The Program

[Phoenix]

Cameron Fate- Producer of the Program

OK it has been day 4 of tryouts and frankly I am beginning to hate this idea. The network had better give me a raise for this. All I got to do is hand pick those I chose for this team. We were going to employ a big time national search for the most promising, most heroic, more talent superhumans and turn them in to heroes on national television. The publicity alone would help further the mutant equality issue instead who do I get in the auditions. The Amibigiously Gay Duo, Captain Furious, Retarded Ragin Ralph and the Shoveler. All of them losers would be killed on camera and to make that worse they were the best to audition this morning.

I massaged my temples and waited for my assistant Micheal Monkeyhimper to send in the next clown. Suddenly I feel like the British guy from American Idol telling young people they are the worst thing since the idea that remaking HeMan would be a good idea.

 

[Remec]

In the green room

"You're going to be fine, really." The small squeaky voice that spoke next to Newell Freeport's ear meant to be helpful. He gave a sighlike chuckle. Lord knows the Squirrel always tried to be helpful, if nothing else. "See? I heard that laugh. You know I'd right."

"Remind me why I'm here again? And why you're with me?" He looked his friend over. Not that he worried about being associated with the little guy. There was nothing scandalous about that friendship. It was some of the other people whom he'd adventured with or patrolled the city streets alongside that made for such problems with the tabloids.

The Squirrel went into the various reasons why coming to audition for the Program had seemed like a good idea. It was both money to live on and the free time to fight wrongdoing, while leaving Newell the leisure to work on his music and the band without worrying that doing so would mean cutting back on either crimefighting or the important things like eating and having a place to live.
It might also be a break for the band. While it wasn't any secret that he was Thunderclap, not everyone who knew of his hero identity put it together with his role as an up-and-coming rockstar. And, naturally, there was the thing the two had in common.
Women.
He'd made the discovery early in his career...such as it was...that women really got into musicians. Then he found out about Rescue Ritas...hero groupies that followed around crime scenes, or even put themselves in peril, just for the thrill of meeting (or being saved by) a real-live Talent.

He looked past the Squirrel. Well, over really, Thunderclap was a bit tall and it didn't take much to keep an eye on the rest of the room...his friend being, literally, a three-foot tall, anthropomorphic squirrel...but he wasn't sure who was here to audition and who was here for other things.
Just then the door opened and one of the stage managers stepped out, clipboard ubiquitously attached to their forearm, head encased in headset and microphone, wires dangling along their neck and down their back into a small beltpack on their hip. "Thunderclap? Do we have someone named Thunderclap here?"
"That's me." He got up and brushed off the creases and stray squirrel hairs from his costume. Stepping over to the stage manager, he gave his friend a wave, nodding at the wish for good luck. "Where do I go?", he asked as they stepped through the door into the backstage area.

 

[Phoenix]

Cameron Fate

Sitting behind my desk, I await the next person to come through the door. Jesus if Monkeyhimper sends in one more loser I swear to God I will.....Ok I better start thinking some positive thoughts. I have to remember half of my private company along with several other buisnesses are sponsering this fiasco in training.

Going through the file the next guy is already a quasi-celebrity. Oh great a musician. He is probably just in it for kicks and cheap publicity. Already setting my mind the next guy was going to be a waste of time, I had Monkeyhimper usher him in.

Ok he was kinda skinny and only 6 feet tall so either he must really powerful or it was definately going to be another dud. Looking him in the eye I said " So Mr. Thunderclap what can show that would convince me not to waste my time even interviewing your ass"

 

[Remec]

Thunderclap

The stage manager led Newell through the usual maze of wiring, flats, and assorted backstage stuff to a similarly clipboard attired man who appeared incredibly stressed and put upon. "Michael? Newell Freeport, aka Thunderclap.", the stage manager gestured from the new man to Newell and back. "Thunderclap, this is Michael, he's Mr Fate's assistant."

