Maybe we should have/Maybe we should/And Now/I should say goodbye…
Lincoln looked up from his comic book as Luna finished the newest song that she had written, the twang of her acoustic guitar echoing throughout the empty house. A few moments passed before sounds could be heard from Lisa's lab. Lincoln turned back, before speaking to the camera.
"So yeah, apparently in that dimension, the alternate me and Tabby met up again as adults. Apparently, I was dating Ronnie Ann at the time, yet alternate Tabby still had feelings for me. Three guess what happened between me and alternate, and two of them don't count. It's actually kind of heartbreaking…" Lincoln paused.
"And then alternate me then went off and fought Ronnie Ann's fourth evil ex, who was a half-ninja roller derby girl that happened during college… That's pretty weird."
After that little explanatory monologue, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" Lincoln said as he got up from his chair and walked over to the door. Opening it up, he looked at the two people standing at the door. He blinked, before smiling.
"Hey, Tabby!" Lincoln greeted.
"Sup, Linc?" Tabby greeted back.
Lincoln looked back at the other person standing. "And...Sam, right?"
The blond teenager with a magenta streak in her hair nodded as she looked at Lincoln. "Yeah. And you're...Lincoln, right? Luna's little brother?"
Lincoln nodded. "Yep. Guess you're here to see Luna?"
As the two nodded their heads, Lincoln looked back up the stairs, cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted. "LUNA! SAM AND TABBY ARE HERE TO SEE YOU!"
"COOL, BRO! GO AHEAD AND SEND THEM UP!"
"Alright, come on in, but wipe your feet though. We just vacuumed."
After Sam and Tabby did so and walked up the stairs, Lincoln sat back in the chair continued reading his comic. After a while, he closed the comic book and sighed. "Man, the worst part of each comic is waiting for the next issue."
Lincoln got up and started to climb up the stairs before seeing Tabby stop climbing down herself.
Lincoln offered a sad smile. "Going so soon?"
Tabby shook her head. "Nah, was going to ask you if you wanted to join everyone else in that alternate reality watching business."
"Oh, Luna told you about that?"
Tabby leaned against the wall. "Totally, and her and Sam want to try and get some more inspiration from it. I mean, you have heard it, right?"
Lincoln nodded. "She just finished singing it by the time you guys got here."
Tabby played with her pockets. "I mean, it's great," "Definitely." "It's just a kind of a downer and both of them are going to be playing a gig so they wanted to come with something for an opener."
"Makes sense." Lincoln agreed.
"By the way," Tabby said, making Lincoln look back at Tabby. "How is it?"
The white haired boy looked confused. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, what does it feel like, seeing all these different versions of you? You feel anything?"
He paused for a moment, considering what he wanted to say.
"Well, it's weird. I won't lie, it's weird seeing my face and body doing some crazy thing on screen, but as far as I'm concerned, they're not really me. Just alternate versions of me."
"Huh." Tabby said, looking introspective.
"Luna told you about the dimension where you were a daughter of a British Colonial Mayor from Port Royal, didn't she?"
Tabby looked a little weirded out at that. "I gotta admit, I'm still not sure how to take that."
Lincoln shrugged. "You get used to it. Besides, you might get to see a version of yourself that became a rockstar."
Tabby frowned. "Are you saying that me becoming a rockstar is a longshot?"
Lincoln immediately starting sweating. "WHAT? No no no, I didn't mean it like that, I mean it like-"
"He he, don't blow a gasket, Linc." Tabby giggled. "I know what you mean, I was just messing you. Now come on, they might start the show without us!"
The two kids walked back to Lisa's room, where Luna and Sam had paper and pencils out while Lisa was fiddling around with the machine.
"Hey, bro!" Luna greeted as he and Sam scooted over to make room for Tabby and Lincoln. "Check it out, Lisa apparently been upgrading the machine."
"Again, thanks for letting me and Tabby see this thing in action, Lisa." Sam said graciously.
"Well, I figured that you request would be a perfect way to think out the new feature on machine." Lisa responded as she tightened a screw. Wiping some sweat from her brow, she checked it over before nodding to herself and getting up.
"So what's the new feature?" Lincoln said. "Is it a search engine?"
"...How astute an observation." Lisa admitted as Lincoln grinned.
"Hey, Luna. When you guys are done, you mind if I look through some universes of my own?" Lincoln asked.
"Sure, bro. Why?"
Lisa hmph'd. "Probably to search for an universe where he gets to live out his fantasy as a superhero. Honestly, I don't see why you continue to spend your money on those kind of things?"
Before Lincoln could retort, Tabby grinned. "So, fancy yourself with muscles and a cape, Lincoln?"
Lincoln blushed red. Sam looked at Tabby annoyed. "Don't do that."
