- Laser Steele
- D. Swingle <spatialanomaly@worldnet.att.net>
Well, here's my challenge story. I'm sorry it's late, but
only by a week,
not bad considering that last week this wasn't even close to
being finished.
I'd like to thank Sabrina for her help with this story. Feedback,
as
always, would be greatly appreciated! Permission to archive given.
Laser Steele
By Dawn M. Swingle
Laura's pulse quickened as she pulled the Rabbit up to the security
booth
outside the Center Hollywood Studios parking lot. She couldn't
remember
ever being this excited. Well, maybe the first time she met one
of her
childhood heroes, Maxwell Donahue. 'Atomic Man' was the reason
she was here
today.
"Can I help you, Miss?"
Laura handed the guard the pass she had. "Yes, I'm here
to see Max
Donahue." The guard looked unimpressed, so she added, "Laser
Man?"
He gave the pass the once over, handed it back, and directed
her to the
correct lot. "Have a nice day."
"Thank you. I'm sure I will. You can't imagine what a thrill
this is for
me."
The guard shook his head as she drove off, muttering to himself,
"Crazy
fans. They're all nuts."
***
Laura found the parking lot and walked up to Building 13, as
the guard had
directed. She could barely contain her enthusiasm as she opened
the door
and was met with a scene of organized chaos. People rushing by
with props,
actors in alien makeup going over lines, and someone yelling,
"Can I get
some lights over here?"
A young man finally noticed her standing there. "Can I help
you?"
"Yes, I'm Laura Holt. I'm here to see Max Donahue. He's
expecting me."
"Well, he's in the middle of filming a scene on the Planet
Gelas set right
now, so you'll have to wait till they're done. How do you know
Max? He's a
great guy."
"He is, isn't he," she agreed. "Let's just say
I'm a fan, and I helped him
out of some trouble he got into last year."
"Are you talking about that murder rap?"
"Yes, my firm helped clear Max of the charges."
Recognition dawned. "You work for Remington Steele!"
He sounded impressed.
"I knew that Atomic Man wouldn't have killed anyone."
"You're a Tommie, too?" Laura gave him the greeting
from the show,
forefingers and thumbs touching in greeting, and they laughed.
"I'm Zach. I'm spending the summer interning here. Have
you ever been here
before?"
"No."
"Then let me show you around, and introduce you to some
of the cast. Do you
watch Laser Man?"
"Of course. Never miss an episode," Laura replied.
She lowered her voice.
"It's not as good as Atomic Man, though. Don't tell Max
I said that, I'll
deny it. I'm so happy that he's doing another show. It's so unfair,
how
the old cast got typecast after the show ended."
"Yeah, there was something about those old cheesy sets and
special effects,
wasn't there," he agreed. "C'mon, let's go see if Gillian
Basie is free.
You'll love her. She's nothing like the Evil Queen of Cresca.
They're
going to be filming Scene 4 for another hour at least."
"Thanks! That would be great." She followed after him,
soaking in
everything as they walked through the building. "You can't
imagine how
exciting this is! Actually getting to visit the sets for Laser
Man! People
who aren't fans just don't understand, you know?"
"You don't have to tell me. My family looks at me like I'm
a lunatic most
of the time. I was absolutely thrilled to get this gig. I'm studying
film
at UCLA. I want to direct someday."
"I'm always glad to meet another Tommie. Did you go to the
big twentieth
anniversary convention last year?" They walked off, talking
like old
friends about their favorite show.
***
Laura and Zach stood waiting for Max to finish filming. Smoke
was
everywhere as the fake explosions went off while Laser Man and
Cresca's
henchman took part in a laser battle.
The director finally yelled "Cut!", and the action
abruptly stopped. "Okay,
I think we've got enough shots. Let's break for lunch."
Max pulled off the visor he was wearing and started to walk off,
then
noticed Laura standing off to the side. He came over and gave
her a big
hug. "Laura! How are you doing?"
"Max! It's so nice to see you again. Zach has been giving
me a tour, and I
've been loving every minute of it. Thank you again for inviting
me here.
This is such a thrill for a big fan."
"It's the least I could do for the girl who saved my life.
How is Mr.
Steele? I thought you might bring him along."
"Well, you know him . . . This," she gestured around
the set, "isn't exactly
his cup of tea." She didn't tell Max that she didn't even
mention the
invitation to her partner. She didn't want to listen to him compare
television to the movies, and how the former was inferior. He
just didn't
understand her obsession with a 20-year-old television series.
"That's too bad, because I've got a surprise for you."
"A surprise? Max, just the invitation to visit you on the
set was enough."
"How would you like to be in an episode?" He waited
for what he asked to
sink in.
"Me? In a Laser Man episode? Me?" She sounded shocked.
"It's only a bit part, one line, but I think you could handle
it."
