Family & Friends

Part 3

Ghosts of the Past

By Nick Maro

Riot paced in the office of Eric Raymond, the vice president of Stingers Sound. He popped two tablets of painkillers and took a drink of water. He looked at his watch. What is taking him so long? he thought with his patience running to an end. Riot looked at the two women sitting on the couch. "Raymond better have a good plan. I could've sued that little shit for what he did to me. But Raymond told me he had a better idea."

"Riot," the woman known as Minx purred, "I'm sure Eric has a deliciously delightful plan. After all, what young David Ikari did to your beautiful face, it should be equally as devastating."

"Minx," came the voice of Eric as he entered the room, "you have no idea how right you are. And devastating it will be." He spoke to the half closed door, "You may come in now." A shadowed figure stood in the doorway.

Riot smiled wide despite the pain of a broken nose. He felt the bandages stretch. "Oh, this is perfection!"

Eric spoke to the group before him. "Here's what we're going to do…."

"My real name is David Gabor. Phyllis Gabor is my sister. Rather she's my twin sister," David said to the red haired woman sitting across from him at the table.

Kimber Benton, keyboardist for the rock group Jem and the Holograms, sat in mild shock. "David," she said studying the floor in thought before looking up at him, "I don't care who your sister is. I like you. You're my friend," she said smiling warmly.

David sat back down. "I know that the Misfits and your group don't get along. I'm happy that the grudges don't carry over to me. I just felt that you should know, but let me tell the others please."

Kimber began chuckling to herself while he looked at her confused, "What's so funny?"

"I just realized," she said laughing. "You have an evil twin sister!"

David just stared at Kimber and smile until he began laughing slowly as well. "She's not that evil," he said with his laughter building.

"What's so funny?" A familiar woman's voice came from behind them.

"Huh? Oh, hi, Mary," David said greeting the woman standing in the doorway. "Didn't hear you come in. Kimber and I were just talking about Pizzazz."

"Hi Stormer! Pizzazz is David's evil twin sister," Kimber said still laughing.

Stormer chuckled. "Geez, Kimber, how did you come to that conclusion? I mean, you're a Hologram after all," she teased her friend.

"Because a Hologram is more clever than a Misfit," Kimber jokingly shot back. She glanced at her watch. "Oh shit," she muttered under her breath. "I didn't know it was getting so late. I have to be up for the movie tomorrow."

"That's okay I have to be on the set tomorrow too. Let me walk you to your car." David stood up and helped Kimber out of her chair.

"It was nice seeing you again, Kimber. I have a feeling you'll be stopping by more often now." Stormer winked and looked David's way.

"Yeah now that I know where you live, Stormer. It's a beautiful home," Kimber said giving her a hug good-bye. "Take care, okay?"

"You too, stop by anytime." Stormer smiled warmly.

David opened the front door for Kimber and they both walked out. Stopping by the driver's side door, she unlocked it. Turning around, she leaned against the car slightly and faced David. "Thank you for dinner tonight. Your mother taught you very well. Maybe you could cook for Starlight House one night. You know something simple."

"That would be wonderful. How about Sunday? I'll check the shooting sheets to make sure though."

"Sunday would be nice. I'll check with Jerrica, my sister, to see what she thinks. If anything it can be dinner for two again."

"Okay, it's a date then." Kimber hugged David before getting into the car. She turned her head to look at David. She leaned in to kiss him, then stopped and put her head on his shoulder.

"Sorry, it's too soon, David. I got lost in the moment," she said to him regretfully.

"No need to apologize. I get it," he said with understanding in his voice.

They broke the embrace and Kimber got into her car. Before she got all the way in, she squeezed David's hand affectionately. "See you tomorrow on the set."

This time he returned the squeeze back. "I'm looking forward to it," he smiled. "Drive safely."

"Thanks. Good-night," Kimber said before shutting the car door. She backed out of the driveway, honked the horn and waved to David. He waved back before heading back into his new home.

"Mary?" he asked entering the house.

"In my room changing," Stormer called. David waited and she came out in her bed clothes. "So Kimber was your dinner date, huh?"

