Disclaimer: The show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.
Night of the Comet
Chapter 1 – The Arrival.
Note: This story is based on the 1984 horror/comedy movie "Night of the Comet" Starring Catherine Mary Stewart and Kelli Maroney. It was written by Thom Eberhart. I must give credit where credit is due. It's a great movie and one I highly recommend. I thought I'd have some fun and placed our Victorious characters in it. I could do easily with only minor changes. Tori's dad was an army guy and not a police officer and after the death of Holly Vega, he had since remarried.
Enjoy.
No One's POV
Comets, those balls of ice, dust and rock that regularly visit our solar system, are now well understood and hardly newsworthy.
However some months ago, scientists spotted a comet entering our solar system on a parabolic arc so wide, that they estimated that the last time it was here was 65 million years ago. Even more noteworthy was the fact that the earth would pass directly through the comet's tail, which scientists said would cause a lightshow, that would make even the most elaborate 4th of July fireworks display look like a mere bottle rocket in comparison.
All over the world, people eagerly awaited the comet with baited breath and just about everyone was throwing their own comet party. On the Friday night, the comet was to arrive; the entire world had taken on a festive air. For the students of Hollywood Arts high school the display would create a welcome diversion for the preparations for final exams.
Everyone was having a good time, celebrating, drinking and waiting for the comet; well almost everyone.
Tori Vega was pissed, not for just one thing, but several things. First of all she was scheduled to work her job as a movie theatre usherette, which meant wearing her uncomfortable red usherette uniform.
Tori worked at the Bijou theatre in downtown L.A. It was one of the few classic movie houses left from the golden age of film in the 1930's and specialized in old and cult films. Tonight it was having a special midnight showing of the classic 1957, sci-fi movie, "Invasion of the saucer men"
But beyond the fact that she'd wound up working and would miss Andre's Comet party was the fact that Jade kept flaunting Beck in her face. But in small way as it was a blessing, as both they'd both would be there. Something Tori simply didn't want to deal with.
For nearly a year, Tori had gone out with Jade but some 4 months ago, having gotten sick of Jade's jealousy and utter paranoia about her cheating on her. Tori was faithful and eventually began to resent it. Tori started to push back, which resulted in massive fight and the end of their relationship.
As if a reset button had been pushed, the Goth promptly went back to making Tori's life a living hell and once again started dating Beck. But recently, Jade seemed to have gone out of her way to show her that Beck and her were happy.
So on this particular night, Tori was less than happy and as she stood in the lobby playing the 80's arcade game Tempest, she found yet another reason to be unhappy.
Tori loved that game and was the undisputed master of tempest. Having finished the game and beat her high score, she put her initials TDV on the high score list. Tori prided herself at having all spots in the top ten scores list at all times. However as she put her name in she spotted on the number six spot, a different set of initials.
DMK.
Seeing that someone named DMK had ruined her record of having all the top 10 list, caused the Latina to growl in displeasure.
"Hey Vega, less video games and more working." Shouted Marty, the balding middle aged manager of the theatre from his spot at the concessions counter.
"Hey Marty who's been playing my machine. Do you know anyone named DMK. This jerk put his name in my perfect top 10 scores list."
"Well first of all, it's the theatres Tempest Machine and second anyone can play it and third get to work."
Tori huffed and walked to the counter. "What do you want me to do?"
"Clean the theatre. So I can get out and watch the comet."
"The theatre already is clean, Marty."
Marty pulled out a flashlight and put it on the counter. "Well then take this and walk the theatre. Make sure those goons are ripping up the seats."
Tori frowned. "They throw things at me. Do you know how much a milk dud hurts, when someone throws one at your head?"
"I don't care and stay out of the projection booth, You have been spending too much time up there. I know Ryder Daniels is your friend, but he's the projectionist and he needs to do his work."
"He's not my friend."
Marty shook his head, "Friend, fuck buddy, whatever, just get to work."
"I am not his fuck buddy!" Tori promptly protested.
"Get to work."
The Latina muttered something in Spanish, grabbed the flashlight and grumpily walked off. After making a cursory check of the theatre, she went right up to the booth.
Tori never liked Ryder very much, and at first she hated having to work with him. But since her breakup with Jade, she realized she still had certain needs. One night she gave into his flirting and realized, that despite being an total asshole, he was pretty decent in the sack, not that she actually told him that, because his ego was already too big. Regardless, pair maintained a no commitment, somewhat hostile, fuck buddy relationship. Granted she still preferred girls, one raven haired one in particular, but Tori tolerated him, none the less. She also did it, as he taught her how to ride his motorcycle.
Entering the booth, she found Ryder talking on the phone.
