Rise To Stardom - Chapter 130

Chapter 130: And On It Goes…
Ever since Kyle had read the script for the last episode, he had felt that The Curator, should at least have a few parting words asides, simply telling Kiera his name and his farewells in the radiation chamber.

Sure, he would still need to take a knocked-out Kiera, back to The Index before he finally Metamorphed as it still took a bit more time for him to die even with all the radiation in his body, the fact, that those were his only parting words before he finally died and changed to another iteration, didn’t sit right with the young man one bit.

It wasn’t something his iteration would do.

At the very least, he’d want Kiera to not feel responsible for his death.

As a result, in his spare time, Kyle had been thinking of what to do to make the scene far better.

And what he eventually decided upon, was to give a farewell speech.

A farewell speech that was equal parts, what his iteration as The Curator would want to say and what he himself as a fan would like to hear.

“I’ll be going a bit off-script… possibly, way off-script, even…” Kyle, said to Tiana who was watching the crew, prepare the set for the last scenes.

Two scenes, were going to be shot in sequence with the actual, last scene, coming a few minutes after Kyle’s last.

As both individuals stood side by side though, Tiana, even as she listened to him, maintained her composed gaze, her expression cool and unchanging.

Glancing over to face him, watching as he stared at the set with a determined expression in his sapphire irises, Tiana smiled lightly and then spoke, her voice casual;

“Sure. Why not?”

“In fact…” Tiana removed one of the pins from her coiffed, dirty-brown hair as she continued;

“You are allowed to have more than one take. I think you’ve earned that much.” she added as she moved towards her chair.

Kyle was slightly caught off-guard by her words and most especially, her smile.

A smiling Tiana on set, was a rare thing to say the least.

“Last scene of the day people. Let’s try to get it in one take then. Shooting begins in five.” The Director, audibly informed everyone on set as she took her seat.

Loosening her hair and allowing it to fall down her shoulders in messy tresses, most on set, watched as Tiana, relaxed considerably, no traces of her usual, disciplined self, anywhere to be found.

Not minding as people stared at her in confusion, or watching as she crossed her legs over as she sat on her chair, Tiana soon spoke, this time, directly in acknowledgement of Kyle.

“I’m a bit curious as to how you’re planning to make the scene better though… it’d better be worth our time Kyle…” she said, a gently curled fist, supporting her chin and her head, slightly tilted in amused curiosity.

To that, Kyle grinned in response;

“I’ll do my best. So please, look forward to it.”

As this was happening, Jasmine, explained to a friend of hers whom had been on set for the past two days now to get used to the ins and outs of the schedule with a smile;

“That’s Tiana’s way of acknowledging and respecting an actor. Rarely does it ever happen, but when she does, it’s always an interesting sight to witness…”

“I see…” Lily nodded in response to her words, the smile on her face genuine as she added;

“Well, dreamboat, never fails to impress really…”

“Dreamboat?” Jasmine curiously questioned instead, a hint of amusement in her tone as she glanced over.

“Yeah. He’s a dreamboat, isn’t he?” Lily casually replied with a tilt of her head, her expression nonchalant.

Seeing the passive expression on Lily’s beautiful features, one that indicated that it was simply a nickname she gave Kyle, Jasmine soon amusedly stated;

“For the record, I call him Sapphire.”

“Ooh~! That’s a good one!” Lily’s expression brightened in acknowledgement of Jasmine’s naming sense.

Putting out a fist for her to bump, the sexy actress was more than happy to reciprocate Lily’s gesture.

At the exact same time as this was happening, Jon, Barry, Oliver and Christina, entered into the hall via the elevator.

Considering they had all heard that the last scenes of the 10th season was going to be shot today, all four had found some time to clear their schedule to witness it happen.

Added to that, there was also the small plan they had all put together for Kyle once he was done filming.

Luckily for all of them, they arrived, just as Tiana was about to order for the cameras to start rolling.

Now staying in his curled up position though, alongside Jasmine who was now in her knocked out position, Kyle, while waiting for Tiana’s command, inwardly spoke;

‘Activate, [Deep Dive] and [Scene Stealer].’

‘Argghh!’

