once again, considering the previous night's insanity,
but there they were. And there were four very gruff looking Shukurae
parting the crowd as the trio exited the hotel.
Tatiana pouted as she entered the car, “I don't like the
fans being treated like that. It's not fair that some fruitcake spoils it
for everyone.”
“They'll catch the nut job, dear, don't worry. And
then things will be back to normal,” coddled Gillian. “Kind of sparse on
the inside of here isn't it?”
Edward smiled professionally, “Sorry, Gillian, they are
having another one converted with more amenities, as we speak. They hope
to have it done tomorrow afternoon.”
Gillian nodded, “After last night, it is kind of shallow
for me to complain. I've just gotten used to my creature comforts.
Your team is quite exceptional. We'll make do. And if I
complain, just put it down as a lady running on borrowed time.”
Tatiana stared at Gillian with wide eyes, “Are you
okay? I've never heard you talk like that before?”
Gillian laughed, “Just give me a few days. I'll be
fine. Now to the schedule...”
They pulled up to the rear entrance of the concert hall
right on schedule. Kadu was there to meet them along with Alex and his
Shukurae partner Meeka. Simple nods were all that passed as communication
as the ladies exited the armored car and worked their way through the back of the
concert hall. As they walked, Edward watched Tatiana start to transform
once again. From a meek and sheltered posture, she was soon strutting
with her head held high and eyes flashing by the time they made it to the
stage.
Musicians and dancers were already on stage; it was quite a
mob. But then again, it was supposed to be quite a
production. The idle chatter faded away as Tatiana entered. So, too, faded the simple honest smiles. Soon everyone
was wearing the most practiced, forced smiles Edward had ever seen. It
was kind of creepy. If they were smiling before why didn't they just
continue the same? As he looked around, he found his answer:
uniformity. No one's smile was now brighter than anyone else's, or more
importantly, Tatiana's.
“Okay everyone,” barked Gillian, “We are going to start off
by doing a dry run of the whole thing. The sections that do well are
excused this afternoon, the rest will stay here until
they get it right. Or midnight. Whichever
comes first.”
Edward doubted she was kidding on the 'midnight'
comment. And from how quickly everyone got into place, including Tatiana, neither did the cast. Poor Tatiana! It
didn't matter how well she did, if the rest of the group didn't do well she was
likely to have to be there all night with them!
In less than two minutes the lights were up and the sound
was going and the first dry run was off. Edward would have loved to have
watched, but his job was security. He needed to learn the stage and the
concert hall as a whole, forwards and backwards, every way in and out, and how
to make a few exits of his own if needed. It was a mammoth building
complex and the plans that Trevor had given him didn't do it justice.
Edward started walking the entire stage area as much as he could without
interfering with the practice at hand. Next he turned to below the
stage. Ughh! A mix of trap doors and wiring for
effects and lights. Not good!
“Edward, you free?” chirped his comlink. It was
Trevor.
“Walking the site. What is up?”
“We have an ID on the bomber and are sending an entry team
in with the local police to go say 'hi'. Do you want in on it?”
Edward smiled, man Trevor was fast! “You are
awesome, Trevor. You know that, of course. But no, I'll give it a
miss unless you need me. This building is huge and it is going to take me
a long time to learn it.”
“Eh, I've got a lot of good help,” came
Trevor's laugh over the speaker. “Yeah, that is a huge building, good
luck with it.
but there they were. And there were four very gruff looking Shukurae
parting the crowd as the trio exited the hotel.
Tatiana pouted as she entered the car, “I don't like the
fans being treated like that. It's not fair that some fruitcake spoils it
for everyone.”
“They'll catch the nut job, dear, don't worry. And
then things will be back to normal,” coddled Gillian. “Kind of sparse on
the inside of here isn't it?”
Edward smiled professionally, “Sorry, Gillian, they are
having another one converted with more amenities, as we speak. They hope
to have it done tomorrow afternoon.”
Gillian nodded, “After last night, it is kind of shallow
for me to complain. I've just gotten used to my creature comforts.
Your team is quite exceptional. We'll make do. And if I
complain, just put it down as a lady running on borrowed time.”
Tatiana stared at Gillian with wide eyes, “Are you
okay? I've never heard you talk like that before?”
Gillian laughed, “Just give me a few days. I'll be
fine. Now to the schedule...”
They pulled up to the rear entrance of the concert hall
right on schedule. Kadu was there to meet them along with Alex and his
Shukurae partner Meeka. Simple nods were all that passed as communication
as the ladies exited the armored car and worked their way through the back of the
concert hall. As they walked, Edward watched Tatiana start to transform
once again. From a meek and sheltered posture, she was soon strutting
with her head held high and eyes flashing by the time they made it to the
stage.
Musicians and dancers were already on stage; it was quite a
mob. But then again, it was supposed to be quite a
production. The idle chatter faded away as Tatiana entered. So, too, faded the simple honest smiles. Soon everyone
was wearing the most practiced, forced smiles Edward had ever seen. It
was kind of creepy. If they were smiling before why didn't they just
continue the same? As he looked around, he found his answer:
uniformity. No one's smile was now brighter than anyone else's, or more
importantly, Tatiana's.
“Okay everyone,” barked Gillian, “We are going to start off
by doing a dry run of the whole thing. The sections that do well are
excused this afternoon, the rest will stay here until
they get it right. Or midnight. Whichever
comes first.”
Edward doubted she was kidding on the 'midnight'
comment. And from how quickly everyone got into place, including Tatiana, neither did the cast. Poor Tatiana! It
didn't matter how well she did, if the rest of the group didn't do well she was
likely to have to be there all night with them!
In less than two minutes the lights were up and the sound
was going and the first dry run was off. Edward would have loved to have
watched, but his job was security. He needed to learn the stage and the
concert hall as a whole, forwards and backwards, every way in and out, and how
to make a few exits of his own if needed. It was a mammoth building
complex and the plans that Trevor had given him didn't do it justice.
Edward started walking the entire stage area as much as he could without
interfering with the practice at hand. Next he turned to below the
stage. Ughh! A mix of trap doors and wiring for
effects and lights. Not good!
“Edward, you free?” chirped his comlink. It was
Trevor.
“Walking the site. What is up?”
“We have an ID on the bomber and are sending an entry team
in with the local police to go say 'hi'. Do you want in on it?”
Edward smiled, man Trevor was fast! “You are
awesome, Trevor. You know that, of course. But no, I'll give it a
miss unless you need me. This building is huge and it is going to take me
a long time to learn it.”
“Eh, I've got a lot of good help,” came
Trevor's laugh over the speaker. “Yeah, that is a huge building, good
luck with it.
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