Superstar

Chapter 21

Lance knocked on a door. "Nyma?"

"Go away!"

"Beezer? That you?"

"Are you the cops?"

"No. It's Lance."

"Oh, even worse! Look, we screwed up, we're going to pay for it, you don't have to rub it in our faces!"

"I didn't tell the cops. Or Coran. I put it back, and Pidge helped me erase the footage of Nyma stealing it and knocking me out."

Silence. Then, "What do you want?"

"I just want to talk to Rollo or Nyma."

"Can't. They skipped town."

"What?!"

"They left. I've still got work on that film, but they figured that you snitched. 'Least, that's what they said. Personally, I think that they're still here."

"Well, great! How am I supposed to find them?"

Beezer chuckled. "You have Pidge, don't you? Shouldn't be hard to find them."

Xxx

"Pidge, can I borrow your laptop?"

"Not in a million years."

"Pidge, it's important."

"So is me working on this film! Go away!"

"I will as soon as you let me borrow your laptop."

"Fine! Hunk knows the password! Shoo!"

Lance ran back to where Hunk and Keith were waiting for him. "Hunk, you didn't tell me you knew her password! Here, here, type it in!"

Lance excitedly dragged a picture of Nyma from the movie poster into the database, and it quickly told him where she was. "Let's go!"

"Uh, Lance?" Hunk glanced out the window. "The protestors are still there. And so are the fangirls."

"We'll go," Keith said quietly, "We can do it. Me and Hunk. C'mon."

"You really shouldn't be... walking," Hunk grumbled as Keith swung himself out the door. "Okay, great. See you soon."

Keith faced off a protestor. "This movie is an insult," the protestor screamed at him, "You people have no right—"

"My father died in that war," Keith said quietly, "My best friend had his arm blown off. One of the actors had two sisters who fought in that war. Why are you protesting? Did you lose anything in the war? Or do you just have so little of a life that your only joy is screaming at people, even people on crutches?"

He pushed past the open-mouthed protestor, Hunk following behind him. "Um- so." the big boy stated nervously, "Lance told me that you two met his mother?"

"Yes."

"What's she like?"

"Currently, she's attempting to quit her job. Also currently, Lance is trying to convince Allura to hire her as his new bodyguard."

"Oh. Is she nice?"

"I suppose." Keith rounded a corner. "Got them."

Nyma and Rollo spotted him and attempted to turn around. Keith cursed and hobbled faster. "Hunk! Catch them!"

Hunk sprinted forward, stepping in front of the actress and her agent. "Whoa! We just have a couple of questions!"

Keith took a shaky few steps forward. "Matthew Holt. Where is he?"

Nyma shrugged. "Dunno. He went off on his own a year ago. Never answers his phone. I can give you his number, I guess. But- why do you care about him?"

"He's Pidge's brother," Hunk informed her, "Thanks for your help."

"His number is 123 456-7891. Can't guarantee that he'll pick up."

"Thank you," Keith told her genuinely, "and by the way, you're safe. We didn't rat you out."

They nodded and split ways. Keith and Hunk walked slowly back towards the studio. Someone on the way bumped into Keith's left crutch, nearly knocking him over.

"Hey! Watch where you're going!"

"Stop taking up so much of the sidewalk," the man growled back, continuing on his way.

Keith froze, eyes faraway. Hunk tapped his friend on the shoulder gently. "Keith? Are you okay?"

"That voice," he murmured dreamily, "I know that voice! Hunk, we have to follow him!"

He whirled around, nearly falling over again, and hobbled after the man. Hunk followed him. "What?! Why?! How do you know him?!"

"I think he was one of the people who attacked me!"

"And we want to follow him?!"

"Yes!"

They tracked him through the streets, dodging out of his sight every so often. He turned into an alleyway, and Keith and Hunk followed. The man stopped suddenly.

"Did you think I didn't know you were following?"

Keith and Hunk froze.

"Really, I'd have to be dumber than that air-headed actor you hang around with not to notice."

"Lance isn't dumb," Hunk said hotly.

"Hm."

Three other people closed off the alleyway entrance.

A door opened, and someone advanced on them. Hunk and Keith pressed closer together. The man they'd been following chuckled. "Well, Keith Kogane, where is your mother?"

"None of your business."

"Not 'I don't know'? I guess that you've learned a few things since we last spoke. Now, really. Where is she? My disappointing son's little friend can't help you. She's not following you."

"I told you. It's none of your business."

The person who'd come from the door reached them. Hunk sucked in a breath. Sendak. The ex-streetfighter chuckled.

"Care for a rematch?"

Before Keith could answer, Sendak had swept his legs out from underneath him, knocking him to the ground with a clatter of crutches and a yelp of pain.

"Not to fast now, are we?" Sendak put one booted foot on Keith's injured knee.

"Get off of him!" Hunk rammed Sendak off of Keith. He stood protectively over his injured friend. "Leave him alone!"

"You can't protect him," Sendak hissed.

"Like hell I can't. I'm a bodyguard."