Chapter 3-Turning a New Page and Burning the Old

Riot hoped that his phone call wasn't out of line as he hung up the phone. Jem had seemed a bit startled by his warning. Knowing her, though, if she did indeed have something as marvelous as a holographic computer-and the evidence was there that she did-she would take the warning to heart.

Minx had told him about it after her little excursion to Tech-Rat's lair with Eric. She was getting fed up with Eric and the Misfits, and Tech-Rat was yet another man to give her the brush-off, something she was starting to take rather personally, as she prided herself in being able to have any man she wanted. As much of a minx as she could be, though, she considered married men off-limits-not that she minded if such men noticed her; in that case she delighted in giving them the brush-off. "Just don't tell Eric I told you about this," she'd said.

Riot was still unsure what he felt about Jem, but he knew what a disaster it could be should Eric get his hands on the computer-or even Tech-Rat, for that matter. He knew that Jem hadn't deliberately set out to deceive everyone out of pure maliciousness. She had done it to protect herself, her loved ones, and her parents' company. But things had a way with catching up to a person, no matter what the motivation.

Riot himself was fed up with Eric Raymond. He'd told Jem that he neither liked nor trusted Eric, but he could control him. Nowadays it wasn't so much control as influence. Eric seemed determined to do what he wanted and Riot suspected he was embezzling from the company, just as he'd embezzled from Starlight Music. He also let the Misfits run amok.

"We have to dismantle Synergy," Jem said to the Holograms as they sat in Synergy's holographic room. "I'm just going to remain Jem. I'm still Jerrica Benton. I guess it's just time I, well, 'integrate' myself, for lack of a better term. I'm tired of being two people."

"Your father anticipated that there might come a time when this step would be necessary," said Synergy. "He left instructions. Should you wish to reassemble me, there is a way." Her lavender face disappeared from the screen and was replaced by text-instructions for dismantling, saving the data in a safe place, reassembly, and specifications.

"Aja, we'll let you work on the technical stuff," said Kimber. "Jerrica-Jem-are you sure this is what we should do?"

"If Eric knows about Synergy, imagine what he'd try to do," said Jem.

"She's right," said Shana. "Somehow Eric found out about Synergy. But where are we going to store the parts?"

"Who can we trust?" Raya put in.

"For now we'll just put the hardware in a secure storage facility," said Jem. "We can keep the software hidden here, since it doesn't take up a lot of space. It's a good idea to keep it in separate locations."

"We'll be able to access the data that we need with a regular computer, such as Jacqui's master tapes," said Aja. "We just won't be able to use any holograms unless Synergy is fully assembled. Your father also designed her like any other computer-to store data, not just put on light shows."

Jem sighed. "When you think about it, how long do you think we'd have been doing this? Using holograms to change my identity? Did Dad really intend for me to keep on doing this the rest of my life?"

"Dad didn't anticipate Rio pulling this stunt," Kimber muttered. "What a jerk." She looked at her sister. "Rio, I mean, not Daddy."

"I think I figured that out," Jem said in a wry tone. She wasn't angry with her sister for that remark; Jem was actually thinking the same thing, since Rio had gone and blabbed everything on national television. Any hope for reconciliation had been dashed that night, and Jem was thinking that perhaps it was for the better.

"I'm glad I seem to have business sense," Sean Harrison chuckled as he and Jem went over some things in what would be his office, as CEO of Starlight Music. Today the handsome, black-haired Brit was getting a crash course in business management. The company had very capable and competent people working for it, which would be a big help.

"I think you'll do fine, Sean. I can tell you'll be a huge asset."

"After being fawned over by countless teens, I think sitting behind a desk is a bit of a break," he commented. He grinned. "The only woman I'm interested in has just come out of her teens." He was referring to Kimber.

"Well, take your time, because we don't want another fiasco like we had this past spring." Kimber had nearly gotten married to stuntman Jeff Wright, and Sean had sent Rio to stop the wedding. Kimber and Jeff had parted amicably at the altar.

"Do you think she's sure about me?" he asked.

"I would say so. She hasn't made any dates with any other man as far as I know," Jem replied, recalling the time when Kimber had inadvertently made dates for two different men-Jeff Wright and Max Connally-for the same time. Rio had scolded Kimber for this mistake (and rather hypocritically, Jem thought), and the whole thing had ended in Rio's kicking a potted plant over.

"I plan on asking her out tonight. Maybe we can all go as a group-me, Kimber, you, the Holograms. I'm thinking about that new club that's just opened up. We all need a break after what's been going on."

"Sounds like fun," said Jem. "I think we'll be there."

That night, Jem, the Holograms, and Sean went to the newly-opened club. Kimber and Sean started dancing together, while Shana and Raya went to socialize with some people they knew, such as Vivian Montgomery, a blonde photographer/videographer who went by the moniker Video.

"So what're you doing here all alone, baby?" asked a voice Jem thought was familiar.

