It was a clear windy June afternoon at Candle Stick Park in San Francisco. The year was 1986, and more than 50,000 people had turned out at "the Stick" to see the Bay Area's newest sweetheart - 20 year old Cindy Taylor.

As you recall, notorious Silicon Valley nerd Sidney Bekon had implanted a microchip in the brain of a young woman, giving her super strengths. She used these new powers to hunt down unsuspecting men and kill them. After a string of unsolved murders, San Francisco Police Lieutenant Penny Cest tracked the homicides to Sidney Bekon's evil wizardry. During his arrest, Cest chased Bekon through his R&D facility. In one last ditch effort to escape, Bekon grabbed his lead programmer, Cindy Taylor, in a choke hold and ordered Lieutenant Cest to get back. However, Bekon failed to realize this frail gentle girl could pack a powerful punch. After Bekon was knocked to the ground by the young girl, he was quickly apprehended and taken away to jail.

Captain Berneti, Lieutenant Cest and Cindy Taylor stood on a makeshift stage in the center of the stadium. The rock group, Starship, was set up to play after Cindy's short speech. The wind was blowing Cindy's curly brunette hair as she stood proud in her favorite pose: left hand on her hip and her head pushed out. She was wearing a long pink skirt and white gloves with her usual large pearl necklace. She would except this honorable award for bravery in helping to bring Sidney Bekon to justice. The three television networks were there to cover this ceremony live as the Goodyear blimp flew overhead. This was the largest Bay Area event since Superbowl XIX, held a year and a half ago at the Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto.

"Lady's and gentlemen of San Francisco", Berneti's voice echoed throughout the coliseum, "I'm proud to introduce to you a very special young lady - Cindy Taylor!"

The crowd cheered as Cindy went up to the podium. Posters of Cindy began to appear throughout the stadium with the words: "GO CINDY TAYLOR!"

"Hi all!", Cindy shouted over the loudspeaker with her cute smile.

The crowd became louder with occasional whistles. Captain Berneti handed the award to her.

"On behalf of the good citizens of the San Francisco Bay Area, I would like to present you this award for bravery. By the way, Miss Taylor, what are your plans for the future?", asked the Captain, "We could sure use someone like you in the department!"

"Actually", Cindy answered, "I have other plans for alternative endeavors."

The crowd yelled: "Go Cindy Taylor - Go Cindy Taylor - Go Cindy Taylor!"

The band immediately began playing their popular song: WE BUILT THIS CITY and the crowd went wild.

The Strip club

Meanwhile, in a strip club in another part of the city, the club owner, Vincent Montgony, and his accountant, Danson, were watching the event. The two sat in front of a large projection screen as a young woman, Sandra, massaged Montgony's shoulders. A balding man in his fifties, Montgony had various ties with the mob in the San Francisco Bay Area. Rumor had it that his wealth was suspiciously acquired in the late fifties while betting at the horse track and Los Vegas fights. Before that, he was a maintenance worker at an amusement park in San Jose California.

"WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN", by THE BANGLES could be heard over the steady noise of cat calls and laughter. Montgony puffed on his cigar as he became fascinated by Cindy Taylor's popularity by the large crowd.

"Who is that girl, Danson?" asked Montgony. " The crowd loves her!"

"Her name is Cindy Taylor, boss." Danson replied.

"Oh yes. She's the little girl who helped bring in that little weasel, what was his name?" Montgony asked shaking his cigar.

"Sidney Bekon.", his young masseuses replied in a contorted expression.

"I don't pay yea to think, darlin'!", Montgony replied as he slapped her buttox "Now go get Daddy another drink!"

After a short yelp, Sandra retreated to the bar.

"Good help is hard to find these days", Montgony said with a wink.

Montgony's demeanor suddenly became more focused: "I remember her now. She was involved in the space shuttle break-in a couple of years ago", he said taking a slow puff from his cigar.

Two years ago, Cindy had been able to gain access into the NASA mainframe at the Kennedy Space Center. Using her advanced computer skills, she altered the program on two of the Space Shuttle Challenger's onboard computers. Just before launch, the Challenger's flight deck computer screens changed to a Pack Man game. After Cindy was eventually caught, she served six months in federal lockup. The government had a slight suspicion that she may have had something to do with the January 28 shuttle explosion, but was cleared when it was determined that faulty O-rings were the culprit. Sidney Bekon hired a team of high priced attorneys to convince a judge to release her. He then hired Cindy to write the code that would run his deadly microchip.

"I want the Taylor girl in my office tomorrow." Montgony continued.

"But boss - she's only 20 years old. And if I may say, this isn't the type girl who fits your style!

