Zimu Star Scandal

"Explain this" said angry the manager, throwing over the table a set of photos.

The AZ-Pop Idol, Zimu Star^TM nervously looked at her AZEMED manager, and then to the photos.

"I... I think I recognice them" she said. "It was on the backstage of the Jauna Zeme concert in benefit for war torn Ambercoast? It was so cold that day!"

"This is OUTRAGEOUS!" yelled the manager poiting at the photos. "A SCANDAL!!"

"w-what?" asked Zimu Star^TM looking again at them. "They... they don't look bad" she said. "I know I'm supposed to be always ready for the camera... but it was cold that day, and the assistant took a couple of these photos before I noticed it!" she explained. She picked some of the printed photos. "Look at these! As soon as I saw photos were being taken, I inmediatly posed for them! See?"

"THAT'S ONLY A MINOR PART OF THE PROBLEM!!" the angry manager yelled at Zimu Star^TM. "LOOK-AT-THIS!!!" he said, pointing again at the photos.

Zimu Star^TM looked closely at them... and then she noticed it.

"Oh no!"

"OH NO INDEED!!" the manager yelled, throwing all the photos to the floor. "YOU WERE PHOTOGRAPHED CONSUMING PRODUCTS THAT AREN'T ENDORSED BY AZEMED or AZIMUTH PHARMACEUTICALS!!!!

YOU DID FREE PUBLICITY FOR OTHER COMPANY!!"

"I-I didn't meant to do it!!" Zimu Star said horrified "It was so cold that day, and then I was handed a warm cup of coffee! I couldn't say no! I-I didn't saw it!"

"YOU GAVE AWAY MILLIONS OF CREDITS IN FREE PUBLICITY TO THE COFFEE OF OLISCH & CIA!!!" the manager yelled, before collapsing to one of the sofas on the break room. Then he sighed. "I'm doomed. Doomed. This is the end of my career."

Zimu Star^TM looked at the floor -covered by the photos-, embarassed by the scandalous free publicity she gave... she then looked up to the devastated manager and with a weak smile, she added:

"Why don't you take a chem?"

---

Azimuth Pharmaceuticals (NTSE: AzPhar), the bazik multinational medical devices, pharmaceutical and consumer packaged goods manufacturer funded in the year 3321 a.aH, suffered much of it's image as a result of the Devart Sector War, where they tried to use the conflict in their adventage against rival corporation Kasparov CIA, it resulted however in a catastrophe that lead to open conflict with forces of the Industrial Consortium , being expelled of it, with negatively affected the stocks, profit and image of Azimuth Pharma.

To try to revert this, aside of paying a fine to be part again of the CONIN -Industrial Consortium-, the Public Relations department ideated an publicity stunt, designed both to improve the view of the public of Azimuth Pharmaceuticals among the public and increase sales:

this will be the Idol -or sometimes called, Comapny mascot-, Zimu Star, The Chem Girl.

The subsidiary company of Azimuth Pharmaceuticals, Azimuth Entertainment Media (AZEMED) will develpe a special purpose corporative clone -or shik-, the Zimu Series of aFras, to impersonate the character ideated to impersonate the company values: Zimu Star, the Chem Girl.

Zimu Star, originally presented to an obejtive public of children and teens in commercials, was a singer, model, with her own television show and games.

Zimu Star, that endorsed the use of chemicals, pharmaceuticals and drugs as an alternative to solve any problem, will increase the consumption of said products in the objective public:

This will be seen as a great success by the company, which will lead to mass production of Zimu Series clones. 

The "Idol Clones" will produce mixed reactions: while the target public loved them, there would be a distinctive large group of persons who reacted quite negatively to the new mascot of Azimuth Pharmaceuticals.

"It's like a Jako shik running on a sugar rush for ever" said an anonymous person to an interview: these negative perceptions expanded with the viralization of Zamu Star, but due the rise of popularity this wouldn't be countered by Azimuth Pharma.

As more Zimu Series Clones where pressed into service, impersonating Zimu Star, there will be gradually asigned additional roles, as to improve morale for the troops of Azimuth Pharmaceuticals armed branch, AZPHAR, which had been shacked after several unfortunate encounters with independent agents. 

Zimu Series clones, when not impersonating for Publicity Stunts Zimu Star, will mostly serve as internal morale officers and usually explain company standards, regulations and operations to various afra clones, Zimu also features in various internal materials such as posters, booklets, videos and other media. 

Zimu clones will be present on AZPHAR bases and vessels on a regimental level, they being most frequently seen giving morning drills while trying to perk and cheer soldiers up.

A Zimu clone is quite an investment for Azimuth Pharmaceuticals AZPHAR, so they recieve the treatment of a high ranking officer, including their own special quarters and service. To the dismay of average afras however, attracting the attention of a Zimu or being subject to their musical material is the most painful mental punishment one could experience while on service, as such most of the time they try and avoid contact with them.

Much for the dread of aFras and parents all over the Nebulosa of Ots, AZEMED had announced they will soon launch a whole series of friends for Zimu Star.