LIVING HISTORY
by ardavenport
= = = Part 30
They returned to their seats in plenty of time. Below, the audience members were still reassembling back into their seats, their low, many-voiced noise filling Tamwa Hall.
"Master, are you well?" Obi-Wan asked when they were seated. "You seemed disturbed after you spoke with Sebo backstage."
Qui-Gon sighed, taking a few seconds to reply. "I was . . . I am disturbed by a Play that celebrates the powers of the Dark Side. And I made the mistake of fearing what would come from it. Never fear the Dark Side, Obi-Wan. That only makes it stronger."
"Yes, Master." Obi-Wan nodded, noticing that he had not said anything about what Sebo said to him backstage. "Is there more that you're not telling me?"
Settling back in his seat, Qui-Gon looked toward the stage, his expression, under the shadow of his hood, almost serene. "Yes."
Obi-Wan waited for more."
"Is it something you can discuss?"
"No."
Obi-Wan sat back in his own seat. He accepted that there were things that Jedi Masters did not discuss with Padawans. But he did not have to like it.
The lights blinked again. Looking down at the Play roster resting on the wide arm rest of his chair, he picked it up. It blinked a final warning that the intermission was almost over. A minute later the lights went down and the flashing colored lights came on, the orchestra playing a short overture, a medly of tunes from the Play, perhaps meant to allow the last few stragglers to take their seats.
The lights came up on one side of the stage, the little cell, Keth lying on the small cot, the white bandage and reddish blond hair on the flat pillow. He stirred, turned over and sat up . . . revealing another person next to him. Nirid, still asleep.
The music started again with a gentle tune and one floating platform returned with its two tan-gray figures, sitting close, facing each other, hands clasped. Keth pushed himself up and began to sing.
. . .
"Here's a story of a boy
Who knew that he was special,
Did not notice there was more
Than my duty to the Jedi's call."
. . .
He touched her face. Her eyes remained closed, but she smiled. Somehow his touch, nor the singing, nor the music, woke her.
. . .
"Now that I have found you
I can see that there is more,
Like those special moments,
Things that are missing,
Like your kissing me before."
. . .
The figures above kissed, and when they touched, it was with affection, not lust, though it was no less erotic than the last song. Keth leaned down, touching her lovingly and she finally woke, sitting up partially, eyes fixed on her lover as he caressed her face.
. . .
"Though I am a Jedi
I know of tender loving,
And sharing dreams, you and me
Of having you in my arms is all,
. . .
"That I ever want from you.
Your love is all I need.
No power is so great,
No Force above you,
And I'll love you all the more.
. . .
"So, come to me, my lovely Nirid."
. . .
They kissed and embraced and sank back down onto the cot together, their motions mirrored above by the two masked, androgynous figures. The lights went down on their end of the stage, the floater above retreating. They came up on the other side. Minigan, still bound to the black frame, more blused and haggard, the middle of his tuni torn, revealing red stripes, whip-marks on his exposed skin. He still had his boots, but his pants were ripped as well, scarred and bruised skin underneath.
He lifted his head; his eyes were wild. All the good humor had left him. The music rose ominously.
. . .
"Any dolt with half a brain
Can see the galaxy is just insane,
And the Force is just a lie.
Indifference would make you cry,
And all loyalty morphs into your bane.
Listen close to everybody's heart
And feel that treachery.
Hopes and peace are shattering apart
With crumbling certainty."
. . .
The lights came up on the right side of the stage. Nirid sat up over a sleeping Keth while Minigan finished his verse.
. . .
"I cannot remain Jedi!
With my world filled with dark and lies,
And it's plain to see
Evil inside of me is on the rise."
. . .
The Sith and Jedi figures appeared above, the Sith dancing with angry sharp motions, the Jedi with smooth harmonious ones. Nirid joined the song.
. . .
"Look at him,
I never thought I would begin,
Question the things that I believe,
That tender love was just naïve,
A greater love I should achieve,
And I believe
There's love in everybody's heart,
More than lust and greed,
I know there's more to my part.
I've found a higher need."
. . .
"Can I now dare to love Jedi?
Is the galaxy growing wise?
'Cause it seems to me
Some kind of harmony
Is on the rise."
. . .
They sang together in harmony, different words on the same melody and Obi-Wan had to consult the Play roster to catch it all.
. . .
Minigin: "Any dolt with half a brain,"
_ Nirid: "I don't know,"
. . .
Minigin: "Can see the galaxy is just insane,"
_ Nirid: "If this new love will show,"
. . .
Minigin: "'Cause the dark is everywhere."
_ Nirid: "And I wonder where this could go."
. . .
Minigin: "Keth abandons me without a care,"
_ Nirid: "But suddenly I feel this glow,"
. . .
Minigin: "So soon the dark in me is all that will remain,"
_ Nirid: "And I believe,"
. . .
Minigin: "Listen close to everybody's heart,"
_ Nirid: "There's love in everybody's heart,"
. . .
Minigin: "And feel that treachery,"
_ Nirid: "More than lust and greed."
. . .
Minigin: "Hopes and peace are shattering apart,"
_ Nirid: "I know there's more to my part,"
. . .
Minigin: "With crumbling certainty."
_ Nirid: "I've found a higher need."
