Chapter 9
Familiar Faces…wait what?!
I was so excited to got off the ship I was seeing another world, thousands of faces and races although I couldn't name any of them. After a while I learned we were going to be here for a few hours so we could not only restock but also relax before heading off back out into space on our quest. I also learned that the place where we docked…or whatever the term is for a flying ship, was called Khoda VII. An interesting name but at least one I can pronounce somewhat, so I decided to take it upon myself to explore but make a mental note of when we were due to ship back out and where the ship was. Before I left the ship after carrying boxes of spices blankets and who knows what else into the storage area Amelia pulled me over to the side and spoke to me with a small smile on her face.
"Ms. Clearwater while we're here I'd like you to enjoy yourself. I've seen the hard work you and Jim both have been doing and I'd like you to take this and do what you like for the time that we're here." She had given me a smallish navy blue bag and she waited for me to look inside. She had given me money and I figured I'd give most of it to Jim seeing how all I really wanted was to get myself some earrings. I smiled, a real smile well it was small but it was a smile, at the gift and looked back up at Amelia.
"Thank you Captian, I'll pay you back as—"before I could say anymore she raised her hand to silence me.
"Ms. Clearwater just think of this as part of our deal. As long as you do your share of work here on the ship and what that cyborg tells you, there will be no need to pay me back." I did a small smile again and I ended up almost hugging her but I stopped myself and held out my hand and we both shook hands. I met Jim down on the ground after thanking Amelia one more time and I gave him more than half of the money and told him it was from Amelia and to thank her for it later before he could even say anything I dashed off into the crowd and watched amazed at everything around me. I thought I had lost Jim, don't get me wrong hanging with Jim was cool but I just wanted some time to myself but little did I know that a certain 17 year old boy and Cyborg were taking turns on spotting where I went.
"Okay first order of business earrings." I smiled as I looked around at the small shops looking for something to catch my eye. After a few minutes of walking a saw a small stand owned by, what looked like to be a woman since she was a different race, her voice concluded my thought and I walked over and she looked up at me. After she showed me different earrings of shapes and colors I decided on one Silver hoop for my normal piercing. The woman talked me into getting a rose with a stem looking earring that would pass through the two remaining piercings; they interlocked with each other easily. The woman was kind enough to put it on me while I looked in a mirror watching her how to put it on. The earring was made with some sort of yellow stone, I wanted to get a black or purple one but the lady persisted that yellow would be best since it would draw out the yellow in my eyes. No wonder Doppler was talking into buying that metal suit the women can be very persuasive. I asked her how much and I gave her a bit extra mainly for the fact that she was really sweet and helpful. I didn't have much money left so I kept walking around window shopping until I came across a tavern like deal I was going to walk past it until I had head a familiar laugh. My brows furrowed trying to remember who I know here that would be in the tavern. I walked in through the doors, at first no one noticed me when I actually walked past a few tables there were a few catcalls and whistles. I rolled my eyes and looked around until I tensed as I felt a hand on my shoulder; I was ready to fight that it until I had heard a very familiar voice.
"Letty!Where have you been?!" I turned around and I saw Adam! My mouth just hung open and my eyes were wide. I couldn't believe it was really Adam my mind was running with so many questions.
"Adam is that really you?" he gave me that crooked smile and nodded and did a slight bow. I had also noticed he was wearing dark wash jeans black leather boots and a loose-ish black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
"It is me in the flesh and I bet you'll never guess who else is here?" I did a smile which was progressing throughout this trip and acted like I was thinking.
"Let me see…it wouldn't happen to be Santa would it?" I chuckled and Adam shook his head and play punched me in the arm.
"No you dunce, it's not Christmas yet. Sam is here!" I smiled and stared at him wide eyed. And as if on cue Sam came up behind Adam hugging him and locking his arms lovingly over his shoulders and looking at me with a wide grin. I couldn't stop smiling then I hugged the two boys making an Adam sandwich. When we finally let go I couldn't stop asking questions.
"How did you guys get here? Do you know what dimension we're in? How have you been! How did you find each other?" it was Sam that finally silenced me by putting his hand gently over my mouth. The boys led me to an empty table close to a small built in stage.