Without a word, Michael handed Newell a slim packet of papers tucked inside a manila folder. Then he opened a door on a set wall and showed him through. Stepping forward, Newell wondered whether he'd misjudged where he was. He thought it'd be like one of the auditions he'd been on for music gigs, or even the occasional play, where he'd stand on the empty stage and field questions or do things for whatever producers were present for that session. This seemed like an office. A cheap, hastily put together and not particularly well kept office, but an office nonetheless.
Seated behind the desk across from the door was Cameron Fate, producer of the Program. He also seemed stressed, but was letting it blow off rather than bottling it like his assistant seemed to have been doing. When Newell entered, Cameron was flipping through a folder and reviewing some notes on a pad of canary yellow legal paper. He raised his head and looked Newell in the eye.

"So, Mr Thunderclap, what can show that would convince me not to even waste my time interviewing your ass."

Taken aback for just a moment, Newell sighed inwardly. {Okay, okay...it's just like being on that empty stage, except that I can see who'd talking to me and meet their smarmy little gaze.} he thought to himself, swallowing nervously. He cleared his throat and coughed and then gave Fate a shrug. "I can sing, play guitar and piano, dance...I know two forms of martial arts...and I have various powers, as you have, no doubt, an extensive write-up in that dossier in front of you. What would you like my ass to do that would convince you to waste your time?"

 

[Phoenix]

Cameron Fate

Absorbing the sarcasm of the musican,_ I almost laughed out of fatigue._ Out of 200 applicants so far 75% percent were nervous, 10% were ass kissers and 5% were wise asses._ I tend to favor the wise asses over the ass kissers._ They are a lot more fun to break in and it translates better on TV.

" Monkeyhimper tell this man that he can play the bongos with his penis and it still would not impress me._ Tell Thunderclap all I want for him is to simply get from one side of the room to the other."

With that a glass wall that was bulletproof and 3 ft thick sprung up. From the floor several armed robots appeared each carrying weopons and firing at will.

"I suggest you do something Mr. Newell"

 

[Remec]

Thunderclap

"Whoa!", exclaimed Newell as the barrier appeared between him and Cameron Fate. The producer of the Program seemed smug and arrogant; which, from all reports, was both accurate and, to a great deal, merited. But none of that stayed in Newell's mind for long, he was already in motion to deal with the three robots that had sprung up moments after the glass wall.

He began with a dive forward and a handspring that put him up and over the trio's heads, landing and placing a roundhouse into what passed for a waist on the nearest one. It stumbled forward, making a noise that signified he'd managed to hurt something he hoped was a necessary system. The other two merely pivoted about without actually turning so that they now faced him.
Faced him and opened fire. He resisted the urge to flinch, and tried to sidestep the volley of projectiles. {At least Fate isn't using outright lethal weaponry.} thought Thunderclap as he began summoning his own power to the surface. He swore under his breath at the momentary pain as more than a few shots hit him about the hips and thighs as he turned away from them. {Although there are days I'd almost prefer slugs to rubber bullets.}

As the robots gauged their success, and prepared for another round or to change primary weapons, if warranted. Thunderclap lunged forth and struck one with the flat of his hand. "Kiiiiiyah!", he'd screamed forth as his karate instructors had been trying to get him to do...focussing his thought and energy into the blow, and mentally preparing himself to absorb the backwash of his power's discharge.
A loud, echoing explosion of sound and concussive force erupted from where his hand struck the metal plating of the robot's torso. The backwash flowed up his arm and he rechannelled it to help power up the next charge, while watching the robot go flying helplessly against the wall that held the door he'd entered from. It slid down the floor, sparking and making useless whirring noises as it tried to continue the battle.
"That's one.", Newell said as he turned to face the untouched robot and glanced about to see what the first one he'd struck was up to.

 

[Phoenix]

Cameron Fate

Watching Thunderclap in action I was hoping he was as good as advertised because I could not tolerate dealing with another loser today. So far today no one made it through the obstacle course. Matter of fact a few of them fainted as soon as they saw the robots.

He destroyed the first robot. I also tell by his willingness to take a hit he know that either he is suicidal or he know that we are not using live ammo and instead we are using rubber tipped bullets. Hmm this changes things.

