Chapter 4: A Solo Performance
1 week later
Midvalley followed Legato and Dominique as he trudged through the sands of the desert. Once feeling solid ground under his feet and the three rested from a half of days trip. Dominique looked at Legato as she stood next to him.
" What now?" she asked
" We continue on, through next town," Legato said
" Aren't you going to train him?" Dominique asked
" In time he will learn who's side he's on, We are searching for someone," Legato said, " He shouldn't be far."
Dominique looked at Legato and then over at Midvalley.
" He's the 11th, are we to search for Vash the Stampede?" Dominique asked
" He will come to us, I assure you of that," Legato answered, " We are drawing a moth to the flame."
Dominique smiled and Legato looked at the city of December. He looked at Dominique and she walked off. Midvalley looked up at Dominique as she came down, she seemed kind of frustrated at her superior's decision. She sat down on a set of rocks and removed her coat.
" What's the matter, he doesn't understand a woman's intuition?" Midvalley questioned with a smirk
" My frustration doesn't come from not having things go my way," she replied
She folded her coat and sat on it, and Midvalley slightly shook his head.
" How long have you been following him around?" Midvalley asked
" 3 years, Each time he picks idiots for the twelve that will destroy the legendary gunman himself," Dominique said, " Who ever kills him will be reward, but if you fail."
She made a cut across her throat and Midvalley smirked.
" So, we're hunting a ghost," Midvalley said, " Simple enough."
Dominique chuckled and Midvalley looked at her.
" You think he's a ghost? Then you're more naïve than I thought. Vash the Stampede is no ghost, he destroyed the city of July," Dominique said, " He's a pest that needs to be destroyed."
Midvalley stood up and looked at her and then picked up his sax case.
" Your worthless you know that," Dominique said
" I don't know about that," Midvalley said, " You see, I've been performing on the greatest stage of all and I didn't know it until you two came around."
" What stage is that?" Dominique said
" Wouldn't you like to know," Midvalley replied
He walked off and Legato looked at him as Midvalley walked down the dusty path.
" Legato, he's walking out on us," Dominique screeched
" He's doing what he does best," Legato said, " A solo performance."
" What is it with men and musical terms," Dominique stated
Legato walked off and Dominique followed close behind. She wasn't pleased with the "new member" of the twelve.
" Bastard," she cursed
Midvalley came to a saloon and sat down and a young bartend came to take his order.
" Can I help you," the soft voice came
Midvalley looked up and saw it was a young woman who spoke. He smirked and gave a small chuckle.
" Give me the hardest thing you have," Midvalley said, " Cause life just cut my act short."
The young bartender poured him something hard and sat the glass down in front of him.
" This is the hardest we have, but if your new to this city then consider yourself a light drinker. December is famous for it's hard drinks and anything you've had is a light drink," the bartender stated
Midvalley smiled and she looked at him as he took the drink. He sipped it and made a face and a smile curled up into his lips.
" I think I'll actually like December," he said downing the rest
" Hard life I see, so what's your story…girlfriend left you?" she questioned
" More like I left her, but it wasn't her it was the town I was in," he said, " I was blamed for something I didn't do. I guess it will teach me to mess with the wrong people."
Midvalley took a few drinks of the same hard stuff and the bartender smirked. She tended to others then returned to the handsome Midvalley.
" Tell me stranger what do you do for a living?" she asked
" I'm a saxophone player, and I'm always looking for a gig," Midvalley said, " But I assure you my music isn't ordinary."
" Sounds like you maybe a hit around here, our regular piano player well, just got up and left…he took everything but the keys on the piano," the bartender said
" Sounds kind of stupid, but hell, if it worked out for him then that's good," Midvalley said
" Do you have a name stranger or do I have give you one?" the bartender asked
Midvalley looked at her and smirked, then replied, " Midvalley."
" Midvalley, well Midvalley welcome to your new life," she said
Midvalley smiled and the bartender gave him a wink.
" I guess this is what I needed," Midvalley said
By the evening Midvalley was given a place just over the saloon, not to big and not to small. Midvalley sat down and wrote a letter to Aemilia, and wrote the address in a different writing so she could only read it. Midvalley laid out his music he had tucked away in his case and looked at it. He rewrote it so it added a more bite to it, part of his new lifestyle was his new music. He walked to the window and opened it to let the cool air sweep in. He just stared out trying to focus on what he wanted most. His life or the power that Legato said he would have when he took on his offer.
" I could have both couldn't I," Midvalley thought
Midvalley removed his sax from its case and looked at it. He lifted it up and played a few lighthearted tunes. Though deep inside anger built up, he still had one thing that no one could take away. His love for music encouraged him to play on and that was what would help him in his training.
