Chapter Summary: A visit to an alien land. And a task is given.
Chapter Word Count: 6,605
Note: Although Quinn and Santana appear in this chapter, they mostly go by their in-story aliases, because that is how our main characters view them.

"So, there's going to be a concert in the enclave in three months," Rachel said, sitting down in Brittany's office. "This j-pop metal band. They call their style Fox Metal."

"Yes," Brittany said, looking up from her desk. "It's the three idols we met several years ago."

"The Fox Clan priestesses?" Rachel asked. "Are we going?"

"It would be too disruptive if we went in person," Brittany said. "This is something for our people to experience."

"Part of your plan?" Rachel asked.

"Yes. We will meet with them after the concert," Brittany said. "It is getting close to time they are put to use."

"What exactly do you want them to do?" Rachel said, frowning.

"First, We need to draw out the remaining Black Hats and finally take care of them," Brittany said. "The group will be traveling to certain cities where there have been signs of the Black Hats. The idols will investigate each of these locations."

"Are they trained enough?" Rachel asked. "They were just teens the last time we saw them."

"They will be," Brittany said. "This isn't something we can send our people out to do. The Black Hats will know who they are and go further underground."

"Are you sure now is the time for this?" Rachel said.

"Yes," Brittany said. "We need the Black Hats dealt with before the Bugs get here. We don't need someone stabbing us in the back while we're busy off-planet. And they will be in a unique position to look into this without being suspected."

"If you say so," Rachel said. "I still don't like this idea."

"If it doesn't work, you can say 'I told you so'," Brittany said. "But I think it will be good training for them."

"Training? So, you plan to keep them working for you?" Rachel said.

"If possible," Brittany said. "The Fox Clan needs a purpose, besides worshipping their Fox God, and turning them into roving troubleshooters like this might be good for them."

"What will their Fox God think about this?" Rachel said. "He isn't part of our pantheon, and probably doesn't care what we are up to."

"Well, he isn't a god in the traditional divinity sense," Brittany said. "He's really just a non-corporeal being who has adopted the Fox Clan. He and his brother Coyote."

"Should we be concerned about such an entity interfering with our planet?" Rachel said.

"Not at all," Brittany said. "I've had several discussions with him, about this idea."

"Brittany! That could be dangerous," Rachel said, wide eyed.

"I might have had a little help from my ancestral totem and Lady P," Brittany said. "She's more powerful than the two of them, and helped with the negotiations."

"If we have all of these powerful beings running around, why aren't they helping us with the Bugs?" Rachel asked.

"I'd like an answer to that also," Quinn said, joining them on the comm channel.

"Because they are limited in what they can do," Brittany said. "We've discussed this before. They aren't gods in the Earthly sense. They aren't allowed to directly interfere with the physical world. They can provide direction and advice but not actions."

"Do we pay them?" Quinn asked.

"No," Brittany said. "They think of us as annoying children."

"So, they just watch us play?" Rachel said, frowning.

"More or less," Brittany said. "The Fox God does assist the Fox Clan if he feels they need it. And he agreed that they've been wallowing for far too long."

"They should have come forward when things went tits up," Quinn said, grumbling over the comm. "Instead of running away."

"The Council of Clans shouldn't have put them in that position in the first place," Brittany said. "It was guaranteed failure."

"Our clan wasn't around at the time," Quinn said. "Why are we cleaning up this mess?"

"Because we have no preconceived notions about the whole affair," Brittany said.

"So, the neutral party gets the shaft?" Quinn said. "I'll leave you to it then. Let me know if you need something."

"Of course, Quinn," Brittany said.

"She's not happy with this whole thing," Rachel said, once Quinn had left the channel.

"You know how she gets when it comes to honor," Brittany said. "She won't hold it against the priestesses, but if she ever runs across any of the cowardly Fox Clan Elders who were too afraid to deal with their problems, it won't turn out well."

"Well, I agree," Rachel said. "Their elders are not getting a Christmas card from me any time soon."

"Understood," Brittany said. "Though they've been dead for centuries."

"Not getting any songs written in their honor then," Rachel said firmly.

"Duly noted," Brittany said, laughing, as she watched Rachel flounce out.

