The Bands Break Up

Part 1

She's the One

By Nick Maro

Waking to the soft smell of perfume Stormer felt a body lying next to her above the blankets. She turned and found Kimber asleep in her day clothes. Stormer smiled to herself and watched her best friend sleep quietly. She looked at the clock on the wall behind Kimber. It read that it was around seven in the morning. Stormer figured that Kimber had stopped by sometime during the night.

Stormer carefully rolled to her back so not to wake her friend and thought about the events of the past couple of weeks. A tinge of guilt passed over her as she thought about how she had almost hurt Jerrica and her friends. She reminded herself that it wasn't her but the angry personality she had developed deep inside her. Since that day she had began going to a psychiatrist to help understand and control that rage.

One of her closest friends was paying for the visits and the therapy. The current doctor she was seeing recommended a new doctor to her and her mother. He said that this doctor was working with a new kind of therapy to help control dissociative identity disorder. She hoped that it would work. The medication she was taking to surpress the rage was making her lethargic. Pizzazz had to even put the appearances for the Misfits album on hold until Stormer was better.

Breaking herself out of her thoughts, Stormer felt her stomach rumble and the painful pressure on her bladder. She carefully got up and put on her slippers. Walking softly out of her room, Stormer quickened her pace to the bathroom. After washing her hands Stormer exited the bathroom and rubbed her eyes as she slowly walked down the stairs. She went into the kitchen and started making breakfast for herself and Kimber.

After a half hour of cooking breakfast and Stormer finished placing the food on the tray. She carried it carefully up the stairs and into her room. She set the tray down on an empty chair and lightly shook the sleeping redhead. "Hey, Kim, get up. I made you breakfast." She picked the tray up again and held it proudly before herself.

Kimber yawned and quickly woke up when she smelled the freshly made food. She smiled and sat up as Stormer set the tray over Kimber's lap. "You didn't have to make me breakfast, Mary. This is so sweet. You know I'm not angry with you for what happened. In fact, I feel bad that I might've helped bring about Frenzy." Kimber took a bite of the waffles and chewed.

"This isn't an attempt to apologize. I've done enough of that already. I made you breakfast because you're my best friend and I really appreciate how you have stuck by me. I know that I'm not the most popular person with the Holograms right now, but you've been there for me no matter what." Stormer sat on the edge of the bed and kissed Kimber on the forehead. "Thank you, Kim."

"Hey, we've always been there for each other. We made a pact when we first met to always have the others back no matter what the situation. I think this really qualifies." Kimber winked and took a long drink of her chocolate milk. "Now, let's change subjects. Phyllis was telling me that you guys are releasing the first Misfits album. Pretty exciting, huh?"

Stormer took a piece of sausage from Kimber's plate. "Yeah, it's just too bad that we have to wait until I'm feeling better to do any actual appearances. Ah well, we don't even know if the album will sell. So I guess it's a good idea that we all take time off from each other." She gave a half-hearted shrug.

"Don't sell yourself short. I've heard the album and I absolutely love it. Besides, the whole mystery on why the Misfits are in hiding will make the fans want to see you guys more. Just think of it as a publicity stunt."

Chuckling at the thought Stormer gave her best friend a sly grin. "You always did know how to throw a positive spin on the direst of situations." Stormer looked out the window and thought a moment. "I'd like for you to come with me to see this new doctor. I'm scared shitless and I'd like to have you there with me."

Kimber smiled again and nodded. Stormer remembered her breakfast downstairs. She ran down the stairs and brought it up. Together they ate their breakfast in relative silence.

"…I just hope that the fans will still respect me for what I'm about to show them. Its something I should've shown them a long time ago." On the TV screen, Jerrica brought her hand up to her earring and whispered, "Showtime, Synergy." The familiar purple and pink lights wrapped around Jerrica and Jem was sitting before the stunned audience of the Lin-Z Show. Pizzazz smiled to herself as she watched the tape.

Jem turned to Lindsey Pierce. "Jerrica Benton and Jem has been the same person the whole time. I became Jem to help myself get over my stage fright for the Battle of the Bands contest. You see my sister Phyllis left the Holograms so she could form the Misfits. She always said I had a beautiful voice and that I should be the lead singer of the Holograms. And well, I obviously found a way around my stage fright." She turned to the audience. "I just felt now was the time to let everyone in on the secret before it got too large of a lie."

Pizzazz sat back in her chair and listened to the audience applauding her sister. She wished inside that she could've been there for Jerrica. Sighing Pizzazz took a sip of her drink and turned off the tape. She'd been watching off and on since Stormer's break down and revelation that she started the fire at the original Starlight house. Pizzazz felt her guilt fade a bit when she thought about the therapy she was helping Stormer receive.

