Disclaimer: The show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.

Revenge of the wolf

Chapter 16 – Life on Mars

No One's Pov

"What do you mean, it's a matter of when? Just what are you on?"

Jade then turned to Jadelyn, "What, is this the druggie version of me?"

"Jade! Be nice. She's taking you somewhere. The appropriate word is thank you!" Chided Victoria, rather quickly.

Being yelled at by Victoria, caused an instant and overwhelming, rush of guilt to flood through the still emotionally broken werewolf.

"Sorry." Replied Jade in a low voice.

"Forget it." Said TJ. "Come on, let's get moving. For now, it's a secret, but I promise, you'll be amazed."

"Not sure about that."

Jadelyn then broke in. "Oh….before it forget, TJ and her wife, whom we'll call simply V, had their first baby just 2 months ago."

Victoria smiled and quickly gave TJ a hug. "Oh my god, congratulations. What's her name?"

"We named her Katherine, after Tori's..er I mean V's grandmother. But we just call her Kate."

"You use a sperm donor?" Queried Jade.

TJ grinned with pride. "No, a good friend of Sikowitz worked for a big bio-tech firm. They were trying out a new process to combine female eggs into a fetus. We got offered a spot in the first group. It took a bit of convincing to get V to go along with it, that it wasn't unholy and then I had to explain how exactly babies are made, but we did it. V is literally beside herself with happiness."

Jade scratched her head. "How can she not know about how babies are made?"

TJ, moved her to the door. "Long story, I'll tell you later. I hear you got a few yourself. Love to meet them. Jadelyn will drive us to the portal, so we can travel to my universe. From what I've been told, other than a few minor differences, our worlds are identical. None of this monorail crap."

So TJ, Jadelyn and Jade left, with TJ, talking most of the way to Hollywood arts, about her new daughter. Jade sat quietly listening, with a sad expression on her face. She missed her 3 daughters as much as Tori and worried about them even more than she did Tori.

She had no idea, where she was going and really didn't feel up to going. She was barely holding herself together and a journey or something fun, seemed unthinkable.

Arriving at Hollywood arts, they headed into the basemen lab where Jadelyn fired up the machine and entered the portal.

"You said this may take at least a day, It's 5:30 at night on Sunday. So how about I open the portal back up at 8:00 Am Tuesday morning. That will give you enough time."

TJ looked at the time on her phone and nodded. "Got it. I'll have her back."

Jadelyn looked up from the machine and sneered. "It's open, go with her and do me a favor, don't come back. Last weekend was supposed to be Victoria's and mine, naked weekend. Which we couldn't have thanks to you."

"I'll be sure to be back then." Sneered Jade right back.

With a chuckle, TJ, motioned to the portal. "Come on. Don't worry. I'm not nearly as pissy as her. But don't push me, either."

Jade stepped through the portal which led into the basement of Hollywood arts in TJ's universe. This time, the room was simply and storage room, full of old and dusty books, chairs and desks.

Once outside, the got into TJ's car and started to drive. Like TJ said, this world looked identical to the one she lived in. Even down to the, stop war, sticker that had been stuck on the stop sign in front of Hollywood arts.

"Look TJ, I don't know what you have planned, but…to put it honestly, I'm an emotional wreck right now. I'm just recovered from my injuries and am still rather weak."

TJ didn't respond right away, but when she did, it was in a comforting tone. "Jade, you're on a long road right now. One in which the ending seems, unreachable. Once upon a time, I thought the end of my road, was impossible. I made it there and I'm going to help you realize you can make it too."

"Where are we going? Home?"

"Not quite, we're making the first of our stops right now. After you'll meet, V my wonderful wife and we'll have a late supper. We're staying at the Hilton while we visit. Mom and dad, wanted to see the new baby and I wanted to see something else. Now just relax a bit and we'll be there in a few minutes."

Jade's pov

I really didn't think anything she could do would help me. All I wanted to do was crawl in bed and die. But I sensed that she really wanted to help me, so I gave her the benefit of the doubt.

We drove to an older section of Los Angeles near Union station and parked behind a long closed, grocery store. We got out and using a key, she let me in.

She ushered me past the dust and empty shelves where the food once sat, into the back and down into the large basement.

