Business Lessons

Part 1

Industrial Espionage

By Nick Maro

Misfits Music had been in existence for two weeks and Pizzazz still didn't know what to do. The Misfits now practiced in their own private studio. Although they still played at home, it was like an addiction to each woman, one that demanded that they had to play music. But an inner voice inside her screamed that an album had to be made. She just wished she knew were to begin.

Sitting in her office Pizzazz bounced a rubber ball off the floor and wall. She caught and threw the ball repeatedly. It kept her mind off the fact that she didn't know where to begin. A soft knock at her door didn't break her concentration. She kept bouncing the ball. The door opened and Stormer stood in at the threshold watching Pizzazz. "Hard at work I see," Stormer said amused.

Pizzazz laughed while she kept bouncing the ball and catching it, only to throw the ball again. "Yep, that's me, the hard working owner of Misfits Music. So what's on your mind that's so important that it's interrupting my staff meeting with the superball and I."

"You gotta get out of the office. Come on, a walk will do you good." Stormer intercepted the bouncing ball and caught it. She held it in front of Pizzazz. "You're going stir crazy and I still say you need a business consultant to help you out. Half the people in here are doing the same damn thing you are. You're paying them to bounce superballs!"

"I sure am. Isn't it funny? A whole music company bouncing superballs and not making any music." Pizzazz stood and left her office. Stormer followed her. Pizzazz told her secretary she was gone for the day. "Maybe you're right, Stormer. Maybe I do need a business consultant and I know exactly where to go for some advice, Gabor Industries. I mean hell I own half of the company. Why should I ignore that?"

"Oh yeah, the Great Phyllis Gabor and her stubbornness always shows everyone who's boss," Stormer teased on the way the down the stairwell. "So what are we going to do at corporate headquarters? Annoy the suits?"

Pizzazz unlocked the car doors and smiled. "I already do that by just showing up when I feel like it. Besides, there's an office over by Starlight Drive Inn that I haven't been to yet. I have no idea what the hell they're doing there. Kevin Ross said something about it's a special research lab. I'm curious as to how special it is."

Stormer leaned her seat back and played with her hair in thought. "Maybe we should get some gigs. You know tweak our style first. Just because the crowd at the contest liked our style, doesn't mean everyone will. Maybe you should've held off on making Misfits Music. I mean why did you found it? To spite the Stingers because your pride was wounded?" Stormer shielded the sun from her eyes to see her friend's reaction.

Thinking about what Stormer had said Pizzazz pulled into the parking lot of the main office of Gabor Industries. She turned off the engine, sighed and leaned back in her seat. "I don't know why I did it. Maybe it was because I gave Jerrica the money to start Starlight Music. Maybe because I didn't want to be left behind by her. I've always jumped blindly into things. You know that. Maybe this time I'm in over my head." She gave a halfhearted shrug.

"But that's the thing I really admire about you, Pizzazz." Stormer got out of the car and leaned on the roof. "You seem to always overcome any obstacle. You're a survivor." She followed her friend into the lobby of the central headquarters of Gabor Industries. She looked look around impressed. "Either that or you're just really damn lucky! My Gods this is yours?!"

"Keep it down willya?" Pizzazz said with a small giggle. "Besides, I'm only half owner." She walked up to the receptionist at the main desk. "Hi. Is Kevin Ross in? I need to speak with him about something."

The receptionist looked Pizzazz up and snorted. "I'm sorry Miss, but Mr. Ross isn't here and I'm afraid I can't divulge where he is to the likes of you."

Pizzazz smirked. "So you can't tell the co-owner of Gabor Industries where she can find her Senior CEO? Is that what you're telling me?"

"You're the co-owner of Gabor Industries? Please leave before I have security escort you out." The receptionist picked up the phone called security. Pizzazz stood her ground with a smirk and waited. The two security guards that Pizzazz recognized as the guards from her first visit walked up and looked at the receptionist with confused looks on their faces. "Bradley, Westford please escort these ladies out. They're trespassing."

