Change Change Change

by Christian Ashlar

(The winning entry in the JemCon 2023 FanFic contest)

Rapture shook her head. "You're not understanding the base definition."

She drew a manicured nail along the diagram. Beside her, Riot followed her finger and her meaning became clearer. Nodding, he began to ponder the overall implications. After a few minutes, he straightened. Rapture saw he understood and smiled.

"All orbiting moons, all with the same pattern."

"Our fans aren't going to follow elliptical logic. Without having to look it up, many of the younger ones won't even know what it means." Riot put his hands on his hips. "The concept is sound but a little too complicated for this release."

"Plebeians," Rapture sighed. "Is it just me or is society, at large, becoming more ignorant?"

Smiling, Riot walked to the expansive, circular window of his office. "It does seem like it, doesn't it?"

The door opened and Minx entered, giggling. "You are never…going to believe it!"

Easing onto the edge of a sofa, Rapture asked, "Believe what?"

"Pizzazz…Roxy…" Minx started, attempting to stifle her laughter. "They're having the ultimate meltdown – over dolls!"

"Dolls?" Rapture asked, feeling the infectious laughter creep into her voice.

"Yes! They found out Hasbro is launching a new line of dolls and merchandise for Jem and the Holograms and they are livid!"

Riot remained unmoving.

Rapture sat back on the couch, one bangled arm on its rest. "This explains all the shouting earlier. So, what are they planning?"

Minx took a seat near the couch. One toss of her head sent her hair over one shoulder. "They're flying to Rhode Island, to Hasbro headquarter, in person!"

"They're going to Pawtucket? Why?"

"To sabotage the endeavor! They're going to try and sneak into the facility!"

"And do what?" Rapture asked, now laughing.

"Only they know! They've even convinced Techrat to go along with them!"

Minx and Rapture exploded into laughter. At the window, Riot watched the city in contemplative silence. Outside, a news helicopter dipped lower. A drone circled an area. Cars went in and out of parking lots and along the freeway. Birds dived and swooped. People walked, ran, jogged, and skateboarded. The blond's keen eyes caught all the activity.

"Riot? What do we do about this?"

"Nothing," he said, his tone cool and even.

"Nothing?" Minx asked, standing. "You're not concerned about this?"

"Hasbro chose not to release our dolls back when they had the chance. Their poor choices, then, do not affect us, now. There is nothing to be concerned about."

"Eric is going with them! In typical fashion, he stepped in to say, 'Let me handle this,' which is what got Pizzazz so riled up!" Minx walked over to the planetary display. She looked at the diagram Rapture drew. It intrigued her. Still, she turned back to Riot. "You're sure you want this to unfold on its own? It could be disastrous!"

"I'm sure it will be, which is why we are staying out of it." Riot put his hands behind his back. "Are you wearing Chanel Number Five?"

"I am. I thought it fitting for our luncheon."

"Excellent choice. Rapture, have the car brought around." As she stood, he continued. "While the Misfits and the Holograms concern themselves with dolls…we will be focused on our fashion line with the house of Chanel."

---

"This is so exciting!"

Aja settled into the window seat as Kimber stowed her bag. Jerrica double-checked their flight details with the captain while Shana and Raya boarded. The flight attendant, a tall redhead in a pressed navy suit, showed them to their seats. He offered complimentary drinks, which they accepted.

"Aren't you excited? This is big news, Aja!" Kimber fell into her seat, a wide smile on her face. "We haven't put out any music together in almost two years – and this is just what we need! It'll bring us back into the public eye! It'll get our music back in rotation! It'll be outrageous to see our dolls out again – and in stores, everywhere!"

Raya smiled at the exuberance as she sipped her drink. "It's a limited run, Kimber. Like the Integrity dolls were. I doubt they'll be in stores everywhere."

"That's where you're wrong, Raya! Jerrica said these dolls would be reissues of our old line but with new hair, new clothes, and all new accessories! They'll be direct tie-ins with the merch coming out the next month! It'll be so—"

"Outrageous," Shana finished for her. "We hope so, Kimber. We're just being cautious. We've been down this road before, remember? The movie?"

The redhead's face fell. "Right. Yeah." Her smile returned. "Some people loved the movie!"

"And they can all fit on this plane," Aja said, a smile pulling at her lips. "I'm glad you're excited about this. You have enough for all of us."

