A Night in the Life Of…

Techrat & Clash

First Date

By Nick Maro

"So after all her trying my little cousin Constance is finally a Misfit," the young blonde woman called Video said as she opened her front door. She looked down at her cousin who was carrying a heavy box up the stairs.

Clash looked around the box and glared at her. "Ha-friggin'-ha. Help me out here! This box weighs a damn ton," she said with a strained breath. Video propped the door open wide and grabbed one end of the box. "Thanks, Vivian. I have a very good feeling about this, y'know."

Slowly backing up the few remaining stairs and into the house, Clash and Video rested the box in the living room. "Okay I admit it, Clash," Video said breathing heavy. "You're better than me. You didn't have to go to such extreme measures to prove it. How did you lift that box on your own?"

"Leverage and I lifted with my knees," Clash explained while opening the box. "As I was saying though, Cuz, I have a good feeling about moving in with you because now I can steal your spotlight daily." Clash laughed softly at her little joke while Video rolled her eyes and sighed. "Oh lighten up, Viv. I'm kidding."

Video sat next to Clash and helped her unpack the box of electronics. "I know you are. Just still bugs me that you're not as serious about your work as you should be," she told her pointblank.

Clash stopped pulling out some equipment and looked at her in the eye. "That's such bullshit! I'm a very hard worker! You don't even know what you're talking about. Ever since David gave me a chance I've been busting my ass off. This is one of the few days I've had off by choice. All the other times David or Techrat had to tell me to take a break. I'm happy, I'm dedicated and I'm working hard." She snapped at her cousin while repacking her equipment.

"That was the reaction I was hoping for. It tells me that you are dedicated and proud of what you're doing. Sorry that I had to test you like that," Video apologized.

Slowly, Clash started unboxing the electronics again. She looked at Video in slight confusion and annoyance. "Are you sure you're not somehow related to David? That was something he would've done to test a person. He can be such an infuriating manipulative ass. Guess I'm still not used to people treating me with respect. Sorry I snapped like I did, it's just how passionate I am about my work. I really am damn good at it," Clash said in a softer tone.

Now helping her again Video took out the electronic equipment and stacked it where she told her. "I, for one, am glad that you're happy. You always were a very good sound and video technician. I would've asked you much sooner to move in but I wanted to make sure that you were serious. After that whole fiasco with the sale of Gabor Industries, I knew you were. There is one thing I forgot all about though." Video had a sideways grin.

"What's that?" Clash asked while pulling out a few bundles of wires.

"Your sense of humor. God, I'm gonna hear bad jokes everyday now," Video said beginning to laugh.

Clash stared at her and smirked. "And I have to deal with you being so serious and a tightass," she said with a wry smile. Video stopped laughing and looked at her relative and felt her herself staring to break into a wider smile. They spent rest of the time joking around as they unpacked and set up Clash's room.

"So this is the infamous Rat's Lair, huh, Techrat luv," a young British woman said as she walked through the door.

"Cyberia, I bid you welcome," Techrat greeted her spreading his arms out wide and slight bow.

Cyberia snorted. "Techrat, I told you in me email that you can call me Stevie. Cyberia is just my programming name. I feel weird bein' called that in person. I still don't know your real name, luv," she told him while looking around his workshop. "Cor, the computers I could build 'ere," she said in a quiet, amazed whisper.

"Sorry, force of habit calling you that. As for my name I'd rather not say for personal reasons. My parents and I don't get along so you don't need to hear it," he told her quietly. "We better go pick up Clash, I don't want to miss all of the expo."

"Can't I poke around a little longer? You always said that your workplace was amazin'. I just thought you were braggin'. Now I see why you were. Where do you get all of your stuff?" Stevie asked looking but not touching anything as Techrat had requested.

Techrat sat on his workstation stool. "I get all of my equipment from this junkyard. It's owned by some technology firm called Arbco or something like that. Anyway, this is where they throw all of their broken or unused equipment. To be honest only a fraction of it is broken. Who am I to complain? They allow me to stay here and build my gadgets. The guy who runs this place, Fred, is an alright guy. So, that's my big secret. I rebuild junk into working devices." He mindlessly fiddled with a gizmo.