The security guards and Pizzazz shared an amused private smile. Bradley turned to the receptionist. "Trey, um, she is the co-owner of Gabor Industries. Mr. Ross introduced us to her and her brother about a month or so ago. So Ms. Gabor, what can we do for you and your friend today?"

"I just wanted to know where I could find Kevin Ross." Pizzazz ran her fingers through her hair and looked at the young man sitting behind the reception desk.

"Oh he's at the research lab. You know the big building by that old drive inn. You can find him there," Trey said in an apologetic tone. "Listen, I knew we had new owners, but well, I didn't know. I'm sorry."

"Ah, don't sweat it. It happens." Pizzazz held out her hand in greeting. "Phyllis Gabor. But please call me either Pizzazz or Phyllis." She gestured at Stormer. "This is one of my best friends Mary Phillips or Stormer, if you will. Do me a huge favor. Let people know what I look like. I have a security pass. That I accidentally left at home. But I don't want to hear I faked it." The guards and the receptionist nodded. Pizzazz thanked them and left with Stormer. They went to the research lab right away.

The Gabor Industries Advanced Research and Design Lab was an oddly shaped six story building on the outskirts of Los Angeles. It sat near the Starlight Drive Inn. Upon seeing the building, Pizzazz and Stormer agreed that the architects who designed it must've changed their mind many times during construction. Either that or they were insane.

Pizzazz and Stormer walked into the main lobby and went right up to the Guest Relations desk. Before Pizzazz could say anything, the clerk behind the desk smiled at her and Stormer. "Welcome Phyllis and Mary. Welcome to the brain of Gabor Industries. My name is Sharon. If there's anything I can do, just ask and I'll be happy to assist you anyway I can."

"First of all thank you for not acting like I'm trying to rob the place. Second of all how do you know who we are?" Pizzazz walked up closer to the desk and looked over it. The clerk had no legs. It was an animatronic robot.

"Trey from the main office called and notified us of your visit." Pizzazz and Stormer were in awe that this woman was a machine. "How may I help you?"

Pizzazz shook off her shock. "I was told Kevin Ross was here. Where might I find him?"

Sharon didn't answer right away. She sat there a moment with a blank look on its face. When Sharon spoke, it startled the two women. "Kevin Ross is currently on the second sub-level. He seems to be moving quite rapidly towards the staircase. If you wish, I have a keycard here that will grant you access to the more restricted research areas. Would you like it?"

"Yes, thank you." Pizzazz took the card offered to her and couldn't believe she was being courteous to a machine. "Which staircase is he headed towards? I want to meet him there." Sharon pointed down the hallway opposite of where they were. Pizzazz saw a sign that pointed towards the stairs. "Thank you again, Sharon."

Pizzazz and Stormer began walking down the hallway. They were halfway down the hallway when a figured dressed in all black rushed out around the corner of where the stairs were located. Pizzazz put a hand out protectively in front of Stormer and she stopped walking. The person rushed past Pizzazz, knocking her down. From the floor Pizzazz saw Kevin and a young man with black hair come charging from around the corner.

"Stop that person! They've just stolen the Sigma Omega program!" Kevin shouted while chasing after the spy. Pizzazz stood up and brushed her pants off slowly as she watched the spy rush out the door and get away in a car that had just driven up. Kevin stopped by the main doors and swore loudly. He grabbed one of the security guards by his jacket. "That spy just got away with a lifetime of research and all you could do is stand there? You're fired!"

"Wait a minute, Kevin." He turned when Pizzazz spoke. "I'm sure he was doing his job to the best of his ability. Let's look at it from his perspective for a moment. You're on duty eight hours a day in what is pretty much a dull job. Let's face it this job doesn't seem to be a thrill a minute. So you get into the routine of having an easy job and pretty much taking it slow.

"But then one day something exciting does happen. So what do you do when someone yells to stop a fleeing man? You freeze up and act confused because you're not used to it." Pizzazz smiled kindly at the security guard. "This tells me several things. First, there's not much going on here that other people will want. Second, the security guards need to be trained for all situations. Third, maybe there is important stuff going on, it's just very secret."

