STF

Bittersweet Beginnings

Posted May 13, 2021, 11:28 a.m. by James Sinclair

Posted by Civilian Revna Edman (Diplomatic Attache) in Bittersweet Beginnings

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Bittersweet Beginnings

Posted by Civilian Revna Edman (Diplomatic Attache) in Bittersweet Beginnings
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻
(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

Mike returned the kiss, and when she pulled away he grinned. “Do I know you?” he asked and the band laughed. He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her again, this time under the full lights of the stage. More cheers erupted and more vids were recorded. Mike pulled away and said “We have one more song to do. Sit with me?” and he made room for her on the bench.

She grinned, “Gods I hope you do or I’m having the hallucination of a life time.” Sitting on his lap she kissed him back, grinning like crazy. “Not even fairy lights could get me away from you.” She moved over next to him, her back to the crowd and laughed at the cheers. “Mike, you have fans. How will I ever compete?” Her eye danced as she laughed.

He looked at the crowd and said “Thank you all for coming. We have one more song to play for you all tonight. And yeah… its also about her.” and he chuckled. He turned to the piano and began to play, and this time he sang directly to Revna.

She’s got a way about her
I don’t know what it is
But I know that I can’t live without her
She’s got a way of pleasin’, mmh
I don’t know what it is
But there doesn’t have to be a reason
Anyway
She’s got a smile that heals me, mmh
I don’t know why it is
But I have to laugh when she reveals me
She’s got a way of talkin’, mmh
I don’t know what it is
But it lifts me up when we are walkin’
Anywhere
She comes to me when I’m feelin’ down
Inspires me without a sound
She touches me and I get turned around
She’s got a way of showin’, mmh
How I make her feel
And I find the strength to keep on goin’
She’s got a light around her, ooh
And everywhere she goes
A million dreams of love surround her
Everywhere
She comes to me when I’m feelin’ down
Inspires me without a sound
She touches me and I get turned around, ooh, oho
She’s got a smile that heals me, mmh
I don’t know why it is
But I have to laugh when she reveals me
She’s got a way about her, mmh
I don’t know what it is
But I know that I can’t live without her
Anyway, hey

Her eyes never left his as he sang, and the more he sang the more she blushed and she did not care. With the last lyrics ended she leaned in close to him, her voice soft and away from the mic, “I can’t live without you either, Mike.”

The piano slowly faded and he smiled at her and said “I’m usually not one for grand gestures… but I figured this was the only way I could get you to pay up. You owe me eight more dates, Rev.”

Mike (With Special Thanks to Billy Joel)

“You can have 800 more dates.” She turned and beckoned to the guitar player who came over, more than curious and she spoke to him and he nodded and spoke to the drum player. She turned back to him, “This counts as date number 2. I never sing to a public crowd, not willingly anyway, but I will for you. It’s not much of surprise since you’ve already heard it.” Revna had no idea he’d not read the letter she’d sent with the bourbon. “You like old country music right, Mike?” She placed her hands on the keys of the piano and began to play. She’d learned for him. “Sing with me this time?” It was a duet. She took several deep breaths as she began to play, and then her voice joined the piano, and it was hauntingly beautiful and resonant…moving the audience to feel the sadness in the first words as she sang to him.

I can’t imagine, any greater fear
Then waken up, with out you here
And though the sun, will still shine on
My whole world, would all be gone
But not for long

The guitar and drums added to the richness of the melody. She smiled at him and when he began to sing, her voice changed subtly to match the pitch and tone of his.

If I had to run
If I had to crawl
If I had to swim a hundred rivers
Just to climb a thousand walls
Always know that I would find a way
To get to where you are
There’s no place that far

Mike, ever the showman and consumate performer, looked at her crowd with a shocked expression. “Did you know? I didn’t know! I think I’ve been set up,” and he clapped softly and the crowd joined to encourage the beautiful voice to continue.

She smiled, slightly rueful because the next words all too accurate, but she meant every one of them. She sang to him, ignoring everyone else there. Her eyes only leaving his to glance at the keys briefly and then returning.

It wouldn’t matter, why we’re apart
The lonely miles, or two stubborn hearts
And nothing short, of God above
Could turn me away, from your love
I need you that much

If I had to run
If I had to crawl
If I had to swim a hundred rivers
Just to climb a thousand walls
Always know that I would find a way
To get to where you are
There’s no place that far

She continued to play the melody on the piano. She smiled at him, her voice never breaking, straining, or failing her as she sang.