"This is Cancun?" Yuki said, looking out at the scenery on the ride to their hotel. "Looks very tropical."

"It is," Sita said. "Very near the equator."

"Nice to come to some place warm," Mika said. "London was freezing. I thought I would turn into an icicle on stage."

"You were running around too much for that to happen," Yanzy said. "I don't understand where you three get the energy."

"From the same place you do," Mika said. "Lots of training and exercise."

"And tons of carbs," Yuki said. "Fortunately, Dio got us a good nutritionist when he saw how much energy that kind of music takes compared to being a pop idol."

"Not sure where you put it," Yanzy said. "If I didn't exercise like crazy I would turn into a balloon on that food."

"It's a talent," Yuki said. "And some of the advanced forms we practice help burn it."

"What's our itinerary," Sita asked Kiki, who'd flown in with them on the chartered group plane.

"The three of you have dinner with some locals," Kiki said. "Then a good nights sleep. The concert is on Friday, you can rest on Saturday, and we fly out on Sunday."

"Why doesn't the band have to come?" Yuki asked.

"Because we're the band," Yanzy said, smirking. "We'll be doing traditional pre-concert band things."

"You mean, getting drunk and thrown into jail," Sita said, frowning at her. The rest of the band, which had been mostly ignoring them while discussing what Yanzy always referred to as 'band secrets', burst into laughter.

"Do we have time for any sight seeing?" Yuki asked, after the laughter had stopped. "It might be years before we come back, if ever. I'd like to see some alien things."

"After everything is ready for the concert," Kiki said. "You know the rules."

"Rule One - Never miss a concert sound check," Sita said, sticking up a hand.

"Rule Two - Always be prepared to sing any of our songs," Mika said, holding up both hands.

"Rule Three - Do whatever Dio and Kiki say," Yuki said, giggling.

"Rule Four - Never forget Rule Three," Kiki said, nodding in agreement.

"So, once the crew is happy with the setup and we've done a sound check, we can go on a tour?" Yuki said.

"We've arranged for tour guides for Saturday," Kiki said.

"So, adult supervision?" Sita said. "Aren't we old enough to do this ourselves?"

"If something happened to you, because we didn't arrange for guides, the tour would have to be cancelled and your Elders would kill us, after our owners killed us," Kiki said.

"So, Rule Zero, Don't die because Dio and Kiki would get into trouble?" Yuki said.

"Exactly," Kiki said, smirking.

"Ready to go?" Kiki said, knocking on their hotel room door. "Our hosts have sent transportation."

The door opened, and the three idols trooped out.

"I'd rather go do something with the band," Yuki said, sulking. "They know how to have fun."

"You can do things with them next time," Kiki said. "But we are here upon request and you can't just run off."

"We never get into trouble," Yuki said.

"There's always the first time," Kiki said. "And although you don't need a squeaky clean pop idol resume, you still have to behave in public."

"In other words, we have to pretend to be boring," Yuki said. "And, we don't even get to meet any of the classic metal bands while we're here. They're so nice."

"We usually get to meet them when we play festivals," Sita reminded her. "And it's a good thing they fall for your 'cute idol' act. If they knew what you were really like, they'd run away in fear."

"I am a 'cute idol'," Yuki said, batting her eyelids. "I'm the epitome of cuteness."

"I think I'm going to be sick," Mika said, holding her stomach.

"You do the same thing," Yuki said. "Just because Sita-stick-in-the-mud has to take the music seriously doesn't mean we can't enjoy it."

"I enjoy our music," Sita said, as they followed Kiki into the elevator. "Once you get used to how loud metal is it can be very poetic. And Brother Coyote approves of it also."

"Brother Coyote has heard you play?" Kiki said, looking around nervously.

"Does Maestro Dio know that you are a former Fox God novice?" Sita asked, raising an eyebrow at Kiki.

"No," Kiki said. "It isn't relevant."

"Yes it is," Yuki said. "That's one of the reasons we trust you. You understand. Though Master Xio claims it is just a coincidence that you went to work for Maestro Dio. And none of your records are available, just your name on the novice rolls."

"None of the 'failed' novices are in the records," Kiki said. "It isn't an honor to fail the trials or drop out."

