Plate after plate of food was continually brought out to Gray and Geoff, one could even see dollar signs flashing in Roxy's eyes with each plate they ordered. Normally Gray and Geoff are more frugal than this, but this was the first time they've ever been able to look at a menu and not worry about the price since they've grown up. The other tables were slightly appalled at the amount of food being wasted by the two but what started out as disgust turned into amazement as the two continued to eat more than what should've been humanly possible.
Suddenly the lights dimmed and a voice sounded out over the speakers.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Tonight we are pleased to welcome the esteemed Miss Maven! A huge round of applause for tonight's headliner!"
Gray and Geoff heard thunderous applause and even some catcalls, looking around they noticed finally that the main room gradually became packed while they were stuffing their faces with food. The lights went completely out and then a single spotlight aimed at the right side of the stage. Heels could be heard clicking on the floor until a woman in an evening gown finally came through the curtain and into the spotlight.
A beautiful woman around 30 with short black hair tied up gently walked gracefully into the spotlight, she wore a soft pink evening gown that was exquisite. The dress was a long sleeveless gown with floral lace applique embellishment and side-draped ruffles. The floral lace applique embellishment continues down the fluted skirt ending with a sweeping train. With her soft white skin exposed near her neck and arms, her makeup accentuated her natural beauty even more. The Bateau neckline covered her up to her neck, but the mesh exposed an ample bosom that would leave many women jealous. Gray and Geoff both thought that this woman could easily get any man to die for her if she wanted them to.
As the woman stepped onto the stage, a playful smile appeared on her lips as she scanned the crowd. The crowd went silent as she started to say "All of you, welcome... I truly feel blessed to have so many fans, I hope all of you continue to support me!"
Gray and Geoff, while both of them were enamored by her beauty, they thought the opening statement seemed a little generic and was a little disappointed. Miss Maven reached out and touched the microphone stand, running her fingers up and down it seductively before finally taking the microphone off of it and bringing it up to her mouth.
The crowd went completely silent as a bewitching voice came from Miss Maven.
"Can you hear my song of yearning...
Can you see my passion burning...
I need a hero to save me...
Please hero set me freeeeee!"
As the last word 'free' was stretched out by Miss Maven, the background music started to kick in and pick up with a heavy bass guitar beat the got louder. As Miss Maven stretched out the word 'free' her hand looked like she was reaching up and out to something or someone, a small trigger appeared in her hand which she immediately pressed. The curtain was burned away revealing a full rock band as Miss Maven's dress became engulfed in flames and burned to ashes immediately revealing her outfit under that was a tight black leather sleeveless vest with leather pants and black leather boots. She reached up and unfastened her hair and let it flow naturally showing her as a completely different type of beauty.
"Welcome to the nightmare!" Miss Maven screamed as her band started their opening number.
Both Gray and Geoff had food hanging from their mouths as they were not expecting that at all but judging from the crowds screaming and cheering they were totally expecting something like this. Still, Gray and Geoff swallowed their food and stood up with everyone else getting in to it. The other girls in the side rooms came out and started jumping to the beat with the crowd. The tables and chairs were getting in everyone's way so the chairs were starting to get thrown to the sides while the tables were drawn down into the floor and then covered by a steel hatch of sorts even if the tables still had food on them.
Once the tables and chairs were removed, the crowd started to push towards the stage while Miss Maven and her band continued to rock.
"Running through a city that never sleeps
searching for my one 'n only salvation.
The night burns on when I reach you
My only escape is your touch
Keep me warm
You're my fire
Let me burn
With desire
I want to let it burn let it all burn!
Burn it up burn it up
Burn my body for yooouuu!
Burning it for yoooouuu!
BURN BURN BURNING FOR YOU!"
__________
"Did you find her?" a worried Miss Maven asked one of her staff anxiously after her concert, a towel hanging around her neck and a bottle of water in her hand.
"I'm sorry ma'am, we've been unable to locate her and the tracker in her pendant stopped responding shortly before your concert."
Maven bit her thumbnail out of anxiety and then said "Keep looking! She's smart so she won't leave the city and everyone knows her around here so it's only a matter of time."
Maven whispered to herself "Stay safe Lillie" as the staff member bowed politely to Maven and then went off to arrange for more people to search for the girl named Lillie.
__________
9 more songs, 14 busted chairs, dozens of spilled drinks, and two sick pilots later, the place started to close as Gray and Geoff were able to return to some chairs after Miss Maven's concert finished. Gray and Geoff were feeling sick from having eaten much more than what should've been possible as they sat at their table sipping ginger ale while feeling bloated. Roxy then came over with a perky smile and decided to deliver the nail in the coffin by handing them their bill.
The bill was so long that you'd think they were feeding a party of at least a dozen people from it, but it was just them. Looking at the total cost at the bottom, Gray saw it ended up being almost 400 credits. Considering the drinks cost only 2 credits this actually seemed a lot less than what Gray imagined as he remembered the mountains of food they ordered.
Gray waved down Roxy and said, "Convert this to merits so we can pay for it at the base."
Roxy looked confused for a second "Sir, I already did convert it into merits."
Both Gray and Geoff looked at each other and went pale thinking about how they ate enough food to be able to refuel a mech about 20 times. Roxy smiled politely at them again. "We really appreciate your patronage, but we are past closing time so I would recommend returning to the military Headquarters for the night or renting a room from the Inn next door, but with Miss Maven in town I imagine all of our established Inns and Hotels are booked solid."
Gray was a little afraid to ask but said "What's the exchange rate here for merits to credits?"
"It varies, but most establishments in this city charge at a 2 credits per merit ratio" replied Roxy.
"Really? The sign on the way in said 25 credits per energy cell for a recharge and we calculated that it would cost us 1500 credits to recharge our truck meaning that 1 merit would be worth about 75 credits"
"Was it a lower case C or an upper case C on the sign?"
"Um... lower case..."
"Then those were hundredths of credits or cents of credits. 100 c is 1 C." said Roxy
"Heh heh... so in other words the military is screwing us by charging us 20 merits to recharge the truck when we could get it for around 1 merit here," said Gray sheepishly.
"If that were true then yes, commercial-grade chargers can't recharge military-grade energy cells so it isn't being ripped off, it is supply and demand," remarked Roxy
Gray and Geoff both stared at her, wondering if she was related to Caleb in some twisted way and almost forgot that Roxy was an NPC and not a real person.
"I'm a waitress and hostess here while going to school during the daytime, I sometimes even perform here," said Roxy proudly.
"What do you perform?" asked Geoff.
"That's a secret, but I doubt you two could afford me," said Roxy.
All kinds of wild thoughts flashed through Gray and Geoff's minds as they tried to guess the meaning in her last statement. Finally, Roxy realized that what she said sounded completely different than what was intended and blushed before saying angrily "NOT THAT! I'm a dance instructor! I offer private tutoring!"
"Why is that a secret?" said Gray
"Because... it's embarrassing for someone like me that wants to become a lawyer to admit that she can only teach kids how to dance."
"I think it's more embarrassing that you want to be a lawyer," said Geoff smugly.
"Screw you!" said Roxy as she whacked Geoff on the back of the head with her tray.
After talking with Roxy for a little bit longer, Geoff and Gray started to return to the military headquarters in the city to log off for the night.