Armando Styling New PJ's

The Protector

Katrina entered her mother's study.
Mother! What are you doing out of bed?

Katrina, what is the use of me lying in bed to die.  I have maybe 3 months left and I want to spend the time among the things I love most.

You sound as if you don't have faith in me.

I do my darling, but this Trader is stronger than any I have every known.  He is strong enough to unbalance everything in our world with his early arrival.  If he alone can accomplished this feat, he will be too strong for you to handle.

That's why I'm here.  I have someone who can help us.

Wait.  Did you allow a Protector into my house?

Yes, mother.

I want her out! I want her out NOW!

She is here to help and she can.

Why would a Protector help us?  Her kind is the worst of the worst.  I would rather die from the hands of this Trader, than except help from her.

Mother.  You have to let the past go. That war was centuries ago.

And centuries ago, her and her kind destroyed thousands of our people.

But, mother, our people gave them no choice.  Our ancestors went through the galaxies destroying other races in an attempt to take over other worlds.

We were driven from our homes by the Traders. We had to become a warrior people to survive. Look at us now, we are just a fraction of our past glory. Our powers have been diluted mixing with these inferior humans.  You and your brother are the last hope of our true people. My family made a point of keeping our bloodline pure so that one day we would join with others and reclaim what should be ours. I do not welcome this Protector.

Mother is it time you let go of the past. The Protectors were doing what they were born to do, protect the worlds in their care.  We were allow to live if we promised to stop destroying others. Very few of our people accepted that offer.  We are now a different people who still needs your strength, wisdom and guidance to ensure we makeit into far into the future.

I cannot allow a Protector to help.

Mother, I will not let you die.  I will defeat this Trader.  I will free our people from his kind forever, but you must let me get help.  This Protector has been my friend and manager for many years.  I trust her.  This world we live on is hers to protect.

Why have you kept this from me for so long? How could you befriend an enemy our people.

She is a friend of our people and I will prove it. At this moment she is requesting permission from her council to lend her powers to our struggle.

They will never allow it. And if she disobeys them, they will strip her of her powers. I will not allow it Katrina!

Mother I have always obeyed you.  I love you and respect you, but I will use her help. It is up to me to save you and our people from this threat and I will.  We have survived too long.

Katrina.

Yes mother

My butterflies are dying.

I know

Before long they will cease to exist.

They will be reborn as will you.

You promise.

With my life.

Meanwhile beyond the confines of earth heaven and physics, Tempie sheds her earthly skin.  Before her the sphere of the council spins.

I come to ask for you support and permission to help the Bottle People.  A rogue Trader has entered their world and stole the bottle of their matriarch. She is dying.  This Trader is so powerful, he can literally wipe out their entire population after he destroys her.

Why would you help them? You know their history. They were a violent people.  They tried to wipe out so many races of people.  We would have destroyed them all if not for you. We allowed you to let live those on the planet called earth.

And now I want to continue to save them.  I am their protector.

But you are aware it is no longer acceptable to involve one's self in the rescue of a single group.

Then you will not support me?

We cannot support or allow you to interfere

How can you call  yourselves Protectors?  What are you protecting now?
I cannot sit back and watch a whole group of people be destroyed.  We have become so concerned with rules that we have forgotten what it takes to live in our true selves.

If you proceed, we will have no choice but to strip you of your universal powers. You would be required to live upon the earth and protect it.

That is preferable than allowing these people to be destroyed.

Temperance, you are one who has been endowed with a heart we do not understand.  Our role does not allow to care for one group over another.  WE are here to maintain the balance to keep the worlds from colliding or spinning out of control

I believe if this Trader is allow to win, that is exactly what will happened.

We seriously doubt one rogue Trader can upset our worlds.

You might as well take from what you will now.

No, we will wait.  We are confident you will find the right path before it is to late.

Feel The Tiger

The Stranger

Katrina sounding great up there don't you think?

Yes, yes,  but what did you put in my drink?
It's what you usually order.  Why, does it taste different?

No, but can you make it a double?

A double!  That might not be such a good idea you being the mayor and all.

I just want to make sure if that lovely vision coming through the door is the result of this drink, I don't want it to end.

Max looks up and across the bar.
She walks in slowly, stops and searches the place. Her dress like a glove fitting every curve of her body.
Her walk slow and graceful.
She looks over at Katrina singing on stage and smile.

Her step quickens as she makes her way to the bar.

Armando is the first to speak.

