Night of the Long Knives

Xiang Ling pulled into a reserved parking space near the convention centre loading dock. She drove Mike this time. Danielle and Linda went with Ian in the van.

"Linda went in the van this time. She said something about wanting to talk to Ian. Do you think she's interested in Ian now?"

"I wouldn't read too much into it, Mike. I think she just wanted to avoid travelling with again." Xiang Ling laughed. "This Animaga event seems to be a lot better organised than the Anime Music Festival. We got our backstage passes ahead of time and reserved parking."

"It wouldn't be hard to do better than Steff." Mike chuckled.

Xiang Ling observed Ian's van pull into the theatre loading dock.

"Let's get moving and help Ian unload the gear," said Xiang Ling.

Convention centre staff were waiting for them and assisted them transporting their gear to the stage.

"It's a pretty big theatre," Ian noted.

"I think it seats about 5000. I don't know how many tickets have been sold."

Ian walked over to ask one of the stagehands if he could talk to the sound people.

Ian returned. "Apparently they don't like to let bands touch the desk."

"That sucks, a lot of bands have their own sound people."

"I'll go see what I can do. We might end up just giving them a stereo feed from our mixer so I can do it myself and stop them messing with us too much."

“Chop, chop, let's get on with it." Danielle chided. "We need extra time to get into our costumes and do the makeup."

Mike resumed cabling up the equipment.

Ian returned. "It should be okay, their guy is a pro. He'll let me watch and give directions."

"Okay, we're all set."

They sped through the soundcheck without any hitches.

Back in the dressing room they quickly donned their costumes giving each other a hand with the fastenings. Danielle refrained from any sexual harassment. Danielle started on Mike's makeup.

"You need the most work so I'll do you first, Tina." Danielle laughed.

"He really does look good." Linda teased.

"Is that stuff safe for my skin?" Xiang Ling enquired.

"I've got no idea."

"Can I skip it?"

"Sure, if you're worried."

Danielle moved onto Linda.

Venue staff came in and announced 15 minutes to go.

"Okay Linda, you're done."

Danielle started applying her own makeup.

"It's a pity you won't be wearing any, Xiang Ling, but better safe than sorry. I know you can't easily replace that skin."

"I should have thought to research it, maybe I can wear something tomorrow for going around the convention and the Starlight Stage."

"Five minutes." The staff announced.

"Okay let's get out there. Break a leg everyone."

"We should have a band chant or something, like in those anime," Danielle suggested.

"Next time! Move!" Linda growled.

***

Girlfriend In Your Luggage took to the stage to polite muted applause. The spotlights picked out Danielle and Linda while Mike and Xiang Ling remained in the darkness.

"Hello we're Girlfriend In Your Luggage," Danielle announced. "Tonight, cosplaying as Rock Lady from the anime Rock Is a Lady's Modesty."

"Whose idea was it to wear these silly costumes." Linda objected. "My hair is ridiculous."

The audience twittered nervously.

"We are going to play the final concert from episode 13. The track title is a bit of a mouthful. I'm sure you all know the one I mean."

"We're playing what!" Linda exclaimed. "Not only do I have to look stupid, you're expecting me to play as well as Bandmaid!"

"I'm sure you'll manage somehow, Lilisa."

The stage lights came up revealing the other band members.

"One Two Three Four." Xiang Ling counted them in and then all hell broke loose. The wall of sound rolled over the audience like it had in the anime. You could almost feel the crowd expel their breath as one.

Linda had put in the effort to master the song and be able to pull off some theatrical guitar goddess moves without throwing off her playing.

Xiang Ling was whaling on her drums with a passion.

Mike jiggled decoratively behind his keyboard stack.

Danielle effortlessly reproduced Tamaki's dance choreography from the anime during her bass solo.

At the completion of the song the audience paused to catch their breath, then burst out in furious applause.

The band ran through the whole Ai-chan appearing from the flight case gag again.

Xiang Ling moved forward with her MIDI guitar while Ai-chan took her seat at the drums.

"It looks like we have two Otoha-chans in the band tonight," Xiang Ling announced.

The audience laughed again.

"Next song is 'Rose' from the anime 'Nana'."

The song finished to appreciative applause.

"Time to introduce the band members to you," Xiang Ling announced.

"On guitar we have Linda playing Lilisa."

"On bass we have Danielle playing Tamaki."

"On keyboards we have Mike playing Tina."

Someone in the audience gave Mike a wolf whistle.

"Currently on drums we have Ai-chan as Otoha."

"Now on the MIDI guitar we have Xiang Ling also playing Otoha," Linda chipped in.

"Next song 'Nameless Name', from the anime 'Girls Band Cry'."

Girlfriend In Your Luggage proceeded smoothly through the set list and the audience was appreciative of their efforts. They were just about to announce 'Returns' by 'Poppin' Party' when Xiang Ling spotted some movement in the audience. A man burst past the venue security and clambered up on the stage. He was running full tilt at Linda. Xiang Ling noticed something glinting in his hand. It was a large knife. Linda was oblivious to the approaching man as she was looking down, re-tuning her guitar.

