The Hellhound's Return

Rock Solid

"Hey, Kali, nice shirt," Vida called, teasingly from the turntables.

"Bite me, V," Kali retorted.

It had been almost a week since Toby had hired both Nick and Kali as new employees of the Rock Porium, and still, Kali was bitter. She hadn't come to Briarwood looking for a job.

Maddie grinned as she switched her camcorder away from her sister and onto Kali, instead. "Hey, think of it this way, at least now you're getting paid to help," she said.

Kali couldn't help but smile. Holding a grudge against someone was an easy task for her, but not when that someone was Madison Rocca. The girl was two years younger than Kali, at only sixteen, and she had the personality and demeanour of a small mouse. She was shy and quiet, but incredibly supportive.

"Still not the point," said Kali. "But, I guess a little extra cash is a good thing. At least I can pay rent."

"See, bright side," Maddie said, smiling. She wandered away from Kali and over to where Xander was sitting, reading the newspaper.

"There's been another attack," Xander said, showing the paper to the camera. "Man turned to stone. It happened not that far from here." He paused and glanced at Chip. "Uh, Chip, we're meant to be marking them down."

"Uh, yeah, we are," said Chip, sarcastically. "I suppose you're supervising, right?"

Maddie switched the camera from Chip and back to Xander. He grinned. "He catches on fast," he said.

"Every price shall fall under my mighty hand," Chip said, causing Maddie to return the camera to him. "For I am Count Discount..." he aimed the price tag gun at the camera. "Defender of the bargain bin, hero to slacker and collector alike. Pow, Pow, Pow..."

"Okay, that does it," said Xander, exasperatedly. He got out of his chair, took the price tag gun from Chip, and used it to stick several mini-labels all over the yellow ranger, including his forehead. He finished by popping Chip's collar. "Now you're Count Discount."

Maddie giggled as she wandered away from the pair and over to the front counter where Toby was discussing business with a customer.

"We don't have eight-track tapes, you Neanderthal," said Toby, clearly frustrated. "The fidelity on those things is horrible. Now, get back in your pinto, and take your business elsewhere."

"Toby, why so cranky today?" Maddie asked.

"I'm... fasting," Toby admitted. "I'm trying to cleanse my body and my mind, which means no food - no pork rinds, no cheese fries, no snack cakes, no nothing." He placed a hand over his stomach as it grumbled. "I'm so hungry; I could eat the oldies section."

Maddie laughed and turned away from her boss. She bit her lip as she looked around, trying to find the last member of the team.

Kali whistled and nodded towards Toby's office door. "He's hiding," she said.

"Thank you," Maddie said, pushing open the door. She grinned as Nick looked up and groaned. "Gotcha!"

"Kali, you are so dead!" Nick called.

Kali stuck her head around the door. "What makes you think I told her?" she asked.

"Because you're the devil in disguise," said Nick.

"Love you, Nicky," Kali teased, withdrawing. She quickly crossed the room and slumped into Xander's vacated seat, propping her magazine up onto her knees.

"Hey," Xander exclaimed. "Aren't you supposed to be working?"

Kali cocked her head to the side. "Aren't you?" she asked.