"You're not excited about having your face laser-scanned and reproduced as a doll?"

"I'm excited at the prospect of it, at what it means for our fans," Aja went on. "Shana's right, though. We've been here, before. The Integrity dolls were meant for collectors, not the average person. Some of them are selling online for thousands of dollars – who can afford that?"

"Riot." Kimber giggled. "He bought the last Perfect Match set, the one Jem signed."

"Of course he did," Shana said, disdain in her voice. "He was in the set!"

"How do you know Riot bought it? Those auctions were confidential."

"Who else would have RiotIsEverything as their username?" Kimber laughed. "Doesn't matter, though. The money went for a good cause!"

"All right, gang!" Jerrica said, coming into the smaller passenger cabin. "We're all set! Takeoff is in ten minutes! Oh, I can't wait to get to Rhode Island and get this whole process started!"

As she took her seat, Aja asked, "Is Regine joining us?"

"She's boarding a plane, as we speak," Jerrica answered, buckling her seat belt. "Shana, do you think there will be any kind of conflict, there?"

"Not on my end. I'm good with sharing the spotlight. Whether she is, or not, remains to be seen."

Rolling her eyes, Aja looked out the window. "This is going to be a long, long meeting."

---

"Would you stop shoving?!"

"I'm not shoving, Yank! I'm making room for the better woman!"

Jetta gave one last heave of the suitcase and it slid into the trunk. Roxy fumed as her own thudded onto the pavement. The Brit gave a slight wave and a cocky smile before going around her and getting into the waiting car.

Already inside, Pizzazz and Eric glared at one another. "Six people in this tiny car. Already off to a brilliant start, Mr. I'll Handle It."

"I told you, the flights were booked!"

"To Rhode Island?! Who goes to Rhode Island in the middle of summer?!"

"JemCon is in Rhode Island this year," Stormer volunteered. "Maybe that's the reason."

Closing her hands into fists, Pizzazz let out a shrill sound of frustration. "Why is she always hogging the spotlight? Why?!"

"She's more popular than you are?" Jetta smiled as Pizzazz's venomous rage redirected at her. "Just a thought, Fearless Leader."

"I swear…if you hadn't learned all that remixing junk, I'd toss you right out on your ear!"

"You're always threatening to do what we both know you're not going to do." Jetta turned her meaningful gaze to Roxy. "We don't need a guitarist, though. Not will all the mixing Stormer and me can do, now. If somebody's gotta go, luv, well, you'd be the obvious choice."

"I ain't going anywhere, Jetta!"

"We'll see, won't we?"

"Shut up, you two!" Pizzazz snapped. "Techrat, are you ready for this?"

Behind an asymmetrical curtain of dark hair, the genius gave a dismissive wave. "I'm always ready. You're the one always gumming up the works by butting in – and touching everything!"

"Why do we have to be inside the facility?" Eric asked, sliding his phone out. "Why couldn't you just hack into their system or plant a virus from a remote location?"

"Reasons," Techrat said, the word coming out as a series of sounds. "Ones you and this motley bunch wouldn't understand, even if I drew it out in crayon."

"Is it because of the security updates?" Stormer asked, pushing aside a long strand of light-blue hair. "I heard they employed some complex scrambling equipment earlier this year."

For a brief moment, something akin to admiration crossed the pale features of the computer genius. Stormer acknowledged this without commenting, then turned to look out the window. Beside her, Eric began to drone about his meeting with the Hasbro executive. Roxy opened the door and wedged herself in beside Pizzazz. The door closed and the car began to move. Stormer slid in the slim earpiece and was glad to hear the melody she had been working on drown out the others.

It's going to be a long car ride, she thought, focusing on the city passing in the distance.

---

"I still can't believe you're so calm about all this." Rapture's incredulous tone sounded in the microphone. "I know you're still upset over Hasbro shunning us but I'd have thought you'd do something about all this. Our Integrity dolls are still pretty popular."

Riot cued up the track and set the timer. "Try and elevate the chorus this time around. Let's hear it as an a cappella verse, first. Minx, come in on the next beat."

Assuring him she understood, Minx cued Entropy and started the haunting introduction. Rapture's guitar came in seconds later and the recorded track began. A strong vocal began when the music eased out. Riot listened with a keen ear, eye closed. The pitch rose. The verse ended and the music began again. He picked up with his guitar and Minx joined in.

