roof entrance way towards the landing docks. Petal took the metal pole, seeing several security guards running their way. "Hey, this space is unauthorized."

"Sorry darlings." She wacked them in the kneecaps and kicked them back, then used the pole to barricade the door. The sound of boots marching on the opposite side arrived from a recently landed starcraft, burly men in suits and jackboots coming through the gates, holding guns in their holsters and belts.

 

 

 

As Emira unexpectedly began to sung to the adoring crowd, Becca took the staff and marched forward towards the dozens of men. "Mega FREEZE!" Their momentum stopped dead. She grabbed them and threw them, holding her ground against the mass of men behind them. Becca and Petal charged in, tackling as many as they could quickly. The Caldera footsoldiers were held time-locked in place for a few moments, but once they regained consciousness started firing, guns buzzing and popping, hitting Petal and Becca occasionally. The two began kicking heads and wracking bodies, both making something of a contest of who could slap more soldiers effortlessly.

Emira, still clad in the hologen-costume, sang her heart out, the tune of her lyrics melodic and the fans unaware of the violence upstairs.

Becca turned to Petal. "Hey-" The next few seconds, several other Caldera men tried to shoot the two, but Becca and Petal rushed and throttled them across the room. "I thought I TOLD you Petaly, watch the guards! This is my solo, get it bro-bro?"

"What's a matter girlypoo, too good for a Gem's help?"

 

She rolled her eyes, elbowing a man from behind and knocking him out. "I'm not Thatti, geez.." More men kept coming out of the ship, running like an assembly line of jackboots. "Aw shit."

The crowd's attention was on Emira's beautiful vocals. The sound of gunfire and shouting was drowned out, the lights of the venue still lit.

"MEGA FREEZE!"

 

The other door in the landing craft burst open, a series of bangs and the men started storming in as Petal tackled them with a spin kick to the face. Becca grabbed them, her feet stirring across the room, the guards shooting at a fast-moving target that was knocking heads left and right, knocking the guards down and back to block the open doors. One of the guards aimed at Petal, shooting rapidly at her. Alarmed, Becca ran forward and blocked most of the shots with her back.

"Hey hey hey hey hey, stop stop stop, freeze freeze!" She was panting heavily, blood splattering. "Tsk, looks like I'm at my limit for doing that." She wiped the blood from a small bullet wound on her cheek and laughed. "Hmm, yeah, maybe I should've brought a.. more powerful.. weapon." She groaned, and threw the spear to Petal, readying her fists and entire body in solidarity with every roaring fiber of her being. Becca prepared her fists, and ran in.

 

 

 

Emira's voice grew to a roar of excitement, the applause grew to a crescendo and reached its climax. The concert audience singing along to the beat and tempo and melody, as Becca and Petal beat up the remaining men and threw them off. The two were standing riddled with bullet holes and blood dripping, one last man coming out of the landing craft. "Glass Eye" Altoni Mistral waltzed out and stood speechless. "H-how? You think this will end? That singing brat is

going to pay me back everything she-" Petal kicked him to the floor while spinning and caught him, holding his body still.

Becca walked slowly, leaned in and placed her hand on his forehead. "MEGA FORGET."

 

 

Eldric was at Emira's side, the audience cheering as her performance lit the crowd's imagination.

"I.. made my own magic." She told Eldric, laughing joyfully. "Got help from some amazing people, that's how."

Caleb and Veronica looked at each other in the audience, figuring something had worked out.

 

Becca took the last bullet out of her body, while Altoni laid on the floor trying to recall who he was. Recall anything. "Wh.. who am I?" He said, surrounded by unconscious men who'd be arrested in short order later, himself taken to Xi's Psii-psychiatric divisions unable to remember a thing. Emira’s debts vanished overnight.

“Uggh..” Becca coughed, still dizzy from the ordeal and pulled out a bottle of sparkling water. "kk, hand me back Thatti, I’ll give you Lake." She looked at Petal. "C'mon Pearrrrrl. We had a deal, dude." Petal shook her head, laughing and shaking from the fight. "I.. really don't think so."

"What?" Becca asked, looking up at her.

 

"I'm not your friend Sparkbeam. I'm just here to-" She paused, to let a few moments for the air to fill back in her. "Look at me, I don't know what I was thinking. I went down there, I think I was going to betray you." She said, picking up Headhunter. "Instead you just, you just-" She

picked up the dome shaped top. "You saved me. I.. Look at you dear, you're hurt! You're bleeding." She bit her lip, and looked down at it, before handing it back to Becca. "Angelic Lazarus!" Becca said, the conjured golden lady already running her hands down the girl's mint-toned body, purging all her wounds into nothingness.

"I didn't save shit. You can regenerate on your own, I cannot heal without Thatti’s magic. You would’ve been fine. Dumb decision on my part." She took the bottle, popped it open and took a sip before laying down on the floor. "Ugh, what a shitty night.."

"We could be friends? See now, I can be nice." Petal said, remembering all the times Diane berated and ordered the Crystal Gems around.

"I'm not like the others, you know-"

 

"Spare me your mush." She closed her eyes.

 

The room was silent for a little while. Petal then whispered in her ear.

 

"Hey baby.." She embraced Becca, patting her head. "..I'm really proud of you." Becca cracked an eye open. "Shut up."