A New Kind of Rally

Over the next few days Proctor’s embarrassment at his outburst kept him from asking about the rally. At he had been delighted when his job really meant just doing what he was supposed to. Under Hobart, Proctor had found himself doing anything and sometimes everything to help keep things running. With Cuckler, he really was just the I.T. guy. When he finally couldn’t take not knowing anything except the bare minimum, Proctor was shocked to find out Frieda knew even less than he did. “I only know the address and date, but that’s only because I had to post it for the website. Are we even sending out invitations?” Proctor asked. Frieda shrugged in response and both went to see if one of the interns knew. “Beats me bro, Cuckler said it was on a need to know basis. The only thing he asked me to do was make sure my whole frat knew,” Alan said. Proctor had heard Cuckler say they were expanding their target audience, but a fraternity? The only thing Frieda could find was several sizable cash withdrawals from the accounts and records of a large loan, neither of which she had been informed of. Next to each in the books was the terse explanation ‘party favors’. There was little anyone could do except wait until the appointed time and show up. Proctor hitched a ride with Frieda, who was bringing her boyfriend Kyle along. The address was at a place none of them had ever heard of and Kyle ended up getting them lost several times. Frieda finally found it, an hour after the start time, by hearing the noise. “It sounds like a heavy metal band,” Kyle said. The car pulled up to a wholly unexpected sight. Hundreds of college students, many with their shirts off, were jumping and shoving to a leather clad metal band. Most of them had beer cups in their hands. On either side of the crowd were booths selling overpriced booze. Over the stage itself was a big banner that read, ‘Chill the Planet!’ The three strangers stepped out of the car and simply stared. “What kind of rally is this?” Proctor asked. No one could hear him over the noise, as the band hit the chorus once again. “Cause we’re all gonna burn, BURN, BURN! Chill out, Chill out, stop all the driving or I”ll tear your skull out! AAAAAAAH!!!” screamed the lead singer. Frieda had to put her hands over her ears. Proctor grabbed an intern carrying a tray of multi-colored drinks and got her to point to where Cuckler was. Way ahead in a roped off V.I.P. section, the big man himself was sweating and watching the show. He was standing around a growing pile of empty beers cups, not even bothering to refill his old ones. “Hey Cuckler! How’s it going?” Proctor yelled over the noise. Cuckler turned and gave them a brief smile to Frieda before noticing Kyle. “Who the fuck are you?” Cuckler asked while pointing at Frieda’s boyfriend.