"I think you should join us, and Yanzy, for our morning runs and training sessions," Sita said. "It will be good for you."

"I haven't done any training in decades," Kiki said. "It isn't necessary."

"We'll see," Sita said, winking at the others. "I think it would promote team unity."

"Who are we having dinner with?" Sita asked, as they got into a black SUV. "You didn't say."

"It was arranged by Maestro Dio," Kiki said. "I am just your chaperone."

"We're going somewhere where we need a chaperone?" Yuki said excitedly.

"The Elders felt you needed a chaperone," Kiki said, in a low voice, nodding at their driver.

"You may seek freely," their driver said, in perfect Japanese, "this is a secure vehicle."

"It is?" Kiki said. "If you would introduce yourself?"

"I am Lady Black," their driver said. "I am the chief liaison between the Council of the Serpent Clan and foreign governments."

"Ah," Sita said, straightening up into her best formal priestess pose. "We are considered a foreign government?"

"Tonight you are," Lady Black said. "Tomorrow you will once more be just musicians performing in the city."

"Who will we be meeting?" Yuki asked, her voice taking on similar tones to Sita's, to Kiki's obvious surprise.

"Several members of the Council wished to meet with you," Lady Black said. "They feel that their direct presence at your concert would be too disruptive."

"We've had famous people at our concerts before," Mika said. "It isn't usually a problem."

"A large number of your audience will be Clan," Lady Black said. "The presence of any of the Council would be disruptive for a number of reasons."

"So, we are meeting with this Council, as representatives of our Clan?" Sita said.

"Yes," Lady Black said.

"We aren't really dressed for such a momentous occasion," Sita said.

"This is not a formal audience," Lady Black said. "It is a more informal occasion. A chance to meet and talk over dinner."

"That's good," Yuki said, "because I didn't bring my formal robes on this trip."

"Neither did I," Mika said.

"I did," Sita said, softly.

"Of course you did," Yuki said. "You're the one with visions. You probably knew about this meeting months ago, and didn't warn us."

"There didn't seem to be any need," Sita said. "We will meet, discuss several important issues, have a nice dinner, and head back to our hotel."

"You have visions?" Lady Black said, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," Sita said. "I have been blessed by the Fox God."

"They aren't always helpful," Yuki said. "She gets lots of static and can't see very far into the future."

"She did not need to know that," Sita hissed.

"Few Fox God priestesses have had that ability," Kiki said, nodding as if something suddenly made sense. "I'm surprised that the Elders did not lock you up in the temple."

"Brother Coyote may have threatened them," Sita said smugly.

"He did?" Yuki said. "You haven't told us that story. Why not?"

"Some other time," Sita said. "It isn't important right now."

"So, you have direct contact with your gods?" Lady Black asked.

"Brother Coyote likes to make a nuisance of himself," Mika said. "Though he has promised to stay away from our concerts this time."

"I only speak with the Fox God in visions," Sita said. "He is not very verbose."

"This is the home of Lady Francine," Lady Black said, as they pulled up to a gate. "She is the sister of the Lady of the Hands, the Council War Leader. The Council families have rotating dinner parties when they are all on planet, and it is her turn."

"So, it truly is an informal occasion," Mika said in a low whisper. "Please do not embarrass us," she said to Yuki.

"Chief Xeno will return later to take you back to your hotel," Lady Black said. "I believe you will enjoy the evening. The Council are very charming people."

The idols and Kiki got out of the SUV, and nervously watched it drive away.

"Come in," a familiar face said, from the door.

"Lady Shadow, it is a pleasure to see you again," Sita said, climbing the steps to the porch, followed by the others.

"You can call me Brittany tonight," Lady Shadow said. "This is an informal gathering. The others are inside. They thought you would be more comfortable if I met you here." She ushered them into the house.

"This is a lovely home," Kiki said, looking around.

"Thank you," another blonde woman said, rising to greet them. "It's based on an ancient traditional Clan dwelling, though with less tech. I am Fran, welcome to my home."

Everyone rose to their feet.

"I was expecting you to be older," Lady Q said. "You don't seem to match what I've heard about you."

"How are we different," Sita asked, sipping the fruit drink she'd been given.

