Technicolor Dreams

Chapter: 1

Let the Show Begin

Well here's a new idea for a slayers fic. Just to let you know the world is set in kind of a 1984 theme. Only difference is no true big brother, I'm not making any statement on communism, and no Stalinism whatsoever. It also takes a bit of ideas from the Jim Carrey movie: The Truman Show. So on with the fic.

He walked down the same alleyways he always did when he went to work. It was better to remain unseen with the way he was than to walk out in full view. Besides once he got to work he could truly be alone. 'Well not totally alone but she doesn't really count as being there now does she,' he thought as he closed in on the building where he worked. He walked up to the main door where he produced an identification card and inserted it into the reader. After a moment a panel in the wall moved to reveal a hand print identifier. He placed his hand on the panel and waited. After a second the door unlocked and a computer voice said, "Welcome Mr. Greywords," as the doors opened up.

Zelgadis Greywords retrieved his identification card from the reader and walked into the building belonging to the Kenjo Corporation. He had worked with Kenjo since he had been in high school and continued because it paid rather well. He walked down a hall way and to an elevator. Once in he hit a button for basement number four and hit in a code on a number pad. "Password accepted," came the same computer voice as the elevator started it's journey down towards the basement.

Zelgadis leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest as he waited for the elevator to stop. After a few minutes the elevator reached it's destination and the doors opened. Zelgadis walked out and down a hallway until he reached a thick metal door. He stepped right in front of it and the voice came again asking, "State identification."

"Zelgadis Greywords," he replied.

"Voice pattern match. Please submit eye scan," the computer commanded as a laser reader moved towards Zelgadis' face.

Zelgadis looked up at the laser and opened his eye wide. The laser scan his eye and after a moment the voice came again and said, "Eye pattern match. Welcome Composer Zelgadis Greywords," as the metal door unlocked and opened.

Zelgadis walked through the door and into the spacious room that lay behind the door. He sighed as he saw the same thing he saw everyday. There she was, there was the entertainment of millions of people. There was Lina. He walked over to where the girl lay on a table, many wires running to and from her head, and smoothed away some hair from her eyes. The girl didn't respond at all and Zelgadis' attention was soon caught by a female voice, "Getting a little close with the entertainment there Greywords."

Zelgadis looked to see the young woman he knew as Vera taking off a helmet with wires running to it. She set the helmet down next to the compartment she sat in and stepped out. She was a rather tall woman standing at about five foot ten inches. Her brown eyes ran up and down Zelgadis as she sized him up. Her long black hair ran down to about her hips, and her full body made her a very attractive woman. She smiled at Zelgadis and as she walked forward and said, "Of course that's why your the best of us composers. You can forget that she is just a comatose cyborg and fully interact. But, why show that side just to her?"

She walked until she was right in front of Zelgadis and continued, "I mean why hide yourself from people that can physically return the interaction?"

Vera moved her body against Zelgadis and ran her hand across his cheek. She placed a finger under the mask Zelgadis always wore and tried to lower it. Zel's hand came up to stay her as he said, "Don't...," as he turned away from her.

Vera frowned and moved closer, pressing her chest against Zelgadis' back, and whispered in his ear, "Come on Zelgadis. You know I want you...if even just once. We have some time before you begin...why not," as her hands moved down his chest.

Zelgadis grabbed her hands and said, "Stop this Vera. Don't waste your time with me."

Vera stopped, knowing that continuing wouldn't get her what she wanted, and whispered, "The offers always open."

Vera then released Zelgadis and walked to the door saying, "Have a good run," before walking out.

Zel sighed before he looked at the chair and walked towards it. He sat down in the chair and lifted the helmet above him. He looked at the young redhead once more before placing the helmet on his head and saying, "Lina program activate. Composer Zelgadis Greywords."

The helmet's eye sockets lit up with images of the young girl before it linked Zelgadis with her mind and allowed him to go into a trance. In the trance Zelgadis was transported into a world of imagination. Here he could manipulate with or without being seen. He began by moving the scene to where he had left off last run.

Lina walked down the street carrying her books in hand as she made her way towards school. This was her second year in high school but yet it seemed like it had been longer than that. She soon made it to the front courtyard and went up to the group of people she knew as friends. "Hi Miss Lina," called a young girl with raven colored hair.

"Hi Amelia," Lina said as she smiled at the young girl.

"How have you been Lina," asked another girl, more to Lina's age, with blonde hair.

"I'm doing ok...and you Filia," Lina returned with a smile.