Slidding a note to Monkey himper I watched as his eye bulges out for a second. He looked up at me with a pleading look in his eyes but I was steadfast in my decision. Skulking to the ending edge of the field of battle, Micheal Monkeyhimper slipped on a helmet and riot gear then picked up a rather large weopon. It discharged a blast that temporarily paralyzes its victims. Along with another robot running in the room Thunderclap also now had to worry about about the blast too.

Deep down I hoped he was up to the challenge because if he passes he is in if he wants to be.

 

[Remec]

Thunderclap

The robot Thunderclap had kicked was active, but not capable of setting its feet back underneath itself. Apparently, he'd gotten in a better blow than he'd thought. But its weapons systems were still up and running, so Thunderclap quickly moved further into the room zigzagging to make it hard for the robot to get any sort of aim. After several feet, he was at too oblique of an angle for the robot to be a threat.
ZOTTT!
With a grunt and a thump, Newell found himself flung several feet, landing on his side. He looked up from the floor to find that the untouched robot had gotten to his flank and shot him with the rubberbullets again. As it approached, it slowed down as if checking him out. Figuring the robot either had someone on the other end of its semsors, or was running under a protocol to not harm him more than necessary to keep him from the test's objective, Thunderclap bided his time then rolled forward and came to his feet right before the robot and snapped a burst of lightning in the air between them.
It was only a Flash attack, but since the point was to cross the room, he didn't have to take all the robots down. With its sensors reeling for a few moments, he took off for the finish line. But something caught his peripheral vision. Turning, he saw a new robot enter the fray. Or was it...?
Taking a better look at the lumbering figure...big head...bigger gun...he realized it was Michael the assistant in some sort of agentware. Thunderclap brought his gaze to bear on the armed tv guy and let his voice deepen,"Lay down your weapon and let me pass or suffer the consequences!"
He knew it was cheesy and cliche, but he hoped it was the kind of expected thing that Fate was looking for. If not, he had yet to show his main power.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Druidess

Druidess (yes, that was the only name she was known by. At least the only name she ever remembered being called by) looked at the scrap of paper where the building number had been written on and then at the building itself. The numbers matched but she was still frowning.

"Trees," She muttered as she looked at the forlorn little scrap of paper,"They destroyed a tree so I could get here to join a side show." Shaking her head, she placed the scrap of paper carefully in her pocket and entered the building.

She was instantly closed into the middle of what seemed to be a barely controlled choas. People were scuttling here and there, clipboards, coffee, donuts and other various things clutched in hands seeming intent on the tasks they were doing.

"Excuse me," She said in her soft voice to a woman in a blue suit who walked past her on a cell phone and totally ignored her.

"Excuse me," She repeated to a man shouting into a headset who seemed to busy chewing someone out to pay attention to her.

"Excuse me," She said in exasperation to another woman who was hurrying past reading a clipboard and not paying any attention to anyone else.

With a sigh, Druidess stepped up to where a hanging vine adorned a corner of the studio, probably ignored by everyone around just like she had been because it had begun to wilt and brown. Reaching into a pocket she sprinkled something over the plant which seemed to instantly come to life, return to a green color and move around as if it were being blown in a wind which was impossible as they were indoors and the door she had come through had shut firmly behind her once she had lifted her hand from it.

"Yes," She said to the plant,"You are welcome. But I need a favor, I can't seem to get anyone's attention, do you suppose you could..."

She did not have to finish the sentence before the vine was moving its long tendrils down to grasp the legs of the man who was passing them scratching out some words of a sheaf of papers and muttering, "Crap, crap, more crap..." to himself.

Suddenly the man found his legs jerked out from under him and he fell face down onto the floor with a 'Plop', his papers flying everywhere.

"Thank you, Friend," Druidess said with a pat to the plant who released the man so he could prop himself, groaning onto his elbows. Crouching down beside him, Druidess said once again,"Excuse me. I am to see a man named..." She reached into her pocket once again and pulled the scrap of paper out to read the name. "Cam..er..on Fate. Yes, thats right. Do you know where I can find Mr Fate?"