Finishing her drink she left her bedroom and made her way to the bathroom to take a much needed shower.

The plane made a sharp turn as it took off towards the rising morning sun. Inside Roxy gripped the armrest and David's hand as the plane continued its ascent into the clouds. She turned and looked at him with a nervous grin. "Have I told you how much I hate flying? Hell, how much I hate heights."

David chuckled to himself. "Only about fifty times this morning, don't worry though, you're fine. The pilot said that we should have a nice flight to Philly. The weather is nice and clear." He gave Roxy's hand a reassuring squeeze and sat with her in silence until the pilot announced they could remove their seat belts. David looked around the private jet. He told himself that this was just one of the few perks of co-owning a company.

Getting out of his seat David went to the bar and poured himself and Roxy a glass of water. He gave the young musician her drink and sat back down next to her. "So, when is Sheila meeting up with us in Philly?"

"She said that she would be arriving the day before my parents twenty-fifth wedding anniversary party. She's coming with her parents so you know this is gonna be fun." Roxy smirked. "Just think, three generations of wrestlers under one roof getting drunk. This is going to be a lot of fun." She giggled lightly and started to relax. "Thanks for coming with. I do have to tell you something." Roxy looked at him shyly. "I kinda told my mom that you're my boyfriend. I hope you don't mind. I know we said we wouldn't get serious or anything. But—"

David leaned over and kissed her quickly in mid-sentence. "I don't mind. And I think maybe we should get serious. I wouldn't mind officially dating you. Everyone else is already calling us a couple so why not just become one?"

A slow wide grin spread across Roxy's lips. "Well, I can tell you won't be like my past boyfriends and run away when things get serious. I mean hell I'm having you meet my parents! I've never done that before. But I know they're going to love you almost as much as I love you." Roxy cuddled against David's chest and tried to calm down for the rest of the flight. She thought maybe being with David will help ease her fear of flying and heights.

The psychiatrist's office was empty and quiet. Stormer looked at her watch for the fifth time in as many minutes when Kimber poked her in the ribs causing her to yelp in surprise. Pizzazz and the receptionist both looked at the two young women. Kimber covered her mouth as she giggled. Stormer looked around somewhat embarrassed then punched Kimber in the arm without looking. Kimber rubbed her arm and pouted.

Pizzazz chuckled softly and went back to reading her magazine. "Kim, if you can't accept the consequences, then don't poke Mary in the side. I think there's a Dr. Suess book in the pile of magazines. Just don't try to read it like a porno again. The time you did that with Green Eggs and Ham gave me nightmares and ruined the book for me." She gave her younger sister a playful wink.

The door to the back office opened and a young boy and his mother walked out thanking the man who held the door for them. The man was tall and very distinguished looking for his age. Pizzazz figured he was in his late-thirties. He had gray streaks along the sides of his head surrounded by jet black hair. He went to the receptionist's desk and looked at the folder. "Mary Phillips, you're next." He then pointed directly at Stormer. "Let me guess, you're Mary."

Stormer looked amused and puzzled at the same time. "Yes, I am. How did you know that?"

The doctor smiled warmly. "I saw you filling out the paperwork. Come on into my office. I'm Doctor Richard Xanthos. These are your sisters?" He pointed to Pizzazz and Kimber.

"No. They're my best friends, but they sometimes feel like sisters to me."

"Well, they can come in if they want. This is just a getting to know you session." Richard motioned to the woman behind the receptionist's desk. "This is Christine, my assistant. She's just covering for my regular receptionist. Her daughter broke her leg this morning." He looked over the folder again. "I knew I recognized you three. You're musicians. It's always nice to help out celebrities." He shut the door once everyone was in the room and then sat behind his desk.

Pizzazz looked around and thought that the office didn't look like a doctor's office should. He had his degrees hanging on the walls, but the rest was covered by vintage movie posters. She felt comfortable in this office and guessed that's what the effect was supposed to be. She looked back at Richard when Stormer said her name. She shook his hand and offered a smile.

"So, let's see here." Richard put on a pair of reading glasses and read Stormer's folder again. "You've been diagnosed with having dissociative identity disorder due to repressed feelings of hostility and aggression." He nodded and looked at Stormer. "Well, at least you're never alone. Too bad that other person just wants to destroy you." He chuckled softly then stopped when he saw the three women were just staring at him. "I'm sorry. I just find that if you make a few jokes about your condition, you start to relax about it. I'm really sorry."

Stormer lightly smiled. "It's okay. I just wasn't expecting you to be like this. All of the other doctors I went to were really stuck up and rigid. I was expecting you to be the same way. It's a breath of fresh air, believe me." She cleared her throat and sat up straighter. "So can you help me?"

