Jessica Benton sat in her penthouse apartment sipping a cocktail and looking through an old scrapbook. Sometimes thinking back to Jem and the Holograms made her happy, but today it was making her melancholy. She took a sip of her drink and said aloud, “I can’t believe I wore that. What was I--or any of the other girls thinking?” She glanced around the walls of her home and surveyed her souvenirs. Gold and platinum records lined the walls as well as all kinds of music awards. It all seemed pointless now. The other Holograms, including her sister Kimber, were all married and had families. Even Rio had met another girl and was long gone. The last she heard, he was living in Japan and running a talent agency.
She was snapped back to reality by the phone ringing. It was her former bandmate Shanna, with whom she had stayed in touch all these years. Even though it was a friend calling, Jessica let the answering machine pick up.
“Hey Jessica, it’s me. I have those outfits ready for you and I am sending them to the record company this afternoon. I think they’re what you and the label are both looking for. Call me later and let me know how it goes.”
Jessica replayed Shanna’s message. “If only outfits would make this easier.” she said and she made her way to the shower.

Later that afternoon, Jessica, in her Jemstone id sat across the table from several record executives. Her new agent, Murray Spaulding sat next to her. He was from Australia, and Jessica was quite smitten with him even though he was a bit younger. Just before the meeting started, he whispered “Just hear them out, Jess and give this a chance.”
“What?” she whispered back as one of the men in a dark suit started speaking.

“It is a pleasure to work with you Miss Benton. I think this will be the comeback of the century. We all remember your success with the Holograms and our company has assembled the best for your comeback.
Her interest was piqued as the man went on. “You see, kids today want their celebrities to be notorious, and what could be more notorious than murder!” he said with gusto.
“What? I don’t…” she uttered as another man in a suit cut her off.
“Miss Benton, we are going to make you rock’s newest bad girl. We have a song written and ready for you to record called Deadly Toy! We also have a new version of Jailhouse Rock for you to record. Since your unfortunate run-in with the Toyman and your, ummmm, unfortunate incarceration, we believe playing up your badgirl angle will sell tons of records! Your comeback will be even bigger than Josie and the Pussycats!”
Jessica wanted to deck the guy and it was all she could do to keep from firing a bolt of light at him. Murray took her arm and urged her to hear the men out. A woman with a tight bun and glasses perched on the end of her nose then took over. “Jemstone…..Miss Benton, we received some samples for you to wear from a Sandra someone….”
Jessica interjected, “It’s Shanna. And she is very talented.”
“Uh-huh. Well, the look is all wrong for you. We are thinking more leather and lingerie. That will automatically catch the attention of teenage boys and that is a rapidly growing demographic that we have not tapped. Now, we have already spoken with Playboy and you have a layout and interview scheduled for…”
“I HAVE HEARD ENOUGH!!! I am not interested! You don’t want talent or someone who wants to help others. You want some skanky girl that will do whatever you want and make you all rich! Jem is about being philanthropic and singing about positive things. Jem is about doing what is right and finding the best in life.” Jemstone shouted as Murray buried his face in his hands.
A balding overweight man with a smirk said, “Take a look at yourself cupcake. You’re not Jem anymore. You’re Jemstone. A murderess and a washed up popstar that plays at being hero.
Jemstone was about to let the man have it. Remembering the Toyman incident, she kept her cool and said, “Thank you for your time, but I am not interested in your offer. Murray, are you coming?” she said, her head held high. The curly headed Australian gave the record execs a sheepish grin and followed Jemstone out.
“You’ll never work in L.A. with an attitude like that, you snotty brat!” Came a voice from the boardroom. Jemstone turned and fired an energy bolt at the table, reducing it to splinters.

Jemston and Murray left the building and got in a waiting limo.
“Jessica! Do you realize how long it took me to get you that meeting---and you royally ticked them off! On purpose! They’ll tell everyone and no one will sign you!” the exasperated man shouted.
“Murray, I will not have any part of such shady people. I have decided I’m going to bring back Starlight Records. I should have enough money to get it off the ground.”
“That is career suicide! Kids today aren’t into goody goody fluff!”
“Murray, there are still good kids out there. Kids that need to hear about what’s right with the world. I understand if you can’t represent me anymore. Starting the company back up will be hard and I’d like to have you by my side, but if you want to quit….”
“No, Jemstone…I mean Jessica. I’m with you no matter what.”



Across town in a rundown trailer park a winzied old man put down a X-rated magazine. There were stacks of them all over the living room along with all kinds of direct to DVD smut. His neighbors didn’t know much about him, except that he leered at the women in the park and made lewd comments. Several of the residents thought the man looked familiar, but couldn’t place him. If they knew the former Dr.Light lived among them, several would laugh remembering how he was the joke of the super villain community. The rape of Sue Dinby wasn’t as commonly known as it had been, plus Dr. Light was a harmless, albeit dirty old man these days.
He turned on his portable black and white TV and watched the news. Nothing good…..until a story about the super heroine who had caused a scene at a record company came on. He leaned in closer, as his eyesight was failing him and became fixated on the woman called Jemstone. He admired her low cut costume and her curvy body.
“Heh, she’s a hot one, ain’t she.” he snickered.
He listened how she had caused a scene at the record company and turned up his hearing aid as the execs told their stories.
“She’s a spitfire, that one. Too big for her britches.” Dr. Light knew about the Toyman incident. “Someone needs to teach that pop-tart a lesson…she needs to be humiliated and broken……..now where’s my suit?”