Chapter 1 - A night at the Electric Labyrinth

Right on cue, the canned rap metal ballad winds down, the sound quieting in synchronicity with the lights turning down. Connor steps forward in the gloom. The light-strings in his clothes glow slowly, and he leans forward. As the audience quietens, their attention focusing on the stage, his microphone goes live.

His deep autotuned voice whispers across the crowd from the speaker towers. "There are many kinds of love, as many kinds of light; And every kind of love makes a glory in the night." His eyes flash to Anika, hidden beneath his bowed head, wondering if she is the one he texted that to earlier in the day. Triggering the program, he opens up the set with his first song, a remix of a Belgian house number, but with the notes tuned to distorted guitars through his sound rig. The opening base notes start low enough to shake the stage before winding upwards. As the pitch increases, he slides the light toggle up, illuminating the stage in a brilliant pillar of light. Does he amplify the brilliance? Just a smidge.

Lasers shoot out of the overhead light rack just as the song begins, dancified beats bringing the number to a catchy bounce. His fingers dance across the controls, working his magic and creating new sounds from the base samples.

As Connor's electrifying remix fills the air, the energy in the venue surges. The crowd erupts into cheers and applause, their excitement palpable as they eagerly anticipate the show ahead.

Bodies sway and pulse to the rhythm of the music, illuminated by strobe lights and lasers casting vibrant hues across the room. The dance floor becomes a sea of movement, as attendees lose themselves in the pulsating beat.

Some revelers abandon their inhibitions entirely, dancing with abandon as they embrace the euphoria of the moment. Others gather in groups, their hands raised in the air as they chant along with the music.

Plastic cups and glowsticks litter the floor, evidence of the wild festivities unfolding. Laughter and shouts mingle with the melody, creating a symphony of sound that fills the space.

Amidst the chaos, people scream in delight, their voices blending with the music to create an infectious rhythm of joy and excitement. This is a night to remember, a celebration of life and unity in the heart of the rave scene. And as Connor works his magic on stage, the crowd dances on, their spirits soaring high into the night.


Anika, swept away by the electrifying atmosphere, raises her hands high above her head, forming a heart shape with her fingers as a sign of affection for Connor, visible amidst the vibrant crowd. Her gesture of love and unity is quickly mirrored by those around her in the VIP section, creating a wave of solidarity.

Suddenly, an unexpected phenomenon unfolds on the dance floor, captivating the attention of everyone in the vicinity.

Several clouds of mysterious dark mist, tinged with hues of purple, materializes and swirls around the venue, casting an enchanting aura over the space. As beams of light pierce through the mist, they scatter in unpredictable patterns, creating a mesmerizing display of colors and shadows. Some lights seem to vanish into the mist, leaving behind a shimmering trail of fairy-like dust that dances in the air. This wasn't part of the original plan, neither Connor or Tav know what this is, but the crowd love it.

Meanwhile, high above the stage, massive 3D screens comes to life, displaying holographic avatars of dancers in vibrant, neon-colored costumes. Selvie's avatar takes center stage, captivating the audience with her mesmerizing moves and infectious energy. Those equipped with electronic glasses are treated to an immersive augmented reality experience, as holographic figures dance and twirl around them on floating and platforms.

In the control booth, Tav oversees the spectacle with a sense of pride, orchestrating the intricate blend of sound, light, and visual effects that enhance Connor's performance. A dedicated team of technicians works tirelessly, adjusting settings and coordinating the dazzling array of effects to ensure a seamless and unforgettable show for all in attendance.

"Damn, this is insane!" Marcel exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement as he peered through the augmented reality glasses. Beside him, Selvie's eyes widened in wonder.

"Oh, my goddess... What is this mist? This is incredible!" Selvie exclaimed, her awe palpable as she gazed at the swirling colors around them.

In the VIP section, Seo-ah surprises Max by grabbing his hand. With the music pulsing through the air, she moves with an infectious energy, her long ponytail swirling around her as she dances with vigor.

From his vantage point in the press box, Steven enjoys a commanding view of the event unfolding below. With a pair of binoculars at his disposal, he can easily zoom in on Connor, the focal point of the evening's festivities. Amidst the vibrant crowd, his attention is drawn to a striking figure who must be Anika, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the scene.

Tav readjusts a couple of the fans units keeping the AV/FX cool and blows the mist away from the sensitive and expensive equipment boards. She's not sure what the stuff is, but Tav doesn't want it ruining her night.