"Yeah," David smirked. "Hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," she said going into the kitchen. "Did you order carry out?"

"Nope, I made it. Try some."

"What is it?" Stormer asked looking at the dinner before her.

"Chicken Yakitori sans liver."

Stormer made a face when he mentioned the ingredient. "Blech. Liver."

"Yeah, Kimber said almost the same thing. I don't like it myself, so I don't use it. Anyway," David said trying not to yawn, "I'm tired. Heading to bed."

Stormer took a bite of the chicken. "This is great! Alright! I have a personal chef! Night, David. Sleep well."

"Thanks," he said while yawning, "you too."

"…then you roll out of the way, got it?" David asked one of the stuntmen.

"Yep, I do, sir," the young stuntman said.

"Ryan, my name is David. I don't respond to sir or Mr. Ikari," David corrected him.

"Okay, David. I'll go tell Anthony we're ready to shoot." He ran off in search for Anthony Julian, the director of Starbright Two.

David went to make sure the charges for the next scene were set and ready. "David, wait up," a voice called from behind him. Jeff Wright, David's old friend and now top stuntman, came running up to him. "Are you sure about assigning Ryan to this stunt? He's only done a few stunts and this is a big explosion we're setting up for. He's rather inexperienced."

"Jeff, relax. It's not as big as you'd think. The effects guys are to make it bigger with CGI. Besides, you were doing worse in Japan, Splinters." David smirked at the nickname.

"I wish you wouldn't call me that," Jeff muttered under his breath.

"Hey, it's not my fault you were bending over when that wooden box exploded."

"It's still embarrassing. I think I still have splinters in my butt."

"I'll bring tweezers next time you tell me to kiss it. Now, I have to check these charges. And, uh, don't you have a car to crash or something?" Jeff took off while David checked the charges.

"David!" came the distinctive yell of Pizzazz behind him, "Why didn't you tell me you were working on little Miss Pinkhair's movie?!"

David slowly turned to see his sister walking his way. Jetta was with her, but not Roxy or Stormer. He found that curious. "Hi Pizzazz, nice of you to visit," he tried to sound cheerful, "You both left before I could thank you for helping me move the other day."

"Why didn't you tell me, David?" she demanded while ignoring his comment.

"I really didn't think you'd be interested." He smiled warmly.

Jetta pushed her way in front of David, standing a mere few inches in his face. "That's where yer wrong, Yank! We want to know everythin' that Pinkhaired bimbo does."

"But why? Seriously, why are you so set against her?" he asked the British woman.

"Because she gets everythin' handed to her. We bust our asses off to succeed and she gets it all!" Jetta yelled.

"Jetta, all I've seen you do is hurt people," David said without raising his voice. "Pizzazz, all I've seen you do is try to stop Jem from being successful. Never have I seen you put that effort towards the Misfits."

"How dare you say such a thing! You've never seen us in the studio or on tour," Pizzazz yelled at her brother. "I've put a lot of work into our music."

David walked up to Pizzazz, "I know you put a lot of work into your music. But imagine what you could if you put the effort of your vendetta against Jem into your music. I know you can succeed if you do that. But you can't get past that. So she beat you in that stupid Battle of the Bands. It's the past. Get over it. You just work harder next time. It was Eric Raymond who kept telling you it was Jem's fault. And he's betrayed you for the Stingers. I know all about Misfits Music being turned into Stingers Sound. I know his type. To him you're old news. Why do you think his foolproof plan failed? For once listen to your heart and not your anger. I know you're not a stupid woman, just really stubborn."

Pizzazz stared at her brother letting his words sink in, "You don't know what you're talking about." Was all she said before turning from him and started walking off from the studio set.

"Bloody wanker," Jetta spat out and kicked the charge David just inspected as she followed Pizzazz.

"Pizzazz, wait!" David started to chase after her.

"Dave! You ready down there?" Anthony asked.

David watched as his sister walked past the gate. He let out a defeated sigh. "Yeah, I'm ready," he said as he ran to where the detonators were located.

Anthony looked at David. "Everything cool?"

"Yeah, just a misunderstanding. Well, let's do this," David said trying to sound okay.

