The Fall of the Misfits

Part the Third

Rebirth

By Nick Maro

The ashes of the contracts sat in the fireplace while Kenshiro stood staring at them in disbelief. He had just signed the papers a few weeks ago, now David had destroyed them. He'd gone through the same speech about trust as he did with The Misfits. He looked away from the fireplace to his sister and one of his closest friends that was sitting next to her. "Eiji, Hitomi we have to trust him. I've seen that look in David's eye before. He's up to something." Ken sat in a chair across from them both.

"I trust him with my life, Ken, you should know that," Hitomi said as she hooked a loose lock of blonde hair behind her ear. "I mean I dated him. It's just that it took me by such surprise that David would burn our contracts. This is our career we're trusting him with."

Eiji ran his fingers through his red and blonde hair. "I don't know, but there's something going on. I heard The Misfits wondering why he destroyed their contracts as well. Maybe this is for the better. We don't even have a lead singer." He held his head in his hands and sighed.

Kimber came into the room and sat next to Ken. "Hey, looks like we're all in the dark here. David won't even tell me what's going on. Pizzazz and Clash are the only others who really know." The annoyed look on her face told the members of Pulsar everything.

"I love the hair, Kimber. Kept forgetting to tell you that," Hitomi said trying to smile and change the subject.

Kimber laughed softly and mindlessly played with a lock of hair. "Thanks, I actually had a stage name in mind. Phoenix. Stupid, huh?"

"Sounds more like a band name," Eiji said still looking at the carpet. He raised his head and looked at her. "That's it. I've got it." Everyone gave him a confused look. "Ken, remember in school the legend of the Suzaku? It's basically the same as the phoenix legends. Anyway, if we get through this, we change our band name from Pulsar to Phoenix." He gave her a big smile. "I'm sure I speak for everyone here, but would you like to become our new lead singer?"

Shocked and thrilled at the offer, Kimber sat there thinking in silence before she spoke. "I don't know. I play the keyboard, you do also, Eiji. I want to take some time off from performing."

"Kimber, take your time to think about it. You don't have to play an instrument. Besides, we wanted to see America before we cut an album. You have time to decide." Ken put his hand on her knee reassuring her.

"Thanks, guys. I'll think about it on the ride home. I'm exhausted. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be equally as long and weird," Kimber said standing up. "Night all. Thanks again for the offer." She smiled and left the room.

Hitomi looked at her friends. "I think we have a lead singer and a new band name. I like the sound of Phoenix. It represents a new start for us in more ways than one." Ken and Eiji agreed with her. After discussing ideas for the band into the night, they each went to their rooms to get rest.

David turned off Techrat's cloaking device after they had left the room. He felt guilty and hated the fact he just spied on those he had asked to trust him. Still, he had to test Techrat's invention first hand. Satisfied that it would serve its purpose he went to his room.

"Dammit, Ross! When are you going to purchase those companies?" Adrian Lassiter demanded in the office of Kevin Ross. The morning sun poured through the windows as Lassiter paced in annoyance.

Kevin Ross calmly looked up from his paper. "Patience is a virtue, Adrian, all in due time. It won't be too long before our young Mr. Gabor realizes that he and his sister have no option but to sell. Once he makes the announcement, my people will swoop down and purchase the whole lot. It's only a matter of time."

"Too bad you couldn't get Misfits Music as part of the deal," Eric Raymond said as he adjusted his sunglasses and sipped his orange juice. He winced in pain at the black eye he received the previous day "I'd just love to show those sluts who's the boss. Especially that bitch Roxy."

"Eric, please. You're obsessing again," Kevin said going back to the article he was reading.

"You're one to talk. You're the one who's been obsessed with destroying Harvey Gabor," Adrian said pulling Kevin's paper down and looking at him. "So what is your whole deal? Just what did Gabor ever do to you?"

Kevin folded up his paper, leaned back in his chair and began his tale. "My father owned a small software company. It was on the verge of becoming a big name by releasing a new computer program. This program was rumored to revolutionize how people could start a home business. It was a very noble effort. Harvey Gabor catches wind of this and decides to buy my father's company. Thing is my father doesn't want to sell." Kevin stood up and headed to the bar with the breakfast pastries. "So our good Mr. Gabor starts a little operation of industrial espionage. He pays off one of my father's programmers and gets the code for the program. Gabor releases his own version of it and it fails. The market for this type of program is now ruined. My father can't release his because he knows that it won't sell. He eventually sells his company to Harvey Gabor for far below the original offer." He sat back down in his office chair.