The man looked into her pleasant smiling face, taking in the long green hair and even greener eyes with a raised eyebrow and pointed her to the way.

"Thank you," She said and rose following the way his finger had been pointed.

Passing more busy people she shook her head and wondered if she had made a big mistake. Why exactly had she come here? That nice but nervous little man whose name was Monkey but who looked nothing like one had come to her a few days ago after one of her fights had been advertised on television. A device which she, personally, did not see a good use for. She had been drawn into a fight with several nasty men who were holding a building of people hostage. She couldn't remember what the nasty men wanted or why they were trying to escape from the police. It wasn't important really. The fact that they were trying to hurt innocent people by hiding in the building and threatening them was enough to make her mad and she seldom got mad.

The fight had ended in the hostages being freed and the men hanging upside down from some plants that had come from her specially prepared seeds with the neighborhood dogs, who had agreed so kindly, to help her in this growling and nipping at ears and noses as the men struggled to release themselves from their green prison. It has served them right! Nasty, nasty people.

Then the monkey man had come to speak to her about appearing on a program which showed the lives of superheroes. She had to think about that. She didn't really consider herself a superhero, she just didn't like people who hurt any living things plant, animal or human. But Monkey Man had insisted that he had talked to the people around and had gotten several more tales of how she had helped people and the tv station would love to have her on the show and think about how much good she could do by telling many more people outside of the city that being nasty to others wasn't to be tolerated.

Well, she had thought about it and decided that that would be a nice thing to do and so she had told the Monkey Man who really wasn't a monkey (she couldn't understand how he could have a name like that and not be one but, oh well) that she would do it for that reason and he had torn a piece of paper from his pad and given it to her leaving before she could finish telling him why he should not use such things and encourage the deaths of so many of her tree friends in the process. He seemed nice but he really had to work on his manners.

And here she was. But she was beginning to have some doubts as she made her way past even more people and made her way toward a door at the end of the path the nice but busy man had pointed her down.

As Druidess reached out to open the door, passing a rather unusually large squirell and wondering why he was not outside gathering nuts for the winter as he would probably need to store many for his large size, she felt a hand wrap around her arm which was covered by the long sleeve of her floor length, white dress. Stopping and turning, she looked into the face of a woman who had on a headset, held a clipboard and cell phone and was trying to eat a donut while she balanced everything.

"You can't go in there," The woman said in a stern voice,"All applicants are to wait in the waiting room until they are called. I am afraid you are going to have to go back and sit down."

Druidess gave the woman a beaming smile and said,"It's okay. I am expected." And begin to disengage her arm from the woman's grip.

"No, you don't understand," The woman said not letting go,"You aren't allowed to go in there until you are called!" Her face said she wasn't happy and Druidess couldn't figure out why as she had already explained that she was expected.

"No," Druidess said her voice not raising a fraction,"You do not understand, Dear Lady. I am expected so it is okay." Wrenching her arm from the firm grip, she marched out the door the exasperated lady following her.

Coming into the room, she stopped suddenly, the woman behind her running directly into her back as she did so. Right before her eyes she saw some man facing off some short metal men with guns and a slightly bigger one with a big gun. It seemed that they were all ganging up on the poor man who seemed to be trying to rescue the man behind the glass. The small men must have captured the man there and now were trying to hurt his rescuer who was bravely shouting out,"Lay down your weapons or suffer the consequences!" even though he was so outnumbered.

Druidess could feel her blood begin to boil at the thought of how 'not nice' this all was. And why had the woman tried to stop her from coming in here when she could help this poor outnumbered man rescue the poor trapped soul?

Reaching into two of the numerous pockets in her dress, she grasped a handful of both seeds and a special powder and tossed them into the middle of the floor. Instantly the seeds began to grow, helped by her special power to increase the growth rate to almost instantaneously. The growing vines quickly spread over the small metal men, reaching into cracks and seams to short out machinery and wrapping tightly around the other man with the big gun, wrenching the gun from his surprised fingers and curling about him in an almost crushing grip.