The first room, contained a desk, with lots of technical looking papers and scientific type books. The room itself was a haphazard collection of various bits of electronics and other scientific things.

"Who works here? Looks like some kind of Lab."

TJ nodded as she walked to a closet and pulled out some clothes, shoes and a purse. The then tossed them onto a table in front of me.

"Put those on."

I held up the dress, which was green and very old fashioned. "Are you kidding, this looks like something my great grandmother would wear."

TJ scowled as she took a similarly looking old fashioned dress and started to change into it.

"Just shut up and put it on. In the purse, you'll find some appropriate era make up items and cash."

Besides being emotionally broken I was also very short tempered. "WHAT IN THE HELL IS GOING ON!"

TJ smiled. "Have some faith sister. I was once an angry, heartbroken and very pissed off Goth. What is in the next room, changed my life and it will change yours. ON the life of my daughter and my best pair of scissors, I promise you, it will help you."

What is this bullshit. But again I sense she means well, so I put on the dress and looked at myself in the mirror.

"I look like something from the 1940's"

TJ walked over and admired herself in a black dress, in the mirror. "Exactly, come on."

She led me to a door at the other end of the room and opened it.

"Come on."

Walking through, I found myself in large room that was filled with all kinds of electronic equipment, that was alive and humming. I didn't know what even a tenth of it was. But in the center of the room, was doorframe with cables running to it, like the one that Jadelyn used to travel between universes.

"Ahhh….." Came a voice that as all too familiar. Sikowitz's

Turning I could see, Sikowitz in a grubby looking lab coat come out from behind a machine, holding a coconut.

He walked right up and looked me right in the eye, with almost maniacal look. "So you're the one supposedly from another universe! And a werewolf to boot. Are you sure a British man in a wheelchair named Hawking didn't send you…..He's always spying on me!"

"No, Stephen Hawking didn't send me."

He instantly put a finger to his lips to shush me. "Quiet, we don't say his name too loudly and we never say his whole name. His spies are everywhere. I'm pretty sure Blake Shelton, from the voice, is one of them."

TJ rolled her eyes. "Sikowitz, she's on the level. A version of me from a parallel universe."

I think this one is more cracked than mine. "Ok, the obvious question, why am I here and just what is all this crap."

Sikowitz back up, looking quite offended. "Crap, Crap, this is the invention of the century."

"And you made it? You can't even make coffee." I said, looking unconvinced. "Is this a device to travel between universes. Well if it is, I'm not impressed, because I've already seen one."

"Sikowitz smiled. "Not between universes, my dear. Between years."

"What. A time machine?"

TJ put a hand on my shoulder. "Bingo. Sikowitz has invented a real time machine. The first one blew up, thanks to me, but this is the second one. New and Improved."

Time machine, that seemed like bullshit, but then again I'm a werewolf who travels between universes, so I shouldn't talk.

"You made this?"

"Here in this universe Jade, Sikowitz is a professor of Math and Physics. A certified super genius, a little paranoid and odd at times, but a genius none the less."

"You know Sikowitz, in my universe, you're an acting teacher. You work at Hollywood arts."

Sikowitz seemed to light up. "Acting….acting…..oh my god. I never thought of it. I'm in the wrong profession. That's my calling, I know it. I..I…need to take some classes…."

TJ quickly stopped him. "You can both invent and learn how to act, but for now can we get going."

"Oh…of course." Sikowitz then ran to a terminal and began to type in something.

All around me the humming of the equipment became very loud as in the doorway, a mist appeared. When it cleared I could see the image of what appeared to be an alley.

TJ held up a small remote and moved to the doorway. "I got the recall device. Wish us luck. Come on Jade."

As we stepped through, TJ started to talk. "The first machine only in time, using a fixed point. This new version can open a doorway a very short distance away, up to about 400 yards. I can do further, in need of an emergency, but that would burn out the machine. I'd rather not do it again. We're in an alley, just off of Olvera street. Follow me."

Looking around I could see we were indeed in an alley with nothing but a few wooden pallets and a very old fashioned looking trash can. Part of me wasn't convinced.

I followed my doppleganger out of the alley and onto the sidewalk. What I saw caused me to stop dead in my tracks.

It was the city of Los Angeles. But everything was old, old cars, old buildings, the fashions everything. It was like something out of an old movie, but this was no movie. I've seen and done strange things but to essentially step into an old photograph made my head spin.

