I do not in any way own BMFM, but I do own Clarise Redmond, her sister Coco, Blaine Fisher, and Lillian Redmond.

Modo and the Popstar -Chapter 1

Clarise Redmond was as excited and nervous she could be. It was her very first concert at the Tiffany Dome at the cultural center in downtown Chicago. She wanted every thing to be perfect. This was a charity benefit she volunteered to give to help the homeless and other less fortunate people in the surrounding area.

Three years ago, she herself had been homeless after the home she lived in caught on fire. She lost everything. It had devastated her. She was forced to panhandle. She would sit in doorways and on the streets with an old worn flower hat next to her. The only thing that kept her going was singing. She wrote her own songs and literally sang for her supper. Often times going all day with nothing to eat because no one gave her anything.

Her sister Coco had been trying to find her. And with the help of police and a private investigator, she learned she was living on the streets and asked her to move in with her. At first, she refused.

"I don't know..." She said, "I don't like charity."

"Do you always gotta be so stubborn, Clarise? And this isn't a handout. It's a handup." Coco retorted.

"Sorry and thanks." Clarise smiled weakly.

"Besides, you were meant to do more than sing on these Illinois streets. I'm talking concert halls and the White House."

"Who, me?" Clarise had looked down at her dirty worn clothes and dishelved, unwashed, hair and laughed.

She moved in with her sister that same day and took her first shower in years. The sweet scented rose soap and warm streams of water made her forget the sleepless nights and hunger of those years on the streets as it washed away all the dirt and grime.

Coco was one of the best hair stylists in Illinois. Doing hair for some famous people had its perks. Because of this, she was able to get her sister gigs at local clubs where some of the big wigs frequented. Clarise happily accepted them thinking they would help her singing career. Then she grew to hate them. All the people there wanted to do was drink and get in fights. She longed for something more meaningful in her life than to sing in sleazy dives like these.

Then one day one of these big wigs heard her sing and signed her up with a recording contract. Her career soared.

Now she was performing in a real concert hall. She was actually doing something she longed to do: give back to her community.

"Will you relax, Clarise. You're gonna be great." Her sister told her, watching her pace up and down.

"God, what if I forget my lines?" She questioned.

"You won't. And stop digging your fingers in your hair. I put in a lot of hours just to get that look."

Clarise frowned then smiled at her sister. Ever the hairdresser, she mused. Just like when they were kids. She and Coco always did each other's hair. Once they even did their mom's.

Her smile faded and she looked down.

"You know I really wish Mom was here."

"Yeah...I miss her, too." Coco replied, solemnly.

It had been six years since their mother's death. It came so suddenly. A stroke. Then she couldn't talk. Then one morning, she didn't wake up.

Lillian Redmond had been one of the finest neurosurgeons in the world. Taught her two daughters not to accept anything less in life. To always aim high. She'd always been independent. Having a stroke and getting paralyzed was the worst thing that ever happened to her. She hated being cared for like a baby. It was a big blow to her. Clarise and her sister took turns caring for her: helping her with baths and meals.

"She always wanted me to follow in her footsteps. But I wanted to sing. It's always been part of my life." Clarise sighed, "I wish she had accepted it."

"I know what you mean. She wasn't too keen on me being a stylist. But I own my own shop so my time more or less is my own. She left me alone after that."

They were suddenly interrupted by Clarise's door flying open and a male in a purple, pinstriped suit walked in. His fishy cold eyes watched the two sisters.

"It's show time, Clarise." He said, smiling an equally fishy smile at her, "Time is money. And I need your voice to bring in the money."

"Be right there, Blaine." she replied.

Clarise always had a chill whenever Blaine Fisher came into the room. For the life of her she couldn't understand why. But he was her agent. The best in the business. Coco recommended him.

Her manager watched her closely walk toward him as he held open the door.

"Break a leg, little sis." Coco said, watching her sister walking out and following him. He hid behind the curtain.

Clarise walked out on the stage of the huge cultural center. Crowds of people filled it to overflowing. They watched expectantly as Clarise took a deep breath and took the mic.

Meanwhile near the Dome center, Fred the Mutant stopped the limousine that contained his boss, Lawrence Limburger. The Big Cheese himself got out and made his way into the crowd. He glanced around annoyed at the happy crowd enjoying the concert.

Clarise happily sang and danced to all her musical numbers. She happened to see Limburger in the crowd.

"Lawrence Limburger? What's he doing here?" She thought.

She knew he was that rich big shot that was buying up all the buildings in her old neighborhood. For whatever reason she didn't know. But just something about him gave her the creeps.

She was equally more surprised to see him motion Blaine to come to him. She saw them inch their way outside.

"What are they up to?" She wondered, "I should find out."

"Excuse me, folks. I'm gonna go for a costume change." She said, walking off stage. She followed Blaine outside and hid behind the building.

"I told you I would handle this, Limburger." Blaine argued, "You didn't have to come all this way. So butt out."

"You would be wise by addressing me in a more civil tongue, cousin. After all, who's paying all your expenses? If not for me, you would still be working as a Plutorkian guard."

"Wait? Limburger and Blane are cousins? Plutorkian? I've heard that word before." She thought, then she remembered something that took place a year before her sister found her and took her in.

Flashback...

She was having a particularly bad day. She hadn't earned a thing.

"What am I gonna do?" She thought, "I haven't had anything to eat since last night."

It had begun to rain. She crept into an alley. There among the garbage cans was a large cardboard box. She climbed into it to escape the cold rain and cried.

Suddenly she heard voices. She looked our to see a black limousine followed by a motorcycle from which emerged this ugly, looking guy that looked like dark grease dripped from his body. All he had on were green coveralls and shoes.