"I noticed there was an awful lot of unused electronic pieces here. I might have to stay a few extra days and see what I can build here. That is if you don't mind," she asked looking at a monitor.

"Not at all, the next few days I'm going to be busy at Misfits Music. We're starting on the new album soon and I have to begin the technical plans for their tour. Just don't mess with the stuff I've built. They're very fragile," Techrat said starting to lead her out the door. "Now, let's go pick up my friend Clash and get to that expo." Stevie finally followed Techrat out the door. They drove through the gates and waved to Fred as they passed him.

Clash poked her head out of her bedroom doorway. Video wasn't anywhere to be seen. "Video! I have a slight problem," she yelled.

"What is it?" Video asked coming to Clash's new room.

"Ummm, no place for my bed," she said slightly embarrassed. "I have too much stereo and electronics parts in here. Could I store some of it in the basement or maybe make a sound lab down there?"

Video slowly shook her head. "Alright, you can make a sound lab down there. I've been meaning to do something with it anyway. Maybe you can help me with Jem's new sound. Aja called me the other day and said they're going to see how Kimber's songs sound without keyboards," she said looking at the organized clutter in the bedroom. She began to walk away then stopped and turned back to her cousin with a glint in her eye. "I just had a great idea! I feel so stupid for not thinking of it before. How would you like to form a recording and production studio?"

Clash looked at her cousin confused for a moment with realization setting in a few seconds later. "Y'know, I love that idea. Would you mind if I ask Techrat join?"

"I don't mind. He can design our audio and video equipment. He may be creepy but I can't deny his genius." Video and Clash both looked at the door when the doorbell rang. Clash ran back into her room and put her shoes on while Video answered the door. "Speak of the devil, hi Techrat. Clash and I were just talking about you." She led Techrat and Stevie into the living room. "Have a seat. Anything I can get you two anything to drink?" Video offered politely but they declined the offer and sat down. "I'll tell Clash you're here." She started turning around then turned back to Stevie. "Where are my manners? I'm Vivian Montgomery, Clash's cousin."

Stevie shook Video hand. "I'm Stevie Blackwell. Nice to meet you, Vivian," Stevie said with a smile. "Hey, I know that name. You're Video, aren'cha? Yeah, I've seen your work. Amazin' stuff it is."

"Why thank you, Stevie. I'll go get Clash." Video smiled and yelled down the hallway. "Connie! Your friends are here!"

"What the fuck, Viv? I was getting my shit together!" Clash walked in the room and smiled at Techrat but made a confused face at Stevie. "Hi, Techie I thought it was just you and me going to the expo," she asked with a hint of jealousy and rejection.

"Hi, I'm Stevie Blackwell a friend of Techrat's. I'm sorry if I'm intruding on a date or anythin'. Techrat invited me along when he knew I was goin' to be in town," she apologized quickly.

"Oh sorry, he didn't tell me. No big deal I'd be happy if you joined us," Clash said with an embarrassed smile. "Wait, you're Cyberia, aren't you? Yeah, he did tell me you would be joining us." She turned towards Techrat an annoyed look in her eye. "Why didn't you say her name was Stevie?"

Techrat stood and started walking to the door. "I was so used to calling her Cyberia that I just simply didn't think about it. Are you ready?" he asked impatiently.

"Yeah, I'm ready. You're awfully impatient today, Techie. Let me grab my stuff first," Clash said running back to her room where she grabbed her money then rejoined her friends. "'Kay, I'm set. I'll be home late, Viv. Don't wait up."

"Okay, Clash. Have fun and be careful. Bring some flyers for some of the new video equipment." Video waved as Clash and Techrat got into Stevie's rental car. She watched them drive off before going back to research how to form a production company.

Leaning forward a bit from the backseat, Clash cleared her throat getting the attention of the two online friends in the front. "Techie, Video and I are starting up a sound and video production company. We were wondering if you'd like to be a part of it. I'm sure you could design some wonderful gadgets and production equipment for us. What do you say?" She was hoping that he would say yes.

Techrat didn't need to think about it. "Yes. I think I would like that, an outside project from Misfits Music." He glanced at Stevie. "You're a top web designer. How would you like to design the web site?" He looked at Clash in the rearview mirror almost apologetically. "That is if you don't mind her doing that."