Feeling his body getting hijacked due to [Deep Dive], temporarily reaching its max grade of {S}, along with his acting skills similarly reaching its max, Kyle stifled a painful scream, a torrential pain, running through his entire body as he curled up even tighter.

Yet, the young man, mentally resisted.

At the end of the day really, it was all in his head.

As long as he kept it in mind, he could resist the stronger effects of [Deep Dive], even if he was fully giving way to his role as The Curator.

Added to that, was a single goal in his mind.

He had a scene to improve and a farewell speech to deliver, one he had spent the past two months, coming up with and polishing to perfection in his mind.

“Start.”

{The Curator – Tenth Season | 24th May 2020 | Act 9 | Scene 6 | Take 1}

Having absorbed all the radiation, The Curator, even with his entire body slowly failing him, slowly crawled out of the cubicle.

A minute later, after many failed attempts to stand up, painful grunts escaping his lips, The Hybrid, willed himself to finally stand up.

He still needed to get his companion to safety, even if The Kalis defeat was inevitable.

A few seconds later, despite his knees buckling a few times, The Curator slowly carried a knocked out Jasmine, out of the chamber.

Using his interspatial key at a nearby metallic door, he soon walked into The Index with the lady in his arms, his steps, measured, slow, but determined.

Slowly, The Index was recovering and so was The Horologium.

This was expected as The Time Machine was sentient so, in case of situations like this, she would temporally reset both herself and The Index if there were any abnormalities.

Added to that, were the footsteps of another person whom had already been here…

Himself from the past.

Placing Kiera gently on the ground though, The Curator, smiled a bit as he watched her eyes twitch and she gently turned her head slightly.

Slowly getting up from the ground, The Hybrid, raised both of his hands up, staring at them as a slivery sheen, gently glowed on it.

His Metamorphosis was already starting.

And so, with a pained wince, he slowly walked towards the destroyed shelf he had previously placed his long coat on while speaking in measured, tired breaths;

“It’s a treadmill, isn’t it?”

“This game… I keep playing…” he retrieved the long coat, slowly wearing it as he spoke to himself;

“I save the earth… time and time again, yet, unfortunately… like a silly little child, who doesn’t know light from flame, she keeps running… into the flame… over and over again, always needing saving.”

“It’s a tiring process, running… on this treadmill…” The Curator, let out a tired sigh, his gaze, locked onto The Horologium which was slowly restructuring itself piece by piece.

“Makes me wonder every now and then dear…” he quietly yet audibly muttered, a concerned expression only an old man should have, present on his youthful visage;

“Am I the disease, or am I the cure?”

Allowing for a bit of introspective silence to descend in The Index after his words, the next few words that escaped from The Curator’s mouth, were those of reluctance and genuine fear…

“Oh… I don’t wanna go…” he quietly whispered, his eyes getting a bit red.

At this exact moment though, Kiera’s eyes, slowly blinked open.

Sluggishly, she raised herself off the ground, only to watch as The Curator, turned to face her, his expression warm, and his eyes sagely, as he spoke;

“Everything ends, and it’s sad, Kiera Snow.”

“But everything begins again, and it’s beautiful…”

Yet, as Kiera gazed at him in confused shock, wondering how he was still alive, she heard his next words, his smile warm.

“No…” The Hybrid, raised his gaze up, almost as if speaking to The Index itself.

“Everything begins again, and it’s, brilliant!”

Glancing over to Kiera one last time, The Curator then called out gently;

“Kiera.”

“Y-yes, Curator?” the lady responded, a bit happy that her mad man was now, all healed up.

“Have a brilliant life.” he warmly wished her the best with an elderly expression of a grandfather watching his granddaughter, a light, happy grin, forming on his lips.

No sooner had he said those words, a silvery hue, bright enough to blind Kiera and illuminate the entire Index, exuded from his body!

“Cut… Print. Check The Gate.”

–

As Kyle, felt the effects of both of his skills, fading away, every part of his body, not feeling like they were constantly being torn apart, something, broke him out of the trance fully.

It was a clap.

A clap that started from Tiana who had initiated it as she spoke with a genuinely impressed grin;

“That, truly was amazing. Congratulations on completing your filming Kyle.”