At her mental command, the vines did not wrap around the brave soul who had been holding them all off but left a clear circle around his feet. Rushing over to the poor, brave man, Druidess looked at him in concern.

"Are you alright? That was a very, very mean thing to do! Attacking you like that. So many of them. Cowards! You were very brave, yes very brave to try and fight them all!"

Turning to the glass and the trapped man inside, she tapped on it. "Don't worry, Dear Man, we shall find a way to release you from your prison. This I promise! You must be very, very frightened but don't worry. No one will hurt you now!"

She wondered why the man behind the glass didn't look pleased at this news. Maybe he was too frightened and thought it was not possible to rescue him from his prison. Poor, dear man!

 

[Remec]

Into the green

Thunderclap tried his best to refrain from actually putting his hands on his hips as he awaited an answer from Michael. The assistant shook nervously, bringing the large gun to bear on the hero and, apparently, waiting for a sign or an order from Fate. A different sort of fate managed to intervene just then, however.

Suddenly, the battle room was festooned with writhing vines and the robots and Michael were all quickly rendered either inoperative or unarmed...or both. He turned to regard the woman who approached him and let out a low whistle. {If she's in the Program, please God let Fate sign me up...}

"Are you alright? That was a very, very mean thing to do! Attacking you like that. So many of them. Cowards! You were very brave, yes very brave to try and fight them all!"

Turning to the glass and the trapped man inside, she tapped on it. "Don't worry, Dear Man, we shall find a way to release you from your prison. This I promise! You must be very, very frightened but don't worry. No one will hurt you now!"

Thunderclap laughed. "That's right...you're perfectly safe. And so are we.", he said as he stepped up to the glass partition and smirked at Cameron Fate. He put his arm around the lady-in-green, hand resting on her far hip and motioned towards the target he was supposed to be working towards. "Come with me. To save him, we must make it across the room...right this way."

Thunderclap stepped away from her, his hand trailing across the small of her back, and then turning palm up, offering itself to her.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Druidess

Druidess looked down at the hand of the man which was resting on her hip. He must be very tired from his fight to need to support himself upon me she thought to herself and sympathetically wrapped an arm about him to give him more support as he reassured the man trapped behind the glass that everything would be alright.

He seemed to regain his strength quickly though as he moved away from her and told her that in order to save the imprisoned man they must make their way across the room.

"Is that all?" She asked a bit puzzled as she placed her hand lightly in his,"That seems simple enough though I suppose it was rather hard with all these small metal men trying to stop you from doing it. Oh! Please don't step on the vine. You will hurt it."

Mentally, she instructed the vine to move and make a path for them to walk through without stomping on it.

"There!" She said with a smile to the man,"Now we can go across the room without injuring it."

As they began to walk across it, she asked curiously,"What is at the other side of the room that will free him?" She looked all around for something that would bring the wall of glass down and bring the man behind it freedom but could detect nothing. "Is it hidden?"

 

[Phoenix]

Cameron Fate

Sipping on a glass of Merlot, I watched with a vested interest._ This was actually very compelling television._ Normally I would be upset that someone would interfere in the testing but by now Thunderclap has already proven his mettle and this young lady is certainly intriguing.

She had the kind of look that made her almost irresistable to the pervs but attractive enough to appeal to the older viewers.
Plus her innocence can be played off well enough as a subplot. Yeah right that and the fact that I could not take my eyes off of her. Oh yeah Thunderclap is cool too, and with the right promotional push his band will take off and he will get us that MTV rotation and extra viewer pushing up the rating points.


_ Doing a light telepathic scan of the workers many of them were watching from closet circuit TVs around the building._ Upon further inspection in their minds I realized that the people were not watching because it is their jobs but they were actually interested. This was like an action movie without some contrived special effects. Even those who deep down hated superhumans could not pulled their eyes away.

Once they reached the other side, the glass fell and the room changed back with the robots slipping back under the floor. Walking over to them I had in my hand a contract for Thunderclap and I was waiting for her to sign on too. If she does then maybe just maybe Micheal Monkeyhimper will get that raise he was looking for.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

As they reached the end of the room, the sounds behind Druidess made her turn and she clapped her hands in glee and threw her arms about the brave young man's neck in a fierce hug when she saw that the poor frightened man was no longer behind the glass casing but was walking over, surely to thank them for what they had done.