She hid behind the cans and looked out.

The window of the limo slid down and an obese head poked out. He had wavy, greasy hair and wore a gaudy purple suit.

"Greasepit, my less than intelligent minion, did you plant the explosives?" He asked.

"In a sec, Mistah Limboiger. I gots ta have me dinner." He replied, sitting on one of the trash cans and opening a lunch box.

" Now, you buffoon!" Limburger screamed.

"Aw, man. That sucks. Right, boss." He sighed.

He closed it up and left it on his bike. He then helped Carbunkle unload the truck of dynamite. Clarise saw her chance. She crept from behind the cans and snuck up to the bike. She spied the lunch kit and grabbed it.

Then took off. She opened it while running.

"What luck!" She thought, finding a ham and swiss sandwich and a slice of chocolate cake.

Unfortunately it was all bad.

She was eating when she suddenly felt herself being grabbed and lifted off the ground. She turned to see the same muscle-bound greasy ape frowning at her.

"Just what do youse think you doing, girl?" He yelled, holding her up by her back collar and then looking her in the face. He then slapped the half eaten sandwich out of her hands.

Clarise was terrified.

"Greasepit, what do we have here?" Limburger asked.

"Just some street trash I caught stealing my food!'

"Human waste!" Limburger blurted out.

"What'd you just call me?"

That made her mad!

"You bloated bucket of lard!" Clarise shouted. Then swore.

"Oh, my. What a nasty mouth. But such behavior is expected from people of your ilk, I'm afraid."

"Deal with her, Greasepit, if you don't mind." He said.

"It'll be a pleasure I'm sure." He grinned.

Suddenly he was knocked through a brick wall. Clarise was dropped to the ground and she got up. She and Limburger looked up to see three helmeted bikers on motorcycles. One of them held up a lit flare.

"Pick on someone your own size, Plutorkian slime!" One of them said. He had a velvety smooth voice.

"Give it up, Limburger!" The largest of them spoke next. His voice sounded like he was from the deep South like Georgia or Mississippi. It was like a raging sea.

She couldn't help thinking this at the time but she liked the sound of his voice.

"It remindes me of the smell of wild honey in the wind." She thought.

Then she remembered where she was: a dirty alley in the middle of the night

She ran off leaving Limburger to face the three bikers alone.

End Flashback...

"I wonder who those guys were?" She thought, "I never did thank them."

"Limburger, what do you want me to do? Hypnotize everyone in Chicago?" Blaine asked.

"If needs be. Your little songbird can do it. I had Carbunkle put subliminal messages on Ms. Redmond's latest CD. It'll make everyone hand their land over to me."

Clarise heard enough. She tiptoed near Limburger's limo taking care to duck down so they didn't see her. The limo was a good distance from them.

Taking fresh courage, she crawled under the car and lifted herself up tiil she was clinging to the bottom of the car. Thank goodness she was a small woman. She froze when she heard them approach.

"All you have to do is play her music over the airwaves." Limburger said, handing him the CD.

"She has a radio interview with Sweet Georgie Brown tomorrow afternoon. It'll be done, Limburger."Blaine replied, " It'll be done."

"See that it is." Limburger said, walking up to his limo and climbing into it.

She sighed with relief. They didn't see her.

Limburger's limo took off with Clarise holding on to the hood.

"This by far is the craziest thing I've ever done." She thought.

...

Meanwhile at the Last Chance garage...

"There ya go, lil Darling. Pretty as a one-two punch." Modo chuckled, waxing his bike and admiring the shine reflexed on it by the morning sun.

"And speaking of punch, things have been awfully quiet lately at Stink Tower." Throttle said.

"And knowing Limburger, it won't take him long to unhatch some evil scheme." Charley replied, handing Vinnie a root beer out of a large cooler before opening her own and taking a sip.

"Relax, sweetheart. That's why we're here. He aint pulling nothing on our watch." Vinnie replied, taking it and giving her a grateful glance.

"Wonder if the game's on. The Chicago Nubs are my favorite team." Modo said.

Charley pressed the remote on the TV. Instead the news was on.

"And earlier today, pop icon Clarise Redmond disappeared from the Tiffany Dome center in downtown Chicago." A TV reporter said.

Images of the pretty singer in music videos appeared on the screen.

"What a babe!" Vinnie breathed. He couldn't believe how gorgeous Clarise was.

"That's some beautiful citizen." Throttle remarked, glancing at the screen.

"Yeah!" Modo said, gazing at her in awe. Then a thought hit him.

"But you know I can't help but think I've seen her somewhere before." He said, "Don't know where."

"Well, I'd definitely remember someone who looked like that!" Vinnie crowed.

"Shh..listen." Charley said.

"Here with me is her sister " The reporter continued, "Coco, when was the last time you saw Ms. Redmond?"

"When she went out on stage. She was supposed to come back to her room for a costume change. She never showed up." A distraught Coco replied, "She was doing a benefit concert to help the poor! Why did this happen?"

"That poor girl." Charley sympathized.

"Who'd do something like this?" Throttle asked.

"It's a terrible situation. But we will find her." Blaine Fisher said to the reporter.

"Mr. Fisher, isn't it true that top industrialist Lawrence Limburger came to see you about the time of her disappearance?"

"Limburger!" All three mice exclaimed in shock.

"N-no...of course not" He replied, quickly.

"That guy's hiding something." Throttle said.

"Ugh! And I thought Limburger was butt ugly!" Vinnie frowned, disgustedly.

"Betcha a round of root beers the Big Cheese had something to do with all this." Modo replied.

"Then I think it's time for a fish fry!" Vinnie crowed.