The girls sat down and started to chat to one another about many a thing. Anything from what they did last night, to shopping opportunities, to even school gossip was in the mix. Lina was enjoying the chatting when she looked up and he caught her eye. There he was walking across the courtyard staring straight forward not changing his attention for the world. He was tall with light lavender hair that jutted out in what Lina would describe as wing shapes and some of it fell down over his right eye. His lithe yet muscled body was mostly hidden under his school uniform except for certain moments in his stride that showed differently. Lina was drifting off when she was brought back by Amelia asking, "Miss Lina what are you looking at?"

"Oh nothing...nothing at all," Lina blushed as she rubbed her hand behind her head.

Filia looked where Lina was and turned back to her companions. "It seems Lina has the hots for a certain Zelgadis Greywords," Filia said teasingly with a suggestive wink.

Lina blushed even more but protested adamantly, "I do not. He just happened to catch my eye for a second that's all."

Soon they heard the bell ring and everyone filed into the building to go to class. "See you guys after school," Lina called as she waved to her friends.

Her friends waved back as they parted ways. Lina quickly walked to literature class and picked a seat to sit down in. She sat down and waited for the class to begin. As she waited the object of her earlier attention walked into the room. Lina looked straight forward trying not to glance at him. None to say she almost died when he sat right behind her. Soon the class began and Lina couldn't help but squirming every once in a while with the knowledge of who was behind her. About midway through the class Lina felt something against her ear. She reached behind her ear and pulled a slip of folded paper from there. She opened it to read the message on it, 'You seem rather tense. You should try to relax a little.' Lina blinked and blushed slightly as she wrote a reply, 'I just have a lot of energy that's all.' She then flicked it over her shoulder when the teacher was writing on the board. Soon enough she felt the paper behind her ear again. She pulled it in front of her and unfolded it again to read his reply. 'Well, if you're looking to use it up I may be able to help.' Lina blushed and didn't reply. She sat still the rest of the class and dashed out when the bell rang.

After another class Lina was on her way to lunch. She walked from the lower building of her school towards the normal building to get to the cafeteria. Everyday she walked by a utilities shed that was usually somewhat alive with the sounds of some couple making out. But, this day it was disturbingly silent. She was going to ignore it and walk on by had she not been grabbed and dragged into the shed. She was about to scream when a hand came up and muffled her. The owner of the hand whispered, "Shh, Lina I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk with you."

Lina had never heard the voice before but she recognized the blue eyes that stared into her eyes. It was Zelgadis Greywords and he was the one that had dragged her into the shed. He lowered his hand from her mouth and said, "There...no screaming. The last thing we need is the facility accusing us of certain activities."

Lina just looked at him a moment before asking, "What do you want to talk about," in a small voice.

Zelgadis smiled and said, "You never gave me a reply," as he looked her in the eyes.

Lina blushed and looked away from him without saying anything to him. She stared at the the floor wishing she wasn't there. Soon she felt Zelgadis' hand under her chin. His hand softly and slowly lifted her chin and brought her attention back to him. "All you have to do is answer," he whispered as he ran a finger up and down her chin while waiting on her reply.

Lina looked into his eyes and was sucked in. She smiled while gazing into to his eyes and said, "Um...Yeah, I guess."

Zelgadis smiled and asked, "Now how can we help you with that energy of yours," as he brought Lina closer to him.

Lina finally came out of her daze and she put her hand up. "Not here," she said with a bit of disappointment in her voice, "But, I can meet you after school and take it a little slower."

Zelgadis smirked and said, "Ok, after school it is. See you then," then pecked Lina on the cheek and walked away.

Lina blushed bright red as she watched Zelgadis walked out. All she could do was think, 'Zelgadis kissed me...,'

Zelgadis came back to reality and lifted the helmet off his head and stood from the compartment. He looked at Lina to see the only movement she ever made in her state. She had a soft smile on her face from the episode that was just played out in her mind. 'Just an episode to millions of viewers around the world...but a pleasant dream for you. A pleasant dream that you think is reality,' Zelgadis thought as he caressed Lina's cheek in a loving manner. "I'm sorry to do this to you but at least I can make your dreams the best you've ever had," Zelgadis whispered as he turned and walked out of the studio to go back to his apartment leaving Lina to be entertained by the next composer.

Disclaimer: Any characters or ideas from The Slayers do not belong to me. I am not selling this material, just writing for the heck of it as I go.

Feedback is requested, please send all comments to findelhe@hotmail.com