"Yes, that would be wonderful!" She gave him a kiss
on the cheek. "Thank
you, Max, you're one in a million!"
He looked a little embarrassed. "No problem, Laura. I know
you're a huge
fan, and you may have noticed, I've got some pull here. Come
with me, and
we'll get you fitted for a costume and into makeup. You've got
an hour to
learn how to be an Emmy winning actress," he joked.
Laura gave him a smile. "You're still my hero, Max."
"Zach, why don't you get some lunch, and if you don't mind,
bring back
something for Miss Holt and me. We'll go over the script while
we're
eating."
"Be happy to, Max." He left for the catering truck,
and Max left with Laura
toward the costume department.
As they were walking away Laura asked Max, "So, who am I
going to play in
this episode?"
"You'll see. Just come with me."
***
Laura was in the kitchen in Remington's apartment, waiting for
the popcorn
to finish popping.
"Laura, really. Must we watch this nonsense? Isn't there
a movie we could
watch instead?" Remington gave her a look of disgust.
"Mr. Steele, it's only an hour. Besides, I think you might
find this
episode surprising."
He grumbled. "Surprising, eh? I'd be surprised if there
was actually a
story that held my interest for more than five minutes."
"What was that?"
He decided he'd better not repeat his last statement, and gave
her his most
charming smile. "I said that the show starts in five minutes.
You'd better
finish the popcorn."
"Hot buttered popcorn, coming up." Laura came and settled
next to Remington
on the sofa.
He put his arm around her and grabbed a handful of popcorn. "So
what's
going on in this week's episode? Purple aliens capturing Quasar
Man? Some
sort of time warp putting the world in peril yet again?"
"Shhh! The show's about to start. And it's Laser Man,"
she chided him.
The Laser Man theme started, and Laura happily hummed along to
the sweeping
musical score. Remington sighed, resigned to his present fate.
At least he
was spending the evening in good company, even if the entertainment
wasn't
quite up to his standards.
"I'm glad to see that old Max is doing well. He seemed a
nice enough chap."
"Shhh!"
Onscreen, Laser Man and his crew were getting out of their spaceship,
which
had landed on an alien planet. The crew walked over to two aliens
who were
waiting for them. Max told the first alien guarding the entrance,
"I am
Laser Man. We are here to meet with the Crescan council."
"Wait here." The guard turned and went into the Council
chambers. The rest
of the crew waited.
The guard returned. "Come with me." They followed him
into the chamber,
where an alien woman came up to them.
"There I am!" Laura jumped up with excitement, spilling
popcorn all over.
Remington looked confused. "What are you doing on the show?"
"Wait. My line is coming up."
Laura, onscreen as the alien woman, said, "Aroya will meet
with you now."
The alien turned to go down the corridor, and the guard prodded
the crew
forward to follow her. "Move!"
Laura sat back down, and finally noticed the mess she had made.
She started
picking up popcorn kernels, and asked, "So, what did you
think?"
"Well, it's not exactly Shakespeare, is it? When did you
. . .?"
"Max called me about a month ago and invited me to visit
the Laser Man set.
Of course, I accepted, and when I got there he asked me if I'd
like to do a
bit part in the episode they were filming"
"Ah."
"I didn't say anything to anyone because I wasn't sure if
they'd cut my only
line. I'm so glad they left it in." She looked like an excited
child on
Christmas morning. "Wait until Murphy finds out. He's a
big Atomic Man
fan, too," she explained.
"Well, I think you did a commendable job given the material
you had to work
with." He joined her on the floor to help pick up the popcorn
that seemed
to have spread around the room. "Why don't you finish watching
the episode,
and I'll clean up here."
"Don't worry, I'm taping back at home, and I know how it
all turns out,
anyway. You don't think I'd let my episode go without having
a copy to
keep, do you? Max gave me his script, too, once the episode was
finished."
"Wow." He looked unimpressed, but told her, "I
know that it must have been
a thrill for you, and I'm delighted that you're happy."
He continued,
knowing he was treading on thin ice. "But Laura, really.
You can't
expect a connoisseur of classic movies to enjoy this trifle.
Please,
promise me you'll never force me to watch another episode."
She shook her head. "You just don't understand." She
reached under the
coffee table to sweep some stray popcorn up.
"No, but it's not the first time." He bent down. "What
say we take some
time," he kissed her, "and try to understand each other,"
he kissed her
again, "a little better."
The rest of the popcorn forgotten, Laura returned his kiss as
she rolled on
top of him on the floor. "Better be careful, Mr. Steele.
I kept my laser
pistol, and I know how to use it."
"I'll take my chances, Laser Woman." He raised his
eyebrows suggestively.
"I've got a pistol of my own, you know," then kissed
her again as she tried
to keep from laughing.
Onscreen, Laser Man was fighting with Aroya, but they were no
longer
watching.
The End
- BACK