Max Headroom

Seduced and Loved

Chapter One: The Party and the Morning After

Bryce stood in the corner of the Network 23 party. Edison and Theora had invited him, since no one else seemed to have bothered. True he wasn't old enough to drink alcohol, but that didn't mean he couldn't chat with his fellow employees. He loved to brag about his inventions after all, and this seemed a good place to do it.

But here he stood, watching the others converse. A true male wallflower if there ever was one. True that term usually applied to non-dancers. But since he never had danced a day in his life, it certainly applied to him, even if no one else was doing so at the moment either.

The network's newest employee came and stood beside him.

"You seem a little bored," she said.

"I'm trying to avoid being bored," Bryce admitted, not turning to look at her. "The conversations I noticed earlier seem dull enough to make a sloth interesting."

"A what?" She asked.

"Extinct animal," Bryce replied. "Never did very much. Quite dull, actually."

"Whatever, kiddo," She shrugged.

"It's Bryce," Bryce told her. He hated being referred to as a kid. He was sixteen after all. And while it wasn't old enough to drink, he was considered an adult otherwise. He could even go to war if he was needed!

"Donna," she told him. "So, who do you belong to?"

"Network 23, actually," Bryce explained. "I'm head of Research and Development."

"Do you want something to drink?" Donna asked him, politely.

"Nothing alcoholic," Bryce told her. "How's the punch?"

"Punch is often spiked at parties," Donna told him. "I'd avoid it. How about a glass of soda."

"I normally don't drink soda," Bryce admitted. "But I suppose once in a while is okay. Sure."

Donna went over to the soft drinks and poured two glasses of soda. Slipping a quickly dissolving pill into one, she headed back to where Bryce was standing.

Edison Carter looked over and saw Bryce and Donna standing there, chatting casually. Getting closer, he heard Bryce explaining one of his inventions to her.

"Looks like Bryce has made a new friend," he told Theora as he joined her for a drink of what Donna had correctly guessed was Rum Punch.

"That's good," Theora smiled. "He needs more friends outside our little group. Cheviot doesn't give him much of a chance, does he?"

Edison shook his head.

Bryce stumbled, nearly dropping the glass of soda he was drinking from.

"What's wrong?" Donna asked, concern in her voice as she took the half-empty glass from him and set it on the table after tipping its contents into the vase of flowers beside her, making sure no one saw her do it

"Tired," Bryce admitted. "I guess all the boredom is getting to me."

"Want me to drive you home?" Donna offered.

"No need," Bryce explained. "I live here at the Network."

"Well, at least let me escort you back to your apartment, then," Donna suggested. "You don't want to fall down a lift shaft if one malfunctions."

"Good point," Bryce agreed, following her out of the room.

It was another five minutes before Edison noticed that neither Bryce nor Donna were anywhere at the party.

"Looks like Bryce and Donna have split," he told Theora. "Good for them. I'd leave this bore-fest, too, if I could. But you know how it is when you're the talk of the town. Speaking of which," he added as Vanna Smith, his old flame, joined them.

"So, Theora Jones is it?" Vanna offered her hand.

Theora didn't shake it. Vanna had punched Edison in the jaw once. That didn't impress her.

Vanna got the hint and lowered her arm.

"Edison," she said, "how's the jaw?"

"Better," Edison said, smiling. "I'd certainly feel sorry for any mugger who crossed paths with you."

Vanna grinned and sat down beside him.

"So you're his new flame," she said, addressing Theora.

"Actually, I'm his Controller," Theora told him. "And I don't date or sleep with my Operative."

"A wise choice," Vanna agreed.

Bryce barely made it to the door of his apartment, even with Donna's help.

Getting inside, she led him to the alcove that served as his bedroom, Bryce collapsing onto the bed.

Donna handed Bryce a pill.

"What's this for?" Donna asked.

"I think someone might have put something into that bottle of soda," Donna said. "Did it taste funny to you? Go on, it'll stave off any potential hangover you might get."

"Maybe," Bryce admitted sleepily as he swallowed the pill. A wave of heat came over his body, which began to react in a way that he was unfamiliar with.

"I feel weird." he admitted, as he collapsed onto the bed.

Donna smiled as she began to undress him.

"Just rest," she told him. "You need your sleep. I bet they keep you up all hours of the night trying to catch up with their demands."

"Yeah," Bryce agreed as he drifted off to sleep, wondering why he felt so strange. It was probably the alcohol someone had slipped into the soda, he thought. He barely noticed Donna's lips as they touched his. It felt nice, but it also felt wrong somehow. He wanted to tell her to stop, but he was too tired. He would deal with the matter in the morning.

He had no idea that by then it would be far too late.

Bryce woke at 4:27am. His head was pounding and he was stark naked.

"I guess that hangover pill didn't work," he muttered, pulling his clothes on. "And when did all my clothes come off? I hope I didn't strip in front of Donna."

He felt a chill of embarrassment at the idea and blushed slightly, as he quickly dressed himself.

"I was so drunk last night," he admitted to himself, having no idea of the true cause of his sudden tiredness. "Who in their right minds puts alcohol in all the drinks at a party? Some people have to drive others home. Idiots."

"Good mor-mor-morning," Max said, cheerfully. "You have a good time last night?"

"Not really," Bryce told him. "And I've got a splitting headache at the moment."

"Take the day off-off-off. Day off," Max suggested.

"Love to," Bryce told him. "But it's impossible. Edison and Cheviot are no doubt going to have their little demands."

"Tell 'em to bug-bug-bugger off," Max told him.

"Temping, but no," Bryce lamented. "Donna's right. I never get any rest. I'm going back to sleep until it's time for work. Maybe this headache will be gone by then?"

"Perhaps," Max agreed as Bryce got back into bed and closed his eyes.

He was asleep less than a minute later.