Inside the soundproof recording room, the Stingers perfected the song which would be their entrance to the upcoming Chanel fashion show. Outside the room, the world continued to turn, in spite of their noticing.

---

"I'm so excited!" Kimber shouted, almost running toward the door. "Imagine the possibilities! A Jem Monopoly game! A Jem Dream House! An updated Roadster! It could be so outrageous!"

"It's hard to imagine, all these years later and she still has all this energy."

Raya smiled at Shana as they watched Kimber pull open the lobby's glass door. "Just think if we could bottle it all. She could power all of Pawtucket for at least a month!"

A man came around a tall plant, into the lobby. "You're just in time! Can I say what an honor it is to have you all with us, today. I'm Taylor Dane, one of the toy designers. I'll be showing you around until your meeting with the others."

"Jerrica Benton," she said, holding out a hand. "It's good to meet you."

"Love the name," Kimber said, giving him a look. "I love her music!"

"I learned to be a fan," Taylor said, gripping Jerrica's hand. "My parents were children of the 80s, so it was bound to happen. My sister got Cyndi for a first name. Our younger brother was named Idol."

"Outrageous!"

Taylor led the Holograms through to a larger area, one with a lot of light and space. "Did you have a chance to look at the specs we sent over?"

"The courier delivered them ahead of schedule so we've had more than enough time. I'm curious about the fabric swatches, though."

"One hundred percent eco-friendly. The dyes are non-chemical and the fabrics are sourced from here in the United States. We felt it was important."

"I'm just glad there's no silver lamé!" Shana said. "It's very dated and hard to work with!"

"Here we are," Taylor said, opening a door off of a hallway. "Try to contain your excitement – at first."

Inside, sixteen tall screens stood in a semicircular formation. Each of the screens depicted a unique fashion complete with accessories and fabric samples. Shana fell silent as she examined the first one. Taller than she was by over two feet, she could see the intricate textures and vibrant colors infused into the design. When she touched it, the surface of the screen shimmered.

"Holographic technology," Taylor explained. "Cutting edge! Very sophisticated."

Jerrica and Aja exchanged glances.

"They're based on some of the older toy designs," Taylor went on, going around the room. "For instance, we've kept the basic color palate but moved away from velveteen and stretchy spandex. The stockings aren't fishnet, but more like a legging. The belt's buckle is rounded, not square. The hooded version is more form-fitting, more futuristic and space-aged. So are the glasses."

"City Lights becomes Urban Cyberpunk," Shana said, reading the description provided on the readout. "You have already created the outfits?"

"Only the virtual mock-ups. Nothing is finalized."

"Like a Dream," Kimber said, also reading the display description. "This was a pretty popular look for the Jem doll, if I remember right."

"We've updated the look. The socks are gone, no more lace, and the accessories are more in line with the new, real-world fashions we're producing." Taylor indicate the holographic model. "It worked well for the cartoon but we thought it would be a little too on-the-nose for real life."

"Speaking of the cartoon," Aja spoke up. "How are you handling the storyline?"

"Well, it was a cute idea – Jem and Jerrica being the same person – and it helped market the toys, but we want to move away from the cartoon and into the real world." Taylor moved onto an elevated portion of the floor. He hit a few keys on a laptop and the displays changed. "Marketing thinks Jem still appeals more toward the younger crowd so we're staying with the glamour aspects. Sparkles. Glitter. Fashion. You know, the exciting bits!"

Jerrica smiled. "Sounds good to me!"

"Jem will be the front-person, still. Lots of pink, lots of silver, but a little more muted, for today's aesthetic! We thought about purple, too! Lots of purple – and aqua!"

Shana smirked. "Still, no red."

Taylor nodded. "Still, no red. I mean, why break something that worked all those years ago, huh?"

"Regine will be thrilled." Shana moved from screen to screen, inspecting each of them. "This one…for me. The yellow?"

"Fan-designed. We saw in on social media platform and loved it! The floral wrap was a nice touch. We thought a kind of silk blend would be great."

"This one is…" Raya began, looking at herself in a full purple gown. "I love the ruffled layers. It's updated, sophisticated. It's…" She finished her compliment in Spanish.

"We wanted to be sensitive of the different cultures," Taylor told her. "We didn't approximate."

Kimber moved closer to her sister. "What do you think?"

"They're all very nice."