"You three are priestesses of your Fox God, which I assume requires long training. And you are experienced martial artists. But if I'd seen you on the street and didn't know of your history, my first thought would have been 'school girl'," she said. "Which I know isn't fair, and knowing what we were capable of at your age, I shouldn't underestimate you."

"You are in charge of soldiers, correct?" Sita said, after thinking for a minute.

"Yes," Lady Q said.

"How old are they?" Sita asked.

"In general, they are in their early twenties," Lady Q said. "Some a little less, some a little more. But they'd been training for years before joining. I can see what they are capable of just by looking at them. You? Your abilities are very well hidden."

"Q, your troopers give off a certain 'vibe'," Brittany said. "They couldn't be anything else other than soldiers. If I wanted to take one of your troopers and turn them into one of my spies, I could do it. But it would require a lot more effort than if I started with someone without training of any kind. Their identity is so wrapped up in being your troopers that anything different requires major attitude changes."

"Part of our training is in how to appear harmless and nonthreatening," Sita said. "A priestess is not a warrior, no matter what training we have had."

"They do pull off 'innocent idol' very well," Kiki said. "Someone who wasn't aware of their training would dismiss them without a thought. If I hadn't had some of the same training, I wouldn't have spotted them."

"Once you know what to look for, it is possible to pick your priestesses out of a crowd," Brittany said, shrugging. "So, we'll need to work on that aspect. But you are mostly just what we need."

"You haven't really given us any idea of what you want from us," Yuki said. "We have commitments, and cannot run off at the drop of a hat, as the saying goes."

"We have connections to your management company," Brittany said. "So that isn't a problem."

"As long as you don't need them in the middle of a concert or while preparing for a concert, they are available," Kiki said. "Though, they still are teens, so they shouldn't be put in situations that are harmful."

"No, we want nothing of that sort from them," Brittany said. "Being harmless appearing idols, they have a way into places we can only go heavily armed. Yes, they need to be able to defend themselves but the things they can do would require silently slipping into places. Not attacking."

"What exactly do you have planned for us?" Sita said.

"We have enemies," Brittany said. "It may not seem so from the outside, but there are forces that do not want us to succeed."

"Succeed at what?" Mika said. "It isn't very clear to us that you are doing anything except here in Cancun."

"That is intentional," Lady Air said. "We aren't ready to reveal our plans to the world yet."

"Can you give us some idea?" Sita asked. "You are asking for a commitment from us but we are missing part of the puzzle."

"It's simple," Brittany said. "There's a conflict coming to this sector that may involve this planet and we are preparing its people for that possibility. Part of which will prepare them to join the Galactic Confederation."

"A conflict? With who?" Sita asked, frowning.

"They don't have a pronounceable name," Brittany said. "They're called by some Species 999 or the Krall, though we've been calling them the Bugs, for lack of a better term. They appear from nowhere, rampage through the galaxy like a swarm of locust and disappear again, not to be seen for several millennia. The Thirteen Clans, so far, have been the only forces able to stop them. And even then, we haven't been able to defeat them completely in all of our encounters."

"Why would you need our Clan's help?" Sita asked. "We don't have armies or weapons. All we have are priestesses, our temples, and the Fox God."

"As I mentioned, we have enemies. They do not want us to succeed in preparing this planet for joining the Confederation. Even if it means their destruction. We need your help in rooting them out before they cause real damage."

"Do these enemies have a name?" Yuki asked.

"They're the Men in Black, or Black Hats," Lady Q said. "They operate in the shadows along with remnants of the Red Pirate bands."

"Real pirates?" Yuki asked excitedly. "We'll get to fight pirate?"

"Space pirates," Lady Air said. "But we don't really want you fighting them. While on tour, you would be booked into locations they've been sighted in, and you would investigate. If you find something, you would call us in."

"So, not fighting pirates," Yuki said, sighing in disappointment.

"You could get hurt," Kiki said. "You still have a responsibility to the company."

"Will we get any special equipment?" Yuki asked. "Invisibility cloaks? Weapons?"

"Our equipment designer is looking forward to working with your costumers," Brittany said. "She can improve your costumes so that they protect you from any known weapons."