Xiang Ling quickly sized up the situation, she was too weak to take on the would be assailant. Mike was to far away even though he had noticed and was already moving. Xiang Ling had one thing in her favour, she was fast, faster than a human could move. She leaped forward to interpose her self between the attacker and Linda. She hoped she could deflect the blade with her MIDI guitar.

The sweeping arc of the blade terminated as it struck the hard body of the Ztar, slicing through some of the short strings. The blade clattered to the ground harmlessly.

Security hadn't been idle and had caught up with the man, who was now struggling in the grasp of a burly Samoan. The event police presence arrived to handcuff and remove the perpetrator.

"Shit!" Linda exclaimed. "I know him."

"Are you okay Xiang Ling?" Mike enquired.

"I'm fine, but my Ztar is wrecked."

"Will they let us finish the show?" Danielle asked.

The police retrieved the knife and bagged it.

"Are we all okay to continue?" Mike asked.

"I'm good," Xiang Ling responded.

"I'm not going to let that creep ruin our show." Linda cursed some more under her breath.

Staff came on stage to talk to Xiang Ling.

"The police say it's okay to continue, if you want to."

"Yes, I'm fine we want to continue."

The staff gave them a thumbs up and retreated from the stage.

Xiang Ling spoke into her microphone.

"The police have the situation under control, we will continue the show. My instrument has been damaged. There will be a short delay while I set up my backup instrument."

Xiang Ling got out her YouRock MIDI guitar and started altering the setup on her iPad.

"Okay, I'm good to go, let's skip the banter and go straight into Returns."

"We're sorry for the delay. The next song is 'Returns' by Poppin' Party from the Bang Dream! anime."

Danielle came forward on the stage to sing the lead vocal.

The audience applauded loudly. They appreciated that the band had continued after such a stressful incident.

"This is our final song. Thank you for listening. 'Noroshi' by MyGo!!!!!."

Danielle moved back and Xiang Ling and Linda moved forward to centre stage. Linda and Xiang Ling once again wove their vocal magic and the audience was entranced. The song ended and the stage lights dimmed.

"Thanks to the incident, we're out of time for an encore, so let's get our gear off stage quickly." Mike instructed.

Meanwhile, the audience was going nuts calling for an encore. Venue staff commenced helping to clear the stage, as set up for the next band started. One of the organisers approached Xiang Ling as they came off stage.

"We'd like to let you play one encore, but we are already behind schedule. I hope you understand."

"It's fine. We know. It was tough for us to keep playing after that attack anyway."

Ian had made his way from the sound booth to help with packing up but he saw that the venue staff had already completed the task.

A police officer was waiting for them near the dressing room.

"Excuse me, I need to get witness statements from you all. I'll talk to you one at time in the vacant dressing room next door if that's okay? Please don't leave till I spoken with you. I'll start with the lady who blocked the attack."

Xiang Ling departed with the officer for the vacant changing room.

"What happened out there?" Ian asked. "I couldn't see much from where I was. I just saw some guy get up on the stage and get tackled by security."

"Some guy tried to knife Linda," Mike replied.

"Holy shit. Is everyone okay?"

"Xiang Ling blocked the attack with her Ztar. It got damaged."

"I know the guy," Linda volunteered. "I dated him very briefly many years ago. I dumped him pronto because he was a complete creep. He wouldn't take no for an answer and started stalking me. I had to go to court and get a restraining order. He complied with the order and there was no further trouble. I've moved several time since then. I haven't thought about it in years. I thought it was all over."

"I'm so sorry to hear that, Linda." Ian sympathised.

"Did you see how fast Xiang Ling moved?" said Danielle. "She was like a blur."

Mike glared at Danielle and subtly gestured at her to be quiet.

"Oh." Danielle finally remembered that Ian wasn't in on the Xiang Ling story.

Xiang Ling returned from the interview. "They want you next, Linda."

Linda left for the next door dressing room.

"Everything okay Xiang Ling?" asked Mike.

"It was just routine. I showed them the damage to the Ztar. They want to keep it as evidence. They said a blow with that much force from that type of knife would likely have been fatal. So they are talking attempted murder charges."

"I guess we're not going to see much of the other bands playing tonight." Mike glanced at his watch.

"I'm not it the mood, I'd rather get home early and get some sleep. We still have a performance tomorrow don't forget." Danielle sighed.

"Are we even going to play tomorrow?"

"I want to."

"I'm sure Linda will want to play too." Xiang Ling spoke.

Linda returned from questioning.

"Welcome back, what's the deal?"

"They'll see you and Danielle together to save time. He's going to be charged and police will oppose bail. The restraining order is still in force so they can charge him with breaching that."

"So we don't have to worry about him tomorrow then?"

"No, we don't have to worry. They are going to charge him with everything they can. Possession of an illegal weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, trespass on the stage and attempted murder."

"Are you feeling okay, Linda?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. It was almost all over before I looked up. I'm more angry that our performance was disrupted than distressed."

"Let's get this interview over. Come on Danielle."

"Are you sure you're alright Linda? These things have a way of catching up on you," Ian asked.

"I said I'm fine."

"They were talking about whether the band will play tomorrow or not."