. . .
They both straightened as if finding their resolve.
. . .
Minigin: I cannot remain Jedi!
_ Nirid: Can a Sith dare to love Jedi?
. . .
Minigin: With my world filled with dark and lies,"
_ Nirid: Is the galaxy growing wise?"
. . .
Minigin: And it's plain to see,"
_ Nirid: 'Cause it seems to me,"
. . .
Minigin: Evil inside of me is on the rise."
_ Nirid: Some kind of harmony is on the rise."
. . .
The lights faded and the figures receded. The applause from the audience was loud and appreciative and the lights did not come back up until it had died down. Only the left side of the stage was lit, Minigan apparently limp, hanging from the frame.
Guards came in carrying buckets and equipment. One of them was Timoz Wemi. Some went to the back of the stage and made water noises while the others took up defensive positions around Minigan, keeping well out of arm's reach. A guard came forward with a hose.
"B-b-b-llll-uu-uuuugh!" Minigan revived quickly to the stream of water. He shook his head, splattering water everywhere, his graying brown hair dark and flat against his head.
"Oh, that's so refreshing!" he called out with his old good humor. Two guards with white cloths fixed to the ends of poles started scrubbing him. Minigan went to his toes shouting that he was ticklish especially when one went between his legs. His squeals and giggles calmed and he flexed his muscles when they finished.
"Ooooh, I might be mistaken, but are you all keeping your distance for a reason?" He conspicuously sniffed toward one of his armpits. The crowd laughed. "Is it meeeee?" The guards ignored him. One of them, he had a yellow insignia on his shoulders that the others did not, took out a box containing a shiny black mound.
"Lord Yarr wishes you to be made more presentable," he called out, standing well back from the frame. With the toe of his boot, he tipped over the box, its contents falling over. It appeared to be clothes; there was a pair of black boots. "You are to be her next . . . distraction." He spat in Minigan's direction.
"Oh, I'm not very good at distractions. Couldn't we just start with lunch?"
"Silence, Jedi scum!" The guard slowly approached. "You will be dressed. And plumped. For our Master. And when she is done with you, when she has crushed and squeezed and stripped every morsel of pleasure from you, you will beg for more. Before she ends it. And your bleeding remains will be thrown out to the caraks." He leaned close, jabbing a black club under Minigan's chin. "Because that is all you are good for."
The prisoner grinned.
"Ooooh, but I am good for so much more than that. Can't you see it in my eyes?" Minigan's expression turned feral. The guard froze, drawing out the silence between them. Weapons ready, the other guards alerted, but hesitated.
"Tell them to lower their weapons," Minigan locked his eyes on the now blankly-staring guard commander.
"Lower your weapons."
"Louder!"
"Lower your weapons, now!"
The guards obeyed and Minigan stared each of them down. "Now, you can see that I am good for so much more." They dropped their blasters.
"Release me!" The guards complied. Then Minigan ordered the others to chain up their leader to the frame. After they did that, Minigan jabbed the lead guard with the his own club under his chin, forcing his head back.
"You," Minigan told him, "Might be good for something." Snatching up the man's blaster, he whirled around and shot the other guards. They were blank blaster shots; no one died on the stage, but the performers made it look dramatic, throwing their arms out as they fell and twitched. Minigan strode to center stage as the orchestra started an ominous tune.
. . .
"I was lost in a moral dilemma 'cause at first
I saw you through my vows to the Jedi Code and I
killed Hulus, your apprentice, and then you, it's true
You're a Sith, you're evil - so how can it be that you
Have shown me the Dark?
. . .
"I've a brand new way
Now I know the why
Now I have the power
I am no Jedi
I did not understand
Now I see the Dark,
It's the Sith Lord's way."
. . .
He kicked one of the bodies aside as he strode back and forth, declaring his new purpose.
. . .
"All those times that I sacrificed myself were a waste
And fighting for the weak - listen, honestly I've spaced
There's no good, there's no right, I know that justice is through
Now the future's is mine and I owe it all to you,
Who showed me the dark.
. . .
"I've a brand new way
This is my new face
Now the Dark Side's rising
And I know my place
I'm gonna kill Darth Yarr
Gonna take her place
It's the Sith Lord's way."
. . .
He shook his fist, arm raised high, then saw the box of spilled clothes; he knelt, grasping the black fabric, holding it up like a prize.
. . .
"And when I show Keth the evil me
He will kneel, he will plead, he will beg me
To leave the Dark but I have touched the spark
Of the power that comes from lust and pain so naturally."
. . .
Minigan leapt to his feet again, his eyes gleaming.
. . .
"I've a brand new way
Now I know the why
Now I have the power
I am no Jedi.
Though the Force is strong
Now I see the light,
And it's Dark as night . . . .
It's the Sith Lord's way."
. . .
The lights went down as Minigan crouched again tearing the clothes out of the box.
= = = End Part 30
'Keth's Love' is roughly filked from 'Penny's Song' from Doctor Horrible's Sing-Slong-Blog
'On the Rise' is roughly filked from 'My Eyes' from Doctor Horrible's Sing-Slong-Blog
'Sith Lord's Way' is roughly filked from 'Brand New Day' from Doctor Horrible's Sing-Slong-Blog.