"So we go into battle, so to speak, dressed in our stage costumes?" Sita said, frowning. "Won't that be dangerous? Someone will recognize us."

"Two different things," Brittany said. "More protective costumes, and disguises. Of sorts."

"I'm not sure I understand the distinction," Kiki said. "But it won't hurt to see what they can come up with."

"You want us to be superheroes?" Yuki said. "But won't it be obvious that this is us?"

"Superheroes?" Sita said. "How did you get that idea?"

"Disguise?" Yuki said. "I'm assuming the costume changes are for our safety. If someone attacks while we are on stage we'll be protected. But what about our band and crew?"

"Band?" Rachel said, frowning.

"We sing and dance," Sita said. "But it is a form of metal. We have a backup band that creates the music that turns us from boring pop idols into something else."

"We go all the way to eleven," Yuki said, giggling. "But the band is an important part of that. Without them we'd be boring."

"They take teen pop songs from our songwriters and turn them into 'Fox Metal' songs," Mika said, using air quotes.

"The band will get bullet proof stage costumes also," Brittany said. "But they won't need disguises. Their costumes are already disguises. Who knows who they are when they aren't on stage?"

"Some of our more devoted fans," Sita said. "There are websites devoted to the mystery that is our band."

"How do you know that?" Yuki said. "You never use a computer."

"Yanzy showed me," Sita said. "She was trying to shock me, I think."

"Sounds like her," Yuki said. "I still think she should have been our fourth."

"Yanzy?" Rachel said.

"She was our roommate when we started out as pop idols," Mika said. "She's now in the band. She likes that much better. She doesn't have to dress up like an idol."

"And she gets to shred it on stage," Yuki said. "She's much happier using a guitar and not her voice, except for the occasional scream."

"Oh," Rachel said. "She's the unusually tall idol we met with you."

"Yes," Sita said. "Most idols are shorter."

"Sita is actually considered tall for an idol," Kiki said. "Most idols are picked with certain looks."

"Short and dainty," Yuki said.

"At least you have the short part of it correct," Sita said. She dodged Yuki's poke.

"And you sort of have the 'dainty' aspect going for you," Yuki shot back.

"Being an idol is like being a Disney character actor," Brittany said to a puzzled Quinn and Santana. "It's all manufactured even if the idols must have actual talent."

"The 'Idol Industrial Complex', is what Yanzy calls it," Yuki said. "You have to have some talent but you also have to be part of a successful idol mill to make it."

"The idol mills go through thousands of girls a year in search of the best combinations," Kiki said, nodding. "Fortunately, we have a source of funding that will allow us to properly develop this group over time."

"I don't want to know," Lady Air said, "do I Brit?"

"No," Brittany said, smiling. "It's all under control."

"Try on your new costumes," Kiki said, coming into their dressing room pushing a clothing rack. "And the disguises."

It took them several minutes to rearrange things in their dressing room.

"I'm not sure I want to be a superhero," Yuki said, looking at her disguise in the mirror. "I look like some Victorian fetishist's wet dream, to put it politely."

"Well, no one will think it's you," Yanzy said. "So you can run around and do things without being recognized."

"What is our superhero team name?" Yuki said. "If someone sees us we need to be able to tell them who we are."

"We aren't superheroes," Sita said. "We are idols and secret agents."

"But we still need a name," Yuki said.

"No one will see us in our disguises," Mika said, "so a memorable name isn't necessary."

"You look cute like that," Yanzy said. "But you'll need to work on your forms in that costume."

"The Three," Yuki said. "Something simple. We'll be 'The Three'".

"The Three what?" Mika said.

"Just the Three," Yuki said, tugging at her short skirt. "Like something out of Sailor Moon. They had some strange names for villains."

"We aren't villains," Sita said.

"We look like we could be," Yuki said, turning trying to see her back. "With this black lace, short black skirts, and leather corsets, and black gloves. We just give off an evil sexy kawaii vibe."

"Who picked these costume disguises?" Yanzy asked, running her hand along Yuki's shoulder.

"It was a collaboration between our costume designer and their armorer," Kiki said. "Apparently, the disguises have a few features that they feel you three will need, not just being bulletproof."