"Oh! We did it!" She exclaimed happily,"Once again we have proved that bad things happen to bad people. I do hope those small metal men learned their lesson. All but one of them have fled in terror."

Running up to the man who had been entrapped, she smiled at him. "Those nasty metal men should bother you no more, Kind Sir," She said reassuringly. "I believe they have learned their lesson and have left knowing that to be happy they must change their ways." Nodding entergetically, she looked around him to where the one metal man was still struggling with his green bindings. "Though I am saddened to say that we may have to call the local athourities to handle the last one. He does not seem repentant at all. I do believe he is attempting to hurt my green friend!"

With a sigh she shook her head. "But he will find it impossible to escape. You should not have any more problems with any of them." As if suddenly remembering why she was here, she changed the subject on the spot.

"Oh! I had almost forgot. A monkey man instructed me to come here today to talk to a Mr Cameron Fate," She said, drawing out the first name as if trying to think how to properly pronounce it. "The moneky man who is not really a monkey said that Mr Fate would talk to me about an opportunity to appear on the television which so many people seem to be fond of and spread the word that being 'Not Nice' will only get you into trouble and you should never try to hurt any living creature no matter what. The nice but busy man in the hallway pointed out that he would be in here but all I found was this brave soul being attacked as he was trying to help you from your prison. Do you possibly know where I may reach Mr Fate in order to speak with him?"

 

[Phoenix]

Cameron Fate

At first I thought she must be putting me on. There is no way anyone could be that wide eyed and innocent but looking at Monkeyhimper upside down I guess someone is that way. Hmm the problem is how to break it to her that there was no real danger here. Should I play along and indulge her or should I just tell the truth and possible damage her psyche. Hey I am Cameron Fate and I can give a rats ass about someone else's psyche.

"My dear this was just a test training exercise to display the abilities of Thunderclap here. As for Cameron Fate, that is I."

I kissed her hand throwing on the charm. Hey she was beautiful and I do have my international playboy reputation to maintain. Tony Stark eat your heart out.

"You must be the one Micheal Monkeyhimper told me about. I did not expect you for another hour my dear. By the way could you release poor Monkeyhimper before he starts to complain and takes another vacation day to think about why does he still work here and the meaning of life."

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Druidess stood blinking blankly at Mr Fate for a long moment, taking in all that he had said in silence, watching as he took her hand and kissed it. Looking around as he asked her to release the monkey man, she frowned.

"The monkey who is not a monkey? But I do not see him here. Did he get entrapped in the vines along with the nasty metal men?" It is obvious that, thinking she had done a good deed in rescuing Mr Fate from his prison, she was not going to contemplate any other explanations. Following Cameron Fate's gaze to the last metal man, she pursed her mouth in an 'O' of understanding. Not understanding that a real rescue did not take place, but understanding that the last 'nasty metal man' was actually the monkey man who had come to talk to her about being on television.

"Oh! I see!" She said with a knowing smile,"You do not harbor any grudge against Mr Monkey for what he did to you and you wish to set him free. That is wonderful. Forgiveness is a very good value and you must be a wonderful man to be ready to look past what he has done."

Mentally asking the vines to release the metal clad man, she watched as the green ropes fell from the man and he took off his face shielding. "I hope you are properly grateful to Mr Cameron for his magnificent tolerance," She scolded him,"And that you change your ways at once and become a better person! You should really not use things that would harm another. And the meaning of life is very simple. It is to help others. Which is something you should not only think about but do, and immediatly!"

To Cameron Fate, she said,"I think that perhaps the monkey man really did not want me to tell the world about the value of being kind to all living things and plotted to keep me from you by placing you in that glass cage so that you would not be able to fulfill your kind offer to me. But, if you believe he has changed his ways I shall not interfer any longer."

Happy that she had figured out the Mystery of the Metal Men and that all would now be well, she positivly glowed with satisfaction.

