Chapter 18
I sighed as all fifteen arrows had been spent from my quiver and into my target. They were grouped tightly, but how tight together they really were I would not know for sure until I got closer for examination. I slung my bow over my shoulder and approached my target. I saw that there was close to half an inch in between each arrow in the cluster of fifteen. I pulled out the arrows, one by one, replacing them in the quiver. I remembered where the weaknesses in the body armor MECH personnel wore were, so I would use that to my advantage if I could.
The MECH body armor was weak under the right clavicle, an inch and to the right of the naval, and the sides of the knees. Other than those areas, I highly doubted that an arrow would penetrate the armor. I didn't want to take out anyone else, only Silas. Most of my life had been a lie, over half of it so far. I wanted something to compensate for the loss, I didn't know if that'd be his blood and a sense of closure or if I just wanted peace within myself, something that I have not felt since I was a little kid.
The door to the training room slid open with a hiss and I turned around to see Flare standing there. "Oh, hey, Flare," I said softly.
"What's wrong, kid?" my guardian asked as she kneeled down in front of me.
"Besides the fact that I messed up big time?" I asked.
"How did you mess up?"
"The kids saw me shooting at the target with my bow," I replied gesturing towards the boxing dummy.
"And how did you explain it?" she asked.
"I didn't," I replied. "They figured it out and then their guardians shuffled them out."
"And?"
I looked at Flare in disbelief, "You think this isn't a big deal?"
"The kids have seen us in action multiple times, they understand war."
"Do they, Flare?" I whispered. "Have they truly seen it? From what I have understood there hasn't been an actual Decepticon casualty in a long time."
"What do you mean?"
"Those aren't real Cons, they're drones that you're taking out," I said looking away and towards my targets. "When was the last time a Con was taken out?"
"When Bee took out Skyquake," Flare replied.
"Which was?"
"Roughly three months ago, before you were introduced to this war."
I nod once and unsling my bow from my shoulder. "I need to get some more practice in," I said solemnly. "I'll talk to you later, Flare."
"You need to let someone in, Beau," my guardian said gently before she turned to walk away.
I took a deep breath as I heard the door slide shut and I went back to work. I emerged from the practice room after an hour and I still didn't feel satisfied with my shooting. I was walking towards the showers when I was stopped by my name being called.
I turned around and saw Miko running towards me. She stopped in front of me and placed her hands on her thighs as she bent over. "Dude, I like called your name five times," she huffed.
"Sorry, Miko," I apologized. "I just need to take a shower."
"I was wondering if you would help me and some friends out with something," Miko started to beat around the bush.
"Can you get to the point, please?" I interrupted before she went completely off tangent.
"Sorry, bro," she sheepishly said. "Would you like to participate in the Battle of the Bands competition?"
"Excuse me?" I asked.
"Battle of the Bands," Miko said slowly. She rolled her eyes and continued, "Come on dude, I thought you had better hearing."
I shook my head and asked, "How many people do you have already?"
"Three," was my answer.
"That's plenty."
"Dude! Three piece bands stink!"
I stood up straighter and asked, "Does Rush stink? Traffic, ZZ Top? Greenday, Mu…"
"Okay dude, I get your point!" interrupted Miko.
"So then you should know that you have all of the pieces that you need."
"We need a lead guitar and singer! Please Beau!"
"When's the competition?" I wearily asked.
"Three days."
"You have got to be kidding me…"
"Hehe, sorry."
"Tell your friends that tomorrow there will be practice at your host parents' house," I said and walked away.
"Thanks Beau!"
Next Day…
"Are you sure about this?" Flare asked as I mounted.
"No, it's been awhile since I've done anything like this."
"How long?"
"Since I was like six, we had concerts in Elementary school. Just choir singing songs really."
Flare rode down the tunnel and out of HQ before she replied, "You're a good singer though."
"Depends on my mood, plus the hardest thing will be to explain how to play the songs."
"No singing?"