"I was fifteen years old when this happened," Kevin continued. "I was in a very plush boarding school and getting an excellent education. Then my life crumbled once Gabor bought out my father's company. I was pulled out of the school and put into public schooling. I decided to excel there. I was at the top of every honor society. My family was still poor when I graduated. It was then when he broke the news that I couldn't attend college. He was now working for Emmett Benton. Emmett was like a big brother to me. He granted me a scholarship to college when he heard we couldn't afford it. I got a Masters in business. It was that day I vowed revenge on Harvey Gabor. Then Harvey died and his naïve daughter took control." Kevin regained his composure. "I do feel bad having to drag Jerrica Benton into this. I truly do respect her and enjoy helping the Starlight Foundation.

"All we have to do now is just wait for David to set a price and we'll be ready. Stingers Sound will get a new income and Kross Medical will expand. Adrian, KBST will get the new broadcast tower you requested. Now if you'll excuse me, gentlemen, I do have a meeting to attend." Kevin left his office through a side door.

"Let's test this out, Techrat," Clash said after making some final adjustments to the cloaking device and the hidden microphone she wore. She switched the cloaking device on and adjusted the mic a final time. She walked to the other side of the room and whispered, "Can you read me? Can you see me?"

"I read you just fine, Clash. Looks like we need to adjust the cloaking device a bit because you're fading in and out," Techrat said from across the room. Clash made her way over to the workbench and turned off the device. She handed it to Techrat who opened the back and twisted a few dials. She put her arm around him while he worked. "Don't touch me," he said sharply. "I'm working. Don't touch me while I'm working."

"So does the mic work fine?" she asked Pizzazz. She and David were in the Rat's Nest at Techrat's request.

Pizzazz put down the random gizmo she was looking at. No matter how many times she had visited Techrat's little palace of wonder, she was still amazed. "Worked beautifully, I still want to see that cloaking device work at top performance though. You said you designed it for our shows, Techrat?" She asked while he worked where he only grunted an affirmative. "David, you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes, I'm sure for the thousandth time. Clash knows the risk involved. Hell, she volunteered. I have full confidence in her, Pizzazz," David said checking the time. "How much longer, Techrat?"

"Finished. You can try it now, Clash," he said handing it back to her. She clipped the device on and flipped the switch. She started fading out of sight and within seconds she was gone. Clash stood perfectly still where she left only a faint outline. She started to move and she made a very faint rippled form. "Problem fixed, Clash. Just remember, you're still detectable by all other forms detection. Cameras just won't pick you up all that well."

Clash turned off the device and shimmered back into view. "This is so freakin' cool!" She removed the mic and the cloaking device. "Here, I have to go change. I know putting on dark clothing won't matter any. Just seems like the right thing to do." She said going into the side room.

"Are The Misfits still pissed at me, Pizzazz?" David asked putting down some documents.

"Mary trusts you completely then again, that's just Mary. Roxy is just waiting for this to fail. My advice is to avoid her wrath. Jetta is, well, I'm not sure. She trusts you. Hell, you saved her life. But she's wary. As for me, this plan is insane! Just who is this new buyer?!" Pizzazz demanded while throwing he arms in the air annoyed.

"It's a secret. As for the plan, I want to embarrass Kevin Ross," David said putting the papers down, he had the same smirk she had when she was planning something. "Yeah, it's risky but that's why Clash's role in this plan is to make it less risky."

"Still don't know why I have to sell Misfits Music to this person. Doesn't make sense," she mumbled.

"It's the only way to legally get backing from this person. They'll give it back to you anytime. In fact, they assured me they will. Also, that's why I had to burn your contracts. Once everything is settled, I'll have better contracts drawn up. I have to do something to make up for this." David set the papers to sell Misfits Music in front of her. He handed her a pen while she read the contract this time. She let out an uneasy sigh, signed the papers and handed them back to her twin. "Do you trust me, Phyllis?" he asked looking into her eyes.

"Yes, of course. Just don't really trust this plan," she said quietly. David could only smile.

Clash finally came out of the room. "Okay, I'm ready to play Mission Impossible."

Kevin Ross and his associates sat in his office and listened to the business report. Rumors on the internet was that at around four o'clock David Gabor was going to announce the sale of Gabor Industries. There was another rumor saying that David was going to include the name of Gabor Industries and Misfits Music in the sale. Kevin suspected that David was up to something. Finally the announcement came over the radio.

