PROLOGUE

December 1996

Jerrica Benton sat in front of the dressing room mirror applying the last of the pink shimmer on to her eyes. She could hear the roaring of the crowd cheering for her from downstairs in the stadium of Hollywood's Starlight Bowl Stadium and she wanted to remember this feeling forever. It was the final concert for The Holograms and tickets were upgraded and rare for their last show together as a band. It had been a difficult decision for the group to disband after nearly a decade together making hit music but now almost reaching the age of thirty, it was time for the girls to go their separate ways.

In honor of the occasion, Jerrica wore her signature Diane von Furstenberg short pink wrap dress and metallic tassel belt as he heard a knock on the door. Turning toward the entrance, she answered the caller.

"Come in," she directed.

Her lover Rio Pacheco entered smiling at how his beautiful his blonde girlfriend looked when he first laid eyes on her. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he caressed her neck inhaling the perfume he loved so much.

"You look beautiful," he commented. "Fifteen minutes to show time. The other girls want a last minute prayer."

"Thanks Rio," Jerrica replied. The Latin man could sense the sadness in her eyes.

"It's really over, isn't it?" Rio asked. Pain shot through his heart.

The former music business woman sighed. "Yes, Rio. It is. We both agreed that we once the baby is born we will make this work in sharing custody of the child. My moving to New York and you living in L.A. will not affect us in caring for the infant."

"I wish there was another way," he whispered. "It didn't have to come to this."

Tears began to flow from her eyes. "I know but we can't pretend that me being Jem is going to fix almost ten years of deception and mistrust. You deserve a woman who would never lie to you and I need a man who isn't easily seduced by an alluring female who is surrounded by money and fame. It's baggage we both have to work on."

"Again I'm sorry, Jerrica," Rio apologized sadly. "It's my fault for giving in to Jem."

"No Rio," corrected the blonde woman. "It's both our faults. Our relationship was constructed out of lies and deceit and that is no way of bringing a child into the middle of it. Breaking up is the best thing for us in this situation. I hope you realize that."

His eyes darted toward the ceiling of her dressing room. "Yeah, I do. I wish things were easier."

"They never are, Rio," she frowned. Changing the subject, she addressed another topic. "I know Synergy's computer systems have now becoming obsolete. Will this affect her holographic projections during the concert so that I maintain my appearance as Jem?"

"According to her diagnostics systems, you still have eight hours to keep up the holographic imagery," he explained. "Her systems need a major upgrade so Aja and I are going to dismantle her and see if we improve the current modules."

"Is that your new pet project now with Aja and her husband Craig?" Jerrica wondered. "Building new computers and selling them to the world?"

Rio nodded. "It's much more than that. We're talking a corporation where we will have one major software system which will connect the world into one communication feed. We're calling it the internet. If this does well, then we want to expand to gadgets and establish a big global market for the computer and technology industry. We're thinking of naming it MicroApple! What do you think?"

"Rio! That's wonderful!" She exclaimed. "I'm sure it'll work out. You three are resourceful, smart thinkers! I hope to see the business expand in the future!"

"You should thank your late father Emmett for starting the idea," Rio noted. "Without building Synergy, we wouldn't have a blueprint of where to start inventing and expanding the idea of computers. It's the wave of the future!"

"I'm sure it is," she smiled. She stared into the dark brown eyes of the Mexican American gentleman and embraced him before plastering one affectionate kiss to his lips. "Thanks Rio. For everything."

"Break a leg, Jerrica…I mean Jem," he grinned slowly exited out.

Jerrica wiped a tear from her eyes before one more time in the mirror. Pinching her dark maroon star earrings that she always wore, the blonde woman made her final proclamation.

"Showtime Synergy."

Once more a flash of light and sparkle illuminated the room leaving in its place a pink haired woman wearing Jerrica Benton's clothes.

Jem opened the door of her dressing room and headed toward the stage.


Passing through the back corridors, crew and stagehands waved to her acknowledging their presence. Heading near the ramp where the audience appeared to be the loudest, she noticed a brunette woman with a lily in her hair rocking her nine month year old infant to sleep.

"Mary!" Jem hugged the former Misfit. "I'm so glad you came! You even brought Jagger!"

Mary Philips kissed the pink haired singer and she rocked her son back and forth. "I wouldn't miss your girls' concert for the world!"

"How you holding up?" Jem asked her with concern.

"Some days are better than others but I'm managing," Mary answered. "You, Kimber, Aja, and Craig have been great support team for me and little Jagger. Plus, my parents have been doting grandparents so they've been a great help to me."