Seo-ah's delicate hand is warm in his as she encourages Max to join her, and her infectious energy sweeps Max up into her dance. They move together as Max matches her vigor with enthusiasm. They mirror each other's motions, their bodies swaying in sync with the music's vibrant beats and thumping bass. As they move, Max finds himself actually enjoying their dance, usually something he just engages in as a pretense to getting something else.

Max is feeling quite enamored with the older woman as their dance continues, her subtle scent stirring something within him. Their connection transcends words as their eyes remain locked through most of the dance, their bodies pressed together in the midst of the crowd. The smiles they share convey their mutual enjoyment of the moment's spontaneity. Seo-ah's graceful moves and infectious energy create a captivating spectacle that draws admiring glances from others, and Max does his best to keep up with the elegant woman who has taken such an interest in him.

His plans to find a couple young dancers to make Tammy jealous fade into nothing as the prospect of spending more time with Seo-ah seems to dominate his mind.

Connor bops and bounces on the stage, his body lit and pulsing to the beat, as he slides and merges samples in and out throughout the show. He's lost in the moment, and when he sees Anika flash the heart sign, he swaps the bass line to a pulse beat and triggers the light show to be prominently red. He flashes a dab at her.

He drops his second line into the middle, voice throbbing with distorted bassy notes. "There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it." The music plunges into happy hardcore style, the beat and speed going into warp. Around him, the light suit screams with brilliance, nearly too bright to see, before he releases his augment to the LED light strings output. Too much, they're watching! but he couldn't help himself. The moment demanded it.

It's when the black mist occurs then he suddenly remembers the Crimson Forge. Something about them had bugged him, but then he realizes the mist is probably Anika. They took her light and gave it to him. What they left was a dark hole. Had she learned to adjust that, the way he had? It's a beautiful moment, and he blinks away tears. They made such prisms together.

The show continues, more heartfelt in the second half than the first. More emotion for that's what he felt.

Tavisha spins and bounces near the boards. Her face is lit up with joy and adoration for Selvie, as her holographic muse dances over the crowd. She moves the very short distance to Selvie and Marcel, drawing them into the dance with her. Her smile is infectious and she screams with rapt abandon with every pulse of Connor's performance. Fists in the air. Horns showing her love for the badass beats.

As the night wears on, the energy in the venue only intensifies, fueled by the electrifying performances and pulsating beats of Connor's show. Other artists take the stage intermittently, each bringing their own unique style and energy to the mix, providing brief interludes that keep the crowd engaged and enthralled.

Connor himself continues to dazzle and delight, seamlessly blending genres and weaving intricate melodies that captivate the audience. His passion and talent shine through with each song, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd.

As the hours pass, the atmosphere becomes increasingly euphoric, with attendees losing themselves in the music and the moment. Bodies sway and pulse to the rhythm, illuminated by the vibrant lights and lasers that fill the space with color and energy.

As the clock approaches midnight, the main event draws to a close, but the night is far from over. Most of the VIP guests begin to migrate to a more intimate venue on a different floor, where they can continue to revel in the festivities in a more relaxed and private setting.

Inside the venue, a sense of anticipation hangs in the air as guests and artists mingle and socialize, enjoying the open bars and indulging in whatever pleasures they desire. The air is thick with the scent of alcohol and sweat, mingling with the sweet aroma of illicit substances such as cocaine and this new red powdery drugs, known colloquially in the street as dust.

In this intimate setting with dim light, inhibitions are cast aside as guests engage in uninhibited displays of hedonism and pleasure. Drinks flow freely, and the air is filled with the sound of laughter and conversation, punctuated by occasional bursts of music and the occasional moan of ecstasy.

For those in attendance, it's a night to remember, a celebration of life, music, and the freedom to indulge in whatever desires they may have.Tav, Marcel, and Selvie arrived together, followed closely by Max and Seo-ah. The stunning Korean woman appeared exhilarated from the dancing, her glistening skin evidence of a fantastic time with her younger companion. Steven and other members of the press are present but were politely requested not to take pictures of the guests. Tony discreetly made his way in, his attention seemingly drawn to keeping an eye on the enigmatic Anika, who attract intense gaze filled with desire wherever she goes. Dan M'Demne and Connor entered together, accompanied by two athletic female pro tennis players, Naomi and Yulia.

Tavisha looks this woman over, clearly not impressed by the interference with their intimate experience in the VIP afterparty. She casually drapes an arm around Selvie's waist and does her best attempt at a polite smile. "I'm not sure Oscar de la Renta is the look of the future, Cynthia." Tav looks down at her own outfit and that of her muse. "Our efforts are geared more toward the cutting edge of technology, entertainment, and fashion. Not a retro look to the fading elegance of a century past."

