Interlude 1: Initial Reactions
The six of them sat silently in the Hyperion as a spokesperson told them how Sunnydale Idol was being brought to them by Ford Motors and Herbal Essences. Lorne was the first to speak, to say something so un-Lorne-like…
"That slimy, little… WEASEL!"
Okay, maybe it was a little Lorne-like.
"Wait, you know that red guy?" asked Gunn, incredulously.
Lorne nodded as he rubbed his horns absently. "Sweet… he's up to no good, I tell you!"
"Who is he?" asked Angel, alarmed. "I thought you said this was fake!"
"I never said that!" Lorne took a deep breath. "Okay, here's the deal. Americal Idol is this show where a bunch of twentysomethings all over America audition and try to win the grand prize of a record deal. There are these judges and they pick thirty-two and America calls in votes to narrow that down to one." As Angel turned to say something, Lorne raised his hand and continued, "That's American Idol… this… this is different. Sweet's managed to convince them to change the format to use his power… and he didn't lie, Angel-cakes. Like he said, you pick up his necklace, say the incantation, and he makes Sunnydale the next Broadway musical."
"So…? What's so wrong with that?" Fred asked. "Sounds kinda cool. Everyone sings and they pick the best one, right?"
Lorne nodded sarcastically, as he replied, "Yeah, hon, cool, all right. But this is truest feelings! Imagine, everything you ever kept from someone, buried deep inside, spilt out for the world to see."
Fred flinched slightly, but Cordelia added, "Okay, I can see that would be bad, but… Lorne, aren't you a little overanxious? They're just secrets. They'll just have to deal, right?"
Lorne shook his head in impatience. "You guys don't get it. All those thoughts, feelings, they don't come out easily. Having them forced out of you… it's… it's like the physical equivalent of having your innards pulled out through your throat. You can't force someone to say what they want to keep secret unless you plan on hurting them. Big time."
Wesley nodded thoughtfully. "I had read something of this. Amaorca demons, right? They tap into the victim's thoughts and feelings and force them to sing and dance them out into a frenzy, causing them to combust…"
Lorne nodded gravely and pointed at Wes. "Exactumundo. Guys, you know I'm usually all for singing, it's a healthy way to express yourself, let out your frustrations and emotions, willingly, but Sweet… he's just in for the big bang finale. And I do mean 'bang'…"
"We have to do something!" cried Fred.
"We can't," said Cordy. "If they're broadcasting this now, this has already happened."
"So, what do we do?" asked Gunn.
Angel turned his attention back to the TV, which was now displaying the opening sequence. Lorne noted it was the same as always, except the logo now read Sunnydale Idol. Angel's feeling of trepidation was raging now, but he quelled it to watch the show and prayed for a happy ending.
"We watch."