Richard looked at the folder again and put it down. "Yes I believe can. But I will need your help as well, Mary. I have a new treatment that I'm working on for dissociative identity disorder cases. It's still in the experimental stages. But if you're willing to be a test subject, that would be great. I would even help you for free. You don't have to answer right away. Take some time to think about it and get back to me."

"I will. Thank you, Dr. Xanthos."

"Just call me Richard. Dr. Xanthos is what I'm called at conventions." He stood and shook Stormer's hand again. "It was a pleasure to meet you three. Now, just call me after a few days of thinking about the offer, if you don't want to do it, no problem. I'll help you in more traditional ways." Richard walked the three women to the door and wished them all well.

As the plane rolled to a stop on the tarmac, David and Roxy gathered up their carry on bags. The pilot opened the door letting the sunlight inside. Roxy slid her sunglasses on and winced at the sudden brightness. She glanced over her shoulder at David. He put the shoulder strap that was connected to the carrying case on his shoulder. Roxy still didn't know why David insisted on bringing his swords with him.

"David, when you meet my parents just remember that they're a bit, ahh, enthusiastic." Roxy took a deep breath as she stepped out of the jet. "Oh yeah, it's good to be home." Roxy and David made their way through the airport. David had security check his swords. He was allowed to pass with them when he showed security a certificate that named him as a collector of antique swords and weapons.

Roxy smiled when she saw her mother and father pacing waiting for the two to arrive through the gate. She then instinctively cringed when she saw them running up to her with their arms open. Roxy's mother hugged her tightly followed by her father. She hugged her parents back and kissed them each on the cheek. She eventually pried herself free and turned to David. "Mama, Poppa, this is David. He's my boyfriend and the man I love being with."

"It's an honor to meet the both of you." David was cut off in his greeting as Roxy's mother hugged him and kissed both of his cheeks. She was pushed out of the way as her father picked him up in a giant bear hug. David saw Roxy hide her face in embarrassment as he just smiled at her very amused.

"David!" Roxy's father bellowed somewhat deeply. "It's so good to see that my daughter has found a nice young man. I thought for sure she was going to go without a man all her life." Roxy groaned behind her father. "What? It's true! You went from boy to boy to boy in high school."

Roxy groaned again. "Poppa, we were constantly on the road together in high school doing wrestling shows. I never had the chance to get a good relationship started." She picked up her bags and started to walk out of the airport. "So let's not get into this again. I'm not home five minutes and you're already trying to marry me off."

"Pay her no mind, David. She's just cranky from the plane flight," Roxy's mother said soothingly.

"I'm not cranky!" Roxy said over her shoulder.

David chuckled to himself. "I don't mind it, ma'am. She hates flying and this is her way of coping somewhat. I think she just needs a drink to calm her nerves a bit."

Roxy's father clapped David on the back. "Please, call me Alexander. This is my wife Catherine. We've always asked Roxanne's friends to call us by our first names. Makes them feel more at ease with us." Alexander smiled broadly at David. He rushed up behind his daughter and dangled a set of keys in front of her. "Why don't you show David around while your mother and I take your bags home."

"It's fixed, Poppa?" Her father just nodded. Roxy grabbed the keys and hugged her father. She turned to David. "Leave your bags with my parents, David." She ran up to him grabbed his arm. David handed his bags to her father and thanked him. Roxy tugged at his arm and led him to the parking space that her father told her the car was at. She smiled as she turned off the alarm on her car.

David adjusted the strap for his sword case on his shoulder as he looked over the classic jet black Shelby Cobra with neon green stripes. He let out a low whistle as he looked the car over. "This is yours, Rox?"

Roxy giggled with glee as she opened her door and brought the roof down. She opened his door and trunk. "Yeah, Poppa got it for me when I graduated high school. You can put your swords in the trunk." She got in on the driver's side and started up the car when David got in. She pulled out of the parking space and took off almost immediately. A happy grin spread across her face as she popped in a CD into the player. Tonight she was going to show David a night on the town.

The low rumble and the deep revving of the engine flowed through Aja's entire body. She looked at her driver's side mirror and saw Turbo's car quickly catching up to her. Aja shifted her car into the next gear and gave the engine more fuel. The car jumped forward with power, past the cheering crowd. The finish line was now in sight. A creeping smile crossed Aja's lips as she felt the impending victory was just within her grasp.

A red and white car shot out from the crowd and slammed into the side of Aja's car. The crowd of people began scattering right away. Aja fought for control of her car as the attacking car rammed her again, only this time just glancing off her side. Aja slammed on the brakes a bit and attempted to hit the red and white sports car. She saw an opening in the crowd and slammed the car into the space and into a vacant parking lot.