"What the?"

TJ with a grin gestured widely to the city around me."Jade, Today is Monday, June 1st, 1942. The time is 7:00 Pm."

Again like in the dead world, for a moment, I was so a taken a back that I managed to forget my grief and trauma, if only for a moment. "How is this possible."

"We'll walk a bit, while you get your bearings. It's a bit unnerving the first time."

It was early evening and we started to walk down the street. The crowed was mixture business people heading home, women shopping and lots of men in woman in uniform. I looked on a wall and could see a poster in big letters, urging me to do my part in stopping the Axis, by buying war bonds.

It was then she told me the story.

"Out of high school, I won a scholarship to an art's college in England. It was supposed to be good, but shortly before left, I found my girlfriend was cheating me. I went and though heartbroken did well. I was in an antique shop one day and found a picture from1870 and it was a of a beautiful woman named Victoria. I was enchanted and bought the picture. Later I went and found there was some old journals from her and I bought those. I read the journals and fell in love with her. She was a closeted lesbian who was engaged to this creep named Beckett Oliver. I read with dismay as she finally married him, but he was a gambler and had mistresses. Victoria who had become pregnant, was left alone in an empty house. She was so lonely and deep down desired a woman's' touch. Then one day the journals stopped. Again my heart broke when I learned that she and her child died in childbirth."

It was in interesting story and sounded like something out of a romance novel. "But it didn't end there."

"No, I got a job working for Sikowitz and he brought me into his confidence, showing me the time machine. I helped him test it He also let me go back to see if I could rewrite history. Stop her from marrying that lying, cheating, psychotic son of a bitch. I prepared to go back and did. Finally meeting her and got a job as a servant in her household. As I hoped she fell for me, but things weren't so simple and she was still determine to not ruin her family's name by breaking off the engagement to a wealthy man. Beckett, was very good at covering his tracks and his reputation was quite good. So I returned to the present and using the internet, dug up all the information I needed to ruin him. He was embezzling from his families firm, amongst his other misdeeds. I went back and ruined him, publically at the wedding, by exposing him. His father disowned him on the spot and had him arrested."

"That's good then, you lived happily ever after."

TJ grumbled slightly. "Not quite. I was going to return home without her. She couldn't be with a woman in that era and I couldn't take her to mine. I was going to depart and she confronted me. But Beckett had escaped and tried to shoot me. Victoria took the bullet meant for me. She was badly wounded. In order to save her, I had to activate an emergency recall for the machine. I told her father that I was taking her to another time to save her. Surprisingly he believed me. She got well in the present, but had some hard time adjusting. We worked through it and now, she's my wife and we have a baby daughter."

"That's nice. And Beckett?"

"He tried to flee and I shot him in the arm. He then tried to swim across a river and drowned."

"Sounds like the bastard deserved it."

TJ nodded in agreement and continued. "So back to business, I took you here for a reason, a couple actually. For the record, you are Jade West, your my twin sister, 3 minutes older, who is visiting from What Cheer, Iowa, where we both grew up. You will still call me TJ and we'll say it's short for Theresa Jane West. I work for a defense plant and thus can't discuss my work with any detail. At home, you're a school teacher. Got it. You're an actress like me, so I'm sure you can manage the part."

It was all very strange and surreal I keep expecting to walk off a film set and find a camera crew.. I was a fan of the British show, Life on Mars and now looking at the bustling city of 1942 Los Angeles around me, I know exactly how he feels. Simply blown away.

"You must have had some adventures?"

"Yes, some great, some dangerous. Wound up in 1940, during the London Bliz once. Let me tell you, the ominous droning sound of a thousand German Heinkel Bombers headed straight for you, it is not a sound you, ever want to hear. I've done fun things. I once even had a drink with Errol Flynn, in 1938. He hit on me too." TJ said with a devilish smirk.

My eyes opened wide. "He hit on you. You say like that as if you considered it. First of all you're married and second you're a lesbian. You don't like men."

"First of all, I'd never cheat on my beloved wife and second, that wasn't a man…that was a God! If were single, that story may ended differently. Do you know, he looks almost exactly like Chase from Zoey 101"

"He does? That Lola keeps reminding me of someone, but I can never quite remember who."