"Ok, I have a print of 1958's Dracula with Christopher Lee, which I will rent you for $200 dollars, one night only and that means you have it here at 8:00 am."
Ryder listened for a moment and responded.
"Did I say 100, no I said 200. I'm not supposed to just rent out the theatres films period, so you keep your mouth shut, pay me 200 dollars and you get the print. Some horror chicks would go down on a guy with a bootleg print of it. Ok, good, be here in a half an hour and I'll have it for you."
After he hung up the phone, Tori sat down and shook her head. "One day Marty will find out you're doing this and fire your ass."
Ryder scoffed. "Who's going to tell him, you?"
Tori shrugged. "Only if you give me a reason too. Hey do you know anyone named DMK?"
"No. Did you tell your step monster that you're doing that field trip thing, tonight to watch the comet."
"No not yet."
"Think she'll buy it."
"I doubt it, but it's better than saying, I'm going to stay at the theatre and let you screw me."
Ryder smirked and walked to the Latina. "Let you, you begged me. Besides, I light you up better than Jade ever did."
Tori was in no mood to her ex's name mentioned and promptly slapped Ryder in the face. "I told you never to mention her name! Lest I remind you, that pissing me off, won't get you access, to certain parts of my body. I'm chizzed off enough already."
Ryder put his hands up and backed off. "Sorry. Look, I gotta pee. Just keep an eye on the film. I have 8 minutes to my reel switch, just don't touch nothing."
Tori rolled her eyes, watched Ryder leave and dialed her home phone.
It was Trina that answered. "Hello."
"Trina?"
"In person." Replied Trina, not very enthused about it.
"I thought you had a date, with that Mike guy.
"The Jerk canceled on me. Then Joyce made me stay here and help with her comet party. She and all the neighbors having one, in the street in front of the house."
"That sucks."
"Yeah, especially since I have to watch her endlessly flirt with Brian from down the street. I just wish dad was back from fighting alongside the Kurds in Syria."
"Trina, I'm wish he was back too, but since he left the army, he went the whole soldier of fortune route. It sucks I know."
"Yeah, mom dies, he gets out of army, he marries that wench Joyce, then runs off to play soldier somewhere else, leaving us with the bitch, yeah, he took out 3 Isis tanks last month, but what has he done for me."
"I know how you feel. Talking of the devil, did you tell her about the field trip I'm on tonight?"
Trina chuckled. "You mean the one, where you play hide the sausage with Ryder."
"Don't be so crude."
"What on earth do you see in him anyway."
"Nothing Trina, it's called I'm using him for sex."
Trina laughed. "My sister the goody, goody Tori Vega, as stooped to using an asshole for sex. I'm so proud of you. Oh, I haven't told her about the trip."
Looking up from her spot on the couch, Trina spotted an unhappy looking Joyce Vega, enter the room. "She just walked into the room, however."
Trina looked to the Joyce and handed her the phone.. "Joyce, its Tori."
The bleach blonde sneered and answered. "What do you want Tori?"
"Um…I have this field trip with science class, right after work. We're going to the observatory and see the comet."
"I don't care, I need help with the party and all your sister does is watch the Kardashians on TV. I want you home right after work."
Not wanting to deal with her stepmother either, Tori quickly snapped back. "I have a field, trip and I'll be back when I'm back. Good bye."
Joyce looked down at Trina and handed the phone back. "Your sister's grounded when she comes home."
Trina got off the couch. "Says who?"
"Says me. Now get to work and check to see if we have enough drinks. I might need you to make a liquor run."
Trina narrowed her eyes. "Keep the party running so Brian can keep shoving his tongue down your throat. I wonder where else that tongue's been."
Joyce immediately fumed and punched Trina in the face, causing her to fall to the floor.
"Listen to me you little shit, stay out of my business, or else. Your dad has gone off to fight Isis, so that leaves me in charge."
Trina glared back, momentarily ignoring her busted lip. "Just wait till daddy comes home."
"He won't believe you, now get to work and check those drinks." Joyce said, as she walked back outside.
Back at the theatre, Tori while waiting for Ryder, turned on the small TV up in the booth, to a local newscast. On the screen was tall handsome news reporter in front of a large crowd up at Griffith Park.
"Hello, this Is KTLA news reporter Dan O'Connor and I'm in front of a rather festive crowd here at Griffith Park this evening. There's a lot of excitement here, with people playing music, cooking out and having a great time as they wait for the comet. Now we won't see the effects of the comet for another hour and 40 minutes, but already it has been seen on the pacific Island of Guam. We had hoped to cut to the local news channel there, to get some description of what's expected to be a spectacular light show, but I've since been told that all telecommunications with Guam appear to be out and that's probably a result of magnetic interference. We hope to reestablish contact soon and get you some pictures. But in the meantime, let's interview some of the crowd…."
