Chapter Eleven: Some Outside Help
"Well, well, if it isn't the British Misfit."
The man in overalls paused in his paintwork, sending Jetta a smile as
he
did so and putting the brush in his hand safely back in it's paint pot.
"Long
time no see, Jetta...what can I do for you?"
Jetta exchanged looks with Shana, then returned the man's smile. They
had
tried to raise Clash at her apartment but had gotten no answer, so in
despair
Jetta had decided it was as well to ask Steven, the odd jobs man about
the
building whether he knew anything about her whereabouts. Now convinced
Clash
was involved, she was determined to get to the bottom of it. She had
been
to Clash's apartment only once or twice with the other Misfits, but
Steven
remembered her from her dramatic features and her accent which, much to
her
chagrin he had decided was 'cute'. Now, however, irritation had to be
put
aside. Time was running out.
"I was lookin' for Cl...Constance." she said in her most genial tones.
"She
ain't in - do you know when she'll be back?"
"Just the handyman, me." Steven shrugged. "But I'll tell you this I do
know.
She's gone outta town to visit family or something, I think...I
overheard
her talking to someone on the phone about it when I was fixing the shot
wiring
of the apartment across the hall. Couldn't tell you when she'd be
back."
"Outta town, huh?" Shana looked thoughtful. "Convenient."
"Indeed." Jetta nodded. "You don't 'ave any clue where she might 'ave
headed?"
"Well, she has family in Malberry, don't she?" Steven asked. "She goes
back
there each year for the Father's Day celebrations."
"It ain't father's day, or even close." Jetta pointed out dryly. "But I
suppose
she could be in Malberry...guess we gotta check it out."
"Do you want to leave a message for her?" Steven asked. "I'll see it
gets
to her when she comes back."
"No...in fact, best you don't mention we were here." Jetta thought
fast.
"See, we...'ave a little surprise for 'er, and we wouldn't want it
spoiled
now."
"You're the boss." Steven winked at her. "Nice seeing you, Jetta."
Jetta rolled her eyes to the skies, but maintained her geniality.
"Much obliged to you for your help." She said with an amiable smile.
"Guess
Shana and I will go look someplace else. Bye!"
"You know, now I know why you have such a reputation for manipulation."
Shana
murmured as they headed back out to the car. "If I hadn't known you
were
feeding him lines I would never have guessed."
"I'm a quick thinker." Jetta shrugged. "But we're no closer to findin'
Clash...what
now? Malberry?"
"Well, we could call her family." Shana looked doubtful. "But if you
ask
me it would make more sense if we focused on her family here in LA, at
least
to begin with."
"Family?" Now it was Jetta's turn to look blank. Then she smiled. "Oh!
Video!"
"Right." Shana nodded.
"But Clash 'ates Video...and vice versa." Jetta pointed out. "What
would
she know?"
"Maybe nothing, but she might know how Clash thinks better than we do."
Shana
suggested.
"Well, it's worth a try." Jetta shrugged. "And we better call Clash's
Pa,
also...see if he's 'eard from her. He's a dope, I can get him to tell
me
anything he might know."
"Okay, so we have something to go on, at last." Shana grinned.
"Finally, some
progress!"
"Maybe. If we find her." Jetta reminded her. "Still, it's a start an'
that's
something. Come on. I say we drop by Starlight Mansion or wherever
Stormer
and Kimber are today and tell them our theory, see what they
think...then we go tackle Video an' Mr Montgomery. We'll get her yet!"
"I hope so. Time is getting short." Shana looked troubled.
In their desire to track down who they now suspected as the culprit,
the
girls had forgotten that they were meant to be rivals, and the
bickering had
been replaced all too naturally by a strange kind of mutual respect.
Events
were driving them to work as a team, but they were also beginning to
function
as a team, though neither girl had yet realised it.
Across town, oblivious to Jetta's sudden flash of inspiration, Clash
was
carefully checking that everything was going according to plan. It had
all
been so easy, she mused, to take them off guard and establish a new
mode
of command over proceedings. Zipper had been a pain but he had done his
job
and so long as she kept him solvent he was fairly obedient. Jerrica and
Pizzazz
were well out of the way, in the back bedroom of the rundown apartment
she
had hired solely for the purpose, and time was running out before the
big
night.
A slow smile crossed her face.
"They'll never live it down." she mused with a chuckle. "And even when
I
set them free, I've covered my back. Jerrica knows that one wrong word
will
bring Jem's real identity out of the closet, and Pizzazz's pride will
never
allow herself to publically admit that she was out-thought and
out-manouevred by little old me. I'll take my perfect vengeance, teach
them all a lesson...and then..." she paused, a frown crossing her face.
Then what?
Her plans had not stretched any further ahead than the ultimate
humiliation of the two bands she had set her sights on - but what about
after the whole affair was at an end? What then?
"I'll think of that when it comes to it." She shrugged, pushing the
idea
to the back of her mind. "Something to directly get at Video, perhaps.
