Chapter Twelve: Kimber's Dilemma
"You're quiet tonight."
Kimber turned, smiling faintly as she took in the speaker's features.
"Is
everything okay?"
"Oh, I don't know..." The redhead sighed. "Aja, I'm kinda torn between
two
things. I've been thinking about what to do about the whole Jem
issue...and it keeps coming back to the same thing." She paused. "You
still haven't had
any luck in fixing those earrings?"
"No." Aja shook her head, sitting down on her friend's bed. "Here, I'm
giving
them to you since Jerrica's your sister and all. You should have them.
I
only wish I could've worked out what was wrong with them."
"Thanks." Kimber picked one up, turning it over in her hand. "It looks
all
right, you know. I wonder why it won't project the Jem hologram."
"I think there must be a loose wire somewhere, but I can't locate it,
and
I've tried my best." Aja frowned. "I'm real sorry, Kimber. I feel like
I've
let you down...you and Jerrica both."
"You did your best." Kimber put a comforting arm around the older girl.
"Now
we just have to figure out a plan B, huh?"
"Yeah, guess we do." Aja nodded. "We can't let Jetta and Roxy find out
about
Synergy. Too much is at stake."
"I agree." Kimber paused. "And that's where my dilemma is. I...I've
been
thinking about talking to...to Rio about this."
"Rio?" Aja looked startled. "Kimber, what would Jerrica say?"
"She'd say protect Synergy at all costs." A fresh voice came from the
doorway,
and the two girls glanced up to see Shana watching them. "We don't have
a
choice, Aja...Rio is the only one who might be able to fix the Jemstar
earrings
and project the Jem hologram. If we can't project Jem then who knows
what
might happen to Synergy?"
"That's what I'm arguing with myself over at the moment." Kimber
admitted. "Whether Jerrica would be more mad with me if I told Rio the
truth or I let
Jetta and Roxy discover Synergy and the truth behind Jem. Rio will be
angry,
I'm almost certain of that..."
"What else can we do?" Shana squatted on the floor, her own expression
troubled.
"Listen, you guys. I've spent the last few days with Jetta and it's
been
an eyeopener in more ways than one. I never believed we could work
together
on anything, but we are, and I'm learning more and more just how clever
she
really is. If she doesn't already suspect then it's only a matter of
time
before she starts adding things up. We can't waste time."
"Roxy's cynical too. She keeps asking where Jem is." Aja acknowledged.
"But
what if Rio won't help us?"
"Rio loves Jerrica." Shana said sensibly. "He'll do it for her, no
matter
how hurt he is. So long as he's told in the right way..."
"Yeah, I suppose." Aja glanced at Kimber. "Kimber?"
"Well, when Shana puts it like that, I guess it really is all we can
do."
Kimber sighed heavily. "I suppose I'm the one who's got to do the
telling,
huh?"
"Well...Jerrica's your sister. Rio's practically your brother in law."
Shana
reasoned.
"I don't know about that." Kimber protested. She bit her lip. "All
right.
I'll speak to him tomorrow." She put the earrings down on the bedside
unit.
"As for finding Jerrica...what do we have?"
"That's what I came to talk to you guys about." Shana settled herself
more
comfortably on the rug. "Jetta spoke to Clash's Dad this afternoon,
over
the phone, and he wasn't all that helpful, but he did let slip
something about
her renting out an apartment in the south side of the city. He said it
was
something to do with a business project of hers...God only knows what
he
believes his darling's actually doing in Los Angeles."
"He's a doting father of the worst kind, from all Stormer told me."
Kimber
grimaced. "None too bright, but adores Clash and will do anything she
asks
of him."
"I think we all underestimated the extent of Clash's imagination and
intelligence."
Aja said grimly. "Just because she hasn't applied herself to anything
like
Video has doesn't mean she's not just as clever. I guess it isn't a
case
of like father, like daughter after all."
"What did Video have to say on the subject?" Kimber asked. Shana
shrugged.
"Not a lot. She doesn't speak to Clash much, if at all." she replied.
"She
did say she'd help, though, if she could. Chimera too. Hey, did you
know
Chimera and Pizzazz were sisters?"
"Pizzazz has a sister?" Kimber looked blank. Shana spread her hands.
"Apparently." She agreed. "We all know that Mrs Gabor left when Pizzazz
was
small...I'd guess the relationship happened that way."
"Probably." Kimber nodded. "If Pizzazz's mother is anything like
Pizzazz herself..."
"This isn't getting us anywhere." Aja interrupted. "We ought to get
some
sleep, all of us. Tomorrow will be here soon enough and we haven't the
time
to mess around."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Rio?"
It was early the next morning, and Kimber had decided to take advantage
of
the fact Rio had chosen to camp out over at the Starlight Mansion. For
her
own part, she had found it difficult to sleep, and had awoken earlier
than
usual as a result. More than anything she dreaded the reaction she felt
sure
would come from what she had to tell him, but, as they had agreed last
night,
there was nothing else to be done.
The road manager was busy poring over a map, marking off the places in
the
city that they had already covered, and he glanced up, smiling at her
slightly.
"What's up, Kimber?" he asked. Kimber sat down beside him, eying his
work
with a frown.
"It's not gonna bring her back, you know." She told him. Rio frowned.
"Guess I know that, but it's better than doing nothing." He admitted.