"Now, if you'd excuse us..?"

Tav whispers into Selvie's ear. 'I wouldn't be caught dead in Oscar de la Renta and the mere thought of seeing that trash on you makes me nauseous.'

"I need another drink after that little scene..." She glances around for the nearest bartender. "...another bump and moment..or three with you, Love."

Earlier...

After the show, and overseeing the techs pack up his gear, he showed Steven the rig. "The receiver is the core of the show. It syncs the lights and the sound, and then send both the signals to the sounds system and controls the light show. We plug in the light units to their own power for more output, not the HDMI cables can carry a fair bit of load. Still, whoever it was in your office sabotaged my rig overloaded the receiver. It's not meant to carry that much current. Look here," and while Steven watches, he channels power into the ports, using his Transmutation power to partially melt housing around the plugs and leave blackened steaks. "I'm going to have to rebuild this, I'm lucky out lasted tonight."

It's one hundred percent bullshit, and obviously didn't try to his that from Steven. But it's an explanation, the only one he could come up with.

"I almost burnt out my light suit today too, but that was on purpose. I might have burns, those strands got so hot. Looked great through, didn't it?"

Connor stays close to the tennis stars, particularly drawn to Naomi but secretly hoping that they both accompany him and Dan back to Dan's place after the party.

He chuckles with Dan, and they speak in a kind of bro code about some of the more naughty events. "And then, haha, remember that one, Tanja with a J? Passed out on the mirror with that rolled up Franklin suck to her ear? Can't believe she was an army brat! "

The rounds with the others are something else. He's totally drained from the show, poured his heart into the performance, but this is different and recharges him. After controlling so much light, sharpening, coloring, directing, he walks from spotlight to spotlight, and now lightly absorbs the light in the venue, his shadow a little darker than it should be.

Steven specifically hangs back from the festivities and just observes, not wanting anyone to think that he's close with any of the people here or else he might let Dani onto the fact that he's actually very close with Connor. That wouldn't be great for either of them.

Max tries not to embarrass his old friends by forcing them to associate with him. He knows what they all think of his life choices and how dangerous having an ex-con linked to them could be for their careers.

Instead, he focuses on Seo-ah. Recognizing her exhilaration from their dancing. Max wants to hold her attention. "Seo-ah, you are an amazing dancer. Your energy, your grace... mesmerizing."

He guides her through the crowd with one hand on the small of her back. "You have a real connection with music and movement. I could watch you dance all night. You fill every step with so much joy and passion."

He finds them drinks and a spot on one of the plus velvet couches. Once seated, he continues talking, bringing up a story from one of his trips across the southern border, a visit for which he gives no explanation. "Dancing with you reminds me of this time I was in Mexico City. I stumbled into this little salsa club tucked away down a side alley. The music was just pouring out onto the street."

He is animated as he tells the story, leaning in close to be heard over the crowd noise. "Before that night, I was never much of a dancer. But there was this older guy there, Miguel. He insisted I join him on the floor. He was so full of life, so energetic. He taught me a few basic steps, encouraged me to feel the rhythm, to not overthink it."

He laughs and continues. "I must have looked like a total fool at first, but Miguel... that guy's enthusiasm was infectious. He was so patient, got me to relax and enjoy the music in a whole new way. By the end of the night, I was dancing like I never had before, laughing, really enjoying myself."

Leaning closer, he meets her eyes. "Dancing with you brought me right back to that night, the joy of letting go and embracing the moment. You make me feel impulsive, spontaneous. What should we do to make this night even more memorable?"

"Exactly. Very old rich women and wallflowers." Tavisha agrees with Selvie's assessment and, leaning in slightly, kisses her.

Moving over to one of the more intimate bars, Tav smiles wickedly with the cute bartender's comment about their outfits. She reaches down to the zipper at the front of her body suit and pulls it down to the bottom to expose a strip all the way down to the base of the zipper. "I'd be less inhibited here in the VIP, if it were not for the uncool people mingling about the room."

Tav stands close beside her lovely muse, Selvie, as she challenges the pink-haired bartender to surprise her with a drink concoction. Tav glances about to see if she could see Marcel. She wanted to make sure he was enjoying himself at the party too.

In her turn, Tavisha winks at the bartender and calls her drink order. "Cherry Saz. Chilled. Heavy on the absinthe rinse. Cognac and honey bourbon with a splash of black cherry liquor. Shaken. On the rocks. With a lime twist."