"Not if I'm the only one singing," I said simply.
We rode in silence up until we reached Miko's place of residence. "Good luck," Flare wished as I dismounted.
I smiled as I removed my helmet and set it on the seat. I turned and found Miko and two other kids that I didn't know.
"Glad you could make it, Beau," Miko said happily.
"And who are your friends?" I asked.
"This is Aaron," Miko said pushing a kid with black hair and blonde highlights. He was most likely Miko's age, built like a workhorse and he was slightly shorter than her. "And this is Jackie." The girl stepped forward and I took in her appearance as well.
She was taller than Miko by an inch, had strawberry blonde hair and freckles. Her blue eyes were so deep I could lose myself in them if I wasn't careful. "Alright, who plays what?" I asked.
"I play percussion," Aaron said running his left hand through his hair.
"I play bass," Jackie replied.
I rubbed my chin in thought. I looked at Aaron and asked, "What is the most complex song that you've played on drums?"
"I once played La Villa Strangiato," Aaron said looking away.
"Good, that's the hardest song that anyone can play, in my opinion. But did you play it all the way through or just parts?"
"All of it."
"I'll take your word for it," I said before turning to Jackie. "What's the hardest thing that you have played on your bass?"
"The Immigrant Song by Zeppelin," she replied.
"Hardest song that you've played on guitar, Miko?" I asked.
"Umm… Hail to the King by Avenged Sevenfold," she replied. "Wait, or was it… nope never mind."
"Why are you asking us these questions?" asked Aaron. "What about you, hmm? What's the hardest song that you've played?"
"La Villa Strangiato by Rush, Through the Fire and the Flames by Dragonforce, The Trooper by Iron Maiden, and Eruption by Van Halen," I answered. "Any more questions?" I paused an waited for one to appear and I nodded my head, "Good, now let's begin."
After six hours of me drilling into their heads what songs we were doing and when to play what, I let Aaron and Jackie go. Miko was sitting on the ground panting and looking at her hands. "That was the most intense thing that I've done all week."
"You wanted me in this, remember?" I asked.
"Yeah, I didn't realize that this would happen though," Miko replied dryly.
I shrugged, "I was trained to be very thorough. It helps that the three of you know what you're doing most of the time."
"Most of the time?" Miko asked arching an eyebrow.
I smiled and looked around the garage. "Your host parents have a nice house," I said truthfully.
"You should see my parents' house in Tokyo," she said wistfully. "Although it is more exciting here."
I wiggled the fingers on my prosthetic and Miko looked at me in concern. "Are you alright?" she asked.
I looked up and met her eyes before I replied, "Yeah, I'm fine. My prosthetic isn't used to this amount of work. I'll tinker with it when I get back home."
Miko didn't look convinced. "Be back here after school tomorrow, we still have three days until the show and we still have to decided on a band name," she said.
I smiled and replied, "Understood. See you tomorrow, Miko."
"Bye," she waved as she turned and went inside through the door that connected the house to the garage.
I walked up to Flare and put on my helmet before getting on. Immediately through the com device in my helmet I heard my guardian say, "You were lying about your prosthetic to Miko. What's going on?"
I sighed as Flare started the engine and took off down the driveway. "It's nothing Flare, I promise."
Flare snorted in disbelief and then said, "Have Ratchet look at it at least."
"Only if I can go riding alone again," I countered.
"I'll think about that."
Three Days later…
I slipped on my riding jacket and slid a black leather-riding glove over my prosthetic hand. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and took in my appearance. I still had the scar Airachnid gave on my face. My facial hair was contained into a chinstrap. My eyes that once held happiness and hope now only held anger and sadness.
"Beau, are you almost ready?" Miko called.
"Yeah," I called back. "Just finishing up."
I walked out of the bathroom on base and picked up my Les Paul. I slung it over my shoulders and looked around. Miko was in her usual garb only with a leather jacket. "You ready for tonight?" she asked.
"Yeah, where is everybody?" I asked.
