Part 35-A by Demoness 

Gena let out another mutter of curses as she watched the bags go by on the carousel.  So far this had been a trip from hell.  As the bags belonging to other passengers who had been on her flight went by, her mind went back to the days when going to see KISS was one mishap after another.  There were the less than unreliable cars that would break down, or have to be filled with oil every so many hours or so.  Also getting lost or being stuck on a highway in the middle of nowhere unable to go anyway because the road ahead was shut down because of a wildfire.  For ten years it was like that going to see KISS.

Then life took an unexpected uphill turn for her.  She found herself flying to shows more than driving, and when she did drive, her car ran like a dream.  Oh, there were always a few amusing incidents along the way, but nothing that would threaten a show or make her ask herself why she continued to torture herself for a rock band.

As she noticed her luggage finally coming toward her, she reminded herself why she would still go.  The worst time they had getting to a show, the better the time they had not only at the show, but with the band.

If that luck still held out, she could only imagine what would happen while she was in New York City.

Picking up her bag, she started to walk through Kennedy airport.  She still found it amazing that she was here just for a visit, and that she had a return ticket to back to the west coast.  Was there really a time she believed she would always be stuck in New York to live, and never see California?

It couldn't be that bad then, she told herself. If only it didn't take almost an extra day to get to New York.  At least she had the sense to plan being in New York City ahead of time.  That might have saved her from arriving the day after.  She knew why she preferred non-stop flights.  Bad enough her flight out of Los Angeles was delayed.  She found herself running through the airport in Las Vegas to catch her connecting flight, boarding it just in time, only for the flight to be canceled just before it pulled away from the gate.  Unannounced FAA inspection was the reason.  They found something wrong with the landing gear and decided not to take chances with the plane.  So she found herself standing in a long line with all the other passengers, trying to get another flight out.  Ten hours in Las Vegas until she got on a flight which was not going to New York City, but to Atlanta, where she was assured she will be able to get a flight to New York.  Her luck they had a bomb scare in the airport as she waited for her flight there.

She called the hotel while in Las Vegas, letting them know she will be arriving later than expected.  Original plans were not to be staying in the hotel KISS was staying at.  She made reservations at the Le Parker Meridien, a hotel KISS had usually stayed at, and was at one time Gene's favorite hangout when he still spent more time in New York than Los Angeles.  It was terribly expensive, but for once she was going to finally stay there as a guest, instead of just using the restaurant, lounge and restrooms.

The money she was spending on the hotel was originally planned for a ticket in the front row for the show.  Before she had the chance to buy it from the ticket agency, she ran into Gene at her favorite restaurant in Los Angeles.  They talked for a while and she told him she was planning to be in New York for the last show.  She even told him about buying the ticket.  To her surprise, he told her it wasn't necessary and to contact the management to make sure everything was taken care of.  Tickets and passes for her and her friends.  

So while she knew KISS was staying at the Waldorf, and her friends were going to share a room in that hotel, she decided to spend the ticket money on the one room in New York City she had always wanted to have for a night.  She would still go to the meet and greet at the Waldorf, and hang out there.  But she planned to go back to the Meridien when the day was done.  This was going to be more than the final show for KISS, but her homecoming in style.

Now she wasn't sure if her room would still be waiting for her, she thought as she raced across the airport, hoping to catch a cab quickly.  Not very likely.  Looking down at her traveling clothes of a comfortable pair of black jeans and a red tank top under a black oversized denim shirt, long dark hair pulled back into a ponytail and no make-up, she wondered if she would have enough time to find somewhere to shower and change.  The meet and greet was going to be starting in a few hours.

She let out more muttered curses as she realized she needed to make a stop in the ladies room before anything else.  In the bathroom, she clumsily entered the stall, hating to have to use them when she had her bags with her.  She had just closed the door, and went to lock it when everything blanked out on her.

Gena found herself on a floor, with her bags scattered around her.  Lifting her head, she glanced around at her surroundings, then decided to lower her head and close her eyes.  This was not happening, she decided.  She swore she was in a corridor of a hotel.  Last she checked she was using the bathroom in Kennedy Airport.

Still not daring to move from her spot, she deduced that she was in a hotel, but it was not the Meridien.  That was a safe enough question to concentrate on.  The others she did not yet want to acknowledge were too much.

