Mark Moore
Author's note: Welcome to the first in a series of Jem stories that I am writing. The title of this story gives away the plot: Stormer leaves the Misfits and joins the Holograms. The decision she makes is easy, but the transition itself does not come easily. But I've thought of this story ever since I saw "The Bands Break Up". Stormer needs this change, and she's better off because of it. I tried to remain true to the original series. I did this by including references to a wide variety of episodes in all three seasons in an attempt to ground this story within, and tie it to, the TV series. It also serves to make this story seem a natural continuation of the series. The Jem Remix, which will appear at the beginning of every story I write, contains a list of all the episodes, in order of influence, that are referenced in that particular story.
Jem Remix: "The Bands Break Up", "The Beginning", "Roxy Rumbles", "The Talent Search" Parts 1 & 2, "Out of the Past", "Glitter and Gold", "One Jem Too Many", "The Presidential Dilemma", "Island of Deception", "A Father Should Be...", "The Battle of the Bands", "Straight from the Heart", "Britrock", "KJEM", "Kimber's Rebellion", "The Stingers Hit Town" Part 2, "In Search of the Stolen Album", "Journey to Shangri-La", "Journey through Time", "A Change of Heart", "Disaster", "The World Hunger Shindig", "Father's Day".
I wrote the first draft of this story from Monday, July 24, 2000, 3:00 PM to Thursday, October 12, 2000, 3:30 PM. My thanks go to Mooncat for reading this story and offering her comments and suggestions. I completed the second (which I thought was final) draft on Wednesday, February 14, 2001, at 4:16 PM. After two more "final" drafts the day before, in which I added some lines and fixed some continuity, grammar, and code problems, I completed the real final draft on Friday, March 23, 2001, at 11:11 AM.
This story takes place directly following "A Father Should Be...", the final episode. Comments and questions, both good and bad, are welcome. Enjoy the story.
Saturday, October 22, 1988, 5:45 PM
They all watched until she and her father got into the car and drove off. That was it. Ba Nee was gone. Jem walked over and closed the double doors. She wiped tears from her eyes and turned to face the others. "Let's get this place cleaned up." Jem said. Most of the people in the room started picking up party plates, utensils, napkins, cups, and other items. "You don't really expect us to work, do you?" Rapture asked Jem. "It's up to you." Jem told her. "You can leave if you want." "Let's stay and help Jem." Riot said with a smile. "Uh,...sure." Rapture agreed. "Yeah, whatever you say, Riot." Minx agreed. The Stingers started picking up trash. Rio watched them in amazement. "You've got the touch, Jem." Jem giggled. "And he's got the power." "Lame." Rio said. "C'mon, Misfits." Pizzazz said, walking to the front door. Roxy and Jetta followed her. Stormer lingered behind. Pizzazz paused at the door. "Stormer." "I wanna stay and help clean up." Stormer told her bandmates. "Suit yourself!" Pizzazz opened the double doors and went outside. "If you wanna be a goody-goody, go ahead." Roxy left the mansion. "Bloody waste of energy is what it is." Jetta left as well. Stormer closed the doors, then she walked over to Kimber. "Thanks for helping, Stormer." Kimber said with a smile. Stormer smiled back at her. "Glad to help." "Are you all right?" Aja asked Jem. Jem nodded. "I'll be okay." "We know how much you miss Ba Nee." Raya said. "Yeah, but you'll see her again." Shana said with a smile. Jem smiled. "Yeah. Thanks for reminding me." She felt a lot better now. "C'mon, let's finish cleaning up." Monday, October 24, 1988, 10:00 AM
The doors to Diskovery Records opened. Stormer walked inside. She went to the New Releases section, picked up the new album by the Limp Lizards, checked out the cover, then read the track listing on the back. "Hi, Stormer." a voice said. Stormer turned around. Kimber was standing behind her. "Oh. Hi, Kimber." Stormer greeted. "Got here early to check out the new albums, too, huh?" "Well, that's the end result," Kimber told her, "but I'm really here to promote our new album - 'Jem and the Holograms - The Complete Collection'." "Wow, a compilation album?" Stormer asked. Kimber picked up the new album off the shelf and handed it to Stormer. "Here, check it out." Stormer looked at the cover - which showed all five girls - and then turned it over and read the track listing. "It's got all of our songs so far - including the rare 'Glitter and Gold Theme', which was only available on the tapes that came with the Glitter and Gold Jem and Rio dolls that came out after we won the Glitter and Gold Contest, and the songs that appeared on our doll commercials." Kimber explained. "And since it's a CD, all of the songs have been digitally remastered!" "Neat." Stormer said. "You gonna buy it?" Kimber asked excitedly. "Uh, no pressure, of course." Stormer started to hand the album back to her. "I'd like to, Kimber, but I don't have enough money for it." Kimber pushed Stormer's hand back. "Tell you what. I'll buy it for you." "You'd do that for me?" Stormer asked. "What are friends for?" Kimber replied. "You still consider me your friend?" "Sure." Kimber said. "Don't you consider me your friend?" "I...I guess." Stormer said. Then she smiled. "Sure, I do, Kimber." "Outrageous!" Kimber exclaimed and put her right arm around Stormer. "Ooh, the new Limp Lizards album is out?!" "Yep." Stormer said. "After you listen to it, tell me how it is." Kimber said. "I'll buy you a copy." Stormer said with a smile. "I've got enough money for two. For some reason, the Limp Lizards' albums sell really cheap."
