The night began with an indigo sky draped in celestial lights. They dazzled in hues of electric blue, crystal white, and dusty rose..
Aerial ships as multicolored spheres streaked quickly across the sky…Dwarfed by the milky way galaxy hovering near enough to touch.
The artificial lights of the time were designed to avoid celestial interference, thus, every star, meteor, and comet, could be clearly seen.
In Verdant city, several streets surrounding a hexagonal structure were closed. No vehicles were allowed to pass; Only droves of humans and non-humans on foot.
--"Members of the host planet must enter through gates X06 and Y07 only! Please have your bio-bands on and activated!"--
With a cheerful yet artificial tone, instructions rang out through speakers hidden over the entryways of Z Stadium. Humans in large clusters gathered to create a single line, chatting amongst themselves, taking photos and videos...cheering and chanting as they came closer to the inner sanctum..
- - - -
"Come on, man."
"...."
"You look like you're gonna throw up!"
"I can't do this, Aura."
On a moving path leading human attendees to Y07, two handsome young men stood side by side in stark contrast; One in khaki and white, the other in denim and navy.
"I didn't buy us outfits at the Verge so you could back out, Mr. Loop."
"Shut up. I'm not feeling well."
"Nervous diarrhea?"
"NO!"
"Then what is it?"
"I'm just feeling..off.."
Looking through windswept bangs the color of snow, amber eyes hidden behind clear-gold framed glasses, Loop gazed at the lines of humans and nonhumans.. then, at the holographic forms of the returned group, W.O.L.F
The image was from an older time, when the Idols were younger and performing in everything and everywhere. He was also of a freer nature then. Before things became..complicated.
Aura sighed while watching his companion brood, hazel eyes pensive for reasons of their own. Throwing an arm over his shoulder, he pulled him in and ruffled his hair.
"Look. There are hundreds of acolytes here. The Idols will be hovering above us and not even come in direct contact. If one of them notices you, you'll receive a backstage invite through your bio-band and 'then' you can decide whether you want to agree to the meetup or not. And hey, if you aren't noticed, at least you know you tried. And since they're back on this planet for a while, you have plenty of chances in the future.."
Loop listened calmly and earnestly..drawing comfort and strength from the support and warmth being offered. Feeling better, he took a slow breath and turned mischievous, dragging his feet and weighing the other down.
"Aura..I'm tired. Can you carry me?"
"Looks like you're feeling better."
Gently unraveling the arms clinging to him stubbornly, Aura grinned and gently pushed him away.
"Only way I'm picking you up is to throw you. The concert will start soon and here you are hanging all over a human; What will the Idols think?"
Loop stuck his tongue out in response, settling for roping the other's arm with his own. "I want to have my cake and eat it too."
"How spoiled.."
The archway of Y07's entrance hovered over and swallowed the two men within, enveloping them in a tunnel that radiated green light. The neon lights formed liquid beams which scanned their bodies from head to toe in erratic patterns.
"Hey!"
Jumping at the strange sensations moving even beneath the skin, Aura looked above as a screen with his biological data whizzed by.
"What the hell is all this? I've gone to a few fan meets, but this is my first IDOL concert. I feel like it's not supposed to be this weird.. "
Loop calmly spread his legs and arms shoulder width apart, closing his eyes as the emerald beams ran through his body.
"The tunnels have a device that captures all genetic information."
"Why?"
"...basically to check for disease and deficiencies, as well as the symbiotes we become hosts to after being with Idols. This is what connects us; How we react to them and how they heal us. The AI systems can analyze the health of the symbiotes.. to tell whether the human is in an 'acolyte' state...or if another idol's symbiotes are present.."
"Why don't they just sing, dance, and send us home like the old ones? What the hell do they care if we're sick and why does singing even work? Honestly, this whole 'acolyte/symbiotes' business is suspect. Aren't you guys just hosts to parasites? Don't blame me if you turn into something.."