"Well...I kinda have something else for you to tackle, if you're game."
Kimber
spoke hesitantly.
Rio looked startled.
"Sure...what is it?"
Carefully Kimber produced the earrings, setting them down on the unit.
"Those are Jerrica's!" Rio exclaimed, picking one up and turning it
over.
"Where did you get them?"
"Stormer found them in the hut where we think Jerrica disappeared."
Kimber
replied. "Rio, there's something important I have to tell you...so
important
that I have to break my promise to Jerrica to keep it a secret."
"What do you mean?" Rio looked confused, his eyes still on the earring.
"Hey...this
has wires..."
"Yes, it does. They're no ordinary earrings." Kimber spoke slowly.
"Rio,
how much do you know about holographic projection?"
"Not a whole lot." Rio admitted. "I wouldn't have imagined you to know
much
more about it, either, to be honest."
"I...don't." Kimber acknowledged. "But that's what these are -
projection units built into the earrings by my father before he died.
They...they contribute
to our stage show, when Jerrica activates them. They're backed up by a
powerful
mainframe that Father built, only he never had time to patent her, and
if
the wrong people got hold of her all hell could be let loose."
"Woah, Kimber, back up a minute, you lost me." Rio set the earring
down,
fixing Kimber with a slightly bemused look. "Let me get this straight.
Jerrica's
earrings are really not earrings at all, but microscopic projectors?
And
these projectors form Jem and the Holograms' light show?"
"Yes." Kimber twisted her hands together.
"But how? Jerrica isn't even on stage when you perform."
"Yes she is." Kimber whispered. "Rio...Jerrica...is Jem."
For a moment Rio just stared at his companion, not comprehending, and,
feeling
awkward Kimber hastened to explain.
"It all began to try and get Starlight Music back, so we could support
the
girls." She began. "We needed a way to challenge the Misfits...and it
seemed
inappropriate to field Jerrica as our lead singer. I've always known
she
can sing - well, we've all known, in truth, but she was too shy about
stepping
out on stage as herself. So we asked Synergy's advice, and she
suggested
creating an alternate persona through her holograms. We went through a
lot
of different styles before Jerrica settled on Jem. Then we had to think
of
a name, and, well, that came from the car, because it had Jem on the
front
as it's emblem - it seemed appropriate somehow. Since Jem was a
hologram,
we called outselves Jem and the Holograms - and we had our act. We were
so
rushed for time to be ready for the Battle of the Bands in the park
that
we none of us thought to tell you what we were doing, and by the time
we
performed it was too late to warn you that Jem and Jerrica were the
same
girl. And then Jerrica was worried you'd be mad at her and break up
with
her if you knew she'd lied so we...we all kept the secret. I'm sorry,
Rio.
We didn't mean to lie to you, none of us did. It was just how things
worked
out."
Rio was silent for a minute or two, digesting all this. Then, in a
sudden
burst of rage he brought his fist down on the counter, making Kimber
jump.
"How dare she play games with me like this!" He exclaimed.
Kimber edged away.
"Rio, she needs your help. We all do." She said nervily.
Rio folded his arms.
"I hate lying and I hate deceit...why should I do anything to help
her?"
He demanded.
"Because you love her." Kimber replied. "And you know, it hasn't been
easy
for her either. You liked Jem from the start and Jerrica was always
afraid
she was competing with someone more exciting than she was for your
attention
- only to make it worse, she was competing with herself. Synergy said
that
you only liked Jem because of your love for Jerrica not being fooled by
a
Hologram, but I'm not sure it helped her confusion any."
"What or who is this Synergy you keep mentioning?"
"The mainframe that powers the earrings. Only they're broken and we
can't
project the Jem hologram." Kimber bit her lip. "Rio, we're all
sorry...so sorry for lying to you, but we didn't see anything else to
do. And now if
we can't project Jem in Jerrica's absense, the Misfits will realise
they're
the same person and who knows what'll happen to Synergy then? If it
isn't
too late already. Whoever kidnapped Jerrica - if it is Clash,
like
Jetta and Shana think it is - knows the truth and could use it at any
time.
But we've got to try, Rio. Synergy's more of a mother than she
is
a computer, Father programmed her to be that way. I'd hate anything to
happen
to her because of us."
Rio sighed.
"I do love her." He admitted. "And I suppose I've messed her over
enough too,
since Jem came on the scene. I should never have played with Jerrica's
emotions
by chasing after Jem like I did. I suppose we're both to blame, aren't
we?"
"Maybe...but I think you're only guilty of being too much in love with
each
other." Kimber dimpled, looking relieved. "Rio, will you try and fix
the
earrings? Aja's tried but she can't, and you're so much better at
electronics than any of us."
"I'll look at them." Rio agreed. "Man, I still can't get this into my
head!
If I weren't so worried about Jerrica I'd be more angry than I am...but
I
just want her back, Kimber. We can talk it through then...I just want
to
know she's safe." He scooped up the earrings. "And if I can make myself
useful
by tinkering with these, then I'll try, although I'll have to see the
mainframe
too, to know what I'm working with."
"Sure thing, follow me." Kimber grinned, linking her arm in his. "If
the
earrings aren't fixed, it's the end of Jem and the Holograms...so it's
pretty
important."
"I wouldn't do anything to jeopardise you girls for the world." Rio
told
her gravely. "Let's go."
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)
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