"Okay Violet I'll answer all those for ya. In order; we have no idea both of us felt like we were falling out of bed last night and found ourselves here. If I'm not mistaken it's your favorite Disney movie that we're in. we've been good we found a way to live for the rest of the night and the day today. In total honesty when we woke up here on the ground and lying next to each other." Adam got closer to Sam and put an arm over his shoulder and smiled as I shook my head explaining how I was hoping for something more climatic. I noticed Sam was wearing Black fit jeans that seemed to hang at his hips a tank top. We all ended up laughing like we were crazy and Adam ordered some drinks, all I asked was water, I'm not going to be showing up back at the R.L.S Legacy drunk. That would have surely gotten my kicked off the voyage and I's be stuck here and wouldn't be able to see all the action. I went on telling both of them of what has happened to me and both of their jaws dropped.
"You're really on the ship? That is so bad ass Violet." Sam said while downing his drink as Adam had his cheeky crooked grin on. I've known Adam for so long that I knew that when he has that grin he's either going to say or do something that would earn him a smack on the head.
"So tell me, Letty, have you put the moves on that cabin boy yet?" My jaw dropped as Adam laughed loudly earning him a smack on his head from Sam and a Smack on his shoulder from me. He started complaining how that hurt and acting like a kid and I shook my head. But I then did explain my ear piercings and Adam went on with teasing me about Jim, I couldn't be happier that Sam and Adam were here. I was so happy that it seemed that no one cared really about them being together too, that was a really big plus for our side. Then I told them that I was sure that Amelia wouldn't mind them coming aboard but they'd have to pull their weight around the ship. We all agreed it couldn't hurt asking if anything we would follow in a smaller ship. We smiled and all downed our drinks and smiled. Then my mood changed when an older man came to the table asking for…well…for pleasures from me I just sat there brushing him off since his breath was so full of liquor I'd swear somebody could get contact drunk from it. Adam however, stood up and punched the man down everyone looked at us then went back to what they were doing. Some music came on the stage I just shook my head the band was terrible and the booing of the crowd only proved my point. Adam and Sam couldn't take it anymore and pushed them off the stage which earned them cheers from the crowd Adam then started to talk to the entire tavern.
"Now does anyone want to hear real live music?" the crowd cheered and I clapped as Adam shook his head then looked at me then back at the crowd. "Well you'll have to convince our other member to join us up here! Come on up Letty!" My eyes widened and I shook my head repeatedly but then Sam, the little basterd, had to go and start the crowd chanting Adams nickname for me. I finally caved in but my stomach was all in knots. I got up onto the stage and the crowd cheered as the three of us huddled into a small and argued what song we were going to do. I ended up being only vocals for the time being sine my precious guitar was back at the ship and there probably wasn't enough time for me to grab it. Not only that, if I had left I probably wouldn't have come back because of the stage fright. They ended up bringing their own instruments, which apparently they forgot to explain how their own instruments got here. But I figured it probably happened the same way that it happened with me since I wasn't even a foot close to my stuff yet it had transported with me. We asked the crowd to wait for at least fifteen minutes so we could at least set up everything meaning instruments and still argue what we were going to play everything Adam opened his mouth I ended up shooting it down mainly because of the fact that Adam and I are almost polar opposites on the music scale. We finally had everything set up, but as I took a closer look at the instruments it looked like they had been modified slightly. When I took a closer look at Sam's Yamaha electronic drum set and oddly it looked like the set was no longer powered by electricity but by solar power there were small little solar panels on it but it looked like it was just part of the design. 'Maybe I should take a closer look at my guitar?' I questioned myself mentally, how could I miss something like this on my own stuff? But then again I haven't even taken my guitar out of its case yet. Adam had his Keyboard set which he made positive to be like Tuomas Holopainen's from our mutual favorite band Nightwish, but again there were minor little changes it was now solar but it looked like carving designs and you wouldn't have noticed it unless you touched it. I started thinking to myself that at least we now don't have to worry about our stuff being low on power or not even working. After we made sure everything was set I was given and small earpiece looking thing it looked like a steam punk mic, from what I think was the owner of the place. He was a small looking guy he reached up just to the bottom of my chin but the embedded wrinkles and low gruff voice told me that he wasn't going to be growing anymore anytime soon. He looked almost skeletal but had grey fur and with what white/blue short hair that was brushed back behind small ears and had brown dull eyes as he handed it to me with a smile full of sharp pointed teeth. As he walked away I noticed all he was really wearing was dark brown pants, black boots and a vest that looked too big for him mainly cause of his appearance of a walking dead person. My attention was called back to Adam as he called me over and told me a song that we could do with only two of the instruments we have.