"Bulkhead is on a mission and will be back soon, Jack had to work, and Raf is racing with Bumblebee."
"Optimus and Flare?" I asked when I caught sight of Ratchet walking back into the main room.
"Scouting for Energon," Ratchet answered as he stopped at the computer.
"When will they be back?" I asked.
"Twenty minutes."
I walked back to my room and saw an oblong package on my bed. I unwrapped it and found an acoustic guitar inside of a case. I picked up the guitar and saw a note fall into the case. I furrowed my eyebrows in surprise and set acoustic down as I picked up the note.
Dear Son,
It has come to my understanding that you are going to participate in a battle of the bands. I wish you luck in your endeavor and hope all is well.
Love,
Your mom.
PS: This guitar was your father's.
I looked at the guitar more closely and found that it was my dad's 1958 Harmony acoustic. I smiled sadly as I felt tears well in my eyes. I took deep breaths and put the guitar back in the case. I picked it up and turned around to find Flare standing in the doorway.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine," I replied.
"You're riding with Bulk to the show tonight. We'll all be there in our holoforms."
"What time should we expect you guys?"
"Right when you arrive."
I walked past my guardian and headed towards the main area. Bulkhead was in his vehicle mode and had the trunk open. I deposited my two guitars and gently closed the trunk. I opened the passengers' side back door and got in. I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes, reviewing the songs we were going to be playing and in what order.
"Ready for tonight, Beau?" Bulkhead asked as we drove out of the base.
"As I'll ever be," I answered. "How bout you Miko? You ready?"
"I feel comfortable with what we're about to do," she replied. "I'm actually nervous."
"Why?" I asked.
"The winner goes on to compete with other bands from other high schools in Las Vegas."
I froze and looked over at Miko in disbelief. "You failed to mention that before!" I cried.
"Sorry," Miko said sheepishly. "I didn't think that I could get you to agree to it if you knew." She paused and gathered herself before saying, "Besides you're the most amazing guitar player that I have ever witnessed or heard."
I shook my head and said, "I'm good Miko, but not that good."
We rode in silence until we got to the school. Aaron and Jackie met us at the door and Bulkhead's holoform walked out of the driver's side. I took in his appearance and saw that he took the body shape of an Olympic wrestler. He still had the Autobot blue eyes. His face was weathered and was sporting a full beard. He was bald and wore a pair of jeans with a dark green shirt. Overall, pretty much Bulkhead.
Miko's friends looked at her guardian in awe and shock. I walked around to the trunk and opened it. I pulled my guitars out of the trunk and heard, "Ready for tonight, Beau?"
I closed the trunk and turned as I said, "Where's the cavalry?"
Leland Bishop stood before me and smirked, "Did I need to bring it?"
"You should have," I growled.
"Tsk, tsk, Beau," he said. "I thought I taught you better than that."
"Apparently you didn't teach me as well as you would've like," I snarled. "What are you doing here?"
"Is it wrong for me to want to watch my son perform?"
"Cut the shit," I snapped. "How did you even know I would be here?"
"I hacked into the school's network to see how you were doing in school, only to see that you had withdrawn from your classes," Leland replied. "So I was surprised to see your name come up in a battle of the bands competition."
"You've satisfied that curiosity, now leave," I turned my back on him.
"And why wouldn't I stay and watch my son?"
"YOU'RE NOT MY FATHER!" I spat as I turned back to face him in my fury. "My father was First Lieutenant Andrew James Schwarz of the United States Air Force. He was KIA in 2005. Location: Unknown. Date: Unknown. But you already knew that didn't you? I know you killed him, Silas. And I swear to you on my father's grave, I will have my vengeance." My eyes were attempting to bore a hole into the forehead of the man across from me.
The man who had raised me for half of my life stood there gaping like a fish out of water. I snorted in disgust and took a couple of steps closer to him. "Listen here and listen well, leave now, or I'll call in the Agency. They'll be here in moments."