Anthony got on the speakers, "Okay, people, this one is for real. Three, two..."

David looked down at the charge he had just checked. The wire Jetta had just kicked was beginning to spark. "Anthony," David yelled starting to run towards the charge, "cancel the countdown. Malfunction!" Was all he could explain before he took off into full run toward the explosive device.

Aja was walking past where the damaged charge was located. I hope can make it in time, he thought, "Aja! Run!" She started running toward him. Oh no! She misunderstood me!

Jeff came driving by in a studio truck. David jumped on the side running board and held on. "If this works, I'll never call you Splinters again," he yelled to Jeff.

"And if it doesn't," Jeff called back.

"Let's just hope that doesn't happen," David said flatly.

Aja ran toward David's waiting left arm, he was ready to grab her. He reached out and grabbed her barely by the shirt while pulling her toward him. Feeling the wind get knocked out of her from the impact, she felt something give in her side. Must've been a rib, she thought. Jeff gained speed as the charge exploded only seconds after she was saved. She rolled into the truck's bed and ducked down. Aja braced herself as the shockwave hit the truck. David wasn't fully prepared and was thrown from the speeding vehicle. He rolled a few feet and stopped. Debris fell and peppered him with tiny bits of concrete.

"David!" Kimber screamed as she ran up to him. "David, are you okay?"

"Don't touch him," Aja said wincing in pain as she knelt down. "We don't know what's wrong."

The emergency team that was on alert arrived within moments and they began checking him over. David's eyes opened. "Is Aja okay?" was all he asked. He tried sitting up, but the paramedic told him to take it easy.

"I'm okay, David," Aja said gratefully. "You just take it easy now."

"I feel fine. Scraped up, but fine," he said weakly. "But you're hurt. I can tell by your face. It's showing the pain." He turned to one of the paramedics. "Could you please look her over too?"

The paramedic who looked David over spoke to him. "You're alright. Just a few cuts and you'll be bruised up a bit. You're lucky you're a stuntman too."

Kimber hugged David tightly, "I'm glad you're alright. You scared the shit out of me."

"Thanks but loosen the death grip up a bit. You're on a bruise," he said weakly.

"sorry," she mumbled quietly

Aja came over to David with a bandage around midsection. "I cracked a rib," she said helping him up. "Thank you, David. You saved me." She gave him a gentle hug as thanks, then went to Jeff and hugged him as well.

"Okay, let's call it day," Anthony said. "Come back tomorrow and we'll take it from the top."

Later that evening a large crowd had gathered in front of Stingers Sound. News vans and cameramen were everywhere. The crowd murmured amongst themselves. David, Kimber and Stormer made their way to the front of the crowd. There they found Pizzazz, Roxy and Jetta. Roxy smiled and waved to them. Pizzazz turned to David. "I heard about what happened on the set today. I'm glad you're okay," she shouted above the crowd.

"Thanks," David yelled back. "Aja has a broken rib. But she's alright."

"Any idea what the cause was?" Pizzazz asked.

David glanced at Jetta and saw her look away for a second, She feels guilty. That's a good sign, David thought. "Still investigating the cause. Faulty wiring is my theory. Guess I didn't check it well enough." David covered for Jetta, hoping it made her feel a little better.

Eric Raymond came out on the makeshift stage. Riot came out with a bandage across the bridge of his nose. His eyes still bruised from David breaking it. Minx and Rapture followed. Eric spoke into the microphones on the podium. "Ladies and gentlemen of the press," he began, "I've called this meeting to make announcement concerning Stingers Sound. I'll make it short and take questions afterwards. Now let me introduce the new manager of the Stingers. You may come out now, my dear."

A beautiful woman who looked to be in her late forties or early fifties came out. She was very graceful and had graying blonde hair that was pulled back. Pizzazz gasped. David just whispered quietly under his breath, "it can't be!"

"I present," Riot's voice boomed, "Ms. Evelyn Gabor! Our new manager!"

TO BE CONTINUED IN "FAMILY REVELATIONS"

PART 4 OF "FAMILY & FRIENDS"