Tori turned if off as soon as Ryder had returned. "I've got the old bomb shelter downstairs, all ready for tonight. I have some cd's, some wine, some food, and a nice mattress."
"How about we go outside and watch the comet instead."
"I can take the TV down there. We can watch it, if you really want. The midnight movie ends in 20 minutes; we go down there, have some wine, relax and have a party of 2. A naked party that is."
Tori relented. "Fine. Never mind about the TV. Just make sure that wine isn't the cheap stuff you bought last time."
At that very moment, some 110 miles away in the desert, several men and women in grey uniforms, stood in front of mundane looking brick building. The building itself, was that of four rather mundane looking one story buildings, sitting in a fenced in compound. A sign on the front gate stated the area said simply.
"NO TRESSPASING"
This group of people assembled, were scientists and doctors that belonged to a think tank. Unlike all the others in the world, they had quite different plans. They too had learned that the comet had visited earth some 65 million years ago and realized that something else happened at that time as well.
The dinosaurs, which had ruled the earth for millions of years, died rather mysteriously, almost over night.
One of the scientists, a woman with long brown hair approached the head of the project, a dark haired man with a thin face.
"Dr. Stone, will this facility be enough….."
Dr. Stone smiled confidently and then addressed the group. "Dr. Hill has some concerns, but we will be 250 feet down, in a blast shielded bunker. We will have our own water, our own power, with ample supplies of food. It will have all the comforts of home, with full scientific, medical and research facilities. Everything we need."
Looking to his assistant, next to him, Dr. Stone asked. "Dr. Hall, How much time until the event?"
Looking at his watch, Dr. Hall responded. "T-minus one hour and 38 minutes local time."
Dr. Stone motioned to the building behind him. "Ok, then, let's get going."
The group entered the empty building and walked through it, until they came to a heavy, metal door. Dr. Stone then placed a keycard into a slot. There then was audible click and the metal door swung open, to reveal a small room with an elevator inside.
Wordlessly the men and women filed into the room and into the elevator inside. Dr. Stone, being the last one in in the room, pressed a button on the inside and the heavy door slammed shut and locked. He then joined his colleges in the elevator, as it started its 250 feet journey straight down into the earth.
Some one hour and 38 minutes later, outside the Vega home a block party was in progress, with everyone waiting for the night sky to light up, as the earth passed through the comet's tail.
There was drinking, food, music and everyone was having a grand time. A moment later a clap of thunder could be heard and a woman at the edge of the crowd, pointed to the western sky.
"Everyone, Look!"
As everyone looked, there were more claps of thunder and as promised, the night time sky was suddenly filled with bright flashes of blazing color that swirled like mad.
There were blues, greens, purples all the colors of the rainbow and indeed, it was to all concerned, breathtaking.
Joyce Vega, who was cuddled up close next to her lover and neighbor Brian, watched the spectacle in utter awe. Spellbound by the lights, Joyce and the others enjoyed the amazing experience.
That was until a few moments later, when Joyce started to feel strange. He skin had suddenly felt very dry and itchy. So much so, she began to scratch. More and more she scratched and soon she wasn't paying attention to the lights, she just couldn't stop scratching.
But then again, neither could anyone else.
Some hours later, Tori woke up in the 1950's era bomb shelter, beneath the theatre, to the sound of Ryder cursing.
"Damn him, that asshole was supposed to have that movie back 45 minutes ago. I've been waiting at the back door of the theatre and he hasn't shown."
Tori wiped the sleep from her eyes and streched. "Maybe he got caught in traffic."
"I don't care, I'm totally screwed if he loses or damages that print. I'll lose my job and the distribution company will sue my ass."
"Ryder, just chill. The guy is just late."
"You can chill." Ryder said as she threw his leather jacket on. "I'm taking my bike to that guys house, kick his ass and take my print back."
Tori frowned. "I miss the comet, sleep with you and don't get any breakfast."
Ryder threw Tori, a half-eaten bag of Cheetos. "Here, have some breakfast."
Tossing the bag aside, as Ryder left the shelter, Tori lay back and closed her eyes, hoping to get a bit more sleep.
Ryder, still very angry, went upstairs to the back door of the theatre and as he was about to open it, heard someone making noise on the other side. He figured it was the guy he rented the film to, finally returning it.
Angry, he threw the door open and stepped outside. "It's about time asshole…."
A second later, two distinct sounds could be heard. One was the theatre door slamming shut, behind Ryder.
The second sound was, that of Ryder starting to scream.
Safely locked away in the basement of the theatre, Tori who had fallen back asleep, didn't hear either one of them.
I love this movie and couldn't resist doing it. I hope you all enjoy it.
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