"...Let's just start the thing." Lincoln asked.
"Very well, putting in music-" "Rock." "Rock music and…"
The screen shifted.
"Can you believe this place?" A crew member said to another member as he leaned against the wall of a really fancy hallway of some hotel as a couple of hotel workers in some neat and tidy uniforms passed by. Next to them, two guards stood with their arms crossed, ready to bar entry to anyone unauthorized. "I've been to some pretty swank places before, and this place is definitely up there!"
"Yeah, Thailand is beautiful, man! And I do mean beau-ti-ful." The crew member grinned. The other guy scoffed.
"...We're in Thailand?" Tabby blinked and looked closely. "Doesn't look like Thailand."
"What were you even expecting?" Lincoln asked.
Tabby shrugged. "I don't know, something."
Lisa rubbed her chin. "Perhaps if Leni was here, she could tell about the fashion and where it probably comes from."
Sam looked at Luna.
"Sometimes, it takes a few minutes for the scene to actually warm up."
Sam nodded. "Ah.
"Just don't overdo it like Doug. Last I heard, he's still sleeping the hangover off."
"GARGH!"
The two jumped as the doors from one room slammed themselves open, and one man stomped out. He looked like a stereotypical hipster, with unlaced boots, designer jeans that were rolled up to mid calf, a white t-shirt under a red shiny jacket, and a mustache and trimmed beard with his hair tied into a man-bun. He stomped towards the stairs as an older woman walked briskly towards him.
"...Is it just me, or does that guy look like a wanker?" Tabby asked.
"While that is slightly rude, I am hesitant to say that it is completely inaccurate." Lisa hedged.
"Yep." "Yeah." "Definitely."
"Jordan! Come on!"
"I appreciate it, Dexi, but I don't want to hear it, or even take another look at that **** CAKE!" Jordan shouted. "JUST ANOTHER REMINDER FROM MY ***HOLE FATHER! I CAN LITERALLY HEAR HIM SAYING 'I OWN YOU, *****!'" Jordan said as he walked upstairs.
"And he's got daddy issues… Is this supposed to be this Lincoln?" Sam asked.
"Gosh, I hope not." Lincoln admitted.
"While majority of the universes we have witnessed usually has the alternate Lincoln retain his identity and looks for the most part, we shouldn't discount the possibility that your counterpart in this universe might look completely different from you." Lisa lectured.
Tabby looked at Lincoln before shaking her head. "No offense, Lincoln. But I honestly don't think you can pull off a manbun."
Lincoln rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I don't think so either."
Dexi, Jordan Cross' manager, shook her head before following up the stairs. The two crew members looked at each other.
"Well, there goes the birthday boy." One of them commented. The other rubbed his scalp.
"Gee, you think after he went to that famous psychiatrist for his drinking problem, he would then ask for help on his daddy issues."
The other guy shrugged. "Well, can you blame him? Doubt that daddy would be on his mind when he saw his girlfriend accidentally fall to her death from his penthouse."
Everyone gasped.
"Oh no." Luna said, Sam nodding as her enthusiasm suddenly dropped.
"Drinking problem… Common coping mechanism." Lisa noted.
His friend nodded. "Yeah, probably messed him up real good."
"Jordan, please hold on." Dexi begged. Jordan growled before gesturing to the nearby kitchen door. Both of them went through and asked all the remaining crew members.
"Jordan… I'm going to be honest with you. That was some scene that you caused out there." Jordan frowned but kept his quiet.
"Even if it was some secret message from your father, I doubt that the people that were in that room had anything to do with it. And I doubt that it excuses you from acting the way you did. It doesn't do anything good for your image."
The indie rockstar took a few deep breaths, before nodding. "Fine, but not now. I'm still a little pissed."
"Seriously, how bad is his relationship with his dad if even a simple cake is enough to set him off?" Lincoln asked.
"Has to be pretty bad." Sam commented.
"Tell me about it." Tabby said.
With that, Jordan walked out of the kitchen and nearly bumped into a crewmember.
"Sorry." The man said. Jordan waved him off as he continued towards the recording station, expertly weaving past all the other crew members and wires that were scattered all over the floor..
"Hey!" He said to the director, who turned to give a perfunctory nod before turning back to the console. "Do you have a tune yet?"
"Sorry, Jordan." The director said. "I just don't think that the beat is good yet."
Jordan resisted the urge to sigh loudly. "You serious? You've been at this for so long."
The director shrugged. "Well, you're clearly not responding to it."
"Of course, maybe that also explains his horrible attitude." Luna observed.
"I do think that he did show some signs of a need for control. With that, I would hypothesize that his father controlled a lot of his life, and so he seeks whatever control he can get." Lisa guessed.