Loop smiled, relaxing his posture as the lights receded and they slowly approached an opening in the tunnel.
"Idols need humanity. That's why they want to know if we're unwell; So we can be good hosts for the symbiotes. And why singing? Well, all sound as we know it is technically non-existent; It only has form once raw vibrations are translated by the tympanic membrane in the ear. I suspect that the Idols 'songs' are not really songs at all.. but a series of vibrations that interact with various parts of the brain and chemical processes to influence cells. We just perceive it as music an-"
"Stop Stop Stop!"
Waving his hands frantically, Aura cut the explanation short.
"Forget I asked! Ugh. You sound like Ms. Leeds right now.."
Loop laughed openly at his distraught companion, watching as he ran a hand through his hair to shake the familiar musings.
"Sorry Au. I know how hard that Idol course was for you.."
- - -
---"WELCOME!….to Z Stadium!!!"---
Cool air bathed Loop and Aura as they entered the concert hall, finding themselves enclosed in a gargantuan sphere with concave platinum walls.
Above them were hovering concentric rings of copper, ascending in 7 tiers. Within the face of the concave walls at the highest level, windows revealed Agents and other crew members moving quickly to and fro or monitoring the situation of guests below.
Aura looked at the long gunmetal stage hovering at a distance, its shimmer and elliptical shape something out of a space age novel. Perhaps the only traditional element was a grand crimson velvet curtain, levitating behind the ellipse, if only to make a pleasing backdrop for the Idols who would appear.
---"W.O.L.F is SO happy to be back where it all began! Especially since they can now celebrate with all their most loyal 'pups'!!!"---
Hundreds entered the stadium in excitement and erupted with applause, the AI system speaking cheerfully above the deafening noise.
---"They have a special surprise for all of you, so stick around after the end! Now please make your way to the stellar mats! If you can't find yours, you can access assistant 'Holo' from the X9 app!"---
"What's a stellar mat?"
Moving deftly through the crowds, Aura followed Loop who began gazing intently at the screen on his bio-band. The bio-band itself was like a smart watch, but flatter, and was currently projecting a holographic map in 3D.
"It's a device that fuses you to the floor. It also monitors your vitals during the performance."
As the expert he was, Loop followed the glowing spot on the map until he reached the center of the stadium. In the obsidian colored floors that shined like mirrors, a circular outline shined with silver light when he approached.
"This is the stellar mat. Once the concert begins and you step on it, your body won't be able to travel outside of the space given, and it creates a temperature controlled field so you don't overheat or run out of oxygen."
Aura looked at the glowing shape embedded in the floor and pulled up his own map on the bioband. It led to a spot a few feet away.
"In the past, there were lots of deaths from overpacked venues at human concerts. People were trampled on or suffocated to death from too many bodies squished together and poor crowd control."
"Makes sense."
Aura found and stepped on his allotted space, watching as it glowed with recognition. "But what if someone passes out or has a heart attack?"
"That's why you're fused to an area. Even if you pass out, your body won't fall, it'll just sway back and forth. Monitoring vitals helps..so that if you have a medical emergency, it will register on their equipment right away. They have on site medics to take you out."
"Cool.."
For the first time that night Aura looked genuinely impressed, stepping on his stellar mat and giving it a few taps with his sneaker. Loop smiled to himself and let his friend try to figure out its mechanics, eyes drifting to the hovering ellipse that shimmered above and alone, heart quickening at the thought that soon a familiar presence would be standing upon it..
- - -
"Take it all the waaaay ~"
"Shut it, Ori. Don't belt out of tune before we even get on stage.."
"You shut your trap, Fox! I'm perfectly in tune.. Are you jealous of my range?"
"Range? You call that sound like a dying mouse..range? HAH!"
"Why are you guys at each other's throats? Are you stupid? We go on in 10 minutes! Don't make me beat you both up.."
"Calm down Labrador. Physical violence is not the way.."
"The hell it is! Did you just use my full name?!"