Mike set his hands on the lower keys and began to softly play a harmony with hers, their fingers moving in unison and grinned at her.

Oh if I had to run
(If I had to run)
If I had to crawl
(If I had to crawl)
If I had to swim a hundred rivers
Just to climb a thousand walls
Always know that I would find a way
To get to where you are
There’s no place that far

Baby there’s no place that far

Revna was not as skilled as Mike with the piano, and so she glanced away as she finished the last measures of piece. The last notes faded away and Revna’s gaze returned to his, one hand reaching for his.

Revna (with Special thanks to Sarah Evans and Vince Gill)

He took her hand kissed her as the crowd applauded and stood up for a standing ovation. Mike looked at the band and gestured to the front of the stage. They moved forward and bowed. As they did, Mike said “Let’s get outta here. We stand, bow, and go out the back, okay?” and he grinned wickedly at her.

As they moved to the front of the stage, Mike waved and then gestured to Revna and clapped. The crowd, small though it was, stood and cheered louder and vids were rolling all-over. Just as she went to bow, the split second before; Mike leaned over, back to the audience and whispered in her ear.

“I love you, Rev. And someday I’m gonna marry you.”

Revna was an expert at expressing only what she wanted others to see, and usually she was an open book. But right then in that moment the only person she wanted to know what she was thinking was Mike. Her expression didn’t change, but he’d see it in her eyes. She was absolutely giddy, and totally in love with him.

He turned back to crowd as if nothing had happened and clapped. “Give it up, people! Wasnt she great?! Yeah! Show her some love!” and he waved at the crowd and smiled. It may have only been forty or fifty people, but he treated them like a stadium full.

Big Mike

She took his hand, the whole crowd would think he’d simply offered it to her, in a very gentlemanly gesture, and she executed a beautiful curtsey. She straightened, both hands gesturing towards him. She was no showman, but she had her own set of skills and crowd control. Her voice carried out above the crowd, which would be in such contrast to the quiet he’d always heard from her before. “Ladies and Gentlemen, Mike McKenzie!” Her body language and the turn in her tone had them all looking at him, and she quietly slipped off the stage, grabbing both the glasses as she went.

Mike waved at the crowd and smild broadly. “Thanks, everybody! Thank you so much! Have a great night! Take care of your servers and bartenders! Good night”! and he turned and shook hands with the band. “You guys killed it. Get thjose tracka laid down and I’ll start the engineering, okay? Let’s get it done. Ok boys, I’m out.” and he stepped off the stage.

She leaned up against a wall in the shadows at the side of the stage and waited for him. She handed him his glass when he got to her and she stretched up to kiss him on the cheek, and whispered, “Guess that means you decided you can handle me, huh?” She laughed softly. “I love you, Mike. Now where’s this back exit?”
Revna

“Oh, I knew I could. I just needed you to know it, too.” and he smiled and kissed her very deeply. “And you better. ‘Cause you ain’t gettin’ rid of me… not now, not ever. Come on… follow me. Do you have a room?” and he took her hand and led her down a small side passage that was more than likely a maintenance access.

Big Mike

The kiss took her breath away, in a good way. “Never, you’re mine now, Mike, and I’m yours.” She laced her fingers with his and turned walking backwards, facing him and laughed, “Nope, of course not I left all my things sitting on the promenade.” Her eyes danced, “1410.” She spun back around to walk beside him. She stopped suddenly and tugged his hand. “One condition, though.” She moved into his arms, “If I’m going to be with the most famous singer around, you’re going to sing to me every day.” She kissed him, just a quick peck, but she was incredibly happy.
Revna

Mike laughed and said “Well, I’m not the most famous singer around, so I guess I’m off the hook for that.” and he stopped her as they came to a door. He looked at her and said “But I’ll want to sing for you every day, how about that?” and he put his arms under her and picked her up off the floor and pushed her against the wall. He pressed himself against her, using his body to hold her up as he reached down and grabbed her leg and threw it around him. He grinned at her and then kissed her… the intensity and desire… and love… more than apparent as the kisses continued down the side of her neck and across her throat before coming back up to taste her lips again.

Mike


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