Two hours later, Stormer was sitting in her bedroom in her apartment, listening to her new Jem album on her stereo.
"Glitter and Gold Theme" Jem and the Holograms
"Jem goes gold, Glitter and Go-o-old!
Truly outrageous and beautifully bold, This is the year for Glitter and Gold! No one's got moves like Glitter and Gold Jem!
Jem goes gold, Glitter and Go-o-old Jem!
The way she crosses her legs, The way she moves her arms, Jem is a girl with incredible charms!
Truly outrageous and beautifully bold, This is the year for Glitter and Gold!
Jem goes gold, Glitter and Go-o-old Jem!
Jem!"
"Glitter and Gold Theme" Jem and the Holograms
There was a knock at the door. Stormer shut off the radio, stood up, walked into the living room, and looked through the peephole. She unlocked the door and opened it. Pizzazz, Roxy, Jetta, and Eric walked into the room. Eric closed the door behind him. "What's up?" Stormer asked. "We have a problem." Eric told them. "I need to speak with all of you." Stormer closed the door and sat down on the couch. "Okay, what's going on?" "'The Stingers Hit Town' is selling like hotcakes." Eric said. "But since Riot left the management of all the other bands signed with Stingers Sound to me, it's my job to get more Misfits merchandise selling." "Well, what about our fashion dolls?" Stormer asked. "They're not pulling in enough money." Eric replied. "Apparently, most parents would rather that their kids play with Jem dolls. They say the Misfits dolls are too scary." "How about a cartoon series?" Stormer suggested. "Shut up." Roxy said. "Yeah, the networks would never go for it." Eric agreed. "What are you listening to?" Pizzazz snatched the album case out of Stormer's hands. "A Jem record?! Ugh!" "It's a gift from Kimber." Stormer said. "And it's a CD." "What?" Jetta asked in surprise. "You've been hanging out with the enemy?" "Again." Pizzazz added while reading the track listing. "Holy crap, all of their songs are on here!" "Including the rare 'Glitter and Gold Theme'." Stormer added. She stood up. "Hey! That's it! We can release a compilation album - just like they did!" Pizzazz's lips formed a smile. "Yeah!" "First the dolls, now a compilation album?" Roxy asked. "Oh, no, we're not copying another one of their ideas." "Hold on, Roxy." Eric took the album from Pizzazz and looked at it. "Stormer might have something here." "But it's gotta be expensive." Pizzazz brought up. "It's a double-disc set." "It is expensive." Stormer confirmed. "But remember, they've got a lot of songs. They need two discs. We don't have nearly as many songs as they do. We can easily fit all of them on one disc!" "This'll make a lot of money." Eric realized. "And with no work from us!" Pizzazz realized. "Okay, I'll tell the recording engineer to get to work on it." Eric handed the album case back to Stormer and left the apartment. Stormer grinned and jumped in the air. "All right! This is gonna be outrageous!" Pizzazz, Roxy, and Jetta scowled at her. "Oops, sorry, didn't mean to say that. Just slipped out." Stormer apologized quickly, blushing.