"As long as someone shows us how to use them," Sita said. "It's nice they want to help us out, but being unable to use the gadgets they gave us, because there wasn't time for someone to teach us would not be good."

"Yes," Kiki said. "Someone will come by to teach you how to use the equipment."

"So you will get to meet some of these aliens also," Yuki said. "It'll add just that bit of authenticity to your playing that you always complain about."

"I'm not complaining," Yanzy quickly said to Kiki. "She's just kidding."

Kiki shook her head at them. "Fortunately, we already picked the three of you," she said. "We don't have time to recast."

"You're the best," Yuki said, hugging her.

"This is Joy," Kiki said, introducing the young woman following her into the dressing room. "She will be teaching you about your disguises."

"See," Sita said, subtly waving at her. "They aren't all blonde."

"And they all still look like supermodels," Yuki said, sighing. "Tall and sexy."

"Ladies," Joy said, bowing slightly. "I'm here to make sure you are outfitted correctly with your new clothes."

"Will we get armor also?" Yuki said hopefully.

"No," Joy said. "It would take too long for you to learn how to wear it when you need to. It can take a year to become comfortable in a suit of that type. And many more to become proficient in its use. This will just take several days, and it isn't more than basic protection."

"What's your job, besides showing idols how to dress?" Sita asked.

"I am an assistant to Lady Shadow," Joy said. "I work on an infiltration team."

"Infiltration?" Sita asked.

"Sneak in and spy on someone," Joy said. "Having the correct equipment and knowing how to use it is very important. Let's go over the suits."

"We have three disguises," Sita said, pulling over the clothing rack. "And our regular stage costumes of course."

"Good," Joy said, pulling out the disguises. "The first step is to make sure everything is in working order. No torn or damaged materials. Your life could depend on it."

"This material is different," Sita said. "It feels like leather but what is it?"

"It's a synthetic material," Joy said. "Much of the functionality of the suits is built into that material. It's energy resistant, hopefully long enough to get away, and projectile and blade proof. It's also usable for hostile environments. There's an emergency oxygen supply in the collar."

"So, outer space?" Yuki said.

"For a very brief exposure? Yes," Joy said. "But they aren't meant to be used long term like that. They will improve your chances of survival, if you don't do anything foolish."

"Foolish like getting chased by a three ton dragon?" Yuki asked.

"I haven't seen any Earth dragons," Joy said. "But if it's anything like the fire drakes of Lecticon Six, then yes."

"It wasn't on Earth," Mika said.

"We didn't have a choice at the time," Sita said. "And Yuki can run very fast when she wants to."

"I think I still have grass burns from that one," Yuki said, rubbing her back. "I almost became a light snack for that monster."

"It was certainly frightening up close," Mika said. "If we ever go back, we'll need better weapons. A knife just isn't enough."

"A knife against a dragon? That takes either craziness or extreme courage," Joy said.

"A bit of both, I think," Mika said. "I couldn't do it."

"Which is why you weren't the one doing it," Yuki said, smirking. "I'm special."

"Fast and small," Sita said.

"We need to adjust the suits," Joy said, "so you need to put them on."

"Here?" Sita said. "Can we do this back at our hotel?"

"If you wish," Joy said, "but the sooner the better."

"Are you expecting something to happen?" Yuki asked, going over to the makeup table. Grabbing her bag, she started packing her personal make-up.

"No," Joy said. "Not here in Cancun. But it is better to be prepared."

"Always good advice," Kiki said. "Something they drill into them at the temple."

"Drilled into you also," Mika said, also packing her make-up. "Though maybe that didn't stick?"

"Some things you never forget," Kiki said. "Novice training was good training for becoming an assistant."

"Even the Fox God?" Sita asked.

"Yes," Kiki said. "Dealing with the Fox God is just like dealing with someone like Maestro Dio. Except the Fox God is nicer."

"You have the same training?" Joy asked, looking at Kiki.

"Similar training," Kiki said. "At least the first few years. My understanding is that they have received much more intense training beyond what I received. And the idol training, of course."

"We received the extra special training, in Clan training pods," Yuki said.

"Ah," Joy said. "We use them extensively in the Serpent Clan. That's how I learned your language."