Leland nodded his head and disappeared into the shadows. I took a deep, shaky, breath and released it. I hoped that no one had been paying attention to what had happened. I stepped around Bulkhead's vehicle mode and almost crashed into his holoform.
"Sorry, Bulk," I apologized.
"It's alright," he answered. "Miko was wondering what was taking you so long."
"I had to make a phone call," I lied easily. "Can you lead me to where they've gone?"
"Okay," Bulkhead said looking into my eyes.
A couple of minutes later, I was standing with my band mates. We were in the school's auditorium and backstage watching the bands ahead of us. The band we were watching right now was pretty good. A familiar guitar riff was heard to open their next song and Aaron cursed.
"They're playing our opening song and we're next!" Jackie cried.
"Don't worry, I've got a back up plan," I assured them.
"But we don't know the song!" Aaron hissed.
"And you don't need to, they might be playing Iron Man, but that shouldn't disrupt our plans," I said gently. "And you don't need to know the song that is the backup plan because it'll only take you guys just standing there."
"As long as you know what you're doing," Aaron mumbled.
"I have a general idea most of the time," I shrugged as I bent down and opened my father's acoustic guitar case.
"Alright, thank you Metal Case, the principle's voice announced as the band walked backstage. "Next up for this battle of the bands competition is Full Throttle. The four of us walked on stage and I was carrying the acoustic guitar and a chair. Miko and Jackie also carried chairs and we sat down. I plugged my acoustic into the amp and pulled the mic down to my sitting height.
"Thank you all for coming tonight," I spoke. "I'd like to start our night off with a little ol' fashioned Johnny Cash."
I started playing the intro to the Man in Black's cover of Hurt, before I started singing:
I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything
What have I become
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know goes away
In the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time
The feelings disappear
You are someone else
I am still right here
What have I become
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know goes away
In the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way
I ended the song and stood up. I was followed by my band mates and I saw Raf standing off stage. I motioned for him to come and get my acoustic. He nodded in understanding and he brought out my electric. I switched guitars with him and gave him a wink before plugging in my Les Paul and turning to look at my band mates. "Just like we practiced," I said before turning back to the crowd.
I nodded at Miko and she started the intro and I picked up the lead guitar. The intro solo was good and the band sounded great.
On a cold winter morning
In the time before the light
In flames of death's eternal reign
We ride towards the fight
When the darkness has fallen down
And the times are tough alright
The sound of evil laughter falls
Around the world tonight
Fighting hard, fighting on for the steel
Through the wastelands evermore
The scattered souls will feel the hell
Bodies wasted on the shores
On the blackest plains in Hell's domain
We watch them as they go
Through the fire and pain and once again we know!
So now we fly ever free
We're free before the thunderstorm
On towards the wilderness
Our quest carries on
Far beyond the sundown
Far beyond the moonlight
Deep inside our hearts and all our souls!
So far away we wait for the day
For the lives all so wasted and gone
We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days
Through the fire and the flames we carry on!
As the red day is dawning
And the lightning cracks the sky
They'll raise their hands to the heavens above
With resentment in their eyes
Running back through the midmorning light
There's a burning in my heart
We're banished from a time in a fallen land
To a life beyond the stars
In your darkest dreams see to believe
Our destiny is time
And endlessly we'll all be free tonight!
And on the wings of a dream
So far beyond reality
All alone in desperation
Now the time has gone
Lost inside you'll never find
Lost within my own mind
Day after day this misery must go on!
So far away we wait for the day
For the lives all so wasted and gone
We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days
Through the fire and the flames we carry on!
I broke for the first of two guitar solos and I still felt confidant with our performance.
Wo-o-oah,wo-o-oah,who-o-o-o-oah!
Wo-o-oah,wo-o-oa,who-o-o-o-oah!
I broke for the second solo here and made eye contact with Miko. I gave her an encouraging nod before we continued.