Sam grimaced. "Never really had a chance for a normal life, huh?"
The indie rocker shook his head and was about to leave before noticing his guitarist giving a look.
'Still hung up on Hannah, aren't you, Heidi?'
With a grumble, Jordan left the area and climbed up the nearby stairs. On the upper floor, there was a giant glass box with grass on the ground. Inside it, people talked and took a couple of drags on their cigarettes. Jordan went inside, before asking for a smoke.
"Such a lovely place, and they use it for a smoking room…" Lisa groaned. "What a waste."
"Yeah." "Totally."
After a couple of minutes, one of the recording crew came up and came through the door. "Yo, Jordan! I think you might want to hear this!"
Jordan took one last drag on his cigarette and tossed it in a nearby trash can. "Alright. This better be good."
The indie rocker followed the crew member down the stairs, where he could already hear the pounding. Standing there and letting the music wash over him, Jordan couldn't help but nod his head, an actual smile blooming on his lips. "Yeah...YEAH! That's it! Come on, keep it there!"
"Pretty good beat." Sam commented.
"Yeah, maybe we can use it for a bass line?" Luna suggested.
Jordan jogged over to the recording booth, nearly throwing open the door before going inside. As the sound became muffled, he looked at the microphone that was placed before him. Walking up to it, he took a deep breath and let the music cleanse him, every one of his worries just leaving his mind.
Forget dad, forget Hannah… You live for this moment, right here and right now.
With that, he started to sing.
There's a place underground I,
I go to hide my fears away,
in the electric glowing
of an eternal day cause you,
you left for the shadows without me.
Yeah, you didn't even say goodbye. Didn't have a chance to die by your side.
The man with a man-bun paused as he sang that last line, a image of Hannah appearing in his head. He shook his head. Dang it, not now! He forced himself forward.
"Is it supposed to do that?" Tabby asked, seeing how a face of another person appeared on the screen before it flashed back to Jordan.
Lisa nodded. "It is part of the flashback mechanic, so that we can understand what is going on without needing to rewind the scene."
"Your sister thinks of everything." Tabby whispered to Lincoln.
"Yeah, I know."
Now are we stars
just cause we're millions miles away
from each other?
Or are we just pilgrims who have lost their way?
Are we stars?
Jordan took another deep breath, closing his eyes as he forced himself deeper into the music.
Luna looked over at Sam. Both of them had the same look of apprehension on their face.
Will I see you down there? Will you dance with me again?
Or will you hide your face
and leave me to remain alone in the shadows without you?
Cause I didn't get to say goodbye,
I didn't get a chance to cry at your grave.
Hannah… Just take it home now.
Now are we stars
just cause we're millions miles away
from each other?
Or are we just pilgrims who have lost their way?
Are we stars?..
"CUT! Great work, Jordan!"
Hearing that, Jordan opened his eyes, noting his hands were wrapped around the mike stand. Letting go, he left the recording booth and went over to the director, ignoring the applause from the recording crew.
"Dang it. We can't use this." Luna sighed as she set the notebook aside.
"I feel like such a leech already." Sam admitted as well.
Lisa, Tabby and Lincoln looked at each other, knowing what the two musicians were getting at. The lyrics already seemed to be made with Hannah in mind…
"Maybe we should just call it for now and look for another?" Sam suggested.
"Wait, maybe we should wait for another song. They all can't be for Hannah." Tabby suggested.
Lincoln nodded. "Yeah, you never know what you're going to get in these things."
"Jordan, marvelous work! That gave me chills!" The director praised. Jordan rubbed the back of his neck.
"Hey…" Jordan said. "I'm gonna go take a break, okay?"
"Yeah, sure. Just be back, alright? Still got some songs. By the way, you seen the guy that helped mix this? Probably a new guy, since I haven't seen him before."
Jordan shrugged as he walked away. "Don't know about any new hires."
Walking back up the steps, he paused as he saw the two bodyguards that were supposed to be guarding his room to be hurrying back into position. He let them get into position and settle in before he stormed over. The two guards looked up and paled as they saw Jordan coming close.
"What were you doing?"
"Mr. Cross-" "Jordan, Mr. Cross is the ***hole that calls himself my dad." "Mr. Jordan, we were just-"
"You always put words in my mouth and always stumbling right behind me when I'm talking when I'm trying to talk!"
"...What?"
Lincoln blinked.
"Hey, shut up. Do you hear that?" Jordan said as he hushed the two bodyguards.
"I never said that! NEVER, HANNAH! Selective hearing, that's your problem!"
"Sir?" One of the bodyguards asked, before Jordan hushed him again.
"You ****hole! I'm not some googly-eyed groupie, Jordan! I have a 'glamourous, globetrotting career' just like you!"
