Topping the charts, the newest indie band, Star Fall, is now touring the country. Everything was going smoothly until one fateful night, when the band was consumed by a great light. The next morning, all five members awaken in their tour bus, each one now sporting a mysterious device. Things become more confusing when they are confronted by the mysterious alien, Arrow; who claims to be the former red ranger of the planet Sonion, and that Earth is now in the crosshairs of the insidious Warwol Studios. Now armed with the Star Striker Morphers and under the guidance of Arrow, Star Fall defends the Earth against the mania of Director Warwol and his legions of Headliners. Reach for the Stars! It's morphin time! Power Rangers: Star Strikers!
Le Gros Fromage
The crowd roared its approval as Star Fall sung another hit. As the song finished Candace yelled out, "That's it Los Angeles! Goodnight!" The crowd cheered more as they wanted more, but the curtains closed, and the concert concluded. The band sighed as they began to pack up, until Arrow popped his head in saying, "Um guys, there is someone here who wants to talk to you."
Just then the someone burst in, a rather impressive chef. He immediately took Trent's hand and began to shake it saying, "Hello there, I am Reginald, the newest celebrity chief here in the city of angels. I just had to come and see Star Fall in person. And let me just say I am a huge fan of your music. My restaurant is having its grand opening tommorow, and it would be an honor if you attended the grand opening as patrons."
He stopped shaking it and said, "Of course, I won't charge you. Your presence will be payment enough." Before Trent could respond Roxie bellowed out, "Of course we'll be there!" The chef beamed and said, "Wonderful, I am holding you to that." He left then and Trent gave a slightly disappointed glare to the drummer. Joey said what Trent did not, "Why did you promise that? We don't know if we can go to the restaurant!"
Candace contributed to this conversation by noting, "Yeah, we are supposed to be on the road tommorow, so we can't go to this restaurant, even if we wanted to." Just then Gene stormed in, especially irate. He gave a death glare to Roxie and shouted, "You have really done it this time Roxie!" Roxie shrugged and said, "Ok, so I agreed to have us go to a restaurant, I don't see why you're getting so riled up about it." Gene fumed and said, "I'm not talking about that." Roxie was confused, "If you're not talking about that then what are you talking about?"
In the Star Fall tour bus Gene opened Roxie's room, and the band alongside there robotic roadie were assaulted by a stench of biblical proportions. All save Roxie and Gene started to gag, Roxie being immune to the stench because of her role in the creation of it and Gene because he put on a gas mask before opening the door.
Inside Roxie's room was a pile of filth and muck that made a cesspool look clean by comparison. The sight and smell of all the muck and scum made Arrow loose his lunch, which made the overall air quality improve enough to be technically breathable. Kabir found it hard to love Roxie when witnessing this mess, while the others were just wondering how the drummer was even alive given the unsanitary conditions.
Gene angrily noted, "Your room is a biohazard and quite possibly radioactive!" To emphasize his point, Gene pulled out a Geiger counter and ran it across the room in a sweeping motion. When it started to beep heavily and the needle went into the red as he held it over a spilled milk container with bits of cereal in it, his eyes widened. Throwing up his hands Gene said, "That's it, I'm calling a hazmat squad!"
As Gene hurriedly booked a hotel Roxie decided to bite the bullet, "I guess you won't be happy about me saying that Star Fall would go to a restaurants grand opening." Gene paused and said, "You arranged a press event?" Roxie said, "The chef guy said the food would be free, so I accepted." Gene said, "We are going to be here a few days at least, but you attending a fancy restaurant's grand opening is a great boost to your publicity."
He mulled it over a bit before saying, "You luck out Roxie, the PR coming from you guys attending a restaurant's grand opening will offset the delay to our tour. So I'm not taking the money I'll have to pay the professionals to kill your room with fire out of your budget." Roxie fist pumped saying, "Awesome." Then the part about her possibly having to pay the hazmat team went through and she said, "Wait, what?"
Reginald smirked as began to prepare for his evil plan. In the safety of his kitchen the human form he had taken fell away to reveal his true nature. In truth Reginald was not and had never been human. He was in reality Chef Headliner, the newest of Warwol Studio's monster attempting to become the new leading actor in the latest cinematic masterpiece The Dark Rangers From Planet Earth.
In the place of the rail thin chef was a pudgy rat in a chef's uniform, best resembling a chuck-e-cheese robot in a fancy chef's uniform. The difference between the robotic Headliner and one of those animatronic entertainers, at least at first glance, was the lack of any seeming stiffness of movement, as well as a French mustache.