"I have the same problem." Noted TJ, with a puzzled expression.

TJ then stepped to the curb and rose out her arm. "TAXI!"

Quickly an old fashioned taxi, rolled right up to the curb and we got in.

"Where too lady?" Said the middle aged cab driver.

TJ smiled. "Club Trouville, Beverly and Fairfax"

"We're going to a club?" I said, with a frown as we pulled away from the curb. "Don't you know what I've just been through?"

"I know, it's all been explained to me. Jade, I'm not going to steer you wrong. Sikowitz with this machine of his helped me and now I'm going pay it forward by helping you."

I slumped in my seat. "You could stop me from walking into that trap."

TJ shook her head. "Can't, were still in the wrong universe. But I can help you in a different way. Just enjoy the ride and see the city."

Even with the fact that I was a wreck, I couldn't help but marvel at the old city. Of course it all looked new. I passed one of those movie palaces, with all its bright and shiny lights, The Marquee was advertising the film, "In this our life," with Bette Davis and Olivia De Havilland.

It was like being in some kind of futuristic interactive museum, but this was real.

"Tori would love this." I remarked sadly. "The lights, the fashions, everything. She could see Casablanca in the theatre. She loves that movie."

"Anything is possible."

In time we rolled up to the corner of Beverly and Farifax. It was looked a lot different than the way I remembered it. For example the big CBS television studio was gone and replaced by a number of other buildings. Again it was strange and surreal, like some kind dream.

"Come on Jade. We're almost there."

We walked down the street to a pink art-deco building with an awning over the entrance. A big neon sign over head said.

"Club Trouville"

She ushered me inside and I found myself in a very swanky nightclub. Again I kept expecting to see a camera crew but didn't.

The club was in a French style, with waiters and waitresses dressed like French people. There were murals of Paris and other French scenes. On one wall, was the flag of the Free French forces.

A man with thinning hair and a tuxedo greeted us.

"Welcome to the Club Trouville. Tonight we have a jam session with Orchestra of Lee and Lester young with Vocalist…."

TJ cut him off. "Great. I hear its being broadcast on the radio. One of those radio shows. My sister is really excited to be present for one."

"Why yes. The broadcast starts in 20 minutes. I'll have you seated. Will you be dining with us?"

"No, just drinks for us."

He led us into a large room, that looked like any of those nightclubs you'd see in old movies. Lots of tables, with well-dressed waiters and all of it was in a art-deco style. It all looked very classy. We were seated only about 20 feet from the stage, where some men were setting up instruments. The was a good crowd, with lots of young people and lots of men in uniform, army, navy and marines. There was a festive atmosphere, which I wish I could enjoy.

"This is nice." I said, still feeling guilty about going out.

"Let me give you a history lesson. If you notice you see both black and white people here today. "

"I saw the various black and white couples. So what."

"That's unheard of in this day and age. This club and the others the owner own are some of the very first integrated night clubs. This guy named Norman Ganz who was a young music lover of Jazz, set up these informal jam sessions, with some of the latest acts. Ganz who later became a famous promoter and record company exec, always fought for the dignity and rights of the African American artists in his employ. He insisted that these sessions be integrated and they are. He wanted everyone to enjoy this music equally. You're here at a big step in civil rights."

We ordered some drinks and waited for the show to start. I continued to feel guilty for being here. Tori was out there lost and here I am at a night club with a drink in my hand. It was all interesting and strange but I couldn't shake that feeling.

TJ ordered us a couple of Martini's and I passed the time, by people watching. Anything to distract me from my guilt.

In short time a MC came and announced the start of the radio show, The Melody hour. They mentioned the sponsor, some kind of soap and without further ado, introduced the act.

"Ladies and gentleman, here they are, the Orchestra of Lee and Lester young."

I had heard of Both Lee and Lester young. They were brothers and African American, Jazz musicians who became famous. They each played with all the very best Jazz artists.

"I never knew they played together as an act."

TJ took a sip of her Martini. "They had an act during the 40's but never recorded, after they broke up the group, they each became famous separately. Just enjoy it."

The group itself was a very much a Jazz group and they jumped into some very good up-tempo, swing type jazz songs. I could almost call it rock and roll, almost. This was the era, where the jazz, style of be-bop was getting started and I was witnessing it. Andre, would give his two front teeth to see this.