"So what? Only your MUSE can call you that? Give me a break..we've known you far longer than her.."
"Is that why you're in a mood? How many times do I have to tell you that she isn't my Muse but my sister!"
"Yeah Fox, his sister came up from Sirius last week! That's why he didn't hang with us. You're still his 'fake-muse-till-the-real-one-shows-up'. Heh.."
"Wait. You think I, the 12-Tailed Fox, an Idol, want to be another Idol's muse?"
"That's not the case? But when Lab got drunk didn't he-
"What are you saying you little..!"
"Help! Wolf! Lab's committing violence!"
In the luxury lounge of Idol group W.O.L.F, a tradition of henpecking and harassment ensued. Ori, Lab, and Fox spared no expense in gunning for each other; Their best shows had always been after a backstage spat or two. Enjoying the ridiculous practice, they raised their voices and roughed each other up, waiting and expecting their rowdiest leader to join in..
"Wolf?"
"Wolfie?"
"Wolphlex?"
But the Wolf did not join in either to stop them or issue threats. He sat on a leather chair, back towards them as he hunched over, arms wrested on bended knees with hands folded as if in prayer. They gathered around him quickly and sat on the plush carpet. Feeling the warmth of his companions, a long sigh finally escaped him.
"I don't think I can do this."
"What do you mean?" Ori looked up in concern and rested a hand on his knee.
"You're the Platinum-Star Idol, Wolf..You don't get cold feet, right?" Fox frowned and spoke gently, no hint of the former attitude present.
"I'm not worried about the performance, but..the other thing.."
"You mean finding your muse? Initiating a resonance event tonight?" Lab gave voice to what he knew was clearly on their leader's mind.
"Yeah. I don't think I prepared enough for a rejection...What if I can't-
"FOOL!"
Startling the four Idols, the lounge door was kicked open smoothly by a familiar red patent leather heel.
"Cherry?!"
Striding in with a queen's bearing, the Agent tossed red hip-length tresses behind her shoulder, amethyst eyes smoldering as she pointed a glass tablet towards the man in question.
"If you're defeated by a mere 'thought' of what 'could' happen, I wouldn't be surprised if that muse denies you and then laughs in your face!"
"Lady Cheristhemane!" Alarmed, the remaining Idols stood to their companion's defense, shielding him from the words that were both fiery and blunt.
"I'm right and you know it! Instead of using time to sulk about something that hasn't happened yet, use what you have to bring those doe-eyed humans to their knees!"
"It's rude to eavesdrop, Lady Cheri." Ori quickly interjected before hiding behind Fox
"Silence!" Turning back to the Wolf in question, she emphatically continued.
"Once you've given your all, THEN you have the right to hang your head and make me look bad like this! Whether you think you'll succeed or you think you won't, you're right!"
"Wolf.."
Each Idol shared a quiet look as they processed the meaning of her outburst, looking towards their leader, concerned but expectant.
Wolf himself seemed to have been roused from within, silver eyes flickering, a grin on his face.
"To think.. I'd see the day you try to console me. You're really bad at this, Cherry. Your words could've turned me either way.."
"Who wants to console you? I also have something to lose if you go mad during the show.."
A final look over her nephew and the Agent seemed satisfied with his state of mind, leaving promptly without a second glance or even a goodbye.
"How did you survive growing up with her?"
Ori looked at the closed door with severe worry.
"It's a long story that isn't pretty, but that doesn't matter now.."
Reinvigorated, Wolf grabbed the white jacket of his ensemble, putting it on with a flourish and flashing a dazzling smile. "They've been waiting so patiently, for the stars to descend.."
Seeing the aura that bewitched a galaxy, unfold before them, each Idol followed suit, erupting in brilliance of their own.
"We've got acolytes to please, and I have a muse to catch.."
Walking together towards the portal that would lead to Z Stadium's stage, Ori leaped up with a fist in the air, excited for what was to come.
"Let's do this!"