"Who wants the last slice of pizza?"

No one responded as Sam Newark grabbed the pepperoni slice from the Pizza Hut box and began munching on it.

"Oh man I'm so full!" Cynthia McGee giggled rubbing her belly. "I'm about ready to burst!" She grabbed a pillow from Pilar's bed and made a comfortable place on the carpet of the teen's bedroom.

It had been one week since Mary Phillips's dinner party and after the announcement that Dee and his friends were auditioning for Pop Factor with their own unknown band, students at CHAPA at been questioning them about their enigmatic lead singer. Sadly, the truth was that the group had yet to find a front person for them leaving their manager Pilar scrambling to organize last minute auditions. Hooking up the camcorder to her television, she played the tape of potential student singers at her birthday slumber party.

"How about that one?" Pilar pointed to the screen of a dark haired gentleman with a mohawk.

"No!" Flo Jaurez objected. "He's voice is too scratchy! No me gusto!"

The next tape showcased a female singer who preferred to wear provocative outfits.

"Hell no!" Dee commented. "We want a lead singer with style not sluttiness! Plus, she sounds like Britney Spears on acid!"

Pilar sighed as she played the next one. A debonair young man with an amazing tenor voice filled the screen.

"Um…great voice," noted Cynthia. "However, we're looking more toward pop rock not classical!"

"Good point," the gothic teen agreed. "I have one more." She fast forwarded the tape to display a young African American woman who sang a beautiful gospel song.

"Awesome voice!" Sam remarked finishing the last of his pizza slice. "Except for one thing."

"What's that?" Pilar asked.

"We're playing mainstream music," answered the Asian American teen. "Not Christian rock or gospel songs! Pop Factor doesn't want anything too religious because it alienates their viewers of different faiths!"

Pilar exhaled. "You're right!" Shutting off the camcorder, she tugged at her dark brown hair. "I give up! We've been looking through tapes for two hours and it's now eight o'clock in the evening and we haven't found a lead singer! We might as well give up and let Desiree rejoice in our failure!"

"Don't say that!" Dee scowled. "As this group's manager, you're supposed to be our rock! You'll find someone before the Pop Factor auditions, Pilar!"

The gothic teen covered her face. "What if I can't? Oh! It's hopeless! I'm a lousy manager!"

Flo hugged the young woman. "Calmarse. You'll find someone for us! We believe in you! Esta bien?"

"Esta bien," smiled Pilar tapping the Latin teen's hand. "Now if only we can agree on a name for this band."

"I still say we call ourselves The Stormtroopers!" Sam declared.

"No!" Dee frowned. "No Star Wars or Star Trek references! That includes Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Captain Kirk, Picard, or anything with the name R2-D2!"

"Then let's go with Sexy Lingerie!" Sam laughed.

Cynthia shot the Asian teen a disapproving look. "I DO NOT WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE NAME SEXY LINGERIE YOU PERV!"

"I like Estoy Positivo!" Flo suggested.

"What does that mean?" Dee inquired.

"I'm positive!" Flo answered. "Es muy bien, si? It gives everyone a positive message of self-esteem and confidence."

"I can't even spell it, much less say it," Cynthia responded. "Next suggestion?"

"Aw hell!" Dee clucked with frustration. He threw up his arms. "Why don't we call ourselves Queenie's Last Stand since we can't seem to agree on a name?"

"Leave it up to the fairy to gay everything up!" Sam groaned.

"Oh hush you two!" Pilar mediated between the pair. "The name of the band is the least of troubles. We need to find a lead singer!"

"Let's give all this band talk a rest for moment," Dee advised. "It's Pilar's birthday slumber party and we should be doing something fun."

"What do you suggest?" Cynthia asked.

"There's this fun little game my mom taught me," informed the gay teen. "It's a bit spooky. It involves summoning a spirit. I'm not sure if any of you are up to playing it."

"Hey I want to try!" Sam's face beamed with excitement.

"Yo no se!" Flo clutched the cross on her neck. "I'm not into playing with phantasmas! I've been taught that they might be evil!"

"Oh live a little, Flo!" Cynthia told her. "It's all harmless fun! I doubt anything's going to happen."

"Okay then, it's settled!" Pilar announced. "We're going to summon a spirit. Dee, how do we do this?"

Dee smiled. "Okay, everyone sit in circle." Instantly, all his friends gathered around on the floor. "Pilar, go and kill the lights. We need perfect darkness." The gothic teen got up to shut off the lights leaving her bedroom pitch black before returning to the circle. "Okay, I'm going to chant for a bit and summon someone famous. Here goes." The gay teen chanted a bit before concentrating his focus around the room. "Oh famous spirit! Please let us know of your presence by making yourself known!"

Quiet filled the darkened bedroom before a soft eerie whisper filled the chamber. Small whispers surrounded the area as everyone nervously looked around to see nothing. Then without warning, the diamond star earrings that Pilar wore began to glow.

