“This concert is being filmed and broadcast worldwide on the Real Time News Network. We want to thank the corporate sponsors for making this concert possible. You can see their logos around the venue and now scrolling across the television. Please, keep those donations coming in for the Domestic Terrorist Victims Fund. All proceeds raised tonight will support the victims and the families of victims injured or killed by homegrown extremists. Using personal photography, videography and cell phones to capture any part of this event is strictly prohibited by law. Violators will be removed from the concert and could be banned from the venue permanently. Get on your feet, put your hands together, and let’s hear some noise for Zach, Ethan, Ric and Orr…ZERO, live in concert!”
Ethan stood on the counterweight platform below his star trap. The beginning orchestration was a remix of ZERO’s hit songs. He took a calm, centering breath, double-checked his headset and mic bag were secure and said a quick prayer. He recognized the crescendo as it started. He heard, “Cue Zach in three, two, one,” in his earpiece. Ethan heard the mechanism next to him shoot Zach up through the trapdoor onstage, where the crowd erupted. “Cue Ethan in three, two”—he took a deep breath—“one.” Ethan was launched up through the underside of the stage, floated for a second over the trapdoor as it closed below him, landed and posed. The crowd noise soared, and Ethan took his first deep breath of the night. “Cue Ric, in three, two, one…” More screaming as Ric landed on stage. “Cue Orr, in three, two, one…” The crowd lost its minds as Orr hit the stage, paused, and all the stage lights zeroed in on the four men, taking them away from just shadows.
“Break a leg, guys.” Ji Chu-young’s voice came through his earpiece. “Switching you to track audio in three, two, one.” The guys let out their first notes as they dove into the high energy ofDesire’s Dance.
“Hit the streets, we’re feeling alive,” Zach sang.
Ethan followed with, “A night of freedom, ready to dive.”
Ric then sang, “Pulsating lights, and the bass so loud.”
“Desire’s dance,we’re lost in the crowd,” Orr sang. There was a slight hesitation in the song before everyone jumped in on the chorus, and the entire team of backup dancers seemed to come out of nowhere all over the stage.
Three minutes and twenty-three seconds later, the song ended. All four men were right on the front of the stage, catching their breaths.
Ji Chu-young suddenly cut in, “Slight change of plan, guys. Hold your position. Turn and look at the monitor to your right.”
Ethan was confused but turned to look at the video screen off to stage right.
“Good evening, my fellow Americans. My wife and I want to welcome you to the West Lawn of the United States Capitol for this benefit concert. As the world knows, earlier this week, there were attempts on our lives. Thanks to the quick actions of Blayne Dickenson and Ethan Bond”—the photo with the President during the awards ceremony flashed on the screen—“the First Lady and I were saved from a would-be assassin. They may have saved us, but they saved democracy from the hands of extremists bent on destroying our way of life. I stand before you as your President, filled with gratitude and humbled by the unwavering courage of two extraordinary individuals. Today, as we enjoy ZERO’s captivating music, let their melodies remind us of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. Their performance symbolizes unity, resilience and the healing power of art.”
He looked down at his grandchildren standing before them and said, “Tonight, I am alive to watch my grandchildren’s smiling faces as we are reminded of our duty to safeguard their dreams. Let us cherish our heroes, celebrate our collective strength, and work toward a world where compassion and valor prevail over hatred and violence. Thank you, and may God bless the United States of America.”
“Please rise,” a voice urged, “for the singing of the national anthem.” A quick, nervous look was exchanged among the guys before they heard, “Sung by Heartland Melodies Hall of Fame inductee, Tammy-Lynn Maybelline.”
“Sorry about this, guys,” Chu-young said. “No one told us this was happening until we were in the middle of the first song. You can move to your spots forLove Sync.”
While the group started moving, Ethan looked over and a diminutive woman stood on a stage with a guitar as she strummed out theStar Spangled Banner. She was fully decked out in red, white and blue sequins and jewels. Her giant bouffant hairdo was almost as tall as she was.
“Heads up. We were just told by the network that they plan on showing the stage at ‘our flag was still there.’ Please do your best to sing and look patriotic,” Chu-young said.
The anthem was suddenly drowned out. There was a blinding flash of light and an explosion tore through the air like a primal force unleashed as a concussive shockwave engulfed Ethan. An invisible hand seized him, yanked him off his feet and propelled him into a disorienting ascent. Time slowed as his body was launched skyward and backward toward the back of the stage. He slammed back to the ground as if time had suddenly caught up. Ethan’s head hit the stage, and his world went black.
* * * *
Blayne
Tammy-Lynn Maybelline strummed through the song. She was going through the music when the area was filled with a white light, followed by the concussive roar that whipped through the tent.
“What the hell?” Blayne yelled. His eyes darted to the Secret Service agents in the room, who immediately encircled the President and his family.
One monitor finally started showing what was going on. The part of the stage where ZERO had been standing just moments before was gone. Blayne tried to run, but enormous arms enveloped around his torso.
“I’m not letting you go out there,” Mr. S. said. Blayne tried to fight the ex-Navy Seal, but there wasn’t any chance of getting away from the man whose biceps were as big as Blayne’s head.
“I need to get to him,” Blayne attempted to explain.
“We have three people out there right now,” Mr. S. said. “Let them do their jobs. My job, right now, is to protect you three. If you leave here, you’re not letting me do my job.”
Blayne was compelled to kick and claw at the man to make him let go.
“Blayne,” Kira’s voice cut through the noise, “trust them. They’re professionals.”
A second explosion cut through the air with a bone-rattling roar.
* * * *
Dr. Hennigan