Surrounded by statues of himself and forcing the B-bolts to prepare food, Chef Headliner activated the big screen TV that he used to communicate with the studio ship still in orbit. He was met by the sight of Flit Blades, Jors Predrun, Vouge Specs, and Dr. Rukanji Xenos. But none of these were the ones the Headliner wanted to talk to. In a thick and haughty French accent Chef Headliner asked, "Where is Warwol. I wanted to give the director a status update personally."
Jors shrugged and said, "He's in a meeting with some press agency or another. But whatever you wanted to say to him you can say to me." The Headliner let out a haughty sigh but decided to just give Jors the update, "I got the Star Strikers to come to my restaurant's grand opening. Now it is only a matter of time before I destroy them and secure my rightful place on the big screen."
He turned to the B-bolts in his kitchen saying, "Because I'm the big cheese around here." Then, unprompted by anything, Chef Headliner began to sing.
Chef Headliner:
I'm the prince of Provolone;
I'm the king of Camembert;
I'm the master of the Munster.
I'll have restaurants everywhere
And since I'm always lookin' for new slaves to work these mines
I develop new employee plans all the time
Chef Headliner then spoke, "Get a load of this one."
Chef Headliner:
I capture fools by the bushel all throughout the universe
I frappe and sauté; and braise; and blaze; and marinate; and hollandaise, but first
I'll put them all to work
For me, me, me, me, Reginald
Now the B-bolts joined in.
B-bolts:
The Big Cheese, big cheese
Chef Headliner:
I'm the big, big cheese
B-bolts:
Forever and ever
The big cheese, big cheese
Chef Headliner:
That's me
B-bolts:
Hail, Cheeser
Chef Headliner:
Hail, Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, and Me
I'm Reginald, the Big Cheese
I live my life with a flair
I wear gold-plated underwear
B-bolts:
He can light up any room, and make the women stop and stare
Chef Headliner:
I've the face of a god. I've got a herculean body
B-bolts:
But he won't be satisfied till he's the king of the silver screen.
Chef Headliner:
I'm gonna make it mine all mine
B-bolts:
The big cheese, the big cheese
Chef Headliner:
I'm the big, big cheese
B-bolts:
Forever and ever
The big cheese, big cheese
Chef Headliner:
That's me
B-bolts:
Long live the cheese
Hail cheeser
Chef Headliner:
Hail me, me, me, me, me, and me
I'm Reginald the big, the really, really great big cheese
With that big finish the B-bolts and Headliner got back to work.
The four studio executives were stunned into silence by the unprompted and boasting musical number. When their voices rejoined them Jors could only mutter, "Dear lord, he's worse than Warwol." Vouge and Flit both looked at Jors, their eyes demanding an explanation while Xenos just calmly walked over to his work tool kit.
Jors decided to tell his co-workers about an incident early in the studio's history, "Warwol actually wanted the ship to be in the shape of his face. Me and the benefactor managed to talk him out of it." They noticed the surprising lack of snarky comments by Xenos, and turned to see him holding a hammer, and he shouted, "Goodbye cruel universe!" He then arced the hammer, intent on shattering his life support helmet.
The others physically restrained him, stopping his suicide attempt. As they held him Xenos screamed, "NO! PLEASE LET ME DIE! I CAN'T LIVE KNOWING I HAVE CREATED A THING WORSE THAN WARWOL!" Jors calmly said, "How do you think I feel? I was the one who actually made the guy." Desperately struggling against the others Xenos replied, "well I made his existence possible!"
Eventually Xenos calmed down, but he was placed on suicide watch for the next 24 hours, if not longer.
As the morning sun graced the city, in a hotel Candace sighed as she walked out of the room. Roxie had to be the worst roommate possible, but as the only other girl in the band meant that they shared a room whenever the band had to be in a hotel. Of course, Roxie was quite possibly the least feminine person she had ever known, and that included the football players Candace knew back when she was a cheer leader. And Roxie snored with a sou
She needed a few moments away from the drummer, as all friends needed from time to time. She had excused herself to get a drink and some ice from the machine. As she put the ice bucket provided into the machine the strange alien she remembered being called Glut walked up and said, "Hey" before putting coins in the snack vending machine.
A tired, "Hey" emitted from the lead vocalist of Star Fall. It took her tired mind a few moments to register who she was talking to, and when she did Candace whirled around to confront the alien. But before she could morph Glut interjected, "Don't bother morphing, I'm not here to fight you. Even if I wanted to I couldn't pose a threat to you or anyone."