Kevin stared at the green haired woman in shock. Stormer was in equal shock. She'd never heard Pizzazz analyze a situation like that so fast. Kevin finally smiled and smoothed out the guard's jacket. He cleared his throat and gave the man a humble smile. "You're not fired. I'm sorry. I reacted in anger and stress of the situation. Ms. Gabor, I mean, Phyllis is right. Now I want you to tell your supervisor I want a meeting with him on how to prevent this from happening again." He turned when to face Pizzazz when the guard nodded and left down the hall. "Now, what can I do for you Phyllis?"

Pizzazz glanced at the young man in the lab coat who was mumbling to himself. "Well, I originally came to ask your help on how to run Misfits Music. But now I want to know what the hell the Sigma Omega program is that someone is willing to break in here and steal."

"It wasn't stolen. It was copied," the man in the lab coat said softly.

"Techrat, enough. Stolen or still on the computers it was still stolen." Kevin motioned to Techrat next to him. "Phyllis Gabor this is Techrat our resident Frankenstein with electronics. Come with me, I'll show you what was stolen." Pizzazz and Stormer followed the two men to an elevator. Kevin spoke over his shoulder. "That scene back there with the security guard you really reminded me of your father, Phyllis. You have his trust in employees."

"Thank you," Pizzazz said quietly. She wasn't sure why she said all of that to Kevin. She looked at Stormer and gave the longtime friend a look of apology. Stormer just shook her head and grinned. It was her way of saying it was okay.

The elevator doors opened and Kevin led Stormer and Pizzazz to a security door. He swiped his key card and held the door open for the others. He took the lead and went a room with two security guards standing next to it. A guard opened the door and Kevin entered first. He waited for Pizzazz and Stormer to enter. "Well, what do you think?"

In the middle of the room, Pizzazz and Stormer saw a large cylinder that was projecting an image on the opposite wall. Techrat smiled with pride. "It's a hologram projector. It's able to create a hologram up to one thousand feet. What was copied was the specifications and program for this projector. It's nothing harmful."

"Kevin," Pizzazz said softly, "You have my permission to pursue this how you want. I just want a report on it." She let out a sigh. "It's about damn time I started acting like a co-owner." She turned to leave. "See that my brother receives a copy too. You know where to reach him." Pizzazz and Stormer left the research lab together.

Jerrica sat in her office at Starlight Music. She bounced the eraser of her pencil as she studied her work book from the business course she had enrolled in. She looked up at her office door when she heard a knock. Kimber came in with a sideways smile. "Hey Jer. Shana dropped me off on the way to class. How's the business course going?"

"Is it possible for one's brain to hurt?" Jerrica rubbed her tired eyes. "From what I understand Pizzazz is having the same troubles that I am. Only I think she has it worse. She's also the owner of an international corporation. Then again she has people who run it. So it's not like she's really running it." Jerrica stopped rubbing her eyes and saw Kimber giggling softly. "What's so funny?"

"You are! You were rambling like you used to do when you were in school." Kimber started giggling harder. "Dad would tease you by calling you Jabberin' Jerrica."

Jerrica smiled at the fond memories of her father. She packed up her school work and stood. "Well, I think I'll study at home. I plan on hiring a staff soon. I'm going to ask Pizzazz if I can get some business advice from Gabor Industries." She grabbed her backpack and slid the shoulder strap on when the phone rang. Jerrica looked at it a moment before answering it. "Starlight Music, Jerrica speaking."

"Hi Jerrica, its David, I'm sorry if I'm bothering you, but I need a big favor." David's voice sounded like her was anxious and aggravated by something.

"Sure. What do you need? Wait, where are you?"

"I need to be picked up from the airport. I goofed up the days with Phyllis." Jerrica could hear David pacing as he talked. "She's not at home or at Misfits Music. I only get her voice mail on her cell phone. I don't know anyone else's numbers. I had Starlight Music's number on the same piece of paper as Misfits Music's. I'll understand if you can't."

"Kimber and I will be there as soon as possible. It's no problem." Jerrica wrote down the terminal to pick David up at and hung up the phone. She turned to her sister. "We get to play taxi, Kim. David is stranded at the airport. No one is around in the Misfits to get him."