"David Gabor has sent out a press release stating that all of Gabor Industries and Misfits Music will be sold for five thousand dollars. There are stipulations for the sale. Whoever makes it to Century Park Plaza in Anaheim by five thirty this afternoon first will be the winner. They will get the companies, name and everything promised. Yes, it's a race. You must start at least a half hour away from the plaza in a car, truck or motorcycle. No speeding, driving on sidewalks or breaking the law in anyway. Streets only. The race will begin at five. This is during rush hour. Good luck to all competitors. Signed, David Gabor."

"He's playing with us! That goddamn kid is playing with us!" Kevin yelled turning off the radio. "A race? What does he think this is? Recess? Okay, Mr. Kite, find out if we're a half hour from that plaza. If not, then find out how far a half hour is. Now move!" The man quickly ran out of the room. Kevin turned to Adrian. "Okay, get me the fastest car I own. I'm going personally and by myself. You and Raymond are to stay here." Kevin then turned to Eric Raymond. "You'll get the Misfits Music's building. Stingers Sound will have its home there again. Excuse me while I change to get ready." Kevin left the room through his office side door.

Eric started pacing the office. "This isn't right. David's up to something more than just a race. He has a plan. The kid is smart and very cunning. I just can't believe he'd do something this risky," he said to Lassiter.

"Eric, relax. Kev knows what he he's doing. C'mon, let's go find a good car for him," Adrian said leaving the open door. Eric followed but didn't close it after they left.

A rippling form slowly crept to the door. It kept low and near the wall. It snuck out into the lobby. The secretary started to turn her head in its direction and it stopped in a shadow. The secretary shrugged and went back to work. The form then moved at quicker pace and made it down the hall. It turned the corner and went into the women's bathroom.

Once inside a stall Clash turned off the cloaking device and microphone. She pulled out a duffel bag that she had hidden earlier, grateful that it was still there. Clash changed into the clothes of a cleaning woman. She put the cloaking device and microphone into the bag. Exiting the stall, she bumped into the secretary. "Oh, excuse me, ma'am," she said in an accent. The secretary ignored her and Clash left the bathroom.

While waiting for the elevator, Adrian and Eric came down the hall. Clash started to panic, hoping that Eric wouldn't recognize her in her disguise, it was one that she had used before when she worked for him. She tried to avoid looking directly at Eric. Adrian talked about how he'll promote The Stingers heavily on KBST. The elevator doors opened and the three got on. Eric pressed the skyway button to the parking garage and turned to her. "What floor, Miss?"

Clash used a different accent when she finally replied. "Lobby, please." He pressed the button and the elevator started moving down. She listened to the two men make small talk about nothing important. Finally after what seemed to be an eternity the elevator arrived at their floor where they left without looking back. Clash leaned against the back of the elevator and let out a breath that didn't even realize that she was holding. The doors opened again and she exited to the lobby. She said good night to the security guard standing there who smiled and held the door open for her.

When she left the building she made a right and walked two blocks. She made another right and walked another block and got into a blue sedan. "How'd everything come in?" she asked.

"Perfectly, David and Pizzazz heard everything." Techrat merged into traffic. "You did a great job, Clash. I'm glad my equipment worked."

Clash smiled as she opened a bottle of water. She drained the bottle quickly not realizing how thirsty she actually was. "Thanks. So am I."

Kimber pulled out a chair and sat next Hitomi. They were sitting in the food court of the plaza having an early dinner. "I've been thinking about your offer to join the band," she said putting ketchup on her hamburger. "The more I think about it the more I'm tempted. I'm just not sure if it's a good idea." She took a bite of her burger. She wiped ketchup off the side of her mouth with a finger.

"Just keep thinking about it. It's not like you have a deadline," Hitomi told her while putting ground hot pepper on her pizza slice. "Did Ken or Eiji tell you what the new band name will be? That is, if you join." Kimber shook her head no and swallowed her bite of food. "I hope you don't mind, but we're thinking of going with Suzaku. I just hope we're not stepping on any toes here."

"Guess that means I'll still be Kimber, huh?" She tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice.

"Well, not many Americans will catch on that Suzaku means Phoenix in Japanese. So, we don't see why you can't keep it." Hitomi took a bite of her pizza. "Ugh, mall pizza."

"I'll think about it. By the way I haven't told David yet. I'm waiting until everything blows over." Kimber looked at her friend. "Where did Eiji and Ken vanish to?"

