Series One, Epi. 3

Series One, Episode Three - The Pop Princess

Introducing Nickey to the station as her intern, Maya places him in her private officer. Although he wishes to help solve a murder, she reveals he must help him with ‘Power’ cases. Almost immediately, she brings up on the projector the case of Mina Fukiyana – a Novus Somnium, Japanese-born pop idol, using magic to engage her fans. They speak of a plan, and both express their wishes for the magic to remain secret. A bouquet arrives to Maya from Tristan, and Nickey enquires into their relationship. She reveals that she wishes to marry him, and live the way her detective father never was with her. They head out – their sights set for Mina’s harbour-stage concert.

Still not used to choosing her waking time, Letitia finds Arianna & breakfast cooked before seven am. They talk about events as they watch the news, and Ari notes her interest in Mina’s concert. In the car, Ari reveals she didn’t grow up in the city, and Miss Cyrus uses this as an excuse to take a sightseeing detour. Ari comments on the greatest ones – The Tri Island Bridges and the Weaving Statue. Upon their ‘late’ arrival to Cityscape Elementary, Ari meets up with Darcy. He plays with her, having no real friends of his own. Arianna notes his intellect as he completes huge Sudoku puzzles, but he denies it. As they enter class, he walks away whispering “We need to get out of here.”

Lined up as the sun shines, Kara is forced to be with her age group for a post-breakfast roll call. She speaks to a fellow Power about missing Arianna, as a watcher overhears her. He takes her to the ‘Detention Office’ for violating a newly made rule about mentioning escapees. Still watching, the criminal calls in Julien quickly. He arrives within minutes, violently screaming at the screen as the watcher slaps and abuses his younger sister. Leaving detention bruised and in tears, Kara takes off her hairpin. She holds it, whispering into it for anyone watching to save her. Julien vows to do so, as the war criminal chuckles and offers to help.

Mina’s concert explodes as the officer and Power watch – literally a magical explosion of wind, fire and water. As the Pop Princess embraces her honorific, she sings a song entitled ‘Born Royal’, switching between English & Japanese as a final song. The concert finishes in a roar, and the duo push through into her dressing room as police. Maya confronts Mina about the magic, but she says “Why should I stop when your partner himself is a Power?” She reveals her plan to spread magic back into the world. Back at the station, Maya cries as she worries about Nickey’s safety.

As he reads the newspaper report on the restaurant explosion, Edmund notes the similarity to a 1998 hospital fire explosion. This visibly angers V, who screams at him. Suddenly, he receives a text message from a number listed as ‘H’. Trying the number, even talking from behind his mask, V is made angrier when the call doesn’t connect. Edmund asks V of his plans, and he reveals his plan to “take revenge on him”. V continues to try the phone, to no avail. The janitor leaves their lab, headed to afternoon work – and getting no goodbye from V.

 With a weekly, private council meeting, Tristan takes Charlie’s place when he doesn’t show up. The council people talk of the Powers, most revealing their fear of losing their hold on Novus Somnium. Afterwards, Tristan heads to see Maya, but is met by a woman hidden by her coat, who asks of Charlie and his mental condition. Although he doesn’t wish to reveal details, he speaks to her momentarily before running, but she does not give chat. He texts Maya about no long coming, and instead calls Charlie as it starts to rain. Startled, knowing only one woman would ask, Charlie hangs up. Tristan arrives home, and has nightmares.

After school, Arianna speaks to Darcy at the park about his whisper. He talks of the orphanage making him take care of himself, and his want of her to run to Deus Spiralem with her. When she reveals she cannot, his smart mind deduces she has someone to stay for. When she speaks of Nickey, he leaves, handing to Ari his mobile phone ‘to contact her brother when she can.’ On the walk back to Cityscape, Ari gets a call. She picks it up to a woman’s voice. Without any other statement, the woman says “Hello, Arianna. I’m Vera – your mother-” – before the call is disconnected and the phone is corrupted.

>>Next time on Somnium<<

1.04 - The Witch Has Spoken

Tristan suspects something in Maya’s new intern while Mina’s goals coincide nicely with Julien’s. Ari suffers trauma after Vera’s terrifying phone call.