A moment out of time. The war continues on, but for a few hours Lancer finds a moment of peace that the Invid can't touch.
I take the cool metal microphone in my hand, sliding it over and over again in time to the beat of my heart. It's a smooth even tempo like a bass drum line. So smooth, you wouldn't even know it was there if you weren't looking for it. Behind me, the band sets up, clicking open their instrument cases while the sound of their voices hums through the air. The sounds, soft staccato, punctuate the rhythm in my head and match the sway of music building... rocking... rolling through the air.
The techs move soundlessly through the room, a series of key changes and rests that keep the music going, yet putting no demands of their own. They move through the music, silent and sure, giving us the room we need.
The air hums high in my ears, the excited buzz of anticipation is one that I know well. One that I crave more than the finest meal. I crave the audience. Hear them, even now. Hear them through the walls. Listen to the heated rush of their whispers through the concrete and metal. Through the music in my mind.
For a few hours, a few precious hours the sounds of dying and destruction... the sounds of pain and desolation... the sounds of fear and loneliness... the sounds of war will fall on deaf ears. For all who live, truly live, within the moment will find themselves swimming in the sounds of music... drifting away on the waves of rhythm and find a safe place to dream. For that time, they will wrap themselves in the sound of the band and let us take the pain away.
A single sign from the doorman, a nod from floor and the doors swing open. Tonight I make no entrance save the warm widening circle of light at my feet. I ask for no applause that I don't earn through the sound of my voice and the emotions I release. I look them in their eyes as they enter and see the relief in their expressions. Stepping into the full beam of the light I feel it change me, feel the music pulse through every inch, every cell of my body and with a breath I sing.
Turn on the show.
Let the music loose.
Live.
I take the cool metal microphone in my hand, sliding it over and over again in time to the beat of my heart. It's a smooth even tempo like a bass drum line. So smooth, you wouldn't even know it was there if you weren't looking for it. Behind me, the band sets up, clicking open their instrument cases while the sound of their voices hums through the air. The sounds, soft staccato, punctuate the rhythm in my head and match the sway of music building... rocking... rolling through the air.
The techs move soundlessly through the room, a series of key changes and rests that keep the music going, yet putting no demands of their own. They move through the music, silent and sure, giving us the room we need.
The air hums high in my ears, the excited buzz of anticipation is one that I know well. One that I crave more than the finest meal. I crave the audience. Hear them, even now. Hear them through the walls. Listen to the heated rush of their whispers through the concrete and metal. Through the music in my mind.
For a few hours, a few precious hours the sounds of dying and destruction... the sounds of pain and desolation... the sounds of fear and loneliness... the sounds of war will fall on deaf ears. For all who live, truly live, within the moment will find themselves swimming in the sounds of music... drifting away on the waves of rhythm and find a safe place to dream. For that time, they will wrap themselves in the sound of the band and let us take the pain away.
A single sign from the doorman, a nod from floor and the doors swing open. Tonight I make no entrance save the warm widening circle of light at my feet. I ask for no applause that I don't earn through the sound of my voice and the emotions I release. I look them in their eyes as they enter and see the relief in their expressions. Stepping into the full beam of the light I feel it change me, feel the music pulse through every inch, every cell of my body and with a breath I sing.
Turn on the show.
Let the music loose.
Live.