"But?" Kimber asked, hearing the unspoken question in Jerrica's tone.

"Something feels…off. The cartoon hit it close to the mark with Jem and I being the same person. Even the Integrity dolls played this angle. I'm just afraid…"

"If art imitates life again, you might not be able to keep it a secret this time?"

Jerrica lowered her voice. "We still don't know how the creator of the cartoon found out about Synergy. Sure, she may have gotten some of the details wrong – like the drive-in and the plane crash, but the accuracy of the rest was eerie."

"Well, one of the benefits of having access to one of the most sophisticated computers the world has ever known is being able to hide in plain sight!" Kimber put her hand on Jerrica's arm. "Synergy is as safe, now, as she's ever been. No one's ever going to find her."

"I'm just glad the cartoon got her location wrong," Jerrica said, returning her sister's reassuring smile. "I'm also glad we upgraded her to a smaller version with quadruple the projection power."

---

Roxy examined the area, skeptical and wary. "This is a stupid idea, Pizzazz. Why don't we just go in the front door and demand a meeting with these toy boys!"

"They'd never see us, thanks to Eric's mad tirade to the Hasbro execs. No, we have to do this our own way!" The Misfit checked the front of her skin-tight suit. "Techrat is sure these suits will be able to dodge the scanners and get us in undetected."

"Like he was sure those flying contraptions were safe? Like he was sure the Chinese Water Cell was safe when Rapture almost drowned?"

"You almost sound like you care about that blond twit!"

Shaking her head, Roxy waved off the idea. "If his gadgets can get one of the Platinum Perfects killed, imagine what could happen to us! We can't trust him."

"Of course we can!" Pizzazz smirked. "He got us the exclusive on Jem's real identity, didn't he?"

"For the thousandth time, Jem is not Jerrica Benton!"

"Uh-huh," Pizzazz said, securing the wrists of her suit.

"We saw them together – a thousand times! We've touched them! When we were on that island? Rio and Jerrica hugged – while Jem was standing by, watching! It was bogus info. The creep is useless! Besides – what the heck are we supposed to be in these getups?"

"Electricians," Pizzazz answered, picking up the first pair of coveralls. "It's not so glamorous but it'll get us in the building!"

"Oh, for Pete's sake! No one is going to believe we're electricians with your bright green hair!"

"Everybody has green hair, these days! Posers."

Reluctant, Roxy followed as Pizzazz turned toward the Hasbro back entrance. Both in coveralls and hats, they managed to bypass the first security checkpoint. The second offered a long pause before letting them inside. Their third proved the most challenging, as the security personnel stopped them along their way. They provided perfect security badges, each with proper credentials. The last gate buzzed, allowing them into the facility's more secret areas.

"What do we do, now?"

Pizzazz put a finger to her lips. "Keep your voice down! We get in there, get a look at this whole thing, and find a way to shut it down!"

"Like what? Pour black dye in all the clothing vats? Remember how well that worked out?"

"I should have brought Stormer," the lead Misfit mumbled. "She complains the least out of all of you. Too bad she balked at the idea of sneaking in."

"She might complain the least but she's the softest of us, too! Always has been!"

"There! That's what we came for!"

From inside the coveralls, Pizzazz extracted a card. She almost ran to the door marked "Unauthorized Personnel Only." The card reader read the chip and hesitated.

"It's not going to work. Techrat is a—"

The red light slipped to green and the lock released.

"Genius!" Pizzazz finished, pushing the door open. "If he didn't smell like Chanel Number Five all the time, I'd kiss him!"

Slipping into the room, Pizzazz let her eyes adjust to the darkness. Roxy did the same. Flat screens and slender columns of machines whirred all around them. Soft blue light emanated from a few of the monitors, giving them some sense of direction. Pizzazz pulled out her phone and aimed it toward the first of the machines. A display opened on the phone. The resulting smile was brighter than all the ambient light in the room.

"We're in!" Pizzazz said as a new panel opened. "Techrat did it! He really did it!"

---

Jerrica looked around the room. Plaques and awards decorated one wall of the Hasbro president's office. Two large windows on the other walls let in enormous amounts of light. The last wall bore the company's logo over a large desk, much like her own at Starlight Music.

"I hope I haven't kept you long," a voice from the door said. "I had to stop for a group of students touring the facility."

Turning, Jerrica's words disappeared. "Mr. President?"