"You speak it very well," Sita said. "Most of our experience in the pods was to advance our learning beyond the normal range. Most novices train for four years. We had three. And time in the pods."

"It didn't make us look older," Yuki said. "I was hoping to get taller."

"You have to have full Clan genetics to get the full features of the pods. How it affects others varies," Joy said. "I'm not sure how it affects your clan."

"We got the learning, and retained it and muscle memory," Mika said. "But the physical effects? Not as much."

"We had to train hard to keep the muscles the pods gave us," Yuki said, grimacing.

"So, back to our hotel?" Sita said. "Are you coming with us?" she asked Kiki.

"I need to finish checking the stage and talk with the band," Kiki said, "and then I'll go back. You don't need me for this, do you?"

"I thought you might be curious," Sita said.

"I am but I have other things to do," Kiki said.

"Okay," Sita said. "We'll see you back at the hotel later."

"If we weren't idols, I would suspect we were dressed by otaku," Sita said, pulling on her suit liner.

"Well, our troopers wear armor that looks like it came from a cartoon," Joy said. "If you look hard enough."

"Why does it look like that?" Mika said, also stepping into her suit.

"For a very simple reason," Joy said, giggling. "Lady Q, our glorious Lady of the Hands, is a fan of several female centric anime. So she had them designed to look similar."

"Oh," Yuki said, nodding. "I can guess which ones. They have a distinctive look to them."

"Licensing must have been an issue," Sita said. "Every time we have a costume redesign the lawyers have to check to make sure we aren't copying anyone too closely."

"According to Lady Shadow, no one ever complained. And the sales and streaming of those series went through the roof," Joy said.

"Money, the way to a lawyer's heart," Sita said.

"We don't have lawyers," Joy said. "At least not the way you do."

"They aren't my lawyers," Sita said. She squatted down, flexing her knees. "If we could get rid of them I wouldn't be upset."

"Not until someone started singing your songs and dressing like you do and not paying," Yuki said. "Then you'd want them."

"You're biased," Mika said. "Your mother is a lawyer."

"A good one," Yuki said. "She reviewed our contracts before we signed them, so there were no surprises."

"There is that," Sita admitted. "They do have some use."

"How do we look?" Mika said, posing in her new suit.

"Not bad," Joy said. "But it needs a little adjustment around your waist and shoulders. It needs to be snug, not tight." She took a small device and ran it along those areas, shrinking the material slightly.

"It's sort of like wearing a catsuit, with a skirt," Yuki said. "What can we do in it?"

"It's mostly protective," Joy reminded her. "It doesn't contain any weapons, and most of the electronics are passive."

"We don't need weapons," Sita said. "If it keeps us from being squashed it has done its job."

"What kind of electronics?" Mika said.

"Warning systems, and tracking," Joy said. "If you get lost it can help you get home. Or if you get kidnapped someone can find you."

"As long as you are wearing it," Sita said. She pulled at the sleeves. "Are there gloves?"

"Same tech as the face mask," Joy said. "When you need it they'll be there. So there'll be gloves when you need them."

"That's great tech," Yuki said. "My sister could use something like that. She's always loosing gloves."

"Some day it'll be available for everyone," Joy said. "But right now the planet doesn't have the excess manufacturing capacity for the kind of demand there would be."

"What if we grow?" Yuki asked. "Will we outgrow these?"

"No," Joy said. "They'll grow with you."

"We'll need to train wearing these," Sita said, reaching towards the ceiling. "It fits like a tight glove."

"But very flexible," Yuki said, doing a forward flip in place. "Not too tight when moving."

"You should be able to fight in them, even though that isn't their purpose," Joy said.

Clapping could be heard from the door. All eyes turned towards the door, where Yanzy and Kiki stood, clapping.

"Those are sexy outfits," Yanzy said. "Maybe you should wear those on stage and put your costumes away."

"They don't quite fit with the look we are going for," Kiki said. "All three of you do look good in those suits but they are too mature and boring for the band."

"Some day," Yuki said. "Some day we'll get to wear sexy costumes on stage, instead of cute."

"But not today," Kiki said. "Fox Metal is about the entire package - cute idols singing pop songs with a heavy metal overtone. Sexy would be distracting."