"Now that we have resolved that we can talk about this opportunity to telling others such an important message. Exactly how do I get into the television box and when do we start?"

 

[Remec]

Thunderclap

When the green woman threw herself about his neck, Newell was taken aback. But he returned the embrace, pulling her in close against him. It was brief, as she'd broken almost immediately to go dashing over to Fate, but the warmth that came from within her was compelling. Mixed with the scent of her hair...vines? leaves?...all woody and earthy and with that wildflower sweetness that the perfume and air freshener companies all want to achieve but never really approach fully, not to mention how she was not dressed, just that briefness was enough to stir Thunderclap's blood...among other things.

He walked over to join the others, taking the contract from Fate's hand to let the other man speak with the green woman. He read through it, making sure there weren't any surprises from the copy he'd already seen courtesy of his agent. It seemed all in order, although he'd send it to his legal advisers first, if only to be sure it didn't violate anything he was already committed to either as Thunderclap or as the singer/guitarist for Starcrossed, his band.

He watched and listened to the pair of them talk and shook his head slightly. She was going to take some getting used to. Not just because she made him think such thoughts...he liked thinking those thoughts, usually...but because he could tell already she was not used to civilization and the world-as-it-is.

"Now that we have resolved that we can talk about this opportunity to telling others such an important message. Exactly how do I get into the television box and when do we start?"

Before Fate could answer, Newell chimed in from just behind and to the side of the green lady. "Good question, my thoughts exactly." {How to get into the box and where to start.} He coughed lightly and shook his head to clear his mind. "I've looked over the contract you have, but I need to send it to my lawyers before I can actually sign on. Is that a problem?"

 

[Phoenix]

Cameron Fate

Thinking to myself, she either playing her gimmick to the hilt or she either really naieve. Either way being the buisness man I am began to think to myself ways I could use it to my advantage. Maybe I could underpay her and get away with it. The thought of it brought a smile to my face. I was just about to answer her question about the television box when Thunderclap interrupted to which I answered "Mr. Newell if you did not have legal council look it over then I would in turn attempt to rob you later on and cut you out your share of the profit from merchandising. Nothing personal but this is a cutthroat buisness and you can not trust anyone."

Just then Amanda Huggin-Kiss(the lady with the headset from earlier) ran into the room. Immediately and profusely she apologizes letting in Druidess and to tell me that my 4:00 is here and he was not letting anyone else stop him. I begin to message my temples as I can hear the ruckus from outside already raising my stress levels. Great now my chi was going to be all of center.

 

[Remec]

Thunderclap

Thunderclap couldn't help but laugh. Fate was certainly upfront and open in his business dealings, so far. He was definitely a man to bear watching.

When the woman from upfront came in to announce a new auditionee, Thunderclap cocked his head slightly and then looked at the green lady and at Fate and back. "So, are the lady and myself done then? If not, where shall we go to wait while you have your 4:00...and if so, well, then...I'm sorry miss, what's your name?" He extended a hand to the green woman and smiled. "I'm called Thunderclap, but my given name is Newell."

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Druidess cocked her head to the side listening to what was happening. She did not understand much of it and all she really wanted was an answer to her question.

Turning wide green eyes onto the man they called Thunderclap, she placed her own hand in his and said,"I am called Druidess. I do not have any other name though I have heard that many people do go by more than one at times."

Still shaking Thunderclap's hand she looked at Cameron Fate. "So, Mr Cameron Fate. How do I get into the television box as I was promised I could?"

 

[Phoenix]

Cameron Fate

"Thunderclap don't worry about my 4:00 this is much more important and down worry Monkeyhimper can handle it." Looking over at him, Micheal Monkeyhimper was still removing some of the thorns from the vines from his body. Bah! That man is always goofing off. "Monkeyhimper stopping goofing off. I want you and Amanda Huggin-Kiss to deal with my 4:00 and not disturb me for the rest of the afternoon unless I call you."