Now here we stand with their blood on our hands
We fought so hard, now can we understand
I'll break the seal of this curse if I possibly can
For freedom of every man!
So far away we wait for the day
For the lives all so wasted and gone
We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days
Through the fire and the flames we carry on!
The outro came and went as we ended the song.
The crowd was cheering and I turned and looked at Aaron and Jackie. I gave them a thumbs up and received one in return.
I turned around and grabbed the microphone, "Thank you Jasper!" I called. "We only have a couple more songs to perform and I hope that you enjoy them as much as we do!"
The intro for the next song started and I started singing again,
One life I'm gonna live it up
I'm takin' flight said I'll never get enough.
Stand tall I'm young and kinda proud
I'm on top as long as the music's loud.
If you think I'll sit around as the world goes by
You're thinkin' like a fool 'cause it's a case of do or die.
Out there is a fortune waitin' to be had
If you think I'll let it go you're mad
You've got another thing comin'.
That's right here's where the talkin' ends
Well listen this night there'll be some action spent.
Drive hard I'm callin' all the shots
I got an ace card comin' down on the rocks.
If you think I'll sit around while you chip away my brain
Listen I ain't foolin' and you'd better think again.
Out there is a fortune waitin' to be had
If you think I'll let it go you're mad
You've got another thing comin'.
In this world we're livin' in we have our share of sorrow
Answer now is don't give in aim for a new tomorrow.
Miko broke off to do the guitar solo on this one and I actually smiled for once this night.
Oh so hot no time to take a rest yeah
Act tough ain't room for second best.
Real strong got me some security
Hey I'm a big smash I'm goin' for infinity yeah.
If you think I'll sit around as the world goes by
You're thinkin' like a fool 'cause it's a case of do or die.
Out there is a fortune waitin' to be had
If you think I'll let it go you're mad
You've got another thing comin'.
The song finished and I turned once more to look at Aaron and Jackie. They each gave me a nod and I nodded back.
Last song for tonight, I thought to myself.
I started the intro for the song and once again started to sing,
My eyes are open wide
By the way
I made it through the day
I watch the world outside
By the way
I'm leaving out today
I just saw Haley's comet, shooting
She waved, said, "Why are you always running in place"
Even the man in the moon disappeared
Somewhere in the stratosphere
Tell my mother, tell my father
I have done the best I can
To make them realize
This is my life
I hope they understand
I'm not angry, I'm just saying
Sometimes goodbye is a second chance
Please don't cry one tear for me
I'm not afraid of what I have to say
This is my one and only voice
So listen close it's only for today
I just saw Haley's comet, she waved
She waved, said, "Why are you always running in place"
Even the man in the moon disappeared
Somewhere in the stratosphere
Tell my mother, tell my father
I have done the best I can
To make them realize
This is my life
I hope they understand
I'm not angry, I'm just saying
Sometimes goodbye is a second chance
Here is my chance
This is my chance
Aaron got his drum solo and we continued.
Tell my mother, tell my father
I have done the best I can
To make them realize
This is my life
I hope they understand
I'm not angry, I'm just saying
Sometimes goodbye is a second chance
Sometimes goodbye is a second chance
Sometimes goodbye is a second chance
We ended the song and bowed to the audience. I unplugged my Les Paul and headed off stage. I didn't hear what everyone else was saying as I put my guitar away. My throat was a bit sore and my prosthetic started to shake. I grabbed my prosthetic hand with my left and forced it to stop.
"We nailed it!" Jackie exclaimed.
"No, we killed it!" Miko corrected.
I stood up and everyone looked at me. "How do you think we did, Beau?" Aaron asked.
"As well as could be expected," I answered. "See you guys later."
"Where are you going?" Miko asked.
"Home, I have some things that I need to finish for tonight," I replied as I went out the door backstage.
I walked along the alleyway behind the school and felt a prick in my neck. Out of reaction I lifted my left hand up to the sensation and dropped to my knees as darkness surrounded my vision before claiming it.