A\N: Back in 1999 this was my first fan fiction attempt on the internet. Gidget, my first e-mail friend, mentor and ex-beta reader gave me so many valuable ideas and general tips. I can never thank her enough for all of it.

Disclaimer: Like many fans before me I officially proclaim "I own none of the recognizable places, characters, tech etc. in this story. They all belong to Nelvana Studios. Melody, Gwen and other OCs do belong to me."

Songs

"Pain and Suffering" written by Iggy Pop with Ivan Kraal

Chapter One

Melody stopped her hover-car, not because the rain obscured her vision. The locals of Ohmtown were used to the near constant rainy weather. Yet, she still pretended what lay ahead was difficult to see.

"Mom, what's wrong?" her daughter, Gwen, asked as she fiddled with her seatbelt.

"Well, honey, the sign say we can't go that way." she replied, wishing the girl would stop asking questions. This really wasn't the day. What day was? Melody had done all she could to prepare for this venture.

"Mom!" Gwen said insistently.

Melody gripped the steering wheel took a deep breath. "You get that from him."

'I hope one or both of us doesn't end up regretting this.'

The car's engine finally revved back to life. Without further hesitation the vehicle passed the last remnants of civilization. As the rain began to let up the paved road devolved into a glorified trail.

Gwen remained quiet while being mildly distracted by the sight of the large pine trees that bordered the dirt road. Her attention was completely diverted when an ominous mansion came into view.

Inside the structure Mok, the legendary superrocker, sat in his control room listening to demos that would have eventually made up another masterpiece titled Rock and Rule. But the public didn't deserve this gift. They had dared to leave two seats empty at one of the stadiums he graced.

Mok did perform one song for the ungrateful masses, "Pain and Suffering", at his last concert at the Ohmtown Power Plant. He could remember the night as if it had just happened…

A storm raged outside, perfect for his needs. The lightning and the power it generated would be captured and used to open a dimensional doorway. Through this portal his demon, their nightmare, would be brought forth in all its hellish fiery glory.

Perched high above on his hover stage Mok could see every seat was filled. Too late…

"Pain and suffering

Red wine turns to blood

A cow floats upside down in a river of mud…" he spoke in a gravelly voice.

The demon came, that night vengeance was his. He would have an audience that understood the power of his magic. It was all short lived, another force was stronger. The so called magic of one heart, one voice, one song…

His train of thought was broken by an emotionless voice "You have visitors, Mok."

Mok raised an eyebrow. "Who are they?"

"A woman and a child."

Mok sat up straighter.

"The woman is in my memory banks. She is Melody Nicks. I have no files on the child."

"Melody… Why has she returned?" the aged rocker mused.

"What should I do, Mok?"

"Why let them in of course!" he replied, rising from his seat. "But first let's prepare a little trick."

"Yes, Mok."

The computer was only a machine thus did not lie. Still, Mok found himself staring at the monitor screen, needing to see the truth for himself.

Melody had no trouble forgetting the night she left Mok. Given how much she had indulged in the rock and roll high life that was a surprise. That last fight, far from their first, ended with her storming out into the streets of Nuke York. She discovered the pregnancy somewhere during the three day bus ride back to Ohmtown. Melody thought the vomiting was from the lack of drugs until months later.

Ever since Gwen could talk she'd ask where her father was. Sometime into the girl's tenth year Melody revealed as much as her daughter's young ears could handle. After the explanation Gwen wanted to meet this mystery man. Unsurprisingly the word "no" left the girl's vocabulary.

The mansion was the largest building Gwen had ever seen in person. It looked even more unsettling once they were out of the hover car. The girl grabbed her mother's hand as the walked to the door.

Melody glanced at her daughter and chuckled. "We could go back home."

"I…" Gwen steeled herself and wriggled her hand free. "Still want to meet him."

She cringed back as the door began to roll up to reveal a dark entrance.

"Enter." a disembodied male voice spoke.

Gwen let out a squeak as her eyes widened. Melody let out a sound of her own upon feeling arms wrap around her and a small body press to her back.

"It's alright." Gently Gwen's arms were pried from her mother's waist.

Melody walked in the darkness and her daughter quickly followed.

"Mok, where are you?"

The Magic Man instantly appeared in front of his guests. "I'm here, of course."

Mok transformed into a silhouette of light, then to a glowing formless mass. "This way. I shall greet you properly in my parlor." The light began to float away. Melody gave a weary sigh.

Strange paintings, hideous statues and other bizarre oddities decorated their path. Melody remained indifferent to her surrounds, but Gwen couldn't help but be wide eyed with astonishment.

When the girls reached the parlor they took seats on a circular couch surrounding a holo-projector. They didn't have long to wait before the machine sparked and flashed to life. A tall, thin silhouette appeared. A skeletal structure formed inside the outline. Muscle tissue and blood quickly appeared over the frame. And last skin and clothes completed the figure's appearance. Mok appeared relaxed with a beer bottle balanced on one finger. He always liked to offer his guests something.

"Would you like a beer?"

"No thank you."

"You're looking well, my dear. But more importantly how do I look?"

"You haven't changed one bit, except you aren't making records anymore." Melody crossed her arms. "My songs must have truly saved your career."

Mok tried not to show his anger. "And who is this?" he asked, gesturing to Gwen. "Have you taken up babysitting?"

Melody could barely hide her nerves. "She's who came to talk to you about. She's my daughter."

"Congratulations, but what, pray tell, does that have to do with me?"

"She's your daughter, too."

The beer bottle slipped from his finger. He barely noticed when the glass and liquid exploded at his feet.