The man smiled. "Not quite. I've been told I look a lot like him, so I understand your confusion."

"B-but, the resemblance is…"

"My mother says the same thing." The man walked over and held out a hand. "Bryan."

"Jerrica," she said, taking his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Bryan."

"My father said you were beautiful but he didn't do you justice."

"How is your father?"

"Doing well. He and my mother have retired to the Caribbean, a perk of being a United States president." Bryan walked around to his desk. "Have you had a chance to tour the place?"

"My sister and the others are doing it, as we speak. I thought I'd…"

Her words disappeared as she remembered the trip to Washington, the run-in with the Marauder, the escapade with the president, and the way it all ended. Talking to the man's son, now president of the Hasbro toy company, her mind was in a whirl. It felt so surreal.

"Ms. Benton? Are you all right? You're looking a little pale."

"Just tired…from the trip." She forced herself to smile. "I'm curious as to what else your father might have told you about me."

"Have a seat, Ms. Benton." Bryan indicated one of the large chairs in front of his desk. "I have to confess to an ulterior motive for reaching out to you about the relaunch of the Jem dolls."

Jerrica felt her stomach drop as she sat down. "What sort of…ulterior motive?"

Bryan took the seat opposite hers. "We, here at Hasbro, are looking into ways we can change the world for the better through our products. We've already made massive changes to the way we manufacture. We've brought a lot of the means back to the United States, which alienated some of our shareholders. We're looking into ways to expand, granting new jobs and new opportunities, here at home."

"Starlight Music is doing the same thing. We're sourcing here, in the States, as well."

"Something my father didn't get to do while he was president. Too much red tape." Bryan smiled again. "I think we're of like minds, Ms. Benton. This is why I wanted to work with you on this project. You see, the Jem doll was the first, in history, to give our rival company some honest competition. The Integrity dolls served to breathe new life into them."

Hearing it in his voice, Jerrica asked, "There's a 'but' coming, isn't there?"

Bryan nodded. "We want to close the gap this time around. We're reducing the size, revamping the clothes, and updating the entire line. We don't want to just be competition, this time. We want to dominate the toy market with the re-release of Jem and the Holograms."

"I'm listening."

"The dolls are just the first prong of our attack. The merchandise will be the second. For the third…we've contracted some of the original animators and they're onboard. We've got some of the old writers and a new team of lyricists. We're missing one key ingredient, though."

"Which is?"

Bryan leaned in. "We'd like the Holograms to voice the characters – including the singing!"

The surprise showed on Jerrica's face. "I'm sure they'd love to – and I'd have to ask Jem, but…"

"Ms. Benton," Bryan said, tilting his head. "If we're going to be working together, I need to tell you the rest of what my father told me about you."

---

Riot smiled.

"This is going to be amazing!" Rapture said, reapplying her scarlet lipstick. "Fashion week is going to belong to us – and no one else!"

"The clothes are," Minx began. She finished with the German word for extraordinary. "I just cannot believe the luxury and glamour of it all!"

The driver turned onto the exit.

"Do you know who designed the clothes?" Rapture asked, capping her lipstick.

"I do," Riot answered, reaching for a bottle of chilled champagne from the bar.

Minx smirked. "Well? Don't keep us in suspense! Who was it?"

"Chanel has just agreed to manufacture a luxury brand of Stingers-inspired clothes," he said, pouring the first glass. "Based on conceptual designs by one Rory Llewellyn."

"No way!" Rapture exclaimed. "You?! You did all of those sketches we saw?"

Riot nodded, handing over the glass. "Last year, during our European tour."

"I knew they were too perfect to have come from anyone else," Minx said, tilting her head up.

"Of course you did," Riot said, pouring her glass. "It's why I love you."

---

Jetta paced the length of the room one last time before dropping into one of the large chairs near the window. She let out a long sigh. Stormer looked over the screen of her laptop but kept her comments to herself. She wondered the same thing but did not want to get the Brit started on another tirade. The last one just ended a few minutes ago. Another sigh. Stormer went back to work.

The silence in the room did not last for long.

"Not a word! They've been back for over an hour and we've not gotten one word about what they saw or what went on! How dare they keep us in the dark while they're gossipin' like hens to Eric and the Rat! We're just as much a part of all this as they are! More! We're Misfits! Those blokes are just the hangers-on to our greatness!"