A little kid ran up and Glut said, "Watch this." Glut jumped out and yelled, "Oooga booga booga!" Instead of being terrified or even startled the kid just pointed and laughed. Glut merely sighed and turned back to his previous task. Candace asked, "So, are we gonna get attacked soon?" Glut shrugged and said, "I don't know, they never tell me anything. I just get sent to the planet and get picked up once filming is complete. Usually at least."
Candace quirked an eyebrow but decided she didn't care about Glut enough to inquire further. She took her ice and meager breakfast and trudged back to the room.
The restaurant opening was jam packed with fancy people, and all of Star Fall was feeling rather out of place. Joey spoke up, "Maybe we should leave." But before anyone could respond Reginald came out and said, "Thank you so much for coming. If you will follow me, I have a table ready for you."
The band mates were led to their table, and each given a menu. As the band read the options, they were glad the meal was free of charge, especially considering the prices. Trent looked up to their server and asked, "Are there any low cal options? I gotta keep this figure." Roxy chuckled, "Oh yeah, you used to be a total blimp." Trent fixed her with an annoyed glare and hit her on the back of the head with his menu, earning an 'ow" from the drummer.
They soon noticed something odd about the other patrons, namely they are seemed to be advancing on the band. And not in the eager crowd way, no this had a distinctly angry mob vibe to it. Roxy asked Kabir, "Is it normal for posh people to surround people like this?" Kabir shook his head. It was then that Candice noticed Glut nearby, wearing a set of Groucho glasses for some reason. Candice yelled out the simple fact of the matter, "It's a trap!"
Reginald dramatically cackled, "That is correct rangers! I am not the handsome and talented Reginald!" The human hologram fell away, revealing a robotic rat of human size dressed in a chefs uniform, "I am the handsome and talented Chef Headliner!" The rangers noticed that in spite of the change from man to monster, there wasn't much difference between the two. Reginald had been distinctly rodent like in appearance. The sole reason Roxy did not point this out was because she was pumping herself up for the coming fight.
The band jumped up and initiated the morphing sequence, taking the form of the Star Strikers. On the chest of each ran a white sash decorated with musical notes that looked much like stars, and each had a helmet with details similar to the forms of there zords. Trent's helmet had a design of a jet pilot, Joey's had designs of a race car, Roxie's had designs based on a dump truck, Kabir's on a freight truck, and Candace had the designs of a helicopter.
Soon battle was joined, but neither side was really doing any damage to the other. None of the rangers wanted to hurt the innocent citizens, and though Chef Headliner desperately wanted to hurt the rangers he had no combat capabilities to speak of. Soon the fight entered the kitchen, where the B-bolts who were previously doing all the hard work were dismissed.
Chef Headliner and Joey now dueled, with each using whatever was around them. The clang of pots and pans resounded, until a still living lobster was expertly thrown by the bassist at the robotic monster. The sea food promptly took its revenge upon the chef, who yelped in pain before declaring, "I won't be foiled by a cockroach of the sea!" The lobster somehow understood Intergalactic Basic (which by cosmic coincidence was identical to English when spoken) and was understandably offended by the usage of this particular name of its kin.
The eerily intelligent lobster started to snip at bolts and wires in the metallic monster, causing the robot to glitch. Yelping in pain Chef Headliner yelled out the word, "Kark!" before plunging head first into a pot of boiling water meant for the lobster. The blue ranger was highly confused but decided to role with it. When the lobster offered a claw in a form of fist bump, Joey just gave it to the sea creature.
Back in the Warwol studio ship Warwol himself watched the fight, and got up from his director chair themed throne whilst yelling out, "Did he just use the K-word?" Vouge nodded in shock, being the most susceptible to embarrassment from profanity out of all the executives. Warwol ranted a small bit, "This is a family friendly establishment! We can't have our actors swearing!" In his native language Xenos muttered, "You couldn't tell that from working here."
Flit Blades decided to chime in, "If the position of headliner is open, I'd be happy to step in." Jors scoffed and said, "It's only the K-word. If it were the Flur-word, the J-word, the Q-word, or the double O-word, then you might have a chance. Of course, that guy would be scrapped instantly if he said the B-word." Warwol immediately rounded on the shark like agent, "Don't even joke about the B-word. Just saying the B-word once will bump a movie into triple R rating. That is not the type of movie that Warwol studios makes." Jors nodded and went to retrieve the headliner.
