Posted by James Sinclair in Bittersweet Beginnings

(snip)

Revna entered the main door to the Ambassador Hotel. She barely registered the courtesies but she responded appropriately. She showed her credentials to the man behind the desk and then made her way to her room. Her bags and trunks were already there. She didn’t bother with them, they would be transferred to Manhattan when it docked in two days. She threw herself down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. She laid there until her stomach made it clear that she was hungry. The counselor in herself prodded and annoyed until she got up. She was a representative of the Federation now, on a much larger scale than she ever had before. She opened one trunk and pulled out a deep blue dress, edged in gold and copper with a gentle scoop neckline. The sides laced and cinched on both sides. She looked in the mirror, it was strange to wear this dress and not see the scars on her chest, but she took a deep, life affirming, breath. She fixed the braids in her hair, beads and all, and then pinned it up out of the way. The commbadge she’d been issued she wore attached to the long cloth belt at her waist. She left the room, and a few minutes later she was sitting at a table in the bar. “Can I get you a drink ma’am?” Revna smiled at the young waitress, a species she’d never encountered before. “Only if you have something worth drinking behind your bar.”
Revna Edman, Diplomatic Attaché

The woman, a Mylean, smiled a friendly smile and said “I think that can be arranged, Ma’am.” and she walked to the bar. As she did, the lights dimmed and the spotlight came on directed at the small stage in the back of the hotel bar.

Revna nodded her thanks as she sat back against the booth and looked around the bar. A practiced eye taking in the atmosphere, the clientele, the ones who appeared to be regulars and who was just passing through. She’d been told this was a good place to host events. No time like present to start work, right?

A male Quarren stood illuminated in the light and he smiled a broad smile. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Eclipse Bar in the quadrant-famous Ambassador Hotel. I would like to extend a special welcome to all of our guests -” and it seemed he smiled and looked directly at Revna, “- and qish you all a wonderful evening. I am your host, D’ret. Now… sit back… relax… have a drink or three.” and there was a soft chuckle through the place. “Tonight, the Eclipse takes you billions and billions of miles away… but with a guide many of you know well. Enjoy.” and the lights went out and there was silence.

News apparently travelled faster there than on a star ship. She inclined her head to D’ret politely. Tomorrow maybe, she’d introduce herself. She wasn’t in a sociable mood tonight. She sat back as the lights went out, contemplating slipping out…

Then… music. A piano… then soft drums. The music swelled slowly until a voice began to sing as a drink was set in front of her in the dark:

Love I get so lost sometimes
Days pass and this emptiness fills my heart
When I want to run away I drive off in my car
But whichever way I go
I come back to the place you are
All my instincts, they return
The grand facade, so soon will burn
Without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside

The lights snapped on. There, on the stage was a band. Three figures played. One, a guitar. The second, the drums. And the third… a large human man… played the piano and sang into an old-fashioned microphone…

Micheal ‘Big Mike’ McKenzie.

He turned his head as he sang and played, looking straight at Revna. And there, on the table in front of her, was the black velvet bag, her note… unopened… still attached. The bottle was out and on the table and there were two glasses, one full and one empty.

“Mike…” his name fell from her lips on a whisper that ached. She was aware of the glasses and the bottle, but her eyes were riveted on his. A hundred questions raced across her mind. But him there with that bottle of bourbon was all the answer she needed. The ache that she’d carried in her heart and lungs, so much more painful than any other injury, finally began to ease.

In your eyes
The light, the heat (in your eyes)
I am complete (in your eyes)
I see the doorway (in your eyes)
To a thousand churches (in your eyes)
The resolution (in your eyes)
Of all the fruitless searches (in your eyes)
Oh, I see the light and the heat (in your eyes)
Oh, I wanna be that complete
I wanna touch the light, the heat I see in your eyes

His eyes closed, and the pure emotion of the words he sang came through.

Around her, more than few people gasped and whispered ‘Oh my God! Thats Mike McKenzie!”, “Is this a new song?”, and “Is he coming out of retirement?” excitedly.

Revna listened and realized there was so much about Mike that he hadn’t told her. The man was famous. Okay she knew that, he was a famous punk rocker, and she grinned. A new song? Did Mike write a song for her? Out of retirement? Oh she was going to have to do some searching about Michael McKenzie. But later. She poured the second glass and flagged the waitress. She handed her the bottle back in the bag. “I want it taken to my room.” When Mike closed his eyes, Revna moved, weaving expertly through the crowd. The similarity to the day in the mess hall with Walker wasn’t lost on her, but by the gods Mike was on that stage and that’s where she was supposed to be. The two glasses were taken from her and set on a small table near the piano…

Love, I don’t like to see so much pain
So much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away
I get so tired working so hard for our survival
I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive
And all my instincts they return
And the grand facade, so soon will burn
Without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside

In your eyes (your eyes, your eyes)
In your eyes
In your eyes
The light, the heat (in your eyes)
I am complete (in your eyes)
I see the doorway
To a thousand churches (in your eyes)
The resolution (in your eyes)
Of all the fruitless searches
Oh, I see the light and the heat (in your eyes)
Oh, I wanna be that complete (in your eyes)
I wanna touch the light, the heat I see in your eyes
In your eyes
In your eyes
In your eyes
In your eyes (in your eyes)

The music continued for a few moments longer and then faded away. The crowd erupted into applause and many, many pictures were being taken…

The band waved and took a bow..

Mike just looked at Revna, a smile on his face.

Big Mike (With Special Thanks to Peter Gabriel)

Revna stepped up onto the stage, right into his arms, “This is the only warning I’m giving you, ever, Mike.” And then she kissed him, one hand along his jaw and the other curled around the back of his neck. Someone had the good common curtsey to turn the stage lights off and amongst the applause and cheers. After long moments she pulled back and looked at him, a few tears escaping, “I missed you.”
Revna