At noon, Kimber and Stormer walked into an ice cream parlor together. They went over to the counter. "I'll have chocolate ice cream, three scoops, please." Stormer said. "I'll have the same." Kimber said. When they both got their bowls of ice cream, they paid, took plastic spoons and napkins, walked over to a table by a window, sat down, and started eating. "Hey, guess what." Stormer said. "What?" Kimber asked. "The Misfits are making a compilation album, too." Stormer said. "Neat." Kimber said. "Thanks for the idea." Stormer said. "Hey, you want a copy?" "Do you sing?" Kimber asked. "Just background vocals." Stormer replied, suddenly sounding disappointed. "Pizzazz does most of the singing. She never lets me sing." "Thanks, but I'll pass." Kimber said. "Yeah." Stormer said. "Hey, cheer up." Kimber grinned. "Wow, I just had the most outrageous idea! Would you like to come with me to The Scene tonight and perform together?" Stormer smiled. "Sure!" "When I get home, I'll call Samantha Newark, the owner, and have her schedule us." Kimber said. "Wear something outrageous." Stormer nodded. "You got it."
When Kimber got home, she picked up the phone in the living room and dialed. "Hello?" the voice on the other end asked. "Hi, Sam." Kimber greeted. "This is Kimber Benton of the Holograms." "Hi, Kimber!" Sam said. "What's up?!" "Well, I was wondering, can Stormer and I perform tonight?" "Well, I've already booked the Limp Lizards, but you two can share the stage with them." Sam said. "7:00 okay?" "Sure." Kimber said. "Okay, see ya then." Sam said. "Bye." "Bye." Kimber hung up the phone. "Who was that, sis?" Kimber turned around to see Jerrica standing there. "Oh, Jerrica." Kimber said. "That was Samantha Newark from The Scene. Stormer and I are performing there tonight." "Oh, a Kimber & Stormer reunion concert, hmm?" "Yeah." Kimber said, excited. "Wanna come?" "Sorry, I can't make it." Jerrica apologized. "I got a call from Ashley's math teacher this morning. Her grades aren't that good. She wants me to see her after school, and then I have to do the grocery shopping. I don't know how long I'll be." "Oh." Kimber said, slightly disappointed. Jerrica placed her hands on her sister's shoulders. "I'm sorry, Kimber." "That's okay." Kimber said. "Well, I guess I better go pick an outfit to wear." She headed upstairs to her bedroom.
Pizzazz, Stormer, Roxy, Jetta, and Eric stood outside Stingers Sound. Eric had called a press conference. Reporters were gathering, taking pictures and filming the band. "All right, one at a time." Eric said. He pointed at a reporter. "You." "What should we expect to see on the new Misfits album?" the reporter asked. "It will be a compilation CD of all their songs, digitally remastered and extended." Eric replied. "Anything new?" a second reporter asked. "Hmm, there should be. That's a good idea." Eric said. He turned to face the Misfits. "Girls, come up with three new songs for the album." "All right." Stormer said. "Whose idea was the CD?" a third reporter asked. "Why, mine, of course." Pizzazz said. "What?" Stormer asked in surprise. Roxy clapped a hand over Stormer's mouth. "Shut up." "Yeah, you wanna start an argument in front of the press?" Jetta whispered. Stormer was silent for the rest of the interview and tried her best to keep from crying.
"Pizzazz, what's the big idea?!" Stormer yelled once they were back in the building. "What?" Pizzazz asked innocently. "You know very well what!" Stormer yelled. "You hogged all the credit for the album!" "As the leader of the Misfits, I have to come up with good ideas." Pizzazz explained. "Now get to work writing those songs." Pizzazz, Roxy, and Jetta walked off. "Eric, - " Stormer began. "You heard her." Eric walked off, leaving Stormer alone.
At 6:15 PM, Stormer walked into the recording studio, where the other Misfits were already gathered. "I've written the songs, Pizzazz." Stormer said, waving the music sheets in her hand. Pizzazz took the sheets from her. "Let's see what you've got here." She handed one sheet to Roxy and one sheet to Jetta. The three of them read over the songs. "Ugh!" Pizzazz said in disgust. "They're so sweet! I hate 'em!" "Yeah, they suck!" Roxy agreed. "Eric could write better songs!" Jetta added. "These songs are shit, Stormer." Pizzazz tore up the music sheet. "I want new songs by tomorrow morning." She threw the pieces of paper on the floor. Roxy and Jetta tore up their music sheets and threw them to the floor as well. "Yes, Pizzazz." Stormer said, choking back a tear. She crouched down, picked up the strips of paper, stood back up, turned, and left the studio.