Hitomi took a sip from her soda. "Eiji is wandering the mall girl watching. Big shocker there, right? Ken is at the comic book shop here. It's gonna take a miracle to get him out of there. Damned otaku. I just hope he doesn't spend all of his money in there."

Kimber gave Hitomi a confused look. "Otaku? What's an otaku?"

"An otaku roughly means fanboy. Mostly used for anime fans, but it can be applied to manga or comic book fans," Hitomi explained. "Ken is a huge otaku. Whatever you do don't ask him what his favorite anime series is. He'll talk your ear off about it and probably convince you not to join the band." The two young women giggled. They finished their food and relaxed. Kimber turned when she heard footsteps approaching.

"Are you two finished here?" David asked coming up to Kimber and rubbing her shoulders as he sat. "It's almost showtime. We've got to meet Phyllis and the rest in the meeting area." The meeting area was an empty store in the plaza that David rented out for three hours. The plaza happily let him do this for the publicity. "I'm going to hunt down Eiji and Ken. Either of you have an idea where they could be found?"

"Ken is in the comic shop and Eiji is on the hunt for women." Kimber pointed to where the comic shop was located.

"Okay, Ken will be easy. Eiji will be the tough one to find." David turned Hitomi. "Go get your brother, I'll find Eiji."

Hitomi cleaned up her garbage and threw it in the trash. "You got it, boss." She gave him a smirk and a mock salute.

"Driver," the woman in the back of the limo called, "How much longer to the plaza?"

"Five minutes, ma'am," the driver called back. "The route that Mr. Gabor gave us is letting us avoid most traffic jams. You'll make it with time to spare." He turned down a side street avoiding some traffic congestion. After a few minutes of driving down the side street, they exited and the plaza was in sight. "Ma'am, what service entrance again?"

She unfolded a piece of paper and read what it said. "Service entrance D. He didn't say if it was upper or lower."

"Okay, I'll circle around the mall looking for it," the driver told her. He quickly found it on the lower level. He parked the limo and opened the door. "Here you are, ma'am."

"Thank you," she said checking her watch. Ten minutes to the deadline. She was relieved to be so early. After gathering up her briefcase and folders, she opened the service entrance door. "You have your instructions, right?" she asked the driver. The driver nodded and she went inside the entrance. She made her way down the hall and stopped at a door. She knocked in a specific pattern. After a few minutes the door opened with David smiling at her.

"You're early, but no matter." He led her into the empty back room. "Stay back here and I'll get the others as witnesses." David left the room as she took a seat at the desk.

"Who was at the door, David?" Pizzazz asked looking up from her magazine.

"A surprise," David said with a smile that said their worries were over. "I want you all to meet her." He looked at the time it was five twenty-four. "First are the papers ready?"

Jerrica Benton finished straightening the documents and put them into a folder. "I just finished making sure that they all were there. I'm sorry again for getting you into this trouble."

"It's alright," David reassured her as he opened the back door. "You may come out now." He held the door open as he backed away so the blonde woman could come out. She was older and a bit shorter than David but she had the same green eyes as him. Pizzazz's eyes went wide and then she fainted where Ken quickly caught her. She came around within a few seconds. David introduced the blonde woman. "Everyone, this is Evelyn Yamada. She's known better as Evelyn Gabor, our mother." There were the expected murmurs and gasps. "Let's get the signing over with first since we are still in a race."

Evelyn signed all of the papers that were required, she signed the final document when Kevin Ross came bursting in. "Stop right there!" he yelled while pointing. "It's five twenty-nine. She can't sign that last document. You said the signing will take place at five thirty."

David couldn't hide his victorious smirk. "I said you had to get here by that time. I never said that it was when was the signing was to take place. Ms. Yamada arrived here six minutes to the deadline. She wins. You lose. Stingers Sound only gets five thousand dollars and off the record, Kevin, if you hadn't screwed us we wouldn't be standing here. Now I'm politely asking for you to leave."

Kevin started moving towards the documents when Roxy began to stop him but Pizzazz stopped her. "Roxy let me handle this." She moved out of the way and Pizzazz stepped in. She stood directly in front of him, seething anger in her eyes and deadly venom in her voice. None of The Misfits had ever seen her this furious. "Kevin, you hurt me, you embarrassed me and you humiliated me. I almost took my own life because of your lies. Now, I'm telling you to get out of here."

"Or you'll do what?" Kevin sneered, his own anger boiling over.