"Not at all, I've seen her work and it's great! We just have to get Video to agree to this," Clash sounded happy that Techrat was already helping out. "Stevie, what do you say?"

Stevie looked at Clash in the rearview mirror. "I'm sure I can squeeze you into me already hectic schedule. I'll also throw in me special discount, half off me usual fee. How's that sound?" she asked in her pleasant English accent.

"Excellent!" Clash sat back smiling mostly to herself. Her life was finally turning out how she had hoped. "Now we just need a name. I'm open to suggestions here."

"That's something we figure out later." Techrat rolled his window down a crack to let a breeze into the car. "Stevie, we're meeting up with Katja at the expo, right?"

Stevie pulled into her hotel parking garage and found a space. "Yeah, I'm just glad we booked a hotel near the center. It's a nice day to walk but I just want to pop into me room and grab me laptop." She led them into the air conditioned building. "Katja should still be in there. She gets up late all the bloody time," Stevie said in the elevator. The doors opened and they walked to Stevie's room. She invited them in and she grabbed her personal laptop. Katja left a note saying what time to meet her at. "Alright let's go, mates."

"So who's Katja, Stevie?" Clash asked exiting the elevator after riding it down to the lobby.

"Katja is me girlfriend."

Clash missed a step but kept walking. "Oh, I didn't know you were a lesbian."

Stevie lightly giggled and gave her new friend an amused smile. "I'm not a lesbian, luv. I'm bisexual. I just happened to have fallen in love with a woman. Life is strange at times."

"That's very true." Clash glanced over at Techrat who had his tablet out going through the convention floor plan as they walked. "Life certainly is strange at times." She moved next to him and took his hand in hers. She smiled when he didn't reject her hand. They walked hand in hand to the expo center.

They each paid their own entrance fee and entered the expo. The hall was packed with electronics and computer goods. Techrat smiled wide as he looked around while Clash began to feel a touch claustrophobic. Stevie smiled at both Clash and Techrat. "Okay, here's what Katja and I usually do at conventions and expos. If we get separated, we set a time and place to meet at and keep each other up to date through text messages. I think we should do that ourselves."

"Sounds like a good idea to me. How about we meet at two by the wax guard near the main doors?" Clash suggested as Techrat and Stevie nodded their agreement. Clash took Techrat's hand again and started pushing their way through the crowd. "Feel like a damn sardine in here," she mumbled in annoyance at the crowds.

About ten minutes into the convention Clash got separated from Techrat and lost sight of Stevie. She slowly walked from booth to booth looking at the products the various companies had on display. She reached for a pamphlet and grazed the hand of a young woman. "Excuse me," she said quietly letting the other woman get one first.

"It's all right," a familiar light German accented voice came from next to her.

Clash slowly looked up at the young woman and recognized her instantly. "Oh. It's you," Clash said in an icy voice as the ravishing blonde woman turned to face her. "I'll leave this booth to you, Minx." She began pushing her way to the next booth.

"Wait up," Minx called to her trying to catch up. "I'm here on my own, Clash." She caught up to her and put her hand on her shoulder to slow Clash down. "Wait a minute I'm not here to start any trouble. It's just a coincidence that we've run into each other. I'm here to see what new instruments I can build for the Stingers. That's all. Please, I'd like it if you joined me."

Clash stood in the middle of the aisle thinking, unsure if she could trust the woman. "damn you, david." she said under her breath and shook her head in disbelief in what she was going to say next. "Oh, all right. David always says to accept the hand of friendship. But if you stab me in the back I'll make you regret that you ever did. Got that?" she warned the German blonde.

Minx nodded her head. "Don't worry, I won't. I come to this show every year that I can. It's my personal time away from The Stingers and my personal alone time. Now, will you join me?"

"Yeah sure, I kinda got separated from Techrat and our friend Stevie. Not used to this kind of environment. How do you handle it?" Clash asked as they walked up the aisle looking at the booths.

"You get used to it. Just be polite and others will return it," Minx explained while keeping close to Clash. "So how are you finding Techrat and your friend?"

"I'm meeting them at two near the front of the building."

Minx nodded as they walked in silence for awhile. "I'm getting hungry. Join me for lunch?"