Later a knock came on his door and he rose from his bed and walked to it.
" Who is it?" Midvalley asked
" It's the bartender," the soft voice said
Midvalley opened the door and saw she carried a tray, with a meal on it.
" Do Saxophone players eat or starve?" she asked
" Both," he replied
" Here, I made you something, I thought you could use the nutrients after the intact of several drinks," she said
Midvalley nodded and said, " Thanks."
He invited her in and she set the tray down on the table nearest to his window. She saw the envelope ready to go out.
" I can send this for you if you want," she said
Midvalley walked over and nodded.
" It would be greatly appreciated," Midvalley said
" My names, Anna by the way," she said, " I had asked your name and never gave you mine."
" It's not your fault most girls forget when they talk to me," Midvalley replied
Anna smiled and looked at him, it was the same look all the girls he met gave to him.
" You must have been a real stud back home," she said
" I guess you could say that," Midvalley said
She smirked and said, " Eat up, before it gets cold."
Midvalley sat down and Anna started to leave and she saw the sax.
" It's a beautiful sax, I can see you take care of it," Anna said
" It's been with me through the hard times of my life, I've had it since I was just a kid," Midvalley stated
" Then it really means something," Anna said, " Could you play me something?"
Midvalley looked at Anna and took a bite of his food then sipped the glass of water on the table. He got up and lifted the sax and began to play a melody that he played for Aemilia the first time he met her. The melody brought back memories that he didn't want to bring back, the devastation of losing what family he had in an escape from hell to a peaceful life.
Flashback
16 years ago
Those who survived the terrible tragedy of the destruction of July came to the small town 60 miles from it. It was the closes thing they had in memory of the fallen July. A young Midvalley watched the transition of his home town. The pleasantness turned into unsettling thoughts, that maybe they would be next to be wiped out of existence. Midvalley, spent most his days staying with his mother who ran the local saloon and his father who played there. It was a pleasant life until rumors began to spread about another attack on those who witnessed the destruction of July. This led to a panic and suspicion of each other, people began to drink endless amounts and becoming violent to each other.
By the time the year was over the little town was full of hate and pushed away visitors that would regularly be welcomed. Attacks at night on people who were suspicious of one another. Midvalley and his family were quickly packed and ready to leave one night. Hearing yet another bombing against a neighbor made the family's mind. It seemed that others had the same idea. At night they were fleeing from the comforts of their home. Midvalley carrying the only treasure possession that he really cared about.
" Come on Midvalley," his mother said herding him ahead of her
" Why are we running?" Midvalley asked
" We don't want the bad people to get us sweetheart," she replied
There was a sudden explosion where they were running past and both were thrown yards apart. Midvalley got up still holding tight to his father's sax case, he stood up almost unable to walk.
" Mom!" he called
His horsed voice was not even heard by those who ran in fear. His father and older sister had vanished without looking back. He stumbled only feet before tripping over a body. He came to his knees and looked seeing his mother laying there.
" Mom," he cried
She looked at him briefly and grabbed his hand.
" Go on Midvalley…I'll catch up…I just need to rest," she whispered closing her eyes
" No, you….you can't," Midvalley whispered, " They'll find you."
He tried shaking his mother awake as tears touched his cut up face.
" They'll find you," he said softly
Midvalley looked up seeing the morning light about to the pierce through the darkness. He got up and lifted the case and began walking towards the untouched land west of where everyone else went. He started into the vast desert land, there for 10 days he trudged through rocky and dry terrains, then soft hot sand. His limp body dragged the sax case behind him and he gave up trying. He dropped into the hot sand and laid there hoping death would claim him too.
3 days later
Midvalley opened his eyes weakly and saw a young girl's face along with two other young children's faces.
" He's waking up," the girl chirped
" Now, alright step aside and let me see," an older voice said
An old man stood next to him and smiled.
" You are one lucky little boy," the old man said, " Desert climate like these past days have been killers. Lucky for you, this little girl was out with her father and found you."
Midvalley only blinked with half opened eyes before fallen unconscious again.
" Why did they save me?" he thought, " I would have been happy if I died."
Hours later he regain consciousness and the girl, whom he saw first was pouring water into a bowl. She dabbed a cloth into the bowl then wrung it out. She walked over and then stopped. He braided pigtails flopped over her shoulder and she smiled.
" Hello," she said, " I see your up again."
" Where am I?" he mumbled
" Your in Geo town,115 miles Northwest of Rosetta," she said
" Rosetta, that's where I came from," he whispered, " why am I here?"
" We found you," the young girl said as she began to clean Midvalley's face
Midvalley looked at her then sighed as she cleaned his face.