Turbo drove his car into the parking lot as Aja slammed the other car into the wall of the building. Aja quickly scrambled out of her car and ran up to the driver's side of her attacker. She looked into the smashed window and swore loudly. She kicked the door and turned around when she heard Turbo running up behind her. "Once again it's a giant remote controlled car!"

"Maybe it is Zipper getting revenge on you for running him off this circuit."

"No. He's not smart enough for something like this. Whoever did this has knowledge of electronics and crap like that." Aja kicked the car again and then looked hers over.

"Just call the tow truck and then I'll give you a lift home. Your car doesn't look that bad." Turbo handed Aja his cell phone and waited by his car as she called the tow service. He took the phone back when she was finished and waited with her. "Listen, we'll find out who is behind this whole mess."

Aja shrugged and leaned against Turbo's car with a slouch. "You're damn right we will. I'm just glad I drove the piece of shit instead of the good car. But I'm almost certain that tonight we'd find out who this guy was." Aja took her helmet off and shook her hair. "I need to give Shana a call. Let her know that there's a pick up here for the boys downtown. It's kinda nice having a relative on the force at times."

Turbo chuckled under his own helmet. "Well, at least we haven't gotten busted for the racing yet." Again he waited until Aja was off the phone before talking. "So how are things going with the album? Any idea when it'll be finished?"

"Pfft, no, Jerrica is trying too hard at being a perfectionist. Plus she's seriously pissed at Kimber for hanging out with Mary almost everyday after summer school." Aja tossed her helmet inside of Turbo's car. "Shana has been on patrol for almost twelve hours each day she has work. On her days off she's relaxing. I really don't blame her for that. And I'm just looking for a good job. Maybe as a mechanic or something.

"Don't get me wrong. I want to get the album done and everything. But I also don't want to spend my time waiting for everyone to get their crap together." Aja let out a small sigh. "It'll happen. It's just a crazy time for us right now. Sometimes things you want don't come easy. Right?" Aja gave Turbo a wide smile.

"That's for sure." He looked up when he saw the tow truck pull into the parking lot. He watched Aja walk up to the driver and gave him the address for the Starlight House. She then climbed into the passenger side of Turbo's car. He got in as well. They made more small talk as they waited for the truck driver to give the signal that he was ready to follow them.

They drove in relative silence back to the mansion. Once there the tow truck driver followed them around the semi-circle drive way. Aja got out and paid the driver then jogged back to Turbo. She handed him a twenty dollar bill. "Here. This is for gas money and to get something to eat. I couldn't let you leave without giving you something for your trouble."

"Listen, Aja I can't accept that. But I do want to do one more thing for you." Turbo flipped the release latches on his helmet and took it off. He ran a hand through his sandy brown hair and smiled. "I figured it was time you saw my face and learned my real name. I'm Jeff Wright."

The bearded man stopped on the sidewalk in front of the single story house. Memories slowly began to flood back to him. Memories of family, friends and happiness of better days. He looked to the pile of burnt timbers next door. He wondered what had happened to the house. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a woman in the house watching him from the window. He slowly started walking back up the street. He vowed to return when his courage had returned.

Stormer entered the brightly lit room and stopped when she saw the machine before her. She turned to Richard with a confused look on her face. "So that's the experimental therapy you were talking about? Looks like a big video game to me."

Richard chuckled put his hand lightly on her upper back. "Actually it does kind of. But if you'll take a seat in the chair, I'll explain how it works." Stormer nodded and sat in the chair and laid back on it. "The chair is actually an old dentist's chair. I've always found them to be very comfortable. After I have attached the electrodes to your head, slide the helmet and visor over your head. When it's in place, a series of flashes will begin putting you into a deep hypnotic state.

"Once in the hypnotic state, you'll find yourself in a place of your own making. I'll be able to monitor this place on a screen out here so I can observe." Richard walked up to Stormer and attached the electrodes to her head. He then slid the helmet and visor over her head. "Mary, now just relax and breathe calmly. Everything will be all right." Stormer gave a nod and Richard began to start up the machine.

The flashing lights started slowly at first and then began to build in speed and frequency. She heard a low hum in the headphones speakers. The flashing finally ended and Stormer found herself surrounded by multi-colored swirls. There appeared to be no ground yet she wasn't falling. She looked at the horizon. There was nothing to be seen just the oil slick rainbow patterns. A light fog began forming on the horizon.

Stormer started walking towards it and stopped when she heard another set of footsteps coming towards her. The phantom footsteps stopped when she did. She began walking again and stopped again when she came to an invisible wall. She felt along the wall and tried to look beyond it as best as she could. She let out a scream when she saw the figure walk out of the fog. It was Frenzy.

TO BE CONTINUED IN "WELCOME TO THE BELLY OF THE BEAST"

PART 2 OF "THE BANDS BREAK UP"