"Letty we can do Faded. It's the only song that comes to mind that we can use with two of the three instruments we have." His body language was relaxed as he was motioning to the stage and what was set up to prove his point. I scrunched my nose I hated the more electronic songs. Adam just gave me a smirk and continued. "It's either that or a Spears song." I shrugged and threw up my hands in defeat.
"Alright well let's get this over with if we wait around any longer I think I'll have a slight anxiety attack." I instinctively put my hand to my stomach trying to settle my nerves with no avail.
"Good, maybe we'll make a little money off of this." I rolled my eyes at Adam but it would be pretty cool if we were able to make a little money for emergencies or something we ran up onto the stage as I found the small switch to turn the ear mic on as Sam and Adam got the standing mics next to their instruments. Adam motioned to me to announce us even though everyone was staring at us with anticipation, including a certain boy and cook although I didn't see them. I sighed and blew out the air huffily which made my bangs move once slightly.
"Um how is everyone today? " I got a few cheers my voice was almost a whisper I was so nervous and took a deep breath and forced myself to speak louder. "I'm Violet, or as you know my nickname Letty, over there on my left is Adam and on my right is Sam we'll be performing a song I'm sure you haven't heard before it's called Faded." This time there was a loud applause and cheers, I think it could have been to me not talking anymore and actually have some sort of music to fill the air. I looked back at my two friends with a questioning look and they nodded signaling they were ready and I began to sing as Adam began to play the keyboard.
(Faded, hated, slippin' away as I disappear in the dark)/ You never take/ Take the time to really look/ Look at the one/ The one I really am/ You try to fit/ To fit me in your perfect box/ You let me slip/ Between the cracks/ Now I'm faded/ Into someone else/ Made me someone I don't wanna be/ Yeah I'm faded/ My true color's gone/ Like a picture nobody sees
I bet you don't/ Don't even know my favorite song/ You tell me how/ How I should wear my hair/ You wanna change/ Everything I ever was/ Try to erase me/ 'Til I'm not there/ Now I'm faded/ Into someone else/ Made me someone I don't wanna be/ Yeah I'm faded/ My true color's gone/ Like a picture nobody sees/ Now I'm faded/ Like I never was/ 'Til I don't even know myself/ Yeah I'm faded/ Into what you want/ But I'm not taking it too well
I don't wanna be your little picture-perfect-pretty-girl/ Who's got nothing to say/ And I'm not gonna wait around for you/ To run my whole life down/ I'll let you watch me fade away/You try to fit/ To fit me in your perfect box/ You let me slip/ Between the cracks/ Now I'm faded/ Into someone else/ Made me someone I don't wanna be/ Yeah I'm faded/ My true color's gone/ Like a picture nobody sees
Now I'm faded/ Like I never was/ 'Til I don't even know myself/ Yeah I'm faded/ Into what you want/ But I'm not taking it too well/(Faded, hated, slippin' away as I disappear in the dark)/ (Faded, hated, I'm so far away from who I was at the start) /(Faded, hated, slippin' away as I disappear in the dark)/
As I sang the last phrase the music had died down and I had waited for the crowed to start reacting to the small, one song concert. It was maybe a minute before I ended up hearing a roar of applause, cheers and whistles at the three of us. I had turned and laughed sheepishly at Adam and Sam as they smiled and walked up next to me and they both took my hands and we did a group bow, the next thing I know I heard coins clattering against the wooden stage. I looked all around us everyone was standing and throwing two to three coins at us of different colors like bronze, silver and gold. Sam, Adam and I started collecting the coins with me ending up filling all my pockets in my cargo pants. The crowd continued giving us coins for another few minutes and I swear when I started to walk I jingled slightly from all the coins in my pockets. After the three of us disassembled the instruments and put them in their cases we jumped off the stage and sat at our previous table until I felt a hand on my shoulder I looked over to see Silver and Jim. The butterflies appeared in my stomach again and I could feel the heat rising to my face and I laughed nervously and looked up at the cyborg who was smiling at me.
"Um..Hi Silver, Jim."