"Bad" Maz Rodan and The New Breed - [Bairiri] One Love
David H
((OOC: The music for the performance is from St. Elmo's Fire, where the basis for Maz was inspired. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/RXSlqhLvZkE))
((Genti II; Grand Central Establishment - Brynja Bairiri Hall; Main Stage))
This was it. Maz’s turn to perform. He’d practiced and meticulously programmed his holo-backing band with the right moves, the right music and the right atmosphere from memory of one of his last performances at the bar on Starfleet Academy campus they frequented.
He stood alone on the stage, with the Gentii spectators all looking towards him expectantly. Huge communication screens were also positioned around the ‘arena’ so others from around the city could tune in remotely.
The lights dimmed, and his pre-programmed lights kicked in and bathed him in electric reds and greens. His saxophone hung around his neck by its strap, and he stroked it fondly as if it would suddenly come alive and tell him not to be nervous.
Maz stepped toward the microphone set up for him and gave a little wave to the Gentii audience. Most of the crew of the Arrow were taking up the front of the audience and he felt bolstered by their support.
Rodan: Uhh… Hi. I’m Maz Rodan, and this is my band, The New Breed!
He placed the isolinear chip into the console and his old Academy buddies - or at least their holographic recreations - fizzled into life and waited for his signal. Behind him were his friends, Thran Sh'Khelle - the Andorian lead singer and guitarist, Melo Lim - the Bajoran keyboardist, and Alexandria King, the Human drummer. Each wore extremely archaic 80's New Wave clothing, which they found hilariously cringe-worthy when they were starting out, but came to appreciate it as a staple of the genre they were trying to represent. He turned to them and gave a cheeky wink. They might not be the actual people he rehearsed with for those Academy days, but he hoped somewhere their spirit and talent was being channeled to him right now.
Rodan: We’re from the USS Arrow - Starfleet's finest - and we are here to ROCK Genti II, three, four!
On his signal, the music crashed through the sound system and the lights danced their magic, and felt like he was back jamming in that little campus bar on a Saturday night.
The electric guitar of his Andorian friend rang out to signal the start of the song. Maz clapped his hands in the air to get the rhythm going until the drummer kicked in and it was then his turn.
He picked up his instrument from where it hung at his chest and played the notes he knew he had in him when he’d tried in the Arrow gymnasium. He closed his eyes and let the music flow through him and suddenly the grand audience of the Gentii melted away. He was back in the bar, with cadets and faculty alike dancing and enjoying themselves after a typical heady week of study to be Starfleet officers.
The lead singer - Sh'Khelle - sang the only lyrics to the song - One Love - as Maz played his saxophone. The drumming crept up his spine in euphoric delight and he nodded and grinned to his holographic bandmate. It seemed so strange to him that they hadn’t performed together in over a year. Who knew that their last performance would be their last performance?
The electric synthesizer led them into a new verse and Maz clapped his hands again to keep the Gentii on beat with the music. He was amused that they were intently watching him for instruction, like they’ve never been to a music festival like this before. Maybe they hadn’t? Maybe this was the first time they’d heard a saxophone in their lives.
Sh'Khelle:
One Love!
She could be right.
One Love!
Just around midnight!
One Love!
She could be right.
One Love!
Just around midnight!
One Love!
The music continued with all band members playing their best, and then gradually, like the sun fading in the sky, they faded out to the final notes. The applause and cheers hit him like a tidal wave, and grinning like a Cheshire cat, Maz waved and acknowledged the sentiment.
Rodan: I guess some of you aren't ready for that kind of music on Genti II yet... ::Beat:: But your kids are gonna love it!
NT/End