This
will be a blow to her, because I know she's due to film Jem's
performance at the Rock Festival for some television show or the other,
but it's not specifically
brutal enough to wreck her career. Perhaps that'll be my next line of
thought,
when all of this is over. For now, it doesn't matter. For now I'm just
going
to bask in my victory...they'll never work it all out, not in a million
years,
and even if they do, by that time it'll be too late...I'll have won."
She
chuckled. "That's a nice feeling, coming out on top. Maybe I don't need
to
be a Misfit, when it comes down to it. They can't function without each
other,
can't cope. Me, I can manage a scheme all by myself, and I don't need
anyone
at all...perhaps I'm too good for the Misfits after all!"
But Clash had overlooked something important when glossing over the
Misfits
and their reliance on each other. The strange bond of loyalty that had
grown
between them meant more now than simply fighting for themselves - it
meant
that they would defend each other against outside interference. It had
happened
before, that they had banded together to come to the aid of one of
their
kind, and if she had stopped to think about it she would have realised
that
it would happen again. Similarly, the Holograms were hardly likely to
sit
back and let her dictate rules, not when someone so important to them
was
missing.
She had failed to pay attention to the actions of either group, failed
to
notice them banding together and failed to realise what this kind of
teamwork
meant.
Individually they were formidable as rivals...but on the same side they
were
close to unstoppable.
And they had their sights set firmly on Clash...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Shana!" Video opened the door of her apartment, a look of confusion
on
her face as she registered who was with her friend. "Jetta?
What...what's all this about?"
"We need to talk to you for a while, Video." Shana said. "Can we come
in?
It's kinda important."
"Sure...I suppose so." Video shot Jetta another odd glance, but opened
up
her door to allow them in. "I'd better warn you, though, that if this
is
something top secret I'm not here alone. I've a comittee meeting of
sorts
going on here for the Rock Festival in a couple of days, and..."
"That's kind of what this is about." Shana interrupted. "There isn't
going
to be any Rock Festival, at least not for the Holograms or the Misfits,
not
as things stand."
"What's happened?" Video's eyes widened.
"Jerrica an' Pizzazz 'ave gone AWOL and we're pretty damn sure we know
who's
behind it." Jetta spoke now as they entered the living room. "Which is
why
we came to you."
"They've been kidnapped?" Video demanded. Shana nodded.
"Yes. We've had...notes about Jerrica, anyway, and Pizzazz went out one
night
and just vanished off the face of the earth. We're pretty sure that the
two
disappearances are connected."
"Who's disappeared?"
A fresh voice entered the conversation at that moment, for the lounge,
as
Video had said, was not empty. Anthony Julian, Shana's long term
boyfriend, and a young up-and-coming video artist, Suzanne Mayor were
seated, drinking coffee and it had been Suzanne, or 'Chimera' who had
spoken. "What's the scoop?"
"Chimera!" Jetta exclaimed. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"It's business." Chimera shrugged, moving up on the couch to make room
for
the British girl. "So what's the deal, then? And why are you here with
Shana?"
"What's wrong, honey?" Anthony sent Shana a concerned look. Shana sank
down
into a chair with a sigh.
"It's all gotten messy." she said, slowly outlining all that had
happened. "We came here to speak to Video really, but I suppose you
ought to know about
it too. What the Holograms are going to do without...um...Jerrica's
help
I don't know. We all agreed that no Jerrica, no performance, and the
Misfits
have a similar dilemma...they've lost Pizzazz."
"I can think of worse tragedies." Chimera looked amused. Young and
impulsive,
she and the Misfits had often worked together on music videos over the
past
few months, and necessity for both parties had forced her and Pizzazz
to
work amicably together, but it was not a situation either relished.
Though
Chimera was fairly amiable with Jetta, and had no axe to grind with
Roxy
or Stormer, she had never really clicked with Pizzazz, who had
developed
an immediate resentment of the young artist as soon as they had met, a
resentment
which had only grown when the truth of Chimera's identity had come out.
"Well, we kinda need her to sing." Jetta responded, taking a seat
herself. "And like Shana said, time is running out for both groups.
This festival is
a big deal and if neither group show it could cost us both dear
career-wise. Bad publicity, an' all that. So, for the time bein' at
least, weird as it
seems...we've a truce."
"You said you had an idea who was behind it." Video remarked, closing
the
door and coming to join the group. "I'm intrigued...what can I...or any
of
us do to help?"
"Jetta's pretty sure it's Clash." Shana admitted uncomfortably. Video
gaped.
"Constance?" She demanded. "Are you sure? I know she's reckless
and
impetuous and spoiled...but...kidnapping? Shana, are you sure?
She's
hardly more than a kid, and she's never behaved her age...I don't
believe
she could dream up something like this!"
"I do." Jetta put in grimly. "I've never liked that girl...but more I
think
about it, more it seems to me that it 'as to be her. Pizzazz was kinda
cruel
to 'er about the whole Last Laugh business, and we've 'ardly seen her
in
months...then suddenly both the 'Olograms and the Misfits are treated
to
impersonations...Oh, I don't think there's any doubt that it's Clash
behind
it. Who else do you know who's so good at disguising herself?"
"I suppose...you have a point." Video sighed. "Oh, brother...if it is
her...she's
gonna wind up in so much trouble...what on earth possessed her?"