Pizzazz gave a casual shrug of her shoulders. "Just this," She quickly pulled her arm back and punched him in the solar plexus. He doubled over and she kicked him in the face, sending him flying and landing on his back. She pounced on his chest and pressed her forearm against his throat. Anger and hatred burned in her eyes. "You don't fuck with a Gabor. Not me, not my brother, not my company, not even my half-sister." She pressed harder cutting off his air supply, making him turn red then purple. "And never with my mother. Got it? You don't even look at the name Gabor Industries. Do you fucking understand?" Her voice was a low growl. Kevin gave a weak nod. She pressed harder to make her point before she let him up.

"You okay, Pizzazz?" Roxy asked quietly putting a hand on her arm. Pizzazz nodded as she watched Kevin walk out clearing his throat and coughing. She could've sworn that she saw a wet spot in the crotch area of his white pants.

"sorry about that," Pizzazz said quietly as she ran over and hugged her mother. "missed you," she said crying into her shoulder.

Evelyn signed the final document and the deal was set. David collected the papers. "Yamada-Gabor Industries is born and Misfits Music lives again and so do The Misfits." David handed out the new contracts to each of the musicians. "You'll notice the slight pay raise and new expense accounts. Now as for Pulsar." He began handing out their new contracts.

"David," Eiji interrupted, "we don't want a contract just yet. We're waiting on something first. It's not another offer. We just want to wait."

David put the contracts down. "It's okay with me. Besides, we still have to find a manager for you. Hell, you need a new lead singer too."

"I think I have the manager end covered," Evelyn told him. "I have a surprise of my own." She opened the back room door. "It's time." A familiar Japanese woman stepped out who smiled at the people gathered before her. "I think everyone here remembers Kyoko Bayushi." Kyoko looked as beautiful as David had remembered her.

"I believe we should take this to Misfits Music or maybe back to the Gabor place," Jerrica suggested. David nodded and started shutting down the makeshift office.

It was a week after the Yamada Corporation-Gabor Industries merger. A major announcement was about to take place in front of Misfits Music. David and his mother were backstage getting ready. "Why didn't you tell me Yuji ran Yamada Corp?" David asked his mother.

"I just didn't want to. I was enjoying talking with you in my store. Besides, it's not the first thing you tell your son after fifteen years of not seeing him," Evelyn explained. "Now, you go get on stage. The Misfits are ready."

"Yes, kasa," David said with a sideways grin, she shot him a motherly look as he started gathering his notes. He got on stage and the press began taking photos. "We'll start in a few minutes. I just wanted to thank everyone for showing up. Misfits Music also thanks you. Now, like I've stated in the past I hate speeches. Let's get on with it, shall we? First I'd like to announce the new Misfits album. It's titled Rebirth. So let's bring The Misfits out."

One by one the Misfits came out on stage. Stormer came out first. Her blue hair was straightened out and cut even to her chin line. Roxy was next; her hair was cut to the middle of her back. The first six inches of the ends of her white hair was dyed red. Jetta followed Roxy. Parts of her black bangs were swept over her right eye. Pizzazz came out last where she had four white streaks ran down the length of her green hair. Her hair was cut to just past her shoulders. "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the rebirth of The Misfits." David announced to the press.

After the Misfits left the stage he continued. "Now for a new band to the Misfits Music family, I present to you Suzaku," David said as Ken, Eiji and Hitomi came on stage. "Suzaku is looking for a new lead singer. Try outs will begin later this afternoon."

David had just finished his sentence when Kimber came on stage. "David, sorry to interrupt this like this but I'm their new lead singer," she said quickly before kissing him on the cheek and then stood with her new group. They all hugged her while David gave a surprised but proud smile.

"That's it for now," David said with a slight bow of his head. "Thank you again for coming out."

Pizzazz sat on the couch and hugged the arm of her mother. "I'm glad you came with David and I to visit Daddy's grave site. He really missed you." She couldn't stop looking at her mother, happy that she was with her. Evelyn put her arm around her daughter's shoulders and hugged her tight.

"Phyllis, I have something I want to discuss with you and David. It's about my becoming head of Gabor Industries," Evelyn told her daughter softly. "Where is he anyway?"

"He's out with Kimber." She watched the fire dance as she rested her head on her mother's shoulder. It felt good having her mother back. She eventually drifted to sleep in her mother's arms.

THE BEGINNING

CONTINUED IN "A NIGHT IN THE LIFE OF…"