"You know if you and Jagger ever need anything…"

The woman once dubbed as Stormer placed a comforting hand on the pink singer's shoulder. "Thank you Jer…I mean Jem. We're going to be fine. You and the other Holograms need to concentrate on putting on a good show." She kissed Jem on the cheek. "Break a leg!"

"Thanks, Stormer," she hugged the mother again. Pink high heels clacked across the concrete pathway as Jem saw her band mates waiting for her by the stage entrance. She picked up the pace, opened her arms, and prepared to hold them all in one group hug.

"We were wondering when you were going to show up, sis!" Kimber teased.

"Sorry, I was chatting with Stormer," Jem apologized. "Let's get ready to put on an amazing concert! Raya, please lead a prayer."

The Mexican American drummer made everyone hold hands in a circle. "Oh Heavenly Father, please look after us and grants us the strength to put on our very best performance during our final show. Also, please look after us once we head out on our own separate ways. Amen."

"Amen!" The Holograms announced in unison.

"Let's rock and roll!" Aja exclaimed.

"This one concert that is going to be truly outrageous!" Shana noted.

The women marched together on to the stage causing the crowd to go wild. For the final time, Jem and the Holograms performed their medley of hit songs as they made a memorable impact in music history.


Sixteen years later…

Behind the anchor desk, the attractive blonde woman stared at the camera man as the production director cued the journalist to begin. Addressing her audience, the reporter began her news story.

"Welcome to Hindsight 20/20. I'm your reporter Vivian Montgomery. Our featured story tonight. They were the most popular music group of the 80's producing the biggest hits of the decade as well selling out concerts internationally. Rolling Stone Magazine called Jem and the Holograms the greatest musical act of this century next to the Beatles and Elvis Presley. It seemed this all female group were unstoppable until the changing face of music transformed the pop rock sound into something more depressing and hard edged. Then tragedy struck after their final concert in 1996. After finishing their final concert in Los Angeles, the Holograms' lead singer Jem boarded a flight on Korean Air 801 to Guam for a much needed vacation. She never made it as heavy rain caused the flight to crash into a mountain killing 228 out of 254 passengers on board including the mysterious Jem. They say the music died that day but the Holograms have since moved on to live successful lives. Hindsight 20/20's main correspondent Lindsey Pierce has an exclusive interview with Oscar winning songwriting duo Kimber Harrison and Mary Phillips, formerly of the Holograms and the Misfits. We take you there live now!"

The camera shifted to reveal well respected journalist Lindsey Pierce sitting down with the former musicians on the couch. Wearing a simple pant suit, the reddish blonde Kimber smile at the camera while her music partner Mary, aka Stormer, stroking her brunette hair that still contained her signature flower.

"Kimber and Mary," greed Lindsey. "Thank you for agreeing to this interview."

"Thank you for having us, Lindsey," smiled Mary.

"Now Mary," Lindsey started with her. "You were once known as Stormer from the rebellious girl group of 80's The Misfits. Do you and your former band mates still retain some of that aggressive streak from long ago?"

"Once you're a Misfit, you're always a Misfit," giggled Mary. "I get especially aggressive when I have to deal with long lines at the DMV or if the grocery store won't take my triple coupon. Other than that, being a mother does help with learning patience. My son, Jagger, is 17 now and a junior in high school. I have to hold my temper a lot especially when he gets into trouble."

"Speaking of your son," Lindsey continued. "Does he share his parents' gift for music? I mean his mother was a Misfit and his father was Riot, the lead singer of The Stingers."

"He certainly does," Mary smiled. "In fact, he is involved in a band. Like parents like son, I guess."

The news reporter then politely inhaled a breath. "Now I do have to ask about your relationship concerning Riot or Rory Llewelyn. Do you feel comfortable discussing your late husband?"

"No not all," Mary grinned. "I knew this would something that the public would want to know. There were two sides to Riot that nobody ever knew about. The Riot that was charismatic and was beloved by his fans and the Rory that I knew that was kindhearted and wanted to be a family man. The man I married was the one who was a good father and loved his family. That was Rory. The Riot you saw had personal demons letting the fame and money consumed his soul. It finally destroyed him in the end.

"Your husband Riot was found dead in a hotel on Sunset, along with his fellow musician Minx, apparently from a heroin overdose?"