Clash was about to decline the offer when her stomach growled its agreement. "Okay, I haven't eaten since breakfast." They found the food court below the convention hall. Clash looked at the food vendor options. "What do you want? My treat."

After getting their food, Clash and Minx found a table and sat down. "Oooh, feels good to sit," Minx moan putting her feet up on a free chair. "This is the one thing about expos that I hate, sore feet and back pain. So how are The Misfits doing? I couldn't believe that stunt Kevin Ross pulled. I'm not innocent or anything but I still wouldn't ever do something like that."

"What about the false Evelyn Gabor stunt? Like that wasn't the same thing?" Clash asked after swallowing her bite of sandwich.

"Not really. Riot just wanted to punish David for breaking his nose and Eric just wanted to break The Misfits up. I really don't know why though," Minx explained as she put dressing on her salad. "If it means anything to you, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just wanted to help hurt David."

Clash thought about what Minx had just said while she finished her sandwich. "I can't accept your apology. David is my friend who has put his life on the line more than once for The Misfits. If you can't apologize for what you've done to him as well then I can't accept the one to me. Now if you'll excuse me I have to meet my friends," Clash said feeling her temper rising at the thought of the pain she went through the past few months. She came back to the table after throwing out her trash. "Minx, I do think you've meant well today. You've been very nice to me and I like you but I can't be your friend. Not now. I hope you enjoy the rest of the expo and find what you're looking for. Take care of yourself." Before Minx could answer she left the room. She climbed the stairs to the main floor and smiled when she saw Techrat standing there waiting.

"Enjoying yourself?" He looked up from the pamphlets he had grabbed.

"For the most part yes, I ran into Minx. She was actually very pleasant to be around without the other Stingers. Where's Stevie?" She asked looking around while joining him near the wax guard.

"Lost sight of her inside. It's so easy to get lost in there. But I did get a lot of brochures." Techrat adjusted the bag in his hand. "Some free programs too. So where is Minx at?"

"I kind of went off on her in the cafeteria. God, I feel like such a bitch now. She tries being my friend and I lecture her." Clash let her shoulders slump a bit. Techrat slowly put his arm around her shoulders to comfort her. She leaned into him and kept an eye out for Stevie.

Stevie emerged from the crowd and jogged up to them. "There you two are! You're missin' all of the fun!" she said with a big smile until she noticed the look on Clash's face. "What's the matter, luv? Not havin' any fun?"

"No, just don't feel good. I'm going to head home, Techie. Spend some time with Stevie. I'll see you tonight, okay?" Clash said giving him a small hug and then turned to Stevie. "Sorry to rain on the party but I just don't feel like being here. It was wonderful to meet you. Techrat can give you my email address. Talk to you soon." She hugged Stevie and left the expo center. She got on the bus and headed back to her new home.

Clash was moving some of her sound equipment to the basement when David called. He wanted her and Techrat to show up for a meeting at Misfits Music. Clash texted Techrat and left a voice message. Stevie dropped Techrat off at Clash's place after they left the expo. Techrat and Clash drove to Misfits Music together in her car. The weather was on the radio. "…and thunderstorms are expected to be moving in from the southwest later this evening or early tomorrow morning."

"Sounds like Stormer and Kimber will get hit first with that storm." Clash turned off the radio and drummed her fingers anxiously on the steering wheel. "So how was the expo?"

Techrat picked up Clash's laptop and put it on his lap. "It was pretty nice. I wish you would've stayed. Katja was asking about you." He watched the city lights streak by.

"What do you say after the meeting we go head down to the beach and start a fire? Just sit and talk. I can tell you about Mulberry and you can tell me a little about yourself," she suggested hopefully that their date wasn't ruined. Techrat agreed and Clash pulled into the parking garage.

Once parked, they got out and started across the newly erected skywalk. Techrat suggested they take the stairs up rather than the elevator. They climbed up the flights of stairs to David's floor and walked to his office. "We're not late are we?" Clash asked.

The meeting began and Stormer handed Clash a flash drive. Techrat gave Clash her laptop after pulling it out of its carrying case. She booted up her system and viewed the contents on the drive. It was new sheet music. "No notes for saxophones on here," Techrat said quietly. "But it looks like the notes for drums have replaced them." Clash nodded and opened another file.