"Uh-huh," Stormer said, not looking up.

"We're not here just to do the heavy lifting! We're two-fourths of the whole four!"

"Uh-huh."

"I have half a mind to just blow in there and demand to know what's going on!"

"Uh-huh."

"Of course, they'll act like nothing is going on – but I know it is! They found out something juicy while pretending to be electricians over at the Hasbro place! You could see it on Roxy's face! Trust me, that bird is just waiting to sing!"

Stormer finished the last few lines of the lyric she had been puzzling over. "Uh-huh."

"How was she going to sabotage their work, anyway? Throw a virus into their digital works? Toss some dye in the cutting room? The whole thing is bonkers!"

Getting up, Stormer closed the laptop. "We could just go in and ask them. It isn't like the door is locked."

Jetta's mouth remained opened as she watched her band mate go over, turn the knob, and open the door to their adjoining suite. Standing, she muttered, "You're loosing your bloomin' mind, Jetta, old girl."

---

Raya finished the look with a white flower behind one ear. The off-the-shoulder blouse, the fitted cerulean pants, and the heeled shoes made her feel better. Without another glance, she swept the price-tags into the wastebasket. In the mirror, she saw Kimber enter the suite. The look on the younger woman's face told a concerning story.

"What is it?" Raya asked, turning around. "What did Jerrica say?"

This prompted Aja to look up.

"Have any of you been paying attention to the trades? Do you know who is president of Hasbro?" Kimber moved around the chair by the door, not sure if she should sit. "It's the son of the ex-president."

"The current president is the son of the ex-president of Hasbro?"

"No, Aja…he's the son of the ex-president of the United States." Kimber decided on sitting. "He also just informed Jerrica that he knows about her and Jem."

"So, there are two people on the outside of our circle who know about Synergy!" Aja exclaimed.

Kimber was slow to meet the other's eyes. "Three."

"What do you mean…three?" Aja asked. "Who's the third?"

"You're not going to like it," Kimber said, swallowing hard. "You might want to sit down."

---

Moving to the last of the life-sized drawings, Jerrica could not stop smiling. Behind her, at a comfortable distance, Bryan looked for hints of any disapproval. Seeing none, he indicated the last easel, one covered with a cloth. Jerrica stepped over to it and he gave the cloth a tug.

"Wow," she said, taking in the final drawing. "After all this, I didn't think you'd be able to surprise me. This is stunning!"

"I hoped you'd think so. Now, do you see the full extent of what we're attempting to do?"

"I do and I think it's amazing!"

"You can thank Shana for this. It was her idea."

Jerrica blinked away tears. "Of course it was. I should have known." She walked into the center of the room and the artwork. "I don't know why we didn't think of this with the first line."

"Because the target audience was different. With all the boy-toys out there, young girls were only given one option for a fashion doll – our competitor. Sure, there were Rainbow Brite and Strawberry Shortcake dolls, but those were specific to their brand, and not the same thing."

"What we talked about earlier," Jerrica said, her tone serious. "You realize what would happen if the wrong people knew about Synergy."

"My father was very good about hammering home that point. You have my word."

"Can I ask what you did before coming to work here?"

Bryan smiled. "I was a specialist with a daring, highly-trained special-missions force." He gave a small salute. "Believe me, Ms. Benton, I understand the need for secrecy all too well."

---

On the morning of their third day in Rhode Island, Pizzazz roused the other Misfits and had them dress. Eric met them in the lobby. Roxy, still grumpy from having been woken from a sound sleep, led the way to the waiting car. Jetta followed. Stormer took a phone call as she walked. Pizzazz and Eric said very little, even as they got into the car.

"I don't know why we had to get up at the crack of dawn for whatever this is!"

"Prefer the dead of night?" Jetta asked, smirking. "Vampires usually do."

"You would know all about blood-sucking night-dwellers, wouldn't you?" Roxy shot back.

"Where are we going?" Stormer asked as the car began to move. "Or, is that a secret too?"

"You'll see," Eric said, making sure his tie was straight. "I expect everyone to be on their very best behavior for this, too. A lot is riding on how you present yourselves."

"Then, you should have brought a leash for the Brit," Roxy quipped. "Heal, Jetta! Heal!"

"You're the one going to need to heal if you don't shut your gob!"