In the kitchen Joey was about to initiate his finisher, a shark like monster in a business suit similar to a talent agent materialized in front of him. The intelligent lobster decided to high tail it out of the kitchen, but Joey stood his ground. The alien spoke in a professional tone, yet there was an undeniable current of hatred and cruelty. The agent creature spoke, "Hello Blue Ranger. I have a feeling that your team and I will be seeing a lot more of each other." He then teleported away, the wounded Headliner in tow.
Outside the kitchen the mind controlled citizens suddenly snapped out of the trance. Trent assumed a deeper voice and said, "Don't worry citizens, the Star Strikers have this under control." Glut saw this as his cue to leave, but before he could get up the hyper intelligent lobster found him and decided to attack him in the area that all life is most vulnerable in. The pain caused Glut to yell out the most horrible word in all intergalactic parlance, "Belgium!"
On the studio ship Vouge fainted and Flit had to excuse himself to vomit. Xenos was honestly amazed and murmured, "I'm amazed that Glut had the stones to say that." Warwol was just disgusted and asked loudly, "Does he kiss his mother with that mouth?!"
Back in the hotel room Gene glared at Roxy, who was glaring back. Gene sighed and said, "That's fantastic. Not only did we not get any publicity, but we have to stay here a few more days." Roxy shouted, "It's not my fault that offer was Warwol's trick!" Gene nodded and responded, "Yes, but you are responsible for that muck thing the bio-hazard division has to deal with. It's like resident evil 7 in there!" Gene shouted this in obvious anger and started to lecture Roxie on why it was not a good idea to leave moldy things lying about.
Down the hall Danny was having a similar conversation with Glut, while Anjell was out getting food for them. Danny had suspected something when Glut put on his horrible disguise and went out, and so they could talk frankly Danny sent Anjell on a run to get pizza. "I know you had something to do with that disturbance down town" Danny accused. Glut sighed and said, "I'm not involved in anything. I never get told anything. And like I told the pink ranger this morning, even if I wanted to I can't possibly pose a threat to anyone!"
Danny paused his speech as he processed what Glut said and he asked, "Wait, the rangers are here?" Glut nodded and Danny said, "We shouldn't let Anjell talk to them." Glut nodded again then asked, "Why do you care?" Danny sighed and said, "I'd rather not deal with a depressed Anjell, ok." Anjell entered and cheerily said, "I bring sustenance! A pineapple and ham pizza for me and Glut, and a pepperoni for Danny." Glut and Danny glared at each other while eating pizza while Anjell was cheerily clueless.
Warwol had made his desires very clear, he wanted to take Chef Headliner's character in a different direction. One that could actually fight back against the rangers. So it was off to Dr. Xenos lab for enhancements. But even as the mad doctor began to vivisect the Headliner, the arrogance of the Headliner shined through. Chef Headliner yelled, "You call that cutting! I've had steaks that cut better than you!" Xenos grabbed his hammer and knocked Chef Headliner unconscious.
While Dr. Xenos personally considered it a failure to apply the antiesthetic on a Headliner, it was well worth it to not hear it talk. Plus, the extensive modifications Warwol had requested would work best if the subject was not screaming in pain. But Xenos had to hand it to the arrogant director, this was a real challenge, something the mad doctor was looking forward to. If he had a mouth of the traditional variety he would be grinning like a mad man. Dr. Xenos yelled out, "This will be my greatest work to date!" His many tendrils descended upon the unconscious Headliner, all bearing some manner of surgical tools.
It took all night, but it was finally done. Upon waking up Chef Headliner said, "The Mirror!" Xenos just clapped his hands, and two B-bolts came in carrying a full sized mirror. Seeing his new look Chef Headliner crowed, "Oh yes, now we're cooking with gas!" Xenos nodded and said, "The rangers are as good as char broiled!" Inside however he was panicking, as he thought to himself, "Curse my perfectionism! He might actually stand a chance against the rangers now. If you have a heart in your bosom oh cruel universe, please let the rangers triumph!"
"The universe might actually have a heart after all". To say Gene was pleased was an understatement. It was soon after waking up that Gene learned of an unexpected boon to the band. It turned out that the abominations born of Roxie's filth was extremely vulnerable to fire, meaning that the bus would be up and running sooner than expected. Both Gene and Joey were greatly excited by the news, Joey being ever the perfectionist.
