Cavalcade of Entertainment

By Tasamin

"Where are the make up sponges!?" Trace yelled out in general from the make up counter.

The dressing room was a flurry of activity. Screaming, excited chatter, vocal exercises, stage whispers could be heard. Pantyhose, eyeliners and make-up sponges were flying across the room in response to requests.

Standing towards the back was Rita who was searching feverishly. She was wearing a long flowing lavender dress. "Has anyone seen my shoes?" she cried out in desperation. "They are broken in already!"

"Glory! Who ate the last piece of cheesecake? I can’t go on stage without fortification." Curlly said as waved an empty tin around.

"All right who took my outfit from the rack?" Avillion said quite loudly looking at everyone suspiciously.

Chaos was putting it mildly for the mayhem going on here. The ladies were suffering from a case of pre-show jitters. For it was talent show time at the temporary CLHQ, as a morale booster for the current lack of HQ. While the men wisely huddled close to the stage entrance, far enough away to try to ignore the fracas yet close enough in case they were needed. With the exception of one who was in the mêlée at the makeup table.

"None of these concealers match my complexion! Ladies help me; some one must have a warm sand around here. Look at these bags under my eyes!" Mick exclaimed petulantly.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," came from a soft-spoken female, yet highly recognizable voice from your nightmares.

All chatter and discussion ceased. It was the female Torture Twin with her partner. Silence was the immediate response to their presence. A cricket could be heard chirping. For once the CLers were speechless.

Once assuring herself of their attention she continued, "Operations has put us in charge backstage to make sure things will go smoothly. My associate will also be helping out." They all saw him standing clear as day as if he could be missed him. Then they noticed he was carrying several things. He wordlessly walked through the girls while handing an outfit to Avi and a pair of shoes to Rita. He placed his yellow briefcase next to Curlly whose eyes widened in surprise. From it he extracted a cheesecake that he placed in front of her.

Curlly stared in speechless amazement as her jaw tried to move to speak. Finally a "Thank you." croaked out of her mouth.

The male Torture Twin then covertly handed Mick a tube of concealer. "Thanks Mate!" Mick examined the tube. "And the perfect shade too!" He sat down and began applying it.

The male torture twin returned to his position behind the female who continued her speech. "As you can see we have studied your idiosyncrasies and have prepared for any eventuality." She said as she placed her infamous yellow case on a table and opened it. From it she pulled a matching yellow clipboard. Glancing at her watch. "I see it is almost time. Where is the hostess?"

North stepped forth in an elegant red dress. The female noticed this and commented. "Your co-host is waiting for you center stage." North moved quickly and left. "Now would the first act of…."

The theater they had borrowed for the event was filled with all the CL members not participating in the show as well as a large portion of the members in Section. The heavy red curtain parted enough to allow North and Operations who walked in arm in arm to musical accompaniment, to step out to around of applause. Birkoff focused the spotlight on the couple, for he refused emphatically to participate in the performance preferring to work behind the scenes.

"We are delighted to see so many of you here." North began. "Welcome to the first annual talent show. We have a wonderful show in store for you." Then she turned to Operations who was dressed in a tuxedo for the event.

"I am pleased to introduce an exciting act performed by Davenport and Kathy.

North and Operations head off stage right as the curtains opened to reveal Davenport dressed as a pirate and Kathy dressed in a spangly dark blue pants suit. They stood center stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen. We are about to perform an exciting feat for you." His voice boomed out and was clearly heard in the back. "With the help of the lovely Kathy." He held out his hand and escorted her to the upright board that had an out line of a human figure on it. Kathy stood up against it while Davenport secured her to the board at each of her extremities. "Notice there are no tricks," as he spun her around.

Kathy smiled confidently as Kit came out with a tray of shiny long knives. The crowd who was under the impression that it was going to be a magic trick realized that it was a knife-throwing act.

Davenport took a knife in hand and tried to bend it to show it was real. "Now watch." He gathered three knives in each hand and began tossing them at Kathy in quick succession. Not one hitting her but forming an outline around her body.

The crowd applauded enthusiastically. Davenport took a slight bow. Then held his hand to hold the applause. He walked to release Kathy and kissed her hand.

"Now my other lovely assistant Kit will assist me." He pushed the wooden board away to reveal a circular board that he then secured Kit to. He stepped a couple of feet back and the wheel began to spin. Kathy blindfolded him and the crowd gasped

"Don’t worry." Davenport took in a deep breath and held out his hand for a knife. Which he proceeded to throw and it land with a thud. He threw a total of 6 again and not a scratch on Kit. The crowed applauded wildly while Davenport helped Kit down and kissed her. The trio bowed to the audience and then left the stage together.