Jerrica and Kimber got into Jerrica's car and quickly merged onto the freeway. Kimber leaned her seat back after putting a mix CD into the stereo. She saw Jerrica tapping her fingers on the steering wheel to the music. They arrived at the airport while avoiding most of the traffic. Jerrica saw David sitting near a few suitcases and what looked to be a pool cue case.

Pulling over near David, Jerrica turned off the engine and popped the truck from inside the car. She and Kimber got out helping David load his luggage. Kimber bent to pick up the pool cue case. David stopped her. "I'll take that, Kimber. It's something fragile inside." David put the case in the backseat and got in as well. Kimber and Jerrica exchanged shrugs.

David sat forward a bit when the sisters got into the car and Jerrica pulled away. "I'll show you two what it is when we get to the Misfits place. I'm moving back for a little bit. The rest of the band is in a state of flux right now. Between Kyoko and Shin getting engaged last week and me finding out I have family here, we're taking a break."

Kimber turned around in her seat as best as she could. "I'm going to have to call and tell them congratulations. They make a great couple and Kyoko is so sweet. But where are you going to be staying? If you don't have any place, I'm sure Rio or Mrs. Phillips would let you stay with one of them." She gave David her best cute smile.

"Now Kim, stop it. I'm sure David is already staying at the Gabor Manor." Jerrica looked at David in the rearview mirror. "Any idea how long you'll be staying?"

"I'm not sure yet. Kyoko's father is flying in soon to look into becoming the Senior CEO of Gabor Industries. So I have to prepare that. Get all of the files and records for him to look at." David shrugged and sat back. He closed his eyes. "But I think I'll be here a few months or longer. I haven't decided."

Jerrica let David rest for the remainder of trip. They arrived at the Gabor Manor about forty-five minutes later. Kimber gently woke David, who covered his mouth and yawned. He grabbed the pool cue case and exited the car. Roxy and Jetta were walking down the drive way and started running when they saw David. They each hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.

Jetta and Roxy each took a suitcase out of the trunk and went inside. Jerrica gave a small shrug. "Well, I guess we'll be getting home."

"Why? Come on inside and get something cold to drink." David looked at Kimber. "You're thirsty right?" Kimber nodded enthusiastically. "See. You can call home inside." David waited until Jerrica sighed and followed him. Kimber quickly ran up and joined them.

David sat in the living room with Jerrica and Kimber while Roxy and Jetta brought his bags upstairs. The five of them had just finished catching up over a quick afternoon snack. He noticed Kimber glancing at the case he'd brought with him. Setting down his drink, he leaned forward and smiled at the young redhead. "You're dying to know what is in there, aren't you."

Kimber nodded and Jerrica looked at it with playful suspicion. "Okay I give up also. What's in there that's making you so bloody secretive? Nothing illegal I hope."

"Oh, it's nothing like that. It's just something very special to me. Something I've had for a longtime." David picked up the case when he heard Roxy and Jetta coming down the stairs. "Roxy, Jetta come on outside with us. I want to show you this as well. I think you'll both appreciate it."

The two women followed David out the backdoor. David set the case on a patio table and unlocked the locks. He set them aside and flicked the latches up. He paused and looked at the women dramatically and the slowly lifted the top of the case. Inside were two swords in decorated scabbards. They were in fitted slots in the case, surrounded by red felt. David lifted the larger of the two swords.

David held the sword out for everyone to see and turned it over in his hands. A slight smile crossed his lips. "I was given this for my thirteenth birthday by my adoptive father, Hiroshi Ikari. When he gave it to me, I was told I had become worthy of carrying a sword as a warrior should. Now the martial art I was taught was an old style of samurai technique mixed with kendo. That just means I was taught to defend as well as kill."

He saw the eyes before him go wide. He chuckled. "Being taught to kill only gives a person more value for life. Anyway, he gave me this katana and the companion wakizashi as a symbol of what it means to be samurai." David pulled the katana of its scabbard and set the scabbard in the case. He walked about ten feet away from the women who were watching.