Turning, Jem saw who was speaking to her. Staring-or was that leering?-at her was a rather handsome man with blond hair, piercing blue eyes, and a deep tan. This was Nick Mann, who apparently considered himself quite the ladies' man, and who had been flirting non-stop with Jem while she was filming Starbright. Nick could easily give Riot a run for his money in the ego department. The difference was that Nick was persistent and didn't like taking no for an answer-he was extremely pushy. Riot could be persistent too, but he wasn't one to really force an issue. Riot was someone Jem could love. Nick, not so much.

"I'm not all alone, Nick," said Jem. Of all the people to run into-!

"You don't have a date, do you?" he pressed.

"I don't particularly need one tonight," she said, hoping he'd get the hint.

"C'mon, just this one dance," Nick said as he grabbed her hand and tried to lead her out onto the dance floor. A slow number was playing.

"Nick, what part of 'no' don't you get? The N or the O?" Jem snapped as she tried to pull her hand away.

"You're still hung up on that Rio, aren't you? I'll help you get over him in no time."

"I believe the lady said no," said a familiar voice.

Jem turned her head, saw Riot standing there. She felt relief.

Nick looked Riot up and down. "Who do you think you are, you pansy?" he sneered, likely referring to Riot's long, flowing light blond curls.

"Jem's date," Riot replied.

Normally Jem didn't care to have anyone fighting over her, but she wanted to get away from Nick and she'd been hoping to be able to talk with Riot. This time she managed to pull her hand away and she took Riot's hand, hoping that this time Nick would take the hint and back off.

A bouncer, detecting trouble, came towards them. Nick skulked away, looking very perturbed, and the bouncer went back to the door, satisfied that no one was going to cause any trouble.

"May I have this dance, Jem?" Riot asked.

"Yes, you may," Jem replied. "I thought you'd been avoiding me."

Riot escorted her out onto the dance floor. "I wasn't sure what to think after it came out who you really are," he explained. "I'm thinking maybe we need to get reacquainted. You're still a beautiful woman, Jem. Rio, as I've said before, is a fool, and he proved that to everyone."

"Jem was the illusion for a while," Jem said.

"There are things about you that I like, and believe it or not things about Jerrica that I like-and it turns out you have all those things. When we were in Athens…when I kissed you as Jerrica…I felt something there. I have to admit that."

The irony of that was that Synergy had told Jem that Rio had fallen for who she really was, not just her outward appearance, and here was Riot saying that he'd done the same.

"I did too," she said, recalling the kiss he'd given her.

"Maybe I realized it, without knowing it," he mused. "Why no one figured it out-myself included-is beyond me. You two sounded the same, you have similar features."

"Maybe no one noticed because no one really looked for it," Jem suggested.

"I have to admit the whole thing is rather intriguing," said Riot. He smiled. "I may have a surprise or two to reveal to you, when the time is right."

"What surprise?"

"Jem…it won't be for a while. You just came out of a relationship. You need to take your time, and should you decide you want to be with me, I'll be there for you. But should you come to me, and things go the way I think they should…you'll find out. And I think you'll be pleased, given what I know about you."

Jem sighed. "Rio had been pushing me to take things even further. He actually had the nerve to tell me-as Jerrica-that he thought he'd be able to have his way with Jem. He knows that I've been taught to wait until marriage. He wasn't really willing to take that step."

"So your break-up was inevitable," said Riot.

"My 'lying' to him seemed to be a handy excuse."

"I don't think I need to say it again that he's a fool."

"Unless you like beating a dead horse."

Riot kissed her lightly on the lips as the song ended. "So what are your plans for the future, now that things have gotten a bit derailed?" he asked as they went to sit down.

"Sean is going to take over as CEO. For the time being, I'm just going to concentrate on the musical aspect and let others run the company. Sean's pretty trustworthy."

"And he's in love with Kimber," Riot pointed out. "But he is a man with integrity."

"He used to date Pizzazz. She's jealous that he likes Kimber."

"I guess people do learn from their mistakes," Riot chuckled.

"In December we're going to take the girls to London for winter break. Sean's going to go along with us; Kimber wants to meet his family. He's from Liverpool," said Jem.

"That sounds like fun," said Riot. "I might just join you, depends on my schedule." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and she relaxed.

The following week, at Stingers Sound, Pizzazz was positively seething over a photograph she'd seen in an entertainment magazine. In the photo, Jem and Riot were happily dancing together at the club, looking oh-so-cozy together. Pizzazz had gone to Eric's office to throw her usual tantrum.

Eric was sick and tired of the tantrums. He also realized that Riot might well decide to sign with Starlight Music once his contract with Stingers Sound was up in the spring. Should that happen, Stingers Sound might sink for sure.

Given that, Riot was worth more to him dead than alive. But he wasn't going to go that route; not yet, anyway. Since Jem was the one that might pull Riot in that direction, she was going to have to go.