The holographic billboards soared with differing blind shades of yellow. It seemed as if the whole world had stopped— the street, normally so busy with traffic, now mainly had eager-eyed fans celebrating in cheer and joy. Waving around flags, banners, some aliens even covered their whole body in yellow paint.

  All of this, just to celebrate one singular girl.

  Most brands had already anticipated this kind of commotion, therefore they prepared

  accordingly. Quite shamelessly capitalising off the event, making merch with Dionne’s countless catchphrases like; “The Girl In Yellow” “Who needs a fellow when you have yellow!”, and “The Purer the breed the better the stead”.

  Though the cheery festivities outside were all to celebrate her, Dionne didn't feel as enthused.

  The performance hadn't ended all that long ago. However, it might as well have been decades for the young victor. Dionne had succeeded again, just like the clone before her.

  And the one before that.

  And the one before that.

  And the one before that.

  And the one before that.

  And the one before that…

  Yet, she was already beginning to think about the next competition, held in just six months after this one.

  It would be foolish to detail the tightness in her chest as worry, she was simply annoyed at all of the theatrics.

  Did they really have to countlessly test her? It's not like the competition got better. If Dionne had something to say about it, she would find it rather boring watching livestock get slaughtered again and again. Not even being able to serve the purpose of nutrition, since their bodies were practically walking skeletons.

  Having had no real impact or meaning in their pitiful lives then to second hand entertainment to others.

  That’s why Dionne is different.

  That’s why Dionne is special.

  She’s stronger than the others, bioengineered to be the picture of human perfection in every sense of the word. From her appearance to her performance there isn't a singular mistake.

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  In the old world there was a lot of fear surrounding the rise of artificial intelligence and our increasing reliance on it for most tasks. However Dionne isn't like that, she is the safest form of AI.

  A computer who does exactly what her code tells her. Physically– she may be human, but mentally she may as well be a robot.

  Just as fast as the hype began, it died down again. The streets returned to normal, the cleaning robots making it look like nobody had ever stepped foot on the cement surface.

  Brands threw out all the merch they didn't manage to sell, and billboards already broadcasted the next trendy topics.

  Dionne managed to catch it, right as she was preparing for the next week’s worth of ad campaigns for the following alien stage.

  “Alivation, is this new girl group going to stand a chance against the infamous Dionne?!” It reads in an excessive cutesy font. Displaying three scantily clad girls, dressed in tight frilly clothes with bedazzled bonnets on their heads, and sparkly pacifiers in their mouths.

  Dionne found the notion laughable, almost insulted by the statement itself.

  There were hundreds of groups just like them, who managed to steal one monochrome of

  fame. Believing they were saved from the lonely land of mediocrity, then immediately fading into irrelevancey once again. If they were even a bit lucky, they would get to collaborate with Dionne before the Alien Stage.

  She didn't dwell on the thought, focusing instead on the schedule before her. It would be a never ending bender of events for the preparations, sometimes she wondered if it was always like this.

  Did her other clones also think like this? Or was there ever a time where they were simply pathetic, normal girls who actually had something to celebrate for.

  Dionne always knew she was going to win. Afterall, if all the other mice in the labyrinth were color blind, it was only natural that the one who wasn't could acquire the blue cheese.

  However, if there was an inevitability, it felt more like an objective. The colorblind mice fought for the blue cheese because they were hungry, the one who wasn't didn't seek it out. Acquiring it because that was the mouse’s objective, not their want.

  Because that mouse was full, so very full. Even though it was the only one who could see color, it couldn't even experience that privilege completely.

  ____________________________________________________

  The next few weeks were a blur. Every second felt like an eternity, yet each day felt like she had simply imagined it.

  A constant stream of cameras being shoved into her face, every moment she wasn't surrounded by a wall of guards. Protecting her from the threat of death, just to throw her back into the pit of torture.

  Every moment was monitored, because her fans would consume anything— Just as long as it included even an ounce of her essence.

  Collaborations with popular brands, and photoshoots where she wore just enough to remain pure and dignified, but also leaving something left for the imagination. This was all part of the standard preparation practices to advertise yourself before the alien stage.

  However, the most important part was the interviews.

  Which were held by hosts who asked excessive questions about her personal life. Never touching her actual talent and skill—the reason she became famous—but always itching to figure out what was behind the performances.

  Pretending as if Dionne was someone beneath it all.

  Yet, not actually caring for true authenticity. Dionne had been in the industry long enough to be tricked by their long standing deceptions. It was simply an act from the host, and from her. Tricking her hungry fans with information that made them feel closer to her, while in reality being fed the same sanitised meat.

  Just with different packaging.

  This was one example of the many symbiotic relationships in the entertainment industry.

  However, there is only so much fake information you can give to fans before it becomes redundant and improbable. Dionne, being a long running brand and icon of the public, needed a slight redesign.

  Not a full on makeover— but just something to spice her up. Perhaps a partner she could bounce off of, and the media can cling to and obsess over. Her managers knew that giving her a full on boyfriend would enrage her fans, evident by past scandals.

  So they had to tread carefully. Pick a boy nearly as skilled as Dionne, but who could never surpass her.

  A boy that was loved, yet feared.

  It didn't take them long to find their target.