Then there was a sound the two had begun to dread, for it promised a disruption to their careful schedules. The shrill cry of Warwol yelling, "Lights! Camera! Action!" emitted from the Morphers followed by a string of co-ordinates. Joey quickly determined that the location was just outside of town. Gene waved them off, and the Rangers sprang into action.
The elevator had a rather awkward encounter as the rangers and Glut found themselves sharing a ride down to the lobby. As the Muzak played they all faced the front in accordance with elevator etiquette. Eventually Glut spoke up, "I won't mention this if you won't." Trent curtly replied, "Agreed."
The Rangers soon found Chef Headliner at a nearby quarry, but something was different about it. The chefs outfit now had a distinctly stove like appearance, with fire licking from the new slits. The headliner spoke, "As you can plainly see Rangers, I've become even hotter than before!" This drew a general groaning from the Rangers, from Glut, and even from the Warwol Studio executives who were watching from orbit. Only Anjell and Danny did not groan, and that was more because they did not hear it. Anjell was scrambling atop a cliff to get a better viewpoint, and Danny was watching her flail about with a bemused expression.
The Chef Headliner chuckled, "Of course, a good chef knows that a main dish is best complimented by an excellent appetizer. Lets have some human on human combat!" There was a pause that, had one been there, would have been enhanced by a tumbleweed blowing past. Chef Headliner was confused, "Where are my human puppets? I enslaved them with the power of my genius cuisine!" Kabir spoke up, "Um, its been a day since they ate your food." Chef Headliner dramatically yelled, "Why would that matter?!" Then a realization hit him, and he let out a small, "Oh."
Chef Headliner composed himself, "Then I guess it's time for plan B." He snapped his fingers and a horde of B-bolts jumped out while Chef Headliner said, "B as in B-bolts!" The B-bolts chanted there staticky B's as Chef Headliner laughed at his own joke.
After some eye rolls, The rangers morphed and began there roll call. Trent went first, "Blazing through the cosmos, Star Ranger Red!" Joey went next, "Streaming through the galaxy, Star Ranger Blue!" Roxie was next, "Thundering across the stars, Star Ranger Yellow!" Then Kabir took his turn, "Riding the solar winds, Star Ranger Green!" Candace was last, but certainly not least, "Shouting through the dark matter, Star Ranger Pink!" All five of them shouted together, "Reach For The Stars! Power Rangers Star Strikers!" Behind them the run off of morphin energy created an explosion.
Chef Headliner barked out an order, "B-bolts, handle the rangers, but leave the blue one to me. I have a score to settle with him." Soon a song was struck up by the unique frequency of the Star Strikers variant of the morphin energy, and Chef Headliner unsurprisingly began to boast in song form.
Chef Headliner:
Fester out of all your doubt.
Chef Headliner is in the house!
The hottest one Warwol has hired.
SCORCHING THE RANGERS IN ARTISAN'S FIRE!
Chef Headliner punctuated this by unleashing a gout of flame that the rangers expertly dodged.
Chef Headliner:
I'm the top first choice
For the others, I'm their better.
The framed, esteemed.
The world's best Headder!
I'm a masterpiece, just take a look in my art!
I've perfected my craft when I play this part.
Joey decided that he was through with this guys boasting and sung a retort.
Joey:
Not that precisely, won't ask you nicely.
Artists are not supposed to be spicy!
Keep that physique, but you're still a freak!
I'd take you on, even at your peak!
In response Chef Headliner let loose more fire as he resung his first verse.
Chef Headliner:
Fester out of all your doubt.
Chef Headliner is in the house!
The hottest one Warwol has hired.
SCORCHING THE RANGERS IN ARTISAN'S FIRE!
Chef Headliner sighed and dramatically said, "its not easy being perfect."
Chef Headliner:
I am beauty, I am grace!
Roxie took a moment to interrupt as she sung the next line
Roxie:
But you still work for that dumb squid face!
Roxie was ignored by both sides of the conflict as the song continued
Chef Headliner:
Look at me and see I'm quaint!
I'm the only Header SAINT!
Joey began to sing in response
Joey:
You're just a stuck-up jerk.
I'll put your art to work!
I'll make you into scrap inside the dirt!
I'll strike, like never before!
I'll even out the score!
And for the record..
Your "Art" only makes me snore..
Chef Headliner began to fling fire around like nobody's business.
Chef Headliner:
So do you wanna play?
We'll do it the hard way!
I'm the only Headder workin that lives today!
You'll never get too far!
I am the morning star!
I'll ring around the Rosie, leave your fat face with a scar!
Rhythm, colors splashing
Folly, beauty, clashing
Let's get to the smashing.