"Pilar…" Flo gulped. "Tu…earrings…they're doing something…"

Pilar grabbed her ears as a weird light illuminated from her pierced lobes. The bizarre glow formed a ray and directed a path forward across into the corner of the room. All eyes widened as they saw the light flicker before shaping into a figure both transparent and female. The see-through image stepped forward wearing a pink wrap dress, tassel belt, long pink hair, and dark maroon earrings. Dee and his friends screamed in fear.

"A GHOST!" Sam squealed like a little girl. He jumped behind Cynthia and hugged her close.

"It's…it's…Jem!" Dee stuttered in shock. "I summoned…Jem!"

Everyone stood transfixed to their positions. The image of the transparent Jem smiled and focused her attention at Pilar.

"Pilar Jacqui Benton-Pacheco!" Jem announced. "I have come for you!"

Pilar screamed as she scrambled from her spot to turn on the lights. Even with the bedroom now fully lit, the spiritual image of the pop singer floated close to her.

"Please…please…don't hurt me!" Pilar begged.

"I mean you no harm," grinned the late pop star. "I am here to assist you. My programming has been instructed to so."

"Your…your programming?" The gothic teen asked. "But…but you're dead."

There was something strange about this ghostly form of Jem. She appeared childlike and ignorant and spoke with a monotone voice. Pilar could not comprehend why.

Jem cocked her head. "Yes, I suppose my demise is true according to published reports. I am no longer functional. However, I am here to assist you in any way I can."

"What…what do you want?" Pilar managed to say.

"I wish to show you something," smiled the pink haired singer. "Go to the shipyard by San Pedro Marina. By the bay near the docks is Warehouse Ten. Search for it and locate the electronic box with a nine key combination lock at the front entrance. Use this numerical code I shall give you."

Pilar turned to Dee who was shaking nervously. "Dee! Grab a pad and pen from my desk!"

The gay teen gulped before reaching for the steno pad and ball point pen from Pilar's desk. Pressing the writing instrument on the piece of paper, he managed to record the ghost's information.

Jem continued. "As I was saying, the numerical code is the following 1-0-5-1-3 and press enter. Did you transcribe the numerical chronology or do you need me to repeat my instructions?"

"1-0-5-1-3," repeated Dee. "Got…got it!"

"Excellent," smiled the ghostly Jem. "All your inquiries shall be answered tonight Pilar Pacheco! Do not delay!"

Bright light filled the room blinding everyone as the spirit of the pink haired singer vanished. Unsure of what they just witnessed, the teenagers began to question their sanity.

"Am I…going insane or did everyone see that?" Sam asked as he stood up from behind Cynthia.

Cynthia assisted Flo up from the floor as the poor Hispanic girl began praying as she clutched her cross.

"I told you that phantasmas were evil!" Flo shouted. "Muy malo!"

"Was that really the ghost of Jem?" Cynthia asked. "I mean the woman died in plane crash! There's no way she could be haunting us!"

"I guess my Mom's superstitious beliefs were right!" Dee exclaimed. "Ghosts are real!"

"And they want us to go on a mission," added Pilar as she grabbed the paper containing the numerical codes. "Anyone want to test out this theory tonight?"

"You really want to do this?" Sam asked Pilar. "For all we know, this Jem ghost be sending us on a trap!"

Cynthia raised an eyebrow. "What kind of trap could that be?"

"I don't know," Sam argued. "Maybe she wants to possess one of our bodies like in The Exorcist or turn us into zombies."

"You've been watching too many Resident Evil movies!" Pilar clucked. "I doubt this Jem ghost would mean us harm. She said she wanted to help us. I say we go check it out this Warehouse Ten at the San Pedro Marina!"

"And how are we going to get there?" Dee frowned. "Only two of us here have our drivers' licenses."

"I know," Pilar smiled. "But you have a van that fits five people and a license to drive so I was thinking…"

Dee threw us his arms in frustration. "Why is that I'm the one that seems to always get involved into these kind of crazy situations."

"Because we're besties, remember?" The gothic teen laughed.

The gay teen scowled. "Fine. Everybody load up into my wheels! We're heading to San Pedro Marina!"

"I got shotgun!" Sam announced.


Dee's parked his van near the edge of the chain link fence that surrounded the business area of San Pedro Marina. Checking to make sure that there was no security in sight, he and his friends snuck toward the row of buildings that were near the dock. Locating Warehouse Ten, the group found the electronic keypad and began to punch in the numerical code.

"I never realized it before!" Flo stated. "But the five digit code Jem gave us is an alphabetical number system of her name!"

"Cool!" Sam commented.

An electronic click signaled that the entrance door was open. The group pushed themselves inside the dark warehouse before Cynthia groped her way around the wall to search for the light switch. Finding it, she turned it on.

An almost empty room filled with covered crates grabbed their attention. Lifting one of the tarps off one of the containers, Pilar read the stamped ownership of each of the boxes.

"Property of MicroApple Corporation!" She stated. "These things belong to my father and Aunt Aja and Uncle Craig!"

"Why would Jem bring us here?" Dee asked.

