The Gig

The neon lights morphed into different shapes on the paint of the car through the window. Johnny propped his chin against his hand as he stared out at the nucleus of Mindoir. The main city of Demeter was bustling on the Friday night that "Through the Relay" had been selected to play. People moved up and down the sidewalk in hurried paces. The flashing signs advertised beverages, restaurants, and other items from their perches that overlooked the concrete jungle below.

Demeter, named after the goddess of the harvest, was the largest metropolitan area on Mindoir. People all over the world flocked to it on vacation from their farming jobs. The whole city was based on larger cities on Earth. The sudden tribal whoop that erupted from Travis. He was decked out in his rockstar garb. He wore tight fitting jeans, a fedora, and a band shirt advertising a group back on Earth.

"Here we are guys! Mother-fucking Demeter!" Travis yelled from the back of the van. He came up to the front of the band and grasped the shoulders of Johnny and Larry. Larry was driving and Johnny was in the passenger seat."

"Damn it Trav, you almost made me run off the road!" exclaimed Larry. "You know how I get when I drive. It's a zen thing, man. Just chill."

"Sorry bro. What's your deal though?" asked Travis as his grip on Johnny tightened. "We finally get a gig. Not a party or a festival, but a full on, fucking gig. And now your acting like someone just ran over your dog."

"I'm just," Johnny stammered, "not feeling too well." Johnny still had a somewhat sour feeling in his stomach from his transgression with his father an hour earlier. He turned to see Travis looking at him wide eyed.

"Johnny, you know I'm here for your anytime. But if you fuck this up-"

"I'm not going to fuck it up, guys. Come on, I love you guys too much to let you down," He concluded.

"As much as we appreciate the sentiment, Mary," chimed in Angela who was sitting in the back practicing rhythm beats, "what we need is a singer and guitarist, not a soap opera star."

"Understood, sarge," laughed Johnny.

"What was that? Was that a smile and a laugh from I-Hate-Myself-Johnny?" Travis was in Johnny's face, looking intently in it as if he was searching for the slightest hint of life upon his features.

"Come on man, quit playing," chuckled Johnny.

"I need to do some investigating," said Travis as he stuck his fingers in Johnny's mouth and pulled his cheeks apart. They play-fought each other for a minute before Larry called out to the.

"Guys, we're here!" They all looked out the window to the venue, Starlight. The entrance fit its name. A giant neon and holographic display of shooting stars was situated above the front doors. A large line of people stood at the door that was guarded by a burly bouncer. The crowd was a mixture of black clad teenagers, blazer wearing studs out looking for a cheap thrill with the opposite sex, and just every day people looking for something to do on the dull farming world.

They all stood at the door and gazed up at the flashing hologram that read in bold multi-colored words, "Through The Relay Playing tonight at 7:00 P.M.!" The group of friends walked through the entrance to the club. A wave of alcohol, sex, and sweat flooded their noses. The multi-leveled club was filled with fog and smoke. The gyrating silhouettes of dancing people could be seen on all of the surfaces. Their outlines were pronounced through the various strobe effects and bursts of light from the videos playing on massive screens that covered the walls. The ceiling was a giant hologram of the milkyway galaxy with animated star systems that revolved over time. The loud rhythmic thumps from the beats of the sound system shook the walls.

"There's my little group of rockers!" came the familiar voice of Antoine, the club's owner. His bulky form was covered with a white suit. He came from within the crowd and shook each of their hands with a curt nod. "You've got fifteen minutes to set up and an hour on stage," he said briefly, "get to it."

"We'll need a little more time to get all of the proper tech hooked up," johnny stated.

"Listen kid, technically you all shouldn't even be hear. But I like you, and your little friend over here was quite convincing in his messages." Travis smiled in acknowledgement. Antoine's arm suddenly glowed with the orange hue of an omni-tool. He took a quick look down and looked back at them in frustration. "Shit, I've got to take this. As I said, fifteen minutes." He stormed off into the crowd and melded with them until he was nowhere to be seen.

15 minutes later

The dj stood at the edge of the stage and tapped the microphone in his hand, letting the reverberation echo throughout the club.

"Alright, we've got a very special group of guests for all of you here tonight!" he shouted. His glittering gold and platinum chains caught the eyes of anyone else in Starlight who hadn't already noticed him. The crowd whooped in anticipation. "Please give a hot Mindoir welcome to 'Through the Relay'!"

The stage curtain pulled away and there stood johnny, Angela, Travis, and Larry in all of their glory. Johnny mustered up his inner beast and walked toward the mic stand. Without a moment's hesitation he let his lyrics rise up from his lungs and leave his mouth. He slammed the first chord of the song down and Larry and Travis followed while Angela kept the beat alive on her kit. The crowd could not have been better. They jumped, sang, and screamed in joy through every song.

Fourty minutes had gone by in what seemed like two. After playing all of the originals they had written they were running out of ideas for songs. He looked over at Travis and Larry who were ecstatic, but unmistakably exhausted. Sweat dripped from their hair and their self-applied stage mascara was running. Johnny's eyes were beginning to sting as well. Angela was leaning over her kit, panting and gasping for air.

Johnny knew this was going to be a short night, but he had to at least give them a show-stopper. He motioned them off the stage. They looked cautious, but Johnny assured them it was safe to go. Soon, it was only Johnny standing on stage with his guitar around his shoulder and a pack of confused clubbers before him. He took one last breath before starting the next and final song. It was a cover from one of his favorite twenty-first century songs. He struggled for a second to remember how it went, and it suddenly came rushing back to him. His fingers played the melody of it while his voice sang the lyrics at a slow, even speed.

It was beautiful. The crowd at first was shocked at the sudden change of pace in the club scene, but they gradually grew to like it. They clapped their hands together, sang, and swayed to the beat. Suddenly, his microphone was cut off. An automated voice rang out over the club's PA system.

"Please, remain calm," the voice cracked. It was the VI for the city. "Please head for the nearest exit immediately. Please remain calm," the message repeated. Johnny was confused as well as everyone else. He stood on the stage, dumbfounded as to what to do. Travis and Angela, ran on stage. They both were pale and had fear in their eyes.

"What's going on?" Johnny asked, "Where's Larry?"

"I swear I didn't do it. I didn't do it. What happened? Where is he? I didn't do it," Travis blabbered. It was upon close inspection that Johnny noticed Travis was covered in blood.

"What's wrong with him?" asked Shepard, becoming distraught. Angela seemed shaken, but not out of it like Travis.

"Larry's dead, Johnny," she choked out. Travis rose from Angela's supporting arm and looked at Johnny.

"Dude went into the alley to take a piss. Stupid fucker, always having to do weird stupid shit. Came out after a while and found him. Deader than grunge," he laughed which turned into a wail of tears.

"What?" johnny asked, shocked. He was becoming scared now. He did not know what to think.

"Shot, Johnny!" Angela screamed, "Larry's been sho-"

The building rattled with the force of an explosion. What ensued thereafter was indeed hell to bear.