"To say nothing of how some countries would consider it inappropriate for your apparent ages," Yanzy said. "So you couldn't play there."

"Most of our concerts are in Western countries," Sita said. "Have there been complaints about our costumes?"

"No," Kiki said. "Complaints about other aspects of the act, but not the costumes specifically."

"Not everyone likes our music," Sita said, nodding sagely. "They need more exposure to the Fox God to overcome that issue."

"Or a visit from Brother Coyote," Yuki added. "He'd cure them of their issues."

The other two priestess idols nodded solemnly, before all three burst into laughter.

The TV studio in Tokyo was very similar to others they'd given interviews in. The only difference was the teen interviewer, someone several years younger than them.

"Welcome back to the Teen Metal Show," the host said. "I am Jody Pu and today we have Sita, Yuki, and Mika from the hot new metal band Fox Metal. You've been together for a year now, how is it touring with a band and traveling to so many exotic places?"

"Thanks you for having us on your show," Sita said. "We've actually been together for a lot longer than that."

"Oh, that's right," Jody said. "You went to the same private school together?"

"Yes," Yuki said. "We discovered the Fox God and his metal music while in school."

"We started out in an idol group together," Mika added. "We were a part of that scene for two years before the opportunity came to join together with a band where we could play just Fox Metal."

"Your 'kitsune' band is very talented," Jody said. "How did that happen?"

"One of our friends from the idol group is a talented guitar player," Sita said. "When she heard we were going to go on tour and play metal music she auditioned for the band, and brought along her brother and cousin."

"So you aren't the only idols to experiment with metal?" Jody said.

"Fox Metal," Sita said. "We've been doing it long enough that I think we can stop calling it an experiment."

"Fox Metal, of course," Jody said. "Can you explain the difference?"

"It's music made in harmony with the Fox God," Sita said. "A positive message set to the wonderful hard playing metal."

"How different is it from what you did before?" Jody asked.

"The type of music is different," Yuki said. "Pop songs played with a real metal band, such as the one we work with, take on a whole new ambiance. It's like turning it all up to eleven."

"We still sing of innocence and the things that interest our age group," Mika said. "But now we do it with energy, and loud drums and energetic guitars."

"You don't play any instruments," Jody said. "Why not?"

"We have such a wonderful band," Sita said. "We've been vocalists and dancers for years. We've dabbled in some of the instruments our band plays but they take it to another level. Their music melded with our words? I don't think there's any better band at what we do."

"And there's only so much energy to go around," Mika said. "It takes all of our energy to get up in front of crowds and be 'on' for an entire concert. I don't know that we could keep that up if we were also playing instruments."

"What we do now works," Yuki added. "It's a team effort."

"You were recently in Cancun," Jody said. "What was it like playing for all of those aliens?"

"Not much different from playing to any other audience," Sita said. "They loved our music. We would have loved to stay but that isn't how things worked out."

"We tried to get rides on their spaceships," Yuki said, "but they didn't allow us to do that. I think it was insurance."

"Yes, our insurance company didn't want us doing that," Sita said.

"When we come back from our break, the ladies of Fox Metal will sing one of their new songs," Jody said. "And cut!"

"That was great!" Jody said, as they relaxed. "I don't often get to ask serious questions in these interviews."

Sita nodded. "We understand."

"You'll all have to come back some day when I can ask you all of the personal questions I couldn't today," Jody said, grinning.

"We are still idols, of a sort," Yuki said, nodding at Kiki, who was their media chaperone for the interview. "Some things must remain a mystery."

"It's standard practice," Kiki said, shaking her head. "You may be non-traditional idols, but there are still some expectations for your behavior."

"Some day, we'll do a tell-all book and dedicate it to your memory," Yuki told her, smirking.

"After I'm retired to some other country," Kiki said.

"Of course," Sita said, joining in. With a signal from the director they stopped talking and quickly took their places.

"And we're back," Jody said, after adjusting her microphone. "The ladies are going to sing their top ten hit for us now."

Author's Note: This is the last of the material originally written for NaNoWriMo 2017. Yes, it took 2 years to get it to here. The next 8+ chapters, written for NaNoWriMo 2019 shouldn't take nearly so long. And will include another fandom (I couldn't resist. Sorry.)