Looking at me with a look I would normally beat his ass for using Monkeyhimper took Amanda's hand in his and teleported out of the room. Turning around, I relaxed a little. Thinking about Druidess's inquiry about the magic box, I was tempted to make a dirty joke about wanting to be in her magic box, but my professional decorum took back over and I said "Well due the latest breakthroughs in communication and nanotechnology. We have cameras and bugs and all kinds of devices so small and inconspicious that unless you are there you would not even notice it. For example every button on my suit jacket has a camera build into it. "

I point up and show them on the large screen the show from my suit.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Druidess looked at Cameron Fate with a completly blank stare. The only thing she had understood was 'bugs'.

"Oh!" She said in sympathy,"You shouldn't keep bugs inside. They really do belong outside in nature. Do you wish me to take them with me when I leave? I am sure I can find them a nice place to live."

Then, she looked up where he pointed at the big screen and clapped her hands in joy.

"We are already in the television!" She said with a wide smile,"What magic! To be here and in the television at the same time. You are very powerful, Cameron Fate."

Taking in a deep breath, she began to speak,"Hello all of you who are looking at the television. My name is Druidess and I have been able to come into your television due to the kindness of Mr Cameron Fate to give you the message that being 'not nice' is very wrong."

"We should all love each other and do kindness whenever we can. Just because someone is 'not nice' to you does not mean you should be 'not nice' back. No. You must treat them with kindness and call the authorities who will take them away and teach them to be nice once again....."

On and on she gave her message and it was soon apparent that she was not about to stop any time soon.

 

[Phoenix]

Cameron Fate

I looked at her and thought to myself she must be putting me on or something. I looked at Newell and wondered if he were in on this. However he looked as confused and bewildered as I did. I had to rmind myself to think about the positives. Maybe she might believe in this betterment of mankind so much that I might be able to have her do this for free.

Honestly she began to go on even longer and I was tempted to give her the Oscar treatment and have the band play her off the stage but instead I decided to use my decorum. Placing my hand on her shoulder I said "Uh Druidess sweetie calm down. This is not on a national broadcast. The ones watching this is us right now."

 

[BlueEyedLady]

The disappointment on Druidess' face was clear. But she brightened almost right away.

"When will I be able to go into the television and talk with those who watch it?" Then almost as if reasing Fate's thoughts," Mr Monkey said something about money. I know what that is! It is pieces of colored cloth with pictures on it. I know because I was unhappy that someone killed trees to color pictures on many small pieces of paper but someone kindly explained to me that it was not paper at all but cloth. So then it was okay."

Her face fell once again. "But I have no money to give you for putting me in the television and letting me talk to everyone. I do not use it. My plant friends give me everything that I need though I know that money is sometimes used to trade for things from the buildings called stores."

She looks at Cameron Fate pleadingly. "But if you believe in what I am saying, Mr Fate, you can use your powers to put me in the television even though I cannot give you money. You would be doing something very good and I am sure you would be rewarded for such kindness."

 

[DarkTalon]

Enter The Wild Card

Logan LeBeau sat At Cameron Fate's Desk Legs Proped upon the desk As Monkyhimper and HuggnKiss Tellaported in. LeBeau Had Anlook of anoiance on his face.

" Your Not The Ass hole who left me this Note At my un regesterd Aparment Are you?" LeBeau Asked anoyed. Munky himper agetated and intemedate Studered his Reply." By the Smell of fear And Your ideotcey i take That as no . So Be a good second banana And Go Get You Boss Now Be for you get Hurt" He Said Dryly in his uniqu Southern Cajan Draw.

 

[Remec]

"That's good question, actually. Once we have the legalese taken care of, when and where do we report for The Program? Is it being filmed here locally?" Thunderclap looked to Fate, if only to avoid looking at Druidess for a moment.

{Just something about the way her hips and curves and fleshy parts wiggle and shimmy about when she's talking so excitedly} Newell thought, taking a breath and hoping this wasn't the really tight costume he had on today...

"And, how intrusive will the footage be? Will you film everything and edit it down...or will there be times when the cameras and mics are off? Thunderclap wasn't sure he was really up for being in a fishbowl 24/7...but it was an intriguing premise, good money, and decent exposure for both him and the band...