After about 3 songs, the crowd was well into the swing of things with a lot young couples dancing and having a grand old time. Everyone was swinging and dancing like there was no tomorrow, save me of course. Still I felt so wrong being here."

Finally they launched into a Jazz song called Benny's Bugle. It was a song written by Benny Goodman and I remember it as Andre was learning it one day for his Jazz class. I miss the simplicity of those days.

As soon as the song ended, the MC, all smiles, came up to the microphone.

"Ladies and Gentleman, if you hear these microphones bouncing around, because the children here at the Trouville tonight are swinging from the rafters and we do mean swinging and swinging solid. Here ladies and gentlemen here is our Trouville star Miss Billie Holiday and Billie's first number on our program tonight, Solitude."

When I heard the name Billie Holiday my jaw fell open and when the woman herself, clad in a beautiful, green silk dress came out, I almost fell out of my chair.

It was Billie Holiday herself, Lady Day or to put simply one of the most famous female vocalists of all time. And she was standing less than 20 feet away. I couldn't believe it, again it was like a dream.

A second later, she began to sing a slow and sad ballad, called Solitude. I know the song which is about missing a lost love and wishing they'd come back.

"In my solitude
You haunt me
With dreadful ease
Of days gone by

In my solitude
You taunt me
With memories
That never die

I sit in my chair
And filled with despair
There's no one could be so sad
With gloom everywhere
I sit and I stare
I know that I'll soon go mad"

Between the fact that the song was pretty much exactly how I felt or the fact that Billie was singing it, I burst into tears.

"I shouldn't be here. Tori's alone and I shouldn't be here." I then started to get up.

TJ took my hand, stopped me and handed me a handkerchief "I took you here more than to simply show you Billie Holiday, but to show you something. I want you to look around at the women around you. Especially the ones alone that aren't with men."

I did so and noticed looks of sadness of nearly all of them and like me at least one of them were crying.

"Jade, I took you here because, to show you, you're not alone. There probably isn't one woman in this nightclub, that isn't worried about someone, off fighting in the war. Be it a brother, a friend, a boyfriend, a husband, an uncle or even father, they're all worried. They don't even know where they are, North Africa or The Pacific, they don't know. They're all afraid their loved ones won't come back. But they're here trying to live their lives, keep going. You're not alone here. Your not. If they can enjoy the music, than so can you. Just listen, you're getting a chance that most people only dream of. Just enjoy it."

I looked at their faces again and realized she was right. This was the 2nd world war, it wouldn't end for another 3 years. I could see the worry, the sadness and the longing in their faces as the woman around me, like me, wanted their loved ones back.

Being in their presence, women like me who were worried about missing loved ones, for the first time since I woke up, I didn't feel alone. I was with people who understood perfectly how I felt. We shared the same pain, the same longing. This odd kinship, made me feel at home in this strange place. If they could enjoy the music, then I could as well.

So I focused on Billie and her music. Her voice was crystal clear, not ruined by drug abuse and drinking that would eventually cause her to die at the age of 44. She was young and alive and brilliant, a shining star. So I let the music carry me away and let it soothe my wounded soul. It was a fantastic experience. I would so want to share this with Tori.

She sang more numbers, I hear music, Embraceable you and even her famous version of Strange fruit. I took the time to look at the African American patrons during that song. If you're not familiar with it, it's a song about lynching's in the American south. They all had strange, pensive, emotional and sad expressions as if they were thinking back to people they knew that wound up hanging from trees. It being the 1940's its very possible they did know people that got lynched. It was still happening.

After that song, Billie and the band took a break. When the lights came up, TJ tapped me on the shoulder to get my attention.

"You've been transfixed. How are you feeling?"

"Surprisingly, a little better. Actually less horrible."

"Good, tell me, did you ever think you'd see Billie Holiday in person."

"No, not even remotely. You've done this before?"

TJ drained her Martina and singled for the waitress "Yes, I find unused concert tickets on eBay, then go to the time machine to go to the show. After the business with Beck and Tori, the machine was ruined. Sikowitz took a teaching job here in LA and rebuilt the machine. But I was still in England. We visit a couple times a year and I use it. For example, 4 days ago I saw Led Zeppelin on 6/21/1977. Amazing show."