Hello, I'm Armando, the mayor of this fine city. What brings to Segnarts City?
Business, she replies looking over both the men.

Well I'm sure I can help you with any type of business you need in this city.  That fine bartender over there is Maxwell.  He runs a real classy place.  How about a drink?

No thank you, maybe later.   I'm Tempie, Katrina business manager and friend.  Just got in from New York and I was told I could find Katrina here.


Well you found her.  She's here about 3 nights a week.

Nice place, but a far cry from the clubs she sings at in New York.

So why are looking for Katrina, Max asks?
We need her back in New York.

But you know she came back to take care of her sick mother - right?

Yes, I know, that's why this is so hard.

What's so important?

I really need to talk to her first.

And what about her mother, Max wanted to know?

I plan to step in while she is gone and care for her mother.

You?

Yes.

I don't think you know what you are up against.

I think I do.  I know more than you realize.

Max and Armando look at each other in disbelief.

She sounds so beautiful tonight.

Armando and Maxwell are really worried.  Something up.
Tempie watches Katrina as she sings.

Katrina knows something up as she catches Tempie looking up at her.
Her voice quivers as a cold breeze sends chills through her body.

Katrina looks over at Maxwell and begins singing Harvest Moon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU5jqVOW6gk

As much as she was glad to see her friend she knew her visit meant something.
All these years of knowing Tempie she could never convince her to visit Segnarts.
She would say she was allergic to small towns.

Tempie watched on

Finally, the song ended.  Katrina motioned for Tempie to follow her back to her dressing room.

They embraced.
Why are you here?
We need you back in New York.
I was afraid of that, but you know there is no way I can leave my mother.
That's why I came.  I plan to stay here in your place. You didn't tell me your town was loaded with such good-looking men.
Stay away from the bartender.
Oh, are you two a couple?
No, but we will be.  Just not sure how long it will take for us to get there.

OK, deal.  The mayor will do.
But you can't stay here.  How will you deal with the Trader?
Katrina, you know I'm pretty powerful.  My people have dealt with Traders before and we've never lost.
I will work on recovering your mother's bottle while you go to New York.

What's in New York that is so important.
Well, I think it is your chance of a lifetime.  I have this client who wants you to sing at the opening of his club.

I had never heard of him until a couple of months ago, but I understand he is connected with every important in New York state and in the country.  He insists you sing opening weekend.  He is willing to pay triple, provide you with the best dressing room and guarantee you a contract with one of the major studios.

This sounds too good to be true.  How does he know about me?
He claims he has heard you sing several times.  You captivated him.  Look, I know this is unusual, but I believe it's finally your chance to breakout.

I'm afraid, I will have to miss this opportunity. You know how much my mother is depending on me.
I have a whole town survival at hand.  I can't just leave to sing at some bar.  Not now.

Look Katrina. I can handle this. All I need to do is get your mother's bottle back. Once I do that, her strength will return. By that time you will have finished the assignment and will be back in time to help her and me kick this Trader into the next universe.  I promise.

Katrina Relaxing

Purple

Fantasy Play - Armando as an Aztec

Sergnarts City - After the Show

Katrina had been performing at Maxx’s for two weeks now.  Maxwell has avoided talking to her alone, but the bar was empty now except for him and Katrina. He was trying to clean-up before leaving, but she stuck around.

So Maxwell, what do you think of the shows?

They are great!

Is there anything you would like me to change?

No.

Add or stop doing?

Maxwell thought to himself, please go away and stop talking to me.

No, Katrina your shows are wonderful. The people are coming back.  The K Club is empty some nights, I’m making money again and it’s going great.

By the way, I heard your mother still isn’t doing any better.

Maxwell, you know I need to get her bottle back before she gets better and before it’s too late, but don’t change the subject.

What about me?

Wha, what do you mean?

Do you find me attractive?

What kind of question is that? 

A reasonable one. Are you going to answer?

Look Katrina if you were someone else’s daughter, there would be no problem.  But you are the matriarch of this town’s daughter. Your mother hated my mother for taking the easy way out.  How many time do you think I need to hear your mother tell me she would cut my heart out if I even thought of touching you.  You are off limits to me.

Seriously? You are afraid of my mother? 

Yes.  I basically human. I have nothing to give.  Your mother could wipe me off this planet with a single thought.

Maxwell, you have a lot to learn.  It is a shame your mother hid all of this from you. 

Mayor filled me in.