Pizzazz stepped in to referee yet another squabble. The car moved on to its destination. Stormer was the first to recognize the headquarters of Hasbro. She was also the first to notice the large gathering of reporters and members of the local public. When she called this to the others' attention, only their leader seemed not to be surprised.

The car maneuvered into an area reserved for guests.

"What the heck are we doing here?" Roxy asked. "We're not going to stand around and be cheerleaders for Little Miss Pink-Hair! No way!"

Eric, already reaching for the door, waved her forward. "Best behavior! Remember!"

The press caught sight of the band as it exited the car. Many of them were on the quartet right away, all of them firing questions. Pizzazz offered no response and the others took their cue from her. They made their way through the crowd and up to the guest area. A representative from the Hasbro team met them and showed them to a seating area close to the stage. After posing for several pictures, they all too their seats.

Very soon after, the president of the company appeared. Brief introductions of his staff were made and he drew everyone's attention to the area to the back of the stage. The music began soon after. Over the loudspeaker, he announced the guests of honor in a booming voice.

A hydraulic lift brought the band up from the floor. Aja's guitar led with Shana and Raya coming in. Kimber played out the full intro before Jem began singing, Only the Beginning. Everyone in the crowd began to sing along. Monitors all around the stage began flashing pictures of prototype Jem and the Holograms dolls in updated make-up, hair, and clothes. The crowd roared their approval.

"What in the—"

Jetta followed Roxy's finger. "That's…us!"

"Yeah," Pizzazz said, her voice full of disappointment and half-baked joy. "Turns out, we were always part of all this. Unveiling the Misfits dolls was going to be the big surprise."

"Your snooping around was pointless," Stormer said. Her voice held a hint of amusement with a bit of sadness. "It also ruined the big reveal."

Roxy glared at her.

Pizzazz kept her eyes on Jem, who twirled in a haze of glitter and light. Always second-fiddle to you, she thought. One day, Jem. One day, you'll be the one watching from the sidelines and I'll be the one in the spotlight!

The fans roared again as the Misfits fashion plates began flashing up on the monitors. On stage, Kimber and Aja incorporated a distinct bit of I Am A Giant and Makin' Mischief into their set. Only Stormer smiled at this. Eric mumbled something about a lawsuit. Pizzazz, still fuming on the inside, had to remind herself of the ever-present press looking on with cameras.

Once the music died, Bryan walked up to the podium and roused the crowd into another round of applause for the band. Jem stepped down from the dais and walked toward him. More applause. Bryan then called Pizzazz up. With some hesitation, she came up, too.

"I'm very glad you both came out today! This marks the start of something huge for Hasbro! The relaunch of the Jem and the Holograms doll line comes with a full line of Misfits dolls, as well!"

The crowd roared again.

"But, that's not all!" Bryan indicated the monitors. "We're also including something special for our other, strong demographic!"

On the monitors, the glamorous dresses, hats, and heels began to morph and change. Hemlines got shorter, sleeves got longer, pinks and sky blues became deep burgundies and navies. Hat brims narrowed, heels became flats, bows and ribbons became buckles and belts. The faces of the Holograms and Misfits became the faces of random male fans of both groups. The dolls, themselves, also changed to represent a more traditional male.

"This line of toys isn't just for girls – or boys! They're for everyone who loves Jem and the Holograms – and the Misfits!"

The monitors then showed the dolls becoming rather neutral in their presentation. Only the hair color and makeup of the dolls remained the same as the clothes became randomized.

"OUTRAGEOUS!" Kimber shouted, throwing her fist in the air. "Inclusion matters!"

Raya and Shana joined hands and raised them. Aja strummed out a few chords of Only The Beginning before joining her fellow Holograms in celebrating.

"This is amazing, Bryan!" Jem said, still watching the monitors. "It's just what Regine suggested when we first approached her about this!" She turned to Pizzazz. "What do you think?"

"If it gets us more fans, I'm all for it!"

Deciding to take what she could get, Jem went back to the dais. There, she and the Holograms struck up the music one more time. The Holograms began to sing-chant, "Change, change, change, change…"

"We can change it," Jem belted out. "When the darkness enters in, we can change it – and add some light. We can change it…"

Struck by a surge of inspiration, Pizzazz grabbed the microphone from the podium. "I'm gonna change my luck," she sang into the piece. "I'm gonna change my luck, you'll see!"

The other Misfits almost leapt from their chairs, seeing what was happening.

