[Fanfic] A Dancer Dies Twice, Part 1

ACT I: 起​

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Neon J. isn't a stranger to intricate fan projects.​

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A 1010 concert itself is an intricate artistic experience, integrating music, group choreography and modern marvels of engineering into a complete form of entertainment. The essence of a 1010 live concert experience is the interaction between the performing artists and their adoring audience; the affectionate gestures and flirty one-liners from 1010 and the feverish screams, enthusiastic fanchants and colourful light sticks from the fans. ​

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Neon J.'s unique social approach to cultural technology is rooted in his discovery that the electricity generated by the Grand Qwasa when powered by the combined musical energy of both 1010 and their audience is twice the output measured from an average performance. Vinyl City already has a roster of amazing EDM artists in NSR banding together to provide power to the people, but so far, none of them has tapped into the collective power of idols and their fans.​

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To succeed in the music capital of the world as a foreign vocal group from a war-torn country, just singing and dancing wasn't enough. 1010 have to stand out.​

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The way to build a powerful bond between idols and their fans is through their hearts. 1010 fans are officially named as the 1010tera, a pun on 'tentera', a word for 'army' Neon J. had picked up from the Vinyl City sailors stationed in his naval port hometown. Early in the group’s inception, 1010’s youthful, charming appearance symbolised the optimism and escapism needed by a country healing from tragedy. Now, the escapism element still holds. Their slender figures, angular facial features and caring, romantic nature represent a dreamlike perfection, yet they aren’t meant to be perceived as impossible objects of affection too far beyond reach. 1010 are made to have highly structured fan engagement outside of their music and performances to strengthen the personal connection between 1010 and the 1010tera.​

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1010 makes themselves an active part of their fans' lives by consistently trying to keep in touch with them. In livestreams, 1010 will show off their ideal boyfriend side by asking fans about how their day is going and complimenting them for looking beautiful today. In fansigns, 1010 will answer questions from fans, hold their hands and try on fun props they've brought. In concerts, 1010 will always assure their fans that they're very thankful for the love and they've received all these years.​

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"By the end of this concert," leader Rin once said at the beginning of the ending song of their setlist, "I hope you'll be a little happier!"​

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From their first awkward performance in their hometown to their first anniversary as an established vocal group under NSR and a myriad of other career milestones, 1010 have experienced almost all of their most important moments with their fans. They might be artificial beings, but the strength of this relationship is genuine, expressed time and time again through a phrase that only 1010 and 1010tera can understand: ​

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"You're our energy, we're your energy! Jjiritjjirithae!"​

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A phrase the would shout out in sync before starting a music show performance, a fanmeeting, a concert, you name it.​

Taken literally, 'jjiritjjirithae' means 'it stings', better suiting the shooting pain of an electric shock, but it can also be used to describe a sudden, overwhelming feeling. Haym, looking like an electric shock victim himself with his hair standing straight up, seems to have inherited Neon J.’s penchant for portmanteaus. During a debut anniversary concert a few years back, he’d given the everyday phrase a fresh new meaning—a combination of 'jjiritjjirit' (shocking/electrifying) and 'saranghae' (I love you)—a special way for 1010 and 1010tera to express their electrifying love for each other, fan-translated into 'I spark you'.​

The hearts that have caught the spark would grow to reciprocate it. ​

Energy-wise, their ionate cheers help to power up 1010. The generation of electricity from sound is a method Neon J. had created as a free and reliable backup energy source for himself and his troops since his homeland’s electrical supply was often disrupted after the war. Before he started working with Qwasas as a member of NSR, he used mechanical vibrations from travelling sound waves amplified by resonators and converted by electromagnetic induction for power.​

Affection-wise, since 1010 give their all in their performances, fans give just as much back through fan projects. 1010 fans are mostly young, so their ion is pure and sincere and Neon J. ires that. He's glad to help bring a smile to their faces; after all, these young people are the key to a brighter future.

Often, the 1010tera would go above and beyond with their concert projects, planned amongst the fandom without the knowledge of their idols on stage. He re how the stadium central control system would relay the information to him that all the fans' lightsticks were shining in the signature colour of a 1010 member, forming a special glimmering ocean on their respective 'birthdays': white for Rin, blue for Purl-hew, red for Zimelu, green for Eloni and yellow for Haym.​

He re the 1010tera conspiring with the staff to dim all lights in the stadium before playing a special video on the main LED screen: a montage of 1010 over the years, from a clip of them singing a jazz number, probably dancing with the tick-tick-tick stiffness of a music box doll for a Vinyl City military camp show to performing on more and more prestigious stages, interspersed with messages of fans talking about how much 1010 means to them and thanking the boys for sparking a light of joy and hope in their lives.​

But what stands out the most in his memory is this one particular fan project for Eloni's birthday. The second the song 1010 were singing transitioned into an instrumental bridge, the crowd began flying green paper aeroplanes towards the stage. One got tangled in Eloni's ring lock of hair, so he unfolded the aeroplane there and then. Inside it was a handwritten letter—in fact, each one of the aeroplanes had a heartfelt message written just for him.​

Eloni has always been the least popular member of 1010 according to online surveys, merchandise sales and the amount of fanletters he'd received. Not long before that, there was even a digital petition spread by disgruntled anti-fans to kick him out of the group for being 'ugly' and 'annoying'.