" Do you have family?" the little girl asked
" Their dead, killed before my eyes," Midvalley whispered, " some panic because of a gunman who destroyed some city."
The girl shook her head and finished. She cleaned the towel and sat next to him.
" My name is Aemilia," she said, " I'm 7 years old."
" My name is Midvalley," he answered
" Do you have an age?" she asked
" I don't remember," he replied
Unsettling thoughts came to his mind and he turned away from the girl's gaze.
" I'm all alone," he whispered, " I don't have anything anymore only unwillingness to live."
" You have your instrument, it's a beautiful sax," she said
" My sax?" he questioned
" Yes, it's a little beat up, but it's no problem to fix," she answered
" That's right my sax is the last thing I have of my life," Midvalley whispered, " without it I'm nothing."
End of Flashback
Midvalley stared at the sax and Anna looked at him.
" Are you ok?" she said
She pulled out her handkerchief and wiped his eyes and Midvalley looked at her.
" I can see music has an effect on you," she said
" It's what keeps me alive," Midvalley said
" You are defiantly a true musician," Anna said
Midvalley looked at her and smirked.
" You have no idea," Midvalley replied
Anna smiled and then realized that it was getting late. She thanked him for playing and Midvalley thanked her for dinner. Midvalley sat down at the table and finished the dinner, even though it was cold. He was pleased with the atmosphere in this city and would almost refuse to leave, if it weren't for the two that pestered him. Midvalley finally rest with easy and could feel his body resting.
By the next morning there was a knock on the door and Midvalley opened his eyes. He moaned slightly and then sat up. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the glistening sun entering his room. He got up and slipped his shirt on, then walked to the door.
" Who is it?" he moaned
" Dominique," Dominique's voice answered
" What do you want?" he groaned
" Legato, wants to see you," she said, " And you better not test his patients."
Midvalley buttoned up his shirt leaving the two top buttons undone. He carried his sax with him and headed down. Anna saw him coming down and greeted him, he returned the greeting. He saw Dominique leaned against the frame of the doorway waiting for him.
" Hurry up," she growled
" I'm coming," he growled back
" Bitch," he mumbled
They walked out and headed to where Legato was. He wasn't to pleased to be waken up from his sleep because someone summoned for him. Legato was sitting outside on the porch of a restaurant eating cake. Midvalley and Dominique stood in front of him and Midvalley slightly tapped his fingers in irritation.
" I don't appreciate being woken up because you want to see me," Midvalley snapped
" I don't care what you appreciate or not," Legato replied simply
Midvalley narrowed his eyes and Dominique slightly smiled. Legato rose from where he stood and walked past them.
" What did you want?" Midvalley questioned with aggravation
" What do I want, it's time to show your true ability," Legato said, " Your test of loyalty."
" What do you want me to do?" he asked
Legato looked at Midvalley and Midvalley slightly took a step back.
" Your test of loyalty is to kill," Legato said, " Kill these people."
Midvalley looked at Legato and said, " You're joking these people are harmless."
" Their going to die anyway so why not help them out," Legato said, " Mankind is a bore, you should know that by now."
" Your asking me to kill people who haven't lived a life," Midvalley said
" Their only useless garbage," Legato said, " should I help you?"
Legato turned around and looked at a young child and suddenly the child toppled over in pain choking. Midvalley looked at Legato and lifted his sax and began to play. He struck Legato with the sounds. Dominique placed a gun to Midvalley's head and Midvalley looked at her.
" Don't make me shoot you, my master's very fawned of your talent," Dominique said
Midvalley looked at Legato and then Dominique as she prepared to pull the trigger.
" I won't care if you killed me," Midvalley said, " Though it would be kind of hard to with no bullets."
Dominique looked at him and pulled the trigger and nothing happened. Midvalley dropped the bullets onto the ground.
" Bastard," she growled
" No, that's knowing my opponent," Midvalley said
He played some notes and pushed Dominique away from him. He picked up the falling gun and loaded it. Legato stood up and looked at Midvalley, he had struck him as the weak and obedient type, but apparently he was wrong.
" You astound me Midvalley, you would kill your own for something simple," Legato said
Midvalley looked at him and narrowed his eyes.
" I kill only if I am in danger, but I do also protect those who have a chance in life," Midvalley said, " Call it my debt to society."
Midvalley turned on his heels and pushed past Dominique and tossed her, her gun. She narrowed her eyes and looked at Legato.
" Why do you keep letting him go like that Legato?" she questioned, " He's being insubordinate."
Legato looked at Dominique and then walked past her.
" Insubordinate, I suppose he is," Legato said
He walked off and Dominique sighed and walked off after Legato.