Montgony quickly raised his hand. "I own three strip clubs here in 'Frisco. Every young punk here with a badge would like nothin' more than to make a name for himself and get me on rap!" Montgony leaned over close to Danson. "I just bought a radio station and I want that girl to do a computer show. I need this candy striper on my staff to make me look legitimate."

"But only a small percentage of households even own a computer, Mr. Montgony."

"This will change very soon, Danson", Montgony replied as he took a puff, "I know these things."

As a dancer with long red hair walked by, Montgony grabbed her arm.

"Mr. Montgony!" the girl loudly replied embarrassingly.

"Tell me about stocks, sweet cheeks", Montgony asked the woman.

"Well", the young woman replied as she held her chest up, "I guess I gott'em here."

"That's my girl", Montgony chuckled, "Now go to work and make my customers happy."

The girl walked off with a plastic smile. Montgony took a puff on his cigar and grabbed Danson's arm.

"I want you to buy twenty Gs of stock in the Microsoft Corporation tomorrow mornin'."

"Pardon my ignorance, Mr. Montgony", Danson replied, "but Microsoft is just a hole in the wall company in Washington State. And may I remind you, the economy is still in the tank. I would strongly recommend against making any investment in that company."

Montgony just smiled.

Montgony's office

The next day, Vince Montgony was leaning back his chair behind a large desk in his office. He was smoking his favorite cigar while drinking a glass of Martini. The large paneled room was filled with old black and white signed photographs of famous nightclub singers, including Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin. One photo showed a younger Montgony sitting at a booth in Los Vegas with Frank Sinatra.

A knock came at the door.

"Yeah?", Montgony barked in a harshly.

"Cindy Taylor here to see you, sir", a soft reply came from the other side of the door.

Montgony put the drink down as his eyes lit up.

"Door's open, sweetheart", Montgony replied back.

As the door slowly opened, Cindy Taylor gracefully entered the room. She was wearing a long dress, sweater and gloves. Her large pearl necklace was draped around her neck with the aroma of sweet perfume.

"Vince Montgony", he said as he reached out to shake her hand.

"Happy to meet you, sir."

"Let's cut the crap, honey." Montgony said as he blew out his cigar smoke.

Meanwhile, Danson walked in the room.

"Sorry, sir", Danson apologized, "I didn't know you.."

"Relax, Danson. This is Cindy Taylor." Montgony said.

"Oh yes. I spoke with you on the phone this morning, Miss Taylor. So you found our building okay, did you?" Danson asked.

"Yes, it was relatively easy to locate." she answered.

"Sit down, Danson." Montgony ordered.

Danson obediently sat in a chair against the wall.

"Here's the deal", Montgony continued, "I just bought a radio station here in the city. As soon as I get the okay from the FCC, it's gonna turn into a 23 hour Sinatra station.

"Sinatra?" Cindy asked confused.

"He's a singer, tuts", Montgony replied. Cindy's eyes opened wide in response. "Anyway, I want you to do a computer show."

"A radio show?" Cindy replied, "Excuse me sir, but I have no prior experience in the field of broadcasting."

"Look, I need a chick like you in my organization to make me look good."

Cindy stood up.

"I'm not not a 'chick', Mr. Montgony, I'm a young woman! Furthermore, your derogatory references toward my gender are not appreciated!"

At this point, Danson started to get up, but Montgony motioned him to sit back down.

"Let me tell you somethin' ", Montgony replied, "I got more than fifty girls on my staff. If it wasn't for me, they would all be in the Tenderloin shootin' smack. So don't you come in here with your fifty dollar perfume, your oversized pearl necklace and tell me what to...."

"You clearly have no respect for women", Cindy countered, "but if you want to continue to have a dialogue with me, you will treat me with respect!"

Montgony didn't say anything, as he was taken aback. Danson was clearly bothered by the young woman's assertiveness toward his boss, but was afraid to speak up. Montgony meekly smiled at Cindy and continued.

"I'm sorry Miss. Let's just start over"

Cindy did not reply, but just looked at him with her pale green eyes and bushy brows.

Through the hour long meeting, they came to an agreement in which Cindy would do the show. This, of course, would require Cindy to get the proper licenses to go on the air, which would involve several months of classes and training. Montgony's demeanor did a complete reversal during their conference. He became very respectful of Cindy. This was a side of Montgony that Danson had never seen before.

After Cindy left, Danson spoke up: "Why did you let the girl talk to you that way, sir?"

"Shut up!", Montgony barked back. He then leaned back in his chair and began to contemplate. "This one's got alot of class. I haven't met a dame like that since I was stationed in Okinawa during the second world war."

NEXT: PART II SIXTEEN YEARS LATER