"Okay, this has notes for drums again but no keyboards." Confusion crossed her face. Clash looked up at Stormer and motioned her over. "Okay, what's going on here?" she whispered not wanting to interrupt the meeting.

"A whole new sound," Stormer said as equally as quiet. "If things go right, I'll be taking up the guitar and dropping keyboards. Pizzazz wants a harder edge to our sound and I'm giving her that."

Clash heard David asking her opinion on Jetta switching instruments. "We should lay down a few test tracks first and see if it sounds good. I can't judge it on theory. Sorry," Clash said shrugging and she began shutting down her computer. Once it was shut down Techrat took it from her and put it in the carrying case.

David asked Roxy what she thought. For a woman who was just daydreaming, she caught on pretty fast. She said roughly the same thing Clash just had, David then called the meeting to a close. Clash and Techrat made their way down the stairs to the skywalk. They were walking to Clash's car when someone honked at them startling Techrat. It was Pizzazz in her van. Clash and Techrat waved as she drove past. They both climbed into Clash's car and headed to the beach discussing the new music ideas Stormer had given them.

Techrat listened as Clash told him about her childhood. He realized that it was so much different from his own. "Okay, I've told you about my childhood, what about yours?" she asked with a big smile.

Poking at the small fire they had built, Techrat sat in silence for a short time while thinking of how to tell his story. "My government name is Terry Peters. I was born in a small village a few miles outside of Naga on the isle of Luzon in the Philippines. I was adopted by a rich American family days after I was born. I grew up in Beverly Hills. When I was two years old I was reading at a preschool level. It wasn't until I was five when my true genius began to show when I started to read at a fourth grade level. The doctors my parents took me to see called me a child prodigy. All I knew was that I was a smart five year old. I only wanted to play with other kids my age.

"I was put into home tutoring until I was ten years old. I was then accepted into a local high school. I was in every honors class. It was at this age that I got interested in electronics and building things. I graduated high school in three years through taking tests above the grade I was in. My parents were thrilled that they could raise such a smart quote unquote third world child. I overheard them say that to a family friend and its part of the reason why I don't talk to them.

"At fifteen I graduated from MIT with honors. My parents wanted me to take an IQ test which I naturally refused. I knew I was a genius and didn't need a number to prove it. It only would have only given my parents one more thing to brag about. I left home on my eighteenth birthday. I didn't need my parents anymore and never cared for their money. I just wanted to create new gizmos and gadgets. I may have lost my childhood but I gained a love for technology. Despite wanting friends I've always had trouble making them. In fact, The Misfits are the longest I've had a friend. I'm still adjusting to it." He sat while watching the fire dance.

Clash watched Techrat for a moment and then sat closer to him. "How'd you meet Eric anyway?" she asked putting an arm around his waist.

He put his arm around her and looked up. "There was an internet ad. He needed an engineer and I responded. No big story behind that," he said quietly.

"Do you still talk with your parents?"

Techrat tensed up at her question. "No. I was just another object for them to show off to their rich friends. They didn't even try to stop me when I left home. They were done with me."

After kissing him on the cheek, Clash rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry to hear that. At least you have friends like The Misfits and me. We all care about you, Terry. Especially me," she said with a little smile.

A clap of thunder sounded over head and they both looked up as drops of rain started falling. "Thank you, Constance. Do me a favor and keep my story to yourself. It's my past that I want buried," he asked quietly.

"You know I will and thank you for letting me in just a little." She stood up brushed the sand off her bottom. "We should get going."

Techrat stood and hugged Clash tightly. "No hurry. The rain won't kill us." They walked back in the rain to her car. Once there Clash open Techrat's door for him and then gave him a hug. After a moment she turned and kissed him on the lips. She sighed happily when he returned it.

CONTINUED IN

A NIGHT IN THE LIFE OF… ROXY

A NIGHT IN THE LIFE OF… DAVID & KIMBER

A NIGHT IN THE LIFE OF… PIZZAZZ & STORMER

A NIGHT IN THE LIFE OF… JETTA

STORIES CAN BE READ IN ANY ORDER!