Chapter Three- The Calm Before The Storm
Another Midvalley-centered chapter (as well as the next chapter), but don't fear, Legato is still the main character in this. ^_^;;…Im just establishing a plot, which is taking awhile I know, but rather take my time and explain things smoothly, rather than jumping into the fray clueless, ne? As always, your feedback means the world to me, and serves as motivation to write. Enjoy.
***
"I know you are awake. It is pointless to pretend to be sleeping in front of me."
That voice… dammit, it's that Legato character.
Midvalleys' right eye twitched as he mentally cursed himself for being ratted out so easily. Allowing him the satisfaction of the truth, Midvalley sat upright in his seat and shifted his focus to looking out the window at the passing scenery. As if there was anything to brag over, as the carriage was now in the remote Badlands. Nothing but a true wasteland, Legato marveled silently. It truly was a sight to be seen.
Midvalley quickly became bored with window watching, and settled instead for a quick cleaning of his true companion, Sylvia. He noticed a slight dirt smudge on her neck and quickly went to work.
***
[Flashback Continued…]
"So, you know about my dark secret. Looks like someone has been doing their homework."
"Arrogance is another fault to the human race," the figure, cloaked in the shadows murmured, as it shook its head. "And you, my friend, are merely human."
"Thank you for pointing out my shortcomings. Now tell me why you are here."
"I seek your services."
"I'm afraid I'm all booked up. Sorry man."
"I want your team of assassins to insist me in taking out a certain somebody. You will all be handsomely rewarded."
"Business before pleasure man, and like I said, I'm booked up."
"And if you didn't have a choice in the matter?"
"I'd say you're full of shit."
"Heh, I almost found that little quirk to be funny," the man sneered and just the tone in this man's voice sent a chill up Midvalley's spine. It was so empty, so malice, and yet so… "But, I only be kidding myself if I should expect nothing less from you humans which rape and starve each ecosystem you inhabit. Your kind thrives; it lives, breathes, and dies by it's own greed."
The Hornfreak felt a bead of perspiration trickle down his forehead. It was such a warm night as the scorching suns of the daylight had bowed down to their moon counterparts, yet the warmth produced still lingered heavily in the stillness of the night.
"Perhaps I was being a bit harsh, a little too hasty perhaps? Look; at least hear out what I'm offering you. It truly is a deal no human being can resist."
The distance between Midvalley and this man was a good 5 yards, but the gap seemed to be closing in on Midvalley slowly. He felt as if though he was being drawn towards this individual with… his charm? His spirit? His way with words? But what did he say that made Midvalley suddenly so weak in the knees?
"Fuck. Why am I thinking such thoughts?" Midvalley shook his head and raised Sylvia up to eye level. No matter the distance, he was invincible when he used her. A few notes from her brass vocal chords would silence this man for good.
Yet no sound ever came except for the startled cry from Midvalley as he found himself falling hard, flat on his back. Microscopic specks of dust flared into Midvalley's nostrils and invaded his taste buds. But this irritating sensation was minor, compared to the pain surging throughout his entire body. His limbs began twisting in ways they were not meant to; and he soon found his uncontrollable appendages bending and shifting to their max. As much as a smidgen more would ultimately prove fatal.
"Aaah...aaah....AAH!" He felt so helpless. He wasn't used to being the victim.
"I apologize. Let me...ease the pain for you." Upon those words being spoken, it felt as if whatever was binding him down escaped out of his body like a gust of wind. Midvalley felt the sudden numbing pain inside his body slowly go away as he struggled to sit upright.
"Come to my office, and we can discuss matters in a much more civilized manner." the man flicked his wrist, his digits lightly touching a...business card? Midvalley's mind wrestled with the idea that there was more to him then meets the eye, "What do you say, partner?" The arm extended out, offering him the card. Midvalley surpressed the urge to... do something, although he wasn't sure what as he gingerly took the card and glanced down at it. Million Knives it read in bold print. Dimitri. He replied as he slipped the card into his front coat pocket,"Yeah, I'll remember that."