Joey snarked, "Couldn't have put it better myself." He merged his twin blades together into a sword reminiscent of a bass guitar and yelled out, "Ocean Man Slash!" The water was sent in a slashing wave, and Chef Headliner could only impotently scream as he was destroyed.
Warwol sighed as Flit snarked, "Another one bites the dust." Warwol snarled and yelled, "Vouge, give him a touch up!" Vouge swallowed her distaste for Chef Headliner and nodded, teleporting down to earth. Strutting confidently to the broken remains of Chef Headliner and said, "Rise like a fine soufflé oh Chef Headliner. And don't screw it up this time!" She teleported away after imbuing the headliner with the glowing blue energy of the Glow Up Brush. As Chef Headliner became giant he roared out, "This will be your last course Rangers!"
Joey yelled out, "Lets give this jerk a delicious encore!" The band mates yelled in unison, "Form the Megazord!" The Key Hauler Zord swerved and became divided equally into two legs with stood up. Atop the legs came the Dump Truck Zord, forming the torso while its bed and grill detached. The Bass Speeder Zord became the left arm, its bumper detaching while the bed of the Dump Truck Zord became a shield. The right arm of the Megazord was the Microcopter Zord, grabbing onto the Megazord's weapon, an axe formed of the bumper of the Bass Speeder Zord and the grill of the Dump Truck Zord. Lastly was the Jetar Zord, which landed upon the Megazord to form the head. The five Rangers shouted in unison once more, "Star Striker Megazord!"
Glut got up onto a different rock outcropping and began to film the fight. Chef Headliner pointed a finger up and said, "My next artistic creation shall be a Megazord Flambé!" The fire balls sent the way of the Megazord were deflected with ease, one of which hit Glut. Glut understandably yelled in pain and fell off the rock cliff.
That was not the end of Gluts misery, as he fell into the active pit of a jumbo sized fryer in the back of a truck. The oblivious driver was talking to a friend, boasting about the fryer which was to be his restaurants newest attraction, "Yeah, I got it cheap from navy surplus. It can flash fry a buffalo in fifteen seconds." Glut had experienced this first hand, and a bump in the road led him to be thrown to the ground. All he could do was moan in pain, "Oh, my body. My deliciously fried body."
Chef Headliner was not doing much better, his flames unable to find purchase on the Megazord. A few blows were traded before the rangers decided to stop mucking about. In unison the Star Strikers yelled, "Sick Lick Strike!" A guitar riff played as a morphin grid empowered energy strike slashed through Chef Headliner who yelled, "I guess you didn't like the food!" The monster exploded as the Megazord struck a victory pose and Joey said, "Roll the credits."
On the Warwol Studios ship everyone expected Warwol to fly into a rage. His reaction surprised everyone, "Eh, good riddance to that guy." His follow up made everyone uncomfortable, "He was arrogant, narcissistic, and full of himself. Nothing like me, right?" None of the others answered him, knowing they could not possibly lie with a straight face and so left as fast as they could. Warwol was alone as he softly asked, "Right?" He shrugged and said, "Of course I'm right."
As the Star Fall tour bus was on the road again, Joey was hard at work drawing up a schedule for the band so the situation in Roxie's room would not happen again. He doubted it would be followed by his friends, but he had to try. He was a perfectionist admittedly, but this was just common sense.
Author notes
Thanks to Krockman18 for letting me use his stuff and beta reading
I have no clue how indie bands on tour get their money, though I assume each band member gets some discretionary funds of some sort. That's what Gene means when he says Roxie's budget.
The first song is a modified version of The Big Cheese from the Nuttiest Nutcracker.
The second song is a modified version of Pepperman Strikes with lyrics by Maimymayo.
The star strikers morphin energy leading to songs is a hand wave on my part to explain away the songs. Other sources can do the same thing of course.
The thing about Warwol wanting the studio's ship to be in the general shape of his face actually comes from my own imagining of what the ship would look like. Krockman18 said it was a coral reef, so it is. But I am always happy when the ideas that I have that are unusable are recycled, so I decided to sneak this little thing in as a throwaway line.
The fact that Belgium is the worst word in intergalactic parlance comes straight from the hitchhikers guide to the galaxy
Gene is of course rather pop culture savvy
I choose a pineapple and ham pizza for Glut and Anjell to enjoy because they are aliens and would enjoy unusual things like that. I do not mean to offend anyone, but pineapple and ham are both unusual toppings for pizza.