Demonstrating the various moves he knew with the two swords, David was careful not to get close to anyone. Pizzazz and Stormer joined the others shortly after David began. Jerrica gave them a quick update on what was going on. David finished and put the swords away. Pizzazz ran up and hugged David tightly. She was happy to see him back so soon.

The mini-reunion lasted until shortly after midnight. Kimber was forced to do her homework while Jerrica and Pizzazz studied together about how to run their music companies. They each were beginning to understand how to run theirs. Jetta and Roxy entertained Aja, Stormer and Shana with some basic wrestling moves and holds. David locked himself in the study and looked over the reports that Pizzazz had given him about the hologram project.

Making notes as he sipped his tea, David shifted his legs to get the circulation flowing again. He tapped the end of the pen on his lower lip in thought. He picked up the phone and called Hiroki Bayushi. The phone rang a few times before Hiroki answered his cell phone. "[Hello, David. I didn't expect to hear from you so soon. Anything the matter?]"

"[Yes and no, sir, I'm just looking over the reports that Phyllis gave me about the supposed break in that Gabor Industries had at their research and design lab this afternoon. Something doesn't click for me. There's no evidence of the person breaking in. It's almost as if they just walked in without being challenged.]" David stood and began feeding papers into a fax machine. "[I'm sending you copies of what I was given. See what you can make of it.]"

"[It's coming through now. I've been looking over the papers your sister sent me about Gabor Industries. I think there are some documents missing. The dates and information on some of them just don't make any sense. Anyway, I'll be flying in next week sometime. I'll either call or e-mail you with the information.]" Hiroki switched phones quickly. "[Kyoko wanted me to ask you who you're bringing as a date to the wedding. Shin has been complaining that his best man shouldn't be dateless.]"

David sighed and rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefingers. "[I'll have to get back to him on that,]" he chuckled softly. "[I have to get going, sir. It's after midnight here and I want to hit the swimming pool before I go to bed. Last time I was here swimming helped me deal with my jet lag. I can't explain it. Give my love to everyone and I'll be in touch with you shortly.]"

Hiroki and David gave their farewells and hung up.

The smell of chlorine rich water hit Roxy's nostrils instantly. The sound of soft splashing hit her ears as she rounded the corner to the pool from the entrance. In the water was David swimming his laps at his own pace. Roxy sat on the bench near the showers and set her towel next to herself. She watched him swim a few laps before jumping into the water, arms wrapped around her legs. The wave from the cannonball splash hit David full in the face.

David surfaced and spit water from his mouth, looking at the laughing woman. "Don't people here ever just announce themselves anymore?" He wiped the dripping water from his face. "So, what do I owe this pleasure?"

Roxy rolled her eyes and made an amused sound. "I just felt like going for a midnight swim." She swam past David slowly and smirked. "Just be glad I decided to keep my suit on when I saw you were in here." Roxy dove under the water and swam to the other side. She surfaced and rested her arm on the pool edge. "C'mon, race you to the other side. Loser has to tell the winner a secret, you up for it?"

"You do know that I was the school swim champ, right?" David readied himself against the pool wall next to Roxy. She gave a small countdown and they both pushed off the wall. Neither one could tell who was in the lead at first. David saw Roxy a foot ahead of her, but he kept his pace. Seeing they were three fourths of the way the length of the pool, David began swimming faster. He touched the other side of the pool a fraction of a second before Roxy did.

David grinned at the guitarist. "I win."

"Fine, you get to know a secret about me." Roxy pushed herself up on the edge of the pool and patted the spot next to her. David sat with his feet in the water next her. She looked at him a moment then laughed to herself. "I can't believe I'm telling you this. Anyway, I'm an albino. Not a full albino, just a partial albino. My hair and eyes have no pigment, but my skin does. I wear contacts to hide my eye color and so my eyes aren't as sensitive to light. That's my big secret." As an afterthought she kissed his cheek and smiled.

After a few minutes of talking by the poolside, Roxy and David moved to the hot tub and talked until morning there. David let Roxy rest her head on his shoulder as they talked. He knew that he would be staying in America longer than expected now.

TO BE CONTINUED IN "FAMILY BUSINESS"

PART 2 OF BUSINESS LESSONS