"...Okay, what was Hannah's relationship with Jordan like?" Tabby asked.
"Considering Jordan's untreated issues and the conversation that's happening now, it sounds like it had been deteriorating for quite a while."
Jordan started to sweat. It was coming from his room…
"But that doesn't mean I hump every god**** underwear model I meet at an airplane toilet like a god**** textbook cliche!"
"...What a wanker." Luna said.
"You know what? You guys did a great job, just go and take a break, you deserve it!" Jordan said quickly as he tried to push the guards out of the way.
"...Why? Why do you do this? Who the **** do you think you are?!"
"Sir, are you sure?"
"You don't do that! Not to me! NOT TO ME!"
"YEAH, SURE! NOW GO!"
"DON'T YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO!"
"Okay, sir." The two guards left.
"This is starting to get really bad." Sam noticed.
"Oh...Of course. That would be your father's domain."
Jordan looked around as he opened the door.
"Shut up! SHUT UP!"
"Hey, what are you doing?! Stop that! NO!"
The screen changed.
His hands pushed Hannah back. Her back met the railing. Her eyes widen with horror as she starts falling back. His hands try to grab for her, try to grab for anything.
It was useless.
"AGHHH!-"
Rushing over, Jordan frantically looked over the laptop, before clicking on the stop button. Immediately, Hannah's scream was silenced, plunging the room back into an uneasy peace. All the while, Jordan stared at the laptop.
The room was silent.
"Oh my god."
"H-How? How did this get here? Why was it playing? HOW DOES THIS THING EVEN EXIST?"
Jordan thought about it, thought about it long and hard.
"Blackmail. That has to be it."
Yanking the usb drive out of the laptop, he forced to take a few breaths. "Come on, Jordan. Calm down, calm down. You're fine, you're still in the clear. No one heard, no one knows. Play it cool, just get through the rest of the day, then get rid of this thing for good. FOR GOOD!"
Jordan looked up at the mirror. "Okay, J-"
Someone was sitting in the chair behind him. Jordan turned around, his eyes widening. It was one of his entourage, though he didn't look familiar.
And he had a gun.
Everyone looked at Lincoln, who was becoming pale at the sight of an older version of him.
Jordan broke out in a sweat. "W-Who are you?"
The man was still, like he was carved from stone. "That isn't the right question." He said as he aimed the gun right at Jordan.
Immediately, Jordan Cross knew who the man was.
"The Highmoores. They sent you, didn't they? L-Look, whatever they're paying you, I will double it, promise!"
The man was unmoved. "It doesn't work that way. Not here."
Jordan swallowed, his mind racing as he tried to think of a way out.
"Wa-wa-wait, look, I didn't mean to, you know? I was drunk, I snapped! The window, I didn't think…"
Even as he racked his brain, nothing came out. Nothing.
"But it happened." Jordan forced himself to look at the man in the chair. He might as well have been talking to a statue.
"So, do I deserve to die because I made some stupid mistake? Or because I tried to get away with it?"
The man spoke in his monotone voice. "Either way, it won't make a difference."
Jordan looked at the man in horror, before holding out his hand, in a vain hope of warding the possible bullets. He shrunk under the stone cold gaze, his knees giving out as he knelt on the ground. He could no longer look at the man and simply looked at the pattern of the wood flooring.
"Please, please, don't...don't, man, okay?"
He wanted to give up. There was no moving the man. Yet he wanted to live. He still wanted to live. He still had so much to do, so much still to accomplish! He couldn't die now, he can't die now!
"Just, just don't. You'll regret it, okay?" He shook his head to rid himself of his tears. "Look, I'm only an artist, all right? Why don't you go kill some real bad guys, huh?!"
Silence. The musician thought of one last card to play. His stomach churned as he thought of needing his help again, but his mind forced himself to play the card.
"Oh, come on, okay? Come on! Think, man! You think my father is going to let this slide? Oh, he...he'll know, all right? He'll find you, okay? And when he finds you, you'll know the kind of man he is. Trust me, I know…"
Still nothing.
"COME ON, MAN! SAY SOMETHING!"
"Don't worry, Mr. Cross." The man said as he aimed his gun. Jordan Cross took a deep breath.
"Your lawyer will be accompanying you shortly."
BA-
Lincoln smashed the off button, the sound of a gun firing shorting out into nothing. The white haired boy looked back at the other people with him. Luna and Lisa looked a little sick. Sam was covering her mouth with her hands, eyes wide. Tabby shut her eyes tightly and clamped her hands over her ears.
"...You guys want to take a break?"
AN: Yeah, this feels sloppy. Still, it was supposed to be an explanation for the last chapter and what Luna's last words were supposed to mean, and it kinda ballooned from there.
Next chapter will definitely be more proper.