I don’t think he told you everything.

How would you know?

Because there are some things about our people and this town only a few know about.  If you let me, I would love to teach you.

That is not the wisest thing to do.

Why?

I don’t know!  It just is not.

Maxwell relax.  If you let me teach about our world, I promise not to  suggest or do anything you don’t want to do.  We can meet up and talk.  I can show you things and help you get in touch with your culture. It is truly a beautiful one.  Let me teach you what I know.

Ok Katrina, but if you promise to not put me in any compromising position. 

Great! We can start tomorrow since the bar is closed.  Dinner?

Sure.

Great! Pick me up at 7, Ok?

Sure

See yeah!

Oh man what am I getting me self into?  I want to be with her so bad.

Wait a minute! She never promised!

Tempie in White

Lace

Katrina Practicing for the her Next Appearance at Max

Segnarts - The Trader

The Soul & Essence Trader

A little about Mr. Kemp (K).  He is a Trader. He trades in souls and essence.  Traders appear about once every one thousand human years to gather souls or bottles of essence to trade among the galaxy.  Without traders certain groups would never die. They would multiple, crowding out the worlds.  And without them, certain groups would never live.  This is how it has been for millions of years.

The souls are provided as life sources to Surface tribes among the galaxy who cannot create their own life sources.  They lay in suspended animation until a soul is delivered. They in turn pay the trader with safe passage through space.  Like one single organism, they cannot exist without each other.  Traders can live for eternity provided they gather and deliver the souls to the tribes. It is essentially the Trader’s duty.

On the other hand, Traders enjoy stealing bottles of essence.  Each bottle holds the life force and powers of its owner.  Buyers pay huge sums just to get a drop of essence.  Each essence is scented with a fragrant so sweet and powerful, that nations have won wars by using it to subdue its enemies.  First one must find the bottle which is shielded and hidden by its owner.  Once the bottle is in another possession, its owner begins to age.  As each drop of essence is removed, the owner comes closer to death. 

Sometimes Traders use the essence for themselves to hold command over nations for Traders have no powers of their own. They, unlike other people of the galaxy must gather power from the Surface tribes to travel safely and from the ‘La gente de botella’ for other powers.  If the bottle is broken before all of the essence is gone, the essence fills the galaxy, providing the seed for another world where the La gente de botella may dwell, but its owner dies and becomes a star in the cold dark space.

Mr. K has captured the bottle of Segnarts oldest and most powerful citizen, Modara.  She is the mother to Katrina and Aaron, both full-blooded bottle people.  Modara has lived fifteen hundred years.  Her husband sacrificed his bottle so that his wife could live at least another thousand years, but Mr. K has upset the balance. He has arrived five hundred years too early.  He had heard Modara processed the power to make time stand still. She has grown so powerful that she could freeze the galaxy for eternity if she chooses. 

His early arrival has set in motions a series of events that threaten to destroy the galaxy, yet he is unaware.  He has broken the rule which no Trader had dared break before.  Far off at the edge of the galaxy dark gaseous clouds form slowly absorbing the edges of the galaxy.  All unbeknownst to its inhabitant. 

Modara felt stupid for not doing a better job of shielding and hiding her bottle. After all, she thought she had another five hundred years before a Trader would dare approach, but Mr. K surprised her. The bottle people are not prepared.  They are like lambs being led to slaughter, at least those who are at least three quarters la gente de botella. 

Modara knows she must defeat the Trader.  No skillful Trader has ever been destroyed for he or her had gathered the powers to defend against all, but this Trader has upset the balance.  He had moved to steal the essences too early.

 Modara now must enlist her daughter to fight against this evil. She must teach Katrina about her powers.  She must teacher how to use them before Mr. K destroys the universe.

_______________________________________________________________________________

My dear boy, you should have seen her. She is beautiful, far prettier than her mother.  Her essence commands a hundred butterflies.  They flutter about her like no other.  Her scent is enchanting. But the most important thing about her is her voice.  Her voice has the power to freeze minds or make listening obey all of her wishes.  When she sings, no one can ignore her.  It is a power so great she could break her mother’s spell.  Yet, I do not know where she shields her bottle. I must have her and her essence.

She must be my queen and help rule the universe.  I know longer want to slave to gather souls.  I want to be free of that dredger. Tell me Nori, can you just imagine her as my queen, sitting upon this throne waiting for my commands.

Awwww, Katrina my love.  I will have you.  I will have this universe.