As thousands of paper planes flew in the sky, the usually funny and cheerful Eloni dropped down to his knees and gave a deep, formal bow to the audience.​

"I want to be the Eloni you can be proud of. I'll work harder for all of you from now on, I promise," he said, his quaking shoulders never leaving the floor even after Zimelu sat down next to him and stroked his back.​

Neon J. isn't a stranger to intricate fan projects.​

As 1010's manager, any concert surprises have to be submitted to him first by a fanbase representative and have to be personally approved by him as well in order to be executed.​

Yet, none of them has prepared him for this moment.​

The four seconds of silence between songs were shattered by the loud, unified fanchants screaming the ' names one by one. On cue, 1010 walked with measured steps towards the centre of the stage, striking their feet on the floor to mark their settling into the starting formation of their next song.​

Being so close to the stage, the first kick drum beats reverberated through the aluminium alloy of Neon J.'s mechanical frame, a second heart throbbing from his torso to the tips of his fingers. The deep synth bassline sent low-frequency, high-mass waves flying through the air and through him. The bulk of his body was concentrated around his chest, so the armoured plates underneath his sweater and the skin of the pressurised pack housing his internal organs absorbed most of the hit. The big bass sound waves played with his insides like strings on a harp. ​

To him, the feeling was satisfying. A bassline as steady and as strong as the beats of a military march is an important part of 1010's distinctive soundscape.​

He swayed his body to the synths until he was jolted awake by a scratchy sample of an old big band recording. ​

The sample doesn't suit 1010's style at all—it'd be the last thing he'd put in a 1010 release, let alone include in a concert tour setlist. Isn't the next track supposed to be Love's Battery? This isn't Love's Battery!

Where did this song even come from?​

Unfazed by the abrupt change, the of 1010 continued to perform, clicking their fingers to the bass beat; one-two, one-two, one-two. Against the undertow of screaming 1010tera, Rin took the lead to sing a familiar melody, but with unfamiliar lyrics.​

"There's someone you're going to meet," Rin sang in his crystal clear, airy voice.​

"Let's give him all our love tonight," followed the other four .​

"He's strong and brave and smart and sweet,"​

"Let's give him all our love tonight,"​

"In stealing hearts and stopping shows,"​

"Let's give him all our love tonight,"​

"Captain has taught us all he knows,"​

"Let's give him all our love tonight,"​

"Now, fall out!"​

At Rin's shouted command, 1010 immediately broke formation, dispersing away towards all corners of the stage—and Neon J. couldn't believe what he was witnessing. He would never program his robots to do such a thing!​

"Goddamn it, troops, get back to your positions!" he yelled from backstage. "Get back and hold your ground with everything you got!"​

But they didn't heed his orders and remained dispersed. He pinged his sonar quicker to get a clearer idea of what was going on. ​

A figure in the distance was detected getting louder and nearer.​

Since most materials reflect sound, Neon J. used his sonar sensors to find out how he and the objects in his environment were spatially connected. The sensor's active transmitter sent out short, high-pitched pings and receptors detected the pings as they returned.

He measured the distance between him and the figure by calculating the time it took for the reflected pings to return to the sonar receptors. It was walking towards him, closing the distance between them faster and faster by 30 metres, 20 metres, 10 metres...

Its full form materialised in his mind as a long, narrow metallic object that began flat on one end, rising in the shape of a cylindrical pole. However, it was the difference in pitches reflected by the slopes culminating into a sharp point on top that gave away what, or who exactly he was facing:

Haym, 1010's adorable maknae.​

"What do you think you're doing, soldier?" Neon J. barked.​

"The operation has taken an unexpected turn, captain,” Haym said. ”We need reinforcements. We need you."​

Haym's chipper voice was laced with an unexpected seriousness. What is it that 1010 needed him on the stage so badly?​

Neon J. wasn't even given the luxury of preparing for whatever the band had gotten themselves into. But was he scared? No—even if he was, he wouldn't just flee; otherwise, he'd be as much of a coward as a deserter betraying his comrades in the midst of a major battle.

He didn't have the time to demur or argue. He had to adjust to the situation right away.​

Neon J. plugged a dilator tube into his neck and breathed in. His thoughts and decisions sank their tendrils into his brain as he held his breath for a few seconds before unplugging the tube. "Don't worry," he said, exhaling slowly, "I'll take care of everything."​

Haym clung to Neon J.'s arm and led him to where he was needed. The flat surface they walked on tilted upwards into a short flight of stairs. As he moved from the backstage into open space, his surrounding atmosphere grew softer, yet noisier. The hollering of the audience dampened the band’s instrumentals.​

Soon, Neon J. was standing on stage in the eyes of tens of thousands of people. He could feel the crowd's infectious energy surging into him. The energy coiled inside the ages of his veins, waiting to be transformed.​

He'd always thought that he'd never live to experience something like this again.​

A wind-up toy works using the principles of energy conservation and conversion. When its winder is wound, the energy will be stored in the mainspring as potential energy filled with endless possibilities. When its winder is released, the mainspring unfolds and the toy will become kinetic energy driving gears and moving parts. Neon J.'s mind rushed through the motions of last-minute preparation, building up tension pending for inevitable release. He'd only been onstage for a few moments and all of a sudden the training he'd had with 1010 from years back flitted through him.​

Memories of movements past lie in his blood. When something stirs a blood memory from its sleep, it courses inside him, it speaks to him. ​

What his conscious mind forgets, his blood memory re. ​

The song is an electro swing reinterpretation of an old call-and-response song he'd used to demonstrate to 1010 how the lead singer and backing vocals should harmonise with each other. To practice singing the song, he'd be the one singing the lead for the five to follow.​

It was the first song he taught 1010 to perform.​

"Our captain, everybody!"

As a musical dancer, a lifetime ago, Neon J. had honed his hearing to recognise songs and the way they were tied to the moves he had to dance and the words he had to say. With enough practice, a song could be etched beat by beat into his veins and he'd no longer have to think about what to do.​

He knew all the counts and all the steps and he knew what to sing.​

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