She said up carefully and took inventory on her luggage.  It was all there.  Whatever bought her where she was seemed more reliable than the airlines, she thought.

Daring to look around a bit more at her surroundings, it appeared more like the set to a disaster film than any average hotel.  She dropped back, propping herself to sit up against a wall and let out a heavy sigh.  So much for what she had been through in getting to NY.  She suspected, but could not be too sure if she was still in NY.  She hoped so.  She really did not look forward to attempting the trip across country again.

She just sat back and tried to access her feelings on her situation, and found herself chuckling.  After all she had gone through already, shortly upon arriving in NY, she found herself somewhere she had no idea where, except in the middle of some massive destruction and no idea what caused it.  And all she could think about was how to make sure she still got to the show.  Her giggle turned to laughs.  On her left arm, her shirt slipped off her shoulder.  She looked down to pull it back up and she swore she saw Gene’s makeup flash on her chest.  It was not the first time she saw it since she left for this trip.  It made her laugh harder.  Soon she was overcome with hysterical laughter, tears streaming from her eyes.

**********************

Paul was  roaming around the hotel, trying to make himself useful.  He had to keep busy.  There might be someone who could use his help.  He had to do what he could so he would not think of Calen or Dynasty, and of Val Kyrie being taken back to Underhill because of her extensive injuries.  He heard laughing around the bend of the corridor.  Not having any idea what he was going to encounter, he cautiously made his way to the bend and peered around the corner in the dimness.

He saw her sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall, luggage all around her, and laughing herself to a stomach ache.  Figuring the woman to be one of the possible others they were looking for, he went to her.

As he got closer, he shook his head in amusement.  Figures, he thought.

He stopped by the laughing woman and looked down.  “I didn’t know you belonged to Girltalk,” he told her with an amused smile.

*********************

Gena looked up, her eyes traveling from the feet, past the bulge in the jeans and up until she already knew halfway up his chest, it was Paul.  As her eyes met his, she simply said, “Hi Paul.  And the fun begins now,” then started to laugh again.

Paul sat down next to her.  “Are you okay?” he asked, concerned, placing an arm around her shoulder.

She nodded.  Paul smiled again.  “It’s a better way to handle the situation than some might,” he said to her, taking her hand.  “I’m sorry you had to be pulled into this.”

“You mentioned Girltalk.  How do you know?”

Paul smiled at her.  “A very long story,” he said, “and one best told in comfort.”  He glanced at her and shook his head.  “That figures too,” he mentioned, then mumbled, “Wonder when your power will show up.”  He was looking out for the rest, knowing she had to have a power that was bound to show up.  As far as he could tell, it had been dormant, since he showed no indication otherwise in the years he’d known her. He pointed to her chest.  “And I think I know the best place to start explaining your passage to the Twilight Zone.  Besides, I think Gene would be glad to see you.  I only hope he doesn’t get guilty in pulling you into this.”

“Gene has to do with this?” Gena waved her hand to indicate the destruction around her.

“Not alone.  Far from it.  C’mon and let’ get you settled in.”  He stood up and pulled her to her feet.

Gena froze, taking everything in, thinking back to the trouble she had getting there and to Paul’s surprise, she launched herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.  She let out a sob.

“What’s this?” Paul asked, his voice soft, holding her.

“You,” she replied.  “After everything, including wondering if I’ll ever make it to the show, it’s so good to see a friendly face.”

Paul hugged her tighter.  “I know another friendly face I think you would not mind seeing.  But I’m not too sure if you will stay happy seeing us once we explain what you just arrived in the middle of.”

“Who?” she asked.

Paul stared at her and snorted.  “Who else,” he laughed.  “Let’s get you to the better part of the hotel and find Gene.  Then get you settled.”

“But I have reservations at the Meridien!” she protested.

“Not anymore,” he said, helping her gather her bags.  He started to guide her in the direction of Gene’s room.   Noticing they were close to the stairs, he decided that to be the best route to take.  “Welcome to the show,” Paul remarked, as he left the door open for her.

They climbed the stairs in silence.  Paul held the door to their floor for her, then frowned as Gena stopped and stared at him.

“What?” Paul asked.

“Power?” she inquired.

“Did I mention that?” Paul asked, getting her to walk with him again.

“Yes, you did.”