In a few seconds, her words, along with her clap especially, had a domino effect, cascading over to every other individual on set.

In an instant, a resounding, thunderous clap, filled up the entirety of the hall!

From Jon, to Oliver, to Barry, Christina and also Lily, everyone on set was showering him with claps.

“Woo!” one of the make-up artists, pumped her fists into the air with a whistle!

“Congratulations Kyle!!” a cinematographer, shouted out loud with an especially loud clap!

“You were fantastic!!!” two of the staffs on the prop crew, cheered happily.

Kyle’s speech, a combination of what he as The Curator wanted to say, along with things he wanted the fans to hear, was so well-beautifully put together.

At the exact same time, as the claps kept getting increasingly thunderous, whistles and cheers filling up every corner of the expansive hall, Jasmine ordered with a shout;

“Release the confetti!”

Instantly, some of the prop staffs, pulled down a rope from a corner of the hall and confetti, all in various colors, fell onto The Index prop!

Gazing at it all, wondering when they all even had time to put it all together without him knowing, Kyle, smiled with a genuinely happy gaze and took the opportunity to offer a small bow of appreciation.

No sooner had he done this Jasmine, quickly walked towards him and embraced him in a tight hug.

“You, were an absolutely brilliant Curator, Kyle! Congratulations!”

“Thank you, Jasmine. I really, appreciate it…”

“I appreciate, all of this, really. Thank you all, so much.” he warmly replied with a bit of a bashful smile and a strong blush while gesturing to everyone.

“Oh~! So you are capable of blushing!” the lady instead, asked in genuine surprise, all whilst also teasing him.

“Oh, shut up you!” Kyle countered with a roll of his eyes, a gesture that caused Jasmine to chuckle lightheartedly.

At the exact same time, everyone on set who watched their interaction, shared the exact same lighthearted laughter as the lady.

Kyle Kestis, really needed to learn how to control his blush.

…

…

…

{The Curator – Tenth Season | 24th May 2020 | Act 9 | Scene 7 | Take 1}

And yet, almost instantaneously, the light dimmed down considerably, revealing a silvery, glassy cocoon, much to Kiera’s confusion.

No less than a second though, a hand, followed by a leg, punctured through the cocoon, causing Kiera to stagger backwards as she watched in a mix of genuine apprehension and confusion.

Yet, without a moment wasted, the entire body, broke out of the cocoon, its glass shattering as it crinkled beneath the foot of the Curator’s new iteration!

“Those darn Kalis…”

“Well, it’s good to know radiation won’t do the trick eith-”

“Tongue…? I’ve got a new tongue… Weird…” a feminine voice, cascaded over to Kiera’s ears, the lady, watching the sight before her in shocked befuddlement.

Her shoulder-length dark-blonde hair was styled in a bob, her irises were hazel-colored and she was of considerably shorter height than her previous iteration.

“Oh hello Kiera! You look terrible!”

“C’mon dear! Let’s get you back hoooomeeee …” The Curator, now taking on a completely new iteration, gazed at her companion with a strong hint of concern in her eyes, only to suddenly faint afterwards!

Her body functions, weren’t fully functional just yet.

“Cut! That’s A Wrap!”

–

Staring at the scene before him as everyone cheered in happiness now that the 10th season of The Curator was completed, Kyle watched as Lily, who now wore a replica of his attire, had an expression full of excitement like he had, back when he had first been on set.

The lady, was going to be the 11th Curator.

That was the certain role, that Lily had bagged in the 10th season of The Curator.

Her introduction, as the 11th Curator.

And that, truly was the beauty of the show.

Regardless of whether an actor time as the fictional character was up, the show would continue on, a brand new actor, ready to take up the mantle.

There were always more adversaries to battle with, more planets to visit and many, many incidences to resolve.

All that was left, was if the season would be successful or not.

As a result, Kyle, now dressed in his casual wears, hoped that Lily’s run as The Curator, would be well received.

Still, as he watched the lady, excited for her prospective future as the titular time traveler, he couldn’t help but, audibly mutter in acknowledgement;

“And on it goes…”