Mary cast her eyes down. "Yes. Look Riot wasn't perfect. I'm not going to pretend that he was but he tried to be a good person. Even with the infidelities, the alcoholism, and drug abuse, he still had a good soul. I want my son to remember his father as a man who was flawed but loved his children very much."

Lindsey Pierce stirred in her chair. "When you say children, you're talking about him having a child with his other band mate Rapture?"

"Of course," the former Misfit nodded. "Rapture and I made amends years ago concerning Riot. We're now good friends and agreed to be the very best mothers to his sons especially since they're so close in age by one year apart. It's bizarre but we make it work."

"And there's no animosity?"

"I think what Mary is trying to say," Kimber stepped in. "Is that they…we've all put our pasts behind us and moved on. Even when the Holograms broke up, we still managed to make something out of lives."

The reporter then directed her focus toward the reddish blonde woman. "How are the Holograms doing these days?"

"Really well," Kimber answered. "As you know, me and Stormer here rejoined forces and became a successful songwriting team. We've written hits for artists like Lena Lerner, Johnny Deacon, and Luna Dark. Our former drummer Raya manages our company and she is married to Hollywood stunt man Jeff Wright. I married Oscar winning actor and director, Sean Harrison and me and Stormer here wrote the songs for his latest movie The Hindenburg. Shana and one of former Starlight girls Ashley have teamed up to be one of the popular fashion designers out there. Shana Ashley clothes are now well known next to names like Armani and Gucci. And we all know how Aja is doing!"

"We all know how Aja is doing!" Lindsey laughed. "She's a multi-billionaire along with her husband Craig, your brother in fact, isn't that right Mary?"

"Yes," said the former Misfit. "Craig Phillips married Aja Leith and together with Rio Pacheco reinvented the computer industry by creating the internet, Windows software, and must have gadgets of the modern century. MicroApple has expanded into cell phones, I-Pads, GPS devices, and now has a share of search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. They are rolling in dough!"

Lindsey then turned her attention to something somber. She returned to Kimber. "I do have to ask though. Jem. It's been sixteen years and still no knows her real name or identity. Even after her death, questions remain to who she is. Do you think you can reveal anything about her real identity?"

"That's the thing," Kimber lied. "No one knows her real identity. The Holograms discovered her singing on the streets of L.A. when she was homeless and recruited her into the group. Since then, she's refused to give us any details into her past life. Truth be told, we don't know who she is and it's a tragedy that she died without anyone knowing anything about her."

"The Korean plane crash of 1996," the journalist probed. "Airport security captured video footage of her boarding that tragic flight but none of the passengers or any of the employees remember seeing her at the airport. Even the bodies recovered from the wreckage showed no sign that Jem boarded that flight. It's one of the biggest mysteries that baffle the public today."

"I agree," Kimber stated signaling to Mary. "It's one of those unexplained mysteries that will never be solved."

"We'll leave it up to skeptics and paranormal investigators to decide," Mary added. "And of course the Jem fan forum to discuss it."

"True," remarked Lindsey. "Now I understand that when both the Holograms and the Misfits disbanded, you all managed to stay in touch."

"Sort of," replied Mary. "Kimber's sister, Jerrica Benton, who managed and owned part of Starlight Music, sold the company to music mogul Ron Cox's Virtue Corporation and now heads up Virtue's corporate music division in New York City. In addition, Jerrica ensured that the foster girls of Starlight House were given good homes with loving adopted families before she headed to New York with her daughter Pilar."

"And the other Misfits?" The journalist wondered.

"Pizazz married our manager Eric Raymond and became a born again Christian and now heads up the conservative religious group Paradise Ministries. Roxy got her life back together, got her high school diploma and attended college. She's now a well-respected psychologist and family therapist in New York under real last name Dr. Pellegrini. Sadly, some of the other Misfits and their associates like Jetta, Techrat, Zipper, and Clash have all had bouts with the law."

Lindsey twisted her lip at the former Misfit. "You mean prison terms. Jetta is serving time for fraud and embezzlement. Techrat for child pornography and child molestation charges. Zipper and Clash were killed in a drug deal gone bad. It seems where the Misfits are, trouble follows."

"That is why it's good that the Misfits ended when it did," Mary answered. "If not, my life would have taken a tragic turn."

"Things happen for a reason," Kimber jumped in. "Our lives are exactly now where it should be."

"I'm glad to hear that," smiled Lindsey Pierce. "We hope to see that same optimism for you both in the futures ahead.

Kimber and Mary turned to each other. The future was definitely looking bright for everyone.