*****

The dressing room was still a madhouse. There were several closed circuit screens for the participants to see the performance on stage.

"Kathy and Kit are crazy! I could never do that." Brenna exclaimed.

"Maybe it just takes the right man." Avillion chimed in.

The female torture twin called for the next act. She read from her clipboard, "Rita and Michael."

Rita looked up but she knew there was a problem. Michael was not here as he had been called away for a mission. Although he promised to be here on time but she knew things happened on a mission. Though she had a flash of concern. She shared a look of worry with Sherry who was sitting across from her. She shook it off Michael was fine. Rita knew that she would have sensed if he were in trouble.

"Michael isn’t here yet. Maybe you can push our act back." Rita suggested.

The female looked far from happy when she read the next act. "It seems Michael was scheduled for the next act as well with Sherry." Then the male Torture twin moved forward with costumes in hand. He gave one to Sherry and one to Rita. The girls looked at each other perplexed.

The female said, "Michael knew this might occur. He thought the two of you could do this number on your own. He chose it for you two. The lyrics are there. It is not too hard. Work it out ladies you will be going on soon. The next act will be…"

All Rita had to say was "Oh boy."

*********

"Introducing two men who have traveled far and wide performing a song of their own choosing. Our own rays of sunshine Mick and Walter." North pronounced.

The curtain opened and there stood Mick and Walter. As the opening strands of the song were played Walter began to sing, "To all the girls I’ve loved before."

Mick joined in at his turn in this duet. This was greeted with laughter and applause. It became a competition of one-upmanship between the two dueling Don Juan's.

*****

"Michael is having fun with us you realize." Sherry commented.

"Oh no kidding. And he asked me if I watched the show. I should have known that man doesn’t watch TV." Rita said as she changed her shoes.

"This should be fun." Sherry said as she fussed with the dress.

"I have no doubt but I can’t shake the feeling there is something more." Rita said.

"I tend to agree with you there. It is all too pat." Sherry said thoughtfully.

"That does not mean that mission pants boy is off the hook." Rita said as she laughed.

"Of course not." Sherry agreed.

Their conversation was interrupted by someone interjecting, "Hey at least you two are going on together. I am going on alone. And singing no less! When I get my hands on the person who told Operations I could sing …humph!" DragonLady made strangulation gestures.

Rita was so happy to she her friend. She jumped up and hugged her. "I thought your mission was not going to let you perform tonight."

"No such luck." DragonLady groaned. "Whoever picked this song didn’t realize it was not meant to…"

The torture twin interrupted DragonLady, "Your next."

"Oh great." DragonLady walked away following the female twin.

"You’ll be great." Rita called after her.

"Break a leg." Sherry yelled.

Rita and Sherry began to do a quick practice.

*****

"I love this song and I am happy to introduce DragonLady singing Separate Lives." North said. "Something a lot of us in Section have known."

The curtain opened to a solitary figure in black holding a Chinese silk wrap in the curves other arms. She began the song,

Do I feel lonely too?"

Wondering how appropriate it was to her life. The way it was now since her transfer and the lack of him. As she continued to sing her mind went no, no don’t think of him, with his dark midnight hair and his brooding green eyes. What she did not realize that all the emotion she felt for him was pouring out in the song and held the audience spellbound.

Her eyes widened in surprise. As she saw him Damien standing there looking as handsome as the devil in his tux walking towards her. If she didn’t know better she would have thought she had conjured him up.

****

A gasp of surprise came from Curlly and Rita as they watched the screen. "Glory! Did you know?"

"Hell no! Oh my." Rita watched as they continued to sing.

Sherry asked, "Who’s this guy? I have not seen him around the CLHQ."

"Oh Sher, that right you weren’t with us in Hawaii. That’s Damien DragonLady’s ummmm…" Curlly looked for the words.

Rita helped out, "They had an understanding and when she got transferred well…they just stopped being. But I think now we know who told Ops she could sing."

Sherry laughed. "She may kill him."

"Naah she looks like she’s melting." Avillion said.

******

They were reaching the end of the song and he had made no move to touch her. He was standing so close she could smell his spicy cologne he used. They were both facing the audience. Until he began the line "Some day I might." As he sang he put his hand under her chin and made her look into his eyes. She saw the turmoil, unrest, angst and turbulent emotions of love that were all there for her.

"I just might." She sang back full of her doubts and anxieties about them.

"Find myself looking in your eyes." He replied as he smiled at her.

"But for now we’ll go on living separate lives." She said heartbrokenly for there was no way for them to be together now.

"Yes, for now we’ll go on living separate lives." He sang regretfully.

The crowd applauded and the couple walked off stage together.