Light flickered again from the dark haired teen's earrings. Blinding illumination shaped and formed into the transparent form of the legendary pink haired singer as Jem smiled and waved to everyone in the room.

"Pilar, you found Warehouse Ten!" Jem walked right through Pilar like air passing through a solid object. "Congratulations!"

"All right, Jem," said Pilar. "We want some answers but first are you really a ghost?"

"To some I am and to others I am a comprehension of various ideas," informed the pink haired music artist. "I am as you see me."

"How did you die?" Flo asked the transparent figure. "Do you remember the plane crash? What's heaven like?"

Jem shook her head. "I recall nothing or retain information concerning the crash. Though published reports have announced my demise due to the flight accident, I shall conclude that I am no longer alive. As for your theory of the afterlife of the divine, I still have no suitable results to inform you so I do apologize for not providing you further information."

"If you're not alive," remarked Cynthia. "How is it that we were able to summon you?"

"It is not exactly any of you that summoned me but magic," explained Jem.

Pilar remained skeptical. "Magic? Really, magic exists?"

"Magic certainly is functional today," said Jem. "However, the information is channeled and transmitted through a pair of receivers." She pointed to the diamonds in Pilar's earlobes. "Those are my receivers. The pair you wearing allows me to channel magic."

"My earrings!" Pilar touched her diamond star earrings. You're saying my earrings summoned you? The magic told you reveal yourself to us?"

"Of course," grinned the pink haired singer. "It recalled me and made me informational. It allowed me to cast the illusions you about to bear witness to."

Dee shoved his hands into his pocket. "Illusions? You're going to pull a Siegfried and Roy?"

Jem pointed a finger at the gay teen as light emitted from her hand. Dee's friends watched in awe as swarm of butterflies flew around the gay man. Surprised by the insects attacking him, he swatted each one with his hand but without success as he noticed his hand passing through their physical forms. It was as if he was combatting the air.

"They almost looked real!" Sam giggled.

"Si!" Flo agreed. "What else can you do?"

"I can also alter your appearance." Jem stated. Pointing a finger at both Flo and Cynthia, the light flashed in front of them as they took on the image of one another.

"Ay mis dios!" Flo's mouth dropped. "I look like you!" The Latin teen had taken on the exact appearance of her African American friend.

Cynthia gazed at her arms and face through the reflective service of a container. She had now become Flo. She could not believe it.

"Outrageous!" The African American woman remarked.

Jem transformed the two girls' images back to their original forms before glancing at Pilar who appeared too shock edto understand whatwas going on. Floating toward the girl, the pop singer gave her a friendly wave.

"That is not all, Pilar," the pink haired spirit announced. "You also have gifts that have been given to you by a generous benefactor for your birthday."

"Generous benefactor?" The young woman inquired. "Who? My father?"

"I am not programmed to reveal my sources," said Jem. "However, these gifts are yours to be utilized at any given opportunity." Waving her hand, the rooms of the Warehouse Ten rotated like a game show showcase to reveal electronic recording devices, musical instruments, a fashionable wardrobe, and finally a brand new large van. Pilar's friends raced toward the displays and began perusing through the objects.

"Holy crap!" Sam shouted checking the van. "You got a sweet ride!"

Dee almost fainted the moment he touched the fashionable garments. "Shana Ashley clothes straight off the runway! You must have a fairy godmother!"

Cynthia and Flo began experimenting with the musical equipment and beamed. "You can start a dozen musical acts with all the stuff you have here!"

"My magic is at your disposal, Pilar!" Jem declared. "Simply summon me from your earrings by simply saying the phrase Showtime Jem! Use these gifts and my assistant wisely." Another blinding light filled the room and the ghostly singer disappeared.

All of this had been too much to take in for one night to the point Pilar wanted to pass out. She pressed her hands to her temple.

"New clothes, new car, music equipment, and a ghost who can cast illusions," the dark haired beauty commented. "I can't believe it!"

"Believe it!" Dee squealed. "You're the luckiest girl in the world! Now with all these at your disposal, what is it you want to do first?"

Pilar glanced around the room and observed the teens. They had shown her so much love and support since she moved Los Angeles and she wanted to repay the favor. She wanted to prove to everyone that Dee, Cynthia, Flo and Sam were the most creative and talented people she ever met. More importantly, she wanted them to have a chance to audition for Pop Factor. Finding the strength and courage within her, a plan began form inside her head. She turned to her friends.

"We're going on that Pop Factor audition," she ordered.

"How can you be sure we're ready?" Sam asked. "We don't even have a lead singer."

"You HAVE a lead singer," Pilar corrected. "Me. We're going to show Desiree and The Rioters that we're equally as talented as they are and prove to everyone that we're not nobodies! We're somebodies!"

"Pilar…" Dee wanted to be the voice of reason. He did not want her to go through another moment where she chokes on stage.

"As your front woman, I'm not Pilar Jacqui Benton-Pacheco," replied the gothic teen. "I'm dedicating my stage name to my late grandmother Jacqui Benton and shortening it. From now on, please call me Jax! I'm Jax and this group is now called Starlight!"