Midvalley bit his tongue, but only because he didn't sound as.. as in control as he wanted too. Somehow, both knew who was in charge here, and Midvalley certainly wasn't playing the cards in his favor. He should have demanded a new hand. But Midvalley knew he still had an ace up his sleeve, but he wasn't sure what that was either as he watched dumbstruck as the one called Million Knives blended back into the shadowy depths of the night with these final words:
"I'll be waiting for you in Dimitri. Oh, and please have the other members of your band come as well. I'd really enjoy it if you would play a number for me."
Midvalley couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief. He didn't make any promises, any commitments to this person. Sure, he felt the radiating power from him...or somewhere close to him, and would confess to himself...and possibly Sylvia... that the power was awesome. And yet...
And yet, he couldn't strip the proper word from his vocabulary to pinpoint his feelings and he scratched his head in confusion. Damn anything but everything. People teased him about the absurdity of his alias, and yet here he was talking to someone who calls himself Knives?
Perhaps he should've taken up that offer with that slut earlier. That way, other than being soundly dazed and confused, he'd be dazed and confused- but in a different way of course.
Midvalley yawned louder than he meant too, and his body once again reminded him of how tired it was. Sleep commanded his thoughts and movements as he trudged across the street, and nearly passed out by a cluster of trashcans as he swayed and leaned against a lamppost. A black cat with seemingly glowing, transparent eyes meowed irritably at him as it clambered out of a trash can and scampered across the street. That was when, for the first time since his encounter, he noticed how quiet the streets were. Almost a little too quiet.
It truly was the calm before the storm.
***
Up above, on the rooftop of an abandoned warehouse, two figures watched Midvalley as he looked dumbfounded by the people lying in the streets as they began to stir, wondering what had just happened.
"Master…" the tall, slender figure stepped up from behind the one he was addressing and got down on one bent knee, "I have done as you instructed. Shall we depart?"
"Yes Legato," Knives grinned wickedly, watching with ice blue eyes at the one who was going to help him fill in the missing pieces to his master plan, "We have much to prepare."
***
"Dimitri? But isn't Dimitri suppose to be a ghost town since that mysterious incident a few months ago?"
The Hornfreak acknowledged his guitarist question with a curt nod, stuffing his hands into his pant pockets. He wasted no time heading across town to his bandmates' apartment. The time to act was now. However, the uneasy expression painted so easily on his face told all.
"Look," Midvalley sighed, "A gig is a gig and we need the publicity, am I right?"
"But Dimitri man. I don't think even if I was paid the same amount of cash as the bounty on the Humanoid Typhoon, nothing could get me to step one foot inside that city."
"Stop being so childish RatTail." But Midvalley knew his friend had a valid point. Weighing his options to go or not to go was taunting. He didn't promise Knives anything but deep down he was... scared. What might happen if he didn't go to Dimitri? He'd rather not find out. But there was that startling fact surrounding all those mysterious disappearances in the city itself. Every last man, woman, and child just vanished into thin air and yet, Knives runs his business in a deserted place? Something wasn't adding up. He decided to get another opinion.
"Boomer. What's your take on all this?"
The drummer looked up from his copy of "Slutty Girls" magazine, and simply gave his shoulders a slight shrug before returning to the delights of naked young women photographed in various, scandalous poses.
"Dammit Boomer. Stop giving yourself an orgasm over there and help poor Midvalley out here. He obviously stressing about whether or not we should play in Dimitri, but I say even a dumb fuck wouldn't even so much as think about that place. As far as I'm concerned, Dimitri no longer exist in my eyes, my man Hornfreak."
"I'm sure Midvalley has his reasons for wanting us to go," Boomer said as he turned the page, "He's the boss, so we should do what he says."
"Yeah, but I can't help but feel that you're hiding something from us. You never really pressed the issue whether we should play a gig somewhere or not before and now... I mean, no offense, but you look pretty fucked up yourself now and I don't think it's because you had a good time with a random hooker on the street. What's going on?"