"There is so much we can do," Jem sang.

Pizzazz followed up with, "And take a whole new direction!"

"We can make it all like new!"

"A change is overdooooo!" Pizzazz followed this with the Misfits harmonizing, "Change! Change! Change!"

The Holograms did the same, adding their background vocals to the merging song. Stormer moved closer to Kimber, who gave her half the keyboard. The Misfit did not miss a beat, playing the familiar song with the same ease as the Hologram.

Jem and Pizzazz moved closer, each matching the other vocal for vocal. Their voices complimented one another and whipped the crowd into a renewed explosion of applause. To one side, Jetta was handed a microphone and began to add in her voice for the "Change, change, change," add-ons. Behind them, Shana handed off her guitar to Roxy. She took another microphone and added the Holograms' add-on of "Cha-ee-yay-nge" to Jem's lyrics.

"I've had enough of being poor Miss Number Two," Pizzazz sang out.

"We can make it, me and you!" Jem sang, twirling.

"And when I change, you'll be impressed!"

We can make it all like new!"

"I'm gonna change, you'll see – and be the best!"

Both bands finished on the mutual chorus of "Change, change, change!"

The small collection of fans doubled their applause as the Misfits and Holograms started a second set of music, once again merging some of their most popular hits.

Near the stage, Bryan could not stop smiling.

---

After lunch, Rapture returned to Riot's office. "I've been thinking about the problem and I think I have a solution the fans can get their heads around."

"I've already found a solution," Riot told her, indicating the large monitor. Under the Stingers logo, their album title, Elliptical, shone in gold. Their different astrological signs orbited the title. "Elegant, no?"

"Very!" She said. "Funny…this was just what I was going to suggest." She looked at him. "Sometimes, I think we're psychic."

"Well, you didn't just happen upon us in Germany."

"Fate decreed our meeting, Rory."

He smiled. "Maybe so, Phoebe. Maybe, so."

"Where's Minx?"

"On her way." Riot said this as he crossed to his desk. "She stopped by Techrat's new space. No doubt to congratulate him on his disabling of Hasbro's security systems long enough to permit Pizzazz entry."

"His…what? How do you know he disabled their security systems?"

Before Riot could respond, his office phone rang. Minx entered as he took a seat and hit the button to answer it. She was silent as she glided across to one of the chairs. Rapture lingered a few feet away. A strong male voice filled the room, one neither of them had ever heard before.

"I read the trades on the doll unveiling," Riot said. "Congratulations. They will be a tremendous success, one you deserve!"

"Thank you, Riot. I did want to apologize for not including the Stingers…again. We can talk about an addition to the line, later in the spring, if you're open to it."

"We've already signed a deal with Integrity on a line of Stingers dolls. We're happy with their depiction of our perfection."

"All right, but if you change your mind, I'm a phone call away," the man said. "I'm calling to thank you for the heads up about Pizzazz and her scheme to crash the unveiling. It saved us a lot of embarrassment."

"Us, too," Riot assured him.

"Are you…alone?"

"I am," Riot said, placing a finger over his lips for Rapture and Minx.

"I think I know the real reason you're not pushing for the Stingers to be a part of this new line."

"Do you?"

"Ms. Benton told me what she plans to do with a portion of the proceeds. She's even convinced Pizzazz to go along with her, too. They're not contributing as much, of course, but anything is better than nothing. The various Centers for Missing and Exploited Children will benefit from their donations." The man paused. "If the Stingers were involved, they'd have to split the money three ways, not two. It was a kind thing to do, Rory."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Bryan. I told you, we've already signed a deal with Integrity. It was a business decision, nothing more."

"Uh-huh. If you repeat it to yourself enough, maybe you'll even believe that."

"I have to go. Minx and Rapture will be here, soon."

"Good talking with you again. Stay safe and goooo Jo—"

Riot hit the disconnect button. "Not a word. Not one. From either of you."

Rapture smirked. "Afraid the world will find out just how generous you really are?"

He leaned back in his chair. "Don't you have a video to storyboard?"

Minx tossed her hair from one shoulder. Silver hoops in her ears caught the light. "All I'm going to say is, if you start buying toys and sweets for the Starlight Girls, I'm staging an intervention!"

"Out," Riot said, shooing them away with a smirk. "We've all got work to do! Go on! Out!"

-END-