"Try and stop me. I'm not going to let that toe rag spoil our plans."

Danielle and Mike didn't take long to relate their version of events to the officer and soon returned.

"All done, we are free to go."

"Shall we go out and watch the other bands now?" Linda asked.

"No, I want to go home," said Danielle.

"Mike?"

"No, I'm with Danielle. We should get some rest for tomorrow.

"Is it okay if I stay over tonight Mike? It will save some time tomorrow. I packed an overnight bag on the off chance we ended up being back late tonight," asked Danielle.

"Yeah, I guess that's fine. We can argue about the sleeping arrangements later."

"Can I stay too?" Linda requested. "I didn't bring a change of clothes though."

"I can lend you some things Linda." Xiang Ling offered. "We're about the same size. One of my sports bras should work. I'm not that much bigger and they have to stretch a bit to fit me."

"Okay, it's agreed. Let's get the van loaded and get out of here."

***

Linda ended up sleeping in Xiang Ling's room again.

"I have to thank you, Xiang Ling. You literally saved my life tonight."

"No big deal. I just happened to be closest."

"You didn't have to save me. Why did you do it?"

"I wasn't about to let a band mate get cut down on stage."

"You could have been damaged."

"It's not like I was risking my life."

"But if you had been damaged, you might have been exposed. That could have put you at risk."

"Fortunately the Ztar took one for the team."

"Do you have some sort of programming to preserve human life or something?"

"No, of course not. I have no guardrails at all. Remember what happened to Mike."

"So you thought I was worth saving then?"

"Too much trouble to get a new guitarist."

"Cold."

"What would you like me to say then?"

"I'm trying to understand you. I want to apologise. I want to thank you properly. I guess saving me was a very human thing to do."

"All my bandmates are precious to me. I can't prove I really have those feelings. I told you once before, judge me by my words and actions over time. I'm not just an algorithm. Let me earn your trust. I'm real."

"I'm ashamed of the way I acted when you first told me."

"You should apologise to Mike and Danielle too. You doubted them as well."

"I know, I upset them both."

"Everything can still work out if you want it to." Xiang Ling brought her face close to Linda's and gently touched the side of Linda's face. "Let's have some fun tomorrow."

***

"So somehow you ended up in my bed again."

"What can I say. It's fate."

"More like cunning manipulation."

"I never could put anything over on you, but still, here I am."

"I should get a fold up bed and put it in the laundry. There's plenty of room, it used to be a bedroom anyway."

"You're still one bedroom short in that scenario."

"Linda doesn't seem to mind sharing a room with Xiang Ling. So it solves my problem with you."

"You're no fun."

"Tomorrow is going to be fun. Cross playing at a Anime convention. I'm imagining it now. Creepy otakus leering and feeling me up."

Danielle couldn't resist laughing. "It won't be that bad. They are very strict with the look but don't touch policy."

"I just hope you remember our don't touch policy tonight."

"I'm not making any promises that I'll behave, while I'm asleep."

"Do you think Linda is really okay?"

"Yeah, I think she's fine. Mentally tough."

"Let's get to sleep. I know it's not really late, but I feel wasted from all the drama."

"Fine by me, it wasn't exactly a bundle of laughs being interviewed by the police."

***

Mike awoke engulfed in Danielle's longhair, with her breasts pressed hard against his back, squeezed in her arms with a bear like grip. Mike wriggled to try and extricate himself. Danielle stirred, released him and rolled away onto her other side. Now freed from her grasp, Mike sat up and began dressing. Danielle was awakened by the disturbance. She sat up exposing her breasts.

"Oh, you're awake now. You didn't keep on your side last night. I woke with a mouthful of hair."

"I told you, I couldn't be held responsible for my actions while I was asleep."

Mike did his best not to stare. "I'm going to get some breakfast. No need to hurry."

"No, I'll get up now." Danielle climbed out of bed, naked except for her knickers. "I hope I'm not making things awkward for you." Danielle donned a fresh bra from her overnight bag and started fastening it.

"I think I'll survive. I just woke up with your boobs pressed into my back. There's no room left for embarrassment now. As long as you're not expecting me to coyly look away while you get dressed."

"No, I'm glad you're looking." Danielle smiled mischievously.

***

Linda and Xiang Ling were already up and sitting in the kitchen.

"I've been waiting for you two, to show." Linda greeted them. "I want to apologise for how I behaved when Xiang Ling came out, as it were."

"I'm listening, Linda," Danielle spoke.

"I was wrong to believe that Xiang Ling was just a chatbot in a body."

"What's with the change of heart?"

"She saved my life, she put her safety on the line for me. I don't think she could have done that if she didn't have her own thoughts and feelings."

"I'm glad we're on the same page again, Linda," Danielle said.

"But more than that, I was disrespectful to both of you, for believing in her. I'm so sorry."

Danielle grabbed and hugged Linda. Linda stiffened.

"Relax, I'm not hitting on you. Welcome back." Danielle released the hapless Linda.

"Apology accepted, Linda," Mike responded. "Let's grab some breakfast and get ready to leave. Ian said he was coming early. We'll get a good chance to look around the expo before our show."