I suddenly thought of something. "But what about V, your wife. Isn't her father still worried?"

"Well we can't visit directly as the machine is here and her father is in England, but through a lawyer in 1873, she sent a letter to him. She said she was ok, and even included some pictures of her new life. We didn't mention the whole marriage and relationship thing but we will in the next letter we'll send."

"Did he respond?"

It took months and months for him to get the letter and an equal amount of time to respond, but he did. He was very grateful his daughter was ok. But Jade. I have something for you to think about, more than you're not alone."

"What?"

TJ lowered her voice. "You walked into a trap and you feel like a fool, you doubt your ability to lead. Am I right?"

I couldn't help but nod my head. "Yes."

"Jade, several thousand miles away right now, near the island of Midway, the Japanese fleet, thinks it's luring the American carriers out, so he can trap and destroy them. What they don't know is that we've broken their naval code. We know their coming and about where they're going to be. As we speak, the Yorktown, the Enterprise and the Hornet are all speeding into battle. Admiral Yamamoto and the Japanese fleet are walking into a trap. That battle will be fought and when it's done, 4 Japanese carriers and one cruiser will be on the bottom of the ocean. I used to hate history, now I love it. But I digress. Yamomoto, the architect of the Japanese plan, say what you'd like about him, but he was no dummy. He went to Harvard, was a tactical genius and right now as he sits in his cabin aboard his command ship, he has no idea, he's going to get his ass kicked."

I think I knew where this was going. "Go on."

"Jade, you're not the only person to be lured into a trap. Right now the German 6th army is moving towards a town in Russian, known as Stalingrad. It will turn out to be one of the biggest traps known to mankind, the result is the almost total destruction of the 6th army. You're not the first to be suckered and you're not going to be the last. Yes, you screwed up, yes you were arrogant and didn't listen. I do the same thing. But those are human qualities and in a way, you are still very human. I know this won't take away your guilt, but it may help you come to terms with it.

I sat back and thought about those Japanese ships, headed towards their doom. While her words didn't help alleviate my guilt or anguish, it was beginning to put it in perspective. Something I think I needed.

"You have a good point."

"Great." TJ said with a smirk. "You think about that, enjoy the music and when we're done here. We meet with my wife, and after, we're going to another show in a different decade, I think you'll like it."

I'm going to end the chapter here. It's way too long already. Things will be continued in the next chapter.

TJ has given Jade a lot to think about, namely, that she is not alone.

What other era or concert is she going to take Jade to.

If you had a time machine and could see any performer who would it be: Elvis, The Beatles, Sinatra. I like Jazz a bit and would love to see Charlie Parker. In the rock vein, it would be Led Zeppelin

Chase from Zoey 101 who is played by Sean Flynn, is actually the grandson of Mega famous silver screen star, Errol Flynn.

Of course Lola from Zoey was played by Victoria Justice.

I strive for accuracy, when I write about the past. There was a Club Trouville, on the corner of Beverly and Fairfax in 1942. Though I had no clue what it looked like, that I made up.

But on June 1st, 1942, Billie Holiday with the orchestra of Lee and Lester Young did play that night. She did perform the song, Solitude as I have a snippet of the radio show they broadcast that night on tape. I don't know of the real name of the show they broadcast, but they did really broadcast that night. In fact the MC announcing Billie Holiday, that in fact are the MC's exact words that night.

What TJ told Jade about Norman Ganz was very true. He was a pioneer in civil rights and a great lover of music.

I included as many details as I could and made up the rest to fill it in.

Lee and Lester young were indeed Jazz musicians who both became prominent in their own right. They never recorded officially. But you can hear a recording of them from a radio show in 1942 performing Benny's bugle, on youtube. Just do a search on "Lee & Lester young"

I also highly recommend you listen to Billie Holiday performing Solitude. You can find copies of her singing that song on youtube. A great, haunting and sad song. Lyrics used without permission.

I had planned to call this chapter Solitude, but in honor of the late great, David Bowie, I decided to call it, Life on Mars. It's a song of his. Incidentally, Liz Gillies tweeted that same song just today, in honor of Bowie as well, so I have to go with that.

David Bowie, (1947-2016) Rest in Peace.