"If it is her, she needs help." Anthony put in. Shana nodded.
"That's what I said." she agreed. "But...well, if she really has dared
to
cross Pizzazz like that, I...wouldn't like to be her when Pizzazz gets
the
upper hand."
"She 'as a memory like an elephant, never forgets a grievance." Jetta
nodded.
"And this one I wouldn't blame 'er on. I'd like to get me 'ands on
Clash
meself, teach 'er a thing or two about messin' with the Misfits."
"Seems to me like Clash has nothing to gain by coming into the open."
Chimera
mused. "If all that's going to do is incur the wrath of my sister, not
to
mention the rest of the Misfits and the Holograms...I can see she'd
want
to lie low someplace, hide out somewhere new where she's not so easily
traced.
If you ask me, you're gonna have a job finding her."
"Your sister?" Video shot Chimera a confused look. Chimera laughed.
"Yeah. Didn't you know? Pizzazz is my half-sister."
"I had no idea." Video admitted. "You don't seem a bit alike."
"There's no blood tie. We hate each other." Chimera shrugged. "I don't
mind
working with the Misfits, actually I quite enjoy it most of the time,
but
sometimes I could happily strangle Pizzazz."
"I think we all feel that way sometimes." Shana said dryly. "But right
now
we gotta get her out of wherever she is...that's more important."
"Shana's right." Jetta nodded. "And then things can get back to
normal." she
glanced around her. "I feel odd as heck, sittin' in your flat like
this,
Video...we've always been on opposin' sides."
"We have, but if Clash is involved then you were right to tell me."
Video
replied. She looked troubled. "Oh, Constance, what have you done?"
"So what can we do to help out?" Anthony asked. Shana shrugged.
"I wish I knew." she said with a sigh. "It's all such a mess,
Anthony...and we've so little time."
"Have you spoken to her father?" Video asked. Jetta shook her head.
"No. That was next on the list after we left 'ere. We wanted to know if
you'd
seen or 'eard anything of Clash in the last few days - she ain't at
'ome,
conveniently."
"We don't talk most of the time...that's as good as our relationship
gets."
Video glanced at her hands. "I've no idea. But talk to Uncle Buzz. He's
more
likely to know if anyone in the family is. He and Clash are close."
"If they're close, won't he protect her?" Chimera asked. Video
shrugged.
"Probably, but in all honesty he doesn't have as much perception as he
should
and he can probably be coerced into telling. My worry is more what's
going
to come out of all this."
"It feels surreal enough as it is." Jetta said solemnly, casting Shana
a
glance, then frowning. "The more time I spend with Shana, the less
defined this whole rivalry thing gets in my 'ead. I'm gettin' confused
as to why we
'ate the Holograms so much...guess it's somethin' I absorbed when I
joined
the Misfits and I jus' didn't question it."
"Pizzazz resents Jem." Shana said succinctly. "And she's never liked
coming
up second."
"But we ain't second best these days, duckie." Jetta responded. "In the
United
States you girls might 'ave the upper 'and, and all that, but across
the
atlantic we outsell you, especially in England, cos that's me 'ome turf
and
they identify with that. You're all a bunch of foreigners to them over
there...yet
another foreign group tryin' to make a name abroad. I'm born an' bred
British...makes
the difference. And the Misfits were a band before the 'Olograms even
came
into view...f you ask me it wasn't the Misfits who were jumpin' onto
someone
else's publicity train!"
"So the Misfits' success in England is entirely down to you?" Shana
raised
an eyebrow.
"Course not." Jetta winked, looking amused. "We 'ave better music, is
all."
"Are you girls going to have an all out debate here and now or are you
going
to let us try and help you find Pizzazz?" Chimera interrupted at that
moment.
"You want to help?" Jetta looked surprised. Chimera pulled a graphic
face.
"She's my sister. I guess I gotta." she said with a sigh.
"Well, far as I'm concerned we can't have enough people on the hunt."
Shana
shrugged. "So by all means, help. Not that we've done much good so far.
We
need a lead..."
"And maybe Clash's Pa is the one to give it to us." Jetta stood.
"C'mon, Shana.
We ain't got time to be sociable...we got a phone call to make!"
Chapter
One: Clash
Chapter Two:
Deception
Chapter
Three: On Tour With The Holograms
Chapter
Four: The
Next Stage
Chapter
Five: Jem?
Chapter Six:
Trapped!
Chapter
Seven: An Unlikely Team
Chapter
Eight: Laying Plans
Chapter
Nine: Letter
From The Desert
Chapter
Ten: Jetta's
Hunch
Chapter
Eleven: Some Outside Help
Chapter
Twelve: Kimber's Dilemma
Chapter
Thirteen: The Great Escape
Chapter
Fourteen: Fire!
Chapter
Fifteen: Repercussions and Rock and Roll
Chapter
Sixteen: The End Of An Era
(The Misfits and Holograms and other animated Jem characters are copyrighted to Hasbro Inc. All characters who do not appear in Jem episodes are my own creation. This story is copyrighted to E.A Woolley (2001)