“Okay.  Let’s just get to Gene’s room,” Paul insisted.

Gena shook her head.  This so far had to the weirder than everything that had ever happened to her in the past put together.

“Still playing with Strutter?” Paul asked casually.

“You saw us how long ago?” Gena asked.  “Three months ago.  Unlike the real thing, we know how to keep our members,” Gena snapped.

“Ouch!” Paul said, acting offended.  He knew it was all a defensive mechanism in her.  The sooner they got to Gene’s room, the better, so they could start explaining the situation to her.  “So you’re still a Demoness, huh?”

“As in female Demon for an all-female trib band, yes, I am.  I also go by that handle online.”

Paul filed that information away.  Gene acolyte at the least, along with whatever power she may have.

He stopped before a door.  “Here we are.  Once we get you up to date on the situation, we should have a room for you to settle in.”

Gena looked around the hotel, her mind still spinning, and replied, “Paul, after this, it’s going to be a long time before I can settle down.”

Paul nodded.  “Just do the best you can, I guess.”  He knocked on the door.

“Who?” Gene asked from the other side.

“Paul.  I found one of your guests.”  He smiled at Gena.

The door opened.  Paul allowed her to walk in first.  Gene looked like he was getting ready to leave.  Gena looked at Gene’s tired face as he glanced at her in surprise.

“This is a bad time,” she said, ready to leave her room.  She tried to grab the suitcase that Paul held, but Paul moved away from her, going further into the room.

The light started to shine in his eyes, the way she always remembered it did when he saw her.  He started to smile, going up to her for a hug.  “Oh my God, don’t tell me you’re part of this too,” he stated hugging her tightly.

“I guess I am,” Gena laughed nervously, hugging Gene back.  Being in Gene’s arms, and having Paul standing to the side watching them seemed like the only sane thing among the madness.  She pulled away enough to lean up and kiss Gene’s cheek.  “Now if only someone would tell what I’m a part of, I’d be most grateful.”

Gene looked at her, then over to Paul.  “She doesn’t know?” he asked.

Paul shook his head.  He glanced over to Gena.  “I found her in the hall on the other side of the hotel, bags all around her, laughing herself close to hysteria.”

Gene looked at her in question.  She shrugged.  “Well, it’s better than going out and getting drunk,” she explained to him.  “But it just happened; either start finding it all funny or start banging my head in a wall.  And judging from the condition of the hotel in the section I found myself, I don’t think the walls could handle that. “  She gazed up at Gene, then to Paul and sighed.  “And this on top of all the problems I’ve encountered since flying out of LAX.”

Gene guided her to the bed and sat her down, sitting down next to her, keeping an arm around her.  “I hope you’re in the mood for a long story,” he said, as Paul pulled a chair so he could sit in front of them.  Gene glanced at Paul.

“What?” Paul asked.  “I’m just going to help fill her in on what’s happening, since I found her.”

Gena leaned up against Gene.  “If it means being here like this, I won’t complain.”

Paul chuckled.  “For starters, how long have you been a part of Girltalk?”

“A couple of months,” Gena replied.  “I know a few of the girls from other groups.  One of them suggested I check it out, especially since I love to write.”

Gene nodded.  “Well, it seems there’s a greater bond bringing everyone together with Girltalk,” he said.

Gena looked up at Gene in surprise.

“It looks like all you girls were meant to be together,” Paul explained.  “It sounds crazy, but Gene and I have seen enough to know it’s true.”

“I’m afraid to ask what you,” she looked at Paul, “and especially Gene, are going to tell me.”

“It’s incredible,” Gene agreed.  “How did you get here?  At this hotel, I mean.”

Gena shrugged.  “I don’t know.  One minute I’m in JFK hoping to catch a cab to make the meet and greet, the next I’m here.  And not the hotel I have reservations for.”

“Forget it,” Gene told her.  “Everyone all needs to stay together, so you’re going to get a room here, free of charge.  But unfortunately I can’t promise you this is going to be all fun.  We have a problem, a big one and ...”  He sighed.  “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but it looks as if you’re going to pay for this more than with money.”

“So am I going to find out what is going on here, or do I have to play twenty questions with you two?” Gena asked.

“No.  We’ll fill you in,” Paul replied.

Gene nodded and they launched into their explanation.