Death of a Musician (Chapter 1)

Ya know, when my pappa died I felt lost and alone. He was all I had, my whole life. I had never been away from home, didn't know anyone outside of the lab, and had no idea how I would live on my own, but it was made very clear that I couldn't stay there. All I had was my love and talent for music and my memories of pappa. I had heard some of the lab techs talk about how much they enjoyed the entertainment at the Theed cantina so I decided to start there.

Walking into the strange room I was assaulted with smoke, lights, and so many different smells. My nose was screaming in agony, wanting to go back to the disinfectant smell of the lab. But I couldn't go back, so I went forward. I found an empty corner and pulled out my mandovil. I touched it lightly, closing my eyes and smiling inwardly, remembering all the nights pappa and I would play together. He was a terrible musician but he made sure I had access to every song ever written. Playing for him made me happy. His face lit up so brightly and his whole body lightened, my music lifting the burdens of his day and giving him a chance to relax. I opened my eyes and started to play. It was soft and simple. I played for pappa. I played for me. I played for my uncertain future. After awhile I noticed a handsome young man staring at me. He never said anything but when he left he tossed a few creds my way. My first pay as a musician.

I slept in the alley behind the cantina when I wasn't working (which wasn't very often). I saw that man over the next few weeks and even made a few friends. I soon learned that his name was Vinak and a member of the Imperial Army. He took me to dinner a few times, and showed me around Naboo. Soon my galaxy grew to include the entire planet of Naboo and I could navagate it in my sleep. Vinny taught me alot about everything from skinning a Kaduu to washing my clothes. After a few months he brought me to meet some friends of his. They were an Imperial Regiment known as Sidious and they were the Emporer's favorite. I soon became enraptured with them and everything they stood for. They welcomed me in, dispite my oddness.

So long I was there. Members died, transfered, or got promoted. But Vinny was always a constant in my life. We were never more than friends but I loved him as deeply as I loved pappa. Then there was the second worst day of my life. The Regiment was out on a routine patrol, recon was all it was supposed to be, so I followed. I was due for a promotion but had to prove myself by leading them against the newest wave of Rebels. We had stoped and made camp that night and I started playing for them. It was a slow one, relaxing even the wildest of Naboo creatures, and one by one my comrades started to drift off. Vinny stayed up to keep watch over me and to talk to me about the test I would have to endure for my next promotion.

I closed my eyes and let the music flow through me, moving my body as the notes washed out into the night. Something felt wrong. Animals stirred. There was a thick, ugly smell in the air. I felt afraid, truely petrified, for the first time in my short, sheltered life. I opened my eyes and stared at Vinny, our eyes holding onto eachother like our lives depended on it. Slowly the light in his eyes faded away and I saw pain. My gaze went down his body to see blood slowly trickling down his chest. I looked back into his eyes to find a single tear fall down his cheek. I ran to him as he crumpled into a ball. My hands caressing his face, running through his hair. I begged him not to die as our tears mixed together and fell into the pool of blood that was collecting in my lap. His last words to me were; "I found it Ray, I found my freedom...".

I stayed there holding him for hours, maybe even days, I don't really remember. We were gone so long that they sent a troop out to find us. When they got there they found me holding onto Vinny so tightly that I had squeezed most of his blood out of his body. There was an inquistion of course. Apparently I was the only one in the Regiment who survived and my superiors wanted to know how the hell that happened. Well so did I. Was I so involved with my music that I didn't see the Rebels sneak up on us, or hear the shots echoing through the trees? I will never know what happened that night but the nightmares still haunt me.

That was the day I quit playing music.