Stormer drove up to the gate in front of Starlight Mansion. She pressed a button on the intercom. "This is Stormer. I'm here to pick Kimber up." she said, then she released the button. The gate opened. Stormer drove up the driveway and parked in front of the mansion. She got out of her Porsche and walked up the steps. The double doors opened. "Hi, Stormer." Raya greeted. "Hi, Raya." Stormer replied. "Is Kimber ready?" "Yep!" Kimber called. She walked down the stairs. "Back to the, um,...atypical make-up, I see." Raya said with a smile. Kimber grinned. "Yep." "Have fun." Raya said. Kimber walked out the double doors, and Raya closed them. "Hop in." Stormer said, opening the passenger side door for Kimber. "Outrageous!" Kimber exclaimed. "I've never ridden in a Porsche before!" Kimber got in the car. Stormer closed the door, walked over to the driver side, and got in. They fastened their seatbelts and locked their doors. Stormer started the car and drove off. Kimber looked at Stormer. Her face was more visible now, thanks to the brightness of the street lamps. "Is something wrong, Stormer?" Kimber asked. "Your face is all red. You look like you've been crying." "Oh, uh,...I'll tell you when we're in the club." Stormer said. "I don't want to get into an accident." Must be serious, Kimber thought.
Stormer parked her car by the curb, and she and Kimber got out. They walked into The Scene. Immediately, they heard the Limp Lizards performing "Broken Glass" on stage, and they felt the cool air touching their bodies. "Aaahhh, air conditioning." Kimber said in delight. "It was really hot out there." "Yeah." Stormer said. "We've got a few minutes before we start to play." Kimber said. "Let's get something to eat, and we'll talk." "Okay." Stormer agreed. They sat down at the counter. "I'll have a peach thick shake." Kimber ordered. "I'll have a vanilla cola - make it a double - and a hot fudge sundae - three scoops - with a banana." Stormer ordered. They got their meals and paid for them. They started eating. "What's wrong, Stormer?" Kimber asked. "It's the Misfits." Stormer began. "Shoulda guessed." Kimber said. "Pizzazz claimed she came up with the idea for the compilation album." Stormer said. "Then, when I wrote some new songs for the album, she said they were shit, and they tore up my music sheets in front of me!" She started to cry. Kimber placed her left hand on Stormer's right hand. "I'm sorry." "Thanks." Stormer sniffed and wiped away her tears. "But it's not just that. It's the insults, the put-downs, the pressure into doing things I don't want to do." "What will you do?" Kimber asked. Stormer shook her head. "I don't know. I'll try to stand up to them, I guess." "Yeah, defend your work." Kimber told her. The Limp Lizards finished performing their song. Samantha Newark walked up on stage. "Let's hear it for the Limp Lizards!" A few people clapped their hands. "Now, as a special treat, Kimber and Stormer have reunited and will perform a concert here right now!" Sam announced. The spotlight was cast on them, and people started applauding. "Are you okay?" Kimber asked. "Yeah," Stormer replied, "I'm okay." The two of them stood up and walked up to the stage, the spotlight following them. Sam walked off the stage. Kimber stood in front of a keyboard, and Stormer picked up a hand-held keyboard.
"I'm Okay" Kimber and Stormer
"Sometimes I feel so alone, on the mend. Sometimes don't know where to turn Or who to call my friend.
But I'm okay. (I'm okay.) I have faith in myself. I'm okay. (I'm okay.) I'm gonna make it through the day. I'm okay.
Sometimes I go through so much in my mind. Sometimes the space that I need Is no place I can find.
But I'm okay! (I'm okay!) I have faith in myself! I'm okay! (I'm okay!) I'm gonna make it through the day! I'm okay!
I'm okay! (I'm okay!) I have faith in myself! I'm okay! (I'm okay!) I'm gonna make it through the day! I'm okay! (I'm okay!) I'm okay! (I'm okay!) I'm okay!"
"I'm Okay" Kimber and Stormer
The audience cheered, whistled, and applauded. Stormer took off the keyboard, and she and Kimber took bows. They walked off the stage. Samantha walked over and hugged them. "That was great! Perfect! You two are a dynamite team!" "Thanks, Sam." Kimber said. "Yeah, thanks." Stormer added. "Will you two perform together tomorrow night, too?" Sam asked. "Sure!" they answered together. "Great!" Sam said. "Thank you!" Kimber smiled at Stormer. "Feeling better, Stormer?" Stormer smiled back at her. "A lot - thanks to you, Kimber."