"Nothing RatTail. Nothing at all." Midvalley really hated to lie to his good friends, but if they knew the real reason for going to Dimitri, he'd have a snowballs' chance in hell of convincing them on going then. Not to say it wasn't difficult now, at least persuading RatTail was but still...
Taking a deep breath, he knew what he must say next.
"I've made up my mind. Pack your bags because we're going to Dimitri."
[Flashback End...]
*******************
The carriage containing its precious cargo arrived in June City at approximately six-hundred hours. Midvalley noticed where they stopped at was a deserted side-street with nothing but broken-down buildings surrounding the area and trash littered about. They definitely were in the poorer-end of town. But why would Legato instruct the driver before boarding the carriage to stop here of all places? Legato twisted the ancient-looking door knob with a monotonous squeak and slipped out. Midvalley slid out of his seat as well and welcomed the opportunity to stretch his aching limbs after such a uncomfortable ride. The carriage driver dropped the reins controlling the two Thomas' and approached Legato. Midvalley slipped to the back, preparing to take his luggage down.
"Excuse me Mister," the driver voiced nasally, "The fare for this ride is 80 double-dollars. If you would please..." He smirked, revealing his decayed smile as he opened his left hand, awaiting payment.
Legato, whose sights were set elsewhere raised a skeptical eyebrow down to the driver.
"80 double-dollars, you say?"
"And a tip on top of that would be extra generous Mister. Heh." His beady eyes twinkled at the thought of all the money he was about to make. 80 double-dollars was a lot to brag about. An added tip on top of that would defidently make his day.
"A tip, hmm?"
All Midvalley heard after that was the gargling sounds of the driver as the breath seemed to die in his throat. His lifeless body slumped heavily on his side, the twinkle lost from his eyes permanently.
"Ruthless." Midvalley grabbed both his saxophone case, plus a suitcase carrying his belongings and set them down. He began to reach for Legato's stuff when he realized he didn't bring any luggage with him. Legato nonchalantly passed the dead man as he approached Midvalley, his attention refocused on what he was observing before. The double suns began to wake up with the rest of the city as the first rays of sunlight spread like the wings of an eagle across the crisp earth.
"Another day we get to live. Just how many more sunrises will I see before my time is up?" Legato questioned himself with an underlying tone of sarcasm at the very thought. He really had nothing to live for anymore. He never did for as far back as he could remember. He merely was a tool for his Master. A tool. Legato snorted lightly and shook his head once, as Midvalley was now placing his saxophone carefully inside the case, then snapping it shut firmly. Legato dully noted how obsessed he seemed to be with a stupid musical instrument.
Humans really were pathetic.
"So, where are we staying at during our little business trip?" Midvalley asked, standing up to his full height. Up until now, he knew he was tired physically but didn't realize how tired he was mentally.
"At the Jade."
"Ah. A swanky joint alright. You sure know how to spend the dough on the best, huh? You're a classy guy, and I like that."
"I personally don't care. Money is of little consequence to me," Legato continued walking, his back now to Midvalley, "Just make sure the Gung-Ho Guns and yourself are at the Slingin' Saloon at noon sharp." A pause in both gait and speech as he slowly and deliberately looked back over his heavily armored shoulder and added, "And don't be tardy, Hornfreak." His golden eyes glazed over and narrowed to mere slits, as if to serve as a final warning before he departed once again.
"Heh, I'll try to remember that Bluesummers." Midvalley picked up his belongings in both hands, looking in the opposite direction that Legato went. If memory served him correctly, the Jade was a good 20 minute stroll from here. Luckily, his "employer" already reserved an entire floor for him and his team and it wouldn't cost them a single sea-cent. Anxious to meet the rest of the Gung-Ho Guns again, Midvalley began the short trek towards the hotel. He had to let them in on his little plan after all.
********************
To Be Continued...